16th August 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,568 TUESDAY, 16 AUGUST, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

Heads to roll in NPA over $56m Calabar dredging contract

—P11

•Workers jittery as new MD begins probe

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Again, bakers increase bread prices by 20% —P4

PDP convention

Rivers court orders INEC, DSS, police to monitor, provide security •As Abuja court stops convention •Convention will hold as planned —Makarfi —P5 •Bode George, Jimi Agbaje, Dokpesi, Adeniran, 53 others screened

Woman, younger brother burn housemaid with hot iron for rejecting soaked gari meal —P7

Release of Boko Haram detainees a political decision

Omo oniles to —P6 bag 21-yr jail term in Lagos

Terrorism: US brings in FBI, technical assistance to support Nigeria —P4

—Chief of Defence Staff •I'm not on the run, wanted —P3 journalist tells DHQ •Two others report to Army

•I have interest in this case —CP

The assaulted girl, Kemi Leona, at the police station, in Lagos, on Monday.

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Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

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Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Release of Boko Haram detainees a political decision —CDS We are being careful —Lai Mohammed Leon Usigbe - Abuja

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GAINST the release of another video by Boko Haram, purportedly showing 50 of the Chibok schoolgirls still in the insurgents’ captivity, the Chief of Defence Staff, LieutenantGeneral Gabriel Olonishakin, has said the decision to meet Boko Haram’s demand for the release of their detained members rests on the Presidency.

The sect had, in the video released at the weekend, said they could only give freedom to the girls if their members detained in various prisons were released.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents after a meeting on Monday, Olonishakin said the decision to release the Boko Haram detainees was a political decision, as the military could only be concerned with their ongoing operations.

Asked whether the military would meet the insurgents’ demand, he said: “That’s a political decision to be taken. The military’s decision is that we are going ahead with our operation and the operation is being conducted appropriately,” he said.

The military boss said they were at the Presidential Villa to discuss how to deal with the different crises bedeviling the country, including flood and terrorism.

He said the military was analysing the Boko Haram video released at the weekend and would make appropriate comment about it later.

Olonishakin denied that one of those declared wanted on Sunday, in connection with the Boko Haram video, had been left to go, despite turning himself in, saying “he has reported to the men and he is with them. I don’t think he was turned back.”

Also speaking, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said government was in touch with Boko Haram, but wanted to be cautious in view of the reported split in the group’s leadership.

He assured that the safety of the Chibok girls was the priority of government.

Mohammed said: “The government’s position is clear that we are in touch with them. We are just being careful and cautious to ensure that we are talking to the right people, especially with the news that there is a split in the leadership, but what is important is the

safety and security of these girls.

“The thrust of my statement was to assure the nation that we are on top of the situation. We are not even just reacting to the video,

we have gone far beyond the video in talking to the group already.”

On whether government would give in to the demand made by Boko Haram, the information stated: “Until

you are able to ascertain the authenticity of those you are talking to, you don’t go into details.”

On the plan by the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) movement to march to the

Villa to demand more action on the release of Chibok girls, the minister appreciated the group’s commitment and assured that government was committed to their release.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin (second right); Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (left) and the Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service, Colonel Hammed Ali (retd), after a security council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

He added: “We appreciate their commitment to the return of theses girls, but there are a few things we need to do behind the scene.

What we are saying is that the government is committed to doing everything to rescue these girls.

“We are engaging them.

By saying we are talking to them, I am talking from a point of knowledge. It does not matter what other people say. I know that the government is in touch with the group.

“Most people will forget the issue of these girls as soon as the effect of this video is over, but the government is daily working on it.

“Until the release of this video, the effort was not attracting any attention, but everyday, the Office of the NSA and others concerned are working on it.

“For us, it is not just because of the release of the video, but because of our belief that there will be no final closure to Boko Haram until we are able to resolve the issue of these girls.”

...I’m not on the run, wanted journalist tells DHQ Chris Agbambu and Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja A journalist, Ahmed Salkida, has said that he was not on the run from Nigeria as the Nigerian Army has made the public to believe, by declaring him wanted over alleged connection with the Boko Haram sect, declaring that he will soon make himself available to the military.

Salkida and two other persons, Ahmed Bolori and Aisha Wakil, were on Sunday declared wanted by the military over alleged link with the Boko Haram sect, especially with the last two videos released by the sect.

But Salkida, in an electronic statement made available to newsmen on Monday, in Abuja, said he, in the coming days, would be in Abuja, to avail himself to the Army authorities.

The statement read: “My attention has been drawn to a public notice put out by the Nigerian Army and signed by Colonel S.K. Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations. The statement declaring me wanted seeks culpable grounds to punish me on account of ‘last two videos released

by Boko Haram terrorists and other findings...’ by the Army.

“Clearly, my status as a Nigerian journalist, who has reported extensively, painstakingly and consistently on

the Boko Haram menace in the country since 2006, is an open book known to Nigerians and the international community. Equally, my total allegiance and sacrifice to the Federal Republic of Nigeria is self evident. I have stayed within the creed of professional journalism in my work.

“As a testimony to the credible and professional values of my access, since May 2015, I had been to Nigeria three times on the invitation of Federal Government agencies. I made personal sacrifices for the release of our Chibok daughters.

“Finally, the Army is aware that I am not in Nigeria presently. In the com-

ing days, I will seek to get a flight to Abuja and avail myself to the Army authori-

ties. Indeed, my return will be hastened if the Military sends me a ticket,” it stated.

Buhari calls for unity in Guinea Bissau Leon Usigbe -Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to political leaders in Guinea Bissau to embrace unity and avoid any act that could plunge the nation into further crisis.

He made the plea while receiving Mr Modibo Toure, the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Guinea Bissau, at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.

President Buhari decried the lingering political crisis in the West African country, adding: “They must accept responsibility for leadership to stabilise their own country.”

The president added that it was the country’s political leaders, and not outsiders that could effectively resolve the political crisis in the country.

He told the visiting envoy that Nigeria would wel-

come increased support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations to stabilise the country and prevent breakdown of law and order.

President Buhari said Nigeria had a responsibility to the region and the rest of Africa, and assured that “we will not shirk on our responsibility, in spite of the hardship confronting us.”

Woman declared wanted by Nigerian Army reports to military As wanted Bolori drinks tea with Army colonel in Maiduguri

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ISHA Wakil, a Nigerian lawyer declared wanted by the military on Sunday, is currently at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

Ms Wakil is among three persons declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on Sunday, for alleged ties with the Boko Haram sect.

The three have maintained that they were not on the run and faulted the decision of the Army to declare them wanted.

Ms Wakil told PREMIUM TIMES she arrived at the Defence Headquarters mo-

ments ago, but was not immediately taken in for interrogations.

Ms Wakil said front desk officers asked her what she wanted and she told them she was declared wanted on Sunday. But the officers said they were not aware of such and she asked them to read the newspapers online.

“They told me they will go and read and get back to me,” Ms Wakil said.

A few minutes later, a supervisor entered the reception to collect Ms Wakil’s passport and told her he will return 10 minutes later.

The spokesman of the Ni-

gerian Army, Sani Usman, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Ms Wakil had submitted herself.

“I have been reliably informed that she has reported at the Defence Headquarters and she has been directed to the Directorate of Military Intelligence,” Mr Usman said.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Bolori, one of the three persons declared wanted for alleged links with the Boko Haram sect voluntarily surrendered himself to the Nigerian Army on Monday.

However, instead of the harsh treatment he proba-

bly would have expected, he soon found himself drinking tea with “a nice Colonel” after turning himself in at the Army Command Headquarters in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State.

On Sunday, Bolori, alongside Ahmad Salkida, a journalist and Aisha Wakil were declared wanted by the Army, which had relied on the Terrorism Protection Act, 2011 in taking the action.

“There is no doubt that these individuals have links with Boko Haram terrorists and have contacts with them. They must, therefore, continues pg10

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Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Terrorism: US brings in FBI, technical assistance to support Nigeria

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HE United States (US) government has said it is bringing in officials from its Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other security experts to provide technical assistance to the Nigerian government to deal with terrorism.

Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy, Mr Alan Tousignant, disclosed this on Monday, in Abuja, when he led a security delegation on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd).

The envoy said the delegation which comprised a crack team of the US Security Governance Initiative (SGI) was in the country as a follow-up to its earlier visit in January.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the SGI was an initiative of the US government that offered enhanced security technical assistance to six African countries, including Nigeria.

Tousignant stressed that they were in Nigeria at the request of the Nigerian government, to provide a holistic security technical assistance and not to donate any equipment.

He explained that the Federal Government identified three major areas of partnership to include enhancing the Ministry of Interior’s emergency response coordination, Ministry of Defence’s procurement procedure and the civilian security planning for the North-East.

He said that the weeklong interaction between the SGI team and the Nigerian security agencies would fashion out a robust roadmap to ensure better efficiency, transparency and justice in Nigeria’s security architecture.

Earlier, Team Leader of SGI, Ambassador Stephen Nolan, said both countries were working to

finalise and implement a Joint Country Action Plan (JCAP) which was a document that outlined a roadmap for a successful partnership.

He said the JCAP emphasised partnership and finding solution to Nigeria’s security challenges not about what the US was doing for Nigeria.

Nolan, however, assured that the forthcoming elections in the US and the change of government in January 2017, would not affect the project as they

had been working hard to ensure its sustenance.

“I want to assure you that we have been working for the continuity and sustainability of this project, even

From left, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Honourable Mohammed Mongonu; Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed; Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Monsur Dan-Ali (retd) and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, during the official launch and public presentation of the agricultural sector road-map tagged: “The Green Alternative Agriculture Promotion Policy 2016-2020”, in Abuja, on Monday. PHOTO:NAN

Bakers increase bread prices by another 20% Olalekan Olabulo -Lagos CONSUMERS of bread in Lagos and neighbouring states will from Wednesday pay more, as bread bakers have increased the price of the commodity by 20 per cent.

The bakers hinged the new increase in the price on the high cost of flour, sugar and other ingredients as a result of the forex crisis.

Lagos State chairman of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Mr Jacob Adejorin, while announcing the increase on Monday, described the new increase as “unavoidable.”

The bakers’ leader said

“after serious consideration with the high prices of baking ingredients skyrocketing all the time, most especially flour, sugar, salt, yeast, kerosene, diesel and a series of local government levies have compelled us to increase bread prices.”

He also said “a few months ago, a bag of flour was sold for N6,000, while sugar was sold for N7,000, but as of this morning, a bag of flour was N11,000 and sugar about N15 000.

“The bakers can no longer cope with this situation, hence the decision to increase the prices by about 20 per cent accross board,” Adejorin said.

The bakers’ chairman said

“we appeal to our customers and consuners of bread in general to bear with us at this time. It is our promise to continue to produce good quality bread at affordable prices.”

The bakers also called on the Federal Government to give some consideration to flour millers in the country, as a way of preventing an-

other increase in the near future.”

The bakers also pleaded that “we urge the flour millers also to have bakers in mind whenever any increase in price is being considered, as we are the end users of their products.”

The Lagos bakers also warned that their members would no longer tolerate

The organisation said “the idea of members of the National Assembly allocating projects to their constituencies and then approving such projects is a grave and direct affront to basic constitutional principles of equity, fairness, transparency, accountability and separation of powers.”

SERAP’s statement signed by its executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, is in response to Mr Dogara’s defence of the decision of the lower chamber to unilater-

ally insert 2,000 items into the 2016 budget after former chairman of Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin accused the principal officers of padding the budget.

According to Mr Dogara, “so the budget being a law, therefore, means that it is only, I repeat, only the parliament that can make it because it is law and I challenge all of us to look at the law and tell me where it is written that the president can make the budget.”

Jibrin alleged that the

any future increase in the price of flour without being properly informed ahead of time.

The bakers’ chairman stated that “the new price will take effect from Wednesday, August 17. Full compliance is expected by the end of August, after which state taskforce will be going round to ensure enforcement.”

Edo guber poll: INEC clears 41 observer groups Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 41 accredited observer groups for the Edo State governorship election scheduled for

Saturday, September 10.

As contained in the approved list made public in Abuja, on Monday, the breakdown showed 33 domestic observer groups and eight foreign observer groups.

House of Reps has no power to insert projects in the budget, SERAP tells Dogara AGAINST the background of allegations of budget padding and abuse of public trust by the leadership of the House of Representatives, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has told the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, that “there is absolutely no constitutional provisions that grant to members or leaders of the House of Representatives the power to insert projects in the budget.”

after the Obama administration in January, 2017,’’ he said.

Dambazau, in his remarks, thanked the delegation for the visit and expressed optimism that the partnership would help to reposition the security architecture of the country.

He said the partnership would involve all security agencies and not just those of the Ministry of Interior, so as to fashion out a holistic security roadmap to deal with terrorism and other crimes.

The minister said the meeting was in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda to address security, corruption and the economy of the country in line with international best practice.

He charged officials from all security agencies in the country that were part of the meeting to show commitment and dedication to the task ahead.

NAN reported that officials from the Nigeria Police Force, Army, Air Force, Navy, Immigration, Prisons, Civil Defence and Fire Service were part of the strategic meeting.

Speaker had allocated projects worth N4 billion to his constituency, leaving 359 other members of the lower chambers “to share the remaining N36 billion out of N40 billion unilaterally inserted in the budget.

But SERAP disagreed with Mr Dogara, stating that “the practice of constituency projects directly undermines the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides the framework for rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances amongst the or-

gans of government. It’s contrary to the public interest; inequitable, disproportionate, unfair and a clear case of conflict of interest for leaders of the National Assembly to enjoy unbridled discretion in the allocation and diversion of projects to their constituencies.”

According to SERAP, “to justify project insertion in the budget is to place the interest of the leaders of House of Representatives over and above the public interest.”

According to the commission, “the accredited groups are to obtain, complete and return Form EPMC 002 for the election from the Elections and Party Monitoring Department, INEC Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja, between 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

(Monday-Friday), starting from Monday, August 15 till Monday, August 22.”

In the same vein, “the accredited groups are expected to submit names and photographs of members, who would participate in the exercise in hard and soft copies (CD Drive, using JPEG format) to the Election and Part Monitoring Department, INEC, latest Monday, August 29. The commission stressed that late submission would not be accepted.”

news PDP convention: Rivers court orders INEC, DSS, police to monitor, provide security

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•As Abuja court stops convention From Dapo Falade and Sunday Ejike HILE a Federal High Court sitting Abuja ordered the suspension of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, tomorrow, another Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on Monday, validated the convention.

Earlier, the court sitting in Port Harcourt had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police and the Department of Security Service (DSS), respectively, to monitor and provide security during the convention.

Justice Ibrahim Watila gave the orders in Port Harcourt, while ruling on a motion on notice, in suit number FHC/ PH/ CS/585/2016, filed by the secretary of the PDP national convention planning committee, Senator Ben Obi, for himself and other members of the committee against the Inspector-General of Police, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, DSS and INEC. Similarly, chairman of the PDP national convention planning committee, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, also assured that the convention would hold as scheduled, noting that it was backed by the court and all other legal authorities.

Justice Watila ruled that: “The first, second, third and fourth defendants are hereby mandated to provide security for the national convention of the PDP, scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, August 17 2016 or any other date and venue, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice or the originating summons as the honourable court may decide.

“The fifth defendant (INEC) is mandated to monitor the national convention of PDP, scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 or any other date and venue, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice or the originating summons as the honourable court may decide.”

The Port Harcourt Federal High Court also ordered that the police, DSS and INEC be served by substituted means through their respective offices in Port Harcourt.

The trial judge declared that the judgment, on July

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4, 2016, of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, which recognised the May 21, 2016 national convention and which produced the PDP national caretaker committee, had not been appealed against or set aside, hence the court would protect that judgment.

He said there was no injunction against the holding of the convention in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, as brought to the attention of the court during the hearing of the application by Senator Obi, adding that the affidavit tendered by the plaintiff/applicant was true, as it was not contested at any point by the defendants, though they were duly served.

Justice Watila adjourned till today (Tuesday) hearing on the originating summons filed by Senator Obi, even as Obi’s counsel, Nyeche Wori, said, by the interlocutory injunction, PDP had obtained a legal backing to go ahead with the convention as scheduled.

Reacting to the ruling, Governor Wike, who doubled as the chairman of the PDP national convention committee, said the stage was set for the convention.

“Let me assure you that, as the chairman of the national convention planning committee, we are backed by law and the court that the convention will go ahead.

“The court has recognised the May 21 national convention before now in its July 4, 2016 judgment.

Again, today, the Federal High Court has re-confirmed that INEC should monitor the August 17, 2016 national Cconvention and that the security agencies should provide security as required,” he said.

The governor further clarified that the PDP national caretaker committee joined INEC and the security agencies in the suit because they were party in the July 4, 2016 judgment.

In a ruling delivered On Monday, Justice Abang said the order for the suspension of the convention was in the interest of justice to both parties in a suit pending before him, explaining further that the order was issued to curb the excesses of some parties in the matter and to serve as a disciplinary action against those treating the court with levity.

He said this was with particular reference to Senator Ben Obi, a member of the Ahmed Makarfi-

led care taker committee of the party.

Justice Okon’s order, on Monday, followed an interim order obtained by Obi from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in which the Police, the DSS and the Director -General DSS were restrained from interfering or stopping the Port Harcourt convention.

The ex parte order also directed the INEC to supervise and monitor the convention planned by the Senator Makarfi-led faction and the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party.

Justice Abang, whose attention was drawn to a copy of the ex parte order obtained by Obi, who had been joined as a party in the case before him, said the action of Obi in filing the motion was in bad taste.

The judge held that Obi secretly went to Port Harcourt to obtain the said order when he knew that he was a party seeking to be joined in the legal action filed by the Ali Modu-Sheriff faction seeking to stop the Port Harcourt convention.

“Senator Ben Obi cannot undermine the authority of this court having become aware of the pendency of this matter, he ought to have waited for the outcome of this court. He cannot slap the court in the face and expect the court to grant him any indulgence.

“Democracy is not anchored on the whims and caprices of anybody, it is also not anchored on self help. Obi cannot treat the court with levity. It is unfortunate and unfair that he approached the Port Harcourt court for the ex parte order which was granted to him.

“To curb the excesses of the recalcitrant part and to prove that courts are not bull dogs that can bark, but cannot bite, I am inclined to grant the request of Sheriff and I hereby make an order suspending the PDP convention of August 17, 2016 in exercise of my disciplinary jurisdiction to maintain the dignity and integrity of the court”, the court held.

Earlier, Justice Abang had joined Senators Ahmed Makarfi, Ben Obi Odion Ugbesia, Abdul Ningi, Mr Kabiru Usman, Mr Dayo Adeyeye and Hajia Aisha Aliyu individually as parties to Sheriff’s suit as defendants.

The judge also refused to grant the stay of execution of the ruling of July 28 in which he affirmed the lead-

ership of the Sheriff-led faction of the PDP. Justice Abang said Mr Ferdinand Orbih, who made the request for stay of execution on behalf of the Makarfi-led faction, lacked the locus standi to have made the request because he was not a party to the suit that brought the ruling.

The court described the lawyer as a busy body and a meddlesome interloper and imposed a fine of N50,000 on him for attempting to thwart the proceedings of the court.

The Judge frowned on Orbih’s claim that he had filed an appeal against the ruling, adding that the lawyer failed to put the notice of the appeal at the disposal of the court and that his claim that he had transmitted the court record to the Court of Appeal was an exercise in futility, because he did not obtain the permission of the court before doing so.

The court had also dismissed an application brought by one Mr Sikiru Ogundele asking the court to disqualify itself from the matter on account of being biased.

Abang said it was on record that Ogundele was not a party to the suit, therefore, he could not seek for any reliefs.

Meanwhile, the court will today commence hearing in the substantive motion brought before it by Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff seeking to stop the August 17 convention of the PDP. Sheriff had filed a court action challenging the legality of the planned PDP convention and prayed the court to stop it on the grounds that it was being organised by a body not known to the law.

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

National convention will further factionalise PDP —Shuluwa Johnson BabajideMakurdi

DEPUTY chairman, Elders Forum of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Chief Abu Shuluwa, has stated that the coming convention of the party in Port Harcourt will further factionalise the party.

Shuluwa, who spoke with newsmen at his residence in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Monday, said the party was yet to organise itself before going into national convention, adding that, “the party is yet to solve the crisis created at the ward, local government and state congresses before embarking on national convention.”

He noted that the party had been hijacked by former governors and ministers, whom, he said were using ‘their looted ‘fund’ to further destabilise the party, stressing that “with the manner the party is going, there is no way it can wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.”

The former gubernatorial aspirant in Benue State decried the decision of the party to sideline elders and founding fathers of the party and boasted that in his state, the party would continue to lose unless

•As ex-minister, Mallam eyes woman leader Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja

declaration in a text message sent to the Nigerian Tribune, on Monday.

He pointed out that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had earlier in the day validated and authorised the proposed convention, a decision, which he said, could not be overruled by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

The former Kaduna State governor noted that the Appeal Court would deterContinues on pg 8

More conventions stories on pages 8 & 10

•Says court order is judicial recklessnesss DESPITE the interim order given by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja suspending the repeat national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party will go ahead with the conduct of the exercise on Wednesday as planned.

The Chairman of the party’s national caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, made this

Alkali joins race for PDP deputy chairman

FORMER Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President and one-time National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Rufai Alkali, has joined the race for the deputy national chairman (North) of the party.

He picked up the expression of interest and nomination forms at the party’s temporary secretariat in Abuja, on Monday.

Alkali said he would make his wealth of experience available towards the revitalisation of the former ruling party if given the opportunity to serve.

He said he joined the race to add value to the leadership of the party after wide consultations with leaders and members of the party across the country.

Also at the party office to pick form to contest for the office of the PDP Woman Leader, former Minister of Environment, Mrs Lawrencia Mallam, said she would mobilise women support to ensure that the party returns to power in 2019.

Convention will hold as planned —Makarfi Leon Usigbea and Jacob Segun Olatuji-Abuja

proper things were done to reconcile all the aggrieved members.

“They appointed their sorogates and left behind the elders who had toiled day and night to nurture the party to become the largest political party in Africa and, suddenly, these young ones came from the blues and hijacked the party structure, because they have the money which they have looted and think they are in control, let them go ahead and see whether the outcome of their convention will stand.”

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Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Lagos Omo Oniles to get 21-yr jail term As Ambode signs new bill into law Bola Badmus

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AGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, fulfilled his pledge of making the menace of land grabbing in the state a thing of the past, with the signing of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law. In the Act signed into law, Lagos State House of Assembly prescribed maximum jail term of 25 years for anyone convicted of land-grabbing.

The minimum jail term is 10 years.

The governor also signed the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law, a move aimed at boosting security of lives and property in all the local government areas (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs) of the state.

Ambode, who spoke at the signing ceremony, which was attended by the speaker, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa; the state Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade and other top government functionaries, said the laws were central to his administration’s focus of safeguarding the lives of all residents.

He said it was also aimed at attracting, growing investments and improving the ease of doing business in the state.

“In addition to equipping our security agencies, we have now created a legal framework to put some form of communal protection in place to boost and support the great job the Nigeria Police is presently doing,” Governor Ambode said.

The governor explained that the Neighbourhood Safety Corps would assist the police and other security agencies to maintain law and order across the communities, adding that the Neighbourhood Safety Agency, which the new law established, would also be charged with the responsibility of registering all private home security and any other person employed for private home security amongst other things.

On the Properties Protection Law, Governor Ambode said the need for the law followed the fact that one of the issues that discouraged investors and hindered the ease of doing business in Lagos in the past had always been the menace of land grabbing.

He recalled that a lot of would-be property owners encountered untold harassment from exploitative land grabbers, saying that the law now marked the end of the road for such land grabbers.

“The Properties Law will eliminate the activities of persons or corporate entities who use force and intimida-

tion to dispossess or prevent any person or entity from acquiring legitimate interest and possession of property, ensure that the Special Task Force on Land-Grabbers work with all security agencies to ensure enforcement of State Government and Private property rights in the state, and ensure proper coordination of the efforts of the various agencies of government charged with enforcing the state government’s rights over land in Lagos,” the governor said.

Besides, Governor Ambode said the presence of the heads of the three arms of

government - the executive, legislature and judiciary, at the signing ceremony was a confirmation of the seriousness and resolve of government of Lagos State to address the issues once and for all.

While setting the tone for the signing ceremony earlier, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, had said the laws marked demonstration of promise kept by the present administration and recalled the donation of security equipment to security agencies on two occasions within six months,

which had aided the police and other security agencies in reducing crime.

He added that the laws would go a long way in further providing the necessary legal, human and material support to security services in the discharge of their duties.

In his remarks, Honourable Obasa said the signing of the two laws confirmed that Lagos was being governed by a responsible governor and a responsive government, adding that the move was also a clear and emphatic message to criminals that Lagos was a no-go area for their criminal activities.

From left, Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade; Speaker, State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudasiru Obasa; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, at the signing of two bills on “Safety Activities” and “Illegal Entry of Landed Properties” into law, on Monday.

Lagos officials storm Oshodi underbridge, take photos Bola Badmus OFFICIALS of Lagos State government, on Monday, stormed Oshodi, to undertake, in particular, a survey of the area boys who have converted the place to their residential abode, while paying rents to some who had forcefully arrogated to themselves the roll of “landlords.”

According to eyewitness, those involved officials include men from the State Ministry of Environment, Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation (Task Force), among others.

The officials were said to have come to the place, moved round the various nooks and crannies and took several snap shots in order to better capture the scene.

Lagos Metro could not ascertain what the mission of the officials was as of press time.

When contacted, the Public Affairs Officer of Task Force, Mr Taofiq Adebayo, said he was not aware of the visit, adding that officials of the agency might have accompanied another government agency to the site for support.

Oworonshoki demolition in order —Govt As bulldozers move to Ifako

Bola Badmus LAGOS State government, on Monday, said it demolished buildings and structures along Iyana-Oworonshoki area of the state in order to address the perennial gridlock making the road a nightmare for motorists and commuters plying it.

This was as the state government disclosed that a total of five buildings, walls and shops numbering 11 and 16 respectively would be demolished in the ongoing construction from Olopomeji to Ifako Bus Stop, due to encumbrances they constituted on the road project.

