13th May 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,500

FRIDAY, 13 MAY, 2016

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FG releases first tranche of 2016 budget today —P11

Nigerian Tribune

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Militants give oil firms 2 weeks to shut down

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Nigerian Tribune

N150

Buhari to international community

Dismantle safe havens for looted funds •We will help Nigeria track, locate looted

INEC releases Edo, funds —US Ondo governorship •They are making empty •FG to restrict movement of corrupt persons election timetable threats —Military —P3 —P30

—P4

More knocks for FG over N145 new petrol price —P2

•Price will go down in 6 months —Kachikwu •We were not part of decision to increase price —NLC, TUC •NANS plans showdown 2 policemen, 4 others killed in Borno suicide bomb attack —P3

Herdsmen attack Enugu govt inaugurates 17-man judicial panel

•As CAN rejects grazing reserve bill —P29

N10m bribe: CCT chairman was implicated —EFCC witness Stranded commuters at Lugbe Bus Stop, as transporters hiked fare due to new pump price of N145 per litre, in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

—P37

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Friday, 13 May, 2016

More knocks for FG over N145 new petrol price

By Our Reporters

C

ONDEMNATIONS, on Thursday, continued to trail the hike in price of petrol by the Federal Government, as announced by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, on Wednesday.

The government had, on Wednesday, announced the increment in pump price of petrol from N86.50 and pegged it at N145, a decision that was hailed by marketers.

Femi Falana, a human rights activists and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), described the increase in pump price of petrol as insensitive and illegal.

He said the government lacked the statutory power to increase fuel pump price, as the body empowered to take such decision was yet to be constituted.

In a statement on Thursday, he asked the government to revert to the old pump price.

“The cost elements that make up the N145 are provocative. If the total landing cost of a litre and other charges are fixed at N138, what is the basis of fixing the price at N145? For goodness sake, why should motorists be made to pay NPA/NIMASA charges, within and without storage/bridging charges etc?” he asked.

We were not part of decision to increase price —NLC, TUC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday, tagged Dr Kachikwu fraudulent, over his action on the sudden and unilateral increase of fuel pump price to N145 per litre.

The congress also said the minister “lied unfortunately” to Nigerians, to say that the decision to increase the pump price was taken at the Wednesday meeting, with the involvement of the organised labour.

General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Peter OzoEson, made these clarifications as the two labour centres – the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) – denied ever being part of the decision tp increase the fuel pump price.

Besides, both NLC and TUC are holding separate emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today in Abuja and Lagos respectively, to take “urgent and critical” decision on the next line of action.

They had also directed their members, affiliates and state councils, as well as civil society allies to commence mobilisation across the country.

Speaking with the Nigeri-

an Tribune in an exclusive interview on Thursday, the NLC general secretary said the petroleum minister actually lied, while describing his action as fraudulent.

“When I heard the minister saying that it was at that meeting that the decision was taken, he lied unfortunately. At the meeting, we just listened, because we were not even told what the subject was before we came.

“When we said nothing, the Vice-President then called us by names, individually. When he called me to say my reaction, I told him that we have heard the presentation, that our organisation is a democratic one and that we would take it to our meeting, will discuss it and we will inform government on our position.

“The same thing was said by the president of the TUC, and the president of NUPENG and the meeting ended. There was no point at that meeting where a decision was taken.

“So, that was not even a consultation, because you do not do consultation, by inviting them without knowing what they were even going to discuss. So, it was fraudulent actually for the minister to then lean on our names to say we were part of that decision. At no point are we part of that decision and if they have anything to show to the contrary, they should go ahead and say so,” he said.

He explained that the NLC got the letter for an urgent meeting without even knowing the issue to discuss, adding that because the president was not in the county, he had to represent him.

Comrade Ozo-Eson, however, stated that PENGASSAN were not even represented at the meeting as claimed by the minister and pointed out that only the NLC, represented by him, the TUC and the NUPENG, both represented by their presidents, attended the meeting.

Also, a statement released by the TUC said “we do not know how the Federal Government arrived at the new price of N145 for petrol, neither do we appreciate how they arrived at their decision to allow market forces alone determine the cost of the product.”

The statement signed by the TUC president, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama and the Secretary General, Comrade Simeso Amachree said: “the meeting had the leadership of labour in attendance, but we never made any input.

Not with the shock we experienced at the premeditated ‘ambush’ by the government which clearly did not invite us for any dialogue.

“When they stated their plan to introduce the new

Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu price, our response was to ask for time to consult with our respective executive organs and subsequently revert appropriately.

“The government’s representatives agreed and so we left. We were therefore totally confounded and shocked when we got to know that they later went on air, announcing new prices for petrol.

“Thus the TUC has scheduled an emergency meeting of its NEC for Friday, May 13, to X-ray the government’s pronouncement and take a stand on the matter in the best interest of Nigerian workers and the masses of our people.”

The Centre for Global Solutions and Sustainable Development (CENGSSUD) chided the government and frowned at what it termed the level of insensitivity and poor mannerism displayed in the sudden price hike.

According to the centre, fuel subsidy, though most sensitive and controversial issues in the country, must not be removed suddenly and done in isolation as the government had done.

It called on the government to immediately do the needful and return things to the status quo.

Another civil society organisation, Egalitarian Mission for Africa, on Thursday, declared an indefinite national mourning period over the fuel price hike.

Arising from its emergency meeting held in Garki, Abuja, which ended early on Thursday, the Executive Director of the Mission, reading the mission’s communique, said, the Federal Government had finally shown its true colour as far as the welfare of the Nigerian masses was concerned.

According to him, “increasing the fuel price at this critical time in our fiscal history smacks of crass insensitivity and absolute disregard for the well-being of our people.”

It’s fraudulent —Fayose

Ekiti State governor, Ayo-

dele Fayose, on Thursday, called on Nigerians, especially the labour movement, to rise against the price hike and resist it.

In a statement on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said “President Mohammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) are playing Nigerians advance fee fraud over the removal of fuel subsidy and increment of pump price from N86.50 to N145 per litre.”

He described the new petrol price as “wicked,” adding that “those who opposed removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 and funded the ‘Occupy Nigeria’ protest must not be allowed to get away with this imposition of hardship on Nigerians now that they are in power.”

According to the governor, “there is no justification for the increment at this period when government is not paying salaries regularly, Nigerians are losing their jobs daily, prices of foodstuffs have gone over the roof and life has become so difficult for the common people. To labour Nigerians with this increment is wickedness taken too far.”

Commuters groan as transport fares increase Meanwhile, commuters have began to groan as they now pay more on transportation.

Apart from the 50 per cent increase in transport fares, commuters were also subjected to waiting long hours in bus-stops before finally getting a vehicle to convey them to their various destinations in many parts of the country Transport fares, which ordinarily goes between N50 to N100, had been increased to N100 to N150 respectively by motorists.

While speaking with some motorists, they wasted no time in showing their displeasure at the new petrol policy.

According to them, this was coming at a time when the country was faced with numerous challenges, ranging from inadequate power supply and technical collapse of the economy.

Although, some were of the contrary opinion that the removal of subsidy was best for the country, majority still maintained that the present administration was not considerate in its policy.

In other states of the federation, it was the same story.

A visit round major areas in FCT such as Maitama, Area 1; Area 11; Zone 5; Zone 6; Federal Secretariat, Nyanya, Wuse, as well as Asokoro and others, workers were seen stranded in major junctions, while long queues still persisted in all the filling stations attending to the motorists within the FCT. Nigerian Tribune also saw the heavy presence of security personnel around the Aso Villa in case of any intended protest or breaking down of law and order, while Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were also stationed at major junctions across the Maitama axis.

Petrol stations comply with N145 price directive Almost all the filling stations visited on Thursday complied with new directive of N145 per litre.

In Ekiti, petrol stations adjusted their pumps to the N145 ceiling for the pricing of petrol as announced by the Federal Government on Wednesday.

Many of the petrol stations in Ado Ekiti were, however, shut, with some of them claiming that they were yet to adjust their pumps.

In Osun, instead of selling at N145 per litre, independent oil marketers were selling at N150.

However, at Ikirun, Iragbiji and Aagba in Boripe Local Government Area of the state, filling stations were selling fuel to motorists and commercial motorcylists at the official rate of N145 per litre.

Most petrol stations dispensing fuel in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, sold at the new official rate on Thursday.

Nigerian Tribune monitored round the city and discovered that many petrol stations that had not been selling during the time of scarcity of the product suddenly began selling on Wednesday night, as soon as the pronouncement was made.

Petrol stations in Ondo State subsequently adjusted their pump price to N145 overnight.

Some members of the National Union of Road Trans-

port Workers (NURTW) in the state, however, staged a peaceful protest against the increment of the price on Thursday morning.

Leaders of the union, who took to the major streets in Akure early, instructed members to down tools, to show their displeasure over the new development on the new pump price announced by the Federal Government, while commuters were stranded.

In Ilorin, Kwara State, most fuel stations that had hitherto not been dispensing fuel started selling at N145 per litre on Thursday.

NANS plans showdown with FG The Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vowed to mobilise the over 40 million of its members on a mass protest against the removal of the petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government.

NANS President, Comrade Tijani Usman, said the leadership of association would re-enact the ‘Occupy Nigeria’ protest against the removal of subsidy from petroleum product next week.

He said NANS was already mobilising Nigerians students to resist the new N145 per litre pump price of petrol, adding that “a directive has been issued to all tertiary institutions to shut down all campuses on Tuesday and Wednesday, next week. After that, they will all converge on Abuja for a mass protest.”

Price will go down in 6 months —Kachikwu

Kachikwu, who also doubles as Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has assured Nigerians that pump price of petrol will fall drastically in the next six months.

Speaking on a live television programme, Sunrise Daily, monitored by the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, Kachikwu said “if you do a price review, after six months, you will be amazed at how low the price would have become.

“We expect the prices to go down because we have provided an opportunity for people to take advantage of government liberalisation policy of the downstream sector and eliminate inefficiencies and losses.”

When asked about the reason for the government to fix the pump price of petrol in a deregulated market, he said “the intention of the government was to achieve what was achieved in diesel, by allowing everybody to be able to bring in products and promote competition. continues pg4

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Dismantle safe havens for looted funds, Buhari tells international community US to help Nigeria track, locate looted funds —Kerry Leon Usigbe - Abuja

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, in London, urged the international community to work towards the dismantling of safe havens for looted funds.

He stressed the need to urgently create anti-corruption infrastructure and a strategic action plan to facilitate the speedy recovery and repatriation of stolen funds hidden in secret bank accounts abroad.

Speaking at the opening of the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, Buhari said new measures against corruption that would be adopted by the summit should also include mechanisms that would assist countries like Nigeria to combat illegal activities such as crude oil theft, to which he said Nigeria lost about $7 billion annually.

He said: “When it comes to tackling corruption, the international community has unfortunately looked away for too long. We need to step up and tackle this evil together. That is why we have gathered here today.

“Corruption creates a system where resources are shared by a small elite, while the majority wallow in poverty. Corruption also undermines the ability of countries to finance development.

“I wish to reiterate our demand that the global community must come up with mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for stolen funds and facilitate the return of stolen assets to their countries of origin.”

In his opening remarks at the summit, Cameron applauded President Buhari’s vigorous efforts to curb corruption in Nigeria.

Other speakers at the opening session included the president of the World

Bank, Dr Jim Yong Kim and the United States Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry.

Meanwhile, the United States Secretary of State,

Mr John Kerry, on Thursday, offered continued United States’ support to help track, locate and investigate the whereabouts of looted

funds, as done for Nigeria in the past.

He said this when he met in London with Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Bu-

From right, President Muhammadu Buhari; British Prime Minister, David Cameron and the United States Secretary of States, John Kerry, at the opening plenary of the Anti-Corruption Summit, at the Lancaster House, London, United Kingdom, on Thursday.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has explained his involvement in the 2015 campaign fund of former President Goodluck Jonathan brought to Edo State, adding that he was never detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ize-Iyamu, who returned to Benin, on Wednesday,

Buhari for his efforts in addressing corruption issues and for his decision to join the Open Government Partnership.

He urged Nigeria to continue to make necessary reforms that would further improve government transparency and accountability.

Kerry also expressed a firm commitment to continue working closely with Nigeria on a range of issues, including the shared threat of extremism and the struggle against Boko Haram.

The duo discussed the challenges facing Nigeria’s economy and United States interest in encouraging private sector investment, which would be enhanced by the success of economic reforms being pursued by President Buhari.

Kerry also expressed appreciation that Nigeria would work with the United States on the Global Forum on Asset Recovery.

FG to enact Proceeds of Crime Bill —Buhari

Says implementation of OCDS to begin soon Leon Usigbe - Abuja THE Federal Government has drafted the Proceeds of Crime Bill which provides for the transparent management of recovered funds and assets and a non-conviction based approach to asset recovery.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who disclosed this on Thursday, in London, said the law was necessary to improve on the current legal procedures and ease asset recovery procedures.

In Nigeria’s statement to the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by British Prime Minister, David Cameron, President Buhari also said that in furtherance of his administration’s ongoing war against corruption, Nigeria would soon begin the full implementation of the principles of the Open Contracting Data Standard

(OCDS).

The OCDS enables disclosure of data and documents at all stages of the contracting process by defining a common data model.

The publication of OCDS data ensures greater transparency in public contracting and can support accessible and indepth analysis of the efficiency, effectiveness, fairness and integrity of public contracting systems.

Buhari said the Federal

Government would apply the OCDS to major projects in the oil, transportation, power, health, education and other sectors.

He said his administration was also taking steps to ensure greater transparency of the ownership and control of all companies involved in property purchase and public contracting.

The president stated: “Nigeria is already collating this information through the Extractive Industry Ini-

from the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, spoke to journalists in Benin, on Thursday, clarifying that he had given to the EFCC details of how the N700 million brought to Edo State for the 2015 presidential campaign was spent in his capacity as the state coordinator.

He said the money was shared among the 18 local government areas of Edo State for the purpose of the election, adding that the money was used to offset

tiative process and will extend it to other sectors.

“Nigeria will establish a transparent central register of foreign companies’ bidding on public contracts and buying property. We welcome the proposal by developed countries to work together to improve the access of developing countries to beneficial ownership information for use in public contracting.

President Buhari also welcomed a proposal to

6 killed, 19 others injured as suicide bomber hits Maiduguri again Another suicide bomber intercepted, kills 2 policemen Chris Agbambu - Abuja with Agency Reports A suicide bombing at a government compound in Maiduguri killed no fewer than six people and wounded 19,

on Thursday, residents and hospital workers have said.

Reuters reporter saw rescue workers loading five bodies on a truck outside the compound, which is

We were never detained by EFCC —Ize-Iyamu, Imasuen Banji Aluko - Benin City

hari on the sidelines of the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

Kerry thanked President

logistics, pay and transport party agents, feeding and mobilisation for the election.

Another person invited by the EFCC over the same matter was former deputy governor, Lucky Imasuen, who also clarified his role in the affair, saying he was only invited by the Edo State PDP chairman, Dan Orbih, alongside another party leader, Honourable Tony Aziegbemin, to witness the arrival of the money.

Ize-Iyamu pointed out

that the EFCC spoke with bank officials over the transaction, adding that people should stop creating stories out of what he described as a regular invitation by the anti-graft agency.

Imasuen, who also spoke on Thursday, in Benin, said the money was taken to the Benin residence of the party’s leader from the bank, after which the money was shared across the 18 local government areas of the state.

home to several government offices. The bombing happened at its gate.

It was gathered that no fewer than six persons were killed by a suspected female suicide bomber, including a policeman, who attempted to stop the suicide bomber for questioning.

The incident was said to have occurred at the Musa Usman Secretariat of the Borno State government about 11.30 a.m. on Thursday.

The attack on the city centre looked like the handiwork of Boko Haram.

In a related development, a combined team of policemen on security duties at the entrance of Borno State Government Secretariat, (which was known as Musa Usman Secretariat) in

continues pg4

restrict the ability of those involved in corruption to travel, invest and do business overseas.

According to him, “we commit to joining the pilot initiative for automatic exchange of beneficial information. Nigeria commits to deploying public-private information sharing partnerships to bring together governments, law enforcement, regulators and the financial sector to detect, prevent and disrupt money laundering linked to corruption.

“We commit to work together to enhance company disclosure on the payments to governments for the sale of oil, gas and minerals, complementing ongoing work within the EITI. “Nigeria is already reporting progress through the EITI working groups and will continue to work with interested countries to build a common understanding and strengthen the evidence for transparency in this area.

“We welcome voluntary disclosures through EITI reporting and by some major companies regarding payments to governments for the sale of oil, gas and minerals.

“We welcome the new 2016 EITI Standard, in particular the requirements on beneficial ownership and the sale of the government’s share of production.

We will sign up to the Common Reporting Standard initiative.”

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Militants give oil firms 2 weeks to shut down

You are making empty threats —Military From Ebenezer Adurokiya and Chris Agbambu

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HE new militant group in the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), has issued a two-week ultimatum to owners of oil blocs in the region to shut down or face dire consequences.

This was as it said its ultimate goal is to secure a Sovereign State of Niger Delta for its people.

The group vowed to hoist its flag, display its currency and passport, ruling council and territory to the world by October.

Spokesperson for the group, which had repeatedly claimed responsibility of the recent renewed pipeline bombings in the region, Colonel Mudoch Agbinibo, stated these in a press release made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday.

The group, which boasted it had crippled the nation’s economy by 50 per cent and still aiming at 100 per cent, said it had members among the Nigerian Army, noting that all the strategies and plans of the force were readily made available to them.

In a not-too-polished English, the group disclosed: “To the Nigerian military, the Niger Delta avengers is among you. And we know all your plans, so we will always be 10 steps ahead of you.”

While issuing a note of warning to the military, it said in its meeting comprising all heads of the strike teams, held in Bayelsa, the high command of the group came to the conclusion that if the military harassed or invaded any community in the region, then it would cause a reprisal.

Also, the group described President Muhammadu Buhari and some of his cabinet members as practically ignorant of the actual situation and plight of the Niger Delta region, hence, their uninformed utterances on happenings in the area.

“To the president, Buhari, we are sure you have not been to the creeks of the Niger Delta before and 90 per cent of your cabinet members do not know how the region looks like,” it said.

They accused Buhari of jettisoning the rule of law in his anti-corruption campaign, citing the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Biafra movement, as uncivilised.

Meanwhile, the NDA has disclosed that its agitation is more refined and sophisticated than what was obtain-

able during the militancy of the likes of Mr Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

“To ex-agitators of the likes of Tompolo, we know why you people are after us. Our agitation is more civilised than yours; the Niger Delta Avengers is more concerned about people of Niger Delta unlike you (ex-agitators), who were into kidnapping, killing of Nigerian soldiers, sea pirates, vessel and tanker hijacking.

“But we were able to carry out all our operations without killing a fly. We have sophisticated arms far better than what you use to have during your kidnapping days,” the group boasted.

The new agitators accused former militants of having enjoyed patronage from oil multinationals and the Federal Government through the amnesty programme, adding that the NDA was

solely after projecting the voice of the Niger Delta to the world.

The group warned international oil companies to brace up for more pipeline bombings, saying “this is just the beginning and you have not seen anything yet.”

Angered by the fact that about 90 per cent oil blocs are owned by individuals from northern Nigeria, which it listed in the statement, the group warned that if at the expiration of the ultimatum they were still found operating, “it will be bloody.”

However, the group has urged the United Nations to support its cause of emancipation from what they described as “environmental pollution, slavery, and oppression.

“We want a country that will turn the creeks of the Niger Delta to a tourism haven,

a country that will achieve its full potentials, a country that will make health care system accessible to everyone.

“With Niger Delta still under the country Nigeria, we can’t make it possible. So, we are calling on the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon and all heads of the government of

the five Permanent Security Council members to come to the aid of Niger Delta people,” the group noted.

Reacting to the threat, the acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier-General Rabe Abubakar, said the military had nothing to do with them, as they were making empty threats.

More knocks for FG over N145 new petrol price continued from pg2

“What we have done is an upper cap, but we have not told them what price to sell.

We expect that efficiency and market forces will determine their prices. You know we have a price band of N135 to N145 per litre, but the reality is that those are guideline prices.”

When asked if the government had put measures in place to check marketers

who may want to sell above price cap of N145 per litre, he stated that he expected competition to bridge the gaps and eliminate abnormal profit.

“Within six months, you will be seeing differentials of N1 to N2 per litre, but as you go into hinterlands, NNPC will tend to be selling at between N120 to N130 per litre.

“Refineries will also become competitive. Refin-

Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie (middle), addressing members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), protesting over sacked vice chancellors, at the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

...Gov Wike condemns blowing up of pipelines RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has condemned the blowing up of pipelines in the Niger Delta by militants, saying it is not in the interest of the region, as it negatively affects the revenue that accrues to the states for development.

The governor also revealed that in the next few weeks, he would flag off the dualisation of the Saakpenwa-Bori road, to serve Ogoni communities.

He said the states of the Niger Delta would work with the Federal Government

and the security agencies, to ensure stoppage of pipelines blowing up by militants.

In an interview with a German Television, ARD, in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, Governor Wike said: “Blowing up pipelines will further decrease our revenue,

which will affect payment of salaries and developmental projects,” he said.

He said all those who have issues of any kind should embrace dialogue, as violence would not lead to the solution of the challenges in the area.

6 killed, 19 others injured as suicide bomber hits Maiduguri again continued from pg3

Maiduguri, Thursday afternoon, intercepted and prevented a male suicide bomber from entering to attack workers based on suspicion.

Unfortunately, in the process of stopping him, he detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on his body, instantly killing himself, a policeman and

critically injuring another policeman who stopped him from gaining access into the Secretariat Complex.

Sadly, the injured policeman died later, while 18 people sustained various degrees of injuries and had since been taken to hospital for treatment.

Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel S.K. Usman, in a statement

He said the military would continue to maintain law and order in all parts of the country, not only in the Niger Delta.

He said Nigerians had nothing to fear, as the military was equal to the task.

Abubakar added that the military was monitoring the situation closely.

on Thursday, who confirmed the development, said troops had cordoned off the area and evacuated all workers from the secretariat and reinforced security.

In addition, the Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) and K9 teams have been mobilised to the secretariat for screening until it is declared safe.

He noted that the inci-

dent had reinforced the need for more security consciousness and awareness on the part of all Nigerians, as the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists and their sympathisers still mingle with the society.

“It, therefore, behoves on all and sundry to ensure that they are detected and prevented from carrying out their dastardly acts,” he said.

eries have not worked efficiently in the past because petroleum products are largely subsidised. Nobody wants to invest in refineries and, at the end of the day, the government bears the brunt,” he said.

Removal of fuel subsidy will eliminate corruption —Yakassai

Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, special adviser on National Assembly to former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, on Thursday, threw his support on fuel subsidy, saying it would eliminate the massive corruption in the regime.

Yakasai noted in Kano that enquiries had shown that a handful of individuals siphoned billions of Nigeria’s money and converted it to their personal use “I have been a strong supporter of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy for the last 20 years or thereabout. I have many reasons that informed my position.

“One, ordinary Nigerians are not the actual beneficiaries of the subsidy regime, only the marketers and smugglers were the main beneficiaries.

“Besides, as long as the petroleum products price would be cheaper in Nigeria, then in our immediate neighbouring countries, nobody can stop smuggling the products to our neighbours, which informed the ineffectiveness of the control of pump price in our country,” he said.

Reverse to old price, Balarabe Musa tells FG Former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, urged the Federal Government to reverse the N145 new petrol pump price introduced on Wednesday.

Musa, who is also a national leader of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.

He said the government’s action would inflict more pains on Nigerians.

“We are in trouble; the already bad situation will get worse and it will worsen the poverty level of Nigerians,” he said.

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Friday, 13 May, 2016

Court arraigns Adegboruwa, grants him N10m bail Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin Lagos EPRIEVE, on Thursday, came the way of embattled rights activist and social critic, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, as a federal high court, sitting in Lagos, granted him N10 million bail.

Adegboruwa, who had been in the custody of

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the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since Monday, had been accused by the anti-graft agency of fraud charges bordering on a lease of a Lagos property, which is subject of a court order of attachment.

