nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 16,430
FRIDAY, 5 FEBRUARY, 2016
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Nigerian Tribune
Mass sack in oil sector
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FG meets major marketers next week —P11
•Situation in oil sector dire —Marketers •We must avoid huge social upheaval —FG
Update on lawyer who allegedly stabbed husband:
She didn't draw knife that killed husband —Friend —P42
Ogun records first case of Lassa fever
•60 persons under watch, 2 hospitals shut —P10
Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Ameachi, during an inspection of the MKO Abiola International Airport under construction, in Osogbo, on Thursday.
At Osun Council of Obas' meeting 2016 budget defence: Reps warn VCs to stop using IGR for salary payment •I'm not engaging in supremacy battle with anybody —Ooni
INEC bars APC from Kogi senatorial, House of Reps rerun —P37
Ooni's emissaries, Oba Aromolaran clash
—P8
—P2
•I will join your unity move, Oba Aromolaran tells Ooni after reconciliation
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Osun obas’ chairmanship: Ooni’s emissaries, Oba Aromolaran clash
•I’m not engaging in supremacy battle with anybody —Ooni •I will join your unity race, Oba Aromolaran tells Ooni after reconciliation Oluwole Ige - Osogbo
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HERE was pandemonium on Thursday, during the monthly meeting of the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers, when the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, allegedly clashed with aides of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi. Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that trouble ensued when Oba Aromolaran asked Ooni’s aides, traditionally known as the Emese, to move away from the big white chair on which Oba Ogunwusi normally sits when presiding during the meeting as the permanent chairman of the state Council of Traditional Rulers. The monthly meeting usually holds at the conference hall of the Osun State Ministry of Finance. However, the aides of the Ooni refused to move away from the exclusive chair, insisting that it was their duty to protect the chair and, as such, they could not vacate the place in the pursuance of their traditional role of guarding Ooni’s chair. Irked by the resistance of the Emeses, Oba Aromolaran was said to have allegedly engaged in a confrontation with them and, in the process, one the Emeses had his cloth torn. According to an eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, “at this point when the Emeses realised the level the matter was assuming, they moved away from the chair and Oba Aromolaran sat on it. As a result of the development, Ooni
was contacted and instead of him to come to venue of the meeting, he headed to the Osun State Government House, where he met with Governor Rauf Aregbesola.” Sources informed the Nigerian Tribune that the meeting, which had not commenced at the time of the fracas, even though some traditional rulers were already seated, was abruptly brought to an end. “Subsequently, other monarchs left the venue
of the meeting and followed Ooni to the Government House, where they all held a meeting with the state governor over the incident,” one of the sources hinted. When contacted, the director of media and public affairs to Ooni of Ife, Mr Moses Olafare, said “Ooni is the permanent chairman of the council by the act of law and if anybody is interested in becoming the chairman, he has to approach the court or the state House
The Emese that got his clothes torn , on Thursday.
of Assembly and not by force. “Ooni will not want to be drawn into what happened. Oba Ogunwusi remains the permanent chairman of Osun Obas’ council, according to the law.” Meawhile, in what appeared as the final resolution of the matter, the Ooni of Ife, in company with members of the council, later proceeeded to Owa’s place in Ilesa, where they held a closed door meeting with him. While addressing newsmen after the meeting, Oba Aromolaran described Ooni’s visit as “a big surprise and least expected,”
stressing that “now that you have come to show hand of friendship, I will now join your unity train to unify the Yoruba race.” In his response, Oba Ogunwusi maintained that “the stool of Owa is among the prominent ones in Yorubaland, adding that “it is in my own interest and that of the larger Yoruba people to relate very well with Owa. I just spent about three months on the throne now, while you, Owa, has spent about 45 years. “It is my responsibility to visit you first because you have been on the throne for long. It has been said by God Al-
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, embracing the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, at the latter’s palace in Ilesa, on Thursday.
Why FG is on tour of projects across Nigeria —Amaechi Oluwole Ige-Osogbo MINISTER for Transportation, Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, said the Federal Government decided to embark on tour of its projects executed by state governments, with a view to ascertaining level and
stages of completion. He said most of the states were asking for a refund, but the Federal Government had concluded that the level of completion of such projects would determine the response in terms of refund of money expended on such projects. Amaechi, who was in
Osun State to inspect Federal Government projects visited the ongoing MKO Abiola International Airport at Ido/ Osun and commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for utilising the meagre resources of the state to accomplish the projects embarked on by his administration.
He said, having seen the level of work at the MKO Abiola Airport, he would brief the Presidency on the request by the state for Federal Government’s commitment on the project. While lauding Aregbesola’s government, Amaechi said, “Initially, when the economic meltdown
How we will stop herdsmen/farmers’ clash —Agric minister Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja MINISTER of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said on Thursday, that the Federal Government has put machinery in place to stop incessant herdsmen/farmers clash in the country. Ogbeh, who spoke at a budget defence session with a joint committees of agriculture in the National Assembly, said bloody clashes between farmers and herdsmen would soon be a thing of the past. He said the government
mighty that I should come and liberate Yorubaland and to ensure peace and unity. I am not engaging in any supremacy of leadership tussle with anybody,” he added. It will be recalled that before the presentation of staff to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on December 7, 2015, Owa acted as the chairman of the council. At the October 2015 meeting of the council, which was presided over by him in acting capacity, Oba Aromolaran some prominent monarchs, including the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Adedotun, stayed away, in apparent protest of the decision of the council to allow Owa to lead it.
was encouraging the construction of facilities, where nutritive grass would be grown across the country to aid animal production. He said: “We have decided to develop massive paddocks across the country. What the cows are looking for is grass and water. We have the capacity to grow the grass we want, not just any kind of grass, but highly nutritive grass for the cows to eat. If it can be done in Kenya, Saudi Arabia, there is no reason we can’t do it here. “There is a sizeable provision for grassing at hinter-
land by developing water, drilling of boreholes and small dams to irrigate those areas already mapped out. In the process, we hope that the cattle herdsmen would have a more stable life.” He also assured that the government would improve on the agricultural mechanisation, believing that Nigeria tractor population was about the lowest in the world. He said “we have less than 30, 000 tractors operating in this country. The number should increase appreciably, we shall also stan-
dardise the tractors. People had gone abroad to bring tractors that cannot last more than six months on the farms because control and evaluation was not carried out to encourage young people in farming, Ogbeh said the government would improve land evaluation for young people, adding that he had written some state governments to encourage the youth to develop dams and canals, so that agriculture would become an all year round activity. “Four or five months of farm activities cannot
sustain the country for 12 months of the year. Besides, by 2050, Nigeria population will be very close to 500 million at the current rate of growth. This is just 34 years from now. If we carry on at the current rate of one crop per year, with very low mechanisation, Nigeria run the risk of starving to death,” he submitted. He also said that government would intensify efforts on export produce, so that Nigeria can get back to where it was with cocoa before it was overtaken by Ivory Coast and Ghana.
started, I was very worried for states like Osun but I commend the governor for he has been able to manage gradually to continue what he started.” Amaechi promised that the committee set up by the Federal Executive Council to inspect Federal Government’s projects in various states will afterwards submit its report to the Council for adequate action. In his remark, Aregbesola disclosed that the Federal Government made the commitment to share the cost of the airport project with the state on 50/50 basis when it gave the approval in 2010. He said, “we want you to convey our message to the Federal Government on its commitment to jointly fund the airport with our state based on 50/50 sharing of the cost of the project.” We believe that the airport has huge economic and aviational value to both the country and the state.”
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War against corruption will go on despite pressure —Osinbajo
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RESSURE from some Nigerian elite to slow down the ongoing fight against graft would not deter the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration from ridding the country of corruption and its attendant problems. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this on Thursday, during a meeting in his office with a delegation rom the Muslim Congress of Nigeria, adding that “we get regular messages from some Nigerian elite saying cool
down.” According to him, “it is encouraging that the masses of the Nigerian people, on the contrary, have a clearer understanding of right and wrong. The masses don’t have that problem.” He said although some elite were clamouring that government should merely ask the looters of the commonwealth of the nation to return the money and go, “a new tribe of Nigerians who would not compromise their values but would maintain a sense
of right and wrong is now emerging.” Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Imam Abdulahi Shuaib,
had conveyed the support of the organisation to the government in its programmes, including anticorruption and expressed
readiness to offer assistance. According to him, “we are thankful that our candidates of choice in the
election emerged,” adding that the choice of the president and vice-president were made by God Himself.
CCT trial: Supreme Court rules on Saraki’s objections today Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja SENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, will today know his fate on his trial which was suspended at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged assets declaration falsification, as the Supreme Court
rules on objections raised by him against the trial. Saraki is facing a 13-count charge levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), after he appeared before Justice Danladi Umar on September 15, 2015, where he pleaded not guilty to the
charges. Through his counsel, Saraki later approached the Court of Appeal to quash the charges on the ground that the composition of the tribunal was improper. According to the counsel, the summoning was sup-
posed to have been carried out by the Attorney-General of the Federation and not an Assistant Director in that office. The appellate court ruled against him but his counsel went to the Supreme Court in December last year and the apex court fixed its ruling for today.
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APC spits fire over Aluko’s planned arrest
•Says it’s invitation to anarchy •Aluko should surrender self, Fayose’s aide tells APC Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti
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HE Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned that the arrest of erstwhile secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Dr Tope Aluko, for allegations of perjury, was an invitation to anarchy in the state. Ekiti APC, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, on Thursday, said it “warned Governor Ayodele Fayose against unjust arrest” of Aluko, saying “such a plan is capable of stoking anger among the citizens, APC members in particular, to cause a breakdown of law and order.” According to the APC, “Fayose wanted to assume the role of a judge in his own matter” and contended that “it is regrettable that the court was so much in a hurry to grant a warrant of arrest request by Fayose.” The party’s spokesman said the court should not be seen as protecting the governor. According to Olatunbosun, “the hurry with which the court came to the aid of the governor is provocating.” He said: “We would have expected the court to ask for the evidence of perjury in what Aluko said on Channels television, because to our knowledge, he did not speak on oath on the television programme. “Conversely, if it is on the basis of Aluko’s testimony at the tribunal, where he swore on oath that he is being hounded for arrest, we can then assume that his testimony at the tribunal is not true and so, he must face a perjury case. “Even though we know that the problem between Fayose and Aluko is purely an internal problem of PDP, it is, nevertheless, an attempt to cover the truth in the investigation of the election crime that deprived our candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, victory in the June 21, 2014 governorship election.” Olatunbosun said “APC would resist any conspiratorial attempt to block transparent investigation of the election fraud,” adding that “if Aluko must be investigated for perjury, then other PDP members that testified at the tribunal, including the governor, must submit themselves to the charge of perjury since they presented the same evidence at the tri-
bunal. “By PDP’s action, the party has admitted that Aluko lied at the tribunal, but spoke the truth on Channels and so, he must be charged with perjury, based on the statement on oath at the tribunal, but others who presented the same evidence at the tribunal must also be deemed to have committed perjury and must be charged as well. “Attempt to arrest Aluko while leaving out other people that presented same evidence at the tribunal appearances will be consid-
ered as a witch-hunt being encouraged by the court to hound Aluko into jail to block transparency in the investigation of Ekiti poll fraud that brought Fayose to power.” He said : “We, hereby, sound a note of warning, that never shall we allow Fayose a free reign as he did when he hounded 19 APC lawmakers out of Ekiti State for six months and the judiciary closed the courtrooms for months to deny APC that had several cases in courts justice. “Our party will respond
with equal measure if any attempt is being promoted to block transparency in the investigation of the crime that denied our candidate a deserved victory.” Reacting, the state government, through the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said the APC need to be told in frank language that a democratically-elected government is on ground in Ekiti State and not one got through judicial coup, as such, should not attempt to test its strength. “The implication of that
is that it should not do anything funny, otherwise it will have itself to blame. The party tried it through its infamous former 19 lawmakers and got its fingers burnt. “If APC is sad and disorganised over the issuance of warrant of arrest granted by the court, it should advise Aluko to submit himself honourably and allow the law take its course. “Aluko is expected to tell the court why he lied on oath. If the APC is not a party of brigandage, which has no regard for the judiciary, it suppose to encourage Aluko
to surrender himself for trial, instead of backing him to join the ranks of APC murder suspects, who had gone under to evade court trial. “Some APC members, including its state chairman, are wanted for trial over killing of 12 people in the state during the Kayode Fayemiled administration. “ If Aluko is being encouraged to snub the court order, we are not surprised, because the APC has no place for respect for the judiciary in its lexicon, since the party is headed by a dictator,” he said.
Nigeria is safe haven for investors —Minister Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja MINISTER of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, has said that as of today, Nigeria has been considered as a safe haven for foreign investors to exploit and enjoy profitably. The minister stated this when a delegation of foreign investors from United
States, United Kingdom, Middle East, China, France, South Africa, among others, under the auspices of Renaissance Capital Investments, led by a former Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, visited the ministry to hold discussions on business prospects in Nigeria. While explaining Nigeria’s present favourable
business environment, Hajiya Ahmed stated that the Federal Government was making efforts at reducing barriers of doing business in the country. “Our N6.08 trillion (2016) budget is designed to stimulate and reflate our economy. We are making conscious efforts at reducing barriers of doing business in Nigeria. Our gov-
ernment is heavily fighting corruption and insecurity challenges and they are almost successfully tackled,” the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning said. According to her, the 2016 budget, which was zerobased, was designed to reflect the economy for the creation of jobs and boost the productive sectors of
2016 budget defence: Drama as Faleke orders seizure of phone Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja THERE was a mild drama on Thursday, at the venue of the ongoing defence of the 2016 budget before the House of Representatives as a member, Honourable James Abiodun Faleke, ordered for the seizure of a phone snapshot taken during the budget defence of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN). Faleke contested the Kogi State governorship election as deputy to the late Prince Abubakar Audu, who was the All Progressives Congress’ governorship candidate that died before Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election incon-
clusive. The lawmaker was furious at a photo shot taken of him with a phone and quickly ordered that the phone be seized by the committee secretariat staff and brought to him at the budget session. Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology Honourable Beni Lar, who was seated with other lawmakers were in-between the budget figures of the ECN before a snapshot flashed on Faleke, who immediately called for the head of the photographer. Consequently, the budget defence was temporarily stalled, as Falake insisted of getting to the root of the matter, as to why his picture was taken without his con-
sent. However, a staff of the ECN, Mr Bala Mohammed, stated that he unknowingly took the spotoshot and quickly apologised to him, saying he mistakenly took the photograph with his malfunctioning android phone. Apologising to the lawmaker, he explained that it was in an attempt to switchon the phone which he noticed had been off, that led to the snapshot. Faleke later soft-pedalled on his request for the seizure of the phone, but asked the erring staff to delete all his recent photoshots, which he did. In the budget defence, the commission had proposed N203,646,177.00 as its over-
head, which included Local Transport and Training N11,600,000.00; Electricity charges N12,721,666.56; Maintenance of office building/residential quarters N7,234,809.00; Legal services N10,469,619.00, among other item subheads. Meanwhile, the House Committee had queried the huge figures listed under overhead budget of the ECN and some of its parastatals in the 2016 budget. However, the DirectorGeneral and CEO of the ECN, Professor Eli Jidere Bala, defended the commission’s budget, saying it had debt profile of N7,654,772,827.81 from 2009 till 2012, which was due to non-release of funds.
We don’t try subject of investigation in the media —ICPC Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday, stated that it is not in its practice to subject anyone being investigated to media trial. The anti-graft commission stated this against the Nigerian Tribune’s inquiry into the ongoing investigation of a director in the Ministry of Power,
Works and Housing, for allegedly falsifying his year of entry into service. The director was alleged to have falsified his record, with a view to elongating his year of service in the Federal Civil Service. The investigation, it was gathered, followed a petition, dated May 27, 2015, sent to the ICPC, entitled: “Serious Misconduct/Falsification and Suppression of Official Record,” signed by
one Nuhu Adamu, copies of which were sent to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); Head of Service of the Federation and the chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, urging the anti-corruption commission to address the issue to serve as deterrent to others. The petition originally submitted by Adamu was later modified by the Abuja chapter of the National
Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps, a national vanguard against the continued toleration and impunity of corruption, with their clarification letter to the ICPC, dated November 12, 2015. The petition alleged that the director, who entered into service in July, 1979, allegedly doctored his year of entry to read July, 1982 and had since remained in service.
the economy. The budget, she added, would be monitored closely through the robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism put in place by the ministry to ensure funds were released based on result performance. Speaking further, Hajiya Ahmed informed the delegation that the Federal Government was building an economy that would not suffer oil prices shocks, revealing that efforts were being put in place to prevent leakages in the system, which was targeted at boosting investor’s confidence. Responding to the observation raised on the unrealistic non-oil revenue projections in the 2016 budget since Nigerians did not like paying taxes, the minister stated that the bulk of the revenue to finance the budget would come from nonoil sector of the economy, adding that revenue generating agencies had their target. “The bulk of revenue we require to run the budget will be from non-oil sector. We have gaps in the area of tax collection, but our revenue collecting agencies have a revenue target. There are efforts to register large number of Nigerians, especially the informal businesses not registered into our tax base. Efforts will also be put to prevent leakages,” she said. Speaking on behalf of the group, Dr Usman commended the closer link between planning and budget, which he said was now the case in the ministry. The former minister also praised the ministry’s effort to update the Vision 20:2020 and also reactivation of the base’s management performance.
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Metuh gave me N25m to defend Jonathan online —Witness Sunday Ejike-Abuja
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witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, told Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court, Abuja, that he refunded the N25 million the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, gave him for publicity work for the party. The witness, Alhaji Abba Dabo, who is the seventh witness of the prosecution stated this on Thursday, while testifying before the court in the seven-count charge of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400 million meant for procurement of arms from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Dabo, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that he decided to return the N25 million Metuh gave him, when he realised that the money was part of the fund meant for the purchase of arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgents by the Federal Government. According to him, when he read about the arms deal scandal, which involved the PDP spokesman in some national dailies, he immediately wrote a letter to the EFCC, attaching three bank drafts, with a covering letter acknowledging that Metuh gave him N25 million on December 16, 2015 for the purpose of publicity in WhatsApp Naija and Media Support System for the PDP. He admitted that he did not make any other statement to the EFCC after he returned the money and did not ask Chief Metuh of the source of the money before and after he returned it. “I was only helping him (Metuh) to discharge his obligations as the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP,” he said, adding that he performed the functions for which he was paid the N25 million. Dabo said he had not been able to ask Metuh of the source of the money till now as efforts to meet face to face with him proved abortive. He said he included in his statement at the EFCC on January 6, 2016 that, “he did not know how Metuh got the money from which he paid us the generous sum of N25 million and I did not ask him.” He said the PDP and by extension, President Goodluck Jonathan’s government benefited immensely from the publicity work by his companies, WhatsApp Naija and the Media Support System.
Earlier, the court refused to accept some documents, including the proposal for the publicity job, the pro-
file of his companies and the tenancy agreement between Alhaji Abba Dabo and Florence Okigbo,
which the witness sought to tender as evidence. The trial Judge, in his ruling after an objection
to the admissibility of the document by the defence counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, said the witness
From left, Senate President, Bukola Saraki; President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Kadre Ouedraogo; representative of the Ministry of African Integration of NEPAD, Mr Khadim Diop; Deputy Senate President who is the outgoing Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekeweremadu and the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yusuf Lasun, at the inauguration of the fourth session of ECOWAS legislature, in Abuja, on Thurday. PHOTO: NAN
Saraki tasks ECOWAS Parliament on war against terrorism Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja
THE Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, to join hands with Nigeria and the International Community in the ongoing war to wipe out terrorism from the region. Saraki, who stated this in his goodwill message, at the inaugural session of the fourth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, said unless the region acted in unison to eliminate the scourge of terrorism, it would be difficult to restore full security to the region. Saraki, who commended past efforts of the parliament aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of member nations, said: “Our subregion has in recent times fallen victim to terror and the activities of organised crime. The region has lost much in social and economic terms. “Unless we act together, the objective of eliminat-
ing terrorism from our soil will be harder to achieve. The ECOWAS Parliament provides us a unique platform to advance this objective. “Therefore, it has a major role to play in addressing the menace of terrorism both as a coordinator of regional effort and an initiator of the right legal framework that can lead to a cohesive regional effort. “I urge the ECOWAS Parliament to join hands with us in Nigeria and the international community to ensure that we eliminate terrorism from the region,” he said. The Senate President said though the parliament was just 16 years old, it had achieved significant strides in “nurturing the vision of our founding fathers, cementing our collective aspirations and providing us a platform for the integration process, notwithstanding the obvious limitations. “The experiment we had with a sub-regional Parliament in West Africa, as well as the significant achievements recorded, especially in the area of Parliamentary diplomacy
in the Mano River area, the Ivorian conflict and the Guinea Bissau crises are all testimonies of the critical moderating role that the parliament is capable of providing.” He, however, informed the ECOWAS Parliamentarians that the Nigerian National Assembly believed that a Parliament should embody the vision of a secure and prosper-
ous people and necessarily make laws and conduct oversight functions to ensure that such vision was ultimately secured. He said while the National Assembly was ready to work with the parliament to achieve its objective, it needed the sincerity of purpose and full commitment to the vision of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Withdraw troops from Niger Delta, Rights activist tells Buhari •Operation Pulo Shield arrests suspects behind Agip, Escarvos blast From Dapo Falade And Austin Ebipade
PRESIDENT Mohammadu Buhari has been advised to immediately withdraw troops deployed in some communities in the Niger Delta region to prevent unnecessary friction and tension in the area. A human rights activist and the spokesperson of the Ijaw Republican Assembly (IRA), Ann-Kio Briggs, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, on Thursday. She further warned that
the presence of soldiers in these communities, particularly Gbaramatu, Delta State, was capable of causing tension in the area. She said if the idea behind the deployment of troops to Gbaramatu was to arrest former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (popularly called Tompolo), the government should go through the due process. “Tompolo has been doing legitimate business with government over the years. I don’t know which law stipulates how to do business or otherwise.”
‘Demand for repeal of contributory pension scheme legitimate’ Adelowo Oladipo-Minna
THE Niger State government, on Thursday, declared that the demands by its labour force for the repeal of the now controversial contributory pension scheme was ‘legitimate.’ The state governor, Al-
haji Abubakar Bello, who made the declaration in Minna, at the kick-off of distribution of loan items to the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), said the concept of the CPS was good, but that the implementation was fraught with a lot of prob-
did not lay the foundation for tendering of the documents. “Therefore, the tenancy agreement between Florence Okigbo and Alhaji Abba Dabo is not admissible, as it did not conform with Section 89 of the Evidence Act,’’ he said. A witness, Bali Ndam, a legal officer in the office of the NSA had told the court earlier that the contract was awarded to about 78 companies, including Metuh’s company, Destra Investment Company, without due process. He also told the court that N400 million was transferred from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the account of Destra Investment Limited for a non-existing contract. The payment done in electronic form, was said to have been for security services rendered by Destra Investment Limited. Metuh had his bail conditions varied by the court before he was able to meet the conditions and was consequently released from Kuje Prison in Abuja where he was in detention for several weeks. EFCC is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, on a seven-count charge of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400 million meant for procurement of arms from the Office of the NSA on November 22, 2014, and used the funds for the PDP’s campaign activities.
lems and danger. ‘‘The issue of seven percent deduction is ‘a legitimate struggle,’ but the management is faulty, you cannot build something on nothing, you cannot build on a faulty foundation,’’ the governor said. Governor Bello, who
was represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, was apparently reacting to the negative prayers against all those that conceived the idea of the CPS at the opening of the ceremony and at the Solemn assembly held last Monday, by the NUT.
Meanwhile, the joint military task force deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, has said it has arrested suspected vandals behind the recent pipeline blasts in the region. It will be recalled that a blast on a crude and gas pipeline at Escavos, Delta State, resulted to shutting down Warri and Port Harcourt refineries and cutting gas supply to some power plants. Another pipeline blast on Agip’s facility on January 28 resulted in a drop by 16,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily out of Agip’s 40, 000 barrels daily export from Brass Oil Export Terminal of Bayelsa coastline. According to a statement issued by Colonel Isa Ado, spokesman of Operation Pulo Shield, the arrest followed a charge by the commander of the Joint Force, Major-General Alani Okunlola, to apprehend those behind the act.
news Fayose carpets Oyegun over comments on Rivers’ verdict 6
Friday, 5 February, 2016
Nigerian Tribune
Supreme Court judgments on election petitions act of courage —Adegboruwa By Sam Nwaoko, Jacob SegunOlatunji, Leon Usigbe, Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare, Ebenezer Adurokiya and Celestine Ihejirika
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OVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has faulted views expressed by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on the Supreme Court judgement in the Rivers State governorship election. Governor Fayose, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, on Thursday, decried the statement by Chief Odigie-
Oyegun, describing the affirmation of the electoral victory of Rivers State governor, Chief Nyessom Wike, as ‘astonishing.’ The governor said: “A situation where judicial officers are intimidated by the comments made by some people in authority is condemnable. There is separation of powers and all arms of government know what they need to do for our country to run smoothly and not as a personal fiefdom of anybody.” He said: “One may initially think Odigie-Oyegun was merely lamenting their loss as a politician who has the interest of the people at heart. But going through his speech, the real motive
for their desperation to win some states through the back door was exposed.” Lauding the Supreme Court for its judgements on Akwa Ibom State and Abia State governorship appeals, Fayose said “the judgment of the Supreme Court on the governorship elections in Akwa Ibom and Abia states is a victory for democracy and a triumph of patriotism over dictatorship and harassment.” He noted that “all hope was not lost as far as people see the judiciary as their last hope.” He commended the justices of the Supreme Court for determining to dispense justice without fear
or favour despite subtle intimidation and harassment. “Those who are true lovers of democracy and patriotic Nigerians should show the courage needed to confront those who want to subvert the will of the people freely expressed through the ballot. We must also rise up and condemn any subterranean move to cow the judicial arm to do the bidding of some powers that be.” In a related development, a Lagos based lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on Thursday, described the various judgments of the Supreme Court on election petitions as an act of courage that reflects that there
Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, flanked on the left by his deputy, Honourable Ude Oko Chukwu and wife, Vivian, and on the right by his wife, Nkechi Ikpeazu and Mrs Ndidi Cosmos Ndukwe, wife of the deputy speaker, on their arrival after the governor’s victory at the Supreme Court in Abuja, on Wednesday.
FG suspends operations of Bristow Helicopters Shola Adekola - Lagos
THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operations of the Bristow Helicopters till further notice following the helicopters’ controlled ditching of a Siikorsky S76C +++ series, carrying nine passengers and two crew, into the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos, Wednesday morning. Announcing the suspension yesterday, the Director General of the NCAA, Captain Usman Mukthar, said the suspension became imperative in view of the successive mishaps the company has recorded in the recent past. The suspension, according to the DG, is to enable the regulatory body and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) carry out a detailed audit on the aircraft type, Sikorsky S-76C +++ with registration number 5N – BDG – 760540 which was
involved in the incident. According to the DG, “These decisions are without prejudice to the investigations being conducted by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). As a matter of fact, it will assist in the entire process. “Therefore, the regulatory authority views with utmost seriousness the successive mishaps of Bristow
Helicopters’ operating aircraft SikorskS-76C on the coastal waters of Lagos. “NCA has, therefore, decided to suspend the operations of the Bristow Helicopters Limited’s SikorskyS-76C +++type till further notice.” The suspension, according to the DG, would enable the authority to carry out full scale audit on the
airline’s operations with particular emphasis on its Sikorsky S-76 +++ type. The Sikorsky S aircraft type is an American medium size omen racial utility helicopter manufactured by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft feature twin turbo engines, four bladed main and tail rotors. It has a retractable landing gear.
2 teenagers raped to death in Bayelsa Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa
TWO teenage girls were gang raped to death at different locations in Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa. Peeved by the barbaric and shameful act, women lawyers under the aegis of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) condemned the act and noted that the perpetrators must face the full weight of
the law. Chairperson of FIDA, Mrs Dise Ogbise Erhisere and other professionals in the state urged parents to always seek redress in court over violation of their teenagers. Noting that FIDA would support them to win the legal battle, Ogbise-Erhisere said two teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 16 were violently raped to
death by gang of boys at different locations in the state. Accordingly, FiDA pointed out that the 15-year-oldgirl (names withheld) was raped by a gang of boys at an uncompleted building along the D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha Expressway, while the 16-year-old girl suffered same fate at another location, at the weekend, in Yenagoa.
is still hope for Nigeria as a nation. Adegboruwa made this assertion in a statement entitled: ‘Salute to courage,’ where he stated that the judgments coming in the face of threats, blackmail and intimidation of judges across the land, bear a loud testimony of the valiant struggles of all our heroes past “The recent judgments of the Supreme Court, in respect of the various election petitions across the country, spell hope for our country. They constitute a glorious reminder of the golden years of our apex court, when courage, objectivity and intellectualism, were the hallmarks of jurisprudence.” Meanwhile, Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated governors Udom Emmanuel and Okezie Ikpeazu of Akwa Ibom and Abia states respectively for their victories at the Supreme Court. The congratulatory message was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, and made available to journalists on Thursday, in Warri, Delta State. Governor Okowa described the Supreme Court verdicts as “well deserved” for Udom and Ikpeazu who are both members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has described the validation of the elections of Governors Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and Ikpeazu of Abia State as the consolidation of the will of the people through the judicial process. In a congratulatory message to the two governors on Wednesday after the affirmation of their elections, Governor Wike praised the Supreme Court for always upholding the supremacy of the rule of law in the nation’s democracy. A statement signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, noted that PDP remains the party of choice, because its programmes and projects are pro-people. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has described his victory at the apex court as an impetus for more work and more services to the people of Abia State and Nigeria. He further described it as the victory of God, justice, David over Goliath and the victory of the common masses, adding that “there is no victor and no van-
quished.” The political tension that enveloped Akwa Ibom State is gradually winding down in following Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel’s victory at the April 11, 2015 governorship poll. Meanwhile, the elated governor, in a state-wide broadcast, attributed the victory to God, his fans and the teeming supporters of the PDP, noting that their prayers and support gave him the victory. While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for creating the enabling environment for good governance to thrive, the governor heaved a sigh of relief, saying it was time to do away with intense politicking for the essential duties of providing good governance. Also, the PDP, on Thursday, declared that with the Wednesday’s rulings, affirming the elections of Governors Udom Emmanuel and Okezie Ikpeazu of Akwa-Ibiom and Abia states respectively, the Supreme Court had further reinvigorated the hope and trust of the citizenry in the judiciary as the bastion of democracy. This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus and made available to newsmen in Abuja. The statement reads, “Indeed, the PDP and all lovers of democracy in the country commend the maturity and patriotism being displayed by the Supreme Court in dispensing justice, a development, which has strengthened the confidence of the people in democracy and rule of law.” Also, the Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, Mr Felix Obuah, has said there was nothing wrong with the Supreme Court judgment which upheld the election of Governor Nyesom Wike. He said this, on Thursday, in response to a statement credited to the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, that something was fundamentally wrong with the judgment and should therefore be investigated. Obuah, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, said PDP was not pleased with the comment, saying such was not expected of a statesman. He said the statement clearly exposed the selfish and economic interest of APC, rather than a genuine quest for the development of the area.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
Oyelese to Buhari on anti-corruption: You are riding on a tiger’s back
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former Minister of Power, Elder Wole Oyelese, has pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari is riding on a tiger’s back in his anticorruption efforts. He insisted that the president could no longer look back on the fight but ride the tiger to death. Oyelese also advised President Buhari to engage the services of experts in loot recovery at the international level to speed up his fight against corruption and increase the amount of loots his administration could recover. Oyelese, in a statement entitled: ‘Ride this Tiger to Death’ in Ibadan at the weekend, observed that the task of battling corruption and recovering looted funds by corrupt Nigerians is so huge that the Buhari administration would require the services of international firms which specialise in
loot recovery services. He explained that corruption has assumed the dimension of ‘a devouring tiger’ in Nigeria, stressing that it has to be destroyed permanently before it destroys Nigeria fully. Commending Buhari’s anti-corruption efforts, Oyelese, who is a former chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, called on Nigerians to support the Buhari’s administration in the fight against the menace. The statement read in part: “By his avowed and tenacious determination to fight this scourge to the logical conclusion, President Muhammadu Buhari has no doubt wilfully mounted the proverbial tiger, which in this case is unbridled corruption. This move is no doubt a very welcome development and an act of great courage in a country as ours where
Ondo govt signs MoU on air travel ONDO State government has signed an agreement with an airline company, Air Peace Limited, to ensure consistent and reliable air travel from Akure to Abuja, beginning from February 22. Signing the agreement on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Eyitayo Jegede, said the effort is part of the zeal of the government to rejuvenate air travel habit among citizens, stressing that it will make Akure airport fully operational in order to showcase the state endowment and potentials to investors. He said the flight is scheduled on average of three times a day and will be continuous, while the government has made every necessary arrangement to give the operating company a good working environment. The Commissioner urged the people to patronise the airline and cultivate air travel habit, as it will reduce stress and fast track business arrangement. The flight is expected to take 40 minutes from Akure to Abuja. Meanwhile, the Ondo State government has reiterated its determination to grow its recently established University of the Medical Sciences to world class status. Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, while speaking during the orientation for the academic and non-teaching staff of the school, held at call centre of the Trauma and surgical centre, Ondo, said the University was
established with the mission to foster excellence in teaching, research and service delivery in all health sciences disciplines.
might is often right and actions are taken with impunity by those in power. “As a rider on the tiger’s back knows so well that he cannot dismount while the tiger is still alive without dire consequences, President Buhari can now neither slow down nor stop this dogged war against corruption. This is because so much has already been let out that most Nigerians now feel terribly betrayed by our past leaders and are now boiling with anger over the wickedness of the looters of our treasuries.” “I personally have no doubt whatsoever in the ability of President Buhari to lay the foundation and start building the Nigeria of our dream if given the necessary tools, which include massive support of most Nigerians and the resources to work with. This task is herculean and to make the loot-recovery effort seamless and fast so that more funds can be available to implement revenue-yielding capital projects, the Federal Government may consider the services of reputable international companies noted for this type of exercise.”
