1st January 2016

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 16,405

FRIDAY, 1 JANUARY, 2016

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Nigerian Tribune

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Nigerian Tribune

Alleged N50bn cars

Senate replies Buhari

—P2

•Says quoted figures outrageous •Fayose, PDP, Afenifere, MURIC, Shiites knock president •PDP lacks respect for president's office —APC Appeal Court sacks Abia gov

•Alhassan loses in Taraba —P38

Kogi: Bello blasts Faleke over PVC allegation Dancers performing during a New Year countdown event at Tai Miao, the imperial ancestral temple in the Forbidden City, Beijing, China. PHOTO:REUTERS

—P40

New Year message: Our challenges are temporary —Buhari s Pg —

•Saraki, Dogara, govs, others sue for peace in 2016

4 7,1 , 6 2,

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news

Friday, 1 January, 2016

Alleged N50bn cars: Senate replies Buhari Says quoted figures outrageous Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

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HE Senate, on Thursday, denied the claim made by President Muhammadu Buhari in which he indicated that the National Assembly plans to spend about N50 billion on cars.

In a statement by the chairman, Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the upper chamber said it was untrue that the lawmakers planned to purchase cars that will be worth N50 billion as claimed by President Buhari in his maiden media chat on Wednesday.

Senator Sabi said while it was true that the Senate was contemplating purchasing cars, it did not intend to spend anything close to the various figures of N4.5 billion, N6 billion

or N50 billion as being bandied around.

The senator added that shortly after getting the management team and the Senate services committee to commence the due process for the purchase of the vehicles, certain contractors who bidded for the supplies but felt that bids would not scale through started sponsoring media propaganda against the project.

He said such contractors even leaked the recommendations of the committee working on the proposed project.

“Since the claim in an online medium that we are planning to purchase vehicles, we have not taken any further action on the issue. We are surprised that a proposed purchase became a subject of controversy and several figures that are far from our projections have

been bandied around.

“While an online medium put the figure at N4.5 billion, another one said N6 billion and now the President, on national television, was talking about N50 billion. These are outrageous figures. Once the debate on the 2016 budget begins, Nigerians will have the opportunity of knowing how much we voted for purchase of cars and how we intend spending the vote.

“This is a responsible and responsive National Assembly. We really need project vehicles to facilitate our work. We will, however, follow due process when we choose to take decisions on the purchase. We will also take into consideration the views, feelings and mood of the nation in taking the decisions. We will not be profligate or extravagant when

what is apparently needed in our country is moderate and frugal spending.

“We, however, call on all

From Leon Usigbe, Jacob Segun Olatunji, Bola Badmus, Sam Nwaoko and Sabiu Mohammed THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, have chided President Muhammadu Buhari over comments he made at his maiden media chat on Wednesday.

In its reaction, PDP observed that Buhari’s responses at the media chat

Signs 2015 supplementary budget PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said he is not unaware of the current hardship Nigerians are going through, but that he would do his best to make things better despite unforeseen circumstances.

In his New Year message to the nation, made available to the media in Abuja, on Thursday, he said he would not disappoint the people over the change they yearned for by voting him into power.

The president, who welcomed Nigerians to the beginning of a new year and the “continuation of change,” cited the problems currently facing citizens, saying: “I am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant hardships over the past months.

“Living in the State House has not alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange.

“These challenges are only temporary; we are working to make things better.

“When I presented myself to you as a presidential candidate and asked you to vote for me, I wanted to be a leader who keeps his promises.

“I wanted to be a leader who restores the people’s hope in those elected to serve them. I wanted to be a leader who initiates positive and en-

during change.

“I am still totally committed to being that kind of leader. Unforeseen circumstances and other distractions notwithstanding, I shall still do my utmost best to keep every promise I made to Nigerians during my election campaign.”

He recalled the efforts that his government had put in since assuming control, assuring that Nigerians would enjoy the benefits of government’s policies.

“In the past seven months since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, my administration has focused on laying the right foundation for the change you voted for during our historic presidential election.

“Nigerians will, in due course, begin to enjoy the fruits of all ongoing work.

The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socio-economic issues that are of current concern to our people.”

On the war against insurgency, he observed that the people of the North-East were already experiencing change as the Boko Haram terrorists have been substantially dealt with.

But he added that the war could not be said to have been concluded until the insurgents were completely routed and normality restored in the affected areas.

“I commend our Armed Forces for significantly cur-

tailing the insurgency which has ravaged the North-East over the past few years.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the area of security.

“Our Armed Forces will maintain, consolidate and build on their successes in the war against Boko Haram and violent extremism.

“This government will not consider the matter concluded until the terrorists have been completely routed and normalcy restored to all parts of the country that have been adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency,” he said.

Also speaking on the anticorruption war, he said his administration would not relent as he called on courts to support the fight through expeditious adjudication of cases.

“There is much work to do in other areas as well and I have charged all my ministers and other appointees to ensure that Nigerians experience positive changes in their lives in 2016.

“We must reduce our country’s reliance on oil. We must diversify our economy.

And we must do all we can to promote job creation.

“Our challenges are many, but our determination to succeed is strong and unshaken. So too is our confidence in God,” he said.

The president, thereafter, wished Nigerians a very Happy New Year.

Meanwhile, the president

has been taken. The way the issue is being presented is as if we have ordered the car or have paid for it,” he added.

Media chat: Fayose, PDP, Afenifere, MURIC, Shiites knock Buhari

Our challenges are temporary —Buhari Leon Usigbe - Abuja

Nigerians to be patient with us and not jump the gun or rush into conclusions, particularly when no decision

has assented to the 2015 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, which extends the life of the budget till March 2016.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, said the Bill was assented to on December 22.

Enang, in a statement made available on Thursday, said the president’s assent should calm some stakeholders who had been bombarding him with enquiries on the supplementary budget.

Some former lawmakers and their aides, whose severance allowances are captured in the budget, were also said to have been bombarding the National Assembly for details of the budget.

“Further to several enquires and calls by legislators, institutions et al on the subject, we deem it appropriate to issue this release.

“His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, has assented to the 2015 appropriation amendment Act passed by the National Assembly on December 22, 2015, (extending the 2015 financial year to March 31 in respect of capital projects).”

The Supplementary Bill authorised the Federal Government to spend the sum of N556.9 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation, with a chunk of the money going for payment of subsidy to fuel importers.

were “not only embarrassing, but also further exposed his undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the selfworth of Nigerian citizens.”

After an assessment of the live television broadcast, the opposition party, in a statement in Abuja, on Thursday, said the president had confirmed his partisanship in the much-vaunted war against corruption, by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices.

Signed by its national secretary, Olisa Metuh, the statement said “we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant. Today, the world is no longer in doubt as to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flouting of judicial pronouncements by security agencies.

“A situation where the president openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarceration despite being granted bail by the courts, presents a dangerous fascist practice obtainable only in totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda and General Than Shwe’s Burma.”

The party said it might be necessary to suspend the application of Nigerian cnstitution and allow the president to operate as maximum ruler for four years, after which the nation could return to a democracy.

It asked the president to apologise to Nigerians for the insults, abuse and aspersions cast on the past administration over the Chibok girls, adding that with his declaration during the media chat, President Buhari had accepted failure by declaring that he did not know the whereabouts of the girls.

“Furthermore, Nigerians were shocked by the president’s labeling Nigerians as ‘very difficult lot’ while responding to questions on the strategy to be adopted in implementing his promised N5,000 social welfare package.

“This unhealthy portrayal of the citizens by the very father of the nation is, indeed, a great disservice to Nigeria and its international image,” it added.

Its acting national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, also said President Buhari was carrying out a vendetta against members of PDP and associates.

He noted that the president’s goal was to harass and intimidate members of the opposition with his anticorruption war.

While urging Nigerians not to despair but to remain focused in the new year, he chided the All Progressives Congress (APC) which he said was feeding Nigerians with false propaganda while demonstrating lack of preparedness for governance.

Reacting, APC, on Thursday, condemned PDP for the unprovoked insults and unguarded statements on President Muhammadu Buhari and other members of APC. The APC, reacting to what it termed the PDP’s rant, tagged the statement by the opposition party “baseless allegations.”

In a statement issued on behalf of the chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, by APC Assistant Director of Publicity, Mr Edegbe Odemwingie, the party said “The APC is worried by PDP’s inciting statements. Respect for the office of the president or heads of government in any clime is not a matter of choice but a civic obligation sanctioned by laws.

“Being an opposition party or critic is no license to issue abusive, intemperate and slanderous statements on government officials; most especially the president of the country.

“Only recently, the PDP said in a December 24, 2015 statement: ‘we urge that Nigerians should not recourse to hauling insults on the president’.

“For the umpteenth time, the APC urges Nigerians who see merit in the war that the President Buhariled administration is waging against corruption and not to be distracted by the PDP and their agents of corruption to discredit the war. continues pg5

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

news APC/PDP members clash, set houses, cars ablaze in Nasarawa 4

Ademola Adegbite - Lafia

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ULTIMILLION naira properties, including houses, and cars were, on Wednesday, set ablaze by irate youths at Duduguru Village in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, following the verdict of the Court of Appeal in Makurdi, Benue State, which upturned the victory of a member of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Iliya Luka, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the house.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the incident, which had thrown the whole community into panic, led to the arrest of the traditional ruler, name withheld, alongside nine other suspects by members of the State AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), on Thursday.

It was also gathered that more than 20 suspects

Friday, 1 January, 2016

evaded arrest and currently on wanted list of the state police command.

Informed community source told the Nigerian Tribune that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in 2015 House of Assembly election in the state had challenged the victory of the PDP candidate during the election, lamenting that the election was marred with violence.

Investigations further revealed that when the judgment was announced in favour of APC candidate in Makurdi, supporters of the PDP candidate hurriedly held a meeting in the village to strategise.

According to one of the witnesses, “when the announcement was made, the PDP supporters and bigwigs met with our traditional ruler and strategise on how to cause confusion in the community which later led to burning of houses and cars. Our traditional ruler and nine others have been arrested now

‘Vigilante’ arrested in Ogun for robbery Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

A middle-aged man, Adesiyan Adeniyi, who claimed to be a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, is now in police net over allegation of robbery in the Ewusi area of Makun in Sagamu area of Ogun State.

In a statement issued from the office of the state Police Public Relations and made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abeokuta, stated that police operatives attached to the Sagamu area arrested the suspect last Wednesday, having placed him under surveillance.

It was learnt that a locally made double-barrel gun with 20-live cartridges and a stolen unregistered motorcycle were recovered from him.

The state police image maker, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said that preliminary investigation revealed that Adesiyan had been terrorising the people of Sagamu.

He said “Police preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect, who claims to be a vigilante official, has been terrorising the good people of Sagamu and robbing them of their belongings on several occasions.

“The Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, has therefore directed thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain the membership of the suspect with Vigilante Group of Nigeria and uncover some of his previous criminal acts in the area.

“The commissioner of police has also promised to censor members of the vigilante and neighbourhood watches in the state with a view to auditing their activities and henceforth control their operations.

“The police boss wishes to assure the general public that the matter will be professional handled and case charged to court immediately after proper investigations.”

and taken to Lafia, the state capital, by members of SARS.” Another senior police officer, who did not want his name in print, confided in the Nigerian Tribune that the youth invaded the community since Tuesday night on the directive of the arrested traditional

ruler and set many houses ablaze, generating uproar between the members of the two parties.

When contacted on phone, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ismaila Numan, confirmed the incident and the arrest, but declined comments on the person-

ality of one of the suspects.

He added that investigations have commenced forthwith.

Unconfirmed reports, however, added that many people were killed, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries and currently receiving treatment at undisclosed

President, Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE), Mr Olusegun Ajanlekoko, exchanging pleasantries with Queen Elizabeth of England, at a luncheon/reception for Commonwealth professional leaders at St. James Palace, London, before the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), in Malta.

Kanu never apologised to Buhari —Family Celestine Ihejirika - Umuahia

THE father of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), His Royal Majesty Eze Israel Kanu, has dismissed the report that his son has apologised to President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly referring to him as a terrorist.

He described the report as the handiwork of the enemies of the struggles for Biafran emancipation.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday, he said his son could not have apologised “to anybody because

he is fighting a just cause and has never violated any law to warrant any apologies.”

The monarch, who said he was not surprised at “such fabrications,” however, added that he would never advise his son to give up his fight for a sovereign state of Biafra because “it is in line with the wishes of the people.”

Eze Kanu restated his unwavering support for his son who he said was championing a just cause.

He warned media houses against collaborating with the Federal Government to portray his son in a bad

light and ultimately frustrate the agitation for independent Biafra.

It will be recalled that IPOB has vehemently refuted the media report that its detained leader had apologised to President Buhari.

IPOB, in a press statement issued yesterday, in Umuahia and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, dismissed the media report as “a blatant lie and cheap propaganda by its sponsors to create the wrong impression that Kanu is backing out of the Biafran project.”

According to the state-

Articulated vehicle crushes woman to death in Osun Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

BARELY 48 hours to the New Year, tragedy struck on Wednesday evening in Osogbo, Osun State capital, when a loaded articulated vehicle rammed into fleet of vehicles plying Oke-Fia Road, on Ilobu, crushing an aged woman to death in the process.

Eyewitnesses informed the Nigerian Tribune that the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle,

hospitals in Lafia, the state capital.

It was gathered further that the displaced persons were taking refuge at abandoned government buildings and public schools in nearby villages and Agyaragu, the headquarters of Jenkwe Development Area.

due to break failure, before the trailer rammed into other vehicles behind.

One of the eyewitnesses, a driver who simply identified himself as Waheed, told our correspondent that scores of people were also critically injured in the incident.

According to Waheed, when other drivers saw that the trailer could no longer move forward, they started reversing, with a view to escape being

crushed by the trailer.

“The trailer reversed with speed uncontrollably and rammed into other vehicles while some occupants of the affected vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he stated.

Waheed continued, “One of the passengers whose identity could not be established while trying to escape, jumped out of a mini-commercial bus popularly called ‘korope’ but she was unlucky as

the trailer crushed her head.

A team of policemen from the state Police Command who stormed the scene of the accident less than 30 minutes after its occurrence towed the trailer and other affected vehicles to the station.

When our correspondent contacted the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Folasade Odoro, she confirmed the development.

ment, which was signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, the said report was done to dampen the morale of Kanu’s followers and other Biafran agitators.

According to IPOB, “it is an insult to the entire Biafran Republic for anyone to expect any apology from Kanu over his activities towards facilitating Biafra’s autonomy.”

IPOB also accused the media outfit which carried the said report of serving as a propaganda machinery of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to cause disaffection among Biafrans.

The statement read in part: “The purported report that Kanu has apologised to President Buhari over Biafra is not only a tissue of lies but a lame attempt by the enemies of Biafra to cause disaffection among the agitators.

“This latest trick is nothing but part of the grand design by the Federal Government to blackmail our leader and weaken the confidence of IPOB members in him.”

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Media chat: Fayose, PDP, Afenifere, MURIC, Shiites knock Buhari continued from pg2

“For the records, the ongoing war against corruption is not selective. Anybody guilty of corrupt practices will face the law.

“If the PDP has any proof of corruption against any APC member or minister as alleged, we advise that they approach any of the antigraft agencies constitutionally mandated to handle such cases.

“The PDP does not have the luxury of dictating how the present administration carries out its legitimate duty of catching looters, as long as it conforms with the rule of law,” the statement concluded.

The Pan- Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, expressed dismay over the outburst of President Buhari that Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), former National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, could be allowed to go on bail as they would escape, declaring that Nigeria was not practising jungle justice.

National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, said an accused in a democratic setting was presumed innocent until pronounced guilty by the court of law.

This was just as the Afenifere spokesperson said it was absolutely wrong for the executive to take over the duties of the judiciary arm of government as long as Nigeria had submitted to the rule of law and constitutional governance.

The Afenifere chieftain contended that it was not in the purview of the executive, but the court to determine which offence to be granted bail based on the country’s justice system, with the accused meeting the conditions, including making available a surety who should be held responsible in case the accused ran away.

“Our law does not allow jungle justice because you don’t get hold of somebody killing somebody and you kill the person on the spot.

No, you have to go through the mill of justice for the court to pronounce the person guilty,” he said.

Speaking further, he said “Nigerians should not accept it, in fact, if we have a strong Bar, I expect the Bar to take a strong position on this matter because if that becomes a state policy, it is like the executive taking over the power of the courts.”

According to him, “a bail granted an accused is part of the judicial process and where somebody has been charged for bailable offence, the court releases the person on bail with a surety who will be held responsible if he runs away. So why should we deny an accused person that process?

“Once an offence is bailable and the person is granted a bail, he provides a surety, who would be held responsible if he runs away, why should we then be afraid?”

On his part, Governor Fayose chided the president over what he said were his dictatorial tendencies and called on international community to pay attention to his “human rights abuses and contempt for the rule of law in the country.”

Fayose, in a statement in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, said the “return to power of President Mohammadu Buhari is a misadventure for Nigerians, calling on the international community, especially organisations like the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) to focus their attention on the country.”

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said he was “not disappointed by the president’s response during his media chat, to question on the disobedient of court orders by the Department of State Security (DSS).”

Fayose also claimed in the statement that he was aware of plot to muzzle him “and others considered as non-conformists” because of their opinion and critical stance on the president and his government.

He described the way and manner the former NSA, Colonel Dasuki (retd) was being treated by the Federal Government as the hallmark of a dictator.

MURIC, in its reaction through a statement signed by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, rejected any idea of imposing a ban on hijab, adding that “it is escapist. It is scapegoatism.

It will open the floodgates of anarchy. Instead of solving Nigeria’s security problems, it is most likely to compound it.”

It asked that if army and police uniforms were not banned although they are often used by bandits, why should hijab be banned?

“Security agents know how they often fish out hoodlums who use police and soldiers’ uniforms to commit atrocities. The same method

should be used to prevent the use of hijab for bombing.

“What crime have Nigerian Muslim women committed that they should be derobed in public? Without their hijab, Muslim women feel as if they are naked.

“Users of hijab are in all walks of life. They are civil servants, businesswomen, teachers, etc. Most importantly, they are tax payers and voters. They voted Buhari into power.

“Is Buhari’s government warming up to encroach on Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslim women?

Is this an appropriate payback?” it asked.

The Muslim organisation also asked the president the geographical area likely to be involved in the ban?

“Will it be limited to the three troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe?

Will it extend to the whole North East or will the ban cover the whole of Nigeria?” it asked.

Also reacting, the Shiite Muslims chided President Buhari, saying that he had no value for life.

The Islamic group, under the banner of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), said for President Buhari to have kept silent on the killings of their members in Zaria few weeks ago until his Wednesday’s presidential media chat showed that he was not bothered about human lives wasted in the clash.

Part of the statement issued by their spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, read: “Based on the insensitivity shown by the president, how could the IMN expect any justice from the government? The Kaduna State governor who had played a major role in the massacre and destruction of properties in Zaria had since declared that the leader of the movement was going to be prosecuted, even before announcing the members of his committee of enquiry.

“The claim by the Nigerian president that he will wait for the report of the Kaduna State government before commenting on the Zaria massacre is mischievous to say the least.

“By these, even though the president is Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, there is no effective civilian control over the military enshrined in the constitution or any other law of the country.”

It asked the president to set up an independent judicial commission of inquiry that include people of integrity and human right activists to probe the incident.

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

Join hands with us to make Nigeria great again —Saraki Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

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ENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, called on Nigerians to join hands with the present administration to make the country great again, by supporting its policies and programmes aimed at restoring full security to the nooks and crannies of the country and revamping the economy.

Saraki in a New Year message to Nigerians signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, congratulated the people

for their resilience and patience, especially in the face of daunting economic challenges, as they mark the New Year festivities.

He said that the need for effective collaboration between the people and the President Muhammadu Buhari government, is imperative to overcome the nation’s most pressing socioeconomic challenges and to make the nation prosperous once again.

He added that the current government is working to ensure the world stops talking of the potentials of Nigeria, and move on to counting the achievements

Okowa calls for unity DELTA State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has felicitated with the people of the state,, as they mark the New Year, with a call for all to remain united to the course of developing the state, irrespective of ethnic or party differences.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, the governor expressed gratitude to God for all the grace granted Delta and its citizens in 2015 and prayed for unity and peace which, he said, is the bedrock of meaningful development in any given society.

The Governor, who expressed the hope that 2016 would be a year of fulfillment said, “Given our strides in the past seven months in office, I have no

doubt that, with the same level of cooperation from the good people of Delta, your government would achieve more- in all facets of governance” “My optimism is driven from the support I enjoy from the legislature, the judiciary, the civil service, my team of political appointees, agencies of government both at the federal and at the state levels, as well as multilateral donor agencies.”

Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

KOGI State governor, Capt. Idris Wada has urged the people of the state not to despair in the face of the challenges that currently confront the state and the

IMMEDIATE past president of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has tasked Nigerian scholars and research institutes to collaborate with government to fashion out a workable blueprint to overcome the present economic downturn.

According to Senator Mark, the current economic quagmire is a challenge that must of a necessity bring out the best in our research institutes and professionals on the way forward.

The former Senate president in a new year message signed by Mr Paul Mumeh his media aide to Nigerians, stressed that there is no better time than now for the nation to face the stark reality and declare an emergency on how to diversify the economy.

To actualise the goal,

he requested all states of the federation to join in the search for solution, by developing mineral resources which has comparative advantage, pointing out that “ I know as a matter of fact that every state of the federation has one or two untapped mineral resources to develop and grow the economy.”

Federal Government, through the nation’s Armed Forces and the support of all Nigerians, have recorded tremendous success in the

By Tunde Ogunesan

AS the world celebrate the arrival of a new year, next generation network, Globacom, has advised Nigerians to keep hope alive in spite of the harsh economic situation facing the nation.

While congratulating Nigerians for witnessing another year, Globacom, in a statement, wished all Nigerians a prosperous and remarkable year 2016, and encouraged all to be positive in their outlook and approach in the new year.

According to the statement, Globacom expressed “strong optimism that with collective hard

work, sincerity of purpose by both the leaders and the led, and an enduring commitment to do the right thing always, the country’s

than ever before, to prevent incessant attacks from Boko Haram and eradicate all forms of criminalities in the land.

economic prospects will improve.”

Globacom said that the beginning of a new year offers Nigerians a unique

TO mark the 2016 new year celebration, 14 prisoners serving different jail terms in Ondo State have been discharged from prison following pardon granted them by the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko .

According to a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, in Akure on Thursday, “the Governor’s gesture is in line with the

power conferred on him by section 212 (1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

The statement said the 14 prisoners, who had all served portions of their term, were granted amnesty on the ground of good conduct, adding that the gesture was an exercise of the Governor’s power to grant prerogative of mercy to convicts as conferred by the

Let’s build on our successes in 2016 —Oshiomhole EDO State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said year 2016 presents the people of the state with the opportunity to elect a credible candidate who

nation.

In a new year message, on Thursday, in Lokoja, by his Chief Communications Manager, Mr Phrank Shaibu, the governor charged the people of the state to see the new year with renewed optimism, and to be active participants in the struggle to emancipate the state from the shackles of poverty and underdevelopment.

He thanked the people of the state for conducting themselves peacefully during the last governorship election, and expressed satisfaction at the decorous manner in which the people of the state, have always handled outcomes of elections.

nation building and to consolidate the dividends of Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy.

He added that “every New Year such as this is a prime time for inner self -reflection, stocktaking, resolutions and covenants, hence, I urge my compatriots to remember their country in prayers and actions throughout 2016 and beyond.

“For citizens are like

opportunity to take stock and restart their personal, social, economic or political lives with renewed vigour and passion.

Mimiko grants amnesty to 14 prisoners in Ondo

will build on the successes recorded by the current government in the past seven years.

In his New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Comrade Oshiomhole said “as a government, we are proud of the remarkable achievements we recorded in the past seven years and we remain thankful to the people for the trust and confidence reposed in us to conduct the affairs of the state.

“As we enter into another election year in the state, I enjoin our people to work assiduously to ensure the success of the elections and ensure that only the candidate who has the

interest of the state and the people at heart, emerges to ensure the continuation of the remarkable successes recorded by this administration on schools, roads, hospitals, water and energy, security, and indeed, the provision of a conducive environment which has attracted multibillion naira investments in different parts of the state.

“Of course, in the election year, there will be tension, there will be acrimony, there will be rumours and counter- rumours, but I assure you that we will remain focused on the job and in all we do, we will put the interest of our state above any other consideration.”

Ahmed calls for rededication Biola Azeez-Ilorin

KWARA state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has urged the people of the state to rededicate themselves to the pursuit of making the state a model

Atiku calls for unity, peaceful co-existence FORMER Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday, urged Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the unity, progress and peaceful co-existence in the country in the new year and beyond.

Atiku made the call in a statement which he signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

He said “fellow countrymen and women must work as a team for

fight against insurgency, while pointing out that intense collaboration between the citizenry and government is needed more

Keep hope alive, Glo urges Nigerians

Don’t lose hope, Wada tells Kogi people

Fashion out workable blueprint to overcome economic downturn —Mark Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

and progress recorded by our country, as the true giant of Africa and major player in world politics.

Saraki noted that the

Nigerian Tribune

spokes in the wheel of national progress, the whole can only function well if the units work positively in tandem.

“Nigerians should, therefore, work in concert to make Nigeria the great country of their dream.’’

The former vice president also urged Nigerians to become real change agents so as to enhance good governance, fair play and justice.

in the country.

The governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba , said although the year 2016 may be challenging, due to the economic problems in the country, his administration remained committed to improving the economic well-being of the people and the infrastructural development of the state.

G o v e r n o r Ahmed,however, commended the people of the state for appreciating the current challenges across the country and assured that the year 2016 promises a better future for the people of the state.

He wished the people of the state a happy and prosperous new year.

constitution of the country.

It further mentioned that the Governor is empowered to pardon, free, grant respite or substitute severe punishment with lesser one as a form of amnesty for convicts. The amnesty takes immediate effect.

2016 offers real opportunity for change —Dogara Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has assured Nigerians that 2016 offers a real opportunity for change in the country.

In a New Year message signed by his special adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the speaker praised the unshakable commitment of leaders at all levels of government to a better Nigeria.

He cited the pro-people 2016 Budget of President Buhari administration, before the National Assembly and said: “when passed into law and faithfully executed will not only lift the common man from abject poverty, it will also usher in the much needed opportunities for innovation and investment that are the engines of economic growth and prosperity.”

The Speaker, who expressed the hope that happy times will be here again, however, maintained that, “the people must go to work to make it happen as government alone cannot solve all our problems”.

He said that, “democracy and Governments do not build nations but it’s rather citizens of democracy who must take up the tools of democracy and embrace the opportunities created by their government that build the nation of their dream.”

The Speaker urged all Nigerians to abhor the culture of passivity and apathy which only produces docile citizenry, saying that “if our people expect that CHANGE means to be docile and allow government alone to bring progress and build our nation, they expect what never was and never shall be.”

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There is hope for better Nigeria —Lasun DEPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff, has said that there is hope for a better Nigeria, if the people of this country support and cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari, in his crusade at tackling corruption and other vices bedeviling the nation.

In a new year message to Nigerians, the deputy speaker said that the stage is set by the All progressives Congress-led government to give a radical approach to the development of this country so that Nigeria could compete with other developed nation’s of the world.

Lasun stated that with the budget presented to the National Assembly by President Buhari, there is an indication that infrastructure would be provided and the standard of living of the

people would be improved tremendously.

“Nigeria is on the threshold of regaining it’s full potentials because that is what we deserve and the signs are beginning to show.

“It is my appeal to Nigerians that we support the government of the day as it tries to address some of the fundamental problems confronting the growth of our country like unemployment,

preciate God. He said “after the war, the Israelites came to Moses and said ‘no one is missing’ in Number chapter 31 verse 49. As we are not missing in 2016, we shall have a year of prophesy; a year of testimonies. I particularly have it on God’s authority that despite the economic downturn, Nigerians will praise God. “I felicitate with the good people of Ekiti State and Nigeria at large, on the occasion of this New

for all. The senator called on the people of the state to unite with the government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, in his efforts to accelerate the socioeconomic development of the state.

He called on Nigerians at

home and in diaspora, to imbibe the spirit of perseverance and patriotism in their services to their fatherland and appealed to all and sundry to continue to allow peace to reign and also pray for the indivisibility of the country.

LAGOS State deputy governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, has called on Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe or religion, to embrace peace and consider unity and mutual love for one another as a necessary condition for the growth of the nation’s democracy and infrastructural development.

The deputy governor in her new year message, said Nigerians must close ranks and work together for peace and unity of the country, saying that Nigerians sacrificed a lot to earn this democracy, hence, the need for all of us to live together in peace and jealously guide it and ensure that it is well nurtured to maturity for economic prosperity and individual development.

Adebule noted that as the nation continued to enjoy

the change promised by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government across the country, positive changes could only be possible through peaceful coexistence.

Lagos deputy gov calls for peace

OYO State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Dolapo Dosumu, has congratulated Nigerians for navigating 2015 successfully just as she wished them a happy and fulfilling 2016.

Dosumu, in a press release signed by the agency’s Press Officer, Banke Adeniyi, charged all citizens to reflect on the essence of the season and to

always do the right things at the right time.

“She expressed optimism by projecting a better and more productive year 2016 if citizens played allegiance to the active laws of the land and it’s constitutional authorities and live by the dictum of the agency which is anchored on “Doing the right things to transform Nigeria”.

The NOA director expressed the agency’s profound gratitude to all the

Year. I want us to believe that we will weather the storm. Please, continue to support the Ayo Fayoseled government in the New Year and beyond. Even as tough as things are now, we have cause to thank the Almighty God.” Oluwawole also charged

leaders in the country not to play politics with the lives of the people, adding that it was better for leaders to be realistic and lay bare all government policies for the people to be adequately aware of happenings in governance.

Olubadan felicitates with Nigerians

By Tunde Ogunesan THE Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, has felicitated with all Nigerians, the people of Ibadanland and the entire Yoruba race, on the emergence of the new year.

