9th October, 2016

NO 2,067

SPECIAL TREAT

SUNDAY, 9 OCTOBER, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

What to do when the doctor is not around

Tinubu hails withdrawal of forgery case against Saraki, Ekweremadu •Says all not well with Nigeria

pg8

pg45

@nigeriantribune

N200

Nigerian Tribune

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, Agbogidi, flanked by the Onowu Iyasele of Onitsha, Chief Joseph Okey Ononye (left)and Ajie Ukadiugwu of Onitsha, Chief Benedict Adibuah, during the 2016 Ofala Festival celebrations sponsored by Globacom in Onitsha, on Saturday.

Panic, outrage as DSS invades judges’ homes pgs4&8

•Places CJN hopeful, Onnoghen, under watch •Detains Supreme Court justice, quizzes another •NBA declares state of emergency •Nigerians speak on arrests, seige to judiciary •Why we are after judges —DSS

Niger Delta militancy must be stopped —Buhari

pg5

•We’re not against FG —Edwin Clark

SUMMARY OF MONEY ALLEGEDLY RECOVERED FROM SOME JUSTICES BY DSS 1. ADENIYI F.A. ADEMOLA NAIRA--------N54million DOLLARS------$171, 779.00 POUNDS----£80.00 RUPEES---- 1,010.00 EURO----€4,400.00

2. NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTA NAIRA--------N35, 208,000 DOLLARS------$319,475 POUNDS----£25,890 EURO----€280 UAE----380 GAMBIA DALAIS----420 ARGENTINE NOTES---4 GHANA CEDIS----20

3. JOHN INYANG OKORO NAIRA--------N4, 350,000 DOLLARS------$38, 833 POUNDS----£25,890 EURO----€1,000.00

passes at me

Gunmen kidnap Ekiti APC chieftain’s wife, demand N40m ransompg44

Lagos school kidnap:

Abductors reduce ransom to N30m •We are on their track —Police pg42

Younger men still make —Jaye Kuti

Ogun LG polls:

PDP, Labour, UPN call for cancellation pg41

•1 person allegedly shot •Amosu commends OGSIEC, election outcome

2

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

specialreport

Anatomy of indecent dressing Dress codes in institutions of higher learning

The student population in most Nigerian universities, especially at the undergraduate level, is made up of trendy teenagers most of whom are in their teens and twenties. LAOLU HAROLDS and NAZA OKOLI report that keeping these students in check dresswise has been an uphill task for the university authorities.

I

T is said that the difference between the level of supervision a child in the basic class or secondary school receives within the learning environment and that accorded an undergraduate of a higher institution of learning is determined by the level of maturity.

A child in the basic or secondary school level is seen as just a ‘child’ whose every action has to be monitored and regulated at every turn because he is passing through the formative years of his or her life. He is most vulnerable to avoidable errors and is in the most impressionable phase

of his or her life.

A ‘student’ in the university, however, is deemed to have attained a level of maturity capable of equipping him with self-sustaining skills. He has become a ‘young adult’ who is able to take decisions on his own.

He is allowed to exercise his right of association (choosing which clubs or student associations to join), religion to practise, as well as the right to freely express his views.

But it’s been observed that this phase comes with its own challenges too, as a great majority of students at this

level are passing through the turbulent adolescent stage.

Here, self-expression is given a whole new definition and often taken to unimaginable limits. The right to association and self-expression is often abused, leading to selfdestructive choices.

This is basically why most institutions still regulate (often with sanctions) conducts, including mode of dressing.

Since the early 2000s when, as if on a cue, several uniContinues pg 3

3

specialreport

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Sometimes, we reprimand them openly’ Continued from pg 2 versities and polytechnics launched an offensive (almost a crusade) against indecent or inappropriate dressing on campuses, it has remained an integral part of the conduct of every institution of higher learning that desires to produce graduates who have qualified ‘both in character and learning.’

And with the advent of private, especially faith-based universities, the bar of the crusade against indecent dressing has been raised.

At the Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Proprietor’s Prize, which is the number one prize during the convocation, goes to ‘The Most Well-Behaved Student’ – and ability to maintain decent dressing throughout the years of study in the university is a part of this.

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr Idris Katib, says “Good modest dressing complements good conduct. Crescent University stands for modesty, good morality and good conduct. We are not for academics alone; that is why our motto reads: ‘Citadel of Academic and Moral Excellence.’

At the Crescent University, there is a handbook on dress code and every new student is given this during the orientation programme.

“Our male students are expected to be formally dressed especially to classes and within the academic areas. They can be in shirt and trousers, properly tucked in, and preferably with a tie; or in indigenous dresses with or without a cap.

“No opening of chest or sagging of trousers is allowed. Jeans are not allowed.

“Female students are expected to wear dresses that go beyond their knees, with trousers or skirts. Such dresses should also go beyond the arm length, and must neither be transparent nor expose their cleavages.

“They can also be in suit, but must be modest. They must cover their hair at least with a scarf, not compulsorily hijab (except those who choose to). Students are forbidden to wear bathroom slippers to classes and other university events, and crazy hair styles are not allowed,” Katib said further.

Students who are deemed not appropriately dressed are sent back to the hostel by university task force; and if they are caught more than once, they are reprimanded.

At the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, told Sunday Tribune that students there too, are appropriately briefed during orientation programmes what the university expects from them as regards mode of dressing.

What constitutes inappropriate dressing?

“We don’t just want to produce students that are academically sound; we also want them to be morally upright.

During our own orientation, we always tell them that they have to dress decently. And, except somebody wants to be hypocritical, we all know what decent dressing entails. We normally give them

Well-dressed students a booklet.

“You don’t just come and expose your cleavage (if you’re a woman) and you don’t expose your buttocks through sagging, in a rascally manner. We don’t encourage sagging for our young men either,” Olanrewaju told Sunday Tribune.

Is there a sanction for violating such dress regulations? Olarewaju said since the measure is corrective and not punitive, there are no harsh punishments for such infraction at OAU. Offenders are reprimanded openly and ordered back to the hostels to go and change.

“In some instances, if I see our students who dress inappropriately, I call them and ask: ‘Are you our student? Let me see your ID card.’ I collect the ID card and their phone. Then I ask them to go back to their rooms to change and come and show themselves to me.

“In some instances, we reprimand them openly, and their male colleagues see the way they have been reprimanded. This way, they normally feel embarrassed. But if they dress anyhow outside the campus, it is none of our business. Within the confines of our university, however, they must adhere strictly to our code of conduct and mode of dressing,” he said.

Sunday Tribune once witnessed firsthand how a female student almost got turned back from the gate of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, by security officers on duty because the sleeves of her gown were deemed ‘too short’.

Spaghetti wears, skimpy and other revealing dresses are not allowed for female students of the university, Sunday Tribune gathered. And for male students, outlandish or ‘crazy hairstyles’, sagging of trousers and other inappropriate modes of dressing are disallowed.

The situation is not much different at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Mrs Emi’ Alawode, the Head, Direc-

A list of “indecent dressing” put up by a university torate of Public Relations of the university, says there is a counseling unit within the university’s Students Affairs Directorate that mounts campaigns regularly against indecent dressing, through flyers, billboards and so on.

During the orientation programme and from time to time when there is a need to meet them (new students), the unit counsels new students against indecent dressing.

How is this enforced at FUNNAB? Mrs Alawode told Sunday Tribune that students who are caught violating the univer-

“For instance, a male student caught with unacceptable hairstyle is handed over to the Chief Security Officer who will make sure that such a student effects the necessary change

sity’s regulation on appropriate dressing are invited and counseled and told to go back and change.

“For instance, a male student caught with unacceptable hairstyle is handed over to the Chief Security Officer who will make sure that such a student effects the necessary change. Often, such a student is asked to report, every morning, to the CSO’s office.

“If he is certified to be a student of FUNAAB, the CSO will hand him over to the security officers in his college who will put him under surveillance and monitor his dressing regularly before he proceeds to class,” she said.

At FUNAAB, consistent refusal, after counseling, to conform to accepted regulation on appropriate dressing and good conduct can earn a student suspension, but Alawode said: “we have not had any student that was counseled that still remained adamant.”

It would appear as if the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, has taken the campaign against indecent dressing to a new height with a comprehensive, clearly scripted regulation against it published for all to see.

Early last year, the university management published a long list of unapproved ‘modes of dressing’. The information was displayed on large banners mounted at different points on the campus.

Some of the forbidden modes were “tattered, dirty Jeans with holes and obscene or subliminal messages; baggy, saggy, yansh, ass level and over length trousers; tight fittings (for example, leggings); wearing of earings by male students; lousy, unnatural/artificial hair attachment beyond shoulder length.”

The vice chancellor, Professor Lanre Fagbohun, has, since assumption of office, been vocal in his condemnation of indecent dressing among students. Only a couple of months ago, the management said it had issued “warning letters” to 84 students for flouting the university’s dress code.

In the vice chancellor’s message to students published two weeks ago in the university’s bulletin, Fagbohun said the university’s guidelines on dressing were in line with global best practices.

“The vision to make Lagos State University (LASU) great is a collective one. The LASU of our dream is one of a university that can compete favourably with the very best Ivy League universities in the world.

Globally, the dressing and appearance of a person or a group of people determines the kind of respect they would earn from others.

“It is in line with this that our dear students are expected to behave and dress in a manner that represents the university in a positive way.

“We understand and respect the natural desire for freedom as undergraduates. This, however, must be within the confines of rules and regulations of the university as have been carefully thought out pursuant to its enabling laws or by the senate of the university.

“In every vision-driven university, the students are a critical factor; they project the university culture and values; hence, the need for students to always dress properly as great ambassadors of their university.”

news Panic, outrage as DSS arrests judges 4

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Places CJN-hopeful, Onnoghen, under security watch From Lanre Adewole, Ayomide OwonibiOdekanyin, Sam Nwaoko and Jude Ossai

T

HERE were mixed reactions on Saturday as officers of State Security Service (SSS) otherwise called Department of State Security (DSS) began a clampdown on some judges.

About 48 hours to his final consideration as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the most senior justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, has been put under security surveillance, Sunday Tribune exclusively learnt at the weekend.

Officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) Friday night stormed his official residence in Abuja but later left, claiming they mistook the residence for another justice’s, who is also of the apex court and under alleged corruption probe.

The officers later arrested two justices of the apex court, Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, the same night.

While Ngwuta was said to have been released after interrogation, Okoro was reportedly held by the DSS. It was gathered that the probe was about the 2015 election petitions involving Akwa-Ibom and Rivers State as well as other alleged bribery issues.

Tribune had months back, exclusively reported the commencement of sting operations against senior judicial officers by security agencies.

Sources, however, revealed in the wee hours of Saturday that the sudden onslaught

against justices of the apex court might be the final attempt to ensure that Onnoghen didn’t emerge as the next CJN in about a month’s time.

The incumbent, Justice Mohammed Mahmud, will exit on November 10 and has strongly supported Onnoghen as his successor.

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) which he chairs had nominated Onnoghen as the next CJN, with the National Judicial Council (NJC) fixing an emergency meeting for Tuesday to recommend Onnoghen to President Muhammadu Buhari who is the appointing authority.

The council, as is the tradition, will recommend alongside Onnoghen, the next most senior justice of the court, Justice Mohammed Tanko as a standby, in an event of Buhari’s rejection of the original nominee.

While Onnoghen is from Cross River State, Tanko is from Bauchi. No Southerner had been CJN in 29 years.

Seniority issues have kept playing out between Onnoghen and Tanko.

While Onnoghen was called to the Bar and Supreme Court bench before Tanko, the latter reportedly joined the High Court bench ahead of the CJN-designate.

Shortly before Onnoghen’s nomination and after it, the issue reportedly reared its head at a function at the National Judicial Institute with the outgoing CJN in attendance.

Seniority at the apex court is traditionally measured by dates of appointment, making Onnoghen to be the most

Reasons we are after judges —DSS Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

THE Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday confirmed the arrest of three serving judges over alleged corruption in the nation’s judiciary Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, the Spokesperson for the Service. Mallam Abdullahi Garba stated that the arrest of the affected judges who he did not name followed series of special sting operations involving some judges of the Supreme, Appeal and High Courts embarked upon by the Service in the past few days Mallam Abdullahi also told newsmen that several millions of money in local and foreign currencies were recovered from the suspects He also accused a state governor of shielding one of the judges from being arrested and mobilised thugs against the operatives of the Service

According to him, “ these operations were based on allegations of corruption and other acts of professional misconduct by a few of the suspected judges.

“The Service action is in line with its core mandate, as we have been monitoring the expensive and luxurious lifestyle of some of the judges as well as complaints from the concerned public over judgments obtained fraudulently and on the basis amounts of money paid.

“The judges involved were invited, upon which due diligence was exhibited and their premises searched.

“The searches have uncovered huge raw cash of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate worth several millions of Naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these Judges.

continues on I pg8

senior.

It was gathered that the anti-Onnoghen forces in the executive arm of government launched the latest attack, following the realisation that it could be difficult to stop him once the entire appointment process was concluded.

Sunday Tribune was informed by a top security source that the probe being conducted against the two justices of the apex court was actually targeted at implicating Onnoghen, though utmost care was being taken not to create an impression of putting him under security searchlight.

Forces within the anti-Onnoghen camp were said to have been tethered up till now from moving against him because of the ethnic tension it would generate.

During the security raid, a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja (names withheld) reportedly scaled the fence in his home to escape the midnight arrest. His brother, who the DSS officers met at home, was reportedly made to stand in for him.

Another judge of the same court who is a grandson of a popular late jurist, reportedly had the door to his home blown apart by the security agents to have access to him.

He was said to have run upstairs, with the officers in hot pursuit, before he was eventually picked up.

A judge in Kano State who was recently exited from service for alleged corruption by the NJC was also arrested and brought to Abuja.

Another senior judge of the Court of Appeal, sacked by the council, is also being detained by the DSS. NBA reacts The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a statement, on the arrest of judges, while declaring a state of emergency and condemning the action of the DSS. NBA President, A B Mahmoud, while addressing a press conference at Eko Hotel in Lagos, on Saturday, in the company of four former presidents of the association, demanded the immediate release of all judicial officers arrested by the DSS. According to him, the action of the DSS was an affront on the rule of law, which must not be condoned. He threatened that there would be consequences if the security outfit failed to release the judges, immediately and without conditions.

The NBA president, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to caution security agencies to respect the rule of law and to follow the due process in their operations.

Part of the statement read: “Any issues affecting the judicial officers, there are established procedures for han-

dling them and we demand that this constitutional process must be obeyed.

“Given the unfolding nature of the event and the seriousness of the situation, the NBA hereby declares a state of emergency as it affects the affairs of the judiciary and I hereby constitute a crisis management team, comprising all past presidents of the association.

“I want to, on behalf of the association, make the very following clear and unequivocal demands: we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all the judges abducted from about 9pm yesterday (Friday).

“The release must be done immediately and without any conditions. Two, we demand that the Department of State Services should limit itself to its statutory and constitutional responsibilities.”

Fayose, Ohanaeze Secretary-General, others react Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State in his reaction Saturday decried what he said was “harrassment and intimidation of the Nigerian Judiciary” and described the arrest of some judges as “the height of it.”

Governor Fayose, who addressed newsmen lamented that “the invasion of residences of five judges, including those of two Justices of

...Wike alleges assault

By Dapo Falade

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said he was rough-handled by operatives of the police and the Department of Security Service during a failed attempt to abduct a Federal High Court judge in Port Harcourt, in the early hours of Saturday.

The governor, in a statement issued by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, also claimed that the failed illegal abduction was part of a plot to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.

He pointed out that the failed abduction of the judge (whose name was not disclosed), residing at Number 35 Forces Avenue in Port Harcourt, was led by the state Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Tosin Ajayi and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Francis Odesanya.

“Not under my watch will I allow this kind of impunity to take place. That is why we are here. I don’t know which judge they were detailed to abduct. I didn’t bother myself to know which judge. All

I am interested in is that, at this level, it is not allowed.

“He is not a criminal and he is not an armed robber. If the person has committed an offence, invite him. It is only when he refuses to honour the invitation that you can adopt this commando style.

“The Commissioner of

Police is here, the Director of DSS is here. Their operatives cocked their guns and threatened to shoot me. I have never seen that before.

Again , this is to tell you what we are facing. We know that more will come. For us in this state, we shall continue to resist it.

the Supreme Court – Justice Walter Onnoghen and Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, is a direct assault on the judiciary.”

The governor, said “it should now be obvious to all Nigerians and the international community that democracy is under threat in Nigeria and Nigerians must rise to save democracy from being truncated.

“I am particularly worried over the involvement of Justice Walter Onnoghen in the invasion, and I hope this is not a plot to prevent his appointment as the next CJN just because he is from the South South region.

Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada and Secretary to the State Government in Ekiti State, Ambassador Dare Bejide also berated the DSS action.

“I see it as a sad development for our democracy. If there is evidence of corruption against any individual (judicial officers inclusive), there are procedures laid down to deal with such misconduct.

“There is no doubt that some judges are corrupt, but they should be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said.

The National SecretaryGeneral of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Joe Nworgu, in a telephone interview with Sunday Tribune said that he had only read the reported abduction of the judges in newspapers, adding that he was yet to verify the truth of the matter.

“However, whatever happened, let the authority or the Federal Government as well as the Department of Security Service (DSS) follow the rule of law. In a democratic setting, the rule of law is supreme.

•See more reactions on page 8

DSS arrested Justices Ademola, Dimgba SUNDAY EJIKE-ABUJA

SOME reasons have been adduced to the arrest of Justices Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court

by Department of the State Security (DSS), on Saturday.

Unconfirmed information gathered by Sunday Tribune from a source stated that the arrest of the two members of the Bench may not be unconnected with some of the judgements they have pronounced against the service.

The DSS, it was gathered, is said to be displeased with some of the pronouncements.

According to a top source, who did not want his name mentioned, “the DSS is not

also comfortable with their vocal criticism over allegation of rights’ violation of persons detained at its facility, thus making it look bad in the eyes of Nigerians”.

However, when Sunday Tribune got in touch with the media aide to the CJN, Mr. Ahuraka Yusuf Isah for confirmation of the invasion of the official residences of the two Justices, he said he was driving and will get back to our correspondent, but he never did until press time.

We recall that Justice Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had blasted the DSS for flouting an order of the court to remand a defendant in prison.

He had ordered that a re-

tired Air Commodore, Umar Mohammed, who was arraigned before him be remanded in Kuje Prison pending the hearing of his bail application but the DSS had refused to carry out the order and to produce him in court.

“I take a strong exception to this type of behaviour; when the court orders that someone be kept in prison custody, the person ought to be kept in prison and not in the office.

“If the people at the DSS want to become judge and do their job as well, I am ready to vacate my office for them, but as long as I am still here, I take an exception to them flouting the orders of the court,” Dimgba was quoted to have said.

5

news

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Independence Day bombing: S/Africa’s Supreme Court reduces Okah’s sentence from 24 to 20 years Presidency hails conviction Clement Idoko -Abuja, with Agency Report

T

HE South African Supreme Court of Appeal has reduced the sentence of the Independence Day bomber, Henry Okah, from 24 years to 20 years.

In a reaction to the sentence, the Nigerian government hailed the court

for the conviction.

The court reduced the sentence after finding that it did not have jurisdiction to try him on some of the counts.

It also found that the state did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Okah made threats against South African companies in Nigeria in 2012 as he was in prison.

Okah‚ who was granted permanent residency status in South Africa in 2007‚ was arrested in Johannesburg on October 2‚ 2010 and charged with 13 counts under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act. The Act enables extraterritorial prosecution of criminal offences

comprising acts of terrorism and related activities.

The first 12 counts were related to bombings that occurred in Nigeria at the Government House Annex in Warri‚ Delta State, on 15 March 2010 and Eagle Square‚ Abuja on 1 October 2010.

The bombings resulted in the deaths of 12 people, with 64 people severely injured.

Count 13 alleged that Okah had threatened certain South African entities commercially active in Nigeria with destabilising terrorist activities.

The high court in Johannesburg sentenced Okah to serve 12 years for the bombing in Warri, 12 years for the bombing in Abuja and 10 years for making threats.

N/Delta militancy must be stopped —Buhari

Avengers, others to sustain ceasefire, as Edwin Clark leads talks with FG From Muhammad Sabiu and Clement Idoko

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the activities of the Niger Delta militants must be stopped, because it has greatly affected the nation’s economy.

He made this declaration in Kaduna, on Saturday, during the passing out parade of 63 regular course of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).

This is just as Ijaw leader and former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark, is set to lead negotiation with the Federal Government on behalf of the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups in order to find a lasting solution to the perennial crisis in the region.

President Buhari, who was the Reviewing Officer at the passing out parade, had told the newly commissioned officers that it was time to pay back what the country and their parents had invested in them.

While reminding the passing out cadets that they were joining the military at a time the country needed them the most, the president said his administration inherited a badly managed insurgency in 2015, just as he admitted that though terrorism was a global challenge, the role of the military was paramount in combating it.

He informed the officers of the security challenges now posed by kidnappers, cattle rustlers and the Niger Delta militants, saying that the Federal Government was approaching the security threats in a number of ways.

Buhari stressed that the activities of the militants had badly affected the economy and that it must be stopped.

“You now belong to Nigeria. You are no longer indigenes of your respective states or villages, but offi-

cers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and you must behave as such. You must be ready to make the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of Nigeria when the need arises.

“The journey that you are starting today is turbulent and challenging, but the application of your training in the academy will certainly see you through.

“Similarly, you must be of good character as you move out of this reputable academy. Your character will determine how far you will go in your pursuit. Maintain discipline and loyalty to one Nigeria.

“We inherited a badly managed war against insurgency in the North-East, but now, the capacity of the insurgents to launch attack has been curtailed, while towns once taken by the insurgents have been liberated. The ongoing mop up operation is to clear remnants of insurgents from their hideouts, all of these due to the gallant troops of the armed forces.

“Our challenges go beyond Boko Haram, but include kidnapping, cattle rustling and militancy in the Niger Delta, which has impacted negatively on our economy,” President Buhari stressed.

‘N/Delta not against Buhari’s govt’

Meanwhile, Chief Edwin Clark has maintained that the Niger Delta elders and leaders were not against Buhari’s government.

He added that they were fully prepared to support him in achieving peace in the region and the development of the entire country.

Clark, who made this disclosure after an expanded meeting of elders, leaders of thought, and representatives of various stakeholders from the Niger Delta, held on Friday night at his Asokoro, Abuja residence, called on the

Federal Government to show more commitment in resolving the crisis in the Niger Delta region.

The meeting had in attendance representatives of Delta State government; His Royal Majesty Alfred Diete Spiff; Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd); former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah; a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice F.F Tabai; former Minister of Science and Technology.

Professor Turner Isoun; Timi Alaibe; former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Brodrick Bozimo; Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (Retd) and several leaders of groups and ethnic nationalities.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Obong Attah maintained that as part of the resolutions at the meeting, it was agreed that all the various groups and initiatives which had been working to achieve peace and stability in the Niger Delta since the escalation of renewed militancy in the region be collapsed into one under the umbrella of Pan Niger Delta Forum, with Chief Edwin Clark as leader.

“The new forum has also placed a demand on the Federal Government to urgently set up its negotiation team that would engage these genuine leaders of the Niger Delta mandated to speak for the various militant groups in the region.

Attah said Chief Clark “is approaching 90 years, and he feels the burden to make sure the Niger Delta he leaves behind is something our children and grandchildren will be proud of, because we helped to engineer it.

“We held a two-hour meeting and made certain decisions, which

are encapsulated in the communique,” Attah said, adding that the meeting noted that several groups, out of concern for the Niger Delta, have sprung up on efforts to right the wrongs of the Niger Delta and “this evening, we resolved and everybody agreed that the groups collapsed into one body, to be known as Pan Niger Delta Forum with Chief Edwin Clark as the leader.”

He said further that the meeting resolved to set up a working group that would work out the details and modalities of how the new formation would operate in the interest of the Niger Delta region.

The communique issued and signed by Clark and co-chairmen of the Central Working Committee, Diete-Spiff and Attah, indicated that the meeting deliberated on current developments in the Niger Delta and agreed on several issues on how to resolve the crisis in the region.

“For all the various groups to work under the central umbrella of Pan Niger Delta Forum with Chief Edwin Clark as leader.

“The setting up of a central working committee taking into regard representation of states, ethnic nationalities, and special interests under the chairmanship of Obong Victor Attah.

“The meeting also noted that the problems of the Niger Delta remain as follows: “Question of fairness, justice and equity, as the region remains largely unfairly treated and shortchanged on most national issues.

“Poor social infrastructural development and e n v i r o n m e n t a l degradation, poor funding of intervention agenciesNiger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),

Amnesty Office and Ministry of Niger Delta.

“With respect to the current insecurity in the region, the meeting noted as follows: That the 60day ceasefire declared by various agitating groups on the 21st of August, 2016 has led to relative peace in the region and thereby helped boost oil production and thereby aid the national economic recovery.

“However, the Federal Government has been unable to reciprocate so far by putting together a government dialogue team.

“That ‘operation crocodile smile’ exercise embarked by the Nigerian military has not advanced the course of peace but only heightened the state of insecurity and tension.

“The need for various agitating groups in the Niger Delta to continue to maintain the peace, refrain from all acts of violence and give the pursuit of dialogue by the leaders of the region a chance,” it stated.

Chief Clark, earlier in his welcome speech said that while individuals randomly condemned the escalated activities of the Niger Delta youths who have been involved in destruction of the national assets resulting in the military intervention by deploying troops to the region, “the grievances of the youth were not new.”

He said that the struggle for the development of the Niger Delta dated back to the late 1950s, which led to the setting up of the Henry Willinks Commission in 1957 by the British colonial government, adding that “it is also what we, the elders and leaders of the region, are still fighting and agitating for. The difference is the manner and method of the agitation.”

The 10 year sentence was to run concurrently with the two 12 year sentences‚ meaning Okah would spend 24 years behind bars.

The court set aside the conviction on count 13.

The SCA found that Okah conspired‚ planned and instructed people in relation to the execution of the bombing in Abuja whilst in South Africa.

“Simply put‚ there is no need in relation to these counts to examine the ambit of the extra-territorial application of the Act because he orchestrated the Abuja bombing from within the Republic of South Africa.”

The court said Okah was arrested in South Africa and charged locally for acts he committed within the country and a domestic court would obviously have jurisdiction.

It reduced the 12-years sentence from the Warri bombing to eight years. The 12-year sentence for the Abuja bombing remained in place.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the Nigerian government had written “a measured letter” to the South African government, praising the judicial decision as a big step forward towards removing terrorism from the continent.

A Presidency official also told State House correspondents on condition of anonymity that “South Africa has projected itself an enduring partner to Nigeria in the war against terrorism.

When African countries act jointly against terrorism, they send out clear and unambiguous signals that there is no more a place for terrorism on our continent.”

The Presidency source opined that the latest judgment is a victory for the fight against terrorism in all its form and shape, which should be hailed by all well meaning Nigerians and citizens of the world.

“The South African authorities are, therefore, urged to ensure that Mr. Okah is made to face the full wrath of the law for his acts of international terrorism.

The scourge of terrorism as perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorists and the socalled “Niger Delta Avengers or militants” has led to the death of several Nigerians and the monumental destruction of national assets.”

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, to the President, Mr Garba Shehu, confirmed that the Presidency viewed the conviction positively as a serious signal in cleansing Nigeria of terrorism.

6

9 October, 2016

crimereports

Sunday Tribune

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

The lame who leads bike-snatching gang arrested

By Oluwatoyin Malik

S

UNDAY Olojede also known as Oba Aro is a physically-challenged man who will evoke sympathy from anyone who sees him moving about in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Even his appellation which when translated to English literally means ‘king of the lame’ derived from his condition.

But beyond his disability, Crime Reports learnt that 38-year-old Olojede was a terror to motorcycle riders, especially in Ogbomoso town, as he allegedly headed a gang which specialised in snatching bikes from owners after luring them to deserted areas in the guise of being a passenger.

Reports had it that what he used to do was to make his gang members follow him on one or two other motorcycles in trail of the one conveying him, after which they would attack the owner of the bike they wanted to snatch and make away with it, abandoning the owner.

However, his cup became full in August when his victim proved too much for him, leading to his arrest.

Disclosing the circumstances surrounding the arrest to Crime Reports, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Sam Adegbuyi said that on August 13, a three-man gang of armed robbers attacked one Bolaji Matthew along Ago Are and dispossessed him of his Bajaj motorcycle.

Not done, he said that the same gang also snatched another motorcycle at gunpoint from its owner, Olusayo Alao, at the same area, but the alarm raised by the second victim attracted the Special Anti-Robbery Squad which was on routine patrol at the area.

“The SARS operatives moved swiftly to the scene and succeeded in arresting the suspect and the snatched motorcycle was recovered from him.

“Though other members of the gang escaped from the scene, due to diligent investigation, they were arrested in their various hideouts and they confessed to series of robbery operations they had carried out and the number of motorcycles stolen before they were apprehended,” Adegbuyi stated.

Other suspects were Olayiwola Amoo (38), Abiodun Adebayo a.k.a.

Omileniyan (25), Isaac Idowu a.k.a. Alausa (37), Abdullahi Adamu (50), and Rabiu Abubakar (30).

He disclosed that the motorcycles stolen before the suspects were apprehended were sold to some criminal receivers who were also arrested, while the exhibits recovered included five unregistered Bajaj Boxer motorcycles snatched at different times, a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle with registration number OYO FMT 688 QC and a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle with registration number OYO YNF 535 QC. The police commissioner said that the suspects would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.

In an interview with Olo-

jede, he claimed that it was not long that he joined the bike-snatching gang.

“I have just started with the gang. The first time I went with the gang, I picked one of the gang members on a motorcycle while another member rode as a passenger on a commercial motorcycle.

When the rider got to a lonely spot, the passenger who is our gang member forcefully took the key of

the bike from him.

“At the same time, we arrived at the scene and the rider who initially wanted to put up a resistance became afraid. He left the bike and ran away. The second time was similar but we were not successful the third time,” he said.

One of the victims, Olusayo Alao, also narrated his experience to Crime Reports: “Olojede stopped me that I should

take him to Ayelomo Hotel. I said I didn’t know the place and he tried to describe it. As we were going, I noticed the road he took me through was lonely and there were no houses there.

“Unknown to me, two others were following us on a motorcycle. Suddenly, Sunday slapped me.

As I wanted to escape, the bike went off and Sunday pushed me to the ground

with the bike. I got up and rained blows on him, at the same time crying for help.

“His two other gang members started beating me and when I struggled with them not to take the bike away, they carried Olojede and put him on their motorcycle. But I dragged him down from the bike. Some people and a patrol team came to where we were and helped in apprehending him.”

The suspects

Police inspector demanded N.3m, threatened me, my son with death —Victim Adamu Amadu-Dutse

A man with the rank of an inspector serving in Jigawa State Police Command has been arrested over an allegation that he threatened to kill one Ibrahim Sabo of Hausawa village in Shawarin Kiyawa Local Government Area of the state if fails to give him N300,000.

Reports from the state indicated that the suspected police officer used his handset to call Sabo to ask for the stated amount, otherwise he would kill him or his son who is a motorcycle rider operating in the locality.

Narrating his experience to Crime Reports, Ibrahim Sabo said “last Friday evening, a man called me and threatened that I should bring N300,000 to him in a place he named in the bush or he would kill me or my son if I failed to do so.”

Sabo added: “Fortunately for me, my daughter came that day from Adamawa and when I narrated the story to her, she advised me to report the matter to the police. Immediately, we went to report to the police.

“Some policemen were provided and we went to

the place where my caller arranged for us to meet.

Unfortunately, it was discovered that he was a policeman when he went to where I kept the money.

As he was about to take the money, the detectives rounded him up and took him to Dutse police station.”

Sabo said that before his daughter gave him a solution, he was very scared and confused.

“I sold two of my cows and one of my farmland to meet up with the amount my caller asked me to pay.

When I sold two of my cows, I got N250,000 so I

had to sell the farmland to make up the amount,” he said.

Also speaking, the daughter of the victim, Aisha, told Crime Reports: “When I arrived on that fateful day, my father told me the whole story and I also noticed that he was so disturbed, to the point that he had already sold two of his cows.

“But I stopped him from going along with the threat, telling him instead to report the matter to the law enforcement agents.”

She said that she suspected that the inspector was a Fulani as he communicat-

ed fluently in Fulfude.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Abdul Jinjiri, said that though he did not have the details of the case, it was already being investigated by the police to know whether the suspect is a policeman or not.

Jinjiri stated further that “if we find out that the suspect is truly a policeman, we will deal with him and if he is not, and just impersonated, we will take him to the court to face the law.”

7

crimereports

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

I spent N.4m collected from 10 clients for visa on my dad’s ailment, says company worker accused of fraud

By Oluwatoyin Malik

A

27-year-old man, John Emmanuel, who was a staff member of a travel and tour company in Ibadan, Oyo State, has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for allegedly swindling over 10 clients of the company after collecting visa fees from them without remitting the money to the company or the United States.

Crime Reports learnt that the suspect’s deeds were exposed when one of the company’s clients, one Gbemi (surname withheld) who introduced 10 clients to the suspect, reported at Apata police station that Emmanuel collected N433, 900 from 10 people as US visa fees between July and September.

