15th October, 2016

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 1,173

Saturday, 15 october, 2016

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Nigerian Tribune

Arrested judges stay put in office •Ex-CJNs, others meet

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Nigerian Tribune

SPECIAL TREAT

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5 deadly symptoms you mustn’t ignore

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Shock as Buhari, wife disagree pg5

Complete strangers run this govt —Aisha Her place is in my kitchen, bedroom —Buhari German Chancellor, Merkel, laughs at comments

To survive recession, monetise your hobbies —Tampiri Irimagha-Akemu, MD Sesema PR

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I don’t know why I haven’t been arrested —Cossy Orjiakor

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Oyo LG election to hold Feb 11, 2017

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President Muhammadu Buhari with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel inspecting a guard of honour in Berlin, on Friday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

CORRUPTION: Let’s Abdulsalami, Onaiyekan Militants bomb another suspend rule of law for hail Chibok girls release one year —Akintola, SAN pipeline in Delta pg5

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“If I am not arrested,

for naming my cat Buhari,

why should that man be arrested?”

Cossy Orjiakor is no doubt, a reader’s delight any day , anytime. Though she has been controversial over the years, She has remained undaunted in the pursuit of her career. In this interview with JOAN OMIONAWELE, the actress talks about her intended marriage, career, among other things. Excerpts:

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o far, how has your journey in the entertainment industry been?

I’m doing very well, thank God

People are of the opinion that you no longer act movies. What went wrong?

I have done about eight movies this month alone, Loud silence, Pure Honey, by Zeb Ejiro and others.

Is that to say you have fully returned to acting movies?

The stress then was really overwhelming, so I decided to take things easy.

What were you going through?

When you are starting out something, you are hungry for the fame, money and everything and then when you’ve gotten it, you have to keep improving on yourself, so that you won’t do the same thing over and over again.

What is going on with your singing career?

I’m planning to release a song before the year runs out.

I try to take things easy.

You hinted at marriage a few months ago and your fans have been looking forward to it. Tell us, When is it coming up? (laughs) When I said I was getting married, I was truly getting married, I have a video to even show you for that, but all the negative things like who is going to marry this one, are just coming up. It’s just being delayed, but we will get married.

So, you are just taking things slow.

I can’t marry myself now, so if he doesn’t make a move, I’ll be back in the market.

Is there any man who can tell you to cover up when you get married?

I’ve dumped lots of guys. I have said ‘byebye’ to many of such proposals. In this time and age, what else is the man going to do? I want a man who will complement me not one who will want to change me.

How do you feel when you read negative comments about yourself?

I used to feel bad back then, but now, I don’t really feel anything. I try to give excuses for such people because what could I have done to make the person so irritated, I try to visualise how ugly looking the person is and just laugh it off.

There is this actress, Afro Candy, who people think is in a competition with you... (cuts in) I’m not in a competition with anyone. I’m

the pioneer when it comes to being sexy in movies and music videos. I’m legendary when it comes to that, so they shouldn’t be competing with me.

Was there any point in time when you had a nasty experience when it comes to love and relationships in general?

No no no, when it turns sour, you find someone to replace it, that’s all. When you expect so much from people, that’s when you become disappointed.

What do you do to keep the fire in your relationship burning?

Hmm, I don’t know o...(smiles) But you have to give your partner space. Everybody needs space, make sure you don’t act as a bodyguard. Always let them know your next move and carry them along. If you are obsessed about finding out, he will cheat on you, he will actually cheat on you., so in the end, you will find what you are actually looking for. So, try to take it easy on yourself.

Do you feel that you are not celebrated enough?

I think I have gotten far enough when it comes to being sexy in the industry, Last year, I was honoured at the Nollywood Film Festival in Germany. I think I was the first female to build a house in Lekki that year, so I have accomplished a lot when it comes to being sexy, but people who pioneer things are hardly celebrated, it’s just the people who come after them that are celebrated You caused a lot of uproar when you named your cats Buhari and Jonathan, what informed that decision?

I found out that someone actually arrested the man who named his dog Buhari and that was very unfair. My dog is named Caesar and I see nothing wrong about that. I even heard that he was meant to be arraigned in court. If I get arrested, then it’s a good deal for the Nigeria Police to prosecute him, but if I am not arrested and you throw him in jail because he is a trader and I am an actress, then

that’s very wrong. It was very upsetting and annoying and I don’t like it when someone is victimised.

Are you trying to dare the government?

It’s not about daring the government. I heard it was just a rift between two people in one compound. I sympathise with the man. So, if I am not arrested, why should he be arrested. He did it in a small home and I did it in my home.

I really sympathise with him Are you being affected by the economic recession?

E reach my side o.....My cats are not even feeding well, that’s why you can see the one named Buhari, it’s very skinny. They used to feed on rats but there is nothing for them to eat anymore, so I’m looking for someone to adopt them. I have to cook food for them and it’s annoying. In case you have rats or you know people who live in Ikeja and Opebi, please, contact me, so I’ll give them one of my cats.

Are you romantic?

Yesso, I am romantic Are you hopelessly in love?

Hmm, I don’t know o, the love is going slowly Why is it going slowly, is he not doing what he should do?

He should do more now..(laughs) Some tongues wagged when you got a house in Lekki, as they said you were a runs girl, is this true?

I read accounting in school and I’m very conscious of how to make money from business, those days I was featuring on Obesere’s videos and other movies, I was making money from them. If you limit your expenditure, you will surely get what you want, but if you live a fake life which you cannot afford, you will go bankrupt.

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Shock as Buhari, wife disagree

15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

•His government has been hijacked —Aisha •Her place is in the kitchen, bedroom —Buhari •German Chancellor, Merkel, laughs at comments

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hock and disbelief swept across the country on Friday over a scathing criticism of the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari by his wife, Aisha and the hot response from the president.

In a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) interview, Aisha said Buhari’s government had been hijacked by some persons she did not name.

She also claimed that the president “does not know” most of the top officials he has appointed, while those who made his election possible have been sidelined.

President Buhari, who is on a state visit to Germany, reacted to his wife’s criticism

during a joint press briefing with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Friday, dismissing her as someone with little knowledge on governance matters.

“I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room. So, I claim superior knowledge over her and the rest of the opposition, because in the end I have succeeded.

It’s not easy to satisfy the whole Nigerian opposition parties or to participate in the government,” he said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Buhari’s response given to reporters in Germany prompted German Chancellor, Angela

Merkel, standing by his side, to give him a short glare and then laugh.

The president’s wife suggested that the government had been hijacked, saying a “few people” were behind presidential appointments.

In the interview with Naziru Mikailu from BBC Hausa Service, Mrs Buhari said: “The president does not know 45 out of 50 of the people he appointed and I don’t know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years.”

She said people who did not share the vision of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were now appointed to top posts because of the influence a “few people” wield.

“Some people are sitting

down in their homes folding their arms only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial position,” she said.

Asked to name those who have hijacked the government, she refused, saying: “You will know them if you watch television.”

On whether the president was in charge, she said: “That is left for the people to decide.”

Mrs Buhari, who at 45, is 23 years her husband’s junior, said he had not told her whether he would contest the 2019 election.

“He is yet to tell me but I have decided as his wife, that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to

Arrested judges remain in office Ex-CJN, Justice Ministers, NBA presidents meet Lanre Adewole - Lagos The refusal of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to suspend serving judges arrested by the State Security Service (SSS), last weekend for alleged corruption, has caused the affected judges to retain their jobs despite efforts by the SSS to end their careers.

In a memo, dated 10th October with reference no LSD 960/11, SSS had requested the Council to suspend the judges, including the affected two justices of the Supreme Court.

In the memo, the SSS wanted all the arrested judges still in service and others with petition against them, indefinitely suspended by the council.

It reads in part, “it is the humble request of the Service to the Council to immediately suspend all the judges found to have been involved in grand corruption or based on petitions already submitted to it, including the already arrested judges”.

It was signed by Ahmed Ahmed on behalf of the SSS Director General.

At its Tuesday emergency meeting, the Council deliberated on the request and refused to grant it, validating the continuous service, though none of them had presided over any case since their arrest.

Those still in service among the arrested seven judges are Justices Sylvester Ngwuta, Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court as well as Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court and Justice M.A Pindiga of Kebbi High Court.

Since the administrative bail extended to all the seven judges on Sunday, they have been asked to be reporting at the SSS office everyday, making it virtually impossible for them to sit.

On Wednesday, they spent close to 10 hours at the SSS office in Abuja, making it impossible for them to keep an

appointment with the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights.

The planned arraignment of the affected judges has also been shelved indefinitely, though there are indications that charges have been preferred against them.

SSS was close to arraigning them before a Chief Magistrate Court in Life Camp on Monday, but it was put off at the last minute.

Many senior lawyers, including the NBA, have indicated their interest to defend the judges.

The lawyers were mobilising from the valedictory service of retired Justice Coomasie of the apex court, on Monday, to storm the court before news of the postponement got to them.

The judges still made an apperance on Friday.

An aide to a senior justice of the apex court, has also been arrested by the SSS. He has spent many days with the Service.

It was also learnt that the SSS has deployed more undercover officers to the apex court and the NJC for more intelligence gathering.

Both institutions are housed on same premises.

A back-and-forth between the SSS and NJC over the arrested judges, before and after their arrest, has heightened tension between the two arms of government.

The possibility of a fullblown major crisis has seen different layers of intervention by stakeholders on both sides.

Saturday Tribune has learnt of interventions of living former Chief Justices of Nigeria, former Attorneys General of the Federation and former presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

It was reliably learnt that the outgoing CJN, Justice Mohammed Mahmud, has had an interface with two

of his predecessors-in-office (names witheld), while consultations have continued at other higher levels.

On Thursday, past AGFs and NBA presidents met with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN and NJC secretary, Halilu Danladi.

The meeting took place at the NBA president’s office.

The meeting was called to hear from both the representatives of the executive and judiciary arms of government and seek an amicable resolution to the burgeoning crisis of confidence between them.

According to an insider, Malami had spoken before the arrival of Danladi, restating the allegation by SSS that the

raid on the judges was consequent upon NJC’s unwillingness to act on the petitions against them.

To demonstrate his confidence in the SSS, Malami had sent petitions against six other judges after the raid.

But Danladi was said to have torn all his argument into pieces with supporting documents which were said to have been made available to all in attendance.

The documents, which included all correspondences between SSS and NJC regarding the judges, reportedly put a lie to all the claims from the executive arm. With his position defeated, Malami was said to have excused himself from the meeting without any firm commitment to a peaceful resolution.

vote like I did before. I will never do it again,” she said.

Asked what she regarded as the government’s major achievement, she said it was to improve security in the NorthEast where militant group, Boko Haram, has waged an insurgency since 2009.

“No one is complaining about being attacked in their own homes. Thankfully, everyone can walk around freely, go to places of worship, etc. Even kids in Maiduguri have returned to schools,” Mrs Buhari said.

‘Complete strangers run this government’

Meanwhile, in the concluding part of the BBC Hausa Service interview monitored in Kaduna on Friday

by Saturday Tribune’s correspondent, Mrs Buhari explained further that she did not actually know those holding her husband hostage in the course of his duties.

“I agree there are cogs in the wheel of progress,” she said adding that “apart from Fashola, Amaechi and some others, I don’t know the others. I know even my husband doesn’t know them.

“It’s surprising. Nobody thought things are going to be like this, but since it has happened like this...you know there are times someone can do things unconsciously, things that are not in order, but once people gather to talk about it, it is proper that such people are listened to. This is because in the future, whether General (Buhari) will contest or not, it is the same people that will vote to elect the APC. We don’t hope to have those who have gone (PDP) in

power again. Nobody prays for that.

“I’m not a government official but I will speak as a mother. No individual can boast that he made this administration a reality. It is the people that made it a reality.

But over half of those who made this administration a reality are not with us. Complete strangers, people that are not known, were brought in and imposed on the people.

“They (the strangers) don’t even know our campaign promises to Nigerians. Some of them are not politicians but now occupying positions that real politicians suffered to make possible. Some were separated from their wives in the course of this politics, some lost their children, husbands, many things happened. But I’m not happy with the happenings now.

“We know a number of those who suffered were appointed into government but those appointed to head agencies and so on, if you look at it, some are those fighting their governors back home, either because they contested in the PDP and lost or traded words with the elected governor. Now, these are the kind of people appointed there.

“I have been with the president for 27 years, but I don’t know these people surrounding him,” she said.

Born on 17 February 1971 in Adamawa State, Aisha Buhari is the granddaughter of the nation’s first Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu.

She married Muhammadu Buhari in 1989. They have five children, a boy and four girls.

Militants claim bombing of another pipeline in Delta Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri Members of the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) have claimed to have bombed the Iwheremaro Quality Control Centre Delivery line.

The militants, however, did not mention the location or operators of the bombed delivery line, but a source said the line is likely to be at the Ughelli or Isoko axis of Delta State.

The economic sabotage, the group noted, was carried out at about 9:00a.m of Thursday by its Akuma Strike Team.

Describing the dastardly act as a signal to the commencement of “Operation Hammurabi Code” not only against the Federal Government but also oil multinationals, NDGJM said it “shall be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” thenceforth.

This was contained in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Gen. Aldo Agbalaja, titled: “Here Are The

Dreaded Days: Reward of Multinational’s Infidelity.”

“At about 2100 hours of Thursday, October 13, 2016, the Akuma Strike Team of the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate brought down the Iwhremaro to the Quality Control Centre (Qcc) Delivery Line to signal the commencement of the Operation Hammurabi Code. More to come in the coming days.

“We have been patient and reasonable all along, hence our choice to restrict our activities to mild operations that were not aimed at causing critical damages. But it has now become crystal clear that we are dealing with devious and incorrigible people.

“Therefore, we serve this as a notice to the Nigerian government and its conniving multinationals that the Operation Hammurabi Code has been initiated, henceforth, it shall be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

“Now you shall know what uprooting of your cherished

assets means. It starts from now on, there is no longer going to be warnings or special consideration for anybody.

“We have observed that the leopard of the oil company is incapable of changing its skin; ever deceiving, ever conniving.

“Your ‘divide-and-rule’ gimmick will fail here as we will not stay idle in the face of your lies. For every lie you introduce, you will lose a major asset and if need be, you will lose personnel.

“We have said it once and we shall repeat it here now; the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate will not call this campaign off in secret. When we see reason to do so and we decide to do so, we shall reach the world publicly through this same channel, from where we took off.

“Attempts to deceive and frame in the name of this mandate will not work. When we see a sincere and positive engagement, which we consider to be reasonable enough, we

shall announce it to the world and follow it up with an announcement of our next line of action. But for now, there has been no engagement whatsoever and the gimmicks now being employed to deceive shall be thoroughly punished.

“We are aware that majority of the assets in the upland in Delta State are down and we are also aware that you are planning on opening production and get these facilities running after you must have finished with bringing the TFP back on stream,” the group stated.

The group threatened “First Hydrocarbon, Shoreline, ND Western, NPDC and others, we dare you to open those facilities and see what will happen.

We had been slow to action because we knew there were no activities running on the facilities, we will only leave you to the imagination of what is pending when you dare the resolve of the Niger Delta people and get the facilities back to operation.”

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Sports personalities enjoy limelight on Glo-sponsored African Voices

From left, Vice Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Crime, Senator Foster Ogola; Co-Founder, She.Leads.Africa (SLA), Miss Afua Osei; Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Stella Odua and Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, during a courtesy visit by group to the Senate President, as part of activities to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, in Abuja, recently.

Abdulsalami, Onaiyekan hail Chibok girls’ release Biola Azeez -Ilorin and Olayinka Olukoya –Abeokuta

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former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Friday, hailed the release of 21 of the Chibok schoolgirls who have been hostages of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, for over two years.

Also, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, Nigeria, John Onaiyekan, said that the release of the girls called for celebration.

While Abubakar spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after his visit to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Onaiyekan made his remark, equally on Friday, during his visit on the invitation of the Bishop of Ilorin, Kwara State, Ayo Maria Atoyebi, for the annual one-week spiritual retreat for priests of the Ilorin Diocese.

Abubakar, fielding questions from journalists, described the girls’ captivity as an episode that would never occur again in the country.

The former head of state, who was accompanied by his wife, Justice Fati Lami Abubakar and two sons, commended those involved in the rescue of the girls and prayed that the remaining ones would return to their parents safely.

“First and foremost, we give glory to God for saving the children and we congratulate everyone who was involved in bringing them back. We pray that the rest will come back safely. I congratulate the parents who have agonised since this incident happened. It is an episode and we pray that never will such happen again in our country,” he said.

He had earlier paid a courtesy call on the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at the Government House, Abeokuta.

Bishop Onaiyekan, also in a chat with journalists, called on the Federal Government to be transparent about the process that led to the release of the girls.

“Yes, of course, we should

celebrate. Every life is worth celebrating. It is more than 900 days that more than 200 of our girls were taken away.

The whole world had been asking what’s happening.

Twenty-one out of 200 is not really a big deal, anyway. But, at least the parents of those 21 girls can rest now that they have found their daughters.

It’s worth celebrating.

“But the whole thing is a shame on our nation. It is, still, a greater shame that they are not explaining where the other girls are.

Have they died? Have they given them to someone else?

And the conditions for their release, I don’t know and we are asking for the truth; whether they released their [Boko Haram’s] men or not,” he said.

The cleric also said that the Federal Government should go ahead and negotiate the swap of the remaining girls with the arrested terrorists, adding that it is not a shame to do that.

“But I am one of those who have always said that if what it takes to release those girls is to release some Boko Haram terrorists in detention, we should let go of those criminals. We should not have waited till now.

“I hope the government would deal with it in a transparent way and tell us the truth about it. We deserve to know because it is not going to be wise to still be telling stories and playing games at this stage.

“If the government admitted that they released some

terrorists, there is nothing to be ashamed of, because the shame already on ground is big enough. So, I am hoping that those who are advising government or speaking on its behalf will realise that the matter has generated attention worldwide.

“As for the state the girls are now, no one would expect, after about three years away, that they will come back the same. I am even surprised that only 18 are nursing mothers and others are not. If others are not mothers, it is not that they haven’t been touched.

We are yet to get the full story. Let’s simply say they are making progress. And government should stop playing hide and seek over the matter,” he added.

Ondo 2016: AD’s NEC rejects Oke’s candidature Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

THE National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), on Friday, rejected the candidature of Chief Olusola Oke for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

The NEC, which held an emergency meeting in Akure, the state capital, condemned the withdrawal of the party’s candidate, Akin Olowookere, to pave the way for Oke’s candidature.

The meeting passed a vote of no confidence on the national chairman of the party, Chief Joseph Avazi; national secretary; Akin Fasogbon; national auditor, Ayodele Ismail and the West Zonal chairman, Chief Tayo Onayemi, for not following the due process before adopting Oke as the party’s candidate.

The NEC claimed that the national chairman and the three others unilaterally adopted Oke as the party’s candidate, contrary to the provision of the party’s constitution.

The committee said, “Oke’s adoption as a flag bearer on the platform of the AD is

just known to Chief Avazi, the national chairman, in connivance with three others who constituted themselves as the NEC of the party.”

Speaking during the meeting, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Mallam Musa Loyi, alleged that the national chairman had not called NEC meeting since he was elected into the position in December 2015.

He also accused Avazi of denying the party the opportunity to take part in the just-concluded governorship election in Edo State by failing to endorse and submit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the name of the candidate of the party, Ibrahim Garuba.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting, read

by Ibrahim Abdullah and supported by all the 44 members in attendance, read: “This meeting condemns in its entirety, all actions of the four officers in the emergence of Chief Olusola Oke as the flagbearer of the party in Ondo State.

“The action in this case runs in total contradiction to the party’s constitution.

They have no vested power to usurp the powers of the national executive of the party. Olusola Oke is hereby not adopted as the flagbearer of the party in the gubernatorial election of Ondo State, scheduled for November 26, 2016, “The national chairman and the secretary must convene the NEC meeting in Abuja within 21 days with effect from 14 October, 2016.”