The traditional ruler, in a statement issued on his behalf by his Personal Assistance, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, noted that 2015 was full of ups and downs, especially in the area of economy and security.

He implored all tiers of government, most especially, the Federal Government, to look inwards in the area of agriculture and solid minerals, which the prodigals of oil revenue had made Nigerians to neglect in the past.

Olubadan expressed his concern on the insecurity and growing insurgency in the country.

He, however, commended the current leadership in the country under President Muhammadu Buhari, on its efforts to curb the activities of Boko haram sect.

“The president deserves commendation for his surgical approach to the menace of corruption which has become a virus on the economic growth of the nation. It is significant to recall that in the political history of this country, the year 2015 was the first time that power would change hand from one political party to another through the ballot paper for the peaceful transfer.

Embrace understanding, Soun tells Nigerians THE Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade 111, has tasked Nigerians on the need to embrace understanding in view of the state of the nation today.

This was contained in a new year message of the traditional ruler to the people of 0gbomosoland and Nigerians in general.

He noted that the change we all desired, must be accompanied with some sacrifices on the part of the people and added that if we endured the recent pains,

Oyo NOA congratulates Nigerians

By Tunde Ogunesan

corruption.

“It is our believe that anyone caught in corrupt acts should be made to face the wrath of the law because corruption has been the bane of the development of this country”.

2016, year of prophesy, testimonies —Ekiti speaker

THE speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Honourable Kola Oluwawole, has described 2016 as “a year of prophesy and testimonies” for Nigerians, declaring that despite the economic challenges, Nigerians will have testimonies.

Oluwawole, who made the declaration in a New Year message signed by his media aide, Stephen Gbadamosi, on Thursday, adding that crossing the boundary of 2015, was enough for people to ap-

Adeleke sues for unity SENATOR Isiaka Adeleke, a former governor of Osun State, has called on Nigerians to seek the face of the Almighty God as they enter a new year so as to continue to live together in peace and harmony.

This was contained in his New Year message, issued by his media adviser, Olumide Lawal.

Senator Adeleke prayed, that may Nigeria and Nigerians continue to meet with the favour of God, who alone shapens our destinies.

Senator Adeleke said that this time calls for sacrifice and drive on the parts of all, so as to evolve an egalitarian society, where our basic infrastructure are taken for granted. He advised the youth to embrace skills acquisition programmes so as to be self reliant and less dependent on white collar jobs.

Senator Adeleke, assured Nigerians, that members of the upper legislative chamber arm of government, will continue to cooperate with the executive arm of the government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, so as to make life worth living

unstabe power, deplorable roads and unacceptable healthcare delivery.

“As House of Representatives, we are determined to throw our weight behind the president in tackling issue of

various stakeholders that contributed to the success of NOA’s activities in 2015, including media partners.

the country would be a safe haven for our generations and the subsequent ones.

Oba Ajagungbade enjoined Nigerians to brace

up for challenges in the new year while praying that the new year would usher in peace, unity and oneness in the country.

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Be thankful to God, Ogunwale tells Nigerians

SENATOR Felix Ogunwale has called on Nigerians to thank Almighty God for enabling them witness another new year, despite all the unsettling incidents across the country, praying God to intervene in finding a lasting solution to unwarranted killings of innocent souls under the guise of insurgency.

He said this in a new year message, adding that no matter the odds, the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable and called for dialogue in effecting settlement in whatever grievances that might be agitating the mind of some people, The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was of the opinion that more than ever before, now is the time for all Nigerians to guard their loins and live within their legitimate means, as the current economic downturn globally, calls for sober reflection and sacrifice, while appealing to both the government and the governed to shun ostentatious lifestyle.

Senator Ogunwale saidthat Nigerians should cooperate with government at all levels and proffer solutions to various problems plaguing the society and move the country forward.

The Iragbiji-born politician, was of the opinion, that all hands should be on deck to bring the country out of its current economic doldrums and set it on the march towards prosperity, instead of relying on “non – existing” foreign investors.

2016 is a year of fresh start —Oyo APC AS the global community is basking in the euphoria of witnessing the new year, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, has stated that 2016 would herald a fresh start for Nigeria in which the nation would begin to realise its full potential as de facto giant of Africa and the pride of the black race.

In its New Year goodwill message contained in a statement issued by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the APC asked Nigerians to expect the full manifes-

tation of the change which they voted for in 2015, when they replaced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the “promising” APC. “The 2015 will go down in history as one which ushered in an unprecedented successful reclamation of Nigeria from the vicious hands of power mongers and anti-democratic forces.

“Without mincing words, Nigerians did not vote President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC for the fun of it but to cleanse the Augean Stables created

by the PDP. The rebuilding process started immediately the president was sworn in with holistic assessment of the situation of things in the country while painstaking efforts have been made to fix the multifaceted problems in no time.

“In this new year, all we need to do as patriots, is to be more steadfast in our support and prayers for President Buhari and other leaders to enable them succeed in their individual and collective resolve to fix the nation.

ment in its efforts to bring insurgency to a halt in the country.

The traditional ruler gave the charge in his palace, on Thursday, at the presentation of employment items to 370 widows in the Niger South senatorial district by Senator

Mustapha Mohammed.

Alhaji Abubakar said that Nigerians should be more security conscious and provide the relevant security agencies in the country with information that would lead to the arrest of criminal elements in the society.

The traditional ruler noted that without the cooperation of the citizenry, the fight against insurgency and other criminality will not be won by the government, saying that the ordinary Nigerian would as a result, continue to suffer.

Be more security conscious, Etsu Nupe tells Nigerians

THE Etsu Nupe and chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has asked Nigerians to be more security conscious in the New Year, even as he also called for support for the Federal Govern-

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

Lagosmetro Cross-over service:

Churches, mosques get extra police protection Olalekan Olabulo

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); Special Adviser, Urban Development, Mrs Yetunde Onabolu (right) and the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, during the governor’s inspection of the Lagos CHOIS homes at Agbowa, Ikorodu, on Wednesday.

Cadets arrested by Ambode for trial — Navy Olalekan Olabulo

T

he Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that, the two cadets, who were arrested by the convoy of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode for locking an artisan in the trunk of a car, belong to the force.

According to a release signed, by Air vice Marshal M. A. Mohammed, the Air Officer Commanding of the Logistics Command of the Nigerian Air Force, the force condemned the act by the officers.

The arrested officers, according to the release from the air force, had not been handed over to the force by the Nigeria Police Force, as of Thursday afternoon.

The Nigerian Air Force in the release said “ the attention of the Nigerian Air Force has been drawn to a news story titled “Ambode frees artisan locked in the boot by cadets,” in some

national dailies of December 31, 2015, where two cadets were alleged to have mishandled a civilian at the Mile 2 area of Lagos.

The Air Force continued that “our preliminary investigations revealed that the accused persons are serving personnel of the Nigerian

Air Force. The leadership of the Nigerian Air Force will like to make it absolutely clear that the service does not condone this kind of behavior.

“We clearly understand our responsibility to the public. Therefore, as soon as the airmen are handed over

to the Nigerian Air Force by the police, we shall conduct the appropriate judicial process.

“In view of the above, you are please to disseminate this information through your mass medium for the awareness of the general public,” the force concluded.

The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) has increased its patrol and surveillance activities in many part of Lagos State as part of efforts to prevent any break down of law and order, during the New Year celebration.

A large percentage of the vehicles and equipment, donated by the state government to RRS was deployed to churches and mosques and other places with crowd.

Lagos Metro gathered that the commander in charge of RRS, Olatunji Disu directed that all officers of the unit must be on guard before, during and after the New Year celebration.

Motorised patrol from the unit has been ensured around religious institution, during the cross over programmme in churches all over the state.

Efforts to speak with Disu, an assistant commissioner of police, to confirm the number of policemen deployed for the operation failed as he was said to be in a meeting with some of his officers as of the time of filing this report.

A source at RRS, told Lagos Metro that, “the commander has deployed almost all the gadgets and equipment for operation for the New Year celebration.”

The police source added that, “almost all our men will be on guard at churches and mosques between today

Ketu tragedy: Why we took bodies of Oyesolu twins — Navy Olalekan Olabulo The Naval Ordinance Depot of the Nigerian Navy has explained why it took possession of the bodies of the Oyesolu twins, who were killed by a drunk and trigger-happy policeman in Ketu area of Lagos State.

The naval formation stated that they had only wanted to do the needful in respect of the death of Taiwo Oyesolu, who until his death was an Ordinary Seaman with the Nigerian

Navy.

The Naval Ordinance depot also explained that they had wanted to take Taiwo’s body but that the family of the deceased prevailed on them to take the bodies of the twins with them.

A senior official of the Nigerian Navy, who spoke with Lagos Metro, under the condition of anonymity also stated that the navy would allow the family to do whatever they want to do with the body of Kehinde.

The naval source stated

that, “after the incident, we did the necessary by investigating if the deceased was really an officer of the Nigerian Navy and we found out that he was an Ordinary Seaman with the Navy.

“We checked the necessary documentations and we found out that he was our officer, attached to the Naval Ordinance Depot.

“We have not taken the bodies to investigate the actions of the policeman but to identify the officer and give him the necessary burial,

since he was still serving, when he was killed,” the naval source said.

He also added that “it is not that we will bury the two of them. We just want to save the family the stress of having to bury the two of them separately. We will only bury our officer.”

The naval source also added that the navy will inform the family of when the burial would take place and bury only Taiwo, while Kehinde could be buried near him by the family.

and tomorrow. This is not a matter of off. It is a special duty.”

Civil Service Commission boss bows out after a decade Bola Badmus Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has announced the re-appointment of three of the outgoing members of Lagos State Civil Service Commission for an additional tenure of five years, saying the move was in line with the resolve of his administration to always reward excellence, hard work, commitment and dedication.

Governor Ambode made this known at a dinner organised in honour of the outgoing chairman, Dr Olujobi Ososanya and commissioners of the Commission.

Those re-appointed are Pastor Israel Folorunsho Alagbe, Honourable Tolani Wasiu Odeyemi and Oladimeji Oshinowo.

The governor said he was delighted to celebrate and thank the outgoing members of the Commission for their selfless service to the government and people of Lagos State, adding that the members discharged their duties very well while serving the state.

According to the governor, the outgoing chairman, Dr Ososanya, has served the Commission for 10 years, saying the credibility and pride of the state civil service was never in doubt during his tenure.

“Civil Servants had been getting their promotion in time and there has been better communication between the Service and the government.

“The task of recruiting, selection, and placement of suitable and qualified individuals in the State Civil Service is enormous but this Commission has handled it very well and ensured that the engine room of the government is properly oiled.”

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Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

LAGBUS to provide free bus ride today The Lagos State Government, through LAGBUS and

‘Precution in handling fire will curb outbreak’ The Lagos State Government has called for caution from all Lagosians in handling all forms of fire, particularly during Harmattan period in order to prevent unintended fire outbreaks that can easily spread and destroy lives and properties.

The Director, Lagos Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, who made the call during his visit to the scene of a fire outbreak on Tuesday, decried the increase in fire outbreak in the state which has become a crucial concern to the government, adding that there is an urgent need for all residents to be more careful especially during this time of the year.

He explained that, “Every season comes with its own challenges and it is therefore the collective responsibility of everyone of us to adapt to changes in the weather condition and promote safety measures during this Harmattan season in order to curb the tide of fire occurrence and incidents.”

He disclosed that the Agency has responded to 257 fire emergency calls from December 1 till 30, 2015, stressing that 15 persons were rescued alive from fire scenes in different parts of Lagos and six bodies were recovered, while 14 calls were discovered to be hoax.

The Fire Chief noted that most of the fire incidents happened in private homes, public buildings, warehouses, markets, sawmills and fuel tankers’ as a result of ignorance or sheer disregard for basic safety precautions.

He highlighted improper storage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) products, indiscriminate burning of refuse, refusal to put out all electrical appliances to avoid power surge, using candles on wood surface, unsafe disposal of cigarette butts, careless exposure to naked light and improper use of fireworks and most importantly human carelessness as major causes of fire outbreaks in the state.

its franchisees, will provide free bus ride to Lagosians on Friday, January 1, 2016, to celebrate the New year in the state.

In a statement issued and signed by the Managing Director of LAGBUS, Mr Idowu Oguntona, the free bus ride will be rendered during LAGBUS normal operational hours, between 6:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. on Friday, January 1, 2016 across the metropolis.

The Managing Director also used the opportunity to thank Lagosians for their patronage over the years, with an assurance of improved service delivery in the coming year.

He therefore wished all Lagosians a prosperous New Year.

Residents of Epe having fun at the one Lagos Fiesta, in Epe, on Wednesday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

Lagos Assembly asks job advertisers to register

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday resolved that all job advertisers register with the office of job creation to protect the lives of job seekers.

This resolution followed a motion moved by Mr Moshood Oshun (APC-Lagos Mainland II) on the floor of the assembly.

Oshun, Chairman, House Committee on Finance (State), said that the step had become necessary because of the fraudulent activities of some job placement agencies and the attendant security threat.

He recounted the ordeal of a lady, who recently fell victim to a job scam and

was raped to death in the state.

“It is high time we do something to protect the residents who patronise all these job centres. These people cannot provide jobs for themselves and their fliers are everywhere advertising job vacancies. It is a way of extorting innocent

Govt asks youth to be change agents Chukwuma Okparaocha The Lagos State Government has urged youths in the state to shun all forms of violence, including overtures from corrupt politicians and instead embrace peace.

This was part of the message of peace passed to the youths at an interactive forum tagged: “Peace in the world, the role of Lagos State youth,” which was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, posited that sustainable development, peace and security were inextricably linked and young people were essential to the establishment of lasting security.

“The media may portray

unemployed residents and many have fallen victim.

“The House should call on the ministry of information to sensitise the people on the danger,” Oshun said.

Mr Rotimi Olowo, the Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, said

that the phenomenon had extended to the social media where job adverts are placed with the intent to dupe people.

Olowo said that all human resources centres should be made to register with government to secure the lives of residents.

Man charged for forgery Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

youth, especially young men, as a threat, who stand the chance of being used as elements of violence, hooliganism, conflict-making, as we have seen such cases in countries where terrorism is the order of the day, but the vast majority of youth are

not violent,” she said.

The commissioner further noted that youth were a very important factor in peace and conflict resolution, hence they must be responsible enough to design their future based on their vision.

A 40-year-old man, Sunday Arowolo has been accused of forgery and stealing an unregistered car valued at N2.5 million.

Arowolo whose address is unknown allegedly committed the offences on July 7,

Some Lagos residents on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway have appealed to the Lagos State Government to beef up security around pedestrian bridges to check robbery attacks on them.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the residents also appealed to the state government to enforce the use of pedestrian bridges.

A trader in Ile-Epo Bus Stop area, Mr Ahmed Arikenyo, informed NAN that

he was afraid of using pedestrian bridges because of past experience where he was robbed on a footbridge on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

“We were robbed at gunpoint at the Ilasamaja Bridge a long time ago but the memory has refused to go. Any time I try to use a pedestrian bridge, I see the robbers, so I feel safer running across the highway,” he said.

Another pedestrian at Ikeja, Mrs Mabel Musa, said

she was also robbed on a pedestrian bridge around Gbagada area and had since become afraid of footbridges.

“Despite the fact that there was a police station close by, I was robbed at the bridge on Oshodi Oworonshoki Expressway, precisely, Charly Boy Bus Stop, so I am afraid to use pedestrian bridges,” she said.

However, Mr Ajulo Dada in Ijaiye area said he avoided footbridges out of negligence.

Residents shun pedestrian bridges to avoid robbery attacks

2014. According to the police, the incident took place at 25, Ayo Ajileye Street, Ori-Okuta area of Ikorodu .

The Police alleged that Arowolo and others, who are still at large, stole a Toyota Matrix which is valued at N2.5 million, property of one Mrs Ifeyinwa Anueyiagu.

The prosecutor further claimed that the defendant after forging the documents of the vehicle sold it and the alleged offences committed are punishable under sections 409, 285 (10) and 363 of the criminal law of Lagos state 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him at an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court.

The presiding Magistrate P. A. Adekomaya granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two responsible sureties in like sum. The case has been adjourned till January 19, for mention.

news 8 years after, Lagos Assembly pardons impeached deputy gov 10

Chukwuma Okparaocha Lagos

I

N an unexpected dramatic twist on the last day of 2015, the Lagos State House of Assembly invalidated the impeachment of former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Femi Pedro.

This resolution followed the adoption of the recommendation of an-eight man ad hoc committee which was constituted on July 2, to review the circumstances that led to the

Friday, 1 January, 2016

impeachment of Pedro.

The House, which passed a vote of confidence on Pedro, said that the allegations of his impeachment were not connected to criminal charges.

The committee, headed by the Majority Leader, Honourable Sanai Agunbiade, in its report said, “In line with Rule 51 (6) of the Business, Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the committee recommends that this House should by a sub-

stantive motion review the impeachment passed on Otunba Femi Pedro on Thursday, May 10, 2007, by the fifth Assembly.

“Pardon him and pass a vote of confidence on him as a fit and proper person that can be entrusted with political and administrative responsibilities.”

In all, 36 members of the House were in support of the pardon while only one lawmaker abstained from.

It will be recalled that Pedro was impeached towards the end of the ten-

ure of Senator Bola Tinubu as governor for gross misconducts on May 10, 2007.

The ex-deputy governor had urged the House to revisit his impeachment in a letter sent to the eighth Assembly on a compassionate manner.

In his contribution, Honourable Rotimi Olowo, the Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, urged the Assembly to reverse the impeachment for the exdeputy governor to live a normal life.

Olowo said that Pedro had shown enough remorse and needed to be forgiven.

Similarly, Honourable Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, commended the ad hoc committee for the recommendation.

Olulade also commended Pedro for withdrawing court cases challenging his removal to allow the Assembly wade into the matter.

Honourable Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (APCMushin I) said, “I am in agreement with the report of the committee, all the allegations against Pedro were not criminal.

“The former deputy governor has displayed a lot of maturity and honourable behaviour. His name has to be cleared. He is a man

Nigerian Tribune

of integrity and we should clear him of the allegations.”

However, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Honourable Tunde Braimoh, urged the House to direct the executive to invalidate documents against Pedro.

Responding, the Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, said the House was not absorbing Pedro of the allegations levied against him, but only decided to pardon him for his remorsefulness.

Obasa also noted that since Pedro was not convicted of any crime by any court of law, the Assembly had decided to pardon him and undo the impeachment served on him in 2007.

2016: Ekiti focuses on agric, begins social security Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

Last hour rush by Ibadan residents for New Year shopping at Ogunpa Labaowo Market, on Thursday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Drunk traffic warden crushes motorcyclist, passenger in Ekiti Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

A traffic control truck in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Thursday, crushed the legs of a commercial motorcyclist and his passenger in an accident that has landed the victims in the hospital.

It was gathered that a towing truck of the Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA) had crushed the legs of the victims in the accident that occurred at the Dallimore Junction, behind Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

Witnesses said the accident occurred while the traffic control truck was racing after another car, which they suggested might have driven against regulations somewhere around Ijigbo area of the town, but was trying to escape arrest.

They further claimed that the driver of the truck, “who should have applied

the break while approaching a busy junction, just entered the junction, running over the motorcyclist and his passenger coming in the opposite direction.”

Some of the witnesses alleged that the driver of the traffic truck was drunk as, according to them, there were bottles of various brands of hard liquor in the truck.

But the identity of the driver could not be ascertained at press time and there was no official confirmation of the state of the driver as at the time of the accident.

A witness at the scene said: “The truck was pursuing a car from Okesa area, but he did not stop when he got to this junction. While the car entered the road, the truck followed, but while the car escaped, the truck hit an Okada rider (commercial motorcycle operator).”

One of the accident vic-

tims, who gave his name as Tosin Babalola, on his hospital bed at the State’s Teaching Hospital, said “Only God saved me and that man (referring to the commercial motorcycle operator). We were coming from Oremeta Area and suddenly, we found ourselves under the truck.

The speed of the driver was just unbelievable. We were told he was pursuing a car at the time. The man has changed my journey while I was preparing for a new year.”

The motorcyclist, Popoola Christopher, urged the state government to investigate the accident and punish the truck driver, saying “the traffic agency should give me and my passenger all necessary treatment and support. We should not be abandoned.”

He said he couldn’t “understand why such a heavy vehicle would be speeding like that at such a tiny area.

Why? Government must support us to get out of this. This accident must not be allowed to deform us.”

But the Chairman of Motorcycle Riders Association, Mr Dahunsi Olaniyi, told newsmen that the issues had been resolved and the victims had already been taken to the hospital.

EKITI State government will this year focus on the rebirth of agriculture as a means of diversifying the economy of the state and bringing a new lease of life to the people.

Also, the state government is to begin the payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to some people in the lowest rung of the society, just as it has called on the people to look forward to the year with great hope despite the numerous challenges facing the nation generally.

A statement by Governor Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said “all these were contained in a New Year broadcast by the governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday.”

Adelusi said Fayose, who expressed appreciation to the people of the state for their unflinching support in the past year, noted with satisfaction that those fanning the embers

of discord and fomenting trouble in the state were put to shame.

“Fellow citizens, the outgoing year was full of its challenges. As a government, it came with all turbulence against the desperation of a few political rejects and their collaborators to vacate office after their defeat in a free and fair election. They went as far as rallying powerful forces and hiring external aggressors to help them wage war against their own fatherland. We defeated them physically on the field. They held the state to ransom for a while before they were scattered by the determined will and unity of our people.

“I thank the Almighty God and security agencies for the reign of peace in our state after the menaces of abductions, kidnappings and inter-ethnic discords.

I thank the good people of Ekiti State for their steadfastness with me and their government.

Our commitment to anti-drug war total —Ganduje KANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said that cultural, religious, economic and other variables must be taken into consideration if the war against drug peddling and abuse is to succeed.

He noted that the sale and abuse of drugs had taken a new dimension in the country as not only youths but also women and even cattle rustlers now engage in the unwholesome act.

The governor, who made the assertion while receiving the Acting Chairman

and CEO of NDLEA, Mrs Roli Bode George, noted that because of the high population of Kano and its cosmopolitan nature, drug abuse is very high in the state.

Governor Ganduje said his administration would continue to collaborate with NDLEA to tackle the menace, adding that his government has since established a reformatory to cater for drug addicts.

“Only yesterday, about 72 criminals including drug suspects were arrested and

on January 1, 2016, we will destroy a large consignment of hard drugs to signify our intention to deal with this drug problem,” the governor stated.

In her remarks, the Acting Chairman and CEO of NDLEA, Mrs Roli Bode George, briefed the governor about the country’s National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) which aims to strengthen responses to drugs in order to contribute to the enhanced health, security and well-being of all Nigerians.

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businessnews

Friday, 1 January, 2016

NECA urges FG on viable economic policies Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

T

HE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has advised the Federal Government to formulate viable economic policies ahead 2016.

Specifically, the DirectorGeneral, NECA, Olusegun Oshinowo, urged the government to refrain from making policies that will further constrain the ease of doing business.

Speaking on the expected policy direction of the government for the coming year in Lagos, Oshinowo pointed out that the assessment of the policy decisions in 2015 showed that the economy was not on the right track.

Oshinowo emphasised the need for the government to give hope to Nigerians in terms of qualitative

policies with long-term impact.

He further advocated for policies that would ensure that the private sector had unhindered access to the foreign exchange market in the New Year.

“We are looking for policy options that will ensure unfettered access to foreign exchange by the private sector. We are not looking forward to a policy option, which will

further constrain the very narrow fiscal space.

“By assessing the government based on these policy options, one can conclude that we are not on the right track. Given the situation of things, we can’t expect tangible and meaningful outcomes now but we should be able to have hope in terms of policy options such that if there is no respite in the shortterm, we can long for re-

spite in the medium-term and long-term.”

The NECA DG said that improvements in road and rail networks that would facilitate the movement of goods by business organisations were crucial. According to him, concrete plans that will show withdrawal from the dependence on crude oil revenue and diversification of the economy are also essential.

“We want policy options

that will show clearly that in the next two years, we will start seeing improvement in our infrastructure, in our road and rail networks. We are looking for policy options that will be consistent and will ensure that the government means business in terms of diversification of this economy away from outright dependence on revenue from the sale of crude oil,” he said.

AEDC welcomes tariff review, fixed charge removal

ABUJA Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has welcomed the new electricity tariff regime unveiled by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), noting also that it expressly endorses the removal of fixed charges for all classes of customers by the Commission.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the AEDC also reiterated its commitment to its mass metering project which has commenced a few weeks ago with a pilot scheme in Niger Region of the company.

According to the statement, the ongoing pilot scheme would enable the company to assess all challenges involved for it to evolve a more robust way of deploying the new meters across its coverage area of FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states, stressing that the overall plan is to have all its customers metered within four to five years.

AEDC explained that since its investment in the mass metering project has been captured in the new tariff regime approved by NERC, it will begin to roll out en masse across its entire franchise area after it has assessed the performance of the smart meters being installed in the pilot scheme currently ongoing in Niger Region of the company.

To facilitate the mass metering project, the company said customer enumeration will commence early next year in order to obtain vital information that will be fed into each customer’s metering programme.

From left, Executive Director, Service Management and Technology of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Nath Ude; Registrar/Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Seye Awojobi; Head, Training Academy of FCMB, Nana Odejayi; a member of the governing council of the institute, Wale Adeyemi and Head, HR Services of the Bank, Temi Dalley, during a visit by officials of CBN to FCMB, in Lagos.

NSE: Market ends year with a positive trade of 3.11% Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

THE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed the end of the year trade on a bullish trend as the All Share Index appreciated by 3.11 per cent to close at 28,642.25 basis points, to complement the preceding day 3.79 per cent appreciation.

Despite the positive trend close of the year end, year 2015 was a bullish one as the Year-to-Date (YTD) returns stood at -17.36 per

cent.

However, market turnover closed negatively on Thursday as volume declined by 82.13 per cent against 8.37 per cent uptick recorded on Wednesday.

Courtville Business Solutions Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc were the most active to boost market turnover, just as Nestlé Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc top market value list.

Courtville Business Solutions Plc led the list of active stocks that recorded impressive volume spike at the end of the year trading as it traded 32,575,000 shares worth N16.3 million in a single deal.

The good close of the year extends to the market breadth as there were 33 gainers against only six losers, a better performance when compared with previous outlook of 35 gainers and nine losers.

Foreign reserves drop further to $29.13bn THE Central Bank of Nigeria on Friday said the nation’s foreign exchange reserves declined to $29.13 billion as at December 29.

The bank said on its website that the drop represented 2.43 per cent from $29.31 billion recorded as at December 23 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the foreign reserves have been dropping since

July 1, 2015.

The nation’s external reserves stood at $34.49 billion as at January 5, 2015 from the $34.47 billion recorded in December 31, 2014.

But shortages of US Dollar has forced Nigeria’s external reserves into a massive decline hitting a new low of $29.73 billion as at December 11, while the value of the Naira declined in the unofficial foreign ex-

change market.

NAN also recalls that the CBN had spent around $5 billion between January and July defending the Naira, which was hit by the 2014 plunge in oil prices.

The CBN in November said it was able to save $300 million as at August from Bureau De Change through its provision that request for forex must be accompanied by the BVN of the customers.

Nahco topped the gainers chart with 10.20 per cent surge to close at N3.78 kobo per share, followed closely by Trans-National Express Plc with 9.71 per cent increase having added 10 kobo to its per share price. Nigerian Breweries Plc also advanced by 9.68 per cent, adding N12 to the N124 it traded, while Union Bank Nigeria Plc closed N6.90 after adding gaining 60 kobo to its share price.

On the flip side, Cadbury Nigeria Plc came first having shed 90 kobo from the N18.05 it traded to close at N17.15 kobo per share.

Cutix Plc followed with a 2.92 per cent lose to to close at N1.66 kobo per share, while Skye Bank Plc depreciated by 2.47 per cent to close at N1.58 kobo per share.

At the end of trading activity for the year 2015, investors traded 252,160,532 volume of shares worth N3.85 billion in 2,160 deals.

Nigerian Tribune

Alleged human rights abuse: CPC gives Turkish airlines ultimatum for full situation report THE Consumer Protection Council has issued an ultimatum to Turkish Airlines to provide a full situation report of events surrounding the alleged illtreatment of its passengers arriving into Abuja from December 20, 2015.

CPC, in a letter to the airline, dated December 29, 2015, signed by its DirectorGeneral, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said, “Turkish Airlines flight TK 623 from Istanbul arrived Abuja on Sunday 20th December 2015 without the baggage of the passengers of that flight. Passengers of subsequent flights on the same route, up to 26th December 2015, were also affected as their baggage failed to arrive on their respective flights.

“The baggage of the passengers of 20th December flight started arriving piecemeal only on 25thDecember, indicating that the Airline boarded passengers knowing full well that their baggage would not be transported with them.

Passengers, some of who travelled with minors, were put to great inconvenience and hardship as they were unduly deprived of their belongings and other items necessary to accomplish the purpose of their trips.”

The agency, in its letter, explained that “all such passengers, including those whose destinations were outside Abuja, were forced to repeatedly check at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on the fate of their baggage, thereby incurring extra and unbudgeted expenditure, including hotel accommodation.”

While noting that “Turkish Airlines allegedly failed to provide passengers with prompt and proper information about their baggage which led to confusion and disenchantment”, the Council stated that the airline “also allegedly failed to provide the passengers with any form of on-the-spot relief as required by international aviation conventions.”

CPC, therefore, requested the airline to provide it with a full situation report of the said events on or before Friday 8th January 2015, stating further that the report should include its policy on delayed baggage, particularly as regards the compensation of affected passengers, the number of affected passengers, the number of passengers who had not received their baggage and when same was expected to arrive, etc.

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business

Friday, 1 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

DAILY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) FOR THURSDAY, 23 DECEMBER, 2015

TOP 5 GAINERS

TOP 5 LOSERS

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

14 newyearmessage

Friday, 1 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

New year, a chance to place our nation on right path —Tinubu

T

HE new year presents a chance for us to place this precious nation on the right path. This path will not be easy as we must press to surmount obstacles that should have been laid behind us long ago. There are no shortcuts to take to greatness, but there also is no reason that we cannot attain that greatness. Our new government offers the country its best chance.