At Thursday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Mr Idris Abdullahi, informed the court of an

amended charge dated May 12.

He said that the earlier charge had been replaced with the amended and asked the court to amend the charge.

He told the court that the charge had been duly served on the accused and prayed the court for the amended charge to be read over to the accused for his

Dismiss Onjeh’s suit, David Mark urges tribunal Johnson babajide - Makurdi FORMER senate president, Senator David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged the state National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Makurdi, to dismiss the petition filed by the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Daniel Onjeh, challenging his victory at the last rerun, on the ground that the case was filed out of time.

The APC candidate, had approached the tribunal, seeking a nullification of the February 20, Benue South re-run on the ground that the election was marred with irregularities.

At the inaugural sitting of the tribunal, on Thursday, counsel to Senator Mark, Mr Ken Ikonne, in one of the applications filed, contended that the petition was belated and incompetent.

Ikonne said that the petition was filed on March 13, 2016, 22 days after the declaration of the result of the election, contrary to the provisions of the law which prescribed 21 days for all petitions to be filed.

He said that the position of the law on the matter was clear and unambiguous, hence, apparent that the suit was incompetent and consequently “dead on arrival.”

He, therefore, questioned the jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain the suit.

But the counsel to APC candidate, Mr Adetunji Oso, contended that the applications moved by the first respondent counsel, was ill-time since the tribunal was yet to commence pre- trial of the case.

In his ruling, the chair-

man of the tribunal, Justice Abdullahi Sanya, adjourned sitting till June 8, for the commencement of the pre-trial session ,saying that it will give both parties enough time to file and reply to each other’s application.

plea to be taken.

Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, in a short rulling, struck out the charge dated May 5 and replaced it with the amended charge No FHC/L/ CS/181C/2016.

Adegboruwa was then arraigned on the amended charge and he pleaded not guilty.

After his arraignment, the prosecuting counsel prayed the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand Adegboruwa in prison .

Counsel to the accused, Mr Emeka Etiaba, informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of the accused.

He moved the application and urged the court to

RIVERS State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Emmanuel Aguma, has declared that the state judiciary will not be intimidated over a murder case filed against a former local government chairman in the state.

Mr Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, a former chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, has been standing trial and remanded in prison in a two-count charge of conspiracy to murder and murder of one Smart Sobrekon, in Buguma town on April 11, 2015.

Adelowo Oladipo-Minna THE Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, led by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, to account for the local government funds so far collected by the state in the last one year.

The PDP said apart from payment of local government staff salaries, no dime had been released to any of the 25 local government areas in the state since May 2015 for capital project execution.

The new chairman of the party in the state, Mr Tanko Beji, who made the claim while exchanging views with newsmen in Minna, on Thursday, lamented that activities had been grounded in the local government areas because the chairmen and their councillors did not have money to work.

“We want to know how much has accrued to the local government areas since the APC government came into office, how they spent the money and under what law was the money spent,” he stated.

Kwara PDP holds parallel congress Biola Azeez- Ilorin

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, exchanging pleasantries with member of Council, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) and publisher of The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru (second left); while the secretary, CECP, Dr Abia Nzelu and the Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ogundele Bodunde watch, during a visit to Governor Ambode by CECP Nigeria, at the Government House, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.

No civilian death in Giwa Barracks, Army replies Amnesty International Chris Agbambu - Abuja THE Nigerian Army, on Thursday, disassociated itself from the report of the Amnesty International, which claimed that some civilians died in a detention

cell at the Giwa Barracks.

It said the accusation came as a surprise because the organisation has accessed the facilities and made recommendations which were implemented.

The acting director, De-

fence Information, Brigadier-General Abubakar Rabe, in a statement, said that was rather unfortunate that an organisation of high a repute such as Amnesty International, could come around to release a

Rivers judiciary ’ll not be intimidated over murder case against former LG chair —AG Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

grant the accused bail on self recognisance, saying that the accused was reputed for his relentless service to the poor.

“My lord, this application is brought pursuant to the provisions of sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, as well as sections 35 of the 1999 Constitution.

Ruling on the bail application, Justice Oguntoyinbo said, “I have considered the facts before this court from learned counsel to the accused.

“I am, however, reluctant to grant the bail in the manner the applicant has applied. The accused is hereby granted bail in the sum of N10 million, with two sureties in like sum,” she ruled.

Account for LG funds, PDP tells Niger gov

He, however, said neither the Inspector General of Police (IGP), any police officer, nor any Nigerian, no matter how highly placed, had the power to discontinue proceedings under criminal proceedings.

The Rivers State Attorney-General asserted that he and the state judiciary would not be deterred or intimidated in the course of ensuring that the murder case against FlagAmachree was pursued to a logical conclusion.

Aguma also dismissed insinuations that the former council chairman was being incarcerated unlawful-

ly or that there was some form of vindictiveness in what is happening to him, declaring that the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration had no hand in his ordeal.

The police report on the case, he said, indicated that Flag-Amachree allegedly committed murder prior to the advent of the Wike-led administration and before his assumption of office as the state Attorney General.

He added that he had nothing personal against the accused person but that he was only discharging his constitutional duties as en-

shrined in Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The police report from this case file, on April 20, 2016, is signed by DCP Yahaya Abubakar, who is the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Port Harcourt.

“The report from the police on this made was made on April 13, 2015, because the murder for which he was charged occurred on April 11, 2015. On April 11, 2015 when the young man was murdered, I was not the attorney general; Nyesom Wike was not the governor.

report which is completely baseless, unfounded and source-less, with the intent of denting the image of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“We will not be deterred by this report but would remain committed to the task we have started against the Boko Haram terrorists until they are annihilated,” he said.

“We are calling on all wellmeaning Nigerians and the international community to discountenance this report as it has no iota of truth.

“The Nigerian Armed Forces uphold the tenets of observance of human right and dignity of lives of innocent individuals as enshrined in the Conventions and Charters of the United Nations, which Nigeria is a signatory.

“This one sided report is defective in all intent and purpose and does not portray the sincerity of Amnesty International as well as reflecting the true situation in Giwa Barracks now.”

THE outcome of state congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has polarised members of the opposition party.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that two main factions of the party, comprising one led by Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo and another

by Prince Sunday Fagbemi, held parallel congresses at different venues.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, on Thursday, Prince Fagbemi accused the incumbent executive members of imposition, intimidation and electoral malpractices, saying that some contestants were barred from the venue of the state congress at Stella Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall, Ilorin.

Prince Fagbemi, who said the party’s congresses at ward, local government and state government levels were manipulated, added that nomination forms and result sheets were made available to contestants favourable to Akogun Oyedepo.

The PDP chieftain, who said the development led to conduct of a parallel state congress at a different venue on same night, added that executive members thus emerged, where he became the chairman of the party in the state.

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Friday, 13 May, 2016

Lagosmetro Corruption case halted as generator packs up during proceeding Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin THE Igbosere High Court was on Thursday thrown into total blackout, which paralysed activities, forcing courts to adjourn their cases.

An anonymous source within the court premises, said that the court had been running its activities with generating sets for the past three days, adding that the generator developed fault and therefore could not power the court rooms.

Checks revealed that virtually all the courts did not proceed with the activities of the day. Lawyers who came to court for their cases were seen taking adjourned dates from court registrars.

Also the proposed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) case against one Mohammed Gobir, who was charged with defrauding an advertising firm to the tune of N1.8 billion, scheduled to come up by 1:30 p.m., was also affected.

The case was however adjourned till June 16 for continuation of trial.

A lawyer, Mr Francis Monye, said that the power outage made the court in conducive for judicial activities.

LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has accepted the offer to raise funds toward the establishment of Mobile Cancer Centre for treatment of people who require such treatment.

This was just as the governor expressed absolute commitment to providing efficient health care service delivery to all residents of the state.

Governor Ambode spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja when he played host to the Board of Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) led by its Convener and first female Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a publicly quoted company

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

One die, as containers fall on shanties • Manager arrested

Olalekan Olabulo with Agency reports

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NE person was early Thursday crushed to death and eight others

injured as three containers fell on buildings in Ijora Badia area, following the early morning downpour.

A resident of the area, Raymond, told Lagos Metro that “the containers were stacked on the premises, which has been serving as the container terminal for Sifax

Group, since they acquired it from the former company.”

The manager of the company has since been arrested by the Apapa division of the Railway Command of the Ni-

Scenes of the accident at Sifax Container Terminal, when their containers fell on some shanties at 110/112 Ijora Road, on Thursday.

Mobile cancer centre to be established in Lagos — Ambode Bola Badmus

Nigerian Tribune

in Nigeria, Mrs. Adetutu Adeleke.

Ambode expressed the optimism that the establishment of the Cancer Centre in Lagos would be to the greater benefit of the people.

“It is so heart warming that ordinarily the course which you decided to pursue is in

sync with my personal philosophy and even my personality. What is important here is that you have decided to take on something that is selfless and it is coming from a passion to give back to humanity and that is the philosophy of this administration.

“It is on that note that I

like to let you know that our administration is committed fully to providing efficient health service delivery to our people. The initiative which you have taken especially on the health sector is laudable and I have no other reason than to compliment, support and also practically do ev-

erything to touch our people positively.

“Earlier, the CECP boss, Adeleke, thanked Governor Ambode for his good works in the State, urging him to support the group in its drive to either totally eradicate or reduce cancer to the barest minimum.”

Rioters crash vehicle into mosque during prayer Opeyemi Owoaseye THREE men accused of leading a riot on Lagos Island, have been accused of deliberately crashing a vehicle into a mosque while prayer was on.

The Police accused them of damaging the

mosque wall and disturbing the faithful praying inside.

The trio, Micheal Obi, Ahmed Ogunfowoke and Tijani Yakubu, whose addresses were not given, were on Thursday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for al-

legedly forming an unauthorised group and causing the said riot on March 15, at about 7:00 p.m. on Lagos Island.

According to the Police, they were also accused of moving around with harmful weapons and threat-

ening the community, and also disrespecting a police Corporal, Obi Chinedu.

The defendants were also charged with the burning a motorcycle worth N120, 000, and also burning a used wagon car, which they allegedly used to hit

geria Police Force.

The body of a lady, simply identified as Ezinne, was recovered by emergency workers, which included officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LSEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and residents of the Railway Line area of Ijora.

One of the victims, Babatunde Aiyetomowo, who escaped death by the whiskers said, “It all happened around 6:30 a.m. when I was still sleeping and then, I heard people shouting. Before I could know what was happening, the whole house just fell on me and others with the containers, I didn’t know how I came out, it was God that saved me,” the victim said Some of the residents of the area claimed that some workers of the company were working with cranes, when the containers fell on the building. Sifax, however, denied the claims by the residents, insisting that their workers could not have been working at that time.

The company’s image maker, Muyiwa Akande, insisted that it was only empty containers that were stacked on the premises.

Meanwhile, the General Manager, LASEMA, Mr Akin Akindele, advised haulage companies to put in place adequate safety measures during operational activities to forestall accidents.

The image maker in charge of the State police command, Dolapo Badmos confirmed the incident to Lagos Metro and added that policemen from Ijora police station had visited the scene for proper investigations.

the wall of a mosque, thereby, damaging it.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The Magistrate, Mrs Aje Afunwa, granted the defendants N200,000 bail and adjourned the case till June 2016.

8 news FRSC begins seizure of vehicles with expired tyres

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ORPS Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, said the commission would from next week,

commence impounding of vehicles with expired tyres across the country.

Oyeyemi made this known at a capacity development workshop for zonal and sec-

NEMA shuts 6 IDPs camps in Adamawa THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Thursday, confirmed that it had closed down six Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Adamawa, following the return of the inmates to their homes.

NEMA Coordinator in the state, Mr Sa’ad Bello, told newsmen in Yola that more than 95 per cent of the 90, 000 IDPs in the 10 camps operated by the agency, had returned home.

He listed the camps which were closed down to include those located in Bekaji, Kwanan Waya, Girei 1 and 2, Yola campus of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, and EYN Church.

Bello explained that the IDPs decided to return to their various towns and villages after the enormous successes recorded by the military in reclaiming and

restoring peace to areas under Boko Haram insurgents.

“Following the enormous victory recorded by Nigerian Army in defeating Boko Haram and reclaiming all captured areas in Adamawa, the camps began decreasing.

“Almost 95 per cent of the Internally Displaced Persons living in 10 designated camps in the state have returned to their respective villages and towns.

“And the agency found it necessary to close down six out of the 10 camps in the state,” Bello said.

According to him, the remaining four camps are now sheltering less than 10,000 IDPs. He, however, disclosed that latest population data matrix analysis showed that there were still about 100,000 IDPs living within communities in the state.

tor heads of operations of the commission in Enugu, on Thursday.

“We have a major problem in our hands. Our management team will be in the field next week to enforce the ban on usage of expired tyres on our roads.

“I will personally lead a team that will impound vehicles with expired tyres and secure other vehicles to convey passengers in affected vehicles to their destinations,’’ he said.

He said usage of expired tyres and speeding were among the most significant challenges in traffic management in the country currently. .According to him, the rising rate of road crashes is alarming, adding that more than 90 per cent of such incidents, between February 9 and April 7, were as a result of tyre burst.

Oyeyemi added that the commission would also embark on sensitisation of motorists on the dangers of using expired tyres, saying that the step was part of the efforts to minimise road crashes.

He said use of old tyres had accounted for many fatal auto crashes.

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Friday, 13 May, 2016 11 businessnews FG releases first tranche of 2016 budget today Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

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OLLOWING the final signing of the 2016 budget of the Federal Government into law last week

by President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of National Planning and Budget, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma on Thursday said the first tranche of the N1.75 trillion capital expenditure would be released today.

Speaking at the budget breakdown briefing held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Udoma gave the assurance that there will not be delay in prompt releases of the current budget as his ministry would work closely with the Federal Ministry of Finance on the issue.

Major outlay of the expenditure provisions of the N6.06 trillion budget, which represents an increase of 35 per cent over the 2015 provision of N5.067 trillion include Statutory Transfer (inclusive of N157 billion capital component- N351.37 billion; Debt Service including sinking fund provisionN1.48 trillion; Recurrent (non debt) ExpenditureN2.65 trillion; Capital Expenditure (excluding share of Capital in Statutory Transfers)- N1.59 trillion and; Capital Expenditure (including share of capital expenditure in Statutory Transfer)- N1.75 trillion.

The Minister, who said that the 2016 budget will be for a full year ending in May 2017, disclosed that government will actively implore the use of public private partnerships in the development of infrastructure. “We are encouraging our ministers to explore concessioning arrangements for airports, major roads and other infrastructure projects.”

He continued that as part of efforts to encourage private sector participation in infrastructure development, Federal Government was working to encourage the establishment of an infrastructure fund of $25 billion within the next three years.

The expansionary budget is directed at reflating the economy, is projected at a deficit of N2.2 trillion, which is about 2.14 per cent of GDP, but well within the three per cent threshold stipulated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

The N1.8 trillion deficit is to be financed mainly by borrowings of N1.8 trillion to be source from both domestic and foreign market so as not to crowd out the private sector.

“Furthermore, we are optimistic that we may be able to access some of the

foreign loans on a concessionary basis. The Ministry of Finance is currently negotiating with multiple sources to secure the external financing,” Udoma

stated.

Speaking on implementation plans the Minister said strategies designed to direct the trajectory of national and regional econo-

mies towards a path of sustainable development and inclusive growth had been worked out over the course of 2016 fiscal year.

“The strategic implemen-

tation plan forms the basis for the preparation and implementation of the 2016 budget, as it documents the key short-term priorities of the incumbent administra-

From left; Manager, Sales, Greenspeed Travels and Tours, Mr Joseph Airhiomohe; Head, Sales and Marketing, Jalotred Travels, Mr George Okeke; Miss Tosin Awonusi of Itinenaries Travels; Executive Chairman, Peacock Travels and Tours Limited, Chief Segun Phillips; Deputy Managing Director, Up and Down Travels Limited, Alhaji Ibrahim M Inuwa; Head, Sales, Bosmor Travels, Mr Enoch Adeloye and Mrs Itunu Ayintete of Ayo Travels, during a sales award programmes organised by Peacock Travels in Lagos.

Nigeria loses 600,000 bpd as crude production drops to 1.4mbpd Olatunde Dodondawa-Lagos

THE Federal Government has stated that it is losing 500000-600000 barrels of oil per day. It also confirmed that the country’s daily crude production has fallen from 2.2 million

barrels per day to 1.4 million per day.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),

Dr Ibe Kachikwu, stated this on a television programme, Sunrise Daily, and monitored by the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday.

According to him, “with pipeline vandalism, crude

Food security: AGRA launches $2bn storage capacity in Africa

By Ruth Olurounbi

A $2 billion Public Private Partnership to create integrated value chains and set up one million tons of cold storage facilities across Africa has been launched in Kigali, Rwanda, at the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa.

The initiative, launched on Wednesday, will over 10 years, revolutionise African agriculture and bring it on par with the rest of the world through the creation of innovative supply chains and energy efficient cold storage systems.

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) said in a statement that in partnership with and UPL Limited, the “Million Tons of Cold Storage in Africa Initiative aims to reduce postharvest losses in Africa.

Statistics show that post harvest losses account for more than 40 per cent of potatoes, fruits, vegetables and other perishables lost before reaching the consumers, thus, constituting one of the major impediment to the development and transformation of the African agricultural sector into the motor of economic growth on

the continent.

These losses, AGRA says, do not only amount to wasted resources and reduced returns on investment but also impact negatively on food and nutrition security of many communities across the continent.

AGRA President, Agnes Kalibata, speaking on workings of the initiative, said it aims to reach about 15 million farmers, over the next decade with the express purpose of benefitting nearly 100 million people through value addition and reduction in postharvest losses.

oil theft and increasing militancy, we are losing about 500000-600000 barrels per day.

“As a matter of fact, as at this morning (Thursday), we are down to 1.4million barrels per day production from 2.2 million barrels per day. In terms of volume and value, we are far away from where we were before.”

“There is substantial diminishing in income and government cannot say it is giving priorities to downstream sector in foreign exchange earnings to continue to import products for consumption. You don’t give what you don’t have,” he said.

The government has also lost huge earnings from decline in crude price from above $130 per barrel in mid 2015 to less than $50 per barrel in 2016.

This has resulted into austerity, non-payment of salaries and high cost of living in the country.

Dubai opens office as trade with Africa reaches $29.7bn By ’Wale Olapade

THE Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dubai Chamber) reaffirmed its commitment to drive trade and investment between Dubai and Africa with the official opening of its newest African office in Maputo, Mozambique.

The office, Dubai Chamber’s third in Africa following openings in Ethiopia and Ghana, will not only help boost bilateral trade between Dubai and Mozambique, which last year

stood at US$195 million (non Oil trade), but is also being positioned as a strategic hub for other African markets.

“Our newest African office will build on the strong business opportunities in Africa by contributing and strengthening economic and bilateral ties, whilst boosting investor confidence in Mozambique’s and the wider region’s lucrative investment sectors.

It will play a central role in supporting the expansion of Dubai businesses into Mozambique and

the wider region, as well as fostering partnerships across the Middle East and South East Asia through Dubai”, H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber.

The opening of the Chamber’s third office came during the Africa Global Business Forum Roadshow that visited South Africa and Mozambique and is looking to visit a number of key African cities this year, including Addis Ababa, Accra, Nairobi and Lagos.

Dubai Chamber’s commitment towards expan-

sion in Africa has been growing since 2013 with the launch of the Africa Global Business Forum (AGBF), the biggest platform for mutual investment between the Africa and the world through Dubai - the fourth edition of the forum will take place next year.

An indicator of Africa’s attractiveness is the continent’s record of successful global trade. In 2015, Dubai’s non-oil trade with Africa reached $29.7 billion growing from $22.8 billion in 2011.

Nigerian Tribune

tion to place the economy on this upward trajectory as it is repositioned for change, inclusive growth and sustainable development”, he noted.

Explaining that his ministry had started working on a comprehensive Medium Term National Plan, Udoma said work had commenced fully on the preparation of 2017 budget and that it would be submitted early to the National Assembly such that there would be enough time for them to pass it before year end.

Key Assumptions of the 2016 Budget •Oil production of 2.2 million barrels •Benchmark oil price of $38 per barrel •Average Exchange Rate of N197/$ Revenue Projections •Net distributable revenue- N5.72 trillion •Main Federation Account revenue- N4.303 trillion •Value Added Tax revenue- N1.416 trillion •Net Oil receipts- N1.48 trillion •Net non-oil revenue account-N4.22 trillion •States & LG share of distributable revenue- N3.24 trillion •FG share of net distributable revenue- N2.48 trillion · FG projected revenue- N3.855 trillion

‘BEDC’s 129 megawatts allocation too small’ Banji Aluko-Benin City

THE Managing Director of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs Funke Osibodu, has disclosed that with a daily allocation of about 129 megawatts of electricity out of the 1,175 national power generations, there is little the electricity distribution company could do presently to ensure stable power supply to its customers in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.

Mrs Osibodu, who attributed the drop in the nation’s national output from the previous 3,000 megawatts to 1,175 megawatts to the vandalism of power facilities, noted that the country needed to generate over 8,500 megawatts of electricity to have a relatively stable power supply.

The Managing Director in an interactive session with journalists on Tuesday at the Benin headquarters of the company, said for her company to satisfy its consumers, the company would need not less than 1,400 megawatts of electricity.

Friday, 13 May, 2016 12 businessnews FG is developing framework to mobilise revenue from non-oil sector —Adeosun

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

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HE Federal Government on Thursday indicated its resolve to ensure the nation’s tax system reflects the commercial activity levels in Nigeria.

In order to achieve this, the Federal Government is committed to the process of mobilising revenue from the non-oil sector.

In a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 18th annual tax conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, stressed the need for a robust tax system, which he described as a pre-requisite for any economy that is serious in its commitment to growth and development.

The Minister said, “I carefully read the communiqué arising from the tax conference held last year and I acknowledge the remarkable insight of the diagnosis that ‘Nigeria is experiencing growth without development. I think that the CITN set out clearly the fiscal priorities needed to underpin our economic agenda in a concise manner. Tax collection must grow in line with growth in the economy but this has not been the recent case in Nigeria and that is our challenge.”

Stressing the resolve of the current administration to mobilise revenue from the non-oil sector, Adeosun stated the prevailing tax system must reflect the nature of the nation’s commercial activity lev-

els. She noted that “oil is just 13 per cent of our GDP but it represents a disproportionate share of our tax revenue, promising that government will develop a framework that will mobilise revenue from the non-

oil sector.”

The minister explained that the nation’s tax system must be dynamic in order to respond to an ever-evolving commercial landscape and to increasingly technology-driven

FCMB Group Plc, in its released financials report for the first quarter ended 31 March, 2016, reported gross revenue of N34.4 billion, as against N39.3 billion recorded within the same period in 2015.

Going by the details of the results announced on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), FCMB Group ended the first quarter of 2016 with a profit before tax of N2.2 billion, compared to N5.8 billion for the first quarter of 2015.

Net interest income stood at N17.2 billion, a decline of five per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) from N18.1 billion for the same period prior year.

Meanwhile, Loans and advances reduced by five per cent Quarter-on-Quarter (QoQ) to N561.6 billion in March 2016.

fact that the current level of compliance is low and in some cases, the effective tax rate paid by those that are compliant is lower than expected. She added that the commendable administrative efforts of FIRS would be

From left, Special Guest of Honour and Past President of ICAN, Chief (Dr.) Anthony Asuquo Ani, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Otunba Samuel Olufemi Deru and 2nd Deputy Vice-President, Althaji Razak Jaiyeola during the Institute 57th Induction ceremony for their new members held on Wednesday in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

CBN moves to stimulate GDP growth Sylvanus Viashima-Jalingo

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday moved to stimulate domestic production in order to cut down on importation and conserve foreign reserve.

Alhaji Aliyu Katuka, an Assistant Director with the apex bank announced this in Jalingo at the opening ceremony of a three day workshop on awareness creation on

various CBN policies and programmes designed to create wealth.

Katuka told the participants that the workshop with the theme “Promoting Financial Stability and Economic Development” was aimed at assisting low income but economically active Nigerians to create jobs.

