2nd December 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,646 FRIDAY, 2 DECEMBER, 2016

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Trump's victory: I have destroyed my Green Card —Soyinka—P2

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

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Data tariff floor: Consumers —P12 should expect poor data services

Nigerian Tribune

N150

Lalong to Fayose: We don't want you in APC •I'm not dumping PDP, Fayose says

—Telecoms operators

—P7

Buhari to separatists: Nigeria's

break-up not possible

—P8 Stop parading as saints, NLC replies Buhari's advisory committee —P8

Wife stabbed to death over 18 years of childless marriage —P33

TODAY'S SPECIAL

From left, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; his wife, Funso and the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, at the final burial of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, held at Methodist Church, Wesley Way, Oke-Oja, Isara Remo, Ogun State, on Thursday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

17 agencies hold N450bn illegally —FG •To cut extravagant salaries of certain agencies • FG to prosecute revenue remittance defaulters

—P11

Pigeon pea boosts immunity, prevents —P8 anaemia

news I inherited monumental corruption —Buhari 2

Leon Usigbe - Abuja.

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has told the United States government that he took over a country riddled with monumental corruption, saying the action of previous administrations had made the task of salvaging the economy difficult.

Speaking while receiving the Letter of Credence of the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr William Stuart Symington, at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to realising the key priorities of securing the country, fighting corruption and salvaging the economy in spite of its current challenges.

President Buhari said the security situation in the North-East had improved significantly, following support in training of the military and supply of hardware after the G-7 meeting in Germany in 2015.

“When I was invited to the G-7 meeting after my inauguration on May 29, 2015, I thought I was going to be an observer at the meeting, but without prompting, I was asked to brief the leaders on the security situation in Nigeria, and I did. Since then, we have received support in training and military hardware, and I hope we have not disappointed,” he said.

The president said the target of reversing the “culture of corruption” in the coun-

Friday, 2 December, 2016

try had received support from Nigerians, with many realising the depth of damage done by some previous administrations from the ongoing investigations and prosecutions.

“The corruption we met at personal and institutional levels was unbelievable.

Corruption was turning into a culture. After we came in, people started realising the truth,” he added.

President Buhari told the US ambassador that his administration was still determined to continue investigations and prosecution of corrupt persons in the country, as “Nigeria will either kill corruption or corruption

will kill Nigeria in the long run.”

The president noted that the years of mishandling of the economy at a period of financial prosperity affected the economy, making it more challenging to create employment for the youth and improve the livelihood of many Nigerians.

“It has not been easy for another party to come in and get things done properly, especially with the new economic reality of $37 per barrel of oil, against the $100 for the period, and there was no savings, no infrastructure on ground,” he said.

President Buhari also re-

geria was of mutual benefit.

“We do it not only for Nigeria, but for ourselves. We did it because it was right for us and right for our people,” he said.

Symington said he would work hard to further strengthen the relationship between his country and Nigeria, assuring that Pres-

ident-elect Donald Trump would also be interested in the well-being of Nigeria.

Buhari also received Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr Moha Ouali Tagma, assuring him of Nigeria’s willingness to improve bilateral relations between the countries.

Senate to approve MTEF before budget presentation —Committee chair Taiwo Adisa - Abuja CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator John Enoh, has assured that the chamber would approve the 2017 to 2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) before the 2017 budget proposals are presented next week.

The lawmaker, who stated this on Thursday after a joint committee of the two chambers of the National Assembly on the MTEF, said the committee was working on the document and would ensure passage before the presentation of the budget.

The Senate had, earlier during the consideration of the MTEF/FSP, said the

document was “empty” and asked the executive to rework it.

Senator Enoh, who chaired a meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance, Appropriations and National Planning, however, assured that the MTEF would be ready before the presentation of the budget.

sities, including Harvard, Cornell and Yale.

At the same time, he said he would not discourage others from applying for a green card.

“It’s useful in many ways.

I wouldn’t for one single moment discourage any Nigerian or anybody from acquiring a green card… but I have had enough of it,” he

President Muhammadu Buhari with the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.

Saraki meets Buhari over 2017 budget Says Buhari may present it in 10 days Leon Usigbe - Abuja.

SENATE President Bukola Saraki was at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, to confer with President

Trump’s victory: I have destroyed my Green Card —Soyinka NIGERIAN Nobel prizewinning author, Wole Soyinka, on Thursday, said he had fulfilled his pledge to throw away his US residency green card and leave the country if Donald Trump won the presidential election.

Shortly before the vote, Soyinka had vowed to give up his permanent US residency over a Trump victory to protest against the Republican billionaire’s campaign promises to get tough on immigration.

“I have already done it, I have disengaged (from the United States). I have done what I said I would do,” the 82-year-old told AFP on the sidelines of an education conference at the University of Johannesburg.

“I had a horror of what is to come with Trump…

I threw away the (green) card, and I have relocated, and I’m back to where I have always been” — meaning his homeland Nigeria.

The prolific playwright, novelist and poet won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986 and has been a regular teacher at US univer-

stated that the timely intervention of the United States, with a visit of the Secretary of State John Kerry to Nigeria, before the 2015 elections, helped in ensuring peace and stability in the country.

In his remarks, the US ambassador said the interest in the well-being of Ni-

said.

Soyinka, one of Africa’s most famous writers and rights activists, was jailed in 1967 for 22 months during Nigeria’s civil war.

He was reported to have recently completed a term as scholar-in-residence at New York University’s Institute of African American Affairs.

Muhammadu Buhari on the 2017 budget.

The budget was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the president on Wednesday.

The presidency was expected to consult with the leadership of the National Assembly to agree on the most appropriate time for President Buhari to lay the document before the legislature for consideration and approval.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Saraki confirmed that he met with the president over the budget, among other issues.

“I came for consultation with the president on a number of national issues. We are all getting towards the end of the year, getting the budget.

Just regular consultation,” he said.

He assured that the Senate was ready to receive the budget and it would be considered in good time because, according to him, much work had been done on it already.

“We are ready. Once the document comes to us, we are ready. I think this time around, a lot of work has taken place behind the scene. There is a lot of more collaboration and you will see the result of that in the

Commitment to agric ’ll end food scarcity, boost economy —Kalu AT a time when the Federal Government is focusing on agriculture, in its diversification programme, former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has stated that Nigeria can overcome recession and food shortage and experience economic boom if it is fully committed to the growth of agriculture as an alternative to oil.

In a paper he delivered on Thursday, entitled: “Sustainable Agriculture: A Credible Alternative for National Development,” at the 43rd convocation of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Kalu said the country must stop paying lip service to

the development of agriculture.

He expressed regrets that successive governments in Nigeria had paid less attention to agriculture, in preference to oil, saying with the drop in the price of oil, the country was now grappling with economic problems, which should not have been if attention was paid to agriculture also.

He called on institutions of higher learning to show the way by becoming more practical in their approach to teaching.

He said: “There is the need for our institutions to be less theoretical and become more practical,

especially now that the world is changing. The time has come for us to move this great country forward, and to do this, there has to be an end to the blame game.

“Today, I make bold to say that all over the country, what we enjoy in terms of infrastructure are basically projects that were initiated and executed by the founding fathers of this great country. Just imagine if the resources we have earned from oil over the years had been committed into developing this country the same way the one earned from agriculture was deployed by past lead-

ers, today, Nigeria would have been in the mode of Dubai and Saudi Arabia, if not better.

“However, all hope is not lost, as agriculture, which gave us the pride of place in the past, is still available to be explored and exploited, and now is the time to do that, especially with the Federal Government’s preparedness to support it at any level not just to ensure food sufficiency but also for national development.”

Kalu said that the commitment to agriculture by the nation’s founding fathers led to the infrastructure development Nigeria still enjoys to this day.

time frame it will take after the president will have presented it,” he stated.

While he revealed that the president could present the budget to the National Assembly within the next 10 days, Saraki said he had no knowledge of the details of the document.

“Well, I haven’t seen the details until the president lays it. I am sure within the next 10 days, it will be presented,” he said.

On the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) submitted by the president but was declared “empty” by the Senate, Saraki hinted that the issue was being resolved.

According to him, “That is still a work in progress. I am sure that very soon, that matter will be concluded. But I am very optimistic that this year’s budget will be passed much more sooner than what we saw in the past.”

On the walkout staged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators over the defection of one of their members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, he remarked that there was nothing strange about the senators’ action.

“It is democracy at work.

The opposition party has its views about the defection of a senator to the APC. Normalcy has been restored to the House and we are one family again,” he declared.

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news

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Biafra: Again, court denies IPOB leader, 3 others bail Sunday Ejike-Abuja

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Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has again, ,turned down the bail application by the selfacclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and three others that are standing trial over allegations of treasonable felony and an act preparatory to act of terrorism..

Kanu and his co-defendants, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawusi ,were arraigned by the Federal Government on offences bordering on treasonable felony and their alleged involvement in acts of terrorism.

In her ruling on Kanu and his co-defendants’ bail application, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, held that the offences for which the defendants are standing trial, were not ordinarily bailable, adding that the treasonable felony they were charged with, attracts a life sentence.

While denying the defendants bail on the basis that their case was sensitive to national security, Justice Nyako said, “Irrespective of what the charge is, the court has to exercise its discretion one way or the other” and further held that some of the charges against the defendants could attract life imprisonment if proved by the Federal Government.

Reacting to the defence counsel’s argument that President Muhammadu Buhari, had made a statement on national television that tends to declare Kanu

guilty as charged, Justice Nyako held that President Buhari, being a citizen of Nigeria, was at liberty to exercise his freedom of speech and said that the president lacks the capacity to influence the decision of the court.

She said the defendants did not place any new fact or law capable of persuad-

ing the court to reverse an earlier ruling of the court that denied them bail.

“The offences are serious in nature and carries very severe punishment if proven. “I hereby refused bail of the applicants. But in the alternative, I hereby order accelerated trial of this matter, to commence immediately”.

Meanwhile, the Federal government, had immediately after the ruling was delivered, applied for all the witnesses to be allowed to testify behind screen.

The Federal Government prayed the court for identities of the witnesses not to be revealed in any record of the proceeding but the defendants in

Director, Biafra Radio and leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu (middle), during his arrival at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday.

PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

Nigeria needs ideological leadership —Senator Buhari

By Tunde Ogunesan

FOR Nigeria to maintain a corrupt- free environment and sustain its democracy, the country needs ideological, selfless and honest leaders at all levels of administration.

This was disclosed by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, while delivering a lecture tagged “Nigeria and the quest for credible leadership”, during the Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Coun-

cil, at the Dapo Aderogba Hall, Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

Senator Buhari said good leadership is the engine that drives the state progressively, adding that the role of credible leadership cannot

Oluyole federal constituency: Court expresses dismay over delay in pre-election matters Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare and Mariam Olateju JUSTICE N. Ayo-Emmanuel of a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has expressed dismay over unnecessary delay in hearing pre- election matters caused by parties, especially, the tendency by parties to file various interlocutory appeals to stop the hearing of the substantive suit.

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel said this while giving a ruling on the application filed

by Honourable Sumbo Olugbemi, the lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State at the House of Representatives, seeking an order for stay of further proceeding in a suit filed against his candidacy by Honourable Olujide Adewale.

Olugbemi, through his counsel, had asked the court to stay further proceedings in the suit pending the determination of his appeal at the Supreme Court in respect of the suit in the appeal

a vehement opposition to the application, contended that granting such request, would amount to a gross violation of their rights to fair hearing.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Nyako fixed December 13, to rule on the application by the Federal Government for witnesses to be protected.

delineated SC/993/2016.

Adewale had filed a suit before the Federal High Court against Olugbemi, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the chairman of APC in Oyo State and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in December 2014, asking for a declaration that he is the duly elected flag bearer of APC to represent Oluyole

constituency, having polled majority of the lawful votes cast during the primary election.

Adewale also asked for an order of court that the nomination of Olugbemi is ultravires, null and void and an order nullifying his nomination and his subsequent substitution as well as an order directing APC to accord him his due recognition as the

party’s flag bearer.

The judge recommended that the amendment should be such that all interlocutory appeals in pre-election matters should abide with the final determination by the trial court before an appeal and the limit must be set for the trial and determination of all pre- election matters just as is the case in election matters.

NBGN to boost self-sufficiency in rice production by 2018

By Ibukun Adenuga

THE NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN), is set to deliberate on ways to boost self-sufficiency in the production of rice in the country by 2018.

This will form the crux of deliberations at the third edition of its Nigeria rice investment forum tagged: “2018 self-sufficiency in rice production: Opportunities, challenges and the road ahead”, slated for December 6 and 7 As contained in a release by the acting head of the NBGN

secretariat, Abuja, Oluwole Dosunmu, the forum will also focus on strategies and ways to further boost dry season farming in some Northern states .

Dosunmu noted that the production of rice has become necessary due to the fall in the price of oil, stating that keying into the process of diversifying the nation’s economy to agriculture by the Federal Government, will allow for more concentration in creating self- sufficiency in rice production.

Dosunmu, however, said that the third edition of its “Nigeria rice investment forum” will bring relevant stakeholders together to bring up ideas in order to achieve sufficiency in rice production and exports for jobs and wealth creation .

“This is particularly important going by the dwindling revenue from crude oil, the nation’s main stay and major source of foreign earning to back importation of rice and other commodities.”

be overemphasised in any country.

According to him: “Nigeria needs credible leadership for the maintenance of corrupt -free environment and sustenance of democracy.

The country needs leadership grounded in ideological orientations at every level.

More so, the country needs selfless and honest leaders at every branch, every layer and level, including ministries, departments and agencies to effectively carry out public policies professionally.

“Leadership crisis in Nigeria is majorly occasioned by lack of intellectual training and discipline on the part of most of the leaders.

Honestly speaking, without requisite training, discipline and knowledge, no leader will be able to govern well and impact on the lives of the citizens. Good leadership requires unusual virtue, intelligence, education, discipline, selflessness and a great deal of experience.

“Bad leadership has remained the major obstacle to the emergence of a just Nigerian society. The degree of systemic and pervasive bad rulings in the country, has continually drifted the nation into an abyss of poor institutional and infrastructural decadence. It is ,perhaps, the major explanatory factor responsible for the deepening poverty and worsening insecurity.

Jehovah’s Witnesses regional convention 2016 begins today THE seventh in the series of Jehovah’s Witnesses Regional Convention for 2016 will commence on Friday, December 2, 2016 and end on Sunday, November 4, 2016 at Ifatumo Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Lalupon-Ejioku Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

This three-day programme will feature 49 presentations, each exploring the theme “Remain Loyal to Jehovah”. Additionally, Jehovah’s witnesses have prepared 35 video segments specifically for the programme and two short films that will be shown on Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, the chairman’s address entitled “Jehovah Deserves Undivided Loyalty” will set the tone for the convention.

Saturday’s programme will include baptism for those who have dedicated their lives to Jehovah. Saturday programme will be concluded with the subject “Keep Waiting Eagerly with Endurance.”

This was contained in a press release made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by the media officer, Mr Dada Olayinka.

Sunday’s programme will be climaxed with a powerful discourse entitled “Jehovah will treat His loyal one in a special way”. Each day programme will start by 8:20a.m. and end on Friday and Saturday by 3:50p.m. and on Sunday by 2:25p.m.

Abandonded baby A newly born baby girl of about eight weeks old, Anthonia Hope Amosun, was deliberately abandoned by her mother immediately after she was given birth to, at Red Cross Motherless Babies Home, Isorosi Ijoko, Ota, Ogun State, on November 3, 2016, at about 11:30 hours.

Anthonia Amosun

ANYONE with useful information on the whereabouts of her parents/relatives of her mother should, please, contact the nearest police station or the Director of Social Welfare Services, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

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south-westnews

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Isara-Remo stands still for Olaniwun Ajayi As VP, Ambode, Amosun, Mimiko bid him farewell Olayinka Olukoya and Toyosi Kehinde - Abeokuta

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SARA-Remo, an ancient town in Ogun State, on Thursday, stood still as the remains of the late legal luminary and political icon, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, was committed to mother earth.

The Order of Service of Death and Resurrection, in his honour, held at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Isara-Remo, was attended by eminent Nigerians from all walks of life.

Those in attendance at the service, which lasted twohours, included the VicePresident, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the Ambassador of South Africa to Nigeria, Mr Mokgethi Monaisa; Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and wife, Funso; Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and wife, Bolanle and Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and wife, Kemi, and the wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, respectively.

Others were the President of Dangote Group, Mr Aliko Dangote; the Co-chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu; Pastor Tunde Bakare and his wife; the Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasonranti; Chief Ayo Adebanjo and the wife of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola.

Former governors of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Chief Gbenga Daniel; the Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi; former governors of Ekiti State, Segun Oni and Chief Niyi Adebayo were also in attendance.

Also in attendance were Senators Adegbenga Kaka, Olabiyi Durojaiye, General Alani Akinrinade (retd), Mr Jimi Agbaje, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, Chief Idowu Sofola, Mr Segun Awolowo, Mr Supo Shonibare, Mr Yinka Odumakin, the deputy governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Suraj Adekunbi; former Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Professor Kayode Makinde; Mr Biodun Shobanjo and Mr Fola Adeola, among others.

The Prelate Emeritus of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Sunday Mbang, in his sermon, reaffirmed that all mortals, irrespective of who or what they are, would taste death at the appointed time.

Mbang, who was the former President, Christian As-

sociation of Nigeria (CAN), said that the late Olaniwun Ajayi, had all the trappings of wealth and power, but remained humble till he breathed his last.

The cleric added that the deceased was an honest and generous man to a fault,

saying that he (Ajayi) used all that he was blessed with to service the people.

“We should all note it that anything done in this life outside God is meaningless.

In this world, no matter who you are, we are all the same before God, and we shall all

die.

“No one has power over death. Today, we were all here to honour Sir Olaniwun Ajayi. He had all the chance to power and wealth but he remained humbled till he breathed his last.

“He was a family man to

the core who trained his children well. He was truthful to a fault. He made God the centre of his life.”

In his goodwill message, the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Samuel Uche, described the deceased as

Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, addressing stakeholders at a town hall meeting on new education policy, in the state, on Thursday.

Stakeholders applaud new Oyo education policy LAUTECH crisis will be resolved soon, Ajimobi assures

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare And Wale Akinselure

EDUCATION stakeholders in Oyo State have lauded the state government for its firm approach towards reclaiming the lost glory of the state education sector.

They also lauded the plan to improve the quality of the sector to meet new and higher performance targets, saying the new education policy was a positive step in the right direction.

The stakeholders, who were part of the guests at the town hall meeting held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on Thursday, where the new education policy was launched by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said that government’s resolution to create schools governing boards (SGB) in the state would revive the education sector.

Governor Ajimobi, while launching the new education policy, said his administration had resolved to rebuild the education sector, to put a stop to poor academic performance by public school students, stressing that the condemnation against students arsonists should be collective.

He said the burning and destruction of classrooms and school properties were acts that even parents should not condone.

The governor said the newly introduced school board in the state would serve as a bridge between the government and the community in the management of various

public secondary schools in the state, stressing that the board would be managed by various stakeholders of each school, which include community leaders, old students associations, principals and head boys/girls of the school.

According to him, “it is shameful that Oyo State that hosts the first university in the country is performing woefully in public examinations, but we should all join hands together to revamp our education sector.

“For us to get this work done, we should all come together and condemn the criminal tendencies in our students as they burned classrooms and destroyed public properties while protesting over the policy against mass promotion.

“I appreciate the efforts and enthusiasm of everybody here and I am of no doubt that you are all willing to support government in repositioning education among other sectors in the state.

“I have no doubt that our repositioning, restoration and transformation programmes have been accepted by everybody. I assure you that we will be transparent and accountable in our programmes and activites. I assure you that we will also carry you along in our programmes.”

Governor Ajimobi called for an all-inclusive stakeholders support, stressing that the state government was open to support from other sources for the development of education in the state.

“Oyo State government is open to your support in the education sector. Let all old students within and outside the country join hands together to uplift their alma mata, and if community leader or a community wishes to contribute their quota to a school within their community, it is a welcome development. These are ways by which we can develop our education sector,” he said.

Governor Ajimobi assured his audience that the crisis at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, would soon be over, as the factfinding panel set up by the governments of Osun and Oyo to resolve the imbroglio would submit its report before the end of month.

The School Governing Board (SGB) model of Oyo State was lauded by many for its far-reaching inclusiveness, which comprised lead stakeholders like parents, teachers’ association, old students’ association representative, non-partisan community leader, school’s head boy/girl, principal, local inspector of education and representative of local government or local council development area (LCDA) and the belief that the control of schools would not rest only on government but also on the parents and society at large.

The Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Adediran, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers in the state, commended the efforts of the government in finding solutions to what he called the fall in standard of

education in the state, while he described the governor as a good leader.

In his own comments, the President-General of Nigerian Football Supporters Club, Chief Rafiu Oladipo, said he was a 1967 product of Oke ‘Badan High School, noting that the alumni of the school did not wait for government alone to improve the structures in the school.

According to him, the Oke’Badan Alumni had revamped the infrastructural facilities in the school.

State chairman, Parents, Teachers Association (PTA), Alhaji Abiodun Jimoh, described the steps at restructuring the education sector as laudable and consequently pledged support for the success of the new education policy.

Secretary of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Niyi Akano, said the teachers’ union was particularly happy when the government gazetted the School Governing Board Model, as the body (NUT) had been part of the initiative.

He called on the government to increase the level of in-service training for teachers, towards capacity improvement and due process in recruitment to ensure quality.

A stakeholder, Mr Bayo Fasasi, applauded the resolve to confront the rot in the education sector, urging parents to support the government’s efforts to turn around education in the state.

remarkable Christian and exemplary nationalist.

The message read on his behalf by the Secretary, Conference of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Reverend Mike Akinwale, said that Pa Ajayi excelled where others failed.

The message read, “Papa was a man of unshakable faith in God. A man with a big heart for the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth.”

In his remarks, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said that the deceased sacrificed his life for the progress of Nigeria.

He said, “I have known him all my life. He was a generous man. He lived so well. He was a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that fought the Abacha tyranny.

“Life is not about how long you live, but how well you lived. Papa lived long for him to achieve all that he was able to achieve.”

Oyo student emerges winner of WAEC National Distinction Awards Naza Okoli - Lagos

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD David Oluwasayo Babalola, on Thursday, emerged winner of the National Distinction Award of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria.

The awards, which were presented at the opening ceremony of the 54th Annual Meeting of the Nigeria National Committee of WAEC, held in Lagos, was declared open by the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by the his adviser on Education, Mr Fela Bank-Olemoh.

Babalola who obtained the best national result, with A1 in nine subjects (including English and Mathematics) and a total T-Score of 673.7626 in May/June 2015 attended and sat for the examination at Oritamefa Baptist Model School, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The second prize was won by 16-year-old Philip Toluwase Alabi of Our Lady and St Francis College, Osogbo, Osun State, with A1 in eight subjects including English Language and Mathematics, and a total T-Score of 667.1802.

16-year-old Lewechi Ugonma Nkata from Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, won the third prize with A1 in eight subjects (including English and Mathematics) and a total T-Score of 660.2430.

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PoliticsNews Edo gov election tribunal: Legal fireworks begin As thugs attack gov candidate, others Banji Aluko - Benin City

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EGAL fireworks in a petition filed before the Edo State governorship election tribunal by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenging the declaration of Godwin Obaseki as the winner of the September 28 governorship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), kicked off in Benin on Thursday.

Counsel to the petitioners, the PDP and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Adebayo Adelodun (SAN) set the ball rolling when he told the three-man tribunal, headed

by Justice Ahmed Badamasi, that his team consisting of 60 other lawyers were ready for the pre-hearing.

However, counsel to the Godwin Obaseki and All Progressives Congress (APC), who were the 2nd and 3rd respondents, Ken Mozia (SAN) and Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) disagreed with him, informing the court that there were pending applications that were supposed to be heard before the pre-hearing.

Counsel to the 2nd respondent, Mozia, informed that he filed two applications dated 29th and 30th November seeking the termination of the petition filed by the petitioner and the second one seeking that certain paragraphs of the answers to the reply of the petitioner be struck out.

The PDP counsel, however, said that the tribunal was already in the prehearing session and that counsels should have filed all applications before the session, pointing out that it was possible for the tribunal to take all applications while the pre-hearing ses-

sion was ongoing.

He further informed that he had filed an application dated 29th November

seeking to strike out certain paragraphs of the reply of the defendants.

On his part, the counsel

to INEC, Mr Okezia Ikpeazu (SAN) told the tribunal that INEC was not aware that Thursday was the date

From right, President Muhammadu Buhari, with the Ondo State governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu; Minister of Mines and Steel, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, during Akeredolu’s visit to the State House.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, then fixed December 7, 2016, for hearing on the applications, ordering that parties file their applications on or before December 3, 2016, and reply on or before December 5, 2016.

Meanwhile, political thugs on Thursday unleashed terror on many, who stormed the Edo State High Court, Benin, including the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the governorship election, Mr Frank Ukonga, who said he lost his phone and other vital documents when attacked by thugs.