The lady, from Sagamu, Ogun State, further told the police that the suspect made the clients to believe that he had paid the visa fees to the US embassy only for them to discover that he did not pay the money but had spent it.

Gbemi also spoke further that the suspect used the visa code of one of his company’s clients to deceive one of the people she brought to him that he had paid the client’s fee, but he (Emmanuel) was exposed through a letter from the US embassy which stated that the client used the code of another person.

According to the complainant, while speaking with Crime Reports, “I got to know John at Absolute Success Travels and Tours Agency when I needed help to process my US visa.

“In the course of filling a form, I was directed to John and we got talking.

He then gave me his complimentary card, explaining that the way the company was being operated was that the number of clients brought by staff would determine the commission such staff would get.

“I brought 10 clients between June and September. The second client I brought to the company through him was one Azeez (surname withheld) and his wife in July.

“When it was time for training for Azeez, John said there was no need for it. He also said that he made an error while fill-

John Emmanuel ing Azeez’s visa code and pleaded that I should not let the company know about it, asking for time to rectify it.

“He later gave Saturday,

September 24 as a date that Azeez should come for training, but when Azeez called him to confirm the time he should come for the training, he refused to

pick the call. When Azeez sent a text message, he did not respond.

“This prompted me to come to Ibadan with Azeez on Monday, September 26, but when we got to the office, we were told John was not around. I went straight to his boss to explain what had been going on. That was how the boss said that he had been looking for Azeez, as the US embassy sent a mail to his office that he used someone else’s pass code to process his visa. He then showed me the letter.

“It was then I informed the boss that he should help crosscheck the list of other clients that paid through John. That was when we got another shocker that all the money

paid was not also remitted to the company. And all the clients transferred the fees into John’s bank account; only one of them gave him cash.”

In an interview with the suspect, he confessed to the allegation against him.

“It is true that I collected money from some of our clients and did not remit it. I did it with the belief that I could always get the money and buy the visa fee later. I had some money I was planning to use to refund the money.

I also had my commission which should be close to N200,000 that I was expecting the company to pay me.

“The money I collected totalled N433,900 from 10 people. Actually, I used

the money on my father’s ailment. I never planned for things to come out this way. I thought I would have got the money I was expecting and remitted the one I spent before it would be exposed. But the money I was expecting did not come in good time; that was why I landed in this (arrest),” he said.

On the issue of stealing the visa fee code of some clients to process the visas of others, Emmanuel initially denied the allegation but later confessed when confronted by his former boss and the complainant.

Crime Reports learnt that the suspect was arraigned in court on September 30 and was remanded in prison as he could not fulfil his bail conditions.

NDLEA seizes N10.7bn illicit drugs, arrests 7 suspects in Edo THE Edo State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confiscated illicit drugs valued at over N10.7 billion in Benin.

The state commander of the agency, Mr Buba Wakawa, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Benin that seven suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

Wakawa, who gave a rundown of the command’s achievements during the third quarter of 2016, said the seven suspects were arrested with 34.2 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine.

He described Methamphetamine as more dangerous and harmful than

cocaine, adding that it was not commonly known to ordinary people on the street.

According to him, the confiscated drug has a street value of about $700,000 per kilogramme, which translates to $23.9 million for the 34.2 kg confiscated.

The commander also put the estimated value of the siezed drug at about N10.7 billion.

He disclosed that the suspects, who concealed the substance in 102 cartons of HP computer printer cartridges, were arrested on September 24, on LagosBenin-Asaba Expressway.

Wakawa disclosed that the command also arrested 69 other suspects during

2 men declared wanted for cutting hands, legs of another man THE Sokoto State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has declared two men wanted for allegedly amputating the hands and legs of one Shafiu Aminu Arzika in Sokoto.

The state commandant of the corps, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, made the disclosure on Friday in Sokoto in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He named the two men as Abu Alayin and Hassan Dan Asano.

He said that the incident took place around Digar Agyare area of Sokoto city on Ttursday night.

Aliyu said that the victim had been referred to the Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala in Kano State, for treatment.

He said that the command had commenced investigation to track the men.

“We will do everything humanly possible to track the suspects, arrest them and bring them to book,” Aliyu promised.

the period under review for alleged drug trafficking.

He said that nine out of the 69 suspected drug traffickers were women, adding that two had been charged to court.

Wakama said that the total narcotic confisticated during the period weigh up to 2, 156.1 kilo-

grammes.

He listed the drugs to include 1, 911 kilogrammess of Indian hemp, 34.2 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine, 3.5 grammes of cocaine, 129 kilogrammes of Tramadol and 82 kilogrammes of Diazepam.

The NDLEA commander

added that 11.514 hectares of carnabbis sativa were destroyed during the period under review and five vehicles impounded.

According to him, the command currently has 162 pending cases in various courts in the state and had couselled 32 drug addicts.

8 news

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

DSS arrest: It’s an abuse of power but… —Lawyers Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

S

OME legal practitioners have spoken with one voice, condemning the reported attempts to arrest some judges in Rivers State describing it as an overzealous act that is beyond their purview of duty, adding that there are laid down rules on how erring judges should be treated.

Yet others expressed the belief that it is high time the judiciary was sanitised and corrupt judges called to order with their lawyercollaborators, adding that there should, however, be concrete offences with proof against them.

In his reaction, constitution lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), described the development as a new onslaught against the judiciary which is raising danger signals.

“The new onslaught against the judiciary signals great danger to our hard won democracy, freedom, liberties and human rights, independence of the judiciary and the doctrine of separation of powers ably espoused in 1748 by the great French philosopher, Baron De Montesquieu. The last time I checked, we are supposed to be operating a constitutional democracy, not military dictatorship or tyrannical absolutism.

“Governor Wike’s “of-

fence” was that he came to rescue a Federal High Court Judge who was being abducted in Kamikaze Gestapo style. Other serving judges who would ordinarily respond to a mere phone call are being humilated and rounded up in the ungodly wee hours of the night like common criminals,” Ozekhome said.

The former Solicitor General of Lagos state, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), feels it is a strange development. “This is strange and I don’t believe the story as it has not been confirmed by the DSS or has it been confirmed?

However, I must state that judges are not above the law. If any judge is found to have committed an offence he can be arrested and prosecuted like any other citizen. All men and women are equal before the law.

“However, if it is still an allegation, a discreet invitation to the judge concerned and investigation will serve our sacred and jealously guarded institution, the Judiciary, a lot of good for the image and benefit of the Nation.

“We should be wary of throwing caution into the wind and not indirectly desecrate our institutions by our actions. There are ways of dealing with matter of this nature and achieving desired result without sending a wrong signal to the public,” he said.

In his own reaction, Lagos-based lawyer and rights

activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa decried the development, asking for a boycott of the courts to protest what he calls dictatorship in a democratic setting.

“I read with great amazement and total disbelief, the news of the invasion of the homes of judicial officers in Port Harcourt and in Abuja, by the executive arm of government through the Directorate of Security Services, DSS. In one particular case, it was said that sledge hammers were used to break down the wall of the home of a judge, with his domestic servants wickedly brutalised.

“This is full-blown dictatorship now in action. It is now a case of anarchists in power. The clampdown on judges has been on for a long time, through agents of government in the various institutions of oppression. We are now back to the 1984 jackboot system of intolerance, where all dissenting views and opinions must be silenced.

“It is condemnable for the DSS, which is an arm of the executive, to be breathing down on the judicial arm of government, under the guise of fighting corruption.

“We do not advocate that those alleged to be corrupt should not face their due trial, but that should be done in an atmosphere of dignity and respect for the fundamental rights of the suspects.

This is dangerous and con-

demnable since we are not under a military rule,” Adegboruwa said adding: “I call on the Nigerian Bar Association to declare an indefinite strike so that all courts of law in Nigeria will be boycotted until there is respect for the rule of law and the Constitution, commencing from Monday, October 10, 2016, until further notice.”

Another human rights lawyer, Ikechukwu Ikeji, said judges shouldn’t be arrested without charges filed against them.

“By the nature of their jobs, judges should not be arrested without making

their alleged offences public. And the arrest ought to start with the police or EFCC or ICPC and after public disclosure of their alleged offence satisfying the public that the offence or offences border on national security would the DSS even attempt to ask the arresting agency to transfer them into its custody.

“DSS has no business arresting judges. Where are the Police, EFCC and ICPC? If the judges have allegedly committed an offence against national security, the DSS ought to have first invited them, even if pub-

licly. This is simply tyrannical, unconstitutional, dictatorial and an attempt to intimidate and muzzle the judiciary to do the bidding of the executive. The DSS overreached the NJC whose duty it is, statutorily, to discipline judges,” Ikeji stated.

Dave Ajetomobi, the former chairman of the Ikeja NBA in his reaction, however, agreed that it is time the judiciary was sanitised and erring judges and their lawyer collaborators brought to book, adding that this should, however, be done in line with laid down rules and procedures.

‘Why we are after judges’ continued from

pg 4

“Some of them have made useful statements while a few have declined even with the glaring evidences that were found against them in terms of material cash, documents and property recovered pointing to their compromise.

“In one of the states where the Service operations were conducted, credible intelligence revealed that the judge had Two Million United States Dollars ($2,000,000 USD) stashed in his house.

“When he was approached for due search to be conducted, he in concert with the state governor mobilized thugs against

the Service team.

“The team restrained itself in the face of unbridled provocative activities by those brought in by the governor. Unfortunately, the judge and governor also engaged the tacit support of a sister security agency.

“The Service surveillance team noticed that upon frustrating the operation, the judge with the active support of the governor craftily moved the money to an unknown location which the Service is currently making effort to unravel.

“Large amount including foreign/local currencies have been recovered. Summaries of these include: While stating that other foreign currencies were

also recovered he revealed that these were recovered from just three of the judges under investigation apart from other banking documents, including real estate documents have been recovered.

He assured that preparations to arraign them in a competent court of jurisdiction in line with the laws of the nation were in progress.

On the fate of one Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, Mallam Abdullahi said,”the Service would want to clearly state that it has never invited Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen for investigation, neither is he being investigated by this Service.”

specialtreat Good health: What to do before the doctor comes

By Tade Makinde

I

T is not uncommon to suffer mild or major health problems at homes that require urgent attention prior to proper medical attention at hospitals.

From slight headache to deadly bites, what can a layman do to treat victims or preserve their lives before a doctor is brought in? Medical problems are quickly attended to by applying First aid treatment and Dr Victor Adeyefa, a Belgium-trained medical practitioner, defines First Aid as the assistance or care given to any person suffering a sudden illness or injury to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, and/or promote recovery.

First aid does not necessarily require any particular equipment or prior knowledge, and can involve improvisation with materials available at the time, often by untrained persons.

Some of the common ailments that may require emergency treatments are diarrhoea, burn and snake bites, among others.

• Diarrhoea, if not quickly dealt with, can result in cholera. Generally, cholera breaks out in unclean environments and can be epidemic in nature. The victim passes watery stool, accompanied by vomitting, which eventually results in weight loss. “Most times,” said Dr Ajeigbe Bolaji of Prospect Hospital, Molete, Ibadan, “the victim can also have fever.” He described cholera as a deadly disease that can kill within 24 hours, especially when the victim stools four or five times within an hour.

“One starts to feel faint, get weak and collapse or die.

That is because victims would have lost much body fluid via stool. Saline water solution should be carried out at once. Get a cup of very clean water, add salt to it and give the victim to sip so that he or she can regain salinity and little strength. To avoid cholera outbreak, however, a

clean surrounding is the best thing to keep.

“Though diarrhoea and vomit go together, it’s not the same thing,” he added.

“ORC solution, or oral technology, is simply salt and sugar solution and together with zinc tablet, it’s the best way to curtail vomitting before a doctor comes. Zinc tablet is important, especially for children, and should be applied within the first 24 hours. After the application, one should take the victim to a hospital,” Dr Ajeigbe said.

• Another ailment that scares most mothers especially is convulsion, which is common among children under age of five years. “Victim should be mopped with very wet towel and put under a fan for air. If it happens to an old person, it is not convulsion. It’s as a result of brain damage or epilepsy,” warned Dr Adeyefa.

• “Most people confuse dysentery with food poisoning because both come with irritable bowel movement, but dysentery is more common than food poisoning. Food poisoning starts with abdominal pain and is followed by vomitting or even diarrh0ea. If the victim is not taken to hospital, a lot could be damaged inside the person’s body,” Dr Adeyefa added, just as Dr Abejide corroborated his statement that food poisoning is caused by mishandling of food and food items.

• “Burns are in ordinary or first degree, second and third degree. If the burn is from not too hot liquid such as palm or vegetable oil or even water, one can use warm water to balance the skin pain. Cold pap (Ogi) can also be gently applied on the affected spot so that blisters won’t break out nor squeezed skin. Soak the burn in cool water for few minutes. This helps to reduce swelling by pulling heat away from the burned skin. Treat the burn with a skin care product that protects and heals skin, such as aloe vera cream or an antibiotic ointment. Victim can wrap gauze bandage around the burn. You can also rub egg white on the skin for same effect and take the person to the hospital.

“As regards second and third degree burns, which could be from very hot vegetable oil, water, kerosene explosion, etc, there is no home medication, the victim must be taken to a hospital quickly,” Dr Agejide said.

• For tooth ache, the victim should normally have been feeling the ache for some time. If the ache is ignored, things can get worse. Be that as it may, mild analgesic such as paracetamol will stem the ache. The aching spot especially should be rinsed with warm salt water to dislodge any trapped food. Applying a cold compress may help to relieve pain and control swelling, while drugs should not be placed on gums as this will cause a chemical burn. Victim can also gaggle salt and water to reduce ache. NCP solution, what many know as TCP, is antiseptic and can be used till a doctor is called upon,” he added.

• “For nose bleeding,” Dr Adeyefa advised that the “victim’s head should be tilted on a chair to minimise the blood outflow and quickly insert cotton in the nose that is bleeding. Thereafter, take the victim to a hospital,” he said.

• “First aid steps that can be taken after a snake bite occurs include cleaning the wound, being calm, and the affected spot be torneyqayed. Also, anything that will increase the heart beat should be avoided. But prevention is better because anti venoms are not easily available in the country.

• “Dog bite follows same process. Dogs mostly have rabies. Because anti-rabies are expensive, most victims die if the bite is not treated. To confirm if truly one has rabies, however, the dog should be kept in a safe place for few days. If the dog has rabies, it will die within 10 days.

That way, one can know for sure that it is rabies. If the dog does not die, then it is not rabies. If the bite barely breaks the skin and there’s no danger of rabies, treat it as a minor wound. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic cream to prevent infection and cover the bite with a clean bandage.

9

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

life&living A 7-day trip to Boko Haram’s death zones

In a bid to encourage Internally Displaced Persons to return home and speed up the rebuilding process, Governor Kashim Shettima of Bono State temporarily ‘relocated’ to the recently liberated areas of the state. BODUNRIN KAYODE reports that while the ‘relocation’ many people had their hearts in their mouths.

A destroyed community

F

IRST it came like a rumour due to what some people close to the Government House in Maiduguri referred to as security reasons, but it soon spread like wildfire in the state capital and beyond. The rumour was that Governor Kashim Shettima was not only visiting Bama, but also going there to help rebuild the town which had been in ruins for a long time.

Some people could not understand the reason behind the governor’s decision to visit Bama, one of the most destroyed towns in Borno. Others felt he was trying to score cheap political points by sacrificing the lives of people around him. This is because the Boko Haram, though reportedly decimated, have not completely left the vicinity of Bama, as soldiers had confirmed that they have been attacked in a hit and run style almost every other month since Christmas last year.

The governor, from all intents is also trying to fix the homes of Bama residents who are now Internally Displaced persons in Maiduguri and other parts of the country so that they can return home, latest by January 2017.

He is the only one that can take the lead. As far as the governor is concerned, a leader is not a complete leader if he is not ready to take risks for his people.

Penultimate Tuesday, the rumour became a reality.

Journalists found themselves travelling to Bama with Governor Shettima. It was a risky journey and reporters were supposed to prepare the minds of their loved ones in case they do not return after 14 days as he had predicted.

We spent only seven days, five of which were spent in

Bama where everything had been brought down by the insurgents.

Governor Shettima moved himself and paraphernalia of office to Bama that Wednesday morning to hasten the rebuilding of the town.

The governor had the full compliments of security around him as he was well-protected with several agents of the organised security including the youth vigilance group, also known as Civilian JTF, who came in their numbers to complement his security.

Having informed my editors not to expect any form of communication from me for at least one week because all networks had been destroyed, I was surprised that the governor’s media adviser had planned to beat the existing breakdown in communications in Bama by fixing a satellite dish for journalists to work with.

Indeed the movement of the long convoy into Borno’s second largest town was the catalyst for the current speedy level of rehabilitation going on in the Boko Haram-devastated town. No building was spared by the insurgents. Everywhere had a scar of the devastation. Massive holes were on public and private buildings, indicative of the mindless destruction that had taken place.

Indeed even the huge trees were not spared, and if they could talk, they will surely narrate how they were sprayed with bullets going by the number of empty shells littering all the major streets of the town.

Administering oaths on the recruit JTF boys

Wednesday afternoon, the 21st of September was solemn in the sense that Governor Shettima was not ready to take chances with fifth columnists within the rank of the civilian JTF boys who were administered to oath-taking. Over 1000 of them, including adults in red uniforms, were asked to swear by the Koran that they will not endanger the lives of the crowd that was in Bama to rebuild the place.

A massive Koran was held by one of the JTF boys who read out some portions and made some pronouncements. Then he moved round with the Koran ensuring that it passed through the midst of all the boys. Then the governor assured them of their allowances of N10,000 per mont.

After the oaths were administered, it was time to move to the next level which was what took us into Bama.

As the reconstruction started, almost 1,000 skilled and non-skilled labourers were seen carrying cement blocks all over the place. While some fixed the roofs, a thousand others cleared the streets of overgrown grass and picking up bullet shells, even as others cleared the garbage littering every corner of the town.

Most of the volunteer workers live in makeshift structures, built along the major streets so that a tight level of security could be achieved just as it is in Maiduguri.

The Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) boss, Nasiru Surindi, said that the body had Continues

pg 10

10

life&living

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Hundreds of prison warders, inmates killed, dumped inside well Continued from

pg 9

prayed against coming in contact with any I and mine that may have been planted by the insurgents.

During the ‘adventure to Bama’, reporters and some security personnel detailed to protect the governor were housed inside the former palace of the Shehu of Bama and it remained our resting place till the following week.

The General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, Brigadier General Victor Ezeogwu, was equally with us on that day but had to return to Maiduguri.

Fixing the town Alhaji Kam Salem, a community leader, in a briefing told us that it was Bama sons that brought all the ruin and damnation to the town, saying it was highly regrettable.

According to Alahji Salem, they not only killed their own relatives, they also joined hands with the insurgents who captured the town unexpectedly, to throw many people into deep wells. The town’s prison yard is now used as a debriefing point for librated Boko Haram captives before being taken into the IDP camps.

Many women and children were in the camp when this reporter got there. The governor did not only take a deep interest in the camp, but also walked round the town encouraging the soldiers and policemen.

This reporter visited a well in the prison yard next to the palace of the Shehu of Bama where hundreds of residents were thrown into. According to one of the soldiers, “the stench was so much when we came that we had to pour chemical inside the well to reduce the odour. Those people committed a lot of atrocities in the name of religion.

“Imagine killing all the prison warders in that big compound and dumping all of them in that well. When all this is over, those skeletons must be taken out for the world to know the level of wickedness displayed by those criminals.”

Traumatic stress Spending time in Bama was historic because it gave every reporter the opportunity to experience what the soldiers were going through before we came.

Armed with our camp mattresses, every one of us had food items packed inside some blue plastic plates till the end of the day. It was a very humbling experience because those of us who slept in the main hall of the palace were more privileged than those who slept outside in the darkness protecting their principal, the governor.

It was clear that some tried to put up a brave face, but most of them had their hearts in their mouths. When it rained, everybody jumped into our sleeping space to protect themselves. It was fun, however, but from the body language of some of my colleagues, all that changed when some brigands came around Mamamti, about six kilometres from where we laid Sunday night, in a bid to make trouble.

Gunshots rent the air, and everyone went on the alert. The ADC to the governor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was seen moving all over the place mak-

Governor Shettima and civilian JTF ing sure that the right people were in the right places to fight to the finish in case the Boko Haram dared to come near the palace.

By the following day, it was clear that Bama was under attack during the previous night but the madness of the insurgents was stopped at Mamamti area after reportedly killing an officer, a Major and his team going towards Banki area during the day.

Some of the troops encountered by this reporter confirmed that since they took over Bama from the rebels and swept it clean of mines, some soldiers have died as a result of the guerrilla tactics employed by the insurgents.

Military authorities put the afternoon IED attack this way: “troops of Operation Lafiya Dole on patrol from Bama to Banki reportedly encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and ambush between Miyanti and Dareljamal.

“The ambush was cleared and three Boko Haram terrorists were killed by the troops. They also recovered a machine gun, one AK-47 rifle and some quantity of ammunition in the process.”

The next morning after the gunshot news filtered to us that the security men wanted to move the governor back to Maiduguri but the commander, Colonel Adamu Laka, had put himself on the line by ensuring that his boys were properly placed to repel any attack from the Boko Haram without any sweat.

Movement to Gwoza and Askira Uba On Monday, the next week, the convoy enroute Pulka became more emboldened because the acting GOC, General Victor Ezeogwu, was with us and by 9. 00 a.m., we were headed for Pulka and then Gwoza which is about 49km away from Bama.

Pulka incidentally is one of the towns under Gwoza Local Government Area.

At Pulka, the governor stopped to see the IDPs and the general complaints was lack of water. That means IDPs in Bama were indeed very privileged because there was enough water for them.

As we drove through the narrow path to where the IDPs were camped they ex-

pressed happiness that the governor was bringing more food and noodles which obviously was the favourite of the kids.

Hope for Gwoza The story was the same in Gwoza where hundreds of school kids thronged the main road to the town, shouting “Sai Kashim” as a sign of happiness for his visit after a long time in captivity and then freedom. He branched into the IDP camp, addressed them and made promises of fixing their water needs.

After relating with the IDPs, Governor Kashim proceeded to the palace of the Chief of Gwoza. Incidentally the chiefs of both towns have been so traumatised that they never followed our team down to visit their respective palaces. The Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Ibrahim has been a very sad man because he actually warned that there was imminent threat to his territory, yet nobody listened to him then, allegedly because Borno then, was labelled as an opposition state under a PDP Federal Government.

His from was attacked in May 2013 and reduced to rubbles by February 2014. By September 2, 2014, Boko Haram took complete control of the town installing their own Emir of Bama. His worst experience was when the insurgents took away

The ambush was cleared and three Boko Haram terrorists were killed by the troops.

They also recovered a machine gun, one AK-47 rifle and some quantity of ammunition in the process

his wife and daughter.

Thankfully, both had been found and returned safely to him by the GOC, who is still struggling to unearth the mystery behind the missing Chibok girls. The army has held to the town since March 2015.

At Gwoza, Governor Shettima called on the people of the town to work with him to develop the town speedily in order for them to go back to their normal life soonest. He regretted that the influential people of Gwoza have refused to come and spend their resources for their compatriots adding that it was time they returned home to help their people.

The journey from Gwoza to Nimankara was long and torturous but the convoy kept going until it was in Mitchika which is seen as the most enterprising town in Adamawa State when it comes to commerce.

The home stretch Reaching Askira Uba was a long journey indeed. We got to Uba before dusk and the governor decided to visit the chief of the town. From then, it was a short ride to Lassa, the historical town where Lassa fever was first discovered by missionaries.

We went round the town; visiting burnt churches and returned to Uba at dusk where we slept.

The next day was a stress-free day because we went through Chibok, Damboa and then to Maiduguri. Though we did not have the complete itinerary of the governor, it was obvious he could not visit many settlements before we returned to base.

At Chibok, the governor visited the local government secretariat. Most reporters expected that he would visit the Government Science Secondary School, Chibok, where the now famous 276 students were abducted. Unfortunately, he did not. He sped past in a bid to catch up with the burial of one of his commissioners who had died while he was on tour.

This daring trip will not be complete without stating that the insurgents had destroyed most of the Federal roads in the southern Borno with several I and mines reportedly buned therein, which the military had to remove for us to traverse the territory.

11

foreignfeature

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Hurricane Matthew: Nearly 1,000 killed in Haiti, many homeless, without power in US

H

URRICANE Matthew has killed nearly 1,000 people in Haiti and left tens of thousands of people homeless. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere has never completely recovered from a devastating earthquake in 2010.

“We lost cows and all our crops,” said farmer Geffrard Duplessis about Matthew. “Nothing is left. And our homes are destroyed.”

News video shows entire landscapes of metal shanties with their roofs blown off, downed trees and mud from overflowing rivers spilling over onto the ground.

The Haitian town of Jeremie with a population of 30,000 “is completely destroyed,” said Care Haiti director Jean-Michel Vigreux.

The United Nations said nearly 6 million Haitians have been affected by the storm with 350,000 people needing immediate aid.

The International Red Cross has announced an emergency appeal for $6.9 billion in relief aid.

Haitian Prime Minister Enex JeanCharles has announced the creation of a committee comprising Cabinet members to coordinate the distribution of aid provided by donor countries and organisations.

Limited vehicle traffic has been restored to the southern part of Haiti that was cut off when a bridge collapsed Tuesday, enabling more emergency relief workers and supplies to be transported to the isolated region.

Damage and potential casualties in the Bahamas were still unclear as the storm passed near the capital, Nassau, on Thursday and then out over the western end of Grand Bahama Island.

Matthew has now moved northward just off the eastern U.S. coast, causing mass evacuations from Florida to North Carolina. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour and rainfall predicted from 20 to 38 centimeters.

Florida Governor, Rick Scott, has activated 3,500 National Guard troops. Experts say parts of the state could be uninhabitable for weeks.

Weather forecasters said coastal storm surges combined with high tides and destructive waves pose dangers of “lifethreatening inundation” through late Saturday afternoon along coastal areas in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

U.S. President Barack Obama has declared states of emergency for all four states.

After meeting Friday with Federal Emergency Management Agency ((FEMA)) administrator Craig Fugate, Obama held a news briefing during which he said, “I just want to emphasise to everybody that this is still a really dangerous hurricane, that the potential for storm surge flooding, loss of life and severe property damage continues to exist.”

One of the areas bearing the brunt of the storm is the northeastern Florida town of Orange Park. Florida resident and former VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins said she is temporarily residing there after heeding mandatory evacuation orders in her hometown of St. Augustine.

“The rain is just so, so hard right now.

It’s really, really coming down. Sometimes it looks like it’s raining sideways. There is a lot of debris out in the streets. There are a lot of tall trees directly behind where I am and they have been swaying so much in the wind that it’s really a bit of a concern.”

In Brevard County, Florida, where NASA’s Cape Canaveral is located, Emergency Management Office spokesman David

Walker told VOA mandatory evacuation orders were issued for 90,000 people living on barrier islands and in mobile homes but some people ignored them.

“Some of that can be attributed to hurricane complacency, which is a factor we have to contend with in Florida because we haven’t had a major incident remotely close to this, hurricane-wise, since 2004,” he said.

Walker also said one family called for

help after the roof of their home “just flew off” and several other residents reported fires of an undetermined cause.

The National Hurricane Center called Matthew the strongest hurricane seen in the region in decades.

Some Florida residents who have lived in the state 50 years or more and through the worst that Mother Nature can create fled their homes, telling reporters Mat-

thew looked like a “bad one.”

Although the hurricane was downgraded to a Category 3 storm as it approached the U.S. mainland, winds gusts of up to 70 miles per hour (113 kph) and heavy downpours were still reported across coastal communities in Florida, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.

More than 140,000 Florida households were without power, according to Governor Rick Scott. In West Palm Beach, once lit street lights and houses went dark and Interstate 95 was empty as the storm rolled through the community of 100,000 people.

Hurricane Matthew was carrying extremely dangerous winds of 120 mph (195 kph) after pounding the northwestern part of the Bahamas en route to Florida’s Atlantic coast earlier, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Matthew’s winds had dropped on Thursday night and into Friday morning, downgrading it to a Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity, where it could either plow inland or tear along the Atlantic coast through Friday night, the Miami-based center said.

Few storms with winds as powerful as Matthew’s have struck Florida, and the NHC warned of “potentially disastrous impacts.”

The U.S. National Weather Service said the storm could be the most powerful to strike northeast Florida in 118 years.

It was too soon to predict where Matthew might do the most damage in the United States, but the NHC’s hurricane warning extended up the Atlantic coast from southern Florida through Georgia and into South Carolina. More than 12 million people in the United States were under hurricane watches and warnings, according to the Weather Channel.

The last major hurricane, classified as a storm bearing sustained winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph), to make landfall on U.S. shores was Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

Jeff Masters, a veteran hurricane expert, said on his Weather Underground website (www.wunderground.com) that Matthew’s wind threat was especially serious at Cape Canaveral, which juts into the Atlantic off central Florida.

Source: VOA and CNN

12

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

foreignfeature Sex for food on IDP camps

By Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

T

IRED of watching her five children go hungry in a camp for people fleeing Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria, Amina Ali Pulka decided to befriend a young man who worked in the kitchen.

Desperate due to the lack of aid distributed at the Bakassi camp in the city of Maiduguri, the 30-year-old had sex with the man in exchange for extra food to give to her children.

“I did it because I had nobody to feed me or clothe me,” Pulka told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone, adding that the man, who like her had been uprooted

by Boko Haram violence, also gave her money which she used to buy soap and other items.

Pulka is one of many women in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in northeast Nigeria who are selling sex in exchange for food, soap, and money, said medical charity International Medical Corps (IMC) and Nigerian research group NOI Polls.

Aid agencies have warned of starvation, malnutrition and dwindling food supplies for the displaced in Borno State.

“At times, the food is not enough so the women resort to giving themselves for food and money,” said Hassana Pindar of the IMC, which runs support centres for women in the camps.

Boko Haram violence has left more than 65,000 people living in famine in the northeast, with one million others at risk, and more than half of children under five are malnourished in some areas of Borno

Some go out to beg on the streets, others go out of the camp to look for menial jobs, while others use their bodies to get food and money,” she said.

“Everybody is talking about it

state, a coalition of aid groups said last week.

The Islamist militant group has killed about 15,000 people and displaced more than 2 million in Nigeria in a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating a state adhering to Islamic laws.

A military offensive has driven Boko Haram from much of the territory it held in northern Nigeria, but the militants have continued to carry out suicide bombings and raids in northeast Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

SEX FOR FOOD AND FREEDOM Almost 90 percent of people uprooted

by Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria do not have enough to eat, according to a survey last week by NOI Polls, which found that many women are trading sex for food and the freedom to move in and out of IDP camps.

The pollsters said that sexual abuse was a concern, and that the displaced accused camp officials of perpetrating it in two thirds of cases.

Hundreds of the displaced staged a protest last month in Maiduguri, accusing state officials of stealing food rations, prompting Nigerian President Muham-

madu Buhari to order police to arrest and make an example of the culprits.

In addition to mothers desperate to provide for their children, many teenage girls in Bakassi camp are sleeping with men in exchange for food, said IMC volunteer Fatima Alhaji.

“Some go out to beg on the streets, others go out of the camp to look for menial jobs, while others use their bodies to get food and money,” she said. “Everybody is talking about it.”

Five months pregnant, Pulka has been abandoned by the kitchen worker, while she has not seen her husband, who lives in the capital of Abuja with another of his wives, for three years.

Pulka said her husband, who has not visited the camp or sent any money, refused to come and take the children under his care.

Her oldest daughter, 15, is distraught about her pregnancy.

“She asks me why I am pregnant when their father has been away for three years ... other people in the camp also ask me questions,” Pulka said. “I did it because of my children.”

Thomson Reuters Foundation

13 Continued from

I

9 October, 2016 last week

want to seize this opportunity to pay public tribute to our devoted and indomitable pioneers — Chief M. A. Ajasin, Professor Ambrose AlIi, Mr. Bola Ige, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, and Chief Bisi Onabanjo for embarking with admirable and commendable speed on the implementation of our Party’s four cardinal programmes. In all the five States of Bendel. Lagos, Ogun; Ondo and Oyo, education is now free at all levels. Anyone who has God’s Grace, as I thankfully have, to move freely in any part of these States will see the exuberant cheer and ineffable gratitude to God and the UPN with which the people salute the fulfilment of our election promises.

Archbishop Okogie’s Stand on Education One of the programmes — the educational programme — has attracted a good deal of thoughtless and inebriate criticisms from quarters which are traditionally opposed to any party to which I may belong, and ‘hence to the best interests of the masses of our people. In this blind and insensate campaign, Archbishop Okogie blazed the trail. He would have us take care of the health of the people first before ever thinking of their education. In addition, he would like private schools - the existence of which emphasizes the division of our society into classes - to continue.

In other words, what Archbishop Okogie, who in his capacity is looked upon as a divine exemplar, wants is that our Governments should care for the body of man and neglect his mind. He also wants them to continue a system which emphasizes class discrimination. His contentions are neither Christian nor Godly. They are brazenly partisan and hypocritical.

