3rd December 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 1,180

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SATURDAY, 3 DECEMBER, 2016

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Unpaid salaries/ pensions:

Buhari approves N523bn 14 states to get N153bn for states next week pg3

Outrage over death of First Class graduates pgs3, 6 &7 in NYSC camps Kano, Zamfara, Bayelsa record deaths Their death very unfortunate — NYSC ‘NYSC’s negligence killed my daughter’

Mothers should consider their children when taking up jobs

—Doyin Ogunbiyi pg9

OGFZA extends control to oil and gas free zones in Nigeria

pg5

CBN lends illegally to FG —Sanusi Heads to roll in Police Deceased’s father

Says no one will give Nigeria pg3 $30bn loan

Deceased corps member, Dolapo

pg4

probes nonover cops pay •IGP payment of allowances

Her sister weeping at her burial on Thursday

SPECIAL TREAT

Fruit that boosts memory power — Experts pg12

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

It is wrong to label me a

‘bad boy actor’ —Mike Ezuronye

Known for his ability to evoke emotions and unseen feelings behind the screen and in reality, Nollwood actor, Mike Ezuronye, definitely knows his craft. The Nollywood actor, who just ventured into movie production revealed to JOAN OMIONAWELE, his life as an actor, personal details, among other issues. Excerpts

OU are known for your roles as a handsome prince and a bad boy, but you just produced a comedy film by yourself. What prompted you to do comedy? First of all, I would want to disagree with you saying everyone knows me as a fine prince. Although that is your opinion, I’ll say I have been able to show my versatility, some people have seen me show comic acts as well, but not as much as it was showcased in my latest film. The truth is I’ll like to challenge myself and I looked at presenting myself as a bridge for West Africa and so I chose West Africa and one of the best genre’s to choose will be comedy and that’s why I wrote Brother Jeku and produced it myself.

everyone is feeling the pinch but the truth is, we all have to look inwards.and see what you can generate locally and that could help feel the vacuum that recession has created.

Is this your first lone production? Yes it is, we just concluded the premiere, it will hit the cinemas on 2nd December and it will show all through Christmas.

What would you say fatherhood has changed about you? It makes you know you are responsible and a better role model because you are not just living your life for only you anymore, as little ones are watching

What were the challenges you faced all though this production? There were certain logistics issues, but I had a good team, We had to go to Kenya for some scenes because it is a Nigerian Kenyan collaboration and I went with a 14-man crew from Owerri to Lagos, then to Kenya. It wasn’t too much of an easy task managing a 14-man crew, but we scaled through because everybody I chose were specifically handpicked professionals, I have been in the industry and I envisaged whatever was going to come out of it, so we got a good product for Africa to be proud of. The nation is experiencing one of the biggest economic recessions in its history. Is it affecting you? E reach everybody side now. Right now, its very apt to say that the rich also cry;

What has been your craziest moment as an actor? Being mobbed is one of it, but I think it’s because I don’t go our much, so people don’t see me too much. Why don’t you go out much, are you camera shy? I don’t really know... maybe I’m dodging from people like you (laughs) But jokes apart, I’m more of a home person, I’m the kind of guy who loves to be at home and do my own thing, But I like to keep the mystique going.

If you could turn back the hands of time, what would you change about yourself? Let’s just say if I knew what I know now, I would have wanted to go back to my teenage years. But right now I have course to thank God for how I turned out, Would you say Nollywood has metamorphosed or we are still in one spot? We are growing and our viewership has gone beyond Nigeria. We are growing and for me to take this kind of job and move with a 14-man crew outside the country, shows you that it is worth it. We want to be viewed and staged better; our productions and technical know-hows are staged better, So we are growing and we need our viewers to be patient with us.

news

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Outrage over death of two First Class corps members in Kano, Zamfara NYSC camps •Deaths unfortunate —NYSC •Afenifere mourns, calls for review of scheme Adetola Bademosi - Abuja

HE sudden death of two First Class graduates while undergoing orientation at National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps in Kano and Zamfara states inflamed passions across the country on Friday. A Batch B female corps member identified as Oladepo Ifedolapo who graduated with a First Class degree from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, died at the NYSC camp in Kano during the week. She was buried on Thursday in Osogbo, Osun State capital. Tears flowed freely as her remains were brought for burial to Osogbo, dressed in NYSC uniform, in an ambulance marked NYSC 270-56 FG. The news of her death was first reported by a Facebook user, identified as Emeka Stefano Ekwe, who said the deceased died due to negligence of NYSC officials. According to the said post, the late corps member had complained of ill health but was refused treatment by the officials who concluded that the late Ifedolapo was simply making excuses not to participate in the usual drills. Her relations told the press in Osogbo on Thursday that she was confirmed dead at the Gwarzo General Hospital several hours after her case had been reportedly mismanaged by NYSC officials attending to her. Another First class graduate of Petroleum Engineering from the University of Uyo, identified as Ukeme Asuquo was also reported dead in the early hours of Friday at the NYSC Orientation camp in Zamfara State. Details of his death were sketchy on Friday although the NYSC claimed that the late Ukeme gave up the ghost while suffering from stooling and vomitting. In a Facebook reaction by the deceased’s friend, one Victor Jerry Emah, he said the late Ukeme had his reservations for Zamfara where he was posted and weighed options of possible redeployment. He posted online, his Whatsapp chats with the late corps member showing the deceased anguish at his posting to the far northern state. The third incident was the case of a female corps member, Miss Chiyerum Elechi, who reportedly died at the NYSC orientation camp in Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokoma, Bayelsa state. She reportedly died of severe hemorrhage and excessive vomiting. Miss Elechi, 27, who hailed from Rivers State and stud-

ied at the Ignatius Azuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State,was said to have died in a hospital in Yenagoa on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. The death of the corps members has generated sad feelings among Nigerians and further degenerated into angry calls for the scrap of the NYSC. A hashtag #scrapnysc was trending on the social media on Friday. Another hashtag #justiceforifedolapo created for the late Dolapo was also found trending last night. Deaths unfortunate —NYSC When contacted, NYSC’s Head of Press, Mrs Abosede Aderibigbe who confirmed the deaths expressed regrets over the development which she described as unfortunate. She told Saturday Tribune that details of the death of the female corps member in Kano was still sketchy and that the Director General, Brigadier General Sulaiman Kazaure, had sent a powerful team to Kano State, to ascertain the cause of Ifedolapo’s death. “What happened is very unfortunate, only God knows what happened but the DG has sent a powerful team to investigate the death,” she said. She promised that the NYSC would visit the family of the deceased adding also, that the scheme’s insurance would compensate the family. On the case of another female corps member who died in Bayelsa State, she explained that the said corps member came to camp bleeding even as she suspected possible abortion. She said;”the case of the corps member that died in Bayelsa, she came to camp bleeding, we suspected possible abortion because even when she sat with her colleagues, they perceived offensive odour due to excessive bleeding. She came to camp with it.” Also on the death of the corps member in Zamfara, she said it was reported that the said corps member came to camp stooling and vomiting. “Only God understands what happened. He came to camp with the ailment. We’ve told them to upload on the site if they had any ailment but some of them didn’t do that. “We have doctors in the camps, we set up clinics two days to orientation. The DG released enough money for drugs. We have enough drugs. It is only when call doctors cannot handle the case that we refer them to a teaching hospital,” she added.

When contacted on the death of Dolapo, the Osun State coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Regina Ilubue said she could not make any official statement on the circumstances surrounding the demise of the deceased. She, however, said as the state coordinator of the NYSC, she “only received a directive from the national headquarters that we should receive the remains of Dolapo Oladepo and give

her a befitting burial because she was from Osun State. That was what we have done. I cannot say anything again. This is because she did not serve or was not posted to Osun. She was posted to Kano State.” Afenifere calls for review of scheme Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere in its reaction described the death of the corps members as sad

and tragic calling for a radical review of the NYSC scheme. Afenifere’s reaction was contained in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin. “Thia is a tragic news and needless loss to the parents of these young people. It is pathetic to learn that all pleas by one of them that she was ill was ignored until she worked to death. This is callous and it stems from a clash of civilisa-

tions to insist that a graduate could be treated like a slave in a camp. “These deaths are additions to those who were killed during 2011 elections violence and in Boko Haram insurgency. At this point, it is either we scrap this scheme entirely or at the least ensure that graduates serve in their zones of origin,” Afenifere said. (See more details on pages 6 & 7)

Unpaid salaries/pensions Buhari approves N523bn for states 14 states to get N153bn next week By Sulaimon Olanrewaju (Group Business Editor)

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved N522.74 billion for the 36 state governments to, among others, settle outstanding salaries and pensions of workers and retirees. Of the amount, N153 billion will be released to 14 states in the next one week, Saturday Tribune learnt on Friday. A statement released on Friday by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, disclosed that the funds were part of “reimbursement of over-deductions on Paris Club loans from state governments.” The statement, signed by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr Festus Akanbi, said each state would receive a maximum of N14.5 billion in the interim which, it said, approximated 25 per cent of the amounts claimed by the states. The statement reads in full: “State governments have submitted to the Federal Government claims of overdeductions for external debt service arising between 1995 and 2002 as a result of First Line Charge deductions from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations. “These debt service deductions are in respect of the Paris Club, London Club and Multilateral debts of the FG and states. While Nigeria reached a final agreement for debt relief with the Paris Club in October 2005, some states had already been overcharged. “On the request by state governments for a refund of amounts owed by the Federal Government, Mr President directed that claims be subject to

verification by the Debt Management Office and a team was established and given the mandate to scrutinise claims and reconcile with available records. The brief for the team was also extended to include a review of interim payments made under previous administrations. “Work has commenced to resolve each state government’s claim and the exercise is expected to take approximately 12 months. The exercise will be thorough, including a complete reconstruction of records dating back to the period in question. “In the interim, however, state governors have continued to appeal for release of payment on the grounds of fairness because some States had already received refunds under previous administrations. “The Federal Government

has reached a conditional agreement to pay 25% of the amounts claimed subject to a cap of N14.5 billion to any given state. Balances due thereafter, will be revisited when fiscal conditions improve. “Mr President’s overriding concern is for the welfare of the Nigerian people considering the fact that many states are owing salaries and pensions, causing considerable hardship. Therefore, to ensure compliance with the directive that a minimum of 50% of any amount disbursed is dedicated to this, funds will be credited to an auditable account from which payments to individual creditors would be made. Where possible, such payments would be made to BVN linked accounts and verified. “Due to the fact that reconciliation is still on-going and the final outcome might show an under or overstate-

ment of claims, an undertaken has been signed by state governors, declaring that in the event the amount already paid exceeds the verified claim, the surplus would be deducted directly from the State’s monthly FAAC allocations. “The total amount approved by the President is N522.74 billion and is to be paid in batches. The first batch of N153.01 billion is currently being processed for release to 14 state governments. “The release of these funds is intended to support the fiscal stimulus programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to provide direct stimulus through government spending. It is particularly aimed at boosting demand at consumer level and reversing the slowdown in economic activity.”

CBN lends illegally to FG, no one will lend $30bn to Nigeria —Sanusi By Sulaimon Olanrewaju (Group Business Editor)

THE Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, on Friday, accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of illegal lending to the federal government. According to an online news medium, The Cable, Emir Sanusi, a former CBN governor, said this at a policy monitoring dialogue hosted by Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. Sanusi, who said that the CBN had been lending to the government above the limits stipulated by the CBN Act of 2007, added that CBN’s lending to the government since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office had risen

from about N1.5 trillion to over N4.5 trillion. He stated, “The CBN-FGN relationship is no longer independent. In fact, one could argue their relationship has become unhealthy. “CBN claims on the FGN now top N4.7 trillion — equal to almost 50 per cent of the FGN’s total domestic debt. This is a clear violation of the Central Bank Act of 2007 (Section 38.2) which caps advances to the FGN at 5 per cent of last year’s revenues. Has CBN become the government’s lender of last or first resort?” The former apex bank governor said the poor management of the economy had made lending to the country unattractive to foreign lenders, positing that it would be

difficult for the government to get any lender for its proposed $30bilion loan. According to him, “if Senate approves, I want to see who will lend $30billion to Nigeria when we have five exchange rates”. The Emir, who lamented that the country is enmeshed in heavy debts, said the situation has made it difficult for the country to fund crucial sectors as “out of every N1 Nigeria makes, 40 kobo goes to debt and 60 kobo is left for salaries, health, education, power, infrastructure.” He added that in every economy, growth is driven by “consumption, investment and net export”, noting that “our exports cannot grow, without regulatory certainty or an increase in the price of oil”.

news

Heads to roll in police over cops pay

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

IGP probes non-payment of allowances to policemen Chris Agbambu – Abuja

HERE is an imminent shake-up in the Nigeria Police as the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has empowered a special panel to investigate the entire payment system of the law enforcement agency. This was as the IGP also directed the special committee to probe the anomalies and lapses noticed in the payment of the allowances of the police officers deployed to cover the Ondo State governorship election, held last Saturday. It would be recalled that officers and men of the Nigeria Police who participated in the governorship election had, last Monday, protested the alleged non-payment of their allowances. There have been several complaints of irregularities from certain quarters about delay, omission and discrepancies in the police payment system and possible foul play in the payment of allowances of police officers and men. Consequent upon this, Saturday Tribune gathered that the IGP set up the special panel to investigate the anomalies, streamline and enhance the payment of the allowances and entitlements of police personnel deployed on adhoc duties.

The decision of Mr Idris to set up the committee was contrary to the claim in some quarters that the officers and men deployed for the conduct of the Ondo election had been paid their allowances. The Special Investigation Panel is headed by Assistant Inspector General Ahmadu Ali who is expected to recommend professional modalities for payment of allowances, in line with government due process for subsequent payment of allowances to personnel of the police engaged in adhoc duties. This development is said to be in consonance with the policy of IGP Idris to ensure transparency and accountability in all aspects of the Nigeria Police and in readiness for the establishment of a standard template that would be adopted for use in the conduct of subsequent elections. Other member of the committee include a representative of the office of Police Accounts and Budget, a representative of the office of Director of Finance, a representative from the office of DIG Operations, a representative from the office of IGP Project Monitoring Unit and a member from the office of the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) to assist the chairman in conducting the investigation, while a representative of the

office of police legal section will serve as the secretary. In line with its mandate, the IGP empowered the special panel to launch a thorough investigation into the entire police payment system, including providing bank records as evidence, with a view to investigating the recent payment of allowances to personnel of the police and to determine if the money

released for the payment of the allowances was utilised accordingly. The committee was mandated to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Finance to look into the perennial and persistent problems of paying allowances and setting up standard modalities that would be adopted by the police to address the payment of allowances released by the Fed-

eral Government and meant for the conduct of subsequent elections in the country. It is also expected to recommend appropriate disciplinary actions against erring officers and men of the Nigeria Police. The IGP who enjoined officers and men, who were yet to receive their payment, to exercise a little more patience, said the issue was already be-

ing looked into, assuring them that no one would be cheated of his due. He further urged anyone with useful information that could assist the panel in the course of the investigation not to hesitate in coming forward with such and assured the public that the Police Force would always strive to uphold transparency and due process in all its affairs.

Court refuses Kanu’s bail application JUSTICE Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, declined to grant the bail application filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Others standing trial with Kanu included: Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawusi. Delivering her ruling on their bail application, Justice Nyako held that the charges against the defendants “are very serious in nature and therefore not ordinarily bailable.’’ She said, “Irrespective of what the charge is, the court has to exercise its discretion one way or the other”, adding that the charges against the defendants could attract

life imprisonment if proved by the prosecution. The trial judge also dismissed the contention by the defendants that President Muhammadu Buhari had openly directed that they should not be released on bail. She held that being a citizen of Nigeria, the president was at liberty to exercise his freedom of speech, but that he lacked the capacity to influence the decision of the court. She said that the defendants did not place any new fact or law capable of persuading the court to reverse an earlier ruling which denied them bail. “The offences are serious in nature and carries very severe punishment if proven. I hereby therefore refuse bail for the applicants.

“In the alternative, I order for an accelerated trial of this matter to commence immediately which will not be more than two months,” the judge said. Kanu and the three other defendants were charged for treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of illegal goods. They were also accused of broadcasts on Radio Biafra and agitation for secession from Nigeria. Meanwhile, Mr Suleiman Labaran, counsel to the Federal Government, prayed the court to allow all government witnesses testify behind the screen. Labaran also prayed the court not to reveal in any record of the court, the iden-

tities of the witnesses put forward by the federal government. However, Counsel to Kanu, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, opposed the prayers, contending that granting such requests would amount to gross violation of the defendants’ rights to fair hearing. “We vehemently oppose secret trial of the defendants. They were accused in the open; we also request that they be tried in the open. The defendants need to see those testifying against them eye-ball-to-eye-ball. We are ready for this trial,’’ Ejiofor said. The trial judge fixed December 13 to rule on the application of the Federal Government to allow its witnesses testify behind the screen.

news

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Ex-FCT minister still in EFCC custody after court order Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

From left, the widow, Mrs Olusola Areo, the children and grandchildren during the burial ceremony of their late father, Mr Emmanuel Oladele Ajagbe Areo, held at Rehoboth Baptist Church, Aladorin, Gege- Adero, Isale-Osi, Ibadan, on Friday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

OGFZA takes over regulatory control of oil and gas free zones By Dapo Falade

HE Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has begun the process of implementing the provisions of its enabling law and the directives by the Federal Government ceding regulatory of all oil and gas free zones in the country to OGFZA. This was contained in a letter written by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OGFZA, Mr Umana Okon Umana to the Managing Director of Lagos Deep Offshore and Logistics Services Limited (LADOL) and his counterpart at the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ). Umana, in the letter dated 17 November, 2016 and a copy of which was made available to Saturday Tribune, said, “OGFZA has decided to carry out the full implementation of the law and gas and the Federal Government directives” which vest full control of the oil and gas free zones in the country in OGFZA.

He therefore informed the managements of LADOL and SIIFZ that “henceforth, their free zones will be licensed and regulated by OGFZA by virtue of the statutory provisions in Section 5(2) of the OGFZA Act and other relevant law as well as other directives of the government on the take-over of all oil and gas free zones in Nigeria.

He said the take-over would take effect from December 17, adding that the process was to give effect to Section 5(2) of the OGFZA Act which stated that “The Authority shall have power to take over and perform such other functions being hitherto performed by NEPZA as they relate to export of oil and gas from any of the

FRSC now to bear firearms —Oyeyemi Says 70 personnel killed in 2016 Clement Idoko - Abuja

THE Federal Government has approved arms-bearing for the men and officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), following upsurge in violent attacks and killing of some of its operatives during legitimate duties. This is coming on the sad revelation that the Corps has lost over 70 of its personnel in 2016 alone as a result of violent attacks by motorists at the course of duties on highways.

Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, made this known, on Friday, in Abuja at the end of the year management strategy session as a way to assess the Corps stewardship as well as ensuring effective service delivery. He noted that the FRSC Establishment Act gives power to the Corps to bear arms and that the Federal Government had earlier approved that, with about 5,000 personnel already undergoing training

Free, fair election in South South not normal — Kano gov says Wike is stubborn we’re waiting for him for “Kano magic”—Wike From Leon Usigbe, Abuja.