He noted that the CBN move enhance local production of commodities

FCMB Group records N34.4bn revenue in 2016 Q1 Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

business models.

She stated that the Federal Government, as part of the drive to increase non-oil revenue, has set an aggressive target for increasing tax collection. This, according to her, is a reflection of the

However, the Group’s net fees and commissions were up 11 per cent to N3.4 billion, from N3.0 billion for same period last year.

In the same vein, the financial institution’s capital adequacy ratio increased to 18.5 per cent, compared to 18.1 per cent for the fourth quarter 2015, just as liquidity ratio rose to 38.2 per cent, as against 35.9 per cent for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Operating expenses was flat at N16.5 billion.

Commenting on the results, the Managing Director of FCMB Group Plc, Mr Peter Obaseki, said the continued lull in the economy, especially international trade, capital flows and government spending weighed on our group’s Q1 results.

“We are also, actively rebalancing our financial position by reducing wholesale deposits and slowing down loan growth, espe-

cially from lumpy sources; as a result, the retail business is getting more pronounced as the real growth driver,’’ he said.

was largely due to the adverse effects of their importation on the nation’s foreign reserves.

“The main objective of this latest move by the CBN is to create awareness on policies like Agricultural Credit gurrantee found, right of consumers, sound and steady economic system, commercial agricultural scheme among others.

“I urge all of you to preach against the abuse of naira so as to save the CBN the cost of frequent production to enable it focus on policies that will make live more meaningful for all Nigerians,” he said.

In his remarks, Gov Darius Ishaku of Taraba thanked the CBN for launching such laudable

programmes for the benefits of the people.

Ishaku however advised the apex bank device a means to deal with beneficiaries directly, saying that leaving them to deal with commercial banks always made it difficult for them to access the benefits.

Represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr Rebo Usman, Ishaku noted that out of about 70 million Nigerians, less than 10 million were in the employment of government at all levels thus the need to take the workshop seriously.

Earlier, the Jalingo branch Controller of CBN, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammed noted that the CBN remained a people focused institution that was out to make live more meaningful for Nigerians.

WEF: Dangote, business leaders seek change in perception on doing business in Africa CONSCIOUS efforts at countering and redressing the gloomy pictures painted about doing business in Africa was a major panacea offered by business leaders at the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa in Kigali Rwanda in order to attract more investors into the Continent.

Led by the Nigeria’s Business mogul, Aliko Dangote, members at a McKinsey Private Breakfast discussion Panel agreed that Africa’s long term growth potentials should be a subject of em-

phasis to gradually change the wrong perception. They also agreed that since Africa offers the best returns on investment on any venture, it is indeed the best place to invest in the world.

Dangote emphasised there are positive events and stories on Africa but “we have to get rid of perception risk.

The fragility of perception drives away investors. We need to change the mind set because good things are happening in Africa. “Sometimes the

old and existing investors paint a gloomy picture of doing business in Africa to avoid competition and scare away potential investors. You have to act big and bold.”

The frontline businessman disclosed that the Cement segment of his Group’s businesses has invested over 4 billion dollars in the continent and that the returns are quite good. “We are bullish about investing in Nigeria, devaluation or no devaluation.”

complemented by an overhaul of the tax code and tax laws.

She disclosed that the Federal Government plans to engage with relevant members of the National Assembly to ensure that required revisions, amendments and new laws can be passed expediently to keep pace with the rapid change in business practices. Adeosun admitted that: “An overhaul of our tax code is long overdue as is the redrafting of our tax laws to reflect current business practices and new trends.

We must respond to the growing phenomenon of base shifting and other practices that allow companies to evade their fiscal and legal responsibilities.”

She further stated that “We will critically examine our GDP to align taxes with economic activity in our bid to block all leakages. For example, the multi-billion naira losses being identified in our solid minerals sector by illegal and undocumented miners will be addressed with increased formalisation and review of the governing laws. Indeed, we are committed to the continuous improvement of our tax system as part of a dynamic framework.

Glo signs on Adebola Williams as a brand ambassador NIGERIA’S next generation network, Globacom, has signed on fast-rising media entrepreneur, Adebola Williams, as a brand ambassador of the telecommunications company.

Williams, co-founder of RED Media, is among the new set of brand ambassadors signed on by Globacom. He has immediately commenced work by taking part in a television commercial, which has started airing globally through the CNN, and across the nation.

The engagement of Williams signifies a new resolve of the company to widen its scope to include younger, hard working Nigerians whose exploits in entrepreneurship and allied endeavour are providing inspiration for the coming generation.

It was learnt that the company intends to demonstrate to Nigerian youths that without being in sports and entertainment, they can still be rewarded and celebrated as long as they show diligence in their chosen areas of endeavour, especially, entrepreneurship.

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Friday, 13 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

For a credible police recruitment

OR the Buhari administration that is under pressure to deliver on its promise of change, the ongoing recruitment of 10,000 youths into The Nigeria Police goes beyond mere fixing the personnel gap that exists in the force. It is an opportunity that the administration has readily latched on to provide it a quick win in the area of job creation. The Police Service Commission’s (PSC) portal has reportedly been receiving online applications for potential recruits into the police. This is sequel to the approval earlier given to the commission by the Federal Government to recruit 10,000 personnel to strengthen the existing workforce. And as would be expected, applications have been coming in torrents from the teeming population of unemployed and underemployed Nigerian youths. The last information made available to the public by the PSC on the exercise was that some 843,000 applications had been received by May 2, 2016.

It is only the uninitiated about the parlous state of the Nigerian economy that may be surprised by the huge number of applications already received by the PSC. The deluge of applications simply exemplifies the current state of joblessness among the nation’s youths.

As the first open and mass employment of youths by the Buhari administration, the recruitment exercise should be tightened to ensure that only competent and credible persons are brought on board. There should be a clear departure from what obtained in the previous exercises that were allegedly bastardised and tainted with allegations of corruption and nepotism, a situation that allegedly resulted in shady characters finding their way into such an important institution as the police. We urge that deliberate effort should be made to ensure that the screening of the candidates is rigorous, thorough and transparent, so that, at the end of the exercise, only fit and proper Nigerians of verified high standards in character and conduct are recruited.

The objective of the PSC is to meet the shortfall in its personnel requirement so that it can effectively deliver on its mandate to maintain internal security and protect life and property but that objective cannot be achieved if

criminals are recruited to help maintain law and order.

This is why we see a brighter side to the preponderance of applications chasing the relatively few positions in the force. Out of the huge number of applicants, a transparent process should be able to throw up 10,000 qualified, honest, credible Nigerians who are ready to be professionals and earn honest incomes as policemen.

The candidates to be recruited should be teachable as the police require a paradigm shift in the mindset of many of their officers who see the service as a platform that insulates them from the consequences of breaching the law, especially their penchant for accessing filthy lucre under the seeming protection of the law. In other words, recruiting 10,000 personnel in one fell swoop offers the police a rare opportunity to have a crop of personnel to help drive its reforms aimed at making it a people and service-oriented public institution.

Perhaps it is about time the service appreciated the bitter truth that the shortfall it is currently grappling with is not just in terms of number but more in terms of character deficit and professionalism that have been largely vitiated by the weak moral fibre of many of its personnel. Consequently, the police must get it right this time round. If the Police College syllabus has to be reviewed so that it is in sync with the international best practices that also fully reflects local peculiarities, it should be done.

Information from the PSC that the screening exercise will be done in batches and that it will brook no underhand dealings during the entire process appears reassuring.

By the time this recruitment exercise is concluded, the number of policemen in the country will be about 380,000 vis-à-vis an estimated population of 170 million people.

This still falls short of the 222 police officers to 100, 000 people recommended by the United Nations. However, if the current recruitment exercise produces 10,0000 credible persons who are subsequently well trained, re-oriented and ready to be released on the workforce as reformists, then, the country may have started the journey to re-enact the halcyon days of selfless service, relative probity and integrity in The Nigeria Police.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 13 May, 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.

The crime of human trafficking

W

OMEN trafficking has today become a major global threat that afflicts vulnerable women and young girls. It is a wicked violation of human right, and it affects millions of people. Every year, thousands of women fall into the hands of traffickers in their own countries and abroad. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking, whether within or across borders.

To understand the concept better, human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer,

or harbouring of women by means of threat, use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, or receiving of payment and benefits to achieve the consent of a women having control over the traffickers, for the purpose of exploitation.

The primary victims of human trafficking are women and young girls, the majority of whom are trafficked for the purpose of sex and labour. Traffickers primarily target women because they are disproportionately affected by poverty and discrimination, factors that impede their access to

employment, and educational opportunities. The strongest factor is the desperate economic situation, which impact the availability of satisfactory employment in many countries for women.

Traffickers recruit potential victims who are socially or economically vulnerable. These include, women and girls who are susceptible to drug addiction, violence in family, sexual abuse, family dysfunction, school failure, or a history of criminal behaviour. It also include orphans, women with physical disability, and those who are illiterate.

Imported grasses will solve herdsmen/farmers’ clashes THE crisis between herdsmen and crop production farmers is posing a lot of impediments to food production in the country.

This crisis has led to wanton destruction of lives and properties. However, we must not sit idle without proferring solutions to the clash of interest between these two groups In agricultural production, animal rearing cannot be done on the same field with crops because animals feed on crops.

However, one way to curtail the menace of these herdsmen is to control free grazing; we can do this by allocating hectares of land for them for their animals to graze on.

This is the rationale behind the importation of the high-yielding nutritional grass seedlings to be grown in the southern part of the country.

These grasses grow really fast, and they will be fed to cattle in the North, just like its being practiced in Saudi Arabia, which has the largest cattle production in the world. We are not saying there are no grasses in the country, but the variety of high-yielding grasses will bring an end to the free grazing of cattle, as well bring an end to the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

This is why the decision of the Federal Government to import the grasses should be seen as a solu-

tion to the crisis between herdsmen and farmers.

Again, the high-yielding grasses will boost our livestock production, engage our research institutes proficiently and create em-

ployment for those who will be involved in the cultivation. It will also end the wanton killings across the country.

•Adikwu Samuel E, Abuja.

Women become the victims of trafficking when they seek for assistance to obtain employment, work permits, visas and other travelling documents. Traffickers prey on women’s vulnerable circumstances and may lure them into crime networks through deceit and false promises of decent working conditions and fair payment. These women travel abroad not knowing that they will work in the sex industry and without awareness of the terrible work condition and violence that accompany the trafficking business.

Other women respond to job advertisements for positions abroad such as dancers, nannies, hairdressers, among other jobs, only to find themselves held against their will and forced into prostitution and sexual slavery.

While abroad, the women are subjected to physical violence, sexual assault, rape, battery, threats and

other forms of coercion.

Women trafficking has direct effect on the physical and mental well- being of the victims. During the initial trafficking, women are deceived, usually through the exploitation of their current circumstances, as most victims have a history of abuse and are already living in precarious circumstances. Victims are forced into unsanitary, stressful living condition and receive little health care services; movement is often restricted, and their personal documents withheld. Most times, escaping

from such slavery is extremely difficult and dangerous, putting the victims at personal risk. If rescued, integration back into society is incredibly difficult because of the shame, stigma, threat of retribution, and trauma experienced during enslavement.

It is, therefore, important for relevant agencies of government to step up the war against trafficking in the country.

•Asta Mala, University of Maiduguri, Borno State.

Kidnapping as a business venture THE rate at which people are being kidnapped today should give everybody cause for concern. Even, it is fast gaining ground in the South West, which is definitely the safest region in the country.

The kidnap of a former minister and senator, Mrs

Iyabo Anisulowo, in Ogun State shows that we have a huge task on our hands if we are to rid the region, and the country of kidnappers.

Those who organised the kidnap of Senator Anisulowo were aware of her position in the society, and they felt they would make some money from the operation. To these people, kidnapping is a business venture.

It is a good thing that the former minister was released unhurt after security officials swept into action. However, would security officials react the same way they reacted to the kidnap of Senator Anisulowo when ordinary members of the society are kidnapped?

I am happy that the National Assembly has approved the death sentence for kidnappers in the country. We need to be tough on people who now see kidnapping as an avenue to make money.

We need to curb this evil act now before it degenerates further. The judiciary must speedily try kidnappers, while handing them the new maximum sentence, which is the death penalty.

It is hoped that the passage of the death sentence at the National Assembly will bring an end to kidnapping in the country.

•Alhaji Isa Arogundade, Ibafo, Ogun State.

opinion Cows, herdsmen and subsidies 15

By Michael Egbejumi-David

I

am of the view that cattle herding through our countryside, towns and cities is one of the adorably unique characteristics of the Nigerian landscape; one of the cute peculiarities that defines us. I think that it is a charming and endearing sight: the lonely herdsman amidst his languidly wandering cattle.

Sadly, I’ve come to realise that time has passed by that quaint culture and practice. Moreover, I returned to Nigeria and found cattle herdsmen totting AK47s. Oh oh!

That certainly took away from the idyllic nostalgia I had carried in my head.

It is clear that something went awry many years ago.

Livestock (including cattle) farming accounts for onethird of Nigeria’s total agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP). I suspect that the narratives we’ve heard and read so far on the menace of the marauding herdsmen have been largely one-sided. I wonder whether the nomadic herders are reacting to what they see as, or interpret to be hindrance and persecution…and that is where education and the use of modern technology and practices come in.

Climate change and drought has meant cattle herders continue to roam farther out in search of pasture. However, their search has brought a concomitant trail of misery and destruction for others, their farms and their livelihood.

In virtually all the rest of the world, cattle farmers buy expansive ranches and acquire huge lands to afford their livestock enough space to roam all year round. The farmers also provide enough feeds and grass for their cattle.

The same is done for horses, and so on. I think it is called animal husbandry.

In Nigeria, it is pretty obvious that the vast majority of cattle herders are hired hands. Some big-time cattle farmers own those cows and sheep. Cows and sheep must eat and exercise, so people are hired to lead them on grazing expeditions to where food (grass) can be found.

And that is when conflicts often happen.

After much inelegant hide and seek over a few months,

this government has finally stepped in. But the government chose to step in kicking the doors off the barn!

For starters, it appears Nigerian grass is not nutritious enough. So the government somehow found enough dollars to import Brazilian grass for our cattle farmers as our cattle finally joined the long list of imported food connoisseurs.

But that is not enough; the cattle must go to where the grass is; not the other way round, and the government is going to make sure of this. How? First, the government will provide direct funds for the provision of boreholes and water reservoirs for the exclusive use of nomadic cattle herders. Then it will forcefully acquire farmlands from private citizens and landowners in all 36 states of the country for cattle herdsmen to do their thing.

That is not all. Once farms and lands have been forcefully acquired for cattle grazing, all other activities like hunting, tree felling and so forth by natives of the local community will be banned. To cap it all, legal challenges to such acquisitions will be severely restrained – even enforcement of court judgements, if obtained, will have to be formally approved by the Attorney General of the Federation. Hmmm…This is where we all take a deep breath.

Friday, 13 May, 2016

You wonder why the government is not doing the simple and the obvious by encouraging cattle farmers to modernise and to enter into a pastoral or grazing lease/ agreement with landowners and local communities. Perhaps it is because, in Nigeria, the big men always seem to win. As with petroleum, the government has chosen to subsidise the big-time cattle farmers.

This is almost as good as it gets: It is government funding people’s personal religious pilgrimages all over again.

In Nigeria now, all you have to do is find a little money, buy some cattle, and the government will fund the rest of the business for you.

Mine and your taxes will go to support big time cattle farmers’ private businesses. Then, mine and your land will be taken off us for their benefit, and we will not even have legal recourse. The government has already imported grass for them free of charge. Now, cattle farmers will be financially and legally supported to graze and exercise their cattle throughout the length and breadth of the country. The government has no plans whatsoever to tax or ask them to modernise their trade.

This is not just conjecture. A bill to this effect has quietly and efficiently passed its second reading at the National Assembly. It is called, “The Fulani National Grazing Reserve Bill.” It is sponsored by Hajiya Kure, a former First Lady of Niger State.

After its imminent third reading, the bill will be passed on to Aso Rock for President Muhammadu Buhari to append his signature and formally make it the law of the land.

Technology reigns supreme and life processes evolve all the time. Human efficiency improves as the world gets smaller and better. It was for this reason that every nation got on the information superhighway. But we shall show them all; we’ll build our very own cattle grazing superhighway. That’s progress?

•Egbejumi-David sent in this article via demdem@hotmail.co.uk

Understanding Nigeria’s anti-piracy war

By Oludayo Tade

DVDs. It is here, in the belly of the beast, that I conducted a study of the informal networks of movie pirates. I found two categories of pirates, often working together.

First are registered retailers who displayed original (white face) copies of films for sale, but conceal the green face (pirated) copies in their shops. They claimed to be retailers of original Nigerian films, but use the original copies purchased legally to mass-produce “pirated” copies for sale to increase profit. The second category comprised of “associates.” Officially, they are appointed by the copyright owners to distribute their films. But owing to their strategic position in the distribution chain, they reportedly make secret business deals with dubbing companies.

These companies dub copies without obtaining legal permission from the copyright owners.

The involvement of these various stakeholders in the film industry makes fighting piracy a Herculean task. In the market where I conducted my research, the presence of anti-piracy groups was no deterrent for the pirates.

They still carried out their business by working with associates. These so-called associates work with the copyright owners or with the dubbing companies contracted by the copyright owner to produce official DVDs. They are often sales girls of marketers or executive producers.

This means that associates have access to original copies of new films before they are released. They sell these to the pirate-retailers, often masquerading as legitimate retailers. The pirates can therefore ensure early pirate production of original copies. They thereby hijack the market from copyright owners and make more money at their expense.

Pirated copies can flood the market on the same day the

copyrighted films are released into the market, the day before or the day after. Although, it is more expensive to buy from their associates, pirates are often willing to pay the extra in order to guarantee more profit. Like in any criminal operation there are those at the top who pull the strings and who make the real money.

In Nollywood, the marketing bosses are often in on the scam. These dodgy bosses are sometimes major financiers of films in the Nigerian film industry. The big money which they possess and the “underground structure” they maintain make them indispensable to copyright owners and in the marketing of films. They wield a lot of power and use this power to gain total control of the market. By working with pirates to illegally distribute the very films which they finance, they are able to secure income from both legal and illegal streams.

The piracy business is sustained by informal networks.

This extends to penetration of the security outfits saddled with the task of arresting pirates. A pirate told me that he has an informant who gives him information about planned actions by the law enforcement agents. This includes warning them when there are plans to raid their shops.

Another pirate disclosed that they “bribe their way through” whenever they were arrested. Pirates remain confident of securing their release from anti-piracy agents whenever arrested.

This shows that corruption within anti-piracy agencies directly sustains movie piracy. This clement environment supports extortion and incentivises the pursuit of individual gain at the expense of the industry. If there were a real threat of arrest and prosecution, these clandestine networks would be more likely to break down. This would allow intellectual property owners to have access to their legitimate gains. Until then, Nollywood may continue to grow, but at a cost •Dr Tade, a criminologist, sent in this article via dotad2003@yahoo.com

,

With an average production of 50 movies per week and about $590 million revenue annually, Nigeria’s film market is booming. Dubbed Nollywood, it has overcome the teething problems of the late 1980s and 1990s to become a leading film producer in the world, currently ranking second to India’s Bollywood. That the Nigerian film industry is growing is not in doubt. What requires greater attention is the problem of piracy, which has become a menace that has eaten deep into the industry and may grind it to a halt. Although Nigeria has laws against piracy, it remains a thriving business partly due to poor implementation of copyright laws, near lack of prosecution of offenders and corruption in governance agencies.

In July 2014, less than three weeks after the release of Half of a Yellow Sun, a film adaptation of the award winning novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Lagos film vendors were found hawking pirated copies of the film around the metropolis. In 2015, popular Nigerian actor and award winning producer, Kunle Afolayan, was notified that his classic film, October 1 had been pirated and was already being sold on Lagos streets at N500 ($3) per copy.

The film had yet to recoup the $2million invested in its production. Afolayan then threatened to leave Nigeria if legitimate businesses would not be allowed to thrive due to the activities of pirates. These cases highlight the menacing effects of pirates within the Nigeria film industry, which loses an estimated US$2 billion to piracy every year.

The Alaba International Market, founded in the 1970s, is located along the Lagos-Badagry expressway. It is by far the biggest electronics market in West Africa and thousands of people throng to it every day. They come from as far as Ghana, East Africa, Togo and Benin Republic. The market has a mixture of individual customers and retailers who buy in bulk to resell across West Africa.

They buy a wide range of items - including computers, televisions, broadcast equipment, household appliances, video games, generators, security equipment, CDs and

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Friday, 13 May, 2016

O

N this page, about three weeks ago, Political panorama published a tribute to Musiliu Adeola Kunbi Smith to celebrate his 70th birthday. In that tribute, we made the claim that the Smith family of Lagos, had Ijesa root. The former Inspector-General of Police was visibly annoyed and angry at the publication. Musiliu Smith, a friend and a fellow University of Lagos Akoka, Yaba, Lagos graduate was evidently not happy with the publication claiming that his Smith family in Lagos has historical connections with the Ijesas.

He called me immediately to express his grievance.

He equally told me that the publication had upset his entire family. I want to express my profound apology to my friend, Musiliu Smith, for such an embarrassment. I sincerely apologise to the Smith family for such a publication.

The fact that I am Ijesa thorough and thorough does not make me ever attempt to link my friend, Musiliu Smith, with my birthplace.

In the process of the publication, we also mentioned (very wrongly) that my friend, Sina Adedipe, had given me information on the alleged Smith connection with the Ijesas. We have equally found out that such a claim was not true.

Sina Adedipe, a veteran journalist and columnist, writes for the Sun newspapers.

We also want to apologise to our readers for making you all to pass through this unfortunate development. We are sorry!

We still maintain that ordinarily, Musiliu Smith is a fine person with extremely strong attachment to a private life. We agree with his submission that his Smith family of Lagos has no genealogical connections with Ijesaland. I am sure that Smithy will forgive us and totally stop his profound anger at the publication.

We have decided to publish fully today his rejoinder to our tribute. He wrote me a personal letter.

M.A.K Smith is my friend for ever. It saddens me that the publication must have upset him. I submit that Musiliu Smith is a very fine fellow who harbours no ill feelings against anyone.

Published below is his moving letter to me. I wish you a happy reading: “My Dear Ebino Topsy, I read with delight your article on page 16 of Nigerian Tribune of Friday, 29th April, 2016, especially the part which you used to congratulate me on my 70th birthday anniversary.

Having discussed on phone with you on 30/04/2016 the aspect of the article alleging the tracing of my family root to Ijesaland and confirmation of your conviction of the baselessness of the allegation, I will appreciate your giving this my letter deserved space in the same newspaper.

It is a fact that a very small percentage of our family many years ago settled in Ilesa and were engaged in various business activities. The most prominent of them then and who happened to be the father of late renowned broadcaster, Segun Smith, returned to Lagos over 50 years ago in his old age. When he died thereafter, he was buried in Lagos.

My late Grandfather, Chief Abudu Smith (Osi of Lagos in his life-time), a very successful trader, has a street named after him many years ago in Victoria Island, while my late father, Alhaji Liasu Akande Smith (MON), one of the earliest Licensed Surveyors in Nigeria, rose during his working years to become the First Nigerian Chief Surveyor of LEDB and also first Surveyor-General of Lagos State. My late Grandfather lived from 1886-1969, while my father was in this world from 1906-1979. Both lived virtually all their lives in Lagos and were buried in Lagos when they died.

Myself and other children of the family, senior and junior to me in age, were brought up either in my Grandfather’s house located in the centre of Alakoro, Lagos, or other family house in Offin Road environ, all in Ologbowo area of Lagos Island. Our family lost at least two houses to the construction of the Second Mainland Bridge some decades ago.

I am happy to use the opportunity offered by this response to answer and silence some mischievous elements who have continued to circulate falsehood

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

Musiliu Smith at 70: A rejoinder

•Alhaji Musiliu Smith

as regards my family root. Ebino, I received a copy of the text message sent to you on 1st of May, 2016 by our friend, Sina Adedipe, wherein he strongly denied ever discussing with you anything about my family’s ancestors and concluded by expressing how bad he felt that you claimed that information was from him.

