8th November 2015

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 2,019

SUNday, 8 november, 2015

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Lagos tragedy:

Father loses 4 children

•As mudslide causes building collapse

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Minister-designate and APC governorship candidate for Taraba, Senator Aisha Alhassan, acknowledging cheers from her supporters after the election tribunal declared her winner of the 2015 Taraba governorship election, in Abuja on Saturday.

Tribunal declares Alhassan, Mama Taraba, gov

HID Awolowo, mother of the nation —RCCG pg4

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Sacks Darius Ishaku PDP, Fayose, other govs express outrage

PDP group exposes APC’s strategy to take over South-South •As fears grow over Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers states

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Church member steals pastor’s car

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From left, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Reverend Mrs Omotola Oyediran (middle); Ambassador Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (2nd left); wife of Vice-President, Dolapo (2nd right) and wife of the Ogun State governor, Mrs Funsho Amosun at the Awolowo residence before attending the 2015 Ereke Day at Ikenne, Ogun State, on Saturday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

Panic, as Port Harcourt refinery shuts down pg9

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8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

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8 November, 2015

CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915 - 2015)

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1. Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (middle) flanked by wife of the Ogun State governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun and members of her entourage.

2. Barrister Segun Awolowo (middle) flanked by Mr Kola Popoola (right) and Mr Dipo Sobowale.

3. From left, Pastor Sijuade Iluyomade; Mrs Funso Amosun and Pastor (Mrs) Yinka Morgan.

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Sunday Tribune

PHOTOS: ALOLADE GANIYU

Reverend E.O. Adebajo; Mr Gbenga Lesi and Mr Seyi Adebajo.

Mr Bukola Awolowo (left) and Olayinka Awolowo.

From left, Mrs Funmi Lesi; Olorunfunmi Adebajo and Miss Damilola Adebajo.

Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (middle) flanked by members of the Channels of Blessed Waters Ministry.

8. Prophet Abayomi Rotibi signing the condolence register.

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news

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Tribunal sacks Taraba gov, declares APC candidate governor PDP, Fayose kick, as APC lauds judgment From Jacob Segun Olatunji, Leon Usigbe, Sam Nwaoko Sunday Ejike and Sylvanus Viashima,

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he Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the Appeal Court Headquarters in Abuja, on Saturday, sacked the governor of the state, Mr Darius Dickson Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and minister-designate, Hajia Aisha Jumai Alhassan, as the winner of the April 11 governorship election.

Ishaku was ordered to vacate office by the tribunal on the grounds that he was not sponsored by any political party as required by law.

But in a swift reaction to the judgment, Ishaku described the ruling as “a wreck of democracy and judicial rascality”, insisting that the party primary was no business of the tribunal.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor Media, Sylvanus Giwa, who spoke to Sunday Tribune, insisted that “the party held its primaries and that is why the governor was handed the flag of the party in Lagos and Jalingo as the standardbearer of the party”.

He advised PDP faithful to remain calm and lawabiding, noting that the governor would appeal the judgment by exploring the highest judicial options available to ensure that the people’s mandate is not stolen for any reason whatsoever.

Delivering a unanimous judgment in a petition filed

by Alhassan, the tribunal chairman, Musa Danladi Abubakar, held that the purported nomination of the sacked governor by the PDP breached Section 85 of the Electoral Act 2010.

The tribunal, in the judgment, which lasted over three hours, held that it was a fundamental law in the country that a candidate for an elective position must be duly nominated and sponsored by a registered political party before the candidature of such candidate could be valid.

The tribunal said there was overwhelming evidence that PDP in Taraba State did not conduct any primary election that could have led to the emergence of anybody as its sponsored candidate, recalling the evidence of the Independent National Commission Electoral (INEC) on a subpoena during the hearing of the petition, which claimed that the commission had no record of any of primary election conducted by the

PDP in Taraba State.

The development was said to be contrary to Section 85 of the Electoral Act, which made it mandatory that INEC must be given 21 days notice of a convention or a primary where candidates were elected.

The tribunal, therefore, said that since Ishaku was not sponsored by any known registered political party, he could not lay claim to votes cast for any political party.

PDP alleges double standard, attacks executive But the PDP has rejected the judgment of the tribunal, saying that it was another evidence of the executive’s interference in the affairs of the judiciary.

The PDP, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, declared that the reason given by the tribunal for arriving at the “bizarre decision is intriguing and further exposes the contradictions and double standard inherent in most tribunal rulings against PDP interest recently”.

Metuh, in the statement, said “the tribunal ruling again brings to the fore the organised plan by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government to deploy all unorthodox means to decimate the opposition.”

“It is rather curious and a great conflict of irony that the Taraba Tribunal sitting in Abuja on security grounds faulted the conduct of PDP primaries shifted to the same Abuja on security reasons. If the tribunal is faulting the party’s primaries as basis for its decision, it then means that no APC gubernatorial candidate can stand the test, as their party never had acceptable primaries in any of their states,” the statement said.

“The PDP wants democracy watchers globally to recall that it had earlier alerted the nation and the international community of the grand design by the APC to use the judiciary to wrestle some PDP states, particularly Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Taraba states. Evidence that Taraba ruling was a product of Presidency manipulation can be deduced from the fact that few hours before the judgment was delivered, the APC had arrogantly announced their victory on the new media”, the party stated Judgment cannot stand—Fayose Similarly, the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose has described the tribunal

judgment sacking Ishaku as a ridiculous political judgment that would not stand before men of good conscience and God. Governor Fayose, who maintained that there was a conspiracy by the APC-led Federal Government and a section of the judiciary against the PDP, called on the Supreme Court to save the country from impending anarchy.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor wondered how a tribunal could make the conduct of the PDP primary that produced Governor Ishaku in Abuja an issue when the tribunal itself sat

in Abuja.

He said: “How does the emergence of party candidate, which is the clear internal business of the party and a pre-election matter concern the APC and the Election Tribunal?

“Isn’t it funny that it is no longer about election rigging, but technicality of how PDP candidates emerged even when no one in the PDP went to court to challenge how Governor Ishaku emerged as the PDP governorship candidate?,” Fayose queried.

Mixed reactions in Taraba over judgment Meanwhile, there were mixed reactions across Taraba State, on Saturday,

following the judgment of the election tribunal, which returned Alhassan as the winner of the governorship election, making the state the first in the country to produce a female governor.

There were jubilations in Jalingo, the state capital and other parts of the state following the decision.

But a PDP chieftain and an aide to the governor, Mr John Ali, expressed disdain over the ruling of the tribunal, alleging that the tribunal was partial and discriminatory against the PDP. Also reacting to the ruling, the chairman of Mambila Youth, Comrade Harrisman Bovoa, also accused the tribunal of being partisan.

A chieftain of the APC, Mr

Gambo Umar, also hailed the tribunal for a job well-done, stating that the ruling “is a true reflection of what the people of Taraba expect and proves that the days of impunity were truly over, hence the jubilation on the streets since the pronouncement of the tribunal”.

Meanwhile, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Joseph Kwaji, assured that “the command has put in place adequate security measures to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order and advised citizens to go about their lawful business without fear,” warning that anybody found wanting would be decisively dealt with.

HID, mother of the nation —RCCG Apapa family

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE head of the Apapa family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, on Saturday, described the chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, as the mother of the nation.

Pastor Iluyomade stated this when he led other members of the family, which included Nigeria’s vice-president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and his wife, Dolapo, to pay a condolence visit to the Awolowos at the Efunyela hall, Ikenne, Ogun State.

The vice-president and his wife were received by the wife of Ogun State governor, Chief Mrs Foluso Amosun and the wife of the speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mrs Seun Adekunbi.

Iluyomade, who noted that the Apapa family, which is part of RCCG, was set up 25 years ago, decided to express its condolence to the Awolowo family.

His words: “We feel what you feel, as Mama’s death is a colossal loss. Our prayer is that God will comfort the family. We are here to commiserate with the family on the departure of our Mama, who is a mother of the nation. She impacted many lives and, indeed, what she has done and that of Papa Obafemi Awolowo, are unparalleled and unprecedented in the annals of the political history of our nation.

“We know that that legacy is indelible and our prayer is that the children and the grandchildren will be greater than them. We are, however, glad that this is already happening.

We also pray that anytime that the name Awolowo is mentioned, it will be for good in Jesus name.”

Pastor Iluyomade then led the congregation in a short prayer for the family with the song “Because he lives, I can face tomorrow.”

In her response, Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran, who thanked the Apapa family for deeming it fit to check on the Awolowo family, noted that “Mama’s life is a challenge to every one of us.

Her life as a Christian was very challenging, because she went through so much and yet, not for a day did she curse the Lord.

“She took it with Christian fortitude and marched on in faith. I want to give God the glory because she held the pillar of faith till the end.

“I also want to say that she was a mother, a wife

and a first lady in her own right. I think she was near perfect. Though there were problems in the journey, she remained like a rock of Gibraltar, supporting Papa all the way, not minding the consequences, because at some points, it was a little bit bitter, but we thank God that in the end, it was sweet.

“And unto all of us that are gathered here this afternoon, I pray that God will help us in our journey of faith so that we would not lose focus.”

Reacting to the call on the children to hold unto the Awolowo’s legacy, Reverend Oyediran promised that the children were poised to sustain the legacy and keep the flag flying.

“We’re standing on the rock of ages; one that never fails.

We realised that the legacy is very wide, but we want to assure you members of the public that we will not fail. We are going to work together as a team, as Awolowos. None of us will go astray. We can assure the whole country that we’re going to be one by the grace of God. “It is a good thing that in Mama’s lifetime, she saw her granddaughter become the wife of a vice-president.

We pray that God will give more Awolowos the grace.”

She then used the opportunity to invite the Apapa family to the first programme of the 11-day event commencing in Lagos on Sunday, November 15.

Tragedy, as father loses four children in Lagos Olalekan Olabulo -Lagos

Tragedy struck around Magodo-Isheri community area of Lagos State early Saturday morning, as four children of Mr Godwin Odiah were crushed to death when a mudslide led to the collapse of their bungalow in the area.

Three of the deceased children, Sunday Tribune gathered, were from the same mother and were said to be sleeping in their room, when the walls crashed on the bed.

Residents of the area blamed the incident on the heavy rain in the area, which they noted, caused the mudslide that led to the collapse of the family’s three bedroom apartment situated at Orisha Street, Isheri, Magodo in Berger area of the state.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the mother of the deceased children also suffered minor injuries, with the deceased’s father, Godwin, being the only person who escaped unhurt from the collapsed building.

The deceased children were

identified as Sylva Odiah (23-years-old); Sayo Odiah (15); Clinton Odiah (11) and eight-year-old Endurance Odiah.

The bodies of Sylva and Sayo were the first to be recovered by emergency workers, who later recovered the other two bodies of the occupants of the building.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Saturday, following a downpour in the area.

A resident of the area, who identified himself as Sunday, said that “it was raining very heavily around that time and we heard a very loud sound.

Mr Godwin’s house is on the low part of the community and the heavy rain crashed a heavy part of hill on his house.”

The spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-West, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the incident to Sunday Tribune, noting that the first two victims were recovered from a bed under the rubble of the collapsed

walls in the children’s room.

The NEMA spokesperson also said that “all the four casualties were recovered dead,” saying that the collapse was due to heavy rainfall, which caused a mudslide from the cleavage of a hill beside River Ogun, as the hill caved in on the 3 bedroom flat.

“Unfortunately, the room where the dead children were recovered was hit by the mudslide,” Farinloye said, stating that a similar incident occurred involving a one-room apartment in the area but no life was lost.

The director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe also confirmed the collapse of the building to Sunday Tribune.

Rescue and evacuation operations were conducted at the scene of the incident by operatives of NEMA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Building Control Agency, men of the Nigeria Police and the Lagos State Fire Service.

See photos on page 54.

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news

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Saraki’s trial: We didn’t walk out on CCT —Defence team S/Court slates Nov 12 to hear appeal Sunday Ejike-Abuja

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he team of lawyers representing Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, have said they did not stage a walkout on the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja to protest the alleged bias by its chairman, Danlandi Umar, but got the leave of the tribunal to go out.

It will be recalled that when the matter came up last Thursday, three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mahmoud Magagi, Ahmed Raji and Saka Abimbola Isah withdrew their services in Saraki’s matter on the allegation of false assets declararation slammed against him by the Federal Government.

Raji, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, said Saraki’s legal team did not walk out on the tribunal.

He clarified that the legal team only sought permission to leave the tribunal pending when the issues at the Supreme Court would be settled, a request which he noted was granted by the tribu-

nal chairman.

Raji further explained that even though he disagreed with the proceedings, he had utmost respect for the tribunal and never used the words “judicial rascality” as was being attributed to him.

Part of the statement

read: “At the resumed hearing of the case against Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on the said 5th November, 2015, we, as defence counsel, notified the honourable tribunal that we had filed an Appeal to the Supreme

Court against the decision of the Court of Appeal, wherewith we filed a Motion on Notice for Stay of Proceedings of the tribunal pending the determination of the Appeal.

“Consequent on the foregoing, and citing a plethora of judicial authorities on

the point, we respectfully urged the honourable tribunal to adjourn the matter pending the determination of our client’s appeal filed at the Supreme Court or in the least, to await the outcome of the Motion on Notice for Stay of Proceed-

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, during a courtesy visit to the former VP at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, at the weekend.

Boko Haram: Troops destroy 13 terror camps, rescue 20 abducted persons in Borno James Bwala-Maiduguri

Troops of 115 Task Force Battalion under the 28 Task Force Brigade and those of the 103 Battalion under the 21 Brigade, at the weekend, cleared nine more terrorists strongholds around Lassa and Baman axes while on clearance operations.

Media Coordinator, Operation Lafia Dole, Colonel Tukur Gusau, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

According to the statement, the terrorist camps destroyed included Lassa, Muthavo, Dagu, Zangore, Kilekasa and Pumpum.

The statement said during the offensive, four Boko Haram terrorists were killed, while some of the terrorists fled with wounds abandoning their weapons, adding that some of the weapons abandoned by the terrorists included seven dane guns.

The statement added that troops of 25 Taskforce Brigade conducted another offensive along Korode axis in Damboa local government area of Borno state, where three motorcycles suspected to be used dur-

ing the last Sunday’s attack on Azir village were recovered along with stolen food stuffs from the village.

According to the statement, terrorist observation posts were also destroyed in a high ground in Korode village.

“Our troops continue to dominate roads leading to Azir, Wajiroko, Damboa and Biu towns to deny Boko Haram terrorists any possible freedom of activities in the area. The fighting spirit of the troops remain very high,” the statement added.

Colonel Gusau further disclosed that the military rescued 20 abducted persons after clearing additional four Boko Haram terrorist enclaves in Borno.

The rescued persons included 14 children and six women.

He said that the military had already provided medical and other necessary attention to the affected persons.

“Troops of the 21 Brigade early on Saturday conducted a 23-kilometer wide clearance operations in Rigaga and its adjourning villages in Bama axis.

“Four suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ enclaves along the route of the op-

eration were cleared and a number of terrorists were killed.

“Two suspected terrorists were captured alive and are currently undergoing interrogation in accordance with the Nigerian Army rules of engagement,” he said.

Gusau revealed that the army had also recovered materials for making im-

provised explosive devices (IED) in other operations around Lagaran Fulani and Ango Baya villages.

‘This is in furtherance to the offensive operations toward the clearance of Lagaran Fulani and Ango Baya villages.

“Troops of the 28 Task Force Brigade conducted reconnaissance patrol to identify possible blockage

position along Bitta Yamteke road’.

‘During the operation, troops recovered some items at Sasawa terrorists’ camp.

“They include IED making materials, two cylinders, one Motorola radio, Garmin GPS detonating cords and 1 RPG bomb,’’ he said.

Oyo APC expels ex-commissioner, ex-lawmaker, others

By Saheed Salawu THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has expelled some of its members in Oluyole Local Government Area of Ibadan whom it accused of breaching its constitution.

The affected members, who were informed through a letter dated 29 October, 2015, signed by the state secretary, Mr Mojeed Olaoya, it was learnt, were shown the exit door following the recommendations of various disciplinary committees which found them guilty of indiscipline, anti-party activities and abuse of privilege.

Notable among the axed members are a former Commissioner for Environment, Mr Lawrence Adewale and the immediate past Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Honourable James Oyeniyi Oyeniran.

The duo were alleged to have conspired with others to bring the party to disrepute before, during and after the 2015 general election.

Confirming the development to journalists, the Director of Publicity and Strategy of the APC in the state, Olawale Sadare, said the party was poised to rid itself of bad eggs who could constitute impediments to the effec-

tive delivery of the desired change to the citizenry at all levels of government, as promised during the electioneering.

“This action was long overdue since the affected persons did not, for once, show remorse over their bad conduct but rather preferred to continue in their bad ways.

“Apparently, the decision that has led to the fate that has befallen them was taken in due consideration of the party’s constitution and it will serve as a deterrent to others who are vulnerable because the APC is for democrats and disciplined citizens,” Sadare said.

ings filed at the Supreme Court.”

“However, the honourable tribunal overruled our application and insisted on continuing with the case.

At that juncture, and conscious of my responsibilities to the defendant, I sought the leave of the tribunal to withdraw my appearance and that of other defence counsels which was granted by the honourable tribunal.

“It was on that basis that I left the venue of the tribunal’s sitting. I did not at any point use or utter the words “judicial rascality.’ ” Happily, Raji disclosed, the Supreme Court hadfixed Thursday, November 12, 2015, for hearing of the application for stay of proceedings “which is why we had respectfully urged the tribunal to grant an adjournment.”

‘Biafra agitation aimed at igniting national conflict’ Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna central in the upper chamber has opined that those agitating for a new state of Biafra want to ignite national conflict.

He made this known while speaking in an interview Kaduna .

‘The Biafra agitation is a new attempt to destroy President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration and to ignite a national conflict and cause chaos, pandemonium and confusion in the country.

‘The new agitation for Biafra is a misguided, ill-conceive and ill-fated cause. It is an ill-wind that does no good to those people who are blowing it or to Nigeria as a whole.

“The agitation is not reflective of the interest and generality of the Igbo people or the South East.”

According to him, “the Igbo have made tremendous progress since after the civil war.

‘They have made successes as businessmen, entrepreneurs, academics and politicians. Nigeria is today blessed by the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of the South-East and their future is better guaranteed and sustained within a united Nigeria,” he said.

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8 November, 2015

crimereports

Sunday Tribune

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

We attack targeted trucks at bad spots along highways —Suspected hijackers

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WO members of a gang which stock in trade was to rob trucks loaded with different merchandise after attaching themselves to the trucks at bad spots along the highway and ripping the tarpaulin covering with a jack knife, have been apprehended by the Oyo State Police Command.

The suspects, Ibrahim Haruna (32) and Alaka Afeez (30), were reportedly arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Oyo/Ogbomoso axis on October 8, 2015 at their hideout in Ogbomoso town. Recovered from them were seven pieces of brand-new Royal motorcycles still in their cartons, 29 packs of rubber foot wears, a Misubishi Lancer car with registration number AE 791 LFF and a Volkswagen Polo car with registration number BDG 494 BKX. Speaking with Crime Reports, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Leye Oyebade, said that the suspects were also involved in hijacking trucks from drivers at gun point, after which the goods would be diverted to unknown destinations where they would be offloaded and sold.

Oyebade, who said his command had always placed premium on community partnership, with emphasis on intelligence gathering, reiterated his determination to ensure that the long arm of the law catches up on such hoodlums through effective policing.

He added that they would be charged to court after diligent investigation, while manhunt continues for the receivers of the stolen goods sold in the past by the suspects.

Crime Reports also learnt that the suspects rented an apartment which they used to store the stolen items, while the owner of the house and another lady were also buyers. The SARS operatives were said to have initially stumbled on Haruna and his driver, one Sunday a.k.a. Etebor, while loading the goods stolen from a truck into a car along the expressway but they ran away and abandoned the

The arrested suspects vehicle and the goods. The vehicle, a Mitsubishi Lancer with registration number AE791 LFF, was recovered along with the motorcycles being loaded in it.

In an interview with Crime Reports, Haruna opened up on his modus operandi: “Nobody taught me this method of operation. I just thought of it while

working as a motor boy with a tipper truck driver. I have been doing the job for six years. What I usually did with my gang members was that I would lay ambush at a bad spot along the highway.

Our operations were always at night so that the driver would not sight us.

“Whenever the driver slowed down because of

potholes, I would quickly attach myself to the back of the truck and start tearing the tarpaulin covering it with a jack knife. If the goods were not too heavy, I would start throwing them out, one after the other, while two other gang members would follow on a motorcycle and start picking them after me.

“I would wait for the driver

to get to another bad spot before I would disembark. We would then go back to pick the goods and load them into a car. We had a room where we kept them before selling them. My buyers were one Dorcas and her sister, popularly called Iya Lati.

Both of them are siblings to the owner of the apartment I rented as a store. They all

knew that the goods were stolen. The goods I stole in the past included Vegetable oil, seasoning cubes, carpets, footwear and motorcycles. I am from Zaria, Kaduna State but I was born and bred in Ogbomoso.

“I decided to engage in crime because I had no father to help me. I am also married and she knew what I was doing. She also had no job or business so she depended on whatever I brought home. I had even fallen from trucks several times and got injured but the money I was getting from the sale of the robbed goods kept me on.” He also mentioned one Solo as a member of his gang.

In his own confession, Alaka, who claimed to be a vulcaniser before joining Haruna for robbery, said: “It was one Sir Kay who introduced me to Haruna about three months ago. Sir Kay ran away after he learnt that we have been arrested.

I have been to three operations with him and he gave me N10,000; N15,000 and N12,000 respectively on each occasion. The okada belonged to Sir Kay.”

Church member steals pastor’s car A supposed convert who went to a church in search of a wife material has ended up stealing the vehicle of a pastor of the church, Crime Reports has gathered. The culprit’s deed was exposed after he was arrested by the Oyo State Police Command recently.

It was learnt that the principal suspect, Wasiu Adetunji Lawal, led a criminal gang which stock in trade was to obtain cars from their owners under false pretences, only to divert and sell them.

Other members of the gang named by the police include Wasiu Adetunji Lawal, Isiaka Babatunde, Jamiu Rahman, Wasiu Adelani and Abdulazeez Ahmed.

Disclosing the arrest to Crime Reports recently during a press briefing, the

•Suspects paraded by the Oyo Police Command Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Leye Oyebade said that Lawal went away with the Toyota Sequia SUV belonging to one Pastor John Akorede Aderounmu under the pretext that he wanted to carry out some repairs, only to abscond with the vehicle.

“The suspect sold the ve-

hicle to a criminal receiver in Kaduna State without the knowledge and the consent of the owner, and refused to respond to the owner’s calls when he demanded for the return of his vehicle.”

Oyebade stated, adding that this led to police investigation into the whereabouts of Lawal and the vehicle.

The police commissioner further said that when Lawal was arrested, he confessed to have sold the vehicle, leading to the arrest of other suspects. Exhibits recovered from the gang include a Toyota Sequiao SUV, 13 vehicle particulars, nine forged Customs paper, number plate with registra-

tion number BH 299 BKA and other documents.

Oyebade said that his command was not unmindful of the fact that crime wave usually increases whenever the end of the year is approaching, adding: “This is why we have put various security strategies in place to curtail the activities of criminals within the state before, during and after the yuletide. It was the positive result of the strategies that led to the arrest of these criminals.”

In an interview, the suspect, Lawal, told Crime Reports that it was the victim who asked him to sell the vehicle and he had given him an additional N400,000 to add to the N800,000 which he realised from the sale, for him to buy a new one for the victim who believed his claim that he was a dealer.

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crimereports

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

I made my money through internet fraud, ritual —Suspect

By Oluwatoyin Malik

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HE arrest and arraignment of Fatai Abiola Babatunde in a court of law about two years ago seems not to have deterred him from engaging in criminal activities, as he has been arrested again by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Oyo/Ogbomoso annexe in Oyo State Police Command.

Babatunde (34) was rearrested on October 15, 2015 in Ilorin, Kwara State in the residence of a Quranic teacher where he was trailed to, after the SARS operatives, led by the Officer-in-Charge, Olusola Aremu, got information on his whereabouts.

Crime Reports learnt that Babatunde ran to Ilorin when he learnt that the operatives were after him.

Speaking with Crime Reports on the arrest of the suspect, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, said that about four posh cars, including a Honda CRV (2012 model) with registration number KWL 280 CN, Toyota Camry with registration number LSR 418 DJ, Nissan Altima with registration number KJA 963 CA and Ford Focus with registration number KRD 837 DQ, were recovered from Babatunde, who could not give account of a lawful means of livelihood.

This, he added, raised the suspicion of his being involved in armed robbery.

The police commissioner also revealed that the suspect was involved in internet fraud, and had confessed to successfully hacking into the bank accounts of several victims.

Oyebade, however, said that his men were already on the trail of the suspect’s gang members while investigation was being carried out to get more facts about his operations.

Crime Reports learnt that Babatunde was once charged to court for being a receiver of a stolen vehicle but was granted bail at the High Court, Ogbomoso. But the police got information that he was into a worse crime, so SARS started monitoring him.

It was further learnt he had just built a shopping complex, with no tangible

evidence of means of livelihood to back his wealth.

On the day he was trailed to the court premises at Ogbomoso, it was gathered that the suspect abandoned his vehicle, a Ford Focus, when he got a hint that the police were after him. He was reported to

have run to the house of an Islamic teacher in Ilorin where he was arrested.

In an interview with Babatunde, he opened up to Crime Reports thus: “I am a yahoo boy. I started with online dating to dupe unsuspecting foreign ladies, but when I was not

getting enough, I went into hacking accounts of international banks. Recently, I got $10,000. I achieved this through spamming by knowing companies with high tax return. I hacked into such accounts. I would pass the fund through the account of a foreigner I

was dating online and she would send it to me in Nigeria, wrapped with clothes and sent through a courier company as a parcel.

“I was also into auto sales, but only on demand.

I have a customer from the Northern part of Nigeria who used to come to

The suspect, Fatai Babatunde while being paraded by the police.

me whenever he needed a vehicle and I would go to Cotonou, Republic of Benin to buy for him.

“I also did money rituals. I didn’t know what the native doctor I went to used to prepare the rituals but I paid him N200,000 for the job.

“Since then, I used to get N2 million every 23 days in my wardrobe. I was also told that I will not be able to have children because of the ritual.

“I bought the vehicles found with me. The Honda CRV 2012 model was purchased online and it was shipped to Nigeria. I paid over 18,000 dollars for it. The Nissan Altima was given to me by my elder brother. I bought the Ford Focus from a dealer.

I bought the Toyota Camry from someone at Igando, Lagos State and had sold it to one Azeez over a year ago.”

We’ll rid Niger of criminals —Marafa Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

THE police in Niger State have revealed that the crime rate in the state has reduced to the barest minimum in the last one month following tactical operational strategies put in place by the command, with the view to curbing criminal activities.

The State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Marafa, stated this in an interactive session with newsmen at the conference hall of the State Police Command Headquarters, in Minna, last Friday, adding that the feat was made possible as a result of the comprehensive crimemapping of the entire state with a view to iden-

tifying prevalent crimes, crime patterns and concentration.

Alhaji Marafa stated further that the crimemapping and analysis assisted the command to identify, among others, which criminals were active, which crimes were linked and where problems were likely to occur in parts of the state.

The police boss, however, pointed out that cattle rustling, armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom, culpable homicide and youth restiveness were some of the major crimes identified from the crime- mapping strategy carried out by the Command since his assumption of office.

While speaking further, the police commissioner revealed that between October 3 and 11, about five suspected cattle rustlers were arrested in some forests in parts of the state.

“Precisely on October 3, 2015, at about 3p.m, one Yunusa Nono, a notorious cattle rustler was arrested by police operatives attached to the Command following a tip-off.

“In that raid, about 62 cows and 50 sheep were recovered from the suspect, and he has since been charged to court for prosecution.”

Similarly, Alhaji Marafa said, that on October 11, 2015, at about 2a.m., coordinated operations were

carried out at Kudami forest, Sarkin Pawa area, in Munya Local Government Area of the state.

“The place was suspected to be occupied by criminals, and after the operation, four notorious armed bandits were arrested.

“The police also recovered 143 cows, 71 sheep, five motorcycles and four cutlasses from the suspects. They have all been charged to court for prosecution.”

“We also got a tip-off in early October, and my men raided an armed bandits’ hideout at Saminaka Area in Lapai Local Government Area.

“During the operation, there was a gun duel between the police and the

Police arrest rights activist for duping thrift collector Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

A Minna, Niger State based human rights activist (names withheld) has been arrested by officers of the state Police Command over allegation of duping a thrift collector.

The human rights crusader, according to police sources, had been approached by the thrift collector to assist in the collection of money which some contributors refused

to pay.

According to the police source who spoke with Crime Reports, on condition of anonymity, “after the human rights activist had agreed to do the assignment, an agreement was reached that he would be paid 15 per cent of the total money collected.

The police officer said the suspect actually performed the assignment but allegedly diverted both his commission and the thrift collector’s

money to personal use.

It was further revealed that several months after the thrift collector was unable to get his money, he dragged the suspect to a Minna Chief Magistrate Court, which declined to entertain the case on the excuse that ‘the court is not a debt collector.’

The case was then referred to the police for investigation and prosecution.

Confirming the case, the Niger State Police Public

Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Bala Elkana, said the suspect would be charged to court for cheating and duping.

Mr Elkana, thereafter, warned criminals to change their ways, or leave the state, as the police had put everything in place to nip in the bud their activities, while urging residents of the state to continue to partner with the police in order reduce crime to the barest minimum.

hoodlums, but there was no casualty on the side of the police, while the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds.

“At that operation, one locally-made pistol, with one live ammunition, one expended AK47 ammunition and two cutlasses were recovered by the police.

“Also in October, precisely on the 3rd, following a complaint from one Isah Idris of Gawu Babangida, two kidnappers were arrested by the Command’s anti-kidnapping team at Gawu Babangida and the victim was rescued unhurt, and like others, the suspects have been charged to court.”

The police boss said these were just some of the achievements of the Command, and it should send a signal to criminals that the state would no longer be conducive for their operations.

“The Police Command would do everything to curb crime in the state; all our officers are highly motivated, and that is why we have been able to recorded the successes we have had in such a short period of time,” Alhaji Marafa said, which calling on the people of the state to go about their lawful businesses without entertaining any fear.

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Sunday Tribune

Police confirm militants’ invasion of Ebonyi town

T

he Ebonyi Police Command has confirmed that Afikpo town was on Friday invaded by suspected militants.

Mr George Okafor, the Command’s Public Relations Officer disclosed this on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), saying that that the militants came from Ikoro-Uko area of Cross River.

The militants, about 20 in number, came in two speed boats fitted with several general Purpose Machine guns and also pos-

sessed grenades, among other sophisticated weapons. ``We feel they are militants reacting to the Federal Government’s revocation of the pipeline facilities protection contract, hitherto handled by ex-militants.

“They anchored at Okporikpo beach in Afikpo before launching their onslaught from the Ndibe

and then Unwana beaches in the town,” he said.

Okafor said that indigenes residing around the beaches informed the police about the militants’ movement, which made the command to deploy officers around the beach areas for maximum protection.

“The militants, on noticing that the police had cordoned the entire areas,

started shooting sporadically, which made us ‘return fire’ and eventually repelled them.

“An inspector of police died during the shootout, but we cannot confirm whether they had any casualty because we did not recover any corpse on their side.

“The militants, in frustration that the indigenes informed us of their move-

ments, destroyed several shops around the beaches and also set 10 motorcycles and a police van ablaze,” he said.

He refuted the report that the hoodlums robbed several banks and carted away huge sums of money, saying that they were repelled at the beach areas and prevented from entering the town.

“The Commissioner of

Ekiti promises modern market in 24 months

Nothing like juicy committee in the 8th NASS —Senators Some Senators on Saturday in Abuja, said that there is nothing like `juicy committee’ in the 8th national Assembly under the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Senators, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), likened the perceived juicy committees to corruption that characterised the past administration.

Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ibn Na’Alla, said that he did not understand what they meant by juicy committees, especially with the fight against corruption by the APC government.

“I am saying it with all degree of responsibility that Senator Na’Allah does not understand what is a juicy committee or what is not juicy committee.

“It is even more so under the present dispensation, where there is going to be zero tolerance against corruption. So what existed before the coming of this government and what can be referred to as juicy committee; I am absolutely sure will cease to exist in this administration.

“What I know will be are committees that should rededicate themselves to the service of their fatherland through doing those oversight functions that have been conferred on them,” he said.

Na’Allah said that while he was a federal representative, he had, as a matter of policy, avoided membership of any committee charged with probe of government agencies or those considered as `juicy.’

According to him, the work of a senator is that of service to humanity, to his constituency and to the nation.

Police (CP), Mr Peace Abdallah, personally coordinated security efforts in the town, as more officers have been deployed to the beach areas and entire town, to provide adequate security.

“We want to state that, no policeman was abducted by the hoodlums and can also not confirm the abduction of some people from the affected areas.

Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

Demolition in Ekiti 2 Traders and others watch as bulldozers demolish the old Oja Oba Market in Ado Ekiti,the Ekiti State capital on Saturday. Photo Sam Nwaoko.

We’re on course to fulfil our vision for Lagos —Ambode Bola Badmus -Lagos Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured residents that his administration is strongly committed to achieving the vision of a safer, peaceful and prosperous Lagos for all, disclosing that his administration was also poised to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Governor Ambode, who spoke when he received the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrezj Dycha, some European Union officials and Polish business chief executive officers on a courtesy visit at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, reiterated his strong commitment to create industrial clusters in the state, which would in turn, go a long way in engaging the people in gainful employment.

Emphasising that Lagos was the fourth largest economy in Africa with a population of over 20 million people, Ambode said the market, which the state was blessed with, was a great opportunity which could be and must be uti-

lised for the people’s benefits.

According the governor, “the market is not only restricted to the Nigerian market, the market is more or less a hub for the West African sub-region and when you look at the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Lagos which is at $131 billion presently, it is greater than 42 countries combined in Africa. So, we stand at the threshold of the opportunities that our

new democracy is actually offering us”.

He assured his visitors of his commitment to build on the relationship, saying his administration had already begun the journey of making Lagos safe for the economic prosperity of the people.

The governor added that the government has also commenced the process of implementing judicial and security sector reforms, all geared to-

wards making Lagos safe.

Governor Ambode, while stating that he was willing to learn from the success story of Poland on agriculture, software technology, among other areas, said he would be willing to scale up the courtesy visit to him by the delegation to a bilateral platform, where issues of mutually beneficial partnership would be discussed and perfected.

Union intensifies efforts to free arrested Nigerians in South Africa The President of Nigeria Union in South Africa, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, said on Saturday that lawyers the group engaged were intensifying efforts to free some Nigerians arrested by the Department of Home Affairs in that country.

Anyene told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone from Pretoria, South Africa, that 65 asylum seekers, who were mostly from West Africa, were arrested on Friday during a protest at the de-

partment.

He said some of the asylum seekers, which included Nigerians, had embarked on the protest, alleging unfair treatment by officials of the department.

According to him, the Nigeria Union was notified of the protest which led to the damage of some cars and windows.

“We understand that 65 persons, including Nigerians and other people from some West African countries, were arrested during the protest.

“The Secretary of Nigeria Union, Olubajo Adetola, went to the Department of Home Affairs and spoke to Mr Marumo, Refugee Department Officer, on the arrest of some Nigerians.

“The union has also engaged the services of lawyers to assist in facilitating the release of the Nigerians.

“The lawyers are currently handling the matter and we are hopeful that they would be released today,” he said.

The Ekiti State government on Saturday pulled down the ancient Erekesan (Oja Oba) Market in Ado Ekiti, the state capital with a promise to build an ultra-modern market in its place in the next 24 months.

The Commissioner for Works, Mr Kayode Osho, who spoke at the site at the commencement of the demolition, reiterated the resolve of the state government to also give preference to former shop owners when the new market is built.

According to Osho:”I am giving the assurance that work will not stop the moment we start. The demolition has started now and then it will be followed by clearing of the debris and the preparation of the place for construction to start.

“Within the next few weeks the contractors will be on site and the construction work will start and I can give our words that within the next 24 months, the market will be completed.

“As for the fear of some former shop owners that they would not be accommodated in the new market, there is no need for fear. We are going to have more than enough shops for former owners and even those that will seek shops there.

“We are going to give preference to those former shop owners. There is no cause for alarm. However, people should take the warning by Governor Ayodele Fayose serious that no trader will be allowed to loiter around here.

“All former traders here are to move to Awedele and Agric Olope Markets. There are more than enough space to accommodate the traders.

news P/Harcourt refinery hits zero output, shut down

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8 November, 2015

Olatunde Dodondawa-Lagos

T

he Port Harcourt refinery has been shut down following its zero output

status.

The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed this at the luncheon of the Petroleum Club in Lagos on Saturday.

According to him, the Port Harcourt refinery has been shut down, currently bringing the combined output from 1.9 per cent in the last few weeks to zero output.

