1st October 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 1,171

SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Anxiety over kidnap of CBN gov’s wife

pg6

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

SPECIAL TREAT

How vegetables you buy can harm you —Experts

Nigerian Tribune

N150

56th Independence

Happy

pg5

Anniversary

CELEBRITIES TELL BUHARI

Nigerians are in pains pg14

When we love and enjoy what we do,

it becomes part of us —Olatorera Oniru

Olu Jacobs

pg29

We are all groaning in pain, and we need to know why we are suffering so much and they are not telling us as clearly as they should.

This, they must do.

Mercy Johnson

Nigeria has come a long way.

We are not where we are supposed to be but we are not where we used to be. Government needs to do more.

We cannot elect people into positions of leadership and they are not stepping into it.

Pete Edochie

To tell you the truth, I don’t know. I don’t see a future, I mean, I don’t even know.

Nothing is working in the country now, a lot of people are jobless and crime is on the increase

Adebanjo, Akande speak on way forward I’ll continue to blame Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, pgs6,24&27 for Nigeria pg5 Jonathan —Buhari AU, observer groups slam NJC sacks Appeal Court justice over Edo election pg7 6 pg3 Allege inducement of voters

N200m bribe

•Enugu CJ, Kano judge fired too

Fathia Balogun

The economy right now, to be frank, is in a deplorable level.

Things are really hard.

Faleke can’t be Kogi gov ’cos he didn’t take part in primary —Supreme Court pg6

56th

Independence Anniversary

Nigeria

Happy independence Anniversary!

Today, we are happy to felicitate with the nation as she celebrates her 56th year of independence.

Since then, through thick and thin, we've not only supported energy development, we have also invested in economic and human development.

Over 5 decades ago, when we ď€ rst partnered with Nigeria, we committed for the long term.

further....

we will go

Together

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I ’ll continue to blame Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan —Buhari Leon Usigbe - Abuja

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that he has not succumbed to pressure to refrain from blaming the past administrations of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, because the youth must know how the former leaders deceived the country.

Speaking on Thursday night, at an occasion tagged: “Conversation with Creative Youth and Pictorial Book,” at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said if he ceases to blame previous governments for the nation’s woes, the youth may take things for granted.

The president therefore maintained that his passing the buck was necessary.

The president said having promised to do a lot during his election campaign, he screamed when he realised that there was no saving from previous administrations to do his work.

He pointed out that on enquiry, he was told that the governments used the money to import fuel and food while failing to build a single infrastructure.

Buhari therefore urged the youth to be watchful of what the elite do.

President Buhari told the youth: “My dear countrymen, especially the youth, you have a fantastic country, God has endowed Nigeria with human and material resources.

“I’m not going to bore you with what we met, I know I’m being accused in the papers of passing the buck but passing the buck is sometimes absolutely necessary, to remind people who take things for granted.

“When we came in by some unfortunate coincidence.

“I screamed to high heav-

ens because I had promised a lot seeking vote. I said where is the savings? There was no savings.

“There was no infrastructure, power, rails, roads, there was none. What did we spend the money on? I was told buying food and petrol.

“Where were the billions going? We conducted a study and found out that the oil marketers were committing fraud on at least one third of what they were importing, which is about 25 percent of our foreign exchange.

“The youth must watch

our elites. The condition we found ourselves, it is unpatriotic for anybody to pretend that economically, we have not a problem.

“We have gone into the farms. I congratulate some of the governors and by the

IN what could be described as a reprisal attack, troops from the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army Calabar, at the early hours of Friday, killed 7 armed militants at Efut Esighi in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River.

It could be recalled that on September 24, the Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, confirmed that militants killed one of its soldiers at the same spot (Efut Esighi) where the attack was repelled today.

In a statement issued by the Army Public Relations Officer, Capt. Kayode Owolabi( APRO), and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Friday, said that the militants attacked the Army post in Efut Esighi.

Owolabi linked the militants to be ‘boys’ of the most wanted militant leader, Mr Benjamin Ene a.k.a ‘G1’ who has been on the wanted list of security agencies in the state.

“The very determined troops from the 13 Brigade and operation Delta Safe repelled an attack from armed

VICE President , Yemi Osinbajo has said the current earning of Nigeria has dropped from the N300 bn to N50bn because of the crisis in the Niger Delta.

The vice president dropped the hint in Gusau, on Friday, after commissioning some projects as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the creation of the state.

He maintained that the bombings of pipeline in the Niger Delta, by the militants has greatly affected the earnings of the coun-

try, saying,’ the country’s earnings has dropped from N300bn to N50 bn in recent times.

He asserted that this had partly led to the current recession facing the country, pointing out that in spite of the ugly situation in the country economic crunch will soon be over.

‘President Buhari’s main concern is to ensure that every poor Nigerian has enough money to spend. We are working assiduously to ensure that the difficulty being experienced by Nigerians now is over.

of security, industrialisation, manufacturing and food security.

“I said it years ago and I still mean it, we have no other country than Nigeria, we will stay here and salvage it together.”

How vegetables you buy could be dangerous to your health

By Blessing Gbarada IT is a fact that vegetables are incredibly essential for optimum health. They contain vitamins and minerals that ensure the smooth

militants at Efut Esighi in Bakassi Local Government.

“The militants tried to attack the Army post in Efut Esighi. Some of them were wearing Nigerian military camouflage.

“We recovered 250 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, rocket propelled gun luncher, GPMG belt links and various charms on their bodies. Other militants escaped with very serious gun shot injuries.

“There was no casualty on the side of the military. Our men were in full combatant during the attack.

“We have also destroyed their camps and shrines in the creeks”, he said.

The APRO said that the 13 Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Bulama Biu, had warned that no militant group or criminal under any guise would be spared.

He further said that the military and other security agencies will continue to hunt down any militant group or criminals that do not surrender.

He, however, called on residents in the state to always avail them with useful and timely information that would help them curb crime.

Nigeria’s earning has dropped from N300bn to N50bn —Osinbajo Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

this long explanation because there are things that could be hidden from you by those that had mismanaged the country in the last 16, 17 years.

“I assure you that we will set the ball rolling in terms

Special Treat

Army kills 7 armed militants in Bakassi, recovers arms Anthony Ubong - Calabar

grace of God by the end of this government, we will be exporting rice and grains.

“So, all the money alleged to have been used to import will be available to sustain development.

“I have bored you with

Osinbajo also said those who stole our money must account for them because they were also responsible for the current economic crisis.

Earlier, the state governor, Alh Abdulaziz Yari disclosed that his government had spent about N10bn on the provision of some of the social amenities commissioned by the vice president.

Some of the projects commissioned by the vice president included the Government Girls Arabic Seconding school, 6km Gusau road, street lights, 20 km Bungudu and 15 Maru township roads.

working of cells, tissues and organs in the body. Although they provide heartprotecting, cancer-fighting, low-calorie benefits, experts say they could also pose a health risk.

A report issued by the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC), a partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently disclosed the top sources of food borne illnesses. From their findings, it was discovered that leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and spinach, are the worst offenders, being responsible for 46 per cent of all food poisoning cases.

“Most people think of food borne illnesses in terms of meat and poultry but the truth is vegetables when not properly handled can also be a source of poisoning. The problem usually stems from improper handling and poor hygiene, right from the farming process, harvesting, storage, transportation and even the final end user’s personal hygiene. When you buy vegetables from the market, you can’t be sure about what has taken place between planting, harvesting and post-harvest. Contaminated soil and water, pesticides and chemical fertilizers can be sources of contamination at the farming process. Sometimes, certain chemicals are also used to preserve some of these vegetables and most times fruits. These can be detrimental to one’s health.

Also, at the final user, hygiene is also important to prevent poisoning. We see cases of fruit vendors such as watermelon sellers use pocketknives to slice off pieces of fruit and then wipe the knife blade on the front of their shirt or on a dirty rag. They then wrap these and sell to unsuspecting buyers,” Mr Bolaji Akinsipe, an agriculturist said.

Experts say leafy vegetables are the most common cause of poisoning because they tend to be eaten raw.

As such, bacteria, especially E.Coli, salmonella, and listeria, are not killed and can cause illness. “Between farming, harvesting and transporting to the market, vegetables can

be exposed to all kinds of micro-organisms including disease-causing ones.

Eating these vegetables raw will definitely be a health risk. Lettuce is particularly dangerous to eat raw as harmful bacteria can form within the plant tissue. This means that when the lettuce is even washed, the bacteria will not be washed away.

With fresh tomatoes, while washing gets rid of bacteria on the skin, salmonella can enter the tissue through the stem or cracks in the skin.

This is why it is not advisable to eat broken tomatoes raw,” Mr Akinsipe stated.

The way out Organic farming Since most vegetables come from the open market, it behoves those in the chain of production and sales to ensure optimum standards from scratch. Mr Timothy Ayodele of Cato Foods and Agro Allied Concepts said, “organic farming is the best option for every farmer to adopt. There has to be increased awareness on the need for organic farming.

With organic farming, no chemical is used at any level. Organic manure sourced from poultry droppings can be used as fertilizer and the extract from the leaves of the Neem tree (dogoyaro) can be used as pesticides.

These are trusted and tried means of growing crops, unfortunately in this part of the world, a lot of farmers are yet to catch up with the trend. Some countries are into complete organic farming and they are succeeding, for instance Israel.

With organic farming, there is no fear about chemical exposure which can be detrimental to one’s health.

The ecosystem and environment are also preserved because there is exposure to harmful chemicals. It is true that chemical pesticides and fertilizers work, but the concern is how they affect the health especially when used directly on vegetables because the vegetable leaves are what we consume. It is usually said that when the sun beats and rain falls on the sprayed leaves, it could wash the chemicals away, but then it is still not advisable.”

Pesticides are chemicals which are sprayed on crops so as to kill or repel pests. These pests include

insects, birds, mammals, weeds, roundworms and microbes. Although it can be perceived to be a good thing but the issue is that it could lead to pesticide poisoning when someone eats vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticide.

Symptoms of pesticide poisoning include abdominal cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, headache, blurred vision, feeling weak and shaky, twitchy muscles, extreme tiredness. These symptoms often appear within minutes of exposure to a pesticide although in some cases they may take longer to develop.

Farmers’ and sellers’ hygiene Ensuring the use of cleaner irrigation water and better sanitary practices among farmers can also help prevent contamination by bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms.

For example, farms need to ensure that workers don’t urinate in fields, they can also develop better ways of cleaning farming or processing equipment.

Mr Ayodele adds that precaution be taken during harvesting, storage and transportation to prevent exposure to pests, vehicle exhaust and dust. Proper post-harvest processing of vegetable produce can also reduce the incidences of contamination and subsequent poisoning.

End user hygiene Mrs Yemisi Solanke-Lawal, a nutritionist/dietician and Chief Executive Officer, Evergreen Health and Social Care International Limited, recommends following these steps to prevent foodborne illness or food poisoning from fruits and vegetables: Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables with cool tap water before cutting. This rule applies to fruits with a peel, too. Peels can carry bacteria that can contaminant fruit when cutting or peeling.

Scrub firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush.

Remove and discard outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage.

Store clean vegetables in a clean container, not in the original container.

Continued on pg6

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How vegetables you buy could be dangerous to your health Continued from pg5

The students of woodland schools, Shasha Lagos, marching to commemorate Nigeria independence day at the school premises on Friday. PHOTO: SYVESTER OKORUWA.

Pump money into infrastructure, agriculture, Bisi Akande tells Buhari

By Kate Ani

F

ORMER Acting national chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to increase the tempo of the country’s activities with regards to development of infrastructure and Agriculture.

Chief Akande said this in a telephone chat with Saturday Tribune on Friday, in commemoration of the country’s 56th Independence Day anniversary.

“As the country is celebrating another Independence Day, there is a need for the president to increase the country’s activities with regards to infrastructure, most especially in the agricultural sector because former President Goodluck Jonathan left the country in a state of confusion.

“President Buhari started a bit late and couldn’t save the economy before it degenerated to this level. He should therefore double up to be able to cover sufficient ground to reduce the pains of Nigerians,” he said.

On whether he is impressed by the achievements recorded so far by the Buhari administration, the former governor of Osun State said the president is working according to the programmes of the APC, adding that “therefore I am impressed but my main concern where I want him to improve upon is in the area of Infrastructure and economy.

“He should give us more activities, he should pump a lot of money into it so that there will be no hunger and employment will be increased.”

On his advice for a possible way out of the country’s economic recession, he said, “I am not an economist and I don’t know the meaning of recession. I don’t know whether Nigeria, is or not in recession,

so I won’t talk about recession, but I will ask the president to pump in lots of money into those two sectors I have earlier mentioned. This will go a long way in bringing the country back on its tracks.”

On the crisis between the national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chief Bisi Akande said “honestly, I don’t see it as a crisis;

I see it as a wakeup call to address mismanagement in the party. Every member of our party in Ondo is our friend and associate, therefore, we must ensure that we win the Ondo State governorship election.

Anxiety in Delta over alleged kidnap of CBN gov’s wife EbenezerAdurokiya-Warri ANXIETY, on Friday, engulfed the oil-rich Delta State over the alleged kidnap of the wife of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs Margaret Emefiele.

An online medium reported that a group of hoodlums, who were armed to the teeth, kidnapped the governor’s heartthrob along Benin-Agbor road, on Thursday.

The medium also said that

the kidnappers had established contacts with the husband of the victim.

The hoodlums were also alleged to have demanded an unspecified huge amount of money as ransom.

A source in Agbor, however, told Saturday Tribune on Friday that the victim was kidnapped Thursday near Edo State while on a journey from Agbor area.

But when contacted through phone, Police Public Relations Officer

(PPRO), Delta Police Command, Celestina Kalu, a Superintendent of Police, denied the report.

She simply said: “it’s not true. How can they kidnap his wife? It’s not true.”

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Don Awannah, however, told Saturday Tribune that he had not been officially informed of the development promising to get back as soon he got the necessary briefing from the Inspector General.

Grow your own vegetables Although it might seem overwhelming, but the fact remains that anyone can grow vegetables. All that is needed is a few square feet of the great outdoors (rather than floor the entire compound, create little space for a vegetable patch), a water source, good seeds and a little time. Growing your vegetables proffers numerous benefits. According to Mr Akinsipe, some of these benefits are: Saves cost With the harsh economic realities comes the necessary need to tighten up and reduce spending as much as possible. While man’s basic needs — food, clothing, shelter, transport — can’t be overlooked, fortunately there are still ways one can get around reducing expenses especially in the area of feeding. One easy way to do this is by growing your own vegetables and herbs.

Safer food: By growing your own vegetables, you won’t have to worry about chemical contamination from the farms or during delivery. If it’s in your backyard, it’s safe.

Freshness: You would have access to fresh foods anytime, any day. With proper irrigation, you can have fresh vegetables all year round.

Nutrient-packed veggies: Studies prove that organically grown food has more much-needed vitamins and minerals than vegetables grown with synthetic pesticides. A backyard garden starts with highly nourished soil, which means more nourishment for the plants and, ultimately, our bodies.

Less environmental impact: If you grow your food organically, without pesticides and harmful chemicals, you’ll be protecting the environment from pollution.

What to grow Everyday vegetables can easily be self-grown. There are available seeds in various agricultural/agro businesses nationwide. Such vegetables include scent leaves (Efirin), Fluted African Pumpkin (Ugwu), Amaranthus (Efo), waterleaves, pepper, tomatoes, garden eggs and the likes.

FG, Oyo collaborate on fight against cervical cancer THE Federal Government has promised to work with Oyo State Government in finding a lasting solution to the high rate of cervical cancer prevalence in the state.

The Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, made the promise while delivering a lecture at a symposium organized by Access to Basic Medical Care (ABC) Foundation founded by the Wife of Oyo State Gover-

Faleke can’t be Kogi gov because he didn’t participate in primary —Supreme Court Sunday Ejike-Abuja THE supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday stated why it affirmed the election of Yahaya Bello as the governor of Kogi state as well its reasons for dismissing all the appeals challenging Bello’s election in the 2015 governorship election held in the state.

The apex court had, in a unanimous judgment delivered on September 20, 2016 upheld the judgements of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal which affirmed Yahaya Bello’s election and slated yesterday to give reasons for arriving at its decision.

According to the court, the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in last year’s governorship election in Kogi state, James Abiodun Faleke,

could not be declared the winner of the poll because the law did not support the request.

The apex court, among others, said that Faleke, whose joint ticket with the governorship candidate of the party, late Prince Abubakar Audu, had garnered 240,873 votes before Audu died, could not benefit from the votes or take the place of Audu, because he did not meet the condition precedent.

In the reasons advanced for the judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the court held that Faleke, who did not obtain a nomination form and did not participate in the primary election of the party cannot, under any circumstance be made the governorship candidate to replace late Audu.

Besides, Justice KekereEkun, said that before the sudden death of Audu, after

the November 21 governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had already declared the election inconclusive and that since the election had not been completed and the final result was not issued by the electoral body, Faleke, as a running mate,cannot claim victory in the election.

The Apex court, upheld the replacement of late Audu with Yahaya Bello because in the face of the law, Bello obtained nomination form, took part in the primary election and came second, unlike Faleke who did not meet that condition.

The Supreme Court said that by virtue of Section 221 of the 1991 constitution, Bello, having,become the governorship candidate of the APC, and legally sponsored by the same party, can lay claim to the votes of 240,867 cast for

the party in the November 21, 2015 election in the face of the law.

The Apex court said that the provision of Section 221, was clear that it is political parties that canvass for votes and are voted for in the Nigerian election and that it is only the candidate that is duly sponsored by a political party that can lay claim to such votes of the party.

In the instant case, the court insisted that Faleke, having not been sponsored as a governorship candidate by the APC, in the supplementary election, of December 5, cannot lay claim to the votes of November 21 and the final result.

The Court therefore dismissed Faleke’s petition for lacking in merit and upheld the nomination of Bello as a replacement for Audu and his subsequent declaration

by INEC as the duly elected governor of Kogi state.

nor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, in Ibadan on Friday.

The symposium, which was organized to mark the third anniversary of the Foundation, was attended by eminent personalities including the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode.

Others are the Wife of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe; Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Prof. Temitope Alonge, as well as other top medical and health officials across the country.

Adewole, while praising the foundation’s initiative in providing cervical cancer screening for people, said it was the third in the whole of Africa to have the equipment for the screening of the dreaded disease.

He said in spite of the socioeconomic conditions which had made access to healthcare service difficult for people, his ministry would partner the government to take qualitative healthcare delivery to the nooks and crannies of the state.

Adewole said, “While appreciating the gesture of ABC Foundation in helping to care for the common people, I want to posit that this service will be better if it is extended to the rural populace in form of primary healthcare services.

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NJC sacks Apeal court justice over N200m bribe

Enugu CJ fired, Kano judge dismissed, to be tried Lanre Adewole - Lagos

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HE National Judicial Council has fired three senior judicial officers for alleged sleaze.

One of them was sacked for demanding a N200 million bribe in an election petition matter.

In a statement issued on Friday by the council’s spokesperson, Soji Oye, two

of the trio were compulsorily retired, while one was dismissed from service and recommended for criminal prosecution.

The statement reads: “The National Judicial Council, under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Mahmud Mohammed, GCON, at its 78th Meeting, which was held on 29th Sep-

tember, 2016 recommended compulsory retirement from office of Honourable Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Honourable Justice I. A. Umezulike, OFR, Chief Judge, Enugu State and the dismissal from service of Honourable Justice Kabiru M. Auta of the High Court of Justice, Kano State with im-

2016 Hajj: 22 Nigerian pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says 22 Nigerians have died during this year’s pilgrimage.

