11th October 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,608 TUESDAY, 11 OCTOBER, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

TODAY'S SPECIAL

Benefits of taking lemon water LEMON water is of immense benefit to the human body.

Over the years, research findings have confirmed that taking lemon water is a way of keeping sicknesses at bay.

These are 12 of the ways that taking lemon water can rejuvenate one's body.

Cleanses the body Lemon water will stimulate the liver to produce more

bile, which will improve body’s natural detoxification system. When the liver works better, the body is cleansed of toxins and other types of harmful agents.

Improves digestion There are several compounds in lemons which produce more bile; this will lead to an improved digestion.

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Police parade 3 soldiers, 6 other suspected kidnappers —P6 of CBN gov's wife Prosecute killer Again, OBJ herdsmen, meets Buhari Sultan tells FG in Aso Rock —P3

DSS releases arrested judges Continues pg4

—P2

•Arrest sad, regrettable —CJN •NJC to take position today •NBA rejects Presidency's explanations •Lawyers divided over arrest

—P2

IMF forecasts further economic decline for Nigeria, others —P11

Court strikes out case on OAU VC’s appointment —P10

Two helicopters handed over to the Nigerian Air Force, at the Presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday.

Buhari hands over 2 presidential —P4 aircraft for war against Boko Haram

2 news DSS releases arrested judges

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

•Arrest sad, regrettable —CJN •NJC to take position today •NBA rejects Presidency’s explanations From Jacob Segun Olatunji, Lanre Adewole and Sunday Ejike

S

EVEN judges of superior courts of record detained by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) for alleged graft have been granted administrative bail.

They were released on bail on Sunday, with a directive to appear on Monday at the DSS headquarters.

All of them complied with the order on Monday.

They were equally allowed to go home on Monday and were told to come back today by 2.00 p.m, while they would also make appearance at the DSS office every day.

According to the Nigerian Tribune source, “the affected judges were released on bail on self-recognition, based on the fact that given their standing in the society, they cannot run away. They were instructed that they should come back today by 2.00 p.m.”

The source, however, affirmed that investigation into their cases would continue and whoever is found guilty would be charged to court.

All efforts made to the Service for reaction on the development failed, but a top official of the agency confirmed their release to the Nigerian Tribune in confidence.

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Monday, called for calm over last Friday’s arrest of two justices of the Supreme Court and other judges of the Federal High Court by the DSS. The CJN, who broke his silence on this issue on Monday, while speaking at the valedictory court session held in honour of a retired Supreme Court justice, Justice Suleiman Galadima, said the action of the DSS was “indeed, very saddening and deeply regrettable.

“However, I must ask all Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful, as an emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) will take place tomorrow [today] to comprehensively look into the matter.

“I must express my sincere appreciation to the executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and, indeed, all members of the legal profession, for their prompt action and continued support.”

Although it was traditional for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice to deliver an address on such valedictory court session, the incumbent AGF, Abubakar Malami, was conspicuously

absent at Monday’s event and he did not send a representative.

In his speech at the event, the NBA president, Abubakar Mahmoud, insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari should call the security agencies responsible for the arrest of the justices of the

apex court and the judges of the lower court to order.

According to the NBA boss, “we viewed these actions as illegal, unconstitutional and a threat to the independence of the judiciary and must be aimed at intimidating the judiciary and the legal profession.

“This military style operations are totally unacceptable in a democratic society. They are unacceptable against private citizens, but even more sore against serving justices of superior courts.”

Mahmoud said the NBA rejected the explanations and justification given by

the Presidency that these so-called surgical operations were targeted at corruption and not the judiciary.

“We find absurd that the presidency will accept assurances from the DSS that it followed due process of the law.

We maintain our position that these operations are illegal

NLC condemns arrest, calls for due process

•Lawyers divided over judges’ arrest by DSS •Former minister lauds DSS From Ayodele Adesanmi and Olatunde Dodondawa, with Agency Report THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the arrest of judges over allegation of corruption by the Department of State Security (DSS).

A statement signed by Comrade Joe Ajaero, factional president of NLC, stated, “we think that the best way to go in this debacle is for the Federal Government

to immediately release the illegally arrested judges and then allow the due process of removing them from the Bench, which precedents abound in Nigeria in the recent past.

“With this, this government will show its willingness to correct itself whenever mistakes are made and contain quickly the general outrage which has greeted this perceived affront on democracy and governance in general, that is if we are serious about

reducing corruption in the judiciary.

“We urge this government, as we have always insisted, that it must carry out its operations bearing in mind the sensitive nature and character of the nation’s demography. It ought to avoid anything that would cause the people to read primordial intentions to its activities, especially when fighting something as hydra-headed as corruption.

“It must, therefore, be very

transparent and strictly in adherence to the statutes of the land.

“This way, its actions will be above board and beyond reproach, but in this case, Congress does not believe that the DSS has done a tidy job or had exercised enough caution in executing these arrests.”

The statement further stated that Nigerian workers insisted that since the government seems to have esContinues pg3

and unconstitutional. I want to reiterate that the position of the NBA is not aimed at protecting any judge. We are not also shielding any judges from investigation from charges of corruption,” Mahmoud stated.

He also addressed the divisions among lawyers over the arrests and raids of the judges’ houses saying “we are clear that raiding houses of justices of the Supreme Court in the middle of the night by masked armed men is not the way to go. We do not accept it. This portends real danger to the Nigerian democracy. It is contrary to all civilised norms and accepted standards.” He called on the DSS to restrict itself to its constitutional and statutory duties.

According to him, DSS core mandate was to guarantee internal national security, pointing out that “it is not its duty to conduct police investigation or arraign and prosecute cases of corruption.

It is not its responsibility to conduct sting operations on judges for corruption or professional misconduct in the middle of the night.”

The NBA boss called on the CJN to immediately take necessary and urgent steps to set in motion the process of cleansing the system, noting that urgent steps must be taken to restore confidence of the Nigerian people in the Continues pg10

Again, OBJ meets Buhari in Aso Rock Clement Idoko -Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, receiving former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.

I have no regret writing petition against Aregbesola —Retired Osun judge Oluwole Ige -Osogbo

A former judge in Osun State, Justice OlamideOloyede, has declared that she has no regret writing petition to the Osun State House of Assembly, calling for the impeachment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye Tomori, over alleged mismanagement of the state’s fund.

Oloyede was recently retired by the National Judicial Council (NJC), having been found guilty for violating judicial rules over the controversial petition.

Featuring during a live programme, entilted “Frank

Talk” monitored by the Nigerian Tribune on Rave FM radio station based in Osogbo, the former judge submitted that she had not violated any section of the nation’s constitution or erred in writing the petition.

While apologising to the governor over the use of some certain words in the petition, which she said, ought not to have been used, Oloyede said she abhorred no hatred or grudge against Aregbesola, but only concerned in raising issues, bordering on the welfare of Osun people in the petition.

According to her, “I have no regrets writing that petition. But, in retrospect, I

have come to realise that perhaps I did employ some words and language in respect of Mr Governor and his deputy, which I ought not to have used and, so, today, I am tendering an unreserved apology, public apology for the choice of certain words, which I would not repeat.”

Oloyede continued: “However, as far as the substance of that petition is concerned, I remain resolute and I am convinced that my actions were done in fidelity to my office and to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which I swore to uphold out of love for my country”.

“As we say in law, the fact speaks for itself and I said earlier, the petition speaks for itself. I would rather not go over the content of the petition, which I believe is in the public’s possession. My reason for writing is clearly stated there. I am a person known for my own conviction and the only regret that I have, I have said it, every other thing I said, I meant it word for word,” she asserted.

Oloyede maintained that she did not belong to the class of people, who believed that the judiciary should be seen and not to be heard, even when the country was collapsing.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, held a secret meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting, which lasted about an hour, was also held behind closed doors in the president’s office.

Obasanjo declined comment on his mission to the Villa when State House correspondents accosted him on his way out of the meeting with the president.

The ex-president, who wore a flowing blue gown (Agbada) simply kept sealed lips when he was prodded to speak on his mission to Villa and the recent arrest of some judges by the operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

3 news

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Boko Haram not eliminated yet —Kashim Shettima Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna

GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima of Borno state has maintained that the Boko Haram insurgency is still on course in some partS of the state and yet to be eliminated.

“If anybody say to you that there is no more Boko Haram in Borno State, that is not correct, but efforts are being made to dislodge the insurgents from operating like before.”

The governor bared his mind while speaking at the two-day summit organised by the Northern Elders Forum in Kaduna, on Monday.

He, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to fighting insurgency in the North-East region.

“I am eternally grateful to President Buhari for his support. Although, people may have different opinions about his leadership or his person, I am personally grateful to him for coming to our aid, especially at this

critical time. Borno State would have been a state of yesterday.”

He explained further that one of those Northerners that he must be grateful to was the chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote who had supported the state government with building materials worth N2 billion for the rehabilitation of the state.

Speaking at the event, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, called for the unity, security and socio-economic development of the region, saying if the North was developed, Nigeria would be developed, because “North is a part of Nigeria.”

He urged the Northern elders to be up and doing, saying the current crisis facing the region should be tackled for the benefit of the younger generation and the unborn ones.

“We must learn how to live together as brothers and sisters, irrespective of our religion, tribe and political affiliations,” he said.

From left, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Naaba; representative of the Senate President, Senator Kabir Marafa; deputy chairman, Northern Elders Forum, Mr Paul Unongo; and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the annual pan-Northern group summit, on security and political development, in Kaduna, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN.

Prosecute killer herdsmen, Sultan tells FG Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna

THE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has implored the Federal Government to prosecute Fulani herdsmen who kill in the name of acting the script of Fulani kins-

men, saying they should be treated like criminals.

The Sultan, however, stressed that Nigerians must stop mistaking the devilish act of the killer herdsmen as acting the script of the Fulani community or Muslim community in Nigeria.

He stated this in Kaduna, on Monday, at the opening ceremony of the twoday annual Pan-Northern groups summit on security, socio-economic and political development.

According to the Sultan, the clashes between farmers

NLC condemns arrest, calls for due process Continued from pg2

tablished a prima facie case against the judges as alleged, “they should face prosecution in the court, but that is after they have been released and due processes followed to bring them back to answer

for their perceived crimes.”

Meanwhile, more reactions have continued to trail the arrest of the judges.

Some lawyers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, on Monday, lauded the action of the DSS, while others con-

demned the invasion of their homes on the grounds that it contravened the provisions of the law.

Human Rights lawyer, Mr Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, described the arrest as a worrisome development.

“In a democracy, the rule

EFCC arrests, quizzes female court registrar Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin -Lagos

FOLLOWING a crackdown on alleged corrupt judicial officers, a registrar of the Federal High Court in Lagos was, last Thursday, arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Helen Ogunleye, who is under investigation by the antigraft agency, allegedly had a

record of pairing up senior lawyers with judges to pervert justice.

She was further quizzed at the Lagos office of the EFCC on Monday.

Nigerian Tribune confirmed that Ogunleye was detained overnight before being granted administrative bail on Friday.

It was further gathered that investigations by the EFCC

revealed that Ogunleye allegedly connived with some high-profile lawyers undergoing prosecution as a conduit for transferring cash to some of the judges.

According to the Nigerian Tribune source, “Ogunleye is cooperating with EFCC. She has been reporting to the commission and has been very helpful with insightful details.”

of law prescribes the independence of the judiciary, whereby judges must be allowed the unfettered right of taking decision according to law and according to their consciences.

“It is in this regard that the mindless invasion of the homes of judges by the DSS is totally condemnable; the judiciary is the arm of government that stabilises democracy and so, should not be exposed to ridicule or opprobrium.”

According to him, any fight against corruption must be done in accordance with acceptable standards and principles of law.

In the same vein, a constitutional lawyer, Mr Paul Umuzuruigbo, believed that the fight against corruption must follow laid down rules

and procedures.

“Any fight against corruption must be done under the rule of law, and there is no law that authorises the invasion of the home of a judge at an unholy hour of the night.

“Being public officers, there is no way these judicial officers would have absconded or run away from normal arrest during the day, if need be.

“It is the height of lawlessness and gross intolerance to go about the arrest of judicial officers in the way and manner played out by the DSS,” he told NAN. But another Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Justice Chimezie, reacted differently, urging the DSS to ensure that investigations were carried out to Continues pg10

Falana blames NJC, NBA for rot in judiciary •Wants AGF to arraign arrested judges in court A Lagos-based legal luminary, Mr Femi Falana, has urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to arraign the three judges arrested for alleged corrupt practices in court without any delay.

At the same time, he also blamed the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the rot in the judiciary.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Falana described the detained judges as presumed innocent until the contrary was proven by the state.

The legal practitioner said they should also be admitted to bail in self recognition.

Falana expressed concern that over the years, the NJC

paid lip service to the crisis of judicial corruption in the country.

“It is a matter of grave concern that the legal profession has allowed the denigration of the hallowed temple of justice because of the misconduct of a few corrupt judges.

“For several years, judges who committed grave criminal offences were not prosecuted, but merely retired by the authorities on the recommendation of the NJC. “Although the NJC recently recommended the dismissal and prosecution of a judge for extorting N197 million from a litigant, the authorities had paid lip service to

the menace of judicial corruption in the country,’’ he said.

Falana alleged that the NBA had continued to shield corrupt judges to the embarrassment of incorruptible members of the bar and the bench.

“The few lawyers who have plucked up the courage to expose corrupt judges and lawyers have been stigmatised and treated like lepers by their colleagues.

“It is on record that when anti-graft agencies sent invitation letters to judges suspected of corruption, they had rushed to the Federal High Court to obtain interlocutory injunctions to pre-

vent their arrest, investigation and prosecution.

“Having failed to take advantage of relevant statutory disciplinary bodies to purge the bar and the bench of corrupt elements, members of the legal profession have themselves to blame for the harassment of judges by security forces.

“It is on account of negligence on the part of the legal profession that the SSS has engaged in the arrest of judges for alleged corruption and abuse of office,’’ Falana said.

The legal practitioner also urged the bar and the bench to strengthen their disciplinary bodies with a view to removing the few corrupt

judges and lawyers.

Falana, however, expressed concern that demand of human rights community to the effect that the fundamental rights of lowly placed criminal suspects be respected by security agencies was treated with disdain.

“Judges and other influential citizens have since become victims of institutionalised abuse of official harassment.

“It is high time that all stakeholders demanded that every criminal suspect be treated with dignity in line with the provision of the Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015,” he added.

and herdsmen were purely economic and not ethnoreligious as speculated in some quarters.

“There are very terrible herdsmen who kill. But they are acting on their own, they are criminals and they must be treated as criminals.

Therefore the Federal Government should prosecute them.

“It is disheartening to hear when people say Fulani herdsmen want to Islamise Nigeria and that is why they are killing. Any Fulani herdsman who kills is not acting the script of the Fulani community in Nigeria, neither is he working for the Muslim community,” he said.

Speaking on the state of Northern Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto said unity of Northern Nigeria was nonnegotiable if the region must develop and have a common front.

He lamented that the North of today was not the North that Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, left behind, adding that there was ethnic awareness among Northerners now, than ever before.

According to him, “There is more ethnic awareness now than ever before. The question is why the sudden consciousness in ethnicity and religion?

“I will not attempt to provide answer to this question, but, we must therefore strive to re-unite the North, only then, we can have a common front and build a united and cohesive North,” he said.

On state of infrastructural decay in the North, the Sultan charged Northern governors to pay attention to infrastructure, especially roads.

He said governors should build roads, instead of using N28 billion to build airport, adding that common people would feel their impact more on roads than building airport.

4 news

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Benefits of taking lemon water Continued from fp

Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach will result in much lower levels of indigestion, bloating, belching and heartburn. Lemon water will also prevent constipation by smoothing out the overall function of the bowels. Even the American Cancer Society recommends drinking lemon water to those with cancer to help stimulate bowel movements. If one suffers constipation, digestive problems, or even chronic indigestion, drinking a glass of lemon with water in the morning will go a long way towards relieving those types of problems.

Reduces inflammation Although lemons are acidic by nature, they turn alkaline once consumed. Drinking lemon water regularly will help to lower the acidity of the body. Cancer and other diseases start in and thrive in an acidic environment. Drinking lemon water will also help the body remove uric acid from the joints, which is one of the main causes of gout and the inflammation that causes arthritis.

It can reduce weight If one is trying to shed weight, drinking lemon water can help! Lemons are high in pectin, a type of fiber which helps to stop

those in between meal hunger pangs and food craving. Adding a bit of honey and cayenne pepper to lemon water will increase metabolism, which will aid in burning more calories without even trying.

Cleans the urinary tract If you have ever had a urinary tract infection, then you know how painful they can be. Lemon water is a natural but mild diuretic which can help to keep the urinary tract clean. Lemons will also change the pH level of the entire urinary tract, which will discourage the growth of bacteria. If one suffers from frequent urinary tract infections, this is the perfect drink!

Makes your skin beautiful Drinking lemon water on a regular basis will make a big difference in one’s complexion. The high Vitamin C content in lemon juice, along with other antioxidants, will kill off the free radicals in the body which lead to premature aging of the skin.

Lemons help to purify the blood as well as encourage the body to grow new blood cells, skin and the connective tissue which keeps the skin looking firm.

Helps regulate blood pressure If one suffers from hypertension, drinking lemon water can help tremendously. Lemon

juice will cleanse the lymph system and help to keep the body hydrated. Lemons also have more potassium than grapes. Potassium removes salt from the body, which can lead to lower overall blood pressure levels.

Improves immune system Vitamin C is vital to the immune system, so drinking lemon water will improve the immune system while helping the body fight off viruses and bacteria. Lemon improves the ability to absorb iron, which is also important for the immune system function.

The antimicrobial compounds in lemon juice will help keep infections outside of the body to where they belong!

Stops throat infections Lemons contain powerful antimicrobial and antibacterial compounds which make them perfect for fighting throat infections, sore throats and tonsillitis. Those who consume lemon water at least once each day are at a lower risk of developing these types of infections in the first place. If you have a sore or scratchy throat, try gargling with some warm lemon water three times a day and watch that problem just disappear!

Stops halitosis Halitosis, or bad breath, is often caused by the overgrowth of bad bacteria in the

mouth. Drinking lemon water on a regular basis can help to eliminate bad breath due to its antimicrobial and antibacterial compounds. Lemon water will also encourage the production of saliva, which dilutes bacteria in the mouth.

Increased energy Lemons are quite nutritious, with tonnes of Vitamin C, protein, phosphorous and potassium, which make the fruit a natural energiser. With improved digestion, one will reap more of the nutritional benefits from food. Also, lemons are full of negative ions, which provide almost instant energy.

Lemons help to hydrate and oxygenate, so one will feel refreshed, energised and ready to take on the day!

Naturally balances pH levels One of the best alkalising foods ever is right at our fingertips; lemons! Lemons contain both ascorbic acid and citric acid that help the body maintain healthy pH levels. Too much of an acidic environment in the body encourages inflammation, which can lead to many chronic diseases, including cancer.

It’s important to note that lemon juice can, however, damage the enamel of the teeth, so after drinking, rinse the mouth with plain water.

Courtesy: http://naturalon.com

Buhari hands over 2 presidential aircraft for war against Boko Haram Chris Agbambu and Clement Idoko -Abuja

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HE National Security Adviser (NSA), MajorGeneral Babagana Monguno (retd), on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, handed over two aircraft in the presidential fleet to the

Nigerian Air Force.

It was also gathered President Buhari had, accordingly, signed two letters releasing the aircraft to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The handover of the two aircraft to the Nigerian Air Force by Monguno

through the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, in Abuja, was done in the presence of Air Marshal Abubakar; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai and other top security chiefs.

The Augusta AW101 very important personality helicopters were released to the Air Force, in line

with pledge by President Buhari to reduce the cost on maintenance of the presidential air fleet.

Monguno explained that the president had earlier released a AW109 helicopter and a King Air Beechcraft in 2015, in order to boost the operational capacity of the Air Force in the ongoing campaign against the

National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (right), handing over documents of the two helicopters to the Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Mansur Dan-Ali. With them is the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday.

Oil theft: Buhari seeks Germany’s support on intelligence sharing Clement Idoko -Abuja

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has called on the government of Germany to help in the efforts to curb oil theft in Nigeria, through assistance in the areas of equipment, training and sharing of intelligence with the Nigerian Navy.

Buhari spoke on Monday, during an audience with the Foreign Minister of Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Frank-Walters Steinmeier, at State House, Abuja, a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said.

“Nigeria’s oil is stolen and taken away through the

Gulf of Guinea. Adequate training and equipping of our navy will prevent this,” the President said.

He told the visitor that the security challenge in the North-East of the country was under control, with Boko Haram largely defeated, adding that “another serious form of insecurity has reared its

head in the Niger Delta.”

Dr Steinmeier, in his response, said Germany was happy to hear of the strides taken by the Buhari-led administration against insurgents in the North-Eeast, adding that they were equally willing to lend a helping hand in resolving the crisis in the Niger Delta.

insurgency in the NorthEast.

The NSA further explained that the committee set up by the Presidency on the approved sale of two other aircraft, a Falcon 7X and Hawker 4000 aircraft, would soon compete its assignment.

He said the helicopters, which were handed over to the NAF, “have ballistic defence capabilities and are equipped with defensive aid suites against certain forms of missile attacks.”

Monguno said it was the desire of the president to ensure that that the capacity of Force was strengthened in the ongoing operations against insurgency in parts of the country.

He said the decision to give the aircraft to the Air Foce was also in line with policy of the president to reduce the cost of governance in the country.

Speaking also, the Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar, said the release of the two aircraft from the presidential fleet to NAF would encourage the service to focus on the

fight against insurgency and militancy in the country.

He said the decision of the government to provide new platforms and funds for the NAF was responsible for the successes recorded against the Boko Haram in the North-East.

Abubakar added that NAF would reconfigure the two aircraft for deployment for “tactical airlift of troops and logistics in support of combat operations.”

He said while one of the aircraft would be configured as an air ambulance with a trauma unit, the other would be used as a carrier for troops.

Minister of Defence, DanAli, in his remark, said the aircraft would be deployed to further degrade and decimate the operational capacity of the insurgents and airlift troops in the operational area.

According to him, with the addition of the aircraft, the service would be able to do more in ensuring that the war against terrorism, insurgency and criminality was decisively won in the country.

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Metro...

Nigerian Tribune

crime, security, court

Man allegedly rapes teenager, records act on phone Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin FOR allegedly recording an unlawful sexual act on his phone, a 31-year-old man, Kingsley Benjamin was on Monday arraigned before an Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Benjamin allegedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old girl and recorded it.

The accused is facing trial on a two-count of obscenity and rape.

The prosecutor, Inspector Cousin Adams, told the court that the accused committed the offences on September 20 at about 7.00 p. m. at No. 9, Unity Avenue, Etebi, in Ajangbadi area of Lagos.

Adams said that the accused had unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl and recorded the act on his phone.

The offences contravened Sections 149(1) (2) and 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Benjamin, however, pleaded not guilty to the

charges.

It was gathered that the penalty for obscenity was a fine of N450, 000 or three years imprisonment or both, if found guilty, while Section 258 prescribed life imprisonment for rape.

The Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case has been adjourned till November 7.

The paraded

3 soldiers among 9 suspects paraded over Mrs Emefiele’s kidnap Chris Agbambu - Abuja

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HREE soldiers— two Lance Corporal and a dismissed soldier— were among the nine suspects paraded on Monday, over the kidnap of the wife of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mrs Margaret Emefiele.

• N14.7 million part of ransom recovered • Soldiers got N6m and N5m each as share Mrs Emefiele and three of her aides were abducted on September 29, at Oguneki Hills on Benin-Agbor Road in Delta State.

Following the Inspector-General of Police (IGP)

Ibrahim Idris’s directive, a team of intelligence platform was deployed and she was rescued the following day, unhurt.

The police in Abuja, on Monday paraded nine

4 killed in flood, road accident in Niger Adelowo Oladipo - Minna THREE passengers in a commuter bus lost their lives in an auto crash around Sabon Daga on Minna-Bida Road in Niger State on Sunday, Metro has gathered.

Another person also lost his life to flood following a heavy downpour at Ku-

turko village around Fadipe community in Bosso Local Government Area of the state, the same day.

In the road traffic crash, a 18-seater bus reportedly somersaulted at about 6.30 a. m. on Sunday, killing the three people, while nine others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

According to the state police command Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, the driver of the commuter bus might have been trying to avoid a pothole on the road when the vehicle skidded off the road, somersaulting in the process.

Elkana stated further that the police were still

Robber escapes with thrift collector’s money Biola Azeez - Ilorin

A suspected robber has escaped attack of an irate mob after he reportedly stole huge sum of money from residence of a thrift collector in Ganmo area, a suburb of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The unidentified suspect was said to have broken into the apartment of the thrift collector in the area, where he reportedly ransacked rooms and took the

money where the owner allegedly kept it.

It was also gathered that the suspect, after accomplishing his mission, was coming out of the apartment when he was sighted by some people within the neighbourhood who raised the alarm.

Sensing trouble, the lone robber fled and was given a hot chase by the people and others who were alerted by the distress call.

It was learnt that the sus-

pect, being dashed into a nearby bush, escaping with the loot.

A resident of Ganmo community, who did not want his name in print, alleged that there had been cases of burglary and theft in the community, which had made people to be vigilant.

Speaking on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, said that the report was yet to get to the command.

investigating the immediate or remote cause of the fatal crash as of the time of filing this report.

He disclosed that the injured persons were recuperating at the General Hospital, Minna, while corpses of the three deceased passengers in the vehicle had also been deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.

On the flood incident, the PPRO disclosed that the command got a distress call on the development at about 12.45 a. m. on Sunday.

“On getting to the scene, we discovered a Toyota Corolla car submerged in a shallow river due to heavy downpour.

The corpse of the owner, identified as Abubakar Mohammed of Kuturko village was recovered, while the vehicle had since been removed from the river,” he stated.

kidnap suspects of Mrs Emiefele, even as a sum of N14 million, which was part of the ransom paid to the kidnappers, was recovered.

The police also recovered three vehicles procured by the kidnappers, an AK 47 magazine and two cartridges used by the kidnappers.

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Don Awunah, who briefed journalists on the arrest, said the culprits, who all confessed to the crime, included two serving Nigerian Army personnel.

They are Lance Corporal Musa and Lance Corporal Edwin (surnames withheld), as well as a dismissed soldier, Ernest (other names withheld).

Other members of the gang were the gang leader, Abubakar a.k.a Dogo, Musa, Sule, Abdullahi, Musa and Yusuf.

On their individual roles, the FPRO said “Lance Corporal Maidabra, serving in Maiduguri, admitted to being part of the gang. A sport utility vehicle (SUV) worth N1.5 million and the sum of N4.5 million which was part of his own share were recovered from his possession.

“It was also discovered

that he, in company with Lance Corporal Edwin and dismissed soldier, Ernest, while dressed in Army uniform, escorted the kidnappers and the ransom money in a maroon colour Audi car out of the forest where they had kept the victim, to Benin City, Edo State.”

“Edwin, serving at 122D regiment in Maiduguri, bought a Honda car worth N1.1 million with part of his loot, and it was recovered from him after his arrest in Benue State.

“Ernest revealed that he bought a Honda car worth N1.5 million and furnished his apartment in Benin City within 48 hours of the kidnap incident. The sum of N1.5 million and the car were recovered from him.