KANO State governor and chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Rivers state rerun election campaign committee, Abdulahi Ganduje, has declared that it was not normal to have free and fair election in the South South. But he said that was about to change with the planned National Assembly rerun election in state scheduled for December 10 in Rivers. Speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, he described the Rivers State governor Nysom Wike, as a stubborn person who gave no room for people to genuinely exercise their

Export Processing Zones established by Nigeria Processing Zone Act. “Secondly, the take-over is, in part, an implementation of the Federal Government directive as contained in the Extraordinary Government Gazette No. 12 (vol. 101) of February 2014, entitled “free Zones (Monitoring & Regulations) Order 2014.”

franchise. He said this time around, they would not be allowed to sit down and write election results as everything would be done to allow people to vote adding that “We are prepared. We just came out of the Ondo elections. We have fresh ideas even though both environments are different but we have our own strategies. Like in Ondo state, we must ensure we have a free and fair elections. “You know, in that part of the country having a free and fair election is not normal and we have to make it normal this time. “We must ensure that there is security so that people will come out and vote. That’s our main preoccupation at the moment. “We are making wider consulta-

tions with stakeholders and we believe we will succeed.” But in a swift reaction, Governor Wike said Rivers people were waiting for Ganduje to come and repeat “Kano magic” in the state, a reference to the numbers polled by APC in the last general election which did not return a single void vote. PROBATE PUBLIC NOTICE I, MR AWEDA RIDWAN C/O his Solicitor LUKMAN ADENIJI Esq of Lukman Adeniji & Co., As-Sallam Supermarket Shopping Complex, Eko-Ende Road, Ikirun, Osun State of Nigeria,have applied to the Probate Registry of the Customary Court of Appeal for letters of Administration to administer the Estate of LATE MR AWEDA SULAIMAN ALAO of Federal Government College Area, Ikirun Osun State who died intestate on the 25th day of September, 2016. Any objection to the application is to be forwarded to the Probate Registry of Customary Court of Appeal within 14days of this notice.

on firearms. The Federal Government has however approved the recruitment of about 450 personnel to beef up the operational capacity of FRSC in prompt rescue operations and enforcement drive. “The Act gives power to the Corps to bear arms and 5,000 of our personnel have been trained. We are just waiting for the validation of the earlier approval. “Sadly, within the one year, we have lost 70 personnel. It is sad to note that some killing and maiming of operatives, including one from a sister agency in close collaboration with the Corps, were in the course of official duties. “A recent occurrence was the happening in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State where a motorist ran into the Mobile Court in session, killing three operatives almost instantly while a Civil Defence operative died later as a result of injuries sustained in the dastardly act,” he said. PROBATE PUBLIC NOTICE We, Mr Taiwo Musibau Ademola and Mr Taiwo Waheed of c/o their solicitor, Akinsuyi Aduroja Esq. of 1, Town Planning Road, Eleyele, Ile-Ife have applied to the Probate Registry of Customary Court of Appeal, Osogbo for LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION to administer the estate of LATE TAIWO ADEKOLA formerly of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who died intestate on the 22nd day of October, 2016. Any objection to this application is to be forwarded to the Probate Registry of the Customary Court of Appeal, Osogbo within 14 days of this notice.

THE Econonmic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC), has not released the immediate past FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, inspite of an order by an Abuja Federal High Court which granted him bail. Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, sitting at Maitama, had last Tuesday, granted bail to the Bauchi-born former minister while ruling on an application brought before the court by Senator Mohammed through his counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), seeking to enforce his fundamental right to freedom. The judge had invoked the provisions of Sections 158 (b) and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Act and directed that the former minister be granted bail on the same conditions earlier offered him by EFCC. The commission had earlier offered Mohammed administrative bail on the conditions that he produced two sureties of the rank of Director in Federal Civil Service, with certified land property in Abuja Municipal Area Council and the applicant to submit his international passport to the commission. According to Justice Baba-Yusuf, based on the evidence before the court, the former minister fulfilled the conditions but the commission refused to verify the sureties. Saturday Tribune gathered that officials of the legal department of the anti-corruption commission had refused to be served the court order when it was served on it on Thursday, saying that the court officials who brought it did so after close of work.

Fayose hails judgement releasing Shi’ite leader, El-Zakzaky EKITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has hailed the Federal High Court, Abuja judgement, ordering the release of the leader of the Shi’ite Muslim sect, Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife, as well as payment of payment of N50 million damages awarded against the Department of State Service (DSS). The governor, who had called for the release of El-Zakzaky two weeks ago, however said he would not be surprised if the Federal Government does not obey the judgment, adding that, “The judgement will be for posterity, even if in their usual style of impunity, those holding power in Abuja ignore the judgment.” He called on the judiciary to “save democracy in Nigeria as well as Nigerians from tyranny by being courageous and firm, even in the face of intimidation, harassment, blackmail and character assassination by those whose desire is to muscle opposition and turn Nigeria to as one party state.” In a statement issued on Friday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose restated his earlier call on the International Criminal Court (ICC), Amnesty International and other world bodies to investigate extra judicial killings in the country in the last 15 months, especially the alleged murder of over 300 Shi’ite Muslims in Zaria and killing of over 150 Biafra activists. He said under international human rights law governing the use of firearms during policing operations, the intentional use of lethal force was only permitted when strictly unavoidable, to protect life. Governor Fayose noted that the detention, since last year December, of El-Sakzaky, after the alleged killing of his followers was inhuman and wicked.

Bank manager’s wife kidnapped in Makurdi Johnson Babajide, Makurdi

WIFE of the zonal manager of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr Achia Tor Agbidye, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Makurdi, Benue State. Saturday Tribune learnt that the victim, Mrs Iyuadoo Tor-Agbidye, a journalist with the Radio Benue, Makurdi was abducted, on Friday morning at her residence located at New GRA, along Abu King Shuluwa Road, Makurdi. Sources said that the kidnappers, numbering four and heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, collected the victim’s phones and other personal effects and drove her off in her Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). As at the time of filing this report, no contact has been made with the family, a situation that has created fear among the relations. It was gathered that the incident occurred in the absence of the bank manager who was said to have travelled out of the state for an official engagement. None of the family members of the victim was ready to speak to the press and it could not be confirmed if the abductors have contacted family of the victim.

6 interview

3 December, 2016

‘FG, NYSC killed my daughter’ Anguish over death of First Class graduate in NYSC camp

The story of Ifedolapo Oladepo, a 26-yearold corps member from Ila Orangun, in Osun State, who died a few days after arriving at the orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano State, has continued to elicit emotions. Her father, sister and a relation, who spoke to Saturday Tribune, bared their minds on the events that led up to her sudden death. Excerpts: They killed her through negligence —Mr Olawale Oladepo (father) Did your late daughter have any medical challenge? No. She was hale and hearty. She was always very healthy. She had no illness or any terminal disease. What does the family want to do regarding this unfortunate incident? I can’t really answer that now. This is because from all indications, she died because of the negligence of the NYSC. During the short period of her illness, we called her. My friend, who is a consultant doctor, called the corper doctor in charge of the camp clinic and the doctor said they gave her placebo. Anybody given placebo would just be resting in bed, which means they did not give her anything until the situation got out of hand. Definitely, they killed her through negligence. They did not attend to her. Some of her colleagues that spoke to us said my daughter complained to the people that asked her to partake in the parade that she was sick but they did not listen to her. They said she wanted to dodge the parade. How would you describe Dolapo? She was cool and easy going. She was very quiet. What do you want to tell the Federal Government? They ought to ensure that all the health facilities in their various camps are well equipped for emergency situations. Had it been this happened in the South-West, South-East or South-South, they would not treat the matter like that because there are well equipped hospitals here. They take care of the corpers very well in the South. I wonder why the situation is different in the North.

FG, NYSC killed my sister —Mrs Abimbola Oladepo-Olayode (elder sister)

I am Dolapo’s elder sister. She went to NYSC camp in Kano Thursday last week hale and hearty. She called me two days after saying that the place was stressful and there was no light to charge her phones. We joked and that was all until Monday morning when she sent me a text that read: ‘Hello, sister. Have you seen the pictures I sent to you?’ I checked my phone and I downloaded the pictures and used one of them as my display picture. Soon afterwards, she sent another message that she was having malaria. I asked if she took any anti-malaria drugs along and she said no. Then, I told her to go to the NYSC clinic. She told me that they would not allow her; that they insisted she went to the parade ground. I asked her if there was any Yoruba person around that I could talk to. She said yes and I spoke to a friend of hers at the camp. The friend followed her to the clinic. Dolapo was holding a plastic bottle of a soft drink in her hands. She explained to them at the clinic that she was not feeling well but everybody told her that she was just pretending because she did not want to go for the parade. So, she called me that they were not attending to her and I said that she should give the phone to any of the medical personnel but she said nobody was ready to speak with me. I said I was a registered accident emergency nurse and that she should give the phone to a nurse on duty so he or she would know that I was a colleague. A male nurse took the phone and told me that she was complaining of pains and her temperature was a little Continued on pg7

Saturday Tribune

7 interview

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

‘Her mum has been in and out of coma’

Oladepo Olaode (sister)

Continued from pg6

bit high. I begged him to treat my sister and he assured me that everything was under control. Dolapo later called one of our uncles, Dr Ilupeju Adeola, who works at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, and told him that she could not communicate with me because my phone was switched off. She told Dr Ilupeju that she was not feeling fine. Dr Ilupeju said Dolapo should give the phone to the doctor there since he (Ilupeju) is a consultant at LAUTECH. The doctor who took the phone told Dr Ilupeju that Dolapo was only pretending as nothing was wrong with her; that she only did not want to join parade. The doctor said they would give her placebo. Immediately she was given placebo, she called me because she knew what placebo was. This is my 11th year in the nursing profession. Dr Ilupeju wondered why they would give her placebo when she was complaining of pains and high temperature. Dr Ilupeju said they should give her pain reliever and not placebo. After about 15 minutes, she called me again and said the doctor had given her another drug but she, still, was not feeling fine. She said immediately they gave her the drug, she started seeing rashes on her body and all her fingers and toes were turning black. She took photographs of herself and sent the pictures to my phone. I called her and told her to give the phone to the doctor. Immediately the doctor saw the rashes on her body, he said he did not want to talk to anybody again. He asked if we would come over to Kano and take care of her ourselves. They later sent all her friends out of the clinic and left her on the couch with a reaction clearly showing on her body. I heard the doctor say they should give her hydrocortisone. They set lines and gave her hydrocortisone. She snapped herself again with IV lines on her hands and sent the pictures to me. There was blood under her skin. I told them that it was a case they could not handle. I said they should take her to the teaching hospital and the doctor said we should give them one hour. That was 12.00 pm. After checking her and there was no improvement, they promised to take her to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. About 15 minutes later, she called me and said her tongue was twisting and she was already having a slurred speech. I told her to give the phone to her friend. Her friend told me that they had taken her to another side of the ward and there was nobody with her. I said they should take her to the teaching hospital but they refused until 4.45 p.m. when her friend hinted me that they had taken her in an ambulance to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. I said that was okay. The corper nurse that followed them, a Yoruba lady, told me that they took her to Gwarzo General Hospital. At the hospital, there was nothing to resuscitate her. They said we just could not interfere because Dolapo, being a corp member, was a Federal Government’s child. The Federal Government has sent her to her early grave. At Gwarzo Gemeral Hospital, there was no doctor on duty. The only nurse on duty was the one going to the pharmacy to buy cetrasone. I took a night bus from Ibadan down to Kano. At 3.00 a.m., they called me that she had died. They could not resuscitate a dying patient – no oxygen cylinder, no resuscitator. The NYSC, the Federal Government have sent my sister to her early grave. She convocated and made a First Class. The media were not there. Now everybody is here. The NYSC ambulance that brought her corpse was even rushing to go back to Kano. The doctor that refused to take my calls, I will do everything to make sure they revoke his licence. I recorded all the conversations. You are not worth handling a life.

Bamiji, relation

Her father Ifedolapo’s 26 years of life was full of struggles but she was going to make it. She wanted to start her master’s degree. They refused to take her to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital because they wanted to hide all the incriminating evidence. If they had taken her there, they knew that they would be queried. For now, the grief is enough for us. I hope the Federal Government is listening: they just killed my sister.

The sorrow is too much for her mother to bear —Oladele Bamiji, relation Who are you to the deceased corps member? I am a relative, a member of her church. I am like a brother to her. Some people are accusing the NYSC of complicity in her death. What do you think actually happened? That is what we heard. When Dolapo got to Kano, she was very tired after travelling for 16 hours on the road. She was fatigued. Unfortunately, we were told, she was forced out the next morning to partake in the military drills. This complicated the fatigue. She complained that she could not withstand the rigours but she was ignored. The officials said she was pretending and accused her of being lazy. They said her complaint was just a ploy to evade the drills. Instead of giving her attention, they ignored her. Soon, complications set in and before they realised it, they could not handle the ensuing emergency and the camp clinic was so badly equipped such that there was virtually nothing on ground to address such a situation. One thing led to another because there were no capable medical personnel on ground. They could not transfer her to a bigger hospital like the Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital in Kano. They

retained her there and she was only being attended to by auxiliary nurses and she died eventually. Did she have any medical challenge or disease? Before she left home, she did not have any health challenge. She was hale and hearty. She was okay, enthusiastic about where she was going to serve. She read Transport Management at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, and she made a First Class. You know how protracted the programmes at that university have been. She passed through the rigours and still made a First Class. She was mobilised for the mandatory national service but, unfortunately, she met a sad end. With all that has happened, what do you want to say to the government? There was absolute negligence on the part of the NYSC. What I want to say is that if the NYSC cannot be scrapped outright, the scheme should be restructured such that graduates are able to serve in their states of origin or neighbouring states. If possible, all these military drills should be abolished. These graduates are not being recruited into the army, so I don’t see the essence of the drills. Dolapo was a fragile girl with a skinny stature. She could not withstand those kinds of drills. It is either they scrap NYSC or they restructure it. To me, it has outlived its usefulness. What does the family want to do now? The family is really down now. The mother has been in and out of coma for the past three days. Doctors are trying to rescue her. She was sedated but she could not sleep. But for God, we would have had a double tragedy on our hands.

news

3 December, 2016

Court orders El-Zakzaky’s release

Ngige lauds NECA over implementation of Employees Compensation Act 2010

Slams N50m fine against FG Sunday ejike-abuja

USTICE Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the release of the leader of the Shi’ite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, within 45 days. The Islamic leader was arrested by military operatives on December 14, 2015 after a clash between the movement and officers of the Nigerian army over right of way. The clash, which occurred in Zaria town in Kaduna State, led to the death of over 300 members of the movement. The Shi’ite leader filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit, demanding N2 billion as general damages for his arrest and unlawful detention by the Department of State Services (DSS). He had asked the court to declare that his arrest and continued detention was a gross violation of his fundamental right as contained in the 1999 constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. Delivering judgement in the rights enforcement suit filed by the Islamic leader, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who

declared El-Zakzaky’s detention as illegal, ordered the Federal Government to build a house in Zaria, Kaduna state or in any state in the northern part of the country for the Islamic leader and his family since his Zaria home has been burnt. The court said the Federal Government should within 45 days release the Shi’ite leader and his wife to the Inspector General of Police who shall within 24 hours convey them, under police escort to the house which the Federal Govern-

ment will provide for them in Zaria, Kaduna or any part of the northern part of the country of their choice. Justice Kolawole awarded N50 million damages in favour of the islamic leader and his wife, to be paid to them by the Federal Government for unlawfully detaining them at the DSS custody. The Judge also ordered that the Police should provide security to the Islamic leader and his family at their new place of abode to be provided by the Federal Government, adding that,

TRAGEDY struck on Friday in Tegina, Rafi Local Government area of Niger State when about 17 persons were feared dead, following an accident that involved a fuel-laden truck. Scores of other people were also said to have sustained varying degrees of burns in the inferno that followed the accident and were rushed to hospitals for treatment, while a yet to be ascertained number of houses and commercial outlets near the road were also engulfed in the ensuing fire.

Trouble was said to have started at about 8.30 a.m. when the driver of the truck, said to be coming from Lagos and heading towards Kaduna, allegedly lost control of the vehicle. This consequently led to the crash of the articulated vehicle. The fuel in the tanker in the process poured on the vehicles. Another account of the incident had it that the petrol tanker lost control of the vehicle and rammed into some residential buildings near the scene of the crash, resulting in fire outbreak. According to sources who

N/Delta crisis: We have capacity to contain militants— Navy Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

CHIEF of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral IE Ibas, has said his officers and personnel have the capacity to contain the rampaging militants causing economic havoc in the Niger Delta region. Rear Admiral Ibas, who was represented by the Chief of Training & Operations, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, disclosed this while flagging off Exercise Eagle Eye in Warri, Delta State, on Friday. He said with the flag off, harder days await economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region. The naval boss said as a result of the proliferation of different militant groups and their agitations as well as other criminal activities in the region, the Navy has arrived at a new operational concepts to tackle the emerging challenges in the waterways. He added that his men will take seriously, sustained anti-piracy operation to

it is the responsibility of the Police to protect lives and properties of Nigerians. He dismissed the submissions of the prosecution counsel, Tijani Ghazali that El-zakzaky was held under protective custody in view of the threat to his life. Justice Kolawole said the DSS failed to produce a report by any resident within the neighbourhood of the Islamic leader that he, and his family constituted a nuisance to the neighbourhood.

17 die in tanker explosion in Niger Adelowo Oladipo Minna

safeguard the seafaring community and people attacking critical oil and gas facilities in line with the mandate of the force. Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command (CNC), Real Admiral Mohammed Garba, while addressing the combatants, disclosed that the exercise will be conducted within parts of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and the entire Central Naval Command (CNC). According to Garba, who is directly in charge of the exercise, the areas of operations in the two commands cover 220 Nautical Miles, everything seaward up to 180 NM and a sea area of 39,600sqNM. He noted that the Exercise Eagle Eye is intended to determine the strengths and weaknesses of extant standard of operations and Nigerian Navy logistics arrangements and proficiency gaps among officers and personnel in maritime operations. The exercise, Rear Admi-

ral Garba added, would restore investors’ confidence in the country’s maritime environment, demonstrate to the public efforts reached and challenges of contemporary Nigerian Navy operational equipment as well as create an enabling environment for sustenance of desired level of hydro carbon production, safety of shipping and new economic activities for national development. Meanwhile, no fewer than 40 gunboats, scores of military helicopters, nine Capital Seas and eleven IPCS Town Class vessels have been deployed to commence the annual Exercise Eagle Eye on the waterways of the Niger Delta. The exercise kicked off on Thursday and which is billed to last for five days, was predicated on the CNS’s strategic directive of achieving a secured maritime environment that’ll promote shipping activities, increase crude oil production and other economic activities.

Saturday Tribune

spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, most of those who lost their lives were those trapped in the buildings and others who were selling their wares by the roadside. The sources added that eight houses were completely burnt, while properties valued at several millions of naira, including vehicles travelling or packed by the road were also destroyed. The situation was said to have caused pandemonium in the town as people ran helter-skelter, while the intervention of some travellers prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the town. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, when OLASUNKANMI c o n t a c t e dOlasunkanmi , confirmed I formerly the incident, Yetunde now saying AJAGBEthe deceased were given a YETUNDE. All former mass burial in the town documents remain valid. because they were burnt General public take note. beyond recognition. Elkana stated this in a chat with our reporter in Minna, the state capital, just as he advised those whose loved ones are missing to find out from the police station in Tegina.

OLASUNKANMI I formerly Olasunkanmi Yetunde now AJAGBE YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

By Dapo Falade MINISTER of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Nigie has commended the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), led by Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, for its efforts aimed at implementing the Employee Compensation Act towards the promotion of occupational health and safety in the workplace. The minister gave the commendation while speaking at the NECA/NSITF Safe Work Intervention Project Year Awards Ceremony and Problem Solving Clinic on the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010, consisting of various intervention programmes, is being implemented by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), in partnership with NECA towards making the workplace safer for for employees and reduce their exposure to risks. Ngige however appealed to NECA to do more in the area of coverage as many companies yet to key into the scheme, even as he charged NSITF to partner with governments across the state in encouraging public servants to participate in the social insurance scheme targeted at workers. In his speech, the Director General of NECA, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, restated the need for social dialogue as a means of collaboration since, according to him, the social partners (government, employers and labour) were all stakeholders in the successful implementation of the employees’ Compensation Act which regulates NSITF. He also said doing this would enable NSITF to effectively deliver on its mandate, even as he revealed that the success of the project, which commenced in 2010, had been as a result of the strengthened social dialogue between both parties in employer-employee relations.