The head, National Medical Team, Dr Ibrahim Kana, disclosed this at a meeting between NAHCON delegation and members of the Bangladesh Hajj office in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

He said the number represented 0.20 per cent of the more than 62,000 pilgrims who performed the pilgrimage.

He said NAHCON had introduced a national medical team to harmonise and

properly coordinate health delivery during the exercise.

Kana said the team was worried at the rising cases of sudden death and had decided to perform oral autopsy to ascertain the reasons.

He said the team also installed scanning machines at airports to check cases of women who travel for the pilgrimage while carrying pregnancy.

Earlier the counsellor of the Bangladesh Hajj office, Muhammad Rahman, said 71 pilgrims from his country died during the exercise.

Akala’s claim that LAUTECH belongs to Oyo is wrong, baseless —ex-Osun AG Oluwole Ige - Osogbo AS the controversy over the ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso deepens, former Commissioner for Justice in Osun State, Barrister Niyi Owolade, on Friday, said the reported statement by ex-Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala that the institution belongs to Oyo is wrong and baseless.

He argued that the sacrosanct fact that LAUTECH belongs to both Osun and Oyo States cannot be controverted, saying it was wrong for Akala to claim that the university belongs to only Oyo State.

Owolade, who was the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice during the tenure of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Osun emphasised that “former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao Akala was absolutely wrong in claiming that LAUTECH belong to Oyo. “LAUTECH still belongs to Oyo and Osun states. I am sure that Akala himself knows that the university belongs to the two states”.

While maintaining that Akala’s statement maybe politically inclined to

curry favour of people in Ogbomoso and Oke Ogun axis of Oyo, he said “the truth of the matter is that in 2009, Akala tried every means to unilaterally take over LAUTECH, but we stood our ground.

They went to the extent of dealing with staff of Osun State origin in the institution”.

According to Owolade, “they suspended some of them and I can still recall that the then registrar, Venerable Ojo, was suspended.

However, we approached the Supreme Court over the matter. The decision of the Supreme Court was to the effect that LAUTECH belongs to Osun and Oyo States. And that no one state can unilaterally take over without the consent and concurrence of the other. To the best of my knowledge, that has not happened.”

He continued, “even from the MoU signed by the two states, the issues canvassed by both Oyo and Osun are to the effect that LAUTECH belong to the two states.

Perhaps, Akala was referring to a law passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly but, Oyo’s legislative law cannot overrule the judgment of the Supreme Court”.

He also briefed the delegation on the organisation of pilgrimage in his country, which he said involved 105,000 pilgrims.

Rahman described the visit by NAHCON as significant as it afforded the two sides opportunity to exchange ideas on their respective operations.

NAHCON chairman, Abdullahi Mohammed, said Nigeria was eager to perfect its hajj operations, hence the decision by the commission to visit similar bodies to learn about their experiences.

He called for greater synergy among countries to improve on the success of the exercise and forge better understanding among their people.

He stressed the need for interaction among pilgrims to explore economic potential of each country, adding that hajj should be seen beyond the spiritual point.

Meanwhile, Mohammed has announced that 34,818 pilgrims have been transported back to Nigeria, 13 days since the exercise started.

He said the pilgrims were transported in 74 flights The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the evacuation of pilgrims back home was slated to end on October 17, but the commission said it was confident that it would finish earlier.

mediate effect. In the case of Honourable Justice Kabiru M. Auta, he is to be handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 1, Kano, for prosecution.

“Honourable Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal was recommended for compulsory retirement from the office of the President, Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), in pursuant to the ‘findings’ by the council in the petition written by Nnamdi Iro Oji against him and Honourable Justices Husseini Muktar, F. O. Akinbami and J. Y. Tukur, all Justices of Court of Appeal who sat on election appeal panel in the Owerri division of the Court, during the 2015 general elections.

The petition contains the following allegations, among others; corruption, malice , vindictiveness and giving perverse and conflicting decisions on the same issue in similar matters in appeal CA/OW/EPT/SN/50/2015 of Chief (Dr.) David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex versus

Special dinner CHRIST The Redeemer’s Friends International (RCCG Region 21 Chapter), will hold a special dinner on Monday, 3rd October, 2016.

The dinner, which is strictly by invitation, is scheduled to take place at the Functions Hall, Jogor Centre, 1 Harvesters Drive, Liberty Stadium, Ibadan.

Pastor David Erivona (PICP, Oyo 11), who is expected to be the speaker will speak on the theme: The King’s Economy.

Pastor Adeboye

Honourable Mao Onuabunwa & Anor; CA/OW/EPT/ SN/47/2015; Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu & Anor versus Honourable Mao Ohuabunwa & Ors; and CA/OW/EPT/ HR/61/2015: Nnamdi Iro Oji versus Nkole Uko Ndukwe & 16 Ors. “During deliberations, council found as follows; that there was evidence that the petitioner met with Honourable Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya thrice, in his residence in Sokoto, Gwarinpa, Abuja and Owerri, where on each occasion,

he demanded from him the sum of N200,000.000 (Two Hundred Million Naira) to influence the Court of Appeal panel in Owerri or risk losing the case.

“That the allegations of giving two conflicting judgements on the same matter was not true, as the two judgements were in respect of two different appeals; one was in respect of House of Representative seat, a federal constituency, while the other was in respect of a senate seat which covered one third of the State.”

8 nigeria@56

FG vows to restore lost integrity in public service Clement Idoko - Abuja

J

UST as Nigeria sets to mark its 56th Independence Day Anniversary, the Federal Government has vowed to restore the lost dignity, integrity and confidence in the Public Service.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, in her anniversary message to workers made available to

newsmen on Friday said government remained fully committed to repositioning of the public in order to ensure quality service delivery.

THE President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has called on Nigerians from all walks of life to collaborate with the Federal Government in order to ensure the

US congratulates Nigeria Leon Usigbe - Abuja

THE United States of America (USA) has congratulated Nigeria on the occasion of the country’s 56th Independence Anniversary.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, on behalf of President Barack Obama and the American people, expressed confidence that Nigerians are working hard to address current national challenges. Below is the full text of Kerry’s statement: The statement quoted Kerry as saying: “On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the citizens of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day today.

“I recently returned from my third trip to Nigeria as Secretary, and I came away with a strong sense of the nation’s resolve to build a better

future. During my trip, I was reminded that many Nigerians are engaged in bringing people together across the divides of culture, religious practices, and ethnicity.

“There is still much work to be done to provide economic opportunities for all, end corruption, win the fight against Boko Haram, ensure broad respect for human rights and provide humanitarian relief for millions of displaced people. But we know that Nigerians are hard at work to address these challenges.”

THE member representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency of Ekiti State in the House of Representatives, Chief Segun Adekola, has saluted the patience and resilience of Nigerians, saying most Nigerians are going through a painful period in the history of the country.

He said it is important at a time like the Independence anniversary to identify with Nigerians, particularly the people in his constituency and to praise their sense of patriotism.

He said to this end, he will be using the occasion of the independence anniversary to distribute items such as uniforms and excise books to students in his constituency beginning from next

nation emerges from the current economic recession stronger, more united, developed and self-reliant.

Saraki, in his message to mark the nation’s 56th Independence Anniversary, signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, also commended all Nigerians for their contributions that have averted disaster from the nation at every point in her existence. He stated that these efforts are now being threatened by social, political and economic problems.

While expressing regrets that in her 56 years of ex-

Oyo-Ita, also said there was the need to forge a cast-iron relationship between the political and bureaucratic leadership, identifying and targeting

the main barriers to innovation among others.

She said that Government is not unaware of the challenges faced by the Federal Civil Servants

Biola Azeez - Ilorin

GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has congratulated Nigerians on the 56th Independence Day celebration with a call on Nigerians to demonstrate more patriotism, commitment and dedication to collective goals so that the current challenges become things of the past.

Governor Ahmed in his

week.

The lawmaker who spoke in Abuja on Friday congratulated the government of Ekiti State for the outstanding performance of the state in the NECO examination, adding that credit for the incredible performance goes to the teachers and the state government.

“The people are beginning to see the benefits of a good government who has the interest of the people at heart. I have no doubt about the ability of Governor Ayo Fayose to lead the state to glorious heights.

In such a little time in government, people are beginning to see the difference between real governance and deceptive leadership that was foisted on the people in the past.

istence, Nigeria’s economy still depends on only oil, a situation which created the present economic problems being experienced by the citizenry, the Senate President commended Nigerians for their perseverance, understanding and support in the face of the harsh economic condition.

According to him, “As we celebrate independence, we should all vow to work together as we have done in the past to save the nation.

As we expect leaders to initiate policies, programmes and projects that will propel the economy to grow rapidly and improve the stan-

dard of living of the people, our people should also seek to explore their creative talents to produce goods and services which can compete with the best in the world, thereby enhancing our ability to export massively and earn foreign exchange.

GOVERNORSHIP Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has felicitated

Independence Day message said, the economic situation of the country may make livelihood difficult at the present if Nigerians join hands together, the country will surely and steadily bounce back to prosperity.

He advised Nigerians to have confidence in the present administration as all things are being done to ensure that the days of economic recession are over in the shortest possible time.

Also speaking, Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmad, has said that it is incumbent on every Nigerian to put aside their ethnic differences, religious or political affiliation in order to make the country work.

Ahmad added that it is glaring that 56 years of Nigeria’s independence from colonial masters had not in any way been matched by the founding fathers’ projection.

The Speaker, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Shuaib Abdulkadir to commemorate the nation’s 56th independent anniversary, however noted that with leadership commitment and determination Nigeria would get to the promise land.

with Nigerians, especially the people of Ondo State on the 56th anniversary of the nation’s independence; noting that it is not a mere feat that Nigeria succeeded in forging a common bond in her diversity.

The Ondo State governorship hopeful in a statement issued by Aketi Media Group on Friday, urged Nigerians not to be troubled by whatever problem the nation might be going through, saying challenges of today are meant to prepare us for tomorrow’s rewards.

“Nigeria has succeeded in finding strength in her diversity and as such, we should remain resolute and focus on the quest for positive change so that we can get to the desired des-

which hinders them from performing their duties diligently.

According to her, relevant training programmes that are aimed at enhancing the workforce so as to reposition it in the new task of bringing the desired change are being put in place, adding further that government will do everything humanly possible to restore integrity and confidence of its workforce for effective service delivery to Nigerians.

The future is bright for Nigeria —Conoil

AS Nigeria celebrates her 56th Independence anniversary on Saturday, October 1, 2016, major oil marketer ConoilPlc, has predicted a brighter future for the country and urged Nigerians not to despair

Akeredolu urges Ondo to remain committed to positive change Congratulates Obaseki on his victory at the poll

It’s time to turn away from regional, ethnic sentiment —Ahmed, Speaker

We must salute Nigerians’ resilience —Adekola

By Bode Adewumi

She assured the civil servants in the country that government would promote as well as ensure provision of staff welfare and motivation.

Saraki canvasses joint efforts, prayers to end recession Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

Saturday Tribune

1 October, 2016

tination. No matter the challenges today, we shall overcome together as a united family.

“To my people in Ondo State, I say a new dawn is here. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I urge you all to remain resolute and committed to the course of positive change that we have been yearning for and which we are about to bring to the state,” Akeredolu said in the statement.

The former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) also congratulated the candidate of APC in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for his victory at the just concluded gubernatorial election, saying Edo people have laid good example for Ondo State to follow.

even in the face of the current economic downturn in the country.

The Company implored Nigerians to, instead, remain optimistic and give the government maximum support, as it works relentlessly to make Nigeria great again.

The frontline fuel marketing company in a statement, said it would, on its part, continue to oil the country’s wheels of progress by providing worldclass services to meet the energy needs of Nigerians.

According to the statement, “Considering the fact that the nation has surmounted several obstacles in the last 56 years, the major challenge for the citizens is to remain strong and indivisible, and for the government to formulate creative policies to guide the country through the current turbulence and recession.

“As we celebrate this historic occasion, it is our belief that with unity of purpose, our country’s future is assured,” the company affirmed.

Good days are ahead

Niger PDP congratulates Nigerians, —Orji Uzor Kalu says APC govt is clueless B K A y

Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

THE Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has saluted the doggedness and perseverance of the citizens in the state despite the economic hardship.

The Party said it was disturbed that the problems being faced by the people, despite the huge promises made by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during electioneering campaigns prior to political campaigns in 2015, has not abated after almost two years since the inception of the administration.

The state chairman of

the party, Barrister Tanko Beji, in his 56th Independence Day anniversary celebration message to the people of the state, expressed regret that Niger State has not fared better under the rulership of the “clueless, visionless and rudderless APC government in the state.”

Tanko Beji said that it was sad that almost all the social infrastructure like water, roads, health facilities, inherited from the PDP-led government by the APC has been allowed to rot away in less than two years, making the sufferings of the people more unbearable.

ate

ni

FORMER Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, on the celebration of the country’s Independence Day celebration.

Dr. Kalu, in a telephone chat with Saturday Tribune on Friday, said as the country celebrates another independence anniversary, he expressed optimism that “good days are ahead of us in the country.”

“We are looking forward for good and much better days ahead. I wish that Nigerians can come together and unite so as to emerge from current situation stronger.”

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1 October, 2016

quisite

Saturday Tribune

Editor Tayo Gesinde 08054727801 temiligali03@yahoo.com

Olatorera Oniru, the Chief Executive Officer of Dressmeoutlet.com worked with companies like Bank of America Merrill Lynch, General Electric and telecoms giant, Lars Magnus Ericsson, before she decided to pursue passion, leadership and entrepreneurship. In this interview with TAYO GESINDE, the recipient of the 2016 Commonwealth Africa Awards, Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, Forbes Most Promising Africans, Africa.com’s Top 5 Youngest Entrepreneurs and African Achievers Awards, shares her success story.

When we love and enjoy what we do,

it becomes part of us —Olatorera Oniru

health & fitness —11

Any disease from oral sex?

Independence:

food —30

Gari...filling Nigerians since 1960

Fashion through the decades

style —10 & 13

Continues pg29

Crew Blessing Gbarada Kate Ani Yemi Okunlade

10

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1 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

quisite style Independence Day: Fashion through the decades!

With Kate Ani 08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

Senator Ben Bruce shared this #throwback picture of himself on Twitter looking stylish in the early 50s.

Ace broadcaster and media personality, Funmi Iyanda experimented this early 90s hairstyle recently.

Highlife musician, Oliver de Coque

Former military and democratic president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s swag in this Yoruba attire in the 70s is on another level!

Celebrity music artiste, Davido and his crew looking fashionable in this old-school gear for his musical video.

Grace Tinuke Oyelude, a former Miss Nigeria

Wife of former military Head of State, Madam Victoria Nwanyiocha Aguiyi-Ironsi’s hairstyle while addressing a crowd in Lagos is epic!

Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and his wife, Maryam looking stylish in their early years.

A

s Nigerians roll out the drums to celebrate another Independence Day anniversary, there is no doubt that fashion in the country has evolved over the years. The early 1960s were surely a time of glamorous fashion in Nigeria.

Some trends that took the fashion industry by storm then were; the oleku style (a baggy sleeved buba worn over a wrapper that reaches above the knee), mini skirts and dresses, bejeweled native wear, wide-legged pants paired with tight fitted shirts with the first two buttons opened.

Hairstyles like afro, jerry curl as well as chunky heeled shoes, chunky neck accessories, and so on were also the order of the day. Socialites, political figures and their wives were part of the fashion frenzy of the early 50s and 60s.

Overtime, fashion has become more daring and sophisticated. The styles of the 60s, 70s and 80s which are now referred to as ‘old school’ are gradually making a comeback. This week, STYLE presents to you some of the styles and fashion that made waves in the 60s and 70s.

Onyeka Onwenu with her signature low cut which dates back to the 80s.

Inside a fashion house in Lagos in 1937. PHOTO CREDIT: E.O.HOPPE

31

First Republic minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh nicknamed Omimi-Ejoh Bilele (meaning the man with long flowing wrappers).

11 healthandfitness My wife goes to toilet after eating My problem is that each time my wife eats, she will go to the toilet. Kindly help me.

Salimonu (by SMS)

Dr. Wale Okediran waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

08055069356 (sms only)

My chronic catarrh

It is important to confirm the particular type of food that makes your wife to go to toilet that frequently.

This is because for many people, beans and its products have a way of purging those who eat them. Once the offending food item is recognised, your wife

should try and avoid such food items in order to re-

duce her regular trip to the toilet.

I don’t want to continue using glasses I am a 24-year-old student in one of the country’s higher institutions.

I have been using a pair of glasses for the past five years. I am now tired of using the glasses and want to know what else I can do especially something that is not too expensive.

Bassey (by SMS)

Please, I need help over my chronic catarrh. I have been suffering from this terrible infection for about four years now. I have also taken many types of drugs such as Actifed, Procold and Catarrh Capsules and a lot more all to no avail. A doctor even told me to be chewing white Vitamin C every time, even then, the catarrh still persisted.

Please what else can I do to treat this problem Kenneth (by SMS) It is obvious that you will need to see a specialist Ear

Nose and Throat Surgeon who will thoroughly examine you and make sure that your nasal passages are free of any form of ob-

structions. In addition, the doctor will find out from you if you are allergic to anything such as dust, feathers or some drugs.

Once all these are confirmed, the doctor may need to wash out your nose with some warm water at the end of which, he may place you on some antibiotics which will prevent a recurrence.

Any disease from oral sex?

Apart from wearing glasses, there are various other ways of treating eye problems. One other way is through eye surgery during which the eye muscles which have gone lax will be

tightened up so that they can effect a good eyesight.

The other way is for you to wear contact lens which

Is this hernia?

I have a swelling in the right part of my groin.

The swelling has been getting bigger over the years and disappears when I lie down. My question is whether this is hernia and if so, what can I do about it?

Saturday Tribune

1 October, 2016

are small plastic transparent tiny objects that can fit into the top of a finger and inserted into the eyes.

Marcus (by SMS) Yes, it looks very much like a reducible hernia. The best solution is surgery which can be carried out by a well-trained doctor as a day case.

I enjoy oral sex a lot. My question is whether or not I can catch a disease each time I have oral sex with my girlfriends?

Brown (by SMS) Yes. Many Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, can be spread through oral sex.

However, the chances of giving or getting STIs during oral sex can be lowered by using a condom or dental

dam. As with other types of sexual activity, oral sex carries the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). It may be possible to get some STIs in the mouth or throat from giving oral sex to a partner with a genital or anal/rectal infection, particularly from giving fellatio. It also may be possible to get certain STIs on the penis, and possibly the vagina, anus or rectum, from receiving oral sex from a partner with a

mouth or throat infection.

It’s possible to have an STI in more than one area, for example in the throat and the genitals. Yes, both the male and female genitals are potential sites for various forms of infections.

This is why cleanliness is very important for both sexes. It is also important for you to treat every form of mouth ulcer through which these organisms usually get access into the man’s body.

AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founders: CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

Chief (Dr) H.I.D Awolowo CON (1915 - 2015)

Chairman Rev. (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran Co-Chairman Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Edward Dickson Controller (Business Development) Fola Oke Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733 Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177 South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

Snr. Manager (Advertisements) Kayode Titiloye Sales Manager Omotayo Lewis, Ph.D Consultant/Director Segun Olatunji, Ph.D

GOT NEWS?

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797 Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna.

