2nd January 2016

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NO 1,132

SATURDAY, 2 JANUARY, 2016

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Why I am slow —Buhari

pg4

2016 ’ll end well for Nigeria, Pastor Adeboye predicts

pg3

Our expectations in 2016 —Mercy Johnson, other artistes speak pg32

Journalist claims Chibok girls are alive

Fir st b the ab yea y of r

Representative of the wife of the president, Mrs Gimbiya Dogara (middle), carrying the first baby of the year, Baby Destiny Agu, born at 12.12 a.m. and weighing 3.7kg, at the Asokoro District Hospital in Abuja, on Friday. With her are the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole (left); wife of the Minister of Transport, Mrs Judith Amaechi (third right) and parents of the baby, Mr and Mrs Uchenna Agu. PHOTO: NAN

Oil marketers sell above FG’s prices pg4 Olubadan chieftaincy: Ladoja, Balogun, Adebayo move up pg4 Terrorists plan to use beggars pg3 for attacks —Army

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entertainment

The most important virtue of a

beauty queen is...

—Collete Nwadike, 2015 Face of the Universe

Collete Nwadike represented Nigeria and emerged winner of the just concluded Exquisite Face of the Universe 2015 pageant held in Sao Tome and Principe. She is the first African to win the crown. The winner of the 2014 Miss Tourism award in Nigeria and the Special Adviser to the of Anambra State Governor on Tourism spoke to journalists about the competition. NEWTONRAY UKWUOMA brings excerpts.

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HEN you entered the race for the Face of the Universe pageant, what were your expectations?

Seeing that about 50 girls were coming from all over the world, I initially was looking forward to meeting people and making friends. The competition was on my mind, but primarily, I wanted to make friends. I wanted to be able to go to any country and have somebody to call. And then when it started, everything changed. I started earning some marks from all of the performances till the end. I bless God! How did things change?

Well, I suddenly realised that I had the backing of so many people at home. The support was really great from Nigeria. After the first outing and having been a queen before, I knew I would not let my country down. I knew Nigeria and Nigerians were expecting so much from me. The girls were very pretty.It was a very stiff competition. I almost gave up… In fact, I did not know I could win. But glory be to God I made it. I am the Face of the Universe!

How do you feel on becoming the first African to win the crown?

I couldn’t be more proud of myself. I’m so proud and I’m so thankful to God. It was a tough one.

What are some of the qualities you would say made you to win the Face of the Universe?

Well, when we asked the judges the criteria they were looking out for, it became clear that they were looking for, not just a beautiful face, but someone who is intelligent, someone who can represent the brand. And I was told I fitted into all those categories.

Continues on pg30

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

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2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Terrorists plan to use beggars for attacks —Army

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HE Nigerian Army on Friday raised the alarm on planned attacks by Boko Haram terrorists using beggars and other strategies.

Colonel Mustapha Anka, the Media Coordinator of the Theater Command of Operation Lafiya Dole made this known in a statement in Maiduguri, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

Anka said “the attention of the Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to a terrorists’ intention to use beggars to cause mayhem in Borno State.

“Under the plan, concealed

explosives in bundles of firewood are to be placed in crowded and strategic areas of Maiduguri and environs to cause havoc.”

He said that the terrorists had also devised a new means of attracting the public by shouting ‘Boko Haram’ to create panic.

“Additionally, the general public should be weary of a terrorists plan to deceive the public by way of shouting ‘Boko Haram’ to create panic in order to lure unsuspecting public for maximum casualty while detonating their bombs during and after the New Year

celebrations,” Anka said.

He, therefore, advised residents to be extra vigilant during and after the New Year

THE Presidency has denied that President Muhammadu Buhari has banned hijab, the Muslim women’s dressing symbol of modesty, following his remarks at his first ever live broadcast Presidential Media Chat on Wednesday.

He had said in response to a question that if suicide bombers continued to disguise under the hijab, his administration may consider its ban as being suggested by West African leaders.

But following outrage from Muslim stakeholders, the Presidency gave a clarification on the pronouncement, saying that

the administration would not take a unilateral action over the issue.

According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, on Friday in Abuja, the speculation concerning the ban was unfounded.

The statement clarified that the Buhari administration would always respect the rights of Muslims to protect their modesty and allow religious freedom as it affects everyone.

While admitting that the hijab was being abused by terrorists to carry out suicide attacks on innocent people, which it noted violated the teaching of

mean when he says no credible leader of ISWAP has come forward with evidence of the 219 girls abducted in their dormitories in April 2014 before he will consider negotiation? Does the president want a Boko Haram leader to approach the fortified gates of Aso Rock and announce himself and wait to be ushered in? And who are these Boko Haram leaders that were attempting to approach the federal government over the last months that were not credible enough?

“All over the globe, there are people with access to those who operate outside established norms, and such people are used to reach out as third parties to mediate between two opposing sides.

What any serious government like the one run by President Buhari (as we are made to believe) should do is to use his intelligence agencies to vet those sources.

However, the question we should all be asking is: what happened to the video evidence former President Jonathan received less than two months into the abduction of the girls that almost saw the release of the abducted girls in a swap deal – or is everything Jonathan too dirty for this government to try its hands on?

ernment announced total restriction on vehicular movement during the New Year celebration on Friday.

•Says major international war will be averted •New sexually transmitted disease will surface

By Ebenezer Adurokiya IN Nigeria, “things are likely to get tougher before they get better, but things will surely get better before

Islam, the Presidency assured that the President would not take any decision on the issue without due consultation with all the stakeholders.

“Everything will be done to balance national security requirements with the rights and obligations of citizens under their religions as protected by the constitution,” the statement said.

The statement conceded that the increasing abuse of the hijab by terrorists to perpetrate criminal mass murder and other atrocities was a reality, but the government would address the security challenge in consultations with Muslim leaders with a view to finding a workable solution.

the year 2016 ends,” Pastor Enoch Adeboye has predicted.

Adeboye, who is the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), made the prediction in the wee hours of Friday during the church’s crossover night while reeling out his New Year prophecies at the new auditorium of the Redemption Camp along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The man of God, who was clad in white suit with a wine colour bow tie, added that God said “what He had started last year [in Nigeria] He will finish this year provided we don’t rejoice too soon.”

Explaining what he meant, Adeboye said Nigerians should keep praying for the country until challenges confronting it are surmounted.

On the international scene,

Journalist claims Chibok girls are still alive A Dubai based Nigerian journalist, Ahmed Salkida, who is known to have authoritative information about Boko Haram has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari over his claim that his government had no information on the whereabouts of the Chibok girls.

Salkida, in a statement posted on his blog salkida. com and on his Twitter handle @contactsalkida declared that “most of the Chibok girls are alive.”

“If the president wants to have video evidence of all Boko Haram captives he can receive it today, that’s if he hasn’t already. If the president wants the captors of innocent Nigerian citizens and schoolgirls to put them on the phone with their parents, he can have it done, except if he doesn’t want to. He has the might as the president, so why is he saying he has no clue about the state of the girls?

“Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), popularly called Boko Haram, didn’t fall from the sky, they are mostly Nigerians. Is the president saying no one in Nigeria has access to the sect, a country of over 170 million or, if those with access have not come forward, what has he done as the president to find them?

“What does the president

after the new year celebrations as the ban on bangers and fireworks is still in force.”

Meanwhile, the state gov-

2016 ’ll end well for Nigeria, Adeboye predicts

We won’t ban hijab without consultations —Presidency Leon Usigbe - Abuja

celebrations.

He said “the Theater wishes to remind the public to be extra vigilant during and

“My understanding of the Buhari administration as it relates to the negotiations of the abducted school girls is that they are living in a bubble. They want everything to work for them like ABCD: no hitches, no obstacles. It should be like sending a child to a shop to buy sweets. If the child loses the money on his way or buys something contrary, he is spanked and accused of carelessness or stealing the money. Negotiations of this nature are usually tough, rough and irritating, but that doesn’t mean we should abandon it each time it occurs. Even failed military raids are repeatedly again and again until they succeed.

“Even the Western countries that bask under the statements that they do not negotiate with terrorists have done so several times, like the exchange of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl that led to the release of five Taliban leaders held at Guantanamo Bay. Also noteworthy is the case of four children between the ages 5 and 12 among seven members of a French family kidnapped in Cameroon and were later swapped with Boko Haram militants in April 2013. The examples are many, so are the options before President Buhari on Chibok girls and dozens of other captives that now despair at the likelihood

that they will be free from captivity.

“Most of the Chibok girls, whether they are split into groups or not, are alive, multiple credible sources have told me, and if a deal to release them will weaken national security and endanger the entire country, then the Federal Government shouldn’t make a deal. But was there a deal that can undermine national security that has been pursued vigorously to its conclusion? To make the terror group give more and more concessions, the perspectives of many top security officials in Nigeria run in opposite directions with the statements of President Buhari during his media chat yesterday.

“I am confident that Chibok girls and other captives can return to their families if the government is half as strong-willed as some of the girls in captivity that have refused to be married out or give up their faith. The girls would have never backed out of any process, no matter how irritating it is. They would stay on and negotiate hard until they get a deal that will earn them their freedom and stop such abductions so that no one else can ever witness their woeful plight,” he said.

the revered cleric warned that natural disasters such as floods, fire outbreaks, earthquakes, among others will likely “get progressively worse, until governments realise that these are parts of divine judgements against those who pass unholy laws.”

He added that “if governments will repent of disdaining Christ and His church, He will help them win the fight against terrorism.”

Adeboye, who had earlier preached his New Year message entitled “The Year of His Fulness,” also revealed that a new sexually transmitted disease will surface this year.

On prophecy for individuals, Pastor Adeboye, fondly called Daddy G.O, said a “chosen few will receive blessing so large they can hardly contain it,” adding that “some families will trace the beginning of their generational blessings to this new year.”

“Daddy said grateful hearts will have more causes to be grateful,” he added.

According to the cleric whose past predictions are believed to hardly hit the

rocks, some individuals will also obtain help from unexpected sources, saying “the pendulum is generally on the upward swing now,” for many people.

He warned individuals and nations not to take the prophecies with levity, reminding the congregation of how his 2015 predictions of new scientific and medical discoveries as well as the death of Ebola among others have come to pass.

He said “once Father speaks, it is done.”

Earlier on Thursday, he had conducted the last Holy Communion service of 2015, with the message that a new beginning had commenced for participants.

The Holy Communion service was followed by service of songs from the RCCG national choir and a group of singers, led by wife of the General Overseer, Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye who variously showered praises on God for a successful end of 2015.

Thousands of worshippers from all walks of life attended the cross over vigil that began at 6:00p.m on Thursday.

Abia budgets N96.7bn for 2016 fiscal year CelestineIhejirika-Umuahia ABIA State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has presented an estimated budget outlay of N96.7billion to the state House of Assembly for the 2016 fiscal year.

Tagged ‘Budget of Restoration Through Enterprise,’ the outlay shows 22.8% decrease over the 2015 outlay of 105.8billion.

Presenting the budget at the floor of the House, Dr Ikpeazu said the outcome was based on the resolve by the government to build on the gains of previous administrations.

According to him, capital expenditure is proposed to be 37.8billion while recurrent expenditure will be N58.9billion.

The governor said that it was the resolve of the government to improve on the internally generated revenue efforts of the state by more than 30% of what was the

actual acrual in 2015 with a view to making the economy more self reliant.

The estimated outlay of the budget, the governor said, was based on expected revenue from FAAC and VAT sources, complemented by the projections of the states expected cash flow from independent revenues, aids and grants,loans and other sources, adding that during the period, government proposed to ensure that funding gaps will be reduced through robust activities under public private partnership and donor agreements.

He said that the objectives of the 2016 budget include to optimise the human and natural resource potentials for achieving rapid and sustained economic growth as well as to translate economic growth into equitable social development that guarantees a dignified and meaningful existence for all citizens, among others.

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2 January, 2016

Olubadan stool: Ladoja, Lekan Balogun, Adetunji, six others move up

By Tunde Ogunesan FORMER governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, Senator Lekan Balogun, High Chief Saliu A. Adetunji and six others on Friday inched closer to the Olubadan stool, as they were promoted to the next cadre in their chieftancy lineages that lead to the Olubadan throne.

The event, presided over by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1 at his Monatan palace saw the nine traditional chiefs move up following the vacancies created by the death of the two most senior chiefs in the line.

The two most senior traditional chieftaincy title holders of Olubadan, the Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Sulaimon Adegboyega Alao Omiyale JP and the Otun Olubadan High Chief Omowale Kuye, both of who died within three weeks last November.

Those promoted on Friday inlcude High Chief Saliu A.O. Adetunji formerly the Otun Balogun, now the Balogun of Ibadanland; High Chief Senator Lekan Balogun, the former Osi Olubadan, promoted to the rank of the Otun Olubadan; High Chief Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin (Osi Balogun), now the Otun Balogun; High Chief Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, promoted from Ashipa Olubadan to the rank of the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland and High Chief Dr Olufemi Olaifa, who was promoted from Ashipa Balogun to Osi Balogun of Ibadanland.

Others are High Chief Sir Eddy Oduoye Oyewole, formerly the Ekerin Olubadan, now the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland; High Chief Tajudeen Abimbola, formerly the Ekerin Balogun, now the Ashipa Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Biodun Kola Daisi, the Ekarun Olubadan, now the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanlan and High Chief Solomom A. Adabale, who was until yesterday the Ekarun Balogun, now the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland.

Meanwhile, the newly installed Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Dr Olasogade Olufemi Olaifa, who spoke on behalf of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, after the promotion and istallation disclosed that presentation of certificate of health as pre-requisite for promotion of chiefs in the Olubadan lines is alien to the culture and tradition of the town.

High Chief Olaifa stated

this in an interview after the ceremony held at the palace of Oba Odulana.

Earlier, on Thursday, the Oyo State Government had directed the high chiefs jostling to occupy the vacant stools of Balogun and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and seven others to submit medical reports certifying them fit for the positions in line with extant chieftaincy laws.

The government position was conveyed in a letter by the Director of Chieftaincy Matters in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Z. O Jayeola, which was addressed to the Head of the Ibadan South East Local Government Administration, on Thursday.

In strict compliance with the Chiefs Law of the state, the ministry said it had set machinery in motion to obtain the approval of the governor for the filling of the vacant stools following a November 30 letter by the Ibadan South East Local Government on the subject matter.

The statement reads: “In line with Section 14 (2) Cap 28 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000, our ministry has commenced necessary steps towards the executive governor’s approval of the filling of the vacant stools of Balogun and Otun Ol-

ubadan of Ibadanland and seven others.

“In compliance with the dictates of the aforementioned law, the office of the Department of State Services had been requested to carry out security checks on the prospective occupants of the stools.

“In the same vein you are requested to advise the affected chiefs to submit their medical reports issued by a state-owned secondary health institution to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters as part of requirements for being considered for the vacant stools.”

But High Chief Olaifa stated that “If you know the history of Ibadan traditional system, in the last two months we lost about two most senior high chiefs, the Balogun of Ibadanland and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland. Once that happens the next thing is promotion for two lines of high chiefs in Ibadan. That is why vacancies exist for the Balogun line and the Otun Balogun line.

“Today’s promotions have to affect the four High Chiefs of the Balogun line, that is the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland who has just moved now to Balogun of Ibadanland and the Osi Olubadan who has just moved

to Otun Olubadan. Also, those in line with them moved accordingly and we are nine in total from both lines.

“There is no much problem apart from that the processes wanted to be prolonged and the Ibadan traditional council did not accept that.

“We did not receive any letter from the government directing the Balogun and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and seven others to submit a medical report certifying them fit for the positions in line with extant chieftaincy laws. It has never happened before in Ibadan and it will not happen during our own time.

“There is no letter of such, it is only a rumour. The only letter we received from government was an acknowledgement of the Olubadan asking the governor to give his consent and endorsement to the promoted high chiefs. If you understand the system in Ibadan the king makers are the only one empowered by the law to promote anybody, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland and that is exactly what we have done today. The governor’s consent or endorsement is just a formality,” Olaifa noted.

Saturday Tribune

Why I’m slow —Buhari Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he seems not to be making so much progress in governance as expected of him by the Nigerian populace.

The president spoke on Friday during the visit to him by a group, Women In Politics Forum (WIPF).

“People say we are slow. We are trying to change structures put in place by our predecessors in office for 16 years. If we hurry it, we will make mistakes. That will be a disaster,” he stated.

Buhari assured that the country had a budget proposal for the new year that was good for employment and manufacturing, adding, “By the end of the second quarter, the full impact of these positive measures will be felt.”

The WIPF, which is made up of women leaders from 26 registered political parties and led by Barrister Ebere Ifendu of the Labour Party, expressed their full support for the government’s war on corruption and insecurity.

The group advised the Federal Government to enact laws to promote gender equity as well as action towards the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act. The president also revealed plan to set up a committee to be headed by former Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma to rehabilitate infrastructure and resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East sub-region. The committee will soon be formally inaugurated.

He said the committee will also include Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.

The president regretted the impact of the Boko Haram violence on women and children, declaring that they were its worst victims.

He added: “In the North-East, what I saw for myself and on those clips is a source of concern for people with conscience. They are mostly women, and children who are orphaned. Some of them don’t even know where they come from. This is the pathetic situation in which the country has found itself.”

While noting that the fight for the return of the Chibok girls was ongoing and “continues to be a most worrying issue” to his government, he emphasised that the administration would do all within its powers in making the best efforts to secure their freedom.

New PMS pump price: Most filling stations ignore FG’s directives FromAkinAdewakun-Lagos, Biola Azeez - Ilorin, Oluwole Ige - Osun, Banji Aluko - Benin City, DareAdekambi-Ibadanand HakeemGbadamosi-Akure with Agency Reports MOST petrol stations in Nigeria on Friday failed to comply with the Federal Government’s directive to sell petrol at N86 per litre for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) retail stations and N86.50k for other marketers.

A Saturday Tribune survey on Friday revealed that consumers still bought fuel as high as N130 per litre in some metropolis in the country. However, there was skeletal compliance by some filling stations especially in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

In some parts of Lagos, some fuel stations simply ignored the Federal government’s directive.

While most of the filling stations between Iyana Ipaja and Ile Epo Area on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway were under lock, a few that sold the product were still selling at N87 per litre.

For instance, Al-Maroof,

Ramonak and A.A. Ranus, the popular filling stations that were active few days ago, were not opened for businesses at the time of filing in this report.

However, a filling station that is almost opposite Pleasure Bus stop in the area, was seen dispensing fuel, at the old price of N87, while some that bought inside jerry cans were made to pay between N50 and N100 extra.

Even the NNPC station at Abule Taylor area of Agbado was not selling despite the fact that it fully sold on Thursday. The same situation played out at a station just a few metres away. A mega private station, located between Ijaiye and Meiran area of Agbado and which has about 10 dispensing tanks and had served motorists several times during the scarcity period, also didn’t sell petrol.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who went round Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reported that all the stations visited had enough products, as well as standby trucks loaded with petrol and sold

the product at the official rate of N86 per litre.

NAN also reported that the stations visited such as Conoil, Oando, Total and Mobil filling stations within the city centre witnessed very low patronage.

Saturday Tribune gathered that all the fuel stations which had allegedly hoarded the product in Ibadan opened their gates on Thursday evening to customers and sold fuel at N87 per litre for fear of what could happen in the New Year.

Meanwhile, on Friday most of the fuel stations were under lock and key.

A marketer who spoke with Saturday Tribune on condition of anonymity disclosed that the new price regime would be effective only if there was enough petrol to sell.

‘But as we speak, the NNPC depots are loading only NNPC trucks for NNPC megastations. How many megastations do we have,? he queried.

In Kwara State, Saturday Tribune saw NNPC filling stations located in such areas as Asa Dam, Offa Garage, and Gari Alimi areas of Ilorin metropolis dispensing fuel on Friday,

while gates of most of the private filling stations were under lock. Many people spoken with said the filling stations were probably closed for the New Year celebration, expressing the hope that they will open for business after the new year celebration.

In Akure, Ondo State, no fuel station in Akure metropolis complied with the new fuel price of N86.50 as most of them still sold between N120 and N140 in the capital city, depending on the location.

Fuel station located within the capital sold petrol between N120 and N125 while those on the outskirts sold between N 130 and N140 .

The NNPC station located on the Akure/Owo road had closed at the time of writing this report but a customer told Saturday Tribune he bought fuel at N87 per litre Friday morning.

Filling stations in Benin City, Edo State, defied the new pump price of N86.50 as they sold fuel for between N120 and N135 per litre on Friday.

There were, however, exceptions at Total filling station at Akpakpava Road where fuel sold forN86.50k and the NNPC mega filling

station located on Sapele Road, which sold fuel for N86 per litre.

Filling stations located on Sapele Road, Airport Road, Akpakpava Road and First East Circular Road did not comply with the new price regime.

Fuel was sold for N130 at a filling station located on Sapele Road, while four others located on Airport Road sold fuel for N135, N130, N130 and N120 respectively.

In Osun State, most of the independent oil marketers were still selling a litre of fuel for N120 or N130.

In Osogbo, the state capital, only the NNPC mega station sold at the new pump price of N86 per litre.

There was a long queue of vehicles at the NNPC mega station situated on the Ring Road as motorists took turns to buy the product.

All the filling stations of independent marketers visited around Olaiya, Ogo Oluwa, Igbonna, Estate, Oke Baale, Ilobu road, Ota Efun, Ofatedo, among other areas, were still dispensing fuel to motorists at the rate of N130 and N120 per litre.

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6 news Appeal Court verdict, New Year gift for Taraba — PDP group Leon Usigbe-Abuja

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HE National Youth Vanguard of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that the Appeal Court’s verdict on Thursday, affirming Darius Ishaku as the validly elected governor of Taraba State was the best New Year gift the people of the state and the party supporters nationwide could have hoped for.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by its National Organising Secretary, Ambassador Usman

Elkudan, the group said that the judgement, which reversed the earlier decision of the Taraba State Election Tribunal, was in the interest of justice and equity and fair play.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had set aside the judgement of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election of Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But while delivering judgement in the three appeals and cross appeal that emanated from the judgement

of the tribunal which sat in Abuja because of the security concerns in the North East, a five-member panel of justices of the appellate court led by Justice Abdul Aboki set aside the earlier decision of the tribunal.

In unanimous judgement, the Appeal Court held that it was a gross misdirection for the tribunal to have declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hajiya Aisha Jumai Alhassan, winner of the April 11 governorship election in Taraba State on the basis that she scored

2 January, 2016

Gwagwalada baby of the year, couple’s first after nine years of marriage the second highest number of votes in the election.

The Youth Vanguard recalled that the argument brought before the tribunal by the APC was to invalidate the election of Governor Ishaku on the basis of not being validly nominated by the PDP in the primary that was held in Abuja.

It added: “But we are happy that the Appeal Court has put to rest that argument saying that the issue of party primary is strictly the business of the party, not of the court.”

From left, the Provost, St James’ Cathedral, Oke Bola, Ibadan, Reverend E.A. Adebayo; Revd (Dr) David Olagbaju; Mr Ademidun Ademola and Reverend M.I Oladipo, after the thanksgiving service for year 2016, held on the church premises, on Friday . PHOTO: D’Toyin.

Ademowo tasks leaders on credibility, performance THE Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend Adebola Ademowo, on Friday, called on the national leaders to shun politics-ofpromise-without performance and embrace politicsof-action and service.

Ademowo according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said this in his New Year message which he made available to newsmen in Lagos.

He urged the leaders to serve the country with all sincerity by putting the nation first and demonstrate their love for the country by living exemplary lives.

The cleric stated that the rise in crime due to the increased rate of unemployment and insurgency was worrisome and urged the government to rise to the challenge by creating jobs opportunities for the youths.

“Right now Nigeria is experiencing a downturn in its economy, unemployment in Year 2,000 was 13.9 per cent; it rose to 23.95 percent in 2012. Yet for the past seven years, Nigeria has been reporting a growth of seven

per cent.

“The growth is wacky because it is growth without goodness. The working population in Nigeria‘s public and private sectors is groaning because of piles of unpaid salaries.

“It also has to find new ways of boosting its revenue by

restructuring the economy, drastically improving exports, reducing imports and adding value to primary products,” he said.

He added that the alarming rate of insecurity in the country was worrisome, urging the government to do something to arrest the problem.

“For our nation to survive and to find funds to fight the security challenges, it has to make drastic expenditure cuts.

Ademowo commended the Federal Government for its proposal to pay a N5,000 allowance to every unemployed youth on monthly basis.

FRSC pledges hard times for traffic violators in 2016 Clement Idoko-Abuja

THE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has vowed that the corps will ensure aggressive enforcement of road traffic regulations this year in order to reduce the high spate of road crashes in the country.

The corps marshal has also pledged to improve on the welfare of officers and men of the corps, while appealing to them for more dedication to duties towards the actualisation of the set goals for 2016 FRSC operations.

Head of Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Mr Bisi

Kazeem, in a statement on Friday, in Abuja said Oyeyemi stated this in his New Year message.