My dear friend, Ebino Topsy, accept my immense thanks for heartily congratulating me on my recent birthday anniversary. I pray that God will continue to bless, protect and prosper our two families and dear country.

SIGNED M.A.K SMITH CFR”

FINAL COMMENTS: Published above is the rejoinder of Musiliu Smith to our tribute. Some parts of the rejoinder convey home the fact that he (Musiliu Smith) did not enjoy the fact of our tribute linked him and his family to an Ijesa root. Once again, we apologise to him. No mischief was intended by our publication.

God bless you all!

EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK: DARE BABARINSA AND HIS CENTENARY PUBLICATION (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE)

I am happy to use the opportunity offered by this response to answer and silence some mischievous elements who have continued to circulate falsehood as regards my family root.

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Friday, 13 May, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

The month of

Sha’ban

S

HA’BAN is the month that introduces the great month of Ramadan. The Prophet, peace upon him, used to fast voluntarily during this month more so than in any other month. One of the motivations for that, as we will mention below, is that Sha’ban is the month during which the deeds performed by the servant ascend to God. What follows is a discussion around fasting during the month of Sha’ban.

Usama b. Zayd relates: “The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, used to fast so many days in succession that we said, ‘He will never break his fast.’ At other times he would go without fasting for so long until we said, ‘He will never again fast;’ except for two days, which he would fast even if they occurred during the times he was not fasting consecutive days. Furthermore, he would not fast in any month as many days as he fasted during Sha’ban.

I said: ‘O Messenger of God! Sometimes you fast so much it is as if you will never break your fast, at other times you leave fasting for such a long stint it is as if you will never again fast [voluntarily]; except for two days that you always fast.’ He asked: ‘Which two days are those?’ I replied: ‘Monday and Thursday.’ The Prophet, peace upon him, said: ‘Those are two days in which the deeds are presented to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds are presented while I am fasting.’ I said: ‘I do not see you fasting in any month like you fast during Sha’ban.’ The Prophet, peace and mercy of God upon him, said: “That is a month occurring between Rajab and Ramadan that many people neglect. It is a month in which the deeds ascend to the Lord of the Worlds, be He Mighty and Majesty, and I love for my deeds to ascend while I am fasting.”

Related by Imam Ahmad and Imam Al-Nasa’i The narrations conveying this meaning are numerous.

Among the important points conveyed by the tradition narrated by Usama b. Zayd, may God be pleased with him, is that the Prophet, peace upon him, frequently fast-

ed during Sha’ban, as is supported by a tradition mentioned by A’isha, may God be pleased with her. She said: “I did not see the Messenger of God fast any month in its entirety except Ramadan, and I did not see him fast as frequently in any other month as he did during Sha’ban.”

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim Among the reasons for that, as mentioned in the initial tradition, is that Sha’ban is the month in which the deeds done throughout the year ascend to God. The Prophet, peace upon him, wished for his deeds to ascend while he was fasting. This should be sufficient motivation for all of us to fast some days of this month. Fasting purifies us of the physical dross that collects in our system and makes our spiritual faculties sharper. What could be a better state could we be in as our deeds are ascending to our Lord? However, there are other reasons to fast during this month, which we will present shortly.

Another very important point that we can gain from these narrations is that The Prophet, peace upon him, did not fast perpetually, even though it would not have

That is a month occurring between Rajab and Ramadan that many people neglect. It is a month in which the deeds ascend to the Lord of the Worlds, be He Mighty and Majesty, and I love for my deeds to ascend while I am fasting.

weakened him to do so. In this is an important lesson for us. We should balance between the days that we fast and the days that we refrain from fasting.

Ibn Rajab mentions many reasons for this. Among them are the following: For many people, excessive fasting leads to languidness that in turn makes it difficult for them to supplicate or invoke God or to undertake intense study. All four of the Sunni Imams mention that studying sacred knowledge is better than supererogatory prayers, and that supererogatory prayers are better than voluntary fasting. Hence, pursuing sacred knowledge is naturally better than voluntary fasting.

Just as fasting may make some people languid and hence affect their worship, it may weaken them and thereby compromise their ability to provide for their families or jeopardise their ability to fully satisfy their wives. This latter meaning is implied in the saying of the Prophet, peace upon him: “Surely your wife has a right over you.”

Similarly, a person’s body has a right over him, as indicated by the Prophet’s saying: “Indeed your body has a right over you. Be sure to give everyone so deserving his right.”

[Finally], a person’s life might be long, as indicated by the Prophet’s saying to ‘Abdullah b. Amr b. al-‘As when the latter committed himself to fast every other day: “Perhaps you will live a long life.” This means whoever commits to an overly strenuous regimen of worship during his youth might not be able to maintain that regimen during his old age. If he tries his utmost to do so he might exhaust his body. On the other hand, if he abandons it he has left the best form of worship, that done most consistently. For this reason, the Prophet, peace upon him, mentioned: “Undertake religious practices you can bear.

I swear by God, God does not become bored with you, rather you bring boredom upon yourself.”

Source: New Islamic Directions - Zaid Shakir

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islamicnews

Friday, 13 May, 2016

Exploit opportunities in export business, Muslims implored

From left, Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Alhaji Ishmael Olalekan Alli; chairman, Board of Trustees, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Prince Abdul-Jabar Bola Ajibola; former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Musiliu Smith and the president of MUSWEN, Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola, at the second General Assembly of MUSWEN, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, recently.

No paradise for suicide bombers —Al-Ilory

T

HE Rector of the Arabic and Islamic Training Institute (Markaz), Agege, Lagos, Sheikh Habeebullahi Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory, has said suicide bombers would face punishment on the Day of Judgment as against the erroneous perception of making heaven.

“No paradise for suicide bombers,” the Rector declared on Sunday during his keynote address to over 200 graduating students of the centre held at the Kehinde Sofola Hall of the institute.

Al-Ilory said there is no way a suicide bomber would make heaven, because it is against the teaching of Prophet Muhammad.

“Our Prophet said: ‘By Allah, he is not a believer one whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil.’

How can we now say a suicide bomber that killed his neighbours will enter paradise and marry beautiful, chaste ladies, going by the statement of the Holy Prophet?

“It is high time we made it known to whoever is contemplating committing suicide that Hellfire awaits such a person besides other grievous punishments.

“Does it not amount to madness to say that some-

body who took lives of innocent ones will enter paradise? The Qur’an never says that and we should not misinterpret the message of the Quran,” the scholar said.

The rector warned the graduating students to eschew extremism in their affairs, saying that extremism leads to terrorism.

He said: “We have done our best to give you the knowledge that will make you the best in the larger community if well put into practice. It is now your turn to be good ambassadors of this institute.

“Remember, no teaching of our Holy Prophet allows

you to treat your neighbour unjustly. Prophet Muhammad never encouraged shedding of innocent blood and Islam abhors it, too. Do not, because of money, engage in acts akin to terrorism because we do not teach anything related to it here.

“Know that riches come from Allah. It is true that many scholars engage in fetish and evil deeds because of affluence – they want to ride the best cars, build mansions without good source of income – they are doomed for Allah’s punishment.”

The chairman on the occasion, Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola, urged the gradu-

MSSN denies dissolution of exco in Ogun OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta THE Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Ogun State chapter, has denied the dissolution of its executive committee in the state.

It also raised the alarm over the emergence of a group parading itself as the new executive committee of the body.

In a statement, the zonal coordinator, Mallam Mushafau Alaran, urged members of the public to disregard the report of the dissolution

of executive committee of the Ogun State unit of the MSSN. Alaran said that a section of the media had reported the purported dissolution of the state executive of the society and that one Yahya Hassan was reported to have been sworn in as the new leader of the society in the state.

He described the action as “a serious case of insurgency, impersonation, rebellion and usurping of power,” urging the general

JNI trains 450 members on safety, security in Jigawa Adamu Amadu -Dutse THE Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), Jigawa State chapter, has embarked on the training of 450 members on safety, first aid and security.

The state secretary of the organisation, Ustaz Muhammed Ahmed Babangida, who disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune, said the training was aimed at complementing the efforts of the government and security agencies on security and disaster control.

ating students to go into the larger society and influence it in positive ways.

Alhaji Babalola, the president of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), said terrorism is alien to Islam.

“You can be a Muslim and engage in a terrorist act. Where do you see such dastardly act in the Qur’an or teaching of the Holy Prophet? If Islam preaches good neighbourliness and a supposed Muslim went to attack his neighbour, has he not contradicted the teaching of Islam? Can we say that person is a Muslim?” he queried.

“The JNI feels to contribute its quota to national security, health delivery and disaster control through full participation in security and social responsibilities in the society,” Babangida said.

According to him, the training has been designed to be in batches for 35 days across the seven zones of the organisation in the state.

He noted that the trainees would be tutored on security, improved peace, conflict prevention, peace building,

first aid, accident prevention and environmental hazard control.

Ustaz Bababgida added that “Islam means peace, so, it is the duty of all believers to promote peace, assist one another and prevent accidents not only on the roads but also in the residences.”

He said that despite shortage of funds, the organisation would do its best contribute to national security and peace building “with the little we have.”

public, religious leaders and groups, media, security agencies and the state government to be wary of the “strange group.”

He said the leadership of Mallam Saheed Amisu in Ogun State is intact, urging security operatives to go after the people behind the false information.

“We wish to categorically state that Alhaji Saheed Kayode Amisu remains the Amir/President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Ogun Area Unit, and maintain that we are not in the know of any conference in any form within the society in Ogun State in accordance with norms of the society.

“We, therefore, call on all security agencies which include the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Services, Nigeria Customs Service to arrest this ugly situation and handle those behind this uncivilised act before it eventually becomes another case of insurgency,” Alaran said.

MUSLIMS have been urged to exploit opportunities that abound in the export sector.

The charge was given by participants at an export seminar organised by The Companion, an organisation of Muslim men in business and the professions, in Lagos.

In his contribution, a director at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr Olajide Ibrahim, identified some of the opportunities available in export business to include food and cash crops, technology and petrochemical.

He, however, counselled potential exporters to acquaint themselves with the rules and opportunities that abound in the sector in view of the dwindling revenue from oil.

An export practitioner, Mr Femi Jegede, identified excessive charges and taxes, lack of finance, infrastructural decay and administrative bottlenecks as major impediments confronting exporters.

He appealed to the government to reduce the charges imposed on exporters, saying the government could not be talking of encouraging export and at the same time be exploiting potential exporters in form of various levies, a situation which, he said, makes Nigerian products costly and uncompetitive in the international market.

Embrace comparative religious sermon —Amoo LEADER of the Forum for Comparative Sermon (FOCOS), Dr Dawood Amoo, has advised Muslims all over the world to participate in comparative religious sermon for effective propagation and teaching of Islam.

Amoo gave the advice in Ibadan, Oyo State, during an awards ceremony in honour of individuals who have contributed to the development of Islam.

“I urge my Muslims brothers and sisters to take interest in comparative sermon in order to actualise the objective of preaching Islam to large numbers of people.

“A number of Muslims and non-Muslims have accepted Islam directly or indirectly through the comparative religious sermon but more still needs to be done.

“However, FOCOS is facing challenges of taking care of the new converts and upgrading of its sermon instruments.

“We appeal to the respective awardees, their families and associates and special guests to partner with us morally and financially in our passionate quest to advance the cause of Islam through sermon,” Amoo said.

Ganduje Foundation plans laboratory for Qur’an learners Kola Oyelere - Kano A Qur’an science laboratory will be constructed by the Ganduje Foundation in Kano, Kano State, to assist learners of the Holy Book, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said.

The language laboratory, he said, is meant to help learners gain proficiency in reading and reciting the Qur’an.

Governor Ganduje made the announcement at the closing of the Qur’an recitation competition, organised by Ganduje Foundation, at the School for Arabic Studies, Kano.

He said the Foundation, established 20 years ago, would ensure that the proposed laboratory functions effectively to take care of the needs of Qur’an teachers and students in the state.

In their remarks, the Foundation’s director-general, Alhaji Sani Tofa and chairman, Kano State Council of Ulama, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, commended the governor for his philanthropy and skilful management of the Foundation for 20 years, appealing to the well-to-do in the society to emulate him.

Lasun Yusuf, Shittu, Ali, Lai Mohammed for UNIFEMGA lecture THE Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Lasun Yusuf, will tomorrow lead other prominent alumni of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, to brainstorm on sustainable national development.

The event is part of the three-day annual national reunion of the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) taking place at the Oduduwa Hall of the institution.

In a statement, UNIFEMGA’s National President, Professor Wahab Egbewole, said the Minister of Communications, Mr Bayo Shittu, will chair the occasion, while the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Hon. Yusuf are the guests of honour.

Egbewole said Professor Labo Popoola of the University of Ibadan will speak on the theme: “Sustainable National Development: A Challenge to the Muslim Ummah.”

He said the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Tale Omole, will be the special guest of honour, while Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) and Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti are the special guests.

19

Friday, 13 May, 2016

fridaytreat

Nigerian Tribune

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636

s n ia ic s u m p o H ip Ibadan’s H

! e k i r t s n o g n i o g are

By Rotimi Ige

M

USIC, as widely claimed, is food to the soul and has been a source of inspiration and solace to many. In Nigeria, over the past two decades, the music industry has grown into a multi-billion naira industry, metamorphosing from the hobbies of many into a veritable source of livelihood. The industry has produced talents, mavericks and legends, with the likes of Tuface, Davido, Wizkid, P Square, Olamide and the like.

As the industry grew, it, after a while, was categorised (though unofficially), into strata: A-list, B-list and C-list artistes. A-list artistes are any set of artistes who are the raves of the moment. They are the ones dominating the music scene at any point in time, for instance, Olamide, Davido, Wizkid, Yemi Alade etc are current A-list artistes and are in heavy demand from show promoters and commanded hefty sums as performance fees and corporate endorsements.

The B and C listers are said to be artistes who may be somewhat popular, but are not raves. They may have videos and songs on rotation, but are not as successful as their A-list counterparts. However, a common attribution to success in any of the cadres has been closely linked to Lagos, the acclaimed entertainment capital of Nigeria. This is because the biggest shows are organised there and the sponsors for events are easily accessible. Hence, it is believed that money goes round in Lagos.

In Ibadan, the music industry is vibrant but according to stakeholders, quite a struggle. Last week, an Ibadanbased rapper, BK GMB, released a new track, ‘Open Letter’, where he highlighted the pains of Ibadanbased artistes who were talented in every right, but were being ‘financially raped’ by show promoters. In a chat with Friday Treat, BK GMB said: “We have been patient for so long, waiting for things to change but it seems some people want to keep taking us for granted. Many show/club promoters in the city would go to Lagos and pay good money for struggling acts that many of us are better than, but when they come to us, they beg us to perform for free or offer peanuts

and still expect us to help them sell the show to our fans.

“Many times, because they know us, they employ familiarity to get favours from us, but we are wiser now. We have had enough of free drinks or hotel rooms to barter for our services. We pay through the nose for studio fees and song recording/promotion, spend a lot to look the part of the showbiz industry among other things.

For these reasons, I and my colleagues have decided to embark on a strike. No more local free shows except the platform is one that is worth it,” he said.

Another fast rising artiste, Keanzo, corroborated BK GMB’s submission. He said, “We have given a lot to the industry without much to show for it. If we were based in Lagos, we would be stars by now but because the exposure here is limited, we have been managing to stay relevant by God’s grace. I believe that if artistes in Ibadan can unite and speak with one voice to stake a claim to our rightful entitlements, no stakeholder will under price us. You can imagine a show promoter calling to say he/she wants to help me with an event only to discover the promoter had actually collected money on my behalf for the show without actually paying me a dime. It is as bad as that. We need to take bold steps and if a strike will change things so be it.”

When Friday Treat sought to understand the aim of the strike, one of the artistes concerned explained, “We have agreed not to go below a particular price/cost range for our services per artiste. If any event organiser cannot pay for our services (per artiste contacted), by the time he/ she exhausts the roll call of the most sought after Ibadan acts, let him go to Lagos and pay heavily for the artistes there. Most clubs/event organisers cannot afford most of the A or B-list acts or may be able to cough up money for one or two of them which is not enough for any real event.

Most of us don’t even charge half of what the B or C-list Lagos artiste charges, yet we are not appreciated. We believe that if we boycott local events for at least three months, people will begin to get the message,” he said.

Friday Treat’s chat with one of the show promoters was very interesting. Speaking under anonymity, he said, “Ibadan is coming up and we are doing our best to promote our artistes. However, they do not have full knowledge of the dynamics of the entertainment business. We are yet to have satellite TV stations in Ibadan

and the shows we solicit for are part of what gives the artistes presence. Many of our artistes are lazy.

We have about only six to nine notable or bankable hip hop acts in Ibadan. Only a few of that number are really working. Some still want to come upstage and perform the same songs that they released two years ago and get paid for that kind of performance.

Few of them have music videos. Yet, they want to get good money to perform at shows! Let’s be truthful to ourselves.

“Dremo was one of us until recently when Davido signed him. But it was after he gave us hits back to back alongside videos with heavy promotion before he got real attention. Unless our artistes wake up to their responsibilities, they can’t demand top payment.”

When contacted, another top artiste in Ibadan, Fabulous Pizzy, said, “It is true that we are facing a lot of challenges, but I believe that artistes in Ibadan deserve better remuneration. For instance, I try to release new songs at least once in two months and a normal song production, costs nothing less than N80,000. If produced and mastered by the big names in the industry, the bill rises to about N150,000 minimum. We are under pressure to release songs that would stand their ground anywhere they are played in the world and it isn’t encouraging when our services are solicited for free or peanuts because in Ibadan, there are no record labels. Everyone is responsible for his/her career. We are expected to do good songs and videos, dress well and not repeat clothes, not take ‘okada’, among other things. How can we achieve all these on our own if we only do free shows or take peanuts? I concur that we need to come to a consensus.”

While no particular day has been fixed for the proposed ‘artistes’ strike’, it remains to be seen what lengths the affected artistes are willing to take it to press home their claims. While the claims and counter claims continue, it is important to note that the entertainment industry is very important in today’s society, and affected parties are encouraged to come to a meaningful compromise.

Yinka Ayefele, Femi Solar etc are not Juju artistes

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Friday, 13 May, 2016

MUSIC BUSINESS 101

Understanding the creative elastic-limit-point phase in the artiste/musician’s career

By Toyin Adeniji EVERY artiste/musician ultimately gets to a point in their music career life-cycle where they naturally settle and stagnate because they have arrived at the creative elastic-limit-point of their current phase of growth. Growth in the music career life-cycle of the artiste/musician is in phases. Oftentimes, the artiste/musician will experience a creative elastic-limit-point at the end of a phase which signals the need to prepare to evolve into a new phase of growth or success. Many artiste/musician most times don’t know how to respond to this experience of a creative elastic-limit-point in their career phase, hence, they allow frustration and desperation to set in leading to a state of confusion where the artiste/musician sinks into despair and oblivion. The old is always the enemy of the new; the good is always the enemy of the better, it is a time to shed the old skin in order to grow a new skin.

The creative elastic-limit-point is that point where an artiste/musician’s creative capabilities becomes increasingly predictable and lacking the spark or magic which established the artiste’s/musician’s career earlier. It is the point where the artiste/musician begins to experience a diminishing return on their musical and artistic creative flow and output. This is the point where the careers of many artistes/musicians suffer creative atrophy or arrested development.

In order to sustain your growth and success in the music business, it is crucial to recognise and identify the symptoms of arrival at a creative elastic-limit-point in your current phase of music career growth/success, and to know the appropriate way to respond to the situation. It is the point to stop and “Ctrl Alt Delete” your old career mindset in order to re-invent and rebirth a new you with an all-new spark and magic for a new phase that will keep your creative output relevant, appealing and exciting for your audience and fans. It is a time to try something new and fresh in alignment with your musical identity or a time to reveal a new and more interesting aspect of your musical personality. It is a time to re-brand your music, image or sound etc.

Don’t become a victim of your own career success/growth; be prepared to re-invent and rebirth your music career whenever you reach your creative elastic-limit-point. Your creative elastic-limit-point signals the end of an old phase and the beginning of a new phase. You must be ready to learn a new way and a new approach that is relevant for the continuity and transition of your music from the old to the new. It is about change.

fridaytreat

s t u h s s o g La down for W

HEN G Worldwide, the , record label that pop act me ho ls cal l, Kiss Danie announced his album a’, many fans cer release con t, ‘New Er is was beTh . heaved a sigh of relief the artiste to for d ite wa d cause they ha of work, having come forth with a body became hits ich wh s churned out single back to back. ll have the So, on Sunday, fans wi niel in new Da s Kis see opportunity to rds from his light, because in the wo

The Red Concert lineup that includes Falz Tha Bahd Guy, Vector, Burna Boy, Jaywon, Jhybo, Small Doctor, Keanzo, Fabulous Pizzy, BK GMB, Seun Natural, Oyinkanade, Phizzle, Tundey GTS, So Fresh, Arole, The Xpandables among others.

Side attractions on the day include bowling, raffle draws and so much more. Attendees and shoppers also stand the chance of winning fascinating gifts all day long.

Comedy extraordinaire, Laf Up will be hosting alongside Kiekie, Bash and Wale Ozolua while sound will be supplied by DJ Baby and DJ Banky.

Yinka Ayefele, Femi Solar, others are not Juju artistes —AJUMN chairman Mr Kayode Merry is the Chairman, Association of Juju Musicians of Nigeria (AJUMN) Ibadan chapter. In the interview with ROTIMI IGE, he speaks about the relevance of his association and challenges posed to it.

l e i n a D s Kis on Sunday

Burna Boy, Falz, Vector, others to invade Ibadan for

IT promises to be crimson in the city of Ibadan when the biggest names in the world of entertainment troop in for VEN2RA, a music, comedy and dance concert organised in honour of the Ventura Mall second year anniversary.

The event which is presented by Ibcity Info in conjunction with Grey Motives is slated for Friday, 27 May, 2016 and will afford mallgoers the chance of spending the entire day in the company of their favourite artists.

The organisers of the event, on Monday, unveiled an extensive

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

Y

se the bar and camp, “He is ready to rai via his new s set new musical standard era”. w ne a , album. It is indeed cert are con the at rm rfo Billed to pe g, Yemi kin an 2Baba, Banky W, Pator kno, Te y, bo rna Alade, Iyanya, Bu n, rga Mo ia nth Cy s, nk Ba Reekado garSu er, Vip Da Wande Coal, Vector Ay, d an up tch Ke ix, g6 un boy, Ycee, Yo ncil, Pe w, La eyi Akpororo, Ushbebe, Sh among others. host of the Olisa Adibua will be the event.

Malaika, Sodimu, others to select Fuji talents in Goldberg concert Arrangements have been concluded by Goldberg, a Lager beer brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, to put the Fuji music on the global map again as the fourth edition of Fuji music fanfare (a Fuji talent hunt show) begins. An indigenous music activation platform of Goldberg, Fuji Sowapo has in the last three editions led to the discovery of budding Fuji talents.

The auditions for this year’s edition of the annual activation, which would hold in eight cities, will kick off in Ota, Ogun State on Wednesday. Apart from Ota, other cities where auditions would be held are: Ikotun-Egbeda, Oyo, Ilesa, Akure, Ado-Ekiti, Sagamu, and Ibadan. Identified talents from the auditions will later converge in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for the final selection of contestants that will proceed to the quarter final in the ancient city of Oyo. Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Mr Emmanuel Agu, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream lager and Stout, said notable Yoruba artistes like Otunba Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM1), AbassAkandeObesere, Sulaimon Adekunle Alao (a.k.a. Malaika), Dr. Wasiu Osupa, and Dammy Krane will grace the competition at different stages.

He disclosed that Malaika; Yemi Sodimu, popular presenter and actor; and Moruf Shadow, national president, Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FUMAN); will serve as panelists for the auditions that would hold in Oyo, Ikotun-Egbeda, Ibadan and Ota. For the remaining auditions slated for Akure, Ado Ekiti and Ilesa, the Portfolio Manager said Dotun Taylor, Filmmaker will join the duo of Malaika and Shadow.

