17th April 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 2,042

SUNDAY, 17 APRIL, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

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Nigerian Tribune

Boko Haram can’t take territory again, vows Buhari •As troops rescue 455 victims

N200 1 Pgs 4&4

NORTHERN ELDERS WRITE BUHARI:

North is suffering

pg4

•Assess FG’s policies, president’s cabinet

2019: PDP

Why I’ve not been

active in music —Baba n Waka

Woman delivers ‘cocaine pregnancy’ at Lagos airport Pg43

leaders disown posts sharing formula report

Pg4

•Party exempts Kogi, Ondo, Edo from forthcoming congresses •Police stop Sheriff’s visit to Jigawa

Interest rate may go up — CBN Pg8

APC passes no confidence vote in Kogi gov g8 •We’re not aware — Bello

P

Mother of three, Dorothy Onyekasi, with the 1.720kgs of cocaine she was ‘delivered’ of on Saturday.

Tension as herdsmen flood South-West •We’ll find lasting solution to crisis — Presidency

pgs 2,3&5

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17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

specialreport

COWing menace

As Fulani herdsmen flood South-West…

Typical gun-wielding Fulani (Bororo) herdsmen watching over their cattle.

Photo: Internet

From Sam Nwaoko, Biola Azeez, Yinka Olukoya and Hakeem Gbadamosi

I

N many parts of the South-West, Fulani herdsmen have virtually become common sight. The invasion is so massive that areas where they hitherto had little or no contact with the local communities now have an overflow of them. The effect of this invasion is not different from what has happened elsewhere in the country, such as the Middle Belt, the North-East and elsewhere where displacements and the likelihood of a food crisis has become a reality. This is as a result of farmers abandoning their farms which have been run over by the Fulani and their cattle.

While cattle breeding has been modernised in other parts of the world with the introduction of ranches, the Fulani still prefer their nomadic way of life which often end in conflict whenever they come in contact with local farmers. The herdsman is also a prey to cattle rustlers, who rob him of his cows and sometimes even his life. He often complains, saying he is just an easy-going nomadic person who would hurt no fly.

The Kebbi State Chairman, Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Ali, reportedly lamented recently that government was not doing enough to protect herdsmen from attacks by rustlers.

“To fully stamp out the scourge is something urgent.

Cattle rearers are living in fear because they (rustlers) strike without notice,” he said, adding that the Fulani are defenceless as they are armed only with machetes, swords and sticks. But is this really true? Armed only with machetes, swords and sticks?

The scenario today does not support that position. That was probably centuries and decades back, because today, many of the Fulani herdsmen that parade the South-West are often seen with an AK-47 and similar weapons slung across their shoulders where the sticks used to be.

In Nigeria, there is hardly any state that is totally safe from the Fulani incursion as they often clash with local communities where residents are attacked for defending their farms and communities. A report published by SMB Intelligence, a data mining and research firm that provides analysis of Nigeria’s socio-political and economic situations, revealed that over 2,000 people were killed in conflicts between the herdsmen and different host communities in 2015.

In Benue State, the Fulani-Agatu crisis has led to many villagers becoming internally displaced, including many others in the North-East area. Allegedly the hoodlums struck again in March last year, attacked Egba village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue, killing over 100 persons and injuring several others, including women and children while they were sleeping. The same occurrence was recorded in Barkin Ladi Local Government of

Plateau State last year September when Fulani herdsmen stormed the village and killed several people from the same family while others were killed in a nearby village. Their menace also led to the death of Senator Gyang Dantong from Plateau State and Hon Gyang Fulani representing Barkin Ladi constituency while attending the burial of those killed by the hoodlums.

In the South-West part of the country, Oke Ogun area of Oyo State was the first flash point where farmers tasted the bitter pill of the Fulani incursion. Reports were rife of the herdsmen inflicting machete cuts on local farmers who dared confront them over cattle grazing in their farms. Women had been reportedly raped and local residents robbed.