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Contact: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com or call:07030004233

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1 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

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1 October, 2016

ntertainment News

Society Gist

Nigeria at

Saturday Tribune

J

with oan

Omionawele

jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08054682201

Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

newtray2002@yahoo.com 08052271251

Celebrity Interviews

56

Celebrities speak on the

journey so far Mercy Johnson: Government needs to do more —p14

ACI launches Nigeria’s most advanced recording studios in Lagos —p15

ASA, Ksa, Dbanj to thrill at Supremacy Concert today —p15

14 entertainment

1 September, 2016

Nigeria at 56:

Pete Edochie: Nothing is working in the country now

Celebrities speak on the

journey so far

In commemoration of Nigeria’s 56th anniversary today, October 1st, Nigerian celebrities have voiced out on the situation of things in the country. While some remained optimistic, some opined that Nigeria is on a steady road to nowhere. JOAN OMIONAWELE speaks to some of them on Nigeria at 56. Their views:

Olu Jacobs: Our leaders are talking to us as if we are school children

I

think it will be most unfair to say the government is folding its arms and doing nothing while the country is burning.

Here is a country that was almost run to the ground. The change was real. Have you ever seen Nigeria so united? That was a cry for help from Nigerians. Let our leaders lead us and lead us right. They need to know the extent to which the damage had been done.

The country is in a mess and unfortunately, the Americans and the Europeans have helped us to mess it up a bit more. Have you ever seen anything like what happened to our currency? The value of our money has dropped, now we are struggling to survive because the value of our money is low, we cannot buy as confidently as we used to and it’s going to take us a while to fight back.

The only thing I can blame the government for is that I don’t think they are publicising their achievements. They are not telling us enough about what they have done. They are talking to us as if they are talking to civil servants. When they wanted our votes, they came to us and now they need to go round on television and radio and tell us the situation of things and the problems they are having, they just talk to us as if we are school children. We are all groaning in pain, and we need to know why we are suffering so much and they are not telling us as clearly as they should. This, they must do.

Saturday Tribune

Femi Kuti: Nigeria is a country where leaders give excuses for their failure Nigeria is a country where leaders give excuses for themselves. After 50 years, No electricity, no equal education, no good healthcare service, some people are planning to sell our assets.

Yet they give excuses for their failure.

Education is only for the rich in this country, and after 50 years, when the president is sick he doesn’t trust the Nigerian doctors, so he has to be flown abroad, and the budget is there to take our hard earned money for themselves.

If they were not leaders, what will they do?

All this is just for them to have a good time and enjoy themselves with our money.

Mercy Johnson: Government needs to do more

To tell you the truth, I don’t know. I don’t see a future, I mean, I don’t even know.

Nothing is working in the country now, a lot of people are jobless and crime is on the increase, I don’t see anything I can call a future.

We are all depending on oil, we have militants who expect their share of all these now that the country is going down economically. I heard that there are some assets that they want to sell and it is meeting the resistance of very meaning Nigerians and I read in the papers that there is a lot of discord in the APC camp, I had always known that it is a conglomera tion of strange bird fellows.

I knew that such a thing was going to happen but I didn’t know that it was going to be so soon. Look at the National Assembly, Saraki and Ekweremadu are in Court…. One cannot really say that a government is going on. If you cannot agree that one out of the three arms of government is calm and we can work from there, what kind of future are we expecting for our children then?

Victor Olaotan:

We are getting somewhere as a country Well, I think we are going somewhere as a country, we might not know exactly where. We are now leaving the reality of what we are worth. But I believe that with time, we will get results.

Nigeria has come a long way. We are not where we are supposed to be but we are not where we used to be. Government needs to do more. We cannot elect people in positions of leadership and they are not stepping into it. However, we must all bear in mind that Nigeria is a collective project

Fathia Balogun: Things are really hard The economy right now, to be frank, is in a deplorable level.

Things are really hard. As a result of this, crime rate is relatively high. Something needs to be done. We are in dire need of resurgence. Through these trying times, I beseech every Nigerian to be united. We need unity to overcome. We also need one another to make this nation great again.

Emeka Ike: The country is not stable The country is not in a stable condition, it’s like a pendulum, we moved forward a bit during former president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration but corruption dragged us backward. Then, this administration came with a promise to look at the corruption factor. If what they said has integrity and sincerity, it might be difficult for us at the moment, but we have a future, because integrity is the bottom-line and sincerity is the platform for development. So, if we can structure properly, I think Nigeria will head forward

Rose Odika: We need to know what they are doing with the retrieved money We thank God for where we are, at least we are not stagnant, I just believe that if some of the policies are reviewed, the Buhari Government will serve us well. The Single Treasury Account is not really helping matters. It is taking money out of the system, Also, they should tell us what they are doing with the money that they have retrieved from corrupt politicians, this money should not be stuck. It should be plough into the economy. We are moving, although slowly, but we are not stagnant.

15 entertainment Mtn Project Fame has created employment for youths for nine years —Bamgboye

By Joan Omionawele

In contributing to poverty allevation and uplifting the Nigerian entertainment sphere, Popular Telecomunications Company and official Partners of Project Fame West Africa, MTN have affirmed that they have been able to contribute their own quota in creation of employment in the country.

At a Press Conference with Journalists, MTN’s Events and sponsorship Manager Marketing and Strategy Division, Mr Dola Bamgboye stated “ we have partnered with Ultma Studios to produce Project Fame through thick and thin. I remember when their studio got burnt, everyone was sad, we had to begin again and it was unique. Ultima studios(where Project Fame is recorded) brings a vast experience and a reservoir of intellectualism with the quality of staff that they have. Everybody is dedicated to work.

Speaking on the advantages of MTN as sponsors of the reality show to people, he further said “we have various indices which we consider in

1 October, 2016

ASA, Ksa, Dbanj to thrill at Supremacy Concert today

By Joan Omionawele

sponsoring events, return on investments, brand equity, return on objectives and the latest one is creating employment. Over the years, we have had to take care of the contestants, the faculty, the judges and it’s a huge financial sacrifice on both parties, but it didn’t stop the show invariably” “We are creating employment and have seen the birth of Nigerian music superstars such as Iynya, Chidinma, Praiz, and when there is employment, crime rate will be reduced and there will be a safe environment for everyone to live in” Bamgboye said

The organisers of highly anticipated Supremacy Concert has said the selection of KSA, Dbanj, Wizkid, 2face and Asa to perform at the concert is based on the need to provide entertainment that cuts across age, gender and preference. ‘we are catering for people from two generations and different taste and preference when it comes to entertainment.

Our focus is not just on youths or upwardly mobile, we are catering for the corporate guys and the elderly. If you don’t like KSA, you will like Wizkid, and if your preference is soul music, Asa wil be on hand to provide that and as always, 2face will be dishing out his classics from hip hop to contemporary Afro pop.

And the pure entertaining energy of Dbanj will cut across as well. So, it is not a concert restricted to a particular audience’

ACI launches Nigeria’s most advanced recording studios in Lagos •Jimmy Jatt, Peter Okoye, Skales, others speak about the entrance of ACI Studios in Nigeria Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

Chief Executive Officer, ACI Entertainment, Mr. Wole Adeniyi has launched Nigeria’s first most advanced recording studio in Lagos. The launch which took place few weeks ago was recently announced to the media during the week.

Adeniyi, in a statement made available to Saturday Tribune said the ACI studio will provide a breeding ground for the best professionals in the music and film technology as well as empower more creative minds in Africa and provide a training ground, facilities, equipment and then a platform.

Since its launch, the company has become a mecca of some sort to many for local and international artistes.

American artiste-Keri Hilson, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Peter Okoye of P-Square, Young John, Praiz, Mike Aremu, Timaya, Kaffy, Falz, General Pype and Skales are among music stars that have visited and endorsed the ACI studios complex in Lekki, Lagos.

The new company seems to be re-inventing the sound of Nigerian music and putting a bit of organisation with the establishment of world class recording, rehearsal and dance studios.

Saturday Tribune

A number of popular entertainment personalities have also endorsed the state of the art facilities and affirmed the studio as a world class entertainment institution and the first of its kind in Nigeria.

This is indeed a welcome development for the continuous development of the entertainment industry.

ACI has three studios–A, B, C and currently building the 4th one, Studio D. Studio A is a world class analogue studio with a 24-track-SSL board that can easily double to a 48

track, NS10 monitors, Manley Ref Card, Neve 1073 Mic Pre, the TubeTech CL1B compressor, DW drums & highly graded backline. It also caters for commercial voiceovers, animations or movie soundtracks as well as scoring for movies. The studio also has a fully equipped live room which can record a full live band with state of the art instruments.

Studio B is a standard digital recording studio with a Nuemann U87 vocal microphone, Digi 003, MPC 5000, Allen & Health Mixer, Mac tower and some urbane Virtual Tech music creation studio tools. Studio C is the rehearsal room which caters for a 25+ piece band & dance companies simultaneously whereas Studio D is currently being converted into an artistic room for training producers & songwriters with eight fully functional work stations. The room will also double as a lecture room to offer master classes for those interested in the business side of music & entertainment.

Jide Oyalowo who works in the media part of the concert said.

The much-talked-about Made-in-Nigeria(MaIN) Festival has lined up an impressive list of performers for the maiden edition of the Supremacy Concert to hold on October 1, at the Eko Atlantic, Lagos.

The Supremacy Concert will be the climax of a seven-day event which would attract dignitaries such as His Excellency, the

Vice-President of Nigeria Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, CBN Governor Mr Godwin Emefiele, Minister of Power, Works & Housing Mr Babatunde Fashola, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Ronald Chagoury, Mr. Ben Akabueze D.G. Budget Office among others.

The Made-in-Nigeria Festival is being organised

by MaIN Group, a collaboration of private sector

organisations. Board of Advisors of the initiative include: Prince Adesegun Oniru, Mr. Aliko Dangote, Dr. (Mrs.) Stella Okoli, Mr. Ronald Chagoury, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The music concert will feature music acts such as King Sunny Ade (KSA), Asa, Dbanj, 2Baba and Wizkid. This would be the first time these entertainers would grace the same stage in the history of music concerts in Nigeria.

‘93 days’ scores big in Nigeria premiere Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

Two years after the deadly Ebola virus had come and gone, the story of bravery and doggedness of some Nigerians, who fought the virus with their bare hands at the First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, Lagos, has been retold.

The movie ‘93 Days’ produced by notable Nollywood producers namely Steve Gukas and Bolanle Austen-Peters, is a remarkable documentary of Nigeria’s romance with ebola.

The casts of the movie, which include Bimbo Akintola, who played Dr Adadovah, Paul Adams, Danny Glover, Gideon Okeke, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey,Bimbo Manuel, Somkhele Idhalama, delivered the true-life event at the Frist Consultant Hospital with the creativity and skill that produced tears in the audience of the House of the Rock Cathedral, the venue of its Nigeria premiere.

‘93 Days,’ the movie title, is simply the number of days Nigeria battled Ebola from when Sawyer arrived Nigeria to the day Nigeria was declared Ebola free by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Memories were refreshed, tears rolled down several cheeks when 93days premiered at House on the Rock cathedral Lekki.

93 Days has also made the nation proud during the Toronto Film Festival held recently, where the cast and crew received a standing

ovation from the international audience. It was first premiered in the US, after its media screening in Lagos, with outstanding reviews.

A well written script, beautifully directed and selected casts, 93 Days continue to hold up the Nigerian can-do spirit in movie production in the world’s eye, even as it serves to only beam the light on the uncanny selflessness of the nurses and health workers at First Consultants Hospital in Obalende, and the Lagos State Ministry of Health – while necessarily turning the head light at the back of the common people, who only feared and prayed and did not stay still.

But like one of the producers, Bolanle Austen-Peters, said during the movie premiere, “There are so many important stories in Nigeria that could be told but because of lack of funding, we can’t tell these stories; Ebola is one of them.”

More goodwill for Kenneth Okonkwo

By Joan Omionawele

Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo has, no doubt, had a good year, as he was blessed with a child with his wife of many years , a few months ago.

This week, the actor is basking in the euphoria being decorated with a doctorate

degree by the the Institute of Charterd Economists of Nigeria.

The exited actor who is also a politician and a lawyer, announced this on his instagram page with these words “It is God that makes increase. He has increased me to Dr Kenneth Okonkwo” He wrote.

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1 October, 2016

Divorce

Court & Crime

I ran away to avoid being used for rituals, wife tells court

I would have forgiven her if she had changed her ways —Husband

A

housewife, Olayinka Adebayo has told an Akure Customary Court in Ondo State, that she deserted her matrimonial home for three years to avoid being used for rituals by her husband, Adeniyi.

Olayinka, who made this known when she testified in a divorce petition filed by her husband, told the court that Adeniyi had once asked her to lie on a white apparel and be chanting some words.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she recalled that she had to change her place of worship, which was the Redeemed Christian Church of God to Cherubim and Seraphim, having realised that her life recorded no positive impacts.

The respondent said that she also approached a herbalist in the course of overcoming her life challenges.

Adeniyi had told the court to dissolve his 15-year-old marriage to Olayinka for alleged desertion for three years, night outing, promiscuity and talkative’s trait.

He noted that he would have forgiven her if the respondent had listened and corrected her perceived waywardness.

inside

Saturday Tribune

In his judgement, Mr Ayodele Omotola, the President of the court, said that all efforts to resolve the lingering rifts failed and dissolved the marriage.

Omotola ordered that the petitioner should be paying N10,000 to the court’s registry every month for educational and feeding need of the children.

He added that both parties should be responsible for medicals and other needs of the children, saying that the respondent should give the respondent access to the children.

My husband bathed our only child with See pages 18 & 23 urine instead of water —Wife She fraternises with thugs and Indian hemp smokers —Husband

She always tells me I’m not the father of our children —Husband I have changed my character —Wife A refrigerator repairer, Emmanuel Fagbemi, has told an Akure Customary Court in Ekiti State that his wife, Mary, uses broken bottles on him and breaks doors whenever there was a misunderstanding between them.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Fagbemi, who urged the court to dissolve his 19-year- old marriage, said Mary had torn many of his clothes and would provoke him by saying that he was not the bonafide father of their children.

He tendered some torn clothes, damaged door locks and a torn packet of condoms to court, and said that his wife was fond of destroying their home fittings with axe and was promiscuous..

The petitioner recalled that family members, neighbours and their church members had intervened but the constant rifts could not be curtailed, saying that all pointed to the fact that there was no more love between them.

Mary denied being promiscuous but admitted that she did talk rashly when angry.

She told the court that she had changed her character, adding that Fagbemi should endavour to appreciate her efforts toward the children’s education.

The respondent, who was crying in court, said that she could not beat her husband as being alleged because of his fragile health.

President of the court, Mr Ayodele Omotola, urged the respondent to stick to her husband despite his health predicament and stop destroying his property.

Omotola advised Mary to control her anger by staying away from her husband’s presence, whenever she was angry to avoid violence and misbehaviour.

He, therefore, asked both parties to bring two of their relatives each to court in the next adjourned date.

The court’s president adjourned the case till October 19 for continuation.

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1 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

courtandcrime

My husband bathed our only child with urine instead of water —Wife

She fraternises with thugs and Indian hemp smokers —Husband

A

52-year-old woman, Taye Omoniyi, has told an Akure Customary Court in Ondo State that her husband, Awopetu left their matrimonial home for 16 months after he had a weird dream.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the woman, who testified in a divorce petition brought by her husband, said that Awopetu started behaving strangely after waking up from his sleep.

According to her, Awopetu once bathed the only child of their marriage with his urine instead of using water.

She added that she had approached her mother-in-law to have a keen observation on the petitioner.

The respondent recalled that the petitioner would only give N200 for daily upkeep for her and the child when she gave birth, adding that it was the neighbours that gave her foodstuffs for survival.

Awopetu had urged the court to dissolve his three-year-old marriage alleging that his wife was fraternising with thugs and Indian hemp smokers.

He told the the court that he had to desert the home because there was threat to his life, adding that he received series of threatening calls emanating from cronies of his wife.

President of the court, Mr Ayodele Omotola, ordered Awopetu to pay N3,000 for the upkeep of the child and ordered both parties to maintain the peace and adjourned the case till October19 for judgement.

By Oyeyemi Okunlade An Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the marriage between Mrs Biola Fatai and her husband, Ramoni. The plaintiff, Biola, told the court that she can no longer stay in the marriage again because her husband is irresponsible and also beats her constantly, which has on many occasions led to injury.

“My husband is not a responsible man. I’m the one who shoulder responsibilities in the house; I buy clothes and shoes for him, feed him, etc. He abandoned me in the house. At a time, I gave him money to rent a house but he refused. We’ve separated for about ten years,” Biola recounted.

The woman presented series of evidence (photographs) of occasions (before they separated) when she was beaten by Ramoni and it led to her sustaining severe injuries even while she was pregnant.

The marriage is blessed with three children. One of them was present in the court as a witness. The girl told the court that they

By Oyeyemi Okunlade A business woman, Aminat Adegoke, who has been married for about six years has filed a divorce suit at Oja’ba/ Mapo Grade ‘C’ Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, against her husband, Wasiu, a trailer mechanic in Lagos on account that he is troublesome and uncaring.

The plaintiff said: “We’ve been married for about six years and the marriage produced a child, who is living with me. My husband is six years older than me. “I want the dissolution of our marriage because my husband does not take care of me and our child. I’ve been responsible for the child’s upkeep for the past four years. I pay his school fees. My parents told me that he came to pay N50, 000 in three instalments. There is no more love in our marriage. I’m fed up with him.

“In addition, his mother did not want me to marry him; she even came to fight in our house. I want this court to

will not want to go and live with their father because he will not take care of them very well.

While responding to her wife’s claims, Ramoni said: “Biola is my wife and I married her as a virgin about 16 years ago. I do not consent to the divorce because of my children. I love these children and I like the way she is taking care of them. I am begging her to come back home.”

President of the court, Chief Agbaje Henry Olasunkanmi, asked Biola if she wished to reconsider her husband and accept his plea but she declined.

“There’s nothing I can do about the divorce suit I have filled. I’ve seen another man to whom I want to get married. Aside this, I’m pregnant.”

Having listened to both parties with evidence, the court ruled thus: “The divorce of no dowry refund is granted forthwith. The defendant should pay N5, 000 to the court as feeding allowance of the children and should also take care of them on education and health grounds.”

separate us and I want to take custody of the only child of the marriage,” Aminat told the court.

While responding to his wife’s allegations, Wasiu Adegoke explained that he works in Lagos State as his wife mentioned and he is ready to grant his wife’s wish if that is what she desires.

“I admit the claim if that is what she wants. I’m ready to release the child to her for now. There’s no more love between us,” said Wasiu.

Having considered the evidence given by the two parties, the court ruled thus: “Divorce on repayment of no dowry is granted.”

President of the court, Chief Odunade Ademola and his members, Elder E.O Ogundipe and Chief Rafiu Raji ordered that the custody of the only child of the marriage be given to the plaintiff. The defendant was also ordered to be paying N5, 000 monthly as feeding allowance for the child until he grows up.

I cannot endure again as he will soon destroy me —Wife She can go if it pleases her —Husband

I decided to divorce him ’cos he beats me always —Wife A man, Yusuff Audu, who has seven children has pleaded with an Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, not to separate him and his wife, Sari, because he doesn’t want his children to suffer.

“I married my wife about 27 years ago as a virgin. I do not admit her claim. When I observed she began to go wayward, I reported her to her brothers but she did not change.

“I saw her with another man, an Alfa and challenged her. Since then, she has not allowed me to have sex with her. I have begged her times without number but she is bent on her decisions.

“I’m a responsible man; I take care of her and the children. But of recent, I was not at home and before I got back home, she had packed her belongings out of the house. I don’t want to leave her and I also appeal to this honourable court not to separate us,” Audu said.

Audu’s wife, Sari, on the other hand told the court: “I have decided to divorce him because he beats me persistently. Although, my husband is a troublesome man, he carries out his responsibilities as a husband and father of our seven children.