The meeting stated that failure to comply with its directive would lead to employing the constitution of the party in settling the impending crisis but said it was open to negotiation if the due process was fulfilled.

Reacting to the development, the media aide to Chief Oke, Rotimi Ogunleye, said there was no official reaction to all the allegations.

He said the party’s executive in the state should be in the best position to react to the allegations.

Oke defected to AD after losing the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in the September 3 primary of the party.

The Glo-sponsored African Voices, a CNN International’s 30-minute magazine programme, is, this weekend, featuring exceptional sports personalities.

A statement by the data grand masters, Globacom, stated that the programme would focus on the duo of Nigeria’s scuba diver, Rafy Abrahamyan and Shepherd Zira, a South African horse rider.

CNN said they are “Africa’s sport seekers who are unafraid to take on challenges many of us would never dream of tackling. These individuals dare to push the limits and pursue their passions - regardless of the payoff.”

CNN stated further that it is celebrating Shepherd Zira because he is “one man who is overcoming hurdles in the equestrian world and winning awards along the way” and the Nigerian Abrahamyan who “has a love for adventure and a desire to discover the uncharted waters of Lagos.”

A member of South African Lipizzaners, the only performing Lipizzaners outside Vienna that are affiliated to the Spanish Riding School, Shepherd Zira is also the world’s first black professional Lipizzaner rider. He learnt the art of horse riding from his father at the age of 11 and by 22 years of age, he had already become a star in the sport.

Viewers would also enjoy Rafy Abrahamyan’s account of the sport of diving and what ignited his passion to take up a sport that is not quite popular in Nigeria. He would also talk on the challenges he has faced exploring the waters of Lagos.

African Voices, according to Globacom, comes up at 10.30 a.m. on Friday with repeat broadcasts at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday and at 12.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m. on Sunday. Further repeats are broadcast at 11.30 p.m. on Mondays and at 5.30 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Oyo releases N7.33b for primary school teachers’ salaries, pensions The Oyo State government has restated its commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners in the state.

It said that it has released the sum of N6.2 billion for the payment of June, July and August salaries for primary school teachers in the state and N250 million for the payment of gratuity of retired primary school teachers.

The government equally stated that the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) has vacated the 14-day ultimatum given to the state government over the payment of their pensions and gratuities, adding that it has earlier released N880 billion for retired primary schools teachers’ pensions.

The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Bimbo Kolade, disclosed these while briefing newsmen after a stakeholders meeting with the State Executive Council of NUP led by its Chairman, Mr Gbadegesin Akande and Secretary, Mr Segun Abatan, at the Government Secretariat, on Thursday, in Ibadan.

The pensioners at the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the ministry, local government chairmen, Local Government Staff Pensions Board and the two banks in charge of pension payment, said they were satisfied with the agreement reached between the government and the union and thereby withdrew the 14-day ultimatum given to the state government.

The commissioner said the action taken by the union was uncalled for and urged them to always dialogue with the government, rather than confronting the government on the pages of newspapers.

According to Kolade, “Governor Abiola Ajimobi is workers’ and pensioners’ friendly. We just paid three months, June, July and August salaries for primary school teachers. Also, his (Ajimobi) disposition toward the pensioners’ welfare that earned him the award of Best Pensioner-Friendly Governor in the history of the state has not changed. He implemented the payment of 142 per cent increase and cleared pension arrears and agreed to the payment of six per cent and 15 per cent pension increase to the groups which honoured him in February 2013.

“We had a peaceful meeting with the executives of Nigerian Union of Pensioners and discovered that there was a communication gap which they indeed realised and they have voluntarily vacated the 14-day ultimatum on their own. I want to clarify that the N880 million released will not be enough to fully pay the pensioners in the state but we have their understanding that things will continue to improve as time goes on.”

Moreover, on the issue of gratuity, Mr Kolade announced that Governor Ajimobi had approved the sum of N250million for the payment of gratuity of retired primary school teachers, adding, “For some years now, there has not been a payment of gratuity to retired primary school teachers in the state. We are all aware of the scam that happened in the Service Pension Board where about N6.8billion was mismanaged.”

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Adegboruwa calls on judges, lawyers, others to boycott courts Ayomide Owonibi Odekany -Lagos FOLLOWING the arrest and detention of seven judges, human rights lawyer and activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on Friday, called for a total strike by judges and lawyers.

Adegboruwa, in a statement issued on Friday, said given the position of the National Judicial Council (NJC) on the arrest of the seven judges last weekend, all judges, lawyers and court workers in the country ought to immediately boycott the courtrooms.

He said the explanation by the NJC had made it obvious that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government does not need the courts.

Adegboruwa said he recalled that Buhari had once said the judiciary was his headache, while the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, had also taken the same position.

Anxiety over Olugbon’s health

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

The newly-consecrated Bishop Of Kings Embassy Worldwide Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Bishop Felix Ayorinde Babalola (JP) (third right); wife of the newly-consecrated Reverend, Reverend (Mrs) Olubunmi Grace Babalola (third left); Primate of International Charismatic College and Ministerial Association (ICCMA) Port Harcourt, Archbishop Jephthah Ikechi Ikezim, JP (second left) and other Bishops during the consecration ceremony of Bishop and Reverend (Mrs) Felix Ayorinde Babalola, at the Vision Cathedral Int’l Church, Mobalufon, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, recently.

Oyo LG election to hold February 11, 2017

By Wale Akinselure

T

HE about nine years wait for the conduct of local government election in Oyo State is over, as the State Independent Electoral Commission, on Friday, announced Saturday, February 11, 2017 as date for local government election in the state.

Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Mr Olajide Ajeigbe who made this disclosure, however, said that a comprehensive time-table for the election would be made public in the coming days.

Speaking further, he said that the commission, in view of nine years lag, took its time in preparation in order to conduct a credible election.

Ajeigbe avowed that the commission, in consonance

with constitutional responsibilities, would ensure that the forthcoming LG elections will be deemed cred-

ible by all stakeholders in the election.

It would be recalled that Governor Abiola Ajimobi

Court awards Ondo PDP ticket to Ibrahim Judgement won’t stand, stay of execution filed —PDP

By Sunday Ejike and Akeem Gbadaamosi JUSTICE Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept Jimoh Ibrahim as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State.

Justice Abang gave the order in a ruling on an application brought by the factional chairman and secretary of the PDP in Ondo State, Prince Biyi Poroye and Ademola Genty and

their counterparts in Osun and Oyo states.

The application, as filed by the plaintiffs was for the enforcement of a June 29, 2016 judgment of the court affirming Poroye, Genty and others, who emerged from the May 10, 2016 congresses of the party in the SouthWest, as the authentic leaders of the party in Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Lagos states.

However, the PDP said it has taken steps to appeal the judgement and has also filed a stay of execution.

Death penalty for land grabbers commendable —NIS THE Nigeria Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Ogun State Chapter at the weekend, threw its weight behind the death penalty prescribed as punishment for land grabbers, on a bill by the State of Assembly,which is already on the table of the governor for his assent.

The Chapter Chairman, Surveyor Babatunde Ashaye made this known during an interview with journalists at the 2016 Sanyaolu Memorial Lecture, held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

Ashaye, who described the illegal activities of the land speculators, popularly referred to as ‘Omo Onile’, as a serious menace in the state over the years, said the bill was a welcome de-

had on June 17, 2016, inaugurated the OYSIEC with a mandate to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

velopment ,which must be embraced by all responsible citizens and residents of the state.

He also called on the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun not to waste time in signing it into law, so that the order can take immediate effect and put an end to the illegality of the criminals.

Earlier in his welcome address, Ashaye lamented the erosion in the state, as well as bad flood control, improper waste management, deforatiion, construction, mining, agriculture, mineral exploration, unguided urbanisation and industrialisation, pointing out that the lapses were as a result of non-challance of government.

The body called on government to get surveyors involved in their corrective measures so as to get things right once and for all, stressing that ‘the earlier we involve the land managers in our environment’, the better as this saves cost and makes the environment habitable for people which in turn makes people to appreciate government’s sensitivity and commitment.

Ashaye also used the occasion to call on the government to facilitate the establishment of the office of Surveyor General as an extra ministerial department in the state, noting that Ogun State remains the only state in the South-West of the country, that has not implemented this.

The judgement according to Barrister Banjo Aderogba a member of Jegede’s legal team, is an unwarranted one which he said, will be thrown out at the Court of Appeal.

He said, the PDP in Ondo State had earlier petitioned the NJC about the activities of Justice Abang on this subject matter.

Also in a statement issued and signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Banji Okunomo, the PDP said its governorship candidate can only emerge through a due process in consonance with its constitution. He said the party believed that its governorship candidate cannot be produced through the back door or some unconstitutional procedures.

“The Supreme Court of Nigeria has made it clear that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of a party could nominate the governorship candidate of parties. This was done in the nomination of Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN). As such, no High court can invalidate or alter this position which is clearly defined by the highest ruling court in Nigeria.

“The PDP wishes to allay the fear of party members as appropriate steps are already being taken in this regard to quash the obnoxious and baseless ruling,” he said.

THE condition of the Olugbon of Ile-Igbon in Oyo State, Oba Samuel Adegboyega Osunbade (Adeluyi (II) has raised fear among the people of Ile-igbon.

Opinion is divided over the whereabouts of Oba Osunbade as his subjects yesterday discussed him without a clear picture of the situation.

Although the exact state of the monarch’s health could not be ascertained, Saturday Tribune gathered that Oba Osungbade, aged 79, has lately been indisposed, thereby frequenting hospitals at home and abroad.

Police Service Commission approves promotion of 4 CPs to AIG Chris Agbambu - Abuja THE Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of Commissioner of Police, Henry Adebayo Fadairo in charge of the Jigawa State Command, to the next rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.

Also promoted to the rank of AIG are three other Commissioners of Police: Pius Imue, who until now was Commissioner of Police, Railway Command; Felix Ogundeji, Commissioner of Police, Intelligence, Force Headquarters and Ezekiel Zang, Commissioner of Police, Air Wing, Force Headquarters.

AIG Fadairo was also former Commissioner of Police, Cross River State and served as Recruitment CP in Ebonyi State during the nationwide screening of applicants for Police recruitment.

Corruption: FCTA suspends 13 staff over EFCC prosecution Christian Okeke - Abuja THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has approved the suspension of 13 of its staff currently undergoing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC.) Deputy Director in charge of information, Muhammad Sule, disclosed this on Friday, quoting the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye.

According to him, the suspension was in line with the Public Service Rule 030406, which states that, “where a prima facie case, the nature of which is serious, has been established against an officer and it is considered necessary in the public interest that he/she should forthwith be prohibited from carrying out his/her duties pending the determination of the case.”

According to him, it became expedient to suspend the officers in line with the extant rules.

Anniversary ELECTED Ladies Fellowship Int’l will hold its 5th Year Anniversary of elect conference tagged ‘Grace for the Elect’ with the topic “ It’s Too Late To Fail, Ruth 1:16” today till Sunday, October 16, 2016 by 12noon and 10:00am respectively at Christ Apostolic Church (Way of Life) Elewura, Challenge, Ibadan, Oyo State. Ministering at the event is Minister Dupe Akintunde. Prophet Samuel and Lady Evangelist Bisi Jesuyinka are the hosts, while Lady Evangelist Mary Adenike Dare is the President.

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interview

15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

My elevation is an act of God —Archbishop Fape

als within the All Progressives Congress (APC), who will still not hide the truth.

For instance, Senator Sheu Sani. I like him because he is plain and forthright.

The calibre of people kidnapped recently also sends a serious message to people in leadership positions, even with the bodyguards they have. It is an expression of the anger of the people. Gradually, if care is not taken, it will result in civil revolt. In the situation we are now, people like Sani know we are close to an unusual uprising.

It’s like people sitting on a keg of gunpowder. When people are gainfully employed, they won’t have time to envy others. How can you imagine an individual owning five, ten houses. That is why people even kidnap relatives in political positions. Insecurity is on the rise because government is a bit insensitive to the plight of the common people. I want to believe Nigeria has more than enough to cater for everybody.

Even as we speak now, what we realise from other avenues apart from oil should be able to sustain this country if we have wise investors. Recently, I was reading the reference to Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was praised on his expertise on proffering solutions to national challenges. There is no discipline Papa could not discuss on reasonably well because he belonged to a generation of people who wanted Nigeria to be a great nation, unlike the selfish attitudes of present day politicians.

Recently elected Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Michael Olusina Fape shares his experience on the new office, his aspirations for the province, expected challenges and how government can combat recession in an interview with YEMISI AOFOLAJU, WOLE EFUNNUGA AND KEHINDE OYETIMI. Excerpts:

I

f you could look back, how would you describe the journey into the ministry?

I want to thank God for the privilege of being alive to witness a time like this in the ministry. What started like child’s play 36 years ago, by the grace of God, has got to its peak by being what I am by God’s grace today, as an Archbishop in the Anglican Church, especially in the Church of Nigeria. I can only ascribe the glory to the grace of God. When we were starting, nobody anticipated such a glorious moment, but God, who, from the beginning, knows even the end, works out His plans and purposes in the affairs of man. God has been so faithful, regardless of the challenges I have faced as a cleric.

My election was an act of God. One could have been archbishop much earlier, but my wife and I, having sought the face of God, felt probably God didn’t want it to happen at that time, even when some of my colleagues thought it was time. From Reverend, to Reverend Canon, Archdeacon, Bishop and now Archbishop within these 36 years, all glory goes to God. When the election was going on, what went on in your mind, because one would assume that moving from Bishop to an Archbishop should not necessarily require election?

Every religious institution has its structure. Going by the constitution of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, being a bishop does not automatically qualify you as an archbishop. There has to be an election and there are laid down principles and constitutional procedures that should be followed. There are 13 bishops in Lagos Province and from us, one has to be elected as the archbishop. Also, there is ecclesiastical politicking. We may not refer to it as campaign as it were, but it is not a thing to be taken for granted.

It wasn’t just child’s play. We had to pray and work. After the election, you can see the spirit displayed. It’s not a do-or-die affair as obtains in the civil political arena. I still see my brother bishops as my brothers because without them, I can’t do anything. I can only be an archbishop because I have bishops to work with. That is how we can bring God’s will to fruition in Lagos Ecclesiastical Province.

Now that you have emerged by His grace, how do you intend to tackle the challenges that may arise by virtue of your new position?

Honestly, there are various challenges.

The Province of Lagos is number one in Nigeria as far as the Church of Nigeria is concerned. It is first among equals. So, if the archbishops before me have been able to maintain that culture of excellence, one must also strive to ensure that there is no retrogression. I want to believe that God has given me this assignment at a time like this and I must ensure that the culture of excellence is sustained. What that entails is that there must be close interaction with my brother bishops. If one feels he can do it on his own, one will fail. There is a time for euphoria but after that one needs to settle down to the office. I see the need to

Most Rev M. O. Fape keep the pace and maintain the high standard set by Most Reverend (Dr) Ephraim Ademowo, who is the first archbishop of the province, followed by Archbishop Akinde.

They have worked very hard and I can’t do less. That is the first challenge – making sure that our prime position is maintained.

Another challenge is to see that the unity of the province is, without any doubt, sustained. If there are areas where the unity is not pronounced, I must work to ensure that whatever is lacking is supplied. I’ve just hosted the Provincial Council Meeting and there were representatives and bishops of all the 13 dioceses and one thing that was clear at the meeting was that the task of unity. Even people who I thought would not be able to attend because they had official assignments outside the country were present. I saw that as an eloquent testimony that they were ready to work with me.

Thirdly, I also want to see that even though ecclesiastical provinces were created for ease of administration. I believe, as a province, financially, we must consolidate and God has been faithful with raising people who would see this assignment as a joint task. We are already thinking about working on programmes that will ensure financial stability. We trust God to give us the grace to surmount the challenges.

Nigeria is going through recession and the Church is not left out. How would you advise government on tackling the economic situation?

The economy of a nation, to a large extent, will dictate what happens in the church because individuals make up the church and these individuals derive their source of income from the society. Reces-

sion is relative. People think Nigeria is in recession because of the reliance on oil.

But I will say ‘no,’ because at the end of the day, oil accounts for less than 20 per cent of the economy. There are other revenuegenerating organisations in the country. A year or two years ago, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) generated something around N4 trillion. As at that time, even the total budget of the country was around that figure. There are other parastatals bringing in money too. The question now is where do these monies go?

Recession is when all sectors are affected.

It is only the poor masses that are affected. How many government functionaries go to the parallel market to buy dollars at the current exchange rate? How many of them go to the local markets to buy foodstuffs? How many patronise public transportation? Although I’m not an economist, I am a cleric but being a cleric does not rob me of the application of common sense. There is recession because some people have chosen to make people suffer what they shouldn’t suffer for. How many NASS members agreed to be paid half of their salaries? See the current crisis in the House of Representatives. Now salaries are not even paid regularly. When the members are affected, the finance of the church is affected. However, regardless of the recession, it is God that has been meeting the needs of His people.

There has been an unprecedented increase in kidnapping, security challenges. How can government fight insecurity?

Regardless of what is happening, I still thank God there are some sane individu-

How do you feel now that Chief (Mrs) H.I.D. Awolowo is no more?

When I was preaching on September 21, 2016 at Mama’s first year remembrance service, I wished Mama were alive. If she were alive, it would have made a big difference. I still thank God for Remo sons and daughters who are still alive and who have showed us great love and affection and have identified with our success and elevation. I know Mama Awolowo would have added a new dimension by some kind of endowment to assist the office.

Initially, my relationship with Mama was viewed in some quarters with suspicion, but eventually they realised that I had no ulterior motive but that I wanted Mama to occupy her rightful position in church polity in the diocese of Remo. I am glad we were able to do that with the HID Awolowo Anglican Church. Today, people keep referring to that church as a model.

When the idea was brought to Mama, she didn’t believe it. I thank God for the children as the Lord is honouring His name through them. There is no way we can talk about the Remo Anglican Diocese without the Awolowo family, so I will still come to them. Honestly, I still miss Mama.

What are your aspirations as the Archbishop of Lagos with the headquarters in Remo?

Now Remo is the headquarters, we must play our role as the diocese with the archbishop. That will not make us bigger than dioceses in Lagos, except I want to deceive myself. However, even with the dioceses in Lagos, one of the things I am trusting God for is that Remo would occupy its rightful position within the committee of dioceses within Lagos Province. So that nobody would say it is because we’re not in Lagos that certain things cannot be achieved. I want to thank God for what the members have been doing. They have been meeting regularly, mapping out strategies, challenging themselves to assist the archbishop in his assignment. I want to be seen as an archbishop who can raise his head without intimidation and I’m trusting God that we would get there.

xquisite

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15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Editor Tayo Gesinde 08054727801 temiligali03@yahoo.com

To survive recession, monetise your hobbies

—Tampiri Irimagha-Akemu, MD Sesema PR Tampiri Irimagha-Akemu, the Managing Director of Sesema PR Agency has worked in different sectors like Oil and Gas, Logistics, Non Profit Management to broad based consulting, before opting for a career in public relations. Tampiri has an EMBA from CEIBS (ranked top 10 international Business school by Financial Times), specialising in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Literature, and Certificate from Gordon Institute of Business Science while she is also a Global Affiliate of the Chattered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), and has several professional certifications in HR – ACIPM, SHRI, Quality (ACQI) and Management (CMI). The mother of two teenage boys speaks with TAYO GESINDE on her journey to the top.

health —12

What to do when you suffer indigestion, heartbum in pregnancy

food —30

Relish the aroma, flavour in yam and peppersoup

style —10 & 13

Staying fashionable in recession

Continues pg29

Crew

Blessing Gbarada Kate Ani Oyeyemi Okunlade

10

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15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

quisite style

Saturday Tribune

31

With Kate Ani 08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

Be the belle of the ball in bell-arm sleeves!

Staying fashionable in recession

Tinuola Ayanniyi tayanniyi@yahoo.com 08055069379

DIY trendy denim chocker

THE choker is one of the most trending accessories this year. It is also one of the easiest trends to re-create at home without spending a fortune. Everything you need to make your denim choker is probably already in your wardrobe.

