11th November 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,631 FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

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EDITORIAL

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Donald Trump’s election as US President

S far as electoral upsets go, Mr. Donald Trump’s election this week as the 45th President of the United States of America is the most significant yet in the 21st century. He was believed by most people, including even members of his own party, to be uniquely unqualified for the presidency of the world’s most powerful nation. He upended every cherished tradition that personal dignity and centuries of practices have imposed on anyone running as the candidate of a major party for the presidency of the United States. He traded in pedestrian

slogans; he sold profane promises; he insulted everyone and countless groups. Yet, at every stage, his political stock rose, even when he was stumbling. While all bookmakers betted against him, Trump triumphed almost effortlessly as the choice of the majority of the states that compose America. He emerged as the president-elect through the majority of the electoral-college votes even before the close of the announcement of the results of the consequential presidential election.

A billionaire businessman, television host and remarkable celebrity, Donald Trump is the

ultimate exemplar of American showmanship.

He built a business empire and forced the world to not only recognize but to noisily acknowledge him as a genius. For many years, he supported politicians at every level of the struggle for public office. He sought attention and won it. But he was not satisfied with wealth and fame. He wanted political power. Not a few thought his constant gesturing towards future political ambition was part of his apparatus of seeking fame. They were wrong.

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Aftermath security agents' raid

Bureau de change operators lower rates

—P2

Lagos residents consume over N3bn food daily —Ambode —P10

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail, begins trial Dec 14 —P33

Recovered loot FG sets out paid into FG's comprehensive consolidated economic agenda —P11 account —EFCC —P3

President Muhammadu Buhari congratulating Justice Walter Onnoghen, after he was sworn in as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE.

Ondo PDP: Appeal Court refuses application to disband panel —P31

•Gives Jegede nod to appeal judgment

2 news Aftermath security agents raid: Bureau de change operators lower rates Friday, 11 November, 2016

Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

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FTERMATH the raid on bureau de change operators by security agents and fear of sanctions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), foreign currencies such as dollar, pounds and euros, have been fixed at lower rates across the markets.

For the past three days, naira has been changing for N400 to a dollar at the parallel market. Pound Sterling is being exchanged for N540 and Euros for N500.

Checks by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Thursday, proved fear of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Service (DSS) to be the reason.

On Wednesday, the DSS raided the offices of some BDCs in Lagos and arrested operators selling above the stipulated exchange rate.

The DSS operatives posed as end-users who came to purchase dollars from the BDCs. After surveying the market for exchange rate offerings, they arrested some BDC operators who sold above the CBN agreed rates.

A licensed BDC operator in Abuja, Alhaji Yusuf Rabiu, said the recent raid of bureau de change establishments by the EFCC forced the operators to reach such an agreement.

Usually, the rate of Forex

at the BDC segment is based on demand and supply. When demand is higher than supply, each operator uses his discretion to hike the price.

To regulate the segment, CBN recently issued a policy that allowed each BDC to buy dollars from Travelex at N381 per dollar and sell to end users at a maximum of N400 per dollar.

“On Monday, EFCC called so many licensed BDC operators. The issue is that they feel we are unnecessarily hiking the rates. But it’s not our fault.

“Right now, their focus is on our business; they have been calling us one by one and we don’t want problem. That is why we have agreed to have a fixed rate for now,” he said.

“After the raid in Lagos, we the Abuja operators met and agreed on a fixed rate, so that such will not happen to our members,” he added.

The security agents continued the raid on Thursday, detaining some and ordering others to sell dollars at a lower rate, in a bid to break the fall of the currency.

“The police and SSS officials are raiding black marketers in Lagos and Abuja to compel an appreciation of the naira,” Mallam Adamu, a bureau de change operator, told Reuters.

Another trader said security agents visiting bureau de change operators told dealers not to sell dollars for more

than N395.

“We’ve stopped buying dollars from just anybody that walks into our shop due to the harassment from security agents and a directive from our

association,” a dealer asking not to be named said.

The naira had regained some ground this week, after dropping earlier from N470 per dollar, but

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, with the co-founder of Made in Aba Project, Sam Hart, displaying a madein-Aba handbag, during a visit to the Senate President, on Thursday.

THE Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), on Thursday, asked the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, to take up the task of cleansing the judiciary of all forms of corrupt practices.

This was as they lamented the failure of the judiciary to independently address cases of corruption among its officials.

Speaking at a valedictory session in honour of the outgoing CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, a representative of the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Thompson Okpoko, said the last six months of the outgoing CJN had been the most turbulent in the history of the nation’s judiciary.

While reiterating that the both lawyers and judges were involved in crises rocking the arm of government, Okpoko said

the problems, which are grave and portend danger to the legal profession, must be arrested.

He added that to restore honour and dignity to the judiciary, the legal profession must pull itself together and work out a situation that would restore confidence in the nation’s judicial system.

“Our incoming CJN must now face these challenges.

The task is enormous and undaunting, but the damage is not beyond repairs,” he said.

Eulogising the impressive career of Justice Mohammed, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said the immediate past CJN influenced the development of the nation’s judiciary and impacted the country in a profound way.

NBA President, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, who spoke on behalf of the association, averred that Justice Mohammed would

agencies to enforce a rate of between N390 and N400 to the dollar.

In Lagos on Thursday, the DSS raided the Hajj Camp and the Airport, as part of the efforts to control the exchange rate.

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, could not confirm the operation as of the time of filing this report.

It was gathered that the security men insisted that bureau de change operators should not exchange a dollar for more than N400.

Unconfirmed reports had it that the security men arrested two of the bureau de change operators.

A clearing and forwarding agent, simply named Celestine, told the Nigerian Tribune that “yes, they came today to Hajj camp and the bureau de change at the airport.”

He also added that there was a serious confusion as the operators initially insisted that they had not committed any offence.

Director of Corporate Communication of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Isaac Okoroafor, speaking on the raid, denied that the bank took part in it.

Made in Nigeria: Senate threatens agencies violating Procurement Act Says FG spends over 2trn on goods annually Taiwo Adisa -Abuja THE Senate on Thursday, threatened to deal decisively with any agency that violates

the Procurement Act, which mandates organisations to give preference to Made-inNigeria goods.

Senate President, Dr

Fight judicial corruption, Body of SANs tells acting CJN Sunday Ejike -Abuja

dealers said hard currency supplies remain limited.

Aminu Gwadabe, head of the Bureau de Change association, said his licensed dealers had agreed with the CBN and security

always be remembered for his many judgments and his peculiar sense of details and strict adherence to the rule of law at all times.

The NBA boss said although the arrest of some judges by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) went against the provision of the constitution, there was the need to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary.

He expressed hope that the NJC would rise to the challenge of restoring the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, represented at the valedictory session by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Taiwo Abidogun, lauded the outgoing CJN for his immense contributions to the nation’s judiciary.

In his valedictory speech, the retiring CJN disclosed that he initiated and

implemented far-reaching reforms that revolutionised the country’s judiciary.

“Our nation owes the Judiciary a debt of gratitude for standing firm in the face of contrary winds that threatened to blow our nascent democracy off course.

“During the run-up to the 2015 elections, our judicial officers withstood immense pressure in order to guarantee a levelplaying field and smooth transition of government, which ensured that we were spared a re-enactment of the June 12 saga.

“In fact, the courts, thus securing the electoral process, disallowed so many frivolous matters aimed at truncating the electoral process,” he said.

“I am proud of the Nigerian judiciary. Indeed, the need to protect the institutions from undue influence was a key concern of mine during my tenure,” he said.

Bukola Saraki, who stated this in Abuja while receiving manufacturers from Aba, Abia State, under the aegis of the Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEAPMAAS), said the National Assembly was serious about the implementation of the Act. According to him, the Senate standing committees had been mandated to deal with all departments and agencies violating the public procurement law, which compels them to give preference to locallyproduced goods in the country.

He also urged military and para-military agencies to emulate the army by procuring items like booths and other needs locally.

The group, led by the coordinator of Made in Aba Project, Mr Sam Haart, had earlier told Saraki that the manufacturers were proud of his efforts to promote made-in-Nigeria goods, alongside the senator representing Abia South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.

Saraki told the gathering the Federal Government spends N2 trillion more annually on purchase of goods generally, adding that the Senate planned to ensure that a substantial amount of that figure was

devoted to locally produced goods.

He also advised local manufacturers to petition the Senate where they felt a government agency was denying them the opportunity to sell their goods deliberately.

OBJ congratulates Trump Olayinka Olukoya -Abeokuta NIGERIA’S former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has congratulated the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, with an assurance that the African continent would support his administration.

Obasanjo, in a threeparagraph letter personally signed by him, dated November 9, 2016, with the headline: “Congratulations!” added that support would only come with equitable and fairer acceptance of the continent.

“Let me assure you that most of us in Africa, who believe in equitability in the global affairs, will work with you for a fairer world and more so, those of us in Nigeria.

“While congratulating you once again, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration,” the letter read.

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Friday, 11 November, 2016

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Health benefits of pear SOFT and sweet, pears are a treat in themselves. Once called the “gift of the gods” by Homer, author of the Odyessy, pears are packed with nutrients, fiber and antioxidants, making them a delicious but healthful snacking choice.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of pears.

Help Prevent Osteoporosis: Elderly people are susceptible to osteoporosis, a disease that saps bone strengths and makes bones easier to break.

Luckily, pears are brimming with boron, a metalloid which our bodies need to retain calcium, so pears can help prevent this bone disease.

Antioxidant Effect: Pears are full of antioxidant nutrients like Vitamin C and copper that protect our cells from oxygen-related damage from free radicals. One study found that pear juice had potent free radical scavenging activity.

Hypoallergenic: Fewer people have allergic reactions to pears than to just about any other fruit. Because so few people are allergic to pears, they are considered a safe fruit to eat around the world, and can be given to most infants.

Good for Healthy Colon: Pears have up to six grams of fiber per medium-sized fruit, which is a great contribution to the 25 to 30 grams of fiber we need every week. Filling up on fiber keeps your digestive system moving, which is great for stomach health and preventing colon cancer. Just makes sure to eat the skin, as it contains half the pear’s fiber.

Heart Health: The dietary fiber in pears is also good news for your heart.

Studies have shown that fiber lowers bad cholesterol by removing bile salts from the body. One study even argues that a pear-filled diet can even reduce risk of stroke by up to 50 per cent.

Good for Blood Sugar Levels: The fiber in pears also makes them low on the glycemic index. Pears are also low in calories and carbs, both of which diabetics want to minimise in their diets. The minerals calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium, and the vitamins C, E, K, folate, beta-carotene, lutein, choline and retinol found in pears are all vitamins and minerals diabetics- and everyone else- needs in their diet.

Boosts Immunity: In addition to vitamins C and K, pears are packed full of B2, B3, and B6 and folate. All of these nutrients fortify the immune system to ward off illness and keep you feeling great.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties The phytonutrients in pears, such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, are all shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. That helps with heart and digestive health, making pears an essential component in nutrition.

Improve Eye Health: Eating fruit everyday is good for your eyes, and the pears are one of the best fruits of all. The vitamins and nutrients in pears prevent cataracts and reduce the risk of age-related mascular degeneration Improve Blood Pressure: Not only are the skin of pear’s full of fiber, they are packed with Quercetin. Quercetin is one of the antioxidants found in the skin of pears. It has demonstrated anti-cancer properties and also helps regulate blood pressure.

Courtesy: www.organicfacts.net

Buhari swears in Onnoghen as acting CJN

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, swornin Justice Walter Oonoghen as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN) in an acting capacity.

This followed the exit of the former CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who bowed out of the bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

Onnoghen is expected to act until substantive CJN is appointed as forwarded to the Senate by the President and confirmation.

Justice Onnoghen becomes the first Southerner, since 1980, to assume the position of the CJN, even though in an acting capacity.

By virtue of Section 231 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is the prerogative of the president to appoint a CJN. Section 231 (1) explicitly provides that, “The appointment of a person to the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria shall be made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.”

The National Judicial Council, had, during one of its meeting about a month ago, recommended Justice Onnoghen for consideration for appointment as CJN. It is on this premise that he was sworn in on Thursday, by President Buhari.

President Buhari in his speech after inauguration of the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, pointed to some of the problems bedevilling Nigeria that required concerted efforts of the executive, judiciary and legislature to address.

He listed that issues of security, economy and corruption as the focus for all the arms of the government to collaborate in addressing in an expeditious manner.

Buhari said he was honoured as the President

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to say goodbye to the former Chief Justice and to congratulate him for the time he spent in the highlyrespected position.

He congratulated the new acting CJN, noting that he came at a time that the institution that he is going to head would play its constitutional role at the trying time of the nation.

Justice Onnoghen, CFR (Commander of the Federal Republic), was born on December 22, 1950 at Okurike Town, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.

He attended the Presbyterian Primary School, Okurike Town, between 1959 and 1966. He later proceeded to Accra, Ghana, to attend Odorgorno Secondary School, Adabraka, between 1967 and 1972 for his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Exams.

He was at Accra Academy, Ghana, between 1972 and 1974 for his WAEC (A-Levels) before proceeding to the University of Ghana, Legon, between 1974 and 1977 to obtain his Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B (Hons)) and graduated with Second Class Upper Division and was among the best graduating students.

He attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, between 1977 and 1978 for his B.L certificate. He completed his compulsory National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) in July 1979.

His previous professional appointments/positions held include: Pupil State Counsel, Lagos State, (1978 - 1979), Partner in the Law Firm of Effiom Ekong & Company, Calabar (1979 – 1988), Principal Partner/ Head of Chambers of Walter Onnoghen & Associates, Calabar (1988 -1989).

He was the chairman, Cross River State Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal (1990 - 1993); chairman, Judicial Enquiry into the Crisis between Students of the University

of Calabar and Obufa Esuk Orok Community, Calabar (1996) and chairman, Failed Banks Tribunal, Ibadan Zone (1998).

He was also the High Court Judge, Cross River State Judiciary (1989 - 1998), Justice of the Court of Appeal (November 1998-June

2005). Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) since 2005. He is also a Justice of the Supreme Court of The Gambia.

A Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Fellow of the Nigerian

Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and Fellow of the National Judicial Institute.

Justice Onnoghen has attended several conferences and seminars within and outside Nigeria and presented scholarly papers.

He is a member of the Body of Benchers and Life Bencher;

Chairman, Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and Vice-Chairman, Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, among others.

Justice Onnoghen, who is currently the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, is married with children.

EFCC secures 187 convictions in one year —Magu ACTING chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday, said the antigraft agency secured 187 convictions in the last one year.

Magu disclosed this at a one-day symposium on money laundering, organised by the Faculty of Management Sciences, Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos.

In a lecture, Magu reiterated his popular assertion that “corruption is a crime against humanity,” and renewed his call on all Nigerians to join the fight against the menace.

Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, reported the event in a statement in Abuja.

He implored Nigerians to work together with the EFCC in bringing about lasting change and securing the prosperity of the next generation.

“This seminar is dear to me and the EFCC because it is

taking place in a school and among young people who are carrying upon their shoulders the hopes of family members and Nigeria as a country.

“More so, it is happening right in the Centre of Excellence. Any good seed planted in this place, in the course of this seminar, cannot die,” Magu said.

He commended the courage of the president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Profesor Olusegun Ajibola, who presented a paper,

entitled: “Money Laundering: Bankers Perspectives.”

In his presentation, Ajibola accused some banks of complicity in the act of money laundering over the years, a statement the EFCC boss agreed with.

Magu expressed appreciation for the opportunity to connect with the “future leaders of Nigeria on a subject that affects not only our today, but one that could also impact their tomorrow.”

Ajibola advocated improved

technology in checking corruption as well as enhancing synergy between the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies.

Vice Chancellor of LASU, Professor Lanre Fagbohun, thanked the EFCC acting chairman for his presence, saying the institution was proud of his service at the commission.

Fagbohun said he was confident that the commission would surmount the numerous challenges facing it.

Fayose pays N200m compensation to property owners in Ado-Ekiti EKITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, at Okesa, Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, distributed cheques worth N200 million to the second batch of landlords whose properties are to give way for the construction of 1.2km Fajuyi/Ojumose flyover.

Governor Fayose, in his address, thanked the

chiefs and residents for their understanding and cooperation,withtheassurance that his government’s action was in Ekiti’s best interest.

The High Chief Asa of Okesa, Ado Ekiti, Chief Kayode Ogunleye, who spoke on behalf of the residents, appreciated Governor Fayose for living up to his promise

of paying compensation to property owners before demolishing their properties.

He also pleaded with the governor on behalf of the residents to allow them to exhume the remains of their buried ones before the commencement of the demolition exercise, a request Fayose granted expressly.

Recovered loot paid into FG’s consolidated account —EFCC THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said all looted funds recovered by it are paid into the consolidated revenue account of the Federal Government.

The commission stated this on its Twitter handle, @officialefcc, in response to a question from one of its followers.

In a tweet to the commission through the handle, @asantoo11a, the follower had asked:

“When are we sharing our recovered looted money?’’

“Recovered funds are paid into the consolidated revenue account of the Federal Government,’’ it tweeted in response.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that a section of the public had been raising questions about where crime proceeds recovered by the commission were kept.

The EFCC also said there was no hiding place for

looters, including those who travelled abroad to evade the arm of the law.

“Our network of partners includes the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and other international law enforcement agencies.

“Perpetrators cannot hide forever. Send a petition,’’ it said in response to an enquiry by one Biyi Soremekun.

Using the handle @ adebiyie200, Soremekun asked what would happen in a situation where an individual

travels out of the country after perpetrating fraud.

“What happens in a situation where someone defrauds (through issuance of dud cheques or falsification of land documents) and you leave the country before you realise it?

The commission advised victims and members of the general public to forward their petitions through its offices nearest to them, adding that they could do so anonymously.

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Friday, 11 November, 2016

NASS returns troubled MTEF to Presidency •$30bn loan request too Taiwo Adisa -Abuja

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ro u bl e s appear to be mounting ahead the presentation of the 2017 budget, as the National Assembly has finally returned the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) which is the prerequisite for the new budget.

Without the passage of the MTEF, the legislature will not entertain a new budget.

The lawmakers, especially in the Senate, had, on two different occasions, rejected the MTEF for being empty and incomplete, but the final decision was said to have been taken this week to return the document to the executive for fine-tuning.

It was also gathered that the National Assembly had also returned the request for $30 billion foreign loan to the executive.

The Senate rejected the loan request last week, following an overwhelming voice vote by the

lawmakers.

Sources in the Senate told the Nigerian Tribune that the lawmakers had finally decided to return the documents to the executive.

Sources close to the workings of the Senate said, on Thursday, that the two chambers of the

National Assembly had agreed to return the MTEF and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) which were the necessary prerequisites for the 2017 Budget.

By law, the National Assembly must approve the MTEF/FSP before it can deliberate on the new budget.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 makes it mandatory for the National Assembly to pass the MTEF/FSP into law before deliberating on a new budget.

It was also gathered that the National Assembly returned the documents based on obvious

challenges noticed in the presentation.

A source in the National Assembly said: “Already the Senate has returned the Mid-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) and the request for $30 billion international loan to the executive arm of

From left, Co-chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Mr Bola Akingbade and the son of the late Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Dr Olamijulo Ajayi, during the condolence visit by members of Selection Committee of Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, at the Isara-Remo residence of Sir Olaniwun, on Thursday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN.

Olaniwun Ajayi’s death, a rude shock

—Selection committee, Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Olayinka Olukoya -Abeokuta The selection committee of Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership has described the death of the late elder statesman, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, as a rude shock.

The committee, under the chairmanship of the former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, is an initiative of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation.

They paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased at Isara -Remo,Ogun State, on Thursday.

Although, Anyaoku was not physically present, members in attendance were led by a close associate of the deceased, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and received by one of the late Ajayi’s children, Dr Ola Ajayi.

Those in attendance on the visit were the Executive Secretary, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu and Mr Bola Akingbade.

Awolowo Dosumu, who spoke on behalf of the committee, said the news of Sir Ajayi’s passage still remained like a dream to them.

She recalled the active participation of the deceased at the last meeting of the committee, held penultimate Monday, at the Awolowo’s residence, Ikenne-Remo.

The former Ambassador to Netherlands noted that Sir Ajayi was very vibrant and active throughout the

meeting that lasted for a very long time.

She said the deceased’s contributions in the committee would be missed, submitting that no one could replace him on that committee.

Awolowo Dosumu added that the nonagenarian was a politician of repute and that he left behind good legacies.

She said: “The news of Pa Olaniwun Ajayi was a shocking one to us. He was in attendance at a meeting of the selection committee, Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, penultimate Monday. He participated actively throughout the meeting. He was very vibrant. He drew us back at any point in time when we were about drifting on the selection process.

“We are still in shock. We are here on the instruction of Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who is currently out of the country. Other members included Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe; Professor Anya.

O. Anya; Professor Oladipo Adamolekun. They all sent their apologies.

“It is not as if he is not old enough to die, but he is too good to go. His place in the committee can never be filled and also his role in nation-building would be deeply missed.”

The co-chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN), Plc encouraged the children of

the deceased to step up and continue with his legacies.

“He was a politician to the core. His legacy is so wide.

You have a rich and noble

legacy,” she added.

Responding, the eldest child, Ola, appreciated members of the committee for identifying with the family on the passage

of their father.

He promised, on behalf of his siblings, that the family would uphold the good works of the deceased.

We don’t need mercenaries to fight Boko Haram —DHQ 22, 000 IDPs return to 4 liberated LGAs in Borno Chris Agbambu -Abuja, with Agency Report THE Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, said it did not need foreign mercenaries to fight Boko Haram, as the defeat of the terrorists was already a success story.

Acting Director, Defence Information, BrigadierGeneral Rabe Abubakar, stated that “the DHQ wishes to state, with emphasis, that the Nigerian Armed Forces have the capacity and capability to clear the remnants of the terrorists from our land and that is what the military has been doing.”

According to him, it was not necessary or logical to go for mercenaries after the battle of Boko Haram insurgency had been won, as the pocket of attacks witnessed in the last few days by the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists were isolated cases, though regrettable, that did not call for serious concern as it was not uncommon worldwide for such occurrence in any area that was once infested by terrorist groups.

The defence spokesman noted that those peddling

rumours on the use of mercenaries were mischievous.

He said they had done it before and failed and were at it again.

“Surely, they will definitely fail this time also,” he said.

The DDI added that the unprecedented successes recorded against the deadly Boko Haram sect by the Nigerian military, without seeking external force, was there for all to see.

The DHQ, therefore, urged “our patriotic citizens to ignore the senseless talk and dismiss the story in its entirety as it was concocted to serve inglorious selfish interest.”

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in Borno State, on Thursday, said 22, 000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to four local government areas liberated from Boko Haram in the state.

The North-East coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Kanar, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the areas

included Mafa, Dikwa, Konduga and Ngala.

He said no fewer than 7, 297 IDPs from Konduga, 12,517 from Mafa and 1,936 from Dikwa had willingly returned to their liberated communities.

According to him, “Report from International Organisation for Migrations, IDPs matrix tracking system indicates that we have about 393, 900 IDPs in 16 liberated local government areas.

“The councils include Dikwa, Bama Konduga Lassa Damboa, and Damboa Sabon-gari, Banki Benishaik, Gamborun ngala, Baga, Nganzai, Gwoza, Izge and Pulka, among others.

“We have about 110, 000 IDPs in 11 camps here in Maiduguri. The camps include Dalori I & II, Bakassi, EYN, CAN center, Gubio, MOGOLIS, Madinatu, NYSC and Teachers Village, among others.

Kanar said the agency was working with other relevant stakeholders to ensure total rehabilitation and resettlement of all IDPs in the North-East,” said Kanar.

government. The refusal to provide necessary details and documentations is responsible for the decision.

It will be reecalled that the Senate specifically and openly complained about the lack of supporting documentation and details and the data of how the loan would be spent.

“There is no doubt that the delay in processing the MTEF will substantially affect the presentation of 2017 budget.”

“The National Assembly is hopeful that the controversy would be resolved soonest to pave the way for the consideration of the 2017 budget,” the source said.

Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, had, in a letter dated October 19, 2016, asked the Minister of Budget and National Planning to provide the lawmakers with details of the MTEF, without which the legislature would be unable to do justice to the document.

In a letter, dated October 19, 2016 and signed by Senator Ndume, the Senate leadership had indicated that the MTEF/ FSP document submitted by the executive arm of government failed to provide holistic fiscal perspectives on the ways and manner in which the government wants to pull Nigeria out of recession.

The letter indicated that after a preliminary review of the MTEF/FSP by the Senate, it came to a conclusion that the main trust of the 2017-2019 MTEF was to reflate the economy out of recession, but added that the document failed to provide holistic data on how to achieve that.

The lawmakers, therefore, summoned the Minister of Budget and National Planning to a meeting with the leadership of the Senate on November 1 at 2.00p.m. The meeting did not hold.

The letter mandated the minister to provide before the meeting a Medium Term Development plan to show the funding pattern of the 2017-2019 MTEF; a comprehensive report of the implementation of the 2016 budget; a detailed account of fiscal rates, including taxes and charges upon which the 2017-2019 budget was based and a report on the structural composition of the nation’s debts and funding sources, as well as account of funds borrowed and the spending pattern.

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Friday, 11 November, 2016

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Metro...

crime, security, court

Police arrest woman who dupes bank customers in Lagos Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos

A

member of a fourman syndicate, which specialises in robbing bank customers has exposed how

the gang dupes unsuspecting bank customers.

The suspect, Biola (surname withheld) was onThursday arrested by Dopemu Divisional Police Station after one of the

gang’s victims alerted a patrol team from the station.

The image maker in charge of the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest of the suspect to Metro, adding

that efforts were on to arrest other members of the gang.

The suspect, it was learnt, confessed that the gang pretended to be spitualists to lure their victims to the hideout.

Internet fraud suspects who allegedly operated fake Facebook account of the Enugu State deputy governor.

Police arrest 2 over use of fake Facebook account as Enugu dep gov, others Jude Ossai - Enugu POLICE detectives in Enugu have arrested two persons suspected to be involved in internet fraud.

The suspects were alleged to have been operating a fake Facebook account in the name of the Enugu State deputy governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo.

Confirming the development, the state Police Public Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amarizu, said the suspects specialised in the use of prominent persons’ profile to open Facebook account, with a view to making unsuspecting members of the public believe that they were the real persons on the said profiles and consequently, defraud them after presenting stories of contract as highly placed persons.

Amarizu gave the names of the suspects as Richard (surname withheld) 36

years, a native of Amokohia in Imo State, residing at N0 20 Mbano camp Obigbo Portharcourt, Rivers State and Odinaka (surname withheld) 40 years, a native of Mbaitoli in Imo State, also residing at Omagwa, Rivers State.

The police image maker stated that: “The suspects have been in the business of creating fake Facebook account of identified prominent/eminent persons and use same to lure unsuspecting members of the public into believing that they are the persons they are impersonating and present a contract scenario through which their victims are duped.

“The suspects had earlier created a Facebook profile account with the Enugu State deputy governor, Cecilia Ezeilo and allegedly were using same to dupe unsuspecting members of the public to the tune of N635,ooo on account of money for an award of contract for desirous job/

contract seekers.”

According to Amarizu, “the suspects were nabbed on October 2 in Rivers State through intelligence information by the operatives of the Anti-Kidnap Unit of the Enugu State Police Command.

“The suspects, who are now helping the operatives in their investigations, are regretting their actions which they have

Nigerian Tribune

blamed on their continual quest to get rich quick.

“They further revealed that what they do is to create a Facebook account of prominent government/eminent persons and pretend to be that person and use same to defraud people by asking them to pay some amount of money for jobs/contracts through a certain bank account that they will provide.”

It was gathered that the gang had duped a certain Rafiu of the sum of N150,000 before regaining consciousness and alerting the police .

The arrested suspect, a resident of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while confessing to the crime, stated that their mode of operation was that she lurked around bank premises after which she would accost customers carrying money under pretense that she had lost her way and needed help to locate her destination.

According to the state police spokesperson, “in the process, she would be making some ‘spiritual’ revelation to her victim.”

The arrested suspect was said to be responsible for luring the victims to a location, where the three others would be waiting.

She would have lied to the victim that she wanted to take him or her to a place where prayers would be offered to solve his or her spiritual problems.

Badmos stated that “while the purported prayer is going on, the bag containing the victim’ s money will be replaced with papers covered with a few Naira notes and the suspects subsequently disappears with the money.”

She also said that the state police boss, Fatai Owoseni, had directed that the case should be charged to court, while the manhunt for other members of the gang should be also intensified.

Student bags 10-yr jail term for cultism Biola Azeez - Ilorin Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin and presided over by Justice Sikiru Oyinloye, has sentenced a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Fatai Olasile, to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of N50, 000 for membership of a secret cult and involvement in cult-related activities in the state.

Olasile was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on membership of Eiye secret cult, contrary to section 2 of Secret Cult and Secret Societies Law of Kwara State.

He was also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a locally made pistol punishable under section 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004.

The prosecution, led by Mr Kamaldeen Ajibade, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, called three witnesses and tendered exhibits to prove its case.