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
Dasuki: FG to know fate on bail order Feb 8
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N Abuja High Court will on Monday, February 8, 2016 rule on whether to discharge or not, the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki from the criminal charges brought against him by the Federal Government. Justice Hussein BabaYusuf fixed the adjourned date after counsel to Dasuki, Mr Joseph Daudu
and counsel to Federal Government, Mr Rotimi Jacobs had addressed the court on a motion praying for the release of Dasuki. In the motion argued by Dasuki’s counsel, the court was urged to prohibit the Federal Government from further prosecuting him or further seeking any indulgence from the court until the bail granted Dasuki is allowed to be enjoyed. Daudu argued that the
Federal Government cannot lawfully prosecute Dasuki having been in contempt of the court. He premised his arguments on the fact that Justice Yusuf had on December 18, 2015 granted Dasuki bail and that after perfecting the bail conditions, he was allegedly rearrested on the order of the Federal Government and was taken to the custody of the Department of the State Security
Service (DSS). The counsel therefore urged the court to compel the Federal Government to obey the bail conditions granted Dasuki and allow him to enjoy the liberty of freedom in line with the law that presumed him innocent until contrary was proved. Daudu also urged the court that he should compel the Federal Government to obey the court
President Muhammadu Buhari in a bilateral meeting with the King of Jordan, King Abdullah II, at the sidelines of the ‘Supporting Syria and the Region’ Conference, in London,on Thursday.
Support countries in conflict, Buhari tells global community Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has called on the global community to give greater support to countries, whose populace are suffering humanitarian crises caused by terrorism and civil strife. He made the call while speaking at the ‘Supporting Syria and the Region’ conference in London, on Thursday, saying without collective support and assistance from all well-meaning countries, companies and organisations, the humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions of people in countries like Nigeria and Syria, cannot be successfully addressed. The president noted that the increasingly complex and inter-connected security challenges faced by the global community necessitated increased international cooperation in pursuit of effective solutions. He strongly condemned the continuing violence by terrorists against innocent civilians, abuse of human rights and destruction of public and private assets and cultural heritages in Nigeria, Syria and other countries of the
world. He told the gathering that having experienced Civil War and insurgency, Nigeria understood the pains inflicted on the people of Syria and the hardship innocent civilians suffered in the hands of misguided elements. President Buhari called on all parties involved in the Syrian conflict to seek a peaceful resolution, saying only a political solution could bring the ongoing tragedy in the country to an end. He expressed Nigeria’s im-
mense sympathy for the people of Syria, saying: “We all stand in solidarity with them, despite the magnitude of our own challenges and the increasing stress on our economy, I reaffirm our government’s commitment to support and assist the waraffected people of Syria.” The president was joined at the conference by the British Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki
Moon, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway and the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah. Others were the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr Peter Maurer; president of the World Bank, Dr Jim Yong Kim; administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Helen Clark and the High Representative of the European Union, Federica Mogherini.
Reps warns VCs to stop using IGRs for payment of salaries Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja
THE House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education on Thursday warned the Vice Chancellors of the Federal Government owned Universities to stop using their Institutions’ Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) for the payment of staff salaries henceforth. The Committee, chaired by Honourable Aminu Suleiman handed down the warning in Abuja,
on Thursday, during this year’s budget defence by the various institutions led by their management committees. Most of the universities management committees that appeared before the committee had a common complaint of using their IGR accounts to pay their staff monthly salaries and allowances due to shortfalls in their allocations. The committee frowned at the practice, saying it
would not allow for accountability and promised to look into all their submissions with a view to ensuring proper funding of the universities and the education sector in general through adequate budgetary appropriation by the National Assembly. It commended the management of the National Open University (NOUN) for the rapid development in the institution and advised other universities to emulate the institution.
order and save the judiciary from embarrassment of disobedience. “Judges must assert the efficacy of their orders,” he concluded. However, while opposing the motion, counsel to the Federal Government, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, informed the Judge that the motion was an abuse of the court process because there was no evidence placed before the court that the accused was rearrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Rotimi, who claimed to be representing EFCC in the instant case, disclosed that it was the DSS, another arm of the security agency of the Federal Government that re-arrested Dasuki. He advised Dasuki to evoke section 46 of the constitution and institute a civil action to challenge his arrest and enforce his fundamental right to his liberty. Justice Baba Yusuf will on Monday deliver his ruling on the motion.
20-year-old man in prison for raping 6-year-old Kola Oyelere-Kano
THE Kano Police command on Thursday arraigned a 20-year-old man, Shaibu Mohammed before a chief magistrate court, in Kano, on allegation of having canal knowledge of a six-year-old girl. The father of the girl (names withheld) reported the incidence to the police, stating that on December 30, 2015, around 4:00 p.m., the accused, a resident of Sabon Garib in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State lured his six-year-old daughter to enter an uncompleted primary school building, located at Unguwar Gangarein Doguwa Local Government Area, where he allegedly defiled her. Inspector Shaibu Musa informed the court that, the alleged rape victim was rushed to Doguwa General Hospital where she was administered with medications. The accused said he understood the content of the charge sheet read out to him in an open court by court registrar but denied the allegation, stating that it was not true. The Chief Magistrate, Mariam Sabo ordered that the suspected rapist be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to February 10 for mention.
SDP chieftain appeals to Aregbesola on sacked doctors A chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Osun State, Abolubode Bibiire, has appealed to Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola to reconsider his decision to sack the striking doctors in the state. He stressed that their sack “is no solution to the already tensed situation among the workers in the state.” Bibiire at an event in Osogbo, organised to celebrate his birthday, urged the people of the state to pray for the governor, as according to him, “only God can intervene in the affairs of the state.” He added that “in the interest of peace and democracy, the governor is honestly advised to reverse his decision. All the medical doctors should be called back to work without any further delay. “Similar to this case is the issue of withdrawal of admission to hundreds of our youths that have been originally offered admission into various tertiary institutions in Osun State. This action is a big blow to the youth whose future should be our responsibility to secure and guarantee.”
Osun Assembly mourns Kwara lawmaker
OSUN State House of Assembly under the leadership of Right Honourable Najeem Salaam has described as a great loss to Kwara State House of Assembly, the death of its member, Honourable Moses Afolayan, representing Oke-Ero constituency. The late Honourable Afolayan died on January 30. In a condolence message issued by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, on behalf of the house, condoled with his Kwara counterpart, as well as the immediate and political family of the late lawmaker. He regretted that the death of the lawmaker came at a time that his people were looking up to him for succour at this time of economic downturn. Describing the death of the lawmaker as shocking and sad, he urged the family to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a worthy life worthy of emulation.
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Lagosmetro Ecobank staffers arrested for forgery Gbemi Solaja
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HREE bankers have been arrested for allegedly withdrawing N2.8 million from customers’ accounts. The accused persons – Oluwatoyin Adetunji (41), Oluwatosin Obademi (32) and Olushola Ogunshina (39) – staff of Ecobank, had, allegedly between July 10 and 14, 2015, forged signatures of several customers and stole the sum of N2.8 million
from their accounts at Iyan-Ipaja branch of the bank. The prosecutor, Nurudeen Thomas, said Adetunji and Obademi were cashiers, while Ogunshina was Information Technology personnel at the bank. According to the prose-
cutor, Obademi and Ogunshina claimed that Adetunji came to them with the deal and promised to pay them N350,000 each. They are facing a threecount charge of conspiracy, forgery and stealing before a Tinubu magistrates’ court. Thomas said the offences
contravened sections 285, 361 and 409 of the Criminal Code of Lagos State, 2011. The chief magistrate, Mrs K.B Ayeye, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case till February 22 for hearing.
Why I robbed household where I once worked — Electrician Olalekan Olabulo THE police in Lagos State have arrested a twenty-fiveyear-old electrician, who returned to rob a household where he had earlier worked. He said his decision was informed by what he saw in the house. The suspect, Seun Joshua, was arrested by policemen from Ijaiye divisional police station, after one of the occupants of the building raised the alarm. Joshua was arrested with a locally-made pistol, which he carefully tucked in a school bag. The suspect, while speaking with Lagos Metro, confessed that he was with the weapon when the policemen arrested him. He, however, claimed that he found the pistol at a refuse dump site in Sango area of Ogun State, where he had gone to work. Joshua also stated that he returned to rob his victim, after noticing that they had things that he could easily sell.
Joshua
Nigerian Tribune
Friday, 5 February, 2016
Men of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) at work on Okota Road, Isolo, being reconstructed by the government, on Thursday.
A warrant of arrest has been issued on an online publisher, Segun Oloketuyi. He is to be arrested wherever he is seen. Oloketuyi, the organiser of the annual Best of Nollywood Awards, was alleged to have published a news report on his blog, where he alleged that the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, had a love relationship with a married lady in the marketing department of the bank. In the report, Oloketuyi had further alleged that the extra-marital affair between Okonkwo and the said lady, simply identified as Justina, resulted in the birth of a baby, and that the affair also destroyed the marriage of the said Justina. It was further alleged that
Okonkwo had since sent the affected lady abroad to further her studies. Okonkwo petitioned the police and, after investigation, Oloketuyi was charged before a Federal High Court. He was remanded in prison but was granted bail in the sum of N2 million. Oloketuyi, however, failed to show up in court on Thursday. Justice Jude Kanyoh Da-
gat gave the order for his arrest after dismissing the submission of Oloketuyi’s counsel, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, who informed the court the he was indisposed due to ill-health. Justice Dagat, while dismissing the lawyer’s submission, said “there is no medical report before the court to show that accused is sick,” adding that the sureties to the accused were not present in the
Olalekan Olabulo A twenty-two-year-old robbery suspect, Seun Adewale, has confessed that he returned to robbery anytime he was broke. Segun, who was once sent to prison by a magistrates’ court in Lagos State, said his experience in prison had not deterred him from robbery. He, however, blamed an area brother of his, whom he identified as Segun Sigo, for his latest arrest by the police. The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Lagos State police command during a foiled robbery attack on LASU-Iyana Iba Road. The state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, while speaking on the arrest of the suspect, said the police were on the trail of other members of his gang. Segun, who had relocated to Mowe in Ogun State after he was released from prison, said he only returned to Lagos to rob whenever he was broke. He also claimed to have made up his mind not to rob
court, as such the submission of the accused counsel is hereby dismissed. “In this same circumstances, the bail of the accused is hereby revoked and a bench warrant be issued against the accused person,” the judge ruled. Oloketuyi’s offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention Etc) Act, 2015.
Miscreants attack task force with petrol bomb Bola Badmus LAGOS State Environmental and Special Offences (Task Force) said it has arrested more than 155 miscreants terrorising Oyingbo and Idumota residents as well as impounded 150 motorcycles in Iddo, Lagos, disclosing that all these were accomplished in an overnight operations carried out by the operatives of the agency. However, one para-mili-
tary officer of the agency, Mr Samuel Ogunjimi, was shot at by the miscreants while a petrol bomb was thrown at one of the Agency’s officer, Corporal Friday Adama. This was contained in a statement made available on Wednesday to Lagos Metro by the Public Affairs Officer of the Task Force, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, saying that the operation was carried out as a result of series of petitions received by the agency that on
Lanre Adewole
olanreade@yahoo.com
0811 695 4647
Jail term didn’t stop me from robbery — Ex-convict
Court issues arrest warrant on ailing online publisher Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin
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daily basis, miscreants who lived and has turned under bridges at Iddo towards Idumota river side to their den robbed innocent citizens of their valuables, especially at night. According to the statement, the miscreants arrested, not only rob under Iddo bridges, but constitute other environmental nuisances such as engaging in smoking India hemp and rape innocent girls.
again, until Sigo took him out for a robbery operation. “I was in prison for two months and when I came out, I did not want to rob again. It was not because of my experience in prison, but I only decided not to rob again. “I was arrested for a robbery at Ijanikin in 2014. I was in Kirikiri Prison for two months. “I begged Sigo for money and he told me to follow him somewhere. I did not know where we were going until we robbed some commercial motorcyclists.
Adewale
Cultists shoot victim in stomach, cut his head Gbemi Solaja A man identified as Timilehin Oduniyi Agbeyomi, has been remanded in prison over allegations of murder. His group reportedly shot their victim in the stomach before using machete to cut his head, leading to his death. The prosecutor, Olatunde Kehinde, said the crime was committed on October 24, 2015 at about 5.30 p.m. at No 10, Oluwafere Street, Bariga. He told an Ebute-Metta magistrates’ court that Timilehin and others now at large conspired and killed a 20-year-old Imohlede Asije, by shooting him on his stomach and cutting his head. According to the prosecutor, Timilehin and others now at large belonged to an unlawful society known as “AYE” fraternity and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 41 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. Kehinde said the offences contravened and punishable under sections 221, 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.
news Ogun records first case of Lassa fever 10
Friday, 5 February, 2016
60 persons under watch, two hospitals closed Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta
THE Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, said the state has recorded a first case of the deadly Lassa fever. He disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday that about 60 primary
contacts of the 28-year-old victim had been listed. Ipaye added that two private hospitals where the victim was initially treated had also been closed down. The commissioner explained that the victim had since been transferred to an isolation centre at the Ola-
bisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu. Ipaye stated that the 60 listed persons include 35 health workers at the first hospital where the victim received initial treatment, 22 health workers at the second hospital and 3 other
family members. The commissioner explained that the lady attended a burial ceremony in Ebonyi State in January before travelling back to Ogun State. He added that the victim started showing symptoms of fever and reported her-
self at a private hospital in Ota. The commissioner said she was later referred to another private hospital where she was confirmed to be a patient. Ipaye appealed to residents not to panic that the state government would put the situation under control.
World Cancer Day:
Ambode’s wife, lawmaker call for collaborative efforts to combat disease Chukwuma Okparaocha-Lagos
Staff and officials of the Ministry of Health and Civil Society Organisations staging a rally, as part of the events marking the World Cancer Day, in Awka, Anambra State, on Thursday.
Rabies is as dangerous as Lassa fever, Ebola, FG warns dog owners Distributes 1,812 human anti rabies vaccines to veterinary students Collins Nnabuife - Abuja
FOLLOWING the dangers students of veterinary colleges face in caring for animals, especially dogs, the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), has distributed 1,812 rabies vaccines to students. The government also warned that rabies is also as dangerous as Lassa fever, Ebola and other zoonotic diseases. The vaccines will further prevent the students from being infected when they are carrying out their professional duties after their academic year. Speaking at the occasion on Thursday, the Registrar of Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr Edger Sunday, noted that rabies is a preventable viral disease which is transmissible to humans through bites from infected animals. He further said that preexposure vaccination is an effective preventative measures against the virus. “Rabies is a preventable viral disease of warm blooded animals that is transmissible to humans through bites of infected animals. In our own environment, the dogs are the most important sources of majority human rabies. “Pre-exposure vaccina-
tion is a very effective preventative measures against rabies and this is highly recommended for high-risk occupation of which veterinary medicine is one. “It is in response to the plight of these students that the Veterinary Council of Nigeria requested for allocation of these human antirabies vaccines from the Federal Ministry of Health. “In all 1,812 vials of the vaccine were allocated to
VCN and this are what we are distributing to the nine accredited Faculties/Colleges of Veterinary Medicine in the country and the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA),” he stated. Dr Sunday, who was represented by the Deputy Registrar, Dr Josiah Kantiyok, therefore said “henceforth, vaccination of clinical veterinary students against rabies will be one of the
criteria for accreditation of Faculties/Colleges of veterinary medicine.” In her address, the representative of the Ministry of Health, Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu, described rabies as a zoonotic viral disease which affects man and other animals. She said that the virus is as dangerous as other zoonotic diseases, like Ebola, Lassa fever and bird flu, and it’s also preventable.
70% of cancer deaths occur in developing nations —WHO By Victor Ogunyinka
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed through its latest data that 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in developing countries. The data revealed that about 14 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths from cancer occurred in 2014. It also stated that Nigeria has had a significant increase in the incidence of deaths from the common cancers within four years. The Executive Secretary, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria), Dr Abia Nzelu, in a statement on the World Cancer Day with the theme: ‘We can, I Can,’ explained that over 100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer annually, and about 80,000 die (10
deaths every hour!) with a dismal survival rate of 1: 5. “The situation is worse for some specific cancers. For example, the survival rate for certain blood cancers in Nigeria is 1:20 whilst at the Tata Cancer Centre in the Indian city of Mumbai; survivorship is 99:100 for the same condition. This poor survival rate in Nigeria is
mainly due to inadequate infrastructure for cancer care and lack of well-organised system of prevention.” Dr Nzelu stated that to address this problem, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria) has adopted the “big War Against Cancer as its current focal cause.”
IN marking of this year’s World Cancer Day, wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode and the chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health Services, Honourable Segun Olulade, have urged Nigerians to desist from every act that could lead to cancer. In her remarks, the Governor’s, noted that although cancer had been a threat to the world, claiming more than eight million lives annually, all hope was not lost if the world could unite to fight the scourge. She added that the theme of this year’s celebration, “We can, I can,” was a universal call to all and sundry, especially governments, to make the fight a priority at the highest levels. Speaking further, she advised people to engage in physical activities and to go for regular screening for early detection, to enable outright cure or easier management of a diagnosed cancer condition. She said this in Lagos, in a goodwill message to mark the 2016 World Cancer Day, organised by Sebeccly Cancer Care, an advocacy organisation raising public awareness on cancer, where she was presented with the Guinness World Record Human Ribbon Canvass and Banner as part of activities for public education for awareness on cancer.
LEAH foundation screens 11,500 women for cancer in 3yrs Biola Azeez - Ilorin
A charity organisation by the wife of Kwara State governor, Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed, the Life Empowered Anchors Hope (LEAH) Charity Foundation says that it has screened 11, 500 women for cancer treatment in its three years of operation. Speaking during activities
to celebrate 2016 World Cancer Day in Ilorin, on Thursday, the executive director of the foundation, Alhaji Lanre Bello, said the foundation was determined to bring the incidences of breast and cervical cancer in the state to a barest minimum. “Since we started operation in 2013, we have
screened 11,500 women in our facilities across Kwara State. A total of 96 women were discovered to have full blown cervical cancer while 200 have breast cancer. “We provide mammography, breast scan, cervix screening, pap smear, various laboratory investigations and cry therapy services in our centres.”
Nigerian Tribune
NSE boss calls for attitudinal change By Tunde Ogunesan
THE President, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Otis Oliver Anyaeji FNSE, FAEng. has called for change of attitude among its members, saying they need to buckle up in discharging their duties as engineers. Anyaeji, who was on a courtesy call on the Ibadan branch of the society, on Tuesday, disclosed that it was high time engineers in the country exhibited complete professionalism in their field and stamp their authority as far as the profession was concerned. He said “There is need for our people to take over the affairs of the engineering profession and the totality of engineering activities in the country as authorities, just like other professionals. You must control and command activities in your field and set standard as well as pace. “You need to own, practise and enjoy your profession. This will remove the old practice of patronising quack engineering personnel to the detriment of professionals by the public. We must stand firm to set the pace in our field, nobody will do this for us.” In his address, the chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ibadan Branch, Mr ‘Bola Olowe, FNSE lauded Anyaeji, saying his present administration would move the NSE forward.
Embattled council boss sacked by Delta Assembly Alphonsus Agborh –Asaba
THE embattled chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr Henry Baro, who was declared wanted by the police for his alleged involvement in the wanton destruction of Shoprite in Effurun near Warri has been sacked from office by the state House of Assembly. The House’s decision to finally remove the council boss was sequel to the report by the joint committee on public accounts and local government and chieftaincy affairs which investigated allegations of financial recklessness and security breaches within the council area leveled against him. Mr Baro was in July, last year suspended as council chairman by the House over the allegations.
businessnews Mass sack in oil sector: FG meets major oil 11
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marketers next week As Shell plans to sack 10,000 workers Soji-Eze Fagbemi Olurounbi
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and Ruth
OLLOWING the proposed plan by major oil markerters to embark on mass sack of workers, the Federal Government declared late last night that it has scheduled a crucial joint labour-oil sector meeting for next week to resolve some emerging issues in the industry. The major oil marketers had allegedly threatened to lay off workers due to the dwindling price of crude in the international market. But the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, after a meeting with major oil companies in Nigeria, called on operators in the sector to shelve such plans so as to avoid throwing the nation into a huge social upheaval. The minister emphasised that the nation was already facing a lot of social security problems and could not to afford more problems through job cuts; assuring that the scheduled meeting will look at all the issue. “The oil majors in Nigeria must therefore bend backwards and see what they can plough back from their profits to keep Nigerian workers on their duty posts,”the minister said. Speaking further, Ngige assured the oil majors that the current economic downturn would not last forever. According to him, “keep the existing jobs. We have a downturn today but you can be sure it will not last forever. If you are not creating new jobs, let us keep the ones we have. That is what this government is pleading and we must emphasise that is what we want.” He said because oil and gas sector remained the financial backbone of the country’s economy for now, any threat of industrial unrest therein should be nipped in the bud. Speaking on behalf of the International Oil Compananies (IOCs) at the meeting, which included Agip, Mobil producing, Chevron Addax and Total, the Director of Human Resources and Medical, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Ihuoma Onyearughe, appealed for understanding and collaboration on the part of the government in
view of the current challenges facing the industry. “The issue of laying people off is not a decision that comes lightly. I will not come here to tell you that people are being laid off or not. The situation in the oil company is dire. We want to ask for more understanding in appreciation of the challenges we face. “Nevertheless, we have heard the minister and we will take your message back to our various companies,” she said. She also pleaded with the minister to protect the oil majors from unnecessary harassment from the labour unions “who usually close their eyes to unfair labour practices by the ‘employment contractors’ who do not remit workers pension and compensation funds, but harass and turn the heat on the oil companies.” Meanwhile, Royal Dutch Shell said it will be laying off 10,000 workers. This development is con-
nected to significant loss recorded by the company in 2015. The company, which has disclosed that it made $1.8 billion in profits, compared with $4.2 billion for the same quarter a year ago, said the sack was in line with the company’s further “impactful” decision. Shell said its 2015 Current Cost of Supplies (CCS) earnings stood at $3.8 billion compared with $19.0 billion in 2014, adding that its fourth quarter 2015 current cost of supplies earnings also stood at $1.8 billion compared with $3.3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2014, representing a decrease of 44 per cent. The company revealed in its 2015 financial statement that its full year 2015 CCs earnings stood at $10.7 billion compared with $22.6 billion in 2014, while the fourth quarter 2015 dividend, as the company is expected to announce a dividend of $0.47 per ordinary share and
$0.94 per ADS in respect of the first quarter in 2016. The company’s CEO, Ben van Beurden, responding to recent financial results, the company was “making substantial changes in the company, reorganising our Upstream, and reducing costs and capital investment, as we refocus Shell, and respond to lower oil prices,” adding that “as we have previously indicated, this will include a reduction of some 10,000 staff and direct contractor positions in 2015-16 across both companies.” The CEO added that: “in 2015, we significantly curtailed spending by reducing the number of new investment decisions and designing lower-cost development solutions. “For 2016, we have exited the Bab sour gas project in Abu Dhabi, and are postponing final investment decisions on LNG Canada and Bonga South West in deep water Nigeria. “Operating costs and
capital investment have been reduced by a total of $12.5 billion as compared to 2014, and we expect further reductions in 2016. “As a result of our actions in 2015, we have retained a strong balance sheet position, with 14 per cent gearing. Shell will take further impactful decisions to manage through the oil price downturn, should conditions warrant that. Shell’s dividends for 2015 were $1.88 per share, and are expected to be at least $1.88 per share in 2016, as previously announced.” It will be recalled that on February 1, 2016, the company announced that it had agreed to sell 51 per cent of its shareholding in Shell Refining Company in Malaysia to Malaysia Hengyuan International Ltd $66.3 million. The sale, according to the company, was consistent with Shell’s strategy to concentrate its global Downstream footprint and businesses where it can be most competitive.
Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Tunde Fowler (right), welcoming members of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (left) and Senator Gbolahan Dada, during a visit committee’s visit to the FIRS Headquarters, in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN
Airfreight industry, catalyst in economic diversification —Stakeholders STAKEHOLDERS have said that airfreight industry can serve as catalyst in the diversification of the nation’s oil-dependent economy. Speaking at a one-day national airfreight summit in Ilorin on Thursday, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, said that the businesses had the potential to become means of expanding the nation’s
non-oil export market to earn greater revenue for the government. “The airfreight sector holds great potentials for expansion of the nation’s export base in perishable, time sensitive and high value goods. If properly developed, the sector has the potentials of boosting revenue base of government at all levels in the face of declining earnings from the oil sector.
“Nigeria needs to consider and develop the air mode for the shipment of its commodities, especially perishable commodities to the international market in order to expand its trade and reap the enormous benefits therein. This is because the Nigerian economy is being rapidly integrated into the global economy as some commodities, especially ethnic food sub-
stances are now in very great demand abroad by Nigerians in the diaspora”, he said. Bello, who said that objective was to sensitise stakeholders to the potentials in airfreight sector. “For the diversification of the nation’s economy, called on government and stakeholders to consciously promote the sector for the growth of the economy,” he said.
Nigerian Tribune
2016: Morgan Stanley abandons call for oil rebound LOW oil prices will persist for longer than previously expected, according to Morgan Stanley, which reduced its quarterly crude forecasts for this year by as much as 51 per cent. Morgan Stanley now sees oil mostly falling through 2016, compared with a previous outlook for prices to rise each quarter, analysts including Adam Longson said in a report Thursday. Brent crude is expected to average $29 a barrel in the three months to December, compared with an estimate for $59 in a Jan. 18 note. “Weaker-than-expected demand, higher-than-expected supply, rising inventories and increased hedging incentives all work to delay rebalancing, and slow the rise in prices immediately thereafter,” Longson wrote in the Feb. 4 report. Venezuela said five other members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries would join non-OPEC producers Russia and Oman should an extraordinary meeting be called. There are growing calls for producers around to world to act to stem the decline in oil prices, which plunged to the lowest level in more than a decade last month. OPEC effectively abandoning its production ceiling in December and Russia pumping at a record is exacerbating a global glut, with U.S. inventories at the highest level since 1930 as the nation’s shale fields remain resilient. Morgan Stanley expects Brent to average $31 a barrel in the first three months of this year and $30 in the second and third quarters. This compares with earlier targets of $42, $45 and $48, respectively. The contract for April settlement rose 32 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $35.36 a barrel at 2:10 p.m. Singapore time. “Demand growth has slowed, with even gasoline and the global consumer showing signs of deceleration,” said Longson. “Global supply remains resilient and grows in 2016 on a combination of producer incentives, follow-through on longer lead time projects and the return of additional volume from Iran.”
businessnews CBN extends BVN deadline for Nigerians in diaspora 12
Gbola Subair and Chima Nwokoji
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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the deadline for the enrollment of Nigerian banks’ customers to June 30, 2016. This is contained in a statement issued by the apex bank in Abuja on Thursday. The statement signed by Dipo Fatokun, Director, Banking and Payment Systems Department, hinged the extension on the low percentage of registration of banks’ customers in the diaspora. The statement read in part, “You will recall that as part of its efforts towards ensuring full implementation of the BVN Project, the Central Bank of Nigeria issued a circular extending the deadline for the registration and linkage of BVN to accounts of Nigerian banks’ customers in diaspora to January 31, 2016. “The Central Bank of Nigeria has observed, through a recent survey, the low percentage of registration of Nigerian banks’ customers in diaspora, which may be attributed to lack of accessibility to registration centres and unavailability of registration centres in some cities where Nigerian population is high.” “Consequently, all the
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DMBs are hereby requested to note that BVN enrolment for Nigerian banks’ customers in diaspora is hereby extended to
30th June, 2016. This is to enable such customers complete the enrolment and link the BVN to their accounts.” The CBN added that to
THE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has condemned the recent comment of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on the plans by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to increase electricity tariff. According to the TUC President Bobboi Kaugama, “We understand that the former Governor of Lagos State reportedly described the plan as the only way to enhance stable power supply in the country.” The minister had argued that the Act of the National Assembly actually empowers the Commission to increase tariff and that the Act cannot be tampered with even by the federal parliament. The labour leader described the claim as very lame, too simplistic and
Nigerians in diaspora who have yet to complete their enrolment to seize the opportunity of the extension to do so.
From left: President, Coca-Cola Central East & West Africa; Kelvin Balogun, Chairman, TGI Group; Cornelis Vink, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria; Adeola Adetunji, Group President, Coca-Cola Eurasia & Africa Group; Nathan Kalumbu, and CEO, TGI Group, Rahul Savara, at the announcement of Coca-Cola’s investment in Chi Limited held in Lagos, recently.
Apapa customs command generated N23.4bn in January Tola Adenubi, Lagos THE Apapa Area one command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it collected a whooping N23.4 billion as revenue for
the month of January 2016. Disclosing this at the monthly stakeholders meeting organized by the Apapa Customs in Lagos, the Area Controller, Comptroller Willy Egbudin
TUC condemns Fashola’s comment on new electricity tariff Olatunde Dodondawa -Lagos
facilitate the enrolment of all bank customers in diaspora, it would soon add to the existing 30 registration centres, while calling on
misleading. “Any Act that preys on the masses that it is supposed to protect negates public policy. Any Act that compels the citizens to pay for services not delivered is not only flawed and undemocratic but is ultra vires the power of the Assembly to make laws for the good of the country, and should not enjoy any applicability. “Any Act that further impoverishes the downtrodden and lowly is evil and should be discountenanced. We lend our voice again to advocate the need for the minister and NERC to stop trying to enforce the obnoxious Act. “It is high time the minister and proponents of the tariff increase are reminded that one of the major reasons Nigerians demanded a change of leadership in May 2015 was so they could heave a sigh of relief,” he
said. The TUC and the NLC had threatened to shut down the discos all over the country on Monday except the newly introduced electricity tariff is reversed.
charged clearing agents and importers to embrace transparency in all their transactions. Giving a breakdown of revenue collected at the command in the past two years, Egbudin said in 2014, the command collected a total of N301 billion, while there was a decline in 2015 as only N288 billion was collected. The former Lilypond and Seme Command Controller equally reiterated the command’s commitment in ensuring that the Apapa Command meets the target set for it in 2016.
Heritage Bank tasks govt on SMEs, diversification THE Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs have been described as very strategic and critical to Nigeria’s economic growth. Davidson Regha, General Manager and Divisional Head, Retail & SME Banking of Heritage Bank Limited, who spoke with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, also urged the government to hinge the planks of its current economic diversification on a massive support for the SMEs as it was being done in many developed countries. “For many of the developed economies we see to-
day, they all have SMEs as the support base of their big corporations, whether in America, Europe, Latin America or Asia. “That is the way to go as a country. If we do not support the SMEs, the economic growth we are all talking about will not happen. We should see the SMEs as the catalyst to change and economic growth the government is talking about, Regha said. submitted that the SMEs, being a critical sector of the economy deserve the support of banks and every institution of government because it is the engine of the nation’s economic growth.
According to him: “We will pray that this year, we should be able to exceed at least N300 to N400 or N500 billion and that is our expectation. “So far, I don’t think we are doing badly even though we are not meeting the target because for the month of January this year, we had been able to realise N23.4 billion compared to January 2015 when we collected N20.7 billion in same month. With this, you know that we have started well.” He added that the command had started on the right path to ensure that the service actualise the revenue target, even as he appealed to operators to comply with trade facilitation. “Apart from the revenue collections and anti smuggling, one other thing is to facilitate trade because it takes two to tangle. If you want your trade to be facilitated you have to declare honest declaration. You know that Apapa Area command is the flagship of customs service and if the service is to get it right, that means this command must get it right and if we are not getting it right, that means other commands are not getting it right,” he stated.
Nigerian Tribune
Market again dips by 0.3% Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba -Lagos
TRANSACTIONS on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday maintained negative stance on investors’ low appetite for stocks with the benchmark indices declining by 0.9 per cent each. Specifically, the market capitalisation shed N77 billion or 0.38 per cent to close at N8.88 trillion as against N8.11 trillion recorded on Wednesday. Similarly, the All-Share Index lost 88.7 points or 0.38 per cent to close lower at 23,517.19 compared with 23,605.89 recorded a day before. The price movement chart indicated that Nestle Plc led the losers’ pack with a loss of N37.00 or five percent to close at N703.00 per share. Seven Up Plc followed with N9.34 or five per cent to close at N177.61 per share, while Dangote Cement Plc trailed with a loss of N2.70 or 2.13 per cent to close at N124.30 per share. Julius Berger Plc declined by N2.00 or 4.60 per cent to close at N41.560, while Unilever Plc dipped by N1.46 or 4.59 per cent to close at N30.35 per share. On the other hand, Forte Oil Plc led the gainers’ table, increasing by N26.50 or 9.36 per cent to close at N310.00 per share. Guinness Nigeria Plc was up with N5.58 or 4.78 per cent to close at N122.34 per share, while International Breweries Plc added N1.73 or 9.71 per cent to close at N19.55 per share. Presco Plc increased by 75 kobo or 2.26 per cent to close at N34.00 per share, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated added 49 kobo or 3.27 per cent to close at N15.49 per share or 6.07 per cent to close at N17.82 per share.