I’ve seen another man and I’m already pregnant —Wife

There is no more love in our marriage —Wife Grant her request if that’s her wish —Husband

‘I saw her with another man, since then she has not allowed me have sex with her’

By Oyeyemi Okunlade

I don’t want her to leave me —Husband

He takes care of me and the children.”

The court’s president, Chief Agbaje Henry Olasunkanmi, advised the couple to go back home in case there will be possible

settlement and also instructed them to come to court along with their family members on the adjournment date for judgement.

The case is adjourned till October 11, 2016.

She abandoned us and moved in with another man —Husband

By Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin A man, Akeem Babalola, has asked an Agege Customary Court in Lagos State, to end his eight-year-old marriage to his wife, Olufunke over irreconcilable differences and abandonment.

The petitioner told the court that his estranged wife, who is a hairdresser valued her business more than her family.

The father of three lamented that his wife spent better part of her time in her shop.

“I have been hearing different information that she entertains difffferent men in her shop. I cautioned her about coming home late and her association with different men. I was shocked when she started raining insults on me, calling me a useless man in the presence of our children. I felt bad and walked away, only for me to return home and find out

that she had packed some of her things and moved to her shop,” he said.

He added that efforts to get his wife to come back home was unsuccessful as she was bent on her ways.

“She abandoned the children, even the youngest one who is just over a year. I had to abandon my business so that I can take care of the children. I was surprised when one of her aunties came to tell me that she had moved to her lover’s house.

“I reported the matter to her family who called for a meeting but she did not show up. The children are currently with my mother until I can rally around again and raise some money in order to be able to take better care of them,” he said.

His estranged wife was, however, absent in court. The President of the Court, Chief R. Williams adjourned the matter till October 19 for continuation of trial.

A mother of two, Afusat Ayinla has pleaded with an Ilorin Area Court in Kwara State to dissolve her nine-year-old marriage to her husband, Aduagba for allegedly being too temperamental.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Afusat told the court that her husband easily get provoked, saying he had destroyed all her property.

She said that the marriage, which was contracted in 2008 was blessed with two children – Abdulkadir and Halimah.

“He is too aggressive and gets angry under slight provoca-

tion. With this aggression, he has destroyed my television set, home theatre and gas cooker.

“So, I cannot continue to endure again as he will soon destroy me,” Afusat claimed.

Aduagba did not oppose the wife’s relief as he said: “she can go if it pleases her”.

He, however, urged the court to instruct the wife to ensure the continuity of the education of the children.

The Area court judge, Mallam AbdulQuadir Ibrahim, adjourned the case till October 10 for further hearing.

I can no longer cope with the foul smell from my wife —Husband I will state my own side of the story later —Wife A 40-year-old man, Olarewaju Osasonna has told an IkoleEkiti Customary Court, Ekiti State, that he could no longer cope with the foul smell from his wife, Kafayat, due to her dirty ways of living.

“My wife is very dirty to the extent of packing used baby napkins with faeces for days in the house without washing them and this made everywhere in the house to smell.

“Again, she doesn’t know how to cook food; always cooking tasteless meals and will never take to correction on her dirty habit.

“Above all, she does not care for the well-being of our two children as a responsible mother should be doing,” Osasonna said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the

petitioner further informed the court that his estranged wife was in the habit of cursing him and his family members whenever they had misunderstandings.

He, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve the seven-yearold marriage for alleged dirtiness and inability to prepare decent meals.

He also urged the court to award him custody of the first child and promised to pay N3,000 monthly upkeep for the second child.

Kafayat declined to cross-examine her husband and said she would state her own side of the story when she testifies.

President of the court, Mrs Yemisi Ojo, adjourned the case till October 11 for the testimony of the wife.

23

He’s fond of saying I’m lazy and jobless —Wife She’s my ex-girlfriend, but she has wasted everything I gave her —Husband A 33-year-old housewife, Okunola Adebola has begged an AdoEkiti Customary Court in Ekiti State to dissolve her five-year-old marriage to her husband, Oluwasayo for alleged desertion and lack of care Adebola told the court that they were both paying the child’s school fees but he suddenly stopped.

She said that she sought for his assistance on the school fees but he refused to pay the school fees.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the mother of one said that since three years ago, she was responsible for the welfare of the child, adding that he was fond of saying she was lazy and jobless.

According to her, atimes, he will drop N20,000 for the child’s school fees, while she was responsible for the feeding allowance and payment of the house rent.

The petitioner claimed that they had disagreement on sales of clothes that he sent from abroad, saying she did not remit any money to him.

Adebola said ever since then, he came to pack all he bought for her such as house equipment, including her sewing machine.

She, therefore, prayed the court to award her the custody of the child and compel the respondent to pay her N15,000 as monthly upkeep allowance for the child.

But, Oluwasayo said Adebola was his ex-girl friend.

He said that their relationship did not last for a month and since then, he had been responsible for her pregnancy including her ante-natal treatment.

He said he had invested so much on her, saying he shipped three different containers of wears for her to sell and remit the money to him, but she mismanaged the money.

Oluwasayo said he provides foodstuffs, clothes and other house equipment for her to be comfortable, still she was not satisfied.

The respondent said Adebola was a lazy woman and not ready to work, adding that he bought different sewing machines for her but she refused to make use of them.

He said she usually visits him and whenever she comes, he would give her transport fare because he often travels abroad.

He, therefore, prayed the court to award him the custody of his child so that he could put him in a boarding school for proper care.

President of the court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, after hearing from both parties adjourned the case till October 25 for judgement.

He contributes nothing to the family, yet he beats me frequently,wife tells court She’s a stubborn woman —Husband

By Oyeyemi Okunlade An Oja’ba/Mapo Grade ‘C’ Customary Court, sitting at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved a marriage of about twelve years between Aminat Asimolowo and her husband, Abass.

The plaintiff, Aminat, a hairdresser had filed a case of divorce against her husband on grounds that he is irresponsible and also beats her always.

The woman lamented her husband’s uncaring attitude towards her and their three children.

“He beats me always. There is no love between us again.

That is all I have to say,” Aminat told the court.

The defendant, Abass, sworn to an oath before the court and said, “Though, I admit the claim, I want this court to know that I do take care of her and the family. She is a stubborn woman. I pay the children’s school fees.”

The court, however, granted the divorce, while the custody of the children is given to the plaintiff. The defendant is ordered to pay N10, 000 every month as feeding allowance for the children until they grow up. He should also pay N12, 000 for the plaintiff to rent a house because of the three months old baby she is carrying. In addition to this, Abass is to pay N3,000 as packing allowance. He is also asked to be responsible for the education and health services of the three children.

19

1 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637

e: olanreade@yahoo.com

Night crawlers, football fans tell stories of arrests, dangers

Recently in Lagos State, an illegal raid carried out by some policemen led the state government to request for their redeployment. But that illegal raid may just be a drop in the ocean of such raids perpetrated by the law enforcement agents who, it is believed, still harass and arrest residents for “wandering” at night. However the Lagos State government wants an end to this, as it seeks to restore the city’s lost nightlife. In this report, Saturday Tribune’s duo of TUNDE ALAO and CHUKWUMA OKPARAOCHA take a critical look at the development.

I

RECESSION: ‘Our businesses are dying’ pg22

—Lagos auto dealers

N 2005, when the Lagos State Police Command expunged wandering from its criminal code, Lagos residents heaved a huge sigh of relief, believing that the days of extortion by the rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force had gone forever.

The Lagos State government may, however, be set on a collision course with some security agents operating in the state which prides itself as “the Centre of Excellence.”

This is because, while the Lagos government wants a 24-hour activities to drive its economy, where day or night wouldn’t be a barrier, some persons in the police apparently see night (and sometimes evening), as the time they can make arrest residents with various charges ranging from ‘wandering’ to ‘robbery attempt’ and other charges a lot of people believe are not just spurious but ludicrous.

Taking a look at the way things were in terms of security in the state (and the nation as a whole) a Lagos-based civil rights activist, Miss Tayo Akindele, had this to say: “It is only in Nigeria that people who never knew each other but met at bus stops or public places for the first time get arrested and charged for robbery, as if that particular crime could be planned within minutes of their coming together.”

Thus, Miss Akindele’s comment seems to further buttress the question many people have been asking, including those who have at some point fallen its victim, “What constitutes wandering?”

To the elderly ones, night life in Lagos was full of fun as a result of social activities that included buying and selling of goods. At that time, visiting cinema houses, specifically in odd hours was a common practice. This was a time in Lagos’ rich history when people, especially young men and women spent a considerable length of time, moving from one cinema to the another at night.

“At that time, there were various film houses located across the metropolis, and they included Sheila, Corona, King and Royal all located in Central Lagos, in Idioro, we had Rainbow Cinema, while in Ebute Metta, there were other cinema houses, where young men and women went to watch movies,” said Chief Tokunbo Adeyemi, an octogenarian and retired civil servant, who spoke with Weekend Lagos on the subject matter.

Continues on pg20

A Reporter’s Diary

Keeping tab on ‘abasha’ debacle

Eko Akete

Na mumu dey go boutique

20

1 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Continued from pg19

Chief Adeyemi who nostalgically reminded Saturday Tribune of Lagos’ “good old days,” further said, “while we the youths went to cinemas at night, the elderly ones would attend all night social events and parties without any form of molestation by security agents. Indeed, in those days, Lagos’ economy didn’t discriminate between day and night. Those were days that the economy was truly in good shape, as workers even did shifts in their workplaces, with those on night duty walking from their homes to their places of work at night.”

“Most of the manufacturing industries were doing three shifts in a day. A good example of this was the textile industry, which had quite a number of companies doing morning, afternoon and night shifts. At that time, it was only on very rare occasions that the police would arrest people arbitrarily.

“Unfortunately, things started taking a bad shape during the Second Republic, when the nation’s economy started nose-diving and unemployment began to creep in. Soon, different kinds of crime began to spring up in the country, including in Lagos, where the police began to arrest and harass people indiscriminately for “wandering,” thus killing Lagos’ once buoyant night life,” he added.

However, with the influx of people from every part of the country and even beyond into Lagos, the city began to witness (and is still witnessing) remarkable population growth that eventually made accommodation a huge challenge to the residents, especially those who are without any means of livelihood. This development turned public places and infrastructure, such as abandoned or uncompleted buildings, under bridges and other similar facilities into the abode of some residents.

Truly, this development began to pose serious challenge to the city’s security, as criminal activities began to be on the rise on daily basis, thus making the police to swing into action, and indiscriminate arrests soon became the order of the day. This eventually culminated in the now infamous “night wandering” harassment of innocent residents.

Another resident of the state, Chikelu Onuoha, would not forget his experience in a hurry, as he claimed to have been harassed and eventually arrested by some police officers for “wandering” at night.

“Ironically, indiscriminate arrests in the name of checking crimes and criminal activities have become the veritable opportunity for money making,” he noted.

Narrating his experience, Onuoha said, “Friday, May 20, 2016, is a day I cannot forget in a hurry. I was about to go to my house which was on Odunlami Street in Lagos Island. But upon realising that time had gone I decided to stay with my friends at Surulere.

“Around 11 pm, three of us strolled to the next street to find some noodles to eat, because we were hungry, we expected to get some to eat, because it is not uncommon for one to find cooked noodles sellers still operating very late.

While we were waiting to be served, a police van appeared from nowhere and parked by our side. A police officer jumped out of the vehicle demanding to know what we were doing outside at that time of the day?

“As one person in our group, Samson, was trying to tell him that we lived on the next street and that we were merely trying to find something to eat, two others, a sergeant and corporal, also got down from the vehicle and started

Night crawlers, football fans tell stories of arrests, dangers Why is everything about the police.

Extortion is not allowed under the present leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.

You people should commend us for what we are doing

Fatai Owoseni, Lagos CP

to forcefully drag us into the van.

Onuoha further revealed that the police succeeded in taking them to their station where they were detained for hours until they had to part with N15000 before they were eventually released.

Onuoha’s experience is perhaps a child’s play compared with Mr. Leke Ayinde’s, another resident who was practically dragged out of a pub where he had gone to watch a football match between two foreign clubs.

“We were at a beer parlour watching a football match between Real Madrid and Wolfsburg during the last European Champion League, when suddenly a police vehicle parked in front of where we were.

“Without any question, they asked us to enter their vehicle, claiming that we were wandering all about. Meanwhile, we were all watching the match because there was no light in the neighbourhood that night and it was just 8 o’clock in the evening.

“We were taken to Alakara Police Station where they asked us to pay N5,000 each, while some others could only raise between N2,000-N3,000. Not until the money was paid before we were eventually allowed go. Those of us who couldn’t pay had to stay in the cell till the following morning before we were eventually allowed to contact our relatives to help raise the money,” he said.

Saturday Tribune also recalled hearing a woman who in hushed tones rained curses and expletives on a group of police officers spotted driving in front of her shop recently.

This was at Area 1 Estate in Adura area of Alagbado, where a group of policemen was seen patrolling the entire neighbourhood in their black van.

After the van had vanished into a corner known to have diverse games centres where young men often came to play all sorts of video games for a token, the woman, a cooking gas seller, began raining a series of tirade on the “men in black.”

When asked why she did that, the middle-age woman pointed out that it had somehow become habitual of the officers to ‘carry out raids’ on such games centres, and sometimes local pubs, where “arrested” people would be made to pay

Only recently, they came to a shop close by and arrested everyone found relaxing in it. I was later informed that they collected N20,000 from each of those arrested, including minors, before they could be released.

Gov Ambode

some money before they would be released.

“Don’t mind them (police officer), that is what they usually do. They have turned indiscriminate arresting of people into serious business. Only recently, they came to a shop close by and arrested every one found relaxing in it. I was later informed that they collected N20,000 from each of those arrested, including minors, before those arrested could be released. I know of a woman

who had to beg around to raise the money to bail her son who was among those arrested. Now they are back again, does this not call for one to raise curses on them? she rhetorically asked.

She further disclosed that many of the games centres in that neighbourhood had been practically run aground by the actions of the security agents, as a lot of those patronising them now keep such centres at arms length.

This idea was supported by an operator of a games/viewing centre in the estate who revealed to Saturday Tribune that sensing that his business was about to crumble due to the actions of the security agents, he had to be ‘settling’ them on his own so that they wouldn’t bother him anymore.

Speaking strictly under the condition of anonymity, the youthful business operator said, “My shop had been raided by the police twice. On each occasion, nobody saw it coming as my customers were glued to what they were watching or playing. Soon after the second raid, I started recording a continuous drop in the number of those who patronised me. It was then someone advised me to be settling the officers so that they would leave me alone, and this is what I have been doing. Since I started settling them, they have not been coming to harass my customers again. But I had to go through hell to win many of my customers back again.”

Cases like these appeared rampant perhaps until three weeks ago when the excesses of the police got the attention of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who had to ask the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, to ensure that over 120 policemen attached to Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation (Task Force) were redeployed from Lagos.

The affected operatives of the Task Force were said to have engaged themselves in what the government described as “illegal duty.”

It will be recalled that on that fateful Friday, the Task Force operatives, led by a Superintendent of Police (SUPO), were said to have arrested some people for the usual offence of wandering. Among the victims was a lady that was said to be “highly connected.”

This highly connected lady was said to have made a phone call to her father, who in turn, made a call to another highly

placed government official, and within 15 minutes, the lady was released. She was however intelligent enough to get the numbers of few of the officers who had ‘arrested’ her in the first place, and forwarded her ordeals and those of other victims to some popular blogs.

“This infuriated Governor Ambode, who stated that the arms and ammunition and other security gadgets he was providing were meant to fight criminals and not to oppress innocent residents,” said a top government official who spoke with the Saturday Tribune in confidence.

“We want to return safe night life in Lagos and it is the responsibility of law enforcement agents to secure life and property of the people and not to oppress them under a ‘phantom’, and archaic law of wandering,” the government official further noted.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, it will be recalled, had in a statement, following the incident, said the gover-

21

nor had sent the redeployment request to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Owoseni.

He said, “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode asked for the redeployment following raids carried out in different parts of the state by officers of the Task Force.

“The governor has sought an immediate redeployment of several of the Task Force officers from the unit, and possibly from the state, over what the he calls unacceptable conduct.

“The request became necessary in order to check mate the recurrence of the unauthorised raid and indiscriminate arrest of citizens who were out to have fun on Friday nights.”

Ayorinde said preliminary investigation showed that the raid was carried out with the knowledge of a high-ranking member of the Task Force, but without the approval of its chairman.

He noted that such a conduct was not in tandem with the vision of the state government and was, therefore, condemnable.

“Their conduct is also unbecoming of officers who are expected to protect the citizenry and ensure that citizens and visitors find every part of the state safe and conducive enough, not only on Friday nights, but every day,” he said.

Ayorinde, who apologised on behalf of the government, said the state would not condone acts of high-handedness, extortion and disregard for human rights.

The image maker in charge of the state police command ,Dolapo Badmos said that the police in the state does not condone such alleged extortion . “ Why is everything about the police?

Extortion is not allowed under the present leadership of the Nigeria Police Force .You people should commend us for what we are doing,” she said.

Eko Akete

Na mumu dey go boutique

IF you have ever been to Katangowa Market in Agbado area of Lagos, which is one of the most popular markets where used clothes are sold in Nigeria (and possibly in Africa), then you must have heard expressions like:”Namumudey go boutique,” or “Na mumudey go showglass.” When translated into real English, then you have a message that suggests that it is “only ignorant people that would patronise boutiques to buy clothes.”

The expression is also meant to suggest that there is little or no difference between the clothes, shoes, underwear, and belts, among others that are sold in Katangua and those sold in boutiques.

However, the unmistakable smell of “akube” (local word for fairly used materials) often means that any cloth bought in the market will have to be washed thoroughly before it can be worn.

But the “akube” smell notwithstanding, one will be left to marvel at the calibre of people that are said to patronise the market. EkoAkete was made to understand that bankers, high-ranking public officers, and ‘happening’ society ladies, are among those who patronise the market.

But sadly, the fate of the market still hangs in the balance, as plans to demolish it and replace it with the popular Computer Village still appear to be very much in the pipeline.

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1 October, 2016

By Naza Okoli

S

PRAWLED on both sides of the expressway, close to the bridge at Berger Bus Stop, not far from Mile 2, in Lagos, is a large auto market, a major hub for second-hand vehicles of all kinds.

“It is the largest motor market in Africa,” Don Metche Nnadiekwe, President of the traders’ association (United Berger Motor Dealers Association) told Saturday Tribune on Wednesday.

Along the road, a few young men sat under a shade. Sometimes, they called out to passers-by and asked them if they wanted to buy a vehicle.

“This is where you can get the best second-hand cars in Lagos,” one of them said. “You can see the cars yourself. They were not used in Nigeria.”

Several groups of traders were found gathered at different parts of the market, meeting. But for the occasional laughter and raised voices, the market seemed calm and peaceful.

Nnadiekwe who, himself, was presiding over a meeting, spared a few minutes to share his thoughts: “We are suffering,” he said. “Businesses are dying. Customers cannot afford our cars anymore. Where we used to pay N450, 000 to do clearing and forwarding for a car, we now pay N 1 million.

Asked how he thought the crisis might be resolved, he said: “We have been talking about bail-outs here and there, in Nigeria today. We are going to look for a better way to reduce the cost of clearing and forwarding, otherwise things would get worse. Nigerians are suffering.

People can no longer put three square meals on the table for their children. What we need is for the cost of clearing and forwarding to be reduced. My people are complaining bitterly.

To solve the current problem, the government must look inwards.”

Auto parts The popular auto parts market at Ladipo was rowdy and crowded when Saturday Tribune visited on Wednesday. People moved frantically in all directions, most of them dressed in dirty shirts or overalls.

