7th August 2016

NO 2,058

SUNDAY, 7 AUGUST, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

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Nigerian Tribune

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Lawmaker’s dad abducted on the way to pg44 wife’s burial •As gumen kidnap 2 Chinese in Nasarawa

PDP a dying party —OBJ

pg5

•Denies holding meeting with officials •No, it’s not dying; we remain strong—PDP

I’m now the

boys’ chick —Saeon Tanker explosion claims 1, injures many in Ogun pg42

Deadly flood disaster imminent, NEMA warns pg45

Abducted Lagos monarch regains freedom THIS IS KANO: Ravaged by flood, Nomansland Area of Kano State, on Saturday, after a downpour that began on Friday. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD SABIU

pg5

Death toll in army/villagers’ clash in Niger rises to 16 pg44

Dislodged militants sneaking into Christians communities under siege Lagos/Ogun pg4 •OPC alerts •We’ll wipe them out —Military pg42

•CAN president raises the alarm at RCCG convention •As cleric sends Saraki to Buhari pg44

•Ijaws caution FG on the use of force in Niger Delta

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7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

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7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

life&living What we do to survive Nigerians speak

Nigerians are really feeling the heat of the biting economic and social hardship that seems to be increasing on a daily basis. However, Nigerians, being resilient as always, are finding ways round the hardship and have continued to survive the pangs of the troubled economy. BIOLA AZEEZ, SAM NWANKWO, HAKEEM GBADAMOSI, TADE MAKINDE, JUDE OSSAI, YINKA OLADOYINBO and AYOADE ADERINTO spoke with a cross section of the citizenry on the various methods they have adopted to survive.

Kazeem Amubiikaun, Barber in Ibadan HE hard time is really affecting my business because I hardly make up to N300 each day again.

In the past, I took home between N800 and N1,200 daily, and not less than N2,000 on weekends and public holidays.

People are complaining and groaning. I fuel my generator once in three days now, against the usual two times each day and thrice on weekends. When I buy two litres of fuel at N290 instead of five litres each day, I only put it on to barb hair. I don’t put my generator on just to shave anybody again.

It is not worth it. Again, I now collect N20 each from people who want to charge their phones. I have more people who want to do that than cut their hair.

T

Pastor Archilles Edwards, Ibadan WELL, what is happening now does not

My children now hawk banana and pure water to help the family.

We have to survive.

Even my two children, university graduates help in my shop

surprise me. There have been worse times as reported in the Bible, but those who know God will be spared. I know that Nigerains are struggling to survive, I am not.

If you think that’s because I am a pastor, let me tell you that I don’t have a church and I don’t have a congregation. God has been faithful to me as He sends me helpers when I need it. The best way for Nigerians to escape the crunch is to pay their tithes and also pay offerings God will never be owed. If you pay God, He will not let you suffer. If things get worse, God has many ways of keeping His own. But Nigerians don’t prove God in their lives. That is why many are complaining. God is allowing this because He wants people to turn to Him and believe that He is more that a depressed economy. He can fix all things, including this country and even the entire world.

Buki Odesola, hairdresser, Ibadan MY regular customers hardly come around anymore. Those that I have their numbers always complain and the same complaint is that of no money. They don’t even come to do hair on credit because they are not sure of when they will be able to pay back. I am a mother with children too. Who will want to spend hard-earned cash on hair when school fees, rents must be paid and food must be bought? I have stopped driving my car to the shop, just as I have reduced the number of times I go to work each week. I only go to work on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. My apprentices are the ones who go to shop everyday for now. It makes no economic sense to spend over N1,500 daily to fuel car, generator, eat and you don’t make N500. Staying at home for four days in Continues pg 9

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news

7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Stop putting pilgrimage above economy, Afenifere group cautions FG THE Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), a Yoruba socio-political group, has cautioned the Federal Government against its policy of subsidising pilgrimage at the expense of the economy.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, the group said the policy “sends wrong signals about the touted autonomy of the Central Bank of Nigeria” and it is “tantamount to prioritising religion over the nation’s economic needs.”

According to ARG, religion is personal and should not be given priority when there are more fundamental issues to expend the country’s scarce foreign exchange on.

Last August, outrage greeted Federal Government’s approval that dollar be sold to intending pilgrimage at N160/$1 at a time the official rate was around N197. Again, the government has now ordered that dollar be sold to this year’s intending pilgrims at N197/$1, when the market rate is averaging N400/$1.

ARG contended that this “religious subsidy” policy is “needless, leaves room for sharp practices, and it is in bad taste, considering that the forex policy is deemed

to have been somewhat liberalised.

“For example, importers of pharmaceutical products and textbooks do not benefit from a government special rebate, considering the fact that these are more essential needs. Education has also been adversely affected by the forex crisis with more Nigerians affected than those going on pilgrimages,” the statement said.

“Already, thousands of Nigerians studying abroad are being recalled home because their sponsors could no longer afford the fees. Also, we know that overseas education is a private choice, but so also is religious pilgrimage. If either of the two deserves government intervention, it is education, unequivocally.

“This ‘religious subsidy’ policy sends a wrong message about the touted independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria, which does not portend well for the economy at a time the country is desperate about shoring up its foreign reserve.

“This policy is more damaging to a larger Nigerian population that depends on stable forex policy and strengthening of the naira. This is clearly a wrong priority and it must stop,” ARG said.

Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Lagos Section chairman, Ernest Mkpasi; Manager, Subsurface Engineering, ExxonMobil, Ugo Oguamanam; General Manager, Operations, Technical, Surface (OTSS), ExxonMobil, Cletus Egbuzie; Technical Assistant to Group Executive Director, Refinery and Technology Directorate, NNPC, George Kalu and SPE international president, Nathan Meehan, at the 2016 SPE - Nigeria annual international conference and exhibition (NAICE), held at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.

Militants threaten to burn mosques, kill Muslims in Niger Delta if...

•As NDA splits into two factions •We are united —Avengers DapoFalade -Port Harcourt, with Agency Report

T

HE South-South region may be thrown into another round of crisis as a new militant group, the Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC), has threatened to carry out reprisal attacks on mosques and Muslims in the Niger Delta should the Boko Haram insurgents kill Christians and burn down churches in the North as threatened.

The new leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abu Masab el Barnawi, had, last week, reportedly threatened to kill more Christians and burn more churches in the North.

NDRC spokesperson, W O Izon-Ebi, on Saturday, alleged that the plan by Boko Haram to kill Christians and burn churches in the North was part of a plot to Islamise the country, vowing that such would be resisted.

Zion-Ebi, according to an online report, SpyNigeria. com, said, “We want to alert Nigerians and the

Dislodged militants sneaking into Lagos/Ogun communities, OPC alerts We will wipe them out —Navy From Olalekan Olabulo and Chris Agbambu SOME of the dislodged militants in Isawo, Igbo Olomu and Arepo, Ibafo and Awawa creeks in Lagos and Ogun states are reportedly sneaking into the communities.

The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), on Saturday, said reports at its disposal revealed that the fear of return of the militants expressed by the residents was justified.

This came as the Nigerian Air Force continued its onslaught against the militants.

A resident of one of the communities, who spoke with the Sunday Tribune on condition of anonymity, disclosed that some of the militants were hiding in the houses of their kinsmen, who are residents in the area.

OPC national coordinator, Chief Gani Adams, told Sunday Tribune that reports at his disposal indicated that the militants were sneaking into the communities.

He urged the residents to be at alert and report any suspicious movement and faces to the OPC members in their communities.

“We are collaborating with the police and other security agencies.

“From our reports, we gathered that the militants are into this heinous crime because they cannot siphon petrol since the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has stopped supplying the product through the Atlas Cove.”

Adams added: “We found out that these men are not the real Niger Delta militants. They are the Ijaws from Ondo

State, who came to Arepo and other communities to vandalise petroleum pipelines and steal fuel.

“We have held a meeting of the National Coordinating Council of OPC where we analysed how they are sneaking into the homes of some of their people in the area,” Adams said.

The OPC chief said the group decided to complement the air raids of the military by ensuring that whoever escapes from the creek is not allowed into the communities.

Dare, a resident of Igbo Olomu, told Sunday Tribune that: “the bombing has continued since Friday. There has been serious shooting since morning.”

He added: “We found out that some of these militants have their friends, who give them information on

happenings in this area.”

But the director of information for Operation Awatse, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, while speaking to Sunday Tribune on telephone, on Saturday, assured residents that the clampdown on the militants would continue until they were wiped out.

“It is a continuous exercise.

Nobody is going to say how long it will last until the criminals are entirely rooted out of the area. So, it is a non-stop operation.

“The exercise is a continuous exercise in the area until the criminals are completely wiped out,” he said.

According to him, the group carrying out the operation is quite different from that of the SouthSouth and that no one can say when the operation will end.

world that the Islamisation plot has been proven by the Boko Haram new leader, Abu Masab el Barnawi, that their new mission is to kill all Christians and burn down all churches.

“We warn them that we the Niger Delta youths will not accept the killing of innocent Christians or burning of churches. That if they try it in the North or any part of Nigeria, there won’t be any Muslim or mosque in the Niger Delta.

“We are not against President [Muhammadu] Buhari granting the Boko Haram amnesty if their sole purpose is to own an Islamic caliphate in the North, but they should not shift it to the Niger Delta.

“All we know and want is resource control and true federalism. If truly they believe in one Nigeria and are working harder to build a prosperous one Nigeria, let them shift their Operation Crocodile Tears to the Fulani herdsmen and the Boko Haram that are threatening the unity and peace of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, a split has crept into the camp of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), as a faction of the militant group, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), has threatened to expose the sponsors of the group.

According to an online report, the breakaway faction was said to have emerged on Friday, with a warning to NDA to stop further attacks on pipeline installations in the region.

The factional militant group, in a statement issued by one Cynthia White, also on Friday night, introduced itself as “the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), a breakaway faction of the NDA. The group claimed that its decision to break away from NDA was informed by the intervention of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the peace initiative of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on the crisis in the region.

The RNDA spokesperson said the new militant group decided to pull out of NDA, having been filled with a sense of guilty over the level of damage being carried out in the region and the political will demonstrated by President Buhari to clean up the region.

“The Niger Delta will no longer be your proxy war to achieve your ambition.

To our comrades in the NDA, we urge you to stop being defiant and embrace peace and the wise counsel we all received from former President Jonathan,” the statement read.

However, NDA has denied crack in the group, blaming MEND for what it called its alleged divisive tendencies.

The militant group said it was too busy at the moment to be distracted by those it claimed were not part of their members, adding that the group remained “united and we are all together.”

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7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

OBJ denies attending PDP’s meeting, says it’s a dying party No, it’s not dying; we remain strong, virile, party says From Olayinka Olukoya and Sam Nwaoko

F

ORMER president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has

denied reports by a section of the media (not Nigerian Tribune) that he attended a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, on

Friday, noting that he quit partisan politics in February 2015 and anyone who tried to drag him back would fail.

Obasanjo, in a statement

by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, described the reports as “irresponsible journalism,” noting that if he quit a party when it was alive, how could he return

From left, wife of the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Mrs. Folu Adeboye; her husband, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom; Akwa Ibom State governor, Emmanuel Udom and the deputy governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, at the 64th Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, held at the Redemption Camp, on Friday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Youths trekking to Abuja for El-Zakzaky are harmless —Shiite Calls for leader’s, others’ release Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna A handful of youths trekking from Zaria to Abuja to demand for the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who had been in custody for the past eight months are harmless and would only hold a peaceful demonstration, the Shiite sect has stated.

This is just as it called on the Federal Government to, “as a matter of priority,” release its leader and others detained with him.

The sect, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Ibrahim Musa and made available to Sunday

Tribune on Saturday, stated this against the backdrop of an alleged plot to attack the youths, on the claim that the weapons were found on them.

“There is a sinister plan by security operatives to attack the youths as they approach Abuja and some weapons will be claimed to have been found on them.

These security agents will then rush to town to accuse the Islamic Movement of planning to launch an attack on the federal capital in a bid to forcibly release Sheikh Zakzaky,” the statement read in part.

The statement further added that sect decided to inform the general public

that the protesters, a group of young men and women, who started their trek from Zaria, Kaduna State “are peaceful in all their actions, and since last week when they started, nobody has complained of their being a nuisance to commuters in any way along

the expressway to Abuja.”

It will be recalled that hundreds of members of the sect were, some months ago, reported killed by the military following a face-off triggered by some allegedly recalcitrant faithful who, during a religious march, denied the Chief of Army Staff passage.

to the party, which he said “is gasping for breath.”

But the Publicity Secretary of the PDP’s National Caretaker Committee, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, has noted that though the reports that linked the former president to his party’s events were shocking, because he was not at the party’s event, it was incorrect to describe the PDP as a dying party.

The former president was reported to have been “spotted” at the Shehu Miss Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, venue of a meeting of the PDP. But former president said he was embarrassed by the report and that any one hoping to drag him back to the PDP would “fail like any man feeding mice to a dead cat.”

“Those who know me know that I have publicly announced my quitting partisan politics, and those who will believe the purported story will believe anybody who says that his or her mother is not a woman. If I quit a party when it was alive and seemingly united, how could I go back to a now divided, factionalised party gasping for breath?”

Obasanjo queried.

He added that he was at the centre on the invitation of the Commodities Association Stakeholders.

Kidnapped Lagos monarch regains freedom THE Oniba of Iba in Lagos State, Oba Yushau Oseni, who was kidnapped some weeks ago, has regained his freedom.

He was freed by his kidnappers on Saturday evening according to sources close to the family.

It could, however, not be

confirmed by Sunday Tribune on Saturday night if any ransom was paid for his release.

The abductors had, two weeks ago, demanded for N500 million ransom to release him.

The 74-year-old firstclass monarch was

kidnapped inside his palace on the night of July 16.

In the process of kidnapping him, two persons were reportedly killed, while one of his wives was injured. She has since been discharged from the hospital.

JAMB: Ex-NUC secretary praises Ojerinde, admonishes new Registrar

By Moses Alao A former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Peter Okebukola has lauded the immediate past Registrar/ Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Emeritus Professor Dibu Ojerinde, for “doing exceptionally well as head of the Board.”

He described the transformation that Ojerinde, a professor of Test and Measurement, brought to JAMB as huge, commending the modernisation of the

body’s operations during Ojerinde’s nine years as Registrar.

Okebukola, in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen at the weekend, said: “With about nine years as head of JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde has done exceptionally well.

The transformation which he took the Board through is huge. He modernised the operations of the Board at such a dizzying pace that I used to fondly call him the “magician” in JAMB. I note that he worked with exceptional directors and I should single out Dr. Yusuf

Lawal who oversees Test Administration.”

This is just as Okebukola commended the appointment of Professor Ishaq Oloyede as the new Registrar of JAMB, noting that the Board “is in for a revolutionary time in terms of delivering more effectively on its mandate.

Professor Oloyede parades excellent credentials to lead a whole sector like education in Nigeria, hence asking him to head an agency in education is like asking a 5-star, battle-tested general to quell a fight between two area boys in Ajegunle!”

Okebukola noted that he was convinced that with the way Oloyede ran the University of Ilorin as a model for the Nigerian university system and served as chairman of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and at the continental level, he would be able to “smoothen the rough edges of the unfortunate furore around the 2016 admission exercise.”

The former NUC secretary reiterated the relevance of JAMB, saying “I am unshaken in my belief that at this time in the nation’s higher education

development, JAMB is still a relevant player,” warning the Board not to “overstep its bounds by infringing on those areas where the universities should exercise their autonomy.”

“Post-UTME, as originally conceived in 2004, not in its present adulterated form, is still a must if we are to get better quality students for our higher education system. Rather than shut the door on Post-UTME, we should scrape off whatever the universities are not doing right and not throw the baby out with the bath water,” Okebukola further advised.

“His Excellency was invited to the “Zero Hunger Nigeria” event at the Centre. He arrived at about 10.00am and immediately moved to the meeting.

The meeting commenced but a few minutes into the session, his attention was drawn to the presence of some people walking up to where he was seated. At a closer glance, he recognised them to be politicians and they exchanged pleasantries, saying they came to greet him and they walked out again from the meeting,” he said.

“The former President cracked joke with them calling them “invaders and gate crashers”.

“The programme ended and immediately he and his entourage headed back to Lagos. He was barely hours in Lagos when he started receiving calls from both far and near, wanting to find out about his presence at a political party programme in Abuja,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Prince Adeyeye, who reacted in a telephone interview, explained that “the Yar’Adua event centre has a lot of auditoriums and Chief Obasanjo was at another event at the centre and never came to the PDP event, neither did we notice that he answered questions as regards the PDP event, which he wasn’t even part of.”

On the contention that PDP was “a dying party”, Adeyeye said “while I don’t think Chief Obasanjo answered them any question, I want to state that PDP is not a dying party because of the calibre of people who are still struggling for PDP.” According to him, “that a lot of credible and notable Nigerians are jostling to lead the PDP shows clearly that the party is very viable.

People regard the party as very strong, virile and one that has a strong potential to regain power in this country. That is why there is a lot of contention for it. How can it be a dying party when there are lots of Nigerians who are angling to be part of the party’s move to return to winning ways?”

He said “our recent challenges show that PDP is still very strong and the array of people who have been showing up and displaying active interest in all our events point to this fact. So, we must not elevate mischief or ignorance or both in anything that we do.”

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7 August, 2016

crimereports

Sunday Tribune

edited by Oluwatoyin Malik 0807 889 1950, 0811 695 4633 praiseboy01@gmail.com

How Quranic teacher who leads prayer in mosque prayed for robbers, got his share of loot Stories By Oluwatoyin Malik

F

ORTY-TWOYEAR-OLD Alfa Ahmodu Raufu was a well-known Quranic teacher who also attended to the needs of clients who sought spiritual help from him at Mosfala area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

He was also the one leading prayers at the mosque in his neighbourhood.

It was no wonder then that the residents almost resisted the arrest of their spiritual leader by police detectives from Mapo Division recently, until they got to know that he allegedly masterminded the invasion of a neighbour’s house by armed robbers.

Not only that, he also allegedly recruited the armed bandits that carried out the operation, hosted them before they launched out and prayed for their successful operation!

This was revealed at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Ibadan last Thursday during a press briefing by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade. Raufu was also arrested with other suspects namely Ismaila Suleiman (25), Abiodun Oladiran (23), Ayuba Aderemi (29) and Kehinde Bashiru (21).

According to the police commissioner, a four-man robbery gang invaded the house of one Musbau Ganiyu Akinyemi at Mosfala area of Ogbere, Ibadan on July 26 at about 1.00a.m, armed with gun and cutlasses, and robbed him of bulk recharge cards of different networks worth N3.5 million, about N1.8 million cash and assorted mobile phones, all totalling about N5.3 million. Oyebade said that the victim escaped though the back door of his residence to avoid being killed by the robbers.

“After the successful operation, the bandits abandoned a cutlass at the scene which was later recovered by detectives from the Ogbere Division. However,

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade addressing journalists during the press briefing.

a follow-up investigation carried out by detectives from the Mapo division led to the arrest of one of the robbery suspects, Ismaila Sulaimon and Raufu, as well as three receivers of the stolen items at Oranyan, Idi Aro and other hideouts in the Ibadan metropolis,” Oyebade told Crime Reports.

He said that investigation revealed that it was Raufu who supplied the gang with information about his neighbour and had also directed them to a cement dealer who could not be attacked that same night because of the excitement over the loot the gang

got from Musbau.

Among the exhibits recovered were quantities of MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat recharge cards of various denominations, a brand new motorcycle which Sulaimon allegedly bought with his share of the loot and some cash.

While speaking with Crime Reports, Sulaimon said that the robbery idea was sold to him by one Murphy and another man popularly known as 20. “I knew Murphy at the place of a friend known as Biodun a.k.a. Abbey. I am suffering from covetousness and greed because I don’t have a reason to rob. I was

The suspects and the exhibits recovered from them. into sale of charcoal which was yielding money for me.

“On Monday, July 25, Murphy and 20 called me that we would go and

rob someone of recharge cards. We went to Alfa Amodu’s house at about 11:00p.m. and when it was 1:00a.m on July 26, Alfa

Oyo Civil Defence arrests 3 suspected vandals THE Oyo State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on July 31 arrested three suspected vandals at Ojo Ekun Village, Oluyole Local Government Area, at about 7.30p.m.

The state Commandant, Mr John Adewoye, disclosed this in a statement issued and signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluwole Olusegun.

The commandant gave the names of the suspects as Benjamin Hassan (48), Afeez Adebayo (32) and Adekunle Peter (39).

He listed the items recovered from the suspect-

ed vandals to include a white Nissan Micra car with registration number OYO XG 651 BDJ, a white unregistered Ford vehicle, 10 50-litre kegs filled with petrol, 65 25-litre kegs PMS and one drum containing 250 litres of PMS. Adewoye said that the suspects were arrested after they had successfully siphoned petrol products into the containers from the NNPC pipeline at Ojo Ekun Village, Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.

He stated further that the suspects would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of inves-

tigation, while he reassured the people of the state that his command would not relent in its effort to rid the state of criminality and other vices.

He appealed that they should always supply useful information to the civil defence headquarters in Ibadan or any of the divisional area offices in their jurisdiction on any suspected activities of persons or movements in their neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, the commandant has admonished officers of the command deployed to

Arepo and Ogijo communities in Ogun State to be good ambassadors and proactive in the discharge of their duties.

Adewoye pointed out that the deployment of his men was to complement the ongoing fight against militants by the military personnel.

“Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) will sustain and continue to do a mop-up job as the military and other security agencies intensify the clearing of militants’ base at Arepo and Ogijo,” the commandant said.

woke us up, prayed for us that our operation would be successful and we left for the place. We were four in number. We went with cutlass and 20 also held something that looked like a gun which he wrapped in a handkerchief.

“Murphy and 20 broke in while I waited outside with the fourth person whose name I don’t know.

They came out with a lot of recharge cards and money. We returned to Alfa’s house and I was given N160,000 while Alfa was given N200,000. The recharge cards were also distributed among the five of us. At about 5.30a.m, Alfa opened the door and we left in different directions.

“I gave my own cards to Biodun to sell for me while I used the money given to me to buy a new motorcycle. I was arrested when the police got Biodun. I am married with two wives Continues on pg7

crimereports 60-yr-old village arrested over defilement of 8-yr-old 7

7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

CP worried over too many defilement cases Adamu Amadu - Dutse

W

ORRIED by the increase in the defilement of male and female minors in Jigawa State, the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Henry Fadairo, has said that his command would henceforth parade anyone arrested in connection with rape, with the aim of exposing such to public ridicule.

Mr Fadairo stated this during the parade of Abubakar Ya’u, a 60-yearold village head who was arrested on alleged defilement of an eight-year-old primary school pupil.

Ya’u was recently paraded alongside three others rapist who were arrested from different area in the state at the state’s police command headquarters.

The police commissioner, who was represented by the command’s image maker, SP Abdu Jinjiri, disclosed that the arrested 60-year-old man happened to be the head of the village where the victim lived.

The commissioner said that the arrest of the village head was as a result of a complaint by the victim’s mother at Garki

police station that her daughter was waylaid by the suspect on her way to school, after which he took her to his room and allegedly defiled her.

According to him, the command recorded 57 rape cases from January to June, out of which 32 were against girl children while the remaining 25 cases were sodomy against minors.

Fadairo stated further that “out of the 32 rape cases, 28 were charged to court while 25 cases of sodomy were equally charged to court for prosecution”.

Other suspects paraded alongside the 60-yearold village head included 45-year-old suspect identified as Mohammed Abdullahi who was arrested for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl (name withheld) in his room at Gumel Local Government Area of the state.

According to the commissioner of police, “in the process of investigation, police discovered and arrested another 25-year-old Naziru Mohammed for allegedly defiling the same girl and the suspects already confessed committing the

crime.”

He added that another 40-year-old man, Idris Abdu, was also arrested for defiling a nine-yearold girl in Gandun Sarki quarters area of Hadejia Local Government Area.

Fadairo expressed concern over the increase in rape cases in the state, saying that his command had resolved to be exposing any person accused of rape through the media to serve as deterrent to others.

Speaking with Crime Reports, the village head denied committing the offence, saying: “I

The village head, Abubakar Ya’u (left) and three other suspects

FOUR days after an accident involving a refuse truck and a motorcycle claimed two lives along Apete-Ijokodo road in Ibadan, Oyo State, another commercial motorcycle rider, one Jarius Ochikpa, died instantly last Monday along the same road, close to the same spot in an accident with a Micra car.

The Micra involved had

Osun WWD 997 XA as its registration number while the motorcycle had registration number Osun FTD 288 QB. According to a source who spoke with the Crime Reports, the incident occurred at about 7.00 a.m. when the okada rider who was said to be coming from Ijokodo and heading for Apete allegedly collided with the Micra car, whose driver was leaving Apete community, while nego-

tiating a bend on a high speed.

The deceased, from Igede tribe in Benue State, reportedly swerved to the lane of the Micra car, resulting in a head-on collision which resulted in his death at the spot.

It will be noted that the rate of accident increased along the road since a small portion of it was tarred and opened for the use of commuters pending

its total completion.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident, saying that the remains of the okada rider had been deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan, while the Micra car and the ruins of the motorcycle had been taken into custody at Apete Police Station.

NEMESIS has caught up with a suspected interstate armed robbery kingpin and kidnapper, identified as Babangida Sani Abdullahi, following his arrest by the police operatives attached to the Niger State Police Command.

The suspect, who was said to be notorious and had been declared wanted by the authorities of the command about two years ago, was reportedly arrested on Thursday at about 9:25a.m after the police acted on a tip-off.

Crime Reports learnt that the lid was blown off his criminal activities when he pretended to have brought a patient for medical treatment to the General Hospital, Kagara, in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

A police source who craved anonymity said that after his arrest, the suspect confessed to some of the crimes over which he was declared wanted by the police.

How Quranic teacher who leads prayer in mosque prayed for robbers Continued from pg6

and three children while my girlfriend is also currently pregnant for me.”

One of the receivers, Biodun who ran hemp joint, claimed that he didn’t know anything about the robbery.

“Sulaimon is my friend.

On Tuesday, July 26, I saw Sulaimon who gave me some cards to sell for him, claiming that it be-

longed to his aunt. I sold N6,000 worth to one Kehinde and N5,000 to another,” he told Crime Reports.

The Alfa, repotedly from Arowojeka family at Idi Aro area of Ibadan, also told Crime Reports: “I am a Quranic teacher and clients consult me for spiritual help.

“It is true that the armed robbers left for their operation from my house but it

was Murphy who told me that he was coming to my neighbourhood to rob. I also prayed for their success but I didn’t know they were going to Musbau’s place. They went for the operation and came back to stay with me till daybreak. At 5.30 a.m., they left and I went to the mosque to pray.

“From there, I went out.

When I returned, I saw Musbau crying that his

shop had been burgled. I told his sister that nemesis would catch up with those who perpetrated the act. I was given N200,000 and recharge cards. I have returned N135,000 with the recharge cards which I had not touched when I was arrested. I have never done such a thing before.”

The victim, Ganiyu Musbau Akinyemi, told Crime Reports that he had to

village to Taraba State.

The man sent message from where he was and directed that his farmland should be sold to pay his debts.

“We were able to sell the land for N70,000 which was not enough to pay all the man’s debts, so I decided to make part payments to his creditors.

But the girl’s mother insisted on collecting her entire money and I said it was not possible. Since then, she had been keeping malice with me. This is all what I know.”

Suspected robbery, kidnapping kingpin, 2 accomplices nabbed in Niger Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

Again, okada rider dies in auto crash in Ibadan

By Oluwatoyin Malik

don’t even know the girl.

I swear that I never committed such offence, I’m innocent of what I’m being accused of.”

The suspect claimed that he had a misunderstanding with the mother of the said girl over a debt, saying that it must have prompted the allegation against him.

According to him, “there was a man in the village who was indebted to many people, including the mother of the girl.

Things went bad that the man ran away from the

run for his life when the robbers came to his house and threatened that they would bathe him in his own blood once they could get in.

“I got injured in the process and by the time I returned, I discovered that they had made away with my money, recharge cards and phones worth over N5 million. Since then, they have put me in trouble over debts,” he said.

He further disclosed that Abdullahi’s statement led to the arrest of one of his suspected accomplices, Kabiru Abdullahi of the same address. A third female suspect named Amina Sani was said to have been mentioned by the second suspect as a member of the gang.

She was arrested by the police while moving around the wards of the General Hospital, Kagara and pretending to be a sympathiser in a bid to carry out some criminal activities within the hospital premises.

The source added that the three suspects had confessed to the crime they were accused by the police during investigation.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed the arrest of the three suspects, saying that it was in connection with some high-profile robbery and kidnapping cases in parts of the state in recent times.

Elkana stated further that the suspects would soon be referred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department (SCIID), Minna, for investigation and would be charged to court at the conclusion of police investigation.

“In fact, Abdullahi and his two accomplices are going to be charged for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide and kidnapping because in some cases, they killed their victims using weapons,” the PPRO said.

8

feature

7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

How Adamawa gov launched new chapter in Sheleng’s history For the people of Sheleng in Sheleng Local Government Area of Adamawa State, the recent visit of the state governor, Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, to launch the construction of the 37-kilometre road that connects the vast Sheleng kingdom to the ‘rest of the world,’ was a dawn of new era. KABEER GWANGWARZO with additional reports from MOSES ALAO, write on the event.

I

T was not a road less-travelled; in fact, it was a popular road linking Sheleng to ‘the rest of the world’. But popular as the road was, it was a road abandoned; a death trap that has become an albatross for the agrarian communities of Sheleng Local Government of Adamawa.

As the local government headquarters, Sheleng is rich in history and human resources but the same cannot be said of its infrastructure, especially its roads, which many residents have bemoaned for the sordid states. With a traditional institution style of leadership said to have been in existence dating back to the early 1900s, an institution which some elders in the community told Sunday Tribune was second to the Lamido Adamawa Emirate Council, Sheleng was said to have been accorded great respect by colonial masters.

Sheleng Local Government is home to the Lala, Kana Kuri, Kiri, Bura and Lunguda tribes of Adamawa State, whom Sunday Tribune was informed were mostly farmers and fishermen, a development that makes the Sheleng road quite important to the economy of the axis.

But rich as the history of Sheleng is, it has an age-long challenge. The town is ‘cut off from source’ as a result of the deplorable state of a 37-kilometre stretch of road that connects Sheleng with the Numan-Guyuk highway.

A road which residents of Sheleng lamented has never been tarred, noting that it was an eternal reminder that successive governments in the state have never cared for them beyond their votes, welcomes one into the town and also bids goodbye, though the departure through that road can never be good. For decades, the residents of the area maintained that they have resorted to seeking economic succour in Biu and Shani local government areas of Borno State, as Sheleng appeared to have been cut off from Adamawa State as a result of the deplorable state of the road.

According to an elderly resident of the area, Isah Abubakar Sheleng, though the area has had a successful traditional leadership with 11 traditional rulers so far, they were not able to convince successive state governors to construct the road and ease the burden of their people.

He informed Sunday Tribune that Sheleng has a vast arable land, with 95 per cent of its people being farmers and fishermen.

Living along the coastal areas of Lake Chad River Basin and River Gongola, which flows down to Benue River, residents noted that they contribute immensely to the development of Adamawa State but “the government has never put us into consideration to give us a good accessible road.”

“It is sad and pitiful story that despite the major contributions in generating revenue to the local government, state and even the country, no government has made a successful effort to construct the 37-kilometre road that connects the teeming communities in Sheleng inhabiting the vast areas that share border with the people of southern Borno, “Years have passed by and become decades but we have never had succour; our prayers and expectations on the road were never met. Politicians come here and make endless promises but after election, they all forget us,” said Alhaji Musa Adamu, who spoke with Sunday Tribune.

Sunday Tribune was told that a visit to Sheleng either during rainy or dry season would appear as if one was heading for “Golgotha,” with residents maintaining that during rainy season, they were always left with the alternative of travelling through canoes to cross the Kiri River, which at many times “claims the lives of people as a results of boat mishap or even hippopotamus attacks.

An aged woman who identified herself as Mama Jum-

Governor Mohammed Jibrilla, Adamawa State

Despite the major contributions in generating revenue to the local government, state and even the country, no government has made a successful effort to construct the 37-kilometre road

mai Fasma revealed that the bad road claimed the lives of her two daughters who were in labour, when they could not get vehicles to take them to the closest general hospital. “Many women lost their pregnancies as a result of this “dead trap road,” which is a hell on earth,” she said.