Thus, we must dedicate ourselves to creating a more perfect nation, one built on justice, peace, unity and prosperity. We must join hands in common purpose to defeat insecurity, poverty and corruption and bring

back prosperity. Let us pledge never again to fall victim to these scourges.

Let us pledge this year to walk together in strong unity.

May 2016 go down in history as the year Nigeria

Pray for our country, Ekweremadu urges Nigerians Taiwo Adisa-Abuja

DEPUTY President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has called on Nigerians to work and pray for the peace and progress of the country in the New Year.

Senator Ekweremadu, who made the call in his New Year message

Reduce vehicles around worship centres, IGP warns THE Inspector-General of Police, Solomon E. Arase, has felicitated with Nigerians, as we celebrate the New Year.

The IGP, who assured Nigerians of the Nigeria Police High Command’s preparedness to secure the citizenry during the festive period, however, urged worshippers both at Jummat and church services, to take adequate measures to reduce the number of vehicles around the hallowed worship centres.

The force equally advised operators of motor parks, shopping malls and recreational centres, to work very closely with the police and other security agencies in the bid to strengthen general security in their respective facilities.

Meanwhile, to ensure a secure, peaceful and hitch-free nationwide

New Year celebration, the IGP has directed all Zonal AIGs and state command commissioners of police to ensure an effective and efficient deployment of all operational manpower and tools at the disposal of their respective commands.

endorsed by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, stated that despite the economic challenges bedevelling the nation at this time, , Nigeria made tremendous progress in nurturing democracy and preserving the peace and unity of the country.

“There is no doubt that 2015 will be remembered as a defining year for the nation’s democracy and unity. We have to give deserved credit to the Nigerian people whose sense of patriotism ensured that we held successful general election and an unprecedented and smooth handover of government from one political party to the other,” he said

Niger gov sues for peace Adelowo Oladipo- Minna

NIGER State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has said that the country’s prosperity in the years ahead is uncompromisingly dependent on the unity and peaceful co-existence of all the federating units.

He stated this in a New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, on Thursday, in Minna, the Niger State capital.

Governor Bello called on the people to pray

Akpabio wishes Nigerians a prosperous 2016 THE Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio has prayed for a prosperous and peaceful 2016 for Nigeria and its inhabitants, advising Nigerians to continue to pray for the leadership of the country and make sacrifices for the good of the land.

Akpabio, who made the disclosure in a New Year message signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Deacon Jackson Udom, called on the great people of Akwa Ibom and Nigerians at large to continue to support government’s efforts with the prayers and sacrifices, noting that despite obvious economic realities, God

reached a higher plain by conquering those things that for so long had set us back.

May this nation rise and become the standard for Africa and the black race that God intends it to be.

would surprise Nigerians with prosperity, good health and grace in the New Year.

Senator Akpabio, however, called on Nigerians to persevere in the New Year, noting that the country would not reach its Eldorado without the sacrifices, prayers and perseverance of teeming Nigerians.

for the sustenance of peace and unity in the country, saying that “our collective prosperity as a nation and as a people, is uncompromisingly dependent on the unity and peaceful co-existence of the people.”

APC promises better life for Nigerians chairman NATIONAL of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Thursday, assured Nigerians that 2016 would be a better year for Nigerians.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the party’s Assistant Director (Publicity), Mr Edegbe Odemwingie.

The statement said although 2015 was difficult, 2016 would see the fulfillment of all campaign promises by the APC.

Unity must be Nigerians’ resolution —Kwara Speaker Biola Azeez- Ilorin

SPEAKER, Kwara State Assembly, Hon. Dr Ali Ahmad, said more than ever before, Nigerians must be resolute and rededicate themselves to

the oneness of the nation.

In a new year message to Nigerians, Ahmad stressed that the unity of Nigeria must be the major resolution of every citizen, saying they should strive to achieve that.

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

FACES AT THE BURIAL CEREMONY OF ELDER JACOB DAYO KARIMI, JP, THE FATHER OF HON. SUNDAY KARIMI, MEMBER REPRESENTING, YAGBA FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HELD AT EGBE, YAGBA WEST COUNCIL AREA OF KOGI STATE.

Hon Sunday Karimi welcoming the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara to the church

The Deputy Governor of Kogi State Arch. Yomi Awoniyi greeting Aremo Jide Omokore

Evangelist (Chief) Ebenezer Fabiyi Obey entertaining the guest

Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa The Governor of Delta State.

Oba Ayodele Irukera, the Elegbe of Egbe, welcoming Hon Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker House of Representatives

Hon. Sunday Karimi and his wife, Stellamaris

From left: Kogi State Commissioner for Environment & Natural Resources, Mr Tayo Aremu, and wife Funmilola & Barr Henry Ojuola former member KGHA

From left: Sikiru, Dickson, Victor, Nancy and Toye

Hon Victor Omofaye, Member, Kogi State House of Assembly.

Hon. Sunday Karimi, son of the deceased and his mother, Maria Karimi, the widow

The Speaker House of Reps.

Hon. Yakubu Dogara arriving for the event

Capt. Idris Wada The Governor of Kogi State.

Prince Uche Secondus, Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The remains of the deceased, Elder Jacob Dayo Karimi, (JP), driven in a chariot to the burial site.

Aremo Jide Omokore at the church service.

Hon. Sunday Karimi, son of the deceased performing the dust-to-dust.

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

I

LETTER TO AGUIYI IRONSI N the wake of the coup d’etat a Federal Military Government was formed with Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi at its head.

It was customary that in that kind of event, political prisoners like myself were pardoned and released. So, expectations were again high that in a matter of days, rather weeks, I would be released. But not so, I waited in vain for two-anda-half months for the joyful news.

Then in March, Chief Giwa-Osagie, the Director of Prisons paid a visit to Calabar. He had a message for me from the Head of the Military Government. It was to the effect that if I wrote a petition for pardon and release, it would be granted.

Why petition and why on my own behalf alone, and not on behalf of my prisoner colleagues? I did not like the suggestion and I told the Director so. He assured me that once I was released, the release of the others would soon follow. I told him that I would think about it and let him know my final decision.

About two weeks later, he sent a message by telephone through Mr. Gabriel Ohwo, the Superintendent in charge, that it had been agreed that the petition could cover all my colleagues as I wished. Then without delay, I wrote the following which was immediately dispatched.

CONFIDENTIAL 28th March, 1966.

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

A return to Papa Awolowo (II) Many views – some of them well-considered and respectable – have been expressed about the value or disvalue of opposition as a feature of public life in a newly emergent African State. Speaking for my party, I submit that the Opposition which I led did, to all intents and purposes, justify its existence and was acclaimed by the masses of our people as essential and indispensable to rapid national growth. This was so, because it was unexceptionably constructive. The abrogation of the Anglo-Nigeria Defence Pact was one of the feathers in its cap. Some of the policies which the Government of the day later adopted – such as the creation of a Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the introduction of drastic measures to correct our balance of payments deficit – were among those persistently and constructively urged by the Opposition inside and outside Parliament.

The Supreme Commander and Head of the Federal Military Government, Lagos Thro: The Director of Prisons,

Prisons Headquarters Office,

Private Mail Bag 12522, Lagos.

Sir, PREROGATIVE OF MERCY: SECTION 101 (1)(A) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERATION ACT 1963 1.

I am writing this petition for FREE PARDON under Section 101(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federation Act 1963, on behalf of myself and some of my colleagues whose names are set out in the Annexe hereto.

2.

Before I go further, I would like to state that the reasons which I advance in support of this petition, in my own behalf, basically hold good for my said colleagues. For they share the same political beliefs with me, and have intense and unquenchable loyalty for the ideals espoused by the Party which I have the honour to lead.

3.

There are many grounds which could be submitted for your consideration in support of this petition. But I venture to think that SEVEN of them are enough and it is to these that I confine myself. (i) In the course of my evidence during my trial, I stated that my Party favoured and was actively working for alliance with the N.C.N.C as a means, among other things, of solving what I described as “the problem of Nigeria”, and strengthening the unity of the Federation. In October 1963 (that is about a month after my conviction and while my appeal to the Supreme Court was still pending), a Peace Committee headed by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, made overtures to me through my friend Alhaji W.A. Elias to the effect that if I abandoned my intention to enter into alliance with the N.C.N.C which, according to the Committee, was an Ibo Organisation, and agreed to dissolve the Action Group and, in co-operation with Chief Akintola (now deceased), form an all-embracing Yoruba political party which I would lead and which would go into alliance with the N.P.C, I would be released from prison before the end of that year. I turned down these terms because I was of the considered opinion that their acceptance would further widen and exacerbate inter-tribal differences, and gravely undermine the unity of the Federation.

TODAY, THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT, OF WHICH YOU ARE THE HEAD, LEAVES NO ONE IN ANY DOUBT THAT IT STANDS FOR NIGERIAN’S UNITY. BUT IT MUST BE EMPHASISED, IN THIS CONNECTION, THAT IF I HAD PRIZED MY PERSONAL FREEDOM ABOVE THE UNITY OF NIGERIA, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SET FREE IN 1963. IN THAT EVENT, THIS PETITION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY, AND THE WORK OF CONSOLIDATING THE UNITY OF THE COUNTRY TO WHICH YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES NOW SET YOUR HANDS MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE EXTEREMELY MORE INTRACTABLE AND IRKSOME. As recently as 20th December, 1965, identical peace terms (the only variant being that the alliance with the N.C.N.C which was now a reality should be broken) were made to me here, in Calabar Prison, by a delegation representing another

Obafemi Awolowo

Peace Committee headed by the self-same Chief Justice of the Federation and purporting to have the blessing of the Prime Minister, with the unequivocal promise that if I accepted the terms my release would follow almost immediately. I rejected the terms for the reasons which I have outlined above.

(2) One of the monsters which menaced the public life of this country up to 14th January, this year is OPPORTUNISM with its attendant evils of jobbery, venality, corruption, and unabashed self-interest. From all accounts, you are inflexibly resolved to destroy this monster. That was precisely what my colleagues and I had tried to do before we were rendered bors de combat since 29th May, 1962.

On two different occasions I was offered, first the post of Deputy Prime Minister (before May 1962), and second that of Deputy Governor-General (in August 1962), If I would agree to fold up the Opposition and join in a National Government.

I declined the two offers because they were designed exclusively to gratify my self-interest, with no thought of fostering any political moral principle which could benefit the people of Nigeria. The learned Judge who presided over the Treasonable Felony Trial, commented unfavourably on my nonacceptance of one of these posts and held that my action lent weight to the case of the Prosecution against me. I must say, however, that in all conscience, I felt and still feel that a truly public-spirited person should accept public office not for what he can get for himself – such as the profit and glamour of office – but for the opportunity which it offers him of serving his people to the best of his ability, by promoting their welfare and happiness. To me, the two aforementioned posts were sinecures, and were intended to immobilise my talents and stultify the role of watch-dog which the people of Nigeria looked upon me to play on their behalf at that juncture in our political evolution.

(3) This leads me to the third ground. From newspaper reports, it would appear that you and your colleagues – like all well-meaning Nigerians – are anxious that on the termination of the present military rule, Nigeria should become a flourishing democracy. Now, democracy is a political doctrine which is very intimately dear to my heart. It was to the end that it might be accepted as a way of life in all parts of the Federation that I campaigned most vigorously and relentlessly in the Northern Provinces of Nigeria, from 1957 to 1962, to the implacable annoyance of some of my political adversaries. It was to the end that mercenary politics that I refused to succumb to the temptation of the National Government.

The point I wish to emphasize here is that it was not out of spite or hatred for any one that I chose to remain in Opposition instead of joining the much-talked-of National Government. I did so in order to serve our people to the best of my ability in the position in which their votes had placed my party, and to ensure that the young plant of democracy grows into a sturdy flourishing tree in Nigeria.

(4) Since the declaration of emergency in the Western Region on 29th May, 1962, political tension has existed in Western Nigeria. My conviction on 11th September, 1963, together with the surrounding bizarre circumstances, has led not only to the heightening of that tension in Western Nigeria but also to its profuse and irrepressible percolation to the other parts of the Federation. The result is that it can be said, without much fear of contradiction, that today the majority of our people are passionately concerned about and fervently solicitous for the release of myself and my colleagues.

The work of reconstruction on which you and your colleagues have embarked demands that all the citizens of Nigeria in their respective callings should give of their maximum best. A state of psychological tension, however much it may be brought under control or repressed, does not and cannot conduce to maximum efficiency. In spite of themselves, people labouring under emotions which this kind of tension automatically generates are bound to make avoidable mistakes which in their turn have adverse effects on national progress.

It is, therefore, in the national interest that this tension should be relaxed, if possible, without further delay.

(5) A petition of this kind, is, by its very nature, bound to be replete with self-adulation. I hope and trust that, in the circumstances, this is excusable. It is in this hope and trust that, in the circumstances, this is excusable. It is in this hope and trust that I assert that my colleagues and I have the qualifications and capacity to render invaluable services to our people and fatherland. Every day that we spend in prison, therefore, must be regarded as TWENTY-FOUR UNFORGIVING HOURS OF TRULY VALUABLE SERVICES LOST TO OUR YOUNG COUNTRY. Even my most inveterate enemies have given the following testimony about me: “AWOLOWO HAS STILL A GREAT DEAL TO GIVE TO THIS COUNTRY”.

No country, however advanced and civilised can afford to waste any of its talents, be they ever so small. Nigeria is too young to bury some of her talents as she was compelled to do under the old regime.

It is within your power to restore my colleagues and me to a position where our fatherland can again rejoice at the contributions which we are capable of making to its progress, welfare and happiness.

(To be continued next week) EBINO’S COMMENT HAPPY NEW YEAR! EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

18 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 1 January, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08078891826.

It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Still on FG’s war on corruption

N

IGERIANS are funny people; before now, everybody agreed that corruption is our biggest challenge, and that is part of the reason we voted for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The president, during his

campaign, had promised to rid Nigeria of corruption, but no soon had the war on corruption started than some people started accusing the president of political vendetta.

Today, we are all witnesses to how $2.1billion meant for the purchase of

arms was spent; I know if the money was used to procure the arms, then the war against Boko Haram would have been over by now. Unfortunately, those in charge of the money were diverting it for other purposes, while our soldiers were being killed on

FG, prosecute economic saboteurs IT was shocking when I read that over 500 trucks filled with oil had been diverted; this is part of the economic sabotage we are talking about. Some people are profiting from the fuel scarcity and would not want an end to it soon.

I want the government to prosecute whoever is found to be sabotaging this country economically, and sentence him or her to a minimum of 15 years in jail.

Some Nigerians just love cutting corners just because of the financial gains, and if we continue

to treat corruption with kid gloves, it will continue to grow.

It is high time we even adopted the Chinese model for curbing corruption, and that is anybody found guilty of stealing from the State should be sentenced to death, or life imprisonment.

Corruption is our biggest problem in this country, and if we don’t find a lasting solution to it, then it will consume all of us.

I am happy with the leader we have now, in the person of President Muhammadu Buhari, but un-

fortunately, the rule of law is slowing down his war on corruption. I, however, believe that in the end, Nigerians will get the message that corruption is a serious crime against the State.

Even in countries where the death penalty has been abolished, shortchanging the State is still a serious crime which can land offenders in jail for several years.

We, therefore, need to wage a total war on corruption in Nigeria.

•Yakub Aishat, ABU, Zaria.

the war front. This is definitely man’s inhumanity to man.

I really want to commend President Buhari for the ongoing war on corruption; it will go a long way to sanitise the system. Even after the tenure of the president, those who will hold public offices will think twice before mismanaging the nation’s money as they could be called to account for it anytime.

It is this same corruption that has ruined our oil industry; we should ask ourselves why we should be importing fuel when we have refineries that can refine oil for local consumption? This is also part of the corruption we are talking about. Now, with this situation, we have created billionaires because they set up firms that only import oil.

Now, we have billionaires who have only hundreds of employees, but when we look at the United States of America, for

example, a billionaire like Bill Gates has hundreds of thousands of people working for him, and there are several millions of people across the world also indirectly benefiting from his services. This is not the case with Nigeria, and it all boils down to corruption.

The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Buhari should intensify the war on cor-

ruption; those who had stolen from the country should be made to return the loot, and then be jailed for their crimes.

We will never develop if we don’t sort out the issue of corruption in our country, and I am happy that with Buhari, we are on the right track.

•Idayat Kassim, Surulere, Lagos.

Killing a fly with a sledge hammer PERHAPS one of the most discussed topic on business and the economy this year is the colossal fine of N1.4trillion imposed on telecoms company MTN Nigeria by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Like every other law-abiding citizen, I support the action of meting out punishment to offenders to encourage obedience and rule of law However, the big question is how can one single offence attract a penalty of such magnitude? It it an amount that is approximately Lagos State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for five years and or/a quarter of the annual national budget under no laid down break downs and procedures. I join the growing number of elite asking questions like, what is the yardstick?

Are there case studies of similar situation? Is the fine based on MTN flagrant disobedience or a delay in meeting up with the deadline? How would a fine of such amount affect the leading telecoms provider in the country with a great stake in the economy?

We all agree that like a fly that parades itself in the expanse of a clean environment, so is the mess created by the delay of MTN to disconnect about 5 million subscribers off its network; therefore proper measures must be taken to clean up the system and ensure justice for an offense that bothers more on time than outright disobedience and typifies the popular max-

im of “if you don’t live by the deadline you die by the deadline.”

The latest update on this imbroglio is the court action instituted by MTN in their quest for justice and fairness and even though the company have publicly declared that it is not fighting the Federal Government but only seeking fair hearing through due process, one cannot but stop to think about the aftermath of this long drama.

If the action of MTN represents a messy fly, then a conscious attempt to clean up the system and get rid of the messy fly is a welcome development, but how? The country is in one of its most delicate state in history and every action translates to either pain or gain.

On this delicate and glass-like front, we need not ask if the messy fly should go, our concern should be on the aftermath, whatever kill measures taken affect the glassy surface where the fly sits. The imbroglio created by this development is certainly growing beyond a mere case of meting out punishment to serve as a deterrent to others.

While we await the decision of the court and hope that justice is served, we stand by the principle of degree of offense equals the degree of punishment and I share in the belief that it is okay for the fly to die but definitely not from a sledge hammer.

Eniola Abidoye, Ibadan.

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editorial

O

Friday, 1 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

2016: Year of challenges

N the dot of 12 midnight in the wee hours of this morning, millions of people across the globe ushered in the year 2016 with wild jubilations. Starting from countries like Australia, the Philippines and those in South East Asia, the jubilations went on until they turned full circle depending on which part of the world one is located. Expectedly, citizens of the world, including Nigerians, even in their celebrations, hope for a better year despite the bitter-sweet experiences of the past year.

For Nigerians, 2015 was full of surprises, especially on the political terrain where there was a change in the leadership of the country in the month of May. For the first time in the political history of the country, an opposition party swept the ruling party out of power. The much-talked about disintegration of the country did not come to pass and economically, the country did not do badly until the middle of the year when the drop in oil price began to affect the revenue accruable to the national purse while state and federal governments began to feel the impact.

However, despite the change at the political level, a lot of issues still stare Nigerians in the face which they would want tackled in the course of the New Year.

Since taking over the rein of government, President Muhammadu Buhari has shown through his body language that he still has zero tolerance for corruption.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has suddenly sprung to life and is currently pursuing cases of corruption against several past public office holders. His war against corruption has also seen millions of naira returned into the nation’s coffers.

Also in the course of 2015, the Buhari government stepped up the war against Boko Haram militants and had taken back the territories hitherto to held by them such that the administration has asserted that the militant group had been “technically defeated.”

The economy is also a big source of worry for the ordinary Nigerian. However through the Treasury Single Account (TSA) the Federal Government has been able to monitor effectively its revenues coming from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

More importantly, the Federal Government has come up with a budget of N6.08 trillion with many experts and even ordinary Nigerians wondering how it would fund the budget with borrowed money. Despite that, on Wednesday evening, President Buhari insisted during his maiden presidential media chat that he would not devalue the naira, a step that many Nigerians were afraid may happen this year.

However, though this is good news, we expect that the Federal Government would be well-guided in its fiscal policies this year. The president must make a very strong point within the bureaucracy to show that his government is serious about turning the economy around.

Still on the economy, many Nigerians are not unaware of the huge monies voted in this year’s budget to fund what is simply seen in many quarters as the lavish lifestyle of political office holders. Many newspapers have already reported billions of naira being voted for cars and other luxuries even as many Nigerians are finding it difficult to have three square meals a day. Government in the new year is expected to demonstrate in very cogent manner that it is not oblivious of the dire straits in which we have found ourselves as a people. Sacrifice must flow from the top to the bottom.

Invariably, the cost of utilities has gone up, especially in the power sector where the fixed charge paid by electricity consumers had been removed, only for the unit cost of electricity to be increased. Nigerians have been told that fuel will cost N86 and N86.50 starting from today, but the reality on the ground is that most filling stations have continued to sell fuel well above that price for several months now. The country’s infrastructure had also been in a shambles with many roads totally impassable making journeys a nightmare for motorists and other users.

We urge the Federal Government to step up efforts and take concrete steps towards change – its mantra - this year because it is its first full year in office and given that it has a tenure to run, the four years in view is not eternity. Nigerians have not given up hope and that is why the onus is on the Buhari government to bring about the change it promised them.

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opinion

Friday, 1 January, 2016

Raising Nigerian kids in the Diaspora

By Abiodun Ladepo

I

T begins with the language spoken in the home. It is often the case that parents who share the same Nigerian language speak English to their children at home even when the children are just babies and toddlers. This is a waste of the child’s wide repertoire for learning new things, including new languages. Various psychologists and socio-linguists opine that every child is imbued with an innate ability to acquire a language.

What parents need to do is place that child in close proximity to the language and the child would pick it up effortlessly. Parents unwittingly underestimate the child’s capacity to learn the parents’ native language, internalize it as perfectly as the parents do and use it as appropriately as the parents do.

By not speaking their native language to their children, parents deny their children the three theories of language acquisition: imitation, reinforcement and active construction of grammar.

Parents also, by speaking our adulterated, impure American English to the children, unwittingly impede or, in fact, destroy the children’s ability to learn American English in its purest form.

Most of us who arrived in the US after 12 years of age or after puberty (according to socio-linguists) have forever lost the capacity to learn American English like a native speaker. We come from Nigeria with our breathy alphabets, twisted consonants, misplaced stresses, wrong diction, abbreviated vocabulary, and we unknowingly impose these habits on our children. Our imperfect American English is what we expose our children to, and through the three theories of language acquisition mentioned above, our children acquire our poor English. We do not recognise the fact just as our parents did not sit us down to teach us our native Nigerian languages, our children would naturally and effortlessly learn from their friends at the nursery, higher schools and playgrounds. They would learn and internalize American English by listening to the radio, watching the TV and other media outlets like movies and music.

It then goes on into subordinating or completely surrendering our entire mores to the American environment in which we live.

Our children wake up and walk past us in the house without rendering the greeting of the day. Forget about girls kneeling down (as is the case with those of us from southern Nigeria) and boys prostrating (as is the case with Yoruba people); the children outright do not even utter the greeting of the day before asking us for

whatever they want! A Nigerian man walked into his house with his friend in tow. He found his two teenage boys playing video games in the living room. Rather than greet their father and the guest, the children unplugged their video player and relocated into their room. When the father went to them and chastised them for not having the decency to greet his friend, the boys told him the guest was the father’s, not theirs! They didn’t think they had the obligation to greet their parents’ friends. Some, in fact, call their parents’ friends by their first names! Forget “Uncle” or “Auntie.”

I agree it is probably too late to teach greetings manner to a teenage child, but where you find a teenage child too big to greet an elder, you will find one too big to do the dishes. It is not uncommon to find children who rise from the dining table taking only their own plates and expecting their parents to take theirs too. Some even leave their plates for their parents to clear and wash. These are the same type of children that have unlimited access to the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets. Many of them eat whenever, wherever and whatever they want. They eat all day every day. This lack of self-control and absence of parental control become so ingrained in the psyche of these children that they never develop any moderating tendencies.

Such children do not (and cannot) do their own laundries even when all it entails is merely putting the clothes in the washing machine and transferring them to the dryer. We have Nigerian parents who hire (on a weekly basis) cleaning maids that sweep and vacuum the house; wash and fold clothes, including those of their teenage children and wipe down the furniture. These maids even come during holidays when the children do not have to go to school! I understand that if you have the financial wherewithal, your children should not “suffer” like you did growing up. But such children end up not being able to do their own chores when

they eventually move out of their parents’ homes.

Or do they ever really move out? Even if they move out physically, they are unable to accomplish simple tasks in their own homes. They rely on their parents to help run their homes, including their marriage. By their actions, you can tell what young man or woman did not get or did not imbibe the proper Nigerian home training. That man whose house is always in tatters – clothes all over the place, trash overfilled, entire home like a pigsty, lawn overgrown with weed as if you are in the bush; and that woman who cannot make eba or boil an egg without burning something – whose white bathtub is perpetually brown with soot and her commode as filthy as a dumpster, whose bedroom is always like a tornado went through it – that man or woman is an example of that child whose parents handled with kid gloves their entire formative years.

Our children now receive “time-outs” instead of the good old tough love spanking that kept us on the straight and narrow path when we were young. As a five-year-old growing up in Zaria, my mother once found me in a family friend’s home watching television. I had sneaked over there in contravention of her many prior warnings. My mother crept behind me as I sat on the floor with other kids; she lifted me by my ears (!) and carried me as far as she could. When she was tired, she would put me down and then lift me up again by my ears. We must have stopped about 20 times in a distance of about half a mile. My ears burned forever.

These days, whenever I catch myself watching TV for too long, I feel my ears burning.

Out of the fear of being labeled a child abuser, many of us do not want to put our hands on our children at all.

While it is true that many children go through life and become productive citizens without having experienced corporal punishment ever, many other children do require “whipping” back-toshape when they stray. It is up to the parents to identify which of their children needs to be spanked. If you allow your child to become rude, lazy, recalcitrant, greedy, indifferent and disrespectful, chances are the child will amount to very little in life and you may end up forever bailing that child out of jail and out of other types of jams.

The bottom line is this: what obtains in Nigeria obtains in the US, albeit with slight modifications. You do not need monkeylike summersaults before raising your child in God’s ways.

•Ladepo lives in Maryland, USA.

Still on the Kogi debacle

By Odunayo Joseph

THERE is no doubt that in the dirty murky waters of politics in Nigeria, the act of giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it is prevalent and commonplace. There is also no doubt that the labeling of politics as a dirty game in this part of the world is undoubtedly playing out in Kogi State with the declaration of an election in which an outright winner emerged as inconclusive. This apart, it remains the 8th wonder of the world where the hard-won votes of a candidate in a free and transparently conducted election could be allowed to be inherited by another candidate who never featured in any of his party’s campaigns for the election and who never participated in the election in the first place even including the one that was held in his hometown which saw the Vice President of the country in attendance.

This would not only sound unbelievable to believers in true democracy, but will also be seen to be too ridiculous to take place in a decent and modern democratic setup. But alas, what is happening today in Kogi has become an epitome of confirmation of this 8th wonder of the world and respect for party indiscipline.

Without mincing words, the present political terrain in Kogi State is such where the battle, as expected, is not between two opposing parties but one that is intra-party in nature and which has made two members of the same party to be at daggers drawn with each other. The genesis of the battle is no longer new to all Nigerians and to Kogites in particular – the bearer of the All Progressives Congress, Abubakar Audu passed away during an election the results of which was already made known to the whole world only for INEC to turn around to declare the election as conclusive, an action that triggered the present political logjam that is rocking the state. In line with the nation’s constitution, Faleke ought to be declared as the governor-elect under the joint ticket of Audu/Faleke but rather than doing this, the electoral body opted for a supplementary election which at the end of the day not only resulted into wastage of both hu-

man resources and dwindling capital resources of the country but the outcome of which, as already known to all and sundry, would not make any difference to the status quo vis-à-vis the margin between the winning APC’s joint ticket of Audu/Faleke and the runner up – the incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Under normal circumstances, the APC as the winning party in the election should have been in the forefront of protecting Faleke’s mandate as the governor-elect but this was not to be owing to some behind-the-scene scheming which was likely packaged so as to lend credence to the declaration of the election as inconclusive in the eyes of the public, using the sudden death of Audu as a camouflage. Be that as it may, the only option left for Faleke was for him to approach the court for pronouncement of the election as conclusive and therefore a winner-producing one. However, the presiding judge ruled that his court was not competent to try the case and he consequently ruled that an Election Petitions Tribunal was the right channel to handle the matter. It is therefore hoped that the Federal Government will do all possible for the tribunal which Kogites are eagerly waiting for to be constituted as quickly as possible.

When it comes to party supremacy and party loyalty, Hon James Faleke is the least expected politician to be tutored on the subjects and one who cannot be faulted or found wanting.

His political clout has, without doubt, given him out as a politician of note whose characteristic steadfastness, absolute loyalty to the party and unalloyed support for party supremacy to

which he belongs since his foray into politics must have endeared him to Kogites who in their quest for CHANGE overwhelmingly cast their votes for the Audu/Faleke ticket in the November 21, 2015 governorship election. Faleke that Nigerians know very well, would never have veered to another political party for losing a the party’s primary talk less of working against his party for it to lose in his own poling unit, ward and local government to a rival party in a crucial election such as governorship election.

In terms of political antecedents, Faleke and Bello are thousands of miles apart. Do you know what it means for one to be made the Chairman of 57 Local Government chairmen in a highly cosmopolitan and politically exposed state like Lagos where all cities, towns, villages and remotest parts of the country have good representation. For Faleke to be given the task of coordinating the campaign of Buhari/Osinbajo in a hotly contested state as Lagos a lot of factors must have been taken into consideration.

Those who see Faleke’s option of approaching the court to seek redress for his fundamental right as uncalled for are either too enmeshed in political partisanship, ethnicity, bigotry or ignorant of their fundamental rights under the Constitution. The fact remains that all those who are familiar with the behind-the-scene political maneuvering and intrigues stemming from outside interference in the state politics and which is still lingering in the state today are in the position to understand and have a better grasp of the true cause of the political imbroglio in the state.