The NNPC had stated in its latest monthly report for September that: “Only Port Harcourt refinery produced 31,008million metric tonnes of petroleum products out of 35,648 MT (261,371.14 barrels) of crude processed at an average capacity utilisation of 5.77 per cent.”

Kachikwu, who described the poor refining capacity as worrying, said there were plans to restore the

lost glory of the refineries and ensure that they contribute massively to the national fuel consumption.

He said the corporation would need about $500million to fix the re-

fineries, and he is determined to source for the fund in the next seven months to one year.

“Some people are sabotaging the efforts through pipeline vandalism, but we

will block all the leakages and fix the problem,” he assured.

Decrying the fuel scarcity scenario, Kachikwu said the corporation is speeding up the payment of the

subsidy claims, adding that plans are also in the pipeline to review the subsidy system and bring down the amount of subsidy from about N20 per litre to about N5 per litre.

From left, Reverend Austine Epunam of Sweet Home Foundation; Special Adviser on Media to the President, Mr Femi Adesina; Mrs Uju Ejeye, Deputy Director News, AIT and Mr Celestine Toruka, Head , Media NCPC ,during a courtesy visit to Mr Adesina in his office in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, recently.

Ondo on irreversible path of development —Mimiko The Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has said that his government had set the state on an irreversible path to development with its various initiatives and accomplishments.

Speaking at an interactive session in Akure, Mimiko said government has been able to bridge the gap between the privileged and the less privileged in the state, especially through its education and health policies.

Mentioning the government’s mega school and mother and child initiatives which afford both the children of the rich and the poor access to government’s services in these sectors without discrimination as reference points, Mimiko said the sight of pupils and students entering the shuttle buses provided to convey them to and from school free of charge gives him excitement and enthusiasm.

“We are proud of our accomplishments as a government. Everyone has one or two areas to lay claim in the area of government’s provision.

“Students have the Shuttle Initiative, mothers have the Mother and Hospital, the Urban Renewal Programme is for the benefit of all and the government has delivered well in this area. Also, the mechanics now have millennium mechanic village to operate from, transporters have a motor park they can be proud of and the market

women have millennium markets while artisans are not left out,” he stated.

Mimiko further stated that government has suc-

ceeded in turning the Secretariat-Igbatoro axis of the capital city, Akure, into a commercial hub with the concentration of the Dome

and the Akure Shopping Mall in the area among other crowd pulling initiatives being planned for the area.

He also cited the rede-

velopment of the land that used to accommodate the former Owena Motel with the building of a mall on the land.

Akwa Ibom: APC, Umana appeal tribunal judgment Sunday Ejike-Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in the April 11, 2015 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State, Chief Umana Okon Umana, have filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja challenging the judgment of the state governorship election petition tribunal on the poll.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Sadiq Umar, had in its judgment delivered on October 21 nullified elections in 18 out of the 31 local government areas of the state and ordered a

re-run to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But in their notice of appeal, the APC and Umana faulted the tribunal judgment on ground of miscarriage of justice and turning, upside down, the head of the natural justice.

The two appellants asked the court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal in relation to the validation of election results in 13 local government areas of the state.

They also asked the appeal court to nullify the entire governorship election conducted in the state on

April 11, 2015 due to non compliance with the Election Act 2010 and voter guidelines of INEC. Appellants specifically asked that the first respondent in the appeal case, Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, be removed from office and that a fresh governorship election be conducted throughout the

Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed dismay over the high prevalence of drug abuse in the state, saying more worrisome is the fact that even girls and older females engage in the distasteful behaviour.

Describing the situation as very unfortunate, he

stated that government would not ignore such pathetic situation.

Dr. Ganduje stated this on Saturday in Kano during a meeting with the State Task Force on Counterfeit Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in his office.

The governor charged the Task Force to double its commitment, just as

According to him, “products distribution is key to NNPC, and we have therefore sent out about 5,000 trucks to various locations across the country in the last two days.”

Kachikwu, however, restated his commitment to turn around the NNPC to a world-class company within the next 6 to 12 months and ensure that it works efficiently in a transparent and accountable manner.

“We are out for transparency. We will be engaging the presidency on weekly basis, the governors monthly, and the National Assembly on monthly basis, while we continue to publish our reports monthly,” he said.

The NNPC boss, who agreed that these are very serious trying times for the industry, said “the problems are actually more serious than we think, so Nigerians need to work hard and begin to add value,” just as he noted that the president is deeply worried about the prevailing situation in the industry and has gave him the mandate to fix the problems, “and I will never do things that will compromise my integrity,” he stated.

Kachikwu said his administration has recovered $420million from the legacy crude swap contract, increased gas supply to power plants to about 231 million standard cubic feet per day (mbpd) and planned to hit 240 mbpd next year.

On the much-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Kachikwu said the bill could not be passed in its current form, rather he will move to deal with the fiscal issues and move forward while other areas are sorted out.

UNICEF set to reduce transmission of HIV/AIDS Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria has said it was working hard to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child in the

Ganduje laments over girls, old women engagement in drug abuse Kola Oyelere-Kano

state.

The appeal filed by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) was premised on 26 grounds and has Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State and the Nigeria Police Force as respondents.

Sunday Tribune

he assured that the state government would give it the desired support o function more efficiently.

Earlier, the chairman of the Task Force, Mallam Abdullahi Umar, who shed more light on its activities explained that it has succeeded in raiding 30 illicit drugs’ warehouses and has confiscated drugs worth billions of Naira.

country.

This was disclosed by the officer in charge of UNICEF’s Children and HIV/ AIDS Programme in Nigeria, Dr Dorothy Mbori-Ngacha, during a media briefing at Kaduna UNICEF’s field office.

According to her, UNICEF is working round the clock to ensure that HIV/ AIDS transmission rate is reduced drastically among children.

She remarked that strategic measures have been put in place to support Kaduna government to prevent new cases of HIV/AIDS in children, particularly in the area of Mother to Child transmission.

She also revealed that

UNICEF would give free treatment to identified and captured infected children in Kaduna.

While commending Kaduna State government as one of the states in the nation that is doing well in preventing mother to child transmission of HIV/ AIDS, she said UNICEF has concluded plans to assist where there are barriers, challenges and areas of intervention.

In his remarks, Mallam Lawal Abubakar, Deputy Director, Public Health, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, said the ministry’s priority is to partner with UNICEF for early infant diagnosis and pediatric Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).

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8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

feature Kidnapping

A monster’s return to national reckoning

I

N May this year, the Ekiti branch of the Nigerian Medical Association declared an indefinite strike to protest the kidnap of Dr Patrick Adegun, former Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, along with his wife, barely five days after the abduction of a theatre nurse, Mrs Margaret Aladenaka, from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti.

Soon after, the Ekiti State Police Command and the Department of State Service arrested a pastor, Mr Babatunde Balogun and 12 other members of the kidnap syndicate terrorizing residents in the state, and responsible for the abduction of a don, Dr Femi Omisore and a Catholic priest, Rev Father Emmanuel Akingbade, among others.

In July, Nigeria’s most notorious kidnapper and serial killer, Henry Chibueze, a.k.a Vampire, was paraded at the headquarters

of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) in Imo State. The DSS state director, Francis Ejiofor, while briefing the media in Owerri, the state capital, revealed that Vampire have killed over 300 people, including the wife of a royal father in the state and another commissioner in the present administration. Indeed, Chibueze had killed his own girlfriend for stealing the N45 million he kept in his room. The Vampire confessed his

During the First Republic, nomination officers were kidnapped.

deeds to the state governor, Rochas Okorocha, who was at the briefing.

Again, in September, the media was thrown into a frenzy following the abduction of Toyin, the wife of a Deputy Managing Director of The Sun newspapers, Mr Stave Nwosu, at the couple’s Okota, Lagos home.

The hapless woman spent three gruelling days in the kidnappers’ den before respite came her way.

The last straw in September...

But the nation had not seen anything yet.

In the same month, kidnapping stormed the national consciousness in full force, as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Afenifere chieftain and traditional ruler, Chief Olu Falae, was kidnapped at his Ilado farm in Akure, Ondo State on his 77th birthday, with the kidnappers demanding N100 million ransom. The incident led

Against the backdrop of kidnapping cases in the country in recent times, ABIODUN AWOLAJA traces the trajectory of the menace and highlights the suggested solutions to it.

to Yoruba leaders handing down a stern warning to the Federal Government, and is yet to settle in the polity.

Narrating his harrowing experience in the hands of the Fulani kidnappers suspected to be working in concert with Boko Haram, Falae, who had been kidnapped on September 21 but regained freedom on September 24, recounted that when the hoodlums came, they hit him with their cutlasses, then dragged him barefoot into the bush.

All day long, Falae had no food or water, though he walked close to 15 kilometres.

And nature gave no respite at night. “We all slept on the floor on leaves. Unfortunately, the rain came in the night and I was thoroughly drenched where I was lying down.

One of them brought a small umbrella to cover my head, but the rest of my body was Continues pg11

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Sunday Tribune

Pepper spray, keys, anti-kidnapping weapons

Henry Chibueze, a.k.a.

Vampire, while being paraded by the DSS in Owerri, Imo State.

Oluwanisomo Mayowa Continued from pg10 not covered. They offered me bread, but I told them I could not eat it. I demanded for a bottle of coke, which was what I drank every day to have the requisite strength to survive and to continue on the march, because they were permanently moving,” the former Finance Minister said, adding that the Fulani herdsmen had consistently wreaked havoc on his farm.

Falae’s ordeal closely mirrored that of a popular lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was kidnapped between Ehor and Ekpoma Road in Edo state in September 2013. As Ozekhome recalled, “My ordeal began on Friday August 23, 2013 when I left Benin at 2pm for my home town. I ran into the kidnappers some minutes past 3pm. It was my driver, Chinedu, who noticed that a vehicle had been used to block the road and he told me that the people were armed robbers.

So, I told him to quickly turn, but before he could turn, a gun was already on my head.

One of the men said if he moved an inch, they would kill me. So, I told my driver to stay put. They dragged Chinedu and I out of the car, shot the tyres of the vehicle and locked him in the boot and made me lie flat on the floor of their car. I heard them say, Police! Police! Police! They also added, ‘no retreat no surrender.’ I heard a staccato of bullets; it was like a war situation as they were firing continuously.

The gang took Ozekhome to an uncompleted building after driving for about four hours. When he fell ill, the gang’s veiled doctor gave him some malaria drugs. Al-

Professor Itse Sagay though Ozhekome refused to divulge how much was paid as ransom, on June 17, 2015, Frank Azuekor, one of four suspects charged with kidnapping him, said his gang collected N28 million before releasing him.

The genesis...

Actually, kidnapping, a menace associated with Niger Delta militancy following the return to civil rule in 1999, festered in the South-East, South-South and later South-West geopolitical zones in recent years when former armed robbers, cultists and street urchins embraced it because of its relatively lower risks. Hitherto relatively unknown in Nigeria, kidnapping made a fairly determined entry into the national consciousness in February 2006 when Niger Delta militants, smarting from age-long neglect of the zone, resorted to abducting foreign oil workers to force global attention on the appalling conditions of life in the zone. Since then, the ‘business’ has gone on determinedly, and even the poor and downtrodden are abducted, throwing their families into despair.

As the menace festered, it became linked with a variety of factors, including unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, greed, politics and corruption, among others. For the victims, the effects of the incident—psychological trauma, fear and distrust, especially when accompanied by brutal torture or rape—proved to be horrendous.

Why kidnapping thrives Speaking with Sunday Tribune, the head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ibadan, Professor Charles

Stopping kidnappers in their tracks For the victims, the effects of the incident— psychological trauma, fear and distrust, especially when accompanied by brutal torture or rape—proved to be horrendous.

Nwolise, noted that kidnapping could be political, commercial and even ritualistic. In his view, the abductions carried out during the Niger Delta agitation could be described as political because it aimed to ensure control of resources coming from the region,

since the government had neglected it.

He added: “Kidnapping later became commercial in the South-East. People were kidnapped for ransom or greed for money. The other aspect is the ritualistic kidnapping when those kidnapped, whether through hypnotism or other means, are either killed or some parts of their body are removed. However, kidnapping is not new.

During the First Republic, nomination officers were kidnapped. When Professor Charles Soludo of the Central Bank of Nigeria wanted to join politics in Anambra State, his relative was kidnapped to reduce the amount of money he would be able to spend in the election, so the kidnappers asked for a huge ransom.”

However, to legal luminary, Professor Itse Sagay, kidnapping in Nigeria is traceable to bad governance and the erosion of positive values. Speaking with Sunday Tribune, Sagay postulated that in Nigeria, people’s psyche has been destroyed by the past corrupt administrations, and so they no longer see integrity or sanity as a virtue.

Since people have been made to believe that money is everything you need in life, he

Continues pg14

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8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

PDP group exposes APC strategy to take over South-South APC has declared war on South/South —PDP Group Taiwo Adisa and Leon Usigbe - Abuja

T

HE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared to have set machinery in motion for the clean sweep of Bayelsa and Kogi states in the forthcomig elections as well as Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states in the planned rerun elections in the two states.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) SouthSouth Elders Coaltion for Justice has also raised the alarm over what it termed as the desperation of the APC to capture the South-South at all costs.

Sources close to the APC told the Sunday Tribune that a strategy team set up by the party had recently submitted its report with clear recommendations on the need to clean the states believed to be strategic to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The strategy team according to the document submitted to the party, which sources said had provided details of steps to be taken, including security measures and handling of local and international election observers had recommended that unds be provided for strategic management of local and international election observers whose reports would be favourable to the ruling party.

The team recommended that Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa cannot be allowed to remain in the hands of the PDP but added that while elections and the plot to take over the states will not come without “incidences” given the determination of Governors Nyesom Wike, Seriake Dickson and Udom Emmanuel to deliever to the PDP, the APC should do all it has to capture the states.

The team also recommended the use of some PDP members to commit anti-party activities against their party to ensure victory for the APC. The report advised the APC to ensure that a former governor from the South-South who is now a leading member of the APC is allowed to handle the ex-militants in the region of South-South since he already has good knowledge of the workings of the area.

As for Kogi, the report indicated that the state has been a PDP state for a long time but added that the APC has made in roads into the state with the last election.

It stated that the state

must be taken away from the PDP in order to complete a clean sweep of the North-Central states.

The strategy team also recommended that “the unpaid salary issue in the state should be used against the incumbent government,” while one government agency is to be asked to swing into action to get some key members of the opposition party into submission.

“The party should decide whether it is ready to win the polls using all means and resources available to it and prepare for the battle to follow or allow itself to be defeated and head for the court as a loser, which will be damaging to the fortunes of the party ahead 2019.

These states are strategically important to the success of the party for the subsequent elections especially in the oil producing states,” the report indicated.

The strategists also highlighted a number of persons to watch, including former Akwa-Ibom Governor Senator Godswill Akpabio, former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, but added that a comprehensive list would be submitted to enable the party to take care of those who could pose threats to its takeover plans in the four states.

The PDP has since voiced concern that the APC was desperate to seize the states through intimidation and overtly influencing the various election tribunals handling petitions arising from

Rivers and Akwa Ibom elections since they are considered rich states.

On Saturday, PDP SouthSouth Elders Coalition for Justice, accused the APC of declaring war on the region following the leakage of an alleged working document with which the ruling party hopes to grab control of Bayelsa, Rivers and Kogi state where governorship election will take place on November 5.

Addressing the media in Abuja on Saturday, chairman of the group, Engr.

Boro Dokubo said that it was alarmed that the APC had set up a committee to purportedly develop the document titled “Political Penetration, South South/North Central Strategy Plan” allegedly already being circulated aimed at wresting control of the PDP states through dubious means.

The PDP elders maintained that the APC document revealed plans to “capture and dismantle the South South region of the country and further plans to rig the forthcoming Gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.”

“Worthy of note in the report was the well articulated tactics to carefully take over Rivers and Bayelsa States through the judiciary and indeed the entire South South from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” the statement alleged.

The group further posited that the script being played in tribunal judgments in Rivers and Akwa Ibom

states beginning from the removal of a Justice Pindiga as tribunal chairman to the outright cancellation of the gubernatorial election in Rivers and some local government areas in Akwa Ibom State was part of the ploy by the APC to rob the people of the states of their legitimate rights to elect their leaders.

According to the PDP elders the document was the handiwork of committee set up by the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, with its terms of reference including identifying the threat and opportunities for the the APC in regions where it did not perform well during the last general elections, examine the causes of the poor performances and suggest quick win strategies that will help the party build on its victory in such political territories.

The coalition said in APC’s desperation to capture Kogi State, it has enlisted the service of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to perfect strategies to undo the efforts of the ruling PDP in the state.

On Bayelsa election, the South-South PDP group said the APC strategists recommended the removal of the current commissioner of police, Director of Department of State Services (DSS) in the state as well as the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6 based in Calabar perceived by the APC as not friendly enough.

The group said that the

APC was also pushing for the replacement of the state Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner and deployment of electoral officers and senior presiding officers from other states.

According to Dokubo, what has played out concerning the outcome of the Rivers State gubernatorial election was in line with the recommendation of the APC committee which according to the leaked document had demanded for the outright nullification of the entire gubernatorial election, and cancellation of two third of the state house of assembly elections.

The group pointed out that the document suggested that the result of the Rivers House of Assembly election not be touched, because of the potential implications on the presidential election since they were conducted the same day.

Similarly, the coalition quoted the APC document as recommending that the National Assembly election in Rivers State be left alone for now to allow for the smooth screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees sent to the Senate

by President Buhari.

Quoting a paragraph in the APC purported document, which says “the committee wishes to emphasize the importance of Rivers State in the political and economic structure of the country, and it is apparent to the party leadership that all the key resources bear-

ing states are in the hands of the opposition,” the South South PDP pointed out that it was an indication that the APC would do anything to seize the state from the PDP. The group alleged that the APC has also outlined plan to procure pliant judges for future election tribunal for PDP states where election would be conducted in order to get favorable judgment at the tribunals should the matters return to the tribunals.

The Elders Coalition therefore alerted Nigerians “on these clandestine plans which is a clear declaration of war against the people of the affected States.”

The group warned the APC to desist from their plans to cause mayhem in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Kogi States, saying that the people of the region would hold the APC responsible for any act of violence or acrimony associated with the recommendations as contained in the leaked plan.

While condemning the role played in the preparation of the document by some prominent APC members including a serving governor of one of the North West states, the PDP group urged President Buhari to prevail on his party to respect the will of the people in the affected states.

The National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Balogun did not pick his call when the Sunday Tribune called him for his reaction.

to clinch the governorship ticket on the APC platform in the state.

Now, the former senator is likely to be Nigeria’s first elected female governor if Governor Darius Ishaku,

who was recently sacked by the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, fails to challenge the ruling or loses at the appelate and Supreme Courts.

Mama Taraba: A symbol of first?

By Olakunle Taiwo AISHA Jummai Al-Hassan, fondly called Mama Taraba, a Fulani woman and lawyer by training, was a former senator under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She was one of the four women elected on the PDP platform. But she later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where she clinched the party’s governorship ticket for the 2015 general election.

Despite the fact that she was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari and screened by the Senate as one of the ministers of Federal Republic of Nigeria, she had vowed that she would not jettison her case at the tribunal against Governor Darius Ishaku.

However, for Mrs Al-

Hassan, becoming the ‘first female’ to be elected as governor is historic.

She was the first female to be appointed Taraba State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice. She

was also the first woman to be appointed as Secretary FCT judicial council. Her victory at the governorship primaries towards the 2015 general elections saw her become the first female

Judiciary must extricate itself from buccaneering —PDP govs Leon Usigbe - Abuja THE Peoples Democratic Governors’ Forum, on Saturday, expressed alarm at what it termed judicial buccaneering, following the annulment of the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba by the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Saturday, in Abuja.

In a statement issued by the Coordinator of the forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, in Abuja, the forum said the conduct of the tribunals

in cases involving the PDP leaves much to be desired as it falls short of any time honoured norms of transparency and justice.

The governors accused the judiciary of having become a pawn in the chessboard of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regime, warning that it needs to extricate itself from the apparent stranglehold of APC buccaneers.

It said: “What has become evident is that the judiciary has cornered itself by becoming a pawn in the

chessboard of APC buccaneering tactics in cases concerning governors elected on the platform of the PDP. “If it were not so, why the contradictory judgments emanating from the tribunals even in cases of clear precedence? In Lagos, the tribunal discountenance the use of card readers and denied the PDP its victory in the face of overwhelming evidence.

“Curiously, other tribunals, weeks after, in the matter of Akwa Ibom and Rivers State ruled on the sanctity of the card reader

because it favours the APC. The most telling bias of the judiciary is in the Taraba tribunal ruling.

“Is it not magical that the tribunal could conjure answers to prayers not asked by the APC and its governorship candidate? Did the PDP not ask for the disqualification of the APC candidate in Benue state, who decamped from the party and the next day was made the APC candidate without primaries? But the tribunal found it convenient to overlook this issue.

13 Continued from

P

8 November, 2015 last week

ARADOXICALLY enough, it has been most strenuously urged, in quarters where democratic socialism is also professed, that the ideals which I have before stated are too lofty, and that since most of them are unattainable in the immediate present, they should be consigned to the limbo of Utopian dreams. It is the habit of my party to talk about anything unless it is practicable. We think that all the ideals which I have previously mentioned are practicable, but even if they are not immediately attainable, it appears to me unimaginative and unpatriotic to discard them on that account. No individual or nation can make any progress worthy of note and good report, unless there is a lofty height, a noble objective, which the man or the nation constantly and perseveringly strives after. It has also been seriously suggested that the best way to advance the interests of our country is to tackle one problem at a time and as it arises, and that we would only be perplexing ourselves by formulating a series of objectives and of methods of achieving them, all of which are bound to raise knotty problems of their own. I must say that it is only the mediocre and the fool that can afford to live but one day at a time, without taking as much as a peep into the future.

The wise and the prudent, too, cannot live more than one day or even than one minute at a time. But whilst he is busy coping with the problem of the day, he also aspires to see beyond the curtain that divides today from the morrow, projects his legitimate and conscientious desires into it, and makes concrete plans for the realisation of these desires. I have said on previous occasions, that granting an enlightened and dynamic leadership, the wealth, and the more equitable its distribution among the factors and agencies which have helped to produce it, the greater the outflow of the nation’s influence and power. I think I have said enough to demonstrate that it is under a democratic socialist system that our national resources can be exploited to produce sufficiently large wealth for the well-being of our people, and for the promotion of our national greatness and international brotherhood. On this score, it now remains for me to say that the outflow of our nation’s influence can only be advantageously canalised by the kind of attitude we adopt towards the other nation of the world in general, and of Africa in particular.

After a very careful consideration, my party is of the

Awo’s thoughts VOICE OF REASON

Politics and religion A lecture given to students at the Adventist College of West African, Ilishan-Remo, on 27th January, 1961. opinion that the foreign policy of Nigeria should, in the main, be independent and should be guided by the following principles: The promotion of economic relations with all nations of the world. Co-operation with all nations of the world in so far as they respect the ideals for which we stand. Respect for the sovereignty of other nations and non-interference in their domestic affairs The settlement of international disputes by peaceful negotiations directly or through the agency of the U.N.O. Lasting world peace through non-involvement in military pacts, discontinuance of the armament race, and the evacuation of military bases on foreign soil. The immediate and complete freedom and sovereignty of all those African States which are at present only nominally independent (a) by the abrogation of any military or defence pacts or ties as well as of all rights and privileges appurtenant to such pacts or lies and (b) by the elimination of undue economic or technical dependence on any alien country. The setting of a target date or dates in the very near future of the complete liberation of all colonial territories wherever they may be on the Continent of Africa The immediate termination of the existence of any military base in any part of Africa and the evacuation of

Sunday Tribune

all occupation troops on the Continent whether they are attached to specific military bases or not.

The mobilisation of all the forces at our command to assist the immediate extermination of apartheid in South Africa and the restoration to the African in South Africa of his natural birth- rights.

The outlawry of any form of discrimination or segregation against the black peoples in particular and Africans in general, in Africa and in other parts of the world. The maintenance and defence of the dignity of the African (particularly black African), and of the sovereignty of any independent African State against derogation or violence from any quarter whatsoever. The promotion of a community of interests among all the peoples of Africa and the eventual establishment of a political union or confederacy (whichever is practicable in the prevailing circumstances) among African States. Non-involvement of all African countries in the present East- West power politics and struggle as well as non- partisanship in the Arab-Israeli dispute and conflict. ‘Within the compass of a lecture such as this, I think I have sufficiently set out the ideas of my party, and its orientation towards these ideals. But the position in Nigeria today as to the ideals of the ruling parties at the centre and hence of the country, and their orientation towards such ideals, if any, appears to me to be thoroughly confused. The cause of this confusion is not far to seek. The Federal Government lacks definite ideals or objectives and is devoid of ascertainable orientation. From the jumble of government’s words and actions, however, two things stand out unmistakably: at home its ideological orientation is laissez faire capitalism, and in the external sphere it is subservience to the Western Bloc. After independence, Nigeria’s ship of state has, so to say, been launched on an uncharted sea. The imperialist’s beaten tracks are no longer good for us, because we had fought for independence in order that we may be free to cut our own path to greatness and success.

I owe it a duty to the following concluding declarations.

The Federal Government is, in my candid opinion, much less precise, about our position on the high seas, at any given time in relation to the ship’s compass; and it has, by words and actions, cast grave doubts on its professed skill in the twentieth-century art of politico-economic navigation and seamanship.

Concluded

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feature

8 November, 2015

What to do if abducted...

Continued from pg11 noted, if one talks about good name or upholding good character in present-day Nigeria, one will sound odd because corruption is now a universally embraced phenomenon due to societal decadence imposed by bad leadership. This means, then, that kidnapping is a systemic problem.

His words: “Treasury looters are not being brought to book. It is all about your identity with the incumbent government.

You are a thief only if your party is not in power. We celebrate affluence in our society regardless of its source. Everyday, you read in our dailies, billions of dollars misappropriated by few individuals and the next thing you hear about such individuals is new appointments from the governments or award of chieftaincy titles from the traditional rulers who are expected to be the custodians of virtues. The resultant effect of this breakdown in societal values is that there is a desperate quest for money by the people to earn relevance/recognition from the society.

“Diligent and hardworking citizens have been relegated to the lowest level in the country: they struggle to pay their children’s school fees even in the cheapest institutions.

They can’t afford good medical care. So, the corrupt system has made it look like a curse for someone to choose to earn living through diligence and integrity. I strongly believe that kidnapping is more of systemic failure in our socio-political and economic structures than being a game of politics.

Let’s consider the ever increasing act of ritual killings and human trafficking, or the issue of baby production for sales. Will you attribute those vices to politics? Of course not. I pray that God will help us to get it right with governance one day.’’

Nigeria’s troubling statistics Although, based on a 1999 statistics, the top 10 countries for ransom kidnappings were, in the order of occurrence: Columbia, Mexico, Russia, Brazil, Nigeria, Philippines, India, Ecuador, Venezuela and South Africa, Nigeria was, in October 2012, designated as the “global capital of kidnapping” at a meeting of the African Insurance Organisation in Balaclava, Mauritius.

The statement on Nigeria noted in part: “The number of kidnaps-for-ransom in Africa continued to increase. In the first half of 2011, Africa’s proportion of the global total increased from 23 per cent in 2010 to 34 per cent. Nigeria is now the kidnap-for-ransom capital of the world, accounting for a quarter of globally reported cases.”

The cases factored into the report included the kidnapping, in 2009, of a retired Army General, Peter Ademokhai; renowned novelist, Elechi Amadi, and famous Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie, all of whom were quite advanced in age. However, although incidents of kidnapping have never ceased since the onset of the Fourth Republic in 1999, it is the terror group, Boko Haram, that has, in the last five years, committed most of the kidnapping cases reported in the media, including most notoriously the abduction of about 276 female secondary school students in Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014.

Solution to kidnapping Over the years, experts have suggested a multi-pronged solution to kidnapping, including strong anti-kidnapping agents, severe punishment for kidnappers, and job creation for the unemployed.

Deploying technology Experts argue that the menace can be curbed by deploying technology. Indeed, in Nigeria, stakeholders have canvassed the adoption of a strategy developed Dr Bashir

Chief Olu Falae

Professor Charles Nwolise

Gwandu, acting executive vice chairman of the National Communications Commission (NCC), involving SIM card registration.

Gwandu had advised the Federal Government to offer subsidy to telecoms operators to install equipment on every mast and tower that could be used for triangulating between sites in order to identify the real geographical location of both GPS and none GPS-enabled mobile handsets.

In addition to the triangulation project, low earth orbit satellites would be used to track all GPS-enabled handsets. Thus, once owners of GSM numbers can be identified, handsets can be tracked, their geographical location identified, then, and calls made to solicit for ransom used in tracing the kidnappers.

white men came, if anyone was kidnapped, good prophets of God could reveal locations and when or how to get them released.”

To Professor Itse Sagay, however, “until our socio-political system is put right back to where people will be taught to live for values, the menace may continue without end.’’

Deploying Strategic Spiritual Intelligence Another expert, Professor Nwolise, however introduced a spiritual dimension to the menace. He told Sunday Tribune: “The solution I have always referred to is never adopted, because the country is not ready for deliverance. I said we should adopt what I call Strategic Spiritual Intelligence (SSI).

People usually laugh when they hear the analysis, but that seems to be the only way out. Human intelligence and technology intelligence have failed us.’’

Elucidating on the SSI strategy, Nwolise added: ‘“What we need to do is to involve prophets (not limited to any religion) who can consult God to reveal where the victims of the kidnappers are and when and how to trace them. The Chibok girls would have been recovered in 72 hours if the government had tried that. The military complain of spiritual attacks from Boko Haram, and their strategies have failed them. Before the

Though kidnapping is an offence against the state, only few states in Nigeria have passed laws on it.

Taking practical, physical steps Writing on “How to thwart an abduction attempt, a team of experts averred that kidnappings, which involve family members, sexual predators and ransom seekers, requires thinking fast and acting decisively. Their suggestions include playing safe, that is, people walking in a public place should always be aware of who is around, avoid headphones; spot an escape route every time one enters a new environment, avoid dark alley ways and parking lots; refuse to face the wall when eating out; and lock windows and doors at night.

Another strategy, according to the experts, is forming a plan, for instance by asking what kind of abduction one is most likely to encounter, and what to do if someone makes an attempt. Again, one should be prepared to resist, by using mace (pepper spray) to attack the attacker’s eyes. However, if there are multiple armed attackers in an isolated or hostile place where there is realistically little to no chance of escape, one should be cooperative with the abductors.

And yet another strategy is to run away, trying to get to a safe public place and continuing to scream for help, not looking back or stopping until one has reached safety, and putting something between oneself and the attacker. This may be a busy street, a group of people, or even a car, which one can run around as the attacker tries to make a catch. Again, a potential victim should fight as if their life depended on it, picking up and wielding any heavy object that is close at hand.

Thus armed, he or she should aim for sensitive spots: poke the abductor in the eyes; hit or kick the groin, nose, throat, or kidneys. And then, if possible, he or she should call emergency services.

Using the instrumentality of the law According to Oluwanisomo Mayowa, a legal analyst based in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti

Sunday Tribune

State, Section 364 of the Criminal Code Act, which is a federal enactment in Nigeria, provides that “any person who unlawfully imprisons any person, and takes him out of Nigeria without his consent, or unlawfully imprisons any person within Nigeria in such a manner as to prevent him from applying to a court for his release or from discovering to any other person the place where he is imprisoned, or in such a manner as to prevent any person entitled to have access to him from discovering the place where he is imprisoned; is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.”

According to Oluwanisomo, the court had not left Nigerians in the dark, as it interpreted words like: “against his will” to be synonymous with’ without his consent’ in the case of R- V- Lambo Sokoto (1961) WRN LR. 27. He noted that constituent states in Nigeria are by law empowered to adopt or domesticate any federal legislation in their various states levels. However, the state may extend the frontiers or vary the existing legislation so adopted or domesticated, depending on the circumstances and the situations which necessitate or warrant them to be so doing.

Oluwanisomo told Sunday Tribune: “Though kidnapping is a criminal offence, an offence against the state, only few states in Nigeria have passed laws on it. For instance, Edo State passed a bill into law in October, 2013 and imposed a stiffer penalties on any accused person that is found guilty of the offence of kidnapping in the State, more than the penalties obtainable under the federal law (criminal Code Act).

“In November 7, 2012, lawmakers in Delta State passed a bill into law prohibiting terrorism, cultism, kidnapping, hostage taking and the use of bombs. The assembly recommended capital punishment for offence in question. The law further provides stiff penalty against a traditional ruler to the extent of withholding or withdrawing his title so long as he has the knowledge of kidnapping activities in his domain.

“Furthermore, it imposed N20 million on telecommunication agents who refuse to give information to security agent on kidnapping within 24 hours. It also recommended three years imprisonment for any security personnel or authority that receives information and refuses to takes action; three years imprisonment for the ruling organs of any community with the knowledge of hostage taking, and 21years imprisonment for any person who aids the escape of kidnappers.”

The legal expert advised other states to borrow a leaf from Delta and Edo states, noting that it is very unfortunate that Nigeria does not have a ‘kidnapping Act’ that spells out ingredients of the act of kidnapping and the penalties that follow: which could be enforced nationwide as a federal legislation. As he observed, the criminal Code Act, although a federal legislation, has an enforceability limited to Southern Nigeria, while the Penal Code Act is used in the North. However, the Penal Code Act appears to be silent on the offence of kidnapping. “The need for having a statute that would address the offence of kidnapping has now become imperative. It is high time the National Assembly arose from its slumber in this regard,” he said.

Indeed, the Anambra State government, during the tenure of former Governor Peter Obi, enacted a legislation altering the punishment for kidnapping. According to the law, anyone convicted of kidnapping shall be sentenced to death, while anything bought with the ransom money, like a house or car, shall be destroyed. Stringent laws such as this might prove useful in the long run.

15

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

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8 November, 2015

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lord’sday Thinking aloud on sundry issues

P

ermit me to start today by thinking aloud on sundry issues. One is the purported resignation of Pa Reuben Fasoranti as Afenifere leader. The “resignation” came with a bombshell; what with the unsavoury disclosures by the leader himself, which exposed the underbelly of an organisation once revered but now reduced, at best, to a caricature of its old self, nay, a laughing stock! Before other Afenifere leaders scampered to smother the fire kindled by Pa Fasoranti, the harm had been done.

Those who got an otherwise illustrious organisation into this sorry passé have got only themselves to blame. To all intents and purposes, Afenifere is far gone; what pretends to strut on the political landscape is, at best, its apparition.

And talking about apparitions, the Afenifere appears not to be alone, as the ghost of Dele Giwa, that illustrious journalist despatched to the world beyond by parcel bomb some three decades ago, has also resurrected, thanks to retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Chris Omeben, who, for reasons best known to him, decided to exhume a case already considered buried and forgotten by the powers-that-be.

In saner climes, the (police) authorities would need no prodding to dust the Dele Giwa files and resume the search for his killers, what with many of the dramatis personae in that sordid affair already singing like canaries! But these climes are not sane and the authorities here cannot be bothered. They have more serious issues to attend to! Since Dele Giwa, an uncountable number of even more grotesque assassinations have taken place, one of them being that of a sitting Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation. More importantly, we know who killed Dele Giwa, as we do many of the other unresolved assassination cases! It is only we are not able – or ready – to accost the villains!

Senate President Bukola Saraki was in court again last week; as usual, he shut down the Senate to do so. And about 40 senators bereft of any sense of modesty and responsible behaviour reportedly filed behind him in court. Worse is that they reportedly constituted themselves into a public nuisance in open court, behaving like bad-mannered English premier league football fans. I blame the judge who accorded them undeserved respect; he should have got them cited for contempt; sentence them; and have them promptly off-loaded into prison, if only for a weekend treat. This case may be getting worse for Saraki; not only is his fans club thinning out in the Senate, he appears set to also lose the swing of public opinion.

Add the disgraceful posturing of his servile distinguished” colleagues to the clearly unprofessional conduct of his lawyers, who walked out on the court, and you begin to see where the road is leading the exKwara state governor. He needs more tact to extricate himself from this miry clay.

Finally, our worst fears have now been confirmed by no less a person than Presi-

dent Muhammadu Buhari. Nigeria is broke – and that is official! We have always known that, though, even if spin doctors led by the discredited ex-Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and her cronies bandied nebulous statistics to confuse the unsuspecting about the state of the nation’s economy. A nation that was spending virtually all its budget on recurrent expenditure with nothing left for capital expenditure; where 27 out of 36 states were insolvent and could not as much as pay salaries; and whose federal government had to recourse to taking loans to pay salaries, certainly could not be said to be healthy. It was a matter of time before eventual and inescapable collapse. That was the worst fear that made the citizenry to abandon the sinking ship of Jonathan/PDP in the last election. Had Jonathan managed to retain office, the people feared that by now the country would have collapsed because a few more months of the same shenanigans of the Jonathan years would have completely flustered the economy.