Instead of being remorseful over the desecration of the farmland and betrayal of the accommodating posture of their hosts, in 2000 the Arewa Consultative forum had to send a delegation to Oyo State on behalf of the herdsmen even after several of the local farmers had been left with amputated hands and other permanent injuries after their clashes with the herdsmen. The question then arose: Was it the same seemingly harmless Fulani herdsmen who often settled among locals who have now turned to criminals and bandits, robbing and raping their hosts, among others?

Continues pg 3

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specialreport

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘These herdsmen have become uncontrollable’ Continued from pg 2 Things got to a head in Akure, Ondo State last year when former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and former presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae, was abducted by Fulani herdsmen having before then invaded his farm and destroyed the crops there.

His case signposted and brought to fore the reality of the Fulani invasion in the South-West. Thereafter, an emergency meeting of Afenifere was quickly summoned to address the issue. Part of the communiqué of the meeting made available to the press by the body’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin read in part: “We demand that nomadic cattle rearing should be stopped in every state of Yoruba land.

“We believe now that after what has happened to Chief Falae, people would not tolerate such thing in any part of Yoruba land.

“So while we await the arrest of the criminals, cattle rearing should be stopped in Yoruba land.

“Yoruba people go to any part of the country to trade, no history or record of such anywhere that the Yoruba destroyed the business of their host. What we cannot do to others, nobody should do it to us.”

Ogun State In Ogun State, though the menace of Fulani herdsmen is no longer rampant in Imeko-Afon, Oja-Odan, the relative peace was achieved when the state government at different times invited leaders of Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba communities to meetings, at which an understanding was reached on how to put an end to the daily reports of unwholesome activities of the herdsmen.

Before the situation was brought under control, the herdsmen reportedly raped women to death, killed farmers and destroyed farmlands, which culminated into a series of crises in the affected areas.

But the situation is different in other parts of the state. For instance, traditional rulers in Ijebu-Igbo area of the state recently raised the alarm over the issue.

A community leader, in Ijebu-Igbo area of the state, Chief Bayo Dayo, accused the often heavily armed herdsmen of terrorising the people of his community. “If we are not careful here in Ijebu Igbo, all our farms may be wiped out. All our farms in Eyin Oshun are now being destroyed by cattle. The cattle destroy the farms and the herders, too, rape women. In Japara, I have over 10 acres of farmland, the herdsmen destroyed it and now I had to fence it round to stop them from destroying the farm completely. If care is not taken, the cattle rearers may cause war,” he said.

Mr Oluwambe Aroyewun, a farmer in Odeda Local Government Area of the state, believes there is no other solution to the problem rather than taming the herdsmen and bringing their nefarious activities under control. He said most of the farmlands in the area had been destroyed due to the invasion of the cattle breeders.

“The Fulani herdsmen could not be confronted because of the dangerous weapons in their possession,” he said, adding that an enabling law must be provided to curtail their excesses.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, while speaking of the issue said: “In Ogun State, we don’t have herdsmen who bear firearms, but they only bear machetes, swords and sticks, also known as

‘sanda.

“It is not illegal for them to bear those swords, machetes and sticks, unless they begin to use them to intimidate, harass or threaten people, in which case the police can arrest them,” he said.

Brewing crisis in Ekiti The situation in Ekiti state is worse.

About one and a half years ago, a man cried to the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), lamenting what he described as the total destruction of his farm

by Fulani herdsmen. Upon enquiry, he disclosed that his farm was located on the Ikere-Ise road in Ikere Local Government

Area of the state and that he was a cassava farmer. According to the distraught man, his farm was invaded by cattle.

“I met the Fulani rearers and their cattle in the farm. I was helpless because they threatened to kill me and because they were armed, I had to run,” he said.

The Ikere farmer added that he had reported the incident to the police on more than one occasion and that even the police were unable to help him, hence his resolve to “cry to the world through the media.”

He also said the state’s Ministry of Agriculture as well as the then commissioner in the ministry, Mr. Babajide Arowosafe, received his reports and promised to look into the matter with a view to finding a

way to handle his loss.

“They took pity on me because I lost all I have which I had invested in that farm, following the charge by the Federal Government that we should return to the farm and the fact that cassava was the in-thing,” he said.

The farmer who doesn’t want to be named, lamented that he was the third “large scale farmer to suffer this kind of thing and yet the government is saying they want to diversify to agriculture. The zeal is dead.”

