11th June 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 1,155

www.tribuneonlineng.com

SATURDAY, 11 JUNE, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

N150

Buhari’s 1 yr: How states, LGs shared N2.8trn pg5 PIPELINE VANDALISM

Keshi’s untold story:

Soldiers sweep through villages

Grandma always caned me... whenever Nigeria lost pg9

2 soldiers raped me at gunpoint —Villager Troops raped no one —Army spokesman Avengers blow up more pipelines Nigeria now loses N20bn daily

4 g p

Weekend Lagos

d e w o l l o f Most es

celebarigtiram How Lagos gamblers on Inst pg26

Lagos wife killer dies in police custody pg4 Kano killing:

stake wives, fortune on ‘drugged’ rams We are aware of fighting rams being fed narcotics —Govt We are going after culprits —NDLEA We give them only ‘vitamins’ —Ram owners

pgs19,20,21&22

5 remanded in prison, MTN now to pay N330bn Oyo labour leaders must 8 others at large pg6 fine to govt pg6 apologise —Ajimobi pg6

2

11 June, 2016

In the music industry Adagba James is christened BigLITTLE (stylised with the block letters in LITTLE).

A native of Lagos from Badagry, he started his music career as a teenager in his father’s church by playing drums and other instruments before he was discovered by and signed to HF Music record label in 2015. Since then BigLITTLE has released three songs and four videos. The 19-year-old, who is also studying French language at the University of Lagos, told NEWTON RAY UKWUOMA in this interview of how he started and his understanding of the music industry, among other things.

getting acceptance already. So, I want to do more of good music.

Who in the industry influences you?

I love Asa so much. I listen to her a lot. Any time I am down I listen to her songs. I also listen to Fela because of the Afro feelings in his music. I listen to Drake. I like his flow. But any time I need inspiration I listen to Asa. And for contemporary acts, I love Wande Coal. I love his music. I believe that guy has got so much talent. He is simply fantastic. You rarely would want to compare him with anyone.

Listening to your songs, one would notice a strong Wizkid influence, are you also influenced by him?

Yes, I love Wizkid. He has done a lot. And I get that a lot also. I actually don’t think it strange for people to compare me with Wizkid.

I think if you are an up and coming artiste you will surely be compared with one or two artistes in the industry. But I don’t see myself sounding like Wizkid. I sound like BigLITTLE. I am trying to work on my own sound. With time, people would know the difference between Wizkid and BigLITTLE.

Lack of structure is killing Nigerian music

How old are you?

I am 19 years old.

—BigLITTLE

H

ow long have you been doing music professionally?

It is almost close to a year now. I was signed in the middle of 2015. But the level of love and goodwill I have enjoyed is beyond my imagination. I thought I would have to wait and suffer like others. People believe that as an up and coming artiste, you have to go through tough times before finally making it. But I think that in the end, it is about destiny. That’s how God wanted it for me. I am blessed.

How many of your works are out there now?

Within a year, I have released four singles and three videos. I dropped my first single, ‘As E Dey Hot’ in August, 2015. It was followed by the video. It had crazy acceptance.

I released ‘Ola otun’ in September last year, alongside the video. ‘All Eyes on Me’ is also out. I have had a collaboration with DJ Jimmy Jatt titled ‘Ayato’. That is the latest song which already has a video.

The acceptance has been very encouraging.

Would you attribute your level of growth to your record label?

Yes. HF Music is like a family. I don’t see it as a record label. They support anything that concerns me besides my music. They take care of my education and welfare.

My record label is my family. I do not have a problem with them.

I am working hard to develop myself and my craft as an artiste.

Are you in the university?

Yes. I am studying French at the University of Lagos.

Why did you choose to study French?

To widen your audiences?

Yes, eventually. Besides that I have passion for languages, particularly French. I went to a French primary school and secondary school.

And now I am studying French at the university.

It has been my thing from day one. And now that I am doing music, yes, I believe I will be able to reach many more audiences with it. People like Yemi Alade have gone far in the industry because of French. Your music can easily cut across the French speaking countries.

I want to be able to put HF Music on the map.

How did HF Music find you?

I travelled to Abuja from Badagry overnight to sign a recording deal. While in Abuja I met Majik, who is now my producer. He introduced me to the label boss of HF Music. After listening to my music, HF Music was interested in signing me immediately. I came back to Lagos straight to sign the new recording deal with HF Music and the rest is history, as they say.

Have you taken time to study the Nigerian music industry?

Yes. Good music above anything else sells. Nigerians love good music. There was a time when ‘empty’ music was popular. Now, you have to follow good sound with good lyrics. No be one day job.

For instance, someone like YCEE had been grinding since 2012. It was in 2015 that he finally broke out. So, until an artiste really ups his game to a point where both sound and words pass his message, he will still be struggling. But I think we love nice sound, what I mean is rhythm. I also believe that the Nigerian music does not have a structure. I think we need to restructure the music industry.

Survival of the fittest is what is going on here. If you are not strong, not very good, the music industry is not for you.

In the meantime, how do you intend to survive the music industry?

Saturday Tribune

Let’s talk about the future, you are budding up in the industry. What do you intend to do with your career and the record label?

For me, I just want to make good music all my life. I want to do great shows. I want to be out there. I want people to know BigLITTLE and his music. I will be happy when that happens because I plan to be here for a long time. Music is the only thing I can do.

How did you come by your stage name?

When I was in secondary school, people called me Jimmy. When I decided to commence my career in music, BigLITTLE just popped in. I didn’t think much about it before I got the name.

I am a young guy doing great things.

Nowadays people want dance, they want rap, but my own kind of music is a fusion of Afro-pop and Afro beat.

I am trying to build something different with my sound.

People like Bez had tough time with acceptance because their kind of music weren’t the regular Nigerian sound.

But now, they have fought through and have recognitions for their uniqueness. I am going to stay on my own craft. I am going to continue to forge my brand of music believing that with time people will also accept my kind of sound. Truthfully, like I said earlier, I am

You come from a religious background, why are you not doing gospel music?

Yes, my dad is a pastor in FourSquare.

Growing up, I played the drums and other instruments in the church. Back then I was in the choir doing the gospel thing. But right now, I want to do my own thing. My father did not discourage me. He only wanted me to finish school before going into music. But it wasn’t easy for my mum to accept my kind of music.

She gave me a tough time. She wanted me to do gospel music. But I believe that one can still do commercial music and be close to God. Are you close to God still?

Yes.

3

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

4

news

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Pipeline vandalism

Soldiers sweep through villages

•Two soldiers raped me at gun point — Villager •Troops raped no one —Army spokesman •Avengers blow up more pipelines

A

S the Nigerian army swept into villages in the Niger Delta swamps, in an operation to crush the Niger Delta Avengers group, allegations by residents of brutal tactics and rape by some of the soldiers risk stoking anger in the region, Reuters reported on Friday.

The army has vowed to stop the militant group which has claimed a string of attacks on oil pipelines that have cut the country’s oil output by half a million barrels a day to a 20-year low. It denies the allegations of abuse.

The military has deployed dozens of gunboats in the Delta swamps to search a cluster of villages that are home to a former militant leader whom officials link to the previously unknown group, residents said.

Community leaders and a security source said the sweep has failed to produce results, despite the arrest of some 15 suspects, while relations with locals already angered by deep poverty and oil spills have worsened.

“Our people are very angry with the arrest of innocent people in the name of looking for pipeline vandals,” said Eric Omare, a spokesman for Ijaw Youth Council, which represents the main ethnic group in the Delta region.

Five of the arrested were released after it turned out they were oil workers unrelated to the militants. Activists say several students who also had no connection to the Avengers remained in custody.

In interviews with Reuters, the first foreign news outlet to visit the Oporoza community raided by the army, 10 villagers said soldiers had searched their houses in the middle of the night after arriving in gunboats and surrounding the village.

Two villagers said they were raped, while two others reported looting. One villager said he was struck by a soldier with the butt of a gun.

“About 3 a.m., military men invaded our community. Four of them stormed my house and broke the doors,” 50-year old Ebimobore Oboivu said, wailing in front of her hut in the creeks criss-crossed by oil pipelines.

“Two of them raped me as the other two pointed guns at my head,” she said.

Army spokesman Rabe Abubakar denied troops had

used force or raped anyone when searching Oporoza.

“The reason we are there is because of some criminal guys who by all means decide to do unholy and inappropriate acts against their country,” he said.

But the Delta State government, under whose jurisdiction the community falls, has urged the military to launch an investigation. “This is not the first time such allegations are made,” state government spokesman Charles Anaigwu said.

A smashed window and bullet holes could be seen at one house and one hut with an iron roof. A television set inside a house had a bullet hole from a gun fired by one of the soldiers, villagers said.

A second woman, Simply Timi, also described being the victim of a gang rape. “I heard a loud bang on my door with three army men. One of them pinned me to the ground and they all raped me.”

Calls for inquiries

Oporoza, at the centre of a group of villages, is home to Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, a former militant leader who laid down arms with other commanders in 2009 under an amnesty promising generous cash payments.

Buhari, faced with a revenue squeeze due to low oil prices, has cut funding for the amnesty plan, causing widespread resentment in the Delta, where the plan also funds job training for the unemployed.

Officials link Tompolo with the attacks, saying they began in January, around the same time that a court issued an arrest warrant for him on graft charges, prompting him to go into hiding. Tompolo has denied any link to the Avengers.

Security officials say villagers have been hiding militants like Tompolo.

Soldiers ransacked Tompolo’s compound and searched dozens of huts but a Nigeriabased security source, asking not to be named, said the army sweep had not generated any leads about who was behind the militant group.

“You can’t ruin the life of a whole community because of one man,” said Nelson Okagbami, an Oporoza community leader.

He said he saw soldiers dragging away one wounded teenager. “Bullets were flying around. I had to hide in a

church,” he said.

At a meeting earlier this week, Niger Delta governors agreed with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to address local grievances. But in Oporoza people fear the army will come back.

“Soldiers pointed guns at me and I fell to my knees begging before they left me alone,” said Tari Maka, a food vendor in Oporoza.

“When will this end because we don’t even understand what is happening?”

scene...but the place is not on fire.”

The Niger Delta Avengers earlier claimed responsibility for the attack on the pipeline via its Twitter feed.

The pipeline is related to the Brass River crude oil stream in Bayelsa state, the site of many attacks over the past month.

Another pipeline attacked

Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

A pipeline operated by Italy’s ENI in Bayelsa State was attacked early on Friday, the militants and a security official said.

“There was an attack on the Obi Obi Brass Pipeline between 1 and 2 am today Friday,” said Desmond Agu, commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Bayelsa state.

“There is an oil spill at the

The Avengers said the attack hit Agip’s major crude oil line but oil traders said there was no immediate indication that flows from Brass River had completely stopped.

ENI did not immediately comment on the attack or its impact on oil production and exports.

ENI’s oil infrastructure has been hit previously by militants, and its Brass River oil stream is already under force majeure, though some cargoes had continued to load.

One suezmax, the Hrvatska, is expected to load Brass River crude this week, while a second is scheduled to arrive on June 17.

Nigeria now loses N20bn daily to attacks on pipelines FOLLOWING continued attacks on crude pipelines and other oil installations in the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government and its Joint Venture (JV) partners may now be losing N20billion daily.

Daily crude oil output has fallen to a record low of 800,000 barrels per day, according to industry sources, a claim which opposed to by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Ka-

chikwu, who stated during the week that daily crude output has fallen to 1.3million bpd.

Considering the fact that Nigeria’s OPEC quota remains 2.2million bpd, and that the 2016 budget was benchmarked at same output level of 2.2million bpd, the country and its JV partners are losing 1.4million bpd to the attacks by the Niger Delta Avenges (NDA).

At an average of $50 per barrel, the country is losing about N20billion per day (at an exchange rate of N285 to a dollar).

An industry source confirmed to Saturday Tribune on Friday that “we are now close to 2007 record low of 700,000bpd which forced the government of the late Umaru Yar’Adua to dialogue with and grant amnesty to the militants.

“There is the need for the government to get those behind the NDA and dialogue with them because they have stated that their objective is to achieve zerocrude production from the region,” the source said.

Alleged wife killer dies in police custody Olalekan Olabulo -LAGOS JAFARU Sougie, who was accused of killing his wife, Rose, in the Oshodi Lagos State home of the couple has died The 48 year old murder suspect died on Friday morning at the hospital, where he was rushed to by the police.

The suspect had reportedly injested some poisonous

substances on the day of the murder but he did not die till Friday morning .

It was gathered that the suspect, who was initially transferred to the homicide section of the state police command, was on the 26th of May 2016 rushed to the Police Hospital, when his health deteriorated.

A police source at the State

CID ,Panti, who broke the news of the death to the Saturday Tribune said that the deceased Jafaru had since the day of his arrest been unstable The police source, who pleaded anonymity said “right from day one he has always been sick. You know he ingested poison when he killed his wife.”

Adebanjo bags Igbo Youth Movement award NATIONALIST and elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, will, tomorrow, be conferred with the award of the “Great National Icon” by the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM).

Chief Adebanjo, a chieftain of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, according to a statement from the IYM, will be presented with the award at the group’s 17th annual convention holding at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, Enugu State, starting from 10.00 a.m.

Chief Adebanjo, the statement said, is being honoured for his meritorious service to the nation, in defence of truth and equity.

“We admire and appreciate your principled position on issues that have affected the history of our great nation for several decades. This honour is in

recognition of the inspiration we draw from your soul-inspiring positions in the journey to establishing a united Nigeria, built on justice and equity for all,” the group said.

The IYM said the convention, which had been marked annually since 1999, “affords us a great opportunity to learn from and appreciate worthy leaders and elders who have distinguished themselves in our land and set a worthy

legacy the younger generation must emulate as we march into the future, hopeful of building a strong, united nation for all.”

Other guests expected at tomorrow’s event, according to the group, include the state governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; former vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme and former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Ghana.

Our Error: OUR attention has been called to some mix-ups and errors in an interview published in the Saturday Tribune of April 30, 2016 with the headline: “Lagos indigenes plot against Ambode.” In the interview, Professor Imran Oluwole Smith’s first name was wrongly given as “Emmanuel.”

We regret the mix-up and any other error noticed in the interview. We also apologise to Professor Smith for whatever embarrassment the mix-ups may have caused him.

—Editor.

He added that “on May 26 he was rushed to the police hospital in Ikeja and the news of his death got to us this morning .

Human rights activist and president of of Women Arise Initiative ,Dr Joe Okei- Odumakin ,who has been following the case confirmed the death of Jafaru on her Facebook wall She wrote, “Jafaru Sougie, the man suspected of the murder of his wife in Oshodi is dead. This is terrible! #StopDomesticViolence.”

The human right activist added that “Just in case this may help discourage the next would-be victim(s) to decide not staying put until...am sorry to share this kind of photo, but we have hidden same for too long that people aren’t getting the meaning of #StopDomesticViolence.v” The image maker in charge of the state police command ,Dolapo Badmos also confirmed the death of the deceased suspect to the Saturday Tribune.

“I confirm that the man died this morning at the hospital. He has been on admission since then. He did not recover from the poisonous substance he took,” she said.

She added that “He was also not taking his medications. All attempts to rescue him so that investigations could be conducted failed.”

5 news

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

IBB back from medical trip Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

The remains of Miss Adesola Olubola Ogunmefun, one of the University of Lagos students who got drowned at a friend’s birthday party at Elegushi beach, about to be buried, at the Ikoyi Cemetary, on Friday.

Federation Account: How states, LGs shared N2.8trn in Buhari’s first 12 months

Akwa Ibom got N170, … Gombe, Ebonyi N49bn each

T

he 36 states and the 774 local government councils in Nigeria shared the sum of N2.8trillion from the Federation Account in the first year of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

An exclusive report by the Economic Confidential,

an intelligence economic magazine, said the total figure was payment made to the two tiers of government between June 2015 and May 2016.

In the report, Akwa Ibom State is ranked as the highest recipient of allocation with a total sum of N178bn in the 12 months.

N3.5bn annual rent: FG to relocate offices to seized properties Sanya Adejokun - Abuja

F

ORCED to reduce cost of doing business by the downturn of the economy, the Federal Government says it will relocate some of its agencies occupying rented offices to recently confiscated buildings.

Scores of such buildings have recently been seized from past government officials and others who were found culpable in anti-corruption investigations.

Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who disclosed this on Friday after a meeting with the Head of the Efficiency Unit, Mrs Patience Oniha in Abuja said between 2012 and 2014, an average yearly sum of N3.55 billion was spent on rent by the government.

If this plan scales through, many landlords to government agencies may either reduce the rent they collect on these buildings or lose government’s patronage all together.

Already the government had revealed that as a result of its cost-cutting measures, N14 billion is saved every year from reduced travels and sitting allowances.

The minister lamented the

huge cost being incurred by government on residential and office buildings.

According to the minister, “the issuance of price guidelines and initiatives for reducing expenditure on rent on office and residential buildings will be the primary focus in the coming months.”

The minister called for cooperation from all stakeholders in both the public and private sectors of the economy so as to ensure that Nigerians get value for money in the spending of government’s resources.

Adeosun added that government expects major savings “in the form of discounts from suppliers when the Bureau of Public Procurement concludes its assignment on the pooling of MDAs demands for standard products such as vehicles, computers, printers, photocopiers and stationery.”

In her address, the Head of the Efficiency Unit, Mrs Patience Oniha, said the Federal Government had made a lot of progress in reducing costs, particularly in the area of travels and sitting allowances, noting that with the work done, a total of N14billion would be saved annually.

It is followed by Lagos State (N173bn); Delta State (N144bn) and Kano State (N117bn).

Among the 10 highest recipients from the Federation Account are Bayelsa State, which got N95bn; followed

by Katsina (N88bn); Oyo (N84bn); Kaduna (N83bn) and Borno State (N78bn).

The lowest recipients are Gombe and Ebonyi states that got N49bn each and

followed by Ekiti and Nasarawa states (N50bn each) and Kwara (N52bn).

The report further disclosed that Edo and Ondo which are oil-producing states got N66bn and N71bn respectively while another state in the South-South, Cross River, merely received N59bn.

Details as published by the online medium are produced below:

FORMER military president General Ibrahim Babangida on Friday returned to Nigeria from a three-week medical trip to Germany.

Babangida, clad in a black caftan and cap to match, stepped out at about 3.30 p.m. at the Minna International Airport from a chartered aircraft N550 DR. While in Germany, he received treatment at St Josef Hospital, near Frankfurt, during which time he was also rumoured dead in the social media.

A family source informed Saturday Tribune on the condition of anonymity that the former military president was treated at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Babangida alighted from the aircraft in company with his son Aminu and daughter Halima.

On hand to receive him at the airport were a former governor of Niger State, Ahaji Abdullahi Abdulkhadir Kure; Babangida’s first son, Mohammed, his first daughter, Aisha, a close associate and former president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Alhaji Umar Ndanusa and former federal permanent secretary, Malam Idris Adamu Kuta.

It will be recalled that during the week, the elder statesman was rumoured dead while receiving treatment abroad.

Meanwhile, Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has said that General Babangida is still needed around at this “critical” period in the life of Nigeria.

Governor Bello, who welcomed the retired General back from his foreign medical trip, said wise counsel of leaders who had weathered the storms and distinguished themselves was needed to bail the country out of the doldrums.

The governor also praised God for preserving the life of the former military leader.

“Despite unfounded rumour about the life of our national icon, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, we are grateful that it pleases Allah to preserve his life and bring him back safely and healthier to continue the good work of nation building.

“General Ibrahim Babangida remains one of the few leaders in this country that we still need around to tap from their wealth of experience and knowledge and we are grateful he is back and kicking like the old soldier he is.

“Your safe return has finally put a lie to the rumour and the evil machinations of those who are playing God. We are grateful to Allah that He has silenced them,” Governor Bello said.

During the week, the social media was awash with the rumour of General Babangida’s death before it was refuted by his son, Mohammed.

Drowned UNILAG students buried Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos

THE remains of Miss Adesola Ogunmefun and Funmi Odusina, two postgraduate students of the University of Lagos who died recently, were buried at Ikoyi Cemetery on Friday.

Daughter of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Hafsat Abiola-Castello, was one of the mourners who paid tributes on Friday.

Pastor Biodun Alimi, who officiated at the burial service for the two friends, urged their families and friends not to see their death as wickedness from God. “The late Adesola I knew has not died in vain but she died as a heroin serving the her friends. As a as born-again Christian, she impacted the lives of people who came across her when she was alive,” Pastor Alimi said.

Sunmibola Ogunmefun, younger sister to the late Adesola in her tribute entitled “Adesola in 60 Seconds” said, once upon a time, there was a little tiny individual that wouldn’t stay put in her little cocoon of love; she just needed to burst into the world and make her mark quick.”

Ramadan message O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your trust. And know that your possession and your children are but a trial and that surely with Allah is a mighty reward. O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong), or make a way for you to get out of every difficulty, and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allah is the Owner of the Great Bounty.

— Surat Al-Anfal verses 27-29

6

news

11 June, 2016

Ife indigenes in US host Ooni

Suspected killers of Mrs Bridget Agbahime arraigned in a Kano magistrates’ court on Friday.

N1.04 trillion fine: MTN now to pay N330 billion over 3 years

To list on Nigeria Stock Exchange

By Bode Adewumi

M

TN Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have reached an amicable settlement in the matter of the N1.04 trillion fine imposed by the regulator in October 2015 for MTN’s delay in disconnecting 5.1 million improperly registered lines within the prescribed deadline.

Further to several weeks of negotiations between MTN, NCC and the Federal Government, the following agreed terms have been announced. MTN will pay the NCC the sum of N330 billion in full and final settlement of the fine in line with an agreed payment plan.

In addition to the monetary settlement, MTN Nigeria undertakes to subscribe to the voluntary observance of the Code of Corporate Governance for the Telecommunications Industry and will ensure compulsory compliance. The company also undertakes to take immediate steps to ensure listing of its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as soon as is commercially and legally possible.

Speaking on the issue, MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ferdi Moolman said: “MTN Nigeria once again offers its most sincere apologies for the series of unfortunate events that led to the imposition of the fine,” he said.

Regarding the company’s undertaking to list, Moolman said, “MTN Nigeria is undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s success stories. Broader public participation exemplifies this.”

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), also in a press statement

signed by Mr Tony Ojobo, the Director of Public Affairs, said that after nearly six months of negotiation and re-negotiation over the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on MTN Nigeria, that the fine was on Friday reduced to N330billion.

This amount, according to the NCC, includes the “goodwill” payment of N50 billion earlier made by MTN to the government.

Meanwhile, shares in the Johannesburg-listed mobile operator surged 21 per cent after the settlement was announced on

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Friday gave conditions for the resolution of the lingering labour crisis in the state.

It will be recalled that the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had embarked on an indefinite strike on Tuesday to demand for the payment of outstanding salary and pension arrears, and the withdrawal of all trumpup charges against labour leaders who were arrested for disrupting the state government’s stakeholders’ consultative forum on education.

Friday. With 170-million people, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and MTN’s largest market.

“The Nigerian government had to listen and yield to the plea of MTN to reduce the fine because the company said paying the fine in full will ground to a halt its operations in Nigeria,” an official said, asking not to be named.

The fine of $1.67 billion will be paid over three years and is only around a third of the $5.2 billion figure initially demanded by Nigeria last October.

Kano killing: 5 remanded in prison, 8 others at large THE Kano State police command on Friday arraigned 13 persons before a Kano chief magistrates’ court on a four-count charge, bordering on the killing of 74-year-old Mrs Bridget Agbahime, who was murdered for committing an alleged act of blasphemy.

However, five of the suspected killers were arraigned before the court,

while eight others were said to be at large.

According to the first information report, it stated that on June 2, 2016 the accused persons at Kofar Wambai market alleged that the deceased had blasphemed Prophet Mohammed and jointly murdered her.