Another person identified as Mohammed Kehinde and two others were also arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, initiation of new members to secret cult and membership of the secret cult.

After a careful analysis of the case and the evidence presented by the prosecution, led by Mr Ajibade, Justice Oyinloye found the first and second accused persons guilty and sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment each with a fine of N50, 000. The third accused person was, however, discharged and acquitted of the said offences.

1 die, 4 arrested at PDP chairmanship primaries in Abia THE Abia State Police Command said one person died during a violence that broke out during Wednesday’s chairmanship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The command’s spokesman, Ogbonnaya Nta, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia, the state capital, on Thursday.

Nta said the deceased, identified as Onyemaechi and a member of staff of Isia-

langwa North Local Government, venue of the election, died in a fire that engulfed the chairman’s office.

The deceased reportedly died when the office was allegedly set on fire by aggrieved delegates.

Nta disclosed that the command had arrested four persons in connection with the mayhem.

Eyewitness account had it that trouble broke out when some delegates who came for the poll at the council

headquarters in Okpuala-Ngwa, rejected the list presented by the party’s officials who came to conduct the exercise.

It was learnt that the group, which threatened to disrupt the exercise, alleged that the list was “doctored” to favour a particular aspirant.

The agitation was said to have caused confusion and tension at the venue.

The eyewitness said in the midst of the crisis that ensued, “somebody sneaked

into the chairman’s office with a jerry can of petrol and set the place ablaze.

“The intention was to burn the disputed list,” the account said, adding that the fire escalated, killing one person on the spot.

Nta said three other occupants of the office sustained serious burns and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

He said the command had commenced investigation into the matter.

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Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Oluwatoyin Malik

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

Police foil robbery attack on church in Ibadan

By Tunde Ogunesan

Sympathisers offloading a trailer that crashed at the Kugbo Military checkpoint on Abuja-Keffi Road, on Thursday.

NSCDC rescues 18-yr-old girl from committing suicide in Abia Celestine Ihejirika - Umuahia

Security Nigeria THE and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Abia State command, Umuahia, has rescued an 18-year-old pregnant girl, Deborah (surname withheld) from a forest in Ossah Mission Hill, Umuahia while trying to commit suicide.

According to the command, the victim hails from

Ariaria, in Osisioma Local Government Area of the state.

Metro also gathered that the girl lost hope in life when her mother, Mrs Happiness, (surname withheld) remarried after her father died in 2013 and abandoned her with her other three sisters.

Briefing newsmen on Wednesday, State Commandant, Walter Akubiro Chika,

said efforts made to re-right her future and that of her siblings could not yield any fruit hence, she decided to run to her boyfriend, David (surname withheld) who hails from Owerri, Imo State, in Aba. It was learnt that Happiness took in for her boyfriend in the course of their living together, but he denied the pregnancy and pushed her

19 arraigned for stealing solar streetlights in Kaduna Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

SECURITY agencies in Kaduna have arraigned 19 suspects for vandalising and stealing solar streetlights installed by the Kaduna State government.

Spokesman to Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed on Wednesday, saying that 19 out of the 22 suspects had been charged to court.

Aruwan further reiterated the state government’s commitment to prosecute anyone found vandalising or stealing public properties.

He stated that “security operatives have arrested 22

suspects for vandalising and stealing of solar street lights fixed by the state government. Others in the net are buyers of the stolen properties within the metropolis.

“After careful combing of the crime scene, solar batteries and their covers and one iron saw were recovered inside the Cemetery on Bashama Road, Tudun Wada area of the metropolis.

“The operation which lasted two days raided all scrap iron vendors, roadside solar battery sellers mentioned in the deal.

“Items recovered during the raids included solar panels, armored cables, ve-

hicle spare parts and textile materials suspected to have been stolen were recovered from the suspects.”

Aruwan also revealed that the suspects and the items recovered were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the State Police Command for further investigation to establish the criminal profiles of the suspects for possible for various offences for prosecution.

He also warned vandals to desist from these dangerous acts, as the state government would prosecute anyone found vandalising or stealing public property.

out of the house.

Chika said having been overwhelmed by her unbearable condition without a helping hand, she resorted to her wandering the street until she made up her mind on committing suicide.

Fortunately for her, the Commandant said an officer of NSCDC attached to the presiding pastor of Heavenly Jerusalem Assembly Ossah sighted her in the forest and rescued her.

The State Commandant said efforts made by NSCDC Anti-Child Trafficking Unit to reach the mother of the girl and her boyfriend proved abortive.

Chika, while parading the victim before newsmen assured her of adequate care by the corps and a brighter future for her irrespective of her situation.

He, therefore, enjoined the general public to always give helping hand to venerable persons in the society, as such gesture goes a long way in blessing the society.

The Commandant, however, mandated the anti-child trafficking unit of the corps to carry its duty diligently to ensure all process towards handing the victim over to the Women Development Ministry in the state.

OYO State Police Command, through its Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), on November 6, foiled an attempted robbery on the Methodist Cathedral Church, Agodi, Ibadan, during its adult harvest service.

This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan.

According to Ajisebutu, “on Sunday, November 6, at about 1400 hours, through credible intelligence, the SARS of the command got wind of the sinister plan to rob the church and arrested the suspects. The foiled robbery was masterminded by a worker in the church, who invited other members of the gang to attack the church during which a large sum of money was to be stolen.

“The suspects arrested were Abiodun ‘m’ aged 43 years and Olukunle ‘m’ aged 25 years (surnames withheld). The suspects confessed to the crime.

“All the suspects will be arraigned in court after completion of investigations,” Ajisebutu noted.

Meanwhile, insider sources in the church informed Metro that Abiodun was a suspended senior steward of the church, while Olukunle used to play drum set for the church.

The source hinted that “the steward was suspended three months ago because he was involved in financial mismanagement of the church’s finance,” adding that two investigative panel reports had found Abiodun guilty; the third, a 2015 audit report of the church.

It was also revealed that the duo were said to have been on “operation revenge” and were due to strike at 4.00 p.m. on that Sunday before the security operatives got wind of their dastardly act.

It was also gathered that the suspects had visited the church twice before Sunday, precisely on Wednesday and Friday for logistic reasons prelude to their planned attack.

The command’ s image maker, however, wishes to “appreciate the enormous

support of members of the public who gave useful information which led to the arrest of the suspects.”

Police nab robbers while treating injured colleague A gang of robbers recently met their waterloo at their hideout in their attempt to treat their injured colleague in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, the robbers, who had been terrorising Alafara area of Ibadan were arrested on November 7, by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The two suspects who were arrested alive were Ibrahim, 32 and Taiwo, 27 (surnames withheld), confessed to the crime.

Ajisebutu informed that “the robbery suspects who had been terrorising the area and other parts of the state, however, met their waterloo when they were shot by the local vigilante in the area.

“Though the hoodlums escaped the scene, two members of the gang- Ibrahim and Taiwo, were subsequently arrested at their hideout by the SARS of the command when they were arranging for a local doctor to treat an injured member, identified as Mofoof aka Murphy, who later died as a result of the injuries sustained during the encounter.

“Their arrest was made possible following credible intelligence received from one of the command’s strategic partners.

“The two suspects who confessed to the crime disclosed that they were responsible for series of robbery activities at different parts of the state in recent times.”

Ajisebutu informed that some of the exhibits recovered from them included a locally-made cut-to-size single barrel gun and five cartridges.

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Friday, 11 November, 2016

President, International Public Relations Association (IPRA), Bart de Vries (right), presenting Global PR award to the founder of PRNigeria, Mr Yushau Shuaib, at an event held at Doha, Qatar.

PRNigeria bags Global PR award on crisis management The International Public Relations Association (IPRA), has presented Golden World Award (GWA) in crisis management to Image Merchants Promotion Limited, for its PRNigeria’s counter-insurgency and security consciousness campaigns.

The GWAs, often dubbed the ‘Oscars of PR,’ are the world’s most prestigious PR awards in various categories.

The IPRA president, Bart de Vries ,described the PRNigeria’s campaign as one of the most successful crisis communication strategies that entails creative innovation, media relations, social media and event management to win the Golden

Lead City varsity graduates 493, honours Sunny Ade, Adamolekun

By Kehinde Adio

The Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, graduated 493 students drawn from the five faculties in the institution, The university also nominated and officially conferred on the King of Juju music, Sunday Ishola Adeniyi Adegeye, with the Degree of Doctor of Performing Arts (Honoris Causa).

Similar recognition was also given to Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, who bagged Honorary Doctor of Science, Public Policy and Governance, in view of their individual contributions to nation building .

Giving the graduation statistics, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Olufemi Onabajo, said that 17 students had First Class; 118 with Second Class Upper; 242 with Second Class Lower while 82 had Third Class.

The vice chancellor said that the university had instilled in them courage and boldness and enjoined them to contribute positively to national development.

World Award in crisis management.

The president added that in determining the winners of various GWA categories, which included Grand Prix and United Nations awards among others, the IPRA judges spent the greatest parts of their sessions working in small teams.

“This year’s GWA entries saw a marked rise in using cross-media approaches, including innovative and creative use of social media, video or animation. The

2016 IPRA GWA winners also showed progress in measurement, integrating varied research perspectives, adopting measuring models and applying an evaluation.

Receiving the award, the founder of PRNigeria, Mr Yushau Shuaib, dedicated the GWA to Nigerian media and security agencies for their collaboration in ensuring a secured and safer society through timely and responsible information dissemination.

Ebenezer Adurokiya with

get included the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), statutory allocation, Value Added Tax and other capital receipts.

He explained that the state was projecting N70.1 billion as IGR in 2017, adding that the amount was lower than the 2016 budget by N5.2 billion.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to ensure a more organised city, Governor Okowa, has performed the groundbreaking for a multi-million Naira ultra-modern mechanic village in Asaba.

Performing the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, he assured the people of the state of his commitment towards ensuring better and organised cities in the state through partnership with private investors.

Okowa presents N270.91bn budget to Assembly agency report

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, on Thursday, presented a N270.91 billion 2017 budget to the state House of Assembly for consideration.

Presenting the budget, tagged: `”Budget of Fiscal Consolidation and Steady Progress,’’ Okowa said that N151.9 billion was earmarked for recurrent expenditure while N119 billion was for capital expenditure.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the governor noted that the 2017 appropriation showed a slight increase of N2.7 billion over the 2016 approved budget of N268.1 billion.

Governor Okowa said that the main sources of the bud-

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Friday, 11 November, 2016

Lagos residents consume over N3bn food daily —Ambode •Says state’ll maximise comparative advantage to achieve food security Bola Badmus- Lagos

L

AGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, said on Thursday, that the daily consumption of food items in the state worth over N3billion, adding that investors willing to do business in the agric sector in the state can be rest assured of a ready market and returns on investment.

The governor, who spoke at the maiden edition of the Lagos Food Security and Exhibition Summit, tagged “Actualising sustainable food security in Lagos State: A new, comprehensive agenda,’ said his administration remained committed in its

effort towards maximising its comparative advantage in the sector to achieve food security.

Governor Ambode, who said Nigeria had no business resorting to importation to feed its citizens, contended that there was no alternative to achieving food security other than tilling the land and embrace best practices that would improve efficiency in the agricultural value chain.

“Our core policy thrust towards achieving food security is to maximise the comparative advantage of the state in agriculture and establish partnerships with

other states with comparative advantage in specific areas,” he said.

Listing some areas of collaboration already activated, Ambode said his administration had sealed a partnership with Kebbi State government for the development of agricultural commodities such as rice, wheat, groundnut, onion, maize and beef value chain, expressing optimism that the partnership could result in the supply of 70 per cent of the total national rice consumption.

“We have also acquired agricultural land in other neighbouring states of Ogun

and Oyo as well as Abuja.

Specifically, 500 hectares of farm land has been acquired for rice cultivation in Eggua, Ogun State, 84.7 hectares ,at Okinni, in Oshogbo, Osun State, for oil palm processing, among others,” he said.

According to him, the Lagos Food Security Summit and Exhibition ,was organised to bring together relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector to proffer solutions to the challenges militating against the achievement of food security.

He, therefore, said there was no better time for the nation to review its ap-

proach and the redirection of its energies to food production, in the wake of the economic challenges facing the country.

Earlier, the chairman of the summit, Alhaji Sani Dangote, had commended the Governor Ambode-led administration for being in the forefront in addressing the challenge of food security.

He said despite the shortage of arable land in Lagos, the state government could leverage on its comparative advantages to not only guarantee food security in the state but also feed the neighbouring South West states.

Ilese development council kicks against location of LCDA

By SEGUN ADEBAYO

ILESE Community Development in Ilese, Ijebu, Ogun State, has kicked against the decision of the state government over the alleged replacmemt of the location of the headquarters of Yemoji Local Council Development Area (LCD), at Isonyin with Ilese and called for an open referendum to address it.

In an open letter to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the Ilese Development Council protested the alleged replacement of Ilese with Isoyin as the headquarters of Yemoji LCDA and called for the reversal of the of the decision.

In a press release jointly signed by the chairman and assistant secretary general of the council, Segun Demuren and Pastor Popo-Ola Ojikutu, it said the governor had named Ilese as the headquarters of the LCDA in a letter written to the speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Honourable Suraju Adekunbi, adding that it also alleged that Isele was stated as the headquarters of Yemoji LCDA in the publication released by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).

It said further that Ilese had emerged as the preferred choice following a consensus reached among the representatives of the communities, which constituted the new LCDA, comprising of Isoyin, Apuren, Erunwon, Ilese, Ogbogbo, Okeeri, Isiwo and Itamapako.

While appealing to the state government for a reversal, it maintained that “upon the announcement of Ilese as the headquaters, the people of the area had spent over N20million to ensure a smooth take off of the LCDA.

From right, President, Nigeria Agric Business Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote; Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode; his deputy, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule and the Special Adviser on Food Security, Mr Sanni Ganiyu Okanlawo, during the Lagos Food Security Summit and Exhibition, held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Mimiko promises Mother and Child Hospital before Feb

Kicks off 4.7Km Ikare road project ONDO State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Thursday, assured that a Mother and Child Hospital will be built in Ikare- Akoko, before he leaves office, even as he flagged off a 4.7-Kilometre dualisation of Ikare-Akoko Township Road project in Akoko North East Local Government Area of the state.

The flag-off ceremony attracted prominent sons and daughters of the town, including the state deputy governor, Alhaji Abdulazeez Oluboyo, the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh and the Owa Ale of Ikare, Oba Adegbite Adedoyin, among others.

Governor Mimiko, who used the medium to debunk insinuation that his administration neglected the Akoko axis in roads construction, said his government had already constructed over 175Kilometres of roads in the area.

The road project, which includes the realignment of “Oke Alabojuto” in Ikare, according to Governor

Mimiko, would put an end to the incessant road accidents occasioned by the hilly and slippery nature of the road section.

The “Oke Alabojuto” through the central mosque at the city centre spanning about 400 metres ,would be focused and completed within three months being

the first phase of the project.

The contractor handling the project, RCF Nigeria Limited, had already moved all the needed equipment to the site.

The governor listed some of the road projects in Ondo North senatorial district to include 4.2Ki-

lometres Oka Township Road, 29 Kilometres Ikare - Ugbe - Iboropa - Ise-Akoko Road, Supare Township Road, massive rehabilitation of Owo - Ikare Road, Akungba - Ikare Road, Oka - Epinmi Road, Ikare - Arigidi - Erusu - Ajowa, down to the boundary of Kogi State, among others.

N8bn CBN scam: Fresh application for plea bargain stalls trial JUSTICE Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, adjourned till December 6, hearing on the plea bargain process between Olunike Afolabi and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) in the ongoing N8 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) currency scam case.

Afolabi, Kolawole Babalola, Adeola Olaniran, Philip Togun and Adewale Ademola along with others had since 2015 been standing trial over mul-

tiple charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery, stealing and recirculation of N8 billion, property of CBN. Abdulmaleek adjourned the case to allow Afolabi and the EFCC conclude all the processes involved in the plea bargain arrangement.

She said the adjournment would also allow the charge sheets to be amended to reflect the current realities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that at the resumed trial, counsel to Afolabi, Mr Adewole Olajire, had announced

that his client had begun a plea bargain process with the EFCC. Olajire said that the whole process would be completed within two weeks.

Other defence counsel led by Mr Olayinka Bolanle urged the court to consider the plea bargain application and adjournment in the interest of justice and fair trial.

Mr Adebisi Adeniyi, the prosecuting counsel, who confirmed receipt of the plea bargain application, also urged the court to grant the adjournment .

JAFAS charges Oyo govt on tertiary institutions’ subventions

By Modupe George

THE Joint Action Forum of Academic Staff (JAFAS) of state-owned tertiary institutions in Oyo State, has reacted with dismay the refusal of the state government to rescind its decision on the initial withdrawal and subsequent reduction of subvention to stateowned tertiary institutions, inspite of several appeals.

This was contained in a communique issued and co-signed by chairmen of unions of the institutions at the end of an emergency meeting held at Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo town, on Monday, November 7.

At the meeting, members reteirated the extent to which they have been subjected to psychological trauma owing to the nonpayment of salary for several months, adding that payment of salary is the primary responsibility of government.

According to the communique, the forum believed that the situation is still within orthodox remedy and decided that “since the term subvention has been deliberately ascribed misleading interpretation by the political class, members unequivocally demanded payment of salary arrears till date.”

“The Federal Government should prevail on debtor-states to, without further delay, pay all outstanding arrears of their workers. Doing this, it was observed, would enhance the war against corruption of the Federal Government.”

Abandoned baby THIS baby boy was abandoned by an unknown person along Osu/Ile-Ife Expressway, on July 31, 2016, when the child was about three weeks old.

Anybody with information that can lead to the location of the parents or relatives of the child should, please, inform the Director of Social Welfare Department, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, Osogbo or the Social Welfare Office, Ilesa, Osun State

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Nigerian Tribune

FG sets out comprehensive economic agenda Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

T

HE Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja commenced an expansive and all inclusive medium term economic development plan (2017 -2019), at a national economic retreat in Abuja.

Participants at the twoday event, drawn from the public and private sector, consultancies and the academia, were invited to make contributions that would form part of the economic roadmap to be delivered to Nigerians by December this year.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, while declaring the retreat open, proposed that the work should be along five thematic areas of: macroeconomic policy, economic diversification and growth, competitiveness, jobs and social inclusion, and governance.

He told the experts that they have been invited to work with government in transforming the country’s economy, the purpose being that government wants a final product which will achieve the desired result and also stand the test of time Recalling the various actions culminating in the retreat, the Minister said the Economic Management Team has been working very hard since the release of the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) in May, which formed the basis for the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper(MTEF/FSP) that was completed in August 2016.

The MTEF/FSP “involved extensive consultations with top economists, the organized private sector, civil society as well as state governors.

“We also developed the Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) for the large

spending ministries. These are all inputs in the 2017 budget.

“In the preparation for the 2017 Budget, we also organised a ministerial retreat which was chaired by His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Our intention now is to bring all this work together as part of a comprehensive medium term plan. As

His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari had promised,this last stage will involve extensive consultations. And that is the purposeof this retreat.”

While acknowledging that the country has never been short of good policy proposals, the Minister charged participants to not only be candid in their contributions but also innovative in

THE Nigeria Customs Service Seme Area Command generated N994, 813,647.06 for the month of October 2016. The Command also made 68 with a Duty Paid Value of N35, 302,957.90.

According to a statement signed by the commands Spokesman, Taupyen Selchang recently, “the revenue generated in the month of October exceeded the amount generated in the corresponding year with over N60, 884,291.76.

“The challenges that hampered the smooth collection of revenue in the month of October were:- The malfunctioning of the Electrical Control Cabinet and the

development partners.”

Dismissing comments in some quarters that government does not have an economic programme, the Minister reminded participants that “the administration laid out a clear economic vision and direction in the President’s 2016 Budget speech as well as in the SIP for the 2016 Budget of Change.” The SIP is

From left, Dr. Seun Obasanjo, Executive Director, Tempo Food & Packaging Limited; Mr. Philip Ikeazor, Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Bank Limited and Mr. Bunmi Akinremi, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc at the launch of a book on “Foundations of Structured & Trade Finance” by Dr Benedict Okey Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), at the Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos.

Senate set to give more powers to AMCON on debt recovery Chima Nwokoji-Lagos THE Nigerian Senate is set to come up with new strategies, that will empower and embolden the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON),in dealing with debtors.

To this end, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, on Thursday, in Uyo hinted that the time would soon run out on recalcitrant obligors of AMCON, given the renewed commitment of the Senate to build strategic collaborations that would develop greater capacity for debt recovery and sustained development

in the country.

Members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions are in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital for a three-day retreat to deliberate on the best approaches to be adopted to help the challenged Nigerian economy. The theme of the retreat is: “Economic Rebuild-

Electricity Generating Plant of the Scanning Machine (which lasted for five days).

“Another bottleneck was the new policy introduced by the Republic of Benin on movement of goods from the ports to their Bonded Terminals before been transferred to the park.

“Also, the prevailing high exchange rate (CFA) and the dilapidated nature of the road diversion from the Republic of Benin has contributed immensely in slowing down economic activities at the border.

“Commenting on the revenue figure, the Customs Area Controller, Seme Command David Dimka disclosed that the commands determination to succeed all the time and at all cost is paying off.

ing through Eligible Assets Recovery.” In attendance are the management of AMCON led by Ahmed Kuru, Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of AMCON among other stakeholders.

“This retreat for the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions is in keeping with our commitment

to build strategic collaborations in order to develop greater capacity for sustained development. It is my hope that we will fully achieve the objectives of this retreat thereby strengthening the relationship between AMCON, this committee and indeed the entire hallowed upper legislative chamber.

not reverse power sector privatisation, despite the challenges facing the sector.

Speaking at the fifth EU -Nigeria business forum in Lagos, on Thursday, Fashola said those who want to get out of the agreement could, based on terms of agreement signed at the beginning of the deal, but added that total cancellation is not to be considered.

“I have heard discussions about revisiting the privatisation of power, honestly, I don’t know what it means.

I’d like those who made the arguments to be specific; let them come out. Let us have a discussion; does revisiting means cancelling it?If it does, I don’t support it.

“The investors who took the plough, must have the assurance that government will not flip flop, and contracts that fail, have consequences,” he said.

It will be recalled that the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Sena-

stated on Tuesday, during a working visit to Eko Distribution Company, that there is need “to understand the problem bedeviling power sector. Should we cancel privatisation of the sector?

This is because they are private companies and they must make profit without any regulatory hiccups.

“We need to explain to the Senate our findings and what exactly privatization means to Nigerians. We need practical solutions to these problems which we can sell to the Senate for approval.”

Besides, Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group, had asked that the power privatisation process be revisited and reversed into the “right hands.

“We should be as open as we can if government doesn’t intervene by taking back these assets and giving them to people who really have money that they can really inject, we will not be able to deliver on power.”

anchored on four policy fundamentals: investing in critical infrastructure, embracing the private sector, fostering social inclusion and job creation and improving security and tacking corruption.”

He noted that the execution and monitoring of these fundamental objectives are prioritized in six thematic areas which are: policy, security and governance; diversification of the economy; power, rail and roads; oil and gas reforms; ease of doing business and social investment.

Thirty four key actions of the SIP were selected for immediate implementation and according to him, “many of these are already yielding results.

Senator Udoma explained that the SIP was intended for the short-term, pointing out that in the foreword, President Muhammadu Buhari had stressed that a more comprehensive medium term plan involving extensive consultations would be delivered before the end of the year, as a follow-up to the SIP. “This explains why we are gathered here”, he added.

The Minister indicated that some of the actions outlined in the SIP included the development of sector roadmaps.

“These have since been concluded and launched for Agriculture, Solid Minerals, Water Resources and Petroleum Resources, and will be incorporated in the medium term development plan,” he said.

Kari charges insurance FG won’t reverse power sector privatisation —Fashola brokers on the federal government will tor Ben Murray-Bruce, had ethics, discipline Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos THE Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, has assured Nigerians that

Seme Customs received N995m in October Tola Adenubi - Lagos

coming up with proposals and ideas that are to be included in the economic recovery and growth plan.

“The ideas that are contributed and adopted by thematic groups will be captured in a draft document which will be shared in consultation with various groups, including the federal and state governments, the private sector and our

“However he was quick to point out that there is room for improvement to surpass the amount generated. The Customs Area Controller noted that if the command must dare to be different and remain in total compliance as a change agent, the command must be ready to face criticism and public condemnation among many unpatriotic Nigerians.

“He said no amount of criticism, campaign of calumny and unprofessional publications of baseless and unverified news on the pages of newspapers against Seme will stop the Command from working strictly in compliance with the mandate of the Comptroller General of Customs.”

Sanya Adejokun- Abuja NATIONAL Insurance Commissioner, Mohammed Kari, on Thursday, charged insurance brokers on ethics, moral standards and discipline in order to break public mistrust of the industry.

Kari, who spoke at the in Abuja at the 2016 Insurance Brokers’ Conference and Exhibition said “policy holders find it difficult to comprehend the clauses, warranties and exclusions associated with insurance contracts.”

Speaking on the theme The Future Today for the Insurance Broking Profession in Nigeria, Kari who is also Director General, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) said the insurance service providers hardly explain enough what they sell while policyholders are also guilty of neither reading nor asking questions about the contract document of what they buy.

12

businessnews

Friday, 11 November, 2016

Shell shuts down Escravos flow station over protest Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

R

OYAL Dutch Shell has shut down an Escravos crude oil flow station located in the Niger Delta region after villagers staged a protest on Wednesday.

In another blow to the oil major, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militant group said it had attacked the Forcados crude export line.

Shell said the flow station on the pipeline operated by its joint-venture partner SPDC was no longer processing crude oil, but the impact on Escravos exports, which can run via other routes, was not immediately clear.

Protest leader, Shyne Edema, said his group was demonstrating at the facility, shutting down power and water supplies as well as crude production, to press Shell into providing aid.

“Today is the eighth day of the protest. We have laid siege at the facility from dusk to dawn since then. We are there now as I speak,” he said.

He said the protesters complained about Shell’s “neglect of its social responsibility of providing good roads, water and elec-

tricity for its host communities where none of these things exist.”

But Shell said it was engaging the Delta state government and local leaders to discuss the grievances.

“SPDC provides power to Ugborodo communities through company-maintained diesel generating sets, pending the completion of the electricity project for the communities,” Shell said.

One of the most active militant groups, the NDA, confirmed to Reuters by email that it had attacked Shell’s Forcados export pipeline. On Twitter, the group said the strike oc-

Aviation ministry spends N4.2bn in 5 months —Minister Tyavzua Saanyol - Abuja MINISTER of State for Aviation, Captain Hadi Siriki has revealed that despite low funds release to the ministry in the 2016 appropriation year at the total of 43 percent, performance has reached 65 percent.

Siriki disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from Senate Committee on Aviation led by Senator Adamu Aleiro who were on oversight function in the ministry.

EU, Nigeria trade hit €30bn in 2015 Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba - Lagos THE European Union Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Nigerian economy recorded 30 billion euros in 2015 despite the exit of foreign investment in the Nigerian bourse.

Speaking at the EU-Nigeria Business Forum in Lagos on Thursday, Head of EU Delegation in Nigeria, Ambassador Michael Arrion, said that the European Union and Nigeria had, over the years, developed robust economic relations with very large trade volumes at €30 billion in 2015.

As part of its commitment towards cementing the business relationship between Nigeria and European Union, EU has committed 150 million euros to the power sector, as a significant part of the Nigerian economy.

Mr Juan Casla, the Head of the Economic Cooperation and Energy Section, EU Delegation, while speaking during the panel discussion on Funding the Electricity Sector, noted that out of the 150 million Euros, 86 million Euros has so far been spent on

curred on Tuesday at 1045 p.m. local time.

A community leader, Chief New-World Endoro, said there was an oil spill at the site of the attack. Soldiers were now patrolling the area, he added.

Several attacks have been claimed on the pipeline since President Muhammadu Buhari met last week with community leaders and representatives of militants to address complaints of poverty.

An attack last week forced the closure of the Trans Forcados Pipeline, cutting the OPEC member’s oil production by at least 200,000 barrels per day.

projects across the country.

“We have a priority in cooperation with Nigeria towards the energy sector. We are focusing very much on the promotion of renewal of energy in the country, improvement of energy efficiency, as well as improving access to electricity in the rural,” he said.

The forum, according to Arrion, was organised by the EU Delegation in close liaison with the 20 EU Member States represented in Nigeria, to allow business leaders and policy makers to discuss ways to improve the business environment and to attract European investments in Nigeria.

Earlier in a goodwill message, Nike Akande, Chairman of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, commended the EU Delegates for enhancing the good business relationship between EU and Nigeria, while noting that the business forum also aligned with the trade promotion agenda of the LCCI focussed on building international partnerships and alliances for the promotion of investment and trade flows between Nigerian and friendly countries.

The Minister stated that, the total appropriation for the ministry for 2016 was N19, 858,571,749.00, the total amount released is N8, 457,010,646.86 while the amount spend so far is N4, 290,948,284.23 with the balance of N4,166,062,362.63 remaining, adding that, the balance of the appropriation yet to receive is N11, 401,561,102.14.