Ukonga, in a statement he signed, also alleged that he was beaten by thugs loyal to two youth leaders of a leading political party.

Rivers rerun: Wike accuses INEC of releasing APC-dominated ad hoc staff list

By Dapo Falade GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of releasing a list containing members of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as adhoc staff to conduct the December 10 legislative rerun election in the state.

The governor, in a statement issued by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, on Thursday, further alleged that the list consisted mainly of APC ward chairmen and ward secretaries as Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs), charged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to, from next Thursday till the conclusion of the rerun election, resist politically-engi-

neered arrests.

Wike, who presented the alleged fake INEC to PDP supporters in Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area, said he was shocked that the electoral umpire could allegedly publish a list of adhoc staff, fraught with such level of fraud, but assured that INEC and her sponsors would be resisted.

He said it was unfortunate that INEC and security agencies were disregarding the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that they should be impartial and deliver free and fair elections.

“INEC has released a fake list of adhoc staff for the rerun election before the conclusion of their manda-

Akinyele, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gave the advice on Thursday in Ifako/ Ijaiye while speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the stakeholders’ forum organised by INEC on the forthcoming exercise.

He expressed delight on the preparedness of the

tory training. Majority of those on the list are known APC ward chairmen and ward secretaries who are mainly unemployed, but listed by INEC as staff of the University of Port Harcourt.

“They think that my love for peace is a sign of weakness, but I want to declare that enough is enough. We are supposed to be under

an era of change, but the love for fraud by INEC and police is unprecedented.

Efforts to get the reaction of INEC to the allegation proved abortive, as the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, did not respond to a message sent to his mobile phone, as at the time of going to the press.

Bolaji Abdullahi emerges as national publicity secretary I remain APC spokesman until… —Timi Frank Kolawole Daniel - Abuja THE All Progressives Congress (APC), North Central Zone, on Thursday, approved the nomination of a former Minister of Sport, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi as the National Publicity Secretary.

Abdullahi replaced for-

mer National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who resigned from the position to take up appointment as minister of Information and National Orientation.

The North Central Zone of APC, at a mini-convention held at the New Chelsea Hotel in Abuja, filled

Lagos by-election: PDP candidate urges INEC to be neutral CANDIDATE of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ifako/Ijaiye Federal Constituency seat, Mr Babatope Akinyele, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral in the conduct of Saturday’s by-election in Lagos State.

set aside for pre-hearing and that the commission did not receive any information to that effect.

commission for the election, saying: “I believe INEC is ready. With what I see on ground, INEC is ready for this election and I don’t see anything otherwise,” he said.

The candidate, who urged voters to come out enmasse to vote for PDP, promised to bring “real

transformation” to the area, if voted.

The six political parties to contest in the poll are: Action Alliance (AA), Alliance for Democracy (AD), African Democratic Party (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

other vacant position allotted to the zone.

Other positions filled by the zone included: national deputy treasurer, which was zoned to Niger State; zonal secretary, which was zoned to Plateau State and zonal organising secretary, which also went to Niger State.

The deputy Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Honourable Godiya Akwashiki, nominated Mr Abdullahi for the position of National Publicity Secretary and his nomination was seconded by the representative of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Sabir Abdullahi.

However, the embattled Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC,

Comrade Timi Frank, on Thursday, said that he, and not Abdullahi, was still the authentic spokesman of the party.

A statement he signed in Abuja while reacting to the APC mini-convention that nominated Abdullahi to replace Lai Mohammad, Frank declared that he was not against the former minister as a person but “the process to become an authentic spokesman should be followed.”

“I want to congratulate Bolaji Abdullahi for his nomination but he should know that this matter is still in court and until the court says otherwise, I am still the authentic acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC,” Frank said.

politicsnews Lalong to Fayose: We don’t want you in APC 7

Friday, 2 December, 2016

I’m not planning to dump PDP —Fayose Kolawole Daniel and Sam Nwaoko

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HE governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, on Thursday, said his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr Ayodele Fayose, is not welcomed in All Progressives Congress (APC).

Lalong boasted that the APC would reclaim Ekiti from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , saying APC would replicate the successes the party recorded in Edo and Ondo states.

Governor Fayose had said on Wednesday that he was not sure of the platform his successor would contest on, following the political scheming that has nearly crippled the PDP and the political moves by the ruling APC at the federal level.

Lalong spoke at the North-Central zonal congress of the APC for the election of persons to fill va-

cant national positions to be filled by the zone in Abuja.

The governor, who tactically addressed Mr Fayose, said that, “the one I am waiting for is Ekiti. I understand that after Ondo, the man has been saying he wants to come to APC. We are saying he should remain in PDP till after the election.”

“We just came back from Ondo and we were again re-

cruited yesterday (Wednesday) to go to Rivers again and conduct another election. Our own is to ask for your usual and continued support,” the governor said.

But Governor Fayose has denied a report that he is plotting to dump the PDP for either the APC or any other party.

Governor Fayose, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on

Thursday after being honoured by the people of Ado Ekiti, was reacting to media reports that he had given hints that he might dump the as the build up to 2018 governorship election in the state gathers momentum.

Fayose, who was conferred with “An Outstanding Achiever of Our Time” award by the Ado Progressives Union (APU),

APC rejects Banire’s resignation THE National Working Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has rejected the offer to step aside by the party’s national legal adviser, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN).

Banire had, about three weeks ago, written to step down as the party’s national legal adviser following an investigation launched by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into a gift of N500,000 given to an old friend and judge, who sought his financial assistance to defray part of the burial expenses of his late mother about three years ago.

However, in a letter dated December 1, 2016 and signed by the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the party said its NWC “resolved that your voluntary submission for investigation by the EFCC and subsequent offer to step aside from your position as national legal adviser to the party is an exemplary representation of the credo of our party.

The NWC is proud of your conduct in this respect.”

The letter however said that “after intense discussion, the NWC unanimously decided not to accept your offer to step aside as the national legal adviser.”

The party explained that its decision is hinged on the fact that Banire’s offer is “inappropriate since your responsibility as the national legal adviser of our party will not, in any way, impede any ongoing investigation by the EFCC, more so, as the allegation has no nexus with the party.”

“The party is currently saddled with a number of sensitive litigations and your role in professionally handling the ongoing cases is critical,” the party said.

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with the state’s APC chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale (left); APC candidate for the Ifako/Ijaiye Federal Constituency by-election, Mr Akinwunmi Olaitan Nurudeen (second left); Senator Olamilekan Adeola Solomon and Honourable Adisa Owowlabi during the Grand Finale of APC Campaign for the House of Representatives Bye-Election at the Ifako-Ijaiye Stadium, on Thursday.

at the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, maintained that he remained a committed member of the PDP. He said: “I remain a strong and reliable member of the PDP. We don’t jump boats and if we want to jump, it’s not into the Red Sea. I can’t go and join them where hunger is ravaging the people.

“The truth is that what happened in Edo and Ondo states can never happen in Ekiti. Come next election, we will still repeat the 16-0 feat.”

On the award, Fayose said though he was not an award freak, he accepted the one given by APU because it was in recognition of his work.

He said: “Many years to come people will still talk about a Fayose that transformed Ado-Ekiti. Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s legacies are living after him years after he died. Good works are like treasure that can’t be hidden.

“I dedicate it to the common man who believes in me and my cause. I have raised the stake and nobody can undermine this palace in the scheme of things.”

Allow PDP to survive, South-West party officials tell Sheriff group Says ‘party didn’t suspend Daniel, Omisore, others’

By Moses Alao THE South-West Zonal Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the members of the Sheriff group to leave the party to survive after it had been declared illegal by several courts in the land, commending the judiciary for coming out to redeem its name by giving judgments that will discourage people from taking advantage of the system in future.

It maintained that though the PDP had different mechanisms to resolve differences within the party, some people had chosen to rush to the courts, noting that if they were not working with outsiders to destroy the party, they should “go no further than they already have.”

This was just as the committee condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their complicity in the Ondo governorship election, noting

that the manner INEC conducted the election and the voter inducement by APC posed danger to democracy.

Making these statements after a meeting of the committee, which had in attendance the zonal executive led by the National Vice Chairman of the party in the South-West, Dr Eddy Olafeso; zonal scribe, Revd.

Bunmi Jenyo, among other

zonal officials and state chairmen of the party, Olafeso said the SouthWest PDP would soon hold a stakeholders’ conference to chart the way forward for the party.

The zonal leadership of the party also said it was untrue that the PDP had suspended or expelled a former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola

Omisore, former governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel and Honourable Ladi Adebutu as well as the state chairmen of the party in the Osun and Ogun states, Dr Bayo Faforiji and Mr Sikirulai Ogundele, among others, saying such decision was a figment of the imagination of “divisive elements in the South-West PDP.”

While addressing newsmen after the meeting, Olafeso maintained that the PDP remained strong in the South-West despite the challenges it faced, adding that the party was ready to provide effective opposition to the lacklustre government of the APC, “which is showing Nigerians hell and making lives difficult for them.”

Electoral Act: Senate resolves Kogi debacle, amends section on death of candidate during election

By Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi THE Senate, on Thursday, resolved the controversy that engulfed Kogi State following the death of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 21, 2015 election, Prince Abubakar Audu midway into the elections.

The senators, who restarted the process of amending the 2010 Electoral Act on Thursday, inserted a new Section 3

in the law to provide that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspends an election for 21 days in case a nominated candidate dies just before the announcement of election results.

The death of Alhaji Abubakar Audu in November 2015, midway into the governorship election, had ignited the controversy, which was tested up to the Supreme Court by Honourable James Faleke, the running mate to the deceased candidate.

While Faleke believed that he should automatically assume the ticket, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) former Governor Idris Wada also asked the courts to pronounce him the winner.

The new Section 3 provides that:”If after the commencement of poll and before the announcement of the final result and declaration of a winner, a nominated candidate dies, (a ) the Commission shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, suspend the

election for a period not exceeding 21 days; (b) the political party whose candidate died may, if it intends to continue to participate in the election, conduct a fresh direct primary within 14 days of the death of its candidate and submit a new candidate to the Commission to replace the dead candidate; and (c) subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, the Commission shall continue with the election, announce the final result and declare a winner.”

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

Nigeria’s break-up not possible, unthinkable, Buhari tells separatists Listen to their demands, South-East traditional rulers tell president Leon Usigbe -Abuja

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, reiterated the essence of the unity of Nigeria and urged those contemplating its break-up to have a rethink.

He spoke while receiving members of the Council of South-East Traditional Rulers at the State House, Abuja, warning that the question of having another country out of Nigeria was misplaced.

“The question of having another country out of Nigeria is going to be very difficult.

From 1914, we have more than 200 cultures living with one another. God had endowed this country with natural resources and talented people. We should concentrate on these and be very productive,” he said.

Addressing specific issues raised in the address by

the traditional rulers, the president gave assurance that the South-East would also benefit from the new railway architecture being put in place by his administration.

On their request for more representation for the SouthEast in his government, the president said he was “very conscious of the sensitivities of the South East,” on account of which, he gave the region’s four out of five states senior ranking ministers in the federal cabinet.

President Buhari used the occasion to appreciate the good work of the ministers from the region in the cabinet, saying they were doing well for the country.

He appealed to the traditional rulers from the South-East to persuade their people to give his government a chance and to continue to serve as

beacons of culture and traditions of their people.

The president assured the delegation that kidnapping and cattle rustling, which he described as “unfortunate,” would be the government’s next target, now that “we have managed to calm down the North-East.”

In taking note of the profuse commendation for his administration’s war against corruption and insecurity by the traditional rulers, President Buhari expressed frustration at the endless nature of some ongoing trials, citing some of the cases as going far back to the tenure of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

“We are asking the judiciary to clean itself. Nigerians are tired of waiting. They want some actions,” he lamented.

The president said he hoped that the acting Chief Justice

of Nigeria and the Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation would come to some form of agreement by which specially designated courts would give accelerated hearing to some corruption cases that were pending, arguing that “we want Nigerians to know we are serious.”

Earlier in his address, chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Eberechi Dick, had said the royal fathers in the region believed in the unity of the country and had consequently been impressing upon members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to press their case peacefully.

He, however, urged the president to address some of the issues they were agitating for.

“On the issue of the agitation by some of our youths

Pigeon pea boosts immunity, prevent anaemia

By Sade Oguntola IT takes more than an apple a day to keep the doctor away. It turns out that eating the right kinds of foods, including pigeon pea can help to keep the immune system on guard and maintain good health.

Pigeon peas are among the top 10 legumes grown globally, along with common beans, peas, chickpeas, broad beans and lentils.

Its local names in Nigeria includes Fiofio (Igbo), Aduwa (Hausa) and Otili (Yoruba).

The pea, an important grain legume crop in the tropics and subtropics, contain high levels of protein and important amino acids such as methionine, lysine and tryptophan.

This excellent source of magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium also contains fewer amounts of copper, zinc and magnesium.

Aside this, it provides an adequate amount of iron and selenium.

In combination with other cereals, pigeon peas make a wellbalanced human food. No wonder, in Africa, the dried seeds are typically used in sauces to accompany staple food preparations such as rice, yam and cassava.

The immature seeds and pods of pigeon pea, been rich sources of mineral nutrients are also eaten fresh as a vegetable in soups and sauces. When ripe, the seeds are often soaked first before frying or boiling them into porridge.

Different parts of pigeon pea plant have also been used in folkloric medicines to treat diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, measles, burns, eye infections, earache, sore throat, sore gums, toothache, anaemia, intestinal worms, dizziness and epilepsy.

In Madagascar, its plant leaves are used to clean the teeth while in Peru, its leaves are used as an infusion for anaemia, hepatitis, diabetes, urinary infections and yellow fever.

In 2013, scientists considered its leaves a possible lead for a anti-malarial drug discovery. In the Journal of Parasitology Research, the scientists indicated that its leaves possess antimalarial properties, corroborating its use for malaria infection in south western Nigeria.

Aside its effectiveness as a worm expeller, it was indicated as having significant anticancer activity by scientists in the 2013 BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal. It was a study that examined 24 locally used Nigerian medicinal plants on five different cancer cell lines.

Extracts of its leaves is also protective against gastric ulcer, Indian scientists said in the 2014 International Research Journal of Pharmacy. Ethanolic extract of its leaves were found to be protective against ulcer and improve ulcer-healing activity.

Sickle cell anaemia Clinical studies have reported its seed extracts to inhibit red blood cell sickling and potentially beneficial for people with sick-

le cell anaemia. Its extract appears to be safe, easily administered and efficacious in reducing painful crises and may offer increased benefit to patients with sickle cell anaemia in future.

Alleviate malnutrition In a study, experts found that corn-pigeon pea blends can improve nutritional status of children. Researchers found that stunting reduced in school children aged six to nine years in Suba District, Kenya, whose diet was supplemented with corn-pigeon pea blend as porridge.

The researchers, in the 2009 edition of the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, linked the reduction in stunting and under nutrition to genistein and immune-boosting substances that can improve growth in grain legumes.

Maintains blood pressure Potassium is the key mineral which is found in pigeon peas that acts as a vasodilator by reducing the blood constriction and also blood pressure. Those who suffer from hypertension should add pigeon peas to the daily diet because they are highly prone to the cardiovascular disease.

Prevent anaemia Folate is found in adequate amount in pigeon peas which helps to prevent anaemia and neural tube defects in unborn which is caused due to the deficiency of folate. An intake of single cup of pigeon peas provides about 110 per cent of the daily recommended amount of this vitamin.

Helps weight loss Both its leaves and seeds support weight loss and management of cardiovascular diseases. Pigeon pea has low amount of calories, cholesterol and saturated fats which makes it healthy. Its high dietary fibre keeps full for a long period of time, increase metabolism rate and reduces the possibilities of weight gain.

Boost immunity This source of Vitamin C helps to promote the white blood cells production and acts as an antioxidant that promotes overall wellness and strong immunity. But to maintain the nutrients, raw is better because 25 per cent of nutrients are lost when cooked.

In fact, a 2016 study reported in the Journal of Animal Research that pigeon pea leaves powder caused a significant increase in the immune status of broiler birds under laboratory conditions.

Healthy colon Like many legumes, pigeon peas are rich in dietary fibre that is essential for maintaining the digestive health. Fibre adds bulk to the stool and enhances the bowel movements by reducing the strain as well as inflammation. It reduces constipation, cramping, bloating and diarrhoea.

like IPOB and others for a Biafran Republic, we have continued to engage and preach to them that every problem of the nation can be best resolved through peaceful dialogue and respect for the rale of law.

“While, we re-assure Your Excellency of our total belief in one united and indivisible great nation of ours called Nigeria, we also want to call the attention of the Federal

Government to some of their grievances for serious considerations,” he said.

Eze Dick listed some of the grievances to include noninclusion of the South East in the amnesty programme; deplorable state of federal roads and other infrastructure in the region; relegation of oil producing states of the region in NDDC projects and the exclusion of the region in key federal appointments.

Stop parading as saints, NLC replies Buhari’s advisory committee OlatundeDodondawa-Lagos THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has advised members of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) to stop parading themselves as saints.

President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, said “if PACAC members feel that being appointed into the committee confers on them the status of sainthood, we beg to differ.”

A member of the committee, Professor Femi Odekunle, had stated that the labour leaders were corrupt, compromised, not trustworthy and could not protest against acts of corruption.

The executive secretary of the committee, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, had also

said the fact that unions did not protest against corruption at the National Assembly and state assemblies while governors award themselves sickening pensions while workers go without pay showed that unions were collaborators or beneficiaries of these acts of corruption.

Reacting, the Labour leader said “we at the NLC consider this posture by the committee to be an unnecessary display of arrogance and self-righteousness, which is most unfortunate.

“Due to our respect for his record of support for popular struggles before he took the current appointment as chairman of the advisory committee, we had refrained from responding to an earlier unwarranted attack on organised Labour by Professor (Itse) Sagay.

Continues pg36

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

PDP senators, Saraki resolve differences Taiwo Adisa -Abuja

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ENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who staged a walkout from the chamber on Wednesday, have renewed their camaraderie after a one hour meeting on Thursday.

The meeting, which took place at Room 301 of the Senate new building, saw Saraki and the senators straightening what they called the “crooked legs” of their relationship.

In July, the Senate President and senators of the PDP struck an accord on a cordial relationship with the opposition party.

But Saraki’s handling of the defection of Senator Yele Omogunwa, who represents Ondo South Senatorial District, from the PDP to the APC on Wednesday, had threatened the peace deal.

However, at a meeting on Thursday morning between the PDP Caucus in the Senate and Saraki, the Senate President and the PDP lawmakers ended their differences.

It was gathered that the

lawmakers from the main opposition party tabled a number of issues which they explained angered them and forced their walkout from Wednesday’s sitting.

Sources at the meeting told the Nigerian Tribune that the PDP senators told Saraki that he could have handled the issue of defection differently in view of Section 68(1)(G) of the Constitution.

It was also gathered that the PDP lawmakers reminded Saraki that it was not compulsory he read the letter from the Senator since it was clear that the PDP was not divided, in line with the constitutional provision.

According to a source at the meeting, the senators also reminded the Senate President that he once wrote a letter of defection during the Seventh Senate, but which was not read by the then Senate President David Mark, whose action only protected him (Saraki) and others involved from losing their seats, in line with Section 68(1)(G) of the 1999 Constitution.

Another source told the Nigerian Tribune that the senators also told the Senate

President that there was the need to stop Senator Dino Melaye from dabbling into all issues, especially such as that of defection.

It was also confirmed that the senators told Saraki of the necessity to always recognise members of the leadership and ranking senators with institutional memory whenever they indicated interest in making contributions.

A source in the know said: “It wasn’t that Saraki came to beg the PDP senators. We met to straighten what you can call the crooked legs of our relationship. We told him it was not necessary to recognise Dino on all issues, especially issues like contentious matter of defection.

“We also told him that the Constitution was sacrosanct and that there was no need to encourage the type of celebration we saw on Wednesday, especially as he was in those shoes before when Senator Mark saved him from losing his seat.”

Sources said the two parties resolved to resume their camaraderie following the resolution of the differences at the meeting.

Shi’ite members storm NASS over continued detention of El-Zakzaky Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja MEMBERS of the Shi’ite sect, also known as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), on Thursday, protested against the continued detention of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, at the National Assembly entrance.

The protest was led by the secretary of the academic forum in Nigeria, Mr Abdullahi Musa, who told newsmen that they wanted to know the outcome of the three letters they submitted to the National Assembly.

According to him, “This is the third time we are coming here. We submitted a lot of documents to the National Assembly, but we are yet to get any response.”

Speaking further, he said: “We submitted the third batch of documents yesterday and we came here today to hear from them.”

He, however, said they were doing what they were doing to ensure the safety of their leader and wanted to know the state of his health.

He accused the government of ill-treating El-Zakzaky, demanding his immediate arrest so that he could have access to better healthcare.

He further stated that, “We do not believe in the so called protective custody. We want him freed so that he can go for his treatment. They have inflicted several injuries on him. What we ask for is that justice prevails.”

He also maintained that “they killed our members and

government has been silent, we want to know what their position is.”

It will be recalled that soldiers had arrested El-Zakzaky after the Shi’itte group was involved in a bloody clash with the army.

Soldiers had accused the group of attacking the convoy

of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, while they were on procession in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Shi’itte, on the other hand, has accused the army of killing hundreds of their members and burying them in mass graves.

Lagos commences rent-to-own accommodation policy Bola Badmus and Tunde Alao - Lagos

LAGOS State government, on Thursday, announced that it will commenced a new initiative tagged, “Rent-To Own Policy and Rental Housing Policy,” come December 8.

Commissioner for Housing, Gbolahan Lawal, announced this while addressing a news conference at Bagauda Kalto Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, saying that the initiative was put in place to increase the number of Lagos residents that would have their feet on home ownership ladder.

Lawal, who disclosed that 19 estates were involved in the scheme with 12 assigned to rent-to-own, stated further that the scheme was targeted at low and medium income earners in both formal and informal sectors.

“Under this scheme, individuals are required to pay five per cent of the value of the housing unit as commitment fee and the balance is spread over 10 years.

“This programme allows the tenant to live on the

property while paying towards ownership at a fixed rent within the period of 10 years,” Lawal said.

The 12 housing estates dedicated for the implementation of the Rent-To-Own Policy included Sir Michael Otedola Estate, Odoragunsen, Epe, Odo Onasa, Agbowa; Igbogbo Housing Estate, Ikorodu; Egan-Igando Housing Estate, Alimosho and Igando Gardens Housing Estate, also in Alimosho.

Others are CHOIS City, Agbowa; Honourable Olaitan Mustapha Housing Estate, Ojokoro; Iponri Estate, Suru-Lere; Sangotedo Estate, Eti-Osa and Ajara Estate, Badagry, disclosing that the policy would be launched on December 8.

According to the commissioner, eligibility criteria included that applicants must have proof of Lagos State Residents Registration Card; must be a first time home owner and must attain 21 years of age, adding that applicant must be tax compliant and provide the proof of tax payment.

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businessnews

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

FG to prosecute revenue remittance defaulters

•17 agencies hold N450bn illegally •To cut extravagant salaries of certain agencies •Add 92 agencies to FRA remittance list

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HALLENGED by continuous dwindling resources and biting economic recession, the Federal Government Thursday reeled out a number of tough measures aimed at boosting its independent revenue including referring officials of some agencies to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution over misuse of public funds.

It also decided to reduce outrageous salaries and allowances of agencies paying beyond the recommended threshold of National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission.

Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun said report of audit panels constituted to probe the books of Federal Government agencies between 2010 and 2015 showed that in the 33 agencies already submitted, there were evidence of substantial non-compliance with Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA)ww 2007.

Findings include non–remittance and under-remittance of operating surpluses due to the consolidated revenue fund; operating without an approved budget; overstating of budget and spending above budgeted amount; underreporting of revenues; making payments without invoices and absence of payment receipts; failure to retire cash advances; and loans and grants to parent companies without prior approval.

Adeosun added that the audit findings also revealed poor book keeping; failure to reconcile accounts and existence of irreconcilable differences; lack of a fixed asset register and sale of assets to staff; fixed asset register not updated with all items purchased; purchase of fixed assets directly from internally generated revenues; inadequate internal audit process and weak internal controls; failure to submit audited financial statements; and payroll fraud and exaggeration of payroll costs.

Auditors also found evidence of overpayment of staff salaries and abuse of personnel grants; unapproved monetisation of medical and other allowances; staff advances and board members’ allowances in excess of approved limits; non-compliance with the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007; and failure to convert to IPSAS accounting.

The Minister said 33 agencies have already been au-

dited while the process was going on in others.

According to her, of the 33 agencies already audited, N450 billion was discovered to have been illegally withheld from remittance into consolidated revenue fund of the Federal Government by 17 agencies.

The 17 agencies include Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Shippers Council, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, National Health Insurance Scheme, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Nigeria Communication Commission, Nigeria Postal Service, National Information Technology and Development Agency and Nigeria Television Authority.

Others are Bureau for Public Enterprises, National Pensions Commission, Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, Raw Material Research & Dev. Council,

Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and Council for the Regulation of Engineering.