Agu explained that the music genre has huge followership especially in the South Western part of Nigeria; thereby providing a credible platform for Goldberg to connect and engage its numerous customers.

On the modalities for participation, he said interested budding talents are expected to participate in audition at centres closest to them. Contestants will have about five minutes each on stage to impress the judges at the auditions in order to get into the contest proper.

It would be recalled that Antenna and Twinzobia Twins, the winners of the first and second editions from Oshogbo and Ibadan respectively, are now doing well in their Fuji careers. Akeem Okiki from Osogbo, Osun State emerged winner of the third edition of the Fuji music talent activation that had over ten thousand Fuji fans in attendance at the Trans Amusement park in Ibadan, Oyo State. “We encourage youth with talent in Fuji to seize this rare opportunity that comes once a year to showcase their talents.”

Agu added.

The winner of the contest will be crowned the Wura1 of Fuji Sowapo.

OU were recently nominated in an award which generated some controversies… What is the real story behind it?

The event was the 2016 SPACE FM Award ceremony held on April 3, 2016 in Ibadan. I received a letter inviting me as a guest to the award put together by Space FM at an event center. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the event although some of our members did. We, as members of the Association of Juju Musicians, Ibadan Zone were thoroughly embarrassed and disturbed by the obvious mistakes in the categorization of the awards.

It seemed that the Awards were designed to rubbish members of our Association who are renowned and first class musicians in the city. It is not about membership of our association. Can you believe that musicians who are not and had never been Juju musicians were given awards in the Juju category e.g. Evangelist Yinka Ayefele, Femo Lancaster and Femi Solar, to mention a few? The truth is that these musicians are Gospel musicians and not Juju musicians. In fact, they are very senior members of CMAN (Christian Musicians Association of Nigeria). The misplacement of musicians in wrong categories did incalculable damage to the psyche of Juju musicians in Ibadan and has undermined the image of our Association. Although some of our members were featured in the ‘contest’, the categorisation was unfairly done. The public had been misled and the resultant distortion of facts may be hard to correct. That is the story. If the action of the organizers was not intentional, then it was a grave error and a great disservice to the entertainment industry.

What is AJUMN? AJUMN is an acronym for the Association of Juju Musicians of Nigeria. It is incorporated in Nigeria and has chapters in many states of the country. The headquarters is in Lagos. This is Ibadan ‘zone’ and we are under the Oyo State Chapter of the association.

Tell us about its activities and why it is necessary for Juju musicians to be part of the association.

As the name suggests, the association is specifically for performing Juju musicians. It engages in various activities ranging from meetings, seminars, workshops, etc to forge unity among Juju musicians so that we can have a common and united front in dealing with issues that affect musicians in general and Juju

musicians in particular. Our aims include sustaining and developing the Juju genre through generation of ideas, innovations, and so on. This is to improve the art and stagecraft of individual members with a view to raising the overall standard of performance of the Juju sector of the music industry. Part of what we do is to use our strength of unity to provide access to the needed industrial infrastructure which musicians need to function such as equipment, band members, logistics/support personnel, transport services, production materials, financial planning, consultancy, etc. We have in place a functional health insurance policy for members to cater for their health needs. Through effective collaboration, members are open to ‘mutual-market advantage’ which will enhance their career. The association, through seminars and workshops, get members educated on the various aspects of the industry e.g. copyright, marketing /promotion, royalties, etc.

Right now, we are working on the pension scheme for members. This is to secure a decent living for our members when they retire and earnings drop from performances.

After the era of Shina Peters, Dayo Kujore etc, Juju music lost its fame. What are your people doing to revive the Juju revolution especially as other genres like hip hop, fuji, etc have taken over.

Let me say clearly that the other genres have NOT taken over. What happened was that these other genres you mentioned grew or evolved, which in a way is good for the music industry. Whereas Juju enjoyed a monopoly of the industry and the minds of the public for decades due largely to the absence of Fuji, Hip-hop and others; the growth of these genres in the recent past broke the monopoly of Juju. They simply claimed their own portion of the public space. In fact, to be acceptable to the listening and par-

tying public, they had to adopt Juju instruments and style. You will notice that many of the top artistes of those genres you mentioned are actually playing Juju now. Juju is known by the guitar works, keyboard etc. that is what you find everyone playing now.

If you also study their lyrics, you will notice the element of Juju harmonics. Many evergreen Juju songs have been converted and reproduced now as hip-hop and many young people may not even know that many of the popular songs they hear from their celebrated artistes were actually from Juju albums of the 60s and 70s. Juju is still very active. Although due to the absence of real record labels like the old Decca, EMI, TYC, etc, we do not have many new artistes in the Juju category being signed on as we used to, those performing the genre are still managing to push albums into the market. Juju music is still holding out.

The current socio-economic problem in the country had also taken its toll on the industry. People may find it easy to engage a DJ to their events rather than engage the real musician. At the moment, the association is working with other stakeholders putting in place the needed institutional and commercial framework to address these multidimensional problems.

God helping us, we will continue to make Juju relevant in the music and entertainment industry.

Are Juju musicians united, seeing that some artistes under GOMAN, CMAN do Juju music but are not part of AJUMN? Juju musicians are very united.

We must also realise that there is freedom of association enshrined in the constitution of the country. The reality is that not all Juju musicians are members of AJUMN. Either for lack of information or a matter of choice, not all performing Juju musicians are in AJUMN. Our own association does not force people to join. If there is any Juju musician in Ibadan who is not a member of AJUMN, I urge him/her to join so that we can be more united in the interest of the industry.

Is AJUMN a part of COSON? Yes, of course. But you should note that matter of collection of rights is an individual thing. COSON collects payments due to its members (who are intellectual property owners) and ensure that their entitlements from users of their works. Many of our members belong to the Copyright Society of Nigeria. Artistes must be registered as members of COSON before the Society can help with rights’ collection.

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Friday, 13 May, 2016

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

’Wale Olapade 08161235359 wale11g3@gmail.com Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

UNWTO: Exports

from international tourism rises 4%

The Regional Director, Africa, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Ms Stella Obinwa (middle); Mr Soe Dikibo (1st lef t) and other delegates of DTCM during a roadshow organised by Dubai Tourism at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos on Tuesday.

Dubai stokes up Nigerians with inspiring tourism offers

Stories By ’Wale Olapade

N

IGERIA, in recent times has become a sensitive marketing hub for different core and allied tourism promoting countries with special products and services for

•Offers 500 special tour treats the big spenders and shoppers.

Taking advantage of this is the Dubai Tourism which has seen a potential market for its loads of offers as it held a day road-show for

Nigeria travel and tourism stakeholders.

The event, which one of its presentations described as an avenue to inspire, learn, update and teach

Seychelles’ FetAfrik 2016 to celebrate African historical links — St.Ange THE Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange has said that FetAfrik 2016 schedule for May 22 to 28 is an important event and an avenue to proudly celebrate African historical links.

St.Ange who was on a popular radiocast, Lanbyans Tropikal in Seychelles said the event is the celebration of Africa Day in Seychelles “As a people, we need to be proud of each of the five branches that we called Seychellois today.

“For the Seychelles to better appreciate the FetAfrik, we need to learn about the rich cultures of Africa and this, the FetAfrik celebration is doing by inviting cultural groups from mainland Africa to take part in the event including professional guest speakers who will be sharing their vast knowledge with us,” Minister said.

“Often, we hear people say they are not Africans, but I say to you that you do not have to

be born in Africa to be considered an African, but you become an African with Africa inborn in you.

“When you value your link with the African continent, this builds in you the characteristics of an African.”

He added that FetAfrik like other events organised in Seychelles, is for the people of Seychelles. thereby calling on cultural enthusiasts and the members of the public to take part in the event in order to give it the recognition and value it deserves.

According to St.Ange, “FetAfrik, will this year feature activities varying from gala dinners, musical shows, public lecture and workshops.

The official ceremony will be held at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles in Victoria on May 25, which will coincide with the Africa Day. The theme for this Africa Day celebrations is Human rights with a particular focus on the rights of women.

travel and tourism agents in Nigeria on how to access its beautiful offers, displayed a chain of products and services that complete the tourism cycle.

One of the mind blowing presentations was the Dubai Park and Resorts, which harbours three theme parks and one water park in one incredible location.

The park, which is slated to be open in October this year, is going to be the region’s first integrated resort destination where East meets the West to give one the very best in entertainment.

The parks and resorts presentation further showcase an ambiance of visitors will experience unlimited fun at the Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Legoland Dubai, Legoland Waterpark as well as at Riverland Dubai and Lapita Hotel.

The feature presentations from different services chains ranging from special and complimentary packages from Emirate Airlines, Burj Khalifa, Damac Properties, Emaar Hospitality, Dubai Immigration.

Others include Emirates Holidays, Arabian Falcon, Starwood Properties, Connect World Tours, Rayna Tourism and Armani hotels.

Reiterating the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing commitment to its trade partners in Africa, the Regional Director, Africa, Ms Stella Obinwa said the tourism hub of the UAE will be taking 500 professionals from across Africa to Dubai for an all expenses tour treat.

INTERNATIONAL tourism receipts in destinations around the world grew by 3.6 per cent in 2015, in line with the 4.4 per cent increase in international arrivals.

For the fourth consecutive year, international tourism grew faster than world merchandise trade, raising tourism’s share in world’s exports to seven per cent in 2015. The total export value from international tourism amounted to US$ 1.4 trillion.

Income generated by international visitors on accommodation, food and drink, entertainment, shopping and other services and goods reached an estimated US$ 1,232 billion (euro 1,110 billion) in 2015, an increase of 3.6 per cent accounting for exchange rate fluctuations and inflation.

International tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 4.4 per cent in 2015, reaching a total of 1,184 million.

...As organisation’s Sec. Gen installs Lucca de Paula second in charge UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai dropped a bombshell recently at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Executive Council Meeting.

The respected tourism leader was given a lengthy standing ovation for his diligent service to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation during yesterday’s Executive Council meeting in Malaga, Spain.

According to reliable eTN sources, the secretary General put the Executive Director for Operational Program and Institutional Relations Márcio Favilla Lucca de Paula from Brazil second in charge of UNWTO. Rifai said Mr de Paula would be taking over some important responsibilities in the leadership of UNWTO. Mr Rifai however will remain in charge of the UNWTO Secretariat until 31 December 2017, end of his four years term as Secretary General.

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Friday, 13 May, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

Herdsmen vs nationalities at the Senate

Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA, examines the perennial herdsmen/ farmers’ violence in the wake of Senate’s public hearing on the incessant attacks.

F

OLLOWING the incessant attacks on farming communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the Senate on March 3 mandated the Committee on Agriculture, National Security and Intelligence to probe the chilling attacks and propose recommendations to nip the attacks in the future. Following the motion was moved by Senator Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu North, titled “Tackling the perennial conflicts between farmers and herdsmen,” the Senate resolved that it’s Joint Committee on Agriculture and Security and National Intelligence should conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in parts of the country. The Senate also mandated the joint committee to carry out the public hearing with a view to establishing the remote and immediate causes of the violent clashes.

Clashes between farmers and herdsmen The lawmakers also asked the Federal Government to see to the establishment of ranches across the country while adopting other strategies that would enable the modernisation of cattle rearing. The Sen-

ate also asked the Government to ensure that animal grazing does not constitute an impediment to crop farmers and their communities across the land. Days after the Senate took the motion moved by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP Enugu), the intensity of the attacks multiplied. The marauding herdsmen struck in Ondo, Enugu, Nasarawa and Kaduna, leaving deaths on their trail. In Kaduna, a community leader was among the victims, while villages were dismantled.

The Joint Senate Committees put up the public hearing to unravel the issues behind the incessant attacks on Tuesday, with rev-

While in Saudi Arabia where there is no cattle movement as we have in Nigeria but ranches, 4.7 million litres of milk are realized on a daily basis, Nigeria only manages to realize that on a yearly basis.

elations as diverse as the tongues involved in the crisis. While the Fulani herdsmen told their own story, tabling a list of demands before the Senate committees including the creation of a Ministry in Charge of Livestock, other nationalities preset at the hearing disagreed sharply with the proposals.

Lokpobiri, who spoke on behalf of the Federal Government, attempted to discountenance the widely held belief that the marauding herdsmen are Fulani cattle rearers, who have been attacking the farming settlements either for revenge or to create leeway for the cattle. In his submission, villages have a story to tell, mostly around denials, the Federal Government also corroborated the claims, declaring that the violent herdsmen are mostly not Nigerians.

Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heneken Lokpobiri, who represented the government at the hearing, said that information at the disposal of the government indicated that those behind the violent attacks are foreigners.

He also declared that the government was of the view that perpetrators of violent attacks are elements of Boko Haram insurgents, adding that some of them who have been apprehended cannot speak any of the Nigerian languages. The Minister however submitted that creation of rances was the way to go to enhance the quality of cow, adding that countries with better animal yields have treaded that path. He told the senators that no fewer than nine states of the federation had given some 5,000 hectares of land each for establishment of ranches. He said: “Available statistics to us in government show that, contrary to media report that these violent herdsmen are the conventional Nigerian Fulanis, they are not, as none of those apprehended was able to speak any of the Nigerian languages, giving strong credence to the possibility of the violent herdsmen to be another form of terrorists in the mode of Boko haram. The Problem is not Nigerian but regional, more so, when the Nigerian Fulani man has always been known to be a peace loving person.”

The minister also stated that part of the causes of the crisis was the fact that though the country has some designated 415 grazing reserves in the Northern parts of the country, most of the areas have no grass due to problem of desertification. He attempted to educate the Miyetti Allah group of Cattle rearers that modern way of rearing cattle will give better yields adding that right now, Nigeria has only 19million cows for a population of 160 million whereas Brazil, with a similar population has 220 million cows. He said that countries like Brazil, United States of America and Saudi Arabia are making the best use of ranches to enhance productivity in animal husbandry.

He further said, “While in Saudi Arabia where there is no cattle movement as we have in Nigeria but ranches, 4.7million litres of milk are realized on a daily basis, Continues on pg24

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politics&policy

OLLOWING the release of the Panama Papers, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, found himself under pressure to invigorate global action against corruption. The Panama Papers refers to the leaked documents that detail financial and attorney– client information for thousands of offshore entities. The documents were created by Panamanian law firm and corporate service provider, Mossack Fonseca.

They exposed the way rich people, some of them in government, are able to hide personal financial information.

Even though offshore business entities are not necessarily illegal, some warped individuals use them for fraud, tax evasion and other unwholesome transactions. Cameron family’s transactions were named by the Panama Papers just like a number of Nigerians.

Spurred by the leak, he summoned this week’s anti-corruption meeting to step up global action to expose, punish and drive out corruption in all walks of life. Broadly speaking, the Anti-Corruption Summit, the first ever, had the objectives of exposing corruption so there is nowhere to hide, punishing the perpetrators, supporting those affected by corruption and driving out the culture of corruption wherever it exists. In line with these objectives, it was therefore expected to agree a package of actions to tackle corruption across the board, deal with issues including corporate secrecy, government transparency, the enforcement of international anti-corruption laws, and the strengthening of international institutions.

I am sure what criteria Cameron used to invite the few world leaders that participated in the summit. But some reports suggested that leaders who are seen to be taking serious actions to tackle corruption in their countries like President Muhammadu Buhari and his Afghanistan counterpart, Ashraf Ghani, were those invited. So, how they became the subject of derision of the British Prime Minister during his meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, beats my imagination.

British media, on Tuesday, published a video clip of the Prime Minister in which he was caught on camera describing Nigeria and Afghanistan as “fantastically corrupt

Friday, 13 May, 2016

inside

aso rock WITH LEON USIGBE

08078891838 leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk

Nigeria as a pawn in British politics s countries” on the eve of the anti-corruption conference in London. It was during an event to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday. There were other prominent Britons present including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby and Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow. In the video footage showing him chatting with the group, Cameron could be heard singling out the two countries as “possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world.” He told the Queen: “We had a very successful cabinet meeting this morning to talk about our anti-corruption summit. We’ve got the Nigerians…actually we’ve got the leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain. Nigeria and Afghanistan, possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, is heard to intervene to make clear that “this particular president (Buhari)” is not himself corrupt. UK newspaper, Independent notes that Buhari wrote an essay for a book accompanying the summit in which he states that corruption became a “way of life” in Nigeria under “supposedly accountable democratic governments.”

Buhari was at the summit to deliver a keynote address entitled: “Why We Must Tackle Corruption Together” and as well have a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minster.

The one-on-one with Cameron, who only a few days earlier was reported to have made a mockery of him, must have been the most awkward of situations, yet Buhari has

had to face in his one-year old presidency. He was clearly embarrassed by the unwarranted ridicule as Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant, conveyed to the media.

The presidential spokesman reasoned that Cameron’s remarks did not reflect the current realities of Nigeria.

08078891838 LEON WITH Minister “The Prime must be looking at an old snapshot leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk of Nigeria,” he argued. But judging by the content of Buhari’s essay in the summit accompanying book, he was the one who provided Cameron with the ammunition used against Nigeria. The president has been guilty of running down Nigeria before the international community at every given opportunity abroad. That’s the position his latest essay seems to have portrayed.

Cameron neglected to speak about his family’s shadowy transactions as indicated by the Panama Papers but was quick to refer to Nigeria as fantastically corrupt. Under pressure to come clean over his father’s transactions with Mossack Fonseca, he has dragged Nigeria into British local politics. Just imagine how glibly he announced to the Queen that he had a successful cabinet meeting on anticorruption that morning in an obvious attempt to gain the plaudits of the monarch. Regrettably, he found it convenient to use Nigeria as his pawn in the game.

The lesson: Nigeria is corrupt. But other countries are as well. Therefore, rather than squeal endlessly about Nigeria’s corruption, Buhari should do more to protect what’s left of its modesty, at least, when abroad.

aso rock

The sharp divide over grazing Continued from pg 23

Nigeria only manages to realize that on a yearly basis” he said, adding that due to long distances of moving cattle around in Nigeria, many of the female cows suffer infertility as against their counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Brazil and USA with high fertility rate due to being reared in a particular place called ranches.”

But there were sharp disagreements between the Miyetti Allah Cattle rearers and stakeholders from different ethnic nationalities including Tivs, Idoma, Ohaneze, and the people from the South – South. While the Fulani herdsmen represented by the National Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Baba Othman Ngeizarma, asked government to directly intervene and guarantee some rites of passage for their cattle, while grazing reserves should be preserved, the other nationalities rejected the idea of Grazing Reserves, insisting that Ranches should be the way to go.

Stakeholders from the North Central and the South South however insisted that it was wrong for the Federal government to deploy public resources to establish grazing reserves for herdsmen. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, could however not hide his bias when he said that the government was free to establish grazing reserves anywhere. He said:”Nobody can stop government from acquiring land anywhere. Government is government. If anybody thinks he is violent, government has the monopoly of violence.”

Some of the demands tabled by the Fulani group include the following: *That the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should work with the ‘Ministries of Water Resources, Environment, National Planning, Foreign Affairs, State Governments, *Farmer Organizations, Pastoralists organizations and community leaders to preserve and demarcate trans human routes and cattle resting points with support from technical and financial partners. * Review past interventions and reports and work out a Comprehensive Livestock Development action plan under the auspices of the National Council on Agriculture for a smooth transformation of livestock production including all actors in the value chain from producers (pastoralists) to transporters, markers, consumers and dealers in live-

Senate President Bukola Saraki stock by-products. *Establishment of a Federal Ministry for Livestock Development in Nigeria in line with practice in most African countries that have large ,livestock populations like Kenya, Tanzania; Ethiopia, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon and Central Africa Republic. *Provision and funding for grazing reserves development from the CBN intervention funds, SDG funds and support from Technical financial and development partners like The World Bank, The Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations , UN—FAO}. The European Union, international Fund for Agricultural Development (lFAD) and others.

‎*That Government should work in close conjunction with the ‘State Governments in devising means that will provide for close monitoring and detection of Transboundary movements , Trans—boundary animal diseases, compliance with : The international Transhumance ‘ certificate , vaccination areas, livestock markets, Health of animals, abattoirs, slaughter houses and marketing of meat. * That government should work in close conjunction with the State Governments, Traditional Rulers and Community Leaders, Pastoralist and Pastoralist organizations to undertake livestock census and carrying capacity of grazing reserves and grazing areas. ‘ *Government to provide intervention funds for the development comprehensive livestock production including ranch acquisitions , grazing reserves and stock ‘routes both in The short , medium and long term.

“Government is also expected to support capacity building, Training and support for: pastoralist organisation and pastoralists in rangeland development and management , pasture development, bailing/storage and utilisation.”

Such demands are not too far away from the recommendations Grazing Reserves Bills already before the House of Representatives. Two bills, one published in the official National Assembly Gazette of February 1, 2016 and the second, published in the March 16, 2016 edition of the National Assembly Journal, gave details of the proposed law. The first bill with number HB.16.02.388 is titled: “A bill for an Act to Establish the National Grazing Route and Reserve Commission, to establish and control Grazing Routes and Reserves in all parts of Nigeria and other incidental matters thereto…” is sponsored by Honourable Sunday Karimi from Kogi state. The second bill published on March 16also titled: “A Bill for an Act to Establish Grazing Reserve in each state of the Federation of Nigeria to improve Agriculture yield from livestock farming and curb incessant conflicts between Cattle farmers and crop farmers in Nigeria and for Related Matters,” and which is marked HB.16.03.448, appearing from page 931 to 941 of the National Assembly Journal, volume 13, is being sponsored by Honourable Sadiq Ibrahim, representing Fafure/Song Federal Constituency of Adamawa state.

The controversy is certainly unending as the Senate awaits the report of the committee.

politics&policy How I’ll create jobs for Ondo youths —Gov aspirant 25

Prince Nekan Olateru-Olagbegi, a US-trained financial consultant and accountant, is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State. He speaks with ABIODUN AWOLAJA on his ambition. Excerpts:

U

NEMPLOYMENT is a big issue in Nigeria. How do you intend to create jobs for Ondo youths if given the opportunity to lead the state?

I believe we have brilliant Ondo indigenes.

First, look at the setting up call centres for example. Most of the technological corporations—the Tecnos of this world, Samsung AT &T, Microsoft—all of them have public relations departments and it is expensive in America. If we set up those centres in Ondo, for example, you can hire so many of these young people and train them. Because when you place these calls from any part of the world with the technology now, you won’t even know you are calling a call centre in Nigeria. So, when you train some of these young people, they can work in the call centres and pick up calls from all over the world and help their corporations to manage their issues.

It is cheaper for those companies to set the call centres here because our young people would not charge as much as would be charged in America, for instance. So, if you are paying about $10 per hour in America and charging about $5 or $6 here, it still pays off. Of course, most of these kinds of businesses are in India and China now. I believe that our own youths speak better English than the Chinese or Indians.

Also, now, we have a Medical Village in Ondo State. We’ve expended a lot of money on health care. There’s no reason we cannot build hotels in that area. Instead of people going into India, US or Europe, you can do

Friday, 13 May, 2016

home from America, you still have to learn, and I believe I have gone through that tutelage. I have met with so many people, the who-is-who in this state. I have talked to the market women, youths and elderly people, and they have embraced what we are trying to do. They have confidence in me because they know I am the kind of person that will not lie to them. They know I can do it. And if I didn’t think I could make things better, I wouldn’t even step into the race. Dr Mimiko has done a lot in the areas of health care, education, urban renewal, agriculture, sports and tourism, and I believe that the next governor must be somebody who can do better.

medical tourism here. If you manage it well, you can use it to create wealth. And of course if you link it up with technology, with all the Nigerian doctors overseas—when we are sleeping here, they are still up in America.

That means there are ways we can extend the working hours of some of these doctors. By the time we get results during the day and we are going to sleep at night, we can transfer some of these through email and other technology. It could be an X-ray result: the doctors abroad would read it very well and communicate that to us here. By the time you get up in the morning, you are looking at the result on your desk. With that, once people know that they can rely on our medical facilities, people would come here.

You need power to actualise some of these things. However, whatever is generated by a state has to be fed into the national grid. So, what do you think can be done in this area?