Crisis may become a circus show —Kashamu Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe

AS the leadership crisis in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues in court, a chieftain of the party, Senator Buruji Kashamu has warned that the issue might turn to a circus show. In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the Senator, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Ogun State declared that the final outcome of the leadership tussle would be determined by the Supreme Court. According to him,”let us not lose sight of the fact that the appellate courts are yet to finally determine the issue of the national leadership crisis. Irrespective of what the High Courts say for or against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff or Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court are still there to adjudicate on the issues “And it could become a circus show. Besides, anyone who is unjustly punished would not fold his hands and allow his rights to be trampled upon “He would do everything legally possible to fight for his rights. And this could result into series of litigation and create more problems than it was meant to resolve.”

5000 police for Lagos bye-election Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos

FIVE thousand policemen have been deployed for the Federal House of Representatives bye-election in Lagos today. The state police boss Fatai Owoseni disclosed this on Friday ,while speaking with stakeholders ,which included candidates of the participating political parties and officials of the Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC). The bye-election followed the death of the member representing Ifako Ijaiye Federal constituency, Adewake Elijah ,who slumped and died in Abuja last August. The Lagos police boss also said that security back up would be provided by other security agencies in the state. Owoseni also announced the restriction of movement around the location of the bye election between 12 pm on Friday and Saturday afternoon . Apart from the the police ,the police boss also stated that operatives of the Department of State Security ,,the military and officials of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps. CP Owoseni said, “The main reason for this meeting is for stakeholders to have understanding on the need for a peaceful election.’’ He continued that “This meeting is an opportunity for candidates to sign an undertaking for a peaceful exercise. “As candidates and leaders to be, you must be able to control your supporters and agents to be of good behaviour.’’ The Lagos police boss also said that, “ The Police, Military, NSCDC and DSS are collaborating to secure the election. We are going to use 5,000 officers and men.’’

3 December, 2016

quisite

Saturday Tribune

Editor Tayo Gesinde 08054727801 temiligali03@yahoo.com

Young mothers should do jobs that will allow them time for their children —Doyin Ogunbiyi

Doyin Ogunbiyi, a Public Relations expert is the Chief Executive Officer of CEDAR Communications, founder of Reach-Out Integrated, a three time commissioner in Ogun State (former Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and the first female Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport) and the chairman; Board of Technical and Vocational Education, Ogun State. In this interview by TAYO GESINDE, she speaks on her journey to the top.

health —12

intimacy —28

Can I use donated sperm?

The reality of 24/7sex style —10 & 31

Floor sweeping trousers:

Yay or nay?

Crew Kate Ani

Oyeyemi Okunlade

xquisite

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

style

With Kate Ani 08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

Must-see looks of the week

Floor-sweeping trousers:

Yay or nay?

The week was a busy one for some celebs in Lagos as there were series of stylish events that took place. STYLE presents to you some celebrities who wore interesting attires to various events during the week. Toke Mainwa OKE Makinwa knew she would be thrown into the spotlight and made the centre of attraction during the launch of her new book, “On Becoming”. So, it didn’t come as a surprise that she pulled all the stops in her choice of outfit. She nailed the white and bodice detailed dress but the slit at the front was so high that if a wind blew in her direction, her coochie would be out for her guests to glimpse at.

Noble Igwe STYLE influencer and 360Nobs Chief Executive Officer, Nobel Igwe had some style followers scratching their heads on why he chose to wear a slip-on popularly called ‘Palm slippers’ on his stylish Agbada ensemble during the ELOY 2016 Awards. He is probably putting comfort above everything else. Or what do you think?

Dr Vivian Oputa Rita and Ramsey While this handsome Nollywood A-list actor, Ramsey Noah and Nollywood siren, Rita Dominic posed on the red carpet looking flawless at the ARRIFF award held in Lagos recently, one can’t help but notice Ramsey’s outfit. Did he nail the ‘boyish laid-back’ style by wearing a cropped ripped jean paired with a converse? Tell us what you think.

Between Tiwa and Tewa MAVIN Records First Lady, Tiwa Savage and the Editor-in-Chief of Exquisite Magazine, Tewa Onasanya, wore this trending karate top but styled it differently. Which look do you prefer? You should be the judge!

WHEN it comes to flared trousers like boot-cuts or bell bottoms, some ladies like them very long, long enough to almost sweep the ground as they stride even with a fourinches heel. Judging from Charles Boy’s daughter, Dr Vivian Oputa and actresses; Rita Dominic and Genevieve Nnaji’s style history, they both prefer extra long lengths that cover most of their shoes. If you are wondering how to pull off this trend, these styles of trousers look best with at least a two-inch heel because it creates a flattering break line on the front of the trousers. You must also be mobile to enjoy this trend. Wearing it and hopping on a bike is dangerous as the flowing and sweeping hems could tangle with the iron wheels attached to the tyres of the motorcycle. It is also important to note that the floor-sweeping trouser is best worn only to red carpet events, unless you want the hem to sweep dusty or sandy concrete floors or collect dirt.

Tinuola Ayanniyi tayanniyi@yahoo.com 08055069379

Do-It-Yourself:

Leather bow

Idia Aisien

Omotola Jolade-Ekehinde

What you need - A piece of leather, approx. 22cm x 10cm (approx. 8.7" x 4") - Scissors - Leather glue or super glue - Thread - A snap button STEPS 1. Cut an oval piece of leather, approx. 22cm x 10cm (approx. 8.7” x 4”). You can make it longer or smaller, depending on the size of your wrist. 2. Form a bow.

Valerie Obaze

Rita Dominic

3. Secure the bow by wrapping thread around it and knot.

Agatha Ashi

Kemi Lala Akindoju

4. cut a small rectangle of leather, approx. 4cm x 1cm / 1.6” x 0.4”

6. Sew the snap button, one part of the button at one end of the leather, and the other at the other side.

11 healthandfitness

Whose pregnancy is it?

I broke up with my longterm boyfriend and met another man whom I married within two months of meeting him. I missed my period about the time of meeting my new man. Somehow, I mixed up my dates and I am not sure whose pregnancy I am now carrying. My friend whom I confided to is suggesting an abortion to clear up the mess. Please, tell me whose

Dr. Wale Okediran

pregnancy it is and what to do. Kikelomo (by SMS)

my sleeping problem has now become a big problem. Please help me. CHIKA (by SMS)

younger. However, I was able to manage the situation. Now with the added responsibilities of marriage,

Most cases of sleeping problems occur when the person concerned doesn’t get enough sleep in the first instance. It is therefore important for you to make sure that you always sleep well at night in addition to some short afternoon naps. Exercises as well as avoidance of alcohol and other stimulants will improve your ability to sleep.

I want to put on weight I am very thin and have been trying to put on weight for the past two years without any success. Some friends have suggested that I should use drugs but I don’t like the idea. Kindly advise me on how to put on weight without using drugs. Maria (by SMS)

waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

08055069356 (sms only)

Unfortunately, it is only after the baby has been delivered that the actual paternity of the baby can be known through a DNA test. The decision on whether or not to have an abortion will be a personal one. In the circumstances, my take will be to have the baby.

I sleep too much

I am a 26-year-old newly married woman. I have always had problems of staying awake when I was

Saturday Tribune

3 December, 2016

Although you didn’t indicate your age and profession, it has been confirmed that with advancing age, an individual can put on extra weight without any special effort. However, if you still want to hasten your weight increase, you will need to increase

your intake of carbohydrates as is found in food items such as yams, bread and cereals. You could also add cocoa and chocolate drinks to your food regime.

Can I use donated sperm? MY wife and I have been childless for over five years. From the medical tests done, I was confirmed to have

an untreatable case of low sperm count. A suggestion was made for my wife to be inseminated with another

My baby cant talk at one MY baby is now one-yearold, yet can’t say anything. He only obeys instructions and smiles at you when you talk to him. I understand that a baby should start saying a few words by his/ her 1st birthday.. Please help me. Ejine (by SMS) While it is true that a baby should be able to say a few words by age one, it is not unusual for some babies to

have delayed speech. Usually, talking is not considered delayed until the baby is about two years old. In most cases, delayed talking is nothing to worry about. Late talking can be caused by a number of factors, including heredity. Often, it runs in the family and can be inherited from either side of the family. Therefore, if either parent started talking late as a baby, then it is expected their child could experience delayed talking.

man’s sperm from a sperm bank. While I am happy at the possibility of my wife having a child, the idea of the child coming from another man is making me confused. Should I take the offer? IK (by SMS) Having your wife to be inseminated with donated sperm is the best thing to do in view of your problem with low sperm count. Since the identity of the sperm donor is normally kept secret, you have no fears of any identity issue. Even, the psychological feeling of the child being from another man’s sperm will fade away over time.

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3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

HEALTH&FITNESS

Dates, nature’s brain food to ensure good memory

By Sade Oguntola

ITING through the paper-thin skin of dates to the juicy sweetness of the flesh beneath, it seems impossible that anyone would not appreciate the wonders of these delicious dark fruits. There are at least 30 kinds of dates that are found around the world and they fall under three broad types – soft, semi-dry and dry. Te differentiation is made according to the glucose, sucrose and fructose content. Dates palm is known to have come from what is now Iraq. In Nigeria, the dry and soft date fruits are sold out for consumption. However, in the northern part, they are added to the locally brewed alcoholic beverage to help reduce the intoxicating power. Dates are a good source of energy and vitamins and important elements such as phosphorus, iron, potassium and a significant amount of calcium. It is also rich in phenolic compounds possessing free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity. Although dates are sugar-packed, many dates varieties are low GI diet and refutes the dogma that dates are similar to candies and regular consumption would develop chronic diseases. Dates fruits atre listed in folk remedies for the treatment of various infectious diseases like cancer and has been demonstrated to show immunomodulatory activity. Besides, studies have shown that the various parts of its plant are widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders which include memory disturbances, fever, inflammation, paralysis, loss of consciousness and nervous disorders. Also, in traditional medicinal practices, dates are used to enhance fertility in men and women and as aphrodisiac. In recent years, an explosion of interest in the numerous health benefits has proved it

capable of boosting brain power and ameliorating some brain damage. Scientists at the Food and Nutrition Department, King Abdulazziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, found that dietary supplementation with dates have an enhancement effect on mood and cognitive performance. The 2015 study examined the effects of dates on the cognitive performance and mood on 15 healthy individuals that had 250ml of dates. This is equivalent to about six to eight dates. These were people not taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines. They were not using illicit/social drugs or any herbal or dietary supplements. However, all participants abstained from smoking and caffeine-containing products on the day of testing. Findings in the Alexandria Science Exchange Journal show that dates can significantly modulate many facets of mood in healthy young adults. In this trial, participants were more alert, calmer and more content after taking dates fruit juice. The main enhancement in the cognitive tasks was noticed in the reaction time on numerous memory tasks. Also, there was a trend towards an improvement in the percentage of accuracy (the correct responses) in the task of list recognition. The scientist based on the finding reasoned that the modulation observed in

mood in the study might be attributed to the high content of sugars and amino acids in dates fruit. An important association has been reported between mood and iron status in healthy subjects. Therefore, food supplements rich in iron may have a positive effect on mood. Dates fruit can be considered as a practical supplement of iron; thus there may be an association between mood changes and the quantity of iron in dates fruit. The study, however, suggested that dates fruit may eventually have a role to play in the enhancement of mood and cognitive performance in a larger trial and with different doses. The implications of these results are that modulation on mood after the consumption of dates fruit may be beneficial in the treatment of mood irritability caused by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or in menopausal and premenopausal conditions in women. Moreover, dietary supplementation with dates improves age-related memory decline and cognitive dysfunction observed in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease in the laboratory. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by a progressive loss of cognitive function.

In recent years, an explosion of interest in the numerous health benefits has proved it capable of boosting brain power and ameliorating some brain damage.

It i s t h e third leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease and cancer and affects more than 25 million individuals worldwide. According to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Ayurvedal and Integrated Medicine, scientists found that it ameliorated the decline in spatial memory and learning ability in Alzheimer’s disease induced in animals. Also, the level of anxiety was significantly reduced in mice receiving dates dietary supplementation. According to them, “given that increased anxiety is a problematic symptom of human AD patients, the date diet may represent as an adjunct treatment to reduce anxiety symptoms in AD.” Currently, scientists in a new study published in the 2016 edition of Cell Journal stated that dates consumption has beneficial effects on reducing the damage by injury on the brain. Following traumatic brain injury, disruption of blood-brain-barrier and consequent brain swelling are critical events which might lead to increasing intracranial pressure (ICP), and nerve damage. Meanwhile, studies have shown that eating dates fruits on a regular basis promotes longevity and reduces the risk of heart disease and cancers and is beneficial to pregnant women. Researchers in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2011 titled, “The effect of Late Pregnancy Consumption of Date Fruit on Labour and Delivery”, found that consumption of dates fruit in the last four weeks before labour significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favourable, but non-significant, delivery outcome.

3 December, 2016

ntertainment News

Society Gist

Saturday Tribune

with Joan Omionawele and

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

Celebrity Interviews

Real reason I told my story

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Toke Makinwa

14 entertainment

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Real reason I told my story

—TV host Toke Makinwa As Toyin Aimakhu, Dbanj other celebrities pledge support for her

Stories By Joan Omionawele

n-Air personality and TV Host, Toke Makinwa, sparked off various reactions and trends when she released her book , ‘On becoming Toke Makinwa, during the week. The 14-chaptered book centred around the childhood, career, love life and failed marriage of Toke, as she bared it all. Reacting to why she shared her story through a book, Makinwa explained, via some tweets, “I shared my life story with you all because I want us all to turn down the pain of the past and turn up a bright future now! We blame the society for almost everything while we forget that we are the society we blame. It’s okay not to have all the answers, the book is a movement. Let’s stop the shaming to silence.” Meanwhile , Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimhakhu has congratulated and supported Makinwa’s move via an Instagram post, telling the TV host that she was proud of her. Hear her “ hmm I’m super proud of you dear. It takes a bold and strong woman to speak out. To all the women out there may God make us smile again and again and again”

Perfecta Ekpo to shutdown Akwa Ibom in December

she told Toke. Also, Nigerian musician, Dbanj, gifted her with a whopping sum of N1million at the book launch, a pledge which the musician redeemed. While thanking him, she wrote “there are friends, and there are friends, Dapo (Dbanj’s real name) we go way back and it’s always been support, kindness and

For talented afrobeat / dancehall artiste, Perfecta Ekpo, 2016 is a year of great unveiling in the musical scene where she has held sway as a virtuoso of sophisticated choreography and professional dance. During the course of 2016 , she has churned out hit upon hit, performed in concert upon concert and has electrified the world with her stage craft and powerful songs which have put her in a class of her own . Despite being characterized by a vast world of technology which has been engulfed with the erosion of cultures and values by western influences, the Akwa Ibom state-born US-based super star has not lost track of the rich Nigerian cultural heritage. The queen of hearts as she is popularly called by fans has maintained her identity as a true daughter of Africa by singing in her native language and other languages. The infusion of these languages into her songs have made her songs to be timeless, with universal appeal. Thus, she is on a roller coaster ride of being a Miriam Makaeba or Brenda Fassie of our time. Her rating in 2016 has soared, making her to be trending on the cyber space with excellent reviews in both electronic and print media To cap her achievements in 2016, she will be featuring in the AKSG Xmas Carols Festival, as she is set to storm the scene and perform alongside other giant gospel artistes Her home-coming is eliciting a spontaneous elation throughout the length and breadth of Akwa Ibom State as she has promised that her performance will be a sight to behold. According to her management,“ already, there is a mad rush for her CDs in virtually all the nooks and crannies of the state. Fans and those that have just come to discover her are watching her videos and will watch her perform with undiluted confidence live as the fore-bearer of wholesome entertainment at Uyo Township Stadium ,on December 17”.

more support. Thank you for your huge contribution to my book #OnBecoming. You really didn’t have to and I know you’ll be mad at me for making this public but we’ll talk it over. D’banj made a pledge of 1 million Naira, and he redeemed it. Thank you bro” Makinwa said

Mariah’s World by Mariah Carey premieres this December!

International musician, Mariah Carey, is set to go on a world tour this December. The event, which is tagged Mariah’s World, gives fans, viewers and “lambs” alike a peek into the life of the award-winning singer, songwriter and icon Mariah Carey. During the eight-part event, Mariah is faced with the overwhelming demands of her time as she launches her world tour and is a loving doting mommy to her twins. Mariah’s World will premiere on E! on Sunday, 11 December at 7pm. The docu-series will air globally on E!’s 15 international channels across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Latin Amer-

ica. Mariah’s personal life is filled with special moments with her babies, who always come first and have joined her for the tour. Between being a mommy and working hard to give her lambs her best on stage every night, she is also working hard to find a balance. Beyond the flashing lights and adoring fans, Mariah’s World is a fantasy many wish was their reality. The best-selling female artiste of all time, with more than 220 million records sold and eighteen #1 singles – the most for any solo artist in history – Mariah Carey is a luminous and enduring talent who has enthralled audiences for a quarter-century.

15 entertainment

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Mr 2Kay inks deal with Christian Brother Brandy

I dug deep into my roots to produce ‘Gbagyi Child’ —Bez Stories By Joan Omionawele

uring the week, award winning musician, Bez, officially released his sophomore album, ‘Gbagy Child’, which is currently exclusive to Music Plus for live streaming and downloads and will be out on the streets from Thursday 1st of December, 2016. Following the album release, the singer hosted a select number of guests to a private album listening session. Sharing the stage with his record label boss and producer, Cohbams Asuquo, the singer gave detailed insights on the in-

For Mr. 2kay, it is definitely time to ‘Count it all Joy’ as the year rolls to an end. The singer has sealed a major endorsement deal with popular American liquor brand, Christian Brothers Brandy. The deal will see the singer fly the flag of the brand as its ambassador in Nigeria. According to representatives and sole distributors of the American brandy in Nigeria, Hart G Associates Ltd, Mr. 2kay fits the perspective of the ideal ambassador for Christian Brothers Brandy. His tenacity and success illustrates the passion and history of their brand. A spokesperson said; “We see a vibrant young artiste in Mr. 2Kay, making an impact in the region with consistency and smooth delivery of content in his music and that aligns with the smooth and rich product of Christian Brothers brandy.”

spiration behind all 13 tracks off the Gbagyi Child album. In his words “ All the songs on the album were recorded live with actual instruments. Seeing that I had dug deep into my roots to create Gbagyi Child, I wanted my fans to hear and feel every sound, passion and thought involved in the production”. Clearly a feat barely explored in contemporary music production in Nigeria, the Gbagyi Child album is the perfect collection of music as its finest.

Don’t chase after good looks, money, Tonto Dikeh advises youths ie v o m ’s e y n o u r u z Mike E s a m e in c s it h ’, u w ‘Brother Jek

ruonye’s debut cum producer, Mike Ezu or act ood llyw No r ula Pop and had ma’ was premiered last Sunday production, ‘Brother Jekwu mma MacDerattendance. The likes of Ufo jor Nigerian celebrities in , Iyabo Ojo, Dayo Aigbe Gentry, Oge Okoye mott, Omoni Oboli, Mercy s, Fathia Balomu bo Thomas, Eniola Bad Amusa, AY, Wofaifada, Bim IK Ogbonna, ne, Bo zobia Fm), Yaw, Funny gun, Seyi Law, Nedu (wa . graced the premiere E-Money and many others cember 2, 2016 ed in cinema on Friday De eas rel s The movie which wa Ezuruonye, Angela comedians such as Mike stars talented actors and Huddah Monada, Nedu, Klint D Drunk, Okorie, Funny Bone, Wofaif many more. roe, Sabrina Stadler and so stresses on the Kenya and Nigeria and it ‘Brother Jekwu’ is set in tures, love and pas r oad in search of greene adventure of travelling abr the beauty of Africa.

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has, since the birth of her child, channelled a different course for her life. The actress, who has been off the movie scene to care for her child, has taken it upon herself to advise youths. According to a post which the actress wrote on instagram “Many beings waste years of their lives, chasing after people they can’t have, or lifestyles that aren’t sustainable for reasons we don’t know. You can’t have a person, either they will f*ck with you, or they won’t. Nobody is out of your league, they just don’t want you in their life.”

