6th July 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,539

WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY, 2016

Skye Bank's new GMD explains CBN's action, assures customers of safety of fund —P12

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US issues terror warning on Lagos hotels —P9

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Kogi uncovers 9,000 ghost workers

•As gov says state is sick —P11

I know what Nigerians are going through —Buhari •Assures of govt's determination to provide basic needs, other amenities •Says corruption would be rooted out through appropriate, legal measures •Warns Avengers not to mistake his readiness to dialogue for weakness •As group blows up more oil facilities in Warri —P4, 9 •Lay down your arms, ACF tells them Leon Usigbe -Abuja

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that he is not unaware of what the people are going through and promised that better days are ahead.

In his Eid-el-Fitr message to Nigerians, released in Abuja, on Tuesday, the president stressed the need for Nigerians to demonstrate the virtue of tolerance towards one another, irrespective of religion, language and political leanings.

“Let us learn to show gratitude, respect and tolerance to one other, irrespective of our religion, tribe, language and political leanings, as we forge ahead to build on our strengths and opportunities

FG extends public holiday till tomorrow

to make Nigeria great again,” he said.

The president added: “I am not unaware of what Nigerians are going through and I want to use this medium to commend the amazing sacrifices of Nigerians in the face of the temporary economic and social challenges and also reassure Nigerians that my administration is working assiduously towards providing basic needs and other amenities.

“Let me also use this opportunity to reaffirm that we will not relent in the fight against corruption and we will ensure that all appropriate and legal measures are deplored to root out this malaise.

Continues pg4

—P8

President Muhammadu Buhari

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

Wishing all Muslim faithfuls a fulďŹ lling and rewarding celebration, as you consolidate on the blessings of Ramadan

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news

Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

I am not unaware of what Nigerians are going through —Buhari Continued from front page

“I commend the armed forces and security agencies for the gains recorded in the fight against terrorists and the rescue of hostages in the North-East part of the country.”

Recalling that he hosted Iftar reception with Nigerians of different backgrounds, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), artisans and physically-challenged persons, the president appealed to the wealthy to remember the millions of Nigerians “who are suffering depri-

vation because of violence perpetrated by terrorists.”

Buhari also appealed for the support, understanding and patience of all Nigerians and the international partners as his government explored “the fastest means to end the economic sabotage in the

Niger Delta and amicably resolve the conflicts within the region,” saying: “I promise you all better days ahead, even as we remain grateful for your unflinching support to our administration.”

While praying for Allah’s blessing on the nation, he

felicitated with all Nigerians, especially the Muslim Ummah, on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr, which marks the completion of the Ramadan fast.

He congratulated Muslims in Nigeria and around the world on the successful completion of the month-

long spiritual journey of fasting, prayer and almsgiving in obedience to the divine command.

He prayed that the Almighty Allah will reward the sacrifices with increased blessing and a more prosperous future.

According to him, “on

AAUA lecturers begin strike Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

FOLLOWING the non-payment of their seven months’ salaries, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State chapter, on Monday, embarked on an indefinite strike.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the chairman of ASUU in the institution, Dr Sola Fayose, shortly after a congress, directed all its members to downtools.

The statement read: “Following past engagements on the issues of salary and deduction payments, particularly the resolutions of the Congress meeting on June 15, 2016, conveying the displeasure of our members on the issues of salary and deductions, the Congress of ASUU-AAUA met July 4, to get feedback on the consultations the branch initiated with the national on its request to allow members withdraw their services following three months’ outstanding salaries and non-remittance of deductions for seven months.

“Congress was informed of the approval of national body of the union to allow members of ASUU-AAUA withdraw their services until all outstanding salaries of three months and deductions of seven months are fully paid.

“All members are, therefore, directed to withdraw their services with immediate effect. This withdrawal affects all formal engagements/activities.

“Having waited in vain these past months to see a positive turn around, we are left with no other choice than this last resort, as our members have been systematically, financially, psychologically and morally disempowered.”

Some parts of Bayan Kara village which was flooded after heavy rain, in Birnin Kebbi, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

this happy occasion, it is my strong belief that all true followers of Islam have been rejuvenated on the true meaning and essence of life and through the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), we have learnt to imbibe the virtues of piety, sacrifice, love, self-denial and good conduct in our daily relationship with one another.

“As we celebrate another Eid-el-Fitr, I admonish all patriotic Nigerians to uphold these lessons and also appreciate the numerous material and human blessings God has endowed us with.”

Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, has felicitated with Muslims in Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s EidEl-Fitr.

In a telephone conversation with President Buhari on Tuesday, Erdogan rejoiced with Nigerians on the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast, despite whatever distractions.

Buhari condemns ‘reprehensible’ Saudi bombing Leon Usigbe -Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the suicide bombing in Madinah, which occurred on Monday, in Islam’s second holiest city.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja, on Tuesday, the president, while consoling with Saudi authorities over the “reprehensible attack,” said the development was a desecration of all that was sacred and holy, as it took place near the prophet’s mosque and on one of the holy days of Ramadan.

He added: “The merchants of evil have once again shown that there is nothing religious in their mindless acts, by striking near the prophet’s mosque.

It validates the claim that terrorism really has nothing to do with Islam. Purveyors of terror are simply agents of the devil.

“The fact that the Madinah bombing came the same day a suicide bomber struck near the United States (US) Consulate in Jeddah, also in Saudi Arabia, shows that it was an orchestrated plan to foul up the Eid-el-Fitr celebration,” President Buhari said.

Buhari urged nations to

remain vigilant, “so that we can collectively beat the forces of darkness on the prowl round the globe.”

He stressed that terror-

ism no longer respected international boundaries, charging humanity to rise as one body “to excise this vermin from our body pol-

ity and assert our liberty from those who pander to base and vicious instincts.”

Furthermore, he stated that: “With our collective

resolve, we shall beat terrorism. Around the world and around the clock, let us be alert. And we would remain free and safe.”

Don’t mistake Buhari’s disposition to dialogue for weakness, Presidency warns Avengers

By Abiodun Awolaja THE Federal Government, on Tuesday, warned the militant groups in the Niger Delta behind the spate of bombing oil pipelines not to interpret the disposition of President Muhammadu Buhari to dialogue as a sign of weakness.

Senior Special Assistant to President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who issued the warning, said the president was only taking his time to respond to the restiveness in the region, because he was determined to find a lasting solution to the recurring cri-

sis in the Niger Delta.

The clarification made by Shehu, in an essay entitled: “President Buhari sharpens focus on Niger Delta” and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, came against the backdrop of the renewed attacks on oil installations by members of the Niger Delta Avengers.

No fewer than six oil pipelines were vandalised on Tuesday, bringing the number of such burst pipelines to 11 within three days in Delta State alone, with serious implications for the nation’s foreign earnings.

According to president’s spokesman, Buhari’s re-

Adeboye in Ibadan on Sunday GENERAL Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E. A. Adeboye, will be in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday, July 10, 2016 to dedicate the stadium-like RCCG Covenant Sanctuary, opposite Zartech, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan.

Time is 8.00 a.m. Chief Host is Pastor Dele Balo-

gun, the pastor-in-charge of Region 21.

Pastor E. A. Adeboye

fusal to tackle the new onslaught on the economy with the same hawkishness that characterised his tenure as military head of state in the 80s was not a sign that he was afraid of the Avengers.

Shehu said 14 different groups, claiming leadership of the new militant group launching a renewed onslaught on the nation’s economic jugular, had already held meetings with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Munguno (retd).

Each of the groups, he said, were brought by a former or serving governor and had insisted that it was the authentic and the right group to dialogue with.

He added that the president had already outlined his plans to develop the Niger Delta region during a meeting he held with the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact group led by the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, at the State House, last Thursday.

Buhari, he said, told Die-

te-Spiff, a former military governor of the old Rivers State and his (Buhari’s) senior in the army, that peace and stability in the Niger Delta region and the country was the priority of his government and there would be no compromise on this.

According to Shehu: “The president is mindful of the fact that the Delta region is an important part of the whole, but as he charts his course for a permanent peace in the Niger Delta, it is important, however, that militants don’t mistake his efforts as a sign of weakness.

Quoting the famous statement of former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, shortly before her government defeated the Irish Republican Army (IRA) that publicity for the terrorists is the oxygen needed for survival, the presidential aide accused the media of deliberately aiding NDA’s onslaught out of an appetite for sensational stories.

Read full script on page 34.

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

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Nigerian Tribune

Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

Lagosmetro Computer instructor who raped student remanded in Kirikiri Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A computer instructor, Cosmos Ugbaja, who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl said to be a Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS 3) student of a public school in Ishawo, Ikorodu, has been remanded in Kirikiri prison.

Ugbaja was arraigned be-

fore an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on a one-count of rape.

According to police prosecutor, Inspector Samuel Imohsonwa, the suspect serially raped his victim between January and May this year.

The suspect pleaded not guilty to the charge of hav-

ing unlawful sexual intercourse with his victim.

Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000.00 and two sureties in like sum.

She, thereafter, adjourned the matter for hearing till August 1.By Our Correspondents.

Gunmen kidnap Lebanese handling Epe road, demand N155m ransom Olalekan Olabulo THERE was panic in the ancient town of Epe in Lagos State, on Monday evening, as an expatriate, Ayman El Dens, with a construction company was kidnapped by gunmen, suspected to be militants.

The suspected kidnappers,

Recovered Fred Amata’s SUV

Police recover Fred Amata’s SUV snatched at gunpoint Olalekan Olabulo

O

PERATIVES of the Lagos State Police Command have recovered a Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle, which was snatched

two weeks ago, at gun point around Fadeyi area of the state from renowned Nollywood director, Fred Amata.

The imagemaker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos,

while confirming the recovery of the vehicle urged the entertainer to visit the police station and claim his vehicle.

Badmos stated that the vehicle was recovered in the Ejigbo area of the state,

while the occupants as of the time of the recovery escaped.

She also stated that the police in the state were on the trail of the robbers, assuring that they would be arrested.

Sallah holiday: Street traders return to Lagos highways THE spectacles on Lagos roads on Tuesday, were quite different from those of Monday, as street traders and hawkers, used the occasion of the Ramadan holiday to make brisk business on almost all the roads.

In almost all the places visited by Lagos Metro on Tuesday, street hawkers were seen meandering through the usually busy traffic, persuading road users to patronize their wares, with no law enforcement agents enforcing the ban.

Hawkers were seen doing it discreetly, when Lagos Metro visited Yaba, despite the implications of their action.

Said the hawkers “We still operate here, albeit discreetly. We take to our heels whenever any KAI official is in sight,” they stated.

The same scenario played

itself out in Ijaye, Kollington Bus Stop, Mosalasi and Abucon areas in Alimosho Local Government Council Area of the state. Traders were seen in these places moving freely around, with

their wares, while beseeching customers to patronise.

Though many engaged in the usual trading, it was obvious that they were not relaxed in carrying out their business.

Street hawkers back on Lagos roads.

have reportedly, contacted somes colleagues of El Dens and demanded for N155 million ransom.

The victim, a Lebanese, was until the incident working for Granebury, the contractor handling the expansion of the Epe township road.

A senior police officer, who pleaded anonymity, while speaking with Lagos Metro, confirmed the inci-

dent and added that efforts were on to rescue the expatriate. It was gathered that the kidnappers threatened to kill El Dens, if the ransom was not paid before the next forty eight hours beginning from Tuesday afternoon.

Efforts to speak with the imagemaker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos failed, as calls to her mobile phones were not answered.

Hoodlums turn Ifako school, church to hemp joint during teaching, worship Opeyemi Owoaseye IT has become a menacing experience for the residents of Somorin Okeowo, Ifako area of Lagos State, as some boys have made the front of Sunjem Schools a den of weed smoking.

These boys were said to be jobless and had made the front of the school their usual meeting point. They were also said to have been on this act of weed smoking for a long time.

It was learnt that a gos-

pel church, which uses part of the building of the school for its services, is also finding it difficult to cope, as these guys constitute nuisances in front of the school.

Residents of the community told Lagos Metro that the boys were always there till late at night, causing fear in residents that ply the route.

They appealed to the government to help them get the hoodlums away from the environment.

Phone thief beats owner, Opeyemi Owoaseye A 27-year-old man, Ifeanyi Nwadishi, has been arrested for allegedly stealing a property of one Azubuike Okwuguri.

The suspect was said to have stolen one Nokia phone valued at N6000 and cash sum N26,600 of Okwuguni.

The defendant was said to have committed the offence on Saturday, around Coker

Bus Stop, Orile Iganmu area of Lagos.

The defendant reportedly assaulted the complainant after stealing his valuables and also inflicted injuries on him.

The suspect was also said to have allegedly hit the complainant multiple times with planks and with fist blows all over his body, which caused him serious injuries.

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

Govs, lawmakers, monarchs, NACOMYO, others urge Nigerians on tolerance, gains of Ramadan

Edited By Lanre Adewole

08037863902 | olanreade@yahoo.com

Scenes of a fire outbreak in a warehouse loaded with Sodium Hydrosulphate chemical on Fatai Atere road, Mushin, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Militants storm Lagos jetty, abduct immigration officer Olalekan Olabulo SUSPECTED Niger Delta militants continued their onslaught on residents of Lagos State, as an immigration officer, Peter Ofolue,

was kidnapped in the early hours of Tuesday, at the Ikorodu area of the state.

He was said to be on his way to his duty post at the Ikoyi Passport office, when the militants abducted him.

removes tooth The suspect was equally accused of unlawfully inflicting wound on the complainant by first giving him blows on his mouth and pulling off one of his front teeth while the complainant was trying to escape from the defendant.

The defendant was said to have committed an offence punishable under the criminal law of Lagos State.

He was charged before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court on four-count charge levelled against him.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

He was granted a bail of N50,000, with one surety, who must be a blood relation.

The case was adjourned till August 21 by the Magistrate A O. Ajibade.

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos Metro gathered that the militants, who came in a speed boat, were yet to contact his family.

A source at the Ikorodu jetty, who spoke with Lagos Metro, said the early Tuesday attack by the gunmen really shocked workers and passengers at the jetty.

The source said “I was not there when the incident happened, but my colleagues told me that they were frightened by the gunshots from heavily-armed kidnappers.

Efforts to get the reaction of the imagemaker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, failed, as calls to her mobile phone lines were not answered.

OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, urged Muslims to be modest in their celebrations and to be on their guard against terrorists who might want to wreak havoc during the celebration.

Ajimobi said: ”Let me on this occasion congratulate my Muslim brothers and sisters on the successful completion of the Ramadan. It is my hope that the mandatory annual religious obligation will renew our strength and faith in Allah.”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, also called on Muslims nationwide to pray for peace as the country is going through tough economic and security challenges.

Aregbesola, in a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, admonished Muslims to imbibe the salient lessons of Ramadan and emulation of the humility, good neighbourliness, understanding and love exemplified by the life of Prophet Muhammad.

Also, Bayelsa State governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has called on Muslims across the country to preach love, peace and uphold the tenets of Islam as well as the teachings of Holy Prophet Mohammed.

According to him, it is only by doing such that Nigeria could remain a peaceful nation and achieve its targeted development goals, especially under the prevailing harsh economic hardship.

The governor’s advice was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, called on all Nigerians to draw the lessons of piety, love, justice, fairness, equity, peaceful co-existence, tolerance, honesty and dedication derived from the teachings of the Holy Prophet all through the Ramadan period.

A statement signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, noted that the governor assured that his administration would continue to promote religious tolerance and the right environment for the freedom of worship.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal urged Nigerians to close ranks and work for the unity, political stability and progress of the nation.

This is contained in a message by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, in Sokoto.

Tambuwal also enjoined Muslims to use the end of Ramadan to offer prayers to God for peaceful co-existence among different ethno-religious groups in the country.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State urged Nigerian Muslims to be guided by the lessons learnt during Ramadan as this would greatly mould their lives in the right path prescribed by Almighty Allah.

In his Eid-el-Fitri message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Governor Oshiomhole said the messages of love, perseverance, self-denial, almsgiving and others learnt during the holy month of Ramadan should not be discarded but applied daily by the Muslim in total obedience to the injunctions of Allah.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State enjoined Muslim Umah and the people of the state to continue to live the life of sacrifice in line with the tenets of the just concluded Ramadan.

He gave this charge in his Eid-el-Fitri message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, yesterday.