W

Fisayo Longe

ITH the economic recession in the country, most Nigerians have drastically cut down on their fashion spendings and are now quite prudent with their retail therapy sessions.

If you are a fashion enthusiast who loves splurging on designer clothes but having difficulties parting with your money, STYLE has news for you; staying fashionable in recession is not difficult! How? You might ask, instead of settling for Akube (cheap fairly used clothes), all you have to do is be a smart shopper. Below are few tips on how to be a smart shopper during recession: • Deposit, instead of paying in full: While there are many different strategies that you can use to keep your wardrobe versatile, fashionable and current, one of the easiest ways is to avoid paying in full price for your clothing or accessory.

If a certain item costs N10, 000, instead of paying in full, which might leave a deep hole in your pocket, why not deposit an amount for it and pay the balance later?

• Target clearance sales period: Many fashionistas have taken to buying their clothes at lower-cost clothing stores amid the recession. Most of the clothing store owners suffer low patronage and have resorted to wooing customers with certain percentage slash. Online clothing websites and boutique owners are always doing clearance sales, with some giving as high as 70 per cent discount.

• Bargain hunting: When a fashion sales representative gives you a price for a certain clothing item, don’t be shy to bargain for it! Most of these clothes sellers are struggling and cutting prices in response to low patronage.

Mo’ Abudu

Kadi Bello

Stella Uzor Mrs Toyin Saraki BELL-ARM style also known as bell-sleeves, winged-sleeves, fluted sleeves or flared sleeves is rapidly making a comeback into the fashion scene. The style which used to be sewn with only ankara fabrics has now been incorporated unto English styles. Bellsleeved blouses, dresses, playsuits and rompers are incredibly elegant, dramatic, attention-grabbing and one of the best styles for making fashionable statement.

Compared to when it was sewn with ankara, the English bell-sleeve is sleeker and more feminine. To get inspired to try out this trend, check out these pictures of socialites like Stella Uzor, wife of the Senate president, Mrs Toyin Saraki, media mogul, Mo’ Abudu, as they sashayed down the red carpet, wearing the stylish bell-sleeve arm trend.

Kim Kadarshian Step 1: Get your accessories — Old denim jeans and scissors Step 2: Get your needle and thread.

Step 3: Cut out your old jeans. Cut in the middle to get a straight shape rather than round shape.

•Sew your hook to both edges of the jeans after you’ve measured it around your neck.

Voila, your denim choker is ready.

11 healthandfitness My condom allergy

Dr. Wale Okediran

For some time now, I have noticed that each time my boyfriend and I use condom for sex, I always itch in my private part. Kindly help prescribe other forms of family planning that I can use apart from the condom. I am 25 years of age and not married.

Salome (by SMS)

08055069356 (sms only)

A growth on my forehead

Before switching to any other forms of contraceptives, it would be good if you can try a superior quality condom as the incidence of condom allergy is more

rampant with poor quality condoms. If this does not work, then you could try either oral contraceptives or

the injectable forms. Details of the use will be available from any Family Planning Clinic nearest to you.

My breasts are too small My breasts are so small that I am usually ashamed to dress in the presence of my classmates with whom I stay in the boarding school.

Kindly let me know what to do to increase the size of my breasts. I am 20-year-old.

Sheri (by SMS)

Blood in my urine

With your history of swimming in streams and ponds,

the cause of your bloody urine is most likely to be due to Schistosomiasis, a form of infection from the

out by a competent doctor, the surgery is very safe.

Apart from correcting the embarrassing appearance, the surgery will also enable a pathological examination

Grey hairs at 30 years

polluted streams where you have been swimming all this while. A confirmatory test for this infection can be done through the examination of your urine by your doctor. From this, the appropriate medications will be administered to you.

In addition, the offending streams and ponds should be fumigated or in extreme cases, be drained off in order to avoid repeated infection to other swimmers.

waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

I am a middle aged man with a large growth on my forehead. The growth has been there for the past three years and is very embarrassing. I have been asked to go to the hospital to remove it but I am afraid of surgery. Kindly advise me.

Ojo (by SMS) There is nothing to be afraid of in the surgery.

Depending on the extent of the growth, the surgery can be done under local or general anesthesia. Carried

different shapes and sizes for many reasons some of which are still unknown.

Apart from wearing padded brassieres which will increase your bust line, cosmetic surgery is the other option to enlarging your breast. However, at your age, your best bet is to accept the kind of breast you have and be proud of it.

The size of any body organ should not be a cause of embarrassment for you since body organs come in

I used to go swimming with my friends and classmates in some streams and ponds in my village for the past few months. Just last week, I started passing blood anytime I urinated. My friends claim that I must have contracted a terrible disease from sex. Kindly help me.

Linus (by SMS)

Saturday Tribune

15 October, 2016

I am a 30-year-old bachelor. Despite my young age, I already have plenty of grey hairs on my head.

This development has been scaring away young ladies who think I am an old man. My friends suggested that I dye my hair but I don’t want to do this.

Kindly help me.

Bala (by SMS) The main reason for the premature greying of hair is genetic i.e. the offspring is more prone to have grey hair earlier in life if its parent has the grey hair at early ages.

Vitamin and minerals,

especially vitamin B12, zinc and copper are responsible for the proper nourishment of the hair that assists metabolic processes involved in giving hair its natural color and deficiency of these vitamins and minerals affect the hair color. If the body is suffering from the lacks of vitamin C and E,

to be carried out on the growth. That way, the real causes and the possibilities of any future development from the growth will be determined.

then the hair turns into gray very normally. Smoking is also one of the factors which is responsible for premature graying of hair while diet especially junk foods or processed food accelerate aging. The people who are highly addicted to junk foods rather than the nutritious (vitamin C and E) will lose their nice and silky black hair at a very young age.

Dyeing your hair is just a temporary measure because hair grows on a daily basis. There is currently no solution to premature greying of hair and you may therefore have to live with the situation.

AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founders: CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

Chief (Dr) H.I.D Awolowo CON (1915 - 2015)

Chairman Rev. (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran Co-Chairman Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Edward Dickson Controller (Business Development) Fola Oke Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

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

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

GOT NEWS?

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Contact: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com or call:07030004233

12

15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune Blessing gbarada

MUM&CHILD

ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

What to do when you suffer indigestion, heartburn in pregnancy

By Blessing Ekum

G

etting pregnant is one of the greatest joys a woman experiences. The knowledge that another life is being nurtured and the mother is totally responsible for the being growing inside of her can be humbling and overwhelming at the same time. Though being pregnant is a huge responsibility and is one most women hope to experience, it doesn’t come without its own share of discomfort and challenges. One of the commonest conditions most pregnant women go through at some point throughout the nine month duration, is indigestion and heartburn.

Indigestion, which is also known as dyspepsia, is a term used to describe a feeling of fullness or discomfort during or after a meal. It can be accompanied by burning or

pain in the upper stomach.

On the other hand, heartburn, as the name implies, is characterised by a strong, burning sensation in the chest region, specifically the oesophagus. It occurs when acid in the stomach refluxes, that is, comes back up from the stomach.

During pregnancy, indigestion and heartburns are largely linked to both hormonal and changes within the woman’s body. According to experts, during pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone, progesterone, which relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus (womb).

This hormone also relaxes the valve that

separates the oesophagus from the stomach, allowing gastric acids to seep back, which causes that uncomfortable sensation of heartburn. Progesterone also slows the wavelike contractions of the stomach, making digestion sluggish. While this is hormonal, in later pregnancy, physical change brought upon by the growing womb pressing on the stomach can also result to heartburn.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Evergreen Health Consult and Social Care Intl Ltd, Mrs. Yemisi Solanke-Lawal, “indigestion and heartburn symptoms usually come on after eating food and every

Breastfeeding mistakes you are making It is a fact that breastfeeding provides tremendous benefits for both mother and baby. However, as important as breastfeeding is, the most important part of successful breastfeeding, which is nursing, is usually overlooked, most times out of ignorance. The result of this is pain for the mother and disatisfaction for the baby. As little as it may sound, proper latching is the key to a wonderful experience for both mother and baby and there are specific techniques that can be used when latching your baby to your breast.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some of the signs of correct or incorrect nursing are as follows: Signs of correct nursing • Your baby’s mouth is open wide with lips turned out.

• His chin and nose are resting against the breast.

• He has taken as much of the areola as possible into his mouth.

• He is suckling rhythmically and deeply, in short bursts separated by pauses.

• You can hear him swallowing regularly.

• Your nipple is comfortable after the first few suckles.

Signs of incorrect nursing • Your baby’s head is not in line with his body.

• He is sucking on the nipple only, instead of suckling on the areola with the nipple far back in his mouth.

• He is sucking in a light, quick, fluttery manner rather than taking deep, regular sucks.

• His cheeks are puckered inward or you hear clicking noises.

• You don’t hear him swallow regularly after your milk production has increased.

• You experience pain throughout the feed or have signs of nipple damage (such as cracking or bleeding).

discomfort can be eased off by making changes to your diet and lifestyle. Some of the symptoms pregnant women suffering from indigestion and heartburn may experience include pain or feeling discomfort in the chest or stomach. This usually happens soon after eating or drinking, but there can sometimes be a delay between eating a meal and developing indigestion; feeling uncomfortable or heavy; belching, regurgitation (food coming back up from the stomach); bloating; nausea (feeling like vomiting) and vomiting.”

Although the occasional heartburn and indigestion may be a source of discomfort, it is a condition that can easily be relieved with home remedies. Mrs. Solanke-Lawal recommends the following: •Eat healthily to avoid indigestion. If you are pregnant, it can be tempting to eat more than you would normally, but this may not be good for you or your baby. You don’t need to “eat for two’’. Eat a variety of different foods everyday in order to get the right balance of nutrients that you and your baby need.

•Change your eating habits. For example by eating smaller meals more frequently rather than larger meals three times a day, avoid eating within three hours of going to bed at night, or sit up straight when you eat because this will take the pressure off your stomach.

•Avoid indigestion triggers (such as drinking juice, eating chocolate, bending over), take note of any particular food, drink or activity that seems to make your indigestion worse and avoid them if possible. This may mean eating less spicy and fatty foods, cutting down on drinks that contain caffeine such as tea, coffee and cola. Also when you go to bed, use a couple of pillows to support your head and shoulders up.

•Avoid alcohol to ease indigestion.

•Stop smoking to banish indigestion •If you have severe indigestion, or changes to your diet and lifestyle don’t work, your doctor, midwife or pharmacist may suggest using medication to ease your symptoms. So check with them before taking medication.

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15 October, 2016

ntertainment News

Society Gist

Saturday Tribune

J

with oan

Omionawele

jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08054682201

Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

newtray2002@yahoo.com 08052271251

Celebrity Interviews

Why we had a quiet wedding —Femi Adebayo

p16

Kiki Omeili wins Lagos Under 40 Awards for Best Female Act, English

p17

Ruth Kadiri sp eaks on

controversial Photo

14 entertainment

15 October, 2016

Ruth Kadiri

Saturday Tribune

Kiki Omeili wins Lagos Under 40 Awards for Best Female Act, English

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

speaks on

DOCTOR-turned-actress, Kiki Omeili, has won the Best Female Act, (English) at the Lagos Under 40 Awards.

The Lekki Wives actress topped the nominees list that comprised heavyweight actresses such as Kehinde Bankole, Lilan Esoro, Adesua Etomi, Nse Ekpe Etim and Omoni Oboli to become the maiden winner of the award.

Lagos 30 Under 40 Awards, a Lagos State initiative organised to celebrate young people who have risen to the top echelon in the entertainment industry, announced the winners of the maiden award event on their Instagram page on Wednesday.

The award presentation ceremony, which was scheduled to be held Sunday, 9th October at the Bamboo Halls & Spaces, was cancelled due to logistical reason.

However, speaking to Saturday Tribune about why the event was put on hold, the Head of Communications of Shawttynatt, the organising outfit, Mrs. Adebukola Ogunrinde, said that the award plaque will be presented to the winners.

She said, “We encountered a major setback from our sponsors at the last minutes. And we didn’t want to hold a belowoto versial ph o tr the-standard event. n co e t) Th

o t o h p l ia s r e v o r t n o c

by Joan Omionawele

P

OPULAR Nollywood actress and producer, Ruth Kadiri caused a stir during the week as she tried to promote a scene from one of her movies.

The actress who posted a picture of herself and another actor lying in bed with a wrapper and unshaved armpits caused an uproar as many fans were confused on what she was trying to do.

While some fans vieived her armpit negatively, others described it as armpits of life, bushy room among other names.

Saturday Tribune reached out to the actress who revealed “The hair in my armpit was artificial, it was a scene from my movie entitled ‘trouble comes to town’ and I was surprised at the reactions I got from fans. I expected everyone to know that it was a promotion for the movie. In fact , I am having a press conference for the movie and I will invite you to it” she said.

(Inse

Why we had a ‘private wedding’ —Femi Adebayo

By Joan Omionawele

POPULAR Nollywood Actor, Femi Adebayo Salami, was all smiles during the weekend as he tied the knot with his bride, Omotayo Sanusi in Lagos. The wedding which was star studded was described as a quiet one with close friends and colleagues.

The actor who explained the reason for the quiet wedding wrote on Instagram through his Manager, Biodun Adegoke “This decision is best for us as I have been on the lane before and my wife has never been. I have to protect her privacy at all costs. Please, we pray for understanding of our friends and my beloved loyal fans, I appreciate you and plead for your prayers and support.

The son of veteran Actor, Adebayo Salami ( Oga Bello) further wrote “I’m grateful to everyone that stood thru the darkest times, 8years of divorce, it’s indeed a long time, but God indeed is all knowing and perfect” This is the actor’s second marriage as he was formerly married to his estranged wife “ Alhaja Khadijat, who bore him three kids.

Chelsea’s ‘spirit of Naija’ moves to Ibadan, Benin THE “Chelsea London Dry Gin Spirit of Naija,” a youth-focused entertainment fiesta created by Intercontinental Distillers Limited to promote arts, culture and lifestyle begins in Ibadan and Benin this weekend.

The entertainment event was unveiled few days ago in Lagos and is meant to cover several Nigerian cities.

The celebration train will showcase Nigerian dance, music and lifestyle in several bars and fun centres across Ibadan and Benin.

Tagged “Spirit of Naija Unleashed,” the programme is aimed at connecting and rewarding customers’ loyalty in a contin-

uous and consistent engagement.

A statement by the company’s Head of Marketing, Mr. Mobolaji Alalade, said the theme of the fiesta was conceived to celebrate the rugged spirit of Nigerians, especially the youth through such platforms like music, dance and lifestyle.

He said: “The spirit of Naija is strong and resilient; the Spirit of ‘Naija’ is always reinventing itself and it is fresh; the Spirit of ‘Naija’ is easily seen in the lives of Nigerians, always ready for a challenge – the ‘never say die’ attitude. The Spirit of ‘Naija’ is seen in Chelsea London Dry Gin.”

Stage play: Paw Studios, Eko Hotel to stage “Shattered” for IDGC celebration

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

THE Performing Arts Workshop and Studios (PAWStudios) in collaboration with Eko Hotel and Temple Production Foundation is set to re-enact “Shattered,” a stage play, in celebration of the International Day for the Girl Child (IDGC) between the 22nd and 23rd of October.

Based on Bode Asiyanbi’s entry for BBC, story writing competition portrays the culture of silence and the society’s complacency on the issues of rape, “Shattered” examines the series of events that happen after a rape has occurred while encouraging the community and victims of sexual assault to break the silence.

The stage place which was first adapted

into a play by Kenneth Uphopho, a acclaimed theatre director and festival director of the Lagos Theatre Festival, will feature prime role interpreters such as Jide Kosoko , Tomi Odunsi, Goodness Emmanuel, Patrick Diabuah, Bola Haastrup and AMVCA award winning actress Bikiya Graham Douglas.

The award winning play was first premiered at the British Council Lagos Theatre Festival in 2013 and 2015 provoking widespread advocacy to #BreakTheSilence on social media and other news platforms.

This year’s performance will be held at the Presidential Suits, Eko Hotels, Victoria Island and will kick start PAWSTUDIOS’ National Tour in 6 geopolitical zones starting this October in Lagos.

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15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

We asked Buhari to suspend the rule of law for one year to fight corruption —Niyi Akintola, SAN

Chief Niyi Akintola is a senior member of the Bar who participated actively in the processes that led to the last general election.

In this interview, he speaks on the arrest of judges, while admitting that the fight against corruption must be drastic. He also calls for the suspension of the rule of law for a year to tackle corruption. Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA, brings the excerpts.

T

HERE have been divergent views on the raid on judges by the DSS. What is your position on the DSS’s action?

Every commentator on this issue should be made to declare their interest first. If we declare our interests, we will know where we are coming from. There are those who are government apologists, who work through one agency or the other. There are those who have enjoyed patronage, whose comments don’t come to some of us as a surprise. There are those who are looking for patronage from the government.

So, when they are making comments, people should take their comments with a pinch of salt.

There are those who are utterly objective, like us. We were in the trenches to see the emergence of this government and we naturally will not want it to fail. But there are those far away; we did not see them near the trenches and they are now forcing us to say things we have been keeping to ourselves.

So, every one of us should be asked where our interest lies on this issue. In the first place, there are certain things that you must keep in perspective. One, there is no doubt that corruption is killing Nigeria. Two, there is no doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari is fit to fight corruption. There is also no dispute as to the fact that I am committed to the fight.

Of course, there is also no dispute as to the fact that this is a democratically elected government and he (the president) took an oath to abide by the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Let me say that the reality staring us in the face is that to fight corruption, we need to employ some extra-constitutional tactics. But when you look at the scenario playing out now, you begin to wonder whether those advising the president or those around him are doing any serious thinking. About two and a half weeks ago, we were in Washington DC, United States of America and for six days, the issue of corruption in Nigeria came to the fore. It was not limited to Nigeria. Femi Falana and I stood up for our president and his modus operandi in faraway Washington. It is not that we love some of his tactics but we thought that a drastic problem requires a drastic solution. In fact, right there, I suggested that Nigeria should withdraw its signatures to all treaties that are hampering the fight against corruption – ICC treaties and what have you – and I gave the example of the United States of America.

My posture at the conference over that issue was necessitated by the World Bank representative who presented a paper and told us the difficulties we will be facing to get our money (looted funds) back. He went on to say that we must fight corruption with human face and I stood up and said, ‘Look, why play the ostrich? Here in Washington, you have established a place where you keep prisoners without following the rule of law. Nobody is questioning you for that for the fact that you are the father of democracy in the world. But you knew you could not do that within the four walls of United States and you moved them somewhere else and people are dying every day for 12 years running.

Nobody is castigating you for that. In fact, the United States is not a signatory to the ICC convention so as to avoid being accused of war crimes’. I said, ‘Are you expecting Nigeria to comply with all these protocols limiting our efforts?

You have just told us to our faces that we have got less than six per cent of our looted funds from Abacha alone.

Abacha died in 1998, 18 years now, and our money is still lying in the World Bank’. I said, ‘If our president decides to employ the tactics of the Chinese and Singaporeans, we will back him’. All our president needs to do is to go to the National Assembly, call the state Houses of Assembly, more so now that governors are telling him to declare the state of emergency on the economy. He can bring in the issue of corruption and ask that we suspend the rule of law for one year because a drastic problem requires a drastic solution and Femi Falana supported me. We stood up for Nigeria and we said this thing is killing Nigeria. But having sworn to abide by the constitution, he (the president) cannot use extra-constitutional means.

You will remember that in a newspaper interview in March, I raised the alarm that the legal profession was under siege. I remember that my colleagues at the body of Senior Advocates set up a body over the issue. As a matter of fact, the interview was circulated; it was printed for members to see. I gave instances of the breach of the rule of law by Mr President.

When people talk about using technicality and what have you, I am happy our leader, Chief Wole Olanipekun, has

Most of the people who are commenting today don’t even know the far-reaching implications. It is not about these judges. Let us not make a mistake about it. All is not well about the Nigerian judiciary as it is.

said that much to him; that we used that same technicality to get him there. When people speak about technicality in law, technicality is part of jurisprudence. If you don’t know your onions and you are careless and your opponent uses technicality to keep you out, too bad.