The state Commissioner for

Transportation, Dr Dayo Mobereola, who was represented by the Special Adviser to Governor on Transportation, Anofiu Elegushi, said this at a press conference on Monday, stating that it was part of government’s efforts to resolve Iyana Oworonshoki gridlock.

Mobereola said the engineering solution was a composite one consisting of the construction of a multiple layby at Iyana Oworoshonki and construction of the alternative slip road from Olopomeji to Ifako Bus stop.

According to him, there will be a redevelopment of LAGBUS and Berger Bus Stop and provision of clear view fence, adding that some of the proj-

ects, especially the multiple laybys, had been completed.

“You will recall that in the not too distant past, we have visited the Oworonshoki multiple laybys created to remove traffic from the expressway. This, we agreed, had impacted traffic at peak period from Lagos towards Ikeja and Alapere. The travel time had significantly reduced to between 15 and 20 minutes.

“As part of efforts aimed at totally ensuring the removal of traffic, we will be constructing a slip road (an alternative parallel road) at Oduduwa Road. This road will run parallel to the Third Mainland Bridge highway. The road will

carry traffic to Iyana Oworonshoki community and at the same time remove traffic

caused by commercial yellow buses that pick passengers on the highway,” he said.

Controversy as NURTW disowns customs’ parley Lanre Adewole THE Lagos State council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has disassociated itself from a reported meeting between officers of Mile 12 branch of the union and officers of Seme command of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Some officers of Mile 12 branch of the Lagos NURTW (Perishable foodstuffs), led

by it chairman, Mr Segun Ebiniyi, recently had a meeting with the Area Comptroller of Customs, Seme command, David Victory Dimka, during which some issues about the branch were discussed Reacting to the alleged meeting, the state chairman of the union, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, said the branch officers were not qualified to hold such meeting, as the issues raised at the meeting

7

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

metro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Lanre Adewole 0811 695 4647

Cultist stabs food seller over fleeing in-law Opeyemi Owoaseye

Injured LASTMA officer

The vehicle

The driver

Church security man crushes LASTMA officer’s leg while evading arrest Opeyemi Owoaseye A Lagos taxi driver, Sunday Agbariko, on Monday morning, allegedly crushed the leg of a traffic officer, Olayemi Isiaka, in OguduOri Oke, Ojota area, at the Lagos Sate Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) yard.

The suspect, who doubles as security personnel of a church at Ogudu-Ori Oke, Ojota, allegedly used his vehicle, Nissan Primera with registration number FKJ 762 QX, to crush the officer.

It was learnt that the incident happened within the agency’s yard when the driver, in a desperate attempt to escape, crushed the victim who was standing by the entrance gate.

Lagos Metro gathered that before the attempted escape, Agbariko was arrested by a LASTMA official, Sanusi, for reckless and

leaders over were supposed to be handled by the Lagos coordinator in charge of Heavy Truck Department, Comrade Richard Adeyanju, appointed by the national headquarters of the union.

He said the state council would direct the state coordinator to fix another time to meet the officers of the union for discussion on how to smoothen relationship between the union and men of the Nigerian Customs.

dangerous driving and also for violating relevant section of the state traffic law.

“The taxi driver who pretended to be complying by following the traffic officer to their yard demanded for the vehicle’s key on the pre-

text of removing vital document, ignited the engine and, in a dangerous attempt to escape, crushed the victim’s leg.

“The suspect has been handed over to the Area F police command for fur-

ther investigation while the victim is receiving medical treatment at the emergency ward of Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital, Yaba,” the agency disclosed.

General Manager of the agency, Bashir Braimah,

who confirmed the case while speaking at the hospital, condemned the action of some drivers in the habit of violating traffic laws and disrespecting traffic lights and officers on duty post.

Woman, younger brother burn housemaid with hot iron for rejecting garri meal •She is too stubborn -Suspect •I have interest in the case —CP Olalekan Olabulo A 56-year-old woman and her younger brother have been accused of torturing a 16-year-old maid with a hot iron.

The woman, Alhaja Fatima Williams, a resident of Allen Avenue area of Ikeja, however, claimed that the maid was too lazy and that she was not working for the money being paid her.

The two suspects have been arrested by the police at Ikeja divisional police station, after the plight of the girl wss reported to divisional police officer in charge of the station.

The woman told the police that she got the house maid from an agent, John, who brings young girls from the Republic of Benin to Nigeria to serve as househelp.

The woman, in her statement to the police, claimed that “the girl is too stubborn and always wee on the bed and each time I try to correct her, she would start

abusing me.”

She also added that “on that fateful day, because I asked her to kneel down as a punishment for refusing to carry out house chores, she went into the kitchen and attempted to consume a local insecticide that I kept in the kitchen.

“My younger brother who was ironing his cloth then tried to wrest the poison from her. It was in the process of trying to collect the insecticide from her that he flogged her severally with cane. She also got burnt by the hot iron during the struggle.”

The victim, Kemi Leona, however, denied the claims by her boss, stating that she was battered with hot iron for “Uncle Waliu then started flogging me with a wire. Not satisfied, he went inside and plugged a pressing iron, when it became so hot, Uncle Waliu started using it on me. I ran out of the house when I could not bear the pains anymore,” the girl

said.

She added that the woman had not paid her since she started working for her since January, adding that “anytime I ask her, she will say that she has paid the sum of N10,000 to the man who brought her.”

The state police boss, Fatai Owoseni, speaking on the incident, said the two arrested suspects would soon

The woman and her brother

be charged to court.

He described the case as a “man inhumanity to man” and wondered how the woman should have allowed the girl to be beaten to that state.

“I would personally see to the end of this case because it is a human interest case.

I have ordered my men to charge them to court,” the Lagos CP said.

A food seller (name yet known) was stabbed with broken bottles multiple times by a member of a cult group, simply identified as Nlanla, in Irawo area on Sunday evening.

The attack was said to have left several injuries on her, leading to her being rejected when she was taken to a nearby hospital within the community.

Lagos Metro gathered that there was a clash between the victim’s in-law and the cult members which Nlanla belongs to, several days before the incident.

It also learnt that after the quarrel between the victim’s in-law and the cult group members, the in-law escaped.

When the suspect could not get hold of the victim’s in-law, he reportedly warned the victim not to open her shop for any sales.

It was learnt that when the victim opened her shop on Sunday, Nlanla was contacted, and he reportedly stabbed the woman multiple times.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity told Lagos Metro who visited the place that the victim was threatened so that she could produce her in-law who escaped after the quarrel that ensued between them.

“The woman could not even run away. Nlanla took bottle, hit it on the ground and stabbed her all over her face and ran away.

“There was nothing anybody could have done. We all ran away because he is a notorious guy, he moves around with guns and other things. Everyone was scared of him,” the resident said.

Lagos Metro saw pieces of broken bottles and blood around the place.

Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the case, adding that the suspect was still at large while effort was said to be on to get him arrested.

8 news Sheriff lied —Fani-Kayode

S

POKESPERSON to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi FaniKayode, has dismissed as lies the claim by claimant to the position of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff, that he was renowned for “changing goal posts.”

Fani-Kayode also lampooned as “lies of a desperate and drowning man” Sheriff’s claims that he begged him for claiming that he was Boko Haram.

Fani-Kayode, reacting to assertions by Sheriff while featuring on a Channels television programme on Sunday night, said it was better for the PDP to kick out Sheriff in the interest of the sustenance of the party.

Contained in a statement he personally signed, he remarked that Sheriff was actually known for “changing goal posts,” evident in his being a member of the All Peoples Party (APP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the past few years, contrary to such allegations against him.

The statement partly read, “Lying Ali Modu

Sheriff told Channels TV last night that I sent people to beg him for claiming that he was Boko Haram.

These are the lies of a desperate and drowning man.

He came to destroy the PDP and if we did not rise

up against him and kicked him out when we did, he would have succeeded in his mission. I am proud to have been the first to see him for what he is and to publicly blow the whistle on him.”

‘Convention will hold as planned’ Continuesd from pg 5

mine the legality of the convention.

“Convention is going ahead as the Abuja Federal High Court is not superior to the Port Harcourt Federal High Court which earlier today gave us the go ahead.

Court of Appeal will sort it out,” he said.

In a statement in Abuja, on Monday night, entitled: “Re: Court Suspends PDP Convention…Our Convention still holds as scheduled” signed by Prince Dayo Adeyeye, member in charge of publicity, the

committee described the order of Justice Okon Abang as “another act of judicial recklessness” which would not stand.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn once again to another act of judicial recklessness by the Honourable Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Okon Abang of the purported suspension of the PDP national convention holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, August 17, 2016.

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

9

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Offer-Circular

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE NIGERIA Pursuant to the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act 2003 and the Local Loans (Registered Stock and Securities) Act, CAP. L17, LFN 2004

THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA on the authority of the

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE on behalf of the

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA Offers for Subscription by Auction and is authorized to receive applications for

N40,000,000,000 – 14.50% FGN JUL 2021 (5-Yr Re-opening)* N30,000,000,000 - 12.50% FGN JAN 2026 (10-Yr Re-opening)* N40,000,000,000 - 12.40% FGN MAR 2036 (20-Yr Re-opening)*

Auction Date: Settlement Date:

August 17, 2016 August 19, 2016

SUMMARY OF THE OFFER ISSUER:

Federal Government of Nigeria (“FGN”)

UNITS OF SALE: N1,000 per unit subject to a minimum subscription of N10,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter.

INTEREST RATE: For Re-openings of previously issued bonds, (where the coupon is already set), successful bidders will pay a price corresponding to the yield-to-maturity bid that clears the volume being auctioned, plus any accrued interest on the instrument.

INTEREST PAYMENT: Payable semi-annually

STATUS: 1.

Qualifies as securities in which trustees can invest under the Trustee Investment Act. 2.

Qualifies as Government securities within the meaning of Company Income Tax Act (“CITA”) and Personal Income Tax Act (“PITA”) for Tax Exemption for Pension Funds amongst other investors.

3.

Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange.

4.

All FGN Bonds qualify as liquid assets for liquidity ratio calculation for banks.

SECURITY: FGN Bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government of Nigeria and are charged upon the general assets of Nigeria.

REDEMPTION: Bullet repayment on the maturity date INTERESTED INVESTORS SHOULD CONTACT OFFICES OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PRIMARY DEALER MARKET MAKERS (PDMMs): Access Bank Plc. Citibank Nigeria Ltd. Coronation Merchant Bank Ltd. Ecobank Nigeria Ltd. FBN Merchant Bank Ltd.

First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. First City Monument Bank Plc. FSDH Merchant Bank Ltd. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd. United Bank for Africa Plc. Zenith Bank Plc.

* (1) The DMO reserves the right to alter the amount allotted in response to market conditions.

(2 Additional sum of N109.585 Billion 14.50% FGN JUL 2021 will be allotted on non-competitive basis.

(3) Retail Investors are encouraged to participate.

10 news

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Convention: Imo PDP crisis worsens as another exco emerges Joe Nwachukwu - Owerri

A

faction within the Imo State wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), True Democrats of Imo PDP, has inaugurated members of its executive with a former member of the State House of Assembly, Chief Greg Owuamanam, emerging as chairman.

The leader of the group and a one-time chairman of the party in the state, Dr Alex Obi, while speaking at the inauguration, which drew five members from each of the 27 local government areas of the state, lamented that the culture of impunity and imposition of candidates on the party for elections had become the bane of the party leading to its defeat in previous elections in Nigeria.

Dr Obi, a former governorship candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), angrily castigated some chieftains of the party in the state for masterminding the crisis rocking the party to achieve their 2019 ambition.

Said he, “But we said no to this kind of nonsense, hence we are calling ourselves the true democrats of the party in the state, even as he dismissed the parallel congress organised by the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha and others as mere inauguration of their campaign structures ahead the 2019 election, pointing out that by so doing they had closed the door for other party members

nursing ambitions.

“We are saying no because this party does not belong to any body or group and it does not belong to any party or individual, but to all of us and for us to rescue the party from where it is today, we must change from the way we do things.”

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the chairman of the new executive, Chief

Greg Owuamanam, thanked members for the confidence reposed in them through the election and promised not to disappoint them, even as the three zonal chairmen of the party, Chief Amaugo Ugorji (Owerri); Okey Dike (Orlu) and Chief Chibuike Amaechi (Okigwe), charged the members to go and disseminate the vision of the group to the grassroots.

PDP screens Bode George, Agbaje, Dokpesi, Adeniran, 53 others Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

NATIONAL Convention Screening Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, commenced the screening of candidates vying for various offices in the national convention of the party, holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday.

A total of 57 candidates were screened during the exercise, whi ch was conducted at the PDP state secretariat in Port Harcourt.

The screening committee was chaired by former Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, with other members, including former Governors Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto); Achike Udenwa (Imo) and Boni Haruna (Adamawa).

Other members were former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and the former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Josephine Anenih, while Rivers State Attorney General,

Emmanuel Aguma, was the secretary of the committee.

At the commencement of the exercise, the chairman of the committee, Dr Suswam disclosed that 57 candidates, who had purchased forms to contest elections into the various offices, would be screened.

Prominent among those screened on Monday were a former PDP deputy national chairman, Chief Bode George; former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran; Lagos State governorship candidate of the party in 2015, Mr Jimi |Agbaje and the chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who were all seeking to be the next national chairman of the party.

The three chairmanship candidates declared that they would accept the outcome of the national convention, even as they pledged that their loyalty remained with the party.

They also declared that they would support the process to rebuild the former ruling party at the centre after the national convention.

Adedoja kicks against zoning Vows to contest Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

AHEAD tomorrow’s national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, an aspirant to the Office of the National Chairman, Professor Taoheed Adedoaja, has kicked against the zoning arrangement, saying the decision to zone the office of the chairman to a specific state was an indirect form of imposition on other aspirants.

ProfessorAdedoja, from Oyo State, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja, declared that the same situation had forced many people out of the party, but assured that he would still go ahead to contest at the convention despite the micro zoning that zoned it to Lagos and Ogun states, adding that he

was sure of victory.

He pointed out that before coming out, he had made wide consultations with former leaders of the party to understand the reason behind the problems that had bedeviled the party.

Adedoja, who said the field should be left open for all candidates to contest to enable the people to make a popular choice to lead the party, said “if any leader in the South-West agreed to zone the chairman to Oyo, my home state or Lagos, I will kick against it.”

According to him, “the position of the national chairman is so sensitive and important for its occupant to be a product of any form of zoning, which will not afford the candidate the opportunity to actually interact with people from across the political for-

mations of the party.

“The office should be made competitive to the extent that any aspirant to such office should go round the country and seek the support of the people and not become a product of some people’s leaders.”

Adedoja said in all his quest for political office, both at state and national levels, he had pursued the path of peace and non-violence in his campaign, even when he lost such election.

He insisted that any candidate for the office of the chairman must believe in fairness, equity and rule of law in all that he does.

He said: “Humility should define the code of conduct of any leader and to lead a party such as the PDP, you need to understand the diversity and culture of the country.”

Immediate past Registrar/Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde (right), exchanging pleasantries with the deputy governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo, while the chairman on the occasion and chairman, Toky Industries Limited, Chief Olawuwo Oni, watches, during the civic reception held in honour of Ojerinde by the Ifelodun Omo Igboho, at Igboho, at the weekend . PHOTO: MOSES ALAO

Ex-JAMB Registrar denies rift with Education Minister Appreciates Buhari, ex-presidents, Nigerians

By Moses Alao

I

MMEDIATE past Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, has denied reports that he had disagreements with the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, which led to his removal from office, noting that contrary to the speculation, he left office on a good note with the minister.

This was as he appreciated former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity given to him to serve the country, adding that he was grateful to all Nigerians for allowing him the opportunity to serve in different capacities in the last 25 years.

Media reports in several newspapers (not Nigerian Tribune) had, following the removal of Ojerinde and 16 other heads of agencies in the Ministry of Education on August 1, hinted that the JAMB Registrar, whose second tenure was to expire April 2017, was removed because he had differences with the minister.

But Ojerinde, who put the lie to the claim, during a thanksgiving service held in his honour at the First Baptist Church, Igboho, Oyo State, maintained that he knew of his removal several hours before the announcement and, in fact, sent a text to the minister on the same day to appreciate him, adding that he visited the minister in his office a day after, with

the minister noting that his door remained open to him (Ojerinde) and that he wished Ojerinde had completed his term.

The former JAMB Registrar, who had, on Saturday, been given a triumphant welcome at a reception organised by the Ifelodun Omo Igboho, in conjunction with the Igboho Connect Group, stated that the removal did not shock him and that he had prepared his mind on any eventuality several months before he was removed, appreciating President Buhari and the minister for giving him the opportunity to stay in office till August 1.

According to Ojerinde, “I have always believed in God’s timing. I had prepared my mind that anything could happen and I can say that this development did not meet me unexpectedly. Even when I

met with the minister, who I respect as a good Muslim, and he said he would have loved that I finished my term, I told him that it was God’s time and that God’s time is always the best.

“I am grateful to him and to President Buhari, as well as his predecessors in office, Chief Obasanjo and Dr Jonathan. In fact, I am grateful to all Nigerians for giving me the platforms to serve my country in the last 25 years.”

Ojerinde was first appointed as the Director of Monitoring, National Primary Education Commission in 1990 and had since served in several capacities in the education sector, including the National Board for Education Measurement, Minna, which later became NECO as Registrar/CEO and JAMB, where he served for nine years.

Woman declared wanted by Nigerian Army reports to military continued from pg3

come forward and tell us where the group is keeping the Chibok girls and other abducted persons to enable us to rescue them,” Sani Usman, Army spokesman, had said in a statement.

“We are, therefore, calling on all Nigerians and peaceloving people to give us useful information on their whereabouts. We are also liaising with other security agencies for their arrest if they failed to turn up.”

Earlier on his Facebook page on Sunday, Bolori had written: “I have received several calls, that the Nigerian Army has declared me and other 2 wanted!

“What kind of system is

this that you’ll be declared wanted without being informed? If there’s any problem, invite me and I’ll honour your invitation.

“Besides, I don’t know what crime I have committed. Whatever the case, I have contacted the Army to provide a venue and they are yet to respond as expected. May God help us.”

This, he followed up with another post: “Sequel to my efforts to reach and report to them, the Nigerian Army asked me to return home and meet them tomorrow morning at 10.00 a.m.

“This was after several unanswered calls and messages I have sent them. May God grant us peace!”

businessnews Why Nigeria’s budgets fail —Udoma

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Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

B

udget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma says failure to link policies, plans, Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) and budgets has is the reason for deficient planning and poor budgeting outcomes.

Udoma, who spoke on Monday in Abuja, pointed out that countries with fragmented planning process which does not align with the annual budgeting process usually experience difficulty in implementing clear and consistent national policies.

Acknowledging that this has been the case with Nigeria over the years the Minister, who was speaking at a sensitization workshop on MTSS (2017-2019) organized by his Ministry for Federal Permanent Secretaries and Head of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), said it was necessary to bring them up to speed with the process of developing the MTSS as well as its relevance to the budget preparation process.

Referring to the theme of the workshop “addressing the approach to developing the medium-term sector strategies and plans”, the Minister said it is coming at a time the country was experiencing dwindling revenues occasioned by the declining price of crude oil in the international market and other disruptive developments in the polity.

According to a statement from Akpandem James, Media Adviser to the Minister, Udoma however emphasized the Buhari Administration’s commit-

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

ment to strengthening the linkage between plans and budgets to ensure better implementation of projects and programmes.

“We are also committed to fostering inclusive development which explains the unprecedented allocation of N500 billion Naira (half a trillion Naira) to social investment projects in the 2016 Budget of Change”, he added.

The current MTSS exercise, he pointed out, will be limited to selected critical sectors to support the preparation of the 2017 Budget.

“It is planned to roll out the MTSS process to all sectors/MDAs from 2017 and beyond. This is aimed at guiding MDAs for more efficient and effective investment of national resources in critical sectors of the economy, in line

Some actors in the agricultural sector, the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP-NIGERIA) and the National Agriculture Extention and Research Laison Services (NAERLS), have distributed over 30 agricultural technologies on seeds, livestocks, Poultry and fish to over 5000 farmers across Nigeria.

The Acting National Programme Coordinator, WAAPP-NIGERIA, James Apochi, during the exercise, expressed satisfaction on the progress the institute has made, adding that NAERLS is a huge success story for WAAPPNIGERIA, because the objectives of WAAPP is to generates and deseminate agricultural technologies

the spending of the Federal Government MDAs and the goals of MTDP (2017 -2020) and the SDGs. The minister said Nigeria has not been doing well in ensuring that budget outcomes achieve planned targets as most of the MDAs have also not been developing their MTSS and adopting it as a basis for budget formulation for several years.

From left: Ilupeju Business Manager, Sterling Bank Plc, Kemi Wilkey; President, Cooperative Society, Hogg Robinson Nigeria, Festus Okiya; Business Executive, Ikeja, Sterling Bank Plc, Eniola Obe and Relationship Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Mojisola Ewarawon at the presentation of cheque to Hogg Robinson Cooperative Society in the on-going Sterling Plus Cash Reward Promo held recently in Lagos.

Revenue: Customs records N52.5bn deficit in 2016 H1 Tola Adenubi-Lagos The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a deficit of N52.5bn between January to June 2016. The service collected N385.2bn in the first six months of 2016 against the N438.2bn it collected in the corresponding period of 2015.

This was disclosed in an

interview granted to journalists by the NCS Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeniyi on Monday.

According to him, “the service generated N197.7 billion from import duties in cash and generated N203 million from import duty in non-cash receipts as Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate (NDCC).”

Groups give 5,000 farmers agric inputs Collins Nnabuife-Abuja

with the Change Agenda.”

Just as the MTSS (20172019) of the selected MDAs will serve as basis for their 2017 budget proposals, it will also serve as credible input into the development of the 2017-2020 MTDP currently being developed under the coordination of the Budget and National Planning Ministry.

This is aimed at improving the linkage between

for adoption that would lead to increased agricultural Productivity in Nigeria.

Addressing farmers in one of the adopted village for the cultivation of improved seeds in Giwa local government area, Kaduna states, yesterday, Apochi promised that the programme will expand it scope and reach in the next phase.

He noted one of the ways to achieve it objectives is through the adoption of villages around the research institutes, while working with farmers group to ensure that the technologies gets to the grassroots.

The Coordinator of NAERLS, Professor Murtala Galadima, said with the help of WAAPP-NIGERIA, the institute have deseminated 30 different ag-

riculture technologies on poultry, crop production, livestock management, post harvest technology and income generation for women.

He explained that N21.876 billion was generated from excise duty; N910. 995 million from fees; N41. 418 billion from federation account levies and N49. 357 billion from non-federation accounts levies.

Adeniyi added that the service generated N74. 282 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT) during the period. He also statd that the decrease of N525.5 million in the revenue generated was due to economic recession.

“Access to foreign exchange and the drastic fall in the value of naira have also affected the service’s

revenue generation,” Adeniyi stated.

The NCS said the removal of the 41 items from the CBN foreign exchange window affected the revenue generation by the service.

“However, there are positive indications that the economy may bounce back in the last quarter of the year.

“We are working with Western neighbour of Benin Republic to strengthen our transit trade, particularly with vehicles.

“So, we expect that this will have a positive effect on our service revenue generation in the last quarter,’’ he concluded.

Diamond Bank excites customers with online loan application platform Diamond Bank has introduced an online loan application platform that allows customers to request for a loan, monitor and receive automatic feedback on the approval process anywhere, anytime without hassles.

With this, the bank has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to drive financial inclusion of the un(der) banked in the economy, and consolidated its revolutionary leadership role in the crusade for quality

service delivery through digital innovations.

The new Diamond loan application is a convenient, hassle free application and it is not limited to Diamond customers only, the bank said in a statement.

The bank added that the online loan application platform was in line with its vision to be at the forefront of using technology to deliver quality customer service that goes “beyond banking”, saying “with the

introduction of the Diamond loan platform in this technology driven age, it will be unnecessary for an individual to leave the comfort of his or her home to visit a branch to apply for a loan.”

Ayona Trimnell, Head, Corporate Communications Division of Diamond Bank, said the digital transformation offers invaluable benefits and advantages to the customer, pointing that the new online loan platform is simple and user-friendly.

Nigerian Tribune

Heads to roll in NPA over $56m Calabar dredging contract •Workers jittery as new MD begins probe Tola Adenubi-Lagos Investigations have revealed that some workers of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have developed cold feet over the decision by the new Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Balla Usman to revisit and probe the botched $56m Calabar Port Channel dredging contract awarded in 2006.

According to findings, some of the workers of the agency were in the know as to how the contract got bungled despite the fact that so much money was spent on it.

According to an impeccable source in the agency who declined not to have his name in print, “Some of our top management staff, past and present, were in the know as to why that contract failed. “That was why the dredging never took place. It was a cash cow for many of them.

Some have retired, some have even died, and some are still in service. Those still in service have started running from pillar-topost to save their jobs and avoid prosecution. But with the change mantra of this new management, I am very sure the long hands of the law will catch up with them.”

The new NPA MD made the comment about probing the Calabar Channel dredging contract at a press briefing with journalists at the end of her 2 days familiarisation tour of port facilities in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

The MD said she had already met with the Calabar Channel Management (CCM) Company demanding for the hydro graphic report and a full data on the status of the contract. She observed that many of the operators at the Calabar Port had shut down their operations due to the shallow channel which had impeded bigger vessels from berthing at the port.

“I have informed the management that we are going to have technical sessions next week to determine the level of dredging said to have been done,” she said.

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businessnews

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

AMCON has over N2trn in assets —Kuru

T

HE Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Kuru has said that the Corporation is currently managing assets worth over N2trillion.

He also said that the Corporation has the powers through the enabling Act to trace any asset or assets belonging to debtors and seize them through the courts even though such assets were not originally tendered in the loan agreement.

The AMCON boss disclosed this in an interview with the Economic Confidential.

Kuru said the assignments in the Corporation has been rough and tough.

He acknowledged that chasing debtors was the most difficult task facing the corporation just like in the banking system stressing that he has been very busy in debt recovery.