He expressed gratitude to God for the successes recorded in 2015 and stressed the commitment to improving on the achievements this year.

Oyeyemi commended the staff for their high level performances in the outgoing year, saying the management remained committed to enunciating policies that could adequately address their welfare needs.

He further disclosed that the FRSC intends to focus on three main goals in 2016.

SaturdayTribune

These, according to hin, are improvement of fleet operations and sustenance of consultation with stakeholders; collaboration with states to improve road safety administration and improvement in public education and aggressive enforcement of traffic regulations.

The Corps Marshal admitted that the challenges of 2015 were multifaceted and involved staff risking their lives to save road cash victims, travelling several kilometres to ensure that road users were enlightened and diffusing tension as well as rescuing crash victims even at odd hours of the day.

THE first baby of the year at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was born at 1.55 a.m. on Friday, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Omagbo, stated.

Omagbo said five other babies were born after the first delivery.

The first baby of the year, a male, was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Francis Elue from Niger State and weighed 3.9 kilogrammes.

The baby was born through normal delivery and was the first child of the family after nine years of marriage.

The family thanked God for blessing them with the gift of a child at the beginning of the new year.

Fayose’s wife presents gift to first baby of the year THE first baby of the year in Ekiti State was born at Basic Health Centre, Aisegba-Ekiti to the family of Mr and Mrs Hassan at 12:03 a.m., weighing 3.5kg.

The second baby was born at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital to the family of Mr and Mrs Abiodun Joseph and the third to the family of Mrs Taiwo at Okeyinmi Basic Health Centre, both in Ado-Ekiti.

The wife of Ekiti State governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, who went on a visit to the hospitals presented baby Hassan and the other babies with gifts.

The Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, (EKSUTH), Dr Kolawole Ogundipe while appreciating the good gesture promised more quality service delivery.

The mother of the first baby, Mrs Hassan also thanked the wife of Ekiti State governor for her motherly care and gift presented to her baby.

The governor’s wife in her response assured women of more government oriented programmes in the new year.

According to her, women would enjoy more dividends of democracy through different programmes that would be initiated to carter for their welfare.

She, however, advised expectant mothers to patronise government hospitals to enjoy the quality delivery service offered the medical workers.

FG debunks plans to change prison officials’ uniform THE Federal Government has dismissed reports in a section of the media that plans are underway to change the uniform of officers of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS).

The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) said this in a statement signed by Mr Bassey Akpanyung, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry on Friday, in Abuja.

“The attention of the minister, Lt. Gen Abulrahman Dambazau has been drawn to a publication to the effect that plans are underway to change the fatigue uniform of officers of the NPS. “Gen. Dambazau states that no such issue was discussed at any of its management meetings and therefore the report is false,” he said.

The minister said that the priority of the Federal Government as regards to the NPS “remains the prisons reform”.

He said that the reform would specifically focus on prison decongestion, rehabilitation of convicts, improved welfare for officers as well as enhanced logistics and capacity building.

Dambazau urged media practitioners to always cross check their reports before publication.

It will be recalled that a section of the media had reported that the Federal Government plans to change the uniform of prison officials.

7

news

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Pope seeks collaboration among world leaders

From left, newly installed Otun Olubadan, Chief (Senator) Lekan Balogun; Otun Balogun Olubadan, Chief Akinloye Owolabi; Osi Olubadan, Chief Rasheed Ladoja and the Osi Balogun Olubadan, Chief (Dr) Olufemi Olaifa, during the promotion/installation ceremony of traditional chiefs in the Balogun and Otun Olubadan chieftancy title lines, held at the Olubadan’s Palace, Monatan, Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

2016 will bring economic challenges, but … —Ambode

G

OVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Friday said 2016 would bring economic challenges but the state would ensure it survives any inclement economic weather.

Ambode, in his New Year message to residents of the state, said Lagos had

always been resilient and would consolidate on its self- reliance approach to weather the storm.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Governor Ambode as saying that even though the last seven months had been challenging, but with patience of the people, their

support and positive criticism, his administration had begun to display a positive outlook on innovation and inclusion.

“I am aware that 2016 will also bring economic challenges due to pressures of dwindling revenue from the centre, but Lagos has always been resilient

Aisha Buhari congratulates mother of first baby of the year, urges godly morals MRS Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhamadu Buhari, has congratulated the mother of the first baby born in the year at Asokoro District Hospital Abuja and urged women to raise children with good morals.

The president’s wife also honoured the baby on Friday as part of the ceremonial celebration to mark the New Year.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the baby, a female named Destiny Agu, was born at 12:12 a.m. to the family of Mr and Mrs Uche Agu and weighed 3.7kg.

Represented by the wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs Gimbiya Dogara, Buhari said mothers had vital roles in the upbringing of children that made for a better society.

She said, “If mothers play their roles well, vices will no longer exist in Nigeria; if we play our part well, I think the children will be good children.

“The women who deliver their children today in particular should play their roles well in bringing their children up.”

She acknowledged that children were gifts from God, adding that parents needed to strive to avail

them the best training they could afford.

Mrs Amaka Agu, the mother of the baby recalled that the contraction pains started at about 5:00 p.m. on 31 December and lasted till the time of her delivery.

Amaka stated that her baby was a covenant child who was destined for greatness, adding that she was her third child.

Mrs Ebito Emem, the

Chief Nursing Officer of the hospital urged women to patronise the hospital once they conceived so as to avert pregnancy complications.

Emem said every woman should be at the hospital for antenatal “because we teach them personal and environmental hygiene.

“We lecture the women on how to manage pregnancy, what to wear and what to eat.”

and must consolidate on its self-reliance to ensure it survives any inclement economic weather,” Ambode said.

The governor assured the residents that 2016 holds great promise for them through improved security, creation of job opportunities and greater attention to positive infrastructure development.

He said that 2016 promised to be a ground breaking year for the people of the state.

“I have been lifted by the support and love shown to me and my government by well-meaning Lagosians and I am encouraged to redouble efforts to deliver the Lagos of our dreams,” Ambode said The governor called for the continued support of residents through regular payment of their taxes and strict adherence to their civic responsibilities.

Osun Assembly urges Nigerians to embrace 2016 with optimism, faith OSUN State House of Assembly under the leadership of its Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, has charged Nigerians to approach the new year with high sense of hope, optimism, positive attitude and unshakable faith.

The House also called for fervent prayers for peace, a prerequisite for development, spirit of sacrifice from the citizenry in view of the myriads of challenges confronting the nation, as well as mutual trust needed for nation building.

The calls were made

through a statement to mark the New Year 2016 celebration, issued by the chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye on behalf of the assembly.

Describing the year 2016 as one of great expectations, hope, possibilities and challenges, the Assembly said though the nation is presently at an economic crossroads and not yet the nation of our collective dream, it potentially still remains a land of illimitable opportunities and great possibilities.

The parliament said Nigerians of all faith must unite to make Nigeria the global giant of Africa that it was destined to be.

Stressing that Nigeria has every ingredient for greatness, Oyintiloye maintained that with tenacity of purpose reversal of downturn of fortune was achievable.

He pointed that the challenges facing the country may be obvious in socioeconomic front, there was the need to build confidence in the capacities of the present government to achieve its developmental goals.

THE universal head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has called for collaboration among world leaders and renew their relations with one another to ensure fraternity among the nations of the world.

Francis made the call on the sideline of the 49th World Day of Peace, celebrated by Catholic faithful on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Pope’s message entitled “Overcome Indifference and Win Peace” was read by Archbishop Adewale Martins of the Catholic Archdiocese Lagos at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos.

Francis, in the message, appealed to world leaders to make concrete gestures in favour of their brothers and sisters, who suffer from the lack of labour, land and lodging.

“I will like to make a three-fold appeal to the leaders of nations to refrain from drawing other peoples into conflicts, which destroy not only their material, cultural and social legacy, but also their moral and spiritual integrity.

“To forgive or manage in a sustainable way the international debts of the poorer nations and to adopt policies of cooperation, which will respect the values of local populations.

“I am thinking of the creation of dignified jobs to combat the social plague of unemployment, which affects many families and young people, with grave effects for society as a whole.

“Unemployment takes a heavy toll on people’s sense of dignity and hope, and can only be partially compensated for by welfare benefits provided to the unemployed and their families.

“Special attention needs to be given to women, who still encounter discrimination in the workplace.

“And to some categories of workers, whose conditions are precarious or dangerous, and whose pay is not commensurate to the importance of their social mission,” the Pontiff said.

Later, Archbishop Adewale Martins, while responding to questions from newsmen, urged Nigerians to put aside their differences and embrace peace, love and care for one another.

See 2016 as year of new beginnings —Sylva A governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has urged Bayelsa people and Nigerians to see the New Year as a new start in their individual and collective quests for development.

He made the call in a New Year message issued by his Media Adviser, Mr Doifie Buokoribo, in Yenagoa on Friday.

The candidate, who called for improved peaceful coexistence among the people in the New Year and beyond, also urged the people to eschew divisive tendencies.

Sylva wished the people of Bayelsa a prosperous new year, noting that “as we welcome the New Year, we should embrace new hopes, new opportunities and new vistas it has for us as Bayelsans and Nigerians to stand out and fulfill our personal and collective destinies.

Don’t resign to fate, Cleric urges Nigerians Sylvanus Viashima - Jalingo REVEREND Father John Jerome Laikei of Catholic Diocese of Jalingo, Taraba State, on Friday urged Nigerians not to lose hope or resign to fate in the face of the current economic realities facing the nation.

Father Laikei, the priest in charge of St. Justina’s pastoral centre, Mayo-Dasa, made the call during his New Year message to the people.

He urged people to rather work hard and stop procrastinating if they must achieve their dreams.

“You must stop wishing for things and work hard and remain resolute and committed in achieving your goals.

Mere wishes without hard work would never translate to anything good.

“Life is not without challenges. Jesus himself fell several times, but he kept on rising in order to save mankind. At some point it will look as if you are losing the battle, but with resilience and perseverance you will surely wear the crown,” he said.

He reminded the people that year 2016 will be not easy, but urged them not to entertain fair, but hand over their worries to God.

8 news Babies of the Year born in Lagos, Oyo, Osun and Abuja

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Mimiko bags MAFG award, says artisans got N1bn in 7yrs

O

NDO State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has disclosed that his seven-year-old administration has so far disbursed about N1 billion soft loans to artisans and trade unions in the state, even as he bagged the Most Artisan-Friendly Governor of the year award.

Speaking on efforts of government to empower artisans in the state at a stakeholders meeting held at the Alagbaka Government House on New Year’s eve, Mimiko reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue to empower artisans to drive the needed socioeconomic development.

He emphasised the need to diversify the nation’s economy in all critical sectors, particularly agriculture for sustainable growth.

He enjoined the people of the state to engage in one farming system or the other as a way of overcoming the harsh economic climate that Nigeria is experiencing because of the global fall in the price of crude oil, even as he enjoined all to work very hard in the new year to ensure a good life.

The governor had earlier

bagged the Most ArtisanFriendly Governor award presented to him after the artisans declared their support for all the good projects embarked upon by the Mimiko-led administration at the state’s Artisans Day 2015 and Awards presentation, held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade in Akure with dignitaries, including the governor’s wife, Olukemi, the deputy gover-

nor, Alhaji Abdulazeez Oluboyo and his wife, Fatimo, among others in attendance.

At the event, Dr Mimiko mentioned that his administration had made available all necessary assistance that will make artisans in the state flourish since the inception of his administration and promised to continue to ensure that the existing peace in the state was sustained.

Ambode’s wife tasks mothers on exclusive breastfeeding Bola Badmus - Lagos WIFE of the Lagos State governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode on Friday urged nursing mothers to observe the mandatory exclusive breastfeeding period of six months to make their babies healthy and good looking.

Ambode made the appeal during her goodwill visit to public hospitals to welcome the First Baby of the Year 2016, organised by the state government.

Speaking as she received the first baby of the year, Ambode said one of the greatest gifts of God to humanity was

the birth of a new baby and the baby should be properly catered for.

“Mothers should embrace exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life because babies are more vulnerable in the first six months of life and required adequate care for proper growth and development.

“This will not only make the baby healthy and strong, it will also help reduce unnecessary spending on health issues,” she said.

Ambode also tasked mothers on prompt registration of birth to aid data collation and policy formulation on health.

Lagos State government thanks Glo, others for success of One Lagos Fiesta

1. Wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode (second left), carrying the Baby of the Year; Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris; Special Adviser on Primary Healthcare to the Governor, Dr Olufemi Onanuga; father of the baby, Mr Okunowo and the mother, Mrs Oluwakemi Okunowo, during the presentation of gifts to the Baby of the Year, born 12:01am at the Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos Island, on Friday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA 2. From left, the father, Mr Morakinyo A. Akinda; his wife, Adejoke, receiving a gift from the representative of Oyo State governor, Permanent Secretary, Minitry of Women Affairs, Mrs Foluso Sali. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU. 3. Wife of the governor of Osun State, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola with the first baby of the year 2016. With her are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Temitope Oladele (right); Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, Pharmacist Temitope Ajayi (left) and the mother of the baby, Mrs Rofiyat Tijani, during Mrs Aregbesola’s visit to Asubiaro State Hospital, Osogbo, on Friday. .4. Mothers carrying their newly born babies at the Maitama District Hospital in Abuja on Friday. PHOTO: NAN

NIGERIA’S next generation network, Globacom, has been commended by the Lagos State government for supporting the execution of the first ever One Lagos Fiesta, an innovative five-day long end-of-year celebrations in five locations across Lagos State.

The commendation came the way of the telecoms company as the fiesta climaxed with a countdown and a spectacular fireworks display simultaneously on the stroke of midnight of the New Year at the five locations, including the Bar Beach, which was personally graced by the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Others were Agege, Badagry, Epe, and Ikorodu.

Speaking at the Badagry centre just before midnight, Lagos State deputy governor, Dr Oluranti Adebule, in her speech, expressed appreciation to Globacom and other sponsors for keying into the One Lagos Fiesta project.

She said the contributions of Globacom and other sponsors made the first edition of the massive project the huge success it was.

The participation of Globacom was marked by innovative entertainment and

a wide variety of side attractions that made the fiesta a memorable one for Lagos residents.

Globacom’s pavilions in all the five locations were the main attractions to funseeking Lagosians, while the fiesta lasted. Present at Globacom stands at the fiesta were facilities for snookers,

table soccer, mock on-thesport kick, and video games.

Other varieties introduced included “Karaoke night” which enabled Lagosians to try out their singing talent and win freebies, Comedy night, which featured some of the most popular comedians in Nigeria, dancing competitions and many others.

Onaiyekan demands pardon for corrupt officials willing to return stolen funds THE Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan on Friday urged the Federal Government to pardon those involved in money laundering if they are willing to return such funds.

Onaiyekan made the appeal at the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Nyanya as part of his New Year message for the nation in Abuja.

He said that the best strategy to ensure the return of the monies would be an agreement with the people involved to have them return what they had stolen.

He said that the ongoing developments had shown that corruption could be eradicated over time, adding that the fight against fraudu-

lent acts must be handled with care.

“It is okay to expose people and disgrace them, but that will not solve the problem.

“If we want our money back, we have to strategise so that the countries that are keeping our money can feel challenged to return them.

“The easiest way to get the money back is to convince them to go bring the money back, and then it will be easy.

“One way to convince people to bring stolen money back is to promise them that they will not be disgraced,” Onaiyekan said.

According to him, the amnesty is not like a plea bargain which only leads to the return of some stolen funds.

9

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

newsmaker

The options before Kachikwu

By Wale Emosu

T

HERE is so much noise in the land now – noise of festivity, that is. It is a new year and Nigerians are celebrating in ecstasy, praying for themselves and wishing one another, in all ramifications, a far better 2016 than the just ended year.

In the coming days the noise will die down and the citizenry will brace up to walk and work towards their prayers and expectations in the New Year. The ‘noise’, however, may persist for and around a particular Nigerian with a tendency for same to change in symphony, depending on how he is able to maintain his gait and trudge on under the heavy load of affairs of State placed on his head.

Apart from Muhammadu Buhari, the president, whom every citizen is wont to typically blame for any malfunction in the polity, Ibe Kachikwu, because of the sensitive posts he holds, immediately comes next in the line of public officers who may get a lot of stick, if in the ratings of the Nigerian public he doesn’t deliver.

Instructively, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu as the Minister of State for Petroleum shares the same fate as President Buhari, who is the Minister of Petroleum, the all-important product central to the soul of the nation’s economy. Instinctively every successive government’s peculiar policy on the product spells its status and consequently the extent of its welfare for the citizenry.

In an effort to buoy up the economy and ensure an improvement in the standard of living of Nigerians, the current administration has dedicated the better part of its seven months in the saddle to the formulation of stringent policies, with, of course, Dr Kachikwu being the ‘errand boy’ and mouthpiece of his principal – President Buhari – taking the message to members of the public.

The climax of the formulation was the submission, on Tuesday by the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), that effective from yesterday, January 1, 2016, retail stations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would start selling petrol at N86.00 per litre, while other marketers would be selling at N86.50.

The price, during a quarterly review, could move upward or downward, at the instance of Dr Kachikwu, PPPRA Executive Secretary Mr Farouk Ahmed clarified.

Until yesterday, the official pump price of petrol per litre was N87.00. In addition to this, Dr Kachikwu had announced the

removal of subsidy, otherwise known as petroleum support fund.

On the surface level, these are laudable are masses-oriented, but the government’s inconsistent remarks and body language leading up to the current development leave a lot to be desired and cast a doubt on its ability to remain firm in its resolve all the way.

While appearing before the Senate for screening as a minister-nominee in October, Dr Kachikwu said the Federal Government had no intention of removing subsidies on petroleum products as palliative measures must have been put in place before removal would be considered.

Even as a minister-nominee, Dr Kachikwu was not a layman – he appeared before the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, an office he had assumed two months before. In essence, he ought to have sincerely known the desirability or otherwise of the subsidy.

Thankfully Nigerians seem insensible to the subsidy removal this time only because it has not resulted in increase in price of petroleum. Its removal by the Goodluck Jonathan administration on January 1 2012, which could have shot the price of the product up to about N141 per litre from N65 was resisted across the country. This was in spite of the then government’s promise to divert the subsidy fund to providing infrastructure.

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while throwing his weight behind the removal of subsidy recently, urged the

entertainment

feature

Mercy Johnson, others state their expectations in 2016

‘I was called ‘Sarah’ during my 16 years of barrenness’

F e d e r a l Government to divert the money to other social programmes and infrastructure. Ironically, Dr Kachikwu, while justifying the removal of subsidy, said: “The earning capacity of the Federal Government is deteriorating by the day with lower prices of crude.” What is more, to fund the 2016 budget put at N6.08trillion, the Federal Government plans to borrow N1.84trillion.

On December 14, 2015, Dr Kachikwu was quoted as saying that the country would, in 2016, revert to the old price of N97 per litre “in gradual phase-out” of subsidy.

The

interview

P32 P35

Banks aren’t taking or paying dollars, so how do we send money to students abroad?

—Prof. Adenikinju Pp38,39

previous government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan took the price to N97 before crashing it down to N87 before leaving office last May. But three days later (December 17), the minister denied any plan by government to increase the price to N97 outright, as the plan was to make the price elastic with periodic reviews.

While hinting at a reduction in the price of petrol on Christmas Day in Port Harcourt, Dr Kachikwu said: “The nice thing about the PPPRA, where I signed up on it yesterday is that the price will be far below N87...” However, after Nigerians’ expectations had been heightened, all they got was a reduction of N1 for those who will be buying from NNPC retail stations and 50kobo for those who will be buying from other marketers.

And the former Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon Mobil (Africa) has the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), both of which are at variance with him on the fuel subsidy removal, to contend with. In matters of national interest, the masses are most likely to queue in support of these bodies.

The odds seem stashed against Dr Kachikwu but as the Odogwu (War Commander) of his native Onicha Ugbo, he, perhaps, by now, must have known what it takes to prepare for ‘battle’, which his office as Minister of State for Petroleum delicately exposes him to.

If in the long run, the subsidy removal and or the elastic template do/does not lead to a hike in the price of petroleum products, particularly the Premium Motor Spirit, which may irk the populace, then may the ‘shout’ turn into a shoutout to the barrister. And if it does?...

feature

Lagos: 1,638 fire incidents, 79 deaths in 2015... Why trend may continue in 2016 P40

10

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

08050498504 toluwaniforever@yahoo.com

She has the passion to impart knowledge from which she derives joy and fulfilment. Also very precious to her is her marriage which she nurtures and cherishes. Dr (Mrs) Adetola Adeoti, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, in this interview with TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE, speaks on her background, job and marriage.

I

T has been observed that finance is one of the major issues which cause misunderstanding in marriages, how do you handle yours?

We have different accounts but we discuss and pool our resources together for the common interest of the family. We each decide on what amount we consider as convenient to contribute towards a need in the family.

We both do this in love and with joy and there is flexibility on how each of us spend our money.

Did you do all your schooling in Kaduna?

I attended Our Lady Primary School, Kaduna, Baptist Girls High School, Osogbo and passed out with Grade 1. There, I was the senior prefect and president of the Scripture Union. I later went to Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro, for my ‘A’ Levels after which I gained admission to University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and studied Agricultural Economics.

Can you introduce your husband?

He is Professor John Adeoti, a civil engineer working with the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER).

How did your journey into wedlock begin?

We met during our National Youth Corps Service in Sokoto where we both served. We both attended University of Ife and were members of Evangelical Christian Union Fellowship (ECUF) on campus but we met not more than three times and weren’t close. In Sokoto, we both belonged to the Christian Corpers Fellowship and were both executives, but even at that we were not close.

As members of the Bible Study group, we met weekly to prepare Bible study and one day, he walked into my room on a visit and proposed.

Can you explain better?

He brought out a Bible and read out the Book of Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 14 and told me to ponder on it. I told him if he had any message on it he should tell me or explain to me himself. He then told me he was proposing to me officially.

What was your reaction?

I laughed when he left because it was funny. He never actually fitted into the picture of whom I wanted as a husband. But one significant thing about him was that he was reserved. While I talked a lot during meetings or deliberations at the corpers fellowship he listened more, but when he spoke his words were apt and to the point.

Anyway, I forgot about his proposal, although he didn’t give up.

What made you change your mind?

When we were through with the youth corps service, he helped me to pack my things and paid my bus fare. This gesture touched my heart. Again after gaining admission into the University of Ibadan for my Master’s degree programme, I met a friend who was curious that I wasn’t engaged at that time. While discussing I gave him the names of the three brothers who had proposed to me. When I mentioned Brother Tunji Adeoti, she was delighted and told me how fervent, committed and wonderful he was. He advised I give him a chance. I then decided to pray and clear my mind.

And when you were convinced?

You know we didn’t have the mobile phone then. I wrote him a letter. He told me when he received the letter he danced.

What experience did you find shocking early in your marriage?

I wouldn’t say ‘shocking’. I didn’t have much expectation in marriage because of my background and I didn’t really care. Then, marriage for me was just to fulfil societal expectation. To me then, If it worked out fine and if not… But for the 26 years we have been married,

Can we have a peep into your background?

My parents are Mr Michael Soleye and Mrs Comfort Soleye. I have an elder sister and younger brother. I grew up in Kaduna. My dad worked with CFAO Motors as a technician.

He was passionate about education because of the way the Britons who were his bosses lived. He later left CFAO and set up his own shop. My mum had Standard Six education and worked with P&T which was later changed to NITEL. She later went into trading and made a success of trading in textile. We were brought up with that orientation that we had no excuse but to be first in class.

As a child, who was your favourite between your father and mother?

Both were great. I loved dad for his passion for education while mum could pay any price for our welfare. But when I grew up I loved my mum more.

‘Don’t go into marriage thinking you can change your hubby’

How long have you been a lecturer?

I started in 1997.

How will you describe students’ attitude to learning these days?

Students are not eager to learn like before. There are too much distractions all around. IT is good but it can be abused.

Entertainment and sports are also good but they should not be to the detriment of learning. Students can give CVs of footballers but know nothing in class. Many of these unserious students are from comfortable homes and are given to more fun and pleasure than hard work. Of course they believe their parents are well connected and will always fix them up with regards to job. Again, some want the certificate but are not interested in acquiring knowledge.

Is your job rewarding?

I love what I am doing. I’m passionate about giving knowledge, it gives me great joy. It’s also good to see someone you taught impacting the society, there’s a kind of joy you can’t just buy.

When you go out, you find people greeting you and introducing themselves as your students. I remember a time I wanted to travel out and discovered the flight was totally booked, one of my former students working with the airline came to my help. We later realised that the seats were actually reserved.

What’s your hobby?

I love to read and listen to poems, music and read.

I’m glad to say I’m blessed more than I would have imagined. God has really been good to me. When I disagree with my husband he will let go. He gave me audience, care, just name it. My husband made me submissive through his overwhelming love and affection.

What changed about you when you got married?

I came from a home where women were not treated well.