She continued, “We are all human, so we all make mistakes, but a mistake made twice is a choice. Try not to seek the best looking, or those with the most money, for these are superficial ideas and money doesn’t make you happy. You make you happy. So if you are in

a situation with a person and you have the freedom to choose, but you are unhappy, this is your fault, not theirs. Stop wasting your time. Leave the situation, you should be looking for someone who shares sympathetic vibrations”. Although the actress did not state who she was advising, she made it clear that she just wanted to pass a message to young people in wasteful relationships. “Everything is a vibration, positive or negative. All elements are made up of atoms. And these are made up of a nucleus, protons (positive), neutrons (no charge) and electrons (negative). Opposites attract, but if someone is in a negative space, you being in a positive space, isn’t necessarily going to help them and vice versa. You choose your own happiness, as you can choose the people you are around. (Obviously free from war, famine, poverty, drought, oppressive systems of government/religious opinions, disease etc) If you aren’t happy within yourself, you can’t be truly happy around others. Don’t chase waterfalls on the surface they appear beautiful, but they are usually hiding rocks that will kill you,”she admonished

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

with Tunde Ayanda ayandaayotunde@yahoo.com 08034649018

Ernest Azudialu gives out daughter in marriage IT was a grand wedding ceremony recently in Okija, Anambra State, where the boss of Nestoil, Ernest Azudialu, proved critics wrong and showed them he still holds the aces, when it comes to money matters and party planning. The ceremony silences the tone of recession with everything, from the exotic drinks to tasty meals dished out at the party. The belief in some quarters was that the billionaire has relaxed with words that he no longer flies his private jet and the rumour that he has halted the construction of his palatial mansion.But he proved them all wrong and made tongues wagged as the celebration at Okija makes the list of one of the biggest events of 2016.

Oba Saheed Elegushi’s new love YOUTHFUL monarch in Lagos State, Oba Saheed Elegushi, has a big job on his sleeve. The monarch, who loves the seaside and who loves Sundays as a day of relaxation at the beach, has gone ahead to heed the advice by the government for Nigerians to go back to agriculture. Those in the know said the monarch is set to compete with other farmers in the poultry business as he plans to become the biggest poultry farmer in Africa. The traditional ruler is said to have set up a huge poultry farm that sits on a large mass of land in Epe, Lagos.

Skymit boss, Tayo Ayeni plans 55th birthday Gerald

Innocent Idibia expands business frontiers

POPULAR singer, Tuface Idibia, is on the verge of opening a new arm of his nightclub, Rumours. The artiste opened the doors of his nightclub business in Ikeja some years ago as he chose the able hands of Dotun Omotoye to manage the affairs of the investment. Not long after, another branch of the hangout was opened in FESTAC Town and the singer is now targeting the christmas period to open the third arm of his entertainment business. The level of success recorded in the two existing hangouts was said to have boosted Tuface’s confidence to take his club to the Island, where he enjoys a rave acceptance which he hopes to leverage on to drive his business. The musician has his in real estate, oil and gas and has decided to boost the entertainment angle of his business, which is what gave him the fame.

AYO Ayeni’s birthday party every December is what his friends, admirers and associates all look forward to and from the gist around, this year’s edition will be different. Ayeni, the sociable Chief Executive Officer of Skymit Motors is celebrating not just his 55th birthday but a success, both at work and the home front. The man, whose thriving car business has earned him the goodwill of many influential people, has been pulling all stops to ensure this year’s event surpassed all the previous ones. Ayeni, who has a record long-term planning has put the party in mind since the beginning of the year. According to close friends of the auto merchant, he has already presented himself an early birthday gift with the acquisition of a new home in Banana Island, Lagos.

Anozobo’s new lease of life

BIG spender, Dagogo Gerald Azonobo, must have dumped his former interests for something else. The socialite, whose exploits as a big spender on the club scene is widely known, recently went off the social scene to concentrate on a worthy business. Gerald was said to have gone to work for a politician who eventually became a governor and since then he has been celebrating.

3 December, 2016

Divorce

Saturday Tribune

Court & Crime He only drinks and flirts with his money —Wife She can go, I don’t want to see her again —Husband

My husband compares me to goat, wife tells court Yes, it’s because of her bad behaviours —Husband

woman, Aderonke Ojediran, has approached a Grade C Customary Court, Agodi-Ibadan in Oyo State, to seek for dissolution of her five-year-old marriage with Oyeleke Ojediran, for allegedly comparing her with goats. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ojediran also complained that she was seeking for divorce because Oyeleke had refused to pay her bride pride and had been threatening her life. Another reason for the divorce, the plaintiff said, was the lack of care for the only child of the union. She told the court that, “ I packed out of my husband’s residence in 2013 when I could no longer cope with the bad characters of my husband.” According to her, sometime in 2013, her husband brought goats inside their sitting room and compared her with the animals,

saying she is the same as the goats. “He used to beat me and had been careless about my welfare and that of the innocent child we have. In fact, I am tired of the marriage and I don’t want to die young. “To make the matter worse, he refused to pay my bride price, instead, he turned me to a punching bag and treated me as he wishes,” she added. The woman further prayed the court to allow her to take custody of the child for proper care. The defendant, who admitted that he brought two goats inside the s i t t i n g room, ex-

inside

plained that he compared his wife with the goats because of her bad attitude. He also agreed with the divorce suit, alleging also that the plaintiff’s troublesome way of life was responsible for his hypertensive health condition. President of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun, then declared the marriage dissolved. He said: “Having listened to the evidence of both parties, it is clear that there is no more love between the couple and they should go their separate ways as they stand unmarried. “Custody of the only child of the union is to remain with the plaintiff and the sum of N3,000 is awarded against the defendant on monthly basis, being money for the upkeep of the child.”

My daughter wants to divorce him ‘cos he’s a hopeless man —Father-in-law

See pages 18 & 23

I still believe there is love between my wife and I —Husband

A Grade “C” Customary Court in Iseyin, Oyo State has dissolved a 10-year-old marriage between one Funso and Iyabode Akanji over the husband’s alleged irresponsibility. Delivering judgement, the Court’s President, Chief Adelodun Oyegbenle, said that the estranged couple had shown to the court that love no longer existed between them. He also bemoaned refusal of families of the estranged couple to get the matter resolved before it degenerated to the level it is now. He, thereafter, dissolved the union accordingly. The president ordered Funso to be paying N10, 000 to the court’s registry for the upkeep of the two children. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Iyabode had approached the court to seek dissolution over allegations of maltreatment, irresponsibility and lack of care. She told the court that the union had produced two children, alleging that “he does not take care of his family and does not show love at all.” “Since we got married, I have been taking care of the family all alone despite the fact that he earns more than me; he only drinks and flirts with his own money. “I have been forced to leave our matrimonial home because of his attitude and now I want it to be official that I am no longer his wife,” she said. Responding, Funso debunked all the allegations describing it “baseless”, saying: “she is just making excuses because she wanted to marry another person. “I am fine by her decision, I have tolerated her enough; she can go for life, I don’t want to see her near me anymore, “ he said.

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

courtandcrime

My daughter wants to divorce him ‘cos he’s a hopeless man —Father-in-law

I still believe there is love between my wife and me —Husband By Oyeyemi Okunlade

man, Dauda Olaide Oluyedun, has dragged his son-in-law, one Alhaji Abdulgafari Adelani, before an Oja’ba/Mapo Grade ‘C’ Customary Court, sitting at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, asking for a separation between his daughter, Alhaja Saudat Adelani, who resides outside the country and the son-in-law. According to Oluyedun, the plaintiff, Saudat’s mother, had died when she was at a tender age and he has since then been taking care of her until she got married. The union was said to have been contracted about 22 years ago and that the husband married his wife as a virgin. In addition to this, he told the court that the union is blessed with two children, aged 21 and 19 years, respectively and are both with their mother. Oluyedun said further: “My daughter wishes for dissolution of their marriage because her husband is a womaniser from onset; he flirts around. The children complained to us, but we were unable to find a solution because of the love the defendant has for her husband. “At a time, Saudat travelled to Saudi Arabia with Abdulgafari, not knowing that he had married a Hausa woman there and the marriage had produced children. “Abdulgafari dupes people with a promise that he would obtain visa for them. My daughter gave me some amount of money to buy a land and build a house for her. After the completion of the house, her husband came back to Nigeria and started living in it. He brings in different women. He’s not in good terms with the children because of his behaviour. “My daughter has no mother and I’ve been taking care of her since then. The defendant told us that he will not vacate the house until the arrival of his wife. “I’m speaking according to the directive of the plaintiff that they should be separated in order to allow peace to reign. I want him to leave the house built by the plaintiff through me; there is no more love between them again. That is all I can say.” Responding to the charges against him, the defendant, Abdulgafari, told the court that the plaintiff is his wife, whom he married as a virgin about 23 years ago. “The representative of the plaintiff is my former father-in-law whom I have known for about 40 years now. I knew him through my father and he gave my wife’s hand to me in marriage. I do not admit to the claim because I’ve spent over N5, 000, 000.00 on her. I still believe there is love between my wife and I. Other reasons I do not admit the claim will be spelt out when I see my wife, more so she comes home every year. I know that lawyers have no power in customary court. That is all I can say,” Abdulgafari said. Having listened to both parties, the President of the court, Chief Odunade Ademola, fixed his judgement for March 16, 2017 for possible settlement.

I can no longer cope without sex —Wife I’m on sex strike to punish her —Husband

A housewife, Sherifat Asimiyu, on Friday, approached an Ibadan Customary Court sitting in Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve her 10-year-old marriage with Mr Saheed Asimiyu. According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),Sherifat told the court that apart from starving her of sex, Saheed was also in the habit of beating and biting her whenever they have domestic quarrels. The complainant said she could no longer cope without sex, as her husband had not slept with her in the last six months. “There is no doubt about his ability to provide food, money and other material things for me and the two children of the union, but I am not satisfied with all these without sex. “He abandoned me deliberately. I cannot take it anymore because I am still young and I see no reason for his action. “To make the issue worse, he was in the habit of beating and biting me whenever we have misunderstanding over minor issues,” she alleged. The husband, who is a motor spare parts dealer, admitted that he had starved his wife of sex, as he was on “sex strike” in the last one month, to punish the woman for her bad character. According to him, his action is to punish the complainant and make her to turn a new leaf. The husband told the court that he had warned her several times to stop associating with bad friends, but had ignored him. Saheed also told the court that he would not prevent his wife from getting the divorce she asked for, “if that is what will make her satisfied”.

Chief Mukaila Balogun, the president of the court, upheld the prayer of the woman and approved the dissolution of the marriage.

I am tired of being her husband —husband He drinks to stupor and I dare not challenge him –wife By Olalere Adeola A woman, Bridget Urieto, has asked the Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve her 13-year- old marriage to her husband, Elis, whom she described as a drunkard and an irresponsible man. The plaintiff said: “Our marriage is blessed with four children. The reason I want to divorce my husband is because of his non – challant attitude, because he doesn’t take care of his home. He is a drunkard and used to beat me. “He drinks to the extent that if I challenge him, he will turn me and my children into punching bags. We have been living apart for months now. “He took my children to his village in Ekpoma, Edo State, without my consent and during the resumption of this session in their school, he did not allow my children to go to school. “Later, I went to his parent in the village to see my children but to my surprise, his parent did not allow me to come inside their house and did not allow me to see my children. I went to lodge in a hotel with my father because they didn’t allow us to sleep over.” But the defendant, who agreed with the wife for the dissolution of their marriage, said she embarrasses him in public and that she used to cause troubles. “I have being enduring a lot all these days and anytime we had misunderstanding, she would shout all over the street. I am tired of being her husband because she rains curses on me every time. I am in

She goes out with different men in my area —Husband

He does not care for me and the children —Wife By Oyeyemi Okunlade

I was warned her family would ruin me, man tells court

He’s a serial cheat, spends all his money on women —Wife By Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanye A man, Dawud Oladele, has pleaded with an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State, to end his seven-year-old marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Oladele had approached the court alleging that his wife, Samiat, was fetish and diabolical. “My wife’s parents are diabolical. People warned me before I got married into the family, telling me that they would ruin me. I have experienced problems that are enough to make a grown man commit suicide. “There was a time that my mother-in-law requested to see me. She asked me to come and live in their house in Agbado since we were experiencing accommodation problems at that time. I obliged and moved out of our apartment in Ikotun to Agbado. “ While I was there, I started experiencing ill-health that defied medical explanation. Through all these travails, my wife did not bother to know if I survived or died. She would leave me in the house and go to parties, not even bothering about the well-being of our twin children. I had to run for my life when I couldn’t bear it anymore. I moved in with friends and started to

rebuild my life back last year. All I am asking from this court is to end this marriage and grant me custody of our children because I heard that she has gotten married to another man,” he said. The estranged wife, however, disputed the claims and allegations. “Everything he has said here today is a lie. We had to move to my parent’s house in Agbado because the landlord kicked us out when my husband wanted to start sleeping with his daughters. “My husband is a serial cheat. He womanises and spends all his money on women. The only good thing about him is that he cares about his children. He doesn’t joke with his children. I am in support of the dissolution of this marriage because he has tarnished the reputation of this family so much. He goes about teliing anyone who cares to listen that my mother is the brain behind all his problems. He even calls me a witch,” she said. She also admitted that she has moved on with her life and that she is presently married to another man. “He moved out of the house on his own volition. I cannot continue to remain married to someone who is irresponsible, so I moved on,” she said. President of the court, Adegboyega Omilola, adjourned the matter till January 9, 2016 for judgement.

The judge ordered the defendant to be paying N6,000 to Sherifat as monthly allowance for the upkeep of their two children.

that it is evident that there is no more love to sustain the marriage again. Therefore, the court has no option than to grant the request of the plaintiff and the court ruled thus: “The marriage between both parties is hereby dissolved forthwith. The plaintiff is to take care of the three children in terms of education, health and moral grounds. Both parties are to maintain peace.”

A 47-year-old man, Raufu Kareem, has prayed a Grade ‘C’ customary court sitting at Inalende, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve his 15-year-old marriage because his wife is not trustworthy, wayward and stubborn. Raufu said that he snatched his wife, Serifat, from another man about 15 years ago and their marriage has produced three children. “She doesn’t listen to advice and EIGHT elderly men, who allegedly stole complete docushe goes out with different men in ments of a landed property valued at N400 million, were my area; I’m tired of that kind of life. docked during the week before an Igbosere Magistrates’ I informed her parents but they did Court in Lagos, Lagos State. not take any step. I even have no job The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported on Friat present,” he told the court. day, that the accused are, Amisu Alao, 74; Afolabi Dosunmu, While responding to her husband’s 65; Adams Adebayo, 50; Saliu Shanu, 52; Oseni Olukola, allegations, Serifat said that she 49; Agbaiaka Samusideen, 58; Akintunde Rasaq, 58, and agrees to divorce her husband be- Segun Egbayelo, 70. cause he does not care for her and They are standing trial on a four-count charge borderthe children, yet he beats her all the ing on conspiracy, stealing, threat to life and breach of the time. peace. “In spite of several signed underThe prosecutor, Corporal Friday Mameh, told the court takings that he would stop beating that the accused committed the alleged offences sometimes me, he continued in the callous act. in 2013 at No. 3 Expressway Sand Depot, Tin Can Island, “I told his parents and they kicked Apapa, Lagos. against it,” she said. He said that the accused stole a land document valued at In his judgement, the presiding N400 million, belonging to one Mr Owoseni Agbayelo. judge, Mr Ramoni Olafenwa, said Mameh said that the accused sent messages to the com-

support of the divorce,” he told the court . The case has been adjourned till 14, December, 2016, while the defendant was ordered to come along with the children and his family members.

He has been lacking in his responsibilities —Wife

He changed the moment he started an affair with our neighbour —Wife

She has gone back to her former lover —Husband By Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanye

A woman, Adenike Oyetoso, has dragged her husband before an Agege Customary court in Lagos State, over allegations of ill-treatment and battery. Adenike told the court that her husband, Gabriel, was irresponsible and does not cater for her and their two children. She further added that her six-year-old marriage started having trouble when her husband started a new relationship with their neighbour. “He started finding fault in everything I do. I became a dirty woman. He even told me that I irritate him anytime he sees me. He suddenly took to beating me and stopped discharging his fatherly duties to our children. “I tried to reason with him and even reported to his family, but they took sides with him. His mother said that she had consulted a prophet who told her that I was responsible for her son’s misfortune. “I begged him to forgive me if I had done anything wrong but he said he does not want me or the children again. I am pleading with this court to end this marriage because I am still young and can’t remain married to a man who does not have feelings for me anymore,” she said. In his response, Gabriel denied the allegations. He told the court that his estranged wife was a good liar who is in an amorous relationship with her former fiance. “I read messages on her phone and it is obvious that she has rekindled her relationship with him. They even talked about eloping to Osun State and starting a new life. Right now, I even doubt the paternity of our two children because they don’t look like me. We are both dark, while the children are very fair,” he said. The court adjourned the matter till January 10, 2017 for continuation of hearing.

8 elderly men in court over alleged N400m document theft plainant in which they threatened to kill him. He added that the accused acted in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by using the stolen documents to make a false representation against the complainant. According to the prosecutor, the false representation by the accused was meant to tarnish the reputation of the complainant. He said that the offences contravened Sections 166(1), 230, 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011. All the accused pleaded not guilty to the eight counts. Counsel to the accused, Mr Danel Abbe, urged the court to admit them to bail on liberal terms. The Magistrate, Mrs Abimbola Komolafe, admitted the accused to a N500, 000 bail each, with two sureties in like sum. She said that the sureties must be blood relations of the accused and must show evidence of tax payments and their addresses verified. Komolafe adjourned the case till January 24 for mention.

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637

e: olanreade@yahoo.com

The world inside Kirikiri Medium Prison

CHIMA NWOKOJI isn’t your everyday swashbuckling journalist but the passion to do the incredible is always obvious. He got into the heart of the Kirikiri Medium Prison where Awaiting Trial inMates (ATMs) are seen as easy cash machines. It is a world of empires and emperors, thriving “dirty” deals, deceit, deprivation and cheap death.