Going by public opinions (an ingredient of true democracy) and reactions on the political imbroglio in Kogi State both in and outside the state, there is no doubt that those who hold the opinion that James Faleke should have been declared as the governor-elect in a freely and transparently conducted election are more in number than those who support Yahaya Bello who was declared as the governor-elect by INEC through a suspicious supplementary election which, in the first place, was unnecessary. This is the bitter truth!

•Joseph lives in Mopa, Kogi State.

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

fridaytreat

Nigerian Tribune

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636

Nigerian artistes:

Moving from the sidelines to

Africa’s centre stage

Meet-Your-Artiste

Base One

BASEONE, originally known as Shotunde Isaac Ayomipo, was born on the 24th of March. A graduate of Banking and Finance from the Lagos State University, Base One says he has certainly found family in Aquila records. Base One is often depicted as an indigenous rapper who spits his bars in his local Yoruba dialect, but generally he is an all-round lyrical monster who delivers comfortably in both English and pidgin languages as well.

A budding leader and master of his craft, one can say Base One was made for the career he chose. He enjoys drawing, eating, watching movies, listening to music and agrees unequivocally that his most memorable day was the day he got signed to Aquila Records.

Without a major deal prior to now, Base One managed to attain a level of relevance on the Nigerian entertainment scene by building and nurturing a dedicated fan base through occasional song releases and a number of featured tracks, his major strong points being his engaging lyrics on songs and his ability to hold any crowd spellbound.

Base One has displayed his versatility in the work done with several successful artistes such as Olamide, Reminisce, Nikki Laoye, Kayswitch, to mention a few.

Now signed to the Aquila records imprint, which also has Tilla and QuePeller, Base One has released an official introduction to the industry and the world in general through his massive monster-hit, ‘Werey rey o’.

Looking forward to having a lot of awards and possibly his record label, the ambitious rapper definitely has big dreams and all it takes to achieve them.

Mildred Okwo, Uche Jombo, Moses Babatope, others for Broadway Movie Academy BROADWAY Movie Academy, in a statement via Bigsam Media, has announced established industry stakeholders as part of the facilitators for Broadway Movie Academy maiden class which would be starting from the last week in February 2016 at Ikeja, Lagos.

The first set of facilitators announced are, Mildred Okwo (producer and director of The Meeting and Surulere), Omoni Oboli (actress, producer and director of Being Mrs Elliot and The First Lady) , Blessing Egbe (actress, producer, director of Lekki Wives, Two Bride and a Baby), Chineze Anyaele (producer and director of Ije), Uche Jombo (actress and producer of over 17 movies) ,Moses Babatope (director at FilmHouse Cinemas and Head of Filmone Distribution), Samuel Olatunji (CEO, Bigsam Media).

According to the statement, more people with proven track records are set to be announced in the next few days.

The statement reads, ‘Often time the dilemma of those who want to go into movie industry is the knowledge gap that needs to be bridged. They want to start acting but don’t know how to

start, where to go for opportunities, how to improve skills and how to market themselves, how not to fall into hands of fraudulent individuals and their skills.

Same goes for directing, movie production, scripting writing and other marketable skills in the industry.

It is to this end that Broadway Movie Academy is putting together a 35-class session where industry professionals will be on ground to teach prospective industry players and existing industry players (who want to deepen knowledge) on acting, scriptwriting, directing, production, cinematography, business side of the business (cinema runs and outside cinema business), becoming entertainment brand, how to promote yourself and your movie, marketing, how to be a viable entertainment brand and other industry-related subjects.

According to a statement, ‘the intention of the founders of Broadway Movie Academy is to produce ‘prepared’ graduates that will be able to do ‘things’ on their own in the movie industry and know where to call for necessary assistance that will help make them brand of reckoning in the industry‘.

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fridaytreat

Friday, 1 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

MUSIC BUSINESS 101

Music Business Success in 2016:

Build a systematised and holistic musical career structure

By Toyin Adeniji

H

APPY New Year! Welcome to a brand new 2016 friends. This new year for Nigerian artistes, musicians and all music industry stakeholders in general will present both chaos and opportunities. There can be no opportunities without chaos. Opportunities are simply the missing solutions to existing problems, the missing piece which completes the puzzle. As long as there are problems and challenges in the music industry/business, there will always be opportunities for those artistes/musicians that are discerning and perceptive enough to recognise the problems, and prepare ahead for their opportunities by presenting the solution. Historically, chaotic periods in the music business have always been a thriving period for real artistes/musicians with talent, because periods of economic downturn naturally make consumers of music to evaluate and prioritize their spending and scarce resource on the kinds of music and artistes they deemed talented and valuable thereby filtering out the talented from the “wannabes”.

Because talent matters and will always ever do in the music industry and the business of music, chaotic periods in the industry also have remained a defining and refining moment for separating and aggregating the rise of artistes/musicians with talents to the top above the average elements.

The global music business has experienced and is still going through a period of confusion characterised by an anomalous revenue model, declining physical sales, the rise of digital piracy, free digital distribution of music and the inability of the creators of music – artistes/musicians to monetize the sale and consumption of their products adequately. However, from my research both

as a music scholar and as a music business consultant on the Nigerian music industry, I have observed a problem that cuts across the rank and file of all Nigerian artistes/musicians with specific emphasis on artistes/ musicians of the Nigerian Afro hiphop genre extraction. This problem that I have identified and labelled variously in some of my articles in this column as the “growth without development syndrome” and the “music merchants syndrome” is prevalent and is the reason why Nigerian afro hiphop artistes struggle and find it difficult to sustain their music business/career success beyond a short term existence. Being an entrepreneur or merchant that trades and engage commercially with music in the capacity of an artiste/musician without possessing the requisite musical talent, or failing to develop and standardize the required talent(s) necessary for excelling holistically in the art of music, will at best create a short term success that will be difficult if not impossible to sustain over a long term.

This is the dilemma of most Nigerian artistes/musicians today particularly the afro hiphop artistes. The situation is not helped also because of the socio-economic peculiarities of a developing nation like Nigeria with gross social inequality and abject poverty which has created such an incomprehensible divide between the haves and the haves not; we therefore tend to define success only in terms of how much money and material wealth someone has acquired without a specific interest in the quality of value created.

According to Abraham Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs among humans, we are too preoccupied with trying to survive in the music industry at this level where we are, to care about appreciation for artistic/musical innovations and originality of creativity, or acquiring a sophisticated taste for the arts in general.

This is understandably so because survival

is primal and music globally has become a means of economic survival especially for young people, with easy access to the tools and devices of the digital age and an unrestricted access to an unregulated music industry.

The lack of a systematised musical structure specifically designed and consciously put in place to ensure a holistic growth and development of the artiste/musician’s music career is the major challenge/problem confronting the majority of Nigerian artistes/musicians. The dominant approach currently taken by artistes/musicians in the Nigerian music industry is that which overemphasize the values of the “commercial” above the values of creativity and musicianship. Having a holistic and systematized approach means seeing the artiste’s musical career as a sum total of every part that constitutes the music business, as against focusing on one part or developing one part at the expense of others for the sake of short-term/immediate gratification. In other words, every important aspects of the artiste’s musical career must be prioritized and given attention holistically for equal growth and development.

For instance, to focus only on developing musicianship skills while ignoring fundamental commercial, entrepreneurial and business skills would only lead to underachievement of potentials and loss of opportunities for music business success for an artiste. In the same vein, concentrating efforts only on short term commercial gains at the expense of talent development and musicianship will make the music career of an artiste/musician unsustainable for the long term. I have observed that the absence of this systematized and holistic musical structure has made it difficult for most Nigerian urban music artistes to successfully take musical and artistic ownership of their music. The blind emphasis placed on “commercial viability” of their

music means having to constantly jump around and imitate every popular musical trend and stylistic pattern that is popular.

But how do you build authenticity as an artiste/musician without being original with the way you present your musical ideas?

How do you develop your own unique musical signature when there is no dominant musical trait that can be identified by audience as uniquely yours in your music?

In 2016, some of the “successful” and “popular” artistes that we have come to know will fade out suddenly just like the same way they made their sudden appearance on the music scene. New and upcoming artistes/ musicians will replace them simply because nature harbours vacuum. For these categories of artistes/musicians, the vicious cycle of “blowing in” and “blowing out” will continue as they scramble to cash in on their short window of opportunity to maximise their timed “commercial” existence in the music business. Developing a systematized and holistic approach to the music business as an artiste/musician means to acquire factual/scientific knowledge about every aspect of the music business, be able to make critical business, musical, legal and artistic decisions based on verified and informed facts instead of guess-works, understand the direction in which the music industry/ business is going and be able to develop plans that will help you to effectively position yourself and your music and maximise your opportunities.

The few and the proud who would be able to hold their ground and sustain their musical career success with relevance in the music business in 2016 will be those who are ready and committed to building a systematized and holistic musical structure devoted to nurturing the growth and development of the artiste/musician totally and all round as a true musical entity. Welcome to 2016.

Lagos GOMAN set to make history AS the year 2016 begins, Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), Lagos state chapter, under the leadership of Apostle Raphael Babalola, is set to make history in a matter of weeks in the new year, as it is currently perfecting plans to organise world class music seminar and workshop and to officially unveil the proposed secretariat of the association to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.

According to the Governor of the association, Apostle Babalola, in a chat at the association end of the year Christmas carol service in Lagos, said, “the year 2016 will be the most busy year for the association as we plan to take the lead and do the needful in given the association the right footing. We have dwell enough in one corner, now ready to showcase the best in us as a way of contributing to the

growth and development of our country, particularly Lagos state where the association domicile”.

He revealed further that the proposed seminar and workshop is scheduled to climax in a colourful awards/gala night featuring investiture of new patrons/ matrons and inauguration of secretariat building construction committee.

The epoch making event, according to him, is expected to be graced by music loving and eminent personalities from all walks of life, while it promises to be characterized by glitz, glamour and razzmatazz which the industry is known for.

On the proposed establishment of related associations in Lagos, he said, “there is no challenge in that for GOMAN. Our association is on ground in the state, we are relevant and reliable”.

Ife alive as Goldberg thrills consumers ILE-IFE, the traditional home of Yoruba civilization came alive when Goldberg lager beer from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc thrilled consumers with live music and presented them with various gift items after the coronation of “His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, Ooni of Ife”.

The celebration which was in consonance with the values of the brand was held in major bars in the town, where consumers went home with Television Sets, Rechargeable Fans, Microwave Ovens, DVD Players, Refrigerators and Goldberg fabrics.

Speaking on behalf of the winners,

Oluwafemi Oladimeji noted that Goldberg is truly a brand that identifies with and celebrates culture of the people. He said he never expected that a brand will have such an elaborate plan to organize a party for consumers to participate in the ceremony of the coronation of their monarch. “It is even more fun when you win a prize that you never anticipated.”

He added that, the experience will remain with him for a long time as he pledged his loyalty to the Goldberg brand for “being a caring brand.”

In his comments, Kolade Bada applauded Goldberg for the huge investment in promoting the cultural values of its consumers, saying he will “forever

remain indebted to the brand for giving him such memorable time and gifts, and also for being a part of history with the coronation of the new Ooni of Ife.” It will be recalled that, the Business Manager Ibadan, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Joseph Bodunrin, revealed during the corporate visit to the Ooni’ resident, that Nigerian Breweries is the only company that has experience in beer production with local content thereby providing employment to Nigerians. He added that Goldberg brand is a brand that respects people and their cultural rhythm which has over the years created a strong bond with cultural festivals in and around the West.

23

society

Friday, 1 January, 2016

...celebrating the people

Nigerian Tribune

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Faces @ the investiture of Sir Sunny Nwosu as the Lagos President of Boys’ Brigade Nigeria

From left, National Vice President, South West, Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Prince Adegoke Adegunle, installing Sir Sunny Nwosu as the state president of the brigade, while the Acting National Secretary, Mr. Sunday Malgwi, looks on.

Lady Comfort Nwosu congratulating her husband, Sunny, after his investiture as the state president of the Boys’ Brigade Nigeria.

From left, Patron, Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Lagos State, Prof. Wale Omole and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Clement Olowokande.

From left, Chairman/CEO, Mus-Jin Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mustapha Jinadu, Mrs Elizabeth Gbegbaje, Mrs Mary Shofolahan and Mr. Adebisi Araunsi.

From left, Mrs Funmilayo Muiz and a friend

From left, Mrs ldowu Olajide and Mrs Ann Akinola

24

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

fridaytreat

Nigerian artistes:

Moving from the sidelines to

N

IGERIA is a country that is blessed with human and natural resources no doubt, owing to its over 160 million population and deposits of crude oil, natural gas, coal, bitumen, among other resources.

Over the years, the country has grown to become a force to be reckoned with, both in the African continent and the world at large.

With the huge population, came the need for purposeful and resourceful leadership, which according to social critics, is lacking since the country’s independence. So, with the varying degrees of mismanagement by successive administrations came the social ills of unemployment, poverty, among other issues.

Till date, general unemployment, especially for youths, remains one of the top problems bedevilling Nigeria.

In the late 90’s, entertainment, the movie and with special focus on the music sector, became an industry, which would evolve to become one of the most reckoned with in the country.

Before the revamp witnessed in the country owing to the popularity of pop culture, mainstream entertainment was the traditional Juju, Afro beats, fuji, Highlife genres of music made popular by the likes of King Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters, Fela, Chief Kollington Ayinla, Salawa Abeni, Dayo Kujore etc. Pop music and reggae then was evangelised by the likes of Chris Okotie, Danny Wilson, Orits Wiliki, Majek Fashek etc.

Then, entered artistes like the Remedies, Black Reverends, Plantashun Boiz, Ruff, Rugged and Raw, Mode Nine, Raskie, Azadus amongst others, and the new revolution of Hip Hop and Afro pop music became the order of the day.

Fast forward to a decade later, the Nigerian entertainment industry has become one that is

...then OLIC 2 was turnt up for Olamide Featuring some truly stunning live performances and imagery from the likes of Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Pepe, Burna Boy, Reminisce, Eva Alordiah,Vector Tha Viper, Viktoh, Chinko Ekun, Buchi, Ycee, Koker,

LAST Sunday, December 27, 2015, the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos witnessed Olamide Live In Concert 2, Nigeria’s biggest music event of the year.

Ketchup, Skuki, Seyi Law, Basket Mouth, Toolz and Olamide himself.

The highly anticipated event filled the expansive venue with thousands of breathless fans.

See the amazing photos below

Africa’s centre stage

Mammoth crowd at Yemi Alade’s concert in Tanzania

By Rotimi Ige

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 twitter: @rotifizzle twitter: @fridaytreat

rated among the first 10 industries in the world with our artistes breaking new grounds on the world stage. Now, everyone is trying to grab their slice of the pie from the industry, which has now employed millions of Nigerians and other nationals around the world spanning music, movies, events, protocol, media, among others.

According to statistics gathered, over 50 movies are released in Nigeria every week and over 50 songs every day, yes, every day. The music scene is currently experiencing a huge boom, boosted by the involvement of corporate organisations and in some cases, state governments and political parties. The comedy industry too is not left out with Nigerian comedians experiencing patronage like never before.

Today, many Nigerian artistes are multi-millionaires and are on top of their game. However, it is mostly the A-list artistes that enjoy the mouth-watering endorsements, sold out shows, with huge fan base. Most of the not-sosuccessful or B/C-list artistes who are not so lucky or ‘blessed’, usually are called upon whenever the A-list artistes refuse offers or are unavailable. Competition is stiff and the industry has become a battle ground where the winner takes all. According to industry watchers, to stifle competition, some artistes have become groups/cliques or clans so as to control the industry and to break in, one has to conform to certain rules.

Event organisers, most times, shy away from patronising B and C list artistes because of the fear of boycott of such shows by fans. In fact, a club owner, Dayo Shobayo, in a chat with Friday Treat, stressed that he only patronised such artistes when left with no other choice.

“It is not our fault. At the end of the day, the fans rule. They mostly like to party with their favourite acts who are quite expensive to engage outside Lagos. However, there is nothing we can do as we do our best when we can.

We also try to encourage the ones who have

popular songs or videos, but are not the preferred acts. Nigeria is blessed with hundreds of artistes, so we only have to pick the few who would make us money at the end of the day’’, he said.

Nonetheless, Nigerian youths, who have taken up music or arts as a career, spend so much money to showcase their talent via recordings, events and videos, hoping for a big break but are faced with a harsh population of fans who aside from having ‘preferred’ acts, ‘tolerate’ a ‘supposed’ hit song for only a few months.

Wale Agbaje, a social commentator and an associate at the Hams Universal Consulting, told Friday Treat in a chat that Nigerian music lovers, owing to their diversity and the sheer number of songs churned out from their entertainers each day, have been so ‘spoilt’ that a supposed hit song lasts only a few weeks or months.

‘In Nigeria, a hit song lasts only for a while, at most, a couple of months. A song like ‘Gongo Aso’ which won 9ice numerous awards has almost been forgotten in present day. Nigerian fans are hard to please and any artiste who is not the preferred fan’s choice will have a hard time getting across to them’, he said.

Surprisingly, it has been discovered that though the Nigerian market may be cruel to the hardworking, hopeful B or C list artistes, the African continent at large is in love with them mostly.

A trip by Friday Treat to Cairo, recently, was quite revealing. At a workshop for journalists from African countries, it was discovered that Nigerian entertainers, especially of the music genre, both A/B or C list were all considered stars in most African countries.

For instance, the musical duo of Bracket, was in Yaounde, the Cameroonian capital, and then Congo, last weekend, where they headlined sold-out shows of about 35,000 people alongside Eddy Kenzo. Though Bracket may not be

considered as one of the major artistes in Nigeria, Friday Treat was told that they were considered as one of Africa’s best in Cameroun and neighbouring countries.

The Cameroonian correspondent, Sixtus Mbom, also stressed that most Nigerian artistes who visited their countries, were given the best treatment, no matter their rating back in Nigeria.

“As a matter of fact, those of us who understand little Yoruba or some pidgin are ‘kings’ because our people come to us to translate Nigerian songs.”

He also said that recently, organisers of an event ran out of ambulances to transport ladies who fainted during Flavour’s, a Nigerian indigenous act, performance in Cameroon.

It was gathered that the music from artistes like J Martins, Solidstar, Skuki, Skales, among others were very popular in various eastern African countries. Friday Treat is not sure whether these artistes even know of their popularity in such countries.

Collaborations between Nigerian artistes have also helped spread appeal, and according to Mbom, more must be done.

Mariam Gbadebo, a radio personality with Fresh FM opined that it has become necessary that artistes test their popularity outside the shores of Nigeria instead of being at the mercy

of Nigerian fans who may or may not accept their offered work of art.

She said, ‘Take Yemi Alade for instance, at a time when her Nigerian audience were still contemplating whether she was good enough, she took initiative by translating one of her songs to French and from then onwards became one of the sought after female artistes across Africa especially in Francophone countries. Last year in Tanzania, she was the headlining act of the Night Of Hope concert which took place at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam with about 50,000 fans reportedly in attendance. Her African tour and acceptance earned her global attention and numerous awards. Today, she is an A-list artiste in Nigeria with multiple endorsements. She is even planning to record an album titled ‘Mama Africa’. This goes to show that Nigerian music has become the sound of Africa.

As long as an artiste is sure that he/ she is making good music, it would be fool hardy to concentrate only on the Nigerian market when the rest of Africa and the world is waiting. The basic thing now is to make good videos and promote/circulate on satellite television stations so that it can reach the world’.

The Nollywood industry too has been discovered to be keenly followed by citizens from other African countries.

Sources from Zambia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have reported huge viewership of Nigerian movies in these countries. Sadly, they reported that most of the DVDs of the movies bought were mostly pirated. Alas, the huge revenue that could have accrued internationally by the Nollywood industry goes to pirates.

Such are the many problems bedevilling the industry which is struggling to ensure that its practitioners are well paid for their services. In Nigeria, for instance, a Nollywood movie, which could have cost millions to make, could be rented for as low as N50. Pirated copies are normally even sold in traffic for as low as N200. For these reason, it would be important for industry professionals to find a way to capitalise on the patronage of its products outside the shores of the country and invest in a balanced distribution network across Africa so as to thrive.

A well known proverb says that ‘a prophet is not respected in his home town’, which according to entertainment critics, seems to be the case for Nigerian entertainers and with the discovered popularity and willingness of Africa to patronise Nigerian-made entertainment, it would be important for them to quickly go back to the drawing board and re-strategise/ diversify so they can become international stars in their own right.

Olamide

Adunni Ade

Ketchup

Pepenazi

Burna Boy

Adekunle Gold

Bracket performing to a sold out concert in Cameroon and Congo.

Obafemi Martins

Toke Makinwa

Phyno

Falz

Sexy Steel

26

Friday, 1 January, 2016

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

’Wale Olapade 08161235359 wale11g3@gmail.com Winner, Nmma, Tourism Reporter Of The Year, 2014

Tunwase court hosts royalties, Ijebus at Xmas Carol Acknowledging the receptiveness of Otunba Balogun at rallying people for the festive period to thank, praise and celebrate the birth of Christ through the annual carol session, Fr. Ajayi said those who are blessed or privileged in any way should extend a helping hand to reduce the inequality and injustice in the world.

In his remarks, Otunba Balogun described the yearly Christmas Carol as a time of gladness and merriment which ushered in the birth of Christ and also a time of praises, thanksgiving and sharing with one another.

He thanked God for the privilege given to him to rally people for the xmas carol not only to share but also appreciate God’s blessings and protection.

Stories By ’Wale Olapade

T

he 2015 Christmas Carol organisesd by the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Ijebuland, Otunba Subomi Balogun, hosted different groups and combined choir members from churches at the Ijebu-Ode area to a day of praises, scripture lessons and thanksgiving service at Tunwase Court, Ijebu Ode. The annual event played host to royal fathers, clergies, friends, sons and daughters of Ijebuland alongside the First City Monument Bank Family.

Decked in their different ropes, the 2015 Subomi Balogun’s Christmas Carol contenders from different churches and groups streamed into the Tunwase Court with preparations to not only thrill guests with their angelic voice but also be the winner of the 2015 edition.

The preparation was glorious as each choir group tripled their effort with an outstanding performance to that of previous years.

Speaking at the event, The CAN Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Area, Reverend Father, Martins Ajayi who gave a Christmas message titled; A celebration of the redemptive mercy of God said, “selfishness has strongly impacted the world today, which has a strong place in people’s life and has brought about many ideologies, policies and philosophies that are quite selfish in

One of the choir at the xmas carol.

Shandies debuts with African kitchen in UK

Clergies at the xmas carol.

their ambition.

According to Rev. Fr. Ajayi, “We should build a community where everybody is given due value and sense of worth; a community where progress and success are not measured on how much a pocket of individuals is able to acquire, but rather on how people truly grow in value of truth,

Otunba Subomi Balogun (right) with royal fathers at the event.

justice, fairness and consideration.

“In the spirit of Christmas, which is that of Charity and altruism, we are called to think beyond ourselves and have a collective responsibility of building a warm culture of authentic interpersonal relations devoid of aggressive personal again or self motivations.”

‘BA crew have assisted women giving birth at least three times’

Rebecca Sullivan Assumptions can be misleading, perhaps no more so than when the seatbelt signs go out and you settle back, accept a glass of chilled champagne and wonder how long it will take for dinner to be served.

“Many customers regard airline cabin crew as waiters, albeit slightly glamourous ones who ply their trade at 35 000 feet. There’s a bit more to the job than that,” says Rebecca Sullivan, a member of British Airways’ cabin crew.

For a start the training is much more intense than anything, even someone working in one of Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants, would endure.

The reason is that cabin crew’s first responsibility is safety, rather than making sure customers’ Champagne is topped up.

Customer service is integral to British Airways’ crew training, but safety underpins everything.

Every year about 14 000 people apply for some 800 jobs as British Airways cabin crew.

Those that make it through the initial screening undergo some of the best, most rigorous and realistic training in the business.

The trainers are all former crew who have flown extensively and are able to relate their onboard experiences, making the training scenarios as true-to-life as possible.

Cabin crew need to be prepared to deal with everything from full-blown emergencies to unruly customers. British Airways crew have assisted women giving birth at least three times in the past three years, attended to people with suspected heart attacks and many other minor and potentially serious medical events.

The training is designed not only to ensure crew are able to deliver British Airways’ service standards, but equip then with the skills and confidence they need to decisively handle a complete range of emergency situations.

These include fires, decompression, emergency landings and ditching.

Full-motion and fixed-base cabin simulators are used to replicate a variety of situations that crew may need to deal with on every flight – from the safety briefing to meal service – to those that they may never experience, but nonetheless have to be able to respond should they occur.

During the training aspirant crew have to put out fires, guide ‘customers’ to the exits through smoke-filled cabins, train with equipment such as smoke hoods and disembark an aircraft using the slides.

Throughout their performance is mi-

nutely scrutinised.

Recruits are only permitted four warnings, known as snapshots, which can be for infractions as seemingly minor as being late or not wearing the right shoes.

“It’s strict because it has to be. We want recruits to take it seriously, pay attention to detail and work together as a team to ensure that everyone on board has a good, and above all, safe flight,” says Rebecca.

A New Year gift for the community of Stafford Street, Walsall in Birmingham, United Kingdom is coming with a potpourri of African culinary delight as a truly Nigerian restaurant, Shandies set to open in the first week of January 2016.

Speaking to the owners of the restaurant Femi Martins and Shade Martin Olapade in Nigeria, recently said that Shandies is out to offer the best in Nigeria and in extension Africa dishes to lovers African delight and flavour using the right condiment to produce the right taste.

According to the duo, “The continue request for Africa food by travellers abroad is becoming a thing of concern to us and in our little way to meet the alarming demand from different quarters, Shandies was born to offer proudly Africa gastronomy the home way.

Shandies, an African restaurant is bringing the finest local flavour of African (Nigerian cuisine) to international customers in style.

“We are going on core Nigerian food and soup prepared and served under a conducive and hygienic environment with a taste of African flavour”

Sheraton Abuja Hotel launches Wazobia night

Sheraton Abuja Hotel recently launched a compelling Friday Night Sit-out for its inhouse and walk-in guests.

The event tagged ‘Friday Wazobia night’ is activated to recharge and entertain the hotel’s guests after a long week of hard work.

As the occasion suggests, the Hotel intends to delight its local and international guests with pure African delicacies prepared by top class chefs and served with very chilled beer and premium wines.

At the pre-event briefing, the Deputy General Manager of the Hotel, Mr Emad Rizk announced that the hotel came up with the initiative to calm the nerves of guests after a long week of hard work and furthermore to

Group perfoming at Wazobia night.

foster friendship among family and friends in an ambient elevated environment.

“Dear guests and associates, I am very pleased to announce to you that the activated Wazobia night will host customers every Friday at the Sheraton Abuja Hotel Coconut Beach,” said Emad.

“We have put together assorted African dishes which will be served alongside premium wines and beer from the Nigerian Breweries which will be served at the event for your utmost delight.

“We will also be entertaining you with live African music band including different thrills sounds from the major Nigerian languages.”

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Friday, 1 January, 2016 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

2015: INEC’s year of mixed fortunes As the curtain was drawn on 2015, JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI, examined the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the complementary roles played by other bodies in the last general election in the country

U

NARGUABLY, the greatest achievement of Nigeria in the outgone year is the successful conclusion of the 2015 general election. Despite the palpable fear that the exercise could turn awry, the country was able to set a new template for political transition and democracy in developing nations. One institution that ensured the attainment of the big stride by the country was the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Notwithstanding the schism by some local and international bodies, the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan had for the umpteenth time declared its resolute intent and firm commitment to freer and fairer poll than the 2011 general election, “At the beginning of the electoral processes in most countries, especially developing nations, tensions use to be quite high even in developed countries. That is what we are witnessing now, but all these will come down. We will make sure that we maintain peace and security and those elections are conducted in the manner that will be seen as free and fair by everybody.”

Realising that funding had been one of the major obstacles to credible elections over the years, the authorities made concerted efforts to redress the trend. The then INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega had declared that the commission would require a sum of N92.904billion to conduct the polls. As of the time he gave the figure, he confirmed that INEC would be spending $7.9 on each a total of 73.5 million registered voters for the 2015 elections. It introduced Smart card reader and Permanent Voter Card (PVC) as part of ways to enhance the integrity of the electoral process and system. This became imperative because elections in the country were usually characterized by allegations of irregularities during and after the elections.

Initially, February 14 and 28 were set aside for both the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly but was later postponed because of security reasons and the slow distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in most of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Owing to the prevailing security situation in the country then, a letter from the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sabo Dasuki (retd) had asked for “at least six weeks to conclude a major military operation against the insurgency in the North

Jega

Mahmood

Navigating the minefield of do-or-die politicians as an impartial electoral umpire required nerves of steel, and we had to quickly muster the requisite thick skin, as well as appropriate containment strategies,” Jega stated.

East.” Eventually, when the elections were held, for the first time the incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP losing his seat to the then main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) without any litigation as Jonathan conceded to Buhari even before the outcome of the poll was announced. The action of the elder statesmen attracted spontaneous commendation across the world stood, with world leaders describing Jonathan as a true democrat.

As part of preparations for the elections, Jega had introduced a number of reforms

meant to make the elections credible.

Some of the reforms included upgrading of voter register nationwide, cleaning up of the register, which led to the issuance of PVC to the electorate; introduction of Smart Card Reader, which assisted in detecting double and multiple registrations by voters and as well confirming the true owners of Voter cards.