Our programmes have been designed to cater for the education and health of our people at the same time. So that neither the nurture of the body nor the garnishing of the mind is neglected at any stage or at any time. Our education programme includes plans for the adequate turnouts of highly qualified teachers, and for considerable improvement in the salaries and conditions of service of teachers, so that as a result, the standard and quality of teaching in all our schools may be enhanced.

Unlike Archbishop Okogie, we believe in mens sana in corpore san0, not in mens obtusa in corpore sano. The Christian ontology, which I personally believe to be the correct ontology, is set out in Genesis, Chapter 1, Verses 26 to. 28 and Chapter 2, Verse 7. I quote these passages from the New American Bible, Catholic

Awo’s thoughts PATH TO NIGERIAN GREATNESS

On the campaign trail Charter of stability and progress* Version, as follows: Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.”

God created him; male and female he created them God blessed them, saying: “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and all the living things that move on the earth.” (Chapter 1 verses 26 to 28) The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. (Chapter 2, verse 7).

Now, the question Archbishop Okogie has to is this: Which part of man is the image of God which enables him to have dominion over the earth (and in future over the moon and stars), or which enables him, in the’ words of Revds. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown in their Commentary on the Whole Bible “to he God’s representative clothed with authority and rule as visible head and monarch of the world?”. Is it his body which is ordinary clay, and which, no matter what amount of care you give to it, can never make him as strong and powerful as an ordinary dog not to talk of a lion, tiger, or elephant, over all of

Sunday Tribune

which he is monarch and has dominion?

Man is a manifestation of three phenomena. The first is the soul which is the indwelling God. The second is the subjective mind which is the seat of man’s reasoning facility. The third is the objective mind which can see, hear, smell touch, and taste but cannot comprehend what it sees, hears, smells, touches and tastes without the reasoning and interpretative aids of the subjective mind.

Man’s Soul being the same in quality as God Himself is invisible, intangible, and imperceptible. By itself it does nothing directly save through the intervention of the subjective mind which in turn uses the objective mind — that is the body of man — as an instrument for data collection, and the accomplishment of visible and tangible objects.

It can be seen from this brief exposition that man exhibits the image of God when his mind is cultured, and is functioning at an optimal level. The more cultured his mind, the more he exhibits that image. There are many instances in human history where man exhibited the image of God, though his body was not functioning at its best. Robert Louis Stevenson, Milton, and Beethoven are cases in point.

Furthermore, we of the UPN believe in social integration, especially in schools, not in discrimination or apartheid reminiscent of the ungodly practices in some parts of the United States and in South Africa.

Concerning Archbishop Okogie’s inspired attacks on Tai Solarin, I will only refer to two biblical quotations also from the New American Bible, Catholic Version.

The first is an excerpt from the illuminating dialogue between Jesus Christ and the Samaritan woman: “Sir,” answered the woman: “I can see you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but your people claim that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to. worship God.” Jesus told her: “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand, while we understand what we worship… Yet an hour is coming; and is a ready here, when authentic worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Indeed it is just such worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

(John 4, Verses 19 to 24)

To be continued

AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founders: CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

Chief (Dr) H.I.D Awolowo CON (1915 - 2015)

Chairman Rev. (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran Co-Chairman Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Edward Dickson Controller (Business Development) Fola Oke

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733 Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797

South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna.

Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

Ikeja Marketing Office.

Block C, First Floor, Motorways centre, Opp., 7up Alausa, Ikeja.

Snr. Manager (Advertisements) Kayode Titiloye Sales Manager Omotayo Lewis, Ph.D Consultant/Director Segun Olatunji, Ph.D

GOT NEWS?

Contact: sundaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com or call:08050498483

14

voxpop

9 October, 2016

Awopejo Oluwaseyi

Sunday Tribune

Precious Okon

THAT’S a big question. There is going to be a great enmity between the father and the son but the whole story will end like the prodigal son’s. For the lady, that’s the end between us because I know my father will only look at the sex part and nothing else which is lust and after the deed is done, the lady is left to herself.

THAT’S a very funny question. Why should my mum even do that? It’s not possible and why should my boyfriend think of having an affair with my mum?

Well I will break up with the “so called boyfriend”. And as for my mum, I’m sure she would never do such a thing.

Sulamin Umar Faruk John Blessing Chineneye:

Hmmm… only if my dad didn’t know that we are dating, but if he knew, there will be trouble. Come to think of it, the lady is the main problem because she is the devil and also devilish. I will not allow her to cause any crisis between me and my father. It is very wrong for her to accept my father, that means she can even date all the males in my family, how could she do that to me? It’s very bad.

CAN it be possible? NO. But if it should happen, I will let him go. The point is I won’t even allow my mother to date him, but for the guy to date my mother, it’s a two-way thing. It is either my mother is extremely rich and he wants to make money off her or probably my boyfriend is fetish.

If your mum or dad snatches your lover, what will you do?

Oye was an undergraduate when he fell in love with Funke. After about one year of affair, he took his lover for the first time to meet his parents. Some months later, when Oye went to collect his monthly allowance from his dad, what he saw shocked him.

His dad was with his lover sitting on his laps in the sitting room. Today, Funke is warned with two children to Oye’s dad. PELUMI FADAIRO sought people’s views on this strange matter.

Udowoh Mary I will leave my boyfriend, not without venting my anger on him, I mean saying what I feel to him and to my mum because for them to do such they don’t value my happiness and want to make me feel really miserable.

Osisanya Anuoluwapo Dorcas IF my mum snatches my boyfriend, that means the guy is not meant for me, it means they have been seeing each other privately. The word snatch is heavy. If it was that I caught them, it might be a mistake and catching them together depends on the position I met them.

Udogu Joy: Rotimi David

The truth is I can’t fight her and I can’t go back to the guy. They might have slept with each other and I can’t compete with my mum over a man. The guy is stupid but my mum can never do such, so I find it difficult putting myself in that kind of situation.

Ayobankole Tolulope Oyeniyi Oluwatobiloba I will leave them alone as long as I don’t catch them on the same bed. But if I should just see them in a hotel drinking or partying, I won’t do anything. I would just conclude that’s the time for me to get a new father and a girlfriend.

It can never be possible, NEVER. If such should happen, it means the guy is not worth my love. Secondly, I will increase my package because how could an older woman beat me in a ladies game. Ko le work.

(It is not possible).

Hmmm…..it depends, if I really do love my girlfriend, but to be candid, it’s not possible for my dad to snatch my girlfriend. If she really loves me, she wouldn’t do that. But if my dad should try that, I will show him a little of my bad side (only if I love the girl). but if not, I will just ‘lock up.’

Megai Joseph It can’t happen, but if it happens, I won’t be happy. It might cause a fight and there will be issues.

15

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Younger men still make

passes at me —Jaye Kuti

Actress, Jaiye Kuti, has wormed herself into the hearts of many lovers of Yoruba and English movies. Kuti, an astute producer and entrepreneur, speaks with SEYI SOKOYA, she speaks on her acting career.

H

OW would you describe your experience as an actress in the movie industry so far?

It has been fun and taxing. This is what I have passion for. I love acting and it is really working for me. I won’t say it is challenging, because every other job has its own hiccups. My greatest achievement is that I have been able to set an eviable standard for myself in the industry.

Continued on pg16

I don’t want anybody to worry about me —Baba Suwe

Ideas, melodies float in my head —Kuboye

Jimmy Jatt reunites with Terry G

16

9 October, 2016

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

What would make you stop acting?

I don’t think such will occur because this is what I have been doing for a decade, despite the challenges. I still have to stand tall to make sure I make a headway. Acting, for me, is life and it has also given me the platform to become a brand. This has also given me a leverage to enlarge my coast and most importantly to impact positively on the upand-coming ones.

Continued from pg15

You appear to be the toast of producers in the industry, especially with the way you deliver your roles. Does this come with a lot pressure?

It is good to know the principle of what you are into and also prove that you have got what it takes to stand out with your talent. I thank God that I have been able to prove my worth on the job. God has given me the wisdom to be able to use my talent in a unique way; but this did not come easy. I was able to have my breakthrough by being focused and determined since I discovered that this is what I love to do. I still have a lot to deliver as far as the job is concerned. I don’t see myself as the favourtie of any producer, I believe everyone in the industry is relevant and good at what they are doing. With my little experience, I see everyone as equal.

But you seem to be enjoying some degree of respect from your colleagues.

They said you are a no-nonsense person. Is this true?

There is no hard or fast rule about the fact that respect is reciprocal. I have a good relationship with everyone and I don’t think I have had any nasty experience with my colleagues. I appreciate the fact that I have enjoyed a lot of respect from colleagues and I also humbly reciprocate in my own way. I love everyone and I salute them because they are really giving their best to lift the industry and entertain the people.

You have been frequent in the English and Yoruba movies. How easy has this been for you?

It has been the grace of God. I see it as a privilege and I am enjoying the challenge it throws at me. As for me, I don’t see any difference in both because it is all about acting. The English films have to do with soap opera, while the Yoruba mostly involves home videos. The experience is not different; it is all about reading, interpreting and delivering scripts. If you are talking about soap operas, the only difference is that one has to stay out of the house for a while for the movies, but as for soaps, one can switch between home and location for months because it has to do with episodes where one could have breaks after producing scenes in episodes. Soaps take longer time but one can still rest or do other things in between. At a point, I was overwhelmed with the Yoruba movies, but I don’t hesitate whenever I am called for English movies. In fact, some people still believe that I am a ‘soap opera actor’. Also, I usually play motherly roles in both.

Which is more financially rewarding between soaps or movies?

I would say both, because one will have something to take home at the end of the day. But soaps pays more because it takes longer time.

How much will it cost a producer to feature you in a movie or soap?

(Laughs…) I don’t think I am permitted to disclose this because it is a sensitive thing.

One has to be very careful about it; it varies. In some cases, what you get for acting in movies could be more than soaps, or vice versa. So, I would not want to confuse any prospective producer, but I think a solidified negotiation could also guarantee my face in any work.

What have you been up to lately?

I recently completed a movie production.

It was stressful and time consuming. On the other hand, it has been fun too, because this is what I love to do and it has been part of me to stay long at locations. I decided to take this job because I feel it suits my philosophy of making impact into the home, especially the women and children. I discovered that the script of the “Family First” soap opera film production will also afford me the opportunity to reach out to people. The script is good and the term is also convenient. The fulfilment overshadows the stress. I did not know why the brains behind the project selected me, but I think I have done my best and I hope they must have got what they wanted.

‘How my husband copes when I’m on location’ Why have you not been taking many lead roles in both versions?

That is not my fault and you should not forget the fact that I have to act according to the script. Also, virtually all our movies are mainly stories about man and woman. So, I will take the sub lead role as a wife or mother of the main character because mothers are seen as supportive agents to their husbands.

To be candid, I really enjoy this role; it has also helped my personal life and enhanced the passion to deliver my lines beyond what I could imagine.

What exactly would you say has been helping your career?

I am enjoying the fact that I have a physique of an African woman. My stature and expertise in acting have contributed to what I am today. I have also been able show my fans that I am flexible and that I can take any role, either the good or otherwise. This is what shows a versatile actor. In fact, some producers have made people see me as a lousy,

crazy person through the role they want me to play. As I said earlier, I like to play the role of a mother, because I have to represent the quality I possess.

How did you set into acting?

It started about 10 years ago. I started acting part-time because I was working then.

I started with ‘Laffpatern’ and ‘Everyday People’. This experience gave me a platform to blend easily when I finally dumped the job for acting. Venturing into the industry was like entering a familiar terrain, because I was a convinced that I am talented. From soap operas, I later proceeded to home videos. I was one time Assistant Coordinator of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in Ogun State. I later joined the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) where I started with Oga Bello, and then Jide Kosoko. The industry has been interesting. I have been able to learn a lot of things from the people I met in the industry.

Does your home suffer much because you have to be on locations for weeks and sometimes months?

I must tell you it has not been easy; this is one of the hazards of acting. We have to face it as it comes. It is not as if I am totally away from home. I have my husband’s consent and I am connected with my home, even if I am away. My husband and I speak and pray every day. Aside this, I thank God that I have an understanding husband. I have his support in my acting career and he has always been standing in for me whenever I am away. I also have a mother that helps me take care of the children while I am away, while I ensure they enjoy me when I am home. It is a happy home that anyone could pray for.

It is believed that many actresses find it hard to put their home together as a result of their absence from home.

How has your husband been handling this problem ?

I thank God that I am happily married to a good and understanding man. He has really been supportive of my career. Aside the fact that he plays his fatherly role to the children, he always covers for me whenever I am away.

Unknown to many, we are still connected even when I am out of the house. We talk more on phone and pray together in the morning and before we go to bed. I have not seen any man like him.

What is your assessment of the movie industry?

The movie industry is growing fast, but we are still facing some challenges, especially that of piracy. The quality of movie production has improved and the industry has also empowered many people. But there is room for improvement and I know we will attain perfection very soon.

How do you handle advances from men?

This is normal. To shock you, I get advances from both the younger and older men on daily basis. I cannot hide the fact that I am beautiful and that I have a fine physique that would make any man want me, but as a mother and a wife, I have been applying wisdom in handling them carefully.

17

glitz

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Y

OU studied at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK) and you have lived there for a few years, at what point did music come in?

Music has always been there. I grew up performing with my parents. I am blessed to say that I saw the life of a musician from a very early age. I saw the graft and grind of being on the road, rehearsing, composing, performing and working with musicians. All along my education right up to university, I always did music when time permitted.

At the university, I recorded and gave away mixtapes of my material at parties I promoted. I also performed at university events. It was only after a while I decided to go public and pursue music commercially.

At what point did you feel you needed to come home to push your career and was it difficult leaving the UK for Nigeria?

I was making small headway in the UK but it became apparent after a while that if I am serious about pursuing music, the push needs to happen from Nigeria. I decided then that I need to be more frequent on the Nigerian music scene. It is always a difficult decision to leave a steady job or career and move back home for music How did you survive in the UK as a student?

What kind of job did you do to survive?

I wasn’t fortunate enough to have my education paid for by my parents. A lot of people don’t know this but founding ‘Down 4 Whateva Entertainment’ and promoting parties helped a lot to fund my education.

I did a lot of other small small jobs like loading trucks, warehouse work, making burgers/cleaning toilets, shop attendant, retail assistant to provide for myself.

For somebody who studied Electrical Engineering, what could you possibly be doing in music?

Music is all about patterns and repetition. My engineering degree allows me to identify and isolate patterns. This is because engineering is a discipline that is methodic and uses logic. My creative side and my background allow me to build on the patterns.

You once said that your background as an engineer has a connection with music, could you shed more light on this?

My masters degree is in radio/electromagnetic waves.

Sound is an electromagnetic wave. So you could say I specialised in the science of sound. Apart from looking for patterns, my degree helps me understand how to distribute and place sound in my music How has the music journey been so far?

It has been one hell of a ride. It has certainly had its ups and downs. I have learnt a lot - and I am still learning about music, the business and my place in all of it.

You released Mama, a song dedicated to your mum and you have also dropped a couple of songs, do you really think the Nigerian audience is ready for your kind of music?

Apart from Mama, other songs like Feel Alright, Nothing and the remix have been well received. This has given me a good indication that I am on the right track How has your schooling abroad shaped your music career?

There is no question that the culture and way of life abroad is different when compared to being at home.

Being abroad allowed me to look in and observe as an outsider. It also allowed me to appreciate and compare the Nigeria sound with what was popular in the UK. You used to perform alongside your parents back then at their night club, Jazz 38 in Ikoyi, Lagos State. How would you describe the experience?

It didn’t just happen at the night club, sometimes we would perform at gigs, private parties and stadia.

My parents always insisted that education came first - so it was always when it didn’t clash with school, lessons or homework. It was easy for me because I was a ‘part time’ band member. There was no pressure on me to make money or to make an

I cleaned toilets, loaded trucks to fund my music career in UK — Kuboye

Babatunmida Kuboye comes from a musical family and is the only son of Tunde and Fran Kuboye that rocked Lagos with their Extended Family Band in the 80s. Kuboye who has been in the United Kingdom returned to Nigeria recently to push his music career from the home front. In this interview with SEGUN ADEBAYO, the graduate of Birmingham University, speaks on how he’s gradually stepping into the shoes of his father and life in the UK. impression, so I would go with the flow and execute what was rehearsed Your recent collaboration with Remininsce has been giving you some attention, what was it like working with him?

Reminisce is a great guy. Despite the fact that he is an A list celeb, he is humble, approachable and easy to work with. I will always appreciate him for that. Not every made artiste behaves like Reminisce. He was also going through some tough times because he had just lost his dad - and he didn’t let that affect the work.

How would you describe the vibes in the studio with him?

We recorded our parts separately so we were not in the studio at the same time. I released the original and the feedback was great. We decided to get him on the remix to give it that edge. When he blessed it, it went all the way to the top.

You set up a record label, Down 4 Whateva Entertainment, when you were still in school, what brought about the idea?

There was no social scene or club for students to go and hear afrobeats, rap, RnB, bashment, dancehall when I was in the university. Unfortunately people who listened to these genres were considered to be ‘troublesome’, ‘violent’ and ‘rowdy’. I decided to find a venue, hire a DJ and promote it initially just for students. It just so happened that majority of those people who appreciated the music were black and predominantly. After a while, the movement grew - and it provided a safe way for me to fund my education and take care of myself and my sister.

The music industry is very demanding and the competition is rife. How are you going to survive the competition and do you really think you have what it takes to pull it through?

This is very true. It’s tough out there and it’s only getting tougher. I will take it one day at a time, one project at a time with humility and an open mind every time. I will always compare myself to my last body of work, tweak what I can to improve and learn from my mistakes. I can only take things one step at a time to get to where I know I want to be.

Who would you say you have patterned you music career after?

Definitely after my parents. Not many people I know have a professional career and do music at this level at the same time. Everyone else is either all in or all out What influences you to sing and write at the same time?

There are always ideas, melodies and lines floating around in my head. The ones I feel strongly about, I develop and work on like an essay until it’s complete. Sometimes things I hear can also spark an idea and I expand on it, building something around it.

There is no trigger but I will say I need to be in a good space in my mind to compose. If the vibes are not good, it will distract from my creative consciousness.

What should we be expecting from you again after your song with Reminisce?

Working with Reminisce has definitely helped increase awareness of my music and brand. You can expect some more high-profile collaborations and of course, good music to go along with it.

18

Sunday Tribune

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

Ali Baba, Joke Sylva, Zeb Ejiro, others speak on FG’s partnership with TEF

By Segun Adebayo FOREMOST entertainers in the country have spoken on the moves being made by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to develop the creative industries and provide the framework for building business capacity and sustainable development.

Entertainers who spoke with R cautioned the Federal Government not to abandon the project.

Comedian, Ali Baba, decscribed the renewed interest as one that

should be embraced by many, saying that the new project would drive investment from corporate investors.

Also speaking on the development, veteran actress, Joke Sylva, cautioned against the termination of the project midway.

According to her, the creative industry contributes in no small measure to the development of the economy and it was high time government and other private organisations, like the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) rose and secured

the future of the creative minds.

Another veteran actor, Zeb Ejiro, also spoke about what the partnership between FG and TEF means for the industry. “The partnership will provide a framework for bringing creative industry stakeholders together with investors, financiers and business leaders to transform the creativity of industry entrepreneurs into a profitable sector capable of attracting international collaboration and contributing consistently to the national economy,” he said

Seyi Sokoya seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08075166585

Baba Suwe speaks:

Jimmy Jatt reunites with Terry G at Jimmy’s Jump Off

I don’t want anybody to worry about me

By Seyi Sokoya THE Lagos Mainland edition of DJ Jimmy Jatt’s concert tagged Jimmy’s Jump Off has left a mammoth crowd of lovers with unforgettable memories.

It attracted the biggest disc jockeys in the country as they took turns on the wheels of steel to give guests an exhilarating experience.

The open-air venue at the car park of Ikeja City Mall was transformed into a carnival ground while the crowd danced to music from top Nigerian artistes who came all out to support the veteran disc jockey.

A major highlight of the night was when DJ Jimmy Jatt joined Terry G on stage during his performance of his popular songs. It was the first time that the two entertainers would be performing together on stage after the veteran DJ publicly punished the singer for allegedly slapping a disc jockey.

DJ Xclusive set the tempo for the night with the performance of his favourite songs such as Pangolo, Shawarma and Ibebe.

• I’ve done what is

neccessary for him —Fabiyi

By Segun Adebayo

A

70 artistes warm up for Oct 25 gig as Sunny Ade is honoured in Ibadan

By Seyi Sokoya THE Oyo State version of the ongoing celebration of King Sunny Ade’s 70th birthday was held last Sunday at the Jogor Centre, where the Olubadan Of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, led other dignitaries, musicians and fans to celebrate the music icon.

The event, according to the organiser, Walex International, was significant because the music legend was honoured, adding that, “The state is proud to celebrate KSA, especially in the city of

Ibadan where he started his music career.”

The Olubadan also described KSA as exceptional and a worthy musician the new generation artistes should emulate, just as he described him as a humble and successful musician.

Other dignitaries and musicians at the event included Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, Chief Lekan Alabi, Evangelist Funmi Aragbaye, Alhaji Rasheed Ayinde, Shefiu Alao, among others.

Meanwhile, events are still on to celebrate KSA, as 70 artistes across

all genres of music will converge on the Blue Roof, LTV 8, Lagos State, on October 25.

The juju maestro has contracted Temple Management Company (TMC) to organise a s high-octane concert as the climax of his 70th birthday celebrations. The event is also set to mark the 50-year coronation of the “King” of juju music.

According to the TMC, the celebrations will climax with a concert production, just as, it has continued to gain the attention of key stakeholders in the creative industry in Nigeria

Jide Kosoko worried over indiscipline among actors THE Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) said it would continue to emphasise the need for its members to stay disciplined to enhance the growth of the entertainment industry.

Prince Jide Kosoko, a renowned thespian and member of TAMPAN’s Board of Trustees, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

Kosoko stressed that integrity of members was of great importance

to the association and that the body would not condone indiscipline in any form.

“In the 80s the Nollywood practitioners were well disciplined, the public respected them for that attitude, but these days, the reverse is the case.

“We will do all we can to make sure that discipline is maintained among the members of the association.

“We need to maintain our integrity because we are public figures,” he said.

Kosoko said that the way the public

rated some of the nation’s thespians because of their misconduct was quite worrisome.

“Indiscipline began from attitude to time, but it does not end there.

“Discipline requires that the right thing is done at the right time for the right purpose.

“Discipline requires that we all clean our corners in our respective capacities.

“Lateness to work, laziness at work, disrespect for deadlines, insubordination and so on are things that often cripple an organisations,” he said.

S controversies over the state of health of comic actor, Babatunde Omidina, otherwise known as Baba Suwe continue unabated, the veteran actor has come out to clear the air on the misconceptions over his health, which was said to have deteriorated.

Actor, Yomi Fabiyi, had, on Wednesday, shared an SOS message on his social media platforms, claiming that Baba Suwe’s health condition had worsened and that he urgently needed the attention of Nigerians and his senior colleagues

to get him out of his current sorry state.

He alleged that the torture he suffered at the hands of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during an alleged drug traffiking saga a few years ago had affected the actor’s health.

The movie industry was thrown into confusion shortly after Fabiyi’s message got out with some actors querying the veracity of his claim. It was even said that Fabiyi was leveraging on Baba Suwe’s health condition to draw attention to himself.

When R reached out to Baba Suwe on the phone on Thursday over claims that he was ill, the actor was

evasive. He claimed that he was currently at a location where he could not talk.

“I can’t talk to you now but it is true that I have not been fine. Please call me back by 9:00 p.m., I will be willing to talk to you by then,” he said.

However, calls placed through his phone at 9:00 p.m. on that were not picked.

Speaking with R on Friday, Baba Suwe disclosed that he was hale and hearty, adding that nobody should worry about him.

“You have been calling me for the past three days and I have been telling you the same thing. At first I didn’t want to talk, that’s why I have

been trying to avoid your calls. I can confirm to you today that my health is fine. I don’t want anybody to worry about me. What Yomi put out was a very old story and I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” he said.

Reacting to Baba Suwe’s claim, Fabiyi said that “ Maybe he got a different advice not to talk. You know he’s on the spot now and does not know the motives of the people that had been calling him. I am not part of the decision to ignore people calling to ask what happened. I have done what I think is necessary, even though it is very hard for me.

The onus is on him take it up from there.”

How Rock City rocked with Laffmatazz on October 1

By Segun Adebayo ABEOKUTA, the Ogun State capital, rocked on October 1. It is the rock city but when the train of Laffmattaz breezed into the town to stage the maiden edition of the show in Abeokuta, it didn’t take long for the people of the state to know that their city would soon be rocked with songs and comedy.

The Culrural Centre, Kuto, witnessed the large turnout of music lovers and revellers who were brought into the city by Gbenga Adeyinka, creator of the Laffmattazz brand.

The day was set aside by the comedian to present a special Independence anniversary to the people and from the look of things, the show lived up to expectations.

Having staged similar shows in Ibadan and Osogbo, the expectations from the Abeokuta edition was high but Adeyinka had prom-

31

ised to light up the city with unsual entertainment and he didn’t fail the people.

The event, which began with an orange carpet session at about 2:00 p.m. hosted by Lagos blogger, Bodex, saw the stars and celebrities with their fans posing for personal, selfies and group photographs.

With Adeyinka in charge of the event, the show kicked off with a performance from the ace comedian, Okey Bakasi who set the event on a motion with a very high tempo of laughter from the audience.

Adeyinka himself later took over the stage and delivered a 30-minute performance which showed everyone in attendance why he his called Gbenga Adeyinka D’1st.

MI Abaga delivered an electrifying performance as he sang his hit tracks like , MI1, Action Film, Bullion Van with popular female disk jockey; DJ Lambo on the wheels for his performance.

Nosey Parker ...with Lalacious

Actor escapes attack at shopping mall A very popular actor in the English version of Nollywood did not bargain for what he experienced recently at a popular shopping mall in the Ambode state when he was harassed by a woman.

The incident, which really embarrassed the actor, happened at the car park of the mall when the said woman came straight to him and attempted to beat him up.

Many olofofos who witnessed the drama said they were amazed when, right there in their presence, the lady came for the fine-boy actor who is very versatile and tried to beat him up after accusing him of being a ‘wife beater’.

Nosey Parker was told that the shocked actor, whose surname has something to do with the title of traditional ruler of a commercial city in the South-East, was taken aback when he saw the woman at the park abusing him, calling him a wife beater.

According to the actor, the woman was only angry because of the way he used to treat ladies in the movies.

Actor descends on man for impregnating his daughter

Pretty Okafor, Sunny Neji, Obey make PMAN exco

By Seyi Sokoya MUSICIANS Pretty Okafor, Sunny Neji, Zaaky Azaay, Tolu Obey-Fabiyi, among others, have emerged the new executives of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN).

The new officers who were returned unopposed at the recently held national delegates conference at Devine Hotel & Suites Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos State, will be saddled with the responsibilities of the association for the next four years.

Mr Okafor, who was the interim president of the association, emerged the president while musicians, Sunny Neji and Zaaky Azaay are the first and second vice presidents respectively. Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi’s son, Tolu Obey-Fabiyi, who is also a juju musician, emerged the national treasurer.

Felix Osagie and Stephen Michael, popularly known as Ruggedman, Aisha Gangali, Arthur Pepple, Elivina Ibru, Benny Paladiedoga, and Kofi Idowu are ex-officials.

The delegates also resolved that henceforth, the tenure of PMAN national executives is now four years as against the current two years tenure.

THIS is not good news for this very popular actor in the Yoruba version of Nollywood as reports reaching us indicate that one of his beloved daughters has been put on a ninemonth course and the actor is bitter.

The actor, who is known for acting old man’s roles in movies, was so annoyed when he found out that his daughter had been put in the family way by a young man in the city popular for its amala and gbegiri.

According to olofofos, what really pained him most was that the young man practically ‘abducted’ the actor’s daughter because the lady was off the actor’s radar for many months and when he eventually saw her, she had gone far on the nine months course.

Our usual reliable source also told Nosey Parker that the actor was so furious when he found the condition of living of the young man and had to ask his daughter to leave the building with immediate effect.

The actor, as we said, is very popular, he is also married to a popular actress who is from a popular acting family. The actor too has a Yoruba stage name that has to do with rain and gong.

Husband dumps actress, set to marry beauty queen THE actress was in the news three year ago when she dumped her lover of many years to marry this billionaire based in the South-East part of the country. The man really spoiled her with money.

But barley three year after the marriage that was well celebrated, things seem to have fallen apart between the actress who is popular in the English version of Nollywood and the said rich man who also calls himself a prince. olofofos told us that the billionaire has decided to dump this popular actress whose surname is the same as that of a popular blogger who writes his stories ‘Point Blank’ and has also decided to go for a beauty queen. We hear that he is currently spoiling the lady silly with money.

According to olofofos, while the actress is currently licking her wounds, the billionaire is making all preparations to visit the family members of this former beauty queen who was said to have won a not so popular beauty competition recently.

19

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

thepolity

Nigeria: Who is afraid of RESTRUCTURING?

Real reasons Nigeria is in crisis << P 20, 21

Buhari must act fast on economy —Lanlehin

<< P 24

The way out is essentially that President Muhammadu Buhari should be hands-on, on the economy.

The buck stops on his table

Those complaining about Buhari are Nigeria’s enemies —Tsav << P 26

Politics of hair and culture of being in Nigeria’s development << P 30

An Anglican priest and his drama << P 29

20

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Restructuring: To be or not to be?

R

ESTRUCTURING, true federalism, fiscal federalism, devolution of powers and political reforms are words that have dominated the national political space for more than 20 years now. Indeed, when you add the “national question: to the fray, you get to plough back as far as late 1960s.

The words really talk about one and the same question; how do we get Nigeria working for each and everyone? The country is made up of three major ethnic groups: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. But there are more than 250 others with dialects and sub-sects dotting the landscape.

Just as there are differences in culture and traditional orientations, there are also differences in the periods of exposure to Western culture and education. This factor has invariably led to a variety in the focus, mission and vision for the Nigerian nation as well as attitude of different segments to nationhood.

There have been discussions on how to ensure proportion in size of the divides and equitable allocation of the resources.

Each region has carved a niche for itself through agitations for issues of interest to them, with trademark topics that have continued to pose unanswered questions to the Nigerian entity. Resource control in the oil-rich South-South and the Niger Delta, fiscal federalism and restructuring in the South-West geopolitical zone, cries of political marginalisation in the SouthEast as well as the fear of economic marginalisation and domination from parts of the North.

While the cacophony of voices has been unrelenting, the nation has been perpetually in search of solutions. Some have advocated state police as one of the ways forward toward engender restructuring, others have canvassed fiscal federalism, which is a variant of Resource Control pioneered by the South-South geopolitical zone, while some have equally trumpeted the devolution of some of the powers currently contained in the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent or residual lists.

In all these, there have always been discordant tunes, with each region already becoming quite predictable on it will take take and the issue it will espouse in any national debate or discourse whenever there is one.

For instance, it was becoming predictable what the attitude of the southsoutherner would be to the debate on restructuring. The same was being said of a south-easterner and the south-westerner.

In most debate platforms, many tend to see elements from the North presenting a status quo maintaining viewpoint, while the Southerners are portrayed as seeking to upturn the applecart. That perhaps accounts for the rowdiness that usually creeps into the debate at the different forums called to resolve the knotty issue.

The 1994/1995 Constituent Assembly under the late General Sani Abacha was

How do you correctly answer the Nigerian national question? That has been the concern of patriots and nationalists for years. It was the issue during military rule and so it is now. What are the key components of the answer? Tribune’s Politics Desk attempts some answers.

unable to resolve the logjam. The same issue reared its head at the 2005 National Political Reforms Conference organised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and also reechoed and almost truncated the 2014 National Conference convened

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Maybe the eye of suspicion that has been focused on this issue so far is excusable, but the proponents of the agenda are sticking to their corners. But then there must be a national irreducible pedestal, upon which enduring truth will be built.

That is the task before the man who will provide the answers to the National ques-

tion and that is the real burden of restructuring Nigeria.

Call for restructuring, a waste of time?

The North-South divide and what has been described as ethno-religious consciousness to this argument are not only constant but present. The concerns exist in the psyche of the proponents of the arguments at every instance. While key leaders of the South had, at various times, described the Nigerian federalism in the wake of military takeover of 1966 as “feeding bottle federalism,” leaders from the North

appear to see little or no fault in the setup.

Social critic and a veritable Northern leader, Dr. Junaid Mohammed told this newspaper in a telephone interview that he would not be drawn into argument on restructuring, because it tends to be emotive, while proponents come into the argument with rigid minds.

He told this writer when asked to contribute to the restructuring debate that the debate is practically a waste of time: “I am sorry I have to disappoint you because, one, I‘ve never been involved in the Continues pg 21

21

thepolity

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Restructuring: The issues, the question marks

President Muhammadu Buhari

Chief Obafemi Awolowo

Nnamdi Azikiwe

Ahmadu Bello

Continued from pg 20

after the military coup, it was not the structure that was handed to us at independence that the military continued after the coup. We were federal in name but unitary in practice.”