“We have been very busy to recover money. You know it is not easy to recover debts. If you give your neighbor who came to you under a distressed situation and lend him money, and promise to give you back the money when salary is paid at the end of the month, I can tell you nine out of ten cases will frown their faces when you approach them for refund”, adding that there are some debtors who perpetually do not want to pay debts.

Speaking further on assets and properties of debtors, Kuru said the Act that established AMCON empowers it to go after assets and properties of the debtors wherever they are.

“Our law gives us the

right to go after such assets. For instance, if you come under a vehicle and collect AMCON’s money and suddenly we realize that you are somewhere doing other businesses and you have taken our loans

for a different project, the law allows us to go after you so far we can link it to the loan.

The law also allows “Asset Tracing” which means that it is not only the asset you give us that we should

ors in the society, the AMCON boss said emphatically that “No matter how highly placed they are in the society, we will carry out our duty of debt recovery even in the face of intimidation.”

From left: Dere Otubu, former Chairman; Samuel Turoti, newly appointed Chairman and Dr Sakiru Oyefeso, Managing Director/CEO all of Staco Insurance Plc, at the 20th AGM of the company held in Lagos.

BOA to give single digit interest to farmers —Osinbajo Collins Nnabuife-Abuja

THE Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday, said that efforts are being put in place by the government to recapitalise the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) so that it can give loans to farmers at a single digit interest rate.

This is just as the Vice President said that 100,000 out of the 500,000 teachers that will be recruited soon will be trained as extension workers for Nigerian farmers.

Speaking at the official Launch /Public Presentation of the Agricultural Sector Roadmap, Professor Osinbajo said there is need to revamp the agricultural sector to be the major driver of the economy.

According to him “the Ministry of Finance has concluded plans to recapitalise and re-engineer the Bank of Agriculture, we expect that before the end of this quarter, the BOA should be ready to give single digit interest rate

Naira may appreciate to N300 per dollar —BDC operator A Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Harrison Owoh, on Monday, predicted that the naira might appreciate to N300 against the dollar within a week.

Owoh said the CBN’s directive to banks to sell $30,000 to BDCs weekly could be responsible for the imminent gain against the dollar.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the Managing Director, H J Trust and Investment Ltd., said seven banks had already done documentation for customers.

According to him, the ongoing documentation process was why the Naira had not appreciated immediately.

Owoh said once the banks were through with the documentation, the

go after.

If you have any asset, anywhere, once we can trace it, we can go to the court to obtain the possessing order”, he said.

Asked how he has been coping with powerful debt-

Naira would begin to appreciate against the dollar.

NAN recalls that the CBN had fortnight ago, announced additional regulatory measures aimed at improving dollar liquidity in the economy.

Specifically, the apex bank directed authorised dealers to sell foreign currency cash to BDCs, subject to a maximum $30,000 per BDC per week.

In turn, each BDC was required to nominate only one preferred authorised dealer through which it would purchase its weekly foreign exchange.

The authorised dealers’ selling rate to the BDC was stipulated at its purchase rate from its approved International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO).

Also, the BDCs were required to sell foreign ex-

change cash to end users at its purchased rate and a maximum margin of two per cent.

Last week, foreign exchange market witnessed sustained depreciation of the Naira against the dollar in all segments as foreign currency supply remained inadequate.

loans to farmers.

“We knew we had to set a right economy and put the economy in the path of inclusive growth and job opportunity for our huge population, one of the components of that plan is to position agriculture as the arrowhead of our economic recovery efforts.

“There is no question at all that if we get agriculture right, we will get the economy right”.

He added that the agricultural roadmap identified two key challenges which includes the inability to meet domestic food production and inability to export at levels for market acceptance.

The Vice President explained that “the problem have never being in the home or lack of policy it has always being the focus and capacity to stick to the plan to modify where necessary but to stick to the plan and ensure also that the plan aligns with all as-

pects of the economic plan of the government.

“This particular issue of alignment is crucial, just to give an obvious example, you cannot have a policy of encouraging production of food and on the other hand have a high tariff on imported agricultural equipment.

“There is no way that we can encourage local food production when we allow unbridled importation of the same thing that we are trying to produce.”

Professor Osinbajo also said that the government will train 100,000 farm extension workers out of the 500,000 teachers to be recruited for farmers.

On the planned primary school food feeding programme, the Vice President said “our home grown school feeding programme which is one good meal a day for primary school children is described as home grown specifically that the food will be from the farms of each state.”

Ex-NIPOST staff lauds new PMG’s appointment A retired officer of the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST), Chief Olopade Ajirotutu, has lauded the appointment of Mr Bisi Adegbuyi as the new Postmaster General of the Federation.

In a congratulatory message to the new NIPOST chief executive, he described Adegbuyi’s appointment as a case of putting a round peg in a round hole.

Ajirotutu in the statement said, “Without mincing words, this is a well-deserved appointment because you have excelled in your personal capacity as an entrepreneur and solicitor. You have also excelled as a politician. Definitely, these qualities are germane in turning around the fortunes of NIPOST. I wish you success in this new assignment.”

While calling on NIPOST

staff to cooperate with the new Postmaster General, Ajirotutu said the task of giving NIPOST a new lease of life required the cooperation of all.

“All hands must be on deck to build the NIPOST of our dreams. Therefore, I call on all NIPOST to give maximum cooperation and support to Barrister Adegbuyi so that he can lead NIPOST to a glorious height,” Ajirotutu said.

Nigerian Tribune

Africa Rice Centre trains 58 NASC officers on rice yield By ’Wale Olapade

AFRICA Rice Centre, Ibadan has trained 58 National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) officers on rice seed quality assurance and varietal recognition at Ibadan station on August 3, 2016.

The training workshop was informed by the continuously record of low yield in the quality of rice production in Nigeria has become worrisome among farmers and research Institute across the country.

This low yield which was attributed to adulterated seeds in the market has contributed to the unprecedented low rice production experienced by farmers.

In its quick intervention to save the situation, the Africa Rice Centre, Ibadan, commenced an implementation of a three-year project (2015 – 2018) with an international agency, USAID to drastically eradicate adulterated rice seeds from the channels of production through training of rice seeds producers and monitoring and inspection officers.

The Rice Seed Scaling project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is not a regular project but a technical assistance to add value to the urgent need for quality breeder and foundation seed – lacking in Nigeria. Over the years, the problem has been that rice seeds are recycled and adulterated leading to poor yield.

Speaking at the training, the Regional Representative of Africa Rice Centre, Nigeria station, Ibadan, Dr Francis Nwilene said “It was an informed decision by the separate stakeholders in the seed sector of Nigeria and the issue is adulterated in our system; can you call Faro 45 in Ibadan as the same things with Faro 45 in Kano? The answer is no.

“This is because of mixture of seeds and there are lot of adulteration, so, with this project, what we did was to go back to the basis, went back to our chambers where we have seeds stored for over 100, 60, 40 and 20 years and so, on under a control temperature of -20.”

The workshop which was on the capacity building of certification officers from the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), also ensured that rice seed producers nationwide conform to quality standards.

13

editorial

N

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Recurring jailbreaks

IGERIA’s jails are literally losing their shutters on an alarming scale these days. Stories of jailbreaks are so rife in the airspace that they have become a huge source of concern. The most recent story is the jailbreak at the Nsukka, Enugu State prisons. On August 17 this year, between the hours of 12.00 a.m and 3.00 a.m, an unspecified number of inmates escaped from the century-old prison, one of the colonial relics across Nigeria. However, the prison authorities later announced that six of the escapees had been found.

The escape of prisoners from jail houses has a lot of implications for the country, chief among which are security and justice. A prison escapee, who has not undergone the penance of a penitentiary, is forcefully decanted raw into society, with the potential to further inflict criminality on society. Again, the huge time and money that the state has spent on the prosecution of such a prisoner would be a waste and society would end up worse than it was before the committing of the crime for which he or she was jailed in the first place.

With the avalanche of socio-economic issues confronting Nigeria, there is the tendency to ignore the implications of prison breaks. Some people even grotesquely reason that the chaotic economic situation has made the country one huge prison, and so no one should bother about fellow inmates of a micro prison in a larger macro penitentiary exchanging one space for the other! Jailbreaks, especially their recurrence at this time, however pose grievous danger to the individual existence of Nigerians and demand urgent solutions.

While explaining the jailbreak to the press, the Controller of Prisons, Enugu Command, Mr. Isaiah Amariri, said that the facility, constructed to house 168 inmates, currently harbours 264 prisoners. This indeed is a major albatross of the Nigerian prisons. The facilities are daily being stretched to their limits, leading to a nullification of the objectives of imprisonment and ensuring that prisoners make every effort to escape the hellish life of the prisons.

Perhaps, the authorities are not aware that prisons are not strictly a home of punishment for infractions and malefactors.

They are reformatories with the aim of ensuring that when persons are sent to the jailhouse, they come back better and useful to society. The current situation in Nigerian prisons is akin to sending people to their deaths. This is tragic and unacceptable.

There is thus the urgent need to reform the thinking of Nigerian prison authorities and officials. They should be trained in the global trends and perception of reformatory centres, in order to know how civilised societies perceive their

prisoners and prisons. This will go a long way in de-radicalising their thoughts and conduce them to showing humanity and empathy to the prisoners in the course of managing them.

This training, coupled with noticeable improvement in the welfare of prison warders themselves, would most probably curtail the nefarious activity of diverting foods and amenities meant for the prisoners to private hands. Stories are told of how prison authorities divert these foods to themselves, leading to austerity in the prisons. The privileged ones among the inmates get their families to bring their food to the prisons, leading to security compromises and, in some cases, jailbreaks. The poverty and greed of prison authorities also ensure that wealthy prisoners are given illegal preferential treatments, chief of which is the usage of cell phones, with which jailbreaks are sometimes planned and executed.

Perhaps of the greatest concern are the obsolete facilities at the prisons. When they were constructed, many of them during the colonial era, it was not envisaged that they would be bursting at their seams with inmates, as they are currently.

Successive Nigerian governments seldom bothered to expand the facilities or to adequately maintain them. This has resulted in the collapse of infrastructure in the prisons and the colonial relics have become virtual opposites of what they were planned to be. In seeking to stop the recurring jailbreaks, therefore, government must ensure that prisons become habitable and reformatory. It should intensify vocational training in the prisons and ensure that those who desire education among the inmates actualize their dream. Nelson Mandela, we hasten to remind the authorities, obtained an LLB from the University of South Africa and graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town while undergoing imprisonment at the Victor Verster Prison.

Yet, the need to disinfect the minds of even government itself of its skewed perception of prisons cannot be over-emphasised.

Many government officials see prisons as death homes which should not be made habitable for inmates. Painfully, the jailbreaks epitomize protests against the inhuman conditions that are prevalent in them and the prisoners’ subtle rejection of a society that has consigned them to die in the death holes.

Nigerian prisons dehumanize inmates and the only weapon of resistance available to the prisoners is to seek to assert their humanity.

Government, in seeking to end jailbreaks, must thus pay attention to the inhuman states of the nation’s prisons. Modern prisons must be constructed across the nation and monitoring of food supplies and amenities conducted routinely. It is only when these have been done effectively that the nation can ask for peace in the prisons.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08055001747 or 08054005323.

It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Saving the naira against foreign currencies

N

O matter the financial policies the Federal Government takes towards stabilising the naira against other world currencies, the local currency will continue to fall if we don’t take the necessary steps as Nigerians to help our economy.

What is happening today should not have happened if our past leaders had done the needful by diversifying our economy.

We left a lot unattended to, while favouring importation. We could have developed as a manufacturing

country just like Germany, and one good thing about this is that we have the population to consume whatever we manufacture in the country.

In order to make excess wealth, some people of influence destroyed the electricity sector, thereby making Nigerians rely on imported generators. With a population of 180million people, do we know how much generator importers will earn if about 100million people buy generators?

It is also the lack of uninterrupted power supply

Still on IS, Shekau’s misunderstanding IT is shocking that the Islamic State (IS) can publicly pronounce a leader for Nigeria’s terror group, Boko Haram. This is the reason our security agencies must step up the war against the insurgents.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the IS leadership named Al-Barnawi as the leader of the sect, with Abubakar Shekau, who many have come to see as the face of Boko Haram, kicking.

Shekau stated that IS had betrayed him by naming another person as leader after he had pledged allegiance to the global terror group. It is being reported that the IS recognised leader, Al-Barnawi is the son of the founder of the group, Yusuf Mohammed.

Our security agencies now have more work to do now that IS has publicly commented on the situation in Nigeria. We don’t want an influx of jihadists into the country to carry out terror attacks against the Nigerian state and innocent citizens.

We should not forget that just last year, a Lebanese terrorist was caught trying to board a flight to Nigeria.

How he got the Nigerian visa is yet to be investigated. This situation was a serious security breach that ought to have been investigated, but today, nobody is saying anything about it.

If we don’t solve our security problems, then we will never be able to attract for-

eign investors.

•Ismail Sule, Offa, Kwara State.

that has killed our industries; the textile sector in the North, which used to employ hundreds of thousands of people have been totally ruined. Consequently, we are now an import-dependent economy, importing ridiculous items like toothpicks, water, wines, fruit juices, among others.

We may say that we are not in government, and, therefore, we have not contributed to the state the economy is in today, but for every imported item that we buy, we are also contributing to the collapse of the economy.

The mess we have found ourselves will take a while to be sorted out, but first, citizens must first play their part by buying only locally-made products.

After that, the government should ensure that everything must be done so that we can generate more electricity. Generat-

ing 5,000MW of electricity for 180million people is just so ridiculous, but when we achieve better electricity generation, more industries will be established, and more jobs created. It will, therefore, go a long way in diversifying our economy from be-

ing an oil-depend one to a manufacturing one.

As things are now, we don’t really know when the local currency will stop its free fall against other currencies, but we can only help the country by reducing our need for foreign currencies. We must stop

importing those items we can produce in the country, and with that, we can reduce the pressure on the naira.

•Fidelis Agbor, Benin, Edo State.

South Africa’s return as Africa’s biggest economy AFTER losing out to Nigeria the title of Africa’s biggest economy, South Africa, in just two years, has regained the top spot. It is not that everything is well economically with the former apartheid enclave. In fact, the economy in that country is also dwindling as a result of widespread corruption, unfulfilled government promises to the people, falling prices of commodities, among others, but South Africa does not rely on a single resource as Nigeria relies

only on oil for survival.

So the fall in oil price has drastically affected Nigeria so much that it could not sustain its leadership as the biggest economy on the African continent.

Even while we celebrated our economy overtaking South Africa’s two years ago, I didn’t believe that reflected in the lives of ordinary citizens. While Nigeria is struggling to generate5,000MW of electricity, South Africa generates over 45,000MW. The country can be likened to

any other country in Western Europe, with Cape Town even beating many other cities in Europe in terms of beauty and infrastructure.

In the case of Nigeria, while we had our ego massaged because of the title of being named Africa’s biggest economy, our citizens did not feel the impact of such.

Today, things have returned to the way they were, as South Africa has regained its number position on the continent.

In fact, if the truth must be told, we are just being over-ambitious comparing ourselves with South Africa when countries like Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, among other West African countries have better living indices than us.

It is high time our leaders returned to the vision of our founding fathers who believed we could use our human and natural resources to lead the way for other black nations of the world to follow. It is, therefore, a shame that we have not been able to be counted as a country that is desirous of real economic growth. Our over-dependence on crude oil has made our people lazy, and such, it has been fuelling corruption in the country.

I, therefore, want to advise the government of President Muhammadu Buhari not to be distracted with wanting the country to be Africa’s biggest economy. It should, however, be more concerned about how to make the country more comfortable for its citizens to live in.

•James Linus, Jos, Plateau State.

15

opinion

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

...Then, why have a baby?

H

E just wouldn’t stop talking! He commented on virtually everything- a ditch on the road, thick dark fumes from dying engines, long petrol queues, a deserted NNPC mega station, black markets by the road side…. He just kept on. I had targeted the first cab so I could do some brooding in the 45mins to about an hour it would take to get me to my destination but it became crystal as the car barreled up the express way that ultimately, I would have to kiss that dream goodbye and I did.

In my frustration, I began to wish that I possessed the same powers as, Hera, wife of great Greek god, Zeus. Hera had used her powers to cast a spell over Echo, the loquacious mountain nymph, who was having an affair with Zeus but would often engage Hera in long-winded conversations, giving Zeus enough time to evade her whenever Hera invaded Mount Kithairon in search of Zeus.

When Hera realised this plot, she cursed her, reducing her speaking capacity to one that could only repeat the last words another person just said.

In my silent outrage, I could have cast the same spell on the middle aged man if I was a Greek goddess au contraire, I could only sit quietly and with a grimace on my face!

Ironically, I didn’t wear that grimace for too long because a little while after fuming, his words subtly began to arouse my curiosity and a treacherous smile started to play across my lips. I did everything mortally possible to extirpate it, but the wild beast was not to be tamed. Instead, it broke into an ebullient laugh, leading the cheer for the middle aged man’s fan club. He smiled in acknowledgment, geared up to fire on while I waited for his next words with fervid curiosity, but his phone rang and it was his grown up son…

Man: “hope you are doing great? I am on my way home, we will finalise the issue when I get there. How is the young lady?”

Son: “She is doing alright but she is nervous, she fears you may not like her enough as a daughter-in-law” Man: “that depends on whom and what she is but make sure you don’t get her pregnant. Times have changed. She must be bringing something to the table- a career or a skill. If you marry a liability, you are doomed to a miserable life time of poverty, you will have babies you can’t feed” Some mental lightening struck in my head and the nerves in my brain picked up a higher voltage as he spoke the words

veracity with Vera Onana

veraonana@gmail.com 08054680688

“babies you can’t feed” but as the lightening subsided, an epiphany widened before my eyes like ripples over a stream.

When we consider the problems of Nigeria, when we chew on the carcinogenic bane of our mother land, words like lawlessness, unemployment, epileptic power supply, terrorism, crime, environmental degradation, decaying economy and the most ubiquitous of them all, corruption easily sweeps into our mind.

As a matter of fact, in Nigeria today, corruption is considered the greatest enemy of the state and must be annihilated at any cost. Since PMB took over the reins of this nation, all his administration has done is witch hunting.

Like King Uther of Merlin’s Camelot, who swore not to allow any form of sorcery in the city, PMB and his crew declared a clamp down on corruption from day one, but has this turned our national fortune around?

The question that has condemned my grey matter to a fierce state of entropy is this- Is corruption really Nigeria’s greatest problem? I employ us to consider this with grave insight. Is corruption really the substratum and the vertex of our national woes? I thought the same till the scales fell off my eyes, thus, I beg to posit the contrary.

1n 1960, Nigeria had a population of 45,211,614. Those who lived in the periods after independence indeed ate the good of the land. They tell juicy tales about those that displayed inexplicable brilliance being given opportunities to study at the best universities abroad on government scholarships.

Those who went to federal universities being treated like kings. Between 1972 and 1985, a naira was equivalent to a dollar and graduates were sent employment letters in their

homes. That was our country.

Today, with an estimated population of over 183,000,000, growing at about 2.8 per cent per annum, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with a prediction of her population running into over 300 million by 2050. Country men, that is precisely three decades and five years from now.

We seem not to understand the enormity of the consequence that is already, as a matter of fact, trailing our sprawling population. All we chant is change and what do we point our tainted fingers at?-Corruption.

Perhaps, if we try to examine this conundrum with our mind’s eye, we may begin to peel off the wool covering our physical eyes layers by layers like the onion sheds its skins.

Our biggest problem in Nigeria is not corruption, yes, it is one of our numerous other problems, but it is not the root of our multifarious problems. Nigeria’s undoing is her unchecked population growth stemming from indiscriminate procreation. Why do we keep having babies we cannot feed? Based on UNICEF statistics, in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive, the cost of raising a child from birth to age 17 is estimated at US$16,200 (N4,212,000) yet a man who works a menial job in Nigeria has a dozen children or even more.

How won’t we have an increased rate of crime with unfed babies? They would in time learn to fend for themselves somehow, won’t they? How can terrorism be curbed when millions of children are uncared for and have no roof over their heads? Environmental degradation is inevitable in a society where population size far outgrows our rapidly depleting natural resources; unemployment will definitely be on the rise when over one thousand people have to compete for one spot, money –laundering, stealing from public coffers will not cease as long as people act individually, damning the best collective interest out of avarice and a desire to feed too many and more unborn babies.

In 1983, late king of pop, Micheal Jackson, released the single “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin”, three decades later, his lyrics poignantly addresses our national problem “If you can’t feed your baby, then don’t have a baby, you will be always trying, to stop that child from crying - hustling, stealing, lying…”

What public varsities can learn from private ones

By Ayo Olukotun PRIVATE universities have become, in the last decade, an influential fixture of Nigeria’s educational landscape.

Unplanned expansion of public universities, still the main players, has deepened the crisis of underfunding and of dysfunction manifested in frequent disruptions of the calendar, as a result of which private universities have begun to look like islands of refuge in a turbulent sea. Parents, including lecturers, in public universities are increasingly accessing the auspices of the private universities with their stable calendar to educate their children.

Let us recognise, however, that it doesn’t say much for private universities that they are expanding by default of a derelict state, unable to provide minimal services to helpless citizens.

In other words, to be worthier, our private universities must do more than merely occupy the space vacated by a state that has reneged on the social contract and become attractive in their own rights.

In the United States for example, private universities such as those of Harvard, Yale and Princeton dominate front positions in international league tables. This means that citizens can exercise the power of choice between more expensive but toprated private universities and cheaper universities funded by public money, most of which are efficient though they are not in the top league. This is an entirely different architecture from what we have in Nigeria where there is little to choose between up-and-coming private universities lacking the resources and visage of established institutions and the older public universities caught in a double whammy of serial unrest and eroding budgets.

This is the context which has forced the exodus of Nigerian undergraduates from privileged backgrounds to overseas universities.

It should be noted that budgetary cuts in higher education are not limited to Nigeria but are a global trend and university administrators find themselves increasingly responding to financial jolts through inventive funding devices. That notwithstanding and within the constraining ambience of Nigerian higher education, there is the possibility that our public universities can nudge upwards if they learn some lessons from certain aspects of the culture of our private universities.

Our public universities can borrow from the private ones a student-centred learning culture which prioritises teaching and detailed attention to the needs of the students.

For example, the interesting practice whereby lecturers in private universities are expected to submit at the beginning of each semester instructional materials replete with course outlines, summaries of lecture notes has helped to focus attention on the preparation, content and quality of instruction.

It also makes it possible to see the extent to which lecturers are updating and keeping abreast of developments in their disciplines.

True, the larger students’ population in public universities sometimes militates against detailed attention to students. It should be possible, however, to experiment with Oxford style tutorial classes which were once features of instruction in the

older universities.

The other lesson which our public universities can usefully learn from their younger cousins concerns the speed of decision making, timelines and policy implementation. While the committee system is an insurance against arbitrary power, it sometimes leads to the unfortunate consequence of bogging important decisions down in endless rounds of meetings.

In other words, it should be possible to turn around the managerial culture of our public universities while preserving the verification essence of their administrative procedures.

Importantly, if our public universities are not to be consigned to obsolescence, they must somehow be able both to generate more resources than they currently do, as well as maximise them, by cutting waste for enhanced productivity. Charging modest fees is an often canvassed but politically explosive option because of an ingrained culture of free or virtually free public education. However, this writer believes that if the public is sensitised ahead of marginal increases and not ambushed to sudden jumps in fees, Nigerians will be willing, as they already do, to pay more to get better education.

One sore point concerns the instability of academic calendars in our public universities with the University of Ilorin being an exception because of its success, even if controversial, in taming the power of militant unions. As a former President of the Obafemi Awolowo Students’ Union myself, I am reluctant to criticise students and workers’ militancy. But as Prof. Niyi Akinnaso reminded us in his article recently, militancy must not be pursued to the point where it denatures or imperils the system. This, of course, implies that management itself should be proactive while government, the proprietors should become more sensitive to the need to safeguard the sanctity of university calendars.

•Olukotun is a professor of political economy.

16

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

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2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

JAN

405

3,339

8,362

12,000

12,000

FEB

251

6,579

7,081

15,000

15,000

MAR

207

5,224

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631

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1,998

5,856

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JUN

2,399

9,292

9,102

15,000

15,000

JUL

3,202

5,084

6,428

15,000

15,000

AUG

2,449

7,316

15,000

15,000

15,000

SEP

2,767

9,815

15,000

15,000

15,000

OCT

2,387

6,959

15,000

15,000

15,000

NOV

2,355

6,969

15,000

15,000

15,000

DEC

2,148

7,515

12,000

12,000

12,000

TOTAL (UNITS) TOTAL (NAIRA)

21,199

79,850

129,158

174,000

174,000

575,838,108

2,161,122,174

3,418,894,382

4,320,768,000

4,320,768,000

MONTH

GRAND TOTAL (UNITS)

578,207

DISTRIBUTING POWER, CHANGING LIVES

TOTAL COST (NAIRA)

14,797,390,664

17

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

18

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed (right), with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, during a courtesy visit by the monarch to the Government House, Ilorin.

From left, Alhaji Chief Alani Kafidipe, the Baajiki of Egba Muslim; the new Osi of Egba Muslim, Alhaji Tajudeen Adisa; Alhaja Sakirat Adisa, the Iyalode of Onikolobo Central Mosque and Alhaji Sherifdeen Ogunrinola, the Oganla of Egba Muslim, during the installation of Alhaji Adisa as the Osi of Egba Muslims, at the Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

From left, General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi; deputy governor of Osun State, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and the chairman, Osun House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, during a crusade at Osogbo City Stadium, recently.

Mr and Mrs Ayomipo Boyejo during their wedding in Abeokuta, on Saturday.

Members of K1 De Ultimate Fan Club, after a meeting held recently in Lagos.

From left, bride’s father and chairman, Henry George Nigeria Limited, Ilorin, Sir Prince Oladimeji Ladi Thompson; the bride, Former Miss Juliet Olawumi Oladimeji; her husband, Amachukwu Victor Chukwuemeka and the bride’s mother, Lady Margret Abiodun Oladimeji, after their wedding in Ilorin.