The commission under Jega also embarked on massive deployment of technologies that assisted in the collation of the election results nationwide and introduced situation rooms manned by INEC

officials (ad hoc and permanent),local and foreign observers, massive involvement of university dons, mostly the vice chancellors in the collation and announcement of the election results. Thus, the 2015 general election was adjudged the best ever conducted by any electoral body in Nigeria, despite the misgivings of some aggrieved contestants. Many of them are still having their cases pending before the Appeal and Supreme courts for adjudication in line with the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

In the outgoing year, INEC conducted some bye -elections into some vacant seats either at the state Houses of Assembly or the National Assembly, due to the death of some lawmakers, or nullification of results by courts during the brief stay of Hajia Amina Zakari as the acting chairman of the commission after the exit of Prof Jega . The short stay of Hajia Zakari was however trailed by strident criticisms that culminated in the authorities naming a substantive chairman for INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

Another serious challenge the commission faced following the exit of Jega and continues pg28

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

Kogi, Bayelsa poll as acid test continued from pg27

other national Electoral Commissioners was the legality of the composition of its management team. Then, it was made up only two members: Hajia Zakari and Lawrence Nwuruku, as against 12 members. The issue was later addressed by President Buhari, with the appointment of a substantive chairman, a Professor of Political History and International Studies and more national commissioners. The action immediately addressed the legal issues raised initially as to whether or not the commission had the legal backing to conduct the Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections.

Professor Yakubu had conducted the governorship elections in those states, which were declared inconclusive. While that of Kogi has since been concluded and a winner declared, that of the Bayelsa has been fixed for January 9, 2016 where fresh elections will be conducted in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State and other polling units in parts of the state, after which the winner is expected to emerge.

Petitions One of the major fallouts of the 2015 polls was the harvest of petitions from aggrieved candidates for the elections. INEC said a total of 611 petitions were filed before the various election petition tribunals set up after the 2015 general election. But, it explained that the figure low, given the 1, 290 petitions arising from the 2007 polls.

Generally, the scale of post –election crises has been relatively low and minimal. Only pockets of violent clashes were reported after the results of the elections were announced by INEC across the country. This is a departure from the past when post-election violence shook the country to its very foundation. Most of the international and local oganisations that had their officials on the fiel to monitor the polls attest to the paradigm shift. Most of them commended the country for creating a new benchmark in the conduct of election, especially in Africa. The UNDP Country Representative, Mr Opia Kumah, noted that the outcome of the 2015 election was a result of concerted efforts of INEC and other stakeholders towards improving the electoral system. Accordingly, he hoped that the authorities would be able to sustain the high standard recorded during election and consolidated for the benefit of all Nigerians. Similarly, the IFES Country Representative, Shehver Kipshidze, had also urged INEC to consolidate on tits record through the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections.

Security The major acid test INEC faced at the dawn of the polls was orcestrtaed by insecurity in the country, especially in the North-East. There were reports of threats by military authorities that they could not guarantee security for the conduct of the election hence the need for the commission to shift the polls, the issue of security necessitated by INEC leadership with 28 political parties. At a meeting of the National Council of State, senior military chiefs had reportedly claimed that the nation’s security agencies were overstretched because of the sub-regional military onslaught against Boko Haram.

At least three states: Borno, Yobe and Adamawa were worst-hit. When the postponement was announced by INEC, the

Voters

Buhari leading opposition party then, APC alleged that it was ploy by the authorities to weaken its chances in the poll, as well as give the governing PDP to re-jig.

At that stage, there was fresh anxiety that the poll could run into hitches. The fear became more pronounced, when Jega announced the decision to postpone the elections by three weeks, with insecurity as the core reason. But, he explained it

Jonathan was imperative for the INEC to collaborate with other critical stakeholders to ensure a free poll. Part of Jega’s statement on the postponement read:”The conduct of elections in a country like Nigeria is invariably a collective venture that involves not just the Election Management Body (EMB), but also a diverse range of stakeholders, notably security agencies, political parties and their candidates, voters, as well as in-

One of the major fallouts of the 2015 polls was the harvest of petitions from aggrieved candidates for the elections. INEC said a total of 611 petitions were filed before the various election petition tribunals set up after the 2015 general election.

terest groups, such as the civil society organizations and the media. To guarantee successful conduct of elections, there are things that are wholly the responsibility of the EMB. But there are other things critical for the success of elections, which fall outside the control of the EMB. “In other words, while INEC must work hard to perfect its systems and processes for conducting elections, and take responsibility for any imperfections thereof, whatever the Commission does may not by itself be sufficient to guarantee the success of elections. There are a number of issues in the preparation and conduct of an election, the most critical of which is security, which is not under the control of INEC. While the Commission has a very good working relationship with all security agencies, especially on the platform of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) since its inception in 2010, it has become pertinent for it to seriously consider the security adcontinues pg30

29 politics&policy

Friday, 1 January, 2016

‘Most Nigerian politicians are insensitive’ Alhaji Ridwan Hussein is the chairman, Osun State Harmonised Vigilance Group. Popularly known as Ya-salam, he does not belong to any political party but remains a favourite of members of the political class owing to his profile in effective community security. He speaks with TUNDE BUSARI on insecurity, money politics and other issues.

way politics is played in which innocent lives are wasted and nothing happen afterwards.

Do you foresee an end to money politics in Nigeria?

It is the same thing with the use of thugs.

Unfortunately, we say we are operate the US system of government but we are not ready to do it the way the Americans do it.

In the US, if you offer somebody money, the person will challenge and ask you why.

But in Nigeria we ask politician to pay us before we vote. This is not good for the development of the society. You don’t collect money from a candidate and still expect him to provide social amenities you and your family need. I want the wind of change to blow away all these bad ways we play politics. I even want the open ballot system of voting. It will reduce the use of money during election.

D

ECEMBER deadline, which President Muhammadu Buhari promised to end Boko Haram is near end. Don’t you think the president’s promise is off the track?

To be fair with President Muhammadu Buhari, he meant well by making the promise. I know him as a man of his word. He had the intention of ending Boko Haram insurgency before 2016. I believe what actually informed his promise was the different measures he had put in place such as meeting with the US and our neighbouring countries and effecting changes in the military leadership. Having taken those steps, he was convinced that he would achieve good result, hence the promise. But you know security is complex and sensitive. It is unpredictable, especially when it is the kind of war against the Boko Haram insurgents. But, I am hopeful that the end is in sight, because Buhari is a seriousminded President. You will agree with me that the tempo has been reduced significantly, unlike what obtained before President Buhari took over when Boko Haram insurgents were throwing bombs everywhere unchallenged. Now, they are running around because of the fear of being caught. Nigerians therefore need to be more security conscious.

What are the security tips you want to suggest against the insurgecy and terrorism in the country?

People should be more security conscious as I always say. They should not leave the security of their lives and property to the security agencies alone. All must be involved to be able to have sound sleep. I trust Yoruba people for one thing.

They are always vigilant. For instance, if they see a strange face in a neighbourhood, they challenge him about whom he is looking for or where he is going to.

While the stranger is being questioned, other members of the area will start gathering in twos and threes. This is what is called being vigilant. If the people of other parts of the country do the same, it will help in securing them against strangers who cause trouble and flee. I want Nigerians not to see the Boko Haram insurgency as a religious war. Boko Haram insurgents are not fighting for any religion, because no religion preaches violence. Neither Islam nor Christianity encourages killing of fellow human beings. I am saying this because of the way Nigerians see things from either ethnic or religious angle. We should be vigilant of those who may want to use Boko Haram to cause more crises in the country.

How does your group operate to have won the confidence of succes-

Ya-Salam sive governments in Osun State?

God has always been our pillar and strength. We are doing our best in collaboration with the Osun State Police Command to provide security to the people of the state. Despite so many awards, OSBC just gave me another award. What this shows is the public appreciation of what we are doing. We are focused and apolitical. We thank the state governor for his confidence in us. We also thank traditional rulers who are always in contact on a way to ensure adequate security in their domains. Apart from the police, we also work hand-in-hand with other security agents, and this has made Osun a well secured state. I must use this opportunity to say that community policing is a solution to insurgency like Boko Haram. Fortunately, Governor Rauf Aregbesola is serious about the security of the state. He has shown it and demonstrated that without peace, there won’t be development.

Can we divorce use of thugs from Nigerian politics?

We should do away with violent politicking in Nigeria. We should not continue to do same thing same way.The use of thugs has been the practice for a long time. But with the change mantra, I think we should embrace change totally and do things differently. Thugs are everywhere now harassing member of the public. They go to new site and disturb work until they are paid some amount of money. Social gatherings are not left out as they in broad day light attack guests. They do as if they are above the law. Osun State governor should do something about these people.

Mr Governor should create jobs for them and engage them positively. I went to the North and saw some young men operating public toilets at markets for fee. They are engaged and doing well for themselves.

President Muhammadu Buhari is somebody I believe can change things and I am still very confident that he will change the

But in Nigeria, we ask politicians to pay us before we vote. This is not good for the development of the society.

Some secondary school students were recently arraigned for attacking teachers. What does this trend portend?

We recently arrested about 13 primary school pupils engaging in cultism. When we took them to the Police, they were categorized as juvenile, which means they could not be prosecuted and jailed. We are in trouble in this society. We also arrested one secondary school boy in Ejigbo with two brand new pistols. It is sad that students go to school now with cutlass and other weapons to attack their teachers.

That is what happened in the school your question referred to in Osogbo. There is no more fear of teachers unlike what it used to be in the past when students feared teachers more than their parents. There is no testimonial again. There is no black book again. And these are the documents that testify to your character in school. I want to hold parents responsible for this problem. Parents are no longer showing interest in training their children in a normal way. Morality is dying. Although some parents are doing their best, many are not doing what is expected of them (as parents). These are the parents who believe teachers have the magic to work on their children. Everybody has to play his part so as to save the society from anarchy.

With your close contact with politicians, how would you describe them?

I cannot say all politicians are bad. There are some good ones among them. But, majority of them live what I can call Capitalist life. They are selfish and wicked. They like to flaunt the wealth they made overnight. What I am saying is that 90 percent of them are insensitive to the people who elected them. All they are interested in is to acquire property everywhere. After they would have bought everything, they will then keep a distance from their hometown and their families. When they go to them, they tell lies about how they are not making money. I was at an occasion where a political office holder claimed he was being owed salary. Yet, when his citation was being read, he was addressed as the chairman of about 10 companies. Who was he deceiving? It is until the electorate desist from collecting money from them that the politicians would start to respect and serve them. The situation we have now even encourages the downtrodden to be desperate to get rich. I am not saying political office holders should live in poverty.

What I am saying is that they should be mindful of the condition of their people.

30

politics&policy

T

HE Presidential Villa is much altered in the seven months that President Muhammadu Buhari has been at the saddle, not surprisingly, in line with the promised change during the electioneering campaign. There are a few things that are still done in the old way, or have retained their old character either because they had either been done right or are necessary traditions to be preserved. In the main, things are different.

The visitors to the seat of power are naturally different. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, power brokers, contractors, hangers-on and other relevanceseeking charlatans of the past have been replaced by their counterparts of the All Progressive Congress (APC), maybe in a reduced form. In the recent past, as you go through the main gate of the Presidential Villa, huge number of cars parked outside was what you needed to know that there were a lot of visitors inside the premises.

But now, even though there are still days like that, they have increasingly become few and far between as the president’s visitors continue to dwindle.

During the past administrations, it was easier for anyone who thought he/she had any business with the president to stroll into the Villa and work his/her way to him, especially where, we were told, there were corrupt officials ready to book appointments with him for different characters in exchange for cash rewards. This attitude was thought to be so rampant that wife of the President, Aisha, vowed that nobody close to her husband would abuse the privilege and collect money to facili-

Friday, 1 January, 2016

inside

aso rock WITH LEON USIGBE

08078891838 leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk

Presidential Villa as the face of ‘change’ s tate meetings with the president.

After the early flourish, Buhari has yet to show that he is amenable to floodgate of visitors. The signs are that he is not likely to entertain many during his administration.

As for his officials, they are supposed to remain in their offices to concentrate on their responsibilities rather than seeking to meet with him at the slightest excuse. Many former administrations officials had virtually unfettered access to the president’s office seemingly even without prior notice.

Buhari has made it clear to his cabinet members that they would not have direct access to his office at will by directing them to relate with his Chief of Staff.

The ministers will still be able to see him directly though, but they may have to sort that out first with the Chief of Staff which makes the office an extremely powerful one even though it has no constitutional backing. All this has made the president’s daily schedule much lighter than in the past.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that was a weekly affair has assumed a different character. Ministers

were sworn in on November 11. 2015, cabinet who may have emerged from diswhich would have meant at least eight FEC parate ethnic, cultural, religious and politmeetings till this day. But there have been ical backgrounds. Not meeting on a regujust three in the life of this administration lar basis may mean that they start getting two of which were emergency sessions. used to each other afresh each time they 08078891838 This is hardly surprising too becauseWITH be-LEON are together. leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk fore Buhari’s election, he had vilified FEC In the three FEC meetings that have takmeetings as avenues for contract awards, en place under the administration, there whereas it was not its business to do so. has been a pattern of noticeable behavIn fact, the administration has given the iours. Ministers take longer time to locate impression that FEC meetings are now their designated seats. Whereas promisurplus to requirements and that even if nent individuals like Rotimi Amaechi are they were to take place, they would be for wantonly ebullient in their interactions “serious discussion of policy issues and with colleagues inside the Aso Chambers appraisal of ministerial performance.” In venue of the meetings, other are more re2016 therefore, there are likely to be few served, appearing to need more time to gel of such meetings. in the system.

But FEC considered and approved conInfrequent FECs also means that the tract awards emanating from federal min- ministers’ relationship with the State istries and parastatals in previous eras and House Press Corps, who amplify their since President Buhari has yet to indicate programme and policies, would have to be how his administration will deal with the slowly built as one of the most convenient issue without FEC, it would be interesting avenue for news interaction between them to see how his government keeps a close has also been chopped off, causing a gulf.

While hoping that your 2015 was memoeye on contract awards its lifetime.

The meetings had also provided a veri- rable, I wish you a happy and prosperous table bonding avenue for members of the New Year.

aso rock

National peace accord continued from pg28

visory presented to it by the Security and Intelligence Services. I would like to reiterate here that INEC is an EMB and not a security agency. It relies on the security services to provide a safe environment for personnel, voters, election observers and election materials to conduct elections wherever it deploys. Where the security services strongly advise otherwise, it would be unconscionable of the Commission to deploy personnel and call voters out in such a situation.

“INEC not being a security agency that could by itself guarantee protection for personnel and materials, as well as voters during elections, the commission cannot lightly wave off the advice by the nation’s security chiefs. The commission is specifically concerned about the security of our ad hoc staff who constitute at least 600,000 young men and women, together with our regular staff, voters, election observers as well as election materials painstakingly acquired over the last one and half years. This concern is limited not just to the areas in the North-eastern part of Nigeria experiencing insurgency; the risk of deploying young men and women and calling people to exercise their democratic rights in a situation where their security cannot be guaranteed is a most onerous responsibility. Under such circumstances, few EMBs across the world, if any, would contemplate proceeding with the elections as scheduled. No matter the extent of INEC’s preparedness, therefore, if the security of personnel, voters, election observers and election materials cannot be guaranteed, the life of innocent young

men and women as well the prospects of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections would be greatly jeopardised.”

Jega on the poll Jega has also taken stock of his five-year tenure after leaving office. Now a lecturer at the Bayero University, Kano, he used the opportunity of the first University of Abuja Public Lecture Series with the theme Electoral Reforms in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects to appraise his tenure. He said the commission had to contend with unnecessary challenges created by some desperate politicians, who wanted to win election at all cost. He said many politicians he described as ‘militicians’ had a mindset of capturing power through any means, thereby trying to subvert the will of the people. He said INEC was able to thwart the antics of the desperate politicians by ensuring effective compliance with the laws and remaining transparent and non-partisan throughout the process.

“From my experience, I quite often say that Nigeria has a special breed of politicians (Militicians). They generally tend to believe that political power through elections has to be ‘captured,’ and this has to be done by hook or by crook; and by any means necessary. To them, winning election is, literally, a do-or-die affair. INEC faced perhaps its greatest challenge in containing the predisposition and reckless mindset of Nigerian politicians. Any wonder then that our political arena increasingly resembled a bloody battlefield, with maiming, killing, burning, and unimaginable destruction of lives and property.

“Navigating the minefield of do-or-die politicians as an impartial electoral um-

Abubakar pire required nerves of steel, and we had to quickly muster the requisite thick skin, as well as appropriate containment strategies,” Jega stated. ” He listed other associated challenges, including meeting the production deadlines in the production of PVCs. He said the use of the “Smart Card Reader was constrained by the fact that some polling units were located in areas where there was no Internet coverage.”

Abdulsalami Committee The story of the success of INEC is not

complete without the role played by some eminent persons from and outside the country. The National Peace Committee, which comprised personalities drawn from a broad spectrum of the Nigerian society doused public tension through its consistent intention before and after the election. the committee with a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar as chairman, facilitated a peace accord among the presidential candidates. A similar accord was replicated among governorship candidates at the state level. The first among the presidential candidates was against violence before, during and after the election by presidential candidates of 14 political parties, notably President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Peoples Congress, (APC), on 14 January 2015. One other eminent person that initiated the peace accord included Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah. The peace deal also involved respected international statesmen such as former United Nations Secretary-General, Dr. Kofi Annan, and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. The two leading candidates had on January 14, at another event attended by Anan, and Anyaoku, openly spoke against violence and committed to a peaceful poll.

Having scaled the first major hurdle in Kogi, INEC will be facing a tough challenge in Bayelsa early in the new year.

The re-run governorship poll in parts of the oil-bearing state on January 9, 2016 will precede other governorship elections coming up later in the year.

31

Friday, 1 January, 2016

hers

Editor: Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

Elizabeth

Taffi

10

Anike

2016:

emerging women entrepreneurs to watch in Africa

I

N June 2015, She Leads Africa, a Nigerian-based social enterprise that aims to foster business growth in Africa by providing female startup

HEARTCOPY

P34

Caught right in the act, what do I do?

Nour-Drissi Robinson

Winnifred

Jade

Florence

Banke

entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks, and financing to build and scale strong businesses, launched a business pitch competition.

Oyindamola

The purpose of the competition was to select 10 exceptional young female entrepreneurs doing business in Africa to participate in an Entrepreneur showcase,

SHARE-A-BURDEN

Can I still make relationship work

P34

whereby the entrepreneurs would pitch their businesses to a panel of esteemed

THE KITCHEN

Continues on pg32

P33

Yes, there are New Year Kitchen Resolutions

32 hersay

Friday, 1 January, 2016

I

don’t mean to make light of the bullying that goes on among kids. It can be painful. I get it. Kids are being humiliated and in some cases they are being hurt physically. Some kids are even afraid to go to school because they are so afraid of the bullies. Again, every issue has extremes.

I can’t deal with all of the extremes and I am not qualified from a legal standpoint to address all of the issues surrounding bullies.

However, most of the bullying that goes on between kids could be handled with a little common sense and some good parenting.

I know that bullying has been covered on all the few talk shows and I have seen the videos of kids being bullied. When kids are called names, some kids are called Fattie.

Guess what? The kid is fat. Whose fault is that, Mom? Or the kid was called Uni-brow.

Get of the that comfort zone and fix the problem.

What should happen in most cases of bullying? Some parental intervention might be appropriate. The parents of the bully should bust that kid’s butt for making the lives of other kids miserable.

Then the parents of the kid getting bullied should look at their kid and ask themselves why their kid is the “victim” of such vicious attacks. Are they asking for it? “No kid ever asks for it, Bull. Yes, they do. Have you lost your memory? When I was in school, there were many kids who were begging to get their butts kicked every day. They were annoying little punks who drove the regular kids crazy. The bullies put them in their place and some of these little idiots learned not to be so annoying. Trust me when I say that many of these kids owe those bullies a debt of gratitude for changing their annoying behaviour. Lol!

Parenting The host of Straight Talk!

With Olufunke Adetuberu

08023242389

cryonmenow@yahoo.com

Parenting bullies

Bullies pick on the weak. It is your job to teach your child not to be weak. When your child is strong, other kids will leave him alone. I am not talking about physically strong here. I am talking about strength in his presence. A kid who walks with confidence, talks with confidence, acts with confidence. His presence is based on confidence. You help your kid have that confidence. It’s not always about size, it’s about you teaching your kid to carry himself with confidence.

Next, when all that fails, you have to teach your kid how to stand up to bullies.

Bullies don’t like to be stood up to. Bul-

It is better to stand up for yourself and lose a fight than it is to take the abuse and lose your dignity and self-respect.

lies are basically cowards. Teach your kid to stand up to them and usually they will back down. Does this mean teaching my kid to fight?” Not usually, but sometimes. Don’t allow your kid to get physically smacked around by another kid. Teach him to take care of himself. And unfortunately telling the teacher only makes things worse for your kid and will ensure that 1) he is labeled a tattletale; 2) the butt-kicking is more severe the next time it happens; and 3) the next time there won’t be any witnesses around.

When I was a kid, there was a big bully in my high school who loved to pick on younger, smaller kids. I was one of those younger, smaller kids. I was a scrawny freshman who was a regular victim of this guy. He would walk by and punch me or any other guy smaller than he was and for some reason, no one ever did anything about it. The teachers ignored it (probably because he was bigger and meaner than they were) and his behaviour went unchecked. One day, he was in a particularly bad mood and followed me through the parking lot thumping me on the back of the head and pushing me. Everyone was watching it, my friends, his friends, and most were just glad that it wasn’t them taking the abuse. Suddenly, I snapped. In a

flash, I dropped my books, turned around and clocked the guy square in the nose, putting him on his butt with blood running from his nostrils. I knew I was about to die.

Instead, he got up, looked at me and walked away without saying a word. I was stunned. Everyone was stunned a girl for that matter. I knew that retribution would come the next day and that I was sure to die before the school day was over. Instead, when I got to school and passed him in the hall, expecting him to drag me into a corner and pound me, he just averted his eyes and kept walking. He never bothered me again.

I have discovered that this is pretty typical of what happens with bullies. They are cowards waiting to be put in their place and will bully anyone who is willing to be their victim.

Teach your kid to be unwilling. Know though that sometimes, you can stand up for yourself and get your butt royally kicked.

It can happen. Someone told me it was better to nurse a bloody nose than to live in fear. He was right. It is better to stand up for yourself and lose a fight than it is to take the abuse and lose your dignity and self-respect.

I am not condoning fighting. I am not pro-violence. But I am not pro-abuse either.

And whether you believe it or not, schools can’t police every moment of your kid’s life at school. And you can’t always be there to protect your child from the big bad bully every time he shows up. So when your kid is spending all his time blocking punches with his face, it’s time to teach him to defend himself.

On the other hand, sometimes you just have to learn to walk away and steer clear of a bully.

Tips to get rid of hangover EAT eggs first thing in the morning: Eggs have a high concentration of amino acid called L-cysteine, which helps your body more readily breakdown excess acetaldehyde and in turn eliminates some of those hangover symptoms.

Drink one glass of water after every drink and at intervals: The more water in your system, the less chance of significant dehydration. It also dilutes the impurities left in your stomach. Aim to drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water throughout the day.

Along with water, you can drink a few glasses of electrolyte-replenishing sports drinks.

Stop drinking before bed: Don’t drink anything for an hour and a half

before bed, which will keep you from waking up throughout the night Don’t drink on an empty stomach: Don’t drink anything for an hour and a half before bed, which will keep you from waking up throughout the night.

Aim to drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water throughout the day. Along with water, you can drink a few glasses of electrolyte-replenishing sports drinks.

Lemon Lemon can help get rid of the aftereffects of excessive drinking like queasiness, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound, and muscle pain. Lemon helps rebalance the body, by controlling the blood sugar level and altering

the pH level.

Honey Another excellent cure for hangover symptoms is honey. Being rich in potassium, honey helps counteract the effects of drinking too much alcohol.

In addition, honey contains fructose, a type of sugar that helps metabolize the extra alcohol in the body, in turn reducing hangover symptoms. Also, you can spread honey over a piece of dry toast or a cracker and eat it many times during a hangover.

Tomato Juice Drinking tomato juice is another simple way to control hangover symptoms. This vegetable juice contains

fructose, a type of sugar that helps your body metabolize alcohol more quickly.

Plus, it is rich in the vitamins, minerals and enzymes that help quickly overcome the after-effects of drinking.

Banana Due to excessive drinking, lots of potassium gets drained from your body.

To help replenish potassium as well as lost electrolytes, one simple solution is to eat bananas. They are a very good source of potassium. Also, bananas help calm the stomach and boost your energy level.

Note: Don’t drink caffeinated beverages, as they contribute to dehydration.

Courtesy: Internet

2016: 10 emerging women entrepreneurs to watch in Africa Continued from pg31

business leaders and investors, including Nigerian multi-millionaire telecoms tycoon Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Standard Chartered Nigeria CEO Bola Adesola and Ngozi Edozien, a former Managing Director for private equity firm Actis.

According to Afua Osei, a co-founder of She Leads Africa, the competition attracted close to 400 applications from 27 countries. Of the lot, 10 entrepreneurs were selected after a rigorous vetting process. These brilliant young women, all aged under 30, represent the entrepreneurial best of their generation, and you should watch out for them in this new year: She Leads Africa Finalists Winifred Selby, Ghanaian Founder, AfroCentric Bamboo Selby, a Ghanaian national, is the founder of Afrocentric Bamboo Limited, a company that manufactures and markets bicycles made from bamboo. Afrocentric Bamboo bicycles

are produced exclusively for the local market and are priced at $100. Selby is a finalist of the 2014 Cartier Women’s Initiative Award.

Banke Kuku, Nigerian Founder, Banke Kuku Textiles Banke Kuku, a Nigerian textiles designer, founded her self-named company in 2011.

Banke Kuku Textiles fuses traditional African and Western culture to create, intricate, unique and luxurious fabrics for the interior and fashion industries.

Oyindamola Honey Ogundeyi, Nigerian Founder, Fashpa.com Ogundeyi is the founder of Fashpa.com, a Nigerian e-commerce site that sells international fashion and lifestyle brands to locals.

Nour Drissi, Morroco Founder, Loue 1 Voiture Drissi’s company, Loue 1 Voiture is the first online platform that enables you to reserve a car from big and small car hire

companies in Morocco.

Elizabeth Kperrun, Nigerian Founder, Lizzie’s Creations Elizabeth Kperuun is the founder of Lizzie’s Creations, a company that develops mobile and web applications uniquely aimed at the development and education of women and children in Africa.

Founder, Night Bus Mann is the founder of Night Bus, South Africa’s first bus network that runs exclusively between major nightlife districts and universities throughout the night.

Anike Lawal, Nigerian Founder, Mamalette Lawal’s Mamalette is a website and information portal dedicated to the needs of Nigerian parents and parents to be.

Cherae Robinson, American Founder, Rare Customs Robinson’s company, Rare Customs, is a tourism consulting and marketing firm specializing in market development and travel in Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. The company connects Small and medium enterprises to emerging African tourism and investment trends.

Kega Florence Mukwevho, South African Founder, MKP Fast Foods Mkwevho’s MKP Fast Foods creates youth employment in SA by operating a low cost, scalable mobile kitchen for a growing chicken brand, Galito’s.

Taffi Woolward, Nigerian Founder, Thandos Woolward is the founder of Thandos, which provides a platform that helps aspiring African artists to design comfortable, convenient and affordable women’s fashion footwear.

Jade Mann, South African

Courtesy: Forbes

33

Friday, 1 January, 2016

With Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

thekitchen

Yes, there are New Year Kitchen

Resolutions!

eggplant and okra. Continue cooking until the chicken and vegetables are tender. Add more broth as needed to maintain a thick, stew consistency.

Money-saving cooking tips The economic situation globally calls for wisdom in all we do this year. Efforts must be made to ensure that cost is cut on fuel and time. Cooking beans and rice apart from retaining its freshness makes one to salivate at just a glance when cooked together.

Slow cooker red beans and rice Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

By Yemisi Aofolaju

A

S we begin the new year, we congratulate one another and appreciate God for making us all survive 2015 and see another year. It is of note that our store/power house never went dry. Irrespective of what predictions anybody might have made concerning this year, we must come up with ideas that will ensure healthy meals for the family.

Ensuring that the above feat is achieved, making resolutions that have been an annual ritual should include the power house, hence the adoption of new year’s kitchen resolutions which must be adhered to strictly by every member of the household.

For the resolutions to be effective, the involvement of children is imperative because they are the major stakeholders in the affairs of the day-to-day running of the home.

Making a total departure from the out gone year(s), children must be carried along in making a success of the menu chart. Once their consent is fully sought, then you as the homemaker can now unfold your plans.

After you might have made your point as the main driver of the project, you have to consistently, once in a month, try a food/ recipe from another culture. Variety is said to be spice of life, hence the need to try dishes from other climes.

Bake together cakes, doughnuts, bread and other snacks. Before now, you’ve been buying from stores and bakeries, but nothing stops you and your children from making a trial and enjoying the freshness of hot-oven baked bread! Your children and your good self will be happy for it. This experience will remain evergreen all through the year in your children’s memory and will

always long to have more of the experience.

If your kids get fussy all the time complaining about your meals, start this year by making them active participants in planning the family’s menu for the week. For instance, in the outgone year, you have always made your Monday dinner- beans / yam porridge and stew, why not ask them what they would want changed in their menu list for Monday’s dinner. Let them make their choices known and ensure it is followed to the letter without deviation.

Another resolution clearly centres on deemphasising consumption of processed foods while you also encourage your children that these foods, when sourced naturally, are better and safer than the former.

Going for shopping together to the local market is not a bad idea.

In an attempt to try your hands on a recipe from another clime, the kitchen brings to you a dish from Ghana.

Hkatenkwan (Groundnut stew) -- (good when served with Fufu, or dumpling) Ingredients 1 chicken 1-inch piece of ginger 1/2 of a whole onion 2 tbs tomato paste 1 tbs peanut oil, or other light cooking oil 1 cup onion\ 1 cup tomatoes 2/3 cup peanut butter 2 tsp salt 2 hot chiles 1 tsp cayenne pepper 1 medium-size eggplant 2 cups fresh or frozen okra

Direction

Cut chicken into pieces, chop tomatoes, chop peanut butter, crush chiles, crush cayenne pepper, peel and cube fresh or frozen okra.

Boil chicken with ginger and the onion half, using about 2 cups water. Meanwhile, in a separate large pot, fry tomato paste in the oil over low heat for about 5 minutes.