Adebanjo declared that no amount of the economic committees set up by the leaders to dissect the situation would en-

dure “without giving us the right Constitution, without solving this issue of National Question. National Question is solving the problems of the various nationalities and solving the problem of how they will together in peace.”

He believes strongly that the 2014 National Conference has provided key an-

swers to the National Question and the quest for restructuring the polity. He said that the sum total of the various nationalities in Nigeria want to live together in peace adding that the conditions under which they are going to live together were

restructuring debate, save within the context of the last constituent assembly. And I am very suspicious of the motivation of people who want to raise the issues or who want to join issues over the matter of restructuring. So I don’t want to waste my time, frankly speaking.

“It is not a meaningful discussion.

People come to the discussion with their minds made up. And I‘ve seen people now busy enlarging the issue into a tribal matter by blaming some tribes and what have you. So, frankly speaking, I think it serves no purpose to join the issues, because it is not going to be an intelligent, respectable debate. People have their own motivation and their own agenda and I don’t want to join.”

His views were reechoed in another interview by the former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who told Sunday Tribune that restructuring was a waste of time. He said that proponents have made it look too broad and, therefore, unworkable. According to him, proponents should have restricted themselves to seeking sectoral restructuring such as health and education, rather than seeking total restructuring of Nigeria.

But Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a chieftain of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, sees things differently. He believes that the debate is not a waste of time but indeed central to the survival of Nigeria. He traced the struggle for the restructuring of Nigeria to the period after the coup, which got heightened after another coup against the June 12, 1993 election, won by the late Chief MKO Abiola but annulled by the military.

Chief Adebanjo said: “If the leaders know the problem of the country, they would be able to apply solution. But not knowing the problem, they couldn’t apply the solution and those problems arise because of the lopsidedness of the Constitution. And those of us who have been championing since Abacha days, since NADECO days, since the military era that the country must be restructured, because

Continues pg 22

A long quest for restructuring…

KUNLE ODEREMI brings some issues underlying the seamless clamour for a restructuring of the Nigerian federation.

THE venue was the International conference Centre of the University of Ibadan.

Nigerian from all walks of life had converged to celebrate the late hero, Adekunle Fajuyi, who paid the supreme sacrifice for exhibiting an uncanny bravery in an attempt to save the life of a visiting Nigerian leader. The organizers of the epochal event chose a distinguished scholar, Professor Niyi Osundare, to stimulate the conscience of Nigerians on the state of the country. Of course, the world-renowned author and poet was able to hold his audience spellbound for hours through his candid views and projections about the Nigerian project. He quipped: “The likes of Adekunle Fajuyi are not recognised as national heroes because there is as yet no ‘nation’ to be a hero in or of. This is why the National Question in Nigeria is perennially in search of a national answer…”

Osundare’s thought on the Nigerian federalism was in sync with the position espoused by another erudite scholar and former minister, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi some years back on the predicaments of the Nigerian federation. He was concerned about the fragility of the state, the political elite were not seriously boding with the followership. His words: “Nigeria is a frightened and frightening state inhabited

by frightened and frightening people. We are suspicious of each other, we are suspicious of government and government is suspicious of its own people. A season of anomie is what we have. The reason for this is that we practice the politics of ambush. The people don’t know what the government is up to. The government does not know what the people are to.”

These and many other issues have sustained the flame agitations for restructuring of the country in what many now refer to a true federation. It is one struggle that such names like Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Dr Kanmi IsholaOsobu, Dr Tunji Otegbeye and Alao AkaBashorun invested huge resources in their life time. Prolonged military rule was catalytic to the struggle, especially when the country was reduced to a political guinea pig suited for weird experiments and gyrations. The brazen insult on the sensibility of the citizens by the ruling military class proved the a critical segment of the civil class to coalesce into a plethora of pro human rights and democracy bodies with the primary assignment was to fiercely rise up against the military oligarchy. The decision of the military establishment to annul the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola provided the veritable platform for the open resistance, with the concomitant unpleasant consequences in the annals of the country. Activists teamed up with oil workers and a section of political class to grip the military hegemonists by the scrotum up to submission, but at a very huge

cost: killings, prolonged incarceration, maiming, economic deprivation and sojourn in exile.

With the political leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the platform Abiola used to secure victory having compromised such groups as the pan-Yoruba organization, Afenifere, picked up the gauntlet along with the Movement for National Reformation (MNR), Campaign for Democracy (CD), and other pro democracy and human rights groups to lead the struggle of a twin agenda: de-annulment of the election and restructuring of the federation. Most of the organisations soon came under the same umbrella, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), with the late nationalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro, as leader.

The courage, doggedness and steadfastness of the pro-June 12 promoters elicited sympathy from international bodies and developed countries like United States, United Kingdom and Canada. The perceived injustice against Abiola over the mandate inflicted deep cracks within the military itself, as a number of its top brass were forcefully pushed out of service and had to flee into exile in Europe or US. Wife of Abiola, Kudirat, was killed in the season of state—sponsored terror unleashed on protagonists of the sanctity of June 12.

Abiola, who had humbled the candidate of the National republican Convention (NRC) during the poll, Alhaji Bashir Uthman Tofa, later died while incarceration, Continues pg 23

22

thepolity

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Components of restructuring Continued from pg 21 settled in the 2014 National Confab.

“Anybody not implementing them or opposing or not replacing them with something identical is the enemy of the country…And I want to say if Buhari continues to be opposed to that constitution, he is paying a lip service to the unity of the country. And I challenge him again that is he not honest about keeping this country together. He should implement the report of the 2014 National Conference and I challenge him that he is reluctant to give us a balanced Constitution because his people are the beneficiaries of the lopsidedness of the Constitution. I want him to prove me wrong.”

Chief Adebanjo added: “Without political stability, there cannot be economic stability. Settle the political problems in the country; all other things would follow.

For instance, if Buhari listens to yearnings of the people calling for restructuring of the country, so they can have autonomy; they can have control of certain aspects of their lives; if that is done, they wouldn’t be breaking those things (pipelines).

“If they don’t break the pipelines, there would be peace and the money you are spending on security to combat them will be available for development. That is the solution, so the solution is clear. Stop the cause of the problems. So, not solving the cause of affiliation means you want the affiliation to continue. People who are under slavery want to get out of slavery, you can’t suppress them by killing them, if they kill them, others will rise up.”

He further explained that before the military took over the affairs of the country there were four regions but that the military handed over a federal structure only in name while it became unitary in practice. For instance, he defended the position of the 2014 National Conference, which recommended the creation of states across the geopolitical zones adding that the minorities of the North did not favour a return to regionalism because of the fear of domination.

“It is the minorities in the North that were opposed to regionalism that called for that (creation of states). They claimed that the North would oppress them if you put them under their rule; they were oppressing them. They said we should give them their own states and then they can combine with those states they are comfortable with. That is why in the recommendation of creating those states, which people were condemning, any area they believe they can go together with, and are convenient with, they are at liberty to do so. The minority are not with the North in oppression, so we liberated them by giving them states.”

Interestingly, however, ome voices from the North are, however, in link with the submissions of elder statesman, Chief Adebanjo, above. Former Commissioner of Police in Lagos state, Abubakar Tsav insisted in an interview with Sunday Tribune that the question of Nigeria’s muddled structure was ignited by military rule, adding that the First Republic leaders were able to put in place structures that sustained competition and development.

He said: “The whole problem started when military took over on flimsy excuses that the then politicians were corrupt.

The military used this to rubbish the then politicians, whereas, these people were

Atiku Abubakar trained under the colonial masters and they have moral value; highly discipline, honest, selfless service were the hallmark of the set of people. So, at the time military intervened, all the structures put in place were destroyed.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo The Deputy Chairman of the Elders Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state, Abu King Shuluwa also held a similar view in an interview with the Sunday Tribune.

He said that the structure of Nigeria as

seen today would make the founding fathers cry in their graves. “It is understatement to say the labour of the nationalists have been in vain, because everything they struggled to build have been destroyed by these present crop of politicians,” he said.

Not a few other Nigerians see the issue of restructuring as a necessity to ensure the progress of the country. Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu is one of those who believe so.

In a paper he delivered at the Sixth Annual Oputa Lecture at the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University in Toronto, Canada in 2012, entitled “Nigerian Federalism: A Case for a Review,” Ekweremadu identified Nigeria’s structural problems as emanating from “feeding bottle federalism” foisted on the nation by successive military governments since 1966.

While situating the problem, Ekweremadu posited that the crisis of restructuring and federalism in Nigeria are offshoots of its deviation from what can be Continues pg 23

‘Today’s leaders have destroyed Nigeria’ Abu King Shuluwa is the deputy chairman, Elders Forum of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State. He speaks with ADELOWO OLADIPO on the need to restructure Nigeria.

N

IGERIA is 56. Would you say the dream of founding fathers (nationalists) has not been in vain?

Indeed, with what is happening in the country today, I am quite sure that the founding fathers of Nigeria will be crying in their graves. It is an understatement to say the labour of the nationalists has been in vain because everything they struggled to build has been destroyed by the present crop of politicians.

The Sardauna, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikwe were leaders who sacrificed their time in building a nation that could have rubbed shoulders with powerful nations in the world. They rendered selfless services; they abhorred corruption; they were respected within and outside the country, notwithstanding that there tribes and tongues differ, yet, they believed in one nation.

During their time, the country was well structured and these people believed in developmental competition that is why you see their respective regions on the path of progress which actually earned them respect, they believed in the progress of the people they served, they were not rulers but leaders who preferred to put smiles of the people they served.

In your view, is Nigeria progressing or is it otherwise?

The problem with us, I mean in the current generation, is that we select leaders based on parochial sentiment. We elect those who do not have the interest of the nation at heart, not even in their

Abu King Shuluwa

states. That is the reason I said our founding fathers would be crying in their graves seeing how the present generation has bastardised their legacy and made their labour to come to nothing.

The present crop of leaders has wasted our resources, military and civilian. They are fortunate to come on board when the country was in oil boom. But how did we channel the huge profit made from the boom? We should not forget that the founding fathers did not have enough resources at their disposals and yet they were good managersof resources considering what they did during their period.

But what do we have today? Selfish leaders, greedy and ungodly people who do not mind whether the people they are asked to serve get what they ought to get or not. Look around you and point out to me what we can show for the oil boom that we had. There are bad roads everywhere. The road from Makurdi to Gboko was constructed during the Yakubu Gowon regime and that is what we still use today. Is it the education sector that has not been bastardised or our hospital that

has turned to mere consulting clinics Instead of building on the structures put in place by the past leaders, the present leaders have rather destroyed the legacy of left behind by our former leaders.

What the present leaders are concerned about is how to enrich themselves and impoverished the masses. How many houses did past leaders, the like of Awolowo, Zik, Balewa and Bello have in their lifetime?

Don’t let us go too far, the Aper Aku of the late 70s and his colleagues across the country, how many properties did they own? Akus tried to build on the legacy of the nationalists; they were not concerned about personal wealth. For instance, in Benue, within four years, Aku built state secretariat, Taraku Mills, Benue burnt bricks, breweries, and host of others. But what did the successive administrations do with all these developmental infrastructure? They are all comatose today.

They did not revive them nor add to them.

I know many of them who did not own a house before becoming governor. But today, they have houses all over the world.

How can the country get out of these?

Nigeria needs restructuring in a manner that will not divide the country. For instance, consider the number of governors across the states of federation; see the number of them that have ruled and imagine how they plundered their respective states at the expense of the masses.

So for me, we should quickly revert to regionalism. Let us have six regions according to the geopolitical zone of the country. Secondly, let President Buhari establish a special court to try those who looted funds and for quick dispensation of justice. Let me emphasise that, if possible, whoever that is found guilty should be given capital punishment. Yes! Kill all those looters and confiscate their properties. This will surely serve as deterrent to others. [Jerry] Rawlings did it in Ghana, we must salvage this country.

23

thepolity

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

The quest for restructuring Continued from pg 21 following his arrest by the military regime for seeking to reclaim his made.

His death only ushered in another phase in the struggle for the soul of the nation in a more dramatic and poignant way, as the pro-democracy groups upped their clamour for the restructuring of the federation, in spite moves by the new military regime to placate them. Pro-National Conference (PRONACO) became the new platform to orchestrate the campaign. Though most of the members were opposed to the fresh political transition programme enunciated by the authorities, quite a number of the politicians among them soon teamed up with like-minds to form new political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD), with the latter forming part of the arrowhead of calls for restructuring.

Whereas the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo snubbed such advocacy, his effort at constitutional amendment to address some germane issues died prematurely. But the agitation for restructuring culminated in a national conference in 2014 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, with the ambivalence of the authorities towards the final report provoking seamless demand for the implementation, because some critical issues encapsulated in the principle of restructure are fully captured in the report. These include creation of additional states, resource control, population census, power sharing, unitary policies, form and system of government, as well as revenue allocation formula and derivation principle. .It is instructive to note that a lot of eminent Nigerians are of the consensus that restructuring the federation remains the panacea to the core challenges impeding the stability, cohesion, unity, progress and prosperity of the country. In the opinion of Professor Osundare: “To wave off the lingering call for a restructuring of this country is to risk the possibility of suicide through denial. Fredrick Lugard’s contraption has been aching in every joint since 1914.” Shortly after returning from selfexile at the threshold of military exit from political power and scene in 1999, Chief Enahoro underscored the need to restructure instead of the battle who became the president of the country. His words: “THE MNR’s view is that instead of searching for one new man to be president, the country ought to be searching for new structures to be produced by a national conference composed of representatives of the ethnic groups and national organizations.”

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, in his book, Witness to Justice, which is a narrative on his experience as member of the National Reconciliation Committee presided over by late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, underlined the fragile unity of the country. He wrote: “Nigeria has remained trapped in a time warp. It has not succeeded in extricating itself from the colonial trap that is suffused with inherited prejudices, and distorted social histories.”

Likewise the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in his book, Because I am Involved, where he noted that “The true problem with Nigeria is that she is fully embroiled in an identity crisis. The Nigerian of today is a socio-path in search of a society….we live in a country in search of a common character.”

In a memorandum by obas, elders and other major stakeholders in Yoruba land, they had stated that “In restructuring the

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

Nigerian polity, we must give up the zerosum game. We must put in place a structure and a system where all players have the opportunity to gain; indeed, a political arrangement that provides equality of opportunity for all citizens and, thereby provides equality for personal, community, regional and national development.’

On their part, the memorandum of the Igbo submitted to the then national constitutional conference commission unequivocally declared: “For the sake of the future of Nigeria as one country and one nation; for the sake of development; for the sake of generations of Nigerians; for the sake and benefit of all Nigerians; and indeed of black men and women all over the world, we must accept the fcat that the status quo is untenable. We must steer back the ship of state along that course on the basis of which our country was founded. We must reaffirm federalism as the best system of

government for Nigeria and restructure the Nigerian polity along the lines of a true federation.” In a separate view, Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN) added that: “The maintenance of the unity of the country as one united, indissoluble nation demands, not only a federal system, but a loose federation. A loose federation requires a radical restructuring of territorial units of the federation and of the power relations within it. “ he stated that the ‘the use of state rather than the ethnic group as the unit for the application of the federal character principle in the distribution of public appointments and other benefits is a distortion of its underlying objective.”

In a recent publication entitled: Nigeria: political power imbalance, elder statesman and lawyer, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, also noted that, “The most heinous aspect of the damage to Nigeria was the intended structure of the country which was against the principle laid down by K. C Wheare, the author of the famous book, Federal Government.

In a paper entitled, Why Nigerians unity remains elusive he d at the convention of the Nigerian community in Austria in 2002, senator Femi Okurounmu had observed, “If Nigerians were united in our goals and aspirations, our nation would not be what it is today, and many of you would not be here.” He added: “It is not as if Nigerians do not recognize the value of true unity. Everyone is aware of the economic advantages of size, its political leverage in international relations and the benefits of a larger poll of natural and human resources on which our nation can draw if we are truly united. That is why we all show a strong rhetorical commitment to Nigerian unity. It is not uncommon to hear some Nigerians proclaim to the rooftop that Nigerian unity is not negotiable, or to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done. Yet, by their actions, it is clear that the unity that they so righteously pro-

claim is unity in their own terms.”

Not too long ago, Second Republic vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme, in a speech at the meeting of the conference of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, held in Enugu, recalled the intense political intrigues and power play between those who believed in the status quo and advocates of rotational presidency as a way of fostering a sense of belonging among the federating units of Nigeria. he said he and other proponents met a stiff opposition, adding: “When the opposition to the rotational presidency persisted, it was pointed out that if the purpose of the 1914 amalgamation was to ensure that the South was always under the leadership of the North, then it might become necessary to consider the option of de-amalgamation. With this show of brinkmanship, both sides opted to retreat in the interest of Nigeria’s continued existence and unity, and rotational presidency was endorsed by consensus and became part of the draft of the 1995 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

It is also instructive that such personalities as Chief Bola Tinubu had at one time expressed confidence that there is light at the end of tunnel for the country, in spite the current challenges. Citing the rough paths many developed countries had to meander in their attainment of statehood, he was optimistic about Nigeria getting to a safe harbour. “We cannot give up on our country. Every country has its own historical challenges. But somewhat, real patriots rally and make the needed sacrifices to comfort and defeat evil to make life better for the coming generation. Everyone today hails Barack Obama as the first black president of the United States of America. But they easily forget that it took an Abraham Lincoln to put his foot down on slavery, abolish it even if, in the end, he lost his life.

But America is better off for all today. We are at that stage in our country.”

Components of restructuring Continued from pg 22 called the classical centripetal federalism that had worked in other settings like the United States of America and the old Soviet Union, USSR. He submitted: “Therefore, Nigeria’s cannot be said to be a centripetal federalism as we have in the United States, for instance. Neither is it loose-centre federalism as the former Union of Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR). It will rather be best described as a centrifugal federalism with vast and heterogeneous populations.

It is also a coercive or forced federalism where the colonialists lumped groups together, while riot police and soldiers have been used at different times to quell dissidents and insurgencies.”

He said the nature of federalism in existence now which he described as “highly centralised and coercive federalism” is a product of the command structure and characteristics of the military took over the reins of power shortly after independence.

A key component of the flawed federalism, which encompasses the restructuring question in power sharing among the federating units. For instance, it has been identified that rather than gradually whittle down the controls exercised by the

Olisa Agbakoba

Federal Government on the federating units, the powers had increased substantially since the collapse of First Republic.

Ekweremadu had submitted in his paper that: “For instance, at independence, the Exclusive Legislative List contained 44 items while 28 items were contained in the Concurrent List. However, 40 years

after, out of 28 items on the Concurrent List in the Independence Constitution, 16 items - which translates to roughly 57 per cent - were lost to the Exclusive List in the 1999 Constitution. They includeitems like arms and ammunition, bankruptcy and insolvency, census, commercial and industrial monopolies, drugs and poisons, fingerprints, identification and criminal records, labour, regulation of the legal and medical professions, national monuments, national parks, prisons, quarantine, registration of business names, traffic on federal trunk roads and so on.”

According to him, the key issues of problematic federalism has got to do with the greedy accumulation of power at the centre, which saw the Exclusive list balloon with items like matters of evidence; fishing and fisheries, public holidays; regulation of political parties; stamp duties; taxation of incomes; profits and capital gains; trade and commerce. The states, which inherited the relics of the old regions lack the power to control resources within their territories, maintain diplomatic relations abroad, appoint Judges, maintain a local Constitution; coat of arms and run a police.

With such sharp drop in the powers of Continues pg 25

24

interview

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Buhari must act fast on economy —Lanlehin Senator Olufemi Lanlehin was the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in the Seventh Senate. In this interview with newsmen, he speaks on the renewed call for restructuring of the country, the presidential system of government, way out of the economic recession, among other issues. DARE ADEKANMBI brings excerpts.

W

home. The only thing that is saving us in this part of the country is because we have many churches and mosques. Our belief in God is so great that we rest solely on Him for things to improve. But don’t let us take that too far. We are so basically different in the country and we so basically the same at the same time. Nigerians have the same basic needs-shelter, food, health and other basic things. But as people who have different experiences and culture, our approach to life, our methodology and process of attaining our goals are different. The average person in the SouthWest would do anything to educate his child, including women selling their gold and other belongings. But in other places, commerce appears to be their priority.

We should maximise what is our strength in every zone and then have a common approach at the centre and that centre should be very loose. Every region will run its affairs the way they want it. So, we must restructure quickly and very quickly because things are just falling apart and there is no indication that there is the will to approach the whole thing.

HILE you were in the last Senate, was there a privileged piece of information in possession of the National Assembly that things were going to be this bad, given the circumstances that the last government operated?

There has always been this need at all times for caution because of the monolithic nature of our economy, generating foreign exchange through crude oil sales largely. We have always borne it in mind that the fluctuation of the crude oil price can, like it did sometime in the 70’s or 80’s, just go south and very south too.

AT the time I was there, there were indications that there might be a downward trend in the oil prices, going by the discovery of more oil in the United States, South Sudan, Ghana and many other places. So, there was the feeling that we might be running into turbulent weather and that was why we were always having issues with the executive arm of government which wanted to have the benchmark for crude oil in the appropriation act to be high, while the National Assembly wanted it to be drastically low.

What do you see as the way out of the recession into which the economy has been thrown?

The way out is essentially that President Muhammadu Buhari should be hands-on, on the economy. The buck stops on his table. At the same time, I believe the economy needs to be handled by economists and people who understand the methods, process and nuances of the economy; people who have the experience and ability to manage what we are into now. To that extent, I believe we need the cooperation of all the arms of government-the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. But when there is friction between the legislature and executive, as we have it now, we can’t get the kind of result we expect. The way it is now, the legislature is in disarray as a result of inter- and intra-party squabbles and a lot of muscle-flexing. So, they must put all those aside and work together.

Government should not think Nigerians are so sedentary and people who can’t do anything. No. Things are getting to a head and I want really appeal to the powersthat-be to really do something very fast about it.

When Senator Ayo Adeseun left APC and with you in Accord and some House of Representatives members also deserted him and many others in other parties, people had thought the governor was done for. But today, he is in his second term as governor.

That is a story for another day because there were so many things that happened during the election. Until we have an electoral system that really reflects the wishes of the electorate, we won’t move ahead in this

Senator Olufemi Lanlehin country. Politicians think they win election because they have money and the violence that goes with it; they have the undercurrent and manipulation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that they need to do; and lastly, they claim to have the people as a window dressing.

And to that extent, when they get there, they see themselves as the cleverest politicians who got to the positions by virtue of their smartness, money and knowledge and that the people are the least in their contention. So, they don’t really think that they owe the people. Unlike other climes, even in war-torn areas, especially Eastern Europe countries, they still conduct credible election. Democracy is about the will of the people. The people might make wrong choices, but let their choices count.

Here in Nigeria, there is so much manipulation of the electoral system and people’s will does not come to the fore, which is why the person declared winner sees himself as having outsmarted every other person. The presidential system we are operating puts so much powers in the hands of the president and the governors such that anybody who wants to confront them will obviously be knocking his head on a very hard piece of rock.

Somebody might argue that the point you raised has been taken care of in the presidential system with the concept of constituency project embarked upon by lawmakers.

That is a drop in the ocean as far as the needs of the common people are concerned. The constituency project constitutes a small percentage of the bud-

get. It is less than N3 billion in a budget of N6 trillion. In the last Senate, each geopolitical zone got probably less than N500 million and each Senator about N180 million. That’s an inconsequential, albeit useful, concept. When we were campaigning, we made a lot of promises. Sometimes, people asked us to do road and infrastructure. I can beat my chest that I spent every kobo I got as constituency project and even spent more. When I was elected on 11 April, 2011, before I was even sworn in, I commissioned some drilling companies to do 17 solar-powered boreholes and they were completed before I even got my first allowance in the Senate.

How do you think we can get to the point you just mentioned now?

Is it by restructuring the country or by the National Assembly members tinkering with the constitution?

What we have is far above what the National Assembly can do. The National Assembly has been trying to amend the constitution since 2003 and mainly in 2007, when Baba [President Olusegun Obasanjo] wanted the third term bid injected into the constitution. The exercise was done also ever since 2007, 2011 and up till now that there is another constitution amendment committee in place. But what Nigeria is now faced with is so critical that we have to look beyond constitution amendment. Nigeria needs a major restructuring or else there will be no Nigeria. Where do you want to start? Is it in the education sector where somebody leaves school and despite being net-savvy, is unable to get a job for many years and sits at

If we restructure by the way of regional autonomy, will it solve the problems that the country currently faces?

It depends on how we restructure and basically, Nigeria is where it is today because we have become very lethargic.

We are lethargic because we are being spoon-fed and we are being spoon-fed because what we are being spoon-fed with is got without effort. So, our problems will be solved when we are able to find a way of de-emphasising what makes us lazy. When you are spoon-fed, you take so many things for granted. Everybody becomes a rent seeker. That attitude can only be de-emphasised if we take a new look at how we share the common wealth.

Wealth is everywhere in this country, either solid or liquid minerals. But nobody wants to dig anything to get money and we rely on foreign partners. It is baffling that we still talk about foreign partners in 2016 when we can boast of intelligent people in the country. It is disturbing too that the intelligent people are also now looking for a way of making quick money.

The university used to be the repository of knowledge. But now, the dons want to have a share of the cake.

I believe we must restructure in a way that we go back to the basics. We must look at conventional wisdom. What was it that worked for us? What did have when things were working for us? We had a situation where you must prove your mettle before the goodies come to you. I bought my second or third car, a 505, with N5, 000 at Rhutam and got a five per cent discount. Today, N5, 000 can’t buy a tube. It is unfortunate too that there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel. We seem to be digging deeper into the valley, into the abyss.

25

thepolity

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Why ethnic nationalities must be empowered Continued from pg 23 the states, compared to what operated under the regional structure, the cry for political reforms cannot but rent the air; especially as the loss of political power and influence was followed by the loss of financial capacity.

For instance, earnings of Nigeria’s federating units have continued to dwindle from 50 per cent derivation at independence in 1960 to 45 per cent between 1969 and 1971, and again 45 per cent excluding offshore proceeds from 1971 to 1975. Between 1975 and 1979, earnings dropped to 20 per cent excluding offshore proceeds and the zero per cent from 1979 to 1981. From 1982 to 1992, it climbed back to a paltry 1.5 per cent; 3 per cent from 1992 to 1999, and 13 per cent from 1999 till date.

That every state of the federation had to go to to Abuja to receive some sharable funds every month became a curse rather than a blessing and so did the attendant attack on productivity.

While speaking at the Second Annual Conference of the Young Parliamentarians Forum in Abuja in July, Ekweremadu pointedly insisted on restructuring, adding that “feeding bottle federalism” was doing the country more harm than good.

Ekweremadu said: “I disagree with those who say that Nigeria does not necessarily need restructuring, but good governance that will eliminate corruption. The truth is that it is difficult to tame corruption where the federating units virtually run on free federal allocations that some people see as national cake, not their own sweat.

“Conversely, the people will be more vigilant and ready to hold their leaders accountable when the federating units begin to live largely on internally generated revenues and their sweat. However, restructuring should be on incremental basis to ease the country into a more prosperous future.

“We need to reinvigorate the youth arm of our political parties as in the days of the First Republic and pre-independence era when vibrant youth movements and arms of the political parties thrived and served as platforms for political apprenticeship for aspiring political leaders.

Unfortunately, there is little we can do about meaningful youth economic inclusion and employment until we restructure our behemoth federalism,” he said.

“I still hold the view that this feeding bottle federalism, this act of robbing Peter to pay Paul, which we have gradually enthroned as state policy since the fall of the First Republic, remains cause of our economic quandary,” the Deputy Senate President concluded.

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Human Rights Lawyer, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, (SAN), in a submission in June 2012, also identified restructuring as key to Nigeria’s growth.

His suggestions included the knocking down of the current 36 states structure to six geopolitical zones, which should produce six “super governors,” while the existing states should be converted to provinces or administrative units.

That proposal was in 2012 hailed by the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), whose spokesman at the time, the incumbent Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Comrade Osita Ikechukwu insisted on restructuring. The CNPP had said then: “The CNPP supports the convergence of national consensus on the imperative to return Nigeria to a true Federal Republic as distinct from the unitary system of government being practiced today; hence the clamour and urgency to amend the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Public commentators have queried the inelegant manner in which a Constitution with the tag Federal Republic is structured and chartered along Unitary System of government. It is our considered view that the inherent capacity for true federalism to accommodate multi-ethnic nationalities and their diversities without undermining national unity; was what made our founding fathers to adopt Federalism in the London Constitutional Conference of 1953.”

It is obvious that even when politicians modify their submission on this issue from time to time, the reality has continued to stare everyone in the face. The issue of restructuring, has refused to die like a cat with nine lives.

If it survived the military, if has refused to be swallowed by political considerations on either side.

On a general note, some proponents have declared that

Ayo Adebanjo Adebanjo Ayo

Senator Ike Ekweremadu

restructuring and true federalism have the potential of releasing the creative and productive abilities of the different federating units. For instance, a survey mapping of mineral resources available in states of the federation at the Nigeria Export Promotions Council (NEPC) and the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) indicate that no state of the federation is lacking in resources.

A summary of the endowments in minerals per state include Abia 19; Adamawa–13; Akwa Ibom–11; Anambra–8; Bauchi–35; Bayelsa–4; Benue–32; Borno–23; Cross River–28; Delta–12; Ebonyi–8; Edo–11; Ekiti–13; Imo–8; Jigawa–10; Kaduna–13; Kano–20; Katsina–23; Kebbi–10; Kogi–14; Kwara–12; Lagos–6; Nassarawa–15; Niger–17; Ogun–11; Ondo–6; Osun -10; Oyo–13; Plateau–16; Rivers–5; Sokoto–10; Enugu–11; FCT–10; Gombe–11; Taraba–18; Yobe–15 and Zamfara–8.

Incidentally, most of these minerals are largely unexploited and lying fallow as we speak.

to tax revenue stood at 15.43 per cent of total tax revenue with Federal tax revenue making up 84.57 per cent for year 2015.

“This was only a 2.38 percentage point increase in States’ Internally Generated Revenue. Among the states, Ebonyi State tops states with average annualised growth rate in Internally Generated Revenue of 98.59 per cent, while Kwara State is lowest with 0.77 per cent. On the basis of IGR per states’ population, Lagos understandably tops the chart with N22, 954.65 per capita, while Zamfara is lowest with N652.15 per capita as at 2015. This means that Lagos is more able to serve its people 35.2 times with tax revenue over its Zamfara counterpart.”

Proponents of restructuring would say that the creative energy that enhanced the capacity in Lagos would also work in Zamfara if true federalism is adopted to ginger competition.

Fiscal Federalism/Resource allocation With restructuring, a lot of commentators have argued that the resource harnessing capabilities of the states would get bolstered. A number of commentators have condemned the current tax to GPD ratio of Nigeria as a federation and the states in general. For instance, reports have indicated that of the 36 states, only Lagos State, which generates an average monthly package of N25 billion, can independently meet its obligations.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Honourable Yakubu Dogara, who also spoke at the Youth Parliament in Abuja in July, decried the failure of the states to exert energy on tax collection and buoyancy.

He said: “Our tax buoy does not leave us with any much to cheer as well at -3.21 in 2015 from its previous levels of -0.08 for year 2014. Combined contribution of the states

I am very suspicious of the motivation of people who want to raise the issues or who want to join issues over the matter of restructuring.

So I don’t want to waste my time, frankly speaking

States versus regions A return to regionalism is a vexed issue in the restructuring campaign. There are vociferous voices for and against and both sides want to believe in the sanctity of their arguments. It was a contentious issue during the 2014 National Conference, which nearly saw to the collapse of the talks.

The truth, however, remains that many more Nigerians favour the creation of more states during the 2014 National Conference, a recommendation it eventually adopted as well as during the 2014 Constitution amendment exercise. As of 2012, the National Assembly had received request for creation of 46 new states, which should have brought Nigeria to 81-state structure if it had been adopted.

The realities of today appear to negative the quest for a return to regionalism. Many of the current state capitals are finding it difficult to return to era when they were seen merely as local government headquarters, while the ethno-cultural schism in the existing states such as Kogi and Benue, among others as well as the perennial fear of domination among the smaller groups appear to knock the return to regionalism.

LG system Some commentators have also seen the system of local government as a source of restructuring. The 1999 Constitution left the local governments in confused state with the states being able to “legally” confiscate local governments’ 16 percent allocations that come from the federal level.

The National Assembly had twice made provisions for amendments to Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution during the Constitution amendment processes of 2010 and 2014 but both failed to rescue the councils. The Governors’ Forum had at different times argued for a two-way federating unit, which would see the councils as properties of the Continues pg 26

26

interview

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Anti-corruption: Those complaining about Buhari are Nigeria’s enemies —Tsav A former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, in this interview with JOHNSON BABAJIDE speaks on the way forward for Nigeria, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the need for Nigerians to be patient with the government.

A

T the time the Nigerian nationalists struggled for independence, they had dreams to accomplish. But were they able to achieve them when they got independence?

The nationalists such as the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamidi Azikwe, Tafawa Balewa and host of others who led the country to attain independence had in mind a great nation through self-government. You know the struggle then was to oust the colonial masters and take over the reign of government. To me, I think these people were able to accomplish what they set out to do. The nationalists dreamt of a great and united country that would improve the wellbeing of its citizenry. Hence, the developmental programmes embarked upon by the past leaders in their respective regions.