He observed that the capital budget implementation of his ministry is focused on the completion of on-going projects in the major international airports while key steps have been taken to establish a national carrier.

According Siriki, “you agree with me from the above budget performance that one of our major constraints has been funding, which is largely due to dwindling resources of government. This explains why the sector is putting arrangements in place for the adoption of public private partnership (PPP) in funding its projects to lessen burdening of funding on government” He called on the Senate to fast track laws that will give room for expansion in the industry, stating that, aviation is pivotal to the growth of key economic sectors including tourism, trade and commerce.

In his response, the Senate Committee Chairman on Aviation, Sen. Adamu Aleiro expressed satisfaction on the level of performance of the budget by the ministry.

He also said the Committee has thrown their weight behind the planned concession of the country’s major airports in order to bring in expertise in the sector and promise to support the project.

Aleiro however queried that, most agencies under the ministry are over staffed, adding that, “this is not good for developing country like Nigeria.”

2016 LAGOS INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

From left, Executive Director, Dangote Salt, Fatima Dangote: Executive Director, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communications, Dangote Plc, Ahmed Mansur; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Chief Nike Akande; Executive Director, Dangote Flour, Halima Dangote and Vice-President/Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, LCCI, Sola Oyetayo, during Dangote Plc Special Day, at the on-going 2016 Lagos International Trade Fair, held on Thursday, in Lagos. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

Look inwards for business investors, Dangote charges FG

T

HE Chairman of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has charged the federal government of Nigeria to beam its searchlight on the nation’s business environment for investors rather than going out to foreign lands for same purpose.

Dangote, who was represented at the Dangote Special Day at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair, in Lagos, by the Group’s Executive Director, Stakeholders’ Management and Corporate Communication, Engineer Ahmed Mansur, argued that rather than go to China and other foreign countries, the focus of the federal government should be how to incentivise investors in the country.

He noted the pre-election threat of the newly elected president of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump and other challenges currently facing the nation’s economy should be seen as a wake-up call by all Nigerians to develop the country.

“I don’t think we have that moral right to go and be en-

joying in a foreign economy that has already been built, while our own is in tatters.

“That is why I believe Nigerians should see Trump’s threat as a wakeup call for us to really sit down and fix our econ-

Fidelity Bank rewards 10 customers at Fair IT was the turn of ten lucky customers of Fidelity Bank Plc, to win various sums of money as the bank marked its day on Thursday, at the ongoing Fair.

The Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo explained that the lucky customers were being rewarded for their unflinching loyalty to the bank in the past few years.

While five of the customers were rewarded with N150,000 each, the other set of five went home with the sum of N500,000.

According to him, since flagging off the reward initiative few months ago, the bank had given out over N1billion to its lucky customers. He however appealed to others to leverage

Why we embarked on major infrastructure improvements at the ports —NPA THE Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has explained that its decision to carry out massive infrastructural upgrades in its port and harbor facilities across Lagos, Port Harcourt/Bonny, Warri and Calabar was informed by the need to meet growing demands of Nigerians, while also representing its crave for capacity expansion in port facilities.

Speaking during the NPA Day at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos, the Managing Director of the Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, stated that as a critical stakeholder in the nation’s econ-

omy,” he stated.

He argued further that the responsibility to fix the nation’s economy should be not be left to the government, but be seen by every Nigerian as the responsibility of all.

omy, development of port infrastructures had become imperative for the Authority to enable it contribute its own quota to the growth of the nation’s economy.

According to her, some of those infrastructural developments the Authority had carried out include the rehabilitation of rail network in Lagos Port Complex and Port Harcourt and the upgrade of 1.6km dual carriage way within Lagos Port complex.

She added that the infrastructural developments had led to improvement in cargo and vessels turnaround time at the ports.

on the promo, which is still ongoing, to enable them earn extra incomes.

‘Saka’, others cook at NASCON Allied Industry stand NOLLYWOOD celebrities are not left out of this year’s Fair. Some of them are actively involved in the trade exhibition, scheduled to end on Sunday, November 13, this year.

For instance, popular Nollywood Stars Hafeez Oyetoro, also known as Saka and Ronke Odusanya, were cynosure of all eyes as they displayed their culinary skills at the NASCON Allied Industry stand, on Thursday.

The company, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group had explained that the objective of bringing the duo to the Fair was to enable it effectively impact some culinary education on its customers at the Fair.

“We believe that the two Nollywood stars are popular actors which the people can easily relate with. The purpose therefore is to let them teach Nigerians on how to use some of our products such as salt, vegetable oil and even tomato paste to cook,” the company had stated.

The company also used the opportunity to unveil its brand ambassador, Zara Mustafa a popular chef and wellness adviser to participants at its stand.

13

editorial

Friday, 11 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Donald Trump’s election as US President Continues from Front Page

Trump’s victory is undoubtedly the triumph of the voice of the people. Ironically, it is also the triumph of his will. His ascendancy at the polls on Tuesday, November 8, sent shock waves through the global markets as shares plunged with America’s allies astonished at the choice that Americans made.

Trump’s election reminds the world of how imperfect democracy is. Since it began in the ancient Greek city-state, democracy has never been greater than the people in every polity want it to be.

More important, it is a work in progress. It is in recognition of this that the founding fathers of America resolved that every generation must strive to “make a more perfect union. ”The United States has never witnessed a more divisive and obnoxious election since the end of World War II. The billionaire business man and his opponent, the tried and tested public servant, former First Lady and Senator, Secretary Hilary Clinton, polarised the country as they fought for the coveted prize. But at every point and through every turn, Hillary Clinton was expected by most polls to triumph. She was not merely the more experienced contender, she was the only one with experience in public service and high office. She had served with distinction, but not without controversies, real and imagined.

As the historic presidency of Barrack Obama, a man who has exemplified uncommon breadth of knowledge, dignity, temperance, fortitude and rectitude comes to an end, it was doubtful if he could be succeeded by anyone with comparable self-possession. Despite the fact that he was buffeted unceasingly by the opposition Republican party, and particularly the Republican-led Congress, Obama’s presidency undoubtedly restored America’s respect around the world apart from rescuing the economy from the worst depression since the end of World War II. Under his steady leadership, the country generated an economic growth that was unequalled in recent memory, with the unemployment rate dropping to less than five percent. Yet, a combination of factors, including a changing economy that leaves millions of workers without new skills behind and the challenges of environmental considerations that transformed the labour market embittered many people.

They were tired of promises by politicians and wanted “change” for better. Trump promised to “make America great again” and millions hearkened to his voice.

As many in the United States and most parts of the world recover from the shock of the election of someone dismissed

as unelectable, President-elect Trump faces daunting tasks.

Fulfilling his infinite promises of “winning, winning and getting tired of winning” under his presidency will be difficult to say the least. He will inherit a much better and more vibrant economy than his predecessor inherited. But he will also inherit a far more riven nation. He will need allies to help maintain global peace. He will need to bring Americans of all races, creed and convictions together to heal the nation and move forward.

He will need to disappoint sceptics and fulfill the hopes of the millions that gave him their mandate.

Since the end of end of the Cold War, the world has relied on United States leadership to maintain world peace. The US has not always lived up to expectations; but it is undoubtedly the one indispensable power which has, despite its imperfections, helped to stabilise the world and keep it from coming apart since the implosion of the Soviet Union. A President Trump therefore will need to abandon isolationism and live up to the expectations of his high office when he takes the oath on January 20.

Donald Trump’s presidency is not unlikely to have important implications for Nigeria. After a few years of uncertainty, President Muhammadu Buhari ascension to power has led the United States to moderately commit itself to helping Nigeria with its security challenges. We hope that the present administration will ensure that this support increases under a President Trump. Beyond this, as the global oil market enters a new phase with far less dependency on Nigeria’s oil by the US, the Buhari administration needs to re-strategise regarding its relations with the United States. Nigeria is an indispensable ally not only in regional but also in continental security. The United States needs to partner with Nigeria in responding to security challenges in the sub-region as well as the rest of the continent and the world. A President Trump administration will need strong demonstration of seriousness on the part of the Buhari administration to partner with Nigeria in confronting Nigeria’s as well as regional security problems. The United States under President Trump can help to end the Boko Haram menace.

While we congratulate America’s president-elect, Donald Trump, we recognise the daunting challenges that he faces.

How he tries to impose order and purpose on his presidency will not only have serious implications for the United States, it will also largely determine peace and prosperity in the world.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 11 November, 2016

editor

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Corruption: Nigerians should speak with one voice

N

IGERIA is a democratic nation with a huge population.

However, the issues currently facing the country

in this present administration are not new. Let me quickly analyse one or two things here; the National Assembly comprises of 109 Senators, Federal House of

Representatives comprises 360 members. Three senators from each state and almost 10 Reps from each state across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal

Capital Territory (FCT).

We have a total number of 469 lawmakers at the Federal level, not to talk of those at the states, and other public stakeholders

Towards reviving Nigeria’s economy STEADILY, the oil price is rising again. It has recently risen to $50 per barrel, and with the coming together of oil producing nations to curb the glut, then there is hope that the price will rise further.

This is definitely good news for oil producing countries. For Nigeria, the rise in price is another opportunity for us to do things differently from how they were done when we had money; we should not abandon the achievements we have made in the last couple of months, and by achievements, I mean Nigerians have come to realise the need to diversify from oil.

We have also realised that patronising local products rather than imported ones will help the country develop.

Today, we based our budget on $38 per barrel, but in the event that oil surpasses this target in the coming months, then we should not just sit down, while thinking things have returned to normal; rather, the excess should be saved for viable projects.

Where we find ourselves today should serve as a lesson to us all, particularly the politicians.

This is a period when we should think about the country first; then we should work harder towards making the country

Attention, Oyo govt on Eleyele-Ologuneru Road I am using this medium to draw the attention of the Oyo State government to the bad condition of the Eleyele-Ologuneru Road in Ibadan.

This terrible road has been affecting the economic situation of the area, and it is also causing a lot of accidents.

Many transporters who ply the road for survival have become jobless due

to the fact that their vehicles are no longer road worthy as a result of the damages to their vehicles.

I am, therefore, appealing to the state government to help us rehabilitate this deplorable road.

•Oyalowo Opeyemi, Olonde Estate, Ologuneru, Ibadan.

Abandoned Ijebu-Igbo bridge: Appeal to Ogun govt I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Ogun State government and the Commissioner for Works to complete the abandoned bridge at Station, Ijebu Igbo.

This bridge has been abandoned for over a year now, and it does not make any sense if it ends up as an abandoned project because several houses were demolished to pave way for the bridge.

In fact, the abandoned

project is causing untold hardship for the people of the town, as accidents now occur as a result of the construction materials left behind on this site.

I, therefore, hope that the state government, under the leadership of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, will quickly revisit the project.

•Abolade Bolatito, Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo.

Ogun State.

the envy of others.

We have the human and natural resources to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams, unfortunately, due to laziness and greed, we lost our opportunity to make Nigeria one of the most prosperous nations on earth.

I believe the opportunity is coming again, and this time, we must not let it slip by. We must capitalise on the inflow of oil money to develop other sectors of the economy.

However, it is important for the government to quickly strike trade deals with our oil buyers because other oil producers are also looking to strike

such deals.

For example, India and China, the world’s biggest oil buyers, are currently working towards striking oil deals with oil-producers, particularly those that are suffering as a result of the slump in price of oil.

Nigeria, Venezuela, Angola, Saudi Arabia, are few of the countries that are in a recession due to the oil glut, and these countries are already doing everything in their power to get buyers for their oil, so Nigeria should act fast in striking beneficial oil deals with our trading partners.

•Dr Taju Alalade, Ilorin, Kwara State.

at the grassroots.

Unfortunately, only those saddled with the responsibility of governance are enjoying the country’s democratic dividends.

Let us take a critical look at our immediate environment, uncountable number of projects have been abandoned, qualified graduates are unemployed, insecurity in the land, our roads are death-traps for motorists, education is not affordable for poor citizens across the federation, Nigerians are sinking under the yoke of poverty, while the rot in our education sector is begging for a lasting solution.

It is as a result of this that we need to ask ourselves if we are truly a democratic nation. We all know that Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural and human resources, yet the majority of the people are not enjoying the benefits of these resources.

National dailies keep re-

porting how billions of naira are shared among the so-called political stakeholders and government officials, while the people being governed cannot not afford three square meal on a daily basis.

Recently, former President Olusegun Obasanjo identified corruption as the major enemy of the country.

It is, therefore, important for Nigerians to speak with one voice.

Let us put aside our political differences and work towards tackling corruption in the country. We should do away with anybody whose source of wealth we do not know.

We should also start shunning politicians who we know have not contributed to the development of the country.

•Adeyemi Daniel, lionsden4dan@yahoo.com

15

opinion

Friday, 11 November, 2016

Still on the war against corruption

By Tunji Aworinde

C

ORRUPTION has, apparently, become everyday byword in our society so much so that we have, in a way, become desensitised to the cancer that corruption is.

A kind of octopus with tentacles with national and global reach. The press and especially, Transparency International Daily Corruption News paint a picture of a global menace and a ‘cancer at the heart of so many of our world’s problems’ and more important, presumably, to security of nations than terrorism!

What is corruption? How has corruption become the cancer at the heart of worlds’ problems? Why had attempts by nations and global institutions and law enforcement failed to arrest escalation of corruption in society?

While battling their own corruption problems, the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, the commonwealth, the African Union, all have anti-corruption conventions. The most recent anti-corruption effort on a global scale was the gathering of world leaders, institutions and NGOs in London in the spring of 2016 for the ‘Tackling Corruption Together’ conference and summit. Why should the world hope in this gathering as panacea to all of our corruption problems where others have failed?

This article is aimed, primarily, at contributing to discussion and debates on anti-corruption agenda in Nigeria and in the context of the ‘Tackling Corruption Together’ conference and summit and the country’s commitment document; at reminding Nigerian political leaders of the ‘nation’s commitment’ document signed by President M Buhari to tackling corruption in the country and that non- implementation of the commitments in full would deepen further, despair and distrust of the government by the governed. It is also aimed at exploring possible corruption causation, history and assumed solutions.

The conference and summit brought together forty three countries from around the world together with representatives from the UN, NGOs and civil organisations, for a grand anti-corruption event with the now familiar theme ‘Tackling Corruption Together’. A joint anti-corruption declaration was signed and 600 specific country commitments made.

But what is corruption? The word may be subject to different interpretations depending on situation and context. The Oxford English Dictionary defines corruption as dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery; the

process by which a word or expression is changed from its original state to one regarded as erroneous or debased. In computing, corruption may mean the deliberate modification of data on a computer and rendering it useless.

Transparency International (TI) defines corruption broadly and used in the context of this article, as ‘the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It can be classified as grand, petty and political, depending on the amounts of money lost and the sector where it occurs. Political corruption is a manipulation of policies, institutions and rules of procedure in the allocation of resources and financing by political decision makers, who abuse their positions to sustain their power, status and wealth’.

What is the human behaviour motivating corruption? Dr D Cressey, an eminent American Criminologist and Sociologist explores, in ‘Other People’s Money’, motives, adapted for this article, for financial fraud (corruption) as including financial pressure; peer pressure, lust for wealth and fame; greed; family and or community expectations etc. His work provides us with some insights into financial criminal behaviour but short on explaining why some individuals in a group of people, in similar occupation with similar remuneration, in the same country, choose to ‘steal’ and some do not!

Speakers at the London conference on corruption failed to define ‘Tackling Corruption Together’. The presumption, one would imagine, was that we all understood those three words! A definition proposed for the purpose of this article, is ‘the coming together of international community, waking up to the ‘cancer’ that corruption is, especially, to the poor, and coming together to propose a ‘cure’ for the cancer’.

The global collaboration proposed and promoted by the con-

ference and summit was, especially, apt, with the conference taking place in the backdrop of the ‘Panama Papers’. The data leak in April 2016, by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, laying bare the extent to which corruption, tax evasion, and other criminality is made possible by the global offshore industry.

The thrust of the conference and summit was assumed to engraving anti-corruption ‘ammunition’ at the heart of governments, international institutions and organisations by means of corruption preventing measures: building integrity; ending impunity and upholding the rule of law by punishing culprits and protecting and empowering citizens and businesses reporting corruption. Tools and policies promoted for realising these objectives were centrally and publicly availability of ownership of company registers; beneficial ownership transparency in property ownership and purchasing; transparency in public procurement, contracting and open data and transparency in the extractives sector and the protection of whistle-blowers.

Statements by government leaders before, during and post conference may go down, one assumes, as some of the strongest anti-corruption and impunity fighting talk. These were aimed; it appears, at pressing home destructive impact of corruption and impunity. Mr. John Kerry, the US Secretary of State ranked the fight against corruption as more important to future security of nations than terrorism, while Mr. David Cameron, the former British Prime Minister attributed corruption to ‘the cancer at the heart of so many of the world’s problems… It destroys jobs, traps the poorest in poverty, and weakens security…..’

The cancer is prevalent perhaps, in Africa more than any other continent. The Rev Susanne Matale, (General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Zambia) appears to reflect on this in her contribution to the conference’s ‘leaders anti-corruption manifesto’; suggesting that ‘corruption isn’t just about the individuals that benefit; the crooked politicians, the officials that look the other way, the businessman that offers bribes or the lawyer that provides the cover. Corruption isn’t just about the individuals that suffer; the teacher that goes unpaid, the small businesswoman that loses out on a contract, the worker crushed in the collapse of a sub-standard building or the child that dies from hunger. These are certainly important stories and they need to be exposed. Corruption harms African countries and robs our people of their livelihoods and dignity.

•Aworinde is a Chartered and Forensic Accountant.

Making a case for Nigerian roads

By Rotimi Awoyemi GIVEN Nigeria’s natural endowments even in the form of impressive topography, from the awe-inspiring flat savannah plains in the North, to the few enduring thick tropical rain forest zones of the South variously dotted with amazing but sometimes ‘’weird-looking ‘’ hills and mountains of shapes and sizes, gullies, rivers all add up to make travelling experience in the country an unforgettable one, even while tourism is still in infancy in the country!

The 672.92 km journey from Lagos to Abuja by road in the morning of August 12, 2016 promised to be interesting and challenging, if not energy sapping, due to the distance.

However, love they say conquers all. It was a family reunion of a sort that was not to be missed. Destination —Abuja!

During the intermittent short morning showers, the driver, with a conspicuous ‘’Captain’’ tag on him, courteously acknowledged his passengers and as officially required of him, reeled out his name, the destination, maximum speed limit at 110 km/hr and more. With this, he drove out of their office premises located near the Iyana Ipaja over-head bridge in Lagos, manning and manoeuvring the wheels with some perfected skills, to hit the road.

Sitting next to the driver, as he was adorned in uniform, a grey top and dark trouser with a tie, in his heavily built stature that failed to conceal a short protruding belly, already I could feel an aura of respectability hovering around our revered captain!

The unpredictable nature of Lagos traffic even for us moving against traffic’ and out of town, stared us in the face as we meandered our way through. We eventually crawled out of the city with much relief, and gathered moderate speed for the journey. Our movement to Ore, Ondo State was without hitch with the newly re-worked Ore road.

We met with some construction road works within Edo State which held our movement for some time. It was there that our driver revealed another part of him, as he laughed to scorn the work process of the construction road works, which we observed as the packing of the asphalt on the failed sections (pot-holes-ridden) without excavating that failed section, then

followed immediately by a roller compaction! I was quick to point to him that he was not a qualified civil engineer to adjudge the process, and that it was expected that the officials of government with such responsibility would have done the due diligence on proper testing and supervision of the construction work.

Again the driver burst into laughter and in a manner that derides my earlier comment, as he exclaimed, in pidgin, “Oga, leaf dat tin, EFCC go soon carry all of dem.’’ I only chuckled in response, because I believed he was just a clown on the road to stardom. Yet, what I found apparent in his statement was that, the township roads of those towns we travelled through namely; Obadan, Erua, Expoma, Auchi, Iddo Okpella, and Okenne, as later observed, among others, all need urgent and serious road construction works, whether as efforts of Edo and Kogi state governments severally, or that of the Federal Government where a Federal road concept applies.

Such prompt efforts to repair, construct new roads, or expand the existing ones as applicable, will save lots of lives, property and precious man-hour from being wasted with ease of movement guaranteed by adequate and good roads with proper drainages. These observable very bad portions as noticed between Edo and Kogi states, all the way bursting out at LokojaAbuja road junction have added in no small measure to the stress experienced on the road, slowing down movement while it was also affirmed to be the hot-bed of some clandestine activities of criminals, save for the efforts of the security personnel on patrol and manning check-points. There is no gain-saying that the area in general deserves urgent government attention.

Then we met with a long queue on the stretch of Lokoja Bridge, perpetuated by a security check-point that looked like an endless trail of trailers and trucks, with most of them observed fully loaded all on a single lane, following each other

‘bumper-to-bumper’ numbering over 30, parked stationary on the bridge!

Though, smaller vehicles were given preference to go through the traffic with little disturbance on the other lane, while these truck were perhaps, isolated for further security checks with the Army personnel on duty, fully operational at their game with their stern looks and arms displayed combat-ready, everybody dutifully complied. The high patriotic zeal of these security personnel displayed day and night is very commendable.

However, it is imperative to point out that the lining up a very large numbers of trucks loaded most times beyond capacity for whatever reason, on a constructed bridge is, in itself, a safety threat! We should know that the bridge technically has a weight-limit, and this should be noted in its usage. Heavy trucks or heavy articulated vehicles should not be left stationary on the bridge.

As we moved further on, I could see and appreciate the common sights of some rocky hills/mountains, sometimes in an undulating manner, some spreading out and forming like a fortification walls around some towns which we passed through.

This had taken my thoughts away as we swept along in the journey. Thoughts on how the thick vegetation noticeable in the South thin out magically as one moves into the Savannah belt of the North with its own unique and different type of vegetation, peculiar to the North, welcoming one’s arrival to the Northern part of the country, swayed the better part of me, with the hope that some key elements in government are thinking in the same direction, to fully explore the unimaginably massive potential of this country in the tourism industry!

All these were still in my thoughts when we hit Abaji on the outskirts of Abuja. In spite of the dark that was gradually and mischievously creeping into an adventurous day, I could not but notice the smoother turf on which we were now moving. Our vehicle’s movement had suddenly changed to a cruise! And the sprawling development observable on both sides of the road was worth contemplating too. As we inched further into Abuja, the development got more detailed and colourfully illuminating, and more sophisticated that I felt I was in a foreign land.

•Awoyemi sent in this piece via teamawoyemi@ gmail.com

16

Friday, 11 November, 2016

I

N less than 48 hours from now, Dr.Olu Onagoruwa, a former Attorney-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a well known human rights activist will turn 80. His children have, however, been committed to series of activities to mark the event. Dr Olu Onagoruwa certainly deserves more than all the activities being put down to celebrate his 80th birthday.

It is a great pity that Nigeria has not been fair to “Egbon” Olu Onagoruwa in his struggles to make the country a great country to live. Olu Onagoruwa holds a doctorate degree in Law. He was for some years the legal adviser of the Daily Times of Nigeria when Daily Times was, indeed, Daily Times under the able control of the late Papa Babatunde Jose. Dr. Olu Onagoruwa distinguished himself in that position. Those were the days of brilliant journalism displayed in the Times Group of Newspapers by Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, the late Femi Sonaike, Dipo Ajayi, Felix Adenaike, Dapo Fasina Thomas, Bisi Adebunmi, Tola Adeniyi, Remi Akano, Areoye Oyebola, and several others too numerous to mention. Dr. Olu Onagoruwa was one of the big pen pushers of the Daily Times of that time.

Dr. Olu Onagoruwa struck the headlines at that time with the Minere Amakiri case in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Minere was a journalist with the Observer Group of Newspapers based in the then Bendel State. The Nigerian Observer was a newspaper then publishing in Benin City. Minere Amakiri had published a story in the Observer adjudged by the then Rivers State Governor, Commander Alfred Diete-Spiff, to have been rude to him. The story was about a teacher’s strike in Rivers State. The military governor immediately ordered the arrest of Minere Amakiri. The governor ordered that the head of the journalist be shaved clean and detained.

The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, then under the leadership of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, did not take the incident funny. The association immediately sent Dr. Olu Onagoruwa to follow the case and advise appropriately what should be done. Dr. Olu Onagoruwa did follow the case and called for a large scale condemnation of the retaliatory actions of Governor Diette Spiff on the Amakiri matter.

Dr.Olu Onagoruwa eventually ended up writing a book titled “PRESS FREEDOM IN CHAINS”. The book contained details of the events of the Minere Amakiri affair. The incident sent Dr. Olu Onagoruwa into limelight.

Dr. Olu Onagoruwa was a fearless Nigerian who believes that nothing must ever be done to shut the gates of justice against any Nigerian (no matter his status) in any attempt to disturb the path of justice and freedom.

Not long after this incident, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa emerged the Attorney-General of Nigeria after the coup led by the late General Sani Abacha and General Oladipo Diya against the government, then headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. Throughout Olu Onagoruwa’s stay as Attorney-General, he never permitted the gates of justice to be shut against any Nigerian. There are instances to mention in this regard.

There is the Turner Ogboru case. Turner Ogboru had been arrested, tried and imprisoned by the General Ibrahim Babangida regime after the abortive coup attempt of April 22, 1990, Turner’s brother, Great Ogboru, had been fingered by the IBB regime as having financed the 1990 coup. Turner Ogboru was subsequently arrested by security forces and put on trial.

Immediately, a High Court Judge granted the application for freedom of Turner Ogboru, which was filed by his lawyer, Femi Falana, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, the Attorney-General sent letters out to the late Alex Ibru, the then Minister for Internal Affairs, and Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, the Inspector General of Police directing the immediate release of Turner Ogboru as directed by the Court.

Alex Ibru complied immediately with the AttorneyGeneral’s instructions by ordering the release of Turner Ogboru from prison custody.

A Provisional Ruling Council meeting was held the next day of Ogboru’s freedom. Towards the end of the meeting, the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Coomasie had drawn the attention of the PRC meeting to the letter of Dr. Olu Onagoruwa ordering the release of Turner Ogboru. The late Head of State, General Sani Abacha was said to have been so enraged to learn of the subsequent release of Turner Ogboru that he was said to have told Olu Onagoruwa and the late Alex Ibru that what they had done by releasing Ogboru was worse

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

Dr Olu Onagoruwa at 80

•Dr Olu Onagoruwa

than treasonable felony.

Turner Ogboru was immediately rearrested after the PRC meeting and returned to prison.

It is generally believed that the releases of Turner Ogboru was one of the sins Olu Onagoruwa had committed leading to the execution of his son Toyin Onagoruwa in December1996.

As the Federal Attorney-General, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa by the tradition of the office is considered fit to be awarded the SANship award. In the case of Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, no such award has ever been granted to him. He bears no one any grudge for the failure to grant him such an award. Dr. Olu Onagoruwa will never beg anyone to have such an award. No amount of ap-

Dr Olu Onagoruwa is such a highly principled man. I simply love him.

peal will convince him to press for such an automatic award. Dr. Olu Onagoruwa is such a highly principled man. I simply love him.

The murder of his son by unknown policemen till this day did have an effect on his health. Eventually, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa suffered a devastating stroke attack some few months after the murder. He has not fully recovered from the stroke attack.

To make matters worse for him, his loyal wife of many years suddenly died. The woman was buried at Dr. Onagoruwa’s family compound at Odogbolu in Ogun State. Despite all the problems, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa is today 80. Glory be to God! We rejoice with the Onagoruwas at the 80th birthday celebrations of this great son of Nigeria whose ‘Yes’ has ever been emphatic ‘Yes’ and whose ‘No’ is ever ‘No’.

The journey has been rough, tedious and arduous. The image has, however, remained impeccably high. We all love him and we know that God will still take care of his life for greater things to come!

“Egbon” thank you and God bless you as you enter the age of the wise ones!!

•EBINO TOPSY 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK GOOD NIGHT PAPA BAYO ALUKO OF IJEDA (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE).

17

Friday, 11 November, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

Kindness, insignia of a loving heart

K

indness is a difficult virtue to pursue in a world that seems to have become accustomed to hatred and injustice. Isn’t that all the more reason that we need it? writes author and motivational speaker, Shaykh Sadullah Khan.

In a materialistic era, a world seemingly indifferent to caring about others, where ego and selfishness dominates, where war and oppression are daily headlines, there is a greater need for kindness than ever before. By kindness, however, I do not imply those actions of enlightened selfinterests where one acts in response to the kindness displayed by others (an act of exchange for the benefit one has received), but rather as a moral duty that emanates from a caring heart.

Kindness without discrimination It is easier being kind to those whom we consider deserving of our sympathy, but true kindness means practising generosity of heart without discrimination. We may find ourselves wrestling with the apparent irregularity of being kind to those who have not treated us well; where our kindness may not stop the recipient from being hostile or inconsiderate towards us.