I had it in my consciousness that I shouldn’t let any man trample on me. But in marriage, I learnt that a woman can be submissive and still be happy. I also became more feminine.

Looking back at 2015, what do you wish you had done better?

I wish I had been more prayerful.

What is your resolution in 2016?

I’m going to pray more.

Do you have a beauty routine?

No. Can you tell us your favourite attire and colour?

Skirt suit and colour green.

11

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune BLESSING EKUM ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

food&drink

Ditch stew: Go for veggie gravy in 2016 Veggie gravy with rice

Veggie gravy with potatoes

By Blessing Ekum

I

N this part of the world, we love stew.

Tomatoes, different kinds of pepper, onions and various condiments fried and cooked is a delight for many any-

time.

The great part of it is that it goes well with a variety of foods; rice, yam, plantain, vegetable soup, name it. But it can sometimes get boring, moreover, health experts say too much fried foods and the constant use of oil, especially in deep frying is not too healthy for the body.

As the New Year begins, it brings with it an opportunity to give your meals a makeover.

In place of pepper and tomato stew, you can infuse a healthy alternative in the form of gravy filled with your favourite veggies.

It is well known that eating veggies are the way to go but in place of salad, you can prepare a mix of these nutritious and delicious gifts of nature and enjoy them as sauce with any dish of your choice.

It goes perfectly with rice, potatoes, pasta, couscous, yam and can also be eaten with bread as sandwich.

In fact, it can be enjoyed as a lone meal.

It is the ideal alternative to pepper/tomato

Veggie gravy with yams

Veggie gravy sandwich

stew because it requires little oil, no deep frying, contains a load of veggies, has an inviting appal owing to the different colours of veggies and is just as sumptuous.

To prepare this dish, you will need -Chicken cut into small pieces - 2 medium sized carrots - 1 green bell pepper - 1 red bell pepper - 3 Scotch bonnet (rodo) - 1 handful green peas - 1 large onion - 3 seasoning cubes - Salt to taste - 1 tablespoonful curry powder

Veggie gravy with pasta

- 1 teaspoon thyme - 1 teaspoon garlic powder(optional) - 1 teaspoon grated ginger - 2 tablespoonful all-purpose flour to thicken - 2 tablespoonful olive/vegetable oil Preparation procedure: •Clean chicken and season with curry, thyme, ginger, garlic, salt, pepper and seasoning cubes. Marinate for about 30 to 45 minutes.

•After marinating, bring to cook, remember to add sliced onions and a dollop of butter or margerine.

•Meanwhile, clean and chop garlic, ginger, onions, carrot, scotch bonnet, de-seeded green and red bell peppers.

•Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok or frying pan. Add onions and garlic and stir-fry till golden brown. Sauté chopped vegetables for about five minutes.

•Mix flour with half a cup of water and mix till smooth. Set aside.

•Pour in sautéed vegetables into cooked chicken and stir. Add flour/water mix bit by bit to thicken the gravy. Stop when the desired consistency is reached. Stir to combine and lower heat.

•Allow to cook for another three minutes and turn off heat.

•Enjoy with any food of choice.

12

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

08055001741 (sms only)

conversewithyemisi

yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com

Who do I go out with among these men?

I

Dear Yemisi, am a 13-year-old girl. I am in love with a guy while two others are asking me to be their date.

I want to ask you ma, who do I ask out? Should I give in to the one I love?

Anonymous, 090++++++1+.

Dear Anonymous, I don’t think you should start belabouring yourself with a man to date now.

I want to believe that you are rather too young to be asked out by any guy because to the best of my knowledge you are immature enough to handle the attendant effect of falling in love at this age.

Do you understand what love means? Or you are confusing the four-letter word with infatuation or lust?

Anybody professing to be in love with you at your age is only interested in taking advantage of you and will not

stop until he exploits you.

I hope you have not been sleeping around with the one you said you are in love with?

Please, my dear girl, the time to fall in love is not now. All manner of characters will be approaching you to be their date, but you should allow your sense to guide your decision.

Be polite enough to tell whoever comes your way that he should let you be for now. Even the guy that you are claiming to be in love with will only use you and dump you.

So, how many guys will you say yes to?

My dear, steer clear of any intimate relationship as it will end up disrupting

your future. Nobody can force you into an affair that you are least prepared for.

Though peer pressure might want to drive you crazy, let your emotions be guided by good reasoning.

Be prepared this year to devote your energy to your studies and shun frivolities.

Best of luck.

For Him Kenny, 35, public servant from Ekiti State, needs a working class lady aged between 25 and 35 for a relationship. Contact 08100381265.

Bolaji, self employed from Oyo State, needs a lady for an affair. Call 08166451506.

Idowu, 50, chemical engineer, based in Lagos, needs a Nigerian educated lady aged between 30 and 47, for a relationship. Call 08064174778.

Segun, 38 single, graduate, Sagamu, Ogun State based needs a lady aged 35 or above for a relationship. Call 08053871003.

Sukanmi Femi, 30, Lagos-based, needs a lady between 26 and 28 for a relationship. Call 08138752762.

Olayemi, 42, from Ekiti State, Lagos-based, needs a working class lady from any part of the country for a relationship. Call 08167942223.

Ola Ogunsco, 47, single parent, works at NNPC, needs a God-fearing lady for an affair. Contact 08137019939.

Muhammed, 27, based in Osun State, needs a caring Muslim lady for a relationship. Call 08163172661.

Feranmi, 34, from Ogun State, civil servant, needs a reliable lady, aged between 27 and 33 for marriage. Call 09050001974.

For Her

Joke, 43, needs a God-fearing man aged between 45 and 55 for a relationship. Call 09056666843.

Lola, 29, tall, Christian needs a responsible man aged between 38 and 50 from any tribe for marriage. Call 08037207760.

Esther, 26, humble, final year student, seeks a reliable, God-fearing man aged between 35 and 52 for marriage. Contact 08163761857.

Woman, 48, businesswoman, fair-skinned, Christian, from Osun State, needs an educated Christian aged between 50 and 60 for a relationship. Call 09099115266.

Woman, 50, widow, Christian, needs an Osun State- based man aged 50 to 60, for a relationship. He must be based in Osun. Call 09052801466.

Oyinkan, 48, needs a caring, humble, understanding, honest elderly man 52 years or above for a serious relationship. Call 08076743013.

May, 40+, Christian, needs a God-fearing man, aged 50+, for friendship. Call 08145989802.

Buchi, 45, Christian, trader, needs a God-fearing man aged between 50 and 60 for friendship. Call 08178349045.

Mercy, 43, needs a God-fearing man aged between 48 and 50 for a serious relationship. Call 09084916887.

Lady, 45, single parent, Lagos-based, wants a man of 60 or above, working or businessman for an affair. Contact 08032445051.

I don’t know who to marry amongst all my suitors Dear Yemisi, I am 28 years old. I am a BSc Nursing degree holder. I waited till after the youth service is over before I make my intention known to the man after my heart.

Please, I need your help. I’m in a situation where I’m confused and I don’t know what to do.

Different guys are asking for my hand in marriage.

Please, what would you advise me to do? I don’t know what is wrong with me.

Thank you.

Sayo.

Dear Sayo, Nothing at your age should give room to confusion because you have waited this long before

making your mind up on who to choose.

You are the only one who can decide on who you would want to spend the rest of your life with. It appears you are not getting your priorities right. The situation you have found yourself in is rather uncalled for and should not be handled with levity so as not to make the wrong decision.

All you need to do is defining what you actually want your future life to be in the life of your partner to be.

What are the qualities you would want to see in the man? You cannot claim to be in love with many men without having one that you have special interest in who

one can say that has actually meet your yearnings.

To be a woman is not a day’s job but one that you must analyse your aims and objectives. It is only if you are having these men because of what you are benefitting from all of them that you wouldn’t want to miss.

But if care is not taken, you might lose all of them.

The situation will only call for a rethink if none of them has satisfied your needs. It will be better if you call it quits with them all early in the year and give yourself a brief break. In the process of calling it quits you will have to free your mind of any association so that you can move on.

13

2 January, 2016

intimacy

Saturday Tribune

With Bosede Ola-Samuel 08112658560 bosedeola_samuel@yahoo.com

STRICTLY FOR ADULTS

How to stop complaining of poor erection in 2016 I receive a lot of calls from men wanting to know what to do to have strong and lasting erection during sexual intercourse. Some even request for assistance with medications that can enhance their sexual performance. From the female angle, I’ve also had contact with wives who complain about the poor erection of their husbands during sex. This makes sexual fulfilment a mirage for such wives. This is why I have decided to write on the issue of premature ejaculation and long-lasting erection for effective sexual performance in this New Year.

One major problem many couples suffer from is premature ejaculation. This situation describes the inability of a man to withhold ejaculation long enough to bring his wife to climax. A man suffering from premature ejaculation finds himself ejaculating too soon, i.e. sooner than his wife is ready for. He tends to ejaculate with the slightest friction of the glans penis, either before or just after entering into his wife’s vagina. This situation is most frustrating to a wife, because lovemaking is impossible without an erect penis, and after a man ejaculates, his penis gets too soft to maintain the necessary pressure on the vaginal walls and clitoris to see his wife through to her climax. Wives of such men are often left dissatisfied and they consider their husbands poor lovers.

Some causes of premature ejaculation Premature ejaculation may be caused by the following factors, among others: • Inability to handle prolonged stimulation or oversensitivity.

• Poor control of sexual arousal.

• Anxiety • Lack of confidence in oneself.

• Genetic hormonal imbalance.

• Periods of long abstinence from sex.

• Inexperience in sex and attempts to control ejaculation.

• Too much drinking or the use of illicit drugs can interfere with focus and cause premature ejaculation.

All of these problems are treatable and so, preventing premature ejaculation in order to give a woman sexual fulfilment is possible.

Treatment It is crucial to keep in mind that premature ejaculation is always treatable and even the most severe cases can be fixed. You can treat premature ejaculation. The most important thing is to keep your cool and address the problem immediately. The following will be helpful in treating premature ejaculation: • Make penetration short and shallow. This will stimulate the vaginal entrance, where the majority of a woman’s nerve endings are, giving her more pleasure. This will help her become aroused more quickly, which helps the man feel less anxious and it also is less stimulating for the man. This will delay ejaculation.

• Make slow, deep thrusts and slow down your pace.

This will decrease how much stimulation your penis is getting while enabling you to continue intercourse.

When you are deep, try grinding your hips and wiggling your pelvic bone. This will reduce your stimulation even more but will still stimulate her.

• Focus on giving your pleasure to your partner first

before worrying about yourself. By making sure that she has an orgasm first, a lot of the pressure will be released, allowing you to relax and not be so overwhelmed, which can affect how quickly you climax.

• If by any chance you do ejaculate early, don’t get

discouraged and stop everything. Do not start apologising and distracting your partner from her pleasure. Keep focusing on her and after a few minutes you will be ready for a second round. Most men last longer the second time around anyway and your partner will love the attention.

• Change sex positions and let her go on top. Your penis

will be less stimulated from this position, allowing you to regain control again. Ask her to go slow and steady at first to extend it even longer.

Focus on giving your pleasure to your partner first before worrying about yourself. By making sure that she has an orgasm first, a lot of the pressure will be released.

• If you need to, don’t be afraid to just stop completely and

compose yourself. If you can, try to keep playing with her while you calm down so she is not left lying there.

Also, if she is still getting pleasured, she is less likely to notice that you pulled out for a minute or two and you can then continue when you feel more in control.

The following suggestions can also be quite helpful: • If your arousal levels are getting too high and a climax is beginning, take a deep breath and think about something else, something very boring if possible. This will briefly switch off the ejaculation reflex.

• The squeeze technique involves either the man or his partner squeezing (fairly firmly) the end or the tip of the penis for 10 to 20 seconds when ejaculation is imminent, withholding stimulation for about 30 seconds, and then continuing stimulation. This can be repeated until ejaculation is desired. The stop and start method can be used with the squeeze method as well.

• During foreplay or intercourse, stopping and starting sexual stimulation helps to lengthen the time taken to reach climax, and can be combined with the squeeze technique.

• If you find yourself nearing climax, withdraw your penis from your partner and allow yourself to relax enough to prevent ejaculation. By starting and stopping sexual stimulation you can learn to prolong the sex act.

In response to my readers’ request, I have packaged some of my previous articles into a book with the title: ENJOYING GREAT SEXLIFE. You can call me on 08112658560 for the book.

14

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

Our plans for the

Compiled By OMOTAYO FABUSUA , GBENGA OGUNSOLA AND OMODASOLA SMITH

New Year

ALOWOLODU Inioluwa 5yrs old, pry 1 I want my mum to buy me or bake me a cake as a New Year gift. This New Year, I want to be the first among others, I will like to help my mum in washing plates, help my dad in running errands and my younger ones in reading and I will like to become a doctor in the future, so I will study hard.

Y A D H RT I B

POEM

s n o i t c s ’ e r w fl a e e e N Y R

ADEDAYO Eniola 6yrs old, pry1 I want to be a good boy in this New Year; I am planning to decorate my class for the next Christmas and New Year party in my school. I want my mum to buy me a ball, because I like playing football, I want my daddy to buy a new car and I also wish him promotion in his place of work and I will like to become a medical doctor in the future. My wish for 2016 is that it should be a fruitful year for me and my family.

BALOGUN Sharon 8yrs old, pry4 I want to start helping my parents, I want to study hard in this New Year, I want to listen to my elder sister at home, I want to stop being disrespectful to my parents but help them. I want to be a doctor in future, I want this year to be a better year for me and my family and I want wonderful things from God. ADEOYE Favour,13yrs old, SSS 1 My plan this year is to make it really big in my drumming career that is the talent God has given me. This year I want the world to know that God deposited something great in me and I also want to be on top of the class and my school academically.

BABALOLA Dabira, 7yrs old, year 2 My daddy said he is taking me to where we have snow in the U.S so I will pack all my belongings. I also want to improve in my studies this New Year so I will be first in my class to impress my parents. I will also like to improve in bible reading. My best colour is pink so I want everything my mum will buy for me in pink. Lastly, I hope this year will be my year of overflowing joy.

BAMIDELE Feranmi, 10yrs old, pry5 My plan this year is to be on top of my class, I also want to have a good result at the end of the session. I will also like to enroll in a dancing college.

Oluwatofunmi Odunayo Balofin Clocks

10

recently. Many happy returns of the day

Looking back on the months gone by, As a new year starts and an old one ends, We contemplate what brought us joy, And we think of our loved ones and our friends.

Recalling all the happy times, Remembering how they enriched our lives, We reflect upon who really counts, As the fresh and bright new year arrives.

And when I/we ponder on those who do, I/we immediately think of you.

Thanks for being one of the reasons I’ll have a Happy New Year!

By Christopher Adebiyi

HATS HOLIDAY HORNS KISS MIDNIGHT MUSIC NEW YEARS DAY NEW YEARS EVE NOISEMAKERS OCCASION PARADES PARTY PUNCH RESOLUTIONS SINGING STREAMERS THIRTY FIRST TIARAS WINE YEAR IN REVIEW

ENIOLA Shekina, 10yrs old, JSS 1 Last year I didn’t do well in my studies, I didn’t participate in family devotion and also I didn’t help my mummy anytime she was cooking, so this year I want to make amends. Also, I don’t obey my parents and my brothers but this year I want to change, I don’t go to church early which is bad and I want to make adjustment to every bad behaviour of mine and I want to be a doctor in the future. I want it to be a prosperous year for me and a year that I will always remember for good.

Dear children, in this year

APPETIZERS BABIES BALLOONS BANNERS BUFFET CELEBRATE CHAMPAGNE CONFETTI DANCE DAY ONE DECORATIONS END OF DECEMBER EVENTS FAMILY FATHER TIME FEAST FESTIVITIES FIREWORKS FIRST OF JANUARY FRIENDS

ALUKO Oluwatofunmi 7yrs old, pry3 I want to be an obedient child; I want to be the first in my class because last term I didn’t see any improvement so I want to be the first in my class, I also want my mummy to buy me shoes, a gown, a jacket. I will like to go to science class when I get to secondary school because I want to be a doctor in future, I also like pink colour because it’s my best colour and I will like my parents to get pink dress for me as New Year gift.

This New Year, I want to be going to church very early because I want to be very closer to God. This year I want love, peace, joy and unity to reign in the church of God and lastly, let there be unity in the country.

15

2 January, 2016

health&fitness

Saturday Tribune BLESSING EKUM

ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

Can you break these habits in the New Year?

By Blessing Ekum

I

T’S the New Year and it’s generally expected that goals are set for a more improved life in the year. After all, the New Year is an opportunity to make a fresh start. While it’s great to demand and expect more for yourself in your career, finances, social, academic and mental areas of life, it is of utmost importance that health goals are set and conscious efforts are made to meet them.

Experts have said that for goals to be achieved, they must meet certain criteria. These are not excluded in setting health goals. For successfully attaining goals, they must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-boxed.

For successfully breaking bad habits and making and meeting healthy food goals in the New Year, Mrs. Ebere Okafor, a nutritionist and wellness professional, says you should “reflect on all of your specific eating habits (both bad and good) and your common triggers for unhealthy eating; replace your unhealthy eating habits with healthier ones and reinforce your new, healthier eating habits.”

Some of these habits which she says should be incorporated in our diet in the New Year include, but are not limited to: Late night eating In our busy world of today, it is not uncommon for people to get home from work late and very often, they tend to want to grab a bite. However, eating late at night forces the body to overwork when it should be resting during sleep.

It’s worse when heavy food is eaten and a person goes to bed almost immediately. Besides overworking the digestive organs, one could also develop sleeping disorders.

Not eating breakfast It has been said over and over that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that’s the truth. Some choose not to eat breakfast because they are watching their weight but the fact is that one common characteristic in statistical studies of people who have achieved and maintained a large weight loss is that they ate breakfast. Research has consistently shown that the people who successfully lose weight are the ones that wake up and eat! Experts also say that people who eat breakfast regularly eat fewer calories

from fat and the majority of people who struggle with overeating are those who under-eat during the first part of the day, specifically those who skip breakfast. One theory suggests that eating a healthy breakfast reduces hunger throughout the rest of the day, therefore decreasing the likelihood of overeating and making poor food choices at lunch. As is usually said, eat breakfast like a king; lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

the less it does for you.” So, avoid things like reusing cooking oil over and over; deep-frying, which drenches your food in unnecessary calories, instead, stir-fry meat and vegetables, using just a little olive oil or a light spray of cooking oil; boiling vegetables, instead steam them but enough to retain crunchiness and colour; using of processed and artificial seasonings, rather use herbs, spices and natural condiments.

Not drinking enough water Drinking enough water is very important because it aids every aspect of bodily function. Kick the habit on going for soft drinks when thirsty. Especially in this dry season, you should endeavour to drink more water.

Completely cutting out sweet treats While it is important to cut down on sweet treats and rather snack healthily, sometimes, it is OK to enjoy them once in a while. The key is in taking them once in a long while. The problem with choosing to completely cut out all treats is that it can be a set-up for failure because we may end up craving them badly and eventually overindulging in it. If your goal is to completely cut off, you should take it a step at a time and gradually wean yourself off. To achieve this, you would have to keep these treats away from your reach. Instead fill your fridge with healthier snacks.

Eating large portions of food Gone are the days when your status is measured by how much food you have heaped on your plate. The best way to go is to eat small portions spread throughout the day.

This is far better than eating large-sized meals three times a day. Also, the content of your plate is equally important.

You should mentally divide your plate into four: a quarter for carbohydrate, the other quarter for protein and half for vegetables.

Unhealthy cooking methods There is the saying that “the more you “do” to your food,

In fact, you can sometimes substitute a meal for just fresh fruits and vegetables.

Your body will thank you for it and your skin will show its gratitude.

Eating when not hungry We should eat when hungry but sometimes, certain circumstances arise that make us want to eat and eat and eat. It could be stress, boredom, idleness, anxiety, availability of food, sadness and so forth. It’s not a healthy habit to just keep eating because you can. One major problem that could arise is weight gain which can spiral to become obesity if care is not taken. Make it a goal in the New Year to eat only when you’re truly hungry instead of when you are feeling any of the above mentioned emotions. Also, planning meals ahead of time can assist in ensuring that you eat a healthy well-balanced meal.

Skimping on fruits and vegetables It’s a new year and the opportunity to make a fresh commitment to eating fruits and veggies. A fruit serving per meal is not too much. These are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that promote better health. In fact, you can sometimes substitute a meal for just fresh fruits and vegetables. Your body will thank you for it and your skin will show its gratitude.

16

healthandfitness

2 January, 2016

A growth in my private part

Dr. Wale Okediran

I have this mass of growth that looks like a small mushroom on the entrance of my private part.

The doctor I saw said it is warts and could have been sexually transmitted. I am still a virgin. Please advise me on what to do.

Rukayat (by e mail) It is not all cases of warts that are sexually transmitted. My advice will be for you to see a doctor, preferably a skin specialist (dermatologist) who will examine you thoroughly before giving you a prescription.

This way, you will be rest assured that you are being treated correctly.

Is this cataract?

MY 70-year-old uncle presently has a glassy object in this right eye. A friend of mine says it is cataract. Kindly give me the lowdown on the eye disease called cataract.

What is the best step to prevent such a disease? What are the best remedies for it?

Does it run in the family?

David (e-mail) Yes, it looks like cataract but you will need a doctor to confirm it. Cataract is an abnormality of the lens of the eye which leads to impaired vision. It can be caused by old age, diabetes or trauma to the eye. Some people are also born with the ailment. It can also be caused by drugs, especially steroids. There is a strong evidence that suggests that

It is very likely that you

waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

Pain in my nipples Julius (by SMS) It is not true that lack of sex is responsible for the pain in your nipples. There is therefore no reason for you to indulge in any sexual

activity if you are not ready for it. Try and use some common painkillers for the pain. If it does not abate in seven days, you will need to see a doctor for more treatment.

Why is salt dangerous?

My grey beard I am 25-year-old man.

I normally use shaving powder to shave. Unfortunately, I noticed that it is causing my beard to go grey. Kindly help me with the solution.

Haruna (by SMS)

08055069356 (sms only)

I am a guy of 22 years. I have never had sex before but I now have pains in my nipples. My friends say that it can only be cured if I have sex. Kindly let me know if this is true.

the ailment runs in the family. It has also been confirmed that about one-third of all congenital cataracts are hereditary. The best remedy is for your uncle to see an eye doctor who may decide to operate the eye if the cataract is ripe enough for removal. Apart from a healthy diet, there is really no definite way of preventing the ailment.

Saturday Tribune

are allergic to the shaving powder. You can try something different such as shaving foam followed by the use of a shaving blade. Although this may be a little more expensive than ordinary shaving powder, it is worth trying.

I have often heard it said that salt is not good for the body. I will appreciate it if you can tell me why. I like salt a lot. What can I do to stop taking it?

Glory (by SMS) It is not salt that is dangerous it is too much salt that is the problem. The fact is that some amount of salt is needed by the body for the proper function of the heart and muscles. It is believed that this amount of salt

can be got from a normally well cooked food. However, when we add extra salt to our food, we inadvertently put the body under undue stress thus increasing our chances of developing hypertension.

Although consumption of excess salt is habit forming, with a lot of determination, it can be stopped.

If you can reduce your salt intake, you will discover that your taste buds will gradually get used to the new salt level before long.

Gonorrhoea ‘could become untreatable’

By James Gallagher Health editor (BBC News website)

G

ONORRHOEA could become an untreatable disease, England’s chief medical officer has warned.

Dame Sally Davies has written to all GPs and pharmacies to ensure they are prescribing the correct drugs after the rise of “super-gonorrhoea” in Leeds.

Her warning comes after concerns were raised that some patients were not getting both of the antibiotics needed to clear the infection.

Sexual health doctors said gonorrhoea was “rapidly” developing resistance.

A highly drug-resistant strain of gonorrhoea was detected in the north of England in March.

That strain is able to shrug off the antibiotic azithromycin, which is normally used alongside another drug, ceftriaxone.

In her letter, the chief medical officer said: “Gonorrhoea is at risk of becoming an untreatable disease due to the continuing emergence of antimicrobial resistance.”

Soaring cases But while an injection of ceftriaxone and an azithromycin pill are supposed to be used in combination, this may not always be the case for all patients.

Earlier in 2015, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) warned that some online pharmacies were offering only oral medication.

Using just one of the two drugs makes it easier for the bacterium to develop resistance.

The letter, which is also signed by chief pharmaceutical officer Dr Keith Ridge, stated: “Gonorrhoea has rapidly acquired resistance to new antibiotics, leaving few alternatives to the current recommendations.

“It is therefore extremely important that suboptimal treatment does not occur.”

What is gonorrhoea?

The disease is caused by the bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The infection is spread by unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex.

Symptoms can include a thick green or yellow discharge from sexual organs, pain when urinating and bleeding between periods. Often the person has no symptoms, however, but can still easily spread the disease to others.

Untreated infection can lead to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and can be passed on to a child during pregnancy.

Gonorrhoea is the second most common sexually transmitted infection in England and cases are soaring.