Agreed, we have power issues, but sometimes, these issues are over flogged. The government needs to hands off power issues completely. When government privatised power, it gave it to people who have no knowledge about power. Name any of the DISCOS and tell me the names behind them, then analyze their competencies in terms of power. Who is fooling who? Apart from that, the transmission part of it is still being held onto by government. Lastly, power solution is not as difficult as we are taking it, because in the advanced world, apart from using nuclear (which I believe we cannot really manage in Nigeria), they look at the materials with which power can be generated in localities. If it’s coal, you use coal. If you have good rivers, you can use hydro. And of course, like in the Southern part of Nigeria where we have gas, you can use gas. It should not be a black box approach like we are trying to do. We have gas in the South and transfer it to Kaduna; that ought not to be. We are supposed to focus on the South and build the generators

Olateru-Olagbegi there which we can power with gas. In the North, we can use hydro. But in Ondo State, of course, you can have industrial zones: small megawatts.

You may not have the funds...

That is why you need PPP. You can partner with folks and they will do it. You don’t have to build gigantic power stations all over the place.

How far have you gone in meeting critical stakeholders across the state?

Of course I am not a newcomer in my ambition. I have been back in Nigeria for over 10 years now. The Labour Party (LP) started between 2006 and 2007. I was a senatorial candidate of the party. We went through the election and we won all at the time. Of course, there is a huge gap between America and Nigeria in almost every sphere. If you come

But it is being said that Ondo people are also yearning for change and that your party might not win the election?

APC made the same noise in Rivers and Bayelsa. It didn’t amount to anything. Well, you know, a state I visit so often in the US is Missouri: it is called “show me” state. When people ask me to show them what we have done, I tell them that in the area of community development, we have impacted over 700 communities with different projects. Are you going to tell those communities that they don’t need those facilities that we have been able to put in place? In the area of education, we have built 53 mega schools, and these mega schools are far better than even private schools. Are you going to tell me that those parents who have their children in those schools would prefer not to?

We have been benchmarked for Africa in the area of health care. So, when our opponents are out there talking---what I have said is that “If you know you can do it better, tell us the way you will do it.” They call themselves progressives but we’ve seen their progressivism in Osun, Oyo and Edo states. Can you compare the educational programmes in Ondo State with Osun’s? If you compare Ondo and Osun in the area of health care, which one would you prefer? So, APC’s noise makes no difference.

Ondo still suffering from leadership neglect —Adeogun A member of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress campaign Committee during the 2015 election, Adejoro Adeogun speaks on his current governorship aspiration in Ondo State.

HAKEEM GBADAMOSI brings excerpts: WHAT informed your decision to throw your hat into the ring?

In my quest to give back to a nation which has given me opportunities to excel, I drove round the entire length and breadth of Ondo State in November 2015. What struck me was the level of poverty, the level of neglect of a people so blessed with material and human resources. I was ashamed that those who were given opportunity to serve our people paid lip service to the development of the state. They deceived our people with cosmetic projects designed to keep our people in perpetual servitude. It was in the course of touring the state that it occurred to me that the best way to give back was to give my service. I can only make token individual contribution through the blessings that God has given me, but I can do a lot and help to restore prosperity to our state through my service to the people.

How would you rate your chances, as a new entrant, compared to heavyweights in the race with you?

My chances are very bright. In the first place, the people of the state are tired of the old brigades who were at different times part of those who ruined it. Secondly, I am working with a team of very dedicated party

members and we are taking our campaign directly to the people. Since our intention is to serve the people, we are leaving no stone unturned in our quest to knock every door and spread our message of prosperity directly to the people. I like to draw an analogy between what we are doing and what Leicester Football Club is doing in The English Premier League in the 2015/2016 season. They were not in anyone’s reckoning at the onset of the season yet through hard work, a good coaching team and a different tactical approach, Leicester won the Premiership at the end of the season.

So who says a green horn can’t win the next governorship poll in Ondo State?

If you pick your party’s ticket, what plans do you have for the people?

Adeogun

In the course of our interactions with the people as we campaigned, we have come to a realization that a large section of our people live in abject poverty, similar to the internally displaced people in the NorthEast. If through the grace of God we get the mandate to serve, our focus will be the creation of wealth. A state can only be viable if it stands on a sound economic footing. So, we will address the root of poverty, which in our opinion is the neglect of agriculture.

Our plan is to start a revolution that will make Ondo State the cocoa capital of the world. Our immediate plan is to liaise with research institutions to introduce improved cocoa seedlings, help our farmers with farming input, support/extension services and encourage them to form cooperative societies so that resources can be pooled and risk and return shared. We will train and support younger people to take advantage of opportunities in the cocoa value chain.

We will take similar actions to encourage farming in Yam, plantain and cassava which are traditional crops planted by our people.

We will invest in green houses and use them as training grounds for younger farmers who at the end of their training will be aided to embark on green house farming in every part of the State. Besides, we will provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive through provision of infrastructure that would have direct bearing on economic activities. Our goal is to ensure that every kobo of state fund is employed in ways that render economic value and enhance prosperity. We will address the issue of employment and underemployment of our youths through entrepreneurial education and artisanal training, mentoring and seeds

funds for business incubation. We will also utilise our geographical positioning as the center point between the South-South and the markets of Lagos. Being a peaceful state, Ondo offers a unique advantage for those who seek refuge from the insecurities in the Niger Delta and the high cost of doing business in Lagos, hence we will develop industrial and warehouse infrastructure to encourage operators in the hydro-carbon industry, as well as traders from the SouthEast to establish logistic bases.

Would you be ready to give your total support to whoever emerges as the APC candidate at the end of the day?

I am a democrat. Even though we are almost certain of victory, I will support any other candidate that emerges, if it is the wish of party members and people of the state.

The caveat is that such person must emerge through a democratic process.

How would you assess the performance of President Muhammadu buhari so far?

The President has done well given the peculiarities of the Nigerian environment and the global economic climate. He met a rotten political culture of rent seeking and corruption so one would not expect him to make changes without a fight from the establishment. The foundation he is laying for ethical reorientation and value change would make our nation better going forward. The renewed emphasis on agriculture, import substitution and home made products will set the stage for the diversification of our economy.

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politicscommentary

Friday, 13 May, 2016

Legislature, budgets and global practices

By Femi Aborisade

T

HOUGH the Nigerian experience so far shows that the National Assembly has the power to alter the money bills submitted by the Executive, it would appear that the executive has sufficiently succeeded in demonising the National Assembly (even on matters in which the Executive is equally guilty) that members of the legislature appear subdued to concede that the National Assembly lies in either passing or rejecting budgetary estimates submitted by the Executive, without making changes.

Legal framework The legal framework for passage of money bills at the central government level is governed mainly by sections 59, 80 and 81 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, as well as the Fiscal Responsibility Act CAP F40, LFN 2004 (Updated to 31st December 2010). Section 80(2) of the Constitution provides that no money shall be spent by the Federal Government unless such expenditure is either provided for directly by the Constitution or it is authorized [i.e. appropriated] by the National Assembly,. Section 59 of the Constitution sets out the role of the National Assembly in the passage of money bills. This section does not in any way limit the extent to which the National Assembly may alter the budgetary estimates submitted to the National Assembly by Mr. President.

Indeed, section 59(4) vests in the National Assembly the veto power, where the Presidents declines to give his assent to what the National Assembly considers fit and proper for the country. Where the President fails to assent a money Bill within 30 days of his receipt of same, a Joint Sitting of both Houses of the National Assembly is required. If the Joint Sitting passes the Money Bill by twothirds majority, the assent of the President is dispensed with and the Money Bill automatically becomes law. By the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, we can only come to the conclusion that the legal framework for budgetary processes in Nigeria allows the National Assembly to exercise the power to alter the budgetary estimates prepared by the Executive, where necessary, as the National Assembly deems fit.

Section 3 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) mandatorily empowers the Commission created under the Act to, among others, enforce the provisions of the Act, including promoting section 16 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of

Nigeria, 1999. Section 16 (2)(d) of the Constitution guarantees, among others, provision for all citizens of “suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled”. Also, section 16 (2)(c) provides that the economy shall not be operated in such a way that permits concentration of the common wealth or the means of production in the hands of few individuals or of a group. The critical importance of section 3 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act is that where the President presents a budget in contravention of section 16 of the Constitution, the National Assembly may be brought under public pressure (through Public Hearing opportunities) to include estimates which would make the budget comply with the provisions of section 16.

Section 11 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act provides that the Federal Government, after consultation with the states, shall place before the National Assembly, a Medium Term Expenditure Framework covering a period of three (3) years, to serve as a macro-economic framework. By Section 18 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the annual budget for each of the three years covered by the Medium Term Expenditure Framework is to be derived from the same Medium Term Expenditure Framework. Section 12 of the Act provides that aggregate expenditure shall not be more than the estimated aggregate revenue plus a deficit not exceeding three (3) per cent of the estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Again, where the proposed budget prepared by the Executive arm of government is at variance with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework previously passed by the National Assembly, the Na-

The argument that the legislature cannot alter budgetary estimates is only half truth; it represents the practice in some countries where their legal framework so provides.

tional Assembly would have an opportunity to check the Executive.

From the foregoing, the idea that the legislature has no discretion but to either pass or reject the money bill (including the Annual Budget) does not have any support in the legal framework governing the budgetary process. Such an idea is a pro-executive arm politics, not law.

International experiences The point must be made authoritatively that, from an overview of international experiences, the argument that the legislature cannot alter budgetary estimates is only half truth; it represents the practice in some countries where their legal framework so provides. From the analysis of Nigeria’s legal framework examined above, the Nigerian legislature has the power to alter the budgetary estimates submitted by the President. This has been acknowledged in studies undertaken internationally. I provide three sources of such studies below from the works of Anwar Shah (ed.) (2007) and published by the World Bank, entitled “Budgeting and budgetary institutions”.

In a study by some experts, edited by Anwar Shah (2007), it was established on page 273 of the book that: “Legal powers of the legislature to amend the budget vary from one country to another. Three situations are possible: 1. Unrestricted power gives the legislature power to change both expenditure and revenue up or down, without the consent of the executive. Some presidential systems (for example, in the United States and the Philippines) fit this model—although the “power of the purse” granted to the legislature is counterbalanced by a presidential veto. This situation implies substantial and direct legislative influence on the first two objectives of public expenditure management (fiscal discipline and expenditure allocation) as well as some indirect influence on the third (operational management). 2.

Restricted power is the power to amend the budget but within set limits, often relating to a maximum increase in expenditures or decrease in revenues. The extent of these restricted powers varies from country to country. In France, the United Kingdom, and the British Commonwealth countries, parliaments are not allowed to propose amendments that increase expenditure and have very restricted powers to propose any other amendment. By contrast, Germany allows such amendments, but only with the consent of the executive. This situation implies very limited legislative influence on resource allocation and (indirectly) on operational

management.

3. Balanced power is the ability to raise or lower expenditures or revenues as long as a counterbalancing measure maintains the budget balance. This intermediate arrangement, known in the United States as PAYGO, channels legislative influence to the sectoral allocation of resources, where it is more appropriate. Limits on the power of the legislature to amend the budget are particularly needed where legislative debates lead systematically to increased expenditures, as was the case in a number of former Soviet republics in the 1990s. The organic budget law should stipulate that legislative actions that increase expenditures can take effect only if these expenditures themselves are authorized in the budget or its supplementary acts. However, these limits should never hamper legislative review of the budget.

In some countries, the budgetary role of the legislature may need to be increased rather than limited.”

It is humbly submitted that the Nigerian legal framework fits the first model above.

As the authors above conclude, it is more beneficial to expand the scope of the legislative power on the making of the budget through an enactment in conformity with constitutional provisions rather than restricting it. Another empirical study by another set of experts [Richard Hemming, Barry Potter & Richard Allen (2013) has confirmed the findings above in the World Bank publication.

The third source on this subject matter contains empirical findings on experiences in African countries. Alta Folscher (2011) also establishes a variety in the scope of the power of the legislature on causing variation in budgets prepared by the executive arm of government, emphasizing again that it all depends on the legal framework in individual countries. The key findings, on pages 61/62 of the book on the issue of the amendment powers of the legislature, are as follows: “Legislatures in many Francophone countries are not allowed to increase the deficit, whereas a large number of countries with a Westminster heritage allow legislatures to make cuts to existing items only. According to the 2008 CABRI/OECD survey of budget practices, 19 of 26 surveyed African countries prohibit certain types of amendments. In five countries (Ethiopia, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia and Nigeria) legislatures have unlimited amendment power. In one case (Malawi), the legislature may not make any changes; it can only approve or reject the budget. Originally, the South African parliament belonged to the latter category; however, the national assembly recently passed the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act 9 of 2009, which outlines a procedure for amending the budget.”

Conclusion In the light of the foregoing survey of international experiences and an analysis of the legal framework governing an aspect of the budgeting process in Nigeria, I humbly submit that it is a misconception to argue that the legislature has no power to alter budgetary estimates prepared by the executive. The long term public interest would be better enhanced where the existing powers of the legislature in Nigeria to alter budgetary estimates by the executive are sustained.

Rather than curtail the powers of the legislature, the National Assembly should in fact enact statutes to strengthen its powers over the budgetary process. It is in such a context that organized labour and other social forces may seize the opportunity provided by Public Hearings in the process of bills passage to pressurise the legislature at critical times and on critical issues.

Aborisade is a legal practitioner.

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Friday, 13 May, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 081 118 450 48

features Ebenezer’s friends, maimed in the attack

Late Pastor Akinseye

Late Mrs Akinseye

Baga community

Tainted by terror: How I lost my family to Boko Haram attacks —Survivor

The Boko Haram attack on Baga, Borno State in 2015, to many Nigerians, was just another story in the papers. But for Ebenezer Akinseye, a survivor of that attack, the experience was real. PAUL OMOROGBE tells the story.

E

benezer Akinseye was born in Ibadan 34 years ago. He began life as any Nigerian child would and went through the motions of going through school, graduating from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, all in the bid to live an independent life and make a living for himself.

Things did not really work out for him as planned in the South of the country where he had lived all his life. So Ebenezer decided to move North to see if he could achieve his dreams there. His ‘hustling’ took him to Baga Local Government Area in Borno State, where his father, Pastor Thomson Akinseye, already was, working as a missionary.

Little did he know that his sojourn to the North East five years ago in search of a better life would later turn out to leave him emptier than when he arrived, even with irreparable losses.

However, the move to the North may not have been as profitable as expected because Ebenezer had to take up the work of a fuel pump attendant at a Texaco filling station, which definitely was not the job of his dreams, but the young man was able to settle down with the woman of his dreams and start a family; they had a boy and two girls. The marriage was in 2006, before relocating to the North.

Life in Borno was obviously not rosy as expected, but it was far better economically than the conditions he left behind in the South. So he stayed on.

“We used to have some riots by almajiris. It was quite frequent there, and we were used to it. Boko Haram was something we only heard about from afar,” said Ebenezer concerning the security situation in Baga. For him and the rest of the residents there, they felt not at risk of an attack by the insurgents.

However, the events of the night of January 5, 2015, soon after the New Year celebrations would forever shatter the psyche of safety the people of Baga once had.

“It was just a few days after the New Year celebration. It was like a movie, but as things happened, I knew this was real!

At night when they struck, at about 8pm, I was in the sitting room with my wife and kids, watching a movie before we would go

Ebenezer Akinseye to sleep. Then, we heard shouts for help and gunshots which threw everybody in disarray. My wife and kids ran out of the house into the bush, while I ran to get my father and stepmother, Mrs Cecilia Akinseye, who were in the church not far from

our house for prayers. By the time I got there, he had been shot in the leg and in the arm already.

“I put him and my stepmother, who was also wounded, in our pickup van and drove back to our house, but before I got home, it was already on fire. I began looking for my wife and children but couldn’t find them. I looked for them for two hours to no avail. I assumed they had successfully escaped. So I drove to a hospital in Malari, a nearby village, because my father was losing blood. I put him there and went back that night around 12am to our village in Baga to go and search for my kids. But unfortunately, I did not find them. The following day, people started moving out from Baga to Malori, Dalori and other places. I was still searching for them when I saw an uncle who said they followed someone to Dalori, which is like three hours drive away, and I went there to look for them. I searched and searched for them to no avail, until one of our people told me they were already dead.

“On the fifth day, my father died at the hospital, with his wife also. I stayed on in Malari with my former neighbours. Many of them were maimed by bullet and cutlass wounds, and had their hands and legs amputated. Others were injured in the eye and were blinded.”

Ebenezer was able to pull himself together and got a means of livelihood going in Malari. He also busied himself by using his pick up van to transport wounded victims and displaced people from other affected areas to hospitals and places of safety. Such was the nature of his humani-

I put him and my stepmother, who was also wounded, in our pickup van and drove back to our house...I began looking for my wife and children but couldn’t find them. I looked for them for two hours to no avail

tarian activities until February this year when Boko Haram struck again in Malari.

“On February 16, Boko Haram came bombing and burning houses in Malari. It was about the same time as the first – at night!

“I went out to buy recharge card that night. I went to a part of the village where I could find ‘network’ to make a call to my cousin. I was there making the call when I saw different places blow up in flames in quick succession. It was as if they had planted the bombs in specific places before time.”

Ebenezer said the almajiris living among the villagers were suspected to be involved with the insurgents. “We never knew those almajiri boys living and playing among us had gotten involved with Boko Haram.

They carried guns and were shooting everybody. From there, I entered the bush.

I was there till the following morning before I fled again. Out in the village, there were bodies everywhere. I saw a pregnant woman whose baby was cut out from her womb. Some people escaped, but over 500 people died that day!”

Ebenezer’s reluctance to return to the South was because of the hardship he had faced and the absence of any prospects for a better future or source of livelihood if he returned. However, with no family member remaining alive, he was forced to flee the region completely after the last attack which he, by divine providence, escaped.

He never found the bodies of his three children or his wife.

Ebenezer has returned to his family house in a settlement in the outskirts of Ibadan. He now suffers hallucinations over the terror and sorrow he witnessed in the North East. “Sometimes I see faces of people I knew in Baga chasing after me when I sleep! I am afraid of the strange faces I see at night.” His desire is to leave the country and possibly start a new life!

While the army is making advances against the insurgency in the North, survivors like Ebenezer Akinseye need not just physical rehabilitation; the trauma they have experienced troubles them. And in the words of Ebenezer, the solution to such problems is beyond what politicians can offer!

28 interview

Friday, 13 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

‘NBFT is addressing the disconnect between youths and the reading culture’ intend to make our youths appreciate books more?

That is what we are saying; you find youths who give all their time to browsing un-educative sites, or to watching movies, while neglecting books. However, we are trying our best towards ensuring that our youths return to reading. It is true that there is a disconnection between youths and reading nowadays, and that is what we are out to address. However, it is not something we can do alone; the government also has a lot to do in this regard.

First, the economy is not buoyant, and in this case, people will first look for what to eat before sparing the excess to buy books to read. Another thing is electricity; after moving from one place to the other during the day and one returns home at night and wants to read one or two chapters of a novel but there is no electricity supply, then the person will just drop the book and sleep.

So there are things which the government needs to put in place so that the people will be encouraged to read.

Abiodun Omotubi, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT), speaks with ADEWALE OSHODI on the state of the book industry in the country, as well as the ongoing Book Fair Trust, which is holding at the University of Lagos. EXCERPTS:

N

ot many people know what you do at the Nigerian Book Fair Trust; can you share that with us?

The Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT) is the second largest and most consistent book fair in Africa today; it was established about 18 years ago to promote the reading culture and enhance the book trade in the country.

Since the establishment of NBFT, we have taken it upon ourselves to get Nigerians back to reading again. We all know that Nigerians used to be lovers of books, but at the moment, the trend has changed. So we have been encouraging Nigerians to read, and one of the platforms which we are using towards achieving this is the Nigerian International Book Fair.

It is an annual book event where we bring all stakeholders in the book industry together for exchange of ideas and network.

It is also an opportunity for Nigerians to get books at reduced prices. We discovered that if books are available but are not affordable, then we will not achieve much with what we are doing.

How long have you been having the book fair?

This year’s edition, which has just started, will be the 15th edition; so it means we have been having it for the past 15 years.

Abiodun Omotubi The theme for this year’s edition is: ‘Book: The Untapped Entertainment Treasure in Africa.’ How did you arrive at this theme?

We discovered that youths don’t find anything entertaining about books, and that is why we find a lot of them shunning the reading culture. Many people don’t even know they can gain entertainment from books, and that is why we are highlighting it during this year’s book fair. We want Nigerians, particularly the youth, to know that there are a lot of entertainment benefits which one can derive in books.

In the olden days, our elders gave themselves to reading, and that is why books like Ogboju Ode Ni’nu Igbo Irunmole, Alawiye, among others were so popular.

Reading is more than just studying for examinations; one needs to read for pleasure as well as to gain one or two things.

Because today’s youths have abandoned reading altogether, that is why anyone who attended just Standard Six in those days is more knowledgeable than some graduates of today. When you read, you will know what is happening in all parts of the world; we can actually ‘visit’ places we will never travel to through reading. So with this year’s theme, we are trying to let our youths know that one can be entertained by reading books.

The truth is that books are in contention with the social media and the movie industry, so how do you

You mentioned the economy; how does the economy affect the reading culture?

There are books that are affordable for Nigerians, but since we are having challenges with our economy, people will prioritise their needs, and I don’t think books come first in such situations. A father who has not been paid his salary for the past four months will not think of buying books; he will first struggle to pay his children’s tuition so that they won’t be sent out of school; so government needs to work hard towards making this country conducive for all, and it is when this happens that people can buy books to read for pleasure. However, we will continue to make books available and affordable for Nigerians.

Laurella School, Ibadan holds second sports competition Emmanuel George The second inter-house sport competition of Laurella International Group of Schools, Ibadan held last Friday, at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan hosted parents and students from other

schools as participants and well-wishers.

The school proprietor, Wuraola Ogunmefun, said the sporting competition was organised to foster unity among the students, staff and the parents “because sport is a symbol of unity in the country.”

The proprietor, Wuraola Ogunmefun and husband, Tayo Ogunmefun while passing the torch of unity in the opening of 2nd sport competition of Laurella School, Ibadan.

From left, co-proprietor, Laurella School, Tayo Ogunmefun; Red House queen, Ogunola Opemiposi; Father of the day, Engr. P.O. Shittu, and proprietor, Wuraola Ogunmefun .

From left, Dapo Taiwo; House Captain, Boluwatife Shokunbi; Blue House patron, Adewale Adesina, and proprietor,Wuraola Ogunmefun.

The proprietor, Wuraola Ogunmefun (right) presenting trophy for the first position to Feranmi Dadeowo, representing Yellow house.

In the overall results of the sorting activities, Yellow House emerged first position, followed by Blue House as the second, while third position went to Green House, and Red House came fourth in the competition, which featured activities like; 100m race, 4x100m race, ultimate search, brain game, god race, set and hang, cups and plates, needle and thread.

She further stated that the sporting event has achieved the aim for which it was organised as talents were discovered in the process of training.

“I was shocked during the rehearsals that most of the students were multitalented children and I could see them becoming great athletes in the future, as a result in their passion and abilities,” she said.

While describing the event as a success and a great achievement by the Laurella management, Ogunmenfun called on other school managements to imbibe similar activities in their respective schools; “because all work and no play make the proverbial Jack a dull boy, so we need to give them balanced life recreationally,” she urged.

In the invited schools relay race competition, ECWA Model College emerged first in the boys’ race, Ansar Ud deen High School, second, and Oluyole High School bagged the third position. In the primary school round for boys: People’s Primary School came first; ECWA Nursery and Primary School, second, and Brightest Start Nursery and Primary School, third. For girls: Brightest Star came first; People’s Primary School came second and ECWA Nursery and Primary School, third.

Friday, 13 May, 2016 29 news Herdsmen attacks: Enugu CAN rejects grazing reserve bill

•As gov inaugurates 7-man judicial commission

T

Jude Ossai-Enugu

HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu State Chapter, has rejected the proposed bill for grazing reserve in the country, describing it as a “private business” that should not be allowed to see the light of the day.