“Abubakar, the leader of the gang, who hails from Adamawa State, admitted that he received the sum of N11 million cash as his share of the ransom paid.

“He said he gave one Danjuma, who is presently on the run, the said amount to keep for him.

“Musa, the deputy leader of the gang, who hails from Sokoto State, admitted that as a member of the gang, he received the sum of N10 million from the ransom paid.”

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Oluwatoyin Malik

08116954633, 08078891950 e-mail: tribunecrimedesk@gmail.com

Four arrested over illegal sale of fake police uniform, ranks Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos FOUR persons have been arrested at the Police College, Ikeja for allegedly producing fake police uniforms and other accoutrements.

The four suspects, all women, were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command following a report to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

Some of the fake kits recovered from the suspects include police belts, ranks, badges, shirts, trousers, cardigans, force number and caps.

The arrested persons have been transferred to the X-Squad unit of the command for further investigations and possible arrest of other members of the syndicate, Metro learnt.

A police source told Metro the suspects were apprehended after some people wrote a petition to the Inspector General of Police that some criminals were buying police uniform from the College.

The officer in charge of the X-Squad, Bode Fakeye, was said to have been directed by the state police boss, Fatai Owoseni to get to the root of the matter.

A police source at the com-

mand headquarters further said that “we went to the shops and discovered that truly, people were selling police uniforms and kits and people believed to be civilians were coming to buy them.”

“We arrested the people in the shops and seized 11 big bags of police uniforms, kits and accoutrements,” the source added.

He said that the exhibits and the suspects had been

moved to the state command headquarters, while other suspects on the run were being tracked.

The image maker from the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, while speaking on the arrest, said that the case was transferred to the Lagos command from the force headquarters, Abuja.

Badmos said that the Commissioner of Police ordered the officer-in-

charge of X-Squad, to investigate and when the officer did and found out that it was true, he ordered the arrest of the suspects and seizure of the materials.

She disclosed that the suspects would be charged to court on two counts of conspiracy and unlawful possession and sales of police kits according to Section 328, Sub section A, B, C, D of Lagos State 2011.

Police rescue 2 minors from traffickers in Kaduna THE Kaduna State Police Command said it has rescued two minors, one Nasirudeen Mahmud(5), and Zainab Umar (5) and handed them over to their parents in Kaduna.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Aliyu Usman, made the disclosure while parading suspected traffickers, kidnappers and armed robbers before newsmen on Monday in Kaduna.

Remains of a petrol tanker that fell, spilled its content and razed some buildings at Kinikini Area of Saki in Oyo State, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

Epe kidnap update: Abductors reduce ransom on sick student to N1m, insist on N3.5m for others Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos THERE are strong indications that the kidnappers of the teachers and students of the Lagos State Junior and Senior Model College, Igbonla-Epe, have reduced the ransom on one of the hostages.

This is just as the police insisted that they had a focus on the perpetrators and assured that the hostages would be rescued.

There were reports on Sunday evening that one of the hostages was very sick, prompting the relatives to appeal to the abductors to release him.

It was gathered on Monday that the abductors

had agreed to release the boy if only the family could afford to pay N1 million.

It was also gathered that the abductors reduced the ransom on the other five hostages from N5 million

to N3.5 million.

The abductors were said to have rejected the money offered by the relatives of the sick student, insisting on collecting nothing less than a million naira.

But a senior police

source, who spoke with Metro under the condition of anonymity, said: “We know our focus; we have our target. We know the people that we are looking for.”

Meanwhile, efforts to get

the image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, to comment on the efforts of the police at rescuing the hostages failed as calls to her mobile phones were not answered.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria report, Usman said the suspected traffickers, one Adamu (44) and his wife Fatima (38), abducted Mahmud on January 19, while Umar was abducted on March 27.

He said the victims were rescued on October 7 from the traffickers, who were found with two international passports and two birth certificates with the children’s details.

“These indicate likelihood of flying the victims to unknown foreign country,” he said.

The police also paraded three other suspects who kidnapped Alhaji Audu Hairi at the Kaura Market, Giwa Local Government Area in July.

“The victim was taken to an unknown forest where he was brutally handled.

All the suspects confessed to the allegation, “ he said.

The police spokesman said three armed robbers were also arrested on October 2, at Birnin Gawri following a tip-off.

He said exhibits recovered from the suspects include N146,925 cash, three cutlasses, six gallons of palm oil and 14 cell phones.

Usman said as soon as investigation was completed, all the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.

He, however, appealed to members of the public to continue to cooperate with the police by giving them useful information on activities of criminals in the state for prompt action.

Ex-policeman, 3 others remanded in Lagos prison for murder, cult membership AN ex-policeman and three others, who were charged with murder and membership of a cult, are to cool their heels in prison pending legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), a court ruled on Monday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

reported that an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court said the accused, ex-policeman Collins Idon (42); Ifeanyi Dumbi (26); Francis Asuquo (21) and Sunday Jimoh (23) should remain in Ikoyi Prisons until the next date of adjournment for the DPP’s advice.

The four men are facing a four-count charge bordering on belonging to an unlawful society and killing of a 20-year-old, Joseph Ugbeni.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Daniel Ighodalo, said Idon had, on September 19, at Iba, a Lagos sub-

urb, had shot Ugbeni on the head, killing him immediately.

He also told the court that Dumbi, Asuquo and Jimoh belonged to and managed an unlawful society known as “Eiye Confraternity” that was notorious for disturbing the peace of the neighbour-

hood.

The offences, he noted, contravened Sections 41, 42 (9), 166 (d), 221 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Chief Magistrate, Miss Abimbola Awogboro, adjourned the case till November 10.

8

ondopoll

Ex-deputy gov, Olukare applaud Jegede’s candidature

A

former deputy governor of Ondo State and onetime representative of Nigeria to Uganda, Chief Omolade Oluwateru, has described the candidature of Mr Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming governorship election in the state as “God’s given project.”

Just as the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, says the PDP candidate is reliable and hardworking.

Oluwateru said that of all the governorship contestants, Jegede is the most suitable, having worked in the state cabinet for the past seven and half years.

The ex-deputy governor, who served under the late former Governor Olusegun Agagu, spoke yesterday, when a group, Jegede Network Forum, which he is a member, received the candidate in Akure.

The former deputy governor, who is also a former Nigerian ambassador to Uganda, posited that “Jegede was chosen by God and he is extremely lucky. He is not about Akure agenda or project, but he’s God’s own project. For him to have worked in the outgoing cabinet for seven and half years, gives him an edge over other contestants in terms of experience, comportment and proactive reflexes.

“I know what I am talking about. His understanding of the problems besetting all communities in Ondo State is fresh and steaming hot. And that is why here in Akure alone, we have vowed to mobilise over 150,000 votes for him,” Oluwateru declared.

Speaking in the same vein, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Chief Jide Adejuyigbe, said in Akure South alone, the locals had launched ‘Operation 150,000 votes’ out of the 248,000 registered voters in the locality.

Speaking earlier, the chair-

man of Jegede Network Forum, Mr Adewumi Faji, aka General, had directed over 5,000 supporters at the event to display their voter cards, which they joyfully did.

Thanking the supporters, an elated Jegede reiterated his cardinal programmes of massive employment through industrialisation and agricultural expansion.

Meanwhile, the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, has described the PDP gubernatorial candidate as “our son who is humble, hardworking and reliable.”

He said as far as his community was concerned, the

Mimiko-led administration had performed creditably well and as such, deserved a successor “from the performing team.”

He said Jegede, long before the latter knew he would be tipped to become governor, had been a friend of the grassroots people.

Oba Momoh, who spoke in his palace where about 30 traditional rulers in Akoko land received the PDP candidate, during a visit at the weekend, said “your coming here is just to pay homage. There is no need to campaign, as we all know the stuff you are made of.”

Oke remains AD candidate —Chairman Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

MEMBERS of the State Executive Council of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ondo State, on Monday, confirmed Chief Olusola Oke as the governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming election in the state.

The leadership of the party, who dissociated itself from the protest by the youth wing of the party, said the youth group was alien to the party.

Speaking during a press briefing, the chairman of the party in the state, Seriki Adebobola, stated that the statement does not emanate from the youth wing of the party.

Adebobola said, “what I want to tell you is that in AD, we have structure. Before anything can emanate from the party, it must pass through due process. The youth leader does not know anything about Olowookere Youth Vanguard.

“If at all they exist, they are alien to our party. Although Olowookere may have his own Youth Vanguard, they are not AD youth vanguard.

“AD has finalised the adoption of Chief Olusola Oke as the candidate of the party for the November governor-

ship election in the state.

“Oke is the authentic candidate of AD. No other candidate again in AD. Members of AD are of the same family and we don’t want to promote any wrangling in the party.”

He noted that Oke’s emergence would add value to the party in the election, affirming that all the conditions for the replacement of candidate had been fulfilled.

The Youth Wing of the party had stated in a statement signed by Arowosafe Oladeji and Ojo Oluseyi Taki, on Sunday, that Dr Akin Olowookere was the party’s candidate for the election.

But the party chairman, Akinbobola, said that Oke had been chosen as a replacement of the former standard-bearer of the party, Akin Olowookere.

The youths, under the auspice of Ondo Alliance for Democracy Youth Vanguard (OADYV), said they only recognised Olowookere as the standard-bearer of the party, saying that they were not involved in the process that led to the replacement of Olowookere with Oke. The youths vowed to use every legal means to prevent Oke from using the mandate which was freely given to Olowookere.

Peaceful, credible governorship poll not negotiable in Ondo —Oodua stakeholders Bola Badmus - Lagos

A coalition of professional organisations and platforms, Concerned Oodua Stakeholders, on Monday, vowed to resist any election that is not credible and peaceful in Ondo State.

National Coordinator of the group, Mr Kola Are, stated this while speaking with journalists, saying that the group was committed to the political survival and democratic values of the people of the South-West region.

“We are all living witnesses to the prevailing abysmal conduct of elections in recent time by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with the attendant incidences of violence.

“It is regretted, however, that the electoral system has been characterised by perfidy orchestrated in connivance with security agencies. The deplorable downturn in the electoral system is fuelling apprehension and anxiety among genuine stakeholders,” he lamented.

The group, however, warned that unless the current leadership of INEC reassured Nigerians about its integrity, the processes that will lead to the 2019 general election might end in chaos.

According to Are, the warning became necessary because of history of political resistance of the people of Ondo State, saying any manipulation of the polls could trigger a repeat of the ugly scenario that led to the violence that heralded the termination of the Second Republic in 1983.

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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photonews

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Court strikes out case on OAU VC’s appointment Oluwole Ige -Osogbo

From left, a former senior staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Pius Mallam; chairman, Senate Committee on Domestic Debt, Senator Shehu Sani and former Minister of Environment, Mrs Lawrentia Mallam, during a visit to the former minister after her release by kidnappers, in Kaduna, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

THE Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, on Monday, declined to grant the prayers of workers of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in a case instituted against the governing council over the appointment of the acting vice chancellor for the unuversity.

The court, presided over

by Justice Babs Kuewumi, said it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate in the matter.

The workers, in the suit instituted at the Federal High Court, were seeking among other reliefs, the dissolution of the institution’s governing council by the Federal Government.

However, during its proceedings on Monday, the court struck out the case and ordered that it should be taken to Industrial Court for Arbitration.

Apart from approaching the court, the workers had

hitherto embarked on massive protests that led to the closure of the university before it was recently reopened for academic activities.

Since the protracted crisis had prevented the OAU from appointing a substantive vice chancellor, the Federal Government, on July 21, 2016, appointed an acting vice chancellor, Professor Anthony Elujoba, to direct the affairs of the university, pending the appointment of a substantive head.

It will be recalled that workers of the university, under the aegis of NonAcademic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), were challenging alleged non-compliance with OAU Statute VI in the method employed to select the vice chancellor.

They also accused the immediate past vice

BMSG tackles NBA over search, arrest of judges

Members of Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, on a “Go Yellow Advocacy Walk,” to mark the 2016 World Mental Health Day, in Lagos, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

Nigerian Tribune

FOLLOWING the arrests of some justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the High Court by the DSS, at the weekend, the Buhari Media Support Group has flayed the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for threatening to boycott courts and issuing a deadline to the DSS for the release of the judges.

The BMS, in a statement signed by its coordinator, Malam Muhammad Labbo and secretary, Cassidy Madueke, noted that the DSS followed due process and rule of law in carrying out the arrests.

The group said the Service had valid and legally-issued search warrants before embarking on the assignment, adding that it followed the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice

Act 2015 to the letter in every move it made.

The group further noted that no judge in Nigeria was granted immunity by the 1999 Constitution as amended, adding that like in other democratic climes, security agencies could arrest and prosecute judges who fell outside the favour of legallyaccepted conduct.

The statement said it was expected that the NBA would be in the forefront in educating Nigerians on the legality and propriety of the DSS action and lend their total support to the reformation and cleansing of the judiciary, as it would ultimately serve the general good.

According to the group, this was a fight against corruption and not against the judiciary as an institution.

chancellor of OAU, Professor Bamitale Omole, whose tenure expired on June 24, 2016 of allegedly influencing the outcome of the screening exercise to select his successor.

The challenged screening had produced Professor Ayobami Salami as the vice chancellor, but the development generated controversy, leading to protests from NASU and SSANU members.

DSS releases arrested judges Continued from pg2

nation’s judiciary.

He called on lawyers to remain resolute and speak with one voice, adding that, “this is not the time to be divided.”

Justice Suleiman Galadima, who bowed out of the nation’s judiciary, having attained the official retirement age of 70, in his valedictory speech, called on members of the Bench to be honest in the discharge of their duties.

He said: “except you are honest, it will be impossible to discharge your duties well, because part of it involves the use of personal discretion. In doing this, you must honestly and dispassionately weigh both sides of the pendulum before arriving at your decision.”

He lamented the way and manner the efforts of judges were always sacrificed on the altar of frivolous petitions and ceaseless allegations of bribery and corruption, which, he said, did not stand the test of time.

“The harder you work to uplift the standard of justice, the harder detractors work to pull down the temple of justice. It is an irony too hard to countenance,” he said.

NLC condemns arrest, calls for due process Soldiers demonstrating their combat readiness at the opening of the 16th Nigerian Army sports fiesta in Abuja, on Monday.

PHOTO: NAN

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left), in a handshake with the chairman, Local Organising Committee, sixth African Veterinary Association/53rd Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association Joint Congress, Professor Den Chris Onah, during a courtesy visit to the governor, at the Government House, Enugu, on Monday.

Continued from pg

the letter about the corruption allegations.

He said: “Whether the arrest is constitutional or not, the fact still remains that there are allegations of corruption hanging on the necks of these judges.

“The onus resides with them to establish their innocence of the allegations.

“I think we must learn to put aside sentiments in dealing with issues that touch on national consciousness.”

Chimezie stressed the need for such investigations to be done bearing in mind the principles of fundamental human rights.

To another lawyer and social critic, Mr Emenike Nnoromlele, the action of the DSS cannot be faulted.

“I keep wondering why a

good number of members of the NBA are crying foul with regards to this issue; the DSS possesses every power to dispense its duties as it deems fit.

“To my mind, the fight against corruption should leave no stone unturned.

There should be no sacred cows and no anointed hands; the fight must be holistic.”

Nnoromlele noted that where a case had been referred to the National Judicial Council for disciplinary measures, such a case could still be investigated by security agencies particularly if the outcome is unsatisfactory.

Also reacting, a former Minister of State for Education under President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Kenneth Gbagyi, on Monday, disclosed that the security operatives were in order even

without a search warrant.

Gbagyi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), congratulated the secret service for the act, insisting that the invasion of their homes and their arrests were lawful.

He criticised the PDP for condemning the action, saying corruption had become a national plague. He added that whoever politicised it did not wish the country well.

The former president of Legal Aid Council also said “once we can deal with the judiciary, 40 per cent of our national problems is gone; once we can cleanse the judiciary, Nigeria will be out of the current conundrum.”

Gbagyi told newsmen in Abuja that judges were not above the law. He stated that Nigerians now lacked the service of servitude.

Nigerian Tribune Tuesday, 11 October, 2016 11 businessnews IMF forecasts further economic decline for Nigeria, others NSE indices

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju and Dare Adekanmbi, Wasington DC

T

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast a further decline in the economic growth of Nigeria and other African countries to 1.4 per cent.

Speaking during the just concluded World Bank/International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Washington, the Director for the African Department, Mr. Abebe Aemro Selassie, said the Fund saw a decline from the 3.5 per cent earlier projected for the continent to 1.4 per cent.

Selassie, who noted that Africa had enjoyed a growth rate of 5 per cent between 2010 and 2014, blamed two factors for the slowed growth.

His words, “Two broad factors explain this development. The external environment facing the region has deteriorated.

Notably, commodity prices, of course, but also financial market conditions have tightened. The policy response in many of the countries that have been mostly affected by these shocks has also been delayed and unfortunately, incomplete, raising uncertainty, deterring private investment and stifling new sources of growth.”

Selassie also said, “It is, however, the commodity exporters that are under severe economic strain.

This is particularly the case for oil exporters, notably, Angola and Nigeria and five of the six countries in the central African monetary -- economic and monetary union. The nearterm prospects have worsened significantly in recent months. In these countries, the pain is spreading from the oil sector to the non-oil part of the economy.”

He added, “Conditions are also particularly difficult in South Africa at the moment, another country which relies, to a significant degree, on commod-

ity exports… There are, of course, also, as you may know, challenges. With these challenges are compounded in some countries by acute drought.”

He then called for adjustment of efforts in the countries affected by a crash in commodity prices.

His words, “What then are the policies called for at this juncture? The hardest hit countries, especially oil exporters, need to act promptly as the adverse external environment that they’re facing is set to endure and existing buffers have been exhausted.

“In these countries, growth rebound will re-

quire a sustained adjustment effort based on a comprehensive and internally coherent, consistent set of policies to re-establish macro stability. This implies allowing exchange rates to fully absorb the external pressures that those countries, particularly those outside monetary unions, are facing, coupled with strong and orderly adjustment to contain fiscal deficits and a tight monetary stance focused on containing inflation.”

He pointed out that, “Adoption of a comprehensive and internally coherent set of policies we think would allow a much

LABOUR unions under the aegis of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and other Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) have kicked against high level of casualisation and poor working conditions for Nigerian workers across the sectors of the economy.

Speaking during the celebration of ‘World Decent Day for Workers’, National President of ASSBIFI,

particularly helpful, of course, by containing fiscal deficits while sustaining increased investments.”

He, however, cautioned against extreme pessimism about the fate of the continent as some countries currently enjoy robust economy.

He said, “In particular, close to half the countries in the region -- about 19 out of 45 odd countries in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to enjoy robust growth, including the likes of Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Tanzania with economic output set to expand by 6 percent or more by this year.”

Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola (left) and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, inspect one of the split-type meters at the launching of the mass meter deployment by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company in Sokoto held at the premises of the Sokoto Independent Power Plant, Sokoto State on Monday.

European Investment Bank, UBA sign 60m Euro deal THE European Investment Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) have agreed to a new EUR 60 million lending programme to support private sector investment across Nigeria.

This represents the EIB’s largest ever loan to UBA and will allow UBA to provide longer term loans than currently available to private companies in Nigeria.

The new private sector lending programme was formally agreed on the side-lines of the World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC by Ambroise Fayolle, Vice President of the European Investment Bank and Kennedy Uzoka, Group Managing Director and Sola Yomi-Ajayi. Head of Global Financial Institutions at UBA.

Comrade Sunday Salami, said workers must fight against casualisation in accordance with International Labour Organization (ILO) convention.

According to him, “We are now in era where government agencies are also involve in workers’ casualisation through outsourcing of jobs that are supposed to be permanently meant for Nigerians. This is not good for our democracy and we are determined to fight it.

“Last year, we focused on the challenges of casualisation among the Nigerian workers. It was so serious

that we discovered that the actual cause of casualisation is corporate greed which also transformed into outsourcing.

“We noticed that there are also other issues that are as a result of corporate greed. The issue of vulnerable workers have always been at the forefront of our discuss. We have always at the forefront on the issue of outsourcing and casualisation, we have been fighting it. But our challenge is that we have government that have been compromised.

“Employers and government are the same.”

ASSBIFI, NUPENG decry workers’ casualisation, poor working conditions Olatunde DodondawaLagos

more orderly adjustment process and facilitate a quicker growth recovery.

Indeed, if this adjustment is anchored in a credible medium-term framework and is supported by concessional financing, the place of adjustment can be made more gradual attenuating the near-term growth impact significantly.”

Selassie added that, “There is a need to strike a better balance between increased investment spending needs and debt sustainability considerations. In this respect, we’re strongly advocating reforms aimed at increasing revenue mobilization which will be

“Private sector investment is crucial for creating jobs and ensuring sustainable economic growth.

The European Investment Bank is committed to unlocking investment across Africa and we are pleased to build on past success to strengthen our partnership with UBA that will benefit projects across Nigeria.” said Ambroise Fayolle, Vice President of the European Investment Bank.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Kennedy Uzoka, Group Managing Director, UBA, said “Our growing partnership with the European Investment Bank underlines our long term objective of facilitating the development and growth of African businesses. This facility will enable UBA bridge critical financing gaps for Nigerian companies and deepen our capacity to support their growth aspirations in the local and international market place” Ambassador Michel Arrion, Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, described the programme as

an example of the catalytic role the EU and its institutions like the EIB are playing to support Nigeria’s economic development.

“We look forward to more fruitful partnerships with Nigeria, and particularly with the private sector, which remains the engine of economic growth,” he said.

This represents the first Nigerian operation under the European Investment Bank’s new dedicated Nigeria Private Enterprise Investment Facility, a wider million lending scheme intended to support private sector investment in the country. Under the new initiative private sector entrepreneurs and companies will be able to use loans with a longer tenor than traditionally available to invest and expand activities across a range of sectors.

The new loan will also fund capital expenditure

by UBA to strengthen their support for private investment, through expansion of their branch network and improving information technology.

opens week with 0.32% growth, as Caverton, Union Bank, Wapco lead gainers Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba-Lagos

THE Nigerian Equities market started off the week on a positive note, having recorded a growth of 0.32 percent in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) to close at 27,925.00 points on Monday. Investors thus gained N30.8 billion as market capitalization closed at N9.591 trillion in contrast to N67.6 billion lost on Friday when market capitalization closed at N9.561 trillion.

Overall sentiment however remained negative as market breadth closed with 17 gainers to 23 losers. Caverton Plc topped the day’s 17 equity advancers following a gain of 8.96 percent or 6 kobo to close at 73 kobo per share, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc (UBN) followed with an appreciation of 5 percent or 24 kobo to close at N5.04 per share, WAPCO Plc likewise grew by 3.81 percent or N1.80 to close at N49 per share, AG Leventis Plc came fourth with an increase of 3.33 percent or 3 kobo to close at 93 kobo per share and Transnationwide Express Plc gained 2.94 percent or 3 kobo to close at N1.05 per share.

On the other hand, Guinness Nigeria Plc topped the losers chart having lost 9.75 percent or N8.62 to close at N79.83 per share, Diamond Bank Plc dropped 5.51 percent or 7 kobo to close at N1.20 per share, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc also depreciated by 5 percent or 30 kobo to close at N5.70 per share.

Africa Prudential Registrars Plc came fourth on the losers list having shed 4.95 percent or 14 kobo of its share price to close at N2.69 per share, while Vitafoam Plc depreciated 4.68 percent or 13 kobo to close at N2.65 per share.

Market activity as measured by Volume and Value traded in 3,045 deals, settled at 171.5 million units and N1.7 billion respectively compared to 200.8 million units and N921.6 million traded previously.

Trading in the Top Three equities were Zenith Bank Plc with the sale of 27.8 million shares worth N402.2 million. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc came second following the sale of 27.8 million units of shares valued at N662.5 million and FCMB Plc sold 16.7 million units worth N19.5 million.

Nigerian Tribune Tuesday, 11 October, 2016 12 businessnews soon Buying made-in-Nigeria will create employment —Buhari We’ll extend Deposit

•NESG, Senate on same page —Saraki Sanya Adejokun, Taiwo Adisa and Clement IdokoAbuja

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RESIDENT Muhamadu Buhari says for Nigeria to generate enough employment opportunities for the youth, the country must of necessity produce enough goods and services to be consumed locally and for export.

Speaking at the opening of the 22nd Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday, with the theme ‘Tough Choices: Achieving Competitiveness, Inclusive Growth and Sustainability,’ Buhari said organisers of the event, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has over the years strengthened the relationship between the public and private sectors “We need to diversify the economy so that we can produce the food we eat, make our own textiles, produce most of the things we use and create the right environment” for our youth to create jobs through ICT. “My greatest desire is that Nigeria moves from import dependence to selfsufficiency in local production and become an export economy in goods and services.”

In the first panel discussion after the opening ceremony, Vice President Yemi Oshibajo observed that to diversify the economy has become a must especially with the present economic conditions.

“We have no choice,” he answers based on the condition we’ve found ourselves”, he declared while explaining that government was investing heavily in rice production in 12 major rice producing states.

While stating that the whole agro-allied value chain is one that is just waiting to happen, Oshibajo said Nigeria was in the process and export shea butter.

Our Strategic Implementation Plan is online and has clear objectives, Mr. Osinbajo said.

Responding to an observation that such efforts were not being felt by citizens, the Vice President agreed saying “you may not immediately be able to feel the impact of these polices.”

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah who was also member of the panel also expressed confidence that the administration would succeed in its course of action.

“For me I know the responsibilities we carry”, he declared while disclosing that Buhari has established

a ministerial council headed by Oshinbajo to deal with complaints relating to ease of doing business.

While informing the audience that the interministerial council met at least twice, Enelamah added “I think these polices will take time to work, but I have no doubt that they will come to fruition.

“We are not where we want to be, but we are not where we used to be”, noting “every single thing that we are doing is contained in the Strategic Implementation Plan of the 2016 budget.”

Also speaking, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma said government would insist that its agencies purchase made in Nigeria products.

He said with more patronage of Made-in Nigeria goods and services, producers would be encouraged to improve on quality and create jobs for the

teeming youth.

“There is no doubt that one of the fastest routes to grow our economy and create jobs is by encouraging our people to produce more, and export more.

“This strategy will also generate foreign exchange that can help in stabilising and strengthening the Naira.’’

He however, urged the stakeholders to come up with practical roadmap that would contextualise “Made in Nigeria” as an economic growth and development strategy for our short, medium and long term development.

Earlier, an Economist, Doyin Salami had noted “one area where I think the government is doing itself a bad service is that it doesn’t communicate well.”

He observed that government needed a comprehensive development plan to encourage investors.

Meanwhile, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has commended the Nigeria

Economic Summit Group (NESG) over its theme for this year’s summit which focusses on promoting Made in Nigeria goods, saying that the group and the Senate are on the same page on this.

Saraki, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the Senate, in recognition of the importance of local production had recently passed motions to boost the patronage of made in Nigeria goods.

The Senate President, who will be a special guest at the summit’s meeting on Tuesday (Today) also noted that the choice of theme was not only apt but would promote local manufacturers and service providers while also helping to revive the economy.

He stated that the Senate had in recognition of the need to boost local production passed a 20-point recommendation adding: “we must reduce our imports tremendously and

increase our exports to earn more dollars and the best way to do that is for us to patronize locally made goods.”

The statement read: “We have therefore amended the Public Procurement Act to ensure that all government agencies compul orily patronize local manufacturers and service producers in all their procurement.

