12th February 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,435

FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Omololu Olunloyo writes on 'Promotions, Olubadan succession misconceptions and the Seriki gridlock' —P27 •As Oba Odulana goes home today —P6

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Court of Appeal nullifies Nyako's impeachment, refuses to reinstate him

•Jubilation in Taraba as Supreme Court upholds Ishaku's election —P5

N150

Lagos to clamp down on public smokers —P9

How BVN exposed 23,000 ghost workers

•Colluding banks in trouble —Finance minister •Culprits must be prosecuted —Senate —P2

Finance minister, Customs' boss disagree over Customs' salary increment

•Customs must get special salaries —Ali •You must improve your IGR —Adeosun —P2

Manufacturers to FG:

Forex policy killing local production

President Buhari introducing his team, comprising, from right, Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enemalah; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, as President Buhari receives in a State Visit President Joachim Gauck of Germany, at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.

•60% of food, beverages companies shut, workers sacked —NUFBTE —P10

news

Friday, 12 February, 2016

How BVN exposed 23,000 ghost workers

•Colluding banks in trouble —Finance minister • Says personnel cost now reduced by N100bn •Culprits must be prosecuted —Senate Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

INISTER of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on Thursday, revealed how the Bank Verification Number (BVN) introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for all bank customers exposed 23,000 ghost workers in the employ of the Federal Government. Speaking before the Senate Committee on Finance, Adeosun said “we have about 23,000 workers that we need to investigate: those whom either the BVN is linked to multiple payment or the name on the BVN account is not consistent with the name on our own payroll. “Not only will we remove those people from our payroll, but we will also be going after the banks involved to collect our money. “Some of the information that we are getting is how long has this person been on the payroll and how much he has been getting. In some, the accounts are held by the same bank and in some cases, all were opened on the same day. “If we are able to prove that banks have colluded with people to pad our payroll, we are not only going to stop those payments, but we are also going to try and recover our money.” The Senate, after her revelation, urged the Federal Government to immediately prosecute the 23,000 ghost workers found culpable of illegally drawing salaries from the government. Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator John Eno, who announced the backing of the Senate for the prosecution, asked the minister to immediately put machinery in motion for the trial. He also asked the government not only to retrieve the money from the ghost workers, but also ensure that the culprits received due punishment at the court of law. Adeosun, however, assured the committee that the government had commenced steps towards the prosecution. According to her, the ministry was already putting in place strategic plans to deal with the banks that collaborated with the ghost workers to collect government’s money fraudulently. She said the ministry was still conducting investigations, adding that the affected workers would be suspended for one month, to enable the government to

complete investigation. Adeosun further stated that when investigation was completed, banks found liable for collusion with the ghost workers would be made to refund the money paid through them. “What the IPPIS-BVN registration has shown us has been a real revelation. We have identified that there are people who appear on our payroll multiple times.

“BVN links all the accounts of that person, so we are seeing on our payroll 20 names to one BVN number. “We have had a meeting on how we are going to clean them off, the process will be that we will suspend that person from the payroll pending the investigation. “We will try as much as possible to conclude that investigation within 30 days, so that we do not suffer innocent

people, but we really need to clean our payroll,” she said. The minister also said ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) found guilty of harbouring the ghost workers would be handed over to relevant government agencies for investigation and prosecution. As a result of the removal of fake workers on the government payroll, Adeosun said personnel cost of the

Federal Government had been reduced by N100 billion in the 2016 budget. “We realised that if we can get more people on IPPIS, our salary costs will come down and so we needed to get more people on it. “We decided to change the strategy, rather than getting the person to come physically we will take the payroll that we have and the bank account of everybody who is

being paid. “So from that bank account, we will get the BVN, from the BVN we can get the biometric data, so that considerably accelerates the process of getting people unto IPPIS. “We are very confident with our programme that we will now be able to get every federally paid civil servant onto IPPIS by June, we are aggressively chasing after June,” she said.

Finance minister, Customs’ boss disagree over customs’ salary increment Customs must get special salaries —Ali •You must improve your IGR —Adeosun Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja MINISTER of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the Comptroller-General of Customs Service, Colonel Hameed Ali (retd), engaged in war of words late on Wednesday, during a budget defence session at the Senate. Ali, who was appearing

before the Senate Committee on Finance, a session also attended by Adeosun, had told the committee that Customs Service deserved a special salary package to improve on the morale and the collections of the Service. But the minister disagreed sharply, telling the committee that Customs could only seek a special salary if it improves on its Internally Gen-

erated Revenue. Ali stated that the best way to discourage corruption and inefficeiency in the Customs Service was to ensure that the officers enjoyed special salary scale. Adeosun, whose ministry supervises the Customs Service, however, disagreed with Ali, insisting that special salaries for customs officers could only be applicable if the

service improved its IGR. She stated that the practice all over the world is that the Customs enjoys special salary package after improving their collections, adding that the service should expect a performance-based remuneration package. Ali also accused the Ministry of Finance of denying Customs some huge earnings because of waivers be-

ing granted to big corporations. “If the big companies were given waivers, is it the smaller companies that should then pay custom duties?” he asked. The Customs boss also said some non-revenue generating agencies were currently receiving better salaries than men of the Customs Service.

FG to oil companies: Nigeria cannot afford mass sack of oil workers now Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja A very high level tripartite consultation began on Thursday by the Federal Government with International Oil Companies (IOCs), the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the Petroleum and National Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the contractors in the oil and gas sector and other relevant stakeholders in the industries. At a meeting called at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige and chaired by him were Shell Petroleum, Mobil Producing, Chevron, Total and the NNPC. Also in attendance were the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service. Both Senator Ngige and the Minister of State for Labour, Chief James Ocholi, in their message to the oil companies and the contractors, said Nigeria could not afford a mass sack of workforce in the oil sector or any other sector at present. “Because the economy is going through troubled water, it is necessary we discuss with people in the oil major and workers. “The sector is holding the mainstay of our economy, today, we want to agree that

even with downward trend in oil price, we expect that if the oil major cannot create job for us, they should keep the one we have, so that they won’t create social upheaval for us. “It is our aim in this government to create more jobs, so we can’t afford to lose the one we have,” he said. The minister said though oil price was down now, it could improve and go up, while he challenged the oil companies to plow back the

gains and profit they made in the oil boom years. He further reminded them that the downward trend would not last forever, adding that “we expect the companies to plow back the profit they made in the past. So, we don’t expect the companies to start to lay off workers. We all believe they must have saved for the raining days.” The minister also warned the contractors who engaged in anti-labour activi-

ties, saying, “it is unacceptable to us as a country.” Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, who was at the National Assembly for Budget defence, was represented by Funmi Olugbemi, a deputy director in the ministry. Kachikwu frowned on the issue of job loss and emphasised the fact that there should be no job loss in the sector. Both Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Im-

migration Service assured that the issue of expatriate quotas, which affected them, would be addressed, to ensure that the oil companies complied with the law. PENGASSAN President, Olabode Johnson and the NUPENG President, Igwe Achese, warned that labour would not sit down and watch their members lose their job, adding that it would be vehemently resisted.

We’re making headway in military chiefs’ investigation —EFCC Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has said it is making a headway in its investigation of some serving and retired military chiefs, including former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, among others. According to the source, as part of its investigation, EFCC had sealed off properties linked with some of the officers, both in Abuja and Lagos, saying that more might still be sealed off before the commission concluded its investigation. As of the time of filing this report, both Badeh and Amosu were still in EFCC

custody in Abuja, while some other military officers were detained elsewhere, pending their arraignment in court, which a source informed could come up anytime from now. The serving and retired officers were being investigated on presidential directive,

following the recommendation of an audit committee set up by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) to audit arms procurements in the Nigerian Airforce between 2007 and 2015. They were being grilled by a panel set up by EFCC

to probe their roles in the arms deal, particularly on the non-specification of procurement costs, transfer of arms funds for other purpose, non-adherence to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, among others allegations levelled against them.

13 girls killed in Jigawa boat mishap A boat capsized and killed 13 persons at River Gilbi in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State, on Thursday. Most of the victims were young girls and are all presumed dead after the accident, which happened at a riverine community some 50 kilometres away from Dutse, the state capital.

The boat capsized at the river between Tsuburi Darai and Gilma villages. Yusuf Sani Babura, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said “the rescue team are still searching for the dead bodies.” He confirmed 13 of the victims dead, saying “young

girls, between ages of nine and 12, were loaded in two boats on their way from Tsuburi Darai village to cross the river to Gilma village to attend a weddingwhen the tragedy occurred.” Abdul Jinjiri, spokesman of the state police command, said seven died on the spot.

Friday, 12 February, 2016

news

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Germany to support Nigeria in war against corruption, terrorism Buhari resumes, says Boko Haram already flushed out of N/East Leon Usigbe and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, received the support and assurances of government of the Federal Republic of Germany on the war against Corruption and Terrorism. The German president, Joachim Gauck, who made this known during a visit to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, in Abuja, stated that “Germany is ready to support the Federal Government in the ongoing fight against terrorism and corruption in the country.” He also promised to also assist in area of war against terrorism, saying “we believe that terror would not be defeated by military might alone. The Nigerian government needs to further foster good governance and ensure the prospect of a better future for all its citizens.” Gauck, who was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Ms Daniela Schadt and other German investors, said he was particularly delighted about the peaceful elections that brought about the change of guards in Nigeria. He explained that the country had over two million internally displaced persons (IDPs) who needed support and reintegration, adding that the rebuilding of infrastructure, including schools and health care facilities in the affected areas, would go a long way to give the people hope for better future and thus, contribute in bringing an end to terrorism in the country. Saraki, in his response, however, called on the German government and the European Union (EU) to assist Nigeria in eliminating terrorism from the sub-region, as well as the resettlement and full integration of IDPs in the country. Saraki, in a statement by his media aide, Sanni Onogu, said the visit of the German president to the National Assembly was a practical demonstration of the role the legislature plays in strengthening and advancing democracy in any nation. To receive the German president were both presiding and principal officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, among others.

While welcoming the president to the National Assembly, he said “Your Excellency’s visit would not only further cement our cordial relations, but demonstrate that the international community, and in this case, that Germany is on the same page with this administration’s stance against terrorism and its attendant insecurity, as well as the fight against corruption. “Your visit to the National Assembly underscores the importance you attach to the role the legislature plays and can influence in our drive to deepen our democracy, strengthen the rule of law and foster liberty and development.” The Senate President explained that the National Assembly would continue to support the executive in its quest to provide a better life for the people and most especially, in the fight against corruption and commitment to economic diversification. He assured that the National Assembly would not

only make new laws, but would amend existing ones to make for secured and business-friendly environment in the country, adding that “this assembly shall earnestly support the executive in its fight against corruption, terrorism and insecurity. “We urge you to use your good office as president of Germany, to promote and support our efforts in this regards.” Saraki explained that “our country is presently experiencing the challenges of global terrorism. Notwithstanding the significant victories we have recorded, Boko Haram has continued to pose colossal national and regional security challenge. “We have a lot to learn from Germany and to gain from stronger Nigeria-Germany relations in this regard. So, we call on the German government and the EU to lend us their unflinching support and solidarity, in order for us to fully eliminate terrorism from the sub-region.

“I believe that every effort in this area is a paramount investment as the regional stability, security and development is tied to achieving global peace. We urge you to particularly help us return our IDPs back to their homes and fully reintegrate them into the society. “Let me use this opportunity to recognise Germany’s immense contribution to the Nigeria economy so far; from construction to technology, oil and gas. The National Assembly is working hard to change our business and investment climate through several initiatives aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and the risks involved,” he said. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari returned to office on Thursday, at the end of his six-day vacation abroad and has consequently written to the leadership of the National Assembly to apprise them of his resumption of work, in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution.

He received the visiting German President, Mr Joachim Guack, from whom he sought support for Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. Addressing joint news conference with his guest at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after a closed-door meeting, Buhari reiterated that Boko Haram insurgents had been flushed out from all the territories they hitherto held in the North-East. It will be recalled that the senator representing Borno Central, Baba Kaka Garbai, had recently claimed that more than 50 per cent of Borno State was under the control of Boko Haram. Buhari said: “It is a pity Boko Haram welcomed you with explosions in Maidugiri, which took so many lives, but I have attempted to explain in so many fora that Boko Haram is not what it used to be. “While they were firmly holding 14 out of 774 local governments when we came

Sales Manager, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of Tribune titles, Dr Omotayo Lewis, flanked by her husband, Dr Damilola Lewis and children to cut her 50th birthday cake, on Thursday.

Trial of our members should be made open —Shiite Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna THE trial against the brothers of the Islamic Movement, otherwise known as the Shiite, should be held in an open court, where the public can witness it. This was the view of the movement, in a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna and signed by their spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, on Thursday. The statement read: “What happened on Wednesday, in Kaduna Prison, is akin to a secret trial where the public was denied entry to the court proceedings.

“But more worrisome to us was the charge of possession of firearms labelled against the brothers. “The prosecutor even said a large cache of arms was recovered from some of the brothers that had to be taken to Lagos for expert analysis. “We believe this is a trumped-up charge brought up against the IMN. It is pertinent to note that had the brothers being in possession of any weapon, the story of the massacre carried out by the Army in Zaria would have been an entirely different thing.

“There would have been large casualties on the side of the attacking Army as well, but there wasn’t. “However, the world is a witness to the fact that not even a single soldier died when the Army mercilessly descended upon unarmed civilians in Husainiyya Islamic Centre and the residence of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. “The fact that weapons are just being brought up for the first time in this matter suggests that the authorities are trying by all means to frame up charges and produce manufactured evidences against the Islamic Move-

ment. “Why did it take the Army this long to make it public? Earlier, on three occasions, the General Officer Commanding 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Adeniyi Oyebade, who also proudly announced that he led the operation, declared that brothers of the Islamic Movement had no weapon, but catapults, machetes and sticks. “So from whom were the weapons taken to Lagos by the police confiscated? Surely, not from the brothers of the Islamic Movement.”

in, they are not holding any local government now. What they have resorted to is using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to cause maximum casualties on soft targets, as they did yesterday, doing what they are capable of doing now.” He noted that the insurgents can no longer organise conventional attacks on military, police installations or take hold of towns. He added: “I think they are not able to do that. They send groups to go and kill vulnerable targets. Having said that, our efforts have to be redoubled to make sure that the people in internally displaced camps have been rehabilitated, especially the children. “More than 60 per cent of the two million people in IDPs are women and children and more than 60 per cent of them are children and more than 60 per cent of the children are orphans. “Some of them don’t know where they are from, they don’t know their parents. This is a pathetic situation the leadership of this government is facing, because the least, we should quickly resettle those children if possible, try and identify their neighborhoods, repair their schools, health centres and may be part of the village, so that they can get out of the trauma they are in.” While commending the response from G7 industrialised countries to Nigeria’s request, he called for the support of Germany to make sure Nigeria emerged a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. “Outside bilateral, in the United Nations, Nigeria an African country feels that we are qualified by our number, by our size, by our position in Africa to have a seat in the United Nations. We hope that Germany will support us,” he stated. Buhari also thanked Germany for the help they extended to Nigeria during the 2015 general election, as well as for assisting Nigeria during the Ebola and Polio scourges. Speaking through an interpreter, the German president expressed sympathy with Nigeria over recent bomb attacks in the country and announced $15 million support for Nigerian’s joint military forces fighting the terrorists. Noting that Nigeria was a key player in the international community, he called for renewal of trust and upholding the rule of law in the country.

news Taraba: Jubilation as Supreme Court upholds Ishaku’s election

Friday, 12 February, 2016

•APC concedes victory From Sunday Ejike, Sylvanus Viashima and Leon Usigbe

HERE was jubilation, on Thursday, after the ruling of the Supreme Court, which upheld the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State. The Supreme Court affirmed the election of Governor Ishaku, after dismissing the appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Hajia Aisha Jumai Alhassan, for lacking in merit. Alhassan, now the Minister for Women Affairs, had approached the apex court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the November 7, 2015 decision of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which sacked Ishaku from office and declared her as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election held in the state. Before the tribunal that sat in Abuja, Alhassan and her party had argued that Governor Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not qualified to contest for the election since he allegedly did not participate in any primaries of his party. After taking arguments for and against the petition from both parties, the tribunal chairman, Musa Abubakar, in his judgment, held that there were overwhelming evidences that the PDP never conducted a primary election to field Ishaku as the party’s standard-bearer in the election. He said the evidence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where the commission claimed that it had no record of any primary election conducted by PDP in Taraba State, was in clear violation of Section 85 of the Electoral Act. The tribunal, therefore, ruled that the PDP votes in the election were merely vitiated, and then declared that the APC candidate, Aisha Jumai Alhassan, be declared the winner of the election. On his part, Governor Ishaku, through his counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, filed an appeal on December 25, requesting the Appeal Court to set aside the decision of the tribunal, arguing that his client was duly qualified for the primaries, which he claimed was held successfully. Agabi told the Court of Appeal that the issue of sponsorship arose from the constitution and should, therefore, not be

addressed from the context of the Electoral Act and further submitted that one of the witnesses of the APC, (PW8) had admitted that Governor Ishaku was duly sponsored and qualified for the election. Besides, Agabi argued that even if the elections were marred by irregularities, as suggested by the APC, the tribunal was wrong in declaring the APC winner of an allegedly illegal election. On his part, counsel for the PDP, Chief Solo Akuma, argued that the only person that had a ground to contest the qualification of a candidate in the party’s primary was a contender in the primaries within the same party. Citing the provisions of Section 89 (9) of the constitution, Akuma argued

•PDP, Fayose, Wike congratulate him

further that APC as a party could not contest the eligibility or otherwise of the governor in the election. In its judgment, the Court of Appeal described as “unattainable” a petition by the APC seeking to disqualify Ishaku as the PDP’s candidate in the April 11 gubernatorial election. In a unanimous ruling, a five-man panel led by Justice Abdul Aboki said the tribunal was wrong in giving victory to Hajia Alhassan, while nullifying Ishaku’s election. The judges said the constitution clearly stated that unless a candidate had been indicted by a court of law, or is known to have a criminal record, or had certain degree of health condition, among others, such a person could not be determined by a tribunal

as not being qualified as a candidate. Aboki said the failure of a party to conduct a conclusive primary, the grounds the tribunal cited for disqualifying Ishaku, was clearly a pre-election matter which the tribunal had no jurisdiction on. The Judge said the important question about Section 85 of the Electoral Act was whether INEC, which the section was made for, was complaining about the candidature of Ishaku. The appellate court further held that the state governorship election petition tribunal drew wrong conclusions from the evidence provided by the witnesses, adding that the constitution did not provide for the type of judgment that gave victory to Hajia Alhassan.”

“It is, therefore, a gross misdirection in law on the part of the tribunal to declare the first petitioner as the winner of the April 11, 2015 election for emerging with the second highest votes. The decision of the tribunal is, hereby, set aside and the certificate of return issued to appellant is upheld as the duly-elected governor of the state.” Not satisfied with the judgment, the APC candidate approached the court with an appeal praying the court to set aside the judgment and uphold the decision of the tribunal. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, on Thursday, said the apex court held that the appeal lacked merit and substance. The Chief Press Secretary to the governor Mr

FG targets completion of 6,000 km roads in 3 years •Don’t change our plan, Fashola appeals to Senate Christian Okeke-Abuja

THE Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has said the ministry has drawn a three-year plan with the aim of covering about 6,000 kilometres of road and 130 projects in three years. He said a total of 2,000 kilometres of road would be covered each year based on roads with high economic value, those that carried heavy traffic and those that were almost completed. The minister, according to an additional information provided by the ministry on Thursday, told the National Assembly committees with oversight on his ministry that, in the first year, a total number of 31 projects would be covered, 55 in the second year and 44 in the third year. Among the projects are the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the second Niger Bridge, as well as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road. He described the LagosIbadan Expressway as “a major traffic road where bulk of imported cargo comes from Apapa, Tin Can port to other parts of the country.” The minister disclosed that government was willing to complete abandoned road projects across the country rather than embark on new ones. According to him, some of the projects were left uncompleted because government owed the contractors. Fashola further stated

that with the budget proposal for this year, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) would be at an advantage to provide comprehensive maintenance on federal roads across the six geopolitical zones of the country. He advised politicians to be mindful of their utterances, especially during campaigns, as certain pronouncements had capacity of scaring away investors. On the other hand, the minister disclosed that there was a government policy on tolling which was being modified by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for onward transmission to the National Assembly. He urged the National Assembly to considerably review some of the laws on road development in the country, especially the tolling policy when finally transmitted to it in order to attract privatesector funding. Meanwhile, Fashola, on Wednesday, led the management team of his ministry, at the 2016 Budget defence session of the Senate Committee on Works, with a passionate appeal that the focus and plan of the proposed plans be retained in order to achieve the much desired change and positive objectives of the budget. The minister, in his presentation of the main thrust of the Medium Term Sector Strategy 2016 – 2018 Budget proposals of his ministry, explained that the objective was to ensure that ongoing projects in the six geopolitical zones of the

country were completed within the shortest possible time as distinct from the practice in the past, where the inadequate budgetary provision was spread over so many projects without much being completed. According to Fashola, economic roads that would ensure connectivity between hubs of commerce and generate employment; roads bearing the heaviest traffic and those nearing completion were being given priority over the next three budget cycles, urging the Senate to trust him and the ministry to deliver the desired objectives by not changing the proposed plans. From the proposals, the first priority projects envisaged for the 2016 Budget are those on arterial highways and major river crossings which carry high volume of traffic and are critical to the economic well-being of the country with a total length of 2,192.76 km, distributed across the vari-

ous zones. “Some members of the committee, have of course, pointed out that they wanted to see a plan. There is a plan before you and it is a plan that l appeal that you should kindly look at in more detail. It is perhaps different from what has been done before, and if we have done this budget method where we put X Naira in the budget and every constituency takes a part of it in that budget year and it doesn’t lead us to the conclusion of a project, I think the time has come to try something new,” he said. Continuing, the minister explained the essence of the new approach thus: “ I am proposing something new, but we not are inflexible about what we are proposing and as l have said in my previous meetings with the chairman and the vice chairman, give us a chance to change the way things have been done, then hold us responsible to the plan that we mutually agree with.

Hassan Mijinyawa, lauded the judgment, describing it as victory for the people. He noted that the judgment was a confirmation of the people’s wish and mandate they gave the governor. Mijinyawa called on the opposition in the state not to give up hope in democracy, but persevere and wait for God’s time. APC chairman in Taraba State, Alhaji Hassan Ardo Jika, commenting on the ruling, said they had accepted the verdict of the apex court of the land and called on all party supporters to remain calm and avoid any confrontation that could lead to a breakdown of law and order. In the same vein, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given kudos to Judiciary for, according to it, showing that it remains the window of hope for democracy to strive in this country. According to a statement issued by the Acting National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, in Abuja on Thursday, the “bold and patriotic approach of the Supreme Court of the land in the various tribunal cases goes a long way to show that it is indeed the last hope of the down trodden.” Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has hailed the Supreme Court’s judgment, affirming the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, saying he was happy that the country’s apex court has restored the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary and that those who believed they could circumvent the electoral verdict of the people of Taraba State were put to shame. This is just as the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike also congratulated the governor on the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court, saying that the rule of law had come to stay in the democratic process of the country.

Court nullifies ex-Adamawa gov, Nyako’s impeachment THE Court of Appeal, on Thursday, declared null and void, the impeachment of the former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako. The court sitting in Yola, ruled that the July 15, 2014 impeachment of the former governor was not constitutional. Nyako was impeached on allegations of corrup-

tion by 17 out 25 members of Adamawa State House of Assembly, after a panel set up to investigate allegations submitted a report which indicted him. The judges, on Thursday, unanimously held that Nyako was not given fair trial and that his rights were violated by the state assembly. They noted that the

House proceeded to impeach the former governor, in spite of a subsisting court order against such move. Though the court ruled that Nyako be accorded all rights dues to him, including payment of his entitlements. It, however, rejected his appeal to be returned as governor of the state.

south-westnews Olubadan goes home today 6

Friday, 12 February, 2016

As Ajimobi extols his virtues By Tunde Ogunesan

HE remains of the 40th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, will be finally laid to rest today after a final funeral service at St Peter Cathedral, Aremo, Ibadan. The funeral service and interment climax the sixday funeral programme which commenced on February 6 with a Jumat service at the Central Mosque, Oja’ba, Ibadan. The weeklong service, which was well attended by important sons and daughters of Ibadan, had seen his body laid in state at some notable places like IgboElerin, Mapo Hall and Parliament Building, Secretariat, where encomiums were showered on the late Oba. Today, a final funeral service will be held at St Peter Cathedral, Aremo, Ibadan by 11:00a.m. while his body will be interred at the church’s cemetery within the church compound. Thereafter, guests will be treated to sumptuous entertainment at Recreation Club, Adamasingba, immediately after the church service. Dignitaries expected at the funeral service of Oba Odugade are President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, members of the National Assembly, House of Representatives members, serving and ex-public office holders, royal fathers, foreign diplomats, labour leaders, among others. Meanwhile, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has described the 40th Olubadan as an epitome of a great leader. Governor Ajimobi stated this on Thursday at the lying-in-state ceremony for the late traditional ruler at the House of Chiefs, Agodi, Ibadan, where various eminent personalities also extolled the virtues of the late Olubadan. He said the late Olubadan served meritoriously, and with dignity in all the positions he was privileged to attain in his lifetime Ajimobi noted that Oba Odulana supported the transformation agenda of his government thereby challenging the government to do more. He said the noble virtue of late Odulana was capable of strengthening nations and empowering future generations to fully manifest their destinies. Ajimobi described the life of the revered monarch as that of discipline and commitment, while he described his reign as Olubadan as untainted, no-

ble, eventful and peaceful. He said, “Kabiyesi wore so many caps to the admiration of all and sundry during his lifetime. He walked through many paths and survived many challenges. “Over and across time, Kabiyesi was a teacher, a soldier, an administrator, an educationist, a politician and statesman, and indeed, a titled chief who rose to become the king of Ibadanland.” The governor recalled Oba Odulana’s sojourn in the military during the Second World War at the end of which, he said, he was decorated with the Exemplary Character Award of the Fourth Brigade. He also noted how the late royal father’s service in the Inspectorate Division of the colonial Ministry of Education had led to the establishment of several schools and colleges in the old Western Region and the provision of scholarships to indigent and brilliant students throughout the region. “Kabiyesi was instrumental to the creation of 14 local government areas that now make up IbadanIbarapa division of the current Oyo State. “It is in history that kabiyesi was part of the delegation of the Federal Government which was led by the prime minister to the Commonwealth in London in 1962 “He belonged to the category of people with history. He changed the face of Ibadanland with his wealth of experience.” Earlier in his welcome address, former Secretary to the State Government, who also served as the chairman of the burial committee, Alhaji Ismael Olalekan Alli, also lauded the contributions of the late monarch to the devel-

opment of Oyo State as a whole and Ibadan city in particular. Aside the children of the late royal father, also on hand to bid Oba Odulana farewell were the Speaker of the state House of Assembly,

Mr Michael Adeyemo and other lawmakers from the state House of Assembly. Also in attendance were members of the Olubadan-in-Council, members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indi-

genes (CCII), Ibadan elders, representatives of the political class and prominent indigenes and citizens of Ibadan. Oba Samuel Odulana I was born on April 14, 1914 and died on Tuesday Janu-

ary 19, 2016. He ascended the throne on August 17, 2007, having joined the ladder to the throne in 1972 when he became the Mogaji of Ladunni compound in Ibadan.

From left, Chief Kola Daisi; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo; Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Professor Femi Lana and Chief Lekan Are, at the lying-in-state for the late Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Thursday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU.

Police arrest ex-convict over blackmail of prominent pastors Hakeem Gbadamosi – Akure

DETECTIVES from the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a 44-year-old ex-convict, Festus Balogun, who specialised in blackmailing known men of God for pecuniary gain. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mike Ogbodu who disclosed this to journalists in Akure, Ondo State capital, said the suspect, who hailed from Cotonou, was arrested on January 28, 2016 while the police are

still on the trail of some of his accomplice. Ogbodu disclosed that the suspect has been on the watch list of the police for a long time, explaining that the suspect released a compact disk (video) entitled: ‘Asiri Tu’ which in English means ‘Secret exposed,’ alleging 12 pastors of involving in rituals, killing and other fetish acts. The police commissioner, however, said that during interrogation, the suspect confessed using the names of the pastors and men of

God to make money. The police boss said the suspect said he was pushed into the crime for monetary gains, and said “He also denied that he has never killed for any of the pastors as alleged neither has he ever been in contact with any one of them. “It is pertinent to mention that the content of the video CD has caused suspicion and disaffection in the churches mentioned. Our detectives are presently on the trail of the producer of the video CD,” he said. Ogbodu listed other crime

Olubadan-designate condoles Ibadan Poly THE Olubadan-designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, has commiserated with the authorities of The Polytechnic Ibadan over the ghastly motor accident that claimed the lives of students and lecturers of the school along Oyo-Ibadan road. High Chief Adetunji, who sent the condolence message through his media aide, Mr Adeola Oloko, on Wednesday, to the Rector of the polytechnic, Professor Olatunde Fawole, noted that the death was not only a sad loss to the school and the bereaved but also to the

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society as a whole. According to him, “The news of the ghastly motor accident sent shock waves to us all. “We have put ourselves in the position of their parents and guardians. We look at them as our future and what happened to them could happen to anybody.” While praying for the repose of the deceased, the Olubadan-designate also prayed to God to give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. High Chief Adetunji prayed to God not to allow a re-occurrence of

such an unfortunate incident in the institution

or any of the schools in Ibadanland.