It is when we display kindness in these circumstances that we present the best of ourselves. How magnanimous the mercy of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) at the conquest of Makkah when he readily forgave the Makkans who had for years persecuted, excommunicated and exiled him, his family and followers.

Here was an expression of kindness from a merciful one that emanated from a forgiving and a loving heart.

Simple acts of kindness Practising daily acts of kindness is an essential element of fruitful living. Sharing kindness with others is the most rewarding and fulfilling act one can engage in. There is nothing more comforting, more gratifying for a conscientious soul than knowing that through a kind word, a helpful act, a cheerful smile you made someone’s burden a little lighter, a day little brighter or situation a little more pleasant. A kind and generous act will go further, mean more, last longer and be remembered long after the prism of politeness or complexion of courtesy has faded away.

Condition the self to be reflective rather than reflexive, ponder the consequence of one’s action and reactions. This demands that if someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind; I will not respond in like manner. I will carefully choose and guard my words, being certain that I do not spread gossip, slander or malign anyone in any way. I will find ways to help and share the burden of another person. I will find ways to make life more pleasant. I will do my utmost to forgive any hurt or injuries that come my way. I will treat others as I wish to be treated in

every encounter. All this, for I know that my smile, my words, my expression or support, can make the difference to someone who is wrestling with a misfortune of life.

Kindness is never wasted If kindness has no effect on the recipient, it at least benefits the bestower; so kindness is never wasted. Do remember however that one cannot do an act of kindness too soon, for one never knows how soon it will be too late. Kindness is indeed a most noble quality, a characteristic of the Supreme Being. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said: “Allah is kind and loves kindness in every matter.”

One cannot do an act of kindness too soon, for one never knows how soon it will be too late. Kindness is indeed a most noble quality, a characteristic of the Supreme Being.

PHOTO: Huffington Post

islamicnews

Hijab mark of decency —MUTAN THE hijab adorned by Muslim women has been described as a mark of decency and a barrier against harmful practices.

The Director of Studies, Muslim Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (MUTAN), Alhaji Abdul Wahab Babatunde Lawal, made the declaration while delivering the 1438 Hijrah lecture of the association titled “Our Hijab, Our Pride,” in Lagos recently.

According to Lawal, the hijab is a social revolution in Islam symbolising barrier against indecency.

Listing reasons for the use of hijab by Muslim women, he said the veil is required to preserve the sanctity of family life, protect public morality and prevent sexual permissiveness in the society as well as prevent women from being turned to mere object of advertisement and merchandise.

He also declared that the use of hijab protect women from harassment just as it is a mark of Islamic social awareness as more Muslims in the workplace and higher insti-

tutions are adopting it as a mark of open identification with Islam.

He countered the argument that hijab is a measure of subjugation, saying it is not a barrier to sound academic and intellectual performance, citing, among other things, a “hijab-wearing sister” who emerged as the best overall student at the recent convocation of the University of Ilorin.

He, therefore, challenged employers, government and other groups in the society to allow Muslim women enjoy their fundamental human right by allowing them to use their hijab.

The MUTAN chairman, Alhaji Raheem Jimoh, said the choice of the topic was a response to permissiveness in the society represented by immoral dressing.

“It is evident that Shaytan is having a stronger grip on man more than ever before. Human beings now relish nakedness. Many Muslims have been caught in the web. Our married women want to look

sexy. We have jettisoned our modest way of dressing, our sense of humility and almost all other cultures of Islam,” he added.

He, therefore, sought the cooperation of relevant authorities in maintaining social modesty.

The Amir of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in Lagos State, Dr Saheed Ashafa, in a keynote address, commended MUTAN for its collaboration with the MSSN and other organisations to ensure that Muslim students are not denied the freedom to practise Islam.

He, however, lamented the persecution of Muslim students whose only offence was their quest to practise their religion.

The MSSN had pursued the case for the use of hijab by Muslim female students in public schools and the Court of Appeal had in July affirmed the rights to put on the hijab in public schools.

The Lagos State government is challenging the judgment at the Supreme Court.

18 islamicnews

Friday, 11 November, 2016

Quareeb members charged on peace, progress Bola Badmus - Lagos

From left, Oyo State Coordinator of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Dr Abd Nafiu Musa; representative of Professor Tajudeen Aluko, the chairman on the occasion, Dr Abdul Hakeem Abdul Wahab; representative of Sheikh Abdul Ganiy Abubakri Agbotomokekere, the Chief Imam of Ibadan (the spiritual father), Mogaji Kehinsi, Imam Qazeem Muhammad; Executive Director, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Prince Sulayman Olagunju; Operations Manager of the Foundation, Alhaji Maruf Abdul Hameed and the guest lecturer, Ustaz Muhammadu Saheed Muhammadu Safi at the fourth zakat distribution ceremony of the Foundation in Oyo State, held last weekend, in Ibadan. Inset: A beneficiary, Mr Tajudeen Musa (centre) being presented with a welding machine at the event.

MEMBERS of Al-Fatih-Ul Quareeb Islamic Society of Nigeria have been called upon to offer support to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in order to bring about peace and progress in the country.

Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the association, Alhaji Abd Mumeen Adegoke, gave the charge in Lagos at the inauguration ceremony of the new National Executive Council

Buhari reiterates commitment to women’s welfare

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his administration’s commitment to women’s welfare as demonstrated in the rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of the 21 released Chibok girls.

The government, he said, would not relent in securing the release of the remaining girls.

The president made the remark at the 31st annual national conference of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) held in University of Lagos main auditorium in Akoka.

Represented by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, the president urged Nigerians to keep the hope of a better Nigeria alive as his administration was poised to surmount the present challenges.

“I urge you not to despair, but pray and trust in almighty Allah, the only one that can guarantee the safe berthing of ships, irrespective of any magnitude of turbulence on the high seas,” he said.

In the speech that was read by the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Buhari urged Nigerians to support

the government in its efforts at taking the country out of the present economic challenges.

The president commended FOMWAN and congratulated the umbrella body of all Muslim women organisations in the country on its 31st yearly national conference.

Aregbesola, in his own capacity as a special guest, commended FOMWAN for restoring sanity in the society.

He described women as nation builders, enjoining them not to relent in shaping the society in positive ways.

Lagos State deputy governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, lauded FOMWAN for its consistency in discussing relevant issues since its establishment 31 years ago.

Mrs Adebule said: “There can be no more appropriate time than now to use our influence as women to correct the negative perception of Islam due to the activities of those who use the platform to perpetrate heinous crimes against humanity.”

The guest speaker, Dr Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, said peace and security could be attained when Nigerians change their negative atti-

tudes and collectively support government to transform the nation.

“We must also have respect for the rules and Nigerians must unite for prosperity. If we adhere to all these, development will set in,’’ he said.

FOMWAN National President, Hajia Amina Omoti, said peace and security were important components of development in any soci-

Nigeria.

NACOMYO, in a statement by its National President, Alhaji Kamalddin Akintunde, stated that Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar had made impacts in intra and inter-faith harmony, fostering religious tolerance among adherents of the various faiths, scholarship initiatives, unity of the Ummah, cooperation for development and humanitarian and charitable undertakings.

The group noted that the foremost traditional ruler

dent Buhari’s anti-corruption stance and urged the administration to pursue to a logical conclusion all cases against corrupt officials that contributed to the current hardship faced by Nigerians.

She also commended the Federal Government’s efforts on the release of 21 of the abducted Chibok girls and called for sustained negotiation for the release of the remaining girls.

Foundation distributes zakat to 36 beneficiaries in Oyo

By Saheed Salawu

THE Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation has distributed the sum of N1.7 million in cash and equipment to 36 beneficiaries in Oyo State for the year 2016.

At the distribution ceremony, the fourth of its kind, held in Ibadan, last weekend, the guest lecturer, Imam Ibrahim Bello of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, urged Muslims to drop the notion that paying zakat would decrease their wealth.

According to him, “actually, the converse is the truth; it would increase their wealth, and cleanse it of any impurities that could earn them the wrath of Allah,” he

NACOMYO pays tribute to Sultan THE National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) has implored the Sultan of Sokoto and Amirul Mumineen of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III to sustain his efforts at nation building and achieving global peace.

In a tribute on the occasion of the traditional ruler’s 10th aniversary of his ascension to the Sultanate throne, the apex Muslim youth group lauded the traditional ruler for his efforts at achieving a united

ety, adding: “Where peace and security are threatened, there will be no development in terms of the infrastructure, social, economic and educational sectors of the nation.

“We urge government to formulate and implement policies to meet the immediate needs of Nigerians as a way of ensuring peace and security.”

Hajia Omoti lauded Presi-

headed by Alhaji Abdul Lateef Ikotun, held at the NUT Pavilion, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos and was attended by dignitaries, including the National Chief Missionary, Fadilat Sheik Abd Rahman Adangba.

Adegoke also urged the members to continue to exhibit qualities of true Muslims and make the world know that Islam is a religion of peace and progress.

“I urge all of you to support the Federal Government in whatever they do to move the country forward.

As Muslims, we should demonstrate the virtues of Muslims as lovers of peace and progress,” he said.

While calling on members of the new team to work together to achieve their goal, Adegoke promised the support and cooperation of the other members and leaders in achieving set objectives.

The immediate past president of the association, Alhaji Ajibade Muhammed, thanked God and the Quareeb family for the opportunity given to him and his exco members to serve in the last three years, saying that without such support it would have been difficult for them to make any impact.

and spiritual head of Muslims had since his ascension in 2006 travelled the length and breadth of the country, building bridges within and across faiths, ethnic groups and races.

NACOMYO urged the president of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and co-chairman of the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC) to consolidate on his peace building endeavours for sustainable unity, growth and development of the country.

said.

Bello, whose lecture was presented by Ustaz Muhammadu Saheed Muhammadu Safi, said: “Payment of zakat is incumbent on all Muslims that are able to do so. And the Shar’ia stipulates the amount of zakat to be paid, the kind of money or other belongings to pay it from, the time to pay it and the classes of people that are entitled to its collection. I admonish every one of us to familiarise ourselves with the stipulation”.

He urged Muslims to obey the instruction of Allah and embrace the institution of zakat as demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad for a prosperous Muslim community.

The Executive Director of the Foundation, Prince Sulayman Olagunju, urged the beneficiaries to make the most of the funds and equipment in the hope of becoming charitable themselves in no distant time.

Prince Olagunju lamented the ignorance of many Muslims in this part of the world about the institution of zakat and called on leaders and scholars to do more in stimulating the consciousness of the faithful as regards “this neglected” pillar of Islam.

He described the N1.7 million disbursed this year as meagre and, therefore, challenged the zakat adminis-

trators of the Foundation in the state to redouble their efforts and collect substantial fund in order to achieve the desired effect ahead of next distribution ceremony.

The state coordinator of

the Foundation, Dr Abd Nafiu Musa, described the process of zakat collection as one that requires wisdom, patience and ability to rise above frustrations from the administrators.

Islamic organisations tasked on moral values, youth restlessness THE National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) and other Islamic organisations have been urged to redouble their efforts at encouraging moral values and combating youth restlessness in the country.

The immediate past executive secretary of Odi-Olowo/ Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Abdur-Rasak Ajala, gave the charge recently during the Hijrah Week celebration of NACOMYO, Mushin branch.

Ajala lamented what he called the breakdown of moral values in the society as a result of economic downturn.

He, therefore, challenged religious organisations to partner with the government in inculcating right values in youths.

He, however, commended NACOMYO Mushin for its humanitarian gestures.

Delivering the closing lecture at the one-week event, Sheik Soliu Hussein As-Somodanniy called for deem-

phasising of oil as the backbone of the economy and a return to agriculture.

He also called for welfare programme for the masses to discourage crime while seeking support for the anticorruption crusade of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The Mushin coordinator of NACOMYO, Nasirudeen Alabi, reiterated the commitment of the organisation to human capital development.

This, he said, informed the programme for the Hijrah celebration which included visit and donation of items to destitute homes as well as setting up of a nongovernmental organisation called Muslim Welfare and Empowerment Foundation which focuses on empowerment.

He, however, sought the cooperation of well-meaning members of the public in terms of finance and logistics as well as employment opportunities for members of the organisation who have been trained.

19

Friday, 11 November, 2016

fridaytreat

Martel B returns with new single

P

‘Feel Alright’

RESENTED by his own K3 Music imprint, British Nigerian musician, Martel B is back with his new single titled ‘Alright’, in collaboration with Sean Focus and fast-rising Nigerian-based producer Otyno, who has previously worked with the likes of 2Face Idibia, Kelly Handsome, Sugarboy and Tillaman, among others.

Exciting new offering ‘Alright’ comes on the back of two massive hits for Martel B last year; ‘Take You Home’ featuring Roro Benson, which was championed by Link Up TV, and ‘Badda Dan Dem’ which was supported by the likes of Complex UK, MTV Wrap Up, GRM Daily and the MOBO Awards.

Serving as the first taste of what is to come from Martel B in 2017, ‘Feel Alright’ is a glorious return to form for the East London native.

With its excellent R and B and Afrobeats sensibilities, the record shows off Martel B’s infectious flow, lyrics and vocal melodies, and is sure to be an instant favourite among fans and critics alike.

Nigerian Tribune

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 Instagram: @roy_ige

Que Peller sings for

Carolina F

OLLOWING the commercial success of Eleniyan song/video, charismatic artiste/magician, Que Peller and video director, Frizzle have, once again, teamed up to bring us crisp, colourful and classy visuals, this time to the new single Carolina which features rap heavyweight Olamide.

Shot on location in Lagos, Nigeria, the video features actress and winner Miss Charismatic (MBGN 2013) Ronke Tiamiyu as Carolina, and takes us through the tale of two love-birds getting through the phases of meeting, getting to know each other, spending time together, getting intimate and doing many other things that love birds do. Viewers will particularly love the beautiful magic stunt at the end of the video, with Que reminding us that aside making good music, he’s capable of a lot more with the inclusion of magic in his general art.

Frizzle once again brings his A-Game to deliver a masterpiece video project, with carnivals, bonfires, et al. The video features cameo appearances by Daddy Showkey, label-mates Base One and Airboy, Lil Kesh, B-Red, Danagog, amongst others.

20 Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 IG: @roy_ige twitter: @fridaytreat

How Waje, Falz, stormed Ibadan for ‘make naija stronger’ campaign

By Joan Omionawele POPULAR, Nigerian Musicians, Folarin Falana aka FalztheBadguy and Waje recently proved that their role in the industry was beyond singing but to mentor youths as they stormed University of Ibadan during the week for the makenaijastrongercampaign’ a campaign by One. Org, a Non Government Organisation( NGO), who have made it a point of duty to urge to Government to pay due attention to the health sector.

Speaking on the importance of the campaign to youths, Falz opined that the health sector is something that is key in our nation today. “Thus, it is very important to create awareness on hygiene, malaria , among other things, thus it is a welcome movement for youths to get involved in this campaign, because we discovered that nobody is participating in even voting, if you are just sitting back and being spectators, how do you to become a leader of tomorrow? It’s not enough to sit down and complain that there is corruption, the question is,

21

Friday, 11 November, 2016

fridaytreat

It is not easy to make Nigerians

laugh —Shete

Daniel Oluwashinoayo Ajilore, otherwise known as D’NEW is a fast rising Hip-Hop artiste. In this interview with ADEOLU ADEMUYIWA, he speaks on his passion for music and how he intends to carve a niche for himself in the industry. Excerpts:

Akinsete Olakunle is one of the fastest growing comedians in the South West.

He spoke to ROTIMI IGE recently about his recent projects, among other things.

what are you doing about it?” asked Falz According to Waje who performed and thrilled the audience, “the government should pay more attention to the health sector as some people still die of malaria, “doctors and nurses need to be paid well, we need to get the equipments and facilities up to date, that will help people to get the best care that they need, we are just saying that the 1 per cent of our CRF which is supposed to be what is given to us, according to the health act, be implemented in the 2017 budget, so that not just teaching hospitals will be properly equipped, there will be people who we will hold accountable if things are not properly managed”. Waje said

T

HE comedy industry is evolving massively.

What challenges does this pose to you as a stakeholder?

Our industry has been really challenging, coupled with the fact that it is not easy to make Nigerians laugh. Also, we all know that there is nothing good that doesn’t have challenges.

So when challenges come, you stand to face it because that’s the only way history can be made and the story can be told.

What new projects are you currently involved in?

Well, this year’s edition of RendezvousWithShete is tagged ‘The vintage’.

about this year’s event?

We want to give our entire audience a nostalgic feeling.

Bring them good old memories in a comic manner basically.

What is your relationship with your colleagues in the industry?

I relate well with my colleagues both the seniors and my friends. I have a very

It is just that most people think if they are not in Lagos, it might be difficult to blow.

HOW did you discover your passion for music?

I have always had the passion for music from a tender age. I grew up in church singing and I would say that this has really shaped me and helped me to have an insight of what music entails.

Also, having discovered that this is what I love to do, I took time to develop and train myself. The passion became visible when I was in secondary school and I thank God that I followed the vision with the support of my parents. Meanwhile, I would say I inherited music from my mum because she love singing but she did not take it up professionally. I also have a brother that sings too.

But the greatest joy is that I have been able to do the family proud by taking music to the mainstream through their collective support and prayers.

good rapport with quite a number of them and we cool like that.

So would you say the competition is healthy?

Yes, there is competition but I make sure I compete when its holy. I don’t have any fear. Even the bible told me to ‘Fear Not’.

Is there discrimination between Lagos and other comedians?

Well, I won’t say it is discrimination. It is just that most people think if they are not in Lagos, it might be difficult to blow. However, I’ll just say it is a mindset that has been created because it is left to you to position yourself well. No matter where you are, make sure you make sense.

What will be different

Cocktails & Dresses 2016: The largest gathering of Made in Africa’s best to host over 2,000 attendees THE much-anticipated Largest Gathering of Made in Africa’s Best will take place at The Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Sunday, December 11th, 2016 with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria leading the pack of highly distinguished dignitaries expected.

In celebration of the announcement of the 2nd Edition of Cocktails and Dresses, the lead organizer of the event; Dressmeoutlet.com has launched plans to dispatch over 2,000 Made-in-Ethiopia-Africa print tote bags to customers who place orders above N25,000 online on or before Black Friday on November 25th, 2016. Cocktails and Dresses expects to gather over 2,000 attendees of fashion enthusiasts, shoppers, leaders, celebrities and designers for a full-day blackcarpet shopping rave.

“Cocktails and Dresses champions the revolution of the fashion and beauty industries in Nigeria and Africa. Beyond the entertainment and sales exhibition, Dressmeoutlet. com continues to retail the very best of Made-in-Africa and promote the commercial potentials and economic benefits of the fashion and beauty industries in Africa,” Olatorera Oniru, CEO of Dressmeoutlet. com said.

Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos will play host to a panel discussion with five women and three men who are key players, idea renegades, tech disruptor and boundary breakers in the retail, manufacturing and technology industries in Africa.

The event will also feature five top designers on the runway and it will close with an honorary evening honoring up to 100 of Africa’s Best icons.

My mission is to impact lives with sane music —D’NEW

What impact do you hope to make in your industry?

I’ll like to affect my immediate environment positively and leave an indelible mark everywhere I find myself.

How has it been so far with music?

It has not that easy as a matter of the fact that I still have a long way to go. It is a process and I am trying

Bikiya Graham-Douglas delivers stellar performance at Cape Town Fringe Festival 2016 AT the recently concluded Cape Town Fringe Festival 2016, Nigeria was well represented, as Bikiya Graham Douglas delivered an outstanding performance of the critically acclaimed play, ‘Wait’ written by Dipo Agboluaje, directed by Kenneth Uphopho and music by Ayo Ajayi.

For the performance, “Bikiya flaunted her versatility by kicking off with strong and clear Afro-jazzy vocals, nicely balancing this power with the whimsical idealism of her character. Gra-

ham-Douglas hits the mark as, with raw intensity, she taps into the despair and disappointment of a woman left with limited options” (excerpt taken from www. whatsonincapetown.com) After exceptionally executing an astounding and remarkable performance, Bikiya maintained her modesty and humility by saying “To affect lives positively through my craft is everything, I’m humbled by how much love South Africa showed me. We can all make a difference in ensur-

ing girls have access to education and have choices” I’m honoured to lend my voice to this cause.” Bikiya

was styled by Mabello Clothier throughout the festival which was sponsored by Ford Foundation.

‘Wait’ is a true celebration of women who succeeded in the face of adversary”.

my best to follow the right path in pushing my career forward. Now that I have taken music professionally, I am poised to explore my talent and make a positive impact in the industry. I am confident to say that I am ready for the game and that is why I am here. I know that whatever challenges I am facing now is a step to my breakthrough. I am not into music for fun, but to pass quality information to my fans and to affect generations positively. I sing Hip-Hop and my mission is to impact lives with sane music. I sing about life, current situation as well as inspire people to dance away their sorrow.

How have you been able to combine your academics and music career without any clash?

It is sometimes difficult, but I have been able to achieve a balance through divine wisdom.

How do you draw inspiration?

I tap things through instinct, my surroundings and listening to other music.

These processes have really helped me in writing good songs and shape my career.

Aside the fact that I am a son of a cleric, God speaks to me. Sometimes, I sit down and have the feeling that my future is great.

How many songs do you have to your credit?

I have written many songs.

At present, I have released three singles and more are coming. Most importantly, I am not in haste to produce many songs at a time, but I think I will be fulfilled if the ones I have produced are having a great impact. So far, the feedback has been encouraging and this gives

I am confident to say that I am ready for the game and that is why I am here. me joy more confident that I am on the right track.

How do you intend to carve a niche for yourself in the industry?

I am of the opinion that the industry is a place where to explore ones talent and deliver. This is why I am trying to give me best to create my brand and send a signal of positive impact and I know that God will help me.

What is your assessment of the music industry?

It is my joy that industry is giving the younger generation an opportunity shine.

This is a good development and I want to urge younger talents, especially the serious

minded to tap into it. The entertainment industry in Nigeria has really developed to the admiration of other countries. But I want some musicians to be mindful of the videos they produce, because reports have had it that weird videos instill negative messages to the younger generation in the society.

What are your major challenges?

I think it is normal to face challenges at this stage; it is a way of paying my dues. At the moment, I am facing the challenge of acceptability as an up-and-coming artiste.

This is a matter of time and I am not afraid at all because these are the people that will be longing to have me when I become a star.

What would like to have become in the next five years?

I wish to have become a big name in the industry. By the grace of God, I would have done something great and make a laudable mark as a successful musician because my mission into the industry is to add something unique and make a great impact.

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Friday, 11 November, 2016

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

’Wale Olapade 08055201323 wale11g3@gmail.com Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

Tourism must be seen as economic development tools to grow in Nigeria —NATOP President

Stories by ’wale Olapade

T

HE president, Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Mr Nkereuwen Onung has said that Federal Government must see tourism as an economic

President Muhammadu Buhari

development tool to grow in Nigeria.

The NATOP president, who spoke on the state of tourism in Nigeria at Akwaaba Africa Travel Market, recently, said if the truth must be said, tourism cannot actualise its full potenti-

Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Minister of Information and Culture

alities, if it is not given required attention and enabling environment.

“Government, do they have the political will or even create the enabling atmosphere to turn the tourism potential in Nigeria into economic power? Why are things

not working, when we have everything that can make thing work in Nigeria?

“If Cross River State, as a component of Nigeria, could build and nurse a brand like the Carnival Calabar to its present enviable status, why can’t we be serious for once to turn around our economy by tapping from tourism wealth?”

Onung, however, said tourism is a national government issue that Federal Government is expected to provide adequate infrastructure to for it to work.

He acknowledged that the industry is private sector-driven, but argued that without an enabling environment backup by necessary infrastructural de-

velopment, tourism promotion would remain a mirage in Nigeria.

“Ethiopia Airlines is working, even when it is government owned, there is no iota of interference in its operation because there is a structure. East Africa is also working because they have taken their destiny in their hands and their governments have seen hope and future in what they are doing.

The NATOP boss, who said the private sector is ready to synergise through the private and public sector partnership, said “We can only make a difference in tourism industry in Nigeria, if there is political will and sincerity of purpose to make tourism the new bride of our economy.

Ethiopian Airlines increases flight frequency to Cape Town to 10 times a week Mr Nkereuwen Onung, NATOP President

Lagos Presidential Lodge: Runsewe, former

NTDC DG suggests a heritage tower

FORMER Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Cooperation (NTDC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, has thrown his tourism weight behind the plans of Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to transform the presidential lodge in Lagos to a tourist hub, but pleaded and suggested that a heritage and visitors tower would stand out the Centre of Excellence in the global tourism and liveability ranking.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Monday, Runsewe described the handover of the landmark Presidential lodge by President Buhari to Lagos government as the best news to have ever come to him in the history of tourism development in Nigeria, an initiative he said shows that President Buhari meant well for the development of all the component units of Nigeria.

To critically brand and transform the lodge located on the busy Lagos Marina into a global iconic tourism feature, Runsewe whose tenure in Government tourism administration attracted huge local and international commendation pleaded that Governor Ambode should get the best hands and reputable companies to construct a signature world heritage and visitors tower around the vicinity of the lodge with a visibility range to Lekki, Ikeja, Ayobo, Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry.

According to Runsewe, a special light rail must connect the signature heritage and visitors

tower to Lagos airport, which in turn could create about 160,000 tourism jobs and turn the Marina/Onikan axis into an exclusive tourism destination comparable to Dubai, Canada, Trinidad &Tobago and Singapore.

“This is a tourism and culture heritage Mecca in the making and when all the special tourism facilities and luxury appointments are added to it, such as cable car, car park, shopping mall, children Fun Park, food courts, electronic photo shops and entertainment windows.

“This is a model that will not only create tourism jobs, but also complement the ongoing mega infrastructural development for Lagos State to truly become Africa’s tourism hub verifiable livability value chain to a world looking for a place to rest and do business,” he said.

Runsewe who last week got a great thumb up from former President Olusegun Obansanjo for a job well done while at

NTDC, recalled his efforts in 2010 when he organised and took all the 36 states tourism and culture commissioners in Nigeria to South Africa to educate and expose them to how best to market heritage resources and its job creation value chain, informed that Governor Ambode with the Presidential lodge in his hands, is now within the threshold of making Lagos, nay Nigeria, the preferred tourism destination in Africa.

“I am excited about this news and commend President Buhari for the gesture. I want to believe that if Govenor Ambode would stick to his plans for tourism in Lagos and from what he has already done, that lodge with a signature heritage and visitors tower easily and strategically connected to major transport entry and departure points in Lagos, would turn Lagos into an instant tourism jobs and revenue generating avenue,” Runsewe predicted.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

Otunba Segun Runsewe

ETHIOPIAN Airlines has announced its readiness to increase flight frequency to Cape Town to 10 times weekly, beginning from December 1, 2016.

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Busera Awel, said, “Serving Africa is our prior commitment as a PanAfrican carrier, and increasing services to Cape Town, known for the Table Mountain is part of this commitment. The increase in flight frequency to Cape Town, our third gateway in South Africa, will enable tourists and business travellers to enjoy convenient connectivity options to and from

95 Ethiopian global networks onboard our state-of-the-art fleet, Boeing 787.

“Furthermore, our 10 times weekly service would enhance our capacity to over 400 per cent in a year time. We always strive to offer the best possible passenger and cargo services the industry has to offer, including a wide variety menu of meal services with the newly inaugurated modern In-Flight Catering facility, served with a multiple award winning inflight services.” Ethiopian currently flies to three cities in South Africa, which include Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Akwaaba Travel Market, NATOP, SCOAN others win African Travel Times Award NAMES of winners of 2016 edition of the African Travel Times Award, have been unveiled by organizers of the annual event.

Awardees include Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), which won the Most Visited Religious Destination in Nigeria; Peacock Travel and Tours went home with the Most Innovative & Efficient Travel Agency in Nigeria and Sheraton Abuja Hotel & Towers carted home the Best Public & Media Relations Hotel in Nigeria.

Other winners are Akwaaba Travel Market, winning the Most Valuable Travel Fair in Nigeria, while the Most Active Travel & Tourism Association in Nigeria

was won by Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP).

The award is in recognition of “excellence” in the travel and tourism sector in Nigeria, and to encourage stakeholders to strive for excellence in the sector.

Announcing the names and congratulating the awardees, Publisher/Editor of the magazine, Lucky Onoriode George, said he was delighted having them emerge winners at this year’s edition, and therefore, urged them to keep it up.

George reiterated his intention to make the award a West African and the entire African continent affair in no distant time.

23

Friday, 11 November, 2016

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

School Governing Board:

Solution to malaise of Oyo public schools?

Ajimobi

Olowofela

Arulogun

As the Oyo state government trades its system of educational management to a newer model of Schools Governing Board that requires a restructuring of the education system, attention is on the government to see how effective the system will be and if indeed, the paradigm shift will herald a new dawn for education. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports.

O

VER the last few weeks, there had been high powered deliberation of strong minds within Oyo state to seek ways of reviving the almost comatose educational sector in the state and also bridge the seeming communication gap between stakeholders in the sector to ensure that pupils do not suffer the back lash of failure within the system.