The number of infections increased by 19% from 29,419

in 2013 to 34,958 the following year.

Dr Jan Clarke, the president of BASHH, told the BBC News website: “We’re really pleased that the chief medical officer has stressed that gonorrhoea needs this approach to treatment due to the rapid development of resistance.

“We need to protect what we’ve got and we need to encourage pharmacists and general practitioners to follow first-line treatment.”

Dr Andrew Lee, from Public Health England, added: “Investigations are ongoing into a number of cases of anti-microbial resistant gonorrhoea.

“Public Health England will continue to monitor, and act on, the spread of antimicrobial resistance and potential gonorrhoea treatment failures, to make sure they are identified and managed promptly.”

17

2 January, 2016

mediascope

We will use radio for women development —Toun Okewale Sonaiya, CEO, WFM 91.7

W

WITH AKIN ADEWAKUN

akadewakun@yahoo.co.uk 08054683584

egories of women into the fold?

WFM 91.7 is a voice of women. We aim to be the voice of every woman. But you know that in any business, there is no way you can satisfy everybody. But we aim to inform and be the voice for every woman. Yes, the language on this station is English, if you listen to the Radio Doctor on the station today, a woman called and spoke in Yoruba. Her question was asked in Yoruba and luckily the medical doctor understood the language and addressed her back in Yoruba. He responded in Yoruba and interpreted it in Yoruba as well. That tells you that if you are not educated and you want to talk, WFM is still the radio station to come to.

The presenter would come down to anybody’s level, we have presenters that speak Hausa, we have presenters that speak, Igbo, that speak different foreign languages. Remember we are just starting. We have programmes that are specifically dedicated to market women. You heard one of my presenters today talking about the cost of rice at Magboro Market. We would go inside the market and talk about the cost of rice, we would go inside the villages and talk about the things that affect every woman, but right now we are just still trying to get our balance, but WFM is the voice of every woman, that I can assure you.

The Chief Executive Officer of the newlylaunched female radio station, WFM 91.7, ‘Toun Okewale Sonaiya, in this interview with AKIN ADEWAKUN shares her experiences in the nation’s broadcast space, while giving reasons for the setting up of the first female radio station in Nigeria.

HERE exactly are you coming from, before setting up this niche radio station?

I was born into broadcasting. My father, Wale Okewale, was a broadcaster in the WNTV/ NBS years, in Ibadan. He later moved from Ibadan during the creation of states to Ogun State to continue his broadcast career with Ogun Radio. So I have always lived within the broadcast industry. And when we moved to Ogun State, at a very young age, I was one of the children that featured on kiddies Radio. I ended up co-presenting the programme as a kid. I worked with Ogun Radio as a duty continuity announcer and my bosses and the big boys then were Femi Sowolu, Sesan Ekisola, Willy Thomas, Toba Opaleye, Peju Adeniyi. Those were the people who called the shots then.

I would just sit like a little rat in the studio and it took me years before I heard the opportunity of saying, ‘The time is 12 noon’. And from then we moved to OGBC 2, the FM arm, I was one of the pioneering staff, Sesan Ekisola was our boss, Moji Okubanjo was the Director of Programmes then and I worked with Femi Flash, who is late now, Yemi Adenuga, Ambrose Somide and others. That was how I sojourned into broadcasting.

But interestingly I was involved in a lot of women’s and children’s programme in those days. I presented ladies forum and produced it, I interviewed women who have excelled in their different careers. I remember one of the women I interviewed was Mrs Peju Okunnowo of Sony Music. I left Ogun Radio as a presenter. Producer, walked all through the departments, then I joined Ray-Power, then I worked in the programmes department of RayPower and left Ray Power as the Director of Programmes, and moved to AIT. I left AIT as the Director of Sales and Marketing, before I moved to UK. Getting into the UK within a month, I started work with Choice FM, the first urban radio station in the UK. And I was the first female Nigerian to feature on Choice FM. I interviewed Mariam Makeba, Manu Dibango, Adewale Ayuba, Shina Peters and I just kept on doing my thing about women on radio and outside

Saturday Tribune

the radio.

So when did the idea of a female radio station strike you?

In 2010, when the idea of setting up a radio station by three people — Tunde Okewale, Keke Wale and I came up, I started doing all the background work on what needed to be done. But we knew at that time that it was going to be a radio station for women, because I’m a woman, I’ve worked all my life with women, in the UK. So it was much easy for us to think of the women radio station.

We conceived the idea in 2010, and then in 2012, St Ives Communications put together a study ‘Radio As a Tool for Women Development’, just to be sure that what we want to do is not just an idea, it’s not just an interest. In 2013 we now stumbled on another research done by an independent organisation that kind of validated what we already did, and that just kind of gave us a go-ahead to do this. So this is how the radio station came about.

Talking about a radio programme that is solely dedicated to the feminine gender, it gives one the impression that the station cares for the needs of every woman, the educated, the not-so-educated and the uneducated. But WFM seems to have its programmes designed for the educated and the elite. What are you doing to bring the other cat-

There are over 30 radio stations servicing Lagos and Ogun areas, but this is a niche radio station. If you look at the big players in the industry, they have a niche identity.

Since you started, how would you describe the public response to this development?

I’m very humbled that virtually everybody is identifying with WFM. There was a 50-minute programme today and we had over 20 calls. They didn’t even allow the doctor to even talk. We are very humbled. The feedback is quite positive. But we just don’t want the feedback to be positive because we are new. We want to maintain that position, we want to continue to identify and relate with people. So the feedback has been good and we are very grateful. Is it because we are new? Maybe. Is it because we are doing something different? Maybe. Is it because people are bored? Maybe. But those are the reasons we are here.

Looking at the broadcast landscape and the number of established players in that space, how do you intend to fight your way through? Are you not intimidated?

I’m not intimidated at all because WFM 91.7 was not just born out of ‘I just want to do what every other person is doing’. It was borne out of a need for a radio station that is solely dedicated to women and their families, and we just didn’t go out to just do it. It was based on research. There are over 30 radio stations servicing Lagos and Ogun areas, but this is a niche radio station. If you look at the big players in the industry, they have a niche identity. Some focus on news, some focus on sports, some on politics, but ours is women. It is a niche radio station and that is why I’m not intimidated at all. We will survive, and we will do well because we have a focus and we have a vision and we will continue to survive as long as we continue to stay on that vision.

What is in it for the masculine gender?

We have Men’s View, which is a programme where men sit on a round table and talk about issues affecting them.

The issue of ownership interference is what the industry is still trying to grapple with till today, how do you intend to make WFM maintain its neutrality?

The station is not owned by a politician or moneybags, so we can not deviate. It is owned by three people, myself, Dr. Okewale and Keke and we have a vision. Three of us have the same vision. Even in 50 years, if we are not here, the vision would continue to run. And the vision is just to use WFM for women development, so there is no way we can deviate from this vision. There can not be ownership interference, because there are no hidden directors anywhere.

18

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

crimeandcourt

He’s an irresponsible husband and father —Wife I have no money to take care of my children —Husband Stories by Ayomide Owonibi and Oluwole Ige with Agency Reports

A

37-year-old woman, Mrs Udoka David, has pleaded with an Alimosho customary court, in Lagos State, to dissolve her 10-year-old marriage as her husband has abandoned the matrimonial home.

Mrs. Udoka told the court that her husband, Moses David, who she has been married to for 10 years and has four children for, packed out of their house to an unknown destination.

“I do not know what is wrong with my husband; he rejected me and the children by packing out of the house, saying that he was done with me and the children.

“When our church and family members tried to settle the matter, he said it was over his dead body that he will never accept me or the children,” she said.

She described her husband as an irresponsible husband and father, stressing that he refused to pay the rent.

“He owes our landlord three-year rent; the landlord threw our property out around 9:00 p.m.

“I called my husband to inform him, but when he came he packed his remaining belongings and left us there, laughing and mocking us.

“He told me that he had the money, but he will not pay it that he wanted us to suffer.

“It was my church that rented another apartment for me and the children,” she said.

David a 46-year-old labourer, however, said that he did not have money that was why he could not take care of his children.

“It is not my fault that I cannot take care of my children, it is just that I don’t have money and a good job,” he said.

He told the court that his wife was stubborn and that that was why he left her and the children.

President of the court, Alhaja S.O Mumuni, scolded the respondent for saying that he did not have any money to cater for his children.

“When you know you did not have a good job, you should have limited the number of children you have. How do you want them to survive, the children’s welfare should be of paramount importance to you,” she said.

Mumuni admonished the couple to maintain peace and adjourned the case till January 20 for counselling.

31

He didn’t have sex with me for 3 years —Wife She is adulterous —Husband A middle-aged woman, Latifat Adeleke, has asked a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, to dissolve her marriage with Adetola Adeleke, over alleged sexual starvation, the News Agency of Nigeria has reported.

Latifat, a trader and mother of two, on Wednesday asked the court to end the nine-year-old marriage after declaring that she was “totally fed up.”

In her petition to the court, Latifat alleged that Adeleke, a spare parts dealer, aside from neglecting his traditional responsibilities of catering for her and the two children, had no time for her.

“Adeleke has over three to four years now, failed in his responsibilities as a husband towards me and as a father to his two children.

“The worst of all, my Lord, is that he has kept away from having sexual intercourse with me which greatly saddens my heart.

“We no longer stay together and the bond of love between us has disappeared,” Latifat declared.

Adeleke, who denied all the allegations levelled against him by his wife, however told the court that he was happy

to part ways with Latifat.

He alleged that his wife was adulterous, extravagant and a party enthusiast.

“My lord, this year alone, Latifat has dubiously obtained close to N300,000 from me in the name of celebrating birthday for our children.

“I once caught her red-handed with her lover on our matrimonial bed.

“When I asked her if what she did was right or not, there was no remorse, even when it actually happened on our matrimonial home,” he said.

“She has been involved in all manners of atrocities; this is why I called it all off with her.

“Please, my Lord, I don’t want her to take custody of the eight and six year-old children, because she doesn’t stay around; Latifat keeps going to parties,” Adeleke told the court.

After listening to both parties, the president of the court, Mr Ademola Odunade, adjourned the matter till January 27, 2016 and directed both parties to produce evidence to support their claims.

40-yr-old man in court over alleged theft of vehicle valued at N2.5m A 40-year old man, Sunday Arowolo, has been arraigned over an alleged theft of an unregistered vehicle valued at N2.5 million.

Arowolo, whose address was not given, is facing a threecount charge of conspiracy, forgery and stealing before an Igbosere Magistrates’ court in Lagos.

The prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Molo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 7, 2014 at No. 25, Ayo Ajileye St., Ori-Okuta area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

Molo said the accused, with some others still at large, stole a Toyota Matrix valued at N2.5 million, property of

one Mrs Ifeyinwa Anueyiagu.

He alleged that the accused forged the documents of the vehicle before he stole it.

Molo said the offences contravened Sections 285 (10), 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate, Mr P. A. Adekomaya, granted the accused bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

He then adjourned the case till January 19, 2016 for mention.

FCT resident bags 6 months jail term for stealing motorcycle A Zuba Grade 1 Area Court during the week sentenced one Idris Ibrahim, 38, of Deidei, FCT to six months imprisonment for stealing a Bajaj motorcycle.

The presiding judge, Malam Gambo Garba, passed the sentence after Ibrahim pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of joint act and theft.

However, Garba gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N10,000 and another N66,500 as compensation to the nominal complainant.

“The motorcycle has already been in use for a while as such cannot be of the same value as when it was bought,” Garba said.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Sergeant Momoh Ibrahim, had told the court that on December 21, one Hashiru Nasiru of Deidei came to Zuba police station and reported the matter.

Businessman, housewife remanded over alleged He beat, strip me naked in the night —Wife enticement She’s a drunkard —Husband A Sharia court sitting at Sabon Gari, Kano, during the week, remanded a businessman, Aliyu Abbas, 30, and a housewife, Zainab Adamu, 23, in prison custody for allegedly enticing each other.

The first accused, Abbas, was charged with enticing a married woman and intentional insult.

The prosecutor, Corporal Ahmed Magawata, told the court that one Malam Saidu Musa of Tudun Yola Quarters in Kano reported the case at the Gwale Police Division on December 29.

Magawata said Musa said that he saw his wife, Zainab, and Abbas of Gaida Quarters in his matrimonial room.

He said that on sighting the complainant, the accused even insulted Musa simply because he asked him what brought him to his house.

The prosecutor said the offence was contrary to sections 389 and 261 of the penal code.

However, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The presiding judge, Abubakar Ayagi, then ordered that the accused (Zainab and Abbas) be remanded in prison and adjourned the case until January 13 for mention.

Saturday Tribune

A housewife, Ganiyat Olanrewaju, has approached Customary Court 2, Osogbo, seeking to divorce her husband, Mr Fatai Olanrewaju for beating and stripping her naked in the night.

She stated that “there was no formal marriage between us.

I moved into his house when my first husband died and we have been living together for the past 20 years.”

According to Ganiyat, “the defendant is in the habit of beating me in the night and stripping me naked. There was a time he beat me and drove me to Oke Odo, attempting to kill me and he also sent me packing from his house about 10 months ago. I had two children for my first husband, but the defendant did not accept them.”

Responding, the defendant said he would not agree to a divorce, contending that all the statements Ganiyat made were false, except the one where she accused him of beating and stripping her naked.

Fatai said: “It is true I beat her one night and drove her out naked. By the time I drove her to Oke Odo, I wanted my brother to talk to her. However, she was dead drunk and started shouting to the hearing of policemen around.”

“She later came back to the house still drunk at 12 midnight and when challenged, she went into her room and

Court jails man 2 months for assaulting policeman in Osun

packed her belongings out 10 months ago. I did not want divorce because of my children.”

Delivering his judgement, the president of the Customary Court, Chief Bolarinwa Popoola declared that the court was inclined to grant the couple two weeks to reconcile because of their children.

30-yr-old sales agent arraigned over N9.5m fraud A 30-year-old sales agent, Kingsley Onwuania, has been arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ court in Lagos, for allegedly failing to remit N9.5 million worth of goods he obtained from a Chinese company.

The accused, whose address was not given, is facing a charge of fraud.

The prosecutor, CSP Effiong Asuquo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 20 as a sales agent to Miss Helen Cai, the Managing Director of Qingdao Yuanzhou Rubber Products Ltd. He alleged that Onwuania obtained 3,465 cartons of Toyota brand of tubes and tyres valued at N9.5million in the agreement that he would remit the money to the company’s account.

“It was later discovered that the accused converted the proceeds of the sales to his personal use,’’ said Asuquo.

Asuquo said the offence contravened Section 285 (9) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The magistrate, Mr P. A Adekomayia granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

He said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and the other a civil servant on Grade Level 15.

Adekomayia also ordered that the sureties must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government.

He adjourned the case till January 21, 2016, for mention.

AN Osogbo Magistrates’ court in Osun State has sentenced one Quadri Omotosho, 24, to two months imprisonment for assaulting a Police Corporal, Abdul-Raheem Safara.

The magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, who handed down the verdict, said the man was guilty as charged.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Omotosho had pleaded guilty to the charge while his lawyer, Mrs Bose Adeyinka, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

The magistrate, however, gave the convict an option of N2,000 fine.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sergeant Rasaq Olayinka, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 25 at about 2.00 p.m. on Matanmi Street, Oke Baale, Osogbo.

According to him, Omotosho assaulted the policeman while he was trying to arrest him for allegedly assaulting a man, Wasiu Akinola.

“The accused resisted lawful arrest, used a razor blade to attack the policeman and also gave him blows.”

The offence contravened Sections 351 and 451 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2003.

Ibrahim said that Nasiru told the police that on December 19, the convict had conspired with two others who are now at large, to drug him as a result of which he lost consciousness.

He said that while he was unconscious, his Bajaj motorcycle valued at N82,000 was taken away by the trio.

The prosecutor told the court that his offences contravened the provisions of sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code Law.

Man in court over alleged theft of ATM cards

A 26-year-old man, Lukmon Muhammed, was last week arraigned in a Tinubu Magistrates’ court in Lagos over alleged theft of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and two phones valued at N25, 000.

The accused, of no fixed address and occupation, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

Muhammed pleaded guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Inspector Raphael Odigbe, told the court that the accused committed the alleged offence on September 7 at about 10: 30 p.m. at Akin Bus Stop in Eti- Osa Local Government Area of Lagos.

He said that the accused stole Diamond Bank and Guarantee Trust Bank ATM cards and two phones valued at N25, 000, property of one Miss Stella Abube.

Odigbe added that the accused attacked Abube on her way from work and collected her purse containing her ATM cards and phones.

“The accused was apprehended when he came to use Abube’s GTB ATM card in the supermarket she works in.

“Muhammed wanted to pay for the items he bought using the POS with the ATM cards on Abube’s counter.

“After several tries of incorrect codes, she suspected foul play and tried her own code and could access the ATM; she then raised an alarm,’’ he said.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mr L.A. Owolabi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N10, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Owolabi adjourned the case to February 29, 2016, for trial.

19

2 January, 2016

voxpop In relationship and family setting, fun, thrill, ecstasy and laughter define mutual bond. However, the factor of trust is handled with care, caution and subtlety, even among the so-called well-wishers. OMODASOLA SMITH here engages Nigerians and samples their opinions on who they would entrust affairs—best friend or spouse.

Opeyemi Kareem I can’t trust either of the two. A person you call your friend and close confidant may turn out to be a devil- incarnate. He or she may also be envious of your progress, while you run your mouth like a typwriter and telling them your plans. As for my partner, I can’t trust him with all of my heart; one should always leave room for disappointment.

Oyedokun Funke I would trust my spouse. Who else would I trust if not him?

The old friend may have changed from the person I knew before.

My partner and I have become one literally, so nothing about me should be hidden from him.

Saturday Tribune With Kate Ani

08071080888

anikate92@yahoo.com

Who would you rather trust: Your best friend or spouse?

Oluwafunke Mattew I would rather trust my partner rather than trust my best friend. Love is the bedrock for trust. When you love your partner, trust shouldn’t be an issue because if there is no trust, I don’t think there can be love.

Blessing Adeyemi Capital NO. I don’t trust myself not to talk of best friend or partner. ‘Trust’ is a strong word, everyone has both potential to behave like a swine or saint within himself; though which one is actualised depends on decisions-not necessarily conditions and again, people change with time. A saint today may be a slut tomorrow and that is not in your jurisdiction to determine for that person.

Every relationship should be built on trust, but complete trust is simply setting one for failure because humans will always remain humans.

Sunmi I would trust my best friend more.

There is a saying that a devil you have known for long is better, more trustworthy than an angel you are still expecting just met. I have known my best friend for long time ago and I know what she can or can’t do. Partners can be funny sometimes, if you trust them with a lot of information, my dear, you will be in for a big surprise later in life.

Tobi Adegbami Well, there is a need to strike a balance. It is not right to do away with your friends because of your partner because you already had them in your life for support before your partner came into the picture.

I would rather trust my friends rather than trust my partner; because if I leave him tomorrow, they are they ones that would give me a shoulder to lean on.

Oladunni Lawal I understand that it takes a long time to build trust but once one gets married, roles would change between your best friend and your spouse. If the so-called best friend is single, be mindful of the kind of information you divulge. As per your partner, it takes the grace of God to totally trust men.

Tejumade Famuyide I would definitely trust my partner rather than trust my best friend. Friends can’t be trusted; rather, my partner should be my confidant and best friend. One shouldn’t compare the level of closeness between a spouse and a friend, the gap between them is too much. When you get married, there are certain things that shouldn’t leave the doorsteps of your matrimonial home.

Tobi Mattews To trust someone is a very delicate decision to make. Before I can muster the courage to trust someone, that possesses person must be straightforward and truthful. As such, any of the two that portrays that attribute would simply gain my trust.

20

Saturday Tribune

2 January, 2016

With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

From left, Engr Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria; Sabiu Zakari, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport; Senator Hadi Sirika, Minister of State, Aviation, and Mr Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Minister of Transport, during the inspection tour of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, recently.

Wife of the Ekiti State governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose; wife of the deputy governor, Deaconess Janet Olusola; wife of the speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mrs Moji Oluwawole, the Santa Claus, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs, Princess Kunbi Obaisi, the king and the queen at the 2015 Xmas Childrens party in Ado Ekiti, Master Ayomide Ogun and Miss Haolat Tunji Sule, at the 2015 children’s party, held at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.

From left, Amidat Olori, the Managing Director, TJ Group; Engineer Tajudeen Adisa Olori, Awal Olori and Anifat Olori, during the conferment of Aare Quadriyyah of Oke-Ogun on Olori, in Abeokuta, Ogun State , recently.

From left, Mrs Yemisi Akinrinade, Mrs Bola Ogundele, Chief (Mrs) R.R. Biobaku and Senior Prophetss Titilayo Adegbite, at the thanksgiving service for Chief (Mrs) Biobaku, at her residence, Onireke, Ibadan.

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Children dancing with mascots at a Christmas party organised by LAMMIE FOUNDATION for orphanages, at Felele, Ibadan, recently.

Killing of Lagos twins: When’ll murder by uniformed men stop?

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The newly wedded couple, Mr and Mrs Oluwafemi Ogundele, during their wedding ceremony at the Ibadan North West Local Government Registry, Onireke, Ibadan, recently.

From left, Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences,Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Dr Foluke Omosehin; Stephen Korede (Koredesax), Mrs Morayo Lawore, Principal, Baptist Model School, Lagos and Justice Solomon Olugbemi, at the unveiling of Glory to God, the maiden album of Koredesax, a10-year-old saxophonist in Lagos, recently.

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21

2 January, 2016

Saturday With

By John Campbell

T

HE Kaduna-based Islamic sect, Shiite’s clash with the Nigerian military which allegedly ended with hundreds of the sect members killed, is quickly receding into the groove now, away from mention, as usual. Typical of every calamity that befalls us as a people, hardly are lessons ever learnt and seldom do we as Nigerians come out of our bloodied experiences with clear wisdom or vision of how to navigate the mines of the future.

Peter Mclntosh, the late Jamaican reggae musician it was, in one of his early songs entitled Same Dog, said it would be foolhardy of a man whom a dog bit in the morning and then bites again in the evening, counselling that you should be once bitten and twice shy. It shows careless and tardiness on the part of such a man. For us as a nation, it simply indicates our inability to appropriate the lessons of today for a greater tomorrow.

Since the gravitation from the 1980 Maitatsine crisis which left many people killed, to the Muhammed Yusuff episode in Maiduguri which is the midwife of the Boko Haram insurgency that has grown so much to be a great boil on the Nigerian buttocks, we as Nigerians (both government and the governed) hardly ever subject our grief to intellectual analysis. That is why the recurrence rate of our griefs is really very high and we repeat fatalities periodically.

The story of what led to the spat between the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai’s convoy and the Shi’ite sect in Kaduna has been told over and over again that it does not bear retelling again at this forum. From the video of the clash posted on the social media to clandestine lobbying by some apparently pro-Buratai group desirous of making the world see issues from the perspective of the army, which jammed the information highway immediately the clash became news, the social portrayal of the reality of the attack has been achieved and even overflogged. So, aside seeking scapegoats to be held up for attacks, what lesson has been learnt from this unfortunate episode? In what way does it feed into the global picture of Nigerians being

Saturday Tribune

ayinla mukaiba ayinlamukaiba@yahoo.com

Zaria killings: Time to bury religion generally captives to religion, with an overt failure to make religion work for the social necessity of their existence?

Many have thought that the power in that Marxian submission that religion is the opium of the masses died with the collapse of communism. How wrong they are.

Nigerians seem ready to interrogate every other received knowledge about society, politics and economy but religion. Perhaps because every other issue in those earlier categories are physical, we do not have any inhibition at discussing them but when it comes to religion, wary of veering into a topography that is not visible but largely made up of conjectures, we leave religion to swim alone in its ocean of assumptions. It is no wonder why charlatans who seek to make a living from the people’s fear and circumspection have been having a field day in the realm of religion. No one is asking, for instance, what if, at the end of the day, Shi’ite or Sunnis are the sects recognised by the Almighty God? What if neither of them? What if the Catholicism of Apostle Paul or the Pentecostalism of latter-day Christianity is the official sect that Jesus Christ endorses? What if none is? The inability to make our thoughts elastic and capable of receiving ideas that are not native to individual minds brews timidity at critiquing reality, thereby allowing evil to fester.

Those who own the religions which we have acquired and selfishly appropriated subject them to rigorous mental exercises and that has not destroyed their faiths. What they come out with is a stronger religion that is removed from myths and superstition. Christianity and the man Jesus, for instance, were subjected to very rigorous scan by Jewish scholars like 6th century Jewish scholar, Flavius Josephus and Roman historian senator Tacitus. Even though both scholars were very skeptical about the existence of Jesus, stating that they had no archaeological evidence of his existence, they agreed that evidences of baptism of Jesus by John the baptizer and His crucifixion, which they confirmed

through multiple attestations and the criterion of embarrassment (which relates to the embarrassment that Jesus’ disciples would ordinarily have felt at the fact of John, baptizer of sinners, baptizing Jesus and the shame of His crucifixion, an execution which was meant for criminals, both of which would ordinarily have made them uncomfortable with retelling the stories) pointed at the fact that He existed.