The association made its stance known at the Government House, Enugu, during a peaceful protest to condemn and register their grievances over the unfortunate incident of killing, maiming, raping and destruction of property of innocent people of the state

by suspected herdsmen, especially the recent attack on Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State who received CAN members, led its state chairman, Rt. Reverend Christian Obiefuna, in company with other notable clergymen, urged the Federal Government not to allow the passage of the alleged bill because of the public outcry and its threat to the peace and unity of the country.

The association condemned the incessant menace of the herdsmen

Killings of soldiers: ‘Perpetrators not from Foropa community’ THE caretaker committee chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government, Mr Joshua Macaiver and chiefs of the area have condemned the killing of three security personnel of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Foropa Community.

He, however, absolved the community in the incident, saying the perpetrators were not from Foropa.

Speaking with journalists at the Government House, shortly after a meeting convened by the state governor, Seriake Dickson, he described the incident as unfortunate, but assured that they would collaborate with the government and security agencies to apprehend and arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

While commiserating with the Federal Government and families of the three soldiers over the incident, Macaiver said

the attack occurred at a time when the council was working hard to ensure that Southern Ijaw became one of the most peaceful areas in the state.

He said the people of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state would not rest on their oars until those behind the killing of the three soldiers were brought to justice, stressing that the local government would not condone any form of violence and criminal activities that would threaten the peace of the area.

According to him, the people of Foropa had fled their community for fear of invasion by soldiers, adding that Dickson appealed to the people to return to their community as he had the assurances of the Federal Government that no harm would befall them.

against the people of Enugu State and the SouthEast at large and called on the Federal Government to compensate those who were affected by various herdsmen attacks in the South-East.

They also called on security agencies to ensure that those behind the killings and destruction of property were brought to book for such an impunity to stop in the country.

“Responding, Governor Ugwuanyi condemned the dastardly act by the suspected herdsmen, assur-

ing them that the latest incident in Nimbo would be the last in the state, as the whole world has risen against the killings.

Meanwhile, Governor Ugwuanyi has inaugurated a seven-man judicial commission of inquiry into the killings and destruction of property at Nimbo in UzoUwani Local Government Area of the state by suspected herdsmen.

Inaugurating the commission, headed by Justice Chukwuma Ene JSC, at the Government House, Enugu, Ugwuanyi charged the

Saraki, NASC resolve difference Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

SENATE President Bukola Saraki and the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) have resolved their differences over the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), as the erstwhile Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Sani-Omolori assumed office on Thursday.

Saraki had kicked against Omolori’s appointment in April, forcing the chairman of the commission,

Dr Adamu Fika, to issue a lengthy letter to explain the circumstances.

A memo, dated May 12 and endorsed by the outgoing CNA, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, confirmed Omolori as the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly ahead the legislative bureaucracy on Thursday.

The statement indicated that Maikasuwa had bowed out of the NASS Bureaucracy after 35 years in service.

It was gathered that a meeting between Saraki

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has informed the peace and reconciliation committee sent to the state by the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that there is no crisis in the state chapter of the APC and that things are being blown out of proportion.

The governor also expressed reservation on why the national leadership of the APC did not ask him about the supposed problems in Edo APC, adding that the Abuja APC must settle itself before seeking to settle the crisis in Edo State chapter of the party.

Oshiomhole, who spoke for the first time on the cri-

sis currently rocking the Edo APC, spoke when the fact-finding committee, led by former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, visited him at the Benin Government House, on Thursday.

Oshiomhole said the crisis in Edo APC was blown out of proportion by those he said were rehabilitated by the party, adding that those beating the drum of war in the APC were defectors from the PDP that wanted to discredit the APC in Edo State.

Oyinlola, on his part, said reports from the state chapter of the party in the last few weeks were not fitting for the party and that the party at the national level was worried about the situation of things in a Edo State.

as the extent of security agencies’ involvement in the act.

They are also to ascertain the properties destroyed and their owners and their values and recommend appropriate measures to be taken to forestall future occurrence, among others.

Responding on behalf of other members, the chairman of the commission, Justice Chukwuma Ene JSC (retired) said with the wealth of experience of the members, justice would be done in line with the rule of law.

•Omolori now acting CNA and Omolori, on Wednesday, brokered the truce, following which the coast was cleared for the announcement of Omolori as the CNA. The memo by outgoing Clerk, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, on Thursday, stated that Omolori would act as CNA till August 14, when he (Maikasuwa) would eventually retire.

Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Dr Fika, had, in a letter dated April 20, 2016, appointed Omolori

SATURDAY, 14 MAY, 2016

entertainment

No crisis in Edo APC, Oshiomhole tells Oyinlola committee Banji Aluko-Benin City

members to unravel the circumstances surrounding the dastardly act with a view to bringing justice to all concerned, in line with Section 4(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap 24, Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004.

In the terms of reference, Ugwuanyi tasked the commission members to, among others, ascertain the remote causes of the bloodbath and destruction of property, investigate and ascertain the number of persons killed, injured and their identities, as well

as acting clerk to the National Assembly from May 14 to August 14 2016, the period in which the outgoing clerk, Alhaji Maikasuwa would observe his preretirement leave.

However, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, through a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Senator Isa Galaudu and dated April 21, 2016, kicked against Omolori’s appointment against the incumbent Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly (DCNA), Mr Ben Efeturi.

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politics

Why we won’t back down on preaching bill — El Rufai’s aide

interview

I don’t ever want to get married — Halima Abubakar

Akure indigene or not, next Ondo govt must be able to perform like Mimiko — Deji Akure

divorce, court and crime

‘I told him I was 4 months pregnant before I married him’ Book your copy today

30

news

Friday, 13 May, 2016

Decapitation of the civil service in the 70s responsible for Nigeria’s woes —Prof Mabogunje Akin Adewakun-Lagos

A

N academician, Professor Akin Mabogunje, has attributed the socio-economic challenges presently being faced by the country to the mass purge of the 70s, that saw the exit of welltrained civil servants from the nation’s civil service.

Making this observation in Lagos, on Thursday, at the launch of Professor Ladipo Adamolekun’s autobiography entitled: “I Remember,” the first African President of the International Geographical Union stated that since the mass sack of the civil service, the country had continued to operate at a sub-optimal level, lowering the bar of striving for achievement.

While commending the author for deeming it fit to recapture some of his experiences while growing up, Professor Mabogunje argued that it had become imperative for prominent Nigerians to embark on such ventures so as to acquaint the younger ones

with some of their experiences on their way to success.

Describing the biography of the author as a sharp contrast to what obtains in Nigeria today, where the strive for achievements is no longer there, the former don argued that until the country began to retrace its steps from that path of perdition and begin to celebrate meritocracy, the nation would still continue to grope in the dark.

“It is obvious that Professor Adamolekun’s is a far contrast to what obtains today, because that was a period of Boko Halal, a period when books were loved unlike what we have today.

“But how did we arrive at this junction? It is because of the decapitation of the nation’s well-trained civil service in the 70s that we are yet to recover from. Since then, we’ve been operating at a sub-optimal level, starting with federal character that made us lower the bar of striving for excellence.

“But until we come out of this path of perdition, then I will say we still have a long way to go as a country,’ Professor Mabogunje stated.

Presenting the book to the public, Senator Bode Olajumoke noted that the author, had, through the book, given the readers an insight into what he went

through before achieving success.

While calling on other eminent Nigerians to emulate the author by documenting their experiences so as to serve as inspiration to the younger ones, Senator Olajumoke noted that the country needed such experiences to enable it to survive the current economic turbulence it had found itself.

In his remarks, the author of the book, Professor Ladipo Adamolekun explained that the inspiration to write the book was informed by the need to document some of its experiences while growing up.

While expressing the hope that the book would

continue to be an inspiration to others, Professor Adamolekun, however, called for more of such works that would enrich the knowledge base of Nigerians and enhance the nation’s economic growth.

Also in attendance were: Ambassador Dr (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, (Co-Chairman, ANN Plc), chairman of the event; Senator Bode Olajumoke, Mrs Bola Adesola, MD, Standard Chartered Bank; Lieutenant General Alani Akinrinade (Retd); Justice Titi Mabogunje; Professor Mrs Shade Ogunmola; Professor Kole Omotosho; Mr. Sam Amuka, publisher Vanguard Newspaper.

B/Haram: US dispatches 3 top officials to Nigeria Christian Okeke-Abuja

UNITED States Government has dispatched three of its top officers to Nigeria for the second regional security summit where issues on Boko Haram’s activities will be discussed.

The official, Deputy Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Acting Coordinator for Counter-terrorism, Justin Siberell, would participate in bilateral meetings.

A statement from the US embassy in Abuja, which confirmed this, noted that at the regional security summit, the Deputy Secretary will deliver the US national statement and meet with senior leaders to discuss efforts to support Nigeria and the other Lake Chad Basin countries in the fight against Boko Haram.

“Participation is expected to include heads of state from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and France,” the statement noted.

It said the Deputy Secretary would also review with Nigerian leaders progress on commitments made during the March 30, 2016 Binational Commission meeting in Washington.

From left: Czech Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr Tomas Kuchta; Czech’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Martin Tlapa; President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and the leader of delegation and Czech’s Minister of Agriculture, Mr Marian Jurecka, after the Senate President hosted the Czech’s delegation to a dinner in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Court to take Ese Oruru’s evidence behind closed doors Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa

A Federal High Court in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Thursday, granted the request to take Ese Oruru’s testimony in private in the case of alleged criminal abduction of the minor.

The Judge, Justice Aliya Nganjiwa, who granted the application, however, adjourned hearing to June 2 for hearing on the substantive suit.

Nganjiwa said after careful observation on the application on private ruling, the court, therefore, accepted that the evidence of the victim, Ese Oruru, should be taken in private.

“I premise the ruling of the court on the provision of Section 36 subsections 4 (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“The evidence of Ese Oruru will be taken in private and in chambers, excluding all other persons other than the prosecution, the accused defendant counsels,

top prison officials and any other if the accused person does not object.

“It is only the evidence of the victim, Ese Oruru, that will be taken in private while the main trial will be in open court; the defence counsel has failed to show what injury or harm the accused person, Yanusa Dahiru, will suffer on account of private

hearing,” he said.

The prosecuting counsel, Kenneth Dike, said he was delighted over the ruling, as application on taking evidence of the victim in private had been granted by the court.

“I am happy the way the case is going; on today’s pre-trial hearing, our application has been granted

and I believe justice is prevailing.

“We are sitting for the constitutional right of the victim, Ese Oruru, and we want fair trial for the interest of justice,” he said.

The defence counsel, Kayode Olaosebikan, described the decisions of the court as nothing unusual, but a superior opinion.

INEC releases Edo, Ondo governorship elections’ timetable Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja

THE Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), on Thursday, released the timetable and schedule of activities for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, scheduled for Saturday, September 10, and Saturday, November 26, this year, respectively.

According to the daily bulletin of the commission made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Thursday, “June 12, 2016 is the date scheduled for the com-

mencement of campaigns by political parties participating in the Edo governorship election, while July 2 to 4, 2016 has been set aside for the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries.”

In addition,the commission “has scheduled August 11, 2016 for publication of official register of voters for the election while submission of names of party agents for the election to the electoral officers of the local government areas has been fixed for August 27.”

“Thursday, September 8, is the last day for campaigns for the Edo governorship election while August 28 is for commencement of campaign by political parties in the Ondo governorship election.”

Also, the commission “has scheduled August 22 to 26 for collection of forms by political parties at INEC Headquarters, while conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries will hold between September 18 and 19, respectively.

Infrastructure: Fashola woos Czech Republic Christian Okeke-Abuja

THE Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has urged the government of Czech Republic to consider investment in critical infrastructure in Nigeria.

He said this while receiving Czech Republic’s Minister of Agriculture, Marian Jurecka, who was led by the country’s ambassador to Nigeria, Pavel Mikel, saying the Federal Government was committed to taking enduring steps that would further strengthen the existing relationship with Czech Republic.

The minister told the visitors that the core mandates of the ministry included provision of infrastructure development in the areas of roads, power and housing.

He stated that the focus of the present administration was to look for alternatives, which included the use of gas and bio-gas, as well as solar energy, to generate power, saying that farmers needed energy to preserve their farm produce.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Agriculture of Czeck Republic solicited cooperation between his country and Nigeria in the areas of power, agriculture.

‘KEDCO loses N108m to vandals annually’ Kola Oyelere-Kano

KANO Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has cried out that the company is losing about N108 million annually due to the persistent attacks on its facilities by vandals who usually drain oil from its transformers within Kano metropolis.

This is just as KEDCO also confirmed that some of the vandals were arrested while perpetrating the act in Sabongari area, saying they would be prosecuted as soon as investigations were completed The electricity distribution company disclosed this on Thursday.

KEDCO public relations officer, Muhammed Kandi, while conducting newsmen round some areas where the company’s facilities such as transformers were recently vandalised in Hotoro, Sharada and Sabongari areas of Kano metropolis, expressed worry that whenever the vandals drained the transformers’ oil, if there was eventual supply of electricity, the transformer would immediately explode.

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Friday, 13 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

PHOTOS: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Public presentation of “I Remember,� an autobiography authored by Professor Ladipo Adamolekun

From left, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Mrs Bola Adesola; Chief Launcher, Senator Bode Olajumoke; chairman of the event, Professor Akin Mabogunje; author, Professor Ladipo Adamolekun and his wife, Jumoke, at the event held at NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday.

From left, Publisher, Vanguard Newspaper, Uncle Sam Amuka, General Alani Akinrinade and Sir Olu Okeowo.

Co-Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN Plc), Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (left) and the founder, Oxbridge Tutorial College, Dr Femi Ogunsanya.

From left, Senator Olajumoke, Professor Mabogunje and Professor Adamolekun.

From left, P.M Omonijo; General Manager/ Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Gbenga Adefaye; Publisher, Vanguard Newspaper, Uncle Sam Amuka and the Executive Chairman, Safari Books Limited, Mr Joop Berkhout.

From left, Professor Ajibola Meshida, Dr Taiwo Aseperi and Gbenga Kayode- Smith.

From left, Professor Peter Adeniji, Mr Seye Adetunmobi, Dr Gabriel Ojegbile and a retired Permenent Secretary, Goke Adegoroye.

From left, Justice Titi Mabogunje (retd), Professor Sade Ogunsote and Mr P. M Omonijo.

From left, Mr Obadiah Mailafen, Emeritus Professor Michael Omolewa and Mrs Beatrice Fisher.

32

south-westnews

Friday, 13 May, 2016

Olubadan: I’ll sue Ajimobi for installing Adetunji, Oyediji vows

By Tunde Ogunesan

F

OLLOWING the installation of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, as the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan on February 12, 2016, the Seriki line in Ibadan has concluded arrangement to sue the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the Attorney-General of the state.

Chief Oyediji made this known while speaking with journalists in Ibadan, in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of his installation as the Ekefa Seriki on May 10, 1976 by the Sole Administrator of the Ibadan City Council, J.A. Akinbami.

Chief Oyediji, in his reference to an appointment document entitled: “Chieftaincy Appointment: Chiefs Law Cap 19 from the then

Olubadan, Oba Giada most Akanbi Adebimpe 1, letter dated May 20, 1976, was promoted from “Mogaji Ile Eshubiyi to Ekefa Seriki with effect from May 10, 1976.”

He alleged a gang-up by some people in Ibadan to deny him the Olubadan chieftaincy title, noting that he remains the most senior Chief in Ibadanland.

Chief Oyediji described the installation of Oba Saliu Adetunji as “illegal and unjust,” and vowed that he will not relent in his plan until Governor Ajimobi re-

verses the installation of Oba Adetunji as the new Olubadan.

According to him, “I remain the most senior chief in Ibadanland and ought to be installed as the new Olubadan.

“I am the first to be installed as a traditional member in Ibadan and I have been playing my role for the development of Ibadan since I became a chief. I am not a violent person but I’m just concerned about the peace and progress of Ibadanland.

“After we have taken the

Olubadan-in-council to court to stop the promotion of any chief and obtain a court injunction to that effect, some people still ganged up against my installation as the new Olubadan and went ahead to install Chief Adetunji, who joined me on the line as a chief as the new Olubadan.

“We also wrote the governor and the Attorney-General of the state not to install anybody as the Olubadan but should follow the court order but the governor did not reply us and instead went ahead to install a new

Olubadan.

“I have obtained the directive of members on Seriki line to sue the governor and the Attorney-General of the state over the installation. We shall not be violent about it but we want justice done and we shall follow the rule of law to the letter.

“As a man of peace who abhors violence, I will continue to explore all legal means to ensure that Governor Ajimobi reverses the installation of Adetunji because I am the one to have been installed as the 41st Olubadan,” Chief Oyediji said.

Omisore, Adesiyan, Babatope absent at Osun PDP congress Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

Former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, immediate past Minister for Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan and former Minister for Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, on Thursday, failed to show up during the Osun State congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held at Osogbo Township Stadium.

Similarly, a chairmanship aspirant, Dr Bayo Faforiji, believed to be in the camp of Omisore was absent.

However, former member of the state House of Assembly, Hon Adesoji Adagunodo, was elected as the new chairman of the party in the state.

The voting process at the congress, which was supervised by a committee from the national secretariat of the party, led by retired Justice Emmanuel Dodo and officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), started at around 10.45a.m.

Prince Bola Ajao emerged as secretary, Chief Sunday Atidade as deputy chairman, while Mr Sunday Bisi was elected publicity secretary.

But, at the state party secretariat, located along Osogbo/Gbongan expressway, Faforiji, described the congress as a “charade,” alleging that the committee from the national secretariat was hijacked by the national secretary of the PDP, Professor Wale Oladipo.

Wife of Ekiti State governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose (standing), delivering her address at the state Specialist Hospital, Ikole Ekiti. She is flanked by the wife of the deputy governor, Deaconness Janet Olusola (left); wife of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mrs Moji Oluwawole (second right) and the wife of the Head of Service, Mrs Tola Faseluka, during her visit to the hospital, recently.

2 killed as tanker explodes on Benin-Ore road Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

Two people, on Thursday, were said to have lost their lives in Ofosu along OreBenin expressway in Ondo State, while one other person was said to be seriously injured when a tanker fully laden with diesel, exploded some 28 kilometers after Ore town.

According to an eye witness, the accident, which occurred around 2p.m. when the driver of the tanker lost control of the vehicle and it tumbled while it caught fire immediately.

It was gathered that the tanker driver, who had about 33,000 liters of diesel in then truch, was said to have tried to maneuver his way out of the truck while the truck caught fire before he could get out of the vehicle.

He said the driver and one other person in the vehicle were burnt beyond recognition while the third person was rescued by some people and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The accident however, caused gridlock on the ever busy road for more than two hours as motorists were stranded on the road until some residents of the area came out to put out the inferno which lasted for over two hours.

Confirming the development, the state Police Pub-

lic Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, said the tanker was coming from Ore, heading towards Benin when the accident occurred in Ofosu, around Levante Company.

He said the truck was coming from Ore on its way to Benin and when it got to an area called Levante, the driver of the truck lost con-

trol of the vehicle.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and the tanker laden with diesel tumbled and subsequently caught fire while the driver and one person with him were burnt beyond recognition and the third person who was injured, was taken to hospital for treatment.

Anisulowo: We’ve transferred kingpin, two others to Abuja —Ogun CP Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

THE Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Abdulmajid Ali, on Thursday, said that the kingpin (names withheld) behind the abduction of former Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, and two others, have been transferred to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, for further interrogation.

He said this after a meeting between the command

and the Police Community Relations Committee, held at the officers’ mess, Ibara, Abeokuta.

The CP denied the rumour that the kingpin is from the Fulani tribe, saying he is a Yoruba man.

Ali also added that three other suspects, who were workers of the chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were in the custody of the command, undergoing interrogation about their level of involvement in the abduction.

Ali said, “The kingpin and two others have been transferred to Abuja. Apart from the kingpin, we picked one of his girlfriends from Ilorin and another in Lagos.

“We also arrested three of the workers of the former minister, who we are presently working on at the command, while Abuja is working on the other ones.”

He warned criminals to stay off the state and also discouraged payment of ransom by relatives of victims of kidnappers.

Nigerian Tribune

Ebenezer Obey, Ayewa, others for Osile’s 27th coronation today

By Seyi Sokoya

Music icon, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, will lead other top gospel artistes to lift the souls of dignitaries and guests in a 27 hours Praise Marathon musical event, today, as part of the activities lined up for the 27th coronation anniversary of the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso.

Other gospel artistes billed to make the event memorable include: Evangelists Joseph Adelakun, popularly known as Ayewa, Dunni Olanrewaju, a.k.a Opelope Anointing, Sammie Okposo, Pastor Kunle Ajayi, among others.

Nigerian Tribune also gathered that the event will play host to various class of kings within and outside the state.

The annual event tagged: Oba Karunwi Evangelistic Movement (OKEM) in collaboration with Ebenezer Obey Evangelistic Ministries is slated to hold at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Obey, who is also the coordinator of the event, said all is set for the success of the ‘undiluted praise,’ adding that, “The event which is largely described as a royal event, will again record another great success as it will gather people of all class to worship God and also intercede for the nation in prayers.”

Oyo NUT donates N50,000 to ill teacher

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State wing, on Wednesday, donated the sum of N50,000 to Mr Lukuman Nasiru, who slumped while discharging his professional duty.

The team was led on a visit to Molete Medical hospital where Nasiru is currently undergoing treatment.

In a statement sent to Nigerian Tribune by the secretary of NUT in Oyo State, Mr Waheed Olojede, the union said the amount was “given as our corporate assistance” to the teacher.

According to the statement, “The leadership of NUT Oyo State wing gave N50,000 as our corporate assistance to St Luke’s Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan, teacher who was ill and admitted at Molete Medical Centre.

“NUT gave the teacher N50,000 as part of his medical expenses.”

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Friday,13 May, 2016

34

news

Sokoto to purchase N1.7bn fertiliser, water pumps

S

OKOTO State government has disclosed plans to purchase 9,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers and 16,000 water pumps worth about N 1.7 billion.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Umaru Nagwari, made the disclosure in Sokoto, on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting.

According to Nagwari, the assorted fertilizers and water pumps would be distributed to both dry and rainy season farmers across the 23 local government areas of the state.

Nagwari stated further that the fertilizers which comprised Urea and NPK brands would be bought at about N 8,000 per bag, adding that it would be sold to the farmers at 75 per cent subsidy.

“The state government will also heavily subsidise the water pumps so as to enable the farmers to produce more food for the state and Nigeria in general,” he added.

The commissioner also disclosed that the council had approved the purchase of Faro rice seeds worth N 392 million for distribution free to the farmers.

Nagwari said further that

the state government had since conducted a comprehensive census of all genuine farmers across the state.

“This gesture is part of the measures put in place by the state government to ensure that only genuine farmers were given the commodities.

This is in a bid to make a difference from the previous system when there were complaints of biases in the distribution of the commodioties.

“The present administration in the state is poised to ensuring that all the genuine farmers get these commodities right on time and devoid of any political party, ethnic or religious differences. Food security is next to nothing and the state government will not in any way toy with its sustainable provision to the people of the state,’’ Nagwari, added.

Similarly, the council had endorsed the planned establishment of a Tomato processing company and tractors assembling company in collaboration with Erisco Foods limited.