Whereas the rescue mission has commenced in earnest under Buhari, it has not travelled far enough for its salutary impact to be felt. The first step appears to be struggling to stop the free-for-all that was the pastime of the past, hence the Treasury Single Account (TSA); and then the anti-corruption drive meant to recover stolen funds as well as drive some fear into the souls of would-be treasury looters. That, also, has neither travelled far enough nor in the right direction. If only Buhari and his vice, and none of their lieutenants, would declare their assets publicly, then, the opinion of many is that the anti-graft war is dead on arrival. And if only the members of the opposition as

Sunday Tribune

well as a few errant members of the ruling class are the focus of the campaign, then, that would be, at the very best, more of the same of what we had under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. That would not be good enough because it would not go far enough; neither would it be clinical enough. Everyone knows that the reason for the nation’s parlous state is corruption; what dwindling oil revenues and or salaries\perquisites of officials contribute come a distant second. Funds have been carted away in billions and trillions that ought to have gone into development purposes. Gaping holes have been burrowed into the nation’s coffers that drain it of humungous amounts that beggar belief.

This is why I wonder of what use will be the president’s insistence that some of the 36 Ministers imposed on him by the Constitution will go without portfolios.

If it is a cost-saving measure, how much will be so saved and what impact would it have on the economy? What I understand by the president’s insistence is that, left to him, he would not have appointed up to 36 Ministers. He is right for the reasons of paucity of funds that he has adduced but also for others reasons, such as that the nation does not need so large a retinue of officials who also come into office with bags and baggage that create a bazaar kind of atmosphere. Bigger and more productive democracies have lesser number of government officials. But more than salaries and perquisites as the cause of our economic woes is what ex-EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu, described as “direct looting” of the nation’s resources. This is the main culprit which must be tackled head-on.

Surprisingly, however, the signals emanating from the National Assembly, where law makers are struggling for “juicy” committees suggest that more of the same

atrocities of collusion between ministers, legislators, and top civil servants where contract sums were rapaciously inflated; and “projects” that were never executed were budgeted for and fictitious invoices and phony contracts were used to siphon the funds away into private pockets, may be lying in wait for the nation once more.

There is also the need to diversify the economy. Government after government have parroted this ad nauseam but each has pitiably been short in commensurate action. It remains to be seen whether Buhari\APC, with their change mantra, will be any different. More sources of income have got to be found for the country. Agriculture and mining must be given the attention that they deserve.

And talking about cutting cost, a better way to go about it is to prune the number of ministries, departments, and agencies of government. A committee was set up once upon a time to look into this and its findings were shocking. There are hundreds of federal agencies with overlapping mandates. The Civil Service is damn too bloated; a lean, slim and fit bureaucracy is what the country needs not only at these austere times but also for all times if getting value for money is the goal. States and local governments also must be factored into the equation. We have too many states for available resources and 774 local governments that are nothing but drain pipes. This is where the last National Conference, as imperfect as it was, comes into play. The Buhari administration may have to re-think its stance and take a hard look at it. If it will not, I do not see how it can run away from organising its own conference by whatever name called. This nation has got to be restructured one way or another. What is needed is more than having Ministers without portfolio; that may be the starting point but certainly it will not be enough panacea to a deep-rooted rot that has pervaded the polity for so long a period. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, while presenting the list of Ministers to the president, struggled to justify the Buhari proposition of Ministers without portfolio by likening it to the Ministers of State or Ministers for Special Duties; I beg to disagree. Ministers of State were “junior” Ministers attached to specific ministries while Ministers for Special Duties usually resided in the Presidency. What approximates to what Buhari is contemplating will be found in the First Republic where we had Ministers without portfolio.

I am aware of that nomenclature in the then Western Region Government. We may also liken it to what operates in banks where we have Executive Directors and non-Executive Directors. A study of the two systems could give the present administration the needed road map such that we will not hear cries of marginalisation of this or that part of the country. Which of the 36 states, for instance, will agree to have Ministers without portfolio? The Constitution puts all the states at par; care must be taken ere we reincarnate George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” where some states are more equal than others.

17

8 November, 2015

I’m not sleeping with my dogs —Tonto Dike

‘2 reasons celebrities’ marriages crumble’

I want to be respected for my skills not beauty —Fefe

Sunday Tribune

18

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Tade Makinde tademt2@yahoo.com 08055001753

T

HE Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON)’s one-week event which commenced with ‘COSON in the Church’, held at KICC Prayer Dome, suffered a small hitch towards the end of the event as Kenny Saint Best (KSB) ignored the event compere, Victor Oladokun, and forced herself on the congregation as artistes were invited to the stage to perform.

The Afro-American almost lost his cool when the gospel singer refused to leave the stage when her time was up.

She ignored Oladokun’s signal from the back stage that she should leave, but she continued to sing. Even when the visibly angry compere headed for the pulpit to talk KSB off it, she and her two dancers refused to leave the pulpit for others.

The scene almost turned into a drama as Oladokun’s furious stare did not move KSB one bit as she ignored the broadcaster and made sure she sang her decade-old popular hit “Turn Me Around”, after she had earlier sang two songs, eating into the time of the host, Pastor Femi Faseru. In fact, the DJ was stopped by Oladokun from further playing her CD to which she lip-synched. This finally

KSB booed at ‘COSON in the Church’

As Koffi blasts colleagues over immoral songs

Trey Songz to headline Rhythm Unplugged

By Victoria Ilari

stopped KSB in her tracks as she was eventually sent off the pulpit. The audience were not impressed by KSB’ desperation to be heard, so she was not applauded.

Meanwhile, comedian, Koffi, has expressed his unhappiness with some of his colleagues in the entertainment industry who use their talents to import

“Lies And Secret” for television listing THE entrance of Lies And Secret into the television drama sector will fill the gap of stories told and written based on real life experiences, producer, Dabby Chimere, has asserted.

Hoping to appeal local and international audiences, Dabby added that championing local content that would satisfy viewers is also of importance to her.

“There should be quality and reward for viewership, even as we want to maximize the audiences’ interest. It’s not as if we’ve not been into this very business of production, but for the first time, my company is doing something different in the same field”.

Since attention has diverted to Nigeria’s television sector, the audience has grown and to further boost the on-going trend, Dabby Chimere said she is out to support in the building of this present structure with the soapy, Lies And Secret.

“We will not say because it’s new then we should compromise quality. We just completed the first shoot and plans are on to hook it to reachable channels,” she noted.

Written by Lawrita Obioha, the storyline, which captures the realness of human activity as being an everyday lifestyle for the society, features Daniella Okereke, Daniel Lloyd, Uzor Arukwe and host of others.

immorality into the society.

The comedian profusely lamented at the COSON in the Church over the damage their nudity, lewd and insane songs some musicians most especially among the younger generation have deposited in the minds of the youth of the society, which he believes has been one of the major reasons social vices are

on the increase.

Koffi, however, is optimistic that his upcoming event will try to right what is wrong. He urged parents and clerics to act fast in bringing back the lost ones to God because they are the only ones that can restore the future of the younger generation. In that regard, Koffi said, “personally, I have done 12 videos and I have made my children realize that moral and good songs still exists.”

Midnight Crew marks anniversary

By Seyi Sokoya

GOSPEL group, Midnight Crew, is 14 years today.

The group, which was formed by students from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in 2001, is made up of four singers and is led by Patricia UwajeKing, Odunayo Ojo-Onasanya, Mike Abdul and Gbenga Oyebola. To celebrate it, the group has released a single titled ‘Halleluyah’- a song of praise and appreciation. Also, a documentary on the journey so far has been packaged and will showcase behind the scenes and interviews on things their fans don’t know about them.

Speaking on this, Pat King said; “We give thanks to God who has kept us together all these years.

To this end, we are dedicating the song ‘Hallelujah’ to God this Sunday. A documentary on our essence and projects is also released.”

The eleventh in the annual musical concert organised by Flytime Promotions and Rhythm FM, Rhythm Unplugged 2015, will feature multi award winning artist, Trey Songz.

This year’s edition of the concert will take place on Friday, December 18, 2015, from 7 pm at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“Rhythm Unplugged is now power packed with surprises to delight exuberant fans,” a spokesman said.

To further thrill fans, Flytime Promotions will launch its Anything Can Happen campaign.

This is a series of ‘off the stage’ activations targeted at surprising and delighting fans. “This includes a Best Cover singing competition of Trey Songz’ music and an opportunity for the winner to meet him, he added.

This year, Rhythm Unplugged will be hosted by Basketmouth and Bovi. It is expected that their presence will deliver a high voltage performances by Nigeria’s finest musicians and comedians.

Que Peller out with Eleniyan

The long wait is finally over for Que Peller as he has released a new single titled “Eleniyan”. The new song introduces Que’s sound and defines his style as a singer. The video is presently in the works.

Peller, who was introduced to the public by Aquila Records earlier this year when he released his debut single, “Juru”, has since crept into the entertainment industry with not just the song, but also his ability to perform cheeky magic tricks.

He does this in honour of his late father, Professor Peller, who was considered to be the greatest magician from West Africa in his time.

“I represent art in all its infinite forms and the general idea is to entertain at all times,” he told R.

19 Malta Guinness launches ‘you vs ...’ campaign Elenu and Pencil were among other comedians on Malta Guinness’s campaign train that went to UBA Park at Apongbon market in Lagos to inspire people at market to take on their day and go about their activities with a can-do attitude.

Patoranking and Dammy Krane also gave the audience a lot of musical goodness.

The Marketing Manager Malta, Mr. Uche Onwudiwe, said the ‘You vs...’ campaign is a way of celebrating and inspiring Nigerians to keep up the can-do-spirit that enables them do more on a daily basis. We attempted to help relieve some of the challenges experienced in everyday life as was evidenced with the You vs. the Traffic earlier in the day; Traffic morning blues amongst other every day to day challenges.

According to Onwudiwe, “Malta Guinness has been energising Nigerians for 25 years with natural goodness as they take on life’s everyday challenges. Whether it is traffic, the commute or the 8-5, whatever challenges life throws up, Malta Guinness is there to give you the energy and vitality to deal with it.”

Imploring Nigerians to get on board ‘You...vs’ campaign, the Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Gavin Pike, said Nigerians exhibit energy every day in pursuit of their dreams and we know that sometimes, the daily grid of the traffic, the market or the office 8 to 5 can be tough, but that winning attitude helps Nigerians to get more out of their day.

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

I’m not sleeping with my dogs

—Tonto Dikeh

By Segun Adebayo

L

IKE or loath her, actress-turned enterpreneur, Tonto Dikeh is one woman who knows

Kudi Kelpto returns

By Seyi Sokoya

IN bid to stage her come back into the movie industry after a long break, actress, Yetunde Adekoya, a.k.a Kudi Kelpto, is about to release her latest flick entitled “Kurukuru”.

The actress, who took time off the screen to nurse her baby thanked God for safe delivery and for seeing her through the challenging periods, adding that motherhood is a huge task and it is only God that gives a woman the grace to succeed.

The mother of one who affirmed that she is back to work and more dedicated than before, didn’t have a total break from movie production as she revealed that she actually shot the new movie when she was eight month’s into her pregnancy.

“I was very heavy and I wanted my fans to actually enjoy the movie, so, I had to make this sacrifice. The character I played was real. I was actually pregnant. I thank God that the job was a success,” she said.

The movie stars Odunlade Adekola, Murphy Afolabi, Kemi Afolabi, Madam Shaje, Bigvai Jokotoye, Abeni Agbon and many others.

how to turn attention to herself and you can’t fault her if she also decides otherwise.

Weeks after her well reported purported wedding, many who have followed her would have expected her to keep the calm and concentrate on building her home.

Though, Tonto has indeed turned a new leaf, atleast she quit smoking and shunned other vices that she was known with, but one aspect of her life which she does not seem to let go is her habit to hit back at anyone who crosses her line on social media.

Days back, Tonto, a lover of pet, posted pictures of her dogs on her Instagram page, but a fan left a comment that infuriated the actress. The fan with IG@specialyaxx wrote “ Hope you ain’t b**ging those dogs. In a swift reply to the post Tonto fired back and wrote” @specialyaxx just like your mama does.

Tonto later cleared the air by saying she’s a lover of pets and that she does not sleep with them.

Female rapper wins D’Banj rap competiton

By Sijuade Adeniyi D’BANJ made a u-turn when he picked three out of the five finalists of his “The King Is Here” rap competition. “Rather than choosing one winner which I originally planned, I decided to pick three,” he said.

Female rapper, Iteme Itse, was eventually voted as the winner by fans with the most likes on D’banj’s social media page on Thursday.

“The King Is Here” rap competition, which began early August, ended with an estimated 8,000 entries registered while the competition lasted. Last month, the Koko Master short-listed five finalists who were announced on social media. The fate of the finalists was, however, left in the hands of fans who were directed to vote on his Instagram page. “The contestant with the most likes will be declared winner, the medium stated.

At the end of the three-month long competition, the three finalists went away with Lenovo A500 phones courtesy of Slot Nigeria, while Iteme won $1,000.

Akpororo marries heartrob

By Seyi Sokoya COMEDIAN, Jephta Bowoto, a.k.a Akpororo has held a surprise court wedding at Ikoyi on Thusday to Mary Josephine Abraham.

Prior to the wedding, he had told fans that he was getting married ‘soon’.

The comedian’s manager, Charis Michael, had earlier told R

that it wasn’t a speculation that Apororo is getting married to her better-half soon. “He has not been married before. This is his first experience. Akpororo is excited and happy. So, he is looking forward to be a husband and prospective father.“It is correct information that he is getting married to one of the ladies of the Explicit Group,” he added.

Akpororo got married to Josephine at Ikoyi registry. The white wedding will hold next week Saturday at Surulere, Lagos.

Akpororo who is putting things together on his forthcoming event entitled: “Akpororo VS Akpororo” slated for Abuja, said that the event was fixed for the capital city as part of the comedian’s attempt at spreading his brand of comedy across the country.

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8 November, 2015

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

I want to be respected for my skills not beauty —Fefe

Three things are bound to attract you to Efemena Olori Tracy whenever you are privileged to engage her in a conversation. Her frankness, beauty and humility endear her to many, especially the lovers of her music. October last year, Efemena who is also known as Fefe was signed to Clarence Peter’s Capital Hill music, but to the surprise of many, Fefe left Capital Hill last month (October) but it was not too late for her to join another management, Rebel Planet. With three hot singles already in her kitty and new videos coming out before the end of the year, expectations from Fefe are already high and she has promised not to let her fans down. In this interview with SEGUN ADEBAYO, Fefe speaks about her life and career.

Excerpts:

W

HAT do you think about your music career at the moment? Do you really think it is on track?

Well, I think it’s moving in the right direction. It has taken some time to get the sound and the brand right, but it has been worth the wait because I got to learn so many things about music and the industry all that time I was trying to get things right. So yes my career is on track.

How have you been able to stay in the game as a female singer in an industry that is well dominated by men?

It has not been easy due to the fact that men are the ones ruling the game. However, I have been able to stay away from the popular trends people do. If I must go with the trends, I try to make it stand out in some way. Basically, I always try to bring something new to the table, because that makes me unique and standing out is a way to go in this game.

How hard was it for you to discover your passion for music?

It was not really hard. My uncle bought a keyboard for my elder brother when we were

Continues on pg 21

kids. But my elder brother wasn’t interested, so I started playing with the keyboard every day. I got so addicted to the point that as soon as I returned from school, playing with the keyboard was the first thing I wanted to do. Gradually, I started getting bold enough to sing in school and church.

That’s how I discovered my love for singing and music in general.

You appear to be taking it one step at a time, but it seems to be a slow but steady one, what do you think is responsible?

I believe good things take time. When I started my professional career, I wasn’t in a hurry to become the next big pop star. I always believed that if I work hard enough, I could be as good as or even better than the best. So my focus was to get it right. I wanted to listen, learn and grow. I did not want anyone to favour me, because of my looks. I wanted to be respected for my skills and believe me, there is no back door to becoming a true professional. I knew what I was looking for when I started and I was ready to be patient.

That is the reason my career has been slow but steady as a rock.

21 glitz

‘Don’t compare me with Tiwa Savage’ Continued from pg 20 You have dropped about three singles, but it seems your songs are still struggling to get to the top of many music charts across the country, what do you think?

My three singles Aura, Kilowi and Make Sense are outstanding songs if I am permitted to rate the songsmyself, and they did enjoy some airplay and buzz.

Though, I think they haven’t hit their true potential, possibly because the videos have not been released. The good news is that the videos are going to be out real soon and I’m excited to see the outcome after that. I am very certain my career will take a new dimension when those visuals are finally released. We are taking it one step at a time. At the end of the day, everything will work out fine.

After dropping AURA in 2013, not much has been heard about your other songs; could this be as a result of your label’s ineffectiveness?

The label did everything they could for the songs and they were effective. I believe my music just needs more exposure. The good thing about writing great songs is that you can wake up five years from now and press play and still get the same feeling you got the first time you heard it.

People don’t care about the year or month it was released.

Kilowi and Make Sense are still being promoted, and I strongly believe they will reach their full potential eventually.

Are you comfortable with the direction your record label is taking your career to?

I’m very comfortable with the direction we are taking because I play a part of it. I’m not a sit back and let people handle it kind of artist. I want to know how everything is going in detail and I get involved as much as possible. If I wasn’t comfortable with any of it, I will let them know, because we have a good understanding. Everything is talked about and properly analysed. They make sure I am comfortable.

You were signed to Capital Hill music on October 2014 and after one year, you left the record label, what actually happened?

I spent a year with Capital Hill music. It was a good year with lots of lessons learned and it gave me a better understanding of the industry. Capital gave me a platform, which I am grateful for. However, we had our differences and we mutually agreed to part ways. We still keep a good relationship.

It is believed that you could not rise on the label because of the array of stars competing for attention on the label that you could not compete with?

I don’t believe that was ever an issue. My working relationship with them has always been good. We all had different sounds and personalities that made us unique in our own way, it was always fun to be around them. I believe a star will shine no matter where it’s located. Being with capital added a lot to my career and I did get to shine on several occasions. I feel blessed to have been a part of them even though it was just for one year.

Now that you have been signed to Rebel Planet Management, what has the experience been like?

Rebel planet is a new management company and as far as management goes they are doing a wonderful job. They have been a blessing to me ever since I started working with them. The understanding we have is amazing and it is a very good working environment for me.

What did Rebel Planet offer you that you did not get when you were with Capital Hill?

Rebel planet did not offer me anything that Capital Hill could not offer me. I just believe I should have a management company I work with as I cannot do it all by myself.

There is so much work to be done and if I’m not with a la-

8 November, 2015 bel I should have management to help out. That is why I am with Rebel planet and they are doing a great job.

Where do you place yourself among other female singers in the industry? What are your chances?

I don’t like to compare myself with others. I believe we are all unique in our own special way. I know I have great potential to be number one in the game with hard work and prayers.

That’s really all it takes to be the best at anything.

People say there’s something about my eyes and the way I stare at people, so, let’s just say my eyes are the sexiest thing about me.

You are a beautiful young lady, how do you keep male admirers off your back?

Well, I’m young and single, so I don’t necessarily keep them off my back.

I’m just picky about the people I hang out with and I try to stay as low key as possible.

What nasty experience have you had with men?

I don’t think I have had any experience bad enough to call it nasty, but some guys can be desperate sometimes and when you don’t give them the attention they want, they tend to go a little crazy .

Some people believe you sing and dress like Tiwa Savage, do you see it like this?

I love Tiwa Savage. I think she is a fantastic singer and song writer but we are very different. Our sound and style are not alike. She has a very different approach to music from mine and I look forward to working with her some day.

Do you have any relationship with her?

I have never met her.

You are dropping your EP later this month, what are your expectations from the project?

I’m very excited about this project and I can’t wait to share it with the world. I have been working on it for some months. I got the chance to work with some gifted producers that understood my sound and what I was trying to achieve with it. I am hoping it will give people a clear idea of what my style and sound is.

They call you Fefe, what does it mean?

Fefe is a pet name I grew up with.

My real name is Efemena which means “this is my wealth”. So, for me it has always been Efe or Fefe people call me. After a while everyone just stuck to Fefe. So when I started my musical career, there was no need to come up with another name since I already had a good nick name “Fefe”.

What’s the sexiest thing about you and do you think you are sexy?

I honestly can’t say but people say there’s something about my eyes and the way I stare at people, so, let’s just say my eyes are the sexiest thing about me. They also tell me I’m sexy, but I don’t see myself as sexy. I see myself as a normal human being with the right amount of sex appeal.

What motivates you to sing and how easy does it come for you to write songs?

For me, motivation is everywhere. I can write about almost anything, because I pay attention to people, detail, my surrounding and I listen very carefully. So, I find it easy to interpret my experience in musical form. Though, sometimes I suffer the occasional writers’ block but after that, I’m back and better.

Sunday Tribune

What inspires your style?

I love to be comfortable with anything I wear.

I have always had this girly/boyish attitude right from when I was a kid.

Like one minute, I’m ‘the I can do it myself; independent woman and the next minute, I am that shy girl that needs saving’. This has been very evident in my style. So, to put it in simple terms, my style is inspired by how I feel.

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8 November, 2015

entartainment

Sunday Tribune with Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

Glo Dance With Peter: Contestants deliver on MJ dance routine

By Rotimi Ige

Funke Adesiyan enrols in US film academy

By Segun Adebayo

F

OR those who have been wondering what beautiful actress, Funke Adesiyan has been up to, they may not need to ask further questions.

The reason for Funke’s absence is not far-fetched.

The Ibadan-born actressturned politician has never hidden her plans to broaden her knowledge about movie production and directing. This time, Funke appears to have finally taken the bold step to return to school.

Funke who insisted that her political career was not over despite her loss at the last election said that she has decided to enrol at the prestigeous New York Film Academy to study directing and film-making.

The celebrated actress disclosed that her undying passion for film-making spurred her to enrol in the number one recognised film school in the world.

Funke has now joined the elite group of Nigerians who attended the film school. Others include movie producer, Kunle Afolayan, actress, Stephanie Okere-Linus, Chika Ike, Banky W. Funke is currently in the US studying and has revealed that her business structure which has taken her to different countries would not be affected as a result of her new lease of life.

She also maintained that she was not done with politics as against what was being spread in the media. According to her,

“I have my political structure in place and I am very abreast of what’s happening back at home. Trust

me, my business and political career would not be hampered because I am going back to school.

BoI meets Nollywood at AFRIFF 2015 ByJoan Omionawele

AS part of the Nollywood interactive sessions with corporate Nigeria, Bank of Industry, BoI, will be engaging filmmakers through a meet and greet session at the forthcoming Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF. The forum, which will take place at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Tuesday, November 10, 2015, from 3pm to 5pm, is expected to provide a platform between filmmakers and staff of the bank to interact better on the much publicised BoI NollyFund (BNF), an initial Program Limit of N1.0billion and a single obligor limit of N50million for individual loans.

The special product program enables Nigeria’s leading movie producers receive financial support to produce international quality films and screen them through various platforms of movie distribution available both in Nigeria and internationally.

AFRIFF will provide the first largest platform to discuss the opportunities therein for filmmakers through an informal setting.

Notable filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan is one of the filmmakers who have accessed the fund for their different projects. Afolayan’s movie, The CEO, for which the loan was obtained, is predicted

to be one of the best panAfrican movie to come out of Nigeria.

Interestingly, the Bank

Harrysong may postpone album release till next year

THE Glo sponsored Dance with Peter has continued to hold Nigerians spell bound with the various dance sessions by contestants each week. The transition from Hip-Hop to Michael Jackson dance steps during the show last Saturday has heightened the excitement and rivalry among the contestants.

As customary with the show, contestant after contestant displayed sublime dance steps and tried to out perform each other as they recreated dance moves made popular by the world famous late Michael Jackson widely acknowledged as an inimitable singer and gravity defying dancer to the extent that the legend MJ would have been proud of them.

The show began with the show judges, Peter Okoye, Kaffy and Don Flexx laying down the marker by exhibiting MJ’s dance moves including “Moonwalk”, “Spin” and “robot dance”.

It was like watching three

clones of Michael dancing on stage.

The battle for retention in the academy by the housemates raged on as four of the five dancers: Socrazy Cool, Mali Hotboy, Ernest Smiley, Nekky and Snipes placed on probation in the last edition earned a last chance to prove their mettle while Socrazy Cool was saved and sent back to the academy.

Commenting on the performance of the dancers, guest judge and contemporary highlife king, Flavor, expressed his desire for ‘passion’ like the late

New Techno deal excites Sossi

By Segun Adebayo

FOR more than three months, there had been talks about Harrysong’s first album since he joined Five Star music and he had even promised his fans to watch out for it this year.

Harrysong whose latest single Reggaeblues has continued to top music charts, featured label mate Kcee, Iyanya, Olamide and Orezi appears to be the main thing on the mind of the Delta State-born musician.

Speaking with E on the success of Raggaeblues, Harrysong said he was not surprised that the song has been accepted by Nigerians, saying that his decision to feature Kcee, Iyanya, Olamide and Orezi really paid off.

“I am happy about the response to the song. I am totally overwhelmed. I am not even thinking about the album now, I want to push the singles first and shoot a couple of new videos. After then, we will take the next step,” he said.

By Segun Adebayo

BUGATTI Record superstar, Sossi appears to have started reaping the proceeds of his hard work and commitment to his craft as information reaching E indicated that Sebee crooner has just signed a partnership deal with Techno mobile.

The deal came on the heels of the success of Sossi’s Sebee remix, which featured Olamide and Oritsefemi. The deal which falls under Techno’s Boom player application would afford the company the opportunity to distribute Sossi’s songs through the device.

According to Sossi’ manager, Michael Olarinmoye, the nonexclusive deal is a dis-

tribution partnership with Techno that would put Sossi’s songs on the Boom App player and would be downloaded by anybody who buys the phone. Michael, however, did not reveal the monetary benefit that is attached to the deal. Sossi has joined the league of superstar artistes that have their songs on the Techno Boom player app.

Meanwhile, Sossi may also be performing live on stage at this year’s Headies if he’s able to gather the highest nomination votes from fans.

Members of the public have been given the chance to nominate talented upcoming artistes to perform on stage at the annual music industry ahow, The Headies, in a competition tagged Headies 2015 Rookie contest.

Voting will open for three weeks subsequently on www.theheadies.com.

Michael Jackson was renowned for in his works repeatedly to the extent that it earned him the sobriquet of “Mr. Passion” from the audience.

The twenty-one housemates who were placed in a group of seven comprising 3 members were deliberately left without choreographers. They were to train themselves on Michael Jackson dance steps.

Surprisingly, they stunned the judges, Peter Okoye of P-Square, Dance Queen, Kaffy, and Choreographer, Don Flexx, with electrifying body moves.

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8 November, 2015

sundayzest

Sunday Tribune

With Victory Oyeleke victoryoyeleke@yahoo.com

UK Immigration raids send huge number of Nigerians to deportation centres

W

ITHOUT doubt, the United Kingdom is a favourable migration destination, especially for those from commonwealth. Up until the Immigration Act of 1971, Commonwealth citizens had an automatic right to remain in the UK. The implementation of the Act caused the lost of that right and started the downward spiral of migrant’s constraint albeit very slow because the UK is still catching up with the rest of Europe when it comes to policing and monitory illegal migration.

A 2009 study carried out for London Mayor Boris Johnson estimated that the UK had 618,000 “irregular” residents - including children - with London accounting for about 70%. But the campaign group Migration Watch says a figure of 1.1 million is “more plausible”.

Unlike countries like Germany and the Netherlands, where you have to carry papers showing your immigration status with you at all times, there is no such requirement in the UK where monitoring of illegal migrants is very lax.

The laxity of monitoring migration created a favourable environment for Illegal migrants to flourish. They walk freely regardless of their status, engage in businesses and seek employment by presenting bogus papers and since the UK’s system is not structured to counter such papers, some illegal immigrants work and live even better than those with the right papers.

However, since 1999, the UK government has become proactive in curtailing the freedom of illegal immigrants. Changes to im-

migration law have created more than 84 new immigration-related crimes for which offenders can be prosecuted. The period between 1999 and 2014 witnessed the fastest and largest expansion of the list of immigration crimes since 1905.

This expansion also gave new powers to immigration officers and created collaboration between law enforcement agencies, which once operated independently of each other.

“Stop and search” or “stop and check” are carried out by both the police and UK border agency. Early morning raids are carried out on properties where suspected illegals live, and workplace raids are done on company suspected of employing illegal workers.

These impromptu raids have seen a significant number of Nigerians uprooted from the life they are used to and placed in unfavourable circumstances when they are deported to Nigeria.

A recent claim made by the acting Nigeria High Commissioner in London, Olukunle Bamgbose to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during his visit to London in October has left many terrified.

“I think about 29,000 Nigerians have been designated to be deported. We are insisting that due process must be followed before Nigerians are really removed from the UK to Nigeria,” he said.

While 29,000 is a large number, when the whole figure of 1.1million illegal migrant is considered, it is merely a dent and the UK government cannot deport all 29,000 people issued with deportation orders if due process

is strictly followed.

In 2014, 38,767 people were deported from the UK and Nigerians made 5.4% at 2086.

Deportees have the right to challenge the Home Office’s decision to deport them and if sufficient evidence is provided to support the appeal, the decision could be reversed.

How to challenge a UK deportation order The Home Office justifies deportation on the grounds that it is for the public good and outweighs the interest of the deportee.

However, those with protection need, human right case, or EU treaty rights cannot be deported if it breaches the deportee’s right under the human rights Act 1998.

Deportation can also be challenged if it would breach UK’s obligation under the European Convention on Human Rights (article 3 or 8) or the Refugee Convention.

Those with pending asylum claim (unless it has been decided the UK is not responsible for your asylum claim under the Dublin Regulations) cannot be deported.

Deportees who have submitted further evidence to be considered as a fresh claim and a decision has not been made on this yet. The Home Office would have to show they have considered these and rejected them before they can deport.

If your EU treaty rights would be breached, (EEA citizens have considerable freedom of movement within the EU) you do not have to be a EEA citizen yourself to enjoy EU treaty rights – there are cases when your partner’s, child’s or other family member’s rights might prevent your de-

portation.

Deportation cannot be carried out where the deportee has serious mental health issues.

In cases where due process has not been followed, deportation can be challenged however, for this to be tenable, the deportee must be knowledgeable about the proper procedure so as to recognise when it has not been followed.

The age of the deportee is taken into consideration before deportation but if the deportee is being deported on the basis of a criminal conviction, but was under 18 at the time of conviction, (although the Home Office may have grounds to use administrative removal if you do not have any leave to remain) there was grounds for appeal.

From here on, things are set to get worse for both illegal and legal migrants who are yet to regulate their stay. The new immigration Bill 2015/2016 still making its rounds in the House of Commons is set to tighten loopholes even further.

The bill is set to give landlords the power to evict tenants without the right to live in the UK. The 2014 Immigration Act already gives them the right to check the immigration status of intending tenants.

Under the new bill, illegal workers would have their bank accounts frozen and wages seized by the government as proceeds from a crime.

Illegal migrants will also have restricted access to services such as the NHS, foreign criminals will be electronically tagged, deport first and appeal later will be applicable to all undocumented migrants.

24

Sunday Tribune

8 November, 2015

makeover

Rita Okonoboh 08053789087 rosarumese@gmail.com

Photo: www.bjamunique.com

By Oluwatomisin Akingbolu

S

HOES, in their various types, shapes and sizes, have evolved overtime, from being simple protection for the feet, to a stylish way of making a statement about the legs, as well as an individual’s personality. According to www.northampton.gov. uk, on the history of shoes, “The simplest way to protect feet was to grab what was handy-bark, large leaves and grass - and tie them under the foot with vines.

In hot countries, this developed into the sandal made from woven palms, grass or plant fibres and attached to the foot with toe loops.

“The 20th Century saw a variety of shoe styles and the rise of the shoe designer. From 1920s bar shoes to 1930s co-respondent two-colour shoes to 1940s utility styles to 1950s brothel creepers to 1960s winklepickers and stiletto heels to 1970s platform soles, shoe designers were prominent throughout the 20th Century.”

Finding the right pair of shoes may seem like a simple task, but with the advent of specialised footwear for a host of activities, it is becoming a chore to pick the right fit when it comes to footwear. Below are some ideas that may help one select the best shoes for particular needs: Know the occasion Before picking a nice pair of shoes, identify the activity you want to attend while wearing your shoes. It would be out of place to wear flat sandals for a formal outing or flats for a dinner event. Know exactly what the event is about before picking the shoe to fit.

Check for comfort If you’re not physically present when the shoes are being purchased, measure your feet

SHOE CHART

Photo: www.asktheshoelady.com

Finding the right

pair of shoes to determine your shoe size. It helps to have a general idea of what your shoe size is. Also, look out for comfort when you pick

shoes. It is normal for one to expect that new shoes may feel uncomfortable when worn for the first time but it is best to try

them out around the house first before stepping out. This helps to ensure that the ankle gets the necessary support and helps the legs to work better.

Know the material Check the soles of the shoes to ascertain the material it is made from before settling for the pair.

Note that soft-soled shoes are quiet to move around with and cause less distraction than hard soles which are generally disturbing. For the upper part of the shoes, check to ascertain the type of leather so you’d know if it would last outdoors, especially under intense heat or extremely cold weather.

Consider heel height No matter how beautiful the shoes seem on someone else, al-

Tip

Photo: www.alphaxymagazine.com

Do not overpluck your eyebrows else you’d risk looking like a cartoon character.

Patronise an expert.

ways test the height of the heels by walking around in them for a while to be sure that they are comfortable. Considering that women have different builds, remember that shoes that seem graceful on one woman might just seem awkward on another.

Check for durability Ensure that you check the stitching and finishing of the shoes to determine how long they would last. Feel along the edges, look inside and even check where the straps are sewn into the main body of the shoe to determine just how durable the shoes will be.

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8 November, 2015

relationships

Sunday Tribune

Rita Okonoboh 08053789087 rosarumese@gmail.com

. . . issues, family, sex

Photo: Sony Columbia

remarks.”

How fathers can set examples for sons

B

EING the perfect example, especially for children, is no easy task and for fathers, it may be just as hard. Children tend to look up to parents and it behoves on fathers to set wonderful images for their sons. As Frank Herbert puts it, “what is the son but an extension of the father.”

According to popular writer, Ross Bonander, “Kids don’t miss a thing. As a consequence, a father is like a walking “how-to article” written for his children to follow (this is especially true if he has a son or sons). They watch you and they mimic your behaviour, so being a father who sets a good example may, depending on the many habits you’ve developed over the years, require you to change the manner in which you do and say many things.”

Bonander shares a few tips that fathers can learn from on being role models for their sons: Measure your words Depending on upbringing and personal interests, a man may have a certain way he speaks with his wife, but watch that you’re

Random Fact

doing it right because the son is bound to copy that, even if he understands it or not.

As Bonander puts it, “You and your spouse have a rapport and share a language your child may not understand, but this won’t prevent him from copying it. Maybe you’re extremely sarcastic with one another – and that’s fine, but it might not be if your child develops that tone as well, since it could be disrespectful.”

Watch your actions Going by the popular saying, “Do as I say, not as I do,” may fly for preachers but usually not where children are involved. “It will be very difficult to convince your child to get annual physicals, eat well, exercise, and listen to and respect his mother and other adults when these are things you openly do not do yourself.

“To get an idea of what kind of an example you’re setting, examine specific aspects of your own lifestyle and behaviour. Your child is always watching you and is bound to mimic you in ways you could never imagine. This doesn’t mean that sleeping late on a Saturday to work off a hangover,

A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences. —Dave Meurer

will spur those precise responses, but they may encourage overindulgence and impulsive behaviour.”

Check your friends Friends play an important role in a person’s life, and for fathers, it is no different.

The friends a man keeps, “offer your child other examples, and as the father, it is your job to see that your friends reinforce the example you’re trying to set, and not diminish it with crude language or inappropriate

If you partied a bit back in the day, but never had any bad experiences with alcohol or marijuana, this certainly doesn’t mean you can’t, in good conscience, advise your child against drug use and dole out the discipline accordingly.

Don’t feel like a hypocrite “Being a father is not about atoning for all the things you’ve done wrong, it is about teaching your child the difference between right and wrong — a difference that, by way of experience, you understand and are qualified to impart to your child. Your past doesn’t restrict you as a father, it informs you.

“If you partied a bit back in the day, but never had any bad experiences with alcohol or marijuana, this certainly doesn’t mean you can’t, in good conscience, advise your child against drug use and dole out the discipline accordingly. There is nothing hypocritical about it; you are guiding your child through these formative years so that they will develop into happy, welladjusted adults. In the effort to set a good example for your child you may find yourself doing or saying things you would not normally do or say, but this is OK. After all, your child’s future is at stake.”

Focus less on your mistakes No human is infallible, and as a father, there will be mistakes. The important thing is not to dwell so much on it.

“There will be far too many occasions when your child is witness to you setting a bad example. Maybe, after a long day, you lost your temper and began shouting obscenities and acting unreasonable, and maybe (at the extreme end) you even exchanged a few punches with somebody.

“Should you admit to your child that you set a bad example and that your behaviour was wrong and should not be encouraged? We don’t think so.

Rather, if your child brings it up, yes, you should definitely address it. If your child does not bring it up, however, it might be best if you said nothing and used the experience as an opportunity to reflect on yourself, and on what steps you’re going to take to see that it does not happen again. And something like it will probably happen again. No father is perfect, but he should strive to be as perfect a role model as he can be for his child.”