Religion has got away with a lot of infractions on our society. Meanwhile, religion it is, of all the indices of development and civilisation, which has refused to subject itself to the change of the world. Only a few days ago, we were told of how the Shi’ites were a law unto themselves in Kaduna and environs. Same happens in this part of the world. This is why Smart Alecs who want to come to the pinnacle of religious recognition pervert the norms of physical existence to arrest our minds and paint the picture that they have the metaphysical in their palms. Some years ago in Ibadan, two episodes happened. One was a man who jumped into the lion zoo like the biblical Daniel. Humanity was spared of the tragedy he would have become because, if the lions had already been overfed and refused to do justice to his flesh, he would have become a religious terror to us all, preening himself as Daniel reincarnate and tethering thousands of naïve, solution-seeking people to his groove.

Second was the man on late broadcaster, Kolawole Olawuyi’s programme who claimed to possess the power of the supernatural and had black eggs in his possession.

Shi’ite, Sunnis and all other religious bigots will flee off us the moment we begin to be critical of their overtures. Religion was made for man and not the reverse.

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2 January, 2016

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Falmata

Uncertainty. Insufficiency. Misrepresentation. These are the lots of the Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Borno State, the hotbed of the insurgent Boko Haram. Saturday Tribune ‘s JAMES BWALA visited inmates in the Maiduguri IDP camp who related their experiences and share their expectations.

T

HE attempt by insurgent group, Boko Haram, to take over Maiduguri last Sunday has yet sent an unpleasant re-awakening to the over one hundred thousand people still living in various IDP camps across Borno State. Many who are living with the host community are also tired of being a burden for those who take them in.

It will be recalled that, earlier attacks in Chibok, Bam, Pulka in Gwoza local government areas have left many of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) with the fear of returning to their places of abode due to increasing cases of attacks in remote areas by the dreaded Boko Haram.

Saturday Tribune on Wednesday spoke with some IDPs in Maiduguri who said that, they were only living in the shadows of hope. According to the IDPs, they are now tools for manipulations in the hands of politicians.

Umar Audu, a resident of Maiduguri told Saturday Tribune that many people living in Borno State were disturbed by recent happenings in the state, particularly the attack on Maiduguri by the Boko Haram militants last Sunday.

According to him, many people thought that the promises made by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to tackle the menace of Boko Haram and the effort put in by the Nigerian military will finally nail the plot of the insurgents to take over Maiduguri.

“After about 46 failed attempts as of the last count to take over Maiduguri, we thought the fear of fresh attack was over, but if the Boko Haram militants could have the effrontery to make another attempt of taking over Maiduguri, then, I have some fears for our internally displaced

We fled before and returned home again but they came back, even now people are saying that they (Boko Haram) are still around in some of the villages.

I don’t think there is need, for going back now.

Bukar

Audu

Buhari needs to be here, spokespersons won’t tell him the truth —Borno IDPs

Inmates insist: ‘It is not yet safe to return home’

Women and children in an IDP centre

people and I do not buy the idea which the government is currently nursing about returning them to their villages this year.

“The Civilian JTF, if truth be told, were abandoned until recent attacks. Now they are being courted because government knows the important role they have been playing in complementing the efforts of our military towards ending the insurgency,” said Audu.

Over one hundred thousand people are still living at various IDP camps across Borno state, in the hope that tomorrow would come with good tidings.

Alhaji Kaumi Bukar is an IDP from Bama town in Borno

State, and is currently living at the Yerwa Government Girls Secondary School, Maiduguri. While narrating his ordeals in the camp, he told Saturday Tribune that he would not go back to Bama because whoever claims that Bama town is liberated and free from attacks by the insurgents is not in tune with reality.

According to Bukar, only recently, the town was attacked.

“You media have refused to report it. Bama was attacked, Chibok was attacked, Gwoza was attacked, all is not well in the northern Borno and all we hear is that, these places are liberated and government is talking about returning us to our vil-

lages.

“We are suffering in the camps, we are not being fed properly and we know that we cannot have everything, neither are we asking for too much but certain consideration must be taken.

It is not always about the Borno State government. What about the Federal Government? I am not talking about the presence of NEMA in the camps but how has our president cared? We want Buhari to come and see for himself and speak with some of us at random not with those people that would always speak for us. They have been manipulating everything here.

Recently, UK’s former Foreign Minister and President, Inter-

Saturday Tribune

national Rescue Committee, Mr. David Miliband visited some of the IDP camps in Maiduguri. Falmata Hussaini, a widow, shared with Saturday Tribune her experience at the Bakasi IDP camp. Hussaini revealed they were only being fed twice and even at odd time, adding that when anyone missed the timing, they stayed hungry.

“We take breakfast at 12 noon and dinner at 10 pm. That is why very early in the morning some of us go out to beg for alms. We are not saying that the government is not trying; no, they have been trying but the meals usually, do not go round.”

She said the IDPs had no problem accessing health care but that hunger remains an issue which government needs to look into.

According to Falmata, she arrived at the camp eleven months ago when they were forced to leave their Salamri village in Monguno local government area by the Boko Haram insurgents who laid siege on the town for over six months.

Ten-year-old cobbler, Mallum Bukar, who fled the onslaught of Boko Haram insurgency in Damboa local government area of Borno state along with his mother, Ma’kanuri, told Saturday Tribune in Maiduguri that he shines and repairs people’s broken shoes to earn a living in order to feed, clothe and fend for himself, his mother and younger ones.

Bukar told Saturday Tribune that his family fled Damboa town when the militants stormed the town and embarked on mass killing.

“My uncle and my senior brother were killed and burnt before my eyes. They did not kill me but wanted to take me along with them. Along the way I ran away. I later met a woman who told me where my mother and other siblings were hiding and took me to them.

“We were running away from the onslaught when a Good Samaritan, who was also on the run, helped by carrying us in his car and bringing us to Maiduguri. My father might still be alive. I believe he too ran for his dear life but we are yet to see him. When we arrived in Maiduguri, we were taken to the IDP camp at Mafoni where we spent the night and the following morning, my mother decided to leave the camp and settled at London-Chiki.

“We were offered a place to stay by some people but they were not responsible for our feeding, so along with my mother we struggled to maintain the family from the little I could generate and what she was able to bring for the day. But for some time now, my mother has been having some difficulties and she could not work to bring money, so I guess I am the one to bring money for our feeding now.”

He said while in Damboa before the incident that forced his family to flee their home, he was in class two (grade two).

According to him, they were barely 11 months in Maiduguri and when asked whether he would want to return to Damboa since the area is said to have been liberated, Bukar said he did not want to go back because he was sure the insurgents would come back to kill more people.

“We fled before and returned home again but they came back, even now people are saying that the Boko Haram are still around in some of the villages. I don’t think there is need for going back now, my mother said it is not yet time to start going back and I am afraid to go back,” Bukar said.

While describing the scenario in Borno, Governor, Kashim Shettima said the situation is a time capsule.

According to him, some parts of Borno State have remained pathetic as result of the crises in 2015 as it was in 1900.

“I have a picture of Dikwa town taken in 1900 and when you juxtapose the picture with the one taken in 2015 you would not see much difference. Hundred years ago, 80 percent of our people were living in corn-stalk houses with thatch roof and even now 90 percent of our people in Dikwa are living the same except for the Shehu’s palace, a bank, local government secretariat and some politicians’ houses.”

He said women in Borno State constitute the bulk of the population, yet they remain the most marginalised and most oppressed as they bore the brunt of the insurgency.

“Our women, most of the times, are the ones taking care of the children orphaned as a result of the Boko Haram crises and they represent the poorest of the poor in our society.”

Samaila Maina, who arrived at the NYSC camp where some IDPs are being housed since 2013 told Saturday Tribune that never in his life has he ever dreamt of the nightmares of such horrific moments in his life.

“This is our home now,” pointing to the place he stays. “We are Nigerians, and we will continue to pray for peace to return, but the story we are hearing coming from our villages is not what sometimes we are made to believe. What we are hearing about Chibok and some other places is scary, but we hope this crisis would end soon,” he said.

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Boko Haram resurgence late 2015

By John Campbell PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly said that the Nigerian security services would destroy Boko Haram by December. Recently, he has walked back from that optimistic prediction. The reality is that Boko Haram of late has been resurgent. Associated Press (AP), reports that Boko Haram destroyed a Nigerian military base at the end of November and occupied the town of Gulak, in Adamawa state. The military fled, leaving local “self-defense fighters” to reoccupy Gulak, which they held until military re-reinforcements arrived. Separately, a military intelligence officer confirmed that 107 soldiers remain missing about a week after a battle in which Boko Haram also captured and drove away a government T-72 tank. In a third episode, the Xinhua news agency reported on November 30 that an unspecified number of girls were kidnapped from Bam village, in Yobe state. The raiders, presumed to be Boko Haram, sang Arabic choruses and killed at least seven persons. As in other Boko Haram female kidnappings, the perpetrators separated the adolescent and unmarried women from those that were married. The report is not clear as to whether only the younger women were taken away or all of the women.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Cameroon, Najat Rochdi, is sounding the alarm that Boko Haram is expanding and that there is only “a small window of opportunity to stop it,” as reported by Reuters. He said Boko Haram’s strategy is to demonstrate its power by daily suicide bombings. He went on to say that Boko Haram is destroying Cameroon’s economy and “influencing the young.” On December 1, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed economic sanctions on Mohammed Nur and Mustapha Chad because of their involvement in Boko Haram suicide attacks. Nur is Nigerian, Chad is Chadian.

The Nigerian security forces, assisted by Chadians and South African mercenaries appeared to drive Boko Haram out of the territory it occupied, mostly in Borno State, in a February-March campaign. However, it is questionable whether the Boko Haram withdrawal was the result of military pressure or a change in tactics largely unrelated. There appear to have been remarkably few casualties from the fighting, raising questions about whether the Boko Haram withdrawal was largely voluntary. On the other hand, in the past, Boko Haram has withdrawn in the face of government strength, regrouped, and then resumed its operations at an enhanced tempo.

The increasing salience of “self-defense fighters,” as at Gulak, may indicate that fighting entities not under the control of the government are increasing in importance. That could facilitate the growth of warlords in the future. The reported recent round of Boko Haram kidnapping of girls is a reminder that more than a year after more than two hundred girls were kidnapped from Chibok, not one has been found, though a handful escaped at the time. Whether intended or not, Rochdi’s comment that Boko Haram was “influencing the young” in Cameroon implies at least some public support. The U.S. Treasury’s economic sanctions are unlikely to have practical consequences as there is no public evidence that Mohammded Nur, Mustapha Chad, or the Boko Haram movement has financial assets in the United States.

John Campbell, a former US ambassador to Nigeria, posted this on cfr.org

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2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

views.com Africa’s true story is not sexy

By Chude Jideonwo

I

N 2000, The Economist made a bold declaration about Africa: it called us the hopeless continent.

We screamed. We protested. They are insulting us.

It’s time for us to tell our own stories.

By 2011, the foreign media had gotten the message, and the narrative changed: Africa, they declared, is now rising... the hopeless continent is now bustling with hope.

The middle class now has more pot-bellies. And all of us cheered.

Pride restored. Victory secured. Battle won. But what exactly did we win?

The fact that many over the last ten years have succeeded in spite of broken down systems cannot blind us to the reality — that nations cannot grow based only on outliers.

We will always have people who make something out of nothing. They exist around the world, even in nations destroyed by war. But we need nations that provide opportunities for everyone.

There is a point at which resilience becomes a defect and not a virtue. It is not something to be proud of that it takes sweat and blood to register a business name in Nigeria, to open a bank account and to understand its tax laws with no help from the government. It is a problem that needs to be solved.

And until Africa has a network of nations where these foundational imperatives are engaged successfully and uninterrupted, success stories will continue to be a rarity and Africa will simply not grow Recently we visited Libreville, and the North-East of Nigeria. Oh, the things we saw. The tragedy is not the stories you even know, it’s in the ones you don’t. It’s not just the fact that yet the world’s cry to #BringBackOurGirls has borne no fruit, it is the fact that they have been utterly abandoned by their own government.

On these trips the strong disconnect between the Africa Rising narrative and the realities on the ground hit you like a ton of bricks.

So instead of simple stories, how about we focus on our

reality?

Africa is not a dark continent, yet it has more blackouts than any other continent. We protest Africa is not a theatre of war, but it has more national coups than any part of the world today. Yes, Africa is not a dark continent of poverty, but we have more poor people with no pathway to rising than any continent existing in 2015.

Yes, Africa is not a continent of disease, but polio was just eradicated in Nigeria this year. And not because we told better stories, but because a foreign donor worked with local change-makers to make it happen.

Brothers and sisters of Africa, 329 million mobile phone users is not growth, it is consumption. Two hundred million people when there are no roads for them to move goods and service is not a market. Luxury motor shops opening in our capitals is not development, it is alternative reality.

This rising tide has not lifted all boats. What is rising instead is the number of Africa’s children out of school -- 18

million at last count, the number of young people living below two dollars a day - 72 per cent at last count, and the sheer number of Africa’s youth — over 75 million between 15 and 24 -- who have no jobs. It is not a sexy story.

But it is a true story.

Of course, this story can change.

And in some countries, like in my favourite case study Rwanda, it is in fact changing. And from countries like this come a powerful message of hope, but it is one that does not have to rely on a lie.

That message is simple: Africa CAN rise. But it can rise if only we can urgently scale up the work that governments and then civil society are doing. Government first - because one thousand NGOs cannot take the place of a single functioning government.

It can rise when we speak truth to power, in government, in civil society, in business. And act on that truth.

We don’t need more NGOs, as much as we need more support for those already solving these problems. We don’t need more politicians; we need more people forcing governments to do what they must for more young people. We need to move from hashtagging words, to hashtagging action.

And for this, we need active citizens.

We don’t need part-time Africans. We don’t need those who are content to sit in little cocoons and substitute one simple story for another.

We don’t need part-time Africans. We need full time citizens. We need a groundswell of active, engaged, involved citizens - solving problems, at the same time, across our nations.

Chude Jideonwo, the executive director of The Future Project Nigeria, contributed this piece on the Cable News Network (CNN).

Missions around globe will keep US soldiers busy in 2016

By Michelle Tan UNITED States soldiers will continue to be busy across the globe in 2016 as the Army supports operations in Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe, the Pacific and the Middle East.

Demand for troops, whether for the ongoing missions in Iraq and Afghanistan or for exercises in Europe and Asia, is not expected to decline in 2016.

The Army is increasing its partnership efforts in Africa, which faces a growing terrorist threat, including Al-Shabaab in East Africa, Boko Haram in Central Africa, and the Islamic State terror group in the north.

US Army Africa recently launched African Horizons, a new programme to synchronize the command’s training and partnership efforts across the vast continent.

There are about 2,000 soldiers serving in Africa at any given time, and they could be conducting an exchange with the Ethiopians or building a logistics school in the Democratic Republic of Congo. About 800 of them are in Djibouti serving as part of Combined Joint Task ForceHorn of Africa.

Army Africa also relies heavily on regionally-aligned forces, who rotate in and out of the continent to conduct a variety of missions and exercises. The unit currently aligned with Army Africa is 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. Additional forces are expected in 2016, including the sustainment brigade from the 10th Mountain Division, elements of a signal brigade from California, and

the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade, which will be stood up in the coming months.

In the coming months, soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division headquarters will deploy to Iraq to help the advise-and-assist mission there. They will replace the 82nd Airborne Division headquarters.

In Afghanistan, the 10th Mountain Division headquarters remains in theater, along with an element from the 7th Infantry Division headquarters and several other key units.

Also in 2016, about 4,500 soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division will rotate to South Korea for a nine-month deployment. They will replace their sister brigade, 2nd BCT, 1st Cavalry Division.

In Europe, leaders are asking for more aviation assets to help meet the demand for troops as the US works to reassure its allies in the face of Russian aggression. Operation Atlantic Resolve, a series of exercises and continuous engagements that has now expanded into more than half a dozen countries, is expected to continue in 2016, and the Army continues to send regionally-aligned forces to Europe on a rotational basis.

The Army also is looking to send a second brigade’s worth of tanks, Bradleys and other heavy equipment to the region, and dedicate an entire division to exercises, training and assurance missions across Europe.

Training also continues in Ukraine, as the Army, along with partners from Canada and Lithuania, continues training five battalions of active-duty Ukrainian soldiers. That

training is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

In the Pacific, the Army has at least two Pacific Pathways exercises scheduled for the year, with more on the books for 2017.

Pacific Pathways made its debut in 2014 when more than 800 soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, spent three months in Asia.

The Pathways concept employs a single unit through what officials call a “training pathway.” The unit spends three to four months in a series of already approved, consecutive bilateral and multilateral exercises and engagements with foreign militaries.

The Army ran three Pathways in fiscal year 2015, with stops in Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia.

Also expected in 2016 is the return of 3rd Special Forces Group to Africa.

The group began shifting its area of operations last fall; it expects to complete its transition out of the Middle East and Central Asia by summer 2016.

The 3rd Special Forces Group had a Middle East and Africa focus when it was first activated in 1963. For the last 13 years, Special Forces soldiers from the group have deployed almost constantly to Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, Iraq.

The transition back to Africa comes as demands and operations change around the world.

Tan is a staff writer on ArmyTimes.com

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2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

style 2016 fashion trends forecast

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With Kate Ani 08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

Gold chocker neck-piece

Braless suit

Tinuola Ayanniyi tayanniyi@yahoo.com 08055069379

Do-It-Yourself: Statement bracelet

Cape dress

L

Velvet dress

AST year, several celebrities made fashion statements that gave us some serious fashion goals. Well, we believe these fashion trends will continue in the New Year.

Here’s a look at the fashion trends of 2015, which will likely rule this year too.

Chocker necklaces These stylish necklaces made a comeback two months ago, after being dumped in the 90s. The accessories cling to the neck and they come in different patterns and colours.

Braless suit This eye-popping trend is gradually making its way into the style scene. Whether the trend was born of a reaction to the soaring temperatures, a desire to appear edgier, or just a personal preference is unclear.

Cape dress Inspired by a wedding gown dress, this trend ruled 2015 and with the way celebs are wowing us every now and then in this ‘fly’ dress, it may likely dominate the style scene in 2016.

Velvet dress A number of celebrities have been spotted wearing velvet styles.

The reason it is a diehard trend among fashionistas is because of its availability in a myriad of bold and bright colours, including deep red, royal blue, green and orange.

Blondies on fleek!

Blonde hairstyle is currently having a moment. From Toke Makinwa to Mercy Aigbe-Gentry, celebs are currently ditching black extensions to very much lighter tresses. No doubt, in 2016, we will witness more of blonde hair transformations.

Blondies on fleek

26

outofthisworld

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune WITH FEMI OSINUSI

osfem2@yahoo.com 08055069292

We know of skyscrapers, have you heard of ‘oceanscrapers?’

Y

ES, we all know of skyscrapers, they are those tall buildings that always catch our attention, but what of oceanscrapers? We are sure you have never seen one! For now, attempt is about to be made to build the popular skyscrapers in the ocean.

A Belgian architect has revealed plan to build the world’s first ‘underwater skyscrapers’ which will be able to accommodate about 20,000 people under the ocean.

According to justmarinenews.com, the Belgian, Vincent Callebaut, said he planned to build the ‘oceanscrapers’ as a viable place for humans to live to reduce the carbon footprint on the planet.

In fact, he said he planned to build an ‘Aequorea,’ a village made up of the oceanscrapers.

Each oceanscraper has a jellyfish-like structure - the entrance and docks are found at the surface and then the structure spirals down up to depths of 1,000 metres.

The entrance into one of the oceanscrapers).

Another picture of the design of the ‘oceanscraper’.

The oceanscrapers will spiral down up to 1,000 metres while only the top floor will be above the sea.

One of the rooms in the structures.

The ground floor of the structure.

The design of how the village of ‘oceanscrapers’ will look like.

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2 January, 2016

businessextra

Saturday Tribune

Edited by Sulaimon Olanrewaju

lanresulaimon123@gmail.com 08055001708

New fuel price, subsidy policy: Nigerians react

Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

T

HE Federal Government has struggled over the years to reverse the mistakes made with respect to subsidy policy.

Prior to the oil boom in the 1970s, the downstream sector was fully deregulated. Shell Petroleum Development Company built and managed the first refinery in Nigeria, Warri Refinery, with 100,000 barrels per day capacity. It was commissioned in 1978 but later de-bottlenecked to process 125,000 barrels per day in 1987.

However, with the subsequent elimination of deregulation in the country, the issue of scarcity of petroleum products can rightly be said to have been birthed. When deregulation was in place, the problem of scarcity was barely existent because the one available refinery was able to produce enough fuel needed in the country. The process involved a marketer taking crude oil to the refinery, processing it and taking the products away to sell; it was strictly private business with no government participation.

The problem of fuel scarcity can be said to have started when the government took over the refinery in the 1970s.

In 1973, the Federal Government commenced uniform pricing through enactment of Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) Act. Before then, there was disparity in pump price based on locations. The beauty of it was that company ‘A’ selling fuel in Lagos at a price could sell same product at different price in Ogbomoso. Companies A and B could process the same products and sell at different prices based on locations. But when the government took over the refinery, the initiatives died.

Though the Federal Government began to build more refineries and invested in pipelines, they could no longer maintain them. Out of 22 government depots, almost none were working when the present administration took over the mantle of leadership in May 2015.

However, there are efforts aimed at reviving all the 22 depots as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had directed that the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) should ensure that all the depots come on stream by first quarter 2016.

However, recent moves by Kachikwu had indicated that the subsidy will be removed in the long run. This is because although, he claimed that subsidy has been removed, but according to the pricing template of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), as at 30 December, 2015, there is subsidy of N6.95 per litre of petrol.

This is just as the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Farouk Ahmed, announced the reduction of pump price of petrol from N87 to N86.50 per litre while NNPC retail stations will sell at N86 per litre.

Ahmed stated that the reduction in the price of the

commodity was due to an implementation of the revised components of the Petroleum Products Pricing Template for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Kerosene.

According him, the revised template, which would be reviewed on quarterly basis, is geared towards ensuring an efficient and market-driven price that will reflect current realities.

“The template is not static, as there would be a quarterly review and if there is any major shift, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources would be expected to call for a review, either upward or downward. If there is no major shift, the price would continue from January to March 2016,” he said.

Giving a breakdown of the revised template, Ahmed disclosed that trader’s margin, the amount paid to traders for bringing the commodity into Nigeria, had been eliminated, from N1.47 per litre previously.

He said “lightering” expenses was reduced from N4.07 per litre to N2 per litre; NPA reduced from N0.77 to N0.36 per litre; while Jetty throughput and storage charges were reduced.

Ahmed said the ex-depot price of PMS stood at N77 per litre, compared to N77.66 per litre, while the pump price for oil marketers would be N86.50 per litre.

Kachikwu had revealed that the country had spent an average of N1trillion per year on fuel subsidy in the last five years despite mounting debts and infrastructural deficit.

According to him, “The total subsidy figure for 2015 when taken along with the NNPC will be in excess of N1 trillion. We can get this specifics but the point is largely that it does not involve NNPC because the agency takes its cut-off.

“We will work towards taking those figures off our budget in 2016. They are critical issues. The current pricing work we are doing had shown that there shouldn’t really be subsidy. The government doesn’t need to subsidise.

“There is energy around the removal of subsidy. Most Nigerians we talk to today would say that’s where to go. I have since left the dictionary of subsidy by going to price modulation which is a bit more technical.»

However, Nigerians seem divided on the policy of subsidy. While many welcomed the development because of the stress they went through during the Yuletide season, others disagreed with emphasis on reviving the four refineries before subsidy is removed.

Leading the critics is the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which accused the government of attempting to remove subsidy through the back door.

In a statement by the General Secretary of NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the union accused the chieftains of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), who supported and encouraged the massive protests against subsidy removal in 2012 of preaching the inevitability of subsidy removal when they now get into power.

“The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum (Dr. Ibe Kachikwu) first announced that come next year the price

of petrol will revert to N97 per litre and that subsidy will be phased out. Two days after, he denied this and stated that what he said was that the price will operate within a band of N87 to N97 and that this did not mean removing the subsidy. The same minister now says that the price of petrol will now be N85 in January signifying the deregulation of the sector.

“These vacillations and flip flops are, in our view, designed to confuse Nigerians and pave the way for deregulation of petrol prices through the back door,» it stated.

The union urged the Federal Government to promote domestic refining before thinking of subsidy removal.

“The fact of the matter is that as long as we continue to depend on imported refined products, deregulation and the abandonment of a subsidy scheme will unleash hardship on Nigerians. In any case, according to our laws, the determination of the recommended prices of petroleum products is the responsibility of the Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

“By law, the board of PPPRA is made up of stakeholders.