Many of them wore rain boots too: the ground was wet and slimy.

A first-time visitor might conclude, from the buzz about the market, that the recession was yet to find its way to the auto parts market.

“What you see here are just mechanics who have come to buy a few things,” Mr Anthony Nwazelibe,

RECESSION: ‘Our businesses are dying’ —Lagos auto dealers

stated Secretary of Aguiyi Ironsi Section of the market, explained. “They are not our real customers. They are not our big customers. This place used to be busier than this. The presence of mechanics here doesn’t mean we’re doing well at all. Mechanics will always come because people will always drive; transporters must always drive because it is their business. Most private car owners have even parked their cars

and using

public buses.”

Nwazelibe was sitting in an arm chair in his well-furnished office. Occasionally, his friends and other traders would stroll in, say “Good morning,” and then spend a few minutes talking about how hard things had become.

“The number of customers we see has reduced,” he continued.

“Take my own business for example. Before now, I used to sell at least one machine every day or every two days. But I have

not sold anything for two weeks now. Things are expensive now, because of the dollar. That’s to be expected because our business is exchange; our business depends on the dollar.”

Let us pray At a large square beside Nwazelibe’s office, a preacher who identified himself as Pastor Peter Success spoke to the traders about “prosperity in spite of economic recession”.

“You must endeavour to do vigil every last Friday of the month, beginning from September until December,” he said. “That is how to ensure that the devil does not succeed in carrying out the plans he has for

A Reporter’s Diary

Saturday Tribune

your life this year. You must fast at least seven times every month throughout the -ember months. I have told you that before. Recession is not your portion.”

Not many of the traders appeared to be listening. But the preacher went on, nonetheless. It was a wellrounded sermon: he spoke about tips for preventing malaria as well as how to survive food poisoning; he spoke about the importance of honesty and uprightness and the need to help one another.

Ultimately, he enjoined them to support his ministry financially; he swore that they would be astonished by the magnitude of the blessings that would come their way as a result.

Democracy All the 37 sections in the market are organised under a central leadership – Ladipo Auto Central Executive Council (LACEC). The Vice President of the body, Mr Jude Nwankwo, was found in his shop at Aguiyi Ironsi Section, sitting on a high stool.

“We haven’t been selling things here,” he said. “Just look at around; see the shops; everyone is idle. I have not travelled for some months now. Even if you sell, the amount would not be enough for you to buy another. That we are still here is just by the mercy of God. If things continue this way next year, many of us would pack our things and move to our hometowns. Maybe we can start farming there.”

Nwankwo said the recession should not be spoken of as though it was a “mathematical problem,” and urged the government to equally consider the remote causes of the crisis.

“Nigeria is not the only country that is corrupt,” he said. “There is corruption everywhere. We should not make our lives all about corruption; we should allow other issues to take over the issue of corruption in the way we talk about things in this country. There should be peaceful coexistence. That is the only way the Niger Delta militants and Boko Haram would stop fighting. The government should have a good relationship with the Niger Delta. The President should handle us democratically. We should stop politics with bitterness, so that the problems we are facing now can go away.”

Distressed It would seem, in many ways, that much of what is felt by the traders is also captured by the chaos that is Ladipo. In the voices screaming and barking out orders, in the endless movements of man and machine, in the filth and the stench, in the eternal struggle for survival – Ladipo seems an apt enactment of a nation in distress.

Keeping tab on ‘abasha’ debacle

By Chukwuma Okparaocha I had the cause to visit Cele area of Okota during the week. My mission was to visit a spot there which I have always known to be the ‘joint’ for ‘abasha’ or local salad, with a view to ascertaining whether people were still relishing the local

delicacy, in the wake of the deaths of six people out of a total of about 45 people who suffered from cholera after consuming the salad, recently.

But I was taken aback when the ‘joint’ still looked as lively as ever, as people relished the food without a care.

As someone from the eastern part of the country, I understand that ‘abasha’ can be irresistible to some people, but eating the meal from a spot that is only meters away from the area where cholera, which has been linked to contaminated ‘abasha,’ was recorded, remains a puzzle I can’t still comprehend.

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interview

1 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Nigeria @ 56:

Why peace remains elusive

—Ayo Adebanjo A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in this interview by BOLA BADMUS, speaks on the State of the Nation at 56. Excerpts:

N

igeria is 56 today. As an elder statesman, what is your view concerning the nation’s journey so far?

For people like me, it is not too joyous an occasion other than the fact that God saved our lives.

We have not made the progress we should have made and the crisis that should have existed are those that can be avoided. We are in avoidable crisis because the rulers of the day don’t appreciate the problems of the country, so they cannot find the solution to them. But due to lack of the knowledge of the problems of the country, the present leaders need to have got solutions to the problem. What do I mean?

The problem of the country right now, since the 1966 military coup, is the lopsidedness of the constitution.

It is the lopsidedness of the constitution that caused the political instability; it is the political instability that caused economic instability.

If the leaders know the problem of the country, they would be able to apply solution. But not knowing the problem, they couldn’t apply the solution and those problems arise because of the lopsidedness of the constitution. And those of us who have been championing since General Sani Abacha days, since the NADECO days, since the military era that the country must be restructured because after the military coup, we are saying it was not the structure that was handed to us at independence; that the military continued after the coup. We were federal in name but military in practice.

In what way do you think the average Nigerian is part of this problem you are talking about?

An average Nigerian didn’t contribute, it is the leadership. Those of us who knew about the problem of the problem, we do tell them, but they refused to listen.

To the average Nigerians, what I can tell them is that the constitution that the founding fathers, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, gave to us have been changed after military took over government in the country. That is why we are in problem. That we had Western, Eastern and Northern regions, but after the military came, they abandoned that and we adopted unitary government where the power now lies in the centre.

Before independence, our founding fathers had fought for a balanced federation since 1954 Constitution after the crisis of self-government in Nigeria and they went to England. They came back with the Macpherson Constitution;they gave us a constitution that created the position of premiership, and military took over. Before then, until when the Macpherson Constitution came in, there was no premiership. Awolowo was just the Leader of Government Business in the West, Sardauna was, just the leader of Government Business in the North and the same thing in the East.

Distribution was based on derivation; it is that derivation that people are calling resource control. It was through that, that Awolowo was able to do a lot of development projects in the Western Region and he ruled that region for seven years without any strike, without any borrowing. He was able to give free education, free health services, among others. But when the military came, they changed everything.

When the crisis came in 1953 after self-government, they went to another constitutional conference. After that conference, the call for federation started. It was only on the return from that conference that Azikwe announced at the airport that federalism is imperative. Before then, Awolowo had been a lone-ranger, saying that a country of this nature, with a multi-lingua composition, must not be ruled under a unitary government and that the suitable constitution is federalism and that was the basis of the crisis.

They got together and just agreed on that; the functions of the Federal Government and those of state were defined; those of the local government were also defined. So, all those regional governments knew where the limitations were. You have heard of free education in the Western Region, but you didn’t hear that time that Awolowo ever went to the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to seek something (financial assistance) from the Federal Government. Every government knew how much was coming to it. Distribution was based on derivation; it is that derivation that people are calling resource control. It was through that, that Awolowo was able to do a

lot of development projects in the Western Region and he ruled that region for seven years without any strike, without any borrowing. He was able to give free education, free health services, among others. But when the military came, they changed everything.

But can we still blame the military for the problem the country is facing now?

Of course yes, it is the military; there is no doubt about that. It is the military that gave us the constitution we are now using. It was General Abdulsalami Abubakar that gave us the constitution that we are now using. I have been persistently saying that go and look into the records; that this is not our constitution. It is the military constitution and that is why we are shouting for a sovereign national conference to create a constitution that is federal and that will be for the people.

And that is why the late Rotimi Williams said our constitution is a fraudulent document. When I asked him why?, he said the constitution, has “we people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” as the intro and then he asked, ‘are we the ones that wrote the constitution?’ The constitution said Federal, he asked are we Federal? That was why Rotimi Williams said it was fraudulent. And we have been saying let us legitimise our constitution and make it our own constitution.

It was that agitation that led to the question of a national conference by which we should be sovereign.

But they were arguing on the issue of sovereign and we said they should forget it. Eventually, (former President) Goodluck Jonathan was persuaded to convene the national conference in 2014. We were there again to define the problem of the country, be it revenue allocation, be it local government, police, anything that causes conflicts in the federation and we solved it there. So when people like me are saying President Muhammadu Buhari should implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference which restructured the country under a federal system, people don’t know because we were just the messengers. But instead of doing that, Buhari said he was not going to look into it.

That is why I said our government don’t understand our problems. If they understand our problems, the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference are not Jonathan’s problems. They were the problems of those who were in that conference, who were representatives of the people all over the country. We had Continued on pg27

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1 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Why Nigeria remains baby at 56 —Ohaneze Ndigbo chieftain

John Nwobodo, chairman of the Intra-Parties Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Enugu State chapter and a chieftain of Ohaneze Ndigbo, speaks with JUDE OSSAI on the State of the Nation at 56. Excerpts:

H

ow would you assess Nigeria at 56?

Assuming that Nigeria is a human person of 56 years old and the height he could attain is the level we find ourselves today as a nation then it would not be difficult to adjudge the man as a fool at 40. Our performance as a country is pitiable and posts a dismal result. Imagine that all our colonial assets have been left to decay, abandoned, looted or vandalised. At independence in 1960, we inherited a functional railway, a national carrier in aviation, the Nigerian Airways; we inherited the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) Plc. Where are these assets and infrastructural facilities today?

The situation has been progressively deteriorating; instead of building up, we had socio-political and economic catabolism.

Successive governments could not add anything of value to the nation’s treasure. Those in positions saw government as feasting ground. This was how the metaphorical expression of “the national cake” evolved and crept into our political lexicon. So, this formed into a lifestyle of consumption and it has earned Nigeria the description of a “consuming nation”.

From every known index of growth and development, Nigeria is below average on all indicators. Having said this, my assessment simply is that Nigeria has posted a dismal performance.

To express it satirically, Nigeria is a “baby adult”.

The country appears not to have got it right in most aspects. What do you think is wrong?

There is a lot that is wrong with Nigeria. To every action, there is a cause. The scientists would talk about opposite and equal reaction. The paradox we are experiencing is not metaphysical, but all man-made and self-inflicted. Unarguably, corruption has been and is the bane of our problem. God forbid that it will ever be. There is attitudinal problem, lack of accountability, nepotism, divisions along ethnic and religious divides. Inefficiency is there too.

We are also where we are because we failed to plan. It is axiomatic that he who has failed to plan has planned to fail.

There are no implementable national development plans; leadership and policies are accidental occurrences in Nigeria.

What amounts to national needs or priorities are as conceived by the leader. The implication of this is that if the leader has low sense of perception, then his poor perception becomes the norm.

It may somehow sound radical, but if you ask me, I will tell you that we don’t need to be governed according to party manifestoes or candidate’s campaign promises. What we have as manifestoes are mere rehash of widely known governance issues. It will make more sense to ask ourselves, for instance, what level do we wish to see ourselves in the next 10 or 20 years and then design a development plan that will deliver those generally agreed priority needs which have been thoroughly debated and inputs made by seasoned professionals, technocrats, etc.

Nigeria has witnessed both the military and civilian regimes, yet many Nigerians lament non-availability of basic needs. What is your take?

Unless we address the fundamental issues, we will remain stagnant for a long time to come. Traditionally, basic needs include food, water, shelter and clothing. However, in these modern times, the list can include sanitation, education and healthcare. Regrettably, at 56, Nigeria has not achieved self-sufficiency in food production, despite the abundance of arable and fertile land across the country. Starvation is still a major problem and some have died as a result thereof. There is food crisis in the North East.

So my take simply is that, as long as there is corruption, we will continue to witness hardship. We have been doing one thing the same way over and over and the result has been constant. Is it not wisdom that where something is done in a particular way and it produces a constant result to change strategy? We need to have positive attitude and do our bits in the overall scheme for national development with deep commitment and in accountability to the people.

What do you have to say about the growing insecurity in the country?

It is perplexing. Security competes for our scarce resources. It is mind-boggling the huge money that is spent on security operations in the North East and the Niger Delta. I advocate preventive security so as to free more fund for infrastructural development and governance. I am aware that the activities of militants in the Niger Delta region have crippled crude oil production with the concomitant low output. The matter is even compounded by the ravaging and rampaging recession. The government is battling so many challenges at the same time. This perhaps accounts for the failure of this government to fulfill its promises to Nigerians.

What is your candid assessment of the nation’s leaders?

As it is, all the blame is on the Federal Government. This is not really how it should be. The states should have their share of the responsibility to get us out of recession. This is where it is important to restructure.

My assessment is deducible from my answer to your first question on my assessment of Nigeria at 56. I did say that we have really nothing to show at 56. The inference therefore is that our past leaders didn’t do well. There are bits of effort here and there, but they do not sufficiently ground a point.

The worst administration we ever had was the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan. The administration heartlessly plundered the treasury and ran Nigeria aground.

The result is the current recession. We could not have been hit this hard had the immediate past administration managed our resources well.

Of the present leaders, majority of them are posting dismal performance and they are concealing their inefficiency under the excuse of recession. As it is, all the blame is on the Federal Government. This is not really how it should be. The states should have their share of the responsibility to get us out of recession. This is where it is important to restructure because if we restructure, the failures and successes of state governors and council chairmen will be obvious. I am not hearing anybody talk about the states; the focus is on the Federal Government. The Federal Government does not have all the answers alone; the states and local governments should put on the thinking cap too and proffer solution to the problems.

On the part of the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari has been doing his best to remedy the badly damaged system that he inherited. He is quite sincere, but beyond sincerity and strong political will, he needs to be creative; he needs to try new ideas and new strategies. The ideas and strategies of the 80s are no longer applicable these days. I would rate Mr President high on anti-corruption and generally I would say that his performance is average.

How can the country get out of its present sociopolitical and economic woes?

It is laughable for the Federal Government to suggest selling off our national assets as a way out of recession. The way out, but not limited to diversification of the economy, we need to move away from mono-economy. We need to run a compact government at all levels and free enough resources and fund

for infrastructural development and manufacturing. These can help to stimulate the economy, create jobs and ensure redistribution of income, thereby creating more middleclass and bridge the outrageous gap between the poor and the rich.

What do you think of a Nigerian president of the Igbo extraction in 2019?

For me, I would like to see a Nigerian president of Igbo origin in 2019. Unfortunately, the political indicators do not point towards that direction. Don’t forget that we practice party democracy. In essence, it is the political parties that determine who flies their flags in any election. It is no longer news that the major opposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its 2019 Ppesidential ticket to the North. The incumbent president from the All Progressives Congress (APC) is from the North. The president is in his first term and, constitutionally, he has the right to contest for a second term. The indicators point to the direction that APC will retain its presidential ticket in the North in 2019. With this, it is a tall order for an Igbo person to be president in 2019.

I think the South East will be the beautiful bride in 2023.

The above view however does not foreclose other possibilities.

If Nigerian politicians are patriotic, the other political parties could form a coalition, alliance or even merger to constitute a third force and alter the permutations and calculations. I am sure that such move will enjoy the support of Nigerians.

Only such arrangement can make the realisation of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction possible. Outside this, we should just wait till 2023.

To some political analysts, Nigeria’s problems are beyond restructuring but greed. What is your position on this?

The two are independent variables mutually exclusive of the other. We need to restructure Nigeria and I also agree that we need to deal with greed. The term, restructuring, is wide and generic and so we also have to be sure and agree on areas to restructure. There have been several failed attempts in the past.

In fact, the need to restructure necessitated the convocation of the 2014 National Conference. I don’t know the fate of the National Conference recommendations.

What do you think is/are responsible for the unending agitation for an independent state of Biafra?

I won’t hesitate to say that I am a strong believer in a one united Nigeria. Whatever is pushing the agitators is none of my business; the agitation in my view is misplaced, baseless and unfounded. The Igbo would do better as an integral entity within the Nigerian Federation than isolating ourselves from the federation. However, I would say that those who are pushing the agitation have some selfish agenda. They want to make a name for themselves by luring gullible young men and women with jaundiced propaganda of marginalisation.

It is true that things have not been the way it ought to but that is not enough justification for disintegration. We are fully into the Nigerian Project. Who are these people pushing the separatist agenda? What are their pedigrees? Before and shortly after independence, Igbo were directing and controlling government, businesses etc. What went wrong? Society is dynamic and, by certain interplay of forces, we lost grip.

We need to do a conscientious soul-searching and have deep reflections too. That others have overtaken us is no cause for alarm. Men are in constant competition; sometime you overtake, another time you are overtaken.

Can you tell what the ideology of MASSOB or IPOB is?

What are their plans for the Igbo race? What would they do differently assuming wishes were horses? If they can channel the energy they exert in pursuing the agitation into getting the Igbo back on their feet in the Nigerian political tripod, we will be better off. I think the Igbo at the echelon of power are the cause of our misery; they are gluttons and self-centred. Look at the other two major tribes, they have commonly shared agenda and they pursue such agenda with oneness of mind.

What is your assessment of Nigeria, particularly the Igbo nation, in the next one decade?

If we get our acts right, I assure you that the Igbo nation will be great in the next one decade. I see an economicallybuoyant and industrialised Igbo nation in the next ten years; I see a new crop of patriotic leaders; I see a more politically conscious Igbo nation; I see an Igbo nation that does less of complaining, but does more to overcome limitations and barriers; I see a nation radiating with God’s grace and glory.

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Saturday Tribune

The Road Map to

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Being the text of the communiqué issued at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Premier Medicaid International (PMI) held on Tuesday 14th June, 2016 at Hypertension Clinic, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

1. PMI takes cognizance of the various attempts made to make Nigerian citizen healthy through ―Health for all by the year 2000‖, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – 2015 and now Sustainable Development Goals – 2030 (SDGs), all to achieve Universal Health Coverage.

2. The whole country should be demarcated into ―HEALTH BLOCKS‖ each to be made of roughly 10,000 prospective enrollees.

3. For a population of 170million, there will be 17,000 health blocks.

4. All the health blocks must be assigned to Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) by NHIS through open balloting and random selection.

5. All wards within a Health block should be organized into

WARD HEALTH ORGANISATIONS (wHO) units, with the traditional ruler in that ward as the Patron. The Organogram of the wHO cascades down from Chairman (Board of Trustees) to Council, to Association and Household Enrollees. There should be a healthcare provider at each ward; where there is no doctor at all, a doctor from NYSC can be posted there.

6. Each health block should be headed by a Consultant i.e. FNPMC or FWACS.

7. Residency Training Programme should make it compulsory that a Resident Doctor should spend six months in a health block as part of acquiring community experience towards becoming a Consultant.

8. There should be a Health Tax Fund with the appropriate input from the private Sector.

9. The HMOs should be the accounting officer in each of the health blocks and any HMO 10.

found fraudulent should be prosecuted.

This is the surest way towards attaining the goal of Universal Health Coverage.

Sir, Dr. Lawrence Kayode OBEMBE B.Sc, Med. Sc., MBBS, FMCOG, FWACS, FIAMN, FAGP, FICS, DMP, Hon. DG., M.O.W., J.P, KJW. Honorary Professor of Medicine and Healthcare

Council Advisor, World Medical Association (WMA) Immediate Past President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Premier Medicaid (Nig.) Ltd.—HMO

1 October, 2016 27 nigeriaat56 ‘In 2019, there ’ll be a new force or we restructure Nigeria’

were opposed to regionalism that called for such that the North would oppress them if you put them under their rule, they were oppressing them. They said we should give them their own states and then they can collaborate with those states they are comfortable with.