...Ajanaku congratulates him THE Chief Executive Officer, Dino International Hotel, Rotimi Ajanaku, has congratulated the Olubadan-designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji. Ajanaku, in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, described Adetunji as a man of honour and proven integrity. “For 40 years, Allah has preserved him for the exalted

throne of Olubadan. “Chief Adetunji, as I know him, has shown that he has all it takes to occupy the position of the Olubadan of Ibadanland. He was successful as record label owner and an estate developer. With the new call to duty, Ibadan is very lucky to have a peaceloving, philanthropist and a successful business icon as the Olubadan.”

syndicates that were arrested across the state to include five armed robbery suspects in Akure, three in Okitipupa and a gang who burgled a secondary school to steal computers and other accessories, killing the security guard at Igushi/Eriti community in Idanre. Others included two kidnapping suspects, 11 cult members and 16 exotic cars that were recovered from one Dele Moses Olayemi of Irese Road, Akure. Speaking with journalists, the blackmailer who confessed to the crime also admitted that he was convicted for cultism and imprisoned at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison in the past. He stated that he had never been in contact with any of the men of God and pastors indicted in his video, affirming he has never killed in his life; “it was all lies and a bid to cull out money from gullible Nigerians,” he said. He denied being sponsored by anyone to tarnish the image of the pastors, but said he saw it as a means to make quick money for survival, saying he was induced by a marketer in Ibafo, Ogun State, who promised to reward him with N300,000 for the video clip. He, however, begged the unsuspecting Christian community over the blackmail of the men of God and to forgive him.

south-westnews Ondo APC formally admits Osunyikanmi, Akinyelure, others 7

Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

HE leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State on Thursday officially received two prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Dr Pius Osunyikanmi and Senator Ayo Akinyelure into the party. The duo had last month, signified their intention to dump the ruling party in the state for the APC, hinging their decision to dump PDP for APC on the need to engender good governance and put the state in the mainstream of national politics to foster regional integration. About four other members of PDP in the state which include former Speaker in the

Friday, 12 February, 2016

state, Kenneth Olawanle, Raheem Badmus and Cecilia Fayase, also joined the two leaders to decamp to APC at the Akure City Hall. The defection ceremony was attended by leaders of the party across the state. Receiving the decampees, the chairman of APC in the state, Hon Isaac Kekemeke, said the defection signified the end of PDP, urging all other progressive minded politicians to join the ship of change that has berthed in the state. Kekemeke assured the new members that the party would be ready to integrate them and urged them to start mobilising for the party for the forthcoming governorship election. He said the party was ready to wrestle power from the ruling party, saying all

indications pointed to the fact that PDP was losing relevance in the state and assured that APC would not disappoint the people. Speaking, the former lawmaker representing Ondo Central senatorial district, Senator Akinyelure, said they decided to join the party to join hands with the progressives to re-build Ondo State. Akinyelure called on the leadership of the party to be ready to integrate the new

decampees and work together to ensure victory for APC. He said, “We left PDP because it is not a progressive party and conservatives cannot continue to rule us in this state, but joining the progressives of the south west will ensure development in our dear state. The days of poverty are over in this state and we will work together to wipe out poverty.” Also speaking, Osun-

yikanmi said the incumbent governor; Dr Olusegun Mimiko has failed to fulfil his electoral promises to the people. Osunyikami who disclosed that his joining APC was not to contest for the governorship seat in the forthcoming election, added that he was joining hands with progressives to rebuild and reposition the state. He, however, predicted that the next governor of

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the state will come from the Northern Senatorial district and urged all stakeholders in the state to join hands with the party to produce a credible candidate of the party in the election. However, the chairman of the PDP in Ondo State, Chief Clement Faboyede, said the defectors will soon return home saying “all these men are nothing politically without Mimiko and it is better to return home where they belong.”

Lab scientists protest at UCH BySadeOguntolaandNurudeenAlimi

NIGERIA’S health sector may be in for another round of strike actions as medical laboratories scientists under the aegis of Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists on Thursday, staged a protest in the hospital, calling for the autonomy of the profession in the hospital. The group moved around the hospital carrying placards with such inscriptions as “medical laboratory scientists should not be chased out of the laboratory,” “Implement our enhanced entry point,” and “We say no to professional slavery; Obey the law of the land.” The protests prevented patients having laboratory services being attended to as they shut down all the hospitals’ laboratories, including the hospital’s PPP laboratory. Chairman, Association of Medical Scientists, UCH chapter, Mr Oladayo Odedoyin, saying the laboratory would remain shut until the hospital meets their demands, said despite past dialogue with the hospital’s management, the medical

laboratory scientists scheme of services since 2001was yet to be fully implemented in the hospital. According to him, “you will be surprised that since 2001 that scheme of service has not been fully implemented in UCH, Ibadan, including the autonomy for the profession of medical laboratory science. “In that scheme, we have a position for director. Although UCH has a director in place, the appointment does not comply with the laid down specification in the scheme of service.” Odedoyin, remarking that the Federal government did not make provision for the profession but rather the services, said rather than the nomenclature, Director, Medical Laboratory Services, what UCH management created was Director, Medical Laboratory Scientists. He said that the body insist that the hospital should give the office of the Director, Medical Laboratory Services its autonomy, rather that subjecting the office to a head of department who is an honorary consultant and on contract with hospital.

A section of the Ojoo/IITA road, damaged by erosion, in Ibadan, Oyo State. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Tension in Ikere-Ekiti as monarch accuses Fayose of tearing his billboard

He’s acting APC’s script —Fayose Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

TENSION has mounted in Ikere Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State as some people in the town took to the streets to protest what they said was the destruction of a billboard of the Olukere of Ikere, Oba Ganiyu Adesoyin, allegedly by agents of the state gov-

ernment. Trouble was said to have started late in the evening of Wednesday, when some sources claimed that Governor Fayose, whom they said was on transit, stopped at the Odo Oja area of the town and allegedly supervised the destruction of the bill by security personnel in his convoy. The Olukere, who has

Violence: ABUAD Alumni rise in defence of varsity, condemn violent protest Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

GRADUATES of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) have risen in defence of the university following the violence protests that rocked the university and insisted that the act of “a few students” was not enough to label the university. Following crisis that rocked Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, on Sunday, where property worth millions of naira were destroyed, the Alumni Association of the

institution condemned wanton destruction of property and alleged acts of burglary and robbery displayed by the rampaging students. The Alumni, which refuted the allegation that students were being treated like ‘kindergartens,’ praised the management of the institution, for not shutting down the school and disrupted the ongoing first semester examinations in spite of the students’ unrest. 17 students of the university, alleged to have partaken in the protest are presently

being tried at the Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti and they are remanded in prison custody on court order. Addressing newsmen in the university on Thursday, the National President of the Association, Miss Tope Sobajo, said such violent attack was not in the culture of the university, advising the students not to destroy the citadel of learning known for academic excellence and moral uprightness. Sobajo clarified that strictness and not allowing students to stroll out of the

campus as they like, which could make them become night crawlers, were the reasons being misinterpreted by some people to mean a ‘demeaning treatment’ of students by management. The president, who is a masters’ degree student of the university, said she neither witnessed nor noticed any case of rape or drug peddling during her four years in the university, describing the allegations on social media as unsubstantiated and targeted at reducing the respect the university commands.

been at loggerheads with the state government and the Ogoga of Ikere following government’s declaration that the Ogoga was the only recognised monarch in the town, told newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, that he was no longer safe in the state and called on the Federal Government to come to his aide. “They wanted to ignite crisis and burn down my town, but I am pleading that they should desist because I am the owner of the land and I won’t allow it to burn. My life now is at stake. If someone could personally supervise the tearing of my billboard, what would he do if he sees me face-to-face? It is rather surprising that with the hectic job the office of a governor requires, he could still go to the streets and destroy Oba’s billboard.” But the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr

Idowu Adelusi, said by giving recognition to the Ogoga, “Fayose was simply following the law, particularly on the Ikere issue, because none of the past administrations gave recognition to Olukere to rule over Ikereland.” According to him, “the Olukere was only ventilating his anger when he alleged that the governor destroyed or sent people to destroy his posters. The allegation is unfounded. The Olukere does not have the instrument of office as Oba. “It is an open secret that the Olukere is being sponsored by the APC. No Olukere has ever confronted the government. Why now? The Olukere is politically motivated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be confrontational, purposely to cause crisis in the town. Does Olukere expect Governor Fayose to do otherwise and cause crisis in the ancient town?”

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Friday, 12 February, 2016

2016 budget: Reps summon finance, national planning ministers

•Refuse audience with education ministry over doctored document Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

HE House of Representatives Committee on Capital Markets and other institutions, on Thursday, summoned the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and her counterpart in the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, over the controversies and discrepancies of figures in the 2016 budget proposal now before the National Assembly. The committee, chaired by Honourable Tajudeen Yusuf, declared that the duo should appear before it to explain the reasons behind the discrepancies of figures in the budget proposal. It handed down the order on Thursday, during an interactive session with the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST), in Abuja, on Thursday. The chairman of the committee lamented that the 2016 budget proposal for IST, was a duplicate of the 2015 budget proposal brought before the National Assembly. Honourable Yusuf

threatened that the National Assembly would also hold the Budget Office of the Federation responsible for various errors and padding observed in the 2016 budget proposal. Honourable Yusuf, who expressed displeasure over the development, however, called for immediate action

towards addressing the lingering challenges that might impact negatively on the socio-economic wellbeing of the citizenry. According to him, “We took the budget of the IST, which is the investment Court, unfortunately, we realised what was contained in the 2016 budget

proposal was just the exact copy of the 2015 budget appropriation; word for word and figure for figure. Items that have been completed in 2015 were repeated. Their proposal for 2016 was not considered at all because it will be an exercise in futility. “Fortunately, the Senate

too is aware of that and we are thinking of having a tripartite meeting between the House, Senate and Federal Ministry of Finance, so as to ask some basic questions why we have what we have, so that as a House, we will do what is needful.” While giving update on the oversight functions

General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye (left), with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, during Adeboye’s visit to the Ooni’s palace, in Ile-Ife, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

Benue South rerun: Call Onjeh to order, Mark tells Oyegun •Wants security operatives to monitor APC THE Senator David Mark campaign organisation for the February 20, 2016 Benue South rerun election has told the national chairman of the All Pro-

gressive Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, to call the party’s candidate, Daniel Onjeh and his campaign team to order. The Mark campaign or-

ganisation said in Otukpo, Benue State, on Thursday, that the continued inflammatory statements, innuendo, abuse and poor conduct of Onjeh and his

campaign team, ahead the rerun election, was clearly unbecoming of someone aspiring to lead. The APC, through Ogenyi Okpokwu, alleged

Our target is to produce vaccines for all diseases in Nigeria —Minister ligent people, pointing out Ademola Adegbite-Abuja

MINISTER of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, on Thursday, announced that the major target of his ministry was to produce vaccines for all the deadly diseases so as to free Nigeria from endemic infections. Speaking with newsmen

shortly after an impromptu visit to four agencies under the ministry, the minister said the main focus of the ministry under his watch was to return the lost glory of the country in which three vaccines were initially produced to cure some deadly diseases. He cited National Biotechnology Development

Agency (NABDA) as one of the agencies which was working on special areas to ensure the production of the vaccines for the benefits of everybody, especially the young ones. The minister lamented that Nigeria would be importing virtually all the vaccines when the country was endowed with intel-

100,000 Nigerians abroad live as refugees —US LINDA Thomas-Greenfield, the United States (US) assistant secretary for African Affairs, on Wednsday, said about 100,000 Nigerians were currently living outside Nigeria as refugees in neighbouring countries. Thomas-Greenfield, who announced this to journalists from across Africa, in a telepress conference, said Boko Haram attacks had forced more than one million Nigerians out of their homes. According to her, these

people had serious concerns that needed to be addressed. “More than a million Nigerians have been forced from their homes. Close to 100,000 Nigerians are living outside of Nigeria as refugees,” she said. “Thousands of families, ordinary people, have been impacted by Boko Haram, and these people have serious concerns that urgently need to be addressed.” The US envoy said her government had been

working closely with Nigeria and its neighbouring countries in addressing the problem of terrorism in the region. Thomas-Greenfield said there was a multi-faceted effort in place to deal with security issues, as well as with the root causes. The US representative in Africa also said her government had been working with and providing support for governments in the region through the multinational joint task force.

that the focus of the ministry was to see that the vaccines were manufactured in Nigeria. According to him, “there was a time we produced vaccines, I think about three in Nigeria, and we have been importing virtually all the vaccines, so it is very important that we go back to where we were and improve on that. We want to be in the position to produce, if possible, all the vaccines, because once we have the vaccines, we can protect the young ones and everybody from so many deadly diseases.” While urging the management of the agencies visited to be more focused and work hand in glove with the ministry with a view to achieving its set goal, Dr Onu said a lot of employment opportunities would come through the new policies.

that Senator Mark imported some armed men into Otukpo, ahead the election. A press statement issued by the Director Media & Publicity, Mark Campaign Organisation, Dr Adakole Elijah, stated: “We believe very strongly that this is another APC plot to cover its antics. We can not fall for it. We can not be part of this crude mentality. We demand immediate retraction and unreserved apology forthwith.” The statement warned that they would employ all legal, legitimate means to bring Onjeh and his team to justice. According to the statement: “We make bold to state unequivocally that we have maintained the highest level of decorum and restrain, in spite of the unwarranted provocation since the campaign started. “It is, therefore, instructive to remind Chief Oyegun that as a man who comes from the great Benin Kingdom, the custodian of Africa’s rich cultural heritage, where respect for elders is a grand norm, he can not be indulging Onjeh’s ceaseless insult on our principal.”

to the IST office in Lagos, Yusuf disclosed that the committee observed some infractions in the implementation of the 2015 appropriation. According to him, “two weeks ago, we went there physically, we saw it. There were some, one or two infractions, but reasonably, it was implemented. Because IST has a lean budget, it’s not a huge budget and they got some of their fundings outside the budgetary allocations. Apart from the issue of personnel that was delayed to December, their budget was okay for 2015. “IST is a special court that deals with only with issues on Capital market investment so as to build confidence. If you allow an investor to go through the regular court, let’s assume a man has his shares sold by somebody and his funds not remitted to him, and you go to the Appeal Court or what have you, with the number of cases at the High Court, it will take years before it is dispensed of. “So the IST has the possibility of discharging any case before the first two months or third month. The Nigerian Stock Exchange provides contributions to fund it.” Due to the discrepancy in the budget document presented to the National Assembly by President Buhari and a different document presented by the Ministry of Education on STDs, the committee directed that the ministry should go and harmonise the documents and come back to the House next week. This came just as the House Committee on Basic Education, chaired by Honourable Zakari Mohammed, discontinued the consideration of the 2016 budget defence for Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies, including Universal Basic Education, over 30 Federal universities, Colleges of Education, among others. According to Honourable Mohammed, the budget presented by the ministry was in total variance with the budget proposal presented to the National Assembly. The Director, Education Planning, Research and Development in the Ministry of Education, Dr Ebenezer Adeola, had presented a different budget document from what Mr President presented before the Tijani Jobe-led Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs committee during the budget defence.

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

How my brother pushed me into crime — Suspect Olalekan Olabulo

AYO Folami, who was a few days ago arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), has blamed his brother for “throwing him into the world.” The suspect and his colleagues were allegedly responsible for attacks on truck drivers and other motorists along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

The 27-year-old suspect, who was, until his arrest, residing under the Mile 2 Bridge, had reportedly, stole from a truck driver, when he was arrested. The victim of their last operation, Chukwudi Odum, said that his articulated vehicle, which was laden with a container, broke down

on the highway, and in the course of repairing it, “the two area boys including the suspect suddenly appeared from nowhere to demand for money. I told them they should allow me to finish repairing the vehicle before giving them anything but they declined. “They started to

rough-handle and drag me here and there. One of them, who was pulling me from behind dipped his hands into my back pocket and removed my wallet which contained N4, 500 and ran away. “When I noticed that my wallet has been stolen, I held tight to the other one that

still dragging me with my trousers, and then shouted for help.” The suspect, who felt very remorseful during interrogation with the police, said, “Although, I was trained in electrical re-wiring, but I could not finish the job because my brother who brought me to Lagos sent

80-year-old burnt, 3-year-old falls, dies inside soak-away

YABATECH shut, students ordered to vacate hostel

Olalekan Olabulo TRAGEDY struck early Wednesday morning as an 80-year-old woman was burnt to death in a fire incident in Maryland area of Lagos State. A three-year-old girl also fell inside a soak-away in Ijede area of Ikorodu and died, before she could be rescued by firemen. The deceased octogenarian, identified as Catherine Damilola was in one of the rooms on the upper floor of the 5-bedroom duplex, situated at 25, Wasinmi Street, Maryland when the fire incident occurred. A fire service source told Lagos Metro that the woman must have struggled to get out of the burning house as her body was reportedly found on the door, which was forced open. A source at the Lagos State Fire Service told Lagos Metro that “residents of the area, who saw the fire quickly rushed to the Anthony Fire Station, where the incident was reported. “By the time our men got there, the woman’s room had been badly burnt, but we prevented the fire from spreading beyond that room. We rescued a young girl, but after we forced the door of the woman’s room open, we saw her burnt body at the back of the door.” The director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe confirmed the death of the woman to Lagos Metro.

me out from his matrimonial home to cater for myself after his fourth child naming ceremony. Since then, things have become difficult for me. I chose to join those area boys because I don’t want to be a thief. “I was only demanding for a stipend from him because of hunger. I didn’t know his purse was removed by the other guy. I only know the guy in the Mile 2 area but we are not working together,” he narrated. The suspect has been transferred to Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Other Related Offences for necessary action.

Naza Okoli - Lagos

From left, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Akinwumi Ambode on Special Security, Mr Yinka Abiola; a paramilitary officer stabbed on the head with fingers chopped off at Oshodi, Mr Useni Rilwan; representative of the governor and Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Honourable Oluseye Oladejo and the Chairman, Lagos State Task Force, Olubukola Abe, during the presentation of cash gift to the victim by the state government at Majidun, Ikorodu.

Train crushes woman to death at Shogunle A middle-aged woman sitting across the railway track at Shogunle area of Lagos was on Thursday crushed to death by a moving passenger train. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ogun-bound train left Oshodi Station at around 4.45 p.m., heading toward Shogunle Station, Lagos. The incident happened few metres away from the Arena Shopping Complex, Oshodi.

The woman was sitting on the rail track and was oblivious of the approaching train, that, in spite of the

repeated horn by the driver the woman did not make any move to leave the track. NAN reports that “within

Govt to clampdown on public smokers MR Bola Shabi, General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), on Wednesday said that public smoking would no longer be tolerated in the state as offenders would be

sanctioned. Shabi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that this was to ensure a high standard of safety in public places and ensure sound well being of the residents

Hoodlums break bottle on policeman’s head AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin TWO men, Dada Waliu and Kazeem Joke, who allegedly hit a police inspector with bottles on the head have been arrested. The incident happened at Oduso Compound in Akesan. It was gathered that they

a twinkle of an eye,’’ the fast-approaching train ran into the woman and dismembered her body.

assaulted one Inspector Balogun John by hitting him on the head with bottles, sticks and stones. The officer sustained serious injuries on the head as a result of the alleged assault. They however pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before an Ejigbo

Magistrate Court. They were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on felony, resistance of arrest and assault. The magistrate, Mrs J.O Adeyemi, granted them bail of in the sum of N100, 000 and adjourned the case till February 29, for mention.

of the state. The General Manager expressed hope that before the end of the second quarter of the year, public smoking would have been reduced to its barest minimum. “People have started reducing their smoking habits in open places especially due to health reasons. In club houses, we have been advising owners to paste NO-SMOKING signs and also provide designated smoking areas for smokers which must be erected within a specific time frame,” he said. Shabi said that those who were not ready to comply would be arrested and sanctioned.

THE management of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) on Thursday announced a four-week mourning of the late Miss Comfort Dazan, a final-year HND student, who died in the early hours of Wednesday. A statement issued on Thursday by the spokesman of the College, Mr Charles Oni, directed all the students’ resident on campus to vacate the premises with immediate effect. “The Academic Board of YABATECH has suspended academic activities in the College for four weeks to allow management, staff and students mourn the loss of Miss Dazan, who died on Wednesday. “To forestall further destruction of College property, students are to vacate halls of residence latest by 12 noon, Thursday, February 11, 2016,” the statement read in parts. It was gathered that students protesting the death of Dazan had on Wednesday night destroyed some of the facilities at the school’s Medical Centre. “Management has pledged to attend to other issues and requests by students in due course,” the statement said further as the management maintained that Dazan’s death came as a result of a crisis she suffered as a Sickle Cell Anaemia patient.

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Friday, 12 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Forex policy killing local production, manufacturers tell FG •As Oshiomhole, Aremu back Buhari’s no devaluation stance Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

ANUFACTURERS belonging to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)have said that the foreign exchange (forex) policy of the Federal Government, which led to restriction of importers of 41 items from accessing forex, is killing domestic manufacturing. This, they said, was because most of the items are raw materials used in local manufacturing. This is even as the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has thrown his weight behind President Mohammadu Buhari in his uncompromising decision not to devalue the Naira. He revealed his support at the maiden edition of The Cable Colloquium featuring a panel discussion on “The Naira on Trial: To Devalue or Not?. The Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Mudashiru Yusuf, said though the chamber was not against the objective of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its forex policy aimed at saving the local currency, the 41 items were like 728 items to local manufacturers. Represented by the Director of Research and Development, LCCI Mr Vincent Nwanne, Yusuf observed that there are 12 items on the list “which we do not have the capacity to meet their demand.” President Muhammadu Buhari has continually given a strong support for the Central Bank of Nigeria’s FX policy, which has incidentally caused sudden dollar surge in the forex market. Reacting to those calling for devaluation of the Naira, Oshiomole accused investment bankers of prosecuting the Naira through speculation, playing on CBN bonds, commercial papers and interest rates. This group of speculators, he regretted, are not producing anything in the economy but manipulating the dollars and triggering speculation after they have positioned themselves to make huge profit. He said that currency speculators were the ones manipulating the naira, and exerting pressures on the CBN to devalue it, for their selfish gains. He explained that the nation was dealing with pure speculations and assumptions on the nation’s currency because a few profit from such manipulations

of the exchange rate. “Some people are speculating on the naira; just manipulating the naira for their selfish ends. This is how a section of the business community make their money,’’ Oshiomhole said. According to him, Nigeria cannot derive any benefit from devaluation because records show that it has not, and will not boost export; neither will it curb Nigerians’ appetite for foreign goods. “The president is the chief defender of the naira. Devaluation will increase the inflow of dollar but it will lead to the demand for more remuneration by workers.” “I stand with the Commander-in-Chief, President Buhari, on no devaluation, not because I’m a loyal party member, but because no statistics support the advantages.”

“A drug you administered on your child in 1986 and it didn’t work, administering the same in 2016 would be foolish. “When economists tell you this is the solution, they are battling with their values and biases. “If devaluation was an answer, from one to one we didn’t find the answer, from one to nine we didn’t find the answer and now one to one ninety eight, we still can’t find the answer…then the position of President Buhari and the CBN is viable. “We have no business supporting those who live on speculation. The 41 items need to be increased because we cannot be spending so much on agriculture, yet we are importing so much,” the governor maintained. According to Oshiomole, when the president uses the

word ‘kill,’ he means it with every sense in the world. “He has used that same word, to describe corruption. He had said if Nigeria does not kill corruption, it will kill Nigeria. So, he is leading those that do not want the naira to be killed and we have the CBN also among those defending the naira. I associate myself with the position of the president.” Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Mr Bismarck Rewane, insisted that there were vested interests in the country that believed in keeping the value of the Naira low. “The abusive use of foreign exchange is alarming in Nigeria,” Rewane stated. Responding, CBN’s Director, Monetary Policy Department, Mr. Moses Tule, said the consumption pat-

tern of Nigerians had taken the naira to court and the prosecutors are the elite. Revealing that the demand for forex in Nigeria had been worsened by nationals of other West African countries who come to Nigeria to also buy dollars, Tule said the solution lay in taking decisions that would not only conserve the forex reserve, but also produce locally in order to export and earn more dollars. According to Tule, “we know what to do to save the Naira, but no one seems to have the courage to address the problem. If we don’t earn forex through legitimate means, the Naira will continue to depreciate.” He stressed that though devaluation was sound economics, Nigeria must create enabling environment for businesses to thrive, thereby building foundation for any

devaluation if necessary. “In 1986, we depreciated the Naira by 75.9 per cent, in 1989 by 23.9 per cent, 2001 by 3.1 per cent, February 2015 by 14.25 per cent. All these were premised on the issues raised by the Excellency, in the hope that we could accommodate the pressures and then build on the devaluation. But we have never built on the devaluation.” To the General Secretary of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Issa Aremu, the important thing is dialogue. Nigerian economy, according to him, is on trial and not Naira. He, therefore, called for more productive economy such that “we can move from a container economy to exporters of goods and services.”

Forex: 60% of food and beverage companies shut, workers sacked —NUFBTE

THE National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) on Thursday said that it had lost two million members to retrenchment, due to the impact of economic and trade policies. The President of the union, Mr Lateef Oyelekan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Lagos that

the workers lost their jobs from 2015 to date. According to Oyelekan, the union which has over four million members in various food and beverage processing companies in the country is worried over the continuous closure of tomato companies. “60 per cent of the food and beverage companies have been shut and all the

workers laid-off because of inability to access foreign exchange and continuous fall of the naira. “The foreign exchange policy is good but the food and beverage processing companies need it to operate now. The effect of the present forex regime is killing businesses. “We are appealing to the Federal Government to

give us grace of 18 months to be able to access and process local materials and start production.” He said that the listing of tomato paste among the 41 items banned from accessing foreign exchange from the official window by CBN had forced many companies to close shop. Oyelekan said that the effect of the closures was the

NB posts N293 billion revenue in 2015, proposes highest ever dividend THE Board of Directors of the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc has announced a 10.3 per cent increase in revenue from N266 billion recorded in 2014 to N293 billion in the 2015 financial year. The 2015 audited results filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the company’s shareholders would enjoy a total dividend of N4.80 per ordinary share of fifty kobo each for the 2015 financial year. If approved by shareholders at the upcoming annual general meeting, the amount would be the highest dividend ever paid by the company in its 70 year history. The company had earlier paid an interim dividend of N9.5 billion that is N1.20. Thus, the final dividend will be N28.5 billion that is, N3.60 per share. According to a statement by teh company, the proposed final dividend will be subject to deduction of withholding tax at the appropriate rate and will be payable on 12 May, 2016, to all shareholders whose names appear on the com-

pany’s register of members at the close of business on 2 March, 2016. A look at the audited results showed that results from operating activities declined by 6.9 per cent to close at N62 billion in 2015 from N66 billion achieved in 2014. Profit before Tax dropped by 11.3 per cent from N61 billion at the end of the 2014 financial year to N54 billion in the same period in 2015 while Profit after tax dipped by 10.5 per

cent to N38 billion in 2015 from the N42 billion posted in 2014. The results were impacted by reduced consumer purchasing power and increased cost of doing business mainly due to inflation and devaluation. The statement signed by Mr Uaboi Agbebaku, Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, says that the company was able to achieve strong results and deliver good return on investment to shareholders due to its

twin agenda of Cost Leadership and Market Leadership supported by Innovation. The statement adds that 2016 will see a continuation of the tough operating environment of 2015, but barring any unforeseen circumstance, the board remains confident that with the company’s strong portfolio and its Cost Leadership agenda, it should be able to take advantage of any upswing in the market.

Investors to receive dividends in 24 hours —SEC KehindeAkinseinde-JayeobaLagos FOR the first time in the history of any capital market in Africa, investors in the Nigerian Capital market are now to get dividend payment within 24 hours through the e-Dividend Payment Platform. Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo made this disclosure at the e-Dividend Sensitisation Town Hall Meeting in Lagos, Thursday.

According to him, the proposed system will automatically allow dividends to be credited directly into shareholders’ accounts within 24 hours of payment by the company. Gwarzo stated that this was one of the initiatives being implemented by the commission as part of its 10year Capital Market Master Plan to encourage retail investors to return to the market and thereby deepen the market. According to him “One of our strategies is to target

the retail investor, the only way we can deepen the market and ensure that the market is within our own grip is to ensure that the retail investor comes into the market. It is only the domestic investor that no matter the condition of the market, will stay with us, what we have been experiencing in the market is the dominance of the foreign investor where anytime they want to move out of the market they get out and anything they want to come in they do so.”

increased number of unemployed youths who were daily increasing the insecurity level in the country. The unionist argued that if 18 months grace was given to the food and beverages sector, the period would enable producers to produce quality goods that would satisfy the needs of the people. “The drinks produced by breweries in Nigeria have been tested by the headquarters abroad and it is on record that our drinks are of best quality. “That is why the government should support our local producers and give them one year and six months to prepare and start production to be able to create more jobs,’’ Oyelekan said. According to him, government must reduce export duties and assist producers to get raw materials. “If given time and assistance we will do well and create job opportunities. We do not need more imported processing food, Nigeria has raw materials,’’ he said. The union leader called on government to stop companies that had left Nigeria from bringing goods for sale in Nigeria. “Nigerians must consume what is processed in the country, rather than expired or low-quality imported products. We have the population for any good to thrive. We only need to create jobs,’’ he said.

businessnews

Friday, 12 February, 2016

FG to use private sector fund for turnaround maintenance of refineries —Kachikwu

INISTER of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe kachikwu, has said that the turnaround maintenance of the nation’s refineries will be done with finances generated from the private sector. Kachikwu made the information known while fielding questions from newsmen in Abuja on Thursday. “We are planning to begin to do well targeted repairs and turnaround maintenance of some of the refineries. “Ultimately, we are trying to do it with private capital because we have to begin to steer a lot in the oil sector away from so much government participation and control. “We are using private capital to repair it and they will help us to manage it,’’ he said According to him, when the refineries start working efficiently, the president will decide if it will go on full privatisation. He said that at the interim, shipment of barrels of crude into the Port Harcourt refinery and Warri refinery had

begun. He said this would keep the refineries going until their full takeoff in one week. He noted that the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries were producing before

the explosion occurred. “We have problem, like you know, we had bomb blast in the pipeline, Escravous to Warri which is the primary source. “I think what they are doing right now is flushing

water and we are expecting that in a week, probably, we expect the crude pipe back and we begin to test the crude,’’ he said . According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the minister prom-

ised effort would be made to avoid running into such difficulties even if the pipelines were blown up. He said that if the refineries worked, the distribution pattern in the country would be a lot easier.

From right, President of the Federal Republic of Germany His Excellency, Joachim Gauck; The German Consul General, Herbert Ingo; and Tony O. Elumelu at a business lunch with the representatives of German and Nigerian Businessmen in Lagos recently.

Germany signals interest in Nigeria LNG Olatunde Dodondawa -Lagos

NIGERIA’S quest to expand its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market into Europe received a major boost on Thursday as a visiting German trade delegation indicated the country’s burgeoning desire for Nigeria’s gas supply. Leading a large contingent of German business concerns on a visit to the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu at the NNPC Towers, on Thursday, the Vice Minister for Economic Affairs & Energy and Member of the German Parliament, Mr. Uwe Beckmeyer, said the country was seeking development of business relationship to accelerate the supply of LNG especially in the country’s ship building industry. According to Mr Beckmeyer, Nigeria’s LNG would come in handy as the country and other European industrial powers seek to cut down drastically on Carbon dioxide (C02) emissions arising from heavy industrial operations since LNG is far friendlier to the environment. “We have a lot of inter-

est in LNG and I think this is one special thing we should develop in the next few years. I think there is increasing demand in Europe especially as we seek to reduce emissions. It is useful for both sides to develop this special business relationship,’’ the German Vice-Minister stated. Welcoming the delegation, Dr Kachikwu said that the oil and gas industry was

ready to embrace the interest for improved business relationship expressed by the German trade delegation noting that the Federal Government was working assiduously with other relevant stakeholders to ensure activation of LNG Trains 7 which would help accommodate potential off-takers from new markets. Meanwhile State Governors under the aegis of the

Nigerian Governors Forum have expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu. Speaking on behalf of the forum, Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of the NGF, Mallam Abdulaziz Yari, who led a team of governors to the NNPC Tow-

ers on Thursday, expressed confidence in the ability of Dr Kachikwu to lead the NNPC and the oil and gas industry to the desired levels. Expressing delight in the ongoing reforms in the NNPC, Mallam Yari stated that the visit of the governors to the NNPC Towers was indicative of the level of confidence the NGF had in Dr Kachikwu.