Add to the paste chopped onions and tomatoes, stirring occasionally until the onions are clear. Remove the partially-cooked chicken pieces and put them, along with about half the broth, in the large pot.

Add the peanut butter, salt and peppers.

Cook for 5 minutes before stirring in the

• 3 cups cooked small red beans • 1-1/2 cups long-grain white rice • 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles with the liquid • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic • 1 teaspoon granulated onion • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 2 cups chicken stock

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.

Cook on high for 3 hours until the rice is tender and the liquid has all been absorbed.

Serve hot.

Courtesy: Dailymail.co.uk

34

Friday, 1 January, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

Convergence of Christmas and Mawlid

A

LTHOUGH the exact date of the birth of one of the most influential personalities in human history, ‘Isa/Jesus (peace be upon him), is contentious, most Christians following the Gregorian calendar greeted Christmas Eve last Thursday night, 24th of December, 2015. This coincided with Thursday, the 12th of Rabi’ al-‘Awwal 1437 of the Islamic lunar calendar; coincidentally marking the day of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Exact birth dates aside, how much symbolism is encapsulated in this convergence of celebration?

The world receives the Messiah and the Final Messenger The last time Mawlid al-Nabi/the birth day of Prophet Muhammad and Christmas Eve converged was in 1852. This simultaneity of birth anniversaries of the two of the most revered people is a rare astrological occurrence and will recur next only after 457 years in 2472.

Christians and Muslims reportedly make up over a third and over a fifth of humanity respectively. Together they constitute more than 55 percent of the world’s population, making the relationship between these two religious communities an important factor in contributing to meaningful peace and goodness around the world.

Jesus is born to Mary (peace be upon them) The birth of ‘Isa/Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) is described twice in the Qur’an; chapter 3 (Family of Imran) and chapter 19 (Mary). Reading from the beginning of his birth, we come across the story of Mary, and the esteemed position which she occupies in the House of Islam, before the actual annunciation of the birth of Jesus is given.

“Behold! the angels said: “O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter, he is of those nearest to Allah“; (Quran 3:45).

Mary, the mother of Jesus is accorded highest respect and there is an entire chapter (19) entitled Maryam/Mary in the Qur’an. In another chapter (3) entitled Ale ‘Imran, Allah refers to that family as a “chosen family” (Quran 3: 33) and to her...

Behold! the angels said: O Mary! Allah has chosen you and purified you, chosen you above the women of all nations.” (Quran 3:42). The word that Allah uses for Mary is the same root word Muslims use as a title for Prophet Muhammad (Mustafa – chosen).

Mary, daughter of Imran, is considered… chaste, virtuous, receiver of God’s spirit, a testimony to the veracity of God’s message and piously obedient (Quran 66: 11).

Such is the status accorded to Mary that Jesus/’Isa isreferred to 25 times in the Qur’an and 16 of those times he is referred to as “Isa ibn Maryam” (Jesus son of Mary).

Mary is mentioned more times and there is more biographical information about her contained in the Qur’an than in the entire New Testament. The Qur’anic account of Mary includes the pregnancy of her mother, the birth and upbringing of Mary, and the annunciations of the coming birth of Jesus: “Remember how she preserved her chastity, into whom We breathed a life from Us, and made her and her son a token for humankind” (Q21:91).

Be Jesus-like ‘Isa/Jesus holds an exalted place within

Muslims and Christians do have differing perspectives on Jesus’ life and teachings, but his spiritual legacy, as a righteous and principled guide, his mission as a Prince of Peace offers an alternative opportunity for people of faith to recognise their shared religious heritage.

Islam. As are evident from the honourable epithets mentioned in the Qur’an: word of Allah (kalimatu-Llah), spirit from God (ruhun mina’ Llah), positive sign/symbol for humanity (ayatun lin- nas), mercy from God (rahmatan minna’ Llah), prophet (nabi), Messenger of God (rasul), Messiah /masih, the son of Mary (ibn Maryam), eminent in this world and the next (wajihan fid-dunya wal-akhirah) …

The lessons we learn from the lives of Jesus and Mary (peace be upon them) are universal and timeless.

Mother and Son: In the story of Mary and her son (Quran 19:27-33), Jesus (peace be upon them) is reflected in the importance of the dignity of the family. There is an example of the power of relationships, the care of a loving and pious mother and the respect of a righteous and caring son.

Gentleness: He had a degree of gentleness in him that was most appealing.

All the miracles attributed to him were to help the distressed … fish to feed the hungry, healing those who were sick, visiting those who were ostracised (such as the lepers).

Compassionate leader: (displayed in his dealing with the case of stoning the alleged adulteress… where he responded: “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone” (Book of John chapter 8).

He cared about people without neglecting rule, using rules as a means to bring order to society; empowering rather than controlling, inspiring rather than dictating, uplifting rather than judging, seeking commitment rather than compliance.

Firm on principles: His softness was a reflection of his compassionate nature, not of weakness that often comes from

those who do not have the courage to stand up against the forces of corruption and inequity, and thus compromising on principles. Remember, in dealing with the manipulative money lenders (Matthew 21) – And Jesus went into the temple and sent out all who were trading there, overturning the tables of the money-changers.

He said to those unprepared to fight against wrongfulness and injustice…, (Luke 22) he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy a sword.

Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them) Muslims accept Jesus (pbuh) as a great prophet, revere his exemplary mother Mary, and believe that he is the Messiah to come. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Mary, since there was no prophet between me and him.” (Musnad Ahmed).

“Both in this world and in the Hereafter, I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.”(Bukhari) Similarity between Prophets Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them) Both grew up without a physical father; Jesus (pbuh) was a miraculous birth while Prophet Muhammad’s father passed on while his mother was in pregnancy with him.

Both were considered religiopolico-economic threats to the authorities of the day. Hence, the Syndrion (council of religious leaders), Pontius Pilate (Prefect of Romans) and King Herod were directly involved in liquidating Jesus (pbuh). Prophet Muhammad was of the ruling Quraysh tribe, but his own relatives who were in positions of authority connived to have him removed.

Both were victims of machinations to have them assassinated or killed.

Both came unto their own but their own received them not; Jesus unto the Jews and Muhammad unto the Quraysh.

Both served respectively as opposition to their mission. Prophet Muhammad had amassed less than three hundred followers upon migration from Makkah and Jesus only had 12 to 13 disciples at the Last supper.

Both had the generosity of compassion to forgive their enemies and when Prophet Muhammad underwent oppression from his people, he repeated the words of Prophet Jesus (Luke 23:34), Lord, forgive my people for they not what they do.

Muslim-Christian relationship Such is the respect accorded to those of the Christian persuasion, “followers” of Christ (pbuh) that Allah says that among all the faith traditions those who are Christians will be closest to Muslims [Quran 5:82].

When the Christian delegation of Najran lead by the Bishop Zayd al-Usquf came to meet with Prophet Muhammad in Madinah, they asked the Prophet if they could have a place to perform their worship and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) responded, “Conduct your service here in the mosque.

It is a place dedicated to God.” How far have we ventured from the respectful attitude of our prophets (peace be upon them) The Prophet sent a personal letter to the Christians at St. Catherine in Sinai, ensuring their safety and guaranteeing their freedom to practise their faith without prejudice.

Call for righteous cooperation Prophet Jesus came over 2000 years ago; Prophet Muhammad over 1400 years ago. How close are we to the prophetic spirit of these two great exemplars? How much symbolism is encapsulated in this convergence of Mawlid al-Nabi and Christmas in 2015? It will recur next in 2472 when all of us are well gone. How much of their legacy will we transmit to future generations when we have already deviated so far from the essence of their collective message? Let us commit ourselves to the call for cooperation on that which would lead to righteousness and Godconsciousness (Quran 5:2).

Violent events on the nightly news unfortunately provide ample ammunition for those promoting religious hostility and feeds the misconception that intolerance and hate-filled rhetoric is the norm. That is not the Abrahamic spirit. Muslims and Christians do have differing perspectives on Jesus’ life and teachings, but his spiritual legacy, as a righteous and principled guide, his mission as a Prince of Peace offers an alternative opportunity for people of faith to recognise their shared religious heritage. Christians and Muslims would do well to reflect on the joint legacy of Prophet Jesus and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them) and ponder on the verse in the Qur’an reaffirming Allah’s eternal message of spiritual unity: “Say: ‘We believe in God and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and message given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves.’” (Quran 2:136).

Source: IslamiCity — Sadullah Khan.

35 islamicnews

Friday, 1 January, 2016

Don’t judge Islam by attitude of errant Muslims —Prof. Oladosu

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senior lecturer at the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Abdul Afis Oladosu, has urged the world not to judge Islam by the negative attitude of some Muslims.

He called on errant Muslims to find their way back to righteousness in order to discourage the tagging of Islam as a religion of troublemakers rather than a religion of peace.

Prof. Oladosu spoke in Ogunmakin, Ogun State, at the opening of the 100th edition of the annual Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria

(MSSN), Southern Zone.

He said the bad behaviour of some Muslims should not be used as a basis for determining what Islam really stands for.

“It is not Islam that should be held responsible for the misbehaviour of Muslims, the same way you don’t hold a car responsible when it has an accident. You need to question the driver and the owner of the car. Allah gave the religion of Islam to Muslims. It is we the Muslims that are misrepresenting the gift from Allah. The world should try to read about Islam and not about Muslims,” he said.

Oladosu argued that the West could not be exonerated from the rising inse-

curity in the world.

“The guns and the bullets being used by ISIS were not manufactured in Iraq.

It’s the West that produced the weapons being used by ignorant Muslims who believe that it is when they use them that they can achieve certain aims. The West should stop this hypocritical posture,” the don said.

In a remark, the National President of MSSN, Mallam Muhammad Jameel, urged the Federal Government not to ban the Islamic mode of dressing by women as such an action would mean a denial of the right to freely practise one’s religion.

He called on the government to address the myri-

ad of problems facing the country.

Highlights of the occasion were the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and presentation of awards to some individuals for their contributions to the MSSN and Islam.

The awardees included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar; Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Professor Daud Noibi; Executive Secretary, National Commission for Nomadic Education, Professor Rashid Aderinoye; Chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni; popular preacher, Dr Daud Amoo-Alaga and Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN).

Emulate Prophet Muhammad, scholar advises youths A scholar, Dr Rasheed Fasasi, has advised youths to emulate the lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad in order to succeed in this world and in the Hereafter.

Fasasi gave the advice in Ibadan, Oyo State, while speaking on “Muhammad: Lessons from His Birth and Growing Up” at a lecture organised by the Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF) to mark the birth of the Prophet in Ibadan.

The lecturer said there was the need for all Muslims, especially the youth, to go back to the original teachings of the Prophet.

He said Islam is becoming strange and people are no longer seeing the beauty of the religion because of strange creeds.

“Let us go back to the original teachings of Prophet Muhammad, who lived what he preached,” he said.

Fasasi, a motivational speaker, said Prophet Muhammad’s youthfulness was filled with hard work, honesty and trustworthiness.

“The Holy Prophet was extremely honest and trustworthy in his day-to-day affairs. This was a rare quality in the era he lived, when merchants and vendors used to swindle and deceive consumers for petty profits,” he said.

Fasasi said Muslims are fortunate to have a role model and perfect guide in Prophet Muhammad.

“Achieving the same level of success that he did is impossible but the purpose of his life was for us to study, learn and implement his virtues in order to succeed in this life and the afterlife,” the lecturer said.

The lecturer reminded the youth that despite the challenging background of Prophet Muhammad, losing his parents at six years of age, “he became the greatest man that ever lived.”

Describing the Prophet as a rights activist, Fasasi said “his earlier life was marked by rare characteristic, rarest of all in Arabia at the time, love for the poor, the orphan, the widow, the weak, the helpless and the slave.”

Be law-abiding, Bauchi dep gov charges Muslim students Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

From left, Imam, Bodija Estates and Environs Muslim Community (BEEMC), Imam Abdul Hakeem Afuye; Kamil Koyejo Oloso, a professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Ibadan; Chairman, Board of Religious Affairs of BEEMC, Alhaji Waheed Alli and the Vice Chairman, BEEMC, Alhaji Murisiq Siyanbade, in Ibadan, Oyo State, during a congratulatory visit to Oloso on his attainment of professorship.

Emir disburses N2.4m zakkat Adamu Amadu - Dutse THE Emir of Kazaure, in Jigawa State, Alhaji Najib Hussain, has disbursed zakkat (alms) of grains worth N2,476,680 to 1,763 underprivileged persons in two districts in his domain.

The Emirate Council’s spokesperson, Malam Garba Gambo, told journalists, in Dutse, that the food items were distributed to deserving families in Amaryawa and Achilafiya communities.

According to him, the Emir called on the people in

the emirate to live together as brothers and sisters and prayed for continued peace in the area, the state and the nation in general.

Gambo said the chairman of zakkat collection and distribution committee of the council, Alhaji Bala Muham-

mad, commended individuals who voluntarily gave of their wealth to support the needy.

Muhammad, Gambo said, urged other wealthy individuals to support the vulnerable so as to reduce poverty in the society.

AMP charges Islamic organisations MUSLIM organisations have been charged to place emphasis on recruitment and active participation of their youth in their activities.

The charge was given during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP), held in Lagos.

According to the association, the prospect of continuation of Islamic organisations depends on the involvement of the young ones in their activities. This realisation was responsible for the formation of the youth wing of AMP. It, therefore, appealed to members to encourage their children to take active part

in the activities of the youth wing.

S;peaking of the activities of the organization in the year under review, the AMP President, Alhaji Kamarudeen Oladosu, expressed optimism that the

association’s building project would commence in the coming year, while appealing to members to redeem their pledges.

The AMP also organised lectures, Itikaf and guidance and counselling during the period.

Muslim teachers advised

MUSLIM teachers have been charged to take active interests in their students in order to address problems confronting them.

This challenge was thrown by a former coordinator of the Lagos State unit of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Alhaji Sulaimon

Ogunmuyiwa, while delivering a lecture at an interactive forum of the Muslim Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (MUTAN) and MSSN in Alimoso Education District of Lagos State.

Ogunmuyiwa, who is an Assistant Director of Education in Lagos State, observed that Muslim stu-

Expressing the commitment of the AMP to the plight of the underprivileged, it announced its intention to work with its lawyer to secure the release of about 30 inmates of Ikoyi Prison on light charges.

dents and teachers are currently marginalised and discriminated against.

He, therefore, stated that the Muslim teachers have important roles to play to ensure that the Muslim students are called to the right path and well guided to fulfil the purpose of their existence.

MUSLIM students in Bauchi State have been called upon to always be law abiding citizens of not only the state but Nigeria as a whole.

This is just as the state government has reiterated its commitment to supporting religious groups to successfully conduct their activities.

The deputy governor, Mr Nuhu Gidado, stated these on Monday at the closing of a four-day Islamic Vacation Course (IVC), organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Bauchi State chapter, in Jama’are, headquarters of Jama’are Local Government Area.

Represented by the member representing Jama’are Constituency in the House of Assembly, Honourable Magaji Isah, Gidado urged students to support the state government to achieve its desire of raising the standard of education at all levels in the state.

He used the occasion to restate the commitment of the Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar administration in the state to supporting religious groups towards the successful conduct of their activities and urged the faithful to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state.

In his remarks, the state Amir of MSSN, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Yunusa Ado, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of students for the IVC, calling on them to not only imbibe what they learned during the course but also put the lessons to use.

Bodija Muslim community organises lecture

MUSLIMS will, on Sunday, converge on Ibadan, Oyo State, for the bi-monthly lecture of Bodija Estates and Environs Muslim Community (BEEMC).

A statement by the community’s Publicity Secretary, AbdurRahman Balogun, said the lecture would be held at the Islamic Centre, Housing, old Bodija, from 11.00 a.m.

According to the statement, the lecture entitled “From Convergence to Divergence: Muslims and the Search for Identity,” will be delivered by Dr Saheed Timehin, Co-Chairman (Muslim), Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC), Lagos State chapter.

Timehin, who is a lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages, Lagos State University, will speak on the desirability of unity and brotherhood among Muslims.

36

Friday, 1 January, 2016

arewa

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Crew

The newly commissioned flyover in Jos.

Sabiu Mohammed - Kaduna 08067698878 mohsabiu@yahoo.com Isaac Shobayo - Jos 08037032359 shobayo.isaac@gmail.com Biola Azeez – Kwara State 08034276889 biolababes@gmail.com James Bwala – Borno / Yobe 08069596659 jamesbwala97@gmail.com Adamu Amadu - Dutse Kola Oyelere - Kano

NSCDC prosecutes 6 vandals, impounds 13 vehicles

Governor Lalong inaugurates first flyover on Plateau Isaac Shobayo - Jos

B

EFORE now, it had often been an entrenched practice in the country that when new administrations came into power at various levels, especially at federal and state levels, their predecessors were condemned for the uncompleted projects left behind.

The general impression among the people of Plateau State after the April election was that the All Progressive Congress (APC) government led by Governor Simon Lalong would rubbish and abandon most of the projects inherited from his predecessor, Jonah Jang. The latter’s major achievements while in power were arrays of road constructions which dotted every nook and cranny of the state especially within the state capital.

But Lalong, however, proved the skeptics wrong. He is one of the governors who strongly believe that government is a continuum and also that abandoning some of the projects would amount to wastage of tax payers’ money. He put aside all the political differences between him and his predecessor and decided to complete viable ones that had direct bearing on the lives of the people.

In his maiden interactive session with the media men in Jos shortly after he assumed office, Governor Lalong expressed the determination of his administration to complete all viable abandoned projects, saying despite lopsidedness of most of the projects, he would ensured their completion within reasonable period of time.

One of the projects seriously begging for attention when the administration came into power was the uncompleted flyover around secretariat junction within the state capital. Despite the fact the project was conceived with good intention and started late by the previous administration, its location and site caused a nightmare for both motorists and pedestrians who ply the road on a daily basis.

Considering what motorists are passing through and strategic nature of the project, the present administration took a criti-

cal look at it among other projects with the objective of completing them irrespective of the person that initiated them.

Director of Research, Planing and Documentation, Professor John Wade, declared thus: “The flyover at the secretariat junction was not initiated by us, but we know it will, if completed, ease congestion of traffic. When we came in, we called the contractor who had abandoned the project before we came in and opened up discussions with him”

Having recognised that the flyover situated in the heart of the city needed to be handled with quick dispatch, the contractor, who had abandoned the projects shortly after Jang left office, was mobilised back to site.

To the joy of citizens of the state, especially residents of Jos, the state capital, the state government, last week, opened up the flyover to motorists to alleviate the suffering of people and to reduce traffic gridlock in the area.

NEMA recorded 314 deaths in North West in 2015 —Coordinator Muhammad Sabiu - Gusau THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), North West Zone, comprising Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, has said 314 people died while 431 sustained injuries as a result of different kinds of disasters in 2015.

This was disclosed by the Zonal Co-ordinator in charge of the zone, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi IIelIah in an interview.

According to him, within the year under review, the agency recorded five major cases of bomb blasts and gun attacks in the zone.

He said the five major cases were the Sabon Gari bomb blast in Kano, Dangi Pharmacy bomb blast in Kano, GSM market bomb blast in Kano, the Shiite attack in Kano as well as the Army/Shiite attack in Zaria.

IlelIah disclosed that also within the year under review, Jigawa State recorded the least cases of natural disasters while Kano had the highest cases of disasters.

The NEMA boss declared that Jigawa had 9 cases, Katsina 10, Kaduna 19 and Kano 24.

The Co-ordinator maintained that from the record obtained by his agency, 314 people died while 431 people were injured during the year.

He also disclosed that his agency had intervened in so many requests from Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) and orphanage homes.

“We gave them items like blankets, mattresses, detergents, turkey oil, Zinc, cement as well as grains”, he stressed.

While assuring his agency’s determination to continue to provide humanitarian services in times of disasters, he implored residents in the zone to avoid building structures on waterways and riversides.

He also counselled residents to avoid dumping items like nylon bags, pure water sachets, etc on culverts and drainages.

Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna THE Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Command, has said it secured the prosecution of six vandals while 13 vehicles were impounded by the Command in the year 2015.

Reviewing the activities of the Command in the outgoing year at state headquarters, State Commandant of the Corps, Alhaji Modu Bunu, said nine vehicles, including four tankers, had also been impounded.

He stated that 21 motorcycles and no fewer than 727 jericans either filled with PMS or diesel were recovered from suspects who were attempting vandalism or siphoning of petroleum products.

According to Bunu, the state did not experience any incident of pipeline vandalism because of certain proactive measures that were taken.

He explained that earlier in the outgoing year, the Command embarked on the sensitisation of various communities on the dangers of vandalism in Igabi, Kaduna-North, Kaduna-South, Chikun and Kachia Local government areas, noting that the affected communities were chosen in view of prevalent incidence.

Pertaining to other forms of crimes and criminalities, the state NSCDC boss said: “Through intelligence report, we arrested notorious hard drug dealers in the course of combing suspected black spots, apprehended car snatching syndicates and uncovered illegal sites for the production of fake liquor in the state.”

Senator Sani adopts 60 orphans Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna THE Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District and Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign and Local debts , Comrade Shehu Sani, has adopted all the 60 orphans in the Adonai Orphanage Home in Kaduna.

The Senator also granted scholarships to two of the orphans that just finished their secondary schools to proceed further in their higher education in China.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Adonai Orphanage , Barnawa, Senator Sani, who donated cash and food items for new year celebration, said there was the need for leaders and privileged Nigerians to always remember the orphans, especially during festive periods.

He pointed out that though the children at

the Orphanage Home were orphans, they deserved a future like every other child in the society.

While emphasising that leaders across the country owed it a duty to support the orphans and make their lives useful and beneficial to the society, he maintained that deliberated efforts must be made to give them hope and to make it possible for them to realise their dreams .

“I urge Nigerians who have the means to help the orphans and contribute in helping them live a good life to do so . As orphans, their basic needs are food, clothing, shelter and education and we all owe them that.”

Earlier, Evangelist Elizabeth Afuwape, matron of the orphanage, who was represented

by Pastor Samuel Oyelowo commended the Senator for his kind gesture to the home.

news Lagos assembly passes 2016 appropriation bill into law 37

Chukwuma OkparaochaLagos

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he Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday, December 31, passed into law, the 2016 budget proposal of N662.588 bil-

Friday, 1 January, 2016

lion presented to the assembly by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Presenting the report, chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Honourable Rotimi Olowo, gave the

Al-Makura presents N77.9bn as 2016 appropriation bill Ademola Adegbite -Lafia

NASARAWA State governor, Umaru Tanko AlMakura, on Thursday, presented 2016 appropriation bill of N77.9 billion before the state House of Assembly, christened “budget of pragmatism.”

Presenting the budget at the floor of the house in Lafia, the state capital, the governor announced economic sector of taking lion share of N31.90 billion, followed by law and justice sector with N24.66 billion, while administrative sector took N18.48 billion.

He explained that the

2016 budget was to be funded from the anticipated revenue sources of opening balance of N1.781 billion; Federation account statutory revenue allocation of N30billion; value added tax (VAT) of N10billion; excess crude oil receipts of N250 million; exchange gain of N2.5 billion; as well as special allocation of N3.5billion and refund from NNPC of N250 million.

Others were Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N8.92 billion; aids and grants of N6.24 billion; bond of N5 billion; CBN infrastructure intervention facility of N10 billion.

Gaidam presents N88.9bn budget to Assembly Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe, on Thursday, presented a budget of N88.93 billion to the state House of Assembly for the 2016 fiscal year.

Presenting the appropriation bill christened, “Result based Budget for Consolidation, Reconstruction and Self-Reliance, “Gaidam said the budget increased

by N8.9 billion, representing 10 per cent increase from the N80.6 billion budget of 2015.

The governor said the budget was expected to be financed with N38.5 billion from statutory allocation, N3.5 billion from Internally Generated Revenue, N8.3 billion from VAT,

N3.3 billion from excess crude allocation as well as grants and loans.

“The budget will exploit solid minerals and tourism potentials as well as agricultural development to boost the revenue base of the state.

“Government shall ensure the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the destroyed structures and resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons at the end of the insurgency,” he said.

He said the budget would concentrate on employment and job creation, poverty eradication as well as checking of unnecessary expenditure.

Benue govt budgets N133.4bn Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

BENUE State governor, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday, presented the total sum of N133.4 billion appropriation bill for the 2016 fiscal year to the state house of Assembly.

The appropriation bill, christened, “Budget of Trust, Confidence and Credibility,” was shared among five sectors which include: Administration, Economic, Law and Justice, Regional as well as Social with the Economic sector having the largest share of N58.4 billion.

The governor added that the proposed budget will be financed through rev-

enue sharing formula with respect to the federation account and value added tax, continued institutional strengthening of IGR, full application of technology to achieve total blockage of all leakages in IGR as well as stability in political and economic operating environment, would be used in considering the expenditure profile of government in 2016.

The social sector is to take the sum of N49.3 billion, followed by the Administrative sector with the sum of N21.9billion while the Law and Justice sector as well as the Regional sector having N2.9 billion and N753.9 million respectively.

indication of only a minor adjustment in the original budget, thus indicating a recurrent expenditure of N275.655 billion and capital expenditure of N386.933 billion as against N278.9 billion and N383.67 billion as recurrent and capital expenditures respectively in the original budget.

The House unanimously approved the budget after members deliberated on the report of House Committee on Budget which scrutinised the Bill as proposed by the governor.

In his response, Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, commended members of the committee for expeditiously working on the budget to ensure its passage before the new fiscal year.

Obasa recalled that members of the committee worked even on holidays, adding that they had indeed shown their love for the people of the state.

Governor Ambode had, while presenting the budget, put the Recurrent Expenditure at N278,909 billion

while Capital Expenditure stood at N383,678 billion, explaining that the Capital to Recurrent ratio is 58:42 as against 51:49 in 2014 and 2015.

Governor Ambode also put the total revenue estimate for 2016 fiscal year at N542.873 billion saying the balance of N119.714 billion would be funded through deficit financing constituting 0.41 per cent of the state GDP based on 2016 budget alone and a cumulative debt to GDP ratio of about 3 per cent.

On the size of the budget, the governor earmarked N120,508,571,598 for General Public Services representing 18.19 per cent, N28,559,021,841 to Public Order and Safety, representing 4.31 per cent, while Economic Affairs received a lion share of N211,043,408,183 representing 31.85 per cent.

In other sectors, Environment got 8.1 per cent of the budget totalling N53,043,599,505; Housing and Community Amenities, got N62,713,091,867 representing 9.46 per cent.

Education has the lion share of the budget with a projected expenditure of N4.29billion followed by Infrastructural development - N3.5 billon; Agriculture, N2.53 billion and water supply and sanitation N2.38 bllion and N2.61 billion for the health sector.

The governor told the House that the budget would be partly funded with a N5 billion bond to be accessed from the capital market while vigorous drive for Internally Gen-

erated Revenue would be pursued.

Tagged’ Budget of Restoration,’ Governor Bello said prudent utilisation of resources and zero tolerance to corruption would be the major preoccupation of the government in the implementation of the budget.

“The management of the meagre resources of the state will be a priority in this regard; areas of leakages and wastage would be identified and blocked accordingly.”

Niger to spend N74.744bn Adelowo Oladipo, Minna

The Niger State government is to spend over N74.744 billion in the 2016 financial year, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello disclosed in Minna, on Thursday, while presenting next year’s budget to the state house of assembly.

N39.501 billion of the amount, the governor said will be committed to recurrent expenditure while capital expenditure will gulp N35.242 billion.

Governor Bello said

statutory allocation from the Federation Account is expected to yield N35, 792.212 billions, while Value Added Tax will generate N9.871 billion and internally generated revenue is N9, 391,164.235.

The government he said will also get over N19, 608 billion capital receipt.

Personnel cost according to Bello, would in the new financial year gulp N27.7 billion while over head cost was put at N8.34 billion and general administration at N3.68 billion.

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Appeal Court sacks Abia gov Alhassan loses in Taraba Sunday Ejike - Abuja with Agency Report

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HE Court of Appeal on Thursday, nullified the election of Governor Okozie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

The court also declared Dr Alex Otti, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of the April 11 and April 25 supplementary elections in the state.

The five-member panel,

headed by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, annulled the elections on the grounds of substantial non-compliance to the Electoral Law. Delivering judgment in the appeal filed by Otti, the court said the APGA candidate scored 164,444 valid votes to defeat Ikpeazu, who scored 114,444 votes.

The court declared that Otti was the winner of the elections, adding that the cancellation of the elections held in three local government areas

of Obingwa, Osisioma Ngwa and Isiala Ngwa by the returning officers after the results were uploaded to INEC was wrong.

The court therefore directed INEC to issue certificate of return to Otti and swear him in as winner of the Abia State governorship election.

Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, set aside the judgment of the Taraba State governorship election petition tribunal which sacked Governor

Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Delivering judgment in the three appeals and crossappeal that emanated from the judgment of the tribunal, which sat in Abuja because of security concerns, a five-member panel of Justices of the appellate court, headed by Justice Abdul Aboki, set aside the earlier decision of the tribunal.

Justice Aboki, who read the unanimous judgment, held that it was a gross mis-

N18,000 minimum wage must be reviewed upward in 2016, NLC insists Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the N18,000 national minimum wage must be increased in 2016, even as it blamed the Nigerian elite, especially the politicians, for the very poor economic situation in the country.

NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a New Year message to Nigerians, said the congress would, in the new year, fight to defend the right of workers to be paid take home wages that could actually take them home.

“It equally has to be stressed at this point in time that reviewing the national minimum wage upward is a multidimensional necessity.

“Economics, legality, politics and morality are pillars on which we stand. NLC will be ready to negotiate, but

with the precondition that minimum wage must be reviewed and this has to be upward.

“We will fight to defend the right of workers to be paid take home wages that can actually take us home,” he said.

Wabba said the issue of national minimum wage was of great concern to the working class, stressing that it was due for an upward review.

“As things are right now, with the sharp devaluation of the naira, the existing N18,000 minimum wage equally declined in value, thereby worsening the cost of living for workers.