Ikere- Ise Road in Ekiti State was not just known for the alleged incessant report Continues pg 9

‘We are taking steps to curb Fulani\farmers’ crises’ Ondo State Commissioner, Kayode Akinmade, in this interview with HAKEEM GBADAMOSI, speaks on the measures taken by the state government to curb the influx and invasion of Fulani herdsmen in the state, among other issues. Excerpts

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HAT is the state government doing in curbing the activities of the Fulani herdsmen in the state The state government is putting all machineries in motion to ensure that the Fulani herdsmen and the communities across the 18 local governments of Ondo state live in peace and harmony. The state government was not impressed and happy with the recent development that led to the death of the security man in the farm of our elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae; we believe that is an affront on our collective security and we are of the opinion that the Federal Government will take the necessary action so as to prevent crises or conflicts between the herdsmen and their host communities who are predominantly farmers. As a government, we have given instructions to the security agencies to ensure that they make regulations that will ensure that there is no conflict between the Fulani herdsmen and their hosts. I am happy to tell you that the commissioner of police in the state has taken action by inviting all stakeholders to a round table and given them a marching order that all of them in Ondo State should be registered for proper control and to also monitor their activities across the state. The incessant conflicts between the Fulani herdsmen and our farmers if not properly curtailed might cause a lot of crises.

There is an influx of Fulani herdsmen into the state day in day out, what is the state government doing in monitoring their activities.

We are already working with the security agencies to ensure that we curtail their influx into the state and more importantly their presence in every nook and cranny of the state is worrisome and we believe there should be appropriate legislation that will curtail the activity of these men.

We are looking into our laws and we know we have some laws that will check the influx of these men into our state. We

to create ranches because these cattle are reared majorly for commercial purpose and they are making profits from it. So, if it is a personal venture, government should not be made to bear the brunt of their enterprise. Federal government as a matter of urgency must of necessity check the problem before it generates into ethnic war in the country.

Is there any steps taken by the governmet to cushion the effect of these invasion on affected farmers.

We are looking into that and we want to look into the impact of destruction in various communities invaded by these herdsmen and their cattle and the state government will soon come out with appropriate measures to cushion the effect because we cannot afford to toy with the interest of our farmers and they must be protected, because they are the ones feeding the state and indirectly feeding the nation.

Kayode Akinmade must emphasise the fact that our people are predominantly farmers , the federal government has been emphasising that there’s need for the country to diversify because of the present economic reality, most of our people have started embracing farming, even before now and have invested a lot into this enterprise . It will therefore be unacceptable to government to see that the efforts of our people are being wiped away by these Fulani herdsmen and their cattle. So the government is taking appropriate measures to ensure we nip this in the bud. Personally, the major solution to this problem is for the major states concerned

Ondo State is regarded as one of the peaceful states in the country, what effort is government making to sustain this peace despite provocations from the herdsmen ?

By the grace of God, Ondo State will continue to be peaceful, apart from divine intervention, human efforts is also very essential. We re able to achieve this feat because of pragmatic determination of government to ensure that we maintain peace and orderliness. I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the security operatives, they’ve been alive to their responsibilities. There is harmony, unity and cooperation among all the security agencies, they share information, intelligence and with this cooperation we have been able to nip in the bud so many issues that would have caused a lot of security challenges to the state.

More importantly, we want to emphasise that Ondo State people are peace-loving people, accommodating, enterprising and always love to live in harmony and peace with their neighbours.

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17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

The north is suffering •Northern elders write Buhari Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

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HE Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has written President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging marginalisation of the region through the instrumentality of the 2016 Budget.

The forum, in the letter endorsed by elder statesman, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Sule, said in a 10-paragraph letter dated March 16, 2016 that the North was being shortchanged under the president.

The letter read: “We convey to Mr. President our sincere felicitations and pray God to continue to guide you as you steer our national affairs through these difficult times. We have consulted a broad spectrum of opinions in the North, and decided to meet with you and present advice and suggestions that will assist your administration. This is our token contribution to your efforts, and it is made with sincere intention to assist you.”

The Northern elders said that the North was being shortchanged, as according to them, the budget lacked equity.