Nigerian Tribune

Guinness Nigeria earmarks N23.5mn for water projects Akin Adewakun -Lagos

IN a bid to provide safe drinking water for Nigerians, especially those living in the rural parts oft the country, Guinness Nigeria Plc has announced its decision to earmark the sum of N23.5 million for various water projects in Bauchi, Cross River and Benue states in 2016. Making this disclosure in Lagos recently at the company’s corporate head office in Lagos, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Peter Ndegwa stated that the projects had become imperative in those communities because despite the fact that water is crucial, it had continued to remain inaccessible to people in those communities. He explained that the project, which is a partnership with WaterAid, Oxfam and Concern Universal on a new Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme, is designed to advance a collaborative corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative that promotes rural sanitation and hygiene via access to safe water. Under the partnership terms, Guinness Nigeria will provide funding that will enable the three non -governmental organizations (NGOs) deliver WASH programmes in three states across the country. While the Guinness-Concern Universal will deliver the WASH programme in Cross River state; the Guinness-OXFAM collaboration will apply in Benue state, with the Guinness-WaterAID programme prosecuted in Bauchi.

Fortis MFB board approves private equity investment of 50k ordinary shares Cleement Idoko-Abuja

THE Board of Fortis MicroFinance Plc has approved Messrs Equator Capital Partners investment in the bank by way of a Special Placement of 656,666,668 Ordinary Shares of 50 Kobo each at N1.50 per share (“the

Offer”). Equator Capital Partners LLC manages the ShoreCap family of funds, which specialises in investing in inclusive financial services entities in developing and transitional economies. A Completion Board Meet-

ing was, therefore, held on Thursday in Abuja pursuant to the earlier approval by both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the private placement of the offer. Board Chairman, For-

Market retains gaining streak, up by 2.19% KehindeAkinseinde-Jayeoba-Lagos

TRADING on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) maintained northward march on Thursday with the benchmark indices maintaining fast growth to stand at 2.19 per cent. Specifically, the All Share Index improved by 529.49 points or 2.19 per cent to

close trading for the day at 24,664.89 as against the 24,135.40 achieved on Wednesday. The Market Capitalisation also appreciated by N182 billion or 2.19 percent to close at N8.482 trillion in contrast to N8.300 gain recorded on Wednesday. Market analysts informed that the new trend of

growth the market has been recording so far in the week is likely to be sustainable. At the close of trading for the day, there were 13 gainers and 21 losers on the price movement chart. Forte Oil Plc was the toast of investors as its share prices added N26.00 or 8.67 percent to close at N326.00 per share.

tisMFB Plc, Mr Felix Achibiri, who chaired the meeting said the bank recently took a major step towards the actualisation of the vision of becoming the dominant micro-finance bank in Nigeria. He said: “It is imperative to note that this investment is a huge vote of confidence in the vision of the bank to be the dominant microfinance bank in Nigeria by reaching out to more under-served communities across the country, especially on the back of the bank’s National Microfinance Bank License.” In the last eight years, Fortis MFB had majorly funded its growth from seed capital, customers’ savings and retained earnings, and

in doing so, has built one of the fastest growing microfinance institutions in Nigeria. According to the board, the private equity investment was expected to bring a renewed sense of purpose and additional resources to deliver varied products and services to the bank’s esteemed customers and improved value to all stakeholders. The board, however, noted that none of this growth would had been possible without the hard work of the employees and development partners, who have contributed immensely in the eight years of existence, and are inspired every day to keep growing the Fortis brand.

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Friday, 12 February, 2016

Don’t travel to Brazil, South America now, FG warns Nigerian pregnant women •Says Lassa fever fatality hits 61.4%, kills 108 people Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja

HE Federal Government, on Thursday, warned pregnant women in Nigeria not to travel to Brazil, South American countries or to any other country infected by Zika virus. The government also declared, however, that there was no sufficient ground to stop Nigerian contigents going for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil from going. It warned that they should also take adequate precaution. Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, who addressed a press conference on Zika virus outbreak and Nigeria’s preparedness and response strategy, said as the Health Minister, he would discourage pregnant people from going to Brazil and other country infected by the virus. The minister said: “I advise all Nigerians, particularly pregnant women, to avoid travelling to countries infected by this virus during this period.” Also responding to a question, he added: “Would I advise the Nigerian contingents not to go? The answer is not, there is no sufficient ground to discourage them, but I will discourage pregnant people from going as a Minister of Health, otherwise, all you have to do is to protect yourself. Even Zika is now in the United Kingdom (UK), I’m sure you heard the news on yesterday. “I think the real challenge for all of us is to be on alert, the world has become a village that it will be too difficult to restrict anybody. So, wherever you are, be it in the UK, Africa, Asia or Latin America, please, protect yourself. “If, however, you are to visit any country where Zika virus is now being actively transmitted, you are advised to protect yourselves from mosquito bites. Pregnant women considering travel to affected areas may wish to consult their health care provider prior to travel and after return. “They should also practise personal and household steps to prevent mosquito, including putting mosquito repellant on their clothes and skin, wear long sleeves and pants, and sleep underneath mosquito nets at night, where possible. I wish to call on all Nigerians to support our pregnant women and help them access anti-mosquito repellants.” He called on all states of the federation to imme-

diately embark on health education campaigns to empower communities take actions to protect themselves from Zika virus, as well as other mosquito-borne diseases. On government’s determination to check against the importation of Zika virus to the country, the minister said the travelling history of all those who come into the country were now well screened to establish where they were coming from, while all cargoes, ships and vehicles were sprayed with insecticides. According to him: “All those who come into the country, there is usually a form that we now ask them to fill when they alight, Zika virus is also now added. That form was specifically for Ebola in the past, we have added other things, we believe we must move beyond Ebola. “By the time you are landing, we want to screen your travelling history, we want to identify where you are

coming from. That is one step. The other step is to insist that the poor health services should ensure that all ships and motor vehicles coming into the country are actually sprayed with insecticides to kill mosquitoes.” Professor Adewole said Nigerian scientists working in Western Nigeria in 1954 discovered Zika virus in Nigeria, adding that further studies in 1975 to 1979 showed that 40 per cent of Nigeria adults and 25 per cent of Nigerian children had antibodies to Zika virus, meaning they were protected against this virus. He added that “it is important, however, to state categorically, that until now in Africa and Nigeria inclusive, this virus does not cause any serious illness and those so far infected individually recovered fully with no serious complications. “Arrival of this virus in some countries of the Americas, notably Brazil, has, however, changed this and its circulation is now asso-

ciated with a steep increase in the birth of babies with abnormally small heads, named scientifically as Microcephalia. It is also associated with increase in cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a poorly understood condition in which the immune system attacks the nervous system, sometimes resulting in paralysis.” The minister added: “Although two African countries have reported Zika infection in the recent outbreak and in the past, many others, causal relationship between Zika virus infection, birth defects and neurological syndromes has not been established in this continent. “There is as of now, no known specific treatment for Zika virus disease. Treatment is, therefore, generally supportive and it includes rest, fluids and use of pain killers and antipyretics. “In a pregnant woman with laboratory evidence of Zika virus in serum or amniotic fluid, serial ultrasounds should be considered to

monitor fetal anatomy and growth every 3-4 weeks. Referral to a maternal-fetal medicine or infectious disease specialist with expertise in pregnancy management is recommended.” In a related development, the Federal Government has declared that the death fatality as a result of Lassa fever outbreak has hit 61.4 per cent, saying that the disease has killed 108 people as at Thursday. Giving the update on Lassa fever control on Thursday, in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said the outbreak of Lassa fever that started in December, last year, had affected 20 states of the federation, with 176 cases and 108 deaths. “As at today, the 10th of February, Nigeria has recorded 176 cases, with 108 deaths, given a case fatality rate of 61.4 per cent. Out of this, 78 are confirmed cases and 49 deaths, given a specific case fatality rate of 62.8 per cent,” he said.

He pointed out that the 176 cases and 108 deaths are the total cases reported (suspected, probable and confirmed), while a total confirmed cases is 78 and deaths in confirmed cases was 49. The minister stated that as at today, 20 states were currently following up contacts or have suspected or probable cases, with laboratory results pending or laboratory confirmed cases. He said: “It is important that I inform the nation that this current outbreak is under control as evidenced by decline in new suspected cases, new laboratory confirmed cases and newly reported cases by week.” He, however, warned of complacency, as it may flare-up during the dry season, adding that “despite this achievement, you will agree with me that it will be dangerous if we go complacent at this stage, as we could record another flareup and a second wave deep in the dry season.”

We’ll introduce technology to monitor borders —Dambazzau Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta MINISTER of Interior, Lieutenant-General Abdulraham Dambazzau (retd), on Thursday, said the Federal Government will introduce technology to monitor day-to-day activities at all the border entries into Nigeria. He said this while speaking with newsmen after his one-day official visit to Ogun State, that the internal security problems confronting the country was as a result the porosity of its borders. The minister noted that the borders covered over 5,000 kilometres all over and mostly unmanned, saying that the proposed technology would help government to control unnecessary incursions into the country. He identified human trafficking and smuggling of light arms as some of the challenges the country was facing as a result of the borders not properly secured. Dambazzau pointed out that accessibility and availability of weapons and drugs constituted some of the nation’s internal security issue. The minister said: “The porosity of our borders is a general problem in the country. I have said it before that we have close to 5, 000 kilometres of borders

all round and most of it, unmanned. “We are looking into the situation; certainly, one thing I am very sure of is the fact that we will apply technology in order to monitor the extensive borders and to also check unnecessary incursion into the country, particularly those who come in here with bad intentions. “Smuggling, small arms and light weapons, smuggling in drugs and engaging in human trafficking, all the cross-border illegalities

that have been done. So, we need to do that. I want to tell you that it is a priority for the Ministry of Interior, because most of the internal security problems we are having, have to do with accessibility and availability of weapons,of drugs. “We will check that at the source. If we do that, I am sure 50 per cent or more of the internal security challenges will be solved.” The minister had earlier paid a courtesy call on Governor Ibikunle Amosun and called for collaboration

between the government at the centre and state levels, in ensuring public safety and security. Amosun, in his remarks, had appealed to the minister to consider the relocation of Ibara Prisons, which is just about few metres away from the Government House. He lamented that the prison, built over 100 years ago, had been in a sorry state and urgently needed Federal Government’s attention, if truly it was a reformation centre. The minister agreed with

Amosun that the prison yard must be relocated from the heart of the city. Dambazzau said: “There is no doubt that when that prison was built several years back, it was far away from the Government House, but now, it is deep in the heart of the town and due for relocation for several reasons. “One, because of the age. If we want to relocate it, it will cost as much as building a new one and secondly, because we need more space, which is not there.”

2016 budget: Reps raise the alarm over allocation to office of Auditor-General of the Federation Says it encourages corruption in MDAs Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Accounts, on Thursday, raised the alarm over the poor funding of the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, saying that the ugly development had made it impossible for the office to tackle corruption in the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government . The committee, chaired by Honourable Ibrahim Baba, raised the alarm in Abuja, on Thursday, when the

Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr Samuel Ukura, appeared before it for this year’s budget defence. It pointed out that with a shortfall of about N300 million in the 2016 budget proposal estimates as against last year’s budget, the Auditor-General office would not be able to carry out its activities efficiently. The committee, while advocating an independent source of funding from the federation’s account, wondered why the Office of the Accountant-General would cut down the overhead budget meant for the AuditorGeneral’s office from N3.41

billion to N648 million, without a just reason. It observed that most of the financial crimes involving government officials being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should have been done by the office of the Auditor- General. Speaking separately at the budget defence most of the members of the committee, including Honourables, Ossai Ossai, Wole Oke and others, said the overhead budget had to be looked into to enhance efficiency. According to Honourable Oke, “it is our desire to strengthen the institu-

tion that we don’t conduct business as usual, I doubt if what they have will be able to check for example, the Ministry of Power alone, whatever we can do to make it work we have to do it,to me if the office of the AGF is properly funded,there will be no need for the EFCC again, because the officials of the office will be alert to their duties.” A breakdown of the 2016 budget proposal estimates as presented by he AuditorGeneral showed that N654 million would be used for overhead, N2.5 billion would be used for recurrent and N450 million would be for capital expenditure.

Friday, 12 February, 2016

news

Friday, 12 February, 2016

We’re not owing pensioners —FirstBank By Tunde Oguensan

IRST Bank Plc, has denied that it is owing its pensioners as against picketing some of its branches in Ibadan and Kaduna by the bank’s chapter of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) earlier in the week. This was contained in a

statement made available to newsmen by the bank’s Head, Media and External Relations, Babatunde Lasaki, on Thursday According to Lasaki, FirstBank is not owing pensioners, saying that the bank complies with all statutory requirements relating to its pensioners’ welfare and compensations.

He clarified that the pensioners’ demands are more than their statutory entitlements.” Explaining further, Lasaki said the financial institution has an established and working welfare policy and will always ensure staff and pensioners’ welfare and demands are addressed within the ambit of this policy.

The statement reads: Following the notice of demands bordering primarily on requests for increase in welfare and compensations, and the subsequent management’s engagements and call for restraint and understanding as well as the mediatory intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to forestall labour

action and picketing by the Bank’s chapter of NUP, the union had elected, however, to disregard the call for status quo, but instead ,chose the path of self-help and confrontation by picketing two of our branches in Ibadan and Kaduna. A pre-emptive action in blatant disregard of judicial process as notice of court hearing scheduled for

No meaningful development without strong institutions —LAUTECH VC By Laolu Harolds

THERE can be no meaningful nation building without strong institutional frameworks. But “this is the ingredient that is lacking in Nigeria’s quest for

development in both private and public sectors.” This was part of the remarks by the Vice Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Professor A. S.

Gbadegesin, on Wednesday, as he declared open the 1st International Conference of the university’s Department of Management and Accounting. The three-day conference has as its theme ‘Institu-

tional frameworks, building and national development.” Professor Gbadegesin said the conference is relevant, especially now that the mantra of the current administration is ‘change’. Without strong institutions,

Court arraigns 36-yr-old man for murder Banji Aluko-Benin City

A 36-year-old man, Felix Omokhoa, is currently facing murder charge at Ekpoma Magistrate Court, Edo State, for allegedly stoning his neighbour, one Richard Ikekhua, to death over electricity bill. The accused was alleged to have committed the crime on January16, in Ukpoke-Uhiele, Esan West Local Government Area of the state, by hitting the head of Ikekhua with a piece of cement block during a fight.

When the case with Charge No.11/c/2016 came up for hearing at the magistrate court, the plea could not be taken as the magistrate, Mr Afe Osamudiamen, declined jurisdiction and ordered that the file be duplicated and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), for legal action. According to police investigation, the accused and the deceased, who were co-tenants, quarreled over the deceased’s refusal to pay his share of reconnection fee after their

power was cut off. It was gathered that after the deceased’s refusal, the accused with other neighbours resolved to disconnect the deceased’s apartment. This infuriated the deceased, who consequently reported a case of illegal reconnection against the accused to the electricity distribution company and also incidented case against the Omokhoa at the police station. The electricity company disconnected the entire

How my legs were dismembered by bullion van —Victim Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

A woman, Mrs. Onome Akporode, has given a graphic description of how her limbs were crushed by a bullion van, a police escort and a tipper lorry on July 13, 2015 at Udu road, Delta State. The woman-of-four, during a cross examination at the High Court of Justice, Udu, on Thursday, disclosed that the policemen escorting the bullion van, who should have stopped to render some help, rather shot sporadically into the air to scare away crowd screaming for help.

According to her, this action was inhuman on the part of the policemen because she was still on the ground bleeding profusely with both legs shattered by the reckless tipper lorry, bullion van and police escort. Meanwhile, three persons, who were arrested in connection with the accident, were, on Thursday, docked at the High Court of Justice, Udu. They were charged with attempted murder in the July 13, 2015 bullion van accident on the dualised Udu road which led to the crushing of the two legs of the mother-offour, Mrs. Akporode. The trio, Taire Onome

US condemns attack on Borno IDPs camp Christian Okeke - Abuja

THE United States government has condemned the reported suicide attacks on internally displaced persons in Dikwa town, Borno State. The attack left some of the displaced persons dead with many reportedly injured. In a statement issued through its embassy in Abuja, the US government

extended its deepest condolences to the families of the victims. In the statement, US said it remains committed to assisting internally displaced populations in northeastern Nigeria through humanitarian relief efforts. It also pledged to continue to support the Nigerian government in its fight against terrorism.

Joseph, Edoze Gabriel and Godwin Odobaire, are the drivers of the bullion van, a police escort vehicle and the tipper lorry involved in the accident that crushed the legs of the victim. Head of the police team that escorted the bullion van, Mr Usman Adamu, who was earlier arrested and detained in company of the defendants, gave details of how the incident occurred. He also described how four police patrol vehicles were deployed to the bank to forestall a breakdown of law and order. The matter was later adjourned to March 24 for further hearing. It will be recalled that Mrs. Akporode lost her two legs to the reckless driving of a bullion van belonging to a first generation bank, police escort and a tipper lorry by Udu express road. The victim survived by the whiskers as doctors at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, battle to save her from hemorrhage. Frantic efforts were exerted by the police and owners of the bullion van to bury the attempted murder, but for the vigilance of human rights activists and the vociferous media.

house, while the police arrested the accused, but eventually settled the matter between them with a stern warning on the accused not to foment any further trouble. It was gathered that when the duo returned home, another quarrel ensued between them, resulting in a fight during which the accused hauled a piece of cement block at deceased’s forehead, killing him instantly.

he noted, strong men rule and all the machinery of governance is at their whims and caprices. This, he stressed, is inimical to development. He expressed the hope that the conference would come up with a communique that would assist the nation in building strong institutions in all sectors that could facilitate the current government’s efforts at national building and development. To guarantee good standard of living for the citizenry, however, the vice chancellor called on all Nigerians to be prepared to change their orientations, key into entrepreneurial activities in small and medium scales, pay their taxes and encourage government’s drive towards provision of social infrastructure.

Thursday, February11,h ad been duly served on them. “It is pertinent to state that FirstBank is not owing pensioners as we comply with all statutory requirements as it relates to our pensioners’ welfare and compensations and the union’s ‘demands’ are requests for more rather than demand for statutory entitlements. “Whilst the bank is aware of the changing economic realities and its effect on staff and pensioners, management will, however, not succumb to any attempt to blackmail nor be stampeded by NUP. The bank has an established and working welfare policy and will always ensure staff and pensioners’ welfare and demands are addressed within the ambit of this policy. “The management regrets any inconveniences that might have been experienced by our customers as a result of the service disruption occasioned by the union’s action and do encourage them to use our other branches nearest to them or avail themselves of our multiple banking channels provided for their convenience. While assuring them of the bank’s continuous commitment to meet their financial services needs at every point in time,” he said

Friday, 12 February, 2016

N January 4, 2016, my friend of over 50 years Ade Akilaya, died at his home town, Ifaki Ekiti. He died at about 9p.m on that day. His last daughter, Tolu, phoned me the following morning, giving me the information of her father’s death a night before. I was completely shattered. I have since written a lot about the sudden death of a politician who was a close friend and confidant over the years. “Aba Ojo” (Ojo’s father) was a good man. He was a frontline politician who gave his best in the service of his people and Nigeria. Sunday Adebangbe was my friend and confidant for over 50 years. There was nothing affecting me under the sun that I did not share with Ade in his life time. He knew a lot about me. He was an encyclopaedia of my life events. We met in 1954 as youngmen at Ifaki Ekiti. He was on holidays at Ifaki from his sojourn with “Oga” Dada when we struck a friendship that lasted five decades. Oga Dada was a teacher who specialised in football as an instructor. Ade Akilaya and the late Benjamin Ajiboye were living with Oga Dada at that time. Ajiboye, another childhood friend of mine, died towards the end of 2015. He will be buried in April at Ifaki-Ekiti also. I was the one who had conveyed Benjamin Ajiboye’s death to Ade Akilaya on phone. “Awe, Benjamin Ajiboye has died. His in-law, Segun Fayemi, just told me the sad news”. Ade Akilaya exclaimed and replied. “I saw Ben’s mother three days ago. I will hurry to Ben’s residence to go and comfort his mother”. Precisely two weeks after this conversation, it was the turn of Akilaya to pass into eternity. Ade Akilaya and myself were very much interested in politics. Though we were young and in primary school, both of us took interest in the Action Group (AG), founded and led by Papa Obafemi Awolowo. The two of us were always called by the elder Action Group leaders of Ifaki at that time to carry Tilley lamps, accompanying them on their drives to collet the Action Group Party membership funds. We did the assignment very happily and it was where we were discovered as youngmen that would eventually turn out to be frontline politicians. It was never a surprise when many years later, the two of us ended up as field workers of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) equally founded and led by the Avatar, Papa Awolowo. I say it with pride today, Ade and myself were members of the pro-Papa Awolowo political organisation that preceded the formation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) during the Second Republic. We were both members of the Nigerian Social Reformers Movement, then led by the late Chief Akin Omoboriowo who later emerged as the Deputy Governor of the old Ondo State when party politics began in Nigeria in 1978. We did not attend the same university. While I went to the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, my friend went to the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. In 1978, while I emerged as the National Director of Organisation of the UPN in Lagos, Ade Akilaya played the same role as Organisation Secretary of the UPN in old Ondo State. Of course, he emerged as the planning and organisation officer for the UPN government in old Ondo State, led by the late Papa Adekunle Ajasin. Ade Akilaya was an authority on Harold Laski’s “GRAMMAR OF POLITICS”. It is painful today to recollect that our friends, including Ade Akilaya, did not stay long before they all got caught in the irreconcilable politics inside the UPN in old Ondo State at the time. It was a grave mistake that put a dent on the beautiful political career of Sunday Adebamigbe Akilaya. A vicious politics of hate and venom developed within the UPN in old Ondo State. A group loyal to the then Deputy Governor, the late Chief Omoboriowo began a movement that started canvassing for the deputy governor to become the substantive governor. Papa Awolowo was to later describe the Omoboriowo group as a group pursuing “illusion of grandeur”. My friend, Ade Akilaya, was unfortunately caught in this politics which eventually landed the Omoboriowo group inside the NPN, which then controlled the Federal Government with Alhaji Shehu Shagari as President. The Omoboriowo group made up of young intellectuals could not sustain the tempo of their struggle. INMOSA INMOYE (DON’T RUN AWAY AND DON’T SHAKE) became the revolutionary mobilising slogans of the Omoboriowo group. It was, indeed, a sad development that sent many of the group’s members to untimely death. They were brilliant men who never disappointed as fighting members of a

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

And Ade Akilaya died...

•The late Ade Akilaya

political activist group. Myself and Ade Akilaya never allowed the politics of the time to break our friendship. Despite the political war, I never visited Akure without staying at the residence of Ade Akilaya. We remained very strong friends until his death on 4th January, 2016. I also wish to state categorically here that Adebamigbe Akilaya was not into politics for what he would gain materially. He was quite contented with whatever he had in his hands. No one born of woman could ever say that money meant something to Akilaya throughout his political career. He was a principled politician. The struggle of his Omoboriowo group was triggered by a strong division of opinion on matters other than a senseless scramble for wealth. Ade Akilaya died in his simple residence at IfakiEkiti. No one will forget his humble contributions to national politics. He remained a disciple of Papa Awolowo’s politics until he died. My friend was strong in his opinions on men, matters and events of politics. Akilaya was very difficult to bend in his strongly held political views. He was a strong community leader. He never took anyone as his permanent or personal enemy. His disagreements with people were

My friend was strong in his opinions on men, matters and events of politics.

never made personal by him. He was equally a Christian who never betrayed all the doctrines of what a true Christian should be. This fact of his life explains why his burial tomorrow is being promoted by different Christian organisations in Ifaki. There is going to be inter denominational service to honour his life exit. Ade Akilaya was quite different from some of us his friends in matters relating to women. While some of us were simply dashing youngmen in our youthful days with beautiful women of our dreams, Ade never gave “Eye Ojo” (Ojo’s mother) any cause for alarm about his faithful commitment to her. Many of us Ade’s friends (particularly me) will miss Eye Ojo’s pounded yam. My friend who could have requested his wife, “Eye Ojo ya musu lena ko Ebenezer) meaning “go and boil yam for Ebenezer’s pounded yam,” is now gone. Ade Akilaya has gone to the world beyond. Ade Akilaya has died. I commiserate with all our friends in Ifaki (who are still alive) on the death of Akilaya. We mourn with Akin Fajemila (very close to Akilaya), Professor Ade Ojo, Dayo Ojo, Biodun Agbelese, Bayo Akerele, Egbon Aladegbami, Toye Aladegbami aka Koin Koin kei tape, our dearest aburos, Segun Fayemi, Bamgbe Ibitoye, former Governor Segun Oni and several others. Ojo a jina sira (I pray for longevity of life for us all). He wrote two books — Awo —THE AVATAR and ODUDUWA. His book, Awo – THE AVATAR speaks volumes of his deep knowledge of Awo’s politics. Ade Akilaya has gone to sleep with God! My friend is gone!! Okun O Awe!!! Rest on till we meet to part no more. Odigbose! Good-Bye and Good-Night!! EBINO TOPSY -0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK WALE ADEBANMI ON MAMA H.I.D. – 2 (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE).

18 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 12 February, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Economic crisis: Let’s tax the rich more

HERE is a misconception that giving tax incentives to the rich help incentivise job creation because capitalists are perceived to be job creators, but the truth is, they are not. The ordinary consumer is more of a job creator than a capitalist. Business people taking credit for creating jobs is highly unfair. Businessmen hire people as their last resort, as they only hire to keep pace with the consumer demand. The Nigerian Personal Income Tax Act is unfair for allowing fixed tax rate

for resident companies, while varying that of personal income tax rates. The rigidity of the resident company tax rate allows for unnecessary overgrowing of few companies and making many more to close down. Small, medium and big companies pay 30 per cent of their profits as tax irrespective of their return and size. Consequently, the rich are getting richer and more citizens that are of the middle class are relegated. Statistics have shown that, we have more number of the unemployed as the number of millionaires

continue to increase over time. If the millionaires can create jobs, we will not have the level of unemployment we are having now in the country, which is as high as 23.9 per cent, excluding the estimated 30 per cent more that are under-employed. The individual consumer needs to be incentivised. If the minimum wage is to keep pace with the inflation rate, the minimum wage would have been anything above N25,000 by now, just within five years since it was reviewed to N18,000. Jobs are consequence of eco-systemic

Fuel supply: Kudos to FG, NNPC I want to commend the Federal Government for stabilising fuel supply in the country; for many months after the inauguration of this government, Nigerians found it hard to get fuel at filling stations. In most parts of the country, the product sold for N120 and N150. Fuel hawkers became normal sights in certain parts of town, and everything looked like a lawless society. Then, out of the blues, the filling stations that had been selling above the official rate started selling at N87, and today, there is fuel all over the country, and motorists can just drive in to any filling station to buy the product. President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, should be commended for this. However, we still have a lot do; we are experiencing this low fuel price because of the falling crude oil price in the international market, and energy analysts believe it will be like this for a while. The Federal Government should, therefore, strive to make all our refineries work at optimum capacities before the rise in crude price. Crude oil is selling for about $28-$30 a barrel today, but what becomes of the ordinary citizen on the street when it rises to about $100? This will be good news for government, as we will rake in more dol-

lars, but without having the capacity to refine our oil consumption locally, then Nigerians will have to pay more for fuel. I know the government of President Buhari is sincere in bringing an end to importing fuel into the country through the rehabilitation of our refineries,

as well as encouraging investors to build private refineries, but it must act fast. It is a race against time because it is being projected that crude oil will likely bounce back when we least expect. •Udoh Emmanuel, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

feedback loop between customers and businesses. If the middle class thrive and do well, both the capitalist and the poor benefit. Therefore, let the rich be taxed more, so that we can create more middle class people, who consume more and then create jobs by virtue of their consumptions. The company tax system should be proportionate to the income level. Business with profit less than N80 million should be taxed at 25 per cent. Business profits above N80 million but not up to N500 million should be taxed at 30 per cent. Any profit margin above N500 million should be taxed at 35 per cent. This should not include companies operating in the petroleum sector. There should not be credit breaks for big companies unless for special circumstances. However, tax breaks can be allowed for small and medium companies. The minimum wage should be upgraded to N25,000.

With the pending austerity measures, government expenditure (recurrent) must be reduced by at least 10 per cent every year for four years. The tax rates should be increased

and compliance enforced. Compliance will not be a big deal because people now have trust and confidence in the government. •Ahmed Adamu, Abuja.