For instance, Chief Obafemi Awolowo opened his people in Western region to education. Many schools were established then; many roads were constructed across the Western region, durable roads that could stand the test of time.

I believe that some of these roads are still in use till today.

Hospitals were established as well. It is to his credit many developmental projects were started and completed. In the Eastern region, the same thing was witnessed under Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, while in the northern part of the country, which was though backward, Ahmadu Bello made great through his strategic plan. He established schools and introduced crash programme for those who could not have access to the four walls of classrooms at their youthful age.

He established technical schools, military training and other colleges to cater for administrative officers. Surprisingly, all these were achieved with little resources at the disposal of the nationalist leaders in their regions.

But where did we get it wrong along the line?

The whole problem started when military took over on flimsy excuses that the then politicians were corrupt. This was the narrative the military used to rubbish the then politicians. Whereas, these people were trained under the colonial masters and they have moral value; highly disciplined, honest, selfless service were the hallmark of this

So, at the time military struck through coups and counter-coups, all the structures put in place were destroyed.

For instance, our education has become bastardised. It is as though the present political leaders are worse off and further helped in destroying the remnants of the forefathers’ legacy. If not, why is it that the government in power prefers foreign professionals more than our own professionals? If they want to construct roads, they go to China and bring experts. What happens to our indigenous experts such as engineers, medical doctors? This is why most of our hospitals are left unattended to. And when members of the political class have any little sickness, they rush abroad for medical attention. Whereas, the resources expended on such exercise ought to be channeled to procure state-of-the-art equipment for our hospitals at least to plug the funding gap created through the diversion of public funds into private pockets and many of them are richer than the nation. Nigeria has become a consuming nation.

Almost everything we consume is imported. We are greedy and discontent with what we have.

Alhaji Abubakar Tsav

set of people.

So, Nigeria would have experienced tremendous growth in all spheres of life if the early founding fathers were allowed to continue on those developmental foundations they put up then. If the military had not intervened in governance with reckless and frivolous excuses, the country was poised for greatness because the foundation was solid, even when the resources were not there our forefathers exhibited financial discipline and harnessed the little resources within their disposal to set the nation on path of progress.

What is the way out for Nigeria?

The way out is to continue to honour those who served this nation so as to boost the morale of Nigerians and encourage dignity of labour. But not to heap praises on those looters who have destroyed the country. Also, let the present administration strengthen the anti-corruption agencies to deal with all those corrupt leaders. Let me emphasise that President Muhammadu Buhari is doing the best thing in this direction and I appeal to Nigerians to be patient with him because the rot had been too much and to fix it will take a long time. But I think we are in a better hand to get out of the mess, which the past administration has thrown us into.

We need a leader like President Buhari to restructure Nigeria. The policies made so far as well as anti- corruption crusade are needed tonic to get out of the problems we have found ourselves. Those complaining now are enemies of Nigeria. In a situation like this, before we get things right there must be pangs of inconvenience and thereafter there is light at the end of tunnel. That is why I am appealing for patience, because everything will soon be right.

thepolity Components of restructuring Continued from pg 25 states. But the Constitution as it is recognises the councils as the third tier of government. A true restructuring in this regard would either ensure freedom for the councils or their subjugation to create clear focus for federal funds currently being looped between the states and local governments.

State police/federal police In the golden era of Nigerian federalism, from the colonial era to early independence years, the federating units operated a police system that was acceptable to the federal authorities. But the coming of the military ended that and instituted a centralized policing system.

Current arguments have, however, highlighted state police as one of the key components of restructuring that would endure. There are questions of excesses of the state authorities which could undermine the independence of the Police at the local levels, but others have posited that with clear rules of engagement and Non-Governmental Organisations alive to responsibilities in monitoring hu-

man rights violations, multi-level policing can survive in the polity.

Any way out of the quagmire?

For Chief Ayo Adebanjo, restructuring is the only way to go. He believes that the 2014 National Conference has already provided the way to go. “I say for me, these who are opposed to restructuring are opposed to a united Nigeria in peace and when there is no peace, there is no government and if there is no restructuring, there is no Nigeria,” he said.

Ekweremadu, who had presided over two constitution amendment processes, also maintained that constitution reforms would get Nigeria out of the woods. He said that Nigeria must design ways to manage its diversities and ensure equity, fairness and justice among the contending ethno-cultural forces.

According to him, ensuring integration is “one of the very important and urgent steps Nigeria must take to reclaim her federal arrangement and unity from a worrisome level of ethno-religious consciousness and much discrimination. No matter how much constitutional re-

form we carry out, little progress will be made unless Nigerians rise quickly enough to build structures for the proper management of the nation’s diversities.”

He also posited that in a heterogeneous state like Nigeria, values like fairness, equity and justice must remain the watchwords.

He concluded: “I, therefore, advocate constitutional reforms to have equal number of states per geopolitical zone as a prelude to restructuring the country along a sixregional structure.”

In a similar vein, Abubakar Tsav also posited that the country must continue to honour her heroes past while encouraging dignity of labour.

Shuluwa, in his submission insisted on restructuring the polity and a return to regionalism, saying “Nigeria needs restructuring in a manner that will not divide the country. For instance, consider the number of governors across the states of federation. See the number of them that had ruled and imagine how they plundered their respective states at the expense of the masses. So for me, let us revert to regionalism. Let us have six regions according to the geo political zone of the country.”

27

T

HERE is wide gap between populism and political reality. The first is usually very handy on the campaign train when politicians freely banter hopes and paint pictures of the new heaven. The latter is all about the real open book that cannot be falsified.

Because the campaign train is laced with elements of mischief and deceit, politicians are free to paint pictures of castles in the wind; when the reality dawns, however, the story changes. A scapegoat is found to carry the burden the failure to convert fantasy to reality. By and large, the people remain in the same old vicious circle of false hope.

During the last presidential campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari branded the presidential jets in the Nigerian Presidential Air Fleet as mere wastes, which he would not hesitate to sell once elected to office. As soon as the president emerged, he looked like having forgotten the promise. He embarked on fleet-footed trips across the world and the planes were handful. A while ago, he was reminded of that promise and efforts to actualise the sale got afoot.

On October 4, the government advertised its intention to sell two of the presidential jets. Senior Special Adviser to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, who confirmed the development, also stated that two aircraft including a Falcon 7x executive jet and a Hawker 4000 have been authorised for sale.

That should be good news to advocates of cut in the cost of governance who cut across the different sectors of the polity. That is also a patriotic call but the problem inherent in the quest to cut waste is that we either look the wrong direction or cut the wrong ropes.

If we sell the aircraft, we will save the amount used in paying the pilots and the crew. We will save funds used in maintenance and fueling and maybe some coins. That should be good as far as the funds will not leave our coffers.

The real issue, however, is not in selling assets or the aircraft, but in what becomes of the proceeds. The question for me is not whether you raise a substantial sum from the sale but whether we can, five years after the sale, pinpoint the gain of that sale.

I just hope that presidential handlers have weighed the options they are recommending and the attendant results. Yes, no one can defend the inherent waste in gov-

9 October, 2016

the lynxeye with Taiwo adisa

08072000046

Before we sell the presidential jets…

ernment’s running costs but it looks to me that all the time, government operatives cover our eyes with wool as we seek the sources of these wastes.

We have dwelt so much on the perceived jumbo packages of members of the National Assembly on running costs. No one is asking for the real running cost of directors in the agencies, permanent secretaries and DirectorsGeneral. No one knows the running cost of a minister and the chief executives as well as their counterparts in the states. No one knows the exact amount a local government chairman, a governor or president gets as security

Sunday Tribune

votes. These are the real avenues for waste.

But nothing says we shouldn’t start from the small fries and then the real question is what we do with the proceeds. A lot of those who opposed the sale of national assets in the recent debate hinged their argument on the whereabouts of the proceeds of previous sales. We were all witnesses to the sale of licenses and spectrum to telecommunications companies and a kobo of it cannot be said to have been used for the development of communications infrastructure.

The Bureau of Public Enterprises had sold several companies in recent years and no one can account for the proceeds afterwards. The Federal Government equally sole power assets some years ago till today no one can point to what the country gained from those sales.

Make no mistakes; we cannot say that officials of the previous administrations simply embezzled the funds.

The funds were simply credited to the Federation Account in accordance with the law. What happened afterwards? The sharing formula was applied, states and local governments got their slice and then the trace fades off.

If President Muhammadu Buhari is intent on making impact, therefore, he shouldn’t start by just selling the assets. He should prepare necessary amendments to the laws that would enable him manage the proceeds in clear cut manner. If he sells and simply drops the proceeds in the Foreign Reserves or the seemingly bottomless Federation Account, he could be helping to fund importation of rice and unwanted items. And the scenario would be predictable. Governors would enjoy fat pay at FAAC and then an upscale in the volume of imported items possibly including the much talked about imported weed for cows.

We all saw what the government of President Goodluck Jonathan went through in the hands of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led Nigerian Governors’ Forum while setting up the Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF). Even now, the suit filed by the governors is still at the Supreme Court, which is asking parties to explore out of court settlement trying to establish the leaders must do what is good for their countries. They equally have to chart the ways to national prosperity. How they go about that is a function of policies and strategies. It certainly not a function of populism and galleria dance. I just hope that the decision to sell the aircraft is not borne out of the need to satisfy the oozing shouts of the market place and receive the applause.

opinion Beyond Peter Obi’s speech at platform

By Poju Oyemade WHEN I invited the former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi to speak at the 2016 edition of Platform Nigeria’, I had not met him before. In fact, I only met him in person for the first time two hours before his speech on October 1. But his intervention on the waste that defines governance in our country today has touched a very deep nerve with many Nigerians, including me.

Indeed, I strongly believe that the political elite will be making a big mistake if they think the landscape will remain the same after such a revealing presentation. The pertinent question here is: Why is an accusation of waste of scarce public resources so significant when it comes to governance? As a Pastor, I will say it is because there are parallels to draw even from the Bible.

In Luke chapter 16, verses 1and 2 (NIV), The Lord Jesus Christ told the parable of “a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’”

The import of that story is simple: Once it is established that a steward is a waster, he/she loses every moral authority to govern or lead. This is one of the hidden laws through which our Creator governs the affairs of men. Jesus just came to demonstrate that to us.

There is something about God in His dealings with us, particularly with the ruling class, which can be summed up as, if the people don’t cry out to Him, He doesn’t get involved. However, once a legitimate voice(s) is heard

in heaven God begins to show His hand in the affairs of men; showing to us as He did with Nebuchadnezzar that He reigns in the affairs of men.

Historically, the political class in Egypt went untouched until God said He heard the groaning of the people. We can find that in Exodus chapter 6: verses 5 and 6: “And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments.”

There are several other Biblical passages which reveal hwo and when God intervenes and the consequences for bad leaders. From Judges Chapter 2 verse 18 (…for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them”) to Job chapter 34 verses 28 to 30 (So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared).

We can go on and on in the Scriptures to show that it is only when the people cry out that God gets involved by showing His hands. Even in the story of the unforgiving servant, it took others to report to the master for him to get involved. But the cry of wastage in governance is a cry the Lord responds to and it is not about the perfection

of the one who cries. It is about the perfect timing of an accurate cry.

Therefore, it must be clear to every Nigerian at home and in the Diaspora that a sound has gone out on a serious abuse of public trust. The steward i.e. the political office holder must understand what a voice of accusation concerning wastage means when the Master of the earth in which we live in hears it. And to go back to the Biblical account, the unfaithful servant knew in very clear terms he was going to lose his position so he started weighing other options available to him.

His response, as recorded in Luke chapter 16, verse 3: “Then the steward said within himself, what shall I do?

For my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed”.

The steward was left with two options: to become a digger or a beggar. It was very clear to the steward that the choices he had made while serving, especially how he (mis)managed the resources now had consequences. The cry of those who were at the receiving end of his misrule was now going to make him lose political power.

I hope all the office holders in our country (whether in the private sector or in the public arena) can hear what the Spirit is saying: the cry of accusation in the area of wastage is an accurate voice that changes the game. It is important that Nigerians make the adjustments before the Lord shows His hand in the affairs of our country and it becomes too late to change. God bless Nigeria.

• Pastor Oyemade is the Senior Pastor of the Christian Covenant Centre that organizes ‘Platform Nigeria’.

28

9 October, 2016

C

ONSTITUTIONAL limit in governance is primarily to stop man from becoming god. God’s rule alone is expected to be absolute and eternal.

The closest form of such mortal lifetime reign which is monarchy, is nearly-completely without authority everywhere and where it is given a governance lookin, it is either titular or checked somehow. Even with the constitutional power of life and death, no man should be allowed to play god over others, in whatever system of government.

Constitutional multiple terms in leadership however seem to serve two broad purposes; opportunities for the led to give verdict on leaders and leaders to test end-ofterm record. In reality, especially in struggling democracies world over, none would hold true. Votes hardly count, making it difficult to accurately gauge what citizens are saying and the pitch of their voices. Curiously, leaders with red-inked First Term Report Sheet get easily “re-elected” using their peculiar home-grown methodology especially when they are the central umpire in a race they are directly involved. Africa has a hero she is not celebrating well now. His name is Goodluck Jonathan. He cut out of this crowd.

In Nigeria and possibly elsewhere in Africa, your second term journey begins the day you are sworn-in to the first. You don’t even have to ask. The no-vacancy jobbers are always handy. Profiteers would ensure you don’t say no. Relatives, community, ethnic kith, super-contractors, career politicians, cabinet members, cabinet aspirants, appointees and those looking forward to theirs, it-is-our-turn campaigners as well as chummy-yummy journalists, would override your objection, even if genuine, though such initial vacillation has always been in line with politicians’ way of cat pretending not to be interested in rat meat.

It stands to the credit of President Muhammadu Buhari that he is the first willing president in Nigeria’s democratic history. Unlike others who were persuaded to lead in that capacity, he wanted the job, but same can’t be said of his preparedness for the task of office.

With the incumbent having run for the office more time than any Nigerian in history, he should ordinarily be the most prepared Nigerian ever for the Aso Rock job.

Though nothing currently suggests that in the way his administration appears to have grounded the nation, his constitutional qualification to stay put till 2023 has not been impeded in any ways. Sage Obafemi Awolowo was never president but his documented thoughts for the job,

DESPITE the seeming patriotic fervor that propelled Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister, to tell the world that Western countries are blocking the nation’s plan to improve power supply through a resort to coal-fire energy, the statement is a huge disservice to the nation.

The minister, who was speaking last Wednesday during a panel discussion on infrastructure in Africa at the ongoing World Bank/IMF annual meeting in Washington, had said in spite of the West using coal-fired energy to build its industrial base, it is constituting a bulwark to the nation’s effort of using its abundant coal supply for bridging its energy need gap.

I find it difficult to believe that the Minister did say that for a number of reasons. The first is that the statement is typically African. It is characteristic of us Africans to blame others for our misfortunes. An African never falls, somebody must push him. An African never fails; somebody else must have instigated it. Part of the curse of the continent is that its people always look for a fall guy for their misdeeds. We are never tired of coming up with who to blame for our misdemeanors. But for as long as we find it convenient to blame others for our woes, we will never be fired up to do what is required to get our problem solved. The issue of clean energy did not arise until about two decades ago. What stopped Nigeria from deploy its abundant coal to build her own industrial base before that time? I am positive that the West did not do anything to stop us; we stopped ourselves. So, what is the fault of the West in our failure to act at the right time?

I am sure that listening to the Minister, the Westerners would have laughed us to scorn. They would have snickered, saying to one another, “These blacks aren’t going to change ever.”

The second reason is that I am surprised that the Minister is not cognizant of the flatness of the world. The world has become so globalised that whatever happens in any part of the world affects other parts. So, the global community cannot watch while a country threatens the ozone layer, pollutes the air and subjects the people to

0811 695 4647

olanreade@yahoo.com

2019: Why should Buhari run? everyone agrees, have remained absolutely relevant, even till tomorrow.

If visage and carriage are true reflection of intentions, Buhari can be said to have the best of them. The saying that best intention isn’t enough can also be argued. In fact, best intention is everything. Intention is the mindset that drives the entire process. Once, it is ill-driven, the voyage is already doomed.

In his running first term, the president’s actions and body language aren’t matching his best-intention promises and carriage. The dislocation is almost irredeemable now, considering matching public perception and his assumed deliberate refusal to mend his ways. The ‘wise’ counsel of the father of a failing first term governor in the South-South should be apt in encouraging President Buhari concerning another term; when a student fails a particular class, he is always advised to repeat. I remember an opposition element replying that such a woeful student is always advised to withdraw. This ‘student’ in context was allowed to repeat and became a total failure.

It is either Nigerians or Mr. President that can properly situate ‘student Buhari’ for 2019. He can seek to repeat.

It will be for Nigerians to withdraw him from his current service.

I love the argument that it isn’t easy to rebuild ruins.

How can anyone in good conscience expect a quarter to make up for a whole? Repairing a whole with its half sounds more sensible. It took 16 years for the former ruling party to ‘ruin’ Nigeria. The repair arithmetic above speaks to what the 2019 colouration should depict.

President Buhari may end up being Nigeria’s luckiest.

With Sulaimon Olanrewaju 08055001708

lanresulaimon@yahoo.com

Did Minister Adeosun really say that?

life-threatening diseases in the name of trying to get energy. The fact is that the world has moved beyond coal and others like it into clean energy and we just must

Sunday Tribune

Those that can be classified in the reasonable realm for his sake, also believe and mouth the banal argument of party faithful that there would have been no Nigeria again if he didn’t win. To these believers, GMB is a god who can do no wrong. So, why stop a brilliant student from progressing to a second(ary) term. Deities live forever, but most often, only in memory. You can excuse their idolatry.

Many of us thought that way too with Bashorun M.K.O Abiola. He took tea and passed. The nation remains.

Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose will forever be an enemy to be vanquished at whatever cost by sold-out Buharists for suggesting Candidate Buhari won’t last the mortality distance as president. Buhari and his family aren’t forgiving either. If it is just to prove the Ekiti political prophet wrong, 2019 must be, regardless of whatsoever.

Fayose’s prophesy was more of age plus health permutation. None has been cheering. Buhari keeps looking all his official 76 years. If he was born on ‘market day’ like his former military boss, he could originally be grossing 80+ in 2019. What a Northerner friend insinuated recently about the president’s health won’t decently fit in here.

But isn’t age a mere number, with mental alertness being key? A paraplegic once ruled America, the greatest nation in modern history. Ageists keep off.

2019 presidential battle, like others before it, would keep unravelling whether Buhari runs or runs off.

Banire @50 FOR two consecutive weeks, space robbed Gibbers the pace to greet the current god of Mushin politics Dr. Muiz Banire SAN on his 50 birthday anniversary, until the event went down yesterday. Though this column goes to bed on Friday, I could predict my presence at the weekend shindig. Having been around for quite a while, there was some surprise he was just 50. He has been around politics, politicians and power corridor since his 20s, making his name to sound as if he had been around forever. But not even his associates can claim to have seen all about him, especially when he wants to give vent to his convictions. He is a battler and no foe seems too big for him to try for size, including men who make fellow men “pee” in their pants. Maybe because he has shooed himself out of any kind of elective position and it is a known fact that the desire for votes in Nigeria automatically translates to becoming a Janus. Here is a left-over 50 candies for him.

move with the rest of the world. It will do us no good to keep romanticizing the past.

Perhaps it will be apt to point out that the Stone Age did not end due to shortage of stone; it ended because the world moved beyond stone. The Stone Age era ended because the world discovered better and easier way of fashioning out implements. Though stone remains in abundance, the world no longer uses it for what it was used for. The same goes for coal. The world has moved beyond using coal and other dirty energy sources to generate power because there are better alternatives that do not leave a dent in the ecosystem or diseases in the people.

I am particularly bothered that this statement came from a minister. A minister is a member of the highest decision-making body in the land, the Federal Executive Council. If our ministers have preference for what worked in the past and still dwell so much on it even in the face of obvious fact that this is no longer realistic, there is no way our country will record the progress that all Nigerians are yearning for. Our country will find it herculean to keep pace with development in other parts of the world.

The minister needs to know that leadership or governance cannot be a ballroom dance; it can’t be a step forward and two backwards. It is only when governance is consistently progressive that it can be of immense benefit to the people. Making it a habit to moan the loss or the mistakes of the past will make progress difficult. So, the minister and others who share her thinking about using coal for generating power in the 21st century should perish the thought and embrace cleaner ways of generating energy.

A driver makes progress by looking consistently through the windshield and at the rearview mirror occasionally for guidance. If a driver solely concentrates on the rearview mirror, one of two things will happen; he will either end up in a ditch or in the middle of nowhere.

Neither is appealing and that definitely is not the change we want.

29

9 October, 2016

ON THE

Sunday Tribune

With Bolanle Bolawole turnpot@gmail.com 07052631058

lord’sday An Anglican priest and his drama

N

IGERIA is not alien to activist priests. The best known of them include the emeritus Catholic Archbishop Olubunmi Okogie; Bishop Matthew Kukah; and Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka of the Catholic Adoration Ministries. It is like it has become the exclusive preserve of Catholic priests to be activists here while the Pentecostals, Anglicans (with the exception, perhaps, of emeritus Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi), and the white-garment priests mind their own business, as it were.

The most outspoken of them make occasional forays and retreat speedily into their shell. It was, thus, a pleasant surprise penultimate week when an Anglican priest, Reverend Canon Uche Chinamerem, of the Diocese of Owerri, Imo State, decided to dramatically draw attention to the failure of governance in neighbouring Anambra State. Chinamerem chose to celebrate Nigeria’s 56th Independence Day anniversary at a refuse dump on Douglas Road, Onitsha, a city famous for its market and entrepreneurship.

To start with, the expansive refuse dump, right in the middle of the road and in the city centre, so to say, is an embarrassment. That we can have such a sorry sight among homo sapiens, notwithstanding the multiple layers of duly designated authorities, is sad indeed. I did not know whether to cry or laugh as the priest, with the assistance of an aide, took out a glass cup, popped champagne, poured himself a drink, and thereafter sat cross-legged on a chair to enjoy his drink; with the refuse dump serving as photographic montage in the background. I felt like throwing up!

Chinamerem, who is also said to be the Chaplain of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Imo State University, had this to say: “I went to celebrate in front of the refuse dump, because what is there is shameful.

Let us accept that the government refused to clear the refuse, how can a normal human being go to the market every day, trade within that dirty environment, and think nothing about the refuse? Don’t we have market women association, community groups or vigilantes in the area? Obviously, they are waiting for the government to clear the refuse. In Igbo parlance, we say a rejected man does not reject himself.

Why have we decided to reject ourselves?

Why can’t we clear the refuse and tell the government that if it cannot be responsible, we are responsible citizens? So, this is not just about spiting the government but (also) telling our people to wake up and do the right thing when the government has failed.” The priest’s sophistry notwithstanding, his action was a scantily-concealed spite on the government of Anambra State; and not only the governor of that state should bury his head in shame or descend heavily on those who have failed him in this regard, the local government chairman, the senator, House of Representatives member and Anambra State House of Assembly members representing that constituency also should all be ashamed of themselves. This is what we mean when we say councils collect Feder-

al allocations with not much to show for it; and that constituency allowances\projects of federal lawmakers hardly benefit their constituencies.

Now to the priest: I tried to fathom why Chinamerem left Imo to come look for trouble in Anambra. Is he a native of Anambra? He must be careful not to be termed busybody and meddlesome interloper, to quote a judge, or be accused, like Mbaka, of harbouring political motives.

Douglas Road in Anambra State cannot be the only dirty road in the whole of the South-East. Is the priest saying there are no dirty roads or refuse dumps in Imo State where he is based? Number Two: He claimed to be drawing attention to the dirty habit or lifestyle of the people – which is right - but did it not also occur to him that popping champagne and settling down right under the refuse to enjoy his drink was also a dirty habit?

It was loathsome – an eyesore - seeing him enjoy a drink under such condition.

Number three: He took umbrage against government; market women association, community groups, and vigilance groups in the area. Why, he asked, did they not take up the challenge when it appeared

government had shirked its responsibility? Good question, but the same question also applies to the priest – why did he not take up the responsibility of clearing the refuse instead of simply drawing attention to it and using it to launch himself into the limelight?

And this is the crux of the matter: In pointing finger at others, the remaining four fingers pointed at Chinamerem himself. What he should have done was, go to the refuse dump with shovels and wheelbarrows, come along with as many of his congregants as possible, and then mobilise everyone on Douglas Road to join in clearing the refuse. Once that was done, he could settle down to pop champagne and celebrate whatever and however he so desired. Not doing that, he failed in his duty.

What he did qualified him simply as an attention-seeker and, like a blame-pusher.

There is a problem, solve it first before any other thing. Leaving the problem and playing to the gallery; searching for scapegoats when you should have rolled up your sleeves and got the job done is time-wasting and counterproductive.

Chinamerem should have known better than he did. In Luke 10: 30 – 37, our

Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ told the parable of the “good” Samaritan: “And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?” I am sure Chinamerem is familiar with this parable; therefore, we should allow him judge: Who out of the three – the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan - did his action on the Douglas Road refuse issue imitate?

The Samaritan got the problem solved whereas the priest and the Levite felt it was none of their business and left it unattended to. Possibly, they, too, felt, like Chinamerem, that it was for government; market associations, community groups, and vigilantes to solve! The important thing is, they did not touch the problem with a finger, just like Chinamerem did not touch the mountainous refuse with a finger. He simply drew attention to it or, put differently, he used it to draw attention to himself, and then went his way – like the priest and Levite in this parable.

That was not good enough then; it is still not good enough now. If any of those Chinamerem left this problem for has not risen up to the challenge; it is not too late for the priest to make a quick return trip to Douglas Road and personally lead the effort to clear the refuse.

...And the shenanigans of Edo governorship election “I thought we would just allow the sleeping dog to snore. It was the same candidate of yours who accosted the CO (Collation Officer) in Unit 11 with about six guns and drove him (CO) to the corner of the collation centre, forcing him to mutilate.

I did not mutilate any paper; my papers are here. Number two: this same candidate went to the office of INEC to repeat the same thing on the electoral officer and later came to the collation centre, where I served, with 10 gun-toting men, threatening to kill all of us. I want to say that this same candidate several times told the man who handled that Ward 11 that he was a dead man. He repeated it three times and that was why we managed to put him (electoral officer) on the security

vehicle to get him to Benin City here...For the case of the man who handled Ward 11, all the security men deserted him. For the EO, he was locked up in his room. In our own case, we were rescued by the men of the Quick Intervention Force who drove the Auchi vigilante people out of the place.

They were actually coming for me when the men of the Quick Intervention Force came in. So the Police are aware of it” Above are the words of Professor Adewole Atere, Collation Officer for Etsako West Local Government Area, in the justconcluded Edo State governorship election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission declared was won by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP), declared by INEC as the runnerup, has kicked against the verdict, insisting it actually won the election. The report

by Prof. Atere is scary indeed; you would think we were talking of election in Bayelsa or Rivers states. This cannot be election but war; it is a dangerous business for any decent person to come near. The “candidate” referred to in the statement above by Prof. Atere is none else than the APC governorship running-mate, Philip Shaibu, who is now deputy-governorelect and, barring any upset, would soon become “His Excellency” and have immunity from arrest and prosecution. Many questions beggar answers. God willing, we shall return to pose them next week. As they say, stay tuned!

opinion Politics of hair and culture of being in Nigeria’s development 30

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

By Tunji Olaopa

O

NE of the few delights of public intellection is such an opportunity as this to weave seemingly disparate ideas and events together into coherent patterns of thoughts and actions that continually feed into my ongoing reform passion. And beyond constant reflection on the civil service, cultural matters and specifically Yoruba culture fascinates me a great deal. I have written about the cosmopolitan and accommodationist intersection of the triple heritage, a la Mazrui, which my growing up at Aáwéinstilled in me. I was therefore in my elements when I listened to four incredible expositions in one week: the first three speakers addressed the Yoruba Academy Ibadan Conference that marked the September 23, 1886 end of Kiriji war. Two of them were historical scholars, Professors BanjiAkintoye and OlutayoAdeshina, and the third, a PremiumTimes columnist,Ms. BamideleAdemola-Olateju, presented an extremely refreshing narrative that revised the localised conception of ‘aiye’ or the universe in Yoruba cosmology in a prospective view of the Yoruba of the future that we should aspire to build,which I sure will reflect on some other time.

I met the fourth speaker at the recent 9th annual lecture in honour of Professor Bolanle Awe, an icon, whom I have had reason to celebrate in commentaries. Prof. Aweis not only a Yoruba intellectual but her discourses on gender reforms bristle with cultural insights.I needed no second thought to be at any event in her honour. But I had more than I bargained for at the occasion. My train of thought was set on fire by the presentation of a young and brilliant scholar, Dr. Sharon Omotoso of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. The title of her lecture was “The Philosophy and Politics of Hair.” This intriguing title was the lecturer’s way of intervening in the critical issues of human rights, economic crisis as well as sundry family issues. Of course, many in the august audience, including me, were rightly intrigued. What has hair got to do with anything?

But as the lecture picked up, I was reminded of ChimamandaAdichie’sAmericanah, and the significance of hairdo in that brilliant novel. She sums up this significance in an interview she granted Channel 4 news in August. According to her, if Michele Obama had worn her natural hair in the run off to the presidential election, her husband, the then Senator Barack Obama, would have lost the presidential election. Why? This is because, according to her, “hair is political.” Michele Obama’s natural hair, for Adichie, would have conveyed a frightening, anti-establishment metaphor of militant Black power whose stereotypical symbolism would have been damning. The hair of a grown up, black American woman projects strong political feelings about political correctness or incorrectness.

For me, hair is more than political; hair is cultural. Indeed, as I sat and listened to the guest lecturer at the Bolanle Awe event, it was not too difficult to see how the modern configuration of hair styles and hair-dos have become symptomatic of almost everything that is culturally wrong with us as a people. Beyond the politics of wearing certain hair styles; beyond the economics of how much of foreign exchange goes into hair importation; I see hair as a symbolic context for lamenting all that is fast diminishing in what we can call our culture of being. Human culture plays a significant part in defining who we are and what we can ever hope to become. Culture, in other words, is a constant dynamics of being and becoming.

Yorùbá constitutes my own culture of being, just as Igbo or Hausa or Nupe or Itshekiri or Edo constitutes the culture of being for others too in Nigeria. But anywhere we look today, we see a disturbing diminution of what is cultural, and hence significant in our cultures. Take hair for instance. It is not difficult to risk the empirical claim that over 90% of female youths in Nigeria now adorn their hairs with European style wigs and Asian weave-on. The days of traditional hairstyles have been swallowed by the modernity of fashion!

That would really not constitute a huge fundamental problem if the wigs were to be essentially a pragmatic intervention in fashion. What is really problematic is that European modernity brings with it the rejection and abhorrence of all things that enables culturally. Thus, any woman with the traditional style of hair is, by that very fact, unfashionable; someone who has lost touch with modernity.To become modern therefore, we pay the costly price of identity dislocation. “People who live on borrowed culture,” says VarindraVittachi, the Sri Lankan writer,“often go to extremes that their models and mentors had never intended.”On the contrary, colonialism intended just this cultural amnesia, and

we are all still playing out the script.

In the final analysis, the real issue boils down to that of a genuine reflection on who we are and what we want to be.

The social anomie which Wole Soyinka lamented as one of the fundamental roots of Nigeria’s underdevelopment, it seems to me, arises out of a grievous cultural dislocation which prevents a conscious retrieval and celebration of all that is best in one’s culture. And in the gap in between, we are witnessing today all that is abhorrent in our youths’ understanding of the modern: nudity and all forms of crazy fashion sense, the frightening loss of the mother tongue (which has become “vernacular” in the presence of sweet English language!), the terrible dismissal,until few days ago, of History from the school curriculum (and hence the prevention of a dynamic retrieval of the usable past), and finally there is a great and yawning absence of moral values and norms which feed the possibility of social harmony in Nigeria. There is therefore little wonder that Nigeria’s economic and development woes have become a combustible predicament when squared with cultural anomie amongst the youth and everyone else.

Among the Yorùbá, a cultural adage, paraphrased, says: Rather than steal, I will become a servant. This adage projects the significant value placed on the integrity that defines who a person is as an Omolúàbí. All these and more, which constitute fundamental cultural capital, seem to have gone with the wind. Africa seems to have been swept into the whirling and confusing vortex of global cultural fusion. And it seems we are the worst for it. Look all over Africa; look critically at Nigeria: we have not only been left perplexed in

Recently, Nigeria’s economic imbalance has forced us all into a deep rethink of the dynamics of development and progress. One of such rethink is the “Made in Nigeria” imperative.

terms of development; our cultural beingness is unhinged at its very centre. We have refused to ground our progress in the context of our internal cultural dynamics; we have refused to search inward within our vast cultural frameworks for development insights that can drive national development in Nigeria. Scholars have talked about the strong tie between cultural attitudes and development. But we have not taken deliberate notice. For instance, the Washington Consensus still holds us in its economic grip while other culturally wiser nations are searching and ransacking their cultural capital for internal mechanism that will drive their future.