They can only resort to foreign options when there is no local alternative. With this new law, a huge portion of the national budget will go into the pockets of our people and generate employment, improve our GDP and help us to be selfsufficient.

“Other amendments in the Procurement Act reduces the period of award of contract, make the procurement process more transparent and increased mobilization fee to up to 25 percent, all in a bid to help our people just as it is being done in other countries.

Insurance course to more institutions —NDIC

THE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) said on Monday it would soon extend its Deposit Insurance Scheme (DIS) course to other higher institutions of learning.

NDIC’s Director of Administration, Mrs Christiana Efabor, said this in an Interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Efabor stated that the corporation is working closely with the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) to foster better understanding of the corporation’s mandate to students and the general public.

“The introduction of the course is aimed at enhancing undergraduates’ knowledge of deposit insurance practices and the importance of NDIC’s role in the banking system.

“Our collaboration with NUC is all about education, capacity building, and literacy.

“We want people to know about what we do and because of that, we have started a curriculum with the universities on Deposit Insurance Scheme

Wema Bank begins branch network upgrade nationwide —MD

President Buhari (in white cap) listens to Chairman Board of Directors of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Ibukun Awosika (in yellow), joined by Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator Udo Udoma Udo; Chairman of NES Group Board, Kyari Bukar; Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu; Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu and Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Okechukwu Enelamah, as he participates at the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NESG 2016), themed “Made in Nigeria” at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, in Abuja, on Monday.

ICAN floats N50m whistle blowers’ protection funds Sanya Adejokun- Abuja PRESIDENT of Chattered Institute of Accountants (ICAN), Deacon Titus Soetan has disclosed that the institution has floated a N50 billion Whistle Blower fund to fight corruption.

At the Celebration of Political Ambassadors held in Abuja on Monday, Soetan said the fund would be part of ICAN’s efforts in fighting the war against corruption.

The money would be specifically utilised to ensure high moral, financial, ethical and legal standards by members in the discharge

of their duties. ‘’The aim of the Fund is to protect ICAN members and the public from any form of reprisals or victimization when an alarm is raised on financial impropriety by public or private establishment, individuals or groups within the country’’.

The Fund will also assist whistle-blowers in litigation expenses reasonably incurred and to assist members of the institute to discharge their professional duties without fear of being victimized..

Also speaking, Chairman,

ICAN Inter-governmental relations committee, Abuja ada Chiduime-Okoro said ICAN Political Ambassador ceremony was carefully planned to coincide with the commencement of this year’s Annual Accountant Conference, which kicks off today and to draw members attention to what God is using ICAN to do for Nigeria.

Earlier, Head of the Federal Civil Service of the Federation, (HOS), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita had observed that government at all levels will be better managed and result ori-

ented if more qualified accountants were given the responsibilities to serve as leaders in both public and private sectors.

She said the more involvement of chartered accountants in governance, the more the society will be corrupt-free. ‘’ICAN members are better mangers of the economy, they have what it takes to add value, the accountant has a big task especially, now that the war against corruption is being intensified by the government’’, she noted.

WEMA Bank Plc says it has begun a phased network expansion and upgrade of its branches as well as service delivery driven by innovation and technology nationwide.

The banks Managing Director, Mr Segun Oloketuyi, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

The statement said Oloketuyi made the assertion during the bank’s International Customer Service Week which ended on Oct. 7.

It said the upgrades were in line with its newly acquired national banking licence.

“The Admiralty Road, Lekki branch, Lagos, is one of the pilot branches showcasing the new face of Wema Bank.

“Fulfilling customer experience has over the years remained the focal point of our business strategy.

“It is the only way we seek to differentiate ourselves in the market place,’’ it quoted Oloketuyi as saying.

13

editorial

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Peter Obi: Cutting the cost of governance

A

former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, recently gave a memorable speech that went viral in the polity. Obi, who spoke on October 1,2016 at The Platform, a Covenant Christian Centre programme in Lagos that focuses on leadership, business, creativity and national empowerment, engaged the central theme of accountability and transparency in governance.

In that epochal speech, Obi touched on holding leaders accountable, right from the local government level. He particularly deplored the extravagant lifestyle of public officials, saying that most of the property they acquired, especially vehicles, were unnecessary.

Speaking on the topic, “Cutting cost in governance,” Obi particularly shocked his listeners when he said: “Government House is not a restaurant. I told my cook to cook for only one person.” According to the former governor, he saved over N75 billion for Anambra State before leaving office. Obi said: “It costs an average of N2 billion to run the office of the First Lady in every state in Nigeria. Multiply that by 36. Nigeria can still function on its income if only we learn how to cut costs. No governor needs a house in Abuja; governors don’t live in Abuja.” It emerged that two bullet proof cars were allocate to him and he used the money to buy cars for many public office holders in the state.

Usually in Nigeria, politicians who pontificate on national issues in the manner that Obi did immediately arouse suspicion. This is because, over the years, the public space has been dotted by brilliant speeches by public office holders who committed infamous crimes, suggesting that their preachments were only part of a grant tactic to immobilize the state through ideological state apparatuses, especially progressive rhetoric. It was thus quite natural that Obi’s speech ignited some criticism in the media, some of it acerbic in the suggestion that the former governor was only toeing the path of his colleagues who assaulted the sensibilities of the populace with grand narratives of patriotism, only to turn around and embezzle public funds, deny democratic rights and dash communal hopes.

But there are reasons to believe that Obi is not the typical Nigerian politician. In the first instance, eye witness accounts abound of the former governor deploying the lightest of security details around himself in and out of office. As governor, Obi was one of the few members of the

privileged class who actually entered Nigerian soil through the arrival lounge at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. He was not, at any time, met by a large entourage at the airport, and there were many co-travellers who did not even realise that they rode in the same airplane with a state governor. Again, there is evidence of Obi carrying his own bags on international flights. In the same state, under former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, teachers were on strike in the state for two years, protesting the non-payment of their salaries. Obi did not owe salaries.

The symbolism of the Obi example can surely not be lost on a nation that yearns for development.

All of the foregoing however pales into insignificance when the central point of Obi’s argument, namely how does Nigeria structure governance to ensure that it delivers the dividends of democracy, is de-constructed. First, in advocating probity and accountability in governance, the former governor was only hinting at the possibility of a revolution in national official conduct, and not suggesting that he was a saint. Indeed, he is categorically nothing of the sort. Thus, the point is not whether Obi missed certain points in his speech or whether he did not have personal failings as a public official. The point is that he has suggested ideas which are workable and which the nation can ponder on, particularly in the light of extant challenges. If anything, the fact that the convoys of state governors, ministers and the president still continue to manifest the crass opulence that battered the image of the country’s leadership in the past and contributed significantly to the slide in the standard of living of the people is one poignant anathema that recommends sober thinking to Nigeria’s political leadership.

If, during a recession, the political leadership is still conducting itself in a manner that suggests that it has obscene and ill-gotten wealth within its control, then there is no reason to hope that the vastly misgoverned populace has a realistic chance of getting a better deal any time soon. That is why the message passed by the former governor, who has in any case been held aloft by Mr Ben Bruce, a senator from another state, should not be ignored by the current political leadership. It is, in the final analysis, a question of values, and even the most prudent of administrators has one or two things to learn about being a better administrator. We salute former Governor Peter Obi for drawing attention to a crucial national need.

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

LETTERS TO THE

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Need for quality in local production

W

ITH the ongoing economic crisis in the country, comes the need for Nigerians to buy locallymade goods, but one of the problems we are having in the country is the quality of our local products. I once made a decision to be buying locally-made products, but the experience I had while using some products were not good enough. Let me be specific, as a nurs-

ing mother, I opted for a locally-made baby diaper after using a foreign-made one for a while.

I had to change because I also agree that buying locally-made products will help keep our workers in their jobs, while not providing jobs for foreign workers. However, I must say that I had terrible experience with this locallymade diaper as it leaked faeces whenever my baby defeacated. I had no op-

Economy: Nigeria needs help IT is high time we put aside politics so that all Nigerians can come together to brainstorm on how to bring an end to the recession we are currently facing. I believe that people like Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, Mr Olusegun Aganga, Professor Pat Utomi, and several other economists should come together to salvage the situation.

It is important that the Federal Government extend a hand of fellowship to everyone who can help revive the country’s economy, irrespective of their political affiliation.

What is happening in the country today is affecting all Nigerians, and not only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or All Progressives Congress (APC) followers, and all efforts must be made to bring together our experienced economists to chart a way out of this problem.

Nigeria’s survival is at stake, and we must do away with political sentiment if we are to ever get out of this economic crisis.

I don’t even mind if the Federal Government also invites international economic experts to help us highlight what is wrong with our economy, and how to go about overcoming our challenges.

What happens in this case is just for us to come out of this recession, and not who is doing what.

I, therefore, want to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to come up with a national economic summit where every Nigerian economist will be invited to discuss what needs to be

done to salvage our economy, particularly our local currency which is falling by the day against major international currencies.

•Nonso James, Victoria Island, Lagos.

tion than to switch back to imported diapers which are more reliable, despite the fact that they cost more than the locally-made ones.

While I agree with the fact that we should support our local industries, the quality of our products are not encouraging at all, and it is as a result of this that I want to charge our local manufacturers to manufacture products that are of high quality that will match the ones imported into the country. No one will see a high quality product and go for a less quality one; so if we are calling on Nigerians to buy locally-made goods so that we can beat this recession, then they will only accept if such products are of standard quality.

What determines what one buys is quality, and not where such product is made; for example, some businessmen go to China

to import fake products in order to make more money. These businessmen specifically tell the Chinese manufacturers to produce cheaper low-quality products for them, which will cost less, while hoping for huge returns when they

bring such products to the country to sell.

This, therefore, means that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has a lot to do in this regard, as the quality of a product determines what Nigerians buy. If we, there-

fore, want Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods, then the quality should be of high standard.

•Yemisi Soares, Lagos.

Tough economy affecting Nigerian youths NIGERIANS, particularly the youth, are once again heading for the exit door as the economic situation in the country bites harder. During the military era, many Nigerians left the shores of the country in search of greener pastures when the situation at home became unbearable.

Today, it seems we are back to that era, with many youths who couldn’t secure visas to their desired countries opting to travel by foot, first via the desert to Libya, before boarding

boats to southern Europe.

The truth is that more Nigerians will continue to migrate if the situation continues to be tough economically. While there is no law preventing people from migrating, it is only when the government makes the country conducive economically for the people that the citizens will stay back to contribute their quotas towards developing their fatherland.

Several years ago, China was in the same situation

we found ourselves economically, as many of its citizens migrated in search of better life in the West.

Today, China is fast growing, and it is attracting the best talents and companies from all over the world.

We can also turn Nigeria into what China is today in the nearest future, but our government must be serious about this. First, we must eliminate corruption, as this is the biggest stumbling block to our progress. In the past, funds meant for developing the country were diverted into personal accounts, but commendation must go to President Muhammadu Buhari, who has vowed to eliminate corruption in the country.

Secondly, we must start creating businesses for our youths to be gainfully engaged; we can capitalise on our population to resuscitate our moribund businesses, while also establishing new ones.

Small businesses are what brought China to the current economic boom it is experiencing, and the government must support Nigerians to also establish businesses.

Most of the big businesses we have across the world today started as small firms, and the governments in these countries provided enabling environments for the businesses to thrive.

This is also expected from the Nigerian government to make our businesses to prosper.

Our youths will never stay at home if they are not economically engaged, and it is the responsibility of government to ensure that an enabling environment is provided for them to utilise their God-given energy.

•Cynthia Uloma, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

15 opinion

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Regrets of a patriot

veracity

U

ntil 2015, towards the national election that paddled the Ijaw man’s boat home ward and heralded the galloping in of the Fulani into Aso Rock, I had never seen him argue so fiercely, passionately over any subject. As a matter of fact, he barely argued and that I say of a certainty because I have known him for years and we have worked on a great number of projects.

However, pre 2015 national election, he was literally on fire for then presidential candidate Buhari.

A good friend and a senior lawyer in the nation, he made it a point of duty to spread the good tidings of the Buhari campaign to everyone and anyone he came across. He wasn’t a politician; he didn’t even belong to a political party, but with enviable gusto, he would beat his chest like the fictional king kong character, proclaiming these words, “I am a Buharist to the core, he will turn Nigeria’s fortune around, you will see.”

These words still resonate in my head, but does the fire with which they were spoken about a year ago still burn?

I called him last week but his hello lacked its usual spice. He tried to mask it but I knew something was amiss… we ended up having a very long conversation but the most of it was filled with sighs, long exhalations and more sighs… “I can’t believe that I could ever say this but I am regretting,” he began and “like me, several other Nigerians will be experiencing this ridiculing emotion.” “Imagine, I went out on a limb for a man whom I had no direct ties to, I pledged allegiance, paid obeisance but all for what?”

He went on to narrate the pathetic tale of a young lawyer who could no longer afford rent and got evicted…the soaring level of inflation, the sky rocketing prices of food stuffs and the mass of unemployed young lawyers, who paid through their noses to attend law school but can’t even find jobs… “I didn’t vote for this, if I was clairvoyant, I probably wouldn’t have…”

I was tongue-tied; I found nothing apt enough to console my dear friend. I simply sat there, on the other side of the line, listening to a man so heartbroken and disappointed with no words of comfort from my language repertoire to offer. What would I have said? He was Buhari campaign personified, in

with Vera Onana

veraonana@gmail.com 08054680688

the flesh!

What could I have said to him to make the pain go away? What could anyone possibly say to Nigerians to make their pains go away?

Just the other day, my neighbour, a young lively lady came home practically speaking to herself. I was on my way out so I approached her to inquire if all was well. Her words were, “I just bought a bottle of palm oil for N500, there is trouble o!” I simply smiled and walked on, again, lost for words but she stopped me saying, “I hear a bag of rice would sell for as high as N40, 000 by Christmas. If you can’t do without rice, buy now. At least N20, 000, though high, would be cheap in a few months.”

To that advice, I nodded, thanked her and kept walking. The inflation statistic sickens me so I won’t go there today but how on God’s green earth did it come to be that a bottle of palm oil sells for N500 in Nigeria.

The same Nigeria, which is blessed with abundant arable lands, natural resources and minerals, is the same in which food, the supposed bare necessity of life, fast becomes as luxurious as a super fast sports car. How did we get to this place?

No wait, those are the wrong questions, but we have asked ourselves those questions for too long, without getting any reasonable response. Is it not high time we started asking new questions? I would posit, fellow countrymen, that instead of relieving

our woes to any passerby, writhing in pain, gnashing our teeth and asking why, we should on the contrary ask how.

How can we get out of this economic Hades? How can we afford to buy food stuffs, keep our children in private schools, pay our house rents and drive our cars?

Allow me to replay this little scenario from last weekend. It is not meant to be just another story, but a didactic one that should revamp someone’s thinking.

I went shopping with a friend of mine who deals in cosmetic products at the Agbeni market, Ibadan.

She bought goods going to half a million and I noticed this elderly woman hanging around us. I got cautious and called my friend’s attention to the woman but she simply laughed at my paranoia, dismissing my suspicions as baseless.

This elderly woman was an alabaru as called in the local parlance and was simply waiting to carry the goods.

After all the cartons were sealed, she approached us and offered her service and we led her to the spot my friend’s minivan was packed in the rowdy market. In high spirits and astonishing swiftness for her skinny looks, she followed with a heavy carton balanced on her head and we proceeded for the car.

Once the first cartoon was loaded, we stayed back while she returned to the shop. The distance from the minivan to the shop wasn’t so short but mama made the journey seven times, to retrieve all the cartons.

I watched her with awe, lost in admiration. My friend noticed the perplexed look on my face and tapped me out of my reverie, saying, “it’s not the easiest job for a woman her age but this way she can feed without begging anyone or lamenting why she was probably abandoned by some well to do children.”

While we lament why, our eyes are shut to opportunities. Times are hard but we must be tougher to survive in today’s Nigeria. Even the government doesn’t have the answers to our incessant whys; all we have got is our gut.

Solution to pathetic use of English in Nigeria

By Oladele Saheed

S. A. Omodiaogbe says: ‘The global nosedive in the standard of English cannot but affect Nigeria. The standard of English has fallen at all levels of the school system and in all walks of life. The ivory towers that are supposed to be standard setters are affected. Unless something drastic is decisively done to arrest the ugly trend, the time is at hand when Nigerians would no longer understand each other, let alone understand a non-Nigerian user of English.’

The relevance of the above remark cannot be overemphasized. The present state of English in Nigeria either as a medium of instruction in schools or social communication is nothing to write home about. As the Coordinator of War Against the Falling Standard of English Project (WAFSEP), I have seen a lot. I cannot imagine seeing teachers scoring 2 out of 5 anytime our team asks them to spell common English words at Erudite training. It is pathetic.

While responses from private schools have largely been positive, public school teachers who need WAFSEP more have no access to it because the government is not ready.

In 2014, we were informed that the Federal Government of Nigeria stopped practical oral English examination in 1996 because it was too ‘expensive’. So when we presented our ‘Remedial English Pronunciation Software’ to the Federal Ministry of Education to correct the irony of teaching oral English on paper or board in Nigerian schools, it faced a similar challenge in spite of the fact that the assessment panel considered it very helpful. This shows what our priorities are as a nation.

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (9th Edition) now has iSpeaker for speaking and pronunciation skills but many schools may still miss the opportunity.

How many of our acclaimed standard schools have bene-

fitted from the old 608 MB Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 8th Edition Software let alone the current rigorous 2.86 GB all-encompassing 9th Edition?

A lecturer recently told us of a professor of English who considered an expression incorrect until he, as a layman, showed him the usage in the dictionary. The reality is that many of the things Nigerian authors have judged wrong are (now) correct. But, how many of our scholars have up-to-date dictionaries? Who will inform our teachers in schools to stop teaching wrong vocabulary and archaic grammar rules?

In order not to belabour the point, we would recommend the following steps to salvage the situation.

1. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) should update the Nigerian English curriculum to match the dynamism of the language. The new curriculum is expected to facilitate the teaching of effective everyday vocabulary and descriptive grammar.

2. The Federal and State Ministries of Education should organize training to build and update teachers’ skills.

3. Examination bodies such as WAEC and NECO should start the affordable alternative-to-practical oral English as a way of setting the stage for real practical oral English examinations.

4. JAMB and other examination bodies should review their question patterns to reflect the dynamism of English. This will help against unnecessary question recycling that has been on for decades.

5. Non-governmental organizations should support the Government in building and equipping language laboratories for schools to facilitate practical oral English teaching and examination, and use of other modern learning resources.

6. Teacher-training bodies such as NTI and NCCE should design a course to reflect new trends in English teaching and usage.

7. Since new editions of dictionaries are now published every five years, training and unified online tests for teachers should take place accordingly. This will keep our teachers abreast of updates to the English language like the 900 new entries to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.

With our static curriculum and old approach to teaching against the dynamic English language, we may keep swimming against the tide and wallowing in the realms of hypo- and hyper-correction. The time to act is now. We pray the seven recommendations above receive the immediate attention of the Honourable Minister of Education, Commissioners for Education and other educational stakeholders in Nigeria.

•Saheed is coordinator, War Against the Falling Standard of English Project (WAFSEP).

16

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

agriculture Agric researchers can solve food crisis in Nigeria, Dons counsel FG

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE Federal Government have been advised to give room for Agricultural Researchers in the country to use their expertise to solve food scarcity in Nigeria.

This advice was given by the Director of Research and Development at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Dr Robert Asiedu, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the first International Faculty of Sciences Conference (FASCON) held at the International Conference Centre, Lead City University, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

Asiedu, who was speaking on the theme “Applied Science: Tools for national development” said government need to encourage researchers in the country in order to proffer solution to the problem we are facing in the country today.

“Our researchers are doing very good to foster national development. They are doing a lot like other researchers in other countries of the world and with adequate media attention, everything seems okay. But government must be ready to really support these efforts more than it is currently doing.

“We do have brilliant scientists who are trained outside the shores of Nigeria, they want to come and contribute to the development of their fatherland but it is only when the government support them that they can come up with an advance technological innovative assistant in whatever form.

“Government just need to give them (researchers) the opportunity and support them because they have answers to the problems we are encountering now in the country,” he said.

While speaking on the national development, Dr Asiedu said researchers can make food available, and accessible through various agricultural sciences to the citizens.

“Agriculture still employs the largest people in all sectors but the way it is now, a lot of people are yet to be absorbed. If we make agriculture attractive to the youth and they take it on, they will be able to use modern technological tools and would be able to feed people more, better and throughout the seasons,” he said.

In her address, the Dean of Faculty of Science, Professor Olusola Ladokun, said the conference is organised to enable researchers showcase their research findings and most importantly, to stimulate interaction between researchers and boost collaborations in the field of sciences within and outside their institution.

According to Professor Ladokun, “our nation is traversing a time of many changes and we are meeting these changes during a time of global change. The World Applied Science is an exciting area in which to study and research, and we will continue to meet and bring inspired people together in forums like this to ensure our Faculty remains at the cutting edge national and global development. Out of 60 abstracts received and peer reviewed, a total of 50 were accepted for the oral presentations.”

Both Chancellor/Chairman Board of Trustees, Professor Gabriel Ogunmola and the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olufemi Onabajo noted that research is very important, saying “it is only research that is needed to build a nation.”

Rice imports:

Customs advocates total •Says import ban through ban in 2017 land borders remains T Tola Adenubi-Lagos

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has stated that the ban on rice importations through land borders has not been reversed. This is even as the service advocated that it expects the commodity to be banned all across the nations borders and seaports by 2017.

In a statement signed over the weekend by the NCS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Wale Adeniyi, the Service also denied granting press interview to that effect.

According to the Customs image maker, “Our attention has been drawn to publications on various online platforms indicating that the Nigeria Customs Service has reversed the ban on Rice importation through the land borders.

“These reports were attributed to a press interview purportedly granted by the service’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy-Comptroller Wale Adeniyi.

“It has become necessary to re-state

the true position in view of the confusion which these online publications may create in the industry. It is even more expedient to provide this clarification given that the fact that the service has taken a firm position earlier in the week through a joint press conference with stakeholders.

“First, we like to reiterate the position that importation of rice remains banned through our land borders, and we have the commitment of partner government agencies and stakeholders to enforce this restriction.

“While this restriction is in force, Rice imports through the Ports are still allowed subject to payment of extant charges.

“It is equally important to restate the confidence of the Nigeria Customs Service in the ability of Nigerian Rice Producers to fill the existing sufficiency gaps in the supply of the product.

“The service has noted with satisfaction the ongoing rice revolution undertaken by many state governments, and strategic in-

terventions by Federal Government Agencies.

“The service is convinced that the bumper harvests expected from these efforts will address the supply gap in 2017.

“It is our belief that continuous waste of scarce forex on a commodity that can be produced locally makes no economic sense, most especially at a period of recession.

“The service will therefore advocate a total Ban on Rice Importation into Nigeria with effect from 2017.

“It is worrisome that the publications that resurfaced this weekend were being attributed to a Press interview granted in October 2015. We strongly suspect that some powerful forces behind rice smuggling are at work, recycling an old report under a different circumstance to create confusion.

We urge Nigerians to watch out for similar antics as the firm stand on rice smuggling will pitch their selfish interest against our national interest.”

‘Value chain training, key to agriculture development’ Collins Nnabuife - Abuja GOVERNMENT’S desire to diversify Nigeria’s economy, by giving attention to developing other abundant natural resources , it hitherto abandoned, more especially, the agricultural potential that once contributed to the GDP of the nation’s economy before the advent of the oil boom, has continued to elicit actions from various quarters.

Many stakeholders who understand the importance of agriculture and believe that it’s potentials could be exploited to resuscitate the economy are already preferring possible solutions.

With a commitment on using agriculture to provide the needed succour to a struggling economy, there is a brainstorming among relevant stakeholders, meant to offer an effective radar that could help the country to retrace it’s ways to agricultural prosperity.

One of such stakeholders and an expert in the agriculture sector, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina, who is also the Provost, Federal College of Agriculture,(FECA) Akure, believes that, for Nigeria to be on the same page with other countries that are already reaping the benefits of a developed agriculture; adequate attention must be given to

agriculture value chain training.

He disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Swiss Government supported “Capacity Building for Agricultural Education in Nigeria”( CBAEN), recently held in Abuja.

He also said that, as part of effort to reduce illegal migration of youths to Switzerland, Federal College of Agriculture Akure is currently partnering with the Migration Office, Switzerland and Bern University of Applied Science (HAFL) to incorporate agriculture value chain studies into the curriculum of Nigeria University and Colleges of agriculture.

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

For enquiries, contact:

08116954637, 08039521408

Nigeria needs N1trn to bridge lending gap in agric sector —NABG Kebbi gov advocate use of pension fund Collins Nnabuife -Abuja THE Nigerian Agriculture Business Group (NABG) has said for the Nigeria’s agricultural sector to take its prime position as the main stay of the economy, it needs about N1 trillion to bridge the lending gap targets for financing agriculture, food and beverage industry.

The chairman of the NABG, Sani Dangote, who made the proposal in Abuja during the group’s presentation of an Implementation Partnership Proposal to the Minister of Agriculture disclosed that the N780 billion made available for agriculture lending was not adequate enough to increase the country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) A breakdown of the figure revealed that about N350 billion is made available for agricultural funding by the Deposit Money Banks and the Nigeria Incentive Risk Sharing for Agricultural lending (NIRSAL), while the Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSME) made available N220billion for the sector, the Commercial and Agricultural Credit Scheme of the Central Bank made available N200 billion, from the Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry the agricultural funding is N120billion and the budget for the sector is about N76billion.

Dangote said to resolve the agricultural financing constraints, all government intervention funds must be channelled through Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry and NIRSAL Guarantee Schemes for Agricultural Commodities Value Chain Financing.

He pointed to revitalise of agriculture financing, there is an urgent need to recapitalize and Partially Privatize BOA alongside recapitalize NIRSAL to de-risk value chain lending.

The group further urged government to arrange farmers into clusters so as to able them have access finance and the private sector can easily work with them providing them with irriga-

tion facilities, storage facility, linking them to market opportunities through government support.

Stressing the need for a strong public-private implementation partnership to jump start the policy and legislative reforms in support of the Green Alternative between 2016 to 2019, he said that it is expected that N3.1 trillion agricul-

tural funds would be made available at 5 percent interest rate by the end of the project.

He noted it is expected that about 38,700 farmers’ co-operatives would have been established across the 774 Local Government Areas and about 3.8 million hectare of farm land would be put under cultivation at two crop cycles per year.

The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh commended the NABG for their inputs into the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) saying it was a timely intervention and all their proposition would be carefully looked at and government would fashion out ways of working with them.

He has constituted a committee to look into some of the recommendation, maintaining that government would only concern itself in making favourable policies that would help the private sector to grow and develop.

He said with the way small scale farmer are scattered across the country it may not be possible to arrange them into clusters but the government is looking at developing new crops of farmers that can be structured into clusters.

Meanwhile, the governor of Kebbi State Ibrahim Bagudu has suggested that N1 trillion out of the N5 tril-

lion pension fund should be channelled into agriculture in order to revamp the sector.

He said that is this is done, it will help increase the pension money as a way of interest payment from farmers, and food production will increase thereby providing enough food for the pensioners.