Newly wedded couple, Oluwatoyin and Olutayo Ademola, flanked by bride’s parents, Venerable and Mrs Olusola Akinfolarin, after their wedding recently.

From Left: Olamide Amosu, Marketing Communication Manager, Infinix Mobility; Oladapo Oyebanjo a.k.a. Dbanj; Slot Ambassador; Usman Horlarniyi Boladale, Infinix Social Media largest selfie winner and Emmanuel Nwachukwu, Head of Operations, Slot systems Limited, at the launch of the Infinix-Hot at Slot, Ikeja Shopping Mall, at the weekend. PHOTO: OVADJE ELLIOT

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

19

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com

WhyPDPmustnotmissthisopportunity—Adeniran We should not conduct our affairs in a way that it excludes some people, in a way that does not follow due process; in a way that is not consistent with a decent approach in the organization of a political party. I was surprised that they were certain meetings; I wasn’t aware of any. I only read about it that different groups gathered here and there. In any case, everybody has the right to contest and those of us who mean well for the party; who are contesting not out of self-interest will try our best to convince the delegates for their support, for their mandate.

As delegates converge on Port Harcourt, Rivers State for the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a chairmanship contestant and former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran, speaks with KUNLE ODEREMI on his chances, significance of the convention, and other issues.

BEYOND the need to elect new national leaders, what does the current national convention portend for the PDP? Among the members of our great party, particularly the delegates, there is this conscious effort that we get it right this time, so that we have a leadership that is able to correct the mistakes of the past; a leadership that will able to transform the PDP from a party that condones imposition, impunity and all kinds of things, which happened in the past and were not in the interest of internal democracy. People are concerned to that. Right now, we have learnt our lessons, and we should not make that mistake again.

People are concerned that, in view of the prevailing circumstances and situations, whereby the All Progressives Congress (APC) has led people astray, as it has more or less deceived the people and is unable to rise to the challenges of the moment, there is the need to get the right type of leadership for the PDP that will be able to bring an end to the current crisis and move Nigerians away from the present difficulties.

Second, I have been encouraged by the fact that people appreciate integrity; they appreciate commitment to the nation and to those values that motivated the founding of the PDP. Our mission, our vision was so edifying; so inspiring that many people hoped to join the party all over the country. That is why you find the PDP, not just in every local government area of the country but in every ward and every community. It is very inspiring to see people giving words of encouragement and getting ready to play their own role. They are keen on getting the right leadership for this great party.

But your aspiration seems not to enjoy the support of PDP governors who constitute a major power bloc in the party? It is believed they propped up another contestant from the SouthWest I am not aware of that. Our governors, my brothers—we are friendly; we have a common vision to transform the party to get the very best for it. I’m sure they will all vote for me. I have a very high regard for them.

They also have regard for me. They also appreciate what I can do for the party. Indeed, there could be some ideological differences between some of us, but that does not mean that as brothers and patriots and fellow travellers in the same political party, at the end of the day, they will not give me their support. They will show solidarity and join hands with me to transform the party.

Another insinuation is that PDP has become a hard sell to the Nigerian public, in view of the wide ranging al-

There is a proposition by stakeholders in the zone for a consensus candidate so that the South-West does not go to the convention as a divided house and possibly lose the coveted seat to the South-South, where a particular aspirant has stuck to his gun despite the zoning of the post to the South-West.

I don’t know about that. If there is a meeting point, I think in a situation like this, if the aspirants get together and then sort out themselves, it is a good idea. But I am not aware it is going on. I feel that in the absence of a meeting of minds by those who are aspiring, everybody should sell their ideas, their vision, their mission, the programmes they have for the party and their perceptive and of course, backed by their antecedents, people will be able to make a choice and I don’t think it is something we need to worry.

Adeniran legations of massive corruption and graft levelled against some of its major actors in the last political dispensation?

There is no question about it that a seeming hangover is there. There are certain challenges. We have to change that perception on what the PDP did. We have this hope that we will be able to actualise our potentials. That is why some of us are not living in the past. We are looking ahead; we are in tune with the hopes of the people; their expectations will be realised, and we will not be living in the past by doing those things that brought us to the present situation.

We want to rise and we want to move and we want to transform, not just the PDP but the society at large so that by the time we get our acts together, we will be able to come out with new ideas with issues that will consolidate internal democracy within the party, unite the various groups within the party and bring together all the forces at work in the interest of our party; in the interest of democracy and in the interest of Nigeria as a whole.

Some claim you should have acquiesced to the decision of PDP SouthWest leaders to zone the chairmanship to Lagos and Ogun states by putting your aspiration on hold?

I’m not aware of any leaders of the SouthWest taking a decision on that. I’m aware that different groups met in different places; they were some who met in Ibadan; they were some who met in Akure and so on,

We are looking ahead; we are in tune with the hopes of the people...We want to rise and we want to move and we want to transform, not just the PDP but the society at large. each trying to sell the candidate of their preference. If the leaders of the party in the zone are to meet, all members of the Board of Trustees would be invited; all members of the National Assembly and some other key stakeholders, the governors and so on, are critical stakeholders, and of course, some party executives will be invited there.

It would not be one that is being organised by just one aspirant and some of his sympathizers. So, it is not something I consider as having occurred. There are so many; we read about different groups. And it is not good for our democracy. But a reign of impunity is something we are trying to run away from.

Democracy is a culture, a very fine culture.

Don’t you think the South-West could lose the seat if it is unable to forge a united front before the convention?

I don’t foresee it happening. I believe in that God that I serve. By the spirit of the Almighty God, I am convinced that I am going to emerge as the national chairman of the party. I am convinced that my God who knows that I mean well for the party and that I mean well for this country would grant me that grace of becoming the chairman so that I can serve for the sake of our great party and for the goodness of the country.

What do you believe puts you in good stead over others in the chairmanship race?

Well, I am one of those who can be regarded as the foundation members of the party, who have the conception, vision and mission of the party and I have been consistent in serving the party in various circumstances. Of course, I know that other compatriots have played their part. Everybody has done what you would consider necessary for the PDP. But, one other thing of course is that in terms of acceptability, and so on, I have said it before and I will want to repeat it again that I am one leader that, by the grace of God, can claim to have never lost in his polling unit, ward, local government, state and national, and I feel very grateful to God for this.

It is an affirmation of the acceptance and regards my people have for me; that no matter what comes, no matter the indignation, they will vote for the party they know that I identify with; the party they know I brought to my state; the party they know I was one of those who facilitated its inauguration.

20

politics&policy

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

APC’s approval rating less than 10 per cent now —Adeyeye

In this interview with JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, a former National Publicity Secretary and member of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), speaks on the crisis in the party, the national convention in Port-Harcourt and other issues. Excerpts:

W

HAT is the position of the National Caretaker Committee (NWC) of your party on the insistence of Senator Ali Modu Sherrif that the only way peace can return to the party is to sack the national caretaker committee, and fix a new date for a convention at a neutral ground?

I am not aware that he (Sheriff) made the two demands that you have just mentioned. Last week, we had a very long meeting which lasted till the early hours of the next week, discussing his demands.

These ones were not mentioned and they are actually not negotiable. We can’t discuss the sack of the Caretaker Committee put by a convention of the party which is higher than all of us. It is the highest organ of the party, we can’t vary whatever decision it has taken. The Caretaker Committee will windup, hopefully with the successful conclusion of the convention on August 17.

Are you not worried by the number of court cases on the neck of the party and do you think going to court is the best solution?

It is not the best. People have been taking the party to court and using the courts to resolve problems, which should not be the case. They are even using the courts to impose executives on the party from ward to state and even the national level.

They believe that the whole idea of participatory democracy is not necessary. If we continue toeing that path, democracy would be jeopardised.

I will like to enjoin the incoming National Working Committee and NEC of the party to look into the issue and sanction those who go to court without even exhausting the process of the party for redress. They need to exhaust all the mechanisms of the party for resolution of conflicts before rushing to the courts. Those who rush to the courts every now and then should be sanctioned . It should be clear that these people should face expulsion. It is unfortunate that people continue to take the party to court and now we are saddled with serious of court cases.

I have been in party politics for quite some time. Before this time, even from the days of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP), did you see anybody going to court?

Even when candidates were banned, did you see anybody going to court? They accepted it, so I don’t see this kind of thing happening in any other political party, not even the ruling party, APC. It’s pure indiscipline and I believe that there are some people who are engaging themselves with external forces to destabilise the PDP, so we wouldn’t be able to come out strongly to challenge this non-performing APC come 2019.

You mentioned sanctions, but even the Nigerian constitution rec-

ognises any aggrieved person going to court...

We are saying that every organisation, whether it is Rotary Club or Boys Scout, has a mechanism for resolution of conflicts and those things must be exhausted before you resolve to go to court. Now, where there is even no conflict at all, people rush to court to put themselves in charge. We are now getting to a situation where people don’t even participate in the congress of their state; they don’t even offer themselves as chairman, but they go to court and say it should recognise them as chairman. Is that democracy?

The courts are not doing a good job. In fact, if they are not careful, they will be the institution that will destroy this democracy. This won’t happen in another country of the world. See what is happening in America now; they are not going to court.

But if it were to be in Nigeria, people would have gone to court to stop Donald Trump in the Republican Party.

Do you think tomorrow’s convention would end the crisis?

It will go a long way in helping us to solve the problem. Let us put a NWC in place, let there be court cases. They have a fresh mandate for four years and will begin to settle a lot of issues. Those who are not working for the good of the party wouldn’t want this convection to hold so that we can continue a session of crises.

We don’t want that.

Do you suspect any external forces in the crises?

Of course yes! It is very clear that the APC always wants PDP to be in pieces because they know that the peace of the PDP means their own demise. The people of Nigeria are fed up with APC. Let’s be factual, if we conduct a credible opinion poll in this country today, this government will not score up to 10 per cent. The masses are suffering, people are in disarray. Nigeria’s unity is falling apart. The government is insensitive to so many matters— religious matters, ethnic matters.

Nobody is happy. Even the Northerners are embarrassed by the appointments the President is making. I can tell you that I have Northern friends who are not happy with this. They feel embarrassed. This is a very complex society and you don’t just behave as if you are operating in your family. The people are not happy, and the APC believes that in the next election, they cannot campaign on their records, a complete failure. I can say it even right now they are a complete disaster, they cannot compete on their record. They can only hope to succeed if there is no opposition and that is their strategy. Of course, if Nigerians have no alternative platform, they would have to continue living with them.

Modu Sherrif is still insisting that he is the authentic national chairman of the PDP based on court pro-

Adeyeye nouncements, what is take on this?

Court pronouncements? You journalists, court pronouncement has also said he is not the chairman; judgments, not even orders. Let him display one full judgment of court that says he is the national chairman. There are two court judgments that say he is not the chairman, so which one do you want us to continue to obey? Let him obey the Court of Appeal judgments, let him go on obtaining court injunctions upon injunctions. It’s his headache. I can tell you that.

One of the mandates given to your Committee at the convention is to reconcile aggrieved party members and to organize processes that would lead to a credible convention.

How far have you gone in fulfilling this mandate?

We did that. We tried to as much as possible to reconcile so many warring factions in different states of the country, and we tried tremendously, 99 per cent of the party is united today. Don’t forget that when we were in Port Harcourt the last time, there were people in Abuja holding a parallel convention. The members of the BoT were in disagreement with us, everybody was in disagreement with us. Very

Those who rush to the courts every now and then should be sanctioned . It should be clear that these people should face expulsion.

powerful forces in Abuja were saying no, they wouldn’t cooperate. All those people have been brought on board and that is a big credit to this caretaker committee.

We have been able to bring all of them on board, the only person with his two members still against the unity of the party is Modu Sherrif. Everybody else has come on board and that is a major credit to the caretaker committee. I will say, without being immodest, that we can pat ourselves on the back for the great reconciliation work we have done in various states.

Today, it is even the people that were in Abuja holding a parallel convention that are now in the forefront, fighting for the unity of the party.

Have you ever reached out to Senator Sheriff ?

Yes, we have made several attempts reaching out to Senator Sheriff to come over and even as I speak to you, our hands of fellowship is still being extended to him.

Let him meet us half way and shake our hands. If he genuinely loves PDP, if he genuinely wants PDP to take over power in 2019 from the hands of people who don’t know how to manage it, then he should make the sacrifice. Whatever your grievances, please bury them. We all have grievances. Bury them and come on board for the unity of the party rather than making unnecessary demands. There is noting too big for you to sacrifice for the good of the party.

The Caretaker chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarif and even yourself stated that none of you would contest for any office at the coming National Convention, but there is this rumour that two of your members are contesting and have not resigned. Can you clear the air on this?

It is no rumour; they are and they have resigned since over a week ago; we are only five now.

21

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 08111845048

features

In my blind anger, I had forgotten I was holding the big padlock we used for the main gate. I just knew I was holding something and I threw it at him. Next thing I knew, he was holding one side of his face, bleeding profusely. And that was how he lost that eye. I look at him every day and I wonder if he will ever forgive me

Anja Ringgrenloven, a Danish humanitarian worker, who saved half-starved Hope left to die by his parents in Akwa Ibom.

Parental failure:

The rise, implications It is a popularly held notion that, regardless of whatever the circumstances are, parents have the utmost duty to love their children. However, in recent times, more and more incidents of parental aggression towards their children are making news headlines, with a large percentage of such cases kept under wraps. KEHINDE OYETIMI examines causes of parental offensives towards their children and recommendations for realigning such hostilities towards positive development.

H

E gave a ridiculously cocky smile; there was nothing remorseful about his temperament. He was slim but not pleasantly or well-proportioned. As he was interviewed by the reporter, he was proudly contemptuous. Perhaps he was not aware of the gravity of the charges leveled against him. He was a self-professed cleric; his hair was unkempt, displaying much of a personality that was undesirable. He was a father but many would argue that he lacked the needed milk of paternal affection.

The public approval that greeted the arrest of Mr Francis Taiwo, a cleric with the order of the Celestial Church of Christ was

in itself a pointer to the growing condemnation of awful parental practices across the country. Francis Taiwo had come under severe public denunciation following the discovery of his alleged inhuman treatment meted out on his son, nine-year-old Korede Taiwo. Korede, who had been incarcerated in chains for months without food, cut a disturbing sight of barbarity and violent cruelty. While speaking to the press, Korede’s father defended his action saying he did it in an attempt to ‘cast out the evil spirit which made Korede steal.’

A maltreated Korede, after his rescue, stated that “It is true that I stole a pot of soup and a bowl of eba in our house. My father’s inability to give money to my

stepmother for the upkeep of the family caused it. When I was chained, my father and stepmother fed me twice a day. Some days, I was not given any food. I want to go back to school because I want to be a doctor in future. I do not want to go back to my father’s house.” Korede’s father’s police statement smirked of one who was unperturbed by his action when he wrote that “I chained Korede because he is possessed. An evil spirit makes him to steal.

He needs deliverance.”

How I helped my son lose his eye – Mr Umoh Mr Eric Umoh’s demeanor exuded regret. He held his first son close, but he kept

averting his eyes from the reporter. Eventually, his son got up and went into the house. Speaking with our correspondent, while refusing to have his photograph or that of his son, Michael, taken, Mr Umoh stated that the evening of the life-altering incident for the family had begun as usual, but by nightfall, his son had lost one eye, all due to his recklessness and the attempt to be a parent.

His father, a driver, had come home earlier than usual and met him playing, still in his school uniform. Already angry that his day had gone badly, because his boss had reprimanded him for late delivery, he called Michael to beat some sense into his head, but Michael wouldn’t budge.

“I was really angry with him, His mother said she had just returned from the market and had shouted at him for not changing out of his uniform on time, but Michael had ignored her. That only made me feel worse. In my blind anger, I had forgotten I was holding the big padlock we used for the main gate. I just knew I was holding something and I threw it at him. Next thing I knew, he was holding one side of his face, bleeding profusely. And that was how he lost that eye. I look at him every day and I wonder if he will ever forgive me,” Mr Umoh stated.

Last week, the Ogun State Police Command arrested a housewife, Fatimoh Olanrewaju, for allegedly breaking the arms and legs of her 5-year-old stepson, Iyanu. The biological mother of the victim was said to have divorced the father about two years ago, and the victim had been living with his stepmother and his father.

The alarming discovery of such actions, signposts an ominous trend of poor parenting and its many implications. Child abuse, female genital mutilation, child labour, child trafficking and other allied infractions have been described as the numerous manifestations of poor parenting.

The overall wellbeing of a child has always remained an immense outcome of the type of parenting that the child gets. The Economist Intelligence Unit carried out a global survey in 2012 after which it gave Nigeria a Continues pg22

22

features

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

‘Immaturity, financial insecurity responsible for parental aggression’

Abubakar Malami, AGF

Korede Taiwo Continued from pg21

rather horrid rating by concluding that Nigeria was one of the worst countries in the world to raise children or for a child to be born.

Early this year, Anja RinggrenLoven, a Danish humanitarian worker, saved the life of a child whose name was Hope, in Akwa Ibom. Hope who could not have been more two years old was abandoned by his parents and left to die. Hope’s only offence was his parents’ perception that he was possessed by evil spirits. Left on the streets to die, Hope had to feed on the benevolence of passersby who threw crumbs at him to stay alive. The Danish worker, shocked by the pitiful spectacle that Hope had been reduced to, picked him up and took him to a nearby hospital where he was treated and given blood transfusion.

Why parents may be hostile to their children –Psychologist Professor of Psychology and head of the Psychology Department, University of Ibadan, Benjamin O. Ehigie, in a chat with Nigerian Tribune, noted the factors that contribute to parental aggression, especially as it concerns children.

In his opinion, “The environment plays a major role. Many families are facing harsh economic situations and maintenance of these children requires some finance.

When the parents have the intention of really caring for these children and financial requirements are lacking, it leads to a state of approach avoidance conflict. Approach in the sense that the father is willing to cater to his children but is now incapacitated by the state of the economy, where salaries are not paid regularly, or a situation in which the salary paid is not even enough to take care of the children. This could lead to what we refer to as displacement of aggression.

When the parents cannot fight the source of these barriers, which can be the government or the employer, they then shift the aggression to the nearest person, which can be the wife or the children. And as such, they can become victims of these situations.

“We also have high levels of inclination towards religion and beliefs, whereby people tend to heed to what their spiritual god-

fathers tell them and some say they hear voices from God and as such subject their children or other loved ones to undue threat and hardship. Like the example of the cleric, Francis Taiwo, they may take such as punishment, under the guise of driving out demons. Apart from the environmental factors of the economy and religion, there is also the effect of negative association. Unfortunately too, the media contribute because the more of these negative occurrences they relate to the public, more people tend to be open to ideas on how punishment can be meted out on loved ones.”

Is parenting becoming less attractive?

Speaking on if parenting was becoming less attractive, compared to what obtained in earlier times, Professor Ehigie noted that it was possible.

According to him, “Before, there used to be social gratification in having children, but now, with the acceptance of the concept of family planning, the cost of maintaining children is getting higher. Unfortunately, one of the joys of having children before was that when these children grow up, they start working and they reciprocate, by giving attention to their parents,

It is wrong to say that the harsh economic realities of our time are enough to justify the treatments meted out to children. As a parent, I know what it implies to be in need. Parenting is a huge responsibility.

Unfortunately, many people are losing it and this is disturbing.

Acting IGP, Ibrahim Idris but these days, one spends a lot of money bringing up children. Some parents sponsor their children through Master’s and even PhD degrees, and parenting with such factors can be discouraging. Before, parenting was an investment and one would reap the benefits later, but now, one just invests and invests and some parents die investing, without even getting any benefit from the children.”

In his assessment, Biodun Bello, lecturer at the Department of Linguistics, African and Asian Studies, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, opined that “From a cultural perspective, where parenting is concerned in the traditional African setting, bearing a child is one thing and an individual factor at that, but rearing a child is a communal affair, which often attracts the input of everyone and anyone who has social access to the child’s upbringing. But, looking at the spate of harsh treatment meted out to children and wards growing up under the watch of parents in our time, and what the news reports have shown, I am of the opinion that, perhaps the changing economic condition is playing a critical role on this level of harsh treatments which we now see from parents to their own children, needless to say their wards.

“And we are yet only talking about the examples of cases reported in the news.

How many more are the examples that have passed us by unnoticed? The times are really changing in such a way that the economics of survival in a place like Nigeria is now having negative toll and putting great pressure on the psychology, moral standing and level of mindfulness of parents and their idea of parenting. I think this really cannot be far removed from the economic pressures of our time, especially as they affect the low-income parents and households. This is not to say that this practice cannot be found also among the economic middle- and upper-class parents who adopt under-aged children as housekeepers. Some parents even try to justify their untoward and evil actions from a religious point of view, putting all the blame on the moral challenge of the child-victim of this kind of bad or harsh parenting.”

‘Immaturity, financial insecurity are also responsible for parental aggression’ Jude Nwabuokei, Peace and Conflict analyst stated that “Several factors could be responsible for parental aggression towards children. However, I’ll like to emphasise immaturity and financial insecurity. More often than not, you will discover that so many people get married without realising that marriage comes with responsibilities like raising children. Children will always be associated with pranks, dirt, untidiness, drooling, a runny nose with thick catarrh dripping from the nostrils, poo poo (faeces) and of course, night cries, especially during the first three months of birth. These are the most common occurrences; there are peculiar cases. So, anyone who cringes at the mere thought of these inconveniences should probably do a rethink before baring children.

“On the issue of financial insecurity, I have come to discover that there are parents who vent their spleen on their children due to unemployment, underemployment or the inability to make enough money to cater for basic needs or certain wants.”

For Mrs Bola Ojo, a parent, the sad realities of the economy are not enough reasons for children to be maltreated by parents or guardians. “It is wrong to say that the harsh economic realities of our time are enough to justify the treatments meted out to children. As a parent, I know what it implies to be in need. Parenting is a huge responsibility. Unfortunately, many people are losing it and this is disturbing.”

Elderly Pa Rotimi Ojalatan berated parents for such practices. “Things are so terrible now that many of the things that we hear now were never in existence in our time. We had more children but we also had patience and we had longsuffering.

These virtues are important and should be imbibed by parents,” he said.

As sad as the forgoing is, the Child Rights Act should indeed to take its rightful place in safeguarding the interests of children.

While the challenges of the modern times could be crippling in themselves, parenting should still hold its enviable position in the order of the human existence.

23 thesouth-west Tunde Busari 08127593530 Yejide Gbenga - Ogundare 08116706853 Tunde Ogunesan 08116954634

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The

South-West Editor Wole Efunnuga 08111813056

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

The front of the first storey building in Nigeria.

The ancient city of Badagry is an important part of the history of Nigeria as a nation as it was the beginning of most developments. On a one day visit to the coastal community, YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, discovers that Badagry is not only a historical tourist attraction but a beehive of smuggling activities that lacks basic infrastructures. Her report.

T

HE sleepy town of Badagry, known as agbadarigi by many in ancient time is a historic community that is not only of great significance to the history of Nigeria but also the Yoruba people. Though it is a peaceful town with many ethnic and religious groups cohabiting, the root of the community according to history has been traced to the Yoruba people of South West Nigeria.

Inside

Badagry:

Where history, tourism, smuggling mix

Around 1740, the town became a thriving community for its sole industry of slave trade and it became the first Nigerian community to establish relationships with different European nationalities.

The town made more exploits because on that route, it was the last town that links Nigeria to Benin republic and the ship port to other foreign countries for slave trade in those days. It had over 200 rural commu-

nities; Apa, Ajido, Kweme, Ibereko, Iworo, llogbo, Ikoga, Igborosun, llado, Imeke, Topo-ldale, Aradagun, Toga, Ajara, Imeke, Gbaji-Yekke, Ganyingbo, Koga, Pota, Tohun, Erikiti, Mosafejo, Iragbo, Wesere among many others.

The town recorded many firsts in development as in the history of Nigeria being the first to have contact with Europeans and is still referred to as the as cradle of

Western Civilization in the country.

The long journey is one that could be described as the biblical Israelites journey that took 40 years instead of 40 days. And after over seven hours on the road for a journey estimated to take four and a half hours from Ibadan, the Oyo state capital; compliments of traffic jams, bus change Continues on pg24

Idanre hill: No longer a monkey affair

24 thesouth-west Continued from pg23 and a bus headed for Badagry from Iyana Oba, that moved at snail speed, a roundabout appeared after what seemed a long stretch of sandy road and trees and the Agbara fly over.

The busy roundabout with a big drum is the first sign that indicates a ‘Welcome to Badagry’, a coastal historic town situated between the city of Lagos and the border with Benin at Seme. It is a town known for many things; bustling seaside, a rich history of firsts: the Nigeria first Christian mission, site where Christianity was first preached; the first primary school and the first storey building in Nigeria, slave trade monuments and great vehicular movement by smugglers.

For the Badagry people, the roundabout with its drum is a symbolic welcome as the drum represents the Sator drum, a traditional part of their heritage that only comes out for special occasions.

And left of this roundabout leads to popular points like the point of no return, the French village, Badagry Heritage Museum and many other tourist points that could be called the sights and sounds of Badagry.

But moving straight ahead is a journey into the traditional Badagry town and is a straight road to the border; this road is one that does not enjoy much commercial activities as it is for people going to Seme border and is usually a dangerous terrain due to activities of smugglers trying to outsmart customs officers and do not care if human lives are lost in the process.

This road is another scenario from the one that leads to the other side of town. It not only shows the life of the people as fishermen and farmers but is also the most travelled with the mode of transportation being motorcycles, tricycles and rickety buses that should already be off the road.

The road also leads to the Coconut Beach twenty miles of the border that got its name from the coconut trees that creates a border for it and adds to its great scenery, a good location for tourists.

Badagry subsists largely on fishing and agriculture and is said to generate the highest Nigeria Customs duties income from the Seme border, which according to history was arbitrarily drawn by France and Britain in 1959 to prevent the territory from falling under the control of another European country. Its proximity to the sleepy Badagry town as well as the rich historical monuments makes the community enjoy huge vehicular and human traffic daily.