Recently, Nigeria’s economic imbalance has forced us all into a deep rethink of the dynamics of development and progress. One of such rethink is the “Made in Nigeria” imperative which the Buhari administration has embarked upon. This is a right move in the right direction if Nigeria’s economy would become buoyant enough to sustain the change slogan as well as the national project. I have written enough about reforming Nigeria’s institutional framework to know how change would not translate into any formidable transformation if care is not taken. Nigeria’s bid for an economic reform that targets the internal framework of development becomes immediately lopsided against the myriad of socio-cultural anomie already emasculating our social fabric. For example, it looks quite trivial but it is really a significant issue that hair has become part of the “essentials” that Nigeria has to import. And this points not at the abdication of economic potentials which the country can yield even in terms of internal creativity. Rather, this crass importation of hair points at a deep sense of cultural loss.

The long European hair types are, in the eyes of all and sundry now, much better than the natural hair which could be made up into several aesthetically appealing styles consonant with our cultural being.

It is at this point of confronting cultural loss of our sense of who we are that the economic dynamics of “Made in Nigeria” unfailingly breaks down. The Chinese Beijing Consensus is an economic experiment drivenby a deep investment in the Chinese cultural identity. In fact, the entire Asian Tigers economic transformation is founded on a deep appreciation of the role of culture in national development. Edward Blyden, the Liberian pan-Africanist, sums up the challenge clearly: “If you are not yourself, if you surrender your personality, you have nothing left to give the world.” Once we fail to understand the essence of the dissonance between cultural self-definition and economic well-being, then there is no doubt that something is fundamentally wrong with us as Nigerians.

•Dr Olaopa, the Executive Vice Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), writes via tolaopa2003@gmail.com

32

9 October, 2016

makeover

Tone Each style of wig comes in as many colours as possible. Aside the common colours of black and

Texture According to www.hairfax.ca, wigs are made with three kinds of materials. For synthetic wigs, which is the least expensive material used in wigs, although popular for its price point, synthetic hair is more rigid than human or biolon hair and also tends to frizz when exposed to heat. There are three different types of synthetic wigs: wefted – an entry-level, machine-made wig, in which synthetic hairs are machine-sewn onto bands of material, which are then constructed into a cap. The wefting material comes in various

Photo: www.fairywigs.com

I

colours to blend with the colour of the hair in the wig; mono-top – features a mono-filament area on the top portion of the cap. The mono-filament is clear, allowing one’s natural scalp colour to show through in parting. The hair in

Wigs made of human hair fetch a higher price point because they look more natural, are more difficult to make and have added features

Photo: Getty Images

to the rescue for users of wigs to take for granted the tips for choosing and caring for wigs. Below are four important things to note when using wigs:

the mono-top section of the wig is single hair injected, meaning it is hand-sewn into the cap, one strand at a time, for a more natural look. The sides and back of the mono-top wig are wefted; handtied – they use mono-top construction, with the back and sides featuring hair that is hand-tied into mesh. Some hand-tied wigs still use wefting as well, but the wefting is attached to mesh fabric and includes hand-tied portions throughout.

For human hair wigs, it flows more freely than synthetic, is more resistant to frizzing, but tends to fade. Wigs made of human hair fetch a higher price point because they look more natural, are more difficult to make and have added features. Wigs made of human hair also use mono-top construction, with wefting at the sides and back. They also feature polyurethane lining along the base for a more comfortable and secure fit.

For wigs made from biolon, which is the latest advancement in replacement hair materials, it looks and feels just like human hair, but resists fading like human hair does and is less prone to tangling, making it easier to care for.

These wigs are designed primarily for people with complete hair loss, such as those affected by alopecia. They are very lightweight and have a completely clear mesh cap, allowing natural scalp tone to show throughout. They are constructed using only SHI (single hair injected) technology – no wefting – and also feature added polyurethane for extra grip.

brown, wigs are also available in blue, gold, white, purple, pink, red, among others. Even these individual colours, including black and brown, come in a variety of shades. Some wigs combine different shades in one style. The secret to picking the perfect colour is dependent on the occasion, and what suits your personality.

Trend Wigs come in as many styles as the female mind can construct.

Length is also an important factor when choosing wigs. Length basically ranges between short, medium or long. It is important to note that when choosing the wig length, comfort is necessary, especially with the texture that the wig is made from. Styles are available usually as curly or straight, with some wig styles combining both features. For the perfect fit, always determine your face shape.

Treatment Hair experts at www.wigs.com suggest six steps for caring for wigs. They are: Step 1: Detangle – Before you wash, make sure you carefully detangle the hair using a wide tooth comb. Start from ends and work toward the root to decrease shedding.

Step 2: Rinse – Use lukewarm water and rinse from roots to ends. Do not soak as this can lead to tangling. If your wig is curly, try leaving the hairnet on.

Step 3: Shampoo – Loosen shampoo in your hands and work through the hair. Distribute a small amount of shampoo evenly throughout the hair. Use circular motions to clean the cap.

Step 4: Condition – For synthetic hair, spray leave-in conditioner from the mid-shaft to the ends, and be sure to avoid the root or knots. For human hair, leave in for a few minutes before rinsing. Do not apply conditioner to the root. If dry or damaged, use a deep conditioner.

Step 5: Rinse – Let lukewarm water flow in the same direction of the hair to avoid tangling.

Squeeze and press the hair; do not wring. Towel blot to remove excess water.

Step 6: Dry – For synthetic hair, air dry on a folding wig stand.

Gently part the hair with a comb before wig dries. For human hair, blow dry about 80% and then round brush until smooth.

Photo: www.aliexpress.com

Photo: www.bellanaija.com

Rita Okonoboh 08053789087 tribunemakeover@gmail.com

Recession: Wigs

N the spirit of the economic recession, more ladies are embracing wigs as a newfound love.

Wigs come in various lengths, styles, shapes, texture and sizes, and are an affordable and easier option for caring for the hair.

They also come in handy for women who are trying to grow out their natural hair and are ideal for emergency hair situations.

There are many reasons a lady may need to use a wig. They include medical challenges, change in appearance, emergency hair situations, costume parties, hair growth challenges, among others.

Wigs come mainly in synthetic hair, natural hair (made from human, wool, or animals such as horses and biolon.

However, it is not uncommon

Sunday Tribune

33

9 October, 2016

With Akintayo Abodunrin akinjaa03@yahoo.co.uk 08111813058

FG, Elumelu Foundation partner to develop creative industries Hope rises for Nigeria’s creative industries as the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Tony Elumelu Foundation sign a Memorandum of Understanding to boost its growth.

H

AVING been unstructured and underdeveloped for years with players having to do it all by themselves, Nigeria’s creative industries appears set for transformation courtesy of a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).

Credited with contributing 1.6 % to the nation’s GDP after 2014’s rebasing of the economy, it is curious that all 13 sub-sectors of the creative industry, including Nollywood, its most popular arm, still have teething problems that should have been surmounted long ago.

Happily, all these are expected to change with the partnership between government and the TEF set to re-position the industries.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the TEF at the National Theatre, Lagos on Tuesday, the Minister in charge of the ministry, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the partnership will be the catalyst that will transform Nigeria’s creative industries to a creative economy.

Mohammed, who reiterated that the creative industries and tourism will become Nigeria’s new oil if properly harnessed, disclosed that the areas of collaboration include: “the creation of an enabling business environment for the creative industries with such incentives as easy access to finance; the structuring of the Creative Industries to enable it generate independent revenues locally and also boost exports to increase Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings; and comprehensive statistics about the creative industries, including its size and projections, to guide potential local and foreign investors.”

The Minister, who had earlier highlighted how the creative industries have turned around the fortunes of California in the United States, Mumbai in India, Turkey, Brazil, Dubai and Australia amongst others and explained that the agreement was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the nation’s economy, added that an innovative part of the collaboration “is the plan to convene a Creative Economy Task Force to map the creative industries to provide a better picture of what is happening on the ground and help inform policy

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left) and Mr. Tony Elumelu after signing the MoU. development. We also plan to measure the economic contribution of these industries to the Nigerian economy and provide a blueprint for action.”

On why the ministry decided to partner with the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the British Council with whom it signed a MoU on August 24 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alhaji Mohammed said government realised that it couldn’t be the sole driver of the development of the creative industries.

He said, “We realised early on that we will need to reach out to organizations that have the capacity and the drive to assist us in achieving our goals, organizations that can utilize their business knowledge, network and technical expertise to assist the Ministry in the development of Nigeria’s creative industries.”

The Minister said provision would be made for concrete benchmarks “to measure our progress in the implementation of this MoU to ensure that by the time we conclude the initial two-year period of this historic collaboration, no one will need to strain his eyes to see the achievements.”

Mohammed, who confessed his excitement at the prospect of working with the TEF, especially since it has accommodated

the creative industries within the bigger Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme, disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari fully backs efforts to develop the creative industries “Last week, at an evening of conversation with the youth, President Muhammadu Buhari not only rallied support for the sector, he also directed that such support must reflect in the budget of the Ministry of Information and Culture in 2017,” Mohammed said.

Speaking earlier, the chief executive officer, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Parminder Vir, OBE, who has spent her entire career working in the creative industries from arts and culture, television and film production and financing for media and creative industries, disclosed that the MOU was dear to heart. She said the creative industries are important for Nigeria because they create jobs, generate revenues, contribute to the GDP and is leverage for soft power.

Reiterating why the MoU is important for Nigeria’s creative industries, the Briton explained that the film industry, best known as Nollywood, is the most energetic in the world and has a total estimated value of over $500 million per annum. It also pro-

Documentary on child trafficking set for premiere A documentary film highlighting the ills of child trafficking entitled ‘They Just Want to Go Back Home’ will soon be premiered.

The film which chronicles the plight of some young girls lured to Lagos from Imo State is produced by lawyer and anti-child trafficking activist, Rotimi Vaughn.

Speaking in an interview, Vaughn, a direct descendant of Scipio Vaughn, an-ex slave who became a prominent and respected family man in Camden, South Carolina, United States, described child trafficking as modern slavery and that he has data on the

practice in Nigeria and West Africa.

He disclosed that he hopes to establish relations between Badagry and Camden in South Carolina for strategic promotions, exchanges and establishment of mutually beneficial ties through a project known as The Bond Atlantic Initiative.

“I have always looked forward to being in a position to transform my intriguing family historical account into a platform for promoting impactful socio-cultural relations and development,” Vaughn explained.

He added that, “under the proposed Atlantic Bond Initiative, windows of opportunity now appear wide open for the establishment of mutually beneficial relations and ties between Lagos State and the government, people and the State of South Carolina. They will enjoy remarkable investment and development opportunities in the areas of tourism, arts and culture, trade and commerce, agriculture, youth and social development, academic institutions’ alliances and advancing humanity while combating modern slavery.”

vides jobs for thousands of people but sadly, an estimated $200milion is lost to piracy annually because of the absence of formal, legal distribution systems. The same, Vir added, applies to TV, radio, music, interactive and new media, performing arts, live festivals and theatre with largely untapped benefits.

Vir disclosed that the challenge posed to the TEF by the Minister of Information and Culture when they met back in April was, “How can we work together to help transform the currently underdeveloped and unstructured creative ecosystem into an organized and profitable pool of creative industries (including tourism) that provide meaningful employment to thousands of Nigerians” She reckoned that the choice of TEF for the collaboration is apt because it “recognizes the importance of Nigeria’s creative industries and have invested in over 300 creative entrepreneurs in ICT, fashion and textile, tourism, media and entertainment through the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program.”

She highlighted goals of the collaboration to include: “The creation of an enabling business environment for the creative industries with incentives such as easy access to finance, legal protection, tax breaks and waivers, subsidies and guarantees.

“A formal, well-structured group of creative industries that generate independent revenue locally in addition to boosting exports to increase Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings” and “comprehensive dataset of the creative industries, its players, size and projections, to guide prospective local and foreign investors.”

The founder of TEF, Mr. Tony Elumelu (C.O.N) commended the Minister for his vision, leadership and courage in reaching out to the private sector. He said that as an Africapitalist, he doesn’t believe development should be the sole preserve of the public sector and that as a Nigerian, “I cannot help but want to be a part of any effort to help unleash the talent, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that beats in the heart of this country.”

Elumelu noted that despite Nigeria’s creative industries operating quietly and often in a policy vacuum with financing from friends and family, Nollywood has grown phenomenally to become a mass employer of people across its value chain. “If this can happen in such a weak enabling environment, imagine what could be achieved if we actually set out to support the sector and individuals and businesses that operate or seek to operate in these sectors,” he noted.

Elumelu added that the Ministry selected TEF as its partner because of its antecedents in the areas of development and empowerment, and assured that “the Ministry and the foundation will create the best framework to support the innovation, growth and productivity of Nigeria’s creative industries.”

Aside the signing of the MoU, other issues raised by players in the creative industries at the event were piracy, preservation of national monuments and the establishment of a National Endowment for the Arts.

34

9 October, 2016

children’sarena

Sunday Tribune

Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 0807 449 7425

Words from the children 1

1.

Adeniran Timileyin, 12yrs, JSS2 The names of my grandparents are Mr and Mrs Adeniran, they live in Oyo town, Oyo State. My grandmother has 3 seven children of which my daddy is the first child.

My grandparents are very kind and humble; my grandma loves children; she is very disciplined. When you offend her, she would warn you many times before beating you. I 4 love them because they are very nice.

2

2. Adenaike Oluwaseun, 11yrs, JSS2 My grandpa’s name is Mr Olalekan Adenaike and my grandma’s is Mrs Olayinka Adenaike. My grandma works in a factory and also sells pap.

5 They are very accommodating and caring. My relationship Respondents are with them is very cordial. I love going to spend my holistudents of Royal Covenant High school, days with them whenever we are on break.

Ibadan, Oyo State

Poe m

What our grandparents do for us

3. Solomon Temitope-Adeboye, 10yrs, JSS2 The names of my grandparents are Chief Adenola from Epe, Lagos and Mrs Adenola from Akure, Ondo State. My grandfather has three wives and many children.

My relationship with my grandfather is cordial due to the kinds of music he loves listening to. My grandpa loves me so much and named me Adeboye after his own father.

I also love my grandma, she would sing for me until I felt asleep even up till now; I always look forward for her locust beans, vegetable and pap.

4. Solomon David, 13yrs, JSS3 The relationship with my grandparents is very

Waiters

Dining with his older daughter Dad forgot to order water.

Daughter quickly called the waiter.

Waiter said he’d bring it later.

So she waited, did the daughter, Till the waiter brought her water.

When he poured it for her later, Which one would you call the waiter?

k ild ee h C ew th of

Onaolapo Qalilulai Yussuf clocked 1 Happy birthday

good. I love them so much; I do visit them at least five times in a year.

I relate with them like my biological parents. They are very kind, gentle and answer all my questions whenever I ask them.

5. Ajayi Jolaade, 12yrs, JSS3 My grandparent’s names are Mr and Mrs Joseph Ajayi. I always relate with them like my parents. My grandpa is very loving and kind

while my grandma is caring. They love me as they love my parents.

They always tell us folktales.

They too always pay us a visit whenever they miss us.

Raccoons sleep in the day •Raccoons are about the size of a medium dog.

•They have a bushy, ringed tails and a black mask across their faces.

•They look cute, but they are wild animals.

They can bite and scratch and some carry diseases.

•Raccoons are omnivores. They eat almost anything, including clams, fish, nuts, fruit, lizards, insects, and squirrel or mouse.

•Raccoons can get into trouble with people. They dig through trash cans or compost bins. They eat dog

food and might even crawl under your house.

•Raccoons love raiding vegetable gardens.

They knock over cornstalks to get the corn and devour small melons!

•Raccoons are nocturnal. They are awake during the night and sleep in the day.

•Most raccoons only live two or three years.

Famous invention

Whiteboard

A

whiteboard (also known by the terms markerboard, dry-erase board, wipe board, dry-wipe board, pen-board, and the misnomer greaseboard) is any glossy, usually white surface for nonpermanent markings. Whiteboards are analogous to blackboards, but with a smoother surface allowing rapid marking and erasing of markings on their surface.

There are currently two different accounts of the history of the whiteboard: one from the United State and one from the United Kingdom, both dating to the late 1950s to early 1960s.

The first version has the white board invented by Martin Heit, a photographer and Korean War veteran. The idea was originally developed for having next to a wall phone to take messages down on. During his work with film, he realised that notes could be recorded on film negatives using a marker pen and could be easily wiped off with a damp tissue. Early whiteboards were made out of film laminate, the same glossy finish found on film negatives.

A prototype was made and ready to be revealed, when the showcase at the Chicago Merchandise Mart got burned down the night before its unveiling. Heit chose to sell the patents to the company that would eventually become Dri-Mark, which began to introduce them into the education world.

The second account is that Albert Stallion invented the whiteboards while working at

American steel producer Alliance in the 1960s.

This can be verified by meeting minutes of Alliance, although these are not in the public domain, and by confirmation by Will Smit of Smit Visual Supplies BV, who was present at the meeting in question. This account of the history of the whiteboard is as follows: One of the products Alliance produced was enameled steel, which was highly scratchresistant and easy to clean. It was used for architectural cladding purposes. One day Stallion commented in a board meeting that this product would be a good addition in the market of writing boards, to replace the traditional chalk board in use until that time. His comments were not taken very seriously and, being the entrepreneur he was, he left the company and started his own company, Magiboards, selling enamel steel whiteboards.

35

9 October, 2016

tribunechurch

Sunday Tribune With Rita Okonoboh tribunechurch@gmail.com tribunechurch@yahoo.com 08053789087

God told me it is impossible to fill my father’s shoes

—Bishop Idahosa

Founder of Church of God Mission International, Archbishop Benson Idahosa (of blessed memory), is popularly referred to as the father of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. His only son, Bishop F.E.B. Idahosa, who is the President, Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Founder/President of Big Ben’s Children Hospital, Vice-President of All Nations For Christ Bible Institute International, among other positions, speaks with RITA OKONOBOH on the challenge of filling his father’s shoes, how faith-based education can engender development, among other issues.

T

HE history of the church in Nigeria, and by extension, West Africa, would be incomplete without mentioning the Idahosa family. How would you describe your growing up years as a member of the family?

I enjoyed growing up in the era when the fire of revival came to Nigeria. I grew up seeing God’s power at work firsthand; I remember attending the Ibadan crusade with my father and seeing the power of God manifest in many different ways. Looking back, I am grateful to God for that legacy because it was a good experience for me.

People ask me if I grew up seeing my father perform miracles in the house, and I respond saying that we were a normal family and I had a normal childhood. My sisters and I played as children; when you were good, you were rewarded, when you did something bad, you got spanked.

What peculiar challenges came with the fact that you were the son of Archbishop Benson Idahosa?

One thing I remember was wanting to be anonymous. With parents who were well known, people had their expectations of what their son should and shouldn’t do. There were challenges as well as there were upsides. For instance, I remember in the late 70s when the Oba of Benin passed away and there was an order for all men to shave their heads. My father said in church that we’re God’s children who don’t bow to traditions that were not from God and so we shouldn’t have to shave our heads. I remember going to school for those few weeks and every boy had his head shaved except me. At that point, I would have loved to be anonymous (and be normal like the other boys) but I understood what was happening from a Christian perspective. I remember being the odd man out, so to speak, but it gave me a chance to help people understand my beliefs as a Christian.

What are some things people don’t know about Archbishop Benson Idahosa?

One thing people may not know about my father was that he used to cook once in a

while. He also loved boxing and his favourite boxer was Muhammad Ali. He must have had about 20 VHS tapes of Ali’s fights and he usually watched boxing with us.

How easy has it been to fill your father’s shoes and create an identity for yourself?

When I first became a minister (I had just turned 25 years old), I kept thinking that I had to be just like my father. I remember sometimes I would try to preach the way he did or even speak the way he spoke. A couple of years before he died, I was already speaking with my own voice, but when he passed away, I remember thinking that everyone expected me to be like him. So, I tried to change to become like him and after a while, I realised that I was losing my identity and I wasn’t becoming him either.

One day, God spoke to me telling me that I wasn’t supposed to fill my father’s shoes, but rather, I was meant to create my own shoes. The anointing that was upon my father was for a time and generation, and God’s vision for me was to carry on the legacy but in a way that He would reveal to me–not to be my father or try to talk like my father. He told me that He would inspire me and give me the message to preach. So, filling his shoes is not something I try to do anymore because I realised that he was sent to this generation for a time and season, to bring Nigeria out of the place where it was called a dark continent, to bring this brand of pentecostalism and the charismatic gospel into Nigeria. Now, we’re blessed to have so many “sons of Idahosa” who are carrying on that legacy in different dimensions.

How were you able to assist your mother in those years after he passed on?

God gave my mother tremendous strength

It is unfair to assess Buhari’s administration Pg36 now —Kumuyi

during that time to do what she did. After my father passed away, she took some time off to pray and hear from God on what to do because her first instinct was to concentrate on her children. However, God had different plans for her and He spoke to her about what He wanted her to do with the ministry.

She spent some time away, then came back with the mission and a fire greater than before, which God gave her. Before that time, we had been operating with the mandate of evangelism as our supreme task and God expanded it to the next phase of the ministry which we are now in. We have seen the ministry grow in the past 18 years and it is a testimony to the fact that God always has plans because He is the ultimate strategist.

How easy was leaving the stethoscope for the pulpit?

It was a bit difficult because I had wanted to be a doctor for most of my life. I think God prepared me for that because before I entered medical school, I spent nine months in our hospital, Faith Mediplex, shadowing doctors to observe and learn about what my future would be like. I had just finished pre-med and my Masters in Public Health so it was a good start. When I went to medical school however, God began speaking to me about a different direction for my life and I was wondering how that would work.

A few months after that though, my father passed away, and it became clear what God wanted for my future. I took a year off medical school and came home to assist with and see what the next steps in my life would be.

After one year had elapsed, it was clear that ministry was my calling. So, I returned to

I’m leaving a better Ile-Oluji diocese Pg37 —Bishop Adekunle

the UK, officially pulled out of med school, and I went from being a doctor of the physical to being the doctor of the spiritual.

How did you arrive at the decision to go transatlantic to find a wife?

The decision for marriage should not be based on pressure from outside but on making a conscious choice regarding the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, based on compatibility and how you see your future together. Having said that, I must say that I didn’t deliberately search across the Atlantic for my wife. My wife and I met when we were teens (13 and 14) and have been friends since. The year before we got married, we spent some time together and I realised that she was someone I had known my whole life who had the same interests, ideals and passion I had and I could see our future together. Because we had been friends for so long, it was an easier decision.

BIU can be said to be the oldest private faith-based institution in Nigeria. How would you say faith-based institutions have contributed to allround development?

I think faith-based institutions have done very well. We come into the arena with the mindset of raising a generation that will affect the nation positively. BIU, like other faith-based institutions, adds the element of Christianity into our teaching because we realise that we cannot come into a society and leave it the same way. My father always Continues on pg37

Incurring debt over wedding ceremony is ungodly Pg36 —Mrs Adeboye

36

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune With Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 08074497425

churchnews

It is unfair to assess Buhari’s administration now —Kumuyi Jude Ossai - Enugu

T

HE General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has called on Nigerians to be patient with the present administration, saying it is too early to assess President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Pastor Kumuyi, who spoke with newsmen at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport,

Enugu State, on Thursday, said the present economic recession was a passing phase in the nation’s life, stressing that what Nigerians needed was to change their attitude and come

closer to God. “It is not fair to assess the present administration.

It is too early. We have to wait until the end of the administration, then we can sit down and give proper

judgment. What is needed now is full cooperation and prayers for our leaders,” he added.

Pastor Kumuyi, who said he was in Enugu in continuation of his crusade in the

South-East, called on Nigerians not to lose faith in God. “Nigeria is a great country.

We have abundant human and natural resources. We should join hands to build it

NCC ‘walks for Jesus’

Incurring debt over wedding ceremony is ungodly

By Seyi Sokoya AS part of efforts to celebrate the Independence Day in a unique way, clerics and members of New Covenant Church in Ibadan, Oyo State, stormed the city and interior of Ibadan to propagate the gospel and spread the message of hope.

The evangelism rally entitled: “Grace for a New Nation” took off from one of the church’s branches along Ojoo express road and and went through Bashorun, Gate, Oje, Bere among other parts of Ibadan.

The rally, which witnessed displays of biblical and moral inscriptions, was the cynosure of all eyes as church members also preached, sang and distributed tracts.

The rally did not leave out children as they were delighted to join the long trek and carried placards indicating various inscriptions.

Speaking on what prompted the initiative, Conference Pastor of Old Ife Road branch of the church, Reverend Emmanuel Falodun, noted that it was part of the church’s effort across the state to celebrate the Independence anniversary in a special way.

He added that, “this has become an annual event and we are happy that this year recorded another success. We don’t want people to be carried away with the fun and jamboree, but to deduce from the messages of Christ we are passing across.

“Nigeria a great nation and it is the responsibility of all the citizens to make things right. We will soon survive and overcome the current challenges and we will rise again as a nation.”

to the glory of God,” he said.

On his crusade, Pastor Kumuyi said that there would be deliverance and miracles during the crusade that will cut across South-East in the next few days.

“Our Lord, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Solution has come as the prophecy is meant to deliver many from physical and spiritual bondage,” he noted.

Pastor Kumuyi is expected to visit Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states during the crusade.

Archbishop of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese, Most Reverend Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin (middle) with the newly ordained priests, Reverend Father Raphel Agbaje (left) and Reverend Father Paul Anigboro, during the ordination held at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State, recently.

Christian faithful of the New Covenant Church, during the 2016 Walk for Jesus as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 56th Independence anniversary.

God’s word, source of comfort for families —Cleric

By Olaide Sokoya “The word of God is not something abstract but rather, a source of comfort and companionship for every human family.”

These were the words of Reverend Father Felix Adedigba during the priestly ordination held at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State.

In his homily, Adedigba challenged pastors to take advantage of occasions of marriage and reception of sacraments to remind couples on the ideals of Christian marriage.

He admonished pastors not to judge people or impose norms without considering people’s challenges.

He further stated that the church had often been on the defensive, and in the teaching of the doctrine, placed emphasis such that

“many people feel that the church’s message on marriage and the family does not clearly reflect the preaching and attitude of Jesus, who set forth a demanding ideal yet never

failed to show compassion and closeness to the frailty of individuals.”

Adedigba also challenged all clerics on the need to have pastoral sensitivity to issues regarding mar-

riages.

Citing the example of Jesus, he urged them not to be rigid and legalistic in pastoring but to be merciful in applying marriage laws.

Apostolic Church alumni set to lay foundation of permanent worship centre Bola Badmus - Lagos THE Apostolic Church Students’ Fellowship of Nigeria (TACSFON), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, will hold its 2016 annual alumni reunion with the laying of the foundation for the fellowship’s permanent site.

TACSFON has scheduled the reunion to hold between October 14 and 16, at the institution.

The fellowship’s reunion committee spokesperson, Mr Ezekiel Ayeni, made

this known in a statement, saying the gathering is an all-encompassing event that would also stimulate mentoring between the alumni and students on campus.

According to him, the three-day event has the theme, “Back to Bethel,” pointing out that the annual alumni reunion conference had always been a rallying point where all the alumni of the fellowship in Nigeria and in Diaspora gathered once a year on campus for spiri-

tual and physical rejuvenation.

“There shall be diverse degrees of divine encounters during this year’s conference. Brethren will relive old memories in a very special atmosphere,” Ayeni said.

“With a number of renowned clerics billed to minister at the reunion, other activities lined up include drama, mentoring session, novelty match, variety night, faith clinic, among others,” he added.

—Adeboye

EbenezerAdurokiya-Warri WIFE of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye, has rolled out tips on how youths can achieve good homes.

Speaking on the theme: “Vessel unto Honour” at the 2016 RCCG Youth and Young Adults Convention last week at the Redemption Camp along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Mrs Adeboye, charged the youth to have a good knowledge of their future partner before going into marriage.

She also advised them to carry their pastors and parents along, and attend marriage counseling before going to the altar.

She enjoined youths to desist from elaborate wedding ceremonies particularly in the face of financial constraints, saying incurring debt over wedding was ungodly.

According to her, setting up a home on the foundation of debts is unreasonable and could sink the relationship.

She urged couples to love and submit to one another, live holy, enjoy good social life, appreciate and seek one another’s progress as well as avoid extramarital affairs.

Respect and honour to one another’s parents should be a watchword among couples, Adeboye noted, adding that wives should cut down their expenditure to meet the financial capability of their husbands.

37 tribunechurch

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

I am leaving a better Ile-Oluji diocese —Bishop Adekunle

Retiring bishop of Ile-Oluji Anglican Diocese, Ondo State, Right Reverend Samson Olusegun Adekunle, tells RITA OKONOBOH how it feels retiring from active ministry as he clocks 70, his take on politicians and the electorate and his advice for clerics on starting and ending well in ministry.

A

S the pioneer bishop of Ile-Oluji diocese, what are some of your achievements and how would you say the diocese has evolved in the past seven years of its creation?

We thank God because we have progressed according to our ability and we have cause to thank God for what He has done in the life of the diocese. When we came on board, there was no infrastructure on ground as it were. However, with the prayers and cooperation of the people, things started picking up. With time, we were able to construct an ultramodern Bishop’s Court, an administrative building which includes a chapel, chaplain’s house, among others. In fact, the primary school established by the Women’s Organisation a few years ago, was given the approval of the Ondo State government last week.

About four churches were also started and completed, and when you consider the population of the area, that is quite commendable.

What challenges did you experience as bishop of Ile-Oluji diocese?

As a pioneer bishop, there were so many challenges. There was no money, so we had to raise funds by appealing to people. However, we thank God for the achievements so far because there was no time we called on people for support that we didn’t get. We also used the opportunity for burials, birthdays and other celebrations to get support from people who came to the diocese for such events.

What is your greatest testi-

mony?

It is that I am leaving the diocese better than I met it. Membership has increased and we have worked to increase understanding of the word of God. The priests are doing very well, especially in evangelism and the people have been very supportive. The cathedral is now a place to reckon with.

Memorable moments in IleOluji diocese?

I have enjoyed the support of the people and the establishment of the younger churches. I have no regrets coming to Ile-Oluji diocese, in spite of the challenges. As a leader, you can’t please everybody.

Now, you’re retiring, what would you miss about being in active ministry?

Firstly, I’ll be happy that I’ll be comfortable, that is, I will be able to rest (laughs). I was just discussing with the bishop who will succeed me and we were talking about the series of meetings a bishop has to attend, among other commitments. Now, I’ll have more time to enjoy family life. Also, I can be closer to my grandchildren.

How does it feel clocking 70?

It is the grace of God. When I look back at my life, I feel happy and grateful to God that He has led me so far. I feel fulfilled.

When you look back at the past 70 years, if you could, what would you change about yourself?

As a person, I’m a disciplinarian because of the influence of those who mentored me such as Bishop

Akintayo, Bishop Adegbola (of blessed memory). I cherish their disciplined life. I would still want to be a very disciplined person.

What is your advice for the new bishop and the congregation as you retire?

They should move forward. They should build on the foundation which we have been able to lay by the grace of God, and support the work of evangelism. The sky is the limit.

Ondo State is preparing for election next month. How would you advise the electorate on making the right choice?

I would advise the electorate to choose well. Only God knows who the next governor is. In the charge at the last synod, we appealed to the electorate in Ondo State to do the right thing. We pray for a peaceful and successful gubernatorial election. Like I said, we cannot predict. See what is happening in the APC. Who could have predicted? It is not easy to predict these people. Only one person will be governor at the end of the day.

Like Jesus said, there’s no one who is good. Of all of them, I haven’t seen any one of the politicians who is good. They are a disappointment.

You referred to the politicians as a disappointment.

How would you advise them on becoming better leaders?

They should shun selfishness and the attitude of saying ‘I.’ Even those politicians who claim to be Christians, what do they have to show for it? Nobody wants to be

Even those politicians who claim to be Christians, what do they have to show for it? humble. Twenty-four people want to be governor of one state. The situation of things is not palatable.

They should embrace the example of the cross.

creator of Nigeria and He won’t allow us to perish. He will give us an ark like Noah to float and this country will soon float above recession.

How would you advise government on ending the current economic recession?

They should continue to make efforts at revamping the economy.

You started well as a cleric and now as you retire, you are ending well. How would you advise clerics on ending well?

They should focus on Christ and ensure they fulfil their calling because being a cleric is not a profession, but a vocation, that is, a calling. So, clerics who have taken the decision to leave everything and follow Christ should be faithful to that call. Clerics should be more aggressive in spiritual life, rather than for material things.

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria stated recently that Christianity is under siege. With your experience as a cleric, how would you react to that statement?

That is his opinion and I don’t have any comment on that. I know that Christ is the anchor. God is the

‘I dropped the stethoscope for the pulpit’ Continued from pg35

told us that if you came into the earth and leave it the way you met it, it would be better you weren’t born at all. Many faith-based institutions are based on the ideologies of Archbishop Benson Idahosa because he always wanted them to do well and do better than he did and thankfully we’re seeing tremendous growth in faith-based institutions. At BIU, we want to change Nigeria for the better. We want to raise academics, entrepreneurs and professionals who will excel in their fields and thus be effective disciples for Christ in the fields they enter, by God’s grace. It is those coming after us that can change the nation and that is why we are doing our part to train them and I think other faith-based universities are doing the same thing – making a difference in the nation to create a better future for our children and children’s children.