BAT to inaugurate new head office in Ikoyi By Wale Olapade THE British American Tobacco (BAT) West African is set to inaugurate it’s new Head office in Lagos on Tuesday, February 9, 2016. The new office which is located in Ikoyi, Lagos will be inaugurated by former president Olusegun Obasanjo. According to the invite by BAT, the new step was testament to the confidence the company has in Nigeria and its growth potentialities to achieving it’s numerous objectives.
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Help recover looted N3trn in Rivers, group tells Buhari Taiwo Adisa - Abuja
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group, Rivers Awake, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to assist the government of Rivers State, recover a sum of N3 trillion, said to have been looted from the state in the past years. The group, in a statement signed by three of its leaders, including Messrs Dagogo Ferdinand, Ezenwa Wodi and Ezekiel Amachree, said that a chunk of Rivers money also went into the presidential primaries and campaigns of the All Progressives Congress(APC). The group said specifically that between 2007 and 2015, federal allocations accruing to the state totaled N3 trillion, but expressed surprised that as at May 2015, workers were owed months of salary arrears, while a number of projects were abandoned. The group said: “Looking back, it is puzzling that with the volume of funds that accrued to Rivers State, workers were owed
salaries for four months, aged pensioners were not paid their pensions for eight months, and teachers were not paid for over 12 months. “There were also the abandoned N60 billion mono-rail project and the N3billion Woji Road that
was varied to N14 billion, yet abandoned but completed by the current government. Another was the 250-bed Karibi-Whyte hospital that the immediate past administration effortlessly dumped after huge funds had been drawn down on it.
Edo 2016: Thugs disrupt APC meeting, attack journalists Banji Aluko - Benin City
THE internal crisis rocking Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), over who emerges the governorship candidate of the party, was brought to the open on Thursday, as thugs loyal to a governorship aspirant disrupted a meeting called by the Edo South senatorial vice chairman, Mr Gentleman Amegor. The thugs, numbering about 100, stormed the Benin residence of Amegor, where the meeting was scheduled to hold and unleashed terror on everyone on sight, including journalists and party members, who were converging on the residence for the meeting.
It will be recalled that party leaders had, last month, announced the suspension of Amegor as Edo South senatorial vice chairman of APC over antiparty activities and failure to convene regular meetings. The thugs said that Amegor was not fit to call a senatorial meeting of the party since he has been suspended and did not leave his residence for about two hours so as to prevent the meeting from holding.
CHANGE OF NAME NAME CHANGE OF
CHANGE OFMiss NAMEAjayi I, formerly I, formerly formerly Miss Miss Ajayi Ajayi I,Oluwafi sayomi Yetunde Oluwafi sayomi Yetunde Oluwafi Yetunde now MRS SHOKUNBI now sayomi MRS SHOKUNBI now MRS O L U WA A FF II SHOKUNBI SA AY YO OM MI O L U W S OYETUNDE. L U W A F I SAll A Y Oformer M II All former YETUNDE. YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. documents remain remain valid. documents valid. General public take take note. note. General public General public take note.
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Synagogue building collapse: Court adjourns judgment till Feb 19 •Alimosho coroner court does not exist —SCOAN Ayomide Owonibi- OdekanyinLagos
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USTICE Kazeem Alogba of a Lagos State High Court adjourned till February 19, a suit instituted by the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue of All Nation (SCOAN) challenging the verdict of the Lagos State Coroner’s court. SCOAN insisted that the Lagos State Coroner Court, which presided over the inquest into the collapse of six-storey building within the premises of the church does not exist in law. SCOAN also insisted on the need for a judicial review of the Lagos State coroner system. It will be recalled that SCOAN had filed the suit before Justice Alogba seeking an order quashing the verdict of the coroner’s court, presided over by Magistrate Komolafe Oyetade, on the grounds that the court exceeded its statutory jurisdiction. Komolafe and the Attorney General, Lagos State are listed as respondents in the suit. At the resumption of proceedings on Thursday, counsel for SCOAN, E.L Akpofure, informed the court of a filed application challenging the jurisdiction of the coroner’s court. “The Coroner’s Court of Lagos State, Alimosho District, which presided over
and delivered the verdict is unknown to Coroner’s Court of Lagos State, 2007 and Coroner’s System Law (Subsidiary Legislation) which established Coroner’s Court in Lagos State. “The Lagos Coroner’s System Law, 2007 only established Lagos, Ikeja, Yaba and Apapa districts and that Alimosho Coroner’s district which presided over the Synagogue building collapse inquest was not a creation of the law,” Akpofure maintained. He added that the inquest acted in excess of it jurisdiction. “The respondents maintained that adding Alimosho to all the processes filed in court is a judicial slip, “ he told the court. He, however, objected their claim that it was a judicial slip that did not tally with all the exhibits presented before the court. Akpofure further argued that the Coroner succinctly carried out his office in all his capacity, arrogating jurisdiction to himself despite a pending appeal challenging jurisdiction. He, therefore, called on the court for a proper judicial review of the Coroner system. “There is nothing like Alimosho Coroner district. It does not exist in the law; and neither is Ikotun Egbe tied to any of the districts,” he maintained.
Responding to the application, Counsel for Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem, who is also the Attorney General, asked the court to dismiss the application. He maintained that the application was dead on arrival as it did not meet order 40 of the Lagos State Coroner Law. “The law is succinctly spelt out. The verdict of the Coroner was delivered on the July 8, 2015, and they brought their application challenging jurisdiction six months after the Coroner’s verdict. All they sought for in their application was an extension of time,” the AG said.
Military warns against breach of peace, security Chris Agbambu-Abuja
THE Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, warned against acts capable of sabotaging the Nigerian state by any person or group. It specifically warned that the military and other security agencies will not condone any acts by individuals or group that is capable of causing breach to security and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta or in any part of the country.
Ajimobi attributes peace in Oyo to security priority By Oluwatoyin Malik
OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has emphasised that the priority of his government is basically security, saying that no one would be able to move around without the provision of adequate security. Governor Ajimobi stated this at Omi-Adio community in Ibadan, on Tuesday, at the commissioning of a newly-constructed police station. The governor, who was represented his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, said priority placed on security in the state, had manifested in the relative peace prevailing in the state since the coming of his administration in 2011. He enjoined members of the public to see policemen as their friends, stating that they are the
ones often pushed out to maintain peace in times of trouble or when any form of criminality is being perpetrated by criminal elements in the society. “Someone who fights for your life and protect your property is the greatest friend after God,” he stated, appealing to the people to give information to the law enforcement agents to help them curb any breach of peace. The state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, appreciated the contributions of the Oyo State government towards assisting the police to carry out their statutory duties in the state, saying it had always placed priority on security. Oyebade assured that his command and other security agencies would continue to collaborate with the government to ensure that
security is maintained with prevailing peace for economic activities to thrive. The police commissioner, while praising the contributory efforts of the Omi Adio community towards the construction of the police station, said the commissioning would bridge the gap between the police and the community. He said the community members should partner with the Divisional Police Officer to make the job of policing the community easier. It will be recalled that the police post serving the community was razed by irate youths in 2007, during a clash between the police and drivers. Since then, Omi-Adio had been without a police station, thus, compelling the community to go to Apata division to report cases connected with police intervention.
news Oba Odulana begins final journey today 16
By Tunde Ogunesan
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HE final programme for the burial rites of Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade I, begins today with a Jumat Service at the Central Mosque, Oja’ba, Ibadan, at 1:00pm Oba Odulana, the 40th Olubadan of Ibadan, joined his ancestors on Tuesday, January 19, after nine years on the throne.
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According to the burial programme released by the Oyo State government, the seven-day programme commences today with a special Jumat prayer session and service of songs at the Cathedral of St Peters, Aremo, Ibadan, by 3:00pm, on Sunday. On Monday, February 8, friends, associates and other well-meaning individuals will have the opportunity to catch a
glimpse of the remains of Oba Odulana for the first time since his demise at a lying-in-state programme at the compound of Igbo Elerin Grammar School, Ibadan, between 10:00am and 12:00noon. On Tuesday, February 9, a symposium on “The issues in Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system” will be a subject of discourse at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, by
11:00am while Lekan Salami Stadium Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, will play host to a culture day to celebrate the late traditional ruler by 2:00p.m. Again, on Wednesday, at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, a lyingin-state and day of tributes will hold by 10:00am. The body will also be at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, on Thursday, by 11:00a.m. for
lying-in-state/Governor’s oration session. Later in the day by 5:00p.m, a Christian wake will come up at the Monatan Palace of Oba Odugade I, while his body will be committed to the mother earth on Friday, February 12, after a funeral service at the Cathedral of St Peter, Aremo, Ibadan, by 11.00a.m. Guest will, however. be treated to a great reception
Don’t discard Ogun economic regional plan, Isiaka urges Amosun Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta
THE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ogun State, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, has urged the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, not to discard the economic regional masterplan designed by his prede-
cessor, Chief Gbenga Daniel. Isiaka, who was the former Group Managing Director of the Gateway Holdings Limited, said this while delivering the fourth anniversary lecture of Ijebu News Xtra Magazine, a community based newspaper, recently. In the lecture entitled: “Fast-tracking development
in Ogun State, using inherent human and natural endowments of each zone,” Isiaka said the state has progressive growth in GDP which had not reflected in human capital development. He, however, called on the state government not to abandon the cargo airport and deep seaport projects
‘Emerging Platforms’ unveils award for ICT best graduating student By Lanre Akinmoladun
EMERGING Platforms Group (EPG), in partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has launched the “Award of Merit” for the best graduating student in Information Technology at the Masters level. This was in line with the company’s commitment to empower the development of more intellects in the fields of Computer Science and Information Technology in Nigeria. The award was officially launched at the recently held 5th convocation ceremony of the NOUN. The award also holds the promise of recognising excellence in other academic fields. Commenting on the award, Mr Kola Aina, Chief Executive Officer, Emerg-
ing Platforms Group, said excellence is a fundamental component of the company’s corporate culture. According to Aina, “the Award of Merit underscores Emerging Platforms’ emphasis on hardwork and qualitative education. We identify excellence wherever we find ourselves and also foster a practice of diligence within our system. We are deliberate in our actions and seek to perform at the best standard of excellence; by identifying, developing, inspiring and supporting individuals, who aspire to become successful, most especially in the area of information technology.” Appreciating the gestures of Emerging Platform Group, Professor Vincent Tenebe, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, said the award was to motivate stu-
Civil society tasks institutions on transparency, accountability Adetola Bademosi - Abuja
THE Coalition of Civil Society Groups (CCSG) has, on Thursday, tasked all federal as well as private institutions in Nigeria on transparency and accountability. This is even as it also urged them to ensure efficiency in their activities, despite insufficient funds. President of the group, Etuk William, stated this while addressing newsmen in Abuja, on its assessment tour of Nigeria institutions
in the last one year. While citing an instance with the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, among other institutions, he said an unscheduled visit to the institution proved that Nigeria institutions can still achieve their mandate despite the lean resources. “The management of the polytechnic has shown prudency with resource at its disposal with the level of achievement it has recorded in the last few years,” he said.
dents who have performed very well and also challenge their counterparts to work hard towards academic excellence.
started by the immediate past administration to gear up the economic prospects of the state. The accountant cum politician noted that the state had not fully utilised its potentials since creation 40 years ago, advocating rapid industrialisation and development of real estate to create massive job opportunities. He said, “Though we are definitely not where we were at creation, we are not where we ought to be, four decades after. If you know what Apapa and Tincan ports have done to Lagos, we’ll realise that we have to take advantage of our closeness to the Atlantic.
“Many states in other climes have developed their economies by exploiting their coastline potentials. Ogun has about 20km stretch of coastline suitable for a deep seaport and export processing zone. The high sea along Ogun Waterside and Olokola provides great possibilities in this regard for any government that knows the way to go about it. “We can become a major logistics hub via the development of a cargo airport around the Ikenne area. The infrastructure in Lagos is already overstretched and it can serve as an alternative to the cargo demand of the region.”
Nigerian Tribune
at the Ibadan Recreation Club, Sabo, Ibadan, after the interment.
He was a bridge-builder —Hon Awoleye LAWMAKER representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Honourable Abiodun Awoleye, has described the transited Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odungade 1, as a bridge-builder, saying Ibadanland witnessed uncommon transformation during his tenure. Awoleye, who made the disclosure during a recent interaction with newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said the late monarch was a father to all political gladiators in Ibadan, adding that he never for once pitched his tent with any political party. The lawmaker stated further that Oba Odulana placed a high premium on quality education, noting that he never sat on the fence whenever there was a logjam between the Oyo State government and the National Union of Teachers (NUT), state chapter.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
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HERE is a book on Mama H.I.D. Awolowo entitled “IN THE RADIANCE OF THE SAGE – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF H.I.D AWOLOWO.” The book is written by Wale Adebanwi, a highly-gifted journalist who cut his journalistic career in the Nigerian Tribune. The interesting book was launched by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in November 2015. The book presentation was part of the programmes to mark Mama H.I.D’s transition into the world beyond. Wale Adebanwi is an Associate Professor of University of California, as well as being a visiting Professor, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Rhodes University, Grahams Town, South Africa. The story presented in this fascinating book is not only the story of Mama H.I.D’s firm and loyal commitment to Papa Obafemi Awolowo, but an intellectual presentation of the travails, persecution and victimisation of the Avatar in his political career. What Wale has presented in this book will shake the hearts and minds of all men and women of conscience. The story is moving, educative and highly-informative. I was one of the close aides and political associates of Papa Awolowo that Wale interviewed for the production of this book. Sometime in June 2015, Wale had invited me for a comprehensive interview on the life and times of Mama H.I.D Awolowo. After several failed attempts to get the interview on, myself and Wale finally got it together towards the end of June 2015, when we decided to have it done on a moving car between Ile-Ife Road, Ibadan and Gbongan in Osun State. With a bottle of ZERO Coke in my hands, Wale had got the best of me on Mama H.I.D. The interview was very well presented by Wale Adebanwi in this 311-paged book. I am quite delighted in presenting to my readers, the portions of Wale’s book that adequately inform Nigerians about the life and times of the wife and precious Jewel of the Avatar - Awo. You will all enjoy reading the story.
With
Ebenezer Babatope
0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)
Wale Adebanwi on Mama HID (1)
to Lekki were the crisis in the Action Group. The party had expelled its ranking member and Premier of the Western Region, Akintola, at the Jos Convention in February 1962, a decision which precipitated a bigger crisis in the region and the country as a whole as the ruling coalition parties, the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and its coalition partner, the NCNC, sought to take advantage of the crisis in the AG to destroy the party and its preeminent leader, Awolowo. The attempt to move beyond Akintola’s expulsion from the party by ensuring HIS REMOVAL as Premier by the AG-controlled Regional House of Assembly in Ibadan led to a violent eruption in the House. This was used by Akintola’s allies in the NPC-NCNC-controlled Federal Government under the leadership of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to impose a state of emergency in the Western Region. The motion for the declaration of a state of emergency in Western Nigeria in the NPC/NCNC-controlled Federal Parliament in Lagos was supported by 232 members and opposed by only 44.
“THE GRAMMAR OF FORTITUDE” “Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee Help of the helpless, O abide with me…. “Abide with Me”. Henry Francis Lyte (1847) It isn’t life that matters, but the courage one puts into it – Peter, in Hugh Walpole’s Fortitude’ IT IS EARLY MORNING in the scenic but desolate island. A sudden rush of water at the beachfront gathers in a multitude of crests as if in a choreographed salute to Providence. As the crests crash by the beachfront with salty water gently wetting her, Hannah raises her voice in supplication. She is here to beseech the One whom she believes is omnisciently regulating the world and everything that happens therein; His help, mercy and grace are especially needed at this period of misery when all forms of comfort seem to have suddenly departed. As the ocean rumbles again in eagerness of yet another of its endless rushes, Hannah ends her prayer that morning and walks back to the house. The wind is coming. She has to brace herself by spreading her wings. She is going to fly, but would never let the wind of adversity carry her away…. A while after Hannah returns to the small house, an abandoned Government Reservation House where her husband, Obafemi Awolowo, is under restriction, the man takes his usual early morning walk by the beachfront and the bush path, partly to reflect again on his fate and to exercise his body. The events of the last few weeks are on his mind as he contemplates the intrigues of his political adversaries who had crashed him from the heights of formal gravity (at his official residence in Bell Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos) and personal dignity (in his private residence in Ajina Street, Ikenne, and Oke-Bola, Ibadan) to the grimy small house in the mosquitoinfested island of Lekki, accessible only by canoe. The Atlantic Ocean offers a beautiful scenery as the Leader of Opposition in Nigeria’s federal parliament casts his glance over the endless waters over which he once sailed to England about two decades earlier to further equip himself for what, he was convinced, was the expected salvation of his fatherland. But the ugliness and the constriction which are taking over his beloved Western Region and the country he is seeking to lead, and his own restriction by the new “emergency” government of the Western Region contrast sharply with the beauty and plenitude of the ocean. Whatever comes, he assures to himself, he would remain unbowed in his self-possession and unyielding in his convictions that his country deserved better; Nigeria, he further reassures himself, is in painful need of the kind of visionary leadership and egalitarian rule that he, more than any other of his contemporaries, could offer… Back in the “guest house”, Mama Segun, as her husband and many others called her, looks around her again as she prepares to make breakfast. Whoever thought of making this a guest house must have had only unwanted guests in mind. It is the break of dawn still and the villagers would start to come to the house to help in any way they could. She needs to
•Mama HID Awolowo
prepare for the new day… The tempest was rising all over the Western Region. Also the situation in the country at large was tense. It was an opportunity to show the woman of fortitude in Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo. The world had come to know her husband as resolute, forbearing and resilient. (As a young man, she knew him first as “stubborn” and “rascally”). He had published his biography two years earlier which proved his fortitude. But the world was yet to know the stuff that she was made of. Would the coming tide wash her away or give her the opportunity to prove her worth too? She would show the world, particularly her husband’s wide and widening circle of adversaries and his inveterate and invertebrate enemies that she was no more appendage of a great man; she was a great woman in her own rights. She will stand by him – as she had prayed that her Saviour stood by her too – like a Rock of Gibraltar… THE EVENTS THAT LED OBAFEMI Awolowo and his wife, Hannah Idowu Dideolu (who was later to be popularly known as “HID”) to Lekki started no sooner than her husband’s political philosophy and ideological standpoint became popular in Nigeria. His adversaries, ranging from a mix of ideological, political, ethnic and personal rivals or antagonists, quickly identified him as the greatest threat to their vision of Nigeria and personal and/or political ambitions. His articulation of social democracy, decentralization of power based on pan-ethnic solidarity, egalitarian rule, and opposition to any form of ethno-regional domination clashed with the creed, or belief-system and/or practices of his contemporaries from the 1940s when he emerged as an important force in the politics of late colonial Nigeria. His opportunity to prove that the ideas of egalitarian rule and decentralized national governance that he had championed in his writings could be accomplished was his premiership of the Western Region from 1954-1959. After his widely acknowledged success as premier, in his bid to become the prime minister of Independent Nigeria, Awolowo relinquished the position to his deputy in the Action Group, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola. However, he lost his bid as his party could not secure an alliance with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), which could have made it possible for him to have a shot at the headship of the government as Nigeria moved towards Independence in October 1960. However, the immediate events that led to his restriction
‘YEMI ADEFULU AND REMI FAYEMI AT 70 Prince Yemi Adefulu and Professor Remi Eric Fayemi have turned 70 years on earth. We congratulate them heartily. Prince Yemi Adefulu is from the royal family at Ilisan in Ijebu Remo near Ikenne in the Remo Division of Ogun State. A renowned lawyer, ‘Yemi was in the 1969/1970 academic session of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, the President of the University of Lagos Students Union. He was a contemporary of the late Solomon Agunbiade aka “CHAIRMAN MAO,” the then President of the University of Ibadan Students Union. Prince ‘Yemi Adefulu was a successful student activist of his days; a politician who started his political career in the stable of Papa Awolowo, Yemi was a state commissioner in the UPN administration of Ogun State during the Second Republic led by the AIYEKOTO himself, Chief ‘Bisi Onabanjo. He was detained by the Buhari military regime after the coup of December 31, 1983. Prince Yemi Adefulu is today 70. We will say a lot about him on this page in a subsequent edition. PROFESSOR ERIC REMI FAYEMI Professor Eric ‘Remi Fayemi will, at a ceremony on the campus of the University of Ibadan tomorrow, celebrate his 70th birthday. Many of us (Remi’s friends) who will not be at the ceremony will join his family in praying for him. ‘Remi is simply a jolly good fellow who cannot just be ignored. Eric ‘Remi Fayemi was my junior at Ifaki Grammar School, Ifaki Ekiti State during Nigeria’s First Republic. I am familiar with him very well. A Professor of the Veterinary Sciences, ‘Remi Fayemi has cut a great image for himself. You hardly can talk about veterinary medicine mentioning the intellectual contributions of ‘Remi Eric Fayemi. I was ahead of him at Ifaki Grammar School by about three years. We all knew at school that Remi was going to be a scholar of note. His intellectual star was not overshadowed by any other consideration. It was not a surprise that in his later years on earth, he became a university professor, imparting knowledge in young Nigerians. During the Second Republic, he was one of the university egg heads who joined forces with Papa Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Though not a full-blown politician, ‘Remi’s contributions to the Papa Awolowo’s left wing politics can just not be dismissed with a wave of the hand. He served the UPN from the university campuses with the likes of Professor ‘Tunde Adeniran then of the University of Ibadan and Professor Funsho Akingbade of the University of Lagos. He comes from Iye in Ilejemeje Local Government of Ekiti State. How time flies, ‘Remi Fayemi is now 70. May God continue to bless him. POLITICAL PANORAMA will certainly write details of the life and times of these two great Nigerians who have now joined the elders group in Nigeria. Congratulations Prince ‘Yemi Adefulu and Professor Eric ‘Remi Fayemi at 70. We your friends and associates are simply proud of you. TO BE CONTINUED EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK: AND ADE AKILAYA DIED (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE)
18 LETTERS TO THE
Friday, 5 February, 2016
editor
Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08078891826. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.
Buhari, leave no sacred cow
I
T is not uncertain that the clouds in the skyare laden with hope. Nigerians now wait patiently for the actualisation of the unprecedented promises of the present administration. However, if the rot in every sector is to be truly cleansed, then President Muhammadu Buhari needs to step on toes. This is because, to experience a true change, there must be a deliberate warfare between the past oddities and the present orientation. However, the Presidency should carefully use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) as rods against corrupt practices. Whoever is corrupt should be dealt with, without minding whose ox is gored. The fight against corruption should be a
sincere mêlée because the masses have great expectations from this government. President Buhari should never forget that the opposition parties too are always watching; they daily wait in the wings. Therefore, nobody should be too big for the government to touch, even if such is a stakeholder in this government. Let those that have itchy palms and sticky fingers be uncovered and banished from government. Let the corrupt ones in offices be elbowed out if they refuse to change. President Buhari will not achieve much with those caught with hands in the cookie jar; he will not go far with those whose names are identical with what he stands against. Let corruption cases be treated openly, in sincerity, without interference and let those condemned be made to face the wrath of the law.
Let the money recovered from fraudulent officials be used to boost our agriculture as promised during campaign. Let the immunity clause be removed from the Nigerian constitution so that stakeholders may adjust and spend our
money conscientiously. Let the stakeholders be subjected to strict accountability. This will serve as caution against misappropriation of public funds. Let the ministers chosen to draw the short straw prove that on their linens, there
is no stain of sleaze, otherwise, the fat will soon be in the fire. Let every allocation be monitored from the point of dispensing to the field of actualisation.Every ministry must adjust. It is high time we swept clean all flaws of fraud, bribery and ex-
ploitation. It should start in the camp so that, ‘when this carnival finally closes’, we may not hear of absolute skullduggery behind the cavalcade of the president’s venerable convoy. •Oyewole Jeremiah, Ibadan.
Osun govt, doctors, settle your differences MEDICAL doctors in the employ of the Osun State government have been on an indefinite strike for the past six months and all efforts to resolve the impasse between the doctors and the state government, under the leadership of Mr Rauf Aregbesola, have failed. Since the strike started, the people of the state, particularly the lessprivileged who use public health centres, have been suffering. Those whose relatives have terminal illnesses have taken them
back home, while praying that the strike would end as soon as possible. Therefore, the state governor and the doctors should come together and find a lasting solution to the problem. Both parties should con-
sider those who rely on public hospitals for their wellbeing and commence negotiations again. The governor should also try to meet the demands of the doctors so that they can return to their places of primary assignment; we
don’t want this misunderstanding to result into the deaths of people who cannot afford private healthcare services. •Olaoluwa Fatoki, olasmart4eva@yahoo.com
Pipeline vandals are economic saboteurs LAST month, some Niger Delta militants blew up oil pipelines in a bid to force the Nigerian government to dialogue with them. Nobody really knows
what they want, but it is being speculated that they blew the oil pipelines in the hope that the government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, would call them to a round table to address their grievances. It is so unfortunate that some criminal elements could be holding the Nigerian state to a ransom because they possess some weapons. I am, however, happy that the Nigerian government did not succumb to their actions, instead, the military has been combing the creeks to apprehend those who blew up the pipelines. In the past, the Nigerian government would have called the militants to a round table discussion; crimi-
nals were then rewarded with multi-billion naira oil pipeline security contracts. The decision of the current government not to be intimidated by the threats of the militants should be commended. Although the bombed pipelines stopped the flow of oil to the refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri, a whole country should not be at the mercy of terrorists. The military should, therefore, do everything in its power to ensure that these economic saboteurs are brought to justice so as to serve as lesson to others who still think they can hold the country to ransom through their illegal activities. •Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.
Celebrating Ebenezer Babatope at 73 I want to celebrate Chief Ebenezer Babatope at 73. Here is a politician who is well-respected in the country. He is also a true Awoist, having imbibed the ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Apart from being a politician, Chief Babatope is also a great writer. Through his weekly column in the Tribune, he continues to enlighten Nigerians on the political history of the country.
Many people now know much about Chief Awolowo’s politics and way of life through Chief Babatope’s Political Panorama. As a result of his immense contributions to the development of the country, I want to wish this Ijesa man a happy birthday. Even at 73, he still has a lot to contribute to the development of Nigeria. •Jimoh Mumin, jimohmumin@yahoo.com
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
Nigerian Tribune
Odulana: The passage of royalty
EATH, it seems, always delights in resisting wishful human timing. Certainly, if he could help it, the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, might have chosen to at least live to witness the celebration of his 102nd birthday on April 14 this year. But death came knocking at his door and transited him to the great beyond on January 20, 2016. Oba Odulana ascended the throne at age 93 on August 17, 2007. He was the 17th Olubadan, the title having been elevated from Baale Ibadan to Olubadan in 1930. Oba Odulana, the fourth longest-serving monarch of Ibadan, an ancient city rich in culture and noted for its prowess in warfare in pre-colonial times, lived to a ripe old age. His was a long and eventful life, often of interest to the public because of its socio-political dimensions and significance. Reputed for his peaceful reign, his great presence of mind, his non-partisan stance in political matters, his advocacy for fairness and incorruptibility in mediations, his administrative competence and remarkable leadership qualities, Oba Odulana towered above many traditional rulers in matters of courage and forbearance. Quick-witted and endowed with native intelligence, the late Olubadan was a great pillar in the Olubadanin-Council and an uncommon gift to humanity whose immense legacy will surely continue to be a guiding light to future generations. In addition to his building of a generation of hardworking, decent and transparent Nigerians through his services in many capacities as a teacher, public administrator, soldier, politician and traditional ruler, among others, Odulana was instrumental to the release of the land on which Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan, was built, and his contributions to the sustainable growth of the nation’s foremost
university were simply illustrious. In the words of the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka: “Right from the beginning of the institution, he showed tremendous interest in its activities and will remain one of the towering figures in the history of the University of Ibadan. Even when he became frail in health, he continued to encourage the enthronement of good governance in Nigeria through intellectual discourses and contributions.” Little wonder, then, that in recognition of his invaluable contributions to education in Nigeria, he was honoured with the Doctor of Letters, (LL.D) Honoris Causa of the University of Ibadan in 2010. Indeed, the torrents of tributes paid to the late Odulana confirmed that he was a man of good reputation. They also showed that he was a great leader of the Yoruba nation.The countrywide accolades of topmost politicians, captains of industry, traditional rulers, clerics, among others, are an indisputable proof that he was a personage whose influence mattered in the affairs of Nigeria. Oba Odulana was a unique personality. He was a courageous man who protected the dignity of the Olubadan stool and ensured that the traditional institution of the country was well respected and honoured. He was a role model. From his days at the House of Assembly and House of Representatives till the time he became the Olubadan, his teachings on moral conduct and Christianity were virtually words on the marble. He was a father anyone could rely on because of his forthrightness, courage and candour. He was very popular among his people. This is why the Ibadan people, rather than mourning him, have been full of praises to God for enabling their Oba to enjoy a good life. Adieu, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1.
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opinion
Friday, 5 February, 2016
Extolling Buhari’s anti-graft war By Ohio-Michael Elakhe
N
IGERIA, with her countless troubles — corruption, insurgency, militancy, cronyism, secession agitations, falling oil prices, illegal bunkering, weak mono-economy and restive opposition — is in dire straits, but how did we get here? Past administrations never understood the implications of their soft passive accommodation of these pervasive ills, a laxity which created the enabling environment that has escalated into plagues against our communal and economic wellbeing. And to exacerbate the tensions of insurgency, recently, oil pipelines were again bombed in response to the probe of a militant warlord. What became of the well-funded amnesty pay-off for militants and the highly celebrated surrender of arms? With the exposés of the ongoing corruption probe, there probably is a nexus between the vast looting, illegal bunkering and the surreptitious funding of insurgency. With over five years of a military campaign against Boko Haram, it is a mystery how the insurgency group funds its operations and beats our customs services to ferry ‘superior’ arms across our borders. Wouldn’t they need the backing of our political elite? It may not be such a mystery anymore. This is because it may not be mere coincidence that the $2.1 billion loot misappropriated which was supposedly for arms acquisition, could easily fund the group’s war against Nigerians. Rev. Chris Okotie’s Facebook article entitled “Corruption as crime against humanity”, sums up the nexus between corruption and Nigeria’s woes. He wrote: “Attempts to contend with institutionalised corruption is the very factor that births revolutions or any form of radical change in the socio-political order. History proves clearly that if progress must occur, corruption at the highest levels of governance should give way…” When the pastor-politician questioned the circumstances surrounding the $9 million cash-for-arms deal which went sour in South Africa last year, he was condemned. Now, Nigeria is coming to terms with the enormity of the $2.1 billion scam. This may just be one of many undis-
covered deals across the ministries, agencies, and arms of government, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to state his position about the deal. No beneficiary of the $2.1 billion largesse can feign ignorance of the questionable source of the humongous slush funds being handed out freely: They never asked questions, yet, a basic understanding of financial propriety would tell that there are no budgetary or constitutional provisions for the expenditures for which they were purportedly offered. Those funds were given and received with devious intent, and as such, the receivers can only be seen as traitors. Corruption has always been Nigerian politicians’ biggest preoccupation and the crown-head of their democratic pretensions. Their insensitivity is prodded on by the folly of believing that their ill-gotten wealth or a simple relocation of their families to more commodious climes will shield them from the inadvertent fallout of their callous acts.
Rev. Okotie presaged that: “Terrorist activities always flourish in environments where there is economic disequilibrium and mismanagement of national resources by corrupt ruling elite.” The Emir of Kano, HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a former CBN governor said; “Corruption thrives on opportunities that we create for people to be corrupt, and we need to shut off those opportunities…” . Officials of the past administration feared they would be persecuted, prompting President Muhammadu Buhari to say; “... Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone. People should only fear the consequences of their actions.” The battle against corruption must go alongside a zero tolerance of insurgency and militancy. One advice to Mr. President — arguments about stealing and corruption will continue to trend if the graft and corruption foundational machinery is not dismantled. Prosecuting offenders is good, but it is only reactive. Proactive measures must be put in place to ensure that the nation never has to attend to these depths of perfidy by those who are saddled with the responsibility of managing our resources. The battle against these anomalies, if taken to the root, will probably reveal that such financial scams in the corridors of power are channeled into funding these national catastrophes like militancy, secession agitations, and insurgency. This is a loophole which President Buhari must look into critically. Resurrecting from a background of gross economic mismanagement is an uphill task, especially as the expectations of President Buhari’s government increases daily against the backdrop of falling oil revenue, fall in Naira value, and sluggish growth in the economy. So, every well-meaning Nigerian across the political, ethnic and religious spectrum must support President Buhari in his war against terror and its twin demon of corruption. Nigeria’s success or failure rest on his defeat of insurgency, and the recovery of looted public funds. •Elakhe, a security/emergency evacuation expert, wrote from Lagos State.