Governor bindow gives sheleng a new story

The tale of woes on the state of Sheleng road must have been so loud that Adamawa State governor, Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, during his campaign tour of the state while seeking election as governor, made a solemn promise to the communities in Sheleng. The governor, whose supporters hail with the slogan “Bindow for Social Change,” returned to Sheleng barely a year after taking office to fulfill that promise, telling residents and those in his entourage recently that the promise he made to the people of Sheleng and indeed the people of Adamawa remained sacred and sacrosanct despite various challenges facing the government such as dwindling resources.

Speaking during the kickoff of the construction of the 37-kilometre road, the governor stated that he knew the challenges facing Sheleng people before he became governor and had determined that if he ever got to the position, he would do all he could to address the challenge and put a smile on the faces of the people. He added that the story of Sheleng would change in the next 18 months, which is the period given to the contractor handling the road to complete the project.

Speaking during the event, the representative of the

Amna Sheleng, the traditional ruler of the area, Alhaji Abdulahi Muhammed Managina, said: “Sheleng remains the only local government in the state, which does not have tarred road leading to the local government headquarters not to talk of motorable roads and accessible roads to the hinterland communities of the area. But we thank Allah that this is about to change. We also thank our hard working governor for remembering us for good.”

The governor, who told the contractor, Triacta Construction Ltd, that, the Sheleng-Kiri road, which is estimated to cost over N3 billion should be given speedy attention, further said: “I had plans to contest as a governor at this time and you do not support me, what would I have done? But you all made me the governor of the state and I have always prayed to God to make me a governor that will do what you want. I thank God that I have the privilege to start the construction of this road.”

Also speaking, the Adamawa State Commissioner for Livestock and Animal Husbandry, Hon. Isa Sheleng, said that after the construction of the road, the agricultural products from the area will worth better as against the present situation where any business man or middle man extorts the people on the ground of the poor condition of the road.

He further called on investors to come and invest in Sheleng, which he noted has several economic potentials that can improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and economy of the state.

Elated residents of Sheleng who spoke to Sunday Tribune said Governor Bindow has given them what their grandparents die struggling and fighting to get. “After decades of pains and suffering endured by the entire community, today turned out to be a watershed story, marking the beginning of posterity that will be full of joy for Sheleng people. And this has been made possible because a governor remembers to fulfill his promise to the people,” Alhaji Musa stated.

Witnessing the event were hundreds of residents who poured encomiums on the Governor Bindow-led administration for succeeding where past governments have failed. Some of the sons and daughters of the area who witnessed the event include former senators, serving and former lawmakers in the state, with all of them appreciating the governor for his strides in trying to change Adamawa with his roads construction projects across the state. Notable among these people was the immediate past Senator representing Adamawa South, Ahmed Barata, who expressed happiness at the governor’s action and promised the total loyalty of Sheleng people to his government.

9

life&living

7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘I sublet my 3-bedroom flat’ Continues from pg 3 a week saves me almost N10,000 each week, while I make between N4,000 and N6,000 in three days. I am okay with that arrangement in this trying times.

Wale Oke, student, Lagos THE present economic situation in the country has taken a toll on my welfare.

To be sincere, I am extremely unhappy with what is going on now. As a student, it has not been funny looking for how to feed and take care of myself on a daily basis when I have to add more money and spend far more than I used to without my basic earnings increasing. This should not go on for long and something should be done. It is not the best time to be a student.

Mrs Nneka Ogili, Ekiti I am a housewife and I know that the economic recession is real. I have no choice but to help my husband in building the home. We have joint account. It helps us to think together and use our money well. We buy foodstuffs in large quantities so that we can cut cost. We spend less now unlike before when my husband was in politics. Kerosine price has gone up so we now make use of charcoal for cooking.

Mrs Abiola Yusuf, Ilorin Only mothers can help pull through this difficult period by helping our families to cut down on expensive lifestyles, reduce social engagements, while priority should be given to bulk food purchase. Family heads should look beyond their normal jobs by exploring more opportunities to boost their income.

Olayiwola Ojo (DJ Larry), Entertainer, Ado-Ekiti THE recession isn’t a funny issue at all.

We in the entertainment industry are not finding it easy one bit and I know this is the situation all over. This is because people who should be entertained are not getting paid. Their businesses are slow and they’re paying the same high cost for everything like everybody else. We are all financially incapacitated because what goes round comes round. Imagine the problems with public power supply and you are still expected to buy fuel at N145 per litre to play music just to create awareness at your shop/office with hardly any business coming in. How are you expected to pay your staff and how much of that can one possibly continue to do? We don’t get much ecents lately just as the parties are getting fewer. Everywhere is dry. All of us are just there, managing what we get and hoping for better times.

Juwon Olutola It is a period of adjustment and I have become prudent in spending by learning how to prioritise expenses and allocating larger percentage of my income to savings.

It has equally become difficult to start up businesses and business ideas are being put on hold. As a result, I have been on the look out for investors and making efforts to find supporting source of income.

I am also avoiding debt as much as possible, which I believe is one smart way of financial management.

Mazi Oluebube John, Enugu The recession is real. It has hit almost every family. For me, I have stopped drinking too much beer. There is no money and salary is not regular. I am a staff member of a local government and we are being owed several months. Paying my children school fees is a big problem.

My children now hawk banana and pure water to help the family. We have to survive. Thank God they are on holiday for now. All of us leave the house 6 a.m and come back late in the evening. Even my two children, university graduates in fact, help in my shop at Ogbete main market.

Mr. Sunday Agunbiade, Ado Ekiti THINGS are not auguring well not just with civil servants, teachers or public sector workers but for the entire citizenry.

I blame this on our over-dependence on oil. Since oil was discovered, we jettisoned agriculture and now that oil wealth has dropped, we are suffering. We are all also suffering for the mismanagement of what we got from oil when we had wealth. For instance, the only firm in Ekiti State, a textile had long died and this left government as the only employer of labour. We have cut our expenses seriously and reduced movement. It’s not easy at all.

Abdul Olaiya, Lagos I just sublet a room out of my threebedroom apartment to a corps member.

Of course that is wrong, but am I to turn his offer down when money is involved?

The guy told me he is sure to be retained where he is presently serving and would need a place because he would be ejected from his present abode when new batch of corpers arrives in September. What I charged him is more than half of what I pay my agent yearly. To prevent this cash crunch from hitting me when my rent will be due in November, I have paid half of my rent to the agent because if I don’t do so now, it surely will be hard for me to raise it. I am only being proactive because rents and food are the most important things at times like this. I am an electrician, but guys like me don’t get the big jobs, only crumbs. Those don’t come by regularly too.

We eat lafun and agbado. It is not smooth, but that’s what we have to live with. At work, I go for smoked or boiled maize. Ah! That’s it now!

Mr. Bisi Ogunleye, Civil Servant, Ilorin I’ve had to make a lot of financial cuts.

Inflation has paralysed nearly everything in the country. Begin with petrol, which used to be N86 and is now N145. That is the official price. This has caused a sharp rise in the prices of goods and services. I now face only immediate needs. It is no longer possible to buy extras to keep in the house when you can hardly even afford your immediate needs.

Mallam Mohammed Makun Usman, a level 7 officer in the state civil servant in Ilorin WITH N200, I buy vegetable or okra and pepper. We always have garri at home. Rice is now expensive and it’s only for the rich, so we vote for Tapa rice which is N400 per bowl and we buy two measures. We alternate it with garri. Sometimes, we drink garri and water. The time is hard, and if you say you want to fry akara (bean cake), you will be disappointed. If my children could get kulikuli with garri, it is ok. With the situation of things, it’s only God that can save us.

Abdullahi Mas’ud, Ilorin I buy petrol from filling station with record of integrity and lower price unlike before. We use just one car now instead of two to cut cost. We organise our daily activities in such a way that can accommodate our using one car. Once I park the car in the office, I don’t use it until closing time except there are very serious cases. We don’t buy bread again but make our own at lesser cost.

Ayuba Abdulrahman, Ilorin I have sought alternatives to imported items by patronising locally made goods to reduce the high demand for dollar. If we all do that, it will in turn help reflate the economy and help boost local businesses.

Taiwo Adeoye, Yaba I now do petty business to earn extra cash. With that, I have been surviving.

Please note the word- just surviving. We need to live in this country and just stop existing.

Seyi Daramola MY brother, the fuel price hike and the state of the economy have been taking its toll on me, I now pick passengers on the road when I’m driving to work every morning, I use the money to buy fuel to cushion the effect which I hardly did before.

Continues pg 11

10

feature

7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

60-yr-old deaconess, who once supplied gas to Lam Adesina, Akande, Onibonojes, now Marwa driver

Deaconess Olayinka Onabanjo was a successful businesswoman before two robbery incidents almost ruined her life. As a businesswoman, she once supplied gas for domestic cooking to the like of former Oyo State governor, Chief Lam Adesina, chairman of Splash FM, Chief Adebayo Akande, among others. She speaks with TADE MAKINDE on how the situation of life had made her to turn to riding tricycle popularly known as Marwa for survival.

I

TS NOT strange these days to find women dutifully engaging in works considered the exclusive preserves of men. Among the many women that are now actively driving commercial vehicles in Ibadan, Oyo State, Deaconess Onabanjo Olayinka stands out as not just the oldest, at least in the city, but also the boldest for her daring strides compared to many ladies and some men as a commercial driver.

Married to Mr Julius Onabanjo, an engineer, the 60-year-old woman, who hails from Ijebu Oro did not anticipate her life would take its current turn or that she would end up as a commercial driver. But driving which she took as her her hobby has now become a saving grace of sort as the Deaconess now makes a living driving tricycle, popularly known as Marwa in local parlance to put food on her family’s table in Ibadan, while her husband works in Lagos State.

When the couple started out in Ibadan in the 60s and 70s, her husband used to drive a volkswagen double carb.

Most times, the car would be parked at home in Ibadan, while her husband was mostly on site working. A teacher then at Ebire Nursery School, Mrs Onabanjo trekked to work until a neighbour, Kunle, advised her to stop walking to work when she could take the car.

“That was between 1967 and 1968. I would trek to Ebire via Fakol bakery along the Army barracks. We lived at Lam Adesina area then,” she said.

Following Kunle’s advice, Mrs Onabanjo got him to drive her to school for a while until the neighbour started to hold her to ransom. “He wouldn’t come on time, among other mischiefs,” she said, making her vulnerable to the young man’s antics. She preffered trekking as she planned her time, but she had been bowled over by the mechnics of a vehicle and she wanted to learn how it worked. Unknown to Kunle, Mrs Onabanjo never took her eyes off his legs each time he drove her to school. She did the same anytime her husband came around.

“I noticed how he applied his foot on the throttle, brake and clutch and one day when he was away, I engaged the car in gear one and drove it around. I didn’t change the gear at all. If I was scared or anything, I would switch off

the ignition, start the car again, put it in gear one and drive. I didn’t know I had to change the gears until I was told that I needed to do so after driving like that for over four hours of my first day behind the wheel. By the following week, I could drive outside of Felele,” she said.

All along at Ebire, the woman had applied for a job at the Nigerian Tribune office, and also to study at TESCOM. She was employed at the publishing company where she worked at the Graphics department from 1982-1984.

“With N60 more than what I earned at Ebire, I resigned barely few weeks after getting the nursery job to face my work at Tribune, and also began processing admission into TESCOM. Mr Oni was the Editor-in-Chief then, while Elaboya was my Production Manager. I worked afternoon shift and earned N160/month.”

After saving enough money, Mrs Onabanjo paid for a shop at Ganiyu Bello street, Felele, where she sold gas, cylinders and its accessories to complement her earnings.

Back in the 70s and 80s, her Omoyemi Gas was the most popular gas selling outfit in Ibadan, patronised by the elite of an era when gas was for the super rich. Those who lived at lived at Felele then, would have patronised her.

Her list of clientele were the Oniororos, Faturotis, Adesi-

I would drive non-stop for 8-10 hours and am back in Ibadan as early as 1 a.m or even earlier. Or I slept over and left the following morning

nas, Onibonojes, Esigies, Ladipos, Akandes, Daramajas amongst others.

‘They would all drive to my shop to buy gas. That was how I got to personally know most of the rich people at Felele. On daily basis, I sold between 40 and 70 cylinders at N60 each,” she added. She was doing very well in her business.

But it was becoming difficult to handle both Tribune job and studying at TESCOM, so she resigned at the former and continued with the later.

She later bought an Isuzu bus, right hand, and was making money, until she was robbed on October 14, 1977.

Naturally, she was devastated. When she got to her shop that day, she saw no sign of a break-in. The thief had come in through the back door and had stolen 98 cylinders with gas in all of it.

She had hardly got over the robbery when her supermarket, next to her gas shop, was burgled four weeks later. There was no financial strength in her again as the rich woman was forced to sell her Isuzu bus to buy a 16-seater Mazda bus.

With her experience as a driver, she joined commercial drivers to make money to feed her family, even as the husband continued to help out.

Her husband who worked in Lagos at that time tried to discourage her from driving but she would not budge. Asked why she did not stop, Mrs Onabanjo said: “I saw no shame in what I was doing, I refused his advice that I should get a job, rather than driving all over?”

With time, she went back into the gas business, but she had lost ground as the price had skyrocketed, just as getting gas had become tough. She decided to face bus driving and shuttled Academy to Gbagi. Often times, she got clients who wanted to move products to the far East. She moved shoes from Ogunpa for Igbo traders who paid more than others. “I was the first female commercial driver to drive to Onitsha, Anambra State. I drove customers as far as Benin, Nsukka and Imo State. My family members always worried about my safety.

Continued on

pg 12

11

life&living

7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘We no longer eat the way we used to’ Continues from pg 9 Odumaya Tobi, Lagos It is not enough to stress what the eating situation was like before now. To add salt to injury, before now, eating three meals was by chance. Automatically, that means we manage to eat what we have and just live.

“For me, everything remains the same.

Nobody has been able to save money in this country and the consuming power is reducing daily in the worst ways, but I have made some adjustments. I don’t buy what I don’t need anymore and I am more careful about wastage. I try not to waste money on anything and I am also more accountable now. I advise Nigerians to do the same and the government should get serious with business.

Sade Phillips, Banker It is not a funny situation, but we still cope anyway. Prices of foodstuffs and transporation have gone up astronomically. I sometimes move about on foot because I cannot pay my transport fare.

The truth is that I now cut cost anytime I have the opportunity whether it is transportation or food. I just make sure that at the end of the day, I can account for the money I spend.

Mr Akinsanya Kolawole, Worker The situation is worst and it is affecting all us. The change has not been visible now. Generally, the situation is very bad. I am not a person that spend lavishly because when you save, you are safe. I don’t drink and I have also minimise my spendings. I only complain because people around are complaining. I hope things will change.

Mr. Aderibigbe Adewale, Entrepreneur As Nigerians, we have a way of surviving in though times like this. For instance, business is no longer moving as usual, with this I have learnt to reduce my expenses and also caution myself on social life.I know we will survive as Nigerians.

All we need to do is to tailor our spendings, according to the present realities. I also don’t live above my income. I thank God I am coping.

Miss Abidemi Alade, Student Now that the prices of things have gone up, especially prices of food items, I have reduced the number of times that I eat in a day. We don’t eat as much as we use to eat before. I also try as much as possible to avoid uneccessary spendings on certains things like shoes, bags, clothes and recharge cards. I plan for every of my spendings so I am coping with “plan before spending”.

Femi Adeloye,Civil servant Eating three times a day is a Herculean task now. My family members have resorted to food rationing. We now eat once or twice a day. We either eat late in the morning and then in the evening. We have also cut down all unnecessary expenses as the basic principle of survival is what we are carrying out for now.

Biyi Akintunde, Ilorin I buy fuel that is only required for a particular purpose as against filling up the tank as I used to do. I park the car at the office until closing time and I go on commercial motorcycles for useful and needful runs. At times, I park the car at home and go on public transport. At home, we use more of charcoal for cooking instead of kerosene and gas. I skip lunch or take just something when I can’t hold hunger any longer. I have changed from buying Milo and milk for my kids to Lipton and milk. Also, we put on generator only at night from 7.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m.

Nnamudi Okoronkwo, Enugu I was a staff member of one of the courier companies in Enugu until I lost my job last year, because of the closure of the company. I now sell loaves of bread with my vehicle. I have a minibus which I use to move it. My wife, once a full-time housewife, is now operating a small shop near my house at Abakpa-Nike where she sell confectioneries. For us to survive the economic recession, we have to relocate from New Haven to Abakpa-Nike because of the high cost of rent. We have also withdrawn our four children from private school to public school.

Chinedu Ikechukwu, Trader I think we are reaping the fruit of our electoral choice. We should just endure it and stop complaining. Now, there is hardly electricity supply and you’re to pay higher tariff. Fuel price has nearly doubled and there is inflation. The purchasing power of nearly everyone has reduced by about half and businesses are now crumbling. We rely on God alone to help our country because the signs are omnious. I don’t see signs out there that there will be better days soon. Personally, I have given up drinking beer. I used to take a few bottles daily, but I can’t feed this habit for now. That’s how much this recession has affected us.

I am not bothered about the economic recession.

I was unemployed for many years and just got a job. I think this is the best time for me and and my family

Ambali Ige, Ilorin Many people in the country are experiencing effects of this recession, even the millionaires. I am among people that douse the economic tension by putting my fate in God Almighty to salvage the situation. So, my family and I have decided to cut our expenses according to our purse by eating what we could get and not what we really like to eat. I trek many times to maximise little money I have on me. Also, we don’t use kerosene at home any longer.

We now use firewood because charcoal is even expensive now.

Mrs. Olubunmi Apalowo, Ado -Ekiti I simply can’t explain how my husband and I have been pulling through these hard times. But I want to say that it is God that has been seeing us through. The economic problems of this time should ordinarily have crippled the country, but God has been the strength of Nigerians. All I can say is that it is a miracle. We should continue to pray for better days.

Akinlabi Ahmed, artisan in Omu Aran Before, we used to eat wheat and semovita, but now, they are very expensive, we eat yam flour and corn. Yes, it is not as smooth as semo though, but that’s what we have to live with. We have voted for corn or millet which we grind into flour.

At work, instead of proper lunch, I go for roasted or boiled maize.

Sola Obagbemisoye I have taken to farming and it has helped in feeding my family. Though it was not easy at the initial stage, but we adapted and we are reaping the fruits of our hardwork now, we have enough to eat and give to others.

Eze Okoye I am not bothered about the economic recession. I was unemployed for many years and just got a job. I think this is the best time for me and and family. However, my distant relations and friends are complaining about the recession. I asked them how they are coping and they say to me,‘we have to cut short our expenditure.’

Mrs. Abimbola Arowora, Business Woman, Abeokuta In this economic hardships in the country, we have been surviving by the grace of God. One of the strategies that I have been using is that I have reduced my spending on a daily basis because now N1,000 cannot buy many things as it used to. Everything is now expensive and we have been flowing with the trend. As a trader and businesswoman, I don’t buy much goods in my shop because of the way prices of goods change. Also, I have stopped spending on uneccessary things that are not beneficial to me and my familiy.

Modupe Gbolagun The only way I have been able to survive is by cutting down my expenses and having a plan for my income. In this period I can’t give room for irrelevant expenses I only get what is most important to me and ensure I don’t go against my income plan.

Mrs Taiwo Mustapha, Trader, Ilorin Most customers now buy on credit.

There’s no money anywhere and it is better to sell on credit than having the good stocked in the store. We hope our government will do something about this because if the workers are being owed, it will affect the whole of the state.

12

feature

7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Unending agony as truck drivers continue lamentation over Apapa-Tincan road

T

RUCK drivers plying the ApapaTin-Can Road, Lagos State, have continued to lament over the state of the road, appealing to the Federal Government to repair the failed portions of the roads.

They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos State.

One of the truck drivers, Malam Haliru Hashim, who plies the Lagos-Kano route, complained that truck drivers were usually blamed for avoidable road tragedies caused by bad roads.

He urged the agencies responsible for road maintenance to always ensure prompt maintenance of the failed portions of the roads to prevent them from further deteriorating.

“Look at the gullies that we have to go through on the roads; they are usually difficult for us to navigate due to the size of our vehicles.

“When containers fall on the roads, we, the drivers, feel it most but it is, unfortunate, that both the public and our employers blame us for such tragedies. Government should please repair the roads and other bad roads urgently,” he said.

Also, Mr Albert Chukwudi, another truck driver, said the bad state of the road had resulted in avoidable accidents.

“There is no day an articulated vehicle does not fall on its side on this road because of its many potholes and gullies.

“We appeal to both the Federal and the Lagos State governments to rise up to the occasion and fix them urgently,” he said.

Mr Seye Philips, also a truck driver, appealed to the Federal Government to take proactive steps to save lives on the roads.

“I am not happy with the situation of the roads; people are dying on the road every day and they blame the drivers instead of government that failed to fix them.

“Sometimes, a truck’s tyre can get stuck in the gully, and this will upturn such a truck.

Government should not wait until there is a major disaster before repairing this road,”

he said.

NAN correspondents who visited the highway on Friday reported that there were gullies on both carriageways around the Second Gate Section.

The gullies had been covered by flood, making it difficult for vehicles to navigate through without posing threats to commercial motorcycle operators and other road users.

However, the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Godwin Eke, declined comments on the issue.

Similarly, Mr Kehinde Afolabi, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) engineer-in-charge of the highway, said that all questions regarding to the roads should be directed to its headquarters in Abuja.

‘Being churchy does not help when you are out there’ Continued from

pg 10

“I would drive non-stop for 8-10 hours and I’m back in Ibadan as early as 1 a.m. or even earlier. Or I slept over and left the following morning. Because I am a woman, policemen didn’t stop me much. That, I suspected, was the reason most Igbos patronised me. All my years driving long journeys, not once was I robbed and no Police officer collected Egunje from me.

For her, the desire to get back into business would not subside. With the advent of GSM, Mrs Olayinka rented a shop at New Garage where she sold handsets and recharge cards.

Every morning, the woman would sweep her surrounding and that of the factory she shared turf with and its gutter.

Unknown to her, the MD of the company usually saw her do this and had been impressed, but he didn’t tell her that much.

Her bus was now getting worn out after travelling far and wide, but she couldn’t afford the money for another one. As she thought about how to get a new bus, her shop was demolished not long after Governor Abiola Ajimobi assumed office. Wrought by this action, the Lebanesse moved her to the front of his office. He told her that in Lebanon, women were not allowed to do menial jobs.

She kept her shop and also continued to drive her beaten bus.

Not long after the invasion of New Garage

by uniformed men, the chairman of the garage, who gave her name as Sherifat, invited her to a meeting of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) members. Fele, the union’s state chairman, wanted to meet with all female drivers in the state. The meeting was to discuss the arrival and disbursement of tricycle in the state.

At the meeting, Fele introduced Mrs Onabanjo to the Minister of Environment as his mother and that union members should not disturb her for any reason. Deaconess Onabanjo was stunned. She was not Fele’s mother. She wondered why Fele would introduce her as his mother in public. Later, when Fele cornered her, he told her that she was, indeed, a mother to him and others.

He told her that he had riden in her bus one day to Imo and that he had seen her several times back in Tokyo days as a hard worker.

“My Mazda was recognised by many. I could not remember, but he did not forget,” she told Sunday Tribune.

From that moment, she became known as Mama Fele.

Mama Fele’s day was made when Fele told the ladies that over 100 Marwa tricycles had been allocated and he wanted them to benefit from the scheme that was to empower women. She discussed her interest in hiring one with Sherifat as her bus was fast aging and could kaput anytime. “The Marwa arrived just on time.” She was to pay in installment,

For three days, there were no customers. Again, I was afraid because I had money to pay weekly

Mrs Onabanjo got one to herself.

From where she was coming, it didn’t take her long to learn how to drive the shuttlerit was the same day it was released to her.

“I only had to watch how it was handled. I drove it back to Altak.”

The second day, Mrs Onabanjo could not start the Marwa and was afraid she had been conned. She expected the Marwa to work as cars do. “I called someone who told me to check the oil guage and look out for the N sign on the small dashboard. “If the dashboard does not show N, the Marwa won’t start, I was told. I turned the ignition again, got it in clutch and it spurted to life. I heaved a sigh of relief and drove it to Orita Challenge.

“For three days, there were no customers.

Again, I was afraid because I had money to pay weekly. I had to go to Fele who gave me a tarmac and I began to make money.

I joined a thrift society because I was now making good money. I was expected to pay N15,000 per week, which was easy for me to do because I make that in two days. God used Fele for me. After his reappointment, he put me on a committee because I am the eldest.

However, it is not so easy for the deaconess to make her daily N5,000 as she has to leave home 7 a.m everyday and be back home late nights.

She works all day,even on Sundays, but after church. She also has to compete with men who are never gentle behind the wheels. “We all rush for customers and use foul words on ourselves when we want to pick commuters.”

Forget the deaconess toga, Mrs Onabanjo always throws it away when shove gets to push. “Being churchy does not help when you are out there. I have issues with Micra drivers who are reckless. But I get by as I have learnt their languages and I use it when I have totuale baba, some call me grandma, how far, maa je oju e, gbesele. If you see me hustle for customers, you won’t believe a woman could be this domineering. But I hustle gently, like a lady. In fact, many hop on my Marwa because of my mien. We even engage ourselves in chats, but I always keep my gaze on the road so that I won’t be distracted.

Though she derives much joy in driving generally, if Mrs Onabnjo had enough, she would still set up shop to sell phones, accessories, recharge cards, foodstuff and still be driving.

13 Continued from

W

7 August, 2016 last week

ITHIN our two years of office, our existing water supplies will be considerably improved: the water will become potable and it will flow without interruption. At the same time, steps will be initiated for the supply of pipeborne water to all our towns and villages which do not now enjoy this facility.

20. Our telecommunication system must be made to work efficiently and without interruption within our first year of office. No Government that is determined to make a success of its assignment can afford to live for long with the present chaos in our telecommunication system, and the deadweight and crippling effect it imposes on our economy and social life. We will, therefore, do everything that is at all possible to achieve our target within twelve months.

21. All major contracts which are under execution or about to be executed will be re-evaluated. If any of them is found to be over-valued, it will be revoked immediately, and all those concerned with the valuation will be dealt with according to law.

22. Every Nigerian is entitled to hold his country’s passport. Accordingly the issue of passports will be simplified, so that an applicant can obtain his passport over the counter in a matter of minutes. It is none of our business to inquire into the suitability of a Nigerian citizen to travel abroad. That is the business of the country to which he proposes to travel.

23. During our term of office, we are determined to lay a solid and indestructible foundation for democracy. To this end, we will resolutely ensure the following: (1) equal opportunity for every Nigerian; (2) equality under the law; (3) free press and unfettered journalism; (4) free association among the working class without any Government interference or intrusion whatsoever, subject to the one condition that no trade union organisation shall be subordinate to the authority of or obtain subvention of any kind from any foreign government or organisation by whatever name called; (5) extermination of ethnic hegemony: (6) adequate reward for merit; (7) dethronement of mediocrity wherever it exists; and (8) guaranteeing for every Nigerian no matter his place of birth or state of origin, equal access to the good things of life.

24. The recent prohibition on pools betting and similar games has thrown hundreds of thousands of Nigerian

Awo’s thoughts PATH TO NIGERIAN GREATNESS

On the campaign trail

The framework of national policies* families into sorrow and financial distress. On our accession to office we will present to the National Assembly a Bill revoking the existing prohibition, and restoring the status quo.

25. Nigeria is a secular State. Accordingly, every Nigerian citizen will be guaranteed freedom of worship as well as freedom not to worship. Pilgrimage to Mecca and Vmra, and to Jerusalem will be better facilitated than is at present the case.

26. The implementation and execution of the policies and programmes of any Government depends on an efficient and loyal Civil Service. Without pampering them, and within the ambit of wholesome and salutary discipline which is itself conducive to efficiency, we will ensure: (1) that the morale and efficiency of civil servants are kept at their highest, and (2) that, to the latter end, their salaries and conditions of service are reasonably good and attractive.

27. For the prevention and detection of crime, and for the maintenance and enforcement of law and order in peace time, the Police are indispensable. So are the Armed Forces for the defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We shall therefore take immediate steps to reorganise and strengthen the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force, and, at the same time, review the salaries and conditions of service of those serving in these

Sunday Tribune

Forces, so that these crucial arms of the Executive are made as fit and effective as possible in the discharge of their peculiar and onerous duties.

28. In our present stage of managerial and technological development, and of politico-economic orientation, the private sector must be accorded an essential role in our economic growth and advancement. Accordingly we will give all those who carry on legitimate operations in this sector, be they Nigerian or non-Nigerian every encouragement to perform at their best, subject to such directives and guidelines as we may from time to time consider it necessary to give, in the overall interest of the country.

29. Just as an individual is a unit in a local or national community, so is Nigeria, or any other country for that matter, a unit in the world’s international community.

But unlike a national community, the international community has not yet succeeded in practising a common code of civilised behaviour. In spite of the strenuous efforts of the World Body - the UNO - each unit in the community remains a law unto itself, and regards its peculiar interests as paramount and over-riding. Where there is clash of interests between two countries, international justice is rare and might remains the touchstone of right.

There are gradations of races - depending on the colour of the skin and categories of powers - depending on military and economic strength. The black man is treated as the most abject of all - both in terms of colour and of military and economic might. And he has been so treated in all ages and in all history.

Our dual aim is to achieve equality of status for Nigerians and the black people with all other racial groups, and respectable economic strength for Nigeria in the international community. We will, therefore, do in foreign affairs, all such things as will from time to time ensure the attainment of these ends.

In closing, I would like to declare that programmes which I have outlined here this afternoon, among others, constitute our solemn pledge to the Nigerian electorate.

We have no doubt that, by the Grace of God, you will, next Saturday and in the subsequent elections, give us, by your massive votes for the UPN, the mandate to fulfil this pledge for the benefit, well-being and happiness of all our people.

A public Address delivered at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos on the 3rd of July 1979.

Concluded

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14

interview

7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

What govt must do to make KWASU greater

—ASUU chairman

Dr. Issa Abdulraheem, chairman, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kwara State University, (KWASU), Malete, Kwara State chapter, speaks with BIOLA AZEEZ on the situation on the university and the progress made so far.

H

OW will you assess the performance of the vice chancellor, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah,

so far?

Before I met the vice chancellor, I was in the United Kingdom. I have heard so much about Kwara State University. Because of the name and nature of the university, I decided to come to Ilorin to see things for myself. When I came in 2013, I was impressed with the performance of the state owned university, especially with all its programmes and I decided to join the university. Since then, I’ve not been disappointed with the progress of the university in terms of comparing and benchmarking it with other universities around the world.

Many rate state owned universities as inferior to FG-owned and even private universities. How would you react to such?

If you look at the ranking of universities in Nigeria today, the focus of KWASU is quite different. It is not a substandard university; rather, it’s a university that’s setting standard, especially when you look at the entrepreneurship programmes of the university,. You will see that the university is doing very well.

Other universities are coming to KWASU to emulate us. So, It’s very good.

Currently, you are playing host to the visitation panel set up by the visitor to the university, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State.

How do you describe activities of the panel so far and your expectation of the panel?

When I heard of the visitation as the chairman of the ASUU, KWASU chapter, I was impressed because I know that visitation panel as important in the organisation. It’s a way for the government to know the happenings in the university and it is another opportunity for my members; the academic staff of the university, to actually tell the government our challenges. In this case, since it’s a relatively new university, it is an opportunity for us to tell the government what we of expected them in terms of the support and modern unionism. It’s a very good thing and my expectation is that good things and positive things will come

out of the visit. I’ve met with the panel when they came to visit my college of Humanity, management and social sciences.

We had a very fruitful discussion. They gave us opportunity to tell them our challenges and expectation. At the end of the visitation, I expect that the government will see our challenges and address such challenges.

How far has the management and government supported staff development programmes ?

Again, I can say the university is doing well in this respect. And it’s the normal practice around the world. I studied in UK, University of East London to be precise. What obtained here is similar to that in terms of academic. Every academic staff is given opportunity to attend conferences locally and internationally. You can’t give what you don’t have. So, academic staff should be able to attend conferences, give students modern trends in education. So far, comparing KWASU with other universities in Nigeria and around the world, KWASU is doing well in terms of staff development. Not only that, KWASU has always been giving academic staff opportunities to address and give management some kind of advice in terms of academic performance, support and all that’s required. Again, management is also supporting some of our staff that are undergoing PhD programmes, local conferences for example. Even in terms of academic materials. We commend them.