IGERIAN singer, Asa, in one of her tracks, says that a jailer is also a prisoner. But at Kirikiri Medium Prison, a jailer goes about his duty in the similitude of a modern slave merchant. He is described by inmates as a treacherous business mogul who has acquired choice properties and exotic cars by torturing them. In this undercover report, Saturday Tribune was granted a rare insight into the underground businesses, prisoners’ currency, torture chamber, prisoners’ Bible, how much a new inmate costs on arrival and other double-crossing activities that characterise daily life as a prisoner or Awaiting Trial Mate (ATM) in Kirikiri Medium Prison. The Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos is home to some of the most hardened criminals in the city. The facility is categorised into medium and maximum prisons. After a visit to two inmates in June this year, our correspondent became curious because the atmosphere of freedom within the premises of Kirikiri Medium Prison did not represent the picture of suffering and death being painted outside by those who had once been remanded there. This curiosity paid off as our correspondent, posing as a friend, handed his phone number to an inmate with a promise to send him airtime (popularly called recharge card) from time to time. The inmate who preferred not to be mentioned for fear of being killed, called from the prison yard to ask for his recharge card. It was a hidden transaction because visitors are not allowed to enter the premises with any writing material or electronic gadget. Glad that he was getting airtime from time to time, which he sold, as it was later found out, very cheaply, he introduced Saturday Tribune’s correspondent to his friend. The two new friends from prison yard let the cat out of the bag telling pitiable, disappointing and, in most cases, interesting stories of life inside Kirikiri Medium Prison. Saturday Tribune gives a blow-by-blow account of the encounter. Visiting an inmate It requires good mental and financial preparation to visit an inmate at Kirikiri Prison. First, the visitor is required to write application to see the inmate so that identity can be verified. The visitor, who may come with delicacies, waits for the offender/remand detainee to be located. After a while, a prison warder comes to take the visitor in. Possibly for security reasons, he or she is searched twice and required to drop every gadget at the entrance and as this is done, some sums of Naira are unofficially parted with, “for the boys”. All visits are subject to monitoring and must take place within sight and earshot of an official. The newfound friends in the prison yard are aware of what people pass through to visit them. To visit somebody in the prison, the second inmate narrates, “warders will make endless financial demands on you, telling you they will buy this and that. They will ask you to pay for letter-writing materials, delivery, searching and calling of the prisoner”. He alleged that the warders know what they are doing and the possible implication of it. Hence they are always apprehensive of anything that they suspect could implicate them. Continues on pg20

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Continued from pg19

Selling of new inmates (alejo) There is a thriving business that has every attribute of slave trade within the prison premises. When new inmates, or Awaiting Trial Mates (ATMs), are brought in, the ‘baba yard’ would receive them and begin sale and distribution. Each ATM is sold to provost marshals of various cells. A good-looking ATM seen as a potential money spinner goes for N1,000 (less than $3) and above because when he is tortured, he could call his people and they would send a huge amount of money. The hungry-looking ATMs hardly sell for N1,000. They go for N500 (less than $2) because no matter how much they are tortured, they would not call anybody and could not fetch much money. It is usually sorrow all the way for those whose relations refuse to send money. The ATMs are first taken to welcome cell where they receive initial beating to vomit or bring out all that they brought into the prison. Toilet (soakaway) is their swimming pool or, as the Provost Marshal of 01 Cell in (Zero) ‘O’ Beat usually calls it, their national stadium. They would continue to evacuate feaces (carry shit) and receive beating until an incident that could set them free happens. The prison Bible Recognising the prison yard as a reformation centre, understanding the truth in God’s word is critical for prisoners seeking to lead redeemed, restored and reconciled lives. This is why a special Bible was designed for prisoners by the Bible League International. Through some ministries like the Restorative Justice Ministry and Texas Baptist Men, the easy-to-read-version prison Bible is distributed free to inmates through the umbrella body, Inmate Discipler Fellowship. The Bible, seen by our correspondent, contains separate and vital lessons from 1 to 52 before Genesis and Word list after Revelation. In lesson 19, “exploring past relationship with authority,” there is an advice for inmates to think about the reasons they are in prison. It says that “we must all take responsibility for our individual actions.” Other topics are: Watch out for Road Blocks, Worshiping God even when You Don’t Feel Like It, Relating to Fellow Inmates, Dealing With Danger and Threats, Controlling Anger, Coping With Mental Health Issues, Becoming a Person who Doesn’t Steal, Sharing Your Testimony, among others. During their conversation with Saturday Tribune, the two inmates were emphatic about the lessons in sections 3 and 4 of the appendixes on the prison Bible. Under the topic, Preparing for Release, the book reads in part: “As the time for your release from prison grows near, you will have many questions about life on the outside. Will you make it? Where will you live? Will you be able to find a job? Will your family accept you back home again? Do your spouse and children still love you? What has changed on the outside? Will you fall into old habits and return to prison like so many others have done? These and similar questions may haunt your days and cause you to soak your pillow with tears at night. Some of these concerns are real. But the devil also likes to play tricks on your mind.” According to the inmates, the additional materials in the prison Bible are provided to help them prepare to leave prison. Indeed, a closer look at some verses of the prison Bible revealed that there is no difference with other recom-

The ‘country’ has its own currency called ‘Kwii’, which is stronger than the Naira. When a relation sends N1,500 recharge card, it would be sold at the rate of 600 Kwii.

How warders cheat us

—Inmates

mended Christian Bibles except in the simplified English. For example, in John Chapter 3 verse 16, the New King James version reads as follows: “For God so loved the world, that he gave he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life.” The entry in the prison Bible reads: “Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, so that everyone who

believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” Legal representation An Amnesty International report stated that in Nigeria, only one in seven inmates awaiting trial and one in five convicted inmates have legal representation. Of those awaiting trial, 25 per cent have legal representation from

the Legal Aid Council and other non-governmental bodies offering pro bono services. So, having no lawyer automatically leads to years in prison while awaiting trial. The inmates also alleged that so many lawyers come to the prison, take up cases which they know are bad, claiming that they would secure release for gullible inmates. After collecting money, the lawyers would hide under legal technical-

Why inmates hate our officers SPOKESPERSON for the Nigerian Prisons Service, Francis Enobore, while responding to the mind-boggling issues raised by the inmates, called the inmates angry liars who would never speak well of the authorities as long as they have not regained their freedom. Apparently unaware of the information gathering mode of Saturday Tribune, Francis was also of the opinion that it would be improbable for an inmate to tell all these stories told our correspondent at the visiting arena where a prison official would ordinarily be present and watching. However, he could not fault the reality that insiders actually spoke about life inside the prison, considering the quantum of information Saturday Tribune confronted him with. He claimed that what most inmates refer to as prison-inside-prison is a cell known as ‘back cell’ or ‘single cell’ where any inmate suspected to have bad behaviour that can corrupt others is isolated. The issue, according to him, is that inmates crave to be free, play and interact with others, so most of them are afraid of going to that cell. There is usually nobody at the back cell, according to him, to torture an inmate who has been isolated and food is usually taken to that inmate there.

“We have not recorded any case of death in recent past involving an inmate that was tortured to death at any prison,” Enobore said, adding that if such incident is happening in any prison across the country, mortality rate of inmates would have been very high but, “our inmate survival records are good.” Talking about taking what is given to inmates, the spokesman said no prison official is either allowed or has the opportunity to take anything that belongs to inmates because the prison service has been so sanitised such that there are a lot of monitoring teams making impromptu visits to prisons to ensure compliance. He said that “moreover, inmates and warders confide in one another, work hand in hand and complement each other”, to justify his assertion that things are running smoothly in the system. On the alleged missing donated chairs, he noted that there was no prison in Nigeria where prisoners are given chairs to seat. If any philanthropist or a non -governmental organisation donates chairs, he said such should ordinarily be taken to the chapel and they are always taken there. “But when there is a meeting of the officials or any occasion that requires the use of chairs, the inmates would be sent to bring some of those chairs. After the occasion, such chairs are

ities to delay cases, knowing that the inmate is helpless and continue to extort money from relatives of the inmate. Some rich inmates send warders to get money from their accounts which they use to pay for legal representation. Awaiting Trial Inmates (ATMs) as cash machines

Every inmate or ATM is likened to the cash dispensing machine used by deposit money banks called Automated Teller Machine. The two inmates, in separate narratives, alleged that warders see inmates as money-spinning machines. In the words of inmate one: “For you to remain alive till your adjournment day, you have to be spending money for light, for fuelling vehicle that is taking you to court. We pay for the repair of the Black Maria. We pay for the repair of the pumping machine. We pay for the treatment of fellow inmates that go to hospital. In fact, we spend money even more than most people that are living in Lagos”. Asked where else inmates got money, he said: “We get money by begging representatives of NGOs and relatives that come to visit. Also, so many of us sell items inside prison here. But when we are tortured for frivolous reasons, we vomit all the money”. He said people that come into the prison usually give them money. Churches, NGOs, charity organisations and others do embark on prison evangelism and along the line we have contact with them. Sometimes, the inmates claim, prison officials seize mattresses from the prison-

ers. They also allegedly seize handsets but after a while, the same are sold back to inmates. It is difficult to keep accurate account of the number of mattresses in the prison. According to them, inmates can help warders pack 1,000 pieces now, search again the next day and you will find 2,000 or more mattresses that were sold again to inmates. What else do the prison officials do with the mattresses? Our correspondent sought to know. “Sometimes they burn some of them or give them to their relatives and girlfriends and they may sell them to some inmates who can afford them. Once inmates pay for anything, their request would be smuggled inside the prison for them”, Inmate One alleged. Both inmates explained that if a warder sees an inmate with a phone, garri or whatever when such a person is not allowed, they would collect the item and such a person would then “bail” himself out. Where he is unable to so do, the prison officials would take him to Angola – a lion’s cell. It is a prison inside prison. The ‘comptroller’ of the Angola prison is called Alhaji (a non-Hausa Muslim, in conjunction with a soldier called Ahua). Rental of accommodation The two inmates, in separate accounts, disclosed that Kirikiri Medium Prison, which boasts several rental accommodations, was built shortly before independence. According to the inmates, there is a place in the cell that goes for N120,000, N60,000 and so on. Politicians and top businessmen that find themselves there would fancy such exclusive accommodation. Often, they use it because they can afford it. Those who have nothing to pay are abandoned in ‘Corridor’ (where other inmates pass through to the toilet) and

that person sleeps one-sided, known as ‘gbegbesue’, because there is no space to turn. It is a general cell with a president and his adviser, vice president and the CJ (Chief Justice of the prison). All of them are inmates. Any inmate that greases the palm of the president would, immediately, make out a room for the person in the cell. But when “you are entering the prison for the first time, you can give the prison officials money for a cool spot in the prison there,” inmate two explained. The average number of people in a cell, according to the inmates, ranges between 80 and 95. Most times, they do not get water to bath. The room is so suffocating that people die from suffocation. And when that happens, the living ones use the dead as pillow, at least for the duration of the night. Saturday Tribune learnt that such corpses are evacuated by the prison officials in the morning. Where do you pass out faeces? Saturday Tribune sought to know and inmate one provided the answer. “It is the same place you take as a room. That is the same place you eat, bath and do virtually everything.” According to him, there are two sections only. “In the robbery section, beds cost N50,000 while in the stealing section, they cost N30,000 and below. We have only two sections. Such spaces are secured with money, not by fighting; money talks. It is also by the strength of your voice. In all, if you know your way and find yourself in the good books of the authorities, you can be given some privileges/comfort that others don’t have. Obviously, prison in Nigeria is money. Some business areas where people own shops do not witness the kind of money that goes through the Kirikiri Prison yard every day”, the tell-all inmate one revealed. Continues pg22

—Prisons authorities returned to the chapel or visiting arena. In that case, does that mean that prison officials have cornered what belongs to inmates?” Enobore queried. According to him, a lot of reforms have taken place in the prison service in Nigeria such that before most inmates leave the prison, they are equipped with skills that enable them fit into the society and live better lives. Some of them who entered prison without any certificate according to Enobore have left with school certificates and other trade certificates, querying why the squealing inmates would not see such things to talk about. “Why are they not talking about good things,” he rhetorically retorted. Just last year, he recalled, four prison inmates graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) with impressive results. Three of the inmates graduated with Second Class Upper degree while the third left with a Second Class Lower degree. And most recently, an inmate was recognised as best graduating student from NOUN. Speaking on how the prison inmates were able to achieve the feat, the Nigerian Prisons Service spokesman stated that there were six directorates in the

prisons service, and that one of them was dedicated to the training of inmates in skills acquisition. He maintained that training of inmates after prison terms is one of the cardinal objectives of the prisons service. The spokesman told Saturday Tribune that the service is working hard to update its facilities and equipment to ensure better life for inmates after they have been discharged from prisons. He promised to take our correspondent on facility tour of Kirikiri prison to enable him see some of the workshops and training sessions put in place for inmates, stressing that what is obtainable in one prison applies to all . They are trained in carpentry, how to run small businesses and many more. He specifically cited the success story of one of the trained prison inmates who built electric stove with in-built oven which he is using at home. Asked if Awaiting Trial inmates are allowed such privileges, he said they are not really convicted but are deemed innocent. As such, they might not be targets of such programmes. “But prison authorities have directed that they be allowed to take part as much as security permits, especially to willing ones among them. So, for someone

that is still seen as being innocent of crime and might vacate any moment, there is nothing to rehabilitate in that person”, he clarified. On the issue of accommodation, Enobore said a prison is a prison anywhere, explaining that contractors work with specifications and every prison have cells where every prisoner stays. Such cells have no facilities like chairs, air conditioners, beds or even fans because fan is considered a dangerous object that might be dismantled by inmates and misused. However, he stated that what some inmates might have construed as privileged cell that are rented are cells where some personalities like police officers, Lawyers, Judges, top politicians are kept. The reason behind this, according to him, is to avoid lynching. For instance, just as criminals or even an average man on the street angrily looks at rich politicians as those who steal public money and impoverish them, so also are inmates waiting for them in the cells. If you keep a policeman together with other inmates, he explained that inmates might get up in the night and say ‘you are the one that used to arrest and torture us. If it is a judge, they will say ‘you are the one who sentenced us to prison’ and so on, and they might kill such

a person. So, when such personalities are kept in separate rooms, other inmates erroneously begin to feel that they have paid money for accommodation. According to Enobore, across prison locations in Nigeria, inmates are allowed to prepare their meals under the supervision of a prison official. He recalled that a journalist once confronted him with an allegation that an inmate complained that there was a lot of sand in the meals they were normally served. He said he took the journalist to the kitchen where the he saw inmates preparing their meals. “So, it is difficult for someone cooking his food to put sand inside it”, he said. On drugs, he said each prison location makes requisition for drugs based on the kind of ailment that is prevalent in the area they are. When these drugs are delivered, the clinic stores them for use. For the sake of emphasis, he said that the prison authorities have DCP’s compliance monitoring teams that pay unscheduled visits to prison establishments and if any official is found wanting, appropriate punishment is meted to such a person. “As long as these inmates are in prison custody, they will continue to lie against the authorities,” the prisons service spokesman told Saturday Tribune.

3 December, 2016

Continued from pg21

A different country called ‘Country no ves, Ajamgbadi last bus stop’ The medium prison is described as a republic of its own, referred to as a place where there is no anger (country no ves – no anger) where ants rule elephants. It is said that whatever you are, it is in your pocket, for as long as you are inside medium prison, you are nobody. The country has its own currency called ‘Kwii’, which is stronger than the Naira. When a relation sends N1,500 recharge card, it would be sold at the rate of 600 Kwii. Prison inside prison According to the inmates, ‘Angola’ cell is a place where the worst of human beings are. If you enter, the brutes there will beat you as if you are a piece of wood. They can beat you from morning to night. The people there are bullies. They have no milk of human kindness. It is here that that the Igbo man was beaten to death. That cell is also called punishment cell. Therefore, they bundle hungry inmates into it and when it is time for general meal, the victim will not be allowed to go out. This is why people usually die in it. The cell is small and compact. Inside it, “if you find yourself in it and are pressed to urinate, you do all that there,” inmate two revealed. Explaining what qualifies one to enter that kind of prison, he said it is the people who commit crime inside the prison that go there. The people there are always angry and violent. They tend to transfer their aggression to other inmates once they see them there. Those in Angola cell have a governor, whose work is to maintain order. He is an inmate. The inmates alleged that warders most times ask the governor to instruct his boys to beat other inmates up. Where an inmate fails to bail himself out of there, there is more trouble. But if such an inmate has wellto-do people outside, with the help of the ‘Marshal’ of the prison, the inmates would get them to send money through prison officials. “You are brought out of the punishment cell when your relatives outside have sent money to the prison authorities for your bail,” one of them volunteered. Taking what belongs to inmates Gifts brought by NGOs, churches and other charity organisations for the prisoners always end up in the hands of prison officials, the Saturday Tribune’s prison sources claimed. In other words, the gifts, allegedly, don’t always reach the people they are meant for. They seize them and use them the way they like. Inmate one said there was a time a philanthropist brought 800 plastic chairs for prisoners. The prison authorities allegedly took, or cornered, over 300 of them. What did they do with the chairs? Saturday Tribune asked. The prison officials shared them among themselves, inmates claimed. They also claimed that about three months ago, the owner of a popular Lagos lottery bought an 18-seater coaster bus for the prison. In the words of Inmate One: “I heard it was worth N18 million. The bus was meant to carry inmates to the courts for speedy and accelerated hearing. We have not seen the bus. A generator worth millions of naira was brought

‘You can count the number of beans in our plates’

to the prison some time ago. The inmates were made to contribute some amount in the range of seventy or eighty something thousand naira every Friday, to give light to the prison. “And each person was asked to pay N100. Imagine when all convicts, including the Awaiting Trial Mates who are up to 3000 in number, pay up. The prison authorities collect N100 from every prisoner on Friday. How much do you think that would amount to every Friday?” Power tussle among officers A story to buttress the claim of a power tussle among senior officers in the management of the prison was told to Saturday Tribune. “The Deputy Comptroller of Prisons does not know some secret deals going on in the prison yard. Though he was recently transferred, the DCP is a good man. He was good to all the inmates”, inmates revealed. According to the inmates, he directed prison officials to open the prison gate so that convicted prisoners could come out, walk around and chat around. But the chief warder and other officers in the prison are not happy with him, and were reluctant

at some point to carry out the order. Chief Warder is next in rank to the DCP. Basically, he is the one in charge of the prison. The DCP is just a figure head. The chief warder is the chief operating officer of the prison. He sees to the dayto-day activities of the prison, wielding the real power, as far as the prison is concerned. In fact, he determines what happens in the prison. How much is feeding per day? The inmates alleged that prison officials sell their food stuff. Total daily ration in naira terms is N750. It is N250 in the morning, afternoon and night. But the truth, according to them, is that each meal is not worth N50. “For example, you can count the number of beans seeds in the beans meal you are served. The kitchen department doesn’t filter or use good water to wash the beans before they cook it. The beans which inmates eat in the morning are cooked the night before with potash. The following day, they would serve it to the inmates in takeaway packs.

I would not know whether they do this deliberately: you will see about 25 stones in the smelling and unhygienic beans they serve us. The two inmates said whenever they do not want to eat food served, they could prepare their own, as long as there is money. “Your family or relations have to be sending you money through the warders so that you can buy whatever you want to eat. Sometimes they send you per week, N10,000 or N20,000, as the case may be. With this money, you can eat whatever you feel like in the prison, having already secured with your money a cool portion in the cell,” the inmates narrated. ‘Government no know us’ The ‘boys’ said government is completely unaware of the plight of prisoners. That is why the prison is called another country. They have their own government. When they get wind of the visit to the prison of an important person or top government officer, for fear that inmates might expose their evil deeds, prison authorities, Saturday Tribune gathered, would lock everybody

Saturday Tribune

up in their respective cells so that the visiting officials would not see any inmate to ask questions. The inmates, therefore, urged the authorities to check the activities of corrupt police officers who congest the prisons by making unlawful arrests. ATMs and convicts There are about 80 to 100 convicts and about 2,700 ATMs occupying different cells. The convicts are the people who wear blue and blue uniform, while the Awaiting Trials are always in mufti. In Yoruba, a convict is called ‘elewon’. ATMs say that the convicts suffer less. They reportedly work hand in hand with the prison authorities because their case has been established. The ATMs are called ‘lodgers’ because they can go any day, hence the alleged act of the authorities doing everything to squeeze out all money they can from them before they leave. “It is only the convicted that are allowed to go near the gate. Of course, you and I know they go outside to work for people, on their farm, clear their bushes for money, among other jobs”. For the ATMs, Inmate Two said, “who dash monkey banana?” If he is sighted anywhere around the gate, he might be shot. When the attention of the inmate is needed at the office, it is the convicted that the warders send to fetch him. Any of the convicts can be called an elewon, ‘marshal’ or ‘provost’. It is one of the duties of the ‘marshal’ to import things from outside and in turn sell them to inmates who have the money to buy. Also, the ‘marshal’ is in control of a cell called Welcome Cell. This is the first port of call for an inmate. Even if they are 100 in number, the welcome cell can accommodate them. He can make huge amount from that; that is, if they play ball with him. If they pay him some cash, he will allot them some space in that cell. “And if you settle him very well he will not allow you to go where bed bugs would feast on you,” he explained. According to the inmate, the first time he entered the prison, he suffered a great deal. “I packed faeces. Indeed, I swam the pool without complaint because this is ‘country no ves, Ajamgbadi last bus-stop, where ants rule elephant, I played in that stadium. We were subjected to evacuating a chop full soakaway. As people swim in a swimming pool, so did I along with others, in this soakaway. Some people pack up to 200 buckets of ‘shit’ every day,” he recalled. He explained further that 200 buckets full of shit was the average per day, and such was usually emptied inside a swamp within the premises. They packed the shit until each of the holes was empty. Should anyone fall ill in the course of that hard task or have his body covered with rashes and need to take care of it, what happens? Saturday Tribune asked. Medicals “If you go to the clinic for a drug, you are finished. They would give you lagatin for all ailments. It is the drug that is administered on mad people.