The irony of life I listened to a scholar’s submission recently on the state of the nation and I want to totally agree with him. The don had gone to a private university for his sabbatical, but according to him, he could only spend a semester there because he was being forced to pass students who attended lectures whenever it pleased them. This simply went against his religious and personal convictions and he had to leave. The don said the irony of life is that these students who are not serious with their academics will eventually be employed upon their graduation from the university because they are children of ‘big people’ in the society. However, in contrast, the

children of average families who struggle to pass through public universities will find themselves also struggling to find jobs upon the completion of their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In his final submission, the don said in as much as we (Nigerians) are our own government — providing water (borehole or well), security (through fencing and hiring security guards), electricity (buying generators) — then nothing stops us from providing or setting up a businesses which our children will fall back on in the nearest future, because looking at the situation of things in the country, and considering the huge number of students leaving our tertiary institutions every year, the unemployment situation will definitely get worse. I hope Nigerian parents have been able to learn one or two things from the submission of the don; we owe our children the duty of providing them with jobs in the future. We shouldn’t just be contented with sending them to school. What disturbs parents the most these days is having graduates who are unemployed at home. Today, we even find 35-year-olds still waiting on their parents for survival, but we can start to do something now. We can set up small businesses, with the hope that in the nearest future, our children will be able to take over the businesses. This is how the biggest corporations in the world started. We cannot continue to rely on government for everything; in fact, we have not really benefitted from government in this country. Parents should, therefore, do more to tackle the unemployment situation in the country. •Hamid Adedeji, Ibadan.

editorial

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Feeding prison inmates

HE Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), Mr Peter Ezenwa, had a serious warning for the nation when he appeared before the House of Representatives to defend the 2016 budget proposal for the NPS on February 2 this year. The proposed N222 daily feeding allowance for inmates, he warned, could spark repeated revolts amongst them. According to the NPS boss, the initial N10.6 billion earmarked to feed the country’s 65,000 inmates was slashed to N5.2 billion by the government, implying an average of N222 daily for each prisoner. In his estimation, however, this sum was too paltry to sustain the individual prisoner. The NPS boss declared: “It is unimaginable when inmates are not fed. We are in a prison community where you can never predict what will happen if inmates are not fed. We cannot sleep well here if Kuje Prison is let loose today. N10.6 billion is not too much for food rationing. We have to understand the details of what is involved.” To be sure, the state’s duty to feed its prison population cannot be denied. Ezenwa’s officers and men will definitely have their hands full managing a horde of hungry convicts, to say nothing of the massive crowd of awaiting trial inmates nursing grudges against the Nigerian state. But to put impending national revolts into the equation of possibilities sounds quite suspicious. Indeed, in the face of the current economic recession, it is becoming imperative to adopt more creative methods of managing public reformative institutions without them necessarily becoming a burden on government’s increasingly scarce resources. In any case, it just might surprise the NPS boss to hear of the number of citizens surviving on paltrier budgets than the prison inmates’. What is imperative is creative management of scarce resources. Meanwhile, many observers are willing to bet that the inmates do not enjoy feeding worth anything near the N222 budgeted for each of them on a daily basis. Most of them are emaciated and they bear evidence of affliction by various plagues and contagious diseases like scabies. Stories abound of corruption in the management of the prison system, and members of humanitarian organizations visiting the prisons have always recounted

tales of horror relating to the horrendous conditions in which the inmates are kept. The NPS should therefore conduct a thorough soul searching and beam its searchlight on the management of even the admittedly inadequate prison finances, and ensure that anyone found compounding the anguish of the nation’s inmates is severely dealt with, in accordance with the law. What is more, it is no longer the fad for the state to bear the total burden of maintaining inmates when their labour can be of good value. Apart from cooking their own food, the inmates ought to have been involved, by the NPS management, in large scale farming and agriculture-based production supervised by experts. In some countries, prison labour is even farmed out to private firms which engage the inmates profitably and make returns to the state. In those climes, many of the inmates who are skilled professionals offer specialised services with great commercial value. Even manual labour can be commercialized for good returns. We counsel the NPS management to look in this direction in the bid to make the service productive in a very creative way. If the NPS has been able to put in place a system that allows inmates to write and pass public examinations, access computer education, thus enhancing manpower development, it should ideally be discomfited to complain about paltry feeding allowances to the point of threatening revolts. The CG and the management of the NPS should take up the challenge of managing the 65,000 inmates creatively by taking advantage of the free labour available to them. That is how the prisons are administered in other places where inmates have been drafted to engage in profitable endeavours like road construction, significantly improving on their skills in the process. The inmates should cook their own food, engage in large scale farming and provide labour to industries in such a way that, at the end of the day, their contribution to the economy in various fields will be impossible to ignore. It is distressing that the CG made allusions to certain outstanding debts owed food contractors when, ideally, it is the prisons that should be selling food to other establishments for a profit.

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opinion

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Beko Ransome-Kuti: Requiem for a humanist By Ebenezer Obadare LAST Wednesday marked the tenth anniversary of Dr. Bekololari Ransome-Kuti’s unexpected passing on February 10, 2006. Born in August 1940, Beko was a young-ish 66 in 2006 when the grim reaper came calling. But by then, he already amassed a full life’s body of work. This was attested to by the stream of eulogies that poured in from across the social spectrum as news of his demise spread. Tellingly, the most endearing tributes came from the upper crust of the same political class Beko that spent a good chunk of his activist life battling and trying to reform. There is a distinguished canon of medical practitioners who famously set aside their stethoscopes and embraced the life of writing, or at the very least navigated easily between wards and words. Anton Chekhov, John Keats, and our own Wale Okediran are exemplars. Trained at the University of Manchester, Beko belonged to this tribe of the surgical knife. But a writer he most certainly wasn’t. In fact, not only was he not a writer, in the latter part of his life, as his renown as a social justice activist grew, he resisted all pressure (the poet Odia Ofeimun and journalist Kunle Ajibade for instance were unrelenting) to set down an account of his life. In lieu of writing, what he did do was organize and act. Engels once said that “an ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.” It is not clear if Beko, a voracious reader, encountered Engels; but there is no doubt that he believed in, and was committed to, the power of political action to change the world. Together with the doughty Femi Falana and the irrepressible late Gani Fawehinmi, he formed a triumvirate that, in the 1990s, was quite literally the elite face of the struggle to dislodge the military from power in Nigeria. Beko was simultaneously the most likely and most unlikely person to become an activist. Both Falana and Gani were shaped by a university education in which arguably more time was spent on the hustings than in the classroom. From all accounts, Beko had no such distractions (admittedly, there were others) as an undergraduate. Yet, being the son of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and the brother of Fela, he could of course (this is the likely part) point to a filial pedigree steeped in activism. But as every student of society knows, belief in a

good society is never genetically transmitted, and it is not implausible that he, Beko, remained immune from ‘radicalism’ until the 1977 Kalakuta episode in which he lost his mother. After that, and especially with his constant exposure to the ravages of military rule as a medical doctor and leader within the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, he was thrown into a life of political confrontation. I mentioned above that Beko was the most unlikely candidate for rugged activism. In saying this, I had in mind his physique. He was on the slight, even wiry, side, and my first meeting with him, in the company of Babafemi Ojudu (my boss at The News), on the trail of confidential information to back up an exclusive news story, left me hugely deflated. Beko seems to have spent more time attending to his Nietzschean eyebrows, which he held on to in the manner of a life raft, than the two guests-Ojudu and myself- sitting across his table and hanging on to his every word. Yet, as everyone who stumped and worked with him knew all too well, his unprepossessing physical frame belied a deepseated conviction about democracy, social justice, equality, and the total organization of human society. He needed the security of that conviction, as time after time, he endured jail and emotional deprivation in the hands of a succession of military thugs. One of those thugs is thankfully no longer with us. Another currently resides in Minna, busily gorging himself on his loot, posing as a statesman for a state that isn’t. After my first visit in Ojudu’s company, I was rewarded with other invitations, and the more I saw of the man, the more my affection for him and what he stood for grew. It is true that Beko was one of the major personalities in the Nigerian democratic movement at a critical conjuncture in

the country’s not too distant history, one in which a misspoken sentence could, and often resulted in, a lengthy jail sentence; and to remember him now, ten years after his passing, is to remember a generation that, amid internal tensions and state-manufactured divisions, handed Nigerians the possibility of constructing a social order that can produce the most good for the greatest number. It is to contemplate a pantheon of heroes, living and dead, including Chima Ubani (who died tragically in 2005 at the young age of 42), and several others whose names are too numerous to mention here. It is also to contemplate, on a more somber note, the diminution of the civic energy of the 1990s, the unraveling of the Nigerian student movement, and the overall reformatting of the public space, mostly in a form contrary to the fundaments of the kind of society that people like Beko believed they were fighting for. This brings me to the reason why I was drawn to Beko, and why, almost three years ago, I decided to take a stab at writing his biography. There was Beko the medical doctor who morphed into an activist. But there was another Beko, the atheist. Both, suffice to say, are of a piece, as follows: Beko was driven to the cause of social justice, I am now inclined to believe, by his humanism, which was bound up with his atheism. He wanted Nigerians to live a better life, and he spent the better part of his adult life fighting to bring us closer to that possibility. But fundamentally, all he wanted was a better human society, period. As an atheist, he rejected all religions as basically superstitious and uniquely rigged to deny human agency and perpetuate human misery. Beko’s secularism offers a perfect template for the analysis of his life and politics. Such a task has never been more urgent given the continuing evisceration of our social life by pseudo-religiosity. Beko’s was a life lived without religious illusions, but instead in unstinting dedication to the pursuit of social justice. It is a life that continues to recommend itself, and just like the life of Tai Solarin, another inimitable humanist, must be commended to the next generation. Rest in peace, Baba Agba. •Obadare, associate professor of sociology at the University of Kansas, USA, is writing a biography of Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti. He can be reached at: Obadare@ku.edu

Win a trip to Israel By Celestine toruka LAST year, the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) entered into a novel synergy with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) for the introduction of Christian Pilgrimage Lottery Scheme. The synergy was crystallised on 9th April, 2015, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by both regulatory bodies which formalised the process and commencement of this noble project. Shortly after the formal signing of the MoU, an implementation committee was constituted to package and fine tune the scheme. The chief executives of these two apex regulatory bodies are strongly committed to this cause as well as their management staff. The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Opara, and the Director General of NLRC, Mr. Adolphus Joe Ekpe, have met severally since the Mou was signed in order to actualise this laudable project in good time. The NCPC has relied heavily on the technical expertise of professional staff of the NLRC who joined forces with the NCPC crack team to drive the process. Interestingly, this journey, which started last year, will soon snowball into a scheme that Nigerian Christians will all be proud of. The coast is now free for the eventual take-off of the new Christian Pilgrimage Lottery Scheme, Christened – WIN A TRIP TO ISRAEL. The idea behind WIN A TRIP TO ISRAEL, according to the NCPC boss, is to afford many Christians the opportunity to go on Holy Pilgrimage by paying a token to qualify for the raffle draw. This is of no cost to the Federal Government or the state government. Of course, the transparency of the entire process when fully operational cannot be compromised. WIN A TRIP TO ISRAEL is an idea whose time has come, considering the stand of the present administration of cutting the cost of governance. With the coming on board of WIN A TRIP TO ISRAEL, the Commission will be able to generate revenue to sustain its operations and also remit 20 per cent percent of

the revenue generated to the Federal Government to fund other projects. For a scheme of this nature to be successful, the operators have very critical roles to play because they can make or mar the entire process, therefore, the operators must be transparent, experienced and have the financial might to drive the process. NCPC and NLRC have concluded plans to ensure that WIN A TRIP TO ISRAEL is signed sometime in February, while its formal launching will come up before the end of February, 2016, which will be done simultaneously in three zones of the country. NCPC will stop at nothing to ensure that Nigerian Christians are well sensitised about the procedures so that every Christian is given the opportunity to participate. Though some Christians may not be comfortable with the word lottery, but casting of lot is biblical. For instance, in Acts chapter 1 verse 26, the Apostles cast lot to chose a replacement for Judas which fell on Matthias. Lot was also used to transparently divide limited resources. For example, in Nehemiah 10:34, the priests, the levites and the people had to cast lots; also in chapter 11:1, lot was used. Lot or lottery benefits the society, the individual, and promotes a cause, while gambling is consumed by the individual. So lottery is as old as man. It only becomes a sin if it is not transparent, thus it becomes gambling where the winner takes all. The Federal Government that sets up the NLRC appreciates the invaluable contribution of lottery in any given economy. The WIN A TRIP TO ISRAEL must be played by the rule and winners drawn through transparent ways. Christians should embrace this new innovation as it will

be affordable, transparent and accessible. The tickets will be made available in the churches and designated centres by the Commission as soon as it is launched. Though the cost per ticket is yet to be unveiled by the Commission, it will certainly be affordable. The WIN A TRIP TO ISRAEL is not a new trend in pilgrimage sub-sector. For instance, countries like Niger Republic is already practicing it in their Hajj operations, so also are Morocco, which is about starting theirs. The Government of Malaysia relies on pilgrimage too for budgeting income. NCPC is on the threshold of breaking new grounds with the launching of this new scheme. Presently, the Commission runs four pilgrimage programmes in one calendar year, which are: Easter Pilgrimage – March to April, Youth pilgrimage – July, Family pilgrimage – August and of course the October/December main pilgrimage. It is interesting to state that WIN A TRIP TO ISRAEL will cut across all the four pilgrimage programmes of the Commission within the same year, which presupposes that it is not tied to a particular programme, depending on whoever emerges winner. The Commission is poised to partner with the churches more than ever before this year through its sensitisation programme of visitation to the churches. Its message of evangelisation will centre on self sponsorship and self sustenance, which will be driven through WIN A TRIP TO ISRAEL project. So far, most churches and state governments have indicated interest to key into this new vision of the Commission. As the Commission begins its 2016 sensitisation, with new thinking and new possibilities, definitely this concept will be in its front burner. Christians, by this, are now expected to make hay while the sun shines by massively participating in this programme as soon as it is launched. It is their own and it should be embraced. •Toruka lives in Abuja

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Music Business 101 Meet your artiste Inspire says ‘she likes the song’ Inspire (real names Inspire Fidelis Atanga) is a talented individual and an up-and-coming artiste. He was born and grew up in Nigeria. Inspire is unsigned yet and plays the guitar instrument, writes songs and sings. He has

been playing live music at concerts, music gigs, festivals, traditional marriages and other events, but started recording music in 2014. Inspire is influenced by decorated and successful music artistes in Africa, 2Face Idibia, Psquare and Timaya. His

style of music is Afro Pop. Inspire released his debut single titled “Come Again” in August 2015. “She Likes The Song” is his second official single. The song is a dance track with a catchy hook from the singer and thumping beats from Fine Play.

fridaytreat

Rotimi Ige | rotimiige@yahoo.com |

0811 695 4636

How banker and engineer created a marriage centered movie in a ‘Couple of Days’ MAYA awards honours Juliet Ibrahim, Ushbebe, others

Nigerian Tribune

fridaytreat

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

MUSIC BUSINESS 101

Economic Diversification: Harnessing the Nigerian

creative/entertainment industries’ potentials as economic assets (2) By Toyin Adeniji Our states, governors and their cabinets are confronted with an economic situation that is becoming increasingly difficult to manage due to a continuing reduction in the revenue allocation to the states from the federation account that is primarily dependent on rapidly declining crude oil revenue. This situation has seen many state governments in Nigeria finding it difficult to resolve basic responsibilities such as payments of salaries for government workers and having to beg for bailout from the federal government. The federal government is facing a dilemma in sourcing for capital to execute the 2016 national budget. The level of urgency upon the government of the day at all level to do everything possible and necessary to diversify the nation’s economy and get it back to smooth sailing cannot be overemphasized. At this critical crossroads of our existence as a nation, it is time for the generality of Nigerians and governments at all level to look inward and focus on the development of the greatest and the most important resource that this country has been endowed with – people. The conscious and determined development of our human capital resource is the only true way out of this current economic quagmire and predicament that we are stuck in. We must as a matter of urgency align the further development of individual creative capabilities with the further growth and development of our economies. Nigeria has one of the most youthful populations in the world. Youthfulness is synonymous with creativity, innovation, adventure and energy. We have already seen evidences of these in the level of development and activities going on in our creative and cultural industries such as the music industry, movie industry (Nollywood) and fashion industry largely without any meaningful support

or input from governments at all levels in the country. Today, our movies, music and fashion products have become ubiquitous and well accepted all over the globe. The relevance and contributions of our actors, artistes/musicians and designers have successfully placed Nigeria and these unofficial ambassadors on the world map, drawing some fresh and positive attention towards the nation away from the traditional negative image that we have been labelled with internationally. There is an onerous task on every responsible state government in Nigeria at this time to critically assess the state of the creative economy in their states, and to harness their arts and culture resources as viable economic assets. It is fundamental for states and their governors today to realize that there has been a shift away from old industrial models to one built on knowledge, innovation and creativity. Talents and their inherent creativity across all sectors have become the fundamental factor of production in today’s economy and attracting talent has become the central battle of global competition. For instance, talents and creative minds are busy relocating and migrating to Lagos state constantly from other states of the federation and these states do not show any concern for the talent flight? These talents are generating employments for young people and encouraging the development of a creative workforce which makes Lagos state desirable for business location because of an improved quality of life for employees while contributing significantly to the economic growth of the state. They set up their offices, studios, acquire properties and organize multi-million naira events/shows that create employment opportunities, tax revenues and stimulate the economy of Lagos state. There is virtually no state in Nigeria that does not possess a potential cre-

ative economy either in the form of human or natural assets or both. Why can’t other states of the federation become active in attracting talents and becoming economically competitive? The ability to cluster talented people in a location drives productivity and creativity gains and encourages the growth of creative hubs which in turn makes the location desirable, livable and economically competitive. The overall objective and goal of developing individual states’ arts and culture resources must be to make each state become economically competitive both within the context of national and international economies. The creative economy in a state includes human, organisational and physical assets. It also includes different artistic disciplines, cultural institutions and business interests. Industries that comprise the arts and culture sector include music, performing arts, fashion, advertising, film, craft, design, television, radio, graphic arts, digital media, software & games, cultural tourism and architecture etc. When cultivated and harnessed appropriately, creative economies can greatly contribute to the growth and development of states. Virtually all the states in Nigeria are blessed with amazing natural sceneries and locations that can be used as location for the production of films, music videos and tourism purposes, yet our actors and artistes travel out of the country with much needed foreign exchange to shoot their music videos and movies overseas simply because those country’s department of arts and culture have created a friendly structure that supports the arts. So, we end up projecting and marketing the images, sites and locations of other countries in video productions meant for our local consumption. This is unfortunately true as music video directors in-

terviewed acknowledged the fact that it is much more conducive and easy for them to shoot in those foreign locations because of the institutional support available than to risk the safety of their equipment and lives while dealing with an unsupportive structure locally at home. It is time for the ministries of arts and culture at all levels of government in Nigeria to strategically court the creative industries such as the music, movie and fashion by providing structural support such as the provision of production grants, locations etc, in exchange for a positive projection, marketing and branding of their state. Perception management is very important and powerful in the marketing of state and national brands. Much of our awareness and perception of the USA for instance was largely shaped and moulded by Hollywood – the American movie industry and, the American music industry. The localisation of businesses all over the world are determined and influenced by factors such as the ready availability of a creative workforce and the quality of life available to employees. The arts and culture industries contribute to the transformation of a location through the activities and the deployment of the creative resources of its talents. I must emphasize that more than ever, it is important for artistes/musicians at a time like this to consciously establish a business structure for their music career which will ensure its success and sustainability. In the process of diversifying the economy, opportunities are going to come the way of creative and talented persons in the creative industries, however, only those prepared for it will benefit from the opportunities. It is important for talents to learn how to productize their creativity by establishing a business structure for their music business career operations.

MAYA awards honours Juliet Ibrahim, Ushbebe, others The much touted MoreKlue All Youth Awards widely known as MAYA Awards held Sunday, 31 January at Bamboo Hall,

Omole Phase 1, Lagos. The event which witnessed a large turnout of youths from Nigeria, Benin Republic and Ghana has been touted the biggest all youth awards event by guests and social media watchers. Notable guests at the event were AIG Tunji Alapini (Retd), Mr. Abisoye Fagade of Sodium Brands, Hon. Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye, Ghanian actress Juliet Ibrahim, Nollywood Stars Mercy Aigbe, Biodun Okeowo, Tayo Sobola Sotayo, Kingsley Ogboso, Tunde Owokoniran, Comedians Ushbebe, Bash, Sunkanmi Omobolanle, amongst many others. The guests were entertained with back to back performances from Pepenazi, Bash, TeeBlaq, Naomi Mac, Dremo, Cymbals Dancers, Ajanaku and the show closed with a grand performance from WizKid’s starboy label Sunkanmi Omobolanle with Mercy Aigbe mate, L.A.X.

Nnenna and friends holds auditions for children

Pepenazi performing.

Juliet Ibrahim

Nnenna

After a successful outing in the discovery of talented kids last year, children’s brand, Nnenna and friends have concluded all plans for this year’s talent hunt. According to Nnenna (Olayinka Olukunga Ademo), “Children are wonderful gifts; capable of putting their minds into creative use if given an enabling platform. This and the determination to bring out the best in them informed the Nnenna and Friends auditions 2016, as is our tradition every year”.

Talented kids between ages 4 and 17 in the following categories: Singing, Dancing, Comedy and playing of musical instruments are hereby invited for an open freefor-all audition on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at PEFTI Hall, Lagos. The finalists from the 2015 August-held talent hunt organized by the brand, made debut performances at the Nnenna and Friends End of Year show held at Muson Centre in December last year and have since been gaining nationwide recognition.

society

Glitz @ birthday ceremony of Pat Utomi

Friday, 12 February, 2016

...celebrating the people

For Booking, contact Alaba Igbaroola alabaadewale01@gmail.com 08155975474

From left, Professor Pat Utomi; Mrs Ifeoma Utomi; Miss Nony Utomi; Miss Isioma Utomi, and Mr Patrick Utomi (Son).

From left, Mr Julius Agwu; Mrs Ibiere Agwu; Professor Pat Utomi, and Mrs Ifeoma Utomi, at the 60th birthday ceremony of Professor Pat Utomi, organised by the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), held on Sunday, 1 January.

Nigerian Tribune

From left; Chief Rasak Okoya; Chief Sunny Kuku and Dr Mrs Doyin Abiola.

From left, Mr Felix Morka, Dr Chris Uggoh and Mr Larry Ofuokwu.

From left, Princess Barbara Odoh; Mrs Alaoye Ige and Chief Mrs Oprah Benson.

From right, Mr Stanley Agwuh; Mr Sachin Agwuh and Akshay Tami.

Mr Kingsley Obiekwe; Sir Adeola Olufon, and Sir Olusegun George.

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 twitter: @rotifizzle twitter: @fridaytreat

fridaytreat Timi Dakolo, Sound Sultan others delight audience as ‘Love Is…The Musical 3’ rocks Eko hotel On Friday February 5 at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, the audience was treated to an outstanding audiovisual stage experience as Love Is…The Musical 3 took place in an amazing atmosphere of colours, lights, music and dance. The musical proper was preceded by an intriguing art exhibition that featured a live painting by show director Ice Nweke. Immediately after the exhibition, the audience, which had in attendance, M.D Nigerian Breweries Nicholaas Vervelde, Darey Art Alade, Deola Art Alade, Linda Ejiofor, Denrele, Mo Cheddah and other notable personalities were warmed up by Tomi Odunsi and Isaac Gerald who took the stage in quick succession ahead of what would prove to be a night of fantastic entertainment. Telling the story of three women who are in search of their answer to the question “What is Love?” the stage play held the audience spellbound for more than three hours as the talents of The Poet Donna, Efe Paul the Poet and Yinka Davies came to the fore. The crowd also received a special treat with cameos and performances by Gordons, Emma Oh Ma God, Igos, Sound Sultan and signature “voice” Timi Dakolo. The musical reached its climax with a stunning performance by Timi Dakolo, which showcased his full vocal range amidst a chorus of rhythmic lights, blazing colour and irresistible sound. Speaking afterward, producer Clementine Vervelde remarked, “It is a thing of immense pride and joy to see this idea brought to life on the big stage and I am sure I speak on behalf of the entire cast and crew when I say that this is one

Clementine Vervelde

of our proudest ever moments. I am particularly pleased that the audience had many people who were not used to this type of storytelling and they were carried along. It shows that that this type of stagecraft is taking off in Nigeria and I believe we have also impacted positively on people present in terms of their understanding of what Love is.” A production of Limitless Minds Africa in partnership with Ixtreme Production, Love Is…The Musical 3 was brought to life by a 40-man cast and crew.

Jerry Wizzy

Jerry Wizzy enters with One Chance single Dayo Adeyemo also known as Jerry Wizzy has released his much anticipated single titled “One Chance”. The song focuses on the how persons are jilted in relationships. Dayo who is ready to take the music industry by storms got his stage name “Jerry Wizzy” from his love for Jerry curls hairstyle back in the day. His love for Hip Hop genre of music started in high school. He would mime songs of rap legends like Notorious Big, Nas and Jay-Z to classmates during school hours and did get into trouble with his teacher. In his words “Listening to these Hip-hop legends helped me honed and developed my own unique rap skill”. Dayo was born and bred in Lagos and is the last born from a family of eight, four girls and two boys. He hails from Ondo State, Irun Akoko northwest. He is in his mid 20’s, single, and a Christian. Dayo studied Computer Science in Lagos State University. His hobbies are reading and playing football.

Ayo Orunmuyi and his wife, at the premiere. By Rotimi Ige and Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

r Ayo Orunmuyi, the executive producer of the new and trending movie titled ‘Couple of Days’, and the movie’s director, Tolu Awobiyi (Lord Tanner), have two things in common: one, they almost missed their callings and two, they are movie tacticians with no professional drill. These rookies took on the challenge of changing the face of Nollywood: Nigeria’s budding movie industry. They broke long standing rules, systems and records in the movie industry and got off to a flying start. Perhaps, Kunle Afolayan and Don Omope should watch out these two. Orunmuyi, a Group Manager with Procter and Gamble Nigeria, always nursed an ambition to affect the society in a field other than his profession and took the opportunity when it presented itself while Lord Tanner worked behind the counters of Standard Chartered Bank for five years before he quit banking for his passion: movie production. Before Couple of Days, Lord Tanner had taken up cameo roles in Mnet’s “Tinsel” and “Hotel Majestic.” A minor role in “River Between” was the closest Lord Tanner got to tasting mainstream Nollywood. He also directed a short movie “Click Now” and the stage play “Magic Time”. For him, “the industry is rather an informal environment where a lot of things are done hap-

How banker and engineer created a marriage centered movie in a ‘Couple of Days’ hazardly.” Tolu said he, however, did not know how exactly to convert his nitpick to pay checks until he met Ayo Orunmuyi, a venture capitalist. Together, they created one of Nollywood’s finest debut movies with a believable cast, an engaging storyline and an industry trailblazer in quality. How they did it is the question of interest. Ayo Orunmuyi unknowingly broke the se-

cret in an interview after the Filmhouse Cinema media screening and premiere of ‘Couple of Days’ in Lagos and Ibadan, when he said that the movie was all about creating a point of differentiation in the industry. “This is the first time I am producing a movie,” he said. One could observe that he was already breathing the rare air of fame and accomplishment. “Our vision is to create high quality productions that will tell the Nigerian story. The

world has a lot to see from the eyes of the most populous black nation of the world”, he continued. When asked the question “What makes Couple of Days special?” he replied “Couple of Days is special in many respects; take for instance, it was shot in four and half days! It’s all about bringing the efficiency within the manufacturing environ-

ment to bear on movie production. Couple of Days is also Falz’s debut movie (Falz the Bahd Guy is another like Ayo, an accomplished lawyer, but a destined comic artiste with an alter ego of a semi illiterate. He was portrayed in a very unlikely way: a gate-keeper.) “A lot of

We ensured that the accent was distinctly Nigerian. Shot almost entirely in Ibadan, the movie credibly showcases the transformed landscape of the city, much to the delight of residents and natives alike.

common affairs were integrated into to the movie to ensure that it was main stream and everybody could relate to the conversation. We ensured that the accent was distinctly Nigerian. Shot almost entirely in Ibadan, the movie credibly showcases the transformed landscape of the city, much to the delight of residents and natives alike. According to the producers, “We wanted to give our viewers different scenery (everyone uses Lagos). We chose Ibadan because it’s one of the cities in Nigeria that has changed over the years and will potentially be home to 8.5 million Nigerians in a couple of years”. All ticked correct, except the duration of the movie production. Four and half days?! Ayo smiled. “I have managed several huge projects at work and over the years, developed the skills to execute high profile projects in a relatively short time without compromising on the quality of execution. I simply brought this into movie making. We spent over 80 per cent of our time in pre-production. We had done other things before shooting the actual movie. Shooting in four and half days also meant shooting at a lower cost. Let’s just say that we both brought our

professional backgrounds to bear on this project”. Lord Tanner added. “What we didn’t say was that the movie entailed a six months pre-planning stage. The industry is rather an informal environment where a lot of things are done haphazardly. With the right pre-planning, things went quite well during production. “A couple of days”… no wonder the title, I thought aloud. Lord Tanner heard what to him was not accurate. “The title of the movie is better understood when phrased into a question. We tried to ask, what makes a couple last many days? This is an age long challenge. Even the bible wonders at the way of a man with a woman. Couple of Days attempts to address common issues surrounding marriages and how it affects the family which is the smallest unit of the society, if we get it right at the family level, we collectively improve our chances of getting it right as a nation. Ayo agreed to this and opined, African film makers should stay true to storytelling – every movie has its message. Couple of Days opens up on three friends deliberating on how to put an approaching holiday to good use. Jude (Enyinna Nwigwe) ends up inviting two of his friends (Dan (Okey Uzoeshi) and Lanre (Ademola Adedoyin) and their respective spouses (Nina (Adesua Etomi) and Joke (Kiki Omeili) to his Ibadan country home. The vacation evanesces from excitement, to suspicion, attempted adultery, and a damning revelation. Falz the Bahd Guy (Odewale) provides the movie’s comic relief in his several attempts to woo the house keeper “Judi” played by Juliana Olayode (Jenifa’s Diaries), and his ambition to meet the famed “big man” who is resident in Lagos. The movie ends in suspense with an outlier – Couple Of Days Later. It appears that these two gentlemen are yet to be done just yet!

Friday, 12 February, 2016 ’Wale Olapade 08161235359 wale11g3@gmail.com

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

Tourism in Nigeria cannot work without a ground vision —Tourism expert

IT is no more news that the tourism sector in Nigeria, in the last two years had suffered different degrees of functional paralysis, over what some stakeholders described as putting a square peg in a round hole. In this interview, Mr Ikechi Uko, a tourism expert and organiser of a trio-travel-expo in Nigeria, Ghana and the US, spoke with ’WALE OLAPADE on the need for a ground vision to stimulate the tourism sector. transport are in a different ministry. Hospitality is not even seen as tourism, it is seen as works and housing. What you need to do is something similar to the PCT, or you have a very strong tourism organisation; a national government tourism organisation that will combine all of these and that is why we need a cabinet kind of representation-ministry, so that it can work with other ministries to bring them together. You said we have 10 agencies under the ministry of culture and tourism and also said they are doing nothing or not effective? It is because there is no ground vision. Culture was doing it for culture sake; the National Parks felt they are doing conservation; Tourism was second place as far as they are concerned. Culture saw it that they are preserving the culture not for tourism. So, everybody didn’t see themselves as working for a common goal, which was tourism. These things were created to make tourism work because without that ground vision, culture will be for the sake of culture, art will be for the sake of art and the National Parks will be for conservation and so on.

Ikechi Uko

HAT is the future of tourism in Nigeria? Luckily for Nigeria, tourism is back to the person(s) who owns it, the tour operators and the travel media. The Ministry of Tourism was created based on pressure from the travel media and the beneficiaries, messed up what they inherited and we lost a whole ministry. So it is time for the owner of the tourism industry to go back and build the industry because everyone has admitted that the house that was built by tourism journalists has been destroyed by interlopers. So, the tourism media has to go back to what it did in the 90s. The tour operators have to build the kind of cooperation that was done in the 90s that led to the creation of that ministry. Some people inherited our common wealth, embezzled it and destroyed our industry. I can’t completely blame government for thinking they don’t need the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, though it was done in error, but I hope they will reverse it. And let the real tourism players go to work, rebuild the industry. Many stakeholders frowned as the collapsing and tucking in of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism into the new Ministry of Information and Culture, which they believed will kill the industry. What is your take on the issue? In some countries, tourism is under infrastructure and even under the African Union (AU), it is under infrastructure, in some countries, it’s done together with agriculture and environment, in others it’s in transport. So tourism can be anywhere, but it needs a cabinet level representation. The nomenclature doesn’t matter, but the bases is that it must and need a cabinet level representation to have relevance and say, which by the virtual of its present status, it doesn’t have. The parastatals agencies under the former Ministry of Culture and Tourism are numerous, but practically dormant in activities. How can they be stimulated to achieve its desired goals and objectives? The vision that was supposed to promote or propel the tourism died with the exit of the Presidential Council on Tourism (PCT). Tourism is in six different ministries. The National Parks are under environment. The laws that set up the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the Supreme Court said the NTDC has no say in tourism in Nigeria. The driver of the tourism industry; aviation and

So, what is the ground vision? The ground vision is tourism. Everything is supposed to work and direct its effort towards making money for and through tourism. But the absence of that ground vision affected everything and still does affect it. Apart from the ground vision, don’t you think legislation is also a major setback in tourism development in Nigeria? The Supreme Court judgement proves that there is no legislation to back tourism, so the National Assembly has to step up to it and actually create the ground vision to stimulate the agencies to live up to expectation. It’s a law that has to create a ground vision for the country, so that was where the error was made.