Those arraigned are Dauda Ahmed, Abdulmumuni, Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar, Musa Abullahi.

The prosecuting team, led

Speaking on the programme of a private radio station in Ibadan, Ajimobi said the crisis would be resolved if the persons who hid under the umbrella of the labour movement to disrupt the stakeholders’ meeting apologise or they pay for all damage that resulted from the ensuing crisis which saw secondary school students involved in the destruction of government properties.

Noting that resources that accrued to the state were inadequate, he called for understanding of the labour movement and called for dialogue.

“The way out of the current crisis is for all those who destroyed government proper-

ties to pay for them or for all those concerned to apologise to government. You cannot be guilty and not want to apologise. We will not accept brigandage in Oyo State.

“Are the workers the only set of people being owed salaries in the state? Even politicians don’t get their salaries regularly. We can only give out the funds available to us.

“When we had enough, we paid regularly and even gave extra like the 13th month salary. Now that there isn’t enough, we dialogue not take to brigandage or call for strike. If they are ready for dialogue, we are also willing to speak with them,” he said.

Kola Oyelere - Kano

Oyo labour leaders must apologise —Ajimobi

By Wale Akinselure

Saturday Tribune

by Barrister Usman A. Jubrin informed the court that the accused persons jointly incited public disturbance, engaged in mischief and were responsible for the death of the late Mrs Bridget Agbahime on that fateful day.

The charge sheet further read out to the accused persons in the open court, said that they are accused of committing offences of inciting disturbance, joint act mischief and culpable homicide contrary to section, 114,80,327 and 221 of the penal code.

Barrister Jibrin, who informed the court that the first accused person, Dauda Ahmed, had a brawl with the deceased, said that Dauda seized the late woman by the neck and slapped her before he proceeded to shout Allahu Akbar to attract sympathy.

The charge sheet further alleged that the shout by the first accused attracted a huge crowd telling them that Agbahime had blasphemed against Allah.

The suspected killers however denied the allegations against them. The case was adjourned till June 28 for mention.

THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, will today be hosted to a grand reception by Ile-Ife indigenes living in the United States of America (USA).

Ogunwusi arrived in the country with pomp on Thursday, with his large entourage.

They were received at the J. F. Kennedy Airport, New York, by leaders of Ife indigenes and other Nigerians.

The over 3,000-strong union of Ife indigenes operating under the name; Ife Ooye North America, is hosting the monarch at the Ukraine Centre, in the city of Somerset, New Jersey, where over 500 members of the association will gather.

The reception will be attended by local governmental officials, including mayors and legislators.

The event will provide an opportunity for the monarch to meet his subjects one-on-one and interact with them on how to further develop Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The Ooni, who is in the USA on official tour, will also visit the White House to receive an award and some other notable places in the country.

Oba Ogunwusi’s visit comes against the backdrop of his widely commended efforts to promote peace and love among Yoruba and leaders of various ethnic groups in Nigeria.

The visit is also intended to promote the economic well-being of the people of his immediate community, in particular to which he has been committed since he ascended the throne.

Former Guinness boss, Seni Adetu leads talks at Marketing Summit Former Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu, in conjunction with top industry leaders will lead discussions at this year’s National Marketing Summit slated for June 17.

The National Marketing Summit being organised by Marketing Edge Publications Ltd, a leading marketing and advertising magazine, will be chaired by a renowned advertising guru, chairman, Mccan Group of Companies, Sir Steve Omojafor.

The summit with the theme, “Brand Positioning in A Digital Age”, Challenges in a Developing Market, will have as keynote speaker, the Marketing Director of Friesland Campina Wamco, Mr. Tarang Gupta. Panel discussants at the epochal marketing meet scheduled to hold at Civic Centre in the Victoria Island area of Lagos are Managing Director of Red Media, Mr. Chude Jideonwo, Chief Executive Officer of Brandzone, Mrs. Chizor Malize, Managing Director of Hotsauce, Mr. Dayo Adefila and the Managing Director of Neukleos, Mrs. Bukola Akingbade.

A statement by the publisher of Marketing Edge Publications Ltd, Mr. John Ajayi said the array of industry’s best and brightest minds as resource persons is an indication of the importance the magazine attaches to the summit which provides unique opportunity for the confluence of town and gown.

N810.6m dues tear Joint Federal Cooperative apart Tyavzua Saanyol - Abuja The leadership struggle raging within the Joint Federal Cooperative assumed a new dimension during the week as new allegations and counter allegations were raised by contending parties and factions.

This has left the cooperative without an authentic voice or direction, as it is difficult to tell who is saying the truth, or who has legal legitimacy to occupy the office of the president of the cooperative as both Antai Sunny (the dethroned president) and Uwajie Ifeanyi (the self-acclaimed president) are in possession of documents authenticating their positions.

The protracted battle, which started in 2014, forced the Antai Sunny group out of office, through what is being alleged was executed with active police conspiracy.

Since then, the Uwajie group has been forced out of the secretariat awaiting the outcome of the suit they filed in court.

Early in the week, however, even as they await court pronouncement, the Sunny Antai faction took to the streets of Abuja in protest of what they called illegal removal of their president.

Antai, who held the office since the formation of the cooperative about twenty years ago, is alleging that he was forcibly removed from office by Ifeanyi Uwajie who proclaimed himself president, claiming that members of the association convened and passed vote of no confidence on his leadership following allegations of gross embezzlement.

In countering claims of embezzlement, Sunny Antai narrated that at the annual meeting of the society in 2014, committee for verification of land was set up as recommended by a representative of Chief Registrar of Cooperative, one Alhaji Idris, to resolve complaints made by members who bought land from the cooperative society.

7

news

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Igbo-Yoruba relationship most cordial —Olubadan

Former Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative and Empowerment, Osun State, Mr Ismail Adekunle Alagbada (fourth right); chairman on the occasion, Senator (Dr) Olu Alabi; Zonal Coordinator of Nigeria Shippers Council, Osun State, Mr. T.O. Jaiyeola and others, during the seminar organised by the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) South West Zone, held at Leisure Spring Hotel, Osogbo, Osun State, recently. PHOTO: OLAIDE SOKOYA.

Rain wreaks havoc in Ilorin Biola Azeez - Ilorin

P

ROPERTIES worth several thousands of naira were destroyed by heavy wind which accompanied the rain that fell for just 30 minutes on Thursday eve-

ning in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.

Residents of Abayawo, Isale Banni, Government Technical College Road, Shao, Adangba, all in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state would not forget the incident in a

hurry as houses collapsed and several rooftops of houses were blown kilometres away while household items were also destroyed.

One of the affected houses in Gaa Osibi village, along the Technical College Road and a house near Harmony

S/West governors’ wives lament high incidence of female genital mutilation Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti Wives of the governors of the South West states converged on Ekiti on Friday to further discuss strategies on how to end female genital mutilation, and lamented the high prevalence of female genital mutilation in the region.

Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose had convened the “High-Level Meeting On Female Genital Mutilation” in Ado Ekiti, which was attended by Mrs Florence Ajimobi, wife of the governor of Oyo State and Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, wife of the governor of Osun State.

Mrs Fayose said at the opening of the meeting that it was lamentable that the South West “has the second highest practice of this unwholesome habit,” saying “we are too decent as a people to accept this stigma without a strategy to checkmate the trend and pull ourselves out of this inglorious grouping.”

She said Ekiti State was leaving no stone unturned “not only to step up awareness on the evils and dangers inherent in female genital mutilation and cutting FGM/C, we are also deepening our regular interface with various bodies and organisations on the effects of the harmful practice.”

She assured the meeting that the state had the political will to prosecute violators of the laws in this regard and charged all the stakeholders in the region to harness resources and seek out ways to reduce the high prevalence of the practice.

In an address, Mrs. Ajimobi, while decrying the high incidence of cutting of the female genitals, noted that statistics in the practice of FGM/C had “not been kind to us in Nigeria and more so in the South West region.”

Mrs. Ajimobi said the need to eradicate the practice necessitated the high-level meeting and charged all the stakeholders to bring all that would be necessary to end the practice she described as “a crime.”

She warned that those still perpetrating the act might end up in jail as, according to her, there was no known benefit of female genital mutilation and cutting.

Mrs. Aregbesola, who played host to the last highlevel meeting in Osogbo, commended the “seamless

approach to tackling the scourge in the South West” and contended that “there may be need to upgrade the legal and judicial systems in our various states to make it difficult for any practitioner of FGM to get away with this crime.”

Mrs. Aregbesola also suggested that the states should consider “inculcating the issue of FGM in school curriculum across our states,” noting that this would “enable our children to be properly sensitised and be made aware of the scope of dangers the FGM constitute and the need to eradicate it completely.”

In a goodwill message, Governor Ayò Fayose declared that the state would go after those practicing FGM and described the act as “evil and ungodly.”

community, near Fomo Babalaje area was completely levelled by the heavy wind.

It was also gathered that rooftops of many shopping complexes were carried away, while electric poles, trees and makeshift shops, including kiosks were not spared.

At areas like Shao, Adangba, Oke Lele, Alore, Murtala and Ogidi, trees were uprooted. These consequently destroyed houses and cars parked along streets.

Some of the victims who spoke to Saturday Tribune expressed shock at the havoc wreaked by the wind storm, which they said did not last more than 30 minutes.

One of the victims, Mallam Alabi Asalapa, lamented the incident, calling on the state government to support the victims to alleviate their losses going by the current economic situation in the country.

Also speaking, Alfa Adam Abayawo, who lost his car windscreen to the storm, said that the unfortunate incident was a surprise, adding that the rooftop of a shop that was blown off damaged his car’s windscreen.

Repackage your products for export, shippers told

By Olaide Sokoya FORMER Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative and Empowerment in Osun State, Mr Ismail Adekunle Alagbada, has enjoined the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to produce exportable products that will meet international standards.

Alagbada stated this in his paper entitled: “Harnessing the huge exportable products in Osun State” during the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), South West Zone seminar tagged: “Emergence of

economic regulator in Nigerian ports as a catalyst for economic growth,” held at Leisure Spring Hotel, Osogbo, Osun State.

According to him, the participants should use the unique opportunity of learning about the new developments as regards import and export business in Nigeria.

He called on the legislative arm of government to look into the needs and come up with the envisaged permanent legal framework to support the performance of the council’s additional role

of economic regulation in the maritime industry and transport.

The participants also urged the government to provide a reliable industrial park where shippers can process their economic goods, and agricultural produce in Osun State.

“We also urge the government to allocate a new office space to Osun State Shippers Association as the secretariat since the former office given to them by the state government was withdrawn and demolished to give way for the new Ayebaju market,” they said.

THE Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, has described the relationship between the Yoruba and their Igbo brothers as very cordial and encouraging.

Welcoming the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, and his entourage to the Popoyemoja, Ibadan palace on Friday, Oba Adetunji noted that the relationship between the Yoruba and Igbo dated back to several years.

He added that while the Igbos deserve commendation for their industry and ingenuity, Ibadan has provided educational and residential opportunities for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion and ideological persuation to be whatever they want to be without hindrances.

The Olubadan stated further that the doors of Ibadan would remain open to all Nigerians, particularly the Igbos to set up their business ventures anywhere in the land and be fairly treated.

The High Chiefs who joined Oba Adetunji to welcome the Obi of Onitsha, according to a press release signed by Mr Adeola Oloko, the Director, Media and Public Affairs to the Olubadan and made available to Saturday Tribune, included the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun; Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin; Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief (Dr.) Femi Olaifa, and the Asipa Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole.

Earlier, the Obi of Onitsha had congratulated the Olubadan of Ibadanland on his ascension of the exalted throne of his forefathers in a peaceful manner. He said his mission and that of his entourage was to deliver a lecture, using Ibadan as a case study of peaceful process in transition.

AGC Oyo District holds Youth Week Youth Ministries of Assemblies of God Church (AGC), Oyo District, will hold its annual National Youth Week tagged “Restoration on Every Side” with the theme “Destiny To Be Celebrated” and the 25th silver anniversary celebration of the youth ministries tomorrow, June 12, 2016 at Assemblies of God Church No 1, Army Barracks Road, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State.

This year’s youth week and the anniversary celebration will commence with red carpet tomorrow by 3:00p.m. prompt followed by a grand finale by 4:00p.m. at the church auditorium.

The event will feature debate, drama, song ministrations, anniversary thanksgiving service and cutting of anniversary cake.

Expected at the event are the special guest of honour and AGC National Youth Director at the event, Reverend Evangelist Elisha Anyanwu, as well as the guest speaker, Reverend Joseph Odey. Other invited guests and ministers of God expected are chairman, National Youth Council of Oyo State, Honourable Akeem Ayo Babalola; Oyo District Superintendent of Assemblies of God Church, Reverend James Edivri (chief host); District Treasurer and Senior Pastor of Assemblies of God Church, Mokola Ibadan, Reverend Isaac Udah (host pastor).

Guest artistes at the event are K. Sax Ministry, youth mass choir, among others.

Brother Emmanuel Eze is the District Youth President, while Reverend Matthew Samuel is the Youth General Secretary. Reverend Femi lbikunle is the Coordinator, Oyo District Youth Ministries of Assemblies of God Church.

Rev. Femi Ibikunle

GOMERM monthly service God’s Mercy Revival Ministries (GOMERM) will hold its monthly prophetic impartation service tagged, “Festival of Miracle, God Will Give Me a New Sign and a Wonder” at Mercy Revival Centre, 25/33, Alake Lakonko Street, off Ikotun -Idimu Road, Ile Epo Bus stop, Ikotun, Lagos, tomorrow by 9:00am.

Pastor (Dr) James Akanbi

Ministering are Pastor (Mrs) Deborah Akanbi, Pastor Emmanuel Odunmorayo, Pastor Ezekiel Adewuyi, Pastor Victor Idowu, Pastor Josiah Mogbonjubola, Pastor Joe Odiase. Others are God’s Mercy choir and guest artiste, Sister Yetunde Are. The General Overseer, Pastor (Dr) James Akanbi is the host and will be assisted by others.

8

news

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Pipeline explosions: Wike urges militants to embrace dialogue Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt

G

OVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has admonished militants in the Niger Delta region to embrace dialogue, noting that blowing up of oil facilities is negatively affecting the nation’s economy.

He also accused the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) of being responsible for some of the conflicts in the area, threatening that the state government would revoke the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the oil company, should it continue to act against the security of the state.

He spoke at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday, when he received the Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Area (ONELGA) and the Youths Consultative Council (OYCC).

The governor also said the destruction of oil installations also damaged the environment, adding that this negatively impacts hostcommunities.

He added that should the oil production continue to drop, the nation would face crisis, hence, the need for the restoration of peace through negotiation and dialogue.

“If the oil production con-

tinues to drop, this country will be in crisis. Blowing up oil facilities also has negative effect on our environment.

There is need for the dia-

logue to go on.

“I believe in one united Nigeria and it is in our interest to have peace for development”, he said.

The governor disclosed that governors in the Niger Delta region should be involved in the process for the award of pipeline con-

tracts, for the identification of groups which had no links to militancy.

Earlier, president of OYCC, Mr Kingsley Ogu-

mike, had praised Governor Wike for executing developmental projects in the area and appointing indigenes of the area into key positions.

Leon Usigbe - Abuja

seen the supply of national dailies restricted to a few top government officials.

Saturday Tribune learnt for instance that supplies to the offices of the Chief of Staff to the president, the Permanent Secretary, State House and the Deputy Chief of Staff office were not spared as their daily supplies were cut down, in

some cases, from four copies to one.

Even though it was not clear when the directive came into effect, the situation is said to be impacting negatively on newspaper circulation in Abuja, as media houses involved have found themselves having to deal with additional unsold copies that could have been sup-

plied to the Presidency.

The newspaper houses which have been making supply to the Presidential Villa are also lamenting that apart from the losses they have incurred because of the reduced supply, they are being owed from previous supplies.

One newspaper agent told Saturday Tribune that

the decision to reduce newspaper supply to the Villa was harming his daily returns.

He said that he learnt that government was complaining about lack of money to pay for newspapers, wondering what would become of the debt arising from previous supply.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed the story, blaming the situation on the increase in the cover prices of national dailies.

According to him, the increase has shot up the newspaper supply bill paid by the presidency.

Asked why the supply was drastically reduced, Adesina said: “Cost ballooned after new cover prices.”

It will be recalled that in March this year, a number of newspaper houses raised the cover prices of their dailies from N150 to N200, while the weekend titles went from N200 to N250.

Buhari cuts down newspaper supply in Aso Rock THE prevailing downturn in the nation’s economy is having a toll on the seat of power, as newspaper supply to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, has been ordered drastically reduced.

The decision, said to have the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, has

Glo Hamma millions promo 1st N5m winner emerges NIGERIANS are winning big in the Glo Hamma Millions promo launched three weeks ago by the country’s data masters, Globacom.

Mouthwatering cash prizes worth N125 million will be given to lucky winners in 100 days.

A trailer driver from Oyo, Olatunde Ahmed emerged winner of the N5 million jackpot, alongside 200 other lucky Glo subscribers who won N100,000 each. They were the first set of winners announced

by Globacom in the promo that will produce 1005

winners.

Globacom said in a statement that other winners include Joseph Ayodele a Geologist who lives in Lagos; Babatunde Akewukereke, a medical doctor with the Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos; Abue Simon, a soldier in Lokoja; Chidi Ogaga an accountant from Enugu; Bernard Abayomi, a pensioner who lives in Kubwa, Abuja; Levi Chisom, a clergyman from Owerri; Gideon Ekpenyong, a student from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Hassan Sagir, a legal practitioner from Kaduna and 192

others from different parts of the country. They will all smile to the bank with N100,000 cheque each.

The company explained that the 200 subscribers who won N100,000 each emerged from the day the promo was launched to date. Ten winners were produced daily between Monday, May 16th, when the promo kicked off, and Monday, June 6th, 2016, while the N5m winner emerged after the first twenty days as the company had promised.

The promo draws were

done through an automated process at 12 midnight everyday without any human involvement. A software developed by Velti, an international ICT firm, was deployed to ensure transparency and accuracy in the selection of the winning numbers.

The reward scheme was developed by Globacom to appreciate the customers who have remained the focal point of the company’s operations by making over one thousand of them richer and turning others into multi-millionaires.

9 feature

Keshi ’s untold story

By Dipo Ogunsola

N

IGERIA’S football virtuoso, Stephen Keshi was a field marshal. He commanded his troops royally, loyally and masterly as a coach, and latterly, a coach. Behind the scenes, Keshi could be lively, jovial, humble and rather dramatically irritable.

For those who knew him, he preferred a conversational setting to being surrounded by camera or taped on radio.

In his room at Temperance Hotel in Otta, Ogun state shortly before Nigeria’s departure to the 2002 Africa Nations Cup in Mali, Keshi was at home with this writer on a number of issues he did not discuss in public.

We called him the Big Daddy —Dimeji Lawal

tooth and nail to make it to Nigeria. So I expected the coaches to play the game in their heads and know who they actually needed for the matches. To invite a player and leave him out of the team is no good.

It doesn’t make economic sense and next time the player so dropped will not be enthusiastic in coming to play for Nigeria again.

Eating his Words

All my playing career, I told my handlers I would never be a coach. They prompted me but I couldn’t stand it.

My eldest daughter , Stephanie drafted me into coaching. Her school in the United States was involved in women football competition and she was told to ask from her dad if I could help out.

It was fun coaching the girls and the school eventually won the cup. I then asked myself: Coaching? My mind said why not?

As early as 1974, young Stephen kept a hard cover exercise book. ‘They are tips from all the coaches I went through from roadside, primary to secondary school football, up till my retirement. After every training session, I jotted down all the tricks I learnt from the respective coaches. From time to time, I digested the content and realised over the years that though football is dynamic, the game can only be won through proper and committed application of basic methods of winning.

Is Keshi really the Big Boss?

Thrashing By Grandma

Chartered Flight

I enjoyed the fallacy while it lasted. It is actually strange that people could believe I asked to be flown on chartered flight before playing for Nigeria. The true story is that I only took two chartered flights while captaining the Eagles and the plane in question was owned by RSC Anderlecht of Belgium.

The plane was ready to pick me after a game against Cameroun at the 1988 Nations Cup and another at the 1990 World Cup qualifier against Angola.

Big Boss

It’s from the press. What I think is big is not my body, it is the size of my heart.

Football has taken me to different parts of the world and as a Nigerian, I believe I am not inferior to anybody, as long as you are from this planet. Check it out, I am always the captain from Greater Tomorrow (football kids who entertained the crowd before kick of major matches in the Nigerian 70’s) to all the big clubs I played for. I tell national

Saturday Tribune

‘Grandma always caned me whenever Nigeria lost’

Ageless Tactics Book

I have a strong grand mother in Benin. She would take me on her laps whenever Nigeria won a game. I would say ‘granny, I am no longer a kid, I am too big for your legs’. It’s another story when the result was bad. She had a cane close to her bed and would land a few stokes on me for being on the field and as a captain, watch Nigeria lose.

11 June, 2016

It is actually strange that people could believe I asked to be flown on chartered flight before playing for Nigeria. The true story is that I only took two chartered flights while captaining the Eagles and the plane in question was owned by RSC Anderlecht of Belgium.

Playing for Nigeria

Whoever thinks he is playing for Nigeria because he is the best is deceiving himself.

When I was a kid, there were players in my neighbourhood who were quite better than me but never got to play for Nigeria.

I tell my players beat your chest and note how it sounds. If you are not gutsy enough, then don’t go into the pitch, football is not a gentleman’s game.

Most Difficult Task

It’s not easy having to sprint about 25 metres to heave a long-throw-ins into the opponents’ 18 yard box. It was exciting to the crowd and a pressure on the opponents but ol’ boy, it was tasking.

Rebel Leader

team captains who played under me that you are not a true leader if after an engagement you distant yourself from your teammates.

I spent a lot of time chatting on phone with my colleagues to ask after their welfare both at home and in their clubs.

As a captain, I had to fight for my team mates. All the coaches in the national team were like fathers to me. Perhaps, I was too harsh then but I challenged the decision not to dress any player invited from Europe.

In the 80’s Nigeria’s FA was not all that organised, they didn’t have a proper way of sending invitations so the player fought

Former international, Dimeji Lawal recalled his first day in Super Eagles.

“I was one of the players drafted into the Super Eagles from the national U-20 team in 1990 and Keshi as the captain accorded us a warm welcome.

He is somebody I can’t forget all my life.

He screamed when he saw us: ‘Here are the super stars,’ to which we all replied ‘You are the Big Daddy”.

The day I scored my first international goal on my debut against Togo, Keshi was the first player to rush towards me and lifted me up. All my days at the national team, he was always there to give courage and enthusiasm to the younger players. He loved to psyche the team up, no wonder he was also successful as a coach,” said Lawal Bunmi Adigun, another former international recalled that football authorities in Malaysia made enquiries from him when they were planning to bring in Keshi as part of their plans to popularise the country’s League.

“I was a big star in Malaysia and before they signed any player from Africa, they chose to hear from me. When Keshi was coming, they asked for my comments but I said in football, it should be the other way round-it was Keshi who recommended players to clubs, nobody did that for him. Though we were mates at Greater Tomorrow, he is the undisputed king of Nigerian football,’’ said the former Leventis United striker.

10

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

style

31

08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

with Kate Ani

Fashionable Nigerian female CEOs F ROM a business point of view, your style is extremely important but In the end, female fashion for the business world is not only about the designer clothes, hairstyle and make-up. Like men, women must be aware of things like accent,

Tinuola Ayanniyi tayanniyi@yahoo.com 08055069379

Do-It-Yourself: Silver bugle geometrics necklace

word choice, presentation skills and even posture to project themselves professionally.

Here are some of the best-dressed female CEOs in Nigeria. These high-powered women prove that you can be head-of-the-board and still be stylish.

BOLA Adesola, MD\CEO Standard Bank, Nigeria. This powerful banker wears a smile that lights up every room.