“Some of these audit reports are going to be reported to EFCC. some of the audit findings are so serious that they will be transferred to the EFCC. Remember that Ministry of Finance is not a prosecuting agency.

Ours is just to investigate and then we hand over to relevant agencies.”

And in order to curb reckless spending and increase independent revenue, Adeosun said she has increased the number of government agencies required to comply with the strict provisions of the FRA including remitting 80 per cent of their operating surpluses.

“A Circular on the inclusion of 92 additional corpo-

rations, agencies and government owned companies to the schedule of the Act was issued on November 21, 2016.”

Also, in order to ensure that all government agencies submit a budget to be approved by the National Assembly and to improve the quality of the budgeting process, “a circular was issued requesting submission of estimates of revenues and expenses for the next three financial years, annual budget (IPSAS compliant); and projected operating surpluses for review and approval.

A review team has been set-up to evaluate submitted estimates before budget submission to the National Assembly while the circular on this was issued on the November 22, giving the agencies seven days to comply.

“Agencies that do not review and approve their

budgets as advised will be restricted to payment of salaries until the budget is regularised. This circular is backed by an Executive Order of Mr President.”

She added that another circular was issued on the approved template for the computation of operating surpluses.

“Non-allowable expenses in the computation of operating surpluses include: salaries and staff loans in excess of approved scale by National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission; monetisation of medical and other allowances; business class travel for officers other than Chairman and CEO, expenditure in excess of approved limit; and donations to individuals, political and charitable organisations.

“Additional disclosure requirements include: expenses incurred on behalf

From left, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris and Director, Revenue and Investment, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Bakari Wadinga, during a media conference in Abuja.

CBN Governor lists 3 areas of focus for chief audit executives of banks

By Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

GOVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr.Godwin Emefiele on Thursday called on Chief audit executives of banks to continue to expect a stream of policy initiatives from the Central Bank, and play their own role towards ensuring that banks remain healthy and stress-free, so that they can absorb any unexpected shocks.

At the quarterly meeting of the Chief Audit Executives of Banks held in Lagos, Emefiele noted that at this crucial point in Nigeria’s financial history when money is scarce and there is a noticeable decline in the purchasing power of the people, there was need for stakeholders in the economy to collaborate in order to turn

the current situation into future prosperity.

Represented by Emmanuel Ukeje, Special Assistant to the governor on financial markets, Emefiele said the theme of this quarter’s meeting: “Changing Business Environment: The Role of Internal Auditors” is a clear indication that audit executives are concerned about developments in the financial sector.

He outlined three areas that should engage the attention of the executives over the next couple of years.

First, he said, in this era of change and challenge, “you will notice and should continue to expect, a stream of policy initiatives from the Central Bank. Our objective is to use monetary policy tools, sectoral preferences in resource allocation and

other forms of intervention to drive our national economic recovery.”

Banks as critical players according to him are expected to faithfully implement CBN policies and guidelines. This is because, some people including bankers and customers, may be tempted to take undue advantage of the occasional loopholes that may arise in the course of the expected policy readjustments. “ As internal auditors, you must not allow or encourage this. I encourage you to insist that your banks, as institutions, comply fully with all CBN guidelines; and raise a warning flag when they fail to do so.

He also stated that banks must maintain good internal control, ethical practice and sound risk management, stressing that Nigerians expect this, especially at a time

of challenging operating environment.

“Therefore all the necessary measures for capital adequacy and indices of sound risk management must be in place and fully enforced. As internal auditors, you must all be proactive, look out for any factors that could destabilize the system, quickly identify and deal with them.

You must pay particular attention to banks and customers operating in riskprone and highly volatile sectors of the economy.

Thirdly, the governor noted that audit executives must be very vigilant and guard against fraud, because as Internet penetration continues to gather steam in Nigeria, greater volumes of transactions will be consummated online; and on various electronic formats and platforms.

of supervisory or regulatory agencies; salaries and allowances paid to Board of Directors, Governing Council and Commissions outside the approved amount; donations, sponsorships, gifts and their beneficiaries; and assets sold or transferred to staff or Board Members.

Recovery Committee chaired by the AGF has been set-up to recover the outstanding N450 billion operating surpluses including: bilateral discussions; quarterly revenue performance monitoring; and impromptu visits.

Because of their peculiar natures, a new financing model will also be instituted for universities and hospitals taking into consideration their funding model and requirement for better controls and improved service delivery.

Since the circulars were released, Nigeria Shippers Council have remitted N640 million.

She disclosed that total independent revenues generated between January and October 2016 is N272.03 billion with projected increase to N811.03 billion “as we recover amounts owed and drive greater compliance going forward.”

Presently, demand notices have been issued to affected agencies for the payment of outstanding operating surpluses while the same agencies have been invited to a meeting on December 6, where they are required to submit a repayment plan or face appropriate sanctions including deduction of amount owed directly from TSA balances.

“We have been looking at their TSA sources to see if we can remove the monies directly. In the past they were keeping these monies in the banks. Some agencies actually have the money and it is just a question of paying, but for those who do not have the money, we are going to work with them, on how the monies can be repaid.”

Adeosun explained that the executive was working very closely with the National Assembly on this.

“It’s a joint national effort.

And we have said so at the beginning that with where the economy is right now, we must make every naira count. So, we are carrying the National Assembly along very closely and that is why they are supporting us by saying that if an agency does not get its budget approved, does not deserve to run a budget.

12

businessnews

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Power generation drops by 964mw

T

HE nation’s power generation capacity has dropped from 4,285 megawatts recorded on Sept. 16 to 3,321 megawatts on December 1 due to dearth of gas, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN reports that this figure was obtained from the website of Nigerian electricity system operator on Thursday.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), puts the total output of all the generation companies at 3,321.50 megawatts, which had been transferred to the 11 distribution companies across the country.

An official of TCN, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that electricity generation had been dwindling due to challenges of accessing gas by generation companies.

The official said that the country’s power generation dropped from over 4,000 megawatts recorded in September and October to 3,321.50 megawatts current recording as December 1.

Similarly, a top management official of Egbin Power Station, who also pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the power plant was generating over 1,000 megawatts.

He said the plant, which is located in Lagos, now generates and distributes between 250 megawatts and 300 megawatts due to shortage of gas.

The official said that Egbin, with an installed capac-

ity of 1,320 megawatts, has the capacity to wheel over 1,000 megawatts daily.

According to him, the plant is now limited to less than 300 megawatts due to shortage of gas.

Meanwhile, Mr Godwin

Idemudia, General Manager, Communications of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc, attributed recent frequent outages within the company’s network to the drop in energy allocation to it.

Idemudia told NAN that the company was receiving less than 300 megawatts instead of 1,300 megawatts needed to service its consumers.

He said that the company had reached agreement

From left, Vice President, Lagos Zone, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Reverend Isaac Ade Agoye; Executive Secretary, MAN, Mr. Joseph Emoleke; MD, Nigerite Ltd, Mr. Frank Le Bris; Quality, Safety, Health and Environment Manager, Nigerite Ltd, Mr. John Bamigboye; and Guest Speaker, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, during the award presentation to Nigerite Limited as Overall Winner in the category of Best Kept Industrial Premises competition at the 49th Annual General Meeting of MAN, Ikeja branch in Lagos, on Wednesday.

160 megawatts of electricity to augment its allocation from the national grid.

“We have entered into bilateral agreements with Egbin Power Plc and Paras Energy & Natural Resources Development Limited for 100 megawatts and 60 megawatts respectively.

“But the generation companies are constrained by gas challenges.

“We are also working on embedded power programme aimed at producing 480 megawatts for distribution to our customers,’” Idemudia told NAN. NAN recalls that some residents of Ikosi, Arepo and Obanikoro in Lagos within Ikeja Electric Distribution Company’s operations had staged series of protests over power outages in their areas.

The protesters, who came in their hundreds, chanted songs to drive home their grievances and prevented officials of the company and other consumers from entering the premises.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as “All we are saying, give us supply’’ and “what is our offence that Ikeja Electric refuses to give us electricity?’

Nigerian economy must be investment-driven —Finance Minister Akin Adewakun-Lagos

THE Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has stressed the need to reposition the nation’s economy

to be investment -driven, to be able to come out of the present doldrums.

Adeosun who made this position known at the just concluded 2016 FBNQuest

Investor Conference, in Lagos, explained that since the fall in the oil price had exposed the vulnerability of the strategy of over-reliance on a single commodity, making the nation’s econ-

Data tariff floor: expect poor data services, telecoms operators tell consumers THE Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) on Thursday informed consumers to expect poor data services, without the review of the Data Tariff Floor, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Chairman of ALTON, Mr Gbenga Adebayo said in a statement in Lagos, that there was the need for an upward review, so as to offer better data services to subscribers.

Adebayo said that the operators fully understood the public sentiments that greeted the announcement of a minimum data tariff being introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

He said that the NCC intervened to set the data tariff floor in view of its statutory responsibility to promote healthy competition, by periodically reviewing voice and data tariffs in the industry.

with independent power companies to augment the little energy being received from the national grid to meet energy demands of its customers.

According to him, Eko DISCO secured additional

Nigerian Tribune

According to him, the commission’s intervention is to ensure the sustainability of the Nigerian telecommunications industry.

He also said that the regulatory body had extensive consultation with the industry prior to the finalisation of the data tariff floor.

“Further, the commission has since Wednesday suspended the implementation of its determination on the data tariff floor.

“ALTON notes that it is within the statutory remit of the NCC for it to make decisive interventions to address the data price concerns which had led to data prices falling to unreasonably low levels.

“This is with the effect that telecommunications operators were unable to recover the cost of providing data services and reinvest in capacity expansion to accommodate the increased usage arising from lower tariffs.

“The situation has been

compounded by the recent economic challenges characterised by the steep depreciation of the naira.

“It is characterised by the need to resort to the parallel market and foreign exchange scarcity, which have considerably increased the capital and operational cost of providing telecommunications services.

“This has made current data tariffs unsustainable.

“This situation, if left unaddressed, could result in a sustained deterioration in the quality of data services across all networks and the attendant poor quality of experience for users.

“In this regard, our members await the conclusion of NCC’s market study, when the commission will be in a position to determine its requisite intervention,’’ Adebayo said.

He said that NCC introduced the minimum price for data services to help ensure cost recovery and drive

the continued investment in the telecommunications sector.

The ALTON chairman said that it was necessary for the provision of world-class data services for the overall benefit of the Nigerian subscriber and the Nigerian economy.

“It is our belief that interventions such as these are in keeping with the NCC’s tradition of implementing customer-centric regulatory initiatives such as the DoNot-Disturb Service and the Mobile Number Portability Scheme.

“These were introduced to enhance customer satisfaction with telecommunications services.

“ALTON also notes that price changes for data services across all networks following any intervention by the NCC are not expected to have a detrimental effect on broadband penetration contrary to some sentiments being expressed in the media.

omy investment- driven remains the only alternative.

“The philosophy around the economy during this recession is to move it from a consumption-driven economy to an investmentdriven economy,” Adeosun stated.

Adeosun also called for a change in spending patterns by moving from 10% capital expenditure and 90 per cent recurrent expenditure, to 30/70 split through the inclusion of private investment and infrastructure.

This, she stated, would increase revenue and create headroom for capital expenditure, needed to drive the economy.

“For many years we have been just an extractive economy, we pump oil and we basically export the crude and import everything else that we need. However, the fall in the oil price has exposed the vulnerability of that strategy and we need to now reposition the Nigerian economy to become investment driven.” She added.

She attributed most of the challenges currently faced in the economy to lack of infrastructure, arguing that such infrastructure deficit must be tackled for the economy to become more productive and competitive.

Adeosun explained that

the proposed $30 billion loan, which the Federal Government intends to take, would be used to fund planned infrastructural projects and would be phased over a three-year period, spanning 2016 to 2018.

The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government had commenced a review and revision of the cost profiles of revenue generating agencies, with the aim of ensuring that maximum operating surpluses are declared and remitted in compliance with the fiscal responsibility.

She identified the increase in tax revenue as a key area where the present government had made significant progress, adding that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had commenced an aggressive policy of sensitising the people on the need to pay their tax.

“The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said it has generated N2.7 trillion in just nine months, with the FIRS Chairman, Babatunde Fowler explaining that revenue from oil and non-oil sources as at September 2016 represented 81 per cent of the third quarter cumulative target of N3.12 trillion in the 2016 budget,” she added.

13

editorial

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Sanitation: The Lagos example

HE Lagos State government recently abrogated the environmental sanitation law which for years had restrained the movement of people in the state on the last Saturday of every month. The exercise was a hangover from the military era that had eaten deep into the peoples’ consciousness and become a normal chore across the country. Yet, in spite of its decades-long existence, the country has not fared better in terms of environmental health.

For Lagos State which had grown into a modern city state, a perfunctory monthly observance of restriction of human movement definitely could not make the environment neater. Even its satellite towns have started threatening to spill over to the neighbouring Ogun State and a routine monthly event of mere restriction of human movement would simply not suddenly improve its overall environmental health. Also, the massive industrial wastes generated daily in the state are not likely to be removed by merely keeping people indoors. In short, the urban essence of Lagos needed a robust review of its laws to keep human activities going on a 24-hour basis and without compromising the states’ environmental health. In any event, what has the restriction of human movement got to do with a healthy environment if the peoples’ orientation and attitudes are not environment-friendly?

So, after a deliberate consideration of the phenomenal and exponential growth of the state, the state Executive Council decided to confront the state’s environmental challenges with a more robust legislation that will not just keep people indoors while the streets remain dirty and polluted.

In the statement announcing the decision of the Executive Council, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said the present economic climate could no longer support the continued lock-down of a mega city like Lagos when the citizens should ideally be free to engage in commercial and entrepreneurial activities

that could promote economic growth and prosperity.

We agree with the decision of the Lagos State government to engage the unique environmental challenges of the state more creatively and we think that the step should be replicated in other states that are similarly circumstanced. There is a desperate need to confront the deterioration of the country’s urban centres more creatively to improve their health and, by implication, the citizens’ health.

The monthly environmental sanitation exercises have become routine, observed merely to fulfill all righteousness, without necessarily making the environment neat and healthy for the citizens. In this connection, the sanitary inspectors should be brought back into reckoning in the 36 states of the country. The sanitary inspectors should be well trained for the onerous tasks that they are expected to perform. The added advantages of employment opportunities and healthier citizens will be a welcome development.

We believe that the various dump sites in the states should harbour waste recycling plants as it is done elsewhere. We also believe that industrial pollution and other infractions should attract sanctions. But beyond scrapping the monthly sanitation days, the Lagos State government must be prepared to enforce the subsequent statutes that will replace this routine observance diligently and scrupulously. This is because there is the tendency for the mega city to deteriorate fast and sink deeper into a massive slum on account of the slightest laxity.

As a matter of fact, alternative structures should have been put in place on a trial basis before the scrapping of the sanitation exercise, so as not to risk the horrendous implication even of a tentative failure. We endorse the proactive stance of the Lagos State government and we recommend it to other states especially in their quest for urbanisation.

However, the government must scrupulously enforce whatever will replace the observance of the sanitation days.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 2 December, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982.

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

CST will add to Nigerians’ pain

T

HE Federal Government should come to the rescue of Nigerians by providing an environment that is enabling for good living. What Nigerians are

asking from the government is enduring dividends of democracy that will make life better and more reassuring.

This is why most Nigerians are passionately plead-

Capitalising on fall in crude price THE crash in the price of crude is now giving our country another chance at being productive. We need to focus on manufacturing, agriculture and mining to reduce the high unemployment rate.

Nigerian youths are highly-talented and they can easily channel the creativity to negative use if they find it hard to secure legitimate means of survival.

Now, the Federal Government must support our youths so that they can be gainfully employed. If the necessary policies are put

in place to make it easier for businesses to be established, this will go a long way in reducing unemployment.

The most important area is providing uninterrupted power supply. The companies still functioning now are struggling under the cost of diesel, which they use in powering their machines.

Government should also make it easier for companies to obtain loans. This will help in the establishment of more businesses.

•Yakub Aisha, Kaduna.

ing with the government, the Federal legislators and relevant stakeholders to pause and take a second look at the long term adverse implications of the proposed Communication Service Tax (CST) Bill.

Yes government seeks to raise N20 billion monthly through this tax in order to shore up its revenue, but the truth is that, the tax will further compound the suffering and pathetic socioeconomic situation of the vast majority of the people.

Imagine the monumental amount of money that an additional nine per cent charge on voice calls, SMS and Whatsapp will take away from the meagre income of an average worker or poor trader.

Imagine the cumulative sums of money an average family will be forced to part with any time they renew the subscription of their pay TV services. This new

tax that is being proposed can only add on to the hardship of the masses.

The trajectory of this tax is to turn pay TV services, among others, which had somewhat become afford-

able into luxury items like it was in the late 90s.

Why would government want to impose more hardship on the people by imposing new taxes on them?

Is taxing the citizens far

beyond tolerable limits the way out of paucity of funds to run a government?

•Nike Orimolade, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Appeal to Niger Delta militants THE situation in the Niger Delta was normalising until President Muhammadu Buhari met some leaders of the region a couple of weeks ago. Since then, the militants have resumed the bombing of oil installations. What this tells us is simply that they are not in support of those who visited the president in Abuja.

Consequently, the resumption of attacks on oil facilities is a way to tell the Federal Government to appease and recognise them as well. I keep wondering why some people are not interested in the develop-

ment of the country, but its destruction.

In every aspect of our national life, when there is chaos, some people smile to the banks, and a good example is the Boko Haram insurgency, which turned some military officers into overnight billionaires after pocketing the funds meant for the procurement of arms.

So what is happening in the Niger Delta is just an attempt by some disgruntled people to get audience with the Federal Government.

It is important that we know that money is not everything, but we should strive to work harder to

leave a more conducive country for our upcoming generation.

If some Niger Delta militants have problems with the Federal Government, then there are channels through which they can follow to reach the leadership of the country. However, destroying oil pipelines is like compounding our problems. The environment is polluted every time a pipe is blown, and it is not the politician in Abuja who suffers it, but our people who rely on the rivers for fishing, and the land for farming.

•Nsikan Preye, Nsidon_don@yahoo. co.uk

Ijebu-Igbo needs more banks I want to appeal to more commercial banks in the country to come and establish their branches in Ijebu-Igbo. We have only two banks in the town, and as a result, the whole town rely on just these two banks for their banking needs. What this means is that the banking halls of these banks are always filled up.

With the fact that there are tertiary institutions in

Ijebu Igbo, students and staff waste precious hours trying to assess banking services, including the Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

I, therefore, want to appeal to more commercial banks to set up business in Ijebu Igbo.

•Abolade Bolatito Ifeoluwa, Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo.

FG, tackle Nigeria’s economic challenges THE ongoing recession being experienced in the country is becoming unbearable for the citizens; workers are not being paid, and we can imagine a situation whereby both the husband and wife rely on paid employment for survival.

The youth are on the streets doing nothing, except to use their hi-tech brains to engage in internet fraud. Some have even resorted to kidnapping

as means of survival. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that those behind the high-profile kidnappings in the country are young people.

It is as a result of this that I want to urge the government to quickly find a lasting solution to the economic crisis facing the country.

•Oyalowo Opeyemi, The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

15

opinion

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Of schooling, education and character moulding

By Odimegwu Onwumere

A

PART from the immediate family setting, the school is the next most important agent of socialisaton. But with eroding family values as a result of ‘errant and absent’ parents, the school is fast becoming an indispensable character moulder of children.

The next in line after the school is the religious bodies, where children go for spiritual upbringing, but due to the fact that children spend so much time in school than any other place, the school can be argued to be the most important socialising agent in a fast moving society. The early knowledge they get in the school prepares them to being what they become in the society.

Research has shown that kids tend to believe their teachers even more than their biological parents. Thus, the influence of teachers in moulding the school kids into adulthood cannot be glossed over.

There are many arguments that the school environment, with the attendant knowledge, has placed more emphasis on human and individual rights to the detriment of even the age long societal mores and norms. Where the society wants to put down its feet on the ground to enforce its unwritten behavioural code, the products of these institutions repudiate such moves.

This explains why even with higher degrees and varying certificates, many of the recipients lack the wherewithal to cohabit in a traditional society. They do not apply the matrix that outside the home there are rules and regulations. They behave the way they feel they like.

The ill-manners of many schooled persons call for concern. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a Baptist minister and social activist who led the civil rights movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968, saw the behaviours of some persons and warned that intelligence plus character is the goal of true education.

King de-emphasised on the acquisition of multiple university degrees, saying that the direct benefit of acquiring

higher education is also the acquisition of expensive and expansive houses, laced with costly cars, which according to him, does not improve the course of the society. It is obvious that the indoctrinations that are gotten from school affect many negatively. Many did not know that the day they entered school, the process of total indoctrination had started.

Doris Lessing in “The Golden Notebook” warns that humanity has not yet evolved a system of education that is not a system of indoctrination. “We are sorry, but it is the best we can do. What you are being taught here is an amalgam of current prejudice and the choices of this particular culture. The slightest look at history will show how impermanent these must be.”

Lessing continues that “you are being taught by people who have been able to accommodate themselves to a regime of thought laid down by their predecessors. It is a selfperpetuating system. Those of you who are more robust and individual than others will be encouraged to leave and find ways of educating yourself — educating your own judgments. Those that stay must remember, always, and all the time, that they are being molded and patterned to fit into the narrow and particular needs of this particular society.”

It is very sad that in the school, we are rarely taught to understand virtues and values, but physics, mathematics, English Language, religious studies, chemistry and so on.

These are the main influences that control our lives and not virtues and values, which many people in the modern times see as belonging to the primordial. They speak especially the English Language very well without character to show for their fluency.

It is imperative to state that the schools in this country do not mould people to understanding their moral identity, character formation, and letting people understand who they are; instead they are taught to believe in what they are.

Theodore Roosevelt, who was the 26th President of the United States, once said that to educate a person in the mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society.

Martha Graham, also an American, was a modern dancer and choreographer whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on the modern visual arts; she was quoted as saying, “I believe that we learn by practice.

Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one’s being, and a satisfaction of spirit.”

While school is supposed to invite the perfection desired in tandem with the virtues and morals of the society, it seems to be doing the contrary.

It only functions as a facilitator of people into logics and not how people deal with the nuisance school aid them to create in the society. However, many people of higher learning today do not have character outside what they were taught in school.

This is why Abigail Van Buren warns that the best index to a person’s character is how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and how he treats people who can’t fight back.

Helen Keller, an American author and political activist, tells us that character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. We must accept and practice character, empowerment, love, pleasing, self-discovery, self-esteem, self-respect, truthfulness and wisdom.

•Onwumere is a public affairs analyst.

Climate change and Nigerians’ health indices

By Ofoegbu Donald Ikenna THE discuss and call to actions for the Nigerian government to join the globe on ways to mitigate climate change in Nigeria have been left to very few environmentalists, journalists and learned agriculturalists, and its effects and emitting challenges are present in the health sector today. The impact of climate change on human health is, indeed, alarming. All over the world, the changes in the climate is affecting all humans in adverse ways; the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink.

All of these add pressure to the continuous loss of control to sustain the require health standards.

Take for instance, air pollution, the single greatest environmental health risk faced. Estimates released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), reports that in 2012 around seven million people died; that is one in eight of the total global deaths – as a result of air pollution exposure. This finding more than doubles previous estimates and confirms that air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk.

In particular, the new data reveals a stronger link between both indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure and cardiovascular diseases, such as strokes and ischemic heart disease, as well as cancer. This is in addition to air pollution’s role in the development of respiratory diseases, including acute respiratory infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. These pollutions come from burnt fossils (kerosene, coal, petrochemical, etc), gas flaring, deforestation (tree felling for industrialisation), bad waste disposal practices, among others.

Under-nutrition already accounts for three million deaths each year in the world’s poorest regions. Rising temperatures and more variable rainfalls caused by the global warming induced by large CO2 emissions have caused rising water levels and running floods; washing away farmlands and reduce crop yields, further com-

promising food security and nutritional needs. Currently, under nutrition contributes to 53 per cent of all deaths in children under the age of five. Poor nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life leads to poor physical growth which in most cases is irreversible and associated with poor brain development. Nigeria has about 11 million stunted children, ranking highest in the continent and second globally, as 41 per cent of children under five years are chronically malnourished.

Floods are increasing in frequency and intensity; creating breeding grounds for disease carrying insects.

Mosquito borne diseases like malaria are particularly sensitive to change in heat and humidity as rising temperature accelerates the life-cycle of malaria parasite.

Today, about 3.2 billion people – almost half of the world’s population – are at risk of malaria. In 2013, there were about 198 million malaria cases and an estimated 584,000 malaria deaths were reported. Ninety per cent of all malaria deaths occurred in the WHO African Region. Malaria kills almost half a million children under five each year, mostly in Africa. In 2015, an estimated 100 million malaria cases and about 300,000 deaths each year make Nigeria the country with the highest number of malaria casualties worldwide.