What are challenges facing the academic staff?

We still have some other challenges that can make us to be better in terms of academic excellence, which we want the management and particularly the visitor or the university to address. For instance, salary of state and federal institutions should be the same. I’m saying this because it’s a kind of motivation for academic staff so that they are not seen as second class because all the programmes we are running in the university, and all the academic standard expected of us, are the same with other universities. Also in terms of allowances, there are some disparities between what we earn at the state level and the federal level. Moreover, we demanded that the management

be very sensitive on excess work load.

This is because as we are striving very hard to make sure that the university is progressing. Because we are working far above the normal student lecturer ratio, this will eventually lead to excess workload. This, the management has not addressed. It’s going to have the effect of reducing the zeal and motivation of my members. These are some of our challenges. The fourth thing we talked about is that despite trying in terms of staff development, we still need the management to do better than this. Because the management relies solely on TETFUND. TETFUND cannot do it alone. There should be certain amount coming from the management to sponsor my members to local conferences which I already discussed with the management. In terms of books and other resources, like electronic resources, the management also needs to do better because some of us now rely on our friends abroad and other universities around the world to get some electronic materials. I am very sure the management can subscribe to most of these data base, and other things like that.

Majorly, the union is now willing and our focus is to help the management in

generating more money, how to help the state government in solving some of its challenges being faced in the state and the country at large. To this visitation panel, my take is to look at union from different perspective. My type of leadership is not to ask but to give. My type of unionism is to address problems inherent on Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole. We have members from different departments that can conduct research that government can have a database and look for solution to some of the challenges, both social, economic challenges and all challenges from KWASU. This is my perspective and most of our programmes are such that can generate money for the institution. So, if the government should support unionism and change the orientation from destructive to constructive unionism, we can work together to make KWASU a very great university around the world.

Your last word?

To the management and government in particular, I want to assure them that my members are very willing to make KWASU great. We are proud to be staff of KWASU and to my members also, we always advise and encourage ourselves to look at our work and be more productive.

15

7 August, 2016

children’sarena

Sunday Tribune

Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 0807 449 7425

Words from the kids

The greatest lessons the Holy Book has taught us KEHINDE SAUAIB, 16YRS SSS2

SHITTU ADENIKE, 14YRS, SSS2

Quran has taught me different types of lessons but the greatest one is that Allah is one and we should treat our parents well. Quran taught me that Allah is one as it is revealed to the last Prophet Muhammad which says: Allah is one and Allah did not have children so we should believe in one God. The almighty Allah says in the holy Quran that we should worship him alone.

As a Muslim, Quran taught me to always obey my parents and everyone that is older than me. Also, it has taught me how to worship the almighty Allah alone and to believe that Muhammad is his messenger and his noble prophet that was sent to the Muslims.

ASHIRU KAWTHAR, 16YRS, SSS2

The great lessons Quran has taught me is not to associate anyone with Allah or worship any other God except the creator of everything which is Allah. The Quran also taught me to try as much as possible to die as a Muslim and not as a Kafr. The Quran also taught me to believe in all the six articles of faith, which are: believe in Allah; believe in the holy Quran; believe in Prophet Mohammed; believe in angels, believe in messengers and lastly, believe in the Day of Judgment.

GARUBA MUSA, 18 YRS, SSS2 Quran as the first source of Islam teaches and guide me on how to behave in the society and with people.

It teaches me to be obedient to my parents, leaders, teachers and so on. Through Quran, I know the things that are lawful and unlawful. I learnt how to worship and be thankful to Allah always. The Quran guides me to become a good and a complete Muslim. Quran tells me about some of the historical events of the past prophet which we can learn from. It serves as guardian to Muslims when they are going astray.

T

hey have no brain and no blood.

Starfish use filtered sea water to pump nutrients through their nervous system.

• They can be really heavy.

At least for something of their small size, sea stars can weigh up to 11 pounds.

• The average lifespan of a sea star is 35 years.

• A Starfish in not a fish.

They’re actually related to sand dollars and sea urchins.

• There are around 2,000 species of sea star. They live in cold and warm climates all over the world.

• They usually have five arms. There is a group of less common species that have more than five!

• They cannot survive in fresh water. All salt, all the

Starfish

time.

• They can regenerate. But its takes a while. It can take up to a year for a lost limb to grow back.

• They eat inside out. When they capture prey, they have tiny suction cups to grab a hold of their food. Then their stomach exits their mouth to digest the food, and reenters the body when they’re done eating.

FOLAWIYO RODIAT, 17YRS SSS2

The greatest lesson Quran has taught me cannot be over emphasised. Quran taught me that I should be a good ambassador of my family and that has made me to be a perfect image of my family. People didn’t really like or love those that do not have good behaviour or do so since the Quran has taught me a lesson that I should be doing good, many people like and love me. So Quran is a good book which serves a guide to all Muslims.

Respondents are students of Ansar-ud-deen Society Comprehensive College, Saki, Oyo State

Famousinvention

The History of Gramophone Early attempts to design a consumer sound or music playing gadget began in 1877 when Thomas Edison invented his tinfoil phonograph.

The word "phonograph" was Edison's trade name for his device, which played recorded sounds from round cylinders.

The sound quality on the phonograph was bad and each recording lasted for only one play. Edison's phonograph was followed

by Alexander Graham Bell's graphophone.

The graphophone used wax cylinders which could be played many times, however, each cylinder had to be recorded separately making the mass reproduction of the same music or sounds impossible with the graphophone.

On November 8 1887, Emile Berliner, a German immigrant working in Washington D.C., patented a successful system of sound recording.

Berliner was the first inventor to stop recording on cylinders and start recording on flat disks or records. The first records were made of glass, later zinc, and eventually plastic.

k ild ee h w C e th f o

Ayoyimika Abidemi Oshofowowe

4

recently clocked Many happy returns

16 Politics rules our every breath. Tragically, it is ruinous in such extreme. It is mostly responsible for the current global economic mess with insatiable fraud by the “corporate fat cats,” completing the recipe for the current disaster. Nigeria is worse off. Everything that should help her economic cause always ends in throes of sickening politics. But there seems to be a silver lining. The current administration says it is now ready to seek help anywhere and everywhere and I hope that includes avowed political enemy’s territory. This page is also determined to cut out of the politics crowd and add to the economy recovery debate. The piece below is one of such interventions. Many of these are also welcome from readers. Maybe, someone somewhere would just receive the inspiration for that badly-needed “Clue” for a new beginning around here.

7 August, 2016

0811 695 4647

olanreade@yahoo.com

By Wale Bolorunduro

Technocrats: assets or liabilities?

FTER about five years of sojourning in government, I still wonder if the Nigeria political class really needs professionals or technocrats to support its critical efforts to rebuild the nation and I also wonder, if the time is ripe for such engagement. My encounter with the unusual elder statesman and my reflection while resting in Canada informed the article that I am presenting over the next few weeks. In the first part, I shall be looking at the timing of using professionals in government. I received “a shot in the arm” last June and it came from Baba, our own democratic general, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who flew on Delta Airline’s plane with me on my way to Canada.

Initially, I didn’t know he was on the same flight, until we left the airplane and we were moving towards the immigration. I reasoned it must be one of his usual numerous global assignments on humanity, the specifics of which I did not bother to ask because I was sure it would be on conflict resolution, peace keeping or global initiatives on socio-economic development in Africa.

Immediately I sighted him behind me, I went back as a Yoruba boy to do the needful, that is, straight to the ground. I prostrated to greet him and on my way up, I reached out for his bag and collected it. I reckoned he was in a hurry to catch his connecting flight to New York and this was applicable to me too. I couldn’t wait to get into Canada, to rest and reflect thoroughly on the events in Nigeria and my activities in the last five years; an opportunity, which I have not had since 2013. Baba looked at me and said “Omo... (identity hidden) pele o. He paused suddenly and asked me if I was still in government. I wasn’t too sure of the answer to give. He held my hands and said don’t tell me you are leaving. He continued

“this place (referring to Atlanta airport and United States of America) works because they get their best hands from private sector and put them in governments to bring in efficiency and professionalism and to ensure the system works. He said with high sense of fulfillment, “I pioneered this in Nigeria and I believe so much in it.” Realising he was in an hurry and knowing this issue will be part of my reflection, I nodded and promised to come and see him. I figured it out that by then, I would have an answer, without being “politically incorrect,” after all I was also the chairman of the Buhari/Osinbajo APC Campaign Committee for my Ijesa North Federal Constituency and the party delivered the maximum votes, it has ever

A

By Folayan Olatunde A reader felt strongly enough about the penultimate Sunday’s offering in this column on the nation’s need for strong institutions that he sent in this piece. So, the column is yielded to him today.

In our quest for the eradication of the cankerworm in our society called corruption, we have come up with numberless attempts and methods. Yet a permanent solution has been elusive. We must ask ourselves: why?

In the medical profession, most diseases have cure. But the beginning of a permanent cure of any disease is the right diagnosis of that disease. Different known and generally acceptable treatments are available and would usually lead to a cure. However, if all known treatments are applied to a diagnosed disease and yet a cure remains elusive (as we have in the case of corruption in Nigeria) then the diagnosis is most likely wrong, or the medicament is fake. Incidentally, the two misadventures ravage our nation’s shallow search for the cure to her disease.

Again, in the medical profession, what most uninitiated believe to be a disease is actually a symptom of a disease; the real disease being a more deep-seated problem. Treating a symptom relieves pains for a while but does not cure the real disease and so fails to help the patient. Many readers will be stunned by the declaration that corruption really is not the disease of our country but a symptom of a more deep-seated disease. The real disease in our society is warped mindset; a warped and perverted mind that is a cesspit of corruption.

I was attracted to Sulaimon Olanrewaju’s Borderless in the Sunday Tribune of 24th July, 2016, by just two words: Institutions and Character. The summary of his treatise is simple. A virile society needs strong institutions, but strong institutions need strong characters. Beautiful treatise. But which institutions and strong characters from where? Surely, Donald Trump will not send them from America. Neither are we going to borrow some from Jerry Rawlings’ Ghana. We will have to produce our own men of strong characters.

I assume that Olanrewaju was referring to such institutions as the judiciary, the legislature, the executive, the bar, the medical profession, civil service and lots more when he mentioned ‘institutions.’ There is no doubt that we have to strengthen these institutions with men of characters. But where are we to get these men of characters? Of course from within.

With Sulaimon Olanrewaju 08055001708

lanresulaimon@yahoo.com

Re: The need for strong institutions

Characters are built by institutions, but not institutions of Olanrewaju’s definition. The real institutions are those ones that should be referred to as Traditional Institutions. Traditional Institutions are the homes, the schools, the religious institutions, different clubs and friends. These traditional institutions are factories where citizens are processed and characters developed. The finished products of these factories are then presented to Olanrewaju’s institutions to determine the virility or otherwise of the society.

It is what the home produces that would be presented to the religious bodies and schools, which would school and

Sunday Tribune

delivered to the progressives in the constituency.

Of course, this is the appointed time considering the status of the economy and the empty treasury, inherited by the Buhari administration. President Barrack Obama as “the Leader” relied on the private sector professionals in 2008 to help fixed the United States economy, after it has entered into economic depression, the greatest ever experienced since 1942.

It was an economic depression coupled with global financial meltdown. Meltdown is a term used in solid-state physics to describe a sudden transition of the state of a matter, without change in the measurable physical parameters. The economic team marshaled the plans and began to turn around the US economy, beginning with the sectors that could deliver values most. They succeeded in getting Americans back into jobs, in creating sustainable economic growth and in pulling many Americans out of poverty.

The beauty of engaging the professionals, especially in a private sector driven economy, is that they know “what is wrong” and the other players in the system know they know their tricks. Without compromising, the players will play according to the rules and commit to making things work for national progress and it becomes a game of “I know that you know that I know.” The professionals are likely going to appeal much more to the altruistic emotions of the “players” and they will be able to compel the economic players to contribute to the national economic growth and socio economic development. Therefore, if we allow the professionals, they have the courage and the determination required to pull the economy out of the woods and to solve the economic problems confronting Nigeria.

In this second part of the article, I shall be examining the working environment required to bring out the best from the professionals in government. It is obvious that Nigerians are no longer interested in the old stories of the economic potential of their country, its huge population, its huge gas reserve, its natural resources and minerals or vast agricultural/arable lands. All the blah blah! They know they are confronted with a myriad of socio-economic problems such as youth unemployment, restiveness in the oil-producing areas, inadequate power supply, poor infrastructures, e.t.c, that seem to be insurmountable in the face of the low level of foreign reserve, the unabated high importation that cannot be justified by the low industrial capacity, the poor export earning capacity resulting from oil installation/pipeline sabotage, the current price of crude oil in the international market and the lack of strong non-oil exports earnings.

Bolorunduro, Ph.D, is a former Commissioner for Finance in Osun State.

To be continued

present them to friends and clubs. By the time the products reach Olanrewaju’s institutions, they have become finished products, dried fish that cannot be bent. They have become individuals whose characters and mindset have become fixed.

It is always laughable when a leader promises to fight corruption if voted president. Vote-catching as it might sound, it is nothing more than a deadly joke, a fraud in the real sense of it. In the first place, a fight against corruption is not that of solo effort. It is not even a fight at all. It cannot be anything but a dramatic display of a populist gladiator.

The real fight should be against perverted mindset. When a perverted mindset is replaced in the society by the right mind, strong characters would emerge and a virile society would evolve. But the tragedy of our society is that the traditional institutions that should be held responsible for our national moral decadence are experts in playing the ostrich, burying their heads in the soil and blaming political institutions for our national tragedy.

The current political parties are less than 20 years old. But the traditional institution has been on board from the beginning. If a politician from a home, who went to the educational institutions and is a member of a religious group and social associations turns out to be corrupt, who should be blamed?

The church where he was born and baptised and where he worships every Sunday or a political party, which is not a moral school in the first place? It is common to see men of God on the pulpits preaching against corruption and corrupt politicians. But the pulpit on which he stands is bought with corrupt politician’s money. And after his sermon, he will feel honored to come down to embrace the very politician he had just preached against and probably receive envelopes from him.

Most corrupt politicians are known only by their political parties. The challenge should be that the religious, educational and social identities of such corrupt politicians should also be unmasked to the whole world, for they are more responsible for the citizens’ decadence.

In conclusion, the real fight against corruption will start when we realise that the fight is a collective responsibility and the building of men of character is everybody’s duty. Institutions that are responsible for the building of individual’s character need to be alive to their responsibilities.

Olatunde sent in the piece through folayanathisstripes@yahoo.com

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7 August, 2016

A pastor said he saw vision that I’m his wife —Aishat Lawal

I’m now the

Sunday Tribune

Why I wept at One Peace Concert —Harrysong

boys’ chick —Saeon

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7 August, 2016

Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

Sunday Tribune Seyi Sokoya seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08075166585

Harrysong weeps on stage as Peace Concert holds in Delta I

By Segun Adebayo

T was a homecoming event for Five Star Music act, Harrysong, when he stormed Asaba, Delta State, with more than 15 hip-hop stars to thrill the people of the state at the maiden edition of what he called ‘Harrysong Peace Concert Live in Delta’. The stage was set. The people were ready. The acts performed. Peace was preached through music.

The hip-pop acts flew in from Lagos State to support Harrysong, who has established himself as one of the hip hop singers in the country. For the first time in many weeks, the people of the troubled Niger Delta region switched their attention to good music brought to them courtesy of the Five Star Music. They all danced and savoured every minute of their stay inside The Dome Event Centre, Okpanam Road, Asaba, Delta State.

The show, according to Harrysong, was aimed at preaching peace in the region following the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers which have ravaged the area for months. True to him, there was never a dull moment as all the acts who performed at the event which lasted for more than eight hours came with the same mindset.

From Kcee to Phyno to the new guy on the bloc, Humblesmith, the music flowed inside the expansive venue and the people thrilled with popular songs such as Fada Fada, Osinachi and

Maltina Dance All returns with ‘Happiness Amplified’ for Season 9 MALTINA, the non-alcoholic malt drink, has announced the return of its family dance show, Maltina Dance All Season 9. The announcement was made at a media parley on Wednesday at the company’s office in Lagos State.

With Season 9 themed ‘Happiness Amplified’, Maltina, famous for sharing happiness and promoting family values, promised that the activities and dance routines lined up for this season

would heighten the excitement and happiness shared by competing families and viewers of the dance show.

According to Mr Franco Maria Maggi, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, “Maltina Dance All provides a platform for sharing happiness, promoting family values and bonding. The lives of various families have been positively affected through this platform.”

Mr. Maggi stated that the previ-

ous editions utilised the regional auditions format and that the brand received feedback that several families were unable to participate in those auditions due to travel constraints.

This year, the brand chose the online auditions format to make the dance show more accessible and give families the opportunity to submit entries for the 2016 Maltina Dance All from the comfort of their homes by making a short dance video and simply uploading it on the website.

“Maltina Dance All is one of the platforms through which the brand

connects with, and allow consumers heighten their interactions to share happiness,” said Mr. Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc. “The show through its creative and diverse dance routines brings incredible energy, excitement, and fun for competing families and fans. We can’t wait to see what season 9 will bring,” he added.

At the end of Season 9, the winning family will be rewarded with a grand prize of N10 million, while the first and second runners up will receive N3 million and N1 million respectively.

Fine Face. Kcee would later cap it up with his hit song, Bureau D Change. The people chorused the songs in excitement and asked for more.

Harrysong, who doubles as MTN and Gala ambassador, knew they would ask for more and he was prepared for them. He would later respond to their yearnings by introducing Orezi, Solidstar and Iyanya, and the crowd became unctrollable. There were more acts waiting to perform at the back stage but it seemed the people had had enough. Duncan Mighty, Timaya, Ehiz of MTV and DJ Neptune preached peace with music.

There were comedians in the building too. Akpororo, Frank D Don, Gordons and I Go Dye were in their best moments as they cracked up the people in their usual style.

For Harrysong, it was time to give back but he betrayed emotion when his mother joined him on stage to celebrate her son for the success he has recorded. If she had been sad that Harrysong left Asaba for Lagos in search of greener pasture some years back, the crowd, the excitement and the successful music career of her son would make up for the those times.

Speaking with R after the event, Harrysong revealed that “I am happy that our aim was achieved.

We promised to unite the people with music and succeeded in doing that. The show has come to stay as I am already looking forward to the next edition. I was sad about the news coming out of Niger Delta in the last few months and I felt like coming up with a show that would preach peace and unite the people. Thank God we pulled it through.”

‘All Road Leads to Love’ hits DStv, GOtv channels

By Newton-Ray Ukwuma FOR lovers of Mexican soaps and Telemundo, a new series with the title, “All Road Leads to Love” has been billed to hit major paid channels this August.

From the creator of top telenovela such as ‘For Love and

Justice’ and ‘My Heart Beats for Lola’, brand new telenovela will be screened on Telemundo (DStv Channel 118 & GOtv channel 14).

All Road Lead to Love tells the story of Eva Soler, a woman discovering her strength through her own undoing.

Eva, played by Edith González, is a tough and determined beauty who dreams of becoming a truck-driver. Her search for purpose, love and happiness provides the special twist in the plot structure. Her story riveted on the theme of suspicion, love triangles, betrayal and revenge.

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razzmatazz

7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘What I want to achieve in music’

By Seyi Sokoya

AFRO-SOUL singer, Bibi, did not disappoint dignitaries and guests that graced her official unveiling at live concert held in Lagos State as she thrilled them with special performances of her album entitled: ‘Jeje’, last weekend.

With good music and energetic displays, Bibi left an impression that will last for a while on her fans and friends who came out to watch her performance.

Bibi, a 17-year-old undergraduate of Redeemer University, proved her readiness to shine with her genre of music.

Speaking with newsmen at the event, she said her music, the drama

and message were borne out of the desire to inspire and positively impact society. ‘‘I don’t just want to make money, I want people to sit and think whenever they are listening to my songs; even somebody who is about to commit suicide to listen and respond positively to the message I am communicating. ‘‘It is not about whether I am a gospel artist or not. I try to infuse spirituality in my sound to encourage, inform, entertain, impact my hearers including the elderls, fathers, mothers or children, so they can do right,’’ she said.

She added that her performance of Bob Marley’s track did not mean a tilt to activism, but essential communication and expression of her self.

Beulah

How police broker truce between juju artistes

By Seyi Sokoya POPULAR Abeokuta-based Juju artistes, Abdul Wasiu Ayinde Olaiya, otherwise known as Mr Beulah and Michael Ayoola Akinola, a.k.a Alayo, have both ended their long rift and assured their fans that they are now best of friends.

Alayo was said to have publicly assault Beulah at an event held at Police Officer’s Mess, Ibara GRA, Ogun State which also had in attendance of the then State Commissioner, Almajid Ali, among other personalities.

The peaceful gathering turned the other way when Alayo suddenly climbed the stage to stop Beulah from praising him.

R gathered that a peace meeting was arranged by the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Ogun State, Superintendent Police Officer, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, last week, where the duo embraced peace.

The artistes confirmed to R on Friday that they had resolved their differences in order to allow

Gospel musicians get new executives August 11

By Seyi Sokoya ALL is set for the election of new national executives of the Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), which will mark the end of six years reign of Reverend Timi Orokoya as the current president of the association of gospel music practitioners.

According to a release made available to R and signed by the secretary of the association’s election committee, Canon Gboyega Babayeju, the release stated that the election is billed for August 11 at the God of Glory Christian Church, Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos State, while accreditation of delegates for the election is expected to commence by 7.00p.m.

Speaking further on the election, the chairman of the election committee, Prophet Oluwatunmibi Oluwaseun, said that preparations are in the top gear to give the association the best election in the history of its establishment, assuring that, “we will do everything within our disposal to give our best and we pray for a successful election. I don’t mind if this is going to be the legacy I will leave behind in the association. It must be the best.”

Gospel singer, Evangelist (Dr.) Funmi Aragbaye, who is one of the contenders for the post of president of the association, in a brief chat said, “This is a divine moment for me and a time to listen to the clarion call from God and people in the gospel music arena.

I’m ready to serve my God and my people in this capacity. And I will use everything within my disposal to turn the association around.”

Also, Revrend Bassey Ekpeyong Okon, who is also contesting, promised to restore the old glory of the association if he emerged the

Alayo

president.

Others who are also vying for various positions in the forthcoming election include Pastor Kayode Iyiola who is contesting for PRO; Evangelist (Dr.) Femi Opalemo.

peace to reign.

Alayo, who was accused of publicly assaulting his fellow artiste (Beulah), said that he did not have issues with his colleagues again, adding that they are now good friends.

Alayo added that, “It is true that a peace meeting was organised by the Ogun PPRO; we are no more fighting and I want to assure fans that we will start sharing stages.”

Despite the assault on his personality, Beulah also confirmed that the peace meeting had resolved problem between him and Alayo, adding that, “Initially, I had no grudge against him despite his embarrassments before it became obvious that we are not in good terms.

“I think the peace talks which yielded a positive result will douse all tensions among fans and beyond the city that we no longer have anything against each other.

I love and respect him and I don’t pray such will happen again because I see him as a good friend and brother.”

The Voice Nigeria winner set for Dubai trip

By Segun Adebayo ETIHAD Airways in conjuction with DSTV is set to sponsor the winner of The Voice Nigeria, a Nigerian version of the internationally acclaimed reality singing competition, Arase Emokpae.

As part of the sponsorship, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates is providing the winner and their partner with air tickets to Abu Dhabi to experience some of the best entertainment and attractions the capital of the UAE has to offer. The winner will also be provided with four nights complimentary stay at one of the city’s premium hotels.

Around 50 of the best singers and bands in Nigeria took part in the competition – which was whittled down in the preliminary stages to a line-up of eight contestants taking part in the finale, which took place at Sasani Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday, July 31.

Following the closely fought competition, which was determined by public vote and verified by Deloitte, Agharese Emokpae, popularly known as A’rese, was announced the winner of The Voice Nigeria.

George Mawadri, Etihad Airways’ General Manager, Nigeria, said: “We are delighted to support the first season of this show, which has proved to be a tremendous hit with the Nigerian public.

“I congratulate A’rese on winning

the competition, and I am sure that she and her companion will have a marvellous time when they fly with Etihad Airways, and during their stay in Abu Dhabi.”

Abu Dhabi is a unique and modern city which is fast becoming

one of the world’s most exciting cultural and commercial tourism hubs, providing visitors with the opportunity to experience the best of traditional and modern Arabian hospitality.

Etihad Airways launched its ser-

vice between Lagos and Abu Dhabi on July 1, 2012, and currently operates four-times-per-week using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft configured to carry 254 guests, with 18 in Business Class and 236 in Economy Class.

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7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune With Segun Adebayo &Seyi Sokoya tegbollistic@yahoo.com seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08116954644 08132577840

For Oyo State-born pop singer, Seun Oni, otherwise known as Saeon, it has been mixed feelings since she made her debut in the music industry.

The ‘Boogie Down’ crooner has had her fair share of the good and bad side of the industry. In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, Saeon speaks on her career and other issues.

d e v i e c e r I Day

t a e r h t h t dea —Saeon

W

HAT prompted the open letter you released recently?

It was because I wanted to connect with the people and I want to feel them too.

I wanted them to connect with the real me and not my personality that had been painted or defined. I wanted them to let go of the perception they might have had due to past events in my life. I also felt the need to take them on the journey of my transition and revelation.

What was responsible for your low profile?

Things were just not working. I felt like my efforts were having the wrong effect and that I was approaching my career the wrong way. I took a break to re-evaluate a lot of the decisions I had made in the past. I’m glad I did because it paid off and things are going better than they have ever been. I keep striving to be better at my craft and my main focus this time round is to positively inspire.

What were you doing during the break?

I was doing a lot, but mostly, I was recording. It was all about self-reflection and self-rediscovery. I was rebuilding my brand and re-strategising.

You were said to have received death threats some time ago, how did you receive the news?

I’ll rather not talk about the death threat issue because it is such a sensitive topic and I have made peace with it. I’m in

a very happy place now and would love to keep myself happy.

It is believed that you have not been given the necessary support that could have pushed your career beyond this level?

It wasn’t like I didn’t have any support. I did, especially from my family and some friends. But it wasn’t as much as I’d have loved for it to be. Then again, on the path to greatness, one might not have as much as they’d need to get and that is fine.

It usually happens that way because people may not understand your vision at the early stage. That is where prayer, faith, hardwork, self belief, perseverance, consistency and the like come in.

Your recent photo shoot generated reactions from people.

I’m a creative person. I think differently. More importantly, I have a strong conviction about what I do because in everything I do, I understand there is a message to be sent, a life to be touched, change to be effected. I don’t expect everybody to love what I do. I did a themed shoot. It was tasteful. The essence of it was to take people through my rebirth process. I needed to be as vulnerable as possible to do that. I have come to understand that people will always judge whether or not one’s intentions are good. I had positive intentions. Some people might not have seen it that way, but that is how they perceived anything I do and that is okay. Above all, I feel we all need to understand that we are responsible for how we perceive and interpret things. We own our minds and the ability to exercise

I’m in a very happy place now and would love to keep myself happy.

control over it.

Now that you are back, what is the new thing your fans should expect?

I am myself and I’m sure that it is the genuineness that is resonating. I’m thankful for the progress so far and for all my Morudans who rock with me. I have and focus on my core fan base. My duty is to them. I am now the boys’ chick. Saeon Moruda with the 87swags; I am confident and focused. Saeon has created her lane and found her comfort zone. I am here to inspire, effect positive change and to stay.

What is your general assessment of the Nigerian entertainment industry?

I think the industry is definitely on the map. It has developed faster than it ever did in the past. The international eyes are on us. I feel so honoured to be part of its process and development.

Your most valued bodily asset?

My natural hair; It’s wavy! Trust and believe. I want to appreciate my TeamNatural sisters for their support so far.

What should your fans expect from you now?

A dance viral by Awanjo dancers was released recently.

The main video will be out in a couple of weeks, followed by a body of work I’ve been putting together which showcases Saeon as a singer as well as a rapper. I have launched the #87Swags. It features fun which will afford my fans the opportunity to see me from drawstring and tote bags to phone and laptop cases to t-shirts and hoodies to stickers.

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7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

PEOPLE

places&parties

With Adebayo Segun 08116954644

Adekunle Gold’s day of joy

Bayo Adelabu’s other side IF the news filtering out of the camp of Ibadan-born banker, Bayo Adelabu, is anything to believe, then it may interest many people that the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) appears to have started making some quiet moves that will excite his people.

A silent achiever, PPP was informed by those who should know that Adelabu, who does not allow his busy schedule at the apex bank distance him from his Ibadan roots, is said to be paying attention to the calls from his loyalists, who are encouraging him to throw his hat into the ring ahead of the 2019 election.

The man who has interests in hospitality and real estates is loved by many in his home town, who believe he has a promising political future.

H

E’S fast proving to be the man of the moment and from what was displayed at his album listening on Thursday, Adekunle Gold proved that he wants to stay in the music industry for a long time.

Industry elite, fans and brand executives who were at the event would not forget in a hurry how they were thrilled with Gold performance. It will be remembered as the night, Adekunle Gold ascended the throne of musical royalty, taking up the scepter of authority and stamping his reign as the king of urban high life.

Gold put up a special performance at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos State, to the excitement of invited guests.

The singer performed the entire track list of the GOLD album accompanied by a live band.

The ambiance was definitely not the norm as the excitement from the audience could be felt from their cheers of approval. He displayed fluidness like never seen before as he took the audience on a visual ride of

the songs on the album.

The event reached its hallmark when Gold performed one of fans’ favourite’s off the GOLD album, ORENTE. The harmony between the audience and the band spoke volumes.

Guests danced, sang along and cheered the performers. Ultimately, Gold bared his soul to his audience.

Asides his grand performance, the multi talented artiste, had paintings representing each song on the album auctioned at the event along with deluxe copies of the album. This establishes him as the first artiste to have a pictorial representation of an album in Nigeria.

Sunday Are turns the table POPULAR artiste manager, Sunday Are, appears to have started making plans for life after showbiz.

If the news reaching PPP is anything to believe, then Are may have delved into hospitality business as PPP gathered that the CEO of List Entertainment, the management company that currently manages Wizkid,

is savouring his new interest.

Those who should know informed PPP days back that the expansive edifice, LA Christine Suites, which is located at Aderibigbe, Shitta Street, Maryland, Lagos State, is now the talk of the town as many celebrities have suddenly turned the place to their

Yemi Lawal still unstoppable THINK of a restless spirit, Yemi Lawal, owner of Club GQ, will fit perfectly into the description. Those who are close to the tall and hardworking enterpreneur whose big influence on the social scene cannot go unnoticed, especially among socialites and musicians, who flock around him like a swarm of bees anytime he opens his club, which is located at Awolowo avenue, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Although he’s said to still be nursing the wound occas-

sioned by his failed political moves that would have seen him occupy a seat in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

But that has not slowed him down a bit. The news coming out of the camp of the young man, which PPP was privy to suggested that Lawal, fondly called by GQ, is prepared to run for the seat again and as such began networking and consulting wide with the those that matter to actualise his dream for real this time.

new ‘home’.

Trust the cosmopolitan dude, he expressed his stylish inclination by putting up a luxury boutique in the heart of Lagos.

When asked why he delved into hotel business, Are said “I have always cherished business of making people feel comfortable

away from home and LA Christine Suites is just a perfect choice for them.”

Are was the brains behind the success of the defunct Mo’hits crew that ruled the music industry for years before they fell apart.

Apart from Wizkid, Are also manages Omawumi and other artistes.

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7 August, 2016

makeover

Cost There are many alternatives, when it comes to hair extensions, but when going for bolder colours, it’s best to stick to a trusted product name, even if it may cost a little bit more. Fake products have a way of looking tangled and messy after a few days, especially with braids.

Combination Multi-coloured hair extensions are also not a bad idea but be sure that the colours combine well. However, the best bet is to go the Yemi Alade way by combining with darker and more natural hair colours. Bold hair colours, of as many shades and colours as possible, combine hair with shades of black. The important note for the stylist is to measure volume of the various colours appropritely, depending on the hairstyle.