Governor of Plateau State, Honourable Simon Lalong, urged the Muslim Ummah to reflect on the significance of the religious obligation by putting to use the spiritual lessons learnt during the period of Ramadan.

He stressed that the virtues of sacrificial love for humanity in giving arms to the poor and needy, will reflect the gratitude of the Moslem faithful to Allah for their fulfilment of one of the pillars of Islam.

The senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola, has prayed that the Almighty Allah will answer the supplications of the adherents of the Islamic faith as presented in the month of Ramadan.

The senator called on Muslims to continue to pray for and renew their support for the administration of President Mohammed Buhari to succeed.

First lady and wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, yesterday visited and released five inmates in the Garu prison in Dutse, capital city of Jigawa State.

Speaking to the prisoners, Aisha Buhari said she embarked on visiting prisons nationwide and releasing some inmates under her foundation “Future Assured” in the spirit of Ramadan.

The first lady, who was represented by Alhaji Mustapha Habibu Fari, a member of

the All Progressives Congress (APC) board of trustees, explained that the foundation was aimed at gaining freedom for some inmates with option of fine and offer material assistance to prisoners.

Wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki and members of the Senators’ Wives Forum (8th Session) have called on the Muslim faithful to continue to pray for the unity and growth of Nigeria beyond the Ramadan period.

In a statement released by the Forum’s Secretariat, Forum President, Mrs Saraki, enjoined Muslims to remember to be charitable towards one another, especially the needy.

Honourable Saheed Akinade Fijabi who is representing Ibadan North West/ South West Federal Constituency at the House of Representative has charged Nigerians especially the Muslims to use this period to pray for peace.

Fijabi urged Muslims to use the festive period to pray for the country now that the country is witnessing series of attacks from Niger Delta and in the northern part.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and be ambassadors of peace.

Obasa, in his Ed-el-Fitri message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Razak, also praised the sacrifice and spiritual commitment of all Nigerians, with particular reference to Muslims throughout the fasting period.

Also, Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Honourable Ali Ahmad, in his Eid-el-Fitri message issued by his Media Aide, Shuaib Abdulkadir, advised Muslims to reflect on the lessons learnt in the holy month for the betterment of the society.

Ahmad added that the celebration provides the best opportunity for Nigerians irrespective of religion, ethnicity, political or social status to come together as one indivisible family with a view to making the nation great.

The Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Rotimi Abiru, called on Nigerians to continue to pray for the unity and greatness of the nation.

Abiru, representing Shomolu Constituency II, made this call on Monday, while speaking in a telephone chat from Saudi Arabia where he is currently performing Lesser Hajj.

Continues pg28

Wednesday, 6 July, 2016 Nigerian Tribune 8 news Govs, lawmakers, monarchs, NACOMYO, others urge Nigerians on tolerance, gains of Ramadan Continued from pg7

A Lagos lawmaker, Mr Tunde Braimoh, urged Nigerians across ethnic divide to forgive and bear one another for the progress and prosperity of the country.

Braimoh, (APC- Kosofe II) and a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, made the plea in his Eld-elFitri message.

Osun State House of Assembly under the leadership of Honourable Najeem Salaam has urged Muslim faithful not to allow the lessons of Ramadan, which are patience, perseverance, benevolence towards others and love among others to erode them.

In a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the Assembly said the current economic challenges facing the state and the nation at large required more patience, optimism and unshakable faith in God and loyalty to leadership.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said that witnessing another Eidel-Fitri was a special privilege from the Almighty Allah.

The minister urged Muslim faithful to keep on practising the lessons learnt from the holy month in their relationship with their Maker and fellow human beings.

The immediate past governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel, urged Muslims to take the blessings of the period beyond the month of Ramadan.

The lessons of the month, he stated, are essential virtues required for peaceful co-existence within the society which included building self-control, self-restraint, self-evaluation and sacrifice.

Former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo AlaoAkala, urged Muslim faithful in the country to use the period to reflect on the teachings of Prophet Mohammed and imbibe the spirit of love, peace, faithfulness and forgiveness.

The former governor called on them to continue to pray for the unity, oneness as well as continued survival of the country.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, has implored Muslim faithful to consolidate the gains of Ramadan by fleeing from all appearances of evil.

The monarch said “Despite the socio-economic challenges confronting our people, such as liquidity crisis, corruption in high and low places, kidnapping etc, nothing is too difficult for God.” Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, has emphasised the need

for traditional rulers and religious leaders to sensitise the people on the benefits of peaceful co-existence irrespective of tribal, political and religious differences.

In a statement signed by his Private Secretary, Toyin Ajamu, Oba Oyewumi said, “I wish to congratulate the Muslim community on the celebration of Eid-el-Fitri, which marks the successful completion of the Ramadan.

Social Democratic Party chieftain in Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has advised Muslim faithful in Nigeria and Oyo State in particular to sustain the selflessness disposition, dedication to the words of God and demonstration of fear of God. Makinde commended Muslims in Nigeria who despite the economic situation still demonstrated selflessness during the fasting period.

“It is heart-warming to note that our Muslim brothers and sisters demonstrated unusual love to one an-

other when everyone breaks their fast together and one finds it difficult to know who actually the financier of such laudable act.”

The Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, in a statement by his secretary, Alhaji Kamoru Aderibigbe, said the holy month of fasting might have come to an end, but the entire citizenry must allow the essence of the period, “which is God-consciousness,” to resonate in their daily living for the sake of the country and humanity in general.

He particularly urged Muslims to remain exemplars of the soul-cleansing month by exhibiting selfreform and abstaining from base desires for the rest of the lunar year and beyond.

Ogun State PDP governorship candidate in the last election, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, has urged all Moslems to pray for the peace and economic revival of Nigeria.

Isiaka said the lessons and teachings learnt during the holy month should not be lost during the celebration.

He said, “Our country needs our prayers at this critical period when the economy has nosedived beyond our imagination.

Besides, we must continue to pray for our dear Ogun State to survive the current economic hardship and for our leaders to have compassion on the citizens.”

An Ede based Muslim Cleric and business tycoon, Alhaji Ajani Bello Monyasau, has put smiles on the faces of less privileged by donating to them in cash and kind.

Monyasau called on all well-meaning Nigerians to cultivate the habit of assisting the needy so as to eradicate poverty and crime in the society.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State also called on Muslims in the country to intensify their prayers for sustainable

peace and improved economy for better living for the citizenry.

In its Eid message contained in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the APC said that the holy month of Ramadan is usually treasured as it offers mankind divine visitation, forgiveness of sins and renewal of relationship with God (Allah).

Oyo State chapter of Accord, in a message by its Publicity Secretary, Dr Nureni Adeniran, urged Muslims to continue their piety which peaked during the fast.

The party admonished Muslims in the country to continue to imbibe the good deeds and the teachings of Ramadan.

The League of Veteran Journalists in Oyo State has urged Muslim faithful to continue to live in tandem with the teachings of the Holy Qu’ran, even beyond Ramadan.

Cross section of indigenes and non-indigenes of Osun State boarding free train provided by the state government from Lagos to Osogbo, in celebration of the end of Ramadan, at Ido Railway Terminus, Lagos State, on Tuesday.

FG extends Sallah holiday till tomorrow

By Our Reporters THE Federal Government has extended the holiday to mark Eid-El-Fitri Sallah celebration till Thursday, July 7.

This followed the directive by the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, to the effect that the Ramadan had to continue yesterday as a result of the non-sighting of the moon.

Government had earlier declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holiday to mark the Sallah celebration.

Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Damba-

zau (retd), made the announcement on behalf of the Federal Government on Tuesday in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Bassey Akpa-

nyung, in Abuja.

He urged Nigerians to use the period of sober reflections to ensure harmony, unity and peaceful co-existence, while giving full sup-

port to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained effort to pursue socio-economic and political growth of the nation.

Police, Borno gov task worshippers on security

By Our Reporters Kano State Police Command has called on worshippers attending Eid grounds to avoid taking unnecessary objects other than praying mats, so as to avert unnecessary break down of law as well as to checkmate whoever may want to foment trouble.

This is just as the command advised people attending recreational centres and places of gatherings during the celebration to

be extra vigilant by taking good cognizance of people and objects around, with a view to report any suspicious movement to security officials.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammed A. Dikko, and made available on Tuesday.

Borno State government has advised Muslims to be vigilant as they troop to

various Eid grounds to offer prayers at the end of Ramadan.

Governor Kashim Shettima gave the advice when he spoke with newsmen on Tuesday.

Shettima also advised the residents to see security as a collective responsibility rather than the duty of security agents alone.

He said that government would introduce stringent security checks to ensure safety at the various Eid grounds in the state.

This was contained in a message signed by the Publicity secretary of the League, Mr Wale Adelowo.

The message also enjoined all Nigerians to follow the tenet of the Holy month in their relationship with others.

The National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) has enjoined Nigerians to embrace peace and good neighbourliness towards societal development.

This was contained in the Eid el-Fitri message signed by the National President of NACOMYO, Alhaji Kamal’ddin Akintunde, urging adherents of Islam and Christianity to tolerate and love one another as they are partners in the Nigeria’s march to progress.

NACOMYO called for more understanding, maturity and wisdom on the part of the leadership and followership of the two faiths in dealing with matters that tend to bring rancour and disharmony.

Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has said that the spirit of the Ramadan should be sustained beyond the month, for peaceful co-existence, safety and security among the people.

Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, quoted Oyeyemi as saying that the month of Ramadan provided opportunity for Muslims to show devotion to God, seek His blessings and show compassion to the less privileged members of the society.

The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) urged the faithful to remember the social and spiritual gains of the sacred month and fulfil their covenant with Allah in such a way that those gains would not be taken away from them by Satan.

A statement by the organisation’s media consultant, Dr Femi Abbas, read in part: “We should remember to pay our mandatory Zakatul-Fitr and be kind to the underprivileged ones in our celebrations. Such celebrations should exemplify the remorse and humility we imbibed in the sacred month of Ramadan.”

Former chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC) and Ondo State PDP governorship aspirant, Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye and the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Honourable Felix Obuah, urged Muslims to use the Ramadan for inner reflections and make a u-turn from human imperfections to do that which is right and pleasing to Allah.

Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Oyo State chapter, also urged Muslims to embrace love and unity.

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

Eid-el-Fitri: US issues terror warning on Lagos hotels Christian Okeke -Abuja

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HE United States (US) Mission in Nigeria, on Tuesday, advised that groups associated with terrorist activity might be planning attacks against

hotels in Lagos frequented by international visitors, including those located on waterfronts, during the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.

In a warning posted on “US Citizen Services” and sighted by the Nigerian

Tribune, the Mission reminded US citizens to review their personal security plans, remain aware of their surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates.

The warning did not con-

tain details, but urged the US citizens to be vigilant.

A similar security warning was given in December, last year, while in May 2014, diplomats were warned of a possible attack at two Sheraton hotels in Lagos, after a car

bombing in the capital, Abuja, killed 19 just days before a major economic summit.

Similar warnings were given in April 2012 and November 2011 about hotels popular with Westerners in Abuja.

The US Embassy’s latest warning did not mention a specific group, but urged its citizens to “review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates.”

We are not handling militants’ threat with levity —Police

Bombing Lagos will do no one any good —OPC Shola Adekola, Akin Adewakun, Lekan Olabulo -Lagos THE Lagos State police command, on Tuesday, declared that it was not handling the threat by the Niger Delta Avengers to bomb some parts of Lagos with levity.

This is just as the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasheun’s faction has waved the threat aside, saying bombing Lagos by any group of militants would be tartanmount to an ill wind that would blow no one any good.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday, the image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, stated that the police, as part of the efforts to forestall any attack by the avengers, were beefing up security on not just the targeted places, but all over the state.

Badmos said: “We are beefing up security. The command is not treating the threat with kid’s gloves. The command has put strategies in place to ensure the continuos safety of the entire Lagos State.”

While reminding the militants that they also had brothers and sisters who resided and did businesses in Lagos, the OPC maintained that ‘’a good freedom fighter does not destroy the means of livelihood of his people.’

“Of what use will that be to their cause or grouse with the Federal Government? If they are able to cause such havoc or damage to the third mainland bridge, they forget that they have several thousands of their kith and kins in Lagos making use of the bridge daily and using it as an access to the source of their daily bread.

Aside from that, many indigenes of the Niger Delta have houses on the Lagos Island and businesses on the mainland. A good and sensible freedom fighter does not destroy the means of livelihood of his people, hence what is the essence of his or her agitations.

While insisting that there was no basis for any Ijaw man or woman to want to create confusion in Lagos or other parts of the Southwest, the OPC cited the Conference of Ethnic Nationalities of

which Ijaws, the Urhobos, Yoruba and many others from the South-South and North are adequately represented where the president, Dr Frederick Fasehun, is a prominent member representing not

only the Yoruba, but also, the Oodua People’s Congress.

According to Lawal, if for whatever reason, the Ijaws have complaints against Yoruba or Lagos, such would have been tabled

and discussed at the meeting of Conference of Ethnic Nationalities.

Reacting to the insinuation that the silence of the OPC and that of the Yoruba in the face of the Niger Delta threat was cowardly, the

Lagos at 50 team performing Ramadan Cultural Dance at Maryland Junction, to create awareness of the forthcoming Lagos at 50 celebration, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

OPC leadership retorted: “From my earlier narratives, will any sensible person say we are cowardly or we are weak. Definitely not. Government security operatives that have had cause to engage us in an encounter years back will tell you the stuff we are made of. Because we have adopted a “Siddon Look” approach should and must not be taken as being lily-livered. Yoruba people don’t easily go into battle without convincing reasons and when we do, our antagonists are always convinced that we cannot be rubbished easily.”

However, despite the threat of the insurgents to bomb key places in Lagos, especially this bridge, security presence on the bridge has remained non-existent.

As at Monday, while the bridge from the Iyana Iworo, was unusually free, none of the policemen that normally stood at strategic points on the bridge in the last few weeks was not there.

Avengers attack more oil facilities in Warri •Lay down your arms, ACF tells them From Ebenezer Adurokiya and Muhammad Sabiu FOUR days after attacks on five oil and gas facilities in Warri, members of the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) , on Monday, blew up more oil facilities at separate locations in Warri, Delta State.

This was just as the group stated that it had no pecuniary interest in the proposed wobbling dialogue of the Federal Government, saying to achieve a lasting peace, a referendum must be conducted to decide the fate of Nigeria.

“We don’t need money from anybody for dialogue.

The only way peace will reign in Nigeria is by referendum to determine the fate of Nigeria,’’ the group tweeted.

Spokesperson, Brigadier General Mudoch Agbinibo, confirmed the attacks on the website of the mili-

tant group on Tuesday, before tweeting on their new Twitter handle, @Real_ Ndavengers.

Agbinibo said: “At 10.00p.m, Niger Delta Avengers blew up Chevron Well 10 close to Otunana flow-station.

“Other attacks were carried out at At 11:15p.m.

Niger Delta Avengers blew up NPDC Manifold close to Banta and two PPMC/ NNPC crude oil trunk Lines.”

Earlier before tweets, sources had relayed to the Nigerian Tribune that among the attacked facilities were two manifolds, operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), at Batan and Makarava communities in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of the state.

Nigerian Tribune also gathered that the group attacked and destroyed two

other crude oil trunklines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the area.

The group also separately attacked an oil well operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) close to Makarava village in Gbaramatu Kingdom, late Monday.

The Chevron’s oil well was identified as Well 10.

The coordinated incidents took place, as gathered, at about 10:35p.m and 11:20 late Monday.

Military and local sources confirmed the destruction.

No official of the companies could be reached as of the time of filing the report.

Meanwhile, condemnations have continued to trail the weekend bombings of five oil and gas installations by the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) after a lull.

A non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), in a statement signed by its coordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, stated that the continued bombings of oil and gas facilities was an ill-wind that would do no good, but adversely affect the environment and slow down the country’s economy.

CEPEJ reiterated its appeal to the Avengers to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance to engender development in the region.

Also, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Niger Delta Avengers(NDA) and other militants groups engaged in the destruction of oil and gas pipelines and other economic facilities to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue.

This was contained in a

statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna, on Tuesday, and signed by the national publicity secretary of the forum, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim.