According to WHO estimate, climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year between 2030 and 2050. Most will likely die from malaria, di-

arrhoea, heat exposure and under-nutrition. Children and elderly people are marked among the most vulnerable, especially in countries like Nigeria where health infrastructures are unavailable, inadequate and ill-funded. The implication is that the health gap, which stakeholders are trying to close up, will likely widen as a result of the adverse climate change and the lack of political will on the part of the government to provide health facilities via improve budget funding, implementation and releases, not to forget the low level of discussion on the issues.

Climate change mitigation can yield substantial and immediate health benefits. While there is the need to increase public knowledge on these pressing issues, it’s time to translate knowledge into actions. Health sector leaders in Nigeria; the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Society for Public Health, Association for Reproductive Family Health (ARFH), Environmental Health Association, Association of Nurses and Midwives, among others, must stand hand-in-hand with climate negotiators to confront climate change in Nigeria. As policy discussions on climate and health have been on two very wide divide.

Our health systems must be resilient to climate changes; hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) should be reinforced to withstand heat waves (especially in gas flared environments), desert storms and other extreme weather conditions.

We must ensure and advocate that functional water and sanitation services are provided for.

The health and environment ministries must ensure that surveillance systems for climate sensitive infectious diseases like malaria, dengue fever, cholera, among others, are put in place. These ministries together with other supporting agencies like NEMA, NAFDAC and Red Cross/Crescent, should make better use of early warning information to predict the onset, intensity and duration of epidemics.

•Ikenna lives in Abuja.

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

T

ODAY, I write about my friend and fellow compatriot, Rasheed Gbadamosi, who passed on to eternity some three weeks ago.

Like I always say on this page, death is a price all of us must pay. It is a supreme sacrifice. Believe me, there is a time to be born and there is also a time to die. I say it again, no matter how long we live, we must bid the world good-bye one day.

And so it was with Rasheed Gbadamosi. One early morning, my friend, Alhaji Aro Yahaya aka “Uncle Kwara” woke me up with a call from Ilorin, informing me that Rasheed Gbadamosi had died.

“Sir, I am sorry about Rasheed Gbadamosi’s death.” He had told me on the phone. I was quiet for about 20 seconds.

I then pulled up courage to ask: “Aro, Rasheeed Gbadamosi dead?” “Yes,” he replied. There were instant tears in my eyes. Aro Yahaya knew we (Rasheed and I) were close. He knew that Rasheed was the son of the late Papa S.O. Gbadamosi, a friend and confidant of the Avatar, Papa Obafemi Awolowo. Aro knew that Rasheed and I had worked together some years of our lives as revolutionary combatants, fighting the cause of the people.

Infact, Rasheed Gbadamosi and I were born the same year. He (Rasheed) in December 1943. I was born in January 1943. Rasheed was about to turn 73 years when death came calling. I had turned 73 in January 2016. The death of Rasheed was too crushing for me. There is, however, nothing that anyone can do to stop Rasheed from the journey of life he had embarked upon. He is gone and gone for good.

Rasheed was, however, not strictly a politician. Though his father, Papa S.O.G, was, Rasheed operated on the fringes of politics. He was every inch aware of political developments in Nigeria, Africa and the world.

He was a Lagos State Commissioner under the governorship of “Egbon” Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson in the early 70s. He was very successful.

Rasheed Gbadamosi’s mother (is by the way) from Isale Eko in Lagos State.

His father was from Ikorodu, where Rasheed was buried on his transition.

Infact, Rasheed was a very keen and enthusiastic Eyo masquerade promoter in his life time. Rasheed later became a Federal Minister in the government of General Abdulsalaam Abubakar, who had taken over the reigns of power on the demise of General Sani Abacha. Rasheed was in charge of National Population Commission (NPC). Rasheed was a very brilliant Nigerian who was ever at home with any subject discussed under the sun about national governance.

In the very early 70s before he became a commissioner in Lagos State, Rasheed was involved with some of us (his friends) in the formation of a powerful social movement group called National Association of Patriotic Writers and Artists (NAPWA). It was an association of powerful writers very well groomed in matters relating to arts and culture.

Other members of NAPWA were Oladele Bank Olemo, then at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Lagos; the late Olu Akareogun of the Daily Times of Nigeria Limited, the late Akin Davies (the son of one of the builders of the Nigerian nation, Chief H.O. Davies); the late revolutionary Kanmi Ishola-

With

Ebenezer Babatope 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

Rasheed Gbadamosi: A tribute

•The late Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi

Osobu, a radical lawyer in Lagos; myself and some others who were connected with the promotion of radical arts and literature.

Rasheed Gbadamosi co-ordinated the activities of the NAPWA. Our meetings were always held at the then famous Martinee-Ago-Go Restaurant, down the then Broad Street in Lagos. The restaurant was then promoted by our friend, Yemi Martins, who was an old Ibadan Grammar School student. Those were days.

Rasheed was a literary genius. He wrote many plays that depicted the frustrating lives of Nigerians.

I believe that Ajibade Fashina Thomas aka “Jabby” of the Daily Times was involved with us in the activities of the NAPWA. Rasheed was a literary genius. He wrote many plays that depicted the frustrating lives of Nigerians.

One of the radical plays authored by Rasheed Gbadamosi is “TREES GROW IN THE DESERT.” The play was to land many of those who had acted it on Radio Nigeria some spell in military detention.

The play, “Trees Grow in the Desert,” was produced by a former deputy governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor. Rasheed Gbadamosi had talked of a “coup” in the script of the play.

When Radio Nigeria aired the play, soldiers were so annoyed with its presentation that they immediately moved to arrest anyone connected with airing it on radio. Senator Akerele-Bucknor, the late Steve Rhodes and Chief Christopher Kolade were all arrested and sent to Kirikiri prison. It was a very bitter experience for Rasheed Gbadamosi. He was a very fine writer and activist.

All these travails never dissuaded Rasheed from continuing with his life of dedicated service to the cause and plight of the common people of Nigeria.

Though a practicing Muslim, Rasheed was, however, never a religious fanatic; he radiated a unique liberalism in his practice of religion. He was married to a Christian wife, Tinu Adedoyin and Rasheed never did anything to disturb the wife from continuing with her Methodist faith. Rasheed encouraged her never to abandon her Methodist faith.

When Tinu turned 70, Rasheed followed her to the Emmanuel Chapel in Ikoyi, Lagos to celebrate the event.

Rasheed Gbadamosi is gone! We all love him but God loves him more!! May his memory remain blessed!!!

Rasheed, goodnight and goodbye!

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

eyesofislam Why govt must handle Shi’ite issue with care

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

—CAILS Chief Imam, Solagberu

The Chief Imam of the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS), Ilorin, Dr AbdulRazaq Solagberu, is formerly the director, Centre for Degree and Professional Programme and a deputy provost in the institution. The lecturer speaks with BIOLA AZEEZ on some religious and national issues. Excerpts:

I

LORIN is fondly referred to as the land of scholarly Islamic clerics. Is the city still living up to this status?

If you go by its history, you will discover that Islamic scholarship is the one thing that has made Ilorin popular. Islam had been in Ilorin before Emir Sheu Alimi came in but the popularity of the city began to grow during his reign. There were many Muslims there then at Oke Suna where Islam was being practised. The place was headed by the Solagberus. By the time Sheu Alimi came, the people of Oke Suna recognised him and supported him. It was there the name Alimi was given to him. His name was Sheu Soliu, son of Jimta. ‘Alimi’ means scholar. People have been coming to Ilorin to acquire knowledge and Ilorin people have been going out to acquire knowledge. So, it was known as a scholastic town. Those whose names were known then were scholars. To be a scholar was a thing of pride. But the focus is now on materialism and people are no longer inclined to what their forefathers were inclined to.

Many now attend schools with the sole aim of becoming rich quickly. Their forefathers were after good name and fear of God. People no longer care about good name but acquisition of wealth. Even so many scholars now compete with wealthy people. This factor has majorly affected the scholastic status of Ilorin. However, we still have people who travel out to places like Egypt and Saudi Arabia to acquire Arabic and Islamic education and come back home to establish schools. Unfortunately, there is no encouraging patronage, and the poor mallam is not happy. In the olden days, they didn’t build schools. People came, sat down to acquire knowledge and then went away. But you have to construct schools now to attract patronage. Sheu Adab who was mentor to Sheu Kamaldeen of Ansar-Ul-Islam died in 1953. He initiated the issuance of certificates after Qur’anic education graduation.

He also designed a curriculum to be followed in Qur’anic education. Some scholars adopted this practice, particularly his disciples and old students. After his death, one of his disciples, Sheikh Kamaldeen, among

others, followed in his footsteps. Through organisations, they were able to establish schools. But nowadays many individuals can’t establish schools. And the way western education came to us, it was made to be lucrative. And that is not in Islamic teaching/ education. Some people also wonder where they would go after acquiring Qur’anic education. They don’t see a future in it. In the olden days, they didn’t bother about government appointment. They do now. A graduate of western education gets an appointment, gets a loan to do this and that.

But there is no appointment for a graduate of Islamic knowledge. All these have effects on the scholastic status of Ilorin.

How can this issue be addressed?

With Islamic and western education, there are now no jobs. But there is hope because graduates and students of Islamic knowledge/education now have a rethink on knowing about the religion. Intellectuals are now writing that Islam is relevant to the modern world. And many Islamic scholars have come on board in modern national and state attainments. People now aspire to use what notable scholars like Professor Ishaq Oloyede, former vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin, are doing with Islamic education to derive hope in their studies. It has rekindled the hope of the youth in Islamic education.

Kwara State has also established a board to monitor Arabic education in schools.

The problem is not limited to the political leadership or the followership. The people should realise what is right and the elites should enlighten the people and not stay aloof on issues affecting our common destiny.

Though there are lots to be done there, it is a good effort.

Do you think the government of Kaduna State is in order outlawing the Shiite movement?

To me, the issue is political. They claim that Shiite is this and that. The governor has tried to justify his action saying it was not banning Shiite but only the El-Zakzaky group because the people didn’t respect Nigeria’s constitution. To me, this was an afterthought. The international community is now showing interest and the group’s lawyer has threatened to take the state government to the international court. There are some organisations with extremist tendency though. They don’t have respect for other road users when they stage a procession on public highways. Perhaps that was what was responsible for the clash with the military then. But the army made a mistake shooting harmless citizens. I am not saying the group’s members are not extreme but the steps taken by the government are not good enough.

What does the issue portend for Nigeria?

The fact remains that something tangible must be done by the Federal Government about the Shiite issue to prevent it from escalating like Boko Haram, because Iran and Iraq are sympathetic to the group’s cause. Look at what happened when an Iranian Shiite leader was killed in Saudi Arabia. People in Iran demonstrated and destroyed the Saudi embassy, causing Saudi to withdraw its ambassador and asking the Iranian ambassador to go back home. The Federal Government should not take the issue lightly. Our international oil interest as it concerns Iran and Iraq must be protected.

It is no longer a Kaduna State issue, it is a national issue. Besides, the Federal Govern-

ment should see to it that people are not unjustly prevented from practising their religion.

It is believed that members of Boko Haram are well versed in the Qur’an.

How then do we explain their dastardly actions?

Islam is a scholastic religion. It is not that these people are knowledgeable; they are only trying to interpret the Qur’an to suit their actions. It is just like any other person who is trying to justify a wrongdoing by hiding behind the constitution.

Is Nigeria where it is supposed to be in terms of infrastructural development and provision good governance?

There is a problem in this regard and the problem is not limited to the political leadership or the followership. The people should realise what is right and the elites should enlighten the people and not stay aloof on issues affecting our common destiny. We must put the leaders on their toes because we still have a long way to go as regards real progress and development in this country.

The government has yet to set its priorities right. They misplace priorities. Governments don’t consider salary payment as a priority. Some governors have refused to use the bailout fund to pay the salaries of workers. This misplacement of priorities is affecting us. As a governor, do what you can in terms of provision of infrastructures.

Let others coming behind continue and not abandon what their predecessors started.

They should build upon existing good structures and not abandon them. We lack maintenance culture and this must be reversed.

We should also change the attitude of awarding one contract over and over again.

It sets us back.

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communitynews

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Remain calm and be law-abiding, Oyo residents told

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ESIDENTS of Oyo town and environs have been advised to remain calm and be law-abiding in the face of the provocation arising from the arbitrary transfer of their lands to other communities in the state under the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), recently created by the Oyo State government.

The Chairman of Oyo Metropolitan Development Association otherwise known as Igbimo Atunluse, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, gave the advice at a recent summit in Oyo. The meeting which was held at the open square of the Alaafin’s Palace had in attendance all the Baales from the affected villages apart from members of the Oyomesi-in-Council led by the Basorun, High Chief Ayoola.

Also present were community leaders like a former local government boss, Mr Emmanuel Olaoye and a former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Segun Taiwo, whose community was also affected by the transfer saga.

The meeting which lasted more than three hours resolved to mandate the affected communities to approach the court on the interpretation of land boundaries under the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as it affects

local governments as enshrined.

Highlights of the meeting

were the presence of placard carrying market women and other artisan groups in soli-

darity with the Alaafin and the MDA under Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu.

The Chairman of Oyo Metropolitan Development Association otherwise known as Igbimo Atunluse, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu (second right standing) and Baales from Oyo villages, at a summit in Oyo town, recently. With them are some members of the communities.

Ikere community commends Fayose’s development projects THE people of Ikere-Ekiti, under the aegis of Ikere Stakeholders Forum (ISF), have commended Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, for the numerous development projects his administration is executing in the town.

The people are also appreciative of the governor’s disposition to appointing indigenes of the communi-

ty into sensitive positions.

Speaking on behalf of the people, Chief Ayodele Omotayo, the General Secretary of ISF said the contribution of Governor Fayose to the development of the town was unsurpassed.

He noted that the governor had proven to be prudent in the management of scarce resources and embarking on proj-

ects to make life better for the people despite the economic recession in the country.

Omotayo listed some of the projects the town has enjoyed under the Fayose administration to include the dualisation of AdoIkere Road, which was extended to the town, the construction of the Elegberun Market and the Hous-

PMI to celebrate 30th anniversary ALL is now set for the Pioneer Movement Iseyin (PMI), a Community Development Organisation, to celebrate its 30th anniversary where 30 indigenous students across secondary and tertiary institutions will receive scholarship award.

In a release signed by the chairman, organising committee of this year’s anniversary, Mr Bolanle Azeez, said the PMI is a socio-educational group comprising professionals from Iseyin and environs aimed at promoting community development in Iseyin and other communities in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State.

Azeez further disclosed that the ceremony, which is to hold between December 2 and December 4, 2016, will feature a public lecture entitled: “Functional Community Development Associations: A critical requirement for accelerated community development” to be delivered by Professor Muhammed Akanbi.

He said: “In the last three decades, the association

Speaking at the meeting, Olaoye narrated the meeting which the elders held with

has championed the cause of development of Iseyin community in all ramifications. We have been consistently given scholarship awards to the youth in both secondary and tertiary institutions, donation of books to school libraries and medical facilities to our health centres, among others.

“To further deepen our educational development activities, the association

recently decided to rehabilitate some school projects where a block of classrooms in one of the primary schools was renovated. We consider this initiative as fundamental to community self-help to strengthen education foundation.”

Azeez further added that three prominent indigenes of Iseyin would be given an award of Excellence as a reward for their contributions

to the development of the community.

Some dignitaries expected on the occasion include the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the special guest of honour, the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba AbdulGaniyu Adekunle Oloogunebi Ajinese I; Deputy Provost Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Dr. Bolanle Tajudeen Opoola, among others.

Benue lauds military for provision of water, classrooms Johnson Babajide -Makurdi DEPUTY governor of Benue State, Mr Benson Abounu, has applauded Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME) for the provision of two blocks of classroom and water to the Local Government Education Area, North Bank Community, Makurdi.

According to the Headmistress of the LGEA, North Bank, Mrs Esther Adayue, said that the renovated classrooms was gutted by fire and aban-

doned, but explained that when Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Yusuf Buratai visited the barrack, he ordered for the renovation of the dilapidated building.

The Headmistress added that within three months the Chief of Army Staff gave the directive, the school of engineering swung into action, “the outcome of it is what we are witnessing today.”

The two blocks of building consist of three classrooms each with headmistress and assis-

tant headmistress offices with necessary furniture.

Also rehabilitated by the school of army engineering is the reticulation of water outlet with overhead tank at St. Mary Primary School, North Bank.

The water project is to serve the people of North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, and had its source from water works at NASME barracks, this was said to have been financed by the state government but executed by army engineers.

ing Estate.

Others were the construction of Ikere-IgbaraOdo Road, Ikere-Ise Road, the water scheme in Afao Quarters of Ikere, among others.

“It is consequent upon the above mentioned points that we in Ikere Stakeholders Forum resolved to organise this meeting, involving all and sundry of Ikere to pray for the success of the governor and his government and equally support his immediate and future political endeavours,” Omotayo stated.

Also speaking at the gathering, a member of Ekiti State House of Assembly representing Ikere Constituency I, Honourable Wale Ayeni, urged the people to remain firm in their continual support for the administration of Governor Fayose.

He stressed that the only politician and leader in Ekiti, alive or dead who had demonstrated real love for Ikere was Fayose.

Ayeni said that Fayose started the Ado-Ikere road dualisation project during the first term of his administration, adding that when Fayose was forcefully removed from office, those governors which came after him failed to extend the project to Ikere.

He added that Fayose has not only extended the project to the roundabout, the project has beautified Ikere community.

Governor Ajimobi at the instance of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

He lamented that in spite of the governor’s assurance to look into their grievances before the final decision was taken on the exercise, that assurance, however, remained unfulfilled by the governor before assenting to the bill.

He, however, assured that the seeming provocation notwithstanding, Oyo will maintain its pacesetter status with regard to the respect for rule of law and its traditional respect for the judiciary.

Chevron kicks off malaria campaign in Delta communities ebenezer adurokiya-warri RESIDENTS of Koko community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State are in for a better health experience as Chevron/NNPC Joint Venture in collaboration with Development Africa, has stormed the area on a Roll Back Malaria training and awareness campaign.

The kick-off programme, attended by government functionaries in Delta State, management of Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL), NNPC and the people of Koko community, is aimed at eradicating malaria from the environment through preventive and curative measures.

An open workshop with tips on health education and demonstration of how to curb the spread of malaria diseases as well as its treatment was held to train selected health workers and enlighten the people on how to combat malariarelated health challenges.

Speaking at the event, General Manager, Policy, Government, and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL), Deji Haastrup, said the primary aim of the programme was to check the incidence of malaria in the environment.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank the state government and other stakeholders for bringing the dream to fruition.

It is important to note that the event is a result of the collaboration between the Delta State government, the people of the state and NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture,” the CNL boss noted.

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fridaytreat NINIOLA Artiste of the week

By Omotunde Taiwo

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INIOLA Apata (born 15 December 1986), better known by her stage name Niniola, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Niniola is a native of Ekiti State, but was born in Lagos State, where she had her primary and secondary school at Apata Memorial High School. She later proceeded to the University of Lagos, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Education certificate. Niniola rose to recognition in 2013 after she placed third runner-up at the Project Fame West Africa Season six.

During the competition, she performed a live rendition of ‘Limpopo’ with pop star, Kcee and also performed her composition ‘Itura’ which was produced by Cobhams Asuquo. She mentions Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Madonna, Beyonce and Angelique Kidjo as some of her music influences.

After leaving Project Fame, the school administrator turned singer did not rest on her laurels. Instead, on 19 March, 2014, Niniola released her debut single ‘Ibadi’, produced

by Sarz. The song received positive critical reviews, topped national music charts and gained extensive airplay. ‘Ibadi’ and her single ‘Gbowode’ were used as soundtracks in the Season two of Nigerian television drama series ‘Gidi Up’. In 2015, she was listed on Notjustok’s 15 artistes to watch in 2015 and was nominated in the ‘Most Promising Act to Watch’ category at the 2015 Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA). She currently has a record deal with Drumroll Records.

Niniola, on what inspired her foray into music, said that music started for her since childhood. She was a bathroom singer growing up. She later moved on from there and became the classroom voice all through secondary school and would sing to entertain her friends whenever they had free times.

Over time, she realised music was her calling and there was no going back. Growing up, she didn’t go out much. So far, her Afrocentric style has gotten her massive attention and she has even more potentials to seal the deal with a resounding album. She is quoted to have said her album is about her reflections, style, expressions, immediate environment and what inspires her music. Despite her apparent love for music, Niniola says an alternate career would have been teaching, She is also involved in charity work. She already has a charity organization and the objective is to finance the tuition and other related expenses for these kids who haven’t the means to get some education from their families.

For one who started off being the class music box, Niniola has risen through the ranks, as well as established herself as a name to watch out for in the Nigerian music industry.

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 Instagram: @roy_ige

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2 December, 2016

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

fridaytreat PIC STORY

Ambode commends Nigerian Breweries at 70, signs ‘MoU’ on ‘One Lagos Fiesta’

ART-WORKS’ Initiative is a platform created by OTOBI ARTWORLD to support talented kids in Nigeria with art supplies and trainings to develop them, starting with two schools in Oyo State. Glorious juvenile school, Moniya, Alabata Ibadan and Sunshine High school, NTC, Ibadan are the first to benefit from his project.

My style will be a game changer —Rapkiddah

THE Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has commended Nigerian Breweries Plc. for its commitment to the economic prosperity of the state and the nation.

Ambode, who was on a courtesy visit to the companyon Tuesday, charged the management to remain focused on excellent business practices and outstanding corporate governance. He congratulated the company on its 70th anniversary and emphasized that the company has been part of the development of Lagos since the creation of the state fifty years ago. “In the last fifty years, you have contributed to the growth and development of Lagos State. We are happy you have been part of the success story of this state”, he said.

Governor Ambode highlighted the company’s contribution towards job creation through direct and indirect employment of Lagosians.

He also praised the Company for being a responsible corporate citizen, adding that it has done more than any other company in terms

Salawu Malik Olanrewaju, popularly known a Rapkiddah, is an upcoming rapper and Afro-pop artiste born in Ibadan and has released various singles. In this interview with Ibukun Adenuga, he narrates his experience in the music industry and his future prospects

of corporate social responsibility in the state.

The governor pledged continuous co-operation and partnership between the state and Nigerian Breweries Plc. “We are part of this partnership and we shall do all to support it”, he said, while assuring of his government’s support in creating an enabling environment for the company.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Nigerian Breweries Plc., Chief Kola Jamodu said that Lagos State occupies a special place in the heart of the company’s commitment to “Winning with Nigeria.”

This commitment, he maintained, has driven its Corporate Social Responsibility footprints over the years to make several outstanding contributions towards human and infrastructural development in the state, especially in the areas of education, health and security.

The chairman assured that the company would continue to join hands with the governor in the march to make Lagos the cynosure

of all eyes.

During the visit, the Technical Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Henk Wymenga highlighted the company’s socio-economic impact in Lagos State to include job creation, prompt and full compliance in payment of taxes which run into several billions of Naira, local sourcing of raw materials including the company’s sorghum and cassava value chain as well as its long term sustainability agenda, “Brewing a Better World.”

A major highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Lagos State Government and Nigerian Breweries Plc. on the ‘One Lagos Fiesta’. Governor Ambode signed on behalf of the state while Chief Jamodu signed on behalf of Nigerian Breweries Plc. The company also donated two security patrol vans to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund during the visit while Governor Ambode planted a commemorative tree in the premises of the company’s Lagos brewery.

Oyinkanade asks us to ‘Turn up’

AS an upcoming artiste , how has it been in the music industry?

Really, it has been difficult and interesting. You cannot compare the fan love of an upcoming artiste to that of an established figure. When you are on stage performing your song, people do not really know your song and even when its online, because one isn’t popular, you get low downloads. But then have been able to keep going.

Describe your brand of music?

I will say I am versatile but then I started with rap music (that’s what inspired my name Rapkiddah) but I do more of Afropop at the moment. I just always try to satisfy my fans.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years in the industry?

I will be an achiever, that is changing the game by bringing my own kind of music With the big names in the music industry, how to you intend to stand out?

The big names in the music industry have their own kind of music, that why I said I want to bring in my own kind of sound.

When I come out with something different, I will stand out, I will be a challenge to established acts because my style will be a game changer.

Who do you look up to in the music industry?

I really look up to Wizkid. I would really love to be, one day, featured in his shows because he is an Afro-pop achiever

Having serenaded the nation with his hit tracks ‘Adura’ featuring Olamide, ‘Honey’ and ‘Wasila’ featuring VJ Adams, vocal power house, Oyinkanade is back with another great tune titled “Turn up’. The playful tune is one which according to Inspiration FM OAP, DJ Black, says will become a playlist favourite.

The song, according to Oyinkanade, during a chat with Friday Treat, was actually a freestyle which became a serious jam after his producer convinced him to sample some popular slangs on the song.

“We were just having fun in the studio and I was told to sample a beat. I jumped on it and dis-

covered some playful vibes I had been toying with on the song was making sense. So we decided to record it and the rest is history”, he said.

Oyinkasade Dare Akande (born January 13, 1988) now known as Oyinkanade is a singer, composer and entertainer best known for his outstanding performance at the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 5 where he emerged fifth position. He was the first male artiste to be signed into Vivace Records, owned by Tee-Y mix.