They also said that the president needed to allocate massive projects to the North in the next three years to ensure that the economy of the area is enhanced.

According to the Northern elders, government’s spending on recurrent aspect of the budget was also skewed against the North, alleging that 75 per cent of the civil service was made up of citizens from the three geo-political zones in the South.

The letter read further: “We have conducted some analysis on the 2016 Budget estimates which Mr. President submitted to the National Assembly. We are concerned over the absence of equity in the allocation of, particularly, capital spending. The three geo-political zones in the North are severely shortchanged.

“For a region deserving greater resources and attention, as well as the political backbone of your administration, this situation will pose serious problems for your administration.

“We advise Mr. President to review the proposed allocations in consultation with the National Assembly. We wish to draw Mr. President’s attention to the fact that over 75 per cent of all federal government public service employees are from the three geo-political zones in the South.

This means that virtually the same percentage of recurrent spending will go to

Nigerians from the South.

“Finally, we advise Mr. President to flag agriculture and water resources and exploitation of the North’s natural resources and rehabilitation of its infrastructure as priorities for the budgets of the next three years.”

On the government structure, the verdict of the NEF was damning. The forum described Buhari’s team as weak, urging him to immediately establish an Economic Management Team.

The group wrote: “We have noted the need for improvements in the human and institutional capabilities which aid Mr. President in governing the nation. As economic difficulties and demands for good governance become more challenging, the quality of advice and support Mr. President will require will need to be substantially raised.

“We urge Mr. President to establish an Economic Management Team and conclude appointments of key officers and advisers.

Where there are evident weaknesses and gaps in skills, competences, experience and integrity, we urge Mr. President to take steps to address them.”

On Boko Haram, the Northern Elders asked the president to probe indications that the sect still controls some areas near Maiduguri as well as possible foreign conspiracy in the insurgency war.

“We commend Mr. President’s resolve in improving our general security concerns, and urge you to deepen your personal involvement and scrutiny over the state of the fight against Boko Haram.

“We advise that all avenues should be exploited to further cripple and isolate this insurgency as well as improving the quality of intelligence and integrity of the leadership of the Armed Forces.

“We advise Mr. President to look into allegations that Boko Haram still has a substantial presence in many areas near Maiduguri and in other towns and villages.

“Mr. President should also look into possible complicity of foreign nations in the fight against Boko Haram and take firmer steps to protect our nation’s security against subversion.

“On management of religious-related threats, we strongly advise Mr. President to improve monitoring of potential sources of both internal and external subversion and hostility and counter them,” the forum said.

Meanwhile, the NEF also asked President Buhari to tackle insecurity of lives and properties in the North, especially kidnapping and cattle rustling, which they said had been on the increase.

The forum wrote: “Cattle rustling on industrial scale has devastated one of the major pillars of the Northern economy. This disaster is now being compounded by kidnapping of persons

on an alarming rate. Intercommunal conflicts, particularly in states in the North Central are also resurfacing after a lull, following Mr. President’s election.

“We appeal to Mr. Presi-

dent to direct major improvements in basic policing of our communities and investigate possible collusion of law enforcement agencies in these crimes.”

2019: PDP leaders disown posts sharing formula report

•As zoning committee members converge on Uyo •Police stop Modu Sheriff’s visit to Jigawa, cancel PDP’s rally FromJacobSegunOlatunji, LeonUsigbe,MosesAlaoand Adamu Amadu CONTRARY to the speculation doing the rounds over the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of its National Convention and the 2019 general election that the party had ratified its zoning arrangements, Sunday Tribune can authoritatively reveal that no such ratification had taken place .

Investigation revealed that as of the press time on Saturday, members of the party’s zoning committee recently inaugurated by its National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, along with other committees ahead of its National Convention, were just converging on Uyo, AkwaIbom state to commence their assignment.

The Akwa-Ibom State governor, Emmanuel Udom, is the chairman of the PDP Zoning Committee while the National Convention has been fixed for Port-Harcourt, Rivers State in May 21 this year.

According to our source,”it is very wrong to say or be speculating that our party has ratified its zoning formula when in the actual sense of it, the zoning committee is yet to meet on the matter.