She is no doubt, on top of her game with the way she pairs gemstone beads with elegant suits.

Tools

OSARETIN Afusat Demuren, Chairman, Guaranty Trust Bank. Demuren is a stylish banking guru who knows her onions and loves to braid her hair.

IBUKUN Awosika, Chairman, Board of Directors, FirstBank.

Also an author and motivational speaker, Awosika displays confidence and always holds her audience spellbound with her powerful speeches. Awosika has a classy sense of style with her signature natural long hair with slight grey streaks.

MOSUNMOLA Abudu- CEO, Ebony Life TV. Mosun, described by Forbes Magazine as “Africa’s Most Successful Woman, apart from being famous and extremely good-looking, the media guru is also a style icon.

BUKKY George, Founder\CEO HealthPlus.

This stunning CEO is the owner of a fast-growing pharmaceutical firm in West Africa and as a cosmetic line owner, she always appears polished and dolled up. She is nothing but beauty with brains.

Directions NKIRU Anumudu: Socialite and wife of billionaire businessman and chairman of Global Motors, Willie Anumudu, Nkiru is a fashionista. She rocks the hottest pieces fresh off the runways and has sealed her prime place in classy circles.

FOLORUNSHO Alakija, Director, FAMFA Oil. This billionaire oil magnateowns a high-end clothing store; Supreme Stitches, which, sells clothing to fashionable bigwigs wives and society women she is herself a statement in style

11 newsfeature

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Which African country is worst at fighting insurgents?

Nigeria and Kenya get poor marks in new survey

was demoralised and on the back foot. In the survey, Nigerians blamed government officials, parliamentarians, and the military – basically anybody in power – for Boko Haram’s success.

Unsurprisingly, President Goodluck Jonathan was dumped at the polls in 2015 – the first time an incumbent lost an election.

By Obi Anyadike (IRIN)

P

UBLIC approval in Nigeria and Kenya for their governments’ handling of jihadist violence is low, and citizens have a poor opinion of the security forces that are supposed to protect them, according to a survey-based report released this week by Afrobarometer, a pan-African research network.

Both Nigeria and Kenya are facing ruthless insurgencies, but only about four in 10 of their citizens back the counter-insurgency efforts. That score contrasts with high approval ratings in regional neighbours Niger (96 percent), Cameroon (81 percent), and Uganda (83 percent), which also face security threats.

The Afrobarometer surveys were carried out in 36 countries at the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015 as face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with a maximum +/-3 percent sampling error.

They not only reveal that citizens in Nigeria and Kenya are unhappy with their governments’ performance in dealing with Boko Haram and al-Shabab violence, but also expose significant levels of distrust in the security forces.

Out of all the countries surveyed, public confidence in the police was lowest in Nigeria (21 percent) and Kenya (36 percent) – compared to Niger, where almost nine in 10 citizens said they trusted their police.

When people were questioned on their perceptions of their armed forces, Nigeria’s military was again the worst performer, with only 40 percent of people saying they were trusted. In Kenya, the military enjoyed more confidence at 68 percent.

By comparison, 86 percent of people polled in Senegal regarded their army as reliable; in Tanzania it was 82 percent.

Big caveat

“Context really matters,” said report co-author Rorisang Lekalake. “At that time [of the surveys], there were large numbers of attacks in Nigeria and Kenya. In Nigeria, the situation was so precarious

It’s also political

we couldn’t conduct the surveys in three northern states.”

Forty-five percent of Kenyans voted security as their number one concern, as did 39 percent of Nigerians. But the most concern was found in the middle-income island nation of Mauritius (48 percent), followed by Tunisia (47 percent).

By contrast, only 10 percent of Ugandans said they were worried, despite the recent history of the Lord’s Resistance Army. Sierra Leoneans were positively sanguine; just three percent mentioned security as an issue.

There are large local swings in the survey results. Nigeria’s northern states, the home region of the Boko Haram insurgency, were more critical of the government’s efforts than the southern half of the country, said Lekalake. In one telling result, more than one third of respondents believed that “all” or “most” Muslim citizens support extremist groups (the north is predominantly Muslim).

Boko Haram was seizing and holding northern towns in 2014, and a badly led and under-equipped Nigerian army

In Kenya, support for the government’s counter-insurgency efforts is highest in its biggest political constituency of Central Province (79 percent approval). It’s weakest in North Eastern Province (12 percent), which borders Somalia, and which has felt much of the brunt of al-Shabab attacks and the security campaign.

Support for Kenya’s five-year military intervention in Somalia is well over 50 percent across the country (in Central it’s 80 percent). The exception is North Eastern, where only 31 percent of people approve.

The intervention was launched to halt cross-border raids, but cited by al-Shabab as a reason for their continued attacks – including those on the Westgate shopping mall and Garissa University that killed a total of 215 people. Yet two thirds of Kenyans said the intervention “has been necessary despite the terrorist problems resulting from it”.

So what do people want their governments to do?

In Nigeria, the survey found the priorities were a strengthening of the military response (44 percent); more job creation (34 percent); outreach to religious leaders (17 percent); followed by an array of approaches, including better governance and community engagement.

“Nigeria has a much longer history of violent extremism,” Lekalake told IRIN. “Even at the community level, people realise that the military response can’t be the only response, and is not necessarily the best response.”

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 Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733 Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177 South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

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

GOT NEWS?

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797 Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna.

Ikeja Marketing Office.

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

Contact: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com or call:07030004233

12

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

Our favourite proverbs

The ABC of friendship A – Accept him/her unconditionally.

B – Believe in him/her.

C – Counsel him/her.

D – Devotion is the soul of friendship.

E – Empower him/her at all times.

F – Fish him out of trouble.

G – Gift strengthens the bond of friendship.

H – Help even when it’s not convenient.

I – Improvise things you don’t have.

J – Jokes are spices of friendship.

K – Kindness keeps friendship going.

L – Love without condition.

M – Merciful heart is the best tonic of friendship.

N – Nurture one another.

O – Optimism brings out the best in a friend.

P – Pray for another.

Q – Quietness makes maturity.

R – Rely on one another.

S – Serve one another.

T – Teachable spirit makes quality friendship.

U – Unity of purpose is akin to progress.

V –Value addition keeps friendship fresh.

W – Wealth for one is wealth for both.

X – A friend is the X-ray of the soul.

Y – Your friend is your best pal.

Z – Zeal to succeed must be our greatest desire.

Dotun Oyetunde JSS 1A, King’s International College, Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Respondents are students of D-Right Path College, Wofun, Ibadan, Oyo State.

1

3

2 1. Aminat Sulaimon, 13 yrs old, Basic 9 “Make hay while the sun shines” and “a stitch in time saves 4 nine” are my favourite proverbs. When I was in primary school, I exhibited laziness. I played around with my friends. My parents would tell me the consequence of my attitude towards my study but I did not listen. Eventually, I failed my promotion examination. So, I had to repeat the class. Then I remember my parents’ persuasion to save myself the stress of doing one thing twice.

9

2. Idris Idowu, 11 years old, Basic

During the last holiday, every day, I dedicated a lot of time to studying my books.

One day, my mother asked me what I read

not joke with any academic-related activities because I want to be successful. Education has lots of advantages.

4. Rofiat Abdul-Salam, 12 yrs old, Basic 7 I learnt a lesson in a hard way one day when an aunt called me and offered me a hundred naira and I collected it. She immediately asked me to follow her to her house as she had a gift for me. I was happy and with that feeling I followed her. When we got to her house, she asked me to return the money and wash her clothes, failure which would result in punishment. When I finished washing the clothes and was leaving, she said to me “All that glitters is not gold.”

5. Abass Fodlu-Rahmon, 13 yrs old, Basic 7 My favourite proverb is “time waits for no man.” The lessons I have learnt from this proverb is that I should not waste any time on whatever I need to do. I have from this proverb had a timetable for my activities because if I spend too much time on a thing, other things will suffer.

I want to admonish every student to take this statement with seriousness because we are young and still have a lot of things to do.

5

7 but I could not recall anything. She got angry with me.

Immediately, I remembered that I had had too much in my 6 brain and I could hardly remember a single sentence. I decided to take some time off reading and went to play. I resumed reading and after a while, my mother asked me to tell her some of the things I had read. With excitement, I started recalling what I had read. She was very happy. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

6. Shittu Abdul-Qudus, 12 yrs old, Basic 7 “As you lay your bed, so you lie on it” is my best proverb. Some time ago, my family travelled to Lagos. When I woke up the following morning, I just left the bed without making it. When my mother saw this, she told me the proverb. I was surprised because that was the first time I heard it. Since then, I have had it in my brain.

She later explained what it means. I had a friend whom I told what mum said. The proverb also had a positive impact on him.

7. Maryam Olabamiji, Basic 7 My favourite proverb is “do not follow multitude to do evil.” It is not necessarily evil, but anything wrong. I have come to understand that the fact that many people engage in an event does not mean I should join them because all of us have different reasons for doing things.

I tell my friends this each time they want to get involved in an act.

3. Halimat Akinborode, 11 yrs old, Basic 8 I found this proverb interesting: “Let education be your friend until you give birth to success.” I got this from a book.

Since the day I got this into my brain, I do

Ca rt o on

13

11 June, 2016

BLESSING EKUM ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

food&drink

Take

jollof rice

Saturday Tribune

to another level with cheese

Miss Alberto Gibug is the chief chef at Bethel Restaurant, Ogun State. In this interview with TOLUWALASE ODETUNDE, she shares her over-one-decade experience as a caterer and reveals how cheese can be added to jollof rice to give it a uniquely delicious taste.

Why did you choose to go into catering?

I just love it. It’s my passion.

How long have you been catering?

I started food service in the year 2013.

What is the culinary trend in parties these days?

Jollof rice, fried rice and swallow such as amala, pounded yam, semolina, wheat, eba. For soup, we have edikang ikong and efo riro.

What has been your most challenging experience?

Satisfying the different tastes of various customers.

Food appreciated by a particular customer might be rejected by another. I don’t get discouraged anyway, because I know I can’t satisfy everybody. As long as 90 per cent of my customers appreciate my service, I’m fine.

Can you recall your most memorable experience?

Every day has always been good as long as far as I can remember.

What is it about catering that most people don’t know?

Everyone is a caterer; as long as you go to the kitchen and you are able to prepare something edible. The difference is that while one is a professional the other does not take it as a profession.

What advice can you give prospective caterers?

Developing your skills in catering is important. However, one must develop interest in it because it is a joyful work. It is advisable that ladies should know how to cook well because they don’t expect their husbands to keep cooking for them. Caterers should also know how to use their discretion to measure rather than depending on measurement all the time.

Do you feel comfortable eating others food?

No, because I don’t really like eating out. If at all I eat other people’s food, it’d probably be because I want to compare the taste and improve on my services.

What do you prepare when you want to give yourself a treat?

I prefer preparing rice. In fact, my favourite food is white rice with stew. I also enjoy fried rice, base rice and sometimes brown rice. Brown rice and base rice are not common and are prepared only on special occasions.

Jollof rice is a specialty in most parties, is there a way you prepare it to make it unique?

Yes, there is a basic way jollof rice is prepared but I make mine unique and tastier by adding cheese during the cooking process.

Can you share the recipe?

The ingredients needed are 1 cup medium or long grain brown rice, 1 teaspoon olive oil or sesame oil, optional,

2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, cheese, carrot, green peas, sweet corn, cabbage, lettuce.

To prepare, place rice in a large strainer or colander and rinse thoroughly under cool water. Heat teaspoon of olive oil on medium-high heat, and then cover the pot. Add rice and toast until rice is dry and starting to look slightly toasted on the tip. It will also start to smell fragrance and nutty. Slowly pour water into pot with rice — if rice is toasted, it will steam and bubble at first. Stir in a teaspoon of salt. Bring to boil, and then reduce heat to low: make sure the liquid stops boiling and has reduced to a bare simmer over low heat, then cover the pot. Cook for 45 minutes, do not uncover the pot to check the rice during cooking. Check rice to see if water has been absorbed; drain if excess.

At this point the rice should not be crunchy. Add vegetables. It should be added after it is fried a little. Pour into the rice and the cheese. Cover and let it stand for another 15 minutes for it to steam. This step prevents the rice from being overly sticky and helps it loose that wet, “just steamed” texture. Use a fork to fluff rice, and then transfer it to a serving dish. Serve while warm. Then garnish with egg, sweet corn, lettuce and tomato.

What are the top three things at the back of your mind when offering catering services?

Because good catering involves adequate planning, there is just one thing I put in mind which is to always be at alert and satisfy clients by giving them what they want.

14

11 June, 2016

With Bosede Ola-Samuel 08112658560 bosedeola_samuel@yahoo.com

intimacy STRICTLY FOR ADULTS

9 ways to ignite the sparks in the bedroom

Sneaky Sex: This has the added excitement of “forbidden fruit” — having silent sex behind locked doors while the children are watching TV, sneaking lovemaking in your childhood bedroom while visiting your parents, visiting your partner at work and having quickie sex on the couch in a locked office.

M

arriage without sex is wide-open to temptation.

Don’t kid yourselves that you can be “best friends” and your marriage will last. Sooner or later, temptation will arise, either from a partner’s co-worker, another member of the church choir (this happens a lot) or a neighbor.

The drive to have sex is powerful, and it will be satisfied, one way or another.

Love and sex are like the roots that feed the tree. To keep that vital energy going, and the sap rising, you need to provide something new and interesting. Seduction can be as simple as causing your partner to ask what you’ve been doing that has you so energized and interested. When you’re enthusiastic, you’re seductive — it’s the most attractive we can be.

When your relationship lasts for a while, your lovemaking will change. As you get closer, passion no longer grows automatically out

of the excitement of the new and unknown.

Rather than allowing your energy to subside, you can allow your lovemaking to change and grow, deepening as your partnership does. Couples who develop a”sexual repertoire which includes a variety of sexual habits, attitudes and options report feeling more satisfaction and freedom to express their love with enough variety that they never get bored. These suggestions will help you create a variety of experiences together.

Quickies: These are ways you have sex when you don’t really have time for a full, leisurely romantic evening: One of you giving oral sex before you leave for work, petting to climax in the car at a drive-in movie, using vibrators to have orgasms without a lot of foreplay late at night, taking a nap and having a “quickie” before rushing off to a party.

Romantic Sex: This is the full-blown variety: candlelight, dinner, quiet talking, dressing up, perhaps a lovely hotel room, or a romantic dinner for two when you have time alone at home. Especially good for anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, or anytime your relationship needs a boost.

New Couple Sex: Recreate a scene from your dating days, as closely as possible — the time you met at church and couldn’t wait to get home and make love, the flowers you used to bring home as a surprise, or saying all the silly, wildly in-love things you said then.

Making-up Sex: After you’ve had an argument or a struggle, and forgiven each other, lovemaking can be extra tender and memorable.

Comforting Sex: When one of you is sad or stressed, the other is especially car-

conversewithyemisi My boyfriend is dating my close friend!

Dear Yemisi, hat can I do about this issue?

My boyfriend asked out a very close friend of mine and I want to quit the relationship.

W

What should I tell him?

Anonymous, 08***5*****.

Dear Anonymous, What do you want to tell him that will not amount to inviting trouble?

Do you have to wait for anybody to

For Her

Shade, 27, from Kwara State, needs a serious guy aged 30 or above for a relationship. Call 08133812843.

Joke, 27, Muslim, single, dark-complexioned, needs a loving, caring, honest, hardworking, fair-complexioned Nigerian or foreign man aged between 28 and 38 for a relationship. Contact 08186156799.

Jumoke, 29, from Ondo State, honest, romantic, needs a caring, loving, honest man aged between 35 and 48 for a relationship. Call 08149598213.

Esther, 28, postgraduate student, humble, gentle, reliable, seeks a God-fearing, mature man aged 35 to 52 for marriage. Call 08063914050.

tell you to do the needful?

Are you sure that he is seriously dating your close friend? What even gives you the impression that your acclaimed close friend is one in deed?

You might have been the one who sees her as your closest friend! It is likely she never saw you in that light.

How were you able to conclude that your boyfriend is dating your friend or you are just assuming that they are in love? You will be saving yourself the pains of wrongful assumption.

For Him

Lanre, 42, Lagos-based engineer, needs a God-fearing, responsible lady aged between 35 and 40 for a relationship. Call 07052708441.

Ifeoluwa, 36, freelance marketing consultant, Ibadan-based, needs a mature, beautiful , fat, Muslim lady aged between 25 and 30 for a relationship. Call 08036669747.

James Pattons, 31, needs a lady aged 20 or above for a relationship. Call 08058862576.

Gbenga, 41, sales man, from Kogi State, based in Abeokuta, Ogun State, needs a godly lady aged between 34 and 47 from any tribe as wife. Call 08096963444.

Saturday Tribune

I am of the opinion that you should try all avenues to get to the root of the matter so as not to make a grievous mistake of giving up on mere hear say. Wanting to call it quits with the guy might not be the way out as the scenario might play itself out in your next move.

ing and soothing, doing all your favorite things to comfort and relax you.

Relaxing Sex: This is the kind to do on a weekend morning, when you have no obligations, and can laze around, have breakfast in bed, and make love for as long as you want; no pressure, no hurry and no demands on each other.

Reassuring Sex This is affection and intimacy intended to reassure a partner who is temporarily insecure, or designed to reaffirm your mutual love and commitment to each other. It is often accompanied by many verbal declarations of love and explaining again why you are so important to each other.

Fantasy Sex: Act out all the silly, forbidden or exciting fantasies — nurse and patient, two little children “playing house”, master or dominatrix and slave, stripper and customer, extraterrestrial alien and abductee, famous movie star and adoring fan, your two favorite characters from a soap opera, novel or movie, or anything else you can imagine. This is a great time for costumes, masks, sexual toys, leather outfits, or whatever enhancements you enjoy.

Culled from: huffingtonpost.com

08055001741 (sms only) yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com

Be armed with facts and figures before you make up your mind. Ask him if what you have heard is the truth, if he confirms it, then you will not be accused of being impatient if you call it quits with him.

Please, be open-minded and let the sleeping dog lie. If he chooses to be your closest friend’s lover, so be it. It is a pointer to the fact that you initially went into a wrong union.

She says she can’t date just one guy!

Dear Yemisi, I have been dating my girlfriend for over a year now. But before we started dating, she told me that she was dating up to three guys, but she told me when we met that she can never date only one person, but ‘I confirmed her’. She is still a virgin, so amazing!

So, enlighten me the more.

Kunle, 08*********.

Dear Kunle, What exactly do you want from this girl? She has already told you that she cannot stick to just one guy at a time. What other confirmation do you want from her?

I hope you have not mistaken a casual friend for a lover! Do you understand the implication of her confession? Or should I say that she is trying to tell you that she is capable of having as many male friends as

possible without compromising her belief.

She might have considered you as a casual friend rather than a lover and many other guys. It is possible she has no emotional commitment to any of you. There are few individuals with such attribute. And if she has been courageous enough to say this to your face, then the ball is in your court to decide what you want to do with her.

Though what you meant by ‘confirming her’ is not clear to me, you must clearly spell out what you intend doing with this association.

You cannot turn round later to call her unprintable names because she has told you her intention. It is now left to you to try and figure out what she is actually gunning after. She might just want to be a friend without serious commitment.

15

11 June, 2016

health&fitness

Saturday Tribune Blessing Ekum ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

By Blessing Ekum

O

ld age is a phase of life many hope to reach but are usually not in a hurry to arrive at. This may not be unconnected to the myriads of health issues associated with that phase which arises as a result of the body regressing from age and use. Although health issues could arise from any part of the body, one crucial aspect is in the case of hearing disorders and ear infections.

Besides the discomfort associated with hearing disorders, one major reason ear problems take the front seat among health concerns in the elderly is the fact that the ear is responsible for maintaining balance in walking and standing, and a problem in this regard could spell complications and sometimes indirectly lead to death.

According to the United States Vestibular Disorders Association, each year, between 20 and 40 per cent of adults over 65 who live at home fall as a result of loss of balance. The consequences of these falls can be disastrous because between 12 and 67 per cent of elderly adults who fracture a hip because of a fall die within one year.

Dr. Olayemi Aderibigbe, a medical practitioner, says, “As we age, it is natural that the body degenerates, and the ear is not exempted. Age-related hearing loss is an expected part of the ageing process, though some people are more susceptible to hearing loss than others. The reason for the disparity is unknown, but as with any other age-related condition, good nutrition, physical activity, and good prevention practices (hearing protection, in this case) can contribute to lessening the effects or delaying the onset of hearing loss.

“The ear is primarily known for its role in auditory sensation but it also performs an important function in maintaining balance.

The human system of balance helps us move, run and walk without falling and it is controlled by a network of organs, with the ear playing a vital role. We maintain our balance by signals getting to the brain from the eyes, the inner ear, and the sensory systems of the body (such as the skin, muscles, and joints). This balance system is also known as the vestibular system.

Among the elderly, several factors can tamper with the vestibular system. Besides diseases that can affect their vision (such as glaucoma, cataracts and complications from diabetes), diseases of the musculo-skeletal system (such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis), deterioration of the inner ear can also affect balance in the elderly.”

As people age, there is also the tendency of increased dizziness. Though dizziness could arise as a result of various causes (central nervous system disorders (such as stroke), cardiac problems (including low or high blood pressure), low blood sugar, infection, medication side effects or interactions between drugs, or an inadequate or poorly balanced diet), the predominant source is the ear. Dr Timothy Hain, a neurologist, says, “Otologic (caused by the ear) dizziness is the most common type of dizziness in the elderly. This is mainly due to an increased tendency for the elderly to develop benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Ménière’s disease is another vestibular disorder that causes dizziness.

Ménière’s disease produces a recurring

Why the elderly should take special care of their ears

set of symptoms as a result of abnormally large amounts of a fluid called endolymph collecting in the inner ear. These symptoms typically include spontaneous, violent vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, ear fullness, and/or tinnitus.”

The United States Vestibular Disorders Association also adds that other vestibular disorders that may occur in older adults include vestibular neuritis (inflammation of the vestibular branch of the vestibulo-cochlear nerve, resulting in dizziness or vertigo but no change in hearing) and ototoxicity (exposure to certain chemicals that damage the inner ear or the vestibulo-cochlear nerve, which sends balance and hearing information from the inner ear to the brain). Ototoxicity can result in

temporary or permanent disturbances of hearing, balance, or both.

While some may dismiss dizziness and problems with balance as an unavoidable consequence of ageing, experts say this shouldn’t be done as these symptoms may be important signs of a disease that might be cured or controlled. In older people, a regular physical examination by a doctor familiar with the problems of ageing can help identify and correct potential problems.

Although the problem of imbalance in older persons can be complex, there are a few simple precautions that everyone can follow to help ensure an active old age. Balance in standing and walking is at least partly a skill that older adults can

Usually ear infections occur in elderly people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes. If the infection is not treated immediately the pain and discharge continues, then fever may develop with the ear becoming swollen, red and painful to the touch.

learn to maintain and/or improve, and it is dependent on good general physical condition. Therefore, sound nutritional and health habits—including regular exercise, such as walking—can go a long way toward preventing balance trouble, experts say.

Besides problems with balance and hearing, the elderly are also more vulnerable to ear aches and infections. Most of these infections are usually bacterial with a few being fungal in origin but could also be caused by allergies, irritants or inflammatory conditions. However, ear infections become a bigger source of concern, especially in a diabetic as experts have pointed out that if an elderly patient has an ear infection, pain in the ear and/or discharge, it could most likely be a complication arising from diabetes. “Diabetes increases susceptibility to various types of infections. Usually ear infections occur in elderly people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes. If the infection is not treated immediately the pain and discharge continues, then fever may develop with the ear becoming swollen, red and painful to the touch. At this point in time the elderly person is possibly in a life-threatening situation. If you are the caregiver of an elderly person and they develop ear pain with discharge and then a fever - regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with diabetes - they need immediate medical attention,” Dr Aderibigbe says.