Governor Bagudu, who made this known in Abuja further said that workers and pensioners in Nigeria wants agriculture to grow and prices of food reduced, then using part of pension fund as a way of borrowing in agriculture, is partly justified.

According to him “the Nigerian agribusiness group made mention N1 trillion needed in agriculture, I agree with that because when you take an average farmer who needs N50,000 or N100,000, by the time you calculate for 10 million farmers, that is almost to that amount.

IDPs pledge to contribute to national food security Collins Nnabuife - Abuja A group of 800 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who are farmers in Ankoma community, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa state, has pledged to contribute to the nation’s food production in 2016.

The Chairman of the group, Bitrus Luka, said

that the IDPs who had taken to farming will produce 350 articulated vehicles full of food items by the end of 2016.

He said the community of displaced persons produce 35 truck full of beans, corn and groundnut in 2015 which it sold to traders in Ibadan.

Luka spoke at the inau-

WAAPP-Nigeria facilitates 4 mango drying machines to curb wastage Collins Nnabuife - Abuja THE West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP-Nigeria) said it has facilitated four mango drying machines to curb wastage of the produce across the country.

The acting National Coordinator, WAAPP-Nigeria, Mr James Apochi said the facilities are located in Longa-Ewe Lakes Farms in Sabon Wuse in Niger, Lidani Farms in Gombe, and AT&S in Benue and Nobex Tech Company in Lagos.

According to him, it is expected to avail farmers across the country the opportunity to process mangoes into chips and reduce post harvest losses.

“This is expected to create jobs, generate income, especially among the teaming youths and women in rural areas and reduce rural-urban migration,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Longa-Ewe Lakes Farms, Mr Ahmed Nijida appreciated the WAAPP-Nigeria for the initiative.

guration of an IDP Support Programme titled: “Adopt an IDP Farmer Initiative”, called for access to farm inputs to boost their productivity.

The programme was facilitated by Smile Again Africa Initiative (SAAI), an NGO, and the Green Yelwa Nigeria Limited, producers of Yelwa Bio-fertiliser.

Nigeria imports 5 million eggs daily —Ogbeh Collins Nnabuife -Abuja THE Federal government has decried the continued loss of the country’s foreign exchange to the daily importation of about five million eggs from South Africa.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh disclosed this when he addressed the ‘Feed the Future’ conference in Abuja.

The project, a United States of America International Development (USAID) initiative in Nigeria is said to have been put in place to support the Federal and state government efforts to improve their capacities to plan and implement effective policy analyses and programs and demand and absorb policy research in their policy process.

According to him “we depend on others even for tooth picks at the cost of 18 million dollars per annum.

We depend on Brazil for sugar, we depend even now on other countries for paper and so on. We import 5 million eggs per a day from South Africa. We bring sliced potatoes from South Africa.”

In his remark, the Principal Investigator of the Project, Dr Saweda Liverpool-Tasie, said that the ‘Feed the Future Nigeria Agriculture Policy Project’ was designed to promote inclusive agricultural productivity growth, improved nutritional outcomes and enhanced livelihood in Nigeria.

Federal College of Agriculture graduates 210

By Wale Olapade

FEDERAL College of Agriculture, Moore Plantation Ibadan, has successfully completed the first phase of the institution’s vocational training in six agricultural programmes with 210 grandaunts.

The participants who underwent a week practical and theoretical training skills on agriculture from growing, harvesting, processing and machinery at the college, were awarded certificates of participation and also equipped with start-up kits and a parting sum of N5,000 each for transportation.

The event was also an avenue to showcase some of the process products produced by each participating groups during the period of their

practical engagement at the college.

In his remarks, the Provost of the Institution, Dr Babajide Adelekan said “for many of us, we have starting a new journey in National development through different vocational training which have just successfully engaged in and completed.

“The victory of this edition of the training should be followed up with practical engagement by participants who have gain practical skills within the one week of the programme through the use of the start-up kits to the later.

“The graduation packages are seeds that must be sowed for you to ripe from and also employed others, and also multiple the process for

profitability.”

While commending the participant for their commitment and maturity during the programme, the provost also urged all and sundry to properly ultilise the start-up kits to boost their entrepreneurship skills.

He advised that the unemployed can also start something from the start-up packages given to individual.

“If you are not big enough to start alone, you can partner with others to pull resource together to boost productivity.

Some of the participants who spoke during the event give kudos to the institution for setting the pace in extending the vocational training on agriculture to more Nigerians.

18

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

Wife of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari and Chief (Mrs) Amina Temitope Ajayi (a.k.a Mama Diaspora), arriving for the Future Assured, a pet project of the Hajia Buhari, held recently in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), at Westin Hotel, New York, United States.

From left, Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Labour Matters, Sir Bisi Fakayode; President, Kwara State Forestry Stakeholders Congress, Alhaji Abdullahi Agbobajo; Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed; Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Chief Taiwo Joseph; Special Adviser on Forestry, Mr Amos Sayo and other members of the congress, during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Government House, Ilorin, recently.

From left, former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Professor (Mrs) Modupe Adelabu; former deputy governor, Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu; Colonel Ademola Olubobokun (retd); the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Justice Ademola Ajakaye, Mrs Olaitan Eletu; bride’s father, Colonel S.T. Olubobokun (retd) and Mrs Shade Sholotan, at the wedding of Mr and Mrs Oluwaseun Adeoye, held at Carlton Gate Exclusive Hoel, Agodi GRA, Ibadan.

From left, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Alhaji Sabiu Zakari; Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), MrSaleh Dunoma; Director, Safety and Technical Policy, Federal Ministry of Transport, Captain Talba Alkali and the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muktar Usman, on their arrival to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters for the re-election of Dr Olumuyiwa Aliu as president of ICAO, in Montreal, Canada, recently.

Chief Adedokun Fabiyi (middle), cutting his 90th birthday cake and assisted by his children, from left, Mr Jide Fabiyi, Mrs Folake Opeke, Mr Adegboyega Fabiyi, Mr Yemisi Obisesan, Mr Tobi Fabiyi and Mrs Funmi Olorunnisomo, at his residence, 1, Obasa Close, Sango, Ibadan. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

Pastor and Mrs Mayowa Akintayo at the 50th birthday of Mrs Akintayo, at their residence, Felele, Ibadan.

Miss Oluwaronke Odeyemi, flanked by her parents, Mr and Mrs Oluseyi Odeyemi, during her recent induction into the Medical Physiotherapy profession at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The groom, Mr Oluwaseun Adeoye and former Miss Oluwatoyin Olubobokun, during their wedding at Carlton Gate Exlusive Hotel, Agodi GRA, Ibadan.

For bookings, contact ’Laolu Afolabi on 08054681741 or Tommy Adegbite on 08116954631

19

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Tunde Busari 08127593530 Yejide Gbenga - Ogundare 08116706853 Tunde Ogunesan 08116954634

Nigerian Tribune

The

South-West Editor Kehinde Oyetimi 08074626431

Got news for us; contact: southwesttribune@yahoo.co.uk or southwesttribune@gmail.com

South-West is considered critical in major political camps in the country and events in recent times indicate intense and frenzy political manoeuvring among power blocs and their gladiators to forge fresh realignment, in the light of current realities in national politics, writes KUNLE ODEREMI

A

few weeks ago, a major political gathering aimed at reshaping the South-west took place in Ibadan, the political headquarters of the SouthWest. The occasion was epochal, as it had all the elements of a grand alliance, given the political configuration and colour.

The representation at the event cut across leading parties like APC, PDP, Accord, Labour Party, among others. The organizers had kept the event secret though, it was discovered to be the fifth meeting of the coalition, with intent to reinvent the politics of Yoruba land.

For about five hours, the prominent politicians that converged in the 200-capacity hall, , deliberated on a blueprint designed to forge a political alignment that will be of difference and enduring this time. The session was presided over by a founding father of the PDP, who was also a key presidential aide in the Second Republic.

The main issue on the agenda at the meeting was to fast track a political realignment in the South-West. The roll call also include former ministers, former members of the National Assembly and representatives of serving senators, as

Inside

l a c i t i l o p g n i g r e m The e t s e W h t u o S n i t n e m realign

All princes cannot be king —Oba Akran of Badagry

well former Speakers of state House of Assembly from the zone, along with some egg heads of Yoruba extraction from universities. It was learnt that the leaders argued that they needed to speed up their effort at building formidable machinery that could inspire greater confidence in the political class in the South-

At summit, Ooni, BoA, IITA, BoI, others highlight S/West’s economic potentials

West.

It was learnt that the leaders that met in Ibadan on the proposed alignment had set up various committees to carry out different assignments on the project.

So, the leader of each committee was given the opportunity to give account of work however, the high-powered team disContinues on pg20

Hairdo: Adopting old styles, forgoing their meanings

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Changing forces in the South West political terrain Continued from pg19 patched to contact one of the former governors from the zone gave a cheerful message to the leaders. The team said it met with the former governor at his country home, and that he was excited about the visit and their mission. He reportedly expressed disappointment with the turnout of events after he and other South-West leaders had assisted in throwing a new political leadership in the land. He was said to have promised his total commitment to the new political movement meant to reshape the political structure in the South-West.

But, there was a sharp division among the leaders on the manner and categories of political figures that should be involved in the project. Some were of the belief that it will be counterproductive to send emissaries to another former governor even though they acknowledged his clout and influence in politics beyond the shores of Yoruba land. Others countered the argument saying the leaders should adopt the principle of inclusion with a conviction that things would take shape once the realignment succeeded A retired army officer who has been assigned a key role in the rainbow coalition said the question of integrity and character was crucial in the project, because of the issue of public perception of the individual members of the political class. It was indeed a prolonged debate, before they could reach a consensus.

They have decided to speed up their effort because of perception that there was no hope in the ongoing reconciliation move in PDP, as it might not percolate to the grassroots, where there is severe anger and suspicion among the leaders. So, the peace moves are cosmetic and salutary; the issue of pending court cases have not been addressed. The cases are there and which could be a last resirt for any of the groups,” a source said.

But it was learnt that the group has reportedly met with the former governor, who agreed to work together with other likeminds to achieve the ovrall goal of the movement.

Already, the leaders are considering a number of options on if they should form a new party or adopt any of the existing ones such as AD in the ongoing realignment. AD, one of the five parties that contested the 1998 political transition programme that culminated in military exit from the political scene and power in 1999, formed government in all the six states in the zone.

However, the realignment of forces is also taking place at the level of ministers representing the South-West in the federal cabinet. They are said to be another power bloc determined to reshape the politics of the zone. The group is said to be networking with other power blocs across the other five zones to form a distinct power base along with some governors. There are insinuations that the group is part of a coalition of force that was determined to whittle down the influence and power of some leading political godfathers, believed to be unwilling to gurantee a level-playing field for all capable and younger politicians. This factor is said to have compounded the crisis over the governorship primary in Ondo state, where gladiators in the APC are at each others’ throat.

Role of governors The involvement of state governors in the realignment process remains largely speculative. They themselves have been tactical in their actions and utterances on the matter, even though one of them was once quoted as endorsing the move to evolve a second force in the politics of the South-West. Those leaders from the zone that met recently have since sent emissaries to the governors, while some of their close associates have been at-

tending similar meetings convened by the political movement.

Party crises The protracted crises in the two leading parties: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC ), especially at the national level have been catalytic in the realignment talks. Some PDP stalwarts that form arrowheads of the movement claim to be neutral in the crisis rocking the party and wished to team with Like-Minds in other parties. Most them are drawn from the state chapters of the party in Lagos, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states, who are averse to factionalisation in the PDP. External factors The idea of forging new alliances is not devoid of external factors. Similar coalitions are being formed by leading politicians in other zones of the country. The thinking among the promoters of the fresh alignment in the South-West is that they need to forge a cohesive and united front at home that would boast of a powerful negotiation power at the national level. They do not wish to become a junior partner at any point in time in any future political relationship. Some of them who formed the bulk of the stakeholders that participated in the coalition that produced APC believed if the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) had gone into an alliance with the other legacy parties, CAN would have benefitted more than what it is getting now in terms of power sharing .

The issue that is eliciting mutual suspicion in the realignment talks is the awesome influence of some political gladiators. Though their interest is still being promoter by proxies, other partakers are expressing fears of the likely clash of interest because of them.

For instance, many of the speakers at the recent talks on political realignment are expressed concern that certain political figures and godfathers could hijack the machinery of the coalition, given their antecedents since 1999. They have not only dominated the political scene but also determined the power sharing formula and beneficiaries of elective and appointive offices. Their overbearing influence is believed to be a major cause of the frequent frictions and conflicts in the parties.

For one reason or the other, the former Lagos State governor, senator Bola Tinubu has become a critical factor in the politics of the zone. His pivotal role in the formation of defunct Action Congress (AC) that transformed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) accentuated his credential as an issue in the politics of the south-West. Having led ACN into the marriage that produced APC,

The idea of forging new alliances is not devoid of external factors. Similar coalitions are being formed by leading politicians in other zones of the country.

Ambode

Ajimobi

Fayemi

Fashola

its victory at the 2015 polls and emergence of a former governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as the national chairman of the party, it was envisaged that he will be able to leverage on the feat. However, he has had to fight a number of fresh battles bordering on the internal contradictions within the APC. His disagreement with Oyegun over the conduct of the governorship primary of the party in Ondo State drew flak from some APC power blocs. The war of words between the two camps is already becoming an issue in the hands of the promoters of new political alignments in the South-West.

our time. I’ve personally visited you before and Im glad you are also here.”

The Aregbesola/Fayose visits Last January, the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose paid a surprise visit to his Osun State counterpart, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, in Osogbo, with some persons insinuating that Fayose, who was elected into office on PDP ticket was on the verge of defecting to APC. But, he quickly set the record straight concerning the visit, saying it was based on his belief in the unity of the Yoruba race, while Aregbesola, said regardless of the differences in political party, Fayose’s visit was a mark of maturity. On October 1, Aregbesola went to Ekiti State on the invitation of Fayose to deliver a lecture, entitled: The imperative of unity, as part of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the creation of the state creation and Nigeria’s 56 Independent anniversary celebrations. On his choice Aregbesola as the guest lecturer, Fayose said: “I took this decision that you should come instead of my colleague from my party, because if we don’t take away the veil of politics and wear the armour of Nigeria, we would be wasting

Who leads the coalition?

A lot of people, including some the proponents of the fresh alignmemt are beginning to raise some fundamental teasers. Some of the critical questions are informed by past political experiences in the zone. The leaders had failed to rise above personal interests when there was need for such in the overall interest of the zone. Some of them have been accused on conspiratorial tendencies at the threshold of major elections, while others thought less of their immediate constituencies once they secure elective or appointive offices. There is also the question of ideological compatibility of those in the current drive, in view of the circumstances that decapitated AD, the once vibrant and formidable political machinery of the political class/elite at the dawn of civil rule in 1999. There are other posers such as can some of the key promoters of realignment return to the path of reason, as their antecedents portray them as two parallel lines.

Will the elders be left behind? What will the roles for the governors, as PDP and APC control the political lever in the zone?

Cold war in APC Since the verbal exchanges between Tinubu and chief John Odigie-Oyegun over the governorship primary in Ondo State started, has further accelerated speculations about likely implosion in the party. it is speculated that the widening crack could benefit those behind the current political realignment in the South-west. Secondly, the cordiality manContinues on pg24

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Why I refused to marry a second wife —Oba Akran Oba Akran of Badagry, Aholu Menu-Toyi (I), recently clocked 80 years and threw a thanksgiving ceremony where he played host to the crème-de-la-crème of the society. In his post-birthday interview by TUNDE BUSARI, went down memory lane on his rise from the classroom to the newsroom and later to the palace. Excerpts:

Y

OU recently celebrated your 80th birthday, how can you describe your life at 80?

Attaining 80 years of age can only be attributed to the grace of God because no one has a full picture of what the future the looks like. One will naturally wish to live long and achieve so many things but the power to achieve those things does not lie with him. God has the power to create and terminate one’s life. I can only be grateful to God for sparing my life to clock 80 years, especially when I look back and recall all what one passed through before reaching this age.

I am most grateful to God. It is not a matter of glorifying what happened on my birthday.

self. Don’t be scared of travelling, even at odd hours and don’t compare yourself with those working in high paying organisations. Be creative and friendly. These are some of the attributes that can make you climb the ladder of the profession.

Tell us about your life journey up to your 80th birthday?

I was born on September 18, 1936, which makes me 80 this year. I started my life like any other young child and looked forward to a bright future. But the truth is that I did not have the clear picture of what would later happen in my life. But I was conscious of the fact that one needed to be hard-working, focused and live simple life. I was once a school teacher, after which I started my career in journalism.

It seems you had a smooth sail to the throne, unlike other places where princes slug it out among themselves?

There was also problem of succession. It is natural that others would show interest.

But as I said earlier, only one person will be crowned. At the end of the day, God gave it to me. It was God who did it, not by my power.

How did you move from the profession to the palace?

It happened in October 1976 while I was already an editor. I told you that I was the editor of New Nigerian when I was selected to be the Oba. That was in October 1976. By January 1977, I had returned home to start the performance of some rites. By April, the coronation ceremony took place.

What do you miss about journalism?

I cannot go out to meet people again. I used to go out and mix with people as a journalist. I cannot wear suits anymore because it is against our custom. An Oba must dress properly and set a good example.

You are popularly known as a journalist and not a teacher?

Teaching was a respected job during our time, unlike what obtains today when teachers have been reduced to almost nothing.

Teachers then were next to God, as pupils respected them more than their parents. I enjoyed my time as a teacher because it afforded me the opportunity to impact knowledge on the younger ones and to also study further. I used the opportunity to further develop myself. I can say that teaching later helped my career in journalism because I was used to hard work and commitment to duty as a teacher. Teaching was interesting to me.

I hardly had time for any other thing apart from teaching. When I became a journalist, I did not find it difficult to adjust to the new work environment and schedule.

Did it occur to you that you would become the Oba of Badagry?

I was too engrossed with my job to the extent that no other thing attracted me than my job. When you are enjoying the work you do, you can even sacrifice your home for it. That was the story. I enjoyed my job that I never thought of becoming an Oba. I was outgoing, meeting people and filling good stories.

But every prince’s ambition is to become an Oba. Why was yours different?

It was simply because of my belief that all the princes cannot be king. Only one will make it. How would I know the one that would make it? Instead of bothering myself with such thoughts, I put my mind off it and concentrated on my job to the point of forgetting my status as a prince. I am one who believes that what will be, will definitely be, especially when it comes to issues of position in life. Every reporter cannot become an editor, even though every hardworking reporter must aspire to be an editor in future. But God knows how to do it and he picks whoever he wants. The point I am making is that I did not bother myself with the thought of becoming the king because doing so would amount to a wasted exercise.

Can you share your experience as a journalist, up till the time you rose to become an editor?

How did Badagry come into being?

Our forefathers came from Accra in Ghana.

What happened was that we were formerly in Ile-Ife until 1200 when many people left for different places. My forefathers travelled as far as Ghana, but later returned to this place.

Akran was the first settler, hence the title.

Is there a difference between Badagry and other Yoruba towns?

There is no difference. We are the same.

The only thing is the language. When we were in Ghana, the language changed and by the time we came here, we were speaking Ogu, called Egun.

I started with the West African Pilot, owned by the late Dr Nnamdi Azikwe. You must have heard so much about the West African Pilot as a vibrant newspaper which was at the forefront of the struggle against colonial government in Nigeria. It was such a vibrant newspaper that every young man wanted to identify with. Working for West African Pilot was more or less a privilege to express yourself and to make your expression heard by

Our forefathers came from Accra in Ghana. What happened was that we were formerly in Ile-Ife until 1200 when many people left for different places.

My forefathers travelled as far as Ghana, but later returned to this place. Akran was the first settler, hence the title.

the public. Nigerian Tribune came after and joined in the same struggle with which West African Pilot was founded. It was interesting then and the colonial government knew that Nigeria was blessed with brilliant people. I later joined New Nigeria and I rose to become the editor of the paper.

During our days, we were trained well; we were thoroughly baked despite the fact that a few had university degrees. In fact, in terms of resourcefulness, I have discovered that university degree does not make one a better journalist. You need to work hard and realise your responsibility to the society who looks forward to reading your paper and form opinion based on your report. You are an opinion molder responsible to the authorities and the public Did you have time to rest at all going by the picture you just painted?

We created time to unwind among ourselves. But the truth of the matter is that while we were relaxing, we were still working.

Our eyes and ears were working in search of scoops. Honestly, journalism in our days was not a job but our life. If you want to make it in the profession, set a high standard for your-

What do you really want to see happen to Badagry?

I want government to develop this town beyond what it is now. I thank God that a sea port has been approved a couple of months ago. It is going to make Badagry a big town.

This will be the main port in the whole of Africa when it is completed. Bigger vessels will be here. The sea port will transform Badagry and open it up to the world.

What is your view about polygamy in the palace?

An Oba has no limit to the number of wives he can marry. But it depends on individual preferences. I don’t sincerely think the reason that made an Oba to marry more wives in those days is still valid. Time is fast changing. The world is dynamic and we must move with the tide. But I am not saying any Oba who is interested in more wives should not go for them.

How many wives do you have?

I have only one wife who I married in 1971, when I was a practicing journalist. We understand each other to the extent that there is no reason to marry another wife. I am okay and she is okay. Don’t forget that I said it depends on the choice of the individual Oba. What I am saying is that I have nothing against an Oba having more than one wife because nothing forbids him from doing so. But when there is no reason for one to have more than one, it is better one stays with one.

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Hairdo:

Adopting old styles, forgoing their meanings

A great revolution is ongoing in the hair circuit of the fashion industry with so many daring styles popping up and the line that demarcates the male and female styles continue to blur by the day. But how many of these hairstyles are based on new creativity? YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE explores the genesis of the trending hairdos and how much was adapted from the traditional Yoruba hairstyles of ancient times.

I

N today’s world, fashion is a serious and expensive venture. And the hair is an important part of fashion that is seldom overlooked, probably due to the fact that it is one of the first things that people notice in an individual.

To this end, the hair industry has experienced a lot of revolution; giving birth to different kinds of hairstyles both for males and females alike. The styles which cost thousands of naira tend to be bourgeoisie and out of the norm of perceived normalcy, causing some people to criticize them on the grounds of culture, tradition and religion.

And more often than not, the people who do this hairstyles only do it for fashion and to feel trendy among their peers as the styles are often not economical and cannot be said to have any other function; cultural or otherwise than making those that do it feel good about themselves and on top of their game.

The more fashionable an individual is, the weirder the hairstyles tend to be. But this was not the situation in times past, hairstyles were issues that are determined based on some code and ethics; this is basically due to the fact that among the Yoruba people, the head is given a pre-eminent place above other parts of the body and this in extension reflects on the hair.

This head is respected so much based on spiritual and cultural beliefs of its importance as the center of body’s activity and the fulcrum of attaining ones destiny, consequently, serious care is given to the head and the hairdo also becomes very important especially among the womenfolk.

However, at that period, hairstyles are not just for beautification but could be a sign of identification; religion, age, occupation, political power, ceremony or the marital status of a woman. For married women in Yoruba land, the common trend is for the hair to flow from the front down to the nape of the neck; the hair may also emerge from both sides and join at the top of the head or come from the forehead and back to meet at the center of the head while for the maidens, the hair flows from the right ear to the left in a boys follow me mode.

Then, hairstyles were more than a fashion

statement; they were used as a medium of communication, mark of initiation or the state of mind. Traditional hairstyles then need no explanations as people already know what it means whether it is on the head of a male or the female. The hairstyle called Aaso, is one where the hair is made into nine knots, three round patches in the front of the scalp, three in the middle and three in the back. It is reserved for male children of the influential and wealthy people and princes.

There is also the Aaso olode/ologun which is for warriors and hunters which is a central patch of hair made into a knot that hangs to the left side; the Aaso Onifa which is plaited by ifa priests and it comes in the form of a small round patch in the middle or front of the scalp but is only plaited by diviners during the festive period, on normal days, they just plait whichever style catches their fancy.

How can anyone say it is not in our culture for men to plait hair? That is an argument made in ignorance of our culture. In the ancient time, men are known to plait their hair in different styles. In fact, it is the mark of a mighty and powerful man.

Other styles include the dreads for olokun worshippers, Ere; a variant of the Aaso which is shaped like the pig tail and is allowed to grow at the center or front of the scalp for Esu worshippers, the idanri apakan

where half of the hair is shaped which is a sign of identification for men of the Aragberi clan of the Mesa royal family, renowned for their versatility in herbs and magic in Oyo and the ilari osanyin which involves shaving of alternate sides of the hair every two weeks in honour of Osanyin, the god of medicine and it is for abiku and court messengers.

Other contemporary hair styles then include suku, koroba, kolese, panumo, ipako elede, moremi, ojokopeti, akaba, onile gogoro, kojusoko or koyinsoko, patewo, agogo, aarinomonimasun, pakunpo, ajanko-

lokolo, awoyoyo, eko bridge, agogo, ade oba, roundabout, face to face, police cap, oro oko kowoti and concord among many others.

Today however, women do not fancy these old styles and many now go for contemporary hairstyles and generally use diverse hair extensions which are available at different prices with some being extremely expensive. But the reverse is what applies to the masculine gender as those that keep hair among them plait the styles that the feminine gender has abandoned as archaic.

And many that barb their hair also go for styles that would have cause a furore, had they been in existence few decades back. Now, more men’s styles emerge in the society with regular frequency and these styles all tend to follow the ones used in the ancient time while many end up being a better and improved version of the Aaso of old.

The funkier the style, the more it looks like a variation of the styles barbed for identification or religious purpose in times past. But for those that do these styles, there is no cultural meaning or a mode of communication, it is simply a case of following fashion.

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune, Sanya Bello, a barber in Basorun area of Ibadan stated that it is true that there are many styles that are now unisex, attributing the development to the evolution of the fashion industry all over the world.

“Today, the line between styles for women and men are blurred and there is a mix. We now have men that braid and plait their hairs while women also sport hair cuts that were previously seen as hairstyle for men. This is not so bad really and it has nothing to do with religion, it is just fashion,” he said.

Speaking on the argument that hair plaiting is not in the culture of the Yoruba people, Bello said it is an argument that has no solid Continues on pg23

23 thesouth-west

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Nigerian Tribune

Old wine, new bottle Continued from pg24 footing and is erroneous.

“How can anyone say it is not in our culture for men to plait hair? That is an argument made in ignorance of our culture. In the ancient time, men are known to plait their hair in different styles. In fact, it is the mark of a mighty and powerful man.

“Fashion today has evolved beyond those arguments and criticisms and people need to know that wearing a particular style does not make you a bad boy or a good one. Often, some favour particular hairstyles because of their job; showbiz, painters, models etc., that does not make them irresponsible, it is just a hallmark of their trade and a marketing technique.

“And for me, fashion is just embracing tradition and culture more than before, though with more creativity and panache, so people shouldn’t say what is happening is strange to our culture,” he concluded.

Aside the dreads , locks and plaits, men also barb styles like side and up, gallax, mohawk, two step, three steps, defined wave cut, tapered afro, box fade cut, layers, mini afro, galaxy, low side parted taper, wavy fade, long tight taper, low tapered afro, clean and short cut, straight brushed up, afro, natural quiff, short and curly, faded undercut, grown out buzz, short patterned mohawk, polished fade, pampadour, buzz cut, partly dyed curls, classic afro, classic fade, classic sporting waves and the full coverage shave also called clean shave or skin among others.