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8 November, 2015

With Akintayo Abodunrin akinjaa03@yahoo.co.uk 08111813058

Nigeria, Ghana strengthen ties with joint production workshop Nigeria and Ghana begin a new chapter in their cultural relations with a joint workshop/performance in Lagos

T

HE existing bilateral relations between Nigeria and Ghana received a boost on Monday, October 26 when the National Troupe of Nigeria and the National Theatre of Ghana had a joint workshop/performance in Lagos.

The event held at the National Theatre, Iganmu, saw the hosts and their guests interacting on all areas of performance - music, dance, drama and poetry - with the clincher being the staging of two plays, ‘Fire Storm’ brought by the Ghanaians and ‘Nigha’ developed from the workshop.

Monday’s joint workshop/performance was the first step in the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier by the National Troupe of Ghana with both the University of Ilorin (where it staged a production to mark the institution’s 40th anniversary) and the National Troupe of Nigeria. Though Nigeria’s Troupe ought to have been the first to travel to Ghana in September going by the terms of the MOU, logistic issues, especially those arising from the transition to a new administration, altered the plan. But since the Ghanaians were in town for the University of Ilorin convocation, both parties decided to kick start the process in Nigeria.

“The whole idea behind it [collaboration] is to work together to change the way African theatre as a whole is perceived. Because European theatre is segmented unlike African theatre; it’s really hard for them to evaluate what we do because we don’t separate dance from drama, and from music. So, we need to come together, build an understanding of what it means to have African theatre so that worldwide, we will have an impact; we will be appreciated,” Acting Executive Director, National Theatre of Ghana and leader of the delegation, Amy Appiah Frimpong, explained prior to the staging of the plays.

She further disclosed that the collaboration is not limited to productions alone as it includes exchanges. “That’s why the Univer-

A scene from the Ghanaian play. sity of Ilorin is also part of it so that there is an educational and research component,” Frimpong said.

The Executive Director also assured of the sustainability of the agreement, reiterating that, “this is not a one-off thing. If we do it once and we stop, we have lost the battle.

It’s ongoing, we all need to commit to it and money or not we are going to do this. Our government should support us; they should know that this is just the beginning and no matter what happens, we are going to continue the journey.”

Also speaking, Artistic Director of the National Troupe, Mr. Akin Adejuwon, said the collaboration is part of the body’s mandate to represent Nigeria globally in the culture arena and that it would further cement the relationship between both countries. “As the Customer Relations Department of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the National Troupe of Nigeria is also building upon the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari who visited Ghana and our other neighbors immediately after his inauguration. Besides, arts and culture is one of the most neutral and veritable platforms upon which rela-

tionships are built in the world today. In the global fora there is no other arm of the government that is stronger than culture. The deployment of performing arts is one of the crucial tools that we are using for nurturing Ghana-Nigeria relationship and that’s apart from the fact that I also want these two very critical nations to the development of Africa to showcase their gifts to the world.”

Adejuwon who also led the National Troupe to stage ‘Iba’ at UNIILORIN’s convocation, assured that the agreement will be sustained and his artistes will visit Ghana in the first quarter of 2016.

Director of Drama, National Troupe, Ms. Josephine Igberease, who coordinated the workshop and directed ‘Nigha’ also hailed the collaboration. “The world is a global village now; borders are just demarcations between people. You cannot live in isolation; I would love to work with the Guinea Ballet, I would love to work with Umoja.

The arts has gone global, you need to know what your colleagues are doing so you can improve. Collaboration helps build capacity, helps build your organisation, and keeps you abreast of global trends.”

AFRIFF 2015 begins today JONAS Carpignano’s ‘Mediterranea’ and Genevieve Nnaji’s ‘Road to Yesterday’ have been announced as the opening and closing films of this year’s Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) which begins today in Lagos.

Some 180 films will be screened free at three cinemas; Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Lekki, and City Mall Cinema, Onikan in the course of the festival which ends next Sunday.

“Films are documentaries of the life and history of a people. The things you read in the

papers or see on TV about the situations in Egypt, Syria, Mali, Iran, and South Africa for example are better reflected, as captured by filmmakers from these countries,” said Afie Braimoh, AFRIFF’s Director of Operations.

She disclosed that to see the films, people are merely required to register at www.afriff.com or at the venue of their choice, prior to the screenings of the films.

“Details of the film schedules are already on the website. Those interested would only need to check titles and the venue that is closer to them. It’s a bumper harvest, as we

have about 180 films from Africa and the Diaspora,” added Festival Manager, Ikenna Ezenyirioha.

Apart from screenings, the festival will also feature industry sessions and workshops for filmmakers, students and journalists. One of the sessions is the NOLLYFUND Industry Engagement with the Bank of Industry on Tuesday, November 10 by 3pm at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island. The forum is expected to provide a platform for filmmakers and staff members of the bank to interact on the BoI NollyFund (BNF).

Evidently still a work in progress, ‘Nigha’ opens in a market with buyers and sellers haggling while a preacher and his female interpreter add to the noise. Suddenly, there is bedlam as a thief grabs a bag containing money and takes to his heels. The concerned trader and her sympathizers are yet to get over the shock when the town’s policeman walks into the market. The crowd pounces on him immediately because of his resemblance to the thief, not bothering to check his attire.

He is arrested with the mob calling for his execution but his rival for the vacant kingship stool pleads that he should be spared to witness his coronation. Unknown to the community, he is the one who arranged for the policeman’s twin brother to come and steal money from the market to implicate his rival. His evil plot is exposed during the coronation ceremony as the policeman’s mother brings out his twin who reveals his arrangement with his brother’s rival.

Parading artistes from both countries, ‘Nigha’ featured much singing and dancing with Igberease disclosing that the countries will refine the play and tour Africa with it in the future.

Written by Sackey Sowah and directed by Grace Adinku with music by John Edmundson Sam, ‘Fire Storm’ centres on the plight of women in a Ghanaian village. Young maidens are seen as chattel and have no say in their choice of husbands. Early marriages and its attendant health complications are also rife but a young lady; EFfah opts to buck the trend. She rejects the husband chosen for her by her father and is happy to be disowned by him. She starts a rebellion by gathering girls of like minds with whom she is eventually banished from the village

by Nana, the king.

Effah and her colleagues settle not far away from the village and become freedom fighters of sorts. They come to the rescue of oppressed girls but over step their boundary by returning to the village, despite being warned they would be killed if they ever set foot in the community again to rescue a girl. Nana sends his guards to bring them back to the village and sentences Effah to death.

The Queen, who all along has been sympathizing with Effah warns Nana against executing the girl saying she would poison herself but he refuses. Effah is killed and the Queen also poisons herself. Ravaged by grief, Nana declares that girls should henceforth be allowed to marry their choices and is still mourning when his wife reappears.

The Queen had staged Effah’s death and the hitherto distraught Nana is overjoyed to see both his wife and the girl alive.

Though an advocacy play, ‘Fire Storm’ didnot lack the elements of real African theatre- drama, music and poetry. The costumes were colourful and appropriate, while the actors were competent. Sadly, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria which took the light for about 20 minutes was the only blot on the excellent production.

27

arts&culture

8 November, 2015

Paul Obazele announces dates for Legends of Nollywood Awards THE 2015 Legends of Nollywood Awards (LNA) will hold on December 11 and 12 in Benin City, Edo State, founder, Paul Obazele, has disclosed.

Obazele, who is also Managing Director, Royal Pictures Limited, explained that apart from rewarding deserving practitioners for their contributions to the growth of Nollywood, the awards will celebrate the less

Sarah will chase the thieves to Lagos

By Toyin Akinosho

Sarah Chayes SARAH Chayes will be talking to the major issues in her monumental book on corruption as a highlight of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF). The American writer and activist is the author of ‘Thieves of State, Why Corruption Threatens Global Security.’

She will be comparing notes on how the greed network wreaks havoc on the planet with Tom Burgis, author of ‘The Looting Machine’ at Freedom Park in the afternoon of Sunday, November 15.

The central thesis of Chayes’ book is that corruption-whether in the form of diverting money from the budget into acquiring private jets or giving bribes to tax officials to under estimate your assessment-threatens global security. The terror of Boko Haram grew in Nigeria, for instance, in part because money for weapons went into private purses. Now it has spilled over into Cameroon and has involved American intelligence, the French army and South African mercenaries.

Chayes was a radio reporter in Afghanistan – where she lived for almost a decade after 9/11 – and this is where the context for the book came. Chayes left journalism to work for an NGO run by President Hamid Karzai’s older brother Qayum, and then set up a co-operative that made soap. But – unlike most westerners – she lived with Afghans. “I lived with regular people, I had no barbed wire, no sandbags,” she told Tom Lewis of The Guardian of London.

She added about Nigeria in that interview: “$20bn (£13bn) went missing from the oil revenues in an 18-month period, according to the former governor of the country’s central bank. So that’s $20bn not being spent on infrastructure, healthcare, education. But when the UK spends development pounds in that environment, not only are they capturing your development money but you’re also making up for a deliberate non-investment on the part of that host government. And similarly, I wonder how much dirty Nigerian money is sloshing around London” Now a senior associate in the Democracy and Rule of Law Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Sarah’s session with Burgis at LABAF is entitled ‘Collusion Of The Greedy.’ It runs from 3pm to 4.30pm at the Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park on November 15.

privileged and physically challenged.

The former President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) also disclosed that organizers will be taking relief materials to the International Christian Center (ICC) Home for the Needy, Uhogua, Edo State currently housing internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the insurgency in the North East.

On this year’s awardees, Director of Operations of the awards, Zack, Orji, disclosed that 28 legends will receive the LNA crest this year. Some of those to be honored include Hajiya Latana Ahmed, Bimbo Manuel, Yinka Ogundaisi, Wale Fanu, Tunde Oloyede, Laolu Ogunniyi, John Nwaobi, Louis Adejumo, Aso Douglas, Sola Fosudo, Zulu Adigwe, Ralph Nwadike, Ramsey Nouah and Opa Williams.

Others are Sunday Omobolanle, Ayo Mogaji, Yinka Davies, Sani Muazu, Ngozi Nwosu, Bourdillon Bodio, Chris Obi Rapu, Alhaji Kasimu Yaro, Kunle Bamtefa, Dr. Ola Balogun, Danladi Bako Spacs, Mr Sunny Irabor, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Paul Obazele Aside the honourees, 10 veterans have also been selected by the organizing committee and Nigerians to interact with the less privileged, physically challenged and internally displaced persons. They are Kanayo O. Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor, Zack Orji, Ramson Noah, Omotola Jolade, Charles Inojie, Desmond Elliot, John Okafor (Mr. Ibu), Eunice Omoregie and Johnbull Eghiauriwa.

The tale of Agbalujala returns FOLLOWING the warm reception of its Tales from the days of Old: A folktale evening where it presented ‘The Tale of Agbalujala’, GCUE Promotions has announced dates for the show in November.

According to Tanho Attah, the company’s 10-person crew will present the riveting story on November 14 and 28 at Niger Palace Hotel, 1, Thorburn Avenue, Yaba, Lagos.

The debut show held at the same venue on October 10 was well attended by private guests and newsmen. It featured a series of interactive performances by the audience and a story-telling session by Femi Famutimi, a story teller and script developer.

Disclosing why he is revisiting folktalesas a means of entertainment, Attah said “I grew up watching ‘Tales By Moonlight’ and I learnt a lot from the series; I learnt not to be greedy, and in business, I come across a lot of people and see that a lot of these values are being eroded and I felt that since this is my field, I could remind people how it feels to care, to be honest.”

Road to Yesterday: Showcasing diversity in Nollywood

Oris Erhuero and Genevieve Nnaji in ‘Road to Yesterday’.

Genevieve Nnaji’s first feature film experiments with a style rarely seen in Nollywood

M

OVIE buffs are going to have a lot to mull over on November 27 when A-list actress, Genevieve Nnaji’s first feature film, ‘Road to Yesterday’ opens in cinemas nationwide. A well made film with fantastic acting from the likes of Nigerian-British actor, Oris Erhuero, Majid Michel, Chioma Omeruah and Ebele Okaro among others, the talking point is going to centre on the plot and treatment of the story by scriptwriter and director, Ishaya Bako.

Set in Lagos, the movie is about a troubled couple desirous of mending their almost broken marriage. Of course, it is all loveydovey between Izu (Oris Erhuero) and Victoria (Genevieve) initially until cracks began to appear in their marriage.

The upwardly mobile couple with a fiveyear-old daughter, however, decides to use the opportunity of a road trip to a relation’s funeral in the East to talk things over and attempt to salvage their marriage. Sadly, things don’t go as expected dark secrets

from the past are unearthed, threatening not only the union but also their lives.

Though commendable, the decision of Bako, who is making his debut as a feature film director to employ parallel universes in telling the story, may confuse some viewers.

And though not 100 per cent successful, the experiment hints at Bako’s courage and talent as it is a style rarely used in Nollywood.

Though there are also minor irritants of continuity that may annoy those very familiar with the Lagos landscape, ‘Road to Yesterday’ is a movie to watch, especially with its impressive technical quality.

Speaking at the exclusive media screening of the movie last week at Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Lekki, Bako admitted that making ‘Road To Yesterday’ was an interesting experience. He disclosed that he was surprised when Genevieve called him in February and said she felt he was the right person to direct the movie.

“I would say I am blessed with a very fantastic cast, crew and people that were very dedicated to creating a story like this. It is not really an everyday story which was really risky but at the end of the day, we tried to stay true to the story. I hope people don’t find it confusing,” Bako said in recalling the production experience.

Regional Director, Mnet Africa Magic, Wangi Mba-Uzokwu, described ’Road To Yesterday’ as a brilliant production. “At Africa Magic, this is part of what we do. We invest in talent; we invest back in the industry.

One of our focuses is building an industry, obviously starting from Nollywood in Nigeria and then going out to the rest of Africa.

We are really proud to be a part of this exciting project. There are different spins on how we tell our stories and this is how we want to project how Nollywood should evolve. We saw it as it was developing and decided to partner in a co-production capacity and it is something that we will keep doing,” she stated.

Co-producer, Chinny Onwugbenu, also spoke on why she partnered Genevieve on the project she admitted was risky and unorthodox. She said, “We are proud of Road to Yesterday. I think it is a way to tell the African story now because we do experience love, heartbreaks and difficulties in marriages. We made sure to invest in Nollywood because it is an industry of art and craft. We can’t lose our art because we want to be commercial; diversity is important in Nollywood because we are being predictable. We have to challenge our writers and encourage people to think outside the box.”

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Sunday Tribune

8 November, 2015

glamour

2

Reasons celebrities’ marriages crumble — Biodun Stephen Oladigbo

Biodun Stephen Oladigbo is a woman of many parts. She is a writer, film-maker, a radio host, an entrepreneur, a wife and mother. In this interview with TAYO GESINDE in Lagos, the graduate of Philosophy from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Osun State, speaks on her love for writing, the Nigerian movie industry and her fashion preferences. Excerpts:

G

Growing up ROWING up was interesting. I had a mother who took care of me, who did her best to provide for us and gave us good education. She gave us a good life. Actually she passed on along the way but growing up was altogether interesting. I cherish those memories and experiences.

Foray into acting.

I studied Philosophy at the university. I wanted to study Theatre Arts but my mother at that time thought of what one could possibly do with a course like that, so I had to go and study philosophy. I have always had a thing for Theatre Arts so after school, I went to London Academy for Film and TV to study Film Production and Screen Writing.

Before then, I had worked in radio station and did a bit of screen writing. In 2012, I came back to Nigeria, in 2015, we produced our first movie, The Visit, which was powered by Coker Studio. It is doing very well at the moment. That is my very first effort at producing. Before work on ‘The Visit’ was concluded, I had written a script called ‘Birth-mark’ which was produced by Rock Studios, I was the associate producer.

Right now, I am producing a script that I wrote, Thirty Minutes, a TV Series. That is about it. I am very excited about The Visit because the original story was written by me. The reviews have been great.

Challenges faced When I joined Nollywood, I wanted to be an actress, but being a six footer, they said it was difficult to pair me with people. So it was hard getting roles. I did one or two movies but eventually, I went into production. The challenge in production is someone believing in you and just getting someone to give you that first chance. I have been quite lucky. I have been able to prove myself. And that is it.

Role models I would say people that I admire would include Emem Isong, Mildred Okwo, who are women in the industry that are trying to tell a different kind of story. Uche Jombo and Kunle Afolayan, who goes above and beyond to ensure that his films are at par with the international standard. Those are the people I look up to and hope that someday, my name will be on that list as well.

On how to improve on the qualities of Nollywood movies I think while it is true that there are many low quality films that are available in the market today, we also have some re-

ally good quality productions. Unfortunately, the good ones are lost in between. What we can do to improve on the quality of our production is to have governmental support. There should also be a reorientation for the producers themselves.

Not having to look for a shortcut but try hard to make a good film. Yes, it is no mean feat to make a good film. You spend time and resources but it will be worth the while at the end of the day. Also, proper structure should be put in place, all these can contribute to making a good film.

Strengths and weaknesses My weakness is that I want to try everything and it affects my focus. My strength would include tenacity and drive.

Once I am locked on an idea, I really want to see it to the end and hope that I don’t get distracted by something new.

Also, I am a good manager of people and a dreamer. I have big dreams and I want to achieve a lot.

Definition of style Style to me is not a trend but what you create and make your own. It is setting a trend that you can call your own and that people will want to copy and emulate. Whenever I want to buy my fashion items, I go for quality as against labels.

Fashion fetish Bags, bags and bags!

Favourite designers I actually don’t have a favourite of anything. Any designer that makes clothes for big women like me, I like!

Opinion on toning I am not against toning. Bleaching is more like what I am against. There are consequences but hey, if one chooses to bleach or radically tone, as long as they can deal with the outcome, negative or positive, I guess it is up to them. However, a little toning of the skin colour is not harmful.

On provocative dressing

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With Tayo Gesinde temiligali03@yahoo.com 0805 472 7801

Combining my career with the home front It has been an easy ride and that is because I have a husband who relates with my passion and aspiration and he supports me hundred per cent. When I am free, I do make myself available and spend quality time with my family.

How I handle advances from men It comes, but I know where I draw the line.

Why celebrities’ marriages crumble Personally, I think two reasons celebrities’ marriages crumble are as a result of communication and expectation.

Sometimes the partner expects some things from his/her spouse now that they are married but when your career is blossoming as an actor, you want to do more so as to remain relevant. So, it has to do more with over expectation and assumption as well as communication. I think they need to talk things through. Talk about your five years and 10 years plan because you are getting married to someone who will always not be around, whose schedule can be crazy and you will still want to raise your family. The actor too needs to draw a line between her career and family because with or without children, once you are married, you also need to think about your family before taking a job. You also need to prioritise what is important and what is not. These are reasons marriages don’t work.

What I like doing to my hair The comfortable way I can manage my hair is to wash, cut and dye. I have been playing with a couple of dying colours; pink, red, purple and I think I will try blue soon. Keep it short and at times I might try and wear some weaves but most times, I keep it short

Philosophy of life On my radio programme, ‘Whispers’ we say; love God, love someone and love yourself. Also, I am guided by a reminder that says that I am made for more, I can be more.

This motto urges me to do more.

Beauty regimen My beauty regimen pretty much revolves around exfoliation of the face and skin. I try to do that as often as I can.

Sunday Tribune

Provocation is in the eye of the beholder. Do I dress provocatively or allow my ward to dress so? Lailai. However, dress provocatively if you can live with the catcalls, eyeballs and the upturned nose, but I do believe that moderation isn’t such a bad thing. Dress for the occasion, not undress for the occasion.

can never say never. I may decide to do it 20 years down the line to do a tuck. I am not going to be a hypocrite and say I am totally against it. Sometimes, it does help in one way or the other.

My view on cosmetic surgery I am not against cosmetic surgery. If the need warrants it, why not? For instance, if you have a broken nose, you can do it. But if you want to do liposuction or breast enlargement, if you can deal with the consequence, then go ahead and do it. I have dreamt about having a lip tucked here and there, but I have thought about it and asked myself, can I do it?

Am I ready to do it? I don’t think I am ready to do it. But I

What I won’t be caught dead wearing.

Lycra.

Special treat Shopping, shopping, and shopping. It is therapeutic.

Advice to young people.

Stay focused. Channel your energy towards productive things. Work towards being relevant. Having a relevant voice and not making noise. Embracing the journey to success and riches is not a shortcut, it is a tedious and long journey and therein lies the experience and that experience is what you can share and inspire someone.

Assessment of the Nigerian fashion industry It is growing. The world is paying us attention, they want to see what is next. Nigerian fashion, I dare say is on the world map. We are fashionable and the world has noticed it.

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aspire

8 November, 2015

BY OLAIDE SOKOYA 0807 449 7425 (sms only)

BB pin: 55CBFA49

How to improve your sales

T

HE ability to sell someone something - whether it's a product, a service, or an idea - is the fundamental skill at the core of many, many jobs in the business world (especially ones with commissionbased pay). When it comes to closing a sale, it's not all about smooth-talking your buyer. It's just as important to be able to listen intently, think critically, and to intelligently apply effective sales techniques. By doing these things, not only will your personal sales increase - your business's will as well Satisfy your customer Above all else, try to keep your customer happy and satisfied. Humans aren't perfectly logical creatures - if someone likes you, they're more likely to buy from you, regardless of the deal you're offering. Be friendly, charming, and open with your customer. Give her peace of mind. Whatever your customer is looking for, that's what you should try to provide.

Listen It's pretty difficult to satisfy a customer if you don't know what she wants - luckily, most of the time, all you'll have to do to figure this out is to simply listen. This isn't hard - at the beginning of your pitch, ask a customer what you can help with and let the customer describe her problem or desire. Once you know what she wants, you'll be able to decide which products, services, etc. best meet her needs.

Don't just listen to what a customer says - try to pay attention to how she says it in terms of facial expressions, body language, etc. If, for instance, a customer seems impatient or tense, you'll know that you can probably satisfy him by offering him a quick, easy solution to his problem, rather than giving him a lengthy sales pitch for your whole range of products.

Give your full attention When a customer is considering making a purchase, you want to give the impression that you're available to fulfill any needs or answer any questions that may arise. You don't want to give the impression that you're distracted or that you're attending to your customer as an afterthought.

Whenever possible, interact with customers on a personal, one-to-one basis, returning to your other duties only when the job is done.

Demonstrate your product/service's value When it comes to convincing a reluctant customer to make a purchase, flowery, glowing praise for your product or service is only going to get you so far. To really get the customer on your side, show your customer how the thing

you're selling will make their life better. Whether it will save them money and time, give them peace of mind, or simply make them feel good, make sure your customer understands exactly how the item you're selling benefits him in real, practical terms.

An old saying goes, "Sell the benefit, not the product." Focus on what your product or service allows your customer to do, rather than on the product itself.

Know your field Customers like buying from salespeople who seem knowledgeable without being condescending. Be a friendly resource for your customer. Ideally, not only should you know the products and/or services you're selling like the back of your hand, but also those of your competitors. If you know this information, you'll be able to make comparisons that cast your product or service in the best light possible and your competitors' in a less favorable light. You'll also be able to intuitively recommend certain products based on your customer's unique situation.

Close It's relatively easy to get a customer to like a product, but your commission ultimately depend on whether your customers buy your products, which is another matter entirely.

Try to get a commitment from customers the same day you first meet them - a customer that leaves the store to "think about it" might not come back. If a customer is reluctant to make a purchase immediately, try to sweeten the deal - offer a minor discount or "throw in" extra bonuses in exchange for a customer's commitment.

Build relationships with your customers Customers that feel that they've been respected and satisfied by a business are likely to give it a good review to their friends and may even return for future purchases.

Building happy, respectful relationships with customers is a great way to give yourself a long-term sales boost. Try to genuinely connect with customers - when all's said and done, even if it can be tempting to think of customers as nothing more than numbers on a balance sheet, remember that these are real people with real emotions and that nearly all of them appreciate human warmth.

Create the impression of urgency Most customers, whether they're conscious of it or not, hate the idea of missing out on a good deal. Giving the impression that, by passing on a sale, your customer is missing a special offer or a limited-time deal is one of the oldest, most effective tricks in the book for getting reluctant customers off the fence.

Culled from www.WikiHow

Your Life Counts

Sunday Tribune

by Tunde Jaiyebo 0803 406 2013

Leadership and vision clarity(II)

LAST time we began looking at the importance of clarity for a leader. For a leader clarity is of utmost importance. The leader must have a clear vision of where he wants to get to.

“The very first task of leadership is to set the vision for the organization. If you don’t set the vision, you’re not the leader.” Rick Warren The leader is a man who sees the future even though he lives in today. He has a picture of the future where he is leading his organization to. “Management has a lot to do with answers. Leadership is a function of questions. And the first question for a leader always is: ‘Who do we intend to be?’ Not ‘What are we going to do?’ but ‘Who do we intend to be?’ - Max DePree A leader must not just have a vision but must also bring clarity to the vision. A clearly defined and articulated vision is the reference point by which people become motivated to get involved with the leader.

“The very essence of leadership is [that] you have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” Theodore Hesburgh Lack of clarity is the Achilles heels of many leaders and organizations. A disoriented and disconnected leaders causes his followers to be disillusioned, discouraged and this eventually leads to dissociation from the leader and the organization. Clarity is simply an expression of the what, why, and how of the vision. There has to be illumination on the vision. The leader must know what he is out to do and be able to share it with others. Clarity is the key that will unlock exactly what needs to be done, what and who to look for.

People can detect if there is clarity of vision or not.

This will be evident by the presence or absence of precision. A leader with a clear vision knows and his followers also know precisely what needs to be done.

Everything said and done will align with and revolve round the vision.

When there is clarity, it will show in the attitude of the leader to deal with distraction. Clarity provides focus – everybody knows exactly what needs to be done and this will propel passion in the team. Each member knows his role in the vision and where the organization is headed to.

Clarity of the vision creates a picture of the future that inspires followership. A clear vision makes people know upfront what to expect by joining or associating with the organization. This is a critical key that motivates people to be passionately involved and render quality service. Everybody wants to get involved in something worthwhile. Clarity of the vision, therefore, will provoke enthusiasm, excitement and energy from people. It makes them see possibility of the future. A clear vision gives everybody a visual image of what the leader is out to do and what their role is. Clarity of vision is a critical ingredient to strategic planning as it helps the whole team to set boundaries and parameters of operations. Everybody knows what matter most.

“You have to know what you want. And if it seems to take you off the track, don’t hold back, because perhaps that is instinctively where you want to be. And if you hold back and try to be always where you have been before, you will go dry.” Gertrude Stein Effective leadership demands that the leader must see the vision better than others. He must see clearer.

He must be able to see the wood from the trees. “Fast drivers can see no further than slow drivers, but they must look further down the road to time their reactions safely. Similarly, people with great projects afoot habitually look further and more clearly into the future than people who are mired in day-to-day concerns.”

Robert Grudin.

For enquiries/comments please send email to urlifecounts@yahoo.com

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8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

thepolity Biafra resurgence: Ndigbo and the Nigerian question

JUDE OSSAI and MOSES ALAO take a look at the resurgence in the clamour for the Republic of Biafra by some groups and its implications for the country’s unity.

President Muhammadu Buhari

T

O the man in the street, the recent renewed agitation for an independent state of Biafra might appear like a drop in an ocean, as the majority of the Igbo ethnic nationality of the South-East geopolitical zone, it would be argued, are indifferent to the clamour for a separate nation. But for the informed political watchers, who understand the dynamics of politics, nothing is exactly as it appears. The renewed clamour for Biafra being championed by the now shut Radio Biafra and its arrowhead, Nnamdi Kanu, as well as the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) led by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, they would concur, is potentially a still water whose depth is rather unknown.

For people in this category, the Federal Government might be facing a delicate issue that must be handled with every sense of responsibility and care, given the grave implications of the agitation for self-governance portend for the country’s political wellbeing and survival. According to those in this school of thought, the renewed agitation for Biafra should not be treated with a kid’s glove or in a brash and brutish manner, as the government has been doing with MASSOB. The government, they reasoned, should, as a matter of urgency, raise questions on what might have led to the latest round of agitations, especially going by the fact that such an agitation had brought the country to the brink of disintegration in the late 60s, when the late Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, following the reprisal and massacre of Igbo people in Northern Nigeria as a fallout of the 15 January, 1966 coup d’etat led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu (the then Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and others were killed in the coup), Ojukwu had declared an independent state of Biafra.

Though the war was won by the Federal Government forces, it had set the country back by decades. It also led

to the death of thousands innocent citizens caught in the war and destruction of critical infrastructure.

Regardless of the efforts made to forget that dark portion of the nation’s history, many a Nigerian still bears the ugly scar of the brutish war. And the country has continued to manage the postwar syndrome. Though many commentators and political scientists have pinpointed its sharp multi-ethnic, language and cultural diversities as the critical issues that all the federating ethnic nationalities must mutually discussed and agreed on, several attempts made to find lasting solutions to them through government decreed national conferences ended in futility.

Thus the country continues to grapple with the same problems it inherited from the British colonialists and also successfully created its own by building an army of disenchanted, mutually suspicious and ethnic-conscious citizenry. The Igbo particularly feel excluded from the political power space.

They believe that they are being punished perpetually for the 1967 episode that plunged the nation into war.

Apart from the Igbo, other ethnic minorities in the country, the Itsekiri, Urhobo, Birom, Tiv, among others, are bitter over the domination by the major ones. They complain loudly of marginalisation, relegation and general injustice by the major ethnic groups, the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. Ironically, however, these major ethnic nationalities also moan about unfair and unjust treatment, particularly by the Hausa\Fulani, who have ruled the country longer than other tribes.

Therefore, when the renewed agitation for Biafra resurfaced, not a few Nigerians asked why the ghost of self-determination is being summoned again. While many people continue to dismiss the threats by the Europe-based Radio Biafra and its allies in MASSOB and other pro-Biafra groups, others have raised questions on where Igbo elders belong in the new development and whether there are genu-

ine unresolved grievances that encourage the fresh calls for Biafra and how the government should handle the issue, which they describe as “critical, inflammable and sensitive.”

Though the polarisation of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo is said to not be helping the current situation, with the apex umbrella body of all Igbo accused of having lost its bearing, many Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders have refrained from speaking openly in favour or against Biafra. Despite the difficulty in locating the tilt of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the renewed calls for an independent state of Biafra, however, Sunday Tribune findings showed that there were supporters and opponents of the youthful elements in the highly-respected body, with most of the elders, however, advocating peaceful resolution of all perceived grievances and continued understanding among all ethnic groups.

For the elders who believe in one Nigeria and its continued existence, it was quite easy to find a common ground with the rest of the ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria, where the Southern Peoples’ Assembly, an organisation comprising influential individuals across ethnic groups in South-West, South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, has been advocating dialogue, equity and justice within the Nigerian context. It was further gathered that most of the Igbo leaders expressed hopes in the country when a national conference, which was the clamour of most people from the defunct Southern protectorate, was convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Though the report of that conference was submitted before Jonathan handed over power, there are fears that the Buhari government, whose party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) opposed the confab, will not implement its far reaching recommendations that addressed issues of inequality and injustice that are at the heart of Biafran agitations.

Prior to the last national conference, the Ikenga of Nnewi Continues

pg 34

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interview

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Nigerians are disappointed with Buhari’s slow pace — Ize-Iyamu Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Edo state. He speaks with select newsmen on national issues. Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA, presents the excerpts.

M

ANY have expressed the fear that your party, the PDP, may go into extinction, following its loss of power at the centre in March. How are you reading the developments since the takeover of the APC at the centre?

Well, some people believe it is too early to make comments; but like the popular saying, time waits for no one.

President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in on May 29 this year, and if you check it, it means the administration has spent five months in the office. For a party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that was preaching ‘’change’’ before the general election, one would have thought by now they will be up and running. And many people were disappointed and surprised that 100 days came, passed and the president was still not able to even appoint his ministers. And when you now look at the ministerial nominees, you ask yourself, what was the big deal in keeping Nigerians waiting – in an attempt to get the so-called people without questionable character as ministers. If the ministers were new faces, one would have said that the president or the party wanted to have enough time to look around – including outside the country, to look for credible and capable hands to form his government. But what we are seeing today is a recycling of old hands. If we concede that the past was bad, why is Buhari recycling the past? What are they going to provide for the future? Honestly, it is an anti-climax and people are disappointed. Quite honestly, it is all noise; no serious things have been done by this administration in the last four months or so. Members of Boko Haram that we were all hoping would be crushed in a matter of two months – as promised by Buhari, have started to extend their evil activities to the nation’s capital, Abuja. We thought that had been dealt with by the past administration; we are surprised that with all those arrested in connection with Boko Haram’s terrorism activities, and with international cooperation, the government has been unable to gather enough information to expose all those behind Boko Haram’s activities. By now, we thought those sponsoring Boko Haram would have been exposed. Buhari has not kept his promises; even the fight against corruption appears to have been compromised when you look at the list of ministerial nominees. Nigerians are wondering if they just wasted their votes for the APC. If we are to judge the government by what it has done in the past four months, it is a story of many disappointments.

So what do you think is responsible for the failure to translate expectation to reality in the last few months?

There is no doubt that the leadership of the party is a collection of strange bedfellows. What brought the membership of the party together was not an ideology; it was the quest for power by any means necessary; they wanted to win power at all costs. Their idea was to gang up and see how they can wrestle power from the PDP, especially former President Goodluck Jonathan. That, to me was the inspiration behind the APC’s agenda. And the moment Buhari won, the inspiration just died. Their problem now is how to share the proceeds of their so-called victory. It is clear now that all the APC was interested in was just winning the elections, so much so that they have started to disown their electoral promises. Some of them have

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

even gone ahead to say that those promises were made by the party and not President Buhari. But Buhari came to power through the APC. Buhari’s name was not on the ballot paper during the election; it was the APC that was in the ballot paper. So, they cannot now begin to disown the promises of the party on behalf of Buhari; they cannot say the party’s programmes are not that of President Buhari. For now, Nigerians are not sure of what the president promised them. But you and I know that there were promises of millions of jobs that will be created; there were promises of social welfare programmes, and nobody is talking about them anymore. The economy is suffering because the government of Buhari has no economic direction. Even the foreign trips that the president made were not properly defined; they are wasteful events. The current situation is quite worrisome, but having voted for the APC for a period of four years, one can only hope that the remaining three and a half years will be a lot more inspiring. But if we continue like this, God help Nigeria.

You were a founding member of the APC; going by what you know about the party, do you see the

party fulfilling its electoral promises to the people?

President Buhari needs to rise to the challenges, because a lot of the people who made the APC merger to succeed have all left the party. Whether anybody likes it or not, Chief Tom Ikimi was the chairman of the merger committee; he presided over all the meetings that were held and they were held in his house, whether in Abuja or Benin-City. And he was able to manage the process until we were able to agree on a name, symbol, flag and even the constitution of the party. The manifesto of the party was done through that process. People like Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and others have all gone. Those who are there now did not really play any serious role in the merger of the APC, though they were leaders in their own rights and gave their blessings to the process. Right now, you can see a lot of confusion in the APC. The National Working Committee of the party has not been able to assert itself, and we saw that demonstrated when the leadership of the National Assembly was about to be constituted; Continued from

pg 35

33

thepolity

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Despite insurgency, Jibrilla working hard to transform Adamawa —Aide Mr Mathias Yohanna is the Chief Press Secretary to the Adamawa State governor, Senator Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla. He speaks with MOSES ALAO on the efforts of the governor to transform the state, measures aimed to stemming the tide of terrorism and the opposition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which lost the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the last election.

I

T’S five months now since Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow took over as the governor of Adamawa State, as his Chief Press Secretary, you are wont to defend him and his policies against the backdrop of criticisms that he has not done much, what has the governor been able to achieve so far?

Let me start by saying that when His Excellency assumed office, it wasn’t an easy task. It was not a rosy development because we came in at a time when the economy of the state was not only dwindling but also at a state of comatose. Things were so bad. The debt we inherited, based on the dynamics of the economy in Adamawa State, was over N50 billion. Other than that, the last government left on the 29th of May, 2015, but while some governors tried to pay the month’s salary, the outgoing governor did not even pay the salary. So we had a lot of challenges but Senator Jibrilla, as an experienced businessman and someone who has worked in the Senate, came up with a lot of programmes.

You know that our great party, the APC, has a manifesto, which is geared towards making sure that capitalism, which is being practised here in Nigeria, is given a human face. That is to say that we are not all equal at the market level, so the weak needed to be supported. The governor took off from that fulcrum and that was the first thing he did after appointing those who will assist him in governance. Adamawa State is one of the oldest provinces and historically, since the Jihad of Uthman Dan Fodio, we can say that we have spent about 207 years since Modibbo Adama after whom the state was named came here.

But all the governments in the state from colonial era to date, and we have had sons of Adamawa in governments but nothing has been done. The governor recognised this fact and it was his belief that by now the Yola metropolis should have a better look, so when he came into office the first challenge was to open up the state capital. Governor Jibrilla said that if the state capital does not have motorable roads and is not well opened up, it will be a breeding ground for hoodlums and a hiding place for Boko Haram elements. So, within the last five months, constructions of more than 30 roads have begun in Jimeta and Yola and the projects are ongoing; people who come here have been seeing and commending the projects.