Concerns have always been raised about the high cost of faith-based institutions. What steps have you taken to make BIU accessible to all?

That’s one of the conundrums we face. The truth is, university education in general is expensive. Government-owned institutions don’t seem as expensive because the government subsidises them. At BIU, we pay every worker the same rate as federal and state universities, all without subsidies, so our costs are higher than those schools. However, we provide discounts for our members that are a part of the ministry. These discounts offer several courses at the uni-

versity for N150,000, which I know is cheaper than the cost at many federal universities. We also give out scholarships to those deserving of it. Our chancellor, Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, spends millions of naira every year sponsoring many through the university. The Idahosa Foundation also has a budget dedicated to providing scholarships. We also have other people we reach out to sponsor students.

These scholarships are open to people within and outside the ministry.

You appear to be the youngest president to run a university. What are some challenges you have faced?

I think the phrase ‘run a university’ is a bit of a misnomer.

Leadership is about working with great people, that is, hiring the best to do what they do best. So, I don’t necessarily run the university. We have a great vice chancellor, deputy vice chancellor, professors and other members of staff. We hire and look for the best people so that when they come together, they help to make the university what it is and is aspiring to be. My job as the president really is to direct the vision, I sit with the management team to work out a template to run with and they make it happen.

It appears that the Idahosa family is a family of clerics. Do you think your children will follow in that direction?

I joke sometimes that when God calls you, He calls your whole family. I teach my children to follow in the footsteps of being generation changers because of the legacy they’ve

been exposed to. It may not necessarily be on the pulpit but they will be somewhere affecting lives positively, building legacies, changing destinies for the better and affecting the future of their nation. That is the best legacy you can leave for your children.

The Idahosa family is credited for making pentecostalism popular in Nigeria. Interestingly, your family has not been popular for negative reports, but it is not uncommon to hear of mega pastors involved in scandals relating to marriage, church leadership and the like. How do such reports make you feel?

We’re grateful for the grace of God because it could be any one of us. It’s not because we’re so great or so special.

We are all humans but God’s grace is what we are sheltered under. My father used to say that Christians are the only army that shoot their wounded. He would go to someone who had fallen and always attempt to restore that person to ministry. We shouldn’t condemn, rather, we should look at what we can do to bring people back. Judas and Peter both betrayed Christ in terrible ways. One came back for forgiveness and was forgiven but the other thought there was no way he could ever be forgiven so he killed himself. Imagine if Judas had come to Christ for forgiveness, Christ would have forgiven him. So, Christ doesn’t look at one sin as heavier than the other. After Christ forgave Peter, he used him to perform the greatest miracle of salvation. Anyone that falls can be restored and God can still use that person to do great things.

38 tribunechurch

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

I’ve witnessed raising the dead, making the lame walk —Apostle Alli Apostle (Dr) Oluleye Alli is the founder and pastor-in-charge of Shelter Rock International Christian Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State. In this interview by OLAIDE SOKOYA, the Veterinary Doctor turned cleric talks about his journey into the ministry and what government should to do to foster peace.

W

bles, satellites, with which we can reach out to millions of people at once, unlike what obtained in those days, in which we used microphones to go round for evangelism.

HAT was growing up like?

I grew up at Oja’ba, Ibadan, Oyo State and had a very humble background. I attended Omolewa Nursery and Primary School and later proceeded to St. Patrick Grammar School, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan. I had my first degree in verterinary medicine and masters in veterinary public health both from the University of Ibadan. I practised as a vet doctor for some years and have always been involved in ministry.

Nigeria clocked 56 recently. How would you assess the journey so far?

I have been privileged to understand that it is time for Nigeria to grow. We have our challenges as a nation in the spheres of economy, politics, education, religion, home, society, among others. I want us to believe that every challenge that can be surmounted because the issue we always have in Nigeria is that of leadership. The problem we have as followers is we believe that leadership is all about positions of authority and we don’t believe that leadership starts with the self. Everybody, one way or the other, has a sphere of influence whereby we lead people and it is the people that make a nation. So, if we can control ourselves and lead ourselves right, this nation will move forward.

How did you find yourself in full-time ministry?

My journey into ministry has been very wonderful. I got born-again in 1990 and then I had an encounter with the Lord where He told me what my purpose in life would be.

After that, I started getting involved in Christian organisations in school; I was a pastor in a thriving fellowship for so many years. When I went to for my youth service in Jalingo, Taraba State, I was privileged to pastor a group of corps members. Afterwards, because I had been involved in some ministries all along, I was able to serve in two or three churches, sometimes as an assistant pastor. So, before I settled down full-time, I had been preaching.

How long have you been in the ministry?

Generally, I have been in ministry for over 20 years.

However, it’s been eight years now since I established my ministry.

How have you been able to overcome the challenges you have faced as a cleric?

With the fact that the ministry is still young, there have been a lot of challenges. Everything stops at your table; you are responsible for everything and this also involves managing people and you know dealing with a lot of people requires patience. It takes a lot of time for people to grow. The issue of finance has also been a challenge. However, in spite of everything, we have been trusting in God. What is your greatest testimony since you started this ministry?

I will say the greatest testimony is that God has been tremendous. There has been so many testimonies like the dead being raised; I have practically witnessed the lame walk. However, the greatest testimony is changed lives.

We have what is called fulfillment, that is, when people fulfill the purpose of God in their lives and they can say they have been blessed by the ministry. To me that is the great-

est testimony; bringing people to the home of Jesus Christ to become born-again and seeing their lives changing.

With your experience as a cleric, how would you compare Christianity then and now?

Of course, the church has its challenges but in Christianity then, there was much commitment and dedication.

Then, we were not involved in the ministry for personal gain. However, now that things are changing constantly, there is a lot of demand due to the economic situation. I believe for some people, that is the root of their commitment to God. But I still believe that these clerics should teach the people more about how they can be committed to the Lord, not just about being involved. We see so much involvement but not so much commitment. But however, now, people are still very committed and of course, these days are even better than some aspects of the earlier times, in the sense that now there is a lot of technology such as the social media and also private television stations, ca-

What is your take on the current economic recession in Nigeria?

Nobody is happy because it is affecting everybody. We believe that there is a God and I believe that God is the one that controls the affairs of men. But things have not been so easy for people. People are finding things difficult in different sectors of the economy and I believe that government should proffer workable economic policies. The only thing we can do is to trust God and we shouldn’t make it a point of prayer alone. People that have should not forget those that don’t have at this particular point in time and be a blessing to them. Also, government should do a lot to empower people and invest in infrastructure. If we can do so much of empowering in a nation like Nigeria, where government can create a conducive environment for business and foreign investment, things will get better.

What is your advice to Christians?

My advice to all Christians is that we should first know that we are Christians. The Bible says that we are called at once and we should not just be Christians in words alone but we should be Christians in deed. We should be Christians to our neighbours because they read us first before they read the Bible. And the Bible says that we are supposed to be the light, salt and development of the world by living according to what the Bible says. And of course, serving God is knowing that it does not just end here. Lastly, we should be good ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

BSN charges clerics on national development

By Rita Okonoboh CLERICS have been called to use their relationship with political leaders for positive development.

The call was made at the 56th Indepen-

dence anniversary celebration of the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) held at Christ Apostolic Church, Olugbode, Odo-Ona, Ibadan, Oyo State, last week.

With the theme, “Finishing Strong,” the Chairman, BSN, Oyo Area, Pastor Olu

Executives and members of the Bible Society of Nigeria cutting the cake as part of activities marking the Independence celebration.

Makinwa, while appreciating the efforts of the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe and others, charged clerics to use their positions to better the nation.

In his sermon, Pastor J.D. Onaguwa noted that ministers of God were responsible for the state of the nation, because according to him, “if people in political positions are corrupt, it is because clerics have given them permission by virtue of association and the refusal to rebuke them for wrongdoing.”

Pastor Onaguwa, who cited biblical examples, stated that it didn’t matter how a person started, but how well the person ended.

He urged clerics to be faithful to their calling even in times of trial as their actions even in private will determine their destiny.

The event featured prayer sessions for the nation and for the spread of the gospel.

‘Gospel artistes must be focused on their calling’ GOSPEL musician, Deaconess Opeoluwa Orobiyi, who began her musical career over two decades ago has charged other gospel artistes to be focused in their musical journey.

Speaking at the OmoObaEledua welcome back praise event tagged “Royal

Dance,” held at De Heptagon Events Palace, Lagos State, last Sunday, she said a lot of gospel artistes had deviated from gospel to secular music so as to become famous.

She urged gospel musicians to be focused and always listen to the spirit of

God in order to operate properly in this world.

A guest speaker at the programme, Pastor Chris Emeka Isaac of the Empowered Saint Ministry, Lagos, said Deaconess Orobiyi was a great woman of God and a blessing to the body of Christ.

Only God’s word can bring real change —Oyakhilome

Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri PRESIDENT of Christ Embassy worldwide, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has said only the word of God can bring the desired change Nigerians were longing for.

He disclosed this during a press conference at the zonal headquarters of the church in Warri, Delta State, to herald the Independence anniversary edition of the annual Reachout Nigeria.

The cleric, represented by Pastor Yomi Morakinyo, Deaconess Amaka Morakinyo and Pastor Paul Omigie, noted that only the transformation of the mind through obedience to the word of God could bring actual change to the country.

He also stated that the October Reachout would witness the establishment of a skills acquisition training centre for female inmates at the Okere Prisons, Warri, and a food kitchen at Inner City Locations in Warri and environs.

The representatives, who were also standing in for Pastor Siji Dara, the head of the zone, added that within the last three years, the church in Warri had returned no fewer than 60,000 street urchins to schools.

39

tribunechurch

9 October, 2016

livingword

dawnofanewera with Most Revd J.O. Akinfenwa

By Bishop David Oyedepo Call 7747546-8; or e-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

Bishop of Ibadan Anglican Diocese

Encounter with the power of the Holy Spirit for exploits! (2) LAST week, we established that though every redeemed child of God is ordained for exploits on earth, without the empowerment of the Holy Ghost, he/she cannot accomplish same. In this week’s teaching, let’s first recognise that the Holy Spirit is a multi-dimensional Spirit, Who manifests in diverse operations to empower the saints for exploits (1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Isaiah 61:1-7; Zechariah 4:1-6; Ephesians 4:4-5; 1 John 5:7).

Let’s examine one of these operational dimensions of the Holy Ghost that engender exploits.

The Spirit of vision: ‘Vision’ here connotes the unveiling of divine plan as it relates to us. The Holy Ghost is the Custodian of God’s plans and purposes for the believer. He receives it from the Father and shows it to us.

Thus, the Holy Spirit is the One Who guides our steps into the future that God has ordained for us (John 16:13-14; Acts 2:17).

When God leads: • He goes before the led: When God leads, He goes before us to clear off the barriers on our paths (Exodus 23:20; Isaiah 45:1-3; John 10:4-5).

He goes with the led: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20; see also Romans 8:31; Hebrews 13:5).

He works with the led: And they went

Recession and your talents (I) RECESSION is here with us and from the look of things recession is here to stay for quite some time. If that be the case what should be your attitude and approach. You can decide to just let go and just flow with the tide or you can decide to be proactive and do certain things that will make you ride above the storm. Recession provides us an opportunity to reflect but the reflection must be accurate.

“Ego-identification with things creates attachment to things, which in turn creates our consumer society and economic structures where the only measure of progress is always more. The unchecked striving for more, for endless growth, is a dysfunction and a disease. It is the same dysfunction the cancerous cell manifests, whose only goal is to multiply itself, unaware that it is bringing about its own destruction by destroying the organism of which it is a part. Some economists are so attached to the notion of growth that they can’t let go of that word, so they refer to recession as a time of “negative growth”. Eckhart Tolle You must not be blinded by the negativity in the air. You cannot afford to be guided by the so much talk of scarcity and the need to cut back that you shut off all possibility of making your life count. Much as you need to cut back on your excesses you must not cut back on your creativity.

It is people who can think creatively out of the box in these critical times that will thrive and not just survive. This is the time to have all hands on deck and take certain critical decisions to avoid being unduly affected by recession.

This is the time to look inwards to see what you have that can be developed to help you out. Beloved, things are not as bad as they seem. There are a lot of things within and around us that can be put to maximum use at this critical time. These are the times to have open eyes and open ears.

Locked up inside every man are poten-

Sunday Tribune

forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following (Mark 16:20; see also 1 Corinthians 3:6-8).

He works through the led: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (John 14:10; see also Philippians 2:13).

He works for the led: It is written: Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

He renders the enemies helpless before the led (Psalms 23:1, 5).

No doubt, walking in God’s plan empowers us for exploits and makes us living wonders on earth; however, one must first be born again before he/she can access the plan and fulfill same (Isaiah 45:1-2; Joel 2:111, 28-29). Are you born again? This means, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If you haven’t, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”

For further reading, please get my books: Understanding Vision, In Pursuit of Vision, Anointing for Breakthrough, Understanding the Anointing, Anointing for Exploits and Release of Power. I will continue this teaching next week.

Your Life Counts

Salt and Light IT is another day of the Lord, and it is also another valuable opportunity to appear in His sanctuary and give Him thanks for His love and benevolence. The Psalmist says, Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Psalms 73:1 If we look well enough, we shall all recognize definite things worthy of appreciation that God has done for us. All of such divine benevolence is evidence that God is good to us. Let us thank Him always. Let us thank Him today. Let us come into His sanctuary to worship Him with a sense of gratitude.

Why did God bless us so much? God blessed us so much so that we can become a blessing. He fills our cups to overflowing so that others may drink from the surplus.

That is what we see in God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12. God said He would bless Abraham, and make Abraham a blessing; so that other nations of the earth could be blessed through him. Our Lord also broached this topic while teaching on the Mount of Olives. He said: Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine

before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Each child of God should therefore be a channel of divine blessing. Each one of us should have his/her areas of direct positive impact on the world. Each one of us should be doing something to make the world a better place. When people encounter us, they should get a feeling, at least, that the encounter made their lives better.

These salt and light functions of the believer touch the world most emphatically through social action. Therefore, as we claim to have faith in Jesus Christ, that faith should lead us into actions and initiatives that have positive social impact.

In Matthew 25: 31 - 46, our Lord showed us the value of doing good to others and helping the needy. Jesus Christ taught that doing good to others is sacred duty. If we help the needy, if we act as salt and light to the world, then and then only are we acting true to our calling as children of God. As you go out into the world this week, look out for ways to be a blessing to humanity. Look out for ways to help people in need.

Helping others is proof that you are a member of God’s kingdom. The help you render to others may as well be the ladder you shall climb upon on your riseinto the place of divine affirmation. Be salt and light to someone in need this week.

God bless you.

theapostolicmessage

by Tunde Jaiyebo 0803 406 2013

tials, talents and gifts yearning to be discovered, developed and deployed, recession notwithstanding. We will have a look at the issue of talents as they are great tools that if well utilized can be a bailout in this recession.

There is no human being that does not have one talent or the other. “Everyone has talent. What’s rare is the courage to follow it to the dark places where it leads.” Erica Jong Every living person on the surface of this earth is endowed with some invaluable resources that will not only benefit them but also make them stand on a pedestal where they will be tremendous blessing to others.

If you can discover and maximize the talents that you have it will make a lot of difference not only to you but also to others in these hard times.

Many times the true source of suffering is not the absence of physical resources or the inability of the government to provide conducive social/economic environments but rather it is that people have underutilized the hidden resources in them. Many times people over-emphasized the outward at the expense of looking inwards. There nobody who does not have one talent or the other.

Every single human being has a certain amount of talent. Unless that talent is used to the best of our ability, twenty-four hours a day, ‘’every day of your life you deceive God, your family but above all yourself. This is what life is all about’’ George Allen.

The problem usually is that people do not know how to identify and in many cases they underestimate the true value of their talents.

To be continued next week

By Pastor (Dr) G.O. Olutola JP.

Grace for living Continued from last week The grace he had received from God was wrapped in God’s mercy as such we enjoyed God’s loving-kindness despite the sin he committed.

For one to grow in life, you need to abound in grace, live in grace. Another Bible character, Joseph succeeded because the grace of God was upon him. It gave him discrete spirit or wisdom that enabled him to get to the level he found himself. In the face of adversity and conspiracy by his brothers, grace made him to go through life as a successful man.

Wherever he was, he stood out. In the master’s house (Portiphar) he was in charge; in the prison he was made the head of the prisoners. It does not matter where you are, when the grace of God is released into your life, you must surely stand out in the crowd.

Daniel was a slave in Babylon yet grace made him to be preferred by the king among other satraps. He was the head of the 120 satraps and first of the three presidents (Daniel 6:1 – 3). Grace brought the duo: Joseph and Daniel, honour. Genesis 47:15–26 shows that in Egypt, aside being the king’s second in command, Joseph ruled beyond measure that the people depended on him more than the king.

Daniel in his own case saw the king making obeisance to him. “Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him” (Daniel 2:46).

Grace can also give insight that leads to creativity. It works out wisdom. Joseph

never studied Agronomy or Management but the grace of God in him enabled him to manage the economy of a whole Nation. The ingenuity and power of creativity were supplied by this grace (Genesis 41:47 – 49, 53 – 57). Without God’s grace, you operate in futility. The creativity that the Bible writes in Genesis 30:37 – 43 concerning Jacob had to do with the measure of grace upon his life. Genesis 25:23 confirms this grace that was shrouded in mercy on Jacob even when he was still in the mother’s womb.

Biographies of great men are awash with great success they made through the grace they received having accepted Christ into their lives. Such grace they received opened them to creativity. One of such persons is Michael Faraday.

Michael Faraday was as good as an illiterate. He had only primary education but when he had encounter with Jesus as a Laboratory Attendant (working with Humphrey Davies), in no time he became a vast reader of spiritual matters. He sharpened his spiritual mind on the spiritual rock of grace that brought him creative mind. He found an understanding life’s purpose by studying and believing the teachings of the Bible which made him grow in godliness.

He became a leading man of science. So devoted was he that he became an Elder in his church. Grace made him the investor of electricity and an outstanding physicist.

According to Proverbs 8:12, “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.”

New things, new life, new product, new strategies, good business, successful marriage are all possible through divine wisdom that grace supplies.

40

Sunday Tribune

9 October, 2016

language&style

by Samson Dare 0805 500 1770 samsonadare@yahoo.co.uk

g

rammar jokes

There and their (II)

T

HE second rule is that of the continuous or progressive tense. The rule is of the nature: be plus the ing form of the verb (ie is going; was singing; were washing; are training; etc). Let’s read the following sentences: 1a) The church is planning a one-week revival programme. (active sentence in the progressive tense) 1b) A one-week revival programme is beingplanned by the church. (passive sentence in the progressive tense) 2a) The people were distributing seditious pamphlets. (active sentence in the progressive tense) 2b) Seditious pamphlets were beingdistributed by the people. (passive sentence in the progressive tense) 3a) The scientists are examining the specimen. (active sentence in the progressive tense) 3b) The specimen is being examined by the scientists. (passive sentence in the progressive tense). 4a) The girl was washing the clothes. (active sentence in the progressive tense) 4b) The clothes were being washed by the girl. (the passive sentence in the progressive tense) 5a) The musician is composing new songs. (active sentence in the progressive tense) 5b) New songs are being composed by the musician. (passive sentence in the progressive tense) 6a) The lecturer isgrading the scripts. (active sentence in the progressive tense) 6b) The scripts are being graded by the lecturer. (passive sentence in the progressive tense.)

Now let’s have more examples from another effort in this place:structures: 1a) The Boko Haram insurgents have abducted over two hundred school girls. (active sentence) 1b) Over two hundred school girls have been abducted by Boko Haram insurgents. (passive sentence) 2a) Almost all the political parties have conducted primary elections. (active sentence) 2b) Primary elections have been conducted by almost all the political parties. (passive sentence) 3a) Armed robbers have taken over our cities. (active sentence) 3b) Our cities have been taken over by armed robbers. (passive sentence) 4a) Members of the National Conference had recommended fundamental changes in the constitution. (active sentence) 4b) Fundamental changes in the constitution had been recommended by members of the National Conference. (passive sentence).

5a) The police have arrested the criminal elements in the group. (active sentence). 5b) The criminal elements in the group have been arrested by the police. (passive sentence). 6a) The security agencies have addressed the issue of security challenges. (active sentence) 6b) The issue of security challenges has been addressed by the security agencies. (passive sentence) In each of the six pairs of sentences, both the active and the passive sentences are in the perfect tense: have plus the past participle. In addition, the passive sentence contains the form, been: have been, has been, and had been.

Furthermore, the form been can also occur in the following contexts: 1) You have been a wonderful host. 2) It has been an exciting experience. 3) It hasbeen some time! 4) She has been a little careless. 5) She has been somewhat unlucky in her choice of husband.

At this point we need to make a distinction between the forms been and being. The form being occurs in the context of the continuous or progressive tense within the passive structure. That is, two conditions are absolutely essential: the progressive/continuous tense and the passive

structure. The continuous/progressive tense is marked by: a relevant be form plus the ing form of the verb. Please note the final ing in the form being.

Now let’s read the following pairs of sentences: 1a) Farmers are harvesting yams. (active sentence) 1b) Yams are being harvested by farmers. (passive sentence) 2a) We were pursuing wrong ends. (active sentence) 2b) Wrong ends were being pursued by us. (passive sentence) 3a) The girls are writing a play. (active sentence) 3b) A play is being written by the girls. (passive sentence) 4a) The engineers are building new structures. (active sentence) 4b) New structures are being built by the engineers. (passive sentence) 5a) The pioneer workers are experiencing grave challenges. (active sentence) 5b) Grave challenges are being experienced by the pioneer workers. (passive sentence) 6a) Members of the committee were discussing the matter. (active sentence) 6b) The matter was being discussed by members of the committee. (passive sentence) Please note the following segments of the passive sentences: are being; were being; was being; is being.

It is mandatory for the word being to be preceded by: is, are, am, was, were. These are known as be-forms.

The word being can also occur in the following contexts: 1) The man is being unrealistic. 2) You are just being childish. 3) The politicians are simply being dishonest.

Even in these contexts, the word being is preceded by a relevant form of be. Let’s reiterate: The word been is regularly and invariably preceded by have-forms: havebeen; has been; had been. The word being is regularly and invariably preceded by the relevant forms of be: is being; are being; am being; was being; were being.

Let’s not forget that our starting-point is the defective structure: having being. From the discussion and illustrations so far, we should know that the structure should now be: having been.

Before leaving this point, it may be expedient to illustrate the usage of the form having: 1) Having been traumatized by the death of her husband, the woman does not seem inclined to re-marry soon. 2) Havingbeen dismissed from service, the man cannot take up any other job from any government establishment. 3) His licence having been withdrawn, the surgeon cannot practise in any part of the world. 4) Having been introduced to literary studies early in his educational career, the scholar has grown to love literature with a passion. 5) Having been born into a royal family, the prince understands perfectly how feudalism works. 6) Having been trained in one of the best universities in the world, the man demonstrates a scholarship that commands respect across the globe.

Now compare those structures with the following: 1) Being a civil servant, he cannot participant in partisan politics. 2) Being a born-again Christian, Mrs Adejoke will not share out of the bribe. 3) Being a fearless soldier, the man single-handedly fought the armed robbers. 4) Being nonnatives, we did not bother to apply for the loan. 5) Being the first child of the family, Adesanya spends all his earnings on his siblings. 6) Being a completely private and secret affair, sex is never discussed openly.

The two grammatical features of interest are: have/ has/had been and is/am/are/were being.

Even in these contexts, the word being is preceded by a relevant form of be. Let’s reiterate: The word been is regularly and invariably preceded by haveforms: havebeen; has been; had been. The word being is regularly and invariably preceded by the relevant forms of be: is being; are being; am being; was being; were being.

Source: Internet

Do you know these English words exist?

1. Absquatulate: To leave somewhere abruptly 2. Adscititious: Additional 3. Amphibology: A phrase or sentence that is grammatically ambiguous 4. Argute: Shrewd 5. Altic salt: Refined, incisive wit 6. Bibliopole: A person who buys and sells books 7. Borborygmus: A rumbling noise in the intestines 8. Breatharian: A person who believes that it is possible, through meditation, to reach a level of consciousness where one can exist on air alone 9. Bruxism: Involuntary grinding of the teeth 10. Cacoethes: An urge to do something inadvisable 11. Camisado: A military attack carried out at night 12. Canorous: Melodious or resonant 13. Catoptromancy: Foretelling the future by means of a mirror 14. Chalkdown: Teachers strike 15. Comminatory: Threatening, punitive or vengeful 16. Constellate: To gather together in a cluster or group 17. Degust: To taste food or drink carefully so as to fully appreciate it 18. Deterge: To cleanse something thoroughly 19. Disembogue: To emerge or pour out (used of a river or stream) 20. Divagate: To stray or digress Source: oxforddictionaries.com

41

news

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Regional trading’ll reduce poverty in Africa —Minister

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Washington DC

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun casting his vote at Ajura, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state, during the Local Government Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Olufunso Amosun casting her vote in Ajura, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state during the Local and Local Council Development Area elections on Saturday.

Government and Local Council Development Area elections on Saturday

One shot, PDP, UPN, LP kick as LG poll holds in Ogun Olayinka Olukoya -Abeokuta

A

member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) simply identified as Goodluck was reportedly shot during the local government election held across the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas in Ogun State on Saturday This is just as opposition political parties that par-

ticipated in the poll kicked against the conduct of the election and called for its cancellation.

The parties expressed their displeasure at the conduct of the poll. They claimed that the cancellation became necessary following what they described as violence, ballot box snatching and irregularities that characterised the election.

Speaking with newsmen

in Abeokuta on Saturday, the chairman of PDP in the state, Mr Sikirulai Ogundele, claimed that there were cases of snatching of ballot boxes as well as nonavailability of election materials Ogundele said that a member of his party, identified as Goodluck, who according to him “was trying to prevent ballot box snatching, was shot in the chest by some thugs at Il-

Over 1,500 train passengers stranded for 11 hours in Ibadan

By Tunde Ogunesan OVER 1,500 train passengers, on Saturday morning, protested their maltreatment by the staff of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) at the Ibadan terminus of the corporation, having been stranded at the terminus for over 11 hours.

The passengers informed Sunday Tribune that the train they boarded from Lagos on Friday afternoon at Iddo terminus was grounded at the Ibadan terminus since 8.00p.m. without adequate information by railway staff.

The train, according to investigation, left Iddo terminus on Friday afternoon around 1.00p.m. and arrived Ibadan terminus two and half hours behind schedule.

Some of the passengers who spoke with Sunday Tribune revealed that the train had technical problem before taking off from Lagos, adding that on arriving Ibadan, they were told that there was a derailment along Iwo rail

line axis.

According to them, the last time they were briefed by an officer of the corporation was around 11.00 p.m. on Friday that “a cargo train derailed along Iwo axis, promising that their engineers are working to fix it.

It was also gathered that the passengers got wind of their likely long stay at Dugbe terminus through some of the staffers of NRC who advised them to seek alternatives out of the situation.

One of the passengers also informed that since then, there had not been any further information

on the true situation of things. He added that all efforts at getting further information proved abortive as the officers of the corporation later allegedly ran away from the station before 8.00 a.m. on Saturday without any solution.

At the moment, hundreds of the passengers are waiting on the next line of action from NRC officials while several others were already considering alternatives as of the time of filing this report.

Apart from the delay, the passengers also complained of inadequate welfare services by the staff and management of NRC.

ara-Remo, in Remo North Local Government.”

The PDP chieftain alleged that the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGISIEC) allegedly created additional polling centres in strongholds of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC).

Also speaking on the outcome of the poll, the 2015 governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the state, Mr Rotimi Paseda, described the election as “deceit”.

His Labour Party counterpart, Mr Abayomi Arambambi, also called for the cancellation of the local government poll, saying “the election was marred by violence and irregularities.”

Paseda, who spoke at his Omu residence in Odogbolu Local Government after the election, said that election materials were not sufficient and that they had to travel to Odogbolu town to request for more materials.

“We cannot do anything else except to make our voice heard and show our dissatisfaction. As far as we in the UPN are concerned, this local government election has not been credible.”

Kogi kicks off N3.819bn road network Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

THE Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Saturday, kicked off the construction of N3. 819 billion road network in the Central Senatorial District of the state.

The governor said the move signalled renewed infrastructural development of the state.

The road networks, which are 18. 3 kilometres long, are Agassa-Ahache-Upogoro road, OgaminanaEbogogo-Eika road and Obehira-Ihima-Obangede road in Okene, Adavi and Okehi local government areas of the state.

Speaking at the event, the governor lamented the state of infrastructure, par-

ticularly roads across the three senatorial districts of the state.

He, however, said the new direction blueprint of his administration had taken note of the infrastructural decay in health, education and road in the state, adding that efforts would be made to rehabilitate dilapidated infrastructure in the state.

THE Zambian Minister of Finance, Mr. Felix Mutati, said the major factor responsible for the increasing level of poverty in Africa is the failure of African countries to trade with one another, adding that regional trading will scale down poverty on the continent.

According to a 2014 World Bank report, there are currently 414 milion poor people in Africa.

Mutati, who said this on Saturday in Washington on the sideline of the ongoing World Bank/IMF meetings, added that the volume of trade in Africa is in excess of $100 bilion which could grow by 20 per cent if African countries would take trading with one another more seriously.

He said this huge opportunity is ignored by African countries because of their fixation on Europe and the United States of America.

He, however, regretted that in spite of their fixation on Europe,not many African companies are able to do much business with Europe because of their failure to meet the standards of those countries.

He added, “The reality has come to dawn because of the complicated markets in the West. Let me give a specific example, Congo Democratic Republic. If Congo DR wants to trade with Zambia, the complications of trade are very minimal. Congo can export live cattle, live goats and even chickens to Zambia. There is no European country that will take that. “There is a community in Zambia known as Katanga, which is close to Congo DR. The community has a population of 12 million people which Congo DR can tap into because Zambia is unable to satisfy the market.

That is a huge market. But our mentality as Africans is that we want sophisticated market so that we can tell our children that we export to Europe.”

2015 polls were not perfect but better than past exercises —Jega Bola Badmus-Lagos

FORMER National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has said that the 2015 elections were not perfect, but pointed out that the exercise represented a remarkable departure from the country’s history of fraudulent elections.

Jega said this on Saturday in Lagos State while delivering a lecture at the 50th birthday ceremony of the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Muiz Banire, where notable Nigerians were in attendance, including Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his Jigawa State counterpart, Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Power, Housing and Works, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and his Solid Minerals counterpact, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chief Razaq Okoya, Prof. Oye Ibidapo Obe, among others.

Speaking on the theme, “Challenges and Prospects of Sustainable Credible Elections in Nigeria,” the former chairman of INEC, however, said there was need to check the excesses and recklessness of politicians, some of who he described as militricians, for the country to sustain its electoral prospects.

“No doubt, it is necessary to institutionalize credible elections in Nigeria, and to not allow a reversal from the gains made in 2015,” he said.

Traditional ruler blames oil pollution in Niger Delta on weak regulation Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa

SEQUEL to recurring cases of negligence leading to oil spillages and violation of rules of engagement with host communities, the paramount ruler of Ekpetiama kingdom in Yenagoa Local government Area of Bayelsa State, HRM, King Bubaraye Dakolo, has blamed widespread pollution of the Niger Delta environment to weak regulatory framework.

Dakolo expressed the view in his palace during an advocacy visit by environmental rights group, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN).

He noted that it was regrettable that the transnational oil firms with operations in many companies including their home countries comply with environmental procedures for sustainability of the environment but flout such rules in Nigeria.

“We are all witnesses to recent occurrences in the Gulf of Mexico and the steps taken to remediate the environment and compensate the victims but the same companies cannot do the same here because of weak regulations,” he said.

42

news

9 October, 2016

Group urges Nigerians to trust FG on economic recovery efforts

APC National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire, SAN and his wife, Olufunmilayo (both middle), surrounded by kids and staff of Bab-el-Salam Orphanage Home, Ikeja GRA, Lagos State, where he marked his 50th birthday recently.

Abductors of Lagos teachers, students reduce ransom to N30m Olalekan Olabulo and Tunde Alao-Lagos

K

IDNAPPERS of the abducted teachers and students of Lagos State Junior and Senior Model College, Igonla Epe, have reduced their ransom from N150 million to N30 million, just as indications emerge that the Nigeria Police have tracked the abductors.

A police source who confirmed the tracking of the abductors to the Sunday Tribune, however, said that the police are concerned about two things.

The police source who pleaded anonymity, said “we have actually tracked then to where they are at the moment. We are monitoring that area now.”

The source added that “we are very cautious because of the safety of those people.

The abductors may harm them or move them to a new location if they know that we are close to them.”

A relative of one the hostages, who was spoke on the school premises on Saturday afternoon, urged the state government to quickly intervene and negotiate with the abductors.

“This is a government school. The government should come to our aid,” he said.

The abductors are said to have insisted on N5m for each of the six hostages and reportedly warned that they were not going to bring the ransom down further.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Epe kingdom, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, has called on all residents in the state to be vigilant and support the state government in its effort to ensure the rescue of

Sunday Tribune

the kidnapped people.