16 healthandfitness

11 June, 2016

My son’s serious body odour My 15-year-old son is having a serious body odour and I am not happy with this. Kindly advise me on what to do.

Adewale ( by SMS) Body odour (or B.O., bromhidrosis,) is a perceived unpleasant smell our bodies can give off when bacteria break down protein into certain acids. Body odour usually becomes evident if measures are not taken when a human reaches puberty - 14-16 years of age in females and 15-17 years of age in males. People who are obese, those who regularly eat spicy foods, as well as individuals with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes,

are more susceptible to having body odour. Body odour is most likely to occur in our feet, groin, armpits, genitals, pubic hair and other hair, belly button, anus, behind the ears, and to some (lesser) extent on the rest of our skin. Some medical conditions may change how much a person sweats, while others can alter how we sweat, subsequently

My man does not ejaculate Please, I would like to know why my boyfriend does not ejaculate even after many rounds of sex.

Though he is good in bed, I don’t feel him ejaculating and he too has confirmed this unfortunate habit. What can I do?

Chidinma (by SMS) Your man most likely has a blockage of the spermatic duct (the tube that conveys sperm to the outside). Kindly make ar-

Saturday Tribune

Dr. Wale Okediran changing the way we smell. For example, hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) or the menopause can make people sweat much more, while liver disease, kidney disease or diabetes can change the consistency of sweat so that the person smells differently.

A fruity smell could indicate diabetes due to high levels of ketones in the bloodstream. Liver or kidney disease can often make the individual have a bleach-like smell due to a build-up of toxins in the body. In view of this, my advice will be for you to take your son to see a skin specialist (dermatologist) for a proper check up.

waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

08055069356 (sms only)

I have never enjoyed sex Even though I am a 31-year-old married woman with a child, I have never for once enjoyed sex in my life. No matter the precaution I take, I am always so tight that sex becomes very painful for me during and after sex. Kindly advise me on what to do.

Fatima (by SMS) Many factors ranging from psychological to medical may be responsible for this. If your mind has been primed from

youth to see sex as something bad or sinful, this could lead to a psychological blockage against sex. Also, your continuous ‘tightness’ even after many years could be due to some anatomical problems that may need some medical intervention. In addition,

your husband may also need to be educated on how he can increase the ‘foreplay’ in order to improve the lubrication of your vagina and so avoid the pain during sex. A visit to a gynaecologist is highly recommended.

Is this a man or a woman?

rangements for him to see a urologist (medical specialist for such problems) in the teaching or specialist hospital nearest to you for a proper examination and treatment.

Recently, a ‘man’ with two fully formed breasts was paraded in a church after he confessed to having powers to change from a ‘man’ during the day to a ‘woman’ at night. As a medical student I am confused on how this can be possible. Your kind enlightenment will be appreciated.

Marcus (by SMS)

The ‘man’ is most likely to be bisexual (a person with both the male and female sexual organs). ‘He’ would most likely have a penis in addition to breasts and vagina. It is estimated that about 1 % of children born usually have some form of sexual organ anomaly with the presence of both sexual organs. When such cases

are discovered at infancy, a detailed examination will show a preponderance of one sexual organ to the other in the said individual. A decision usually backed by genetic typing will then be taken on which of the two sexes the individual should be switched to. In doing so, surgery may be done to remove one sexual organ in preference to the

other. Hormone therapy as well psychological counselling will then be introduced to reinforce the preferred sex. The ‘man’ in question must have missed this medical scrutiny at infancy and grew up with both sexual organs fully developed. ‘He’ can still be helped medically to stick to either being a ‘man’ or a ‘woman’.

Dr. Abiodun Adeoye adeoyemoshood@yahoo.com

I

08056564360, 08072000017 (sms only)

Excess water intake may be harmful should be as advised by your doctor. You cannot participate in “water therapy”. The message here is not to stop taking water but to know your limit and daily requirement. The biggest thing for you is to monitor fluid loss through sweat and urine and balance it with intake.

have personally experienced the benefits of taking four to six glasses of water early in the morning but drinking excess water may not be palatable. Water is definitely important for existence to the extent that the whole body of an adult is 60% water. As important as water is, moderation is the key to prevent intoxication.

Water, just like any other substance, can be considered a poison when over-consumed in a specific period of time Water intoxication Water intoxication, also known as water poisoning or dilutional hyponatrieamia is a potentially deadly disturbance in brain functions that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside not dangerous limits by overhydration. It is rare in normal circumstances for one to have water intoxicity; excess water consumption is expected to be excreted in the urine.

Most deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests in which individuals attempt to consume large amounts of water, or from long bouts of exercise during which excessive amounts of fluid were consumed. Also in some form of torture in which the victim is forced to consume excessive amounts of water can cause water intoxication.

Water enters the body when we drink and is removed primarily in the urine and sweat. The amount of water in the body is regulated to control the levels of certain compounds, such as salt, in the blood. If you drink too much water eventually the kidneys will not be able to work fast enough to remove sufficient amounts from the body, so the blood becomes more dilute with low salt concentrations.

The diluted blood can then cause your brain to swell, stopping it from regulating vital functions such as breath-

ing, and causing death. In water intoxication, there is no time for the body to adjust and maintain equilibrium.

Brain is enclosed in bony box called skull which does not allow expansion beyond a limit thereby leading to adverse compression (conning) as it swells from excess water consumption. Warning signs include confusion and headaches. Symptoms would normally occur very soon after drinking the water, but if the gut is absorbing the water more slowly, then it can take longer. Drinking several liters over a relatively short period of time could be enough to cause water intoxication. Other symptoms of hyponatremia include confusion, disorientation, nausea and vomiting. Cough and sudden breathlessness occur when the lungs are congested with water.

There are certain clinical conditions such as chronic heart disease, heart failure or renal failure where there are restrictions to the amount of water that they can consume because taking too much water in excess of what their body can cope with will increase their risks of overhydration. If you are in this condition, your water intake

Why do we need water?

As mentioned earlier, right quantity of water in the body is essential to maintain the balance of essential minerals.

The functions of water include temperature regulation, especially keeping you cool by allowing you to sweat when you get hot. The gastrointestinal tract/gut is kept moist to aid digestion and processing of food thereby making the absorption of nutrients and passage of waste easy.

There are certain conditions where you need to take more water as found in very hot weather, febrile illness and after an exercise where you have lost water through sweat. When you lose more fluid than you take in, you become dehydrated, this is a particular problem when: The quantity of water you take depends on your activities, the environment and types of food consumed. Approximately four glasses of water or a liter a day is obtained from the food that we eat. So we get that from solid foods and things such as watermelon, tea, coffee, milk and yogurt, which all contribute to our total fluid load. Caffeinated drinks do have a mild diuretic effect (ie they promote water loss) but you get more fluid from them than you lose. Note that alcohol makes you dehydrated. About 250mls of water is produced in the body from metabolism of fat, protein and starch.

You will agree with me that daily water requirement is indivdualised but an average of 2.5 to 3 liters a day is recommended. Be cautious in that practice of water therapy and be extremely careful in that water drinking competition. Excess water intake can kill! Yes, water toxicity exists! Maintain a healthy heart!

17

11 June, 2016

Divorce

Saturday Tribune

Court & Crime

She made life unbearable for me, such that I had to run away —Husband

He’s is a cheat, dates our landlord’s daughter-in-law —Wife

She steals my money, vows to destroy my business, husband tells court —Wife He refused to give us upkeep allowance —Wife

Stories by Oluwole Ige - Osogbo, Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin and Oyeyemi Okunlade, with Agency reports

A

n Ado-Ekiti customary court in Ekiti State has dissolved the eight-year-old marriage between Mr Tajudeen Owolabi and his wife, Idayat, over the latter’s alleged stealing habit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the court cited threats to his life, ill-treatment, cursing and disrespect as other reasons for the divorce.

Tajudeen, 35, had told the court that his wife’s bad habits had left him restless.

“She is fond of stealing my money and will not allow my business to grow,” he claimed.

The father of two also alleged that his wife hardly prepared food on time and would not wash his clothes.

“She is fond of saying that my business will go down (crash) and that I will see paper and call it money.

“Each time I reported my wife to her parents, the mother was always supporting her daughter; it is only the father that was always telling her the truth.”

The petitioner alleged that Idayat once stormed his house in company with her family members and ‘disorganised’ everything in sight, after pulling off the compound’s burglary proof.

He, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve the marriage.

But the respondent, Idayat, 28, denied the allegation of stealing her husband’s money.

Idayat denied ever breaking in into her husband’s house in company with her family members.

She claimed that her husband refused to give her the family’s upkeep allow-

ance for four months and would not eat any food prepared by her.

President of the court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, observed that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved it.

Akomolede ruled that the custody of one of the two male children of the marriage be awarded to the husband.

She, however, ordered that the wife should take custody of the other oneyear-old male child of the marriage. used to tear my boxers Akomolede also or- She before raping me —Husband dered the husband to be No, it is normal for us to make paying N4,000 monthly love —Wife to Idayat as Lateef’s feeding allowance, while She brings her men friends equally paying the boy’s into our house —Husband school fees.

I stopped sleeping with him ’cos The court also he infected me with STD —Wife granted both parents See pages 18 & 23 access to their children.

inside

A 41-year-old man, Nureni Adio, has asked an Orile Agege customary court in Lagos State to dissolve his 19-year-old marriage to his wife, Monsurat, over threats to his life and fetish practice.

Giving testimony before the court, Adio said, “she made life unbearable for me, such that I had to run away from home in 2011.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),the petitioner said Monsuratu is troublesome.

“My wife is a troublemaker; she nags a lot and fights with almost everyone in the house, including our landlord.

“Anytime she sees me praying, she will strip naked, stand behind me and begin to curse me.

“She comes home late in the night and always goes against my wish,” he said.

Adio said that his estranged wife didn’t care for him or the children and often denied them food.

“I cooked for my children but ran away from the house in 2011 because I lost my peace of mind and I didn’t want to end up in the grave.

“I want a divorce, I do not love her again,” said the father of five children.

Adio also requested for the custody of his children for proper care.

However, Monsuratu, a trader, denied all the allegations.

“I am a responsible woman; I take care of my children and my husband.

“My husband is a cheat, he was having an affair with the landlord’s daughter-in-law, he would give the woman money for food and won’t provide for my children and me.

“When I was pregnant with the fifth child, he gave me money for abortion and when I didn’t abort the baby, he was absent during the christening.

“I do not love him either, I want the dissolution, but I want the custody of my children,” she said President of the court, Dr Kayode Whenu, told the couple to maintain the peace and adjourned the case till June 21 for possible reconciliation of the couple.

18

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

23

courtandcrime

She used to tear my boxers before raping me —Husband

No, it is normal for us to make love —Wife

A

I stopped sleeping with him ’cos he infected me with STD —Wife A man has dragged his wife before an Agege customary court in Lagos State over allegations of infidelity and lack of trust.

Forty-five-year-old Emmanuel Udenwa had told the court that his wife of eight years was promiscous and wayward.

“I am a businessman and I always travel to Benin Republic and Togo to buy bags and shoes. I noticed

AN Ado-Ekiti customary court in Ekiti State, has dissolved the eight-year-old marriage between, Bakare Morili and her husband, Adedotun, for frequent fighting, drunkenness and lack of rest of mind.

President of the court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, held that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and dissolved the marriage.

“Since the respondent had repeatedly shunned court proceedings, it is deemed that he had admitted the allegations levelled against him,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Akomolede awarded the custody of the two children to the wife and ordered the husband to be responsible for their education.

She also ordered that the husband should pay N8,000 as monthly feeding allowance of the children, and granted Adedotun access to see his children.

Morili had told the court that her husband was a drunkard.

She said there was a day he came back home late and when she demanded to know where he was coming from, it generated a heated controversy.

“He got hold of a lantern and in an attempt to throw it at me, the lantern hit our new baby boy, leaving the boy with a mark.

“Since then, he has never stopped drinking to

“Please, separate us before my wife kills me, my life is not safe with her, I am a pensioner, I need to enjoy the fruits of my labour,” he said.

However, the wife, Mrs Adenike Rodoye, 44, a businesswoman, denied all the allegations levelled against her by her husband.

She alleged that her husband was a womaniser.

“My husband runs after anything in skirt; he always sends me packing from the house whenever he wants to bring in another woman.

“He once sent me out with the children for three years.

“After sending me out, he had married six different women, but none stayed long with him. He was always begging me to return to my matrimonial home later,” she said.

The mother of five said she never raped her husband, adding that it was normal for husband and wife to make love.

The respondent also denied ever beating up her husband but alleged that her husband was always beating her.

Adenike said that her husband removed the plasma television set, the air conditioner and disconnected the electricity supply from her flat, leaving her and the children in darkness.

She said that Durojaiye also fought with her pastor on several occasions and even arrested him with police.

Adenike said that the development led the church’s leadership to ban her from worshipping there.

stupor,” she said.

The mother of two said that her husband’s drinking habit had made him to see her as a punching bag.

According to her, “anytime he is drunk, he must beat me.”

She also accused Adedotun of being stingy and not ready to take up his responsibilities at home.

“He’s always threatening my life; always saying that he will kill me and the children,” she said.

Morili said that there was a day he almost poured boiling water on her, and begged the court to dissolve the marriage.

bringing strange men into our house in the presence of our children? I tried to help out in the house as much as I can but my wife always frustrates my efforts. I set up a frozen food shop for her in front of our house but she ate up all the profit,” he said.

His wife, Emmanuella, however, denied the accusations.

“My husband is a hypocrite. He accuses me of bringing other men into our house when he spends all his money on cheap women. I have stopped sleeping with him because he once infected me with an STD,” she told the court.

She also accused him of almost beating her to the point of death and throwing her belongings out.

“Where we come from, divorce is really frowned upon. I am a faithful wife. Everything he has said here is a lie. He is just trying to chase me out so that he can bring in another woman. Please help me beg him. I am not ready to become a divorcee with three children. I still love my husband,” she said.

President of the court, Mr. Emmanuel Shokunle adjourned the matter till July 16 for continuation of trial.

Clearing agent in court for allegedly defrauding client of N350,000 A 48-year-old clearing agent, Sunday Olatunde, who allegedly defrauded his client, Fabunmi Ajibola, of N350,000 was during the week brought before a Tinubu magistrates’ court in Lagos.

Olatunde, of no fixed address, is facing a three-count charge of fraud, forgery and theft.

The prosecutor, Ben Ekundayo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 26 at Ikoyi, Lagos.

Ekundayo said that the accused defrauded Ajibola of N350,000 under the pretence that he would help her to clear an Opel Sintra Space bus.

He said that the accused also forged a Heritage Bank

customer’s receipt No. 03200520161662408, dated May 20, to claim that he had paid the customs’ duty on the vehicle.

The prosecutor said the accused, however, converted the money to his personal use.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Olatunde, however, denied the charges.

The magistrate, Mr Ade Adefulire, granted the accused N300,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Adefulire said that the sureties must be blood relations of the accused and should be above 40 years.

The court adjourned the case till July 7 for mention.

26-year-old man bags 6 months imprisonment for stealing motorcycle AN Ogudu magistrates’ court in Lagos State has sentenced one Animashaun Wasiu to six months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to stealing a Bajaj motorcycle.

The convict, who lives at Adegboyega Street in Mushin, Lagos, said he saw the motorcycle parked in front of a house in Ifako area and was pushing it when he was arrested.

The magistrate, Mrs O. S. Amzat, in sentencing the convict, urged him to turn a new leaf.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sergeant Ihiehie Lucky, had told the court that a patrol team from the Ifako Police Division led by Sergeant Ajanu Folugbade, caught the convict on June 4.

He said the team intercepted him with a Bajaj motorcycle with registration number SMK 960 QA, valued at N120, 000 and belonging to one Oyetunji Ezekiel.

“When he was interrogated, he could not give account of the owner and in his statement to the police, confessed to have stolen it,” the prosecutor said.

A Wuse Zone 2 chief magistrates’ court, Abuja, has admitted Julilat Kehinde to bail in the sum of one million naira for allegedly selling a man’s land without his consent.

The senior magistrate, Teribo Jim, granted the defendant bail with one surety in like sum.

Jim said that the surety must be a civil servant on grade level 12 or above and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

He also said that the documents of the surety must be veri-

fied by the prosecutor, and adjourned the case till July 13 for hearing.

Kehinde, an estate agent in Bwari, Abuja, is standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal breach of trust, cheating and misappropriation.

The prosecutor, Christopher Johnson, said that Waleed Makanjuola of Games Village, Abuja, reported the matter at Dutse Alaji Police Station on November 11, 2015.

Johnson added that the case was later transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Abuja.

He said that in May 2015, Makanjuola gave his original land document located at Kubwa extension, Abuja, to the defendant.

The prosecutor said that the complainant gave him the document to help him conclude verification exercise that was going on at Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

Johnson said that the defendant was also supposed to get an approval for his building plan from Development Control Department, Abuja.

He said the defendant used the original land document and sold the land to Chucks Ojigo for N13.5 million without the owner’s consent.

He said the defendant absconded to an unknown destination until she was tracked at Ilorin and was arrested by the police.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 312,322 and 309 of the Penal Code.

Kehinde, however, pleaded not guilty.

Defence counsel, Patricia Gideon applied for kehinde’s bail, assuring the court that a reliable surety would be provided if bail was granted.

Court grants bail of N1m to woman for alleged cheating

Court remands man, 30, for allegedly raping 4 minors A Kano magistrates’ court in Kano State has remanded a 30-year-old man, Habibu Yuguda, in prison custody for allegedly having carnal knowledge of four young girls.

The accused, residing at Kofar Fada Village, near Kano, is standing trial for rape.

‘I am tired of this marriage, I don’t want to die before my time’ A housewife, Mrs. Moriyike Agbeni, has dragged her husband before an Agege customary court in Lagos State, over allegations of battering and infidelity.

The complainant had approached the court citing irreconcialable differences for the reasons she wants to end her marriage.

She told the court that her husband strips her naked and pushes her out of their apartment anytime they fight.

that any time I went on trips, she brings strange men home.

“I once came back and found a shaving stick in the bathroom which is a brand I do not use. She claimed to have bought it for her own personal use.

“As if that was not enough, my neighbours started complaining about my brother who smokes weed in the compound. I confronted my wife because none of my younger ones stays with us. As usual, she denied it. How can she be

Anytime he is drunk, he must beat me —Wife

Stories by Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin with Agency reports

44-year-old businesswoman, Adenike Rodoye, has lost her 20-year-old marriage to her husband, Durojaiye, because she was always tearing his boxers so as to rape him.

“My wife has turned my boxers into rags as she always tears them to rape me,” he told an Igando customary court in Lagos State during the week.

President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, after he had listened to the couple, said that he was convinced that they could no longer live together as husband and wife.

Omilola said that he had to dissolve the union after the petitioner had insisted on the divorce.

The president added that several interventions made by him to reconcile them were futile.

“This court has no choice but to dissolve the union in spite of the fact that the wife still claims she loves her husband.

“Both parties are no longer husband and wife, as the marriage has broken down totally, they are free to go their separate ways,” Omilola ruled Earlier, the 56-year-oldpetitioner, Durojaiye, alleged that his wife was always threatening his life through beating and that he was afraid she might kill him one day.

“I had to run away from my 22-flat building to rent an apartment elsewhere just to avoid her frequent beatings, but she trailed me to my new apartment to fight me.

“I had reported her in the past to different police stations, but it did not yield any positive result,” he said.

Durojaiye, a pensioner, also alleged that his wife poured hot water on the new wife his family married for him from the village.

He begged the court to end their 20-year-old marriage, saying he was no longer in love with his wife, whose actions had continued to endanger his life.

She brings her male friends into our house —Husband

“I am tired of this marriage. I have tried everything to be a good wife. I don’t want to die before my time.

“I have been the one catering for all the needs of this family. I hawk bread to feed my children. My husband does not appreciate anything that I do. His family has tried to intervene several times but it has not yielded any good result. His mother has even warned me to stop bringing my troubles to her house. My parents have begged me to leave him, promising to take care

of me and my two children,” she said.

The marriage is blessed with two children, a boy and a girl, who are aged five and eight years respectively.

She also said that her husband was a womaniser, who when challenged on the issue, often resorted to violence, adding he was not a trustworthy man.

She said that the issue had led to many violent fights in their home, adding that her mother-inlaw’s intervention on the matter was abortive be-

cause the son stuck to his ways.

Moriyike, therefore, urged the court to dissolve the marriage and compel her husband to take the responsibility for the children’s upkeep, including their school fees.

Her husband, Adewunmi was not in court to speak for himself.

President of the court, Mr. E.B Shokunle adjourned the case till July 6 for report of service on the defendant.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The chief magistrate, Hajiya Maryam Sabo, ordered the remand of the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case till July 19 for further mention.

The prosecutor, Inspector Shuaibu Musa, told the court that three complainants, Yusuf Musa, Abdullahi Yahaya and Yahuza Sale, all of Gezawa in Kano, reported the matter at the Gezawa Police Division in Kano.

He said that about two weeks ago, Yuguda lured their daughters, aged 11 and 12 years and had carnal knowledge of them.

The prosecutor explained that the accused gave them a ride in his car and took them to his house at Kofar Fada village and forcefully had sexual intercourse with them.

“He, thereafter, gave the four girls N50 each,” Musa said.

The victims, the prosecutor said, were later taken to the Gezawa General Hospital for treatment when their parents discovered that they had been defiled.

Musa said that the offence contravened Sections 283 of the Penal Code.

19

11 June, 2016

Eko Akete

Saturday Tribune

This haughty commissioner

21

Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637

e: olanreade@yahoo.com

How Lagos gamblers stake wives, fortune on ‘drugged’ rams We are aware of fighting rams being fed narcotics —Govt We are going after culprits —NDLEA We give them only ‘vitamins’—Ram owners

SHOLA ADEKOLA, LEKAN OLABULO, CHIMA NWOKOJI, KEHINDE AKINSEHINDE-JAIYEOBA and OPEYEMI OWOASEYE provide details that could help in unravelling the inside-the-ceiling deals in the controversial Lagos ram-fighting sport, or more appropriately, gambling.

W

ITNESSES claim the sad incident happened about a year ago in Ikorodu but everyone involved tried to avoid spilling too much about the insane bet between two friends who would simply be identified as Kola and Eruku.

Both were into the business of ram rearing and using their prized stock to eke out a living by going into heavy gambling on whose ram could subdue the other. It is no longer a secret that those involved in this fast-rising gambling can go to any extent in placing their fortune and acquisition like cars, millions of naira and even landed property on animals knocking heads together on instinct. But practically all

those who witnessed the outing by the duo were shocked by the extreme they went in the ram-fighting business.

Both staked their wives. And expectedly, one of them lost.

His ram was subdued and it surrendered. Now, a human life, literally, had to go for an animal’s bad day. Eruku, the loser, wasn’t ready to let go of his wife, who didn’t even know she had been staked on an animal’s capacity. The battle to retrieve winning prize was said to be intense. Sadly, Eruku lost his own life in the course of preserving a love he initially valued below a ram’s capacity. Welcome to the world of insanity called ram-war business.

Saturday Tribune’s covert investigations showed that

it would be unlikely for the gambling business to be sane, because it is heavily ruled by abuse of banned substances like Indian hemp, overdose of tobacco, high-concentrate of local snuff, cocaine, heroine, among others.

Even Lagos State government confirmed that it was in the knowledge of the fighting rams being stuffed with narcotics before fighting sessions and the question that will naturally follow is, if it would be possible for those administering narcotics on their rams, to completely abstain themselves from doping?

And would any sober man stake his wife on a ram?

Continues on pg20

20

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Continued from pg19

Saturday Tribune fished out Kola, the alleged wife-winner but he would not confirm if he was involved in the wife-betting saga.