The governor has also looked into the issue of health. He saw that the health sector in Adamawa State is terrible. We have mega local government headquarters in Adamawa State; areas that need to be developed. We have Yola as the state capital; we have the governor’s hometown, Mubi, which is regarded as the nexus of business activities in the state. The day Boko Haram entered Mubi, they carted away more than N3 billion from the banks and individuals. So, the governor said Mubi needed to be expanded and because of the destructions caused in the city by insur-

elements. As we speak now, we want to thank the Federal Government and to say that the deadline of December given to the military to overcome the sect is achievable, because the terrorists no longer have a particular area as a camp. They have been dislodged completely.

Mr Mathias Yohanna

gency, the governor said that the hospital in the city needed to be rehabilitated. So, as we speak, the government is giving urgent attention to hospitals in Yola, Mubi, Numan in the Southern Senatorial zone, Ganye, where the deputy governor is from and one of the largest communities in Adamawa State. While working on the health sector and the roads.

Adamawa State is currently facing a serious threat from terrorism, how is the governor addressing this situation?

One of the greatest challenges this administration has faced is that of insurgency. Adamawa is one of the frontline states in the terrorism challenge and for more than three years, we have been suffering from incessant attacks; so, His Excellency recognised that something needed to be done. His major policy thrust in making sure that the challenge is properly confronted and to ensure that our people who now live in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps go back to their homes was by entering into a bilateral approach with the Federal Government. You know that Adamawa State is a very young state in terms of economy; our monthly allocation is not more than N2.5 to N3 billion, so we had to do something. To even take care of about seven local governments that were completely taken over by Boko Haram, N2 billion cannot solve the problem, so the governor had to appoint a committee, which sat and came up with the synopsis

of the Boko Haram incursion into Adamawa; the level of destruction caused on the state, the losses in terms of lives and properties and so on. All these things were put up in the report, which was brought to the government and we studied it. Then, the governor forwarded the report to the Presidency and it was discussed and through that report, we now have synergy with the Federal Government and other donor agencies and international organisations. So far in the state, we have more than four camps for IDPs and assistances from the Federal Government, the state government, the United Nations, Commonwealth, ECOWAS and other donor agencies are helping. As I speak to you now, most of our people have gone back to their local governments.

The greatest challenge we now have is that the IDPs in the various camps are not only Nigerians; we having people coming in from the Central Africa, Cameroon and Chad. Some of the IDPs are coming into the camps; you know we have one of the longest international borders. So, the Boko Haram debacle is a cumbersome and difficult task but thank God that with the assistance of the Federal Government and donor agencies, the issue is being taken care of. Let me also inform you that on the issue of insurgents, the governor has always said it that the position that the Federal Government has taken on ridding the Sambisa forest of terrorists is a good approach; it sent in our security forces, which has dislodged the Boko Haram

But the sect still attacked a mosque in Yola three weeks ago, where many lives were lost and others injured.

The attack was a sad experience; highly condemnable and the governor was not happy with it in any way. But I can assure you that as we speak, most of the bomb blasts you hear about are on soft targets.

The sect members can no longer move to attack or seize local governments; so they are now conducting pockets of attacks, which are being done in a guerilla pattern.

As an instant reaction to the Yola attack, the governor recently addressed the public that what it is no longer military might that is needed to crush the Boko Haram, what we need is for the public to sit and reexamine the situation. He said that we now need public enlightenment and the mass media to enlighten and sensitise our people to make sure that they develop a defence mechanism against the attacks.

The governor said that because when little boys and young girls come as suicide bombers, it is not always possible for soldiers to detect them; what we need is to organise ourselves and take records and be sensitive. So, when we go to church or mosque, it is not important that all of us would be praying at the same time. In fact, this is a policy decision that the governor just took with every stakeholder in the state following the bomb blast. Governor Jibrilla called for a state security meeting with traditional rulers and security agencies and at the end of the meeting, it was resolved that new techniques of combating crimes should be used in combination with our traditional methods of identifying people who come into our communities. The Lamido of Adamawa advised strongly that the community leaders from the grassroots level should be used, such that any unknown person that comes into a community should be reported immediately and that in any gathering, there must be people around who will be given the responsibility of checking suspicious movements. The community leaders, village chiefs and others have also been directed to channel the information to the headquarters every day so that can help us to stem the tide of terrorism Let me say that so far, in the area of insurgency, this administration is working and is also making plans to rehabilitate the schools, the churches, mosques and other infrastructure that have been destroyed.

Let me also let you know that one of the greatest measures the governor has taken is by calling for assistance in the area of roads, because most of the bridges linking the North and the state capital have been broken down by Boko Haram and the Continued from

pg 37

34

thepolity

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Biafra: Nigeria’s intractable landmine

Odumegwu Ojukwu

Continued from

pg 31

and former president-general of Ohanaeze, Chief Dozie Ikedife, stated that he believed the time has come for Nigerians to resolve the issue of Biafra peacefully and amicably, saying: “The Biafrans don’t have a sense of belonging in Nigeria today, which is often expressed as marginalisation, and many other segments of the country are also talking about marginalization and not having a sense of belonging.

Let us carve the thing off into manageable sizes, and new patriotism will be generated. Then we shall continue to rebuild whatever country we have with enthusiasm”, he added.

Perhaps, it was against that backdrop that a pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), states on its website that “its meeting is lawfully convened under rights granted by the United Nations as contained in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People 2007.”

“We the Indigenous People of Biafra under Article 4 of the above UN Charter, is free to exercise our right to self-determination, we have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to our internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing our autonomous functions”, the group insisted.

To pro-Biafra groups, the issue of Igbo marginalisation tops the agenda of the cause for persistence calls for secession. For instance, the leader of MASSOB, Uwazuruike, whose activities have pushed up the renewed vigour for self-determination in Igbo land, strongly believes that the Igbo have not got a fair share of the national cake.

Uwazuruike was, in the cause of the struggle for what he described as Igbo emancipation, arrested in 2005 by the authority on treason charges and was released two years later. Between 2000 and now, other pro-Biafra movements have been teaming up for the crusade for self-determination. The first was Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM) led by Benjamin Onwuka, which split from MASSOB. Onwuka, a lawyer by training, declared a new state of independence on November 5, 2012 at an event during which at least 100 of his men were arrested.

In 2014, BZM also announced the rebirth of the Biafran Republic. In a statement released after the incident, the group explained that it had lost faith in the country following years of neglect and continuous killing of the Igbo.

“No amount of threats or arrests will stop us from pursuing our freedom– self-determination for Biafrans,” BZM’s national chairman, Edeson Samuel had said, with Onwuka and 11 others later trying to broadcast live the rebirth of a new Biafra Republic at the Enugu State Broadcasting Service State before they were arrested by the police.

Today, Onwuka and his men are standing trial at the Federal High Court, Enugu for alleged treasonable offence, with efforts to secure bail for the separatists bail being impossible despite the case being adjourned sinedie. Ironically, all pro-Biafra movements preach non-violence as a means of achieving their goals.

However, an anti-Biafra group in Enugu, known as the “Concerned Citizens of Enugu State (CCES) described the

Governor Rochas Okorocha, Imo State

Nnamdi Kanu, Director, Radio Biafra

recent protest by the pro-Biafra group in Enugu as “illegal, unacceptable, anti-democratic and an adventure that was capable of undermining the unity of the country and the existing peace and tranquility,” adding in a statement

by CCES’ leader, Chief Jeremiah Udeh that it “condemns the unlawful approach of violent protests adopted by the so-called IPOB in promoting its course.”

Though many observers believe that the fresh agitation for Biafra should be addressed peacefully, many others view the plot as the rascality of a few disgruntled elements in the South-East geopolitical zone.

The Senator representing Kaduna Central and popular activist, Shehu Sani, described the agitation for the resurrection of Biafra as a plot to destroy President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and cause chaos in Nigeria. He said those behind the Biafran campaign were pro-Jonathan government interests who lost out in the last general election and “are now clandestinely plotting to derail the democratic government of Buhari.”

“The new agitation for Biafra is a misguided, ill-conceived and ill-fated course; it is an ill-wind that does no good to those people who are blowing it or to Nigeria as a whole.”

But many political watchers would dismiss Sani’s claim as the usual jaundiced and ethnically motivated reactions by beneficiaries of current lopsided political arrangement to critical issue of national integration. But there are many others who share Sani’s view, who, in fact, only dismissed the resurgent calls for Biafra. But for many others like, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, one of the leaders of the panYoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, the Biafra issue calls for caution. He urged President Buhari to take note of Biafra and other issues because of “certain effects.”

“There is nothing about separation in the country now and the president should take note of concerning Biafra and certain other issues, because of certain effects. What has been keeping us together up till today? That is why we have been calling for the restructuring of the country and implementation of the recommendations of the Confab reports. If that is done, it will silence the question of separation and all that.

It is too late for anybody to talk of separation now, what we need to do is to work on how to consolidate our unity and the only way to do that is what we have been clamouring forrestructuring of the country through the recommendations of the Confab reports,” Adebanjo said.

A popular social media activist, Kayode Ogundamisi, also warned against the clampdown on Radio Biafra, though he described it as an avenue for “those with siege mentality to vent.”

Ogundamisi, in a widely circulated article online, said: “Agitation for the State of Biafra is not a crime, as individuals/ groups can advocate for a right to self-determination, what would be wrong is for them to dismember themselves from the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without the consent and agreement of the other federating units. Biafra agitators would have to wage a war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do that and would have to be prepared for the consequences (positive or negative) of such action.”

A public commentator, SKG Ogbonna, also warned the agitators, saying “the negative effect of the agitation for Biafra, like the Niger Delta secession declaration, the war itself and the post-war regime on the Igbo as a people on one hand, and the continuous cohesion and knitting of the peoples of Nigeria of today on the other hand, should have relaxed any mania on any possible disintegration of Nigeria.

“The simple answer to the enigmatic question on the division of Nigeria as it stands today is the negative. Is Nigeria to be divided on the bases of geopolitical zones i.e. six countries, or on the ethnic lines i.e. over 350 countries or on religious concentrations i.e. at least three countries? Ogbonna asked.

An Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Igbo Renaissance Movement (IRM), however, proffered a solution to the situation, urging Igbo leaders to approach President Buhari with humility on the marginalisation claim, warning the Igbo to stop building towers of isolation and antagonism.

In a position canvassed by National Coordinator and secretary of the group, Chief Chris Chukwubuzor Azuka and Deacon Kingsley Godwin, the IRM noted that the Igbo race was being haunted by its “blind politics of hate, bitterness, isolation and greed over the years. This is the time for the Igbo to engage in honest self-examination and soul-searching. The important challenge facing Igbo nation now is that of leadership and, therefore, stakeholders must put the house in order for common good”.

In line with the pan-Igbo group’s view, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha also recently appealed to politicians from the South-East geopolitical as well as leaders in the zone to join hands with him to support the present administration of President Buhari to enable the people of the zone to be on the same page with the Federal Government in the current political dispensation. Okorocha maintained that President Buhari is fully determined to work with the region, noting that the president has given assurance that the South-East would not be left out of the political and economic equations of Nigeria.

As the clamour by pro-Biafra groups in the eastern part of the country continues, the Presidency has said it has mandated the governors of the region to settle the matter and ensure peace and stability in the region but many questions remain unanswered.

How long will the agitation for Biafra State continue?

At the heart of the struggle is the place of Igbo in the power equation. For instance, when will the pendulum of the nation’s presidency swing to the South-East region?

Even in the current dispensation, the North is being accused of indiscriminate sharing of the spoils by playing the winner takes all hand. What happens to the SouthEast, ravaged by erosion, among other environmental challenges? When and how will the Federal Government address these issues and many others, which have largely set the South-East back and especially the perceived hatred for Igbo in a section of the country?

These are the Igbo questions within the Nigerian question, the resolutions of which might engender lasting solution to the crises rocking the country.

35

interview

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

‘Why I intend to contest Edo gov election’ Continued from

unnecessary taxations? What continuity will they be talking about?

pg 32

they could not even call a meeting; they had to rely on an appeal to the president to call the meeting. In an ideal situation, the president should have been allowed to face more pressing issues of governance.

And in any case, if there is separation of power, it is not the responsibility of the president, the head of executive arm of power, to dictate to members of the legislative arm of government, who should lead them. But, because the party was unable to call such a meeting, they had to resort to the president to call a meeting. Of course, before they could convince themselves to call such a meeting, it was already too late. That apart, the party ought to have a board of trustees; they have it in their party’s constitution. But they don’t have one because of the different tendencies among the power blocs within the APC. You have a party that ought to be a national party, yet, there is no clear leadership. Yes, I have heard an appellation like the National Leader; but if you look at the constitution of the party, it only recognises the national chairman as the leader of the party. But as we speak, the national chairman is embattled; he has not been able to constitute the board of trustees. It appears that apart from the issue of governance, the president would have to help his party. Immediately they won the elections, one would have expected them to call a meeting and set an agenda for the party in terms of governance. But after the general election, they celebrated throughout and forgot about the reason they were elected. Now five months later, the party is still confused.

Let’s come to your party, the PDP. The leadership of your party recently admitted that they made some mistakes, which led to their defeat in the last general election. What are these mistakes and how do you intend to tackle them?

Well, several meetings are being held; the party in its wisdom had set up Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led committee to investigate what went wrong before and during the last general election and make far-reaching recommendations on the way to go in the future. And they did a comprehensive work and they have submitted their report to the National Working Committee of our party. Between you and I, the defeat of PDP – painful as it might have been, is good for democracy; it is a wake-up call. It brings more competitiveness into the political arrangements. If elections are so easy to predict, the political environment and the players become nonchalant.

That is where impunity comes into play.

If a ruling party of the President can lose elections, it means our country is on the right track. We are, therefore, appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to take a cue from former President Goodluck Jonathan, who obviously did not interfere with the running of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). If he had done so, the election results that produced Buhari would have been different. Professor Attahiru Jega, the former INEC chairman, has retired now. And he has never one day accused Jonathan of interfering with his duties. It is our hope that Buhari and members of APC, who complained in the past about how election results were manipulated, will see it as a fundamental duty – that during their own time, the process becomes more credible. We should

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

not see corruption only in term of sealing public funds; even those who steal in private sectors are also guilty of corruption.

When you also corrupt a process-:a man wins an election and you write a different result, that is also a corrupt practice. If we want to sanitise our system, we must take corruption away from our electoral system and ensure we have elections that are truly credible. We must allow the people’s votes to really count; let’s monitor spending during elections period. The idea of inducing voters on the Election Day should not be tolerated. On the side of the PDP, we are engaging the process democratically. I get amused these days when I hear that the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Olisa Metuh, is unduly harsh on the APC and President Buhari. That is not true; we have accorded the President the respect his office deserves, contrary to the ways and manner the APC treated former President Jonathan – there was no name they did not called him when he was in office.

In Edo State the governorship election will take place next year.

How prepared is your party?

The PDP has been able to rebrand itself in Edo State. There is no doubt that PDP is now a very popular party in the state. Contrary to most expectation, the former President Jonathan won in Edo State during the last general election and nobody can question the credibility of the result; it was highly contested and the PDP had 58 per cent of the votes; we won two senatorial seats out of three; we won five seats in the House of Representatives out of nine. The one we did not do well was that of the House of Assembly, and it was a fall-out of the presidential election. We have been able to expose the lapses of the APC in the state and they have not been able to dispute our facts. We went as far as publishing signed cheques of reckless expenditures in Edo State. And until today

we have not seen any constructive reply to our exposure—apart from name-calling.

And it is laughable when the APC-led government in the state keeps on referring to what happened in 1999, about 10 to 15 years ago. Why were they elected into government? They were elected because they promised to change what happened in the past. I thought the APC will stand on what they have been able to achieve. But they are going back to the past and talking about why they were not able to change things. They told the people of Edo State seven years ago that it was goodbye to poverty, but the poverty in the state is even worse now. They told us the state would not see flood again, but seven years later – just a year remaining, we are worse for it.

Meanwhile, the state government has received huge funds that no government in this state has ever gotten. If you put the resources together – at the last count, about two months ago, the state in the last seven years has received N716 billion without adding the internal generated revenues (IGR). Now, compare that with eight years of Lucky Igbinedion administration, which got a total sum of N197 billion. And if you add IGR to N716 billion they had received in less than seven years, it is over a trillion naira. And no one has even received that in this state. One would have expected that with that huge amount of money, we will see landmark projects in the state. Come November next year, are we going to see huge debts being left behind? Or can we say that the government left ‘’X’’ amount of money in the state’s treasury? Honestly, we have not seen the changes they promised us in spite of the huge amount of money the APC government in the state had received. The reality now is that we are not better off. In the election -- next year, our people are going to be asking a lot of questions. Those who are saying we should vote for continuity will be disappointed.

Continuity of what? Continuity of touts all over the place? Continuity of multiple and

The PDP has zoned the state governorship ticket to Edo South. What should be the party’s yardsticks in determining the choice of its candidate?

The zoning has helped in reducing the number of aspirants. That is quite commendable on the part of the party’s leadership. We want somebody that will be acceptable to everybody; a candidate that can perform better than this present government. Somebody who will be able to use, judiciously, the available resources of the state; somebody who will see the whole state as his constituency, not somebody who will develop one part of the state than the other. We need somebody who will harness all the resources of the state for the betterment of our people. We have focused so much on the money coming from Abuja and unnecessary taxations; we need to develop our agricultural produces; create industries and the enabling environment for our people to develop themselves. The PDP want to produce a candidate who understands what government is all about, somebody who understands the system, somebody who will place emphasis on due process – who will ensure that projects are implemented at reasonable costs, transparently and who will be accountable to the people at all times. The PDP will be looking for a candidate that will carry the party along in the governance of the state, because the success of the governor is the success of the party.

Are you planning to join the race?

By the grace of Almighty God I intend to contest; it is something that has been in the realm of speculation. I have kept quiet before now, because I believe there is time for everything. The reality today in Edo State is that the state is in need of good leadership; the state is in need of true change; the present government in the state has ran out of ideas; they are confused and we cannot continue like this.

There is urgent need to rescue our state.

And I believe God has positioned me; I have always been here; I have lived in the state all my life I have passion for the state.

I know where the shoe pinches. I have also been exposed to governance. I have never held an elective office. There are things you would have loved to do but you cannot do them because you are not in charge.

There is a difference between an appointee and the chief executive. I have been a party leader and there is a difference between assisting in electing people and being the elected person. And I have looked at all these things. I believe with all my experiences, I am in a position to go to elective office to bring about the needed meaningful change we all desire in Edo State.

So the people should be looking out for you throwing your hat into the ring?

Sure. We all should be prayerful; we should not been disillusioned. Ask people in the state and you will be surprised how our youths are still planning to travel abroad by any route because they perceive that there is no hope. But I want to assure them that there is hope. We don’t need to leave our state. By 2016, we will usher in a government that will be able to make jobs available to our people – not casual jobs, but jobs that will challenge their intellect and make them productive.

36

8 November, 2015

N

EARLY the entire Yoruba lexicon is oxymoronic, denoting both positive and negative connotations.

It isn’t much about the epistemology of the language, it is about its attitude. For a deeply cultural people, language attitude even without gesticulation, projects the intended meaning. You may call it tonal sarcasm. In this case, the tenor texture matters. The best capturing wisecrack is “pele lako o labo” (seeking forgiveness could be genuine or otherwise). Friday morning I was a newspaper review guest on a Lagos-based TV station programme and the unending and unfolding Buhari/Sambo Dasuki saga came up. In giving an opinion, I decided to do Janus, explaining that both sides could be right and equally be wrong on the ding-dong of probe, trial and denial.

The dansaki (Yoruba’s equivalent of Gbosa or thumb-up) commendation to Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for keeping the adrenaline of the former top spy chief racing as accountability is being demanded of his stewardship, should be positive, with a replica of his famous victory-encrusted fist, to boot.

If a man’s surname is Dasuki and eye-bugling sums he was appropriated were misappropriated, then a prison danshiki (special Yoruba shoulder sleeve top) should be cool for him.

The dansaki salutary fist could also be negative for Buhari and his spy army if unspoken intent and history are conjectured into the saga. I alluded to same on the said programme.

When the tenor of the salutation is suggestive of vendetta as being expressed by the victim and sympathisers, the victory fist could be a warning against the foreseen unseen.

Buhari’s administration would be right to fight suspected corruption anyhow, including using unconventional means.

For those who might be asking why Dasuki, why not the poster-boy of the most expensive project of the administration he served. Without doubt, Boko Haram’s war was the biggest expenditure of Goodluck Jonathan administration and it is just trite that the man that expended the fund should be questioned as many times as required. Such may last the entire lifespan of Buhari’s administration if the helmsman so desires.

But there is a little snag in the Dasuki’s fresh house arrest

by Buhari’s security goons, which really isn’t about the court order releasing him for overseas treatment. If Daura’s men are truly investigating a new tranche of alleged stolen public fund, then the existing court order would not be binding because the alleged fresh fraud discovery isn’t part of what is before the court for which travel order was granted. But believability is thin for Daura and his army. Buhari’s kinsman has frittered

General Yakubu Gowon was reported to have said in his days as the nation’s military head of state that money was not Nigeria’s problem but what to do with it. But that seems to have changed over the last few months. Now, the country is bedeviled with as much problem with revenue generation as it has with disbursement. According to President Muhammadu Buhari, no fewer than 23 states have challenges with payment of workers’ wages just as even the Federal Government cannot pay ministers.

How did we arrive at this sorry pass? How did we transit from Too Much Money Street to No Money Avenue? Ours is a typical illustration of the story of a fool and his money.

Consequence upon our failure to make the most of the money we made without much labour, our oodles of money became our source of endless sorrows. Too much money stalled our thinking and stunted our development as the nation was engaged in a ballroom dance; one step forward and two backwards. The more money we made, the poorer we got and the more we borrowed. The more money we made, the faster our facilities failed. The more money we made, the higher the rate of unemployment rose in our country. The more money we made, the worse our education indicators got. Our abundant wealth choked us so much that it threatened to snuff life out of us.

Economists say a scale of preference becomes inevitable as a result of scarcity of resources. But Nigeria did not have any problem with scarce resources and subsequently did not engage in any time-wasting and energy-sapping planning. The leaders did whatever appealed to them. It was leadership by the rule of the thumb. After all, money was not a problem. That is why development became haphazard. This explains why projects are routinely abandoned. In Nigeria, most projects are usually a product of exigencies, once the urgency of the need abates, they are abandoned, irrespective of the huge sums of money already expended on such projects. The East-West road was conceived in 1972 by Alfred Diete-Spiff, then military governor of Rivers State, as a way of opening up the Niger Delta area, over 40 years later, the expanded road is still under construction.

0811 695 4647

olanreade@yahoo.com

Danshiki for Dasuki

credibility and integrity that supposedly came with him into office, in the course of unbridled show of hollow braggadocio.

Let’s believe Daura for a moment. Why then the hurry in prosecuting him? Since the administration seems convinced that his alleged sleazy handling of the terror war fund, explains the resurgence of the insurgency under his presidency, why not a holistic probe and wholesale trial, instead of this on-off, odds and ends condemnable handling of the controversial security chief probe.

Apart from the public (mis)perception of the administration’s abhorrent disposition to judicial pronouncement concerning Dasuki, Buhari’s anti-corruption war, despite the

With Sulaimon Olanrewaju 08055001708

lanresulaimon@yahoo.com

From too much money to no money

Since 1999, efforts have been on to improve power generation in the country. The efforts resulted in the passage of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, the forbear of the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs). The government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo injected billions of dollars into the NIPPs, assuring Nigerians that their days of epileptic electricity supply would soon end. But nothing came out of the huge amount of money spent on the NIPPs as most of the funds were stolen, yet nobody is in jail for misappropriation of the funds. Succeeding administrations wasted no time in awarding fresh contracts for power generation.

Sunday Tribune

initial widespread applause, is gradually wearing a toga of old scores, vendetta and political points, very cheap by all decent standard. Beyond the robust defence by Buhari’s party and supporters running riot on social media, the president, if desirous of an enduring anti-corruption war, should commission a genuine gauge of public opinion to know the extent of opprobrium now trailing Daura’s style which is generally taken as the president’s posture. Senior party members and government officials have said something like Daura running his own errands. Such alibi would make no sense to a public already pissed. It is either they are saying we are back to the era of Major Al-Mustapha misuse of state power because of proximity to late Abacha. Then, it was considered an exploitation of a power vacuum. Men and women being hunted now are also suspected to have exploited the suspected power vacuum under Goodluck Jonathan. Are we now back to the same point we thought we had left behind?

With the attention being given Jonathan’s aides by Buhari’s anti-corruption crusaders, it is almost safe to conclude that the alleged looting by his administration is more of exploitation of latitude and poor supervisor than kleptomania predilection on the part of the former president. Will that exonerate him if the Dasukis, Diezanis and Orubebes of his administration are eventually jailed for graft? No. The main essence of leadership is human management, including their vices. But the headmaster style, while it may suit Buhari, may not be altogether beneficial to the system. With the president desiring minimal contact between him and his aides i.e ministers, and putting all under their Janitor Chief of Staff, human spirit which is naturally resentful of limitations, may activate resentment mode. If you add resentment to the usual pretension in public office, we may end up with men and women crouching outwardly and standing defiantly inwardly. The result of such “change” can be accurately presumed.

Dasuki is now being primed for Kirikiri danshiki because he perceptibly exploited his chummy relations with Jonathan, coordinating all the billions. The more I look at Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, I see a larger Dasuki, with everywhere around him swimming with potential to make Sambo’s alleged loot a child’s play. His records in UBA and elsewhere didn’t suggest a monger but Sambo’s, too didn’t (apart from coup plotting), until these salacious stories of rapacity filled the airways. With the rumoured Kyari’s presidential run in 2019, the temptation to acquire campaign war-chest may be irresistible. And his benefactor has positioned him too well for it.

When the country was making serious money, leaders made it their business to steal, and they stole without qualms. According to reports of international agencies, the bulk of the country’s petro-dollar earnings in the last 50 years was stolen by the political class. They stole unabashedly and pillaged our resources heartlessly. They stole us blind and turned around to make a mockery of us, saying our poverty was a result of laziness. They went about with the airs of those doing us a favour by plundering our commonwealth.

Unfortunately, however, the malfeasance in public office received the tacit support of the populace who egged on the thieving leaders because of the belief that no matter how much the leaders stole, there would still be money left and it would sooner or later be their own turn to steal from the national treasury as well. That emboldened those in public office to continue to steal. But now that the till is empty where does that leave those applauding the thieving leaders?

Julian Castro was the keynote speaker at the Democratic Party’s National Convention in 2011, where he said something very profound. He said, “America didn’t become the land of opportunity by accident. My grandmother’s generation and generations before always saw beyond the horizons of their own lives and their own circumstances. They believed that opportunity created today would lead to prosperity tomorrow. That’s the country they envisioned, and that’s the country they helped build. The roads and bridges they built, the schools and universities they created, the rights they fought for and won—these opened the doors to a decent job, a secure retirement, the chance for your children to do better than you did.”

But the reverse is the case in Nigeria; the forbears consumed the wealth and left debt for their successors. They never saw beyond their own horizon and made no plan for the future. Instead of creating opportunities that would lead to prosperity, they wiped up all the opportunities and lapped up the prosperity.

That is the tragedy of our country; the tragedy of a country with too much money without any expressed value.

37

thepolity

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

‘FG’s approach to Boko Haram commendable’ Continued from

pg 33

state lacks the resources to rebuild these infrastructures.

If you Adamawa State well, from Hong; bridges linking the Northern zone have been broken down and as I said, Mubi is the nexus of commercial activities and something needs to be done urgently.

The governor was recently criticised for appointing a man as the Commissioner for Women Affairs, how will you defend such decision, given the opposition of women bodies to the decision?

Let me say that the criticisms were not justifiable at all.

The Ministry for Women Affairs, of course, is supposed to be a ministry that takes care of women but in most cases, you will hear Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; so it is not about women alone. Even at the federal level, the permanent secretary of the ministry is not always a woman. Also, at the state levels, there are many states that have men as commissioner of that ministry; it is only Adamawa. So, I don’t know why it became an issue here. Let also explain something about appointment and posting of public officers; wherever you are posted, you will go, because it is part of the civil service

creed. While we appreciate the concerns of women, it is also important for us to put people that can perform optimally in the appropriate ministries. Therefore, because of the level of poverty in the state and the need to empower women, His Excellency felt that the man could work better and the man put in that ministry is well-known and well-experienced and working with a permanent secretary that is a woman, we believe that the ministry will continue to discharge its responsibilities. Let me say that the fact that the creation of a women affairs ministry is intended to help women, appointing a man to work in that ministry will not affect it, because there are already agreed positions on how the ministry should operate.

You have said so many things that the governor has done since assuming office but the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state recently accused the governor of doing nothing.

What is your reaction to that position advanced

by PDP’s secretary, A.T. Shehu?

Barrister A.T. Shehu, to me, as a politician, is a respected personality. I respect him even as legal practitioner but I want to say that if he is not being schizophrenic about what is happening in the state, he should at least

accept that within five months, there has been a rapid development of the state under Governor Jibrilla. The PDP government, for 16 years, did not do half of what this present government has done in five months under Governor Jibrilla. I think it is only Senator Jibrilla, after making sure that he cleared the outstanding debt in terms of salaries, that came out to address the press on the bailout and he has paid leave grants and other arrears of civil servants for three years. I have been in Adamawa for all these years; I have not seen a governor who did that. A.T. Shehu knows that the practice of sharing state’s money and giving it to big shots is no longer there, as our young governor believes in developing the state and empowering the state. The governor has insisted that the essential infrastructure have not been on ground; if you come to this state few years ago, you would see the poor road network such that if there was fire outbreak or flood, the whole place would be devastated, because the state capital was not well-planned. But this young governor wants to change the face of Adamawa State and the PDP is complaining, though they were not able to do it.

I think PDP should learn from this government, because the days of campaigns are over; what we need to do is to join hands with the governor to move the state forward.

opinion Resolving conflicting election tribunal verdicts

By Abimbola Salaudeen

I

S an indication of the growing integrity of elections in Nigeria, there are far fewer cases of litigation in the aftermath of the 2015 general elections, than there were in 2011, much as those for 2011 were fewer than what transpired four years earlier. But that does not mean that there is greater clarity of the legal wisdom underpinning the decisions emanating from the 2015 election petitions and appeals thereon. Ultimately, it means more workload for the Supreme Court, which will have to grapple with a number of appeals that are bound to work their way to the final court of adjudication in the land.

Part of the confusion in the legal battles has arisen from the (mis)application of principles enunciated already by case law. Take, for example, the place of the card reader in election. In the Lagos governorship election dispute, the Court of Appeal on August 26, 2015, held that the card reader could not be a ground for annulling an election. Two other Governorship Election Petition Tribunals (Akwa Ibom and Delta) adopted the reasoning of the Court of Appeal. Yet, on October 24, when the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered its judgment, it ignored the argument of counsel to the respondents who cited the recent Court of Appeal decision on the card reader.

Instead, the Rivers Tribunal nullified the governorship election and ordered a re-run, in part because, according to their Lordships, the card reader was a must-use in the governorship election of April 11, 2015; and that where the card reader failed, the election ought to have been postponed to the next day. The Tribunal was, however, silent on what use incident forms were meant to serve in the accreditation process as a prelude to voting. And whereas the Tribunal accepted the evidence that the card reader accredited 293,072 voters in the election, it invalidated lawful votes that were cast in places where voting took place. Rather, the Tribunal adopted a blanket view that the entire state was in turmoil during the governorship election, and therefore invalidated the election. And yet, in the case of Akwa Ibom governorship election, only the results in some local government areas were invalidated, and make-up polls ordered for those areas.

I am not quite sure what to make of the apparently ambiguous statement by the Rivers Tribunal, when it held as follows: “The petitioners have proved their case as required by the law. The evidence adduced by the petitioners proved either beyond reasonable doubt or on the balance of probabilities that the election was characterised by corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.” The issue here relates to standard of proof. Where there are

allegations of criminal conduct, such as thuggery, disruption of voting, snatching of ballot boxes, falsification of result sheets, the standard of proof required is one that is beyond reasonable doubt. This has been established in a long line of cases decided by the Supreme Court, the locus classicus being Nwobodo v. Onoh.

So, what was the Rivers Governorship Tribunal saying in its judgment? Is it now proof beyond reasonable doubt or proof on the balance of probabilities, in order to void an election marred by irregularities and violence? As jurists know, the latter standard (balance of probabilities) is used in civil claims, rather than in criminal allegations. To further compound the fuzziness, counsel to the petitioners in the Rivers case had submitted unequivocally in their final address before the Tribunal that a respondent in the petition “at the beginning did not come to grips with the case made by the petitioners and did not appreciate that the pleadings of the parties have put the burden of proof on them”.

Yet, in law, he who asserts must prove. It is up to the petitioner to prove his allegation of non-conduct of elections and falsification of results. Indeed, the Supreme Court has also held that a result of an election presented by an electoral umpire is rebuttable, but the onus is on the party seeking to impugn the credibility of the result.

If, as counsel to the petitioners in the Rivers case stated that the burden of proof had shifted to the respondent, it may require some further uncommon legal reasoning to understand how the Tribunal held that the petitioners had proved their case, rather than failure of the respondents to discharge the onus framed by counsel to the petitioners.

As I noted at the beginning, the Supreme Court may have a lot more work ahead, as the legal authorities it had laid down over the years have been glossed over, or jetti-

soned altogether. For instance, in Ucha v. Elechi, the apex court had held that the effect of non-compliance with the electoral rules and regulations must be proved polling unit by polling unit, and ward by ward. There were some 4,400 polling units in the Rivers governorship election. There is no indication in the judgment of the Tribunal that evidence was adduced to prove non-compliance in all of these polling stations. Perhaps if their Lordships had not opted to annul with equal force the 293,072 voters captured by the card readers and who voted, the number of polling units where proof of non-compliance was required would have been fewer than the 4,400-plus units. The Tribunal simply adopted a sleight-of-hand and cancelled all votes. Again, that is unlike the Akwa Ibom Tribunal judgment.

Furthermore, in earlier cases decided by the Supreme Court (including Oke v. Mimiko; Buhari v. Obasanjo), the role of a polling agent was defined. In the Rivers governorship tussle, the petitioners called 56 witnesses among whom were polling agents and ward collation agents, who testified to various acts of thuggery and disruption of voting during the election. But could those witnesses have become superhuman as to have given credible evidence as to what transpired in other wards and local government areas, such that they had total coverage of the state of affairs on election day?

Well, the petitioners in the Rivers case also had other witnesses who were subpoenaed. These were six officers of the Nigerian Army; five members of the mobile Police Force, and four officers of the Department of State Services (DSS). They provided security during the governorship election on April 11, and patrolled some local government areas. According to the witnesses, they came across road blocks erected by hoodlums, disruption of election, destruction of election materials, etc. These acts, the DSS witnesses said, “rendered the police helpless”.

If the acts of intimidation, thuggery and disruption were so widespread, as testified, how many arrests were effected by the security witnesses who were on patrol and saw these criminal activities? The Tribunal believed all the witnesses presented by the petitioners. On the other hand, the Tribunal trashed the evidence given by witnesses called by the respondents. Those respondents’ witnesses included the overall security coordinators for the governorship election, as well as one of the three Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who were dispatched from the Abuja headquarters to supervise the election. Of these, the Tribunal held that their evidence was “unreliable, incredible and their character impugned”.

That is unlikely to be the last word on the 2015 Rivers governorship election. I am eagerly looking forward to pronouncements by courts higher up in the hierarchy.

• Salaudeen writes from Lagos.

38 Opinions remained divided since President Muhammadu Buhari hit the airwaves with his headline grabbing bombshells-“Nigeria was materially vandalized,” and then “Nigeria is broke.” The divide, as expected is between the tongue in cheek commentators and the inquisitive.

The tongue in cheek, many of who advertise themselves as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wants us to believe that Mr. President “must have his facts” in declaring that the nation is broke.

The inquisitive minds however want the President to provide the indices that justify his claim. They insist that the projector of an argument must show the course of action leading to the particular end to convince others that he was not involved in voodoo.

In making his declarations thus far, President Muhammadu Buhari has not disclosed statistics to back up his claims. He has persistently announced that some looters have tampered with the nation’s resources; while stating his readiness to deal with them. He has also announced that since the nation was broke, it was no longer in a position to pay Ministers may be unable to assign portfolios to a number of them.

Looking at the statistics, it would be hard to agree with Buhari that Nigeria is broke. Indeed, it would amount to accepting the lazy thinking that Nigeria can only survive on oil to so believe.

What are the indicators of bankruptcy, which corroborate the President’s unabashed claims in the media? Where are we coming from and where really are we on the economic front?

On record, the country has over $30 billion in foreign reserves, some $1.5 billion in Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) and another $2 billion in Excess Crude Account (ECA). On top of that, it has the potential to collect the hugely ignored personal income tax, Value Added Tax, Customs and Excise duties and receive receipts from non-oil products including solid minerals. Since June, the Federal Government’s share of Federation Account sharing has remained in excess of N200 million monthly. Since then, the government has only been known to have involved itself only in salary payments; the only ongoing capital project of the Federal Government being the construction of Helipad in Katsina State.