The various meetings and rubbing of minds finally gave birth to what has been established as law in as the report has been developed into a white paper which listed the various steps and policies that the government will take to give education in Oyo state a pride of place among other states and also position the students better to be the best they can be And at the weekend, the state government not only released the white paper to the public, it also went on to adopt one of the laid down steps by establishing the School Based Management Board (SBMB), to take over the affairs of running public schools within the state.

The SBMB is given the mandate to among many other things comply with terms and conditions of engagement, ensure full infrastructural development and maintenance of schools, create accountability mechanism for site based actors and ensure the transparency of processes, improve quality of school programmes and efficiency of teachers thereby raising students’ achievement level, provide adequate teaching and learning resources and ensure full participation of stakeholders in management.

The committee had recommended that the composition of the board should comprise one accredited representative of Old Students Association of the School, one accredited representative of Parent- Teacher Association, two non-politically-partisan representatives of the community within which the school is based (one male, one female), an identified philanthropist with record of previous support for the school, a representative of the traditional ruler/community leader, a representative of Non-Governmental/community based organisation (NGO/CBO), head boy and head girl of the school as well as two representatives of faith based organisations in the community.

The committee further recommended that the principal should be part of the board as the secretary while the local Inspector of Education should serve as ex-officio member, adding that the Chairman of the board who should be determined by members of the board must have a tenure of four years only in office while membership must be voluntary and without remuneration and the board should meet at least once in a school term but can hold emergency meetings when the needs arises.

In response to the recommendations, government in its white paper agreed with the recommendation and directed

the paradigm shift to be in the form of one School’s Governing Board (SGB) per secondary school with a model in two categories; that the membership/leadership and scope shall be suitably determined by government and that they would not be entitled to any remuneration from government while in both categories, government will be responsible for payment of salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff, curriculum development and quality control with a mandate that every SGB meets once a month to properly discharge its functions.

Government also directed that performance targets be set for the SGBs while priority should be given to equitable and proper distribution of subject teachers to all secondary school considering that the model is a departure from the system of administration of schools in the state at present.

Government has expressed the belief that the SGB model will pave the way of cleaning the rot and reposition the education sector to put it on a better pedestal that will be pupil welfare oriented.

Individuals, stakeholders and various bodies have also affirmed that the new government policy is a step in the right direction. Future Leaders Assembly (FLA), a nongovernmental body commended the government for efforts that brought about the white paper on the report of the committee on participatory management of schools, describing it as the right step to end the decay in the educational sector in the state.

FLA while speaking through its Chairman, Bowale Hassan, also lauded the government for the establishment of the School Governing Boards (SGB) for public schools in the state, adding that this will make management of schools easier and also provide modern learning facilities for students and teachers, raising the bar on the standard of education in the state.

According to the group, government has taken a step in the right direction, adding that the policy will improve education system in the state and create a good learning environment for the students in different secondary schools.

Also speaking with Nigerian Tribune, Esther Olowoye, a teacher in a private school stated that it is a good development

The SGB will be a success if all stakeholders in the education industry contribute their quota and work as team

that can favour every one without trampling on the rights or welfare of any party.

“I commend the Oyo State government on the creation of the school governing board which will provide management functions for secondary schools in the state. Although, it is unfortunate that this decision was taken after the crisis witnessed in the education sector recently.

“The government should have considered this option instead of the ones some people considered as a step to sell public schools in the state. The SGB will open effective channels of communication among the various stakeholders in the education sector. This will improve the conditions of our various schools in terms of academics, infrastructure and furniture,” she said.

It was not however all commendations as they further warned that there is a need for transparency, diligence and collaboration for the process to be a success. FLA on its part urged that every individual involved in the process should embrace the principles of accountability, fairness and transparency as this is an important ingredient to the success of the SGB, adding that government has a huge role to play.

“Government, SGB members and parents should know that transparency is a key factor in determining the success of government programmes and policy. The government, SGB members and indeed all stakeholders should be transparent with this policy to ensure that the vision is realized. Also, parents’ support is essential to ensure that the white paper is implemented and the SGB model succeeds. They have been asked to continue the payment of the N1000 levy and the government has assured that this fund is meant for the development of schools.

We believe that parents need to contribute their quota to the revival of education in the state.

“While it is understandable that the N1000 may be difficult for some parents to afford, we appeal to them to strive to contribute their quota to the success of the education of their wards,” FLA stated.

Tolulope Lambo, a public officer also had a say on what should be done. “The SGB is a good model as it will afford everyone to have first hand information about the happenings in schools. Not being privy to the programmes in our schools has affected the educational standard of our various schools. The SGB will be a success if all stakeholders in the education industry contribute their quota and work as team with the major aim of improving the quality of education for the trainers and the pupils,” she stated.

Attention is now on government to see whether it will follow to the letter, all steps in accordance with functions and guidelines highlighted in the white paper and whether the implementation of the new policy will be the cure needed for the malaise of the education system in Oyo state.

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features

Friday, 11 November, 2016

Olaniwun: He is sure to be on the right hand of God —Adebanjo Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a leader of the Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, is also one of the closest persons to Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, who died last Friday.

In this interview with SULAIMON OLANREWAJU, he speaks about his relationship with the late lawyer, the need to restructure the country, as well as efforts to unite the Yoruba race. Excerpts.

H

OW did you receive the news of the death of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi?

It was a shock. It was in the midnight that his son phoned me and said ‘your friend is gone’ and I said, ‘which of my friends’. He said ‘my dad’. I said, ‘your dad?’ I was really shocked. A few days earlier we had a meeting in Ikenne. From that meeting we went to see our mutual friend in Ikenne, Pa Onafowokan. We had a drink there and we fixed a meeting between himself and me on my memoir which he had gone through. We were to have a meeting to review his comments on the memoir at three o’clock that same Friday he died. I even suggested that we should have the meeting a bit earlier on that Friday but he said that he had a meeting with the publisher of his new book.

So, we agreed to meet at 3 o’clock. That 3 o’clock, I was at his house in Isara, but it was not for a meeting with him but to commiserate with his children.

As I said, it was a shock. He didn’t bid me farewell. He didn’t say that he was leaving me alone at this time. It is a big loss.

To me personally, it is a big loss. It is a big loss to Yorubaland, to the Awo’s family, to Afenifere, to Isara community, to the Methodist Church and to his family.

As far as I am concerned, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi cannot be replaced. Now, I am all alone. I am left with my God. He was the only man with whom I could discuss political events realistically and confidently.

When I met in 1954 in Sagamu, I was the Organising Secretary of the Action Group. I was looking for intelligent young people to be recruited into the party. He was the Education Supervising Officer of the Methodist Church. It was from there I contacted him and he became a member of the party. Not only that, I continue to say that was a blessed day for me. He turned out to be one of the fruits that yielded thousands and thousands of benefits to the party and to me personally. Why? I wanted to recruit him into the party but we thereafter became very close friends. I was in Sagamu then as a divorcee. He was also in Sagamu then. Later, he left for England and left me behind but I also left for England and joined him. I was staying with him in his flat before I got my own flat. As God would have it, I got my own flat close to his.

But beyond that, it was through him and his wife that I met the woman I eventually married and I want to tell you that I am still enjoying the marriage up till today. So, you can see that our relationship was a great one.

We have been great confidants. He was a reliable, dependable and loyal friend. As an Awoist, I can confidently say that he was an Awoist to the core. He was not a diluted Awoist.

He was not an Awoist of convenience. He really understood what Awoism stands for and practiced it as Chief Awolowo taught us. As it is now, I cannot see anyone to replace him

because most of the others to whom we preached Awoism, accepted the philosophy when it was convenient. Everything they do is for their own selfish interest, not for the masses, not for the benefit of the people as Chief Awolowo taught us.

He will be missed. I will miss him, the family will miss him, Yorubaland will miss him, Methodist Church will miss

Our association has been very good. We will miss him but we can’t ask God for anything better.

him, and Nigeria will miss him. But I am very sure that with the way he lived his life, he is sure to be on the right hand of God because he served God and humanity. May his soul rest in peace.

Specifically what are you going to miss about him?

Where do I begin? He was the only one who I could talk to confidently. He was the only man I could trust for genuine advice and opinion on any issue without any pretence. I don’t think there is anyone living now that can replace him.

I thank God for his life as a whole because he lived a fulfilled life. Our association has been very good. We will miss him but we can’t ask God for anything better. He was 91 years, yet he was in good health. He did not suffer ill health for weeks or months before dying. So, we thank God. Your relationship spanned over six decades. Were there times that you had disagreements?

Oh yes. We had our disagreements but we argued them out.

We were not follow-follow friends. Whenever we disagreed on issues, we argued them out, the typical Action Group style. We argued a lot but we would always submit to superior argument Continues on pg25

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interview

Friday, 11 November, 2016

‘Consistency in politics is very vital to us’

Continues from pg24

as laid down by Chief Awolowo.

Why is it that we don’t have such commitments to great ideals anymore among young people?

I can’t explain that because it was often a subject of discussion between him and me. All the political activities that those of us who are advanced in age get involved in today would not have been necessary if we had younger ones who are committed to great ideals. At 91, why should Sir Olaniwun Ajayi still be in the trenches? At 88 years why should I still be in the trenches? But the experience we have had is that those who followed us into the Awo camp, with the benefit of hindsight, did not understand what Awoism is but jumped on it for relevance and opportunity to make name and all that, not for what Action Group or the Unity Party of Nigeria stood for.

So, the moment there was a little setback, they jumped ships.

That is why many of them, when the times were hard, joined other parties. And you wonder why those of us who have been politically active for over 65 years have not changed but many of them, in five years have joined five parties. Consistency in politics is very vital to us. That is what you will observe in the two of us. We are consistent in our beliefs. Whether people agree with us or not, as long as we believe that we are doing the right thing, we will pursue it to the end.

This is what I believe anyone mourning Sir Olaniwun Ajayi should aim at. Consistency in the pursuit of what they believe is right. He was consistent in progressive politics.

Sir Olaniwun Ajayi was passionate about Yoruba unity. Now that he is gone, what is the hope of a united Yorubaland?

Well, I will continue to do as much as I can. We will not give up until we get to the grave because our leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, never gave up until he got to the grave. Until Sir Olaniwun Ajayi died, we were pursuing Yoruba unity. That is what led us to (Senator Bola) Tinubu. With all the misgivings and all that he did, many people were wondering why we went to him. But we know that those who are using him, those he joined against our wish don’t like him but they want to dominate Yorubaland. And the moment they finish him, and send him to the ground, they will just be kicking those of us in Yorubaland. That is why we went to Tinubu. We are working hard for Yoruba unity. That is the only thing that can save us from Fulani domination. No matter the pretence of the Fulani, their agenda is to dominate Yorubaland. And I challenge them, if they are not pretending, let them restructure the country.

We are not opposed to unity at all. As I often say, we are the champions of unity. Anybody opposed to restructuring the country that will make us return to a truly federal consti-

tution, is an enemy of Nigerian unity because we can’t have unity under this constitution. If anybody is realistic, if any Northerner or anybody from any part of the country believes that they want a united Nigeria, then we should come together under agreed terms.

The condition which the founding fathers of the country, Sardauna of Sokoto, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, gave us at independence is not what we are using now. When we are canvassing for true restructuring, we are only asking for a return to what the founding fathers gave us.

Why should there be a quarrel over that? Even those who are followers of Sardauna are now saying no to restructuring and they occupied positions under that system. It should be clear to Nigerians that any northerner that is opposed to restructuring will confirm our position that they want to dominate.

They want unity on their own terms not on an agreed term of the component people. As I often say, they want the unity of the horse and the rider; where they will be the rider and we the horse. It will not happen. If they insist on that they should be sure that it will be the end of Nigeria.

I don’t mince words by saying that without restructuring, there will be no Nigeria. So, if President Buhari is serious that Nigeria should remain united, he should implement the 2014 national constitutional conference report.

Do you think President Buhari will implement the report?

He should if he means well for the country. At independence there were three regions and the regions had three separate constitutions. There was devolution of powers, which we recommended at the 2014 national conference. For your information, all the wonders that Chief Awolowo did in the old Western Region within seven years, did he ever go to the Federal Government for subsidy? No, it was the constitution that allowed him to do all that he did. Every region managed development at its own pace. When Awolowo was building the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello was also building Ahmadu Bello Stadium in the North. When Ahmadu Bello was building a university in the North, the Western region also started building the University of Ife. That was a competition in government made possible by federalism.

If the northerners want the Sharia legal system, they can have it in their area because it is their wish. But it is wrong of them to attempt to force their culture on the rest of the country. It is for this that we need to restructure the country so that every region can develop at its own pace.

The conference had an assemblage of some of the finest people in the country. Every ethnic nationality was represented.

We had traditional rulers, lawyers and top professionals. Every shade of opinion was represented at the conference. So, if the President is as concerned about the development of the country as he makes us understand, he should implement the report.

In Memory of a Quintessential Jurist, the Honourable Justice Timothy Adebayo Adediran Ayorinde, Former Chief Judge of Oyo State

By Peter Fowoyo

THE current affairs in Nigeria with respect to the Nigerian judiciary have prompted this Memorial on the 5th Anniversary of the passing of this eminent and courageous jurist. The former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Timothy Adebayo Ayorinde died on November 13, 2011. He was born on June 04, 1932.

He had a deep religious background which was later to play a great role in his life when he served as the Chancellor of Diocese of the Ibadan Anglican Communion for about 12 years. His early education was at St. James Cathedral School in Ibadan and the Ibadan Grammar School.

On what motivated him to study law, in his book titled “Threat to the Rule of Law” which is quoted extensively in this Article, he said: “I had the golden opportunity to work in the Chief Secretary’s office in the secretariat at Lagos immediately after leaving secondary school. I was in the Civil Service Commission Registry of the office in the brick building facing the Marina in Lagos from January 1952 to August 1954. The Civil Service Commission Registry was on the ground floor.

Immediately above the Registry was the Legal Department in which were inspiring and admirable gentlemen like the late Atanda Fatayi-Williams (as he then was). We saw them going to courts in the mornings in their black jackets on top of their trousers.

Under the black jackets were their sparkling white shirts, collars and sparkling white bibs dancing to the breeze from the lagoon stretching along Marina. By this time I had made up my mind to be a lawyer.”

Justice Ayorinde was educated at the Kensington College of Commerce and Law in the South East of London and the University of London from 1955-1956 as an external student.

He joined the London School of Economics and Political Science as a full time student from September 1956 to November 1959. On November 24, 1959 he was called to the English Bar at the Middle Temple and later bagged a Masters Degree in Law at the same London School of Economics and Political Science.

Justice Ayorinde started his legal career at the Ministry of Justice in the defunct Western Region of Nigeria. He was a State Counsel, Director of Public Prosecutions and later Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary. He was sworn in as a judge of the High Court of Justice of the Old Oyo State in November 1977. He became the Chief Judge of Oyo State in 1991. He was courageous on the bench and stood firm even where the Government of the day did not like his decisions.

An interesting case was the University of Ibadan student’s case whom he admitted to bail for alleged acts of looting and damaging of property. The students of the university were holding protest demonstrations against the university’s Vice-Chancellor. During the period of the demonstrations the university authorities were said to have called in the police.

When the police came in, they arrested many persons on the campus consequent upon the information they had.

The arrested students were later charged to the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ibadan, on what was said to be a holding charge.

The suspects applied to the court for bail but the learned Chief Magistrate refused to grant them bail on the ground that the investigation by the police had not been completed. The suspects later brought the matter to the High Court on many grounds. The relevant ground for the present consideration, being that there was nothing known as a holding charge.

The case was about the first major judicial pronouncement on the illegality of the notorious “holding charge” which was being used to detain suspects without charging them to competent Courts. Justice Ayorinde subsequently quashed the remand orders against the students. The decision did not go down well with the then Commissioner of Police who withdrew his police orderly. He wrote in his book about this incident as follows: “My Chief Judge then was the late Justice O. Fakayode, a brave and courageous judge, a jurist of repute whom I was very proud of. He ordered that all the police orderlies of the other High Court Judges should leave the High Court Premises. The matter was however resolved by the then inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Adewusi.

The significance of this case is still very apt today and one wonders why persons suspected of crime are still being detained while investigations is then said to be on going and the suspects remain in custody without being charged to Court.

While the Law provides for investigation, arrest and then proffering of charges, the unfortunate order of the day now is arrest, detain and then begin or continue investigation while the suspect remain in custody.

Peter Fowoyo, Chairman National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Lagos branch writes for Daily Times, Lagos

26

Friday, 11 November, 2016

occasions Afolabi Olabimtan Foundation awards

featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0807 462 6431

Continues from pg23

2

1 THE Afolabi Olabimtan Foundation Scholarship awards ceremony was held recently at Ilaro Recreation Hall, Ilaro, Ogun State.

While the secretary of the foundation and one of the children of the founder, Mr Olaolu Olabimtan, in his address noted that the children and families of late Professor Olabimtan were determined to sustain the legacy of their late father by giving out scholarship awards to deserving students across Yewaland and by extension the entire local government across Ogun State in future, the oldest son of the family, Mr Adeolu Olabimtan, in his speech, urged well meaning people in the state to assist the foundation in order to make the academic awards a national annual event.

Mr Segun Olabimtan, in his vote of thanks, appreciated those who had shown support for

the foundation.

Schools that benefitted from the award included Yewa (Egbado) college, Yewa South local government in Ilaro, the headquarters of Yewaland; Imotu Community Commercial Academy in Ipokia local government; Alamuwa Grammar School in Ado-Odo Ota local government; Nazareth High School, Imeko-Afon local government and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro in Yewa North local government.

1

3

From left, representative of Olu of Imeko, HRM Oba Benjamin Alabi Olanite; Chief Bayo Bankole, Oga-otun of Imeko, Chief Segun Olaleye Bobatolu of Imeko representative of Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland; Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, chief Adeboye Sanu, Ekerin of Ilaro.

2. Late professor Afolabi Olabimtan’s children, family and members of the foundation.

3. Awardees and Afolabi Olabimtan foundation members.

At conference, nematologists reiterate role in ensuring food security

By Rita Okonoboh IN the light of calls by stakeholders for the Nigerian government to refocus the economy by embracing diversification, especially in improving Nigeria’s agricultural potential, nematologists across Nigeria have reiterated their role in ensuring food security for the Nigerian populace.

This was the submission at the third biennial conference of the Nigerian Society of Nematologists (NISON), held at Augustine University, Ilara-Epe (AUI), Lagos State, from Monday, 7th November till Wednesday, 9th November, 2016.

The conference, with the theme, “Nematodes and the Ecosystem,” featured a gathering of experts who came together to determine the importance of nematodes to plants, animals and humans.

The Vice Chancellor, Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, and Vice President, NISON, Professor S.O. Afolami, speaking with journalists on how farmers could benefit from the expertise of nematologists to improve food sustainability, stated that “there have been much research published but most of them have not been used for the purpose for which they were published.

Every time Nigeria reaches a point where it is going to benefit scientifically from the efforts of researchers, something always prevents it from happening. In the case of wheat, we almost got to a point where farmers were going to become routine users of pesticides to control wheat in such a manner that the intensive labour needed for managing such a farm would be reduced and suddenly, the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was introduced and there wasn’t enough money to manage such a programme. That prevented agriculture from taking off in a commercial way. Now, we have insecticides used routinely because insects are visible. However, nematodes are not visible so you need a very organised group for extension: first to train farmers, then to demonstrate the effect of controlling

nematodes on the crops themselves.

“We have been working on varieties of some crops resistant to nematodes and it is our hope that after this conference, we can establish some pilot farms in which this can be demonstrated in a manner that will sell and benefit farmers. Generally, the effects of nematodes on many crops are not known and a lot of problems faced by farmers are from nematodes. As such, these nematodes have to be known to farmers and efforts have to be consolidated. After this conference, we intend to speak with some levels of the powers that be in order to generate funds for extension nematology such that we can let farmers know the damage and help them reap benefits for their toil. Extension is a requirement for improved agriculture. We intend to cooperate with universities to employ nematologists as part of the programme for the universities and faculties of agriculture.”

The keynote speaker at the opening ceremony, Professor P.S. Chindo, of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in his presentation, explored the importance of nematodes and their relationship to the environment.

According to him, “nematodes are responsible for a certain percentage of loss to crops worldwide, but they also act as bio control agents and offer various benefits for soil health.”

He advised nematologists to carry out research with caution so as not to negatively affect the ecosystem. He also urged researchers to create balance and maintain stability of the ecosystem so that in

the long run, crops can be protected and food security ensured.

In his goodwill message at the event, President of NISON, Professor Dele Fawole, who conferred honorary membership of the society to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Augustine University, Chief Temisan Grant, noted that issues from the conference are important, especially in the light of Nigeria’s refocus on agriculture, and will serve to promote livelihood and improve food security.

Also present at the event were the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Augustine University, Chief Temisan Grant; Professor (Mrs) Carolyn Afolami; Professor M.O. Soladoye; AUI Registrar, Mrs Margaret Aziba; Africa’s foremost female plant nematologist, Professor (Mrs) O.A. Egunjobi; AUI Bursar, Mr S.A. Alabi; NISON Secretary, Dr. A.O. Claudius-Cole; Dr (Mrs) A.C. Obayiuwana; Reverend Father Emmanuel Ogundele, among other conference participants and staff and students of AUI.

27

Friday, 11 November, 2016

arewa

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Economic recession affects price of dog meat in Plateau Isaac Shobayo - Jos

A

S the prices of essential commodities among other things continue to soar as a result of the economic recession in Nigeria, those selling delicacy such as dog meat in Jos and its environs have jerked up the price of local dogs considered as delicacy among certain tribes in the state.

A visit by the Nigerian Tribune to places like kungiya, Jenta Adamu/ Mageri and some other areas like Pankshi and Kanke local government areas of the state revealed that the former price which ranged between N5, 000 to N8, 000 have increased by 25 per

cent.

A dog merchant identified as Istifanus Kwanda who said gone were the days when dogs were fed with rubbish or waste from the homes, stated that the cost of feeding dogs had gone up just as the cost of feeding human begin had also increased adding that the price depend on how they were fed, which also determined their sizes.

“The size determines the price, if you bring malnourished or sick dog to the market, nobody will want to buy such from you, we often ensure that they are well fed to attract good price. While the cost of maintaining them has gone up, feeding is also on the increase, we

have to balance the two to fix the price, so we have to adjust the price in line with the economic reality in the country.”

Another merchant who simply identified himself as Danjuma said he moved from house to house to buy dog or in most cases waited at the market to buy from

people adding that the cost of transportation among others forced up the increase.

Mrs. Amina Davou, who sells dog meat pepper soup a burukutu joint in Bukuru area of Jos South Local Government, said a plate of pepper soup now goes for N500 as against the former price of N200 but however added

that the size of the meat at times determined the price.

Titus Iliya, a consumer of god meat explained that the delicacy had a unique taste and at the same time medicinal, adding that there was no shame in eating the delicacy. She said the meat had become favourite cuisine of many irrespective of their

status and backgrounds.

Without any scientific evidence or proof, IIiya declared thus: “ It is medicinal and good for healthy living, it has the potency and capability of wading off evil attacks, those who eat dog meat are strong and can withstand any attack, be it spiritual or physical attack.

CBN to empower 30,000 farmers in Bauchi Isaac Shobayo - Jos AS part of the efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cushion the effect of the economic recession in the country, the Apex Bank through its programme Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) has targeted 30,000 farmers in Bauchi state to promote agriculture and generate more jobs for the teeming youths in the state.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the stakeholders meeting held at BSADP conference hall Bauchi , the Deputy Director, Development and Finances of CBN Bauchi, Masa’ud Ibrahim Tulu, said though the target in Bauchi was 30, 000 farmers adding that already over 10,000 had registered, opened account with five Banks of FCMB, UBA, Sterling, Jaiz and BOA.

According to him, under the scheme CBN would screen registered farmers and train the extension workers to make up with the Agricultural technology and the structures of the Scheme.

Dog market in Jos Plateau State.

Jobs: Kaduna targets 800,000 new businesses Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna KADUNA State government has said it is targeting 800,000 new businesses under its business licensing reforms.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai stated this during the unveiling of the new licensing reforms programme in Kaduna.

He said that the whole idea was to create jobs among the teeming youths, saying, to achieve this, his administration would fashion out the

conditions that will encourage private investments to thrive in the state.

Represented by the deputy governor ,Bala Barnabas Bantex, the governor noted that the recent Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADInvest) held in the state had shown that it had the policies and laws to support business investments. el-Rufai said: “That is why we welcome today’s launch of the Business Licensing Reform (BLR) programme. Put simply, we are committing to continuous refinement

of the process for obtaining business permits and to improve the quality of regulations that impact the private sector. Successfully implemented, we expect the BLR programme to strengthen our regulatory processes and to promote economic activities in the state” “BLR will reduce the cost and time it takes to process licenses and permits and eliminate regulations that hinder businesses, impede competition or impose restraints to trade. This should encourage more private businesses

to formalise, boost revenue generation in the state and propel economic growth in the state.

Let there be no doubt that the Kaduna State Government is deeply committed to realising the objectives of the BLR process. It is in the interests of our people that our state should attract and keep investors who will create, maintain and expand their business in our state.

We want the return of manufacturing in our state and we look forward to the Kakuri industrial area regaining its

Operation Safe Haven harps on peaceful co-existence Isaac Shobayo - Jos COMMANDER of the Special Task Force deployed to restore law and order in Plateau code named Operation Safe Haven, MajorGeneral Rogers Nicholas, had called on indigenes of the state to continue to live peacefully with one another.

General Rogers who stated this at the weekend while addressing newsmen at the headquarters of OPSH in Jos charged

the people of Plateau State to consolidate on the prevailing peace and take the advantage of the return of peace to engage in meaningful venture that would further promote peace in the state.

He said, “We are here to make sure there is peace and nothing short of it.

“We have been going from one community to the other in the state to call on citizens to continue to promote peaceful co existence among them, we have been

talking with herdsmen and farmers and also natives of the state.

“I have established a monthly media briefing to keep Plateau indigenes abreast of issues regarding peace and security in the state under my command.”

He also said that Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has said he would grant amnesty to gun runners and fabricators of light and sophisticated weapons as part of

efforts to mop up the circulation of dangerous weapons in Plateau State “.

He called on those in possession of weapons to hand them over to men of the Operation Safe Haven adding that ban on restriction of movement of tricycle popularly referred to as Keke Napep from 9pm to 6am in the state was still on.

He also disclosed that, that command had placed a total ban on the use of fire crackers popularly called

knockouts and fireworks during Christmas celebrations adding that Park owners should also step up security around their motor parks and also search passengers boarding vehicles from their respective parks.

He also charged citizens of the state to remain at alert and look out for strange faces among them saying the call became necessary to avoid the fleeing members of Boko Harm from settling among them.

vibrancy” The governor added: “We want trade, agriculture, construction, transportation and services to consider Kaduna State a place of dynamism and positive returns. Our people will be the ones to benefit from jobs and the better social services that can be enabled by improved revenue generation” With optimism that we are embarked on the right path to move our people out of poverty, it is my pleasure to launch the BLR programme.

It is our programme, and we shall make a success of it within our broad commitment to promote the Ease of Doing Business in Kaduna State” el-Rufai said.

On his part, Leslie Emegbuonye, manager Business Licensing,a European Union sponsored Programme, said the reform would facilitate easy registration of 800,000 businesses to create wealth in Kaduna :” With Kaduna state business licensing reforms launched,we target the registration of 800,000 businesses both retailers and wholesales” he said.

28 arewa Unilorin ASUU commissions students’ hostel Biola Azeez - Ilorin THE Association of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ilorin Chapter has commissioned the second phase of the ‘ASUU Hostel’, bringing the number of bed space built by the Union in less than twenty-four months to over hundred.

The official commissioning of the bed space for University female students was unveiled last Monday (November 7, 2016) by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and Chairman of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), Prof.

AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON).

Speaking at the commissioning, the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Ilorin Chapter, Dr. U. Raheem, said the ASUU’s Hostel and Shopping Mall were the duo of first of their kind in any Nigeria universities where any trade union existed.

The chairman said that the construct and maintenance of such facilities was to complement the effort of government in making life comfortable for members of the university community.

“The project commenced with the first phase of five rooms during Prof. Egbewole’s regime while Prof.

Adeoye added the ASUU shopping mall and commenced the second phase of the hostel project. Our commitment in the first year of our administration was to ensure the completion of the second phase and renovate the first phase, as at Monday November 7, 2016 the first phase was completely renovated by replacing all the faulty facilities and the completion of the second phase with all facilities to make life comfortable for the student of the University”, the ASUU chairman said.

Friday, 11 November, 2016

GOC brokers peace with warring parties Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

T

HE General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Mechanised division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, has said the military had succeeded in bringing together

the traditional rulers and Fulani herdsmen in the crisis that engulfed the southern Kaduna in recent times.

Oyebade also said that stakeholders agreed for the immediate stoppage of any form of violent activity, illegal display of arms and hiring of machinery to cause violence or carry out attacks

in the area.