He told Saturday Tribune reporter: “Yes, people bet their wives, cars and huge money,” mistaking the reporter for a potential investor. He then became curious and demanded the identity of the caller, but not until he had bragged about how great the ram-gambling business had been for him in the years he had been into it.

Kola’s associate, popularly known as Landlord tells his success story with pride.

“He (Kola) resides around Igbo-Olomu area in Ikorodu. He has been in the business of ram war for many years and has built houses through this same business.

He even built a separate house where he keeps his rams and trains them for battles. He gets the rams ready because that is how he earns his living and he has no other business he is doing”.

Kola himself confirmed this much to Saturday Tribune before his suspicion took better part of him. He also encouraged the reporter to give the very lucrative business a trial, promising to guide her through.

Landlord added that “Kola takes the rams out for war every Sunday morning with his cars, to war against his opponents and he can bet with anything when it comes to this business, including his wife because it had happened before. In fact, he had won a lot of cars through this business and many people know him for that.”

He would, however, not to be dragged into divulging what really transpired between Kola and Eruku, the exact day and the outcome of the agreement.

Jamiu (surname withheld) was once renowned in the business like Kola. He is out of it now but gave Saturday Tribune an insight into the reason for the confidence to stake anything and anyone by those well steeped in the gambling.

Jamiu , who once owned a ram, before he sold it about two years ago confirmed to Saturday Tribune that some of them use Indian hemp and other substances on their rams before any major fight, though he claimed not to have done that to any of his rams .

“There are two reasons why people keep ram. Some keep it as pet, while others keep it for business purpose. “ ,” Jamiu said.

He also explained that “for the snuff and the Indian hemp, there are two different ways of using them on the animals . One is by putting it in their nose and once they breathe, they would sniff it and it would charge them .

He added that “another way they do it, is to wrap the Indian hemp like human smokers do, then they would light it and put it inside the nose of the ram and allow it to breathe in the smoke from the lit Indian hemp .

“Usually it works because the ram, which is under the influence of such Indian hemp or snuff will become very restless and in many cases, it gives them strength.

“What they stand to gain from giving them Indian hemp and snuff is money . They make a lot of money. If a ram, bought for between N25 000 and N45 000 wins a major competition, the owner can be tempted to sell it as high as N500 000 . People will compete to buy the ram from him.

“Ram owners also use the drugs for their animals during bets, whenever there is a major fighting competition”.

He however stated that the system had failed on many occasions as the effect of the drugs sometimes failed the purpose for which it was intended, with some rams reportedly weakened by the effects of the drugs on them According to Jamiu, “there have been many cases of the Indian hemp not working on the animal. Instead it weakened such animal, with its owner losing the bet “.

Expectedly, the ram owners would have a defence, especially as it relates to the aspect of their business which the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in a chat with Saturday Tribune, tagged criminal.

To have a more formidable front, the ram owners and businessmen operate two well-coordinated associations; Ram Owners Association (ROA) and Ram Lovers

Muhammad Abdallah, Chairman, NDLEA

21

Eko Akete

This haughty commissioner

‘Even Nollywood actors are into this ram-fighting business’ Association (RLA), both registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The latter was even established and registered by an American who eventually handed it over to a Nigerian-American. While the first association holds its sporting event in Oshodi, the second one holds its own at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Close to four years ago, a member of RLA who wanted to be addressed as Kay Kay and lives in Ejigbo said he bought a ram named ‘King of the Rings’ for less than N50,000. Today, Kay Kay who is a printer by profession says the ram is “priceless” because of its ability to win every fight”.

When prodded on the winning formula, he explained that there is no winning secret for rams because, “you can never force them to fight. Once identified as a fighter, you make sure he’s not lacking,” while recommending that such a prized fighter should be given to “vitamins” and be made “clean between the hooves”.

Mr Samuel Adesiyan, a member of Ram Owners Association insists that for rams in Shasha, fighting is basically for entertainment, saying: “We do it for fun and it has been legalised.”

Adesiyan, while stating that the main ram fight competition comes up around February, added that the second competition holds between October and November on Oshodi playground.

He, however, rejected the allegation of ram owners being inhuman towards animal by using them to fight, saying animals like humans will always fight naturally.

In his reaction to the allegations that the rams used for the fights are fed with hard drugs to enhance their performance, Adesiyan retorted: “ This is far from the truth. We don’t use drugs on them”.

He likened the allegation to that of a man who because he wants to engage in a fight decides to first drink bottles of beer which he said will only end up weakening him and rendering him unfit to fight.

Rather than enhance the rams with drugs, he said such rams are placed on special diets, given special injection and dewormed twice in a year to make them very healthy and fit for fight anytime.

To further show the love the owners have for the

rams, he said even at times when a particular ram is sick or at the point of death that he finds it impossible to slaughter it for consumption as a result of the passion he has developed towards it which made the allegation of applying drugs on any ram to fight untenable.

Yusuf, who said he was a member of the Ram Lovers Association of Nigeria (RLAM) explained to Saturday Tribune that the association is working to bring ram fighting into the mainstream by enforcing a strict set of rules to ensure ram safety and fair play.

“We brought in rules and regulations of different weight categories, just like in boxing. The rams are just like any other athlete. People expect to see fairness.”

Yusuf owns a champion ram named Little Tiger which competes in H, the lightest category.

“After football, this is what brings people together. If you go there you won’t think of any other thing , you’ll concentrate on the rams and you’ll be happy.”

He also said that the competition is a celebration of “our cultural heritage as practised by our forefathers.

Ram charging is a cultural sport that has existed for a long time but is (now) being used by people for betting purposes in order to generate money. Ram fighting is one of our cultural heritages that our forefathers practised but they did not have a legitimate body governing the coordination of their sport,” he said.

According to the RLAM member, though there are informal competitions held at Lagos suburbs and streets, associations are formed to properly manage ram competitions and prove to the public that the ani-

mals used in the sport are being monitored.

“The association over the years has been able to generate competitions and make it known to the public that the fighting rams, referred to as gladiators, are safe,’’ he said.

He added that the association, especially at Surulere, discouraged any form of “unofficial” betting within the premises of the competition in order to create orderliness and reduce fighting among fans during the competition.

Speaking on the rules of the game, Yusuf explained that The Nigerian Ram fighting rules state that at the start of a tournament rams are allowed to hit 30 “blows” before the referee calls a tie. By the finals, rams can headbutt up to 100 times.

But sometimes the fight never takes place at all, with unwilling rams high-tailing it to the safety of their owners amid laughs and jeers from the crowd.

In a formal annual ram championship like the one usually held at Jalisco Sports Centre, Bolade, Oshodi, about N1 million, is usually at stake.

During the 2013 sixth edition of the gaming event, over 100 rams contested in the two-week long championship.

Ram sports promoters said that the championship was aimed primarily at picking out the strongest ram, with findings revealing that the strongest rams at the Lagos zonal competition would compete in the national rams championships.

It is those who keep rams for business who usually use Indian hemp and snuff for them but those who keep them as pets love their rams and will not want to hurt them

Ram owners from the 33 zones in the West, comprising Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Kwara, assemble their rams for the annual event.

Mr Kay Kay further explained that fights were over seen by three officials to further control and reduce the occurrence of injuries on the rams.

“We have the ram monitor, ram referee and ram marshal who jointly help to properly station the rams and conduct their charges in order to minimise injuries to the heads of the participating rams.

“These rams can charge at a speed of 50 km an hour and collide with a force that can literally crush a human’s skull like an egg,’’ he said .

He said that the rams, naturally equipped with horns to resist such pressure, can make over 30 charges at fight which he said made the fights interesting to watch.

Even without crazy side betting, official prizes are still huge, by his admission —cars, kitchen utensils, cash, et al. But the aces are still with the gamblers.

Apart from the money the ram owners generate through the tickets sold to the audience, the most profitable aspect of the ram fight, according to many members, is still money that comes through gambling.

The associations also rake in their fortune from membership dues as countless Lagosians, including Nollywood celebrities, particularly of the Yoruba genre, troop into the business.

The sporting/gambling activity now takes place in all the local government areas in the state where zonal competitions are staged. Mr Kassim Adebanjo, a member of ROA explained that there were two competitions in a year. There is the proper competition and ‘death of the season’ competition which starts two weeks after the Ramadan session.

There are different groups in the tournament which is determined by the weight of the ram. This starts from rams weighting 30kg, 40kg up to 100kg. The rule of the game is that the rams fight their mates

in strength. On no condition will a ram of different weight category fight together.

During a friendly competition, the fight is always interrupted to prevent the rams from hurting each other, but at the ‘death of the season competition’, the rams engage in uninterrupted fights until one gives up to serious wounds or in some cases, to death.

At the zonal level, the friendly matches attract a lot of crowd, but limited people, to place bet because the fighting rams might not be well known to them.

However, there are gamblers whose conviction will be solely on the appearance of the ram, how sturdy it looks, the size of its legs, its horn, and how aggressive it appears.

Regardless of how polished the ram-fighting business is being made to look by the promoters, NDLEA says an all-inclusive probe is coming into their activities.

The government organ responsible for investigation and prosecution of drug abusers described the act of feeding fighting rams with hard drugs as unlawful, vowing to commence investigations into the allegation.

Speaking for the anti-narcotic agency, its spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju told Saturday Tribune: “The action of the ram owners in giving them drugs to enhance their performance is unlawful. It contravenes section 11 of the NDLEA Act because they must have the drug before administering it to the animals.

“Such persons can be charged for unlawful possession or dealing in narcotic drugs, popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroine or any other similar drugs.

Besides, it is against society’s moral values. Above all, the drugs equally have negative effects on the health of the animals.

“However, no case has been reported to the Agency, but let me assure you that the allegation shall be investigated and perpetrators prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

Continues on pg22

IT is troubling that Eko Akete hasn’t run into anyone in Lagos who has anything pleasant to say about him as nearly all encounters always leave those meeting him deflated.

Well trained in his art but his snobbish and out-of-control arrogance is said to have little or nothing to do with his professional capacity. Those who have had dealings with him say it possibly has everything to do with the political powercentre backing and pushing his public service career.

Incidentally, the personality behind the X-factor in his career is humble to a fault, ready to relate with even the supposed dregs of the society despite his expansive political and economic influence.

The question being repeatedly asked by those who have tasted the bile of his arrogance is why he that is banking on someone for relevance would be so full of himself when his backer is the exact opposite of the commissioner’s persona.

The conclusion has always been that he may be too littleminded to grow into the “big” office providence has used his backer to put him. A smallminded fellow, many reckon, would always be a little below anywhere he finds himself.

Eko Akete’s indirect dealings with him also expectedly left so much to be desired.

Unfortunately, he mans a very strategic ministry in the current administration and except the unexpected happens, no storm should be and would be strong enough to blow him where he is now, much less, uprooting and flushing him away from the ministry which is now like his shrine.

Past complaints against him also yielded no result, so it would be a wasted venture trying to bring up his attitudinal defects already known to his backers, with them again.

His main backer appears content to live with his conducts.

Others elsewhere, Eko Akete assumes, are expected to take cue. Eko Akete however, has a song to sing to this fellow who always talks down on people. He should take heed that nothing lasts forever, not even a melodious song.

22

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

‘What would animal rights activists say on ram cruelty?’

Ofeyeju

Continued from pg21

Lagos State government says it isn’t unaware of the nefarious acts going on with the ram business, but not acting because those behind it aren’t affecting the public for now.

It said the rams being brought to the abattoirs are duly monitored and no case of narcotic infested ram has been reported.

However, the government said it was aware of the use of strong substance on rams for fighting competition but noted that the rams are not being sold for commercial purpose.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Tunbosun Ogunbawo, rams brought into the abbatoirs are duly checked and cer-

tified safe for human consumption.

“We watch the activities of butchers at the abbatoirs. The ram fighters don’t bring their rams to our abbatoirs, they are the ones who kill and eat it on their own, aside from some very few that decided to patronise them and they don’t bring the ram to the market.”

Source from the livestock department of the Lagos State Agriculture Development Authority explained that aside the use of strong substance on rams for the purpose of fighting, some ram owners give their livestock tobacco to ward off cold, especially during the rainy season. He noted that the agency has always been sensitising the public, especially livestock farmers, discouraging such practices.

“When these animals have cold during

the rainy season, the local method the livestock farmers use is giving them tobacco, although not all of the farmers practise this method,” he said.

He explained that the rams for gaming are not for the open market as the rams in the market are brought in from the northern parts of the country.

According to a butcher known as Mahmud at the Agege Abattoir, they do not patronise individual ram sellers as they buy their rams in bulk from those bringing them in, in large number.

He explained that those behind ram-fighting also will not want to bring their rams to the market because they only sell old and wounded animals which no butcher will buy because the quality has depreciated.

He noted that they might want to woo

buyers by selling it at a cheaper price but the professional butchers would not dare to buy it because it will spoil their market as customers who buy such might not patronise them again.

The position of the state government may not sit well with animal rights activists who consider any act of unintended pain on animal as animal cruelty. While it is yet to become a popular movement in Nigeria, the few animal rights activists in the country may yet see this controversial ram-fighting business as a test-case for the enforcement of what they preach. It is also not unlikely that the state government’s concern may now transcend likely public consumption of hemp-infested ram. Only that it may be difficult situating the right punishment for gambling the mother of one’s children away.

A Reporter’s Diary

A day with Speaker Obasa

By Lanre Adewole ON Wednesday, I was guest of Lagos House of Assembly. It was a commemorative interactive session with senior journalists and civil society groupings, to mark the eighth assembly ritualistic one-year of inauguration. I was part of the capacity-filled Lateef Jakande Auditorium, with Speaker Mudashiru Obasa right in the middle of the elevated table, donning his trademark denge pose cap. Someone said more like the elemu-nget-on of days of yore.

There were others, especially civil societians that came more prepared to fire questions, so I spent enough time scanning what others could possibly pass for irrelevance.

I noticed the camaraderie among the members. PDP minority, lost inside APC majority.

Obasa rubbed it in while responding to a ques-

tion on council poll. He said by the time the state would be ready for it, PDP would be no more.

Expectedly, there were approval and disavowal howls. I noticed he may not be given to too much of diplomacy. Anything he considers out of the control of the House while responding to questions always attracted “there is nothing we can do about that”. He also appears to have little regard for overt ceremonial procedure. Hon. Tunde Braimoh jokingly shaded him well, when Obasa robbed the chairman, House Committee on Media and Editor-In-Chief of newly-launched in-house magazine, “The Lagos Parliament” of the duty of introducing the debut edition of the free magazine. Obasa, in the course of thumbing up the House, just casually mentioned the magazine and displayed it for the flash-bulbs, before calling on Braimoh who said “Mr Speaker, you would have been a despot if we were in mili-

tary era, but thank God, this is a democracy,” to which the hall erupted in laughter.

Committee chairmen conducting oversight functions, however, bailed the Speaker out on the answered questions, with Lai Mohammed’s son, Honourable Folajimi, introduced by Obasa as junior Power Minister, and the angelic Honourable Funmilayo Tejuosho standing out in delivery and content.

Rites over and it was time for group photographs. I have heard stories around the House.

Banter thrown during the photo session suggested lawmakers are humans too. One beautiful member was the attention of all guys and when a younger fellow made suggestive move, a member reminded him that he was aiming for the sky as the damsel was “eran agba” (only available for the elder). She consented, albeit jocularly, I assume.

24

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Toluwani Olamitoke 08050498504 toluwaniforever@yahoo.com

I

n what ways did your parents’ relationship influence the choice of your marriage partner?

I’m from a monogamous family. I sincerely admired the kind of relationship that held between my parents and I sought to have such also. My parents were friends.

They understood each other, discussed issues and took joint decisions. They actually respected, trusted and loved each other. It was actually after my daddy died that we understood how close they were. Mummy really missed him.I admired their lifestyle so much because we were brought up in a home where peace and love reigned. I therefore decided I was going to marry someone who would be my friend.

Ask Dr Bolanle Otegbayo and she will tell you that her dream as a spinster was to get married to someone she could call her friend. This desire, according to her, was met and despite the different challenges that come with marriage, she confesses that hers has been a success. An Associate Professor of Food Chemistry and Head, Department of Food Science and Technology, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Dr Otegbayo speaks with TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE on her background, career and marriage.

Ph.D, although I still do research.

Many parents these days do not uphold discipline in the home, what effect does this have on children?

We now see children that are loose, unserious, indisciplined and disobedient. These kind of children take things with levity, they are disrespectful and also do not have native intelligence, I mean native intelligence in the positive way.

Can you recall your experience while growing up?

I grew up in a loving family. My parents were both educationists. We are six, three females and three males and we were all close. Daddy was very humorous, in actual fact he was my friend. I saw him then and still see him as my hero.

As a teacher, what kind of punishment should parents mete out to their children?

Parents should correct in love and make sure their wards understand the reason why they are being reprimanded. This is because many children these days do not understand the reason they are being corrected and they tend to resist and become recalcitrant.

When I was young, my mother used to beat us. Daddy’s method was different, he would reprimand or scold. I think then, I preferred the beating by mummy to daddy’s rebuke.

This is because it’s easy to get used to the cane, but the words from the rebuke would keep reverberating and it’s not easy to shrug off. So I think to reprimand is better.

How firm were your parents on you?

Our parents were strict, very firm. He (my father) was an astute teacher and a disciplinarian. Mummy was also strict, bold and blunt, but nice. Despite the fact that I was the last in the family, my parents did not tolerate any laxity or indiscipline. We were all well brought up.

Can you please introduce your spouse?

He is Jesse Abiodun Olubanjo Otegbayo, a gastroenterologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), and Professor of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

You must have married him because he’s a medical doctor?

Not at all! He was my elder brother’s friend and I used to address him as ‘Bros Bidun’. I was fond of him but never in my life thought of dating him, not to talk of marrying him.

How did you react when he ‘toasted’ you?

I was caught unawares, taken aback, because I never expected it. As I earlier said, he was my brother’s friend and so I was surprised. But of course he had given my brother a hint that he wanted to propose to me. I guess he was comfortable with it and left us to it.

How long did it take you to give him the answer ‘yes’?

Seven months. He proposed to me in August 1992 and I gave him the answer ‘Yes’ on February 8, 1993.

Why did it take you that long to make up your mind?

I didn’t play on in time. I was dodging him and was used to giving excuses any time he wanted to pay me a visit in school. I was actually very evasive. As a Christian, I later decided to pray about it. That was when I got that conviction to go ahead.

Can you tell us how you passed this message across to him?

I bought a card which had a message close to saying ‘Yes, I have agreed to your proposal.’

And how did he react?

‘I was fond of calling my hubby ‘Bros’, so I was shocked when he proposed to me’ He was happy, you know, very excited. I appreciate God for His leading. I can boldly say that by His grace, I have found joy and fulfilment in our marriage.

At what point in your relationship did you inform your brother of what was going on?

My husband told him he was bringing his fiancée to meet him. I joined my brother in putting his place in shape and in preparing a nice dish. When he arrived, he came alone.

My brother asked of his said fiancée and he pointed to me. My brother jokingly chastised him for carrying out such a mission behind him skillfully and we all laughed. He felt good about it and gave us his support.

How old is your marriage and what lessons has marriage taught you?

Twenty-one years. I have learnt to be patient, learn to relate with people from backgrounds different from mine, learnt to listen and not pass quick judgement, not to talk

too much and give quick answers, to tolerate others, understand others, be sacrificial, understanding loving and prayerful.

Can you recall a shocking experience in your marriage?

This was when armed robbers broke into our home, put the gun to my husband’s ear and told him to say his last prayers, but God delivered us. My husband was not shot, nobody was hurt. The Almighty God delivered us.

What makes your husband different from other men?

He knows and understands me, he is unique/peculiar, selfless, has a sense of humour and loves me. And I love him too.

Did you get into the teaching profession by providence or choice?

I think by providence. I was in the research institute, but later took up a teaching appointment at Bowen University after I bagged my

Can you recall a memorable experience on the job?

The day two of my students got national awards from the Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) and on getting there, I discovered another student got another award. I was happy, excited and proud to be their teacher.

Any unpleasant one?

I feel bad when the students are not performing well academically despite the efforts I’m putting in.

What were the things your spouse was doing while you were courting and early in your marriage which he has stopped doing, but you wish he still continues to do?

Strolling, but now we don’t do it often.

Who is more fashionable, you or your spouse?

My husband.

How do you know when he is angry?

He will keep to himself and give me monosyllable answers.

And what do you do at these moments to placate him?

I will start teasing him until he decides to speak with me and then we will discuss and settle the issue.

In what ways do you make your weekends different from the week days?

At weekends, I attend people’s functions— wedding ceremony, birthday party and the like or visit friends.

What do you do to look good?

I do regular exercise to keep fit, I dress well, I like simple beauty.

25

11 June, 2016

ntertainment News

Society Gist

Celebrity Interviews

t s o M d e w folelblorities ce

m a r g a t s n I n o

Saturday Tribune with Joan Omionawele and

Newton-Ray Ukwuoma jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08059793705

26 entertainment Social media has become a tool for activism as it is an intersection of technology, culture and global interaction. Reports across the world say that Instagram happens to be the fastest growing social media site at the moment with more than 400million users. However, most users have popular accounts which they follow for different reasons.

JOAN OMIONAWELE examines the 10 most followed Nigerian celebrities and reasons they drive traffic to their pages daily.

N

igerian popstar, David also Adeleke, known as Davido leads the league of the most followed Nigerian celebrities on Instagram with over 2.3million followers, while Ayo Balogun, aka Wizkid follows with about 1.9million followers. This doesn’t come as a surprise as both controversial artistes have been involved in a kind of competition spunned by their various fans.

Wizkid has been involved in various collaborations with international superstars, Drake and Chris Brown. The highlight of Davido’s career has been signing the Sony deal with the global record label as well as his fracas with his baby mama, Sophie Momodu,

11 June, 2016

Most followed celebrities on

Instagram

•Reasons why they are the most followed •Their controversies

which got tongues wagging and got everyone interested in how the case would be resolved. Also, from time to time, these two superstars dole out money to their fans.

Up next is Don Jazzy who has a whopping 1.8 million followers, while Nollywood actress and Nigeria’s top songstress, Genevieve Nnaji

and Tiwa Savage are next with 1.7million followers each. Don Jazzy is arguably the biggest producer in the country while Genevieve has been credited for her great acting skills. Tiwa Savage, the Mavin first lady and arguably Nigeria’s biggest female artiste, has won various reputable awards, in-

More celebrities mourn Henrietta Kosoko Following the death of Henrietta Kosoko, wife of veteran actor, Jide Kosoko, Nigerian celebrities have been paying tributes on the social media for the Nollywood actress.

Yoruba actress, Eniola Badmus posted on Instagram: “May the soul of our departed ones continue to rest in peace. I’m still in shock. Iya Ibeji, rest in peace, a o pade lese Jesu nibiti ako ni yara wa. A o rira wa a o yomorawa Jesu ni o se Alaga wa. (We

Saturday Tribune

will meet at the feet of Jesus). Accept my sympathy, the entire family of Jide Kosoko.”

Another actress, Iyabo Ojo, who posted a picture of the late Stephen Keshi, Mohammed Alli, and Henrietta Kosoko wrote “Rest in peace great people!

Great icons! We love you but God loves you more.

You will forever reign in our hearts. Please Baba God it’s okay! Our hearts can’t take anymore please have mercy on us all.”

For Toyin Aimakhu, Henrietta death has been the most painful thing in recent times. According to the actress, “a lot of people didn’t know how close we were, you stood by me during my trying period. I remember you said ‘Toyin, you are a ripe fruit and people throw stones, sticks at ripe fruits: You said I should be strong. I remember you brought food when my personal assistant said I wasn’t eating, I remember when I told you that I was scared that my family

would ask me to quit acting, you said you will follow me to Ibadan to speak to my parents. I knw you are with God now.”