That is why in the recommendation of creating those states that people were condemning, any area they believe they can go together with and convenient with, they are at liberty to do so. The minority are not with them in oppression, so we liberated them by recommending the creation of new states for them.

Continued from pg24

those from Labour, professional religious bodies, political parties and everything. And I stand to be challenged, this country can never get that caliber of people that gathered for that 2014 National Conference. I challenge Buhari if he can get a conference composed of the integrity, the caliber and experience of the people in 2014 National Conference.

I challenge him and if these people who matter, the Yoruba and other Nigerians from various field of endeavours; solders were there, youths were there, mention it. They all went into the conference and they unanimously passed 600 resolutions and then you said you are sending them into the archive. Are you a listening president?

And is why I said those who are in leadership don’t understand the problems of Nigeria. It is much about undisclosed agenda. If the agenda of the president is to keep this country in peace, without all these disparity, he should look at the recommendations of the last national conference. What he believes is the problem there, he should remove it and implement the rest. And what do you want to replace it with? You want to replace it with the constitution that you are complaining of? That is why you can never get peace; that is why the crisis will never get solved. No amount of the economic committee you set up, without giving us the right constitution, can solve the national question which is about solving the problems of the various nationalities and solving the problem of how they will live together in peace.

Mind my word, the National Question, which is the recommendation of the 2014 National Conference, is the sum total of the various nationalities in Nigeria who want to live together in peace. The conditions under which they are going to live together were settled in the 2014 National Confab and anybody not implementing them or opposing or not replacing them with something identical is the enemy of the country.

And I want to say that if Buhari continues to oppose that constitution, he is paying a lip-service to the unity of the country.

I challenge him again that if he is honest about keeping this country together, he should implement the report of the 2014 National Conference and I challenge him that he is reluctant to give us a balanced constitution because his people are the beneficiaries of the lopsidedness of the constitution. I want him to prove me wrong.

What are the specific recommendations you made at the conference to address the alleged lopsidedness in the constitution?

The constitution under which we had been living together was made lopsided by the military in 1966. I have been saying it and nobody has disputed it. I have been saying that it was the military that restructured Nigeria. The issues of the Niger Delta Avengers and MASSOB, they are components of the awkwardness of the constitution.

These are the problems we have solved; even the question of corruption, we solved them at the conference because we reduced the powers of the Federal Government. It is because of the huge amount of money in the hands of the Federal Government that gave room for crisis. At the 2014 conference, the powers of the Federal Government were reduced and given to the state; so there was devolution of powers. This is something people don’t understand and people were saying I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But I said no, I am not a PDP member. I was only supporting President Jonathan then because he promised to implement the new constitution in which I know we had solved our problems. That was the beginning and the end of my cooperation with Jonathan. I didn’t say the government was not corrupt. I know that if the 2014 National Conference report is implemented, all our problems would be solved.

If a new constitution could not be implemented, what do you think can be an immediate solution to the renewed militancy and other problems across the country?

Then you don’t understand the problem.

The call for an immediate solution is because people are talking about dialogue...

Then, they don’t understand. What is the cause of Avengers? What are they fighting for? Do you know?

They said the government is taking their money to other places to develop. They want autonomy; they want to control their money. That is why they say they want to get out of Nigeria. And we have solved the problem (through the national conference) by saying there should be distribution of money on basis of derivation; that would keep them quite. Go and ask what is their demand that the Federal Government is not responding to. The moment you give them that, they would be contended.

They want employments in their area. All the resources of

Saturday Tribune

Those who are opposed to restructuring are opposed to a united Nigeria in peace and when there is no peace, there is no government, and if there is no restructuring, there is no Nigeria. their area is spent in Abuja. Nobody from the South South, from the Niger-Delta area would look at the government in their area. Nobody can go to Abuja and see what is being spent there and would not want to go to war. The Niger Delta people are just indifferent to people’s feeling because they see that all the money in their area is being spent in Abuja. So they are not breaking the pipelines for fun.

Is there anything to celebrate as Nigeria turns 56 as a sovereign country?

Nothing, nothing other than to thank God for our lives.

The only thing we can celebrate is if this government would be persuaded to listen to the complaints of the people and autonomy, they want restructuring.

People are complaining of hunger, despite promises made by the present government. What is the way out?

Understanding the problem, without political stability, there cannot be economic stability. Settle political problems in the country, all other things would follow. For instance, the people are asking for restructuring of the country so they can have autonomy; so that they can have control of certain aspects of their lives. If that is done, they wouldn’t be breaking pipelines. If they don’t break the pipelines, there would be peace and money you are spending on securities to combat crisis will be available for development.

That is the solution; the solution is clear. Stop the cause of the problems. Not solving the cause of affliction means you want it to continue. People who are under slavery want to get out of slavery. You can’t suppress them by killing them; if you kill them, others will rise up.

On the issue of restructuring, will you suggest that Nigeria should go back to the era of regionalism?

Before the military took over, we had four regions. If you look at the recommendations of the 2014 Confab, we created more states. It is the minorities in the North that

You were one of the national leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) that threw up Senator Bola Tinubu as the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State in 1999.

Given the recent position of Tinubu on happenings in APC over its governorship primary in Ondo State, people are saying he should not complain in view of what played out in 1999. Is there any basis for comparison?

What I am going to say, get it very right.

I am not going to be taken in by the superficial thing they are doing. On the issue of APC, what Buhari and co have done to Tinubu, Tinubu may be having his regrets now because we warned him. But it is not Tinubu they are fighting. I want you to understand that I don’t support that.

It is the Yoruba they are fighting and we warned Tinubu and he can now see it. I won’t be taken in by the scheming; I won’ t join them by saying it is good for Tinubu; Tinubu would get his punishment at the right time. But right now, the war Buhari and co are waging against Tinubu is against the Yoruba.

In what way?

Listen, they want to decimate his power in Yorubaland because he is the one people are now saying he is leading the Yoruba. By the time they subjugate him, we are the only region the North has not been able to penetrate, Then they would be able to control the country. We can see it and we warned Tinubu. Tinubu knew when we raised the issue, but because of ambition, he thought he could be vice-president to Buhari and when he gets into power, he would be Second-In-Command and also control Lagos. We knew it.

You see this Fulanis would concede anything to you in order to put you in their pocket. Tinubu thought he was wiser. I am not mocking him for what he has got because I could see that the Yoruba interest is more involved. So I am warning any Yoruba man not to think that Tinubu has gotten what he deserves. Tinubu would get his reward as he is being disgraced but don’t let us close our eyes to where Buhari and co are going. We should be on our guard.

All I am saying is that the Yoruba should be united. We are not going to leave Tinubu to be disgraced; I can tell Buhari that. It is not Tinubu that he is fighting, it is the Yoruba. I am not one of those who take solace in the way he is being disgraced; he deserves it but I am on my guard; the Yoruba must be on guard. It is policy of divide and rule that Buhari is adopting.

But some people would say there are Yoruba in Buhari’s government and therefore he is not after the race...

Who are the Yoruba in his government? They are the Yoruba raised by Tinubu. Buhari brought them in to destroy Tinubu and destroy Yorubaland.

Will it not surprise you if by tomorrow you read in the paper that Tinubu says there is no quarrel between him and Buhari?

That is his business. If he has not seen it, I have seen it.

Ahead of 2019, do you think APC would still remain intact?

If there is going to be APC, it wouldn’t be in this form. I guess there would be a new force or we restructure Nigeria. Those who are opposed to restructuring, they want the country to split, because without restructuring there would be no Nigeria. For me, those who are opposed to restructuring are opposed to a united Nigeria in peace and when there is no peace, there is no government, and if there is no restructuring, there is no Nigeria.

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My relationship with Tinubu, Fashola, el-Rufai, others —Akeredolu The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), in this interview by KATE ANI, shares his thought on the controversies surrounding the recently concluded primariy that produced him.

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OUR victory at the APC primary has continued to generate controversies. Specifically your leader, Senator Bola Tinubu has called for the annulment of your victory.

What is your offence with Tinubu?

I have no issues with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, all I know is that I am the candidate of the party and I know that there is no challenge to my candidature. So, I am going ahead to run my campaign; that is all I can tell you.

you give the president credit and some measure of respect!

I can say it boldly here that the Presidency did not sponsor me; all the money I spent were mine and contributions from friends.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also said your emergence did not follow due process and should therefore, be annulled. Do you have any reaction to that?

I am not sure he (Atiku) said so because I am sure he would have gathered all relevant facts before passing comments. I don’t believe the former vice president would say such a thing because the facts are there for every Nigerian to see.

Your emergence as the APC candidate in Ondo state is causing a lot of ripples between the APC national leadership and the powers that be, as calls have already been made for the removal of the national chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun…

I don’t know whether it is causing any ripple or not. All I know is that I am the governorship candidate of APC in Ondo State. I am calling on every member of the party in the state for us to work together as a team and win the election, which is my main focus now. I am not interested in any distractions, I don’t know why people are calling for the removal of Oyegun. I am sure that it is not because of the outcome of the primary.

Maybe they have other reasons and just wanted to use the Ondo primary to cover up for other issues.

Chief Oyegun will earn the respect of people who are not biased and he will continue to earn the respect of most Nigerians because he stood for the truth. All the decisions of the APC National Working Committee (NWC)were not Oyegun’s decision; people can go and check the facts by verifying the minute of the meeting of the national working committee, from the secretary and other members of NWC. From what I gathered, I am sure these people stood for the truth and that truth.

According to reports, the primary was marred with series of irregularities and there were also claims that delegates were enticed with money…

(Cuts in...) I hope you watched the conduct of the primary on television; no other primary has ever been that transparent in the history of primary elections in Nigeria.

I can assure you that the primary was free and fair. There was no fraud and I can assure you that Nigerians, particularly Ondo people gave kudos to the chairman of the primary committee, Governor Badru of Jigawa, on how he conducted it in the most free and transparent manner.

You are also reported to have spent heavily on that primary. How much did it cost you? How did you source your funds?

The person who gave you that report should also tell you how much it cost. If you have a report that I spent heavily on it, get the cost from that person or from your source. I didn’t pay any delegate; nobody was given a dime to vote for me. I didn’t give anybody money before they voted.

Go and ask your source how much he claimed I spent.

What is your relationship with ex-govs Fashola, Fayemi and Amaechi, Governor El-Rufai and President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari?

(Laughs...) You want to know my relationship with members of my party? I have a good relationship with them. These days; I hardly see or talk to most of them, but sometimes we see at party functions. If you talk about

I don’t believe anybody is against me; it is just that they had their preferred candidate and a winner has emerged.

Fashola, we have known ourselves as lawyers before he even became governor and now minister and I have known Dr Kayode Fayemi for long; we live on the same street. All these people you mentioned and quite a few others are my very good friends in the party.

Is it true you were President Muhammadu Buhari’s candidate in that primary?

Why don’t you ask President Buhari himself if he had any candidate during the Ondo primary… I don’t think you people know the president too well. He is a very busy man; his major concern is the problem of this country.

How can you say he has a candidate in the primary?

There were reports that the presidency funded your primary…

Well, if you gathered that they funded the primary, show that source of funding and where the fund came from and how they sent it. You are a journalist, go and do your investigations. The Federal Government that is in crisis financially would now be funding a state governorship primary candidate, is it possible? When I listen to allegations like this, I always get worried. Why don’t

In the light of these attacks and counter-attacks, are you still hopeful of winning the coming election?

I don’t think I have been attacked in the media. Of course, primaries of this nature and every other primary in the country would generate series of reactions and I refuse to be distracted by any attacks from any quarters. My main focus is the election, the people of Ondo state and let me also say this; I said so during the primary and I am repeating it here that I am confident, absolutely confident that by the grace of God, I will win the election as the governor of Ondo State. I have never had doubt about it and I call on all the members of our party to join hands with me and form a formidable force against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wich we all know has not done too well for the state.

We must ensure that PDP does not come back as the government of Ondo State.

The defeat of PDP in Edo state is enough to assure everyone of what will happen in Ondo State. Hence, we should all come together and work for our party; the party is greater than Akeredolu, the party is greater than the chairman, the party is greater than the aspirants and even greater than our president.

Any advice for Tinubu, Atiku and others opposed to your candidature?

I have told you earlier that it is not possible for Atiku to oppose my emergence. What is his own interest to oppose my candidature in Ondo? And I know that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is not opposed to the candidate of our party.

If Tinubu didn’t oppose to your candidature, why did he release a statement calling for the removal of Chief Oyegun, alleging that the primary was not credible?

Why don’t you ask him (Tinubu) why he is calling for the resignation of Oyegun? This is not a question for me o. Why don’t you ask him why he is calling for the head of Oyegun? That is a question for you but for me, I don’t believe he or the others you mentioned are opposed to my candidature. I always believe that they will come to Ondo and campaign for the party to win.

You were known as a prominent member of ACN/APC legal teams in the 2007, 2011 and 2014 elections across the country. Although you were paid your fees, why would those you represented in the court now turn against you?

I don’t know who among them has turned against me.

I am telling you, I don’t believe anybody is against me; it is just that they had their preferred candidate and a winner has emerged. But, I believe that all of us would eventually come together for this party. They may have one or two reasons to pick things up but not against the candidate of a party, it can’t be.

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‘Live every day for what it’s worth’

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Continued from pg9

OU have an intimidating profile, how were you able to achieve this feat?

I thoroughly enjoy what I do now and everything I’ve worked hard for over the years. I generally enjoy working hard and I enjoy seeing results. I believe when we find our truest of passions, it becomes easy and fun and worthy at excelling in life. We enjoy every single day while making a difference in the world. When we love and enjoy what we do, it becomes a part of us. I’ve always enjoyed working and learning. We can’t know enough. Every opportunity to learn, I grab it. Every opportunity to make a difference, I grab it.

You worked in many top companies. What informed your decision to go into entrepreneurship?

I felt like it was time. I had attained a senior management level in my career and I have gained years of knowledge from top business schools around the world. I have seen great processes and countries where systems are built to work. I yearned to do much more for Nigeria and Africa. I still yearn to see our continent transformed into one of the world’s greatest and I still believe in all the possibilities. I have always had the yearn to lead, to create, to innovate and to help. I constantly yearn to do much more. It’s difficult to have leadership skills and be comfortable in an employed role. Leaders want to break out and do great things, leaders want to build, leaders want to create jobs, leaders want to reduce the poverty rate, leaders want to see the world grow stronger and get better. I wanted to do much more than I was able to within my leadership roles as an employee.

What were the challenges you faced as a career woman?

Challenges are meant to be overcome and thus I tend not to focus on challenges.

I focus on the great times, the achievables and the results. It takes too much energy to think about challenges. I’d rather focus on results and growth plans. When I do encounter challenges, I chat with mentors and research to learn from other people’s experiences.

How were you able to juggle your career with the home front?

My family means the world to me and they are my constant drive to be the best I can be at home and at work. They are my biggest supporters and vice versa. We also have employees who have become family members and assist with ensuring things are run smoothly especially on my busiest of days. No one can succeed alone, we need each other.

Why did you start Dress Me Outlet?

I have a passion for creativity and retail.

I also love shopping. I came to the realisation once that 99.9 per cent of products I loved buying from my bags to shoes to lingerie to beauty products are manufactured outside of Africa. I did a ton of research and discovered that even our cultural and religious necessities are not locally made. Practically everything is imported. We must change this, we need to also earn foreign currencies and increase the world’s appreciation of made in Af-

rica products. We must leverage on our strengths, natural resources and human capabilities. We are blessed but we aren’t maximising our blessings.

Dressmeoutlet.com aims to retail the very best of made in Africa fashion, beauty and home goods to individuals globally with the use of technology and efficient logistics.

You are a woman of many parts, what is your driving force?

Results drive me. Positive developments drive me. Happy people drive me. We love testimonials.

We love good feedback. We love when our customers are happy with their packages. We love vendors that make amazing things and customers that give them amazing feedback and support. We want to see Africa develop greatly and strongly and with that in mind, we are constantly working hard and innovating to yield greatness in Africa.

What will you say is the most defining moment of your career so far?

The defining moments are still ahead.

I’m grateful for every success and growth point achieved thus far and I recognise that there’s a lot more ahead. There’s so much more I want to and need to do within the fashion, retail, e-commerce and manufacturing sectors in Nigeria. As a leader, advisor and investor, there’s also a ton more that I look forward to accomplishing by impacting lives and enacting positive changes. We will all know that defining moment comes. Many excellent moments have come and continue to come daily but greater moments lie ahead and that’s what I look forward to.

What do you think people can do to survive recession?

I’d say go back to the basics. Start from somewhere, anywhere. Gather natural resources, innovate, create, build, utilize what’s within your reach and capabilities.

Strive for more, strive for better but more importantly strive for happiness. Don’t do what will not make you happy. Crime is not the way to go in times like that. I understand how heart-breaking it can be when things get difficult but we must keep pushing. If you’re pushing and not getting results, go back to the basics and find your true path to life. You need to be happy.

Only then can you succeed and maintain the success.

Women bosses are said to be dif-

ficult to work with. What do you have to say about this?

I wouldn’t say that. I have a hard time grouping people based on race, religion, age, gender or geographic location. I believe everyone and each person has his or her own strong points. There may be some difficult women bosses same way there are some difficult men bosses. There are some great American leaders same way there are some great African leaders.

At Dressmeoutlet.com, we have a flat organisational structure which is slowly and gradually changing into a hierarchical structure. We lead by results and not by managing. Employees are very independent, armed with the trainings, laws and resources they need to excel and be their very best with or without a direct manager.

You have worked in different parts of the world, were you at any time discriminated against because of your gender?

None that I can remember and if I ever was, I probably would not dwell on it. I am not sure I can stop anyone from discriminating, but I’m sure I can work on being my very best and hopefully that would prove to them that their discrimination bears no ground. I’m truly a strong believer in looking forward and focusing on the positives, the results and the achievable.

If you’re pushing and not getting results, go back to the basics and find your true path to life. You need to be happy. Only then can you succeed and maintain the success.

What are the goals you will still like to work on?

Everything. We never stop learning, we never stop growing, we never stop having fun and being happy. As long as we are living, we continue to have goals and grow. There is so much more ahead. This is only the beginning. I want to witness Africa transformed into one of the world’s greatest continents. We may die trying or we may succeed in no time. Either way, we keep growing, we keep learning.

What lessons has life taught you?

Be strong, be you, be great and love deeply. Beyond all, be happy; live your passion, push for your greatest dreams and be the best you can be. If that means hair braiding, great! If that means farming, great! Whatever your calling is, live for it, enjoy it and be great at it.

Is it true that doing business in Nigeria is difficult and discouragingW? It can be but then remember I said, I’d rather we don’t focus on negatives.

We must focus on the can-be(s) and the achievable(s) and push our dreams. I’m not sure life is meant to be difficult. I’m not sure it will be considered difficult if you are happy doing what you are doing.

Nonetheless, learn, grow, excel and live everyday for what it’s worth and you are perfectly worthy of being happy. Even if it means going back to the basics, let’s grow a day at a time, excelling at every milestone required to grow businesses in Nigeria.

What advice do you have for young women out there?

Find the passion that makes you smile and eliminate the negativities that bring you down. I’m currently completing my nonfiction book that will translate my decade of MBA and global knowledge into quotes that will inspire and motivate women to achieve their greatest potentials in life.

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xquisite

Saturday Tribune

BLESSING GBARADA ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

FOOD

Garri...

Filling Nigerians since 1960

By Blessing Gbarada

G

ARRI is one local delicacy that can rightly be said unites Nigerians. From the arid North through the South West and South

a)

b)

c)

East, it is one dish that is relished among both rich and poor, young and old.