None of the contradictory prices the minister is throwing up is a product of the agency. Indeed, the board of the PPPRA has not operated for over two years although we have made repeated demands for the convening of the board,” it stated.

The union called on the government to be guided by the rule of law and constitute and convene the board of PPPRA in accordance with the law without further delay.

This will, according to it, enable the agency to examine and agree a new pricing template based on the realities of today. Any price unilaterally determined and announced by the minister is in violation of the law.

“In meantime, we wish to restate our opposition, adopted at our Central Working Committee Emergency Meeting of 22nd December, to any attempt by the government to increase the price of or remove subsidy on petrol. We reiterate our directive to our State Councils and Industrial Unions to commence the process of mobilization prior to a meeting of the National Executive Committee to be convened in the New Year,” it stated.

An energy expert, Engr. Kolawole Ashiru, told Saturday Tribune that the decision to remove fuel subsidy by 2016 is a welcome development given the government fiscal position is significantly constrained by the drop in crude price at the international market.

According to him, “for the first time, we have a government that is serious about subsidy removal. During scarcity, Nigerians pay more for petrol despite wasting productive hours at the filling stations while trying to get the product.

“Moreover, if the Saudi Arabia can remove subsidy and increase pump price of petrol by 40 per cent despite its non-dependence on importation of refined petroleum products, why must Nigerian government continue with the subsidy policy with its over reliance on importation of refined petroleum products.”

29

2 January, 2016

ntertainment News

Society Gist

Saturday Tribune with Joan Omionawele and

jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08059793705 Newton-Ray Ukwuoma 08052271251

Celebrity Interviews

Mercy Johnson, Uche Jombo, other celebrities’ expectations in 2016 ALS Ade O INSI Ade sua Et DE... and kunle omi, to w other Gold out atch artiste s in 20 for 16

30

2 January, 2016

‘A queen must be beautiful on the inside’

Saturday Tribune

To succeed in the pageant industry, you must be very, very disciplined.

My question at the Face of the Universe was, ‘What are the responsibilities of a beauty queen?

Continues from pg2

You participated in about seven beauty pageants before you won Miss Tourism and Face of the Universe, what has kept you going through these years?

One, I’m a perfectionist. Two, I work hard. And third, I’m very persistent.

If I need something from you and you wouldn’t give it to me today, you will have to give it to me tomorrow, or next tomorrow! I will keep coming, just like the persistent widow in the Bible whose consistent approach wearied the unjust judge until he answered her. I believe in that theory.

What would you consider to be the most challenging part of the competition?

It was a completely different environment. It was adapting to the food. Doing all the stressful activities, and then coming back to the environment you’re trying to get used to. It took three to four days before I was able to fit in to the environment.

Coming back to the pageant, when you made it to the top 10, did you think you will win the crown?

No. At the top 10, I did not think of winning the crown. It was after I made it to the top 5. I was actually the first person to be called into the top 5. At the top 5, the first runner up was called, the second runnerup was called. So, it remained me and Aruba. Then, she was saying ‘It seems like you’re going to win’. But I was saying, ‘Why not you?’ but she said, ‘No, you did so well!’ Actually I won ‘Best Evening Gown’. So, they were almost sure that I was going to win! I think I saw it coming at that point.

How would you respond to the support you have had so far on this journey?

Though in the beginning I didn’t get the support I needed from my family, now all that has changed. My mum has been my greatest support and backbone.

I have a lot of friends that supported me.

So many people who believe in me. They have been with me every step of the way.

As a young girl growing up, did you ever see yourself becoming a queen some day?

As a young girl growing up, I was always seeing myself as a queen when I was three. I kept on looking up to people like Bianca Ojukwu, Regina Askia. I saw how beautiful they were and how glamorous they looked. I thought of being like these people someday!

This is a dream I’ve had for a long time. And it’s like I’m living my dreams now.

While you had support, what were the challenges?

Charting my way to where I am now.

Before now, not so many people believed in me. I had to leave school sometime to go for beauty pageants and I come back with nothing. People would ask if I wasn’t tired of beauty pageantry. Some advised that I should focus on my studies. But I knew I wanted to study the same way I wanted to be a queen. It was so discouraging to hear people say negative things about you because you didn’t win one time or two or three times. It was so discouraging. As it went on, I read some negative comments written about me in the department when I was in school. They wrote many bad stuff about me. But I knew where I was going to. I never allowed the little obstructions stop me.

What is the most important virtue a beauty queen requires?

I know that being a beauty queen requires a lot of discipline. People don’t get it from outside. To succeed in the pageant industry, you must be very, very disciplined. My question at the Face of the Universe was, ‘What are the responsibilities of a beauty queen?’A beauty queen is an ambassador of beauty and goodwill. Not just the beauty on the outside but also on the inside. She is supposed to be a role model.

So, put all these in one, then you’ll know how to package yourself into a person who qualifies to be a beauty queen.

You are a Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor, now that you are the Face of the Universe and considering the enormous tasks on your hand, do you think you could combine being an SA with your current office as the Face of the Universe?

I’m going to have to decide on that! At this stage, I’m just coming in to Nigeria. I’ll have to go back to the state… And… I might have to resign!

Your state will be very proud of you on this achievement and they may not want you to resign.

Yes! (Laughs). I have one year to do this. It’s like once in a lifetime job. I’ve once in a lifetime to a beauty queen, but I have the rest of my life to serve my state. This one year, if I give it to the rest of the world, to the children, women, it will be worth it.

So, looking back from where you are now, what would say?

(Laughs) People that know me know my story. It’s been persistence. It’s been God. Looking back, I owe all to God. I’m so grateful to the people I’ve met on my way to this place. I’m so grateful to everyone.

What’s your project focus?

I have done projects during my time as Miss Tourism, Nigeria. But this is a bigger platform to touch the rest of the world, and specifically Africa. I already have few invitations to Russia, Germany and Spain. But I want to start from Africa—Angola, Ghana and the rest will

come later.

What’s the specific project you will be focusing on?

My projects will be on women empowerment and development. That’s the theme of my project, and that encompasses the youth.

Finally, apart from God and your mother, to whom do you dedicate this crown?

I’m dedicating this crown to every struggling girl, to every struggling woman who believes in her dreams; who sees herself in the spotlight. I will say: don’t give up! Go after what you want.

32 entertainment

2 January, 2016

Celebrities’ expectations in 2016

Saturday Tribune

Femi Kuti I am sincerely tired of hoping and hoping every year. I am tired of seeing hunger and poverty written all over the faces of every Nigerian. So, this year, I just wish best wishes for everyone.

As agents of change in the society, some Nigerian celebrities spoke with JOAN OMIONAWELE on their expectations in the Nigerian polity in the New Year

Mercy Johnson-Okojie I will be taking care of my new baby for the first quarter and settling down in Nigeria. After that, Nigerians should expect me playing new roles in the industry, not just as an actress. Nothing stops me from being a producer or adding value than I already did.

It will be a year to dig deep and become a super woman, raising three kids and stepping up the game in the industry.

Ayo Adesanya I foresee a great year and one of the best years. I’m expecting general improvement in all ramifications and areas of life.

Emeka Ike In the year 2016, one expects economic and security assurances for the Nigerian nation. Where proceeds from entertainment will take the centre stage in solving socio-economic problems. This will be a business year for me as I pray for more investments.

I also wish for a year of less idle minds, less hungry mouths and a more activated youth population. I also wish this will be a year corruption will bow to the people of Nigeria.

Uche Jombo 2015 was a good year, but I hope 2016 will be better. My plan is to deepen my brand, expand my horizon and explore areas that I haven’t (explored) in time past when it comes to filmmaking. It will be the year to spread my wings and fly.

Yul Edochie I’ll be honest. I am tired of talking about Nigeria.

No matter what we say, we cannot change the decision of the leaders.

We all know the problems our dear country is facing. We speak out but nothing is done. The same leaders go to foreign countries, they love how the system works over there, yet they cannot fix Nigeria to be that way. It’s really sad.

Waje I am kicking off a couple of exciting projects in 2016. My album will be out, I am also part of a huge surprise yet to be announced and most exciting of all is the African Woman campaign under my foundation, Waje Safe House, we will be sending five Nigerian girls to the university for four years by God’s grace.

Saidi Balogun I am full of hope of fantastic changes for me and my family in the year 2016.I am very enthusiastic.

Kunle Afolayan 2015 was a great year and in 2016, I am looking forward to completing and releasing my movie, THE CEO, amongst other things.

33 entertainment

2 January, 2016

Adesua Etomi, Adekunle Gold,

other artistes to watch out for

in 2016

Adekunle Gold Signed unto YBNL owned by Olamide, Adekunle Gold registered his music in the subconscious of many with his single, Sade, and won many more hearts with his next song, Orente.

He later released Pick up a song which proved that Adekunle Gold has come to stay. His fans are obviously clamouring for more in the New Year.

Saturday Tribune

Every year, new artistes enter the entertainment industry. Musicians like 2face have maintained their royal diadem of being A-list artistes, while others keep improving on their crafts. JOAN OMIONAWELE takes a look at a few top artistes to watch out for in 2016.

Adesua Etomi Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi, stormed the industry with her role in Emem Isong’s ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’, where she starred alongside popular actor, Blossom Chukwujewku.

She then went further to act in the popular youth series, Gidi up, alongside OC Ukeje and Deyemi Okanlawon, and has since been worming herself into the hearts of Nollywood fans.

The actress told Saturday Tribune in a recent interview that she did not know if she liked the idea of being popular as she just wanted to do her job and be the best at it.

Adesua raised the bar in her career in a short time as she was nominated alongside other topnotch actresses in the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) which is slated for 2016.

Yemi Alade 2015, no doubt, was a great year for the Effissy music First Lady as the afropop singer who came into the limelight after winning the Peak Talent Show in 2009, and is best known for her hit single “Johnny”became arguably the best female act on the continent in 2015.

Yes, Yemi Alade was nominated for a number of award and headlined some of the biggest shows in Nigeria and across Africa.

After the release of her debut album, King of Queens, she went on tour and later won the best female act in the MTV base awards.

She also launched her collection, collaboration with Bland2Glam and from her bold and delectable African fashion to her electrifying performances. Yemi, no doubt, is set for bigger things this year and she is definitely one artiste to watch out for.

Deyemi Okanlawon Known for his role as Tokunbo in the popular web series, ‘Gidi Up’, Deyemi Okanlawon has starred in ‘ZR- 7’, ‘Taste of Love’, ‘Blink’, ‘Them and Us’, ‘Knock Knock’ and other movies.

In 2013, reports had it that the actor was awarded Best Actor in a Short Film at the In-Short film festival for the short film ‘Blink’ which also received a nomination for Best Short Film at the 2013 Nollywood Movies Awards.

According to the actor who is also an engineer, “I have always wanted to be part of a story. Right now, I’m doing that as an actor. Going forward, I would love to do that as a director telling people stories and not just playing a character in the story”.

The actor who got married in 2013 to his wife, whom he describes as his “woman” crush, has promised to remain stuck in the hearts of movie lovers in 2016.

CDQ Musician CDQ is signed unto General Records. He became more popular when he was featured in Masterkraft’s single “Indomie”.

He has since rocked various stages in the country with his contemporary indigenous rap genre.

2016 holds a surprising year for CDQ. Lil Kesh Very young and energetic, Lil Kesh’s song and dance step, Shoki, has, no doubt, been the biggest and longest dance step among youths and adults alike.

This made his label boss, Olamide, declare that the Shoki crooner deserved to be made the Headies Rookie of the Year in 2014.

Although critics argue that his lyrics may be too vulgar, Lil Kesh still has the ability to keep his fans still dancing away their sorrows.

Will he change his vulgar lyrics this year and improve on his craft? We will get to find out soon.

34

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

with Tunde Ayanda ayandaayotunde@yahoo.com 08034649018

Wedding tale trails Michael Prest MICHAEL Prest, an oil magnate and younger brother of ex-beauty queen, Helen Prest-Ajayi, seems to have regained his balance and he's trying to give marriage another try, judging by the tale doing the rounds.

The former head of Marc Rich Oil, who divorced his former wife in 2013, is said to have found himself another partner with whom he plans to spend his life with.

The details of what to come are kept under wraps, while people close to the oil mogul said that he plans to keep everything guarded.

Godwin Emefiele

loses mum

Gerald Azonobo bounces back!

T

HE Christmas period was a painful moment for the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele who lost his mother on Christmas Day. Those close to the banker said he enjoyed a close relationship with his late mum.

The banker is said to be meeting with his siblings and other family members on how to give the deceased a decent burial.

ONE of Lagos big boys, Gerald Azonobo, may have ended his two-year absence on the social circuit with his recent outing a few days ago.

Azonobo, popularly called ‘Dagogo’, was the person who was responsible for the the survival of many night clubs in Lagos, who club managers knew what his patronage meant to the soul of their business.

The man suddenly changed his tactics and avoided all fun places, only to be spotted some days ago at the Christmas rave of Club Papas.

Azonobo was said to have used his absence to stabilise his oil business and used his recent outing to cool off.

Isaac Fayose inaugurates Viewpoint Resort ISAAC Fayose, who is the owner of Anis Guard, has expanded his business frontiers with the opening of a hospitality centre in Ibadan.

The new project, named Viewpoint Resort, is located in the heart of the city and boasts of different modern equipment and recreational facilities.

The Viewpoint Resort, which was inaugurated a few days ago, brought together a lot of entertainers and celebrities who are his friends.

Fayose, who is also the owner of Alibi Lounge in Lagos, disclosed that Viewpoint Resort is one of the many projects he plans to add to his business empire and that he chose Ibadan as the location of the new business based on his background and his love for the city.

On the trail of Sayyu Dantata THE social circle might have been missing Sayyu Dantata.

The man, who is believed to be one of the richest Nigerians, has for some time been absent from all his usual places of leisure.

Many believe his absence from

the social circle is to re-strategise for his businesses.

Dantata, a cousin of the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is a shrewd businessman who turns everything he touches into gold.

35 feature

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Woman who gave birth to twins after 16 years of marriage says Someone called me Sarah shortly before my marriage

it spiritually since we had no negative report medically.

By Oluwatoyin Malik

O

N a street off the road that leads to Osun State University, Ikire, sits a church - Wayfarer Ministries. Though just growing, Sunday, December 13, 2015 was a day the entire neighbourhood hosting the church saw a fleet of vehicles of different models parked in front of it, while others lined up the sides of the streets.

It was the day the twin babies of Pastor Yemi Asegun and Barrister (Mrs) Dupe Helen Awosemusi were being dedicated. And the friends of the Awosemusis really had cause to turn out in droves to honour the day: The twin girls were the first children of the Awosemusis, 16 years after they got maried. The adorable girls were delivered on November 1, 2015. They were named Goodness Oluwadarasimi and Mercy Oluwaferanmi.

As the shepherd of the church, Pastor Awosemusi spoke just a few words. But his wife, the mother of the twins, rolled on the floor and sang songs of praises to Almighty God, when it was time to give testimony of the journey of 16 years which was initially tagged barren.

For many who knew Mrs Modupe Awosemusi of the Ministry of Justice, Oyo State, they did not know she had yet to have a child. It was their belief that she already stopped child bearing before she joined the state civil service about 11 years ago.

No wonder someone in the judiciary who noticed her bump beneath her robe at the state high court premises, called her to say: “Madam, I believe the pregnancy you are carrying was a ‘mistake’.”

When Saturday Tribune visited the home of the Awosemusis for an interview, it met a beehive of activities.

The twins’ maternal grandmother and relations were at hand to give a helping hand to care for the babies.

Speaking with Saturday Tribune after she finished nursing one of the twins, Mrs Awosemusi shed light on the 16 years of waiting which culminated in the bundles of joy she is currently nursing.“When the judiciary staff made the comment, my pregnancy was over five months then, almost six months. He gave me a call after we left the courts to express his observation, but I replied: “No, it is not a mistake.

This is my first pregnancy in 16 years.”

“I heard as the phone fell off his hand and I started saying: ‘hello, hello.’ When I didn’t hear anything from the other side, I hung up. When he called back, he asked me to repeat what I said earlier and I did. He started apologising, asking God to forgive him.

“He said that he and his colleague discussed me when they saw my bump, wondering what I was looking for to make me get pregnant at my age. He also remarked that none of them knew about this challenge because they never saw it on my face. He then said that the children would be named Goodness and Mercy, unknown to him that I was carrying twins.”

Narrating how the journey of her marriage began, the mother of two said: “I got married on the 27th of November, 1999. Naturally, I expected that after the wedding, children should start coming, but hopes upon hopes, nothing was forthcoming.

“There were times I missed my period and went for pregnancy test, only for the result to be negative. Naturally, one would feel bad, but we kept praying and believing that God would answer us one day.”

She revealed a comment made by someone close to her family which she said became remarkable during the waiting years. According to her, “shortly before we got married, my husband and I went to visit someone. The first thing the person said to welcome me was ‘Sarah’. At that time, I was not spiritually mature so I did not attach any meaning to it.

I was naïve and did not get the spiritual message behind that name. I thought the person mistook the name for mine or just wanted to call me by that name.

“It was later I got the spiritual nudge to reject the name.

Apparently, my father-in-law saw more than I did in being called that name and he was the one who opened my eyes to the spiritual connotation of that name when I casually told him about the name I was called.”

Despite this, the Awosemusis did not allow their situation to weigh them down, as they still related with people very well and continued to serve God zealously. “I remember that sometime in 2001, someone came to us in our café, called me aside and said God told him that He was going to answer our prayers. We actually thought it would happen that year, but year after year, nothing was forthcoming.

Pastor and Mrs Awosemusi with their twins girls

“We kept hoping, though at a stage we got discouraged.

I personally lost faith in becoming a mother. About three years ago, I called my husband and said that with or without children, I wanted to serve God. “At that level, I had closed the chapter of becoming a mother in my consciousness. I told myself that children would not be a criterion for me to have a place in the kingdom of God and inheriting a crown after this life.

“A lot of people said a lot of things about me. Someone even went to the extent of saying that I was a principality; that I had donated my womb at our coven. There were lots of bickerings, issues. There were thunder and windstorms but I was not carried away by them in the journey of 16 years.

“I also had a lot of encouragements and prayers from people who felt concerned about us. My father-in-law is indeed a father in a million,” Mrs Awosemusi told Saturday Tribune.

Challenges from husband’s family Incidentally, Mrs Awosemusi, who is also a prominent member of FIDA, a body of women lawyers, said her fatherin-law stood by her throughout the trial period. “We did not really have any problem from his family members because my husband did not give room for such. I think it is God’s grace.

Instead of giving me problems, my father-in-law was always praying for me. He would call me and send text messages to encourage and counsel me. He is a father indeed.”

Times of discouragement But there were times of low morales in the lives of the couple.

The woman stated: “Sometimes, we heard some nasty things being said about us by some people during outings. For example, we went out one day and I reprimanded a little boy who misbehaved.

“The next thing his mother said in parable was that I could not realise the worth of what I didn’t have. She said I didn’t know how it felt to carry a pregnancy and give birth to a child.

Instead of allowing the statement to weigh me down, it became my prayer point, as I told God to let me know how it feels to become a mother.

“Sometimes when my husband went out and met with such nasty statements, I would read it on my husband.

Though he would not tell me at that moment when I asked him, the issue would come up later and he would tell me what transpired that led to the change in his mood. I know my husband loves me, but in addition to this was God’s grace that made him stick to me through our period of waiting. Sixteen years was no joke.

Medical issue We went for medical check-ups. I was told that I had ovarian cyst which was removed. That was at the early stage of the marriage. But you know there is nothing in the spiritual realm that does not have physical representation. Medicine will always give a name to whatever has happened in the spiritual realm. We believed it was a spiritual thing and we attacked

How I discovered I was pregnant “Usually, when our marriage was eight years old, I stopped monitoring my monthly cycle.

My husband and I agreed that he would be the one to monitor it because of anxiety. I had programmed my mind to forget anything about dates in my monthly cycle once I finished my period in a particular month. If you asked me a week after, I would not remember.

At a stage, my husband also got tired of monitoring the cycle.

“On March 30, this year, I just remembered that my period had yet to come, so I went for pregnancy test. I did not remember my last menstrual period (LMP). I usually bought packs of sanitary towels. After the test, the laboratory technician asked whether he should seal the envelope and I said no.

“As I left him, I partially opened the envelope when I got back inside the car. I peeped and saw something that looked like a plus (+) symbol, which signified positive. I quickly closed the paper and pushed it back inside the envelope. I opened it again, peeped and closed it the second time.

“When I got to my office, I locked my door, and opened the envelope very well and saw the positive symbol. I was so overwhelmed that I put the result in my bag, locked my office window and door, and went back home. It was around 11 a.m.

“It was like a dream, and I could not tell my husband immediately. I thought: Could this be true? Thereafter, I was expecting my belly to just shoot out. Many times, I went in front of my dressing mirror to look at my tummy. This was because I did not experience early morning sickness, vomiting or tiredness.

“Eventually, the lower part of my abdomen started bulging. My bump became noticeable. Then I thanked God and thought: ‘Now, I know how one feels as an expectant mother.’

The journey started like that and I was strong throughout.

I think it was just God because I had strength throughout.

I would climb the stairs to the last floor of the Ministry of Justice where my office was. God renewed my age. I was almost 48 years old.”

How I knew I was carrying twins “It was when my pregnancy was about four months old. The first scan I had at eight weeks revealed a single fetus. I went for the second scan at 16 weeks and the doctor asked: ‘Is it a multiple gestation?’ I answered: ‘I wouldn’t know; but you have said it.’ As he continued to scan, he announced that I was carrying twins. I called my husband and announced the good news to him.

“I was delivered of my twin babies at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan on November 1, 2015.

“I still look at my children and marvel, thinking: ‘So, this womb actually carried these wonderful gifts. I hope I am not dreaming’. I bless God for making me a mother and taking away my reproach. I am not just a mother, but a mother of children.

“Even our members of our ministry in Ikire, Osun State, were shocked to know that the pregnancy was our first. They said that the way I served God with zeal would not make anyone to know that I had yet to have my own children.”The same was the expression from other colleagues in my office and profession. This was because whenever items for children were brought to my office for sale, I would buy for my nephews, nieces and cousins. They thought I was buying them for my children.”

She had these words for waiting couples: “I want to encourage those who are waiting for the fruits of the womb to believe that it is not over until it is over. It is God that has the final say. Let us wait patiently; keep praying, believing that it will come to pass.”

36

2 January, 2016

weekend cartoons

Saturday Tribune

Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638

Just a Laffing Mata

Star

Brother Segeluulu was caught by his pastor in a beer parlour, drinking chilled ‘Star’ beer.

The following conversation ensued between them: Pastor: Oh my God! Brother Segeluulu, you should be drinking soft drinks like Fanta, Coke or Mirinda and not ‘Star’ that is a beer. You are not doing what the Bible teaches.

Segeluulu: Excuse me pastor, where were Fanta, Coke and Mirinda when STAR led the three wise men to Jesus?

FUNOLOGY

POLITICO

New Yea r break u p

Segeluulu was planning how he would enjoy the New Year celebration without money when his girlfriend came around.

The following conversation ensued: Girlfriend: Honey, please buy me the latest phone as my New Year gift.

Segeluulu: Whaaat! You are calling me ‘honey’, which means my mother is a bee. It’s over between us.

Crossover night prayer

Segeluulu attended a church service on the crossover night. He sat beside a very ugly girl.

While the pastor was preaching he said, “Tell the person seated next to you that he or she is beautiful.”

Segeluulu immediately stood up and the pastor said, “Where are you going?”

Segeluulu replied, “I’m changing seats, do you want me to lie in the house of God?” While the pastor was still preaching, he said again, “Tell the person seated next to you that what happens to you will also happen to me.”

Unfortunately for Segeluulu, he was sitting next to a cripple.

So, Segeluulu replied the cripple, “What happens to you will remain with you!”

Gongo Aso crooner returns to music

37 feature

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

‘New Year brings hope... It brings second chances’

Photo Courtesy: drperillecounseling.com

Naza Okoli - Lagos

W

HENEVER a new year comes, people feel the need to do things differently – to do new things. Suddenly it is time to quit smoking, to fall in love, apply for a degree, find another job, lose weight, grow a beard, make new friends, save money, quit drinking, smile more often, learn to play an instrument, travel, relate better with friends and family, start a small business, learn a new language, or become more religious.

In 2007, an English Professor of Psychology, Richard Wiseman, conducted a study at the University of Bristol, UK, involving 3000 people. He determined that 88 per cent of those who set New Year’s resolutions often fail, even though 52 per cent of them usually believe at the outset that they will succeed.

Oni Bamikole Fagbohungbe, Professor of Psychology at the University of Lagos, told Saturday Tribune on Tuesday that the desire to succeed doesn’t always translate to success. “When we are about to enter a new year, people’s hope for survival heightens, and people become more aware of their weaknesses, especially all those things they felt have disturbed the realisation of their dreams in the outgoing year; they don’t want a re-occurrence,” he said. “They look for all those variables that can assist them to make it work, and so they turn it into a resolution. But you discover that even in real-life situation, human achievement follows hierarchy. What I mean by that is that it is very broad at the base, and very slim at the top. And again, even in real life, 50 per cent of people don’t even get to where they have planned to get to. And this aligns with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.”