Robot Mario

ITB Berlin to host first hotel robotic attendant ON Thursday, 10 March 2016 the special guest at the ITB Hospitality Day will be Mario, a robot who works in a hotel, a release by the MICE organisers revealed. According to ITB Berlin, “Visitors to the 11th hotel conference of the world’s leading travel trade show can witness him at the start of the event and briefly at every discussion round. On the subject of digitalisation, the key topic at the ITB Berlin Convention, leading hotel experts will be discussing robots, hi-tech innovations and innovation labs. This is the first time a Chinese hotel group will be taking part. At Plateno Hotels, China’s second largest hotel chain, “totally digital” has become part of everyday life. There will also be a meeting of two senior executives from Google and Booking.com. A futurist will be describing digital natives and three other experts will be discussing investment in hotel guests. Welcome, Mario, Mario is the youngest employee at the Ghent Marriott Hotel in Belgium. Standing 57 centimetres tall and weighing only six kilogrammes, he speaks 19 languages. At the ITB Hospitality Day, starting at 10.30 a.m, his inventor and hotel manager will be explaining why he was made and his hotel duties. Mario will be listening when at the next panel, starting at 11 a.m, Stephan Demmerle, Director of the Business Unit Central Europe of the NH Hotel Group, will be explaining why the hotel chain makes use of a technology that can create a life-size human with a 3D hologram of his heart and distribute it around the world. Roland Schwecke of the marketing consultancy DICON Marketing- und Beratungsgesellschaft Berlin will be closely examining the impact of technology, for which Richard Singer of Travelzoo conducted a survey of consumer opinions for ITB Berlin.

Smiling coast of Africa offers best of Valentine’s weekend

IF you crave a memorable vacation with the love of your life, in a beautiful, peaceful and relaxing environment this Valentine’s Day weekend, then there is no better destination for you than The Gambia. The Gambia is endowed with world class hotels and resorts, cuisine, nightlife, adventure and other ame-

nities, which have earned the destination the acronym of lovers’ paradise. Hence, a destination to make this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration, which falls on weekend, more memorable. “The Gambia is known as the Smiling Coast of Africa, thanks to the genuine warmth, spontaneous smiles and friendliness of our people, and our members have lined up special activities and made arrangements to cater specially to lovers visiting from around the world this Valentine’s Day weekend. Lovers would be spoilt for choice from the wide range of resorts and hotels situated on the fabulous palm-fringed coastline, and virgin golden sands along the beaches overlooking the Atlantic

Woodstar Hospitality Group opens booking site WOODSTAR Hospitality Group, an indigenous hospitality management and marketing company has launched a new global reservation website for hotel booking and payment, called woodstarthotels.com. ng. The company founded by seasoned professionals in the hospitality and travel sector with the

main aim of assisting both leisure and business travellers have access to the cheapest hotels around Africa and beyond. According to Ekene Nnabuihe, CEO of Woodstar Group, “The site offers cheapest and easiest ways to lodge with options for travellers to either pay on check in at the hotel, pay with their credit or debit card, or pay at the bank.

Ocean. Just contact your travel agent and make your bookings, from simple middle-market resorts to luxury accommodation, and from pleasant small properties to international 5-star hotel chains with state-of-theart facilities” says Marion Nyan, executive secretary, Gambia Hotel Association. “When you need a change of environment from the comfort of your accommodation, you can make your stay in The Gambia even more remarkable by going on one of the numerous adventure trips available, including a boat cruise on the River Gambia, boat fishing or watch African wrestling”, the executive secretary says further. All resorts and hotels in The Gambia organise nightly entertainment events including live music in their gardens; fashion shows, beauty contests, discos, karaoke and a variety of cultural activities. There are several art galleries with works of contemporary Gambian artists on display. The well stocked craft markets outside the main hotels offer a large variety of antique masks, carvings, batik products, hand-woven fabrics, leather works and jewelry, where the fun is in the bargaining and in the conversation with the local traders.

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

Promotions, Olubadan succession misconceptions and the Seriki gridlock A former governor of Old Oyo State and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, in this piece, addresses what he calls erroneous impressions and misconceptions on the Olubadan chieftaincy and succession, including the mounting tension from the Seriki line on the Olubadan stool.

N the last few weeks, before Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I died, there has been a rash of skirmishes involving the Olubadan and some High Chiefs who were promoted in Ibadan. This actually amounted to an unnecessary clash between the Executive Governor of Oyo State on the one hand and the Olubadan and the nine promoted chiefs on the other. The clash culminated in a ‘settlement’ effected by an ad hoc body many of whom comprised the so-called committee of Ibadan Elders, headed by our respected and frank Ambassador Olusola Sanu. The clash was something of an unnecessary damp squib in view of the extant revised Laws of Oyo State, Cap 28 Section 16, which states as follows: “Where a vacancy occurs in a recognised chieftaincy other than a ruling house chieftaincy and a declaration has effect with respect to that chieftaincy, a qualified person shall be nominated, selected and appointed in accordance with the customary law relating to that chieftaincy within thirty days of the occurrence of the vacancy.” If the Governor had got competent advice, the meeting should have, if necessary at all, lasted only ten minutes. The positions of the High Chiefs are non-ruling house chiefs, unique to Ibadan and as at that time, the Governor and Government published on page 40 of ‘The Nation’ a very far-reaching advertisement. It is a matter for regret that the Director of Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oyo State, goofed in his advice to the Governor. A cursory reading of Section 16 reveals that each of the chieftaincies had existing approved and registered declaration which are indeed formalisation of the customary law and practice pertaining to the chieftaincies. The Governor has no power under the law to nominate any one for promotion. The Governor has no power under the law to select. The Governor has no power to appoint. Those who are vested with these three powers are clearly stated in the individual relevant extant declaration. Thus, to query or interfere with these three processes amount to acting ultra vires. The only power the Governor could possibly have is approval. Therefore, the late Olubadan and the nine High Chiefs have no case to answer and the Governor was misled and inadequately advised. Thus, it is, that the aggressive advice was an unnecessary threat, likely to lead to a breach of the delicate peace that has attended these matters since the promulgation of the Chiefs Law (Cap 19) as it then was on 20th June 1957 and all the cumulative or any amendment made thereto to date. The episode was most unfortunate as it was uncalled for and without precedence in Ibadan history. The seriousness of the government error is underlined by the advertisement being copied to the Commissioner of Police, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Permanent Secretary (Health) all of which were unnecessary, embarrassing, unlawful and uncalled for. One corollary of my observations is the urgent need for the Governor to appoint Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries, as well as the Attorney-General, the last of whom holds three positions simultaneously under the 1999 Constitution, to wit, Attorney-General, Commissioner for Justice and the Chief Law Officer of the state, vide Section 195 (1) of the Constitution. For completeness, the issue of medical clearance of Chiefs is not explicitly stated overtly in the constitution. A careful

Oba Samuel Odulana, the late Olubadan

High Chief Saliu Adetunji, Olubadan-designate

Governor Abiola Ajimobi

Dr Omololu Olunloyo, ex-governor, Old Oyo State

reading of Section 189 in its entirety and in particular Section 189 sub-section (1)(b), subsection (2), (3), (4)(a and b) refers. These are overt and explicit legislations which pertain to the Governor and Deputy Governor. They, of all people, must not import into the constitution what is not there in respect of the Chiefs. Indeed, the nearest approximation as to Chiefs is contained in Cap 28 Section 14(2). A careful reading of Sections 14(2)(a) and (b) refer to the matter of health but does not legislate about the explicit manner of verifying various forms of infirmity and procedure of establishing same. The officials of the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs are, therefore, encouraging the Executive to legislate and thus acting ultra-vires. There is clear separation of powers in our type of Presidential Constitution. Again, from an empirical and practical point of view, the content of the advertisement on page 40 of “The Nation” of Tuesday, January 5, 2016 is without precedence in the Gerontocracy that has typified Ibadan Chieftaincy System since its earliest day. Anyone who is averse to the gerontocratic characteristic of the Ibadan System should refer to Chief Theophilus Adeleke Akinyele’s exquisite book: “Ibadan Traditional System: Reform and Regeneration.” Many people ask about the important AKINYELEs in Ibadan. One is the aforementioned civil service guru, an accountant, budget expert and classic scholar. Before

him comes Olubadan Akinyele of Alafara, author of Iwe Itan Ibadan. He was a co-founder of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). He, it was, who when he became the Olubadan signed the curious double vacancy clause into the top of the Balogun line, which permits the Seriki of the day to move to Ekerin Balogun. This transition was successfully made by one man only so far, namely Chief Ogunwusi in 1964. He died six months later. It is doubtful whether what Olubadan Akinyele signed into law truly represents Ibadan Customary Law or practice or even whether he was honest about this contrivance. Yet another famous Akinyele is the founder of Ibadan Grammar School, my father’s alma mater. He is Archdeacon Alayande’s father in-law. His famous school was founded on 31st March 1913. Yet a fourth famous Akinyele is F. L. Akinyele Olunloyo, who with his sister, Yejide, were the first two pupils to go to the first school, St David’s Kudeti, Ibadan in 1853. So much for historical clarification and diversion. It must be concluded that the fly-in-the-ointment of a trivial misunderstanding between the Olubadan-in-Council and the Governor and Government that what concerns the government is not the nomination, selection and appointment in those High Chieftaincies as much as forwarding the matter thereafter to the Governor perhaps via the ComContinues pg28

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Adisa Akinloye

Lamidi Adedibu

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Omowale Kuye

Sulaimon Omiyale

‘No one knows the next 100th Olubadan’ Continued from pg27

missioner for APPROVAL. The rumoured dual ‘long’ meeting was due to insufficient understanding or misunderstanding of the law as it is. If the Executive is dissatisfied with anything in the law or its procedural activation, it must not be tempted or advised in effect to legislate. It must consult the people of the area involved, arrange a referendum or similar consultation and thereafter send a bill (executive or private member’s) to the House of Assembly to sort out the matter. I have a claim to some solid authority on these matters. I started holding public office at the dawn of my adult life. For instance, I have solved many a chieftaincy riddle or conundrum since 46 long years ago. The ones of epic proportions were those of the Alaafin of Oyo, Balogun of Ijebu-Ode, Owa of Idanre, Owa of Igbara Oke, etc. I worked with fine civil servants who were versed in the Chiefs’ Law, the most outstanding ones being Chief Akingbade, Chief Abinusawa, Chief A. A. K. Degun with whom I had a productive synergy. I was the one who, with the permission of General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, first released to the public, all the Chieftaincy Declarations in Western Nigeria and caused them to be published, nearly seven hundred (700) of them published and sold by the indefatigable Government Printer of the day, Mr Somefun. Each declaration for each of the Local Government Area was sold for five shillings. That was the first time they were released to the public. They were kept under tight security deliberately and many of them contained mischievous and deliberate manipulations by the government of the day. Indeed, the secrecy under which they were kept is enshrined in Section 8 of the Chiefs’ Law which reads thus: 8 (1) Every declaration of a committee of a competent council approved by the Governor and every declaration made by the Governor shall be registered and retained in safe custody by such officer of the department of the Government of the state as the Governor may direct. (2) No declaration shall come into effect until it is so registered. They were all under lock and key in the innermost recesses of the Cabinet Office. I was the first to prise them open after the intermediate disingenuous debacle called the Obileye Commission of Enquiry on the Alaafin Chieftaincy which was entirely rejected by Edict. The Secretary to the Commission, a senior officer in the Ministry of Justice was a certain Michael Ogundare

Esq, a man of rare integrity. The terse minority report was only three or four lines recommending that the whole exercise be de novoed. The rest is history. Michael Ogundare reached the Supreme Court and left his footprints in cases like Resource Control and littoral extent of each state. He was worth his weight-in good. Those were the days of excellence. After perusing the Alaafin of Oyo and Oyomesi declarations, I made a bee-line for the Olubadan and the High Chiefs declarations. I shall not dwell here on the malversation contained in the Alaafin of Oyo declaration, especially the phrase “without reservation” concerning the list of candidate or candidates to be submitted by the family head to the Basorun of Oyo, head of the Kingmakers, by Babayaji Maradesa Sanda, a man of conscience and great integrity and a gem of Yoruba history. The next declaration shocked me to the bone marrow. I was expecting a simple linear alternating system of candidates who can aspire to and access the renowned throne of the Olubadan of Ibadan. I advised many of my successors to rectify this declaration and do something about its contents, which many of the last five Governors – Ajimobi, Alao-Akala, Ladoja, Ishola and even Lam Adesina, did not heed. It therefore comes to me as a surprise that there are so many ‘unusual’ features which no one has tried to correct so as to make it conform to the spirit of Ibadan! I suggest to the perspicacious reader to cast his mind to the Adegoke Adelabu saga with ‘Olubadan’ Akinyo who ‘reigned’ for three days of tension. Nevertheless, Akinyele became the recognised Olubadan, but how did he arrive at the Seriki-Ekerin Balogun confluence and the utterly meaningless simultaneous death or vacancy condition. Physicists/mathematicians find the idea of simultaneous events difficult when probed rigorously in

the famous Einstein’s Theory of Relativity! The Ibadan system has eleven kingmakers chosen from the four extant lines. Whether we like the idea of Seriki or not, he is one of the statutory kingmakers for the position of Olubadan of Ibadan. So is Iyalode. The remaining are chosen four and five respectively from the two main lines. The ordinary man in the street does not know that the system is not a linear straightforward alternating system. Again, there is overtaking and supersession built into it. Chief Lamidi Adedibu of blessed memory, whose last birthday and funeral orations I gave at a fee, nearly became Olubadan by exploiting legal loopholes written into the law in black and white. The most senior chief in the line may not be chosen and the field of choice can go as far as the Ekerin, namely four steps down the ladder etc. There are so many other incongruities which we must sit down and rectify. Dr Busari Adebisi, my ertswhile Commissioner for Education, was Secretary to the Government to Governor Ishola when I found out that the government had presented a defective certificate to Olubadan E. A. Adeyemo. I presented the error to him with clinical transparent exactitude. The old man who was my father’s assistant, deputy and successor as Secretary/Treasurer of Ibadan Administration would have been embarrassed had it not been for my timely intervention. It was a technical point which rendered the paper they handed to him worthless. Dr Adebisi saw to it that the Military Governor or administrator of the day, Colonel Sode, retrieved the faulty one and replaced it with a neat accurate one. So I now come to Governor Ajimobi’s recent errors. The second term Executive Governor of the state was reported in the Nigerian Tribune of January 27, 2016 as follows: A “The beauty of the Olubadan institution

I advised many of my successors to rectify this declaration and do something about its contents, which many of the last five Governors – Ajimobi, Alao-Akala, Ladoja, Ishola and even Lam Adesina, did not heed.

makes it unique in the whole of Nigeria. It is the only institution where we know the next 20 or 50 kings. We don’t fight over it.” B “Therefore we feel it is a rancour-free succession programme, where everybody is qualified to be there. So we know the next to the next, in fact, we know the next 100th Olubadan.” Both statements are untrue. Explanations follow: Why I have taken a tour-de-force stance at correcting my brother Isiaka’s grave errors is not due to what he said but where he said it. He was talking to President Muhammadu Buhari. Fortunately, our razor-sharp legal guru of an Acting President and Substantive Vice President, Professor Osinbajo, would easily unravel every knot drafted into our Chiefs’ Law, Cap 28 (2000) of Oyo State. It is a very good thing to have a Vice President seriously committed to the Rule of Law. We cannot tolerate today any Chike Offodile type of Decree maker, backdating death sentences or punishing journalists for publishing something false or merely embarrassing. Here comes the declaration of the Olubadan of Ibadan: DECLARATION MADE UNDER SECTION 4(3) OF THE CHIEFS LAW, 1957, OF THE CUSTOMARY LAW REGULATING THE SELECTION TO THE OLUBADAN OF IBADAN CHIEFTAINCY (i) Succession to the Stool of the Olubadan shall be in strict rotation between the following major chieftaincy lines: The Olubadan Line; The Balogun Line. (ii) The Order of rotation in which the respective chieftaincy lines are entitled to provide candidates to fill successive vacancies in the chieftaincy shall be: (a) The Olubadan Line (b) The Balogun Line (present ruling chieftaincy line) (iii) There are eleven kingmakers as under: Otun Olubadan, The Balogun, Osi Olubadan, Otun Balogun, Ashipa Olubadan, Osi Balogun, Ekerin Olubadan, Ashipa Balogun, The Iyalode, Ekerin Balogun, Seriki (iv) The person who may be proposed as candidate by the line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most senior chief in that line. Provided that the most senior chief in that line may be superseded by a junior chief if such senior chief is found to be disqualified as a candidate under the provisions of section 10(2) of the Chiefs Law, 1957 (now Section 14(2)) Continues pg29

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From left, Chief Theophilus Akinyele; Chief Areoye Oyebola; Professor Bolanle Awe and Dr Omololu Olunloyo, at an event. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

‘Seriki line didn’t begin with Akinloye’ Continued from pg28

And further provided that: (a) The field of selection for the purpose of the foregoing proviso shall not extend beyond the Ekerin Olubadan on the Olubadan Line and the Ekerin Balogun on the Balogun Line; (b) Any chief from any of those embraced in proviso (a) above found guilty by a meeting of the Chiefs who are traditional members of the Council (at which the nominated candidate shall not be present) of disregard of, or disrespect to the position or authority of the Olubadan, or of a Senior Chief under Native Law and Custom may not be eligible for nomination. Disregard or disrespect shall mean acts of contumely; refusal to pay necessary customary obeisance and flouting of superior customary authority. (c) The method of selection is as follows: The line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for the chieftaincy at a meeting of the kingmakers, to be summoned by the most senior chief of the chieftaincy line not presenting the candidate. The kingmakers shall, if satisfied as to the candidate’s right of succession declare him appointed. Provided that should a dispute arise among the line presenting the candidate, the majority decision of the kingmakers shall be final. The Declaration of Native Law and Custom dated 19th August, 1946 made by the Ibadan Native Authority regarding the appointment of a new Olubadan and Seniority of Chiefs and, later amended on 16th January 1950, is hereby revoked. Made by the Chieftaincy Committee of the Ibadan District Council which has been designated as the competent Council by Western Region Legal notice 22 of 1959, and signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Committee this 8th day of August, 1959. I.B. Akinyele, Chairman, Chieftaincy Committee, Ibadan District Council Secretary, Chieftaincy Committee,

Ibadan District Council Approved this 26th Day of October, 1959 D. S. Adegbenro, Minister of Local Government Registered this 28th Day of October, 1959, J. O. Afolabi, For Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government THIS DECLARATION IN ESSENCE IS STILL IN FORCE TODAY. THEREFORE, WITH THE CHIEFS LAW AND ITS SUBSIDIARY DECLARATION, NO ONE ON EARTH KNOWS UNDER THE LAW WHO IS THE NEXT OLUBADAN, NOT TO TALK OF 50 OR 100 OLUBADANS FROM NOW. Quod Erat Demonstandum! However, what a travesty of codification of our famed customs. This declaration shocked and still shocks me. We often publicly boast of our system being so transparently straight forward and rancour free. We often claim that it excludes leap-frogging or indeed overtaking. I belong to a school of thought that we should collectively get this allegedly streamlined procedure vetted and honestly streamlined once and for all. I do not belong to a school of thought which is rumoured to be floating around what I consider a very outlandish idea of evading or avoiding the currently built-in gerontocracy by retiring ‘old’ or ‘vegetating’ Olubadan on the throne. Olubadan Kobiowu got in and left just as quickly, at 55, quite astonishing-

ly, Olubadan Odulana has died at 101. I am certain a completely blind man became Olubadan in the last fifteen years despite Section 14 (2). That is the joke of the century. Perhaps, the number of rungs on the ladder could be shortened. The AttorneyGeneral of Oyo State should exhume the originals of this document from the cabinet division of the office of the Governor of Oyo State and satisfy himself among other things, even as to the validity of the originals. It is my hope, for example, that the apparent absence of the signature of the Secretary of the Chieftaincy Committee of the Ibadan District Council, the designated competent council as of the time of the formal construction of the declaration, does not vitiate the content. This declaration is not only the only issue surrounding the ascent to the throne of the Olubadan. There are some controversies surrounding the route aspiring candidates could take to access the coveted throne. Any serious thinker on this issue must be reminded that there were at a time as many as five lines – (1) Balogun line (2) Otun Olubadan line (3) Seriki line (4) Sarumi line and (5) Iyalode line. The truth is that up until 1946, the Balogun line alone supplied the political head of Ibadan whatever the name. Things were liberalised to permit the alternation, many of us here today have come to take for granted. This is no surprise at all, because of the military camp antecedents of Ibadan. All reasonable Ibadan citizens would probably agree with me immediately that the contents of this declaration do not faithfully represent the custom and social

This is a travesty of errors, to say Seriki line started during the period of Chief Akinloye, that is in 1976, is pitiful wrong because Ibikunle of Ayeye fame was Seriki in 1851 and promoted to Balogun in that same 1851. Moreover, Ajobo was Seriki in 1870 and promoted to Balogun.

philosophy of Ibadan. It does not represent the much touted exceptionally straightforward, transparent procedure unique to Ibadan and in every way unlike most of Yoruba towns. There was a rumour a couple of years back, precisely some seven years ago that Chief Lamidi Adedibu wanted to exploit the historically weird loopholes in the declaration in order to bludgeon his way to the throne of Olubadan. I think, probably without knowing, a top Nigerian journalist, Sam Omatseye, had written a satirical article, entitled: ‘Oba Lamidi Adedibu’ in a national daily. The vital vacancy arose in 2007 and was filled by the last holder of the post. Sam’s article was not surrealist. It was a vivid legal threat. Other errors in Governor Ajimobi’s reported speech to the President went thus: “The Seriki line started during the period of Chief Akinloye and it has been decided even long ago that to be, after the Seriki line, you have to join (the Balogun line) if there are concurrent deaths of both the Ekerin and Ashipa, then you can qualify as Seriki to be Ekerin.” This is a travesty of errors, to say Seriki line started during the period of Chief Akinloye, that is in 1976, is pitiful wrong because Ibikunle of Ayeye fame was Seriki in 1851 and promoted to Balogun in that same 1851. Moreover, Ajobo was Seriki in 1870 and promoted to Balogun. Mosanya was Seriki and promoted to Ashipa Balogun. Ajayi-Osungbekun was promoted from Seriki to Balogun, etc. In post-independence civil rule, to wit, 1964, Ogunwusi was the Seriki immediately before Akinloye and he successfully crossed to Ekerin Balogun, but unfortunately died six months later. The rest of his journey to the throne was thus aborted. We don’t know the next Olubadan after the Olubadan-designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji. Nobody can know the next 50th or 100th Olubadans. There are as many as six obstacles on the path of the person nominated as contained in Section (iv) of the extant declaration of 1959, which remains un-amended. This shows the brilliance and adroitness of the constructors of the law, particularly Chief Awolowo and Chief Rotimi Williams. The next Olubadan must meet the requirements of the law. He must be so recommended by his line and selected by the kingmakers. Approval by the Governor completes the process. What Governor Ajimobi told the President is not the law of the land. There are no laws without checks and balances. Rumours are rife even today in Ibadan that there are people who dream of diverse malversions and distortions as Lamidi Adedibu almost got away with. The Olubadan succession is not automatic in theory or practice. There is another but trivial sense in which Governor Ajimobi is wrong: “The process is not rancour-free.” There is presently rancour with the Seriki line who threatened to appoint a parallel Olubadan and based their case on some litigations which they took as far as the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I am personally convinced they do not have a very good case. It is true they have litigated right up to the Supreme Court and they have put up an intricate advertisement of their case. Before I go into this second half, I wish to give a signature claim to this long ago. I do not write lightly or frivolously. I have been lucky and as William Shakespeare would say, “my life has had a smatch of honour in it” or as Zik would say, “my life has been a joy to me.” I hold the first Ph.D in Ibadan town and I have had the luck of being posted to Ministries where truly great men left their bold footprints on the sands of time. Awolowo was the first Minister of Local Government. I was in Local GovernContinues pg30

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‘Olubadan: Seriki line don’t have good case’ Continued from pg29

ment in 1970, namely 46 good years ago. Oba Akran was in Economic Planning and Community Development with responsibility for Economic Planning, Community Development and National Census. I was his immediate successor in 1962, fifty four years back. I have read Law privately and try to combine this with Mathematics, both Pure and Applied, as if I was aiming to be a Lord Denning, the great Master of the Rolls. I give thanks to Professor David Ijalaiye of University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), who gave me guidelines and a basic 30-book reading list. As a habitual litigant myself, I visited courts for my own cases involving criminal, libel and slander, as well as contract and election cases. I benefited a lot from the inspiration of Chief Akinjide, Aare Afe Babalola and various legal luminaries, from whom I learnt the basics of Sources of Nigerian Law, Evidence, Contract, Tort, Canons of Statutory Interpretation, Jurisprudence or Legal Philosophy, Drafting and the general publications like the six books of Lord Denning, Teslim Elias, all of T. A. Aguda, the nearest in judicial activism in Nigeria. So I have been lucky to be placed in Chieftaincy Affairs occupied by Alhaji D. S. Adegbenro, Dr Omitowoju, Chief Rotimi Williams etc, men who were born great, achieved greatness and had greatness thrust on them as my favourite English bard was wont to say. My dear reader, I wrote six definitive articles twenty years ago on the topics of Olubadan succession, Olubadan Advisory Council and the Seriki line tangle. I wrote these very articles in the Nigerian Tribune of November 4, 11, 18 and December 2, 9, 16 and 23 of 1996. They constitute an excellent dramatic throwback to the current situation. I have ever since given lectures to the Ibadan Progressive Union (IPU), who honoured me fifty years apart, both in 1962 and 2012. So also have I given the first Adelabu Memorial Lecture and perhaps upon their decision, the last to the prestigious Ibadan Foundation in 2008 and 2015, among several others. I am not a meber of the Foundation, IPU, although my father was the first Treasurer of the IPU Study Circle with Chief S. A. Oloko as the first President and Barrister Victor Esan, the first Secretary. The latter gentleman, my baptismal godfather, was the husband of Iyalode Wura Esan and the father of LASU VC, Jadesola Akande. The first was the father of Justice Atinuke Ige. So much for my antecedents. I was very close to the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Odulana and I advised him, building for him, fourteen definitive files on chieftaincies in Ibadanland, as Mr Muda Ayeni, secretary of the Ibadan Foundation would testify. With all the foregoing having been said, my personal library and those of Professor Bolanle Awe and Chief John Ayorinde, the distinguished father of the present Baale Ekotedo, Elder Taye Ayorinde, form a veritable source of information on Ibadan and

Chief Bayo Oyediji, head of Seriki line its history. Professor Falola is a recent wonder. My father was the Secretary/Treasurer of the Ibadan Native Administration when, under the second half of Abass Alesinloye’s reign the Olubadan position was extended from the exclusive prerogative of the Balogun line, of which Seriki line was a part and the alternation between Egbe Agba and the Balogun line began. Abass Alesinloye was Baale of Ibadan (1930 – 1936) and Olubadan (1936 – 1946), giving him a total of sixteen years reign over Ibadanland. I am now close to 81 and with all this experience, Ibadan Elders Committee does not deem it fit to make me a member of their closed group. I am actually amused by all this flight from truth, experience and various contributions to the town, state and the nation. I am amused and amazed and this is perhaps why it took them like ten needless hours to resolve a trivial matter of promotions which overheated the polity in Ibadan and led to an unprecedented advertisement to incarcerate the Olubadan and the nine lawfully promoted chiefs and the ridiculous demand for unconstitutional medical tests. I make bold to say that within the last two decades or so, a completely blind man succeeded in becoming the Olubadan! The Committee of Elders should beware of becoming an illicit and illegal clearing house for who could be governor of Oyo State. They have a right to join politics or even set up criteria for a good Olubadan. Oyo State is more than Ibadan alone. I was particularly appalled by one single statement that they would not have a person becoming Governor and Olubadan. If no one would challenge them, I would. This is a biased and pointed attack on Adewolu Ladoja of Isale-Osi. First, the Governor of Oyo State is not meant only for Ibadan. Alao-Akala was not from Ibadan. The Governor of Oyo State could come from Ibadan, Eruwa, Saki, Ogbomoso, or indeed any other part of the state. The Ibadan Committee of Elders

The Committee of Elders should beware of becoming an illicit and illegal clearing house for who could be governor of Oyo State. They have a right to join politics or even set up criteria for a good Olubadan

should note this. I have nothing against Ambassador Sanu. I adore him, eat in his house and commission extra chin-chin from his wife as much as I love the moinmoin of Mrs Bode Amoo. Chief Amoo is a distinguished, blessed and shrewd classmate of mine at our great school, St Peter’s Aremo, Ibadan, where I first showed signs of arithmetical prowess under class teacher J. A. F. Sokoya and headmaster S. A. Olukoya. The scarcely veiled attack on the inalienable right of Ladoja to be Olubadan and governor is not the business of the Ibadan Committee of Elders. May I end this part of my article that I can produce a logical counter example. In the Second Republic, HRH Alhaji Awal Ibrahim was the Governor of Niger State, a temporary post and he was and is a natural ruler of Suleja. That nails the coffin of bias against Ladoja. I have mentioned this because it may happen in the future and it is compatible with the constitution. Oba Odulana was a Federal Minister. Seriki Adisa Akinloye was also a Federal Minister as well as Chairman of the NPN. All the foregoing arose before the glorious exit of Oba Odulana Odugade I. This analytical continuation of my long essay concerns what I have chosen to call the Seriki gridlock. The principal aim is to prove beyond any iota of doubt that as the Seriki line is on the face of the statute, no Executive power can legislate it out of existence. Nevertheless, I want to show that the Seriki line, a long time ago in Oba Asanike’s reign, shot itself in the foot. The best evidence is the testimony of my kind uncle, Chief Bayo Oyediji himself. With the assistance of his competent lawyer, Barrister A. G. Adeniran, he had just put out in book form, a comprehensive case for the claims of his line. One or two people have pulled out of the line, like my friend, Chief Oyelade, the printer and publisher who played a significant role in my governorship contest in 1982 from Greensprings to Government House. Chief Bayo Oyediji has always provided me with all the documentation he puts out in his stolid fight for the rights of the Seriki line. Many of those he started with have gone the way of all flesh, such as the likes of the great Babasale, Chief Muibi Akanbi (M.O.) In Chief Oyediji’s latest personal publication, the preface is titled: “Reports from the Minutes of The Olubadan Advisory Council, held on Monday, the 21st Day of April 1987. Ibadan Chiefs: Matters Arising.” “After going through a declaratory statement on the definition, functions and

powers of the ‘Olubadan-in-Council,’ the extent of Olubadan over the entire Ibadanland, especially as custodian of customs and traditions, the Olubadan went into the issues of disorderly behaviour among the junior chiefs, he then came on to the crucial Kabiyesi’s announcement to wit.. “At this juncture, His Royal Highness, Alaiyeluwa Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanike I, Olubadan of Ibadanland, announced that all those who were recently installed as Chiefs in the Seriki line did not pay customary installation fees and failed to perform their traditional rites with the exception of one Chief Rasidi and as such they should not be regarded or accepted as Seriki chiefs.” Seriki chiefs: Matters affecting “The council unanimously decided that Seriki Line should not be constituted to the extent of becoming a major line, it should remain a subsidiary to the Balogun chieftaincy line. It should be further decided that Ibadan Municipal Government should be informed not to cater for more than the chiefs enumerated in its annual estimates, which invariably implies that no additional number of chiefs be included in the annual Estimates or paid for the Ibadan Municipal Government. “Oba Asanike-in-Council then went into the issue of PROTOCOL. Fifty-seven (57) chiefs were listed in an explicit order. For the interested reader, naturally enough the Olubadan was placed at number one, Otun Olubadan, number two, Balogun, number three, Seriki as number 11 and the Iyalode, number 12, whilst Osi Seriki, Ashipa Seriki and Ekerin Seriki were listed Nos 55, 56 and 57 respectively. This is significant. The council decided that any chief from Seriki line who opts to join one of the two major chieftaincy could do so on his volition at the rank of Jagun Balogun or Jagun Olubadan of Ibadanland. Chief Oyelade of his own volition availed himself of this option. The council finally asserted with grave concern about frictions and open conflict among junior chiefs and further asserted that Ekerin Balogun is senior to Seriki, Ekefa Balogun and Otun Iyalode are senior to Otun Seriki, etc. It finally stated that no Mogaji is senior to another.” The significant thing is that only a handful of chiefs is recognised on the Seriki and Iyalode lines which have in my own opinion arbitrarily extended their lines contrary to statute. The Seriki line was upset and their promotions frozen. The Seriki saga took some diplomatic turn under the personal initiative of a non-member, Barrister Oyelakin Balogun, who set up an unprecedented ad hoc committee headed by the then Are of Ibadan, Archdeacon Alayande as chairman. Other members were retired Chief Judge Fakayode, Alhaji Salami (Adajo), Alhaji S. A. Adewale, Hon. S. A. Ogunkeye (JCA), Dr V. O. S. Olunloyo (myself), Alhaji (Dr) Adebayo Adetunji, Venerable T. I. O. Bolaji, Dr E. O. Adetunji, Imam Inakoju. This ad hoc committee met several times in Arch Alayande’s Ode-Aje residence and eventually sent a signed communiqué to the Olubadan. For judicial reasons, in case litigation ensued, Justice Ogunkeye refrained from signing. There was a discernible balance in terms of both religious and political affiliation. The main recommendations were sent to the Olubadan and the two sides, Seriki and Olubadan (combined) urged to adopt one or the other alternative we gave them with the caveat that all litigation in court be stopped. To be continued

Friday, 12 February, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

The Imam of the University of Abuja, Professor Taofeek Abdul-Azeez, speaks with SAHEED SALAWU on insurgency and a couple of other issues affecting the polity.

it difficult. The average righteous parents are looked down upon today as idiots, fools. What do your children think about you? We feel we have done our best by sending them to the best schools but they look at us as mere fools.