Setting a template for Nigeria’s development By Segun Oluwayemi THERE are some trends going on for years in this country which had promoted mediocrity over the years and should be stopped herewith, to allow meaningful development. Nigerian politics is very frightening no doubt, but the players are smarter than the citizenry. There is a level of apathy after elections and the operators have a field day to do and undo. Suffice to say that the military incursion in governance has perverted Nigerian politics and it has left us confused. Therefore, we are not able to think straight again. Apart from so many aberrations inculcated into our democracy, its operation so far, has no clear dichotomy from that of the military. Often, the politicians, especially the office holders, employ the method of chasing shadows. They are expected to start to work as soon as they are sworn-in. That explains the popular 100 days in office celebrated worldwide. However, what do you find here? They employ the use of diversionary tactics, using almost their entire tenure to condemn their predecessors, more so if they are in different political camps. Just like the military used to do to deceive the people, by always hammering the perceived mistakes of the previous regime to justify their existence and to earn acceptance through sympathy or propaganda, this invariably translates into abandoned projects dotted everywhere and lack of continuity in policy and other programmes. This could explain the sit-in syndrome of few incumbents who would not want laudable projects to be jettisoned with the huge sum already sunk into them. This pattern has been going on for years and it has affected the nation greatly, robbing this great country of the expected development. Shamelessly, politicians have perfected the act in such a way that they keep on
deceiving the populace with this gimmick. Unfortunately too, they have found a ready ally in the media, some of who are ready to dance to the tune and to take everything presented hook line and sinker, most times without cross-checking facts independently. Despite regulations, the media is easily used to earn cheap support and sentiment and to give credence to their mediocrity. We all yearn for development in this nation, but unfortunately, some sectors are sabotaging this effort willingly or unwittingly. How can a country develop where all the money meant for developmental purposes is spent by a few on things other than development? All the laws are broken continually with impunity. They say the ‘pen is mightier than the gun’ but now I think people don’t use the pen again. It could conveniently be said therefore, that ‘computer could easily be compromised.’ I think the way out of this mess is for each elected officer to be made accountable, made to face what they are elected to do and be responsible to the electorate ab initio
without wasting any time. The say song? and cock and bull stories of how bad the previous administration was should never again be entertained. It should be reinforced that that was the principal reason for their preference and election, and that action is all that is needed and nothing less than the expected development from them. Another problem though is that there is no developmental plan; each elected officer operates by his whims and caprices. A building or project can be sited anywhere and built at any rate/ amount without any guideline or plan and without any recourse to scale of preference. To make matters worse, there seems to be nobody regulating anything. Definitely, there is no nation that develops this way. In fairness to the politicians, the nation’s problem could be daunting, yet are surmountable. They need our involvement, support, and suggestions to be able to move the nation forward. We need to be up and doing and keep supplying them with barrage of relevant suggestions and recommendations, perhaps they could be useful somehow. There should be a way to fashion out a developmental plan as a guide for every elected officer to follow and to ensure strict adherence. I strongly believe that there should be one at all levels. This should be given to the politicians to study ever before contesting, to give the details of how to execute it with the expected revenue. Whoever wins election will be made to work, if a laid down guideline is available and people are constantly monitoring its adherance. This will make governance less prone to lapses, instilling development and discipline, thereby making it less attractive to loafers. •Oluwayemi sent this piece from New Bodija, Ibadan.
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Nigerian Tribune
fridaytreat Rotimi Ige | rotimiige@yahoo.com |
0811 695 4636
Blackwood Bitters to light up Osogbo on Valentine’s eve By Rotimi Ige
G
LOBAL Beverages Nigeria limited, the makers of Blackwood bitters and Erujeje ginger flavoured liqueur have decided to
appreciate customers and celebrate this year’s valentine in a dinstict way . With the valentine’s eve event Tagged “Blackwood Val Eve Rave” featuring music, dance and comedy, residents of
Oshogbo, according to the organisers are bound to be entertained by popular hip hop artistes like Famous Igboro, Tu-wyze, Fabulous Pizzy, Sheun natural, Papiwizzy, MC Obama, MC shete, The
Xpandables dancers and many more acts. The event, packaged by Highflyers Events will hold at the Riverside Lounge and bar, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, Osun State.
Music Business 101
e b y l l a e r s n a f d l u Co t n e s e r p r o f e l b i respons ? ic s u m ’ e g a b r a ‘g day
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fridaytreat
Friday, 5 February, 2016
Nigerian Tribune
MUSIC BUSINESS 101
Economic Diversification: Harnessing the Nigerian
creative/entertainment industries’ potentials as economic assets By Toyin Adeniji IN the wake of the global slump in the price of crude oil and the attendant negative impact and effect on the economies of oil-producing nations such as Nigeria, which has depended solely on the revenue from crude oil for its economic existence albeit at the expense of the development of other equally promising resources that are abundant in supply in the nation such as creativity in the cultural industries. There is an urgent need in the present for the nation at all levels of government to diversify the economy by consciously developing and harnessing the economic potentials of the numerous resources both natural and human that Nigeria as a nation has been endowed with. One of such endowments is the cultural assets of the Nigerian people that are deployed through the creativity and ingenuity of the people via the arts and culture. The arts and culture-related industries, also known as creative and entertainment industries are very integral to the development of Nigeria’s economy both at the federal, state and local governments’ levels. When properly developed and harnessed, creative industries provide direct economic benefits for states and local communities; they create jobs, generate tax revenues, attract investments and stimulate local economies through tourism and enhanced consumer purchases. The creative and entertainment industries via tourism have strategically become the top source of foreign investment and exchange for places like Hong Kong; London, England; Singapore; Bangkok, Thailand; Dubai, UAE and Seoul, South Korea etc. According to CNN, Psy the South Korean pop star artiste helped to increase the number of tourists to Seoul by a whopping 8.9 per cent upon the release of his blockbuster “Gangnam Style”. So powerful is the impact of the creative/ entertainment industries on the economic development of a nation or community. It is time for all the states in Nigerian to wake up from their economic slumber and set about developing and exploiting their states creative/cultural economic assets.
Every governor of the thirty-six states of Nigeria must increasingly recognise the importance of the creative sectors to their states’ economy and ability to compete in the national, regional, continental and global marketplace. The challenge today for governors in all the states of the federation is the critical need to make their states to become economically competitive. Research has shown that there is a strong connection and relationship between economic competitiveness and creativity which is underscored by a number of factors. According to the NGA Centre for Best Practices, some of the factors that underscore the connection between creativity and economic competitiveness are the fact that: •Creative and new media industries are growing in number and playing increasingly prominent economic and social roles; •Companies decisions about where to locate their businesses often are influenced by factors such as the ready availability of a creative workforce and the quality of life available to employees; •Arts and culture can play a major role in community development and redevelopment by creating new jobs as well as fostering an environment and amenities that attract talented young workers and; •Tourism centred on arts and culture can contribute to state and local economic growth by providing a diversified and sustainable means for creating jobs and attracting revenue. In order to achieve and maximise the full potential and economic benefits of their states’ arts and culture economic assets, it is highly imperative for governors and the concerned head of ministries to first recognise and identify the existing and potential pivotal creative industries or creative clusters that uniquely exist in their states. Then a concerted and strategic effort designed to support and strengthen these industries must be made and adopted. Governments at all levels need to engage the creative sector in meaningful conversations about stimulating economic development and contributing to the economic competitiveness of the states. It is time to start offering
Beat FM OAP, Toolz, shuts down Lagos during traditional wedding MEDIA personality and Beat FM OAP, Toolz and her pilot fiance, Tunde Demuren, held their traditional wedding on the 30 January, 2016 in Lagos among well-wishers, family and friends. Meanwhile, the couple had a lavish intimate engagement dinner to host their friends before their wedding. Present at the event were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Dr. Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Oba Saheed Elegushi, entertainment personalities like Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and his wife, Wizkid, D banj, Cynthia Obianodo, Beat FM OAP Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, Dolapo Oni-Sijuwade, Kemi Adetiba, Oreka Godis and more. Toolz and Tunde who had their introduction ceremony on September 2015, got engaged June 2015. Their white wedding is slated for later in the year.
incentives designed for the arts and culture sectors stakeholders as grants for development initiatives, organising entrepreneurial trainings, institute public-private sector collaborations across the creative and entertainment industries to promote growth and also invest in creative clusters existing in each state. Every state government must deliberately engage their creative sectors including the music industry, movie/film industry, fashion designers etc on strategic economic collaborations devoid of all bureaucratic impediments. The benefits that the creative sectors create for state economies are numerous and states have the opportunity to improve livability and boost state and local economies by investing in the arts and culture. Every state needs to include the arts and culture as part of their state economic development strategies by measuring their creative industries, developing plans to capitalize on the benefits of the industries and providing supports that will help sustain the contributions of the arts and culture sector. This is the time to develop the economic potentials of the arts and culture at the state levels by creating viable and sustainable economic platforms for resident talents in each state, maximize the growth and potentials of the talents within the state and stem their migration or loss to other economically viable states. For example, I have spoken at a couple of seminars where the discussions have focused on the issue of relocation/migration of music talents from other parts of the country to Lagos state on the grounds of looking for better opportunities to advance their music careers. It is sad to observe that all the once thriving regional music business centres in the different geopolitical zones in the country have almost become extinct due to neglect by successive state administrations and their failure to recognise their economic importance to those states and region, and to strategically support and strengthen the industry stakeholders. While it amounts to monumental loses for the states losing their talents in droves, Lagos state and its economy are the beneficiary of these massive tal-
ent migration from other states. The success of Lagos state today as the entertainment and economic nerve-centre of the nation is also largely due in part to its flourishing clusters of creativity that have also successfully established and positioned Lagos city as a global entertainment hub. This feat is possible with other music/entertainment regional centres in the country if only they will create the economic platform to exploit the economic assets of their resident talents. As dependence on crude oil as failed us a nation, it is time for leadership especially at the states level in Nigeria to re-envision and re-imagine the economic management of their states as a business enterprise and strategically position it for success. The chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce Sir John Rose once said that “in the future we will speak less and less about ‘developed, developing and underdeveloped countries (state),’ more and more about ‘smart, smarter and smartest countries (states).” The future that Sir John Rose spoke about is here now, within the context of the Nigerian economic situation and our reliance at all levels on free crude oil allocations, this period will separate leadership at federal, state and local levels and define them either as dumb, dumber and dumbest or as smart, smarter and smartest. Fareed Zakaria said that “the diffusion of knowledge is the dominant trend of our time and goes well beyond the purely scientific. The spread of knowledge defines our times; nations (states) that learn faster will prosper”. Thomas Friedman also asserts that “the more knowledge workers your country (state) has who are able to author their own content and innovations in digital form, the more productive your economy and, therefore, the more powerful your country (state)”. One of the smartest ways to diversify this economy is to harness the arts and culture potentials as viable economic assets that are abundant in supply in the creative and entertainment industries which have the potential to stimulate economic development and create massive employment opportunities.
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society
Friday, 5 February, 2016
...celebrating the people
Nigerian Tribune
For Booking, contact Alaba Igbaroola alabaadewale01@gmail.com 08155975474
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s daughter weds
Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi with the newly wedded couple, Umaso John Eketu and his wife, Eniyemamwen Olatoyosi.
From left, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; fomer Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Governor of Ekiti State and APC Chieftain, Chief Segun Oni.
From right, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule.
From left, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture; Barr. Sharon Ikeazor, member, Board of Trsteees, APC and Dr Yomi Finnih.
From left, Otunba Henry Ajomale, Chairman, APC, Lagos State; his wife, Chief (Mrs) Toun and Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson, APC, Chieftain.
From left, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Governor of Jigawa State; Prince Eze Madumere, Deputy Governor of Imo State and Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology.
From left, Mr Leke Ogungbe, Deputy Chief of Staff, Kwara State; Honourable Simon Bako Lalong, Plateau State Governor From left, Chief Ezekiel Ainaba, the Ojomo of Ekpoma; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and his wife, Mrs Julia. and Honourable Silas Agara, Nasarawa State Deputy Governor.
From left, bride’s father, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, APC, National Chairman; his wife and Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.
From left, former frst lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Dame Pauline Tallen, and Senator Jim Nwobodo, former governor of Anambra State.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 twitter: @rotifizzle twitter: @fridaytreat
fridaytreat
By Rotimi Ige
T
HE entertainment industry has become a pivotal one in the world today as it could arguably be said to be the world’s largest employer of labour. It has also become a veritable tool through which important messages are passed in virtually all human endeavours, especially in the business sector. From times past, music had played a huge role in the human race; as an inspiration to many or used to generally make any gathering memorable. And so over time, with the change in technology, so
also music patterns changed, based on the cultures, tastes and acceptance of the listening public. The one thing that is common about music coming from West Africa is that it is heavily influenced by the 70’s Afrobeat, a sound that was largely created and defined by the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti. In fact, an online columnist from Kenya wrote that the new generation of West African artistes have not invented any new beats. Instead, they picked the Afrobeat, fused it with sounds of hip hop, dancehall to come up with a beat that is still rich yet trendy renaming it Afrobeats, Afro Hip Hop, Afro
pop etc. In Nigeria, after the upsurge in the acceptance of locally made music in the late 90’s, artistes have made it big with their songs and are among the richest set of people on the continent. However, a sharp decline has been noticed in the quality of songs produced by Nigerian artistes over the years. Apparently trying to fit into the global scene by copying the lifestyle of for example, American or Jamaican colleagues, most Nigerian songs, according to a social critic, Henry Aderibigbe, carry no real message except glorify sex, objectify women’s endowments and material possession. He said, “Our songs, before the popular ‘gyration’ songs became the order of the day, we had ‘reasonable’ music from people like Fela, The Mandators, Yvone Chaka Chaka, Sunny Ade, Alhaji Kollington Ayinla, and a host of others. Then the pop acts like Chris Okotie, Blakky, etc also made sense. Even the generation of Idris Abdulkareem, Styl Plus, Plantashun Boiz, and a few others made sense. Fat forward to present day and there is chaos everywhere. All I see on most music videos are skimpily clad women with eye popping endowments and lyrics that fail to inspire. It is appalling.” Another critic, Onyiye Nonso, in her submission, opined that the weak lyrics characterised by today’s artistes was a sign of the times. “More youths are dropping out of school in the name of discovering or utilising their ‘talent’ just because of what they see on television or read in the papers. They consider the successes of people like Tuface (now 2baba), Olamide, P Square, Davido, Wizkid and so want to get rich quick thinking that talent is enough. Most young artistes in the Nigerian music industry actually have little pedigree in music. They do not learn about music, voice training etc and many who even quote Fela as their mentor never really listened the him (Fela). “So, most artistes just jump into the recording booth and produce songs that they feel may appeal to the public, in fact, I have heard many upcoming artistes tell studio managers to do beats that sound like so-so persons song. Our artistes just want to do songs for the club without consideration for any real meaningful message. I have heard of some artistes collecting money from ‘big boys’ on the promise that their names would be or had been prominently mentioned in the artistes’ songs. Imagine that!” she said. From investigation, Friday Treat discovered that the trend was not limited to upcoming artistes alone. A-list acts like Iyanya, Praiz, K Cee, Timaya, among others, who had started out with their particular sound and message in their songs, had to switch up to more catchy beats and raunchy lyrics before they could break out. Another respondent, Tee Piano, who owns a recording studio, stressed that the reason why grade A acts like Bez, Darey Art Alade, Faze, Omawunmi, Waje, Timi Dakolo etc who are renowned for inspiring music but were probably not as popular as the likes of Davido, Wizkid, Lil Kesh, Olamide, may be because they weren’t conforming to the ‘norm.’ According to him, “They do music for the passion and have earned their respect by remaining solid. Though they may not get endorsements or shows like the ‘popular’ artistes, if you want to listen to good music, you
e b y l l a e r s n a f d l u Co sible for present respon
know who to listen to.” So, the question is, what or who is to blame for the general weak lyrics and the over reliance on groovy beats by most Nigerian artistes. A pop artiste, Sound Sultan, recently, during an interview, traced the poor quality of music currently renting Nigeria’s airwaves to undue pressure from fans not interested in professionalism. The musician, in Lagos, said that the society should benefit immensely from the type of music to hear, describing music as “an important tool that entertainers should use wisely”. Sound Sultan said that the quality of works by modern artistes’ ought to attract the right level of patronage from the listeners, but noted that the current trend of music had regrettably become a bad influence on most musicians. According to him, most musicians usually produce new works without working hard on them to be masterpieces. “I feel music is a great tool that we should not misuse, if music is misused, it can tell a lot on the generation. I want to be able to play my music where my kids are, not tell them to cover their ears. You see those crap music and all those other things, I don’t know if it’s me that’s buying them or if it’s me that’s telling them to play it.” “When there is clamour, where there is demand for something, then they will keep putting it upfront to their audience. Our artistes want to satisfy their audience, they don’t want to bore anybody with their airplay. So, for me, I don’t really concentrate on pointing fingers, I just try to deafen your ears with my own sense of making music,’’ he said. So, are fans really to blame? Friday Treat’s respondents had mixed reactions. While some supported Sound Sultan’s opinion, others felt that since music was a strong tool which wielded a huge control on public influence, artistes, on their own, as a body, could redefine their music and the public would still accept it. For example, Lanre Olaniyan, a music enthusiast said that the main reason why Nigerian artistes still dream about the grammys amd other big world awards was because we had no distinct sound, coupled with weak lyrics and misuse of English. According to him, artistes, not fans were to blame. “Femi Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Asa, Sade Adu, are some of the few who have been recognised on the world stage time after time. It is not about winning awards but the recognition by the notable ones is enough. How many of our artistes have songs fit for the Grammys? The BET awards recently recognised some of our artistes and handed them awards ‘backstage’? In my opinion, we need to go
“Three reasons why Naija music will not go main stream in the US” said, “Nigerian music is not the only international style that’s trying to cross over to the American market. In Asia, “KPop” otherwise known as Korean pop music along with JPop(Japan) and CPop(China) have been attempting this for the past few years. Korean pop music is essentially the Asian equivalent of Nigerian Music in terms of popularity across their continents of origin. “Some of these Asian artistes have done collaborations with American entertainers like Lil’ Kim and Kanye West in addition to collaborating with American producers to release songs that would appeal more to the American market. Despite this and other forms of exposure within America, KPop singers still haven’t managed to crossover on a mainstream level and you want know why? The cultural barrier is too large. Just like Nigerian music artistes, KPop musicians sing in foreign languages mixed with English and exude aspects of Asian culture that Americans can’t relate to. “Just like some Nigerian artistes (M.I, P Square and Tuface), some KPop artistes were also profiled on the Wendy Williams show and other American talk shows; one of them even went on tour as an opening act for the Jonas brothers. Again, we’re not the only ones trying to make it in America. The interesting thing about all of these American TV appearances is that instead of warming these artistes up to the American audience, it actually just increases the artiste’s profile and popularity within their original fan base”. He however lauded two female artistes who are doing Nigeria proud on the world stage; Asa and Nneka. Both of these women are extremely talented, internationally recognised Nigerian artistes. However, he said, they are an exception to the typical Nigerian artiste gaining worldwide attention. The main points to realise about Asa and Nneka’s careers are that although they are African and sing with Nigerian influence in their music, their musical careers did not develop in Nigeria, both are not signed to Nigerian labels and therefore cannot be categorised as typical Nigerian artistes. Davido also joined the big league recently with his signing to Sony Music. Whether his sound will remain as it is or will be watered down to European standards, only time will tell. In conclusion, he opined that African artistes should continue making music that cater to the tastes of their true fans; people who not only enjoy listening and dancing to their music but who also understand and appreciate the culture behind the music. Perhaps, in a bid to help market Nigerian music across its borders, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji
? c i s u m ’ e g a b day ‘gar
back to the drawing board to be taken seriously because even though our Afro beats is loved abroad, we have no lyrics to match it up,” he said. Toyin Adeniji, a music business strategist and columnist stressed that Nigerian acts needed orientation about the business of music. “Talent is not enough. Entertainment today is not for children because it has grown to become an empire where only the strong survive. Most artistes are only into it for the fame and money and lack the passion required to make ever green songs. This is why you see artistes releasing songs every other month because the average shelf life of an average new popular song, in Nigeria, is six months whereas songs of people like Fela, Majek Fashek, Bob Marley etc are relevant in present day. Fan base may play a role but, a lot needs to be done”, he said. In another development, a blogger, in a write up,
travelled to South Africa and met the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of South Africa (CAPASSO) CEO, Mrs. Nothando Migogo, where after deliberations, signed a reciprocal agreement between COSON and CAPASSO in Johannesburg. According to Chief Okoroji, he was in South Africa “to connect the pipes between the Nigerian and South African music industries, the continent’s two biggest drivers of entertainment, so that there is a free flow of ideas, resources, projects and economic benefits to the stakeholders” During the visit, Chief Okoroji, a foremost promoter of intellectual property rights in the continent, was at the Johannesburg Headquarters of the CAPASSO) where he signed a contract of Reciprocal Representation for mechanical rights in music between CAPASSO and COSON. At the event, the CAPASSO CEO, Mrs. Nothando Migogo, said that the she was overjoyed that finally Nigeria and South Africa have established the platform to work together to ensure that composers and publishers of music get the full benefit of the significant reproduction of their works in Africa’s two biggest economies. In Johannesburg, Chief Okoroji also met with Mr. Sipho Dlamini, Chief Executive Officer of Southern African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO) with which COSON has an existing reciprocal representation agreement. At the meeting, significant discussions were held on the need to quicken the project to create an interactive system that links the databases of the major collective management organizations in Africa so as to have seamless access to their works globally and to ensure appropriate compensation for the owners of the works wherever they are used. Also discussed
was compensation for Nigerian musicians whose works are broadcast by South African broadcast systems. In a separate meeting at the South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA), Chief Okoroji met with Mr. Keith Lister, Chairman of SAMPRA’s Management Board and there were profound discussions on approaches to better manage the collection and distribution of royalties due to producers, record labels and performers in Nigeria and South Africa. Speaking on his South African mission, Chief Okoroji said, “the capacity that exists for employment, wealth creation and the improvement in the standard of living of our people is enormous if we can deploy our efforts to make our creative industries work optimally. Before now, the creative industries in Nigeria and South Africa were like two computer programmes that cannot communicate with each other but need each other to work effectively. We have now begun the important work of laying the pipes and connecting the wires so that the systems are speaking to each other real time. When we are done, the wealth that will be generated will be significant. We have continued to build a huge network of veins and arteries which now connect COSON to over 130 collective management organizations in every continent around the world. What this will do for Nigerian music in the coming years can only be imagined. My trip to South Africa was an integral part of that effort. It was very productive and very revealing”. If all these plans are anything to go by and Nigerian artistes want to benefits from the above, then then they (Nigerian artistes) must go back to the drawing board and produce quality songs that would stand the test of time and not assume that ‘garbage’ music, as allegedly wanted by fans, would earn them proceeds for a life time. Already, artistes like 2baba, P Square, Yemi Alade, Flavour among others have won the hearts of African fans with their music and are reaping huge benefits and world recognition.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
travelpulse&m.i.c.e
’Wale Olapade 08161235359 wale11g3@gmail.com Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year
Ayade,Information minister, Utomi, others for tourism conference •As NATOP holds tourism restoration AGM in Calabar
From left, Chief Finance Officer/ CEO, First Business Logistics Limited Mr Tosin Shopitan; Managing Director, Get Centre, Bolaji Mustapha; President, NATOP, Mrs Onung Ekereuwmen; Managing Director/CEO,Leadway Tours and Travel, Ime Udo and founding member, Team Africa, Mr Ikechi Uko, during NATOP press conference in Ikeja, Lagos. Stories By Wale Olapade
T
HE National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) has announced Wednesday, February 11, 2016 for its Annual General Meeting slated
for Calabar, Cross River State. The president of the association and Chairman of Remlords Travels and Tours services, Mr Onung Ekereuwem, who addressed journalists in Lagos, recently said the event, which he tagged AGM of restoration is not only to reposition the association, but also
Sheraton Abuja Hotel goes red for valentine
SHERATON Abuja Hotel has come up with a compelling line-up of activities set to enrich guests and customers during this season of love. Going beyond last year’s enriching experience; the hotel has collaborated with South African Airways to further add spice to this year’s valentine offer. The General Manager of the hotel, Mr Nouman Irshad explains, “Our Valentine’s day events will be bringing truly enriching experiences to all our esteemed patrons. “I feel very pleased to announce to you that Sheraton Abuja Hotel will be setting up
an ambient, elevated venue at the pool terrace where you can treat yourself and your loved ones to a romantic buffet dinner by the poolside or at our Papillion Restaurant; a great option will be to delight yourself with a three course meal at our Obudu grill or Luigi’s Italian restaurant. “All our Obudu Grill House diners are welcome to experience our illuminating love tunnel and all the ladies will receive a complimentary glass of wine or champagne upon arrival. “To wow our guests on that special day, a raffle dip will be conducted later in the evening and two couples will win return tickets to South Africa courtesy of our esteemed partner, South African Airways. “A special package will be available for those who want to add some colour to their celebration. “Finally, to add the icing to the cake, the hotel is glad to offer discounted room rates, which includes complimentary breakfast for two adults and a bottle of wine in-room for all our patrons for Valentines package.”
Why I built hotel in my town—Fatogun ANYBODY who enters the small town would ask one question. And the question will be why would someone choose to build a hotel of this magnitude in a small town like Ijaregbe? Well, the small town is almost an appendix of Ilesa, Osun State because some ten minutes drive will take one to the town. But High Chief Isaac Adegboyega Fatogun, the proprietor of Top Rank International Hotel, Ijaregbe in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State had other ideas in mind when he conceived the idea behind the hotel and when he eventually constructed it. According to him, the need to develop the town and create jobs for the indigenes formed the basis of his conviction for siting the hotel in the sleepy town. He said his mechanised farm is also located in the town. He pointed out that apart from the government who called on the people to support industrialisation by way of opening business ventures, that the Olomu of Ijaregbe town, His Royal
Majesty, Oba Edward Adedayo Adetimo II has also called on the sons and daughters of the town to come home and develop the town by building industries and companies in the town. He said the hotel is another way of doing this and that he is very happy about that. Top Rank Hotel, which is located on Fatogun Adegboyega’s Avenue, boasts of more than 20 rooms and suites with all the paraphernalia of a moderate hotel in any other climate. Fatogun said there is no issue of security or power failure as provisions are made for these and many more. He said the services the hotel offer would make anybody feel he is in paradise on earth. He said lodgers do not have to bother about laundry, or what to drink as the bar is equipped with all brands of drinks and that prospective lodgers need not bother about anything considering the location of the hotel, being a remote area.
to restore the tourism industry back to days of glory, to stimulate more activities to benefit all and sundry. Ekereuwen, who spoke with candour on the state of the industry, as it relates to the economic situation and tourism as one of the major industries to rescue the revenue generation and employment bid the present government is clamouring for, said the AGM is to rally stakeholders for a way forward for the money spinning industry (tourism). Acknowledging the input and support of the travel writers in giving tourism in Nigeria a voice, added that Nigerian tours operators are biggest suppliers of tourists on the continent and resolved to making the tourism industry in Nigeria a mainstay of the economy through the public and private sector partnership. “As the driver of the tourism industry, we must be at the forefront of the race while working with the government to create an enabling environment for tourism thrive and reach its full potentialities. “Nigerian tour operators have been at the forefront of supplying tourists to other countries, but that has to change. “NATOP at this year’s AGM wants to give operators a new direction to get them to also market destination Nigeria. “To do this, NATOP has invited the owners of the tourism products to come and meet with the tour operators to create a synergy. “NATOP chose Calabar for this rebirth because it was in Calabar in year 2000 that NATOP through the support of FAAN.ADC,. BA and Mrs Onari Duke helped in driving the rise of Cross River as a tourism destination. At this AGM NATOP with those visionary members and supporters who worked hard to create the tourism vision that Cross River implemented and delivered. Outside Cross River State, NATOP has partnered with 7 wonders of Nigeria to promote destination Nigeria. For the first time in Nigeria in 2012, NTDC involved Nigerian tour operators in WTM. NATOP also partner annually with Akwaaba African Travel Market to bring people to Nigeria.
“For this year’s event, we have lined up a rich list of speakers. The event is supported by South Africa Tourism Rwandair NCAC CRS and NCMM. The AGM which is also coming with a tourism conference themed Nigeria tourism, The missing linking in a diversified economy, have a line up of speakers among who are the key note speaker, Professor Pat Utomi, who is to anchor the theme of the conference, Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade Chief host and presentations by Carnival Commission Chairman, Gabe Onah, the Minister of Information/ Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is expected as special guest of honour. ‘‘The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Folurunsho FolarinCoker will speak on Converting our ninedigit population to money spinner, the Lagos State perspective. Others include one of our partners, South African Tourism with the Regional Director, Pitso Hloni speaking on how government policies drive tourism, lessons from South Africa One of NATOP award winners Managing Director/CEO of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria will speak on Aviation and tourism, who needs whom? The DirectorGeneral, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mrs Dayo Keshi, The role of culture in the development and promotion of Nigeria. The Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Alhaji Usman will speak on preserving Nigeria’s heritage and monuments for a tourism economy. “We have invited other culture and tourism parastatals agencies and all state tourism commissioners/tourism boards to come and present their tourism products to the tour operators. “In this regard, we have sponsors from stakeholders in the industry, which include South African Tourism, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Cross River State among others who are yet to give us feedback.”
La Campagne debuts with N1 million prize for Kayak competition THE Nigeria’s foremost African themed resort, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ikegun Village, Lekki, Lagos State, is not only noted for its blend of traditional and sophisticated ambience, but also for its array of unique offerings and promotion of individual, family and corporate entertainment. In furtherance of this, especially its promotion of bonding and social networking in the sporting arena, the leisure home is introducing a Kayak competition, the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, which is expected to have all the trappings and colourful entertainment elements that La Campagne offers. Speaking on this development, the Gen-
eral Manager of La Campagne, Mr Solomon Ayo, said registration for the event stands contestants the opportunity to win a star prize of one million naira and other consolation prizes. According to Ayo, registration has already began with entries opened to all interested Nigerians, particularly the numerous patrons of the home. Categories for the newly introduced leisure competition include individual, family and corporate bodies and the water skill is aimed to be a yearly event. However, registration is opened to individual, family and corporate outfits with different registration fees, while the first in the series of heats to qualify moves to the mega event, which begins on January 31. Quarter finals are slated for February 13, semi finals for Easter Saturday and the grand finale, which is expected to be heavily celebrated with guests from across the Africa continent and the world, will hold on Easter Monday with its traditional Easter programme, which is designed to add more colours and verve to the event.
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politics&policy
Friday, 5 February, 2016
Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com
Collective guilt: How true of presidency,
NASS and judiciary?
Against the backdrop of the ascription of collective guilt to Nigerian leaders by Senate President Bukola Saraki, with respect to the challenges confronting the nation, KUNLE ODEREMI and ABIODUN AWOLAJA highlight some of the problems of the three arms of government.
S
ENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, set discussions rolling in the polity on Tuesday, when he declared that all Nigerian leaders since 1999 were collectively responsible for the problems bedevilling the country. He was responding to questions from journalists on the alleged secrecy in the National Assembly’s budget and massive corruption levelled against it by former President the Obasanjo, in a recent acerbic letter. He said: “We’ve all been here since 1999, up to the recent past when things were not done right; we are all part of it. I was there, you were there, every other political office holder in different capacities, was there as well.” Like Obasanjo, President Muhammadu Buhari himself stoked the fire in the polity, week when he declared that the judiciary was his main headache in the ongoing fight against corruption in the country. Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the 26th Summit of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), Buhari said: “On the fight against corruption vis-à-vis the judiciary, Nigerians will be right to say that is my main headache. In my first attempt in 2003, I ended up at the Supreme Court and for 13 months. The second attempt in 2007, I was in court for close to 20 months and in 2011, my third attempt, I was also in court for nine months. All these cases went up to the Supreme Court, until the fourth time in 2015, when God agreed that I will be president of Nigeria.” While the president’s statement was applauded by some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a number of analysts claimed that he could not have won previous presidential elections, given the political platforms on which he had contested those elections. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), speaking through its acting National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, said: “This statement is a direct affront on the statutorily guaranteed independence of the judiciary and more worrisome is the fact that a president of a country had to tie back already settled judgments of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, in cases involving him, as a benchmark of his assessment of the institution of the judiciary at the moment.” Judiciary However, given Saraki’s admission on the collective guilt of Nigerian leaders across all levels, questions arise on the specific ways in which the executive, judiciary and the legislature have all contributed to the challenges with which the country currently has to grapple. In a very significant sense, many would argue, the challenges confronting the Nigerian judiciary, some of which were recently highlighted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, predate the current Republic.