Fagbohungbe contends that the reason many resolutions fail is that they are made “on the spur of the moment”, and with very little planning. He said: “So when it comes to the end of the year, and we are about to enter a new year, people want to forget about the failures of last year; they don’t want a replication; so they take refuge in resolution. You hear them say: ‘This new year, I want to stop womanising; I want to stop smoking; I must build my own house; I must do this… I must do

that.’ So when they formulate it into New Year’s resolution, then you discover it is not something coming out of long planning; it is spontaneous, done on the spur of the moment. So because it is not properly planned, by the time they get into the New Year, you discover that it will not last. It may be strong on the first day and second day, but by the fourth day, the strength to sustain it begins to go away. By the second week of the New Year, you find them returning to their old ways. No resolution can survive on its own; it needs to be backed up with action – real action, planned action. Most people just say it without planning, without any arrangement as to which way they would go, what activities would lead to it.”

Doing it right Other reasons adduced for the high failure rate of New Year’s Resolutions include setting unrealistic goals, setting too many goals, and modelling one’s goals after other people’s.

Some of the tips provided by Richard Wiseman are: “Make only one resolution; your chances of success are greater when you channel energy into changing just one aspect of your behaviour. Avoid previous resolutions; deciding to revisit a past resolution sets you up for frustration and disappointment. Don’t run with the crowd and go with the usual resolutions; instead think about what you really want out of life. Break your goal into a series of steps, focusing on creating sub-goals that are concrete, measurable and time-based. Tell your friends and family about your goals; you are more likely to get support and want to avoid failure. Don’t wait until New Year’s Eve to think about your resolution and instead take some time a few days before and reflect upon what you really want to achieve.

“Regularly remind yourself of the benefits associated with achieving your goals by creating a checklist of how life would be better once you obtain your aim. Give yourself a small reward whenever you achieve a sub-goal, thus maintaining motivation and a sense of progress. Make your plans and progress concrete by keeping a handwritten journal, completing a computer spreadsheet or covering a notice board with graphs or pictures. Expect

to revert to your old habits from time to time; treat any failure as a temporary setback rather than a reason to give up altogether.

Nomenclature It would appear many people are “tired” of the term “New Year’s Resolution”; it seems it has indeed lost much of its flavour due to overuse. Mr Gray Chuka, a recent graduate of Philosophy from the University of Lagos prefers the term “goal-setting”: “I don’t make new year resolutions,” he said. “I only set goals for the coming year.”

Onyinye Osuchukwu who works for a health insurance company in Lagos also avoids the term “New Year’s Resolution”. She told Saturday Tribune that the arrival of a new year needn’t signal the setting of new goals.

“I have stopped making New Year resolutions,” she said.

“I stopped when I couldn’t keep up. I’m not good with deadlines; I don’t like forcing myself to do something.

However I set goals for myself – long-term and shortterm. But it has to be at my own pace, and not because a new year is coming. One thing with resolutions is that when you fail to keep them, you think you have failed or your year has been bad. Bad is relative. Sometimes, all I need is life. If I have life, I can achieve my dreams and be a better person no matter the day or year. I also think one who is conscious of being a better person or achieving something will not wait because the calendar says to. New Year is relative. New Year means new beginnings. I can make a new day my new year.”

Fresh start Whatever the case, New Year’s Resolutions represent hope – another opportunity to start all over again, a chance to make amends. Indeed the idea of “New Year” cannot be complete without the need to make new plans – new resolutions.

“However, I also think the concept of New Year is actually needed,” Osuchukwu added. “People need fresh starts… that concept of time, that concept of crossing over, that concept of starting afresh, is relieving. New Year brings hope, perceived or otherwise. It brings second chances.”

38 interview

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Banks aren’t taking or paying dollars, so how do we send money to students abroad? —Prof. Adenikinju

Professor Adeola Adenikinju, one of the leading energy economists in Africa, is Director, Center for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL) at the University of Ibadan. In this interview with SULAIMON OLANREWAJU, he speaks on the removal of subsidy on petrol, the 2016 budget, foreign exchange management by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the hiking of electricity tariff by the distribution companies, among other topical issues. Excerpts:

W

HAT is your view on how the CBN is managing the foreign exchange?

I don’t know what they are really trying to achieve because they have not been very clear. They are trying to defend the currency by pegging the exchange rate. Apart from the fact the era of fixing the exchange rate is gone, you can’t manage the fluctuation. But what they are trying to do now is to keep two markets, and keep a very tight control on one market to ensure that there is no movement from one market to the other. And then the official market can be used for official activities. But the way they are going about implementing that policy will pose a lot of issues for legitimate users of foreign exchange. Now you have your foreign currency and a domiciliary account, but you don’t have access to the use of that domiciliary account. You travel abroad and they say from January 1, you can’t use your credit card, either naira or dollar-denominated abroad, or they impose $1,000 as the maximum you can spend.

It was a long time ago we saw that kind of regulation. It will discourage the inflow of foreign exchange. Those who make their money will simply keep it abroad, or there will just be illegal activities, a parallel market where people will be able to use. So, they will just create an official market and turn it to a government only thing, where those who are committed will be the one that are not able to get the exchange. It will also become difficult for the foreign exchange market to operate efficiently. The remittances from abroad used to be a very good source of inflow. The impact of this will be enormous. Banks are not even taking or paying dollars. So, how do we send money to our students abroad? The CBN has to think about this model.

It is outdated and many countries have moved beyond that.

At the end of the day, I am not sure Nigerians will be better off. Many are of the opinion that the CBN’s approach will encourage local production. We have tried those things before and they never worked.

What can the CBN do to salvage the naira?

The economy is in a mess; it is not doing well. What should be done is to encourage domestic production and ensure that the economy encourages entrepreneurship and local and domestic productions that can be efficient so as to compete with foreign goods. We have to think of what we can do to get foreign exchange outside oil, so that we are not just dependent on oil. And what can we do to encourage those who have taken our foreign exchange out to bring it back into the country?

If we don’t make the economy productive, if we don’t make this economy one in which many of the current obstacles to businesses are reduced, then all of these policies will only be there on paper. They will not be effective because if local producers continue to battle with the whole gamut of constraints such as power, security, transportation, interest rate, access to credit and we now have foreign exchange added to that now, then we will be crippling their activities. So, the government must come with smart ways of getting more from the business sector.

And it is not just about tax. Yes, the government can try to minimize tax evasion, but if the economic situation is extremely bad, there is a limit to the extent which you can increase taxes or else you just kill businesses. Many of them are already complaining. They are paying a lot of taxes to all tiers of government, so you will find it difficult to get the manufacturing, industrial sector and small businesses to survive if they don’t have any support and that is what the government should be doing.

The exchange rate differential is very high simply because we are not being productive and competitive. So, instead of restriction, the government should let the market determine the exchange rate. If the government does that, it can still achieve what it wants to achieve without all the meddlesomeness we see. If the currency is devalued enough, the people may start taking export seriously.

The Federal Government has announced the removal of fuel subsidy. How do you see that?

It makes a lot of sense to me that subsidy is removed from PMS. It is something that I have advocated over the past decade. We don’t need subsidy on PMS because it distorts the market and has contributed largely to some of the challenges we have in our economic indicators, including

the budget deficit, exchange rate depreciation and most importantly, the crisis in the downstream sector.

When we were growing up, the depots, refineries and the pipelines were working; there were not many trailers on the road. All those are now gone; the refineries are not working, in spite of whatever figure the Federal Government is giving us. The pipelines are down, the depots are dead and we now have all this carnage on the road because of all the petrol tankers which are plying the road, thereby destroying lives, our infrastructure and so on.

At various times, I have advocated that subsidy should go and it is a good thing if the government has the courage to do it now. They have indicated that they want it gone, but I hope that they will follow through by resisting some of the intense pressure and backlash that will attend the policy.

Is this a good time to let go of subsidy?

This is like a God-created time for the government to do this, because, first, the government itself is broke, so, payment of subsidy is a major challenge, a. And second is the fact that the price of crude oil has really gone down, so, empirically, there is little or no subsidy again. If you say

You travel abroad and they say from January 1, you can’t use your credit card, either naira or dollardenominated abroad.

that you will remove subsidy now, that is not going to have any impact on what the landing cost of PMS is. So, I think it is a God-given opportunity. We had this opportunity about four years ago but we bungled it. But the time has come now, the government is broke and those who were in denial before have seen that there is subsidy and they have to let it go now.

But how do you think this will play out with the government’s intention to regulate prices?

That is the problem. It is something the government has to be very careful about. When you deregulate, you want to send out signals to market operators that you are not going to be tampering with the market outcome in terms of prices, so that people can make investment decisions. If you are going to invest in refineries, it is a lot of money and you have to be sure that you are able to make appropriate returns. You want to show your banker that you have a bankable project, and at the market price, you are able to make profit. At the end of the day, you know that based on economic factors, you are likely to make profit. So, when government comes in and says that it wants to modulate the price and check the changes in price by also regulating it, it sends some concerns to the investors.

What the government is trying to do is to ensure that because of the very volatile oil price, the negative effect is not directly translated to consumers so that today, you don’t buy petrol for N100 and the next day for N200. It wants to have some protection. In many countries, you find a way of building some modulations into it. Maybe once a month, the actors come together and say that if there is any change on some key parameters, we can adjust.

So, the idea is to ensure that there is market stability. But the way we manage that, we need to bring into that kind Continues pg39

39 interview

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

‘The economy is in a mess, it is not doing well’ must be done. So, the government must realign and the necessary legislation must be put in place. The industrial court must be empowered and sanctions must be imposed if people violate those rules.

Continued from pg38

of analysis market operators and the key stakeholders to be sure of what kind of parameters we are really looking at, so that everybody can know and the adjustment can be such that is almost predictable. In fact, in some developed countries, what they have done is to actually let go, and then you have tax, which then becomes the modulating factor.

Even in Ghana, they have tax on petrol. So, when the price goes up, you can reduce the tax rate on it, so that basically, tax is used to modulate those variables. This is where the government has to be credible. In the past, there was the question of credibility on the part of the government; that if the government removed subsidy, there was no assurance that the savings from that would be spent on improving the lives of people, or infrastructure, or the sort of project that could help the economy.

Now we have in place a government that has some credibility. So, we just hope that in managing this, we are able to show this and bring in the market operators and announce clearly what those parameters are and the range at which the parameters will vary. If it goes beyond that range, government will come in and allow price to increase by this percentage. So, it becomes predictable to everybody.

How can the government protect citizens’ interest in a deregulated economy?

I think the protection will come in several ways. One way is that you try to ensure that there is competition in the market, and one way to ensure that is that you don’t restrict the number of sellers. So, import licences will have to go. You don’t give import licence to anybody. So, if I can bring in fuel and sell at N80, you should allow me to bring in my fuel. The only thing is that at the port, you’d have to check that the quality meets the specification of the country. So, we need to allow for free entry into the market; the market should not be exclusive to serve some powerful people.

We must also allow open access to the infrastructure in the sector, where investors can use the infrastructure of players in the market and pay some amount, so that importers are not blocked from using available infrastructure for product distribution or depot, despite being able to bring in fuel. So, there should be easy access and no discrimination; people should be able to use the pipelines.

So once you indicate that you have a certain amount of gasoline that you want to move, there should be open access to infrastructure to ensure that even new entrants can use the infrastructure and pay whatever charges that are market-based.

Also, there are a lot of charges now that, in my view, are almost unnecessary. First, the government pays exchange rate differentials. If a marketer says ‘I got my exchange rate from the black market’, government then says the exchange rate officially is N199, so the government pays the difference between the black market and the official rate.

The government also pays for demurrage; they assume that there will be demurrage for the marketer. If you are bringing your own goods, normally, you clear it quickly so that you don’t pay demurrage, but here, the government is paying for that.

The government also assumes that you are borrowing, therefore, it pays you interest for borrowing. There are many things that are loaded into that template that are not competitive and are anti-people, in my view. When you take those things off and by the time we allow people to bring in products and Nigerian refineries are operating, then you don’t need to pay those charges and many costs will be taken away. The government will have to do that and more importantly is that government will then have access to more resources that can be used to improve the economic and social infrastructure and support the poor or the conditional transfer system that the government is talking about now; one meal per day in public schools and some other things that will take the burden off the poor. So, you can use the money to fund the conditional cash transfer that will then serve two purposes. One, people are getting more income in their pockets directly, instead of giving this money to the rich people. How much PMS does a poor man consume? It is so small. Many of the poor trek, especially in the villages. Even when they don’t trek, you have about 10 people in a bus and they share that subsidy, unlike the big man that is in his car alone, the children will have their individual cars and so also is the wife. So, everyone is consuming the subsidy. So, why is the subsidy not on kerosene that the poor consume, that will also protect the environment? The poor buy kerosene at market price, which is over N100, even in the rural area. Labour is not complaining about that

Is there any hope for our refineries with the deregulation of the sector?

The government is trying to do a lot and the minister is also trying, especially with the positive statements going round about the refineries. But my fear is that we have gone through this route before and we have very old refineries that are poorly managed and monitored because people see government’s business as not theirs. Where you have a bureaucratic process in place that limits the managing director or the board to take decisions that affect the refineries immediately, they still have to go through the whole chain of command to get the approval of the minister and so on, before some repairs can be carried out or before some expenditure can be made. That is not efficiency. So, in my view, the government has no business running refineries. Those refineries should be sold out and the process must be transparent and then the Federal Government can give some production subsidy or incentives to private people to build refineries.

They don’t have to be very big refineries; somebody can build a refinery in Ibadan to produce 5,000 barrels per day or even smaller, that will just service Ibadan. So, if one breaks down, the other will supply. Because they are privately run, there is a motivation to ensure that there is efficiency and they are run well. Now, we talk about 30 or 40 percent capacity utilisation in Nigeria, whereas abroad, it is over 90 percent. So, I think we are just deceiving ourselves.

because it doesn’t affect them, pressure groups are not making noise because it is not affecting them. But when it comes to petrol that affects their interest, they make a lot of noise, threatening to shut down the country.

Why didn’t they shut down the country when the poor who consume kerosene are paying market price. So, it is hypocritical of the middle class and the elite to want to continue this fuel subsidy.

With this deregulation, isn’t a gang-up by marketers against the customers possible? How can the government guard against that?

The government has to be very firm and transparent.

The government must say that there is no longer import licensing, so you don’t have to go to PPRA to get a licence.

And it shouldn’t be NNPC alone that can bring in the product; let anyone who wants to bring in fuel bring in fuel. Just stay at the port and ensure that the DPR monitors the quality of fuel that is brought into the country.

That is what they need to do. They should also ensure that there is open access to every infrastructure in the sector.

If you are not using it, allow others to, and charge them at the market rate.

Also, the National Assembly should quickly come in and pass a competition law. This is a country in which we are going through deregulation, yet, there is no competition law. Every attempt to put in place a competition law in this country has always been aborted by some people. When there is a competition law that says that you cannot fix price, if there is any evidence that you fixed or manipulated the price, the sanctions are heavy. These are the things that

If we don’t make the economy productive, if we don’t make this economy one in which many of the current obstacles to businesses are reduced, then all of these policies will only be there on paper, they will not be effective.

The National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has agreed with the electricity distribution companies to hike tariffs even when there has not been any improvement in electricity supply. What is your take on this?

It is just unfortunate that things are not done properly in this country. Hiking the tariffs is not the solution to the problem; we have more fundamental problems in this sector. What the government is doing is that they are putting all the loads on consumers who are paying their tariffs, who are paying for electricity and creating incentives for those who don’t want to pay not to pay.

One of the things NERC said before was that the electricity companies must minimise losses in their areas and this can be done by doing a census of their customers.

How many customers do the electricity companies have?

If you look at the data that is being used to compute the tariff by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, it is about two million and IBEDC covers Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Kwara states as well as part of Kogi, and everything is about two million. Those are the people that pay for electricity. Rather, what they need to do is to ask that where the thefts and the losses are. Where are those places that have not been connected or are connected illegally? Let those people pay, so that you can minimise all those losses. That is what they should do and that is what NERC should have forced them to do.

Part of the problem is that the regulators themselves are always captured by those that they are supposed to regulate. Some of the stories we heard that some government representatives on the boards of these distribution companies also collected vehicles are disturbing. So, they are compromised. Yet, they are there to represent the interest of the government because the government is still a shareholder in those companies. Those people need to conduct themselves in such a way that the people’s interests are protected and corporate governance is ensured.

So, in my view, the increase in tariffs will help the DISCOs in their financial crisis, but they are not doing the right thing. They went into business thinking that they could make their money quickly; this is not an industry where you can recoup your investment within five years and make 20 percent interest. It is the power sector. There is a longer period it will have to take in order to be able to recoup your investment. So, I think the NERC has not been completely, in my view, alive to some of its responsibilities. They have said things about metering, but the DISCOs are not following the instructions and they have not been sanctioned. Even the local companies that want to produce metres are not being encouraged because they are not buying from them. They refuse to fix metres in houses, and will rather give you estimated bills. You can argue that the price has gone up, but it has to be done transparently, with everyone taking on responsibilities and being held accountable to their various responsibilities as enshrined in their performance contracts. They have performance contracts where they have highlighted what they will do, but they are not doing any of those things.

40 feature

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Lagos: 1,638 fire incidents, 79 deaths... Why trend may continue in 2016

Chukwuma Okparaocha - Lagos

A

S Year 2015 was drawing to a close, an alarming and highly saddening piece of statistics was released to the public by the Lagos State Fire Service.

According to the service, in the course of the year, no fewer than 79 people died in different fire disasters in Lagos State between January and November.

Making this known recently in a statement was the spokesman for the service, Mr Amodu Shakiru, who also added that in the year, the service rescued 99 victims from 1,638 fire-fighting operations.

“Out of the 1,638 fire operations recorded, there were 1,356 fire calls, 113 rescue calls, 11 building collapse cases and 158 false calls.

“The victims rescued alive were 99 and victims recovered dead were 79,’’ he stated.

In addition to this, information gathered by Saturday Tribune indicated that in the just ended year, property estimated at N16.38 billion was lost in fire, while those estimated at N98.28 billion was saved.

As if this was not enough, in the last few hours of the year, Lagos residents were treated to yet another round of disheartening fire incidents (about 12 in all), which, needless to say, led to the destruction of property worth millions of naira.

Giving details of the latest incidents, the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, said an overnight fire incident destroyed 14 shops at 16 Odunbaku Street in Mafoluku area of the state.

He said that another eight-room structure was razed by fire at 16 Moses Olawale Street in Moshalasi Bus Stop area of Agbado.

Other places affected by fire in the last few days of 2015, according to Fadipe, included a shopping complex at Oshodi, a hotel at Oke-Ira Ogba Aguda and LSDPC Estate, Glover Street in Ebute Meta.

The office of the Power Holding Company at Ajiwe area of Lekki was also not spared.

Lagosians growing carelessness In a chat with the media, Fadipe affirmed that carelessness on the part of residents in dealing with naked flames was one of the major causes of fire.

He also warned Lagosians who were fond of buying and storing the premium motor spirit (PMS) in their homes as a result of scarcity of the product to desist from the act and be fire safety-conscious.

He insisted that no fire outbreak was too small or big in terms of the destruction and trauma victims encounter during and after an outbreak.

“We therefore want to urge people to desist from mak-

ing use of candles or any other open flame in their homes, rechargeable lamps are better. Candles might seem small and innocuous but the havoc they can wreak can be unimaginable,” Mr Fadipe said.

He also urged parents and guardians to warn their children against careless handling of electronic appliances, naked wires and gas cookers, among others, as all these, he noted, were major sources of fire disasters.

Fadipe appealed that basic portable fire protection equipment, such as fire extinguisher, fire blanket and fire alarm system should be kept within reach in order to prevent the spread of fire outbreak in the event that it occurs.

Shifting his focus on the recklessness of petrol tanker drivers, as well as the nefarious activities of some petrol marketers, the fire service boss solicited the cooperation of the management of petrol marketers in the fight against fire disasters. He urged them to adhere strictly to safety precautions by not dispensing fuel in polythene bags, selling to vehicles which have running engines. He also called for the prevention of endless clustering of motorists.

But to curb the tide of this menace, he said the service had been repositioned and transformed with the provision of new equipment to meet the challenges associated with a mega city.

The fire service boss’s recommendations further reinforces the results of past investigations which suggested that rising cases of fire incidents in the state might not be unconnected with a number of factors including power surges, faulty electrical apparatus and general carelessness of people in dealing with naked flames.

These problems have long been touted as the major causes of fire in Lagos, and sadly observations made by Saturday Tribune suggest that Lagos residents seem to have paid little attention to these factors and the damage they could wreak.

While the rate at which residents store petroleum products, particularly, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) generally known as petrol in their various homes seems to have drastically come down in recent days, thanks to the

Rising cases of fire incidents in the state might not be unconnected with a number of factors including power surges, faulty electrical apparatus and general carelessness of people in dealing with naked flames.

highly successful ban placed on the selling of PMS in kegs and jerry cans, it is believed that other careless attitudes that could lead to fire outbreak still hold sway in the state, and this perhaps explains why the state continues to record cases of fire outbreak.

Fuel-carrying tankers could still be observed to be travelling at breath-taking speeds, irrespective of the state of the roads. This is in spite of the fact that at least two cases of massive fire incidents as a result of fallen tankers were recorded in the year under review.

Saturday Tribune recalls that rows of shops and vehicles were consumed by a fire which occurred after a petrol tanker fell and spilled its content at Iyana-Ipaja in Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state mid last year. Though no life was lost in the incident, the development reduced many people to a shadow of their old selves after many of them lost their sources of livelihood to the incident.

The fire, it will be recalled, was caused when a tanker fell and spilled its inflammable contents onto the new Iyana Ipaja road.

Saturday Triune recalls speaking with one of the affected traders, Izuchukwu Eze, a dealer in electronics, who estimated the goods he lost to the fire at about N4m.

“I live in the neighbourhood. I was woken up by shouts of fire around 2am. When I came out, I saw that my shop was also on fire. I was helpless because I couldn’t go near the fire. I sell electrical equipment; everything in the shop was destroyed. The goods were over N4m,” he had said.

A similar situation played out months later at Ojuelegba area of Surulere, when a tanker carrying PMS fell of the Ojuelegba Bridge and in the process spilled its contents.

The ensuing inferno led to the destruction of shops, vehicles, buildings, and other valuables.

Worried by the incessant loss of lives in fire-related incidents in the state, the Lagos State Assembly has continued to discuss the development in its sittings.

The speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, while stating his displeasure over the development in one of the House’s sittings, said members of the Assembly could no longer sit back and watch as residents continued to lose their lives in such carnage almost on a daily basis.

Obasa remarked that it had personally become a frightening trend for him to be receiving SMS from the director of fire service in the state about fire incidents almost on a daily basis, saying it was time something was done to put an end to the worrisome trend.

“Almost on a daily basis I get text messages from the director of the Lagos State Fire Service. Usually such incidents result in the loss of property, while at times they claim lives. This cannot continue. Because we hold the lives of all Lagos residents dear, a lasting solution must be found,” he said.

41 feature

2 January, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Robbing in Lagos gridlock brings residents to fever pitch

By Chuckwuma Oparaocha - Lagos

I

T is common knowledge that robbery-related crimes have witnessed a significant rise in Lagos State in the last few months. However, these are not criminal activities carried out in people’s homes or banks, rather, they are ones done in traffic.

Traffic-related robberies are one of the major issues the state government will, without doubt, have to grapple with in days to come and residents can only hope that the recently unveiled multibillion naira security measures put in place by the government would help address the problem.

There have been reports of people being robbed even at gunpoint in traffic. On some occasions, some hoodlums become so daring that they go from vehicles to vehicles ordering occupants to wind down as they are robbed. There have been cases of windows being smashed and bags forcefully taken away by thieves.

Days before this report was done, Saturday Tribune got wind of how one of such robbers was almost lynched at the Lekki area of Lagos after luck ran out on him following the raid of a number of cars that were trapped in traffic.

Narrating his experience to Saturday Tribune, a resident said: “We were all trapped in gridlock at Oshodi underbridge area some weeks back. Right before me, I saw some rough-looking young men going from car to car ordering the drivers to wind down, while they were subsequently robbed.

There was nothing anyone could do, because there was no way we could have driven off. Thank God, when they got to my car, I don’t know what happened, they just bypassed me and moved to the vehicle in front of me.”

But aside from traffic crimes, there remains the perennial problem of loss of man-hours and people trekking long distances to get to their destinations after being trapped in gridlock for hours.

Recently, hundreds of Lagos commuters were seen trekking long distances to their various offices, shops and markets as a result of persistent traffic gridlock in the metropolis.