The statement warned that destroying oil pipelines and polluting the environment were not a solution to whatever perceived grievances the militants might have against the government or oil companies.

“Development and prosperity can only take place in an atmosphere of peace and understanding and not violence and destruction,’’ it noted.

While wishing the Muslim community a peaceful Eid -el -Fitr celebration, it urged them to continue to devote themselves to prayers for unity and peaceful co-existence in view of the security, social and economic challenges facing the country.

Wednesday, 6 July, 2016 10 south-westnews Ogun LG 2 killed, many injured as cult groups clash in Ondo Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

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T least two persons lost their lives while several others sustained various degrees of injuries in Ondo, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday evening, during a street

carnival in the town.

According to an eyewitness, the conflicts between two rival groups suspected to be cultists led to the fracas which claimed the lives of the two.

He said the two groups had earlier engaged in free for all in the evening, where some members of the cult groups were

injured, adding that the group renewed the feud between them during the carnival.

He said a member of the cult group was killed and the rival group mobilised in a reprisal to avenge the death of their member, shooting sporadically and thereby, killed a young lady.

He said members of the cult groups wielded weapons including cutlasses, daggers, guns, bottles and knives during the fracas.

He said “they shot sporadically into the air and two people were hit by bullets and died on the spot. Many of the youth hurriedly left the carnival ground while heavy shoot-

Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (second right), presenting a card of appreciation to the Ambassador of Japan, Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke (second left), at the handing-over of the completed classroom for selected public primary schools in Oyo State, at St Luke’s Demonstration School, Molete, Ibadan South East Local Government, on Monday. With them are the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the representative of Minister of Education, Mrs Opeyemi Ariba. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

Japan hands over 231 classrooms to Oyo

By Wale Akinselure

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has handed over 231 newly completed classrooms spread across 30 public primary schools in Oyo State.

Also handed over at Monday’s ceremony, held at St Luke’s Demonstration School, Molete, Ibadan, were two staff rooms, 218 toilet booths, 231 chalkboards, 3,900 pupils’ desks and benches, 209 teachers’ tables and chairs, costing about N2 billion.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador of Japan, Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke,

said the project, was aimed at reducing the number of pupils in classrooms and improving educational facilities in Oyo State.

That, Kusaoke said was in line with JICA’s project priority areas like the provision of infrastructure, social development, empowerment of people, creation of jobs and diversification of the economy.

Kusaoke acknowledged the enthusiasm and support of the Oyo State government for the agency in ensuring the successful completion of the project, in just over a year.

Representative, Chief

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Nigeria Office, Mr Hirotaka Nakamura, added that the agency’s support for Oyo State also transcended investments in education to rural water supply and training programmes.

Performing the ceremonial cutting of the tape, Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, said the project completion epitomised the state government’s principle of public-private partnership in education.

Saluting JICA for the choice of the state for the project, Ajimobi noted that

Seyi Makinde pledges to boost human capital development A chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, at the weekend, pledged to assist in boosting human capital development in the state through Man O’ War Nigeria.

Seyi Makinde said this as the special guest of honour during the patron and patroness’ forum and official reception/award of certificates to course SS748; AL444 and SH983 participants, at Army Barracks Primary School, Iwo Road, Ibadan, under the chairmanship of Major General

Bashir Jinadu (retd), on Saturday.

While commending the participants of the training programme and the Man O’ War Nigeria leadership in Oyo State, he urged the participants to take the knowledge and skills acquired to all the nooks and crannies of the state while also commending them for their support during the 2015 general election.

Earlier, the state commander of the organisation, Mr Adeoye Ayoade, said that the training was based on “Modern day community policing and

intelligence gathering,” adding that the officials of the state command have been better informed and positioned to combat crime, maintain law and order, impart the ethics of citizenship and leadership in view of the current economic situation in the country.

He commended Seyi Makinde for his critical role of human capital development in Man O’ War Nigeria, adding that about 1,050 Man O’ War officials have been sponsored on training programme since his investiture as the chief war marshal in 2012.

the development met the need to address deterioration in school infrastructure and poor standard of education in the state.

He reiterated that government alone could not handle the vast needs of the education sector of the state, calling for the involvement of well-meaning individuals and organisations.

Ajimobi said the state government was undaunted in repositioning education in the state regardless opposition.

Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu represented by deputy director, basic education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Opeyemi Ariba, noted that JICA’s commitment to improving educational infrastructure was in line with Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing teaching and learning.

He harped on the need for the benefitting pupils to make good of the facilities provided, and also be good ambassadors of the country.

A Japanese based indigene of Oyo State, who facilitated the siting of the project in his home state, Mr Bobby Ologun, harped on the need for maintenance culture so that the Japanese investment would not be in vain.

ing continued between the two rival groups.”

The source identified one of the victims as Ayodeji Afusat, who was shot and found in her pool of blood, saying the young girl died before help could reach her.

It was gathered that it took the intervention of the men of the state police command in Ondo, to restore peace in the area while some security agents were positioned in the area, apparently to guide against breakdown of law and order.

Speaking on the development, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Enuowa police station, Mr Kunle Omisakin, disclosed that two people had been arrested in connection with the matter while his men were combing the town for other members of the cult groups.

He stated that the case had been transferred to the state police headquarters in Akure and said investigation had commenced to unravel those behind the killings.

Unpaid salaries: Oyo TUC declares one-day warning strike The Trade Union Congress (TUC), Oyo State Council, would observe a one -day warning strike from Monday, July 11, to press home its demands.

This was contained in a statement signed by the TUC Secretary, Oyo State Council, Mr John Alli, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday, in Lagos.

The union, in a statement, decried the nonpayment of salaries of civil servants in the state and all outstanding arrears of federal civil servants.

According to the statement, the TUC has given Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, a 15-day ultimatum to pay the six months salary arrears due to the state civil servants or resign from office.

The statement called on philanthropists, clerics and well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to save the soul of Oyo civil servants through the distribution of foods and other relief materials.

The statement said that it was worrisome that about 26 other state governments owed salary arrears of close to five months; subjecting their workers to poverty and penury.

boosts maize exportation to conform to int’l standards

Worried by the challenges militating against exportation of agricultural products in Nigeria, the Abeokuta North Local Government area of Ogun State has taken steps towards ensuring that maize produced from the state meet up with the standards required for exportation.

Towards this end, the Transitional Committee in the council area has provided free “afflasave” maize specie to over 300 farmers in the area for cultivation in this planting season.

Chairman of the Transition Committee, Honourable Ibikunle Bayowa, who disclosed this while rendering the monthly progress reports of his council, also stated that the council has trained the farmers on the planting methods that would make their maize produce meet up with the international requirements for planting maize.

Bayowa, who explained that the free distribution of the maize specie was to assist farmers in meeting up with the WHO’s international standards, which allows for exportation of only toxin-free maize, also stated that the benefiting farmers were tutored towards applying afflasave specie on their maize plantation before they are matured for harvest.

Yorubas in America demand better performance, accountability from Buhari NIGERIANS living in the United States and Canada were called upon during a weekend national conference in Dallas to help reform Nigeria’s political system, eliminate corruption, and rebuild the country’s education and healthcare systems.

The two-day national conference of Egbe Omo Yoruba, which represents more than 400,000 native Nigerians or people of Nigerian descent living in the United States and Canada, featured several erudite Yoruba scholars, including renowned Nigerian economist Dr. Benjamin Ola Akande, President of Westminster College, in Fulton, Missouri; Dr Toyin Falola, Professor of African Studies and History at the University of Texas Austin, among many others.

The conference was designed to bolster national efforts to attract American investment in Nigeria, accelerate economic growth and prosperity for the Yoruba people, and unite and promote the cultural and professional spirit of the Yoruba community in North America.

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Kogi uncovers 9,000 ghost workers

•As gov says ‘state is sick’ Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

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HE Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday, said the state is critically sick and cancerous, noting that it uncovered over 9,000 ghost workers on its payroll.

The governor, who spoke at a stakeholders meeting where the committee set up for the screening of government workers, presented its preliminary report, said efforts would be made to heal the state.

Bello stated that his administration would ensure that no civil servant is unjustly removed from the payrolls, saying “workers reserve the right to return to banks of their choice when everything normalises.”

Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Mr Henry Agbaji, said over 9,000 ghost workers failed to appear before the committee for verification.

According to him, apart from pensioners, a total of 9,720 persons across the state, did not show up for the screening exercise, noting that this had reduced the workforce even before the commencement of the screening.

He explained that over 81,000 staff and pensioners in the state and the 21 local government areas, were screened by the committee following the resolve of the state government to clean up the system, in order to have a clean payroll.

The committee chairman said 25,208 forms were issued across the 21 local government areas of the state

but noted that only 22,272 persons presented themselves for the screening.

He added that 2,936 assumed workers failed to appear, saying “they were considered as immediate ghost workers in the state.

Agbaji said the committee

discovered that some persons were screened but their names were omitted from the successful screening list, saying it was the reason the governor set up a back up committee to address the issues.

He also said 25,662 screening forms were issued to pri-

AS the brickbat between the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong and his predecessor, Senator Jonah Jang lingers, Jang has threatened to institute a legal action against Governor Lalong for linking him with the protests over grazing reserve in the state.

The former governor in a statement issued by his media aide, Comrade Clinton Garuba, challenged the Lalong administration to publish any document where he endorsed the creation of grazing reserve in Plateau State throughout the eight-year tenure of his government.

He warned that if the government published any document that was fake it would leave him with no option than to institute a legal action against the government.

“If the APC government accuses Jang of being behind the protest that stopped its

Bank Verification Number (BVN), while some had no statement of bank accounts.

He added that some workers were in the employ of another state, but drew salaries either in the state or at the local government council of Kogi State.

Past District Governor, Rotary Club, Oluyole, Mr Gbadebo Falayi (left), exchanging pleasantries with the newly installed president of the club, Mr Oladele Awoyomi, during the installation ceremony at the Rotary House, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday. With them is the past District Governor, Babs Conde, at the event.

NIMASA not recruiting, beware of fraudsters —Peterside

THE Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said the agency is not recruiting, and so advised members of the public not to be deceived by fraudsters.

This was contained in a statement by the Head, Corporate Communication of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, on Saturday in Lagos, a copy of which was made available

to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside, said NIMASA was not recruiting at the moment, adding that members of the public should not be deceived that the agency had engaged a recruitment firm to employ on its behalf.

“We urge members of the public to disregard the activities of unscrupulous elements who are bent in

Grazing Reserve: Jang threatens to sue Lalong over link with protest Isaac Shobayo - Jos

mary school teachers but only 22,608 submitted themselves for the exercise, meaning the 3,054 teachers who did not show up were ghost workers.

The chairman of the committee lamented that some workers had issues bordering on forged certificates, lack of

Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

plan to implement a grazing reserve policy in the state, then it is an indictment on itself for failing to unite and galvanise the people toward working for the growth and development of the state. “ If the stand of Jang has awakened the people to rejecting the mortgaging of their state, then the Barr.

Lalong is right to have said Jang is responsible.

“It must, however, be stated in unequivocal terms that Senator Jang does not support and will not support acquisition of land for herdsmen under any guise or by whatever nomenclature it is known,” he said.

He, therefore, urged the governor and the people around him to go ahead with their pursuit for personal gain but warned that they should also remember that the clock is ticking and have limited time to either deliver on the dividends of democracy or be shown the way out

in 2019.

“As for Senator Jang and all lovers of Plateau, we have only one heritage, a truly united and indivisible state where we would live in the serenity provided for us by God and nature,” he said.

defrauding them of their hard-earned resources under the guise of engaging on a recruitment exercise for NIMASA,” Peterside said.

He also described as fraudulent an online platform purporting that the agency had floated a scholarship programme tagged “NIMASA Scholarship 2016/2017”.

Peterside said the advertisement was the handiwork of some “unscrupulous” elements with an intention to rip off unsuspecting members of the public.

The director-general advised people not to patronise fraudsters.

He said “As a public institution committed to the rule of law and best practices, NIMASA has standard procedures for communicating its activities and will not request money from would-be candidates as the fraudsters

are doing.’’

“For the avoidance of doubt, the agency will always communicate its programmes and projects through well-known channels of the media, its website and the social media,’’ the director-general said.

Peterside, who regretted the negative impact of the activities of the fraudsters, warned that the NIMASA in collaboration with security agencies had launched an investigation into the matter, adding that those behind the fraud must face the full wrath of the law.

NAN reported that the agency urged the public to contact it for clarification of issues on twitter at @ nimasaofficial, facebook at facebook.com/nimasaofficial and email at public. relations@nimasa.gov.ng or nimasapress@yahoo.com.

stakeholders in the state.

According to him, it is important for those at the helm of affairs, particularly governors, to ensure continuous empowerment scheme for the youth, in order to make them productive and to reduce the crime rate.

The bill, among other things, seeks to manage and disburse funds for youth empowerment by upgrading and promoting the skills and expertise of youths, poverty alleviation, as well as employment generation It also includes provision of financial assistance by grants, loans or otherwise; ensuring

disbursement to the relevant agencies and/or programmes saddled with the responsibility for skills acquisition and development, poverty alleviation, as well as employment generation for youths.

Governor Ajimobi while responding, promised to act on the bill, by sending it to the state Assembly for further action.

He also lauded Honourable Prince Adekunle for his foresight, and encouraged other youth leaders to emulate him.

“With Youth leaders like him, Oyo State has a bright future in the realm of leadership,” he added.

Parliament member makes case for Nigerian youths’ empowerment

MEMBER representing Oyo Central Constituency at the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Honourable Prince Adetayo Adekunle (MNYP), has called on governments at all levels to initiate and implement solid empowerment scheme and programmes that will enhance youth development and job creation in the country.

Adekunle stated this while presenting the Oyo State youth empowerment and development trust fund bill to the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at the Ramadan iftar organised by the Governor for youths/student

OBJ, Tinubu, Ooni, Alaafin, others for Lere Paimo’s book launch

EMINENT personalities from all walks of life, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, national leader of the All Progressives Party (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, the Alaafin of Oyo and South West governors, are among the dignitaries expected to grace the official presentation of a veteran actor and theatre practitioner, Chief Lere Paimo’s biography Other traditional rulers from the South, prominent theatre and movie practitioners, academicians, captains of industry, among others, are also expected to grace the ocassion Chief Lere Paimo’s biography titled: “Lere Paimo: A Quintessential Thespian” will be officially presented to members of the public, at Apex Event Centre, Agodi, Gate, lbadan, at 12 noon, on Friday, July 8.

Ugwuanyi prays for Nigeria over economic challenges GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has offered special prayers for God’s intervention over the present economic and social challenges the country is passing through, asking for the wisdom, power and courage to continue to discharge his responsibilities effectively.

Governor Ugwuanyi spoke while receiving the Founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Worldwide, Pastor William F. Kumuyi and his entourage, who were at the Government House, Enugu, on a courtesy visit to inform him of the ministry’s Leadership Conference holding in the state.

The governor stated that the conference was an opportunity to re-present to God, the challenges facing the country under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and Enugu State under his humble leadership.

While urging members of the Ministry to continue to remember Enugu State and the nation in prayers, Ugwuanyi, who reaffirmed his belief in the miracle of five loaves and two fishes, expressed optimism that “miracles will begin to happen at the end of your stay here.”

The governor emphasised that God is the source of the position he holds, adding that with the prayers of the ministry and that of the people of the state, his administration would surely succeed.

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

Heritage Bank declares N1.5bn profit for 2015 •Shareholders certify bank healthy From Sanya Adejokun and Chima Nwokoji

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FTER its acquisition of former Enterprise Bank Plc in October 2014, Heritage Bank Plc has announced a profit before tax of N1.5 billion for the first full operating year ended 2015.

This was contained in the audited financial statement announced by the bank for 2015.

The financial statement showed that the bank recorded Gross Earnings of N24 billion, Net Interest Income of N12.2 billion and Profit after Tax of N1.1 billion.

During the year, Heritage Bank attracted N312 billion as deposit from customers in 2015 indicating confidence in the bank. On the other hand, the bank supported businesses and individuals with N175 billion as Loans and Advances. Consequently, the bank achieved a Total Asset of N473.4 billion for the 2015 operating year.

Commenting on the result, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo said: “This result is a testimony to the increased acceptability of Heritage Bank’s innovative products and services by the banking publics. It is also a reward for the diligent commitment of the staff and management of the bank to our mission to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations.