“We are aware that some people are behind this speculation for their own selfish interest; they are just flying the kite, nothing like that had happened.”

“There are procedures to follow before the party releases its zoning formula which will be acceptable to all party members, since the new thinking in the party is to return it to the people at the grassroots.

“The first step is for the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) to empower the National Working Committee (NWC) to set up a zoning committee which had been done.

Then, the committee will meet and make a recommendation which is in the making now. The recommendation will go back to the NWC that will transmit it to the NEC for final

ratification after which it will then be made public,” he explained further.

When contacted, a member of the zoning committee who is also a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun debunked the speculation of any ratified zoning formula, saying, “it is false.

There is nothing of such to my knowledge because our committee is yet to meet on the issue, that is mere speculation.

“The zoning committee will be meeting this weekend and you can not ratify what is not in existence.

So, our party members should disregard such speculation in the overall interest of our party,” Oyedokun stated.

Similarly, the National Secretary of the PDP, Professor Wale Oladipo has stated that the report on zoning was “outright falsehood and a figment of the writers’ imagination,” noting that the party’s zoning committee was billed to have its meeting in Uyo, yesterday.

“The report is absolute falsehood. It is a figment of the imagination of the writers. The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) zoning committee headed by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State is meeting today [Saturday]; people will be arriving in Uyo today (Saturday).

It is when that committee meets and deliberates that it will forward its report to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. So, how can

anyone publish the report of a committee that is yet to sit? It is only those who wrote that story that can tell you where they got the falsehood from,” he said.

Similarly, the chairman of the PDP in Osun State, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, who is a member of the zoning committee, when contacted, said he was already in Uyo for the committee’s meeting, which was billed to begin by 7.00 p.m. yesterday.

He said: “The zoning report is outright falsehood.

Today is the committee’s first meeting, so I am surprised that anyone could publish a report of a committee that is having its first meeting.”

In another development, the Jigawa State Police Command has stopped the acting national chairman of the PDP, Senator Modu Sheriff, from coming to the state as planned.

Activities surrounding the official visit of Modu Sheriff to the state tomorrow had also been cancelled by the police authorities “for security reason.”

The Police Public Relations Officer for the command, DSP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed the cancellation of the PDP chairman’s visit to Sunday Tribune.

Jinjiri said the state Commissioner of Police, Usman Abubakar Tilli had directed the cancellation of the visit and the planned political rally of the PDP in the state scheduled for tomorrow.

“Yes, it is true that the visit and political rally have been cancelled based

on security reasons. What oga, the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Usman Abubakar told me was that the political rally has been stopped for security reason,” he said.

The police spokesperson, who denied that Modu Sheriff was barred from coming to the state, explained that the PDP rally scheduled for tomorrow would clash with another rally scheduled for the same day by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“There is a notice of a political rally by two major political parties, APC and PDP, which happens to fall on the same day.

“Due to this reason, the Commissioner stopped the two parties and asked each to change the date and ensure no same date is picked and also notify the police for security arrangements.

Contacted, the vice chairman of the PDP in Jigawa Central zone, Alhaji Aminu Jahun, said: “Yes, we received the police order and we accepted it.”

“They said they would not allow our national chairman to come to the state and asked us to pick another date and notify them.

“We then informed our national chairman about the development and asked him to give us another date at his own convenience. But we will continue with our arrangements. If you can come to the state headquarters, you will see that we are working, clearing and expanding the place,” he said.

Boko Haram can’t take any territory in Nigeria again, Buhari vows PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Boko Haram terrorists have been degraded to the extent that the group can no longer seize and hold unto any territory in the country.

In a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja, the president made the remark at the 13th

summit of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey.

Represented by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, Buhari said government forces had taken over all the territories seized by the insurgents and destroyed their camps.

The president also said that most of the leaders of the terrorist group had

been arrested, while many others had surrendered.

He commended Nigeria’s neighbouring countries such as Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin as well as the international community for their support in the fight against insurgency in the country.

Buhari also commended the OIC for its efforts in ensuring peace world wide.