Reading the resolutions of the meeting held behind closed doors for over five hours at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kachia, the GOC said, the meeting also resolved to stop children from grazing cattle, having identified such as, one of the sources of farmer/herdsmen

Crowd who came to witness a special durbar held in honour of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar during his recently concluded 10th year anniversary on the throne.

clash.

Reading the resolution , the GOC stated: “We agreed that, there will be immediate stoppage to all forms of violent activities from all the stakeholders ‘We want to encourage the setting up of peace and reconciliation committees at the ward levels, district level and the local government level by the Fulani herdsmen, the locals and other critical stakeholders in the various communities.’

Their focus will be to continue the effort which is started here today to deal with all the local issues that may trigger any form of violent activities.

“It has also been agreed that children will stop being at the helms of grazing cattle in Kaduna state and in the North West zone, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has made that commitment that they are going to make sure that all children are prevented from shepherding their cattle because it has been identified as one of the areas of conflict because they do not know much about area that they are not suppose to graze their cattle.

“Any destruction of farm lands or killing of cattle, the perpetrators will be brought before the committees that will be set up by the various levels with the aim of administering justice to make sure that if there are penalties to be paid, they should be done after being agreed by members of the committee at the various levels.

“It has also been agreed that within the next few days, efforts will be made at all levels to call all their members including the youth, the Fulani herdsmen from carrying weapons when moving around, the use of weapons by anybody other than the security forces is absolutely and completely illegal.

The security officers and agencies will take decisive actions against any group that violates this decision ef-

Kwara NGO wins award in education development Biola Azeez - Ilorin THE Tajudeen Olesin Foundation has been accorded recognition by the Patriotic Nigeria Platform for its contribution towards education development in Kwara state.

The foundation won the platform’s 2016 award in education.

The Olesin foundation which recently spent N1.4 million in renovating a block of classroom at the Government Day Secondary School,

Amule, Ilorin, was honored along side other organisations for their exemplary conduct.

The event took place at Dover Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

The recognition awards cut across endeavours in youth empowerment, education, health, infrastructure development, and many more.

In his remark the Chief Executive Officer of Tajudeen Olesin Foundation, Mr. Ibrahim Tajudeen Olesin dedicated the award to the Senate

President,Dr Bukola Saraki.

He said he floated the NGO to compliment Saraki and Kwara state government’s efforts in the educational development of the state, On the ward, he said”it is a big challenge not to relent on my mission of making positive impacts in people’s lives and contribute my quota to the development of my community.

“The award is dedicated to our visionary political leader, the Senate president

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, for setting the standard we are building on in term of touching people’s lives and aiding infrastructural development.”

In his remarks, the the Chief Executive Officer of Patriotic Nigeria Platform, Ejemdibia Ndidi Anita, said that the idea of celebrating and encouraging the patriotic Nigerians came to her mind when she was on visit to Ghana and saw how or-

dinary Ghanaian market women were distributing free national football team jersey to everybody that buy something from them on that match day in order to encourage people to go to the stadium and support their national team without collecting anything in return.

She called on Nigerians, especially the rich to inculcate the habit of helping the less privileged people and support government efforts in community development.

fective from 1st November, 2016.“We will not tolerate open display of arms by any group and we want to implore all of you to send the message across to all your people that the use of arms is prohibited and a violation of the laws of the country.

“We want to urge you all to get this message across to all your youth, any form of crime that may be committed in the days and weeks to come, efforts should be made through the ward level to resolve it and where it cannot be resolved to make the appropriate reporting to the security agencies, in this case, the Nigeria Police as the lead agency in our internal security operations.

Minister of Women Affairs advises rural women in Plateau on NWEF Isaac Shobayo -Jos Worried by the plight of rural women in Plateau State, the Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan has advised women in the state especially those in the rural areas to key in to the National Women Empowerment Fund (NWEF) of the Federal Government saying the fund was introduced to uplift the standard of women in Nigeria.

The minister who gave the advice while speaking at a town hall meeting with women in Jos, Plateau State said the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari introduced the programme with four key objectives to alleviate poverty among others in the country.

“The present administration, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, has put together a Social investment Intervention which has five pillars. The Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) is one of the approved pillars. The four key objectives of GEEP are to provide micro credit loans, reduce poverty among rural dwellers especially women and provide skills development, training and business support. It would also assist in rebuilding the economies of rural areas through financial inclusion.

“Both NAWEP and GEEP were financial inclusion and micro-credit programmes aimed at increasing financial access for women with a view to reducing poverty in the country. President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to better conditions of women in the country.”

news Army moves 51 senior officers to new formations

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Friday, 11 November, 2016

Chris Agbambu – Abuja

T

HE Nigerian Army hierarchy has posted 16 Major-Generals, 21 BrigadierGenerals and 14 Colonels to new formations in the Army across the country.

In a signal signed by the Military Secretary (Army) Major-General M.H. Garba, stated that it is the responsibility of all formations and unit commanders whose officers are affected by the new posting to implement accordingly.

According to him, all officers must take over on the effective date indicated, as formation and unit commanders will be held responsible for lapses in the implementation of the directive.

The senior officers affected in the postings are Majors General PAA Falola who moves from Army Headquarters to ASCON, BT Ndiomu from DHQ to ASCON, H. Umaru from Chief of Training and Operation Army Headquarters to TRADOC as commandant.

Others posted are MajorGeneral ECN Obi from Headquarters NAE to ASCON, Major-General AO Edokpayi HQ CAR to HQ

NAAC, Major-General OE Ekpanem from DHQ to NAFRC, Major-General OO Adeleke AHQ DASE to HQ NAE, Major-General A Mohammd HQ ICC to DHQ, Major-General DD Ahmadu from HQ NACA to AHQ DATOPS, Major-General K I Abdulkarim from HQ 2 division to HQ 6 Division, Major- General R C Duru from DHQ to NACOL, Major-General J A Orokpo from NACOL to DSA, Major-General I H Edet from HQ 81 Div. to HQ ICC, Major-General E B Oyetolu DIA to HQ 81 Division, Major-General I M Alkali from NAAC to HQ and Major- General M Mohammed ATIC to AHQ Dase.

Also affected are Brigadier-General O U Obono from AHQ DATOPS to HQ NAAC, Brig. Gen C M Abraham DIA to HQ 2 Div. Brig.

Gen OO Soleye from HQI Bde to DHQ, Brig. Gen A M Jalingo from SI LISK NHC Cairo to DIA, BrigadierGeneral ACC Agundu AHQ DAPP to DIA, Brig. Gen EB Kabuk to remain in AHQ DAPP as Ag DSD/Dy COPP, Brigadier-General PJ Dauke from HQ TRADOC to HQ 3Div Ag GOC, Brigadier -General AS Maikob from HQ TRADOC to (ASCON)

as participant, Brigadier -General HE Ayamasaowei from HQ42DE to HQ CAR & appt Ag DPS, BrigadierGeneral JB Olawumi DSA to AHQ DOAA & appt Ag DPS, Brigadier-General JO Akomolafe HQ TRADOC to AHQ DAPP & appt Ag D Pcy, Brigadier-General CO Ude from AHQ DOAA to ATIC & appt Ag COTILA, Brigadier -General NF Umaru from NIPSS to NASE & appt commandant, Brigadier -General BH Mohammed from NALI

to NIPSS & appt SDF and JA Fayehun NASE to NALI & appt commandant.

Others are Brigadier-General GK Nwosu from ATIC to HQ 1 Bde & appt commandant, Brigadier-General BA Raji from HQ4Bde to HQ TRADOC & appt DDJCD, Brigadier-General I. Garba from DHQ to HQ4Bde & appt commandant, Brigadier-General KO Ahgbe from HQ (OBS) to HQ 4 Bde & appt Commandant/ LCC Brigadier-General

Oyo Labour Unions picket Chinese company over casualisation We are paid N600 per day —Casual workers

By Wale Akinselure

THE Oyo State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, on Thursday, picketed Chinese company, CNC Quarry, Ibadan, to express its displeasure at casualisation of workers, and call for the institution of workers’ union in the company.

The unions led by its NLC Secretary, Mr Kofo Ogundeji and TUC Chairman, Mr Andrew Emelieze, said the

SATURDAY, 12 NOVEMBER, 2016

action was to protest oppression, exploitation, slavery of Nigerians in their own land by foreigners.

Speaking, Ogundeji noted investigations into the activities of the Chinese company ranging from poor wages, uncomfortable work environment to poor welfare package for workers.

The union, upon the request of the Plant Manager, Mr Bruce Shen, for time to communicate to the company’s head office, gave a 14 days ultimatum for a meet-

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GAT Ochigbano NAWLG to HQ16 Bde & appt commandant, Brigadier-General AB Ibrahim STF (OP SAFE HEVEN) to NDC & appt DS, Col. S Ahmed from DHQ to ASCON as participant, Col. K Zanna HQ 31 Bde to ASCON as participant, Colonel TA Essien DHQ to ASCON, Colonel BC Ogbona from AWC ASCON, Colonel OR Akerele NA Budget to ASCON and Col. HI Daniel DHQ to ASCON as participant, among others.

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ing between the two parties.

On acceding to the request for unionisation of workers of the company, Shen said, “This is just our working site. We have our head office where we can attend to all these issues that you have raised. I will communicate to our head office in Lagos.

We give our workers helmets, boots but they do not use it. They prefer to wear slippers.”

In their different conversations with Nigerian Tribune, the casual workers disclosed that they received N600 per day and commenced work from 6:30 a.m till 7: p.m.

It was further observed that six casual workers are allocated to a room at the accommodation called, “Nigerian Quarters,” where the workers laid cartons on which they sleep.

One of the workers said, “We are paid N600 per day, and get an extra N100 for transport fare. However, we no more get that transport fare. Workers may be sacked right away if they fail to resume before 7:a.m, hence we usually resume at 6:30 a.m. We close between 6:p.m to 7:p.m daily. They do not care about us encountering hazards, injury while working.”

“There is no statutory off day. It is the decision of the worker to decide to make himself off by not coming to work on Sundays and would not get the pay for that day.

N3,000 is deducted from our salary every month whether we make use of the accommodation or not.

Getting an increase in pay is usually dependent on one’s years of service.”

“We excavate dust from the crusher and this dust endangers our health. We only occasionally get nose cover but no package to refill ourselves and enhance our health.”

Supervisor of the casual workers, Mr John Mike said it was difficult for the establishment of a union, noting that the workers were fleeting, and worked only for a few days and left.

‘Remain Loyal to Jehovah’ THE fifth in the series of “Remain Loyal to Jehovah” regional convention of the Jehovah’s Witnesses starts on Friday, November 11, 2016 at the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ifatumo Village on Ibadan-Iwo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The three-day programme will feature 49 presentations, each exploring the theme ‘’ loyalty’’.

Each day, the morning and afternoon sessions will be introduced by music videos recorded for the convention On Saturday, the programme will feature baptism for those who have dedicated their lives to Jehovah to remain loyal to Him, as Jehovah’s Witnesses strongly believe in loyalty as an essential part of any healthy relationship.

The convention will therefore feature content to help people develop stronger bond with friends, family members and above all, with God. This was contained in a press release made available to the Nigerian tribune and signed by the media officer, Mr Olayinka Dada.

Each day’s programme will start at 8:20a.m and end on Friday and Saturday by 3:50p.m, while Sunday programme will end at 2:45p.m.

Burial THE funeral rites of Olori Alice Odunola Abeke Ojo-Elegbaada (nee Akintunde), who died at the age of 90 on August 19, 2016 held on Thursday, November 10, 2016 with Christian wake at her residence, Baale Ojo Elegbaada’s compound, Elegbaada, Lagelu Local Government Area, at 5:00 p.m.

According to a release by the family head, Mr Isaiah Oladiran Akintunde, the funeral service will hold today, November 11, at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Elegbaada, Igbo Elerin Archdeaconry of Ibadan North Diocese, at 11:00 a.m. Interment follows at the Church’s cemetery.

Guests will be entertained on St Paul’s Anglican School field same day, while thanksgiving service comes up on Saturday, November 12, at the Officers’ Mess, Idiape, Ibadan, at 12 Noon. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Alice Odunola Ojo-Elegbaada

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Friday, 11 November, 2016

PoliticsNews Stop destroying our posters, billboard —Jegede campaign group Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

The governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, addressing his supporters at Oba Ile Square in Akure North, on Thursday.

THE Campaign Organisation of Eyitayo Jegede in the Ondo state governorship election on Thursday raised alarm over destruction of it billboards, and posters of the substituted candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Eyitayo Jegede, by thugs suspected to be hired by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

The organisation alleged that all the posters of its candidate were removed on the wake of the APC flag off campaign of the

Makarfi-led PDP not planning new party, says ex-sports minister Isaac Shobayo - jos

F

ORMER Minister of Youth and Sports, Honourable Damishi Sango, has condemned insinuations that the committee set up by the chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, was geared towards the formation of another party.

PDP, he stated, was a brand synonymous with Nigeria and still potent to return to power in 2019.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune in Jos, the former minister, who is now the Plateau State chairman of PDP, said the committee was set up to reposition the party ahead of 2019.

He explained that the body would meet with those who had left the party or were sitting on the fence since PDP lost the 2015 election.

“The party has to be dynamic; we cannot afford to just sit down and fold our arms; there is the need to plan ahead.

“There is the need to rub minds on the way forward, there is nothing wrong in meeting those who left the party and woo them back to the party.

“PDP is still a veritable force as far as democracy is concerned in Nigeria, especially under this dispensation,” he said.

According to him, the insinuation that the Makarfi-led committee was scheming to leave PDP was just a figment of some people’s imagination and a ploy to distract the party.

He added that the name PDP was stronger and older than any other political

party in the dispensation.

He said: “PDP is a brand name; there is no other political party in Nigeria that has a name like PDP. “The party that had ruled the country for 16 years.

We are simply looking for people to add to the ocean.

“As you know, the ocean never dries. PDP remains a

force to be reckoned as far as politics is concerned in Nigeria,” he said.

Sango assured that the crisis rocking the PDP at the national level would soon be resolved and charged members support the leadership in its efforts at repositioning the party.

On the plan by the APC

government in Plateau to conduct local government election earlier in 2017, Sango said there was no need for local government election when the sacked local government chairmen were still in court over the way and manner their tenure was abruptly terminated by the government .

Senate rejection of grazing reserves bills in order —Patriots

By Aramide Shanu

THE decision of the Senate to reject the three bills seeking the establishment of grazing reserves across the country is conformity with the cardinal principles of federalism, the new political association, The Patriots Movement (TPM) declared on Thursday.

According to the fledging political party, it will be a serious contravention of the salient provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, as regards the areas that fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government if the Senate had acted otherwise.

Reacting through a statement issued by the national coordinator, Chief Oladosu Oladipo, the TPM observed that the provisions of the constitution were unambiguous in relation to items on the Exclusive List that concerned powers of the Federal Government.

The bills, which were sponsored by were Senator Barnabas Gemade, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, and

Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, suffered the setback on Wednesday on the ground that it was against the spirit of the federalism and the 1999 Constitution.

The bills sought to establish National Ranches Commission for the Regulation,

Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches across the country.

But, TPM said it was within the residual powers of states that wished to make such legislation, stressing that the Senate deserved commendation for not re-

maining vigilant on the powers of the Federal Government and state under the grund norm (constitution).

States like Ekiti have either legislated on it or set the machinery in motion, following the ravaging activities of herdsmen.

Embrace peace, Bauchi LG chair charges feuding Badaru, NASS members Isaac Shobayo - Jos DISTURBED by the faceoff between the governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar and National Assembly members from the state, the APC chairman for Bauchi Local Government Area, Alhaji Rabiu Danbaba, has called on the warring group to embrace peace.

Dababa told newsmen in Bauchi, the state capital, that the feud was capable of hindering development in the state.

He said the current economic situation in the state required that all stakehold-

ers in APC should rise above personal interest towards delivering good governance to the people who they represented.

“This is a wake-up call for our leaders to come together for the purpose of rescuing the state from economic hardship and shun any act that might impede the growth and development of our state.

“Our people demand, and request from us, good governance, leadership and hope at a critical time like this in our state, We must therefore rise above our personal differences and interests, with a com-

mon unity of purpose; staying focused on our promises and manifesto at all times,” he said.

Noting that the party was bigger than any individual, he stated that since all of the concerned APC members were elected on its platform, there was the need for synergy and corporation among them for the purpose of developing the state.

He urged them to sheath their swords and embrace peace for the development of Bauchi adding that there must be unity of purpose to advance the state in all ramifications.

governorship candidate of the APC, Rotimi Akeredolu, in Akure.

In a statement by the head, media and publicity of the organisation, Kayode Fasua, who said? “Today’s streak of events in Akure, the Ondo State capital, is saddening, to say the least.

At a time the United States of America concluded an epochal presidential election in which everything was done decently, Nigeria unfortunately was tethered by the powersthat-be to a stone age that pundits had prayed that the country should break loose from.

“The ruling All Progressives Congress, leveraging on the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Akure, simply bore its fangs, directing all its arsenal at everything that represented the governorship hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Jegede (SAN).

Fasua alleged that “starting from the wee hours of the day up till this morning, APC thugs, under the supervision of the party chieftains, had hit the streets in Akure, the state capital, pulling down the billboards of Jegede and tearing his posters, in a desperate attempt to hoodwink President Buhari into believing that the party is popular in Ondo State.

“The vandalism reached a crescendo at about 7:00am today when the APC thugs mounted the pedestrian bridge at OjaOba, in Akure, and pulled down the banners of Jegede and his running mate, Mr. John Ola Mafo.

“While it is true that Jegede is at the Court of Appeal, trying to reclaim his mandate from Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, one wonders the law relied upon by the APC chieftains and their thugs to pull down his billboards and banners and also tear his posters, simply because Buhari was being expected.

“It is our conviction that Jegede will not concede the substitution of his name as the PDP governorship candidate to Ibrahim and that is why he is at the Court of Appeal to obtain justice.”

politicsnews Ondo PDP: Appeal Court refuses application to disband panel •Gives Jegede nod to appeal judgment 31

Sunday Ejike - Abuja

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HE Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, dismissed an application by the Ali ModuSherif faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state, led by Biyi Poroye seeking the disbandment of the three-member panel Justices of the court set up to hear and determine appeals that emanated from the Ondo governorship election matter.

Poroye had asked the court to reverse the decision by its President, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa to constitute a fresh panel, comprising of Justices Ibrahim Salauwa, Ignatius Igwe Aguba, and George Mbaba,to hear appeals relating to the dispute.

Poroye and others equally prayed the court to order the return of the case files relating to the appeals and the application for leave to appeal as an interested party (against the decision of the Federal High Court of 14th October 2016 in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/395/2016) - filed by Eyitayo Jegede (factional PDP candidate of the Ondo PDP) “to the Registry of the Court of Appeal to take its normal course and turn in the docket of the court.”

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), representing Jegede had told the court to dismiss the application, adding that the President of the Court of Appeal, who, the applicant said, constituted the fresh panel was not a party in the appeal.

He told the court that it had no jurisdiction to discontenance the application, not to talk of granting it.

Justice Salauwa, in the lead judgment held that the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), as the head of the court, had the right to set up panel to hear and determine any matter and that litigants had no right to question the administrative decision of the President of the Court of Appeal.

The court said granting Poroye’s application by the court would amount to abdicating its responsibility under Section 214 of the 1999 constitution.

“To cut a long story short, we have come to the conclusion that the instant application is grossly devoid of merit. “It is one that ought not to be allowed to see the light of the day, it is hereby dismissed”, Justice Salauwa stated.

The court, in the unani-

Friday,11 November, 2016

mous decision, dismissed the application by the Ali Modu-Sherif faction of PDP for lacking in merit and added that the PCA needed not to consult the litigants before setting up a panel.

Though not a party at the lower court, Jegede had through his counsel approached the Appeal Court seeking for leave to appeal as interested party.

Counsel to the factional PDP chairman, Prince Biyi

Poroye, B.E.I Nwufor however opposed the application.

Delivering ruling, a full panel of the court, in a unanimous decision, upheld Jegede’s submission, through his counsel, Chief Olanipekun (SAN) and granted his application as prayed.

Reading the lead the judgement, Justice Salauwa, held that Jegede had been able to prove to the

court that he was affected by the judgment of the lower court.

“I am satisfied that the applicant (Jegede) has proved that his interest was affected by the judgement of the lower court and thus has the right to be granted leave to appeal the judgment as an interested party”, the Court held.

Justice Salauwa held that Jegede’s application was not frivolous, adding that,

“I have no objection in granting the application as prayed”.

The court, however held that the Notice of Appeal filed by the applicant should be deemed as properly filed and that the applicant should file and serve all his application on the respondents within 24 hours.

The court gave the respondents three days to file their reply to the applicant’s application.

Representative of President Muhammadu Buhari and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal (middle); national chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (second left), APC governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu (second right); his wife, Betty; deputy governorship candidate, Honourable Agboola Ajayi (third left) and others, during the presentation of flag to Akeredolu and Ajayi, on Thursday, at Democracy Park, Akure, Ondo State, ahead the November 26 governorship election in the state.

Bad leadership responsible for recession in Ondo —Oke Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

THE governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the coming governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, has identified bad leadership as the bane of the present economic recession in the state.

Oke, who stated this during a meeting with a youth group, Concerned Ondo State Youths, said the effect of the recession was worsened in the state with failure of the state government to save for the rainy day.

He accused the administration of wasting the resources of the state and the funds it borrowed from the capital market and other sources in addition to killing all avenues to generate money and left the state and its people in abject poverty.

He noted: “Any state where there is no production and commerce is at low ebb as Ondo State suffers poverty hence the large scale unemployment, huge indebtedness of the state government and inability to pay workers’ salaries for an upward of six months”.

The candidate said that the state had “no business with joblessness and poverty in view of its endowment, listed moribund and abandoned agro-allied industries and life-transforming projects in the state to include Olokola project; Cocoa Processing Company, Ile Oluji; Cassava Processing, Ikoya; Fisheries, Akure; and Alfa 3D, Ikare Akoko.

APC govs to Mimiko: Prepare to hand over to Akeredolu Tinubu, Akande absent at rally Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure.

GOVERNORS elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, told their Ondo State counterpart, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to start preparing to hand over the insignia of power in the state to the candidate of their party, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. The governors, who unanimously spoke during the official flag off of APC governorship campaign in Akure, the state capital, declared that being in the same party with the Federal Government was the only panacea to the scourge of poverty, starvation, youth unemployment and irregular payment of salary currently plaguing the state.

Speaking one after the other at the rally, which held at Democracy Park, Akure, the governors said they had resolved to win Ondo for

Akeredolu through the instrumentalities of the Law and with the support of the people of the state.

The governor of Borno State, Alhaji kashim Shetima, who was the first to speak, urged the members of the Hausa community in the state, who thronged the venue of the event, to ensure that they voted en masse for the APC, stating that the solution to the problems of the state was only in the hands of Akeredolu.

Also in his speech, the governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, said the reign of the PDP in Ondo would end on November 26.

The former Speaker of the House of Representative urged Mimiko to either join the APC to work for Akeredolu or get prepared to be voted out.

“The wind of change currently blowing across

the country will not exclude Ondo State. Ondo State will not be allowed to remain in the hands of the locust. My friend and brother, Mimiko should get prepared to hand over to Akeredolu” Tambuwal said.

The chairman of the APC national campaign committee, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, congratulated Akeredolu for his victory in advance, assuring him that President Mohammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party would do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure APC triumphed at the poll.

The governor also cautioned Mimiko against blaming Buhari and APC for the substitution of his preferred choice, Eyitayo Jegede as PDP candidate, stressing that on no condition would the party allow

itself to be blackmailed recklessly.

The event, which witnessed the defection of several chieftains of the PDP, led by Former member of the House of Representatives and immediate past director general of the National Sports Commission, Mr Gbenga Elegbeleye and NURTW chieftain, Mr. Akin Fayehun into the APC, was attended by Chief John Oyegun and all the members of the National Working Committee of the party.

Oyegun, who was optimistic that his party would win the election, charged the people of the state to use their votes to send away poverty, hunger, under-development and stagnation which he said the Mimiko’s administration stood for.

The party’s candidate, Akeredolu, thanked the APC governors and dignitaries, who attended the event,

promising to focus on job creation through agriculture, massive infrastructure and security of lives and properties if elected.

Other notable people at the rally were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir David Lawal, who represented President Buhari, governors of Bauchi and Ogun State, Mohammed Abubakar and Ibikunle Amosun, Ministers of Solid minerals, Labour and Productivity and Communications, Kayode Fayemi, Chris Ngige and Adebayo Shittu.

But, some leaders of the party including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; national leaders of party, Senator Bola Tinubu; Chief Bisi Akande and all the SouthWest APC governors, except the Governor Amosun, were conspicuously absent at the rally.

32 news

Friday, 11 November, 2016

Senate rejects FIRS budget over ‘padding’

•Suspends work on amendment of Sovereign Wealth Fund •Agencies must prevent padding in 2017, it warns Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

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HE Senate, on Thursday, rejected the N143 billion 2016 budget of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), over allegations of repetitions and padding.

The Senate came hard on the Committee on Finance, headed by Senator John Enoh, which presented the budget for consideration, declaring that the committee did a shoddy job when it failed to identify the serious alleged padding in the document.

The lawmakers also stepped down its legislative work on the consideration of an amendment to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. President Muhammadu Buhari had, in July, forwarded the budget of 36 agencies to the National Assembly for consideration.

But the Senate, on Thursday, discovered what it called serious contradictions in the FIRS budget.

The document submitted to the Senate also contained an excess fund of N2.2 billion, which was not captured in the budget.

Though the document presented to the Senate showed that the total FIRS budget for 2016 is N143 billion, the document also

stated that the agency had a total of N146 billion.

It stated that the sum of N2.2 billion was from a 20 per cent of 2015 operating surplus.

The senate blamed Senator Enoh for simply presenting the budget as forwarded by the president, adding that the document was full of duplication and padding.

The lawmakers also warned agencies of government to desist from padding budgets in the 2017 budget circle.

According to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, the Senate was worried that the document presented by Senator Enoh was just the same as the one sent to the Senate by President Buhari.

Sources in the Senate told the Nigerian Tribune that the Senate rejected the FIRS budget due to the poor preparation.

Some of the contentious subheads in the FIRS budget included the proposal for N2.3 billion for purchase of vehicles and another N5.1 billion for purchase of furniture and equipment.

The FIRS also budgeted the sum of N5.5 billion for acquisition of land and building and N3 billion for construction of new office projects and another N4 billion for rehabilitation and repairs.

The agency also budgeted

another N415 million for the same rehabilitation and repairs of new offices in another subhead.

The Senate also frowned on the provision of N555 million for infrastructure and ICT, as well as another N2.06 billion for ongoing infrastructure projects.

The agency also provided the sum of N440 million for office materials and supplies and another N68 million for library books and periodicals, as well as the sum of N530 million for computer materials and supplies.

The agency equally budgeted N1.9 billion for printing of non-security documents, while it also approved N25 million for printing of security documents.

The Senate was also alarmed that the FIRS proposed the sum of N170 million for maintenance of plants and generating sets while it also approved N750 million for generating sets fuel cost as well as another N700 million for motor vehicle fuel cost.

Saraki, who presided over the sitting, decried the late submission of the budget, adding that padding was always encouraged by late submission.

He also warned that budgets of the agencies should henceforth get to the National

Assembly not later than the first quarter of the year.

“They must submit their budgets early so that we can

have enough time to work on their proposals. If we do that, these issues we have here will not arise.

“The relevant committees should take note of that and ensure that right thing is done,” he said.

Reps okay N70bn NCC budget for 2016 Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja THE House of Representatives, on Thursday, authorised the issue from the Statutory Revenue Fund of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the total sum of N70 billion as its 2016 budget.

From the N70 billion, N22 billion is for recurrent expenditure, N15 billion for capital expenditure, N6 billion for special projects, while N8 billion and N17 billion would be transferred to the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and the Federal Government respectively.

During the consideration of the report at the committee of supply, chaired by the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, the House approved that “the Executive Director responsible for Finance shall, when authorised to do so, by warrants signed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, pay out of the statutory revenue fund of the commission during the

year ending on December 31, 2016, the sums specified by the warrants, not exceeding in the aggregate, N70,672,492,000.”

The House, however, warned that “no part of the amount above mentioned shall be released from the statutory revenue fund of the NCC after the end of the year mentioned in the Schedule to

this bill.”

In the case of virement, the House maintained that “in the event that the implementation of any of the projects intended to be undertaken under this Bill cannot be completed without virement, such virement shall only be effected with the prior approval of the National Assembly.”

Abuja bomb scare a false alarm —Police Chris Agbambu –Abuja THERE was pandemonium at Jabi district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday, following an alarm raised by some persons that a bag containing improvised explosive device (IED) was abandoned under the Jabi bridge, near the popular Shoprite Mall.

Residents of the district told the Nigerian Tribune that following the rumour, businesses began to close shops while people abandoned whatever they were doing and relocated to Jabi.

The FCT Commissioner

of Police, Mohammad Mustapha, on getting report of the development, dispatched men of the antibomb squad and Explosive Ordinance Unit of the command to the scene.