It’s popularity may be attributed to the fact that it’s cheap, readily available and quite easy to prepare in its simplest form — as drinking garri.

In spite of how delightful a bowl of garri with cold water could be, experts have called for caution in its consumption especially when the garri production process is not properly carried out. It has been discovered that poorly processed cassava contains cyanide which is toxic to humans. While advocating for proper and complete processing, it is also advisable to buy garri from trusted sources.

Over the years, this simple dish has evolved from a snack to a full, balanced meal with acd)

companiments ranging from fish, milk, coconut, banana, groundnut, suya, kuli-kuli to moin moin, akara and beans. Regardless of accompaniment of choice, what makes drinkng garri so refreshing is most times cold water that is added to it.

So, how do you like your garri?

Captions: a) Pop super-star, Davido, enjoying a bowl of garri with groundnut. b) Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, snacking on a bowl of garri. c) Music sensation, Kcee, relishes his garri with fish. d) Even former president, Olusegun Obasanjo is not left out of the garri party.

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news

1 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

FG abolishes illegal speed bumps on the highways Clement Idoko - Abuja

Director, Cancer Research and Molecular Biology Laboratories, University of Ibadan, Professor Oyeronke Odunola, Founder; Glorious Youth Empowerment Centre (GYEC); Mrs. Remi Ajibewa, Pioneer Head, Radiation Oncology, University Teaching Hospital and Member, National Consultative Committee on Cancer Control, Prof. Dapo Campbell, and former Chairman, Governing Council, LAUTECH Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji, at the Cancer Sensitisation Programme organised by GYEC, in Osogbo, recently.

Kogi Poly students protest, demand removal of rector Yinka Oladoyinbo Lokoja

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TUDENTS of the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, on Friday, staged a protest and demanded for the removal of the rector of the institution, Alhaji Mohammed Isa. The students, who embarked on the protest early in the day, chased out the rector and other top management staff from their offices and prevented human and vehicular movements in and out of the campus located along Lokoja-Okene road.

According to them, they were protesting against nonavailability of basic amenities like water, electricity and toilets in hostels and classrooms in the school.

They also protested against the lack of functional clinic in the school, while accusing the management of being insensitive to their plight.

According to them, lack of toilet in the school was causing an embarrassment to them as they usually go into the bush around the campus

to defecate even in the middle of the night.

The students also carried placards with various inscriptions like “Remove our rector, we have lost confidence in him, “We need basic amenities in our school, government help,” among others.

Speaking on behalf of the students, Omale Usman said the students had to embark on a peaceful demonstration since their series of complaints to the management of the institution yielded no

results.

He lamented that necessary hostels and lecture facilities needed by the students for a conducive teaching and learning atmosphere at the institution were not provided.

“We pay school fees but we don’t have light, no toilet facilities and regular power supply. If you enter the campus, everywhere is smelling because students are forced to defecate in the open,” he said.

Apart from the rector, the students also chased away

Edo election: Dogara, Sylva others congratulate Obaseki •APGA expresses anger From Jacob Segun Olatunji, Christian Okeke and Austin Ebipade FOLLOWING the announcement of the All Progressives Party (APC) candidates, Godwin Obaseki’s victory at the last Wednesday’s governorship election, more Nigerians have congratulated the governor-elect.

Among those who sent congratulatory mes-

sages on Saturday were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara; Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipreye Sylva.

In a related development, the All Progressives Grand Alliance

Account freezing: Fayose demands N5bn damages from EFCC *Accounts remain frozen till Nov Sam Nwaoko— Ado Ekiti THE two private accounts of Ekiti state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, with Zenith Bank, frozen since June, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will remain embargoed until November.

This is following a ruling on the case filed by Governor Fayose against the EFCC, against the freezing of the accounts at the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, on Friday.

Presiding judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, adjourned till the said date after both Fayose’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozehkome (SAN) and

the leadership of their student union, accusing them of compromise.

Addressing the protesters, the Commissioner for Education in the state, Dr Sunday Tolorunleke, appealed to them to bear with the state government.

He said the students were protesting for their rights, saying government had already directed the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to restore the disconnected electricity on the campus.

that of the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, had both agreed on a definite adjournment.

At the resumed hearing, Fayose’s lead counsel, who led 10 other lawyers in defence of the governor, told the court that EFCC lacked the constitutional powers to so apply punitive measures on a governor that still enjoyed immunity until the end of his tenure in 2018.

He argued that freezing of the governor’s accounts, based on what he said was “mere hearsay and unsubstantiated allegations of fraud”, lacked the backing of the law.

He argued that only a declarative evidence of court of

competent jurisdiction could act in the way the EFCC did, saying blocking the governor’s accounts without being found guilty by courts of the land, amounted to convicting the governor before putting him on trial.

But in a reaction, EFCC lead counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo insisted before the court that the decision of the anti- graft agency to freeze Fayose’s accounts followed due process.

He pleaded with the court to give him enough time to study the counter argument of Fayose’s lead counsel which was presented to the court for more than three hours.

(APGA) has expressed anger and surprise over the 876 votes which it said was allotted to his party at the just-concluded governorship election in Edo State, alleging that it was deliberately done to humiliate and intimidate its members following the massive attractions the party had among the people of the state during preparations for the election.

Also, basking in the euphoria of the All Progressive Congress (APC)’s success in Edo governorship election, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva yesterday said the victory would advance social and economic changes in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Doifie Buokoribo and made available to Saturday Tribune in Yenagoa.

Sylva, who was the APC candidate in the last governorship election said though the nation and state may experience some form of adjustment, the party has what it takes to surmount the harsh economic realities in the state.

THE Federal Government has ordered the removal of illegal and inappropriate speed bumps from the Nigerian highways.

It has also approved the constitution of a task force to sensitise Nigerians and facilitate the removal of the speed bumps as well as determine the correct location and types of speed bumps to be erected on the nation’s highways.

This formed part of memoranda submitted by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the resolutions arising from the 22nd meeting of the National Council on Works in Katsina State with the theme “Prioritisation and Optimization of Allocated Infrastructure Funds”.

According to the Council, most of the road traffic crashes which occur on the highways could be traced to the presence of inappropriate speed bumps which do not comply with contemporary global standards on road markings and signages.

Minor cabinet reshuffle in Kogi as Bello reshapes media team Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Friday, effected a minor change in his cabinet with the redeployment of the commissioner for information, culture and tourism, Alhaji Mohammed Imam as well as reorganisation of his media team.

The governor also appointed Kingsley Fanwo as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, while the former holder of the post, Mallam Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, was redeployed to the Ministry of Information as the director general of the newly created Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Mobilisation.

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Folasade Ayoade, said the governor also approved Mrs Petra Onyegule, as the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor.

‘Poor diet causing cancer increase among Nigerians’ MEDICAL experts have warned that increasing rate of cancer among Nigerians is attributable to the unhealthy dietary intake among Nigerians.

This position was made known recently in Osogbo, by speakers at the opening ceremony of a week-long cancer sensitisation and screening workshop themed: “Who shall deliver us from this deadly plague organised by the Gracious Youth Empowerment Center,” a Non-Governmental Organisation in partnership with the Osun Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Health.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dapo Campbell, pioneer head, Radiation Oncology, University Teaching Hospital Ibadan and a member of the National Consultative Committee on Cancer Control, said Cancer remains the leading cause of death amongst non-communicable diseases in Nigeria and a leading cause of death worldwide. He noted that prevalence has been on the increase in the country due to low level of awareness and gross inadequacy of treatment facilities for patients.

Man docked for forgery of certificates Sunday Ejike - Abuja THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Owoyele Kolawole before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja for alleged forgery and possession of blank Senior School Certificates.

Acting on a petition from the Federal Ministry of Education on the growing incidence of presentation of altered West African Senior School Certificate results for accreditation and endorsement by those seeking admission into foreign educational institutions, ICPC carried out a discreet surveillance and intelligence, which led to the arrest of Mr. Kolawole.

The suspect allegedly ran a syndicate that specialised in producing and selling customised certificates to fraudulent applicants seeking admission into foreign institutions.

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Saturday Tribune

Fight against corruption must be total —CAC President

The President, Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, shares his thought with RITA OKONOBOH on the Nigerian journey so far, what the country must do to ensure development and what the future holds. Excerpts:

T

he Nigerian journey so far We have a lot to be thankful to God Almighty for as a nation. First, we must thank God that the Nigerian nation remains one indissoluble entity. Many people have criticised the British colonialists for bringing us together as a nation. However, I believe it is part of the design of God for us. Since 1914 when the amalgamation took place, the nation has remained one.

This is an achievement on its own. Think of how many nations have disintegrated despite the fact that they had better prospects of unity than we did. Remember former Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and many others.

Another cause for us to celebrate our oneness is that the conditions which led to the disintegration of many of these countries were not as bad as some of the conditions we are currently faced with in this country. Yet, God keeps us together. I know that the purpose of our being together will still manifest some day. We must not assess our development on the basis of the present economic decline we are facing.

Even economically, we are not worse off. There may not be enough to spend and many families may have gone austere in their spending, while prices of goods are sky-rocketing every day. In spite of all these, we are still better off than some African nations to which used goods in Nigeria are being sent to for survival. There is evidence that apart from those who are salary earners, much of the Nigerian population still survive without depending on salaries. The informal sector of the economy is still vibrant in spite of the economic downturn, although the situation would have been better if workers got their salaries as at when due.

Socially, we are not faring badly too, although we need to quickly embark on value education. We seem to be losing our African innocence when it comes to waiting for our turn. A lot of our youths are too hasty and impatient especially when it comes to making money. People no longer wait for God’s time and this is the reason behind many heinous crimes in the society. Corruption is not seen as something abhorrent to development. A lot of people now believe that if you can’t beat them, you join them and this is bad for the polity.

Also, the nation has suffered from integrity deficiency on the part of the political leadership. We are not blessed with selfless leaders who would stand out for that which is right and that which would advance the nation into the community of great nations. That is our greatest undoing.

Although, the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing its best to restore the nation and re-position her for greatness, at every turn and bend, he encounters lots of blockades. However, overall, Nigeria has not fared badly as a nation, in spite of the present economic downturn.

Is Nigeria where it should be 56 years after independence?

When you are talking of development, Nigeria ought to have developed better than this. Look at Malaysia, Singapore; these countries used to be in the Third World league. They are today in the First World league in terms of development. The unfortunate thing about our country is the perennial issue of leadership. We missed our steps because we are unfortunate to have leaders who don’t know the purpose of the power they wield; leaders who think of their immediate families and their cronies in the corridor of power; leaders who don’t know that leaders live in deeds and not in the extent of their wealth. Those who led us in the First Republic were the developmenthungry leaders. But ever since the military truncated our democratic march through the series of coups d’état that this country had witnessed, we began to derail in terms of quality leadership. Another albatross we had was the tribal politics that made Nigerians see issues first from their tribal point of view, rather than what was good for the nation. This again boils down to leadership. If the political leaders that emerged after the military left power were selfless, they would have put the good of the nation above base tribal sentiments. But the politicians themselves were the ones who exploited ethnic advantage to get to power. Once in power, they began to enrich themselves and members of their political clique at the expense of the

less we are able to get our value system right, it will be difficult to get ourselves out of the present quagmire.

We missed our steps because we are unfortunate to have leaders who don’t know the purpose of the power they wield; leaders who think of their immediate families and their cronies in the corridor of power.

greatness of the country.

So, we got it wrong from the point of view of leadership and tribal politics which encouraged corruption. Where people should view corruption as evil, they make it into ethnic persecution. When one politician was being protected here by his people and attempts were made to insulate him from prosecution, shortly after he ran outside the country, he was apprehended and jailed for corruption. That is the extent to which ethnic politics has blinded us to see clearly what is wrong from what is right.

Until we develop our value system to the level where what constitutes wrong-doing in the eyes of the Yoruba man is the same as that which constitutes wrong-doing in the eyes of Igbo man, the Hausa or the Ijaw man, we shall continue to take one step forward and two backwards.

I read the story of the Singaporean leader, Lee Kuan Yew, who took his country from zero development to becoming an advanced nation, I discovered that the method he used was first to develop his people by eradicating dirty habits.

Secondly, he made them do things right so much that foreigners who visited the country developed confidence in the people. Not long after that, foreign investments began to flow in and the nation that once struggled with unemployment became the manufacturing base of major multinational corporations. Most of the electronics we use in the country today were imported from Singapore. Un-

Advice to government on getting things right Government must lead in moral rectitude. That is why the current fight against corruption is in the right direction. However, it must be pointed out that the fight should be total and should be instituted. The only way it could be instituted is to ensure that the coming generation develop aversion to every form of moral evil or moral wrong. That is, school children must be taught to condemn evil, whether it is perpetrated by their own relation or by people of other tongues. After this, the government should ensure justice in the distribution of the nation’s wealth. A situation in which projects are located in the communities of those in government should be discouraged. Another point is that our government should make services in the government accessible to only those with the spirit of selflessness, that is, those who are out to give their very best. At present, service in government is accessible only to the rich or the influential in the society because it is an open sesame to wealth. However, remove all the perks in government and allow people who have genuine intentions to serve the people into government and things would begin to take proper shape. Just make governance less attractive to political jobbers and the atmosphere would become more sanitised.

The first step to doing this is to make our legislature a parttime engagement. The salary and perks our legislators collect are too exorbitant for a nation in distress as ours. Secondly, the executive arm of government should be slimmed down.

Some government agencies and departments can be merged and placed under Director-Generals. The cabinet should also be reduced to maximum of 19. Why must every state have ministers in a nation battling with recession? Then, government should ban certain products that are imported into the country. Many of them, save for materials needed by local manufacturing companies and agro-allied industries, are not needed. Every luxury goods should be heavily taxed to discourage their importation. Then, government should encourage exportation of locally manufactured goods. However, government needs political will to do all these.

Message for Nigeria at 56 I urge Nigerians to cooperate with the government in the fight against corruption. It is either we stop corruption or corruption will stop us. No nation can grow with the level of corruption going on in this country. The Bible says ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, sin is a reproach to any people,’ as it is stated in Proverbs 14:34. Then, all of us who are citizens of this country need to begin to think of moral rebirth. All of us are guilty of some wrong-doing in our tolerance for evil. We tend to see government services as an avenue to share in the national cake. With this type of mindset, our country cannot progress. So, I urge all Nigerians to ensure that the change we wish to see in Nigeria begins with every one of us.

The present economic downturn is a temporary issue; there is the light at the end of the tunnel in the very foreseeable future. As long as we change our orientation, Nigeria will witness a swift turn-around.

My vision for Nigeria Nigeria will be great again. We shall soon put the present predicament behind us. But we must return to God. The affairs of this country are not beyond the capacity of God. So, leaders and the followers must return to God. Once we return to God, we shall see that He is the God that can effect turn-around in the affairs of nations.

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With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

Nigeria’s leaders from Independence till date

SIR ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA Prime Minister October 1, 1960 January 15, 1966.

DR. NNAMDI AZIKIWE First President October 1,1960 - January 15, 1966.

GENERAL OLUSEGUN OBANSANJO Fourth Military Head of State Feb 1976 - Oct 1, 1979.

ALHAJI SHEHU SHAGARI First Executive President Oct. 1, 1979 - December 31, 1983.

GENERAL SANI ABACHA Head of State November 19, 1993 - June 8, 1998.

GENERAL ABDULSALAM ABUBAKAR Head of State June 8, 1998 - May 29, 1999.

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GENERAL J.T.U. AGUIYI-IRONSI First Military Head of State January 15,1966 - July 29, 1966.

GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI Head of State December 31, 1983 - August 27, 1985.

GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON Second Military Head of State 1966 - 1975.

GENERAL IBRAHIM BABANGIDA Nigeria Military President August 27, 1985 - August 26, 1993.

ALHAJI UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA May 29, 2007-May 5, 2010.

GENERAL MURTALA MOHAMMED Third Military Head of State July 29, 1975 - February 13, 1976.

CHIEF ERNEST SHONEKAN Head, Interim National Government August 26, 1993 November 17, 1993.

DR GOODLUCK JONATHAN May 6, 2010 - May 29, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari May 29, 2015 - date

President Olusegun Obasanjo May 29, 1999 - May 29, 2007.

Zainab Aremu, 10 yrs old, Basic 5 May God grant our leaders wisdom to lead us aright as Nigeria celebrates another Independence Day anniversary.

This is my prayer every day because I love my country. I promise that as I grow, I will do what is right and be loyal to my country. I pray that there will be peace in Nigeria as we celebrate another Independence Day. Favour Kekwy, 9 yrs old, Basic 5 I wish there would be safety of lives and property in our country such that people will no longer live in fear. To promote peace in the society, I willrelate well with every child irrespective of the person’s tribe. God bless Nigeria.

Happy Independence Day. Kofoworola Aliyu, 10 yrs old, Basic 5 I pray for Nigeria today that everything that is not working well will change for good especially because of us, the leaders of tomorrow. I encourage every child to be honest.

Israel Aibinuomo, Basic 6 I pray that God will bless our land so that there will be food in every home and our parents will also be able to pay our school fees. I will not cheat in examination halls. I will not fight and I will obey the rules and regulations of my parents and the society.

Purity Slewo, 10 yrs old, Basic 5 I’m still praying that the remaining Chibok girls will be found and that God should put an end to Boko Haram in Nigeria as we celebrate our anniversary. As Nigerians, I promise to be a well-behaved child. I will always read hard so as to become the best in my class and not copy my friend’s answers during test or examinations. I always remember the national pledge and this has been helping me to behave well.

H A PPY 56TH Independence ANNIVERSARY

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OVERNOR Nasir el-Rufai may jolly well be an impostor or a Smart Alec. Or a genuine patriot who is bothered by governmental mis-contributions to the massive underdevelopment in the land. This is because he mirrors the traits of these three persons. He is suave, calculative, effervescent and, if you like, mercurial. Why the first two epithets of genuineness and patriotism may not rightly fit him is if you remember his brutal bluntness as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT) under Olusegun Obasanjo. He dispensed pain with the carefree attitude of a cold-blooded murderer but he stuck to his guns that it was all aimed at making the FCT a better place to live. Today, Abuja residents would tell you that el-Rufai’s cold-blooded governance of the FCT is the precursor of the aesthetics that is enjoyed in the city today.

As governor, this seeming conjurer with a swagger stick has also let out some birds from his magic box. His brutal frankness and unconventional governance have been the norm in his Kaduna State home. During the week, the diminutive governor let out another bird. This time, it was to enroll his three-year old child, Al-Siddique el-Rufai, in Islamiyya Play/Early School in Kaduna, a public school. This is ostensibly a demonstration of leadership to other Nigerian leaders whose penchant for acting the converse of what they preach is legendary. Whether he was acting out a script like a demagogue does, or he was exhibiting the mercurial trait of calculative impostor, the fact remains that el-Rufai’s public example of enrolling his child in a public school chronicles him as about the first Nigerian ruler in recent time to tow the path of a leadership that does not enunciate policy in Mars and live in Jupiter.

The bane of Nigerian leadership has always been that they are so near yet so distant from the people they govern. It is akin to the parable of the baker who cannot stand the bakery. The paradox is that, while in the latter, the house that is divided against itself will surely fall, in the former, Nigerian leaders have been externalizing themselves from the very broth they cook without an adverse effect on them. For, how do you contextualize a President who is preaching a good country but whose children do not partake of the country supposedly inching towards goodness? How do you have a minister who, at the snap of a finger, is in the air to countries that have overcome the drudgery of existence and are almost an El-dorado? How does such a leader appreciate the colour of national progress or its tenor?