“In the 2016 operating year, our desire to reciprocate the patronage of our customers and goodwill from stakeholders has prompted us to introduce new and bespoke services driven by cutting edge technology, designed to empower businesses and individuals with opportunities to achieve economic prosperity.

“The positive response to these efforts gives us assurance of improved financial performance in 2016 leading to enhanced returns to our investors.”

It will be recalled that the bank was recently selected by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as its pilot partner to unveil, administer and manage the N3 billion Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP). The Programme is aimed at creating sustainable wealth and employment in the country with focus on dependable job creating sectors such as Agricultural Value Chain (fish farming, poultry, snail farming), Cottage Industry, Mining and Solid Minerals, Creative Industry (Tourism, Arts and Crafts), and Infor-

mation and Communications Technology (ICT).

Meanwhile, recent takeover of management of Skye Bank and speculations that others may soon follow, key shareholders of the bank have certified it very healthy and one of the fastest growing banks in the country, condemning deliberate attempts by certain individuals to deliberately de-market it.

At a briefing with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the shareholders described claims by an online media platform that the bank is owed jointly former Chairman of Skye Bank, Dr Tunde Ayeni and President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki as false.

“It is a lie that can only emanate from persons who do not wish the economy of Nigeria well”, said a leading shareholder of the bank, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim Misau, who spoke on behalf of the shareholders.

“We are thoroughly miffed by the attempt by certain persons or

groups, who do not mean well for the economy of our great country and indeed the economic agenda of our dear President, to negatively target Heritage Bank, a bank that the Central Bank of Nigeria and several local and international rating agencies have ranked among the healthiest banks in Nigeria, as a struggling bank.

“This is most mischievous and totally out of order. It is a glaring case of de-marketing and we have since drawn the attention of the CBN to this very dangerous trend,” a leading shareholder of the bank, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim Misau said at the briefing in Abuja.

“For your information, Tunde Ayeni has less than one per cent share in Heritage Bank and Bukola Saraki has no shares or any form of ownership stakes in Heritage Bank. “It is not a secret that the owners and key shareholders in Heritage Bank bought off the defunct Societe Generale Bank (SGBN),

which was owned by the Saraki Family.

“Saraki Family was outrightly bought out. The family, including Dr. Bukola Saraki does not have a dime in Heritage Bank.

We have in just a few years built this bank to a colossus that has become the envy of the sector and we are not going to sit by and allow ill-intentioned persons to de-market Heritage bank. No, it will not happen,” he insisted.

Decrying insinuations that CBN may be planning to sack the management and board of the bank, the shareholders said “it is so far from the truth.

But you are all Journalists and have access to the CBN; please go and get the correct facts, figures and data from the CBN. I cannot imagine how normal persons can conceive and concoct such evil.

“The fact that Tunde Ayeni is a very marginal shareholder in the bank does not at all mean that what happened at Skye Bank would

necessarily happen at Heritage Bank. The two banks are not in any way related, the two banks do not have similar ownership structure or management model.

Tunde Ayeni obviously has marginal shares in other healthy banks in Nigeria.

“Does that now mean that the CBN would sack the management and board of these banks as well? What is the basis of the claim by this online news medium that Heritage Bank is being targeted by CBN?” queried Alhaji Ibrahim.

The CBN sources said that like most banks in Nigeria, Heritage Bank is learning to cope with the sudden decision of the Federal Government to domicile all public sector funds with the CBN under the Treasury Single Account (TSA) regime.

“Other than this sudden movement of all public sector funds to the CBN, Heritage Bank remains one of the healthiest and well managed banks in Nigeria,” the source said.

Nigerian Tribune

Trisat unveils online platform to drive schools management

By Bode Adewumi

TRISAT Communications Limited, a software development company, has launched an online platform, Nortify.com.ng, to provide digital tools to simplify school management through a comprehensive school management solution.

The platform offers a complete suite of online based school management system, which comprises of smart payment system, smart testing system (CBT for Admission & Internal Exam), smart messaging system, students’ and data management systems as well as a digital tool to analyse students’ performances.

The platform which targets primary and secondary school owners, already boasts more than 10,000 student users in over 50 schools across Nigeria, driving efficiency in their management through Nortify’s several digital tools.

Nortify features smart admission system that facilitates admission process, making it easy, seamless and convenient as parents can register and enrol their kids from the comfort of their homes.

Lobbying for NAC DG position intensifies at presidency Tola Adenubi-Lagos

From left: Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi; facilitator and renowned Nigerian award winning writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nicholaas Vervelde and the company’s Corporate Affair Adviser, Kufre Ekanem, during the NB Plc 2016 Literacy Evening held at Oriental Hotel, in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Skye Bank’s new GMD explains CBN’s action, assures customers of safety of funds THE new Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, has affirmed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) statement that Skye remains healthy and strong.

Abiru who spoke after taking over from his predecessor, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, said, in a statement, that the bank’s fundamentals remained strong and virile, assuring customers and other stakeholders of the safety of their funds and investments.

The new Skye Bank boss said his team would leverage on the bank’s repu-

table information technology platform to make it not just a frontline retail and commercial bank, but an industry leader.

Abiru who outlined his vision for the bank, said his team would harness the expertise and skill sets of the bank’s employees and the reconstituted board to take the bank to new and higher heights.

He noted that being a Systematically Important Bank (SIB), Skye Bank occupies a sensitive role in the financial life of Nigerians and West Africa.

The CBN had on Monday

approved the reconstitution of the board of Skye Bank Plc., with the apex bank appointing Mr M.K. Ahmad and Mr. Tokunbo Abiru as the new Chairman and Managing Director of the bank respectively.

Other members of the reconstituted board are Bayo Sanni, Idris Yakubu, Markie Idowu and Abimbola Izu, all of whom were serving in the Executive Director capacity of the bank prior to now.

The reconstitution of the board followed the voluntary resignation of the former Chairman, Dr. Tunde Ayeni and other

Non - Executive Directors of the Bank, namely, Mr. Victor Odozi, Mr. Babajide Agbabiaka, Dr. Jason Fadeyi, Mr. Kunle Aluko, Mr. Victor Adenigbagbe, Mr. Abdul Bello and Hajiya Amunna Lawan Ali. In the same vein, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo resigned his position as Group Managing Director / CEO, alongside Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, Mr. Dotun Adeniyi and Mrs. Ibiye Ekong who resigned their positions as DMD, and Executive Directors.

All the resignations take immediate effect.

NOT less than six contenders are jostling for the position of Director General of National Automotive Council (NAC), as the tenure of the incumbent; Engineer Aminu Jalal expires early next year (2017).

According to findings, 4 of the contenders for the juicy post are from the North, one from the East and another from the South West.

An impeccable source inside the NAC told our Correspondent that a “new DG may emerge before December or early next year.”

According to him, “The process is on. I’m not in a position to elaborate.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed. The picture will be clearer in the next few weeks or months. Those interested in the position are using their contacts in the Presidency”.

He however stated that if the process is fair and transparent, a Director in the agency is likely to succeed Jalal.

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editorial

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Happy Eid-ul-Fitr!

ODAY, across the globe, Muslim faithful celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, in diverse circumstances and situations but with deep gratitude to Almighty Allah for a glorious season. They are fully conscious that it is a day of thanksgiving following the worship and supplications in the month of Ramadan, a most blessed month that hosts night of power (Layla-tul-Qadr). For the past 30 days, avoiding all fleshly pleasures and looking steadfastly towards Allah and seeking the good of all humanity, Muslim faithful have observed one of the five pillars of Islam, devoting themselves to prayer, fasting and charity, even while carrying out essential daily duties.

Of course, today, there are family gatherings and feasting, but the emphasis remains the giving of alms (zakat). In Nigeria in particular, this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr is indeed a remarkable one coming in a period of serious socioeconomic challenges, over which abiding faith in the Almighty still must triumph. The last 30 days have been a period of self-denial within a general climate of readymade denial and want occasioned by collapsing social infrastructure, reduced spending power, and anguish.

The ongoing celebrations are therefore fully deserved and significant.

For the past 30 days and despite the adverse national circumstances, Nigeria’s Islamic faithful have embraced charity driven by the belief that everything belongs to Allah and therefore nothing should be hoarded, and have reached out to the needy and the downtrodden, building for themselves and for all humanity a better society and a glorious hereafter. Yet, and here is the heart of the matter, the lessons of sacrificial giving, brotherliness and solidarity with neighbours need not end with the season.

They are necessary to the blessedness of everyday living and must be embraced as regular features of life. That is why Eid-ul-Fitr is, and ought to be for every Muslim, more than a symbolism.

Having abstained from fleshly pleasures for a whole month, many easily fall prey to a horrible tendency to surpass the pleasures they pursued prior to the fasting period, proving themselves to be excluded from the congregation of the faithful who aspire, always, to abide by the commandments of God. Islam, after all, is submission to Allah’s will. Indeed, of what value is fasting devoid of sober

reflections post-Ramadan? Surely, this is one question that ought to engage the attention of all right-thinking Muslim faithful in Nigeria, and ought to form the basis for greater introspection and delicacy in running the business of everyday living. Anyone who is a cheerful giver during Ramadan ought also to be a cheerful giver afterwards, and being protective and kind to one’s neighbours certainly ought to be a year-long preoccupation, if society must advance beyond the present rancour, acrimony and violence that seem to characterise human existence.

We urge Nigeria’s Muslim faithful, as they have done in the past 30 days, to continue to offer prayers to Allah to guide the nation’s leadership at all levels, because the leadership question remains evidently poignant and abundantly pertinent. They must also offer advice and let their voices be heard whenever the political leadership appears to be tilting the nation towards the precipice.

While Boko Haram, one of the world’s deadliest terrorist organisations, appears to be succumbing to the superior firepower of the nation’s Armed Forces, there are mutant groups such as the nomadic herdsmen that threaten to surpass the bestiality for which the latter has justly acquired opprobrium from all right-thinking citizens.

Worse still, the nation’s economic condition, already worsened by the woes of the naira in the international market following the persistent global oil crisis, appears headed for the rocks courtesy of the attacks on oil installations by a new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers. And neither has corruption birthed by loopholes in national institutions such as the civil service and even the justice administration system been significantly tamed, even though the current administration has set itself the goal of waging a decisive war on graft. The socio-economic and socio-political circumstances that birth terrorism, corruption and other vices must therefore continue to be meaningfully engaged so that a better Nigeria can emerge in the foreseeable future. Muslim faithful, as indeed people of all faiths, also owe the nation a duty to lead aright whenever they find themselves in positions of authority, and to demonstrate the virtues of nobility, kindness and moral uprightness that true religion requires of all faithful.

Meanwhile, let the celebrations go on. We wish our Muslim faithful happy Eid-ul-Fitr!

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

LETTERS TO THE

editor

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PDP imbroglio: Need for new leadership

I

want to use this opportunity to reach out to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff over the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I want to say that if Senator Sheriff truly loves

the party, then he will accept all the peace moves being taken by the elders of the party to revive it.

As it is now, the former Borno State governor is just laying claim to the leadership of the party

against the opinions of the vast majority of members.

Already, some people are of the view that Sheriff is being used by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilise the PDP.

How to make Nigeria work CUBAN revolutionary leader, Che Guevara, once stated that “a large proportion of the so-called developing nations are in total stagnation, and in some of them, the rate of economic growth is lower than that of population increase.”

However, catering for the welfare of citizens is the purpose of governance.

This agrees with the thoughts of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who once said that man, the initiator, is also the beneficiary of his benevolent actions.

Governance, ab initio, must be about catering to the physical, social, and spiritual welfare of the individual Nigerian, regardless of ethnic, social, educational, and religious backgrounds.

The individual must be the focus of the current plan from the poverty that raggae musician, Majek Fashek, says is Nigeria’s main problem.

Now, the Niger Delta Avengers, who want a referendum that will give those who want to leave the Nigerian state the opportunity, miss it.

The militant group should both be talking about the good of Nigerian citizens.

Unfortunately, the failure of the Nigerian state to guarantee opportunities for optimal exploitation of its material and social resources has compelled many to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

The resultant brain and brawn drains have led many to adopt citizenship of other nations. The name of Onitsha-born sprinter, Francis Obikwelu, who became a citizen of Portugal in 2001 readily comes to mind.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau suggests that “Each of us places in common his person and all his power

under the supreme direction of the general will.”

The aggregate will of the people, transformed into sovereignty, is transferred to the state, the supreme, final, absolute, coercive power, by whose leave governments exercise power.

When the purpose of governance is agreed and settled in the interest of the individual, and the people have a common understanding of the purpose of government, then one can determine the political and economic route – democratic, republican, communist, socialist, freemarket, or mixed economy, or whatever else – to

be travelled to run the polity.

When this is also settled, the ability of the state to rationally allocate scarce economic resources is further enhanced. In other words, the economic fortune of all citizens is in the politics that binds all. The Yoruba put it in a more roundabout manner by saying that the aliment of Aboyade afflicts all worshipers of “oya” deity.

The Nigerian state must define in clear and certain terms the national interest and the road that will be travelled to actualise it.

•Lekan Sote, Lagos.

To me, and the way it should be, leadership should have the support of the majority of people, but the situation we find ourselves in the PDP today is just so unfortunate.

I know that other candidates who are also laying claim to the chairmanship are flexible, that is, they can sacrifice themselves for the unity of the party, the body language of Senator Sheriff suggests otherwise.

I want Senator Sheriff to know that the party is bigger than any single individual, and it is not by force to serve. If the majority of the people say they want another leader, then there is no reason using force to stay in power.

Although the PDP lost the Federal Government in the last general election, it can return to power in 2019 if the party is united.

I am, therefore, using this opportunity to urge Senator Sheriff, and others who are laying claim to the leadership of the party, to step aside so that a neutral

candidate can take over.

What the PDP needs at this period in time is unity, and not internal fighting.

Already, the majority of its leaders have been destabilised as a result of the anti-corruption war being embarked upon by this current government.

While I am not saying that it is wrong to be prosecuting those who have stolen from this country, it is unfair that the culprits are only members of the PDP when others who have also stolen but are in the ruling party are enjoying their largesse.

With this, Senator Sheriff should step aside for the party to move forward.

I hope a candidate from the South West can emerge to unite the party; this is also the best time for the South West to run the affairs of the party because the region had never held the post for once.

I am now appealing to Senator Sheriff and Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, to allow peace to reign in the PDP. •Tuope Henry, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Still on the OAU crisis PERMIT me to express my view on the ongoing logjam at the Obafemi Awolowo University, where I am a 300-level student of Law. I have carefully studied the crisis at the institution and I have come to two conclusions.

One, the entire disagreement between NASU and SSANU, and the school

management under the leadership of Prof. Ayobami Salami, is a storm in a teacup. That is, it is a molehill from which a mountain is needlessly being made out of. Any matter that cannot be solved through dialogue and decent engagement is not worthy of the attention of civilised people. NASU and SSANU displeasure is much more about unpaid allowances, and not the dislike for the new Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Salami. If the unions will not sit at a table to iron out issues with the management, then they should go back to work and stop wasting students’ and lecturers’ time!

Two, the intervention of the Federal Government by dissolving the University Governing Council is defective and shows an inadequate crisis management capacity of the government. For the peace of the school, the dissolution cannot stand. The members of ASUU and other well-meaning stakeholders must rise up to prevent the FG from getting away with this infraction and breach of laws. If they do not, in the nearest future, the FG will find another reason to sack a Governing Council and install anybody as Vice-Chancellor, contrary to the provision of the University Autonomy Law 2003 (as amended). Impunity must not be allowed to win.

•Kadiri Jamiu, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

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opinion

Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

Police welfare and national security

By Ikeogu Oke

A

T no time is having an efficient Nigerian Police more critical than under a government which, like that of President Muhammadu Buhari, has chosen security as one of its top priorities. At no time may seeking ways of making the force more efficient be more pertinent than after the appointment of a new Acting Inspector General of Police, such as Ibrahim Idris, who awaits confirmation as the number one police officer in the country. For such a new helmsman would likely be open to new ideas for improving the performance of the force.

And though the Buhari government may have prioritised security in response to the terrorist threat posed

by Boko Haram, it is clear that keeping a nation secure involves far more than dispensing with such threats. Terrorism is only one of the causes of insecurity known to man. At a more fundamental level, ensuring security entails fighting crime – including such that may be perpetrated by terrorist groups, like murder and kidnapping – which directly violates the security of its victims.