The various types of mohawk cut and galaxy that are popular today are direct descent of the Aaso of old but it is not for any purpose aside that of fashion and those that use it do not even understand if it has any meaning.

Miracle, a student sporting the mohawk spoke to Nigerian Tribune on his hairstyle.

“I don’t understand why you think this style must have any religious or cultural meaning.

It is just fashion, there’s nothing attached to it and you shouldn’t look for a meaning that does not exist,” he said.

For the women however, the old styles have lost its appeal and it is usually only students in primary and secondary schools that still utilize them. Women would not plait or braid their natural hair without adding various degrees of hair extension and the closest many get to the natural hair or old style is the cornrow plait.

A local hairdresser, Mrs. Bolude James popularly known as Iya igbira in Gbagi area of Ibadan told Nigerian Tribune that school children form the greatest percentage of their client as women only patronize them when they are not financially buoyant or have a dire need to make their scalp rest.

“We are used to plaiting hair for small children and young girls because women do not like doing this kind of hair again. They only come to us when their hair develops problems like weak tips, breakage, stunted growth or massive pullout due to excessive use of chemicals or constant pressure of pulling through use of hair extensions.

“When this happens, their hair dressers advice that they plait their hair for a while to allow their scalp rest and strengthen the hair but some rather than plait will prefer to cut the whole hair and go on low cut or baby curls till the hair grows out in its natural strength.

They just believe that it is old fashioned to carry simple plaits without extension, it is the men that now plait those styles at expensive prices. For me, it is fashion taken too far,” Iya Ebira said.

The common hairstyles for women today according to Nigerian Tribune investigations are Brazilian hair, braids in its diverse forms, baby curls with tint, gel packing, the bun, dreadlocks, straw curls, Ghana weaving, afro gel, pony tail and the afro wig style among others In spite of the love for modern trends, there are some female hair styles that continue to reinvent and find a way into the fashion top list. The styles come out with a little variation and spread quickly across the fashion world and become the in thing which is seen on many women over a specific period while the cost also increases. These styles reigns for a period and reminds people especially the old ones of the good old days before becoming stale again to come out with a little variation in a few years.

Some of the old styles that are now rocking the fashion chart presently include crotchet braids which used to be the belle of the society in the 70’s. Today, it is one of the trending

styles and is used by many fashionistas. Another trending style is the bob braids which in its earlier years is known as Shaba but is now back with diverse modern variations and is plaited using colourful hair extensions.

There is also the faux locs, a variation of the dreadlocks which was originated from the Rastafarians and is still a signature look in that community. But today, it is a style worn by many women in diverse professional fields.

The Afro is another style that continues to reinvent and flip the chart of reigning styles decade after decade and has refused to completely go out of circulation in the fashion world just like the gel pack in its various variants like the pig tail, telephone wire and curly tips; it continues to reign every time and has remained a constant hairstyle for all occa-

I am in a competitive business and I cannot afford to look like any other person. In my line of business, I need to stand out and have a different look, this starts with my hair style, it is an attentiongetting device

sions.

One other style that has stood the test of time is the Bantu knots which initially was used to create curl patterns in the hair but later became a style that is worn by women of all age grades for different occasions.

There is indeed a revolution going on in the realm of hairstyles and for many, it is just a means of expressing their feelings or what they do. Yomi Togun, an instrumentalist sports the Mohawk hairstyle and for him, it is just something to attract attention.

“I am in a competitive business and I cannot afford to look like any other person. In my line of business, I need to stand out and have a different look, this starts with my hair style, it is an attention-getting device and it fits my face and gives the impression I want,” he said.

Togun’s stance is supported by a popular chef, Marc Forgione in a quote where he stated that, “I’ve had every haircut you could possibly imagine: mullet, tail, dreadlocks, afro, crew cut. It’s always been an expression of who I am.”

The reemergence of cultural Yoruba hairstyles with new and trendy names in various forms merely attest to the fact that history tends to repeat itself and there’s really no new idea around especially in the beauty and fashion industry. And to those that embrace such styles that many think is really way out of the Yoruba norms, Sanya Bello encourages that they study the culture and history of the Yoruba race in the times of old.

Borrowing from the styles of old seems to be the trend today but the cultural and traditional aspects are not respected or considered. And though many argue that the styles are ugly, those that wear them believe that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

And the words of a popular saying seem to encapsulate this. It says, “I think there is beauty in everything. What ‘normal’ people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it.”

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Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi addressing the summit.

At summit, Ooni, BoA, IITA, BoI highlight S/West’s economic potentials Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

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HE relegation of agriculture to the background by successive governments had taken a toll on Nigeria’s economy, thus making the dependence on oil revenue the mainstay of survival for Africa’s most populous nation.

This development had not only resulted in stunted economic growth and lately the current economic recession, but also contributed significantly to increasing unemployment and poverty in the country.

But stakeholders in the agricultural sector and concerned Nigerians have upped the ante in emphasising the need for Nigerians to return to agriculture as the only viable panacea to the biting hardship, precipitated by the economic recession.

This critical issue dominated the discourse at the launching of Ife Youth Agropreneurship Summit 2016 & Presentation of Ojaja 11 Agricultural Hub last Thursday in Ile-Ife. The programme, which was the initiative of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and supported by the Bank of Industry (BoI), Bank of Agriculture (BoA), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Hephzibah Network, was aimed at encouraging youths in Ile-Ife to embrace agriculture as a means of tackling

unemployment and poverty.

From the content of the agroprenuership summit, youths, numbering over 150, would be trained in agricultural schemes, which would exposed them to modern cultivation of cocoa, cashew and other cash crops that can be exported to earn foreign exchange.

Addressing the beneficiaries during the summit, Oba Ogunwusi tasked Nigerian youths to explore the potentials inherent in agriculture, with a view to making them employers of labour, while contributing their quota towards tackling the economic recession facing the nation.

Oba Ogunwusi expressed optimism that once the youth are empowered, especially in the area of agro-processing development, the society would be free from poverty, hun-

Oba Ogunwusi tasked Nigerian youths to explore the potentials inherent in agriculture, with a view to making them employers of labour, while contributing their quota towards tackling the economic recession facing the nation.

ger and unemployment would be drastically reduced.

The royal father, who enjoined Nigerian leaders to empower the youth on agropreneurship such as cassava processing, maize processing, aquaculture and fish processing, mushroom cultivation, plantain processing among others, chided individuals patronising imported goods such as wears, food and shoes, stressing that Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources that can sustain it, rather than depending on crude oil.

According to him, “our leaders need to live by example by starting to promote Nigerian-made products, since charity begins at home, and this approach would boost the national economy and the internally generated revenue (IGR).”

The Ooni also appealed to all and sundry to stop blaming the leaders on the economic recession, but to support them in contributing their quota to the development of the nation, saying that lawmakers should also make laws that would support Nigerian products.

The monarch contended that Ife is the largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria, assuring that if youths could agree to go back to farming, within five to six years, the community would become biggest economic city in the country.

In her remark, the Group Head, Department of Agro-processing, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mrs Ruth Kadafa, said the bank would provide loan facilities to beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme, with a view to making it a success.”

While commending the monarch and other partnering agencies, Mrs Kadafa advised the youth to be committed and determined to change their mentality without relying on government for white collar jobs Similarly, Professor Duro Oyedele from the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, enjoined politicians to stop empowering youths by distributing tricycles and motorcycles.

Oyedele said that youths should take cognisance of their lives by investing in agro-processing that is sustainable rather than Okada business, which he said is not sustainable.

He added that Ile-Ife, Osun and Nigeria is richly endowed with cassava, plantain, vegetables, cashew, kolanut, among others, urging the youth to explore opprtunities in agriculture to achieve greatness in life.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, Hephzibah Network, Mr Olamide Awosunle, said that the purpose of the programme was based on transforming the youth’s lives and to give hope to the hopeless.

South West politics: Changing allies and loyalty Continued from pg20 ifesting between Fayose and Aregbesola is being generally perceived as a point to the granite coalition. Both governors have set aside their different political affiliations to engage an exchange of visits. A former minister of aviation put the issue in proper perspective in a widely publicised piece recently and advocated that many other likekinds in the South-West take a cue from the duo. Kayode said of Aregbesola’s visit to Fayose d his predication about fresh po-

litical realignment: “We may all have our differences in terms of political party affiliation but one thing is clear: as he rightly told Fayose during their recent meeting in Ado Ekiti a few days ago, there will be a realignment of political forces both in and outside of the South West very soon. There is no question about the fact that he is right about that. And when that time comes we all need to wise up, smell the coffee, and accept the fact that we must stand together as one in order to defend the interest of our people.

He went further: “I do not refer to those that have consistently derided the idea of southern unity even if we may have had our differences in the past. Such creatures are not welcome to the table of rapprochement or reconciliation. There can be no realignment with such beasts because there is no fellowship between light and darkness. Such a table is reserved only for the omuoluabis of the West; the civilised, the well-educated, the humble, the enlightened, the contrite and the well-to-do. The earlier that men like Rauf Aregebesola, Ayo

Fayose, Olusegun Mimiko and a number of others put their differences aside and join forces to protect and further the interests of the Yoruba people in a wider Nigeria, the better. Given what is slowly unfolding in our respective political parties and our country it is obvious that we have little choice. Whether you are in the PDP or the APC the paramount interest must be how to further the Yoruba interest, how to restore the dignity of our people and how to ensure that our country is redefined or restructured before it is too late.”

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with Soji-Eze Fagbemi m:08179047919 e:sojiezek@yahoo.co.uk

Appointment of 131 at NSITF: Ngige to appear before NASS today Stories By Soji-Eze Fagbemi

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HE Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige is to appear today before the joint Senate Committee on Labour and the House Committee on Labour, over alleged skewed and lopsided appointment of 131 new workers at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The joint committee had earlier summoned the acting Managing Director of the NSITF, Mr Ismaila Agaka on the nature of the recent recruitment carried out in the agency, after which the minister was held responsible for the lopsided exercise.

To this end, the joint committee had summoned Chris Ngige to appear along with Mr Agaka and the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Shettima BukarAbba, today.

Their invitation was necessitated by the current controversy and crisis trailing the recruitment, which, according to them, defiled all common sense and logic, and in flagrant disobey of the law of the land.

Many stakeholders, which included the Senate Committee on Labour and the House Committee on Labour have condemned the lopsided and skewed recruitment and decried it as high level displaying of nepotism, against the law of the land.

They regretted that major weakness of Nigerian political gladiators and elites at the detriment of millions other Nigerian masses, is high level Nepotism, favoritism and tribalism by Nigerian political office holders.

Incidentally, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who decried the previous recruitment in the agency when he resumed as the minister, was alleged to have masterminded and supervised the recent lopsided recruitment.

The NSITF is a parastatal under the Ministry of Labour and Employment and genuinely or otherwise, Ngige when he was newly appointed minister lambasted the previous management of the NSITF and the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s board, who according to him, embarked on a “market place recruitment,” in NSITF, without due process and without considering the number of workers needed.

In short, Ngige blamed them for recruiting more than what was needed without adequate provisions for offices and other office requirements to perform optimally.

However, in less than six months after that condemnation, the minister, without a substantive board

in place has led the NSITF to embark on secret recruitment of about 131 workers, in a more unlawful and illegal way.

According to a source, the last recruitment which the minister condemned was well known to Nigerians, people were aware of it across the country, but the recent recruitment conducted under Ngige as a minister was a clear departure from that, as it was carried out in secret even without the knowledge of major players in the sector.

The source also lamented that people were recruited to the top management level, thus filling unavailable positions at the top and blocking old staff from getting promotion if the need arises.

“It was very doubtful if the position filled were advertised in popular national dailies and across the geopolitical zones of the country as required. People don’t know when the interview took place and who conducted it. The recruitment is the worst you can talk about. If journalists like you, who cover labour and this parastatals for year were not aware, how do you explain that,” he added.

The recent recruitment, according to the source was not only done to insult the sensibility of ordinary Nigerians but President Muhammadu Buhari himself and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

While Ngige allotted 45 slots out of about 131 recruited to his state, Anambra, he graciously gave Katsina, President Buhari’s state one slot and none at all to the Senate President state, Kwara.

Already the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, has summoned the Minister, Chris Ngige, to appear before it over the skewed recruitment.

At a meeting held with manage-

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige ments of the NSITF last week, the joint committee accused the minister of impunity and gross abuse of office, while in its resolution cancelled the employment exercise.

The recruitment was said to have been undertaken by the ministry between July and September.

Also summoned to appear with Ngige on Tuesday (today) is the Acting Managing Director of the NSITF, Ismaila Agaka and the chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Shettima BukarAbba.

Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, lamented the skewed recruitment and noted that it was in violation of the federal character principle.

According to Senator Nazif, “Employment is of paramount important and the committee would ensure that employment is done in a manner to reflect the principles of federal character. I think there’s something going on in NSITF that no one is willing to talk about.

“It is clear that the Minister, Chris Ngige, is responsible for this irregularities, impunity and anomalies, resulting in gross abuse of his office, and we’ll take action on it.”

Disturbed by the development, the joint committee has also sent the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, to report the issue to President Buhari and brief the President accordingly.

NLC celebrates World Decent Work Day, laments workers’ poor condition THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Day for Decent Work, with a protest march to decried poor condition of Nigerian workers in Abuja.

The celebration of the 2016 World Day for Decent Work with the theme “End Corporate Greed,” commenced with a rally at the Labour House, Abuja, where over 2,000 workers, led by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, gathered to lament the plight of Nigerian workers.

Comrade Wabba who described the working condition of Nigerian workers as pathetic, said the day was set aside by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to draw attention of corporations across the world to issue of decent work environment.

The NLC President said “We demand, as we match for the 2016 World Decent Work Day, that a labourer, a pensioner deserves his wages. There must be dignity in labour. Let us collectively end corporate greed, let there be enough so that there will be shared posterity.

“The condition of workers around the world is nothing to write home about. In the context of the Nigerian situation; the working class is passing through a lot of difficulties. Salaries are not being paid in some states as at when due, pensions are not being paid, gratuities have not been paid in many states in the last 15 years.”

During the celebration, he noted that the N18,000 national minimum wage was long overdue, and is no longer visible in the face of the current economic challenges and realities.

NAAT calls for dissolution of boards of governing councils of universities, federal tertiary institutions THE National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has called for the dissolution of boards of governing councils of universities and other tertiary institutions.

In a communique issued at the end of its 30th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), NAAT urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to dissolve the governing boards of the federal tertiary institutions whose tenure had expired as well those boards that are incompetent and corrupt.

The communique, signed by the NAAT General Secretary, Comrade Iyoyo, Hamilton, said the

President should dissolve these boards with a view to replace them with competent members who are conversant with such institutions.

The meeting, which was presided over by the President of NAAT, Comrade Alhaji Sani Suleiman discussed other issues of importance to the union, its members and the state of the nation.

On the issue of sales of national assets, NAAT said it rejected totally the sales as proposed by the Federal Government. It observed that the sales of national assets had never yielded positive results, adding that the idea of selling national assets in a sense amounts to mortgaging the future of the coun-

try.

The association also advised the Federal Government to be more proactive in tackling the current recession in the country, so that Nigeria will quickly come out of it.

“Government may do so by providing the enabling environment for stable economy, and encourage more investment in the agricultural and solid mineral sectors,” the communique said.

NAAT also reinstated its full support for the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the University system, saying that those university managements who are vehemently opposing its implementation within the system

are doing so because of corruption.

President of NAAT, Comrade Suleiman, said the association supported the TSA because the policy will block all leakages and loopholes created for corrupt officers to corruptly enrich themselves.

This, he pointed out was the reason why the agitation by some corruptly inclined officers within the system to kick against its implementation is rife.

On the issue of Niger Delta crisis, NAAT advised the Federal Government to dialogue with all interest groups in the area, while urging aggrieved militant groups to shield their swords and embrace peace.

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

with Bode Adewumi m:08055001765 e:bodekafi@yahoo.com

ATCON wants NCC to check influx of uncertified phones in Nigeria Stories By Bode Adewumi

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HE Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ATCON), has expressed worries over the circulation of more than 150 unapproved phones in the Nigerian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) market.

President of ATCON, Mr Olusola Teniola, said this during a recent reception by ATCON for the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta at the Sheraton hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said that there were more than 20 mobile phone brands that do not have the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC’s) type-approved certificates to operate in Nigeria.

“And these mobile phone brands have over 150 mobile phone models circulating in Nigeria,” Teniola said.

He said that dumping counterfeit phones in the country was a new growing problem in the industry, hence, the need for urgent measures to curb the increasing rate.

According to him, the association believes that more stringent mea-

Toure, ex-ITU scribe to speak during Nigeria’s Investment Forum at Telecom World 2016 FORMER Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Mr Hamadoun Toure has been named the keynote speaker at Nigeria’s Investment Forum in ITU Telecom World 2016, Bangkok, Thailand.

The forum is the highpoint of Nigeria’s participation in the event that is due to run from November 14 – 17, 2016.

Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu is the Chief host at the forum which is slated for November 15, 2016.

Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of Nigerian communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta have also been listed as panelists at the forum.

A statement by Director, Public Affairs, at NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo, also listed Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Chairman, Etisalat Nigeria and Ms Funke Opeke, Managing Director, MainOne Cable Company as panelists at the forum.

The forum will be moderated

by Dr Henry Nzekwu, a Consummate Multi-sectoral Team Leader and Executive Vice Chairman of MessageWise Limited.

sures should be taken to curb the counterfeiting of mobile phones, since such contributes significantly to the persistent poor Quality of Service (QoS).

“We plead with the government to put in place anti-counterfeiting measures such as the facilitation of integrated Web portal based IMEI-IMSI collection to stem the menace of substandard or unregistered mobile phones circulating in Nigeria, Since it is with obvious

consequences of poor quality of service, loss of revenue to the government, loss of business by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)? and loss of jobs, as well as in revenue to the Nigeria mobile market.

“For instance, we have more than 20 mobile phone brands that do not have NCC type approved certificate to operate in Nigeria. This unregistered/unapproved brands have over 150 mobile phone mod-

els circulating in Nigeria,” he said.

Teniola added that the association observed that 10 per cent of fake mobile phones products of some of the popular mobile phone brands was circulating in Nigeria.

Earlier, Teniola had said that the reception was to give the industry the opportunity to meet with the EVC and share with him some of the challenges impacting negatively on the telecommunications industry.

From left, Mr Tunji Agboola, Chief Executive Officer, Amazing Grace Computers (AGC) and Solar Systems Ltd; Mr Trygve Raen, Director, BTG Consortium, Norway; Mrs Taiwo Agboola, General Manager, AGC and Solar Systems Ltd and Country Manager, BTG and Mr Goni Soulemanou, during the sixth ICTs and Renewable Energy in National Development Summit and Exhibition, which took place at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, recently.

ISPON urges govt, private sector to patronise made-in-Nigeria software THE Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has said it would continue to engage government on the need to patronise made-in-Nigeria software.

ISPON President, Mr James Emadoye, in a statement last week, said that made-in-Nigeria software was capable of providing employment for millions of young Nigerians.

Emadoye said ISPON members had performed exceedingly well in the provision of products for the Nigeria software ecosystem.

According to him, state governments and some ministries, departments and agencies paid close to $6 million in software license/ maintenance charges.

“Fully made-in-Nigeria software is available in virtually every sector of the economy.

“There is virtually no need to pay millions of dollars importing solution with huge maintenance/ license charges, when smart Nigerians have already developed these solutions locally.

“It should be noted that a million dollar paid out for software solutions would have created employment opportunities for the teeming jobless Nigeria youths.

“Such monies should be spent acquiring made-in-Nigeria software products. We must make concerted effort to develop, consume and enthrone made in Nigeria products

in all facets of our lives. Only then would we be proud to say we are an independent nation,” he said.

The ISPON president said that software was essential for Nigeria to resolve its economic challenges.

“In 1960, Nigeria’s population was 45.21 million, but now we have about 200 million people, which is about 400 per cent increase over a period of 56 years.

“How can we govern and manage 200 million Nigerians? How can software play a critical role as harbinger of economic and technological development?

“Software is strategically essential, if not mandatory, for Nigeria to

resolve her current and future economic challenges,” he said.

According to Emadoye, Nigeria’s wealth creation dynamics and international competitiveness in the 21st century will be significantly influenced by her ability to develop.

The nation’s ability to measure and exploit her intellectual capital (IP) in Information Technology (IT), innovation and creativity will also weigh heavily on her 21st century prospects, he added.

The ISPON chief noted that many of the new business opportunities for Nigerian and African firms would depend on their capacity to develop innovative skills.

Nigerian Tribune

Smartphone adoption in Africa to hit 50% by 2020 —GSMA THE Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), the group representing the interest of the mobile industry, has predicted that Africa will experience over 50 per cent increase in smartphone adoption by the year 2020.

According to the GSMA, the increase in smartphone adoption will have a mixed implication for telecoms operators as higher sales would be made on data, but there would be reduction in voice calls and SMS, as many subscribers would prefer to use data for communication than making calls.

‘Global Mobile Trends’ published by the mobile industry group reveals that though smartphone adoption in the region currently remains low, it will increase to more than 50 per cent by 2020 as a result of falling device costs.

According to the GSMA, the increase in smartphone adoption will have a mixed implication for telecom operators as higher sales would be made on data, but there would be reduction in voice calls and SMS, as many subscribers would prefer to use data for communication than making calls.

“For operators, the implications are mixed. Higher smartphone penetration translates into higher data usage, which should be positive for revenue growth. However, internet consumers are increasingly using Over The Top(OTT) messaging apps. This will place added importance on bundled data pricing to mitigate direct impacts on lower use of SMS and potentially voice,” noted the mobile adoption trend report.

The report also shows that penetration of the 4th Generation (4G) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) in Africa is very slow, with only 1 per cent penetration so far, and forecast that it will only grow to 7 per cent by 2020.

“4G remains more of a future proposition. There are now 74 live LTE networks across 32 countries in Africa but penetration is just 1 per cent and our expectation is 7 per cent by 2020. Limited coverage, lack of devices at affordable price points and, in some cases, a lack of low-frequency spectrum are all factors hindering growth,” the report noted.

Nigeria must embrace green technologies to power economy —Experts GOVERNMENT and Nigerians must be ready to key into the advantages inherent in renewable energy if the country is to overcome some of the problems facing it, part of which include economic and environmental challenges.

This was the central point of discussions during the recent 6th ICTs and Renewable Energy in National Development Summit and Exhibition organised by Amazing Grace Computers in conjunction with Sunplus Renewable Systems Ltd, which took place at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Professor John Adeoti of the

Economic Policy Research Department, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, Oyo State declared in a paper entitled, Renewable Energy Opportunities for Greening the Nigerian Economy that the green economy through renewable energy is possible and plausible in Nigeria, as it is capable of supporting employment generation, poverty eradication and natural capital conservation.

“Greening the economy with renewable energy will involve a substantial increase in investment in renewable energy and the share of

renewable energy in all economic sectors and provides an opportunity to make a significant contribution to addressing enormous energy challenges confronting the nation,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Francis Adesina, Head, Directorate of Linkages and Sponsored Research, the Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, in his address said whether one agrees or holds a dissenting view, that the global environment is no longer the same compared with what it was some decades ago.

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Tunde Alao

m: 07039438430 e: tunalao@yahoo.com

Oxfam partners Guinness in Benue water project development

Benue State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom (middle) leading the commissioning of the Oxfam/Guinness Community Water Project in Tyowanye, Buruku Local Government in Benue State, recently.

GOVERNMENTS, private sector and all well meaning Nigerians have been called upon to recognise the water crisis currently confronting Nigeria as a crisis of governance and weak policies, rather than one of scarcity.

At the commissioning of Oxfam/Guinness Community Water Project in Tyowanye, Buruku Local Government in Benue State, an International Organisation, Oxfam, called on government at all levels and the private sectors to invest in building communities capacity on sustainable water management and also building their re-

FG maps out infrastructural policies to combat recession Stories by Tunde Alao

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N view of many challenges facing Nigeria’s economy the Federal Government has reeled out measures to rebuild the decaying infrastructure in the country and provide new ones where necessary.

Speaking on the state of the nation’s economic situation last week, the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, noted that for Nigeria’s economy to truly work, it had become imperative to fix the nation’s infrastructure, especially road.

Fashola, while speaking at the Wilson Centre, in Washingto DC, USA, highlighted the specific steps being taken in the infrastructure sectors to revive the economy. The steps he said were meant to “correct the mistakes of yesterday and move the country from economic stagnation.”

The Minister, while presenting a paper on “Leadership and Politics of Reform In Africa: Lessons from Nigeria”, said the immediate and long term solution to the problem of economic recession lay in massive investment in infrastructure which, according to him, has already commenced.

He, however, explained that it did not mean that Nigeria lacked infrastructure but that what was available was insufficient for the population and that although the past administrations failed to utilise resources of the oil boom period to make

the needed investment, the present administration was determined to turn the situation around even with the lean resources available to it.

Speaking specifically on the sectors under his Ministry, Fashola, who reiterated that most of the problems, especially in the power sector, were not technical but man-made, added that his Ministry had evolved clear roadmaps that were already being implemented to achieve sustainable solutions to the problems in the three critical sectors.

In the works sector, Fashola, who said the ministry

inherited 206 roads that were not budgeted for or poorly funded, added that the roadmap consists of identifying and prioritising heavy traffic-bearing roads that convey essential goods and services across the country.

“We have to build roads that evacuate our sea and airports, roads that drive our energy for now, roads that go to the tank farms to evacuate fuel from South to North and roads that sustain us, that is roads that bring in our feed stock, cattle and vegetables and livestock from the North down to the South.

“Besides, that is why you see us building from Lagos-Ibadan road to Ilorin, to Jebba to link all the way to Kaduna and Kano and go on up North. And we are doing the same thing trying to connect River Benue through the Loko- Oweto Bridge and the Second Niger Bridge; Kano-Kaduna, Kano-Maiduguri.

Those are the choices we have made , because this is a period of hard choices trying to do more with less,” he said.

According to the Minister, “Those are the choices that we have made, they are not esoteric choices; they are

simple and rational choices.

All the roads we are working on have been awarded before by the past administration before we got into office, adding that over 206 roads were involved.”

Reiterating that the problem in the sector was also man-made, Fashola said it was embedded in under-budgeting which, according to him, resulted in contractors not being paid for three years, as well as lack of project supervision and discipline to manage 206 road contracts that were not budgeted for, or if budgeted for, were poorly funded.

silience to climate change.

Speaking during the event, Oxfam in Nigeria Head of Programs, Mr Constant Tchona, observed that water is the essential building block of life and it is more than just essential to quench thirst or protect health. Water is vital for creating jobs and supporting economic, social and human development.

The newly commissioned Community Water Project will reduce the burden faced by about 1500 families 60 percent of which are women, young girls and children in collecting and accessing water in Tyowanye community and environs. The self sustaining motorised solar borehole and VIP toilet will help improve access to safe water as well as sanitation in the area.

The Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Peter Ndegwa in his remarks said that the Community Water Project in Tyowanye was part of his company’s Water of Life Programme aimed at providing safe drinking water for a million people yearly in Africa.

The programme according to him has delivered water to 10 million people in 18 African Countries since 2007, about 33 communities have benefited from the programme in Nigeria.

Recession: Uncertainty clouds Nigeria’s real estate sector —Experts REAL estate experts have said that with the current economic recession in the country coupled with high unemployment rate, the country’s real estate sector is faced with the most “dangerous conditions” yet, which may take years to recover from.