Shade Some bold-coloured lovers may be ignorant of the fact that bold hair extensions come in many shades of various colours.

Purple, for instance, can come in shades of dark purple, violet, crimson, light purple, deep violet, among others. Red can

Uche Ogbodo. PHOTO: www.nigeriamovienetwork.com

Yemi Alade. PHOTO: EXQUISITE MAGAZINE

Rocking

bold hair colour for all occasions come in shades of dark red, reddish brown, burgundy, maroon, among others.

Skin tone Not every bold hair colour can

For a working-class lady, and even entrepreneurs, rocking bold hair colours on the entire hair comes with certain risks

work for every skin tone. For example, pink hair extension on a dark-skinned lady will be too loud to pull off. Fair people can pull off pink, but it also depends on the skin tone of such fair complexion. Dark complexioned people can pull off purple and red hair colour, depending on the shade of purple or red. Dark purple, maroon, burgundy, violet can work for dark-skinned ladies.

It can also work for light-skinned people as well. Blue, green, and orange hair extensions can work for light and fair-skinned people, depending on the skin tone and

PHOTO: www.hergivenhair.com

Suitability It is easier for female artistes, students, to make hair using bold colours, and even at that, it depends on the rules that govern such institution. However, for a working-class lady, and even entrepreneurs, rocking bold hair colours on the entire hair comes with certain risks.

As attractive as the hair may look from far, for many work environments, and for meeting prospective clients (in the case of entrepreneurs), rocking a bold hair colour may make you come off as unserious.

If you feel the need to use bold extensions in such formal settings, use them at the tips of the hair, and for weaves, you could use them, albeit almost invisibly, in-between corn rows, by mixing them with darker colours.

Rita Okonoboh 08053789087 rosarumese@gmail.com

PHOTO: www.therighthairstyles.com

U

NCOMMON hair colours rarely go out of style, but in recent times, the wave of bolder hair colours is sweeping across Nigeria’s fashion world.

With braids, weaves, weavons and wigs, more and more ladies are embracing the bold alternatives to hair colour – especially the colours white, pink, green, purple, red, gold and blue.

While some have settled for adding a tinge of the unusual colour to the tips of the hair, more daring women embrace the entire package. Ms Dolapo Abiola, Manager of Pearls and Beauties Bridals and Salon, Abule Egba, Lagos State, shares some tips on using uncommon hair colours.

Sunday Tribune

hair shade. However, the rules differ for when the bold colour is used as an extension or takes up the entire hair. With coloured hair tips, as many colours can be used for various skin tones, but that also depends on the combination with natural hair colours.

Make-up When you use bold hair colours, especially if it takes up the entire hair, less make-up should be used especially on the lips, cheeks and eyes, unless the occasion specifically requires loud make-up and bold hairdo.

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7 August, 2016

sundayzest

Sunday Tribune

With Victory Oyeleke victoryoyeleke@yahoo.com

Chinese community where women cut their hair once in a life I F you thought Rapunzel was resigned to fairy tales then meet the women of Huangluo village in south-west China.

Female members of the Yao ethnic group in China’s Guangxi province only ever cut their hair once in their lives usually before they marry, according to the People’s Daily Online.

There are around 60 women in the village with hair three feet long with one villager’s locks measuring seven feet long.

Huangluo village in Guangxi province is home to the Yao ethnicity which is characterised by their red embroidered dresses and their long hair.

According to China.org.cn, the Yao tribe dates back some 2,000 years.

There are 600 members of the tribe in the total made up of 78 families.

Most of the women’s hair hangs down to their ankles with 60 members of the tribe with hair longer than three feet.

The longest hair in the village is seven feet long.

51-year-old Pan Jifeng is one of the women of tribe who has kept to tradition, only cutting her hair once in her life.

According to Pan, a secret has been passed down by generation to generation for local women to keep their long locks healthy and shiny.

She said villagers would keep the water they use to wash glutinous rice, then wash their hair with it.

She told reporters about the tribe’s traditions: ‘‘We do not

When we reach the age of 18, we get our first haircut as part of a coming of age ceremony which signifies that the girl is now an adult and can marry.

cut o u r hair from birth.

‘When we reach the age of 18, we get our first haircut as part of a coming of age ceremony which signifies that the girl is now an adult and can marry.’’

The hair cut off at the ceremony is not to be thrown away, but preserved.

After marriage and childbirth, this section of the hair is weaved and worn in the

form of a hairpin as a distinction between married and unmarried women.

Many of the women work as performers in a local troupe that put on shows for tourists coming to the region.

Pan along with her two daughters-in-law are part of the troupe.

Pan’s young granddaughter has already started growing her hair but she says it’s up to her granddaughter if she wants to keep growing it.

A woman in China holds the Guinness World Record for the longest hair.

The world’s longest documented hair belongs to Xie Qiuping which measured 18 feet and 5.54 inches in May 2004.

24

Sunday Tribune

Sunday Tribune

7 August, 2016

glamour Nollywood actress, Lawal Aishat Oladunni, holds an LL.B degree in Law and Master’s in Public Administration from Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State. She speaks with TAYO GESINDE on how she has been coping with stardom and what she is doing to step up her game. Excerpts: Foray into acting OR me, acting started on stage. I started doing stage performances with Taiwo Ibikunle, Yemi Akintokun and some directors. I did Moremi and the like. Then Taiwo Ibikunle told me that I could actually make a living from this thing you are doing. Then it was actually a hobby. He then told me about J15 owned by Femi Adebayo, I joined the group and that was how acting started professionally in 2010.

F

A pastor said he saw me in vision as his wife —Aishat Lawal

The journey so far It has been bitter-sweet experience. My grandfather would say may your road be rough. The road had been seriously rough. I have had to sleep inside location bus, hotel receptions, I have been harassed, oppressed and I have faced a whole lot of challenges. I thank God things are getting better now.

Challenges faced The major challenge has to do with individual differences and conflicting interests. The way senior colleagues demand respect from one, it was almost as if one was learning tailoring or hairdressing. I found that amusing when I joined the industry. Another challenge was that you kept on going to locations without getting paid and without food to eat or a place to sleep.

Movies I have featured in My first appearance was in Adun Madeke. I was asked to act the role of a prostitute. It was during Ramadan and I was fasting, so, I said I can’t play this role. Funke Akindele asked me, are you sure you want to come into this industry? At the end of the day, I had to act the role. I have also featured in Onika Mesan, Irugbin, Fifehanmi and so on. The first movie I produced was Amin Agbara, in 2010, while I did the second one; Irugbin in December, 2012 and that was the movie that gave me my major breakthrough.

Role models Joke Silva, Fathia Balogun, Bimbo Oshin, Muyiwa Ademola, to mention a few.

My relationship with other colleagues I have a good relationship with them.

Even when we have misunderstanding or we step on one another’s toes, I believe in apologising and moving on.

On why artistes have disagreements with one another

I think the major reason is the fact that some people lack exposure or education because once you are exposed and you are educated some things won’t really make meanings to you. I don’t know why some people would want to wash their dirty linen in public.

Coping with competition I am not a competitive person naturally. I don’t know how to compete for things. I told myself years back that I wanted to trend but I don’t want to trend on negative publicity and I don’t want to compete with anybody.

There is no race here. I want to do it in my own pace. It doesn’t matter if my colleagues are ahead of me, I will also get there.

How I intend to step up my game Somebody told me recently that I needed to get a publicist so I can become an ambassador but I told him that everything has to do with packaging in Nigeria. Ambassadorial deals are not a big deal like we see them in Nigeria. I believe in stepping up my game, taking my career to the next level, I believe in doing a good job. I like the fact that when I go to market, people commend me that I do good movies. I like it when they see my name on a jacket and they say my movies are always very sensible. That is why I am working on another big project. I did one two years ago; Shadow. It was in the cinema but it is not yet on DVD. Most embarrassing things fans did to me It was when I went for a movie shoot at Oyo town in Oyo State. I was coming from a popular hotel, which was on the outskirts of the town and I didn’t want to go back into the town so I crossed to the express to board a vehicle. When I boarded the vehicle, two guys were arguing about me.

One said I am the actress, the other one said I was not the one.

According to one of them, I am more beautiful than the person he used to watch on TV who he said was too skinny. They concluded that I couldn’t be an actress since I didn’t have a car. It was really embarrassing.

Handling advances from male fans Sincerely, I don’t think there is a better way to handle them.

You just keep doing it the way it comes. Some make you so upset and there are some that you can talk to in a matured way. Sometimes, it can be crazy. Some people would say that they went to their pastors and their pastors

said I would be their wife. There was a particular pastor who called me from Akure, he has a church there and he said while praying on the mountain, my vision came to him that I would be his wife. I told him I was a Muslim and he said it didn’t matter. I told him to go back to the mountain to pray again.

Definition of style Looking good and simple.

Beauty regimen I don’t have one. The only thing I do is to sleep and drink of plenty water. I don’t makeup when I am not going out or on set.

Opinion on toning I think once you are comfortable in your skin, you should not tone. Initially, the industry made people think they needed to tone but the game has changed. It is no longer about your complexion but about how well you can interpret your role.

On provocative dressing I can wear provocative dresses when acting. I can also wear it at home for my husband when I am married or when I am driving but when I am not driving, I am on jean and top. I don’t like it when people are on bike and they are pulling their dresses down, I always wonder why they wore such dresses in the first place.

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With Tayo Gesinde temiligali03@yahoo.com 08054727801

I can do anything as long as it is not stealing Though Funmi Lawal has been in the movie industry for quite a while, she only features in movies she produced herself. In a chat with TAYO GESINDE, she speaks on how she has been combining her acting career with the home front.

WHAT has been happening careerwise?

I have been doing well as much as possible. Though the industry is not doing so well, life still goes on.

Coping with competition Competition? As for me, I don’t see any because I’m not one to notice such.

Other things I do aside acting I do a lot so far it is not stealing. I try to engage myself in any little way I can.

Pains and gains of being a celebrity Honestly, one experiences both a lot.

as you are okay in your own little way. So, it is not something you can run away from but I know how to manage myself in that area.

Most embarrassing thing a fan did to me I guess the day I decided to go out in a bus instead of driving and I sat in front of two passengers, who said see Funmi Lawal, she doesn’t even have a car. It was kind of funny.

Combining acting with the home front Let me make something clear I’m not a full-time actress; I only appear in the movies I produce, so acting doesn’t affect my home

Description of self I’m always me. I don’t care what others are doing. I do whatever I’m comfortable with. I don’t lead a fake life. I try to be as natural as much as possible.

Philosophy of life Life should be lived as simple as possible.

Most challenging role I think that would be in my last movie, Detola Nubi, where I acted different roles. I acted the role of an old woman and a young lady who was also an armed robber.

How I handle advances from men Getting advances from men is normal as far

I don’t live a fake life. I try to be as natural as much as possible

in any way whatsoever.

Definition of style Style is simply what you are comfortable in.

Beauty regimen Do I have one? I don’t think I do and I’m sure you will find that hard to believe.

Opinion on toning I really can’t say much about that because it is something I did before but I don’t think I ever want to go back there.

Special treat Pampering myself always involves my man and my daughter, because they mean the world to me. We spend quality time together in our own little way.

My view on provocative dressing I don’t wear it and at the same time, I’m also not against people wearing it.

My likes and dislikes I like people who are black and do not pretend that they are white. Some people appear to be white but they are actually black inside. In summary, I like sincerity a lot. I dislike people who come to social media just to say ‘ see me I’m living well.’

Assessment of Nollywood It is getting better or simply put, it will get better.

On whether I have regrets Yes and no. I don’t want to say much on that.

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7 August, 2016

With Akintayo Abodunrin akinjaa03@yahoo.co.uk 08111813058

With Chameleon, Danisa spotlights rot in oil industry The massive theft of Nigeria’s crude oil in exchange for weapons and sundry issues are examined in the movie set to open in cinemas very soon

A

HEAD of its premiere later this month in Lagos, Luxembourgbased writer, producer and actor, David Ivan Danisa, says his movie, ‘Chameleon’, couldn’t have come at a better time, especially given current happenings in the nation’s oil industry.

Shot on locations in Nigeria, Germany, Luxembourg, Brussels and Paris, ‘Chameleon’ tells the story of two antagonistic and ruthless characters, one from Luxembourg and the other, a Nigerian spy on an important mission to save his country’s oil industry.

Speaking at an interaction with journalists in Lagos during a brief visit to Nigeria, Danisa discloses that he made the movie starring foreign actors Michael Fourage, Carlos Ferreira, Juliana Alves Rosa, Yolanda Trono, Mendaly Ries and himself amongst others, to expose the criminal involvement of a very ruthless network spread across different continents in Nigeria’s oil industry.

Having been an investigative reporter on the energy desk of a Nigerian newspaper which made him travel far into the creeks while working on exclusive stories, Danisa says he is eminently qualified to highlight the massive theft of Nigerian crude oil in exchange for weapons in movie format.

The History graduate who spent two years shooting the movie says he was fur-

A scene from Chameleon ther motivated to make the film because of “the zeal to inform people about what is happening around them in their localities in a language they can easily relate to. To tell them and present it the way they will understand.”

His life, he adds, has been tailored towards making this particular movie because “at age nine, I started reading newspapers.

Armed with a degree in History, I joined journalism, writing for the foreign desk and

later moved around the various desks and then to the business and energy desk.”

Being on the business and energy desk, Danisa says, gave him an insight into the murky world of crude oil exportation and arms importation. According to him, “The insight came out of curiosity. The insight came actually when I was a teenager and people talked about oil bunkering. As a teenager we discussed how this works and the money involved. Then, for somebody to

Team Nigeria set to shine at World Hip Hop Dance championship HISTORY will be made later today in Las Vegas, Nevada, US when the 2016 World Hip Hop Dance Championship opens with two Nigerian representatives, The Clique and The Future in the mix.

Being the first time in the history of the week-long competition that two Nigerian teams will be competing, expectations are high that the country will have a good showing at the event also known as ‘World Dance Olympics’.

In fact, to ensure that they earn the bragging rights as the world’s number one hip hop dance crew, the Nigerian contingent departed for the competition produced by Los Angeles- based Hip Hop International (HHI) on Friday.

They were led by Mr. Mike Oseghale, the Technical Director of Hip Hop International Nigeria, one of the 50 global official licensees of Hip Hop International that facilitates the participation of street dancers and dance crews at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship and World Battles.

The Nigerian teams comprised dancers from the top three groups at the 2016 Nigerian Hip Hop Dance Championship held in Lagos in April. They are The Craft, FFD Reloaded and Bold5ive.

Speaking on Nigeria’s participation in the contest, the Country Director, Hip Hop International Nigeria, Engr. Ademola Andrew Owolabi, disclosed that this is the third time his organization would be sponsoring dancers from Nigeria to the championship.

Dancers of The Craft He however lamented that despite his outfit’s efforts to provide a platform for Nigerian youth to showcase their skills globally, he has been unable to attract the support of both government and corporate Nigeria Owolabi, who reiterated that government and corporate organizations need to look beyond music and movies and exploit the benefits of dance as a tool for empowerment, said his Hip Hop International Nige-

ria has been the sole financier of the qualifiers and the teams’ trip to the US. Team Nigeria will be vying for honours with 3,500 dancers from 50 countries and will also have the opportunity to attend the Urban Moves Dance Workshops led by dance icons Brian Puspos, Tight Eyez, Matt Steffanina and Parris Goebel among others.

The contest will be broadcast on Star Times and on the AIT network.

steal crude oil for us was a big thing because the country was centralized and not that privatized as it is now.”

On the factuality of the issues raised in the movie, Danisa says: “I will say they are 100 per cent facts. I was a journalist in Nigeria, I studied History and some of the issues discussed in this movie are things I wrote on while in school. I also work in the financial institution abroad and I have worked on cases involving Nigerians which I can’t talk about here. There are arms being shifted to Nigeria as we speak and those arms are coming in for destruction.”

On what he wants to achieve with the movie, especially with the current state of affairs in the oil sector and its effect on the economy, Danisa explains: “I had discussed this with my boss as an editor a long time before now and I think I am like a wizard. I do something independently on my environment and then I see the interrelationship of an article I did days back becoming a national issue. I know when I started writing this story, it was not so big an issue in Nigeria, it was just a reflection of ideas I tried to develop as a child.

Sometimes you think you are working independently and not being influenced by the variables in the environment but subconsciously it just might be that you are being influenced. Perhaps that’s just it. This is a big issue now and our existence as a country is being threatened by it.”

He is also well aware that the movie will create lots of debates and discussions and is prepared for it. “I will say I am not afraid to say that I took a political position. The way I see it is from a different position. I think it can be used as a political expression in a political way.”

Danisa also assures that he’s not afraid that the cabal involved in oil bunkering and arms importation will come after him for revealing too much of their secret. “I don’t think I have revealed anything incriminating about any one. What I have tried to do is to awaken our collective aspiration as a people. Individuals, government and the agents of state all have a role in tackling the menace seriously haemorrhaging our economy,” he says matter of factly.

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7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

thepolity Reps and the budget padding blues The House of Representatives is in the eye of the storm in respect of the budget padding allegations ignited by former chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin. Is it all a hoax or a corruption war? Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA, attempts some answers.

A

day before the National Assembly proceeded on the annual recess, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, dropped a bombshell on the floor of the green chamber. He announced the removal of the chairman of House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibril, whom he said had approached him earlier in the day to tender a verbal resignation, after the leadership of the House had decided to sack him. There was no doubting the fact that the decision would claim some further casualties. And the events afterwards did not disappoint.

The position of chairman of Appropriation Committee either in the Senate or in the House of Representatives is one that comes with so much influence. The Appropriation committee, being the one that oversights all the standing committees in the appropriation process is a big one. The chairman in some sense is seen as alternate presiding officer and is respected as such. He is usually the alter ego of the presiding officers, as the parliament’s power of appropriation is considered its most potent weapon.

Hon. Jibril played a major role in the emergence of Speaker Dogara. So his emergence as Appropriation Committee chairman did not come as a surprise to his colleagues. Right now, the centre is no longer holding between the Speaker and his ally as the public space has, in the past two weeks, been dominated by so much bad blood coming out of the two camps.

Jibril has accused the House leadership, especially the quartet of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Lasun Yusuf, House Whip, Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, of hijacking the budget process and doctoring the Budget document to the tune of over N400 billion.

It was a strange allegation that many had initially taken with a pinch of salt. Many who listened to Jibril’s submissions initially came with the mindset of why it took him so long.

Many were quick to link the hell being raised to Jibril’s anger to the loss of the plum committee job. But the Kano lawmaker moved quickly to dominate the media space. He launched several attacks on the social and traditional media, with daily press statements, which revealed parts of the budget padding deals.

With a bit of razzmatazz, with which he was introduced to the Speakership race in 2015, Jibril soon gained attention. What was initially dismissed as “bad belle” soon started gaining attention of both the political and economically minded and it soon became a matter of national importance. As of the last count, the APC had to wade in by calling on Jibrin to stop further commens, but this was only after he had forwarded petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the police and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). The police have indeed waded into the matter with invitations extended to the leadership of the House.

Jibril’s allegations The allegations by Hon. Jibril go deep into the workings of the House. Some carry elements of deep personal animosity against the Speaker and the named principal officers, while others tend to showcase the Kano legislator as an anti-corruption crusader. Besides alleging that the 2016 appropriation process was hijacked by the four principal officers, he also alleged favouritism by the Speaker against certain committee chairmen in the House. His four main complaints include: “ONE: During the budget period, when they discovered that I was not the kind of a person they could use to perpetrate their illegality, Mr. Speaker and the three other principal officers took away the entire Appropriation Committee secretariat to a secret location where all sort of insertions were made into the budget. The blackmail has always been—“Abdul, people will laugh at you if anything goes wrong between you and

Dogara

Jibrin

Dogara, because of the lead role you played and the many toes you stepped on to get him elected. It’s been a painful experience.

“Again the secretariat was taken away from me on Speaker Dogara’s instruction for the second time to a location I don’t know and all sort of insertions into the budgets were made and returned to me for signature...

“TWO: When the budget harmonisation committee headed by Deputy Speaker Yusuf gave out 80 per cent concession across board to the executive demands during the harmonisation negotiation, it was agreed that the remaining 20 per cent should go to the entire NASS. The Deputy Speaker excused himself that he wanted to go and consult with Mr. Speaker. He came back after a few hours and in an unprecedented display of greed, presented to me a handwritten note distributing the remaining 20 per cent to only principal officers. 70 per cent of the 20 per cent was reserved for Mr. Speaker and himself [Deputy Speaker] while the remaining 30 per cent of the 20 per cent went to other principal officers. I am sure he will recognise the hand writing when he sees it. My colleagues didn’t know all of these.

THREE: Mr. Speaker also directed me to create what I advised him would be a controversial line item under service wide vote to introduce about N20 billion project using the name of NASS. He directed me to see a highly-placed PDP member, which I did and collected the documents. I advised him repeatedly against it but he kept pressuring me until I bluntly told him I would not!

“FOUR: When the Appropriation Committee received all the budget reports from standing committees, an analysis was conducted. We discovered that only about 10 chairmen out of the 96 Standing Committees of the House introduced about 2,000 projects without the knowledge of their committee members amounting to about N284, 000, 000, 000 (Two hundred and eighty-four billion naira). I was alarmed. But I was cautious, because at our pre-budget meeting with the committee chairmen, I was clearly warned not to touch their budgets. I reported the matter to the speaker. He did nothing about it, obviously because he was working behind the scene with the committee chairmen.

“That was the beginning of the whole budget problem from the side of the House and the whole exercise had to go through several versions before it was passed,” Jibrin’s allegations had

stated.

He further submitted that Dogara had derailed and kept on with an unmatched ego and “surely leading the House to the biggest scandal it may ever experience,” adding that “he has failed to live above the fog in public duty and private thinking.”

He contended that his allegations are against the four principal officers and not the entire House of Representatives.

But the House had largely attempted to shield the Speaker from a direct confrontation with Jibrin by ensuring that those who joined issues with Jibrin did so on behalf of the House. Political watchers of the development stated that the logic behind this move “is simple,” noting that it would be suicidal to allow the Speaker and the four principal officers get isolated since the belief is that whatever they did was done on behalf of the House.”

The House fights back But the House in its official response to Jibrin insisted that his statements and allegations were afterthoughts and were informed by his bitterness at being removed as Appropriation Committee chair.

The House, in a statement by its spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas, accused Jibrin of making unsubstantiated claims.

The statement indicated that Jibrin was sacked as chairman of Appropriations Committee in accordance with the decision of the leadership of the chamber, adding that his removal had nothing to do with his opposition to the proposed immunity clause for presiding officers.

The statement read: “Our attention has been down to media statements made by the former Chairman of House Appropriation Committee, Hon. Abdulmumuni Jibrin, wherein he made wild allegations against the House of Representatives and its leaders.

“We wish to say that it is the prerogative of the Selection Committee of the House to appoint and remove committee chairmen. That power has been so exercised in the case of Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin as chairman of Appropriation Committee. Most of the allegations on the 2016 budget process and his opposition to immunity of presiding officers are non-issues and mere afterthought continues

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7 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

inter

Edo gov elec

Ahead of next month governorship election in Edo State, the c (PDP), Chief Dan Osi Orbih speaks with Group Politics Editor, T tor Osagie Ize-Iyamu while a governorship aspirant of the All president, Comrade Peter Esele spok

Edo people’ll vot Why Obaseki sho next gov —Esele

T

HE governorship election in Edo State is some few weeks away and there have been brickbats between your candidate and the ruling APC. There are threats of EFCC and ICPC investigations. Do you nurse the fear that your candidate will be denied the chance to contest the election?

It’s unfortunate that it has taken [Governor Adams] Oshiomhole about eight years before he will realise that our candidate has problems that are worthy of investigation by EFCC. There is no doubt that his allegations are politically motivated. You know Adams Oshiomhole more than I do. If Oshiomhole has anything, no matter how little against our candidate, by now he would have published it in all the newspapers; he would be shouting on top of his voice. But he has nothing. He has checked everything. I understand that even the official car our candidate used while he was Secretary to the State Government, he went into the pigeonhole to check in case there is anything. He didn’t even see anything. That’s to tell you the extent he went to try to see if there is anything he could use against our candidate.

Fortunately, he could not. Now, he is boasting that even if the candidate wins, he will use the EFCC to pursue him. He will use the police on election day to harass voters. He will use soldiers; he will use INEC, that they are in government. He has forgotten so soon that there was a party that was in government that had control over all the institutions he’s naming and they never used them against him when he contested twice. But I can tell you that Edo people are waiting. You cannot subvert the will of the people. If in Turkey, civilians could march against armed soldiers with armoured tanks and guns and when they saw the determination of the people, they abandoned their armored tanks and guns and they fled, I can tell you Oshiomhole will know that he has a challenge in his hand if he dares try what he is boasting about using the police and the army on innocent citizens.

But your candidate was interrogated by the EFCC…..

The subject of interrogation is well known. I was interrogated. Several other people from Edo State were interrogated. Our crime is that we belong to a party that contested the presidential election against APC and the party we belong to, the candidate of our party sent money

to our state to use for logistics for the election. The whole world is aware that the PDP candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, had a well-attended fundraising ceremony where billions of naira was raised in his favour and for us in Edo State, he sent us money for the election.

We believe strongly like we did at the time we received the money till date that the money he sent to us was from the proceeds of the contributions and donations received during the fund raising. So, it is politically mischievous

by Adams to instigate frivolous petitions that why should PDP spend money, why should Jonathan give PDP Edo chapter money for the purpose of the election?

It is now common knowledge that even when his party contested the previous presidential election, he [allegedly] went to Abuja to collect money to [allegedly] work against his own party. You will agree with me that it is anti-party for him to have collected money from PDP at that time. Even this last election, Olisa Metuh accused him of flirting with the PDP. Until he saw the handwriting on the wall, he started behaving and crying more than the bereaved; he started behaving as if he was Buhari. He would accuse [Ngozi] Okonjo-Iweala today; he would accuse all the principal actors of the last administration just to make himself feel as if he’s a committed member of APC. But we know better.

The issues with your party at the national level, don’t you think these will affect the perception back home?

The much talked about crisis at the national level has nothing to do with us in the Edo State governorship election. Our needs and the needs of Edo people are localised.

We are not contesting the presidential election. The presidential election will not come up until years after. Our immediate concern is the governorship election. If you watch our campaigns, the turnout of people who are going about their normal business, once there is any gathering and they see it’s the PDP that is holding a rally, they will abandon wherever they are going and stay until the end of the rally. People are eager to support PDP in Edo State, having seen the deceit of Adams Oshiomhole in the past years. And his choice of candidate, personally picking the governorship candidate and his deputy has not helped the APC cause in Edo State. In fact, the greatest challenge of Godwin Obaseki in the coming election is Adams Oshiomhole and his politics of deceit. And giving him the centre stage has not also helped him. We are now seeing an election coming up as if Adams Oshiomhole is contesting for third term.

If you go round Benin City, you will see some of the

billboards carrying Godwin Obaseki’s picture and Oshiomhole’s pictures. So, we are wondering whether Oshiomhole is running for a third term or whether it is self-conviction that the candidate he’s projecting has not got what it takes to convince the good people of Edo State on the need to support him.

What led to that question was that you have a candidate that is known, then Sheriff’s faction also held another primary…

Well the organ responsible for the conduct of election in this country today is INEC. They have come out clearly to state who is the party’s candidate and I think that puts to rest the issue of Sheriff and his group of political travelers who are trying to create something out of nothing.

They thought we will be distracted with all those rubbish but we are not. We are much focused because our present attitude is driven by the constant calls coming from concerned citizens of the state that we must rescue this state from the present APC people. A lot of people are asking questions about the tone of the campaigns the way it is going. You are aware that it is the governor who is throwing accusations at PDP leaders, our candidate, my dear self and every person and we have decided to ignore him.

But the story out there is that Oshiomhole’s performance will intimidate your party?

You need to move round the streets of Edo State to make your own assessment of the situation. I come from the same senatorial district as Oshiomhole. We travel on the same road to our home. Today, the road from Benin to Oshiomhole’s village is impassable. I’m sure he will quickly say that after all, it’s a federal road. But Governor Ifeanyi Okowa [of Delta State] just rehabilitated a federal road because of his own people. The Federal Government is based in Abuja. The people who elected him in Delta, they were the ones going through that hardship and he had to come to their rescue to resurface the road and eventually, he will put up claims to the Federal Government. The Eleme Petrochemical and the Port Harcourt Free Trade Zone area where most of the companies are operating, the road was so bad that [Rivers State governor, Nyesom] Wike did not wait for the Federal Government; he went ahead and resurfaced the road because of the interest of the people of Rivers State. He did not wait for Buhari to come before attending to that road. In the same manner, I find it difficult to understand why even the road leading to Oshiomhole’s village is [allegedly] totally impassable. You now get to Ekpoma, you go into Ekpoma and Ekpoma town is nightmare. Sometimes, a journey that will normally not take more than one hour fifteen minutes, people will spend four hours between Continues pg31

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Sunday Tribune

7 August, 2016

29

ection tango

chairman of the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party TAIWO ADISA, on the chances of his party and its candidate, PasProgressives Congress (APC) and former Trade Union Congress ke in support of APC’s Godwin Obaseki.

te for PDP —Orbih ould become

Y

OU were among those who vied for the All Progressives Congress, APC, ticket ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State. Can you relate your experience against the backdrop of the mixed feelings that trailed the exercise?

The exercise tells much about how our democratic system works and how it is structured. At the end of the day, the fact that I accepted and congratulated the winner does not mean that I don’t feel that there were some infractions during the primary election. The way I am wired is that I have to look at the big picture and it means that the party structure is bigger than individuals. No matter how I feel about it, I prefer an APC governor than someone from the other party. The education I have gotten in this process cannot be quantified financially. I know the country faces a lot of challenges politically but I did not know they were that deep. I am talking about our structure and value system. I also found out that sometimes being intelligent is a crime. I have heard some comments about people saying ‘I am fantastic and good’ but that they can’t guarantee my loyalty. At the end, what gives me joy is that I was not running for the sake of it. I did that for the state because I have a blueprint for Edo based on my vision. I looked at 20 years from now and the challenges that will manifest and how the state will be able to take on the challenges. My blueprint was on how to navigate through that in various areas like agriculture, education, IGR, among others. All these were the reasons I wanted to govern Edo. I really had a wonderful experience.

Were there specific lessons you learnt from the exercise that you think do not conform to the general principles of party primaries?

We didn’t have access to the delegates. Having access to talk to them was cumbersome; it was not easy. A lot of money was involved in the process and every aspirant is guilty of that. Some of us were smart enough not to throw in so much money in that process. The bottom line is for one to ask why so much money was being spent. If someone spends so much to become a governor, why would you complain if he is taking your money when elected? In the process of the campaign, delegates were pressured; I met delegates and had to negotiate with those at the top to make it easier for you to talk to the delegates. When you finish with the delegates, they will tell you they have been told who to talk to and not to talk to. I don’t think that was democratic enough. We also have people who, at the end of the day, were pressured. One of the things I learned from where I am coming from is that no system is perfect. In a previous interview, I said that if I emerged, I will do a thanksgiving and if I didn’t emerge, I will still do same.

I know Edo better now and their challenges. Going to

over 190 wards across the state provided more knowledge about my state. One of the reasons I joined the APC is that I want to add value to the party. My wish is that Obaseki becomes the next governor of the state.

What informed this wish of seeing Obaseki become the next governor?

The most important thing is that we have listened to our flag bearer. We want to see our party succeed. The party is bigger than individuals.

Just like my training in the labour movement, the way I am wired is that we can slug it out, we can debate, we can argue, but, at the end of the day, we must not lose sight of the fact that we need the platform, the APC.I think it is something we have to address, but my appeal to most of our people is: Politics is not a race. So, the fact that you did not get what you wanted today does not mean you won’t get it tomorrow. What I have always said is that when you see a society where people are preoccupied with primordial sentiments, such as ‘it is our turn,’ it means there is no equity in development. If there is equity, you won’t hear people saying that.

So, those who are complaining in Edo Central have the right to do so. Their complaint is justified. So, it is now left for the party leadership to look at these complaints objectively and see how to assuage their feelings. For me, I think that is important. The attitude of politicians, who think of their interests and not how to put food on the table of the people, is dangerous for Edo and Nigeria in general. A society where politicians reduce governance to individual interest will sooner or later fall apart. I think the challenge right now is for people to look beyond that narrow angle. It is also up to the party to assuage the feelings of the people of Edo Central. Sincerely speaking, I have always looked at things from a broader perspective.