HAT is the solution to insurgency in Nigeria? Insurgency cannot be permanently resolved because it is a monster that will always escape. It would run away. It may come back, it is difficult to kill. The factors that generated it are still there and nobody seems to be ready to address them. The factors are government’s negligence, irresponsibility, poverty, ignorance, etc. The government does not have the capacity to address these issues but as long as they remain present and active, we will always have insurgency. Therefore, what we can do is to control it and minimise it and perhaps stop the spread. But stopping the spread is also difficult. When we say insurgency, we should not zero in on only Boko Haram. Kidnapping and bombing and vandalism of oil pipelines are also insurgency, terrorism. The factors that generated Boko Haram generated these [crimes], too. If we say it is simply because people are not educated, we are making a big mistake, because very soon, the SouthWest that is most educated may experience a more sophisticated insurgency. This is because there are no jobs for up to 10 percent of those who would be coming out of school and then form an army of the unemployed and the unemployable. Due to the quality of education, these graduates will become more and more unemployable. And the army of the unemployed and unemployable people will join those who are already on ground. People want to survive. You have given them a very strange hope that the solution to all their problems is education. They have gone to school. They have come out of school. The education did not prepare them for independence, empowerment. There is no way they will eventually not take it out on the society. It is a reaction: ‘this society lied to me. This society deceived me. And this society is going to pay. It is either I deal with the society or I die.’ That is the thinking. That is what makes an armed robber take arms and then take other people’s property by force because he knows he cannot survive and he sees ordinary fools around making it, stealing ‘legally.’ So, he wants to also make it illegally. So, we should address the issue of education. Seventy percent of those who are in higher institutions have no business being there. It is because we don’t know what education really means and what purpose it is expected to serve that we engage our children in this frivolity called Western education. Urgent action should be taken from home, from individuals. There should be practical action taken for empowerment, encouraging family business, for example and making children go to school to acquire skills.

Corruption has gone on for so long in high places in Nigeria and the reality of it is coming to fore with the present anti-fight war of President Muhammadu Buhari. Do you think this war is winnable? We are on a good footing with respect to fighting corruption in Nigeria today. We have a man who is morally qualified and competent to do so, and that is the president. With everybody’s support, we are on course. It is almost certain that we are going to make it.

Even if the country is able to solve some of these problems that you have mentioned by focusing on right system of education, what about the global network of terrorism that exists today? That is why I said it cannot be stopped. It can only be controlled. When you give the right education to people and this education empowers them, you control it. Look at it: if a

What do you make of recent discoveries of Arabic inscriptions depicting, in most cases, the Kalima Shahadat or the word “Allah,” in unusual places like the bark of a tree? They may portend two things. They may portend that Allah is taking on the dawah Himself. They may also portend that something else is just happening. Maybe the devil is just creating an impression and causing confusion. But I do not see anything significant to all these. If those things are happening truly, we should also ask, what about other things that are not related to Islam and Arabic that are being discovered too?

Why insurgency is difficult to overcome — Prof. Taofeek Abdul-Azeez

professor earns N400,000 and an insurgent that does not go to school earns N500,000 at recruitment, do you expect this lucrative job to be ignored? If at recruitment, a Boko Haram person earns N500,000, even if he is a professor, you don’t expect him to abandon that kind of group. So, education will not necessarily solve the problem, because it [Boko Haram] is brigandage. And there is international connection. There is the [Cen-

tral Intelligence Agency] CIA connection. There are so many other connections that will continue to make it lucrative. That is why you can only control it, to a large extent, from your own country end but you are not likely to be able to stop it altogether. But maybe it can be solved if there is genuine, true Islamic education. But any education, enlightenment or world view that is not accompanied by material gain will make

There is hostility between Iran and Saudi Arabia, two leading Islamic countries in the world. What would you say about this? It is an old animosity. They have only brought it to the realm of religion - Shi’ite and Sunni, the Sunnis being the majority and the Shi’ites being the minority. Basically, it is being fuelled by the enemies of Islam, the United States and the rest of them. What is strange, however, is our [Muslims’] capacity to be available to be used all the time. This is the thing that is wrong with us. Saudi, for example, will always do the bidding of the US. If the US asked Saudi and other Sunni countries to fight anybody, including the Shi’ites, they would do so without asking questions. It is unfortunate but it is a fact. The world seems to be no longer at ease. There is unrest. Virtually everywhere, there is some form of war or terrorism... That is an indication that the world is coming to an end. These have been predicted long before.

When hijabis marched for modesty in Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu LAST week, hijab-donning Muslim women and girls in twin Ogun State towns of Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu joined others around the globe to showcase the Islamic practice of dressing modestly. The occasion was the World Hijab Day, an annual event that takes place on February 1 to encourage Muslim and non-Muslim women to wear the hijab and experience life of a hijabi woman (i.e. a woman wearing a hijab).

The women and girls, drawn from associations like the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) and AlMu’minaat Organisation, became cynosures as they rallied within the metropolises, bearing placards with various instructive inscriptions. Continues on pg32

islamicnews

Friday, 12 February, 2016

BOMYOF organises discourse on Valentine’s Day

Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (second right), exchanging pleasantries with the Executive Director, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF), Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, during a visit by The Muslim Congress (TMC) to the vice-president at Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. With them are senior lecturers at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and former deputy presidents of TMC, Dr Tajudeen Yusuf (right) and Dr Ismail Ibrahim.

The Criterion holds seminar on deviant ideologies in Islam THE Lagos district of the Criterion, an organisation of Muslim women in business and the profession, has concluded plans to hold its 1437AH/2016 annual seminar with the theme: “Discouraging Deviant Ideologies in Islam.” The one-day event is slated to hold on Sunday at the Lagos State University College of Medicine. The seminar, according to a statement by the district’s Public Relations Officer, K. O. Tijani, will afford the participants the opportunity to listen to inspirational and soul-lifting lectures from high-profile speakers with expertise in various fields on the theme. The seminar, which open to the general public, has topics such as “Manifestation of Deviant Behaviour,” “Group and Ideology,” “Misrepresentation and Misinterpretation of Islamic Teachings” with Alhaja (Dr) Lateefah Durosinmi and Alhaji Abdul-Lateef AbdulHakeem as speakers. The association stated that free medical checkups would concurrently be ongoing during the seminar while opportunity is available for buying and selling. The Lagos District Amirah (president) of the Criterion, Dr Yaqub Jameela said, the theme of the seminar was informed by the incidence of terrorism in the society. The objective, she said, was to enlighten Muslim youths and parents that there are some groups who profess Islam but have ideologies that are at variance with Islam. Dr Jameela said it was also to enlighten people on modes of operations of such groups, how they recruit, what parents should look out for to know if their children are derailing, among others. The association expressed the belief that “we need a safe and stable society for us to progress individually and as a nation.”

MURIC worries over Nigeria’s budget imbroglio

HE Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed worry over the controversy surrounding the 2016 budget proposal. The organisation, in a statement by its director,

Professor Ishaq Akintola, said it was surprised by the revelations emerging from the presidency and the National Assembly, noting that any delay in passing the budget has far-reaching effect on the economy

‘Oloso’s delayed professorship a trial from Allah’

FAMILY, friends and wellwishers, on Wednesday, converged on the central mosque in Oja’ba, Ibadan, to celebrate Kamil Koyejo Oloso over his elevation as a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Ibadan. At a prayer reception organised for Professor Oloso of Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan by the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), Oyo State chapter, a don in the department, Professor Saheed Malik, thanked Allah for Oloso for a fulfilled dream. Malik urged Oloso to see his delayed professorship and eventual elevation as a trial from Allah, having been due for the academic status as far back as 20 years ago. He prayed Allah to give Oloso the wisdom and health to enjoy his new position and urged the don to continue to be a source of inspiration to others. The chairman on the occasion, Alhaji Bayo Oyero, thanked Allah for making Oloso attain the peak of his academic career in his lifetime. Oyero, who is the chairman of Ibadan Muslim Community, described Oloso as a brilliant scholar. In the same vein, a scholar, Sheikh Habibulah Buhari, who delivered a lecture, advised Oloso to remain steadfast and continue to play a leadership role within the Muslim community. Chairman of the Muslim Community of Oyo State,

Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, recalled the various roles played by Oloso in the formation of NACOMYO in Oyo State as well as other Muslim organisations in the state. Sanni said the Muslim community was honoured with the elevation of Oloso to the status of professor, thus joining the league of professors that have been produced from within the Muslim community. Earlier, the NACOMYO coordinator in the state, Alhaji Dawood Afolabi, said the prayer reception was to express the association’s appreciation to Oloso for his role in the formation and development of the association in the state. In a remark, Professor Oloso thanked the organisers of the reception for the honour as well as those who were instrumental in the realisation of his promotion. Oloso prayed Allah not to let those coming behind him encounter the difficulties he suffered before attaining the peak of their professions. A prayer session was led by Sheikh Lukman Ahmad. Alhaji Yinka Balogun; the Iya Adinni of Yorubaland, Alhaja Sekinah Adekola; the Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan, Professor Abdul-Rahman Oloyede; Professor Afis Oladosu, Professor Ayo Ahmed, Dr Wole Abbas, Dr Dawood Alaga, Dr Junaid Ogundiran, representatives of the Chief Imam of Ibadan land, members of the Oloso family and Imam Abdul-Hakeem Afuye were in attendance.

and particularly on the masses. It recalled that the budget was once declared missing in mysterious circumstances with accusations and counter-accusations between the presidency and the National Assembly. “MURIC strongly suspects that fifth columnists are actively engaged in a bitter and desperate battle to re-open the drain pipes which the new regime has been struggling to block.

“It is obvious at this point, even to the blind, that there has been an age-long practice of siphoning the nation’s resources into private pockets through the doctoring of the budget on an annual basis,” the organisation said. Accusing the concerned department in the Ministry of Finance of ineptitude, MURIC called for the overhauling of all government departments and units associated with the preparation of the budget.

MUSLIM youths in Ibadan and its environs will on Sunday gather at the Islamic Centre, Bodija, to discuss the Islamic alternative to Valentine’s Day celebration. The discourse, being facilitated by the Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF), will hold at 11.00 a.m. A statement by BOMYOF chairman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated that a lecture entitled: “Expression of love amongst the Youths: The Islamic Alternative to Valentine Celebration,” will be delivered by Alhaji Lukman Tunde Fasasi. Fasasi, an educationist, sociologist and public affairs analyst, is expected to lead the discourse on the Islamic alternative to Valentine’s Day for the benefit of Muslim Youths. Balogun said the public lecture was geared towards sensitising Muslim youths to making judicious use of their time in pursuing things that are allowed and permitted by Allah. Many Nigerians will on Sunday, February 14, join others around the world to celebrate Valentine’s Day, a time when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship.

When hijabis marched for modesty in Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu Continues from pg31

For about one hour, along busy roads, they shared handbills and chanted motivational choruses. The Ijebu-Ode version of the rally, which had started from the city’s central mosque, took the participants to Imepe Road through Lagos Garage flyover, Ondo Road and Olisa Road, terminating at the residence of the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Salaudeen. Alhaji Salaudeen described the day as one reserved to recognise those who choose to live a life of modesty. He decried the level of immorality in the society and urged Muslim women to hold firm to their faith and continue to portray Islam in good light. The event was used to emphasise the fact that with hijab, millions of Muslim women are freely making a choice to follow God’s injunction. At a press conference, held at Ijebu-Ode Central Mosque Conference Hall, to commemorate the event, the Coalition of Muslim Women Organisations urged governments at all levels to allow free use of hijab by Muslim women and all lovers of hijab in the country. The leader of the organisation, Alhaja Kudirat Yeni Rabiu, described hijab as a unique identification for Muslim women aimed at promoting sanity and holiness. She sought an end to the harassment, persecution and emotional trauma the faithful often passed through for wearing hijab. Also, the Al-Mu’minaat Organisation congratulated Muslim women around the world and all lovers of hijab, irrespective of creed, race or inclination on the celebration. A message signed by National Secretary-General of the organisation, in Sagamu, Hajia Kudirat Adelase-Adedeji, however, said in recent times, the hijab had been subjected to controversies in Nigeria.

The organisation said “with dismay,” it experienced, watched and read about the intolerance of some groups of people and institutions who, prior to the December 2015 presidential media chat of President Muhammadu Buhari, had openly denied the hijabi women their rights. The message read in part: “Hijab is not a hindrance to smartness and diligence at work and neither does it debar Muslim women from sterling academic performance or skills acquisition. Boko Haram is our common enemy, not Muslim hijabis. Women and children generally are the victims of the evils being perpetrated by the Boko Haram. Let us collectively as a people join hands with the present government to fight the insurgency and not victimise or harass innocent and law-abiding citizens of our great nation Nigeria. “Furthermore, it is disheartening to watch the spate of indecency on the electronic media in different guise – musicals, videos, advertisements, etc, sometimes on the borderline of outright insult to the female gender. This is an open attack on our moral values as a nation and an open encouragement of incessant female harassment that has become rampant in our society. “To us in Sagamu Local Government and its environs, 2016 World Hijab Day is a passionate call to Nigerians and humanity in general to observe hijab, not necessarily the long garb. It is a call to clean speech, decent and educative electronic media programmes, positive attitude towards public institutions and responsibilities. “We are a nation in dire need of a clean slate. It is, therefore, incumbent on us to adopt the concept of hijab in all aspects of our lives. The change that we clamour for as a nation can only be achieved when we collectively and deliberately clean up the indecencies in our system (Allah will not change the affair of a people until they change what is in their hearts).”

Friday, 12 February, 2016

news

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Appeal Court refuses Gulak’s application seeking to restrain Secondus Sunday Ejike-Abuja

HE Court of Appeal, Abuja division, on Thursday, refused to grant an application brought before it by a former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmad Gulak, seeking to stop the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, from operating in that capacity. Gulak, through his counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, is seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining Secondus from continuing to act as the national chairman of PDP. PDP and Secondus, represented by Emeka Etiaba, also filed a motion for the court to make an order to stay the execution of the judgement and order of a High Court of the Federal

Capital Territory (FCT). The court struck out Gulak’s application for stay of execution of the decision of the High Court of FCT, while that by PDP and Sec-

Gulak and his group have been claiming that the court directed them to take over. Secondus is acting as the national chairman of PDP,

a position he occupied by virtue of his current substantive position as the deputy national chairman of the party in line with the constitution of PDP.

Grant Dasuki access to medical treatment, group tells FG By Tunde Ogunesan

A non governmental organisation (NGO) Sokoto Elders Vanguard, has appealed to the Federal Government to allow former National Security Adviser (NSA) , Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), access to medical treatment as granted by the court of law. The group, in a press statement signed by Alhaji Musa Umaru, advised President Muhammadu Buhari-led government that denying the main suspect in the $2.1billion arms deal scam access to

Globacom chairman bags Man of the Year Award CHAIRMAN of the Mike Adenuga Group of companies, Dr Mike Adenuga (junior),has been named as the ‘Man of the Year’ 2015. The award came from Nigeria’s leading society magazine, City People. The magazine in the citation for Dr Adenuga, said the award was in recognition of his humanitarian activities and business prowess. The award was presented to Globacom’s Group Executive Director, Mrs Bella Disu, who received it on behalf of her father at the Mike Adenuga Towers, headquarters of the group. City People said Dr Adenuga was chosen for the award in the midst of other prominent people such as Professor Attahiru Jega, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); formerLagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, President Goodluck Jonathan, for willingly accepting defeat in the presidential election and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for establishing Dangote Cement, in other African countries. The magazine added that the award is for Adenuga’s “silent philanthropic gestures across Nigeria” and his leadership role in the business sector in Africa. Still in its citation for the award, the magazine acknowledged that . Adenuga had remained steadfast in giving to various charitable causes over the years, describing him as a “self-effacing philanthropist.” “Last year alone, un-

of national chairman of the party within 14 days and further ordered that the person to be so appointed must come from the North East region of the country.

ondus for a stay of order was adjourned till February 22. It will be recalled that a High Court of FCT, had in a judgment, ordered PDP to fill the vacant seat

known to many, Dr Adenuga touched the lives of many people from the Arts to Music, Politics and Business and even ordinary Nigerians,” the citation disclosed. It added that Adenuga had over the last 20 years, made silent donations to about 5,000 elderly senior citizens as allowances on a monthly basis. And at the end of the year, he picked another 1,000 Nigerians across the country to endow and empower economically. “But as a rule, he does not talk about it. And those around him are expected to keep mum,” City People said. In spite of his towering achievements, he remains humble, down to earth and an embodiment of modesty. One of the world’s wealthiest men, Adenuga, sits atop one of the continent’s largest business empires which comprise oil and gas, telecoms, aviation, banking and real estate. In pursuit of its pan-African vision, his telecoms company, Globacom, which has operations in several African countries, in May 2015, made a $600 million bid for Ivorian mobile telecom operator, Comium Cote d’Ivoire, which has been grappling with debt and cash flow challenges. Adenuga was described as an example to every potential African business person; acknowledging him as “a quintessential businessman” and glowing example of the irrepressible spirit of the African entrepreneur, passionate, committed, resilient and hardworking.

medical attention could amount to condemning him even before his eventual trial. The group also berated the two agencies handling Dasuki’s trial, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and DSS, as acting like they are playing out a script to satisfy some “strangers.” “Dasuki, like many other people in detention, have become a case study of how not to treat those who require medical attention while in detention. Yes, they have a case to answer, but only living souls are taken to court for trial. “It is a known fact that people in detention sometimes fake being ill to get out of detention, but not in a case where the detainee is not even given the chance to be examined by any doctor. “Dasuki has been known to suffer some medical con-

ditions, he therefore, needs access to medical attention. At least, until the courts affirm that he is a criminal, he should be allowed right to his doctors. The situation now is that it is only his wife that is allowed to see him. Even his lawyers are not allowed to see their client except in court. “In all of these, many lawyers are watching without saying anything, but they know that the judicial system is being made to stand on its head. Something should be done to address cases like this (not for Dasuki alone). The international human rights communities should always rise to the occasion and help set things right so that we would not be setting the wrong precedence. “Access to medical and health care delivery is a right and not a spurious demand. Mr President

SATURDAY, 13 FEBRUARY, 2016

—Patrick Doyle

Plus

Model firms jostle for transformed bread seller

one is considered innocent unless proven guilty. The belief that an accused person is innocent is a legal right of the accused in a criminal trial, and it is regarded as an international human right under the United Nations (UN)’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “So, in the foregoing case between Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and the government agencies charging him for criminal misappropriation of public funds and other matters, he should be deemed to be innocent until the court decides otherwise. “It is however curious to note that not only is Sambo Dasiki being treated like a common criminal, his case is being bandied from one security agency to the other and the court orders for bail have been denied. Three times he had been granted bail and three times, he had been denied bail.”

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I don’t feel bad when I see young actors living large

should ,please, look into this and make the country proud as one that has respect for human rights,” he said. On the manner at which the former NSA is being treated or denied bail, Sokoto Elders Vanguard said that Dasuki’s treatment by both the EFCC and the Department of State security service (DSS) “has no doubt opened the two agencies to scrutiny about the real motives behind the case.” According to the statement, the group said “In saner climes, criminal justice system holds that a defendant or a detainee is innocent until proven guilty. The prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt each essential element of the crime charged. “The presumption of innocence is on the one who declares, not on one who denies, which means that

40 years after

Ibrahim Taiwo’s son speaks on ex-Kwara gov’s assassination

I have never bought guns or armed youths for election

—Senator Magnus Abe

“One of us asked what is daddy doing inside the hole (grave) there?”

Jemibewon: How I escaped Dimka’s bullets Book your copy today

Friday, 12 February, 2016

hers

Editor: Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

Did you marry your first love? J By Yemisi Aofolaju

ust 48 hours to Valentine’s Day, an annual ritual of celebrating love, the air waves, social media have on a daily basis been bombarded by activities and events lined up to make the day’s outing better than the previous year’s with a lot of innovations. Gone were the days when being one’s Val, if managed well, resulted in a marriage. It sadly appears that the fun associated or that accompanied the day is fast being eroded by the fun-loving youngsters who are just out there to have a feel of what it is to be in love. Gone also were the days when friendship did not go beyond being mutual friends or better still platonic in nature. Rather, the tag boyfriend/girlfriend has been misconstrued to be a lover. In the layman’s understanding, the word ‘lover’ denotes a man or woman you are attracted to and wish could be your life partner, and not just a fun friend who is at one’s beck and call. In those days, many Valentine’s Day-inspired relationships resulted in marriages that lasted long if not for life. But it is doubtful if the Valentine’s Day bonding goes beyond 24 hours these days as the essence of the day is fast losing its meaning in this part of the globe. Going down memory lane, a cross section of married men and women were asked if they actually married their ‘first loves’ whom they might have met probably by circumstances and not necessarily on the day set aside for lovers. It was not a joke, having these respectable men and women relive their experiences. Listening to them was quite revealing, touching and hilarious as it was a case of different strokes for different folks, especially as the greater percentage of the people who spoke gave varied reasons why they did not marry their ‘first loves’. The factors that played themselves out varied on religious biases, ethnicity, unpreparedness on either of the parties in the relationship, age gap and pay packet, lack of will to get committed, thirst for ‘tasting’ more in a game hitherto known as ‘peck and go’, among other germane factors. Consequently, Her Say, in her quest to know whether such moves eventually led to the altar or not, prompted this poser, ‘Did you marry your first love? If no, why?’ Quite a handful of the respondents shared their experiences. Taking the first shot is a man in his early 30s whose response was capital NO. He painted a scenario that suggests that his first love, whom he wanted as wife, only bolted away because of his pay packet. ‘My first love is equally a graduate like me and was introduced to my family who were all looking forward to the day that we would be pronounced a couple. After the service year, getting a well-paid job became a problem and I felt that I should put in for my Masters programme. We both agreed while I arranged for her training in a confectionary institute pending the time she too would get a job. Later on, I felt I was becoming more of a burden on my parents who had to give me transport

fare to school virtually on a daily basis for lectures; hence my search for a job. Fortunately, I got a job to cushion the effect of the financial burden on my parents who never complained. I

was temporarily relived, but this relief was short -lived as my handing over the appointment letter to my lover dampened my spirit. To her, I was wasting my time because in her estimation, I had not got a job! ‘I am sorry, you cannot be my head with this pay packet of yours’, she said. Before I knew what was happening, she dumped me for another man’, said Temitope Victor. A legal practitioner, who preferred anonymity, has this to say: ‘I never got married to my first love because I had the feeling that I was not comfortable enough to say ‘I do’. Age wise, I was ripe for marriage, but the absence of things that one could point to as signs of being a responsible man were not available. I didn’t have a car, good apartment, among other necessities to show that I was ready to be a breadwinner. All these cost my staying put with my first love. The resultant effect was my marrying late.” “As much as I would have loved to have my first love as my husband, the age gap was rather too wide. I had to sever the relationship because we were getting t o o used to each other. Can you ima g i n e that I was in the secondary school while my guy was already an under graduate. Though it was painful calling it a day because we were both sincere about our intention then, it was expedient for me to do so,” said Adama Chuks. “Getting married to my first love was an ambition that was stalled by my in-laws to be just because I was not from their part of the country. I am from Oyo State while she is from Osun. This singular reason was my albatross. I still remember the good times we had together. I am sure the lady will not forgive her parents for their standpoint’, quipped Sola David. To a man who did not want his name in print “No, I didn’t. Ask me why? It happened that the girl after my heart got pregnant for me prematurely. Premature in the sense that I was a student at that time. I pleaded with her to let us terminate it because I had nothing and I was still being catered for by my parents and too young to be a father. She hesitated for some time, and in the process, allowed common sense to prevail. As much as my heart was with her, I couldn’t be a father at that material time. I so much loved her, but she eventually dumped me when I was not forthcoming on the pregnancy.” “Why on earth would you ask such a question? I throw back the question to you, Did you too marry your first love? Her Say was asked. How many married people around can beat their chest that they married their first love? To satisfy your curiosity, I never did. Before I finally made my choice, I had promised at least six other girls my love when I knew within me that none of them qualified to answer to my name. All I saw in them was fun as they didn’t have the qualities of a wife. While the dating game lasted, I enjoyed their company until I met with one who best suited my expectation. I sincerely do not believe in sticking to just a lady. I envy those who could just put all their eggs in one basket! Since I have just one life, there is no point denying myself that opportunity. You know I cannot afford to continue to sample more ladies when married,” stressed Sam Idowu.

How many married people around can beat their chest that they married their first love? To satisfy your curiosity, I never did.

Continues on pg36

36 hersay

Friday, 12 February, 2016

oo much time spent playing video games also has all the same ramifications as too much time spent watching television. Kids get fat and don’t exercise. Kids don’t spend time with the rest of the family. Sex and violence portrayed in video games desensitises the player of those games. In fact, sex and violence in video games is beyond belief. I did some research and was amazed to see the graphic violence contained in many of these games. There is no reason for it and no good can come from them. There is nothing good about a game that allows you to beat a prostitute to death and watch her bleed out in the street. Or shoot people in the face to win more money to buy more guns or drugs. There are no redeeming factors to these games. The games come with warning labels and are rated, but I doubt many parents are overseeing what their kids are playing. Take control Take away the games that are rated ‘M’ or have too much violence or sex. Don’t allow your child to play a game that you haven’t

Parenting

The host of Straight Talk! With Olufunke Adetuberu cryonmenow@yahoo.com 08023242389

Video games

seen or done some research on. Limit the amount of time spent in front of the screen. This is another area in which you will take some flakes from your kid, but be tough. Of course your argument isn’t going to hold much water if you spend hours playing video games, too. Check the amount of time you spend playing before you come down on your kid for spending too much time playing. The Internet

The Internet is without doubt the most valuable tool to ever come along in terms of information accessibility. It is a great educational resource. It also gives access to every weirdo creep who has a computer. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn and all the other social networking sites can also provide scary opportunities for your kid to fall victim to all kinds of trouble. Here are a couple of ideas about keeping your kid safe First, you want to put the computer in a

common area where the whole family has access. Little good goes on behind closed doors when it comes to kids. Allowing your young child to have her own computer in her room is inviting problems. You also need to have open access to her computer. That means you have all passwords and get to monitor her e-mails and her social networking sites. Yes, she can still set up secret accounts, but you can’t control that. Control what you can. Next, have serious talks about the creeps and weirdos and pedophiles who use the Internet to take advantage of kids. Then, have a strong talk about sending pictures and sexting. Remind your kids that once it is on the Internet, the whole world will have access to it forever. Your kids are going to see this as a huge invasion of their personal space and be totally ticked about you having access to their computer and to their social sites. Tough. Do it. Listen to their whining for about a minute and then take control of the situation and take the steps above.