Most players in the sector think the recession may not be over so early, despite the assurances by the Federal Government, therefore, people are afraid to spend money as unemployment keeps going up, which creates problems for every sector of the real estate market.

Speaking on the turbulence that currently pervades the Nigeria economy, Dr Femi Adeola, a real estate consultant based in Lekki Phase1, told the Nigerian Tribune that certain factors

that include the exchange rate, lean purchasing power of many Nigerians, general infrastructure decay, among others, posed a threat to any possibility of real estate recovery, even till the next two quarters of year 2017.

“Facts on ground are enough to show that real estate sector is in trouble.

There is no indication of possible recovery this year and such feat is even doubtful to achieve not until possibly, middle of next year, all things possible,” he said.

Commenting on the issue, President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, who is also a builder, Mr Kunle Awobodu, noted that components in housing supply that include using land, labor, and various inputs, such as electricity and building materials would

be determined by the economic situation at any point in time.

“The quantity of new supply is determined by the cost of these inputs, the price of the existing stock of houses, and the technology of production.

“For a typical single-family dwelling in a place like Lagos, Abuja, or Port Harcourt, and many suburban, approximate cost percentages varied as a result of purchasing power and cost of living in these different locations.

“It should be noted that high unemployment rate has taken its toll on the housing sector, Although the market is difficult to determine right now because of extremely high prices, thus, total sales of singlefamily homes will probably decline as job insecurity

grows, he said.

Similarly, The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), also bemoaned what the recession is doing to the sector.

To them, apart from government projects, not many housing projects are currently ongoing “as many construction sites are deserted.”

President of the Institute, Mrs Mercy Iyortyer observed that construction activities affect nearly every aspect of the economy, with such recession bound to have severe consequences on the sector.

She noted that the negative effect on the sector can cause high mortality rate of contractors, affect negatively manufacturers of construction products, suppliers, professionals in

the built environment, not mentioning the resultant job losses that will go with it.

“Consequently, the Industry players will definitely face challenges at this period and indeed quantity surveyors will be affected”, she said an adding that as cost and procurement managers of construction projects, quantity surveyors who are key players in the construction industry need to take the challenges.

Iyorter noted that any policy or development that affects the Industry affects the profession directly and that, either negatively or positively.

In the case of a recession, there is bound to be a downturn in the volume of construction activities, which will lessen our engagement on projects.”

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

‘Disclose identities of hoodlums in your communities’ by gbenga olumide

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community leader, who is also a member of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Oyo State, Elder Oladipo Davis, has charged community members to always disclose the identities of criminals in their areas.

Elder Davis gave the charge at a one-day seminar organized for landlords and tenants in Ibadan, recently on how to curb the activities of hoodlums.

He disclosed that people, particularly landlords, were no more cooperating with security agencies on security issues.

Davis, who is the Patron of PCRC and Community Policing Ambassador, Oyo State, added that in the past, there used to be a form called Crime Prevention Questionnaire given to tenants to fill by the police in the area. They do this before being accomodated by their landlords.

According to him, “this form shows the particulars of tenants with their photographs. This is unlike what obtains today whereby, hoodlums become tenants without completing the form once they can afford the exorbitant house rent.

“Robbers and kidnappers are staying in our communities. It is unfortunate that land-

lords provide shield for them. We decided to set up the Community Policing Committee so that we would not be-

come victims in our communities.

“I’m appealing to the people to cooperate with the police, while those

IN a bid to further sensitise the public on the dangers associated with open defecation and to promote hygiene in Cross River and Benue states, Concern Universal has organised a two-day workshop for media practitioners tagged: “The role of the media in scaling up access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).”

Declaring the workshop open at Gomara Hotel, Ogoja in Cross River, the Programme Manager, Concern Universal, Mr. Oliver Okon, said the objective of the training was to educate journalists on the activities of the organisation and to eenlighten the public on the gains of effective management and utilisation of water, sanitation and hygiene.

know some people are afraid that the police can disclose their identities after giving information about hoodlums. This is

not so.”

Davis further said that people can give information about criminals without showing their faces at the police station, by using the phone.

Niger govt directs relocation of communities on flood plains

Flooded Adeleye Street in Sari-Iganmu, after a downpour in Lagos, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

Medical team gives relief to Ikorodu residents newton-ray ukwuoma-lagos

A group of medical practitioners from Dexa Medical company, on Thursday, visited communities in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State, offering free medical services to residents.

The team which consisted of experts in ophthalmology, otolaryngology and general medicine provided a range of health services including eye, ear, nose, general body check-up as well

as donation of prescribed drugs and eye.

The event, tagged: “Pain Free Day”, attracted hundreds of residents from communities within Ikorodu. Attendees were also educated on how to manage stress and flu related illnesses by the health experts.

Mr. Tunde Ojedokun, the Boska Brand Executive, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune about the programme, said the initiative was aimed at “driving the consciousness of good

Concern Universal battles open defecation in Benue, C’River anthony ubong-calabar

who have information about hoodlums, especially kidnappers, should report them to the divisional police officers. I

Okon said the programme which seeks to promote good hygiene, sanitation and abolition of traditional ways of defecation in the open, has triggered 1,511 communities in Cross River and Benue.

The programme manager maintained that despite the non-payment of the counterpart fund for the project by the Cross River and Benue states governments, a total of 854 communities have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) in both states.

He implored the two states to honour the Memorandum of Understanding they both signed to pay the counterpart fund for the success of the project in their states.

Okon noted that the counterpart fund could be paid instalmentally to enable the project con-

tinue in the states. “We know the economic situation in the country today is hiting hard, but if this programme is taken from us, it is not a good thing for us owing to the health benefits the people have started reaping”.

The local government areas where Concern Universal projects are sited under the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) include Abi, Bekwarra and Obanliku in Cross River, and Agatu, Logo and Gwer East in Benue.

Other local government areas in Cross River State where Concern Universal is intervening under the auspices of the Community-led Health Improvement through Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (CHISHPIN) include Yala, Ikom and Biase.

health” to communities.

“We observed that consumers in the communities need to be equipped on how to tackle certain health challenges, especially during rainy season, given that it is a season that comes with illnesses such as sore throat, body pain, running noses aching ear and cold among others, which produce a range of symptoms that can lower human productivity”.

Ojedokun also said that the Pain Free Day campaign would reach many more communities in the state, especially those bereft of healthcare facilities.

“Of importance in the community selection process is the unavailability of local outlets to support a sustainable workplace health programme such as proximity to pharmacies and chemists,” he said.

biola azeez-ilorin

ment and crime.

Babalola, a governorship aspirant in the state, also lamented the state of primary and post-primary public schools in the state and called on the state government, corporate organisations and individuals to encourage education by living up to public expectation.

“The shortfall in revenue from the federation account is taking its toll on the education sector in many states, Kwara inclusive. This is alongside job losses, infrastructural decay, poor environment and inadequate motivation for workers in the education sector.

“There are many classrooms with broken leuvres, doors, chairs and desks, that endanger the safety of our children, teachers and other workers. Some of the classrooms do not even have desks; compelling our students to sit on bare-floor or even come with their chairs and desks from home. Such development in this 21st century is retrogressive and must be addressed,” he said.

250 students get scholarship in Irepodun A foundation in Kwara State, Sunday Babalola Foundation, has awarded scholarship to 250 students in Irepodun Local Government area of the state.

Speaking during the second edition of the scholarship award ceremony in Omu-Aran, the founder of the foundation, Engineer Sunday Babalola, said a total of 140 indigent pupils/ students of Omu-Aran origin in secondary schools, polytechnics and universities were awarded a scholarship by the foundation last year.

Babalola, who said the gesture had been extended to other towns in Irepodun Local Government Area in this year’s edition, added that the extension increased the number of beneficiaries to 250.

The donor said the gesture was not driven by political ambition but the commitment to human capital development as a strategy to address poverty, unemploy-

THE Niger State government has directed that communities recently ravaged by flood along the plains of River Niger be relocated immediately as a temporary measure.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State gave the directive on Sunday when he visited Guza village, one of the communities affected by flood in Edati Local Government Area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that some communities in four wards of Edati and Mokwa Local Government areas of the state were ravaged by flood recently.

The governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to ensure the affected communities were taken to safe areas as reports indicated that the water level would continue to rise.

He assured the villagers that the government would provide relief materials and medicines to ameliorate their pains and check the outbreak of diseases.

The governor directed the agencies with the responsibility to relocate victims to ensure immediate compliance with the directive, adding that government would not tolerate any laxity.

He, however, commended the proactive steps taken

by NSEMA, which helped in averting casualties.

Bello added that government would soon find permanent solution to the problems of areas prone to flooding.

Responding, a victim of the flood, Malam Hassan Sonfada, thanked the governor for visiting and sympathising with the people.

NAN recalled that 30 states were affected by flood in Nigeria in 2012 when water released from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon led to the overflow of River Niger and River Benue.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency and other relevant agencies have warned that 11 states, including Niger, will experience flooding as the rains intensify.

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Benue killings: ECOWAS court adjourns case till Nov 9

THE ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has adjourned a case of alleged breach of human rights filed by Movement Against Fulani Occupation (MAFO) against the Federal Government till November 9.

The presiding judge, Justice Friday Nwoke, adjourned the case on Monday for hearing, following a motion on notice for an extension of time filed by the defendants.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nwoke, however, declined the request for cost by the applicant.

Earlier, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Terence Vembe, did not oppose the motion of notice and requested for a cost of 500 thousand naira.

Joined in the suit are: Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, as first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants respectively.

The suit was filed in April, on behalf of Reverend Father Solomon Mba, and 11 others, representing the victims of attacks by herdsmen in Benue.

The plaintiffs are asking for an order, directing the defendants to pay a compensation of N500 billion for unlawful violation of their rights.

Caleb University to graduate 355 at 6th convocation Naza Okoli-Lagos

From left, the event chairman and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba; the author of the book, Mr Dare Babarinsa; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo and former deputy governor of Ogun State, Prince Segun Adesegun, at the public presentation of “One day and a story,” at NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Democracy in danger, Osoba laments •As Adebanjo tasks journalists on inspired writing

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HE former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has raised an alarm that democracy is in danger, urging Nigerians to continue to sustain the current democratic practices in the country.”

Speaking at the launch of “One Day and a Story,” a book written by Mr Dare Babarinsa, the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Gaskia Media Limited, Osoba appealed to professionals to save the future of the media industry.

He noted that journalism profession was in danger because of the invasion of

the online media.

“The future of journalism is in the hand of professionals and so, I appeal to professionals to save the future of the industry,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, while saying that the author, Babarinsa, had established a tradition that should be upheld by his colleagues, described him as an “authoritative writer and more than a prolific writer.”

This is just as he enjoined journalists in the country to embark on inspired writing, adding, “Dare, you have established a tradi-

tion and I hope your colleagues will uphold this.”

For the Erelu of Lagos, Princess Abiola Sherifat Dosunmu, the book was simply a catalogue of factual history, saying, the citizenry needed more of such to enable them learn from past experiences.

“This book recounts the country’s history and we should have more than this so that we can learn from past experiences. We should have more books of this kind. ”Upcoming journalists may not know how important it is for journalists to document their own expe-

Police, DSS should step up measures to checkmate abduction in schools —Babalola Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

AGAINST the backdrop of spate of abductions of students in schools, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Mr Peter Babalola, on Monday, tasked the nation’s security agencies to step up measures aimed at

curbing the menace.

He contended that there was crucial need for the police, the Department of State Security (DSS) and other security agencies, to explore their intelligence departments in nipping in the bud, any plot to carry out kidnapping of students and their teachers.

Babalola, in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Busayo Afolabi, observed that the abduction of four students, teacher and Vice Principal of Lagos State Junior/ Secondary Model School, Igbonla, Epe, Lagos state by suspected militants, which occurred after sim-

Incessant bickering stalling progress in the Senate —Omoworare Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

THE Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide Omoworare, on Monday, expressed concern over incessant bickering, which he said, have stalled the progress that would have been achieved in the eighth National Assembly.

He said there was need for all senators in the Na-

tional Assembly to eschew personal aggrandisement in the interest of the nation and Nigerians.

Omoworare, who stated this during an interaction with newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel, in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, also said the dropping of forgery charges, earlier preferred against the Senate Presi-

dent, Senator Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, was a sacrifice for the nation’s progress.

He observed that the crisis in the National Assembly was a collective error on the part of major stakeholders among the concerned politicians and that this constituted a hindrance to national development.

ilar attack in a primary school in Ikorodu area of the state, had exposed vulnerability of schools in the country to security breaches.

According to him, such development was capable of discouraging younger generation from attending schools for the fear of being attacked; stressing that such worrisome incident would portray Nigeria as a country where rights of children are not fully protected.

While calling for an urgent solution to the increasing cases of abduction in schools, Babalola recalled that the kidnap of over 200 female secondary school students in Chibok, Borno State in year 2014, by the Boko Haram sect, had already created negative image for the country, saying all hands must be on deck to ensure effective security in Nigeria.

rience and also for them to know that the story of a journalist is part of our national story. The institution of journalism is part of the most important institution for the advancement of a democratic society,” she said.

The reviewer, former Managing Director, Daily Times, Dr Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba, described the book, which he said the author started writing in 1997 and finished in 2005, as a simple and accessible prose, pointing out that the prose was “deliciously simple and beautiful.”

“One day and a Story,’ which he started writing in 1997 and finished in 2005, covers the authors years at News Watch from 1984 to 1990. It was also a tribute to his great colleagues like Dele Giwa, Yakubu Muhammed, and the likes.

“Babarinsa writes with affection and respect and admiration for his superiors, colleagues and juniors in the profession with a generous prose. The work is a recount of the country’s experiences and history,” Onukaba said.

Other prominent Nigerians on the occasion were former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo, and former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Ibidapo Obe. All the dignitaries applauded the author’s efforts, describing such as a tribute to his great colleagues like Dele Giwa, Yakubu Muhammed, and the likes, while tasking Nigerian journalists to continue to fight to sustain the current democratic practice in the country.

CALEB University, Imota, Lagos, will on Friday, graduate a total of 355 students, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ayandiji Daniel Aina, announced at the weekend.

The Vice Chancellor, who made this known at a press conference, held on the campus, said 15 out of the total number will graduate with First Class degrees.

A statement, issued by the management, also at the weekend, said the Convocation Lecture would be delivered by the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Access Bank Group, Mr Herbert Wigwe. Other activities listed included a pre-convocation dinner and a valedictory service.

Speaking on the spate of kidnaps by gunmen along Ikorodu-Epe axis, the Vice Chancellor said his school had put facilities in place to guarantee the safety of its students and faculty.

“We have prayed, and God has answered our prayers, and so we have no problem in terms of security,” he said. “But as human beings, we have ensured that there is an elite corps of security men on campus.

We also have technological backup.”

Army commends media over Boko Haram reportage THE Nigerian Army on Monday commended the Nigerian media for its objectivity in the coverage of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

The commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information, Col. John Agim, made the commendation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Agim said that the media had played great role in disseminating accurate information to Nigerians on the successes recorded by the military on the operations against Boko Haram.

“I think that the Nigerian media has lived up to expectation in keeping Nigerians abreast on the military operations in the North-East.

“When we arrived Maiduguri we were surprised that there is peace everywhere, contrary to the belief in many areas.

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Professor Johnbull examines youth Achilles’ heel in Episode 13 AS the last episode of Season 1 of Professor Johnbull is broadcast this evening, lovers of the TV drama series across the country will be treated to another infotainment edition of the top notch satire sponsored by the grandmasters of data, Globacom.

Titled “A single mistake”, the 13th episode features one of Africa’s most prolific comedienne, Helen Paul, also known as Tatafo, who plays a cameo role in the comedy.

Globacom ,in a statement ,enjoins viewers not to miss “A single mistake” for anything as it will educate parents and youths on the proverbial banana peels threatening the lives of young people in our society.

What are these pitfalls?, How can they be avoided?, What should youths and parents do? What are the effects of the banana peels on the society at large? And what is the role of Helen Paul (Tatafo) in the drama?.

Answers to these and many other posers would come as Episode 13 of Professor Johnbull is broadcast on NTA network, NTA International on DSTV Channel 251 and NTA on StarTimes at 8.30pm. The programme will be repeated on these same channels on Friday, at the same time.

In the last 13 weeks, the entertaining, inspiring, comic, witty and educating drama series, has raised the consciousness of viewers about critical social issues.

Professor Johnbull has treated one moral lesson after another, from the essence of good character, to the biased societal disposition to female children, health and public sanitation, in a bid to encourage all to play their parts in making the society better.

Aisha Buhari flays sale of interestfree loan forms to women

From left, Baale of Gedegede Tapa, Ajah, Chief Ayodeji Thomas; state manager, Lagos 1, Mr Niyi Olatubosun; national sales coordinator, Lagos 1, Mr Akinloye Adebisi and the Head of Gloworld, Mr Babatunde Alimi, at the commissioning of a new Gloworld shop, in Lekki, Lagos, on Monday.

Future road projects in Nigeria must be dualised —Fashola CHRISTIAN OKEKE - ABUJA

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INISTER of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday, said that future road interventions in the country would take the form of dualisation.

He also said that plans were underway for all major routes in the country that linked Trans Sahara route to be upgraded.

Fashola, who spoke at the 65th session of the Trans Saharan Road Liaison Committee, which held in Abuja, noted that the country attached great importance to the development of the Trans Sahara Road which traversed Algeria, Tunisia, Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Mali.

He said that the country had made significant progress on the project, including the 127.70kilometre Lagos-Ibadan and the 50kilometre Oyo-Ogbomosho.

The minister observed that the meeting came at an ap-

propriate time when there was the compelling need for integration of socioeconomic activities among African countries.

According to him, it had become evident that connecting Africa with an efficient road network, remained the most effective way to improve socio-economic development among the nations.

“The efforts of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, are fully committed to the dualisa-

tion of the entire section of the Trans Saharan route in Nigeria “The 65th session of the Trans Sahara Road Liaison Committee further offers member countries the opportunity to strengthen the existing bilateral relations and provide an avenue to assess the extent of work that has been undertaken in ensuring the completion of the Trans Sahara route “The fact that out of a total length of 9, 500kilomtres of the Trans Saharan Route, more than 8, 000kilom-

Recession: The church has failed the VC nation —Ajayi Crowther leaders with government

By Wale Akinselure

VICE Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Professor Dapo Asaju, has attributed the receding economy of the country to the failure of the Christian folk to speak the truth to power, corruption and compromise of the church’s

and continued withdrawal of Christian technocrats from political leadership.

The country’s economy, he added, continued to derail because the church lacked a voice, integrity, stood aloof, failed to perform its role as watchman of the society, defender

EFCC arrests, releases Uche Ogah Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos PRESIDENT of Masters Energy Oil and Gas, Uche Ogah, was, on Monday, arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who stormed the Tinubu magistrates’ court, on Lagos Island and whisked him away.

Ogah, was, however, released by the agency as of the time of filing this report on Monday.

Ogah was arrested as soon as he stepped out of the courtroom after the forgery charges filed against him by the police, were withdrawn.

The oil and gas chief, who was declared the winner of the last governorship elec-

tion in Abia State by Justice Okon Abang of a federal high court in Abuja, on June 27, was arraigned by the police for alleged forgery.

When the case was called, the police prosecutor, Henry Obiazi, told the magistrate, Mrs Kikelomo Ayeye, that he had the instruction of the InspectorGeneral of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to withdraw the charges against Ogah and his co-defendants.

“I am instructed by the IGP to withdraw this case, as the issue is pending with the SFU,” he said.

The charges were consequently struck out by the court.

But as soon as Ogah stepped out of the court room, he was arrested by

tres of it, has been surfaced with bituminous material, which is a great achievement and more is expected to maintain and ensure the serviceability to the benefit of member countries and its peoples,” he said.

Speaking, the secretary general of the committee, Mohammed Ayadi, said that the project was a good example of active cooperation and the achievements that countries and institutions of the continent may jointly and in good harmony realise.

the waiting EFCC operatives, who drove him away in their van.

The other defendants in the charge which the police withdrew against Ogah, were his company, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited and an exemployee of United Bank for Africa, Deji Somoye.

Meanwhile, the EFCC, released him later in the day.

Ogah was invited by the officials of EFCC after the Police withdrew the forgery allegation against him on the ground that the charge against him was preferred hastily without evidence.

Ogah’s lawyer, Monday Ubani, in a statement, said his client was released unconditionnally

few hours after he made his statement to EFCC. Ubani said the commission was influenced into carrying out the invitation of his client based on false information by the petitioner.

According to Ubani, the complainant in the forgery charge against his client, one Mrs Bridget Adeosun, had forwarded the same petition, which she sent to the police to EFCC and misinformed the commission on a lot of issues.

“The invitation of Ogah by officials of EFCC this morning on the premises of Tinubu magistrate, Lagos, to say the least, is the most shocking turn of event in an over five months trial over a trumped up charge,” he said.

of the poor and needy as well as provide the needed leadership.

These formed the core of Asaju’s lecture tagged: “The recession of hope and building of a new Nigeria: Rescuing a nation at crossroads”, delivered in Ibadan, on Saturday, at the first annual lecture of Fountain of Hope International (FOHI).

The failure of the church, he said, was exemplified by the current recession of the nation’s economy but warned against Nigerians becoming hopeless.

Taking a cue from the exemplary leadership qualities of Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe and Ahmadu Bello, Asaju, prayed for the involvement of such thinkers in leadership positions to rescue and bring about the needed development of the nation.

“The failure of the church is responsible for the calamity of the collapse of Nigeria.

The failure of the society is because the church has failed. Someone once said that when good men abstain, evil men prevail. We are responsible because of our apathy as Christians towards political leadership.

WIFE of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has decried the manner by which the forms for interest freeloans for women across the country, being obtained freely from Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, are being sold using her name.

In a statement by Adebisi Olumide Ajayi, her Special Adviser (Media) , Hajia Buhari ,said the forms which are supposed to be given out free, are also interest free yet, they are being sold between N1,500 and N5,000 to the unsuspecting members of the public, this, she said, defeats the purpose of the programme, which is mainly to assist women, especially, those at the grass roots.

She appealed to those involved in the act to desist from sabotaging the programme and allow the Nigerian women to feel the change mantra.

Afijio LG boss commends NULGE on development projects THE caretaker chairman, Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, Anwo Lukumon Olasunkanmi, has commended the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), led by Oluade Adeniyi, for its initiative on the construction of an ultra- modern VIP toilet for the council.

Anwo said this at the official inauguration of the VIP toilet at the local government conference hall, Jobele.

According to him, the personal sacrifice and ingenuity of Oluade and other executive members, made the project to be completed within a reasonable period of time.

The council boss said the current NULGE executive members in the council, had already made history through the execution of the project, adding that this is a legacy that workers in the local government council will continue to remember even after their tenure.

He stressed that his administration will not relent on the promises made at its inception to make the welfare of workers a priority and urged them to work assidiously to move the council forward.

Earlier, the NULGE chairman,had applauded Anwo and other management officers for their support to NULGE activities

31 news Youths will now form thrust of new public service in Kaduna —el-Rufai Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna

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ADUNA State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has said vibrant youths will now form the thrust of the revitalisation and renewal programme of the new Kaduna State public service.

He said the move was intended to make the service the pride of the citizens, so that youths would upgrade their skills to match with the best public services in the world.

He made the disclosure at the launch of the programme in Kaduna, on Monday.

The governor maintained that it was now time to implement commitment to reform the public service and restore it to high standards, “to enable it to live up to its substantive meaning.” el-Rufai noted that the reform programme also offerred a much-needed window to inject the vibrancy of youths into the public service: “Due to the embargo imposed on civil service recruitment in 2008 and other factors, there are not enough young persons in the service.

“Government will deliberately recruit and

inject young and motivated personnel to make the public service better,” he said.

The governor added that “having more young, welleducated persons in public service ranks will also

result in the public service more closely reflecting the demograhic of the state it is serving.

“Therefore, we have, for weeks, now opened a job portal on the state government website and

ran jingles inviting young people to upload their CVs. Government will recruit from that database and will as much as is possible encourage our private sector partners to source personnel from that portal.”

Earlier, the state chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adamu Ango, commended the governor for the initiative, saying civil servants would continue to do their best for effective service delivery.

Lagos to introduce monthly payment on housing schemes Set to roll out more LagosHOMS Bola Badmus -Lagos LAGOS State government has said it has perfected plans to introduce monthly payment plan on its Home Ownership Mortgage Schemes, popularly called Lagos HOMS, across the

From left, Head of Civil Service, Kaduna State, Mrs Alisabatu Dadal; Governor Nasir el-Rufai; deputy governor, Mr Barnabas Bantex and the chief of Kagoro, Mr Ufor Bonneth, at the launch of Kaduna Public Service Revitalisation and Renewal Project, in Kaduna, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

state, pointing out that this was being done in a bid to cushion the effects of economic recession in the country.

The state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, stated this after embarking on an extensive inspection tour of projects across the state.

He said his administration had decided to scale up the rent-to-own policy by introducing monthly payment plan whereby people could pay monthly, instead of being compelled to make a down payment of 30 per cent of the total cost or pay for one year.

“We believe strongly that people should be able to pay one month rent and live in our housing schemes. We don’t think in a recession, we should be having a situation where we allow people to come and buy when they don’t have money or to come and pay one year rent.

“We think the way to move forward is to allow these our younger ones to just pay one

month deposit and pay one month rent and move into the houses and then more or less play up our rent-to-own scheme,” Governor Ambode said.

While speaking on the pocket-friendly initiatives of his administration on housing, Governor Ambode said the state government had taken time to review its mortgage schemes visà-vis its financial flow, adding that many ongoing housing schemes had reached advanced stages of completion and that they would be rolled out in a matter of months.

The governor, who inspected the Illubirin Housing Scheme in Lagos Island, said government, in partnership with private sector, was making arrangement to transform the scheme into a live, work and play environment.

“In addition to that, the other housing projects that we are doing are on course and I want to assure Lagosians that in the next

few months, we will be seeing a whole lot of housing units being rolled out,” the governor said.

On his part, the state Commissioner for Housing, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, debunked insinuation that the Illubirin Housing Scheme had been abandoned, saying that government was rather working to improve on the project which is sitting on 28 hectares.

He recalled how the project started under the administration of former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu with sand filling, while his predecessor, Mr Babatunde Fashola carried on with the project.

“Now, under the administration of Governor Ambode, we want to scale it up and the idea is to make this place a live, play and work environment and so we are projecting 500 units instead of the 1,260 that the scheme was formerly designed for,” he said.

Libya deports 9 pregnant women, 145 other Nigerians Shola Adekola -Lagos AGAIN, 154 Nigerians were deported from Libya over uncleared reasons.

Among the deportees who arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at around 4.00 p.m. on Monday were nine pregnant women.

The deportees, according to information gathered, voluntarily returned to

the country on their own volition, having failed to make their way to Europe.

The deportees arrived on board a Libyan Airline aircraft, an Airbus A330200 with registration number 5A-LAT. The statistical breakdown of deportees showed 96 females and 58 males.

Among the 96 females were nine pregnant women, three minors and

three others with serious medical issues.

Officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Police, Air Force command and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), who facilitated their return to Nigeria, were on hand to receive them.

10 die in Osun auto crash Oluwole Ige -Osogbo TRAGEDY struck on Sunday evening, on AbataEgba village, Ondo road, in Ile-Ife, when about 10 persons lost their lives in an auto crash.