But I find out that in politics, it is a different ballgame.

There is a feeling that the failure to pick the deputy governorship candidate from Edo North where you come from does not reflect equity and such may work against the APC at the polls.

What do you think about that?

The people of Edo Central are not comfortable. I think it is something we also have to look at. But my appeal to most of them is: Politics is not a race, politics is a marathon. So, the fact that you did not get what you want today does not mean you won’t get it tomorrow.

What I have always said is that; when you see a society where people are talking about ‘it has to be my turn’ or ‘it has to be our turn’, what you will need to also look at is that there is no equity in the development. If there is equity in the development, you won’t hear people saying ‘it is my turn’ or ‘our turn’. So, for those who

are complaining in Edo Central, they have the right to complain. So, it is now left for the party leadership to look at these complaints objectively and see how to assuage their feelings. I think that is important. What I will also tell them is; it is not a matter of individuals’ position. You know, most times, when we talk about these things, even if Peter Esele is deputy governor today, the first thing is that Peter Esele is from Edo Central. If I was governor today, one thing is clear: How do we ensure that he brings development, employment?

I think that should be the focal point. I have always grown to look at things from that perspective. How do you put food on our table? Since I started this journey into politics, I found out that it mainly doesn’t put food on our table. And that is very dangerous for Edo and also dangerous for our country, because a situation whereby we have now reduced governance to an individual aspect of it, where everybody now thinks only of ‘my own’, and not ‘our own’, it is a matter of fact that society will fall apart. I think that is the challenge right now; that people should look beyond that narrow angle. And it is also for the party to assuage the feelings of the Central.

What do you think your party should do to assuage the feelings of those in the Central District?

I have always looked at things from a broader perspective but I find out that, in politics, it is a different ball game. What I have learned in all of these things, and my years of experience of leading people is that, if they tell you anything, you can be sure eight over 10 will be right. But, in my political journey, I found out that if they tell you something, you will be lucky if two is right out of the 10. And they are so proud of it. And that is the danger because that is a signal you are sending to the young ones. That yes we play politics and it is acceptable to lie. It is acceptable to manipulate. It is acceptable to do whatever you want as long as you get what you want. To me, that is wrong. So, Edo Central has a case because what we have is a tripod. We have Edo South, we have Edo North and we have the Central. One of the legs of the tripod is gone and then what are you now using to assuage the feelings before September 10, 2016? That is why I need to come in. As an individual, what I try to do is to let the people see a broader aspect of it. And I am also going to sit down with our flag bearer. I will also let him have my view and what I think we should do because the campaign in the Central right now is that the APC really doesn’t care about them. But, that may not be entirely correct. We need to do something that will make sure the people don’t feel that way. So, it is now left for us in the APC to go ahead and convince them on the direction they want to take people from the Central to.

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Sunday Tribune

Controversy, a hoax or anti-corruption war signal? continued from pg27 manufactured simply because the House relieved him of his position.

“If he had all these ‘facts’ before, why didn’t he make them public? Why is he doing that now? Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, like any other member of the House, knows that there are conventions and precedents as it relates to budgets and projects for principal officers of the National Assembly. Why is he making it an issue now? In any case, he is entitled to his opinion as a Nigerian and as a legislator while acting within the laws of Nigeria and rules of the House.

The House had noted that Jibrin’s allegations were a distraction to the House, stating that “he should not distract the House from giving legislative support on important issues facing the government concerning the revival of the economy, insecurity in the country, pursuit of anti-corruption measures, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development and so on. Nigerians are simply not ready to waste their time on personal issues and personal egos of our leaders. We should face the urgent tasks before us for which we were elected.”

Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Leo Ogor, had also described Jibrin’s allegations as “inconsequential,” adding that the Kano legislature was crying foul because he was denied of the plum job.

He said: “You can read the lines; he has actually lost his committee and I believe that is the issue. Why didn’t he make available these allegations all along? This is the question you need to answer. How come he was the one that addressed the issue of this budget on a television station and accused the Presidency and the executive in respect of issues that border on the budget. Today, he is singing a different tune and I think he is good at singing different tunes anyway.”

The padding controversy Though the APC said on Thursday that the parties to the brickbats should suspend the battle, Jibrin’s allegations are already in the marketplace. There is the issue of “padding,” “insertions” or “reckless insertions” already being chewed from different sides. The questions Jibrin’s agitation has thrown up include; was the 2016 budget padded? By who and at what point? Can the police, EFCC or DSS investigate padding and how do you justify the offence of padding against a lawmaker?

Sections 80, 81, 82 and 83 of the 1999 Constitution as amended set out the powers of the National Assembly over public funds.

Through those sections, the parliament is empowered to appropriate funds for the smooth running of the government. With a combination of the Appropriation Laws and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the National Assembly designs procedures by which public funds are to be approved.

It thus means that it is only through procedures designed by the National Assembly with strict adherence to the constitution that the appropriation process can emerge.

But with Jibrin and other commentators having defined “padding” as illegal or reckless insertions into a document without authorisation, it means that budget padding can only take place outside the glare of the House plenary.

Constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome , who appeared on a Channels Television programme on Friday, said that padding is a technical word that is difficult to concretise. He said that since the National Assembly has the power of the purse, it cannot be accused of padding a budget during the processes leading to the approval of the budget estimates. During that process, figures are to be bandied around. There would be horse-trading and discussions

Ozekhome

at the legislative and executive levels. The compromise figures would eventually get inserted into the budget document.

According to Ozekhome, only the agreed figures make it to the House plenary where the final estimates are approved and passed as the national budget.

The lawyer, however, insisted that any insertion of figures not agreed to during the process of appropriation or not seen at the approval stage in the plenary can be described as forgery, padding or criminal insertions. Of a truth, the process instituted by the National Assembly since the restart of democratic rule includes; the president initiating and submitting budget estimates, the Assembly receiving the budget and committing the same to the Standing Committees after the Second Reading, which features the debates on general principles of the budget document. The committees serve as sub-committees of the

Appropriations Committee at that stage.

After all, the committees have met with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under their oversight during budget defence sessions, they appear before the Committee on Appropriations to defend the submissions and figures are collated for presentation to the chamber for the third and final reading, where the document is passed. After the passage, the Senate President and the Speaker may have to set up a harmonisation committee, called the Conference Committee to harmonise the disjointed figures and produce a clean copy of the budget for presentation to the Clerk to the National Assembly, who will further present the same to the legal department of the Assembly before he forwards it for presidential assent.

According to Acts Authentication Act, only the signature of the president of the country and the Clerk to the National Assembly are to appear at the end of a bill to signify its passage into law.

So, the question being asked by those informed in the workings of the National Assembly, answers to which have been considered necessary at this period, are; at which stage in this winding process can anyone say padding, insertion or forgery has taken place? That is the question Jibril and members of the Integrity Group in the House are inviting the police, EFCC and ICPC to interrogate. However, considering the way the 2016 budget got passed for presidential assent, the security outfits could have a huge task on their hands, analysts have argued.

This, they said, was in view of the fact that the 2016 budget is the first to be subjected to an extraordinary committee of the National Assembly and the Budget Office, which further sat to review the document after its passage, it could be difficult to ascertain at what stage “insertions” or “padding” actually crept in.

opinion

Corruption: Who cheats? Most of us, it turns out

By Folu Olamiti THE above headline came from The FCPA Blog, one of the anti-corruption international blogs I subscribed for news and commentaries. I became curious to go through the write-up authored by Caveni Wong. He discussed something so intriguing that normally passes as part of our behavioural traits but never taken serious - CHEATING- as an integral form of CORRUPTION. Here are a few excerpts from the article: “It is an uncomfortable thought, but given certain circumstances, most of us would cheat. Ron Carucci just wrote about how easily one can cross the line in Forbes article that featured a conversation with Richard Bistrong. The cheating often involves people who don’t even realise that they are crossing the line.

“Studies have repeatedly shown that most people cheat when asked to self-report their own performance on a task if it means a higher pay-out. But they only cheat a little bit, enough to gain a little extra benefit, but not so much that they’d feel bad about themselves.

“That’s consistent with what I observed early in my career. Lunch among a few colleagues would somehow become a “client” meal, in which actual client names would be scribbled on a receipt and submitted for reimbursement. A colleague admitted he often embellished expenses. A $45; a $25 dinner into $40 -- a practice my colleague said he learnt from watching others.

“These small transgressions tended to

be committed by those I considered to be good work ethic. Those employees didn’t know they had crossed the line. Their actions were just part of the informal culture.

And that’s the insidious nature of minor cheating that goes unchecked. It slowly builds up a culture that can eventually set the stage for more serious violations.

“This is the crux of the matter. Corruption has so eaten deep into the fabric of everything in our lives- be it social, political and economic –a malaise that is presently driving Nigeria’s economy to its worst recession in history.

Then, who is to blame? I draw strength from John 8, where Jesus Christ exonerated and rescued a woman allegedly caught in adulterous act from accusers who were ready to stone her to death. Jesus simply stooped down, and scribbled something on the ground and asked a thunderbolt of a question: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

That question pricked their consciences.

One by one, they moved away. What a timeless lesson for all. Today, many of us are shouting corruption at the rooftops. At most major fora, the thrust of discussion is corruption but in our subconscious minds, are we not guilty one way or another? Do we not cheat and cut corners in our inter-personal dealingsbe it at home, at work and businesses? How many of us can vouch that if appointed into higher public office will not cheat? Just look around you, and tell me if corruption is not staring at you.

Seriously, I believe that instead of mouthing

corruption at every public discourse; let us start a serious re awakening of anti- corruption crusade, starting from ourselves, home and neighbours. Our children, today, have lost every value of integrity through the mindboggling revelations of looters of the national treasury being hyped by the media on daily basis. These looters are not aliens. They are not ghosts. They are people at our backyards and homes. It is not too late to start fighting the monster from self. Man’s insatiable greed for primitive acquisition is so alarming that you keep wondering whether he will ever leave this Mother Earth. When you look at the crazy acquisitions, one discovers that most of them are products of cheating.

Then, where do we draw the line between cheating and corruption? There is a very thin line between them. In fact, they are birds of the same feather.

In writing this article, I sought the perspectives of some of my friends and I got them talking. One of them, Mr. Femi Adefemiwa, said:“What a sound argument!

There is no collective guilt but individual guilt. By nature, every human being is selfish and perhaps self-centred. The deprived background which a significant number of us experienced, and the undue societal expectations from us, have created some primordial tendencies in us, e.g. primitive acquisition. To make matters worse, justice in our land is always to the higher bidder.

So, an innocuous combination of these ills has put us where we are today. But we have to start somewhere. Cleaning the mess must

not be by academic exercise. Whether we are all guilty or not, we just have to draw a line and start from somewhere. And perhaps we have started.”

Another contributor from the United States of America, who identified himself simply as Tolu, wrote: “Your Food For Thought is direct and challenging indeed. It is the type of introspection that will help us not to be hypocrites. It is like admitting categorically that I have never sinned. I admit that I’m not pious enough to admit that I’m free from the taint of moral and character flaws. As human, I still need to recognise the society’s decadence and my personal contribution to such moral bankruptcy. The challenge of the conundrum is knowing how to maintain a balance between transparency in my conducts and standing against blatant disregard for the rule of law and sense of decency by the people in power.”

Similarly, another friend, Fisan Bankale, loved the Food For Thought “because it energised my thoughts in the direction of how to get people to own up to their contribution. Let me share a thought here. A man or family whose son or daughter was given a job at CBN or FIRS would go to church or mosque to thank God. But that job is a proceed from a corrupt act because the job was through an abuse of due process. The late Yar’adua publicly acknowledged that the election that brought him to power was riddled with fraud. Such open acknowledgement of wrong doing is what everyone should subscribe to.”

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‘Oshiomhole has failed Edo people’ Continued from pg 28

Benin and Auchi. On a very bad day, they will spend up to six hours and the governor is aware of this.

What do you say to those who say both at the national and state level that the 16 years of PDP was a waste and that it’s because the party didn’t do well in Edo State?

I feel it’s rather too early to say too much about Buhari’s administration, even if it is one year gone and we are well into the second year of his administration. But let us look at Edo State. Oshiomhole came into government and all he was telling the world was that PDP mismanaged the resources of the state. Eight years after, he is still talking about PDP in Edo State. Does that make sense to any sane person? Obama took over the government of the United States of America at a time of economic recession. He never blamed his performance on the situation of the economy at the time he took over. After one or two years, he took total control and today, the economy is far better than what it was at the time he came into government. What was the motivating factor for him to contest?

If all was well, he would have said let them return the PDP candidate at that time unopposed. But he felt that maybe there were areas that were not properly attended to by the PDP government. He came into power and for him to keep talking about PDP government eight years after shows clearly that the man is not serious. He has totally failed the people of the state. What we are expect-

ing from Oshiomhole at this point in time is for him to start reeling off all that he has achieved in the past eight years and asking the Edo people to support his candidate so that they can continue his programmes. But here we are, every day he goes out to campaign, he’s talking about eight, nine years of PDP government in Edo State. He has spent almost the same period in government with nothing to show. So, I think Edo people are watching; they are seeing through him and on election day, they will show their disgust and disappointment with his government.

Recently, the state government secured the second tranche of $75 million from the World Bank to improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). I read the report that led to that approval by the National Assembly. It was like the World Bank and all the agencies of Federal Government gave Edo a pass mark; they said he has improved in good governance and all that.

Are you saying that people on ground in Edo State are not feeling the impact of the governor’s performance?

A friend took a loan from a bank and the loan was not doing well. He needed more money. Somebody from the bank- an official of the bank- was helping him to package a proposal for further assistance from the banker on the way the paper should be written for him to get further approval. So, Oshiomhole writing about good governance and all that is rubbish. You have a lot of people in the streets of Lagos whose job is to package proposals and you get approval without wasting time. I’m telling you

what is on ground; you are here now in Edo State. Is there anything that has changed substantially from what you used to see in Edo State?

How prepared is your party for September 10 election, in view of all the security challenges?

We believe that power comes from God. We also believe that the people have a major role to play in this process. Those who are relying too much on security should learn from history. Even the colonial security people were there when you had the famous Aba Women Riot.

[Former President Goodluck] Jonathan had total control of all the security agencies, but he contested an election and results were declared against him and his party. In the same manner, we have an election that is coming; we have decided to go to the people. We are campaigning everywhere. We want to campaign in all the 192 wards.

But they [the APC] go to the local government headquarters; they will beam it live to show that they were there.

But we don’t have that type of money to be showing our movements live. But we have decided to meet the people who will vote on election day. We are going to 192 wards, they are going to 18 local government headquarters and each one they go to, they will move the outside broadcast vans there. On our part, every local government we visit in a day, we go to a minimum of at least three places until we will go to all the wards in the state. The judgment day is near. The day of reckoning will soon come and we will see for ourselves.

opinion

Ondo gov election: Answering Mimiko’s successor question

By Femi Adepoju

AS the Ondo State governorship election inches closer, the arena is getting prepared, spectators are, with tip-toe expectancy, ready to throw their caps in the air to cheer, even as the gladiators are sharpening their weapons, testing their armours and flexing their muscles...

One of the gladiators is Mr Eyitayo Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was, until recently, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State. He resigned his appointment on Friday, 22 July, 2016 to pursue his ambition in the November gubernatorial election.

That day, Jegede, in a statement he personally signed, said his exit was to enable him to focus more on his desire “to seek higher office in service of his people, which will obviously demand a lot of energy, time and sacrifice.”

Apart from thanking his boss, Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the people of Ondo State for the unique opportunity to serve, he noted that his appointment gave him an opportunity to “work in various sub-committees of the State Executive Council and effectively and efficiently represented the interest of the state in various boards as directed by the governor.”

His declaration penultimate week threw the entire state into a sort of frenzy, as wild jubilation broke out across the state, from Akure to Owo to Okitipupa. If the jubilation that erupted in Irele in the southern senatorial district of the state could be described as spectacular, the mass rallies in the street of Akure, the state capital and those of Owo and Ipele in the Northern Senatorial District are better termed ‘wonderful.’

Notwithstanding the upbeat mood of a majority of the electorate, such expression of interest in the number one seat in Alagbaka, Akure, where the Ondo State Government Office is situated, cannot but attract condemnation, a disposition that could stem out of mischief or ignorance or a combination of both. In other words, opponents, critics and cynics have started crawling out of the woods, engaging in acrimonious debates.

The accusation against the candidacy of Jegede is that his coming flies against the face of zoning principle. Before Jegede declared his intention to contest the governorship position of Ondo State, it was difficult to guess who the cap truly fits among the legion of aspirants jostling for social media space to sell their aspiration, especially from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Identifying a potential governor among the lot was difficult, mainly because the aspirants have no credential to flaunt other than their ethnic background.

Before now, the idea was for an aspirant to declare interest in the gubernatorial race because of the need to represent his area as governor of the state. Hence, those

who declared their intention to run rely heavily on the zoning card, but the more they declare their intentions, however, the more it became difficult to figure who among the lot possesses the required experience, knowledge, exposure and comportment to move the state forward with the kind of expertise being used by the incumbent Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

Little wonder then that what looked like an unending search for a competent Mimiko successor ended when Jegede, a detribalised Senior Advocate of Nigeria resigned his position as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state to signify his intention to succeed his boss. Critics would not let go of the zoning mantra, the above notwithstanding. However, Jegede’s supporters would not allow the ethnic argument missile to hit target before intercepting it mid-air. In Ondo State, zoning has never been the basis for electing a governor.

What has benefited the people has been the competence of the governor and what he can deliver. Olusegun Agagu was from the Southern Senatorial District. Chief Adebayo Adefarati was from the North. After that, Agagu and Olusegun Mimiko slugged it out and Mimiko triumphed eventually.

What has come clear is that beyond zoning, Mimiko’s performance, which overshadowed the others, has shown that what the people need is service, visionary leadership, a bridge-builder and a governor with depth since, according to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “only the deep can call to the deep.”

As it is, Ondo state is one of the states in Nigeria where governors have been emerging on merit as against zoning being practised by some others as it has been argued severally that zoning only promotes mediocrity. Little wonder that the two major political parties in the state, the PDP and APC have distanced themselves from zoning their candidate to any particular ethnic area in the state.

Not a few have argued that no state would be able to produce its best with zoning, even as it has been randomly mentioned that what Ondo needs now is a governor who will see every ethnic group in the state as his own.

In fact, Jegede fits the role. He is not a stay-at-homevillage headmaster politician or an anus-scratching community champion who cannot relate with people across ethnic and sub-ethnic divides. Rather, Jegede is a bridge builder. And this did not come out of a vacuum. He started his law practice in the North. He worked in the law firm of Murtala Aminu & Co. Yola. After a 12-year practice in the law firm, six years of which he was the Head of Chambers, he established his own law firm, Tayo Jegede & Co in 1996. He was heading his law firm of Tayo Jegede & Co in Abuja and Yola before he took appointment as Chief Law Officer in Ondo State. Thus, through his professional practice, he has friends across the country. For instance, he cannot fall into the trap of favouring a particular section of the state above the other as governor because by birth, he belongs to no one but all as he represents more than one of the three Senatorial Districts in the state by virtue of the parents’ places of birth. One is from the Northern Senatorial District and the other from the Central Senatorial District.

Another factor that will stand Jegede in good stead is that he is adjudged the only aspirant so far who qualifies to succeed Mimiko on the basis of competence, track record of achievement, integrity and honesty. In fact, it is often said at public discourses in the state that if he emerges governor, Jegede would have assumed office on the same basis of merit upon which Dr Mimiko became governor. He has the advantage of continuity, having been working with Mimiko since 1999.

Jegede has been identified to be strategically involved in the almost concluded Omotosho power plant, the Ilaje deep sea port and Free Trade Zone projects as well as the PPP initiative that turned the moribund Owena Motel to a money generating venture in the Akure City Mall. Jegede said notable achievements of his stay in office include supervision of the review and publication of Laws of Ondo State, the first since the inception of the sunshine state, signing into law the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015 by Governor Olusegun Mimiko as prepared by the Ministry of Justice in addition to other novel measures that have helped to revolutionalise the administration of justice.

Before him, Ondo State used to lose cases. When Jegede came on board, that became history.

Eyitayo Jegede was born to the family of late Chief Johnson Bosede, the Odopetu of Isinkan, Akure, and Mrs C.O Jegede (nee Asokeji) from Ipele town, near Owo. Adepoju writes from Akure, Ondo State.

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Sunday Tribune

Oshiomhole as Obaseki’s albatross

By Francis Ehigiator

E

ACH time I watch Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, dancing during a campaign rally in support of the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki, it reminds me of the saying by the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, that: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” This, precisely, is the portrait of Oshiomhole in Edo State. But, can he succeed in pushing through this grand deception that has characterised, especially, his second term and the ongoing electioneering for the September 10 gubernatorial election?

Generally, in Nigeria and in most countries of the world, the collectivity of the electorate has always shown itself to be an ass, which is gullible. Instances are not difficult to name: the Brexit Referendum in which a majority of the British electorate voted before reflecting on the implications of their votes and the blind followership that made Donald Trump the candidate of the Republican Party in the United States of America are two recent examples. One could even add the last presidential election in Nigeria as a reflection of how unenlightened the electorate can behave.

But, I do not think that our people in Edo State are as gullible as the British or Americans. When, therefore, the other day, Oshiomhole introduced Obaseki as his agent committed to continuity, the people were puzzled as to what he meant. In politics, continuity implies positive improvement, desired change or progressive development mounted on something that is also positive and desirable. Any politician talking about continuity must be sure he has a legacy on ground, for, as conventional wisdom has it, you can’t give what you don’t have, nor can you build something on nothing.

What can Oshiomhole bequeath to Obaseki? First, in terms of conduct and moral character, I cannot think of any respectable Edo family that would send its child to Oshiomhole for moral upbringing. The Comrade Governor hardly finds the need to respect tradition or culture, except when it is materially or politically rewarding to do so. He is known for his caustic tongue and unsympathetic attitude. Oshiomhole once told a widowed Benin street trader who pleaded

for leniency, when his Task Force was on rampage, to “go and die.” In Edo State, the Comrade Governor has insulted virtually all elder statesmen, politicians and private individuals, who have cause to disagree with him. He vowed openly to demystify those he described as “godfathers” in the state and, in fact, he once boasted that he had silenced them, referring to Edo elders such as Anenih, Igbinedion and so on.

In recent times, every one of Oshiomhole’s campaign rallies has become an exercise in tongue-lashing of prominent Edo elders.

Ironically, Oshiomhole who started his political career with the sole mission of wiping out “godfatherism” in Edo State has now become the sole godfather in the state. Or what else is he to APC politicians in the state, especially Obaseki and his running mate, Phillip Shaibu, who do nothing at political rallies but listen to the rumblings of their Master’s voice? It is morally base, duplicitous and ignoble.

But that is even less offensive than the wide contradiction between the Comrade Governor’s avowed posture against corruption and what he does in reality. Oshiomhole now has the habit of threatening his political opponents with Buhari’s anti-corruption trap while he is unable to account for the N1.4 trillion he has received from various sources in almost eight years, including the monthly receipt of N500

million on security and the huge amount of external borrowing in dollars. These are some of the legacies Oshiomhole wants Obaseki to continue with.

Just as Oshiomhole claims to have a record of acts of corruption and misappropriation perpetrated by his political opponents, some of them, too, surely have records of his own iniquities, both moral and financial. One obvious fact is that the Governor has not been fair to Edo people in the distribution of the resources of the state. In the few areas of infrastructure development, roads, water resources, educational facilities and so on, the bulk has gone to Oshiomhole’s own village and local government area of the state. Take, for instance, his village of Iyamho, which is being transformed with the construction of a new university at the neglect of other tertiary institutions such as those at Ekpoma, Ekiadolor and Benin City. To think that the people of Edo state are incapable of perceiving these acts of injustice and unfair distribution of their commonwealth is to insult the collective intelligence of the people.

Politically, the worst victim of Oshiomhole’s so-called agenda of continuity is Obaseki, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC. Although Obaseki lacks the leadership qualities of his rival in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the participation by Oshiomhole in the APC campaign rallies is an avoidable deficit. Does Oshiomhole think, for instance, that Owan and Akoko-Edo people in his Edo North zone are happy that he single-handed picked and foisted his clan’s man, Phillip Shaibu, a current member of the House of Representatives, from Uzarue, on the APC as deputy governorship candidate? Is he saying that there are no deputy governorship materials in Owan and AkokoEdo areas? He dared opposition from within his party to commit this political gaffe after he had dismissed Edo Central zone as unfit to produce a deputy governor. These actions have portrayed him as divisive, sectional and selfish.

These are rubbing off negatively on his puppet candidates for the September 10 gubernatorial election. Oshiomhole carries a baggage that any decent politician should avoid.

But it is already too late to genuinely correct those egregious mistakes; I believe that Obaseki would have been better off on his own speaking to issues, especially at campaign rallies.

Mr Ehigiator, a public affairs commentator, sent this piece from Benin City.

Obaseki, best man for Edo State gov

By Christian Oronsaye HISTORY plays a role and shapes our future. Today, I share with you my interactions with the two leading candidates for the Edo State Gubernatorial Election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Godwin Obaseki.

Firstly, it was around 2001/2002 that I first met Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. We had gone to appeal to him concerning the closure of Ambrose Alli University (AAU). For those of you who cannot remember, AAU was closed down after students legitimately protested against management high-handedness and, in the process, cornered a Coca Cola truck. We asked for his intervention to support the re-opening of our school. He told us that AAU students were bad; that we were thieves, cultists and never-do-well.

Based on that flawed generalisation, he said he supported the decision of the governor on the closure of AAU as a punishment for our misconduct and “SINS”.

While the government of the day was using the conduct of the students as an excuse, the real reason for the closure was lack of funds to pay staff of AAU. As you all know¬– and as a direct consequence of this action – we, the students, at that time lost over two years of our lives to this unnecessary and unwarranted closure. That memory never left me!

Again in 2004, after I was elected as President of the Law Students Association, I embarked on an audacious and daring task to honour our First and Foremost Dean of the Faculty of Law, the Late Professor D.O. Aihie. The Late Aihie - as Dean and, later, Vice Chancellor of the then Bendel State University (now AAU) - saw the formation and growth of the Faculty of Law. His legacies and achievements are overwhelming. As at that time, it was 10 years post death, so we thought about hosting a lecture and dinner in his honor. We wanted to do this so that the labour of our heroes past will not be in vein. We wanted to show others - his family, the school community…and so on…that we were proud of his time as Dean and, later, Vice

Chancellor. Several speakers were selected for this event and Osagie Ize-Iyamu was one of them. He was selected because of his profession as a lawyer and then a possible role model for would-be lawyers. As president, I personally went to his office with an invitation letter, and also asking for his support towards the programme. After waiting for several hours, he came out, reviewed the letter, asked questions and then told me that he didn’t think the late Aihie achieved anything worth celebrating. I explained to him that the very foundation of excellence at the Law Faculty was laid by this same Aihie, and that - in any case - this was worth celebrating. In fact, our theme was “For Our Today, He Gave Us His Yesterday”. At that point he lost his temper and asked me to leave his office.

As far as he was concerned, who was I to argue with an SSG? He made me sadder than I came in. Not only did he demonise my school, he shattered the legacies of our hero, Aihie. Mind you, the same document I gave to him was the same that I gave to Professor Itse Sagay, the Ugbesias (who overwhelmingly supported the event), Tony Anenih and so on. They were, indeed, very delighted; at last, someone had found the courage to honour an author of excellence.

Now fast-forward to 2007, I graduated from the Law School and emerged as the Law School’s all-time best breaking all records previously held before me. I graduated with a First Class Honor, the first student from AAU and Edo State to make that history at the Nigerian Law School.

Yes, I was from AAU, a school that Ize-Iyamu and his government characterised as a school for thieves, thugs, prostitutes and the never-do-well. That year, my set at the Law School will never forget the standard set by AAU students at the Nigeria Law School. Even Lucky Igbinedion - the then governor who claimed AAU was no good, shut down our school, made us lose two years of our school lives – praised my success as part of his achievements in office.

In November 2007, the late president of Eghosa Old Boys Association (EGHOBA), Dr Ekhator of blessed

memory, invited me to receive an award. At the award ceremony, I was honoured alongside Godwin Obaseki.

That was the first time I met Obaseki in person although I had heard about him, particularly because I was working in a leading law firm and had the opportunity to be the one of the lawyers advising the buyers of some assets where AFRINVEST, a company founded by Obaseki, was the financial adviser. In fact, at that time, the major financial advisers on big-ticket transactions were either Afrinvest or Vetiva Capital. After I received my award, Obaseki, in spite of his wealth and standing, walked over to where I was with humility, congratulated me and gave me his card and personal email address. In his words, “would you like to join my team? Send me your resume before Wednesday so I can get an interview scheduled for you”. He didn’t bother himself about the school I attended or who I was or where I came from. Rather, he saw excellence and wanted to reward excellence. I was invited for the interview, hired and then I turned it down after I spoke with my mentor about my plans for the future.

The offer was mouth-watering, and even higher than the pay I was receiving then, with perks that would drive one crazy. Obaseki called me some days later when he heard that I turned down the offer. He asked me if I wanted more pay so that I would join his team, then I explained to him about my plans and he welcomed the idea then wished me good luck. After that time, I saw him several times at meetings and public functions.

Ladies and gentlemen, I put before you two candidates; one, Ize-Iyamu, who had the opportunity to reward excellence but rather chose to demonise AAU in order to appease his pay masters and destroyed every fabric of our hero, Prof. Aihie, and the other, Obaseki, who had the opportunity and took it to reward excellence. Won’t you rather vote OBASEKI than an Ize-Iyamu? For those of you who know me, I promote and support excellence. I support Godwin Obaseki as governor for Edo State!

Oronsaye writes from Benin City

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I

N a matter of weeks, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be up for another major test when it will be conducting the governorship election in Edo state.

Soon afterwards, the commission will also conduct the governorship election in Ondo State in November; get some respite till 2018 when it is expected to conduct governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states. Under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega, the debate over conduct of acceptable elections would not have arisen. Though the commission at the time was not all perfect, it certainly gave a number of citizens little cause to worry about its search for credible and acceptable elections.

Jega left no one in doubt that his INEC was seeking incremental success at every election round and that was why post-election litigations that got to an unprecedented pitch after the 2007 elections started nosediving from the 2011 elections.

We can say that till now, many Nigerians still view elections as a thing for politicians. But we cannot lose sight of the fact that elections remain a critical ingredient of the leadership recruitment process in the democratic environment. Where the process is faulty, the polity suffers. For many years, Nigeria has been a victim of faulty leadership process, leading to truncated Republics, commotion and deaths. With the determination to go the democratic way, there is no doubt that popular participation is the only way by which credible leadership can emerge and that a warped process cannot guarantee the progress the nation ungently desire.

Somehow, many Nigerians, politicians and citizens alike have started fretting over the current INEC. Some have christened it Inconclusive National Electoral Commission.

Many others are beginning to see INEC as a burden in the electoral process and the concern is growing daily. The examples that strike fear into the minds of many are abound.

Almost all elections conducted by INEC under the present leadership ended up being inconclusive. From the governorship election in Kogi, to the senatorial elections in the same state and six other senatorial constituencies, as well as the Abuja Area Councils to even Imo last week, INEC failed

7 August, 2016

the lynxeye with Taiwo adisa

08072000046

INEC: Shall we be concerned about Edo elections? the tests.

Right now, the fear of INEC, rather than the fear of losing elections, appears to be the major nightmare of political actors.

In my interactions with gladiators in Edo State, especially, the fear out there is that INEC should get its acts together.

Hear one of the gladiators: “It will interest you to know that we are not scared of facing the people. We are not scared of winning or losing the election. But INEC has become a major source of fear for us. Elections are expensive to run and it won’t be acceptable for INEC to wake up with this inconclusive syndrome after we have put in all the hard work the election deserves.”

The last one year has really witnessed a reversal of electoral successes recorded under the Jega-led INEC. It seems as if the current electoral commission needs to confer with some gods before it could announce results. This is strange, especially as the National Assembly did not reduce its pow-

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ers or erode its independence in any way.