“It is, however, bothersome that the governors flew a reprehensible kite of minimum wage reduction in 2015. NLC did realise that this was a stratagy to get us talking about retaining the

Ooni to create job opportunities for 40,000 people Oluwole Ige - Osogbo AS Nigerians celebrate the dawn of a New Year today, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Thursday, hinted of plans to tackle youth unemployment across Yorubaland by establishing cocoa, rubber and oil palm plantations in Ile-Ife. When fully operational before the first quarter of the year, the plantations would provide employment for about 40,000 people, mostly youths.

In a New Year message signed by his director of media and public affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, the monarch harped on the need to take jobless youths off the street, with a view to tackling increasing crime

rates in Nigerian society.

“Kabiyesi has dedicated the year 2016 to turn around the fortune of the youth by unfolding a new vista of hope in terms of gainful employment with already not fewer than 3,000 youths engaged at ongoing project site of Ife Grand Resort, spanning over 1,000 acres of land established by the monarch to provide job opportunities for the people.

“Specifically, the focus and target of Ooni Ogunwusi are beyond the shores of Ile-Ife as critical arrangements have reached advanced stage to take the unemployed youths in Yorubaland off the streets, with a view to checkmating the growing crime rate in our society.

paltry sum of N18,000 as minimum wage instead of calling for an increment.

“We had responded accordingly and made clear our resolve to fight against any attempt to reduce the minimum wage, which would be illegal, as would be efforts to curtail an upward review, in line with the provisions of the 2011 National Minimum Wage Act,” he said.

He, however, regretted that President Muhammadu Buhari, in the course of his maiden presidential media chat on December 30, appeared to have given tacit support to the governors’ gambit, echoing the claim that states might not have the capacity to (continue to) pay a mere N18,000 as minimum wage.

He stated that the elite were responsible for the economic situation, but lamented that the same group chose to make the poor Nigerian workers and masses to pay for it.

The congress advocated

serious reduction in the cost of governance, adding that another key problem of the current democratic dispensation was the high cost of governance across all three tiers of government.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, Ajoke Aminat Akinwale am the same person as Ogundeji Ajoke Aminat born on 17/1/1968 and not 17/12/1968 as written on my BVN. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OGUNDEJI AJOKE AMINAT. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA, FCMB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Azeez Moshood now ABDUL-AZEEZ MASUD OLAIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

direction for the tribunal to have declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajia Aisha Jumai Alhassan, winner of the April 11 governorship election in Taraba State on the basis that she scored the second highest number of votes in the election.

The court also held that from the evidence of witnesses to the petitioners before the tribunal, Governor Ishaku was validly elected and sponsored by his party, the PDP, to vie for the governorship seat of the state, in accordance with the constitution, the Electoral Act and in accordance with the election guidelines as laid down by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Therefore, the judgment of the Taraba State governorship election petition

tribunal is hereby declared null, void and set aside in its entirety.

“The appellant’s appeal is meritorious and is hereby allowed,” Justice Aboki held and affirmed Darius Dickson Ishaku as the duly elected governor of Taraba State.

According to the court, APC and its governorship candidate, who are the first and second respondents in the appeal, have no right under the law to challenge the primaries of the PDP, which produced Ishaku as its candidate for the election, as none of them is a member of PDP. It will be recalled that the tribunal headed by Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar had, in a judgment, ordered that Alhassan be sworn as governor because the PDP did not conduct a valid primaries that threw Ishaku up as the its standard-bearer.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Aderemi Ayinde now RUFAI BASHIR ADEREMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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I, formerly Adewusi Yetunde now ADEWUSI TANWA KABIRA. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Saka Ramota Bukola now MRS OMORINOYE RAMOTA BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Emmanuel Peter Uzoma now EMMANUEL JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Bello Abdulahi Adetunji am the same person as Bello Adetunji and Bello Abdulahi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as BELLO ABDULAHI ADETUNJI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adebayo Olawale Genesis now ADEBAYO OLAWALE JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Azeez Titilayo Khadijat now MRS ODEDE TITILAYO KHADIJAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr Shote Abiodun Fatai now MR SHOTE ABIODUN OLANIPEKUN. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olalusi Temitope Ibukun now MRS ADABONYAN TEMITOPE IBUKUN. All former documents remain valid.

University of Ilorin, Lafenwa Osiberu & Co. and general public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Oladepo Olapeju Habibat now MRS DARAMOLA OLAPEJU HABIBAT. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Oluwatuyi Olufunke Omolara now MRS EDET OLUFUNKE OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Babatunde Habeebat Opeyemi now MRS PELENJO HABEEBAT OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Adewale Sukurat Oluwatoyin now MRS ADELEKE SUKURAT OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Lawal Ayanbisi Olariike now MRS SAMUEL A. AYANBISI OLARIIKE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Omage Josephine Ifedapo now MRS OYEKANMI JOSEPHINE IFEDAPO. All former documents remain valid.

Osun State Pensions Board and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Salawu Lukuman Mafolale now MR AMIOLA MARTINS MAFOLALE. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Lydia Tolulope Olatunde now MRS LYDIA TOLULOPE AYANKOSO. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Adebisi Omobolanle Mubo now MRS OLADOKE OMOBOLANLE MUBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I Uche Nnna Okoro, male, Christian, Nigerian, residing at Aderupoko Compound OJA NLA iseyin, Oyo state here declared herein,that my name are Uche Nnna and Okoro respectively. That I was born on 25th of November 1954 . that all documents which bears my names as Uche Nnna Okoro, Uche Okoro Augustine are mine and remain valid.

Eco Bank and general public to take note and for record purpose.

I formerly Miss Kolade Muslimat Ololade now MRS SODIYA MUSLIMAT KOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

I, formerly Miss Ajare Precious Seyi now MRS BAKARE PRECIOUS OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeniji Tolulope now MRS JEGEDE TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

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39 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Maria Igoche now AGENE MARIA EDUGWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Friday, 1 January, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

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I, formerly Aderibigbe Tajudeen Akintunde now MUSTAPHA TAJUDEEN ADERIBIGBE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Hamsat Abimbola Saula now AMUSAT OLANIYI SAULA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olagunju, Mofoluwasho Ifeoluwa now MRS. OJO-OLUTAYO, MOFOLUWASHO IFEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH, Idi-Araba), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, NHIS, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adenubi Hadijat Oluwatoyin now MRS. OMUABOR HADIJAT OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Akani Mercy Adelanke now F A F U N M I L A D E ADELANKE MERCY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Peris David Omoh now EGBON PERIS OMON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ereke Dorcas Odije now MRS. OCHI DORCAS ODIJE. All former documents remain valid.

Methodist School, Ajota, Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adewunmi Adesola Dorcas now MRS. TIJANI ADESOLA DORCAS FATIMO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Raheem Rasidat Ronke now MRS. AZEEZ RASIDAT RONKE. All former documents remain valid. Atisbo Local Government, Tede, Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Oyewole Vic now MRS. OYEWOLE VICTORIA OLAPEJU. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Agboola Christianah Aduke now OLAWOYIN CHRISTIANAH ADUKE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ladapo Bilikisu Idowu now MRS. OMOTOSO BILIKISU OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Aderemi Abosede Olaitan now ADEREMI JOHN OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Foluwakemi Alice Odesanmi now MRS. FOLUWAKEMI ALICE AKANDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Obende Suzan Helen Omobolanle now MRS. LEKIA SUZAN HELEN. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc., NYSC and general public take note.

I, Shittu Titilope Sakirat am the same person as Titilayo Dele. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLAWALE TITILOPE SAKIRAT. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Plc., Wema Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly James Omale now EDACHE OCHE SIMON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Mr. Atanda Ayobami now MR. ATANDA LIADI AYOBAMI. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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I, formerly Miss Oluwadolapo Christianah Ojediran now MRS. OLUWADOLAPO CHRISTIANAH ABOBARIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Abidemi Inumidunsioluwa Oluwasindara am the same person bearing Oyesiji Temitope Elizabeth.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OYESIJI TEMITOPE ELIZABETH. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

GTBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adegbenro Titilayo Mariam now MRS. ADEGBOLA TITILAYO MARIAM. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Sangotikun Opeyemi Bolaji now MRS. LAWAL OPEYEMI BOLAJI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kolawole Rhoda Funke now MRS. AJANI RHODA FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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I, formerly Miss Oluwatosin Yemisi Ilesanmi now MRS. OSIKANMI OLUWATOSIN YEMISI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Sulaimon Temitope Khadijat now MRS. OBASSA TEMITOPE KHADIJAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Sadiku Ahmed Adio now MR. SADIKU ABRAHAM ABAYOMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ashogbon Lucky now SAMA LUCKY. All former documents remain valid. UBA, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Solomon Joseph now MR. SOLOMON JOSEPH OKEKUNLE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunbayo Olubukola Eniola now MRS. MUSTAPHA OLUBUKOLA ENIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Bashirat Omolola Salami now MRS. BASHIRAT OMOLOLA OGUNTOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ajasa Taiwo now MUDASIRU FATAI TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Awoyemi Awoseyi Isaac now AKINWUMI ADEMOLA ISAAC. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Olobayo Rachael Kemi now OKEWOLE RACHAEL KEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Elizabeth Kiyesola Akande now MRS. ELIZABETH KIYESOLA AKANDE LAWAL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Sabitu Muinat Oyefunke now MRS. BAKARE MUINAT OYEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, UZOMA NWAOGU am the same person bearing OGBOMA SMITH UZOMA. All documents bearing both names are mine and remain valid. FCMB, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Marry Udanyi now TINA OHAEJIUGOO IFEYINWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Opeyemi Olajumoke Orowale now MRS. OPEYEMI OLAJUMOKE GODSPOWER. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora and general public take note.

I, formerly Olotu Celestina Oluwabunmi now ALKADELO CELESTINA OLUWABUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adesanya Adebimpe Sarah now MRS. SHOGUNLE ADEBIMPE SARAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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I, formerly Bethel Ologe now MRS. BETHEL OLOGEUMUKORO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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I, formerly Ogunsanya Johnson Babajide now SANYA JOHNSON OLAJIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oniyide John Babafemi now DANIEL JOHN BABAFEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olaosebikan Bunmi Deborah now MRS. OJELADE BUNMI DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Rapheal Dube now AJAMA CHARLES IYERIJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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I, formerly Miss Agu Amarachi Chialuka now MRS. NWOSU AMARACHI CHIALUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Felix Paul now MR. FELIX DRESSMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Opure Joseph Osas am the same person as Abure Osas Wisdom. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OPURE JOSEPH OSAS. All documents bearing both names remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oseni Olusola or Oseni Moses Olusola now TAIWO MOSES OLUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Florence Balogun now FLORENCE ULEYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Kelvin Otarighorua Ujiri am the same person as Mene Paul.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as KELVIN OTARIGHORUA UJIRI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA, GTBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Garuba Oluwaseun Temitayo now MRS. TAIWO OLUWASEUN TEMITAYO. All former documents remain valid.

TASUED, NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adebobola Grace Adedeji now MRS. ADEBOBOLA GRACE ALOMOGE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olawoyin Temitope Omolara now MRS. OLUKANMI TEMITOPE OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

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CORRECTION OF NAME

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Miss Adekunle Azeezat Olawumi now MRS. JIMOH AZEEZAT OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State TESCOM and general public take note.

I, Awal Hamdalat Bolanle, that my name was erroneously typed as Awal Hamzat Bolanle.

Henceforth, I wish to be called and addressed as AWAL HAMDALAT BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank and general public take note.

I, Anisere Mercy Chizaram formerly known as ANISERE MARY CHIZARAM now wish to be known and called ANISERE MERCY CHIZARAM, 22/11/1992 is my correct date of birth and not 27/10/1993.

All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Chika Umezeka now CHIKA ENEMUO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Bamidele Bukola Funmilola now POPOOLA BUKOLA FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. Institutions, Private/ Public Institutions and general public take note.

I, Victoria Omonijo am the same person as Victoria Makanjuola. I wish to be known and addressed as VICTORIA OMONIJO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank, Zenith Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Salami Folakemi Olaitan now MRS OLODUDE FOLAKEMI OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Oloyade Deborah Oluwabunmi now AYANGBADE DEBORAH OLUWABUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kareem Tinuke Sidikat now MRS. MATHEW TINUKE SIDIKAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Aruleoba Yemisi Victoria now MRS. AGBAJE YEMISI VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Dotun Ade Bright now ELERO O L U WA S O M I D O T U N BRIGHT. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olopoda Helen Barenle now MRS. ADELAKUN HELEN BARENLE. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Owoeye Oluwadamilola Esther now MRS. FOLA-FAPOJUWO O L U WA D A M I L O L A ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Ojo Funmilayo Mary now MRS OLANIYAN FUNMILAYO MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Margaret Monisola Olaoye now MS MARGARET MONISOLA OLUWABUSOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Sheidu Ojo now SHEIDU DAHIRU OHITA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Shaidu Abu Yusuf now YUSUF ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., GTBank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kazeem Folashade Fatimah now MRS ADENIJI FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajibade Elizabeth Temilola now MRS. AKINLOYE ELIZABETH TEMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyedokun Victoria Odunayo now MRS SIJUWADE VICTORIA ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Tosin Oriyomi Ogunsuyi now MRS. TOSIN ORIYOMI OLAKUNLE-OREBE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Ojo Temitope Victoria. now MRS OWOLABI TEMITOPE VICTORIA.. All former documents remain valid. Ondo State Civil Service Commission, First Bank Plc., GTB and general public take note

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayangbade Esther Oluwaseun now MRS. OKE ESTHER OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oluboye Temitope Titilope now MRS SOLARIN TEMITOPE TITILOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Jelili Mufutau Alatise now MR. MUFUTAU JELILI ADEMOLA. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Fagbohungbe Folakemi Omolabake now MRS OLUBUNMI FOLAKEMI OMOLABAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fadare Kehinde Kafayat now MRS. YUSUF KEHINDE KAFAYAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, MRS AKANO ABOSEDE FLORENCE am the same person as MRS ALIMOT KAREEM. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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40

news

Friday, 1 January, 2016

War against Boko Haram largely won, minister insists

T

HE Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Wednesday, insisted that the military has largely met the deadline given to it by President Muhammadu Buhari to defeat Boko Haram, despite the recent attacks by the terrorists.

“In a few days’ time, the deadline issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to the military to defeat Boko Haram will expire. Without equivocating, I will repeat what I said that has sparked a firestorm: Our gallant military has LARGELY met the deadline! I make this assertion with all sense of responsibility and they are backed by facts,’’ the Minister said during a meeting with News and Political Editors in Lagos.

He reiterated his earlier statement that the military has massively degraded the capacity of the terrorists to carry out the kind of spectacular attacks they used to execute in the past, like the attacks on the police head-

quarters and the UN Complex, both in Abuja.

Alhaji Mohammed also said that in just six months of the Buhari administration, the Boko Haram that was in control of a territory larger than an entire geopolitical zone in Nigeria ‘’has been reduced to a fleeing, bomb throwing, cowardly and disorganised army.’’ ‘’Among the areas where Boko Haram has been kicked out is Bama, which was the self-declared headquarters of their caliphate.

From there, they collected taxes, dispensed jungle justice, deposed and installed

emirs and hoisted their own flag. Today, the town is firmly in the hands of our troops,’’ the Minister said.

He said all Boko Haram can do now is to attack soft targets: markets, motor parks, mosques and entertainment centres, killing innocent men, women and children. ‘’Not unexpectedly, the dying and desperate insurgents have carried out some attacks on soft targets in the North-east during this festive season. This is cowardly, dastardly and condemnable. We commiserate with the state

governments and the families of those who died or were injured in the attacks which, as I said earlier, are like the death pangs of a dying horse. ‘’These attacks are part of the propaganda that has been launched by Boko Haram and their fellow terrorists, ISIS, to seek to remain relevant in the face of massive routing by our gallant troops, and to also discredit our committed and patriotic troops. But the attacks do not shake our resolve a bit, in our determined quest to rid our nation of terrorists and ensure the security of

our citizens.

“The fact that Boko Haram has continued to carry out attacks on soft targets is not an indication that they still have capacity. As I have said many times, the attacks will not end with the expiration of the deadline, since insurgencies are not conventional war fares in which the guns could be silenced with an armistice. But I also said that the attacks will taper off with time, with better awareness among the citizenry and enhanced intelligence gathering by the security agencies,’’ the minister said.

The third Okaka Development and Economic Summit will hold on Saturday, at Baptist Primary School, Okaka, Iseyin Local Government Area, Oyo State.

The summit with the theme, “Roadmap to Okaka’s Advancement,” is expected to have Okaka indigenes in attendance.

As contained in a release signed by Mr Femi Ogundipe, the summit is aimed at charting a new course for the steady development of Okaka, and is expected to start at 11am.

Support gifted children, Olatoye charges Nigerians

By Olabisi Oladimeji

Buhari urged to tackle corruption The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to tackle corruption headlong by galvanising the country’s struggle against corruption, which was said to have hindered the country’s development and which has similarly brought untold hardship to the citizens.

The presiding pastor of Sanctuary of Christ Evangelical Church, Ibadan, Pastor (Dr) ‘Gbade Ojo, gave the charge during the opening programme of his church’s annual end of the year crusade, tagged: “Power as of Old,” held at the church premises, Se-mi-nbi-o, adjacent CAC Grammar School, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, on Sunday.

The pastor, cum University of Ilorin don, in his seven-point address, tagged “The state of the Nation,” to the president, urged him to place a ban on certain commodities that were not essential to Nigeria’s economy, stating that agricultural mechanisation should be embarked upon, while Agro-allied industries should be encouraged to boost industrial growth.

Similarly, he advised president Buhari to ensure that lasting solution was found to the high rate of youth unemployment in the country, adding that the future of youths should be secured for a better tomorrow.

3rd Okaka summit holds Saturday

From left, Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; acting chairperson, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mrs Roli Bode-George; NDLEA State Commander, Mrs Omolade Faboyede and the Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Mrs Victoria Egbase, during a visit to the Governor’s Office, in Ibadan.

Revalidation of tinted permit, firearms licence begins today As IGP launches NCIS Chris Agbambu and Adetola Bademosi - Abuja

Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, on Thursday, directed all holders of tinted permit and firearms licences to revalidate them, taking effect from today.

The IGP gave the directive in Abuja, at the launch of the Nigeria Police Force Central Information System (NCIS).

He explained that the revalidation of tinted permit will begin today while validation of firearms licence will take effect from January 18, 2016.

Similarly, he said application for Character Certificates will now be processed digitally on the platform of the NCIS. In his explanation, the IGP said the Character Certificate, Tinted Glass Permit and Fire arms License were processed manually without a central database of applicants or holders.

This, he said, was not only cumbersome but the integrity of these documents was also, subject to forgery.

“Even more worrisome is the realisation that under this analogue system, it has

been practically difficult to engage best international practices to vet firearms applicants, monitor the extent of compliance of licensees with extant firearms laws, and address the challenge of fire arms proliferation.

“All these gaps impact negatively on the ability of the Nigeria Police to effectively

attain its core mandate of preventing and detecting crimes, and protecting the lives and property of the citizens,” he said.

Arase stressed that the revalidation grace for all holders will last for three months after which current permits will be invalid.

“I am to clarify that there

will be a three months window for the revalidation of the Fire arms License and the Tinted Permit. Consequently, with effect from March 18, 2016, the current Fire arms License and Tinted Permit will become invalid and holder may be liable to arrest and prosecution,” he stated.

Kogi: Bello blasts Faleke over PVC allegation Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja The Kogi State governorelect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, described the allegation that he was not a registered voter in the state as “a spurious and unintelligent misrepresentation.”

He said the insinuation orchestrated by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Audu/Faleke Campaign Organisation, Honourable Duro Meseko, was a blatant lie and an attempt to misrepresent the fact.

Meseko had earlier in the week alleged that Bello was not qualified to contest the governorship election in the state as he did not have PVC.

However, a statement signed by Abdulkareem Onyekehi of the Yahaya Adoza Bello Media Office and made available to newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, said the claim that Bello had no Permanent Voter Card (PVC) was a ruse as he was constitutionally qualified to contest the election.

He accused Faleke of treating the party with contempt and disrespect, saying the latest attack from his camp was a confirmation of his desperation and lust for power.

The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to the disturbing, malicious and misleading statements made by one

Duro Meseko of Faleke Group, alleging that the Kogi State governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has no PVC, and that he is making a clandestine move to get the said PVC from INEC, on the basis of which he surmised that AYB stands disqualified.

“For the record, we want the Faleke campaigners to know that the Kogi State governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, will never indulge in such a pedestrian and base disposition. It is therefore a gross transmission of ignorance to think or allege that a party stakeholder, governorship aspirant, candidate and governor-elect has no Permanent Voters Card.”

A member of the Oyo State assembly, Honourable Temitope Olatoye, has called on Nigerians, particularly the well-to-do, to support gifted children in the society.

Honourable Olatoye, who is representing Lagelu/ Akinyele constituency, made the call during the annual end of the year carol that he organised for children, at the Everlasting Gardens, General Gas, Akobo, in Ibadan, where he gave out cash and other gifts to people.

He said Nigerians should be caring and also willing to assist their neighbours, even as he admonished people to dedicate themselves to the service of God. “Whatever we are doing, we should do it with diligence and the fear of God,” he advised, urging the people of Oyo State to continue to lend their support to the progress and development of the state.

“We should love our neighbours as ourselves so as to move the state forward and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.

Among beneficiaries of the gifts given out by the lawmaker was a 14-yearold Ridwan, who was recognised for his artistic talent.

Apart from Ridwan, a mother of twins who gave birth to triplets also got cash gift as a form of assistance, which Olatoye said was an indication that he was not representing only his constituency but also the entire people of Oyo State.

The beneficiaries thanked the lawmaker for his kindly intervention describing him as a usually kind – hearted person.

communitynews Community leader disburses N3.2m to Ikere women

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sam nwaoko-ado-ekiti

A

community leader in IkereEkiti, Colonel Sunday Akinola (retd) has disbursed over N3.2 million to 67 indigent women drawn from various quarters of his native Ikere-Ekiti community, headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The programme was tagged: “Women Poverty Alleviation Initiative.

Speaking while flagging off the programme in lkere Ekiti, the retired military officer, who explained that the gesture might continue throughout his lifetime, said the beneficiaries were not expected to pay back N50,000 each disbursed to them under the scheme.

He encouraged them to make judicious use of the fund as this would boost his morale towards the expansion of the programme next year.

Akinola, who said beneficiaries were expected to form a cooperative society through which they could build a strong capital base for future maintenance and expansion of their businesses, noted that the scheme was in honour of his his late father, Chief Akinola Oisa.

He said: “This is the first phase of the programme. We hope to establish a cooperative society in memory of late High Chief Akinola Oisa, where a high percentage of Ikere women would draw from a trust fund from Wema Bank Plc as loans to do their businesses.”

In an address at the event, the monarch of

Friday, 1 January, 2016

the community, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, thanked the donor for

the gesture, noting that he was impressed by the swell of positive devel-

opments championed by prominent indigenes of the community since his

From left, Treasurer, Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Muraina Kakako; Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Abdulwasi Musa; an industrialist, Chief Tejubiyi Ishola and immediate past Caretaker Chairman, Saki West Local Government Area, Alhaji Yunus Gbadamosi. PHOTO: WALE AKINSELURE

THE Kwara State government has been urged to resuscitate the moribund booster stations of the state owned Radio Kwara or establish new ones in different parts of the state to ensure effective dissemination of information across the state.

This was part of resolutions reached by the state House of Assembly following a motion moved by the member representing Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency, Honourable Umar Gunu, on the need to address the

who died several years ago, in the memories of the people of the community.

He appealed to the beneficiaries not to waste the fund on frivolities but invest it in their businesses as they shall be monitored to assess the level of their performances from time to time.

Oba Adu said “with the economic downturn in Nigeria, the rich ones in our midst should think of community empowerment such as this. If you are rich, you are so because God has decided to bless you. And you in turn should bless others like our brother is doing.”

Also in his comments, the coordinator of the programme, Mr Tunji Omoyeni, said the beneficiaries were selected after a screening exercise that lasted for almost a week.

Club donates bedsheets, pillows to hospital in Ondo ABOUT 50 bedsheets and pillowcases have been donated to the Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa by Omowa Club of Ikale land.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr Benson Akindeju, President of the club, presented the materials to Dr Richard Ikuemelo, Deputy Chief Medical Director of the hospital, on Tuesday.

He said the donation was part of the club’s social responsibility, adding that the club had been doing this over the years.

“We feel the hospital needs very clean bed sheets because we have once visited this place and we didn’t feel comfortable with what we saw.

“We observed that the hospital can make do with clean pillow cases and bed sheets,

so that the patients can lay comfortably on their beds, hence the donation,’’ Akindeju said.

He disclosed that the gesture would be extended to other general hospitals in Ikale land.

He said the club has experts and professionals who

would ensure that Ikale land gets its pride of place in the scheme of things in the state.

Dr Gbenga Ayodele, a member of club, also assured that the club would soon embark on some developmental projects for the benefit of Ikale indigenes.

“It is a very germane re-

non-reception of Radio Kwara and the Kwara State Television service signals in Baruten and some local government areas of the state.

Reading the resolutions of the assembly, the Deputy Speaker, Elder Mathew Okedare, who presided over the sitting, said information dissemination was imperative in the sustenance of democracy.

The assembly, according to him, equally enjoined the state government to commit the needed resources to the rehabilitation of Radio Kwara and Kwara TV to enable the

sponsibility to make the hospital comfortable because the hospital is the last hope of a sick man,’’ he said.

Receiving the items, Ikuemelo commended the gesture of Omowa Club members, describing it as a right step in the right direction.

He said the club members

had displayed their love for the people through the gesture and urged other clubs to emulate the club.

Other members of the club that accompanied Akindeju to the hospital were Prince Teju Emoruwa, Chief Iwayemi Ilesanmi and Mr Stephen Fasawe.

Ota communities express delight over carnival ban akin adewakun-lagos

RESIDENTS of Akinola, Olorunto and adjoining streets in Aboru community, Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, have commended the state police command for placing a ban on carnivals during the Yuletide, noting that

the order had gone a long way in achieving the muchneeded peace during the period.

Some of the residents, who spoke with Community News argued that unlike in the past, when troubles were fomented under the guise of Christmas carnivals, this year’s Christmas celebrations

Kwara urged to resuscitate radio, TV booster stations biola azeez-ilorin

ascension to the throne.

He praised him for sustaining his father’s fame,

stations continue to play their roles of effective dissemination of government programmes and activities to the people, especially those at the grassroots.

While moving the motion, the sponsor of the motion said Radio Kwara inherited by the state government from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in 1979 and the Kwara Television were faced with the challenge of obsolete equipment thereby making it impossible for the people of Baruten Local Government Area and other parts of the

southern axis of the state to receive signals from the stations.

He further noted that since the disappearance of the booster stations of Radio Kwara in Baruten, Irepodun, Ekiti and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas the people of the affected areas now rely on Radio Parakou in the Republic of Benin and FM Stations in Ekiti State for information.

This, according to him, had adversely affected the revenue generation of the two stations and the psyche of the people.

were without any major incidents in the area.

While praising the police for coming up with the directive, Lekan Adewale, a vehicle owner, who lives in the area, believes the activities of some boys in the area during the period under the guise of carnival were fast becoming inimical to peace.

“If this directive had not come now, you would have seen those boys, mounting roadblocks on major roads and extorting money from motorists and commercial motorcyclists, an action that sometimes degenerate into squabbles. It was obvious that what we were experiencing then was not a carnival, but an open invitation to chaos,” he stated.

Another resident, Mrs. Fatima Bello, a trader, believes it is the best decision the police had taken in recent times.

“Do you know that some of us live in fear whenever the festive period is approaching, because of the activities of these people? If such directive had not come, there

would have come a time when the people would be too scared to move out of their homes because of the harassments of these youths,” she stated.

Narrating a personal experience, Mrs. Bello said a commercial tricyclist , who was helping her convey her goods from the market to her shop in the area was once harassed by the youths for refusing to give them money.

“Unfortunately, they were not ready to listen to anybody, not even my plea that a customer was waiting to collect some of the goods. It was when the man paid this ‘illegal’ fee that they allowed him to go. It was obvious that the peace of the city was being threatened,” she said.

When asked whether the police in the state should re-consider its stand in future, if the peace of the area could be guaranteed, Mrs. Bello could not answer in the affirmative, noting that “the hoodlums in the city” had hijacked what is supposed to be a fun-filled event.

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

This year, Hong Kong’s fireworks display was based on the theme of ‘love and joy’ and created a flash of different colours across the water.

PHOTO: AFP/GETTY IMAGES.

West Africa ends 2015 Ebola-free, WHO to keep surveillance West Africa experienced several highs and lows in 2015 in its fight against Ebola.

There was elation when Liberia was declared Ebola-free in May, but defeat when it returned and claimed more victims, although the virus was quickly suppressed. Sierra Leone was declared Ebolafree in November.

In December, two years after a toddler died in the forested region of Guinea, the World Health Organisation declared that country free of Ebola.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, the WHO’s special representa-

2016 dawns amid terror warnings, tight security

Arrests, security fears dampen New Year spirit in Europe

S

ecurity is tight at New Year celebrations in cities around the world, as authorities confront threatened possible terror attacks against public celebrations.

In Sydney, one of the first places marking the dawn of 2016, Australians enjoyed one of their biggest fireworks displays ever, seven tons of pyrotechnics for a 12-minute show that cost $5.1 million, VOA said.

Shaken by a year of militant attacks, Europeans rang in 2016 in subdued fashion today (Friday), with soldiers on the streets of Paris, a heightened police presence at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, and silence across the vast cobbled emptiness of Moscow’s Red Square.

Bookended by deadly Islamist assaults on Paris, the departing year limped to a close with security forces on raised alert in many capitals.

Belgium cancels celebration In Belgium, the capital’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration was canceled due to fears of terrorism. Brussels

Huge fire breaks out in major hotel in Dubai

Mayor Yvan Mayeur said crisis analysts determined it would not be possible to adequately screen tens of thousands of people viewing a fireworks show.