Oyinkanade sings in English and Yoruba. His debut single hit the scene in 2012 and was produced by Tee-Y Mix. Oyinkanade was born to Mr

Shola Akande and Deaconess Ibidunni Akande. He attended Olabisi Nursery/Primary School, Agbowo, Ibadan. He also went to Methodist Grammar school, Bodija Ojurin, Ibadan where he finished his secondary school. Presently, he is a Political Science student in the University of Abuja, Abuja.

He started singing as a chorister in Ajegunle Baptist church, Ibadan. He was in a singing group called Bridgez and learnt the acoustic guitar.

He discovered he could achieve more and went to audition for the MTN Project Fame season 5 in 2012 where he displayed his unique skills in singing and stage performance.

To us, dance is everything —Timeless dancers TIMELESS dancers are a unique set of two female dancers who have warmed themselves into the hearts of fans, friends and audience with their marvellous dancing skills.

To them, dancing is their life and passion evidenced from the fact that they have been dancing for more than 10 years even though they are still both teens.

Timeless, made up of Damilola Lowo (16years) and Victoria Ekwebelam (17years) started their own dance company in 2014.

They had earlier been part of a dance group (The Royal dancers later changed to Signet Dance Company) where they were professionally trained.

They met at the Maltina Dance All season 6 which held in Jogor centre, Ibadan where they actually competed against each other in the children’s category. They became friends that day and the rest, it is

often said, is history. Damilola, fondly called Dami, is a student of Lead City Uiversity, Ibadan, studying Performing Arts while Victoria, fondly called Vicky, is a student of Pentecost University, Accra, Ghana, studying Information Technology. Contrary to what people think, the girls affirm that they are both very shy and quiet but are fierce and bold when on stage. Apart from dancing, they love playing video games, swimming and taunting one another.

They also do gymnastics, which helps them become more flexible.

They are both very close to their families who have been very supportive of both their careers and always advice them regarding any and all important decisions.

These talented dancers, in a short time, already have a huge fan following and have performed in major shows around the country.

Fabulous Pizzy drops ‘Songs before fame’ EP ARGUABLY the biggest music export out of Ibadan at the moment, Fabulous Pizzy, the ‘So fun won’ crooner released another body of work entitled ‘Songs before fame’ yesterday.

In a chat with Friday Treat, the fast rising music act said that he decided to drop the EP as an early gift to his fans.

“It’s been a defining year and I want to sample new sounds so my fans can feel another side of me. I am currently looking to

shoot the video to my ‘Balance’ single and I feel dropping the six-track EP will help set me on the right track for 2017. I thank my loyal fans who keep believing in me and supporting my performances. This is for them”, he said.

Awolola Opeyemi a.k.a Fabulous Pizzy is a native of Osun State and gained major attention with his hit song ‘So fun won’ became a club hit. He soon followed up with other popular tunes like ‘Side Talk’, ‘Side talk’ remix featuring

Reminisce, ‘Sabali’, ‘Balance’, ‘Boogie Down’, ‘Gbayi’, among others.

Having a cult following in many cities in the South West, entertain-

ment critics opine that it is perhaps time for him to move to Lagos, the supposed ‘entertainment capital’ to trade his talent and emerge a superstar.

Startimes partners One Championship to bring mixed martial arts to Africa’s TV screens StarTimes, a fast growing pay-TV operator in Africa, has partnered ONE Championship for broadcast rights of its martial arts sports media property. According to the deal, StarTimes will screen the worldclass MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) content to its various fans across Africa. Both local and international content revolving around the MMA talents will be showcased.

Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Championship, revealed: “ONE Championship continues to push the boundaries of mixed martial arts (MMA) in Asia by extending our reach to fans of the sport in Africa. There is huge potential for growth in Africa and obviously in China where we have focused our efforts. The growth of the sport of MMA is one of the key factors in helping nations develop their local sporting industries and ONE is proud to lead the charge”.

Guo Ziqi, Vice President of StarTimes, said: “As the most influential and fastest-growing digital TV operator in Pan-Africa, StarTimes has been dedicated to bringing exciting sports content and quality service to African audiences. As MMA and combat sports like boxing are gain-

ing popularity in Africa, we built our Sports Arena channel into a channel dedicated to these sports”.

She also added: “ONE Championship will be showcased to Africa as flagship content. Unique to ONE as compared to other MMA events, the promotion is closer to home and really connects with local fans. ONE has a substantial number of Asian athletes including Chinese athletes who exhibit skill, honor and humility. StarTimes is able to get a grasp on ONE Championship’s core DNA deeper”.

StarTimes Nigeria COO, Tunde Aina, said, “African MMA athletes are also excited to have great opportunities to be seen in action by their fans back home. ONE Championship is truly a world-class promotion and one of the biggest internationally.

StarTimes is delighted at bringing the ONE Championship close to African and Nigerians viewers. It will offer great entertainment pleasure and viewing delight to our huge number of viewers in Africa and Nigeria and will be a great platform to promote martial arts and excite its fans and TV viewers in general.

22

Friday, 2 December, 2016

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

’Wale Olapade 08055201323 wale11g3@gmail.com Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year, 2014

Carnival Dry Run lights up Calabar ahead of biggest street party Stories By ’Wale Olapade

A

HEAD of the 2016 Carnival Calabar schedule for the later part of December, Cross Riverians, on Sunday came out in their drove to join carnival band loyalists for the second dry run.

The dry run as it is called is a dress rehearsal created by the Carnival Commission to test-run innovations meant to add fun and pageantry to the carnival activities.

This second dry run which took a new dimension in terms of audience reach, access and point of take off was a new signature to the adjudication points.

The 12 kilometer fiesta started from the millennium Park through the Calabar road down to Marian, then back to the Stadium was as usual barricaded with iron bars while residents lined up in their numbers to watch, cheer and dance to the rhythm of each carnival train as they display along the carnival route.

On like previous years, the second dry run was designed to have different take off points for each band, a deliberate plan to make the carnival flow with the expectation of audiences within the adjudication points and along the carnival routes.

The second dry run was a sight to behold as the governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade and his wife Dr Linda Ayade, rode into the crowd for the flag off of the dry run on bicycles, which herald unprecedented cheers from all and sundry.

The test rehearsal was flagged off by Dr (Mrs) Linda Ayade, together with Governor Ben Ayade, Mrs Onari Duke, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Mrs Tourism United Nations, Mrs Ebele Enemchukwu and 30 Queens from different African Countries among others.

Speaking during the flag off, the wife of Cross River state Governor, Mrs Linda Ayade said the carnival is one of the unique platforms that bring out the rich cultural splendour of the people of Cross River and they will continue to improve on it to making it bigger and better.

Our carnival, every year is dedicated to one thing or the other, last year the theme of the carnival was Climate Change and this year, we are repeating the same theme.

Mrs Ayade, however welcomed all and sundry to the second dry run and in her words, “ I humble declared 2016 carnival dry run open to the glory of God and I dedicated it to climate change.

One of the carnival bands performing at the dry run in Calabar, recently.

Also the governor Ayade said that he will continue to consolidate on innovations on ground to see that he puts the state on the world map.

Ayade called on Nigeria to use tourism to turn around the economy of the country, adding that it is the only way things can get better.

Ayade said “we don’t have to wait for people outside to change our country for us because

it belongs us and because it is our country, we alone can make the desired change we need and we have to start now.”

Speaking at the slide line of the dry run the Chairman, Carnival Commission, Mr Gab Onah, said the dry run is one of the unique platform used every year to test run new additions that would feature in the carnival proper.

This year, we are adding another innovation to the Carnival to give domestic and foreign spectators bigger and better performance at the biggest street party in Africa, come December 27.

Our governor, Professor Ben Ayade is practically committed innovatively ready to take the excitement of the biggest street party to the next level.

Kaduk travels gears up for anniversary IN less than four weeks from now, a new entry into the travel industry in Nigeria, Kaduk Travels and Tours, Ibadan will be rolling out drums for it first anniversary.

The celebration which is to introduce more friendly packages to make travel easy for its loyal clientele, is another avenue to take its professional services to the next level.

Building its services on the wings of professional travel ethics and model that treats every customer as king, Kaduk Travels and Tours go extra miles to design the right travel plans and rates to give customers a life time experience.

Combining his banking experience with his widely travels exposure to establish this travels and Tours Company, the Managing Director / CEO, Kaduk Travels and Tours Ltd, Mr Kolawole Adesina Arogundade ex-

plained that his workers are highly travel professionals who are knowledgeable, capable and passionate about the services the agency promotes and offers.

According to Arogundade, “going into travel business was geared by different experiences garnered from my many trips to different global MICE destinations on conference and seminars as a banker.”

In some of my trips, some years back, Arogundade explained “I was able to help many travellers who were stranded at foreign destinations through my contacts and friends, who are stakeholders in the airlines and chartered flight business to get connecting flight arrangement back home.

“One of those experiences was a trip to Saudi Arabia, were some group of Nigerians who went for hajj and after few days got an

urgent message to return back to Nigeria, but were unable to schedule immediately and when the whole situation was going out of control, I decided some of my contact who made it possible.

“Since then I have been trying to make a difference in the travel business and last year, I decided to go fully into travel and allied businesses to give that personalised services that is missing in the industry.

“We are also positioned as a member of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) and Oyo State Tourism Board.

“Our mission is to provide excellent services to each of our customers and partners as well as to be a leader and trend setter in the travel industry, in all avenues of business associated with us.”

SON’s mirror committee completes work on hotel standards IN its determination to create a working document for regulation and standardisation of hospitality business in Nigeria, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) through its National Mirror Committee (NMC) on Tourism and related activities, has successfully completed work on the first ever national framework grading and classification of hotels in the country once approved.

Speaking at an event in Lagos, recently, the Head, Ogun State office 1 of SON, Mr Enebi Shaibu Onucheyo who represented the Director-General of SON, Osita Anthony Aboloma, described the development as not only a great achievement, that would boost activities in the tourism industry, but also build confidence in the products and services offered by the industry in Nigeria.

He commended the Chairperson of the

committee and Director-General of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs Chika Balogun, other tourism associations and operators who have contributed to the success of the hotel standards document.

The inputs of the various stakeholders made it possible to produce the document which would inturn be presented to SON’s council and the international community such as the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) for approval before it can become operational.

The National Mirror Committee was inaugurated by SON in April 2016, in Lagos with the mandate to review and adopt the International Standard Organisation (ISO/T228) and Africa Organisation for Standardisation set up by ECOWAS in accordance with international best practices for use in the tourism

industry.

Three other documents, which are meant for use in the Nigerian tourism industry were also presented and by the committee, making it four documents that were deliberated on and adopted.

Speaking on this development, Mrs Balogun, said it has great significant for tourism as it would further boost the image of the country, inspire confidence in investors, encourage more investment, create jobs and wealth for the country. ‘‘This would attract direct foreign, local and regional investments to the country and the tourism industry because investors would not want to put their money where they are not

sure of growing their businesses. But with such an important document that has a framework of standards for hotels, it would boost the confidence of investors to trust the industry and invest in it.

23

Friday, 2 December, 2016

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

As 74, 699 students repeat in Oyo public schools

Ajimobi

Olowofela

By Modupe George

new policy as imbalance and uncalled for.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the Oyo State, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teacher, declared an absolute support of the union on the new policy.

“We are in support of the new policy because the automatic

T

HE new policy on education by the Oyo state government as one of its moves to reform and sensitise the education sector has no doubt raised some dust among stakeholders in the state.

Going by the new policy, the automatic promotion being enjoyed by the public school students has been halted and it was stated that students who fail to meet the promotion criterion of 50 per cent and above in five subjects with either, English Language and Mathematics would be made to repeat their classes.

However, an alarming statistics of students’ failure was released by the Chairman, Oyo House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Afeez Adeleke at the last Thursday’s plenary session, while presenting the committee’s report on the violence that followed the cancellation of automatic promotion in secondary schools in the state.

According to the statistics, a total of 74, 699 students of SSS1 and SSS 2, who sat for the 2016 Joint Promotion Examination out of 132,629 students, failed to meet the criterion of 50 percent and above five subjects with either, English Language and Mathematics as required by the new policy, hence the students were asked to repeat their classes.

The committee noted also that the number of repeaters would have been 102, 583, if the state government had insisted on the initial promotion criterion plan.

Earlier, the state government was said to have, at a meeting involving the state’s Ministry of Education, the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPS) and other stakeholders in the education sector, adopted a review of the promotion criteria to reduce the number of repeaters at the instance of the committee on Education, Science and Technology.

It will be recalled that some student-protesters at Isale-Oyo Community High School, Oyo Town set their classrooms on ablaze, owing to this development, while others resolved to enormous facilities in their schools to show their grievances.

Following this statistics revealed by the government, to some stakeholders in the sector, secondary school education in the state is on the verge of collapse if the government does not take strict measures to save it, while some school of thought see the

promotion will neither favour the government and the parents; even the so called student and their teachers. It would enable students to seat tight and let them to know they are in for real business. The policy now gives room for quality production in the states’ secondary schools.

He condemned series of protests being staged by the affected students, saying that their actions and inactions are pointer the level of decadence in the society.

“Why should a student go wild because he is simply asked to sit down and study his books? I don’t see the reason a good child should go about burning tyres and causing riots in the society. We really detest this deviant behavior by the students.

We are not in support of it at all and that is why we are saying that parents have a lot of work to do concerning the upbringing of their children.”

“Imagine how a parent would feel, if his\her child’s name is mentioned among those who burnt down blocks of classrooms in their school, all in the name of protest. The question is, if they are doing this at the secondary school level, what if they now get to higher institution?

While he advised parents to train their children very well from home, He noted that most parents don’t have time for their children and that is why they are paying for it now.

“If students should vandalise government’s properties, they are going to pay for it, I mean the parents would be charged for whatever their children might have destroyed. I had being to two schools this week, where vadanlisation occurred and ordered that the parents of those students be held responsible for whatever they had destroyed, ” he relayed.

Dr Femi Akinwumi, former HOD, Educational Management Department, University of Ibadan, is of the opinion that even though an automatic promotion is not the best for any academic system, the new decision to make students repeat classes, should have been implemented through a gradual process.

“Government should have informed the students before arm rather than them being taken unawares the way it did. The government should have carried the students along in the implementation of the new policy, not just only the principals and the teachers, because there cannot be principals or teachers Continues on

pg25

‘Education in Oyo State requires a holistic approach’ Following the various issues trailing the poor performance of students in Oyo state public schools, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun speaks with YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, on the various challenges facing education in the state and why the state government is taking a holistic approach to the issue to ensure the status quo changes “OYO state is a very peculiar state and students have been doing badly among their peers from other states from other states. There had been an obvious drop in academic performance since 1999 while there had been so much indiscipline among students,” said Toye Arulogun.

This drop may be responsible for the belief held by many that politicians brought decay into the education system since there seems to be a downward trend with the advent of democracy in Nigeria.

Arulogun said that the era of patching, managing and window dressing the education sector in the state is gone adding that the statistics on mass failure in schools is saddening.

“Over fifty thousand students failed to get five (5) credits including English and Mathematics, each year from 1999 to 2015? It is pathetic that 61,232 sat for the exam in 2008 and 5,608 passed, in 2009, 60,444 sat for the exam, 7,204 passed. Year 2010, 65,330 sat for the exam, 8,757 passed, in 2011, 72,559 sat for the exam and 12,314 passed while in 2012, there were 75, 179 candidates and 12,314 passed.

These results are woeful and should not be from a state with the appellation ‘Pace Setter’,” he stated.

Speaking on the various issues besieging education, Arulogun stated that the government did not just jump into conclusion about the situation of things, adding that the government inaugurated a 31-man team led by Professor Adeniyi Sulaimon Gbadegesin, to among other responsi-

Arulogun bilities, review the status and standard of education in the state as well as recommend suitable and plausible options that will enhance the overall standard of education.

According to him, the committee came up with issues of discrepancy of data in different units of the state education sector, dismal performance of students in WASSE Continues on

pg25

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features

Erelu Moji Adams is the wife of the leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams and the initiator of OASIS Women Organisation. In this interview by YEMISI AOFOLAJU, she speaks on her humanitarian activities, life as the wife of the OPC leader, among others.

Excerpts:

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Why I’m passionate about widows

—Erelu Moji Adams

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HAT is OASIS initiative all about?

The organisation has to do with womanhood, especially the less privileged and widows. Looking at it from the Yoruba or Igbo culture, there is a harsh treatment meted to a woman when she loses her husband, as she is held responsible for it. But if it is the other way round, there is always sympathy for the man. At the end, the woman is asked to drink the water used in bathing the corpse! This harsh culture is against womanhood, but I believe there is a way to fight it, if we cannot totally eradicate it. There are some widows who are doing better than those who are still with their husbands and yet not enjoying their matrimony because the majority of these men are not responsible for the upbringing of their children. I am enjoying being a woman, not because I am married or fortunate to have some things, but that I love the way I have been created.

I encourage women that there is a way we can enjoy ourselves without any tradition or culture hindering us.

I don’t believe in being a full house wife. Though when I got married, my husband wanted me to be a full time housewife, but it was not funny at all for the first three years. I was uncomfortable carrying out some obligations that required money, and even asking my husband for money when it affected my family. I didn’t enjoy such a lifestyle until I decided to start working. In the process of being a full time housewife doing nothing, you lose your shape, focus, status, feeling inferior to ones contemporaries because you are at home cooking and taking care of children most times. But a woman who goes out to work will know how to plan her finances without being a burden on any man; will learn new things and be abreast of what is happening around her. The quest to assist widows and the oppressed prompted this initiative.

How old is OASIS? We are about 10 years old.

How do you know a genuine widow?

We rely on our feasibility study from our links. There are some I pick myself, having seen that they are in dare need of help. Though some other women come to us for assistance using the language of being wives to oku aye(living but dead) husbands. But we tell such to come directly to us and not through the widows’ forum in proving their case. Some of the women would have failed after many attempts to break even in their businesses. We ask them how far they have been able to help themselves so that we can know where to come in. We give widows sewing machines, grinding machines, among others. There are some who we take care of their children’s education and vocations. During my husband’s birthday celebration, OASIS gave out working tools to some widows as our contribution to his celebration. Sunday’s programme was specifically targeted at widows’ welfare, as the beneficiaries went home with food items and money because of the prevailing economic situation.

Who are OASIS’ partners that make things happen?

We have some members who have the spirit of giving and are into charity in their own little way because it is not a matter of compulsion but voluntary. Our patrons and matrons have always been there for us. As a matter of principle, I earmark a certain percentage of my proceeds for charity on annual basis so as to get the dream going.

What do you do for a living? What can Otunba give you to make you a full time house wife?

I am a fashion icon. I supply Aso Ebi, bags and shoes.

We have a family water bottling company. If I am to be a full time housewife, Otunba will have to settle me with a very big investment...laughs. It means I will have people working for me who I will be supervising, then, I can relax at home.

How are you coping with Otunba’s female admirers?

To be sincere, it has not been easy. The first four years of my marriage saw to my having to wait for him before doing anything, even eating, because of the understanding of doing things together as a couple. I was always calling to know where he was at every point in time. To him then, it appeared I was monitoring him. When we started dating, he was declared wanted and I knew nothing about OPC and I was in Ilorin, Kwara State. A friend of mine called my attention to his status as a dreaded appearing and disappearing OPC leader. I then asked her, ‘Are you sure of what you are saying? ’There was no way I could reach him to confirm my fears. I waited till he came to Ilorin and I asked him ‘are you an OPC man?” he said ‘yes’ and he told me more about the group. I didn’t really pay attention because people were always around him. I was told that he is a ritualist, kidnapper and many other names, but I have never seen him disappear and nothing to confirm all the names he was being called then.

My parents’ reactions to his proposal were with mixed feelings. My dad gave me six months to consider my decision because he never believed in making choices for us while my mum was not too convinced because of her calling as a prophetess. But, anytime Otunba was in Ilorin, he prayed the Christian way. He was brought up by a Christian mother who was a prophetess in Kogboregbe Church, so he is used to praying in the Christian way. I told my mum that he is a culturalist and believes so much in tradition. My mum stood her ground that I would not marry him because of his tendency to be a polygamist. I never saw anything in him to scare me. When he was arrested, people started saying all kinds. His arrest became the talk show in the media, ‘can you marry Gani Adams?’ Watching respondents scared me a bit.

Some of my friends who knew about our dating abandoned me when he was arrested. Some of my uncles and aunties also warned me against marrying him, while emphasising my Christian background. Some of the ladies who warned me then later started sending him text messages. I told my mum this and she warned me not to touch his phone again, even when it is ringing if I wanted my marriage to work, and that I should avoid staying with him whenever he is receiving any call. This was the last instruction my mum gave before she died. There were times women called to abuse me. I have learnt overtime to block my ears and focus on my home, children and career. My take now is when he is at home, he is and when outside, I let him be.

What religion do you practise?

I am a Christian to the core, though Otunba is a Muslim, but mostly he practises Christianity.

Does Otunba go with you to church?

No, he goes to Evangelical Church of Yahweh. He believes so much in Primate Olabayo, who has been his pastor for ages.

So, he is not a traditionalist to the core?

He is not. He has a special seat in his home church.

There are some widows who are doing better than those who are still with their husbands and yet not enjoying their matrimony because the majority of these men are not responsible for the upbringing of their children.

Are people not afraid of you as Adams’ wife?

The belief of people is that being the wife of Gani Adams, I cannot but be a wicked woman. At times in church, people look at me fearfully. This has informed the reason I don’t offer things to people anyhow. Even in my shop, when customers keep calling, I always hear my neighbours say; ‘how would she not record high patronage? Is she not the wife of OPC leader?’ But I am used to this way of life now.

Can you give an estimate of those you have assisted?

We have assisted over 200 people.

Is it on local government basis?

No, it is not a tribal thing; it is regardless of age.

Are the beneficiaries only from Lagos State?

No, we have moved to Ogun State, the next port is Ondo State.

What is your favourite colour?

I like anything bright. I love gold, pink and green.

How is it to be married to Otunba?

I thank God for the grace. I have made a lot of sacrifice and overlooked some things.

If you had another chance, would you still say ‘I do’ to Otunba?

Why not? I will.

What specifically attracted you to him?

Love for looking good at all times.

Does he appear in any other colour?

No, he does not.

In case he joins active politics, what would be your reaction?

His lifestyle is similar to that of a politician. If he wants, I can’t stop him. I believe we all have our choices to make.

features Mass failure of students in Oyo public schools 25

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Continues from pg23

if there are no students.”

He reiterated that since the students are the end users of the new policy, they should have been involved in the process. He also informed that things are not done this way in advanced countries.

“There should be at least a little respect for these students too. It is not too good for the government to just wake up and say there would no longer be automatic promotion in public schools, it should have at least let them know. Government should learn not to handle the students like goats,” he stressed” He however totally condemned actions of protesters, who took laws into their hands, saying if secondary school students at this level could go to the length they went to show their displeasure, what would happen at the tertiary level.

He also attributed the outrageous figures of failures during the news to some political undertone, out to frustrate the initiatives of the government in sanitising the sector through the new order.

A Vice Principal in the South West area school of the state, who pleaded anonymity, while speaking to Nigerian Tribune said teachers should not be blamed for students’ mass failure in public schools, rather the students and their

parents should be held accountable.

The government is in the good position to take that decision, so that the students can sit up and their parents alike.

The parents feel everything should be done by the teachers.

You would see of some students coming to school around 9am with the excuse that they live far away.”

The truth is teachers are also responsible to their children. If teachers should run to school at 7am, I don’t see the reason students should be coming around past 10am. Some of them are even dropped in school by their parents, complaining that they live far away. More so, despite that the government owes us outstanding salaries and arrears, yet we give our best to these students. “ The school fences have been destroyed by the students.

About three weeks ago, some students came from the neighbouring school (name withheld) and they nearly killed three of our teachers with machete. Those teachers left the hospital about just two days ago. “ The school came here, telling us that our school is too peaceful, They inquired how many students were promoted

Era of patching, window dressing is gone —Arulogun Continues from pg23

Why should a student go wild because he is simply asked to sit down and study his books? I don’t see the reason a good child should go about burning tyres and causing riots in the society. We really detest this deviant behavior by the students.

to the next class in the school, unlike in their school where so many of them were asked to repeat their classes. The principal went to confront them in the company of some teachers, not knowing that some of them had jumped over the fence into the school. The first two teachers of teachers, who went with him, were cut with machete, “he revealed.

While he lauded the efforts of the state government in eradicating mass failure in public schools, he also charged parents to rise up to their responsibilities and assist their wards to also sit up academically.

Meanwhile, other principals who were also consulted by Nigerian Tribune refused to air their views, claiming they would have nothing to do with or say to the press on the issue. Rather, they referred us to the Ministry of Education where the scripts of the students were marked.

Mr Lukeman Agunbiade, whose child was also affected by the new policy said though the new development is saddening, he promised to buckle up in his parental responsibilities, while he advised other parents not to be discouraged either.

due to non challant attitude to studies and non committal of most parents to their children’s welfare as a result of the misrepresentation of government policy on free education.