So, if politicians are already seeing the commission as an impediment rather than an umpire, how do we guarantee violence-free elections? How do you assure the loser that he lost according to the wishes of the people and that the winner was not helped or padded into the office?

The Prof Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC has a huge duty to regain people’s confidence starting with the Rivers senatorial rerun and then Edo governorship polls in September.

The feelers out there appear to indicate that INEC’s declaration of inconclusive elections is not only a drain on the economy but have never been supported by the facts on ground. The excuse from INEC when declaring elections inconclusive is that the outstanding votes are more than the gap between the leading candidate and the runners up. So it was in Kogi, in Rivers, Imo, and the Federal Capital Territory. But at the end of the day only a handful of voters ever get added to the votes already counted after repeated elections.

INEC on the other hand has always failed to avert itself to the fact that only voters with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) can cast their votes. It would rather base its calculations on the number of registered voters, whereas its rules say that only voters with PVCs can cast the ballot.

It is surprising that rather than allow the politicians play their pranks, INEC is fast becoming the central game changer in a negative way.

Perhaps, the new INEC chairman is not abreast of the pranks his subordinates can play to subvert the process and foist and inconclusive declaration. One is the lopsided distribution of election materials, such that far distant areas in a state like Edo would receive materials before Benin City, the spot where the materials would originate; procurement of rickety vehicles to convey materials to particular areas; disappearance of result sheets and electoral officers; especially presiding officers at critical stages; failure to assign adequate policemen to particular polling units; prolonged delay in accreditation in certain areas such that actual voting drag till late as well as actual attempt to swap result sheets. Once INEC is vigilant enough on its own beat, it will be easy to isolate desperate politicians who plan to truncate the quest for free and fair polls.

opinion Bello: An epitome of transparency

By Kingsley Fanwo

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N many years of my journalism practice, I hold on to the natural opium of justice by fairness. Even the holy books enjoin us to dig into the truth and hold it tenaciously. Therefore, when journalism came up with the theory of balanced reportage, it is only aligning with a universal principle of justice and fairness to all.

Since the inception of the present administration in Kogi State, transparency and accountability have been the bulwark of its bond of trust with the people of the state. For the first time in the history of the state, government came public on its bank accounts and graphic records of income and expenditure. Not out of compulsion but because of its belief in doing what is right.

Governor Yahaya Bello has put in place mechanism for stringent financial management to make the people the biggest beneficiaries of government policies. That is why, when some people tell some lies as faceless as they are, government officials wave them off.

For instance, it is ludicrous for these faceless characters to insinuate that the present administration collected N18 billion as allocations for six months whereas, the actual amount that came to the state in that duration was N13 billion. Their arithmetic fallacy shows they are striving to squeeze truth from falsehood. Those who seek accountability must as a matter of principle come to the table with verifiable facts.

It is also laughable to claim that N20 million is being deducted from the account of each local government area every month and submitted to the office of the Chief of Staff to the governor. The local government councils in the state have accounting officers. The Chief of Staff to the governor is not one.

One of the major steps of the governor, upon assumption of office, was the abolition of obnoxious deductions from the accounts of the councils. They now enjoy financial autonomy. The vehicles bought by the council administrators were on hire purchase, to be defrayed over a period of time. The idea was to ensure it does not take heavy toll on their finances. There is no room for fraud under

Governor Bello.

With the dwindling allocations, it has become increasingly difficult for many states to pay salaries. The success of the administration in securing the bailout funds is an indication of its compliance with due process and the mechanism for transparency. In the blatant falsehood peddled, it was quoted that contracts were awarded without due process and that the Agasa road project was virtually non-existent.

Every contract awarded in Kogi since January 27, 2016 went through due process. On the Agasa road, our evaluators have assessed the level of job done and discovered that the contractor has done more work than the funds released. The lack of facts on the part of the hatchet jobbers also became manifest when they reversed their “no job” claims to “why we pay contractors when we are in court.” We cannot deprive contractors of their legitimate pay just because the governor is facing tribunal cases.

Case or no case, the people of our dear state deserve good roads.

For some hitherto respected blog sites to annihilate investigative journalism by reporting falsehood is pitiable.

We imagine how much people are losing their credibility to the need to defend people who are doing everything to

extend their political fiefdoms. We pity them.

The people of Agasa and other towns and cities know what projects are going on in their places. They laugh when they read some people writing that such projects are non-existent. They laugh at how people have lost their sense of decency to commercial journalism. They laugh at how deep people can go to make a nylon sink!

It is no more news that the PDP misgoverned this state.

They ruled without ideas and direction. They ruled with the sole intent of promoting kleptomania. It was no surprise that Governor Yahaya Bello defeated Idris Wada even in his local government area during the supplementary poll. That is the level of rejection, not necessarily of Wada, but the party that drained our nation.

The Governor has goodwill despite the politically motivated attacks on his person by people who messed up the system and are now trying to re-mould into his New Direction agenda. The sound judgment by the lower tribunal has no doubt, jolted opponents of the governor.

The fear of losing at the Appellate Court is causing the pedestrian approach of calling the judiciary a bad name to discredit the temple of justice ahead of the judgment.

The governor has shown great respect for the judiciary.

Apart from upgrading the environment of courts in the state, he has ensured prompt payment of salaries to judiciary staff.

The claim by some faceless groups as promoted by discredited blog sites that the state government owes six months salaries is laughable misinformation. The governor has paid salaries six times in six months. The Lokoja township roads are wearing new look, while the previous state of insecurity inherited has been tamed with a strong political will. So far, 18,000 ghost workers have been discovered. This will save the state about N16 billion annually. Many investors are trooping into the state as the right environment is being created with Ajaokuta and Itakpe ready to herald the diversification revolution of the Nigerian economy. It is going to be better with unity and cooperation.

Fanwo is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

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7 August, 2016

ON THE

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With Bolanle Bolawole turnpot@gmail.com 07052631058

lord’sday A new lease of life at OAU

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S students resume tomorrow – hopefully! - for a new academic session at the Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife), the authorities face the daunting task of a set-back of an academic calendar. While other institutions of higher learning are into the second semester and or rounding up the session; OAU is just about to begin!

This is whopping; it is quite a mountain to climb. This misfortune has been a source of anguish and pains to a lot of stakeholders – students, parents, and alumni especially.

Great Ife, as this citadel of learning is admirably addressed by all and sundry, has, in recent years, become a shadow of itself.

And as they say, its glory days lay not in its present shenanigans nor anywhere in a future we can easily see but in its past. This is most unfortunate. As a parent and an alumnus, I am doubly whacked by Great Ife’s unfortunate turn of events.

OAU’s misfortune has been largely selfinflicted; this, in its numerous strikes and protests. We have had unending students’ protests over hikes in school fees; inadequate hostel and lecture facilities; poor power and water supply; clashes over dissolution of Students’ Union governments and or rustication of students union leaders; not to talk of strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the intransigence of government, which actually broke the backbone of school academic calendar nationwide. The recovery rate for the universities has not been easy, smooth, and even. At Ife, the pig-headedness of the past authorities over new school fees and the students’ protests against it helped to compound an already bad situation. As if that was not enough, another shenanigan by the authorities over the selection process of a new Vice Chancellor led to protests from unusual quarters, which practically tipped the academic calendar overboard.

The senior staff and non-academic staff associations locked down the university and protested on a daily basis over the processes of appointing a new VC, which they said was opaque and, therefore, unacceptable, thereby making the university ungovernable both to the departing VC, Prof. Bamitale Omole, and the man smuggled in as his replacement, Prof. Ayobami Salami.

Valuable months were lost to the show of might in this fight of the elephants. The grass, of course, bore the brunt. Students and parents are the proverbial grass.

What has become of our Great Ife? The truth of the matter is that standards have fallen everywhere and on all fronts; not only in academics but also in morals and sense of social responsibility and corporate identity. Ife of today is definitely not the Ife of old; the shenanigans of the past years where transparency and accountability reportedly were thrown to the dogs could not have been imagined when Ife was truly “Great Ife”. Autonomy, which was meant to safeguard the universities, has been turned into an albatross. A sad commentary is the OAU chapter of ASUU itself, which is now a caricature of the ASUU of Toye Olorode, Idowu Awopetu, Dipo Fashina, et al. The role played by the present ASUU – for want

of another name – headed by one Dr. Caleb Aborisade, leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

It took the intervention of non-academic staff members, who put their foot down and waged a relentless war, for the redemption of the pride and integrity of Great Ife to be accomplished while the lecturers who should have done that compromised or, at best, were reduced to bystanders and cheerleaders. It was after the non-academic staff unions had killed the elephant that the egg-heads rushed in with their long knives to skin it! What a spectacle! Were it left to me, the professors would not have been called upon by the Visitor to OAU, President Muhammadu Buhari, to elect an acting VC for the institution; NASU and the Senior Staff association would have been given the mandate and honour! And that should have been an object lesson to the academic community everywhere.

Now that the OAU has an acting VC, hurray! His name is Prof. Anthony Adebolu Elujoba. The name is vintage Ife, so the man must be from Ile-Ife, the first to ascend the exalted post, even if by default. He has six months maximum to spend and his main task is to superintend the appointment of a substantive VC. His election by his peers speaks volumes; he polled 251 votes to his challenger, Prof. Adebayo Lamikanra’s five.

So it can be said that he has the massive support of his peers; Ife is said to have a little above 300 Professors. Those who made the leadership change possible; I mean the senior and junior staff of the institution, were rapturous in welcoming Elujoba’s appointment. The newspapers and social media carried their photographs and statements as they were in victory and celebration mood. It was, for them, mission accomplished – but Elujoba must watch it for many important reasons. One: The mission of those who caused the crisis that brought him into office and many of those who voted for him was simply to undo what

the previous administration did and not necessarily because they had any special love or liking for Elujoba. It was a question of “just any other person but Prof. Ayobami Salami”, the unfortunate man in the eyes of the gale. So, just as we have victims of circumstance, Elujoba is a beneficiary of circumstance who is reaping where he had not actually sown. Two: The administration before him floundered at the hurdle of the appointment of a substantive VC in an open, transparent, and honest manner. That task is still before the acting VC and until he makes a success of it, he cannot be said to have succeeded. Three: As a Yoruba man, Elujoba must be familiar with the proverb that says: “Enu ti aiye fi pe Adegun, na ni nwon fi n pe Adeogun”. If he was not familiar with the proverb, I loan it to him today free of charge, as they say. Literally, the proverb means the same people shouting “Hosanna” today will be the same who will shout “Crucify him” tomorrow if the tide turns. May the tide not turn for the worse for Elujoba!

Reading the acceptance/inaugural speech of the acting VC, he appears to me a combination of a preacher and a politician.

His speech contains a lot of sermons as preachers are wont to do and also so many promises like the politicians would do. And I asked myself: In six months? His speech was appropriately titled “Re-positioning OAU on the track of progress and greatness”.

He started by recognising what he called the unique challenges “of the time”; and hoped for united action “to re-position the university and move (it) forward to greater glory”. The word “re-position” occurred many times in his two-page address, which I interpret to mean an acute understanding of the need for paradigm shift from the shenanigans of the past. So also the words “glory”, “greater achievement”, “truth”, “faith”, “love”, and “unity” made repeated appearance. His pledged “to consciously protect the ideals and legacies bestowed

upon us by our fore-runners”; he recognised that the circumstances and times (of his coming into office) demand “swift actions that will bring (the) dividends of institutional CHANGE (his emphasis) for progress”; promised CHANGE which will be “swift, drastic, and radical” to be fasttracked “with all the available resources at our disposal, both human and material”; his administration will be inclusive and transparent, carrying everyone along; he will restore stable academic calendar; industrial peace and conducive environment that will enhance the university’s mission of teaching, learning, research, and social engineering services to the community; decree prompt release of students examination results; encourage and sustain self-uprightness and diligence at work; and restore OAU’s good image and public confidence. The plate is full already! He waxed philosophical as he described his administration as the “dawn of a new day (and) new beginning” which he would pilot with “vigour, in unity, TRUTH, FAITH (his emphasis), love, full of hopes and expectations”. Although he called for the support of everyone, he asked “pseudohelpers, sycophants, schemers, divide-and rule (manipulators), evil perpetrators, human serpents” to repent and have a change of heart or steer clear. He ended with “Only with God, and your support, shall there be success”.

The tasks before the acting VC are, no doubt, daunting: to clear the proverbial Augean stable; chart a new course; move everyone in the right direction; recover lost ground; restore lost glory; and, above all, scale the hurdle that caused the stumbling of others. He, however, identified all the tools he would need for success: The first is self; the second are the people; and the third is God. A right mix will serve him and all of us well. I wish him well! And may the good Lord help him!

LAST WORD: Last Sunday was the 50th anniversary of the brutal murder of the then military governor of the Western Region, Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, in the counter-coup of July 29, 1966. “The butchers of Ibadan”, as they are called, are well known. My worry here, today, is that the memory of Fajuyi; his sacrifices; the likely turn of events had he accepted the offer of saving his skin and allowing only the then military Head of State, JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi, to die alone at Ibadan, where he had come for a state visit, appear all lost to those who ought to know. Oftentimes, the Igbos are fond of reminding us of the cross-carpeting at the Western House of Assembly that denied Nnamdi Azikiwe the opportunity of becoming Premier of the West after having secured his native East; and of Obafemi Awolowo not following suit when Ojukwu declared the secession of the East, I have never heard them mention the heroics of Fajuyi. Also, compare the abject forgetfulness of our political leaders in the South-West with the North’s remembrance and honouring of one of its own leaders, Hassan Katsina, same last week. Even President Muhammadu Buhari was represented. Does that tell you something about why the South suffers?

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Prison evangelism, vital to national reformation —Bishop Williams

Bishop Kayode Williams, who was imprisoned for 10 years, is the Director-General, Prison Rehabilitation Mission International (PREMI), a prison reformation initiative and Bishop of Christ Vessel of Grace Church. He shares with GBEMI SOLAJA his thoughts on the peculiarities of the Nigerian prison system, how his time in jail improved his ministry, his efforts in prison evangelism, among other issues. Excerpts:

W

HAT is your assessment of the Nigerian prison system?

It is a bit difficult to really give a pass mark to the Nigerian Prisons Service for now because there are a lot of issues in the criminal justice system and on rehabilitation, reformation, re- integration, and settlements of ex-convicts, we have a lot of areas to look into. The assessment for now is that there are serious problems in terms of accommodation, inmates awaiting trials, congestion, among others. For instance, as of today, over 50,000 inmates are locked up and 80 per cent of these are awaiting trials. With this, it has become difficult to administer the prison properly because the awaiting trials are not to be rehabilitated or reformed.

These are people awaiting trials. The convicted ones are limited in number and the prison authorities do not know how to handle them because of the state of the facilities for training.

What can be done to make things better?

Nigerian prison officers are not on the same level with their counterparts in security, which is an abuse and an embarrassment; they see themselves as inferior.

They can deliver, but the system has relegated them. For instance, I have asked some state governors why prison officers cannot be in the security committee of the state. Prison officers handle criminals without guns yet their importance in the society is not recognised. Our prisons must be reformed. The purpose for sending an inmate to the prison is for reformation, and this is misplaced. A prison is not a punitive centre; it is a reformative centre. The larger percentage of inmates are those awaiting trials. They have not been convicted so the system does not know what to do with them. For those who have been convicted and should undergo training, there are no facilities. For instance, for those condemned to death, many states don’t want to sign death and execution warrants. That’s commendable because in some civilised countries, executions have become a thing of the past. People should be given another chance at life because two wrongs cannot make a right. I think the governors are trying to look for a way out. However, many of these people have overstayed because there have been no execution for years; some prisoners have stayed for over 25 years. The question then is ‘what is the essence of the punishment when it has overstayed its usefulness?’ It

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With Rita Okonoboh rosarumese@gmail.com 08053789087

and delay in justice and unnecessary overstay in prisons are three key areas that must be addressed.

Also, rehabilitation centres should be handled by the states these prisoners come from because they need to be somewhere when they return from prison. Prison officers need to be given some incentive and inmates should be compensated by the state. The office of social welfare should be in charge of this. The Federal Ministry of Social Welfare and the state ministries of social welfare only function as if they are doing some people favours by distributing gifts during Christmas and Sallah celebrations. That is only a small aspect.

Victims of crimes must also be identified and given reasonable compensation relating to what they suffered when the crime was committed. Psychologists should also play a role in reforming criminals.

How active are you in prison evangelism?

With PREMI, we have Oba Adedapo Tejuosho as the chairman of the governing council; Chief Afe Babalola as the chairman, board of trustees; Justice Seun Sogbola as the secretary general; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as a life grand patron, among others. PREMI is not only in Nigeria; we are in England and Wales. We have established relationship with international organisations and we are moving forward. As for Nigeria, what we are trying to do now is to build a rehabilitation and drug centre, the first of its kind in Africa.

We want to be the bridge between the prison and the society so that we can bring all the ideas to play in such an organisation. We will be in partnership with the Nigerian Prisons Service, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, and other organisations of like mind so that we can use that place to redefine the prison system and ensure that inmates contribute positively to society.

is important to know that the essence of the prison is for convict to come back to the society a better and reformed person.

It is happening to me today. If I did not pass through the prisons, if I had been executed, what God is using me for today would not have been possible. They had closed a door, but God opened the window so that He can showcase His almightiness in reforming, rebuilding, and remolding a person who had been written off. I want to use this opportunity to ask the federal and state governments to release majority of those who have stayed for over 15 years so that they can be given another chance at life.

Regarding the convicts, when a man has spent years in the prison, who is going to welcome him home. The society is hostile to the inmates. In civilised countries, reformed prisoners who want to reenter society are usually compensated. In Nigeria,

the story is largely different. That’s where the prison ministry I direct comes in.

We act like a bridge between the prison and the society. When I came back from prison, nobody welcomed me. However, I thank God, who in His infinite mercies remolded and reconstructed my life. Delay in investigation of criminal cases, denial

If I had been executed, what God is using me for today would not have been possible

In the light of current economic challenges, how can the prisons contribute positively?

There are a lot of things that Nigerian Prisons can chip in to improve our economy. In Scandinavian countries, they use the prisons to produce all the boots that officers use as a way of making them productive. In China, it’s the same thing. In China, people go to jail for 180 years so they allow them to work and get paid. If a prisoner is serving a 10-year sentence, nothing stops him from working and engaging in what we call earning scheme, that is, a method of paying him so that by the time he comes out , he will be a better person based on the skills and knowledge he has acquired while working in prison.

You said earlier that the constitution has been a plague and a burden on the sustainability of the prison system. Could you shed more light on this?

The state must be partner with the Federal Government on issue of prisons. Officers must have capacity building and training and be exposed to foreign systems of reforming inmates. The National Assembly should deliberate on what the Nigerian prison is for, especially with regard to our constitution. This should include the duties of the comptroller-general, the deputy, how to handle inmates, among other concerns.

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7 August, 2016

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With Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 08074497425

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Catholic archbishop condemns attacks on Christians SylvesterOkoruwa-Lagos

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ATHOLIC Archbishop of Lagos, Most Reverend Alfred Adewale Martins, has condemned attacks on Christians, especially in the North.

He made this assertion while addressing journalists on the state of the nation as part of activities to mark his fourth anniversary as the Archbishop of Lagos, held at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos State.

According to the cleric, the attacks on Christians, especially in the North, should stop and Christians allowed to worship their creator in the way they deemed fit as far as they do not infringe on the right of freedom of worship of others.

He condemned the continued attacks on churches, stating that it was unjustifiable and unacceptable in a country that was supposed to promote religious tolerance.

He advised Christians to be conscious and vigilant of their environments.

For political office holders, Archbishop Martins called for a review of their “bloated salaries, allowances, excessive expenses and pensions because a large portion of our budget is spent by the president, vice-president, governors, senators, House of Representatives members, ministers, among others.”

He called on political of-

fice holders to consider the plight of workers as many were hungry.

“The church is feeling the heat as members now come to the church to beg for support. If those in power reduce excessive spend-

ing, this will go a long way in helping the conditions of the suffering workers.

They must, as a matter of urgency, make this sacrifice so that the nation can move ahead. This will also reflect positively on the

state of the economy.”

On the issue of recent federal appointments made

by President Muhammadu Buhari, Martins said that “the recent appointments made so far by the present administration leaves

much to be desired. A situation where a good number of major appointments favour a particular section

Anglican bishop charges militants to embrace peace Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna

From left, Director, Social Communications, Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, Monsignor Gabriel Osu; Archbishop of Lagos, Most Reverend (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins, and Vicar-General, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Right Reverend John Aniagwu, during the press conference to mark Archbishop Adewale Martins’ fourth anniversary as the Archbishop of Lagos, held at Holy Cross Cathedral, in Lagos, recently. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Pastor Kola Oluwawole (second right); his wife, Moji (right), and other ministers, during the 64th annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) tagged ‘Amen’ at the Redemption Campground, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, at the weekend.

BISHOP of the Diocese of Kaduna, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Right Reverend Timothy Yahaya, has charged the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups to embrace peace and dialogue.

He made this known at the end of the 20th synod of the diocese held at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, Kaduna State, on Friday.

Bishop Yahaya disclosed that the theme of this year’s synod was “Righteousness Exalts,” based on Proverbs 14:35a.

Commenting further, he said the synod condemned, in strong terms, the vandalism of oil pipelines and called on all aggrieved groups to lay down their arms and come to the dialogue table.

On the grazing bill, Bishop Yahaya observed that there were no laws in Nigeria that protected a particular tribe and its business, noting that the passing of the grazing bill would mean that some people and their businesses were more important than others.

He also commended the efforts of the present administration in trying to revitalise the economy.

Meanwhile, the Anglican bishop of Gusau Diocese,

Delta community hosts one-million-man crusade to deliver the land AlphonsusAgborh–Asaba TO restore the lost glory of the ancient town of Ogwashi Uku in Oshimili South Local government Area of Delta State, which has been an administrative headquarters since 1910, Reverend (Dr) Uma Ukpai comes alive in the town in a one-million-man crusade scheduled for August 12.

The three-day event is expected to attract many churches with a team of preachers and popular gospel artistes, including Chioma Jesus as well as a 200-member mass choir.

According to Anioma for Christ Foundation, organisers of the programme, people from the nine local

governments of Anioma ethnic nationalities and beyond would participate in the programme.

Free medical treatment, introduction of skill acquisition, empowerment of over 1,000 widows would also take place.

President of the foundation and coordinator of the programme, Dr Celestine Iwendi, a security expert, told newsmen in Ogwashiuku that a team of medical personnel from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, under the aegis of Health Day-

light International Foundation, had arrived for the medical outreach.

Iwendi believed that deliverance had come to the land as the crusade would turn the community and its neighbours around spiritually.

In partnership with Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Christian Association of Nigeria, the Anioma for Christ Crusade Foundation, Iwendi said they decided to bring Revd. Ukpai specifically to change the fortune of the land.

Cleric laments negative effects of economic recession Joe Nwachukwu - Owerri A cleric of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Owerri, Imo State, Pastor Osita Collins Chukwuezie, has said that the tough economic recession being experienced in the country was not benefiting anybody except a few Nigerians.

He made this statement

at the church service during the inauguration of the men’s fellowship of the Douglas Assembly of CAC Owerri, Imo State recently.

According to him, building a better nation where all citizens lived happily should not rest on a few people.

In his sermon, the coordinator of the CAC men’s fellowship, Douglas Assembly,

Deacon Paulinus Onyeaka, told the congregation that the economic woes of the nation could be tackled with collective efforts, calling on Nigerians to cooperate with government to move the nation forward.

Onyeaka also announced that there would be mass wedding in the church and advised those that had not

of the country gives one the impression that there are no competent hands in other parts of the country.”

wedded to submit their names to the pastor.

The secretary of the church in the South-East, Elder Steve Umunakwe, advised men to imbibe Godly virtues, noting that men as head of their families should play their roles effectively, as failure would attract punishment from God.

Right Reverend John Garba Danbinta, has said that respect for religion and tolerating one another, regardless of one’s faith was a fundamental key that guarantees peaceful and religious co-existence.

He disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna on Friday, preparatory to the sixth synod which holds today and is hosted by St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State.

Prioritise church unity, Royal Ambassadors urge new CAN president

By Moses Alao THE Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria (RA) of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) has advised the new president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and president of the NBC, Reverend (Dr) Samson ‘Supo Ayokunle, to work hard to promote the unity of the church and promote interdenominational love in the country.

The body, in a letter addressed to Ayokunle, a copy of which was obtained by TribuneChurch, said: “we are persuaded that your election will, undoubtedly, usher in a new era in the activities and programmes of CAN with a view to promoting the gospel of Christ Jesus, defending the Christian faith, standing on the side of biblical truth and providing cover for the Christendom.

We further pray and trust that God will make you a voice to be heard and respected, grant you direction and wisdom.”

The RA noted that based on Ayokunle’s track record and pedigree as NBC president, it was convinced that he would excel in the new assignment, praying to God to give him the grace to succeed in ministry.

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ith your experience as a cleric and as a director of a non-governmental financial institution, what do think is wrong with Nigeria’s economy?

It is only God that can redeem Nigeria’s economy. A lot of people have placed their hopes where there is no hope.

The Bible states that ‘woe to people that put their trust in man.’ In fact, when this administration was about to take over, people had high hopes, and some even said we had got a Messiah that would rescue the nation. However, the situation is getting worse. One thing I believe is that when we believe in the work of our hands, we can never suffer.

When we believe in God, there is no way we won’t survive the current economic hardship.

7 August, 2016

Cash crunch: God is the only way out —Pastor Agbaje

Pastor Oluyemi Agbaje, the founder and pastor in charge of Household of Grace Bible Church, Ibadan, Oyo State, is also the executive director of Self Help Advancement People Centre (SEHAP). In this interview with OLAIDE SOKOYA, he speaks on the challenges he has faced combining his calling as a minister and overseeing a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), and how divine intervention can rescue Nigeria’s economy. Excerpts:

It is not uncommon for pastors to set up private businesses outisde their ministry. How did you find yourself directing a microfinance institution?

It was by divine direction. SEHAP focuses on assisting the underprivileged in the society. It is a non-governmental microfinance institution, and is an idea developed through God’s inspiration and the vision to address the near-absence of financial aid to the large population of economically-active poor people, to engage in small businesses.

When we believe in God, there is no way we won’t survive the current economic hardship

How would you advise government on the current economic hardship?

The only organisation that can meet the needs of the people is this kind of non-governmental organisation that arrests the issue of poverty from the grassroots. My only advice is for the government to ensure that they invest more in microfinance institutions. By this, they will be able to meet the needs of the people, especially the poor.

How has the organisation impacted positively in people’s lives?

This organisation has helped a lot of people financially.

It has impacted and is still impacting positively in the lives of the people by God’s grace. In Nigeria, a lot of people have business ideas but no money to execute such ideas.

So, as a cleric, I realised that a way we could assist people was to set up this organisation. Many people have gained a lot from SEHAP. There are people who started their businesses with N10,000 but today, can boast of having built their own houses.

As a cleric, how do you handle clients who default on loans without offending God? I handle them through the word of God; we convince them by the word of God. In this kind of business, it is very easy for a pastor to lose heaven if care is not taken. There is room for you to hold your tongue so that you will not offend God through the people you are dealing with. So, we

Sunday Tribune

retrieve our money through admonishing them with the word of God. The worst we do is to tell them we will arrest them but in my mind, I don’t arrest people and I have never done it. We have a system we use to retrieve the money.

What are some challenges you have faced running a microfinace institution alongside pastoring a church?

There have been challenges. For instance, when we give out loans and the reward we get is debt, what would one do? One time, we decided to pool all the resources of our clients and sought the services of a bank for loans. There were cases of people not paying back these loans as promised. My background as a pastor also helps me to tackle the challenges that may arise from the microfinance institution with godly wisdom. We trust God in all situations.

C&S pastor counsels churches to focus on members’ spiritual, social needs Biola Azeez - Ilorin

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ASTOR in charge of Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement in Kwara State, Moses Popoola, has called on churches across the country to give attention to social needs of their members as much as they give to their spiritual needs, to aid the members in remaining focused in Christian life.

Popoola, who gave the advice during an empowerment programme organised by a foundation of the church known as ‘Oluwole Foundation’ said it was the preaching of the Bible that the underprivileged, widows and others in need be taken care of.

He said that it was not enough to focus on spiritual needs of church members

alone without concern for their welfare.

He also enjoined government and well-to-do individuals to fight poverty, saying this would save the nation from crisis that may be occasioned by penury.

He said that if well-to-do people helped the poor, they would be saving themselves from being exposed to attacks by a hunger-stricken and angry populace.

Popoola, who doubles as the executive secretary of

A cleric has urged people to always do good at all times and also ensure to have good records that they can be remembered for, even after their lifetime.

The presiding pastor of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Offa, Ilorin, Kwara State, Pastor Timothy Omotoso, in his sermon entitled: “Remember me God for the good I have done,” at the 3rd anniver-

benefitted from the empowerment, while 128 pupils had enjoyed primary to university education scholarship awards.

Tools distributed included 15 deep freezers, one motorcycle, five grinding

machines, one industrial sewing machine, three generators, one popcorn processing machine and three ovens, aside 30 units of bench and chairs donated to the church’s nursery and primary school.

‘Recklessness and lack of Christ-like militancy, bane of evangelism’

By Rotimi Ige A Christian platform, Prayer Freedom Nigeria, has described the unprovoked attacks against Christians as criminal and attributed the blame to the lack of Christ-like militancy and recklessness of Christians towards evangelism.

This was the message at a prayer conference on Nigeria, with the theme: “One Nation, One destiny: An Agenda for Peace,” held recently in Lagos State.

Speaking at the conference, the General Overseer, Redemption Covenant Chapel, Prophet Bunmi Oduyebo, stated that “What we do is to make speeches without effectual practice, which is outrightly ineffective. There has to be a change in our mentality.

“The church in Nigeria is bleeding to death because of our inability to increase the tempo of our evangelism and the need to be militant for Jesus Christ.”

While the General Over-

Cleric harps on importance of doing good

By Seyi Sokoya

the foundation, explained that 40 people would benefit from the empowerment programme as it had been since inception of the programme four years ago.

He said that over the last four years, 160 people had

sary of the church, told dignitaries and members the importance of doing good to humanity and in God’s vineyard.

Omotoso said that people who don’t have records of good deeds were not worthy to be in God’s presence and would not see His face, just as he added that people should cultivate the habit of going good and stop seeking the face of God with unclean hands.

He, however, urged all

and sundry to ensure they had large hearts in giving and doing the will of God, noting that this was the only way to make lives better as well as enhance self-belonging, foster love among humans, raise lost hopes and also spur God to do exploits in return.

Other activities at the event were a stage drama, special ministrations by various personalities and songs ministration by the church choir.

seer, Shalom Gospel Christian Centre, Bishop Wale Adekoya, emphasised that over-zealousness, disunity and neglect of evangelism were three major stum-

bling blocks to positive development of the church, the General Overseer, Sanctuary of Nations Assembly, Prophet Biodun Adeneye-Marcus, said

Prayer Freedom Nigeria would engage the Nigerian government constructively in order to determine the position of Christians in the country.

Prophet charges Nigerians to take part in nation’s rebuilding Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti COORDINATOR of Christ Apostolic Church, Mountain of Mercy, Oke Erio, Ekiti State, Prophet Sam Olu-Alo, has charged all Nigerians, irrespective of political, social and religious leanings, to actively participate in rebuilding the country.

Olu-Alo, who said religious and political leaders had roles to play in putting the country back on the right path, said God had endowed the country with vast natural and human resources to make it stand out among its peers.

The cleric, who spoke during a revival programme in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State

capital, said that despite abundant resources, Nigerians were going through hardship occasioned by the greed and selfishness of some leaders.

He said: “People are passing through difficult times whereas some individuals are living in affluence through ill-gotten wealth without caring for the interest of the suffering masses.”

Olu-Alo said return to God was a necessary step to take for the restoration of the country’s lost glory and for the erring leaders to avert the wrath of God. “If Nigeria has leaders with love of the country at heart and who are willing to put the country back on the right track, there would

be no need for foreign trips with what God has blessed us with. Everybody has a role to play in the rebuilding process. Nigeria would soon get there. It won’t be long.

“The process should start in churches and mosques.

Political leaders and those who siphon the country’s resources attend churches and mosques, but the religious leaders don’t tell them the truth and the consequences of their actions.