Police Public Relations Officer for FCT, Anjuguri Manza, told the Nigerian Tribune that after the antibomb squad combed the vicinity, including the entire Jabi bridge and neighbouring buildings, it was discovered the alarm was false.

He said it was an abandoned food cooler containing substance that was not harmful was found.

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news

Friday, 11 November, 2016

Unilorin ASUU members raise the alarm over assassination attempt

We are not aware —Unilorin management Biola Azeez-Ilorin

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EMBERS of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the University of Ilorin branch have cried out, over alleged assassination plot by the university on them.

In a statement by the chairperson of the union, Dr Kayode Afolayan and Secretary, Dr Solomon Oyelekan, made available to journalists in Ilorin on Thursday, they alleged that they were suddenly assaulted by men of Department State Security (DSS), in company with campus security and some officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Wednesday, while attending a congress of their union, ASUU. The Unilorin ASUU leaders, who said the meeting which was initially scheduled to take place at the University open air Amphitheatre, was shifted to one of the side sitters of the walkway of the University also in the open air.

“The meeting had barely begun when the incident occurred.

“As usual, the university administration had been notified of this meeting.

Usually the authorities

Autonomy, essential for effective LG administration —Oyo Chief of Staff

By Wale Akinselure

CHIEF of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Dr Gbade Ojo has advocated for the autonomy of local governments, from the manipulation of state governments for effective delivery of good governance to the grassroots.

Ojo made this call, in Ibadan, while delivering a keynote address at the 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria, Oyo State chapter.

Speaking around the theme, “Value Innovation: Instilling Local Initiatives Through Strategic Leadership, “ Ojo noted that, autonomy of local governments would engender accountability, popular participation of the people in how their affairs were being run.

To improve local government administration, Ojo reiterated the recommendation of the Presidential Committee, on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, that local governments should emerge as the creation of the constitution for them to have full-fledged autonomy.

would deploy campus security personnel to take up positions, to prevent academic staff from attending the meeting and to intimidate those who went on to attend. And the Union had always protested in writing against this illegal and barbaric habit.

“However, a new dimension was added yesterday, when men of the DSS and “Civil Defence” accompanied campus security to assault the academic staff at the meeting.

The files and papers being used by the chairperson of

the union, Dr K.N. Afolayan, were forcibly taken away, while he was assaulted; the iPad of another member, Mr Felix Akinsipe, was forcibly taken away; the shirt of Dr Femi Dunmade was torn.

“The situation nearly went out of hand before the head of campus security, Alhaji Tijani, decided to lead the DSS and Civil Defence away, from wherever he brought them from in the first place,” the statement said.

Reacting, the deputy director of Information of the

university, Mr Kunle Akogun, said the Unilorin management was not aware of any invasion on the campus.

“The allegation by Dr Kayode Afolayan is news to us, as the university authority is not aware of any meeting by any group, outside the one held by the Kwara State Police Commissioner with members of all campus unions (staff and students) in the University Auditorium on Wednesday. This meeting, which was also attended by members of the Private Hostel Association

and Tanke community leaders, was conveyed to foster the security of lives and property of members of the University community and its adjoining communities.

Members of the Executive Council of Unilorin ASUU, led by Dr Usman Raheem, were fully represented at the meeting and they made useful contributions to its proceedings.

Whatever happened between the Kayode Afolayan group and the DSS, as alleged, is not known to the university management,” he said.

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, arriving at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI.

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail, begins trial Dec 14 Sunday Ejike -Abuja

A Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Thursday, fixed December1 4, to commence the trial of the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode, in the case of N26 million money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, fixed the date after the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him and he was granted bail to the tune of N50 million and a surety in likes sum.

Other conditions for the bail of the defendant, who was the Director of Media and Publicity in the campaign organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the judge held, is that the surety must have a landed property in Abuja.

The surety, the judge held, must produce the original documents of the property for citing and inspection before the deputy registrar, Litigation of the Court.

The defendant and the surety are both expected to produce two recent passport photographs and the defendant should submit his travelling document to

the court.

Fani -Kayode is facing a fresh five-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N26 million, he was said to have collected from the Office of the former National Security Adviser (ONSA), Colonel Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (retd) and using same for media campaign for the former President Jonathan.

He pleaded not guilty to all the five -count charges and his counsel; Ifedayo Adedipe, consequently, apply for his bail.

Adedipe, while stating that the offence his client is being accused of ,is bailable, drew

Benue students protest non-payment of N368m bursary allowance Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

STUDENTS numbering about 100 of Benue State indigenes under the aegis of National Union of Benue State Stents (NUBESS), on Thursday, protested the non-payment of their bursary allowances running to N368 million.

The students who marched through major streets of the capital city, Makurdi carried placards with various inscriptions; ‘reminder: our governors pay our bursary allowance, ‘we are running out of patience and capacity’ and ended up at government house.

The students blocked the entrance of the government house, despite the presence of stance looking and gun wielding police officers stationed at the entrance.

The acting Secretary to the State Government, Dr Bem Melladu, who had represented Governor Samuel Ortom to address the students, got what he did not bargain for, as they rebuffed him, insisting that only the governor could address them.

They were thereafter asked to go into the Government House, where the governor met with them.

Addressing the governor, National President

of NUBESS, Emmanuel Iorshe, disclosed that the bursary arrears amounted to over N368 million and lamented that the governor had refused to clear the backlog as he promised on assumption of office.

He passionately appealed to the governor to pay the arrears, so as to ameliorate the suffering of the students.

In his response, Governor Ortom said it was difficult for his administration to meet the competing demands of the state, bursary allowance inclusive, due to the present economic recession.

the attention of the court to the fact that Kayode, who was arrested outside the Federal High Court, Lagos premises, was held for 21 days without a warrant of arrest or detention from any court of law.

He said that Kayode was earlier granted bail in a sister case where he was accused of misappropriating N1.2 billion and had not breached the terms of his bail and urged the court to grant him bail on self recognition or on a liberal term.

Responding, the prosecuting counsel, Johnson Ojogbane, said, although ,the defence had filed the bail application before the arrest and the arraignment of the defendant, the prosecution had responded to only in good faith and in respect of the court, noting that it ought not to be so.

Delivering ruling on the application, Justice Tsoho, held that the offence the defendant was accused of, was bailable and desribed as mere speculation, the claim by the prosecution that the defendant was a flight risk and was likely to temper with evidence if granted bail.

He said there was no evidence to show that when the defendant was granted bail in the sister case, he breached the conditions of his bail.

Justice Tsoho, has fixed December 14 , 2016 to commence trial.

Nigerian Tribune

Review death sentence on Saro-Wiwa, 8 others, MOSOP urges FG

By Dapo Falade

TWENTY ONE years after their public executions, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has urged the Federal Government to review the death sentences passed on the late environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders.

The leading apex Ogoni socio-cultural organisation, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday by its public secretary, Fegalo Nsuke, saying such a review would demonstrate the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to correct past wrongs.

The late environmentalist was executed along with Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine on November 10, 1995, for their alleged involvement in a crisis in Ogoniland leading to the death of four other Ogoni leaders.

The execution of the Ogoni 9 was visited with protests from prominent Nigerians, including the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who unsuccessfully pleaded with the then Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha, not to ratified and approve their death sentences by the military tribunal set up to try them.

MOSOP said it remembered the martyrs of the Ogoni struggle, particularly the Ogoni 9, adding that its stance was a call for patriotism, and the need to sustain the collective struggle for a just and fair system.

“Today keeps in our memory, the sacrifices of our heroes; it ignites the realities of their innocence, their unfair trial and the pains of how they were hurriedly and brutally killed by the Nigerian government on November 10, 1995.

“The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) calls on the Nigerian government, to review the sentences passed on Ogoni leaders 21 years ago, by a military tribunal in Port Harcourt.

“A review of the sentences would demonstrate that, the present government would not have acted in the way of the military authorities in 1995; that today’s Nigeria is truly committed to right the wrongs of the past and to set Nigeria on the path of a just society committed to civilised values.”

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Friday, 11 November, 2016

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I, formerly Miss Oladipo, Oluwakemi Olaitan now ALARAPE-OLADIPO OLUWAKEMI OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UGO

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ugo Cynthia Ordinaka am the same person as Ugo Cynthia Mama. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as UGO CYNTHIA ORDINAKA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

SARAFA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Sarafa Afeez Akano am the same person as Sarafa Afeez. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as SARAFA AFFEZ AKANO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

GIWA I, formerly Giwa Akeem Alade now TIJANI AKEEM ALADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMIYALE I, formerly Miss Mobolaji Tosin Olanihun now MRS MOBOLAJI TOSIN OMIYALE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLANIYAN

* Scanned copy of Marriage Certificate or Affidavit * Copy of Payment teller emailed to:

adverttribune@yahoo.com adverttribune@gmail.com

every Monday, Wednesday & Friday

AMUSAN I, formerly Amusan Tayo now AMUSAN OMOTAYO ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MUHAMME I, formerly Muhamme Sikirullai Jamiu now IMAM MUHAMMED JAMIU SIKIRULLAI OLAPOSI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADELEKE

I, formerly Adeleke Taiwo Adefunke now ONI TAIWO ADEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid.

EcoBank Nig. Ltd. and general public take note.

JOLAADE

I, formerly Miss Akintomide Damilola Tinuke now MRS ADEMOLA DAMILOLA TINUKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Jolaade Elizabeth Bola now AFOLABI BOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEBAYO I, formerly Adebayo Toyin Racheal now ADEBAYO ADERONKE FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEWALE

I, formerly Miss Alao Olufunke Kemi now MRS OLABODE OLUFUNKE KEMI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adewale Blessing Tadese am the same person as Adewale Blessing.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ADEWALE BLESSING TADESE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alao Temitope Sherifat now MRS SANUSI SHERIFAT TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLAKUNLE I, formerly Olakunle Isaac Abefe now OLAKUNLE ISAAC AYOBI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

FASASI

I, Adeleye-Idowu Suliat Adebisi am the same person bearing Adeleye Suliat Adebisi and Idowu Suliat Adebisi.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADELEYE-IDOWU SULIAT ADEBISI. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Fasasi Soliu Titilope now TITILOPE FASASI SOLIU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKPAN

I, formerly Akpan Mfon Okon now UDOINYANG MFON ANTHONY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ABOSEDE

ALAO

ALAO

ADELEYE-IDOWU

OGUNGBESAN

I, formerly Mrs Ogungbesan Funmi now MRS OGUNGBESAN OLU F U N M I L AYO ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADANRI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mrs Adanri Vivian Olorunwa am the same person bearing Mrs Adanri Modupe Mautin. All documents bearing these names remain valid. FCMB and general public take note.

ADELEKE

KEHINDE

PATIENCE

I, formerly Miss Patience Kuronakiah Umoru Pamoh now MRS PATIENCE KURONAKIAH BEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BOLA

AJANI I, formerly Miss Ajani Taiye now MRS OLADOKUN TAIYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLUREMI

MUDASHIR I, Mudashir Idris Owonikoko now MUDASHIR IDRIS ORIYOMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BAKRE I, formerly Miss Bakre Aminat Bukola now MRS ALAYANDE AMINAT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ASIMIYU

I, formerly Asimiyu Sakiru Kehinde now SAKIRUDEEN OGO-OSUPA OLA-ADUA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

OYAMAKIN

I, formerly Oyamakin Funmilayo now OYAMAKIN ESTHER FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ISHOLA I, formerly Mrs Ishola Kehinde Ajoke now MRS KEHINDE OGUNLANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLUWAYEMISI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Oluwayemisi Emily Tanimowo am the same person bearing Oluwayemisi Emily.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OLUWAYEMISI EMILY TANIMOWO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc, EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

DAHUNSI

ADEWA

I, formerly Miss Adewa Odunayo Mary now MRS OLUGBOYEGA ODUNAYO MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

YAKUBU I, formerly Yakubu Iliya now ILIYA YAKUBU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABINA

I, formerly Abina Olaitan Funke now ADEKUNLE OLAITAN FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

ANJORIN

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Anjorin Olufunke Ayodele am the same person bearing Edmond Olufunke Ayodele.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ANJORIN OLUFUNKE AYODELE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

ISHOLA

ALABI

I, formerly Alabi Grace Olaitan now AMOO GRACE OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

SALAUDEEN

I, formerly Tiamiyu Akewula and Tiamiyu Ayinla Akeula now SALAUDEEN TIAMIYU AYINLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Abiodun Tosin now ABIODUN TOSIN COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Olatunji Seun now OLADELE SEUN. All former documents remain valid.

EcoBank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

GBADAMOSI

I, formerly Olagbe Kemisola Oluwanifemi now AKINMADE KEMISOLA OLUWANIFEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Akinola Ige Thomas now AKINOLA IGE ABIODUN All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Okanlawon Olusegun now OLADEJO OLUSEGUN. All former documents remain valid.

Union Bank and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: My names is Mrs Wahabi Iyabo Folake and not Ajibade Iyabo Folake. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS WAHABI IYABO FOLAKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Oyeniran Oyeladun Oluronke am the same person bearing Olanrele Oyeladun Oluronke. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OYENIRAN OYELADUN OLURONKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Idowu Abosede Olaide now MRS AKINTOYE OLAIDE ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Adegbola Jumoke Oluwatoyin now OYEDEJI JUMOKE OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OYENIRAN

FADIYIMI

I, formerly Fadiyimi Femi now FADIYIMU OLUWAFEMI SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Gbadamosi Mulikat Aderoju now OLAITAN MULIKAT ADEROJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BELLO

I, formerly Akande Adewale Stephen now AKANDE STEPHEN WALE. All former documents remain valid.

Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

WAHABI

Miss Babatunde Grace now MRS OLUWABUKOLA former documents General public take

I, formerly Bello Ahmed Dimeji now BELLO HAMMED OLADIMEJI. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank, Skye Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Arijerita Babatunde John now ARIJE BABATUNDE JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKANLAWON

BABATUNDE

I, formerly Oluwabukola BALOGUN GRACE. All remain valid. note.

I, formerly Salaudeen Saudat now SALAWU SAUDA JEJELOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bamigboye Victoria Bola now MRS OGUNWUSI VICTORIA BOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKANDE

OLADEJO

I, formerly Oladejo Akanbi Olulakin now OLADEJO AKANMU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ishola Medinat Okikiola now MAYOWA OKIKIOLA LATEEF. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH: I, formerly Idayyah Popoola Alake now IDAYYAH POPOOLA and my date of birth is 4th July 1990 and not 4th May, 1990. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

ARIJERITA

AJALA

I, formerly Miss Dahunsi Oluwafeyikemi Debbie now MRS OLUJERE OLUWAFEYIKEMI DEBBIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, IboiEriaremien John Thursday am the same person bearing Eriaremien John Thursday. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as IBOI-ERIAREMIEN JOHN THURSDAY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. University of Ibadan and general public take note.

BAMIGBOYE

ROSE

I, formerly Miss Ajala Folashade Janet now MRS OLALERE FOLASHADE JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SALAMI

I, formerly Adejumo Moses Olaiya now ADEJUMO MOSES OLAOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

IBOI-ERIAREMIEN

ARIGBEDE

I, formerly Arigbede Niniola Monisayo now AREGBESOLA NINIOLA MONISAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Salami Rukayat Adeola now MRS ADEYEMI RUKAYAT ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Olowomojuore Jumoke now ADEBISI BOLA. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc, Eco Bank Plc and General public take note.

ADEJUMO

AWE

I, formerly Miss Awe Oluwatosin Omobolade now MRS KOMOLAFE O L U W A T O S I N OMOBOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Rose Nnanna now MRS STELLA NWAUGO OHAMUO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Skye Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Abosede Eunice Olayinka now ABOSEDE EUNICE OYEDUNTAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLOWOMOJUORE

08055333067 08033013177 08078891795 08023359272 08078891797 08033199716

I, formerly Miss Oluremi Bosede Oluwatosin now MRS BOSEDE OLUWATOSIN OJO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaniyan Olayemi Gloria now MRS OYEYODE OLAYEMI GLORIA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Adeleke Temilade B. now ADELEKE OLAYEMI TEMILADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Ibadan: Abuja:

I, formerly Miss Kehinde Chizoba Anene now MRS KEHINDE CHIZOBA FATIMEHIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Bola Mary Akinkunmi now ADEWOYIN ELIZABETH OMOWONUOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Advert Hotlines:

Lagos:

IDAYYAH

OLAGBE

IDOWU

ABIODUN

AKINOLA

ADEGBOLA

TIAMIYU

OLATUNJI

OLUKANNI

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Olukanni Joseph Olusesan that my name was wrongly written as Olukanmi Joseph. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLUKANNI JOSEPH OLUSESAN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

ADEBISI

I, formerly Adebisi Ganiu Adegoke now JAYEOLA GANIYU ADEGOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

35

Friday, 11 November, 2016

ADENUGA

CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH: I, Adenuga Ibukun Oluwaseun, my date of birth was mistakenly written as April 8, 1994 instead of April 18, 1994. My correct date of birth is April 18, 1994. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

IKIYOWAREMI I, formerly Ikiyowaremi Perekpo now EKIEWEREMI PEREKPO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FUNMILOLA

MOMOHJIMOH

I, formerly Momohjimoh Oguruma Abdulhakeem now ONUMOH ABDULHAKEEM MOMOHJIMOH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKPONINE

I, formerly Miss Akponine Juliet Avweroswoghene now MRS UGBEYIDE JULIET AVWEROSWOGHENE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SOBUKOLA

I, formerly Miss Funmilola Bosede Olayinka now MRS BADMUS FUNMILOLA BOSEDE OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Sobukola Oluseyi now OLUSEYI TUNDEADEGBITE. All former documents remain valid.

Unity Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Habbeb Bose Adijatu now SATOPE ADIJATU ABIOYE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adebileje Rashidat Bolawumi now MRS ZAKARIYAHU RASHIDAT BOLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

HABBEB

AKOMOLEDE

I, formerly Miss Akomolede Stella Olabisi now MRS OJUMU STELLA OLABISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLUSOLA

ADEBILEJE

OLORUNNISOLA

ABOKORERE

BONIFACE

I, formerly Boniface Amina now BONIFACE MARY AMINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEYEYE

I, formerly Miss Adeyeye Grace Abiodun now MRS. OLATOYE GRACE ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADIGUN

I, formerly Adigun Mogidi now ADIGUN MOJEED AGBAJE. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank Iwo, Branch and general public take note.

KAREEM

IJOHO

YOHANNA

I, formerly Yohanna Godwin now MICHEAL GODWIN YOHANNA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Famoriyele Michael Oluwafiropo now JOHNSON BABATUNDE OLUROPO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Agbaje Abiodun Micheal now HAMMED ABIODUN KASEEM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Abefe Mukaila Adewale now KAREEM MUKAILA ABEFE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

RAHEEM I, formerly Raheem Omotayo David now ADEDAYO OMOTAYO DAVID. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

KEMISOYE

I, formerly Miss Kemisoye Adenike Adegboyegun now MRS ADENIKE O L U WA K E M I S O Y E OMODEHIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

COMFORT

OYEYEMI

I, formerly Obaruwa Samuel now AKANBI SAMUEL OBARUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EPHRAIM

I, formerly Ephraim Akachukwu Obiugo now EPHRAIM FRANK AKACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BALOGUN

OMOTAYO

AGBAJE

AMOO

I, formerly Miss Amoo Esther Oluwabusola now MRS ADUBINA ESTHER OLUWABUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, NYSC and general public take note.

JOSHUA I, formerly Joshua Olutayo Olojede now JOSHUA OLUTAYO MOSES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKINYEMI

FAMORIYELE

ABEFE

SALISU I, formerly Miss Salisu Yetunde Aminat now MRS OGUNLANA YETUNDE AMINAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEMULEGUN

I, formerly Miss Ademulegun Oluwakemi Abike now MRS EKEMODE OLUWAKEMI ABIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

VICTOR

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Lateef Akinyemi Akanbi am the same person as NASIRU LATEEF AKINYEMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Victor Oladimeji Akinrujomu now VICTOR FRANCIS OLADIMEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Mary Adetoun Laseinde now MRS. MARY ADETOUN ADEDOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyewole Motunrayo Abosede now MRS. AKINMUDA MOTUNRAYO ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adedeji Nicholas Idowu am the same person as Adedeji Nicholas Akinlolu.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEDEJI NICHOLAS IDOWU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojediran Rashidat Omolara now MRS OJO RASHIDAT OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MARY

ADEDEJI

ALADE

OYEWOLE

OJEDIRAN

MOBOLUWAJI

I, formerly Miss Oyeyemi Folashade Victoria now MRS. PETER-ILESANMI FOLASHADE VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Balogun Anuoluwapo Titilayo now MRS. AFOLABI ANUOLUWAPO TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan and general public take note.

I, Alade Victoria formerly known, called and addressed as Temitope Oyeyemi now wish to be known, called and addressed as ALADE VICTORIA. All documents bearing my former name remain valid.

General public take note and to whom it may concern.

I, formerly Miss Moboluwaji Abosede now MRS ADEWALE ABOSEDE MOBOLUWAJI. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, and general public take note.

I, formerly Komolafe Elizabeth Funmilola now OLADOYE ELIZABETH FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Alfa Daud Gbolahan now ALFA ALAPAFUJA DAUD GBOLAHAN. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Jaiyeoba Yemisi Aduke am the same person bearing Ogunwole Victoria Jayeoba Yemisi Aduke and Jaiyeoba Yemisi Aduke Ogunwole. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as JAIYEOBA YEMISI ADUKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Abdulrasheed Akorede Adeshina now RASHEED KOREDE ADISA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

KOMOLAFE

ADEKUNLE

I, formerly Adekunle Adekemi Bolanle now ADEKUNLE BOLANLE KAOSARAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GBOLAGUN

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Kareem Jimoh Ishola Olalekan am the same person bearing Karimu Jimoh Olalekan, Kareem Jimoh Ishola and Kareem Jimoh Olalekan. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as KAREEM JIMOH ISHOLA OLALEKAN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Gbolagun Olasumbo Kemisola now MRS ABUDU-BALOGUN OLASUMBO KEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adeneye Olutomi now BOLUWAJOKO O L U WA T O M I S O L A ADEBAMBO. All former documents remain valid.

Unity Bank and general public take note.

ADENEYE

KAZEEM I, formerly Kazeem Rasheed Olohuntos now KAZEEM RASHEED OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Zakariyau Kaosarat Ajoke now MRS OYEBISI KAOSARAT AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Sunday Abiodun Afefeoluwa am the same person as Sunday Abiodun Afeoluwa. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SUNDAY ABIODUN AFEOLUWA. My correct date of birth is 25/12/1984 and not 25/12/1983. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, FCMB and general public take note.

ZAKARIYAU

I, formerly Miss Omotayo Esther now MRS OMOTAYO ESTHER ADELAKIN. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Hospital Management Board and general public take note.

AUSTINE

ADEJUMOBI I, formerly Adejumobi Olaogun Ishola now JAMES OLAOGUN ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OBARUWA

I, formerly Mrs. Ijoho Hellen now MRS. IJOHO HELLEN ADEAYO. All former documents remain valid.

EcoBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Abokorere Ajibola Kazeem now TIAMIYU KAZEEM AJIBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: My name, Austine Asaba, was wrongly spelt as Augustine Asaba. My correct name is AUSTINE ASABA. All former documents remain valid.

EcoBank and general public take note.

ISIAKA

I, formerly Miss Ademiluyi Tejumade Cecilia now MRS FOLORUNSO TEJUMADE CECILIA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

FANAWOPO

I, formerly Fanawopo Olaitan Elizabeth now ADEDUNTAN OLAITAN ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Comfort Gloria Dick and also Comfort Akpan Dick now wish to be known and addressed as COMFORT AKPAN. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Isiaka Anot Remilekun now MRS ABIDOYE ANOT REMILEKUN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

BASSEY

I, formerly Bassey Elendu and Emmanuel Bassaey Elendu now EMMANUEL OBASI ELENDU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mr Olorunnisola Abiodun Ademola now MR AKINOLA ABIODUN ADEMOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olusola Bidemi Ogunnaike now MRS BIDEMI OLUSOLA ALABI. All former documents remain valid.

HEBN Publishers, Ibadan and general public take note.

ADEMILUYI

ORITSEMATOSAN

I, formerly Miss Oritsematosan Violet Ejegi now MRS ORITSEMATOSAN VIOLET ALIDU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SUNDAY

DAUD

ODUSUSI

I, formerly Miss Odususi Comfort Olubukola now MRS OSENI COMFORT OLUBUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

RAJI

I, formerly Miss Raji ‘Nike Mary now MRS OGHENEOCHUKO ‘NIKE MARY. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

DANIEL I, formerly Daniel Bukola Eunice now OBAMUWASAN BUKOLA EUNICE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

RAIMI

I, formerly Raimi Abiodun Mounsur now OLANIYAN ABIODUN VAL RAIMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

JAIYEOBA

JOKE I, formerly Joke Tola Davies now TOLA FATIMEHIN. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Wema Bank and general public take note.

OKORO I, formerly Miss Okoro Nnewogho Mercy now MRS SOLOMON MERCY IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AYOADE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ayoade Rasaq Akanfe am the same person bearing Rasaki Adisa Ayoade. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AYOADE RASAQ AKANFE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

UBA, Unity Bank and general public take note.

JIMOH I, formerly Jimoh Musili now TIAMIYU MUSILI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABDULRASHEED

OYESOLA I, formerly Oyesola Abdul Raman Leke now OJO ABDUL RAMAN LEKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OYEWOLA

CORRECTION OF NAME: I hereby declared that my full name are Oyewola Damilare Ebenezer and not Oyewola Damilare. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OYEWOLA DAMILARE EBENEZER. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

ASHIRU

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: Ashiru Olawumi Sulaiman and Asiru Sulemon Alamu now ASIRU SULEMON OLAWUMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

DANIEL

I, formerly Daniel Favour Winnie now WINNIE DANIEL OLANIRU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

HAMMED

I, formerly Hammed Ibrahim Adekunle now AHMED IBRAHIM ADEKUNLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AJIBADE

I, formerly Miss Ajibade Omolola Tolulope now MRS AYENI OMOLOLA TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ONYINYE I, formerly Onyinye Igbokwe now ONYINYE OBIORA-OKAFOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLA I, formerly Miss Ola Nike now MRS FABIYI NIKE COMFORT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OJO

I, formerly Miss Ojo Olubisi Catherine now MRS AFOLAYAN OLUBISI CATHERINE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEBANJO

I, formerly Miss Adebanjo Oluwatosin Mosunmola now MRS ADEWUMI O L U W A T O S I N MOSUNMOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

JIMOH

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Jimoh Atanda Hassan Musa am the same person bearing Jimoh Atanda.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as JIMOH ATANDA HASSAN MUSA. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEBOWALE

I, formerly Adebowale AkeebKehinde now ADEBOWALE KEHINDE-OLAJIRE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEBOWALE

I, formerly Adebowale Sule Adesina now ADEBOWALE SULAIMAN ADESINA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SANNI I, formerly Sanni Babajide Olamide now SANNI AZEEZ OLAMIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IDRIS I, formerly Miss Idris Faidat Ajolayo now MRS FAIDAH AJOLAYO LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ARILESIRE

I, formerly Arilesire Basirat Ademola now ADEMOLA BASIRAT ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

RAFIU

I, formerly Alaji Rafiu Oladimeji now ALHAJI OLADIMEJI RAFIU AKANNI. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

RASAQ

I, formerly Rasak Muhammed Olajire now RASAQ HAMMED OLAJIRE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

news

36

Friday, 11 November, 2016

Niger Delta militant group, Bakassi Strike Force, surrenders arms Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa

A

group in the Niger Delta region, Bakassi Strike Force(BSF), has

surrendered part of its arms as an indication to lay down their arms if the Federal Government addressed their concerns.

Lieutenant-Cololonel

Olaolu Daudu, the spokesman of Joint Military Force in the Niger Delta, confirmed the development in a statement issued and made available to Ni-

gerian Tribune in Yenagoa.

Daudu said the terms of the disarmament were being worked out by the Cross River command of Department of State Se-

It’s not wrong for govts to obtain loans —Don

By Remi Anifowose

FOLLOWING the recent proposal of the Federal Government to obtain $29.96 billion external loan and the consequent rejection of the proposal by the National Assembly, a don, Dr ‘Gbade Ojo, has expressed the right of government at all levels to obtain either external or internal loans.

Dr Ojo made this known during an interactive session with journalists in Ibadan, on Thursday.

He said it was not wrong for government to borrow if the nation was to attain proper infrastructural development.

“In fact, if you don’t go for loan, there is a limit citizens of a country can be comfortable. The resources of Nigeria is not enough to take care of the infrastructural need of a country as large as Nigeria.”

But, Dr Ojo queried: “If the loan, either external or internal, was granted or taken, would it be used for the specific purpose for which it was taken?