I told our colleagues three days ago that we know what we did to assist this man. When we saw that the nation was drifting under (former President Goodluck) Jonathan, leaders like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi and Danjuma Goje took steps to stop the drift. At no cost to the APC, I manned the north-eastern part of the country for the All Progressives Congress (APC). My juniors are alive. Danuta Goji is alive. Apart from logistics, APC incurred no cost. My juniors then would wake up in the morning and go to court to check whether anything had been filed against Buhari.

We did that for over seven weeks; monitoring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawyers, monitoring the PDP, who were so desperate to prevent him from contesting election.

At any point, if they filed anything, we got to know within seconds. Our juniors were in the court registry from morning till 4:30 p.m., when the court would close and we were doing that religiously.

Those who are now shouting, the influence peddlers of today, were nowhere near what we did. Chief Olanipekun, Fagbemi, Kola Awodein, even the vice president, Emeka Ngige, we policed the courts in the entire six geopolitical zones. Mahmoud Mogaji was in Sokoto monitoring what was going on in the North-West. Chief Olanipekun led the team.

It is the same legal system that brought him [the president] to power that he wants to destroy. The first thing that he did was to go outside the country and start lambasting judges, the judiciary. I catalogued the scenes. This is not what we worked for. No doubt about it, the president has good intention but in running a country as complex as Nigeria, good intention is not enough.

Coming to the issue at hand, it is CAP 74 Law of Nigeria 1986 that created the security agencies that we have but there is none known as DSS. We don’t have such in our statutes.

In fact, DSS is an illegal body. We have SSS. The provision of that Act is very clear. Three security agencies were established under that Act. There is nothing like DSS. DSS is an illegal body created out of the whims and caprices of some people. You will recall that under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the door of the house of Chief Mike Adenuga was pulled down. The man had to run for his life to Ghana and he never returned to Nigeria until former President Jonathan came to power.

We don’t like a situation like that. Most of the people who are commenting today don’t even know the far-reaching implications. It is not about these judges. Let us not make a mistake about it. All is not well about the Nigerian judiciary as it is. There is no doubt about the fact that there is corruption in the system but people are generalising it. I don’t speak about the judiciary publicly but for the first time in my life, I came out to say, ‘look, stakeholders, senior lawyers, senior judges, speak out about what is happening at the Federal High Courts, about conflicting judgments’. What we saw then was bizarre, despicable. All is not well, there is no doubt about that but in killing a fly, we don’t use a sledgehammer. You don’t set the house on fire because you want to kill a snake and that is what is happening now.

Now we have an illegal body calling itself DSS. Do you know that if what happened had been done by the EFCC, ICPC or the police, nobody would be talking about illegality now? We would just be talking about the procedures. But here is an ilContinued on pg34

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15 October, 2016

Divorce

Saturday Tribune

Court & Crime

He lied that he was single when he was married —Wife

By Oyeyemi Okunlade

My in-laws want me to be their slave, wife tells court I can no longer cope with the endless curses —Husband

A

housewife, Foluke Adesuyi, has told an Akure Customary Court in Ondo State that her in-laws wanted her to be a slave to

them.

Foluke, who was responding to some allegations from her husband, Adebisi, said that she could not totally align with the domineering principle of her in-laws.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she told the court that she had tried several means to pacify her husband and his family, but that they needed a woman who could not voice her wishes and opinion.

The respondent appealed to the court to

consider her means of livelihood and order the petitioner to give her N500, 000.00 for sustenance.

Earlier, Adebisi asked the court to dissolve his 14-year-old marriage to Foluke for alleged constant fighting.

Adebisi told the court that he could no longer cope with the endless curses by his wife, who he said, had no respect for his

inside

mother and other family members.

According to him, his wife does not care for the children and that she is stubborn.

In his ruling, the President of the court, Mr Ayodele Omotola, said that both parties should ensure peace, and adjourned the case till November 1 for judgement.

Return my late mother’s necklace before you divorce me, man tells wife It’s true, but I can’t find it again —Wife

See pages 18 & 23

A 36-year-old and a mother of two, Ibukunoluwa Odemobaniyi, has requested an Inalende Grade ‘C’ customary court, Oyo State, to separate her from her husband, Idowu, on account that he lied that he had not been married before, despite the fact that he was asked before both were joined together.

However, according to Ibukunoluwa, Idowu had married another woman before asking for her hand in marriage. Their union had been experiencing unrest since the secret was known to her.

“My husband was asked if he had been married before and he answered ‘no.’ There has not been peace in our home. It’s been trouble every day and he makes attempts to beat me. When our Pastor intervened, he begged me that it was the work of the devil.

“He abandoned several of his jobs which he has been paid for and a lot of people usually come to foment trouble in the house.

“There was a day he told me to pack out my belongings but I refused. At midnight, he gripped my neck and repeated the statement. On seeing that he made an attempt to kill me, I packed out my belongings. It’s been two years now that there has not been anything from him, hence this court action.”

The court asked after the defendant’s father, but Ibukunoluwa said that it was his stepfather who instructed her to divorce him.

Again, the plaintiff was asked to state her husband’s behaviour.

“He’s very stubborn, has no respect for my family and abandons his job which has led to molestation in the area,” she stated.

After a careful look at the plaintiff’s evidence before the court and the fact that the defendant absented himself from the court, having been served properly, the court ruled that there is no more love between both parties.

The president of the court, Mr Ramoni Olafenwa, ruled thus: “The marriage between the plaintiff and the defendant contracted about nine years ago is hereby dissolved forthwith. The children of the marriage are to be in the plaintiff’s custody. The defendant is to be taking care of the children on education, health, moral and financial grounds. The two parties to maintain peace.

Copy of this judgment to be served on the defendant through this court Bailiff.”

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Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

courtandcrime

Return my late mother’s necklace before you divorce me, man tells wife

I can’t remember where I kept it —Wife “My wife must return my late mother’s gold necklace before she can divorce me,” a 40-yearold man, Mr Olufemi Ojikutu, has told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State.

He told the court during the week while responding to a suit filed by his wife, Olaide, that if she insisted on divorcing him, she must return his gold because it was his inheritance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Ojikutu said that his mother gave him and his siblings a gold necklace each to give to their wives when they marry with a condition that the wife must stay with them for life.

“When my mother was about to die, she called me and my three brothers, gave us a gold necklace each, telling us to give it to our wives that will be with us for better, for worse till death do us apart.

“She told us the value of each gold. Mine was 21 carats, valued at N125,000 as at 1995 when she died.

“She promised not to forgive anyone who violated her order,” he said.

The respondent said that he had kept the gold for about 20 years before his wife came to borrow it in 2014 and refused to give him back.

“My wife borrowed my gold necklace but has not returned it. Now that she wants to divorce me, she must return the gold necklace, it is not negotiable,” Ojikutu said.

He expressed the belief that his wife must have sold the jewellery as she used to sell his clothes.

Ojikutu urged the court to grant his wife’s wish for dissolution of the marriage, saying he too was no longer in love and only wanted the return of his gold necklace.

The 28-year-old petitioner, who had approached the court to terminate her five-year-old marriage over infidelity, agreed that she collected the gold necklace from her husband.

“I collected the gold from my husband when I wanted to go for an event but I can’t just remember where I kept it,” Olaide, a clothes trader, told the court.

The mother of two accused her husband of infidelity.

“My husband is having an affair; I once stumbled on some pictures on his whatsapp messages where he and his lover were sending their naked pictures to each other,” she said.

She described her husband as an irresponsible husband and father.

“My husband does not care for me or the children. Even during festive periods, he never buys the children clothes or shoes. “ My mother was the one taking care of our children. Whenever I asked him for money, he was always annoyed and often begins keeping malice with me for weeks,” she said.

According to her, she left her matrimonial home on February 7, 2015 after her husband changed the key of the house and locked her out.

She begged the court to terminate the five-yearold marriage, saying that she was no longer in love.

The president of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, said that the case would be left on sine die stage until the petitioner returns the respondent’s gold necklace.

“Since the respondent insisted on collecting back his gold necklace, the judgment will not be read just for peace to reign until the gold necklace is produced.

My husband’s family wanted to kill me —Wife She ran away with another man—Husband

The 20-year-old marriage between a man, Abisoye Ajayi, and his wife, Cecila, has been dissolved on the order of an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State, on grounds of infidelity.

Delivering his judgement, the President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, said the marriage was dissolved because the petitioner (the wife) was bent on dissolution in spite of interventions by the court and family members.

“Since the petitioner insisted on divorce after several interventions, the court has no choice than to dissolve the union in spite of the fact that the husband still claims he loves his wife.

“The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Cecila and Abisoye Ajayi dissolved today; both parties cease to be husband and wife.

“They are free to go their separate ways without any hindrance or molestation,” Omilola ruled.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Cecilia had approached the court to terminate the 20 years marriage to her estranged husband, alleging infidelity on the part of the husband.

“My husband is a womaniser; he is dating four girls on our street and brings them into our matrimonial home.

“On many occasions, he and his lovers had beaten me up whenever I prevented them from entering our room.

“He was not satisfied with his lovers, he also, on several occasions, made attempts to rape my younger sister,” she

told the court.

She also accused her husband of being an alcoholic.

“Abisoye is a drunk. After drinking to stupor, most times he falls inside the gutter.”

Cecila also claimed that her husband had sent her packing from the house because she was not educated.

According to her, Abisoye had been living in his family house since they got married in 1996.

She said:“On three occasions, I was attacked by my husband’s family members over inheritance.

“My husband’s family wanted to kill me; they said that I was the one preventing him from sharing his late father’s property among them.

“Abisoye always told me that he would not relocate from his family house after our marriage,” she said.

She urged the court to dissolve the marriage.

Abisoye, however, denied the allegations, saying his wife ran away with another man because he lost his job and was no longer financially buoyant.

“Things were moving on fine until I lost my job and her behaviour changed; she packed out to live with another man.

“She even gave birth to her new lover two months ago,” Abisoye alleged.

He said he could not leave his family house because he was the only son of the family.

He, however, did not object to the dissolution of the marriage as requested by his wife.

She denies me sex, I caught her twice with two different men —Husband I have never denied him sex —Wife A man, Akawu Adamu, has pleaded with a Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State, to dissolve his marriage, saying that his wife was unfaithful and was denying him sex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Adamu of Mararaba in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, told court that he would no longer tolerate the bad ways of Juliana, his wife.

He said that he married the woman in 2009.

Adamu said that the marriage was blessed with two children, lamenting that Juliana had insisted on not having additional children for him.

“My wife is unfaithful to me. I caught her twice with two

different men in suspicious manner.

“She goes out anytime she likes without my consent or permission and I have reported her on several occasions to her parents but she did not change her ways.

“I am pleading with the court to dissolve the marriage and also grant me custody of our first child, “he said.

Juliana, however, denied the allegations, saying that she had never denied Adamu sex.

She said that she still had interest in the marriage, pleading with court to give her and Adamu time to settle their differences.

The Judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekaru, adjourned the matter till November 17 for further hearing.

I want to divorce my husband ’cos I married him through my mother —Wife I don’t want her to divorce me —Husband

By Oyeyemi Okunlade

She doesn’t value our children’s education —Husband It’s a lie, I’ve enrolled them in a school —Wife

By Oyeyemi Okunlade A 54-year-old man, Tiamiyu Afolabi, has pleaded with a Grade ‘C’ Customary Court sitting at Inalende, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve his marriage with his wife, Toyin and also recover the two children produced by the union from her.

He told the court that he married Toyin about 16 years ago but they had separated from each other for the past six years on account that his wife does not value the children’s education.

“We’ve parted for the past six years. She makes use of my two children who are 13 and eight respectively to hawk her goods at the time they are supposed to be in school. I want them to be in my custody so that I can give them the best of education, moral and health care they deserve.”

The court, however, asked the plaintiff who will take care the children should they be handed over to him as requested. He said: “My mother. She is in the court.”

The defendant, Toyin Afolabi, countered her husband, saying: “I want to divorce my husband because of his lack of care for the children. Anytime he wants to give them money, he usually gives an excuse that I will spend part of it. So, he stopped giving them. The children are useful to me for hawking waterleaf (Gbure) and pepper so I can’t hand them over to him. However, I have enrolled them in a

school as against what my husband said.”

The president of the court asked the defendant whether she informed their intermediary about her husband’s actions. She said: “Yes. But it resulted into being beaten by the plaintiff.”

In order for the court to go through the evidence of both parties, the president of the court, Mr Ramoni Olafenwa, adjourned the case for judgement.

After several adjournments, the president of Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, Chief Agbaje Henry Olasunkanmi, has dissolved the 18-year-old marriage between Mrs Obayori Sade and her husband, Sakariyau.

The plaintiff told the court that she married her husband as a virgin and the union is blessed with four children although she could not explain how she got into the marriage.

“I want to divorce my husband because I married him through my mother. At the initial stage when I knew this man, my mother was begging me that I should marry him but I declined. But shortly after, I noticed that my mother did not like me again. Suddenly, I agreed to marry the man.

“After the wedding, he started beating me. He did not take care of me and the children. I’ve been responsible for everything in the house. I’m fed up of his attitude towards me and the children. I want this court to separate us.”

She’s a night marauder; goes out at will without my consent —Husband A cleric, Olasunkanmi Modupe, has asked an Akure Customary Court in Ondo State to dissolve his six-year-old marriage to his wife, Yemi, for alleged public embarrassment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Olasunkanmi said that Yemi was fond of fighting with the church members.

According to him, the defendant has caused several misgivings, capable of destroying the peace and unity of the church.

He said the respondent was hell-bent on bringing down

the ministry, stressing that he had made several efforts to caution her without result.

The petitioner recalled that the respondent was a night marauder, going out at her will without his consent.

He noted that his wife was in habit of cursing, adding that she was also enmeshed in jealousy.

In his ruling, Mr Ayodele Omotola, the President of the court, urged the parties to allow peace to reign and ordered fresh hearing notice to the respondent.

Omotola, therefore, adjourned the case till November1.

The defendant, Sakariyau, swore to an oath before the court that he did not accept his wife’s claim.

“She is the mother of my children. She assists me in the house.

I take care of her and the family. I don’t want her to divorce me.”

The court asked both parties for the state of their home since the last adjournment and the plaintiff answered: “I want the court to separate us.”

It was found out by the court that there is no more love both of them and the court cannot force them to live together. The judgment goes thus: “The marriage between husband and wife is hereby dissolved.

N7,500 is awarded for feeding of the children starting from October ending. Court orders the children to stay with their mother and the father should be responsible for both schooling and health services.

There should be no molestation whenever they meet on the road.”

23

‘I bought my wife clothes, but she will never wear them’ A mother of six, Titilayo Abdul-Hammed, has lost her 17-year-old marriage for making her husband a laughing stock in the neighbourhood.

An Igando Customary Court in Lagos State granted the request of her estranged husband, Minkail Abdul-Hammed.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abdul-Hammed, 57, had approached the court seeking to end his 17-year-old marriage with Titilayo, because her nakedness was seen by spectators free of charge.

The Court President, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, in his judgement said that it was obvious from available evidence and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court that the marriage had “hit the rock”.

“Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour court processes.Therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The marriage between, Minkail Abdul-Hammed and Titilayo Abdul-Hammed is hereby dissolved.

“Both parties are no longer husband and wife; they are free to marry any partner of their choice without any hindrances and molestation,” he said.

Abdul-Hammed had said that his wife was always disgracing him in public as she was fond of tying only wrapper to watch television in the neighbourhood.

“I bought my wife clothes, but she will never wear them; she prefers to tie wrapper on her chest.

“There was a day I came home from the mosque and was looking for my wife because she did not come for the Jumat prayer.

“I was told she was in the third house, so I went there and met her in front of the TV with residents of that house despite the fact that I bought T.V in all our rooms.

“I querried her for preferring TV to mosque and ordered her to follow me home.

“She refused and as I was trying to push her from the room, her wrapper dropped, and behold my wife was neither wearing a pant nor a brassier.

“The residents in the room saw my wife’s nakedness live and direct and were making jest of us. I was embarrassed and ashamed.

“The petitioner also accused his wife who was absent from court of being fetish.

“Of recent, I noticed that my wife always lock her room and keep the key to herself whenever she wants to take her bath or do anything within the premises.

“One day, she went to buy something and locked her room as usual. I searched for the duplicate key because I was curious and opened the door.

“I sighted a paper in which a long incantation was written on it and my name was mentioned.

“I was to search her closet when I heard her footsteps coming, I quickly locked the room, I took the paper to show her family members,” he said.

Abdu-Hammed also described his wife as being wasteful with food as she was in the habit of cooking far in excess of what they could eat.

“I have always told her to measure food before cooking and that she can always give out the remnant to the poor, but she prefers throwing them away.

“She has stopped cooking for me since 2012 and told me to be doing the cooking which I am still doing,” he said.

She stole many things, said she thought I was going to die —Man A septuagenarian, Bolarinwa Matthew, has urged an Ado-Ekiti Customary Courtin Ekiti State to dissolve his 13-year-old marriage to his wife, Idowu, for alleged frequent fightings and lack of care.

Matthew, 70, told the court that his wife was fond of fighting him.

He said though, they lived under the same roof but in past five months, they had been living separately in different rooms.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the father of three, said that before he got married to her, he had a son from his first wife, adding that Idowu fights with his son.

He said Idowu was fond of fighting with his relatives which made them to stop visiting him.

The petitioner claimed that there was a particular time when he was sick and when he returned home he could not find his

money, house survey plan, and land receipt.

Matthew alleged that when he asked Idowu, she told him that he thought he would die, adding that she used the money to abort her pregnancy.

He said sometime last year, he fell sick again, his wife separated his children and herself from his room The petitioner told the court that there was no more love in the relationship because “she does not take care for me”.

The petitioner claimed that the respondent always travels with her association members to function within and outside the town and would not return for three days.

He, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve the marriage and award him the custody of the children.

President of the court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, adjourned the case till October 27 for the respondent to open her defence.

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Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637

A Reporter’s Diary

e: olanreade@yahoo.com

Eko Akete

Encounter with Ambode’s lost oga’s friend battle

Paternity leave

How Lagos men spend their holidays

BOLA BADMUS, CHUKS OKPARAOCHA, AYOMIDE OWONIBI-ODEKANYIN, NAZA OKOLI and LANRE ADEWOLE examine the dwindling acceptability of the much-heralded paternity leave in Lagos and how the few who observed it made a huge adventure of it.

A

little over two years ago, a former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), took a novel and somewhat amusing step of fraternity with the menfolk of the state public service. As a father himself, he wanted to help homes, especially new homes, bond stronger when there is arrival of a new baby. He threw paternity leave into the traditional age-long maternity leave for nursing mother. Obviously importing the idea from the Western culture where paternity leave runs smoothly with maternity

leave, Fashola supported the idea and the push for its legislation with the argument that by granting paternity leave to “nursing” fathers, too, they would be handy at home to help their wives in all areas of “baby sitting” and provide emotional and psychological boost for the family.

Possibly factoring the restless nature of an average young agile man, the Lagos paternity law was pegged at just ten working days which, when added to the weekend, would make two full weeks away from the duty post, while the maternity leave for nursing

mothers moved from the conventional three months to six months, for the purpose of the special deliveries.

However, in packaging the men’s “baby sitting” holiday, Fashola’s government took the chink out of it. No leave bonus was attached and all excitement that accompanied its introduction evaporated.

A former member of the state House of Assembly, while going down the memory lane with Saturday Tribune, recalled that the debates in the House which eventually led to the adjustment of the extant laws to

create room for the new law that empowers government to grant such leave, were as hilarious and mischievous as they could get during plenaries.

With the Assembly overtly populated by men, such is understandable as the debaters could read themselves into the bright and dark sides to the compulsory holiday that many are shunning now. Even for the few that have explored it, findings showed that it has been mainly for “dark” adventures rather than for the intended home bonding.