“Religious leaders now tell their congregations what they want to hear. What some now do to attract worshipers is bringing comedians to church to trivilialise issues. There is a missing link here,” the cleric said.

38 tribunechurch Oluwakemi Abimbola, a gospel artiste and the lead singer of Hephzibah Glorious Voices, in this interview with VICTOR OGUNYINKA, bares her thoughts on the misrepresentation of the gospel music industry and what gospel music should be.

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dards began to infiltrate gospel music, things got pretty dicey. What bothers me is the fact that gospel music value has been misplaced by majority, even in churches. Christians tend to hail and shower ovations on flesh-gratifying songs and act cold towards spirit-edifying songs in church services. The impact gospel music has on people (who embrace it) is of greater value compared to ‘mere’ publicity without testimonies. Irrespective of the constraints out there, I believe that as long as one is not lured or influenced into adulterating gospel songs, with the mercies of God, the glory shall be made manifest with great accolade.

‘Gospel music value has been misplaced even in churches’

What would you say is your biggest challenge so far?

Personally, I don’t have any ‘biggest challenge.’ Suffice to mention the ones I have observed in churches, which resultantly have effect on individuals including myself.

The lack of professional sound engineers and periodical music training in churches have not been too pleasing; most churches build structures without prioritising music. Musical instruments are not professionally coordinated and there is no provision for formal music training of choir members. This is also the challenge that our youths are swaying towards the secular world as that is where they get their yearnings filled as they see such as opportunity.

HY did you opt for gospel music?

Nothing gives me more joy than singing in exaltation of God. Growing up in the act made it part of me and that is all I long to do most times. In addition, it is written that ‘let everything that has breath praise the name of the Most High,’ hence, my choice of gospel music.

We have so many ‘gospel-like’ songs by secular musicians now made popular by churches’ acceptance of these songs. Would you say such songs are church-worthy?

I think the definition of ‘gospel’ is clear enough. If it is not Christ-like, then gospel-like songs do not preach the gospel. There can’t be a midway! Gospel songs are not about feelings but of depth and biblical roots. Though some people say ‘if you feel the songs bring you closer to God, then, it isn’t really important if the lyrics make sense or not, as God sees your intention...’ Far from it!

Gospel music in and out of church should not be such that makes the heart wander away from the salvation of one’s soul.

Sunday Tribune

What is your dream for the gospel music industry in the nearest future?

I desire that gospel music industry in the nearest future would stand and portray gospel in its originality, making it stand out from the secular, thereby having greater influence as the salt of the earth instead of the other way round.

Does it bother you that gospel artistes don’t get as much publicity and attention compared to their secular counterparts?

Sincerely, since pop production and song writing stan-

Gospel artistes have featured secular musicians over time. Would you be featuring one someday?

From my previous response, gospel music should be one that leads souls to Christ. Anything short of that is out of it for me. It’s not about what is in vogue or what sells, but the will of the One who blesses me with the talent and gift of life. Hence, I and other artistes of like minds can work together.

At Women’s Conference, Christians livingword tasked on patience, prayer

By Bishop David Oyedepo Call 7747546-8; or e-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

By Rita Okonoboh PRESIDENT of the Mothers’ Union/Women’s Guild of the Diocese of Yewa, Anglican Communion, Ogun State, Mrs Grace Olufunke Oluwarohunbi, has called on women and Christians in general to embrace patience and prayers as the solution to whatever problems they may face.

This was her submission at the recently concluded 26th annual women’s conference of the Diocese of Yewa, with the theme, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”

According to her, “It became imperative to dwell on this topic because of the times we are in and the environment we live in.

“These are times of distress, increasing hardship and insecurity. It has become obvious that our strength, human efforts and status cannot help us. It is by this understanding that Hannah in 1 Sam. 2:9c proclaimed that ‘...by strength shall no man prevail.’

“This is why the Psalmist also says God is our refuge and strength and ever-pres-

ent help. Therefore, God is the only constant, stable and able help we have. Seeking His help is inevitable and most beneficial.”

Calling on Christians to embrace true worship and godlly attributes in order to reap the benefits of God’s promises for his people, Oluwarohunbi cited the various ways to wait on the Lord to include: daily devotion and regular fellowship with God; regular fellowship with other believers; regular prayer and fasting; staying out of sin; giving God our all; obedience to God, and waiting patiently for God’s promises.

Mother of the conference,

Princess Comfort Olasumbo Olaosebikan, in her message, called for repentance.

According to her, “This year is another opportunity for us to wait on the Lord to strive and claim our divine appointed place in this life, while we focus on taking our diocese to greater heights and keeping in view the gift of eternal life.”

The conference featured studies based on the Bible, health talks, empowerment schemes such as training on tying headgears and making beads, presentation of reports, intercessory prayers, film show, presentation of songs, vigil, among others.

Anniversary THE 9th anniversary of Christ Morning Star Society (Egbe Irawo Owuro ti Christ) of Immanuel Anglican Church, Ashi, Ibadan, Oyo State, comes up today.

The thanksgiving and induction service of the new members will hold at 10:00 a.m. during the morning service which

will be conducted by Venerable Lolu Akinyinka.

The president of the Society Star, Mrs Toyin Adewale Temowo, and the entire members will host their invitees at the Gootonson Event Centre, Iyana-Ashi bus stop Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, after the thanksgiving service.

Engaging the miracle power of praise!

EVERY investment in God’s Kingdom entitles us to returns. For instance, our material and spiritual investments in form of tithes, offerings, prayers, fasting and Kingdom service entitles us to returns; but not everyone gets returns because many of us do not know the process of taking delivery (Jeremiah 5:24).

It is important to understand that the sacrifice of praise is a scriptural requirement for taking delivery of our investment returns. As it is written: A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him (Proverbs 12:14; See also18:20; 13:2).

From the above scripture, the word “recompense” implies that there is an investment and the fruit of our mouths is that investment that guarantees our returns.

What is the fruit of our mouth?

The Bible says: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15).

The ‘sacrifice of praise’ is praising God in anticipation of the delivery of our returns. In other words, it is the fruit of our lips that enforces the returns on the seeds sown. We must also understand that no matter what we sow, we will require the sacrifice of praise for guaranteed returns.

Thus, the higher our praises the faster the delivery of our inheritance.

We must also recognise that every prayer is a spiritual seed awaiting our sacrifice of praise for the answers to be delivered.

Just as every seed must be watered before harvest can be experienced, we must water our seeds with the sacrifice of praise or there would be no harvest.

Another reason many don’t experience returns on the seeds sown is because they will rather murmur than praise God for their expected returns. Therefore, we must understand that praise is not a religious entertainment or an item on a church programme; it is a spiritual weapon that beautifies the saints with the benefits of redemption (Galatians 6:7-8; See also Mathew 8: 17).

However, we cannot offer acceptable praise until we have accepted Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. That is what being born again means. Are you born again? If you haven’t, you can do so by saying this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins.

Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”

For further reading, please get my books: Understanding the Power of Praise, Walking in the Miraculous, Operating in the Supernatural, Releasing the Supernatural and Commanding the Supernatural.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

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Sunday Tribune

dawnofanewera sundaysermon

with Most Revd J.O. Akinfenwa

with Pastor Sunday Adelaja

Bishop of Ibadan Anglican Diocese

Senior Pastor of the Ukraine based Embassy of God Church

The obligations of the pastor to the church

e-mail: pastor@godembassy.org

The laws of money (IV)

OUR conversation this week will touch on the crux of the topic we’ve been treating this past three weeks, The Laws of Money.

Here, I wish to begin to give you some appetizer on the laws of money. Let’s start the journey: 1. The First Law of Money that I wish to expound with you today is – Money is Not Meant to Be Spent.

The first instinct of uninformed men when it comes to money is to spend it and that is the proof that they are uninformed.

It is also a proof of why they will never really become wealthy. Some people even say: what is money meant for, if not to be spent?

People who understand money and its laws will tell you that when you are given a hundred naira, you are only permitted to spend a hundred naira when the original hundred naira has made at least three times its original value. So if you have not found a way to multiply it or put it to work, such that it will produce for you three hundred naira, you are not entitled to spend the original hundred. If you do that and indiscriminately spend the money that comes to your hand, it shows that you will never really become wealthy.

Many people tell me, how then do I pay my bills and meet my needs? To the informed that is easy; out of the hundred naira that came to your hand, put thirty naira to work such that in the next few months, maybe a year or more, that thirty percent keeps on working for you. Because as that hundred keeps on working for you, it is returning the original hundred and more to your pocket. I am talking about increase and multiplication.

The mistake poor people make is that they see rich people buy and use flashy stuff and want to copy them. The poor man only sees the luxury of the rich, not the laws that brought him there. Since the poor does not know or is aware of the mechanism that is working for the rich, he is not aware that the rich man is only spending after many returns have come back on his naira. Rich people don’t spend the original capital they have, they only spend the overflow.

On the other hand, the poor man sees the

The mistake poor people make is that they see rich people buy and use flashy stuff and want to copy them. The poor man only sees the luxury of the rich, not the laws that brought him there

luxury of the rich and rushes to become like him and throws away the initial meager amount of money in his hands. Some people even do worse, they don’t just spend the little money in their hands, they go ahead and borrow or spend in installment what they have not yet made. That way these people perpetually not only become poor, they turn slaves to the rich people since they have to keep on going to work for them so as to pay for their debt.

Meanwhile, those rich men that the poor men are copying already built companies, factories, stores, where the poor man eventually goes to spend the little money he has in his hands. So as soon as the rich men pay their poor workers their salaries, they have already built outlets where the poor men immediately rush to go to spend this money, returning this money to the pocket of the rich.

A good help in the service of the rich is the advertisement industry. This becomes an effective manipulator of the poor man to go and part with his hard-earned money, back to the pocket of the rich. Thereby, leaving the poor poorer and the rich richer. (More on this in my book, “Money Won’t Make You Rich”) 2. The Second Law of Money that I am sharing with you today is that – Money Must Be Retained. The ability to retain money that comes to your hand is one of the greatest qualities of a future millionaire. What does that mean? What I mean is that whenever you are given a hundred naira, money acts like God. Money dictates to you its wishes. Once the hundred naira comes to your pocket, money begins to dish out to you instruction on how you must obey its command by going to spend it. This is what made Jesus to call money a god – mammon. Because money acts like God. God gives out commandments. God commands. God orders. Money does the same things. Money desires to be obeyed just like God desires to be obeyed. So when money comes to your hand, immediately, the spirit of mammon begins to exact its authority and claim its authority over you.

By retaining the money in your hand however, you are declaring your liberty and freedom over the god of mammon. You are thereby proclaiming your own independence over the spirit of greed, anxiety and lust.

If you could take a hold of the money and put it down, not looking at it and not obeying its dictates by running out to spend it, you have just turned the table on the god of mammon. You are telling money that it is no more your Lord. You’re asserting your authority over the power of money by telling him, ‘I can have you here and not spend you because I am the one in charge. I tell you money what I want to do with you; you don’t dictate to me. I only obey the dictates of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ.’ That is how you break free from the power of money. Remember that money is a good servant, but a bad master.

To be continued next week.

Continued from last week A Pastor should have an Exemplary Family (1 Tim 3: 10 — 12, Gen 18: 19). The pastor’s wife should be a true help meet and virtuous woman. His children should be taught of the Lord. They must be raised to become friends of their father, serving the Lord together with him. As much as possible, a pastor should influence even his in-laws and get them “tuned” to his calling.

A Pastor should have an Exemplary Prayer Life (1 Thess. 5: 17, 1 Pet 4: 7, iPet 5: 8- 9, Col 1:9). Prayer is a core activity for pastors. He who cannot pray effectively has no place in the pastoral ministry. A pastor must be a man of private and public prayers. He should master how to pray effectual, fervent prayers. In addition, he should always be inspiring others to pray.

A Pastor should be a man of Exemplary Faith (Eph 6: 16, 1 Thess. 5: 8). His work is to show people that God is real, so he himself must never doubt God. He should always be strong in faith. He should always be growing in faith, and must live as a staunch believer in divine possibilities.

A good pastor sets targets of faith periodically, thus showing people by the accomplishment of these targets that God is active in the life of His church.

A Pastor should be Exemplary in Handling of Resources (Acts 20: 34 — 351 Pray 10: 4). He abounds, whether with plenty or little. He is a good steward of money.

He saves and invests; making himself in the process an example to the flock.

However rich he may become, he does not trust in riches, but in the Lord.

A Pastor should be Exemplary (even in) Recreation (Mark 6: 31 - 32, Gen. 26: 8).

He does not neglect adequate rest and recreation (i.e. he sharpens the saw). A good pastor creates time to play and laugh. In doing this, however, he avoids recreation that dishonours God / his office.

In general, a Pastor Lives an Exemplary Life (Phil 3: 7 — 10, 13-15). He is fully dedicated to glorifying God. His life is organized to pursue only the glory of God. I-us life is thus made open only to that influence. He is submitted only to that Power. He is motivated only by that goal, and he seeks only God’s glory as the ultimate reward.

Conclusion (2 Thess. 3: 1 - 9, 1 Peter 5: 1 - 4) If a pastor discharges his obligations to the church faithfully, it shall be much easier for the flock to appreciate the life of faith that is expected of them. Also, the pastor shall stand on moral high ground to be able to call his flock to live this life. Furthermore, his witness and ministry shall be strengthened, and he shall achieve greater results for the Lord. He shall position himself for earthly blessings and eternal rewards of faithful ministerial service. Pastors should therefore be doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1: 22 - 24).

Concluded

theapostolicmessage

By Pastor (Dr) G.O. Olutola JP.

Solution to unpleasant situations Continued from last week The servant of God had already said it would be healed; the Lord heard it, and he asked them to go. The prescription of everything has been given to him. The spirit of God had instructed him to do it and he did it. He went to the source of that water and when he got there, he poured the salt unto the water. It became better and drinkable, sweet for the mouth. Elisha the servant of God poured the salt and the barren land became fertile; your work has been fertilized today. The solution to your work the Lord has given you.

Your work: Let me tell you what has happened, the Lord said we should go on fasting and prayer on the last Saturday of the month.

The Lord said we must not use more than three hours; don’t fix anything (event) against this day. Your work has been fertilized. The enemy is angry with you and your family. The enemy is working against it but right now, the Lord will support you; you will have testimony over your family. All the powers of Satan will be rendered impotent. Your home is free from problem. The Lord will do something spectacular in your work.

The solution of your problem is that you must be faithful to the service the Lord has given to you. You are to give testimony of what the Lord has done; that is what God is expecting from you. The place of your work, the water is bitter, your promotion is difficult for you. But God will surely turn things around, and healing will come.

My dear brothers and dear sisters, the doors of every problem of your life has been locked by the Lord. The key to re-open it has been thrown into the sea. The problems you are having at your work place to the extent that you don’t have your joy any longer, but to the glory of God today all the problems have been locked up. All the keys to those doors have been thrown into the sea and you will see them no more, you are coming back to give testimony.

Your well-being: They have been calling you brother, sister I don’t care if they have been calling you your name; you are Baba lagbaja, mama lagbaja. It is the working of Satan, but today, you have met with the Lord. The Lord is with you where you are, He has been awaiting you and he is changing your name (song -- a tun itan mi ko….) These are the solutions to your problem. Your well-being, some people are looking at you. This is the day, the Lord has finalized your battle; your well-being has been prepared, finished and handed over to you, because you are before the Lord. Satan has made it difficult for you to feed your children in your family but today that chapter is closed. The Lord that provided for that widow of old is alive; he is the same that fed thousands with five loaves of bread and two fishes, and they gathered fragments at the end of the day in baskets.

You will be eating well and to satisfaction.

You only need prayer, you need prayer to overcome all the problems that Satan has created.

To be continued next week

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language&style Of cost and cause (II)

I

N sentence (3), the pronoun they, which is the subject, is in the plural form. Besides, it is the third person form.

What do we mean by the third person? A first person--say I---speaks to a person directly about another person. That other person is a third person. In our case, the third person is plural---they. The verb-form that goes with the third person plural subject is go.

The subject of sentence (4) is you, a word that can either be singular or plural. In English, it is only the context that shows whether the pronoun you is intended as singular or plural as the following sentences illustrate: (6)(a) You are a fool. (6)(b) You are fools. In those two sentences, it is the complement that indicates the number. In (a), youis singular; in (b), it is plural.

Now we come back to sentence (4).

Whenever the pronoun you occurs, whether as singular or plural, the verbform it takes is go. Youis a second person. A first person--I—speaks to a second person—you—about a third person.

Sentence (5) hashe (or she) as its subject. This form is a singular one and it is a third person. A first person—I— speaks to a second person—you— about a third person—he. The third person singular number-- represented as he—invariably takes the verb-form goes. Of all the persons and numbers we have considered so far, it is only the third person singular number— he—that takes the verb-form that ends in s or es as the case may be.

All other persons and numbers take the verb go—without the s or es.

This distinction is very crucial and a failure to understand it has resulted in many users writing ungrammatical sentences. The distinction is a very clear one and you should make effort to grasp this elementary detail before you go on.

The other point we need to make is that the verb go has been used only as an illustration to avoid confusion.

Any other verb in English behaves in exactly the same way as go, relative to the persons and numbers discussed so far.

The following sentences illustrate the point: 7) Hespeaks good English. 8) He writes a lot. 9) Sheloves the man.

10) He deceives most people. 11) It wags its tail. 12) He drives dangerously. 13) She possesses a balanced mind.

14) She sings beautifully. 15) She works round the clock.

16) It surprises me—this sudden change of mind. 17) Hecomes from a wealthy family.

Unlike the third person singular number (he, she, it), all other persons and numbers take the form of the verb without the s or es: 18) They speak good English. 19) We love each other. 20) Youwrite a lot. 21) I work round the clock. 22) They possess balanced minds. 23) You drive dangerously. 24) We sing beautifully. 25) Theysurprise us. 26) You come from a wealthy family. 27) They deceive their friends. 28) They wag their tails.

Before we make the next point about the subjects of these constructions and their relationship to their verbs, we want to introduce another verb-form, have. For the purpose of our discussion, we recognize three forms of the verb have.

These are: have, has, and had. For the moment, we are

by Samson Dare 0805 500 1770 samsonadare@yahoo.co.uk

interested in the distinction between have and has: 29) I have some books. 30) We have some books. 31) They have some books. 32) You have some books. 33) He has some books.

From sentences (29)-(33), we can see that all the persons and numbers except the third person singular number (he) take have. The third person singular takes has. It is now obvious that the form goes and similar forms such as: speaks, reads, writes, etcare related in concord to the third person singular subjects. Notice that in sentences (29)-(33), the verb-forms have and has have been used as main verbs and not as auxiliaries. When they are used as auxiliaries in perfect tenses, they behave in exactly the same way in relation to the persons and numbers of the subjects.

Consider the following sentences: 34) I have bought some books. 35) We have bought some books. 36) They have bought some books. 37) Youhave bought some books. 38) He has bought some books.

Again, notice that has is used only in sentence (38) in which the subject is a third person singular pronoun.

It is also important to note that the distinction we have made between have and has disappears in the past form. The past form of both have and has is had. Similarly, the distinction between speak and speaks, write and writes, sing and sings, etc disappears in the past form.

For example, the past form of both go and goes is went; of both write and writes is wrote; of both sing and sings is sang.

Compare the following sentences: 39 (a) They had bought some books. (b) He had bought some books. 40 (a) We sang beautifully. (b) She sang beautifully. 41 (a) I worked round the clock. (b) He worked round the clock. 42 (a) You had some books. (b) She had some books.

The pairs of sentences in (39)-(42) demonstrate that the distinctions we have pointed out between the verb forms that go with the third person singular subjects and all others do not apply in the past form. The major point we have noted is the distinction between such forms as have and has; go and goes; write and writes; speak and speaks; work and works. Can you relate those verb-forms to their corresponding subjectforms?

Next, we draw attention to the fact that the pronouns we have used as illustrations can be replaced by nouns or noun phrases: 43) Olu goes to school every day. 44) Olu and Ayo go to school every day. 5) My friend and I go to school every day.

Sentence (43) has a singular subject (Olu) and therefore attracts the form of the verb with es. The word Olu can be replaced with the pronoun he---which we have described as the third person singular number. Each of the other two sentences has a plural subject and therefore takes the form of the verb without es.

We can use the verb have with each of the subjects in those three sentences: 46) Olu has a book. 47) Olu and Ayo have two books. 48) Myfriend and I have two books.

This distinction is very crucial and a failure to understand it has resulted in many users writing ungrammatical sentences.

Sunday Tribune

line

life

with Niyi Osundare

Random Blues (The North-South Blues) The North cannot hear What the South is saying Alas, the South can not hear What the North is saying They puff and puff and prattle Like two crazy children playing One says to the other: ‘Can’t you see I am your elder?’

Hunun, one says to the other: ‘Can’t you see I am your elder?’

And they look like two pieces of metal Yoked together by a prentice welder The North boasts its peppers and onions The South crows about its yams Yes, North boasts its peppers and onions The South crows about its yams But neither seems to know or care About possibility of Ileya without its rams We are hemmed in by the walls we build With mimic mortar and phantom bricks Alas, we are hemmed in by the walls we build With mimic mortar and phantom bricks Victims of a map by the agents of severance And their never-ending bag of tricks Our national house is large enough For North and South and East and West Yes, our national house is large enough For North and South and East and West But we bicker and brawl like brainless brats And deny the country our level best

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Chibok girls school will reopen in September, army assures

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HE Nigerian Army on Saturday expressed optimism that the Government Secondary School (GSS), Chibok in Borno State, will reopen for academic activities in September.

Brigadier-General Victor Ezugwu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, told newsmen in Maiduguri, the state capital, that this was based on progress of its reconstruction.

Ezugwu said the army took over the supervision of the reconstruction after a directive from the Presidency.

“The school has become a national monument of sort following the April 14, 2014 abduction of about 217 girls by terrorists at the institution.

“There was a presidential order asking army engineers to take over the reconstruction of the school, which led to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) giving directives for us to move in,” he said.

Ezugwu said the engineers had been on site for some time trying to ensure the reconstruction of the school.

“Our target is that we

shall be able to get some buildings ready before the commencement of the next academic session so that the school will be able to pick up again following its destruction by terrorists,’, he said.

Ezugwu said that the Nigerian Army was also working towards the take -off of a Command Day Secondary School in the state.

“The one that gladdens my heart most is the Command Day Secondary School, Auno. The state government is renovating the buildings of the former Government Secondary

School, Auno, for the takeoff of the Command Day Secondary School. It is one of the efforts to appreciate what the army has done for

the state.

“I was there with the Commissioner of Education to see things for myself. Going by the level

Army to have its education corps to teach the students who are the future generals, doctors and professors,” he said.

Edo gov race: We stand by our endorsement of Ize-Iyamu —Uromi monarch

By Moses Alao

THE Onojie of Uromi, in Edo State, Anslem Okojie, has debunked media reports quoting him to have cast aspersion on the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, saying Uromi’s endorsement of Iyamu’s

candidature remained inviolable.

The traditional ruler was reacting to the report on the visit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, which he said misrepresented his views on Ize-Iyamu.

The Onojie, in a statement made available to

Only competent contractors will handle our road projects, says Rivers gov RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has declared that he would not play politics with the construction of roads in the state because of the need to develop the economies of neglected communities in the state.

Addressing members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors during a project tour on Saturday, Governor Wike said that his administration resolved to build roads to create the right environ-

of work done so far, the school will begin operation in September.

“It would be a good opportunity for the Nigerian

ment for businesses to flourish in Rivers State.

“Only contractors with the equipment and capacity will handle our road projects. We are constructing roads that will stand the test of time.

“We had to connect different communities in four local government areas, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Eleme, because we met damaged roads which hampered economic activities.

“With careful planning, we completed key roads and bridges that lead to economic centres in the state. We are reaping the benefits as a people. Therefore, I will never play politics with the construction of roads because they are vital to our recovery process.”

He added that because of the topography of Rivers State, the government has directed contractors to use sharp sand to compact roads instead of laterite.

newsmen, and signed by the secretary of Uromi Traditional Council, Chief Oza Francis, said that contrary to claims by the APC that he [Onojie] said Pastor Ize-Iyamu could not be trusted to be governor due to PDP’s track record of underdevelopment in Esan land, the endorsement of Ize-Iyamu remained valid.

He dared the leadership of the APC and its campaign organisation to produce the video evidence of their visit showing where he made the statement.

“Let it be noted that the Onojie of Uromi never said the following during the visit of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his entourage to the palace: That he does not trust Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu to be the governor of Edo State, but rather, that Ize Iyamu was welcome to his palace 30 times a day if he wants because they are personal friends.

“That Chief Tony Anenih cannot control him, but

rather that Chief Anenih is an illustrious son of Esan land and Uromi in particular, and we are so proud of him.

“That the PDP had made many unfulfilled promises in Esan land.”

The statement also clarified that the traditional ruler did not make any reference to PDP’s past administration in his speech, and that the traditional ruler told the APC visitors that 29 Enijies, including the Onojie of Opoji, unanimously endorsed the candidacy of Ize-Iyamu, adding that they still stand by their decision.

On the reported sharing of N6 million among the Enijies, the statement further clarified that the traditional ruler’s explanation was as a result of the falsehood allegedly being spread by the Onojie of Opoji that he was not part of the endorsement of Pastor Ize-Iyamu by the Enijies in Esan land.

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Lagos/Ibadan expressway gridlock: Ogun govt orders contractors to work at night Olayika Olukoya-Abeokuta WORRIED by the pains and agony motorists are experiencing on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Ogun State government has ordered the contractor handling the reconstruction work to work during the night as from tomorrow.

The directive was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, which was made available to Sunday Tribune, as government expressed concern on the hardship being faced by Nigerians who regularly commute on the highway.

The statement said the directive became necessary in view of the increasing spate of armed robberies on the expressway as a result of the traffic situation.

Government said the objective of the directive was to mitigate the man-hour losses as well as socio-economic disruptions occasioned by the ongoing reconstruction work.

Over 5,000 Nigerians trafficked abroad, says NAPTIP Clement Idoko-Abuja

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose ( 2nd right) presenting bank cheque to one of the beneficiaries of the government revolving loan scheme , Mr Odeyemi Olusesan,a photographer; while Ekiti State Chairman of Artisan Association, Mr Julius Adu (2nd left) and Commissioner for Commerce, Hon Ayodele Michael ( right) watch during presentation of bank cheque to 200 artisan members held at the Government House, Ado Ekiti, recently.

Christians under siege, CAN president raises alarm at RCCG convention Ebenezer AdurokiyaWarri

P

RESIDENT of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Supo Ayokunle, on Friday Revd Ayokunle raised the alarm that Christians were under siege in Nigeria.

Revd Ayokunle urged Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olorunnisakin, Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and

other Christians in political positions to do something about Nigeria.

He specifically told Osinbajo that “now that you’re close to the seat of power, do something about Nigeria.”

This was just as he declared that the magnitude of Christian gathering he saw at the two auditoriums during the Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was unimaginable.

The CAN president insisted that Christians were under siege in the country.

He opined that religious fundamentalists had made Christians endangered species in the world, describing the situation as unprecedented in history.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 89 babies were born at the convention.

Twenty-two babies were born on Friday alone, comprising 13 boys and nine boys.

Out of the 89 babies born

between Monday and Friday, 53 are boys and 36 girls.

The General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, while reeling out the figures, stated that “it looks as if the convention is specially for boys.”

The cleric also seized the opportunity to call out babies, who were born as a result of prayers offered during the conventions of 2014 and 2015, to the altar for blessing and thanksgiving unto God.

Why kerosene is sold for over N200 per litre —NUPENG chief THE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has fixed N150 per litre as the official depot price of kerosene.

Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of the union, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday.

According to him, the price will encourage more importation of the product by the marketers.

He said that most of the filling stations selling kerosene between N200 and N220 as the pump price was as a result of additional cost of transportation of the product and some other levies paid by marketers.

The chairman said that at present, NNPC was the only importer of kerosene and was using private de-

pots to sell the product.

“The NNPC has fixed N150 per litre as the new depot price of kerosene and directed all its depots and private depot to comply with the directive.

“This did not include the transportation of the product or several levies and bank interests paid by marketers.

“Consequently, marketers will now add all these expenses to the depot price to arrive at N190, N200 or N220 depending on their locations.

“The advantage of this is that it would open door for more marketers to commence importation of kerosene just like petrol,’’ he said.

Korodo, however, commended Federal Government for its transparent policy in the oil and gas sector.

He urged NNPC to commence loading of its products from depots nationwide, adding that the System 2B oil pipelines were saved from being vandalised.

Tanker explosion claims one, injures many in Ogun Olayika OlukoyaAbeokuta A life was lost in a tanker explosion that occurred in the early hours of Saturday, in an accident that involved a fuel laden tanker, a trailer and a bus, at Sagamu-interchange in Ogun State.

The state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Adegoke Adetunji confirmed to Sunday Tribune that no fewer than

11 persons were injured.

The FRSC boss said the tanker, fully loaded with petroleum, broke down on the road while the trailer and the bus rammed into it, thereby leading to explosion.

The tanker, according to Adetunji, caught fire while the other two vehicles also caught fire.

He attributed the accident to excessive speeding, saying that the person that died was burnt beyond

recognition while those injured had been taken to hospital.

The FRSC boss said, “We could not even give you the number plates of the affected vehicles because by the time we got there, they were all burnt beyond recognition.”

He advised motorists and commuter to always be alert when driving and avoid speeding, “even at night, when the roads seem slippery.”

THE Federal Government has launched a national guidelines developed to assist caregivers and service providers in mobilising resources for the protection and assistance service to victims of human trafficking in Nigeria.

The document was developed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and was launched by the government as part of programmes marking the 2016 International Anti-Human Trafficking Day. Over 5,000 out of about two million Nigerian young girls and boys trafficked within Nigeria and to various foreign countries for sexual exploitation and hard labour had so far been rescued by NAPTIP. Acting Director-General of NAPTIP, Alhaji Abdulrazak Dangiri, speaking at the launch of the document, “Guidelines on National Referral Mechanism for Protection and Assistance to Trafficked Persons in Nigeria (NRM)”, said it was unfortunate that the country lacked coordination of rehabilitation procedures as a result of absence of documented guidelines.

He explained that he guidelines being launched clearly spelt out the roles and responsibilities of duty bearers in the service chain.

Buhari directs Head of Service to develop road map for civil service PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred OyoIta, to develop a road map that would make the civil service effective, innovative and service oriented.

He gave the directive at a dinner and award night organised by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as part of activities to mark civil service week on Friday.

Represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, Buhari said effective civil service was fundamental to government’s change agenda.

He called on civil servants across the country to remain dedicated to duties, stressing that the civil service was the engine room of government across the world.

In her address, Oyo-Ita called on public servants across the country to embrace an inclusive and citizen-oriented service delivery.

“This is the only option for us in the civil service of the federation as we had resolved to embrace the change agenda of government,’’ she said.

Oyo assembly rerun: APC holds primary tomorrow, begins campaign Wednesday

By Saheed Salawu AHEAD of the August 20 date set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of a fresh election to fill the vacant Oorelope Constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has fixed tomorrow for its primary through which its candidate will emerge.

The seat became vacant following the murder of its occupier, Honourable Gideon Aremu, on Friday, July 1, by unknown gunmen.

INEC had, at a recent meeting held with representatives of all registered political parties in the state, announced August 20 for the conduct of a fresh election to fill the vacant seat.

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Sunday Tribune

Nigerians are losing hope in your govt, cleric sends Saraki to Buhari

By Segun Adebayo

Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio,(middle) exchanging pleasantries with the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon Onofiok Luke, while the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Moses Ekpo (left) watches during the 29th Anniversary celebration of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a socio-cultural association in Uyo on Saturday.

Gunmen abduct lawmaker’s dad going to bury wife •2 Chinese kidnapped, N20m demanded From Austin Ebipade and Ademola Adegbite

U

NKNOWN gunmen, on Saturday abducted Chief W.G Watson Iti, father of the lawmaker representing Brass Constituency II in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Honourable Alfred Belemote Watson, on his way to bury his wife.

It was learnt that Chief Watson was whisked away at about 9.00 a.m. on Saturday by kidnappers on his way to Egweama from Okpoama in Brass Local

Government Area of the state.

It will be recalled that Chief Watson had complained receiving strange messages on his mobile phone, while the identity of the sender was hidden.