Also, fighting crime – related as it is to maintaining law and order, which the police are basically charged with – is a multi-faceted activity. It can take the pre-emptive form of crime prevention. It can take the form of combating violent criminals while actively engaged in armed robbery, for instance. It can take the form of investigating crime and prosecuting the culprits. Each of these situations may involve a security threat to individuals and groups in society, but more so the activities of violent criminals of all sorts. It cannot be gainsaid that the Nigerian police can play a critical role in all such situations in relation to the country. There is also a general consensus that they need to be far better equipped and motivated than they currently are in order to play that role effectively.

A very important component of motivating them better is improving the welfare of police personnel so as to eliminate or reduce the temptation of those unethical practices, such as extorting money from commuters at checkpoints, which compound their inefficiency and give them a bad image.

A friend once told me a story that illustrates this. He said two policemen were posted to guard a fenced yard belonging to the company where he worked. The yard served as a storage facility for sundry scrap items and spare parts. Not long after the guards assumed duty it was noticed that some of the items in the yard were missing. A report of the missing items was lodged with

the company’s head of security who conferred with the head of human resources on the best way to deal with the issue. They resolved that the head of human resources should handle it, a rather unconventional decision since it was essentially a security issue. Afterwards the head of human resources invited the two guards to her office.

But rather than interrogate them about the missing items as anyone would have expected, she asked them how much they were paid as salary. Following their reply, she asked them how much they were paid as allowance by the company. She asked them to leave after they responded to the second question. At the next management meeting, she recommended a monthly allowance for both guards, which doubled what they had been receiving as salary from the police and allowance from the company, but was still a fraction of what their counterparts were paid monthly as staff of the company. Her recommendation was approved. A few days after the guards received the new allowance, all the missing items resurfaced in the yard. Afterwards, no further case of missing items was reported while they kept guard at the facility.

What the head of human resources did through her creative and humane intervention was link improving the guards’ welfare to improving the security of the items under their protection, as we must link the welfare of men and officers of the Nigerian police to improving national security.

Even before I heard the story, I disagreed with the notion that the Nigerian police are inherently or irremediably corrupt. But the story helped to justify that disagreement.

Rather, I believe that a country gets the type of police force it cultivates. A country cannot have the most poorly

paid and inadequately motivated police personnel in the world and expect them to perform as satisfactorily as their counterparts in other countries who are well catered for by their governments.

To underpay and underequip the police while charging them with maintaining law and order is to show contempt for law and order. It is to identify indirectly with the enterprise of crime because such frustrating conditions would necessarily impair their capacity to fight crime which they can only do effectively under working conditions that inspire efficiency and patriotism.

My recent observations while cooperating with the police in investigating a criminal case as the complainant show that their condition of service leaves much to be desired and needs to be improved exponentially.

And while not making an excuse for corruption, I would insist that most of the corruption attributed to Nigerian police personnel is a reaction to financial insecurity and would not exist under a regime of adequate welfare. So we ought to view the moral inadequacies of our police personnel with humanity, as something forced on some of them by desperate circumstances.

Incidentally, the slogan of the Nigerian police – namely, “Police is your friend” – seems to have a bearing to their bad reputation, especially the type that arises from the collusion of some of their personnel with criminals, like the case of George Iyamu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Lawrence Anini, the notorious armed robber, which shocked the nation in the 1980s. It means “Police is your friend” even if you’re a lawbreaker. It should be modified to change this negative impression and discourage those in the force who may see it as a justification for accepting to be collusively befriended by criminals. The police should not be your friend regardless of who you are or what you do.

In all, it is apparent that the Nigerian police are confined to trying to achieve so much with so little. Their situation can be compared to being given a cutlass to cut down an iroko tree by a country that can afford a chainsaw. This situation requires that we empathise with them rather than judge them harshly for their failings. It also imposes on us the moral responsibility to campaign for the improvement of their condition of service in our collective interest. A happier police force makes a safer nation.

•Oke, a public affairs commentator, lives in Abuja.

Ibadan: Tackling the Micra challenge

By Adedeji Adewusi

IBADAN is a geographical boundary located at the heart of Oyo State, which is also referred to as the Pacesetter State. It is the third largest metropolitan area by population in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of over three million. Unfortunately, the city suffers from a syndrome I will refer to as Micranosomiasis. Ibadan is a city where the challenges caused partly, or wholly by Micra cabs, which are used for commercial transportation, are unquantifiable.

This syndrome comprises of issues such as the non-challant attitude of the drivers, the question of comfortability of the cabs, delayed ticketing, road congestion, and kidnapping.

First, is the attitude of Micra cab drivers, who definitely need psychological examinations; their attitude towards driving is out-of-this world, as they drive with reckless abandon.

These drivers do go scot-free when they do not fulfill the necessary requirements of being drivers, and if caught, they know how to bribe their way out in such cases, and on some occasions, they just flee. They even have ways of calling the attention of their members when law enforcement agencies are operating on various routes.

Fleeing is an expensive option chosen by these drivers, as third parties suffer the consequences. I witnessed a scenario whereby an official of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) stopped a Micra cab along Iwo Road Expressway to examine its papers. Since the driver knew it would be such an expensive stop since he didn’t have the required papers, he opted to flee; unfortunately, a com-

mercial motorcyclist was obscuring his escape route, but he decided to knock him down so he could have his way. The motorcyclist died on the spot, while the VIO officials immediately left the scene. This is just one of the several accidents Micra cab drivers have caused in the city.

Also, considering the size of these cabs, they are less comfortable. A commentator, in her article, rightly described them as matchboxes. In the ‘three-at-the-back’ and ‘two-in-front’ cabs, passengers are like fishes in sandwiches.

Ibadan is also full of several cab ticketing agents.

Most times, drivers have to pay for different tickets at different bus-stops all through the day, and when cab drivers sight these agents, who work for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), they try all the tricks available to them not to pay, and the agents, as a result, also delay them. The meaning of this is that passengers can stay for several minutes at

the same spot while the drivers and ticketing agents ‘slug’ it out.

Of utmost concern, Micra cabs are the major cause of congestion in Ibadan. As a matter of fact, places such as Challenge, Dugbe, Mokola, Sango, UI, Ojoo, Molete, Iwo Road, among others, are known to be the major areas that link several roads. Regrettably, the congestions being experienced by these road networks are majorly caused by Micra cabs. The reason is that Micra cabs stop at each bus stop illegally, in search of passengers. Since they pay for tickets at almost all bus-stops, most drivers make sure that they wait to have full load of passengers, not minding the obstruction they cause.

Now, the most alarming is that several kidnapping/ritual dens have been discovered in the city, and there have been stories by survivors who claimed they were hypnotised while aboard Micra cabs.

Having said all these, it is not in doubt that Micra cabs constitute a nuisance to the city of Ibadan, but since it is being used for transportation, all effort must be made by the government and the NURTW to curb the activities of the drivers.

The police also have a lot to do in this area, particularly in arresting cab drivers who drive recklessly on the road, or park indiscriminately. There is also the need for proper sensitisation of the drivers by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), as these drivers just squeeze their cabs in the smallest available spaces whenever there are traffic hold-ups, and this, most times, result in crashes with other vehicles.

•Adewusi, a socio-political researcher, lives in Ibadan.

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

tribune cartoons

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

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA

Tony O. Elumelu MFR, CON

Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu was born in Jos, Nigeria, in 1963. He is an Igbo man, a native of Anioma in Delta State, Nigeria.

•

He is an economist, a visionary entrepreneur and a philanthropist.

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He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School of Advanced Management.

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Following his retirement from United Bank for Africa in July 2010, Elumelu founded The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

His stated objective was to “prove that the African private sector can itself be the primary generator of economic development.”

•

In 2011, New African magazine listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in Africa and a year later, he was recognised as one of “Africa’s 20 Most Powerful People in 2012” by Forbes Magazine.

SEGELUULU

CHURCH BOY

FUNOLOGY

•

THERE ARE 10 DIFFERENCES IN THE CARTOONS BELOW. THE DIFFERENCES SHOULD BE MARKED IN B

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

A

B

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

inside

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216

nigerdelta Monarch to promote ICT, agriculture in Bayelsa

The vandalised well head: Inset: Naval officials heading to Usele village.

Austin Ebipade -Yenagoa WORRIED by the disappearance of ICT, Agriculture and Entrepreneurial skills, the paramount ruler of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV, the Ibenanaowei, has said pragmatic strategies would be formulated to empower committees to educate the youths, women and children on the importance of ICT, agricultural revolution and entrepreneurial skills to overcome the present economic challenges in the country.

Ekpetiama Kingdom in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State comprises seven communities on the bank of the River Nun which include: Gbarantoru, Tombia, Agudama, Bomoundi, Akaibiri, Bomoundi Gbene and Ikibiri.

Dakolo, who spoke shortly after his grand coronation as the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama, said he would uphold the tradition of the stool and be fair to all in a bid to maintain law and order, as well as work assiduously towards the accelerated growth and development of his people and the state.

The monarch, who was an activist, prior to his emergence as the paramount ruler of the Ekpetiama Kingdom, had contributed immensely to socio-political and economic advancement of the kingdom by influencing rural electrification of some communities in his domain, providing employment opportunities for over 100 youths, constructing internal roads, giving scholarships and paying senior secondary school students’ fees within the seven communities in Ekpetiama Kingdom.

Dakolo assured that as the number one citizen of Ekpetiama Kingdom, he would sustain his philanthropic gesture in the kingdom, even as he noted that talent hunting and harvesting had begun to expose innate talents of the youths to the world.

He reiterated that the broken walls of the kingdom would be rebuilt to encourage tranquility that would usher in rapid growth and prosperity of the Ekpetiama people.

Villagers flee as Navy uncovers vandalised well head in Warri Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

T

HE activities of communities located around oil installations and facilities in oil-rich Delta State took a new dimension last weekend when operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA) uncovered a vandalised well head through which crude oil was being siphoned into a large underground pit built and barricaded with sticks and tarpaulin.

The vandals, including children, old men, youths and women, simply took to their heels into the woods on sighting armed operatives of the Navy.

The community, Usele village in Beneth Island of Warri South Local Government Area, is host to the vandalised well head and an illegal refinery camp where the villagers “cook” crude oil not minding the health hazards.

InsideNigerDelta gathered that the

Delta community orders Fulani herdsmen to vacate domain Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri FULANI herdsmen have been ordered to vacate Olomu community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The vacation subsists for two weeks starting from June 26 to July 9 after which the herdsmen are to return for renegotiation with the traditional council of the community before continuing with their grazing.

The order was given at the palace of Ovie R. L. Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I, the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom in conjunction with the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen led by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Fulani Cattle Owners, Delta State chapter, Alhaji Jibrin.

The Fulani herdsmen have been accused, in recent times, of criminal activities such as destruction of farm crops, rape

of women from the community as well as intimidation of farm owners from performing their duties in their farms.

Traditional ruler of Olomu, Ovie OgbonOgoni Oghoro I JP, was flanked by the Otota of the kingdom, Chief M.O.P. Ovbagbedia, Chief J.A. Ewenede JP, Secretary Olomu Traditional Council, President Generals of the various Olomu Communities, Etotas, Iwhuvwhies and Women Council at the meeting.

They urged the Fulani herdsmen to vacate the kingdom for failing to properly negotiate with the Olomu Traditional Council before embarking on their grazing businesses in the kingdom.

The Fulani herdsmen were, therefore, handed two weeks to vacate the land after which they could return for a renegotiation with leaders of the kingdom if they so wished.

major preoccupation of the indigenes could be said to be crude oil theft. They have also fashioned out a simple scientific way to locally refine it for sale.

The discovery, amid the hunt for members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), reinforces the hypothesis that communities, which are hosts to oil facilities in the region, should largely be held responsible for environment pollution and degradation.

The caveat reeled out by the state government and security agencies that leaders of such communities whose domains have been turned into haven for economic sabotage of such nature would be reprimanded has never seen the light of the day.

The Usele vandals, in attempting to conserve the crude oil gushing from the well head into the underground pit waterproofed with tarpaulin, had left the environment terribly polluted and its ecosystem destroyed, making it pretty difficult to get potable water from the area not to talk of engaging in farming.

But operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA), Warri Naval Base, Warri, Delta State, who got a tip-off on the illegal activity, would not allow it as operatives of the base swooped on the area on Saturday.

The naval operatives, led by Commander Shehu Tasir, who is the Base Operations Officer (BOO), said the vandalized well head was connected to a large hose through which crude oil was being siphoned into the large reservoir for onward refining.

In line with the rules of operations handed from the office of the Chief of Naval Staff, the reservoir of crude oil of over 2, 000MTs was set ablaze by the naval operatives after it was cordoned off to avoid a backlash on the villagers who had all taken to their heels into the woods.

Commander Tasir, who expressed great shock over the site of illegal refinery and the ingenuity of the perpetrators, concluded that there existed a nexus between pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft as demonstrated in the incident.

He said the navy was not asleep, but would continue with the battle against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism as well as other criminal activities in their area of responsibilities at all costs.

The naval boss warned that his patrol men would continue to hunt down vandals of all shades who had continued to perpetrate illegalities and criminalities in the creeks.

“Today (Saturday) our patrol team was informed of illegal refinery site somewhere around Usele village close to Bennett Island and we moved in and what we saw was astonishing!

“It was an underground storage tank loaded with crude oil with the size of six standard rooms and there was a pipe connected direct through a well head and it was pumping continuously into the pit.

“The quantity of crude oil in the pit at the time our men got there was about 2,000MTs and a pipe was connected from the storage point which was hidden,” he noted.

Commander Tasir admonished people of the area to shun illegal activities, saying the Federal Government’s initiative for peace in the Niger Delta region was not a reason for vandals to continue to vandalise pipelines or engage in crude oil theft.

CREW

Dapo Falade -Rivers 08078891924 lasep09@gmail.com Ebenezer Adurokiya -Delta 08060113609 ebenezeradurokiya@gmail.com Banji Aluko - Edo 08067030572 adebanjialuko@yahoo.com Austin Ebipade - Bayelsa 08065400743 austinebipade@gmail.com Alphonsus Agborh 08035838703 Ajayi Joseph 08107754190 syntacticjoe@yahoo.com

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From left, a civil servant from the Lagos State Government House, Ikeja, Alhaja Afusat Adeshina; Brand Ambassador of Peak Milk, Prisca Nkwo and another civil servant, Alhaja Nimota Akinpelu, during Peak Milk’s Ramadan direct sales promo, at Alausa Central Mosque, Ikeja, Lagos, recently.

Edo guber poll: Modu Sheriff vows to send Idurioyekemwen’s name to INEC Ahmed Gulak, said a total of his faction of PDP. F rom L eon U sigbe and J acob S egun O latunji A buja

D

ESPITE the confirmation of his ouster by the court, the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has vowed to submit the name of Matthew Idurioyekemwen to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the governorship candidate of the party in Edo State.

Sheriff had organised a parallel congress which produced Idurioyekemwen as the standard bearer of the party after the primaries conducted by the national caretaker committee of the party in which Idurioyekemwen was defeated by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Sheriff, who spoke on Tuesday, when he presented certificate of return to Idurioyekemwen in Abuja, said he will be relying on the last week’s judgement

by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered the electoral body to accept nomination for the September 10 election from

He said: “It is clear that from the Abuja High Court that INEC is obliged to accept the candidate we are to present.

“You know ideally, most of our officials have travelled for Sallah. We need to do this because, the first working day we are going to submit our candidate’s form to INEC. “I have to stay behind to do some of the things so as to ensure that the forms are submitted after Sallah break,” he said.

Also speaking, the secretary of the committee that conducted Sheriff’s factional Edo primaries, Alhaji

677 delegates were accredited for the primaries, while 502 delegates voted.

According to him, out of this, Idurioyekemwen got 481 votes, while his challenger stepped down for him.

Idurioyekemwen has now chosen former PDP national woman leader, Mrs Herberta Okonofua-Ayo, as his running mate.

The factional governorship candidate denied that he was being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Edo State government, promising to embark on grassroots campaign to restore PDP to power in the state.