The all season busy Lagos-Badagry-Porto Novo road is one long straight stretch that divides the Badagry community into two with both sides spotting trees and sandy roads. A walk on these roads however is an adventure as the hot sand continues to hook one’s legs and spill into one’s shoes making even short distances look longer and putting a strain on the muscles of the legs.

Though a local government area in Lagos state, Badagry is as important as its neighbor, Seme – a known intermediary for re-

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Badagry:

Yoruba town with a difference

Roundabout at the entrance of Badagry town.

The cenotaph at the Agia Tree spot where the gospel was first preached by Freeman in 1842. exporting of goods which makes Badagry the link community in getting these goods into Nigeria. And due to the nature of the Nigerian- Seme border, trade flourishes daily on the Badagry- Cotonou road.

A resident of Badagry, Marianne Benjamin, who spoke with Nigerian Tribune, stated that she travels from Badagry to Seme daily, adding that business for her is booming as she has customers from Lagos who come to pack whatever she brings in.

According to her, she brings in consumer goods from Seme where it is easily available and also much cheaper but was emphatic that there is nothing wrong in what she is doing when asked if she knew her business could be termed smuggling.

“There are so many things that are brought in from Seme – polished rice, groundnut

I only bring in food; frozen foods, groundnut oil and rice though now in smaller quantities because it is becoming more difficult but I take exception to being called a smuggler.

oil, drinks, frozen turkey and chicken, packaged foods, cigarettes, canned food, fairly used clothes called okrika, tyres and even second hand cars. I only bring in food; frozen foods, groundnut oil and rice though now in smaller quantities because it is becoming more difficult but I take exception to being called a smuggler.

“This is my livelihood and it is clean work.

I buy goods and sell to people for a profit but the hassles we now face bringing in goods makes life difficult and has forced people to devise various survival means.

Some now do things the hard way, taking bushy paths than the usual route back just to avoid greedy custom officers.

“Survival in this business depends majorly on creativity and being street wise.

The bargaining power of each individual at custom points, how good he is at packing his goods or hiding them determines how successful the person will be. Then, every trade has its risks,” she concluded.

In spite of its long years of existence and the presence of landmark cultural monuments as well as beaches and relaxation points, the tourist town of Badagry still manages to generally retain the look of an evolving community – shanty like structures on huge sandy track of land, brick buildings with corrugated sheets with few attempts at civilisation and a general laid back look.

Nigerian Tribune also found out that standard of living in Badagry is relatively

St Thomas primary school, Badagry, the first primary school in Nigeria established in 1845. cheap as many things are readily available at cheaper prices. A civil servant who identified himself as Augustine confirmed this.

“Things are cheaper here because of our nearness to the border; foodstuff, footwear, frozen foods, tinned and packaged products as well as second hand clothes are all cheaper here than from Alaba to Lagos because this is the first port of call when they are importing and the chances of getting in before the smugglers pay levy or fines to customs or other agencies is very high,” he said.

However, to residents of Badagry, gun duels between smugglers and customs officials leading to loss of lives is common place while many are used to having their things searched for prohibited products when they have to leave town. According to Augustine, “there had been issues of fighting between smuggling groups and customs officials over the years. It has become serious to the extent of accidents, burnt vehicles and killing of customs officials as well as smugglers.

“One of such happened last month; customs officials shot dead a smuggler while four others were wounded. We have always had such issues and it is frequent because a lot of smugglers live and operate from Badagry,” he stated.

However, there is fallout of the smuggling activities on innocent residents and visitors when they want to leave the town as Continues on pg25

25 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Entrance to the palace of Akran.

‘Badagry is opening up to development’ Continued from pg24 they are placed under the radar and viewed with suspicion.

“Until recently, there isn’t much of harassment around here and people move from any point but since two years ago, with the ban on importation of more food items and other products, and because they know that Badagry is a beehive of smuggling activities, everyone undergoes checks at some point.

“If you have a house in Lagos or you have reason to visit relatives and you are taking foodstuffs home, your journey won’t be an easy one at all because the individual will go through a lot of stress explaining how he got what he’s carrying and where he is going with it to customs officers who now view people leaving the town with load with suspicions that they may be smuggling prohibited substances,” he said Also speaking with Nigerian Tribune is Rev. Moses Godonu, the Vicar of the first church in Nigeria, the Freeman Memorial Methodist Cathedral founded on September 24, 1842. He described Badagry as a peaceful town earlier known for mat making and production of palm wine and local gin.

He added that, “though it started as a slave market, to God be the glory, Christianity started here and is still thriving.

Though about five years back, we had an issue between Christians and masquerade worshippers, who invaded the church and attacked a pastor and his members. But the issue got to the attention of the palace and it was resolved with a warning that no one should infringe on the rights of another or impose his religion on them.

“Of recent, we give glory to God that things have changed.

Unlike before that we have just a few churches and denominations, today, we have more than 100 churches in

A 1915 chair found inside the first storey building.

Badagry,” Rev. Godonu said.

He further explained that Badagry will not continue to be a sleepy town as the town is gradually experiencing development and taking the outlook of a city. “Badagry was affected by politics in terms of infrastructure as previous governments neglected the community on some perceived political grievances until Governor Fashola, who had a more liberal heart did a little; he rehabilitated the road in the town but that was all he could do.

“But of recent, Governor Akinwumi Ambode visited Badagry and his visit brought good tidings because people that were given money for projects and didn’t execute them did so in a hurry when the governor was coming. And when the governor came, he saw the massive abandoned projects across the town and he came the second time for an interactive session with stakeholders and he promised that all abandoned projects will be completed, adding that he will focus on Badagry the way Ikorodu and Epe are getting government attention.

“We also thank God that the Federal Government has approved a deep sea port to be situated here and the Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company also discovered crude oil here which Dangote has promised to build a power station at Lekki to dredge the oil. With all these, we are looking at a better Badagry especially with the mass exodus of migrant moving to live and establish businesses here unlike before that we have just a few houses,” Rev. Godonu concluded.

And away from the issue of smuggling, Badagry has a side that brings many people as a tourist attraction, these points which could be described as the sight and sounds of Badagry include the monuments of the slave trade era; the point of no return, the Badagry Heritage Museum which comprises of eight galleries and has artifacts like chain from the slave trade period as well as pictures of slave ships, exchange and trade, the Agiya tree monument where Christianity was first preached by Thomas Birch Freeman, the Seriki Abass bar-racoon, a holding cell where slaves are kept for months till buyers arrive and which was built by a slave that came back to engage in slave trade.

Other attractions include the first storey building in Nigeria, the first church in Nigeria, the first school, the French village and the Whispering Palms beach among many others.

If getting into Badagry seems difficult and slow, then getting out is not an experience for someone who does not enjoy adventures especially when the journey is being made in a commercial bus that more often than not is rickety and further overburdened with load.

There are customs checkpoints at regular intervals and at most points, officers were not satisfied with just peeping into buses, every passenger had to alight and identify his luggage while those that have explanations are separated.

Inspection of some luggage proved that the mission of the custom officers was not just a waste of time.

As what at face value looked like a bag filled with the usual assortment of a tourist when opened contained a strong transparent nylon filled with groundnut oil said to be half a drum in quantity while the whole roof of another car stopped was used to load tinned and packaged products in a technique Nigerian Tribune learnt is called Dipa by smugglers.

Indeed, Badagry town is a medley of history, monuments, tourism, culture and commerce.

The first Nigerian bank vault established in 1856 at the first storey building.

The first CMS well built in 1842.

26 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

HAKEEM GBADAMOSI, in this piece, sought the views of leaders and traditionalists concerning the myths and taboos surounding the existence of Idanre Hill located in Ondo State

O

NDO State, often called the Sunshine State is one of the states in Nigeria blessed with several tourists centers with unequalled historical values. One of such tourist attractions is the popular Idanre hills, named after Idanre town in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, about 24 kilometer from the state capital, Akure.

The hill which surrounds the houses within the town and serves as fence has both spiritual and tourist values to the town and was said to have existed for more than 800 years.

Apart from its spiritual value to the people of the town, the hill has placed the town in the world map with its enlistment on the World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) while tourists from across the globe pay visit to this tourist center.

This has greatly contributed to the economic development of the hilly town as the hill now serves as a good source of internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state government, as a good sum of money is realised from tourists who pays before entering into groove.

Idanre hill consists of about 640 steps and there are about five resting place before getting to the top of the 3,000ft hill, with some physical attraction which include the old Owa palace, Old court, shrines, Belfrey and a fascinating footprint which is widely believed that can be enlarged or contrasted to accommodate every foot. It was believed that any foot that does not fit in into the footprints is considered to belong to a witch or wizard.

Going down memory lane, a devotee of the hill, Oluwaseun Ayobami explained that the people of Idanre lived on the hill before they emigrated from the top to the bottom of the hill in 1923 but said the people never abandoned the hill ever since then.

He however noted that apart from tourists who visit the hill on a daily basis, traditional religion worshipers, spiritualists, especially prophets visit the hill to receive guidance and to observe spiritual exercise needed for the growth of their ministries and work.

According to him, “Arun water” from a stream on the top of the hill, from time immemorial has been a special delight to spiritualists who claim averred to its therapeutic effects which can cure all forms of ailments, which brings about the popular demand for the water by spiritualists within and outside the state.

He said one distinguished feature of the “Arun river is that “the flowing river is crystal clear and one can see crabs and a few other aquatic animals inside it, while the more adventurous can also dare the Agboogun Footprints, which is widely believed to enlarge or contract to accommodate every foot.”

Agboogun foot print which is said to be a work of nature as it conveniently enlarges on contract to accommodate every foot put inside it. The foot print was said to be as old as the hill itself and it accommodates all forms of human feet of different sizes with its enlargement and contractible ability.

Explaining the story and myth woven around Agboogun, he explained Agboogun was a great hunter with supernatural powers. He said a popular account asserts that the great Agboogun asked three of his lieutenants to accompany him on a journey. On their way, he paused to inscribe pictographic scripts on a hillside, which till today is still hard decipher or read and became known as the “Unreadable Signs” till today.

He said “ at the bottom of the hill, Agboogun struck his foot on the rock, leaving an impression or imprint on its surface.

The foot shaped-depression is now known as “EseAgboogun” (Agboogun’s Footprint) and left an instruction that : “Any person accused of witchcraft should be made to try it

Idanre hill: No longer

a monkey affair for a size; it fits any foot size except those of the malevolent.”

Ayobami said that “the evergreen landscape surrounding the hills provides fellowship with nature’s best. The peacefulness that pervades the atmosphere, the blossoming civilization that existed on the hills, the rigors of climbing and a refreshing swim in Arun River, all make the Idanre Hills a wonderful place to visit,” Another devotee of the hill who identified himself as Olowo also explained that “Oke Idanre consists of high plain with spectacular valleys. Its physical attributes include Owa’s Palace, Shrines, Old Court, Belfry and Agbooogun foot print.

It also has diverse and variegated eco-systems of flora and fauna. Oke Idanre contains very important bio-physical and land form features whose interaction with the physical features created an enduring cultural landscape within the setting.”

He said that “Idanre hill is one of the most awesome and beautiful natural landscapes in Ondo State and Nigeria.

Added to its beauty which fires human curiosity is the fact that the entire people of Idanre lived on these boulders for almost a millennium.”

Olowo however said the people of the town never abandoned the hill since they moved down from the hill in 1923 noting that most traditional festivals of the Idanre usually take off from the hill.

He said “since emigration down hill in 1923,the topography, vegetation as well as the fauna and floral life have remained undistributed. There is the Ogun festival, which is partly celebrated on top of the hills during October and Ije festival, which spread over seven days.

Apart from the festivals, which make the site a living tradition, the flora and fauna of the hills are also unique. There is a special species of tailless animals called Hyrax that live on the rocks which because of hunting are becoming extinct and there are special monkeys sported near the hill.

Olowo explained the story of monkeys attached to the hill and the people of Idanre. According to him, many years after the movement from the hill top to the present abode, monkeys took over the hills and often come down from the rock. But said people started killing these monkeys until they were presumed extinct, but said it is derogatory to liken the people of Idanre with these monkeys.

He said that the various objects on the hill which include grinding stones, household materials which had become antiquities on the hill showed that the people of Idanre came from the hill top.

These include the palace of the Onidanre of Idanre used while at the top Idanre is still located on the hill till date and

it is derogatory to liken the people of Idanre with these monkeys.

Ondo State commissioner for information, Mr Kayode Akinmade tourists pay homage to the palace as a mark of respect for the custodian of the norms, values and culture of Idanre people.

He also informed that certain rituals take place on the hill by the Idanre people, especially during the Ogun festival and some other traditional festivals observe by the people of Idanre. The hill, he said is also worshiped during the festivals.

A tourist guide, Adebayo, however told our reporter that the hill has some guiding principles for any one prepared to get to its top saying one of the principles is that those coming from the top must not meet those going up, adding that there are certain places where tourists, especially those who are not indigenes of Idanre town should not talk.

To avoid talking in forbidden places, the guide ensured that leaves are put on the mouth of the tourists, also to ensure that those coming from the top did not meet those going up; different routes are passed by the tourists.

The state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade who hails from the town said that the state government has invested huge amount of money on tourism saying this has facilitated the enlistment of the hill on the World Heritage Site by UNESCO through the efforts and commitment of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to the development of tourism sector brought about the achievement.

The annual celebration of the hill, tagged “Mare Festival” by the state government has also given prominence and a rev to the hill.

27 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

We were compelled to pad budgets —Oyo federal lawmaker

By Wale Akinselure

M

EMBER representing Iseyin/ Itesiwaju/Kajola/ Iwajowa Federal Constituency, Honourable Abiodun Olasupo has said that members of the National Assembly were compelled to “pad” because the budget did not reflect federal character.

Speaking in the wake of the budget padding controversy, Olasupo said members of the National Assembly were constitutionally empowered to insert items into the budget, so as to be seen as responsible to the constituency they represent.

Describing “padding” as changing, subtracting or inserting, he said the lawmakers only exercised their constitutional powers to appropriate, and would be termed a failure, if such appropriation did not favour their respective constituencies.

“If you look at the constitution, what Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin referred to as padding is tantamount to what the constitution defines as the function of the member of the National Assembly. The three major functions of the member of the National Assembly are to make law, to appropriate and oversight.

And in appropriation, it is either for us to add, subtract or change. And if what Honourable Abdulmuminin Jibrin has being trying to define as padding is that we are changing, subtracting, inserting, then probably that is what the constitution expects the member of the National Assembly to do, by extension the House of Representatives.”

“I was involved in the budgeting and appropriation system of about six ministries. The entire budgeting system makes it such that, if you are elected as member of the National Assembly and you are not ready

to do what Abdulmuminin described as padding, then, you are a failure.”

“Basically, the budget that is brought to the National Assembly does not reflect the principle of federal character, as guaranteed by the

constitution which stipulates that all projects and development, even employment, should be such that it reflects all part of the country.”

“But in the budget, you see a disproportionate distribu-

BAALE of Aramoni town in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State, Chief Lukmon Olayemi Arowolo, has commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, over successful rescue of Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni, saying it was a demonstration of the concern for the well-being of the traditional institution on his part.

The Baale gave the com-

ency. They bring something to me for approval and it doesn’t have my constituency. And I put what my constituency wants into the budget and that is what Jibrin calls padding,” Olasupo said.

From left, secretary, South West zone PDP, Chief Pegba Otemolu; National vice -chairman, south west, PDP, Chief Makanju Ogundipe and Auditor, PDP south west zone, Prince Adekola Rasaq, at a press briefing, by the PDP south west stake holders, held at the PDP zonal secretariat, Bodija, Ibadan, at the weekend. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

APC Primary: Group warns APC leaders against imposing candidate Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure A group within the Ondo state All Progressives Congress (APC), under the auspices of Ondo Progressive Coalition has warned the National leadership of the party, not to embark on an alleged plan to impose a candidate on the party during the primary of the party, coming up on August 27, 2016.

The warning of the group was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the group, Mr. Adewetan Vincent, who called on APC leaders and the state leadership of the party to let the candidate of the emerge through a free and fair primary, saying imposition of candidate would cause crisis

in the party.

Vincent said imposition of any of the candidate will reduce the chances of party in the forthcoming governorship election and will affect the fortune of the party in

mendation while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, pointing out that the governor deserved kudos with the way and manner he had ensured the strengthening of the security agencies in the state in order to make the state not only save for investors but residents as well.

He also said the governor had proved himself as someone who cared so much about people’s welfare with his style of leadership, par-

the election noting that APC remains a party to beat in the state.

According to him, the development had already been causing division in the party and said the only way for the

National Convention: PDP stalwart appeals to party leaders to shun inordinate ambition

By Tunde Ogunesan A leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sepeteri, Saki-East Local Government area, Oyo State, Pa Elisha Olanrewaju has appealed to the leadership and delegates of the party throughout the country to shun 2019 ambitions and vote for credible personali-

Oniba: Community leader lauds Ambode over rescue efforts Bola Badmus - Lagos

tion of projects. It tilts towards the location of a certain minister and the budget is sent from the executive.

So, when the executive sends the budget to the National Assembly, it might not consider my constitu-

ticularly in ensuring ease of transportation through construction and completion of pedestrian bridges at Ajah, Oworonsoki and the newly completed one at Berger Bus Stop on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“I’m overwhelmingly enthused with his style of governing the state, his unrivalled effort towards the construction of a foot bridge at Berger Bus Stop could not be outshined,” the Baale said.

ties and chart way forward for the party at Wednesday national convention in Rivers State.

Pa Olanrewaju in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the on-going crisis bedevilling the party since it lost the Presidential election in 2015 election, is as a result of inordinate ambitions of some party leaders ahead 2019 elections.

He said: “It will be better for those leaders at every level to feel exactly what they had caused real members of the party. It is better they all suspend their ambition and let the party stand. It is only when there is a platform that anybody can fight to use such platform for anything.

Why are political appointees giving us unnecessary headache because of what they are intending to get in 2019? The same mistake we made during 2015 election seems repeating itself.”

party to win the forthcoming governorship election in the state was for the leaders to allow credible and sellable candidate emerge through free, fair and transparent primary.

The statement read, “ If we are tired of being in the opposition, then we must speak up against any development that can affect the fortune of the party in the next election.

“We reiterate that the party must do a free, fair and transparent primary, devoid of the influence of our leaders. The candidate of the party must emerge on his own merit.

“This will prove to the people of Ondo State that our party has departed from the old ACN’s ( the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria) method that set the party on the path of failure. Apart from this, free, fair and uninfluenced primary will promote mutual symbolic relationship among the contestants “ The group also urged national and state leadership of the APC to be neutral on the issue of emergence of party’s candidate and also to desist from any act that could bring about insinuation that an aspirant would be handpicked before the primary of the party.

Nigerian Tribune

PDP Convention:

Osun delegates set for Port-Harcourt

By Tunde Busari

FOLLOWING last Friday’s delegate elections held in 30 local government councils, the Osun State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ready to storm the Rivers State capital for the party national convention tomorrow.

Chairman of the party, Honourable Soji Adagunodo confirmed the readiness of the state’s delegates to attend and participate at the convention where new national leadership is expected to emerge.

He affirmed the full support of his chapter for the convention and exuded confidence that the exercise would open a new chapter to the progress of the party.

“After we were through with the delegates last Friday, we have put things in place to ensure full participation at the convention. And we are confident that we are going to have a successful convention on Wednesday in Port-Harcourt. It is coming at a right time when we are looking forward for Edo and Ondo States governorship elections,” he said.

Adagunodo also assured that the convention is going to be a catalyst that will return PDP to its former state as African biggest political party.

The chairman, therefore, urged members to reconcile their differences with a view to making the party a stronger opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which, he maintained, is chasing shadow instead of settling down for government business.

Adagunodo described APC-controlled government as being vengeful on its anti-corruption crusade, pointing out that such act would not move the country forward.

He regrettably said the government does not know the difference between pre-election campaign and governance proper, thus calling President Muhammadu Buhari to be a statesman and settle down to governance.

“He needs to rise and live the status. Once you are declared winner of an election and sworn in, you belong to all Nigerians, including those who did not vote for you. But what we are seeing now is funny. Yet they lay claim to knowledge and experience. Nigerians are taking note. When the right time comes, they will respond with their votes,” he noted.

28 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Why we want Yoruba Culture entrenched in the Nigerian constitution —Traditional leaders CHUWKUMA OPARAOCHA was at the convention of Yoruba traditionalists where different resolutions and recommendations concerning the culture and tradition of the South-west were taken.

His report.

“

Oba Efungbemi, the Oba Ala worldwide

FOR Nigeria to join the league of progressive nations like India, China, and Brazil, among others, it must do what those nations have also done by giving adequate cognisance to its culture and tradition which are its identity.”

This was the view of a traditional ruler in Ogun State, Oba Ifarotimi Adifagbola Balogun, during a one-day convention to herald this year’s “Isese Day,” (Culture and Tradition Day) slated for August 26 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Virtually all regions in Nigeria have been touted to have lost a large chunk of their cultural heritage to foreign cultures and values, but the Yoruba culture in South-West Nigeria has been touted as the worst affected in this regard. This was also confirmed by seasoned traditonalists at the convention in Ogun State, where it was also noted that holding tight to one’s culture and tradition could pay off in the long run, as citizens of countries from other parts of the world often travel far and wide to study and learn more about the cultures of other climes through processes such as tourism. This, according to the traditionalists, means culture and tradition can serve as a means of revenue generation for the entire states of the South-west.

While not attempting to denigrate Nigeria’s two main religions, Christianity and Islam, which both have their own cultural values and identities, the two religions have, over time, been identified to have played a key role in the sharp decline of the core values of the tradition and culture of the southWest Nigeria.

But determined to end this trend, Ifarotimi Balogun, who is

Oba Ifarotimi, Oba Isese worldwide also the Oba Ise of Ogun State, said that it was high time people, especially the government, went back to recognising the richness of the wisdom embedded in deities such as Sango, Orunmila, Obatala, and Ogun, among others.

“Inasmuch as the head of Muslims and Christians come for advice from us, it is necessary for the government to recognise traditional rulership in the country which has been in existence for a very long time,” said Oba Ifarotimi, whose views were also echoed by another traditional ruler and the Oba Odua Ijo Olorisa Parapo ati Asa Worldwide, Chief Adewale Jamiu Eletu.

The two traditional Yoruba rulers therefore called for the recognition of “Isese (Culture and Tradition) Day,” in the nation’s constitution, in a way that will give certain rights and privileges to traditionalists as currently enjoyed by the two main religions in the country.

The federal government should pass a bill to the National Assembly which will make it compulsory for every politician to swear with either Ogun or Sango, as an oath of office before taking any appointment.

While calling attention to the need for Nigeria to celebrate customs and tradition, the two traditional leaders also urged the federal government to equally give adequate recognition to traditional religions and institutions by declaring a day, preferably August 20, the “Isese (Culture and Tradition) Day.” According to them this has become necessary given the fact that followers of the two main religions in the country - Christianity and Islam - are often given enough room and opportunity to celebrate festivities surrounding their religions.

Oba Ifarotimi also called on the government to assist the growth of tradition and culture in the country by providing adequate funding for traditionalists to enable them enjoy from the government what their counterparts in Islam and Christianity have been enjoying, especially through various avenues such as pilgrims boards and commissions for both religions, as well as the existence of national mosques and churches built with public funds.

Meanwhile, the two traditional leaders have also called for a law that would make politicians in the country to take the oath of office by swearing through two key Yoruba gods (Ogun and Sango) the gods of iron and thunder respectively.

According to them, if done, this would go a long way in instilling fear and moral discipline in those seeking public offices, which he said the current swearing arrangement had largely failed to achieve.

They also advised Nigerians to revive forgotten tradition, where it was a common practice for people to consult the Ifa Orunmila oracle, saying doing this could help prevent all the tragedies befalling the nation from different directions.

How Yoruba nation could rediscover itself —Oluwo Ifa Agbaye Oluwo Nla Fashola Olusoji Adeyemi was recently installed in Ile-Ife as the Oluwo Ifa Agbaye, making him one of the most senior Ifa chiefs worldwide. Following his annual Ifa festival, he speaks with MOSES ALAO on how the Yoruba nation could rediscover itself; what to do about Nigeria’s current situation and other issues. Excerpts: IT is commonplace to hear Christian and Islamic clerics declare prophecies about Nigeria and what should be done to avert crisis or bring about prosperity for the people in a particular year. Ahead of your 2016 Ifa festival, has Ifa given any prophecy about Nigeria. Does Ifa even give such prophecies?

Whenever we are looking at Obararete for the world Ifafestival, Ifasays a lot of things. But what I will like to say is that more than anything else, there must first be religious tolerance among Christians, Muslims and traditional religions. Secondly, the way Nigeria is moving, may Olodumarehelp us. The way everything is moving, there will be a time that what people think they have, they may no longer have it. Ifa says that we all have to stand with the truth. But the Christians and Muslims holding political and leadership positions are doing things without the fear of Olodumare; they are doing things selfishly.

People in leadership positions are doing all sort of things for their own benefits but they should know that Olodumare is watching.

But what did Ifa say about Nigeria?

The one that interpret the words of Ifamore than anyone else is the ArabaAgbaye. He is the one that can interpret everything; he is the Orunmila of our time. The Araba Agbaye is the one whom Orunmila tells everything he wants to say from heaven; he is the only one who can answer you appropriately.

But from what the Christians and Muslims are doing now, discriminating and perpetuating injustice, you can see where it has led us. However, we as Ifa worshippers, we are doing everything possible to make sure that Olodumare comes to the aid of the people and do something that will make everyone in the universe marvel, because when you follow Olodumare, you will never step into trouble.

When other religious clerics see vision of give a prophecy, they ask people to either pray for the country or fast, doesn’t Ifa tell you what Nigerians can do to make Nigeria better?

Ifa’s help; it is often said that you traditional worshippers feel cheated when you hear of Christians going on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Muslims going to Mecca and no mention is made of you people…

(Cuts in) You ask yourself if that is right too. Shouldn’t we feel cheated? If we say Nigeria is a secular state, then where is fairness in that claim when Muslims’ trip to Mecca this year has been subsidised by the Federal Government to the tune of over N7 billion. We have the International Council for IfaReligion but the government does not recognise us.