What this means is that the Government must have

IT is comforting that concerned mothers have taken up the serious issue of sodomy, which reared its ugly head a fortnight ago at an all-boys’ boarding school in Kano - the Hassan Ibrahim Gwarzo College, owned by a renowned economist, Professor Ibrahim Ayagi and which attracts elite children within and around Kano city.

The mothers sought an audience with the wife of the president, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, last Wednesday over the issue of alleged sexual abuse of minors in the school. I join Mrs Buhari in commending these concerned mothers for taking such a bold step.

A radio journalist Nasir Salisu Zango had broadcast a Hausa-language programme, called “Inda Ranka” which included an interview Zango conducted with a 13-year-old boy who had been admitted to a hospital after allegedly being raped. The boy said that at night unknown male individuals forcefully and repeatedly had sex with new students in the school. Zango also interviewed the boy’s mother. The programme, which was aired two Wednesdays ago and again early the following Thursday morning, caused a lot of disquiet among parents and guardians of the boys at the school and led to petition to the president’s wife and rightly so.

According to reports, one of the boys was so brutally and repeatedly assaulted, that he could not walk properly. It was so bad that a nurse refused to treat the child unless police were informed because of the gravity of his injuries. According to the mother, her 11-year-old son complained his bottom was so sore he could not walk. She said the child told her he had been repeatedly raped in his dorm at night by an unknown person.

What callousness, what sick minds!

It is unbelievable that the proprietor of the school, the renowned and well respected Professor Iyagi would be more concerned about the image of the school than with the welfare of the pupils whose parents thought they were putting their wards in the hands of responsible carers who would nurture them to take up the mantle of leadership in the future. Amazingly, the Prof. was quick to put the reports down to the machinations of those who were bent on ruining the image of the

8 November, 2015

the lynxeye with Taiwo adisa

08072000046 taiadisbabatj@gmail.com

Is Nigeria Broke?

been able to save huge amounts since its inception, having failed to commit to any capital project. It is thus curious that the President would tell us that his country is broke.

Even at that, the declaration does not jell with the happenings at the government front. A government that is bankrupt, as we see in Greece, cannot afford to pay N413 billion subsidy payments to oil marketers, and another N800 billion in bail out to states to fund their unimaginable laziness. It won’t certainly keep in possession some 11 presidential jets and over 100 foreign Missions.

In truth, I do not see anything to raise alarm about the Nigerian situation if the government is ready to

frontrow with Toyin Willoughby Muyi 0805 500 1769 toyeenz@yahoo.com

This is heartless

school, he said and I quote “it as a clear mischief to rubbish the image of the school” Really? Despite the damning evidences, staring us all in the face? Even he, the Prof admitted that no fewer than five JSS 1 students had complained to the school authority twice during the first week in school that unknown persons had tried to assault them but they disappeared when they raised alarm. What did the school authority do at that time? Was that not the time to have taken appropriate steps to protect these young boys, who are barely out of their diapers? For, really, that is what JSS1 students are these days. A

Sunday Tribune

task the brains of its operatives. I also believe that Buhari need to first check out what went wrong in the states ahead of the 2015 elections before apportioning blames and blowing hot air.

I recall that the former Government of President Goodluck Jonathan initiated the SWF and planned an annual payment of $500 million to that account.

That was meant to provide a backbone for our economy and that of the 36 states in the rainy day if it had gone as planned. But some state governors in the name of opposition to the then government scuttled the plan and took the matter to court. The then government was only able to save the $1.5 billion in that account eventually, while it only succeeded in delaying judgment at the Supreme Court against the operation of SWF. Now that the Federal Government has been stopped from saving for the rainy day, the same state actors who truncated that dream are crying blue murder; accusing the previous government of mismanaging the economy.

What happened is that many of the state governors who harassed the Federal Government into emptying the ECA failed to tailor their earnings towards productive ventures; behaving more like the prodigal children of old. Many of them diverted their states’ resources towards election campaigns and ended up owing months of arrears of salary. On record, many of the states converted the SURE-P funds to a sort of slush funds and failed to do anything visible with the monthly allocations.

I believe that is the point Buhari should commence his corruption probe, rather than grant all the governors blanket amnesty and further guarantee them bail-out funds.

We should also not continue to live as if the slump in oil prices hit us from the blues. The President himself said in his Independence Day speech that every government inherits problems; what is imperative is to proffer solutions.

Rather than shout himself hoarse trying to convince Nigerians that he inherited a bankrupt economy, the President should devote his energy to wealth creation activities. If he does not like money, like one of his Ministers proclaimed on the floor of the Senate, he cannot stand in the way of young and upward coming citizens who want to make clean money.

They need him to provide the enabling environment.

fact affirmed by media reports that one of the victims was a nine year old JSS 1 student who was overpowered and sexually violated by an unknown person. In our quest and desire to have our children complete their education on time, most parents allow their children to take entrance examinations into secondary schools as young as nine years old. One could then imagine how frightened and distraught those kids would have been when confronted by the horrible experience in the middle of the night and barely two weeks away from mummy and daddy.

Incidentally, neither the renowned Professor nor the school principal deny the fact that the injured boys were bona fide students of the school. So what are we talking about here? Has he stopped to consider that those boys could be his grandsons? How would he feel if they were so brutally and repeatedly sexually assaulted that they had to end up in the hospital as was confirmed by the Public relations officer, Kano Police command, ASP Magaji Musa Majia who told reporters in Kano during a press conference that one of the victims of the alleged sexual assault was receiving treatment at Abdullahi Wase Specialist hospital. The crime was reported by the victim’s guardian. Was this story made up? Did the police collude with the guardian to “rubbish the image of the school”?

I am happy that the concerned mothers are not keeping quiet, and are not nursing their wounds quietly at home under the myth that an open discussion of such an issue is taboo. I am also proud of the radio journalist Nasir Salisu Zango, who has vowed to continue with the follow-up to his first report. He is doing this, despite being threatened by “three men dressed in civilian clothes, who claimed to be police officers,” who went to his house the morning after the broadcast to ask him to stop broadcasting the issue. The men said he would face consequences if he did not stop, but did not elaborate.

The proper thing I believe is what the professor promised to do - seek legal action against the radio station for “spreading falsehood about the school.” And let’s see who wins.

39

opinion

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Who destroyed Nigeria: Looking back, moving forward

By Oluwole Aina

“W

E too live with divided eyes; one backward and one forward. Like an anxious figure in a Hitchcock thriller, we drive forward with eyes fixed on the rearview mirror. Our present is judged on the basis of what might have been. We mourn for that road not taken, that opportunity not seized; that victory not realised…” Portraits of Extraordinary Women That describes the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari, who rode to power on the crest of a promised change. They presented change and redemption to Nigerians and promised all-action in a few months of getting to office. Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, as well as the international community, embraced the party due to its promises, only to be later told how such promise would be difficult to achieve, because another party had been in power before them. Today, the APC continues to look backward and blame the past while the ship of the country heads for an iceberg.

No sooner had the APC government assumed office than it began to give excuses and seek understanding for the failure of its hurriedly-put-together plans to transform Nigeria in three months. They told the world of marshaled plans and well-thought-out policies that will reform the land in six months but five months into office, it is still all talks and no action. So, someone must take the fall. Yes, someone else must be the fall guy. Who else but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? Yes, the PDP must be the culprit for Buhari’s failure to hit the ground running. It must take the blame for the poor economy headed by a government without economic direction; a government that, contrary to promises, has not given a clear-cut plan of how it will run the economy and even has no minister five months into office.

It is incontestable that between May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2015, “PDP” occupied the seat of power in Abuja and controlled a majority of the states in the federation, what is contestable is whether “PDP” destroyed Nigeria in the last 16 years. At the rate that the APC is going, PDP has been given a life; it is now a man walking on two legs and breathing and not a political party peopled by individuals of different idiosyncrasies and predilections. But who is PDP? Which state is it from and is it true that it destroyed Nigeria? These questions have made it imperative to do a holistic analysis of the question: “Who destroyed Nigeria between 1999 and 2015?

Presidents and vice-presidents Nigeria had three presidents between May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2015, namely; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Mallam Umaru Musa Yar’adua and Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Of the three, Obasanjo spent eight years in office between 1999 and 2007, Yar’adua spent three years from May 2007 to May 2010, while Dr Jonathan spent the remaining five years. Today, Obasanjo has denounced PDP to become APC and Buhari’s navigator to office. Similarly, of the three vice-presidents during the 16 years, Atiku Abubakar spent the most number of years in office between 1999 and 2007. He not only moved to the Action Congress (APC’s foundation members’ platform) while in office in 2006, he also aspired to rule Nigeria on APC platform in 2014 and is a member of its Board of Trustees.

Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), which were enmeshed in controversy at the time. By virtue of his office, Atiku Abubakar was the chairman of NCP between 1999 and 2007 and both men supervised the privatisation of public companies for the period. They are now APC members; el-Rufai is even the governor of Kaduna State.

Danjuma Goje was the Minister of State for Power between 1999 and 2003, he was later Gombe State governor for two terms. Rabiu Kwankwaso was Minister of Defence between 2003 and 2007; he later became Kano State governor for eight years. Both men are now APC BoT members and Senators. Samuel Ortom served National Auditor of PDP for not less than four years and later as Minister of State for Trade and Investment between 2011 and 2015 and he is now governor of Benue State on the platform of the APC.

Speakers of the House of Representatives Between 1999 and 2015, Nigeria had six Speakers of House of Representative including Salisu Buhari (June -July 1999), Ghali Na’aba (July 1999-June 2003), Aminu Bello Masari (June 2003-June 2007), Madam Patricia Etteh (June 2007-November 2007), Dimeji Bankole (November 2007-June 2011) and Aminu Waziri Tambawal (June 2011-June 2015). Of all the six former Speakers, four are now members of the APC (Na’aba, Masari, Etteh and Tambuwal), with a combined period of 12 years in office out of the 16 years. Masari and Tambawal are now APC governors of Katsina and Sokoto states respectively.

State administrations between 1999 and 2015 Between 1999 and 2015, Gombe has had three governors, Abubakar Hashidu (4 years), Danjuma Goje (8 years) and Ibrahim Dankwambo(5 years). Both Hashidu and Goje, with combined 12 years, are now members of the APC. In Kwara State, all governors since 1999 are APC members except the late Mohammed Lawal who ruled under APP. In Anambra State, former Governors Chinwoke Mbadinuju (4years), Chris Ngige (3 years) and Peter Obi (8years) held sway. Mbadinuju and Ngige, with a combined seven years, are now APC members.

Similarly in Benue State, George Akume was a PDP governor between 1999 and 2007. Today, he is a senator on the platform of the APC. All elected governors of Osun State till date are APC members. Also in Ekiti State, of the 16 years, PDP’s Fayose only had four while Niyi Adebayo (4years), Segun Oni (3 years) and Fayemi (4 years), who are BoT members of the APC, had 11 years.

In Rivers State, APC’s poster boy and leader, Rotimi Amaechi was not only governor for eight years out of the 16; he also served as Speaker for the other 8 years on the platform of PDP while Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong was also a PDP Speaker during the Joshua Dariye administration. The list is endless.

Prominent government officials Nasir el-Rufai was Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprise and Secretary of National Council on Privatisation between 1999 and 2003; he later became Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007. As DG BPE and Secretary of NCP, he supervised the privatisation of National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) (now Power Holding Company of Nigeria) and the

The illogicality of APC’s claim For 16 years, most of these individuals mentioned and others, including the APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, held office across the country and contributed to the decline of the country and its economy or can anyone say that everything is perfect with Lagos where the APC has held sway for 16 years? Though most of these people were, at one time or the other, indicted for corrupt practices and fraud while in

office; they ‘navigated’ their ways into the APC and became celebrated saints as if changing parties meant changing souls.

Though Nigeria forgets things quite easily, I doubt if we can forget so soon that it was Bukola Saraki and Amaechi, who as Nigerian Governors Forum chairpersons, moved for the sharing of the Excess Crude Account among states, and went to court, forcing Jonathan to bow to their needless pressure. In fact, they also pushed for the sharing of the Sovereign Wealth Fund but were resisted by Jonathan. Today, Saraki is not just an APC Senator, but Senate President, while Amaechi is a minister-designate.

Can we also forget so soon that Audu Ogbeh, a minister-designate and APC’s Senator Barnabas Gemade were PDP national chairmen in the last 16 years? How then can the claim that PDP destroyed Nigeria be logical when more than half of the ‘destroyers’ are now in the APC? The claim defies logic in every sense.

Without any doubt, the continuous claim by the APC and Buhari’s administration that “PDP destroyed Nigeria” for sixteen years only shows that the present administration is yet to understand the problem of the country and an indictment on all those that held one office or the other since 1999, especially at the federal and state levels. Sadly, the president and his party have depended on these destroyers to get into office and one can only wish him luck and urge him to save Nigerians the excuses and focus on the job he was elected to do. Or has the APC only beguiled Nigerians with promises of change?

Let me illustrate this with an interview with a Jewish leader on what blacks can do to experience change. “Blacks must take responsibility, blacks must unite and vehemently fight corrupt leaders who run down their country and pass the buck. Let us stop buck passing and face reality.

Finally, my take is that a man can change his cloth as many times as he chooses or even disguise his gender but, he still remains who he is before the change, or who he is after the artificial change. The only permanent and beneficial CHANGE that can happen is that which comes from the inner mind, from a repentant heart and obedience to Gods principles of life by totally forsaking evil ways and life style. Let us therefore focus on individuals and identify those who have by their actions or inactions brought our beloved country to her knees and deal with them according to the laws of our land rather than chasing shadows as the ruling party and the present government are doing, otherwise we are far from the CHANGE Nigerians voted for as we are made to believe.

What we need today are men of integrity irrespective of their political party affiliation.

• Asiwaju of Iresiland, Osun State, Aina, PhD, writes from Abuja.

40

8 November, 2015

language&style A harvest of errors! (III)

T

ODAY makes it the third week we have concentrated analytic energy on an excerpt which has been tagged ‘A Harvest of Errors’. Even today, and hopefully for the last time, it serves as the only sample supplying the material for discussion.

Sample 1: “After taken the oath of office in 29th of May, 2015, after his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won a landslide victory at the polls, Governor AbubakarAtikuBagudu of Kebbi State in his determination to take Kebbi State out of the woods, set up various machineries that will galvanized and transform the state to comply with current trend of civilization and globalization…In the power sector, Governor Bagudu is of the strong belief that for any state economy to be develop, there must be steady power supply to people both the small, medium and large scale businesses…In addition, he released money for the purchase of two 11.7kva transformers and 50 units 7.5kva subtransformers that would transmit power from the 11.7kva to various parts of BirninKebbi, the state capital. This is now in force…

Shocked by the meager amount of money he met in government covers on assumption of office, Governor Bagudu set up a 25 man committee headed by his deputy, Suma’ilaDabaiYombe, to look into the finances of the state government under former Governor SaiduUsmanDakingari…The giant Flour Mills Plc aim to establish a full fledges Flour Mills Company in the State, because of the abundance rice cultivation and production which cut across 17 out of the 21 local government areas of the State…Governor AtikuBagudu’s administration set up a committee to verify the Local Government finances and also to establish the accurate figure of staffs in each of the local government council areas.

In the area of sanitation, a committee headed by a retired Navy Captain was mandated to clear and get rid of the heaps of refuse that dotted every nook and crannies of the state capital. Further, the clearing of drainages and seaways for easy passage of erosion has drastically prevented flooding which has been the bane of the metropolis in the past…The governor also used the opportunity of the visit to advocate for strong economic ties between Kebbi and Benin Republic…” (AtikuBagudu’s 100 Days: The Story so Far, The Nation On Sunday, September 27, 2015) Our opinion of this excerpt is unflattering, an opinion we have expressed in the last two weeks perhaps too caustically. It is our well-considered view that the habit of writing on display here ought to be denounced in the strongest language possible. How else do you view a write-up distinguished by almost total lack of regard for basic grammatical rules, idiomatic syntax, and collocational appropriateness?It demonstrates no sensitivity to elementary stylistic deployment of grammar and structure. This is not the type of text to which young minds desirous of acquiring functional literacy should be exposed. We have illustrated this opinion with many embarrassing examples from the excerpt.

Take as another example the expression every nook and crannies. We note the fact that the word nook is in its singular form andcrannies in its plural form. Readers should note that there is no rational basis for the difference in the forms of these two words. Should both be in their singular or plural forms or should one be in its singular form and the other in its plural form as the writer has shown?

The answer to this question lies in our understanding of the grammatical function of the word every modifying the expression. It seems clear to me that the writer’s understanding of the function of this word, like his understanding of many other words, is dubious. An adjective or a determiner, the word every usually precedes or modifies singular nouns.

Please read the following sentences: 1) Everyteacher owes it a duty to guide, correct and discipline every child under his care. 2) Every day offers an opportunity for every reasonable person to start life afresh. 3) Every bank customer is expected to have a unique number known as Bank Verification Number (BVN). 4) Every government agency should have its money deposited with the CBN, a system known as Single Treasury Account (STA). 5) Every worker is entitled to a minimum welfare package. 6) Every school must have facilities that will make teaching and learning easy. 7) Every tree sheds its leaves every year. 8)Every society has its rules and regulations. 9) Every opportunity goes with a responsibility.10) Every village in that country is said to have the social amenities that are restricted to urban centres in this country.

In each of those sentences, the word every modifies a singular noun.The following noun phrases are defective precisely because in each of them the noun following the adjective every is

by Samson Dare 0805 500 1770 samsonadare@yahoo.co.uk

in its plural (rather than singular) form: *every books;*every men;*every schools; *everyteachers; *every agencies; *every homes; *everychildren etc. I challenge the beginners reading this to offer the correct version of each of those phrases.

In the light of our understanding of the grammatical function of the word every, we return to the expression: every nook and crannies. It should be clear now that while the noun nook is appropriately in the singular form, the noun crannies has been wrongly pluralized in view of the pre-modifying adjective, every.

There are actually two versions of the expression botched by the writer: every nook and cranny; nooks and crannies.

Please note that in the variant having no pre-modifying very, the two nouns (nooks and crannies) are in their plural forms while in the variant in which the determiner/adjective is present, the nouns are retained in their singular forms.

Now read the following sentences: 1) During political campaigns, any serious-minded presidential aspirant must visit all nooks and crannies of the country. 2) I searched all nooks and crannies of the house looking for the gold ring. 3) He is a connoisseur of the literary arts, familiar as he is with the nooks and crannies of literature.

4) The police rummaged through the nooksand crannies of the expansive room hoping to find any evidence of the crime.5) Once it is dark, the dog, wild and restless as ever, roams all the nooks and crannies of the garden. 6) The security officer has the permission of the management to search every nook and cranny of the premises.

7) In spite of the fumigation exercise carried out by the Health Department, rats, cockroaches and termites are found in every nook and cranny of the compound. 8) It is embarrassing that there are hotels and night clubs in every nook and cranny of the town. 9) The time has come for the government to establish schools and clinics in every nook and cranny of the state. 10) During the Nigerian Civil War, soldiers were found in every nook andcranny of the country.

At any rate, the expression should read: every nook andcranny or all nooks and crannies.

But before leaving this grammatical point, I have an exercise for my readers, especially the beginners. Each of the following sentences is defective. Identify the error or errors and correct it/them: *1) Every members of the community are to contribute a sum of ten thousand naira. *2) Every candidates are advised to write their names and numbers on the front page of their answer booklets. *3) Every choristers are singing with passion. *4) Every vehicles are moving away from the naval base. *5) Almost every men are weak when alone with their wives. *6) Every professions have their own codes conduct. *7) Every churches we visited were interested in what was happening at the headquarters. *8) Every lawyers are thoroughly familiar or rather should be thoroughly familiar with their clients’ cases. *9) Every ladies are passionate about their appearance. *10) Every nations are searching for solutions to their peculiar problems.*11) Is it true that every streams take their sources from hills?*12)Every mothers want everychildren of theirs to succeed in life.

This exercise will be the first issue to be addressed next week

by God’s grace.

Next we examine the form of the noun drainages which occurs in the following context: “the clearing of drainages and seaways.”

Many Nigerians frequently pluralize the worddrainage. But it is an uncountable noun which, typically, should not be pluralized.

Please read the following sentences: 1) Given the poor drainage, erosion willdamage this road within a short time. 2) Engineers are already thinking about ways of improving the efficiency of the drainagesystem. 3) I am not an engineer, but it should be obvious to any observer that the drainage is faulty. 4) I think it will be useful to construct the drainagesystem before the major construction begins. 5) Water gathers on this portion of the road because of inadequate drainage. 6) The drains seem to be blocked somewhere along the line. 7) The problem is that the drains are not big enough. 8) The drains connected to the central drainage system are either broken or blocked.

The important issue here is that the noun drainage should never be used in its plural form because it is an uncountable noun.

However, the word drain, referring to the pipe connected to the drainage system, is a countable noun and can be pluralized. For this reason, the following sentence is faulty: “The governor has given approval for the construction of more effective *drainages.” The sentence should read: “The governor has given approval for the construction of a more effective drainage system.”

We should be able to clear the remaining issues in the excerpt next by God’s grace.

Sunday Tribune

line

life with

Niyi Osundare

Random Blues If you turn the world Into a lake of poison Say, if your turn this world Into a lake of poison Get ready for your own apportioned bowl The Warder’s big house is his little prison

Life sometimes is like An oft-recounted tale Yes, life sometimes is An oft-recounted tale Trodden tracks, beaten boulevards Worn, not weary, stupendously stale

Life is messy Like an artist’s studio Yes, life is messy Like an artist’s studio Kneady clay, smudgy paint Wild, wild symphony on careless radio

Those who need my call Have no names Say, they who need my call Have no names Life is sometimes a random range A blind search, a gamut of games

Life, don’t shave my head With a blunt razor Pray, Life, don’t shave my head With your blunt razor Write my name in the ink that lives Beyond the smudgy patch of liquid eraser

41

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

With Rita Okonoboh rosarumese@gmail.com 08053789087

tribunechurch

Clerics, artistes, stakeholders intercede for a new Nigeria

From left, gospel artiste, Annie Inyang; Mrs Madubuko; Pastor Anselem Madubuko; Archbishop George Amu; COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji; Archbihop John Osa-Oni; Reverend Precious Howard; KICC Presiding Pastor, Pastor Femi Faseru and gospel artiste, Kenny Saint Best at the ‘COSON in the Church’ event held last Sunday. Photo: Seyi Sokoya .

By Seyi Sokoya

T

he serene and stunning edifice of the Kingsway International Christian Centre also known as KICC Prayer Dome, situated at Maryland, Lagos State, came alive last Sunday as ministers of God, celebs, stakeholders in the entertainment industry, among other dignitaries, converged to speak in one voice to God to take over the affairs of the nation.

The event which was organised by the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), in conjunction with the church, was a development to formally hand over the one-week event of the copyright body to God and also to seek the face of God in praises and prayers.

The event which was graced by religious leaders from different denominations was led by the vice chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria and visionary of The Goodness of Bible Church, Archbishop George Amu; Archbishop John Osa-Oni, Pastor and Mrs Anselem Madubuko and Reverend Precious Howard, among other clerics, who urged Nigerians not to relent in their prayers for sustainable peace in the country.

Leading clerics such as Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Pastor Kola Oyeyemi and Pastor Matthew Asimolowo also sent in their good will messages during the event.

Pastor Femi Faseru of KICC who was delighted to host the event, commended the entire executives and members of COSON for taking God first towards the

commencement of its annual event tagged: “COSON Week,” adding that God will rewrite Nigeria’s story and rise on behalf of the nation, just as he noted that “amidst all glamour and fun, we should always praise and pray for Nigeria.”

Archbishop Amu, in his remarks, urged Nigerians to always remember our leaders in prayers, especially the newly appointed ministers for wisdom and understanding and the fear of God to govern and lead the country aright.

The event also featured prayers for a

new Nigeria and more open doors of opportunity for the youth towards nation building.

In his words, the anchor of the event, popular presenter, Victor Oladokun, who expressed confidence that there would be a great turn around because God is with Nigeria, revealed that churches must also obey the rules and regulations of copyright, by acknowledging and celebrating owners of songs rendered in church, adding that, “their names and pictures must be displayed at a particular place when such

songs is rendered. This will, no doubt, enable the church not to cheat or infringe on any artiste’s intellectual rights.

In his remarks, COSON president, Chief Tony Okoroji, thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the event, especially the host, just as he noted that the event has come to stay and will continue to achieve its aims, while a host of gospel artistes and comedians including church choirs, Tim Godfrey, Annie Inyang, Asu Ekiye, Koffi, Kenny Saint Brown and Explicit dancers thrilled the congregation.

As GOFAMINT pushes for a cleaner Nigeria

By Laolu Afolabi Recently, volunteers from the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) Non-Governmental Organisation took to

the streets to create a cleaner environment for Nigerians, in a sanitation campaign organised by the group which took place at Aseese, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, aimed at representing the

Participants at the sanitation exercise organised by the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) Good News Foundation.

church’s social responsibility.

In attendance were Pastor Clement Abe, Regional Pastor, GOFAMINT Region 8 and Chairman, GOFAMINT Good News Foundation, Bayo Adeleke, GOFAMINT Youth Volunteers’ Leader, Gabriel Abiola, GOFAMINT Mowe Youth coordinator, Taiwo Holo, GOFAMINT, PRO, Officers of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment and over 100 youth members of the church.

The exercise commenced with an opening prayer by Pastor Abe and a short orientation on safety was given by an officer from the Ogun State ministry of environment.

The exercise was appreciated by Aseese community members who were the direct beneficiaries of the Operation Cleaner Nigeria initiative and gratitude was also expressed to volunteers who participated in the exercise.

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Pastors must go back to the raw gospel

Churches give society sanity —Pastor Enajefe Pastor Jonathan Ogene Enajefe, the presiding pastor of Living Faith Chapel, also known as Winners Chapel, Jemo, Old Ife Road, Ibadan, shares with OLAIDE SOKOYA, the experience of how he received God’s calling, what government can do to overcome insecurity, among other issues. Excerpts: ministry, I must pull myself together for the work I have been called to do. Some of the things that have also helped me are inspirational books and my mentors, who helped me to overcome my fears.

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As a cleric, what do you make of the present situation of the country?

As a cleric, I will say the church is playing a major role in making the society saner.

OW did your journey into the ministry begin?

Being a pastor is a calling.

I had an engineering company with about seventeen staff before God called me. I disobeyed Him for sometime because I didn’t want to go into the ministry. After a while, I discovered that people started owing money; most of my customers refused to pay me and I was unable to pay workers’ salaries. I knew it was God at work. I knew He wanted me to do what He had commanded me to do. I couldn’t question Him for my adversities but to heed to His calling. Ever since I became a pastor about six years ago, everything has been going smoothly and I don’t regret following God’s direction for my life.

How do you mean?

The church has been praying a lot for the unity of the country. If we have not been praying fervently, this country would have gone down. There are some evil forces that are hell bent on bringing Nigeria down but God has been upholding the country as a result of the prayers of the righteous.

I believe the prayers of the saints have sustained Nigeria till date. Education came into this nation through Christians and since then, it has not left the hand of the Christians and if you check some of the schools that are making impact today, I can point to about ten of them that are from the church. So, the church is playing a key role in keeping Nigeria together and stronger despite the enormous problems we are facing.

What convinced you that it was God’s calling and not imagination?

I had a personal encounter which I can never forget. Everything I saw before I became a pastor is happening to me now.

I was a prayer coordinator of Students’ Movement of Nigeria in my university days. There was a time that we went for a camp meeting. During the meeting, there was what we called ‘Chain Prayer’, where we would pray all round the clock. On this very day, someone was leading the prayer and suddenly, somebody was to break the chain but I didn’t want the chain to be broken, so I took over that space and I prayed for twelve hours. In the course of the prayer, I saw a revelation. Something was given to me like a book to read to the people. I read it and at the end, I saw myself laying hands on people and they fell under the anointing. I was amazed because I had never seen anything like that before. Nobody could carry me or come close to me. All the pastors in the room were engulfed with the presence of God. When I finished praying, people narrated what happened to me. Since then, I knew the calling of God upon my life is not something I can toy with.

How do you think the federal government can tackle insecurity?

Security agencies can only try, God is the only one who can truly secure us as a nation. It is the Lord that can give security and if only we can have trust and focus on him, He will guide us through. God is the only one who can restore peace to this country, because He is the originator of peace and the Prince of Peace.

What are some of the challenges you have faced so far?

The first challenge I had was the lack of courage to face crowd. I was always worried about facing the congregation. I was very timid and I needed to overcome it. So, I told myself, if I must go far in the

What do you foresee for Nigeria in the coming year?

I am seeing a better Nigeria. Nigerians are praying and I believe God is listening.

What the President is doing currently is nothing far from what a man who was called Cyrus did in the Bible. God used him to fulfil His plan. God can use anybody to fulfil His agenda. I believe that is what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing. What he is doing now is that he is laying a solid foundation a better Nigeria.

What is your advice to Christians?

To all Christians, we should keep praying; most especially for this nation. We should keep praying for the President, because the Bible says we should pray for those who are in authority. Nobody has ever gotten to the position of authority without the approval of God. God approved him to be there, therefore, let’s pray for him.

God knows Buhari became the President, so we have to support him to succeed. So, let’s pray and encourage everything that is good and godly.

Sunday Tribune

—Apostle Alimi

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hat is the story behind Be-New in Christ Evangelical Church?

By God’s grace, this ministry started on October 15, 1989. We started as a ministry until the Lord called me to establish a church. We started in a sitting room, and with time, in fulfilment of God’s miracles, the church experienced growth and we moved here. The Lord is still performing miracles and we have branches within and outside Nigeria. We also have a campground, which we refer to as Zion City. For 12 years now, we have held our convention there and by God’s grace, we will mark our 26th anniversary this year with the Glorious Convention slated for Monday 9th November to Sunday, 15th November, 2015 at the camp ground, Zion City, Ago-Tente, Omi Adio, along Abeokuta Road, Ibadan.

What are some of the challenges you have experienced?

We have faced a lot of challenges in areas of expansion, growth, finances, labourers, among others. The harvest is plenty but the labourers are few but the Lord says we should continue to pray and God has been raising people for His work. God has helped us overcome challenges.

What other ministries do you have in the church?

We have Maranatha World Outreach, which is involved in spreading the gospel, church planting, open crusades, among other activities. We have the Shalom School of Mission, which is a Bible School, involved in the training of missionaries. We also have a ministry dedicated to writing about the gospel. God has given me the grace to be a writer and I have published many books.

In fact, at this year’s convention, I will also launch two books, titled Maranatha: O Lord Come and Shining Light, respectively. We also have those on the mission field. We are missionaries to the core and we have missionaries in many rural villages.

What are some of your major testimonies as religious leader?

My major testimony is the salvation of my soul. When I think of my life in the past, one that was very sinful, I didn’t think it would ever be possible to become a Christian and a leader at that. My life is a great testimony.

How did you come about the theme, “Great Harvest?”

When we were rounding off the programme at the convention last year, the Lord spoke to me and told me that this year’s convention will be tagged “Great Harvest.” Revelations 14:15 states that “For the time is come for ye to reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

And if we consider the rampant problems in society now and the world at large, as the Bible states in Matthew 24, when we hear such things, the end is at hand. The Lord has given us expansion this year and it is in line with what God promised us, thus, we celebrate a great harvest.

Apostle Philips Adebimpe Alimi is the General Overseer of Be-New in Christ Evangelical Church (Worldwide).

He shares with RITA OKONOBOH the church’s 26 years experience of spreading the gospel, how churches can tackle corruption effectively, and his expectations of the Buhari-led administration. Excerpts:

How did you come about the name, Be-New in Christ?

It came by revelation. In that revelation, I was seated in a golden chair but my surroundings were full of filth. The Lord appeared to me and asked if I was pleased with my environment and I told Him I was not. He then told me to stretch forth my right hand and immediately, I took hold of a hose and sprayed my surroundings with water and it became clean. Thus, the Lord told me to He wanted to use me to preach holiness and purity to the world, while also practising same, as well as cleanse people so that we can all become new again. That was how the name came about.

With your 26 years experience of spreading the gospel, do you think the church is doing enough to rid the society of moral decadence?

According to revelation, the church is spreading but we have failed to preach the Bible to people. In the time of John the Baptist, he referred to sinners as a generation of vipers. Which pastor today can refer to his congregation as a generation of vipers? We are not preaching the gospel in its raw form anymore. When we were converted, we heard raw gospel messages of repentance but today, it is messages of prosperity that are popular. A preacher is like a driver. Anywhere he leads the people to, they will be conscious of that. That is why many people who go to church now are fraudsters.

Some of those accused of fraud and even embezzlement are church goers.

What is the role of the church in the fight against corruption?

The role of the church now is to preach fervently the raw gospel. Pastors need to be cautious and less damning when they ask for donations so that they don’t encourage people to go into crime, just to please their pastors. Pastors should also question fishy donations and even tithes, no matter how tempting the offer may be. Rather, we should focus on holiness, purity and righteousness. That will serve as a check for corrupt practices.

In line with the theme of the programme, “Great Harvest,” should Nigeria expect great harvest soon?

As the Bible states, “Sin is a reproach to any nation, but righteousness exalts a nation.”

Our leader believes in righteousness and with his authority, he can command the nation into righteousness and greatness. If he wants his tenure to prosper, he should look for people like him. With that, Nigeria will prosper.

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churchnews

Sunday Tribune

With Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 08074497425

Only divine intervention can end insurgency —Abidoye Biola Azeez - Ilorin

A

s Nigerians await December deadline promised by the federal government to end insurgency in northern parts of the country, the Spiritual Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Most Rev. Samuel Abidoye, has said that only divine intervention can solve the problem.

The spiritual leader, however, called on people, irrespective of religious affiliation, to embark on fervent prayers to assist the war against insurgency.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin last week during the opening of the 75th national conference of C&S Church Worldwide, Abidoye also advised Nigerians to continue to be patient with the federal government to enable it bring needed positive change expected by Nigerians.

“Terrorists are people you cannot know. They do not normally dress like the army. They go like ordinary people on the streets and to identify them, it is almost very difficult except when they move in

groups. Don’t forget that the are many innocent people where they are to start bombing the place without caution is not advisable. Also, we still have over 200 missing Chibok girls around that place and we are not sure whether these girls are still alive.

Thus, the army has to be very careful in dealing with the situation because we want to get these girls alive and they have embarked on intelligence gathering around the place so as to nip in the bud activities of these Boko Haram members.

While urging Nigerians to be patient with government regarding insurgency, Abidoye added that

Buhari, remember your campaign promises —Singbo

By Olaide Sokoya The area superintendent of The Apostolic Church, Pastor Charles Singbo, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to remember his vows and pledges to the people of Nigeria during his campaign.

He gave this advice dur-

Pope warns of poverty hypocrisy in Catholic church Pope Francis has warned the Roman Catholic church against hypocrisy on the issue of poverty, saying it was impossible to speak about the poor and the homeless and yet lead the “life of a pharaoh”.

The comments were made in an interview with Straatnieuws, a Dutch newspaper published by homeless people, last week and came as the Vatican has been forced on the defensive after the publication of two books exposing greed and financial management at the heart of the church. The remarks appear to be a not-so-subtle jibe by Francis directed at his cardinals.

“The church must speak with the truth and also with testimony: the testimony of the poor. If a believer speaks about poverty

“Those who were there before Buhari were rushing and they did not do so well. To be able to get something good, you have to be patient. Let us be patient with President Buhari and see what he will do and I am certain something good will come from the efforts. He is being very careful and he is not bothered about what people say. He is going by what is his own idea. He has been there before and during his time, he instilled discipline.”

Abidoye also urged Nigerians to rather than play the blame game, pray for the success of the Buhari administration, which will in turn, ensure peace and stability for the country.

or about the homeless, and leads the life of a pharaoh: this can’t be done,” he told the newspaper.

In his interview with the Dutch newspaper, Francis said in response to a question about the church’s approach to poverty that Jesus had come into the world “homeless and poor”, and that the church believed every person had the right to three things: work, a home, and land.

“I am a believer and I know that sin is always within us. And there is always human greed, the lack of solidarity, selfishness, which create poverty.

For this reason, it seems to me a little difficult to imagine a world without poverty. But we must always struggle, always, always,” Francis told Straatnieuws.

ing a press conference at the church auditorium at Oke-Ado, Ibadan, to usher in the 18th annual convention of the church tagged “Pressing towards the mark in Christ Jesus,” and 20th year anniversary.

Speaking on the state of the nation, Singbo stated further that “those in government should fear the Lord and the law. They should remember the people they left behind because they are still coming back to these people after their reign.”

Noting that “Only divine intervention can save Nigeria from security challenges,” Singbo tasked religious leaders to come together to pray for peace to return to Nigeria,” he added that “We have no other country other than Nigeria. We should all join hands with the federal government in its effort to restore peace.”