Take for instance, education. Nigerian leaders are the guiltiest of the current stasis in that sector. While they claim to be investing in education, they scarcely have their chil-

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Saturday With

ayinla mukaiba ayinlamukaiba@yahoo.com

El-Rufai and parable of baker who loathes the bakery

dren school in the country. They pay heavily with our stolen money to fund these children in Ivy League schools abroad, yet proclaim redemption or redemptive steps that they are allegedly taking on the path of making education worthwhile.

The other day, the President and his spouse celebrated the graduation of their children from high-brow universities in the UK in a nation where recession is gripping the throats of his constituents and the people live on less than 50 cents a day. Virtually all the governors of the federation have their children in high-brow schools abroad, paying heavily with our stolen money. While, for the sake of argument, you can excuse their stealing us blind, who can legitimize taking such stolen wealth to other nations’ economies for the betterment of the progenies of those who threw out our forefathers from the slave ship into the sea at the approach of slave raiders and when sea illnesses gripped them, believing it was uneconomical to ferry sickly slaves across?

The day Nigerian leaders bakers begin to stay in their bakery, love the bakery, eat from the bakery, partake of its comfort and discomfort, Nigeria would be on its way out

Foreign observers fault conduct of Edo election Banji Aluko - Benin City INTERNATIONAL observers, who monitored Wednesday Edo State governorship election have expressed reservations about the conduct of the election, pointing out that they were not denied entry into the centre vote collation centre and that security operatives at the polling units looked the other way while politicians and their agents induced voters

with money.

Prof Ahmed Ansari, head of the African Union Observer Team, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on the functionality of the card readers as he noted that the machine did not work in some polling units.

He said along with other international observer groups such as the American Observer team, the British Council and others from

Saturday Tribune

the Netherlands and Scotland, the full reports of their impression of the election would be submitted to the INEC and other important election stakeholders.

He said, “The turnout was quite impressive, but there were problems here and there. Another challenge was understaffing. We saw situation whereby only one staff was in a polling unit.

That was not good enough.

There were reports of in-

ducement. Every party complained about inducement which to me mean that all of them were guilty. The electorate are not supposed to sell their consciences. To the politicians, it shouldn’t be about money.

He further stated that “as the head of an international observer team, we were not allowed to go to the collation centres at a particular time.

That is something we need to complain about. I asked who

From left, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun; Pastor (Mrs) Dolapo Adelakun; Associate Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Ms Tinuola Ayanniyi; Ms Lolade Ayanniyi; Mrs Tomi Olatoge, Mrs Lara Garuba and Mrs Folu Taiwo, singing during the burial of their mother, the late Mrs Modupe Abiodun Ayanniyi, at Saint Davids Church, Kudeti, Ibadan, on Friday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

of its problems. A sincere leadership would make a move towards ensuring that the National Assembly criminalizes any public official owning houses abroad and sending their wards abroad. States’ Houses of Assembly should also criminalize any attempt by state public officials to enroll their children and wards in private schools, not to talk of taking them outside the country. This will be a sure remedy to the stagnation and the sorry pass that our educational system has become.

The logic is, there is no way a governor whose children attend a public school will not make urgent and redemptive moves to tame the slide therein. Because public officials have externalized themselves from education of their respective states and the country at large, it becomes rather easy for them to treat it peremptorily. It is an anathema to send one’s wards to a Nigerian public school today as it is akin to grafting them into a sure bleak future. This is because the governors and their public official allies have conspiratorially destroyed education in Nigeria by their passive involvement in their affairs.

This is why, all lovers of goodwill should commend the Smart Alec spirit or the public-spirited goal of Governor El-Rufai in taking his child to a public school. It could be a mere tokenism but it is a sure pointer to the path that the country and its leadership must tread if indeed we all seek redemption for this country that is gasping for breath. As an aside, this writer was in Rotimi Amaechi’s Rivers State in 2013 and visited many public schools in the state. It was like one was in Paradise. Primary schools had stand-by generators, clinics, with each pupil having a computer in his front and model secondary schools, said to be in all the councils, were like an average university here in the South West in standard, with Indian teachers to boots. The trend then, I learnt, was that parents were withdrawing their wards from private schools to Amaechi’s public schools. Is the trend still operative?

gave the instruction; who gave the order? It couldn’t be INEC. “It could be, as they call it, order from above? But the security men told me that ‘sir, this is the order given to us.’ In every situation, one person is allowed to be there.

Even when we delegated Victor (his assistant) to go in, he was not allowed to go into the hall.

He said, “He (Victor) was allowed to come within the compound, but was not inside the nucleus, where the whole the exercise took place, adding that “we should be there; we should get the result sheet. We should have a copy but we don’t have copies for now.”

On the rescheduling of collation of results, Prof Ansari said, “it could be for security reasons based on advice, but I didn’t know why they had to stop and leave it for a particular time. Of course, there was no call for it.”

When asked what security operatives could have done upon noticing that money was exchanging hands at the polling units, he said “that depends on the order they gave them.”

Also speaking, Christian Victor from the African Union for Economic, Social and Cultural Council, said

many of the things observed in the field on Wednesday were not the kind of things that should happen in an election.

He said, “One of them is that everywhere we visited was filled with money flying around. Some people were fighting some voters for not voting the political parties they were paid for. It was very disappointing that this kind of thing still happens in the Nigeria’s political system.

“I watched the security agencies and it was clear they understood that monies were flying but for reasons best known to them they did not stop it. There were cases of young men, who looked like thugs, driving around during the election.

“They were never stopped by security agencies. That is wrong where there is a restriction of movement. I also saw wealthy people moving around in SUVs during the election.

“I have been part of many elections and I have never seen a situation whereby observers and journalists are not allowed into collation centres.”

A local observer, Sadoh Danladi Sunday, stated that it was shocking that the results announced by the INEC did not tally with those his group got from the field.

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NPFL: No mercy for

Sunshine —Wikki captain

By Olawale Olaniyan

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APTAIN of Wikki Tourists, Mustapha Ibrahim, believes there is no hiding place for Sunshine Stars of Akure when both sides clash tomorrow in a matchday 38 fixture of the Nigeria Professional Football League to round off the season.

The game holds at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi and it is a mere formality game for the Owena Waves, while to the homers, it is a fight to the finish as their dream of grab-

bing a continental ticket depends on the outcome of the match.

Ibrahim, while speaking to Tribunesport in Ibadan after his side lost 0-1 to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), said victory over Sunshine Stars is non-negotiable.

“We started this season well and we were so determined to win the league but things didn’t go as planned.

Losing this game has ended our dream of winning the league title but we have to forge ahead.

Tyson Fury tests positive for cocaine TYSON Fury, the lineal heavyweight champion who shocked Wladimir Klitschko in November to win the crown, tested positive for cocaine on Sept. 22, a person with knowledge of the result told USA TODAY Sports on Friday.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The in-competition test was carried out by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. VADA does not release records of drug tests unless requested by the athlete.

ESPN first reported the news.

It’s likely Fury will be suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control. The Manchester resident owns the WBA and WBO titles, and it’s probable he will be

stripped as result of the test.

The 28-year-old boxer was scheduled to rematch Klitschko on Oct. 29 – televised by HBO in the U.S. – but the bout was postponed yet again last week after the Brit’s promoter, Hennessy Sport, announced he was “medically unfit” to compete.

The big men were originally slated for a return bout on July 9, but an ankle injury suffered by Fury scrapped that date.

“Medical specialists have advised that the condition is too severe to allow him to participate in the rematch and that he will require treatment before going back into the ring,” Hennessy Sport said last week in a statement. “Tyson will now immediately undergo the treatment he needs to make a full recovery.”

“Of course, we are no more in contention for the league crown but right now, we have shifted our attention to winning one of the continental tickets. The last time Wikki played on the continent [Confederation Cup] was in 2008 and we want to return the team to Africa,” the defender stated.

“Our joy is that we are playing the last game before our teeming fans and we believe the task of playing in the continental championship next year is achievable.

“We are thinking of nothing but the game against Sunshine Stars and how we can get victory to seal our continental ticket. It is not going to be an easy game but it means so much to us. Anything can happen and we don’t expect Sunshine Stars to take it lightly with us.

“Today, we were unlucky not to play at least a draw here (against 3Sc). We could have scored first but Ibrahim Hassan’s shot [23rd minute] was stopped by the cross bar. So, we want to make up for this defeat by winning the last game and win a continental ticket. We have to give our fans something to celebrate for their support and the only way is to get the CAF ticket now that our league title dream has been dashed,” said the former junior international.

My World Cup opponents are not pushovers —Quadri NIGERIA’S Aruna Quadri will begin his third appearance at the annual International Table Tennis Federation, ITTF World Cup as the African champion will face Singapore’s Ning Gao and Sweden’s Par Gerell.

The 2016 edition of the Men’s World Cup kicks off today and will run till October 3 in Saarbrucken, Germany.

In the draw conducted on Friday, 12 players will battle for eight slots in the second round where they are expected to battle against the top eight seeded players.

Three players were grouped in each group with the top two in each group progressing to the second round of the competition.

Quadri who became the first African to play in the quarter-final of the Olym-

pics at the just-ended Rio 2016 said that he would give his best as his opponents are tough nuts to crack.

“My opponents are not pushovers as they are champions in their own right. I respect them but I am not under any kind of pressure to prove myself as I am focused and ready to battle with anybody in Germany,” said Africa’s most rated player in history by ITTF. Quadri’s debut at the tournament was in 2009 and he is expected to compete against top 19 players across the globe including world’s number two and three, China’s Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong as well as Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov, who is the current European champion ranked sixth in the world.

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Rumour over Taribo’s death

•He is alive —Ike, Fuludu N150

SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER, 2016

NO 1,171

THERE was a rumour last night that former Nigeria international, Taribo West was dead.

But Tribunesport got reports to the contrary that the former AC Milan defender had passed on.

Former goalkeeper, and Taribo’s former mate in the Super Eagles, Ike Shorunmu, while speaking to Tribunesport, dispelled the rumour. Though he said it was long he last spoke with Taribo, he said Taribo was alive.

While speaking to Tribunesport on Friday, former NNB of Benin player, Edema Fuludu said Taribo was well and alive.

“Taribo is alive, in fact I spoke with him on phone about 30 minutes ago. He is in Lagos, there’s nothing like that,” Fuludu told Tribunesport by phone.

Zambia’s Nathan Sinkala (left) battles with Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa during the 2013 AFCON group match in South Africa.

Defence no longer Eagles worry —Yusuf

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UPER Eagles chief coach Salisu Yusuf says the team has fixed some of its defensive frailties in its last three matches.

The back four has been widely regarded as the Eagles Achilles Heel, but Yusuf says they have worked hard to make that department a lot more solid recently.

“The defence was a worry, but in the last three matches we have played, we have only conceded a goal,” he stated on a live television programme Friday.

Fixtures

Emenike nets season’s 6th goal

We are focused on Nigeria —Zambia players

“We are playing with a lot more discipline back in the defence with players who are playing regularly at their clubs.”

The central defence partnership of Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong will be dislodged for the upcoming World Cup qualifier in Zambia following injury to Balogun.

However, Yusuf said recalled Kenneth Omeruo and Jamiu Alimi will now battle to partner Troost-Ekong in the heart of the defence with last-minute replacement Uche Agbo from

Granada CF expected to come around for the experience.

He also revealed that both he and head coach Gernot Rohr have adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation for the Eagles because that is what suits the team with the talent at their disposal now.

Meanwhile, Zambia has begun training for this month’s World Cup qualifier against Nigeria with several players bullish they will get past the Super Eagles in Ndola.

Goalkeeper Jacon Banda said with the right preparations Zam-

bia will soar past the Eagles.

“The morale is very high and the team is focused on the Nigeria game,” Banda said.

“It is a very crucial game and I believe we have a team to overcome Nigeria.”

Zanaco midfielder Roderick Kabwe said team spirit is high and they will be ready for the Nigerian challenge.

“So far, so good we are preparing well for the game against Nigeria. The morale is high and the players are all very focused on the game,” he assured.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup:

English Premier League Saturday, October 1

Swansea vs Liverpool 12:30pm Hull City vs Chelsea 3:00pm West Ham vs Middlesbrough 3:00pm Sunderland vs West Brm 3:00pm Watford vs Bournemouth 3:00pm Sunday, October 2

Man United vs Leicester vs Tottenham vs Burnley vs Watford vs

Stoke City 12:00pm Southampton 12:15pm Man City 2:15pm Arsenal 4:30pm Bournemouth 3:00pm

Nigeria Ghana England USA

Brazil Japan Korea DPR Paraguay

Today’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup matches

vs vs vs vs

Taribo

2:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 5:00pm

Flamingoes in flight test with Brazil today

By Ganiyu Salman NIGERIA’S Flamingoes will today open their campaign at the fifth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup against the Samba girls from Brazil.

Interestingly, Nigeria has never missed any of the editions of the cadet championship since inauguration in 2008.

Jordan 2016 kicked off on Friday with one of the African representatives, the young Lionesses of Cameroon losing 2-3 to Canada in a group C game.

The Flamingoes will battle with the Brazilians at 2pm Nigerian time at the King Abdul-

lah II International Stadium, Amman.

Nigeria has lost only two of its 15 games played so far with nine wins and four draws, while the Flamingoes have never lost their opening game in the competition.

The only time Nigeria recorded a draw in the opener was at Azerbaijan 2012 when it forced Canada to a 1-1 draw.

Nigeria’s only meeting with Brazil was at New Zealand 2008 when goals from Ebere Orji and Amarachi Okoronkwo forced Brazil to a 2-2 draw.

Speaking ahead of today’s match, coach of the Flamingoes, Bala Nikyu, said his team

will approach every game with utmost seriousness.

“We have been in camp working hard towards making our mark at this World Cup. Nigeria has always been participating in this category of the Women’s World Cup and we don’t want to replicate past mistakes. We want to do well and surpass previous records,” Nikyu said at a pre-match press conference in Amman.

Nigeria’s captain, Rasheedat Ajibade said the Flamingoes are in a confident mood ahead of today’s game and are targeting to perform well, rewrite history and go far in the competition.

EMMANUEL Emenike scored a splendid goal on Thursday night to inspire Fenerbahçe to a 1-0 win over Dutch club Feyenoord in the UEFA Europa League.

Emenike scored in the 18th minute of the contest decided at the Ülker Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Sükrü Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi as the Yellow Canaries eased to their first win in Europe’s second tier club competition.

Emenike has been in impressive goal-scoring form this season, netting twice in the league and two more times in the UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign.

He has now scored six goals in all competitions this season.

Emenike

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 1/10/2016.

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CHIEF ALANI BANKOLE @ 75

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PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE

From left, Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, celebrant, Chief Alani Bankole and former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, at the birthday lecture in honour of Chief Alani Bankole at the Radisson Park Inn, Abeokuta, Ogun State, recently.

From left, Chief Alani Bankole, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale.

From left, Chief Alani Bankole, guest lecturer, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, former Chief Justice of the Federation and chairman, Cheif Segun Osoba.

Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal (left) and Chief Alani Bankole.

Alhaji Aminu Wali (left) with former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido.

From left, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, Alhaji Yakubu Dogara and Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

From left, Prince Bola Ajibola, Chief Abiola Ogundokun and Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

From left, Chief Osoba, Honourable Dogara and Chief Bankole.

From left, former and present Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourables Dimeji Bankole, Yakubu Dogara, with them are Chief Osoba and the celebrant, Chief Alani Bankole.

Mr Kola Abiola (left) and Honourable Dimeji Bankole.

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Happy

Independence!

THE SENATE

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

NAIJA NO DEY CARRY LAST

Happy 56th Independence Day Celebration to all Nigerians!

We have seen difficult times and we will definitely overcome.

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria commends Nigerians on their patience, steadfastness, tolerance and unrivalled understanding in the face of the current economic recession.

The Senate hereby re-affirms its unalloyed commitment and relentless efforts to provide the necessary legislative framework that will get our country out of this downturn.

We know and we are convinced that, for Nigerians: It Is Never Say Die. Indeed, Naija No Dey Carry Last!

Congratulations!!!

SENATOR DR. ALIYU SABI ABDULLAHI Chairman, Senate Commi�ee on Media & Public Aairs

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Why I asked for my

mum’s prayers

before ending my performance

—Okeimute, winner of Project Fame Season 9

Okeimute Ighoroje might just be living up to her name which means ‘there is time for everything’, as she won a whooping N5million in the recently concluded MTNProject Fame Season 9 competition. In this interview with select journalists, she talks about her experience at the Project Fame Academy and personal life among other things. JOAN OMIONAWELE brings the excerpts:

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HAT was your growing up like?

I went to primary and secondary school in Delta State and attended my University in Port Hachourt. Growing up had its advantages and disadvantages, but growing up generally was fun for me, because my eldest sister was the creative type, she was the one doing the creativity and I was the one taking, she would draw and sing and I will peep and copy what she was doing.

It’s been wonderful growing up with my four sisters because I grew up in an environment where we shared and did things together.

Winning Project Fame started a new chapter in your life, will you continue the life you were living or you will start another life?

Well, I will say I will remain Okeimute, but the fact is that I have to work more.

You always perform like you own the stage, where did you gather that much confidence from?

As our coach, Miss Ige will say, anytime you come on stage, act like you own it, project like your voice is going to break barriers, Mummy Joke Silva will also say we should come on stage with so much charisma and think big. Look at Chidinma for example, as small as she is, when she comes on stage, she becomes big no matter where one is positioned. So, putting them all together,just made it work out for me.

Who will you describe as your first love?

Music is my first love Before the performance ended, you did something spectacular, you asked your mum to bless you. Why did you do that?

My mother’s blessings always keep me going. And anything I did as a teenage I always sought her opinion and whenever I’m going anywhere, she always prays for me, so when I saw her dancing while I was performing,

1 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

it meant a lot to me Didnt you know she was going to attend the grand finale?

We were not given exclusive details on whether they will come or not.

Were you expecting to be crowned winner?

The competition was a very tight one. We were 16 singers who came into the house, and we were cut down to 6, so I was just telling God to take the wheel Before now, what were you doing?

I was part of a musical band; The Blue Pearls band in Port Harcourt and we’ve been playing in hotels and events.

So, what will happen to your band now that you have won?

They are still on, For now, I can’t really say if I am going solo because everything we do has a future.

You performed Phyno’s song ‘Fada Fada’, as a female what were the challenges doing that song?

When I was given the song, I told my choreographer that I was given a male song and she said, I should just go ahead and perform the song as they have taught me, I was asked to make the song my own and love the song, it doesnt matter if it’s a male song or a female song.

Project Fame has produced 9 winners, what are your plans to rank among the best?

I think I will just strive hard to carve a niche for myself, and as our coach, Ms Ige will say, the sky is big enough for every star to shine, and they don’t even colide.

Was there any moment you felt like giving up?

You know, there is some kind of pressure when you are in a competition. At some point, I thought about what I was going to do if I didn’t win and a lot of things were running through my mind, and little voices just running through my mind and I just said whatever will be will be. And anytime I was going on stage, I told myself, whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

You never went on probation while in the Academy, so how were you able to scale through?

I would say I didn’t have a game plan, I came into this academy and what I came in to do was to learn a lot of things and put in my best.

Are you saying it is God or your hardwork that worked for you?

I’ll say both Before winning N5million, what is that one thing you have always been craving to buy?

I’m not someone who collects a lot of material things. I feel if anything comes to me, fine, and if it doesnt come, it’s still okay, so I dont really have one priced thing I want for myself.

What was running through your mind moments before the big announcement?

I was left with three amazing singers, Kitay and Elizabeth, and I didn’t know what to think of anymore, we didn’t know what else to do but smile to the camera, and accept whatever name is proclaimed winner.