There is nothing like fasting; they are doing that for themselves. Ifa has not said anything about fasting.

But what is the etutu [sacrifice] to solve Nigeria’s problem?

As the Oluwo Ifa worldwide, I will not say anything about that, because we haven’t consulted Orunmila for what is happening in Nigeria to know what we are going to do.

Hasn’t our situation got to that point that you have to consult Ifa? If it has, the people at the top should make it know and we will go to Ile-Ife to meet the Araba Agbaye, who is like the Pope in Ifa worship. He will now tell all of us to come for the consultation of Ifafor Nigeria. When we do that, we will know what Ifasays, the sacrifice, what Ifa wants us to do and not do, so that Nigeria can be better for all of us. But as of now, you hear presidents and governors telling pastors and imams to pray for the country and the state but no one has come to seek Ifa’s help.

From what you just said about leaders not seeking

Have you made an official contact with the government?

We have tried but I don’t think they recognise us as a body.As you talk about the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for Christians and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) for Muslims, we also have ICIR but during the era of former President Goodluck Jonathan when they did the National Conference, they didn’t invite any traditional religion person. Does that mean we cannot make contribution to the building of this country?

So what advice will you give the Yoruba nation on their heritage and gods?

If you see the Chinese, after you might have said whatever you want to say while transacting any business with them, you have to return to speaking their language. The Indians are the same too. These people never allowed their languages, culture to perish. But look at us Yoruba; we are lost. It is only the Olodumare that can restore us. Look at the world today, China is one of the most prosperous; most of their people never bothered with speaking English or western education and today, they are leading manufacturing country in the world. Our major problem is the religion that you people peddle and it is all a lie; those at the top know how to share and corner wealth. These people have destroyed lives dividing us with religion. And the religions that Nigerians lay claim to are not even practised genuinely.

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

FG won’t tolerate casualisation of workers any longer — Labour Minister Stories By Soji-Eze Fagbemi

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HE Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has warned that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate casualisation of workers by employers in the country.

Against this background, the Federal Government, according to the minister, has concluded arrangement for a stakeholders meeting to deliberate on this issue, in Abuja during the week.

Ngige, who was speaking at the commissioning of the second phase of Food Union Hotel and Suites, a multi-purpose project of the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), at the weekend in Lagos, said it is the right of all workers to belong to the union of their choice.

He said, “Protecting employers/ employees relationship is our job, and workers rights is well stipulated in our constitution, as well as backed by International Labour Convention (ILC). So, to ensure that organised labour can organise their members without any threat or intimidation, we will support them with appropriate regulations.”

He emphasised that employers were better off with unions, while cautioning against manipulation and imposition of stooges among union officers by some employers.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige The minister, however, commended the leadership of NUFBTE for diversifying into entrepreneurship, building hotels, water production and some other ventures, adding that such a feat would make the union stronger.

According to him, “it is when a union is independent that it can become strong physically and fi-

nancially. You have been able to move from union of employees to a union of employers. However, reward of good work is more work, so we are looking forward to commissioning more of this in other states and Abuja.”

The National President of NUFBTE, Lateef Oyelekan, said the diversification was important to the

union and was necessitated by the need to provide alternative source of funds.

He called on the Federal Government to address the issue of importation of beverage and confectionery which was killing the local industries, adding that the local industries were able to meet local need.

FG says banks must obey extant labour laws THE Federal Government has insisted that banks and other companies in the finance sector must obey the extant labour laws in the country, while warning that it would not tolerate flagrant disobedience of the labour laws and other regulations.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, gave the warning during an interactive meeting with stakeholders in the banking and finance sector, on the recent gale of retrenchments in some banks across the country.

Reaffirming what he described as zero tolerance of the present administration for disobedience to national laws, the minister said the companies operating in the sector cannot continue to disobey the law of the land.

Ngige said, “you must obey all laws of the land including labour laws, such as the Trade Union

Act, T14 law of the federation concerning redundancy and the Trade Dispute Act which deals with the management of trade disputes including employee-employers’ relationship.”

He explained that Nigeria is a signatory to International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions which promote decent jobs and frowned at unfair labour practices, adding that Nigeria cannot afford to be found wanting by the international body in this regard.

He said, “The ILO takes very seriously the issue of workers maltreatment in various guises, be it in the industries, construction sites or public service. Workers should be treated with dignity and decency.”

While allaying the fear of stakeholders in the banking and finance sector, Ngige stated that his intervention was not an un-

due interference, but a proactive measure aimed at finding lasting solution to the looming industrial unrest in the sector, being the Minister as empowered by the constitution and other extant labour laws.

Speaking on behalf of banking and finance regulators, the representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Kolawole Balogun, said CBN was determined to support any development that would lead to reduction of unemployment through diversification of the economy.

According to him, “we have looked at our laws in terms of our limitations. In as much as we cannot impose staff on any bank, we can engage them on other solution and that is what we are doing now. We have even gone a step further to look at how we can know why they are actually disengaging their staff.

“We will soon come up with a circular for the banks to ensure that if they are going to disengage up to a certain number of staff they should let us know and explain why. Although times are challenging at the moment, they can still manage to keep some level of their staff and remain profitable.”

In his remarks, the representative of First Bank of Nigeria, Mr Shehu Aliyu, stated that as responsible employers and major players in the nation’s economy, banks management cannot afford to breach the laws of the country at will.

He, however, commended the efforts of the minister in facilitating the platform to find amicable solution acceptable to all stakeholders, while assuring him of banks management’s willingness to dialogue and discuss within the purview of the Nigerian laws.

HND/BSC dichotomy: AUPCTRE urges FG on quick release of circular THE Amalgamarted Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has commended the National Council of Establishment for finally removing the dichotomy between HND and Bsc. The National Council of Establishment recently voted in favour of the removal of the age long dichotomy, to finally signal its removal.

To this end, the AUPCTRE, has called on the Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, to immediately release the enabling circular without further delay.

The release of the circular would ensure the commencement of the implementation and would enable graduates with both HND and Bsc receive same treatment and ratings.

In a communique issued after the meeting of State Governing Council (SGC), AUPCTRE, FCT chapter, the union said it was high time the government released the circular without further delay.

The communique, signed by the state chairperson Comrade Benjamin Anthony and the Secretary Sikiru Waheed read: “The SGC-in-session applauds the National Council of Establishment for finally removing the dichotomy between HND and BSc after years of issuing white paper on it by the Federal Government, and call on the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to release the enabling circular without further delay.”

The union also commended the Federal Government for setting up a committee to review the minimum wage, but frowned at the slow pace at which the committee was working, while calling on the committee to purge themselves of any interest that was not in favour of the workers in order to hasten the completion of the work for onward implementation.

AUPCTRE also expressed disappointment with the difficulties and frustrations experienced by retirees in accessing their pension, which sometimes result to the untimely death of retirees while queuing up for screening for payment of their legitimate benefits.

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Nigerian Tribune

Jumia redefines customer experience with Bode Adewumi with modern m:08055001765 techniques e:bodekafi@yahoo.com

New Horizons takes Nigeria to Microsoft global IT contest Stories By Bode Adewumi

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IGERIA’S leading Information Technology training organisaton, New Horizons, is taking Nigeria to a global Information Technology contest by fully sponsoring another Nigerian Secondary School prodigy, Oluwatobi Ed Adetula, from Woodland Hills High School, to represent Nigeria in the 2016 Certiport Microsoft Competition.

New Horizon is also sponsoring the chaperon or guidance of Adetula to accompany the award-winner to the event holding in Orlando, Florida, United States, later this month.

New Horizon said the sponsorship is in furtherance of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards youth empowerment and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) penetration in Nigeria.

Adetula emerged top in the final of the Nigerian National Edition of the Microsoft Office Specialist competition that saw the participation of 200 students from different secondary schools across the country.

This year Certiport’s competition marks the 14th anniversary of the global competition, while New Horizons has consistently sponsored school youths in the last six years.

Adetula, who has emerged Nigerian representative, will be competing against other national champions from other countries to demonstrate their mastery of Microsoft Office products.

Globally, the world championship attracts more than 400,000 candidates from 130 countries.

According to the New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tim Akano, “as a company, we

From left: Senior Vice President, Vendor Management, Jumia Nigeria, Mr Thomas Simonet; Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Juliet Anammah, Head of Marketing, Simone Bartlett and the Head of Customer Operations, Chidinma Ifepe, at the Jumia Nigeria Facility Tour and Management Session in Lagos, last week. believe ICT sector, as one of the most viable solutions to Nigeria’s current economic crisis, is to reposition its economy from an oildependent nation to an ICT-producing nation such as Israel, South Korea and India.”

He, however, noted that this

can only happen if children were given quality ICT education from primary school to university level.

“This is why, for the past 11 years, New Horizons Nigeria has taken it upon itself to champion this noble cause by focusing on massive ICT

Good infrastructure will curb hacking in Nigeria —E-PPAN CHIEF Executive Officer, E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN), Mrs Onajite Regha, has urged the Federal Government to invest more in infrastructure that support electronic payments.

Regha said in Lagos last week that infrastructure would help to curb challenges faced by online payment for services such as electricity and internet data.

She highlighted the challenges as security, epileptic power sup-

ply, interoperability and interconnectivity of networks, resistance from target customers and weak risk framework.

Regha identified lack of unique identifier for customers across institutions and high operation cost, low level of card usage on Point of Sales (POS), as part of the problems faced by electronic means of payment.

“The first step is to identify the major challenges facing electronic online payments in Nige-

Mobile technology, transforming business in Africa —ABP AFRICA’S mobile adoption rate has reached an all-time high, with more Africans using smart phones for their various daily actions and operations.

According to a survey by the Africa Business Panel, the smart phone penetration rate in Africa increased from 76 per cent to 89 per cent between 2013 and 2015, and continues to grow at a rapid rate. The continent over the years has also seen a strong growth in mobile broadband use and data traffic.

This has resulted in increased levels of communication among the public and companies attempting to become more agile in their business operations.

Investors overseas are also noticing the potential Africa has as a technological investment hub. As the technology improves, there will be more opportunities for

education across board.”

He restated the company’s commitment to helping Nigeria produce more people such as Chinedu Echeruo, the Nigerian-born ICT professional based in the United States, who, in 2015, sold his company to Apple for $1 billion.

African businesses to take advantage of the innovative technology available, thus helping African nations to leapfrog over key development milestones and become key prospects for investors.

Nations such Rwanda and Kenya are primed to take advantage of the latest mobile technology. Kenya recently pioneered M-Pesa, which has given the continent an avenue to trade and make transactions via mobile.

Rwanda has introduced various technology focused action such as fitting fleets of buses with LTE routers to provide mobile broadband for passengers, SMS price caps while the removal of roaming charges for anyone using mobile data and travelling around the COMESA region. These African nations are amongst the growing number leading the mobile revolution and helping the

continent to increase freedom of movement and expand financial inclusivity.

Sindiso Ngwenya, head of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) comments: “Rwanda’s contribution to the mobile economy in Africa has positively impacted on the continent’s progress, and the government continues to springboard companies in order to further contribute to its growth.

“Flagship initiatives like the One Area Network have encouraged more trading freedom in the COMESA region due to cheaper tariffs. As mobile technology improves, there will be more opportunities to improve trade and build up Africa’s status as an investment prospect. Other nations need to follow Rwanda’s example and embrace technology if the continent is to prosper.”

ria.

“To deal with these challenges, Nigeria as a country needs to invest more in infrastructure that support payment for example, power and data.

“Over the years, we have seen that as technology evolved, it has created a loophole for hackers to breach unsecured systems,” Regha said.

She noted that more customers still need to be educated to appreciate the convenience of e-payment and to create awareness about fraud and online security tips.

Regha said that hackers were very skilful, well-funded, organised and they use sophisticated technological tools to attack the data base of their targets.

Regha said that billions of naira had been siphoned from corporate organisations and individuals making it a lucrative business.

“When you look closely at hacking, you will see it is part of a bigger picture of cybercrime. Cyber security threat is real as many have lost money through ATM and internet banking,” she said.

Regha said that the fraud report

by Nigerian Bureau of Statistics in 2015 showed a transaction volume that grew by 43.36 per cent representing a significant increase compared to 2014.

She said that the statistics showed that hackers had become bold, sophisticated and resilient in their attack.

IN line with its commitment to ensure that visitors to its website have a world class experience, Jumia, Nigeria’s number one online shopping solution company, has embarked on a campaign to engage and educate Nigerian shoppers on the value and convenience that shopping online can offer in the present economic climate. The campaign was revealed along with Jumia’s innovative techniques to members of the media during a facility tour and management session held at its Lagos office.

The campaign, tagged Jumia Smartshopper taps into with the rich collective wisdom of local proverbs that have been passed down through generations and kept Nigerians grounded and optimistic through many challenges. Jumia celebrates this collective wisdom and also reminds Nigerians that it is the small but smart daily decisions we make that create a better future for us.

The management session, which was led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Juliet Anammah, Senior Vice President, Vendor Management, Mr Thomas Simonet, Head of Marketing, Simone Bartlett and other top management members provided the opportunity to share the success story of the company as well as reveal some of the innovative ideas that will be unveiled in the coming months.

Giving a detailed narrative, Chidinma Ifepe, Head of Customers Operations presented various innovative programmes and customer cantered activities that have energised the brand to its present level. She explained how the team’s constant focus on improvement in customer relations grew customer satisfaction from a level where about 60 per cent of Jumia’s customers expressed full satisfaction to the current satisfaction levels of over 80 per cent.

OLX partners TechCabal on product masterclass for developers NIGERIA’S leading online classifieds site, OLX.com.ng, has partnered with TechCabal.com, Nigeria’s largest tech blog, which is focused on promoting conversations around technology, mobile and internet in Africa, in a product masterclass for developers themed: ‘Building products that will be useful to people.’

Speakers at the event includedMr Stephen Ballot, Chief Technology Officer, OLX SSA; Mr Stephen van der Heijden, Product Owner, OLX SSA, Mr Ken Udeze, User Experience Lead, Co-Creation Hub, Mr Ire Aderinokun, Design and Product Lead, Big Cabal Media and Nwoye, Co-Founder, Fonebase Labs sharing insights on building killer apps.

Addressing the media at the masterclass, Ballot stated that, “at OLX, we optimise our product to suit local market needs, this is by sharing how we develop unique product for each market like the Do It For Me (D.I.F.M).

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with Chukwuma Okparaocha

m:08038984495 e: chukscop2005@gmail.com

Economic Recession: Now is best time to invest in real estate —Expert Stories by Chukwuma Okparaocha

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housing expert and Chief Executive Officer of RoxBury Homes, Udechukwu Emmanuel, has advised housing investors not to be dissuaded from investing in the real estate industry, due to the economic recession in the land, saying it is actually profitable now to invest massively in the sector.

Emmanuel made this stance known in a statement, where he emphasised that in times like these, real estate investors must “never take chances and let this opportunities slip by.”

He also added that investors must play active participation in the real estate sector, at a time when the value of land assets was low, and could in return get great returns for money invested very soon.

“One of the basic amenities that speaks volumes of the pattern of ‘settlements’ the world over, is housing,” he said.

“One of the problems that has bedevilled a befitting picturesque for a good housing that not just provides a haven for proper and decent housing, but also keeps the head above the rain and sun is

proper housing.

“With the recent crash in the price of stocks and shares on the stock exchange market, as a result of the economic recession, particularly in the Lagos sub region of Nigeria, the housing dilemma which once had an accompanying bureaucracy of being financially

inaccessible is now history,” he added.

According to him, “In the Lekki axis, where net migration is low as compared to the available housing inventory, buying or paying for a block of flats in such area could become goldmine for people who may eventually ‘cash in’ to become

real estate developers and could eventually provide huge returns should the properties so acquired, appreciate.

“Besides such areas provide the best of commercial relevance becomes of its proximity to accessible roads and commercial enterprises.

“Asides these, one risk taking

FUTA to spearhead stock-taking of Nigeria’s urban development in 20 years

Newly built segregated bus park to ease the flow of traffic at Berger Bus Stop, Iyana Oworo by the Lagos State Government.

Govt should allow developers to handle housing estates —Alowonle Mr Lekan Alowonle is the Chief Executive Officer of Lekan Alowonle & Partners, a foremost Chartered Estate Surveyors and Valuers. He speaks with Bode Adewumi on the industry, as well as other issues.

HOW would you describe your business environment in the country today?

The economic situation in the country is also affecting activities in the sector as there are many vacant properties, both residential and warehouses and so on, lying unoccupied. So we can’t say this is a boom period, but we hope that things will pop up as full operation of the budget is implemented.

What do you think are the major challenges facing the sector?

The major challenge is that of quacks who masquerade as real estate practitioners. They are the people giving the industry bad name. But the advice we give to our clients is to be very careful about patronising quacks. This is the major headache.

Also, the shortage of forex is affecting our operations as those who may want to import building materials and others are finding it difficult to do so. This has made the cost of doing business a bit high.

But like I said earlier, we hope that things will lift up in due course.

Another area of interest is the

factor every prospective real estate investor and developer must consider is the propensity of the proliferation of businesses within such areas and the chances of making such a place on money spinning commercial demands which the Lekki axis could create on the long run,” he further argued.

Advising real estate investors never to take chances and let this opportunities slip by, he said “their active participation in real estates at a time when the value of land assets is low can not only spark off a-reducing housing cost, but could give them great returns for their money.”

shortage of professional surveyors and valuers in the country because the association is yet to register enough professionals. Therefore, the available hands are not enough to cater to the numerous people who are looking for properties.

Again, this is giving room for the upsurge of quacks to operate.

Another challenge is the lack of proper coordination of the activities between the existing registered surveyors. There should be management procedures which should be reviewed periodically to conform to the challenges facing the industry. Also, there should be an agreeable rate to be adopted in valuation excises or in evaluating properties.

Would you say Ibadan is lucrative to do business when compared to places like Lagos, Abuja etc?

Of course, there may be variations, but a good surveyor who knows his onions should be able to do his business anyway. So, I don’t see this place as a barrier to the business. But in terms of human resource, it may be a bit difficult but a thorough professional should be able to find his ways anywhere. You must realise that part of the problem may be getting good hands as many graduates of nowadays are mostly half-baked and may constitute clogs if one is not careful.

Again, some of the young people today, apart from their little

knowledge are too impatient to gather experience on the job and will rather cut corners in order to make quick money. This is where the issue of location may be of difference, but outside that, I do not see your location as any problem at all.

As a registered estate valuer with more than 23 years of experience, what advice can you give to the government?

To start with, government is not doing enough to encourage the business of surveying and valuation by giving more room for us to operate to the fullest. For instance, government does not have business building housing estates for workers or other segment of the public, especially when they are

Alowonle

building such in the jungle.

They should create conducive environment for professional developers to handle the sector. They can also provide incentives to developers in terms of providing some form of grant to them, but it is wrong for the government to try and build housing estates for the people.

For instance, the Lam Adeshina housing estate along Egbeda road on the way to Ile-Ife is not qualified to be called a housing estate.

The one built by Governor Ladoja along Ido road is also not properly cited. Whereas, the new estate at Agodi GRA built by Oodua group in partnership with the Oyo State government is an ideal housing estate that would fully serve the purpose it was created for.

THE Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has concluded plans to take stock of the rate of Nigeria’s urban development over the last two decades with a view to formulating an urban agenda that will be relevant in the 21st century.

This was made known in a statement signed by the institution’s Head, Information and Protocol Unit Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, where emphasis was placed on social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability in order to create vibrant and sustainable cities that can meet the demands and challenges of the 21st Century.

“This ‘New Urban Agenda’ that will be decided upon during the Habitat III Conference in Quito, Ecuador in October, 2016 should integrate the notion of urban prosperity with the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability in order to create vibrant and sustainable cities that can meet the demands and challenges of the 21st Century,” the statement read.

Thus according to the statement, FUTA will host the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Launch of World Cities Report (WCR) 2016 with the theme “Urbanisation and Development: Emerging Futures.”

“The World Cities Report would be launched by Professor Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Director, Regional Office for Africa, UN-Habitat, under the Chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, FUTA, Professor, Adebiyi Daramola,” it further stated.

Also according to the statement, the launch in FUTA is in tandem with its determined effort to contribute to generation of ideas for development as a key player in the global academic sector.

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We’ll encourage genuine local, foreign investors to develop solid minerals —FG Ademola Adegbite - Abuja

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HE Federal Government, on Monday, announced its determination to encourage and partner with genuine local and foreign investors, to develop the solid minerals sector in Nigeria.

It also announced, that necessary enabling environment had been provided for the smooth operations of interested investors to develop the sector in the country.

The Minister of State for Solid Minerals Development, Honourable Abubakar Bawa Bwari, made this announcement during a meeting with a Chinese consortium who paid a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.

Earlier, the leader of the group and Chief Executive Officer, China Polaris Technologies Company Ltd, Mr. Zhang Wendong, said the mission of the group was to indicate its interest in investing in the solid minerals sector in Nigeria.

Wendong, said the consortium was a group of companies with dealings in mining; exploration; financing; provision of technologies; commodity exchange and minerals product beneficiation.

Mr. Wendong solicited the assistance of the ministry to speed up the process of obtaining a production

licence and also sought partnership with other licensed companies in the sector.

Wendong, also stated

ity that could be explored to provide raw materials for the Ajaokuta Company and other steel processing companies in Nigeria.

Bodunrin Kayode -Maiduguri

GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima, has said that the fresh discovery of polio in the state was embarrassing

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu (left), in a chat with the chairman-elect, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mohammed Nalado, During The IPAC chairman’s visit to INEC headquarters, Abuja, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN.

Fed College of Agric staff, students protest suspension of 4 lecturers

By Tunde Ogunesan ACADEMIC activities were paralysed on Monday as staff and students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, embarked on peaceful protest over suspension of four lecturers by the school management.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the management of the college had, on Monday, sent four members of the Academic Staff Union

NCPC boss receives maiden SAPTI winners THE Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Tor Uja, has formally received in audience, winners of the “Support A Pilgrim To Israel (SAPTI),” programme in Abuja.

Uja, affirmed that SAPTI would provide a continuing framework for Christians to go on pilgrimage.

He further told the maiden SAPTI winners, that their going to Israel was made possible by God and that they would remain unconquerable like Jerusalem, which is fortified by mountains.

He advised them thus: “take the beauty of Nigeria to the world, and bring the glory of Nigeria as you return.”

The reverend, further emphasised that one of the greatest things the nation

that the group was interested in acquiring the Ajaokuta steel Company, saying it had discovered an iron ore site of high qual-

Polio outbreak embarrassing to me —Shettima

was looking for was true leadership. He therefore advised them against abscondment as the action would potray them as unpatriotic citizens.

Responding on behalf of the SAPTI winners, Reverend Moses Echefu, one of the winners from Enugu, appreciated God and NCPC for the opportunity to go on Holy Pilgrimage under the SAPTI platform.

The programme, which was launched in April 2016 in eight states, would enable winners of the SAPTI ticket draw to go on pilgrimage to Israel. The ticket cost only 500 naira.

19 maiden SAPTI winners, who participated in the draw, were screened by the NCPC, so that they could be part of the Youth/ Family pilgrimage scheduled for August 27.

of Polytechnics (ASUP) of the school on an ‘indefinite suspension’ without pay, as approved by the Minister of Agriculture through the supervisory agency - Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.

The academic members shut down all offices and engaged in peaceful protest within the administra-

tive blocks of the college.

The management had, in a letter with reference number FCA/PF/682 and dated August 2, 2016, entitled ‘Indefinite Suspension’ accused the four members of the union; chairman, secretary, auditor and the Public Relations Officers, of gross misconduct.

The affected officers are

Mr Jokanola Olufemi, Mr Eyitayo Oluade, Awogbade Aderemi and Miss Adenike Adekunle, respectively.

The letter, signed by the registrar, Abimbade S. Abass, reads: “I am directed by the Provost to inform you that the Honourable Minister of Agriculture continues pg35

and indeed painful to him.

Sadly, Shettima blamed the development on the impossibility of accessing besieged communities, to administer polio preventive vaccines between December, 2013 and 2015, as well as the earlier part of 2016.

The governor, who spoke last weekend in Mainok village, Kaga Local Government Area, shortly before launching a million dollars food and farming aide, donated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation regretted the development saying it would remedied as soon as possible.

Spokesman to Governor Isa Gusau, said Shettima was reacting for the first time since two cases of polio were discovered in Borno last week, a development that many saw as a major setback in the country’s successful fight against polio.

“Every one can bear testimony that it was impossible for the government to have sustained its wide reach of polio immunisation as the Boko Haram members held parts of the state in captivity.

He further stated that most of the communities were now mostly free, making room for aggressive polio eradication campaign in Borno.

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Budget padding allegation: Jibrin has violated House rules —Chiefwhip From:JacobSegunOlatunjiand Kolawole Daniel, Abuja

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HE Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Honourable Alhassan Ado Doguwa, on Monday, said that the former chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, violated the House rule over his allegation of budget padding against him and three other principal officers of the House including the speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the lawmaker, however, condemned Honourable Jibrin’s plan to approach the court, adding that the move was a ploy to avoid sanction.

To this end, the lawmaker threatened to commence legal action against Honourable Jibrin after the House resumption in September.

On the move by Honourable Jibrin to approach the court, Honourable Doguwa noted that the “legal strategy is to deploy a judicial instrument to protect him (Jibrin) against possible

sanctions from the House over his baseless, and fictitious allegations to defame and destroy our integrity in the eyes of the Nigerian public.

The allegation of budget padding raised by Honourable Jibrin, he said has deliberately subjected the institution of the National Assembly to grievous disrepute and institutional damage, which apparently contravened our extant internal standing rules and specifically, Section 24 and

33 of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act. The statement read: “With this clear violation of our extant internal code of legislative conduct, which must attract legislative sanctions against Honourable Jibrin, Nigerians should know that all sorts of statements and pronouncements made by Honourable Jibrin were mere sham and misrepresentations of facts.

He has lost out his campaign of calumny against

the House. He has also lost out with the executive arm of government and our great party, the All progressives congress (APC).