Continues on pg21

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Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Continued from pg19

How we fix it –Lawmaker The former Assembly member, who participated actively in the debates, disclosed that issues that came up during the sessions kept drawing laughter among the lawmakers, because they could “see” and “read” into the unintended implications.

Preferring to be quoted anonymously, the ex -lawmaker said: “Oh yes, I remember the deliberations we had when the proposal came from the executive asking for an amendment of the existing relevant laws to create room for this novel idea. Even though many of us felt then that the amendment would eventually prove superfluous, we still felt the need to give Lagosians and the entire nation as a whole something new.

“This is because, we all knew then that hardly would male workers opt for the 10-day leave, especially when no special allowance or bonus will be paid. We also knew that the few who would opt for the option of the leave would rather prefer to use it on other things totally different from the real reasons they were given. I personally knew then that quite a number of those granted the leave would rather spend it sleeping at home doing nothing, while others would spend it in pubs and joints with friends instead of spending it with their wives and kids. But we knew it was only right for us to carry out the necessary amendments in the existing laws, as anything that would bring smiles to the faces of Lagosians was, and would always remain, a top priority to all major stakeholders in the Lagos State government, including us, lawmakers,” he stated.

The lawmaker could be said to have seen “tomorrow” because Saturday Tribune’s digging proved all the lawmakers’ suspicion and more.

Beyond going to drinking bar in the morning, travelling out of town, hanging out with friends and hardly staying home with wives and new babies, out of a few that had gone on the paternity, were also philanderers who spent the leave period attending on a daily basis to their concubines and girlfriends.

The lawmakers saw it coming. The administration of Fashola also perhaps saw this “conversion” coming. Saturday Tribune gathered that the decision to make the holiday period a no-bonus one was to further discourage men observing it to stay more at home.

The discouraging administrative move didn’t appear to discourage new fathers from feathering their nest elsewhere outside of their homes and playing ‘away games’, as cheating on one’s spouse, is popularly referred to in street lingo in Lagos.

When Saturday Tribune set out to check the effectiveness of the law after 27 months of its introduction, the touchy reactions from civil servants and their neighbours showed that the use to which one puts such controversial leave period outside of the home will always be a hush-hush affair.

“You know it is a matter that can scatter (break) homes. We know that it is the truth but who will go to the pages of newspapers to identify his neighbour as a civil servant who went on booze and carrying women (philandering) when he should be caring for his wife and new baby at home. When the couple fight over such matter in their home and you hear about it, you pretend as if you heard nothing. It is their life” Saturday Tribune was told by a neighbour.

At the government house in Alausa, civil servants were either not keen to speak about the controversial leave or were afraid of some unstated consequences of being identified. Those who volunteered to answer Saturday Tribune’s inquiry treated the matter almost like a non-issue. None of them had also activated it, though it should be to their advantage.

Though the actual number of those who had

‘Paternity leave may lead to complications’

gone on the said leave could not be ascertained since it is also applicable to employees in all the 57 local government and local council development areas, findings revealed that a negligible percentage of the beneficiaries had activated the law.

Better-forgotten tales One of the very few is a staff of a local government (identity hidden). But the wife, who is also a staff of the local government, doesn’t have a good memory of those two weeks. The couple who live at College Road, Ogba (house address withheld) got a new baby recently, with both father and mother embarking on leave. While the nursing mother is still observing her six-month leave, the father of the house has concluded his but the tale of the paternity leave is still being told by the wife.

When Saturday Tribune approached her on her experience having her man at home all to herself, she replied sarcastically, “e ti si address mu” (you are seeking angels in hell). She now recounted how her husband spent the 10 working days doing the usual routine of going out early in the morning and returning late in the evening as if on normal working days. “ (he was only around at the weekends to lend a hand). The suggestive accompanying laughter and innuendos pointed at a known secret, better kept secret. Without doubt, she knew where her husband was reporting to every morning but she would rather let go. Her husband’s leave activities fit into the imagery in the head of the former lawmaker.

Findings also showed that the operation of the paternity leave at the local government level could be of controversial legality because the proper channel of communication between the state government and leadership at the 57 council areas hasn’t taken place.

According to a senior council source, “though we are covered by it (law establishing paternity leave) being public servants in the state, up till

now the Source Document that is the normal administrative procedure of communicating such development to us, has not been issued. Fashola signed paternity leave into law but didn’t issue it and the current administration hasn’t so done.

We read it on the pages of newspapers like others but we have not been officially communicated to commence it.”

When asked who should issue the Source Document, the council source replied “the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Saturday Tribune discovered that the enthusiasm that heralded the coming of the policy has nearly completely evaporated.

The proviso on eligibility is likely responsible for the diminishing interest, according to Olu, a staff of a government agency at Alausa.

The policy has a clause that it can only be enjoyed by anyone for the first two children only, as subsequent deliveries by any employee would attract only 12 weeks maternity leave for the female officer, while the male officer would not be entitled to the 10-day leave.

“I stand no opportunity of benefitting from it as I now have more than two children and have even stopped procreating,” Ola said without any element of regret.

Another respondent who did not want his name in print said he knew some beneficiaries of the largesse, even though he could not benefit from such as he, too, had stopped procreating.

Without doubt, awareness about it is sufficient but a lot factors make it unattractive to many civil servants interviewed by Saturday Tribune.

The lack of popularity of the perceived holiday opportunity is so huge that it was tough getting someone to point out colleagues who have “enjoyed” it, despite the state government making it mandatory for men in the service, irrespective of their level in the offices where they work.

Alausa’s objection According to one Kike, a staff of one of government corporations in the state, she knew the paternity leave as granted to men working in the

service by the last administration existed, but quickly said that she was not aware if anybody had taken advantage of it so far.

Kike said the reason could be because there were some clauses attached to it such that one could only enjoy the opportunity when having first and second issues, and not beyond that.

She said the other problem is that the opportunity does not offer any monetary reward to the beneficiaries like payment of an allowance for the 10 working days that such beneficiaries would be off duty, wondering why one who finds himself in such a situation should be excited to want to go on leave.

“There are clauses like it is 10 working days that beneficiaries are allowed to go on paternity leave and it doesn’t attract any monetary reward like payment of leave bonus, so why should anybody be excited about it?” Kike said.

But for Kehinde, another Alausa staffer who spoke with Saturday Tribune, money issue was the put-off. “I had wanted to apply for it last time when my wife put to bed, but somehow I forgot the idea because I saw that there was no monetary attachment to it.

“How will I be sitting down at home doing nothing, what will be my gain? he queried, adding, that “there is no monetary reward attached and you will find out too that it is that period that too many pressure will be on you to spend more, so I forgot the idea of applying for such leave,” he said.

For men who use the period for away-game, divergent opinions have been advanced as responsible for such act. One of them is said to be lack of control for sex “and with the woman still “wet” (not too sex-compliant physiologically), a man with high libido can look out, since he has time to waste. But I still see it as an irresponsible act. They should stay at home and bond with the family even if they are not helping in house chores” Layi, a contributor said.

He added that such men must have been engaging in the illicit act before their wives are delivered of babies, “because you don’t go out in

just two weeks to have girlfriends if you are not into it before, because you have a new baby.”

Mr Jimoh Bashir, a young father of three who owns a cybercafé near the University of Lagos, has a different opinion, saying it is not a man’s responsibility to look after little children.

“To me, it is odd,” he said. “Usually, when a new baby is born, the mother needs to take some time off work to look after the baby. Most times, the woman’s mother or the man’s mother comes to help. The man doesn’t have to be there. He needs to go out and look for money. So, you see, that is even the time he needs to work more, because he now has more responsibilities. That is why I don’t like government work. They don’t do any work there. If they really have things that they do at the office, they would not be going for paternity leave.”

But it is known that given the peculiar condition of living and working in Lagos, it is decidedly difficult for parents (especially fathers) to spend adequate time with their families. Considered in this manner, isn’t paternal leave, after all, a welcome development? Matthew Ighalo, a marriage counsellor, disagrees: “What every family needs is continuous bonding, not occasional bonding,” he said. “If the reason is for family bonding, then it should be more regular. To have to wait until a child is born before a father can spend quality time with his family isn’t very encouraging. I have talked about off-days. Give parents a day off each week. If he is a father, he can use the day to take his children to school, bring them back, or even visit them during break. Let it continue regularly throughout the man’s career.”

LASU’s boycott Perhaps if there is a place in Lagos where paternal leave has not proved to be popular, it is the Lagos State University (LASU) – particularly among members of the academic staff. Speaking via telephone, Thursday morning, a lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, who did not wish to be named said it was “almost insulting” to ask academics to

A man told me that when his friend got the leave earlier this year, his wife practically converted him to a houseboy.

Every time he didn’t help to wash the baby or wash the clothes, the woman would keep shouting at him and reminding him that the leave was for the baby and nothing else. The man has sworn he would not take the leave a second time.

go home and look after their babies.

“To begin with, it is foreign to our culture,” he said. “Traditionally, it is not the responsibility of a man to wash the baby’s nappies. That is not to fail to be appreciative of the government’s gesture.

But it shouldn’t come to anyone as a surprise that many lecturers would prefer to sit in their offices or stand before their students, doing the serious business of scholarship, even while on the socalled leave. Academics don’t take a break. That’s why you hear us talk about study leaves and sabbatical; because whenever we need to leave our stations, it is to advance our skills, to broaden our scope, to add to scholarship.”

It is perhaps in response to this attitude that the management of LASU, in a September 2015 bulletin, decided to “remind” male members of the university staff of the “existing” law.

Parts of the bulletin read: “The university authority hereby reminds members of staff (male) of the existing Lagos State Maternity and Paternity Leave approved for employees in the state’s civil service.

“It would be recalled that the university authority at its meeting on September 8, 2014, considered and approved the implementation of the new Lagos State maternity and paternity leave for officials in the state’s public service.

“In addition, for deliveries that fall on weekends, the application should be forwarded to the establishment on the first day of work. Please note that paternity leave is for the first 10 days in relation to and at the time of the first two deliveries of a male staff’s spouse.”

Gender issues A number of others who spoke with Saturday Tribune during the week described the whole idea as mischievous, at best, alleging it was created to cause confusion at home.

“A man told me that when his friend got the leave earlier this year, his wife practically converted him to a houseboy,” Mr Tunde Balogun who works at bank told Saturday Tribune on Thursday. “Every time he didn’t help to wash the baby or wash the clothes, the woman would keep shouting at him and reminding him that the leave was for the baby and nothing else. The man has sworn he would not take the leave a second time.”

According to human rights activist and President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, the Federal Government and states of the federation need to emulate Lagos

State by giving paternity leave so that fathers could provide adequate family bonding and involvement in child care activities.

“The father also needs the leave to stay with his family and give them the necessary attention,” she said.

Speaking with Saturday Tribune, a staff member of the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Akin (surname withheld), pointed out that the paternity leave, though a welcome development, is just an avenue for men to rest.

“I seriously would not apply for paternity leave when my wife gives birth. The truth is that the man is the breadwinner of the family. It looks somehow when the husband and wife stay at home all in the name of paternity and maternity leave. Someone has to be out there to ensure that there is money in the house.

“Even if I am forced to apply for paternity leave I use the period to get much needed rest. I would help my wife around the house and also use the avenue to importantly rest,” he said.

Also speaking on the issue, a housewife, Mrs Ijewere Agnes, said that her husband took a few days after the birth of their second child.

“He was quite helpful around the house. About drinking and womanizing I believe it is only an irresponsible man that would do that. My husband got seven days paid leave and he works with a private firm. I was touched because he really helped me in doing so many that needed to be done around the house.”

As if to further compound the matter, the paternity leave appears to have brought to the fore yet another fundamental issue – that of the true ownership of the child. Does a child belong to the mother or to the father or to both? If a mother gets six months to look after her baby, and a father gets only two weeks, does it make one parent more responsible for the baby than the other?

A Twitter user, Demola Balogun (@CallMeBenfigo) captures the confusion of paternity leave beautifully in a tweet posted on the 2nd of August, 2016.

“In Lagos, maternity leave is 6 months; paternity leave is 2 weeks. Say no to gender inequality.”

Paternity leave may lead to another pregnancy –CMD The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Dr Richard Adebayo, in reacting to the psychological desirability of paternity leave acknowledged the importance of father/child bonding during early childbirth and nursing.

He said, however, that bonding can be achieved without paternity leave.

According to him, paternity leave might add extra responsibility on the mother as well as lead to unplanned and early pregnancy.

He said: “Bonding between father and child and husband and wife is significant. Fathers can achieve bonding through spending quality time with their children.

“I don’t believe, however, that bonding can only be achieved with paternity leave, pinning a man in the house for months is not to not the way to go about it. Otherwise we have to look at the possible effects of this: “It is possible that before the leave is over that the woman will be pregnant again.

“While the mother needs to be with the child constantly, the father does not have such necessity.

“The call for the increase of maternity leave to six months is because of exclusive breastfeeding, but if the same opportunity is afforded fathers it might lead to accidental discharge; it will also create additional responsibility for the mother as she will not only be taking care of the child, but also the man,” Dr Adebayo said.

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Eko Akete

Ambode’s lost battle THE administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos State seems to have lost the war against street trading, despite the numerous threats against street traders.

Investigations by Eko Akete revealed that street traders are now brazen in their manner of approach as they couldn’t care less about law enforcement agents.

Eko Akete observed that street traders have doubled in number on major roads like Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Awolowo Way and even on the Third Mainland Bridge, where they take advantage of the traffic jams that seem to be increasing on a daily basis.

Speaking with Eko Akete, a street trader who identified himself as John pointed out that without selling bottled water and drinks, his wife and children would starve.

“I have bills to pay and the menial job I do as a night security is not enough to sustain me,” he said, adding that he was not afraid of security agents because he had developed a close rapport with some of them.

“Some of these KAI people know that the economy is hard so they just let us be sometimes.

They even warn us when their top ogas are coming,” he said.

John may be telling the truth considering the number of KAI officials that have been caught in the act; helping street traders to make nonsense of government’s threat and the threat the hawkers pose to the image of the mega city in the head of those building it. Without doubt, those acts haven’t been one of benevolence. Has the early return of these defiants made nonsense of all of Egbeyemi’s tough talking?

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How fortune of Lagos, other seaports dipped In 2006, Nigerian seaports were concessioned to private investors, an action that lifted the fortune of the ports.

However, numerous factors within and outside the country have seen a decline in the fortune of the ports in recent times, writes TOLA ADENUBI.

T

HE World Bank’s 2016 Ease of Doing Business Report ranks Nigeria 169 out of 189 countries. One of the indicators, Trading across Borders, which measures port effectiveness, ranks Nigeria 182 out of 185 countries. The efficiency of port operations is a major driver of trade and economic activities across countries. This emphasizes the need for port reforms in Nigeria, which currently adopts a management model where the port authority acts as the landlord as well as the regulatory body for port operators.

Seaports pre-recession With the concession of ports, Nigeria’s busiest seaport, the Apapa port, witnessed an upsurge in cargo, amassing a total of 1,020,240 tonnes of cargo in 2010. In 2011, the figure increased to 1,268,758. In 2012, the figure kept increasing, this time around amassing 1,368,000 tonnes.

Also in 2013, cargo throughput at the Apapa port went up to 1,396,057 tonnes of cargoes.

In 2014, just before recession and subsequent cargo diversions crept in, Apapa port saw the highest tonnage of cargoes, recording a whopping 1,551,540 tonnes.

Within a span of eight years, after the ports’ concession, terminal operators had acquired a total of 1,204 modern cargo handling equipment which was unprecedented in the nation’s maritime sector.

Across the nation’s seaports, which include Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port, Delta Port, Warri Port; Calabar Port, Rivers Port and Onne Port, both in Rivers State. Operators at the Lagos Port Complex acquired 578 cargo handling equipment, those at Tin Can Island Port acquired 383, Intels and Julius Berger, both operators of Delta Port, acquired 50 and 53 equipment, respectively, making a total of 103, while Calabar Port operators collectively acquired a total of 60 cargo handling equipment.

At Rivers Port, 48 cargo handling equipment were acquired, while the Onne Port acquired 32 equipment made up of 16 each at the Federal Ocean Terminal and Federal Lighter Terminal.

Aside from the increase in acquisition of equipment at the seaports, the ports concession saw to a reduction in the number of days vessels spend at the ports.

As against an average vessel waiting time of about 30 days before port concession, terminals such as APM, Ecomarine, PTML and Intels Calabar have successfully eliminated vessel waiting time to zero while ABTL has 28 days and ENL 14 days as against an average general cargo vessel waiting time of about 45 days prior to concession.

In the area of employment and job engagement, terminal operators were also successful in streamlining stevedore companies, establishing an acceptable manning scale to ensure high productivity, applying direct interview selection, employing dock labours with the joint effort of stevedore contractors under the supervision of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), eliminating zoning and permanent berth ownership by dock labours, improving salary structure, other welfare packages and capacity building.

Seaport post-recession By the close of 2014, the falling crude oil price on the international scene and the introduction of the auto policy brought about a decline in the fortunes of Nigeria’s seaports. Many of the terminal

operators were forced to declare redundancy due to the economic woes and this reflected by way of drop in cargo throughput at the nation’s busiest ports as tonnage fell from 1,551,540 tonnes in 2014 to 1,317,212 in 2015.

Cargo diversion The auto policy brought about the first wave of cargo diversion witnessed at the seaports. The policy, which was introduced to enhance the prospect of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), brought about new levies on new and used vehicles at the nation’s seaports to discourage vehicle importation.

However, instead of reducing the importation of vehicles into the country, the policy led to an increase in the number of cargoes diverted to neighbouring countries on the West African plain, notably Lome and Cotonou ports. These vehicles were then smuggled into the country via its porous land borders.

Another reason importers abandoned the Nigerian seaports was the increase in the number of government agencies at the ports.

With recession biting harder, agencies of government looked

for means to shore up the revenue base of the Federal Government.

This led to many of them turning to the ports, thereby making Nigeria’s seaports the most expensive in Africa. “At a point, to clear a consignment, 88 signatures of different officials of government agencies were needed,” Fred Awadia, an importer, lamented.

Diversion of cargoes meant for Nigerian ports to neighbouring West African ports has constituted the major reason for the steady decline of cargoes at the nation’s seaports. Importers and shippers alike have decided to take their cargoes away from the seaports for reasons ranging from excessive charges and levies paid at the seaports and CBN forex restriction on 41 items to duplication of duties by government agencies, lack of effective intermodal means of transporting goods out of the ports and porous borders.

Massive job loss With barely anything to do at the nation’s seaports due to the incessant diversion of cargoes to neighbouring ports, many of the hitherto thriving terminal operators were forced to declare redundancy due to inability to meet up

A Reporter’s Diary

with their overhead cost.

The terminal operators were forced to hold a series of meetings with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to avert any labour confrontation over the incessant layoff of many of their workers.

From APM Terminal, Ports and Terminal Multi-services Ltd and a host of others in Lagos to Intels, operator of the Warri port in the eastern ports, many workers were forced to leave their jobs as the operators could not continue paying salaries without doing anything.

The dilemma Nigerian ports are faced with lingering challenges and bottlenecks ranging from infrastructure shortcomings and policy and regulatory inconsistencies to overlapping functions and duplication of roles among the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The biggest concerns of port users include numerous agencies whose functions overlap and, in some cases, are effectively the same.

This duplicity occurs even among major port regulators where, for instance, half of them carry out inspections on imported and exported goods. These inspections take, on the average, five hours to complete compared to a global average of 20 minutes.

Many port users say the policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria that effectively bans importers of merchandise on a 41-item list from accessing foreign exchange in the interbank market is impacting import volumes negatively. Regulators are also faced with obsolete and deteriorating infrastructure which slow down their operations and limit their ability to enforce regulation. One of the biggest complaints of the business community is the protracted procedures involved in clearing goods at the ports. For instance, the issuance of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) by Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) – designed to take less than six hours now takes over a week in most cases. The issuance precedes other cargo clearance procedures and hence constitutes a major drag in the clearance procedure.

The state of infrastructure surrounding the ports constitutes a significant drag in port operations.