“I wish tears could bring you back, I would have cried for years, you stood by me. Rest in peace mamamia...you were one of the few people who stood by me. I love you and I promise I will always be strong, I have never felt so much pain like this,” she mourned.

On his part, Muyiwa Ademola wrote: “This is so sad! Sleep on Henrietta Kosoko.” Hnmmm, orun ma kanju mo gbogbo wa lanbo. Adura wa ni ki agbo, ki a to, kiku mapawa ni rewerewe.’

Henrietta Kosoko till her death was a prolific actress, wife and mother. She battled diabetes and slumped on Monday, 6 June, 2016.

The talented actress who was known for movies like ‘Omolade’ ‘Boya Lemo’, ‘Eleda Teju’, ‘Alayaki’, got her big break in Nollywood in 1995.

cluding the Mamas, Headies, etc Surprisingly, popular actress-cum-producer, Funke Akindele comes next close with 1.5million followers while reggae dancehall artiste, Patoranking and Peter Okoye of the P-Square group follow with 1.4million followers respectively.

Following closely are Rita Dominic, Olamide and Korede Bello who have 1.2million followers each. They have fans who adore them and sing their praises on Instagram daily and it is shocking to know that just after two or three seconds these celebrities have posted pictures, they have over 5000 likes on each picture.

2face Idibia, as well as Phyno also have 1million plus followers as they too use the application frequently. It is worthy of note that Basketmouth is the only comedian with over 1million followers who engages his followers everyday Mercy Aigbe Gentry, Nollywood actress and fashion icon has 915,000 followers while Nollywood diva, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has about 869,000 followers, followed by Dbanj, who has 800,000 followers.

Reasons for huge fol-

lowing When Saturday Tribune sought to know the basis of this huge following, some Instagram users affirmed that they follow their favourite celebrities for many reasons some of which are for latest fashion, interaction, fame, money, extravagant lifestyle, craft, attraction, talent /popularity.

As a matter of fact, IGuser @sopedonald said, “I just love Davido because he is too talented and of course, he is O.B.O (Omo Baba Olowo) who will not like to follow him? Sometimes he gives out money to his fans randomly and is loved by all. I also love the way he takes care of his daughter, Imade.”

Saturday Tribune further gathered that controversy is attractive as these celebrities gain huge following whenever there is a scandal or bad press. It is almost as if their following doubles. Every fan scampers to their pages to get a scoop on the latest about them.

For Okorocha Chimezie, “Wizkid just does it for me every time. Since 2009, I have been his huge fan and I am interested in his success, especially as he collaborates with international

superstars”. He continues: “Do I need to remind you of Don Jazzy who gave my friend, 50,000 naira for just putting up the Mavin logo as his Instagram profile picture? I’m hoping to get lucky one day, so I open his page first thing every morning to see if it will be my lucky day” he told Saturday Tribune.”

“Funke Akindele makes me laugh, especially with hard times as these in our country, Jenifa’s Diaries keeps me going, she posts these videos on Instagram and we her fans have a good laugh all the time,” said Victoria Oladoyinbo.

Although Mercy Aigbe is yet to have up to 1million followers, one of her fans @promisechukwu said: “I just love her sense of style. I stay glued to her page to get the latest styles and stay updated with fashion.”

Other international superstars are also leading as hollywoodlife.com reports that Selena Gomez has over 82million unique followers while her best friend, Taylor Swift, comes next with 80million followers, while Kim Kardiashian also has 73million followers, which is a million over top hip-hop star, Beyonce Knowles, who has over 72million followers.

27 entertainment

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Tunde Kelani’s Film School welcomes pioneering students •Others to resume In September Stories by Joan Omionawele and Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

L Falz

Falz lands BET nomination for Best New International Act

THE United States of America’s popular Black Entertainment Television (BET) award platform during the week unveiled its nominations for the 2016 BET Awards categories.

Nigeria’s comic rapper, Folarin Falana, alias Falz the Bahd Guy, has been nominated for the 2016 BET Awards Viewers’ Choice Best New International Act category.

Falz will be the only Nigerian in a category that has other international acts such as Emtee (South Africa), MHD (France), Tkay Maidza (Australia), WSTRN (United Kingdom) and Section Boyz (United Kingdom).

While this year’s category has been declared a keen contest, the Best New International Act has been won by some Nigerians such as 2Baba, Dbanj, Wizkid and Davido, in the past.

Falz, who recently released a collaborative single with Olamide and Davido, titled Bahd Baddo Baddest, has expressed delight at the international recognition and has been seeking votes from his fans using his social media accounts.

EGENDARY filmmaker and CEO of Mainframe Film Production, Tunde Kelani has established the need to unveil an institution to fill the gap for those who seek knowledge in filmmaking and media The Ogun State-born filmmaker recently opened the Mainframe Film and Media Institute (MFMI) in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, to the first set of students who came from all over the country.

Speaking on the vision of MFMI, Kelani said: “I have always wanted to do this but not without acquiring a level

of maturity and experience to serve as the lubricant for effective transfer of experiences gained over a career spanning more than three decades... MFMI is sure equipped to support the efforts of the selected few filmmakers in Nigeria, who are preoccupied with the need to take Nollywood to an elevated level of excellence.

Mainframe Film and Media Institute therefore is poised to impart artistic and technical education and practice to young ones and established industry professionals who need to update their skills from time to time and a website has www.mainframeinstitute.com has been

Cross section of stakeholders and students at the Mainframe film and Media Institute.

launched to take inquiries.

According to Kelani, MFMI has facilitators with expertise spanning different parts of filmmaking. The institution has at its dispos-

Bash, Bovi, Akpororo others thrill at D’Good, D’Bash and D’funny POPULAR comedian, Bash, real name Bashiru Ahmed Adekunle, amused guests with his incredibly exuberant performance at the maiden edition of D’Good, D’Bash & D’Funny which held at Shell Hall, Muson Centre on Sunday, 5 June, 2016.

The humor-merchant effortlessly evoked laughter among the audience with his hysterically hilarious gigs – making several people roll off their seats.

Bash quipped about the exasperating issue of long queues at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and shared several hilarious experiences and encounters of his.

Other comedians who joined Bash on the night included Bovi, Akpororo, Gordons, Seyi Law, as well as musical acts including Sound Sultan, Lil Kesh, 9ice, Ter- Bash ry G, Gabriel Afolayan and Next of big names in the industry, including top-notch World Music CEO, Jaywon. artistes, actors and comedians like Odunlade AdProduced by Bunmi Davies, the ekola, Mercy Aigbe, Iyabo Ojo, Alex Ekubo, Okey show was attended by a number Bakassi and Black Face.

Skales, manager reach peace accord with record label

Skales

RECORDING artiste, Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, popularly known as Skales, has reached a peace accord with his estranged record label, Baseline Records, over an alleged fraudulent dealing.

The pair of Skales and his manager, Osagie Osarenkhoe, were picked up separately by law enforcement agents following a petition written to the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, about an alleged N13 million fraud committed on

the record label.

Saturday Tribune gathered that the controversy which gathered storm during the week with the arrest had started over a year ago. The allegation of misappropriation of funds to the tune of N13million was laid on the doorstep of Osarenkhoe, who, being the business manager of Skales, handled the bookings, engagements funds which were said to be unremitted.

Oluwatunbi brings drama, culture to museum THE National Museum, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, will on June 22 play host to an event tagged Asa: Inter Schools Competition.

Organiser of the show, Oluwatunbi Segun Samuel, on national youth service in Oyo State, said selected schools would

compete in music and dance, drama presentation, traditional beauty pageant/modelling and cultural quiz.

Samuel added that contestants would be afforded just five minutes to showcase their talents after which the best three in each category will be rewarded.

Osarenkhoe, who admitted that the funds were not returned said the money was put into the career of musician.

Saturday Tribune learnt that a peace accord was reached by the officials of the police force after a gruelling back and forth dialogue between all parties involved in the deal.

The singer and his manager were released from captivity after reaching a number of agreements.

“I am a man of culture, I sing and dance and have a few records on sale. I wish to make my impact felt in Oyo State and I choose to do this to inspire the younger generation as part of my community development project,’’ said the Osun Stateborn artiste.

als the best learned who are very much interested in impacting world class knowledge on filmmaking. They include top rated personnel like Tunde Kelani, Joke Muyiwa Fadirepo, Abiodun Aleja, Bola Bello, Femi Odugbemi, Wale Ojo, Niji Akanni, Olatunji Afolayan, Muritala Sule, Doyin Hassan, Ropo Ewenla and Steve Sodiya.

The institution has kicked

off its academic calendar with its pioneering students, who are taking Film School Basic (FSB) programmes for a period of eight weeks, which will end on 8 July.

The second batch of the FSB programme would kick off in September through November, which gives other intending participants who could not make the first batch enough time to prepare.

Femi Odugbemi exposes anguish, dreams of residents of Makoko in Gidi blues

From left; Femi Odugbemi, producer Gidi Blues, Regional Director, M-net West Africa; Actress Aauwa Allahbura and mucisan Banky W during the premiere of Gidi Blues during the week.

DURING the week, Nollywood filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, in collaboration with Africa Magic, premiered his latest flick, Gidi blues, alongside his cast, Gideon Okeke, Bukky Wright, Lepacious Bose, among other celebrities The flim depicts a heartrendering story which exposses the dilapidated living conditions of the people of Makoko, while the film also reveals a love triangle between a guy who is trying to find his destiny and another lady who has a job as well as a passion for school children in Makoko area of Lagos.

The director, Femi Odugbemi sought to tell this story “in order to raise the hopes of the children living in that area by lifting them off the shackles of poverty”.

He appealed to the audience at the premiere to donate generously to their cause to help them fulfill their dreams Also featuring in the film is popular Nigerian comedienne, Lepacious Bose, who is lost in a love web with a guy who does not

love her body, she eventually becomes somebody else in order to communicate with the guy, although some of the twists are easily solved, such as when the pastor’s daughter reveals that Gideon Okeke is not the father of her unborn child. Also it is not revealed what becomes of the the ‘hidden game of comedian, Lepacious Bose, it is automatically just deduced that Jaye would turn to Lepacious Bose as a shoulder to lean on after he is thrown out by his friend, Gideon Okeke.

Speaking on the movie, the Regional Director, MNet West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu said “Gidi Blues is the result of inspiring creativity, innovative filmmaking and exciting storytelling. At Africa Magic we take pride in bringing to life the best of film and television content out of Africa through partnerships with some of the best talent out of the continent and Femi Odugbemi’s work as a filmmaker is very well renowned”, she said

28

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

with Tunde Ayanda ayandaayotunde@yahoo.com 08034649018

Family, friends gather for Vivian Chiologi and John Shittu

DOS Clothing lights up Accra It was a gathering of stylish women and happy shoppers when Nigeria’s premium women’s wear brand, DOS Clothing Store staged the fashion event at the Lionheart Events Centre, Accra, Ghana.

The clothing store, which is known for its trending and modern pieces, stretched its campaign to the gold country, where it has a large clientele base and where the guests were treated to a fabulous day of cocktails, nibbles and shopping.

True to its character, which is sounding high among the fashion conscious in Nigeria, the fashion brand, which recently launched a website where pieces can be bought and directly delivered, will be unveiling its 2016

summer collection in Lagos with different interesting campaigns and headliners which is creating a whirl in the fashion industry.

As predicted, it was a fairy tale wedding, which will linger long in the memories of those who witnessed the event.

The happy tune came from Vivian Chiologi and John Shittu, who signed the dotted lines in the presence of their friends and family members recently at the Dorchester Hotel in London, United kingdom.

True to expectations, the ceremony had all the trappings of a real society affair, with wedding planners, make-up artistes, caterers and all other party vendors at hand to see to the satisfaction of the guests.

Spotted at the ceremony were Nigerian and Chelsea FC footballer, Mikel Obi, Ruth Osime, Banke Meshida-Lawal, Mo Abudu and other prominent people from around the world.

Where is Jumoke Harb?

T

his is the teaser on the lips of many friends, associates and admirers of the businesswoman and proprietress of the Roemichs International School in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The question was as a result of the woman’s loss of interest in what used to be fun to her in the past.

Down in the drain was the classy parties she loves to throw and the usual weekend outings which made her and her Lebanese husband, Faisal, hot numbers at any social gathering they stepped into.

There were talks that a new business interest is taking the Harbs away from what they used to enjoy and that husband and wife have both applied a low measure to their public life to match the speedy sail of their new venture.

Azuh Arinze picks June 20 for 5th Yes lecture/cocktail party The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, will host the finest of Nigerian entertainers, actors, businessmen, politicians, government officials and the media, who are set to grace the fifth edition of the Yes International Magazine lecture/ cocktail party.

The event, which many people look forward to every year, will

feature the Chief Executive Officer of Rianoil Limited, Dr Gabriel Ogbeche, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Dr Nike Akande, Emeka Oparah, Tunde Braimoh, Wole Arisekola, Steve Ayorinde and among others.

Prior to the annual lecture, which had in the past attracted the likes of Biodun Shobanjo of Troyka Holdings, Udeme Ufot, Dr Leo Stan Ekeh, Lolu Akinwumi, Sir Steve Omojafor, Professor Pat

Utomi to mention a few, there will be the unveiling of Yes Classics, an all-colour, magazine, parading the best interviews that will be professionally unveiled by ace broadcaster and the Managing Director of Biscon Communications, Bisi Olatilo.

The entertaining part of the lecture will feature hip hop artiste, Harrysong and disc jockey, Jimmy Jatt, who will thrill the guests.

Dapo Olumide is back!

At a time when tongues were wagging with tales of disappearance of Captain Dapo Abiodun from the social circuit, former Managing Director of the defunct Virgin Nigeria came his decision to step back on the turf and burst the balloon of gossip surrounding his person.

The man was recently spotted at some functions which put an end to his long absence from the party scenes.

Those in the know claimed the experienced pilot deliberately went underground to perfect his bid to return to the aviation industry with a new statement.

Olumide, who ranks as one of the most respected aviation executives, was appointed many years ago as the head of Virgin Nigeria after the exit of Conrad Clifford.

29

11 June, 2016

outofthisworld

Saturday Tribune With femi osinusi

osfem2@yahoo.com 08055069292

Dramatic story of an Italian city where people can now

‘walk on the sea’ The walking on the lake.

A

Christo walking on Lake Iseo.

T Lake Iseo in Northern Italy, people in the city can practically now walk on the sea thanks to an ingenious creative effort by an 80-year-old artist only known as Christo.

According to a report by The Guardian of UK, the ‘Floating Piers’ as the project is being called, will involve using 220,000 floating polyethylene cubes to create a three-kilometre undulating walking right on the sea connecting the mainland and the island in Northern Italy.

The project, expected to open in June 18, will allow over 500,000 inhabitants of the city to practically walk on the river.

According to Christo, “For the first time, for 16 days from June 18 to July 3, many people will walk on water.”

Workers checking what they have done.

The way on top of the very deep lake.

Another part of the walkway on the lake.

Another view of the walkway.

30

11 June, 2016

weekend cartoons

Saturday Tribune

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

Just a Laffing Mata

BV N sc am me r

FUNOLOGY

POLITICO

It happened to me.

Last week, I got a short message from a mobile phone number. Below is the message: Dear customer, Your ATM card has been blocked due to incomplete BVN registration; Call our Customer Care0810******* to re-activate it. Thank you. ………………………………

I suspected that it was a fraud, but for the fun of it, I flashed the number and a man called back. The following conversation ensued. ………………………………

Me: Hello, good evening.

Fraudster: Good evening.

Me: I got a message that my ATM card has been blocked.

Fraudster: Ok. Where are you calling from sir?

Me: Felele, Ibadan.

Fraudster: Welcome sir. Kindly give me your BVN number, sir.

Me: Which of my ATM cards is blocked sir?

Fraudster: Don’t worry about that sir, just give me the BVN number and your ATM card will be activated automatically.

Me: Ok sir. But which bank are you calling from and what’s your name?

Fraudster: This is Johnson from CBN, Abuja.

Me: Oga Johnson, what has CBN got to do with my ATM card? Na CBN issue me the ATM card?

Fraudster: Come, Mr! Do you want to reactivate your blocked ATM card or not?

Me: Yes now, but ATM card of which bank, sir? Because I have about five ATM cards.

Fraudster: Na so una take dey waste person time and credit. Give me the BVN number let’s resolve your issue joor.

Me: I’m not wasting your time, sir. I just want to make sure that I do not give my BVN to thieves and fraudsters like you.

Fraudster: See this show spoiler. Make thunder fire you, foolish man. You for go work with EFCC. Idiot.

Me: The thunder go fire you and your family, even generations yet unborn. Ole buruku! ………………………………

Please share, and inundate the numbers with calls and messages to spoil their “runs” and save innocent victims.

Hmmm... how time flies!

32

11 June, 2016

The South-West Editor Wole Efunnuga | 08111813056

t: r us; contac Got news fo bune@yahoo. ttri es hw ne ut so bu @ uthwesttri co.uk or so ail.com gm

deserve constitutional roles in governance

—Oba of Erinmo

H

OW has it been since you ascended the throne of your forefathers as the monarch of Erinmo com-

munity?

To God be the glory, it has been a wonderful experience that one can never be too prepared for. I want to thank the Almighty God that being a king is not an easy task. As you know, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. But God has been faithful and my people have been very supportive. It has been a total change in my lifestyle. I learn new things by the day. I am learning to work for my people because it’s more of community service.

How long have you been on the throne?

I mounted the throne in July 2014. So, it’s almost two years now.

Since you have been on the throne, what are the major challenges you have faced as the traditional head of this community?

The major challenge is the total change in my lifestyle. As an oba, I have to deal with people that I have not seen for a long time and, at the same time, live in their midst.

The expectation from a Yoruba oba is quite high. The Yoruba oba is regarded as Igbakeji Orisa, literally meaning the next in hierarchy to the gods. He is expected to know everything and be conversant with all things. This position has pushed me to extend my knowledge in knowing things I did

CREW sari n Tu de B9u3530 081275 ndare nga - Ogu Yejide G8b1e16706853 0 unesan Tunde O9g54634 08116

Traditional rulers

Oba (Dr) Michael Odunayo Ajayi is the Elerinmo of Erinmo in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. In this interview by OLUWOLE IGE, he speaks about the challenges confronting the community and the need for traditional rulers to have constitutional roles in the country among other issues. Excerpts:

What are the new things that have come up here in Erinmo community after your coronation?

The first thing is that we have been able to improve the patriotic interest of our indigenes in Erinmo affairs. In the past, everybody knew Erinmo as an ancient city and most people were living outside the town, while some were living abroad. They were probably not interested in coming home or knowing what was going on in the community. In the recent past, we have been able to gather a lot of our indigenes and there is more interest in what is going on in the town. We have set up a website which you can click on to know what is happening in Erinmo. We also have a Facebook page, which also informs people about our community. We have set up different groups like the Elders’ Council, which comprises elderly persons who are 80 years and above. Before now, there was noting like that. We believe that we can learn and gain something from the wisdom of our elders. We have also set up the Federation of Erinmo Tertiary Institution Students. We had a World Bank-assisted water project, which had been moribund for a while. After sometime, we were able to reconstitute the committee and get the World Bank to refurbish the project and that facility is now working very well for the benefit of the people.

Saturday Tribune

not know before. I thought I knew a lot before, but this is a totally new experience for me. I am getting more used to obas around me and new discoveries about Yoruba culture and tradition. At present, I am working towards industrialising Erinmo town. As you know, Erinmo has vast fertile land for agro allied industry and we are also looking forward to setting up higher institutions in our community. We want a situation whereby our people can enjoy good life and also improve on their respective vocations such that the commerce of the town can be enhanced.

What were you into before you became an oba?

A lot of things. I had worked for the largest corporations in the course of my career.

I was recruited right from the university by the then largest conglomerate, United African Company (UAC) Plc immediately after my NYSC programme and I worked there for over a decade. From there, I moved to Nigerian German Chemicals Plc as the Business Development Manager. When I was in UAC, I worked through cross functional and cross sectional departments, including UAC Foods, G.B.O Ollivant, MDS among others. So when I moved into pharmaceutical industry, I became Business Development Manager, particularly head of consumers’ health care. I relaunched Abidec, Beningly Cough syrup and so on.

From there, I was asked to set up interna-

tional operations, and eventually we had a subsidiary in Ghana. That subsidiary took me to Ghana where I became the Executive Director. After that, I was recruited by the United States government and mandated to work in a pharmaceutical plant in Ghana, known as Overseas Private Investment Corporations, with headquarters in Washington D.C. There, I became the vice president, Sales and Marketing for Africa and from there, we were exporting to 22 African countries.

I have operated in several sectors of the economy.

After leaving that job in Ghana, I set up a consultancy company, working for blue-chip companies within Africa to help them set up their businesses. In the course of doing that, we had several business events like Nigeria/Ghana Business Summit, which I had the honour of having former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Shonekan and people like Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, who is President, African Business Roundtable and that culminated in the setting up of Council of Nigeria/Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, of which I became the first Director General. I have also written some books on diplomacy and economy. I was also the President of Nigerian Forum of Business Executives in Ghana. Then, the wife of the current Minister of Solid Minerals and former governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Bisi Fayemi was my vice president.

From your versatile corporate experience in multinationals, how have you brought your exposure in the corporate world to bear on the throne as a monarch?

That particular experience has made it easy for me to cope. I worked at the managerial level and that experience made it easy for me to handle issues as an oba, dealing with people who are much older than me. That is the whole idea of management by marching the resources to achieve needed ends. My trainings in the

multinationals has assisted me a lot here.

I believe that background in management at a very high level has been of great use to me in my present capacity.

There are clamours in some quarters that traditional rulers should be accorded constitutional roles because they are closer to the people at the grass roots. Do you subscribe to this school of thought. If yes, why?

I am a strong advocate of that clamour.

To be honest with you, the most important cadre of the country should be traditional rulers. Look at the situation where a president or governor would come on board and go after spending a maximum of eight years. But, a traditional ruler is there for life until he joins his ancestors. So, who is well acquainted with the people? It is the traditional rulers. When we talk about security, it is the traditional ruler that is closer to the people. When you want to find out what my people need, I am the one who should know. Government comes and goes but the traditional rulers remain. I advocate very seriously that the traditional rulers should have another tier of government such that the government at the state and at the centre can benefit from their experience. As a new government, you will meet some traditional rulers and and you will still leave them there when your tenure expires. Traditional rulers should be given constitutional roles, not just advisory, they should be allowed to be actively involved.

These days, the traditional rulers we have are no longer the type we used to have in the past. Today’s traditional rulers are people with rich background in business, managing the economy of companies, technocrats and top level civil servants.

All that experience cannot just be left untapped. There must be some benefits for the government from making use of that experience. We now have professors, Ph.D holders as monarchs. There should be House of Chiefs that can be consulted just like we used to have in the Western Region days.

Taking a critical look at Erinmo community, what are the infrastructural needs that are lacking here?

I would be glad if the government can consider bringing a satellite campus of, at least one higher institution here. Erinmo is strategically located. You can see the Federal Government road that passes through Erinmo in Iwaraja axis to Efon Alaaye. People can follow that road to Abuja. We are also a border town to Osun and Ekiti states. Our town is suitable for agricultural activities. We have rice, cocoa and palm oil plantations. But, beyond that, we want people and corporate organisations to come and set up industries because we have arable land.

33

11 June, 2016

voxpop Cheating, infidelity, philandering are variants of the same motive­—the urge to explore sex. While it is believed that a negligible try to be faithful to their partners, it is also the case that most people around take delight in playing ‘away games. KATE ANI collects reactions from Nigerians and samples opinions on who is more vulnerable to cheating—man or woman.

Saturday Tribune

With Kate Ani

08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

Who cheats more in a relationship, man or woman?