“Having realised that he is already consumed, he is now resorting to court options, which I believe, he would lose out as well. Our respected judiciary would never fall victim of his misrepresentations.

“I finally want to categorically state that whichever steps the House may take on Honourable Jibrin on

resumption in September, I Honourable Alhassan Ado Doguwa, would in my personal capacity, definitely charge Honourable Jibrin to court for slander.

“He has maligned and defamed my hard-earned reputation and integrity.

No matter what the House decides on Jibrin, I will never step on my responsibility to protect my good name and seek redress through our conventional courts”, the statement read.

FG orders fresh screening of 2,000 NIS applicants

THE Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), at its 18th convocation and the investiture of new fellows, held at the Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos between August 10 and 12, elected new officials to direct the affairs of the body for the next two years.

Professor Olu Obafemi, was elected the new president of the academy on the occasion.

The NAL was inaugurated in 1991, as an apex organisation of Nigerian academics and scholars in the humanities to promote, maintain and encourage excellence in all branches of humanistic studies.

Its officers are elected at the biennial meeting of the academy. Other elected officials are: vice president: Professor Francis Egbokhare; secretary, Professor Olutayo Adesina; assistant secretary, Professor Maduabuchi Dukor; treasurer, Professor Tunji Oyeshile and the general editor/chairman, Publications Committee, Professor Festus Adesanoye, The members of the Publications Committee are: Professor Sam Ukala; Professor Akachi Ezeigbo and Professor Amechi Akwanya, among others.

OPC to curb activities of kidnappers in Oyo

By Gbenga Olumide

Clement Idoko, Abuja

THE Federal Government has ordered fresh screening of the 2,000 applicants for employment into the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS),who were irregularly issued letters of employment in February 2015.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NIS, Mr King Ekpedeme, who said this on Monday, in Abuja, said the order followed the approval for the review of the matter by the Federal Government.

He, however, noted that following an emergency meeting of the Civil Defence, Fire Service NIS and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) on August 11, the following guidelines were issued for the screening of the applicants: security clearance; drug test; certificate verification and implementation of CDFIPB policy on “age on rank” He added that applicants whose names are listed in the NIS website: www. immigration.gov.ng, were urged to report to the NIS headquarters ,Abuja ,with their academic certificates, previous employment records (if any), two passport photographs, among others.

Nigerian Academy of Letters elects new exco

Passengers boarding the Abuja-Kaduna train service at Rigasa Station, in Kaduna, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

We have not pulled out of CAN —Northern CAN THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Monday, refuted media reports that they had pulled out of the mother body.

The financial secretary, CAN Northerns tates, Reverend Sunday Ibrahim, denied the purported pullout while speaking with the

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kaduna.

Ibrahim, who is also the association’s secretary in Kaduna State, said that there was no time the state chapters contemplated pulling out of the apex body.

“We have raised some concerns about some developments at the national level and sought for redress

but we never considered pulling out as an option,” he said.

He stressed that it was not the 19 northern states CAN that pulled out of the apex body but some Christian stakeholders in the region.

“People should not confuse them with CAN in the 19 northern states and the FCT; we are part of CAN

Flavour visits Prof Johnbull for counsel in episode 5 SHOCK, panic, frenzy and madness can best describe the homestead of erudite Professor Johnbull when the highly- talented but self-effacing highlife superstar, Chinedu Okojie, popularly known as Flavour makes an unexpected appearance in the Enugu abode of the bombastic academic.

Avid viewers of the TV drama series will recall that Professor Johnbull has never veiled his contempt for the decision of his son, Churchill, an engineering-graduate, to dump his certificate for a music career. They will therefore witness one of

life’s complications as Professor Johnbull warmly receives Flavour in his house.

Will Professor Johnbull have a rethink or will he obstinately transfer his rejection of his son’s passion for music to Flavour?

This episode also reveals Professor Johnbull’s opinions about stardom and basic household chores, parental guidance and correct child upbringing.

The Glo-sponsored TV drama series will, as usual, be aired on Tuesday (today) at 8.30pm on NTA network, NTA International Channel 251 on DSTV and StarTimes. Repeat broadcasts

will run on Friday same time on same stations.

The exhilarating episode brings highlife superstar, Flavour, a Globacom brand ambassador life on TV to the delight of his fans. The episode entitled: ‘A Good Flavour, negates the erroneous adoration of celebrities by some as those who are too big to participate in household chores.

Viewers will also see Flavour comport himself in a typical home-setting in sharp contrast to the attitude of celebrity-wanna-be, Churchill, who, though, has not yet cut a single, displays the attitude of a lord of the manor.

and will remain in CAN. “If you go through the publications very well, it said Northern Christians under the auspices of Concerned Christians of Nigeria (CCN) and Northern Nigerian Christians (NNC).

“Northern CAN was not part of the press briefing.

“As Christians and as Nigerians, they have the right to air their views and opinion.

“They are simply exercising their fundamental rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association,” he said.

The official, however, urged the apex body to call aggrieved members to a round-table to amicably resolve all pending disagreements.

NAN reported that the CCN and the NNC had, at a press briefing, on Sunday, in Jos, announced their decision to pull out of the apex Christian body.

The groups said they had adopted the pre-independence name of Northern Nigerian Christian Association (NNCA) due to alleged political intrigues, travesty of justice and corruption in CAN.

THE coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Oyo State, Mr Rotimi Olumo, has said that the group will continue in its commitment to ensure that peace reigns in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Olumo gave the assurance in a statement issued after a meeting of the group in Ibadan, on Monday.

He said that members of the congress across the 33 local government areas of the state are ready to tackle the activities of kidnappers in the state.

The OPC boss condemned the high rate of kidnapping and harassment of members of the public in the state.

He, therefore, called on the people of the state to be vigilant and watchful.

According to him; “it is advisable for kidnappers to leave the state or meet their waterloo. We cannot fold our arms and allow kidnappers to take over our state.”

Olumo charged members of the public to give useful information to security agencies and the OPC so as to get rid of kidnappers in the state.

While calling on members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state to ensure that commercial vehicles register with their union, Olumo said this would assist in curtailing the activities of kidnappers.

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Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Flood alert: Oyo to embark on dredging of rivers

By Wale Akinselure

A

S part of palliative measures to attend to an impending flood in Oyo State, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the state government are set to be involved in the dredging of

identified rivers and unblocking of waterways.

According to the Coordinator, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (World Bank Assisted), Mr Dayo Ayorinde, some rivers, streams, tributaries and flood-prone watersheds that caused the 2011 flood in the state, like the

Ona River dammed into the Eleyele dam, which passes through parts of Ido and Oluyole local government areas, will be dredged.

He said the emergency dredging was not part of the World Bank/Ibadan Flood Management Project initially, but the state government requested for

special assistance from the World Bank for the dredging exercise.

Ayorinde, however, added that the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources had identified some flood-prone areas to be funded by the budget of the state.

Ayorinde listed ongoing

emergency measures in Abatakan and Abonde areas of the state, as well as civil works at Ogbere-pegba, Cele Rainbow, Ola Adura and Sasha Oshajin out of 14 priority areas identified.

In view of the flood alert by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Isaac Ishola, had hinted that houses, kiosks, shanties and other structures built on waterways, floodplains, drainages and road setbacks had to give way.

These measures, according to Ishola, had become imperative because residents continued to flout building codes, thereby obstructing the free flow of drainages and mounting pressure on roads.

He hinted of the state government’s intention to enforce sanitation laws.

I was groomed

by Christians —Olubadan From left, Olori Rashidat Adetunji; Mrs Comfort Akinfenwa; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Most Reverend (Dr) Joseph Akinfenwa and Olori Kudirat Adetunji, during the visit of members of the Anglican Communion, Ibadan Diocese, to the monarch, in his palace, on Monday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN.

UI staff unions suspend strike As VC assures teachers will not be sacked

By Tunde Ogunesan THE three non-teaching staff unions at the University of Ibadan which embarked on a warning strike on Friday, July 29, 2016 to protest shortfall in salary payments and the ownership of staff school, have suspended their two-week strike.

The suspension of the strike resurrected administrative activities at the university on Monday as students resumed for the second semester of the 2015/2016 session.

The unions are Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the NonAcademic Staff Unions (NASU), The Vice Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka, while speaking with newsmen thanked all the parties, individuals, bodies and groups that intervened on the successful negotiations that saw to the end of the strike.

He said the issue of the institution’s staff school is being resolved through a committee, comprising all stakeholders.

He assured workers that no staff will be sacked.

While acknowledging the personal intervention of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Umar Musa Mustapha, who had series of reconciliatory meetings with management and leadership of the three staff unions, Professor Olayinka said his administration would continue to improve on the modest achievements of staff promotion as and when due.

“The outstanding issues with our staff school, which arose from management’s compliance with the directives from our proprietors, the Federal Government of Nigeria, are being resolved. We are very keen on maintaining the enviable pedigree of the school and improvement of its fortunes. For the avoidance of doubt, the management of the University of Ibadan is not go-

ing to sack any of the teachers in the school.

“Be assured that the university management has strong stakes in all the unions and the assumption that some are being marginalised or less preferred is an erroneous claim. The university community can only thrive and prosper with the understanding and support of all members and by inference all the unions.”

We’ll vote against any party with unbalanced ticket —Ondo Muslims Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure AHEAD of the governorship election in Ondo State, Muslims in the state, on Monday, threatened to mobilise against any political party that fails to fly a balanced ticket for the November 26 governorship election.

The Muslims, under the aegis of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), gave this warning yesterday during a press conference. They also decried marginalisation in the politics of the state.

Speaking during the press conference, state chairman of NSCIA,

Habibullah Akinpelumi, said “any political party that flies anything less than a balanced ticket may regret its decision.”

Akinpelumi noted that despite the voting strength of Muslims in the state, with over 1.5 million Muslims and 500,000 eligible voters, Muslims have always been victims of political marginalisation.

He said “Today, the Muslim community as a whole can only account for less than two per cent of the engine room that drives the project called Ondo State. Muslims have been politically eliminated from the driving force of the state.”

The NSCIA chairman said Muslims had never been appointed as the Chief Judge, Head of Service, chairman of relevant parastatals and the governor of the state, despite their qualifications.

He, however, said their stand had been communicated to all political parties participating in the election with a pledge to vehemently deliver votes for any party which considers their agitation ahead of the November 26 governorship election.

The Islamic Council, however, warned that any political arrangement short of balanced ticket would be rejected.

THE Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has commended members of the Christian community for their love, support and cooperation since his coronation.

Oba Adetunji gave this commendation at his palace while welcoming members of the Anglican Communion, Ibadan Diocese, led by the Most Reverend Joseph Olatunji Akinfenwa yesterday.

According to a press statement signed by the Director, Media and Public Affairs to the monarch, Adeola Oloko, Oba Adetunji noted that amongst Christian leaders who visited him after coronation in his palace include CAN President, Dr Supo Ayokunle; Bishop Francis Wale Oke; Pastor S. K Abiara; Pastor Olapade Odunayo; Bishop Taiwo Adelakun; Papa Olowere etc.

According to the paramount ruler, “one of the things that gives me joy concerning the people of Western Nigeria, particularly Ibadan, is that religious bigotry has no place.

“When I was growing up, I was groomed by Christians.

They taught me some values which are helpful and unforgettable.”

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Archbishop Akinfenwa, prayed to God to give the monarch and his chiefs more wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

He also prayed for peace and progress of Ibadan land during the reign of Oba Adetunji.

Nigerian Tribune

Power of Resurrection Christian Church celebrates eighth anniversary THE eighth anniversary of Power of Resurrection Christian Church holds on Monday, August 15 to Tuesday, August 16, 2016 between 5:00p.m and 7:00p.m at the church auditorium, at No. 71/73 Olaleye Ogunsola Villa, off Agbamu Road, Power City, Sanyo, Ibadan.

The theme of the anniversary is “Who is like our God?” Praise night will take place on August 17, at 10:00p.m till dawn while the grand finale comes up on August 21, 2016, at 8:00a.m.

Ministering at the event are Pastor and Prophetess D.O. Adebowale and other anointed men of God, with songs inspiration, deliverance and breakthrough.

Pastor and Prophetess D.O. Adebowale

Pa Fasoro’s burial activities begin today PA Timothy Adewale Fasoro is dead. He was aged 97 years. Burial activities will commence with a service of songs on Tuesday (today), at SW8/868, Imalefalafia Street, Agbeja Road Intersection, Oke Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State, at 5:00p.m. while commendation service will take place on Wednesday (tomorrow), at Oke Ado Baptist Church, Liberty Road, Oke Ado, Ibadan, at 12:00p.m.

There will be a Christian wake keep on Thursday, at Olawole Compound Family Hall, Oke Oja, Igbajo, Osun State, at 5:00p.m. while funeral service will take place at First Baptist Church, Igbajo, Osun State, at 11:00a.m. and followed by interment. Reception will take place at Igbajo Community High School, Igbajo, Osun State.

Pa Fasoro

news Jonathan didn’t form Niger Delta Avengers —Kinsmen 35

Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa GAINST the backdrop of the allegation by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) that former President Goodluck Jonathan formed the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), kinsmen of Dr Jonathan under the aegis of Ogbia Brotherhood have dismissed the unfounded allegation.

The Ogbia Brotherhood, the highest political body in Ogbia Local Government

A

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Area of Bayelsa State, challenged security agencies to unravel the masquerades perpetuating the economic sabotage and the smear campaign of calumny against the former president.

In a statement signed by the National Chairman, Chief Benson Agadaga and Secretary-General, Ogiriki Ebutu, the group condemned in strong terms the spurious and wild allegations against Jonathan by the faceless individuals and

mischief makers.

Agadaga averred that “Jonathan is an advocate of peace and stability and as such believes in the sanctity of human life and abhors crisis and reckless shedding of blood just like the former Governor of old Rivers State, late Chief Melford Okilo, revered political father in Ogbia Kingdom.”

He said further: “Nigerians have heard severally from former President Jonathan during his campaigns, when he told the

world that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian, therefore it is a ruse, senseless, wicked and mischievous to link him with the formation or sponsor of the Niger Delta Avengers.

“The allegation is false, baseless, mischievous and wicked. It should be thrown to the waste bin of history by all right thinking Nigerians,” Agadaga said.

The national chairman of the body, pointed that “the devilish propaganda

to rubbish the political status of the former president cannot be hidden with the hypocritical excuse of non performance and failing to develop the Niger Delta,” adding that Jonathan remains a voice on the national and international level.

“I wish to state in unequivocal terms that the allegation lacks substance and does not bear true reflection or semblance of the nature, original beliefs and intent of this prominent son of Ogbia who holds the revered title as Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Agadaga submitted.

He explained that if he (Dr Jonathan) was a promoter of crisis and violence, he would not have saved the nation and Nigerians from crisis,

Nigerian Tribune

by his unprecedented timely acceptance of defeat in the 2015 polls and voluntarily hand over power to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Agadaga emphatically described Dr Jonathan as a strong advocate of oneness, unity and indivisibility of Nigeria.

According to him, during his (Dr Jonathan) tenure as governor in Bayelsa and as president there were no reported cases of extrajudicial killings and high profile assassination in the country.

He, however, warned militant groups such as RNDA, MEND and NDA against the sinister moves to pull down personalities in the region by engaging in names dropping or any other guise to blackmail the former president.

Edo 2016: PDP expresses worry over Obaseki’s missing certificates PDP only trying to make something out of nothing —APC Banji Aluko - Benin City

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (right), presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to International Music Act, Innocent Idibia a.k.a.

2Baba (left), during a courtesy visit by officials of African Union (AU), International Committee of AFRIMA executives and its 2014 and 2015 award winners, in Lagos, on Monday. With them is the Head of Culture Division, Department of Social Affairs, AU, Ms Angela Martins.

Lagos now cornerstone for driving African arts, culture —Ambode Accepts hosting right of 2016 AFRIMA Bola Badmus - Lagos GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode has said that winning of the hosting right of the 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) by Lagos State has further confirmed the fact that the state is now the cornerstone for driving African arts and culture.

This is just as he expressed his administration’s commitment to continue to support talents in the industry and promote cultural heritage of the continent.

Governor Ambode stated this at the Lagos House, Ikeja, when he received AFRIMA delegation, led by Head of Culture of African Union Commission, Ms Angela Martins and AFRIMA President, Mr Mike Dada.

He said it was in sync with his passion of using tourism, hospitality, entertainment, arts and sports to promote excellence.

“I want to thank the African Union and the organisers of the All Africa Music Awards for finding it worthy to once again pick Lagos as the host city. We are very glad that Lagos has become more or less the

cornerstone for driving the African arts and culture.

“I must say that even though this is the third time that Lagos is hosting it, but this is the very first time that the Lagos State government will be practically involved and that goes to show that there is a convergence of vision between what the African Union stands for and what this particular administration stands for also.

“We are big promoters of

our culture; we believe so much in heritage; we believe also that the creative part of the African identity is yet to be tapped and obviously, we need to intervene in some of the things that are being done individually to be able to put things together so that we can together drive the African identity,” Governor Ambode said.

The governor said he believed that talents abound in Africa, which, according to him, informed why his

administration had been working hard to promote the African artists, adding that talents must be supported and assisted.

He said: “One of our visions is actually to promote our heritage and one of our programmes in the course of the electioneering was “Project THESE. We believe strongly that we can use Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Arts and Sports to actually promote excellence.”

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has expressed concern over claims by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Godwin Obaseki, that he lost the originals of all his academic qualifications.

In an affidavit sworn to at an Abuja High Court, Obaseki stated that he lost the originals of his primary, secondary, university and National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) certificates at a date that was not given.

In the affidavit, dated June 7, 2016, the APC candidate said, “that all originals of my above said certificates are kept in safe custody in my office but unfortunately, during the process of relocating from one office to another, I misplaced the original of the above said documents.”

He also said “that what I have with me now are pho-

Fed College of Agric staff, students protest suspension of 4 lecturers continued from pg32

and Rural Development, in a letter with reference number AGR/909/Vol 119, dated 9th August, 2016, through the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, approved your immediate suspension without pay for gross misconduct, recalcitrant and insubordination to constituted authority.

“The suspension is in accordance with rule number 030406 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s public service rules.

“Consequently, you are directed to vacate the college premises as well as submit all college properties in your custody to the Registrar’s office and any outstanding students’ examination score sheet(s) to the Head of Examinations and Records before close of work on Monday, August 15, 2016.”

The letter, however, resulted into peaceful demonstration by members of the academic staff, claiming victimisation by the management, and also snowballed into protest

by National Diploma part

time students who were defending their projects.

Members of ASUP displayed various placards summarising their grievances with the Provost of the College, Dr Babajide Adelekan.

Some of the placards read: Leave our representatives alone. They only relay our collective resolutions”, “The quality of academic in F.C.A is our priority”, “ASUP says suspend all of us”, “FCA is not a military zone”, among others.

According to the chairman of ASUP, which the

college was affiliated to, Mr Olufemi Jokanola, the crisis with the management, and in particular, the provost, started since the day members of the academic union decided to unionise.

When contacted, the registrar, Mr Abimbade Abass, declined comment, saying, “only the Chief Executive Officer of the College can speak on the matter.”

All attempts to speak with the Provost, Dr Babajide Adelekan, failed, as calls put through his mobile line did not connect.

tocopies of the secondary school leaving certificates, university leaving certificates and the NYSC discharge certificate.”

Speaking on Monday at a campaign rally, however, Edo State PDP chairman, Dan Orbih, said the claims deposed to by Obaseki in the affidavit were suspicious and that Obaseki should come clean on the matter instead of playing on the intelligence of the Edo people.

Orbih said, “The reasons he advanced are so flimsy and unconvincing. There are many questions begging for answers. The affidavit does not contain the locations of where he was moving from and to or the state where he lost the certificates.

“Did he report to the police when he lost the certificates.

If it was reported at the time they got missing, we want him to tell us. One will expect that he must have reported the matter to the police. If he did, why did he not attach a copy of the police extract.

Reacting to the allegations, deputy director in charge of communications, media and publicity of the Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organisation, Greg Ogiogwa, said the affidavit was self explanatory and that the PDP was only trying to make something out of nothing.

On whether Mr Obaseki reported the matter to the police, he said the PDP leaders ought to know that police extract is a condition for issuance of affidavit.

“It is an old trick used by the PDP that has always failed them. They did it to Oshiomhole, Buhari and now it is the turn of Obaseki,” he said.

36

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Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

Gunmen abduct ex-Kogi perm sec

Minister’s aide, three others escape death on Abuja road SPECIAL Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Communications, Victor Oluwadamilare and three others narrowly escaped death in a motor accident at Yangoji, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The accident, according to an eyewitness, occurred around Yangoji, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory on Lokoja-Abuja highway.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the crash involved a trailer loaded with cement which headed towards Abuja and a Toyota Hilux van which conveyed the minister’s aide and three others who were returning to Abuja from Lagos on an official assignment.

He noted that the Toyota Hilux was on motion when the trailer took off from its park without any light that indicated that a vehicle was on motion ahead.

He said the minster’s aide and other occupants sustained severe injuries, but no life was lost in the terrible accident.

The eyewitness also disclosed that he was among the good Samaritans who rescued the victims before the arrival of men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who later evacuated them from the scene of the accident to Kwali General Hospital.

“I was at the bus stop around 7:30 p.m when I heard an unusual bang.

There was a trailer loaded with cement which took off from that area and headed towards Abuja without light to indicate a vehicle was moving,” he said.

Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

Scene of an accident involving a Nissan Almera marked Lagos AGL 702 CU and a private motorcycle with registration number Oyo YNF Scene of an accident involving a luxury bus, 11 vehicles and seven tricycles on Ziks Avenue, 356 QC, on the Abeokuta-Igboora-Iseyin Expressway, on Monday.

Awka, Anambra State, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN PHOTO: SAHEED SALAWU.

Gunmen kill 6 in Kaduna attack Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

G

UNMEN suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have launched an attack on Golkafa Village in Godogodo Chiefdom of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing six villagers while many sustained varying degrees of injury.

Eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that the attack took place on Saturday and Sunday.

Findings gathered that the recent attack occurred two weeks after some villages in the chiefdom were attacked in which 11 people were killed .

As of the time of filing this report, the villagers had deserted the village for refuge in nearby towns and villages.

When contacted the police image maker, Aliyu Usman said: “Yes we confirmed six dead. If you are in the area you will observe that our men are there doing what

they have been asked to do.

“I want to appeal to people in the area to avoid isolated areas. We are doing all we can to protect the people in the state. But the people too should help us by cooperating with us.”

Meanwhile, the caretaker committee chairman of Jema’a Local Government Area, Dr Bege Katuka, disclosed that the bodies of the victims were recovered

STATE House Director of Information, Mr Justin Abuah, is dead. He was aged 57.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday, Abuah died on Sunday in Abuja, during a brief illness.

Born on January 29, 1959, Abuah, who was fondly called ‘O.J’ by close associates, died on Sunday, August 14, in Abuja, during a brief illness.

The late Abuah had a long and rich career at the Presidency, where he served seven past Nigerian leaders since 1986 when he joined the State House media office from the News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN).

A native of Asaba in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, O.J was survived by his wife, Loretta and three children (Chinedum, Chike and Amaechi).

The statement said President Muhammadu Buhari had sent a condolence message to the bereaved family, noting that burial arrangements would be announced later by the family.

Abuah’s death came barely 24 hours after the death of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Economic Matters, Mr Ayoleke O. Adu. He was aged 44.

According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, at the

to desist from doing anything in isolated places for now, given the volatile nature of the area.

“While the security continues to do its best, we urge the people to be security conscious and be vigilant,” he stated.

The bodies of the persons, according to the council boss, had since been deposited at the morgue at the General Hospital in Kafanchan.

CDFIPB dismisses 23 prisons officers, suspends 11 others THE Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB), at its emergency meeting, on Thursday, August 11, 2016, approved the dismissal of three senior prisons officers serving in Kuje Medium Security Prison, and three other senior officers serving in Koton Karfe Prison.

The dismissal, it was learnt, was not unconnected

Buhari loses another aide Leon Usigbe - Abuja

in a bush, which he said, is about two kilometres away from the village.

The caretaker chairman added that a report was made to the security operatives on Saturday night when the villagers discovered that six persons were missing in the village, saying upon search, their bodies were found in the bush on Sunday evening.

He then urged the people

weekend, Adu, a diligent economic professional and Certified Financial Analyst, joined the Buhari Presidency last year from his position as the Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Capital Securities Ltd. His burial arrangements, according to the statement, will be announced later.

Mr Justin Abuah

with their complicity in the escape of prisoners from the respective prisons. The dismissal letters dated August 12, 2016 were signed by the secretary to the board, Alhaji A. A. Ibrahim.

The letters read in part: “…

Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) considered the allegation of serious misconduct arising from your negligence of duty as leveled against you.

“The board thereafter approved your immedi-

ate dismissal from the Nigerian Prisons Service in line with the provision of the Public Service Rule 030402 (O) being an action prejudicial to the security of the state.”

Also, the Controller-General of Prisons in his capacity has approved the dismissal of seven junior staff members serving in Kuje Medium Security prison and 10 other junior staff members serving in Koton Karfe Prison implicated in the escape saga.

Police arrest suspected killers of ‘missing’ medical doctor in Kwara Biola Azeez - Ilorin THE Kwara State police command has confirmed the arrest of three suspected criminals, including father and son, over the death of a member of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Tunde Abdulrahman, in Ilorin.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, on Monday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, said the command had commenced interrogation of the suspects, said to include a security guard and the father to lead suspect.

It will be recalled that the state chapter of the NMA had declared Dr Abdulrahman missing two weeks ago.

The police spokesperson said the medical doctor who worked at Omu Aran General Hospital, was killed by his assailants in his father’s residence in Ilorin, at about 1:00 a.m on July 24, 2016, the day he was declared missing.

Okasanmi said the leader of the suspected three-man gang, Jamiu Mohammed, said to be an ex-convict, went into the room of the deceased with his members and macheted him to death.

DESPITE the efforts at stemming the tide of kidnapping in Kogi State, gunmen have again abducted a retired permanent secretary in the state civil service, Moses Onivehu.