‘Did you marry your first love’ Continues from pg35

Another woman, who pleaded anonymity, painted a scenario that would discourage parents from imposing choice of a partner on their adult children. “I have struggled with myself all this while to put my past behind me because my parents are responsible for my being single at 40. They gave me a list of where I should not marry from and the first man who I would have settled down with incidentally came from one of the no go areas.” A respondent, who identified himself as Xtopher, has this to say: ‘ I didn’t, for the following reasons. In truth, we would have gone ahead to be one, but for the lady’s mother who insisted that I should first honour the family by changing to their denomination. I was so embarrassed to hear this for I am a Christian. I quickly added that if this single factor would be my cross I had better tell the lady to look elsewhere for succour. My reluctance to bend in this area prompted my signing off.” “We actually wanted to keep to our vow of being joined in matrimony, but my ego cost me the relationship in the first instance. Being a school prefect and a handsome young boy in my secondary school days was the point of attraction to girls. The only one whom I had the courage of asking out as a date was communicated through series of letters. Eventually, she agreed to be my love. But the fact that I couldn’t separate my office as a prefect from satisfying a lover in the area of bending the rules actually made me lose her for life. Though she wanted us to resolve the issue, but I was too full of myself thinking she would understand why I did what I did. By the time I realised my mistake to stage a comeback, she had actually given another suitor her word just three days earlier. I felt seriously bad about my action. Till date, I still regret my action. I met the lady a couple of months ago, as she never had a stable home,” volunteered Julius Oluyinka. “I will rather blame my inability to communicate effectively with my first love ever for a long time which necessitated her having to marry her tutor. Communication, when we were wooing, was basically through letters and cards. My being transferred from my initial location to the far eastern part of the country made me lose contact with my

We actually wanted to keep to our vow of being joined in matrimony, but my ego cost me the relationship in the first instance. Being a school prefect and a handsome young boy in my secondary school days was the point of attraction to girls

lady for more than three years. I didn’t know how to reach her all through my stay. By the time I resurfaced, she had given her tutor her word. Dating these days has been made easy because of IT revolution. I have learnt since then the importance of communication,” replied Abdul Mogaji. A middle-aged woman, who was not all that forthcoming, said she had several male friends as course mates without strings attached. “I was more of a triangular student on campus with no time for stuff like having a man as a first love. Somehow, all I knew was that I met the man of my dream.” She, however, tutored Her Say that having several admirers

does not translate into having them as lovers. “Parents’ insistence that their daughters bring home ‘white’, ‘red’, Christian of the same faith with theirs and several other excuses has been major factor scaring more young adults from making a choice. I have tried making up my mind, but often, the thought of my former lover’s parents’ draconian demands incapacitate my wanting to make another trial. I am still taking my time so as not to make the mistake of a lifetime,’ said Adonis Caleb. “What is the big issue in not marrying a first love? I decided not to marry my first love because I found out that our union

would not last for several reasons. Though he is handsome with a good job and very loving, he is hot tempered and an impostor who cannot see any reason why you must talk to another man without finding out who he is before acting and too clingy. I am a warm person who would not want to be caged and called names by a man who is suspicious of every move. Once I had noticed all these traits in him, I was the one who told him to look elsewhere. Though he could not understand me, I never went back on my words. I prefer being single to being in bondage just because I want to change my status,” recalled Xtie Banjo.

Friday, 12 February, 2016

With Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

thekitchen

valentine special...valentine special...valentine special...valentine special...

Lemon Chicken Served with Pasta or Rice

By Monica Taiwo

he most romantic thing you can do on Valentine’s Day is make a meal for the person you love. Cancel your reservation at that fancy, overcrowded restaurant and put on an apron. Try out these special recipes and you will be glad you did. It’s a whole meal consisting of desert and cocktail 4 skinned and boned chicken breasts 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 4 tablespoons butter, divided 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1/4 cup chicken broth 1/4 cup lemon juice

Desert

8 lemon slices 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Garnish: lemon slices

Preparation Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise. Place chicken between two sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; flatten to 1/4inch thickness, using a rolling pin or flat side of a meat mallet. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Melt one tablespoon of butter with one tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook half of chicken in skillet two to three minutes

on each side or until golden brown and done. Transfer chicken to a serving platter, and keep warm. Repeat procedure with one tablespoon butter and remaining olive oil and chicken. Add broth and lemon juice to skillet, and cook one to two minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet. Add eight lemon slices. Remove skillet from heat; add parsley and remaining two tablespoon. butter, and stir until butter melts. Pour sauce over chicken. Serve immediately. Garnish, if desired.

Warm fudgy pudding cake

For the cake: 1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon table salt 1/2 cup milk, whole or 2% 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla For the pudding: 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup cold water Vanilla ice cream for serving, optional Heat the oven to 375°F. Grease or spray with non-stick cooking spray an 8”x”8 baking pan. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt through a fine-meshed

strainer into a mixing bowl. Combine the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Pour the liquids over the dry ingredi-

ents, and stir gently with a spatula just until no more dry flour is visible. Scrape this batter into the pan and smooth the top.

For the pudding layer, combine the white sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa powder in a small bowl. Pour over the cake batter and shake the pan to evenly distribute the sugars. Pour the cold water over the sugars. Do not stir. Put the pan immediately into the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. As it bakes, the cake will rise to the top while the pudding forms beneath. The cake is fully baked when its edges turn dark brown and crispy, and when the top of the cake is shiny and dry to the touch. Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Scoop slices of cake and the pudding beneath into individual bowls and top with ice cream. Leftovers will keep refrigerated for up to a week and can be reheated for 20 seconds in the microwave.

Cocktail Rosé Champagne Cocktail 1 sugar cube 8 dashes Angostura or other aromatic bitters Chilled rosé Champagne Cut the sugar cube in half using a serrated knife or a sharp, thin knife. You will lose some sugar granules during cutting but that is ok. Place one half of the sugar cube on the bottom of each champagne flute. Add four dashes of bitters over each sugar cube and then fill the glasses with Champagne.

38 news

Friday, 12 February, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

Airforce releases postings and appointments of 66 senior officers Chris Agbambu - Abuja THE Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the redeployment of 66 senior officers, comprising 22 Air Vice Marshals (AVMs), 34 Air Commodores, seven Group Captains and three Wing Commanders. Those affected by the new deployment included two Branch Chiefs, two Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) and one commandant, while the newly appointed Branch Chiefs are Air Vice Marshal Ademola Jekennu, formerly the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at the Tactical Air Command Makurdi, now the Chief of Administration (COA) at the Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force and Air

Commodore Clement Ogbeche, who is now the Chief of Accounts and Budget, HQ NAF. Director of Air Force Public relations, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, who stated this on Thursday, gave the names of the new AOCs as AVMs Emmanuel Akogu and Emmanuel Agwungwu, who now head the mobility command, Yenagoa and Tactical Air Command, Makurdi, respectively. He said until their appointments AVM Akogu was the Director of Evaluation at HQ NAF, while AVM Agwungwu was the director of training, HQ NAF. In the same vein, AVM Christopher Gudi, the for-

mer director of Air Traffic Services at HQ NAFF now replaces AVM Mike Iloenyosi as the Commandant, Armed Forces resettlement centre, Oshodi. Also, AVM Lawal Alao was moved from the Defence Headquarters, where he was the chief of defence communication, to head the Nigerian Air Force Holding Company (NAFHC) as the managing director. According to him, the recent deployment was a routine exercise aimed at ensuring that NAF was effectively manned for operational efficiency and effectiveness, in line with the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar.

Lawyer files N1bn suit against Kanu Nwankwo By Yejide GbengaOgundare A businessman and lawyer, Ayoola Gam-Ikon, has filed a suit before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, asking it to order former Super Eagles captain, Kanu Nwankwo, to pay him N1 billion as damages, over what he described as his malicious prosecution by the police. Gam-Ikon, in his statement of claim, alleged that he was arraigned on a 19-count of fraud by the police following a complaint

against him by Kanu in March, 2013, adding that all the charges were struck out on July 30, 2015 by the trial magistrate, based on the legal advice of the Federal Director of Public Prosecutions, who absolved him of being culpable of the alleged offences. The lawyer claimed to have lost valuable time and years of his prime life attending court proceedings and facing trial and urged the court to award damages against Kanu in the sum of N1 billion. He further urged the court

FG, states must partner to tackle problems in border communities Leon Usigbe - Abuja VICE-PRESIDENT Yemi Osinbajo has said joint partnership between the federal and state governments is needed to resolve the deplorable conditions of border communities in the country. Speaking on Thursday while receiving the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments, led by its chairman, Senator Abdullahi Gumel and the Chief Executives of Border Communities Development Agency and the National Boundary Commission, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he observed that the conditions of border communities in the country were nothing to write home about. Osinbajo, however, observed that “without the states, we will not be able to achieve much, either with the border communities or the boundary commission.” He offered to make presentation to the governors

at the National Economic Council (NEC), in order to highlight the enormity of the challenges. “Border communities are places where you need to ensure are stable,” he said. He noted that a phased approach would be taken in solving the problems, considering government’s lean resources. Osinbajo also noted that roads, markets, schools and other social basic infrastructure must be provided at the border communities to avoid intrusion by foreigners.

to order Kanu to pay an interest of 22 per cent on the claimed sum from December 15, 2015 till the judgment day and 10 per cent interest on the claimed sum from judgment day till the claimed sum would be fully paid. The claimant claimed to have known Kanu while he was a banker with the Gulf Bank of Nigeria Plc, where he claimed Kanu had an account and he used to offer him financial management advice. According to him, he later ventured into the hotel business with Kanu after he quit his job as a banker, adding that Kanu and himself incorporated The Hardley Apartments Limited on April 22, 2004 on a shareholding agreement of 70 per cent to Kanu and 30 per cent to the claimant. He explained that in the course of running the business they saw the need for expansion, leading them to obtain a bank loan of N457 million to raise the hotel to the five-star status, claiming that trouble started between him and Kanu in the course of the loan repayment, culminating in his prosecution. The case seeking damages from Kanu was filed on Tuesday and was yet to be assigned to any judge.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olaifa Khalid O. now BADMUS OLAWUMI ALIDU. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Kareem Ismail Ayiki now ABDULKAREEM ISMAIL AYIKI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Muhabu Sodiq Eniola and Wahab Sodiq Eniola now WAHAB SODIQ ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Tiamiyu Ismail Babatunde Alfalahu now TIAMIYU ISMAILA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ugwu Cynthia Chinenye now MRS. UGWU CYNTHIA CHINENYE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Aderibigbe Kareem now YUSUF ABUDULKAREEM ADENIYI. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Oluwanifise Mary Kemi now YUSUFF MARY KEMI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Eco Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Olubodun Oluwatoyin Olubunmi now MRS MAKINDE OLUWATOYIN OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly Samuel Adeniyi Akanfe Lawal now LAWAL ADENIYI AKANFE SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr Afolabi Shangoniran Babatunde Wale now MR AFOLABI BABATUNDE WALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Adeyoriju Oyinlola Bolanle now MISS OGUNSOLA OYINLOLA BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Rabiu Surajudeen Wale now RAJI SURAJUDEEN WALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Arasi Adijat Oritoke now MRS SULAIMON KHADIJAH ORITOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Osho Adewale Ademola now OLULODE OLUMIDE OLAOLU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Ajakaiye Kikelomo Omotayo now MISS ADEYEMI KIKELOMO OMOTAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Rafat Banjo Bose now OLUSEUN BANJO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Alice Oyesola now MRS ALABI ALICE SAWOLA. All former documents remain valid. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Adewumi Oluwaseun Gbemisola now ADEWUMI OLUWASEUN DEBORAH. My correct date of birth is 24th June, 1985 All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adeagbo Nuratu now SAFIU NURATU ADEAGBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Umoru Evelyn Marvelous now UMORU SHAIBU PEDRO. All former documents remain valid. Sterling Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Ismaeel Taofik now TOWOBOLA TAOFEEQ. All former documents remain valid. Towobolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Compound, Sango, Saki and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Komolafe Ibukun Tomilola, also known as Miss Komolafe Ibukun Elizabeth now wish to be known and addressed as MISS KOMOLAFE IBUKUN. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Joshua Tolulope Sunday now AWOYEMI TOLULOPE JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunjimi Ronke Oludoyin now MRS ADEPOJU RONKE OLUDOYIN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Lagumo Sweze Sussie now AMADI SWEZE SUSAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akintujoye Janet Monisola now MRS. OGUNDARE JANET MONISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Michael Adewumi Adeola now OJEMAKINDE ADEWUMI ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinade Omolabake Comfort now MRS ADEBIYI OMOLABAKE COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olaide Damilola Oladimeji now MRS OLAIDE DAMILOLA TAYLOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Diekola Azeez now ABDULAZEEZ AKOREDE ANIMASHAUN. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Kazeem Austin Rasaq Oluwatobi now OTOTE AUSTIN TOBI OBEHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Obayemi Tolulope Faith now MRS ADESANMI TOLULOPE FAITH. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mgbonum Jane Chika now MRS OLADELE JANE CHIKA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Tabitha Timothy Bina now MRS TABITHA EMMANUEL M. BALA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Ayooluwa Olukayode Lawoyin now SAMUEL AYOOLUWA OLUKAYODE LAWOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adesiyan Ganiyat Adeola now MRS. OBALANLEGE GANIYAT ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Agunbiade Olutola Omolayo now MRS ODELEYE OLUTOLA OMOLAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ashaolu Adetola Olubukola now MRS. TUNDE ADETOLA OLUBUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Adams Zainab Titilayo now MRS ABISOYE ZAINAB ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adewole Adedolapo Olamiju now MRS. OLADEINDE ADEDOLAPO OLAMIJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adebayo Esther Omobolanle now MRS FARAYOLA ESTHER OMOBOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Olayanju John Oludele now OLAYANJU AKINTUNDE JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Farinu Ololade Adeola now MRS. OLUGBEKO OLOLADE ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Sulaiman Aminat Florence am the same person bearing Sule Aminat Florence. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SULAIMAN AMINAT FLORENCE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Amo Farm, First Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abe Ademidun Tolulope now MRS. TUNDE-FATI ADEMIDUN TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Okegbola Christianah Bunmi now MRS ADEYEMO CHRISTIANAH BUNMI. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyelade Misirafat Oyefunke now MRS SALAUDEEN MISIRAFAT OYEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Okolie Sunday Birthland now OKOLIE SUNDAY STANLEY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Abdulsalam Titilayo Meimunat Kehinde am the same person bearing Abdulsalam Titilayo Memun, Abdulsalam Titilayo K. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ABDULSALAM TITILAYO MEIMUNAT. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Taiwo Amuda Animashaun now MRS. ADEOYE TAIWO AMUDAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Basiru Moriamo Idowu now MRS SALAWU MORIAMO IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ganiyu Busayo Misirafatu now MRS OYEDELE BUSAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Micheal Deborah Oluwatoyin now OBAJILAYO DEBORAH OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olayinka Olufunmilayo O. now MRS. COKER OLUFUNMILAYO OLUBUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Akinola Nifemi Caroline now MRS. AKINOLA CAROLINE OLUWAFUNMIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeoye Adedoyin Adetayo now MRS. OGUNLEYE ADEDOYIN ADETAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olagbenro Seun Mary now MRS OWOLABI SEUN MARY. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Onovo Ikechukwu now JOSEPH IKECHUKWU. All documents bearing former name remain valid. UBA Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Isiaka Taibat Aduke now ALAHAJA IBRAHIM TAWAKALITU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mohammed Adebayo now HUSSAIN MUHAMMED ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mrs Babalola Ayobami now MRS BABASOLA AYOBAMI. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Sanusi Bilikisu Biola now MRS. JIMOH BILIKISU BIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mufuli Raimi now MRS. ANJORIN OPEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Iyanda Dupe Oluwakemi now MRS. LAWAL DUPE OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Salahudeen Kafayat Olafiku now MRS. ABDULAZEEZ KAFAYAT OLAFIKU. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, Oyo State Government and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Iposu Fatimah Folashade now MRS. ABDULAZEEZ FATIMAH FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid. Lead City University, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akinpelu Rukayat Olajumoke now AGBAJE RUKAYAT OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Sikiru Kafilat Opeyemi now MRS ABDULATEEF KAFILAT. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bamgbala Serifat Adetola now MRS AJIBOLA SERIFAT BAMGBALA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Nkiruka Eunice Okoro now NKIRUKA EUNICE OZUMBA. All former documents remain valid. O.L.A. Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, Oke-Ofa, Ibadan and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Eya Emeka Francis now EYA EMEKA SABASTINE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olawuyi Oladayo Rebecca now ADELEKAN OLADAYO REBECCA. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note. CHANGE & CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Miss Sunmonu Sherifat Kemi am the same person bearing Usman Sherifat Kemi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS OLOYEDE SHERIFAT KEMI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Union Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayodabo Bukola Bolajoko now MRS FADIORA BUKOLA BOLAJOKO. All former documents remain valid. OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Akinwale Seun Funmilayo now MISS OLALERE SEUN FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Lasisi Fatimoh Abosede now MRS OLALEKAN FATIMOH ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 12 February, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Uzoma Ann Agwulonu now MRS UZOMA ANN AGWULONU ALOZIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Mrs Bisi Olaoye am the same person as Mrs Victoria Aibinu Olaoye. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS BISI OLAOYE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Nike Azizat/Azeezat now MRS EDUN NIKE AZIZAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Bamayi Joshua now SAMAILA JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Dada Omolara Ibijoke now MRS ELETU OMOLARA RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mohammad Abacha now MODU ABACHA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. ADDITIONAL OF NAME

I, Princess Beauty Ughabojor now PRINCESS BEAUTY UGHABOJOR PEREKEME. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Esor Edith now MRS OMODE EDITH ONYEISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Salisu Timilehin Taibat now MRS AGBAJE TIMILEHIN TAIBAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Adeyemi Kehinde Shitu am the same person as Adeyemi Kehinde Azanat. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ADEYEMI KEHINDE AZANAT. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, LAWRENCE ADENIRAN FAROUNWO am the same person using these names: LAWRENCE ADENIRAN (NIG) ENT. and FARONUWO (NIG) ENT. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Fowowe Titilayo Margaret Oluwaseyi now MRS OPADAYO TITILAYO MARGARET OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunwale Oluwabisi Esther now MRS LAYADE OLUWABISI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Iyiola Kehinde Gbemisola now MRS OKUNOYE KEHINDE GBEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid. Osun Central Education District Office, Ila Orangun and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaide Bukola Yetunde now MRS BABALOLA BUKOLA FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Folorunso Abiodun Precious now MRS OLADELE ABIODUN PRECIOUS. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Sangodare Felicia Lawrence now MRS OLUWOLE FELICIA OMOWUMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Badmus Halimah Adeola now MRS YEKEEN HALIMAH ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oluwole Seyifunmi Damilola now MRS BADEMOSI SEYIFUNMI DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Adeyemi Muinat Apeke am the same person as Rasheed Muinat Alaba. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as RASHEED MUINAT ALABA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Ojo Janet Abosede now MRS ADEDIGBA JANET ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olomola Oluwabukola Omotola Aduke now MRS AKWE OLUWABUKOLA TOLANI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adesope Elizabeth Iyabo now MRS AKOJEDE KUDIRAT IYABO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olagunju Funke Wemimo now OYEBODE MARIAM FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Tijani Iyabo am the same person bearing Olaniyi Iyabo Mary. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS BOLARINWA IYABO OLANIYI MARY. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. SUBEB, Oyo State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ifediora Blessing Ebele now MRS OKELUE BLESSING EBELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ojelade Adesina Ojebisi now ALASILU OJELADE ADESINA OJEBISI. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Beke Yetunde Ileola now OKON YETUNDE ILEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeniyi Omotolani Oluwafunke now MRS OLOTU OMOTOLANI OLUWAFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ojedokun Esther Oyenike now MRS EKPEMERECHI ESTHER OYENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Adebimpe Eunice now MRS EMMANUEL ADEBIMPE EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Adebayo Adenike Adebimpe now MRS DADA ADENIKE ADEBIMPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Muraina Aremu Muidini now MR MURAINA KEHINDE MUEEDEEN. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly John Chijioke now UGWU JOHN SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ola Oluwatobi Abimbola now MRS ONASANYA OLUWATOBI ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adesina Oluwatosin Adeola now MRS OGUNDIMU OLUWATOSIN ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyemo Adeola Ayomide now MRS OLADEJO ADEOLA AYOMIDE. All former documents remain valid. OAU, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Awosan Oluwatosin Sarah now MISS COKER OLUWATOSIN SARAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abimbola Olajumoke Coker now MRS ABIMBOLA OLAJUMOKE ATEWOLARA ODULE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Nwofoke Patricia Ekojoka Ofili now MISS OFILI PATRICIA EKOJOKA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Sumonu Ganiyu Sunday now USMAN EMMANUEL GANIYU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adebayo Funke now ETUAZIM FAITH KIDO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Adebayo Olanike Fatimo now MISS KILANI OLANIKE FATIMO. All former documents remain valid. LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oriyomi Oluwakemi Keji now MRS IYANDA OLUWAKEMI KEJI. All former documents remain valid. Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mordi Ifeoma Winifred now MRS IDEOZU IFEOMA WINIFRED. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ojonimi Sunday Adaji am the same person bearing Ojonimi Sunday Ocheni. I want to be known and addressed as OJONIMI SUNDAY OCHENI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME I, Ubierohwo Elohor Joy my name was wrongly written as Ubierohino Elohor Joy. I now wish to be known and addressed as UBIEROHWO ELOHOR JOY. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Abubakar Salisu Umar now ABUBAKAR UMAR FARUK. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adefusi Motunrade Omolewa now MRS ADEBISI MOTUNRADE OMOLEWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Esther Edigue Omoiyekemwen now MRS ESTHER EDIGUE OSARO OJO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Onosivwe Ese now MRS TESSY ESE ONOSIVWE ODJIKO. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Mufutau Aishat Oluwatoyin now MRS OLANREWAJU AISHAT OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Atoyeje Tobiloba Jumoke now MRS LAWAL TOBILOBA JUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Michael Omita now EFE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mrs Bolanle Adijat Akinola now MISS BOLANLE ADIJAT AKANBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oseni Fatai Adekunle now AROWOLO FATAI ADEKUNLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Olaeya Surakatu Lola now MRS SURAKATU LOLA QUADRI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Adelegan Kehinde Joseph am the same as person Adelegan Kehinde Adebowale. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ADELEGAN KEHINDE JOSEPH. And my correct date of birth is 25/4/1972 and not 5/4/1973. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. UBA Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olafioye Victoria Ajoke now MRS EHINMISAN VICTORIA AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Miss Ajeigbe Olajumoke Khadijat now MRS OLADIPUPO OLAJUMOKE KHADIJAT. All former documents remain valid. EACOED Model High School, Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Napoleon Ehiabhi Oboze now NAPOLEON EHIABHI OSAZELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME I am Subair Olatoyosi Mercy but my name was formerly used as Zubair Olatoyosi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SUBAIR OLATOYOSI MERCY. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajibade Comfort Afolakemi now MRS OJO COMFORT AFOLAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. Local Government Service Commission, Abere and general public take note.

I, formerly Otu Sophia Oghenerukevwe now MRS UREFE SOPHIA OGHENERUKEVWE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Joy Aghogho Oboh now MRS JOY AGHOGHO NAPOLEON OSAZELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oyewole Christianah Tolulope now MRS ABIOYE CHRISTIANAH TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Aina Aderonke Oluwabusola now MRS HAMZAT ADERONKE OLUWABUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Yusuf Ahmed Alabi now MR YUSUF AHMED ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Popoola Toheeb Adebowale Oyetade now MR POPOOLA TOHEEB ADEBOWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Igboin Barbara Ohi now MRS MUSTAPHA BARBARA OHI (nee Igboin). All former documents remain valid. OOU, Ago-Iwoye and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Okpra Onya Ogbo am the same person bearing Okpara Onya Ogbo. I want to be known and addressed as OKPARA ONYA OGBO. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Nancy Iyabo Davies now MRS NANCY IYABO ISIOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyele Agnes Oluyemisi now MRS ADEBOWALE AGNES OLUYEMISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akintola Tolulope Opeyemi now MRS ODUTUGA ADEBOLA TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. I, formerly Miss Odewole Praise now MRS OGUNYALE PRAISE. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Omaku Oziohu Grace now MRS GRACE OMAKU FALODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Balogun Adenike Temitope now MRS ADEBIYI ADENIKE TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Oru Edna Tive now MRS UMUKORO EDNA TIVE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oluwabukola Folasade Adepoju now MRS OLUWABUKOLA FOLASADE OLUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Friday, 12 February, 2016 41 news Opposition Roadblock not crime prevention strategy—IGP Biola Azeez-Ilorin

HE InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, has warned state commissioners of police in the country against mounting of roadblock, saying it is never an effective crime prevention strategy. Speaking with officers and men of the Kwara State police command, during an official visit to the command headquarters in Ilorin, on Thursday, the IGP, who said the practice had to stop, told the CPs, the area commanders, DPOs to intensify efforts at regular supervision and monitoring of roadblocks to arrest officers mounting them. Arase, who lamented that the monitoring team had been arresting guilty officers on a daily basis, added that officers in the act, would be discouraged when regular and

effective monitoring is in place. The IGP, however, said roadblock could be unavoidable in some cases, adding that policemen could mount roadblock to detect and arrest car thieves in some locations where vehicles had been stolen. The police boss also emphasised regular meetings with stakeholders in a town hall forum, as a means of crime prevention and control. “I believe that you cannot police a community unless you are connected to the community. Community partnership in policing is very key. I will expect all

divisional police officers (DPO), all area commanders and even the commissioner of police to even once in a while assemble all the stakeholders in the state. “What we expect you to do is to be able to drag in members of the public to assist you with very good information that will help in your investigations. We will expect the DPO to organise at least, once in a month, town hall meeting with strategic stakeholders and win the hearts and minds of the people. If you continue to violate their rights, then they will not support you. “The issue we are facing

in this country is the poor public perception of police. They believe that the police are bad and corrupt, but none of them can do without the force. “So since they cannot do without the force, we have to respect their rights and ensure that their rights are not violated when dealing with them. The more we win their hearts and minds, the more they have confidence in us. “We cancelled the roadblocks and replaced them with the Safer Highways because we did not want you to start having problems with members of the public at the checkpoints. Most of those checkpoints

were not actually crime prevention strategies robust enough for you people to do what you are supposed to do,” he said. Also speaking, the Kwara State Police Commissioner, Sam Okaula, said the state command was in urgent need of six Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), adding that the command could not boast of one currently. The CP, who requested for supply of adequate riot equipment like tear gas smoke, said the command had always been faced with problem of inadequate serviceable patrol vehicles, arms and ammunition.

We’ll complete Zaria water project soon —el-Rufai Muhammad SabiuKaduna KADUNA State governor, Malam Nasir el-rufai, has vowed to complete the endless 210 million litres water project in Zaria soon El-rufai said this during an inspection tour to three water project sites in Zaria, on Thursday. The governor lamented that his administration had inherited billions of naira as unpaid arrears for contractors, but vowed to settle the arrears. “Our government will end the endless Zaria greater water project to serve eight local government areas. Our people have suffered enough over water supply,” he said “We are impressed with the level of work done and we will continue to monitor the project, even after office work. “With what is ongoing now, the project will be completed within the specified period. The foreign exchange affected our contractors, but more materials are coming soon.” The governor added that with the efforts being put in place, the project would be completed within the deadline as agreed by both parties. El-rufai, while calling on contractors to put in their best on the water project, said his government would not ask any of them to return part of project’s funds.

parties regain 2 more seats in Bayelsa Assembly Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa

THE Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has declared Alfred Belemote Watson of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of the Brass constituency two in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. The recent development, was however, not welcome by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, particularly as some of the executive bills from Governor Seriake Dickson might hit the rock in the assembly, owing to the influence of the oppositions in the House. In the ruling, the court upheld the earlier ruling of the state House of Assembly Tribunal and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Mr Watson his certificate of return. The INEC had failed to declare a winner in the constituency in the April 11 2015 election, alleging that the APGA candidate forced the INEC officials to write the result in his favour.

Chevron partners IITA, Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, inaugurating 1,500-seater capacity theatre, supported by the Provost, Federal College of Education, Zaria, Dr PIND, to train Muktar Maccido (right), on the campus of the institution in Zaria, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN 40 Deltans on Falae, others to witness reception for Akure monarch in Ibadan Agribusiness EMINENT sons and daughters of Akure, Ondo State, will gather in Ibadan this weekend to receive the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun 11. Prominent among them are former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Olu of IluAbo, Akure, Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of Ondo State, Professor Olu Agbi, Senator representing the state capital at the National Assembly, Senator Tayo Alasoadura and his House of Representatives counterparts, Honourable Afe Olowookere and Honourable Baderinwa White. According to a release issued by the chairman, Organising Committee of the reception, Dr Festus Adedayo, the event is being put together by the Akure National Union, Ibadan chapter, to celebrate the

paramount ruler of Akure, whom the statement said, symbolises the quest of Akure people to have “an Oba who truly represents their aspirations and is their own Moses at this time when there is a general awakening for Akureland to reconnect to where it belongs in the socio-political and cultural scheme of things.” The release also said that the reception would be witnessed by three commissioners in the Olusegun Mimiko government, the Attorney General and

Commissioner for Justice, Honourable Eyitayo Jegede, his counterpart in the education ministry, Honourable Jide Adejuyigbe and Honourable Sunday Awude, of the sports ministry. The event, which will hold at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan at 12 p.m, said the statement, will also have in attendance the President of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Wole Akinwande and former president of the council, Chief Bayo Oyero.

The release said the attendance of the CCII chiefs at the reception was important so that “the Deji could appreciate Ibadanland for accommodating his sons and daughters over the decades and for the peace and tranquility that exists between them.” On arrival, said the release, the Deji, in company of the Lisa of Akureland, High Chief Olusoga and the Asamon of Akure, Chief Olusanya, will pay a courtesy call on the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

US condemns attack on Borno IDPs camp Christian Okeke - Abuja

THE United States government has condemned the reported suicide attacks on internally displaced persons in Dikwa town, Borno State. The attack left some of the displaced persons dead with

many reportedly injured. In a statement issued through its embassy in Abuja, the US government extended its deepest condolences to the families of the victims. In the statement, US said it remains commit-

ted to assisting internally displaced populations in northeastern Nigeria through humanitarian relief efforts. It also pledged to continue to support the Nigerian government in its fight against terrorism.

Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

IN line with the call for diversification from oil-based mono-economy, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) is partnering the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) to train 40 youths on agribusiness in Delta State. General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, CNL, Mr Deji Haastrup, made the disclosure on Thursday, at the launch of Agripreneur Programme, at the office of PIND at Egbokodo - Warri. Haastrup further noted that the entrepreneurial train-the-trainee initiative is also in partnership with the Egbema Gbaramatu Central Development Foundation (EGCDF) and the Itsekiri Regional Development Community (IRDC).

communitynews

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Traditional ruler warns subjects against hostility to varsity community •As new OPU executives assume office Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

he Oloye of OyeEkiti, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju, has cautioned the people of the community to beware of acts capable of bringing revulsion against the town, especially as it concerns the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). Oba Ademolaju sounded the note of warning while speaking at the inauguration of the new executive of Oye Progressive Union, in Oye-Ekiti recently. The monarch was speaking against the backdrop of allegations of hostility of some indigenes of Oye, the headquarters of Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, to the university community, and cautioned the people to shun and resist acts that could damage the image of the community. Oba Ademolaju advised against unfriendly gestures, saying such attitude would impede the much desired progress and development of the community. Addressing the new OPU executive on the need to address the issue, Oba Ademolaju said: “I urge you to cooperate with the federal university to ensure a smooth town and gown relationship. I want you to address such issues as exorbitant house rents which some have accused our people of. Some of our people have also been accused of being hostile to students. “We must tell our people to be very careful so that we don’t jeopardise the efforts of government that had been gracious enough to give us the school which would bring more development to our town.”