The places notorious for unending gridlock in Lagos include Agege Pen Cinema, Ogba, Oba Akran Road, Ikeja and Agidingbi. Countless number of commuters were seen at Costain Bus Stop area trekking through Ijora-Olopa to link locations in Lagos Island, especially Idumota, Idumagbo and the Tinubu axis.

Some of the commuters described their experiences as hectic and ones which they would never forget in a hurry.

One of such residents, Mr Deola Hassan, said he had to disembark from a public bus to trek from Orile to Constain as a result of gridlock.

He said, the government needs to find an urgent solution to the problem, adding that the problem had reached an alarming stage in recent days.

Also, Mrs Beatrice Isong, a trader, said that she had to trek from Iponri to her shop at Orile because the gridlock delayed her from getting to her shop at the usual time.

“Everyday, we spend close to three hours for a journey that shouldn’t last 30 minutes. It has reached a level that we have to call on the government to do something fast about the problem. We cannot continue like this,” she said.

Hinging the traffic problem at her community to the perennial gridlock situation at Apapa, Isong said, “If only the government can repair and make use of other depots, there will be less concentration on the Apapa depots and the congestion will reduce drastically.”

Similarly, another resident, who preferred to be anonym-

ous, indicated that he had spent about five hours driving on the Iyana-Iba-Ojo Road. He also linked the development to the activities of articulated vehicles which, he said, had taken over the main expressway with little or no consideration given to smaller vehicles.

Based on a survey carried out by Saturday Tribune, the average time spent by commuters coming from the OshodiMile 2 end of the road, especially in the evenings, is over two hours. This is just for them to manoeuvre their way from the Berger Yard end of the road to Trinity and parts of Liverpool. This is the section of the road which, under a normal circumstance, shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes drive to cover. But this is rather never the case as most motorists are known to be often trapped for hours in the notorious gridlock which extends for miles.

It is not unusual to find passengers disembarking from public buses and resorting to completing the rest of their journeys on foot.

Quite often, the only means of quick transportation is the commercial motorcycle, popularly known as okada, whose drivers are gradually beginning to defy the state government’s order for all okada riders to stop operating on major roads. Needless to say, the activities of the riders who are notorious for operating at breathtaking speeds, have led to needless accidents and loss of lives.

Also of importance are suggestions in some quarters that the problem might already be taking its toll on business activities, not just on the Apapa axis, but the state as a whole.

For example, many car dealers now appear to be licking the wounds inflicted on their business by gridlock. While he actual figures of the decline in the number of car sales made since the problem took a ‘dangerous’ twist proved impossible to ascertain, it is generally believed that car sales in places such as Berger Yard, Trinity, Sunrise (all notable bus stops along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway) have witnessed a significant drop in recent times.

Apart from automobile sellers, other businessmen, particularly those selling automobile spare parts, at a market situated at Trinity, have also been counting their losses. This is because before the situation degenerated into its current state, the market used to be the hub of vehicle spare parts which are often bought at cheap prices.

“Years ago, I would say we were second only to the popular Ladipo market in Mushin, but now I am not sure of that anymore. This is because the heavy traffic around here has scared many of our customers away, as most of them now seem to prefer going elsewhere to buy what they need.

But you wouldn’t blame them, would you? Or how do you explain the situation when over three hours is spent to reach here for a journey that shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes,” an automobile part seller, who wished to be addressed as simply Chinedu O.J.B, disclosed recently to Saturday Tribune.

Solving Lagos traffic gridlocks a ‘do-or-die’ affair —LASTMA CEO But apparently miffed by the current state of traffic gridlock in Lagos, the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Christian Olakpe, has declared as a “do-or-die” affair, his mandate to restore sanity on Lagos roads.

While supporting his assertion with an eight-point agenda, Olakpe who is a retired Assistant Inspector of Police, said he had the mandate of the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, to come up with a road map that would help ease the flow of traffic in all parts of the state.

As part of his eight-point agenda which, he said, would

help him come up with the road map, Mr Olakpe said he would set up a robust anti-corruption crusade. This, he said, would involve setting up of a special squad in LASTMA that would carry out raids on perceived corrupt as well as unkempt officials with a view to sanctioning them appropriately.

He said further that there would be strict compliance with the traffic laws in the state, saying that he had even warned his friends and relatives not to call him over any erring motorist, while promising to deal with deviant LASTMA officials.

“I am an advocate of reward for good work and punishment for evil work. I can dismiss any officer on the spot and we are going to revive LASTMA within a short period of time. We will give the authority the impetus it needs,” he said “Once you are dismissed, your name would be published in the press and in our gazette. There would be reduction of ranks of offending officers. I will warn my men seriously and I will visit the Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army for his support and any military man that beats a LASTMA official would be dealt with.

“I will work until we get a new improved LASTMA. Our men would be visible and accessible. Whoever goes against the law would be pursued with power bike by LASTMA officials. There would be mobile courts. I am still fit and strong to receive phone calls anytime of the day.”

Lagos lawmakers seek lasting solution to Lagos insecurity Moved by the rising spate of insecurity in the state, some members of the state House of Assembly have advised Governor Ambode to take drastic step to address the problem.

The call was also necessitated by residents of the state who have continued to raise the alarm over the increase in criminal activities around major areas of the state, including frequent traffic gridlock.

In his opinion, Honourable Saka Fafunmi, from Ifako/ Ijaiye Constituency 1, noted that the rising rate of crime in the state was part of the problems of mega-city.

He also accused officials of LASTMA of trying to sabotage the effort of the government to create a conducive atmosphere for motorists in the state because such officials might not have been comfortable with the governor’s recent review of their activities.

“I expect that the Lagos State Task Force would step up their activities. We should feel their presence. The governor is not the one controlling the security agencies directly. He needs to bring all the stakeholders in the security sector together to collectively improve on what is being delivered through the security Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

There is the need for the state to harmonise all the security agencies. The task force needs to be up and doing, the LSSTF too should follow suit. The governor has not and would not give a directive that is against the laws of the House. The laws of the House and those of the federation are what he swore to defend. When he told LASTMA officials that they are not a revenue generating agency, he was absolutely right. He told the officials of the agency to do their job and ensure free flow of traffic on Lagos roads throughout. This is one of the best pieces of advice that any democratic government can offer,” Fafunmi noted.

In his remarks, another lawmaker, Olawale Olayiwola from Mushin Constituency 2, pointed out that the House had already started making efforts to find a solution to the problem which, he said, prompted it to invite the General Manager of LASTMA to appear before the House.

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With Seyi Gesinde seyigesinde@yahoo.com 08116954632

Stallion boosts Hyundai brand image with 3s futuristic showroom

Range Rover reveals first ever convertible SUV

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AND Rover has unveiled the first ever “luxury convertible SUV.” The automaker said the Range Rover Evoque Convertible is available from 2016.

Marking yet more diversity in the fast-growing crossover segment and looking something like a bathtub on wheels, it’s a car that’s generated so much interest that Range Rover just had to make it.

There’s no doubt SUVs have experienced an expansion in variety in the last decade. From supersmall versions like the Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Mokka, to sporty coupes including the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, there’s seemingly a sports utility vehicle for everyone, Mail Online said.

But the Range Rover Evoque Convertible is the most extreme example of the crossover SUV yet - merging off-road capability, chunky design and a raised ride height with a fabric folding roof that can expose a driver and three passengers to the elements.

While it certain has an impact on the eye - be that a good or a bad thing - it’s a car that Range Rover has created because people have said they’d buy it.

First showcased as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show three years

ago, there’s been great demand for the convertible Evoque.

That roof, which fully retracts in just 18 seconds and takes an additional three seconds to close, does means an increase in

weight as well as an inflation in cost over the standard three-door Evoque coupe SUV. Tipping the scales 277kg heavier than the Evoque hardtop (diesel model), the convertible is slightly

Saturday Tribune

longer and wider than the conventional car and has been made structurally more rigid around the A-pillars and in the base of the chassis to compensate for lopping off the roof.

STALLION Motors Nigeria Limited, authorised Hyundai manufacturer and product distributor has inaugurated yet another avant-garde showroom that truly depicts the Hyundai DNA. With the launch, Stallion promised to integrate attractive pricing structure and riveting sales incentives with efficient service structure that can sustain the confidence of the motoring publics in the Korean engineered brand.

The Head of Sales and Marketing Jatin Nadkarni gave this hint in Lagos at a customer appreciation ceremony, remarking that the facility was fundamental to the harmonisation of ideals and reassessment of the Hyundai brand.

Located between the trio of Nissan, Audi and

Porsche showrooms in highbrow Akin Adesola Street Victoria Island Lagos, the facility would ease access to Hyundai product range; sales and after sales service under a convenient atmosphere, Hyundai Motors Nigeria management assured.

“This ultramodern 3s showroom is borne out of Stallion Group’s commitment to the Hyundai brand and particularly her dedication to the Federal Government auto policy direction to make affordable vehicles available to the teeming motoring publics,” Mr. Nadkarni explained.

He said: “We are looking forward to unlocking the huge potential of the showroom which will give us great opportunity to present the Hyundai range to our valued customers in all its variety.”

UK motors must be zero emissions by 2050 —Report THE United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to an agreement that all new cars sold by 2050 will be zero emissions vehicles.

The ZEV Alliance received the signatures of five countries and eight United States states in total to continue to support zero emissions technology and promote the cleanup of vehicle-produced pollutants.

Other countries pledging allegiance to the agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference which recently held in Paris include Germany, Netherlands and Norway, Mail Online said.

By signing the agreement, the Government has agreed to strive for all passenger vehicle sales in the UK to be zero emissions vehicles as soon as possible, with the 2050 date being the final deadline.

ZEV Alliance members

also have to provide incentives to purchase zero emissions vehicles, and use policies such as tax breaks and government grants to promote cars producing no no emissions.

The UK will also be required to invest in an infrastructure to support

both hydrogen and electric-powered cars.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “The UK already has the largest market for ultra-low emission vehicles in the EU, and the fourth largest in the world and today’s pledge reaffirms our commitment to ensuring

almost every car and van is a zero emission vehicle by 2050.

“Electric cars are greener and cheaper to run and we are making them more affordable, spending more than £600 million between 2015 and 2020 to support the uptake and manufacturing of ultra-

low emission vehicles here in the UK. “By leading international efforts on this issue, we are playing our part in helping achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions of more than 1 billion tonnes per year across the world by 2050.”

Alternative fuel vehicles including full electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen cars but not standard hybrid vehicles account for just three per cent of new car sales currently, according to November sales figures provided by the SMMT. But according to the road test team at WhatCar?, there’s more choice than ever on the conventional hybrid market.

Seen as a stepping stone from petrol and diesel cars to full-blown electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars, these are the models that you won’t have to plug in to benefit from from reduced running costs.

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Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

No more match bonuses for Eaglets, Flamingoes

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ASH-STRAPPED Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may have abolished match bonuses for the country’s developmental teams led by fivetime U-17 world champions, the Golden Eaglets, president Amaju Pinnick has indicated.

The other developmental teams are U-17 female team, the Flamingoes, U-13 and U-15 national teams.

“The players of these national teams will no longer be entitled to match bonus because of lack of funds caused by the economic downturn in the country,” a top official informed.

The Eaglets received $1,000-a-player as winning bonus at major tournaments.

Pinnick admitted the NFF’s poor finances on a television programme on Thursday.

“Funding has been very, very poor for the federation,” restated the NFF boss, who ruled out speculations that some of the national teams will be scrapped because of the cash crunch.

The NFF has budgeted over N7billion for this year with most of the cash coming from government subvention.

Pyagbara

Sunshine Stars grab Pyagbara, Ojobo SUNSHINE Stars, a Glo Premier League side has completed the signing

of Christian Pyagbara and Markson Ojobo from Sharks FC and Enyimba respectively.

Following their disappointing performance as the sixth best team last season, the Akure-based outfit has been active in the transfer market

with major signings.

Pyagbara emerged the highest goal scorer for the relegated Blue Angels’ in their miserable campaign last term, while Ojobo was part of the league winning squad but was sacked by

Enyimba for breaching the club’s code of conduct.

The duo joins former Sharks defender, Chima Akas as the Owena Waves hope to compete for the league diadem when it resumes.

Messi warns Barca rivals Egwuekwe joins Finland side FINNISH side, Kuopion Palloseura has completed the signing of defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe from Warri Wolves on a year deal.

The Nigeria international becomes manager Marko Rajamäki’s second top class signing following the acquisition of American Freddy Adu. Egwuekwe who made the

Super Eagles squad to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2014 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 FIFA World Cup has a chance to bag another year renewal if he shines in his debut season.

“Finnish football club Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) and Nigerian national team player Azubuike Ekwuekwe

Egwuekwe have signed a 1+1-year contract,” the club announced on its website.

“The 26-year old defender has played for Nigeria in the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013, in the African Cup of Nations 2014 and in the World Cup Qualifiers 2014.

He also participated at the World Cup Final Tournament in Brazil 2014.”

FOUR-TIME World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi has warned Barcelona’s rivals that the European champions are determined to match their five-trophy haul in the New Year.

The Luis Enrique-piloted side will today in a Barcelona derby entertain Espanyol in its first game in the New Year.

Messi scored on his 500th appearance in a mid-week game as Barca rounded off 2015 in style with a 4-0 win over Real Betis to move back to the top of La Liga.

The Catalans lead Atletico Madrid on goal difference and Real Madrid by two points as well as having a game in hand on their rivals from the Spanish capital.

And having won the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World

Cup in the past 12 months, Barca also set a new record of 180 goals in a calendar year.

“It has been a spectacular year and we wanted to finish it this way,” said Messi.

“It will be difficult to im-

prove on what we have done, but we always try. We have a great squad that are desperate to continue winning.”

He acknowledged that the yuletide break reduced the rhythm of Barca during the mid-week game.

Messi

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With Dipo Ogunsola 081 169 54 641

outofplay VanZant (left) bruised, right, recovered

Ramos takes girlfriend to El Clasico

‘12 Gauge’ shows extreme recovery

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AIGE VanZant has paraded a blemish-free face just a week after taking a five-round beating in her first UFC loss.

‘12 Gauge’ showcased her extreme toughness before eventually submitting to a rear naked choke against Rose Namajunas in Las Vegas on December 10th – but was left with a black eye, bruising and a large cut on her right cheek.

But if her battered face showcased her iron will after the contest, the latest picture of the 21-year-old just eight days from the beating show the healing powers of youth.

VanZant was so pleased with her recovery

that she took to Instagram to show her transformation, placing a picture of her after the fight next to a newer snap of her now looking immaculate.

Posting to her fans on Instagram, the UFC straw-weight wrote: ‘So I’m basically a transformer... day after my fight to today!! #bruisedisbeautiful #NinjaBarbie #goodgenetics.’

VanZant was undefeated in her first three UFC fights but the skill-gap was there for all to see when the game Team Alpha Male fighter came up against them more technically proficient Namajunas at UFC Fight Night 80.

Ibra searching for missing adrenalin PARIS Saint-Germain striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has insisted that he knew he would make history with the club when he joined them in 2012.

The Swedish superstar recently became PSG’s all-time record goalscorer, and now has 123 goals in 147 games for the Ligue 1 leaders, as well as winning three consecutive league titles since joining.

Ibrahimovic is currently enjoying his winter break and rather than taking the time to relax he’s been out ‘in search of adrenaline,’ according to an Instagram post on Boxing Day.

Saturday Tribune

He told PSG.online.com: ‘Before I came here, I knew it would be a big challenge for me because the club wanted to do something great, something big, to build up a club and bring them to the top. It was a project at the start.’

SERGIO Ramos is certainly dedicated to the Real Madrid cause, taking his girlfriend to watch the club’s basketball team face El Clasico rivals Barcelona.

Ramos, enjoying the La Liga winter break, posted a picture on his Instagram account alongside his partner who is a Spanish TV reporter.

The defender added, ‘Great basketball evening with@pilarrubio_ oficial. ¡Vamos! #HalaMadrid.’

Unfortunately for the couple, who have two sons together, they could not inspire a Madrid victory as rivals Barcelona secured a 91-84 victory to leap-frog Los Blancos to second in Liga Endesa.

That’s a familiar sight for Ramos this season as Luis Enrique’s side remain top of La Liga, two points clear of Real Madrid and with a game in hand.

Ramos (right) and girlfriend

De Gea trips girlfriend on birthday DAVID de Gea may not have much to smile about on the pitch of late but he had every reason to celebrate last Tuesday night.

The Manchester United goalkeeper hit the town to celebrate long-term girlfriend Edurne Garcia’s 30th birthday, with the couple enjoying a meal at the city centre’s Australasia restaurant.

De Gea and his Spanish singer girlfriend were pictured by Dailymail making their way to the swanky Manchester eatery before toasting her birth-

Ibrahimovic

day with a candle-lit cake.

Before entering the restaurant, it appeared they made a short stop at a local Tesco to purchase a birthday treat - with a male friend walking behind the couple carrying

what looked like a cake.

And Garcia appeared to be delighted with her edible present after taking to Instagram to pose for a picture while also thanking her followers for their well wishes.

David de, Gea (right) and Garcia

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2 January, 2016 Moses (right) with Bilic.

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I’m not desperate for Eagles recall —Taye Taiwo

Moses out of Liverpool clash

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EST Ham United winger, Victor Moses will miss today’s English Premier League game against Liverpool after manager Slaven Bilic confirmed the Nigerian is lacking fitness.

Moses has endured a lumpy run of injuries this term and has not featured for the Hammers in over a month following a hamstring problem.

However, the West Ham

boss did confirm that Moses and Winston Reid are both available from injuries but are unlikely to be ready to face the Reds.

“Victor Moses and Winston Reid are back, it’s a good situation for us,” Bilic told Dailymail. co.uk.

“They are lacking fitness but they have started training with us.

“But for the Liverpool game, no, probably not.

They only just started train-

ing with us so they will be more for the FA Cup game.

That will be good recovery for them.”

The 2013 Africa Cup of Na-

tions (AFCON) winner, Moses it will be recalled, starred for Liverpool in the 2013/14 season also on loan from Chelsea, where he scored on

his debut against Swansea City in a 2–2 draw, while he also scored in the 2–0 win over Bournemouth in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

FORMER Super Eagles defender, Taye Taiwo nurses the ambition of returning to the national team but says he is not losing sleep over it.

The HJK Helsinki of Finland player however, sees the return of Obafemi Martins as a leeway to be hopeful of his return to the Eagles in the near future.

“I would love to be back in the national team just like Obafemi Martins has recently been recalled, but I won’t force it. If I get to play again for Nigeria, fine, if not, no problem. I’ve been doing that for many years. And besides there are new players in the team. They need to also get their chance,” said Taiwo, a member of the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup silver winning Flying Eagles.

The former Lobi Stars player, noted that his exclusion from the 2014 World Cup squad by coach Stephen Keshi was unjustified, saying some of the players named in the team did not merit it.

Pacquiao returns April against Bradley MANNY Pacquiao is set to return to the ring with a fight against Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on April 9, according to promoter Bob Arum.

Pacquiao, 37, has not fought since he was convincingly beaten on points

by Floyd Mayweather last May. Arum claims the Filipino’s fight against WBO welterweight champion Bradley, 32, is a “done deal”.

The pair have fought twice before, with Bradley victorious in June 2012 and Pac-

quaio winning in April 2014.

Arum claims he has agreed deals with both fighters, though the paperwork for the bout has yet to be finalised.

Britain’s Amir Khan had been hoping to fight six -weight world champion Pacquiao.

“They didn’t feel Khan would do anything,” Arum told the Los Angeles Times.

“He has a spotty record, hasn’t done great ratings.

Why would we feel he’d do well on pay-per-view?

Pacquiao

I’ll see out my Watford contract

Ighalo celebrates.

—Ighalo WATFORD striker, Odion Ighalo has dismissed speculations linking him with a move away from Vicarage Road.

The Nigeria international has scored 14 Premier League goals this season and, according to the Sun, has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid.

“I want to finish the season strongly with Watford and prove that we have a good bunch of players here. When

the focus is on a strong finish, transfer talk will not get to you,” he told BBC Sport.

Ighalo, who joined the Hornets from Udinese in 2014, scored more goals in English league football than any other player in 2015.

And his tally of goals in the 2015-16 Premier League is bettered only by Leicester’s Jamie Vardy and Romelu Lukaku of Everton.

“I haven’t really bothered

myself about statistics because I’ve always had my feet on the ground and I never forgot where I come from. I am just focused on getting better, doing things right on the pitch and being myself on the pitch,” the former Lyn of Oslo player said.

Ighalo’s goals have helped lift Watford to ninth on the Premier League table on its return to the top flight.

“Watford are doing well at

the moment because we have a fantastic team and not because of one particular player.

“We didn’t get the result we deserved against Tottenham but we want to put that right against Man City - that’s what is in front of me right now.

“It’s a new year in front of our fans, I want to keep scoring for my team and fight hard alongside my teammates,” Ighalo said.

English Premiership fixtures

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Saturday, January 2 West Ham vs Liverpool 1:45pm Arsenal vs Newcastle 4:00pm vs Bournemouth 4:00pm Leicester Man Utd vs Swansea 4:00pm vs Southampton 4:00pm Norwich Sunderland vs Aston Villa 4:00pm

Chima Akas defender, Chima Akas (right) dazzles.

Super Eagles

Eagles ready for CHAN 2016 —Losciuto

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ers were in good shape and physically fit for the championship.

He also assured that he was in constant contact with the team’s head

C/Palace Everton

vs Stoke

vs Man City

Sunday, January 3 vs Chelsea 2:30pm vs Tottenham 5:00pm

coach, Sunday Oliseh, on the team’s preparation for the event scheduled for later this month.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports

rsenal goalkeeper, Petr Cech has given an insight to the multinational shape of the modern Premier League by revealing he speaks to his defenders during matches in three languages.

The Gunners host Newcastle United today at the Emirates.

Cech broke David James’ record for Premier League clean sheets in Arsenal’s win over Bournemouth during the week and his calming influence has been a contributory factor to their impressive defensive displays this season.

Communication of course is key and Cech’s ability to speak five languages – his native Czech, English, French, Spanish and German – has proved useful.

“I speak to the fullbacks (Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin) in Spanish, to Laurent Koscielny in French and to (German) Per Mertesacker in English, because

for him it is the same as me,” Cech told the Mirror.

“He organises people in English. Sometimes foreign players wouldn’t know what you say.

“That’s when you realise it’s easier to say it in their language than hoping they will understand. It can happen.”

Cech moved from Chelsea to Arsenal before this season after losing his starting berth to Thibaut Courtois and it looks a good decision with his former club struggling in the lower reaches.

Arsenal tops the league as it seeks its first title in 12 years.

“It was not an easy decision but I always wanted to go to a team which could win,” said the 33-year-old.

“If I didn’t believe that then I don’t know why I would come.

“I play football, not to only enjoy it and I love the challenge of playing and competing with the best players, but I want to have the chance to win games.”

that the 2016 CHAN, which is the fourth edition and is for players featuring in the domestic leagues in Africa, holds from January 16 to February 7 in Rwanda.

...Team leaves for South Africa today

By Olawale Olaniyan The Super Eagles are scheduled to leave for South Africa today on a training tour in preparation for the African Nations Championship, CHAN 2016 billed for Rwanda.

At the time of filing this report, the team’s head coach, Sunday Oliseh who has been battling with viral infection is yet to hit the camp.

While in South Africa, the Eagles will tackle Angola and Cote d’Ivoire to perfect their strategies for Rwanda 2016.

The Eagles under the tutelage of coach Salisu Yusuf, had in a friendly during the week at the National

4:00pm 6:30pm

I speak three languages to my defenders —Cech

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uper Eagles’ assistant coach, Jean Losciuto on Friday in Abuja, assured of the home-based team’s readiness for the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.

Losciuto, however, at the team’s occasional interactive session with the media stated that the team’s handlers were at present faced with the challenge of players’ selection.

“There are 25 players with us in the camp, but we need to go with 23 players.

So, we are faced with this challenge because all the players are good.

“However, the final 23man list is not ready yet, and we need to do the selection before our departure to South Africa in preparation for the 2016 CHAN,” he said.

The Belgian said the play-

West Brom Watford

Stadium, Abuja, defeated Rising Stars Academy 3-0, with goals from Tunde Adeniji, Samson Gbadebo and Bartholomew Ibenegbu.

Adeniji opened scoring against his former team in the first half before Ibenegbu and Gbadebo sealed the victory for the Eagles who are gunning for their first CHAN title.

Already, captain Gbolahan Salami has opted out of the team as he failed to show up for training, while another influential member of the team, Usman Mohammed is doubtful for CHAN 2016 as he is on the verge of seeking greener pastures in due course.

“However, I’m right now

in camp with my teammates dutifully preparing and training for the championship, but nothing is yet decided if I will take part in the training tour of South Africa.

“I believe with or without me the team have quality players that can go to Rwanda to claim the championship trophy for the first time,” the FC Taraba forward had said during the week.

Nigeria won the bronze in the 2014 edition in South Africa and will begin its campaign in Rwanda against Niger on January 18 and later confront Tunisia and Guinea also in group C.

Cech

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. 2/1/2016.