The traditional ruler, while expressing his regret over the incident, urged the parents of the affected students and relations of the kidnapped teachers to remain calm,

stating that government and security agents would do everything possible to ensure their release.

“This is a sober moment for all of us. I am absolutely sure that God will

touch the mind of the abductors and our children and brothers in their grip will be released,” he said, adding that security agents would do all within their powers to ensure their early release.

APC plans own street protests in Edo

By Banji Aluko - Benin City THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, from this week, will take to the streets to counter the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) in public demonstration as the latter has been doing since the announcement of Godwin Obaseki of the APC as winner of the September 28 governorsip election in the

24 Nigerians die during Hajj as NAHCON concludes return airlift today

By Saheed Salawu THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will, today, conclude the airlift of 76,000 Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s Hajj back to the country, just as the commission also announced that 24 pilgrims died during the hajj period.

A statement by the commission’s Information Officer, Mousa Ubadanwaki, said the post-hajj movement of pilgrims back to the country would be concluded today with the airlift of the last batch of Kano pilgrims to Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

The development is coming eight days ahead of the October 17 deadline set by the Saudi Arabia authorities for the completion of the return of all pilgrims by the participating countries.

The commission confirmed that the number of dead Nigerian pilgrims

during the 2016 pilgrimage was a reduction compared to the rates of mortality that were usually recorded by the country in previous exercises.

It said there were usually records of no fewer than 45 deaths, most of which were attributed to natural causes.

The reduction in mortality was said to have been caused by “the efficient and harmonised” healthcare delivery of the NAHCON medical team.

Meanwhile, NAHCON has received commendations from individuals, groups and organisations, which described the feat as unprecedented in recent times.

The Saudi Arabia Deputy Minister of Hajj, Muhammed Bin Abdulrahman Bijawi, while commending NAHCON for its achievement, expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by the commission throughout the hajj exercise.

state.

Ever since the election results were announced on September 29, PDP had embarked on regular street protests against the results, including that of Friday that was led by the party’s candidate, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu.

Chairman of the Edo APC, Anselm Ojezua, who said this during the weekend, chided Ize-Iyamu for leading what he called contrived protest against the governor-elect. Mr. Obaseki, describing it as a show of shame.

He, however, mentioned that the APC members in the state would, from tomorrow (Monday) start a counter protest, adding that Ize-Iyamu lied when he said that the APC did not celebrate its electoral victory.

He said INEC kept faith to its guidelines for the election save for the postponement of the election from September 10 to September 28, remarking that “everything was done professionally within the timeline.”

“Yesterday, I saw a gentleman who claimed on television that election did not take place in the riverine areas.

“I am not from that area, but I know that person. He is not an Edo State indigene, neither is he resident in Edo.”

THE University of Lagos, Muslim Alumni (UMA) has expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon come out of the current economic recession with the sincerity of the Federal Government.

In a release signed by its National President, Alhaji Akeeb S. Oladokun, a copy of it which was made available to Sunday Tribune on Saturday, it stated that “it is the promise of the almighty Allah that ‘after adversity comes ease.”

While congratulating Muslims on the occasion of the new year 1438, Alhaji Oladokun urged Nigerians to be patient and allow the government to implement the change agenda aimed at turning the country around.

He said that human nature is usually initially averse to change, but the outcome of it is always more beneficial to all and sundry.

Annually, the celebration of the new Islamic year reminds us of the landmark achievement of Islam when the prophet overcame all hindrances, hatred and acrimonies and Islam eventually ruled the Arabian Peninsula. Thus, to all Muslims, whatever the current situation, it is always a passing moment,” he said.

The UMA is the umbrella body of all Muslim graduates form the University of Lagos, and is involved in several social responsibility activities including award of scholarships, entrepreneurial trainings, organization of socio-political programmes and spiritual activities.

IMF advises members to embrace flexible fiscal policy Dare Adekanmbi, Wasington DC AS part of measures to stimulate quick recovery from the current economic downturn, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised its members to embrace flexible fiscal policy and growth-enhancing public expenditure.

This advice was contained in a communique issued at the end of a meeting of the Financial Committee of the Fund in Washington D.C, United States, on Saturday.

This was just as it received fresh pledges of $360billion from 26 members to strengthen its lending capacity to low-income countries.

But the Fund said as global economic recovery continued to be slow and uneven, there was the possibility of slight recovery early next year “on account of emerging market economies.”

The international lending institution explained that the growth friendly policy, including prioritising high quality investment, was imperative.

It counselled further that public debt as share of Gross Domestic Product of countries should be on sustainable path.

“Appropriate and credible fiscal policies along these lines will support growth, job creation and confidence.

“Well-designed tax structures as well as income policies where appropriate can promote stronger growth, protect the vulnerable and reduce inequality,” the communique said in part.

NAHCO chairman resigns over health issue Shola Adekola-Lagos CITING the urgent need to attend to his health, the Chairman of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (nahcoaviance), Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, has resigned from the board.

With the resignation of Yahyah, the Vice Chairman, Mr. Denis Hasdenteufel, would take over the leadership of the board in an acting capacity and will preside over all meetings of the board pending the approval of regulators and further announcements from stakeholders.

Yahyah, who was appointed a director of the company in November 2006, became the chairman in July 2012.

Yahyah had in recent months come under mounting pressures from his family to step down to enable him undergo a proper medicare.

Credited with the strategic reorganisation of the company to its current modern status, Yahyah had been battling with an undisclosed health issue for a couple of years now.

43

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

44

news

9 October, 2016

Ondo poll: Owo teachers, oba drum support for Jegede, want continuity

T

EACHERS in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State have expressed support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), just as the Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, has defended the candidature of the PDP standard-bearer, hinging his support and that of his colleagues on the need for continuity.

Owo teachers, numbering 1,500, at the weekend, urged Jegede to be sure of their support, assuring him that there was no substance in a rumour that teachers in Ondo State were disenchanted.

Led by the Executive Secretary, Education, in the area, Chief Aro Olugbenga, the teachers, while addressing newsmen in Owo, said they were impressed by the developments witnessed in the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s administration, under which Jegede was Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General.

Olugbenga, who said teachers in Owo Local Government would personally embark on campaigns to ensure that Jegede won in the November 26 governorship election, called on parents to come out and vote for “the man who knows where the shoe pinches.”

“We all know that there is the need for continuity in Ondo State, and the man who will bring about that is Jegede, who is a product of good governance,” he said.

In a related development, Oba Olanipekun has dispelled rumour that Akoko people are bitter as none of the leading political parties fielded an Akoko indigene for governor.

Oba Olanipekun, who spoke while receiving Jegede in his palace, said Akokoland is dominated by educated and reasonable

people who know that a town of origin has no bearing with competence.

The monarch, who spoke in company with five other traditional rulers from other communities in the area, noted that what Akoko needs now is development, saying anger over which community produces the next governor has no relevance.

“It is true that we wanted to produce a governor from Akoko but we are not God. We have to accept the way things turned out and vote for a party where we will be relevant in Akoko. We have known Eyitayo Jegede for a long time and he is somebody we royal fathers can

approach,” the monarch said.

Oba Olanipekun, who assured Jegede of the support of all Akoko monarchs, urged him to give priority to youth employment and rural development.

He also enjoined him to see to the welfare of traditional rulers as they represent government at the grassroots level.

Speaking too, another monarch, the Owaage of Okeagbe, Oba Alex Jimoh, urged Jegede, upon his election, to adopt a permanent security measure to curtail the excesses of Fulani herdsmen that had constituted threat to farmers in his community.

MTN launches 4G LTE in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt NIGERIA’S quest to achieve the targeted 30 per cent National Broadband penetration by 2018 has received a major boost with the formal launch of MTN’s 4G LTE service, which had been operational for the past four weeks.

The event, which was held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on Thursday, was attended by several stakeholders including the Senate Committee Chairman on Communication, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, who represented the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

With the launch of the service, MTN subscribers can now enjoy optimised wireless 4G broadband and high-speed browsing experience which is the fastest and most futuristic mobile internet access available in Nigeria today.

According to MTN CEO, Ferdi Moolman, represented by MTN’s Chief Operating Officer, Mohammed Siddiqui, the deployment of MTN 4G LTE would not only enhance browsing experience across Nigeria, but

would also accelerate the achievement of the country’s targeted broadband penetration by 2018.

“We are excited to officially roll out MTN 4G LTE services to our esteemed customers. By leveraging on our network, it promises to be the widest LTE coverage in Nigeria. With the acquisition of the 2.6GHZ spectrum earlier this year, our objective was clear: to build capacity to accommodate 4G LTE for the benefit of Nigerians because it is the fastest wireless internet connection available today.

“In fulfilling that objective, we have embarked on aggressive optimisation of our sites to beef up our capacity for 4G LTE,” he stated.

Also speaking at the event, Nnaji commended MTN for investing in LTE and said the roll out of the technology would further give impetus to the National Assembly’s drive to provide legislature that will leverage technology to accelerate the growth of businesses in the country.

Gunmen kidnap Ekiti APC chieftain’s wife, demand N40m ransom Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti THE kidnappers of the wife of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Mr Ajibola Oyedele, popularly known as 50/50, have demanded a ransom of N40 million.

Oyedele said on Saturday evening that he was able to speak with his wife at about 5:45 p.m. since she was abducted late Friday night, and stated that the kidnappers claimed that he was their actual target.

Earlier on Saturday, Oyedele had said the incident

occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday at their home in Omuo Oke community in Ekiti East Local Government Area.

Oyedele, who did not respond to calls to his mobile telephone, had explained in a social media post that his wife surrendered to the kidnappers at gunpoint.

He said: “At gunpoint, my wife surrendered the key to our vehicle to the kidnappers and they drove her away to an unknown destination. We have not heard anything from her since the incident. All her lines are switched off.”

Oyedele, who defected to the APC in July this year, was a member of the last Ekiti State House of Assembly and was the only member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the assembly at its final stage.

He was appointed Special Assistant on Parliamentary Affairs by Governor Ayodele Fayose but resigned on May 31, 2016, citing poor remuneration.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Alberto Adeyemi, said the command had received the report of the kidnap.

Sunday Tribune

45

news

9 October, 2016

Withdrawal of forgery case against Saraki, welcome development —Tinubu

By Moses Alao

F

ORMER Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, has described the withdrawal of the forgery case against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as a “welcome development.”

Tinubu maintained that the withdrawal of the case was momentous because there was the need to bring the progressive change promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which would “require active and innovative governance.”

He urged Saraki to rededicate himself to “helping Nigeria win the greater war against

poverty, despair and failure.”

He noted that while Saraki and others involved might feel a sense of relief or vindication, it is no time to celebrate or believe all is well with the nation simply because all has turned out well for them on this matter.

“All is not well. Throughout the nation, the people stagger and groan under the weight of economic hardship. This government and our party must hear and respond to their plea. We must lead the way,” Tinubu said in a statement signed by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, on Saturday.

Noting that since the forgery charges had been found not to apply, it was good that they be dismissed so

that the National Assembly could focus on the important work of providing new legislation required to help pull the nation out of the economic mire.

The APC National Leader, who called for visionary legislation that would permanently reform Nigeria’s national economic architecture in order to promote the type of diverse, durable economic growth and employment that could ensure a stronger future and “better insulate the nation from the fragility inherent in basing the economic welfare of the nation on the global price of a single commodity,” stated that Nigerians had been looking up to the various arms of government “to per-

form their roles so that the country can walk the path of change and renewal.

“New legislation will be required to help pull the nation out of the economic mire,” Tinubu said, noting that since Saraki had been freed of legal liability in the forgery matter, he should devote himself to the pressing matters of the state.

He maintained that the National Assembly had, with the withdrawal of the case against its leadership, been presented with a unique opportunity “to reset its bearings and to focus on the real issues at hand,” because “history will not look kindly on those involved if they were to squander this fine chance.”

Sunday Tribune

Governor threatens to arrest herdsmen for wandering GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State has threatened to arrest herdsmen in the state who flout his directive of not wandering with their cattle around the state.

Umahi made the threat in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Saturday while inaugurating a committee to check disputes between communities and herdsmen, saying that he had given the last warning on the issue.

He said that the committee had an enormous task because of rampant cases of cattle moving around in the state and destroying crops and others agricultural produce.

“Cattle must be in one location and the owners should search for food to feed them because our lands are occupied with agricultural ventures,” he stated.

The governor said that he was an advocate of Ebonyi people living peacefully with the Fulanis, some of whom had been in the state for over 70 years.

“The issue is not where the herdsmen come from because I will resist the cattle movement even if they are owned by Ebonyi indigenes.

“I will readily offer assistance to the herdsmen to enable them keep the cattle at a place because I will hate to see the cattle eating the rice that I laboured to cultivate,” he said.

We are working on 14 roads in Bayelsa —NDDC Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa THE Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has called on the Bayelsa State government to desist from taking credit for ongoing emergency repairs and rehabilitation on 14 roads by the interventionist body, as it would amount to misleading the public in the state.

This is coming on the heels of the alleged claim by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Jonathan Obuebite, during a radio programme in Yenagoa that the state government was responsible for the ongoing repairs.

Contained in a statement signed by Bekee Anyalewechi, Special Assistant, Media/Communication to the acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, the commission described as untrue and shocking the claims by the Bayelsa State government that it was intervening on the roads.

Semenitari stated that the road repairs and rehabilitation covered the nine mandate states of the commission, and that it was intended to bring relief to the states.

Saraki: Kwara speaker urges FG to withdraw similar cases in courts From left, Secretary-General, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mr Mohammed Barkindo; Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor in charge of Economic Policy, Dr Sarah Alade and Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun after the G-24 Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors’ meeting in Washington D.C. on Saturday.

You cannot ban us, Shi’ites tell Kaduna govt Muhammadu SabiuKaduna THE Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as the Shi’ite, has said the movement cannot be banned as it is not an association or society, rather a global concept that canot be banned by fiat.

To this end, it rejected the

order declaring the movement as an unlawful society.

This was contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the sect, Ibrahim Musa on Saturday in Kaduna, while reacting to the ban by the Kaduna State government.

The statement read in part: “the Islamic Move-

ment in Nigeria (IMN) wishes to categorically make it clear to the general public that we vehemently reject such an order and declare it a flagrant infringement on our basic rights as citizens of this country to hold an opinion, associate freely without molestation. “ Making references to the

Why we are planning Northern summit —Ango Abdulahi Muhammadu SabiuKaduna THE Secretary of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi, has said the forum was planing to organise a Pan Northern summit to advise the Federal Government on steps to take in addressing the myriad of problems bedevilling the country.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna State on Saturday, the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University revealed that the forum would continue

to provide platforms in which they would be heard.

“As elders of the region, during the last dispensation, we were not silent on some issues bedevilling the region as well as the country. We made our voices heard especially during the campaign, now we also feel it is time we talk for the progress of the region and the country.

“If the North is shivering, by extension, the other region will catch cold. Quote me,” he stressed.

The one time Minister of Agriculture contended that ‘we still believe, we can in-

fluence events in the North and to an extend the country.”

According to him, former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, was the convener of the two-day event, slated to begin tomorrow and will attract dignitaries such as the NEF chairman, Mallam Adamu Fika; Paul Unongo; former speaker, Ghali Na’aba; Dr Junaid Mohammed; Cardinal Onaiyekan; Sultan of Sokoto; Northern CAN chairman; Hajiya Naajatu Mohammed, among others.

recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI), which it said the government based its stance on, the movement noted that “all the sections cited to premise this decision are wrong. It is noteworthy that the state government based its dubious stance on the so-called recommendations of JCI while conveniently keeping mute on obvious gross violations of rights reported by the same JCI such as the extrajudicial murder of 347 people and secretly burying them in mass graves without the consent of their relatives.

“The IMN is not an association or a society but a global concept that cannot be banned by fiat. We are not therefore distracted by this baseless move. Clearly reason, logic, the law and constitution, conscience and propriety are all on the side of the Islamic Movement. Nothing can take away our right of as individuals or groups to worship and associate.”

Biola Azeez-Ilorin FOLLOWING the withdrawal of the alleged forgery case against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, by the Federal Government, the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Honourable Ali Ahmad, has said that urgent reconsideration must be given to similar cases in courts.

The speaker, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Shuaib Abdulkadir, in Ilorin, Kwara State, at the weekend, described the ongoing trials of the senate president as “very distracting.”

The speaker lamented that such distraction was uncalled for, especially now that the nation’s economy was witnessing recession, saying that the country’s situation required all hands to be on deck in order to overcome the challenges.

He commended the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for his decision to discontinue with the alleged forgery prosecution.

Lagos assembly wants residents’ input in 2017 budget Bola Badmus-Lagos LAGOS State House of Assembly has called on the people of the state to come forward with complaints and requests as input for consideration as the state government prepares the 2017 budget for consideration and passage by the House.

The Chief Whip of the House, Honourable Rotimi Abiru, made the call while speaking with newsmen.

He had earlier addressed his constituents at the Bariga LCDA Secretariat, venue of the Season 11 of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s stakeholders’ parley, which took place simultaneously in all the 40 constituencies of the state.

Abiru, who recalled that requests made by residents of the state at a similar parley last year were given attention by the state government, especially in the area of infrastructural development in the 2016 budget, said the determination by the House to give meaning to good representation and good governance resulted in the decision to hold another round of parley with the people of the state.

46

9 October, 2016

SUNDAY

Sunday Tribune

Editor: Wale Emosu tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08111813054

Holmes wins 3rd Teslimat Fashanu memorial tennis classic

Why Eagles strikers fire blank

MATT Holmes has emerged winner of the just-ended third Teslimat Fashanu Memorial Tennis Classic held at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

Thirty-two members of the tennis section featured in the doubles event which was tagged ‘American Tournament’.

After five round of matches by each players, Holmes emerged victorious with 19 points to cart home the biggest trophy at stake.

Ayo Oludemi and Omatsola Abati finished second and third respectively with 18 points as Obi Obed, Prince Adejoro Olateru-Olagbegi, Kola Sofola, Tony Unuavworho, Bimbo Okubena, Niyi Ademowo and Segun Aluko all made the top 10.

Tosin Osikoya, Ify Adewunmi and Lola Aluko were the topthree finishers in the women’s category.

—Aghahowa

E

X-NIGERIAN international, Julius Aghahowa has said the chopping and changing in the Super Eagles is to blame for the present-day strikers not firing at full throttle.

The Super Eagles had scored five goals in their last three matches, which represents less than two goals a game.

Against Tanzania in Uyo last month, the team fired 27 shots at goal, but it needed a 77th minute scorcher from Manchester City youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho to win them the game.

“Personally, I believe the strikers are not scoring goals because there is no continuity,” Aghahowa, a former striker told AfricanFootball.com.

“When a striker comes into the team before he even gets his footing, before he understands his strike partner, the supporting midfielder is out and they bring someone else. There is no continuity.

“And this lack of continuity is especially so in attack.

In defence and midfield there is a lot more stability.

“Everyone is also quick to judge the strikers. They play one, two games and they are replaced. They don’t look at whether he was supported very well and he got the chances.

“What this then means is that you bring another striker and when he doesn’t do well, he is also replaced.

That way you destroy players’ international careers.”

Aghahowa, who has now quit the game and is a businessman, will back the Eagles to win in Zambia today.

“The Eagles know what is at stake. Wearing the national team jersey is enough motivation for them to do well for millions of Nigerians.

“That do-or-die spirit is what I believe they will adopt and with that they will win in Zambia,” the former Bendel Insurance FC and Esperance of Tunisia player said.

Sewa Teluwo defeated Anabel Obosi, while Tobi Ayoola beat Seni Osikoya to the red ball title.

Ololade Holmes pipped Serena Teluwo to claim the girl’s junior title, just as Kareem Kareem dumped Gideon Aluko to win the junior boy’s title.

Sponsor of the tournament, Barrister Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), while speaking on the occasion said he was impressed with the turn out of the participants as well as their standard of play.

Fashanu then promised to donate a defibrillator to the club - a device that gives a highenergy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall in treating a cardiac arrest.

In his remarks, Tennis Section chairman of LCC, Arinze Onubogu described the gesture of Barrister Fashanu as heart-warming and a major boost to the tennis section.

‘Edo athletes to witness a new dawn’

Ighalo

DELE Edokpaiye, chairman, Edo State Amateur Athletics Association, has promised a new dawn for athletes in the state as the association is poised to introduce events to keep the athletes in top shape.

The chairman said this at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadiun, Benin while speaking at the maiden edition of the SouthSouth Independent Day 10km road race.

Edokpiaye said this is part of efforts aimed at repositioning the association, in a bid for the state to improve on its current standing among states with World class athletes.

While not particularly unfolding his programmes, Edokpaiye advised the athletes to prepare themselves for the expected positive changes.

Similarly, the vice chairman of the association and sponsor of the event, Rosa Collins,

stressed the need for athletes to always encourage themselves.

Collins, a former African record holder in triple jump, also promised a better package for the athletes, beginning from 2017 and to make the SouthSouth Independent Day 10km race an annual event.

Athletes from Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Edo states featured in the race.

In the male category, athletes from Cross River, Ismael Sadjo and Soudi Hamadjam, won the first and second position in a time of 31:04 and 33:13 respectively, while Edetanlen OsMoses from Edo, came third in a time of 34:16.

In the female category, Peace Ikerede (48:24), Mercy Edward (51:18) and Blessing Ehigiator (1:38:60), all from Edo, took the first, second and third position respectively.

AFN-athletes relationship not inspiring —Ogunlewe

By Ganiyu Salman

Ogunlewe

NIGERIA’S reigning 100m champion, Seye Ogunlewe, has decried the relationship between the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and athletes, saying it leaves much to be desired.

Ogunlewe, while speaking on a television sports programme on Channels TV, said he and his colleagues need to be motivated in order to bring out their best at any major championship.

“The relationship is not as good as what it is supposed to be. For me, I will like somebody

(from AFN) to call and ask me how am I doing in my base? No one cares to call me.

“I used to receive telephone call from the AFN maybe once a year and that is when they want to find out that ‘are you coming for the trials?’ But this should go beyond that, motivation is not all about money, why no find out from us ‘how can we assist you, call Ese (Brume), call others and know how they are doing in their various bases.

“Hopefully, the AFN will start to do this.

The country can get the best out of us if we are well motivated. You have to plan before you can win a medal. I don’t need to tell you

that I have to pay my coach physiotherapist and nutritionist,” said the sprinter who finished with 10.26 seconds at the just-ended Rio Olympics.

Ogunlewe with a personal best of 10.12 seconds, however, defended his dismal performance in Rio. “I’m extremely disappointed. I don’t like giving excuses but it was unfortunate that during my race, we had a minus wind factor. If it had been a plus wind factor, it would have been helpful and I would have semifinal in the 100m. I was well prepared for the Olympics as an individual.”

47 sport

9 October, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Anxiety over Song’s condition

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup:

Nigeria crashes out As Ghana lands in quarter-final

By Ganiyu Salman

N

IGERIA’S Flamingoes on Saturday crashed out of the ongoing fifth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan, following a 0-3 loss to Korea DPR in their last group C game decided at the Amman International Stadium, Amman.

The Flamingoes for the second time in the global competition failed to qualify for the knockout stage and capped the Jordan 2016 debacle with a record of not scoring a goal in three games.

The Bala Nikyu-piloted side had started its campaign in Jordan with a 0-1 loss to Brazil and drew 0-0 with England before Saturday’s match.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie made a few saves, but could not prevent the demolition of the Flamingoes.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s free kick in the 12th minute went wide, while two minutes later, her close range grounder was saved by goalkeeper Ok Jim Ku. Ajibade again won a free-kick in the 20th minute when the Korean keeper came out to stop her from scoring, but the resultant kick which she took herself went wide.

The Koreans seized the scoring initiative from the Africans in the 30th minute when Ri Hae Yon after collecting a well-floated pass sent the ball to the right side of badly-positioned Nnadozie. Nigeria two minutes later wasted what would have been an equaliser when an unmarked Happiness Titus flick off a cross from Mary-Ann Ezenagu in the box missed the target.

Yon made it two for the Koreans before half time when she beat Nnadozie with a perfect grounder off a superb team-work.

Christy Ucheibe and Arit Itu came on in the early part of the second half, but the Flamingoes could not overcome their scoring

defect.

Keeper Nnadozie in the 59th minute was brilliant enough to save the Flamingoes from an embarrassing goal when she dived rightly to cuddle a grounder from S. Hyang Sim. Yon eventually bagged a hattrick in the 83rd minute when she connected K. Jong Sim’s free kick past keeper Nnadozie, following an infringement committed at the edge of the box by Peace Efih, who brought down Ki Pom Ui.

Flamingoes’ captain, Rasheedat Ajibade (right)

Korea DPR topped the group with seven points ahead of England which placed second with five points following its sensational 2-1 victory over Brazil in the game also played on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ghana restored Africa’s pride also on Saturday following its 1-0 victory over Paraguay to qualify for the quarter-final of the competition alongside side Japan which finished tops with nine points.

The Black Maidens had started

their campaign with a 0-5 loss to Japan, before they came back to beat the United States of America (USA) 2-1 and secured a 68th minute’s goal against Paraguay through captain Sandra OwusuAnsah to finish second on the table with six points.

Ghana remains the only surviving African team in the tournament and will now face Korea in the quarter-final on Friday, October 13, while Japan will face England also on the same day.

...Flamingoes came to learn —Nikyu HEAD coach of the Flamingoes, Bala Nikyu has said his players will still learn some positives despite Nigeria’s exit from the ongoing fifth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan at the group stage.

“In football you must have a winner and a loser and, in the spirit of the game, if you lose, you take it. Football is like that.

If you conceded goals, you conceded goals. The Journey has been cut short for many teams,” Nikyu told FIFA.com at the post-match conference after his team lost 0-3 to Korea DPR on Saturday in Amman.

He stated that “many teams are leaving Jordan by Monday. For us, it’s not about feeling bad. We have taken part in the World Cup and that is a wonderful experience. For most of the players, this was a new experience for them. A new and great experience. Next time, they can be better.”

Meanwhile, his counterpart from Korea DPR, Sin Jong Bok said his game-plan demystified the Flamingoes adding that the group was a tough one.

“I would like to say that Nigeria is one of the top teams in FIFA competitions and in all of world football. Our group was tough.

Flamingoes’ coach, Bala Nikyu

Each team in our group was a top team. Before we arrived here we had no information on these teams. But once here, we could focus on our opponents by watching their matches carefully and talking among our coaching staff.”

“I think this really helped us qualify for the next phase. Just like we tried to focus against Nigeria on counter-attacking football, we will continue to keep focusing on our opponents playing style,” Bok said.

FORMER Cameroon international, Rigobert Song was reported dead on Friday with online news platforms awash with the news on Saturday morning.

The story became conflicting hours later when another story emerged that the 40-year-old former defender was alive.

Song, a former captain of the Indomitable Lions of Camerron, had been admitted to hospital after falling unconscious. He was later taken to France for further treatment of his stroke.

Confirming the news, his brother Alex Song said “Our beloved passed on this morning.

At this moment the family is bereaved.”

But while debunking the story, Gary Al-Smith, wrote through his Twitter handle, @garyalsmith: “CONFIRMED from multiple sources. Rigobert Song NOT dead. He actually waved his hands this morning [Saturday] and was able to speak.”

Al-Smith reports Africa for BBC, CNN, New York Times Aljazeera (English) and Joy99.7FM, Ghana.

Buttressing this, Media Director at the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Junior Binyam, was quoted to have posted through his Twitter handle, @Juniorbinyam: “Song is getting better.

The CAF president is visiting him in hospital today [Saturday].”

This message was retweeted by former BBC Sport correspondent, Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo).

Isa Hayatou, apart from his status as the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is also from Cameroon Song’s home country.

He was capped about 137 times for his country and also played professionally with Liverpool, Galatasaray, West Ham and others.

Song

Ajomale Cup final holds today THE final of the 6th annual Henry Ajomale U-15 Cup football competition holds today at Campus Mini Stadium, Ajele, Lagos from 3pm.

The competition which kicked off about two weeks ago is featuring kid-footballers from different clubs in Lagos State.

Ajomale who is the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, further disclosed that the annual competition has produced a lot of talents some of who are already playing professional soccer even outside the country.

According to Ajomale, he sponsors the yearly event as part of efforts to discover new talents for Lagos State in particular.

“My aim of sponsoring this tournament which is being organised in conjunction with the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association is to develop the game at the grassroots.

“Nigeria is a country blessed with abundant youths who possess excellent soccer skills and we want to help these youngsters realise their dreams of becoming professional footballers in the near future,” he said.

SIDELINES NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

9 OCTOBER, 2016

NO 2,067

www.tribune.com.ng

N200

A former governor of Lagos State and national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday, said Nigerians are hungry. Frank talk, you would say. But will it not be wise to say that apart from the hunger that is ravaging Nigerians daily, the issue of kidnapping that has now taken a dangerous dimension in the last few weeks should be a source of worry for those in positions of authority?.

Eagles players and officials at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday evening .

PHOTO: Courtesy Twitter

Super Eagles players celebrating a goal.

Nigerians welcome Eagles to Ndola

Road to Russia

Eagles go for the kill in Zambia

BY Wale Emosu

T

ODAY, Nigeria begins the quest for a place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup with a qualifying match away to Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola.

Both countries are in the African qualifying Group B. Algeria and Cameroon are the other teams competing for the group’s sole ticket to Russia 2018.

The all-important match had been preceded by mind game between both countries seeking to pacify their fans after missing out on the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations starting next January in Gabon. Interestingly Nigeria took over from Zambia as the African champions in 2013 after the Chipolopolo had emerged winners for the first time in 2012.

Nigeria and its new manager Gernot Rohr - have a lot to do to restore confidence in their followers since the Super Eagles missed a second consecutive ticket to Africa’s biggest football spectacle.

Franco-German Rohr is relatively new; today’s match is his second after taking charge of the three-time African champions and the result will go a long way in assessing his quality.

Though he led Nigeria to win an inconsequential match in his first

outing, Rohr knows everything must be done to avoid a loss today.

All the 23 players invited to prosecute the match are injuryfree and Rohr has been able to clearly pick his marksman. The

key to the arsenal to wreck the Chipolopolo, for him, is with the Alex Iwobi. The young Iwobi, when in his element, can just be devastating.

With everything in place, just

one thing must be avoided — blunders. And Rohr is clearheaded about this. “We must be careful trying to win away and must be able to defend well. So we must not make mistake.”

Nigerians welcoming the Super Eagles and their officials to Ndola on Saturday.

PHOTO courtesy @thenff

Don’t be afraid of Eagles, coach charges Chipolopolo •Minister gives them pep talk COACH Wedson Nyirenda has stated that the Chipolopolo are not afraid of the Super Eagles, majority of who are based in Europe.

Speaking ahead of today’s World Cup qualifier between his country Zambia and Nigeria, Nyirenda said the Chipolopolo, from a fairly large number of locals and foreign-based players, would overrun Nigeria.

“I think that composition of the team would even be an advantage to us because it moti-

vates the players before they play the game. I know Chipolopolo; when you think they have gone low, that’s when they come up and when you look at the way we are preparing, we look set and we are aiming high,” The Post newspaper of Zambia on Saturday quoted Nyirenda as saying.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s minister of youth and sports was at the stadium on Saturday morning to give pep talk to the Zambian

players ahead of today’s match.

The minister, Moses Mawere, in company with the president of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Andrew Kamanga, had watched the players’ training after which he addressed them.

The Zambia-Nigeria World Cup qualifying fixture — the first of such between both countries at the senior level — will kick off today at 2.30pm Zambia time (1.30pm Nigeria time.

NIGERIANS resident in Zambia were on hand to welcome the Super Eagles and their officials to Ndola on Saturday.

Officials of the High Commission of Nigeria in Zambia and officials from the Football Association of Zambia welcomed the delegation, with a dozen Nigerian youth waving a big banner and miniature Nigerian flags. The banner read: ‘Welcome to Zambia. Super Eagles of Nigeria. Go Super Eagles Go.’ The Nigerian delegation to today’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zambia arrived in Ndola minutes after noon on Saturday.

Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung led the delegation, which included NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, NFF vice-presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko.

Others are some members of the National Assembly, some members of the NFF Executive Committee, some members of the NFF management, led by Deputy General Secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, few NFF staff, some officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, some directors of the League Management Company, a number of stakeholders and representatives of the media.

The 148–seater Arik Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft touched down at the Simon Kawewe International Airport, Ndola, at 12.07pm Zambia time (11.07am Nigeria time), after a four hours 20 minutes flight from Abuja.

The Eagles had a feel of the main pitch of the stadium on Saturday evening .

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup results

Korea DPR Brazil Japan Paraguay

3 1 3 0

Nigeria England USA Ghana

0 2 2 1

2018 World Cup qualifiers Ghana 0 Uganda 0 Azerbaijan 1 Norway 0 Armenia 0 Romania 5 Montenegro 5 Kazakhstan 0 England 2 Malta 0 Gabon 0 Morocco 0 DR Congo 4 Libya 0 Ivory Coast 3 Mali 1 B/Faso 1 S/Africa 1 POOLS : 3, 8, 10 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 23, 24, 32, 33, 34, 39, 42 TODAY’S MATCH 05, 06.

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. 9/10/2016