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

The judge monkey

STORY

Christmas and New Year celebrations are around the corner. As a way of celebrating this season, the same children, schools, churches and groups time. “It are advised to contact AUNTY YEMI for is mine. the publication of the photographs I saw it first,” of your Christmas party and New claimed one Year activities at an cat. While the affordable rate.

O Speaking out!

WHILE playing in the backyard, Little Johnny kills a honeybee. His father sees him killing the honeybee and angrily says, “No honey for you for one month!” Later that afternoon, Johnny’s dad catches him tearing the wings off a butterfly. “That’s it! No butter for you for one month!” says his dad. Later that evening as Johnny’s mother cooks dinner, a cockroach run across the kitchen floor. She jumps and stomps on it, and then looks up to find Little Johnny and her husband watching her. Little Johnny looks at his father and says, “Are you going to tell her, Dad, or do you want me to?”

the pain for a few days. Camara was given the necessary treatment but it was unfortunate that she missed an award she was to be given by the school authority as the overall best student for the academic session because she was on the hospital bed. Dear children, you are very young with little or no experience about events happening around you. So, it is important to ask questions from your parents about everything that you see, feel or hear. That way, you will save yourself from trouble or prevent your parents from unnecessary spending.

GET INSPIRED

IT was the second day that Camara had been suffering from stomach pain without telling her parents. As it was the practice among her friends, she asked a few of them what could be the cause but none could give her an answer. A few hours after their discussion, she fainted and was rushed to the hospital. Her parents were called and they rushed down to the hospital. A series of tests were carried out and she was told she had ulcer. It was there that she told her parents she had been experiencing

NCE upon a time, two cats were passing through a street. Suddenly, they spotted a loaf of bread lying beneath a tree. Both pounced upon it and caught the loaf at

other said, “I pounced upon it first and so it belongs to me.” After having fought for a while, one cat said, “Let us divide it into two and take one piece each.” “Indeed, a good idea,” said the other cat. “But how do we divide it now?” A monkey sitting on the

branch of the tree had watched all that happened between the two cats. “That loaf of bread looks good. I could do with it myself,” he thought. Slowly he came down from the tree and walked up to the confused cats. “Yes, my dear friends! Can I help you?” asked the monkey. The cats told the monkey what the problem was and said, “Why don’t you be the judge between us?” When the monkey nodded, the cats said, “Please divide this loaf for

Puzzle

a r t O O n

us.” The clever monkey smilingly broke the bread into two pieces. But one piece was a little bigger than the other. “Oh no! I will take a little bite of this bigger piece to make both equal,” said the monkey, slyly. He took a bite from the bigger piece. But, he had taken a big bite. “Uh oh! Now it has become smaller than the other piece. I will just have to take a little bite from this piece now,” said the clever monkey. The Judge Monkey took another bite. The two cats sat in front of the monkey, seeing the loaf of bread they had found getting smaller and smaller. When the whole loaf was eaten by the monkey, the monkey said, “I am sorry. It was really difficult to divide that loaf. I must be going now.” And the monkey jumped onto the tree and was gone. “If only we had not quarrelled among ourselves, we would have remained united and need not have gone to the monkey and would not now be hungry,” said the two cats.

Jumbled Words 1. SMEUO 2. FTASRWEO 3. EAYBDOKR 4. NERNIETT 5. MORNITO 6. GSAME 7. ICOAIPAPLTSN 8. OPSOESRCR 9. IMFOCTORS 10. AADT

3 December, 2016

weekend cartoons

Saturday Tribune

Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638

Just a Laffing Mata

One for me, One for you

POLITICO

TWO little boys stole a big bag of oranges from a neighbour and decided to go to a quiet place to share the lot equally. One of them suggested a nearby cemetery. As they were jumping over the gate to enter the cemetery, two oranges fell out of the bag but they didn’t bother to pick them since they had more than enough in the bag. Few minutes later, a drunkard on his way from a bar, passed near the cemetery gate and heard a voice saying: “One For Me, One For You, One For Me, One For You”. He immediately sobered up and ran as fast as he could to a nearby Church, to tell the pastor-in-charge. “Pastor, please come with me. Come and witness God and Satan sharing corpses at the cemetery”. They both ran back to the cemetery gate and the voice continued: “One For Me, One For You, One For Me, One For You’. Suddenly, the voice stopped counting and said: “What about the two at the gate?”. Hearing this, the drunkard and the priest almost ran pass the church gate shouting:”We are not dead yet oohh!”

Husband and wife

FUNOLOGY

A man gets home at midnight and knocks the door: Wife: Go back to where you are coming from! Husband: Open the door or I will throw myself into the swimming pool! Wife: Go ahead and kill yourself, do you think I care? So the man stands near the dark part of the gate and waits for two minutes, takes a big stone and throws it into the swimming pool. ...Scheweew! His wife hears, opens the door and runs towards the swimming pool. The man quickly sneaks into the house, then locks the door. Wife: Open the door or I will shout! Husband: Shout till all the neighbours wake up and come here. Tell them where you are coming from by this time of the night with only pant and bra!

RECESSION BLUES

CANDID SHOT

Agodi Gardens, Ibadan! PHOTO: ADEREMI DAVIES

outofthisworld Behold, five-star public toilet built in China

ANY people generally avoid going into public toilets unless it is absolutely necessary. This is because most of them are dirty, over used and are uninviting. But how will you react if you are told there is a public toilet that has five-star facilities? Well, a five-star toilet has just been opened in a town in China. This five-star toilet was built in the Bishan District of Chongqing, China. The toilet has an elegant interior design and quality materials like marble floors, granite imitation walls, lacquered wood doors and urinal separators and even chandelier. It also come with a central heating system and 24-hour air-conditioning system that keep the place at a constant 26 degrees celsius all year round. According to odditycentral.com, the lavatories are adorned with lovely paintings and live plants. It also features inductive water flushing equipment and even a high-quality stereo system that plays soothing music at all times.

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune WITH FEMI OSINUSI

osfem2@yahoo.com 08055069292

3 December, 2016

The South-West Edited by Kehinde Oyetimi | 08074626431

Saturday Tribune CREW

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We need infrastructural developments —Oba Olufemi Olutoye

Maj-Gen. Olufemi Olutoye (Rtd.), is the traditional ruler of Ido Ani in Ose local government area of Ondo state. He shares his experience on the throne, his plans to change the face of the town and other sundry issues with HAKEEM GBADAMOSI. Excerpts:

AN you share your growing up with us? I was born in Ido Ani but I spent a great part of my elementary days in Benin City where my father was a headmaster in the CMS, St James School and from there I went to Government College, Ibadan. I went to Government College in 1945 and finished in 1949 and went to University College in 1950 for a degree and left in 1954. I went to Cambridge University in 1965 and came back to teach at what was known as Oluwa College in Ijebu Ode then but is now called Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode. I ran away from teaching to join the Army in 1957 and I retired in 1977. So that’s it What inspired you to drop the chalk and join the military then? As a university graduate and with all my background, I reached the top of teaching and had nothing challenging to look forward to, though teaching is a little bit different now. Secondly, I wanted a bit of adventure. I taught in a public school in England briefly and there was the Cadet corp where young boys were given uniforms then and I thought can’t we have this in any of our schools in Nigeria. I was interested anyway and coupled with the fact that I had already reached the limit of teaching, I was Principal of a school for a year, maybe I would have continued but circumstances made things impossible for me to continue, so I had to desert teaching. Not that I believe that my reward was in heaven, I didn’t share that view because my father was a teacher who taught for almost 40 years. That’s how I got

into Army and retired in March1977. Two years on the throne, how has the journey been so far? I must confess that I am enjoying every bit of it. Though there was some opposition before I was enthroned. Initially when I was invited, there was no opposition at all but two months after indicating my interest, people started showing up but God’s wiser counsel prevailed maybe because of my pedigree and because they knew I have more to offer and they accepted and gave me the staff of office on the 9th October, 2014. Some of my opponents went to court and when they got to court they messed up their case and the judge said they should go home as they had no case. But I must thank God that since we started this struggle, no single soul has been lost, not one life since we started. But life goes on, I have been coping with the new life though it’s not been easy but I must confess that I am enjoying it because I enjoy giving back to my community and I commit all I have into it to make the lives of the people better and also to develop this great town, Ido- Ani. What’s your vision for Ido Ani as the traditional head of the town? I want to encourage farming in a big way and within the next few months we will begin to see some of the results of my exploration. Fortunately, we still believe here that the land belongs to the king and this makes it easier. I have invited some people, they’ve been here and also some foreign investors too have indicated their willingness to come. My emphasis is on agriculture because I am

sure that once we can feed ourselves, things will be a little bit easier. A hungry man is an angry man, if you’re no longer described as hungry then you can reason and do something reasonable but when you are hungry and angry, you tend to do things which people will describe as unreasonable. Again I have also gotten in touch with some ministries in Abuja too and there is assurance that we will make it, I can assure you that in less than two years, people will be feeling the impact here. Another area I will like to invest in is education of our children. I want to encourage our young ones because sustainable development begins with education and it’s been a fact all over the world that education is a catalyst to development. So we are trying to encourage our children to take their education seriously in order to conquer poverty. I also thank God for the peace we are experiencing in the town in the past two years and appreciate all the people of the town for supporting me in building this town. I am very sure development will surely come our way very soon because we can only plan to develop the town if there is peace and the peace is here. In terms of physical development, have you been able to do anything and how will you use your position to attract development to this town? We have had this misfortune in the past that here we belong to the opposition and when you belong to the opposition, government will sideline you completely and that’s the result of what you’re seeing. I don’t belong to any party but I encourage all o them that whatever party you’re, bring something back home and I guess that is how politics should be played, give back to the people of your community. Here, we need some in-

It is part of slavery for you to know all the languages of the world but can’t speak or understand your language.

frastructural developments, for instance we have not had light here for almost two years and I cannot install this single handedly but we are working hand in hand with our sons and daughters across the globe to develop this town. We are involving them because the task of ruling this town cannot be done alone. I must tell you that we are receiving positive response from them and I believe that with them, we can change the face of Ido Ani. Has your background assisted you in governing the town in any particular way? Yes, I think it has really helped me a lot because of my friends who have been showing interest in bringing real development to the town and since what’s paramount to me is how to develop this town, I have been welcoming ideas from them on how we can turn Ido Ani around and help develop our people. Traditional rulers are believed to have more than one wife, are you planning to marry a second wife? It is nothing but ignorance, though circumstances can force you to marry two or more wives but as this stage of my life, marrying another woman is turning the woman into a slave. I am a grandfather already, so for me, it is not acceptable and more so my religion does not permit it and I still love my wife very much. What’s your take on promoting our culture especially the Yoruba language? This is very important. We need to promote our culture and guide against Yoruba language going into extinction like some languages. We must cultivate the habit of speaking the language to our children. Not only Yoruba language, we must save African languages and to do this, we must start from our homes. It is part of slavery for you to know all the languages of the world but can’t speak or understand your language. We should promote our language and encourage our children to speak Yoruba at home. I must tell you that Yoruba language is rich and distinct, I am proud to be a Yoruba man, My wife is the only Professor of Yoruba in the whole world and we encourage our children to speak this language and not only that but to also embrace our culture. I want to call on government in this region to encourage the teaching of Yoruba in all our schools and let our children understand that we have the best culture in the whole world.

xquisite INTIMACY

3 December, 2016

STRICTLY FOR ADULTS

The reality of 24/7 sex

AST week, we considered the benefits of daily sex. The response was awesome and revealing. It has reinforced the notion that sex is a major factor in any marriage that will experience success. It has heightened my resolve to consider the subject of sex more than ever before, in order to save the marriage institution from the rampaging divorce floodgate. However, I am convinced about the need to consider

the reality of daily sex in marriage because a reader of this column raised a point of caution that daily sex could lead to a shorter life span and also affect one’s health. The reason is to lay all the cards about sex on the table for us and then allow each couple decides what is good enough for their marriage. Daily sex is attainable, depending on individuals involved. You can have sex daily and still live for long and stay

CONVERSE WITH YEMISI

Saturday Tribune

With Bosede Ola-Samuel 08112658560 bosedeola_samuel@yahoo.com healthy. But if you are going to do so, then you have some issues to take note of as follows: Daily sex involvement requires taking into consideration the, • Health status of the couple. How healthy your partner is will determine if daily sex is desirable or not. Where the health of a partner is suspect, daily sex will not be desirable. Doing so is to send the concerned partner to early grave. • Nature of the job, social activities and other responsibilities of the couple. When the couple has a schedule of from morning to night, the issue of daily sex is ruled out. • Sex drive of the couple .This may be high, low or moderate. If the partners have high libido, then daily sex for them will just be perfect, without posing any danger to the couple. But where the partners differs , an alternative will have to be considered. • Sexual orientation of the couple. What information is available to each partner on sex issues. • The level of privacy at home. Where a couple lives in an apartment that does not allow for much privacy, either due to the presence of others, including children, daily sex may be difficult to achieve. It will not be ideal to attract neighbours with our sexual gymnastics. • Benefits of daily sex All the above must be carefully considered before a couple can decide on daily sex in marriage. If a couple is comfortable with daily sex, based on the above factors, among others, there should be no hard feelings about it. We should respect their decision without any negative effect on what ours is. That is why no two marriages are the same. Every couple will have to work out what is good for them. No basis for comparisons to force other couples decision on our marriage. In response to my readers’ request, I have packaged some of my previous articles into a book with the title: ENJOYING GREAT SEXLIFE. You can call me on 08112658560 for the book

08055001741 (sms only) yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com

Re: Still on premature ejaculation Dear Yemisi, I cannot last more than a minute in bed for years. I used various medications and herbals, but nothing changed. I have given up. Ishaq, Gombe, 0*06******5. •••••••••• Dear Yemisi, I am having issue with quick ejaculation. How can I get out of this predicament? Francis, 08**5****** •••••••••••• Dear Yemisi, I am a- 40- year old man. I am having issues with my sex life. I have discovered that I ejaculate quickly. I have taken so many herbs and drugs but all seem not working. I will be glad if you can advise me on what to do. Thanks, vickey4real2016. ••••••••• pDear Yemisi, Kindly help out of this serious mess I have been having with my wife sexually. I have been having premature ejaculation for so long. Also, I can’t stay up to a minute with my wife. Kindly help me, Anonymous.. •••••••• Dear Yemisi, What can I do to solve this problem of mine? I ejuculate within 10 seconds. What can I do to solve this problem? Kamo. •••••••••• Dear Yemisi, I cannot have sex for 20 minutes. What could have made my manhood weak? After going for one round, my penis will just go to sleep. Please, help me, Anonymous, 080***87**0.

•••••••••• Dear Yemisi, Kindly help me out of this mess. My wife is not happy with me because I ejaculate too early. I cannot stay up to one minute. Please, help me. Anonymous, 0*0**5***1*. •••••••••• Dear Yemisi, I have an issue with my sex ability. I discharge within a minute. Secondly, my manhood is very small when compared with my age. Kindly, bail me out. Worried Man, 08*******09. Dear brothers, I have decided to reply you all together because you have the same problem with premature ejaculation. This is not the time to give up as being threatened by one of you , but the time to take your destiny in your hands. Ejaculating too early could be described as releasing before or shortly after sexual penetration. It happens with minimal sexual stimulation and before you wish that results in unsatisfactory sex life for both partners. Premature ejaculation is one of the most common forms of male sexual dysfunction. I want all of you to see the problem as not being the only one suffering this problem. Every male adult will, at one time experience this anomaly. Findings have not been able to detect the major cause of the problem. One can only get over it with sexual experience and age, majorly by delaying orgasm. It is presumed that premature ejaculation tends to occur with a new partner. It may happen

only in certain sexual situations or if it has been a long time since the last ejaculation. Psychological factors such as anxiety, guilt, or depression can also cause it. Its cause could also be medical as it manifests through hormonal problems, injury, or a side effect of certain medicines. In many cases premature ejaculation gets better on its own over time. Treatment may not be needed. Practising relaxation techniques or using distraction methods may help you delay ejaculation. For some men, stopping or cutting down on the use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs may improve how well they can control ejaculation. Your visit to your doctor is the only sure way out of the problem as counsel from friends will confuse you the more. Your doctor may recommend that you and your partner practise certain techniques to help delay ejaculation which explains why you must see the doctor with your partner. I am not talking about your sex partner, but your wife. The sessions with your doctor might involve asking you both questions on how you feel while in the act. Your doctor may even decide to teach you how to identify and control the sensations that lead up to ejaculation and learn how to communicate with your partner to slow or stop stimulation. Having sexual intercourse should be seen as fun rather than a do or die issue. If you have not been using condom before, your visit might reveal why you need to wear condom when next you are going to have sex with your partner so as to reduce sensation. Have you ever considered varying your positioning during intercourse? This might be the solution to having a prolonged ejaculation that will enhance your sex life. You equally need counselling on how to reduce anxiety related to premature ejaculation.

29 quisite Continued from pg9

My sojourn in broadcasting I came from a family of educationists and when I finished my A-Levels, they wanted me to do the same but I said no. Because there was no money to further my education, I had to stay at home. One day, I was at home speaking to someone when my aunty, Anike Agbaje who came for a visit heard me and asked my mum the identity of the person that was speaking such good English; she replied that it was Doyin. She then asked me to follow her to Ibadan to do audition at WNTV, WNBS. That was how I started my career in the early 70s. I later studied Journalism and Mass Communication. I have a Masters degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. I had my journalism training in London. Prices paid to get to the top Well, I am blessed in many ways because my path to the top was not too much of a struggle. I think my being hard working paid off over time. When I started my career in WNTV and WNBS, I was doing my thing and enjoying it. I was working hard and getting results unknown to me, my boss was watching me. He then advised me to go back to school and gave me his slot at a school of journalism and communication in London to study journalism. When I came back from my studies, NTA, Abeokuta was just starting and because I am a native of Abeokuta, I was transferred to Abeokuta to head the presentation department. It was while on that job that the Ogun State Properties and Investment Corporation (OPIC) started and the managing director sent for me and asked me to come and head the public relations department of the organisation. I left NTA after 12 years and worked at OPIC for eight years before retiring. I then started my own PR Company. So, for me, the prices I paid were hard work, dedication to duty and perseverance.

3 December, 2016 Works, Housing and Transport. I was surprised because I am a broadcaster and wondered why I was put me in Works but despite that, I gave it my all. I later asked my boss how he came about my choice as commissioner and he said it was because I am very hard working, a goal getter, effective and I deliver. All those are positive attribute of a good worker and I think that was why they kept bringing me back, because government goes government comes. I served during the era of Colonel Sam Ewang, Colonel Olofinmoyin and during the time of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, I served as chairman, board of Ogun State Television and later, the chief executive of Culture a n d

Combining my career with the home front At the time God decided to lift me up, my children were all grown up. If they had not grown to the extent of taking care of themselves and understanding the reason mummy had to come at night or why mummy had many visitors around, I may not have taken up the responsibility. So, I think it is just following the time table of God for my life, that there is time for everything. There was time I had to take care of the children, give them my full attention.