O f the many events, which have highlighted the problems of the Nigerian judiciary since independence, the events leading to the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 election perhaps present the most disturbing example. While announcing the annulment of the universally-acknowledged free and fair election, the then military President Ibrahim Babangida had stated that he was motivated by the need to save the judiciary, which had given conflicting judgments over the results of the election. The road to judicial abortion of the election was indeed marked, late in the night on the eve of the election (June 11, 1993), by the late Justice Bassey Ikpeme of the Abuja High Court, who restrained the National Electoral Commission (NEC), headed by Professor Humphrey Nwosu, from conducting the pres-
idential election. However, contrary to Ikpeme’s position, Section 19(1) of the said Decree 13 provided as follows : “Notwithstanding the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979, as amended, or any other law, no interim or interlocutory order or ruling, judgment or decision made by any court or tribunal before or after the commencement of this Decree, in respect of any intra-party or interparty dispute or any matter before it, shall affect the date of the holding of the election or the performance by the commission of any of its functions under this Decree by any guidelines issued by it in pursuance of the election.” While Ikpeme’s decision was condemned by many stakeholders, the judicial conundrum continued to grow worse. On June 16, 1993, an Abuja High Court under the then FCT Chief Judge, Justice Dahiru Saleh, issued an order indefinitely restraining the NEC from announcing the rest of the presi-
Addressing members of the bench, Mukhtar declared: “Your comportment must be judicial and impeccable. As the first gate to this heaven-like institution, you must bear in mind that people are watching you.”
dential election result, following an application brought by the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) led by maverick politician, Arthur Nzeribe. Again, while a Lagos High Court, on June 17, 1993, ordered the NEC to announce the result and declare the winner of the election within 24 hours, an Ibadan High Court, on the same day, ordered the electoral body to release the result not later than June 20. Also, a Jos High Court granted leave to an Abuja-based lawyer to apply for an order directing the NEC to declare the result of the presidential poll without delay. The ‘clincher’ came on June 21, 1993, when Justice Saleh voided the June 12, 1993 presidential election on the ground that the election was illegal since it was held contrary to a court order (Ikpeme’s order on June 11, 1993), even though Ikpeme’s ruling itself was in clear contravention of the ouster clause entrenched in Decree 13 of 1993. Twenty-three years after, conflicting judgements and rulings continue to feature in the judiciary. For instance, delivering judgment on the 2015 governorship election in Lagos State, the Court of Appeal held that the issue of card readers was inconsequential to the outcome of the election. However, the same court held a contrary view with respect to the 2015 Akwa Ibom governorship election. The many issues The US State Department’s country’s Report on Nigeria for 2012 on the problems of the Nigerian judiciary: “Political leaders influenced the judiciary, particularly at the state and local levels. Understaffing, under funding, inefficiency, and corruption continued to prevent the judiciary from functioning adequately. Judges frequently failed to appear for trials, often because they were pursuing other sources of income and sometimes because of threats against them. In addition, court officials often lacked the proper equipment, training, and motivation to perform their duties, with lack of motivation primarily due to inadequate compensation.” Indeed, during the 2014 Conference of All Nigeria Judges of the Lower Courts organised by the Nigeria Judicial Institute (NJI), immediate past CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, joined the current CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, in dissecting the problems of the bench. Addressing members of the bench, Mukhtar declared: “Your comportment must be judicial and impeccable. As the first gate to this heaven-like institution, you must bear in mind that people are watching you.” According to the eminent jurist, the impunity of public office holders, particularly governors, judges’ poor working conditions and Continues on 28
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politics&policy
Friday, 5 February, 2016 needed to solve national problems; and spirit of Constitutionalism - Above all, the spirit of constitutionalism is required on the part of the executive in particular for democracy to thrive and take root. The sustenance of constitutions and consolidation of democracy is often dependent on the willingness of politicians to adhere to the unwritten principles of statesmanship and constitutionalism without which the letters of the constitution are often of little force.”
Mohammadu Buhari
Bukola Saraki
Mahmoud Mohammed
Tackling the rot in governance Continues from pg27
paucity of facilities were all serious problems bedevilling the judiciary. While revealing that judicial sessions at times took place in classrooms, town halls and rented apartments, Mukhtar took issues with the question of indifference to court rulings and locking up of courts following conflict between politicians, as happened in Rivers State under the immediate past administration of Governor Rotimi Amaechi. For his own part, Mohammed dwelt on the delay of cases arising from the irresponsibility of prosecutors, saying that special courts could not solve the problem of justice administration in the country. Indeed, as acknowledged by former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) chairman, Okey Wali, the problems facing judiciary are multidimensional. Speaking at a 2013 conference in Makurdi, Benue State, Wali noted that the bench was confronted with the issue of provision of infrastructure like power supply, court rooms, information technology, court procedures, court processes, enforcement of judgement, appellate jurisdiction, and access to court are areas. Arguing the need for judicial reforms in view of the fact that there will be no foreign or local investment without an effective and efficient judiciary, Wali stated that Nigeria’s current criminal laws fall short of the internationally recommended standards for compensation for victims of crime. Remedies Speaking on the imperatives of a new practice direction, Wali however noted that lawyers are now required to leave their phone numbers and emails so that notices of court sitting can be communicated to them quickly, adding that addressing the rot in the judiciary should be done holistically by the National Judicial Council, the National Judicial Institute and various administrative heads of the Judiciary without sacrificing the federal principle. In addition, according to the secretary of the South-West delegation to the 2014 National Conference, Dr Kunle Olajide, the conference report contains key recommendations on the Nigerian judiciary. Speaking on the report, Olajide told the Nigerian Tribune: “We packaged the resolutions into three groups. In the first group were issues that are within the competence and powers of the president to execute. We interrogated every ministry and government agency to know how they are being run. The second group concerns legis-
lation, which would require the National Assembly input; and the third group that would require constitutional amendment.” Perhaps, rather than trading blames, the leadership of the three arms of government would be better off working hard together at the country’s problems. as the Senate President suggested, “the time for collective participation for the good of all Nigerians is here with us in line with the change mantra of the present administration . We are all on the same page for things to be done differently. What we need now from all stakeholders is more of cooperation, encouragement and participation as oppose to trying to hold one person responsible for the mistakes of the past that we are all part of.” Executive Nigeria’s President is considered the most powerful in the world because of the enormity of powers invested in him by the Nigerian Constitution. A lot of powers, which once belonged to the other tiers of government, especially, have been subsumed in the Presidency. Accordingly, experts on constitutional matters have consistently canvassed for the devolution of powers to be in tandem with the cardinal pillars of federalism. The awesome power of the Executive created frictions and suspicion among the three arms of government to the point of heating up the polity. Most of such instances were between the executive and the National Assembly (Legislature), with the lat-
Other critics have called for a return to the parliamentary system of government as a way of reducing such overhead costs, as the lawmakers would also be on parttime.
ter accusing the Presidency of trying to emasculate the Legislature. There were occasions that the National Assembly during the tenure of former President Obasanjo issued impeachment threats. The altercations were more about the haphazard implementation of federal budgets after going through mandatory legislative processes and procedures. There were instances when the former leader was accused of undermining the powers of the National Assembly by committing the country to huge expenditure before seeking legislative approval. One other source of friction between the executive and the legislature in the past was allegation of collusion within the executive arm of government to pad budgets. A former Minister of Justice and attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), once offered suggestions on how to reduce such tension and guarantee the principle of checks and balance. It was in a lecture he delivered at the Mustapha Akanbi Foundation (MAF). It was themed “Awakening Hope in the Nigerian Project: The Role of the Executive.” He said: “It seems that in addition to the checks and balances provided in the Constitution, the following factors are necessary to ensure the success of the executive arm and help to promote good governance in the country: Forthright and God-fearing leadershipthis kind of leadership puts the interest of the masses above selfish interests and personal ambition. The leader willingly submits to the principles of transparency and accountability; Cooperation vis-à-vis the other arms of government-Government is carried on as a team. There is cooperation without compromising the principles of fairness and justice. The common aspiration is to promote the welfare of the common man; sound knowledge and professional competence- Gone must be the day of ‘professional politicians’ whose only known qualification is ‘party membership’. In recruiting office holders, we must ensure that we put ‘round pegs in round holes’. “The remarkable success achieved by the Obasanjo administration is due to the fact that the President deliberately looked out for ‘competent hands’ not necessarily ‘politicians’ or ‘party members’ to occupy important positions; courage and sincerity of purpose- This demands that political office holders must be ready to shun cheap popularity and have the courage to pursue tough measures which are sometimes
A searchlight on NASS Critics of the National Assembly include many individuals and organisations, as they believe the legislative arm of government is the least alive to its statutory responsibilities. It is on this score that they have advocated a drastic reduction in the number of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Some say it is sad that the nation could be spending about one-third of the national budget on just a minute number of the 180 million Nigerians. In a piece entitled: Does Nigeria need a 469-member National Assembly, a writer Felix Oti, noted that the revelation concerning the salaries and allowances of members of NASS enraged Nigerians in the Diaspora, with many “demanding that some heads -no matters whose-must roll. Their anger, and those of their fellow citizens at home, are well-founded considering that Nigeria’s Human Development Index has fallen in recent months from 142 down to 145.” “While Nigeria, Pakistan, and Russia are closer in population, Russia’s GDP is $2.2 trillion, its Per Capita is $10,000, and its HDI is 65/177 – that is, 65th out of a list of 177 countries. So, Russia can afford to pay for 166 senators and 450 House members and still provide adequately for its citizens. Pakistan with a population of 170 million is close to 20 million people more than Nigeria, yet it has only 100 Senators and 336 House members. Though its GDP is only in the billions, its Per capita is still higher than Nigeria’s at $3,000. “Brazil, with a much larger population and a higher per capita than Russia and Pakistan, has only 81 Senators and 513 House members. Now, does Nigeria with a population of 155 million, a GDP of only $217 billion, per capita of a paltry $1,300, and a HDI of 145 out of 177 countries need to have 109 Senators and 360 House of Representatives making that much money every month? Given the figures above, it does not need more than 73 Senators and 182 House members in the national assembly.” Other critics have called for a return to the parliamentary system of government as a way of reducing such overhead costs, as the lawmakers would also be on part-time. Beginning from 1999, when the country restored civil rule, many have equally said the parliament has gravely shirked in its duties, otherwise the level of corruption and general impunity among elected public officials holding elective or appointive positions would not have taken a frightening dimension. The critics corroborate their claim of abysmal performance and rating of the lawmakers, as some legislators were facing charges of bribery and other financial crimes in courts of competent jurisdiction across the country, with most critics of the parliament citing the case on the fuel subsidy saga. The lifestyle of the lawmakers has been a source of major concern to most Nigerians. It is the belief that their lifestyle gives the impression of a special class of people, who are not only above the law but were sucking the country to the marrow, thus the current economic hemorrhage in Nigeria. Nigerians have issues with the salaries of the lawmakers, who are considered to be perhaps among the highest paid in the world. Coupled with this is the issue of constituency projects, which many said was a mere conduit pipe, apart from insinuations that the idea of constituency projects grossly undermines the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government.
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politicscommentary
Friday, 5 February, 2016
Can we reform judiciary with N70b budget?
Mahmud Mohammed By Ahuraka Yusuf Isah
D
ESPITE the wailing and crying in the Judiciary over the declining budget share for this Third Arm of Government, the Federal Government has proceeded to budget N70 billion for the entire nation’s Judiciary in the 2016 Budget proposals. This is N3 billion lower than the N73 billion appropriated for the Judiciary in 2015. Indeed, the previous Appropriation Acts have shown that funding from the Federal Government has witnessed a steady decline since 2010, from N95 billion in that year to N85 billion in 2011, then N75 billion in 2012 and again in the 2013 budget to N67billion. In 2014 and 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan, through his administration’s window budgeting principle ‘threw’ N68 billion and N73 billion respectively to the Judiciary. A cursory glance again at budget figures in the reference period shows that while the country’s budget witnessed a geometric incremental pattern annually, the third arm of government saw a slow but steady paralysis, brought about by a downward trend in its yearly allocation. Indeed it has been debilitated by this funding gap. Why do I say this? Well the figures tell the story once again. Let us examine this poser- while the 2011 allocation to the Judiciary represented 2.2% of that year’s budget, in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the nation’s budget shares for the Judiciary were 1.7 per cent, 1.3 per cent, 1.3 per cent and 1.6 per cent respectively. The proposed N70 billion for the Judiciary in 2016 (out of the N6.08 trillion total propos-
als) is 1.1 per cent. By the time the yearly supplementary appropriations are added, the percentage figures of the nation’s budgeted shares to the Judiciary would be less than one percent of the total. Little wonder then that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed had raised alarm during the 2015 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference, noting that the waning budgets for the Judiciary not only impoverished the Third Arm of Government but made it less independent, contrary to the intent and provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). ‘’It is a source of great concern that in a country where an arm of Government is appropriated with less than one percent of the National Budget, it is difficult to refer to our Judiciary as being truly independent,” CJN said. In the speech at the 2015 All Nigeria Judges Conference, President Buhari urged the Judiciary leadership to carry out various reforms to position and portray the admin-
Yakubu Dogara istration of justice system as humane and efficient, adding that, ‘’the Judiciary must go the extra mile to sanitize itself and improve its capacity to act independently, courageously and timeously’’. ‘’This administration is committed to the financial independence of the Nigerian judiciary in accordance with extant laws. We believe that the judiciary must be treated fairly and must be treated in much the same way as the executive and the legislature’’, President Buhari concluded. With the current cascading crude oil prices, it appears to be out of place to engage in this discourse, except that the President’s promise to treat the Judiciary fairly and ‘’in much the same way as the executive and the legislature” still appears a mirage. The Judiciary has been proposing budget of not less than N150 billion all these years, but unlike the legislature that gets virtually what it wanted, the executive adopts the window budgeting principle to propose any
The proposed N70 billion for the Judiciary in 2016 (out of the N6.08 trillion total proposals) is 1.1 per cent. By the time the yearly supplementary appropriations are added, the percentage figures of the nation’s budgeted shares to the Judiciary would be less than one per cent of the total.
figure it pleases for the Third Arm of Government. Come to think of it, can the Judiciary meets its statutory obligations and at the same time carry out a genuine reform out of the N70 billion allocations for a year? The answer is no; at least, if the size of the nation’s judiciary and our past experiences are to serve as a guide. In any case, we can give it to the Nigeria Judiciary, call it a miracle or whatever, that despite the neglect, starvation or declining yearly budgetary allocations, it has taken some strident steps and made tremendous achievements to position itself as not just the last hope of the common man, but the ligament that holds the reins of our polity or democracy; and consequently binds the three arms of government together. As a necessary illustration, and at the risk of sounding immodest, the current CJN utilized the richness and deep institutional integrity and discipline embedded in the Judiciary in order to prevent the courts from being used by some people to truncate the 2015 general election. The CJN captured this in his Keynote address at the 2015 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference when he stated, thus; ‘’It must also be noted that during the run up to the 2015 General Elections, Heads of Courts, acting under my supervision, worked diligently to ensure that our impartiality, neutrality and independence were at the standard required of a modern Judiciary, in order to create a level playing field necessary for all parties and candidates taking part in those elections. The judiciary believed that Nigerians should decide and indeed they did so. The 2015 general election has subsequently continued on page 30
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politics&policy
T
HE Presidency did not take kindly the statement made by former President Goodluck Jonathan suggesting that the present administration is prosecuting the war against Boko Haram relying on the arms procured by his own government. Government is understandably riled because Jonathan’s proclamation hits at the kernel of the message it had sold to Nigerians, that the previous administration rather than buy arms, diverted money, hindering the war against insurgency and needlessly putting soldiers and civilians in harm’s way. Jonathan was on France 24 television station last week fielding questions on the insurgency, explaining how it took his government unawares but had succeeded in laying a solid foundation to bring it to a closure. “The new government is working hard and I believe they are still using the equipment we procured. Though the budget is still being debated, no new equipment has been bought; so even those equipment the president is using to prosecute the war against Boko Haram are those equipment we procured. “When Boko Haram started in Nigeria, we had no terror experience...terrorism was different, because the people involved were not afraid to die. So, you need a different mechanism to confront terrorism, you need superior technology, so that you will be able to stop them even before the attack. We never had the equipment, but when we were confronted, we started acquiring and before I left office, we built reasonable capacity and I believe with what we left behind and also with what the new government will acquire, they will be able to prosecute this terror war to a reasonable conclusion.” My News Editor drew my attention to the statement and requested that I get the Presi-
Friday, 5 February, 2016
inside
aso rock WITH LEON USIGBE
08078891838 leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk
The Presidency/Jonathan’s tiff over arms purchase s dency’s reaction. But both spokesmen of the President, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, were out of the country on official engagements. I sent an email to their addresses. Shehu sent reply which had obviously been dispatched to other media houses on the matter. In it, he took Jonathan to the cleaners for venturing to make that kind of statement. Without necessarily putting it this way, Shehu blamed Jonathan for causing so much misery and pains to millions of Nigerians through his inability to check his officials’ insatiable greed, inordinate and miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth. He said: “Weapons that were bought by his government were mostly junk...Evidence shows that some of his service chiefs used criminally-minded vendors to defraud the country of billions of Naira. For instance, bullion vans, the ones used in ferrying cash to and from banks were procured and presented in military colours as armored personnel carriers. Bullion vans have what the military call ‘soft skin,’ which is easily penetrated by bullet. On good authority, we have equally been informed
aso rock
that ‘floatation jackets’ were brought in as of arms procurement, etching it too deeply bullet-proof jackets.” in the consciousness of Nigerians. Anything The response appeared to have beenWITH is-LEON that now 08078891838 rolls it yahoo. backco.uk will be considered a leonusigbe@ sued in anger at the audacity of Jonathan to major no, no! It is capable of embarrassing lay his facts bare. It added to the confusion government. that is fast enveloping the $2.1billion arms Jonathan said he did not approve $2.1bilprocurement scandal. While Nigerians lion for arms purchase, a negation of the were applauding government for exposing government’s plank for the ongoing antithe alleged diversion, the government on graft war. Investigations are ongoing. But hand other hand revealed that Jonathan I have heard it said that soldiers fighting purchased arms, first, it said through illegal Boko Haram contended with inferior weapchannels with raw cash and now, that they ons in the past. There were some rifles were fake and substandard. In all this, there which heated up after firing just about 10 is a meeting point that the past administra- rounds and the operators had no choice but to drop them and run for their dear lives. So, tion bought arms. The trend of the arguments has put the even if money was not diverted, the fact that Presidency spokesmen in a somewhat awk- inferior ammunition were acquired leaves ward situation of having to constantly modify somebody liable. But government needs to their statements on the unfolding scenarios. come clean to make the prosecution of such This is already being manifested in continued individuals easier. For now, it appears that government is ability of Boko Haram to carry out deadly spectacular raids even when they had been looking too much at the past, some say, with technically defeated. The insurgents are now malice. Knowledge of the past is a necessary active just to embarrass government going by ingredient to chart the future but too much attention to what might have been has its what Shehu told Nigerians. Maybe the government had put too much drawbacks. It hampers forward movement spin on the issue of missing fund and lack and can cause a stumble.
Reforming the judiciary continued from pg 29
been lauded by the international community and most importantly by Nigerians as being largely free and fair. These understated contributions, among the numerous judicial contributions that are so often forgotten, have nevertheless proven to be pivotal to the strengthening of our democratic values. However, these notable decisions have been achieved in spite of limitations to the fiscal and physical independence of the Judiciary’’. Looking at the Supreme Court’s statistics, in the 2014/ 2015 Legal Year, the Supreme Court heard 1578 matters, consisting of 1009 motions and 569 substantive appeals, delivering 262 Judgments in that period. Over 500 new appeals were filed in the last Legal year alone at the rate of about ten new appeals per week, most of which are interlocutory in nature. This workload is unprecedented in any Supreme Court in the world. In seeking to address criticisms of delay in the administration of justice at the Supreme Court, CJN Justice Mohammed constituted a second Panel in the Supreme Court to sit on Wednesdays in addition to the normal panel sitting in chambers on Wednesdays. This additional Panel sitting is a first in the history of the Court and it has certainly been extremely successful in its operations, disposing of 224 matters and dismissing over 300 other appeals from November 2014 to September 2015. Confronted with extensive reforms required by the Judiciary in the area of Information and Communications Technol-
ogy as court automation was long overdue, the CJN threw his weight behind a policy framework which been developed by his predecessors in office. This has culminated in the development of the Nigerian Case Management Software. This software, a first of its kind in the World, was developed in conjunction with the National Centre for States Courts (NCSC) and Microsoft Inc., both from the United States of America. The Software is a realization of the innovative plans laid down by the current Chief Justice of Nigeria and his predecessors in office, to modernise the Nigerian Judiciary. It is now viewed as a model that is worthy of adoption by other Jurisdictions of the World as it is being mooted for adoption in several other commonwealth judiciaries, notably in the Caribbean. Indeed, delay is being reduced with the adoption of ADR in several courts. Last year, the Heads of the Judiciary acting under the auspices of the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute put in motion the mechanism that will further enhance the use of ADR in all State High Courts. The Judiciary will be collaborating with the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG) in this pioneering work, with the aim of institutionalizing the use of ADR mechanisms as alternatives to the traditional route of litigation in every state including the FCT.. Even the Supreme Court has demonstrated leadership in this regard by its recourse to the use of ADR shortly before the end of the last administration to proactively and successfully settle the dispute between the former
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and National Assembly which arose out of the promulgation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (4th Alteration) Act, 2015. ‘’I believe that this is an area of the law that will positively and immeasurably impact justice delivery and I call on your lordships to support the adoption and use of same in your jurisdictions”, the CJN told the Judges during the 2015 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference. The CJN had also sagely advised that our Judges adopt caution in granting ex-parte orders, especially ‘’perpetual injunctions,’’ to stall government projects, the distribution of electricity, activities of agencies, departments or security organs in the performance of their statutory duties. He told the Judges that; ‘’the indiscriminate granting of these perpetual injunctions, have proven more injurious to the Judiciary itself, than to those for whose benefits they were granted. They have created a negative impression of the Judiciary and the integrity of your lordships and must be reconsidered. Given the current trend and the potential for abuse, I wish to state that the National Judicial Council will henceforth pay closer attention to Orders and Rulings that will frustrate the ends of Justice. As such you must remember that unless the proprietary or personal rights of an applicant are in great peril, then your lordships should err on the side of caution in granting ex-parte interim orders’’ The CJN took a bold and unprecedented step to direct that no book must be
launched by or on behalf of a serving Judicial Officer in the country. Like many monuments in Nigeria suffering from lack of repairs and maintenance, the Supreme Court of Nigeria was facing serious infrastructural decay, wear and tear until the current CJN through his Chief Registrar, Barrister Ahmed Gambo Saleh, embarked on a wholesale rehabilitation, infrastructural upgrading and renovation of the complex. The visible features of the surrounding of the complex have been landscaped, re-designed with more paved walkways, gardening with lawns perpetually kept tidy; with several watering pipes and sprinkling pipes installed to keep the lawns, shrubs and trees ever green. Indeed the cashless trend has occasioned the installation of an ATM Cash Dispenser. With a mental reflection way back a year ago on the condition of the Supreme Court Complex and its current aesthetic; with the reconstructions of two state of the art canteen, Justices lounge and libraries and replacement of the whole roofing sheets of the complex with new ones, one has to say that the current leadership is indeed committed to the change needed to reposition the Judiciary successfully. It is worth reminding the naysayers and perpetual critics that these were all achieved with the meager budget appropriated for the Judiciary in 2015. In other words, one can imagine the heights the Judiciary would attain if it were well funded. •Ahuraka is the Media Aide to the CJN
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
eyesof islam
Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643
10 reasons to explore Islam
W
ITHIN Islam, it is both legitimate and right to ask the question: “Why Islam?” Every tenet in Islam is subject to analysis and contention. No other religion is willing to subject its basic fundamentals of faith to such questioning. However, Allah invites the question as to “why Islam?” Rational system Islam is also a rational system which not only allows questions but raises knowledge to a new level of dignity and respect. No other religion has exalted knowledge and its pursuit, as has Islam. In fact, for the first time in human history, a religious book invited people to question the creation of the universe and stated that in it (the universe) were signs for people of knowledge. Everything in Islam is subject to rational pursuit. Islam has only forbidden the questioning of one thing and this is something which reason cannot handle. However, this does not imply an anti-intellectual attitude. The only thing which Islam has said is not within the capacity of the human mind to question is the essence (dhat) of God. This will always escape a person, as He, Allah, is transcendent. However, His will, His purpose, His works, His intentions and His effects can be known. Islam encourages its followers to ask “why Islam?” Islam is an intellectual and historical religion. There are no secrets and no mysteries which cannot be understood by an ordinary person. Easily understandable Islam does not present stumbling blocks to the mind. It does not make claims which overwhelm the mind. Islam does not present to a person that which the human intellect cannot grasp. Anyone can understand Islam as it is a universal religion. However, for example, Hinduism legitimizes idolatry for the less educated, as it says, not all people can understand the higher religion of the Brahmans. Universal message Islam does not force a person to choose between various religions as it has included the essential teachings of all religions in its universal message. The Islamic concept is that, to every people, Allah sends a Messenger and that in their present religion or ideology they must have retained some kernel of truth from the original teachings of that religion which was, of course, the teachings of the primordial religion (deen al-fitra) or, in other words, Islam. Islam views inter-religious dialogue as an internal discussion, not as a discussion with outsiders because, from its perspective, all mankind are members of a universal religious brotherhood. So, the differences Islam has with other religions are regarded as internal differences. Islam accepts the personal morality and values of Jesus, the concept of liberating a human being from materialism found in Hinduism, as well as the practical ethics for harmony in human society as found in Confucianism. Religious tolerance Islam is tolerant of other reliand regards them as religiously legitimate or de
gions
jure. In accepting other religions as legitimate, Islam, therefore, accepts their adherents. No other religion has given equal treatment to other religions as has Islam for over 1400 years. The tolerance of other religions in Islam comes from respect because Islam says in every person, there is an embryonic fitra or purity planted in all human beings at birth and in every religion, there is a basic kind of the original deen al-fitra. The human being’s innocence Islam declares a person to be born with a clean slate. The human being was not born evil but rather he was created good and equipped by nature to fulfil his duties. From the Islamic point of view, the drama of a person’s life is something that takes place after birth and not before. Islam does not record a human being as a degradation of the divine as it regards a human being as having instincts which are pure and good. The human being: An integral whole Islam does not divide the soul and life of a person into two compartments, i.e., religious or ethical and verbal or material. Islam regards the human being as an integral whole. All of his actions and instincts are part and parcel of his being together with his hopes, fears, certitude, faith and conviction. Islam wants all these to cohere and, therefore, we could say that Islam is mental health par excellence. Islam considers a person’s work or even sex in this world as an act of worship. Life filled with purpose and meaning Islam takes the world of life and existence seriously, declaring it to be full of meaning and purpose. Life is not a sport, nor is it purposeless. From the Islamic perspective, everything has meaning because the concept of God’s purpose in creation gives meaning to human life. The Muslim is never bored with life; there is no existential anxiety in Islam. The Muslim can see the working of the good purposes of the divine Creator in everything. The Muslim lives in a world where life is full of meaning and purpose and this means the Muslim never loses his mental balance. World-affirmative Islam is world-affirmative. For good. It is a blessing. It has enjoyed. Islam does not mon. It is not valued as not a degraded kingdom. kingdom; the herebut merely a place of person’s actions durlims, the world is a clothes and horses is wrong is its misuse world is good and cultivate it and make process of organising is a religious duty. No ‘ism,’ idematches Islam in stance. All Muslims and affluent. It is pov-
the Muslim, the world is been created good to be view the world as a debeing satanic or evil. It is The world is the only after is not a kingdom Judgment for a human ing his life. For Musbeautiful place; pearls, are to be enjoyed. What under moral law. The Muslims are obliged to it into a garden. The people as a community ology or religion its world-affirmative should be wealthy Satan who promises erty, not God. In fact, the Qur’an criticises those who were
It is Satan who promises poverty, not God... To be a Muslim is to live in and to be loyal to this world but not above and beyond our loyalty to Allah. lazy and who failed to migrate, who could not pull themselves up by their bootstraps; they deserved what they got. To be a Muslim is to live in and to be loyal to this world but not above and beyond our loyalty to Allah. A social faith In building this world and conforming it to God’s desire, Muslims are told that they must work with one another and not alone. Islam establishes a social order, not a mystical order. Islam’s social order has teeth, regulated by law, the Shariah. Islam wants to establish a social order to command the good and prevent the evil. However, every Muslim must correct evil. It is his duty, just as much as it is his duty to pray five times a day. In Islam, it is of the highest degree of faith to plunge into space and time and bring about the transformation of the world in accordance with God’s desire. Islam is affirmative action in a social setting; it is neither abstract nor isolationist. Islam establishes justice and an ordered society, regulated by law. Islam guarantees justice for all; Medina was that class of model society. In those days justice had no price. For several centuries under Islamic rule, any citizen who voiced a complaint could be sure that justice would be done. No theory of society can give as much as the Islamic theory of society has given. Promoting harmony with the environment Islam is a religion that enables us to live our lives in harmony with nature, ourselves and God. Islam does not compartmentalize but rather unites the life of a person. This is the supreme good of Islam because Islam assures us of happiness in this world and the next. In this age of unprecedented advancements in science and technology, the pursuit of worldly gain has turned sour and self-destructive because it is devoid of all ethical values. Therefore, the pursuit of dunya (worldly affairs) without Deen can only lead to, and has led to, disaster. On the other hand, pursuit of deen (religion) without dunya (temporal world) is merely daydreaming. Islam asks people to cultivate the world without robbing, usury, stealing and raping the environment and insists that people must carry out their tasks subject to moral law. For the Muslim, involvement and success in the world will ensure success in the hereafter. If practised with sincerity, Islam guarantees happin e s s in this world and the next. Source: IslamiCity
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islamicnews
Friday, 5 February, 2016
Guide your kids to righteous living, cleric urges parents
From left, Alhaji Abdul Rasheed Adiyyatullahi, Alhaji Bayo Oyero; the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III; Alhaji Rasheed Adesokan, Sheikh Musa Nojimdeen; Professor Rashid Aderinoye and Alhaji Kamoru Aderibigbe, during a visit to the Sultan, in Sokoto.
Sultan promises support for Akinola
T
HE PresidentGeneral, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has promised to support the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, in his aim to stand out as an ambassador of Islam in Nigeria and the world over. The Sultan made the re-
mark during Alhaji Akinola’s thank-you visit to him in his palace, in Sokoto. The Amirul Muminin, while congratulating Akinola on his recent official assumption of his title, admonished him to rise up to the challenges facing the Muslim Ummah in Yorubaland and beyond and put himself at the forefront of the promotion of Islam as a religion of peace.
He reiterated his advice to Alhaji Akinola to maintain a cordial relationship with the Ulama and be a rallying point for Muslims. Alhaji Akionla, in a remark, underscored his commitment to developing humanitarian programmes and engaging in philanthropic activities in a bid to sustain the legacies of his predecessor, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola-Alao.
He promised to work with the Sultan in deepening the foundation of Islam and ensuring harmonious relationship within the Muslim community and between Muslims and Christians in Yorubalnd and Nigeria at large. Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar presented his guest with Islamic a set of Islamic traditional attires as a gesture of goodwill.
Buhari calls for religious harmony THE 30th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition, organised by Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS)’s Centre for Islamic Studies (CIS) and hosted by Nasarawa State Musabaqah Committee, ended in Lafia, penultimate Saturday, with
a charge from President Muhammadu Buhari to religious groups to ensure harmony and peaceful coexistence for the betterment of the nation. Represented by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, the president said the Qur’an
preaches peace, tolerance, good neighbourliness and urged them to encourage and undertake activities that promote these virtues. Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, called for moral rectitude among youths.
Scholars, Al Mu’minaat defend hijab MUSLIM women should see wearing of hijab as an act of faith and obedience to their Creator. This was the consensus of discussants at a lecture, in Ibadan, Oyo State, organised by Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF). Contributing to the topic, “Hijab: Why the Controversy?” Head of Department, Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Kamil Oloso, said hijab wearing was an injunction from Allah as contained in the holy books. Oloso, who is the chairman of the Board of Religious Affairs of Bodija Estates and Environs Muslim Community (BEEMC), said it was wrong for anybody or institution to be antagonising or legislating against the divine commandment. The scholar, who blamed ignorance for the action of those criticising the wearing of hijab, encouraged Muslim women and girls not to despair or be intimidated as they are protected under the divine law and Nigeria’s constitution.
“Hijab is an injunction from Allah. It does not diminish your intellect, instead, it enhances your beauty and dignify you as a Muslim woman,” Oloso said. Earlier, the guest lecturer, Malam Abdulhakeem Ishola, traced the origin and types of hijab, saying it is a dress code prescribed for female Muslims who have reached puberty. Ishola, who quoted various portions of the Qur’an and Hadith to justify his position, said hijab was a commandment from Allah and as such, wearing it is an act of obedience to His commands. He said wearing of hijab, like any other commandments of Allah, brings the wearer closer to her Creator and gives her a sense of satisfaction and contentment. While condemning calls for ban on hijab for security reasons in the country, Ishola said hijab “promotes modesty, decency and seeks to minimise immorality within the society.”
He said that outlawing hijab under any guise would be tantamount to denying Muslim women their Godgiven fundamental rights as “it is part of our religion and symbol.” In the same vein, the Al Muminaat Organisation has described the increasing wave of attack against Muslim women in hijab in the country as crime against freedom and peace. At a rally on Monday, to mark this year’s World Hijab Day, the group, through its Oyo State Amirah (chairperson), Hajia Muhibah Bakre, noted that many Muslim women in hijab were continuously being denied their rights despite the recognition of religious freedom as a fundamental human right in the constitution and several global human right charters. Marching through Dugbe, Queens Cinema, Mokola and other major streets in the Ibadan metropolis, the organisation called the attention of the authorities to the plight of Muslim women in hijab.
He said that hijab is an outfit for Muslim women and would not be banned by the government as the presidency, he noted, had cleared the air on it. The host, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, stated that the Qur’an is a compendium of knowledge for mankind, asking the Ulamah (scholars) to inculcate in the youth the meaning of the message of Islam by teaching them the meaning alongside the Arabic text. A total of 273 memorisers from 29 states, including Abuja, participated in the 10-category male and female contests, which saw Bauchi State’s Umaru Ahmad Yusuf emerge the overall winner in the male category and Asus Usman Jubril from Adamawa as the best reciter, female. Each of the winners went away with N1.5 million cash prize and a car gift from Governor Al-Makura for the male winner. According to the Vice Chancellor of UDUS, Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, the competition had put Nigeria in global reckoning as the country emerged the overall best by clinching the first position in the international edition of the contest in 2013 in Saudi Arabia. The South-West states of Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos were among prize winners. Kwara State was declared the host of the next and 31st edition of the competition.