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35 CHANGE OF NAME

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I, formerly Othuke Emmanuel Ojo now OTHUKE EMMANUEL KUME. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME/ DATE OF BIRTH I, Sheriff Adepeju Lawal am the same person as Sheriff Ayobami Lawal. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as SHERIFF ADEPEJU LAWAL. My date of birth is 12th February, 1979 and not 12th February, 1977. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Plc., FCMB Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Lamidi Kabiru Adeomi now wish to be known and addressed as ADARAMATI KABIRU ADEOMI. All former documents bearing Lamidi Kabiru Adeomi remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Kalum Sali Warisara wish to reinstate that my name was wrongly written as Kalum Salum Warisara that, my correct name is Kalum Sali Warisara. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as KALUM SALI WARISARA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeoye Sarah Omolade now MRS OGUNDELE SARAH OMOLADE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Government and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Audu Sade now MRS. ADEYEMO FOLASADE OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Titilayo Ayo now MRS. TITILAYO OGEDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aderibigbe Busayo Rukayat now MRS. OGUNLANA BUSAYO RUKAYAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Oluwatoyin Olaoluwa Sangokunle now MR. WEALTH SAMUEL OLADELE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogundipe Rhoda Monisola now MRS. OYETADE RHODA MONISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly David Abiodun Akande now ABIODUN AKANDE JULIUS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Oluwasanjo Ayomide Okanlawon now OKANLAWON OLUWASANJO SERIF. My correct date of birth is 30th November, 1990 and not 30th November, 1991. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Ojo Rufus Gloria now MRS. OJO ORIEOMA GLORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adetunji Taiwo Tolulope now MRS. OYENIYI TAIWO TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojo Oyindamola Aderonke now MRS. OYELADE O Y I N D A M O L A ADERONKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ijadeyila Ifeoluwa Olaitan now OLAITAN IFEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Akinlade Abiodun Peter, My name was erroneously written as Akinade Abiodun Peter instead of Akinlade Abiodun Peter.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AKINLADE ABIODUN PETER. My correct date of birth is 27th March, 1989 and not 26th March, 1989.

All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ibrahim Ganiyat Olawumi now HAMZAT GANIYAT BAMIDELE. All former documents remain valid. FCMB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Babarinde Olubukola Opeyemi now MRS. DAVID OLUBUKOLA OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Saint Anne’s and general public take note.

I, formerly Emmanuel Arome Attah now EMMANUEL AROME DANIEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Adebusuyi Jearey now ADEBUSUYI OLAJIIRE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc., Access Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Olusegun Yetunde Olusayo now ADEYEMO YETUNDE OLUSAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Olorunfemi Raphael now OLORUNFEMI RAPHAEL AKINBAMIDELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adegbite Adeola Grace now MRS. AKINYINKA ADEOLA GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

Nigerian Prisons Service and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Diana Williams now MRS. DIANA OLUWAYEMISI ADERINTO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Maurice Idoko Ebeshi now ACHA FIDELIS OTIRIBI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Moses James am the same person as Bifam Sankah.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MOSES JAMES. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Moronfolu Saidat Ibidun now MRS. LAYODE SAIDAT IBIDUN. All former documents remain valid. NPF Microfinance Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Oladipupo Mercy Abiola now ADEOSUN ABIOLA KAFILAT. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Awolowo Olanike Fisayo am the same person as Awolowo Nike.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AWOLOWO OLANIKE FISAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

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CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

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I, formerly Uzoma Eromaka now LIVINUS UZOMA EROMAKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Mercy Aloma now IGWE RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Oni Oluwaseun Christianah now MRS OLOWOOKERE OLUWASEUN CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid. Osun Empowerment Scheme(O Yes), First Bank Plc, and general public take note.

I, Taiwo Adetola Oyewole am the same person as Taiwo Adetola Oyawole (as wrongly written in my Bank account).

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as TAIWO ADETOLA OYEWOLE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc., Heritage Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Akinoshun Abdl’mumin Kolawole am the same person as Akinoshun Mumin Kolawole. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AKINOSHUN ABDL’MUMIN KOLAWOLE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Olu-Ayoola Ayodamola Michael am the same person as Ayoola Oluseyi Ayodamola. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OLU-AYOOLA AYODAMOLA MICHAEL. All documents bearing these names remain valid. VCN, BVN and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Fiade Sadia Abidemi now MRS AKINBOWALE SADIA ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Omonijo Olumuyiwa Charles now OMONIJO OLUMUYIWA MONDAY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

36

Friday,13 May, 2016

37 news 3 missing, 100 displaced over land dispute in Ekiti

T

HREE persons have been declared missing while over 100 non-indigenous residents of Eyin-Ero, an agrarian community in Ido Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, have deserted their homes to seek refuge in improvised camps in Usi-Ekiti .

The Tiv indigenes of Benue State, who are also predominantly farmers and labourers, claimed they were threatened by the people of Iye Ekiti, headquarters of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, over a land dispute with Usi-Ekiti, a neighbouring community.

Speaking with journalists, Mamuah Christopher, the leader of the community, said, “on Saturday, around 9.30 a.m., while I was working in the farm, I saw six of my people running towards me. When they got to where

I was, they told me that some people were pursuing them.

Before I knew what was happening, some youths brandishing charms and cutlasses approached us and told us that the land we were farming on belonged to them and that if we want to continue to live, we should shift our allegiance to them or leave their land.

“When they left us, they went to our houses and chased our wives and children away. As a result, 14 persons got missing. We later found 11 of those missing remaining three. Those still missing are aged between 9 and 11. Also, our goats, chickens and other belongings are nowhere to be found.

“We came to Usi community to report what happened and seek refuge pending the time the issue will be resolved. They are the ones

who gave us the land for farming since we came to that place three years ago and nobody has challenged us until Saturday when the people from Iye came and threatened our lives.”

The community leader added that they would not go back to their place of abode until the issue is resolved because they didn’t want to risk their lives as their assailants could come in the night to attack them.

The National President of Egbe Omo Usi. Chief Ayorinde, also disclosed that the traditional rulers concerned would meet this week to find a lasting solution and restore normalcy to the area.

The DPO in Ido, who did not want his name in print, said the case had been reported to the appropriate authority and that he was awaiting directive for necessary action.

Hoodlums, gangsters have taken over PDP—Gana group •Rejects party’s planned national convention Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe-Abuja

CONCERNED members of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,under the aegis of Concerned PDP Stakeholders Summit, led by former Information Minister, Professor Jerry Gana, on Thursday, met in Abuja and raised the alarm that “”hoodlums and gangsters” have taken over the party with the aim of finally destroying it.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Summit, its cochairman Professor Tunde Adeniran, declared that the party had been hijacked by hoodlums and gangsters thereby putting its future in danger, which was echoed by the guest speaker Professor Gana.

They said it was the reason the surviving founding fathers of the party and other concerned members convened the summit, with a view to reviving the party from the undertakers who were ready for its funeral ceremony this time around “These undertakers are not known to our party, they are strangers, we should stand up and chase them away, stay back and revive our party ahead of the 2019 for it to take over the reins of power because Nigerians are anxiously waiting for us and we should not disappoint them this time around,”Gana declared The group also rejected the National Convention of the party slated for May 21 this year in Port-Harcourt and the new zoning formula adopted by the National Executive Committee of the party, as well as the proposed amendment of its constitution.

Rather it set a 21 -man steering committee and directed the national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff along with members of the National

Working Committee, NWC, to vacate office on May 24 when their tenure would expire, and to hand over the affairs of the party to the committee while the Board of Trustees, BOT, would supervise activities that would re-position the party ahead of the 2019 general election The communique signed by the trio of Senator Ibrahin Mantu, Professor Tunde Adeniran and Chief Raymond

Dokpesi read in part: “The summit therefore resolved as follows: At the expiration of the tenure of the members of the National Working Committee on March 24, 2016 a national convention to elect the new executives ought to have taken place or a caretaker committee put in place to run the affairs of the party till such a convention was undertaken by the party.”

Parliamentarian demands new order in Turkey

Taiwo Adisa- Abuja

A former member of the Turkish Parliament, Mohammed Cetin, has called for a new order in Turkey, adding that the government of the day must agree to fight corruption and reform the judiciary.

The parliamentarian, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja, on the platform of the Gulien Movement, which is seeking

to promote reforms in Turkey, said the conduct of the incumbent government tends to promote dictatorship and authoritarianism.

According to him, though dictatorship is not peculiar to Turkey, it is fast becoming a disease of developing nations.

He said the Turkish authorities must ensure reforms not only in the political space but also in the Judiciary as well.

OSOBAN honours ex-students OKE-ARE Seminary Old Boys Association of Nigeria (OSOBAN) is organising a luncheon to honour Catholic priests who are ex students of St Theresa’s Catholic Minor Seminary, Oke-Are, Ibadan, on Thursday, May 19, at 1p.m. at St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos.

The event is expected to have prominent Catholic priests in attendance while eight other priests of Oke-Are extraction will receive honours for their 50th priestly ordination anniversary and also honour ex students of the seminary, who returned to the Seminary as heads of the school administration, that is Rectors.

The luncheon is aimed at bringing together the two categories of the seminary

graduates for the purpose of forging a common front in order to support the training of Catholic priests.

The luncheon, which has Sir Steve Bamidele Omojafor, OON, Group Chairman, STB MCCANN, West Africa as chairman, will also host Sir J.I.A. Arumemi Ikhide-Johnson, KSG CON and Chief M.O. Koleoso as Special Guests of honour; Messrs Evaristus Jibola Kuyoro and Patrick Sessi as special guests.

The OSOBAN President, Mr Segun Ogunade, stated that the coming together of all old boys of the Oke-Are Seminary would create the avenue for all old boys to contribute to the training of priests, which cost has hit the rooftop.

Friday, 13 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

S/West PDP crisis: Court stops zonal congress •It will hold as scheduled—Fayose THE crisis rocking the South West Zonal chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assumed another dimension as a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, restrained the party and its officers from going ahead with the zonal congress scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 14, 2016.

In the case with Suit No. FHC/L/CS/605/2016, which was filed by the incumbent zonal secretary, Chief ‘Pegba Otemolu against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, its national chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff and the national secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, the plaintiff submitted that it was wrong for the party and its national officers to contemplate organising a zonal congress for the South West since the zonal executive committee members were elected on October 11, 2014.

He contended that since members of the zonal executives were elected to serve four years tenure,

their term would end on October 11, 2018.

Granting the plaintiff’s prayer, Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos held, “That an order of interlocutory injunction is granted to the Plaintiff/Applicant restraining the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from conducting or permitting or recognising any election into the offices of the South West Zonal Executive Committee, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons”.

The case has been adjourned till May 24, 2016.

With the latest development, any attempt to conduct the zonal congress scheduled for Akure, Ondo State and Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, by the contending groups within the zone, will be an illegality, a contempt of court and nullity.

According to informed sources, by implication, the Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe-led zonal excutives would continue in office until either 2018 or when the suit is determined.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State

governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said the PDP Southwest Zonal Congress slated for tomorrow in Akure, Ondo State would hold as scheduled.

The governor, who addressed journalists at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, today, said materials for the congress had already been distributed through the appropriate authority.

He said the party was not aware of any court order stopping the congress, adding that as such, machinery was in motion for a hitchfree congress.

“I can confirm that materials for the congress have been handed to the congress committee and the committee is set for the congress.

“Anyone talking about court order is only deceiving himself and it is now time for the party to operate devoid of any abracabra court orders.

“I therefore urge all delegates and leaders of our party to converge on Akure on Saturday for the congress as scheduled,” the governor said.

‘N10m bribe: CCT chairman was implicated’ SUNDAY EJIKE-ABUJA

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has insisted that the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Yakubu Umar, was implicated in the N10 million bribery allegation preffered against him by a retired Comptroller of Customs, Chief Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi, who is standing trial before the tribunal.

The EFCC told an Abuja High Court that the Personal Assistant to the CCT chairman, Malam Alli Gambo Abdullahi, named the CCT chairman as the beneficiary of the N1.8 million part- payment made

by Owolabi, through a bank transaction in respect of the bribery saga.

During a trial within -trial

by Justice Christiana Orji, the anti-graft agency said the denial made by Abdullahi much later after his first statement on September 9, 2013, in which he freely implicated the CCT boss ,was an after thought.

Testifying before Justice Orji, an operative with EFCC, Abdulmajeed Ibrahim ,who led the investigation into the bribery allegation, told the judge that Abdullahi freely made statement on September 2013, to the effect that the CCT boss allegedly demanded N10 million bribe from the excustoms boss, adding that he asked him to act on his

behalf.

Ibrahim told the court that the denial made by the said Abdullahi in another statement could not invalidate the first statement of 2013 because it was voluntarily made

by Abdullahi ,who is standing trial in a criminal matter.

The witness, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr Andrew Akoja, urged the court to disregard and reject Abdullahi’s denial that he did not give the bribe money to Umar.

Another witness, Bala Mohammed, an EFCC detective, told the court how he was invited in 2013 to participate in the investigation of a petition of one Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi, concerning the N10million bribe allegedly demanded by the CCT boss.

The witness said the Personal Assistant to the CCT boss, who is currently standing trial on criminal offences, was invited on August 12, 2013 and he volunteered a statement to EFCC. Mohammed claimed that Abdullahi was investigated in an open hall freely and that there was no duress, intimidation, harassment or coercion in the cause of the investigation.

The witness insisted that Abdullahi’s statement was made on his own volition and that he freely signed before the head of the investigating team countersigned.

Bala also said that the issue of duress raised by

Abdullahi was an afterthought and uncalled for because he was granted bail on self recognition.

Another EFCC witness, a Superintendent of Police, Mr Reuben Omosieho, corroborated the evidence of other witnesses to the effect that the statement of Abdulahi in the N10m illion bribery allegation was freely, voluntarily and fairly made.

Justice Christiana Oji adjourned the case till June 14, 2016 for further hearing.

Final burial THE lying in state and wake keep for Madam Comfort Tehingbola, aged 87, comes up on Thursday, May 26, at her residence in Osi-Ekiti, Ido-osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State while the funeral service comes up on Friday, May 27, at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Osi-Ekiti, at 11a.m. This will be followed by the interment.

She is survived by children and grand children.

Madam Comfort Tehingbola

38

Friday,13 May, 2016

39 tribunesport

Friday, 13 May, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Schools nationwide to form Rythm ‘N’ Play sports clubs RHYTHM ‘N’ PLAY, a grassroots sports initiative to encourage young stars in the participation of sports programmes through music will soon be part of extra curriculum activities in schools nationwide through the establishment and management of the Rhythm ‘N’ Play Sports Clubs in schools.

A stakeholders meeting involving all relevant bodies ranging from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Sports Commission, (NSC), Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Association of Nigeria Principals to the Nigeria Association of Physical Health and Recreation (NAPHAR), was held in Nasarawa State for the purpose of arriving at the planning and setting guidelines for the establishment and management of Rhythm ‘N’ Play Sports Club in schools across the nation.

The Rhythm ‘N’ Play initiative was a brainchild of former minister of sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and executed through the National Academical Sports Committee (NASCOM) after presidential retreat on sports held in November 2012 with a mandate that sports go back to the grassroots and schools.

Addressing the stakehold-

ers in Nasarawa during the meeting, Director, Education Support Services in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs J.N Ibe said once established, the initiative will provide young Nigerians under the age of 17 with structured programmes that will use sports and play as critical tools for learning. She reasoned that it is believed that more talented kids among the school learners will be identified through the initiative.

“It will provide a platform of opportunities for school and school age children to participate in sporting activities for social, mental and phycological development while enhancing academic excellence. The idea is to use music and dance to attract students into sports participation and arouse their interest in choosing physical education as a career.”

R

OBERTO Martinez’s three-year spell in charge of Everton is over, media reports said on Thursday.

The Spaniard has come under increasing criticism this season after a mediocre

Premier League season that has left them 12th in the table.

According to the reports, Martinez failed to take training on Thursday ahead of the final game of the season against Norwich City on Sunday, while

3SC focus now on Wikki game — Orelope

CAF increases club competitions group stage teams to 16 EFFECTIVE from next year, both the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup will see their group stage expanded to 16 teams.

President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou made the announcement in his address at the 38th CAF ordinary general assembly held on Wednesday in Mexico.

The current format for both competitions sees a group stage comprised of two pools of four teams each. From 2017 this will be expanded to four pools of four teams each.

Everton fires Martinez

Orelope

SHOOTING Stars Sports Club (3SC) midfielder, Tope Orelope has said his side has shifted 100 per cent attention to this weekend’s top flight match day 17 clash with Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.

The Oluyole Warriors were stunned 1-2 by Warri Wolves in Wednesday’s Nigeria Premier League match day 16 clash at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

Orelope said his side cannot continue to dwell on the painful loss to the Seasiders, but move swiftly on how to reclaim the points in Bauchi.

“Well, the defeat to Warri Wolves is history as no amount of lamentations can undo the result.

“I think we experienced our bad day once again on Wednesday against Warri Wolves.

“We had penalty in the encounter still went ahead to miss the spot kick to complete the miserable day.

“We have taken the loss in good faith and we have to forge ahead in the other matches.

“We have shifted our 100 per cent focus on the game against Wikki Tourists.

“We have equally resolved to make amend and strive to reclaim the points we lost to Wolves at Wikki Tourists.

“It looks a daunting task to achieve but we have no choice, but to go ahead to challenge favourably for the whole three points at stake,” Orelope told Supersport.com.

3SC is 17th on the 20-team Nigerian top flight table with 17 points.

the BBC and Sky Sports television said he had been sacked.

The team reached the semi-finals of the League Cup and FA Cup but Martinez’s side have underperformed in the league despite boasting a squad many regard as Everton’s best for many years.

Everton have won just one of their last 10 league games and some fans turned on the manager after they lost 4-0 to local rivals Liverpool last month.

Banners calling for him to be sacked have appeared at

Martinez

recent games and a protest was planned for Sunday’s last EPL game.

Martinez gained a reputation for an attractive football style in previous stints at Swansea City and Wigan Athletic.

He won the FA Cup with Wigan but the club was also relegated in the same season before he joined Everton in 2013, taking over from David Moyes.

The Toffees finished fifth in his first season in charge, but struggled to back that up last term when they were down in 11th.

NPFL: Gatta

targets 25 goals NIGER Tornadoes’ Ismail Gata has revealed that his target this season is to finish with a record 25 goals in the Nigeria Premier League.

Gata had on Wednesday scored a brace in his team’s 2-1 victory over Heartland FC at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, in a match day 16 fixture.

The former Enyimba forward was on hand to net a second half winner for Tornadoes with boss, Abdullahi Biffo stressing that his goals could be pivotal in the club’s NPFL campaign.

The attacker has played 14 games for the club so far and scored nine goals, which sees him on top of the scorer’s chart.

“We are very happy with the result. We know about Heartland’s style and are delighted,” Gata told Goal.

“Our pride and prestige were on the line. The first half

was complicated and we’re happy with the victory.

“I’m happy because I’m helping the team and things are working out for me. We must now rest and prepare for Sunday’s match against MFM FC.” Gata was particularly delighted with his execution of the second goal which was a free-kick. “‘Di Maria’, Abiodun Adebayo and myself had the chance to shoot the ball, but I quickly pulled the trigger.

The rest is history. It was perfectly planned. It is a training routine,” he said.

On his target, the former Kwara United forward said scoring a record 25 goals this season remains his target.

“Before the season started my plan was to score 15 goals, but now I aim to perform better. The target is 25 goals,” Gata said.

SIDELINES

N150

FRIDAY, 13 MAY, 2016

N0 16,500

West Brom joins Ighalo bid

Mikel, Musa out of Mali, Luxembourg friendlies NIGERIA captain, John Obi Mikel and his deputy, Ahmed Musa, will not be part of the international friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg on May 27 and June 1, as they have been released to attend the Joseph Yobo Testimonial.

Yobo, former captain of the Super Eagles, would hold his testimonial game at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on May 27, the same day the Eagles take on Mali in Rouen, France. The game was earlier scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had come under criticism for choosing the same date for the friendly when it had already been announced that Yobo, who made 100 appearances for the Eagles, had chosen the date for his testimonial.

Striker Emmanuel Emenike lashed out at the NFF’s insensitivity at not respecting Yobo enough and setting a bad precedent for younger players who want to serve their country.

Now, the NFF has said the team would be without the captain and his deputy when they play the two important warm up games ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Stealing small amounts of food to stave off hunger is reportedly no longer a crime in Italy, according to a latest ruling which overturned a theft conviction of a man who stole cheese and sausages worth €4.07 (£3; $4.50) from a supermarket. If one may ask, with a licence to steal, will the court not also treat the case of burglary if the person forcefully gain entry into the place where he steals?

By Ganiyu Salman

W

BY OLUWABUNMI AJAYI

Ighalo dazzles during a recent game . PHOTO: EPA/WILL

EST Bromwich Albion has joined the race for the signature of Watford star, Odion Ighalo as Arsenal’s reported interest in the player continues to wane.

This could be unconnected with below-average performance of Ighalo in the last stanza of the English Premier League season, as he fired blank in 12 games since March 13 when he scored against Arsenal in the quarterfinal of the FA Cup. He eventually ended his goal drought during the midweek game against Norwich City.

Ighalo became a hot cake following his awesome goalscoring form which helped Watford to gain promotion from the English Championship last season with 20 goals.

By the end of 2015, the Nigerian international had scored 30 goals, a feat which no player in England matched.

However, given his exploits, the former Flying Eagles captain is believed to remain among the hottest properties in the summer.

The Gunners were interested in Ighalo during the last window, but the interest has waned as the striker could not maintain the electrifying form which made him the toast of many clubs after the first round

according to Express and Star News.

West Brom has, however, reportedly joined the race to sign the former Udinese forward in the summer.

‘The Baggies’ want to add at least two new striker to their squad for next season and are mulling a move for the Nigerian who’s expected to cost less than £15 million.

West Brom want to buy new forwards in the window to replace Saido Berahino, who will probably be sold, and former Nigeria star, Victor Anichebe, whose contract will not be renewed.

Ighalo’s goal on Wednesday night in the 2-4 loss to Norwich City was his 15th English Premier League goal this season and 17 in all competitions, after his goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was ruled an own goal and credited to Gary Cahill.

The Hornets reportedly received a £10m bid from an unnamed Qatari club, but Ighalo is keen to remain in the Premier League.

The Edo State-born player turned down a £300,000-a-week deal in China last summer in order to stay in England, and instead signed a five-year deal at Watford.

Ighalo’s current £30,000-a-week deal at Watford is within Albion’s wage budget.

West Brom Chairman, Jeremy Peace met up with Pulis and technical director, Nick Hammond at the training ground this week to go over the club’s summer plans.

NFF bans Giwa, others for 5 yrs THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has banned a claimant to the presidency of the body, Mr Chris Giwa, for five years.

Giwa was banned alongside some of his lieutenants in the journey to take over the leadership of the NFF. The others also slammed with five years ban were Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong.

The decision to ban Giwa and his co-travellers was taken by the disciplinary committee of the NFF at its meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

Several allegations were levelled against them, including taking football matters to ordinary court and misrepresenting the NFF. A statement by the disciplinary

committee said in part: “After reviewing the charges, available facts and evidence, the NFF Disciplinary Committee hereby finds as follows: “That Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are found guilty of illegally representing the NFF in breach of Art. 40 of the NFF Statutes, when they without due authorisation and mandate purported to contract a Law Firm, Messrs Leslie Cohen & Associates of Illovo Law Chambers, 4 Fricker Road, Ground Floor, South Africa in the name of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and refused to pay for services whereby the said Messrs Leslie Cohen & Associates commenced proceedings against the NFF for the sum

of $100,000 being legal fees for professional services rendered in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg.

“That Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are found guilty of breaching Art. 69(1) of the NFF Statutes by taking football matters to the ordinary court and failing to submit to the jurisdiction of FIFA and the NFF. “That there is insufficient particulars and evidence submitted to establish the charge of threats, unguarded, uncouth and uncivilised statements in the media against the NFF, brought against Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong

“That Christopher Giwa is guilty of breach of the general rules of conduct as contained in Art. 13 of the FIFA Code of Ethics when he invaded the premises of the Nigeria Football Federation and falsely presented himself as President of the NFF on 6th May, 2016.

“That Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are found guilty of failing to comply fully with the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA and NFF in contravention of Art. 13 1(a) of NFF Statutes 2010 in relation to the NFF Election held in Warri Delta State on 30th September, 2014.

“That Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama,

Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are in breach of fiduciary and loyalty as contained in Art. 15 of FIFA Code of Ethics 2012 by carrying out various deliberate acts and conducts capable of attracting a ban from FIFA on the NFF capable of putting the administration and development of football in Nigeria into jeopardy.

“Based on the findings above and in Line with the provision of Art. 65 (3) of the NFF Statutes 2010, the NFF Disciplinary Committee hereby pronounces the following sanctions on the following persons: “Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are hereby banned from taking part in any football related activity for a period of five years each.”

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