From right, chairman, Bible Society, Oke-Aanu Auxiliary, Evangelist Salako Emmanuel; Primate Prophetess E. M. Gbadegun, presenting a certificate to Special Apostle Raphael Ajiboye; Deaconess Beatrice Ajiboye; Prophetess Bose Balogun and Deaconess Akinremi Caroline, during the Founder’s Day anniversary of the Anointed Int’l C & S Gospel Church, Oke-Igbala Irapada Okan, Oke Itunu, Ibadan, recently. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

From left, Pastor-in-charge, Oyo I, Pastor Moses Amure; Pastor-in-charge, Oyo 10, Pastor Abiodun Oyeyemi; outgoing Oyo I Pastor, Pastor Dele Balogun; his wife, Temitope; Pastor (Mrs) Funmilayo Amure and Pastor (Mrs) Esther Oyeyemi, during the send off ceremony for Pastor Dele Balogun, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mount Zion Cathedral, Bolumole, Ring Road, Ibadan, recently. PHOTO: ALOLADE

Oyo Peace Corps holds anniversary Oyo State command of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has marked its Pre18th and 1st anniversary of the State Executive Council (SEC), of the organisation at its corporate headquarters, opposite Machine and Mercantile, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, on Monday.

The state commandant of the organisation, Patriot Adesina Oludare Adigun, thanked God for assisting the peace corps.

Adigun said that the core

mandate of the corps was not to compete with the existing security agencies but to take preventive measures in reducing crimes among youths.

The event also featured presentation of cash and gift items to outstanding officers.

Sigma Pension, First Guarantee Pension, Future Unity Glanvills Pensions Limited, United Bank for Africa as well as Stanbic IBTC Bank, presented goodwill messages on the occasion.

Oyo State Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Patriot Adesina Oludare Adigun (seventh right), with members of the state executive and awardees, during PCN’s pre-18th and first anniversary of the State Executive Council (SEC), held at the command’s headquarters, opposite Machine and Mercantile, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, on Monday.

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Wednesday, 6 July, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

Brexit: My worries for Nigeria —Akinyemi Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman, 2014 National Conference, speaks on the exit of Great Britain from the European Union (EU) and its implication for both Britain and Nigeria, and the report of the 2014 confab, Nation, in this interview with BOLA BADMUS. Excerpts:

B

ritain just announced its exit from the EU and people are wondering why and how did it get to the point of taking such decision. How would you assess the situ-

ation?

Britain has always had a sort of insularity within it. Go back to the period even before Europe was called Europe.

I think because of the existence of the channel, the geography of Britain itself, is cut off from the continent. So, I say that geographic insularity has tended to breed cultural and political insularity. Britain does not really regard integration with Europe as a first choice policy option. If you like, relate that to the time of Henry the 8th. Henry the 8th was the one who broke up, if you like, the old Roman Empire because up till that point in time, even though Europe had their kings, queens, whatever at that time, but there was this kind of unified allegiance to the Pope as not only the head of the Church but also for his political influence. Henry the 8th broke that up where then the British Christianity was involved. A British Church evolved, breaking away from the universal church. Henry the 8th of England then became head of the church in opposition to the Pope, the head of the universal church; you could go that far back.

But still, I believe that even Britain joining the European Union was because, finally, she ran out of options. She was reluctant to be a member and even when she became a member, the role she played in Europe was not really a positive one. It was like ‘okay, since I cannot ignore Europe, I will join but with the intention to slow down the rate at which Europe was moving towards the evolution of the United States of Europe.’ So, one should not then be surprised that each time Europe faced a crisis—and any human venture would face crisis, even a marriage does—she always wants to quit the relationship. A marriage is forever and ever. However, the priest would tell you on your wedding day that this does not mean that there would not be problems but that your commitment is to always see those problems as opportunities to strengthen the bond of love between you and your wife.

Whereas with Britain, every crisis that the European Union faced, the option of ‘I want to get out, I don’t want to be part of this” was always there. You know this is not the first referendum that would be made. In fact, there was a previous one under the Labour Party. Of course, about 60 per cent at that time voted to remain. But this one now, even while Britain was a member, she refused to join the common currency which would have allowed the Euro to be used in Britain. She insisted on holding on to the Pound Sterling; she refused to sign and become a member of Zengen, which is where people can move around. Once you enter one European country, you don’t need a passport to move around all the other countries.

Britain refused to join.

Akinyemi So, really, the outcome of the referendum, don’t let me mislead you, it surprised me. I was expecting people to vote, ‘I will remain,’ because the benefits to Britain are enormous. But it came at this time of Xenophobia. A wave of Xenophobia is spreading throughout the whole world, fear of foreigners, fear of people from outside. It manifests itself even in the United States.

That actually was what was responsible for the success

A wave of xenophobia is spreading throughout the whole world, fear of foreigners, fear of people from outside. It manifests itself even in the United States.

of Donald Trump, the emergence of Trump as the Republican candidate. This xenophobia is a negative phenomenon, you fear foreigners, you hate foreigners, you fear people who don’t look like you, you want to shut your door against them and politicians would play on that, just as Trump has been playing upon it in the United States against Mexicans. But Mexicans to Trump means anybody brown coming from Latin America.

You hinted that Britain has a lot to lose with this exit, what are those things?

They are going to lose the certainty of the big market they had in Europe because being a member of EU, they could import and export without the need to pay duties, no economic obstacle. So, factories in Britain will not just have to look at 60 million people in Britain itself as their market, we have 500 million in Europe. With what Europeans are saying now, Britain leaving the EU, cannot Continues on pg 32

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‘FG, Avengers should avoid Aburi saga’

Akinyemi Continued from pg 31

expect automatic entry of its goods into Europe. It would have to negotiate before they can come in and that immediately debars them and provides for other European countries to set up factories and industries targeting these markets.

If you are a Chinese industrialist and you are thinking of, maybe where to locate your industry in Europe and you have a market of 60 million on the one hand and a market of 500 million on the other hand, of course, you would know where you would locate that factory because if you locate where there is 60 million, when those goods are going to come into European markets, you come across tariffs, import duties that you are going to pay. Whereas if you locate it in Europe, there is no question of tariffs, excise duties yes, like VAT which everybody pays. So, Britain would lose that.

Two, there is a transfer of European fund meant for industrialisation which all European members benefit from. Now, Britain is going to lose that. It cannot access this fund. Of course, the totality of what I am saying is that nobody, not even Chancellor of Exchequer in Britain, can today tell you, whether at the end of the day, the balance would be negative or positive.

There are too many imponderables. They never thought it out well.

The issue of whether to stay in the EU or not was too complex to ask the market woman to take a decision through a referendum, and Britain has market women, by the way.

Does it mean they never considered all these issues before voting at the referendum?

It was not a rational decision, it was more of a protest vote. One, it was a protest vote against fear of immigrants and a protest vote against unemployment. You know, an economy transforms from what people have called industrial stage to digitalised IT stage. Workers would lose jobs, as the factories would have to be reorganised and production line reorganised.

Production is becoming more and more mechanised, so workers could get laid off.

Therefore, the fear of losing jobs or anger

of having lost jobs was part of the vote.

Again, we must grant this. Yes, there is a measure of meddlesomeness from Brussels. Brussels has got itself into regulating things. It has no business regulating things that are better left to maybe local governments. You know, there is a lot of pettiness, like dictating how round an orange should be and what kind of colour a mango should have if you are producing mango and so on; too many regulations and those regulations could be very, very irritating.

Also, there are judgements of the European Court of Human Rights that I myself found extremely strange and which, definitely, the British courts differ from, given their cultural background, especially on cases involving terrorism. Europe has tended to be more liberal in its attitude than Britain, and I can understand the liberality of Europe. You know Europe has suffered from dictators, from the Second World War. They had Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and then you have modern dictators, modern in the sense that since the Second World War, they have had the Greek Generals, the military regime in Greece, ruling with very draconian laws.

You could see the judicial and legal system in Europe reacting to the horror of fascism and dictatorship and, therefore, it has tended to be more robust in protection of human rights than in Britain, where they have had one revolution, Cromwell Vs Charles, where he ended up beheading Charles. But basically, the judicial system in Britain has tended to be more protective of the Executive in giving a lot of leverage to the Executive in managing the affairs of Britain, whereas the European courts see the Executive as more of an institution that they should control in the protection of the right of the people. This rubbed Britain the wrong way. They are used to their Parliament taking decisions from the Queen. So, Europe also must take some of the blame. We are even in agreement with the British on this, that Brussels has taken on too much powers and had often rendered local institutions impotent.

Perhaps as an illustration to make it something that Nigerians can understand what I am talking about, we have been talking about restructuring in Nigeria— that Abuja is too powerful, Abuja has become involved in things it has no business getting involved in. Some of the issues that are determined in Abuja whether by our National Assembly or the Presidency are better left alone to the state and even some of them to the local governments. That was part of what we even talked about concerning devolution of powers.

Let’s talk about the British Prime Minister, David Cameron. What could you say led to his resignation, was it on account of frustration or what?

No, I mean, let’s put things in perspective. Whatever way one must feel about the British culture, it has this thing about individual responsibility. If you stand for something and people reject that, then honour dictates that you step aside and let somebody else pilots the ship of the state.

It is not pride, it is honour, not like us here where you get defeated and instead of leaving the field gracefully, you hold on to the chair.

I mean they voted a no-confidence vot-

ing in a speaker, oh no, he is not going anywhere. So, the old speaker and the new speaker start dragging themselves and their supporters start exchanging blows until finally somebody steps in. Whereas in Britain, it is not like that. I made your voice heard, you rejected my advice, fine, this is a fundamental issue. Once you have rejected my advice, you have rejected me, let me step aside and let somebody have a go at leading the government. It is something to be applauded, but in a more fundamental way, he took the responsibility and which he has shown because this was an unnecessary referendum.

The issue of whether to stay in the EU or not was too complex to ask the market woman to take a decision through a referendum, and Britain has market women, by the way. Whoever must have been in Britain would have seen the open market, the cart pushers, who load boxes and other kind of things; it was too complex and that is why we have representative government. Populism, one man one vote on an issue, was a Greek concept where all men can gather in a market place and for all in favour of an issue to raise up their hands.

That is by the way. But gradually, people came to the conclusion through the process of evolution that society was getting too complex, we need to entrust decision taking to a smaller group who would have more time for debate, and who, therefore, would be able to take informed decisions on an issue, on our behalf.

I still maintain my point that Cameron should have left this matter to the Parliament, if he thinks Britain needs to take a decision on whether it would continue its membership of EU, instead of allowing the populace to decide it. Because we are now seeing, in fact, that many didn’t know what they voted for. They knew they voted to get out, but what would they gain by getting out? People then talked in a fluid manner about ‘we’ve got our sovereignty back and we would get control of our government.’

To me, that is like saying, yes, I am against sin and then you ask me to define what sin is? ‘My definition could be different from yours. Another person may or may not quote the 10 Commandments or as I have a Catholic bishop who is a good friend of mine who says there are no 10 Commandments in the Bible and that there are over 600 commandments in the Bible. So yes, they got their sovereignty back, what does this mean in terms of the need for your factory to export to Europe? When you get your sovereignty back, you should know that you can’t lord things over on Europeans. You can’t lord things over them, you’ve got to negotiate with them. So, what you got back is negotiating from the outside, is that better than negotiating from the inside as a partner.

What is the implication for Nigeria?

The implication for Nigeria is enormous.

I am not going into the economic implication, I would leave that to an economist.

I am more concerned with the ongoing debate, its impact, the impact of Brexit on the ongoing debate about the Nigerian project.

Now, I want Nigerians to be very, very clear about this. The British or the Europeans didn’t start the Nigerian debate Continued on pg 33

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‘Why FG should implement 2014 confab report’ Continued from pg 32

about the Nigerian project. We started it although you could claim it was Britain that set up Nigeria and as it is, the British must have some vicarious responsibility. But it is a position that I have always brushed aside in the sense that, all over the world, forces are responsible for a state of affairs and not necessarily forces under your own control.

I mean the shape and structure of Europe, as we know it today is a function of the Second World War. It has not been like that for 1,000 years, it has only been like that for 50, or 60 years or whenever they finished the Second World War and people have been tinkering with that structure. Yes, Nigeria was set up in 1914 but since we became independent, we the Nigerians ourselves have been dialoguing with ourselves about what we called the Nigerian project, in the structure of Nigeria. At times, it has not been a dialogue, it has been a shouting match when, you know, each person is trying to shout down the others. And there is nothing wrong in it, it is natural in human relationship or human affairs for differences of view to arise about the nature of structure will want in place. So, to me, its a natural phenomenon.

So, what about the likely impact on Nigeria?

The first issue that I would like to address is the impact on Nigeria. One, for Britain, even having a referendum on structure issues, like should we remain in a European Union, you could see there are copycats everywhere. In fact, people are saying something of this nature should happen here, by saying let (President Muhammadu) Buhari have a referendum about who wants to remain in Nigeria. I don’t buy into that. Yes, people are probably taking an extremely position.

I can understand that position, probably in reaction to some of the remarks coming from other parts of the country, which they feel are either insulting them, or not showing a sensitivity towards their point of view. To me, you can disagree with a person without being disagreeable. Your choice of words can show that you disagreed without using crude words, demeaning words, as if you are brushing them aside or as if they don’t even exist all because you know, you are in control of temporary power. Your power is not static, power is not static at all.

And in this day and age, as I say there are copycats. If you have your money, weapons are available all over the world. From the modern age of industrialisation, if you have the money, you can buy a pile of weapons from the so-called black market. But now , there is such an influx of weapons into the world-all over the place, that the prices have even been cheap, you don’t need too much money to do that.

You will recall that two, three years ago, even in Nigeria, they were talking about an ex-militant leader buying a frigate with missiles. So that is the first impact that I am worrying about. The copycat issue. Number two is where you think a compromise is possible, people may now take a hardline position and make a compromise impossible and unworkable.

Maybe before, we are just talking of more

Akinyemi

I hope the dialogue between the government and Avengers would not break up and that government would not go into it, having at the back of their mind that they are buying time and therefore appear insincere.

powers, devolution of more powers from Abuja to the states, but now people are talking of Independence and if Scotland were to break from the United Kingdom as a consequence of this referendum, then in fact, it would energise the secessionist tendency not only in Nigeria but also in many parts of the developing world. I mean, that bothers me, that worries me more than anything else. Having said that, let me also say that our people have a say-

ing that somebody who is warned about an on-coming war, if he is wise, the war would not catch him (Aro to ba gbon, ki i duro dogun).

With what I have seen, the unforseeable and unpredictable consequences of a recalcitrant attitude on the part of the British Prime Minister, he probably had thought he would use threat of referendum to extract more concessions from Europe, he didn’t believe it would go this far.

Now he has seen how far he can go, and we haven’t seen the end of it.

Those who have to manage our problems in Nigeria should not say, ‘okay, they would leave this alone, it is not going to go anywhere and that in two years or three years, another administration would address these. ‘I am not going to waste my time addressing them.’ Then if you decide to ignore the problems, would the problems ignore you? And this is what kind of happen when you are reckless about something, or you are insensitive in addressing issues that you should address.

Let us survive as a nation, let us survive as a peaceful nation, let us survive as a cooperative nation, not in an antagonistic relationship with each other, then we can start to talk about prosperity.

The Niger Delta Avengers, who were resolved to ground the economy, are now asking the government

to dialogue with them, giving conditions, what is your take on this?

I am happier today than I was a year ago simply because I think we have got to a place where both are prepared to dialogue.

I don’t see dialoguing as a kind of weakness as long as we don’t misunderstand each other. Parameters must be clearly defined to avoid the Aburi syndrome. Aburi was where Nigerian leaders met and had an agreement, only for them to return to Nigeria and think differently, saying ‘that was not what we agreed to.’

Let’s be clear if we say we hold this to be self evident that all men are created equal.

One, when we say all men, we mean all men and women. Two, when we say all men, we mean all men, white and black, yellow and you know, all that kind of thing. But you said all men are equal, no, we didn’t mean white and black men and before you know it, America was at civil war and they had to confront the issue of slavery head on. That war was fought over the issue of what does it mean? All men are created equal.

I am happy both have said they need to dialogue, I am happy that, at least, the militants are making an effort at spelling out their demands. I am not saying I agreed with their demands but in negotiation, it is always good for both parties to spell out in concise and clear terms what they are aiming for, saying ‘we are for peace, we are for unity.’