On the new OPU executive, the monarch said their emergence was “a great development,” and expressed appreciation to the former executive, saying “you did well in spite of the daunting odds you faced.” He, therefore, urged “all

of you in the new executive to work in cooperation for the progress of our community,” adding that “God will make you promoters and builders of this town. I charge you to bring together all parties, especially the disputing parties, so that

you all can jointly develop the community.” He assured them that “I will always be available for you, feel free to come to me; the door is wide open for you, the Chiefsin-Council’s door is also open. To our people, let’s all honour our meetings

and support the new exco with money.” The new President of OPU, Mr. Akinbowale Omole, assured the community of “great performance during his team’s two-year tenure to run the affairs of the commu-

The member representing Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Dapo LamAdesina (third right), flanked by the Assistant South-West Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Adebiyi Babatunde (second left) and other NEMA officials, during an inspection of Oranyan Market, Ibadan, which was razed last December.

Lawmaker leads NEMA to inspect burnt Oranyan market By Moses Alao The lawmaker representing Ibadan North-East/ Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Adedapo LamAdesina, has promised to give succour to victims of last December fire disaster, which affected a large section of the popular Oranyan market in Ibadan. The lawmaker, who led the Assistant South-West

Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Adebiyi Babatunde and other officials of the agency to the market to assess the level of damage and quantify the losses of the traders, reassured the traders of his commitment to their welfare, noting that he would return to give them relief materials. After conducting NEMA officials round the market in company of the affect-

ed traders and executive members of the market association, Lam-Adesina told newsmen that he had communicated with NEMA office in Abuja immediately after inspecting the market and evaluating the losses to the fire incident, saying: “Before the election, we promised to ensure qualitative and responsive representation; it is our desire to partner with all major stakeholders to attract Federal Gov-

ernment presence to our communities whenever the need arises.” Also speaking, the head of the NEMA inspection team, Mr. Adebiyi, praised the lawmaker for showing concern for his constituents and sympathised with the victims, assuring them of government assistance, which he said would be given to them after necessary documentations had been completed.

Appoint Ndokwa into NDDC, group tells Buhari A pressure group in Delta State, Concerned Ndokwa Patriots (CNP), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint sons and daughters of Ndokwa ethnic nationality into federal agencies, especially the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). According to the group, Ndokwa is the only ethnic group among the five ethnic groups in oil-producing areas that have not been appointed into the

NDDC. CNP in a press release signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Victor Okuepusu, recalled that the Ijaw, Isoko, Urhobo and Itsekiri since 2005, when the commission was constituted, have twice represented Delta State as commissioner on the board, whereas no indigene of Ndokwa has been appointed to such position. According to CNP: “Ndokwa ethnic nation-

ality is host to seven oil companies and produces 200, 000 barrels of crude oil per day, and has the highest gas deposit in the whole West Africa. We also produce the highest quality North Brent Oil. There is also the Kwale/ Okpai Gas Recycling Plant commissioned by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida in 1987 which has metamorphosed into the Independent Power

Project commissioned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005. “The power plant is stepped-down into the national grid at Obosi, in Anambra State from where electricity is distributed to the entire nation yet the Ndokwa people have no light.” Concerned Ndokwa Patriots while backing the anti-corruption war of the President Buhari-led administration, promised that Ndokwa people

would continue to protect and preserve pipelines and oil facilities in the area. While congratulating the Minister of State (Petroleum), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, for the massive turnaround going on in the petroleum sector, the group also appealed to the Federal Government to site a big project in Ndokwa land given its contributions to the nation’s economy.

nity,” saying “we know that when we remember a day of oath-taking like this, we would be encouraged to work harder for the progress of the town.” Omole noted that “apart from our traditional institution, Oye-Ekiti Progressive Union, is another platform for any indigene of the town to contribute his quota to the development of the town. We have all been selected by our people and many of us have served in various capacities in OPU. I have once served as legal adviser of the union for 21 years. “ We have all agreed to give our town the very best of our service, but we also need the cooperation of our people. We don’t know more than others, we are just a vehicle through which our community’s dreams would be realised. We will encourage our youths on agriculture, we will empower them in this direction so that our youths can be independent and self-employed.” He explained that “part of our manifesto is to promote cooperation and unity among our people and we will do this by reaching out to disputing parties and bringing them to work together.” Omole also assured that branches of the union would be resuscitated to pursue peace, saying “we will also promote good neighbourliness, and settle our disputes with Ilupeju and surrounding towns without subjecting ourselves to oppressive tendencies.” He assured that OPU under his leadership would “ensure that transparency is our watchword, and to show this, we will like to disclose to you that our new vicepresident has just donated N500,000 as education endowment fund for our community. We are assuring you that we will use all monies put into our care judiciously.” New executive members of OPU include, Vice-President, Wale Adegboyega; National Secretary, Ade Ayeni; Assistant National Secretary, Kuteyi Beatrice Sola; Legal Adviser, Dare Owolabi; Treasurer, Segun Fayomi; Financial Secretary, Dupe Oribamise; Social Secretary, Esan Matthew; Publicity Secretary (PRO), Michael Inubile; Auditor, Tunde Adeyemi and Auditor 11, Richard Ojo.

Friday, 12 February, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

52 people killed in Mexican prison riot

OZENS of people are reported to have been killed in a riot and a fire at a prison in northern Mexico. The riot at the Topo Chico jail near the city of Monterrey broke out just after midnight. Smoke was seen billowing from the complex but officials in Nuevo Leon State said the situation is now under control and no prisoners have escaped. Crowds of people worried about relatives inside the jail blocked roads outside, demanding information. “I want to know that my daughter is okay. She is in the infirmary. There are children in there,” one woman said. The incident came just

days before Pope Francis is due to visit a prison in

the northern city of Ciudad Juarez, an area notorious

50,000 Syrians flee Aleppo fighting Syrian as ceasefire talk begins

for violence between drugs cartels.

Family members of inmates block a street outside the Topo Chico prison in Monterrey, Mexico. PHOTO: REUTERS/ Daniel Becerril

North Korean executes army officer for ‘misuse of authority’ A senior North Korean military leader has been executed for “factionalism, misuse of authority and corruption,” a South Korean government official with knowledge of North Korean affairs told CNN Thursday. The official, who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity, declined to give further details on how or when General Ri Yong-gil, chief of the North Korean Army’s general staff, was executed. David Kang, a professor of international relations at the University

Footage on the school’s security cameras showed it attacking a man near a swimming pool. PHOTO: Press Trust of India.

refugees wait for food near a refugee camp in Bab Al-Salama city, in northern Syria. PHOTO: [Sedat Suna/ EPA]

of Southern California, told CNN the move appeared to be a show of strength by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Ri’s execution is the latest in a string of high-profile officials that have been purged in a dramatic fashion. “It is another way for Kim Jong Un to show he is in power. He is still young, and still learning who is on his side and who is not,” said Kang. “The people who are on the wrong side become disposable.” Kim Jong Un

RUSSIA is ready to discuss a possible ceasefire in Syria, an official said on Thursday, before a crucial meeting of major powers in Germany on how to end the five-yearold Syrian civil war. “We are ready to discuss the modalities of a ceasefire in Syria,” Gennady Gatilov, the deputy foreign minister, was cited by the TASS news agency as saying. “This is what will be talked about in Munich.”

Citing an unnamed Western official, the Reuters news agency reported late on Wednesday that Russia proposed a ceasefire to begin on March 1. International powers, including Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Iran, were to meet on Thursday in Germany in a bid to resurrect Syrian peace talks in Geneva that were postponed earlier this month.

UAE names first minister of state for happiness A woman will lead the United Arab Emirates’ attempt to secure happiness for its citizens after being named the country’s first ever minister of state for happiness. Ohood Al Roumi’s appointment to the position was announced on Wednesday via Twitter by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister, ruler of Dubai and the vice president of the UAE. “National happiness isn’t a wish. Plans, projects, programmes, indices will inform the work of our ministries to achieve happiness,” he wrote on his official Twitter page. Al Roumi will also con-

Ohood Al Roumi’s

tinue serving as the directorgeneral of the prime minister’s office, a position she currently holds. Along with her roles in the UAE, the United Nations Foundation selected Al Roumi last year to be a member of its Global Entrepreneurship Council. She is the first Arab member of the body.

otherNEWS India schools shut in Bangalore over leopard fears MORE than 100 schools have been closed in Bangalore after reports that another leopard was sighted on the outskirts of the Indian city. Residents were asked to stay indoors and police and forest officials were trying to track the elusive cat.

A male leopard entered a city school on Sunday and injured six people who tried to capture it. A scientist and a forestry employee were among those mauled during the 10-hourlong effort to corner the animal.

The latest sighting was reported by a construction worker on Wednesday at Nallurhalli, near Whitefield area, BBC Hindi’s Imran Qureshi in Bangalore reports. “We have formed teams of forest and police officials

who are moving around the area but there is no sign of any leopard or its marks,” Karnataka’s chief wildlife warden Ravi Ralph said. On Thursday, authorities ordered 129 schools, including 53 government schools, to remain shut.

Attacker killed six Saudi Arabia AN attacker has opened fire at an education department office in Saudi Arabia’s southern Jazan province, killing six employees, officials have said. Two other people have been wounded in the assault, in the remote community of Ad Dair, next to the border with

Yemen. The attacker has been arrested, an official said. No motive has been given for the attack, and authorities say they are treating it as a criminal act. The suspect has not been identified but the AFP news

agency, quoting Al-Ekhbariya State television, reported that the man was not an employee but had some business at the ministry. Earlier reports suggested the attacker was a teacher. Criminal mass shootings are rare in Saudi Arabia but the

country has faced recent attacks by the so-called Islamic State. Saudi Arabia has led an air campaign against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen and violence in the border region has been frequent in recent months.

Ambulances gathered outside the building where shooting reportedly took place. PHOTO: AP

features ‘But for Buhari, I would have left Nigeria with my investments’

Friday, 12 February, 2016

not believe in the potential for local manufacturing at the time. However, today, I have floored all of them, and in fact, some of these banks have indicated interest in supporting the business now. You cannot adopt the economic policies of another country here and expect them to work without expecting hitches. Even in Nigeria, what works in Lagos may not work in Anambra. Enough of theory and borrowed economic policies; we need support for local manufacturing industries. I call on President Buhari to consider setting aside the Ministry of Industry. If that ministry gets as much attention as agriculture, things will become better. For over 20 years now, there has been no new industrial estate. This is because there is now more focus on trade than industry. More efforts should be put into industries.

Continues from pg44

boost these foreign businesses but they have only helped Nigerians to gradually commit suicide. There have been reports that 91.1 per cent of these tomato paste products are fake, yet they are in the market. Why? Nobody seems to be listening. This is not about the money but about the passion I have for the country. If not for President Muhammadu Buhari, I would have left. Your major raw material production comes from the North. With the rate of insurgency, how do you cope? I grew up in the North and, in all fairness, it is the safest place in the country to live. There is honesty there. I prefer to be in the North 24 hours a day. People like me who have spent reasonable time there will not like to live in other places. The North is a viable environment for business. It is not fair that there are not many factories in the North. That’s why I want to build even bigger factories in the North. This is because, here, from the gateman to my assistants, one needs constant monitoring. With the falling price of oil, how do you feel now that Nigeria wants to explore other means to generate revenue, especially agriculture? I’m happy that oil price crashed and if I have my way, we will have nothing like oil. Look at the example of China. They have no oil, yet they boast of one of the greatest economies in the whole world. Oil has done more harm to us than good. Agriculture has a lot of potential for our economy, especially as we have the favourable environment for it. As far as I’m concerned, our products have more quality. We need to ensure that indigenous industries flour-

Umeofia ish if we want to make headway and encourage Nigerians in Diaspora with huge investment potentials to come back. Diversifying our economy is not simply by word of mouth. Even God, in the creation of man, put in physical effort. We can’t just fold our hands and say we want to diversify the economy. There has to be impact. There should be a call for national economic summit of serious indigenous manufacturers and they should be given targets on how to improve the economy, and also given support. That alone would save this nation. What we are currently

working on – using our local tomatoes to produce paste – has never been done in Nigeria before. This was only made possible as a result of President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy. This is also in line with the support of the CBN, although much of the funding was from personal efforts. I tell you, without borrowing one dollar, if Nigeria makes good policies to support indigenous manufacturing, it is just a matter of time before we become the envy of the whole world. Sadly, many of our so-called professionals, even bankers that paraded international certificates, did

Apart from the issues of past government policies, why do you think Nigerians seem to prefer imported products? This is because our government policies support import. In times past, apart from the fact that the incentives to ensure successful production were not available, many local manufacturers had no say before the government of the day. Thus, manufacturing cost was high and import was cheap. By the time government ensures the right policies are in place to improve local production, soon, many of these foreign businesses which have turned Nigeria to a dumping ground will leave because they will be frustrated, since things are now working. I can vouch for President Buhari’s sincerity to make Nigeria better but for the ministers, I’m still watching. Even without oil, Nigeria has a very buoyant economy.

Grace and Glory Int’l College holds interactive session

HE management and staff of Grace and Glory International College and its Nursery and Primary Schools, Ota-Efun, Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, held their new year interactive session with parents, teachers and students. At the event, the proprietress, Mrs Omowumi Adeniran, who noted that the vision of the school is to produce future leaders with distinctive moral values, stated that “we train up our students in the way of the Lord and influence them with examples in the form of good teachers who are their role models.” The school, which excels in all ramifications, has set the standard for quality edu-

cation through the introduction of training in the use of computer technology, provision of quality, accessible and affordable education, as well as seasoned professionals as teachers. The Executive Manager and Principal of the school, Mr Oluwadara Adeniran, in his address, spoke on rebranding, and the brilliant outings the school has featured in. For example, in December 2015, the school was the only secondary school that participated in a special Christmas carol organised by OSBC Ile-Awiye, at Aurora Events Centre, Osogbo, which had the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, and other state dignitaries, gospel artistes and choir groups in attendance.

A parent, Mr I.A. Jolaoye, thanked the school for ensuring security and also commended the efforts of the staff. Former Osun State Overseer of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor John Biola Adeniran, in his charge, based on Matthew 11:28, Isaiah 50:7, Palm 27:1 and Isaiah 55:6, encouraged parents to always seek

God as the ultimate solution. Present at the session included Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, Prof. A.O. Alalade; PTA Chairman, Mr S.A. Olarewaju; School Visiting Manager, Mr Segun Adeniran; Pastor Mark Debo Taiwo and the PTA Secretary, Mrs O.O. Oladeji, among others.

1. Students of Grace and Glory International College Ota-Efun, Osogbo with Pastor John Biola Adeniran and Mrs Omowumi Adeniran and other members of the schools management team at the interactive session of the school with parents, teachers and students on the school premises. 2. From left, PTA Chairman, Mr S.A. Olanrewaju; Pastor John Biola Adeniran, Proprietress, Mrs Omowumi Adeniran and the school Executive Manager /Principal, Mr Oluwadara Adeniran, during the interactive session at the school hall. 3. A cross section of the parents, teachers and students at the interactive session at the school hall.

features

Friday, 12 February, 2016

Folake Adesanya with her crutches

Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju (second left), showing visitors round the Mother and Care facilities.

“

A visit to the Ondo State Medical Village reveals how the state is gradually becoming a medical attraction, which is gaining attention from all parts of the country. VICTOR OGUNYINKA writes on the government’s plans to sustain the facility.

had my two children at the Mother and Care Centre in Ondo town and I live in Akure. I delivered both babies through caesarean sections and I didn’t pay a kobo on both occasions.” These were the words of Yemisi Olotu, one of the countless beneficiaries of the Ondo State health structure. When it comes to health, the Sunshine State has created a niche for itself, basking in the euphoria of many first achievements. The state has the first medical village in the country; housing a trauma and surgery centre; a kidney care centre, mother and care hospital and, indeed, the first University of Medical Sciences in West Africa, all functioning as independent institutions. Before now, Ondo State held the record for the worst maternal mortality rate in the South-West of Nigeria, and one of the worst in the country. Against this backdrop, the state government, according to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, led by the governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, declared a state of emergency on the health shortcomings in the state and introduced a transforming agenda for the sector. Dr Adeyanju explained that a lot has happened in the last four years, stating that “health must be given the right priority if we must move forward as a nation, because it has a way of affecting productivity and an indirect impact on the GDP. “When we had a three-year impact assessment, we were only able to succeed in reducing maternal mortality from 745 to 100,000 life births to 317 to 100,000 and this is empirically based in all the survey we have conducted using the sisterhood method, the one conducted by the Institute of Public Health, even the CEMDOS, (Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Death in Ondo State) reports, the rate was just hovering around 317 and 327, meaning that we were only able to do about 50 per cent in about three years. We realised that most of those deaths occur with Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).

Ondo: New medical tourist destination “We then partnered with the TBAs by asking them to refer every pregnant woman to the Mother and Child Centre and they get a coupon of N2,000 in return. This partnership has further helped us reduce our maternal mortality from 317 to about 172 per 100,000 births.” While speaking with a surgical resident at the trauma and surgical centre, Dr Samuel Ajekwu, who played the role of a tour guide, explained that over 3,000 surgeries had been performed in the centre since its inception in November 26, 2013. Ajekwu explained that the “hospital is designed to take care of emergencies and to take care of elective cases (individuals who come in themselves with diseases). The fact that we categorise them into two makes it very simple. “The emergency case is such that when an individual comes in a very critical state, the individual is not required to pay any fee; what we do is that with the accident and emergency teams already on ground, if the patient needs a surgical intervention to save his life, the patient would be taken to the theatre immediately. When that is sorted

out, we can then begin to talk about money so that further treatment can continue, but the life must be saved. For those who come in a pretty stable state, they come to the clinic, they are booked and they make their full payment before treatment commences. So, it is a win-win situation. “Everything just seems different to what you see in other places. For instance, if a patient needs to get drugs, the family doesn’t need to start running helter-skelter; we have some staff who would take care of that. Every section in the hospital is proxy to the other and as such, one doesn’t need to walk for long before getting to one’s destination. Some of the surgeries we have performed include: Hip surgery, titanium elastic nailing system, cardiovascular surgeries, pace maker surgery for people that have failing hearts. We have done vascular repairs too, spine surgery and many others,” he said. Sustainability has proven to be a major challenge in development. Every government seems to always start from the scratch majorly because there is no structure of continuity and more so, for political reasons.

Dr Samuel Ajekwu showing a facility at the Trauma and Surgery Hospital to visitors.

Dr Ajekwu hoped that by the time the present administration ends in October, “the subsequent ones would keep this place alive because this is a veritable place. The truth is that if you have a standard health system that is working with good equipment, some of those going around seeking for good health in other countries will stop. I wish that just the way Ondo State has invested vehemently in the health sector, other states and the Federal Government would follow suit.” While reacting to questions on sustenance of the health facility by subsequent government, Dr Adeyanju noted that building a continuous structure has been the strongest point of the Olusegun Mimiko-led government, hinting that the electorate who have benefitted largely from the present structure would guard against a collapse. “To ensure that this project continues, we are sending some bills to the state House of Assembly according to our resolution in the last Council of Health meeting. The chairman, House Committee on Health was there, a representative from the Ministry of Justice was equally there to ensure that they have a proper understanding, so that when they are crafting these bills, they will be able to ensure speed and take prompt action on the bills. “About Agbebiye, after we registered the TBAs and asked them not to take delivery anymore and refer to trained doctors, we then gave them training on vocations; cake and bead makings, tie and dye, because you can’t relieve someone of a business and not provide an alternative. The people were certificated and we gave them a soft loan of N100, 000 as start up. We didn’t stop there, we also patronise those things they make; we are their first customers. In fact, for our guest who came from Chatham House, it was the Agbebiye Kampala we gave to him and he was so excited about it. We also have people we call the Abiye Vanguards, who ensure that these people don’t go back to delivery. We have about 417 of them in the entire state and we have over 5,000 registered TBAs in the whole state; you can imagine the kind of havoc they would have wrecked. The point is that it has a community component.” Meanwhile, Areyomi Temitayo, who accompanied his sibling with a growth in his nostril to the hospital, described the attention from the staff as satisfactory, adding that he had waited for only 10 minutes but optimistic that it would be a very short wait. Another patient, Folake Adesanya, who came for routine checkup after being discharged following a ghastly accident that had denied her walking for weeks said: “I had an accident two months ago that affected both legs and my pelvis and I can walk already, I am just waiting for the doctors to give me their consent on this. Everything about this facility is excellent. I am here for physiotherapy, where they’ll teach me how to use the crutches and in no time, I’ll be back on my feet again.”

Friday, 12 February, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Quadri

Quadri, other African stars begin race for ITTF W-Cup slots

LAYERS have started arriving in Khartoum, Sudan, for the 2016 ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup, which serves as qualifiers for the ITTF World Cups. With Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria and Congo Brazzaville presenting two players each in the men and women events, while Congo DRC, Djibouti, Ghana, Libya, Madagascar, Togo, Tunisia, Cameroon and host – Sudan have their representatives at the two-day tournament. Already, Egypt’s Omar Assar and Dina Meshref have been seeded number one respectively in the men and women events, while the tournament would provide another platform for Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Egypt’s Assar to renew their continental rivalry in which the Egyptian dominated the Nigerian throughout 2015. The players and officials are now set for the draws for the tournament tomorrow at the International Conference Centre in Khartoum, venue of the championship. The 16 listed players will be drawn into four groups of four, while matches will be played in a round-robin format. The top two players in each group advance to the knock-out stage. The first day of the competition – Sunday, February 14, will witness the group matches with the two top players emerging on the same day. The knockout matches will hold the second day – Monday February 15 with the winners

in the men and women emerging to become the continent flagbearers at the 2016 ITTF World Cups. According to the President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, everything has been put in place by the Sudanese government to ensure a hitch-free competition. “I am so satisfied with the quality of organisation for the event and I believe it will be quite high enough especially after knowing

that the Sudan vice president and the Minister of Sports have guaranteed ITTF and ATTF that all facilities will be available more than expected,” he said. El-Salhy believes the tournament would provide the players the opportunity to tune up for the World Team Championship in Malaysia. “It is clear that all top players in Africa are well prepared for the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup

trying to qualify for 2016 ITTF World Cups, followed by the final Olympics qualification to select the remaining two slots in men and two in women to fulfill the African quota for Rio Olympic Games. And don’t forget that most of those top players are putting in mind also the Perfect 2016 WTTC in Malaysia due to its importance for ITTF rankings that will affect the qualification for team event for Rio 2016.”

Teams impress Kano Commissioner at Ramat Cup KANO State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Yusuf Gawuna has expressed satisfaction with the standard of play displayed by teams taking part at the ongoing annual YSFON Ramat U-16 Cup. The Ramat Cup soccer tournament, one of the major championships in YSFON’s annual calendar kicked off on Monday at the Mahaha Stadium, Kano and will be rounded off on Sunday. According to Gawuna, who doubles as National President of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), the good football artistry displayed by teams from Lagos, Ogun, Katsina and Rivers is an indication that the Federation’s tournaments has been improving over the years. “I am highly impressed with what I saw during the match between Lagos and FCT, Abuja which Lagos won 3-1. I am also

elated by the standard of football displayed by teams from Ogun, Katsina and Rivers which goes to show that Nigeria boosts of a lot of talents in football. “It is important that national team coaches avail themselves the opportunity of attending YSFON-organised tournaments, as it would help them to discover tal-

ents that would make the country proud in international age group competitions,” noted Gawuna Also, secretary of Katsina State Football Association, Alhaji Sanni Tinau noted that the quality of football displayed by the teams is an indication that YSFON is still the leading body in grassroots football development in the country.

Pillars, Supreme Court clash in Gold Cup final KANO Pillars FC will today face Supreme Court in the final of the third Gold Cup Pre-Season tournament billed for the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode. The organising committee of the tournament, has offered assurances of a memorable experience for the finalists, fans and top football administrators that would be in Ijebu-Ode for the grand finale. General Coordinator of the tourney, Tunde Shamsudeen, said all the teams that participated benefited from the tournament, as it offered them the opportunity to have first hand assessment of their players, prior to the new football season scheduled to kick off next week. The winner would go home with a giant trophy donated by Senator Abdul Fatai Buhari, while both teams will be entitled to a set of jerseys from OWU Sportswear Ventures.

Danish team invites Kogi Utd player, Jerome for trials DANISH second division club, Akademisk Boldklub, AB has invited Kogi United striker, John Jerome for trials with option to secure contract. Jerome, who joined the Confluence club midway through last season, scored three goals in six appearances for Kogi United. He has since arrived in Gladsaxe, Copenhagen on Thursday where he’s expected to convince

the coaches and officials of AB that he deserves a full contract through her performance in training and in selected matches. Chairman of Kogi United, Abdul Sule, who brokered the opportunity for the trials was a former player of the club and ambassador for the Danish based sportswear company, Hummel. Meanwhile, Jerome promised to

make good use of the opportunity which would serve as gateway for other players to join clubs in that area. “I feel delighted with this chance to continue my career in Europe, it’s a rare opportunity, I thank the chairman and those who make this happened and I promise not to disappoint them and be a good ambassador of Kogi United and Nigeria.”

SIDELINES

FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2016

NO 16,435

N150

Nine hundred thousand pieces of condom were given out at the justended Carnaval de Barranquilla in Colombia as part of the country’s effort to keep couples from getting pregnant until the Zika outbreak can be better managed. Hmmm, the Zika ‘season’ is one that randy men would pray last forever for them to continue to sow their wild oat without facing the consequences.

Glo-LMC partnership ends

Barca chief rules out Neymar exit

THE sponsorship agreement between National telecommunications company, Globacom and the League Management Company (LMC) under which Glo had sponsored the Glo Premier League for over a decade, has officially ended. The last sponsorship agreement which ended after the 2016 Super Four competition started in the 2012/2013 league season. Globacom has been sponsoring sports in Nigeria since 2003 when it rolled out services. The company, over this period demonstrated its commitment to the development of Nigerian football by committing enormous resources to support the Nigerian national teams, the Nigerian Premier League and other football initiatives. Over N8 billion has been spent by the company over this period to promote the Nigerian Premier League. Apart from this, Glo also committed huge sums to sponsor the national teams and other sports sponsorships in the last 12 years. The Nigerian Football Supporters Club have also been under Glo sponsorship since 2003 which ensured the presence of the club at the venues of tournaments anywhere in the world to cheer the league clubs and the national teams to victory. The League Management Company took over the running of the league in 2012 and Globacom also renewed its sponsorship of the league worth billions of naira, thus supporting the new management who went on to restructure the league.

DESPITE increased talks that Brazilian star, Neymar will make a sensational move to the English Premier League this summer, Barcelona’s vice-president, Carles Vilarrubi has refuted such claims; declaring that the talented forward is going nowhere. Neymar has a contract with Barcelona till 2018 and while the media is awash with talks of joining either of the Manchester teams for an audacious £145m transfer fee, Vilarrubi said the Brazilian will instead be signing a new contract with Barcelona. “Neymar will renew his contract,” a defiant Villarrubi told Radio Catalunya. “It will be when he wants, and when the club wants. We are absolutely certain. “He is committed to the team and is happy with his teammates. The club gives him a lot of happiness.” Villarrubi also downplayed down reports that incoming City manager, Pep Guardiola is also planning to raid his former club for Sergio Busquets.

No technical committee member resigned —NFF

Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja

HE Nigeria Football Association (NFF) on Thursday denied a report in some section of the media that some members of its technical development committee have resigned their appointments. The Secretary-General of the country’s football body, Dr Sanusi Muhammed, told journalists in Abuja that the report was untrue. “It is not true that any member of the NFF Technical Committee has resigned,” he said. Sanusi informed that that the NFF had accepted Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh’s apology, even though he was told in clear terms to apologise to the country and footballloving Nigerians. “I can also confirm to you that Oliseh has tendered his apologies to the Nigeria Football Federation. But the issue is that we told Oliseh that it is Nigeria he needs to apologise not only to the NFF,” Sanusi said. He declared that the major concern of the NFF was the Super Eagles’ 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against the Pharaohs of Egypt, adding that the federation was leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the Eagles qualify for Gabon 2017 having missed out on the last edition in 2015. “Our main concern is to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. So, all hands are on deck to achieve this,” he said. “I am using this opportunity to seek full support of all Nigerians so that we can qualify for the AFCON next year.”

It will be recalled that some members of the NFF technical committee headed by Barrister Christopher Green reportedly resigned en masse following the step taken by the NFF not to follow their recommendations to relieve the Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh of his job following his ‘You Tube’ outburst. Other members of the committee are Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh (vice chairman), Mr Paul Bassey, Barrister Isaac Danladi, Mr Mutiu Adepoju, Mr Victor Ikpeba, Mr Garba Lawal, Coach Christian Chukwu and Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, Secretary. Efforts to speak with Chukwu on the matter proved abortive as he told Tribunesport by phone that he was on the road at the time of receiving the call. Also, Mutiu Adepoju failed to respond to the t e x t mess a g e sent to his mobile telephone line as of the time of going to the press.

CAF Champions League:

Enyimba begins campaign today in Uganda By Oluwabunmi Ajayi

Neymar

NIGERIA Glo Premier League champions, Enyimba after receiving a hostile reception on arrival in Uganda, will file out today against Vipers Sports Club at the Nakivubo Stadium, Kampala, in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. According to a member of the team, the reception the Nigerian lads received on arrival was unsporting, but the players have remained focused ahead of the game. Enyimba, winner of the 2003 and 2004 editions of the Champions League had lost in the first round of the competition last year to Smouha of Egypt 2-1 on aggregate, after they eliminated Buffles du Borgou of Benin 4-0 on aggregate in the preliminary round. Enyimba under new coach, Paul Aigbogun according to Tribunesport findings had pleasant training sessions to perfect their strategies ahead of the clash with the reigning Uganda league champions, Vipers also under a new coach, George ‘Best’ Nsimbe, who took charge on February 4. The People’s Elephant boasts newlysigned on players like Christian Pyagbara, Joseph Osadiaye, Theophilus Afelokhai and Dare Ojo, alongside captain Chinedu Udoji and goalkeeper Femi Thomas, among others to prosecute the game. Meanwhile, Udoji in an interview with Supersport.com said his team will not lose focus in the clash with the East Africans.

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. 12/2/2016.