Young mothers should do jobs that will allow them time for the children —Doyin Ogunbiyi

Tourism. How I became a commissioner despite not being a politician Politics didn’t put me in the position of commissioner. I think it is the path of destiny because I became a commissioner during the military era. I was just picked from the blues without recommendation or nomination by anybody. I was at home one day, when my neighbour knocked on my door and said that I had been announced a commissioner. I didn’t believe it because then, I was a nobody. In fact, that was when I was experiencing poverty. It was a week after the announcement was made that some people came to ask for my CV and asked for the local government I came from. The first portfolio was Information, Sport and Culture. Later when the Ministry of Women Affairs started, I was reappointed as Commissioner for Women Affairs. When Colonel Olofinmoyin came to power, I was announced as the Commissioner for

What motivates me Firstly, let me say I am inspired by the Holy Spirit and by virtue of my upbringing because I came from a strong Christian home, a Catholic church for that matter. I am motivated by God

Saturday Tribune

majorly to do anything I want to do and I love making people happy. I don’t like seeing people suffer and that was what led me into social welfare. I go to motherless babies home, I do a lot of social welfare activity in my own personal capacity. Even quarterly, I overhaul my house to give something out to people as a family tradition.

It takes the fear of God, good home training and self discipline and the grace to stand, otherwise you will continue to fall into every man’s hand, because they will entice you with money. So it is very risky for young women to go into politics unless they are single.

Advice to young women on how to combine their homes with their career Well, I have daughters too and I know what they do. What I recommend is that when a young lady is newly married, building a home and raising children, she has to be very careful. It is not the time that you are trying to build a home and family that you need a stressful career like politics that takes too much of your time. I am not saying women should be a full house wife; a woman must be busy with her hand and brain to earn income for the family. However, I draw the line between my h o m e and my office. I tell people I am a w o m a n in my home but in my office, I am not a woman, I am a professional. So, for young mothers, find a job that gives you more time for your children till they are grown up. Once they are all grown, you are free. It takes self discipline for a woman not to pay a price in politics because men will always be after them. To me, eternity is real; there must be an end to this journey and I will give all it takes to go to heaven. It takes the fear of God, good home training and self discipline and the grace to stand, otherwise you will continue to fall into every man’s hand, because they will always entice you with money. So, it is very risky for young women to go into politics unless they are single. Advice for young people out there I am passionate about the youth but I am not happy about what the society has to offer them. We are not helping the generation of our youth as a people and as a government. My advice for youths is for them to take their destinies into their hands because we lack role models now. We lack community training, especially in this democratic era where our youths are being employed as political thugs. Government is paying lip service to youth development. When they say they want to empower them, they give them rice and they give okada to those who are not trained on how to ride them. Our empowerment must start with giving our youths quality education.

x 30

quisite

3 December, 2016

FOOD

Saturday Tribune BLESSING GBARADA ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

Dr Agona Obembe, a minister with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, an Associate professor of Physiology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, shares with BLESSING GBARADA, the recipe for the latest trend in Calabar cuisines and its numerous health benefits HOW do you manage your feeding with your schedule? t is all about getting your priorities right and managing your time effectively. However, my family comes first. Inasmuch I have these responsibilities, I don’t joke with my meals and I exercise a lot to watch my weight. I make sure I take breakfast and even when I am too busy to eat proper lunch, I make sure I take juice and fruits. For dinner, I don’t take heavy meals, so that I would have a good sleep, but I make sure it is balanced.

Where are you from? I am from Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, though I am married to a Yoruba man, from Ekiti State. Indigenes from Ekiti State are known for their love for pounded yam. How did you adjust in your early years of marriage? Well, it was more like moving from one level of pounded yam exposure to another because Obubra people take lots of yam. So, I didn’t have much of a problem meeting someone who w a s also into

with Unripe plantain Great for diabetes, cowtail: weight control yams. How about other Yoruba dishes? I am fortunate that my husband is exposed to meals from other places and not just the traditional Yoruba dishes. In fact, I had to learn some Yoruba dishes that he didn’t even know and I also introduced some of the dishes in my place that used the basic Yoruba ingredients but differed in preparation, for instance, ewedu. We don’t use broom to prepare it like Yoruba people do. He has come to enjoy my local dishes and even my mother-in-law too enjoys them. The only thing I had to get used to was pepper because Yoruba love lots of pepper. Does high consumption of pepper have any physiological implication? From the physiological point, researches have been done on pepper, acid secretion and ulceration, and it has been discovered that despite the relatively high intake of pepper by Yoruba people, they don’t have ulcer. Whereas, southerners who don’t usually take as much pepper, either stool or experience a burning sensation and that is the beginning of ulcer. This doesn’t mean that there are Yoruba who can’t tolerate that much pepper. What dish is unique to your people? In Obubra, there really isn’t any special dish per se, because the villagers are more into farming than festivities. However, currently, the trend in Calabar is unripe plantain with cowtail. In fact, no occasion is complete without

unripe plantain with cowtail. Most people no longer want rice, no matter the variety. What is special about this dish? Actually, this dish is one meal that can be tolerated by all kinds of people no matter their health challenge. Diabetics, those who can’t tolerate palm oil, those who are watching their weight can also take it and it is great for old people too. It is rich in iron and has little or no starch. It is balanced, filling and also very tasty. What are the ingredients needed in its preparation? You will need unripe plantain, crayfish, dried fish, scent leaves, cowtail (bushmeat or ponmo where cowtail is not available), groundnut oil, onions, pepper, salt and seasoning. How is it prepared? Wash the plantain and peel off the skin. Scrape the strands off the peeled plantain and keep aside to be used as thickener. Chop the plantain into big chunks. Blend a lot of crayfish and clean the dried fish. Cook the cowtail. Place the plantain in a pot and add a little quantity of water. Add the onions, pepper, salt, cubed seasoning and allow to cook till the plantain is a bit soft. Add the crayfish and dried fish and the cowtail. Add a bit of groundnut oil; but in the absence of that, you could use vegetable oil. Allow to cook thoroughly to remove the raw taste of the groundnut oil. Stir. Add the shredded scent leaves and allow to simmer for a while. Serve.

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

interview

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Why we are setting up paramilitary outfit —Jigawa Deputy Governor Jigawa State deputy governor, Mr Ibrahim Hassan, speaks on the decision of the state government to promulgate a law to control the increasing violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers, threatening agricultural development, peace and stability in the state. ADAMU AMADU brings excerpts.

he state government recently sponsored a bill in the state House of Assembly which became a law that imposes severe sanctions on cattle encroachment on farmlands. Was the government aware of its political implication? It is not a new law; it has been there before the advent of our administration. When we came into office, the issue of Fulani cattle and farmers came up at a council meeting. This has been a perennial issue and the council decided that a committee be set up to look into the issue. The committee was chaired by me and it had all emirs, farmers and herdsmen’s association and all the security agencies, as members. The first thing I did was that I called for a copy of the law establishing the Farmers and Herdsmen Board and study it very careful. I called for an inaugural meeting and by the time we listed out all the eleven problems that we believed are responsible for the clashes, I came to realise that all these problems could be solved with prudent application of that existing law. I explained this to the members and I told them we need not waste time holding several meetings on the issue. I made copies of the law to everybody and we had one meeting where we all agreed, on a point-by point-basis, that all the identified problems could be taken care of if this law was applied. What I realised was that even the members of the farmers and herdsmen board were not conversant with the law; they didn’t care or bothered to look at it. This is a law that calls for the establishment of a paramilitary group within that board that would be responsible for guarding grazing reserves for ensuring peaceful coordination and ensuring that these herdsmen, when they come in at a particular time of the year, are restricted to their cattle routes and their designated places. These rangers, apart from being a paramilitary group, have been empowered by that law to arrest violators of the law. Their power of arrest is more than that of the police because they can arrest on mere suspicion while the police will need a warrant. This law bans night grazing, grazing in group, and sending under-aged on grazing, among others. Most of the crises that happened take place at night and penalties are spelt out in the law for anyone caught grazing at night and other offences. This law provides that any herdsman that strays into a farmer’s land and destroys his crops can be arrested and all his cows caught in the destruction of the farmland would be confiscated. The law also said you should get a court order and sell the confiscated cows to compensate the farmer and also pay the expenses for the implementation of that particular law. This law designates cattle routes to control the entry and exit of herdsmen. But the clashes persist between the herdsmen and farmers. What could have gone wrong? Unfortunately, a lot of attention has not been paid to the plights of farmers who fall victims to Fulani herdsmen and every time we raised questions, they tell us they are not local Fulani people but itinerary Fulani herdsmen coming from other places. We found out that it is not true as we sold some cows recently which, from all indications, belonged to the people in the localities. A few arrests have been made and what we intend to do is to apply the full force of the law as inherited and contained in the laws establishing the Farmers and Herdsmen Board. There is nothing new that we have introduced; it is not a new bill or a new system. It is the same law and it is the staffers of the board that are implementing these policies. It is simply a question of us waking up to our responsibilities. You earlier mentioned a paramilitary outfit, the rangers, enforcing the law. Does the government have the intention of establishing such an outfit in the state? Absolutely! The law provides for them; we are supposed to equip them; provide them with uniforms and train them in a special method of enforcing this law. We are already

no confidence in the police? We can’t say we don’t have much confidence on the police. I’m talking about specific references where we are providing logistics for the police to go and chase out those herders. Sometimes, we don’t know what happens when they make arrests and sometimes we are told those arrested have been released. Sometimes, the police will go to the scene of a clash and the farmers will show them where the Fulani herdsmen are. But the police will say they have not been trained to cross water; the water that is beneath your ankle. So, we believe there are individual policemen or maybe heads of divisions who are not as cooperative as we want them to be. That is why the issue of establishing the paramilitary force is very important to us. These are people we will have under our control and who have been given the training. If need be, we would train them to swim so that, no matter where Fulani herdsmen cross to with their cows, we would be able to track them. We have been getting supports from the police; virtually all the arrests we have made, in the two or three instances where we have confiscated cows, we have used the police and we have used the NSCDC to guard these cows where they are being kept. We have gotten our court orders according to the law. We cannot say we are 100 per cent satisfied; we have one or two issues, but, in general, I think the police have done well to support our efforts.

discussing with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) because the corps also have a special unit set up to checkmate cattle rustling. So, you would find out that it is also something similar. By the time we engage them with that unit, we would combine them to be a joint patrol to ensure that our grazing reserves are protected. That is what our neighbours are doing in the Republic of Niger. If you go there, if they catch one stolen cow in your herd, even if it is 2,000 cows, you will lose them all. There, if you come into one state with your cows and you are given permission to stay, it is there you must stay. While you are in that state, you will be buying grass at your own expense for your cows, and you will hardly hear a case of conflict. A Fulani herdsman cannot come all the way through five countries in West Africa, passing through Senegal and Niger and obeying all their laws, but at the moment you cross over into Nigeria, you become lawless because you don’t respect our laws here; we cannot allow that to continue. The state government, at a recent meeting, faulted the police in curtailing Fulani herdsmen/farmers’ clashes. Does that mean your administration has

A Fulani herdsman cannot come all the way through five countries in West Africa, passing through Senegal and Niger and obeying all their laws, but at the moment you cross over into Nigeria, you become lawless because you don’t respect our laws here; we cannot allow that to continue.

How many cows have been confiscated since your committee started working? We confiscated 58 cows in Marma Village. After two weeks of investigations, we found out that those particular cows were not those that inflicted the damages in the village. After we had cross-referenced, we released the confiscated cows to the owner and even paid him to transport back to his remaining herd. We have arrested another set of 18 cows in Iwo Village, in Kirikasnma Local Government Area, which have been sold off, even though the amount realised was not enough to pay for the compensation. These cows were being sold in the presence of the court; in fact, the court was the one that took charge of the process last time-in the presence of Miyetti Allah; in the presence of security agencies and in a fair and transparent manner. Right now, we have in our custody about 30 cows and we are in the process of getting a court order to also sell them, even though I understand that the owners have appeared and are trying to arrange a settlement. What I will always say is that the law must always takes its course as the law provides that your cattle should be sold if you are caught in the act. So, it is not about the individual farmer or a herdsman; we need to show examples that we are serious about this. Even if we are going to become one state that would ensure a peaceful farmer and pastoralist relationship, we will do everything at our disposal to ensure that this is achieved.

What are you doing to maintain the preservation of grazing reserves for Fulani cattle breeders? There is no incidence so far that is as a result of inadequate grazing reserves or farmers blocking cattle routes. If there were farmers that have encroached into any grazing reserve, the law would be applied, even if you have built a house there, we will demolish it; we are working for both sides. Our grazing reserves are intact; they are being gazette. As at now, we have gazetted about 12 out of about 74 grazing reserves that we have and we are in the process of developing them; development means physical demarcation, either with drums or some typical objects and then try to remove poisonous weeds and as time goes on, during the rainy season, we will try to receive them with good pastoral grass. The issue of grazing reserves is also about our mentality. These people are nomadic in nature and there is no scientific report that has not shown that it is better to keep your cows in one place and feed them, rather than roaming round the whole continent, burning up energy. It is something that will take time for it is a cultural thing, but we are trying to change some of these habits.

34 feature

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Agony in their

Though the rains are over this year, WALE EMOSU, against the background of the prediction by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA) early in the year that some cities might experience flash flood, over time monitored some flood-prone areas in Ibadan. However, their travails, he reports, may not have come to an end; they might just have been postponed.

The flooded Omi-Adio market after a downpour. PHOTOS: WALE EMOSU.

Occupants of a flooded house with their belongings, at Omi-Adio.

Happiness Daniel

T was some minutes past 17.00 hours on that Sunday. There were some dark patches in the sky: it looked like rain. From a distance, Happiness Daniel could be seen chatting with a group of boys his age. A further few meters away was the bungalow that serves as shelter for his family – his father’s private property. For Happiness, 19, that discussion with his peers must have been with a tinge of fear and trepidation because he must have been thinking that if indeed it started to rain, their residence was the last place he could seek shelter. In fact, the likelihood of the rain falling had drawn Happiness out of the house; if it must rain, he had better not be ‘trapped’ in the house. “That’s why [the likelihood of a rain] I am not at home,” he told Saturday Tribune. The disaster of the last flooding was still fresh in the mind of the teenager, like any other resident of Gbekuba area of Apata, Ibadan. Like a thief in the night, the rain of June 1, 2016, which started at about 6.30 p.m. until the early hours of the following day, had stripped many residents of their possessions. The things lost to the flooding ranged from cars and electronics to human lives. The perimeter fences of a number of houses were also pulled down. A poultry in the area lost many birds to the disaster. In the estimation of Happiness, the June flooding was “the greatest flooding that we have recorded at Gbekuba.” Since then, whenever they can help it, Gbekuba residents adopt various means, including abandoning their homes, to beat an impending disaster which a potential rain forebodes in the area. Afeez Lawal, a generator repairer who has lived in the Gbekuba area for 30 years, told of the tragic lot of his family in the June 1 incident. Afeez had divulged the confused state of mind of Happiness to Saturday Tribune about the cloudy weather before the teenager himself spoke to this reporter. According to Afeez, one of the two persons killed in the flooding was his stepmother, Bolatito Lawal, who had gone out in the rain to trace her son Deji, who she had sent on an errand before the rain started. In the process of looking for Deji, Mrs Lawal misstepped and got washed away by the flood. While the body of the second casualty on the night, a certain Baba Ijebu, was found, that of Mrs Lawal was never found. Deji later returned home unscathed. For the people of Gbekuba and some other

Alhaji Husaeni Raji

Sacked Omi traders with their wares on the main road.

Afeez Lawal

parts of Ibadan, indeed, when it rains, it pours. The NHSA prediction Since 2012 when Nigeria experienced the most terrible flood on record, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA) has always made public the flood outlook every year. The purpose is to help relevant agencies put in place pre-emptive measures against this menace. In July this year, the agency predicted flash flood in certain parts of the country and against that background, advised affected state governments to take steps at ensuring that flooding is controlled in their domains. The cities likely to witness flash flood, according to the NHSA, are Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Yola. The following month, the Oyo State government made pronouncements to stem flood disaster, once again, in its capital. The state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Isaac Ishola, highlighted measures, which he believed, if they were strictly abided by, would banish flooding from the city. To avoid flooding, Ishola called for an end to dumping of refuse in the river, building on waterways, an appeal to residents of flood-prone areas to always relocate once the rain does not stop after 30 minutes, among others. To mitigate the effects of the rains and avoid flooding within the metropolis, the government promised to expand some of the waterways. In the rain of August 31, 1980 in the Oyo State capital, scores

Chief Gafar Adewale, Maye Balogun Omi Adio

Sabitu Ogundairo

of lives with properties worth millions of naira were lost. Juju musician, Ebenezer Obey, dubbed the downpour ‘ojo abami’ (weird rain). Over 100 lives and properties in millions of naira were also lost in the August 26, 2011 tragedy that attended the Ibadan rain. Indeed, August rarely augurs well in the city. The city has recorded some other flood disasters that took place at different times of the year. It is no longer the 1965 Ibadan of the poet, J. P. Clark that was merely “running splash of rust and gold-flung among seven hills like broken china in the sun.” Now, the waters run with the potency to endanger lives and properties in Ibadan, which accounts for 11 out of the total 33 local government areas in Oyo State. Against the background of government’s warnings, Saturday Tribune visited some of the flood-prone areas as identified by the government itself for an interface with the residents. Gbekuba happens to be one of those areas and its probing culminated in the experiences relayed to Saturday Tribune by Hapiness, Afeez and Wasiu Abioye, a carpenter who had described the Aba Alfa river – always at the centre of flooding in the area –as ‘agbako’ (monster) when this reporter told him his mission to the area. Wasiu, uncle to Afeez, confirmed the latter’s story of the loss of his stepmother (Wasiu’s sister-in-law) to the June 1 flooding in Gbekuba. Omi-Adio is located in Ido Local Government Area of the state. Apart from its residential neighbourhood, it boasts of a wholesale farm produce market where traders from virtually all the

I don’t have anywhere else to go; I am a pensioner... Now someone who has laboured for 35 years with just this [pointing to his building] to show for it, please, where do you say such a person should go? I have nowhere to go, I am already pushed to the wall.

35 feature

3 December, 2016

voices Ogbonyabiona in front of his house.

Alhaji Amusa Oyesola

Chief Philip Faleti explaining a point to Saturday Tribune. Alhaji Murtala Kolapo six states in the South-West converge every five days for transactions. The community also had its share of the disaster of the June 1 flooding which sacked many people from their homes, apart from destroying their belongings. Speaking to Saturday Tribune, Alhaji Amusa Oyesola, the Baale Oloja, second in hierarchy to the Baba’loja (head of the traders) of Agbebukola market, spoke on behalf of his principal, Alhaji Raimi Olalekan, who was available but was indisposed to talk because he was bereaved, having just lost a relation. According to Alhaji Oyesola, produce lost to the June 1 flooding was worth millions of naira while the promise of relief materials to assuage the traders’ losses was yet to be fulfilled at the time of the visit to the market in October. Saturday Tribune’s correspondent was shown the list of 113 victims of the flooding compiled and given to officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) from Abuja who have not returned ever since. NEMA is the agency saddled with the responsibility of managing disasters in Nigeria. To guide against a future occurrence of flooding at the market or the neighbourhood, the octogenarian Alhaji Oyesola who claimed to have known Omi-Adio since when it was barely made up of about 20 huts many years ago, reasoned that the river required expansion as the community itself was fast developing. But Alhaji Husaeni Raji says an expansion work was carried out last year but believes that it was shabbily done. Alhaji Raji, born at the neighbouring Anisere Igisogba village, took this reporter round his area to see the damage flooding had done. He drew attention to the heights the water, after travelling about 100 metres, beset some residential buildings. The waterlogged jute vegetable and plantain farm behind his house also bore testimony of the havoc rain had wreaked in the area in recent times. Saturday Tribune also visited the main Omi-Adio river, but its calm nature that morning belied the stories of the pains the river had inflicted on the neighbourhood in times past. Face to face with flooding However, eight days later, the river was to be ‘caught’ in the act ravaging households again. Rain had fallen the night before. “Good morning, this is from Omi-Adio, can you come down now to see the extent of damage the rain is doing again?” Alhaji Raji had had the presence of mind to put a call through to this re-

porter. The time was 04.38am on Sunday - the Christian’s day of worship - soon to become another day of humanitarian service. Moments later, the lot and the losses of the Omi-Adio were to be discovered. This time, it was the whole of the neighbourhood was mourning; the entire Agbebukola market was flooded, forcing traders to display their wares on a side of the main road - the same Abeokuta-Ibadan road. This reporter had also arrived in good time to see some of the residents parking their belongings back into their houses. They had been salvaged when their rooms were becoming flooded in the middle of the night. A one-and-a-half-kilometre ride with Alhaji Raji on his neighbour, Taofeek Raji’s motorbike to his birthplace at Igisogba Anisere revealed more unimaginable havoc the rain had wreaked overnight. The residential buildings and structures over that distance were not spared. At least two vehicles were also seen half-merged. It was, therefore, a dejected Gafar Adewale that spoke to Saturday Tribune in that village. “Can we say these buildings are too close to the river? The river is about 200 feet away and you can see the damage the flood has done,” Adewale, the head of the landlord association in the Igisogba Anisere area, told this reporter while showing him round the flooded buildings. Some residents of Ayileka Street in the Odo-Ona area of Ibadan have a knotty issue on their hands and this has to do with the proximity of their structures to the river. A landlord in the area, Alhaji M. O. Osogbede, who told Saturday Tribune that he had been in the area since 1982, recalled that what he met was a stream. But what was known to be a stream many years ago has expanded to become a river and has consequently eaten into the space between it and the buildings. This has now exposed these buildings to flooding. Non-adherence to building codes is frowned upon by government with the attendant penalty being the demolition of such buildings, but where swings the pendulum of the law in a situation like this? In addition, the coordinator, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, Mr Dayo Ayorinde, had admonished residents of flood-prone areas to always evacuate if a rain did not subside after 30 minutes. ‘I will never abandon my house’ But some of these building owners have insisted that their structures can’t be demolished, more so when they consider the excruciating effort they put into erecting them; neither do they have the option to relocate, come rain, come shine. Sabitu Ogundairo is one of such persons in this category. Mr Ogundairo is a landlord at Gbaremu, another area of Ibadan and he has been living in his bungalow since 1996 when, according to him, the river in the area was just a stream. Now many years down the road, the stream has expanded into a river – and a ravaging one at that – during the rainy season. But with his status and the economic situation, if he is willing to move out of his house for the threat of the flood, he says he can’t help it. “I don’t have anywhere else to go; I am a pensioner. I retired from the Water Corporation of Oyo State in 2008 as a principal superintendent after 35 years in service. Now someone who has laboured for 35 years with just this [pointing to his building] to show for it, please, where do you say such a person should go?