Police in Brussels said they have arrested a 10th suspect in connection with the November 13 terror attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Six people detained over New Year attack plot in Belgium They also reported on Thursday that six more people have been detained for questioning about a suspected New Year’s Eve terror plot, two people were arrested earlier this week in connection with that suspected plan to attack “emblematic” targets in the capital.

Fireworks cancelled in Paris Paris has also cancelled its fireworks show and cut back on plans for the evening, such as closing the famed Champs Elysees avenue to cars for only one hour instead of three. Still scheduled is a light show projected on the Arc de Triomphe.

Paris Mayor Anne Hi-

Pictures emerge on Twitter showing The Address Downtown Dubai hotel engulfed in flames.

PHOTO: RT.COM

Belgian soldiers stand guard on Brussels’ Grand Place.

dalgo, in a comment to the French weekly Journal du Dimanche, said that France needs its symbolic passage into the new year to “send a signal to the world” as it continues recovering from the attacks.

In Russia, authorities have decided to shut down Moscow’s iconic Red Square, a popular spot to ring in the New Year. Though not officially acknowledged, the rare move seems aimed at concerns of terrorism following the October downing of a Russian passenger plane over Egypt and Russia’s ongoing bombing campaign in Syria.

Also on high alert was Jakarta, Indonesia, where po-

Mother of ‘affluenza’ teen jailed in Los Angeles The mother of a fugitive Texas teen known for using an “affluenza” defence in a fatal drunken-driving accident was jailed in Los Angeles on Thursday after being deported from Mexico, police said.

An LAPD fugitive task force picked up Tonya Couch shortly after 1:30 a.m. at Los Angeles International Airport and

tive for Ebola, made the announcement just before the year’s end, VOA said.

“As of today, for the first time in two years, we can say that all three countries have stopped the original chains of transmission,” he said.

In a news release, he cautioned that the coming months would be “absolutely critical.” The release said, “The time-limited persistence of virus in survivors, which may give rise to new Ebola flares in 2016, makes it imperative that partners continue to support these countries.”

lice uncovered plans for a terror attack on the capital during the festivities.

In Turkey, authorities detained two suspected Islamic State members Wednesday who were believed to be planning New Year’s suicide attacks on crowds celebrating in Ankara, the capital.

New York ready for Time Square celebration In New York City, thousands of police officers, some armed with rifles and others equipped with radiation detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs, prepared for traditional New Year’s celebrations in Times Square, expected to draw more than a million people.

A huge fire has broken out in a high-rise hotel in central Dubai close to the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa.

Burning debris could be seen falling from the 300mtall (1,000-feet) building, called The Address, as firefighters arrived at the scene, BBC reported..

It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties.

The blaze erupted ahead of

a major New Year’s Eve fireworks display, due to be held at the Burj Khalifa.

There is no indication so far of the cause.

Up to two million people are expected in central Dubai for the fireworks. Crowds gathering to watch the display have been asked to leave the area around the hotel.

Officials insist that the New Year celebrations will continue as scheduled.

otherNEWS Cosby arraigned for indecent assault, risks 10-year jail term

took her to the Metropolitan Detention Centre. Her 18-year-old son, Ethan Couch, remains in a Mexican jail.

The Associated Press she will be held at the downtown jail until U.S. marshals take her to Texas, where she and her son live and where he was on Tonya Couch (centre), is taken by authorities probation for the 2013 to a waiting car after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport, on Thursday. PHOTO: AP. crash, Eisenman said.

Bill Cosby was hit on Thursday with aggravated indecent assault charges stemming from an alleged 2004 incident in Pennsylvania, according to prosecutors and court documents.

After a brief court appearance, the 78-year-old comedian was released on $1 million bail and the judge wished him “good luck.”

Following court, Cosby was processed and had his mug shot

taken at the Cheltenham Police Department.

Cosby entered the courtroom in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, around 2:30 p.m., walking armin-arm with his legal team. He is set to appear in court on Jan. 14 and was released on $1 million bond.

Cosby also turned over his passport to the court and did not enter a plea. If convicted, Cosby faces up to 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.

Bill Cosby in court.

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King of Mandela’s clan jailed in South Africa

T King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo

he king of the AbaThembu clan of South Africa’s late anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, has started a 12-year jail sentence for arson, kidnapping and assault,

Obama may act to expand background checks on gun sales

Facebook’s free basics service suspended in Egypt A Facebook-sponsored service that offers limited free Internet access was suspended in Egypt on Wednesday after a permit required from the government was not renewed, an official from the Telecommunications Ministry told Reuters.

Facebook’s Free Basics service, which aims to provide free access to Facebook and some partner websites in developing countries, was launched in Egypt two months ago by the mobile carrier Etisalat.

The official, who declined to be named, said Etisalat had only been granted a permit to offer the service for two months and that, when it expired on Wednesday, the service was suspended.

The suspension was not related to security concerns, the official said.

Etisalat said only that it would release a statement on Thursday.

Social media websites such as Facebook played a key organising role in Egypt’s 2011 uprising.

day, citing people familiar with White House proposals and planning.

The changes, which could come as soon as next week, would include requiring more small-scale gun sellers to be licensed and to conduct background check whenever selling a weapon, Politico reported.

Additional measures would impose tighter rules for reporting guns that get lost or stolen on their way to a buyer, the political news website said.

Planning for the action is not complete and the announcement could be delayed, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, the White House has voiced concern about the arrest of journal-

to the Mthatha Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape Province just before midnight on Wednesday, media reported.

Prosecutors said he had kidnapped subjects and had homes set ablaze to punish those who refused

to do his bidding.

He is the king of Mandela’s clan in a poor, rural region in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. South Africa recognizes several royal families, who command respect, especially in the countryside.

Egyptian parliament to convene on Jan 10 after 3-year gap

Concerned over journalists arrest in Ethiopia United States President Barack Obama is expected to announce executive action expanding background checks on gun sales, media outlets reported on Thurs-

local media reported on Thursday.

Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, 51, according to Reuters was convicted of the offenses in 2009 but has been fighting the verdict in the courts for years.

He turned himself over

Barack Obama

ists in Ethiopia and urged that country’s government to release people imprisoned for exercising their right to free expression, Reuters reported.

While the United States had welcomed the release of several detained bloggers in Ethiopia earlier this year, National Security Council spokesman, Ned Price, said in a statement, “we are deeply concerned by the recent arrests of other journalists.”

He did not give details about the recently arrested journalists.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for Egypt’s new parliament to convene on January 10, state television said on Thursday, more than three years after the old Islamist-dominated chamber was dissolved.

Egyptians held the second phase of parliamentary elections in November but critics said voting was undermined by a heavy security crackdown on Islamist and other opposition groups.

Reuters reported that the new parliament, which will be dominated by an alliance loyal

to Sisi, has 568 elected members plus another 28 appointed by the president himself.

Egypt’s last parliament was elected in 2011-12 in its first free election, following a popular uprising that ended autocrat Hosni Mubarak’s 30year presidency.

Voting at that time was marked by long queues and youthful excitement.

The Muslim Brotherhood, long the main opposition movement, won about half the seats while the Islamist Nour bloc was the second biggest group.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

Microsoft failed to warn victims of Chinese hack —Report

Microsoft Corp experts concluded several years ago that Chinese authorities had hacked into more than a thousand Hotmail email accounts, targeting international leaders of China’s Tibetan and Uighur minorities in particular but it decided not to tell the victims, allowing the hackers to continue

their campaign, according to former employees of the company.

On Wednesday, after a series of requests for comment from Reuters, Microsoft said it would change its policy and in future tell its email customers when it suspects there has

other

NEWS

been a government hacking attempt.

The company also confirmed for the first time that it had not called, emailed or otherwise told the Hotmail users that their electronic correspondence had been collected. The company declined to say what role the exposure of the Hotmail campaign played in its decision to make the policy shift.

The first public signal of the attacks came in May 2011, though no direct link was immediately made with the Chinese authorities. That’s when security firm Trend Micro Inc announced it had found an email sent to someone in

Taiwan that contained a miniature computer program.

The programme took advantage of a previously undetected flaw in Microsoft’s own web pages to direct Hotmail and other free Microsoft email services to secretly forward copies of all of a recipient’s incoming mail to an account controlled by the attacker. Trend Micro found more than a thousand victims, and Microsoft patched the vulnerability before the security company announced its findings publicly.

Microsoft also launched its own investigation that year, finding that some interception had begun in July 2009

and had compromised the emails of top Uighur and Tibetan leaders in multiple countries, as well as Japanese and African diplomats, human rights lawyers and others in sensitive positions inside China, two former Microsoft employees said.

They spoke separately and on the condition that they not be identified. Some of the attacks had come from a Chinese network known as AS4808, which has been associated with major spying campaigns, including a 2011 attack on EMC Corp’s security division RSA that U.S. intelligence officials publicly attributed to China.

IS claims deadly shooting in Russia’s Caucasus

Burkina Faso assembly installs new leader

The Islamic State group has claimed it was behind a deadly shooting at an ancient citadel in Russia’s volatile North Caucasus region of Dagestan, an area increasingly becoming a hotbed of extremism, AFP reported.

Tuesday night’s attack near the historic citadel of Derbent, which left one person dead and 11 injured, is the second claimed by IS in the Russian Caucasus since September, according to local news portal Caucasian Knot.

The Russian authorities are

Burkina Faso’s Salif Diallo was elected head of the national assembly, making the ally-turned-opponent of ousted leader Blaise Compaore the second most powerful man in the nation.

Diallo was elected a day after Roch Marc Christian Kabore was sworn in as Burkina Faso’s new president. Diallo was installed in his new position immediately, VOA said.

Diallo and Kabore founded the Movement of the People

battling to prevent residents from joining up with the brutal jihadist group in Iraq and in Syria, where Moscow has been waging air strikes over the past two months.

“With the help of Allah, the warriors of the caliphate were able to attack a group of Russian special service officers in the city of Derbent in southern Dagestan, killing one officer and injuring the others,” the jihadist-monitoring SITE Intelligence Group quoted IS as saying on Wednesday.

The Islamic State militants PHOTO: AFP.

of Progress party in January 2014 after breaking ties with former President Compaore, who was ousted in a popular revolt in October 2014 in a move sparked by an attempt to extend his 27-year rule.

Elected by 78 of the assembly’s 127 members, Diallo made a speech to parliament Wednesday in which he called on lawmakers to act as advocates of the poor and working classes and fight against cor- Salif Diallo ruption and nepotism.

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 081 118 450 48

Fuel scarcity

President Jonathan giving handover notes to General Buhari, after the latter won the presidential election.

Bloody proBiafra protests which led to the death of some.

The late Abubakar Audu

By Kehinde Oyetimi

In Nigeria, two thousand and fifteen was ushered in by high expectations, a frenzy particularly captured by the mother of all elections—the 2015 general election. This in itself dwarfed many other occurrences in the first quarter of the year.

For many, 2015 was the year where hope met hopelessness. It was a fusion of many realities: insurgency thrived, corruption allegations took centre-stage and the economy dwindled. On the world stage, terrorism renewed its dominance even as global dependence on oil took a troubling twist.

Yet for Nigeria, it was not all politics and economy, as foremost Nigerians bade farewell to the world.

It was remarkably one long stretch of changing fortunes.

The late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade

A year of mixed N

The general election IGERIA’S 2015 general election formed a sizeable chunk in the country’s recent political discourse. From the presidential election to the state elections and the various shades of the National Assembly to the State Houses of Assembly elections, nerves frayed and the whole nation was clothed in a tensed garb. Nigeria became the immediate spot of interest for the global audience. There were accusations and counter-accusations of eroding the autonomy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The commission’s boss, Prof Attahiru Jega, and

fortunes

the now famous permanent voter card (PVC) occupied a remarkable place of reference in the elections.

The March 28 presidential election was significant in all ramifications. The trouncing of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all levels of governance was a seminal moment in the country’s history. Nigerians’ desire for a change, typified in the person of Muhammadu Buhari, met a realization after the APC’s victory.

Yet, for many others, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat and the highly commended phone call to Muhammadu

Buhari equally were regarded as unprecedented in Nigeria’s ailing democracy. Yes, it was the first time that an opposition political party would unseat a strongly entrenched ruling party. Indeed, at all levels, the elections were fiercely contested.

There were various forms of violence and the two leading parties recorded casualties in various respects.

NASS crisis, Buhari’s administration and ministerial screening The inauguration of the 8th Assembly opened Continues on pg45

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Friday, 1 January, 2016

Burial of HID Awolowo

Continued from pg44

a leadership tussle that both chambers had never faced in a long while. It became difficult for the newly elected lawmakers to meet the expectations of the electorate as brickbats were hauled at one another in the buildup to the emergence of the leaderships of the two chambers.

At the Senate, it was to the obvious displeasure of the top hierarchy of the APC that Senator Ahmed Lawan lost to Senator Bukola Saraki who was the choice of the PDP. Ike Ekweremadu was elected Deputy Senate President in the absence of APC senators who had gone to honour a supposed invitation by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The APC found the emergence of Saraki and Ekweremadu as the helmsmen of the Senate particularly distasteful.

At the lower chamber, the fortunes of the ruling party, APC, equally diminished as their expectations were cut short following the emergence of Honourable Yakubu Dogara as Speaker instead of the party leadership preferred Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila. The bitter politics of the National Assembly dragged on for a while, thereby leading to a general reprehension.

Following Buhari’s swearing-in ceremony, Nigerians largely became impatient as they waited almost endlessly for the setting up of Buhari’s cabinet. Things got to a head in September, when there were many agitations over Buhari’s style of governance.

While many criticized him for being slow, APC party faithful asked for more time for the president and his associates. Four months after his inauguration, a cabinet was yet to be formed.

The eventual announcement of members of his cabinet was met by a string of opposition. For some, the appointments tilted largely in favour of the North with a generally held perception of an unfavoured South East. Buhari’s appointments were followed by the ministerial screening at the National Assembly. The screening of the ministerialnominees was in itself dramatic especially with the nomination of the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. The political apprehension was put to rest when he was eventually okayed by the Senate.

Boko Haram, notorious herdsmen, kidnappings and robberies The assumption that the change of guard

Ibrahim alZakzaky

The late King Ogiame Atuwatse II Olu of Warri.

Of successes, turmoils at the central government would help in stemming the activities of the proscribed terror group, Boko Haram, was far from right as the group continued to unleash one terror or the order. The December deadline given the army by President Buhari to stop the scourge was a nullity.

The activities of herdsmen, though a recurring decimal in security issues, took a disturbing turn when a group of herdsmen organised the kidnapping of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a revered Southwest politician, Chief Olu Falae. There was a general condemnation of the kidnap of the elderly Chief Falae.

Even after the release of Falae, many are still unsettled about the activities of the herdsmen. For instance, Yoruba elders are insisting that the activities of the pastoralists be stopped in the South West and restricted to other parts of the country.

There were other notable kidnap cases.

Rt Reverend Gabriel Adebanjo who is the bishop of the Lagos Central Diocese of the African Church was kidnapped and released after an undisclosed amount of ransom was parted with.

In Ekiti, it was a particularly sad year for medical doctors who were kidnapped, leading to the Nigeria Medical Association announcing its refusal to operate in the state.

Samson Siasia’s 72-year-old mother was not left out of the troubling trend as she was kid-

napped.

Kogi State played host to a sad kidnap tragedy following the disappearance of a 71-year-old American missionary, Reverend Phyllis Sortor, just as the Kogi State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Stephen Mayaki, was reportedly kidnapped.

Robberies also took a most disturbing dimension. The bank robberies in Ajah, Ikorodu and Agbara raised the security consciousness in many parts of the country.

Festac Town in Lagos also witnessed the drift. The robbers, aside making away with large sums of money, left quite a number of people dead.

Renewed agitations for Biafra The last quarter of the year was enmeshed in bloody agitations in the South East. It was nothing else but a demand for secession.

Protests led by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) climaxed in the deaths of some and the arrest of others.

Things worsened when the Department of State Service (DSS) arrested the director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on October 17 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Radio Biafra hit the airwaves across the globe and this, for Nigeria’s Federal Government, was treasonable. Kanu’s arrest spurred the protests as he eventually

became identified as the face of the renewed call.

Unfortunately in November, the erstwhile restrictions of the protests in the South East broke into some parts of the South South.

One long night of fuel scarcity Nigerians woke up to what many referred to as the longest fuel scarcity periods in the nation’s history. There were high expectations that the change in leadership at the Federal Government would spell a monumental change in the oil sector industry. The case was later discovered to be the reverse.

It was indeed one long nightmare of biting fuel scarcity across the country. The queues returned— long and frustrating.

Various reasons were adduced but the reasons in themselves were conflicting as the different divides of stakeholders shifted blames. Fuel marketers condemned the antics of the government, claiming that the Federal Government was insincere in settling claims bothering on subsidy. They argued that the new government was aware of outstanding claims. The delay in the payment of the subsidy claims was enough for the national misfortune. In many parts of the country, a litre of fuel was sold for over N200. The biting fuel crisis was blamed by the Nigerian National Petroleum CorporaContinues on pg46

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A year like no other

The global fall in oil prices

democracy. Her burial and the huge body of encomiums are yet to be rivaled by any in Nigeria’s recent history. Events marking her burial rites lasted for over ten days. She was buried beside her husband in Ikenne, on November 25, 2015, the exact day of her centenary celebration.

Other prominent Nigerians who passed on included the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II; Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III, the Emir of Borgu Kingdom; the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II; Prince Abubakar Audu; Chief Omowale Ajani Kuye; Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; Gamaliel Onosode; Chief Donald Etiebet; Oronto Douglas; Senator Gyang Pwajok; Adebowale Adefuye, among many others.

Nigerian Army and the Shi’ite sect Members of the Nigerian Army had a clash with the Islamic Movement of Nigeria under the leadership of Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky. The clash led to the reported deaths of over 30 members of the sect. The sad incident occurred when soldiers on the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, reportedly shot members of the sect who blocked the highway following a procession in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Continues from pg45

tion (NNPC) on sharp practices and deliberate diversion of petroleum products for purposes of sale in black markets. It further stated that repeated vandalisation of pipelines and delay in the payment of fuel subsidy was part of the reasons.

The government’s subsequent release of funds to pay off the marketers did not in its entirety assuage the pains of the consumers.

The eventual announcement of subsidy removal in the 2016 budget and the pegging of the fuel price to N86 were received with mixed feelings.

Broken naira, rising dollar and crashing oil prices Nigeria’s local currency, the naira, was terribly broken in exchange for the dollar. The downward trend was difficult to stop as the naira exchanged for over N270 per dollar.

Nigeria’s currency and foreign exchange reserves were greatly affected. The country’s crude receipts account for over 96 per cent when looked at in its total export.

Crude oil price particularly declined to $35 per barrel on December 11 but showed signs of recovery on December 15 when it went up to $38 per barrel. Yet the fortunes of crude oil are yet to pick up. Since crude oil export constitutes a huge chunk of Nigeria’s economy, the disturbing global decline has affected all parts of the country’s economy.

Nigeria’s external reserves reportedly dropped from $680 billion to $29.48 billion in December. These realities renewed calls by experts for the country to look in other directions aside crude oil.

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at the annual Bankers’ Dinner organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria reportedly disclosed how the nation lost N256bn monthly to oil price crash.

A disturbed Emefiele stated that “Given the sharp fall in oil prices, federation allocation to states have dropped by an average of about N2bn for each month.

“Similarly, average inflows of foreign exchange into the CBN have fallen to by about $1.3bn per month; this has led to a sharp decline in our forex reserves from as high as $37bn as at June 2014, to $30bn. Nigeria cannot continue on this path of importing

Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade Bent on fighting against corruption, Buhari has been accused of fighting a lopsided anti-graft war. Some have insisted that he only identified his political enemies. Quite prominent on the anti-corruption crusade of the new administration have been officials who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan administration. Those who have been facing one corruption allegation or the other include: former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and his son, Sagir; and former Minister for Petroleum, Alison Madueke.

Even Senate President, Bukola Saraki, was docked by the Code of Conduct Tribunal over false assets declaration Dasuki’s trial received more prominence compared to others. His arrest was ordered on November 17 for allegedly siphoning billions of dollars meant for the procurement of arms purchase for Nigeria’s military.

Chief Olu Falae’s kidnap by herdsmen

Ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki facing corruption charges.

everything and anything. Indeed, it is both unacceptable and unsustainable and that was the reason we decided at the central bank to prohibit items we can produce here from accessing forex from the central bank.

“The last time we had oil prices at $50 per barrel for an extended period of time was in 2005 and our total import bill for that year was only N148bn. Yet, in the first nine months of this year, our total import bill has already risen to N917bn, and by logical extension, it is heading towards N1.2tn by the end of the year.

“The CBN will in due course embark on a national campaign called PAVE which

stands for: Produce Locally, Add Value and Export. We definitely cannot survive as a people by importing everything and anything.”

High profile deaths too many….

Death boosted its basket as it moved across all parts of the country’s hierarchy.

The death of Chief Mrs Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo (November 25, 1915-September 19, 2015) was regarded as the end of an era. The late HID and her husband, the indomitable Chief Obafemi Awolowo played prominent roles in the emergence of an independent Nigeria and a modern

Audu’s death and Kogi election Before his death, APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Abubakar Audu, was in the lead after the collation of results. INEC however declared the election inconclusive on Sunday November 22. Audu’s death became phenomenal as it threw the election into a constitutional crisis as Audu’s running mate, James Faleke, stated that he was supposed to move into the shoes of the late Audu. His party, however, felt otherwise as it fielded Yahaya Bello. Bello was the runner-up in the party’s governorship primary in the state.

Expectedly, APC won the state governorship election with INEC declaring Bello as the winner but Faleke insisted that he would not be deputy to Bello.

Though the year ended yesterday, the ripple effects of the actions and inactions will be felt in the new year.

47 tribunesport

Friday, 1 January, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Osaze recalls QPR transfer drama N

Yahaya

Yahaya unhappy with FC Porto trials NIGERIA junior international, Musa Yahaya is reportedly fed up with his trials at FC Porto of Portugal.

The youngster was earlier told he was only in Portugal for a routine medical after which he will sign a contract.

Yahaya was one of the lads who inspired Nigeria to win a record fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while his skill was compared to Brazil superstar Neymar.

He was reportedly transferred to EPL side Tottenham Hotspur and loaned out to Celta Vigo in Spain.

However, it appears that arrangement has since crashed even

though another source maintained he is due to fly out to England anytime from now.

A source who spoke with Yahaya said the player is unhappy with the situation at hand, which has been compounded by the recent demise of his father.

“No one doubts the class of Musa, he is even more gifted than Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho, but his future is still not clear,” said the source.

“He is very unhappy because he is training with the U-19 team of Porto. He was told he was only in Portugal for a medical after which he will sign but that has not been the case.”

IGERIA international, Osaze Odemwengie has revealed he now laughs about his famous transfer deadline day debacle three years ago when he tried to force a transfer from West Brom to QPR. It was January 31, 2013, and Osaze drove 120 miles to London from West Brom convinced he was to sign for QPR, but after waiting in the car park for four hours, there was no deal.

“I was laughing and almost crying, and in the end the move did’nt happen,” recalled Osaze who featured for Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“It was tough with the (West Brom) fans (when he returned to the team).

“I wished it didn’t happen, but that’s life.

“Now it just makes me to laugh.

It makes people laugh too, and sometimes we laugh about it with the lads at Stoke City, we just have fun about it.”

No crisis in Plateau Utd —Bewarang Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja CONTRARY to reports in some section of the media that crisis has engulfed newly-promoted Glo Premier League side, Plateau United FC of Jos, the General Manager of the club, Bitrus Bewarang has debunked it.

“The team is getting set for the new football season. What happened recently is that the management of the team decided to drop some old players for low productivity. These players were given the opportunity to attend various coaching courses to better their future but they all refused.

“These players are the ones fueling the song of crisis. There is no issue of betray of trust within the team. The players and entire staff have total confidence in the management of the team. It is laughable that some disgruntled fellows are complaining that we are owing them two months salaries and they were talking of losing confidence in us, while they played the whole of previous season without anyone paying them and their debts were all paid,” Bewarang, a former Super Eagles assistant coach told Tribunesport by phone.

He stated that Plateau United is

set for the 2016 season.

“There are some players who are of Plateau State origin who were recruited by Plateau United. The players were above the ages of being in the feeder team, so we decided to loan them to Learning FC where they would gain the needed experiences and play competitively for the season, before they would re-integrate with us in Plateau United.”

Osaze

CHAN 2016: Eagles blessed with fit goalkeepers —Agu NIGERIA goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu, has declared that the four goalkeepers in the Super Eagles camp in Abuja ahead of the 2016 CHAN are in excellent shape for the tournament.

Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Femi Thomas, Okiemute Odah and David Obiazo are the goalkeepers in the Nigerian camp for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and Agu said they are all capable to be in goal for Nigeria.

“All four goalkeepers are doing very well.

In fact they are in very good shape and it is hard to say this goalkeeper is better than this goalkeeper,” Agu said.

The former Nigerian international add-

ed that the coaches have not decided on which of the goalkeepers will stay or leave camp as they approach the final phase of preparation for the tournament.

He believes all four goalkeepers have put in a decent shift in the pre-CHAN camp in Abuja.

“I must tell you that all the goalkeepers can make the team to the tournament.

Right now we have not made any choice because all four of them have impressed while here,” said Agu. Nigeria will name three goalkeepers to make up the 21-man squad for the 2016 CHAN scheduled to hold from January 16 to February 7.

Femi Thomas, ready for CHAN 2016

SIDELINES

FRIDAY, 1JANUARY, 2016

NO 16,405

N150

President Muhammadu Buhari during his presidential media chat on Wednesday night said unemployed youths will be paid N5,000 monthly stipend as promised, provided any of them is prepared to work even in the farm.

Perhaps, Buhari’s real message is that nothing is free even in Freetown?

Iwobi will love to play at 2016 Olympics —Dad

By Olaoluwa Olowoyeye ARSENAL striker, Alex Iwobi is looking forward to featuring for Nigeria in the 2016 Rio Olympics according to his fa-

Iwobi

ther, Mr Chuka Iwobi.

He added that his son will continue to play for both the Nigeria U23s and the Super Eagles after his international debut last October in a friendly where he played for 44 minutes against the Leopards of DR Congo.

“As you know Alex loves Nigeria and will always honour invitations from Nigeria,” Chuka said.

“He has a lot of respect for Samson Siasia and will be delighted to play in the Olympics for Nigeria. He has also enjoyed working with [Sunday] Oliseh.”

Chuka stated his Alex has the

prospect of breaking into the main Arsenal team given the level of encouragement he has been receiving from manager, Arsene Wenger.

Alex has made three substitute appearances in the League this season.

“Alex has to be patient and continue to work hard. Arsenal as you know is a big team with world-class players and very soon Alex would get his chance in the starting XI,” Chuka told Goal.

“Wenger loves him that is a fact. His time will come, Wenger is gradually developing him.”

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi

It will be ‘suicidal’ for Nigeria to miss AFCON 2017—Pinnick

P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick has said it will be “suicidal” should the country fail to qualify for a second straight AFCON in 2017.

Three-time African champions, Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea after they were

upstaged by South Africa and Congo in the qualifiers.

Nigeria is now second behind Egypt in the qualifying tournament for the 2017 AFCON in Gabon after two rounds of matches.

Both teams clash in a double header in March that is most likely to go a long way in determining who wins the qual-

ifying group to automatically qualify for Gabon 2017.

“It will be suicidal to miss out on the AFCON,” admitted Pinnick on a television programme on Thursday.

“That is why we have to be in Gabon (2017 AFCON) and the World Cup in Russia in 2018.”

Pinnick, also admitted that it has been tough managing football in Nigeria because “we have 150 million coaches”, but at the same time maintained “we’re equal to the task”.

The NFF boss, also described as unfortunate the episode staged by FC Taraba players who slept for nine days at the Government House in protest against non-payment of their 11-month salary, before they were eventually paid two -month salary.

Iniesta tips Messi for fifth Ballon d’Or

Messi

ANDRES Iniesta has backed Barcelona team-mate, Lionel Messi to start 2016 in the best possible way by lifting the Ballon d’Or for the fifth time.

THE Argentina star, who was awarded the UEFA Best Player award earlier this year, is the current favourite to secure his fifth global individual prize ahead of fellow nominees Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Given Messi’s remarkable 2015, in which he inspired Barca to five major trophies and reached the Copa America final with Argentina, Iniesta is confident he has done enough to clinch the award in

Zurich on January 11.

“He has a great chance of regaining the Ballon d’Or, for what he is as a player and for what he does,” he told Barca TV .

Luis Enrique’s side set a new record of 180 goals in a calendar year following Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Real Betis but Iniesta insists striving for more titles is paramount for the European champions.

“It’s something secondary in terms of importance,” he said of the goal tally. “What mattered was to win. But they’re figures that we’ve passed and we’ll try to keep them there for a long time.”

Ronaldo

Arrogance, part of my success story—Ronaldo

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi REAL Madrid star, Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is not worried by the hatred people have for him saying arrogance is part of his success story.

Ronaldo was booed by some fans at the Santiago Bernabeu crowd after missing a penalty in Madrid’s 3-1 win over Real Sociedad in a mid-week game before he recovered to net a brace.

“There are people out there who hate me and who say I’m arrogant, vain and whatever.

That’s all part of my success. I am made to be the best,” Ronaldo, who remains Los Blancos’ all-time top scorer told Mundo Deportivo.

“We cannot live being obsessed with what other people think about us. It’s impossible to live like that. Not even God managed to please the entire

world.

“I have a clear conscience. I sleep well. I feel good helping others, regardless of whether that’s with big things or small things. I look at life differently ever since I became a father.

“I can deal with the pressure because of the difficult life I have had. The person I am now is the result of the time I spent without my family and because of the difficult times I went through.

“I was ironing my own clothes when I was 11 years old. My mental strength goes back to those days.

“If this is what I am, if everything I’ve achieved in football has been for this, I couldn’t possibly ask for anything else. If you offer me an improvement, I’d accept it, but change is very complicated.”

The Portugal captain is already looking forward to life after football saying: “I want to live like a king when I retire”.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 1/1/2016.