He advised Nigerians to be more patient with the present administration, adding that “I want Nigerians to give him time because he has promised to change things in the country and with the steps that he is taking now, we are sure that he will do something for Nigeria which we will not forget. We just need a little patience.”

1. From left, The General Overseer and Founder of The Word of His Grace Ministry, Reverend (Dr) Ademola Akinpelu cutting his 50th birthday cake with his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Olumide Akinpelu, assisted by Pastor and Mrs Temitope Olugbode, at the church auditorium, Ibadan.

2. Prophet Owoseni Gideon of The Solution Cherubim and Seraphim Ministry; National President, Army of Salvation and other commanders, during passing out parade of the Good Samaritans Militia Brigade, tagged “Laying hold on the eternal life”.

3. The Area Superintendent of The Apostolic Church, Oke-Ado Ibadan, Pastor (Dr) Charles Singbo and other area council members of the church during the press conference at the church auditorium, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

4. From left, husband of the deceased, Pa J.O. Odeyemi; her children, Bukola and his wife, Iyabo; Mr Seyi Odeyemi and his wife, Riskat, and Mr Sola Odeyemi, during the funeral service for their mother, Prophetess Ibiyemi Florence Odeyemi, held at Church of the Messiah Anglican, Olruntedo, Ibala Road, Ilesa, Oyo State, recently.

44 tribunechurch

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Govt must be sensitive to masses’ plight —Pastor Adeniran Pastor John B. Adeniran, the state overseer of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Osun State, in this interview, shares his thoughts on the change agenda of the current administration, recommendations for ending insurgency and expectations concerning Pastor Kumuyi’s proposed visit to Osun State. Excerpts:

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hat do you think of the new wave of change prevalent in the nation today?

We really appreciate the good things that are happening because of the change being effected by this new administration. People are becoming cautious in the way they handle money and the way they handle people, because of the body language of the man at the helm of affairs. We really thank God for the real improvement experienced in the country today.

Last year, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi came to Osogbo and sometime this year, he was at Obafemi Awolowo University for spiritual outreaches. Was there any memorable event that took place when he came?

Last year, there were many lives that were transformed; sinners were converted; the sick were healed. We heard testimonies of people bound by the devil being delivered.

The effects are still evident today. Even in churches, the Lord brought great increase in the numbers of believers who gave their lives to Christ.

What is your view of President Muhammadu Buhari’s stand on corruption?

With the direction in which government is going, we know that something is really happening in the whole nation.

The masses appreciate what the government is doing, but the concern that we have is that there shouldn’t be bias in the way the corruption is been tackled. It should be a thing that will cut across all facets, all religious sectors, political parties, and everyone should really have that awareness that corruption is not just witch hunting a particular set of people. This will ensure that government’s efforts are appreciated

Pastor Kumuyi will visit Osun State this month.

What are some of the programmes that will take place?

We thank God for the vision given to the man of God, Pastor Kumuyi, to come over to Osun State. He is not only coming to Osogbo, this time, he is going to cover all the senatorial districts, the rural areas all over the state so that the gospel can be preached to all the nooks and crannies of the state, especially those at the grassroots, so that it will not be limited to the state capital.

By the grace of God, he will visit Ikire on 17th November; Ipetu Ijesa on the 18th; Ejigbo and Oduduwa College, Ile Ife on the 19th; Garage Olode, Ife South and Isasa, Ipetumodu on the 20th, and Ilesa on the 21st and 22nd of November. Then, he will continue the outreach by visiting Ede on Tuesday, 24th November; Ikirun and Ila-Orangun on 26th November; Iwo on 27th November; Ilobu on Saturday, 28th November, while the grand finale of the crusade will take place at Osogbo City Stadium in the evenings of Saturday, 28th November and Sunday, 29th November, 2015.

What would you recommend as a solution to insurgency?

We have desired that these insurgencies would have been brought to an end, paralysed and their strongholds pulled down considering the war against them, but we still see them rising. This cannot continue. We need divine intervention on the part of those that are prayer minded to pray more for God to give more wisdom to the leadership to embrace the need to be sensitive to the plights of the people, seeing as the masses feel the impact the greatest.

There must be more vigilance on the part of men of the force and other security personnel to maintain law and order, ensure vigilance and be proactive towards curbing the menace.

In spite of the efforts by churches to sanitise

our society through prayers and crusades, do you think the impact of the church is being felt in this regard?

By the grace of God, God is answering the prayers of the sincere people of God. If not for the prayers of the righteous, the situations would have been worse. We need to challenge believers, the children of God, to pray more and intercede to make sure prayers are made in all the sectors of the society so that our land can experience peace. We need to put some religious instructions in place so that our people can be tailored towards things that will make for peace in our communities. People must be able to rise up and preach the gospel in rural and urban areas.

What other states has he visited with similar outreaches to rural communities?

He has been to states such as Nasarawa, Taraba, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Ogun. We thank God for this new vision of reaching the grassroots with the gospel. No preacher worth his salt should count himself too big to reach the grassroots.

At 25th anniversary, Yewa diocese counts God’s blessings

By Rita Okonoboh THE Diocese of Yewa, Anglican Communion, Ilaro, Ogun State, recently celebrated its 25th year anniversary, which began on 23rd October and ended on 2nd November with a thanksgiving service, award ceremony and launching/ book presentation on the Diocese of Yewa, which took place at All Saints Anglican, Leslie, Ilaro, with the theme, “Taste and See that the Lord is Good,” based on Psalm 34:8.

At the thanksgiving service held last week, which featured prominent clerics, traditional rulers, dignitaries and elder statesmen, the Bishop of Yewa Diocese, who was also the chief host, Right Reverend Michael Oluwarohunbi, pointed out that the diocese in the last 25 years has improved on the spiritual well being of many people in Yewa through the establishment of Anglican churches in many communities of the area.

Bishop Oluwarohunbi also noted that the church has empowered many youths through the establishment of skill acquisition programmes not only in Ilaro but across Yewaland. He urged the state government to bring more developmental projects to Ilaro in order for the town to wear the same look like that of Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode. Also speaking at the occasion, the paramount ruler of Yewaland and Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbele, who congratulated Yewa Diocese on its anniversary, highlighted the efforts of the church in the area, just as he noted that the development of Yewaland is a collective responsibility of every Yewa indigenes.

The paramount ruler, who assured good people of the area of government support, noted that “Yewa is blessed with natural resources and God fearing, hardworking people so, let us continue to work together and support one another. I know that one day we will get there. The dream of making Yewa a destination to every tourist coming into the country will surely come to reality

From right, Bishop of Yewa Diocese, Rt. Revd. Michael Oluwarohunbi; Bishop of Ifo Diocese, Rt. Revd. Nathaniel Ogundipe; Bishop of Ife East Diocese, Rt. Revd. Seyi Oyelade; Bishop of Osun Diocese, Rt. Revd. James Popoola and Bishop of Oyo Diocese, soon,” just as he advised youths of the area to desist from activities that will bring shame to the area.

Delivering the sermon for the thanksgiving anniversary, the Bishop of Oyo Anglican Diocese, Right Reverend (Dr) Williams Aladekugbe, urged people to always make true their watch words and trust in God at all times.

Reading from the Holy Bible, Psalm 34:8, the Bishop said that any human who works for God and do things with the fear of the Almighty would never regret in life and such a person would surely live a fulfilled life, and he prayed for peace and unity while urging the leadership of the country to always desist from corrupt practices.

The 25th anniversary celebration also featured activities such as Bible quiz, talent hunt/choral competition, women sports fiesta, football competition, Mission Safari,

Carnival for Christ, among others.

Dignitaries present at the event include Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewa Land, HRM Oba Kehinde G. Olugbenle; Onisaga of Isaga Orile, HRM Oba Joseph Ola Olu Tella; Omola of Imala, HRM Oba (Apostle) Moses Adelani Olabode; Otunba Olu of Ilaro, Dr S.A.J. Ibikunle; Prince Bola Akinosi; Vice Chancellor, Ajayo Crowther University, Oyo, Rt. Revd. (Prof) Dapo Asaju; Chief Leke Ibikunle; Chief M.A. Ogunyemi; Chief Solomon A. Oniyide; Chief D.A. Coker; Chief Abolade Olaosebikan, Chief (Mrs) J.B. Mautin; Dr (Mrs) O.A. Olamigoke; Ven. (Dr) O. Obadina; Dr Olusegun O. Feyisitan; Dr Kolawole Ajayi; Mr A.O. Ajiboye, Mr Sanya Lala; Mr Gori Adeyinka, Mrs Oluyemisi O. Oloyo, among others.

45 tribunechurch with Most Revd J.O. Akinfenwa

with Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, fradebadejo@yahoo.com

Harvest of new songs

The Christian day of destiny

Washed in the blood of the Lamb The book of Revelations describes John’s reaction to the parade of the Saints in heaven. “One of the elders then spoke, and asked me, ‘Do you know who these people are, dressed in white robes, and where they have come from?’ I answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb’” (Rev. 7:13-14:).

The full story of that parade must make us ponder how the Lamb of God came to shed his blood (Phil 2: 6ff). It must make us inquire how possible it is for anyone to wash a robe white in the blood of the

The Church must keep Christians focused and committed to the task of holiness because God demands it of His children

Sunday Tribune

dawnofanewera

firmfaith:rightreason

The saints’ annual general meeting The first Day of November is a very special Solemnity known as “All Saints Day” in the Church deriving from Catholic Tradition. It is a day for remembering the saints of Christendom and reminding Christians of their “Day of Destiny”.

That destiny is that all are called to holiness and destined for reunion with God. All Saints day can be seen as the “Annual General Meeting” day for all God’s children, the Saints Militant, those still living and passing through the world here, and the Saints Triumphant, those who have fought the good fight and gone ahead of us. We Christians living still, often called “saints” by Paul in his epistles, must not lose focus of our destiny as we travel along this temporary and transitory world even though this “other-worldly” commitment has in past centuries attracted criticisms from political liberalists. They allege that Christians, by implication, tend to take less interest in this world and subsequently ignore their duties as good citizens to the state and to society. Nothing at all can be more false and there is no real evidence to support that position.

Jesus Christ, in truth, admonished his followers to be the light of the world and salt of the earth (Matt 5: 13-14) . He nonetheless insisted that Christian priorities must be correctly set: “Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto you” Matt. 6:33) The Scripture reading of the solemnity of All Saints is good material for meditation and for demonstrating the attraction of that other world to Christians who hope to reach the Kingdom of the Father. Jesus Christ affirmed that “Where I am, my servant shall be also”. All Saints Day reminds us all living that all the way to heaven should be for us, heaven as well.

8 November, 2015

lamb. Embedded here is the function of the endurance, suffering and sacrifice made by those admitted into heaven. The Book of Wisdom gives explicit insight into this: “The souls of the just are in the hands of the Lord, no torment shall ever touch them. In the eyes of the unwise they did appear to die, their passing like annihilation. But they are at peace”. Death is obviously a central element of All saints Day. To become a saint one must first die. Those who die and become saints are those who have passed through great tribulations and trials. These are very unpopular concepts in today’s society. Little wonder that today’s culture of liberalism also attempts to strip society of the desire and demands of holiness. Yet the longing remains in every human being, to one day reach a place of eternal rest and bliss which is attainable only by “washing one’s robe white in the blood of the lamb” Do not be afraid to be holy The Church must keep Christians focused and committed to the task of holiness because God demands it of His children. “Be holy for I the Lord your God am holy”. (Lev 19:2). Jesus Christ also emphasized it: “Also for your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The rest of the Scriptures as well abundantly echoes the call to holiness. “He chose us in Himself before the creation of the world to be holy and without sin in his presence” (Ephesians 1:3-4, 1Pet. 1:14-16). The task of holiness is simply indispensable to our salvation because God has no consideration for modern theories of sinful conspiracy termed “solidarity” or moral relativism renamed “tolerance”.

That is why Saint John Paul II encouraged all, especially young people not to be afraid to be holy. The Bible strengthens that approach so that all who struggle to be holy receive succor and never despair. “However, all have sinned and all fall short of the Glory of God; and all are graciously forgiven and made righteous through the redemption effected in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). “The Lord is gracious and merciful; abounding in love and slow to anger” (Psalms 103:8). Many teachers of faith agree that the difference between the saints and the sinners is in never giving up: “even though the Saint falls seven times, he gets up again, But the sinner sinks in their adversity” (Proverbs 24:16).

Join the winning team Therefore All Saints Day reassures Christians that they belong to a winning team.

The Bible testifies: “Keep faithful and I shall give you the crown of life for your prize (Rev 2:10). Of the just it says: “God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace and accepted them as a holocaust. When the time comes for his visitation they will shine out.... They shall judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their king forever” (Wis. 3:59, Rev 7:15-17). So, saints, do not weaken, hold up your heads for your salvation is near.

This is the season of harvest thanksgiving.

It is time to look back and count our blessings. The songwriter says, Count your blessings, name them one by one Count your blessings, see what God has done Count your blessings, name them one by one And it will surprise you what the Lord has done!

And really, it should not surprise us that God has been so good to us. The Psalmist says, Psalms 73:1 Truly God is good to israel; even to such as are of a clean heart.

People of God, life is all about change.

Nothing is permanent in this life.

However, change can be positive or negative; beneficial or harmful. For many of us, God has enabled us to experience positive change in the last one year, and we just have to give him thanks. For many of us, he has taken us through major transitions. To use popular language, our “levels don change”! Why then should we not thank the Lord? The single has become married. The struggler has become rich.

The weak has become strong. The parent has become a grandparent. The Mr... has become a Dr... or a Chief.. .ln many ways, God has changed our stories for good.

And we can only bless his name and give him praise.

David the Psalmist experienced positive

change in his life. He wrote about the change that happened in his life this way: Psalms 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. David tells us that he found himself in a horrible pit of life. At another time, he found himself in the miry clay. Let us say a few words about the miry clay. Miry clay is that type of clay that when you mistakenly find yourself stuck in it, as you are trying to bring one leg out, your other leg is sinking deeper. Usually, to get out of miry clay, you will need help. Is there anyone last year whom, as you were trying to “bring one leg out” your “other leg” was sinking deeper. It was as if you would sink inside the trouble. But God sent you help. You are in David’s category; you are a testifier today. Your life is a testimony!

God did not merely bring David out of the horrible pit and the miry clay, he thereafter set David’s feet upon a rock.

You see, both the person who has been holed up in the horrible pit, and the one held up in the miry clay have suffered delay. When they get out, they need a fast track. What if they get out and their feet are then set on beach sand?

To be continued next week

livingword

By Bishop David Oyedepo Call 7747546-8; or e-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

Accessing Heaven’s Order of Financial Fortune! (2) LAST week, we began this teaching series with the understanding that every redeemed child of God is ordained to manifest financial fortune after the order of heaven. We also learnt that love for God and His Kingdom was what launched Solomon into the realms of Heaven on Earth order of wealth and extraordinary abundance. This is because love is our guaranteed access into God‘s heart. That was why David enjoyed heaven’s order of blessing. He was referred to as a man after God’s own heart and he emerged as a financial giant. He was virtually wealthier than the entire nation in his days. He said: Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house. Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers... (1 Chronicles 29:3-5).

We must understand that love for God and His Kingdom are the two-fold platforms where giants rise. It is also the covenant launching pad into a world of financial fortune. The Bible says: Therefore take no thought, saying, What

shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:31-33; see also Psalms 102:13-15).

No wonder all true lovers of God, not only in Bible times but also in the contemporary, flowed supernaturally in financial fortune. For instance, John D. Rockefeller who was the first American billionaire in history was a highly blessed man. He was a church addict and he served God with everything at his disposal. He served as a church warden thrice and was a humble steward in the house of God. When he was 52 years old, he was told by doctors that he had a short time to live due to failing health.

Then, he parted with 50% of his stakes in business to service the needs of humanity.

Miraculously, there was a turnaround and he lived to be 93 years old. Today, his work speaks louder than in his life time.

Therefore, love-motivated stewardship is the platform for the rise of financial giants in the Kingdom. However, God’s love is not theoretical but practical. That is, it is impossible to love God and not know. One of the ways we can show our love for God is by being born again.

46

features

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

After Obafunwa, will peace return to Lagos citadel of learning?

VC’s office abandoned

The Lagos State University (LASU) has in recent months been embroiled in controversy following the activities of unions in the university aimed at forcing out its vice chancellor in disgraceful circumstances. Naza Okoli, who has followed events at the institution in the past few weeks, provides an update on the developments.

F

or about 52 days preceding October 31, 2015, two banners – one at the main gate and the other at the second gate – announced gleefully, the imminent end of the tenure of the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Professor John Obafunwa. The countdown was as meticulous as it was religiously highlighted. When Sunday Tribune visited the campus on Friday, October 30, the message on the banners read: “1 More Day to go”.

Of course, the banners were not themselves replaced each day. Only the number of days left for the Vice Chancellor was altered. But on that Friday, special care was also taken to remove the “s” in “days” in order to achieve grammatical correctness. None of the unions, however, claimed ownership of the banners.

However, prodded to speak further concerning them, the General Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), LASU chapter, Mr Awoyemi Bola, told Sunday Tribune that members of the unions were as puzzled about the banners as everyone else: “We too have been looking for the person who has been updating the countdown,” he said. “We don’t know who he is.”

However, the President of the Students’ Union, Mr Adeyemi Onikoro, was convinced it was the handiwork of the unions. “Even if ASUU and SSANU are saying that they are not the ones, we know that they are the ones in charge,” he said. He added: “And that should tell you the quality and capacity of the people we have as ASUU and SSANU members at Lagos State University. They are supposed to be our leaders, because learning is not only in the classroom, but also about character.”

A funny farewell...

Even as Obafunwa’s tenure drew to an end, the Administrative Block remained barricaded. It had been that way since March 16 – the day he was violently sent out of the school premises by the staff unions.

Two old vehicles with deflated tyres were used to block

the driveways. As before, the door to the Senate Block was decked out with palm fronds.

Although the university was calm that Friday, there was excitement in the air. Staff members were found in groups discussing the developments. Indeed a weeklong series of events had been scheduled by the workers to celebrate the Vice Chancellor’s exit. One of the banners at the gate announced that “LASU Christian Community” would hold a thanksgiving service tagged “A New Dawn.” On Monday, November 2, members of the unions, all dressed in ankara uniform, organised a fanfare. It was the grand finale. Dancing and cheering, they displayed a large banner that read: “Rejoice with LASU on the Exit of Evil.”

Curiously, little was said by the workers about the possibility of Professor Obafunwa being re-appointed as Vice-Chancellor. Obafunwa, who has only completed his first term in office, is eligible for a second term. It is not known however whether he submitted an application. Attempts made by Sunday Tribune to speak with him last week were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, Mr Awoyemi Bola, the General Secretary of SSANU said there would be “war” if Obafunwa returned.

“God forbid that he should come back,” he said. “I cannot tell you everything that would happen, but I know there would be war. In fact, the school would be shut down. Since March 16, he has not been able to set foot on this school. That tells you he has been rejected.”

Also speaking, the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Idris Adekunle said he was certain the Governing Council would do the right thing. “We expect that the Governing Council would appoint a new Vice Chancellor based on the law,” he said. “We have passed a vote of no confidence in the immediate past Vice Chancellor, but if the Council wants him back, fine. The struggle continues. We are a union, and we will be eternally vigilant until the cries of freedom are heard. But we are sure that this Council would be wise enough not to appoint him.” continues on

pg 47

Prof. John Obatunwa, VC, LASU

47

features

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Will appointment of new VC end crisis? continues on

pg 46

A tenure marred by crisis Professor Obafunwa, a former Provost of the university’s College of Medicine, was appointed Vice Chancellor of LASU by the former Governor of Lagos, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on November 1, 2011. Obafunwa’s tenure was one of great turbulence. There were a number of students’ protests; the notable ones coming after the increase in fees imposed by the Lagos State Government and the closure of examination registration portals by the management.

While speaking with Saturday Tribune in an exclusive interview earlier this year, Professor Obafunwa said he had stepped on many toes, while trying to purge the system. His words: “A lot of things have to be changed; starting with the registration of students, getting results out, zero tolerance for sales of hand-outs, ensuring that academics have the right credentials, ensuring that you don’t continue to accommodate people who would have been lecturers at a lower level for fifteen to twenty years; what sort of message are you sending to the students? There are so many issues that people on the outside do not know. We had to deal with exam racketeering, we had to deal with people who are used to collecting some allowances for occupying certain positions, taking so much money within the system.

“Since the inception of this administration, we have gone through three consecutive convocations – 2012, 2013, 2014. Before this administration, for five years or so, LASU did not have any convocation. And I recall last year in the Senate, some people were advocating that we should wipe out the 2013/2014 academic session and some of us said no.”

But it was his conflict with the staff unions that would prove the most deadly.

He was accused of withholding staff welfare allowances, victimising staff and students, disregarding standard procedure in appointments and promotions. Things got to a head when, in the middle of these allegations, the management made a decision to withdraw the PhD certificate awarded by the school to Dr Adekunle Idris, the Chairman of the LASU Chapter of ASUU,

VC’s driveway

Senate block decked out with palm fronds

Gov. Akinwumi Ambode, Lagos State claiming it was issued in error. Expectedly, this deepened the crisis. The leadership of ASUU at the national level threw its weight behind Idris; and so the staff unions at LASU became strengthened in their resolve to see to the removal of the Vice Chancellor.

The occasion of the 2015 Convocation offered that opportunity. It was to be the Vice Chancellor’s “big achievement” – his fourth convocation in four years! And the unions would have none of it. As the weeklong series of events drew to its peak, the unions seized the campus, and on the 16th of March, forcefully drove him away from the main campus, pelting him with sachets of water.

A timeline of chaos Indeed, crisis is not new to the thirty-

Dr. Adekunle Idris two-year-old university. Obafunwa’s predecessor, Professor Lateef Akanni Hussain, who managed to be re-appointed for a second term in October 2009, was forced to resign after only one year. Like Obafunwa, Hussain was vilified by both the staff and students’ unions. He was accused of highhandedness, and a vote of no confidence was also passed in him. Following months of agitation by the unions for his removal, Hussain was reportedly directed to proceed on a compulsory leave in December 2010.

Satisfied, the unions vowed to unleash terror should Hussain return after his leave.

Speaking at the time to journalists, the thencChairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Mr Yakubu Jubril said: “Since October 2010, the VC has not entered the university, and NASU will not allow him into the campus. His days are gone, and gone for good. His cohorts tried to bring him back on March 22, 2011. We told the Head of Service that if the government wants peace, the VC should not be allowed into the campus. The leave he is enjoying is a terminal one, while the vote of confidence still subsists.

“I tell you 100 per cent peace has returned to LASU in his absence. The state government should do everything to let it remain so. This is the type of atmosphere we have been craving for which Hussain did not encourage. We received the news of his attempt to resume… The foot soldiers (union members) were prepared for him, but he did not turn up.”

The embattled Vice Chancellor did not return. A fresh advertisement was published for his position, and in November 2011, Obafunwa replaced him.

Ambode steps in The governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, is not unaware of the complexity of the problem he has inherited as Visitor of the institution. Speaking recently, at the inauguration of Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos, the governor said the crisis would “soon be over.” Only two months ago, Ambode inaugurated a new Governing Council for the institution. with Professor Adebayo Ninalowo as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman.

At a meeting of the Council held on Thursday, October 8, 2015, six committees were set up to “investigate all the is-

sues raised by the four staff unions (ASUU, SSANU, NAAT and NASU) and come up with recommendations on how Lagos State University can become crisis-free so as to assume its enviable position in the comity of universities.” The committees are: “Appointments, Promotions and Disciplinary Committee; Infrastructure and Maintenance Committee; Committee on Withdrawal of Certificate; Finance and Funds Management Committee; Conditions of Service Committee; and Special Committee.”

It would seem that the students’ union has somehow managed to steer clear of the current crisis. However, the President of the union, Mr Adeyemi Onikoro who spoke with Sunday Tribune on Wednesday, said he found the actions of the staff unions disappointing and irresponsible.

“I am not optimistic,” he said. “The moment you use the same method to solve an old issue, then you should expect the same result. The same method they have used now was what they used in the case of the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hussain.

They thought there would be peace at LASU after Hussain. So you, see, it is not the Vice Chancellor that is the problem with LASU. The institution itself needs to be restructured. We should not expect any miracle now that the Vice Chancellor is out.

“You saw what happened on Monday, after the expiration of Obafunwa’s tenure.

You saw members of the staff unions drumming and dancing all around the campus. It is uncalled-for. They declared a 7-day celebration. A day was even set aside for occult consultations. And the government is watching. Is there any university in Nigeria where this kind of thing happens?”

Onikoro urged Governor Ambode to use the powers of his office to restore order at the university – if LASU must “become one of the greatest universities in Nigeria and the world.”

Indeed, with the appointment of Professor Fidelix Njokama as acting Vice Chancellor of the institution at the weekend, the unions may feel that their dream of preventing Obafunwa’s second term has become a reality. But it is yet unclear if peace is finally returning to the university after weeks of storm.

48

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 0807 449 7425

children’sarena

Words from the kids What are your duties as a school prefect?

All students are from Treasure Land College, Ibadan.

As a class captain, I make sure the class is clean and well arranged Akinwale Stephen Ayodele, S.S 1, 14 years

My duty as a class captain is to make sure the class is clean and well arranged. I also make sure no class period is missed by any teacher; I call the teacher whenever we have his/her class. I provide the teaching materials that the teacher needs in the class, such as chalk, water ruler and duster. I ensure all assignments and class work are submitted to the teacher as at when due. Lastly, I ensure that any misunderstood topic taught in the class is taken to the subject teacher for further explanations to the students.

My duties are to help in smooth running and development of my school ——Ojo Temitope S.S 2, 14 years My duties as an assistant senior girl are: to help in the smooth running and development of my school; to assist teachers in some aspects which they cannot handle, to invent extra-curricular activities so as to encourage students to be able to face other schools in any competition; to help the students make the school environment clean so as to project the image of the school in a glorious way to outsiders; to assist the teachers by being a good role model to the students i.e. possessing some characteristics that the teachers will be proud of; to assist teachers in some areas where they find it difficult to correct some students.

As a senior boy, I serve as an intermediary between the students and the teachers —Adebayo Matthew Oluwasegun, S.S.3, 15 years

My duties are to take care of the injured, and sick students in the school

As the senior boy of my school, my duties are to coordinate the activities of the school; represent the school at various occasions; help the school in various activities relating to the students. As a senior boy, I serve as an intermediary between the students and the teachers; to help students in education related issues; I represent students at external occasions. I am to help the teachers in reducing their stress by coordinating the students, I also help the teachers get suggestions, ideas and information from the students and finally to act on their behalf or in their absence.

I make sure all the students are hale and healthy as the health prefect —Oni Emmanuel Oluwatofunmi, S.S.3, 14 years

My duties as the health prefect are: to make sure the school environment is clean and tidy; make sure the students are clean with their well ironed uniforms with a pair of white socks; make sure the environment is healthy for learning; provide drugs to students from the first aid box based on the nature of their illness to make sure all the students are hale and healthy. I treat those who are injured during the cause of play either on the pitch or off the pitch. I help the teachers in maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of the school, I also make sure the school environment is conducive for learning for both students and teachers .

famousinvention Brief history of CCTV systems Closed-circuit television (CCTV), also known as video surveillance, is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors.

The first CCTV technology was used in the 1940’s, to monitor the testing of V2 missiles, which was a landmark in testing weapon history. Because of the cameras, the missiles could be observed at very close distances with no risk of danger for the scientists and engineers testing the rockets.

In 1949, the first commercial CCTV system became available in the United States, and in the 1960’s UK decided to start implementing CCTV cameras in selected public places, during many

public events such as rallies and the appearance of public figures.

Overall in terms of the earliest uses of CCTV systems, the 1960’s to the 1970’s were the time when CCTV was first emerging into a world that slowly but surely recognised the usefulness of such a system in many different fields, including security.

—Adebisi Bridget Ayomide SS2, 13 years.

My duties are: to take care of the injured, and the sick students in the school. I also help wounded students by dressing their wounds, checking and maintaining personal hygiene among students by telling them to wash their uniforms, iron their uniforms, wash their teeth well and cut their nails whenever it is long.

As the social prefect, I supervise all the social activities of the school —Ojo Eyitayo. SS3, 13 years.

My duty as the school social prefect is to supervise all the social activities in the school which include: the school inter-house sport, inter-school competitions, quiz and debate. I also supervise all the affairs concerning the students both morally and social life by encouraging, supporting and helping them to fight the challenges of life both academically and morally. My duty is also to render effective and satisfying social services to the management as well.

Quote

“The more you read, the more things you will know.

The more you learn, the more places you’ll go”

k ee li d he w Ch of t

DANIEL

Bobade

clocked 1 recently

Wishing you long life and prosperity.

49

bayelsa/kogi2015

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Sylva’s hometown stands still for PDP

...PDP court suit is a desperate move to avoid meeting Sylva at the poll —APC Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa

N

o fewer that 19 communities that made up Brass constituency 3 area of Bayelsa State have endorsed the re-election of Governor Seriake Dickson in the December 5 governorship election to enable him consolidate on his achievements.

It was a tsunami rally, as men, women, youths and prominent traditional and political leaders in Sangana, Ogbokiri, Kongho, Bekekiri and others trouped out in their numbers to back the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, incumbent Governor Dickson to continue in office for a second term, saying that he (Dickson) has performed creditably in office.

At the rally ground, members of the communities expressed their satisfaction with how governance and finance were being managed by the PDP-led governor, even as they rated him high in the area of security, education, health and infrastructure, among other sectors.

At two separate rallies at Sangana and Ogbokiri in Akassa clan, the governor’s visit was described as historic. The traditional head of the kingdom, the chiefs and people said they were resolute in their resolve to vote massively for the PDP-led government in the December 5 election.

They eulogised the governor for establishing the Izon-ibe Micro-finance Bank that has encouraged several small and medium scale businesses to grow, thereby turning out entrepreneurs to stimulate the state’s economy.

On justice delivery, the people thanked Governor Dickson for being instrumental to the establish-

ment of the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Yenagoa, adding that it had brought relief to those who travel to Port Harcourt, Rivers State to get justice.

In his address, the PDP chairman of Ward 10, and a serving commissioner in the state Local Government Service Commission, Uroh Kiani, highlighted some of the social amenities provided in the area by the Restoration administration to include model secondary school, rehabilitation of health centre

equipped with modern facilities, including water ambulance.

He lauded the governor for giving them a sense of belonging by appointing sons and daughters of the area into position of responsibilities including the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei and facilitating the election of Senator Ben Murray Bruce.

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of a suit questioning the eligibility of former Governor Timipre Sylva contesting the December 5 election, the APC

not work in this particular matter because even as a lay man, one could say this case was clearly an attempt to divert the attention of the Sylva-Igiri Campaign from focusing on the job at hand, that is working to oust Governor Dickson from office.

The statement reads: “Our lawyers are studying the case, but we do know that a properly constituted court in 2008 declared his earlier election null and void. This, therefore, implies that even the oath of office he took, which they’re referring to, is au-

tomatically null and void.

“It is a big shame that in their desperation, the PDP and, indeed, Governor Dickson, would be embarking on such an exercise that is doomed to fail from the beginning as the issues they’re canvassing are already settled matters.”

To this end, he urged their lawyers to refer to the several rulings regarding the eligibility or otherwise of former President Goodluck Jonathan to know the likely outcome of this case, even as he noted that the APC was not perturbed at all.

It will recalled that the PDP and the Governor Dickson Restoration Campaign team had filed a suit challenging Chief Sylva’s eligibility to contest the December 5 election.

5,000 Kogi youths to benefit from skill acquisition Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

The best female student in Civil Litigation, Biodun Ganiyat Jimohcook, receiving an award donated by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, at the last Call to Bar ceremony of the Nigerian Law School in Abuja.

Appeal court orders immediate reinstatment of sacked Kogi LG chairmen Clement Idoko-Abuja

A Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reinforced its earlier judgment directing the Kogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada, to immediately reinstate

the sacked 21 local government chairmen in the state.

The Appeal Court had, on October 23, 2015, in its judgment, set aside the judgment of the High Court of Justice, Koton

Dickson to award multibillion naira Nembe/Brass road The Bayelsa State governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, in continuation of his community-based campaign tour at the weekend, visited the country home of the former governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, assuring them of his administration’s resolve to award the multi billion naira Nembe/Brass road during the first quarter of 2016, if re-elected for a second term in office.

The award of the contract, as assured by the governor, was in addition to the ongoing Ogbia/ Nembe road project and

has said the PDP candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson is jittery and intimidated by the acceptance of Chief Sylva; and that the baseless court suit is another desperate attempt by the governor and his party to avoid meeting Chief Sylva at the polls.

This is contained in a statement signed by the APC Director for Media and Publicity, Chief Nathan Egba, made available to Sunday Tribune in Yenagoa.

He noted that resorting to the courts for help would

other developmental projects sited in the area.

The governor, who was received by the Okpoama Council of Chiefs commended the people of the area for their support and large turnout, adding that this was a testimony to the fact that the people of Brass Local Government Area of the state were in support of the PDP-led administration.

On the project, he said it would be given due attention, as it would enable the administration to achieve its policy up to the Atlantic Ocean to enhance socio-

economic development.

According to the governor, clearing and sand filling would be done in earnest, as soon as the project is awarded to a competent contractor.

Commenting on the state Maritime Academy sited in Okpoma by the present administration, Governor Dickson expressed concern that the institution had yet to function as expected due to financial constraints.

He explained that his administration went into partnership with the Polish government, noting that the application for the project was not successful.

Karfe, Kogi State, which purportedly removed all the 21 local government chairmen along with the entire democratic structures from office on the December 8, 2014.

The affected local government chairmen and ward councillors, in a statement on Friday, in Abuja, said the governor had yet to carry out the order of the Court of Appeal directing the reinstatement.

They further proceeded to obtain a Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court under form 48 (Order IX Rule 13) Appeal NO: CA/A/194/2015 dated 3rd November, 2015 which explicitly directs the Governor of Kogi State – Captain Idris Ichalla Wada and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kogi State, Barrister Joe Abrahams, SAN – to: “take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order within 24 hours, you will be guilty of con-

tempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

The statement, which was signed by all the 21 sacked local government chairmen and made available to Sunday Tribune in Abuja, said: “On 23rd October, 2015, the Court of Appeal Holden at Abuja delivered an epic judgment, setting aside the judgment of the High Court of Justice Koton Karfe, Kogi State, which purportedly removed all the 21 local government chairmen along with the entire democratic structures from office on the December 8, 2014.

“This development triggered palpable optimism in the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, owing to its propensity of tilting the scale of victory sharply in favour of the incumbent governor, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada in the forthcoming gubernatorial election on November 21.

NO fewer than 5,000 youths of Kogi State are to benefit from the youth development and skill acquisition programmes of the state through the Nigerian-Korean Friendship Institute for Vocational and Advanced Technology.

Apart from this, the youth will also benefit from the Dangote/Kogi State Skills Development Centre located in Lokoja, the state capital.

The state youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Stephen Onoji, disclosed this at Idah, headquarters of Idah Local Government Area of the state, during a programme aimed at enlisting support for the second term ambition of the state governor, Captain Idris Wada.

Speaking at the event held in conjunction with the Coalition of Kogi Youth Activists of Truth, he said the two vocational centres were parts of the efforts of the state government at empowering the youth of the state.

According to him, the programme was organised in order to sensitise the youth of the state on the achievements of the governor and the opportunities available to them through the centres.

He said the present administration in the state was interested in empowering the youth with various vocations that could also make them employers of labour instead of giving them peanuts.

50 news

8 November, 2015

Sunday Tribune

Kano govt earmarks N1bn for agric produce storage Kola Oyelere - Kano

Mother of the day, Justice Bolajoko Adeniji (retd) (middle); Pastor Joseph Olumide Makinwa, chairman, Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) (Oyo Area) (right) and Apostle Ibiyemi Olagoke; Area Secretary (left) presenting Holy Bible to Justice Bolajoko, during the BSN’s annual luncheon award/ fund raising held at Emmanuel Alayande Hall, Ibadan Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan, on Saturday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN

Ooni-elect, good omen for Nigerian youths —Rep Urges Buhari to emulate Ife kingmakers in future appointments Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

T

HE chairman, House Committee on Youths Development in the House of Representatives, Honourable Segun Adekola, has described the emergence of the 40-yearold Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as the Oonielect of Ife, Osun State, as a good omen for Nigerian youths in assuming their rightful place in leadership positions towards taking the nation to greater heights.

Speaking with news men in Abuja on Saturday, Honourable Adekola, representing Ekiti South/ West/Ikere/Ise/Orun Federal Constituency of Ekiti State said that the action of the Ife kingmakers that selected the Ooni-elect had showed that the hope of the youth

to take the mantle from the older generation was not lost.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, however, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governments to emulate the Ife king-makers in their

future appointments to allow Nigerian youths prove their worth in nation building by giving them appointments.

According to him, “this is a good omen for Nigerian youths. I feel elated when the news of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, a

Ganduje urges people to report activities of cattle rustlers Kola Oyelere - Kano KANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has expressed dismay over the fact that most of the suspected cattle rustlers who were arrested were young Fulanis, adding that anyone found guilty would be penalised according to the laws of the land.