Nigerian Tribune authoritatively gathered that the accident involved a truck with registration number MUS 847 XC and a Toyota commercial bus with registration number JJJ 15 XJ. Eyewitnesses informed

the Nigerian Tribune that the two vehicles had headon collision when one of them overtook another vehicle at a dangerous bend, thus causing the accident, which resulted in heavy casualties.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, said 10 persons were confirmed dead by medical doctors, adding that their remains had been deposited at the morgue of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching

Hospital (OAUTHC), Ile Ife. Speaking through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, Mrs Folasade Odoro, the commissioner said those that sustained injury in the accident were receiving treatment in the same hospital.

The police boss said the heavy traffic snarl caused on the road due to the accident had been cleared by the team of traffic policemen drafted to the scene.

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (second left); Director in Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr Dele Shomide (right); Permanent Secretary, Mr Caster Bade-Adebowale (second right) and Special Adviser on Finance and Audit, Mr Adeniyi Popoola (right), during the governor’s inspection of the ongoing construction of a Lay-by at Berger, Lagos, on Sunday.

Fire engulfs buildings in Oyo community as tanker spills content

SEVERAL houses and property were destroyed in Saki area of Oyo State as a petrol tanker fell and spilled its content in the early hours of Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the unmarked tanker spilled its content into buildings when the driver lost control while descending a road at Kinikini area of the town.

Some residents, who witnessed the incident, described it as “terrible and unfortunate.”

The caretaker chairman of Saki West council, Mr Kareem Adegoke, told NAN that the council had provided an alternative route for articulated vehicles.

He wondered why some of the drivers preferred to embark on what he called

“dangerous journeys.”

Mrs Akande Adeola, a 45-year-old housewife, said she escaped the inferno due to the alarm raised by passersby.

“I was already sleeping when I heard people shouting on top of their voices that we should move out. People were shouting and so we all moved out before the tanker eventually caught fire,” she said.

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

NYSC denies 25% reduction in corps members’ allowance Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

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HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Monday denied an alleged slash of corps members’ allowance by 25 per cent.

This is in reaction to reports circulating in the social media that the slash was effected by one “Brigadier General Bamidele Oluwami,” purported to be NYSC Director-General as the source of its information.

The scheme, in a statement issued by the Head of Press Unit, Mrs Abosede Aderibigbe, in Abuja, said the report was merely to mislead the public.

It maintained that the current Director General (DG) of the NYSC, Brigadier General Zakari Kazaure, had in no time made such comment.

The statement reads in part:”The Management of the NYSC hereby refutes the content of mischievous information circulating in the social media to the effect that corps

UK appeals to Nigeria to abolish death penalty THE UK, on Monday, appealed to Nigeria to abolish the death penalty, saying that capital punishment cheapened human life.

The UK made the appeal in a statement issued by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, on the 2016 World Day against the Death Penalty.

Arkwright said that the British Government believed the death penalty had no place in the modern world and its use undermined human dignity.

According to him, there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value, adding that any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable.

He explained that the past two decades had seen a significant rise in the number of countries that had abolished capital punishment.

“I am concerned therefore that Nigeria, a model for democracy in Africa, still retains the death penalty in its laws.

“In 2013, Nigeria carried out four executions, the first since 2006.

“At the time of the execution, all four individuals still had appeals to halt their executions, a violation of international law and I believe Nigerian law too.”

members’ allowance has been slashed by 25 per cent.

“In the first instance, the document quoted a “Brigadier General Bamidele Oluwami,” the purported NYSC Director-General as the source of its information.

“The scheme vehemently dissociates itself from this wicked falsehood meant to create confusion in the polity.

“The DG of the NYSC is Brigadier General S. Z. Kazaure and he never made any comment as claimed by the brains behind the

damaging publication.”

The scheme further stressed that:”Members allowance remains N19,800 and not reduced to N14,800 as wickedly portrayed by the social media release.

“For the avoidance of doubts, we unequivocally

NCPC to open pilgrim centre in Israel restate our unalloyed commitment to the welfare of all corps members at all times.

“Corps members and the public should therefore, ignore this misleading information and go about their duties lawfully without fear.”

Representative of Lagos State governor and deputy governor, Dr Oluranti Adebule, with Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs Aramide Giwanson and Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Mr Wasiu Anifowose, during the 2016 World Habitat Day, at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday.

Ambode reads riot act to building developers, contractors Bola Badmus and Tunde Alao, Lagos

LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has read the riot act to developers and contractors alike, saying that the government would no longer tolerate flouting of building regulations in line with its resolve to restore confidence in the building control and supervision process to ensure a safer Lagos.

Governor Ambode gave the warning on Monday, at the celebration of 2016 World Habitat Day organised by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, with the theme, ‘Housing at the Centre,’ held at the Adey-

emi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Lagos.

This is just as the governor said that an additional 187, 500 new houses, to be delivered in the next five years, would go a long way to reduce the housing deficit estimated at 2.5 million in the state.

He said that much as his administration was addressing the challenge of housing deficit, the issue of safety concerns in the building sector was also top priority.

“We are repositioning building control in the state with the engagement of qualified professionals in the building environment to inject the much required professionalism and safety.

“Delivery of decent housing cannot be achieved in a chaotic environment.

Hence, we are determined more than ever before to ensure compliance with town planning and building control standards as well as the implementation of our master and model city plans,” Governor Ambode said.

Governor Ambode, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule, also restated government’s commitment to simplifying the requirements for access to land and processes for the grant of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and Planning Permits in the state.

Also speaking, human

terms of reference, was given four weeks to submit its report.

The investigation would determine total projects executed under MDGs since inception, money received from Federal Government and total amount paid by the state as counterpart fund.

It was also mandated to “ascertain the total number of capital projects and contracts awarded, all contractors involved, projects

location from inception to date.

“To ascertain level of compliance with Due Process and Procurement Act in all capital projects.”

“And to ascertain the compliance of all expenditures in line with the provision of the yearly budget.”

The Chairman of the panel, Alhaji Alfa Belel, said that the committee would carry out the assignment without fear or favour.

Adamawa govt inaugurates panel to probe Nyako THE Adamawa government has constituted a five-man committee to investigate the execution of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) projects during the tenure of former Governor Murtala Nyako.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the panel was inaugurated on Monday, in Yola, by the deputy governor, Mr Martins Babale.

The panel, which has 12

rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), commended the state government on the passage of the law on land grabbers, saying it would alleviate the sufferings of land owners.

In his welcome address, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Wasiu Anifowose, said that Lagos Metropolitan Area had attained a Mega City status due to its population of over 21 million.

“This status is not only challenging to housing provision, but exerts pressure on infrastructure in the state.”

The governor, who said that the demand for shelter and new houses had continued to rise due to population growth, increasing urbanisation and daily influx of people into the state, however, assured that his administration would rise to the challenge to address the situation.

According to him, “Shelter ranks next to food as a human necessity and one of the social responsibilities of government. Provision of affordable houses remains a major focus of this administration in our quest to make life comfortable for the people.

REVEREND Tor Uja, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), says a pilgrim centre will be opened in Israel to provide a rallying point for those participating in the spiritual exercise.

A statement issued in Abuja, on Monday, by the commission’s Head of Media, Mr Celestine Ogugua, said the proposed centre would also help to project the image of the country in Israel.

The statement said that Uja made the disclosure in Goshen City, FCT, during the medical orientation programme for the Federal Medical Team for the 2016 pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and Greece.

Uja said that the commission had a fully equipped medical centre at the Embassy of Nigeria in TelAviv, Israel, to cater for the medical needs of pilgrims.

He explained that the objective of the medical orientation exercise was to provide training and synergy for those who would be handling pilgrims before, during and after the pilgrimage.

Wike directs payment of outstanding LG workers’ salaries RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Wike, has directed the state Local Government Service Commission to ensure the payment of outstanding salaries owed to local government council workers in the state.

Swearing-in 19 Local Government Caretaker Committee chairmen at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday, Governor Wike said before the release of imprest and security votes to the council chiefs, salaries must first be paid.

According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said that his administration would monitor the pattern of expenditure of the local government areas to ensure that funds were deployed to areas that would promote the interest of the people.

He noted that the local government caretaker committee chairmen must get approval before they access their security votes and imprest.

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Nigerian Tribune

Court adjourns Metuh’s case till Nov 22

From left, Group Managing Director, First Surat Group of Companies, Mr Mehmet Basturk; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa; parent of one of the students that was detained, Dr Yakubu Alhassan and the president of the Association of Turkish People in Nigeria, Mr Cemal Yigit, during a visit by the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges Foundation (NTIC), over detained Nigerian students in Turkey, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

Skye Bank, NGO give tips on breast cancer survival Skye Bank PLC, in conjunction with its partner,a non-governmental-organisation (NGO), C.O.PE, (Care, Organisation and Public Enlightenment), has drawn public attention to the menace of breast cancer in a three-day conference put together for survivors in Lagos, at the weekend.

The Group Managing Director of Skye Bank, Mr Tokunbo Abiru, in a goodwill message to mark the breast cancer month, said, “there is the need for concerted effort by both government and public spirited organisations to fight the scourge of cancer in our society .”

He described cancer as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, especially, in developing economies where inadequate medical care and lack of awareness about the disease have combined to make it very deadly.

“Our commitment towards contributing to the fight against the high incidence of cancer, especially, breast cancer in the country through our partner NGO and under our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, is unwavering, adding that “we have demonstrated this again and again by our continued support through C.O.PE,” said.

The Skye Bank boss, who was represented on the occasion by Mrs Funmi Oketogun, Group Head Commercial Banking, said, “The bank has been collaborating with C.O.PE on a number of initiatives since the pact was initiated such as Seeka-care project, a long -term relevant home care delivery service offered to breast cancer patients.

“In addition to this, the bank also established a breast cancer information service centre to serve as a databank where relevant and up-to-date information on breast cancer is made available as well as a help desk equipped with dedicated phone lines where

patients could call to make enquiries,” she added.

Earlier, the coordinator of C.O.PE, Mrs Ebun Anozie, had lauded the bank for various interventions, both materially, financially and otherwise, especially, at a time when nobody believed in the

cause of sensitisation and providing relevant information on the cancer scourge to those who need it.

Mrs Anozie listed the purchase and donation of an acre of land by the bank for the construction of a befitting cancer centre where

people could access and seek information, care and possible treatment among other commendable assistance such as donation of 40KVA generating set to provide uninterrupted power supply for the cancer screening equipment.

AN FCT High Court, on Monday, adjourned a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh’s case till November 22.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),the judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, adjourned the case after the prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, closed his case.

Metuh was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a two-count charge of destruction of evidence.

At the resumed hearing, Metuh’s counsel, Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu, cross-examined the prosecution witness, Mr Saed Junaid, an officer of EFCC, who investigated the matter.

Junaid told the court that he wrote the cautionary word not the statement because the defendant could write but admitted that the

Kidnapping: Lagos Assembly tasks FG on security in coastal areas Chukwuma Okparaocha Lagos

LAGOS State House of Assembly has called on the Federal Government to provide joint security operations in the coastal communities in the state to forestall incessant kidnapping being perpetrated by criminals us-

Excellence rewarded at Nigerian legal awards 2016

By Rotimi Ige

THE fourth edition of the prestigious Nigerian legal awards, which was held at the weekend, once again served as an avenue to reward individuals and organisations, who were deemed to have performed excellently in the Nigerian legal profession.

Incidentally, the event which coincided with the 2016 Law Week of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), recorded a huge turn-out.

In his opening remarks, Lere Fashola, the Publishers of ESQ Legal Practice agazine and convener of the awards, described the assemblage as an event to celebrate excellence, professionalism and integrity of the Nigerian legal profession.

“Nothing brings us here again other than celebrating your huge impact to the growth of businesses and development of the nation’s economy. The history of the Nigerian legal awards is the history of transparency, credibility and openness.”

ing the waterways.

The House also called on the state Commissioner of Police to ensure the provision and upgrading of police post in the coastal areas as well as a police command in Epe. It also called on the Ministry of Education to ensure the enforcement of the resolution of the House in fencing round primary and secondary schools in the state.

The lawmakers also called on the state government to as a matter of urgency, begin the implementation of the neighbourhood watch agency law to strengthen security in the coastal communities and that all boats

plying Lagos waterways, should be registered and numbered for easy identification and control.

This was part of the resolution of the House at plenary on Monday, while reacting to a motion moved by Honourable Segun Olulade, under matter of urgent public importance about the two kidnap incidents in his community.

The lawmaker had in-

I formerly Miss Opemuti Esther Adebanke now MRS AKINTERINWA ESTHER ADEBANKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Akorede Opeyemi Musa now AKOREDE OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ganiyu Akinni now OYELAKIN ARULOGUN GANIYU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Mulikat Aduke Carew now MRS. MULIKAT ADUKE AYODELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Anthonia Dumebi Ofuokwu am the same person bearing Ofuokwu Anthonia Dumebi. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS MADUMERE JOSEPHINE ANTHONIA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

formed his colleagues about two kidnap incidents within one week in his constituency at Epe, where the principal, four students and house master of a school, Igbonla Model College, Epe were kidnap.

third page of the statements did not bear the signature of Metuh.

He further told the court that the reading by the team members was to make sure that what was in the statement addressed the issues raised in the matter.

The witness said the defendant had the right to cancel what he had written but he tore the third page and I told him to stop.

The second prosecution witness, Mr Ibrahim Miringa, leader of the investigation team, told the court that when the matter got to EFCC sometime in November 2015, it was assigned to his team.

Miringa said that it was reported that some money was paid to some companies without contractual agreement or approval from the office of the National Security Adviser(NSA) He told the court that among the companies was Destra Investment Limited., which upon investigation, was found to be Metuh’s company.

The witness further told the court that this company received N400 million, on November 24, 2014; he was invited on January 5

politicsnews Professional misconduct: ‘Minister, ex-NIESV boss not indicted by C’ Rivers Govt’

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Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

A

former president of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Mr Gershom Henshaw has said that neither him nor the Minister of Niger Delta, Pator Usani Usani Uguru, were ever indicted by the Government of Cross Rivers State over alleged professional conduct when the minister served as a commissioner in the state.

Henshaw, in a statement denied media reports, which indicated that his company and the minister were indicted in a government white paper in 2000.

He stated that the recommendation of an investigative panel set up by the military regime was rejected in the white paper.

The statement read in part: “Last week, some newspapers carried stories to the effect that Gershom Henshaw and Company, a firm of estate Surveyors and Valuers was indicted alongside Mr Usani Usani, who was Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development, when Colonel Umaru Ahmed, was the administra-

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

tor of Cross River State.

“However, Governor Donald Duke who took over from Col Ahmed inaugurated on June 21, 1999 the Financial Impropriety/ Verification Standing Committee to, among others: ‘ascertain the assets and liabilities of the ministries and institutions, all forms of financial impropriety (if any) in government ministries and establishments, the perpetrators of such fi-

nancial improprieties; and recommend appropriate disciplinary actions to be taken against the culprits, including recovery of all such sums.”

“One of the recommendations of the committee was that the former commissioner be prosecuted and that details of the transaction be forwarded to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

A White paper was thereafter issued and gazetted

on it.

“But in a corrigendum published by the State government on December 19, 2000, government admitted it made some mistakes as they concerned the firm of Gersh Henshaw and Company.

“Government said in the case of Gersh Henshaw and Company, the following mistakes, which were erroneously made in the Government White Paper,

are hereby corrected as follows: page 53, paragraph 38.”

The statement indicated that “Government rejects this recommendation as there was an express offer for higher payment by the then Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development, Mr Usani U Usani.”

The statement said the records of government’s official documents were eas-

Amosun swears in new 57 LG/ LCDA chairmen •APC commends voters over poll Olayinka Olukoya Abeokuta

From left, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole and Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, at a day consultative summit of PDP Souith-West held at Gaso Event Centre, Toll Gate, Ibadan, on Monday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Why Oyegun won’t resign —APC South-South leaders PEEVED by the recent castigation of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, South-South All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders have risen in defence of the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun over his altercations with the national leader of the party, Chief Bola Tinubu on the controversial governorship primary in Ondo State.

They said the accusation leveled against him by Tinubu was a ploy to cause disunity within the party.

Rising from a meeting in Port Harcourt, they described the allegations of highhandedness in the primary as “unimaginable and cheap propaganda.”

The position of the leaders was conveyed in communiqué of the meeting signed by the chairman of APC, South-South Leaders’ Forum, Chief John Harry.

They accused the critics of Oyegun perceiving him as an obstacle in their mission to control the machinery of the party and its members.

“We perceive the attack on Oyegun as a political showdown to settle political scores,” While acknowledging the role of Tinubu in the emer-

ily accessible, adding that interested parties should desist from making political capital out of the report.

gence of Oyegun as APC national chairman, the leaders expressed surprise at the current disposition of the former Lagos State governor to the chairman, who they lauded his dynamic leadership, outstanding contribution and commitment to the development of the party and the country.

“We as a people cannot

but admire a man of Oyegun’s style, capacity and stature. We identify with him,” they said. “His life is a flowing tribute to excellence. He believes in the enthronement of good and quality leadership.”

“The national chairman has been an outstanding beacon of reason and understanding of Nigeria’s

government and politics.

He has helped to reshape party politics in the country. His outstanding leadership is appreciated by Nigerians from all walks of life” The leaders, who hailed the recent Edo governorship election, describing Obaseki’s victory as a sign of further success of the party in the country, how-

ever, berated another APC stalwart, Timi Frank, for his scathing remarks on Oyegun.

They appealed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others to support Oyegun in his determination to secure victory for the party in the governorship poll in Ondo State on November 26.

We’ll remain in PDP —South-West leaders

By Tunde Ogunesan and Moses Alao

AMID speculations about the realignment of forces across the country, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-West Forum has expressed the resolution of its leaders and members to remain in the party irrespective of its current challenges.

This is just as it set up harmonisation committee consisting of one member from each of the six states in the zone saddled with negotiation and reconciliation, commending the party’s founding fathers, Board of Trustees members, governors and the National Assembly members for their roles in “bringing about peace” in the party.

The Forum, which according to one of the conveners and a member of the party’s BoT, Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun, was an initiative of BoT members in the zone and a replica of the national effort, aimed at fostering peace and ensuring true reconciliation, made these statements in a communiqué made available to newsmen after its inaugural meeting held in Ibadan, on Monday.

With the theme Working together to regenerate our party in line with the spirit of the founding facilitators, the forum, which had in attendance PDP leaders from the six states, called on the national leadership to “clearly zone the position of national chairman of the party to the South-

West, because it is the only zone that has not held the position before.”

The forum commended PDP leaders and members in Edo State for the “gallant fight in the last governorship election in the state,” noting that it “stands firmly by them in their effort to retrieve the stolen mandate,” while also calling on members of the party in Ondo State to close ranks and “work together as a solid and united team to sustain the control of the state by PDP come next election.”

Speaking earlier, Oyedokun maintained that the forum was not to usurp the functions of the relevant organs of the party, stressing that “PDP is not dead and will not die. Therefore, be wary of poachers, else

you are misled. Neither the APC, nor any other emerging party will subdue the PDP any more because when we rise, neither APC nor any new party would have any more lie to tell Nigerians.”

The other party stalwarts at the meeting included former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Dimeji Bankole; Senator representing Ogun East, Prince Buruji Kashamu; former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran; former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin; Dr Jimoh Ibrahim; national auditor of the PDP, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju; Dr Ade Dosumu and the SouthWest zonal executive led

by Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe.

THE Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, swore in 57 chairmen into the 20 Local Government and Local Government Development Areas, on Monday, charging them to replicate the five cardinal programmes of his administration in their respective council areas.

He advised them to hit the ground running by embarking on people’s oriented programmes that would make life more meaningful to the grassroots people.

The governor said this at a ceremony held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto that they were not elected as chairmen of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), but chairmen of all political parties.

He advised them to administer their respective local governments and development areas with strong determination, resolution and sincerity of purpose.

Amosun promised that his administration would support them all the way in ensuring that they succeed well in the discharge of their duties, asking them to utilize the resources in their areas to develop them.

There were five female chairmen out of the 57.

Meanwhile, the Ogun APC has commended the electorate in the state, for conducting themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner before, during and after the election.

The party, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Sola Lawal, thanked them for their massive support at the last Saturday poll, describing the gesture as the required tonic for more commitment of the party for transforming the state “All stakeholders in the process including Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSEIC, security agencies , observers , volunteers and the media similarly deserve kudos for the responsible way they discharged their responsibilities,” the party said.

politicsnews South-East APC leaders strategise ahead of 2019 35

Jude Ossai-Enugu

S

OUTH-EAST chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun reconciliation among factional leaders of the party in the zone towards strengthening APC in Igbo land.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the first phase of the reconciliation was a meeting of the zonal caucus of the party held in Enugu at the instance of the APC national vice chairman, South-East zone, Chief Emma Eneukwu, last Friday.

The meeting held at Universal Hotel, Enugu and presided over by the party’s national vice chairman in the zone, Eneukwu, was attended by the Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Ben Uwajumogu, as well as APC national organising secretary, Osita Izunaso, national auditor, Chief George Moghalu, a member of Board of Trust-

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

ees ( BoT) representing South-East women, Mrs. V.N Chukwuani, Senators Ifeanyi Ararume, Chris Nwankwo, Fidel Okoro, Anthony Agbo and all the other national officers of the party from the zone, past National Assembly members.

A source close to the zonal leadership of the party said that social insecurity, how to reposition the party in Igbo land, as well as deplorable condition of Federal roads in the South-East topped the deliberations at the meeting.

The communique signed by the zonal vice chairman of the party, Emma Eneukwu and the secretary, Jonah Mkpuruka, read in part: “We reiterate our zone’s implicit confidence in the ability of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Buhari to return Nigeria to the path of economic growth soonest.

“We know that the current recession in the coun-

try is a product of years of planlessness, reckless spending and massive looting of our common resources. We, therefore, appeal for patience to all Nigerians, particularly Ndi-Igbo and support President Buhari as he takes the country to the promise land.

“The APC South-East commends the Federal Government for releasing funds to contractors to reconstruct the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt highways. The roads were abandoned for more than 16 years now and are death-traps to commut-

ers plying the roads. We hereby, call on the contractors to move into action and complete the jobs on schedule. We shall constitute a committee to monitor the execution of the projects.

“We commend the APCled Federal Government for setting up a technical committee on herdsmen/ farmers clash. We believe the committee’s recommendations will bring to an end the clashes between herdsmen and farmers which had led to the loss of many lives and property in Igbo-land in particular and Nigeria in general.

“We urge Mr. president to make more appointments in the South-East and call on all agitating groups in Nigeria to embrace dialogue using their representatives in Government as fronts in their engagements with the Federal Government. This we believe will help achieve the desired goal under a very peaceful atmosphere.

Nothing compares with dialogue as conflict resolution strategy.

“We commend the INEC and security agents for a credible and successful senatorial bye-election in Imo North Senatorial Dis-

trict. We also congratulate Senator Ben Uwajumogu on his election and swearing-in as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The APC South-East commends President Muhamadu Buhari for constituting electoral and constitution reform committee with a quest to entrench a transparent and credible electoral process in Nigeria. We believe in the ability of Senator Ken Nnamani as the chairman of this committee to give Nigerians the much desired credible electoral reforms.

Promotion: Tough time awaits NASS management, staff Taiwo Adisa, Abuja

MEMBERS of the management and staff of the National Assembly are to henceforth face severe hurdles in securing their promotion from one level to the other, following the introduction of a compulsory Certificate Course in Parliamentary Studies.

Director General of the National Institute for Legislative Studies. (NILS), Dr. Ladi Hamalai, who made the disclosure on Monday, said that the management of the Institute chaired by Senate President Bukola Saraki had approved the new measure.

She said that by the approval, members of staff and management of the National Assembly were expected to acquire a Professional Certificate in Parliamentary Studies (PCPS) as a prerequisite for promotion from one level to another.

Dr Hamalai said at a press briefing after a meeting of its board that the institute had also had its functions expanded, adding that it would soon be renamed the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to encompass its new assignment.

She said that the institute had been mandated to run professional certificate programmes in parliamentary studies to take care of management and staff of the National Assembly.

She added that the Parliamentary Certificate course had been approved for the staff at a meeting of the Governing Council attended by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) Mohammed Sani-Omolori.

The NILS Director said: “The management of the National Assembly would now be subjected to a compulsory certificate programme or parliamentary administration basic level and advanced level so that all cadres within the management would be fully acquainted with all the legislative processes and management processes of National Assembly whether you are in finance department or whether you are in Senate or House. All would have the same basic knowledge about the legislature and the legislative process.

“The programme would be so detailed and practical and will have sub-topics like chamber operations, official reporting operations, office of the clerk of committee.

“In fact, at a certain time, promotion of affected staff will have to be based on the acquisition of such parliamentary professional certificates.

“To reflect its overall objectives, the council approved the processing of an Amendment Bill to change the Institute’s name to National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies’ (NILDS).

Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki (middle) flanked by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (right), and leader of delegation of 32 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Abuja, Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu (left), and other members of the IDPs, during a visit by the group to the Senate President in Abuja, on Monday.

Ekwueme erred on 1999 Anambra guber primary —Nwosu Jacob Segun Olatunji- Abuja

A former Minister of Health, Professor ABC Nwosu, on Monday, debunked a statement credited to second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme that he (Nwosu) was barred from contesting the gubernatorial position in Anambra State, saying it was “ a complete misrepresentations of facts.”

In a statement in Abuja, Nwosu said it was not true that there was an agreement for him not to contest as claimed by the former Vice President.

Dr Ekwueme had while denying in a recent interview that he influenced the emergence of Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial standard bearer in 1999 against the winner at the primary stated that he did not influence the emergence of Mbadinuju who he asserted won the primaries, and that

as State Secretary of the Party there was an agreement that Nwosu should not have contested.

Nwosu a former Political Adviser to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo noted: “I remember differently to that claim. “I know for a fact that there were two primaries – the first primary was held on December 21, 1998, same day with other PDP gubernatorial primaries nationwide.

“It was a ‘direct primary’ held in all the Local Government Areas of Anambra State and supervised by the national electoral committee for Anambra State led by Major General A.B. Mamman (retired). Other members of the committee were Senator (later Hon. Minister) Sanusi Daggash, and Dr. Mrs. (later Hon. Minister) Becky Igwe.

“I won the ‘direct primary’ convincingly, and was presented with a Certificate of Return by the committee, which along with

newspaper publications of my electoral victory are still in my possession.

“A week later, the PDP national Electoral Appeal Panel annulled my election victory on a petition written by one of Dr Mbadinuju’s associates after which a new ‘closed door primary was conducted by another committee led by Alhaji Murtala Ashorobi, on December 28, 1998 not in the open, but at Ikenga Hotels Awka.

Nwosu, however, pointed out that Dr Ekwueme might have been referring to the December 28, primary when he asserted that Dr Mbadinuju won the 1998 Anambra State gubernatorial primary, saying “Ndi Anambra and others know the truth and are aware of General A.B. Mamman’s damning letter on the subject.

He insisted that “ the former VP forgot that members of the pioneer state executive of the party with me as secretary, were

not elected but were his candidates, put together in his hotel suite at Hilton Hotel Abuja, with the exception of five slots which he directed should be filled by the late Dr Okadigbo.