The deplorable state of roads, the lagging water transport system and inadequate rail system have combined to make the evacuation of cargoes from the Lagos port an unbearable task.

Encounter with oga’s friend Naza Okoli PEOPLE don’t like reporters very much. Or, at least, it seems so, sometimes. Nothing gives them more satisfaction than to heap a heavy dose of vitriol on a reporter and then watch them cower and run, like a frightened cat.

But they are not always that blatantly abusive. A good many of them are actually gracious enough to find more subtle ways of achieving the same result, of putting a reporter in his place, of bringing him in line, of telling him he is not as important as he thinks he is.

“So you’re from Tribune?” It was a rich voice, the

voice of a man accustomed to being venerated. Tall, slim and imposing, he was a member of the management team of the organisation that had just addressed a press conference “Yes, sir.”

“How’s Dickson?”

“You mean our MD, sir?”

“Yes, Dickson. He’s a good friend of mine. Tell him you met me. What about Debo, Olagunju and Sina?

“Our Editors?”

“Yes, your editors. They are all my friends. Tell them you met me.”

As he spoke, he smiled a wan smile devoid of all warmth. A young woman who appeared to be his

assistant, meanwhile, stood patiently behind him, bearing his bags and phones.

He seemed a bit restless, or distracted. He rarely maintained eye contact: he had a most remarkable way of keeping his gaze on (or above) his listener’s head, whenever he talked. It was as if he had just realised what a big mistake he had made in the first place by deigning to talk to you.

And to think the idea was to give this man a complimentary card – this man who knew everybody!

What would he do with a reporter’s card? And so, quietly – very quietly – the card was slipped back into the pocket. A final exchange of mirthless smiles, and the brief meeting was over, thankfully.

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propels her colleagues to align and this is oftentimes interpreted wrongly. Our team is predominantly female as we have more qualified female PR professionals whenever we put out a job advert. Recently, during our completion of the five finalists four were female.

Continued from pg9

Growing up grew up in a Christian home. My dad was a deacon and he later became an elder. My mother too rose from deaconess to an elder. Our home was always opened to a lot of Pastors, Reverends and Bishops right from the eighties. All the International speakers that came to our church to minister always stayed in our house. It was a Christian background, we were always going to church. My dad was an entrepreneur. He had his own electrical shop, he was into light fittings, timber merchant and so many things at a time. I think I got my business acumen from him.

I

Working in a male dominated field I don’t necessarily agree that any field is male dominated. First and foremost we are all humans before male or female, so, I see no barriers or limitations in any male dominated field or profession. Once you are passionate and talented, you can thrive in any field you find yourself. Maybe at some point there were more males in the industry but right now, even from the last competition we did, most of the eligible candidates were female. Of the five finalists, four were female. The PR industry is a creative industry as such everyone can be a part of it. We are a top PR agency one of the pioneer firms in Nigeria for about 15 years, founded by a woman and still relevant and faring well in the industry on the corporate and the agency sides. I must say that fate also played its role. However, I have been able to stand at par with my counterparts and achieve great feats. I believe women thrive better in a creative field, so we should step out and take the bull by the horn and take up management role and show people our capacity and what we can do.

The road to success When I hear pay the price, I kind of feel it is sexist because a lot of time, men are not asked the price they paid, they are just told well done for getting to this point. For me, I feel it is really just passion and balancing your perspectives very well or what you want out of life. If you are hardworking, focused and committed on what you want to do, you don’t have to give up on anything.

In all front, I am happy, I am married, I have children and I am doing a job that I want. And once you have a good family support system. you will be able to do what you have to do. The only thing, which I believe is the same for all gender is that be focused, engage in self-development and always seek to learn and gain knowledge is always a win-win. I know it is not easy for women when they are married and they have children, yet at some points you have to make some sacrifices but it is for a number of years, if you are still consistent and building yourself and you go the extra mile, you will surely get to the top.

What distinguishes Sesema from other PR agencies Sesema PR is constantly evolving communications campaigns that focus on positioning our clients head and shoulders above the rest. Our commitment to values such as timely service, quality standards, delivery on promise, all round customer satisfaction, honesty and integrity has been the framework on which our success is hinged.

Most defining moment of my career so far There are several highlights, Sesema has constantly groomed top, excellent PR minds that are hunted by big brands. See-

Saturday Tribune

Why I am passionate about mentoring and youth empowerment At Sesema PR, we are constantly seeking ways to improve the environment in which we operate. This is evident in our level of commitment to CSR projects. Over the years we have carried out value-laden Corporate Social Responsibility projects.

Recently, we organised a corporate communications pitch competition, which is our own way of encouraging youth talents that are passionate about public relations.

Earlier on, we also introduced Emerging Entrepreneur; a project that focuses on promoting fast rising entrepreneurs who have challenged themselves to continuous growth and expansion in their businesses, thereby encouraging more youths to be entrepreneurs.

Also, I am in one of the Committees for Women In Successful Careers (WISCAR), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) founded by Amina Oyagbola. What we do is we mentor young girls. I have someone I am mentoring as well.

‘To survive recession, monetise your hobbies’ ing them go out and add value is always a big moment, mentoring and continuing to groom creative exceptional PR minds through direct employment; our competitions and forums. The responsibility of managing Sesema PR; carrying on the legacy of my late business partner and PR Amazon, Alima Atta, is a trust I don’t take lightly.

Why people think women are difficult to work with Women are generally regarded as difficult to work with but I will say this is usually misconstrued because women are highly effective, perfectionists in nature and goal oriented. A woman’s natural instinct makes her goal oriented which

I believe women thrive better in a creative field, so we should step out and take the bull by the horn and take up management role and show people our capacity and what we can do.

How I have been combining my career with the home front I had to find a balance so that my career and family life will run smoothly; it all revolves around planning and setting goals.

Progress and growth is continuous and the God factor is key. Impossible is nothing! I can’t stand it when people say you can’t do this..... I believe it’s possible to have it all with God on my side. I also have an amazing team that deliver exceptional work, this helps to reduce my stress level.

Nigerian women from Independence till date The Nigerian women have developed tremendously in the last five decades. A lot of women now manage and head top positions in various sectors, we are more vocal and have good role models internationally and locally to aspire to. From Ibukun Awosika to Mosun Belo-Olusoga and so on. Also, there is an awareness of women empowerment, gender sensitivity with lots of women centered groups, NGOs and development programs. It’s our time to take over the world!

What women as home makers can do to survive recession For a woman to survive in this recession; she must try to boost her income by monetizing her hobbies asides the regular 8-to-5 jobs and also live within her means. Cut off wastage and extras. They should develop a strict saving and budgeting routine.

Advice to young girls out there To the young girls out there; nothing is impossible. They need to constantly develop themselves and believe in their dreams.

You are enough! Self doubt and low self esteem hinders anyone from stepping up and stepping out. They need to surround themselves with people who will support them, encourage them to keep going. They must be prepared to work harder than they ever thought possible but always remember what inspired them in the first place.

Have a can do spirit and positive attitude, seek out a mentor and you will realise that the sky is not the limit but the beginning.

For budding entrepreneurs, start where you are, Start small and grow big, be consistent and don’t give up! You don’t have to sacrifice one to achieve the other.

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15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

32 feature

15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Girl-child: Zonta Int’l calls for stricter laws against early marriage, harmful practices

By Blessing Gbarada

W

HAT is it like being a girl in the 21st century?

Given the explosion in civilisation and advances in science and technology, one would imagine we should now live in a world where the girl-child is free to be who she is — a girl, a child, with ample and equal opportunities to grow, thrive, dream, explore her potentials, make an impact in her world. One would expect a world where all forms of violence, including trafficking, sexual and other types of exploitation against girls and women in the public and private spheres, have since been obliterated. It should be a world where harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriages hold no sway; a world where female genital mutilation is a savage practice of the far away past. The girl-child would be free to access education to whatever level she so desires and is empowered for full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life. A world where all forms of discrimination against all girls and women everywhere are a thing of the past.

While these may seem like noble expectations, the facts show that the 21st century girl’s reality lies in stark contrast. Each year, 15 million girls are married before the age of 18 around the globe. According to UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2016, in Nigeria, 43 per cent of girls are married off before their 18th birthday.

Although the Child Rights Act, which was passed in 2003, sets the age of marriage at 18 years old, only 23 of Nigeria’s 36 states have taken concrete steps to implement the minimum age of marriage. The implication is an end to educational attainment as parents of such girls see marriage as a viable alternative to schooling. Isolated, often with their freedom curtailed, such girls frequently feel disempowered and are deprived of their fundamental rights to education, health and safety. Although Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was outlawed in 2015 in Nigeria, we are still in gradual steps in erasing the stigma of having had the highest absolute number of cases of FGM in the world. UNICEF recently published figures that showed that girls between the ages of five and 14 spend 40 per cent more time doing unpaid housework and collecting water than boys —a trend that most usually continues into adulthood. In conflict-torn North Eastern Nigeria, the girl child is victim of abduction, trafficking, brutal death, sexual molestation, forced suicide bombing, forced and early marriage, and forms a huge percentage of the 1.4 million children displaced in the area. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, she also belongs to the 134 children estimated to die daily from malnutrition in the area.

With the grim realities the girl-child faces, in 2011, a United Nations resolution established 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC), a day designated for promoting the rights of girls and addressing the unique challenges they face. With this in mind, the theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl, Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: What Counts

Dr. Iyabo Bassir

Mrs Peju Nwagu

for Girls, focused on harnessing the data required to ensure programs, policies and services effectively respond to the specific needs of the 1.1 billion girls worldwide. As a result, all hands have been called on to be on deck to deal with these issues that have become a global threat to the girlchild.

Pioneering the drive in Nigeria is Zonta International, a global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.

Speaking on this year’s International Day of the Girl, the president, Zonta Club of Ibadan II, Dr Iyabo Bassir while reiterating the organisation’s commitment to the plight of the girl –child said, “We at Zonta International are concerned about basic issues of the girl-child like education. It is a fundamental human right but it is being denied to many children especially girls.

Nigeria has the unenviable reputation of having the highest number of out-ofschool children in the world.

“Some other limiting issues in the circumstance of the girl-child are early marriage, school dropout, limited educational opportunities, stepping down the education of the girl in favour of the boy, violence, not having a safe environment for the girl even in school. As a result of early marriage, one in four girls doesn’t complete basic education in Africa. In Zonta, we are particular about early marriage and one of our international projects presently is in addressing this issue of early marriage. In partnership with the UN, we are focussing on how to push marriage a bit further so that the girl-child can develop skills, talents, vocations and attain education.

“We are also concerned about the safety and security of the girl-child in the light of what happened in Chibok community.

Much as people may want to believe the Chibok girls issue is politicised, I believe it is a matter of our humanity and should not be treated with levity. One just has to imagine the ramifications of the issue and how far-reaching the effects are on the

child, her parents and the society at large.

Something really has to be done to restore trust in the system and we are calling on the government to do more to better the plight of the girl-child.”

While government involvement in bettering the lot of the girl-child may seem commendable, there is the call to address fundamental issues bordering on the plight of the girl child. Dr Bassir pointed out that “there is an issue with the Child Welfare Act because if we go by the definition of that Act, a girl-child is a child under the age of 14 years and yet the law provides that children under the age of 16 are supposed to be in school. So, there should be a revision of how the girl-child is defined within our own laws. In Nigeria, we have the necessary legal framework, but implementation is an issue. We need more involvement from the private sector, concerned groups, NGOs and private citizens who can act even if it’s at a limited level.

When we have a network and alliance of people working together, then more can be achieved.”

Beyond the contribution of the government is the need for cultural re-orientation as cultural inhibitions contribute to the girl-child being left vulnerable.

In a society that discriminates against a child reporting abuse by her parents, it becomes difficult for the child to expose abuse at home. Advocates however, posit that with adequate awareness, the public might be moved to see this in a new light

Nigeria has the unenviable reputation of having the highest number of out-ofschool children in the world.

as abuse, whether physical or sexual, can lead to poor self-image and poor academic performance which the girl-child should be shielded from.

As is said, charity begins at home.

Therefore the buck for the safety and protection stops with mothers. According to Mrs Peju Nwuga, President-elect of Zonta Club, Ibadan, I, “the onus of protecting the girl-child lies in the home, especially in the hands of mothers. It is imperative that they understand their children.

There are so many areas of taboo in our culture and it is believed that you can’t talk to a child about some topics, for instance, sex. But this is wrong. As a child approaches puberty, talks should begin.

Many mothers don’t communicate with their children, especially their daughters.

Sex discussions are usually in codes and abrupt; this is ridiculous and does not help the child. This is not restricted to the girl-child only; fathers should also be able to talk with their sons about sex. We need to find a way of addressing these issues in our culture.

“Because children reach puberty earlier nowadays, the sex/puberty talk should not be delayed. Today, we hear of infants also being abused. This is also the responsibility of the mother to protect her infant, especially her daughters. Mothers should not leave their children unattended; they should not leave their girls in the care of a male person —be it father, uncle, male neighbours; they should not take househelps of the opposite sex; they should also not send their girl-child to hawk as she is exposed to all sorts of danger.

“There has to be a re-orientation about the rights of the girl-child. It is unfortunate that there are no gender equality courses in our universities. In fact, it should be a compulsory course at the undergraduate level.

“We need to put a stop on traditions that are harmful to the girl-child regardless of how many generations before had practiced it. Female Genital Mutilation is one of such practices; child trafficking is another. It has even gotten to more devastating levels where the girls are not only trafficked for prostitution but for organ harvesting.”

In line with the UN’s IDGC theme for the year, it is therefore imperative that more data be gathered so the girl-child is not left behind. Dr Bassir stated, “there are glaring gaps in data and knowledge about the situation of young girls. Nobody collects data about them, except for those in school where we have enrolment data and performance data. For those that are not in school, there is no data whatsoever about them. As a result, plans cannot be made for this group of girls. The emphasis for this year is on collecting data to help us set up better plans to help the girl-child so as to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Presently, in Nigeria, we have challenges with data collection and archiving, so to meet this year’s international goal for the girl child would require thinking outside the box.

Citizens can make reports. They can carry out surveys within their environment and upload these to the internet. It is a fact that government possibly does not have enough money to do these surveys, but if individuals and groups agree, we can work together to collect these data.”

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features

15 October, 2016

Archbishop Fape in our eyes

Saturday Tribune

By Yemisi Aofolaju

Olootu Omooba Oyedele, Baba Ijo, St John’s Anglican Church, Ijoku, Sagamu; Chairman Remo Diocesan Development Committee Y relationship with him is not limited to my being a Baba Ijo, it transcends this. I have been part of the development of the diocese. I am presently the Chairman of the Diocesan Development Committee. I am also a member of the diocesan board and a member of the synod. I appreciate the good works he is doing and any progressive Anglican in Remo Diocese must associate with him and give him encouragement to do more of the good works. Remo being the seat of the Archbishop, instead of Lagos is the Lord’s doing. This is not just for him, it is for Remo and indeed for Ogun State.

Initially, we were apprehensive that he would be translated to Lagos. We are quite happy about this.

The bishop is very proactive. It is just appearing that he has been planning for this because if you look at our Bishop’s Court today, it is as good as an archbishop’s palace. We are very happy about this and it is a confirmation of God’s plan, not just for him but for Remo Diocese (Anglican Communion).

If what our Lord Bishop and Archbishop has done and still doing during the short time in Remo Diocese is anything to go by, I can assure you that Lagos Province should expect unprecedented development in the next four/five years.

I wish His Grace, all those things he wish himself. I pray that God’s grace will continue to abound in his life; his anointing will never decrease and the Lord will give him the strength and good health to continue the good works he is doing not just in Remo Division, Lagos Province but in the Anglican Communion of the Church of Nigeria.

M

Prince E.A Adesanya, Diocesan Treasurer My relationship with the Bishop as the Treasurer of Remo Diocese is cordial as we are jointly in charge of the financial management of the Remo Diocese. We are also co-signatories to all the bank accounts of the diocese. We both have trust in each other, hence, the smooth running of the financial affairs of the Diocese in the past 12years since he assumed that position. I am sure with his new office that he will build on the achievements of his predecessor and strife high to make his tenure a successful one.

It is our wish and prayer that his tenure will bring more development to Lagos Ecclesiastical Diocese generally and Remo Diocese in particular. .

Olootu Oyedele

Prince Adesanya

Most Rev M. O. Fape

Otunba Adesina

Ven Adegbuyi Venerable Emmanuel Adetayo Adegbuyi, Dean Cathedral To the glory of God, Archbishop Fape is my father in the Lord. He is also my mentor, Bishop and Archbishop. I knew him years back when I was at Emmanuel College of Theology in 1997. I was a member of the team that welcomed him back to the college as one of our lecturers. Since then, I have been in close contact with him as academician, theologian and child of God. He is simplehearted and hospitable. I admire his acumen as an author and an evangelist. As the Bishop of Remo Diocese, he has developed the diocese spiritually and financially.

He has lifted the diocese to an enviable position to the extent that we can boast that the tomorrow of this diocese is bright. The diocese has table water factory known as ‘Trinity’, a private primary school YOAS which has metamorphosed into secondary school. Our secondary school REMAC, at Isara among others have helped in stabilising the finance of the diocese.

Ven Fadugba In the area of evangelism, he has planted so many churches because church planting has been our watchword in the Diocese of Remo. With all these put together, I have no doubt that his tenure as the Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province will be better.

The relocation to Remo is of great value to us. We are proud that today Remo that has been the seat of an Archdeacon has become not only a seat of the bishop but the palace of Archbishop. Lagos Province which is the first in Nigeria had always been the hotbed of evangelism and I am not expecting anything less but an increase.

I pray for him that the sky will not be his limit. I pray for longevity and good health for him and Mama Lagos.

Otunba Adeshina Adeleke, President High Society of Fellows Bishop Fape is an extraordinary person not only as a bishop, but as a Nigerian. The first time I met him about 12 years ago was when he became the Bishop of Diocese of Remo. He at that time as a young man preached the gospel of Remo which means he was relating with Christians in all the nooks and crannies Remo and this me made me to believe in him; that he would do wonders and he has been doing so. No wonder that he became the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). He is a wonderful family man. I could recollect when he had problem with a classmate, an elderly professor at the college. He told me a few things that the other man did to him. He resolved to meet the man who was trying to avoid

him as I tried to arrange a meeting for them to settle the issue. The Bishop said to me “Otunba, don’t worry, I am going to visit him to settle the matter on my own’’. He did this. It was a wonderful thing.

Some people would have preferred that others mediate. It amazed me that a young man of his calibre and position could go to apologise to an elderly man. He has united Remo Anglican churches and has built several churches within the short period he came to Remo. I believe he will go places. One day, he can be made the Primate, why not? He is a young man. I advise him that he should not change his ways of life, this is all he needs because he is acceptable everywhere, whatever he wants to do, he gets it done.

Venerable David Iyiola Fadugba, Administrative Assistant to the Archbishop Since my days as a student in Immanuel College of Theology, Samonda, Ibadan, where my path crossed with the Archbishop, then as our teacher of Pastoral Theology, he had endeared himself to many of us. When he became Bishop, we eagerly expected a paradigm shift from the old order. I was therefore elated when he invited me to join his team in 2005. His disposition had always been seeing us all as his brothers. We always look forward to our monthly management meetings with him in his office because of his very firm but pleasant way of directing proceedings.

When he came to Remo, he pursued peace and unity. He vigorously pursued financial sustainability of the Diocese not leaving the proclamation of the word of salvation. Being his Administrative Assistant and Clerical Sec-

retary since November 2006 till date has been a challenge. As a very open person, he can take you into confidence on any issue because he has no skeleton to hide.

I learnt and ‘unlearned’ so many things which positively enhanced my personality. Some of us have declared privately and publicly severally that we are proud of being his ‘boys’.

As he leads the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province of the Church of Nigeria and with his academic and spiritual attainments, I look forward to a further shift from the old bloc. By the shift, I mean showing through speech and action that positive influence, good example and living the Word which the Bible describes as the hallmark of a true shepherd. As Kenneth Blanchard said, “The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority”.