“Falgore forest to cattle rustlers is like Sambisa forest to Boko Haram. But the

government will not rest on its oars until these criminals are tracked down and prosecuted”, the governor asserted.

According to him, 1,627 cows have so far been recovered from cattle rustlers that invaded Falgore forest out of which 245 have been returned to their identified owners.

The governor, who made this known during the taking over by the state gov-

Oyo South senatorial election: Lanlehin appeals tribunal verdict

By Dare Adekanmbi ACCORD Party candidate for the Oyo South senatorial election, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, has appealed the October 14, judgment of the Justice Tanko Usman-led election petitions tribunal which dismissed the petition he filed against the election of Senator Soji Akanbi.

Lanlehin, in a notice of appeal filed on November 2 by his counsel, Richard Ogunwole SAN, is asking the Court of Appeal, Ibadan judicial division, to set aside

40-year-old Ife prince, was made public. It was fantastic and commendable.

The position of Ooni of Ife is not a tea party affair.

The kingmakers should be commended. The obaelect was the youngest of all the contestants but God anointed him.”

the judgment of the tribunal on 14 grounds.

He said the verdict was against the weight of evidence he presented before the tribunal to prove that the March 28 election was marred by irregularities and malpractices.

He described the refusal of the tribunal to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rufus Akeju, from participating in the hearing of the petition, in view of the July 7 judgment

of the Appellate Court, as a miscarriage of justice.

The Appellate Court had set aside the ruling of the tribunal which granted extension of time to INEC and Akeju who filed their reply to the petition after 44 days, instead of the 21 days allowed in law.

According to him, the tribunal erred in law when it held that report of inspection of materials used for the election was inadmissible because it was a computer-generated document.

ernment of 441 cows and 81 sheep recovered from cattle rustlers at the forest assured that the government, in collaboration with the Police and other security operatives, was determined to flush out criminals from the domain.

According to him, “many people have lost their lives and property while some communities have been relocated because of these criminals” He thanked the people of communities in the vicinity of the forest for informing the authorities about the activities of the suspected bandits, noting that it was due to their support that success was recorded.

His words “We request you to be giving useful information, so that security agencies will continue to recover all cows that had been stolen and those that were cruelly dispossessed from their rightful owners,” Ganduje further stated that the police and other security agencies as well as local vigilantes have demonstrated outstanding gallantry in dealing with crime in the area.

KANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said that his government has set aside N1 billion for storage facility for rice and wheat that would be produced by farmers in the state.

This was just as he disclosed that N100 million was also approved for the procurement of improved wheat seeds for the farmers Dr. Ganduje announced this on Saturday while receiving a delegation of the Flour Millers Association of Nigeria, led by Alhaji Sa’idu Zakari Garun Babba, in his office.

According to him, the move was to ensure that shylock corporate and individual customers do not buy off the produce at a cheaper rates, thereby limiting the earning of the farmers. He added that a processing machine would also be procured for the wheat farmers at the cost of N18 million.

His words: “Since our wheat is of international standard and the National Economic Council has approved six states including Kano for the production of this commodity, we shall pursue this project with all seriousness.”

To further encourage large scale private participation in wheat development in the state, Governor Ganduje stated that his administration has commissioned a study of dams and irrigation facilities in the state and compiled same into a booklet, so that potential investors could have easy access to the information they need in that regard.

‘Women should see themselves as special in God’s scheme’

By Remi Anifowose WOMEN have been urged to see themselves as special in the scheme of God, irrespective of any prevailing circumstance.

This advice was given by the Chief Executive Officer of Connecting Heart for Women for Positive Change Initiative, Mrs Abimbola Okutinyang,while speaking at this year’s Connecting Heart Women’s Conference.

Connecting Heart Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, with the aim of empowering women was established seven years ago.

The NGO organised the annual conference entitled:”Girl, Who’s Your Daddy?” to reach out to women.

The event, which took place last Saturday, at the Fun Factory, Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, attracted women of substance from far and wide.

Mrs Okutinyang, who stressed that everything made by God was good and perfect, charged women to see themselves from the eye of God and not that of their circumstances.

In her words: “I urge women to see themselves as special in the scheme of God because God made them. And everything God made is good and perfect. So,they should see themselves from the eye of the Creator and not that of their circumstances.”

NULGE calls on FG to fix Enugu-Onitsha expressway THE South-East Zone of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) has urged the Federal Government to commence immediate intervention on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

This call was made in a communiqué signed by eight executive members of the NULGE after the union’s meeting in Awka on Saturday.

The union expressed dismay over the deplorable state of the road and other federal roads in the zone, noting that they had become impassable and were inflicting hardship on the people.

It urged the governors of the zone to jointly mobilise funds with a view to rehabilitating the road.

“Although, these are federal roads, the states thereafter could ask for a refund from the Federal Government,” the union advised.

It further appealed to the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and NULGE to intervene in the alleged hardship being experienced by some workers in Imo. It expressed dismay over the hardship being experienced by the Health and Agricultural staff in the local government system of Imo due to non-payment of their salaries for over six months.

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Saraki: Whose interest is the CCT serving?

By Emmah Adah

O

UR democracy is on trial and it is difficult to maintain a “siddon look” attitude in the face of burgeoning judicial rascality. But we must be resolute even when greater forces are involved.

According to Elie Wiesel, “there may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

It goes beyond who is presently involved; it is about ensuring that justice is fairly served in the society, as you may never know who will be next. Martin Luther King, Jr. succinctly captured this situation when he posited that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

As the political motivation behind the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, becomes more evident, can we safely say that the judiciary is now caught in a web of high politics and has put itself on trial as a willing tool in this matter? Since we are in a season of body language, it appears the body language around the legal ordeal of the Senate President is gradually confirming speculations that ab initio, the whole trial was designed to serve a vested interest. Saraki himself, at the beginning of this trial, had raised a fundamental fear that his trial was politically motivated and this concern made him to first seek cover at a Federal High Court and subsequently at the appellate courts.

He said: “As I stated while taking the plea in the case, I reiterate my belief that the only reason while I am going through this trial is because I am Senate President.

If I were to be just a Senator, I doubt if anybody will be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over twelve years ago. It is my humble opinion that this case is a vivid example that there is still flagrant disregard for due process in our polity. This trial is not only being observed by Nigerians alone, the international community is (also) watching because Nigeria is a key member of this community. So, the executive, legislature and judiciary should do the right thing that will truly demonstrate that we have imbibed the spirit of positive change.”

The latest ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT)

to proceed with the trial of Saraki, showing indifference to a pending appeal at the Supreme Court has made more Nigerians to appreciate, as founded, the initial apprehension of the Senate President. Consider the crucial question begging for an answer: Is there a law or are there sections of our law that could have granted the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, some power to defer action and respect the superiority of Saraki’s appeal at the Court of Appeal and on the same ground disregard the pendency of the same case at the Supreme Court? This poser was doubtlessly responsible for the action of the learned silks defending Saraki, who were reported to have walked out of the CCT hearing of the asset declaration case.

In the view of counsels representing the Senate President and rightly so, the ruling of the court was a bizarre verdict that showed a clear affront on the Supreme Court, being the highest ruling and most superior court in the land. In siding with Mahmud Magaji (SAN) who announced the decision of the defence team to stage a walkout, such symbolic action was necessary for the record, to protect the integrity and seniority of the apex court. It could not have been the intendment of the defence team to embarrass the tribunal if the reputation of the bench itself was not on trial before the tribunal. At this point

in our nation’s history, it has become imperative to do anything necessary, without violating the law, to protect the sanctity of democracy of which the Judiciary is one of the pillars.

What we are witnessing in this matter brings to the fore the second question: are we witnessing a prosecution of a case or a persecution of Saraki? So far, the matter is headed in a suspicious direction, indicating that the CCT was in a hurry to arrive at a premeditated conclusion.

With due respect to the Tribunal and without sounding judgmental, the observation raised by the Senate President at the beginning of this trial regarding the issue of fair hearing by the Code of Conduct Bureau as allowed by its act before filing this matter at the CCT was enough to have allowed this matter take a life of its own.

Since the commencement of the trial, the action of Danladi Umar has left no one in doubt about the mission he is out to accomplish. The latest ruling (to give two weeks extension of time to Saraki to prepare for his defence after his legal team walked out and in spite of the pendency of an appeal at the Supreme Court), indeed, amounted to an affront and disrespect to judicial hierarchy. It was Nelson Demille who said that “if everyone howled at every injustice, every act of barbarism, every act of unkindness, then we would be taking the first step towards a real humanity.”

Without sounding immodest, it now appears that the CCT has become a court of political trial. For instance, Nigerians would recall that the last person tried by the Tribunal was widely alleged to be a victim of political witch-hunt.

As it is, if the general code of conduct for judicial officers also applies to the Chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, then it would not be preposterous for the defence team to seek his disqualification from the matter. It is clearly stated in the code that: “A Judicial Officer should disqualify himself in a proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to the instances where: (a) he has personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or personal knowledge of facts in dispute.”

• Mr Adah is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Congresswatch magazine.

Afenifere-ACF and the symptoms of a deeper malaise

By Obi Daramola SOMETIME in October, when Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), was kidnapped, that highly-respected pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, rose from an emergency meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital and called for the stoppage of cattle rearing in the South-West states. This position, according to the group, is due to ‘ the menace of Fulani herdsmen’ whose activities in the states have endangered the lives of the people.

In response, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) considered the statement as reckless and unbecoming of a group like the Afenifere. There had been couple of further unpalatable exchanges between the two groups on this subject. The details of these exchanges are not really of interest to this writer, what is of interest is what could have been responsible for such exchanges between two, otherwise, highly respected socio- political organisations, members of whom have staked a lot for the project called Nigeria.

For general information, members of Afenifere are those who lay claim to the belief in the political and economic enunciations of the late Yoruba sage, hief Obafemi Awolowo. Present day older members are those who can claim direct political tutelage under, and descent from, the Sage himself, with a number of them having fought colonialism with him. In other words, these are people that have been involved in the task of nation-building for upwards of six to seven decades, and whose past efforts can neither be discounted nor disregarded.

Similarly, membership of the Arewa Consultative Forum consists of the leading lights across Northern Nigeria. The forum is made up of the political, military and business establishments in the North. Some of these surviving political elites worked directly with the Sardauna of Sokoto, late Sir Ahmadu Bello.

Most of the retired military officers were those who have put their lives on the line for the unity and survival of Nigeria.

There is no doubt, therefore, that members of Afenifere and ACF have sacrificed a lot for Nigeria. The members are hitherto well known for their Pan-Nigeria views, and past efforts at nation-building. In particular, they espoused positive positions on the safety and protection of the rights of all Nigerians, wherever they are in the country. Thus, the members of the two groups, across board, can rightly be described as nationalists, and patriots.

It should therefore be puzzling, that such people are now defending local, not national, interests. The reasons for this somersault are there, but as typical of us, Nigerians, we prefer to pretend there is no problem. We have astounding capacity to present a bad situation as otherwise, and we possess the communication skill to state that an odious element smells rosy.

But, as I have said above, we prefer to pretend this is not the case, or that there is no problem there, or if it is there, that it carries no message.

This is dangerous. The facts are there and incontrovertible. Buhari, not APC I insist, got 80 percent of his total votes from the three geo-political zones of the predominantly Muslim North. On the other hand, the PDP, in spite of Jonathan and all he represents, got 70 per cent of its total votes from the Christian Southern geopolitical zones.

Thus, there is the North-South, Muslim-Christian cleavage within the polity. It is there and clear. It will be fraudulent to pretend this is not the case.

In history, internal conflicts usually develop along ethnic and/or religious lines, and such conflicts are, most times, severe and destructive. It was the case in Rwanda, so was it in Kosovo, and so it was in Sudan. Wherever it happens, few of such countries survive dismemberment. And, in Nigeria, any internal strife will find a readily available army, indeed a large one, in our unemployed youths and discontented poor This is the volcano on which we sit at the moment assuming, or pretending, it may not erupt. Such assumption is dangerous. During the last general elections, I watched with trepidation as politicians, rather than sell

their programmes, goaded the populace along religious and ethnic biases. I saw this around here.

Prominent politicians from the North attest to this. Of the six geo-political zones, perhaps only the South-West can claim some common sense in their voting.

This is the reason we should appreciate God the more, for using Dr. Jonathan to freely accept defeat, and to appreciate Dr Jonathan too for the display of that historical act of statesmanship, yet rare in Africa. The destruction of lives and properties that could have followed, even one day of his resistance, is better left to the imagination.

I think It is better and more sensible for us to take deliberate proactive measures on this problem. It is easier for us now, when the problem itself is still silent, and we are in control of the coolness of our heads. Unfortunately, the present administration seem not to be thinking along these lines. Instead, the administration is gradually, albeit inadvertently, being transfixed by corruption.

Sorry, just a diversion, even, in its crusade against corruption, the administration’s philosophy and strategies are yet to be rolled out, thus, it is hard to guess on the permanent effectiveness of their efforts.

Back to the Afenifere-ACF exchanges, if we admit that members of these groups have staked a lot, some including their lives, for the unity and survival of this country, then we should be worried about those statements coming from them.

I consider this development not just unfortunate, but very sad. There is more to the statements from both groups than the surface interpretations.

The statements and the reactions signify an agonising frustration. The statements signify a change of body language sign-posting acceptance of failure in the pursuit of a cause, and the irredeemability of a bad situation.

The developments represent one of the symptoms of a deeper malaise within the Nigerian polity, and herein lies another big challenge.

• Daramola, a Civil Engineer, lives in Ilesa, Osun State.

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Sunday Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman 08053789060 tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com

Wuraola Ojo golf tourney tees off

By Niyi Alebiosu

Ighalo beat Toure to EPL award W

at f o r d striker, Odion Ighalo has been named October’s English Premier League African Player of the Month, beating off stiff competition from Sadio Mane of Southampton and Manchester City’s Yaya Toure.

Announcing the award, New African Soccer’s Award director ‘Tunde Adelakun stated: “Odion Ighalo has been tethering on the periphery of this award since the season started. He has come in to the Premier League with a rich scoring form from the Championship, and carried it on as if it was normal”.

Adelakun also expressed satisfaction at the progress of the Awards, saying “the rate at which more and more people are taking to this concept is a strong motivating factor for us to continue this drive, aimed at recognising our stars.”

He thanked all who made their contributions through votes, comments and other means in making the Awards worthwhile.

Receiving his award, Ighalo said “It is a great honour for me to be given this award. I thank God, through whom I achieve most of what I have, and my teammates for making it possible

for me to score the goals that I score”.

The Nigerian international stated that he was moved by the award and that it can only motivate him to continue to do more, and set a good positive benchmark for others like him from Africa, to make them see that the sky is the limit for anyone who tries hard.

Ighalo has been acclaimed by proven statistics to be the highest scorer in English leagues in the 2015 calendar year so far, with 23 goals (dating from his Championship days with Watford to the Premier League) and he attributes it to hard work.

“I work hard for the goals I score and I spot opportunity and grab it. The secret is always to work hard and to have self-belief, and I think I have both,” said the Edo State-born player.

Ighalo’s Watford were hot favourites to go back down following their promotion to the Premier League, but 11 games in, they occupy a decent 11th place with 16 points before Saturday’s 1-2 loss to Leicester City.

Asked whether there was more to come from him, the unassuming awardee said, “You will always be welcome here to present more of these awards because I promise you, this will not be the last time I win it.”

Ighalo

Organisers of the 12th Elizabeth Wuraola memorial golf tournament have expressed satisfaction with the impressive turn out of golfers who transversed from all parts of the country to the Smokin Hills Golf Resort in Ilara Mokin, Ondo State.

The tournament which teed off yesterday with the professional categories was heralded with a colourful and elaborate ceremony and attracted dignitaries in their large numbers.

While expressing his joy at the standard of play at the opening day of the tournament, the Manager Marketing and Promotions, Smokin Hills Golf Resort in charge of the tournament, Bayo Aderinto hinted the plan of the Resort to help in nurturing golfers that would represent the country at Rio 2016 Olympics.

“The turn out have been so impressive which shows that it has remained one of the biggest golfing events in the national golfing calendar and we must thank the sponsors, Toyota Nigeria Limited under the able chairmanship of Chief Michael Ade Ojo (OON), who has been so benevolent to put together this in support of the development of the game of golf in Nigeria and Africa at large.

“I can see that it is a major thrust in using golf as a venerable tool to foster unity and development of this country considering the locations from which different golfers have transversed to get to the sleepy town of Ilara Mokin today.”

FIFA U-17 World Cup:

Glo, OGD charge Eaglets to go for glory Globacom has urged the Golden Eaglets to go for glory as they face fellow African country, Mali in the final of the ongoing FIFA U-17

Kelechi Nwakali, Eaglets captain

World Cup in Chile tonight.

Nigeria defeated Mexico 4-2 while Mali outclassed Belgium 3-1 in the semi-finals to set up an all-African final for the second time since the competition started in China in 1985.

In a statement released on Saturday in Lagos, the telecommunication company commended the Eaglets for making Nigeria and Africa proud, while urging them to keep their composure and concentration as they prepare for the final encounter.

“With the superlative form displayed by the team so far, we are confident that the Eaglets will go all the way to lift the trophy,” said the statement Globacom stated that “We are most delighted that the Eaglets are now within 90 minutes of winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup for a record fifth time.

“We urge the Eaglets’ coaches to admonish the players not to underrate the Malians who have shown much determination and re-

silience so far in the tournament.”

Globacom also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the unwavering support it has rendered the cadet national team since the commencement of the global event.

Also, the immediate past governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has urged the Golden Eaglets to win the final tonight as a fitting reward for the physical fitness, good fielding skills, discipline and team spirit exhibited by the team.

Daniel congratulated the side on making it through to the last game and hoped the trophy that Nigeria won in 2013 would return to the country back-to-back.

Speaking on the sterling performance of the team since the beginning of the championship, Daniel congratulate the team and the whole nation for Eaglets’ prowess as Nigeria prepares for a fifth-time win.

“Notwithstanding the fact

that the main aim of the championship is to discover young talents and build a strong national team, winning the ultimate trophy is a matter of pride and an icing on the cake.

“Thank you very much for doing us proud and making us forget the Chile ‘87 debacle,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFON), commended members the Golden Eaglets for their superb performance so far in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

The players union expressed great delight at the quality of performance exhibited by the team, but cautioned against complancy in tonight’s final against the Les Aiglonnets of Mali.

“As defending champions, there’s no doubt that the expectations of Nigerians are high, and nothing short of lifting the Cup should be the target of everyone including the players,” it said in a statement.

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FIFA U-17 World Cup Special

hree weeks ago, 24 teams from six confederations arrived in South America to contest for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015. Fifty-two matches later it has been confirmed that an African side will definitely lift the trophy, while Belgium and Mexico will seek to end their campaign on a high note by winning bronze before the tournament showpiece gets underway. FIFA.com looks ahead to the final day of competition tonight.

The final: Mali-Nigeria, Vina Del Mar, 19.00 (local time) Two teams from the same confederation will go toe-to-toe in the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in 22 years and ten editions of the tournament, after CAF sides Ghana and Nigeria met in the final back in 1993. The Golden Eaglets secured the second of their four World Cup crowns with a 2-1 victory that day. “It’s very important for African football and incredible that something like this has only happened once before,” said Nigeria’s Orji Okwonkwo in eager anticipation of this continental showdown, where the record champions could become the second team to defend their title on Sunday evening after Brazil triumphed in 1997 and 1999.

Although the Nigerians have ample experience of these showdowns, tonight’s game will mark the first time a Malian side has reached the final of any FIFA tournament. After the country’s third-place finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand a few weeks ago, coach Bayer Ba’s squad have gone one step further in Chile. “Let me tell you straight: you build up an appetite by eating,” he explained before the last four. Mali’s passage to the final has surely increased this hunger even further.

While Nigeria hold a clear lead in the head-to-head record between the two nations’ senior sides with four wins, three draws and just one defeat to their name, Mali have the edge when it comes to youth football.

When hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1999, the Golden Eaglets were forced to throw in the towel in the quarter-finals as Les Aiglonnets beat them 3-1.

Third place match: Belgium-Mexico, Vina Del Mar, 16.00 (local time) The track records of these two teams could hardly be more different ahead of their first meeting at youth level. In one corner stand the Belgians, who have already exceeded all expectations. After qualifying for the Round of 16 as one of the best third-place group finishers, the Europeans improved from one match to the next and proved to be worthy adversaries to Mali in

The Nigerian team

African brothers set to end Chile 2015 spectacle Bob Browaeys’ squad have had plenty to celebrate during their time in Chile.

The statistics 3 – While it seems almost certain that Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen will collect the adidas Golden Boot as best goalscorer of the tournament with nine strikes so far, a head-tohead battle has emerged for the lower steps on this particular podium. The Golden Eaglets’ Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze, Mali’s Sidiki Maiga and Belgian Rigo are all tied on three goals each with one game left to play. Currently ahead of this quartet with four goals is Germany’s Johannes Eggestein, whose team were eliminated by Croatia in the Round of 16.

The Malian team the last four.

Waiting in the other corner are the Mexicans, who have just lost a FIFA U-17 World Cup semifinal for the first time after becoming champions in 2011 and contesting the decider two years ago. El Tri were defeated 4-2 by Nigeria in one of the most exciting matches of this tournament in Chile – but the result could easily have been different. “Both

teams had chances. Unfortunately we didn’t score, Nigeria did. This was the difference – but that’s football,” coach Mario Arteaga said succinctly after the game.

Player to watch Dante Rigo (Belgium) The Les Diablotins’ midfielder moved up into top gear in the knockout stages to become

one of the main contributors to Belgium’s first semi-final appearance at a FIFA U-17 World Cup. He shone as a provider of goals in the 2-0 win over Korea Republic before scoring to give his side a 1-0 lead in both their 1-0 triumph over Costa Rica and their 3-1 defeat by Mali. Although his strike was ultimately not enough against the African champions, Rigo and the rest of

The words “Playing at a World Cup is an experience to treasure for life.

You never know whether you’ll get to play at another one. Unfortunately our title dreams are now over, but we still have a chance to take home a medal.

We’ll now give it everything against Belgium so that we can end the tournament on a high note,” Mexico midfielder Diego Cortes.

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2015 Fifa U-17 World Cup Special

I deserve to start against Mali —Okonkwo

Team-mates celebrating with Okonkwo.

P

atience is a virtue that Orji Okwonkwo can certainly call upon. Before Nigeria’s crucial semi-final showdown against Mexico, the number 20 shirted player had played just 25 minutes in the tournament, coming off the bench in stoppage time in the Golden Eaglets’ opener before two 12-minute cameos against Australia and Brazil in games whose decisive moments had already passed.

“I’m not the coach,” Okwonkwo told FIFA.com. “[Emmanuel Amuneke] knows what is best for the team. That’s why he put me on the bench. But he chose to put me on the pitch from the start against Mexico and that was an honour and a privilege.”

It was no wonder the rangy forward was happy and grinning from ear-to-ear for most of his exclusive chat with FIFA. com, recalling his crucial wonder goal against the Mexicans which put his side ahead after El Tri had taken the lead early on.

“It’s my best ever,” he said. “I’ve not even scored one like that in training.”

Okwonkwo’s performance, that he had waited so patiently for, showcased his supreme talents. Good with the ball at his feet and finding space in between the Mexican midfield and defence, his remarkable finish added gloss to an all-action performance in which he constantly troubled the Central American side’s defence. With Mali awaiting the holders in the final, does he think he’s done enough to start?

“Of course!” He smiled. “But it is the coach’s decision.

When I wasn’t playing then it was his decision, it was right I wasn’t playing. I think I have done enough to start in the final though.”

That all-African final will be only the second in the tournament’s history, after Nigeria saw off Ghana in the 1993 finale.

Okwonkwo knows the gravity of the occasion.

“It’s important for African football,” Okwonkwo said. “It’s so amazing because it’s only happened once before.”

The tall forward admits facing an African side in the final will no doubt be special for those back home, but his voice is tinged with sadness as he speaks of family and friends. The forward lost his father last year and dedicated his golazo to his mother for her support.

“I’m short of words,” he said when asked about his family.

“I know all of them will have watched the semi-final and will watch the final. It is important for them and, of course, for me personally.”

Return to Vina His family’s eyes, and those of the world, will turn to Vina Del Mar tonight. Having played 24 of his 25 pre semi-final minutes in the tournament at the Estadio Sausalito, Okwonkwo has fond memories of the stadium, venue for the Chile 2015 finale tonight.

“Vina Del Mar is a good place,” Okwonkwo recalled with a trademark smile. “The fans all support us and I look forward to seeing the supporters again. Chilean fans are so supportive. I have really enjoyed playing in this country.”

Okwonkwo will be hoping coach Amuneke decides that time will be on the forward’s side in Vina. After minutes being in short supply for the forward so far, who knows what he could do with another 90?

Scene of the collapsed building in Lagos on Saturday

The two-time winner of the annual Karanka Reveria Invitational Tournament in Croatia in 2013 and 2015 with Abuja Football College, dedicated his 35-yard screamer against Mexico to his mum.

“I have never scored a goal like this before and you cannot practise this kind of goal,” said Okwonkwo, the first boy in a family with six other children. The goal I scored against Mexico is a wonderful goal and I’m dedicating the goal to my mum who has been there for me; challenging me to be the best.

“My dad died last year; I remember him too but it is my mum that has been there for me all this while. I thank her so much,” he said.

Okonkwo, is one of the team’s pacesetter performers who scored thrice, including a goal against Mali on April 21, 2014, at the sub-regional West African Football Union (WAFU) B Tournament in Togo where the Golden Eaglets finished third behind Benin and Togo.

“Today, I want to thank coach Emmanuel Amuneke for pushing me so hard. He is a nice person who wants the best for us. Before the match, he called me and said: ‘Orji, this is your chance, you can’t afford to let yourself and Nigerians down’ and when I scored, I kept saying ‘coach, coach, coach’. I’m grateful to him.”

Photos: Sylvester Okoruwa

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Tottenham’s new stadium remains Arsenal’s biggest challenge —Wenger

Man U ends EPL goal drought

J

esse Lingard at Old Trafford on Saturday scored his first goal for Manchester United to break West Brom’s strong resistance with a 2-0 defeat and spare the blushes of his manager, Louis van Gaal.

Frustrated United fans, who had seen their team fail to score in the Premier League for 260 minutes, were chanting ‘attack, attack’ when Lingard controlled Chris Brunt’s headed clearance early in the second half and drilled home from 18 yards with a curling finish.

Juan Mata added a late second from the penalty spot after Gareth McAuley had tripped Anthony Martial and been sent off as a result.

Substitute Saido Berahino missed a superb opportunity to equalise late on when he headed over from close range.

The victory keeps Manchester United fourth in the Premier League, while West Brom is 12th.

It was also a first win in three league games for the hosts, who have not conceded in 550 minutes.

Manchester United fans are struggling to warm to Louis van Gaal’s defensive style of football, with chants of “attack, attack, attack” heard at Old Trafford during Tuesday’s Champions League win against CSKA Moscow.

Only the Baggies had attempted fewer shots (109) than Manchester United (110) prior to Saturday’s game, but Van Gaal indicated he had no intention of abandoning his conservative approach by naming two defensive midfielders - Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick - in his starting line-up.

The outcome was, perhaps, predictable, as the hosts, for the most part, lacked the creativity to break down their defenceminded visitors. Only one shot on target was registered in the first half, when Martial shot straight at Boaz Myhill.

However, a moment

of quality from Lingard changed the game.

The youngster’s goal forced West Brom to abandon their cautious approach, opening up more gaps at the back for the home side to exploit, ultimately leading to the moment when Martial got through on goal in stoppage time, causing McAuley to give away the decisive penalty.

Marcos Rojo celebrates with Lingard after scoring.

Arsene Wenger believes Tottenham’s new stadium will provide Arsenal with their “biggest challenge”.

Spurs have begun work on a 61,000-seater stadium around their current White Hart Lane home - work which will see the team play their home games elsewhere for the 2017-18 season before moving in the following year.

The new ground is set to be the biggest club ground in London - Arsenal’s Emirates’ capacity is 60,432, while the Olympic Stadium will be a 54,000-seat arena when West Ham move in - and will also host two NFL games a year for 10 years, which the club hope will help it compete financially with their north London rivals.

Speaking ahead of Super Sunday’s North

Vardy grabs ninth consecutive EPL goal Jamie Vardy on Saturday scored for a ninth successive Premier League game as Leicester beat Watford 2-1 to go level on points with Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table.

Vardy got Leicester’s second from the spot, converting after he was tripped by Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Vardy is the only player to score in nine consecutive games in the same Premier League season, as Van Nistelrooy’s goals came between March and August 2003.

Gomes had already gifted Leicester the lead, somehow letting Ngolo Kante’s tame shot slip through.

A Troy Deeney penalty gave Watford hope, but Leicester closed it out.

It was arguably harsh on the Hornets, who had the better of the first half.

Still, a seventh win of the season took Leicester behind the top two on goal difference alone. Needing a remarkable escape from relegation last season, their 25 points from 12 games is as many as they managed in their first 31 last term.

Vardy had been kept quiet by an organised Watford defence in the first half and was even the subject of an injury scare after Leicester took the lead.

Jumping to control the ball with no other player around him, Vardy landed awkwardly and was in discomfort as he lay on the ground, holding his groin.

However, after receiving treatment, he produced a moment typical of his stellar season.

Running clear of the Watford defence, he latched on to a through

Sunday Tribune

ball and was only stopped by a clumsy challenge from the onrushing Gomes. From the resulting penalty, Vardy smashed the ball high into the net.

Only Ruud van Nistelrooy, with 10, has scored in more successive Premier League games than Vardy, who is part of the England squad for the upcoming friendlies against Spain and France.

London Derby clash, Gunners manager Wenger said: “It is the biggest challenge we face. It will be purely down to the technical quality of work.

“On a financial level, we always had level power because when we had 37,000, 38,000 seats [at Highbury] we were level.

“After we moved into the new stadium we had less financial resources than them because we had to pay our debts back. That was always the case.

“Now, maybe in the last two or three years we are in a stronger financial situation, but that will not last because they build a new stadium as well.”

O n the pitch, Arsenal is keeping up the pace at the top of the table while Tottenham remains unbeaten in the league since the opening weekend of the campaign.

ouled in being fGomes. r e t f a lty er e pena alkeep won th y Watford go ) t f le ( Vardy nalty area b the pe

I will try a season at MLS —Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo admits he is “definitely thinking” about leaving Real Madrid for a year in MLS, despite his agent Jorge Mendes saying the star will end his career at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo, 30, has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and his former club, Manchester United, although Mendes said earlier on Friday that Ronaldo “will finish his career at Real Madrid, for sure.”

However, the Portugal international says he would consider offers to play anywhere in the world, suggesting that a year in the United States - where the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Steven Gerrard, Frank

Lampard and Andrea Pirlo have moved in recent years - would be tempting.

“I am not closing the door on any league anywhere in the world,” he told FHM Magazine. “I’m definitely thinking about playing in the USA for a year. I’ve always said living and playing there is a possibility.”

Ronaldo left Old Trafford for Madrid in 2009 for a then-world record fee of £80 million, and has spoken of how Sir Alex Ferguson and his former United teammates helped him become the player his is today.

“There I was treated in the same way as a son is treated by a father,” he said.

SIDELINES NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

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For confessing to the media that his team had been abandoned and did not even have kits one month before crucial Olympics qualifiers, Samson Siasia was speedily charged with gross misconduct by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Perhaps Nigerian football would attain greater heights if the NFF tackled players’ and coaches’ grievances with the same speed with which it issues queries.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Special

Buhari charges Eaglets to win Leon Usigbe -Abuja

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday spoke byphone with the Golden Eaglets and their officials, urging them to strive for victory in tonight’s final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

He urged them to win the ongoing tournament which Nigeria first won in China in 1985, when Buhari was military head of state .

The president urged the team to repeat the feat against Mali, to make it the fifth time Nigeria will win the trophy.

Starting with the head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, Buhari congratulated him on leading the team to the final, saying:” Your victory tomorrow (Saturday) will remind Nigerians of what happened in China 30 years ago, and it will raise the morale of Nigerians, especially the youth. We’re praying for you. We are anxiously waiting to receive the Cup. Please put us on the world map of soccer again.”

Speaking to Udoh Akpan, the goalkeeper, President Buhari said he was a very strategic member of the team, noting:” If you don’t let in the goals, then none will be scored against us.

We look forward to lifting the Cup.” To John Lazarus, a defender, the President said, “don’t allow anybody to penetrate the defense,” while charging Tobechukwu Ibe, another defender to “rest well today, because a lot of Nigerians will be depending on you tomorrow.”

List of past winners 1985: Nigeria 2 1987: USSR 1 1989: Saudi Arabia 2 1991: Ghana 1 1993: Nigeria 2 1995: Ghana 3 1997: Brazil 2 1999: Brazil 0 2001: France 3 2003: Brazil 1 2005: Mexico 3 2007: Nigeria 0 2009: Switzerland 1 2011: Mexico 2 2013: Nigeria 3 2015: Nigeria ?

W/Germany 0 Nigeria 1 (pens) 4-2 Scotland 2 (pens) 5-4 Spain 0 Ghana 1 Brazil 2 Ghana 1 Australia 0 (pens) 8-7 Nigeria 0 Spain 0 Brazil 0 Spain 0 (pens) 3-0 Nigeria 0 Uruguay 0 Mexico 0 Mali ?

Aly Malle of Mali

Mali won’t stop us from As history favours glory —Nwakali Nigeria

By Ganiyu Salman

G

olden Eaglets’ captain Kelechi Nwakali and star striker, Victor Osimhen said tonight’s final against Mali at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile would be a memorable encounter.

The showdown is scheduled to begin at 11:00pm Nigeria time.

Nwakali said their West African foes would be accorded the respect of African champions but no quarter will be given at the Estadio Sausalito in Vina del Mar.

“We respect Mali because they are the African champions but we are not afraid of them,” Nwakali told FIFA.com.”It is going to be a memorable final and we are going to do our best against Mali on Sunday.”

Nwakali noted that as the defending champions, Nigeria is in pole position ahead of the Malians who were crowned African champions early this year at the African U-17 Nations Cup in Niger.

“We are the defending champions of the World Cup and that means we

NFF to retain Amuneke as Eaglets’ coach

Amuneke

Victor Osimhen

Kingsley Michael

Top officials have specially disclosed that win or lose tonight’s FIFA U-17 World Cup final, coach Emmanuel Amuneke will retain his post as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) adopts a new strategy to consolidate the gains at this level of the game.

Previous coaches at U-17 have often been automatically promoted to the country’s U20 team, but with disappointing results.

John Obuh was elevated to the U-20 national team after he guided the country to the final of the 2009 U-17 World Cup, which incidentally Nigeria hosted. He subsequently reached the last eight of the U20 World Cup in 2011, before he crashed out in the Round of 16 two years later.

Manu Garba won the U-17 World Cup in style in 2013, but he could only lead the Flying Eagles to the Round of 16 at this year’s U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

The U-20 records of Obuh and Manu are insignificant for a country who were beaten finalists twice, in 1989 and 2005, and placed third in 1985 at the U-20 World Cup. “It is expected that the (NFF) president, (Amaju Pinnick) will announce Amuneke

will stay on as U-17 coach so as to build on the experience and gains of his first stint as head coach. The arrangement of automatically promoting a coach from U-17 to U-20 has not worked because we are talking of two different levels of the game,” a top official disclosed.

“Take the example of Mexico. The coach who led them to the final two years ago in Abu Dhabi is the same man who guided them to the semi-finals in Chile. There are many such examples.”

Amuneke has endured a less than cordial relationship with his employers, but Pinnick himself has come out to reveal he resisted pressures to sack him after the Eaglets finished a disappointing fourth at the CAF U-17 Championship in Niger earlier this year.

The NFF boss has equally commended the former Barcelona player for staying focused and thereby getting the job done.

“He has clearly rubbished all insinuations and dark innuendoes against him and has continued to do a marvellous job quietly. He has earned his respect,” Pinnick said glowingly of Amuneke.

need to be respected too; we know that playing against Mali would not be an easy match but we are confident about our chances. The coach ( Emmanuel Amuneke) is the one that knows the secret of our success ; our job is to go out and play based on his instruction.

“We have seen the Malians and we have to follow the instructions of the coach in order to stop them from playing their style if we are going to beat them,” he added.

The second all-African final at FIIFA U-17 World Cup since Japan 1993 between Nigeria and Ghana, between Mali and Nigeria will be handled according to FIFA by English referee, Michael Oliver.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has never lost to any African team at the U-17 World Cup beginning with the semi-final clash with Guinea in 1985, the 2-1 victory over Ghana in the final of the 1993 edition in Japan and the 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the semi-final of Trinidad & Tobago 2001.

GLOBACOM PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES wEEK 37 Kano Pillars

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EPL RESULTS Bournemouth Leicester Man Utd Norwich Sunderland West Ham Stoke City

0 Newcastle 2 Watford 2 West Brom 1 Swansea 0 Southampton 1 Everton 1 Chelsea

POOLS: 10, 11, 12, 19, 21, 23, 34, 35, 38

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. 8/11/2015

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