Other factors according to him are non challant attitude of some teachers to work due to low morale, wide range in students’ enrolment in schools, waste of resources which created a situation where about 50 schools exist without students and teachers there collect salary, and the unwillingness of most stakeholders to collaborate with government in school management.

He added that contrary to speculations that the government did not inform stakeholders especially teachers about

the stop in automatic promotion, there was a circular issued by the Ministry of Education to schools in July 2015, adding that he doesn’t understand why there seems to be a communication gap on the issue.

He added that the holistic approach embraced by government was due to the fact that the government understands the fact that it is time to improve the education system in the state and create a good learning environment for the students in different secondary schools.

He concluded that the figures and percentage of students performance in WAEC is a good indication that things needs to be done differently and urgently and called for collaboration by all stake holders.

‘Many parents don’t value education’ Mrs Rukayat Adesola Osho (nee Adeojo), a banker turned school administrator is one of the children of the popular Ibadan politician, Chief Yekini Adeojo. She charts the course of the free Yekini Adeojo Group of schools, situated at Boluwaji, Ibadan. In this interview with MODUPE GEORGE, she shares the story of the school, its challenges and achievements.

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ell us about Yekini Adeojo Group of Schools?

Yekini Adeojo Group of Schools is a high school for both Muslims and Christians. The school was established some six years ago. The secondary arm of the school was approved on 21 March, 2011, while the primary arm was approved on 17 January, 2011. Actually, the schools became operational in 2012. Initially, the schools was charging tuition fees, but it was halted, when the Proprietor decided to make them free for all, while he took up every financial responsibility of the schools, such as regularly paying teacher’s salaries, even while they are on holiday, and also taking care of the schools’ facilities.

Were the schools initially established as religiousbased ones?

No, the schools were established for all and sundry.

For how long had the proprietor been preparing for setting up a school?

It had been on his mind for a very long time. For instance, the schools’ main buildings have been in existence for a very long time. So, when he decided to contribute his quota to educational system, especially at the point, when public school education was nothing to write home about, he decided to make use of the facilities. Owning a group of schools is one of his greatest dreams; he is also aiming at extending the dream into establishing a university in the nearest future.

What was the situation like when the school started?

When the school started, we had few students. They were paying school fees like a normal private school and all the necessary materials needed as students were bought by the parents. Then, we had 17 teachers. We had both the primary and secondary schools in the same compound, but at a point, we had to separate them. The secondary school was called Yekini Adeojo High School, while the primary school was referred to as Yekini Adeojo Nursery and Primary School. So, they were like two different schools. Along the line, we later decided to be calling them Yekini Adeojo Group of Schools and that is what we have today. The standard for employing teachers in the school was very high and it is till date. When we took

Rukayat off, we had six B.Sc holders, seven NCE holders and one OND holder; making 14 teaching staffers and we still have all of them till date. Presently in the school, we have the Admin 1 and 2, a Clerk; we also have three security men.

What informed the decision to make the school free?

The decision was taken in 2014. What really happened was that the parents were not paying; we started having challenges with the payment of the school fees as at when due. Many of them came begging and pleading that they should be given more time to pay the token fees the school was charging. Most of the parents were not paying, to the extent that the summation of the money collected was not enough to pay the salaries of the staff. We had so many parents, who did not pay at all.

So, after forcing the students to pay for one and a half years, the proprietor got angry and said he was not making any money from the school, rather, he was paying the staff’s salaries from his purse. He then called and informed me of his thought of turning the school to a free one to assist the people. He said; ‘let parents buy textbooks for their wards and be financially responsible for their external examinations, while I continue to pay the staff. This was how the school became free.

What was the reaction of parents to the decision?

They were happy. Some of them even came to drop letters of appreciation. Although, some of them advised that instead of making the whole thing completely free, we could probably reduce the money from N10, 000 to N5, 000 or from N20,000 to N10,000. On the other hand, some of them went aggressive; these set of parents were angry, saying since the school is free, the teachers would no longer teach their children well. These were the set of few parents who paid regularly. But we couldn’t do anything. Since the proprietor had made up his mind, there was no going back. However, for those who were not paying, they did not care about any implication. I had to implore the paying parents at the PTA meeting that there was no need for them to withdraw their children, because the teachers would be paid as at when due and the standard would be sustained.

I’m bold to tell you that at Yekini Adeojo Group of Schools today, the staff is paid regularly on every third day of each month, even during summer, while the maintenance of the schools’ facilities is also taken care of.

What was population like, then and now?

The number of the students then for secondary arm was 70 and the primary was about 35, but right now that the school is free, the population is close to 300, both the primary and secondary schools; for secondary, we have 200 and for primary it is 72.

Can we now say the strategy of free education brought in more students?

Of course.

Can you share your experience as an administrator?

It has not been easy; especially when we resume for new sessions. The students\pupils are expected to come in with their text books and all that they would need for their studies, but I found out that many parents don’t really know the value and worth of education. They don’t want to buy neither textbooks nor education materials for their children.

When I go round to check on the teachers, I see some of the students being sent out of the class because they don’t have textbooks. The parents would beg for their wards to be allowed in school, even when they don’t have tools to work with and when it comes to their WASSCE examination, a lot of them wouldn’t still want to pay. In fact, some had to leave because they couldn’t pay.

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

An LG chairman’s blanket approach to governance Ibadan North is a local government that faces a lot of challenges because of the huge population it has to cater for but in spite of these challenges, the council still aspires to ensure everyone feels the impact of governance. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports.

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BADAN north local government of Oyo state is unarguably one of the biggest in the state, though it has been divided into three, it can still be referred to as very big, encompassing a huge landmark since the created local council areas are yet to take off. The flip side of being big is that it has myriad challenges as it has to cater for two categories of people with different priorities.

Identifying the needs and peculiarities of the communities that fall under the local government is also not an easy feat due to size. When he assumed office months back, the caretaker chairman of the council, Honourable Yinka Akinbode’s assignment was to identify the communities in line with their needs.

“Ibadan north is divided into two constituencies; one is the indigenous areas like Atenda, Idi Omo, Yemetu Alawada etc and two comprises of the non indigenous areas where we have the elites and each area has its peculiarities and challenges. For constituency one, it is the issue of hygiene and toilets while for two, it is roads and water. And in constituency 1, we have met with the community leaders and we have asked them to create spaces where we can build public toilets but they are yet to create such spaces for us.

“In constituency two, we have graded many roads, we would have tarred the roads but we have financial constraints, that’s the reason we can only grade continuously now to make them passable but we have tarred one, the link road from ojoo express to Ashi junction, that stretch of road beside the fly over at general gas, it had been out of use for a while but we did it last week. It is really our wish to do more but we have to manage the little resources we make from the internally generated revenue,” Akinbode said.

The paucity of funds has however not stopped him from making an impact and touching the lives of his constituents through empowerment of youths and skills acquisition. “Before I came into office, there was a moribund garri processing factory at Bodija market but to the glory of God, we have revived it and they are using it at present. Also, we have decongested Bodija market and rearranged it in a way to make it neater and discourage putting wares on the road and walk ways, we did this by allocating over 100 shops to traders,” the chairman stated.

The fact that his council is not an agrarian community has not stopped Akinbode from buying into the government’s effort at diversifying into agriculture. And to ensure that

his people are not left out of the agricultural revolution, he acquired 50 hectares of land in Erunmu for agriculture and has allocated some of it to youths to encourage them to go into farming.

“Because we cannot fund their start up, we have appealed to the government to help give them loans so they can fully implement what they started. At present, they have planted pineapple and some other things while others are putting structures on ground for poultry and fishery but we have complied names and we are waiting for the funding aid “Also, we have a vocational training centre at Oke Aremo where many youths have acquired skills in various areas like hairdressing, tailoring, bead making, shoe making and many other specialized training. And at the end of their graduation, we fully empower the best three students in every vocation, this is the best we can do for now in terms of empowering them. We give many the opportunity to acquire skills but cannot for now set all of them up,” Akinbode said.

He has also been proactive in his approach to governance.

When it was predicted earlier in the year that there will be flooding and Ibadan North was listed as one of the vulnerable areas he acted fast. “I knew that with the many rivers around here, it is a possibility. So we invited the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), and we held a sensitization program. Further, we dredged all the rivers around the local government and we were able to prevent flooding despite the heavy rains.”

Akinbode believes so much in empowerment, community

development and education. As a result, he tries to touch every area of human endeavour and is at present working out modalities of renovating dilapidated schools within the council and has embarked on printing of exercise books for students.

He also ensures that the aged gets free health care and medication. For him, everyone must feel the impact of governance. “We want to touch every area of people’s lives,” Akinbode stated.

We have a vocational training centre at Oke Aremo where many youths have acquired skills in various areas like hairdressing, tailoring, bead making, shoe making and many other specialized training.

Akinbode

Joy as Fayose commissions 100 lock-up shops in Ilupeju Ekiti

By Segun Adebayo IT was celebration galore for the people of Ilupeju Ekiti in Ekiti State last week Friday when they received the state governor, Ayodele Fayose, who was in the town to commission over 100 lock-up shops in the popular Menara Market in Ilupeju, in Oye Local Government Area of the state.

The venue was filled to the brim as people trooped out in their number. They were excited to witness the birth of their modern market that would speed up the development of the local government and put Ilupeju, which is regarded as the biggest in Oye local government back on the map.

Established in 1925, Menara Market, which used to be the largest market for Kolanut and crayfish in the country, had been in a dilapidated state for many years after it was destroyed by flood. In 2014, the executive member s of Ilupeju Ekiti Development Association (IEDA) under the leadership of Mr Femi Babalola organised a 100-million naira fund-raising campaign during the Ilupeju Day celebration in 2014 to rebuild the market and restore its lost glory.

About 45 million naira was said to have been raised at the event and in less than one year, the first phase of the project, which started in January 2016 was completed. For the people of Ilupeju, the construction of the modern market came at the right time as some of them who spoke with Nigerian Tribune revealed that they had long for a modern market in their community and this could not have happened at any other time.

The commissioning started with cultural dance from different groups as they entertained the audience while the people patiently awaited the arrival of the state governor. From one side of the venue to the other, the people could not hide their joy as they beamed with smiles and expressed their appreciation to IEDA for giving their market a facelift.

One of the market women who simply gave her name as Alice said the construction of the modern market was like a dream

come true for some of them, especially those who would be trading inside the market. “We are very happy that this is happening at this time. When they started the construction, many people did not believe it would be completed in less than a year.

But now that phase one of the project has been completed, we are already looking forward to the phase two.”

While commissioning the market, the state governor, Ayodele Fayose extolled the virtue of the people of Ilupeju and thanked IEDA for putting up such edifice despite the poor state of the economy. “I am proud of what I am seeing here today.

The leadership of this community has made me proud and I can tell you that I will continue to support this project. I am

happy to have been part of this. I have never seen a community as united and forward-looking as these set of people. This is worth celebrating and I appreciate what you have done here.”

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune about the completion of the project and the inauguration of its phase two, the President of Ilupeju Foundation, Mr Femi Babalola said the market would restore the lost glory of Ilupeju and bring the people of the community together for trade and commerce that they have been known for. According to him, the market had to be demolished and rebuilt in order to give way to the modern market that is capable of making the town the commercial never centre of Ekiti State.

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

arewa

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Shiite: Don’t cause another Boko Haram in the North —Don Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

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don and management consultant, Professor David Iornem, has made an appeal to the Federal Government, as well as some state governments in the North, to be very careful on how they are handling the issue of shiite to avoid plunging the North into another insurgency.

Professor Iornem made this appeal while speaking in Kaduna recently.

He also pointed out that the on-going crisis between the government and the movement must come to an end, making emphasis that the political, religious and community leaders must be

determined to bring the crisis to a lasting end.

According to him, it is unfortunate that we have deteriorated to the present level, but if our leaders, political leaders, religious leaders, community leaders are determined, we can pull our-

selves out of this crisis.

“I had never thought that one day in Nigeria, one group would go after another group, attacking with sticks and killing at will and nothing happens to them.

That is to show that Nigeria is fast turning into a lawless

place. This is occurring right in front of us.

“If you can remember all the things that brought the reign of Boko Haram, it was impunity of those that were supposed to uphold the law.

Some people who were suspected to have done wrong

wrong, the state has a recognised way of responding.

You can presume the people innocent and try them in a competent law court. You can engage with the people to make sure they do the right thing. I don’t see that being done.

“I see a constituted government proscribing and outlawing a group, saying that such a group is illegal is not recognized, and people exploiting that to go after the members of that group is not the solution.

Kano to pay more attention to IGR in 2017 —Ganduje Kola Oyelere - Kano KANO State government would give priority to Internally Generated Revenue in its 2017 budget, with a view to financing the fiscal year locally and to avoid budget deficit and its associated problems.

Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the state governor, disclosed this during a one-day interactive session on Kano 2017 Budget, for political office holders, top government functionaries and senior officials in the state civil service.

His words, “We assure you that our budget will be a budget of ‘Sustainable Self Reliance’ so that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is given top priority,” Governor Ganduje said that the Kano Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) was reformed and that competent staff were engaged to re-position the agency for efficient service delivery, adding that new strategies for persuading the people to pay tax were also introduced.

Suleja local govt chairman on suspension Adelowo Oladipo - Minna THE Chairman and Vice Chairman of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, have been suspended over allegations of financial impropriety, acts of misdeeds, high handedness and lack of respect for the integrity of the Council’s Legislature.

The Chairman of the Suleja Legislative Council, Honourable Abdullahi Abubakar, who notified the Niger State House of Assembly of the decision of the council, said the chairman and vice chairman were to remain suspended for three months until the investigation was completed.

Abubakar, thereby, called on the state Assembly to prevail on the state government to uphold the decision and appoint the Speaker of the Legislative Council as the acting chairman of the local government until the suspended chairman was cleared of the allegations levelled against him.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune after the sitting, the House Minority Leader and member representing Suleja Constituency, Honourable Shuaibu Iya, explained that the matter was exhaustively discussed during the executive and legislative sessions of the Assembly and the Assembly had advised the state government to uphold the decision of Suleja Legislative Council.

were arrested, everybody was aware that they were arrested, they showed them to the public. But the leader was killed a few days later.

“We now have a situation that keeps coming back, but it seems like we have forgotten so soon, because there is a case whereby the Shiite group of Muslims, who are being condemned of doing things wrongly, are being killed, and I am not absolving them, but normally, if somebody or a group of persons has done something

Bodies of some villagers killed in recent attack in Zamfara.

He explained that the state’s revenue had improved over the last one year to the extent that some of the funds were being used to finance development projects.

The governor pointed out that some projects now bore the inscription, “Tax Payers Project”, to indicate that the IGR was judiciously spent and to encourage tax-paying culture, warning that a Tax Payers Court was constituted to penalise defaulters.

The governor stressed that his administration had as its watchword continuity, consolidation, fine-tuning and new initiative, lamenting that inherited liabilities, dwindling of economy, weak IGR and cost of governance were some obstacles bedevilling the state.

Governor Ganduje said the salaries and allowances of the political appointees in state were reduced by 50 per cent to trim down the cost of governance, challenging any appointee who was not comfortable with the arrangement to resign forthwith.

NSCDC counsels Fulani herdsmen in Kwara Biola Azeez - Ilorin THE Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) has counselled members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to find means to end incessant breakdown of law and order between local farmers and members of MACBAN in the state.

The meeting, which was held at the Kwara State headquarters of the NSCDC, Ilorin, had in attendance all chairmen of MACBAN in the 16 Local Government Areas

of the state including state executives of the association.

Speaking during the interaction, the Kwara State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Pedro Ideba, said the development was in line with the directive of the presidency.

He urged cattle breeders to maintain peace with farmers and report any complaints to the civil defence for better security intervention.

According to him, the meeting was also part of bid to ensure security and resolve crisis between herdsmen and farmers.

Mr Ideba, who said that

the NSCDC had established Agro Rangers Defenders Unit with the aim of ensuring food security, however, appealed to members of Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to avoid any act that could cause breakdown of law and order in the state, urging them to be peaceful while going about their lawful businesses at their different local governments.

“We are established to provide adequate security of lives and property of every individual within our jurisdiction.

“I want to use this medium

to call for your cooperation and support to continue to sustain the existing peace and harmony in Kwara State.

“And I want to commend you all for attending the meeting and urge you to carry the message of this meeting to your various local government areas”.

The NSCDC commandant, however, appealed to the Miyeti association to always report any case of violence to the NSCDC or security agencies closer to their community to further avoid breakdown of law and order.

Responding, the General

Secretary of Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Muhammed, who represented the state chairman of the association, said the meeting was long overdue.

“We have been expecting this type of meeting to be called, but it’s better late than never. We appreciate NSCDC for the privilege given to us to be part of this discussion”.

The state chairman of the association promised to carry the information of the meeting down to their various areas.

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

World Bank to empower 1,100 entrepreneurs in Kaduna Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

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HE World Bank has concluded arrangement to empower about 1,100 entrepreneurs in Kaduna as part of effort to make them self reliant.

This was disclosed by the Head of the apex bank task team on commercial agricultural development project, Adama Ture, during a one-day stakeholders meeting for beneficiaries organised by Kaduna State Commercial Agricultural Development Project.

Ture remarked that the beneficiaries would be empowered on different agricultural practices like fishing, poultry and dairy.

Also speaking at the occasion, the state coordinator of the project, Dalhatu Mustapha said the project was aimed at eradicating poverty .

He charged the beneficiaries to make use of the programme so as to add value to their lives.

Declaring the workshop open, the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-rufai, represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Daniel Manzo, urged beneficiaries not to see the

assistance as a way of living in flamboyant lifestyle.

‘It is not an opportunity for you to buy a car or marry another wife, but an opportunity for you to create the

mindset of moving from your present level to the next level.

‘If you build on this opportunity, you can surpass Dangote. You know Dan-

gote didn’t just get to where he is, he had to start from somewhere. So the only person that can stop you from achieving this dream is you”.

Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna State governor

Benue gov’s wife charges women on creativity Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

WIFE of Benue State, Dr Eunice Ortom, has charged women of the state to embark on viable economic activities that could improve their standard of living.

Mrs Ortom, who spoke at the first economic summit for women in the state organized through her Non Governmental Organization NGO, “Eunice Spring of Life Foundation”, said women should use the recession to be creative and engage in economic activities.

She maintained that women could play a very cardinal role in addressing economic recession, not just by their numerical strength, but by making necessary adjustments in the family budget in such a way that would keep the families going.

The governor’s wife acknowledged that women had been active key players in farming, entrepreneurship, in public and private sector areas that add value to the nation’s economy; hence the need to move away from oil as the sole revenue earning commodity.

“We should all be challenged, including government, corporate bodies and individuals to evolve more creative ways of surviving the difficult times. As a re-

Ex-Gov Audu remembered, foundation inaugurated in his name Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

FOR the entire people of Kogi State, November 22, 2015 will continue to ring a bell and be remembered as a day that one of their illustrious sons, Prince Abubakar Audu, died after almost winning the governorship election conducted across the 21 local government areas of the state. The death of Audu, who was the first and the second executive governor of the state, came as a rude shock to many of his admirers, who had to gather for his funeral the following day, rather than cluster around the former governor to celebrate his victory at the poll.

One year after the crying and wailing at Audu’s residence in his home town, Ogbonicha, in Ofu Local Government Area of the state, members of his biological and political families, friends and wellwishers gathered to celebrate his demise and also pay tributes to the achievements he was able to record while he sojourned on earth.

The events, which were in two folds, saw the families coming together with clergymen to offer prayers

for the repose of Audu, who was described as the architect of modern Kogi.

The first event was the one year prayer held on the day it was one year that Audu died, while the second event held on the following Saturday was for the inauguration of the Abubakar Audu Foundation, meant to further propagate the values and ideals that Audu stood for while alive.

The atmosphere in expansive compound of Audu

was that of celebration as dignitaries like running mate in the 2015 governorship election, James Faleke, former governors of Kano and Niger states, Rabiu Kwakwanso and Abdulahi Kure, member representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Buba Jubril, former and present lawmakers, and ther associates graced the occasion.

Speaking during the prayer, which had in atten-

dance chief imams from the 21 local government areas of the state, the first son of the former governor, Mohammed, said the shoes left behind by his father were too big for him to step into.

He said it had been difficult managing the members of the political family after the demise of his father. He, however, said he was learning the rope faster and would continue to sustain the values and ideals for which his father was

known.

Speaking on the perceived crack in the political family of his father, he said, “I don’t necessarily think so because I believe that a crack can come from people who do not believe in him, but if you believe in him, there won’t be any crack and I have not seen any crack” The junior Audu said one thing important for him was to ensure that the structure left behind by his father was intact.

sult, women cannot afford to stand behind if they most remain vital productive members of the society,” Mrs. Ortom stressed.

Speaking on the theme ‘promoting the rise of the female economy’ , she said it was aimed at creating a platform for appraising all the issues and challenges that arose in promoting the women economy in the state and to forge new partnership that would scale up successive initiatives that would benefit Benue women in business.

Zamfara killings:

Govt bans illegal motor parks Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

IN an effort to strengthen the security network in Zamfara, Governor Abdulaziz Yari has banned all illegal motor parks across the state.

To this end, he had directed the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to effect the closure of all illegal and non-fenced motor parks in the state.

The order was issued shortly after the state governor met officials of the NURTW and security chiefs in the state.

Governor Yari, who expressed his administration’s commitment and determination to fight and end armed banditry across the state, said no criminal or bandit would be spared, no matter how highly placed.

He announced the constitution of a task force to ensure compliance of the government order.

Lawmaker from Niger seeks N30billion Suleja compensation Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

A federal law maker from Niger, Honourable Abubakar Lado Suleja seeks N30 billion Suleja compensation from Federal Government.

A House of Representatives member, representing, Suleja, Tafa and Gurara Federal Constituency of Niger State, Honourable Suleja has demanded N30billion from the Federal Government, being compensation for over 300 Kilometres land areas named Abuja, the federal capital territory carved out of Suleja Local Government of Niger State in 1976.

The federal law maker made the demand yesterday in Minna, after presenting his scorecards before the Niger State Executive Council, saying the demand had become imperative following decades of perceived non implementation on the issue of 1976 late Justice Akinola Aguda Committee’s report on the movement of the Federal Capital Territory from Lagos to the centre.

Honourable Lado Suleja stated further that the committee then recommended the establishment of National Youth Development Centre, National

Tourism Development Centre, Federal Medical Center and Civil Service Training Institute in Suleja, but lamented that none of this was implemented till date.

He disclosed that he had moved a motion on the floor of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, Abuja, which he said had got the resolution of the House of Representatives, demanding the said compensation as well as moving another motion on the need for the completion of Small Earth Dam 1 Lefu and Water Resources in Madalla and

Sabon Wuse, Gurara and Tafa local governments of Niger State.

He also expressed the determination to sustain the tempo throughout his tenure at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Abuja, assuring that he would soon invite the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello and some of his cabinet members while distributing empowerment materials and equipment worth over N100 million for the successful applicants in his Federal Constituency in the state. .

He stressed that he had systematically affected lives

of the electorate positively in the three local governments that make up the Federal Constituency he represented, in the areas of both foreign and local scholarship awards, especially in the health sector, that they are presently lacking.

Speaking further, he said that his programmes were all encompassing, regardless of faith or gender and that they included infrastructural development of schools, roads, water, rural electrification, subsidies to farmers and skills acquisition and vocational training of over 4,500 applicants.

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

78millionlivingwithHIV,35milliondiedsinceemergenceofscourge —UNAIDS 5,000IDPslivingwithHIV/AIDSinBorno—Official

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O fewer than 78 million people are currently living with HIV, while 35 million people had died of AIDS since the emergence of the scourge 35 years ago, UNAIDS has said.

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS and the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General, disclosed this in his message to the 2016 World AIDS Day observed on Thursday.

“Today, we commemorate World AIDS Day – we stand in solidarity with the 78 million people who have become infected with HIV. “We also remember the 35 million who have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the first cases of HIV were reported,” he said.

The UNAIDS executive director, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the world was committed to end the

ADESOLA

I, formerly Miss Adesola Olasumbo Tinuala now MRS ADESOLA OLASUMBO AKANDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Also, in a related devel-

opment, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that 5, 000 Internally Displaced Persons

HIV/AIDS: Bayelsa will hit zero prevalence soon —Dickson Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa

BAYELSA State governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, has said the state would hit zero prevalence in 2017 against the backdrop of the zero tolerance launched to tackle the

AJIBOYE I formerly Ajiboye Ololade Y. now MRS FABOWALE G. OLOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

JEBUTU

I formerly Jebutu Gbenga Oladipupo now OLADIPUPO GBENGA JEBUTU. All former documents with Jebutu Gbenga Oladipupo remain valid. General public take note.

NNOLI

I, formerly Nnoli Ebele Maryann now NWEKE EBELE MARYANN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

HIV/AIDS scourge in the state.

He noted that presently the prevalence rate in the state stands at 3: 8 per cent, saying it would drop to zero because government is committed to the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the state.