The 70-year-old-man was said to have been kidnapped at about 5.00p.m on Sunday, around Kabba junction on the Okene-Lokoja Road.

The victim, who left the Kogi State civil service as the permanent secretary, Ministry of Health was said to be on his way to Ilorin, when the gunmen overpowered him and then whisked him away.

The gunmen, it was gathered, had been on the highway robbing people of their valuables when Onivehu ran into them, and was immediately flagged down while in his sport utility vehicle.

They, however, opted to kidnap him instead of robbing him, and therefore took him to an unknown destination.

The abductors were said to have contacted one of the children of the victim and demanded a ransom of N50 million.

The wife of the victim, who spoke on phone with the Nigerian Tribune, confirmed the incident and pleaded with the abductors to release her husband, who she said, was nursing a fragile health.

Police parade 51 suspected criminals in Benue Johnson Babajide Makurdi FIFTY-one suspected criminals, including a serial cultist, Jimmy Ada, also known as ‘Dole’, were paraded on Monday, by the Benue State Police command.

Briefing journalists at the police headquarters, the new state Police Commissioner, Mr Bashir Makama, said the suspects laid siege on criminals in the state, adding that they arrested several of them including the dreaded Ada who was said to responsible for the killing of five students and a security man at the University of Agriculture, a few months ago.

He added that Adole also murdered an undergraduate and son of a retired NTA staff, Eric Kane, at Dunamis Church, two weeks ago, as well as his involvement in the murder cases at Gyado Villa and Wadata areas of Makurdi, Benue State capital.

Makama disclosed that the command had established a database for cultists in the state, urging those in the act to denounce it or face the full wrath of the law.

37

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

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other NEWS

The rebels killed in the bombing were reportedly preparing to fight near the divided city of Aleppo. PHOTO: AFP

Syria conflict: Bus blast kills rebels

The children of slain American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr, (L-R) Dexter King, Rev. Bernice King, Yolanda King and Martin Luther King III gather at a news conference in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. on February 5, 2006.

Inset: Martin Luther King Jr. PHOTOS: REUTERS.

48 yrs after death:

Martin Luther King Jr’s children settle case on who owns father’s Nobel Prize medal

A

legal fight between Martin Luther King Jr.’s heirs over who owns the slain civil rights leader’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize medal has been settled, but the terms were not immediately known, a judge said in an Atlanta court on Monday.

A trial to settle the yearslong dispute over the medal had been set to start on Monday. It would have pitted King’s two sons against his surviving daughter, who have disagreed over whether the item should be sold, Reuters said.

The three siblings serve as directors of a corporation formed to manage the estate of King, who had no will when he was assassinated in 1968 by a white supremacist in Memphis, Tennessee.

Martin Luther King III and Dexter King voted in January 2014 to sell the medal and a Bible their father carried during the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Bernice King objected to a sale, calling the heirlooms “sacred” to the family.

Superior Court Judge Rob-

ert McBurney had ordered the items to be kept in a court-controlled safe deposit box pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

On Monday, McBurney said in court that he would turn over the keys to the box to Martin Luther King III, the chairman of the estate board, as requested by both parties in their joint motion

to dismiss the lawsuit.

The judge said he did not know details of the settlement.

Lawyers for the estate and Bernice King were not in court and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Last month, McBurney ruled that the Bible, which U.S. President Barack

US election: Trump adviser denies Ukraine ‘cash payments’ DONALD Trump’s top aide has denied receiving “payments” from the former Russian-backed Ukrainian government.

“I have never received a

single ‘off-the-books cash payment,’” Paul Manafort said in a statement.

The New York Times reported finding ledgers pledging $12.7m (£9.8m) in

Donald Trump with Paul Manafort and Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka at the Republican National Convention. PHOTO: REUTERS

New York police question man in killing of Muslim imam NEW York City police said on Monday they were questioning a man about the fatal shooting of a Muslim cleric and his associate after prayers at a mosque in the borough of Queens, an

Obama used in his second inauguration, belonged to the estate.

Former President Jimmy Carter was one of the mediators who had worked to secure a resolution of the lawsuit. Prospects for a settlement had been described as fair to poor, according to a court summary.

attack that many in their Bangladeshi community insisted was a hate crime.

The man was detained on unrelated circumstances and has not been charged in the killings, a police

Members of the New York City Police Department establish a crime scene at the spot where Imam Alala Uddin Akongi was killed in the Queens borough of New York City, August 13, 2016. REUTERS

spokesman said. Earlier, local media, including NBC News and the New York Daily News, said the man was a suspect, citing unnamed police sources.

Police have yet to establish a motive behind Saturday’s killings and have said there was no evidence the men were targeted because of their faith but nothing was being ruled out.

But residents and activists have demanded authorities treat the brazen daylight shooting as a crime linked to the men’s Islamic or ethnic identity.

undisclosed cash payments to Mr Manafort between 2007 and 2012.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign has called for Mr Trump’s team to disclose any proRussia links.

“The simplest answer is the truth: I am a campaign professional. It is well known that I do work in the United States and have done work on overseas campaigns as well. I have never received a single ‘off-the-books cash payment’ as falsely ‘reported’ by the New York Times,” the statement reads.

The New York Times article said Mr Trump’s campaign manager and his business played a key role in advising Ukraine’s former proRussian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled after an uprising in November 2013.

Mr Manafort’s work advising Mr Yanukovych’s proRussia political party, ended when the country’s parliamentary elections were held in 2014, he said in his statement.

The New York Times report said Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau had discovered the listed payments in the ledgers of Mr Yanukovych’s then governing Party of the Regions - allegedly part of “an illegal offthe-books system”.

near Turkey border MORE than 30 Syrian rebel fighters are reported to have been killed in a suicide bombing on a bus near the Atmeh border crossing with Turkey.

Sources told Turkish media that the attacker detonated an explosive vest on the bus at the entrance to a camp for displaced people late on Sunday.

The death toll was likely to rise, activists monitoring the conflict said.

A news agency linked to the jihadist group Islamic State reported that one of its militants was behind the attack.

Syrian opposition Orient TV reported that those killed were from “numerous” rebel factions, all of which are opposed to IS. Photographs posted on social media after the bombing showed the burnt-out remains of a bus and medics treating badly injured men.

Zambia: President Edgar Lungu

elected in disputed vote ZAMBIA’S incumbent President Edgar Lungu has defeated his main rival Hakainde Hichilema, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said, in a closely fought presidential election marred by allegations of fraud.

Lungu, leader of the Patriotic Front (PF), won 50.35 percent of the vote against 47.67 percent for Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND), the commission said on Monday.

The opposition party quickly rejected the result, claiming the electoral commission had colluded to rig the vote

against its candidate.

“We have evidence to the effect that the votes for Hakainde Hichilema have been deliberately reduced in collusion with the Electoral Commission of Zambia,” the UPND’s lawyer Jack Mwiimbu told journalists, according to the Reuters news agency.

Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu.

PHOTO: ZAMBIA

South African baby snatcher sentenced to 10 years in prison WHEN Celeste and Morne Nurse met their daughter’s new schoolfriend, they were struck by the uncanny resemblance between the two girls.

Could this stranger be their older daughter who was kidnapped almost a decade earlier?

A DNA test revealed it

The girl’s father, Morne Nurse, center, speaks to the media outside court Thursday. PHOTO: CNN

was.

On Thursday, the woman who kidnapped the couple’s daughter, Zephany Nurse, as an infant from a Cape Town hospital on April 30, 1997, was sentenced to 10 years prison.

Neither the abductor’s name, nor the name Zephany grew up with, has been revealed in order to protect the girl’s identity.

Now 19, Zephany was abducted when she was three days old from Groote Schuur Hospital.

The abductor wore clothes similar to the hospital staff uniform, and took Zephany while her mother slept following a cesarean.

communitynews Ndokwa decries non-inclusion in NDDC board

38

Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba

I

NDIGENES of Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituency in Delta State have expressed displeasure over their non-inclusion in the list of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) sent to the National Assembly by

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari for screening and confirmation.

The people under the auspices of Concerned Ndokwa Patriots (CNP), in a protest letter addressed to the president and endorsed by their national coordinator and secretary, Comrade Victor Okwuepusu and Barrister Ben Ellu respec-

tively, said: “We were deeply shocked, when we read in several national dailies that the proposed list of persons nominated for membership of the recently reconstituted NDDC board had no Ndokwa/ Ukwuani indigene despite the fact that since the commission was established on July 12,

Epe traditional rulers commend Ambode on development projects by yejide gbenga-ogundare

A group of traditional rulers in Ward C, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, has commended the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for what it described as his resolve to ensure the development of the state, describing him as a good ambassador of Epe. The chairman of the group, Chief Nureni Ebudola, lauded the governor for what his administration had achieved within a year, adding that the dividends of democracy had

spread to the nooks and crannies of the state.

He listed some of the dividends of democracy as the construction of roads in Epe and other development projects executed across the state.

“What the governor has done in the short period he has spent in office, shows that he is ready to serve the people,” he said.

Ebudola commended Ambode’s leadership style with regard to his focus on service delivery through infrastructural development, revitalisation of functional education and security, noting that all these have brought prog-

ress and economic development that is unrivaled by past administrations in the state.

He urged the governor not to rest on his oars but continue to provide basic amenities for the people of Ward C in Epe which comprises over 20 communities.

2000 and reconstituted four times, no Ndokwa/ Ukwuani indigene had been appointed as either chairman or member of the board of directors.

“Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State consists of Ndi-Oshimili-Ukwuani speaking people who are indigenous to Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East and Ukwuani Local Government Areas of Delta State.

These three local government areas have within their geographical areas oil-bearing and producing communities that contribute 12 per cent of the total oil and gas produced in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

“It will be proper to state that several foreign and indigenous oil producing and servicing companies are operating without hindrance

in Ndokwa land. These companies include: Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Sterling Energy Exploration Company (SEEPCO), Midwestern Oil and Gas Limited, Energia Oil J.V., Chorus Energy, Pillar Oil and Gas, Platform Petroleum Limited.”

According to the statement, “Ndokwa land has the largest oil and gas recycling plant in the whole of West Africa. This recycling plant is called Kwale/Okpai Gas Plant operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company and it supplies electricity to 14 states in Nigeria except Ndokwa nation where it derives its source having been stepped down in Obosi, Anambra State.”

The statement added that “in pursuant to the powers conferred on president by the Act establishing the Niger Delta

Development Commission, particularly section 2(2)(a)(v), he is “to appoint the chairman and other members who are persons of proven integrity and ability to the board of NDDC, subject to the confirmation of the Senate in consultation with the House of Representatives”.

They noted that in Delta State, the five major ethnic groups that produce oil are Ndokwa/Ukwuani, Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri, adding that “it is apposite to state that since the reconstitution of the NDDC board in four previous occasions, including the recent list submitted to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation, the Urhobos, Ijaws, Isokos and Itsekiris have been appointed time and again except Ndokwa.”

Monarch laments attack on Eko-Odoso community anthony ubong-calabar

THE village head of EkoOdoso community in Bacoco Qua Clan, Calabar municipality, His Highness Effiom Etim Edet Omin, has decried incessant attacks on residents of the community by suspected cultists.

Speaking with Community News in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Chief Omin said issues relating to land speculation have led to the emergence of gun-wielding men in the community, who unleash terror on their victims.

The traditional ruler, who said he was recently attacked by cultists in his country home, appealed to the government to come to the rescue of residents of the community.

He said last month, suspected cultists allegedly sponsored by some chiefs from a neighbouring community, invaded his house at 5.30 a.m. and attempted to kill him.

He alleged that the chiefs had been using cultists to scare people, in order to unlawfully take permission of lands belonging to EkoOdoso community.

Chief Omin said that already, lands worth about N200 million had been illegally sold by the chiefs.

He said: “A few weeks ago, I heard gunshots around 5.30 in the morning around my house. I rushed out to see where the gunshots were coming from. When I went there I saw some boys who were heavily armed. I rushed into my car to go to the police station to report what was happening, but they blocked me, they didn’t allow me to move, they cut my hand with their matchete while I was trying to move the car. They also struggled to take the steering from me but as soon as I moved the vehicle, they fled.

“How can you leave your own community to come and fight for land in another community?”

According to him, the attacks started in 2012, adding that he had earlier informed the police and other security agencies but nothing was done.

Chief Omin added that the activities of cultists had paralysed economic activities in the community.

He said shop owners and other businessmen now close as early as 7 p.m. for fear of being attacked and robbed.

He, however, called on the divisional police officer in the federal housing area to mount surveillance in the community, adding that the community is in dire need of police presence.

This is Ikenne-Odogbolu Road in Ogun State; in dire need of rehabilitation. PHOTO: D’ Toyin

Arson: Edo community gets N10m relief materials banji aluko-benin city

THE people of Bekuma community in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State have been presented with N10 million cash and other relief materials following the attack on them by youths from a neighbouring community.

Presenting the money and 150 bundles of roofing sheets to the traditional ruler of Bekuma, Oba Moses Alabi, at the palace of the Otaru of Igarra, Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki II, on Sunday, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said anyone who again resorts to arson and killing in the guise of reprisal would be prosecuted and sent to

prison if convicted.

The governor regretted that the communities involved in the arson allowed their quarrel to degenerate into madness which led to the burning of houses and other valuables and killings, saying the task of ridding the society of criminals would not be accomplished without the collaboration of the traditional institution, local governments and the state government.

He said, “destruction of property is a very serious crime. Killing is a very serious crime. It is a capital offence in our legal system. I want to make it very clear that anyone who further resorts to acts of destruction, or killing will be prosecuted

immediately by Edo State government, and if we secure a conviction, we will send the person to prison.

“I want to appeal to you, the Chief of Bekuma and the people of Bekuma, to accept what has happened as God’s will. It cannot be justified. No one has the right to resort to arson.

“I want to appeal to you to sustain what you are already doing, preaching to your people to accept the pains with the hope that this will not happen again, and that you derive some relief from the empathy and sympathy that has been shown by all the royal fathers in Akoko Edo and beyond.”

Responding, the Otaru and chairman of Bekuma Rehabilitation Commit-

tee, thanked Governor Oshiomhole for the relief materials, saying that the governor’s response showed that he is a symbol of honour and hope and exponent of human kindness.

Also speaking, Oba Alabi said the governor had put smile on the faces of Bekuma people, adding that he had also relieved their souls from the unfortunate incident.

It will be recalled that two persons were feared dead while about 40 houses, a public school and the palace of the village head of Bekuma were razed when some youths from a neighbouring community attacked Bekuma on March 30, this year.

39

Tuesday, 16 August, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Rio Olympics: D’Tigers crash out

By Ganiyu Salman

N

I G E R I A ’ S D’Tigers on Monday, crashed out of the men’s basketball of the Rio Olympics as they lost 6986 to the hosts, Brazil, in their last group B game.

Nigeria’s only win at Rio 2016 was a surprise 90-76 victory over Croatia in what was regarded as the biggest upset of the tournament after losing its first three matches against Argentina, Lithuania and Spain respectively.

The reigning AfroBasket champions however, on Monday, also lost the chance to grab a quarterfinal ticket, as the Brazilians overwhelmed them with home support to carry the day.

Brazil used a 27-15 second quarter to take control of the game and whenever Nigeria got within striking distance over the course of the second half, Nene Hilario stepped up to make big plays to keep them at bay.

Rafael Hettsheimer, Raulzinho Neto and Vitor Benite provided a huge lift off the bench in the first half. Hettsheimer was doing damage from beyond the arc, while Neto capped off a 7-0 run for a 38-28 lead and Benite hit a high-arching floater in the dying seconds of the second quarter for a 42-31 advantage at the break.

The African champions

fought back and were within 61-57 when Josh Akognon buried a threepointer with 8:52 minutes left to play. It would be the closed they’d get as Brazil outscored them 25-12 the rest of the way.

The turning point of the match was when after both teams went through a bit of a scoring drought, Nene hit a pair of free-throws to extend Brazil’s advantage to 63-57 with 6:25 minutes remaining and blocked Ike Diogu at the other end.

Nene turned the hero of the match as he finished with a game-high 19 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and a block. He even got a very friendly roll on a three-point attempt for his first make of the tournament. Hettsheimer and Benite each had 10 points in the first half.

Nigeria finished last in the group with six points.

It will be recalled, that D’Tigers, finished 10th among 12 teams at the London 2012 also with a victory over fellow African side, Tunisia.

Nigerian Inyang wins U-12 tennis tourney in US

Nigeria’s Ike Diogu of Nigeria (left), Felicio Cristiano of Brazil (centre) and Nigeria’s Alade Aminu compete for the ball during their group clash at the Carioca Arena 1 in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: EPA.

Okocha counsels Dream Team over money issue FORMER Nigeria skipper, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has warned members of the Dream Team at the ongoing Rio Olympics that they cannot become rich simply by playing for

Nigeria.

Money problems have marred the team’s march to the semi-final of the Rio 2016, just as they did two years ago when the Super Eagles also held the

“He has mentioned the names of some of the players he is counting on for the qualifiers and some of them will be called up for the AFCON qualifier against Tanzania in Port Harcourt.”

Norway-based TroostEkong is currently leading the defence line of the Dream Team at the Rio Olympics.

The central defender, who was eligible to also feature for Holland by virtue of his Dutch mother, made his debut for Nigeria against Chad in an AFCON qualifier in Kaduna in June 2015.

Mohammed, on the other hand, made his long-awaited Eagles bow against Mali in a friendly in France in May. The right full-back who captained the Golden Eaglets

at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the Flying Eagles at 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup also featured in a 3-1 win over Luxembourg also in May this year.

Rohr targets Ekong, Mohammed for W-Cup qualifiers NEW Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has swung into action to put together his defence ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in October by penciling in Dream Team VI defender, William Troost-Ekong and Musa Mohammed, AfricanFootball.com has scooped.

Rohr has hit the ground running by flying out to Spain to watch the NPFL All-Stars feature in a series of friendlies against Spanish clubs including Valencia and Atletico Madrid.

A top official told AfricanFootball.com: “Troost-Ekong and Musa Mohammed are among the defenders Rohr will consider for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

country to ransom before they were paid appearance bonuses also in Brazil.

Okocha, who clocked 43 years last Sunday, has now told the Dream Team they should rather be proud they are representing Nigeria than hope to make money doing so.

“You can’t get rich playing for Nigeria, you will get exposure and touch lives,” Okocha said as he marked his birthday with a visit to internally displaced people.

“We have to look beyond match bonuses when

playing for our country.”

‘Jay Jay’ recalled how his turning professional in Germany wiped out poverty from his family.

“The decision to take the flight to Germany took away poverty from my family,” he recounted.

Okocha, who won Olympic gold in 1996 and featured at three World Cups, played for Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany), PSG (France), Fenerbache (Turkey), Bolton, Hull City (England) and in Qatar before he finally quit the game.

Glo partners SuperSport to bring EPL matches live to Nigerians AS the 2016/2017 football season kicked off last weekens, football fans across the country and beyond have been assured of continuous live broadcast of English Premier League (EPL) matches.

Globacom which recently renewed the sponsorship of the broadcast of the EPL on DStv for another three seasons has assured Nigerians that its partnership with Supersport will guarantee steady live

broadcast of matches all through the season.

Football fans in Nigeria are therefore assured of watching their clubs’ matches on Supersport channels on DStv from August 13, 2016 to May 2017 when the entire matches will be aired live courtesy of Globacom.

“The English Premier League has become a major attraction for Nigerian football lovers.

Our sponsorship of EPL live

matches, therefore, is to enhance the value we give millions of our subscribers.

We want football fans across Africa to continue to enjoy the best of English league from August 2016 to May 2017 and beyond,” Glo said Meanwhile, the EPL season kicked off last Saturday with Manchester City beating Sunderland 2-1 at Etihad Stadium, while defending champions, Leicester City lost 1-2 to Hull City at away.

NIGERIA’S Gabriel Inyang rounded off his two-month training tour of the US on a glorious note last weekend beating American Jack Patricof 6-3, 6-1 to win the Feinberg U-12 Championship organised in New York by the United States Tennis Association.

It was Inyang’s second title in the US financial capital city having also emerged champion of the Beco International Junior Tennis Tournament held three weeks earlier.

The 11-year-old rising star, who was a member of the Team Nigeria that emerged overall winners of the 2016 ITF, CAT West and Central Africa Junior Qualifying Championship in Abuja in January, opened his campaign with a flawless 6-0, 6-0 bashing of Jake Ludgin and followed it with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Reece Durfman.

Michael Blitzer was his victim in the quarter-final following a 6-2, 6-3 triumph and it was the turn of Luke Hollman to bow 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinal before the Champions match with Patricof which took the Nigerian less than 45 minutes to settle.

Inyang

SIDELINES

NO 16,568

TUESDAY, 16 AUGUST, 2016

Can Ajagba deliver Nigeria’s first medal tonight?

Fuel scarcity looms as foreign exchange crisis worsens. Well, the authorities had better buckle up because, already paying through the nose to buy fuel at the official rate of N145 per litre, Nigerians are certainly not in the mood for any further crisis that will further impoverish them.

N150

Rio Olympics:

By Ganiyu Salman

N

IGERIA’S sole flag bearer in boxing at the ongoing Rio Olympics, Efe Ajagba is on the verge of making history tonight as he faces Ivan Dychko of Kazakhstan in a quarter-final super heavyweight bout billed for the Riocentro-Pavilion 6.

A victory for Ajagba again tonight will earn him a semifinal berth and automatic medal as well at the Olympics.

It will also be Nigeria’s first Olympics boxing medal since Duncan Dokiwari’s bronze feat at Atlanta ‘96 and the first medal by Nigeria since Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Ajagba announced his arrival at Rio 2016 two days ago when he delivered a right hook to the chin of his opponent from Trinidad and Tobago, Nigel Paul to end the bout in just two minutes 44 seconds of the first round.

Unarguably, the Delta State-born boxer faces an uphill task in his bid to make the podium given the pedigree of his opponent.

Dychko, who is rated world’s number two won a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics when he lost to the eventual gold medallist, Britain’s Anthony Joshua 11-13 in the semi-final.

The six-feet eight and a half tall boxer could be rated higher also in terms of preparation for Rio 2016 aside having access to better facilities also had the ample opportunity to train in June in Austria for two weeks with the former WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion,

Ajagba (right) during his bout with Nigel Paul.

Wladimir Klitschko and his team.

“Everything was top notch.

Of course, it was interesting to check yourself in sparring against such a great and experienced fighter as Wladimir Klitschko. The two weeks with Klitschko’s team were a great experience,” Dychko had remarked before heading for the quadrennial Games.

The 25-year-old boxer in his first bout too at Rio 2016 showed his devastating form when he stopped Azerbaijan’s Magomedrasul Majidov in the second round to set up a showdown with Ajagba.

But the 2015 All Africa Games gold medallist, Ajag-

ba is also prepared to rewrite history at Rio 2016 as he declared that he had techniques to demystify any opponent including Dychko.

“Efetobore Apochi taught me how to fight bigger opponents and avoid being hurt.

“Dychko is a heavy hitter, a fighter, but he cannot box. He is slow and has a weak chin, so if I cannot win by boxing technique, I will turn to fighting. I have so many weapons to use against him,” the 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist said.

Meanwhile, Apochi, a bronze winner at the Glasgow 2014 believes, Ajagba’s day of glory is around the corner.

“He (Ajagba) will be different from what he put up during the last fight against Nigel. He is going to fight Ivan and not box. We discussed Ivan’s glass face and his height. Ajagba just needs to have a better mindset because boxing is 100 per cent emotional.

“Ajagba is ready physically and mentally even though he did not get the physical preparations he needed from Nigeria. He is looking forward to fighting three of them (super heavyweight boxers) Ivan, Tony Yoka of France and Joe Joyce of Great Britain, “ said the 2015 All Africa Games silver medallist.

Japanese boosts Dream Team ahead Germany clash

Bolt retains 100m gold As Murray rules tennis again

JAMAICAN Usain Bolt became the first athlete to win three Olympic 100m titles by beating American Justin Gatlin to gold at Rio 2016.

Bolt, 29, ran 9.81 seconds in his final Olympics to replicate his success at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Twice banned for doping offences, Gatlin was 0.08 seconds behind Bolt, with Canada’s Andre de Grasse in third.

“Somebody said I can become immortal,” said Bolt.

“Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal.”

Each player to get $30,000 for gold CELEBRATED Japanese plastic surgeon, Katsuya Takasu, has promised a bonus of $30,000 to each member of Nigeria’s Dream Team should they win gold at the Rio Olympics.

This came on the heels of Nigeria’s semi-final clash with Germany tomorrow in Sao Paolo.

He also announced his desire to reward the 1996 Olympic football champions, along with $20,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze after

hearing about their financial woes.

“I read about the financial problems affecting the team and I felt the need to make a big contribution,” Takasu told BBC Sport.

“I am not doing this for media attention but to motivate a team with an indomitable spirit. I fell in love with the Nigerian team because despite all these problems they are in the quarter-finals of the Olympics.

“Whether they win or not, I will still donate something

to help alleviate the challenges in paying their bonuses and al- lowances.”

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is impressed by this gesture but being careful.

“I have been in direct contact with Mr Takasu and impressed by his gesture,” NFF vicepresident, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi told BBC Sport.

Bolt celebrates his victory in Rio. PHOTO: EPA.

De Grasse took bronze in a personal best of 9.91, ahead of Bolt’s Jamaican teammate, Yohan Blake.

There was no British interest in Sunday’s showpiece as CJ Ujah and James Dasaolu were eliminated in the semifinals.

Bolt remains on target to leave Rio with a third successive Olympic treble, having won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles in 2008 and 2012.

“It wasn’t perfect today, but I got it done and I’m pretty proud of what I’ve achieved,” he said. “Nobody else has done it or even attempted it.

“I expected to go faster, but I’m happy that I won. I did what I had to.”

Meanwhile, Britain’s Andy Murray became the first tennis player to win two Olympic singles titles by beating Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro in Rio. An emotional Murray, 29, secured a thrilling 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory to make it GB’s most successful day at an overseas Games with five gold medals.

The see-saw match featured 14 breaks of serve in front of a raucous crowd.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 16/8/2016.