Remi Adesiyan HOUGH cheating has nothing to do with one’s gender, I think men cheat more than the women. Most guys can have sex with women they aren’t emotionally attached to but this is not the case with women, they don’t do that. Maybe if the motive behind most relationships nowadays are not sex, women could have been cheating the more, just maybe.

Women get more emotional than men, when her man treats her right, cheating never crosses a woman’s mind but some guys ehh, even if their babes treat them more than right, they will still play around when the opportunity surfaces. There are few girls who will still cheat no matter what but on a balance of probabilities, I think men cheat more.

T

Bunmi Goyega Sure it’s men, but they do it out of love and consideration. You see, if all men were to be faithful, there would be billions of females without mates. As for the whores, they’ve got no reason.

Wale Boboye With the way the world is going, it is girls definitely because they are so materialistic. But guys are also selfish nowadays, but believe me, girls caused it.

Sayo Adeleke Men, of course, cheat more, though women also cheat sometimes, the menfolk are more guilty, it is more rampant in our society with the men nowadays.

Joseph Dada I think women are worse, considering they are called the weaker vessels. You will be amazed how deceitful they can be. Moreover, a woman can amass as many boyfriends as she likes unlike a man who is liable to be rejected by half of the ladies he chases after.

Therefore, women are more prone to cheating than men.

Niyi Bamidele

I think it all depends on the individual. I am not sure which of the sexes cheats more but I can tell you that in my house, I have six guys living with me and four out of six of them cheat. Each almost has about three or four girlfriends.

Pelumi Ayoade Women are better cheaters than men. They lie more often than the men and more so, in this present

Sayo

age, there is a situation whereby a woman has so many male friends; from the ‘sugar daddies’ to lover boys. They put on different faces making you believe that you are the only person in their life. Because of their insatiable needs, they always have different men who satisfy them.

Damilola Taiwo Come to think of it, every woman

Wale

I am not sure which of sexes cheats more but I can tell you that in my house, I have six guys living with me and four out of six of them cheat.

Each almost has like three to four girlfriends.

Remi

would have loved to stick with the guy that deflowered her but then, she gets the bitter experience of heartbreak and decides never to believe in love. The next innocent guy who falls for her becomes her victim, she breaks his heart and the guy also decides never to believe in love again. Gradually, everyone becomes a love peddler in that progression, of course as the peer pressure spreads.

Joseph

34

Interview

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Tinubu is not supporting any aspirant •‘No one can beat me to in Ondo —Akeredolu grass-roots politics’ A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, speaks with KATE ANI on his chances of clinching the ticket of the party.

election. You see, all these stories about Senator Tinubu that he is selling will not take him anywhere. Some of us are close to the Jagaban himself. We know him [Tinubu]. I am very sure, I am assured and I am on a very firm ground when it comes to this contest. Having told us to go and have a free and fair election, I am sure Tinubu will not turn around and say he is supporting any aspirant. During the last governorship primary, Boroffice also ran with me, Senator Tinubu and other APC leaders sat us down and said I would be the better candidate to stand the election. He said it then and I believe that nothing has changed.

For your information, Tinubu is not supporting any candidate.

He has made that clear to all of us. Is it because Boroffice won as a senator that makes him a better candidate than I am? He is not popular at the grass roots and he knows he can never win the governorship election in Ondo State. It is not possible.

T

HIS being your second time of contesting for the governorship of Ondo State, would it be correct to conclude that you must be drawing your inspiration from President Muhammadu Buhari who contested three times before eventually wining?

That might be correct but let me say that since 2012 when we were robbed of the first election, I was determined to come back.

Immediately we were through at the Supreme Court, I gave myself some time to think over running again and after some time, I discussed with my supporters and I was able to gauge how bitter they felt. I saw how concerned and forlorn they were at that time and I decided that it was in their interest that I run again. I am running because of Ondo people, those who have shown tremendous love and interest in me.

As a successful lawyer who has reached the peak of his career, why the interest in politics?

I thank God for the success I have achieved in my law profession. I have had it well by the grace of God. I have occupied all positions that a lawyer can dream of occupying in life, the pinnacle of which is the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). To answer your question, well, there comes a time when all these personal landmarks and successes must take the back burner and you now have to be concerned about your people.

There is a yearning to render service to my people, the high and the downtrodden. My main concern are the downtrodden. One has no option but to yield to this clarion call when it comes. I have been involved in service all my life. I served as a student union leader in my university days. I served as the attorney-general of a state and as the president of NBA. These positions are also about serving my people but the most important service I am longing for is for the people of Ondo State, particularly the downtrodden.

One of the reasons advanced for your loss in the last election was that you were not a grass-roots politician.

Do you think you stand any chance against those contenders that are considered to be actual grass-roots politicians this time around?

How do you determine a grass-roots politician? You see, in politics, your opponent must find something against you. They must paint you in a particular colour. I have been in politics for some time and my career as a lawyer is also politics in different direction. What I say to people who tell me such is to check my total votes in the 2012 election. I tripled the votes that the [defunct Action Congress of Nigeria] ACN had ever had. We were rigged out of the election and our people know it. If you scored over 30 percent and the person who is there today, who is Governor [Olusegun] Mimiko, had less than 50 percent, does it not attest to the fact that I am favoured at the grass roots? I can assure you that nobody today is as popular as me at the grass roots level in Ondo State. I have traversed the length and breadth of that state. Nobody today can boast of my popularity, not even the governor. I can say this anywhere. Whether you like it or not, everything works to my benefit. I am the most popular governorship candidate in Ondo State today.

With more than 50 of you said to be looking to clinch the APC ticket, how do you hope to beat your co-aspirants to the ticket?

I am not sure we are up to 50 yet, but no matter what the number is, there is one thing that is going for me as an aspirant and that is the fact that I have run before and the people of Ondo State know me.

I have tested the waters. I went round the local governments and saw love in the eyes of the people. They are eager to have me lead them. When we go to the primaries, the members of APC know all of us, they know who is who, they know who will serve the interest

You sound confident that you will win the governorship race. Are you not leaving room for any possible disappointment? Is this election a do-or-die affair for you?

Governorship? You have acknowledged that I am a successful lawyer and by the grace of God, I am. How can governorship be a do-or-die affair for me? It is not possible. The people still want me and that is the reason I am coming out again to take a second shot at it. Governorship ambition can never be a door-die affair for me. It is a quest for service. I said so when I was running for the president of the Bar. I said I wanted to serve the Bar; that if they voted for me, I would serve them. Luckily, I won the election unopposed but of course, the governorship may not be as easy. In the unlikely event – it is not even possible – that they don’t vote for me, I am back in my office to work and there is nothing to lose.

They called my maternal grandfather ‘the man with the big white beard’ because he used to have one like mine. It runs in our genes. All my brothers have it. That is why I told you that anybody who claims to be popular is deceiving himself, because God has created us in a way that we cannot but be popular. of the party best, they know the aspirant they are hopeful on. I am going to win this election, by the grace of God. There are insinuations that you may not enjoy the support of Senator Bola Tinubu this time around because of the defeats you have suffered in the past.

Senator Ajayi Boroffice is rumoured to be Tinubu’s anointed aspirant. Do you have a plan B if this happens to be the case?

Boroffice can go ahead and say whatever he likes. All I know is that he is not as popular in Ondo as I am. If the primary is a contest between him and me, I would go to sleep. You can quote me that I said that. I will flatly defeat Boroffice in any

If you are elected governor, how do you intend to pay salaries of workers, considering the lingering economic situation in the states?

It is a shame that Ondo State cannot pay salaries. It can happen in Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, etc, but it shouldn’t in Ondo because the state is an oil-producing state. We know what comes into their coffers every month, every year, which is the difference between and other states owing their workers. There is no way anybody can convince us that Ondo State has anything to do with poverty because the state is blessed. We are in serious debt today because our resources have been mismanaged and I know that when we come into government, we will confront our debt profile. How many industries do we have in Ondo State? None.

If your industrial base is nil, there will always be the need to rely on what you call allocation.

As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, how would you advise President Muhammadu Buhari as regards dealing with the Niger Delta Avengers and Biafra agitators?

I would advise him to continue with the way he is handling the issues, which I believe is the best. I would still advise us to look at the carrot and stick approach. It is all politics. Solving insurgency is about carrot and stick policy approach.

Your white beard stands you out in a crowd, what does it mean?

It does. It runs in the family. It is in the genes. As the first born, I decided to cultivate mine and as it started to turn grey, my brothers followed suit. I was told that it is more of the gene from my mother’s side. When I went to Igbotu, where my mother hails from, people saw me and said oh, this is a true Adeyoroju son. They called my maternal grandfather ‘the man with the big white beard’ because he used to have one like mine. It runs in our genes. All my brothers have it. That is why I told you that anybody who claims to be popular is deceiving himself, because God has created us in a way that we cannot but be popular. Anybody who sees us will know us; we don’t need to crave attention.

How do you relax?

I relax by watching football. I am a football fan.

Which club do you support?

I am a Manchester United fan.

35

interview

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

APC now has a chance to run Nigeria differently —Hong, ex-minister

Dr Aliyu Idi Hong was Minister of State for Health and later Minister of Foreign Affairs in the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan. He recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview, Hong speaks on the fall of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the chances of the APC to do things differently.

Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA, brings excerpts:

H

OW would you assess the government in the last one year?

I will say that the government has done well in the sense that one year in the life of a nation or government is not enough to make an objective assessment.

There are pluses in some places and weaknesses in other areas. But it is not a good time for anybody to fairly judge the government. There are some areas the government has done commendably. There are indices to prove that. Yes, I know there are areas of concern but on the whole, I will say that the APC government has performed well.

Are you satisfied with the way the government has managed the economy?

I am not the right person to be asked this type of question. I am not an expert in economic matters. I trained as a medical doctor. I agree that there is a general complaint all over the country about things being difficult. However, we should not be in a hurry to reach certain conclusions. We should ask ourselves where we are coming from. The previous government wasted a lot of goodwill and left a huge rot.

It is not going to be easy to have a good start because of that.

With all the revelations we have been having, with all the monumental challenges the government inherited, with the recession the world is facing, with the price of crude at the international market going down, it is not surprising that we are where we are today.

But if we are patient enough for two or more years, things will take a better shape. The little improvement in the oil price and the ongoing war on corruption will go a long way to improve the general picture of the economy. I will say that in the area of food on the table and Nigerians picking their bills, the country is being challenged. But it is wrong to put the blame completely on this government because President [Muhammadu] Buhari inherited a government with excess burden and a lot of challenges. It is not going to be easy. If we had continued on the path of the previous government, the country would have collapsed. We have to support the government to lay a new foundation where things will take a better shape. I think that is what the president has succeeded in doing. Any moment from now, things will start moving in a positive direction.

Would you say that the government is truly committed to the diversification of the economy going by the fact that only a paltry amount is devoted to non-oil sector in the 2016 budget?

It is understandable. Nigeria is a mono-economy. It is so in the sense that the bulk of the revenues of the country comes from oil. It will not be easy for you to de-invest out of that oil mentality. Investments in solid minerals and other areas require to be given about 10 to 15 years before they would come to gestation where revenues from other sectors will become competitive to that of oil.

Already, the government has given attention to the agricultural sector. There is also attention on solid minerals.

They have not started translating into money in the hand or money in the bank. It will take some time but government’s direction and policy are already geared towards opening of those sectors. When they are opened, we will find out that in the next three to four years, we will start seeing results. But so far, we depend on oil revenue. We are expecting that the economy will be diverse in a couple of years, especially with the challenges in the price of oil and the source of energy. It is very important for the government to be conscious of the challenge of oil because the hydrocarbon is compromised into different directions while innovations, research and development and other sources are coming up. That is the reason prices of oil are coming down globally. We have to start thinking like the president and support him. Oil will not be a dependable source of revenue in the future. We have to commend the president for this initiative. Agriculture and solid minerals will have the competitive advantage. We are blessed by nature. The country is endowed with so many minerals.

There is no viable mineral Nigeria is not endowed with. There is a large expanse of land in the country. All we need is a very strong foundation of agricultural policies and incentives for farmers that will be huge revenue for the government. It is highly commendable that the president is thinking like this, because in the future, oil is not going to contribute much,

allocation given to the health sector is very low. It should have been higher because of the challenges we are facing in the sector.

Are you happy that you were part of the PDP at this time?

I played my part to the best of my ability when I had the chance. I do not think it is a matter of the PDP rather than accepting responsibility. These are all subjective assessments. There are lots of challenges in the party. There are good people as well bad people. Most of them were ill-advised. It is not a political platform or a generational challenge. The major thing to know is that in a party, the heads of the party and the heads of the government are to be vigilant and conscious about their plan and they should also have in mind that there would be a day of reckoning.

With all the revelations we have been having, with all the monumental challenges the government inherited, with the recession the world is facing, with the price of crude at the international market going down, it is not surprising that we are where we are today . because oil is being highly challenged.

Looking at your area, the health sector, in the last one year, what would you say has been done differently by this government?

When you come in as a new government, there is a lot to study and a lot to plan. There is a plan to build more health care facilities around the country. There is a struggle and fight against infectious and non-infectious diseases. There are policies to strengthen the tertiary hospitals so that the effort to curtail medical tourism is put in place. If all this come into fruition with the promises of the minister, there would be a lot of achievements in the health sector. The major challenge of healthcare is the weakness of the primary health centres because health is predominately provided by the healthcare facilities and the local government who are not properly endowed with the responsibility. If the federal and state governments join forces, there would be positive results.

More than 90 percent of the illnesses should be handled at the primary healthcare centres so that the pressure on the tertiary health centres would not be too much. In that case, the tertiary healthcare centres would be for middle intervention, middle diagnosis and research and development.

The national hospital is not supposed to be for all kinds of illnesses or situations. The minister wants to have a thousand healthcare centres in the country. But in doing this, there is provision for the facilities in all communities and also the nearness of the healthcare to houses. The issue of maternal and child mortality would be reduced because of the access to healthcare and if there is a serious problem, the patient could be referred to higher level of the hospital setting. The

There is the belief that the government of APC is exaggerating some of the issues in anti-graft war to cover up their deficiencies...

They should do their investigation. I agree but they should assess the past government and find their weaknesses and hope not to make the same mistakes. They are in the saddle of responsibility. It is an opportunity for them to do better instead of looking back. There is an issue of impunity and what happened in the past, but if these things are not corrected then, there would be no future. They should look beyond this and find the solutions because they have already seen the pitfalls the [past] government fell into. They should find a way to shield themselves from such.

Was your recent defection to the APC a sign of your disaffection with your former party?

Most of us in the PDP were not happy with what was going on. We could not make the decisions. I had to leave because I saw the need to change direction after my assessment. There was a difference in our philosophy. I have contributed to the party, but a time came when the party started drifting from the general aspiration of the population.

Some of you that moved from the PDP to the APC are complaining that they still regard you as outsiders. Don’t you feel marginalised?

I am not surprised and I am not part of the new PDP arrangement. I do not belong to the arrangement in the tripod of the APC. I just came in and I was not expecting to be rewarded immediately because I have not been with them.

My aspiration is not much and the political relationship is something you nurture and people know your ability and contributions. I have not really taken assessments.

You are from the North-East. Can you access this administration on what they have done to bring peace to the region?

That is the A card of the government, irrespective of its shortcoming. We know the government has done remarkably. As far as we are concerned, Buhari’s administration is a hundred percent successful. We do not know what it means to be abducted and chased out of your homes. The fact that we can go back home, go to farms and be free, I think we have done very well in that regard.

What about the humanitarian crisis that still persists?

The humanitarian crisis would not be solved overnight. The level of damage and dislocation is so huge to the extent that the government needs to do something drastic to resuscitate the life of the people. Any area that the insurgents have taken over, 90 percent of the homes cannot be habitable because they have been vandalised with farms not available again. Families have lost their breadwinners. If you are 50 years and above and your house is burnt down, you have to wait on the government. The lives of the people have been completely destroyed. In other words, they need the government. It has been going on for a long time and I do not think it can be solved in a short time.

36

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

views.com

8th Senate: The journey so far

By Abubakar Bukola Saraki

O

NE year ago today, the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was inaugurated. That inauguration marks a further consolidation of our democracy and opens a new chapter in the practice of government by representation in our country. Let me congratulate all my colleagues, not only for the time we have spent in the legislature, but also for all that we have achieved together and all that we have planned to achieve for our peoples and our country as the highest legislative body in the land.

Every generation of senators will face its peculiar challenges. The task we set for ourselves and our understanding of our roles as senators must, therefore, reflect a robust understanding of the challenges that we face as a law making body at this time in our history.

The successful democratic transition that ushered in a new administration last year has reignited the hope of our citizens that democratic government truly empowers the people and is therefore ultimately capable of delivering real benefits to them and give them better quality of life. One year after, this remains the most important aspiration of our people: to be better off than they were in the previous year. Invariably, this must remain the most important priority of government: How do we make our people better off than they were before we came into office? This question, placed in the context of unprecedented decline in government revenue, underlines the economy and security as the two biggest issue of our time.

This Senate understands this obvious challenge. And this is why the Legislative Agenda of the 8th Senate is anchored on three cardinal objectives of improving governance, improving business and, improving livelihood. We believe that legislative activities that sustainably improve on these three key indicators will improve the economy and ultimately guarantee a better life for our people.

The collapse in oil price has without doubt brought huge shock to our economy on a scale that perhaps, has never been experienced before. This requires us to develop creative strategies that would stimulate business and investments into other sectors. For decades, we have talked about the need to diversify our economy. But we have failed to take the necessary steps in policy and legislations that would set us on the path to developing the kind of economy that we desire. The Ease of Doing Business Report that ranks our country 167 out of 189 countries is not likely to attract business into our economy.

This Senate understands this. With the support from our international development partners, the organised private sector, we commissioned an expert report which identified 54 extant laws that must be reviewed and brought in line with international best practices in order to open up our economy up for private investments and business.

This legislative intervention yielded about 15 major economic reform bills and 7 business environment bills. Some of these bills have since entered the dockets of the Senate and are at various stages of consideration as some also have been passed by the Senate. Chief among those passed include, the Electronic Transaction bill 2015; Debt Recovery and Insolvency bill 2015 and; the Railway Bill which is being considered through the final lap. All these bills represent a watershed in economic and business legislations in our country.

The Electronic Transaction Bill 2015 for example, will be the first legal framework ever in our country that provides the legal

foundation for electronic signatures and guarantees predictability in contracts made electronically. Once signed into law, this bill will offer full protection to contracts entered into via emails, and transactions conducted with online shops, electronic commerce and services platforms, which are currently not provided for in our laws. Another obvious benefit of this bill is that it will reduce the cost of doing business by eliminating transportation and other logistics cost. By passing this bill, the Senate has given legitimacy and local application to the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts, which was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 23rd November 2005 (the UN Convention).

This new legal framework when signed into law will embolden our innovative creativity and open up new areas of investment opportunity for our youths and start-ups who have hitherto suffered lack of support from creditors and investors due to the absence of this law. This implication is that we now have opportunity to see the emergence of new generation online, electronic application giants in the mould of Chinedu Echeruo.

Another important bill that has emerged from our Ease of Doing Business intervention is the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Repeal and Amendment Bill 2015. These are the super structure on which a 21st century Nigerian economy must be built on. Nigeria has been ranked very low in dealing with corporate insolvency due to the multiple, costly and unwieldy resolution framework under the old 1979 Act. Aside from removing the clogs in the process of transiting insolvency to administration, this new bill guarantees that the process becomes even more efficient, less exhausting and result oriented. The primary objective of this bill is to shift the paradigm of business administration from focusing on penalizing failures to encouraging credit and entrepreneurship. This is one bill that has the potential to transform the Nigerian financial landscape by enabling consistent supply of credit; attracting new capital and expertise into business revival; improving creditor recoveries and lowering the cost of credit.

There is no gainsaying that an efficient transportation system is a critical component of economic development anywhere. For the first time since 1924, the Railway bill will open up the subsector and attract the required private capital into this segment of our transport system that has appeared stuck in the past. The influx of private sector players, states and local government will not only stimulate rapid rural development, it will also create economic values by making transportation of goods more efficient, safer, and cheaper. The direct and indirect implication this will have for our economy, especially in the agricultural sub-sector, cannot be overemphasized. I am confident that this very important bill will also be passed soon.

Review of the Public Procurement Act is another major intervention by the Senate. This review is inspired by the need to guarantee government patronage for local manufacturers. Our desire is to ensure that a substantial percentage of the N6 trillion in the national budget is retained in the local economy and put in the pockets of our people. We believe that if government is obligated to patronize local businesses, wealth would be created, local industries would grow, productivity would increase and we would begin to see real reduction in mass unemployment. In adopting this approach, we have drawn inspiration from other developed economies that had done the same thing at a crucial stage in their development. The United States did the same thing around

1922 with the Buy America policy that was promoted by the Herbert Hoover administration. China, South Africa and other countries have similar laws that creatively promotes local businesses.

The agriculture credit scheme bill and the Chartered Institute for Soil Science bill we have just passed into law are part of a critical segment of legislative interventions we have designed to boost the current policy on agriculture as a major plank of the diversification policy of government. In the coming months, we are determined to continue to focus our legislative energy at high impact legislation across the critical sectors of our economy.

I have gone to fairly great lengths to articulate some of the work we have done in the last one year. I have done this to underline the fact that it is only through these functions that our performance would be measured by Nigerians and our presence in the Senate chambers would be justified. By outlining these interventions, we are also able to appreciate the great work that still lies ahead of us. Like I have said earlier, the big challenge for our generation is that of creating a modern economy that is capable of delivering prosperity to all our citizens. We in the Senate will continue to find creative solutions to the old problems that have kept our country from realizing its full potentials. This is the work we have been elected to do.

For too long Nigerians have challenged us to justify our presence in this chamber. Many have wondered what exactly we do here or why we should be entitled to certain privileges. I believe that the best answer we can provide to all these is to continue to seek ways that would enable the ordinary citizen feel the impact of the Senate in their lives. I dream of a day when the poor woman sitting in her house in rural Awka would be able to see the benefit of our work on her life. I dream of a day when a child going to school in Gusau would feel the benefit of the laws that we make. I dream of a day when a young lady in Osogbo would be able to say how the Senate has helped her small business. I dream of a day when a farmer in Ogoja would see how those of us gathered in this chamber has helped to improve his life. I am confident that if we continue on the path that we have walked in the past year, that day will come soon.

We have continued to lay emphasis and focus our attention on matters that directly touch our people. For us, it is our first priority to use lawmaking as a tool to play our part in the struggle to ensure that the welfare and security of our people remains paramount in the discharge of governance in this country. You would recall that that we had within the first month of assumption of office visited the IDP camp where some of our brothers and sisters displaced by the insurgency are staying. We went there to feel their plight and to assure them that they are not forgotten. We pledge that as lawmakers we will do whatever is necessary to support government to alleviate their sufferings. Today, we are on the verge of passing the North East Development Commission Bill which we see as a critical instrument to bringing succor to the displaced, restoring and rebuilding the North-east from the devastation that it has experienced in recent times.

We have continued to approach our work within this policy direction in mind. This is why we have sought and engaged with labour and the Ministry of Power on the electricity tariff, and continued to address issues of injustices wherever we are called upon to intervene.

Saraki is President of the Senate and Chairman of National Assembly.

Benin Kingdom mourns the loss of a great king

By Amen Oyakhire PEOPLE in Benin Kingdom, Edo State, Nigeria and in the Diaspora mourn the loss of a unique royal father, His Majesty Omo N’oba Erediauwa of Benin Kingdom. His demise has suddenly thrown us and mankind in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria and in the world into sadness, sorrows and deep mourning. The monarch, a visible example of decency, a Cambridge-trained lawyer, a brilliant seasoned administrator, a distinguished technocrat and a supper Federal Permanent Secretary reigned progressively, peacefully and prosperously in the Kingdom for thirty-seven years.