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17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Buhari not silent on Fulani herdsmen’s crisis —Presidency Says, ‘we will find a lasting solution to it’

By Segun Adebayo

A

S Nigerians continue their condemnation of the on-going killing of farmers by Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the country, particularly in Benue and adjoining states, the Federal Government, on Saturday, said that it would leave no stone unturned in its desire to find a lasting solution to the menace, just as it insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari has not been silent on the crisis because he is a Fulani.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, faulted the claim that President Buhari had been silent on the herdsmen/farmers clashes, saying it was unfortunate that people only chose what they wanted to hear.

Adesina said that it was not true that the president is sectional as insinuated in some quarters.

“It is not true that the president is sectional and that he has been silent on the Fulani herdsmen crisis because he is a Fulani.

“The president has not been silent on the matter.

It is unfortunate that some people choose what they want to hear.

“The president has spoken against the crisis many times.

We also issued a press statement on the matter.

“No stone will be left unturned in finding a lasting solution to the crisis,” he said.

An Abuja-based group of young professionals of Tiv extraction under the aegis of Club De Pals, had faulted

and the APC-led Federal Government to urgently treat the crisis with the same seriousness it was applying

Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran (second right); co-chairman, ANN Plc, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (left); Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, ANN Plc, Mr Edward Dickson, and the new couple, Mr Oluwakorede Solomon and former Miss Oluwatoyin Esther, a member of staff of ANN Plc, during the couple’s wedding ceremony at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Solution Assembly, Orita Challenge, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN.

to tackle the insurgency in the North-East.

“We state emphatically that the continued silence of the president on this very significant national security matter, the response of the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant-General Abdurrahman Danbazzau (retd), to convene a ‘town hall meeting’ without any specific date, the comments credited to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, during his visit to Agatu community that he could not see the bodies of the 400 people massacred in 10 villages, have all combined to give us the message that we are not liked. We are unsafe and unprotected by the Federal Government.

“It is appalling that the Nigerian security forces delayed deployment of their men and officers to stem the bloodletting until hundreds of people had been killed by the Fulanis.”

Kogi APC, Bello’s rift deepens •Party passes vote of no confidence in gov YinkaOladoyinbo-Lokoja THE political crisis in Kogi State continues as the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has passed a vote of no confidence in the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The development climaxed the frosty relationship that had existed between the

governor and the party at the state level.

Members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party were said to have met, on Monday, to deliberate on the fate of the party and taken concrete steps to move it forward.

However, after the meeting, held at the party secretariat in Lokoja, the participants

Traditional news media on the brink of extinction —Osoba A former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has said that journalism as practised by the traditional media is on the brink of extinction due to the advent of the new media.

Osoba, who is also a veteran journalist and former Managing Director of Daily Times, said this on Saturday, in Lagos, at the first quarterly national executive council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the programme was held at the Combo Hall, Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

Osoba said that journalism, as a profession, needed to be redirected and refocused to meet the modern day’s demands, including the Internet.

“I want to touch the area that is most important to us as journalists. We are on the brink of extinction and the media is on its way out.

“The advent of this age of the Internet, the electronic and the print media must devise a way out. On You-

President Buhari’s failure to tackle the killing of farmers by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State, calling on him

Tube now, I can download everything with the aid of the Internet, everything I need.

“For most of us in the profession, we must check the actions of quacks and everybody claiming to be journalist; they are not members of NUJ. “NUJ, as a body needs to see that they are in charge, otherwise internet would be turned by some people to avenues of blackmail per-

petrated by non-professionals,” he said.

Osoba urged NUJ to be more proactive in dealing with quackery in journalism, adding that there was a new order in journalism now with the advent of Internet.

“We should not allow this profession to be corrupted by few individuals who are turned to tools in the hands of some people for their own interest.

resolved and wrote a letter to the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, telling him that they have no confidence in the governor.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the meeting, chaired by the state chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, was convened to consider some of the developments after the inauguration of the governor on January 27.

It was learnt that the leadership of the party in the state has been complaining silently on the treatment allegedly meted on them by the governor.

Sources told Sunday Tribune that almost all the 36 members of the executives were unanimous in their complaint against the approach of the governor and supported the no-confidence vote.