Let them not go back to Abuja and continue business as usual and then the militants say ‘ah, but we agreed we are all for peace and unity but we didn’t mean business as usual.’ Are we going to take devolution? If there should be resource control, what does resource control mean? What does it mean? You cannot have 100 per cent of what is dug up from you backyard, whether it is petroleum or whether it is solid mineral. So what does resource control mean? What percentage are we talking about? Now, these are issues we sought to thrash out at the National Conference.

We succeeded in some areas, we pushed the rest back to the government. And there is nothing wrong pushing it back to government because it is far better and more productive to defer a decision on the matter than to allow the conference break up on item 601 and whereas you have reached agreement on 600 different items.

This is because if the conference broke up on item 601, all the agreements on those 600 others would go into comatose. item 601. That is what we did on the issue of revenue allocation.

So, I am not too despondent. I hope the dialogue between the government and Avengers would not break up and that government would not go into it, having at the back of their mind that they are buying time and therefore appear insincere. I hope the militants would not go into the dialogue with the mindset that we’ve got to defeat the government.

Government cannot be defeated, by the time you think so, the price you pay in terms of destruction, in terms of blood shed won’t be worth it. So let’s hope both sides will go into it with sincerity.

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President Buhari sharpens focus on Niger Delta

By Garba Shehu

O

UT of the blue, a group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA spouts. They kill soldiers and policemen.

They kidnap and kill oil company workers. Piracy on the high seas. They asked oil companies to stop operations and pack out of the Niger Delta region.

They blow up oil pipelines, power and other infrastructure.

They attack and kill prominent individuals, ransacking homes up and down the coastal areas, including lately, Lagos and Ogun states. All these for what?

It is still unclear what they want.

From the diverse, if vague and inchoate voices of the militants, some say they want to take control of the oil resources in the region. Sometimes when the rhetoric gets uglier, they call for the breakup of Nigeria as a country!

The scariest part of what is happening is that the media, in their appetite for sensational stories are egging them on to make a great display of seditious, anti-national sentiment.

In the last stages before her government’s defeat of the Irish Republican Army, IRA Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher likened publicity for the terrorist to oxygen needed for survival.

“We must deny terrorists the oxygen of publicity,” and the independent English press gave the Prime Minister a free pass.

In the midst of these unfolding events, President Muhammadu Buhari had maintained an uncharacteristic aloofness.

Many had thought for instance that he would tackle the new onslaught on the economy with the same hawkishness that characterised his tenure as military Head of State in the 80’s.

But he did not panic, either.

In fact, several of the political leaders of the Delta, themselves severely under pressure for their inability to keep up with salary payments have been in the forefront of the calls for the “strongest possible military action” against the terrorists. The country’s third richest state, Delta State gave notice a week ago that workers salaries can no longer be guaranteed. So far, the President has resisted the urge to pull the trigger. Yes, the army has mobilised to the region but military action has been stayed as the country absorbs the incredible shock that has come with the fall of oil revenues. Records of oil exports are at their lowest levels in 30 years.

The Punch newspaper, in an editorial on Friday July 1, warned the government about inherent “landmines” in any negotiations: “It is like dealing with a blackmailer: he keeps making all sorts of demands, reasonable and otherwise. Worse, there is a high probability that

other splinter militant groups will emerge based on the negotiations with the NDA. They will threaten the state expecting to be negotiated with. At the end of the day, the government would have numerous groups to contend with than it can handle.”

In my conversation on this issue with General Babagana Munguno, the National Security Adviser precisely two weeks back, he informed this reporter that he met 14 groups claiming leadership to the renewed onslaught on the nation’s economic jugular vein. Each of the groups had been brought to him by a serving governor or a former one; a serving minister or one that had left office with assurances that “this group is the one to talk to.”

The amazing discovery he made from his meetings is the lack of unity among them as each group that came attacked the one that came before it as inconsequential. Leaning on an editorial by the influential British newspaper, the Economist, the Punch recommended strong military action. Quoting the Economist, the newspaper said: “Buhari should not try to buy them off. Rather, he should arrest those those who have committed acts of violence or extortion.”

At a meeting with the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact group led by His Royal Majesty King Alfred Diete-Spiff at the State House, last Thursday, President Buhari spoke most extensively on his own approach to the crisis in the region.

He told Diete-Spiff, himself a former military governor of the old Rivers State that peace and stability in the the Delta region and the country is the priority of his government and there will be no compromise on this. To show respect for the visiting ruler, President Buhari recalled that he was “a bloody army Lieutenant” when the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass was a military governor.

He disclosed that his decision on what to do dealing with the problem of the region will be based on the reports he is expecting from the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu who is interfacing with all stakeholders; the Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta overseeing the amnesty programme and the new management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Buhari

Allaying fears that he would jettison the Niger Delta Peace Plan he inherited from the previous administration, President Buhari told his visitors that he had read the agreements and the gazette outlining the amnesty programme. He said he had asked his officials on assignment on the Niger Delta to look around and see how many of the signatories to the amnesty agreement are still around.

“Let them find out what has been achieved and what is left and then write a report. I have asked the Minister of State Petroleum to work with the oil companies. We need to get as much intelligence as is possible before we start talking. I sympathize with the investors who borrow money, half way through, their investment is blown away.

“I have encouraged law-enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you (Amanyanabo).

When I move in, I will have plenty of information so as to deal with the issue once and

But as he charts his course for a permanent peace in the Niger Delta, it is important however that militants don’t mistake his efforts as a sign of weakness.

for all. We will talk to as many groups as possible. We won’t give up. Whatever remains of the Yar’Adua agreement will be met.”

He then talked about the impact of the collapse of the oil prices, which averaged about 100 US Dollars from 1999 to 2015, saying that its fall to about 30 Dollars a barrel some weeks ago was shocking. “I would have been in coma if not for the fact that I was in Oil (sector as a past minister) for three years.” He then sent an important message at this meeting: “We intend to rebuild this country so that our children and grandchildren will have a good place. But a lot of damage has been done. Tell the people to be patient. When you get together, pacify the people. Let them be patient. We will utilise (their) resources with integrity.”

The President’s conciliatory note came a day after he hosted the National Council of Traditional Rulers to a Ramadan Iftar, at which event he asked the rulers to “beg the militants in the name of God to stop their sabotage of the economy.” He appreciated the efforts they and the oil companies were making and said he did not wish to undermine them. This equally signaled a highly conciliatory direction for the resolution of the crisis.

It is clear from the foregoing that the President is taking a bit of time but it is also because he is determined to find a lasting solution to the recurring crisis in

the Delta. It is important for the country that a lesson be learned from the many past meetings and agreements between government groups and the militants that have yielded only short-term political dividends. What is wrong with those agreements that they don’t last? How many of those agreements, joint statements, ceasefires and peace declarations do we have on record so far?

Why haven’t they given us peace?

The second issue the President is obviously weighing is the integrity of the country’s internal capacity for the resolution of crises. Over the years, this country has evolved ways of dealing with problems, real or imagined that threatened its existence from time to time. The amazing thing about it is that solutions emerge from within, that is without the involvement of external influences. This why we have come this far. In his desire to build a country in which every part is carried along, he is mindful of the fact that if any part of the body is paralysed, the whole body cannot be said to be alright. The President is mindful of the fact that the Delta region is an important part of the whole.

But as he charts his course for a permanent peace in the Niger Delta, it is important however that militants don’t mistake his efforts as a sign of weakness.

Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity).

35

news

Edo guber: PPA, PDC, NNPP get candidates

A

n ace broadcaster in Benin, Mr Thomsa Sado and two others, Mr Bishop Akhalamhe and Mr Frank Ukonga, have emerged the governorship candidates of their respective political parties in Edo. The political parties are the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), People Democratic Change (PDC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), respectively.

They all emerged candidates in the primaries conducted in the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin, on Tuesday.

Speaking after the primaries, Sado anchored his programme on a-seven-pointagenda for the state.

He said that the programme would ensure a positively and totally transformed state. “In line with the PPA manifesto, the programme cuts across health, education, agriculture, employment, industrialisation, infrastructure development, security and housing,� he said.

CONFIRMATION OF OF NAME NAME CONFIRMATION Abioye Adebayo Adebayo Emmanuel Emmanuel I,I, Abioye am the the same same person person as as Abioye Abioye am Adebayo. Henceforth, Henceforth, II wish wish to to be be Adebayo. known and and addressed addressed as as ABIOYE ABIOYE known ADEBAYO EMMANUEL. All ADEBAYO EMMANUEL. All documents bearing bearing these these names names documents remain valid. valid. General General public public take take remain note. note.

Wednesday,66July, July,2016 2016 Wednesday,

Nigerian Tribune

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37

Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Saudi Arabia: World leaders condemn

deadly Medina mosque attack

Monday’s blast struck before sunset prayers when people were breaking their fast inside the mosque. PHOTO:EPA

T

he Muslim world has united to condemn a deadly attack at one of Islam’s holiest sites - the Prophet’s Mosque in the Saudi city of Medina.

Setting aside differences, world leaders, politicians, groups and activists expressed their outrage on Tuesday, a day after a suicide bomber killed at least four guards within striking distance of the Prophet Muhammad’s tomb.

The blast followed two more attacks, in Jeddah and Qatif, also on Monday.

A spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry described the triple bombings as “despicable acts that did not respect the sanctity of place, time and innocent people”.

Here are some of the reactions from around the world following the suicide attacks.

Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, condemned the

bombing in Medina and called for Muslim unity.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned the attacks, while its army chief telephoned Saudi Defence Minister Prince Muhammad bin Salman to express

Nelson Mandela’s voice is heard as the woman in the polling booth decides which party to vote for. PHOTO: DA

The Mandela family has reacted angrily after the former South African leader’s voice was used in an election advert for the country’s main opposition.

In the ad, posted on You-

Doctors in India have replaced a 12-year-old boy’s damaged nose with a new one which was grown on his forehead.

Mandela, who is himself a member of parliament for the African National Congress (ANC), said the DA was seeking to “preserve white privilege” and demanded the ad be withdrawn.

The DA has defended using the voice of the former president, who was a longstanding ANC member, saying “this great man stood for a non-racial South Africa”.

“The DA is the only party able to take South Africa to the non-racial future it needs.

other NEWS

Tanzania bans shisha smoking over health concerns

Tanzania PM Kassim Majaliwa

Tanzania has banned the smoking of shishas or water pipes over concerns of links with drug or alcohol abuse.

The government said businesses in the country’s biggest city, Dar es Salaam, were expected to stop shisha sales within seven days.

Shisha smoking has become increasingly popular with young people in Tanzania.

But there has been growing concern that smoking the fruit-scented tobacco through a bowl and tube could be used to cover up alcohol or drug abuse.

The BBC’s Tulanana Bo-

Hilary Clinton

FBI Director James Comey said Tuesday that he would not recommend charges against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state but he added Clinton and her aides were “extremely careless” in handling classified information.

“Our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case,” Comey announced after a lengthy recap of the investigation the FBI con-

Indian doctors grow new nose on boy’s forehead

Mandela’s family angered by South African election ad Tube, a young woman is in a polling booth considering voting for the governing ANC. As Nelson Mandela’s voice is heard calling for justice, peace, work and bread, she then decides to vote for the Democratic Alliance (DA) instead.

Chief Mandla Mandela accused the DA of abusing his grandfather’s name.

“The DA is doing it to benefit a party which Mandela was not a member of,” he told the ANN7 news network.

In other comments, Mandla

his support.

“We stand shoulder-toshoulder with our Saudi brothers in fighting the menace of terrorism,” General Raheel said.

Melvut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, sent his condolences.

Cairo-based Al-Azhar, the highest authority in Sunni Islam, condemned the attacks and stressed “the sanctity of the houses of God, especially the Prophet’s Mosque”.

Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani, the foreign minister of Qatar, condemned the triple attacks and expressed Doha’s support to neighbouring Saudi Arabia following the explosions.

Saudi Arabia’s supreme council of clerics said the blasts “prove that those renegades ... have violated everything that is sacred.”

FBI director: Hillary Clinton ‘extremely careless’ but no charges recommended

hela in Dar es Salaam said there have been cases of some users replacing the water with alcohol or marijuana infused water.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa is reported to have said that shisha smoking was killing future generations.

Shisha smoking is common in many Arab countries and in Tanzania was traditionally an activity associated with Arab or Asian groups.

Arun Patel’s nose was badly damaged and disfigured when he suffered from pneumonia as a baby.

The infection damaged the cartilage of his nose, making it difficult for doctors to fix it.

A similar operation was carried out in China in 2013 where a man who had damaged his nose in a traffic accident was given a new one.

Arun’s parents took him to a doctor in their village in the central state of Madhya Pradesh when he suffered from pneumonia soon after his birth.

But the treatment made his condition worse and he lost his nose due to extensive tissue damage.

More than a decade later, a team of doctors in Indore city decided to conduct a rare four-phased plastic surgery to give Arun a new nose.

The operation took a year for completion. PHOTO: S NIAZ

Dr Ashwini Dash, who led the surgical team, told BBC Hindi’s S Niazi that he was “confident that the new nose would work properly like his other organs”.

He added that the entire operation took about a year to finish.

In the first phase, a silicon “tissue expander” was put on his forehead to make space to grow a new nose.

Then a special chemical was injected to make the tissues expand.

ducted.

Comey’s decision not to recommend charges likely removes the threat of prosecution in the middle of Clinton’s campaign for the presidency, but the political fallout will continue.

Comey delivered a stunning tongue-lashing of Clinton and her State Department colleagues. His stinging critique came just hours before Clinton is scheduled to campaign with President Barack Obama for the first time this election season.

“Although we did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or her colleagues intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information,” he said, “there is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information.”

Clinton’s presumptive Republican opponent Donald Trump blasted Comey’s decision an example of a rigged system.

“The system is rigged.

General (David) Petraeus got in trouble for far less.

Very very unfair! As usual, bad judgment,” Trump tweeted.

Comey made clear at the outset that he had not forewarned the Department of Justice or the administration what he was about to do.

“They do not know what I’m about to say,” he said at the opening of his remarks.

Comey said that the FBI “painstakingly” combed through every bit of Clinton’s multiple servers and mobile devices that they could from her four-year tenure as secretary of state.

Istanbul airport attack: 30 charged including foreigners The personal details of more than 150,000 members of dating website Muslim Match have been posted online.

More than 700,000 private messages between members have also been leaked.

A message on the site’s

Turkey’s President Erdogan (left of front row, no tie) joined in prayers for the victims at the airport. PHOTO: EPA

homepage said: “We have been made aware of an alleged security breach and we are reviewing our systems as we work to remedy the situation and tighten our security.”

The leaked details included sensitive information such as whether a member would consider polygamy, BBC said.

The breach was discovered by security researcher Troy Hunt who runs a cybersecurity alert website.

38

communitynews

Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

Sumoge community wants Navy to release arrested son, dead or alive •He is not with us —NNS DELTA

ebenezer adurokiya-warri

M

embers of Agonla Sumoge Community Fishing Ground in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have called on the authorities of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA) to release one Piroro Tomola Omope, who is allegedly in their custody in Warri.

Forty-seven-year-old Omope, a local fisherman, was allegedly arrested on June 17 along with two teenagers, Orimisan Igbaya and Meshack Ifiriyele, while on a fishing expedition at Escravos waters where members of the community had been carrying fishing activities for ages to earn their living.

Community News gathered that the two teenagers were later released on June 19, leaving behind Omope in the custody of the Navy in Warri with the promise to let him off the hook at a later date due to the absence of the commander of the base, Commodore Raimi Mohammed.

Members of the fishing community, including elder

brothers of Omope, Chief Eko Okolo and Mr Omope Adewale, who spoke with Community News, on Monday in Warri, however, said since the release of the two teenagers, the Navy, which promised to effect the release of Omope soon after,

has consistently denied that Omope is in their custody.

Chief Okolo, who spoke on behalf of the community, said the people were not sure whether something untoward had happened to Omope, whose aged mother, wife and four children had been

thrown into mourning since his arrest.

Okolo said the family members were worried because Omope had been incommunicado since his arrest on June 17, not knowing what had befallen him.

He said an officer from the

naval base, on Monday, eventually directed them to visit the Warri Area Command, that Omope had been probably handed over to the police.