The Archbishop will exercise great influence in the discharge of his duties that is, living and leading by example.

The way the Church of Nigeria administration is structured is not really about ‘the seat or capital as it operates in the political administrative structure, it is about the personality of whoever is chosen to lead. While Remo Diocese has little roles to play, the Archbishop is vested with the responsibilities of leading the Province. It is not the location of the Diocese of the Archbishop, but what he brings to the office.

Going by his track record since he became the Bishop of the Diocese, and how he moved the Diocese to achieve so much in spiritual development, in church growth and infrastructural development, there is no doubt that both Remo and the Province will leap forward under Most Reverend Fape’s leadership.

34 interview

15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

‘It will be wrong to say all judges are corrupt’ Do you suspect any conspiracy theories around this issue?

The issue is that I am a lawyer; I don’t speculate. I speak on the facts before me. For instance, if the allegations levelled against these judges are found to be true, no reasonable person will stand on the way of their prosecution.

But you cannot be using corruption or illegality to fight corruption. If we have all agreed that we are to be governed by the constitution and extant laws thereto, we must abide by them. That is where I part ways with the administration of Buhari. I agree that we have a problem on our hands and that it is a drastic problem and we need a drastic solution and we have provided for him an escape route. Go to the National Assembly, let them get two-third from the state Houses of Assembly – fortunately, his party is controlling most of these Houses of Assembly – suspend the rule of law for one year. That will enable us to clear the table, pick anybody. But you have refused to do that. You will still be hampered by the provisions of the constitution which you have sworn to uphold anyway. You knew you were coming to govern under that constitution, so you should be able to navigate your way through and that is what we are saying.

The NBA’s stand is zero tolerance for corruption. We have always emphasised that and members of the NBA have reported some of these judges in the past. We have said, ‘spread the dragnet to cover the spouses and relations of these judges’. A judge who owns a house in Ikoyi or Asokoro is a rogue. How does he come about it? Not to talk of Dubai or South Africa. The lifestyles of some of the judges are enough for security agencies to go after them but if this sting operation had been carried out by the EFCC or ICPC or the police, it would have been different. The DSS wanted to claim the credit and now it has backfired. Even after finding out that the alleged monies are being kept by the suspects, what stopped them from calling the EFCC, ICPC or the Police through the SFU? Nigerians are now aware that DSS is even an illegal body. We have always stressed this, even at our various seminars, that the DSS is not recognised under the statues.

Continued from pg15

legal body that also embarked on wrong procedures. So, two things are involved here. In other words, the foundation of the action itself is faulty. Assuming without conceding they took the position of SSS, that they have assumed the nomenclature of SSS, look at the provisions, powers and duties of SSS. The DSS is empowered to embark on such raid...

They are not. You want me to read that section to you.

CAP 74 Laws of the Federation 1986 and Section 2 Subsection 3 establishes State Security Service and it says ‘shall be charged with responsibilities of the prevention and detection of any crime against internal security of Nigeria’. Two, protection and preservation of all known military classified matters. Three, such responsibilities affecting internal security within Nigeria as the National Assembly or President may deem necessary. There is nothing empowering SSS, assuming even if it is the DSS, to investigate corruption, and the National Assembly and Mr President have not prescribed any mode for them, apart from the fact that the body itself does not exist.

What if it turns out that the president sent them?

The president cannot even do it without the consent of the National Assembly.

How do you want the president to tackle corruption when you say it is assuming an alarming rate and at the same time you condemn the raid on judges?

I have made the suggestion. I have been very consistent about this. I delivered the alumni lecture in 2009, at the University of Ibadan. In my paper, which was widely circulated, even at the International Conference Centre, where the then chairmen of EFCC and ICPC were present.

In fact, the title of my paper was ‘Corruption and Rule of Law in Nigeria’. I advocated a holistic approach. It is not rocket science to fight corruption and I said let us adopt the Singaporean method. I conceded that most of the suggestions I made were not originally mine; they were imported from Singapore. We were in Singapore as members of the Nigerian delegate to the IBA and the Prime Minister met us and gave us graphic details of how they had been able to tackle corruption to the extent that when government officials were caught, they committed suicide even before law enforcement agents got to them.

To tackle corruption, one, identify the fact that you have a problem on your hand. Two, make sure that people earn their living because what is happening in Nigeria is that people have been receiving their living. There is no genuine billionaire in Nigeria. Every billionaire in Nigeria has, at one time or the other, exploited the system. You cannot be operating this system and avoid corruption.

I said look at Nigerian elites, are we paying taxes that we should pay? Most public officers declare what they don’t have.

No problem. If anybody declares that he has three trillion naira assets, ask him to produce his tax clearance certificate for the last three years. They know the implication; that most of our public officers will go to jail. When I advocated that at the national confab, somebody stood up and said I wanted to put all the Nigerian elites in jail.

If your tax clearance certificate is not reflective of what you claimed you have, you go to jail. In the western world, it is a very serious offence. If you commit murder, it is not as serious as you avoid to pay your tax and I said let us use tax system to checkmate corruption.

In fact, when this administration came on board, it was the first paper I gave to them. They don’t know that some of us have been working behind the scene but the influence peddlers who now want to be heard, who have decided to be the friends of the government or the president, were nowhere to be found when we were in the trenches doing all these things.

Professor Itse Sagay is your colleague and he is defending the raid on judges…

I don’t want to comment on Professor Sagay because he taught me in the university. I don’t speak ill of my teacher; I respect him so much. In fact, many of us have been avoiding talking about it because one, we are practising; we are in court every day. We talk about what ought to be and we don’t generalise. It will be wrong of you to say that the problem of Nigeria was caused by Nigerian journalists.

That will be fallacy of hasty generalisation. I don’t want to fall into that. He taught me. I respect him, and it will end there. Most of us the students have refrained from talking about him. And of course, he is serving a government committee so, we don’t expect anything. So, I don’t want to comment on it because if we are to subject what he said to empirical analysis, we will be seen to be rude to our teacher, which is not good enough.

We need to go the Singaporean way and the Chinese way: anybody who is caught and found guilty of corruption should be killed. I have said this before. The people who are robbing us blind in Nigeria are not up to 5,000. We can afford to get rid of them.

One of your colleagues, Femi Falana (SAN), blamed the judiciary and NJC for the rot in the judiciary…

Femi was right. For instance, when I raised the alarm in March, it was meant to galvanize us into action but we treated it by setting up a committee and it ended there. Maybe if we had taken proactive steps, we would not have found ourselves in this state of quagmire. Yes, Femi was right. We saw it coming. We knew the implication of dancing to public opinion over a legal issue. The principle of law is that let justice be done according to the law of the land, even if the heavens will fall. But the Nigerian judiciary started moving away from the position of the law to dance to public sentiments.

Again, the NBA itself, I concede, has not done enough to sanitise the system.

It is not that we don’t know these despicable characters but it will be wrong to generalise that all judges are corrupt.

We have over 1,500 judges across the country. The people involved in this are not up to 30 and somebody will be grandstanding that in the judiciary they are all corrupt and if you ask them to name one, they cannot. That is where the problem lies.

I agree that Femi Falana was right that we have left those things that we should be doing. To that extent, I concede that both the Bar and the Bench have not been doing enough and don’t forget that the judiciary, through the NJC, can only recommend; the final decision over any judicial officer still rests with the governor or the president. We have seen situations in this country where the NJC recommended the dismissal of some judges and governors refused to implement such recommendations. The NJC is not the appointing authority, it is a recommending authority. In other words, the president or the governor reserves the right to accept the recommendation or to reject it. People must know the fact that the NJC and the judiciary are operating within the ambits of the laws of the land.

Your complaint really is about the procedures they adopted. How do you see the development affecting morale in the judiciary?

As a matter of fact, that is one challenge that we have to confront as members of the Bar. Judges are demoralised across the country because they have been convicted by public opinion. An average judge now is not encouraged to their duty.

You will recall that one judge was sanctioned for exercising his discretion in Abuja. Up to today, the judge is yet to regain his composure. That is the danger of the action of the DSS to us. Reports reaching me from across the country indicate that about 12 judges have said enough of this disgrace; they are turning in their papers.

I repeat: to fight corruption in Nigeria, we don’t need this glove we are applying now. There is the need for us to jettison the rule of law and whatever. The United States of America sidetracks the rule of law in the fight against terrorism. And in the paper he presented at one of our sessions, the World Bank representative said ‘corruption is deadlier than terrorism’, because corruption itself breeds terrorism, militancy, kidnapping, all sorts of evils. So, if we see corruption as being deadlier than terrorism, we will appreciate the point I am making; that we need to go the Singaporean way and the Chinese way: anybody who is caught and found guilty of corruption should be killed. I have said this before. The people who are robbing us blind in Nigeria are not up to 5,000. We can afford to get rid of them.

Can the government help itself at this stage as far as the issue of procedure is concerned?

Of course, they have made a mistake but they can retrace their step and apologise to the legal profession and do the needful.

What is the needful?

The needful is to ensure that DSS is properly established since it is an illegal body. Two, adopt one or two of the suggestions I have made. Find a way of treating the issue of corruption as much more serious than all these media hypes. Address the issue of the structure of the country because over centralization itself breeds corruption. Nigeria itself is too centralized as a nation. Allow Judicial Service Commission of every State to discipline the judges within its jurisdiction. The idea of having one body in Abuja to discipline the judges across the country, in other words, NJC itself is an aberration in the federal set up. The NJC must share its disciplinary powers to the State Judicial Service Commission. People will talk about the abuse of it by the governors. If we have the JSC as it is today that the president cannot control members of the NJC because of the calibre of people there, so, the governors too should be made to do the same if you have seasoned people there who cannot be pushed around.

35 feature

15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Captain Thomas Isidore Noel Sankara: This tribute is 29 years late

By Professor Bolaji Akinyemi

T

he ancient Greeks resolved the conundrum of death when Perseus answered boldly: ‘Better to die in the flower of youth, on the chance of winning a noble name, than to live at ease like the sheep, and die unloved and unrenowned.’ (Charles Kingsley: HEROES).

My own people, the Yoruba, have a similar attitude when they say: “O san k’a ku ni kekere, ju k’a d’agba, k’a d’a rugbo k’a ma ri adiye irana”(Better to die young and be celebrated than to die at a grand old age and lack recognition.) Remember Lt. Colonel Francis Fajuyi.

Yes, Captain Sankara died at the age of 38 on October 15, 1987. And yet in a book called NATIONALISTE published in October 2012

by Livres Groupe, Thomas Sankara is included, along with Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumunba while the names of Presidents For life and other pretenders are missing.

President Thomas Sankara still occupies a special place in my heart for three reasons.

Firstly, he was the ureka spark for the Technical Aid Corps scheme. Secondly, he was indirectly responsible for my first and only meeting with the irrespresible and unforgettable Fela. Yes, the same Fela. Thirdly, he occupies the high table in my own pantheon of African Heroes along such figures as Kings of Ancient Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, Songhay, Patrice Lumumba, Amical Cabral, Kwame Nkrumah, Samora Marchel etc But first the beginning. I had planned to spend my first Christmas as a Minister with my family. Around 2am on December 24, my phone rang and it was from our Ambassador in a neighbouring country alerting me that there were rumours that a boundary war had broken out between Mali and Bourkina-Faso.

There was nothing I could do at that hour as we did not have, at that time, a situation room in Dodan Barracks to call. I thought I would brief President Babangida in the morning. At 7am the following morning, the security phone rang and President Babangida was at the end of the line wanting to know what I was still doing in Nigeria when my Libyan counterpart was already shuttling between Mali and Burkina Faso. I replied that I had not secured permission to travel (a playful cheeky reply). By the end of the day, we were airborne for a five day shuttle between Mali and Burkina-Faso.

That would be the first time that I would meet Sankara. This is not the place for the full story of that mediation effort. But three take aways from that trip. The first was the professionalism of our airforce pilots. One day, we had done four or five roundtrips between both capitals and had planned to spend the night in Burkina Faso.

But President Sankara made an offer which I had to convey to General Moussa Traore that very night and bring back a reply to Captain Sankara. By this time, it was past midnight. I turned to the airforce officers and asked if we had exceeded their daily flying hours. They replied “Sir, just tell us where you want to go and we’ll fly you in there and put you on the ground.” We flew into Mali, the airport lights were switched on, we drove to the Presidential Palace where the President was waiting in full General’s combat dress. I delivered the message. He stared at me for sometime and asked me for my views on the proposal.

This was tricky because he could react to my interpretation rather than the message itself.

But in discussion during the flight, my officers and I had thought of the possibility. So after a decent diplomatic hesitation to give the impression that I was thinking about it, I said I thought it was a win-win offer. He agreed but wanted an innocuous rephrasing of two sentences. He wanted a reply by 10am. I told him his airport was shut down for the night.

He replied “no, it is waiting for you to fly out.”

I asked for an extension to 12noon for a reply.

He agreed. He walked our delegation to the door and as He shook my hand, he bent over and whispered in English, with a heavily French accent “No Victor, No vanquished”. Both of us burst out in peals of laughter to the consternation of our officers (his and mine) who did not know what he had whispered in my ears.

When we got to the airport, it was a perfect take off and a perfect landing at the other end.

Close to 15 hrs of going to and fro. What brilliant airforce guys. The best and the brightest.

The second take away was hilarious. On one occasion, we got to the Bourkina Faso airport for urgent take off only for us to be told that the airport was closed down and the runway lights switched off. On further prodding, we were told that they were expecting an august visitor whose identity they would not reveal.

But we were told that we could take off after the arrival of the anonymous august visitor. And so we waited in the V.I.P. lounge which is used for both arrival and departure of V.I.Ps. After a while, there was a flurry of activities and in marched in Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings, President of Ghana, in his customary flight suit. I knew him and of course he recognized me but there was no exchange of formalities. Then we were allowed to take off. The irony in all of that episode was that if I had been allowed to take off when I was ready, I would not have been any wiser about the visit of Jerry Rawlings.

The third take away was my meeting with the Libyan Foreign Minister when I landed in Burkina Faso. He told me that he was under instruction to cooperate with me and that he wanted us to jointly sponsor the Nigerian proposal which was what we did.

I bonded with President Sankara and I found him very simple, very direct and very appreciative of Nigerian leadership. Incidentally, President Houephuet-Boigny of Cote D’Ivoire shared the same view but wanted Nigeria to be more patient in its dealings with the Francophonie African countries. He was so certain that France would withdraw from Africa as she faced increasing financial burden at home.

More about this but not here and not now.

Sankara had a strategic vision of African unity that was devoid of egoism or parochialism. When IBB came in, in 1985, Nigeria was occupying the Chairmanship of ECOWAS. But the Francophone West African countries had practically lost interest in attending the ECOWAS summit. Therefore one of the objectives of the 1986 planned summit was to reenergize their interest. On the advice of President Eyadema of Togo, we headed for Cote D’ivoire to consult President Houephouet-Boigny. He promised to attend in the company of all the Francophone West African leaders. But he laid down one comdition. By rotation, President Thomas Sankara was due to be elected Chairman of ECOWAS at the 1986 summit.

Houphouet-Boigny insisted that this would not be acceptable. Instead, he suggested that

Nigeria should be prepared to accept a second term, and he would be prepared to sponsor such candidature. Under all circumstances, this was a diplomatic blow against Sankara. How would Sankara react? Would he decide to boycott the conference? Would his ally, President Rawlings, join in the boycott?

I was dispatched to smoothen things out with Sankara. He not only accepted with grace, he personally led a 27-man delegation to the Summit. Grace under pressure: the definition of a great man.

On another official visit to Burkina-Faso, President Sankara pulled me aside and made a simple request. Would Nigeria please build a primary school and staff it with English teachers because he believed that the future in Africa belonged to the English language and he wanted the Burkinabes to become bilingual. The cost of building the school was only N60,000.00. On returning home, I received approval for the aid. More importantly, it gave me the opportunity to get President Babangida to approve in principle the concept of technical assistance instead of financial aid. Even though we gave financial assistance on this occasion, President Sankara would have had no objection to sending a Nigerian contractor to execute the project with cement and other materials sourced from Nigeria. There was no Nigerian contractor interested in the contract at that sum. But the seed of the Technical Aid Corps scheme has been planted in my mind and more importantly, in President Babangida’s mind.

And we have Thomas Sankara to thank for that.

The second debt I owe Thomas Sankara was my meeting with Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. When Fela was released in 1986, I sent my Personal Assistant to him at the shrine, that I would come that night to congratulate him on his release. My P. A. came back and told me that Fela said I should not come because I would not like it (diplomatic language for “you won’t fit in”).

Fela said that he knew my role in securing his release and he would call on me later. I thought he had forgotten about this.

Then one day, the unthinkable happened.

Normally, the Ministry of External/Foreign Affairs is the royalty of the service. The Ministry is very quiet; officers carry themselves with regal postures and deliberate steps; and voices are never raised. Then one day, there was a positive commotion like the type one encounters in a sports stadium. There were cheers like rolling thunder. There was an uproar. Over the intercom, and with no attempt to hide the alarm in my voice, I asked my Secretary what was going on. She replied that Fela was coming to see me.

I rushed to the corridor and there was Fela acknowledging the cheers like a gladiator with his two hands in the air. He was accompanied by the ever protective Beko Ransome-Kuti. Not even my presence dampened the acclamation.

Having welcomed him to my office, my Secretary came in to ask him what he would like to have. He looked round at the opulence of

the office and waved her away. He said he was coming from IBB with a message that I should facilitate his trip to Burkina-Faso as he had accepted an invitation from Thomas Sankara to participate in a Cultural Festival. That was news to me and I had no idea what IBB wanted me to do. But you did not argue with Fela. I told him to give me a few days and he replied that the Festival was starting in three days time. With anybody else, I would have replied that it was not possible. With Fela, I did not dare. He got up to leave and signaled to Beko who pulled something from his bag. Fela turned to me and said “I understand you like Cuban cigars. Here is something for you”. It was the biggest cigar, wrapped of course, that I had ever seen. It was about the size of a small bottle of bottled water. I thank him and promised that I would do justice to it. I was going to walk him to the lift but he excused me. It would have cramped his style.

Another roar greeted him and saw him on his way. Thanks to IBB, within twenty-four hours, we had met Fela’s requirements.

The following week, I related the whole episode to Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Fela’s eldest brother, who was the then Minister of Health. He said in a very raised alarm “Bolaji, I hope you have not smoked that thing.” I said “actually no. But I smoke cigars”. Prof. said “Bolaji, that is not a cigar. It is marijuana”. I almost fainted at the irony that here we were in the Council of Ministers chambers where also the Armed Forces Ruling Council met and we were talking about marijuana. On top of it, the offending item was still on my table in the office.

My God, heresy in the House of the prophet!

The final debt I owe him was reawakening my faith that Africa will continue to always have a hero, no matter how many traitors abound. I will do injustice by attempting a deconstruction of what Thomas Sankara stood for. Let his own words do justice to him: “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness. In this case, it comes from nonconformity, the courage to turn your back on the old formulas, the courage to invent the future. It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen.

We must dare to invent the future.”

Thomas Sankara “The revolution and women’s liberation go together. We do not talk of women’s emancipation as an act of charity or out of a surge of human compassion. It is a basic necessity for the revolution to triumph. Women hold up the other half of the sky.”

“Comrades, there is no true social revolution without the liberation of women. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence. I hear the roar of women’s silence. I sense the rumble of their storm and feel the fury of their revolt.”

“While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas.”

“If you take a walk around Ouagadougou and make a list of the mansions you see, you will note that they belong to just a minority.

How many of you who have been assigned to Ouagadougou from the farthest corners of the country have had to move every night because you’ve been thrown out of the house you have rented? To those who have acquired houses and land through corruption we say: start to tremble. If you have stolen, tremble, because we will come after you” When he was assassinated on October 15, 1987, I prepared a very emotional tribute which President Babangida vetoed. When I offered to sign it over my personal name, he still vetoed it with the words “You have no personal name. You are Nigerian External Affairs Minister”. It is 29 years later and the tribute is 29 years late.