He also said: ‘’But going by the anti-corruption stance of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, I think Nigerians can go to sleep with their two eyes closed because when this loan is taken, the money would be used for the specific purpose for which it had been taken.’’ ‘’In the past, we could be wary of government going for loans and the loans would be looted, but now, I think the story has changed,’’ he added.

Speaking on the Senate rejection of the planned loan, Dr Ojo reiterated that the National Assembly had the right to refuse or reject any proposal for some official reasons, because ‘’the law-

We must redouble efforts to empower youths —Saraki

By Dapo Falade

PRESIDENT of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called for more efforts on youth empowerment, saying, “government, the private sector and academia must redouble its effort to empower Nigerian youth for entrepreneurship and greater self-reliance.”

Saraki said national leaders have the responsibility to tap into the large population of the youths and turn them into young entrepreneurs who could also be employers of labour, instead of looking for non-existing jobs.

While speaking on the technology and skills building training programme scheduled to be launched in Kwara State, tomorrow, the Senate President said one of the greatest challenges the country had to grapple with was the need to gainfully engage the country’s bulging youth population.

Under the Skills acquisition, Training and Empowerment Programme (STEP), 40,000 youths would be trained over four years with advanced skills and technology training in areas such as computer engineering, software development, animation, cinematography, event management and many other areas where the participants would grow to be self-employed.

The goal was to make participants globally competitive in the sectors for which they would be trained, and such preparation was said to be important for future employment, starting businesses, creating jobs and putting able-bodied and motivated youths to work.

Saraki, in a statement issued from his media office, on Thursday, further said, “According to the latest estimate from the National Population Commission, Nigeria’s population is now approximately 182 million people. More than half of the population is under 30 and another 40 per cent of that are under the age of 14.

“National leaders like me have the responsibility to take heed to these numbers and develop future oriented technology, training and employment schemes to integrate the younger population into our new economy.

We must make these young men and women entrepreneurs who can also be employers of labour instead of looking for non-existing jobs,” the Senate President said.

He also noted that the future of Nigeria’s economic security rests with how we prepare today’s youth, adding that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had predicted that Nigeria’s economy would contract by 1.7 per cent in 2017.

curity Services and Cross River government.

He said the militant group had turned in one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and an AK 47 rifle as a show of good faith towards the peace deal.

“Available information from Sector 4 in Cross River State indicates that Bakassi Strike Force (BSF) militants led by one Mr Benjamin Ene, have expressed unreserved willingness to lay down their arms.

“They have contacted the Department of State Service in Cross River State,

through the state government’s appointed rapporteur on amnesty to signify their readiness to hold talks on amnesty with the relevant authorities.

“To buttress this demonstration of goodwill, BSF turned in one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and an AK 47 rifle.

“The Department of State Service representatives and representatives of rapporteur have since recovered the arms as talks are ongoing on modalities to surrender their remaining arms,” Daudu said.

ARIBO

YAKUBU I, formerly Yakubu Musa now YAKUBU YUSUF. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLISHA

makers are representatives of the people and they have the right to ask questions.’’

He noted that the National Assembly was yet to cooperate on the planned loan because they needed to know details of what the loans would be used for.

According to him, ‘’ It is not bad that the National Assembly is asking for details of how the loans would

be expended. The executive should be able to let Nigerians know what the borrowing would be used for. The National Assembly will be a rubber stamp assembly if they don’t ask questions about what the loans will be used for. By the time the Federal Government is able to give details of the borrowing, I know the National Assembly will cooperate.’’

ALAO I, formerly Alao Ajimot Atinuke now AZEEZ AJIMOT ATINUKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEBAYO

I, formerly Miss Bifakale Iyabode Temitope now MRS YEKINNI IYABODE TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Aribo John Busayo am the same person bearing Aribo John Busayo Rejoice.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ARIBO JOHN BUSAYO. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

OPADIJO

JELILI I, formerly Jelili Yinusa now JELILI OJOLOWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BLESSING

I, formerly Miss Adebayo Doreen Adeshewa now MRS ADESINA, DOREEN ADESHEWA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

ADENIRAN

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adeniran Abdulrasheed Adeyemi, Abdulrasheed Adeyemi Adeniran and Adeniran Rasheed Adeyemi. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as DR ABDULRASHEED ADEYEMI ADENIRAN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

AJAYI

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH: I, Ajayi Rasaq Kolawole, my name was wrongly written as Ajayi Rasaki Kolawole. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as Ajayi Rasaq Kolawole. And my date of birth is 24th December, 1966 and not 24th December, 1973. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

BIFAKALE

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, formerly Opadijo Rafiu Adewale now OPADIJO RAFIU AISA. All former documents remain valid.

EcoBank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

OLAJIDE I, formerly Olajide Taiwo Janet now ADENIYI JANET TAIWO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ALICE I, formerly Alice Omolara Oladimeji now VICTORIA OMOLARA OLADIMEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EMMANUEL

I, Emmanuel Ufuomatomare Omafuvwe, formerly Emmanuel Ufuomatobore Taiwo now EMMANUEL UFUOMATOMARE OMAFUVWE. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public take note and to whom it may concern.

OSENI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Oseni Jimoh Jelili am the same person as Oseni Jelili. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OSENI JIMOH JELILI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

OGUNDEPO

I, formerly Miss Ishola Funmilayo Omolara now MRS OGUNDEPO FUNMILAYO JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLATEJU I, formerly Olatunji Jamiu now OLATEJU JAMIU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Blessing Olamide Solomon now BLESSING OYENIKE OLATUNBOSUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Olisha Ojo am the same person bearing Olu Ojo Andrew. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLISHA OJO. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. First Bank Plc, UBA Plc and general public take note.

ADAMU

I, formerly Adamu Abubakar and Abubakar Adamu now ABUBAKAR ADAMU SABI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

WANOGHO

MUKAILA I, formerly Mrs Mukaila Funmilayo Suliyat now MRS AJALA FUNMILAYO SULIYAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

GBEMISOLA

I, formerly Wanogho Christiana Efemena now OGUNSOLA CHRISTIANA BOSE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Gbemisola Dorcas Funmilade now MRS ASAFA DORCAS FUNMILADE. All former documents remain valid. OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ogundipe John Aderibigbe am the same person bearing Ogundipe John.

Now, I want to be known and addressed as OGUNDIPE JOHN ADERIBIGBE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

JOHN I, formerly John Oweifa Kusine now KUSHINE JOHN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

IBRAHIM

I, formerly Miss Aganekwe Calista Ogechukwu now MRS OBIKA CALISTA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC, First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ibrahim Juwaretu now MRS IDRIS JUWARETU OYIZA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Ajibade Adebanke Bosede now MRS OLANIRAN ADEBANKE BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.

Oyo State House of Assembly and general public take note.

ILORI I, formerly Mrs Ilori Kehinde Anike now MRS AJIBOLA KEHINDE ANIKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

HAJARAT

I, formerly Yusuff Kehinde Akanni and Kende Yusuffu Adigun now KEHINDE YUSUF AKANNI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Hajarat Atinuke Lawal now MRS HAJARAT ATINUKE ISSA GIWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OGUNDIPE

AGANEKWE

AJIBADE

YUSUFF

ADEFELU I, formerly Adefelu Adekola Davies now ADEFELU ADEKOLA OLUSEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLAORE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Olaore Timothy am the same person bearing Olaore Timothy Sunmade.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLAORE TIMOTHY SUNMADE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE

37

Friday, 11 November, 2016

foreig naffairs

08116954632 with seyi gesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

Electoral College:

What December 19 is all about THE Electoral College is a group of people that elects the president and the vice president of the United States. (The word “college” in this case simply refers to an organized body of people engaged in a common task.)

The president elect, Trump and President Barrack Obama. PHOTO: ALASKA DISPATCH NEWS

Obama, Trump meet in White House to begin transition of power

U

NITED States President Barack Obama greeted President-elect Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday to coordinate a smooth

transfer of power after the New York real estate developer scored a stunning election victory, Reuters has reported.

The two men have had almost no one-on-

one contact previously.

Trump, a Republican, led the “birther” movement that questioned Obama’s US citizenship and has pledged to overturn the Democrat’s signature pol-

icy achievements after he takes office on Jan. 20 Obama campaigned vigorously for Trump’s Democratic rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and called Trump

Aftermath of US election: No-fly zone imposed over Trump Tower A no-fly zone has been imposed over Donald Trump’s lavish home and workplace, Trump Tower, on Fifth Avenue in New York. The 58-story building, which was the setting of television show The Apprentice, is not only the billionaire’s main residence but also a massive tourist hotspot.

The 2-nautical mile radius no-fly zone will be in play until Trump’s inauguration on Friday 20 January, 2017, when he will move into the White House. On the ground, police officers have helped to install concrete barriers around the Tower. Earlier this week a row of sanitation trucks

filled with sand acted as barricades. People who work and live inside the lavish building will now be vetted by the Secret Service.

POLICE put up security fences around U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s new Washington hotel on Thursday and a line of concrete blocks shielded New York’s Trump Tower as students around the country staged a second day of protests over his election.

A day after thousands of people took to the streets in at least 10 U.S. cities from Boston to Berkeley, California, chanting “not my president” and “no Trump,” fresh protests were held in Texas to San Francisco.

A Trump campaign representative did not respond

to requests for comment on the protests but Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and a high-profile Trump supporter, called the demonstrators “a bunch of spoiled cry-babies.”

“If you’re looking at the real left-wing loonies on the campus, it’s the professors not the students,” Giuliani said on Fox News on Thursday. “Calm down, things are not as bad as you think.”

The protesters blasted Trump for campaign rhetoric critical of immigrants, Muslims and allegations of sexual abuse of women.

More than 20 people were

Sources said one lane of traffic that passes the Tower is expected to remain closed to prevent car bomb attacks.

Outside Trump Tower on

Thursday, protesters gathered with signs reading ‘Dump Trump’.

Police said they had arrested 15 people.

Members of the New York Police Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau stand watch outside Trump Tower earlier this week. PHOTO: REUTERS

both temperamentally unfit for the presidency and dangerously unprepared to have access to U.S. nuclear codes.

Obama and Trump will seek to put their tensions behind them, at least for the cameras, during their Oval Office meeting.

First lady Michelle Obama will also meet privately with Trump’s wife, Melania, in the White House residence.

On Wednesday, Obama said that despite his major differences with Trump, he would follow the lead of former Republican President George W. Bush in 2008 and ensure a smooth handover to Trump.

“Eight years ago, President Bush and I had some pretty significant differences, but President Bush’s team could not have been more professional or more gracious in making sure we had a smooth transition,” Obama said. “So I have instructed my team to follow the example that President Bush’s team set.”

Protesters take to streets a second day to decry Trump election arrested for blocking or attempting to block highways in Los Angeles and Richmond, Virginia, early Thursday morning.

White House spokesman Joshua Earnest said Obama supported the demonstrators’ right to express themselves peacefully.“We’ve got a carefully, constitutionally protected right to free speech,” Earnest told reporters. “The president believes that that is a right that should be protected. It is a right that should be exercised without violence.”

In San Francisco, more than 1,000 students walked

out of classes on Thursday morning and marched through the city’s financial

A protest against Donald Trump in Chicago. PHOTO: REUTERS

district carrying rainbow flags representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-

In the United States presidential election, the electorate don’t vote for the presidential candidates directly, in a popular vote.

Instead, they will vote to elect specific people, known as “electors” to the college. Each state gets a certain number of electoral votes based on its population.

The electors are appointed by the political parties in each state. So after Tuesday’s election where Donald Trump ended up winning the popular vote, then electors that the Republican Party had chosen will cast votes for him in their state capitals in December 19 formally, in the US tradition.

The electors are asked to cast their votes on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. This year, that’s December 19.

But most people don’t pay attention to that because, technically, it’s the election of the electors that matters. And on Election Day, we’re electing the electors who elect the president.

It takes at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. There are 538 electoral votes in all.

In 2008, CNN projected Barack Obama as the winner of the presidential election after the then- senator skyrocketed from 220 electoral votes to 297 votes after results from some Western states, including California, came in.

gender communities, Mexican flags and signs decrying the president-elect.

communitynews Elekole lauds Ekiti gov, calls for more development projects 38

Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti

T

HE Elekole of Ikole and the Paramount Ruler of Egbeoba kingdom of Ekiti State, Oba Ajibade Adewumi Fasiku, has thanked Governor Ayodele Fayose for the development projects in the community and called for more government presence in the area.

Oba Fasiku spoke in his palace when he received one of his subjects and the chairman of Peoples Dem-

Friday, 11 November, 2016

ocratic Party (PDP) in the state, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase, who was in his palace on a courtesy visit.

Oba Fasiku, who formally welcomed Oguntuase and his entourage through the Sajowa of Ikole, thanked the state government for the dualisation of the Ikole roads, but also called for more development projects in the

community.

The monarch also said the officials of the local government needed to do more by making their presence felt in the local government, but commended the chairman of the council, Mr. Adeyanju Adeyeye for what he said were his efforts in the council.

Oba Fasiku, while addressing the visitors, said

the party in power in the state could do more for Ikole by increasing its political stake in the state.

According to Oba Fasiku, Ikole-Ekiti has 24 communities and therefore, is the largest in Ekiti North district, saying, “we want more from your party.”

He commended Oguntuase for deeming it fit to pay

a courtesy visit to his traditional ruler and charged the people to support him as their own for the success of a son of Ikole-Ekiti in office.

According to him, Oguntuase had a good pedigree and would not disappoint the community as his father also made contributions to the development of the community.

Okeselu community gets traditional ruler By joseph ajayi Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has installed a retired Permanent Secretary in the Bureau of Local Government Pensions, Mr Hezekiah Rasidi Tayo as the new Eselu of Okeselu in the Sagamu Local Government Area of the State.

Governor Amosun, while presenting staff of office and instrument of appointment to Oba Tayo at the St. Paul’s Anglican School play ground commended the people of Okeselu for their maturity and maintaining peace during the four years the throne was vacant.

Amosun, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Abayomi Sobande, enjoined the people to cooperate and support the new traditional ruler in moving the community to higher level, saying that they were privileged to have a retired permanent secretary as an oba, who would use his wealth of experience in the public service to attract more socio-economic development to the area.

“Let me commend Okeselu council of Obas for steering the ship of Okeselu during the interregnum, the maturity, neutrality and impartiality displayed by the kingmarkers have contributed in no small measures to the successful selection process. This also shows that our people are peace loving and they put the community above their personal interest,” Amosun remarked.

In his address, the Chairman of Sagamu Local Government Area, Mr Femi Kafaru said that the turn out of the residents at the gathering was an indication that the choice of the Oba Tayo was the wish of the people.

In his acceptance speech, Oba Tayo assured that with the cooperation of his subjects, his reign would herald an era of unprecedented development in the community.

Some traders at Obiano Park, waiting for medical check-up from Dexa Medical Officials, PHOTO: NEWTON-RAY uKWUOMA

Elderly, most vulnerable in society—Group by gbenga olumide

The elderly have been described as the most vulnerable in the society, who need extra care, especially in these times.

This observation was made by a non-government organisation, Initiative for Public Policy Analysis (IPPA), during a conference held recently in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The conference organised

by IPPA in collaboration with a Canada-based group, Partnership for Economic Policy, on welfare interventions in times of recession was aimed at providing social and economic succour to the society, especially the underprivileged.

Speaking at the programme, Principal Re-

searcher of IPPA, Dr. Damilola Olajide, said the choice of Ekiti State as the venue for the conference was because of the programme introduced by former governor, Dr Kayode Fayemiled government tagged: Ekiti Elderly Cash Transfer Scheme.

He described the elderly as very vulnerable in the society, adding that the Ekiti Elderly Cash Transfer Scheme has helped them to live a healthy life and meet their immediate needs.

While commending Governor Ayodele Fayose on the introduction of Stomach Infrastructure, Olajide affirmed that through cash transfer scheme some beneficiaries were able to make contributions, social and religious donations.

According to him, “It was revealed in our findings that the elderly appreciated the scheme and that is why we are interacting with those who benefited from the scheme to share their experience with us while the scheme lasted.”

Also speaking, Dr Fayemi, represented by Mr Jiwa Adegbuyi, described the scheme as one of his eight points agenda, adding that

Fishermen in Rivers community want fishing tools from NDDC Residents of Sangama in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to provide them with fishing implements to enhance

Complete Delta IPP project, Ibori’s kinsmen urge Okowa Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri AS the Federal Government continues to shore up the power strength in the country through public and private means, kinsmen of former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, have urged the Ifeanyi Okowa government to complete the abandoned Oghara Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Ethiope West Local Government

Area.

The step, they said, was necessary in order to ensure the equipment procured with billions of naira do not go down the drain.

The appeal was part of the 11-point communique issued at the end of the 2016 Oghara Summit in Asaba where indigenes of the community from all works of life deliberated on ways to move Oghara forward.

Chief Williams Ibori, Chief Williams Usabor, the Unug-

he would continue to be passionate about the welfare and well-being of the elderly and other vulnerable species in the society.

He further said that the scheme was not only limited to the elderly, saying about 10,000 vulnerable youths, were each being paid N10, 000 monthly to keep them out of their restiveness and other social menace associated with hunger.

brogodos of Ogharefe and Oghareki, as well as Chief Emmanuel Ighomenan, in the communique issued at the end of the summit lamented the setback the multi-billion naira project had suffered over the years.

“We are excited over the siting of the Independent Power Plant in Oghara community, but the project has suffered a lot of setbacks in spite of the huge amount spent by the state government,” he said.

their occupation.

The people made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sangama, on Sunday.

One of them, Mr Pius Obele, said that fishermen in the community needed the tools, including boats and fishing gears, to enable them to have more catches and boost their source of revenue.

Obele said that lack of fishing implements had hampered the operation of the fishermen and had led to inadequate supply of fish to the people of the area.

Another fisherman, Mr Manners Owus, said that if NDDC supplied the materials, it would encourage more people in the area to go into fishing thereby reducing unemployment in the community.

A/Ibom govt distributes relief items THE Akwa Ibom State government has distributed relief materials to disaster victims in Obot Akara Local Government Area to alleviate their sufferings.

The items were distributed on Saturday through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) under the office of the deputy governor.

Addressing the beneficiaries at Nto Edino, headquarters of Obot Akara Local Government Area of the state, Mr Samuel Inyang, Desk Officer, SEMA, said that the relief materials were part of government’s efforts to assist the people.

“I am standing here on behalf of the office of the deputy governor to distribute these relief materials to assist the 390 victims.

“Due to the havoc that occurred sometimes in March, 2016 when we distributed materials such as roofing sheets, iron rod, wood and cement to some victims.

“Today, we are giving you some financial assistance to enable you repair your damaged roof,” Inyang said.

Dexa Medical offers free services to Onitsha residents

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma A group of medical personel from pain-killer company, Dexa Medical, recently offered free medical service to residents of Obiano Park in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The team which comprise experts in ophthalmology, otolaryngology and general physicians, provided a range of health services, including ENTs test and general body check-up, as well as donation of prescribed drugs and eyeglasses to traders and residents.

The event tagged: “Pain Free Day” attracted hundreds of market men and women, who are from different in Park, including New Auto Spare Parts, Nkpor Main Market, New Tyre, Old Parts, among others.

The initiative also provided rural dwellers with tips on how to manage stress and maintain good health.

The Boska Brand Executive, Anambra State branch, Mr. Uche Aghado, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune, said the initiative was aimed at driving the consciousness of good health to communities.

39 tribunesport

Friday, 11 November, 2016

All set for FirstBank Lagos Amateur Golf Open

No favourites among Eagles keepers —Agu N

Alampasu (left) and Akpeyi.

IGERIA goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu has assured that whoever is in goal tomorrow against Algeria will be the best and he will acquit himself creditably.

Daniel Akpeyi, Dele Alampasu and Ikechukwu Ezenwa are jostling to be in goal in the absence of first-choice Carl Ikeme.

“The best on the day will be in goal for Nigeria,” said Agu. “All the goalkeepers have been doing well at their clubs and they are not new to the national team set-up.

“Nigerians should be assured on all three goalkeepers because they are all tested hands and so there is nothing to be worried about.

“We will all continue to work hard and pray that on match day, God will crown all our efforts.”

Agu says he expects the Eagles to play a smart game to beat Algeria.

“Algeria are wounded lions and they will come all out, and so we have to play a tactically disciplined game and try to score an early goal so as to get the three points at stake,” he offered.

Nigeria/Algeria, difficult to call —Iwobi’s dad Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja CHUKA Iwobi, father of Nigerian international, Alex Iwobi, has predicted that tomorrow’s Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and their Algerian counterparts, Fennecs, in Uyo, will be difficult to call.

The senior Iwobi told sports journalists in Abuja, where he came to give his son solidarity support while the Eagles camped in the Federal Capital before moving to Uyo for tomorrow’s game, that the match would be difficult, but expressed confidence that in spite of that, Nigeria would be victorious.

According to Chuka, the Desert Foxes were a very technical side, which needed to be respected, adding that Algeria had a lot of players playing across Europe.

“To me, it’s very difficult to call,” he declared, adding that, “Algeria is a team we need to give a lot of

respect. They are a very technical side and they have a lot of players playing in Europe.”

The father of the Arsenal forward equally noted that the Super Eagles were a good side too

to be a very close game but I see Nigeria winning; we are at home, we have a good coach, we have a good crowd.

“I see Nigeria winning the game; I am very confident.”

3SC unveil Amoo as Technical Adviser

By Olawale Olaniyan VETERAN coach, Fatai Amoo was on Thursday unveiled as the technical adviser of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League season scheduled to begin next month.

This will be the third time Amoo will coach the Oluyole Warriors.

The former international was unveiled at the office of the Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and

LMC appoints IT Partners THE League Management Company (LMC) has signed two separate commercial partnerships with two service providers that are geared towards deploying technology to drive engagement, monetize content and expand the fan base of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The LMC signed an agreement with Kari Xchange, a software development company for the design, development and operating of a fan engagement platform for the NPFL. Eucharia Amanambu, the Chief

made up of stars from all over the places.

“When you look at our team, it is a good mix of stars from all over the place,” stated.

According to him, “It is going

FIRSTBank of Nigeria Limited is set to host this year’s edition of the Lagos Amateur Golf Championship scheduled to tee-off on the lush greens of Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos tomorrow to mark the 55th anniversary of the championship.

One of the key highlights is the participation of European Professional Golf Association (PGA) professional player - Alex Rowland - who will provide hands-on coaching on bunker play, chipping, putting, and full swing among other skills at the open golf coaching clinic.

Rowland, a British golfer and PGA pro started his golf career at Padeswood & Buckley at the age of 11.

He was elected to be PGA Captain of Cheshire & North Wales in 2011 and has taken over as PGA North Region Captain for 2016.

The coaching clinic which will take place at the practice range of Ikoyi Club Golf Club from 4pm daily is open to children, beginners, novices and golf enthusiasts.

There will also be a “BEAT THE PRO CHALLENGE” competition on both days of where the professional players will be challenged in longest drive and closest to the pin shots with Instant prizes awarded to winners.

According to Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, FirstBank is proud to have hosted the championship for 55 years and this is hinged on the Bank’s understanding of the importance of sports in the development of healthy bodies and sound minds.

Executive Officer of Kari Xchange said they are working with global Information Technology giant, Microsoft, to build a platform where football fans within and outside the country will follow and engage in football activities, follow and know more about the NPFL matches, clubs and players.

Describing the workings of the platform when built, Amanambu said, “this platform will enable football fans to meet and engage other fans, access NPFL football news, play NPFL fantasy football and other games.

Sports, Barrister Abayomi Oke, after signing a two-year deal.

Amoo, who took charge of 3SC between 2009 and 2011 is to assume duty immediately.

Speaking with Tribunesport, Amoo, a member of Nigeria’s U-23 team, Dream Team which got the bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics said he is at home in Ibadan.

“I’m very excited to be appointed as the technical adviser of 3SC. I don’t really entertain any fear because I know I’m back home and I feel very comfortable working in Ibadan.

“I’m ready to work with other members of the coaching crew, I am in the midst of hospitable people because we know one another very well and I believe we will get things right soon with the support of everybody.

“I want to make name for myself and 3SC again. Whereever I go outside the country, people always ask of Shooting Stars and Rangers and that confirms that 3SC is a big club and we must make it come up again.

“I am ready to take up the task and by the grace of God, we will conquer,” the former Julius Berger FC and Sunshine Stars coach said.

In his message, Oke said “Amoo has a plan for Shooting Stars and is concerned about the future of the team and that was he signed a two-year contract. We are very happy that we have a coach of his pedigree to handle this team. On our side, the welfare of the team remains paramount to us”.

Amoo (left) with 3SC’s General Manager, Rasheed Balogun at the unveiling. PHOTO OLAWALE OLANIYAN.

SIDELINES

N150

FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER, 2016

N0 16,631

Robbers sparked panic among residents of Ilupewo community in Ado Odo Otta local government area of Ogun State when they pasted on about 60 entry doors a notice of an impending ‘operation’. The night marauders claimed they needed Xmas and New Year ‘handouts’ and dared the security to stop them. How wrong are some Nigerians who think the ember months are just like the others before them.

NIGERIA VS ALGERIA

VICTOR Moses has said he will not be fussy about which position he plays for the Super Eagles.

He has been known as a right winger, but Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has this season converted him to a right wing-back to great effect.

But the player said he will play anywhere that will help his country.

“I can’t say I’m not happy playing as a wingback, I’m the type who gives his all to his team regardless of where I’m playing from,” Victor Moses told reporters at a media briefing on Thursday.

“I’m a forward minded player but I don’t mind playing anywhere to help my team.”

“Club side and national team are not the same. I can’t say where the manager will play me but I’m ready to give my best in any role.”

He will most likely play as a right winger for Nigeria against Algeria in coach Gernot Rohr’s preferred 4-3-2-1 formation on Saturday.

Mikel being punished at Chelsea —Rohr

T

ECHNICAL Adviser of Nigeria’s national team, Gernot Rohr has revealed the reason behind John Mikel Obi’s current travails at English Premier League club, Chelsea.

Mikel, the current Super Eagles captain, has yet to make a substitute appearance for Chelsea in all competitions this season despite featuring fleetingly for the Stamford Bridge club in pre-season.

Rohr has now explained that Mikel has failed to play competitively for Chelsea so far this season because the club’s manager, Antonio Conte “is punishing him” for representing Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Mikel was Nigeria’s captain at the 2016 Olympics, impressing as the “Dream Team” clinched the country’s only medal – a bronze at the Games.

“I spoke about this with Mikel and the club’s technical director [Michael Emenalo]. Mikel is training very well and he plays games in training with the big players at Chelsea.

“There is a reason why Mikel is not playing for Chelsea right now and that reason is because he played for Nigeria at the (2016) Olympics.

“He was punished for that [by

Conte] “I cannot punish a player who loves his country and shows that he loves the Green jersey,” Rohr said at a press conference on Thursday ahead of Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo tomorrow.

Rohr then hinted that the Chelsea man is certain to start against the Fennec Foxes at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

The trainer however stated that he is not certain if Mikel will play the entire game or be substituted at some point against the Algerians.

“He [Mikel] is here with us and he is fit and I hope he can play for 90 minutes against Algeria but if it is not possible, we shall see.

“He is a big player so if he tells me on Saturday he can play for 90 minutes, great but if he says he cannot, then I will also listen to him.

“If he is substituted, we have other players who can come in for us so it is not really a problem for us.

“I have seen Mikel in the training sessions and he is okay and fit.

“He played a lot of games at the beginning of the season at the Olympics and has also played two games with us (Super Eagles) against Zambia and Tanzania.”

I will play anywhere —Moses

ANYWHERE GOES: Victor Moses ready to sacrifice his skills.

Algeria contingent arrives in Uyo ALGERIA have landed in Uyo ahead of tomorrow’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria.

Their chartered flight landed at the Uyo airport on Thursday evening and were received by top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Desert Foxes were led by long-serving FAF president, Mohamed Raouraoua.

They are also booked into the Le Meridian like Nigeria and are expected to have a first feel of the pitch at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium by 5pm today.

New coach Georges Leekens has had to make do with a team hit by a spate of injuries with three key players, including Ryad Boudebouz ruled out, while Napoli defender, Faouzi Ghoulam remains a huge doubt as he has been battling with a groin problem, but he is now in Uyo with the rest of the party.

Tomorrow’s match will also kick off at 5pm local time.

How we will tackle Eagles —Leekens

BY Oluwabunmi Ajayi

GEORGES Leekens who will lead Algeria’s coaching crew against Nigeria in tomorrow’s Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier, says he knows so much about the Eagles and is in no mood to concede any advantage.

The Belgian trainer, returning

to the Algerian post after 13 years previews the match: Nigeria will rush to the attack because that is where they have the talent, so we must wake up early to the game,’’ he told Le Buteur.

“We must be ready to be attacked and then operate against their attacks, we have to score one or two goals in this game,”

he explained.

Leekens whose squad had their last training yesterday before their chartered flight to Nigeria, said he was optimistic.

‘I am not talking of the details of my contract now because this game is more important. We need to achieve a good result in Nigeria and keep our hopes alive.”

Algeria team at Thursday’s training. Photos courtesy FAF

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. 11/11/2016.