(IDPs) in 27 camps in Borno are currently living with HIV/AIDS. Mr Hassan Mustapha, Bola Badmus - Lagos

CHIEF Executive Officer of Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Mr Oluseyi Temowo, has said about 72,000 adolescents are living with HIV in Lagos State.

Temowo made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking at a forum on adolescents living with HIV, organised by a nongovernmental organisation (NGO),Positive Action for Treatment in partnership

the coordinator on HIV/ AIDS in Borno, said this in an interview with NAN in Maiduguri on Thursday.

He said most of the patients were women who were rescued from captivity in Boko Haram camps.

72,000 adolescents live with HIV in Lagos —AIDS Agency with the AIDS agency to mark 2016 World AIDS Day. Mr Temowo, while urging the people to know their sta-

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Daniel Oluwadamilare Boluwatife now O L A D E J O OLUWADAMILARE BOLUWATIFE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

tus early, however, assured that drugs for HIV could be obtained free in any government hospital in the state.

PUBLIC NOTICE

I Mrs Adeoti Eunice Foluke Omowumi am the same person bearing Mrs Odeniyi Eunice Omowumi and Oloruntoba Eunice Omowumi.Henceforth, I wish to be addressed as MRS ADEOTI EUNICE FOLUKE OMOWUMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note. and Formerly Mr Odeniyi Oluwaseye Micheal now MR ADEOTI OLUWASEYE MICHEAL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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Friday, 2 December, 2016

Metro...

crime, security, court

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Oluwatoyin Malik 08116954633, 08078891950

e-mail: tribunecrimedesk@gmail.com

Wife stabbed to death over 18 years of childless marriage Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos

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The

murdered

Police parade suspected killers of rice merchant in Kwara Biola Azeez - Ilorin

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IX persons suspected to be involved in the killing of a local rice merchant and mother of four in Yashikira in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State have been paraded by the Kwara State Police Command.

Speaking with journalists during the parade in Ilorin on Thursday, the state Commissioner of Police, Olusola Amore, said the suspects would be prosecuted on the charge of culpable homicide.

The police boss disclosed that the deceased had engaged the men as labourers on her farm and decided to sleep on the farm when it was dark.

He said the suspects allegedly descended on the victim in the night, killing her and carting away 12

bags of rice.

“The deceased, Florence Ede, also known as ‘Madam Do Good’, had engaged the suspects as labourers to work on her farm. They conspired and killed her on her farm at Yashikira in Baruten Local Government Area of the state and stole 12 bags of rice belonging to the victim.

“Investigation led to the arrest of the six suspects, who on interrogation confessed to the crime. The exhibits, including the Golf car used in carrying the rice and stick used in killing the deceased were recovered. Suspects will soon appear in court,” Amore stated.

The Police Commissioner also paraded three suspected secret cult members, who were allegedly involved in recent cult killing in Ilorin metropolis.

He said the suspects had

confessed to being members of Eiye and Aiye confraternity, respectively, adding that they were involved in series of attacks that took place in Ilorin while three live cartridges and charms were reportedly recovered from them.

The police boss, who described cult activities in Ilorin metropolis as a worrisome development, said artisans like bricklayers, electricians, okada and tricycle operators were involved in cultism in the area.

“We used to think that students in higher institutions were those in cults, but it is embarrassing and worrisome that artisans are now mostly involved in the act, thus putting lives of members of the public in danger. So, useful information is needed from people to arrest the situation,” he said.

42-year-old woman, Folasade, was late on Wednesday, allegedly killed by her husband in Ishaka area of Sango Ota in Ogun State.

The deceased woman and her husband, a commercial bus driver, had just returned from the police station when the husband allegedly stabbed her to death.

Metro gathered that the killing was allegedly as a result of the woman’s inability to conceive and give birth to a child after about 18 years of marriage.

Tears flowed freely as residents of Ijako stormed Transformer area of Ijako to catch a glimpse of the battered body of the woman , popularly called “ Iya Ayo “ in the area.

A younger sister to the deceased, one Kemi, while speaking with Metro, said that the police at Sango Police station had planned to arrest the husband on Thursday..

She narrated that “my sister and her husband started the relationship about 18 years ago when both of them were still young.”

“Then my sister got pregnant, but the man insisted on abortion since they were both not ready for marriage. She had no choice than to abort the pregnancy.

“After that, she could not conceive again, which made the man to impregnate another woman. My sister even allowed the man to bring the son of the other woman into the house. She was taking care of the boy. That was why people called her Iya Ayo.” Kemi added that “the man had three other children but was still coming to sleep in my sister’s house because he was getting money from her.”

Metro further gathered that trouble started some months back when the deceased stopped giving money to her husband.

“The house in which both of them were staying was built by my sister and we all knew how the man used

to collect money from her.

“Immediately my sister stopped giving him money, he would beat her at every slightest argument.

We reported the case at the human rights desk at Sango police station about a month ago.”

It was learnt that trouble started again on Wednesday when the deceased reportedly discovered that her pants were missing, prompting her return to the police station to report her husband.

Kemi said: “On Wednesday we were at the human rights desk again and the police persuaded both of them to sheathe their swords and live like husband and wife.

“My sister returned home from the police station to discover that someone had poured acid on her clothes and I advised her to go back to the police station, which she complied with” the younger sister to the deceased woman said.

She continued that “the policemen called her husband to come back to the station but she lied to them that he was not around, so the police told her to go

home, with the promise that they would come on Thursday to arrest him.”

“My sister was sleeping at home when her husband sneaked in and stabbed her in the neck, breasts and other parts of the body with a knife and a file,” Kemi alleged.

Metro gathered that the husband initially ran away from the house but was arrested on Thursday when he reportedly attempted to kill himself with insecticide.

The remains of the deceased woman had been deposited at the Ifo General Hospital mortuary.

When contacted, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the story, saying that the suspect had been arrested and taken into custody.

The PPRO added that state Commissioner of Police, lliyasu Ahmed had directed the Divisional Police Officer in Charge of Sango Division, SP Akinsola Ogunwale to transfer the case to the Homicide section of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) for further investigation.

Police intercept suspected armed kidnappers on way to operation

By Oluwatoyin Malik and Chris Agbambu

THE Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police recorded a major breakthrough on Tuesday when it intercepted a suspected four-man gang of heavily armed kidnappers and recovered arms and ammunition from them.

Disclosing this in a press release issued and signed by him, the Force Public Relations Officer, Donald Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police said that the suspects were intercepted on Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State when the IRT team acted on credible intelligence report, in addition to the support of members of the public.

According to the Force PRO, the suspects were notorious for terrorising the waterways and kidnapping in Rivers and Bayelsa States.

Awunah stated further

that the suspects engaged the police in a gun duel, during which three of them were fatally shot while the fourth member, identified as James (surname withheld) (30), was arrested.

He said that James hailed from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“The arrested member of the gang has since been cooperating with the police in their investigation by providing very valuable information on the membership of the gang and their mode of operation,” the Force PRO added.

He said that the weapons recovered from the gang included a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), an AK-47 rifle, chains of GPMG ammunition and two fully-loaded AK-47 magazines, stating that efforts were on to arrest other members of the gang and recover their cache of arms.

34 classifieds SOBANDE

I, formerly Miss Sobande Basirat Abiodun now MRS BANKOLE BASIRAT ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKINDEHIN

I, formerly Akindehin Kate Oluwayomi now AKINDEHIN KATE IMADE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

ADENIKE

Friday, 2 December, 2016 BISOLA

I, formerly Miss Bisola Ismail Abiodun now MRS BISOLA ABIODUN OLALEYE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

JOKE I, formerly Joke Adekunle now TAWA MORUFU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABOYADE

GRACE

I, formerly Miss Pam Regina Mafeng now MRS OLAYIWOLA REGINA MAFENG. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Odubiyi Aminat Motunrayo now MRS OLATUNDE AMINAT MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mr Shibikan Adewale Musibau now MR ANIMASHAUN, OLALEKAN TAOFEEK. All former documents remain valid.

LAMATA and general public take note.

ODUBIYI

ADEBANJI

I, formerly Adenike Stella Kuboye now ADENIKE STELLA OPAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, GTBank and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I hereby declare that, my full name is Aboyade Sulaiman Kehinde and not Sulaiman Kehinde Abolade, as mistakenly written on my voters card.

Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ABOYADE SULAIMAN KEHINDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Adeagbo Adeseeke Rebekah now ALABI ADESEEKE REBEKAH. All former documents remain valid. OYSLGSC/IBNLG and general public take note.

I, formerly Ajibade Ololade Catherine now AWOBAYO CATHERINE OLOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

Osun State Universal Basic Education Board and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Fatomide Damilola Roselin now MISS FATOMIDE DAMILOLA AMINAT. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and general public take note.

IBITOYE

AMUDIPE I, formerly Amudipe Tinuke now BAKARE TINUKE. All former documents remain valid.

Heritage Bank Plc and general public take note.

TOLUWASE

I, formerly Mrs Akinnubi Marian Oladunni now MISS AMOJO MARIAN OLADUNNI. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public take note.

ADEAGBO

I, formerly Ibitoye Kehinde Hanna now ALAIDOGBON KEHINDE HANNA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FASHOYIN

I, formerly Fashoyin Kayode Tosin now FASHOYIN KAYODE JAMES. All former documents remain valid.

Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan and general public take note.

ADEBOWALE

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, hereby declared that my correct name is Adebowale Bayonle Richoc and not Adebowale Bayonle Alaba as mistakenly written on my BVN. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEBOWALE BAYONLE RICHOC. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

ARUNA

AJIBADE

I, formerly Miss Ige Aderonke Mary now MRS MAKANJUOLA ADERONKE MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

AYIKE

I, formerl Aderogba Adebola Felicia now OLADOKUN ADEBOLA FELICIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mustapha Bolaji Rasheed am the same person bearing Mustapha Rasheed Bolaji.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MUSTAPHA RASHEED BOLAJI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Betiku Dasola am the same person bearing Betiku Arike Dasola.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BETIKU DASOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

ODERINDE

JAMES

I, formerly James Kayode Sunday now JAMES KAYODE OYINLOYE. All former documents remain valid. Local Government Service Commission (L.G.S.C.) Ibadan and general public take note.

LAWAL

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Lawal Olufunmilayo Prosperity am the same person bearing Lawal Funmilayo.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as LAWAL OLUFUNMILAYO PROSPERITY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

ATILOLA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Atilola Monsurat Olajumoke am the same person bearing Jumoke Hassan Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ATILOLA MONSURAT OLAJUMOKE. My correct date of birth is 30/3/1977. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Bank, Access Bank and general public take note.

ALADE

I, formerly Adebayo Mujidat Adesola Oluwaferanmi now KOFOWOROLA ADESOLA OLUWAFERANMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Gbadamosi Titilola Grace now MRS ADEYEMI TITILOLA GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oderinde Omowale Aarinola now MRS AREMU OMOWALE AARINOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKINNUBI

I, formerly Okunlola Segun Ezekiel now DADA SEGUN EZEKIEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayike Victoria Amokele now MRS UKLALA VICTORIA AMOKELE. All former documents remain valid. FCE Obudu and general public take note.

MUSTAPHA

FATOMIDE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Alade Ojomo Sikiru Kolawole am the same person bearing Ojomo Kolawole Alade and Alade Sikiru Kolawole. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ALADE OJOMO SIKIRU KOLAWOLE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Heritage Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aruna Mariam Mero now MRS OGUNPITAN MARIAM MERO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GBADAMOSI

CHANGE OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH: I, formerly Adebanji Lukumon Adewale now OLAIYA LUKUMON ADEWALE. My correct date of birth is February 01,1985 and not January 02, 1991. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Toluwase Oluwaranti Elizabeth now MRS JOHN OLUWARANTI OLUWATOYIN ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKUNLOLA

ADEROGBA

BETIKU

AGBOOLA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Agboola Olayinka Surajudeen am the same person bearing Agboola Olayinka Samuel. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AGBOOLA OLAYINKA SURAJUDEEN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. EcoBank, Access Bank and general public take note.

AROWOLO

PAM

I, formerly Grace Omotope Soyobi now GRACE OMOTOPE OYEDIRAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEBAYO

IGE

TAIWO I, formerly Miss Taiwo Damilola Joy now MRS IGBODIPE DAMILOLA JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note EZE I, formerly Miss Eze Ngozi Theresa now MRS EZE NGOZI THERESA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OJO

I, formerly Miss Ojo Deborah Oluwafunmilayo now MRS AKINYELE DEBORAH OLUWAFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADENIYI

SHIBIKAN

MUSTAPHA

I, formerly Miss Mustapha Zainab Yetunde now MRS ADESOKAN ZAINAB YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MERCY

I, formerly Miss Mercy Tamunoye Jack now MRS MERCY TAMUNOYE ADEROGBA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ABOLOYINJO

I, formerly Aboloyinjo Bolanle Docars now ABOLOYINJO BOLAJOKO DARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADENIRAN

I, formerly Adeniran Gboyega Olanrewaju now ADENIRAN JOSHUA GBOYEGA. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

BUNMI I, formerly Bunmi Agbaje Olalekan now KAREEM RUKAYAT ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLAITAN

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Quadri Abdullahi Olawale am the same person bearing Olatunji Abdulah Olawale. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as QUADRI ABDULLAHI OLAWALE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

OLURANKINSE

OBIKWELU I, formerly Miss Obikwelu Faith Ekene now MRS ANUMAKA FAITH EKENE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AYINDE I, formerly Ayinde Abiola Lolade now MRS ADEPOJU ABIOLA LOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OGUNBADENIYI

I, formerly Miss Olurankinse Ebun Oluwakemi now MRS AJALA EBUN OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKANDE

I, formerly Akande Olatunji Olusolape now AKANDE OLATUNJI AFIZ. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

FOLORUNSO I, formerly Folorunso Feyikemi Ololade now MRS ADEDEJI FEYIKEMI OLOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OMOMOWO

I, formerly Faleye Bosede Iyabode now ABOLAJI AMINAT IYABODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Kuteyi Sunday Kolawole now KUTEYI SUNDAY JOHN. All former documents remain valid.

EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Adetunji Babatunde Abdulsalam now ADETUNJI FOLORUNSO BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ibiyimika Aina Julianah now MRS OLANIYAN AINA JULIANAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Darah Oghenenyorhe Favour now MRS DADA OGHENENYORHE FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olumogba Moromoke Stella now MRS FAGBEMIGUN MOROMOKE STELLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FALEYE

IBIYIMIKA

FATOYE

KUTEYI

DARAH

ADENIJI

OLUMOGBA

ADESOKAN

I, formerly Miss Adeniji Adebola Elizabeth now MRS ADENIYI ADEBOLA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: My name was erroneously written as Edah Helina instead of Edah Helina Jumai.

Now, I wish to be known, called and addressed as EDAH HELINA JUMAI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Enekwogu Chinwendu Kelechi now MRS ADIGHIBE CHINWENDU KELECHI. All former documents remain valid. Authorities of Osun State College of Education (OSSCE), Ila-Orangun and general public take note.

I, formerly Ikujuni Foluwumi Omowumi now MRS IKUJUNI AGNES. All former documents remain valid.

EcoBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Oluchi Nwambu now AMEN-YETUNDE BARSUNDAY HANSON A..

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Akinlawon Idowu Oluwafifunmilayo now AKINLAWON IDOWU OLUWAFIFUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EDAH

KATIBI

I, formerly Katibi Mutiat Adetoro now ODUSANYA MUTIAT ADETORO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ONI

ENEKWOGU

OLUCHI

ABDULSALAM

I, formerly Miss Ayetigbo Omoyemi Moyosoluwa now MRS ODEYEMI OMOYEMI MOYOSOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

Hospital Management, Ipetumodu and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, formerly Adebare Amuzat Azeez and Adebare Amusat Akanji now ADEBARE AZEEZ-AKANJI AMUZATT. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Olalere Waheed Ajibola am the same person bearing Olalere Waheed.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLALERE WAHEED AJIBOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mrs Elizabeth Obageli Agwuncha am the same person bearing Mrs Chinwe Tony Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS ELIZABETH OBAGELI AGWUNCHA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Olanrewaju Muniratu Mojereola now ILORI MUNIRATU MOJEREOLA and my correct date of birth is 13th January 1950. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLANREWAJU

ADETUNJI

I, formerly Miss Fatoye Ayodeinbo Omolade Oluwatoyin now MRS ADEKUNLE OLUWATOYIN AYODEINBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adedara Adebola Bamidele now MRS AYEGBUSI ADEBOLA BAMIDELE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ELIZABETH

OKAFOR

I, formerly Okafor Ikenna Anthony Ikechukwu now JOHN ANTHONY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, formerly AbdulSalam Ibrahim Babatunde now SALAMI IBRAHEEM BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc and general public take note.

AYETIGBO

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ogunbadeniyi Mageret Aina am the same person bearing Ogunbadeniyi Mageret Aina Oluwaseun and Joseph Mageret Aina. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGUNBADENIYI MAGERET AINA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Omomowo Tope Bimbo now OMOMOWO ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oni Oluwafunmilayo Mubo now MRS OYELEKE OLUWAFUNMILAYO MUBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEDARA

QUADRI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Olaitan Oluwafemi Dayo am the same person bearing Onafeso Oluwafemi Dayo. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OLAITAN OLUWAFEMI DAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeniyi Folasade Olatunde now MRS OREOBA FOLASADE OLATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Arowolo Oluwayemisi Mojisola now MRS OGUNGBENRO OLUWAYEMISI MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

TIMOTHY

I, formerly Miss Timothy Idowu Esther now MRS OLANIYI IDOWU ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank Plc, FCMB Plc and general public take note.

ADEBARE

FATAI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Fatai Kabeer Adewale am the same person bearing Fatai Kabeer and Fatai Kabeer Taiwo. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as FATAI KABEER ADEWALE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Union Bank, First Bank, UBA Plc and general public take note.

OLALERE

OGUNSAKIN

I, formerly Ogunsakin Gbenga Temidayo /Oluwagbenga now OGUNSAKN OLUGBENGA SIMON. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adesokan Riliwan Olatunde am the same person as Adesokan Riliwan and Adesokan Rilwan Olatunde. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADESOKAN RILIWAN OLATUNDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

IKUJUNI

AKINLAWON

ORJIOCHIE

I, formerly Orjiochie Oforka Chinedu now OCHIE OFOKA CHINEDU. All former documents remain valid. FCMB, FBN, GTB and general public take note.

AFOLABI

I, formerly Miss Afolabi Nafisat Olubunmi now MRS IBRAHIM NAFISAT OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

N-Power and general public take note.

AGARAOLU I, formerly Agaraolu Simbiat now GANIYU SIMBIAT AGBEKE RAJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

35 classifieds QUADRI

Friday, 2 December, 2016

OYETAYO

ADEOYE

ADERIBIGBE

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, formerly Quadri Adewale Salimon now KADIRI ADEWALE SALIMON. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyetayo Funmilola Busola now MRS OLADIMEJI FUNMILOLA BUSOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

I formerly Miss Adeoye, Esther Oluwaseyi now MRS ADEGBITE ESTHER OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aderibigbe Oyedunni Ayobami now MRS JAMES OYEDUNNI AYOBAMI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Kareem Ayodele Olayiwola now MAKANJUOLA AYODELE OLAYIWOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

I formerly Miss Grace Micheal Adetutu now MRS GRACE FOLASHADE OLATUNBOSUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Miss Ajayi Racheal Oluwakemi now MRS ADENIRAN RACHEAL OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojukwu Philomina Nkechi Obianuju now MRS OKONKWO PHILOMINA NKECHI OBIANUJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ajiboye Adeniyi now IDOWU SUNDAY JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. GTB and general public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Yusuff Wasiu am the same person bearing Wasiu Yusuf Agboola, Wasiu Agboola Yusuff and Durosinmi Wasiu.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as YUSUFF WASIU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Plc, First Bank Nigeria and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alao-James Deborah Adebola now MRS OYEMOMILARA DEBORAH ADEBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

ADETORO I, formerly Miss Adetoro Adenike Mary now MRS OLALEYE ADENIKE MARY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Azeez Fatimoh Olayide now MRS ADESINA FATIMOH OLAYIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Eweoya Bolatito Gbemisola now MRS ODUNJO BOLATITO GBEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Damilola Olakunle Ajayi now O L U WA D A M I L O L A OLAKUNLE-AJAYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Akintade Oluwadamilola Taiwo am the same person bearing Akintade Taiwo and Akintade Oluwadamilola Taiwo. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AKINTADE OLUWADAMILOLA TAIWO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Rafiu Tawakalit Abeni Oyewola now MRS. SATOPE TAWAKALIT OYEWOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ibrahim Hayford Adebayo now ADEBAYO HAYFORD OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alagbe Abiodun Nafisat now MRS. OGUNBISI JONATHAN ADURAGBEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

KAREEM

AJIBOYE

DAMILOLA

IBRAHIM

AMINU

GRACE

YUSUFF

AZEEZ

AKINTADE

ALAGBE

IDOWU

CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH: I, formerly Miss Aminu Idayat Bukola now MRS. AKINTOLA IDAYAT BUKOLA. My correct date of birth is 29 May, 1985. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Idowu Taibat Yetunde now MRS. AWOLOLA YETUNDE TOIBAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Idowu Odunola Adewumi now MRS. OGUNWALE ODUNOLA ADEWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeyanju Alice Foluke now MRS. OKE ALICE FOLUKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

IDOWU

OJOOGUN

ADEYANJU

OLAOSEBIKAN

AJAYI

ALAO-JAMES

EWEOYA

RAFIU

OJUKWU

DAUDU I, formerly Miss Daudu Fadeke Deborah now MRS OLOWOYO FADEKEMI DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MAKINDE I, formerly Miss Makinde Hannah Damilola now MRS EBARE HANNAH DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note AJAO

I, formerly Miss Aderibigbe Abosede Serifat now MRS. OLUSOGA ABOSEDE SERIFAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Tolulope Olaitan Agbede now MRS. TOLULOPE OLAITAN KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Waheed Mariam Oyinkansola am the same person as Waheed Mariam Omoniyi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as WAHEED MARIAM OYINKANSOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Oyeniran Oyenike Omolara am the same person as Oyeniran Oyenike.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OYENIRAN OYENIKE OMOLARA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Busari Wasiu Oyolola am the same person as Adigun Wasiu Gbolagade and Abdulwasiu Adigun Gbolagade Oyolola. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BUSARI WASIU OYOLOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajoke Tawa Jimoh now MRS. OYEYEMI ADEJOKE FOLORUNSHO. All former documents remain valid. Ducal Oil Nig. Ltd., UAC Restaurants and general public take note.

I, formerly Adebayo Alao now ADEBAYO ALAO JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Alake Abiodun Lawal now LAWAL MORILIAT ALAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Folake Atinuke Olowoyo now MRS FOLAKE ATINUKE OLAJUYIGBEBABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Clare Olufunmilayo Ukomi now CLARE OLUFUNMILAYO SHONIBARE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ogunwale Mariam Omowunmi now ABDUL AZEEZ MARIAM OMOWUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

KEHINDE

AJOKE

JOYI

WAHEED

ADEBAYO

I, formerly Abioye Tumininu Damilola now OLAOLUWA TUMININU DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Olaniyi Dauda Adegbite am the same person bearing Kolawole Dauda Olaniyi and Dauda Olaniyi Adegbite.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLANIYI DAUDA ADEGBITE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I hereby declared that my correct name is Oteyola Oluwasegun Ayodele and not Cornelious Ayodele as mistakenly written on my bank name. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OTEYOLA OLUWASEGUN AYODELE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Olayemi Oyeyemi Alabi now MRS. OLUYEMI MAGERET ALABI OLUKAYODE. All former documents remain valid.

SUBEB, Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Angela Friday now ANGELA KELECHI OGWUEGBU. All former documents remain valid.

UBA, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Moboluwaduro Oluwakemi now CHRISTIANAH OMOLAYO OLADITI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaoluwa Olatona Ekpokpe now MRS. OLAOLUWA OLAJUBUTU EKPOKPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ENIOLA

ADEDIRE

I, formerly Miss Eniola Oluyemi Grace now MRS. POPOOLA OLUYEMI GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adedire Odunola Hannah now MRS. ADEDIRAN ODUNOLA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Wema Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Faderera Adeniyi now KUDAISI OLUWATOSIN JULIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Dare Josephine Folake now LETSUINA JOSEPHINE FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FADERERA

DARE

OLUSOLA

I, Mr. Joyi John Adunjo formerly known as Mr. Godonu Adunjo, Koitan John Adunjo now wish to be known as MR. JOYI JOHN ADUNJO. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and general public take note.

OGUNDELE

I, formerly James Tunde Oluwaseyi now OSENI TUNDE OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABIOYE

OLADIPUPO

OLADOSU

I, formerly Oladosu Oluwatosin now MRS. DAIRO OLUWATOSIN MARY. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Ogundele Funmilayo Olayinka now FAJUYIGBE MARGRET FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank, FCMB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinlabi Funmilayo Abimbola now MRS. TIJANI FUNMILAYO ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

Emmanuel Alayande College of Education and general public take note.