THE Oyo State missionary of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Bashir Olanrewaju, has appealed to parents to guide and prepare their children for righteous living as dictated by Allah and taught by Prophet Muhammad. The cleric made the appeal during a commemorative fidau organised by the children of Alhaji Busari Adelakun, the Baba Adini of Temidire Mosque, Born Photo, Ibadan, Oyo State, who died in January 1991. Sheikh Olanrewaju said there was the need for parents to instil fear of God in the children, especially in contemporary times, so that when they depart the world, only goodness and godliness would remain after them. He appealed to the children of the deceased to follow in the footsteps of their father and uphold his legacy by affecting others, especially the underprivileged, positively. The host of the event, Alhaji Abdul Ganiy Adelakun, described his father as a model Muslim who constantly reminded his children of the virtues of piety, integrity and diligence. According to him, the late Alhaji Adelakun was a publicspirited human being and a bridge builder, who brought peace and reconciliation to his family members and others around him.
Oyo Muslim community hails Ajimobi’s court victory THE Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUSCOYS) has rejoiced with Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on his victory at the Supreme Court. In a statement by its chairman, Alhaji Kunle Sanni and Secretary-General, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the community expressed its belief in the fact that Allah gives power to whom He wills, saying it had pleased Him to return Ajimobi as the governor of the pacesetter state for second term. While urging the governor to see his legal victory as an honour from Allah, it said he should continue to respect every religion in the state so as to continue to witness a peaceful and successful tenure. “Our prayer to Almighty Allah is to imbue you with wisdom and guidance to achieve more giant strides for the people of Oyo State.
UNIFEMGA honours Oyo CJ, 12 others THE Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) will on Saturday honour 13 of its members for their achievements and contributions to the development of the association. A statement by the association’s National President, Professor Abdulwahab Egbewole, said that the sixth in the series of the Honours’ Day would hold at Royal Shekinah Hotel, Ilorin, Kwara State. The statement listed those to be honoured as Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands in Oyo State, Alhaji Taofik Oladipo; Dr Nabeel Adeyemi; Director of Administration, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr Muslim Omoleke; Professor Musa Aibinu of Federal University of Technology, Minna; Engr. Kamoru Akinwale and Professor Lasisi Umoru, Chairman, Muslim Community, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Others are Dr Yusuf Akinwale, Dr Mistura Sanni, Dr E. O. Farinde, Dr Moshood Olayiwola, Dr Alirat Agboola and Dr Mistura Sanusi, all of OAU. Egbewole said Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Suleiman Kawu, would be the chairman of the occasion with Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) as chief host. A lecture entitled: “Honour in a Nation where Honour is a Luxury,” would be delivered by Professor Mudasiru Yusuf, Head of Department, Educational Technology, University of Ilorin. Those to be honoured, the statement said, were carefully selected, having excelled in various fields of human endeavour. It said the two-day event would also serve as a mini-reunion of members as there would be a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the association tonight to be hosted by Malam Ali (SAN). Since 2011, when the maiden edition of the National Honours’ Day was held, 75 members have been honoured and rewarded for their achievements and contributions to the association.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
hers Professor Gbemisola Oke is the Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Academics, of the University of Ibadan. In this interview with JOAN OMIONAWELE, the professor of the College of Medicine and former Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation(CEI) speaks on youth education, women and her private life. Excerpts
U
NIVERSITY of Ibadan was recently rated as the best in Nigeria and eigth in Africa, what factors were consid-
ered? Well, that ranking method that you are making reference to is by the journal consultium and their criteria includes publications emanating from the universities. To some extent, infrastructural facilities, staff strength are used to judge, but majorly the research output are determinants, which imply publications from journals because it is from lecturers’ research findings that we are expected to publish. These research works should also include the usefulness of its findings and how it affects the society, economy and other things. How would you rate the performances of the women during the ministerial screening? I ascertain that, put side by side with the men, they did much better, so it is not just that they were okay, it is that they were better than the men What percentage of the women representing in the cabinet are you satisfied with? In my opinion if women are given the chance on a level playing ground, women could actually take all the spaces, perhaps we will just give a sprinkling to the men and that pattern, in terms of ability and intellectual capacity, is visible in our universities all around the world. Where you discover that the top scorers are the women or the girl child, they perform very well even in extracurricular activities, so if you were to judge using the capability of women to analyse issues and take good decisions, there is no reason why there shouldn’t be more women in these positions if we were to select according to their abilities, but unfortunately in politics it is not so direct. As a woman in the academics, what are the challenges that you face? There are quite a number of challenges. First of all, those that are related directly to the biological constitution of a woman in terms of child bearing and rearing, in terms of home keeping and family matters because the role of a woman are either those conferred on her by the society or those that the physical attributes will confer on her makes it natural that women need to attend to these matters, more than the men. So, as a good mother, one needs to be there for her children, and also combine that with progress at the work place. On the other level, it is the discrimination
Editor: Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741
Despite my medical background,
when I train business owners, they bow
—Professor Oke the woman faces. There is the glass ceiling where you know that there is a limit beyond which you cannot aspire to reach and that will create some level of challenges for the woman, despite these, many women still do well. How were you able to balance your work during your child bearing and rearing days? Well, career women who are working mothers often have to sacrifice some certain things which the male counterparts enjoy. Some of the leisure times that the men enjoy, the woman will have to save that time to do things pertaining to the children and the progress at work. If one didn’t have those responsibilities, you will wake up around 6 or 6:30 in the morning, whereas a woman with a mission will probably have to sacrifice sleep, wake up much earlier to gain some time ahead of others to do some things that need to be done, perhaps study early in the morning, because you know you can’t do that when the family is up or do some of the house chores late in the night when everyone else is already sleeping, but somewhere along the line, you will get used to doing these things and it will become a routine and part and parcel of you. So, you develop some kind of a unique approach to doing your things and achieving them. You still look beautiful despite your age, do you have a beauty routine? Well it is an undeniable grace, because if one were to quantify the amount of pressure that accompanies this load of work,
you will expect contrary to what you will see but somehow, the grace to pull through has been given to me by God. Talking about skin and beauty routine… (laughs) I have no beauty routine. It is just that I try to eat healthy. Once in a while, I remember that I have to eat fruits, so I balance the diet and eat properly and also remember to take my supplements. You were formerly the director of Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, what were you able to do during your tenure? First, I must say that whatever I achieved as the director was done through team work because the centre may not have many people on ground, but it draws membership from the entire University of Ibadan community and we have representatives from all the faculties. When I took over from Professor Adedoyin Soyibo, the foundation director, we already had a plan of operation which had been developed by a group that I also belong to so there was a compass of what the centre stood for and meant to achieve and on becoming the director, we further synthesised the mission and vision. We also drew out specific targets and strategies through which we were to achieve that. And, because I was coming from the health care background, those targets and the strategies appeared quite lofty, but systematically, we pursued those targets and we were on a check list ticking them off and as we were doing that, we were setting further targets. So, we were able to first of all
There is the glass ceiling where you know that there is a limit beyond which you cannot aspire to reach and that will create some level of challenges for the woman, despite these, many women still do well.
establish a partnership with the private sector by approaching the Ibadan Chamber of Commerce. We established the University of Ibadan Business Circle through which University of Ibadan had a formalised platform to exchange views on information with the organised private sector. We started to conduct trainings, seminars and meetings with members of the private sector. Through that, we were recognised by the Federal Government and consequently we were training for some of the national economic entrepreneurship initiatives, such as Grooming Enterprise Leaders (GEL). Much later, we started to teach entrepreneurship as a course, we have the GES which is compulsory for all the students of the University of Ibadan, we also have ETR 301 which is an elective and through this, we were able to build businesses for students. You are a professor of the College of Medicine, but you seem very vast when it comes to business and management. Did you at any point take courses in business management? I would say that I have a natural inclination for business. I have a family background of business owners, and entrepreneurs. I also through some of my entrepreneurship activities got an award. The fellowship of Ashoka Innovators for the public. There are two broad schools of thought on the issue of entrepreneurship because people wonder, are entrepreneurs born or made? And it is a combination of both. So, really, I think that by my birth or by my making, I have those traits. But in addition, because it was a challenge to be in that position, I had to learn a number of things. And I have attended several trainings, including being a business age trainer of the IMF, World Bank, to the extent that when I train business owners they bow. I was just about going to get an MBA when I became DVC Academics. Continues on pg34
34 hersay
H
ONESTY. There isn’t a lot of honesty these days. We don’t see much honesty when we turn on the news shows, do we? We see corruption. We see deception. We see guys who say they are helping their clients make millions when actually they are stealing billions. We see CEOs leading their companies into bankruptcy and screwing their stockholders while they run out through the back door with multimilliondollar bonuses. I saw a video of one of the government officials spraying dollars in a party! hummmm. We hear our politicians say one thing and do just the opposite. Then we watch the spin guys twist it and try to cover up the deceit with fancy words. Dishonesty and deceit have become more of a way of life than honesty and integrity. I recently saw a panel on one of the morning shows about lying. The panelists said that many things that get said, while untrue, are not really lies at all. They are just altered truths. What? The truth doesn’t really need to be altered, does it? The truth just is. I recently discovered a young man who decided to take “straight talk with funke adetuberu “use my blog reachout and to chlives as his user name on Facebook. When I contacted him to ask him why he did it, he told me that he was a big fan and wanted to get my attention in order to have dinner with me and “bounce some ideas off of me.” I asked him why he didn’t just send me an e-mail with his questions like so many others do, instead of taking my name as his own and trying to extort information from me. He said he didn’t think that would work. He hadn’t tried it, of course. I pointed out to him the obvious problems with infringing on my intellectual property and taking a name that wasn’t his as his own, and then reported him to Facebook to get my name back. I then recounted the experience on my blog, which reaches to a lot of people, naming him and including the correspondence
Friday, 5 February, 2016
Parenting
The host of Straight Talk! With Olufunke Adetuberu cryonmenow@yahoo.com 08023242389
Honesty, integrity and lying between us and laying out the case that he had stolen from me and committed a form of identity theft. The reaction to this blog entry was shocking to me. One-fourth of the people who posted responses to it clearly supported him and his actions. Some even thought I owed him an apology for calling him a thief. Some called me names and one said he should have extorted money from me instead of just wanting dinner with me. Some said I was only upset because he was smarter than I was. As I read these responses, I decided that maybe my world is a little too black and white for some people. I believe that when you take anything that doesn’t belong to you, you are a thief. I believe that when you say something that isn’t true, you are a liar. There is no grey area in these situations. Yet many act as though right and wrong have grey areas. There is no room for grey when it comes to honesty and integrity. Tolerance for that grey area has become one of the great challenges of parenting. How do we teach integrity and honesty when we are surrounded on every front by
just the opposite? My answer is that you must practise honesty in your own life and when you see a lie, you have to call it a lie. In my life, no one gets by with a lie. If my employees ever lied to me, they were fired. Period. Lies were not tolerated. I communicated that and enforced it. When people lie to me, I tell them they lied to me. I call people to book and get to the root of such “I learnt this from experience some people if they say good morning, it is good midnight “I make sure people around me know that I don’t and won’t tolerate being lied to. I communicated that to my kids as well. I always told my boys that I could deal with any truth they told me. Regardless of how ugly the truth might be, I could work with the truth. A lie, I can’t work with. My boys would do something bad and all I had to do was ask him, did you do that? He would look me in the eye and say, “Yes, I did it.” Then he would take the punishment. On the other hand, I could watch one of my boys do something and then when I confronted him with it, he would swear
he didn’t do it. He always got in much more trouble for lying about the transgression than he did for the transgression itself. Why was one kid more prone to tell the truth and the other more prone to lie about it? the secert is the falling nature, we all inherit sin from the fallen nature adam and eve. But with enough negative reinforcement from parents when your kids know that you cannot take it kids will be able to, move past lying and saying the truth . Kids and lying Kids lie. It’s normal. It is going to happen, whether you like it or not. They will lie whether you have a great, open relationship with them or not. It is just the way kids deal with their parents. I lied, you lied, we all lied to avoid the consequences of our adolescent stupidity. Understand that and you will save yourself some grief. In many cases, kids learn to lie because they have seen their parents lie. They have watched their parents lie when the phone rings and they mouth the words I’m not here. They have heard their dad lie to their mom about how good that dress looks on her. They have eyes—they know better. “Is this really a big deal, Funke? “You tell me. If your kid says she did her homework when she didn’t, is it a big deal? I say yes. If your daughter says she isn’t having sex while in fact, she is having lots of unprotected sex, is that a big deal? Again, I say yes. If your child says he brushed his teeth and yet he didn’t, is that same thing? One more time, I say yes. A lie is a lie. It doesn’t matter what the lie is about. Lies don’t have degrees. They are lies. Teach your kids that lying is unacceptable. Teach them that they will get in more trouble for lying about the offence than for the offence itself. And then mean it. Also, start telling the truth in every situation as an example your kids can follow.
‘Despite my medical background, when I train business owners, they bow’ Continued from pg33
Women administrators are perceived to be high handed, what’s your take on this? I do not believe so. First of all, there are fewer women in administration as compared to men. Secondly, there is always this case of trying to call the dog a bad name so that you can hang it, what a man would do and no one will raise an eyebrow, if a woman does a quarter, easily, people will start to stereotype. But in administration, there may be many reasons why either man or woman may become high handed due to the pressure of the office. Secondly, there are more people who do not expect that office could really be demanding and may come with demands and issues at the wrong time. There is a tendency to fly off balance, but a good and well trained administrator would have to learn emotional intelligence and balance your emotions in situations and circumstances surrounding the office that you are holding and always recognise what privilege it is to occupy the position. What are your requirements as the DVC? In summary, the DVC Academic, is supposed to assist the Vice Chancellor to ensure that all matters pertaining to academia
within the university, runs smoothly, not just run smoothly, but that you ensure you become more productive in the delivery of academic matters and when we are talking university matters, the only thing we trade in is academia, so it means that since our currency is knowledge, academic matters and so on, the work of a DVC academic in an academic institution is immense and if I would simplify it, I will say that many committees of the university over which the DVC academic sits. The DVC also sees to it that during meetings and extra meetings, the decisions made have to be effected. What was growing up like? I was born in Kano and lived there till I was seven in a large family with many children and cousins. The Hausas believe in communal living where you all eat together in big trays. Then, we left Kano, when the civil war was almost breaking out, then we migrated to Lagos and spent a few years there before I gained admission to St Teresa’s College, Oke-Ado, Ibadan; it was one of my best days. What particular thing would you never forget? First of all, the quality of education. I am not just talking about the academic matters, the upbringing, the regimented living was just good. The friendship, learning culture was beyond academics. In fact, the totality of a woman that I am today, I can trace back
to that, because we have reverend sisters who taught us from the first year we all had to learn to write in a particular manner, we also learnt to walk, sit and stand in a particular way. The friends I made those years are the kind of friends one can rely on and trust because our background and values are almost identical. With your very busy schedule, how do you find time to relax and what do you do when you relax? I try to sleep, because in getting the work done you put in so many hours of being up and apart from the long hours at the office, sometimes you need to stay up late or wake up in the night. So the first part of relaxation is catching on the sleep deficit. And in Nigeria, we have a social diary that is long and when that happens, you make it an opportunity to relax to forget everything and pull down your farcade, because some other person perhaps will still carry the position to such social, but I try to relax when I can. What are your hobbies? Playing with my grandchildren. Do you cook for your husband everyday? Yes, I do. But nobody cooks everyday, it now depends on what you are cooking, if I am boiling egg, that’s cooking too. But when it comes to real cooking of foods like
“Ogbono” , one can actually cook this and preserve. There are now cooking utensils that assist you to deliver on that mandate faster, for instance, rice cooker and yam pounder. These household utensils help. How supportive was your husband before you took the office of the DVC? Ohh, he was extremely supportive of my progress and position and he has always been. Can you remember how you met? Yes, I do. We met many years ago in front of Queen’s Hall (smiles). These days it is difficult for career women to maintain their marriages, what advice do you have for women especially those that look up to you? They need to realise that they are not complete without their men and for women who chose to be otherwise may be complete, but for women who want to stay married and desirous, in that regard, they should balance their career with the marriage and the children and make their husbands know that in spite of who you are at work you are still the wife and the mother to the children at home. Although that may require a lot of joggling the roles, you come back from work and you put down the role of the DVC and assume the role of wife and mother.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
thekitchen Eating
healthy
foods By Yemisi Aofolaju
Y
EAR 2016 is relatively still new and forming the habit of eating healthy foods is a must so as to stay off illnesses. Though the list of healthy foods is endless, one fact
that should not be glossed over and which we tend to shy away from is the issue of cost. What I have come to realise is that these staples are readily available in open markets and shopping malls at affordable prices. Getting it right is very crucial in this age of incursions of strange, life-threatening viruses into different countries of the world. Some of these staples ward off preventable ailments. In addition to the above, the staples take stress off the woman who could have been drained of what is left of her at work. Her burden is lessened when she gets to her well stocked kitchen and prepares the meal. A well-stocked kitchen from findings and happenings allows the woman to throw together a fast, flavourful meal after a long day. And when you wake up the following morning and have to rush out for work, it pays to have breakfast and snack options to choose from. Some of these healthy staples include beans, oatmeal, bananas, plantain, olive oil, honey, tomato, garlic, onion, salt, vegetables, fruits, among others.
Time, money saving hack
COVER shredded or diced potatoes with cold water before cooking to prevent the spuds from turning that gross grayish/brown caused by the release of a starch that makes them oxidize.
With Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741
DO-It-Yourself
Biscuits
AS the weekend begins today, you can try this recipe with your children. Ingredients • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 tablespoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 tablespoon white sugar • 1/3 cup shortening • 1 cup milk • Add all ingredients to list Directions •Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Gradually stir in milk until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl. • Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead 15 to 20 times. Pat or roll dough out to 1 inch thick. Cut biscuits with a large cutter or juice glass dipped in flour. Repeat until all dough is used. Brush off the excess flour, and place biscuits onto an ungreased baking sheet. • Bake for 13 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven or until edges begin to brown.
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D
Friday, 5 February, 2016 Monica Taiwo monicataiwo@yahoo.com 08055001724 (sms only) @taiwomonica
heartcopy
EAR Taiwo, After reading your last story, I felt I should share my experience so that men like me can learn and we should be able to control ourselves and our libido. I am not condemning the writer, neither am I condemning anyone, but I am just trying to say that as men we all must be prayerful and strong in our resolves. What happened to the man who narrated his story could happen to any man. Sometimes, I wonder if women are really the weaker sex we say they are. Believe me, when they set their minds at something, they always get it, which is why we should be careful. My experience was a very shameful one; I find it easy to share now because I have been able with the grace of God to get over it. It was an experience that almost killed my wife. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if this incident had led to her death. Meanwhile, all the while she kept quiet like the other writers wife I felt she had an ego and I was making excuses for my behaviour. The day she spoke up, I knew she was dying. This is why I am imploring him to seek his wife’s forgiveness. If she won’t talk about it, he should do so. My own indiscretion was with my wife’s best lady and friend. Can you imagine! worst than the other writers. Sincerely, I didn’t mean to. I met this lady (names withheld) obviously through my wife. Then she was my fiancée, we became engaged when we finished our university education. She had always told me about her childhood friend whose parents had to move to Ghana. After our university education, my fiancée’s parents decided that she should proceed to the United Kingdom for her Master’s Degree, so she didn’t stay behind for the National Youth Service. Her friend came in to the country few days before she was supposed to travel. We were introduced to each other and met again at the send forth party organised by my fiancée’s parents for her. At the party, I noticed she was trying to be over friendly, but I thought it was because she had too much to drink. To cut the long story short, she went back to her parents in Ghana and my fiancé travelled. She returned after two years and we started our wedding plans. The first time I had sex with my wife’s best friend was on my bachelors’ eve. As my wife’s chief bride’s maid, she could come to the party while my fiancé couldn’t. I didn’t know what happened, but I woke up in my hotel room and saw her naked beside me. I felt like crying and asked what happened; she smiled, stood up from the bed, walked around, smiled and dressed up and left. I felt really bad and made up my mind that it would never happen again. The stet eve was a week before our wedding, I made sure I avoided her like a plague before the wedding, but I couldn’t avoid her on the wedding day. She tried to meet my eyes several times, but I avoided her. At a level, my wife noticed that I was jittery and asked why, I told her everything was fine. I didn’t know she had her ulterior motive because she relocated to Nigeria from Ghana and got a job. Just after our wedding, my wife became pregnant. The pregnancy was a troublesome one for her and her mother who would have helped us out had travelled out of the country to take care of my sister-in-law’s baby in the UK. We were left with my wife’s best friend who she believed so much in. I had lost my mother years before we got married, so there was no issue of asking my own mother to come over. It was during the time she came back to our life a s a helper that I started a relationship with her. I must confess that I could not really say how it all started but what I had with her almost broke my home. It was so serious and intense that almost everyone around us knew and I was all the while deluding myself that my affair with her was a secret. My affair with her was about two years when my mother-in-law called me and pleaded with me not to kill her daughter. She told me almost everyone is aware of my show of shame with my wife’s friend who at that time had become my wife’s enemy because she raised the issue of
Women, strong, powerful adeeko
my immoral affairs with her. I was shocked to the marrow and I wondered why my wife did not ask me or raise it with me at all. I couldn’t deny the allegation before my mother-in-law, I pleaded with her to help me beg my wife. Eventually, she had to call my wife and I together, when she was asked to speak, her first word sliced my heart, I realised I had hurt her. I asked her to please, sop and
Should I have sex with him? Dear Taiwo, I am 27 years old; I am into a strong relationship with a 30- year -old man. When we started our relationship, I told him I was not ready for sex, he agreed with me, but later he changed his attitude. Whenever I asked him the reason for his change in attitude, his answer was always that he wants to have sex with me. We had a misunderstanding three months ago, and he started a relationship with his ex-girlfriend. Now, we have reconciled, and he told me he could not stop this relationship with his ex, since I had refused to make him a man, although he still loved me and would want our relationship to continue. We both attend the same church; I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to lose him, he is so caring. Please, advise me on what to do. Ige
pleaded with her to forgive me. I told her I will spend the rest of my life making it up to her and I am still doing so. No matter the way we want to look at it, women are strong and powerful. I only pray that they will always be there for us in the positive way. As men, we should always be careful too. As for the writer, I pray he finds peace in his home. Austin U. Abia.
share a
burden
With Monica Taiwo
08055001724 (sms only) monicataiwo@yahoo.com Dear Ige, It is obvious that sex is very important to your boyfriend. So the issue on ground is one of principle and choice. If your principle is that of strictly no sex, then you have to choose between sticking to this and keeping your relationship. But if this man really loves you, even if he is insisting that his own idea of love means sex is a must, he won’t go back to his ex-girlfriend to spite you. Love is good and it is good to be in love, it is also good to make some sacrifices for love, but, please think twice, before you bend your principle or do anything you may later regret.
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news
Friday, 5 February, 2016
INEC bars APC from Kogi House of Reps, senatorial rerun Yinka Oladoyinbo - Akure
T
HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi State, on Thursday, clarified that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not field candidates for the senatorial and House of Representatives rerun to be conducted in the state. Apart from the National Assembly rerun, the party was also excluded from two of the five State Assembly rerun to be conducted on February 20, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is also excluded from two of the state constituency elections. The resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Alhaji Halilu Pai, who said this at a stakeholders meeting, added that the elections would be held in 14 out of the 21 local government areas of the state. He explained that the
Abia North rerun:
Bourdex not disqualified —Oguejiofor
Joe Nwachukwu - Owerri
STAKEHOLDERS in Abia North Senatorial district, on Thursday, condemned the resort to ‘cheap blackmail rather than issues’ by opponents of the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief David Ogba Onuoha, in the forthcoming rerun in Abia North Senatorial district. Led by the leader of the Abia North Volunteer Grassroots Canvassers, Prince Okoli Oguejiofor, the leaders claimed that a serial contestant from the area was behind a rumour that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had disqualified the APGA candidate. Describing the action as wicked and uncharitable, Prince Okoli said the stakeholders considered it necessary to set the record straight because of the deliberate attempt to sacrifice real issues concerning the welfare of the people on the altar of blatant lies and ego. Oguejiofor said the “calculated move by the unpopular contestant to hoodwink unsuspecting members of the public to undermine the genuine desire of the people to have access to the basic things of life through quality and competent representation in the national Assembly will fail because voters in Abia North have become wiser.”
elections were ordered to be rerun by the Court of Appeal not as a result of violence or lapses from the commission, but because of pre- election matters that bordered on conduct of primaries by political parties. Pai said as a law-abiding organisation, INEC adhered to the ruling of the appellate court by exclud-
ing the parties from the elections. He listed the areas affected by the rerun to include Kogi East and Central senatorial districts, Ogorimagongo/Okene federal constituency, Idah state constituency. Others are Ankpa 1 state constituency, Ofu state constituency, Dekina 1 and 2 state constituencies and
Idah state constituency. Pai also said the commission required no fewer than 9806 ad-hoc staff for the conduct of the rerun including eight returning officers, 14 collation officers. According to him, at least, 1, 037, 695 registered voters are expected to participate in tbe election to be conducted in 154 wards
and 1, 988 polling units. The state Police Commissioner, Bensan Gwana, told the gathering that the command was ready to ensure peaceful election. Represented by the deputy commissioner, Felix Uwanhi, the commissioner said security agencies in the state would soon meet to fine tune their strategies for a hitch- free poll.
From left, General Secretary, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Comfort Obi; former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Publisher, Daily Times, Fidelis Anosike and the Group Managing Director, Champion Newspapers, Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, during a meeting of the ministers with NPAN, in Lagos, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN
NPAN vows to help in fight against corruption As Lai Mohammed visits THE Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), on Thursday, reiterated its commitment to the fight against corruption in the country, insisting that it had always been in the vanguard of the fight and that it was not ready to stop now. The assurance was given by the president of the association, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, while receiving the
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on a courtesy call on the association at its secretariat in Maryland, Lagos. “We will help you fight corruption, because it is antithetical to development,” he stressed On hand to receive the minister, among others, were the publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr Sam
Amuka, Mallam Ismaila Isa, both life patrons of the association; former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; Mr Ray Ekpu (both past presidents of the association), as well as executive council members and other members of the association. Mr Obaigbena, who is also the publisher of ThisDay newspapers, in welcoming the new vista with which the goverment is pursuing
‘Kano power project to commence electricity generation 2016 second quarter’ Kola Oyelere - Kano
KANO State government Independent Power Project, Tiga, would commence generating electricity by the second quarter of this year The state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje made the assertion on Thursday, while inspecting the 10 mega watts project at Tiga Dam, Bebeji Local Government Area, pointing out that the contractor is equal to the task. “On this project we are highly confident, we are motivated, we are being encouraged because the quality of the work is excellent, the speed of the work is very encouraging and we believe this company is equal to the task,” the governor affirmed. Governor Ganduje revealed that the contract for evacuation of the generated
energy would be awarded in a couple of weeks, expressing optimism that in the next three years, the state would have enough electricity for prospective consumers. Saying the only way to provide electricity to the state is through hydro and solar energy, the governor maintained that the project is necessary because Kano is the most populous state in the nation and the commercial nerve centre for the North, whose development he said, cannot be guaranteed without sustainable electricity. The governor explained that already, the state government has started discussion with some firms on how to the tap electricity from solar energy, hoping that this would solve the lingering factories closures and unemployment due to lack of power. Conducting the governor
round the project site, the Country Head of Projects, Skipper Nigeria Ltd., Mr Gauhar Malik reassured of completing the project by May 2016, noting that it had reached over 65 per cent completion stage. Earlier, the state Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Shehu Haruna Lambu, stated that the contract was awarded in May, 2014 with a completion time frame of one year, lamenting that due to unforeseen reasons, it was extended by an additional year. Meanwhile, Governor Ganduje has visited Sayaz Rice Mills in Garun Mallam Local Government Area of the state, where he appealed to the people to embrace farming, especially production of rice and wheat to enhance food security and profit.
its anti-corruption drive, noted that more mileage would be garnered and the campaign more enduring if government fights corruption by building strong institutions. To achieve greater result, he said it was imperative to first find the root cause of corruption, avoid arbitrariness and follow the rule of law. Also, he said there was the need to respect the doctrine of innocence under which “an accuse is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the law court.” In his address, the minister sought the support and cooperation of the media owners, adding that it was not the intention of the government to intimidate anyone or group of persons. Goverment’s current drive, he argued, was motivated by the higher ideal of bringing happiness to the greater number of the citizenry, adding that this would remain an illusion without curing the corruption cancer that had eaten deep into the nation. Mohammed drew a nexus between corruption and development, explaining that it would be difficult to develop infrastructure like roads, railway, schools, among others, if government revenues are stolen. Taking on the economy without first fighting corruption, he argued, would be an exercise in futility.
Former speaker takes charge at Taraba assembly THE House of Assembly in Taraba, on Thursday, elected a former speaker, Dr Mark Useni as its new speaker. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Useni, who was speaker of the House in the seventh assembly, replaced Mr Abel Diah of Mbamga constituency, whose election was nullified by the Court of Appeal in December, 2015. Useni represents Takum 2 Constituency in the House. Majority Leader of the House, Mr Albasu Kunini, nominated Useni and was seconded by Mr Joshia Aji of Wukari 2 Constituency and the nomination was supported by all the lawmakers present. Accepting the new role, Useni thanked God for choosing him again, among many, to lead the House.
Prof Adewale congratulates Ajimobi THE Provost of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Professor Gbemiga Adewale congratulates the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on his recent victory at the Supreme Court that reaffirmed his election as the governor of the state. Professor Adewale described the victory as the wish of God and the results of his good governance in his first term in office, which he said, inspired the good people of Oyo State, to freely vote for him in the last election. He acknowledged the efforts of Senator Ajimobi in building a virile and viable pace-setter state, noting that the last gubernatorial election in Oyo State was not rigged as was speculated by the opposition party in the state. He added that the Supreme Court verdict that reaffirmed Governor Ajimobi as the winner of the election, showed that he actually won the election gallantly. He asserted that we can still depend on the judiciary because it is the last hope of the masses He, however, pledged the institution’s support for the governor in the transformation, repositioning and restoration agenda of his administration for the betterment of Oyo State, and urged the people of the state to team up with the governor in order to take Oyo State to greater heights.
Friday, 5 February, 2016 38 news Fish out killers of our king, community charges security operatives Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba
S
ECURITY operatives have been charged to fish out the killers of the traditional ruler of Ubulu-Uku community in Delta State, who was kidnapped on January 5, and subsequently murdered by his abductors. Chiefs and the people of
the town gave the charge on Thursday, when the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, on Thursday, led the board and management of Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) to the palace, as UbuluUku community hosts DBS transmitting station. The Ojegwu of UbuluUku, Chief Sam Nwabuoke,
said the community was looking up to security men to fish out those who were directly or indirectly involved in the dastardly act. According to him, “We have not been able to fathom out what happened. We don’t fight, but when we decide, it goes in a particular way.” The palace secretary,
Rivers govt bans street trading Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt
RIVERS State government, on Thursday, placed a ban on all forms of illegal trading on the streets of Port Harcourt and other 22 local government areas of the state. The state Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Mr Chinyere Igwe, announced
Oyo to commence payment of outstanding N8m NABTEB fees By Wale Akinselure
OYO State House Assembly Chairman, Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Afeez Adeleke, has said the first instalment of N4,076,000 (50 per cent) of the outstanding N8,152,000 May/June 2015 NABTEB exam will be paid in March. Rendering the report of investigations into the matter at Thursday’s plenary, however, Adeleke intimated of an agreement between the NABTEB and the state government to pay the outstanding fees in instalments of 50 per cent, 30 per cent and 20 per cent. This came as the State House of Assembly called on the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to pay the outstanding fees of the students of the state technical colleges to the tune of N8,152,000. Students of the six technical colleges in the state who sat for the NABTEB May/June 2015 examination had their final results withheld owing to the inability of the state government to clear the outstanding fees attributed to paucity of funds. This agreement was in line with a proposal by the Oyo State Board for Technical and Vocational Education (BOTAVED) to NABTEB on January 29, 2016 to allow payment in instalments.
the ban when members of Rivers State Traders Union paid him a solidarity visit in his office. He said the state government was poised to discouraging illegal trading to enable it to maintain the physical plan of the Port Harcourt metropolis and other developing cities in the state. He frowned on a situation where traders abandoned stalls, which government built and allotted them inside the various markets and resorted to street trading, thereby causing traffic congestion in the city. Igwe said the government had promulgated laws establishing markets which should be upheld by the traders and other stakeholders. “The state Ministry of Urban Development is ready to partner with them to ensure that traders do not sell on the streets of Port Harcourt and other local government areas of
the state,” he said. The commissioner enjoined members of the traders union to advise their counterparts to make use of the stalls and avoid street trading, stressing that the laws of the land must prevail. Earlier, the union chairman, Chief Maxwell Nwala, said they were in his office to partner with the state government to stop illegal trading and ensure compliance with the use of the stalls in the markets. He decried the deplorable condition where traders who obeyed government rules and regulations were denied access to their business, noting that the illegal traders sold same products in the street, thereby denying them access to customers. He, therefore, urged government to enact laws prohibiting street trading in the state, even as he pledged the loyalty of the union to the present administration in the state.