But when they visited the Area Command in Warri, Okolo said they were allowed to identify inmates in the

The lawmaker representing Epe constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Abiodun Tobun (middle), when he distributed drugs to residents of Epe, recently. PHOTO: CHUKWUMA OKPARAOCHA

Nloku wants constitutional roles for traditional rulers by gbenga olumide

The Nloku of IrayeRemo, Oba Samuel Olatunji Kalejaiye Sugbodo Sugbada II, has called on the government to accord traditional rulers constitutional roles to enable them contribute meaningfully to the development of their respective communities and the nation at large.

Oba Kalejaiye made the call recently during his seventh coronation anniversary and 70th birthday at Iraye-Remo, Ogun State.

He said the 1999 Constitution had made them redundant in terms of contributing their quota as expected.

Reacting to the dispute over supremacy between the people of his commu-

nity and Ode-Remo, Oba Kalejaiye disclosed that there was no rift between him and the Alaye Ode of Ode-Remo, Oba Joseph Adesanya.

He described the relationship between himself and Oba Adesanya as cordial, adding that Nloku of IrayeRemo was one of the sons of Oduduwa, who first came to Remo land and settled where they are staying presently.

He recalled that on September 29, 1937, during Martindale Inquiry, Oba Adesanya made a declaration that Nloku was his maternal great grandfather.

Oba Kalejaiye, however, appealed to the people of the two communities to do away with acts capable of fanning the embers of dis-

cord and embrace peace.

He further expressed gratitude to the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo land, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, for attending the cer-

emony.

He also used the occasion to appeal to the local government chairman to address the needs of the people of the community, especially infrastructural

Ifira-Akoko decries lack of amenities hakeem gbadamosi-akure

The people and residents of Ifira in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State have bemoaned lack of infratructural facilities, especially roads in the town and sorrounding communities.

Speaking on behalf of Ifira-Akoko community, a community leader, Barrister Fola Amure, said the state of roads and infra-

structure in the agrarian community had hindered economic and social activities.

According to him, the deplorable state of the major road linking the community to other parts of the state has been affecting farming activities in the area, noting that the bad road hinders the movement of farm produce from the area to neighbouring towns.

Bariga youths urged to embrace empowerment training bola badmus-lagos

Youths in Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have been urged to embrace youth empowerment, leadership and entrepreneurship training.

Sole Administrator of the LCDA, Honourable Sanya Osinjo, who is also the Chairman, Conference 57, made the call at the council sec-

retariat in Bariga, when he received in audience, Mr. Seyi Bamigbade, the Programme Coordinator of National Image, saying it was one of the ways the youths could acquire skills that would guarantee them stable income.

The council boss disclosed that one of the major tasks assigned to them as sole administrators when they were inaugurated a few weeks ago

facilities.

Also speaking, the Bobasuwa of Remo land, Chief Oladele Omoda, said Irawe is an important town in Yoruba land, especially the Remo extraction, as a custodian of ancient Yoruba deities.

by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, was job creation and youth empowerment.

He said sole administrators in council areas were ready to support youths who make themselves available for empowerment and leadership training to start up in life.

Also speaking, the coordinator said the training and empowerment programme would come

up between July 18 and July 20 within the premises of Bariga LCDA. According to him, in line with Governor Ambode’s directive on zero tolerance for street trading and hawking, the training comes as a big opportunity for youths to acquire skills in agrobusiness to make them self-sufficient rather than risking their lives, hawking on highways.

Amure said subsequent governments have neglected the area and that they have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy since the advent of the present dispensation.

“This is the only major road linking this community and we have approached the council on many occasions on the need to either grade or rehabilitate it to facilitate transportation.

“The most painful aspect of the issue is that electricity has become a thing of the past here. There’s no water, no road, no power supply.

“We are appealing to the state government to come to our aid and get the major road and others rehabilitated to help farmers and aid development Also speaking, a farmer and resident of the community, Idowu Balogun, said the deplorable state of the road linking the community is compelling them to sell thier agricultural produce at giveaway prices.

cells but did not find Omope among them.

According to him, three of the inmates, who were in the same cell with Omope at the naval base, confirmed that Omope is still being held at the cell at the naval base as of the time they were handed over to the police.

Okolo said the family and community were now at a dilemma being unsure of what might have befallen him in the custody.

He called on the Chief of Naval Staff to prevail on the NNS Delta authorities to produce Omope dead or alive, adding that he is innocent of the accusation of pipeline vandalism.

Meanwhile, the naval authorities at NNS DELTA, have denied having custody of any fisherman suspect.

Although the outgoing commander, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, could not be reached on phone, the Base Information Officer, Lt. N.B. Lamu, said nobody bearing Omope was in the cell of the Navy.

“I’ve checked round the cell, there is no one bearing Piroro Tomola Omope. Nobody like that, maybe not in Warri Naval Base,” he insisted.

It will be recalled that a petition, signed by Taiwo Orisabinone of Taiwo Pius Orisabinone Chambers at Udu Road, Effurun-Warri had been sent to the Chief of Naval Staff as well as authorities of NNS DELTA, on the continued detention of Omope.

Rotary to establish polio rehabilitation centre in Nigeria anthony ubong-calabar

Governor of Rotary District 9140, Mr. Akabom Enobong , has said that the Rotary Foundation would build a polio rehabilitation centre in the country.

He made the pledge in his acceptance speech while being sworn in as the new governor, on Saturday, in Calabar.

Enobong said the promise was made out of the foundation’s commitment to eradicate polio in the country and the world at large.

According to him, the rehabilitation centre would be located in any part of the country willing to donate land free of charge to the foundation.

He said the donated land, would determine the capacity of the rehabilitation centre.

39 news

Wednesday, 6 July, 2016

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With Niyi Alebiosu adeniyi70@yahoo.com 08116954642

2016 Copa Coca-Cola: Asegun Comprehensive High

School emerges champion

•As Okocha makes unusual appearance

W

HILE Friday started like any other day, it proved to be unforgettable for Oyo state’s Asegun Comprehensive High School boys who won the 2016 edition of the intensely competitive Copa

Coca-Cola tournament after defeating rival team, National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu State, at the national final match played at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island.

Determined and focused all through the 60 minutes of play that ended in a goal

less draw, both teams put up a strong spirited fight for the trophy and the prize money of a million naira, but in the end, the Asegun boys were able to pull through with a 5-3 in a penalty shootout.

The match, which had

in attendance top officials from the Lagos State government, the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), and Senior Staff of Coca-Cola witnessed super engaging musical performance from rave of the moments and 2016 BET Best New Inter-

national Act Award winner, ‘Falz the bad guy’ as well as a surprise entry by Nigeria’s football legend, Austin ‘JayJay’ Okocha.

The former Super Eagles captain came disguised as an elderly janitor [GO1], tricking both players and the spectators into believing he was just a regular cleaner who was going about his job and simply wanted to join in the game.

Pulling a surprise with his quick moves and impeccable juggling and dribbling skills, Okocha had the young players in awe, before finally revealing himself.

Speaking of his appearance at the match, the football legend remarked that coming to the event, provided him an opportunity to give wings to the passion

and aspiration of the young players, by motivating them to reach for their dreams.

“Just like many football stars today, my football career began at the grassroots level. Today I am what I am because I had people who believed in me and gave me the opportunity to thrive.

Copa Coca-Cola is doing just that, inspiring the next generations of football players. And I am happy to be a part of a platform that is transforming grassroots football in Nigeria,” he said.

Basking in the excitement of the moment, 14-year-old Olanrewaju Fadipe, Captain of the winning team, enthused, “He is my alltime favourite, and I am still in shock that I just played with him. I will cherish the moment forever!”

Navy Sailing club celebrate Salah day in grand style

Olabisi Joseph, National Secretary, Nigerian School Sports Federation; Dr. Ademola Are, Director, Grassroots, Youth and Sports, representing the Minister for Sports; Adeola Adetunji, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria; and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, Vice-President 1, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF); presenting the 2016 Copa Coca-Cola U-15 winners, Asegun Comprehensive High School, Oyo State with a cheque of one million naira.

Ekofootball stars set for Youdan tourney

BARRING any unforseen circumstances, Eko Future Stars, the Lagos State Football Association, (LSFA) developmental team are set to be part of the 2016 Youdan trophy tournament holding this summer in Sheffied, United Kingdom.

The invitational tournament will also see the likes of Seattle Sounders FC, FC Basel, Glasgow Celtic FC, Queens Park Rangers Sheffield Wednesday and their city rivals, Sheffied United, alos taking part in the over hundred years old tournament.

At the draws held early May, Eko Future Stars will be playing in Group 3 in the under-16 category of the tourney along side, Glasgow Celtic of Scotland, Royal Antwerp of Belgium and Sheffied Wednesday of England.

Group A will see Derby County, Sheffied United, FC Basel and JHR Rotter-

dam. Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic, Seattle Sounders and the other Africa team in the tournament, Friendly Academy will compete in group 2.

While group 4, has Wolverhampton Wanderers, Queens Park Rangers, Rosenborg BK and Maiden City.

Dotun Coker, chairman, technical committee of the Lagos FA disclosed to CorporateSport that the team has commence preparations for the tourney with weekend trainings.

He stated that, the team will move to camp sometimes in July after schools long vacation, adding that the team’s involvement is to further develop the boys.

Football legend, Welsh internationa, John Hartson joined forces with former Manchester United player and now Oxford United manager Michael Appleton at the draw held at the National Football

Museum in Manchester on Thursday, May 19th, both expressed the believe that the tournament will unfold future world soccer stars.

At the draws which was streamed live around the

globe are some of the biggest clubs on the planet presenting teams for the international football tournament being scheduled for August 1-5 to be played in Sheffield, the birthplace of the game of football.

THIS year’s Naval Dockyard Boat race holds today at the Navy sailing club, Navy town, Ojo. The Naval Dockyard Boat Race was organised by the Navy Sailing Club in conjunction with Naval Dockyard Limited to mark this year’s Eid El Fitri celebrations.

According to a release by the Club’s Commodore, Tunde Giwa-Daramola, Rear Admiral A.L Akintola (Admiral Superintendent of Naval Dock yard) is expected to be the special guest of honour with many Captains of Industries, senior military officers, Sports administrators and

other water sports enthusiasts in attendance.

The annual race will terminate at the Navy Sailing Club Ojo. The Navy Sailing Club which is the hub of water sports aims to promote and advance the game in the country.

The first indigenous yachting Club in Nigeria, established in 1987, has grown over the years as the biggest Yachting Club in the country. It has also continued to produce up to 70% of athletes for the Nigeria Sailing, Canoe and Rowing Federation for international competitions.

From left, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode exchanging pleasantries with Fatai Abdullahi, Captain of Ikorodu United, with him is Deji Tinubu, Chairman Lagos State Sport Council at Agege Stadium recently.

SIDELINES

no 16,539

n150

Wednesday, 6 july, 2016

The new Lagos State law banning street trading is an initiative meant to save lives of hawkers and free the roads of traffic congestion. The government has even threatened to arrest and imprison those who run afoul of the law. But with hundreds of thousand engaged in street trading, will getting a facility large enough to keep likely offenders not constitute another problem for the state?

Rio Olympics: Siasia rues Iwobi, father’s failed promises NIGERIA U23 coach Samson Siasia has revealed he has been left disappointed after Alex Iwobi and his father failed to keep the promises they made to him over the Arsenal forward’s participation at the Rio Olympics.

Arsenal have stopped Iwobi from the Olympics after initially agreeing to release him late for the summer games.

“Alex Iwobi is not coming. I tried to call his father, but he wasn’t picking my calls. He used to call me frequently when he wanted his son to Bale

Ronaldo

Euro 2016 semi final:

No contention between Ronaldo and I —Bale

G

areth Bale has played down the significance of his duel with Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Wales’ Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal.

Their relationship has been the subject of intense media scrutiny, with both insisting there is no rift.

They meet in Lyon today, Wales’ first semi-final at a major tournament.

“It’s not about two players, it is about two nations in a semi-final, 11 men against 11 men,” said Wales’ Bale.

“Everybody knows that really.”

Bale became the world’s most expensive footballer when he joined Real from Tottenham for £85m

in 2013, surpassing the £80m the Spanish club paid Manchester United for Ronaldo in 2009.

The two players have formed a potent attacking three with French striker Karim Benzema, helping Real to win two Champions League titles in the past three seasons.

However, the relationship between Bale and Ronaldo has not always been harmonious.

The Portugal captain was pictured gesticulating angrily when Bale did not pass to him during a game in 2015, prompting speculation of discord between the pair.

Both have dismissed such talk, while former Real manager Carlo Ancelotti said in a recent BBC Wales documentary about Bale

that the two players are “really close”.

“Of course we get on very well at Madrid, we enjoy playing with each other,” said Bale.

“He’s a fantastic player, everybody knows what he can do. But we have always spoken about what we do, what we do ourselves as a team. We don’t worry about the opposition.”

Today’s match in Lyon will be Ronaldo’s third European Championship semi-final, and he was part of the Portugal side which lost the 2004 final to Greece.

NFF adopts FIFA TMS domestic transfer matching system FIFA TMS announced on Tuesday that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is the first member association (MA) in Africa to implement the FIFA TMS Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS).

The DTMS online platform, which includes league access, will allow the NFF and the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) to manage its international and domestic transfers via one system. It is modelled on the International Transfer Matching System (ITMS), which is provided to 211 MAs and 6,500 clubs around the world for the cross-border transfer of players.

The system will provide the NFF and its clubs throughout Nigeria the ability to manage national and international transfers on one platform, generate transfer activity reports and have greater monitoring levels to enhance transparency

Wimbledon 2016: Venus, Serena through

to semi-finals

Five-time champion Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time since 2009 with victory over Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova.

Eighth seed Williams - at 36 the oldest Grand Slam semi-finalist for 22 years - beat unseeded Shvedova 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

An all-Williams final remains possible after top seed Serena beat Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-4.

In Thursday’s semis, Serena will play Russia’s Elena Vesnina and Venus will take on Germany’s Angelique Kerber.

“We don’t really talk too much about it but we are playing doubles later, so we are just happy to be in the semi-

finals,” Serena told BBC Sport.

Asked about a potential final meeting, she added: “It will be great. Venus is such a tough opponent I want her to win so bad - not in the final if I am there, but if I’m not, I do.”

Kerber, the fourth seed, beat Romanian fifth seed Simona Halep 7-5 7-6 (7-2) in the opening match on Centre Court.

Unseeded Russian Vesnina thrashed Slovakian 19th seed Cibulkova 6-2 6-2 in the remaining quarter-final on court one.

‘I love playing the game’ Venus Williams showed she remains a real threat on the All England Club grass with an impressive win over world number 96 Shvedova.

Venus

play for the country, but now that we need his son for the Olympics football tournament, he is not picking my calls,” lamented Siasia.

“But there is no problem, Alex remains my boy, I love him like my own son, but I am just disappointed that he and his father couldn’t keep the promises they made to me.”

Incidentally, the 20-year-old Iwobi first trained with Siasia’s U23 before he changed his international allegiance from England to make his debut for the Super Eagles last year.

Serena

and governance. Additional MAs from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are expected to implement the DTMS later this year.

The NFF’s adhesion to the system was facilitated by the custodians of the NPFL, the League Management Company (LMC).

FIFA TMS developed the DTMS system in response to demand from MAs and clubs for a domestic transfer system based on ITMS.

I want to equal Ferguson’s record at Old Trafford —Mourinho

JOSE Mourinho has admitted he wants to match the records set

by Sir Alex Ferguson as the Portuguese was officially unveiled by Manchester United on Tuesday.

The 53-year-old has replaced Louis van Gaal in charge of the Red Devils as the club look to regain their spot as a perennial title challenger in the English Premier League, a status which has escaped them following the end of Ferguson’s 27-year reign in 2013.

The Scotsman won 13 league crowns, five FA Cups, four League Cups, two Champions League titles and a Club World Cup during his time in charge of United and, while Mourinho has a history of spending only short spells with clubs, he says his intention is to build a Ferguson-style legacy at Old Trafford.

“I can’t hide that I want to chase Sir Alex’s record,” the Portuguese told the assembled press. “This is not a dream job, it is a reality. But it is a job that everyone wants and not everyone has a chance to have.

But I have it.

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. 6/7/2016.