Fillers received before the abduction was that the senders were asking him to make an undisclosed amount of money available to them based on the fact that his son was representing the area in the state House of Assembly.

Chief Watson, it was gathered, was not hurt

by his abductors, who intercepted him on his way to bury his wife, Madam Comfort Watson, when the kidnappers attacked their boat and whisked him to an unknown destination.

Sunday Tribune gathered that Chief Watson was yet to get over the shock of his wife’s demise and suffered malaria fever before he was kisnapped.

The abduction, it was learnt unsettled his son, who had concluded plans to embark on a thank-you tour of his constituency.

In another development,

Death toll in army/villagers’ clash in Niger rises to 16 Adelowo Oladipo-Minna NO fewer than 16 people were reportedly killed in a bloody military and civilians’ clash that occured at Kpaidna Village in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State last Thursday, Sunday Tribune investigation revealed on Saturday.

Sunday Tribune gathered that a Lieutenant, eight non-commissioned officers and seven civilians were said to have lost their lives when military operatives, consisting of soldiers and air force personnel dressed in army uniforms, were mistaken for Fulani herdsmen by the Gwari farmers in the community.

Some of the civilians were said to have fled the scene into the communities with gunshots wounds in order to escape being killed.

Speaking with newsmen on Saturday, the PolicePublic Relations officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Bala Elkana disclosed that the casulaties were high

on the side of the military and civilians, adding that “when we got signals that on legitimate assignement were being attacked by the villagers, we raised a team of Mibile policemen to go on a rescue and search mission, we dicovered that it was purely a military action.”

Elkana stated further

that investigations so far conducted by the police revealed that the Military authorities got a tip off that some people in the affected communities were moving in arms and they needed to act fast with the view to recover the exhibits and they got in contacts with the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force in the state.

gunmen numbering about 10, on Friday evening, kidnapped two Chinese, Jieng AI Jung, 50 years and Wen So Ping, 45 years, at Ajaga village in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Investigations by Sunday Tribune revealed that the victims, who were attached to the West African Polaris Investment, were ambushed by gunmen, while N20 million ransom was said to have been demanded.

It was further gathered that the gunmen were armed with weapons, shooting sporadically to scare both the villagers and motorists.

Witnesses told Sunday Tribune that the incident created commotion in the area.

When contacted on phone, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ismail Numan, confirmed the incident, adding that police did not have any information on ransom now.

Ijaw youths caution FG on military force in Niger Delta communities Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt THE Federal Government has been warned not to go ahead with its threat to use military force in the Niger Delta communities where militants are alleged to be hiding, should the ongoing dialogue with the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) fail.

The new president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Alatubo Preye Har-

ry, gave the warning in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Saturday.

He said the warning was necessary so that innocent people were not caught in any crossfire should the Federal Government make good its threat, adding that Ijaw people would be mobilised against such an action.

“Violence begets violence. Ijaw people are not violent people. Nobody can continue to subjugate

Ijaw people. We have to work together in unity as a people and forge ahead for a better future.

“Using force against defenceless people is atrocious. They are preparing a groundwork for the Odi experience. There is genocide going on in Ijawland.

Life expectancy in the Niger Delta is now 32 years due to the problem of environmental devastation. We will resist such act, even with our last strength.”

AS Nigerians continue to feel the heat of biting economic and social hardship,the Vicar and Archdeacon of Ikoyi Diocese, Venerable Julius Oyetunde, has urged the Federal Government to address the concerns of the people, calling on the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to convey the challenges of the Nigerians to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The clergy noted that with the mass unemployment, inflation and hunger in the country “Nigerians now feed from the dust bin”, adding that a nation blessed by God with abundant human and mineral resources should not be in this condition.

Delivering a sermon at the funeral service of late Dr. Ebenezer Aboyowa Ikomi at the Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos State, on Saturday, Oyetunde said the poor economic situation is “making Nigerians feel that their lives had changed for the worse.”

According to him, Nigerians were losing hope in this government and they believe it was not doing enough to address the situation.

“It might get to a point where political leaders in the country would not be able to walk freely in the streets,” he said.

The cleric added that Nigeria’s poor economy has created social and political problems for its citizens.

Oyetunde also said that with the presence of the number three citizen of the country in the congregation, it was certain that the message would get to the President and could propel positive actions.

Osun Osogbo festival begins Monday THIS year’s Osun Osogbo Festival in Osun State will start tomorrow with traditional cleansing ‘Iwopopo.’

This was contained in a statement by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture of the state, Mrs Olajumoke Bello, in Osogbo on Saturday.

Bello enjoined all residents of the state capital to conduct themselves well.

He stated that the governor wished worshippers, visitors and tourists from all walks of life an interesting and fulfilling experience.

“Gov. Rauf Aregbesola felicitates with Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, Larooye ll , chiefs, Osun worshippers, sons and daughters of Osogbo on the occasion of 2016 Osun Osogbo festival.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the yearly festival is a tourism event recognised by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Shun bitterness and divisive tendencies, party leaders told Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa

Special Adviser to the Governor of Bayelsa State on Interparty Relations, Hon. Ben Eyororokumoh, has called on political party leaders and supporters to shun bitterness and divisive tendencies in order to move the state forward.

He maintained that the verdict of the governorship election petition tribunal was an act of God and a reflection of the people’s votes. He enjoined party leaders and stakeholders to see it in that light and accept the verdict for the overall interest of the state.

“The state belongs to Bayelsans and there is no other state the people can call their own. It is top priority to evolve sound ideas and support the Dickson-led government to improve the well-being of the people and accelerate both human and physical development of the state,” he said.

He insisted that the outcome of the judgment was a victory for democracy, urging politicians to sink their individual differences, eschew bitterness and allow the collective interest of the state to dominate their actions and inactions.

Eyororokumoh noted that it was time political gladiators, party leaders and stakeholders closed ranks and work with the government towards making lives better for the people.

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Customs seize 16 containers of tyres declared as paper board, arrest agent

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HE ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali (retd), has said that the Apapa Customs Command had intercepted 16 containers of tyres, falsely declared as paper board and machine, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N116.2 million.

Ali made the disclosure at a news conference at the Apapa Customs Command in Lagos State.

“The company which imported the tyres is enjoying the facility of fast track,

which is given to the factory for quick processes to reduce cost and speed the time.

“Some of those materials can be perishable and this is why customs gives some factories the facility to move their containers and thereafter customs officers will inspect the consignment in their factories.”

He said that all the tyres in the 16 containers were automatically seized and the law allowed customs to prosecute whoever was involved in the importation of the consignment.

Ali said that if it was discovered that some officers were involved, such officers would be prosecuted along with the clearing agents.

He said that it had been specified in the customs’ laws that seized goods would be destroyed after getting court condemnation.

“We have 16 containers of new tyres on ground while 10 containers of the tyres with false declaration had been moved out of the port.

“We are now investigating and we will track the whereabouts of those containers.

Although, the agents had lost his fasttrack facility and licence automatically,” Ali said.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Apapa Command, Mr Willy Egbudin, said that the containers were falsely declared as paper board and machines for a steel industry.

A suspect, who was apprehended along with the seized containers, Mr Dominic Obijaku, said he did not know what was in the containers.

Sunday Tribune

Poisoned child still battling for life —Niger govt Adelowo Oladipo -Minna NIGER State government has said it has been battling to save the life of a baby, Mohammed Isah, who was recently poisoned with locally-made insecticide, popularly known as “otapiapia” by his stepmother, Bilkisu Adamu Isah, at Kopa village, in Bosso Local Government Area of the state.

The Director General, Child Rights Unit, Governor’s Office, Minna, Hajiya Mariam Kolo, stated this in an interview with Sunday Tribune over the weekend in Minna.

“Presently as I speak to you, Mohammed needs proper medical attention and he has been on admission again at the General Hospital, Minna at the instance of the government based on our recommendation.”

She disclosed further that doctors had administered some drugs on him last Friday as well as conducted series of tests on him in order to ensure that he would lived a normal life.

It will be recalled that Sunday Tribune broke the news of the boy’s poisoning by his stepmother, who blamed her action on her inability to bear a male child for the father of the boy, who is her husband.

School feeding programme still on course —Kaduna govt KADUNA State government has said it has not suspended the school feeding programme as it had been insinuated in some quarters.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Andrew Nok, stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities of his ministry at the weekend.

According to him, “it is true we had some challenges but it is not something we can not address. We have taken steps to make it more effective when the schools resume in September.

To this end, he maintained that the state government had not stopped or suspended the feeding programme.

Commenting further, he disclosed that arrangements had been concluded to enforce compulsory primary education across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, beginning from next month.

He said the bill to enforce compulsory primary education in the state had been passed into law and would be become effective in September.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, explaining a point at the Federal High Court Complex being constructed by the State Government during the Guild of Editors’ tour of projects in Port Harcourt on Saturday. With him is the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mrs Funke Egbemode (arrowed) and other editors.

I never condemned Buhari —Father Mbaka Jude Ossai-Enugu POPULAR Enugu Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, has denied media reports that he berated President Muhammed Buhari on the state of the nation, saying the report attributed to him was not only sensational, but media hype.

Mbaka maintained that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was responsible for the problems facing the country.

The cleric’s declaration entitled: “Father Mbaka’s Assertion ‘There is hunger in Nigeria’ not an attack on President Buhari,” came as a reaction to recent media reports where he was quoted to have bashed President Buhari over the level of suffering in the country.

In a statement he issued on Saturday through his spokesman, Maximus Ike Ugwuoke, Mbaka said he observed, with keen concern, the news trending in some sections of the media that he “attacked” President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mbaka said that he did not attack Buhari but told him the situation of things in the country and suggested ways out.

He stated: “the news headline is not only sensational but also a sensational media colouration and hype of the message of the cleric entitled ‘Bless and Be Blessed’ for whatever ends.”

While admitting that he

lamented the level of hunger and suffering in the country, the priest said it was followed by another message where he explained that Buhari was not responsible for the situation but the previous administration.

He declared that the “Bless and Be Blessed” message that was misunderstood was followed by a message titled “Mega Change of Con-

ditions.”

“For the purpose of clarity, granted that Fr Mbaka stated the obvious, that there is hunger in the land, he never attributed the cause of the hunger and economic hardship bedeviling the nation to President Buhari. Rather, he attributed it to the offshoot of the actions and inactions of the past administrations of this country.”

Flood similar to that of 2012 may occur again, NEMA warns Chris Agbambu-Abuja THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised communities along the River Niger to evacuate immediately to safer ground over the likelihood of floods that may occur at any moment from now.

Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, who gave the advice said the agency had received alerts on the flood from information given by the authorities in the Republic of Niger, that the present water level in the

river had reached a point that may result in flood that could be compared with the unfortunate experience of 2012.

He said: “Niger Basin Authority (NBA) notified Nigeria that the rainy season, which started in the Middle Niger (Burkina Faso and Niger Republic) in June 2016, has led to a gradual rise of the level of River Niger in Niamey, Niger Republic.

“This high level of water in Niger Republic is already spreading to Benin Republic, and invariably, to Nigeria.”

He further said that the

level of water in all the hydrological monitoring stations across the country, as at Friday, 5th August, 2016, had already exceeded the corresponding values at that time, which was an alarming situation that required the prompt and coordinated action of all governments and stakeholders.

According to the information, “if the heavy rainfall continues in intensity and duration within these regions of the River Niger, it is imminent that flood situation similar to that of the year 2012 may occur.”

Govt tasked on importance of youths’ participation in politics

By Seyi Sokoya OLUYOLE Local Government Area chairmanship aspirant, under the platform of the Accord Party in Oyo State, Mr Oyewale Saheed Abiola, has urged governments at all levels to encourage youths, especially at the grassroots, to participate actively in politics, charging youths to take active interest in politics, in order to inject fresh ideas and initiatives into the polity.

Abiola, who made his political aspiration known to the public while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, on Saturday, said it was time youths took charge of sensitive positions in the country so as to sanitise and correct the wrongs in Nigeria’s political systems and the government at large.

Speaking on his vision, he said: “My mission is to rescue the grassroots, especially the downtrodden, and also to restructure and inject fresh ideas into the local government and beyond. One of my priorities is to restructure the education and infrastructure system and I will not hesitate to give the local government a facelift, if given the opportunity to serve.”

FG pledges to improve IDPs’ welfare MINISTER of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) nationwide.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Uguru, who made the promise while addressing IDPs at Damare Camp, near Yola, on Saturday, said government was ready to restore normalcy to facilitate their return home.

“Government wants to see you back home as soon as possible to resume your normal lives, with better schools, healthcare and good houses,” he said.

Uguru, who was accompanied to the camp by members of Friends of Niger Delta and North, an NGO, said that the NGO had been supporting IDPs in the camp and urged other NGOs to support the efforts of government.

The Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Haruna Furo, while receiving the minister and his entourage at the camp, said that the camp had 3,060 IDPs. Chairman of the NGO, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, said the organisation would continue to assist the IDPs.

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SUNDAY

Editor: Ganiyu Salman 08053789060 tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com

Arsenal confirms Nwakali deal

A

RSENAL has confirmed the signing of Nigeria youngster, Kelechi Nwakali from the Diamond Football Academy, Umuahia, on a five-year deal.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder has been linked

with the club since January but was not formalised until Friday evening.

Nwakali was adjudged the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament in Chile, after a resounding performance with Nigeria and had

AFCON U-17: Eaglets in slim win We will beat Nigeria silly in Niger —Coach Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

Nwakali

caught the attention of the North London-based Premier League club.

Reports also suggested that the deal could not be finalised earlier due to the international rules on age, but the Gunners having sealed the deal confirmed that the

Community Shield: Musa leads

Leicester against Man U

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi NIGERIAN international, Ahmed Musa, is on the verge of making history today as he steps into the legendary Wembley Stadium, when Leicester City faces Manchester United in a Community Shield clash.

Musa, who emerged the Foxes’ £16million club record signing after scoring a brace in the 2-4 loss to FC Barcelona earlier last week, believes he has what it takes to shine in the English top flight.

“I will do my best to do even more. I am very happy to be coming to the Premier League right now,” Musa said as he looks forward to having a robust partnership with Jamie Vardy.

“I have settled down well, as you can see,” the former CSKA Moscow forward said. “Yes, we can challenge again because we are like a family.

Unarguably, Musa has become the toast of many Leicester fans after his feat against Barca last Wednesday and he is set to impress manager, Claudio Ranieri

Sunday Tribune

today when the Foxes confront the reigning FA champions now under the tutelage of flamboyant portuguese manager, Jose Mourinho.

Meanwhile, new Man U signing, Zlatan Ibrahimovic told MUTV that he will put everything into the game saying he is after winning laurels for the Reds.

“Let’s see. I mean I believe it’s the first trophy game against Leicester.

One game, one trophy. I’m used to winning trophies. I didn’t come here to waste time.

“That is the first trophy game and that is the first trophy we will bring home.

For me, every trophy is very serious. I have collected 30 trophies and I want to collect more of them. I’m not satisfied until I collect everything. That’s what we play for. I play to win.

“Wherever I came, they also play to win. I didn’t come here to lose time. I came here to win. I believe the philosophy is the same for the club, especially a club like this. They are made to win.

“That is the way it is. The first game, one game and one trophy. I’ve played with the national team in England against Sweden and it’s a huge stadium so I’m looking forward to that also,” the former PSG forward said.

Musa

youngster would go out on loan for the season.

“Kelechi, who joins us as a young professional, will look to gain experience with a loan move in the coming months,” said a statement on the club’s website.

The deal was initially meant to include his countryman, Samuel Chukwueze but nothing seems to have been agreed on him.

With this, the youngster is confirmed as Arsene Wenger’s fourth signing of the summer following the transfer of Granit Xhaka, Asano Takuma and Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers.

Nwakali is captain of the Flying Eagles that recently failed to qualify for the 2017 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Sudan.

Meanwhile, Diamond Academy has hit a jackpot by netting a total of £2.5 million following the transfer of one of its products, Nwakali.

The academy was paid 10 per cent of that sum when the deal was first agreed and will be paid the balance any time from now after the player’s International Transfer Certificate (ITC) was transmitted to the England FA. “It’s a massive payoff for Diamond Academy,” a source familiar with the transaction told AfricanFootball.com.

Meanwhile, the Gunners have since announced that they will release the youngster on loan to another club.

“Kelechi, who joins us as a young professional, will look to gain experience with a loan move in the coming months. We would like to welcome him to the club,” it stated.

HOLDING his head high that his young lads narrowly lost 0-1 to world U-17 champions, the Golden Eaglets in their first leg AFCON U-17 Championship qualifier on Saturday in Abuja, the chief coach of the Junior Menas of Niger Republic, Soumeyla Tiemogo, has boasted the Nigerian side will be beaten in the reverse fixture.

The Manu Garba-tutored Eaglets had raised expectation of a goals feast early in the encounter as Alagbe Tobiloba scored in the second minute, but went to sleep for the rest minutes of the game decided at the National Stadium, Abuja.

Speaking with journalists after the match, Tiemogo declared that the Eaglets were no match for the young Nigeriens, adding that his boys would beat the world champions in

Niamey.

“My boys played well against the Nigerians. With what I saw of the Golden Eaglets, they cannot withstand my boys in the second leg in Niamey,” Tiemogo boasted.

He added that his boys played well against the fivetime world U-17 champions, saying that this was a boost for them in the second leg coming up in a fortnight.

On his part, however, the Eaglets’ head coach, Garba, stated that he was satisfied with the performance of his players, even though the coaching crew had noticed some lapses in the team, which they were going to work on before the return leg.

According to Garba, who led the Eaglets to win the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, the slim win was a good result, noting that if the Nigeriens had scored in Abuja, it would have been a problem for the Eaglets.

Ronaldinho offered $100,000 to play guest match BRAZIL football legend, Ronaldinho has received a one-off offer of $100,000 to play a guest match for Wollongong Wolves.

The 36-year-old, who retired from professional football with Fluminense in 2015, has until Saturday to respond to the National Premier League club’s bid, before their match against Sydney FC in the FFA Cup on Wednesday.

Wollongong Wolves director, Dean Merola, confirmed the offer, although they admit securing the star is a longshot.

“We are willing to put him on a platform to show his wares,” he told Outside90.

The former FIFA World Player of the Year has been looking to move into the Aleague for over six months, with his reported asking price appearing to discourage clubs.

The $100,000 figure from the Wolves has apparently been bankrolled by a gaming company, SBS reports.

A number of clubs contacted by The Weekend Australian said they would not be interested in having the Brazilian join their ranks.

Perth Glory chief executive, Peter Filopoulos said past experiences has led him to believe that this strategy would not be effective.

“There are short-term benefits but we are not convinced about the longerterm benefits. On this basis, we will not be in the market for Ronaldinho at this time.”

Ronaldinho

47

sport

7 August, 2016

How Nigerian athletes wore tracksuits at Rio 2016 parade

Sunday Tribune

By Ganiyu Salman, with Agency Reports

T

EAM Nigeria, on Friday night made its 17th appearance at the Olympic Games and table tennis star, Funke Oshonaike, who is making her sixth Olympic appearance was Nigeria’s flag bearer during the march past at the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro An elated Oshonaike, also made the official list of flag bearers released by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), thereby making the initial appointment of John Mikel Obi a ceremonial Team Nigeria captain.

However, the appearance of Team Nigeria during the parade later elicited criticisms as the tradition of using the Games to showcase the rich culture of Nigeria was abandoned this time.

Team Nigeria marched with tracksuits because the official kits did not arrive in Rio in time.

According to Alexander Wolff, a sports journalist covering the Games, “Nigeria, marching in sweats because official outfits didn’t make it to Rio. Can we agree that they’re a country to pull for these two weeks?”

Team Nigeria athletes were expected to be in outfits reflecting the culture of the nation during parade, but many were surprised to see the athletes in tracksuits during parade.

The athletes resorted to tracksuits as the attires made for the opening ceremony could not be available.

The reason for the unavailablity of the attires could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, but could not be unconnected with the problem of funding which hampered the preparations of Team Nigeria in the first instance.

Some Nigerians took to social

Members of Team Nigeria at London 2012

Fireworks at the Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics on Friday in Rio de Janeiro. media to express their disappointment at the make up of Team Nigeria during the Rio 2016 parade.

One Chris Adetayo through his twitter handle @chrisadet said: “The #OpeningCeremony gives every nation the chance to display its fashion culture to the greatest audience. Nigeria came out in track suits!” while one Bim Amoako @BimAmoako tweeted “So I stayed up for Naija to wear tracksuits? I don’t know who is more stupid - me or them. #Rio2016 #OpeningCeremony #Nigeria #fail.

One Alice @alice2096 also tweeted “I’m for UK, USA, Jamaica and Nigeria but Nigeria have already let me down with the tracksuits so that gets an F #OpeningCeremony.”

However, it was gathered that the outfits that could not be used for the parade at Rio 2016 opening ceremony did not portray the rich

Team Nigeria athletes led by Funke Oshonaike during the opening ceremony of Rio 2016. cultural values of Nigeria.

Instead of the different types of native attires, the female outfit would have been a flowing gown, while the male outfit is believed to be a black long coat, complimented with a hat and green pants.

Meanwhile, burdened with the most beleaguered Olympics forecast in history, Brazil opened its Games on Friday night with a carefully planned, prolonged response featuring a powerful two-syllable proclamation. “Par-ty!”

With the world around them wringing its hands over fears of dirty water, street violence and the Zika virus, the Brazilians responded with heartfelt singing, nimble dancing, a stadium-rocking entrance scene, and one outrageous strut into opening ceremony legend.

Early in the show, out of nowhere but apropos of everything, tall and tan and young and lovely Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen s-lo-w-l-y strolled the length of the Maracana Stadium floor in a long silver gown to the piano strains of the iconic song, “The Girl from Ipanema.”

Stone carved old towns, stunning landscape and clear gentle sea, Montenegro is fast becoming the hot new trend for short breaks.

It would have been corny, except the music was played and sung

by Daniel Jobim, grandson of the song’s late composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. It would have been silly, but many of the 60,000 spectators emotionally clapped and sang along in Portuguese.

It was Brazil being Brazil, a poignant moment of pride that matched any victory celebration from Bundchen’s husband Tom Brady, and just one of many scenes from an evening filled with unbridled joy.

There was a hometown march like no other, the swaying and skipping Brazilian team entering the stadium waving straw hats and shedding blue blazers, the legendary Brazilian song “Aquarela do Brasil” filling the air and thousands of spectators doing some form of samba.

There was a caldron lighting that was missing a big name but contained a huge heart. It did not involve the ill Pele. Instead the hon-

our went to runner Vanderlei de Lima, who was leading the 2004 marathon in Athens when he was attacked by a spectator. He lost his lead, but refused to quit and finished third.

The evening ended with the usual fireworks, more wild dancing, and an impromptu song by thousands of Brazilians who didn’t want to leave, and who can blame them?

The competition officially begins on Saturday morning, and it could be messy. There could be issues with drugs and sewage and local apathy and a continuation of a general chaos that has thus far enveloped the overmatched Brazilian organizers.

But give that crazy bunch credit, at least for this night they created pure fun, even when it wasn’t supposed to be fun.

“The best place in the world is here and now,” announced the furiously gesturing Carlos Nuzman, president of Brazil’s Olympic committee, during his traditional speech. “Those who do not know us, have doubted. Those who do, are happy.’’

Yet those doubters became happy moments later when Nuzman stumbled over his words and congratulated the International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach because he, “Believed in the sex … success of the Rio 2016 games.”

Organisers running on a budget warned that it wasn’t going to be fancy, and it wasn’t. There was none of the science fiction that marked the memorable Beijing opening ceremony in 2008, or the elaborate staging featured in London in 2012.

Organisers claimed it would reflect the, “low-tech spirit, the richness of Brazilian culture,” and it did that exactly, in the most brilliant of ways, trading flashy for soulful, and techno for real, and somehow it worked.

SIDELINES Nigeria became the butt of crude joke in the social media at the ongoing 2016 NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

7 AUGUST, 2016

NO 2,058

www.tribuneonlineng.com

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Rio Olympics Games. After the contigent appeared in tracksuits during the opening parade, it was revealed that their national dress had not arrived in time. Though no official explanation has been offered, we wonder when the ‘firebrigade approach’ to important national and global tasks by government officials would stop.

Yoruba leaders must unite to defend their nation

I

am writing this morning about the pathetic failure of “Yoruba leaders” to protect, defend, and uphold the wellbeing (and even the existence) of their Yoruba nation in Nigeria. And by “Yoruba leaders” I mean not just politicians but also Yoruba traditional rulers and chiefs; Yoruba leaders and officers of political parties; all Yoruba current or past holders of executive or legislative positions in the Federal, State or Local government in Nigeria; all Yoruba persons who have ever received Yoruba votes to win any election – from the presidency of Nigeria to the membership of the smallest Local Government; all Yoruba owners and leaders of businesses; all Yoruba who head or serve in high positions in educational institutions in Nigeria and in the wider world; all Yoruba persons who hold positions as leaders in Christian, Muslim or indigenous religious groups in Yorubaland or abroad; all leaders of Yoruba civic organizations, professional organizations, trade organizations, trade unions, market women’s organizations, and youth organizations, etc.

I assume that every person who qualifies to be regarded as a “leader” among his people is expected to take special interestin the well-being of his people. From that basic assumption, I wish to ask the “leaders” of the Yoruba nation in Nigeria a few crucial questions about the fate of the Yoruba nation in Nigeria: How many Yoruba leaders are aware that the Yoruba language is today regarded as an “endangered language” in the world – a language that is gradually dying out in its native homeland – a language that some language scholars and some international agencieshave sadly classified as one of the languages that could disappear in its homeland before the end of this century?

How many Yoruba leaders are aware that, because of school curriculums prescribed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the history of the Yoruba nation has been banned from being taught to Yoruba children in Yorubaland’s schools for some decades now?

How many Yoruba leaders know that if

the Yoruba language does become extinct and the Yoruba people forget their history, the Yoruba nation, as a nation, has thus effectively died in the world?

These are only today’s chosen questions among very many crucial questions. All Yoruba are proud of their nation and their sophisticated culture, their nation’s leading position in the history of Black Africa, and their nation’s proud achievements in pre-independence Nigeria. Most Yoruba have no doubt that their nation is well worth protecting and

A couple of weeks ago, I had some reason to visit the state of Texas in the United States, a state where thousands of highly qualified Yoruba people live. In one of their cities, they were holding a meeting and they asked me to attend. One could see in their faces, their statements and their questions the agony which they feel in their hearts about the condition of their Yoruba nation back home. In the past week or so, some leading Yoruba citizens of Kogi State in Nigeria have had cause to send me mails,

preserving.

Therefore, theseother big questions must follow: Why is the Yoruba language declining so badly in Nigeria, in spite of the pride and capability of the Yoruba people?Why are Yoruba children no longer being taught the proud history of their Yoruba nation in their schools; and why are younger Yorubas therefore robbed of the knowledge of their history? What steps should the leaders and people of the Yoruba nation take to stop their nation from continuing to decline in these ways?

These are question being passionately asked and debated by millions of Yoruba people today – at home in Yorubaland, and in the Yoruba Diaspora in all corners of the world. Everywhere, Yoruba people are deeply distressed about the growing threats to the very existence of their Yoruba nation in Nigeria – and about the perpetual failure of Yoruba leaders to rise up together and defend their nation.

all expressing the same kind of agony about their Yoruba nation. Some months ago, I met some young Yoruba businessmen who are resident in Australia, and they talked with me for many minutes – all the time giving vent to their anxiety for their Yoruba nation back home. Most of the agony in each of these cases is about the decline of the Yoruba language and the loss of the knowledge of Yoruba history among young Yorubas. Are our Yoruba leaders back home – especially our political leaders, our governors and legislators – aware of the agony which most of their Yoruba people are living with concerning these matters?

The failure of the Yoruba leaders to deal effectively with these threats to the existence of the Yoruba nation in Nigeria is simply inexplicable. How did it happen that highly educated, and enormously well informed persons like the Yoruba leaders have done nothing to resist the gradual decline of their native language in their homeland? The reason for the decline is easy to see – and it is quite easy to tackle and defeat. The reason is that a belief has grown among Yoruba folks that they need to encourage their children to speak English only, and to speak no Yoruba. Most believe that this is the way to give their children the strong command of the English language needed for success

Rio Olympics: Umar joins Dream Team ahead Sweden clash tonight

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi TURKEY-BASED Aminu Umar has joined Nigeria’s Dream Team in Manaus as the team takes on Sweden tonight in the second group game of the Rio Olympics.

The match kicks off at 11pm Nigeria time at the same Amazonia Arena in Manaus.

The Dream Team now boast a full complement of all 18 players listed for the Rio 2016 following the arrival of the Osmanlispor of Turkey striker.

Umar missed Nigeria’s opening day 5-4 win over the Samurai Blues of Japan due to club engagements, but has now joined the rest of the squad at their base in Manaus.

There were fears the former Nigeria U-20 striker would miss the Rio Games outright after failing to join the Dream Team during their training tour of the United States of America.

The Media Officer of the U-23 team, Timi

Ebikagboro also confirmed the arrival of Umar through his twitter handle.

“Aminu Umar joins the rest of the squad in Manaus, we are now a very full house, let’s go,” Ebikagboro tweeted.

“Umar arrived the Dream Team’s Tropical Hotel camp at about 11:34pm local time to the warm embrace of coach Siasia and Team Secretary Sirajo (Hassan).”

Meanwhile, it is believed that the Samson Siasia men must have recovered from the jet lag which affected their performance in the first game against Japan, as they arrived in the match venue barely six hours to the kick off.

The former Super Eagles coach, will have to go back to the drawing board to address his leaky defence, which has been his major worry even while playing on the continent.

Pools result:

2, 5, 11, 14, 17, 18, 27, 28, 31, 34, 40, 44, 47.

Today’s matches: 1, 9, 12, 37, 42.

in Nigeria. Commonly these days, a Yoruba mother being helped by her little daughter in the marketplace forces the girl to speak only English to customers; and fathers do the same to their little sons in their workshops or on the way to the farms. More and more Yoruba children therefore grow up speaking no Yoruba, and the Yoruba language therefore declines steadily.

But most Yoruba leaders must know that this common belief about language among our people is false. All educationists say that any child is naturally capable of learning any two languages at the same time, without one interfering with the other – in fact, that a child can learn as many as six languages at once. Educationists also say that it is dangerous to interfere with a child’s natural effort to learn any languages to which he or she is exposed – dangerous because such interference can disrupt and confuse his or her natural language learning processes. Is this widespread interference by Yoruba parents the reason why young Yorubas speak and write almost no Yoruba and speak and write very poor English these days? The sensible approach is to leave the child alone; he or she will do quite well with both languages. Our Wole Soyinka and all prominent educated Yoruba men and women of his age grew up learning both Yoruba and English, and they write and speak both excellently today. In fact, Wole Soyinka is widely acclaimed to be writing the English language better than any other English writer in the world, and we know that he speaks and writes the Yoruba language better than most of us. Why have our leaders with all their influence never risen up to propagate allthis good information among our people?

Also, why have our leaders, especially our politicians and our state governors and legislators, not resisted the attempt by the Federal Government to ban the teaching of our Yoruba nation’s history in our schools?

Surely, many Yoruba leaders know that, in the universal laws of nations today, it is a crime against humanity to prevent any people from teaching and learning their language or their history. The right of every nationality to pass its language and history to its children is enshrined in the laws of the United Nations and of the African Union – to both of which Nigeria is a signatory.

Why have we Yoruba (and other Nigerian nationalities) allowed the Nigerian federal establishment to inflict this crime on us without our rejecting it?

RETRACTION/APOLOGY PETITION of Judicial Misconduct Against Hon. Justice Mobolaji A. Ojo of The High Court of Ogun State: We hereby wholly retract the entire publication of the advertorial placed by a faction of the Ogun State Chapter of the the Peoples Democratic Party by way of an open letter to the president contained in our Monday, 25 July, 2016 edition captioned as above.

In particular, the representations received have revealed that paragraphs 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the open letter alleging the involvement of Barrister Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan in dishonourable and unprofessional conducts are untrue and this is deeply regretted.

We tender unreserved apologies to Barrister Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan, who is of very high esteem for whatever embarrassment which this publication may have caused him, members of his family, his professional colleagues and associates.

Signed: Management, ANN Plc

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: sundaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR : SINA OLADEINDE. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 7/8/2016