Man hangs self in Ondo Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure
A middle-aged man, identified as Ayo Boye, on Wednesday, committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree behind a block industry at Adofure area of Akure, Ondo State capital . The dangling body of the man was discovered by the workers of the block industry who immediately informed the owner of the block industry about the ugly incident. Confirming the development, the owner of the block industry, simply identified as Olarenwaju, explained that he had to rush to his office after being informed about the incident. He said the identity of the deceased was unknown and had to report at the police station, saying “ when I saw his lifeless body and no one could identify him, I reported at the police station.” Nigerian Tribune, however, gathered that the deceased came from Abuja to Akure to attend a special church service in one of
the churches in the town which was a few metres away from where he took his life. The founder of the prayer centre, Pastor Samson Oluwamodede, when contacted, claimed ignorantce of the incident and said, ‘‘there are many people that worship in my church, and there is no way I can recognise everybody.’’ The Police Public Relations Officer in the state Mr Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said the wife and relatives of the deceased had been contacted, while the remains had been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, for autopsy . “ We found a Nokia handset and a sum of N2,500 on him, we found a copy of the Bible on him, but we are not certain that he came to worship at the prayer centre ,’’ Joseph said. He said the reason the deceased took his life was still unknown to the command but the command had commenced investigation on the matter .
Prince Joseph Ofulue, had earlier told the delegation that what happened to their king was like a dream. Describing the incident as unfortunate, Ofulue said what happened to the traditional ruler showed that the nation had gone so low. “Because of the sacrifice of his highness, the future
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Odionye Chinwendu Kenny now MRS OLAOYE CHINWENDU KENNY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
of Ubulu-Uku would be greater,” he said, hoping that the state government would assist them to ensure that everything concerning the matter was amicably settled. The state Information commissioner, Mr Ukah, said the DBS board members were in the palace to share grief with the people.
“We came to console and share your grief; we are all affected by the unfortunate incident. “It is a big loss to Delta State. We are here because of the unique relationship between us and Ubulu-uku. “Our prayer is that this land will not experience this kind of thing again,” Ukah prayed.
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I, Shodiya Oluwafunmilayo am the same person bearing Shodiya Oluwafunmilayo E. and Akindele Oluwatomisin. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as SHODIYA OLUWAFUNMILAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.
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I, Arisekola Olayemi Azeez am the same person as Arisekola Olayemi A. and Arisekola Azeez. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as ARISEKOLA OLAYEMI AZEEZ. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.
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I, Akinsola Adesina Oluyemi am the same person as Akinsola Adesina Paul. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as AKINSOLA ADESINA OLUYEMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.
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CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Salami Kafilat Adetoun now MRS OGUNSIJI KAFILAT ADETOUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Alimotu Sadiat Rashidi now RASHEED SADIAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Salawu Bolaji Bose now MRS AYENI BOLAJI BOSE. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Obaloluwa Olujimi now ADEBAYO OLANREWAJU OLUJIMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ewaen Omo Usiomoifo now MRS EWAEN OMO ODUTAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Adejumo Alirat Omolara now MRS POPOOLA OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
39 CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Tawakalit Ajoke now MRS OGUNTAYO TAWAKALIT AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Remi Agbaiyero now REMILEKUN IMADE UWUBANMWEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
Friday, 5 February, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Yusuff Olayemi Oyiza Aina now MRS ISHOLA AMINAT OLAYEMI OYIZA AINA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Yussuf Ayokunnumi Dare now ABIMBOLA AYOKUNNUMI DAMILARE. All former documents remain valid. Yaba College of Technology, Government College, Ibadan and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Miss Oladayo Abimbola Muinat am the same person as OLADAYO ABIMBOLA MUINAT AND OLA-OLADAYO ABIMBOLA MUINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Mrs Olajide Rashidat now ALHAJA SHERIFAT BOLANLE FATAI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Adeleke Kafayat Anike now MRS ADEFISAYO KAFAYAT SULAIMON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Kolade Olajumoke Rashidat am the same person addressed as Kolade Rasheedat Olajumoke. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as Ajibade Rasheedat Olajumoke, Ajibade Olajumoke Rashidat or Ajibade Rashidat Jumoke. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc., GTBank Plc., and General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Opeoluwa Agnes Abisuga now MRS OPEOLUWA AGNES OGUNFUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Adeleke Aderemi Samuel now ADELEKE ADEREMI RASAKI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Ajagbe Felicia Fausat now MRS OLATUNJI FAUSAT OLANREWAJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Akanmu Seun now MRS OLALEKANMI EWAOLA OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Abidoye Sunday am the one and the same person bearing Abidoye Ajibola. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ABIDOYE SUNDAY AJIBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Babatunde Saheed now RASHEED SAHEED IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Adetunji Afolasade Mulikat now MRS EHIZELE AFOLASADE MULIKAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Odeyemi Oluwayemisi Esther now MRS OYEDELE OLUWAYEMISI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Egbunu Akpo Eunice now MRS ALLEN AKPO EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Ajayi Kehinde Damilola now MRS ADETIBA KEHINDE DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Akinola Olamide Kafayat now MRS YUSUFF OLAMIDE KAFAYAT. All former documents remain valid. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, NYSC and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Oyedele Mary Olayinka now MRS AKINOLA MARY OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Olajide Rukayat Olaide now MRS ADEWALE RUKAYAT OLAIDE OLAJIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Hameed Nurudeen Aiki now LAMIDI NURUDEEN AYIKI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, Musa Olaitan now wish to be known henceforth as SAKARIYU MUSA OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ajibade Simbiat now MRS ADEGOKE MARY BIMBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Falola Olawumi Rebecca now MRS GANIYU OLAWUMI REBECCA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Amusat Rasheed Opeloyeru now AMUSAT RASHEED ATANDA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, Yunus Taofeeq Elesin am the same person as Taofeeq Iyanda Yinusa and Yunus Taofiq Iyanda. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as TAOFEEQ IYANDA YINUSA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Durosinmi Saidat Boladale now MRS DUROSINMI BOLADALE SAIDAT SOULE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Ogungbemi Gideon Oladapomola now DECSTER GIDEON OLADAPOMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Alao Subulade Olamide now MRS ALABI SUBULADE OLAMIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Alabi Olaremi Judith now MRS ASHUBIOJO OLAREMI JUDITH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Mr Adejuyigbe Niyi now MR ADEJUYIGBE NIYI EBENEZER. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Babatunde Ganiyat Bukola now MRS AMOO GANIYAT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Oladokun Mojisola Elizabeth now MRS ATANDA MOJISOLA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (SUBEB) and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Bello Abimbola Rukayat now MRS BELLO-AKINPELU RUQAYYAH ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Akinpelu Adedeji Ayoola now ONASILE SESAN OMOLADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Oyedeji, Tolulope Oyeronke now MRS OLAJIDE, TOLULOPE OYERONKE. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Obasunlewa Watson Oladapo now OBASUNLEWA BABATUNDE OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Hadiya Ismail Ahmad now MRS HADIYA ISMAIL ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, NMA and general public take note.
I, formerly Miss Abosede Johonson now MRS USMAN ABOSEDE AULAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Garuba Victor Alaba now OLADIMEJI VICTOR ALABA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Idayat Omotayo Raji now MRS DAIRO RACHAEL OMOTAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Adima Chukwu Chineyeaka Felicia now FELICIA NNAEGBO IGWEMEZIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Olalere Toyin Busola now MRS OLALERE TOYIN BUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. TESCOM, Oyo State and general public take note.
I, formerly Miss Augusta Chinyere Obi now MRS AUGUSTA CHINYERE NWOSU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Abigael Olusola Olaniyan now MRS ABIGAEL OLUSOLA AWOSIKUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Akanni Motunrayo Balquees now MRS KOLADE MOTUNRAYO BALQEES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Jimoh Ahmed Ibrahim now PETER JAMES IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ogunbunmi Joel now AKINWUMI JOEL GOSPEL. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Azeez Taofeek Oladele now ADERONMU TAOFEEK OLADELE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, Atolagbe Kayode Michael am the same person bearing Atolagbe Kayode Adegboyega. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ATOLAGBE KAYODE ADEGBOYEGA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ayanniyi Mistura Funke now MRS ADESINA MISTURA FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Onifade Olawale S. now ONIFADE ELISHA ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid.General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Joel Funmilayo Aishat now MISS GIWA FUNMILAYO ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
That I was formerly known and addressed as Mr. Ijagun Lucky Sunday that I now wish to add Richard to the former names. Henceforth, I now wish to be known, called and addressed as IJAGUN RICHARD SUNDAY. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Banks and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Oyelakin Modupe Eunice now MRS OLAYINKA MODUPE EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Folasade Adewumi Abiodun now MRS FOLASADE ADEWUMI POPOOLA. All former documents remain valid. Federal School of Surveying, Oyo and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Otukoya Mobisola Morolayo now MRS ILUYEMI MOBISOLA MOROLAYO. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Adetunji Mary Oluwafunke now MRS OLUWAKAYODE MARY OLUWAFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CORRECTION OF NAME
I wish to notify JAMB, NYSC and Federal University, Oye Ekiti and the general public that my correct name is ALAWODE STEPHEN OLUDAMOLA, and not Oludamola Alawode Stephen, as written by JAMB in my admission letter.
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olaniyan Situ Ajao now SHITTU OLANIYAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Gbadamosi Funmilayo Adetola now MRS OJO FUNMILAYO ADETOLA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Esther Tolulope Atanda now MRS ESTHER TOLULOPE ALOBA. All former documents remain valid. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Mrs. Adedeji Funmilayo Moradeyo now MRS ADARAMOYE FUNMILAYO MORADEYO. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, Oyo State and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, Hezekiah Ayodele Fehintola am the same person bearing Fehintola Amoo Ayodele. However, due to conflict in personality identification, I wish to drop Amoo from my name. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as HEZEKIAH AYODELE FEHINTOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Oluwatosin Seun Deborah now MRS ODELEKE SEUN DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NYSC and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Oyekan Olasehinde now MARTINS AKINOLA SMART. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ibrahim Idayat Ajoke now IBRAHIM IDAYAT ROTIMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ebiere Poubinafa now MRS EBIERE OKOMAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Afolabi Folasade Florence now MRS FAROTIMI FOLASADE FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Mrs Olaiya Omoladun Titilope now MRS OBIDOYIN OMOLADUN TITILOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Okundare Opeyemi Josephine now MRS KOLAWOLE OPEYEMI JOSEPHINE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Oluwasola Toyin Florence now MRS JOHN-BAYODE TOYIN FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Abiodun Elusogbon now MRS ABIODUN ADANRI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Munirudeen Abdullahi Idowu now IMAM ABDULLAHI IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Bayode Olanike now MRS ADEGBEYENI OLANIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Arowolaje Fatima Olaitan now MRS LASISI FATIMA OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Djiman Rasheedat Olajike now MRS ALEBIOSU RASHEEDAT OLAJIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Koleoso Hawaw Omotayo now MRS ABDUS SALAM HAWAW OMOTAYO. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.
I, Babalola Oluwaseun Folorunsho am the same person as Babalola Sabaina Oluwaseun and Babalola Sabaina Oluwaseu (as wrongly spelt by NECO). Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as BABALOLA OLUWASEUN FOLORUNSHO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Bolanle Olufisayo am the same person bearing Bolanle Olufisayo Olorunda. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as BOLANLE OLUFISAYO OLORUNDARE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.
I, formerly Miss Akande Omowumi Elizabeth now MRS BELLO OMOWUMI HAISAT. All former documents remain valid. Osun State SUBEB and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Oluyemo Titilayo now MRS BABALOLA FUNMILOLA AJIBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, Okunlola Abeeb Ayodeji am the same person as Okunola Abeeb Ayodeji. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as OKUNLOLA ABEEB AYODEJI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.
40 CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Abdullahi Adamu now MUSA ABDULLAHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Maigida Mai-Ido now MAIGIDA MAI-IDO SARKI. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force, UBA Plc., and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
Friday, 5 Febuary, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Gabriel Mosun Rachael now OYEDIRAN MOSUNMOLA RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Oravbiere Osamwonyi Joy now MRS. OKELANWO OSAMWONYI JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Adedeji Adebukola Modupe now MRS. AKANDE ADEBUKOLA MODUPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Ogunnubi Canaan Brigid now MRS. FOLORUNSHO CANAAN BRIGID. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, Adeshina Yusuff Omotayo am the same person bearing Adeshina Inyass Yusuff Omotayo. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ADESHINA YUSUFF OMOTAYO. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Ilori Folashade Ayoade now MRS. OMOYOSI FOLASHADE AYOADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Ogunmola Funmilayo Rebecca now MRS. IDOWU FUNMILAYO REBECCA All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, Oyo State and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Mr. Abdulazeez Monsuru Idowu now MR. OLAJIRE MONSURU IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Ogunniran Aduragbemi now MRS. ADENIJI ADURAGBEMI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Housing Corporation and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Olusola Damilare now ARAROMI DAMILARE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Akindemowo Olusanmi Alex and Johnson Olusanmi Alex now AKINDE OLUSANMI ALEX. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, Oyemuyiwa Ojo am the same person as Ojo James. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OYEMUYIWA OJO. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Omole Oluwakemi Mojisola now MRS. FALAIYE OLUWAKEMI MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Busari Sekinat Olanike now MRS. MOYOSORE SEKINAT OLANIKE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.
I, Yusuf Sumonu Amodu am the same person bearing Sumonu Momoh and Yusufu Sumonu Amadu. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MR. YUSUF SUMONU AMODU. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Union Bank Plc., EcoBank Plc., and general public take note.
I, formerly Miss Anthony Clara Oluwabusayo now MRS. AYODELE CLARA OLUWABUSAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Akanni Tosin now MRS. EKUNDAYO BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Ajibaye Noimot Abolanle now AJIBAYEAMOKE NOIMOT, ABOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Daramola Taiwo Adeola now DARAMOLA TAIWO ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.
I, formerly Atinoma Helen now MRS. ALADEGOROYE HELEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Mr. Ogunja Igbasan now MR. OGUNJA IGBASAN KOLAWOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Olajimi Philip now OLUWOLE OLUDARE PHILIP. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank Plc., and general public take note.
This is to confirm that MARY ABIODUN RABIU is the same person as MORIAM ABIODUN RABIU. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.
I, Olanrewaju Kehinde David am the same person as Olanrewaju Kehinde and Olanrewaju Olakehinde D. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OLANREWAJU KEHINDE DAVID. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.
I, formerly Miss Iyabo Doris Fagbemi now MRS. IYABO DORIS ADEKUNLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly James Olawale now FEMI OKEWOLE FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Nurudeen Najeem Abiodun now ALARAJE NAJEEM ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Madu Faith Amuchechi now NDUBUEZE FAITH AMUCHECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Abdulsalam Titilayo Meimunat Kehinde now MRS. ABDULSALAM TITILAYO MEIMUNAT. All former documents remain valid. Emmanuel Alayande College of Education and general public take note.
I, formerly Mr. Jacob Michael Olusegun now MR. OLAYIWOLA MICHAEL KOLAWOLE OLUWASEGUN. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc., and general public take note.
I, Jolayemi Olubunmi Abiola am the same person bearing Olubunmi Adebayo. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OLUBUNMI ADEBAYO. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.
I, formerly Salamatu Isah now SALAMATU ISAH SHUAIB. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, Ebiunor Ngozi Grace, am the same person as Ebiunor Ngozi Geraldine and Ebiunor Ngozi Grace. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as EBUINOR NGOZI GRACE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Banks and general public take note.
I, formerly Ojopagogo Adetomiike Tolulope now TOLULOPE ADETOMIIKE ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, Giweze Sunday Chukwudi, am the same person as Giweze Sunday. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as GIWEZE SUNDAY CHUKWUDI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Banks and general public take note.
I, formerly Akinsowon Caroline Abimbola now FABODE BALOGUN CAROLINE ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. NBA, O.A.U and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Ejie Peace now MRS. EHIDIAMEN PEACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Adelowo Oluwaseun Monsurat now OLORI (MRS.) OYELUDE OLUWASEUN MONSURAT. All former documents remain valid. Olowu Palace, Kuta and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Azeez Lukman now ZAKARIYAU LUKMAN OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., Wema Bank Plc., and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Mowemi Elizabeth Titilayo now MRS. OWOLOLA ELIZABETH TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan, NYSC and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Macdonald Anya or Obiekwe A. Macdonald or Anya Kelechi Charles now MACDONALD AMAZOBA OBIEKWE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Gabriel Oshokata Omoseh now GABRIEL OMOSEH ONOGURE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Mr. Fatai Monsuru Bisola now MR. FATAI MONSURU BISOLA OYEWUNMI. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, formerly Olowa Ayo Ilori now ISREAL AYO ILORI. All former documents remain valid. GTB Plc., Wema Bank Plc., and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, Wakili Akibu Olaniyan am the same person bearing Alarape Wakili Abiodun. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ALARAPE WAKILI ABIODUN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Ibrahim Adetayo Odunola now BURAIMOH ADETAYO ODUNOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Kayode Aderemi Clement now SEGUN EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Ogunleye Folakemi Hannah now MRS. OLAREWAJU FOLAKEMI HANNAH. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc., FCMB Plc., and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Oluyemi Victoria Sosanya now MISS OLUWAYEMI M O F I Y I N F O L U WA OLUWASANYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Mrs. Adebayo Damilola Toyin now MRS. ADEGUN FELICIA WURAOLA. All former documents remain valid. Federal Pension Office, Abuja, Ekiti State Pension Office and general public take note.
I, Akeem Kunle Alarape am the same person bearing Akeem Kunle Ajao. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AKEEM KUNLE ALARAPE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Olanihun Waliyat Bisola now BADMUS WALIYAT BISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Sikirat Kehinde Tajudeen now MRS. ZIKRA KEHINDE BADMUS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Ojetunde Cecilia Oyemomilara now MRS. ADEBISI CECILIA OYEMOMILARA. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.
I, formerly Adeniyi Kehinde Adesumbo now MRS. KOLAPO NAFISAT ADESUMBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Ukaeke Ada Marvis now MRS. EZUWE ADA MARVIS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
I, formerly Miss Oyediji Funmilayo Mercy now MRS. BABALOLA FUNMILAYO MERCY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Emorinken Rosemary Abosede now EMORINKEN ROSEMARY EREKPITAN. All former documents remain valid. G.T Bank Plc., and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Gbadamosi Fausiyah Opeyemi now MRS. OLADIPO FAUSIYAH OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note. CHANGE/CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, Okotie Suru Morrison am the same person as Kogo Morrison and Okotie Suru. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OKOTIE SURU MORRISON. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Banks and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Ogunwande Patience Oyenike now MRS. ADEPOJU PATIENCE OYENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Oni Omowumi Omobolanle now MRS. JAIYEOLA OMOWUMI OMOBOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Akinola Toyin Mary now MRS. TOYIN MARY AWONUSIKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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I, formerly Miss Ademiju Temitope Adenike now MRS. ADEOYE TEMITOPE ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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I, formerly Oluwatosin Abisola Bamigbola now OLUWATOSIN ABISOLA OLAFARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
I, Oseni Tawakalt Opeyemi am the same person as Oseni Tawa Opeyemi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OSENI TAWAKALT OPEYEMI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Miss Taibat Abdulkadir now MRS. TAYEEBAT JUBRIL MOHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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I, formerly Miss Obisesan Gbemisola now MRS. TAIWO GBEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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I, formerly Akinwunmi Johnson Ayoola now AKINWUNMI JOHNSON KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
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I, formerly Aldeyan Herietta Precious now ALDEYAN HENRIETTA. All former documents remain valid. Iree and general public take note.
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I, formerly Miss Rafiat Oladayo Turawa now MRS. RAFIAT OLADAYO TURAWA-OKOJOKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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I, formerly Miss Dare Omotayo Yetunde now MRS. FADUMILA OMOTAYO YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.
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I, formerly Miss Ogunkowade Alice (F/NO: 042681 W/CPL) now MRS OLABANJI ALICE (F/NO: 042681 W/CPL). All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force and general public take note.
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I, formerly Miss Sanusi Monsurat Omolara now MRS. ADEBAYO ESTHER OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force and general public take note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
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I, formerly Abiye Oyekolade now VICTORIA ABIYE FAFIYEBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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I, formerly Miss Soyemi Esther Bosede now MRS. OLANIBA ESTHER BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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I, formerly Mrs. Bamisaiye Olajumoke Sholape now MISS AREMU OLAJUMOKE SHOLAPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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I, formerly Miss Oyebisi Comfort Adekemi now MRS OLADIRAN COMFORT ADEKEMI. All former documents remain valid. Kajola LGUBEA, Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.
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I, formerly Miss Akinloye Mojisola Kudirat now MRS. OLATUNJI MOJISOLA KUDIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
Kogi workers, Bello at loggerheads over screening
As NLC gives govt 7-day ultimatum Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja
T
HE organised labour union and the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, are at loggerheads over the directive from the governor that the workers must go through screening before receiving October salary. Already, the workers have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the governor to withdraw the directive or they resume the strike they suspended on Tuesday. Addressing newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, on Thursday, after a meeting of the leadership of the unions, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edoka Onuh, accused the government of insincerity The state governor, had on Wednesday, after meeting permanent secretaries and heads of ministries, departments and parastatals in the state, issued a directive on conditions to be met before the workers could collect the one month salary promised them. A statement issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, said to qualify for payment of the one month salary promised by the governor, civil servants are to complete a verification form. They are expected to
produce, first appointment /employment letter, confirmation of appointment /employment letter, alll promotion letters and statement of salaries account or payslips for the last 24 months .
Others are copy of staff identity card, personal credentials like state of origin certificate, birth certificate and academic credentials. The governor said the move was to help in weed-
THE National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), has clampdown on Lakwanjang College of Education and Entrepreneurship, Kaltungo, Gombe State, alleged to have been operating illegally in the state for over two years. Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Monday Joshua, who led a crack team from the NCCE Headquarters, Abuja, to raid the institution and said the college was operating from a ramshackle primary school in the state. According to him, information got to the management of the commission that an institution existed in Kaltungo, operating the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) illegally and had advertised for and admitted unsuspecting students for two academic sessions without any involvement of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB). He warned the students of the college that any certif-
But the workers rejected the directive as it was not part of the agreement reached before the strike was suspended on Tuesday, adding that the government was starting on an unsincere note with the workers.
From left, the Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade; Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase and Senator Abubakar Kyari, during a roundtable on security stabilisation in the North East, in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI
Police set to restore civil authority in North-East Chris Agbambu - Abuja
THE Nigerian Police have set up machinery in motion and is currently evolving operational strategies that will lead to the restoration of police primacy and restoration of civil authority in the North East. The Inspector General
of Police, Solomon Arase, made the disclosure on Thursday, at a round table interaction with strategic stakeholders in the security of the affected states Arase noted that the forum is a veritable platform for the critical assessment of realities associated with plans to restore civil au-
NCCE shuts illegal college of education in Gombe Clement Idoko - Abuja
ing out ghost workers from the state, lamenting that the wage bill has been over-bloated by over 300 per cent as ghost workers were partly responsible for the astronomical rise in wages in the state.
icate obtained from the illegal programmes would not be recognised in Nigeria. A statement on Thursday, in Abuja, by the NCCE Public Relations Officer( PRO), Mallam Garba Sulieman, said the team from NCCE to close down the illegal College of Education, was miffed to gather from the students that the college conducts classes only in the evenings on the premises of a primary
school at the Nasarawa area of Kaltungo town. It was further gathered that the college claimed through advertisement that it offers NCE programmes in Primary Education Studies; Biology; Islamic Religion Studies; Christian Religion Studies; Hausa Language, Mathematics; Computer studies, Business Education; Economics; Social Studies; Arabic Medium and English.
thority, re-integrate victims and commence the process of post-war reconstruction drive in the affected states. According to him, beyond the strides achieved in the terror theatre, it is a clear testimony to the patriotism and sacrifice of the Nigerian military and more than 6,000 officers and men of the Nigeria police, who are deployed on counter- insurgency operation side by side the military in the North East. He noted that in this process of fighting the Boko Haram terrorists, many police officers and those of other security agencies as well as noncombatants had paid the supreme price He said that with the increasing successes of the military, the time has come for the police to play its role in restoring civil authority in the areas. Arase added that the Federal Government, in
combating the menace of terrorism in the country, have yielded tremendous successes of late, adding that this feat was achieved through the encouragement and support of President Muhammadu Buhari and the renewed commitment of the international community. In his remarks, the commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral S. I. Alade, said that the college is fully committed to quick return of peace and normalcy to the North East and is ready to collaborate with sister security agencies and other development partners on forging the way forward to bring about lasting peace in that region, Nigeria and indeed, Africa. He noted that the very laudable efforts to drive the process of stabilisation by the police and Ministry of Interior in particular are commendable.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Diamond Bank opt for out-of-court settlement Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin - Lagos
A former member of the House of Representatives, Honoureable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has opted for an out of court settlement with Diamond Bank, over a debt of N122 million, she reportedly owed the bank. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had instituted the suit before a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, claiming N500 million damages. At the resumption of proceedings, on Thursday,
Chuka Agbu, representing Diamond Bank, informed the court of their move to settle the matter out of court. He said that though , the parties are yet to commence the process of settlement, he urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable them start the process of settlement. Justice Abdulfattah Lawal adjourned the matter till March 10, for report of settlement. Abike Dabiri- Erewa, had, on August 6, 2015, filed a
N500million suit against Diamond Bank, for publishing her name among the list of debtors, who refused to liquidate their debts. In a suit filed by her lawyer, Adetokunbo Mumuni, she listed The Punch Newspapers, as the second defendant. The alleged malicious publication against Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was published by The Punch through a paid advertorial and a news report. The claimant averred that
on August 4, 2015, as early as 6.00 a.m, she got a barrage of phone calls, text messages and information on social media networks telling her about a report that her company, Thriller Endeavour, was indebted to Diamond Bank Limited Abike Dabiri-Erewa said she was neither a subscriber to the memorandum and article of association of the said Thriller Endeavours nor a director of the company alleged to be owing Diamond Bank.
Nigerian Tribune
Group backs anti-graft war Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta
A group, Asorodayo Youth Heritage Organisation, has thrown its weight behind the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari. The group made its position known in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Tuesday, during President Buhari’s two-day working visit as parts of activities marking the 40 anniversary of the state. The state coordinator of the group, Mr Clement Adebiyi, described the Federal Government’s antigraft war as not lopsided. He also announced President Buhari as the grand patron of the group. “Either it is one-sided or not, if you have not done anything wrong, why will you be afraid? By the time it gets to some certain stage, everything will be opened. “Even, don’t be surprised if a church pastor is arrested for being corrupt or anyone. To us, it is not one-sided. They have just started and it is going on gradually and we pray that the purpose will be achieved. The coordinator said that the organisation, with over 10,000 members spread across the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was established in 2014 to complement government’s anti-graft war. Adebiyi disclosed that the group had commenced collaborative efforts with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) towards achieving its aim. He added that the group had also been preaching against crime and other social vices. He said, “we are registered with the CAC, we are fighting corruption underground in our own way with support from ICPC and we are working towards being registered with EFCC in order for us to be recognized as a corruption fighting organisation.”
Reception A civic reception in honour of Oke Ogun lawmakers at State House of Assembly and the National Assembly, organised by The Scout Association of Nigeria, Oke Ogun Scout Division, will take place tomorrow, by 12 noon, at Iseyin City Town Hall. Guest lecturer is Dr Wale Okediran, former member of the House of Representatives. The chairman on the occasion is Chief Tejubiyi Ishola.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
Update on lawyer who allegedly stabbed husband:
She didn’t draw knife that killed husband —Friend He was everything to us —Husband’s family By Oluwatoyin Malik and Oluwole Ige
T
HE female lawyer, Yewande Oyediran, who allegedly stabbed her husband, Lowo Oyediran, to death early Tuesday morning in their Akobo residence, is still being held by the police at Iyaganku station, Ibadan, for further investigations. Two policemen were reportedly detailed from Akobo Division to watch over her at the hospital, from where she was taken to the police station before her transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, for further investigation. A source, trying to defend the suspect, stated that Yewande told her that her husband, after the initial settlement of the brawl between them by their landlord, allegedly woke her up from sleep by hitting her with a plank. The suspect was said to have confirmed that she stabbed her husband with a pair of scissors during the first fight to get him off her when he was beating her, but said she was not the one who took the knife to stab him. She was reported to have been shocked that her husband could attack her later, even after the intervention of the landlord. The husband, the source said, threatened to attack her with a knife, after pinning her to a car within the compound. “Yewande said when she saw that her husband meant business, she made effort to push him off and immediately ran towards their landlord’s apartment shouting for help. “Lowo, who was running after his wife, collapsed at the entrance to the landlord’s apartment, which
was where the landlord met him when he rushed out after hearing the noise,” the friend said. A source confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that the landlord told the police at Akobo police station that his efforts to know the cause of the fight between the couple during his first intervention failed, as Mrs Oyediran told him: “Daddy, you can’t understand.” He also reportedly confirmed that it was a shout of “Baba, help!” that woke him up the second time. The marriage would have been three years old on February 9. Some of her colleagues, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, described her as a very quiet, easy going lady who had never exhibited any trait of anger or aggression, expressing sadness that it was such a person that was being linked with murder. “Yewande is someone who can’t hurt a fly; she must have bottled up a lot of things that she refused to
share with anyone,” one of her colleagues stated. Following the development, the family of the deceased in Gbongan, Osun State, had been thrown into mourning. When the Nigerian Tribune visited the family house of the deceased on Thursday, many of the family members and rela-
tions were seen morning the gruesome killing of Lowo. Some of them, mostly women were seen shedding tears and rolling on the floor, describing the death as a big loss to the family. The elder brother of the deceased, identified as Mr Adewale Adelani Oyediran, said “we are devastated by the death of Lowo. I was
Igala/Igbo group moves to resolve crisis Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja
The Igala/Igbo sociocultural group of Kogi and Anambra states have commenced moves to resolve the lingering crisis over claims of ownership to the oil field at Anambra River Basin. The group said there was need to urgently resolve the crisis because of the wanton destruction of lives and properties of Igala and Igbo speaking people in the two states. The Obi of Awka, HRM Gibson Nwosu, Eze Uzu1, dropped the hint when the Igala/Igbo socio-cultural group, Kogi State chapter,
IN order to mitigate the harsh effects of the crash in oil price, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Telu I, has urged the Federal Government to repackage university education by making it more attractive and use it to generate more revenue into government coffers. The traditional ruler said that by investing in univer-
throughout his educational programme in the university. “It is pathetic that I am not going to see Lowo again. Lowo used to tell us that he knew that we don’t have money in our family. He said that if God spares his life, he would put smile in the face of everybody in the family.”
led by its co-founder and state general coordinator, Goodman Akwu, paid a courtesy visit on him. The group which was also accompanied by Anambra State general coordinator and co-founder of the group, Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, was received by the Obi of Awka and the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the state and former governor of old Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife. In his comments, the traditional ruler regretted that violence had never produced anything positive, urging the people to stop resorting to war and violence
over issues affecting them. Nwosu, who said he was among the first trained fighters that brought about the establishment of the Nigerian Air Force and an active participant in the Biafra struggle in the 60s, posited that by his experience in the civil war, issues are better resolved peacefully rather than through violence. “I was among the Nigerians that started the Nigerian Air Force in 1962. We broke apart during the NigeriaBiafra Civil War. During the war, I found myself fighting my colleagues and course mates; it was not a good experience. I pray we will
not witness such incident again”, he said. While commending the initiative of the founders of the Igala-Igbo group, he noted that stakeholders and other interest groups would support the idea and stop the carnage among brothers living at the Anambra River Basin in Anambra and Kogi States. In his remarks, the National President of Igala Cultural Development Association (ICDA), Deacon Idechu Ikani, said Igala speaking people of Kogi State and Igbo speaking people of Anambra State have a historical link that could not be ignored.
ditional rulers to prevail on Adams to listen to the voice of reason and quit. While reading a statement, entitled: “The reformation within the Odua Peoples Congress and the change of leadership,” Olanrewaju stated that for the past 15 years that Adams had been at the helm of affairs as the national coordinator of the group, his activities had made many to come to see it as an organisation that lacked moral respect for elders and that of betrayers. The statement, which was also signed by Chief Adeagbo Adeola (Oyo), Mr Rotimi Akinsowon (Ondo), Mr Hammed Ologburo (Bayelsa) and Alhaji Rasaq Ogunsanwo (Sokoto), maintained
that if Adams failed to step aside now, the future of the group would be in jeopardy, as it would be a source of ridicule not only among Yoruba people, but within and outside the country. They insisted that the OPC members had rejected Adams as the arrowhead of the group and should stop piloting its affairs. Olanrewaju further added that their position also had the full support of state coordinators and members of the group from Edo, Osun, Ekiti and Ogun states, as well as 25 local government coordinators in Lagos State. Another leader of the group, Sina Akinpelu, said the position by the teeming members in virtually all the states was to reject Adams as their leader. This position by state associations, Akinpelu said, “only confirms his earlier stand on the development.” He stated that very soon, OPC would have a new lease of life when a leader that would carry everybody along had been put in place. In a swift reaction, however, the National Coordinating Council of OPC suspended some members for anti-congress and gross indiscipline which, according to it, “will portray OPC as anti-people and a lawless
organisation.” The affected members are Marruf Salami (former Kwara State coordinator), Adeola Adeagbo (former Oyo State coordinator), Rotimi Akinsowon (former Ondo State coordinator, Boye Mayungbe (former Baba Odua) and Akeem Ologburo (former Bayelsa Coordinator). The national council of OPC, in a statement signed by its director of media and publicity, Yinka Oguntimehin, said “the congress frowns seriously on the expelled members who have gross anti-congress activities and acts that may bring the congress to public ridicule. “OPC, over the years, has come out of various negative perceptions and the congress has, through its activities which include cultural promotions and humanitarian services, complemented the efforts of security agencies, especially in the South West. “Subsequently, the affected people have been replaced with Oguntunde Rotimi Olumo (Oyo), Pius Ogunsanya (Ondo), who are to act as state coordinators and take charge of the state secretariats while competent hands will soon be appointed for other states,” the statement read.