Professor Akinyemi is a former Minister of External Affairs and deputy chairman, 2014 National Conference.

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specialtreat

15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

5 deadly symptoms you must never ignore

By Blessing Gbarada

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HEN it comes to sound health and long life, no truer words have been said than “prevention is better than cure.” Since no one understands our bodies better than we do, it is important that we pay close attention to what our bodies say to us in the way of changes (sometimes subtle) and discomforts. While there are some ailments that we can treat ourselves — like minor aches and pains — certain symptoms tell us that we should seek medical attention right away. Some major ones one should pay close attention to include: Unexplained weight loss: Although several factors can be responsible for weight loss, such as diet modification, exercising, age, certain medications and the likes, protracted weight loss when one is not trying to lose weight can be a sign of something wrong. “If you lose five per cent of your weight within six to 12 months without trying, especially if you’re an older adult, it is enough reason to see your doctor as soon as possible. It could be a symptom of an underlying disease or condition. Such diseases and conditions include cancer, HIV/AIDs, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and several other disorders,” Dr Irene Bassey, a medical practitioner said.

Sudden headaches: “Most headaches don’t require visiting a hospital as they could be linked to lack of sleep, poor posture, timing in a woman’s menstrual cycle, skipped meals, certain foods and alcohol. However, when headache comes on suddenly, with severe pain, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, sudden loss of balance or falling, numbness or tingling, then it calls for a visit to the hospital. When one takes pain relievers for more than three days and the headache still persists, it could also be an indication that a hospital needs to be visited,” Dr Bassey said.

Experts say a sudden, severe headache could be a sign of a more serious, life-threatening condition such as an aneurysm or even a burst blood vessel which can cause brain damage within minutes. They add that there are also other possibilities such as meningitis or shingles.

Tenderness and pain in the back of the lower leg Besides overworking the leg muscles during rigorous exercise, sometimes, tender pain in the back of the leg could be a symptom of a blood clot, medically called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. Experts say as many as two million people each year develop DVT, and many of them don’t even realise it until it threatens their lives.

Those who are at risk of developing DVT need to pay more attention to such tenderness. According to consultant cardiologist, Dr Abiodun Adeoye, those who are at risk of developing DVT include “anyone whose movement is restricted for long periods of time, including people who have been hospitalised or who are otherwise bedridden; people with lengthy travels either by road, sea or air or work long hours at a desk job. Sitting position that lasts more than four hours doubles the risk of developing DVT. It doesn’t matter if you go by air, bus, train, or car. When you’re in a cramped seat and don’t move around, your blood flow slows; people whose relations had medical history of DVT or pulmonary embolism have higher risk than those without. There may be background genetic disorders that make them prone to blood clot formation; advanced age (elderly people are more prone to DVT, as well as women in their post-menopausal years); weight problems, specifically obesity; smoking cigarettes; cancer patients; women who take hormonal birth control pills, including pregnant women and women in the immediate post-partum period (6-8 weeks after childbirth). That’s when they have higher levels of estrogen, which may make blood clot more easily. The pressure of their expanding uterus can slow blood flow in the veins as well.”

Commonest presentation of DVT, according to Dr Adeoye is swollen leg below the knee, red in fair skin or pain in the area of the clot. He says if you have these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately as if the clot moves to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), it can cause difficulty in breathing, low blood pressure, fainting, a faster heart rate, chest pain and coughing up blood.

Blood in the urine: If you notice bright red blood in your urine, or if your urine has turned red or brown

because it has blood in it, it is a serious sign that one must not overlook. According to the United Kingdom’s NHS, blood in the urine could indicate a bladder infection (such as cystitis) – which typically also causes a burning pain when you urinate; a kidney infection – which may also cause a high temperature and pain in the side of your tummy; kidney stones – which may be painless, but can sometimes block one of the tubes coming from your kidneys and cause severe tummy pain; urethritis – inflammation of the tube that carries urine out of the body (urethra); it’s often caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia; an enlarged prostate gland – this is a common condition in older men and has nothing to do with prostate cancer.

An enlarged prostate gland will press on the bladder and may also cause problems such as difficulty urinating and a frequent need to urinate; bladder cancer – this usually affects adults aged over 50 and can also cause you to urinate more often and more urgently, as well as pain when urinating; kidney cancer – this also usually affects adults aged over 50 and can cause persistent pain below your ribs and a lump in your tummy; prostate cancer – this is usually only seen in men aged over 50 and usually progresses very slowly; other symptoms can include needing to urinate more frequently and urgently, and difficulty emptying your bladder.

Chest pain: Chest pain or tightness is very serious and requires immediate medical attention as it is a common indicator of a heart attack. In fact, Dr Adeoye said “although symptoms of a heart attack differ slightly in men and women, the most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort.”

Other causes can be a blood clot moving into the lung.

Dr Adeoye adds that “if the chest feels tight, full or heavy and it lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back again, get medical help immediately. It is much more serious when it is accompanied by other symptoms such as pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach; shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort; breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

views.com Gradual death of Nigerian indigenous languages

By Ademola Adeleke IN a multiethnic country like Nigeria where over 521 indigenous languages are spoken, adopting a lingua franca is deemed the only way by which all the various ethnic groups could communicate and understand one another. The official language of Nigeria, English, the former colonial language, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country.

Therefore, English Language is to be taught as a subject right from the first year of primary education so as to firmly build a well organised grammatical structure in children. The social significance attributed to English Language is what makes it a compulsory subject in both elementary and secondary schools; hence a Nigerian student needs not to be told that one of the conditions on which his admission to a tertiary institution hangs is to have, at least, a credit pass in English Language.

In Nigeria today, English Language has graduated from its original socialisation and communication function into one of the instruments through which a person can show off his social standing.

People now adopt the language not only to communicate, but also toimpress others with the level of fluency at which they speak it.

The belief behind this is that one who speaks the language fluently is well cultured and sophisticated and this earns him more respect in the society. Hence, many families and households have purposely or unknowingly abandoned their cultural heritage in which their various indigenous languages are embedded with the adoption of the western culture as well as their language.

Nowadays, the undue priority given our lingua franca has degraded many Nigerian indigenous languages. Both young and old now seek fluency in English speaking so as to also fit in as one of the great speakers of the language, hereby disregarding their mother tongue and subsequently considering it as a language for the aged.

About a 100 years ago, most, if not all Nigerians, were fluent in their native tongue because every language spoken in each tribe was highly appreciated and cherished. But ever since the

adoption of English Language as our official language, it has overshadowed all other native languages, hence, making them less required. If you look around today, you will realise that many folks that even speak their native language do not know the grammatical rules, the complete alphabets and even how to write them correctly and this is simply as a result of the neglect these languages suffer in the society.

It is evident that in Nigeria, social groups like schools and families are the key participants in the abandonment of these indigenous languages. Most parents often do not allow their children to speak the native language because they believe that it will be a merit on their side if their children could learn English Language as the first language instead of the original mother tongue which could be any of the native languages spoken in Nigeria. These parents teach their children solely the lingua franca and deny them their right to learn their indigenous language which could have helped in building some cultural norms and values in them.

The school is another major factor which does not tolerate the smooth flow of native languages in Nigeria. Many a time, students are prohibited from speaking native language (Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba …) mostly in primary and secondary schools and failure to abide by this could attract some punishments from the teachers and sometimes, a fixed fine is paid by any student that goes against the instruction. With this, the students are forced to speak English Language and shun their native languages which have unconsciously been portrayed as a taboo by their teachers.

Similarly, higher institutions of learning like universities, polytechnics and colleges of education are not exempted from this accusation. Research has shown that students in tertiary institutions who are not under any compulsion to ignore their indigenous languages like the primary and secondary schools now find it more appealing to speak the lingua franca to themselves as opposed to their local languages. Ordinarily, students who have been speaking their individual indigenous languages at home will meet in school and forget the fact that they are from the same locality owing to the way

they interact, using the official language. They thereby lacked that intimacy that would have been present between them if it were to be their mother tongue. Looking at this behaviour among students in higher institutions with a critical eye, one will observe that their belief in most cases is that speaking English Language fluently is major factor in determining how sound or sophisticated a student is. Therefore, the students who bear this in mind ignore their local indigenous languages for the adopted language (English) which is believed to be more presentable, more refined and more cultivated.

Equally, the disdain towards these Nigerian native languages by some prominent Nigerians has drawn students seeking admission into tertiary institutions away from choosing them as their preferable fields of study. In recent times, admission seekers only choose to study these languages under some undesirable circumstances e.g. having a low score in entrance exams. In view of this decline in the pride of these languages, most admission-seekers barely include them in the options of courses they will like to study in the tertiary institutions and which in turn, results to a scanty number of students that apply for the courses (Nigerian languages) annually.

Apparently, there is a probability that the wide dominance of English Language in Nigeria can lead to the gradual extinction of our local tongues in some decades to come should they continue to suffer this neglect. According to Dr Samson Agbo, a lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the over-embracing attitude of the modern Nigerians towards English Language has shrunk the number of people that can speak their local dialects perfectly.

“The way things are going now, there is a tendency that the Nigerians of the 22nd Century will only read about their native languages in books without even knowing how to speak them because if care is not taken, these indigenous languages will suffer obsolescence,” he said.

Adeleke, a student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is on internship with the Nigerian Tribune.

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15 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

38 sport

15 October, 2016

What Mesut tells me —Iwobi

By Ganiyu Salman

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IGERIAN interntional, Alex Iwobi has revealed that his Arsenal teammate, Mesut Ozil has given him more confidence with his words of encouragement.

Speaking ahead of today’s English Premier League home clash with Swansea, Iwobi, who scored for Nigeria last weekend in the 2-1 win over Zambia in Ndola in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, said the Germany star told him to always play with a smile on his face.

“Mesut just tells me that I’m young and need to express myself on the pitch,” Iwobi told the Gunners official website, www.arsenal.com.

“Obviously I need to listen to other people’s advice as well, but he tells me to always play with a smile on my face and enjoy the game.

“When I saw [his comments comparing me to Okocha and Edgar Davids] I was like, ‘Wow is he serious?’ because he never really says that much to me. He just gives me advice and help, but it’s such a confidence boost for such a great player to say that about me.

Iwobi further acknowledged that his career has been boosted also by element of luck.

“I’m the same kid I used to be, the same kid who used to work hard. There’s a bit of luck as well. For me to get that chance and take it like I did, I’m just fortunate and happy to have taken them. I guess it’s luck at the end of the day.

“I’m never really happy or satisfied with my performances. I always want to improve and I think that’s probably got me to where I am.

I’m still learning the game and want to be doing than what I am at the moment, so I’ll keep putting 100 per cent into whatever I do,” the youngster stated.

Edo, Oyo qualify for Etisalat U-15 School Cup national finals

By Niyi Alebiosu EDO and Oyo states have qualified for the national finals of the Etisalat U-15 soccer School Cup scheduled to hold in Lagos next month.

Both states qualified for the quarter-final stage of the season 3 of the Etisalat sponsored tournament from Ibadan zone.

Edo State topped the group with nine points followed by Oyo State, represented by Asegun High School, with same points.

Speaking with Tribunesport on Thursday at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Orah Egwu, Manager, Sponsorship, Etisalat said that the telecommunications company ventured into the sponsorship of the competition not only to discover more talents, but to nurture and expose talented players to stardom.

“We want to let the young lads know through this annual competetion that there is life after football and we also intend to teach them to be disciplined and learn how to cope with the outside community,” she stated.

No fewer than 24 state school teams will be featuring in the other regional qualifying matches to be staged at the Ilorin Township Stadium, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu and Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, between October 18 and November 4.

Iwobi

2016 TOTAL Charity golf tournament tees off in Lagos

By Dapo Falade THE 2016 edition of the annual Total Charity Golf Tournament will tee off today at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Course, Lagos.

According to a statement issued by the Deputy General Manager (Media and Public Affairs), Total, Mr Charles Ogan, the tournament is designed to raise funds to improve the infrastructure for selected charities in one of Total’s three locations in Nigeria.

The funds raised are to be rotated between the charities every year as part of Total’s social responsibility and the locations are Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

The tournament, which has been sponsored for 21 years by the NNPC/Total E&P Nigeria Joint Venture, tees off by 9:00a.m and the 2016 edition is expected to have 80 golfers from various parts of the country, following the Stable Ford format (Short Gun) and played over 18 holes.

This year, two charity homes, which provided care for abandoned, motherless and vulnerable children in the society, wouldl benefit from the special fund.

The two charity are Olive Blooms Orphanage Home Ajah and Friends of Jesus Orphanage Home, Badore, both located in the Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Saturday Tribune

39

sport

15 October, 2016

Joel Obi returns from injury

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IGERIA international Joel Obi has returned to training after recovering from an injury while playing for Torino.

The former Inter Milan midfielder was forced off early after assisting with the first goal in his side’s 3-1 win against AS Roma last month.

A post on Il Toro’s official website read: “Obi and Vives (Giuseppe) played part of the session with his teammates and then closed the workout

6th Lead City Hockey flicks off Oct. 27 THE sixth edition of the Lead City University Five-A-Side Hockey championship, will flick off on October 27 till 29 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the institution in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The coordinator of the event, who is also the Director of Sports, Lead City University, Mrs Lade Aloba, disclosed that, 24 clubs have confirmed participation in the annual event aimed at preparing hockey players for the season.

The teams include Union Bank Hockey club which will present two teams, Lead City hockey team, Federal University of Technology, Minna, the Yobe Desert Rollers, the Oyo State, Kazy hockey team and the University of Ibadan.

Others are White Horse hockey club, Police Machine of Abuja, The Inspector General of Police Babes, Tenmark Girls, Ogun State team and Akoka Boys.

Aloba, a former Nigerian

with a personalized program.

“Obi and Vives (Giuseppe) have almost completed the rehabilita-

tion process, so soon will work with the group.”

The 25-year-old injuryprone player has made five appearances for the

Turin-based outift this season but is yet to score a goal and has been capped 15 times by the Super Eagles.

Ideye wins gola award

By Ganiyu Salman NIGERIA international, Brown Ideye has clinched an award in Greece after scoring a fantastic goal at the Karaiskakis Stadium before the international break.

The honour came after the Edo State-born forward scored for the Greek champions, Olympiacos in a 3-0 victory over AEK Athens to bag the Super League match day award.

The award serves as a consolation for the former West Brom record signing, who fired blank last weekend when he featured for the Super Eagles against the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Ndola, in a 2018 World Cup qualifier.

Ideye, who now leads the goal chart in the Super League with five goals from four games, reveals his moment of joy through his twitter handle Brown Ideye (MON) ?@OfficialIdeye, just as he lauded those who considered him worthy of the best Goal award with their votes.

“I got awarded ‘the best goal’ of the Greek super league (GSL) match day 6 today, Big thanks to my team and everyone who voted for me,” the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner had tweeted.

The striker, who marked his birthday last week,

has also congratulated his team-mate, Ahmed Musa, who celebrate his birthday on Friday, with a tweet: “Happy birthday to Ahmed Musa, wishing you all the best in life.”

Meanwhile, Ideye would be looking forward to increasing his goal tally today when Olympiacos, which occupies second on the league table, one point behind leaders Panathinaikos, play away to Panionios at 6:30pm.

voxpop

Who would you donate your kidney to: Parent or fiance(e)?

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

16 OCTOBER, 2016

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DSS vs Judiciary Who will judge this case?

Zamalek ready for showdown with Sundowns —Nigeria’s Yusuf ation or condition,” he said, while recalling how Zamalek soldiered on playing on a bad and rain-soaked pitch in Port Harcourt against Enyimba.

“I was surprised with how we played that match, because no Zamalek player has ever played in that kind of situation before.

“I was shocked because of the pitch’s condition and with the rain as well, but the players said that we can do it and let’s do it together,” he said.

Sundowns aim to be only the second South African club to be African champions 21 years after Orlando Pirates achieved this feat.

Zamalek, on the other hand, are gunning for a sixth Champions League tittle.

Joel Obi

Ideye

CAF Champions League final:

NIGERIAN midfielder, Moruf Yusuf has said his Egyptian club Zamalek will be ready for anything Mamelodi Sundowns will throw at them when both sides clash today in the CAF Champions League first leg final in South Africa.

Zamalek lost both at home and away to Sundowns in the group stage of the competition, but Yusuf has insisted the Cairobased side has the character to weather the storm this time and rule Africa again.

Yusuf praised his teammates for coping with the tough conditions they have faced to get to the championship games.

“We’ve got quality players who are ready for any situ-

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I opened doors of political appointments for my colleagues —Hilda

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Ighalo will bounce back —Watford coach

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Leicester 12:30pm Middlesbrough vs Watford 1:30pm Tottenham 3:00pm Southampton vs Burnley 4:00pm Hull City 3:00pm Monday, October 17, 2016 Swansea 3:00pm Liverpool vs Man United 8:00pm Sunderland 3:00pm Everton 3:00pm West Ham 5:30pm

Federation Cup showdown Nasarawa unstoppable —Alloy Agu Enyimba ’ll play in the final —Captain

By Olawale Olaniyan

Ighalo

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ATFORD manager, Walter Mazzarri has backed Odion Ighalo despite his loss of form in front of goal.

The former Udinese forward who enjoyed a better return of 17 league goals last season has found the back of the net just once this campaign.

And his coach believes the Nigerian forward will get back to scoring ways.

“He still has confidence because we as a team have confidence in him,” Mazzarri told Daily Star.

“They are periods where players are more in form than others. But we believe in him and it is just a matter of him scoring.

“Mainly what I ask from my forwards is not to score but to play well. Of course he came back from Nigeria two days ago so it is very difficult to prepare.

“I have four forwards and various options and will make a decision later,” said the Italian.

Watford are placed 11th on the English Premier League table and they visit Middlesbrough tomorrow.

NASARAWA United’s goalkeeper trainer, Aloy Agu, says today’s Federation Cup semi-final clash with Enyimba FC billed for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, will bring the best out of both sides.

“Both teams were impressive in the just-concluded league season. Enyimba is a very formidable team but you can’t take anything away from Nasarawa United too, we have done so well this season.

“Fans should be expecting a very tactical and competitive match. We are well prepared for the match and fans are going to enjoy good game on Saturday,” Agu who is also the Super Eagles keeper’s trainer told Tribunesport.

“Continental ticket is our dream, so our expectation is to win this game and get the ticket at the end of it all.

“Our position in the just-concluded league season has nothing to do with Saturday’s match, this is a different ball game entirely, this is FA Cup. What is important to Nasarawa on Saturday is to win and make our fans happy and thank God there is no injury worry in our team,” Agu boasted.

Meanwhile, Enyimba FC captain, Chinedu Udoji, saysthe dream of the People’s Elephant playing on the continent next year is on course.

“This is the only chance we have in order to play in the continental championship again next year and we won’t allow it slip away. We are going to approach the game with all seriousness like a Cup final.

“We could not defend the league title successfully this year, but thank God we have the Federation Cup to make up for the disappointment. We have to put in everything into the match to see us through,” Udoji told Tribunesport before a training session in Ibadan during the week.

It will be recalled that Enyimba FC finished 10th position while Nasarawa followed on the log also with 50 points in the just-ended league season.

I’m world’s best —Ronaldo REAL Madrid star, Cristiano Ronaldo regards himself as the best player in the world and feels his desire to keep improving is the reason for his success.

The Portugal international is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or after winning the Champions League and Euro 2016.

And the 31-year-old’s considerable selfconfidence shows no sign of diminishing any time soon.

“In my head, I am the best player in the world,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “And I am working very hard

every day with the ambition to be the strongest. It is then up to others to judge me.

“I always want to improve myself. I am very motivated and I believe that is the key behind my success on the pitch.”

The 31-year-old has endured a difficult start to the 2016-17 campaign after sustaining a knee problem in the final of Euro 2016, but feels he is nearing top form again after netting five goals in two games for Portugal during the international break.

“I suffered a serious injury [in the final at Euro 2016] and missed two-and-a-half months, but I am feeling well now,” he added.

“I am back to my usual best and I am ready to enjoy another spectacular season.”

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 15/10/2016.