“He also forgot that prior to the formation of the PDP I was a gubernatorial contestant in the defunct Congress for National Consensus (CNC) and United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), when therefore and with who in the PDP did I enter into an agreement to drop my gubernatorial ambition, he queried.

Nwosu stated that he had put the alleged episods behind and wondered how Dr Ekwueme, as pioneer interim national chairman of the PDP and leader of Anambra State PDP, still maintainsed that he did not support Dr. Mbadinuju, adding that, “ even though all his acolytes and very close political associates did.”

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

Ado Poly workers begin indefinite strike over salary Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

W

ORKERS of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti have commenced indefinite strike over alleged demigration of workers from their salary scales and other welfare issues.

The workers, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff As-

sociation of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), said the decision followed the management’s refusal to address their demands and the expiration of the series of ultimatums.

Chairmen of the three unions, Mr Tunji Owoeye (ASUP), Dr Oluwole Ayeni (SSANIP) and Mr Charles Daudu (NASU), who addressed the workers at a joint rally after their differ-

ent congresses yesterday, called on the Federal Government to set up a fresh inter-ministerial panel to look into their grievances.

According to them, the management de-migrated workers from CONTISS 8 to CONTISS 7, thus allegedly shortchanging workers as against what obtained in other federal polytechnics.

They also accused the management of refusal to comply with the imple-

mentation and payment of CONTISS 15 as directed by the then Minister of Education.

The unions, which alleged that the workers had been shortchanged to the tune of N200 million, also accused the management of tampering with cooperative deductions.

But the Rector, Dr Theresa Akande, who said the unions had not communicated with the management

on the purported industrial action, said the management had been meeting with the unions on the resolution of their grouse.

According to her, all the issues raised by the unions are not new, saying: “These were issues the Federal Government set up a Presidential Panel over.

“That I am still here with all their allegations shows that there are no substances in them. The National Board for Technical Education and the Federal Ministry of Education are looking into the migration issue because it is not a local issue. It affects all federal polytechnics,” the rector said.

Ajimobi, Okorocha collaborate on Oyo technical varsity

From left, Osun State deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman, Osun State Christian Association of Nigeria (OSCAN), Very Reverend Micheal Okodua; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; Secretary of OSCAN, Pastor (Dr) Paul Usman and former state chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Lowo Adebiyi, at a prayer session for the state, during OSCAN members’ visit to the governor in Osogbo, recently.

Ekiti will sustain new academic performance —NASS members MEMBERS of the National Assembly (NASS) from Ekiti State have expressed confidence that the state will sustain its present performance in external examinations.

They also declared support for the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose’s call for the reintroduction of History in school curriculum in the state.

The NASS members; Senators Biodun Olujimi and Duro Faseyi as well as House of Representatives members; Honourables Akin Awodumila, Segun Adekola, Kehinde Agboola, Ayodele Oladimeji and Thadeus Aina, said that encouragement and motivation being given to teachers contributed to the state’s academic performance.

The NASS members commended Governor Fayose for his developmental efforts, saying; “Our governor’s passion for the development of Ekiti State can only be the reason all these projects are being executed despite paucity of fund and the over N70 billion debt left by his predecessor.”

They commended the award of car gifts to best

teachers in primary and secondary schools by Governor Fayose, describing it as “one novel innovation that has propelled teachers to put in their best.”

The National Assembly members hailed the governor for his total commitment to the return of the state’s lost glory in the education sector, saying; “The Ekiti State caucus in the National Assembly is happy that the governor has been

able to repeat the same feat he performed during his first tenure.

“Coming from 10th position in NECO in 2015 to first position in 2016 as well as from 34th position in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in 2014 to 11th position in 2016 could not have been by accident.

Rather, it was a result of proper planning and commitment on the part of the

governor.

“To us in the NASS, we are happy that in NECO, Ekiti State was able to move from 10th position with 74.5 per cent performance in 2015 to first position with 96.48 per cent performance in 2016. This, to us, is not a mean feat and it must be placed on record that Governor Fayose is always associated with success in the education sector in the state.”

NAAT sues for peace in FUNAAB Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta THE National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has sued for peace in the university, over the lingering crisis between the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the authorities of the university.

The association, in a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Comrades Joseph Olurinde and Alamu K.O, respectively, said that the union had been playing a mediatory role since the crisis started.

Nigeria Tribune recalled that the university had been in the news over a petition written by some members of SSANU to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and some other government agencies against the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole and the pro-chancellor, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe.

The association said that it decided to break its silence over the matter in view of how it has been affecting the university system.

It said that the association would stand on the side of the truth as far as the petition is concerned, appealing to the

EFCC to do a thorough job.

It said, “NAAT has decided to play a mediatory role towards ensuring peace and tranquillity in FUNAAB. This, we have been doing underground since the matter surfaced, but to our dismay, all the peace moves and appeal by the union hit the hard rock.

“Since the petition is already before EFCC, an organ of Government saddled with the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, NAAT is appealing to every member of the university community to let peace reign, while we await the outcome of the investigation by the EFCC.”

IMO State governor, Mr Rochas Okorocha, has endorsed the public-privatepartnership (PPP) arrangement for the establishment of technical university in Oyo State.

He pledged that his foundation would partner the state government to ensure the success of the project.

Okorocha spoke during a visit to the permanent site of the university on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in company of his Oyo State counterpart, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, on Friday.

Ajimobi had, during the inspection, explained that the establishment of the institution would be based on a PPP arrangement in which the state would have 10 per cent holding while other interested partners would own the rest.

“The university, as it had been stated before, is going to be on a PPP arrangement, where the state will own only 10 per cent while the remaining 90 per cent will be owned by interested partners.

“You can see that some of the classrooms, library and the administrative buildings have been built and completed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as its own contribution towards the university.

“As you can also see, my brother, Governor Okorocha is here because of that.

You know he is not just a governor, he is an educationist who has schools all over Nigeria. So are many others who are also reaching out to us for partnership,” he said.

In his own remarks, Okorocha said he was in full support of the PPP idea for the institution, saying it was in line with global best practices.

Nigerian Tribune

EFCC arraigns man for allegedly running illegal polytechnic in Ekiti Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Mr Johnson Babatola for allegedly operating an illegal polytechnic in Ilogbo-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Babatola was arraigned before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, on Monday, on a seven-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and operation of illegal polytechnic.

The EFCC said the accused “was arrested following a petition from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Kaduna, alleging that he was operating an illegal polytechnic named Teedek Polytechnic at Ilogbo, Ekiti State and extorting gullible students who are not aware of the status of the institution.”

However, he pleaded not guilty to the offence when the charges were read to him.

Counsel for Babatola, Cletus Nachata, made an oral application for bail to the court, following the plea which the prosecution counsel, Sanusi Musa Galadanchi, opposed, asking rather for a trial date.

Justice Taiwo granted the accused bail in the sum of N2million with two sureties in like sum.

Oyo Assembly committee commends Iwajowa LG boss THE Caretaker Chairman, Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State, Honourable Egunjobi Modepoola Samuel, has been commended for executing people-oriented projects.

The commendation was made by the Oyo State House of Assembly Majority Leader, Honourable Subaru Kehinde, during the House Team assessment of the local government’s performance.

The majority leader, along with other team members, noted with satisfaction the stewardship reports of the council, adding that the tempo of development was commendable and in line with the state government’s welfare policies.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Council, Honourable Samuel explained that the council area was motivated by the earth moving equipment such as; caterpillar, Dossier and Pave-Loader supplied to it by the Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led administration.

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

South Africa’s Zuma asks watchdog to delay report on his business ties

S

OUTH African President Jacob Zuma, under scrutiny for his friendship with a wealthy business family, has asked an anti-corruption watchdog not to report her findings until he has had a chance to question other witnesses, his office said on

Monday.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who has been a thorn in Zuma’s side, according to Reuters, is due to release her findings by Friday, the day before her seven-year term comes to an end. She questioned Zuma for four hours last Thursday over allegations

US election: Top Republican, Speaker Paul Ryan says he won’t defend Trump HOUSE Speaker Paul Ryan dealt his own party’s presidential nominee a withering blow Monday, telling fellow Republicans he will no longer defend Donald Trump and will instead use the next 29 days to focus on preserving his party’s hold on Congress.

“The speaker is going to spend the next month focused entirely on protecting our congressional majorities,” Ryan’s spokeswoman,

Donald Trump

AshLee Strong, said in a statement.

CNN reported that the move highly unusual in US political history laid bare the seemingly intractable divisions now seizing the Republican Party with a month left before the presidential vote. Support for Trump among the GOP establishment, already weak amid disagreements over policy and tone, has now eroded to new lows.

north and pushing back the front line in the city centre, Al Jazeera said.

“We do not agree with what Russia is doing, bombarding Aleppo.

France is committed as never before to saving the population of Aleppo,” Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French foreign minister, told France’s Inter radio on Monday.

that it would not conclude the current investigation and issue any report until he was given a chance to question the witnesses involved.

“Furthermore, the President would want to exercise his right to question some of the witnesses before responding to the written questions and adducing evidence,” the statement said adding that he wanted to be assisted by a legal representative.

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma

Trump Vs Hilary: Polls split on winner

of second US presidential debate

DONALD Trump, backed into a corner after the emergence of a video of him discussing sexual aggression towards women, held nothing back in the second presidential debate on Sunday night.

According to Telegraph, the Republican nominee said that if he was president, Hillary Clinton “would be in

Paul Ryan

Syria war: France wants Aleppo war crimes probe FRANCE has announced it will ask the international criminal court to investigate possible war crimes committed in Syria’s Aleppo.

Russian-backed Syria forces have made significant advances in its renewed two-week-old offensive in Aleppo, seizing territory to the

his business friends, the Gupta family, had influenced political appointments.

Despite denials by Zuma and the Guptas, the affair has damaged the president, who was separately forced to repay part of the cost of a lavish upgrade to his private residence as a result of an investigation

by Madonsela.

The presidency said in a statement that Zuma had asked Madonsela’s office to confirm by Tuesday

Ethiopia blames foreign groups for stoking unrest

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

jail” over her email controversy and claimed that she “has tremendous hate in her heart.”

In what was one of the most negative and acrimonious debates in US presidential history, it was a matter of minutes before the lewd tape, in which Mr Trump brags about “grabbing p----” and forcibly kissing women, was brought up.

Mr Trump had set out his stall half an hour before the start of the debate by holding a press conference alongside three women who have claimed they were sexually assaulted by Bill Clinton.

After apologising for

“locker room talk” in the video during the debate, Mr Trump said those were just words, whereas “Bill Clinton was abusive to women”.

Mr Trump then attacked Mrs Clinton over her use of a private email server while she was US secretary of state, saying that if he was president she would be in jail.

“I hate to say it but if I win I’m going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation,” he said.

“There has never been so many lies, so much deception. The people in this country are furious.

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”

ETHIOPIA accused elements in Eritrea, Egypt and other states on Monday of arming, training and funding groups that it blames for a wave of protests and violence in regions around its capital Addis Ababa, Reuters reported.

The government declared a state of emergency on Sunday after more than a year of unrest in Oromiya and Amhara regions, where protesters say the government has trampled on their rights in pursuit of industrial development.

Rights groups said more than 500 people have died in clashes with police and other confrontations. The violence has damaged around a dozen factories and equipment mostly belonging to foreign firms, accused by protesters of purchasing leases for seized land.

Demonstrators chant slogans while flashing the Oromo protest gesture during Irreecha, the thanksgiving festival of the Oromo people, in Bishoftu town, Oromia region, Ethiopia. PHOTO: REUTERS.

Harvard, MIT professors win Nobel Prize in economics tracts help us deal with tracts, including be- they seem extraordinariTWO professors from Harvard and MIT have been awarded the Nobel Prize in economics for contributions to contract theory — the agreements that shape business, finance and public policy.

Oliver Hart, 68, a British economist teaching at Harvard, and Bengt Holmström, 67, a Finnish economist teaching at MIT, were announced as the winners Monday by the Royal Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, CNN revealed.

“Contracts are essential to the functioning of modern societies,” the academy said in its announcement. “Hart’s and Holmström’s research sheds light on how con-

conflicting interests.”

Among the contracts they have studied is Holmström’s research on employment con-

tween CEOs and shareholders.

“In economics we don’t really take a stand on the size of the bonus, though

ly high,” Holmström told reporters when asked about the multi-milliondollar bonuses paid to modern CEOs.

Bengt Holmström, left, and Oliver Hart, right, share this year’s Nobel Prize in economics for their research on contract theory.

PHOTO: AP.

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Tuesday, 11 October, 2016 Editor: Wale Emosu tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08111813054

Oshoala, 29 others for Nigeria’s AWCON 2016 camp S Oshoala (left)

Lagos Gov’s Tennis Cup: Nigeria’s Enosoregbe,

others advance THE main draws of the First Leg (Futures 5) of the 16th edition of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis served off on Monday with some Nigerian players landing in the second round of the International Tennis Federation-approved circuit.

Clifford Enosoregbe led Nigerian players to pick the second round slots in the matches decided at the centre court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

Enosoregbe defeated Delmas N’Tcha of Benin Republic in straight set of 6-3, 6-2, as Sylvester Em-

manuel beat compatriot Ikechukwu Iloputa 6-1, 6-3, while Henry Atseye defeated Joseph Imeh Ubon 7-5, 6-4. Edward Christopher Anefu also beat Mohammed Mohammed 6-1, 6-2 all in the men’s singles.

However, Nigerian Christian Paul fell to tournament number eight seed, Polish Maciej Smola 6-4, 6-3, as Ugandan Duncan Mugabe beat another home boy, Christopher Bulus 6-2, 6-3.

Tournament number one seed, Spanish Enrique Lopez - Perez defeated Adimabua Joseph Iyorovbe

6-2, 6-0 in the men’s singles.

Some Nigerian women players who played on Monday failed to advance to the second round as Melissa Ishuan Ifidzen lost to Indian Prarthana G. Thombare 5-7, 2-6, while Christie Agugbom lost to Sweden’s Brenda Njuki 1-6, 1-6.

Also, American Alexandra Riley beat another Nigerian Ronke Akingbade 6-3, 6-1 in the women’s singles.

UPER Falcons head coach, Florence Omagbemi has invited 30 players to camp in preparation for the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AFWCON) in Cameroon.

The list is made up of eight overseas-based professionals and 22 home-based players.

Reigning Africa Woman Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala leads the overseas-based contingent while Osinachi Ohale leads the home-based.

The 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals will hold in Cameroon from November 19 to December 3 this year.

Falcons, seven-time winners of the biennial African showpiece are in group B together with perennial rivals, Ghana’s Black Queens, Mali and newcomers, Kenya.

All the invited players: Ibubeleye Whyte, Osinachi

Oyekan donates kits to young footballers

By Niyi Alebiosu A member of the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Prince Ifalada Oyekan, has donated kits to aspiring football players in his bid to assist them to realise their dreams.

Oyekan, who made the donation last Saturday to budding footballers who play at Jankara playground, Lagos-Island, gave football boots, shin guards, football hoses, jersies out as a form of motivation.

Oyekan, who is also the chairman, Lagos Divisional Football Association (LDFA), thanked the chairman of the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, for appointing him as the chairman of LSFA’s Chairman Grassroots Committee.

He stated that his appointment had paved the way for him to have adequate knowledge of grassroots football.

Oyekan said having discovered that Nigeria was blessed with so

many talented footballers, there was the need for him to delve in to such humanitarian service as it would go a long way to boost the careers of indigent players.

Oyekan, who had donated sets of jersies to the winners of EKO Football Fiesta U-13 and U-16 and a trophy to the LSFA, said he would not relent in his effort to help indigent players become professionals, adding that the gesture would complement the effort of LSFA to further develop the game at the grassroots.

Messi (centre)

Messi set for return FC Barcelona maestro, Lionel Messi is preparing to make his return from injury against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday to ensure he can start in next week’s mouthwatering Champions League clash with Manchester City.

The five-time world player of the year has been out of action since injuring his groin in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on September 21, missing victories over

Sporting Gijon and Borussia Moenchengladbach and the 4-3 defeat at Celta Vigo.

The Argentina captain also missed his country’s World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Paraguay.

According to Barcelona newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, Messi is set to start Saturday’s La Liga fixture with Deportivo at the Nou Camp on the bench with a view to coming on in the second half.

After easing himself back into action, Messi will expect to line up against Premier League leaders City on October 19, when former Barca coach Pep Guardiola returns to the Nou Camp.

The injury has prevented Messi from training with his teammates for three weeks but he is set to resume ball work today before rejoining full training on Thursday.

Ohale, Gladys Akpa, Ugo Njoku, Chioma Wogu, Glory Iroka (Rivers Angels), Blessing Edoho (Pelican Stars), Osarenoma Igbinovia, Alaba Jonathan (Bayelsa United), Nkemakola Uwandu (Inneh Queens), Rita Akarekor, Alice Ogodo (Delta Queens), Seun Bello, Maureen Toyla (Confluence Queens), Nnenna Eke (Ibom Angels), Gladys Abasi, Sherifat Saheed, Yetunde Aluko, Ijeoma Obi (Sunshine Queens), Anam Imo (Nasarawa Amazons), Nnenna Julius, Chioma Nwankwo (Adamawa Queens), Rita Chikwelu (Umea IK, Sweden), Ngozi Okobi (Vittsjo FC, Sweden), Faith Ikidi (Pitea IF, Sweden), Ngozi Ebere (PSG Ladies, France), Evelyn Nwabuoku (Avant Guingamp, France), Desire Oparanozie (Avant Guingamp, France), Francisca Ordega (Washington Spirit, USA), Asisat Oshoala (Arsenal Ladies)

39

sport

Tuesday, 11 October, 2016

How we lost to Eagles —Nyirenda, Zambia coach ZAMBIA coach, Wedson Nyirenda has blamed carelessness back in the defence for a 1-2 home loss against Nigeria in a 2018 World Cup qualifier.

The Chipolopolo lost their first-ever game at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola after they gifted Nigeria two first half goals and a spirited fight-back after the interval proved too little, too late for them.

“We have lost three points at home and this is not very good for us, but football being what it is can go either way when you are careless.

That is the lesson we have learnt,” said a disappointed Nyirenda.

“We were so careless at the back in the first half and we did not press them, we gave

...Pity I couldn’t score —Ideye

Kenneth Omeruo (left) and William Troost-Ekong in the dressing room before the match against Zambia in Ndola.

Attempt to arrest me outrageous —Dikko

By Niyi Alebiosu

T

HE chairman, League Management Company (LMC), Mallam Shehu Dikko has described the latest attempt by policemen to arrest him as outrageous and bad publicity for the national team.

Two unidentified policemen in mufti had attempted to arrest Dikko at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport on Sunday night on his way back from Zambia with the Super Eagles.

Information available to Tribunesport indicated that the two policemen who claimed to be acting on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Abuja Command had attempted to arrest Dikko, but it was resisted by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, his first vice-president, Seyi Akinwunmi and the journalists around.

The policemen had fired shots into the air, threatening to shoot anybody who tried to stand on their way.

Reacting to this development, Dikko, through

Whatsapp chat, said it was a sad development and very outrageous.

“It was a bad publicity for the national team who just recorded a major victory on its way to the 2018 World Cup. The scenario whereby the policemen fired gunshots really scared many of the players who expressed reservation of honouring national team assignments in future because their lives were not secure,” he said.

The LMC boss further stated that: “I have eight police officers attached to

them a lot of room and if you are playing against a team like Nigeria with good stars in the team, they will punish you.”

However, the Zambia caretaker coach insisted they are far from out of running for a place at Russia 2018 despite this early setback.

“Going forward, we still have 15 points to fight for, which we will fight for. You will need about 10 points to qualify for the World Cup, so we still have a chance,” he said.

“We are in a rebuilding phase, we are building a new team and at the same time we want to qualify for the World Cup, so Zambians have to be patient as we have new players who are trying to integrate with the old players.”

my house and others to my office by the Abuja CP on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, so if it’s true that my attention was needed by Abuja CP, why can’t he send for me through one of the police officers attached to me, so that means those officers have different plans”.

Dikko, who also doubles as the second vice-president, NFF, however, informed that the matter had been reported to the office of the IGP “as our safety is surely being compromised”.

He added that he is a law

abiding citizen who has done nothing wrong to deserve such embarrassment from the police officers who could not even identify themselves.

“We are following the law as law-abiding citizens and to close all issues.

“We didn’t break any laws anywhere and the matters are subject to jurisdiction of the court of appeal. It’s within our right and law to take any matter to court of appeal and we would not take any steps that will compromise the appeal court process”.

OLYMPIACOS of Greece striker, Brown Ideye has revealed he had wanted to score a goal against Zambia in Ndola last Sunday in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, which he would have dedicated to his wife and children.

The former West Brom Albion record signing had lost what would have been a curtain raiser in the 22nd minute when his grounder missed the target with keeper already displaced, but he was later ruled to be in an offside position.

Ideye later intelligently released a pass which put Kelechi Iheanacho through on goal for the Eagles’ second goal.

“It is my day and I was destined to win the match,” said a jubilant Ideye as the Eagles led by Ogenyi Onazi celebrated the striker’s special day on board the charter flight head-

ing back home.

“I thought I will score to dedicate the goal to my wife and my children.

“All the same, this was a sweet victory for us and we thank God for the success.”

Nigeria tops group B with three points after hosts Algeria had settled for a 1-1 draw with Cameroon in Blida on Sunday night.

The Super Eagles will host the Fennecs of Algeria in Uyo on November 12 in their next qualifier for Russia 2018.

Ideye

Army Games : Dalung highlights values in sports SALIU GBADAMOSI - ABUJA

SPORTS has been identified as a veritable tool to provide gainful employment for the Nigerian youth, even as it is noted that failure to develop the youth through sport is an invitation to criminality.

These were the submissions of the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Barrister Solomon Dalong, while speaking on

Monday at the formal opening of the 16th Nigerian Army Sports Festival at the National Stadium, Abuja.

According to the minister, sports could be used to create employment for the teeming unemployed youth in the country, declaring that any country that failed to establish the youth today through sports was inadvertently breeding criminals for tomorrow.

He called on every stake-

holders to give sports development a priority, saying that, “I am appealing to all stakeholders to make sports development a priority by devoting more resources into the development of our youths.

“The consistent funding of sports development will, no doubt, generate the needed employment, earn the country foreign exchange, open the country to sports tourism and serve as instrument

of national unity and integration.”

According to Dalung, if the youth were productively engaged, the country would save the huge sum of money being spent on security annually.

“If Nigerian youths are productively engaged, it will not breed criminals, terrorists and thugs and it will help the country from the collosal amount that the nation is committing yearly to

security issues due to past failure to adequately invest in the youth,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, LieutenantGeneral Tukur Yusuf Buratai, in his address on the occasion stated that the quest to discover more talents to represent Nigeria at international tournaments was one of the reasons the Army Sports Festival was reintroduced after seven years that it was last held.

SIDELINES

NO 16,608

TUESDAY, 11 OCTOBER, 2016

N150

Governor Ayodele Fayose has given teachers in Ekiti State N50 million, asking them to share it equally and without discrimination. Thankfully teachers are not politicians else, as they gather, there would be a presentation of a forged list, akin to a forged delegates list.

Buhari salutes Eagles Clement Idoko - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has lauded the Super Eagles on the away victory over Zambia at the weekend, describing the feat as not only tonic for Nigeria

at a time like this, but also a confidence booster that the indomitable Nigerian spirit is well and alive.

This was contained in a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media

and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

The Nigerian national team had begun its qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 World Cup on a victory note by beating Zambia 2-1 in Ndola, a development

President Buhari describes as “cheery and soul-lifting.”

He said it was a sign of good things to come, urging the team not to rest on its oars till it eventually qualifies for the global soccer fiesta.

“This is but the first step in a long journey. However, that step has been well taken. An away victory at this level, in which the stakes are quite high, is remarkable.

“The ultimate is to qualify

for Russia 2018, and fly Nigeria’s flag alongside those of other giant soccer playing nations. I look forward to that, and I urge the team and their handlers to always keep their eyes on the ball,” Buhari said.

Players cheer Algeria/Cameroon draw outcome

From left, Super Eagles’ Brown Ideye, Ogenyi Onazi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Mikel Obi celebrate.

With 11 points, Eagles will land in Russia —Rohr

N

IGERIA head coach, Gernot Rohr has said that 11 points from the ‘Group of Death’ will make the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2018 World Cup final.

“I think we need 11 points to be first of the group, but all the teams have a good chance to qualify [for the World Cup],” Rohr said at a press briefing in Ndola after Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over hosts, Zambia in a group opener.

“We all know that it is very difficult to win a game in the qualifiers, especially away in the first game. But we did it.”

The Franco-German tactician further said that despite the Eagles’ winning start, they needed to improve be-

fore a November 12 clash against Algeria in Uyo. “We have a lot of work to do. We have some problems and we have to be better in some situations defensively and even offensively we tried too much to play [vs Zambia].

We did not shoot but we got the three points and welcome Algeria in a month in Uyo,” he said.

Rohr said Sunday’s game was one of two halves with Nigeria dominating in the first 45 minutes, while the home team took charge after the interval.

“It was a good game of football, both teams wanted to win. In the first half we got what we hoped for, we played well and we scored,” he remarked.

“In the second half, Zambia were the better team and that reflected in this match – first half for us, second half for them.

“We were a bit tired in the second half because of a lot

of physical effort in the first half. The players ran very much, hot weather, 2.30pm in the afternoon, it’s not easy to play in the sun and in the second half, the wind blew in favour of the home

team.

“They pushed, pushed and they scored and could have been 2-2, but we defended well because spirit of the team is very good, we supported each other.”

Gun scare heralds team’s arrival

NIGERIA won a competitive away game for the first time in 23 months as Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho scored before Collins Mbesuma pulled one back in the Zambian Copperbelt capital on Sunday in a Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier.

A convivial atmosphere prevailed inside the aircraft during the four hourand-22-minute flight back to Abuja, and the celebration mood heightened seconds after landing as players, team officials and other officials learnt that Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions had forced Algeria to a 1-1 draw in the other match of Group B in Blida.

Team captain, Mikel Obi told thenff.com aboard the ARIK Air plane on the flight back from Ndola: “We have a very good chance to qualify for the World Cup if we keep our heads and play at our best level. Each and every one of us is determined to go to the World Cup. Now that we are top of the table, we have to remain there.”

Mikel added that a united and focused Super Eagles, and a supportive Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), would guarantee the three–time African champions a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

Attempt to arrest me outrageous —Dikko Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

THE triumphant return of the victorious Super Eagles to the country early Monday morning was marked by sporadic shooting into the air by a man who claimed to be a police officer from the Plateau State Police Command.

Tribunesport learnt that

two fully armed men, claiming to be police officers from Jos, the Plateau State capital, had laid ambush at the airport waiting for the arrival of the Nigerian contingent to Zambia to effect the arrest of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) second vice-president, who also doubles as the chairman of the League Management Company (LMC),

Shehu Dikko.

The men, who Tribunesport was informed by an eyewitness were in plain clothes, reportedly said that they had an order to effect the arrest Dikko, who alongside the Chief Operating Officer of LMC, Salihu Abubakar, was convicted by a Jos High Court for contempt of court.

The eyewitness further in-

P39

formed that the men could not produce any identity cards or warrants to prove their claims.

Their attempt to arrest Dikko, it was gathered, was foiled by members of Club Owners Association who were on the entourage, NFF officials, among others present at the time of the attempted arrest.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 11/10/2016.