Saturday Tribune

I have nowhere to go, I am already pushed to the wall,” he told Saturday Tribune. However, many have given up on the struggle against nature – not momentarily but for good – abandoning their buildings following persistent disturbance by rains. Such structures abound all over; from Gbaremu to Omi-Adio. Victims are not owners of residential buildings only; even religious outlets, after failed attempts to redeem the situation, have had to relocate. The main river at the Gbaremu area is known as ‘Odo Onigbese’ (meaning debtor river). It is so called, according to Alhaji Murtala Kolapo, a resident of the area for over 20 years, because many years before the area attained an urban status, many people, especially farmers, had often slipped and lost their farm produce at the river, which by then had no bridge. Consequently, the people, because they had always lost valuables at that spot, named it ‘Odo Onigbese’. “And we never knew that the havoc would ever be pronounced till now,” Alhaji Kolapo told Saturday Tribune. Thankfully, the river has been further dredged to arrest flooding in the area. But our reporter’s guide on the trip to the area, Mr Gilbert Ekwueme, looks at it from a spiritual angle, positing that the spirit behind the derogatory name could actually be responsible for the perennial havoc it wreaks. Landlords and tenants who have been made vulnerable to flooding as a result of the expansion of the river cannot afford to sleep with both eyes shut. Chief Philip Faleti, chairman of the landlords association in Ayileka area of Odo-Ona, joined by Alhaji Osogbede, Alhaji Onaade and Mr R. O. Akindele, in a cluster round this reporter, recalled their effort on the river in the area. “The bush along the river has just been cleared. Besides, we spend money on clearing the waterway of debris. Recently, we spent N45,000 (about $143) to clear this river. As you can see, we are old; we are pensioners, we can no longer fend for ourselves.” That amount may sound ridiculous, but for Nigerian pensioners who are not regularly paid, it is a whole lot. The Ayileka river, which flows into the main Odo-Ona river, did not enjoy the same privilege as the latter, which was one of the 14 rivers in Ibadan, recently dredged by the government to curtail flooding. One habit that still festers in the fight against flooding is the dumping of refuse into rivers and streams by some recalcitrant members of the public. Refuse dumped into rivers and streams blocks the waterways, forcing water to find new channels which may lead into houses and other properties. Even when it is obvious that dissuading them from that habit is in their own interest, perpetrators carry it out with abandon, daring and threatening whoever may want to put them in check. The white-livered ones among them have had to brave it to escape from the long arm of the law. And at times, they have had death stare them in the face. Chief Faleti told of how one fellow landlord was threatened with blindness by diabolical means by a woman who was told to desist from dumping refuse into rivers. Ayobami Akande, a Muslim cleric, told Saturday Tribune how, four days before, he had given an erring woman a chase, at the Aroye Orisumbare area of Gbaremu while trying to dump refuse into the river. With the day yet to fully break, the fleeing woman, according to Mr Akande, unwittingly fell into a low unguarded well. The saving grace for the woman, said Mr Akande, was that the well was dry and empty at that time. ‘I need govt’s assistance’ Throughout our correspondent’s adventures to all these flood-prone neighbourhoods, the case of one man looked most curious. He goes by the name Wahab Ogbonyabiona. A pass had just been made through the frontage of his house at the Aroye Orisumbare area of Gbaremu when he emerged to frontally accuse this reporter and his guide that we were on a sinister mission around the area. But after being told of the actual mission, he became relaxed and that was when the picture of the immediate environment was taken in. He must be vulnerable to flooding, considering how close his house was to the river. “No,” he said. Over time, town planning authorities had given him the all clear – he had not run foul of any known building law. And neither had he ever experienced flooding, even when his nearest neighbours were mourning their losses to rain. The Muslim cleric, Akande, also attested to this. Though unlettered, Mr Ogbonyabiona, who appeared to be in his 70s, proved to be a master even beyond his craft. “Anytime one speaks, because one is uneducated, they say one is talking nonsense,” he told Saturday Tribune. A trained bricklayer, apart from bringing his expertise to bear in fighting flooding around him, Ogbonyabiona has practically built houses occupied by the high and mighty in the land. He digs into history: “We left Lagos in 1975 for Benin City. It was during the time of Governor [Samuel] Ogbemudia. Two housing projects were contracted to our master, one of the houses was meant for Justice [Ephraim] Akpata. He tries to give the description of the location: From Sapele garage, tell anyone you are going to army barracks...” But Ogbonyabiona’s case is a perfect practical example of the needle that stitches people’s clothes which has remained naked itself. His accommodation mocks his profession. After ‘helping’ others to build mansions and other edifices, his own abode can at best be described as derelict. On one side of his are heaps of gutter sands he said he had gathered for sale to make ends meet for him and his children, his wife having died in 2015. And to the government he makes an appeal: “I don’t mind if they are willing to help me.”

news

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Enugu gov grants amnesty to 2 prisoners, commutes 5 death sentences Jude Ossai - Enugu

OVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Friday granted unconditional pardon to two inmates of the Enugu Prisons and commuted the death sentences of five other inmates to life imprisonment. Speaking at the Nigeria Prisons, Enugu, Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Miletus Eze, noted that the gesture was in line with the government’s policy on “Justice for All”.

Eze also said that Ugwuanyi exercised his constitutional power by granting the amnesty to some inmates of the Enugu Prisons, adding that the governor had the discretionary power to do so. “The governor of Enugu State has performed his statutory duty by granting amnesty to some inmates of the Enugu Prisons. “As you heard from the Enugu Prisons Comptroller General, since 1999, this exercise has not been carried out in Enugu State but because of the nature of the governor we have, he has decided to carry out this

function”, he said. Asked whether the exercise would henceforth be carried out regularly, Eze, who is also the chairman of the Enugu State’s Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, noted: “If you recommend daily to him, he has the discretion to decide whether to exercise it or not, but I can assure you that with the type of disposition he has, it will be done from time to time.” Earlier, the Enugu Prisons Comptroller, Mr Ifeanyi Isaiah Amalili, who received the governor’s order for clemency from the Attorney-General, described the

gesture as historic, stressing that the governor had done a noble thing that would go a long way to give relief to the inmates affected. “We extend our gratitude to the governor because since 1999, this is the first time we are witnessing this.

THE Federal Polytechnic, Ede, has trained over 4,000 final year students on various agricultural programmes with a view to accelerating youth’s agricultural entrepreneurship skill. The agricultural programme, which was meant to make the students selfreliant, was flagged off between the management of

the institution and Agrikk Matas Institute, in Osogbo. The Rector of the institution, Patrick Husseini, said the skills acquisition programme revolved around fishery, piggery, grasscutter and mushroom training for both HND and ND graduates. Husseini said further that the authorities only started with the four skills, adding that other aspects of the agricultural training

would be explored in order to make the graduates of the institution self-reliant after their studies. The Rector opined that the institution would not relent in its efforts to offer the students the best for future endeavours. He also noted that in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to revamp the economy, the authorities of the institution were ready to produce gradu-

year, I pray that others will get this benefit.” The Comptroller, who disclosed that Ugwuanyi was the first governor of the state to visit the prison formations, thanked him for providing some basic facilities for prisoners.

Ajimobi not sincere with Oyo LG poll —Kowa chairman By Dapo Falade OYO State chairman of Kowa Party, Alhaji Olaide Olayiwola, has alleged that Governor Abiola Ajimobi is not sincere with the local government election, sched-

Fed Poly, Ede, trains 4,000 students on agric entrepreneurship skills By Tunde Busari

Other state governors have been coming here to free some of the inmates but Enugu has never done it. It is a major milestone. “I appeal that this effort should be more regular. I believe that the journey has started. By January next

ates who would add value to the economy as well as make all staff to be selfsufficient through agricultural programmes. The Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Skills Development, Mr Biodun Oluwasegun-Babalola, expressed optimism on the programme and commended the rector for his vision, promising outstanding trainees further assistance.

uled to hold in the state next February, adding that the governor is only taking the people for a long ride. Speaking with Saturday Tribune, on Friday, the Kowa chieftain said both the state government and the State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) were not ready for the election. Olayiwola said an indication of the lack of readiness and unpreparedness of the government for the election was the fact that the various political parties were yet to get nomination forms, more than two weeks after the commencement of activities for the election, as indicated in the timetable. “The breakdown of activities for the local council poll showed that election time-

table commenced with the publication of notice of election on Monday, 14 November 2016, while prospective candidates were expected to obtain nomination papers in respect of the election, not later than 28 December, 2016. “As we speak, the various political parties are yet to collect personal data forms for their candidates, an exercise that was scheduled to take place between Monday, 21 and Thursday, 24 November. ”I can assure you that the local government election will not take place in this state in February. Neither Governor Abiola Ajimobi, nor the OYSIEC is prepared and ready for the election. They are just taking the people for a long ride,” he said.

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

sport

3 December, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Nigeria will host hitch–free AFCON Beach Soccer —Akinwunmi

HAIRMAN of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Lagos 2016 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has said that the committee is all set to host a tournament that the whole of Africa will be proud of. Akinwunmi, who is also first vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), assured that a lot of work has been done by the LOC to guarantee that Nigeria would set a marker for future hosts of the continental beach soccer showpiece. “The LOC started real

work right from that day in Kaduna [March 24] that we were inaugurated. Hosting a continental competition is no picnic and we knew right from the beginning. “We have tidied up the critical areas and we are currently working on logistics towards the opening ceremony and the tournament itself. We are committed to organising a world-class event.” The tournament, scheduled for the Eko Atlantic Beach from December 13 to 18, will see Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire clash in group A, while de-

fending champions Madagascar tackle Libya, Morocco and Senegal are in group B. Thenff.com learnt that a 3,000–seater arena (an upgrade of the venue that has annually hosted the COPA Lagos Invitational Tournament) will host the finals, which the LOC has promised will include the the biggest food festival in Africa, a Fan Zone to engage spectators in a relaxed atmosphere, Beach Soccer clinic for kids, concerts and live music. Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission,

Honourable Deji Tinubu says the commission will work closely with the NFF and the LOC to ensure that the purpose of hosting a tournament that will make Lagos State and Nigeria

Chairman of the organising committee, Comrade Ezeocha Nze made the call while unveiling activities for the week-long event at the world press conference held at the Conference Room, FCT Sports Council, Abuja on Thursday. He said the annual event

Ex-Nigeria international, Dejo Fayemi dies at 81 By Nurudeen Alimi FORMER Nigeria international, Dejo Fayemi, is dead. According to a family source, the former IICC Shooting Stars player died on Friday morning at his residence situated at OdoOna Elewe, Ibadan, at the age of 81. Fayemi first played for the Nigerian national team then known as the Red Devils in 1959 when they defeated Ghana’s Black Stars 3-1 in an Olympic qualifier. He had seven goals to show

after his last international cap against Morocco in 1964 where Nigeria lost 2-1. Pa Feyemi inspired the Ibadan Lions to win the then Challenge Cup in 1959 and 1961 after losing in the 1960 final. Pa Feyemi also played professional football during his stay in the United Kingdom for further studies before he retired from active football in the early 1970s. He once worked as a member of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) technical crew in the 1996/97 season.

Okon warns Falcons ahead Cameroon showdown

FORMER Super Falcons head coach, Edwin Okon has said his only headache is the team’s defence as they face the hosts, the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon today in the final of the 10th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON). The match holds at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde. Okon said strict adherence to instructions of the coaches by the reigning champions will greatly help them to overcome the stubborn Indomitable Lionesses. “The Cameroon versus Nigeria AWCON final is going to be explosive, it’s a good test as well as evenly matched. “Our problem is defence and I hope they will be alert 100 per cent to withstand the attacking and robust foray of the Cameroonians. “The Falcons best test

match in the championship was the group’s clash against the Black Queens of Ghana as I never considered Banyana Banyana of South Africa a serious threat. “Against the Cameroonians only strict adherence to instruction by the players will be of immense help to unlock and unsettle the Lionesses. “It will be too risky for the players to decide on the field of play to act on their own whims and caprices, pushing the coaches’ instructions to the background. “I sincerely hope and pray that mother luck will smile on us to once again overcome the Cameroonians,” the Rivers Angels head coach told supersport.com. Okon was in charge when the Falcons defeated the Lionesses 2-0 in the final of the 2014 AWCON at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia.

would kick-start with jogging and walking exercise to be led by Honourable Ayo Omidiran, member, House of Representatives. According to him, other events for the 2016 week include seminar, focusing on the ethics and challenges of journalism practice in the country and beyond, and an award presentation to some distinguished

last edition in Seychelles in April 2015. The finalists at the six-day championship will fly Africa’s flag at next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in The Bahamas.

Abia Warriors, Enyimba, Akwa Utd, Unicem Rovers for C/River pre-season tourney ABIA Warriors of Umuahia will be among the four teams that will take part in the four teams pre-season tournament being put together by the Cross River FA.

2016 FCT SWAN Week kicks off today AS the 2016 social week events of the FCT Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) begin today in Abuja, members have been urged to join forces in the actualisation of its lofty ideas aimed at bridging and uniting members of the pen profession.

proud is served. This is the second time that CAF is taking charge of the tournament, which has previously been organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide. Nigeria finished third at the

sports personalities, associations and clubs. The event which is also aimed at encouraging sports jounalists to keep fit in spite of their busy daily schedule will feature sporting activities such as draft, ayo and table tennis events. The Week will climax on Thursday, December 8, with a gala nite.

The other teams taking part in the tournament are Enyimba International FC, Akwa United and Unicem Rovers. The tournament begins on Wednesday, December 7 at the U.J Eusene Stadium, Calabar. Confirming this on Friday, assistant coach and match reader of Abia Warriors, Patrick Ngwaogu said that they have received the management approval to be part of the competition which will help the team to step up their preparations for the new season. “We have been in Calabar for almost two weeks, and our preparation have been in top gear. We have played four friendlies and won all. We defeated Hope of Glory

(1-0), Police Machine (4-2), Majesty FC (3-0) and Diamond Stars (2-0).” “The preparation for the next season has been great for the team in terms of conditioning and training. The boys have been very cooperative, and we are believing God for the best in the new season”. “The pre-season tournament organised by the Cross River State FA would go a long way in helping us correct some mistakes and also see how ready we are for the season,” he concluded. Abia Warriors managed by Felix Okey Emordi and Abdullahi Usman Biffo who is the chief coach, are striving to compete favourably in the new football season.

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Saturday, December 3 Man City vs Chelsea Tottenham vs Swansea Stoke City vs Burnley Sunderland vs Leicester C/Palace vs S’ampton West Brom vs Watford West Ham vs Arsenal

Sunday, December 4 vs Liverpool 2:30pm 1:30pm B/mouth vs Man Utd 5:00pm 4:00pm Everton 4:00pm Monday, December 6 4:00pm Middlesbrough vs Hull City 9:00pm 4:00pm 4:00pm 6:30pm

I bank on Ighalo —Watford coach WATFORD boss Walter Mazzarri insists he’s counting on Odion Ighalo this season. He has scored just once in the league this term. Mazzarri said: “I speak about what I know and I speak about what I have seen so far this season. “He is a player that I like and I trust very much. “When he was in a good condition at the beginning of the year he played, and started the games. “Of course he is a player that we need.”

Super Falcons forward, Desire Oparanozie

Lionesses’ Gaelle Enganamouit

Barca, Real Madrid locked in El Clasico

Nigeria vs Cameroon AWCON final

It ’ll be difficult but interesting —Omagbemi

•Our physicality ’ll give us the title —Cameroon coach By Wale Emosu

HE final of the tenth edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations today will be difficult but interesting, according to Super Falcons coach Florence Omagbemi. Nigeria square up to Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde, this afternoon, and Omagbemi, in previewing the match, handed down the verdict of

a mixed bag texture. “Saturday’s game will be difficult but interesting,” Omagbemi, the first player to lift the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy declared. Expectedly so, the match will be a grudge one going by the pedigree between the two sides in women’s football. Both have met on nine occasions, out of which Nigeria have won eight times, the last being the final of the ninth edition of the championship two years ago in Namibia.

Cameroon’s only victory came at the 2015 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo. But Omagbemi says despite Nigeria’s intimidating record, she is clearheaded about today’s match as the Falcons are determined to defend the title. “Our girls are focused on the goal and cannot be distracted by other concerns,” she said. In his own submission, head coach of the Lionesses, Enow Ngachu, says the win-

ners will be decided by who is more “cool and physical” and he believes his team hold the ace here. “The team that will be cool and physical will make the difference and I think we have the upper hand in that,” the coach said. The Cameroonians have a lot to play for as they have never won the championship. Nigeria, on the other hand, are seven-time winners. The match kicks off at 3.30pm.

NINE months and one day after beating a Barcelona side that looked like it would be the first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles, Real Madrid return to Catalonia’s church of football today. The El Clasico on April 2 – a 2-1 Real victory – ended a historic run of 39 matches unbeaten for Barcelona and set into motion a series of events that denied Barca the possibility of a double-treble. After that springtime shock result, Barcelona went on to lose three of their next four matches and crashed out of the Champions League in stunning style. Seemingly, Real Madrid lifted the cloak of invincibility off Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Luis Enrique’s Catalans. And in truth, Barcelona have never been the same. Entering today’s global event, which is watched by roughly two million viewers in the United States alone, the two clubs have reversed roles since their last meeting. This time, Real Madrid enter El Clasico on a 31-match unbeaten run, while Barcelona are struggling. Los Blancos lead their eternal rivals by six points after starting the La Liga campaign unbeaten through the first 13 rounds. That undefeated streak jumps to 21 matches across all competitions for the 2016-17 campaign, as Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane continues to prove his first season in charge was no fluke. A win today would lead Real Madrid to a nine-point lead over Barcelona in La Liga.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 3/12/2016.