OPC crisis deepens By Tunde Ogunesan THE ongoing crisis brewing within the ranks of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), seems to have taken a new swipe, as the two main factions of the group appear to set for the final battle. One of the groups had called for the resignation the national coordinator, Chief Gani Adams, over what it described as his style of administration, while the other group expelled those calling for his removal. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the group, which termed itself as “Reformation Group,” accused Adams of running the association as his personal
property. Addressing journalists during the week in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Kwara State coordinator of the group, Comrade Salam Marruff Olanrewaju, accused Adams of turning the group to his personal property, such that he was the only one dictating the fortune of the group to the detriment of the teeming members. He said Adams had outlived his usefulness, stating that he was not capable of leading the group again. The OPC members, under the aegis of National Coordinating Council (NCC) from Kwara, Oyo, Ondo, Bayelsa, Delta, Sokoto and Kaduna states, also called on Yoruba elders of thought and tra-
Oluwo asks FG to use varsities for revenue generation By Tunde Adegbola
confounded because I could not imagine that Lowo that I spoke with about five days ago could have have his life snuffed out just like that in his prime. “Lowo was everything to the family. He is the bridge between old and the new. He binds everybody together in the family. He is the comforter. I sponsored him
sity education and bringing it to the doorstep of every interested Nigerian, more revenue would be earned by government. Oba Akanbi made the remark while speaking to newsmen shortly after inspecting facilities at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study centre in Iwo town, Osun State. The monarch said apart from earning more revenue, government would
also be fulfilling one of its objectives which is to provide sound and affordable education for citizens. Oluwo said he is taking full responsibility for the provision of basic infrastructure for the centre to enable it take off properly later in the month, because of his belief that an elite citizenry will fast-track his developmental plans for the town. “Even if I have to borrow to put this centre in proper
shape, I don’t mind. I was told we were offered this centre about three years ago, but because an appropriate place could not be found for it, it could not take off. “When the centre was again offered, I had to roll up my sleeves and ensure we get a suitable place for it. The first round of inspection has been done and we are awaiting its take-off by the end of February,” Oba Adewale explained.
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foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde
08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com
Democrats Clinton, Sanders debate over progressive credentials
More than 48 Ebola contacts missing in Sierra Leone —WHO
D
OZENS of people linked to the most recent cases of Ebola in Sierra Leone are still missing, the World Health Organisation warns, saying that among them 18 contacts are at high risk of having the virus, ABCNews has reported. WHO representative Dr. Anders Nordstrom said that while some 70 people under quarantine in three northern Districts, Kambia, Port Loko and Tonkolili, are being released, more than 48 contacts are missing. “We need to strengthen surveillance efforts to identify and investigate all patients with symptoms meeting the case definition in hospitals and communities and to investigate all deaths in the Kambia District and all districts,” he said Wednesday. The world health agency will continue to ensure that all deaths reported are swabbed and tested until June 2016 to prevent a recurrence of the virus, he said. A young woman tested positive for Ebola after she died. She was given a traditional burial because Ebola wasn’t suspected, which is significant because in such burials people touch the dead body and that can pass Ebola. Her aunt later tested positive for Ebola. The 38-yearold aunt is responding to
WHO President Dr Margaret Chan
medical treatment, he said, while four others will remain
under close monitoring in quarantined homes.
Ebola is spread through direct contact with the bodily
Taliban kills 11-year-old soldier hailed as war hero AN 11-year-old Afghan boy who had been praised for his bravery in leading security forces in battle against the Taliban was killed by the militants this week, Afghan authorities said. Despite his age and national and international laws prohibiting the use of children in warfare, Wasil had distinguished himself on the battlefield last year, Samad, the boy’s uncle, told CNN. Wasil Ahmad had commanded a police unit for 43 days as it fought to repel a deadly 71-day Taliban siege last year, according to his uncle Mullah Samad, an Afghan Local Police commander in the Khas Uruzgan
district of Uruzgan province. Gunmen on motorbikes shot the boy in the head Monday at a market in Tarin Kowt, the provincial capital of Uruzgan province, said
Dost Mohammad Nayab, spokesman for the province’s governor. Wasil was taken to a local hospital, then transferred to a better-equipped hospital in
: Wasil, in combat gear last year, had returned to civilian life before his death. PHOTO: CNN.
otherNEWS
Swedish gov’t says UN panel finds Assange detention unfair
Julian Assange
fluids of victims, and corpses are especially contagious. Traditional funerals in the region where mourners touch the body were a major source of virus transmission during the epidemic in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Nearly 4,000 people died before Sierra Leone was first declared free from transmission on Nov. 7. The West African outbreak of Ebola has killed more than 11,300 people, mostly in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, since late 2013.
SWEDEN’S foreign ministry said on Thursday that a United Nations advisory panel has concluded that WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, has been a victim of “arbitrary” detention at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he sought refuge in 2012.
Sweden has seen the report, to be published today (Friday), and the Genevabased U.N. panel concluded that it “was an arbitrary detention,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Katarina Byrenius Roslund said. “It is a different assessment than what the Swedish
authorities have made,” Roslund said, declining further comment. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention hasn’t revealed its decision, saying it would remain confidential until Friday, said Christophe Peschoux of the U.N. human rights office in Geneva.
Leaders pledge billions for Syrian refugees
United States Secretary of State John Kerry (right) and Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond address the media at the donors Conference for Syria in London, on Thursday. PHOTO: REUTERS.
UNITED States Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged nearly $1 billion in new U.S. aid for Syrian refugees at an international donors conference and is calling for the Syrian government and Russia to halt attacks on rebel-held areas in order to let humanitarian aid through.
The donors conference opened on Thursday in London with European Union nations pledging more than three billion dollars to support people in Syria as well as in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey, neighbor countries that are strained by the exodus of refugees fleeing
the fighting. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard discussed the agenda ahead of the conference with VOA. Kerry called this a “critical engagement,” saying Syria’s political and humanitarian crisis is a “moral imperative.”
Kandahar, where he died of his injuries, Nayab said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the killing on its website Monday. Wasil had only recently returned to civilian life, enrolling in school in Tarin Kowt last year after surviving the brutal Taliban siege in Khas Uruzgan, Nayab said. He said Wasil, who lost his father in fighting with the Taliban, had asked him more than a year ago how to use machine guns. “I asked him why did he want to learn. He told me that he wanted to take revenge from those (who) had killed his father,” Samad said.
UNITED States Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders took issue with each other over their political leanings during a televised “town hall” forum in New Hampshire Wednesday night. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist from the neighboring state of Vermont, according to VOA questioned the former secretary of state’s liberal, or progressive, credentials over such issues as regulating Wall Street, campaign finance reform, and her vote authorizing the 2003 invasion of Iraq when she was a U.S. senator representing New York state. “I do not know any progressive who has a super PAC and takes $15 million from Wall Street,” Sanders told the audience at the CNN-hosted event, following up on a day filled with back-and-forth sparring between the two campaigns on Twitter over who best represents the progressive wing of the party. Clinton said her opponent has “set himself up to be the gatekeeper on who is a progressive,” and that under his standards, neither President Barack Obama nor Vice President Joe Biden fall under that category.
Annual prayer breakfast: Obama calls for embrace of common humanity UNITED States President Barack Obama said that religious faith can help people overcome their fears and embrace their “common humanity.” “Faith is the great cure for fear,” Obama told the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, a day after he visited an American mosque for the first time in his presidency. According to VOA, Obama said his own Christian faith
has given him strength to overcome common everyday fears, such as for the safety of his daughter Malia as she leaves the White House later this year and heads to college, but also for the fears he has faced as president in sending the country’s troops into overseas military operations. He said fear can lead people to “lash out at those who are different” and lead to desperation and cynicism.
United States President Barack Obama speaks as he attends the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, on Thursday. PHOTO: REUTERS.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
features
Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featurestribune@yahoo.com 080111845048
Erosion takes over Benin streets Banji Aluko - Benin City
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OCATED in between two major roads, namely Upper Sakponba and Sapele roads in Benin, Edo State, are Erediauwa Street, Obayuwana Street, Odiase Street, Osarenren Street, Ogieva Street and many more. These streets are evidently not the most glamorous in the ancient city of Benin, hence they are populated by low income earners, indigent and old people. None of the big Benin hotels could be found in these places, neither could the house of one notable politician or top politician could be pointed out among the many “face me I face you” bungalows and some storeybuildings in the locality. Despite the developmental odds staring residents of these areas in the face, the locality is currently host to one of the largest communal road construction works ongoing in Edo State. Not even the fact that they are far flung from the prying eyes of travelers and visitors to Benin City could deter Governor Adams Oshiomhole from bringing development to their doorsteps. Before now, many of the roads were not accessible for vehicles while some of them were completely overrun by flood during raining season. One of the roads, Erediauwa Street, was constructed some years ago by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) but collapsed due to what residents attributed to lack of drainage. Some others had never been tarred before. The story is, however, changing as the bulldozers stormed the area upon the end of the raining season late last year. In total, 26 adjoining roads of about 10 kilometers have been kickstarted in the area by the Edo State government. Some of the roads such as Obayuwana, Odiase, Osarenren and Ogieva streets have even been completed with side drainage, while work is ongoing in some others. The state government is doing this along with the reconstruction of some failed portions of roads in areas such Ihiama Road, Boundary Road, Aigobasimwin, Adesu-
wa, all located within the Benin GRA. No wonder residents of the area trooped out when a government delegation led by a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Media, John Mayaki, visited their area. Seeing a white Toyota Hiace bus, they had thought that Governor Oshiomhole had come to inspect ongoing work in their area, so many of them rushed out of their apartments to thank the one they call Comrade Governor. They were not disappointed still, when they saw that the visitors were agents of government. They could not hide their joy as emotions run high. 75-year-old Elder Robert Agbontean said he had long given up that the road living to his house will ever be completed in his time. He pointed out that dividend of democracy was an expression he had heard for a long time, but for the first in his life he finally understood what the expression meant.
“It is not today that I have been hearing of democracy; but for the first time in my life, I can feel it. I now live in GRA. The road was impassable before. There were holes everywhere and our houses were flooded. We thank Oshiomhole for these roads. We are enjoying Oshiomhole’s government very well. As Oshiomhole did this for us, God will give him all he wants. He was not alone. His neigbhour, Pa Sunday Igun, also expressed joy over the road construction. He said tenants packed out of his house when the roads be are practically impassable, adding that life was gradually returning to the area as people have started returning. A tricycle operator, Sunday Eugene from Cross River state was also thankful as he said the reconstructed roads have impacted into his life. “I no longer repair my Keke as I used to do before now. The roads are now good and beautiful. We are now enjoying life. Before now, we practi-
cally drove keke inside flood. Speaking on the effort, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Media, John Mayaki, said the state governor was touched by the plight of the people leaving in the area as they have usually been on the receiving end of flood due to lack of drainage. He said other areas with similar challenges would be visited, even as government continued to tackle the problem of flood in the state capital with the storm water project. According to him, “we can see evidently that work is ongoing at Erediauwa road, Second East Circular and in other parts of Benin City. We need to appreciate the state government under Adams Oshiomhole for its effort. We encourage the people to appreciate government’s effort at buildings roads in spite of dwindling resources. Erediauwa road and other streets that are being constructed will, no doubt, boost commercial activities in the area.”
Sad end of UNILORIN ASUU secretary Biola Azeez - Ilorin STAFF of the University of Ilorin, Kwara state, comprising academic and non-academic staff under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU) from both the university and state-owned Kwara state University (KWASU), have staged a procession to honour their colleague, late Professor Olajide Patrick Balogun. Professor Balogun of the department of English was reported to have slumped and died in his room in the early hours of Sunday this week in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital. He was aged 58. The deceased until his death was the secretary-general of the UNILORIN branch of ASUU. The procession, which started at
the UNILORIN ASUU secretariat complex through old faculty of Arts en-route faculty of Agriculture, was led by the union’s chairman, Dr Abdulrasheed Adeoye. From the faculty of Agriculture, the procession veered to the new faculty of arts building where the procession maintained one minute silence in honour of the late professor of English Language.
Moving from there, the procession passed through the university’s Senate building back to ASUU secretariat. The ASUU chair described the death of his colleague as shocking and a monumental loss. Almost betraying his emotion, Dr. Adeoye said his comrade in the ASUU struggle was an embodiment of courage and steadfastness.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
At media outing, NISD pushes for reduction in gender violence By Vera Onana
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EW Initiative for Social Development (NISD) is a Nigerian nongovernmental organisation that envisions a peaceful world where all people have equal rights. The mission of the organisation is to provide reliable solutions with passion and integrity for sustainable social development and justice. It was in accordance with its mission statement that a training workshop, supported by the British High Commission, was organised for South West journalists. Journalists from six states (Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Lagos and Ondo) in the South Western region of the federation, cutting across print, broadcast and online media converged in Ado Ekiti from 26 to 28 January, 2016 for a training workshop organised by the NISD. NISD, with head office in Ekiti state and branches in two other states, has been at the vanguard in clamouring for the reduction of dissemination of violence against persons, most especially women. After languishing for 13 years in the National Assembly, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill was passed by the Senate on May 5, 2015 and signed into law on 24 May, 2015. NISD with the support of British High Commission has been working on promoting the Violence Against Persons Prohibition law among key stakeholders in the South West states for effective implementation of the law. Consequently, journalists from across South West states were trained to understand the content of the VAPP act, as well as effect strategies of popularising the law nationwide. The training workshop for south west media practitioners which took place in Ado Ekiti was tagged “Prohibition of Violence Against Persons law training workshop among media practitioners for effective implementation in the South West”. The programme kicked off in earnest at 9.30am as scheduled with a welcome address from the executive director, NISD, Oyeleye Abiodun. In his address, he stated that NISD’s main objective is to “provide relevant interventions through information, social mobilization, training, research, advocacy and capacity building for the purpose of promoting an effective implementation of developmental initiatives that will enhance socio economic development of the people.”
While delivering the opening remark, Margaret Fagboyo, the acting South West regional coordinator of the Department of International Development (DFID) who was present at the training reiterated that the tortuous journey the VAPP bill had to pass through at the National Assembly was a clear indicator of the complexity of the problem of violence in all its ramifications and the difficulty involved in finding solutions to the problem. She said that “though the bill has been passed into law, it would only remain a law in abeyance if key stakeholders refuse to own it,” stressing the active role of the media in the propagation of the VAPP act and its effective implementation not only in the South West but nationwide. She added: “Media must track these cases by keeping it up in the news. “Given the devastating effect violence has on women and other vulnerable groups, the best way to end violence against women and girls is to prevent it from happening in the first place by addressing its roots and structural causes.” Delivering the keynote address on “The effective role of the media towards reduction of violence against women in Nigeria using the VAPP act 2015” at the event was Communications Manager and Political Adviser of the British High Commission, Lagos, Wale Adebajo. In his speech, he stated that “In Nigeria, with special focus on the South West, institutions are very weak in tackling the issue of sexual violence. He added that “violence against women and girls is a prevalent problem in Nigeria.”
In Nigeria, nearly three in 10 have experienced physical violence since age 15 while 7 per cent have experienced sexual violence. One in every four married women has experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence
The workshop, he stated, was focused on educating the relevant actors in the implementation of laws which included journalists, on the provisions and content of the recently passed VAPP act. Adebajo added that “In Nigeria, nearly three in 10 have experienced physical violence since age 15 while 7 per cent have experienced sexual violence. One in every four married women has experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence.” He appealed to journalists to work hand in hand with NISD to ensure that the VAPP act is effectively implemented, saying “Journalists play a major role in educating citizens, therefore, in reducing discrimination against women and popularising the new VAAP act, we need you.” He emphasised the fact that every journalist was a stakeholder in the fight against violence “because the pen is mightier than the gun” while adding that “societies are likely to become healthier when women’s rights are protected.” Alarming of figures of violence perpetrated against women in the South West was brought to the limelight in Oyeleye’s presentation wherein Oyo State had the highest level of violence against women with 48 per cent, Lagos following with 43.9, Ondo with 43.7, while Ekiti, Ogun and Osun had 25.3, 22.8 and 12 per cent respectively. These figures made it evident that much work must be done in earnest. Oyeleye, after giving the statistical dimension of violence against women in the South West in his presentation urged journalists at the event to become passionate about fighting violence by actively joining the course championed by his NGO so as to effectively implement the VAPP act in their respective states. Enlightening the participants on the legal aspect of the VAPP Act 2015, a legal practitioner, Ikechukwu Okafor, of the College of Law, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, reiterated the objectives of the act as “to eliminate violence in public and private acts, prohibit all forms of violence against persons among others.” Okafor categorised the offences and spoke at length about the prescribed forms of punishment. After series of deliberations, journalists at the training came up with action plans and feasible strategies to further implement the VAPP act in their states while working closely with NISD and other related organisations. Several copies of the VAPP act 2015 were also distributed at the event.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
Business interests behind attacks on pipelines —Izoukumor
engage communities’ leaders and stakeholders to avoid re-occurrence. They should use this medium to investigate why that gas pipeline is being tampered with annually. FG should avoid jumping into conclusion and taking hasty decisions that will not yield fruitful results. This is a case of pure economic sabotage; the investigation should be thorough and all those found culpable should be brought to book, no matter how highly placed they are in political and social circles.
Chief Favour Ogbeyirene Izoukumor is the Fieowei of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom and the Ijaw Commissioner on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). He spoke with journalists in Warri on the recent attacks on oil and gas pipelines in the Warri area as well as the revocation of the Nigerian Maritime University. EBENEZER ADUROKIYA brings excerpts:
A
RE the attacks on the gas and crude pipelines, presupposes a resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta? As a community leader and representative of the Ijaws in DESOPADEC, we unequivocally condemn the criminal act; it is unacceptable. Although I do not think the phrase ‘resurrection of insurgency’, is correct because this is purely a criminal act. It has being happening quarterly every year or up to three, four or five times yearly. There has been pipeline vandalism caused by criminal elements. I don’t know those behind it, but one thing that is very certain is that they are criminals and people with diverse interests. The reason why I say diverse interests is that the vandalism, especially on the gas pipeline in question, is a recurring decimal. I think people are benefiting from it, particularly some business interests and some unscrupulous elements within the NNPC and its subsidiaries. It is a criminal act; it is not violence that is resurfacing. Don’t you think that’s a very weighty allegation on NNPC officials? Yes, they could be beneficiaries, they and some others in the industry because this gas line is vandalized annually. My surprise this time is that in all these years, it has not drawn this kind of national attention, and I don’t know the reason behind it. In the past when it was vandalized, the NNPC repaired it quietly without any fuss. So, why is it different this time? In all these, what is the role of the security agencies in the area? I will not just apportion blame to security agents because I am a man from the riverine area. If I just conclude that they are not fulfilling their obligations, I may not be fair to them because the terrain in the riverine area is complex. There are some security reports also linking the latest attack to militants. If you say it is militants, what is the basis? When the militants in Niger Delta were in the struggle for their people’s fair share in Nigeria, whatever action they intended to embark on; they didn’t deny it. But on this particular issue, all the militants said they were not involved. I ask again, the past years that these pipelines were attacked and repaired, was it by militants? I feel this, like the past, was done by criminals in collaboration with interest groups and maybe some unrepentant workers in the system of NNPC. If we continue to ascribe these acts to militants, we give cover for the business interests who benefit from the acts to continue. This is what they want, blame it on militants so that their businesses can continue. What is your take on the FG’s threat to hold community leaders responsible for further acts of vandalism and the call for them to handover suspects? I think what has happened is pathetic for whole nation because anything that will crumble the economy of Nigeria is not in the country’s interest. I and my followers
Izoukumor will never support it, that’s why I condemned it in its entirety. But don’t extend the punishment to innocent people; it is uncalled for. The FG needs to synergize with communities leaders and the stakeholders on the way forward. It is only ignorance of the terrain that will make one to blame community leaders. The allegation is that the people that carried out these attacks are from the communities. Those are the deliberate erroneous assumptions made to incite the FG against innocent communities; they are unsubstantiated rumours. I am a leader from Warri South West and chairman of Ajuju community, are you saying that I am also aware? It is not the case. It took everybody by surprise and when we got wind of it, we swung into action. If not for the proactive measures taken by the state government, the governor and deputy governor, Kingsley Otuaro and community leaders, maybe these criminals would have done more damage. The JTF knows that the success in halting the attacks was due to these collaborative efforts. The acts were done in the day and in the night as I was told. The next day all the communities were on alert and as we are talking most of the communities leaders have mandated their youths to assist the security agents in security surveillance of the oil facilities. What do you think the FG can do to help the communities to help the nation? The FG needs to douse the tension created when they said communities’ leaders should be held responsible; and now they have asked the communities leaders to fish out criminals. The fear is that if they fail to do this, the FG plans to take some actions. As we are talking, most areas are deserted due to fear. The FG should douse the tension by making further clarifications and
My surprise this time is that in all these years, it has not drawn this kind of national attention, and I don’t know the reason behind it. In the past when it was vandalized, the NNPC repaired it quietly without any fuss. So, why is it different this time?
How do you react to the proposed cancellation of the NIMASA University in Okerenkoko? The statement was credited to the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and if true, it is unacceptable. I condemn it in its entirety; it is very provocative, inciting to say that a region that has been laying the golden eggs, feeding the whole nation, does not deserve to have a university! This is the only riverine university that the Federal Government has ever established. It was established not only for the Ijaws, but Niger Delta and Nigeria, yet you now say it should be cancelled? I also read in that statement credited to him that no parent would send their children to that university. This is quite unfortunate because there is Escravos (oil) terminal where thousands of workers from different regions of Nigeria are working; contractors are fetching billions from there. Multinational companies have transformed where they are operating to paradise and the university in question is just a stone throw from the terminal. Is that the place you are saying no parent can send their children to? I am deeply disappointed in the statement credited to Amaechi. He should know that despite political differences, we are all from this region. Amaechi is in a better position to know the suffering of the people of this region, but I was shocked he made such statement. My sincere advice to the Niger Deltans, particularly the Ijaws, is that these are provocative statements, maybe made to see our reactions, but let’s be peaceful and whatever grievance we may have as a result of that, we should express it peacefully. I want to believe that it is the personal view of Amaechi’s and not the position of the Federal Government. Let’s await the FG’s position and whatever it is, let’s use peaceful means to seek redress. In view of the recent history of Warri, what is your advice to stakeholders? We need to be peaceful and law-abiding despite whatever is happening. Whether we are provoked or feel aggrieved in any form, we have resolved long ago that we will resolve disagreements in peaceful manners. We will address and resolve issues in a non-violent approach. I think the Warri crisis taught all the leaders a lesson. Yes, there may be some skeletal restiveness, but I think it is always being timely nipped in the bud. I advise all the oil producing communities to be vigilant. Those vigilante groups that the various oil producing communities have put in place should sincerely do the work, collaborate with the security agents and avail them any information that can help protect oil facilities. They should contact the law enforcement agencies and work with them to see that the peace is consolidated. We are stakeholders and today I am Commissioner representing Ijaw ethnic nationality in the DESOPADEC; the only way the commission and state government will have enough money to embark on massive infrastructure, human capital developments is when there is steady oil production. If we are not vigilant, we will allow criminal elements, self-centered persons to destroy oil facilities. This will have a long term negative impact of not only degrading our environment, but also decreasing the state’s revenue. So it is on this premise that I am pleading: lets continuously give peace a chance; we cannot compromise peace. It is only when we embrace peace that we can attract development from the NDDC, DESOPADEC, the state government and the Federal Government.
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Friday, 5 February, 2016
Glo Premier League:
Foreign players invade Dolphins DOLPHINS FC of Port Harcourt, a Glo Premier League side has intensified preparations for the 2016 season scheduled to commence later this month. The three-time league champions have set up shop in Omoku outskirts of Port Harcourt where club trainer, Stanley Eguma is putting finishing touches to their preparations for the new season. Eguma said it is important to take his players “away from the hustle and bustle of Port Harcourt” as they set their sights on having a glorious 2015/16 campaign. “We had a terrible time last season and to avoid a repeat of such we must start preparations early. “I must say a big thank you to the Commissioner for sports in Rivers State (Boma Iyaye) who graciously approved the proposal to camp the team in Omoku for our pre-season preparations. “It is extremely crucial to take the players away from the hustle and bustle of Port Harcourt to attain maximum concentration,” Eguma told supersport.com. The trainer added that players from different parts of Africa have stormed the team’s Omoku camp hoping to join the side ahead of the upcoming season. “We lost a lot of important players last season but we should have even better replacements this time round. “We have spread our nets far and wide and I am happy to say that some very good players from countries like Ghana, Togo, the Ivory Coast and other countries here with us in Omoku. “They have signalled their intentions of playing for us because they know that Dolphins Football Club is a brand. “I am sure that when the team is finally knocked into shape, we will have a side that can represent Rivers State creditably in all competitions we enter for,” he said. Dolphins it will be recalled escaped relegation from the elite division on the final day of last season following a 2-2 draw with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Ibadan.
Former Golden Eaglets player, Joseph Babatunde (left), presenting football kit to the Ondo State deputy governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo in Akure, recently. With them is the Ondo State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Dayo Awude.
CAF champions League: Enyimba
moves home games to PH
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IGERIA’S Enyimba FC will play its home fixtures in the 2016 CAF Champions League at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt for now. Renovation work continues at pace at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba but it seems increasingly unlikely that the refurbishment will be completed in time for the club’s opening game in the competition on February 28.
BREAKING: Gary Neville has been SACKED by valenciacf after a humiliating defeat by Barcelona. Shame it had to end this way.” Neville was appointed a head coach of Valencia on December 2, 2015 after he replaced Nuno, who resigned on November 29.
Aneke joins Akwa Utd ONE-TIME record goal scorer in the Glo Premier League, Jude Aneke has joined Akwa United ahead of the 2015/16 season. Head coach of Akwa United, Maurice Cooreman said paper work for the forward will be completed before the end of the week. He also revealed that the 25-year-old attacker will commence training with the rest of the squad on Thursday evening. “Aneke is with us and hopefully, before the end of this week, we would have completed everything necessary for him to play for us,” Cooreman told supersport. com. The striker teamed up with Kaduna United during the 2009-10 season from lower division side Anambra United and scored 13 goals in all competitions, including 10 in the league.
He wrote his name in Nigerian football folklore in November 2011, when he broke the one-year old record of current Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa by scoring 20 goals in a league season. The forward then moved to Egypt where he joined Port Saidbased outfit, Al-Masry, from Warri Wolves in 2012. On July 18, 2014, Aneke signed for Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Spartak Semey. Cooreman says the track record of the striker convinced him to bring him on board at the Promise Keepers. “I know him (Aneke) very well. I worked with him at Kaduna United and also at Warri Wolves. “When you have an opportunity to sign a player who has scored 20 goals in a single season in the Nigerian league you sign him.”
own stadium so we have opted for the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt to play that game. “We have already received clearance from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to that effect,” spokesman of Enyimba, Farriel Allaputa told supersport. com. Enyimba is two-time champion of the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004.
Wolves striker, Oduokpe hooks Israeli club
Neville sacked as Valencia boss? VALENCIA manager, Gary Neville may have been sacked after his team suffered a 0-7 defeat at the hands of FC Barcelona in the semifinal of the Copa del Rey. According to Craig Sainsbury, a journalist for ForestEchoNews, via his twitter handle wrote: ”
Enyimba will face Ugandan club, Vipers SC, in the preliminary round of this year’s edition of Africa’s premier club competition with the first leg set to hold on the weekend of February 12-14 at the 5,000 capacity Bunamwaya Stadium. “The ongoing rehabilitation work at the Enyimba Stadium is not moving at a very quick pace. “It is looking very unlikely that we will play the return fixture against Vipers at our
Oduokpe
FORMER Warri Wolves striker, Oghogho Oduokpe has joined Israeli club, Maccabi Herzliyah, AfricanFootball.com can exclusively report. The powerful striker signed the dotted lines in Nigeria on Tuesday and departed for his medical on Wednesday. His representative who brokered the deal, Ramone Remmie, told AfricanFootball.com Oghogho had a lot of offers but chose to move to Israel. “Oghogho Oduokpe has signed for Maccabi Herzliyah in Israel. The deal is till the end of the season with option of another year,” disclosed the agent. “The club sent the contract paper Tuesday morning and he signed at the airport before flying aboard a Ethiopia airline flight on Wednesday.” Ramone added: “He has offers from Kelantan FA in Malaysia, Al Ittihad in UAE, but I advised him to go to Europe and he took the chance.” The striker has played for Warri Wolves, Rangers, Dolphins and Bayelsa United. Maccabi Herzliyah is fourth on the Israeli second division league table.
SIDELINES
FRIDAY, 5 FEBRUARY, 2016
NO 16,430
Tata Motors is to rename its new product Zica car, after a few weeks in the market, as the outbreak of Zika virus continues to generate a global health emergency. Perhaps, if one may ask, is it not a waste of resources to even go ahead with the launch of a product that is already stigmatised before arrival in the market, or the manufacturers aim to provide a mere comic relief?
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Salami joins Finland’s Palloseura By Olawale Olaniyan
Salami on duty for Nigeria.
Eagles move up in FIFA rankings By Nurudeen Alimi
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IGERIA’S men senior national football team, the Super Eagles rose three places in the latest world rankings released by the world football governing body, FIFA on its official website on Thursday. The Super Eagles raked 2.5 points to garner a total of 542.5 points for the month of Janu-
ary. Nigeria is now ranked 12th in Africa behind Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Congo, Egypt, DR Congo, Guinea and Cameroon and 63rd in the world. The Super Eagles’ unconvincing display at the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) was expected to detrimentally affect the country’s position in the rankings after Sunday Oliseh’s men crashed out at the group stage of the competition. Criteria for arriving at a country’s position
on the monthly rankings is determined by the results and number of matches played by a particular country in the month under review. The importance of the match, strength of the opposition and confederation strength weights are some of the other factors FIFA consider in arriving at a country’s eventual position on the rankings. Meanwhile, the national teams of Belgium, Argentina, Spain, Germany and Chile maintain their positions as first, second, third, fourth and fifth best football playing nations in the world.
SUPER Eagles striker, Gbolahan Salami has signed for Kuopion Palloseura of Finland to join his former Warri Wolves team-mate, Azubuike Egwuekwe who joined the team last year. The Finnish club disclosed the arrival of the former Julius Berger, Sunshine Stars, Enyimba and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) striker on its website. It stated that Salami has signed a year’s deal with an option of another year and was named in the first team squad but yet to be allotted jersey number. It was learnt that Gbolahan parted ways with his former agent having delayed his move to join a top club in Europe. Salami who opted out of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda, was the top scorer in the 2015 Glo Premier League season with 17 goals. Last year January, Salami, it will be recalled, moved to Red Star Belgrade, but returned to Nigeria to join Warri Wolves after the Serbian club could not pay his wages. He also signed for a South African side, Mamelodi Sundowns before the deal got bungled a few weeks later, as the Lagos State-born player returned home in 2011 to rejoin Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).
Mali, DR Congo for CHAN 2016 final MALI will face DR Congo in the final of the fourth African Nations Championship (CHAN 2016) billed for Sunday at the Amahoro Stadium, Rwanda. The Eagles of Mali on Thursday waited till the 89th minute to net the winner against the Elephants of Ivory Coast 1-0 in a thrilling semi-final. Super substitute Yves Bissouma became the match hero with his solitary strike from close range which sent Mali through to the Sunday’s final. The Leopards of DR Congo had earlier on Wednesday dumped Syli Nationale of Guinea 5-4 on penalties in the first semi-final after the game had ended in a 1-1 draw at regulation time. The 2009 champions had scored first during extra time through striker Jonathan Bolingi Mpangi’s brilliant header in the 101st minute.
Emenike to make EPL debut against Southampton
Emenike
WEST Ham new signing, Emmanuel Emenike may make his debut in the English Premier League tomorrow against Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium, The Hammers manager, Slaven Bilic, revealed this in his pre-match conference ahead of the game. Emenike joins compatriot, Victor Moses, (on loan from Chelsea) in the Hammers camp. Bilic also confirmed the former Nigerian in-
ternational has received his work permit, after his international clearance came through on Wednesday. The West Ham manager explained that he will take a decision about Emenike’s involvement at St Mary’s Stadium after watching him in training on Thursday, after the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner and goal king arrived on Wednesday. “He is going to train
with us today (Thursday) for the first time,” Bilic said. “He is naturally fit but I would like to see him. “He only arrived yesterday in London because of the work permit issue and other stuff. He will train with us and I will make a decision.” West Ham, who has the option to make Emenike’s transfer permanent in the summer, is sixth on the EPL table with 39 points from 24 games.
Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 5/2/2016.