Notably, he was the Permanent Secretary in Petroleum Ministry with the then Colonel Muhammadu Buhari as Petroleum Minister (now Nigeria’s president). They both

built Nigeria’s four refineries which General Olusegun Obasanjo as military head of state commissioned on 4th September, 1978. Sadly, since then Nigeria has never again built any other refinery. By divine right of kings, he proceeded to Benin Kingdom from Lagos in March 1979 and succeeded his father who joined his ancestors. Omo N’Oba Erediauwa’s dynasty is not contestable and will always be constant in progress and as permanent as the sky. Obas are made by God. Oba’s male descendant will always be a king in Benin Kingdom. God watches over His Kingdom as long as the sun shines.

Omo N’Oba’s boldness of thoughts and clarity of vision attested strongly to his strength of character. Every page in his life openly bore the signature of God. God armed him with unusual wisdom from which many kings learnt a lot from. He was a major part of anything good in this

world. He ruled Benin Kingdom in glamour close to four decades and sustained the culture, heritage, tradition and sanctity of Edo people. Interestingly, even in death, his decency as a person, clear-thinking-headed pedigree, courage, kindness, patience, sacrifice, inspiration, compassion, determination, steadfastness and diligence have continued to attract mankind to his impeccable image.

His reputation as a king is acknowledged by queens and kings globally. May God accept his kind and peaceful soul into Paradise. May his Successor, HRH Edaiken N’uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, be more graciously blessed by God with longevity, regality, fame, wealth and may the Kingdom be more prosperously endowed by God during his precious reign. Oba ghato okpere ise.

Dr. Amen Oyakhire is ex-Military Adminstrator of Oyo and Taraba states.

37

11 June, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

FUTAstudents shineatGolden League

Keshi

Igesund

I once fought with Keshi —Ex-Bafana coach

I

N the wake of Nigerian legend and former coach Stephen Keshi’s untimely passing, exSouth Africa and SuperSport United coach, Gordon Igesund has described the ‘Big Boss’ as a true gentleman.

Igesund was in charge of Bafana Bafana when they faced the Super Eagles in Cape Town during the 2014 CAF African Nations Championships tournament (CHAN).

Bafana succumbed to a 3-1 loss at Cape Town Stadium through a brace from want-away Mamelodi Sundowns winger Uzoenyi Ejike and a Ifeanyi Ede strike.

However, the continent woke up to sad news on Wednesday morning that the former Nigeria skipper had passed away due to reported heart problems.

“Well...as coaches we got to know each other on and off the field, but he was a good guy,” Igesund told African Football.com.

“He was a gentleman of the game, humble and decent and I remember we also met during the CHAN tournament in Cape Town.

“We fought on the touchline as coaches, that’s normal during the game, but after the game we will have

a chat and talk about it like gentlemen.

“It’s a sad loss to football in Nigeria, to the continent and to his family but these things happen and it’s part of life.”

The former Anderlecht and Lokeren defender re-

cently signed with Quality Sports Agency in South Africa and was linked with the Orlando Pirates job.

Igesund also spoke about the fact that the 1994 CAF Africa Cup of Nations winner with the Super Eagles and 2013 AFCON winner

as coach, would’ve brought something different to the South African Premier Soccer League.

“Yes, look I heard that he was talking to South African clubs and I must be honest that it would’ve been great.

“He was a nice person and I don’’t doubt that the PSL would’ve been a different league and I was looking forward to such an opportunity for him.

“May his soul rest in peace and I’m sending my condolences to his family.”

Eagles coach, Yusuf for Euro 2016 NIGERIA caretaker coach, Salisu Yusuf plans to pay his way to follow the European Championships, which began on Friday in France.

The 54-year-old former Enyimba and Kano Pillars coach, who has already asked he be given the Super Eagles job on a permanent basis, said a fact-finding trip to Euros will further update his knowledge of the game.

“The coach will return to France to follow the Euros,” a source close to him informed AfricanFootball.com “He will not wait for the NFF to send him there because he wishes to upgrade his capacity.”

Yusuf, whose favourite formation is 4-2-3-1, recently visited Scottish club Hearts on his own to understudy their workings.

He is also due to spend

time to understudy new Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola.

The former Ranchers Bees and El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder has impressed after

he led a youthful Eagles team to beat Mali and Luxembourg in friendlies last month.

The two wins moved Nigeria six spots up on the FIFA rankings.

2nd MP Tiger junior tennis tourney serves off THE 2nd MP Tiger Tennis Junior Championship will serve off on Monday, June 13 at the Lagos County Club, Ikeja with some of the nation’s finest up-and-coming stars listed for action and end on Friday, June 17.

Tournament coordinator, Paul Moses stated that players will vie for honours in four categories; U-10, U-12,U-14 and U-16.

The players will be divided into two groups of four players with the top two players in reaching group qualifying for the semi-finals of the clay court invitational tournament.

Some of the players who would feature in the tournament are Oyinlomo Quadri, who is scheduled to arrive from Morocco on Saturday (today), Angel McLeod, Marylove Edward, Lolade Holmes, Reya Holmes, Serena Teluwo, Filipo Troimbi, Gideon Aluko, Olamide Aluka and Kareem Kareem Jnr. Theduo ofVenus Ubiebi

and Toyin Asogba, who recently returned from the second phase of a training tour of the United States, are also listed for action.

Also featuring are 2016 Africa Junior Championship U-14 silver medallist Michael Osewa, Saminu Abubakar, Musa Sani, Christopher Bulus and Michael Ayoola, among others.

Moses, a UK Professional Tennis Registry-certified coach, noted that the tournament helped some of the country’s junior players achieved success last year.

“The impact of this tournament on some of our junior players who excelled last year at the continental level is still visible. Specifically, Oyinlomo Barakat Quadre won the girls U-16 and the following week, she played for Nigeria in a tournament in Tunisia where her performance led to an award of scholarship

by ITF,” he stated.

THE Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA is still savouring the gains from its recent hosting of the Golden League organised by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. Apart from the impressive showing by leading Nigerian athletes led by long jumper Ese Brume, who qualified for the Rio Olympic Games, some students of FUTA also put up impressive performances to earn places in the national team.

Leading the pack is Emmanuel Arowolo of the department of Mathematics.

He got a ticket to represent Nigeria in the CAA African Senior Championship billed for Durban in South Africa from June 22 to 26.

Arowolo came third in the 100 metres and second in the 200 meters to achieve the feat. Also Michael Ogwu, a student of Agricultural Economics who came fourth in high jump got a call up to the national junior athletics camp. The FUTA 4x100 male quartet also qualified to participate in the All Nigerian Open Athletics completion billed for July this year.

Coach Godwin Ogogo under whose watch the students train assured that with the support of the authorities, the students would give a good showing at the national and international levels.

An official of AFN, Mr Olukayode Thomas commended FUTA for successfully hosting the competition for the past three years, saying the facilities for athletics in FUTA is commendable.

“Compared with what I have seen so far in higher institutions of learning in the country, including the first generation universities, FUTA has wonderful facility for athletics and the authority should ensure adequate maintenance to ensure sustainability,” Thomas said.

Director of Sports of FUTA, Alayode Ajibua, in his remarks said the sports Centre is under firm instruction from the Vice Chancellor to ensure regular maintenance of the facility and its release for use.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adebiyi Daramola said the institution will continue to put its sporting facilities at the disposal of AFN and other related bodies as its contributions to sports development.

38

11 June, 2016

Mcleod wins junior CBN tennis championship Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna ANGEL Mcleod of Lagos State emerged victorious at the just-ended U-16 girls category of the 2016 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Junior Tennis championship in Kaduna.

Mcleod defeated Marylove Edwards in an exciting final which brought the best of the youngsters as Samonu Abubakar of FCT, Abuja, defeated Lagos Michael Oshewa 9-7 in the boys U-16 category final.

Also, Lagos Chris Bulus defeated Kaduna-based Chris Itodo 9-8 to win the U-18 category.

David Dawariye from Port Harcourt won the U-14 boys category as he dumped Friday Victor also from Port Harcourt 9-2, while Favour

Moses from Kaduna defeated Temire Maxwell from Port Harcourt 9-7 in the girls category final.

In the U-12 boys category, Ajanaku Abdullahi from Lagos confirmed superiority over Clement Dickson from Kaduna 9-4, while Rebecca Ekpeyong from Port Harcourt outclassed Iye Onoja from Kaduna 9-8 in the girls final.

Ezekiel Azi from Abuja defeated Lucky Danjuma 9-7 to win the boys U-10 title, while Salamatu Haruna from Abuja defeated Mary Azi from Abuja 9-5 in the girls final.

Temire Maxwell and Suleiman Ibrahim were adjudged the Most Outstanding Players of the tournament in both categories.

In his remarks, the CBN

Governor, Godwin Emefiele who was represented by the Acting Director, Corporate Communication Department, Mr Isaac Okoroafor expressed satisfaction with the performance and improvement of the players.

He said the sponsorship of the annual tennis championship is geared towards encouraging the youth to participate actively in sports, just as he urged individuals and corporate organisations in the country to partner with CBN in developing the youth.

“We wish to reaffirm the commitment of the management of the CBN to the continued sponsorship of this tournament towards the promotion and development of the game of tennis in Nigeria,” he added.

Saturday Tribune

DIOCESE OF IJESA NORTH ANGLICAN COMMUNION SECOND SESSION OF THE SECOND SYNOD AT IJEBU- JESA

From middle, Diocesan Bishop of Ijesa North Diocese, The Right Reverend Dr. Isaac Iwabiolorun Oluyamo JP; his wife and President of Women Organisation of Ijesa North Diocese, Mrs Margaret Oluyamo; Chief and Mrs Olufemi James Ekemode; Mrs Bolatito Ategbero (flanked right); Mr and Mrs Oluwole Olumide Kolawole; Dr and Mrs Adebayo David Oluyamo ( flanked left) during the second session of the second synod of Diocese of Ijesa North Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at the Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew ljebu-Jesa, recently.

Nigeria has lost a gem —Ejidike NIGERIA’S Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike has described the sudden death of former Super Eagles’ captain and coach, Stephen Keshi as a big blow to the Nigerian football and sports fraternity given his achievements, commitment and patriotism to this country.

Ejidike in a statement signed by his media aide, Prince Olayioye Ajide paid glowing tribute to the former coach of Togo and Mali, who he described as a gem in Nigerian football.

“Keshi will be remembered for laurels he won for

Keshi

Nigeria, his patriotism, his commitment, his integrity and unalloyed loyalty to his fatherland. We have lost a gem, a charismatic skipper even as the vacuum vacated

by Keshi will be difficult to fill,” stated Ejidike.

Ejidike, who is also the president of Karate Federation of Nigeria, called on the authorities to give Keshi a heroic burial and immortalise him as a mark of honour in appreciation of his immeasurable contributions to the growth of soccer in Nigeria.

From middle, Diocesan Bishop of Ijesa North Diocese, The Right Reverend Dr. Isaac Iwabiolorun Oluyamo JP; his wife, Mrs Margaret Oluyamo; Professor Taiwo Olowokure; Chief M.A Olusesi( Flanked right); The Right Reverend Israel Afolabi Amoo; Lady Evangelist F.B Ojo Aromokudu and the Registrar, Chief O.A Agbola (Flanked Right) at the Second Synod.

Ibas hails Navy Sailing Club for developing water sports

By Niyi Alebiosu THE Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral IE Ibas, has praised the visionary leadership of the Nigerian Navy Sailing Club (NNSC) towards developing water sports in the country.

Ibas, who was represented

by Rear Admiral Joe Okojie, FOC NAVTRAC made the remarks during the open water swimming competition organised by NNSC to celebrate the Nigerian Navy at 60 and the Democracy day.

He noted that the catchthem-young initiative of the Navy Sailing Club would pave the way for the growth of aquatic sports in Nigeria in the nearest future.

“When you talk about grassroots development, the Navy Sailing club is one of the avenues that we have established since 1986 to ensure that grassroots development of water sports is enhanced,” Ibas said.

Also in his remarks, the Minister of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, who was represented by Dr Ademola

Are, Director of Grassroots sports in the sports ministry, noted that the programme was in line with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“When we went for the inaugural visit at the villa, Mr President charged the ministry that we should go back to grassroots sports.

“He charged the ministry to go back to multiple medal winning sports like swimming and gymnastics and it is evident in what we are seeing today. It is evident that the Nigerian Navy is doing its utmost best to support what the president wants because it is time for change,” he said.

Commodore of the club, Citizen Tunde Giwa-Daramola described the occasion as massive and awesome.

“It’s a turnout that really impressed me, because we have all our elite, young athletes and people that want to learn about water sports in attendance,” he said adding that, the NNSC celebrated the Nigerian Navy at 60

because of the platform it provided them and the assistance of the current Chief of Naval Staff through his encouragement, renovation of the club’s facilities and upgrading of their infrastructures.

Giwa-Daramola bemoaned the neglect of other sports that are capable of bringing glory to Nigeria in favour of football as he clamoured for more concentration on home-grown athletes rather than alreadymade athletes.

“We have the quality and the people that can excel at the international level in this country. When we start looking for already-made athletes from other countries, when we have wide varieties of local talents, it does not help us at the long run,” he said.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 16 athletes competed in the competition ranging from open water swimming in four categories, sailing, kayak (senior boys, senior girls), canoeing (boys and girls) to rowing.

From right, Diocesan Bishop of Osun North East Diocese, The Right Reverend Dr. Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye JP, Diocesan Bishop of Ijesa North Diocese, The Right Reverend Dr. Isaac Iwabiolorun Oluyamo JP and the Diocesan Bishop of Yewa Diocese, The Right Reverend Oluwarounbi, at the Synod.

The Right Reverend Dr Isaac Iwabiolorun Oluyamo JP; his wife, Mrs Margaret Oluyamo and Venerables with their wives at the event.

39

sport

11 June, 2016

MDD team wins FAAN Workers’ Unity Cup Shola Adekola-Lagos

T

HE Managing Director’s Directorate (MDD) team has won the just-ended 2016 Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Inter-Directorate Unity Cup, following a 2-1 victory over the Directorate of Airports Operations (DAO) in an exciting final decided at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Secondary School pitch, Lagos.

Cash rewards were also doled out by Sullah Bureau de Change to the best three teams, as the winners received

N500,000 for their brilliant outing while the second and third placed teams received N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.

It was a repeat of last year’s final with the MDD men turning the tables for a sweet revenge this time as they took the lead through Ali Muktar and scored again before break.

The DAO men came back in the second half to reduce the tally through Waziri Abba Speaking with sports journalists, the Chief of Staff to the Managing Director, Mohammed Kabir said the competition provided a platform for

members of staff to develop both physically and mentally apart from being a recreational activity.

According to him, the

BARRISTER Tunde Akande of Tiger Golf Club (TGC) and former Lady Captain of Ibadan Golf Club (IGC), Alhaja Otolola Adesiyan emerged champions of the TGC Captain and Lady Captain inaugural golf tournament which ended last weekend at the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo, Ibadan.

The tournament which was organised to usher in new executives who will run the affairs of the club for one year attracted golfers across the country.

Akande won the men’s category with 70 Nets, while Adesiyan outclassed other women golfers to claim the Lady Captain star prize. She also clinched the Longest Drive prize in the one-day tourney.

In his remarks, Captain of TGC, Dr John Dongo promised to deliver within the short period of his administration through the support of his executives and members of the club.

He commended sponsors like the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Seye Omisore who is a trustee of the club and Tunde Badejo among others, for their assistance to the

club.

“There are challenges no doubt but I do sincerely believe, that by God’s grace, we will surmount most of the them within the span of this administration.

“As we all know, golf and hospitality industry have taken centre stage in the world of tourism. TGC is seriously committed in this direction.

We now have have a 25room chalet, where golfers on business trip and leisure can lodge.

“I must put on record, the effort and immense contribution of our patron and General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General LC Ilo to the growth and development of Tiger Golf Club. His advice with commitment has being key to our committee’s achievements within this short period,” Dongo said.

Also, the Lady captain of TGC, Oyinlola Omajuwa in her remarks promised to woo more lady golfers into the club during her tenure.

“I’m indeed proud of the ladies section executive and the entire ladies section for their commitment and zeal towards the promotion of the game and drive for quality membership in the section.

My pet project, the extension

competition, the 2017 version will be better and all-encompassing as it would involve all the 22 airports operated by FAAN.

“I am simply the best player in Ibadan Tennis Club as of today. I enjoy the game so much because initially I was playing table tennis before I switched to tennis and I am enjoying the game. I will work harder to retain this trophy in the next edition,” Orebiyi told Tribunesport.

Coach Kasali however, lamented the loss which he attributed to dizziness during the course of the game.

“I was leading until my opponent took over to win the first set 6-4. In fact, I was not feeling okay during the course of the game and that was reason why I lost to Orebiyi, but I hope to come back stronger,” Kasali said.

The sponsor of the tourney, Chief Funsho Abiri said he is excited to be sponsoring the competition since 2014.

“We organise this championship annually to promote tennis as a game and it has been instituted as an entity

on his own.

“In 2014 we had 22 participants, last year we had 30 and this year we have 31 players who registered, so, the championship is growing in terms of participation, in terms of quality, quality of prize winners and in terms of popularity because it is gaining recognition far and wide.

“ITC is a premier club, we trying to energise to have more championship because last year, we had about four championships and this is the first one this year and we believe before the end of the year, we would have more competitions,” he stated.

Meanwhile, president of ITC, Aremo Funsho Adeleke lauded the sponsor for consistency in sponsoring the tourney, just as he urged members of the club to make themselves available whenever there is tournament.

Orebiyi retains Funsho Abiri tennis title

By Olawale Olaniyan

AKIN Orebiyi has won the third edition of Chief Funsho Abiri Tennis Championship organised annually by the Ibadan Tennis Club (ITC).

Orebiyi defeated veteran player and coach of the game, Adeyemi Kasali 6-4, 6-2 to retain the title.

Akande, Adesiyan win TGC Captain, Lady Captain’s inaugural tournament

By Olawale Olaniyan

Inter-Directorate Cup is also a way of bonding and establishing a spirit of camaraderie among the staff of the authority.

According to organisers of the

of the ladies toilet and cloak room, will commence soon.

The design is ready and we are ready to go,” Oyinlola said.

Meanwhile, Major General Ilo in his goodwill message charged both Captains to work tirelessly to ensure that their tenure ushers in sustainable development and significantly improves the standard of golfing in the club.

feature

Saturday Tribune

Nigerian coaches mourn Keshi THE umbrella body of football coaches in Nigeria, the Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA) has mourned with other Nigerians and football stakeholders in the world the demise of former Super Eagles captain and coach, Stephen Keshi.

In a statement signed by the General Secretary of the association, coach Solomon Ogbeide, the body lamented the untimely death of Keshi, especially with the reports that he was on the verge of landing lucrative job either in South Africa and Uganda.

“The death of Keshi, one of our active colleagues, is saddening. It’s unbelievable that such a young man who has no known ailment or sickness will just die at his prime when his contribution to the game is still much needed.

“As a coach in the national team, Keshi was a pride to the association because of his sentiment towards Nigerian coaches and homebased players. He gave more of his colleagues opportunities to work with him and also discovered many local players than the coaches before him, apart from Clemens Westerhof,” the statement noted.’’

The new fad called baby showers

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

12 JUNE, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

N200

thepolity

June 12: Wither Nigeria’s democracy?

What we want from Buhari —MKO’s son feature

Flying in unfare circumstances

How high cost of airfares, CBN policy, are affecting travellers

glamour

glitz

I want a man who is

If God says I should marry tomorrow, I will

honest, bold and....

—Tamilore Martins

—Uti Nwachukwu Sunday

Plus news, sports, fashion... and more!

Otolola Adesiyan

Book your copy

inside I once fought with Keshi NO 1, 155

N150

SATURDAY, 11 JUNE, 2016

—Ex- Bafana Bafana Coach Pallbearers, including Will Smith, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, place Muhammad Ali’s casket in the hearse.

The hearse carrying Ali’s body

Ali... Ali...Ali...

Thousandsbid

....................

‘TheGreatest’farewell

M

ORE than 14,000 mourners on Friday bade final farewell to legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali in a 19-mile-long funeral procession followed by a service in the Kentucky town where he once shadowboxed and dreamed of greatness.

Actor Will Smith and ex-boxers, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis were among the pallbearers who placed Ali’s coffin in the black hearse for the procession that started at his boyhood home and then travelled along the boulevard that bears his name and the museum that

stands as a lasting tribute to his boxing triumphs and his humanitarian causes outside the ring.

Mourners standing alongside the procession route could be heard chanting ‘Ali’ or ‘The champ is here’ while waving and clapping at the vehicle carrying his body.

Some even ran into the street to touch the hearse, while others jogged alongside of it for a short period of time. Fans of the Kentucky native could be seen tossing flowers at the hearse throughout the procession.

Ali’s nine children, his wife, two of his ex-wives

and other family members joined the funeral procession in a 17-car motorcade.

The service also featured a eulogy by former President Bill Clinton, a longtime friend, and remarks by comedian Billy Crystal, television journalist, Bryant Gumbel and the champ’s wife, Lonnie.

Ali, died a week ago at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, as yesterday more than 14,000 mourners joined the family for the traditional Muslim prayer service at Kentucky’s Freedom Hall to celebrate the sporting legend’s extraordinary life.

. Ali’s second wife Khalilah Camacho-Ali (left), his fourth wife Lonnie Ali (center), and daughter Laila Ali (right), and a grandchild.

Photos.THE DAILY MAIL

Keshi was special—Head teachers THE head teacher, St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka Lagos, Daniel Ikediobi, says the late former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, 54, was admitted to the college because of his football prowess.

“Stephen Keshi was admitted into the school on scholarship due to his dexterity in football.

“He was admitted into form three during the 1977/1978 academic session by the founding Principal of

the college, Rev. Fr. Dennis Slatery,” Ikediobi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

He said the principal, the first chairman, Nigeria Football Association (NFA), and first Chairman, Nigerian Referees Association (NRA), attracted students who exhibited good skills in football to the school.

“Fr Slatery attracted students who were potential footballers by offering schol-

arships or soft landing to them because St. Finbarr’s College is a football-playing school.

“Any issue that concerned Keshi was considered if his parents could not meet up,” Ikediobi said while paying tribute to the football legend.

For Mrs Wasiat Ayanbajo, Head Teacher, St Peters Catholic Primary School, Ebute Meta, where Keshi finished his primary education in 1972/73 session, not

much could be said about his days as a pupil.

Ayanbajo, however, said that records showed that as an old student, he contributed to the school’s development.

“He was a benefactor to the school; he jointly with Paul Okoku, another footballer, equipped it with modern communications gadgets.

“All these people were old students of the school,” she said.

The funeral procession

AYC qualifier: F/Eagles focused for Burundi game

By Olawale Olaniyan HEAD Coach of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, Emmanuel Amuneke has said his wards are well prepared for today’s reverse fixture of the 20th African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifier against Burundi at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

The Amuneke lads, it will be recalled, secured a 1-0 win in Bujumbura over the Young swallows courtesy of Agor Chukwudi’s 64th minute strike, thus require a draw to advance to the final qualifying stage where they will face Sudan.

Following the death of the legendary ex-Nigeria captain and coach, Stephen Keshi, during the week, the camp of the U-20 Eagles at Tinapa resort was in sober mood as the youngsters

were downcast by the sad news.

But Amuneke, has said his lads won’t disappoint today as the team needs victory to appease Nigerians who are still mouring the exit of Keshi.

“We are focused ahead of the second leg. The first leg was good for us as we picked the three points at stake.

“We are optimistic, the boys are happy and by the grace of God it will be another great result for us on Saturday (today),” said the 1994 African Footballer of the Year.

The former Golden Eaglets handler must have psyched up captain Kelechi Nwakali, Victor Osimhen, Agor Chukwudi and others, to play to their potential today as the visitors will be aiming at an upset after losing at home.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 11/6/2016.