ADESINA

OLA

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Hereby declared that my correct names is Ola Oyewole Adeyemi and not Oyewole Array Ola. Now, I wish to be known as OLA OYEWOLE ADEYEMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank, First Bank and general public take note.

EKEOGU

I, formerly Ekeogu Titilayo Elizabeth now BELLO TITILAYO ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Folashade Olukemi Yerokun now MRS. FOLASHADE OLUKEMI ADELEKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

FALAJIKI

CHANGE OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH: I, formerly Alarape Sheriff Rotimi now ALARAPE SHERIFF TEMITOPE. My date of Birth is September 30, 1984 and not Setember 29, 1987. All former documents remain valid. GTBank, First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Adesina Ezekiel now ADESINA EZEKIEL ADEOYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Olatokun Ademola, on my BVN my name was mistakenly written as Oladokun Ademola instead of Olatokun Ademola. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

OLADEPO

I, formerly Miss Falajiki Anuoluwapo Dorcas now MISS OLUWALAJIKI ANUOLUWAPO DORCAS. All former documents remain valid. Sky Bank, NYSC and general public take note.

RAJI

I, formerly Chizea Vera Isioma now EHIGIE VERA ISIOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKINLABI

I formerly Miss Oladepo Kemi Comfort now MRS ADEYEMO KEMI COMFORT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Raji Sakirat Oladunni now MRS. ADELEKE SAKIRAT OLADUNNI. All former documents remain valid. LGA Saki West and general public take note.

I, formerly Oni Olubunmi Olakanmi Juba now MRS. SHODIPO OLUBUNMI OLAKANMI JUBA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ALARAPE

LASISI I, formerly Lasisi Ayoola Adekola now LASISI AYOOLA SOJI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note OLATOKUN

I, formerly Oladipupo Femi Samuel now OLADIPUPO OLUWAFEMI SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Olaosebikan Nike Bosede now ADEGBITE NIKE BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHIZEA

OGUNLALA

I, formerly Miss Ogunlala Bosede Risikat now MRS EHINJU BOSEDE RISIKAT. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Authority and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ajao Bamiji Moses am the same person bearing Bamiji Ajao Moses. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AJAO BAMIJI MOSES. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojoogun Funmilayo Debunmi now MRS. ADEJARE FUNMILAYO DEBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ONI

AYINDE

I, formerly Miss Ayinde Sumbo Folashade now MRS ADELEKE SUMBO FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

CLARE

JAMES

OLANIYI

OLAYEMI

MOBOLUWADURO

OGUNWALE

ATILOLA

I, formerly Atilola Iyabo Yetunde now OLADIMEJI IYABO TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OTEYOLA

ANGELA

OLAOLUWA

ADELEKE

ADERIBIGBE

OYENIRAN

ALAKE

BABATUNDE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Olusola Stephen am the same person bearing Osunsola Stephen Olusola.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OSUNSOLA STEPHEN OLUSOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Stanbic Bank, Diamond Bank, GTBank and general public take note.

OYEDIRAN

I, formerly Miss Oyediran Adeola Oyeyemi now MRS. YUSUF ADEOLA OYEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEOJO

I, formerly Miss Aladetan Adebisi Janet now MRS. ADEOJO ADEBISI JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BUSARI

FOLAKE

ADEYEMO

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Babatunde Kunle Oloke am the same person bearing Tunde Oloke.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BABATUNDE KUNLE OLOKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeyemo Adejoke Ajibola now MRS. OJULARI ADEJOKE AJIBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Sodiya Emmanuel Oluwasegun now SODIYA OLUSEGUN EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Anthony Innocent now OLADEJI KEHINDE PAUL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SODIYA

OLAWALE

I, formerly Olawale Isiak Kehinde now OLAWALE ADAM OLAIYA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ODEREMI

ANTHONY

OLASUNKANMI

I, formerly Miss Iyabo Adegoke now MRS. OLASUNKANMI CHRISTIANAH IYABO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Government Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

SIYANBOLA

CORRECTION OF NAME: I ODEREMI OYELEYE OLUWAFEMI and not ODEREMI OYELEYE ODEREMI inform that my name was wrongly written. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Guaranty Trust Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Siyanbola Ifedayo now MRS. AREO OMOWUNMI IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ayanfe Deborah am the same person as Akano Deborah, Deborah Olubunmi Akano. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AYANFE DEBORAH AKANO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. FCMB, First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Mikail Isiaq Abolaji Shiba now OLALEKAN BOLAJI SHIBA. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank, Skye Bank and general public take note.

AYANFE

MIKAIL

36

news

Friday, 2 December, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Ugbos, not Igbos, are original owners of Ife —Olugbo-in-Council

T

HE Olugbo-inCouncil has declared again that the “Ugbos” are the original owners of Ile-Ife. In a statement signed by five high chiefs of Ugbo Kingdom, reacting to the Ooni of Ife, in an interview in the Nigerian Tribune, said the claim by the Ooni that Igbos (Ibos) and not Ugbos from Ilaje, Ondo State, took the people captive was a grave error.

The Olugbo-in-council said it found such assertion disturbing, especially coming from a custodian of history.

The Ugbo chiefs said the Ooni should not have referred to us as Igbo (Ibo)

and in error ascribe the origin of Yorubaland to the Igbos of eastern Nigeria.”

Recalling history, the Ugbo chiefs said “we hereby state categorically that we are Ugbos, the aboriginal settlers and owners of lle-lfe.

“Our forefathers descended from heaven, that is why we are called Ugbo Atorunwo. We are not lbos (Igbos) who are from the southeastern part of Nigeria and who have their own clearly researched and defined ancestry.

“To set history straight, Moremi, to us, remains a traitor. She was a slave captured by the Ugbo warriors during one of their many raids on lIe-lfe. She later be-

came the wife of Osangangan Obamakin, the son of Oranfe, who was the paramount ruler over 13 aboriginal communities of ancient Ugbomokun, which later came to be called Ile-Ife. “Oduduwa came to Ugbomokun as a stranger and was welcomed in lIero, the aboriginal palace of Osangangan Obamakin, which is still in existence in present day Iremo, in Ile-Ife. “During the dynastic struggles, Osangangan Obamakin was directed by the oracles (Ifa and Osanyin) to relocate from Ile-Ife, his own kingdom. Moremi betrayed the trust her husband had in her when she exposed the secret of the Ugbo

Stop parading as saints, NLC replies Buhari’s advisory committee Continued from pg 8

“For Professor Odekunle, we know his records from ABU Zaria. It appears his recent trademark is his penchant for flippant and unguarded attacks against the organised Labour to draw attention of people in authority for political appointment.

“The secretary of the advisory committee, Professor Bolaji Owasanonye, in his comments, exhibited ignorance of our struggles against bad governance and corruption, which was shocking.”

Wabba posited that Labour was in the forefront of supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign.

“We organised a nationwide anti-corruption rally earlier in the life of the administration and wrote President Buhari and the leadership of the National

Assembly to strengthen the advisory committee so that it could deliver on its mandate.

“We likened the significance of the committee to that of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua setting up of the Electoral Reform Committee, which was also the first major committee of his Presidency.

“Our actions were informed by our conviction that corruption was at the heart of our underdevelopment as a nation. This informed our call for capital punishment for some category of graft during our protest, a call that many of our civil society allies and sections of the NBA were uncomfortable with,” he said.

According to Wabba, “the NLC wonders how anyone who has been following events in the country can accuse us of doing nothing when our political elite

LAUTECH students protest in Ogbomoso

By Tunde Ogunesan

SCORES of students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Thursday, protested continuous closure of the school, while barricading roads from General area (LAUTECH Teaching Hospital) to Taki roundabout.

An eyewitness informed the Nigerian Tribune that the students had trooped out as early as 9.00 a.m to press home their demands, singing solidarity songs during the protest.

They had gathered in front of the school premises earlier, discussing their fate before they took off.

The movement, sources informed, disrupted vehicular movement before

they eventually barricaded major roads in the town.

The source also added that the students brought out items such as cooking gas cylinder and pots to demonstrate dry cooking and symbolise their experience while closure lasted.

However, when they got to Taki roundabout, attempt by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to remove the barricades was vehemently protested by the students.

Meanwhile, Officers of the Nigeria Police later brokered peace, guided the protesting students to have a peaceful protest till it lasted.

Confirming the protest, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the protest was non-violent.

in the states failed to pay workers’ salaries and fix for themselves outrageous pensions.

“At the last count, two workers of Nasarawa State government were killed when they accompanied the NLC leadership to discuss with the state government on its arbitrary cuts in, and non-payment of wages.”

warriors’ valiantry. Ugbos are the original owners of lIe-Ife,” the statement read.

The high chiefs said the Ooni should answer some questions to set the record straight.

“At this juncture, the Olugbo-in-Council would like to ask the Ooni some pertinent questions and state few re-

marks which include: “Confirmation of the ancestry of the Ooni: Popular history states that Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Ooni, migrated from the East/Mecca. In another account by the Oba of Benin, recently, the monarch stated that Oduduwa left from Benin. We ask that the Ooni

should confirm his ancestral roots.

“It is has been confirmed that present day Ugbo language has a strong resemblance to ancient Ife language now preserved in Ikedu, and it took Oduduwa, as a stranger, several years to learn and speak the language sparingly.”

Women produce 80% of food in Benue —WARDC Babajide Johnson - Makurdi

EXECUTIVE Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr Abiola Afolabi, has said that about 80 per cent of foods produced in Benue are from women farmers.

Consequently, Afolabi called on state and Federal Governments to support women who are into agriculture with needed inputs.

Afolabi, who spoke in Makurdi, Benue State capital, during the launching of the ‘’Benue State Make Agriculture Work for Women’’ and sensitisation visit to some MDAs by Small Holder Women Farmers in the state, supported by the USAID, said that such inputs would guarantee mass production of food.

She particularly urged

Benue State government to increase its support for agriculture by providing gender and friendly agricultural policies that would ensure women contributions are more visible.

Dr Afolabi said that about 80 per cent of the agricultural labour force in the state is women and smallholder farmers, stating that the women also produced the bulk of food for domestic consumption. ‘’In spite of this, these women farmers have limited access to credit facilities, farm inputs, training and advice, technology, farmland and fall victims of herdsmen’s attacks because they are been raped,” Dr Afolabi lamented.

She said that despite government’s avowed commitment to drive the economy through agriculture and

expand food production to reduce hunger, “women farmers who constitute about 80 per cent labour in food production, food processing and marketing are yet to have special support and assistance necessary to realise their potentials in agriculture.

“It is estimated that if women had the same access to finance, land, technology and training and advice as men, they could contribute significantly to the country’s achieving the goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger,” Dr Afolabi stated In her remarks, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Mwuese Mnyim, said that the issue of women farmers cannot be separated from the broader issue of gender equality and women empowerment across the globe.

37

Friday, 2 December, 2016

REVEREND OMOTOLA OYEDIRAN @ 76

PHOTOS: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

From left, President, Zonta Club Ibadan, Mrs Peju Nwuga; Professor Oyediran, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Mr Olumide Oyediran.

From left, Reverend Canon Doyin Sosanya of HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Sagamu, Professor Oyediran, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, Reverend Canon S.A Odeleke and Mrs B.O Odeleke.

Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran, cutting her 76th birthday cake and assisted by her husband, Professor A.B.O.O. Oyediran, at her residence, Ring Road, Ibadan, on Thursday.

From left, Director/Consultant, ANN Plc, Pastor (Dr) Segun Olatunji; Professor Oyediran, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and the Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, ANN Plc, Mr Edward Dickson.

Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, her husband, Professor Oyediran, with Tribune managment and staff.

Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and her husband, with members of Christain Unity Gospel Church.

From left, Pastor Joshua Adegbite, Mrs Christie Onatade, Professor Oyediran, Reverend Oyediran and Venerable Noah Onatade.

From left, Mrs Tayo Morgan, Professor Oyediran and Reverend (Mrs) oyediran.

Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and her husband with founder and members of Centre for Justice, Mercy and Reconciliation.

38 photonews FINAL BURIAL OF SIR OLANIWUN AJAYI IN PIX

Friday, 2 December, 2016

PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE AND D’TOYIN

Dr Ola Ajayi perfoming the dust to dust rites with him are Bishop Kehinde Stephen and his eminence Dr Sunday Mbang Prelate Emeritus Methodist Church Nigeria at Sir Olaniwun Ajayi’s Residence, Isara-Remo Ogun State on Thursday.

From left former, Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Afenifere leader, Chief Rueben Fasoranti, President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chief Ayo Adebanjo on the occasion.

From left, Chief Segun Osoba, Barrister Segun Awolowo, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu and former Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel.

From left, Chief (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi, Lagos State Governor Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and Chief Olu Falae.

From left, Most Reverend A.A. Adewale, Archbishop of Archdiocese of Riye, Methodist Church Nigeria, Bishop Kehinde Stephen, His Eminence (Dr) Sunday Mbang and Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu.

Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Ondo State Governor-elect Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu (left) consoling the children of late Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Dr Ola Ajayi (middle) and Professor Kanyinsola Ajayi.

From left, Mrs Bola Obasanjo, Pastor Tunde Bakare and his wife Laide.

Barrister Segun Awolowo (right) with children of late Olaniwun Ajayi.

From left, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Mr Folu Olamiti and Justice Emmanuel Yinka Ayoola.

Friday, 2 December, 2016 39 news Abia signs MoU on Sleep on duty, get sacked, Yobe gov tells commissioners

G

OVERNOR Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe, on Thursday, directed a sleeping commissioner at the presentation of the 2017 budget to the State House of Assembly, to go home for more sleep.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the governor had barely commenced reading the budget speech, when the cabinet member started snoring.

Gaidam warned that any public officer henceforth caught sleeping stood sacked.

“As from today, any commissioner or special adviser caught sleeping stands sacked and will immediately be replaced.

“We will borrow a leaf from the North Korea experience, to make government affairs a serious business,” he said.

Gaidam, while reviewing the budget performance of the outgoing year, paused and directed the sleeping commissioner to go home.

“I am referring to the commissioner who is sleeping, you can go back home to sleep, since you cannot endure the session,” he said.

Although the governor did

not mention the name of the sleeping commissioner, he pointed to the row of the commissioners to issue the directive.

NAN reports that, the be-

wildered commissioners looked at each other in embarrassment and sat up, to avoid dozing and being victims of the governor’s sledge hammer.

Alhaji Adamu Dala-Dogo, speaker of the assembly, however, advised public officers to take beverages that would keep them awake during public functions.

Secretary to the Sokoto State Government (SSG), Professor Bashir Garba (right), with officials of Vulcan Elvaton Limited, during the testing of Sokoto’s 38mw Independent Power Project (IPP), on Thursday.

Sokoto tests first independent power project SOKOTO State government has successfully conducted a test of its N3.8 billion Independent Power Project (IPP), whose contract was awarded in November, 2008.

The project, the first of its kind in the Northern part of the country, has an installed capacity of a minimum of 30 megawatts and a maximum of 38 megawatts.

The Chief Operating Officer of the contracting firm, Vulcan Elvaton Ltd, Mr

Franklin Ngbor, told newsmen during the test, that the turbine of the project had already tested three times.

He said: “What remains now is the synchronisation of the plant with the fuel tank and the main evacuation line, down to the transmission line.

“The plant when fully completed, finally fired and integrated into the national grid, can work for five consecutive years nonstop.

“It is only after it works for

five years, that it can be shut down for routine maintenance.”

The Director-General of the project, Mr Umar Bande stated that, the plant has a multiple type turbine that can use diesel, gas or LPFO. According to Umar, the plant was now being tested on diesel, saying “it consumes 33,000 litres per day.”

The DG plans are afoot to sign a fuel supply security agreement, with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corpora-

tion (NNPC) or other major oil firms.

This, he noted, was to make the fuel supply cheaper, more sustainable and ensuring maximum operations of the plant.

The Secretary to the state government, Professor Bashir Garba, said so far, nine stages, out of 11, required for a successful test, have been carried out without hitches.

He said an agreement will soon be signed, between the state government and the

Kaduna assembly approves N214.9bn 2017 budget Muhammad Sabiu with agency report

KADUNA State House of Assembly on Thursday passed into law, the state’s Budget of N214.9 billion for 2017.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the figure is N1 billion less than the budget proposal forwarded by Governor Nasiru el-Rufa’i, to the assembly on October 12, for approval.

The Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Aminu Shagali, who read the content of the budget clause by clause, said N83.46 billion was approved for recurrent and N131.45 for capital expenditure.

He said the budget would cover from now till December 31, 2017.

Chairman, Assembly Committee on Appropriation, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed, later told newsmen that the N1 billion cut from

the original proposal was from the expected revenue of two agencies.

In a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna and signed by Samuel Aruwan, Governor Nasir el-Rufai commended the lawmakers for their effort in scrutinis-

ing the draft budget.

The governor noted that the lawmakers approved a budget that is N1 billion lower than the draft estimates.

“We are proud of the Kaduna State House of Assembly for not padding or inflating the budget,” the

governor said, praising the diligence brought to the budget work.

The draft budget size was N215 billion, set at expansionary levels to help drive recovery amidst recession.

Its capital to recurrent ratio was 60:40.

Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), on the evacuation of the power to the national grid.

Garba explained that the project was necessitated by the epileptic power supply to the state from the national grid.

The SSG added: “The state would be enjoying nearly 24hour power supply, when the plant becomes fully operational.

“This is a project that is worth celebrating, as power supply in Nigeria will be bolstered with, the injection of 38 megawatts to the national grid.

“This will also eventually boost the socioeconomic landscape in the state, curb poverty, restiveness and unemployment, among other myriad of direct and indirect benefits.

Ebonyi varsity rocks Glo campus storm STUDENTS and Staff of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, will today, experience t he national music concert currently rocking Nigerian campuses, the Glo Campus Storm.

Glo Campus Storm successfully held recently, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and other campuses.

Six other institutions that have so far hosted the 2016 edition of the concert are, the University of Port Harcourt, where it kicked off on October 7; at the Enugu campus of University of Nigeria; Federal Polytechnic, Nekede; University of

Uyo, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Abia State University, Uturu.

The Glo Campus Storm at the Ebonyi State University concert will feature a dancing and singing competition, comedy, beauty pageantry and music from up and coming artistes as well as top-rated Nigerian superstars. The university community is already turbo-charged, for the highly popular event.

Celebrated artistes billed to dazzle at the EBSU concert are, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks and Runtown, while Glo ambas-

sador and humour merchant, Bovi, is expected to add zing to the event with his trademark wisecracks, while anchoring the event, with DJ Neptune on the music console.

As usual, a competition tagged the Glo Campus Data Diva and Glo Campus Data Dude will produce ten winners from the EBSU campus.

Globacom said that “10 winners in each campus will receive up to N100,000 each, with all the 240 winners vying for the “Glo Campus Data Dude” and “Glo Campus Data Diva”,

coveted crowns at the grand finale. The two top winners in each category (male and female) will each win N1 million in scholarships, in addition to being signed on as Globacom Brand Ambassadors. They will also get special invitations to all Globacom-organised events and shows, such as the Glo-CAF Awards, Glo Laffta Fest and Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concerts.”

Globacom urged students wishing to attend the concert, to recharge their Glo lines with just N500 campus data plan and qualify to be admitted into the venue.

palm estate

THE efforts and resolve of the Abia State Government, led by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to expand and increase the wealth of the state, has recorded another laudable development, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), between the state and a private investor in palm, S-ATM Nigeria Limited, on the Abia State palm estate, in Ohambele, in Ukwa East Local Government Area of the state.

The Palm estate is expected to support the governor’s drive, to restore the state as the number one palm producer and create jobs for youths.

Speaking, Hon Azubuike assured the investors, that the state government will keep their part of the agreement, as Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is in a hurry to return the state to the years of palm plantations dotting the landscape of the state.

Expounding on the MoU, Hon Azubuike said: “Part of what we have signed now is that S-ATM Nigeria Limited must build an oil mill inside the palm estate, in Ohambele.

Also the estate is going to employ over 5000 Abians, with greater percentage of the employment from the Ohambele community.”

Speaking during the MOU signing ceremony, the Managing director of the S-ATM Nigeria Limited, Mr Ogunleye, assured that his company will fulfill the terms of the agreement, including investing the needed funds, to realise the goals of the state palm plantation and employ Abians.

According to him, “more than 40% of the company’s employees will be Abia indigenes and we will also utilise the services of the members of the host community, thereby reducing the rate of unemployment in the state.”

The investor and his bankers, UBA Plc, expressed appreciation to the state government, for providing the enabling environment for new investors to do business in the state, without excessive bureaucratic bottlenecks.

On his part, the Secretary to the state government, Dr Eme Okoro, who represented Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at the occasion, commended the Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon Uzo Azubuike, “for leaving no stone unturned, in bringing to materialisation one of the pillars of Governor Ikpeazu’s administration in the area of revitalisation of agriculture, to create wealth for the state.”

SIDELINES

FRIDAY, 2 DECEMBER, 2016

N0 16,646

N150

The Russian 4x100 female team to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, for eight years, savoured the victory of dopeaided win. Now for the rest of their lifetime, members of the team will live in shame. Definitely, they must, by now, have known that one weighs heavier than the other.

AWCON final:

Falode psyches up Falcons ahead Cameroon showdown

Iheanacho Iwobi

Why Nigerian players are not winning Glo/CAF award —Ikpeba

By Niyi Alebiosu

F

ORMER Super Eagles player, Victor Ikpeba has explained why Nigerian players have not been able to win the Glo/CAF African Footballer of the Year award in recent years.

The ‘Prince of Monaco’, as he was fondly called by fans in his playing days, told Tribunesport that many players nowadays are not committed to playing for the country while at the same time, they are not commanding first team shirt in their respective clubs.

According to Ikpeba, winner of the 1997 African Footballer of the Year award, “for any player to win the award, he must be playing regularly for his club. He cannot be a bench warmer or even if not playing all the time, at least he must be seen playing in and out and at the same time, he must be a regular in the national team. That’s the only time such player could be considered, but when you don’t play regularly for your club and for the national team, it won’t work that way.”

The former AS Monaco of France player further informed that it was commitment and the determination to excel that gave him and past Nigerian winners of the award then because they were not only playing regularly for their clubs; they were also active in the national team, coupled with fact that they played for big clubs where laziness was not condoned.

“You would have to fight for your shirt. In a situation where there were many players fighting for a position, how could you be lazy?

“So we were competing and were more determined, these really helped us win the award then, but these days, there is nothing like that. So how do you expect our players to win?,” Ikpeba added.

The former Golden Eaglets player, however, believes that with the

rate at which the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi are going, the chances of Nigeria winning the diadem again sometime in the future are bright, saying that the young lads are doing very well for their clubs and country.

No Nigerian footballer has won the Glo-CAF African Footballer of the Year award in the new millennium. In fact the last Nigerian to win the diadem was Kanu Nwankwo. That was in 1999.

The hope that a Nigerian might win the 2016 award was dashed last week after the three Nigerians named in the original 30-man shortlist - John Obi Mikel, Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho failed to make the five-man list released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The winner for 2016 will be announced on January 5, 2017 in Abuja.

NEWLY-APPOINTED chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode has visited the camp of the Super Falcons in Yaounde ahead of tomorrow’s 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final against hosts, the Indomutable Lionesses of Cameroon.

Falode, a sports journalist and member of the CAF Media Committee, told the Falcons they have the capacity to come out victorious again tomorrow.

“I know that you have started feeling the atmosphere since you got to Yaounde. By the time you will get to the stadium, you will start feeling it but you should not allow the atmosphere drive you.

Let it add pressure to them and it should spur you to go on. There’s nothing great as defeating people in their own home, in front of their home crowd.”

Falode told the Falcons to think of Nigeria when they face Cameroon in the final rather than the host team. “Play your own game. Don’t be under any pressure. Give it your all. See Nigeria when you play, see the jersey that you are wearing when you play, see the passion of the people at home when you play and the millions of fans rooting for you back home.”

She warned the Cup holders to completely disregard the record books and instead, fight with all their heart and might, reiterating that it is vital not to allow the expected capacity crowd to distort their game –plan.

Messi, Ronaldo, 53 others on FIFA World11 shortlist

Ronaldo

AS expected, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and 53 other players are on the shortlist for the 2016 FIFA FIFPro World11.

FIFPro, the worldwide players’ union, and FIFA on Thursday announced the final 55-player shortlist.

The FIFA FIFPro World11 is decided by the players, for the players. It involves votes from more than 25,000 professional footballers from over 75 different countries. They each select one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.

Some other prominent names on the shortlist are Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gareth Bale, Mats Hummel, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Ramos.

It also includes Xabi Alonso, Eden Hazard, Robert Lewandowski and Andres Iniesta.

There are five goalkeepers on the list and they are Gianluigi Buffon, Manuel Neuer, David de Gea, Keylor Navas and Claudio Bravo.

The final FIFA FIFPro World11 will be announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony at the Zurich TPC studios on 9 January 2017.

During the ceremony, The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2016, The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2016, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2016, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2016, The FIFA Puskás Award 2016, The FIFA Fan Award and The FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented.

Messi

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