Confirming the meeting, the state secretary, Salam Adejo, said the decision was

PDP exempts Kogi, Ondo, Edo from forthcoming congresses THE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has exempted Kogi, Ondo and Edo states from its forthcoming state congresses.

In a statement signed on Saturday, in Abuja, by Mr Olisa Metuh, the national publicity secretary of the party, the NWC said the decision was in view of its resolve to enthrone and sustain internal democracy.

The statement noted that the decision to exempt the

affected states and consider other non-contentious states for the forthcoming congresses tallied with that of the National Executive Committee of the party.

“The NWC hereby announces that only three states, namely; Kogi, Ondo and Edo are exempted from the congresses.

“Accordingly, the remaining 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be involved in elective congresses starting on Saturday, April 23,

2016,’’ it stated.

Similarly, the NWC also announced a new Caretaker Committee for PDP Yobe chapter.

The new caretaker committee has Alhaji Mohammed El-Yakub as its chairman and Alhaji Bello Jamaare as secretary.

Other members of the committee include, Alhaji Abba Tata, Malam Hassan Jaks, Mr Kachallah Hassan, Mr Mohammed Kadai, Alhaji Hassan Adamu and Mrs Zainab Haruna.

taken because the governor, since assumption of office, had not related with the party.

He said Bello had completely neglected the party in the scheme of things, particularly in the appointments he had made so far.

He said: “It is true we held a meeting last Monday and it was to deliberate on our party, because it is unfortunate that since the governor assumed office, he has not had anything to do with the party.

“There has been total neglect of the party. He has no recourse to the party in the scheme of things. He has appointed various people into positions and these are his classmates, business associates and people from the PDP. He has been busy appointing those that contributed nothing to the party.

“I am the secretary of the party in the state and I am representing my local government in the state executive. The governor appointed a special adviser from my local government and I don’t know him in person. This is a big slap on the party.

“When the governor assumed office, we gave him many recommendations at the level of the party. But all of them were thrown into the dust bin. We are operating on parallel lines.”

Adejo also confirmed that the party resolved to inform the national secretariat not to allow him pick a replacement for the late minister, James Ocholi, to avoid a repeat of

appointing non party member as a minister representing the state in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

However reacting to the allegations, Bello said he was not aware that a vote of no confidence was passed in him.

The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Abdulmalik Abdulkarim, said the allegation that the governor appointed non party members into positions was baseless and wrong.

According to him, many of the appointees are members of the APC, arguing that the party had many members that might not have been verified by the party leadership.

He said: “The party has a lot of members, has the party verified to know that those appointed are not members of the APC. I am a cardcarrying member of APC, I registered in Ohueta Ward, Ihima in Okene Local Government Area.

“Apart from this, the governor at his inauguration promised to run an all-inclusive government, he said he has come to entrench an all inclusive government that will involve APC, PDP, elites, community leaders and so on.

“However, the party should not be in a hurry, they should be patient and allow him to settle down and do the needful. We are still mourning the death of the former minister and am not aware that the presidency has asked him for nomination, when it is time the governor will consult.”

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17 April, 2016

crimereports

Sunday Tribune

edited by Oluwatoyin Malik 0807 889 1950, 0811 695 4633 praiseboy01@gmail.com

How I was almost used for rituals by my lover, SSS2 student narrates experience

By Oluwatoyin Malik

T

O 17-year-old Omotola (not real name), a Senior Secondary School 2 student, it was Cupid’s arrow that struck her heart when Onuigbo Chibuike proposed love to her about three months ago. But going by her recent experience, precisely on Easter Sunday, it might take some time before she would venture into a love affair again.

This was because her lover, Chibiuke, was accused of planning to use her for rituals and had drugged her drink to make his plans easy and possible.

The disclosure was made by the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Leye Oyebade, who said that the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the command went after Chibuike and his suspected accomplice, one Babatunde Ajala, who is a herbalist, following a tip-off that there was a plan to use the SSS2 student for money rituals.

According to the police commissioner, Chibuike lured his girlfriend to the herbalist’s house at Olodo area of Ibadan. But luck ran out on the suspect when someone overheard him speaking in his language and inviting some others to come as “I have got someone”.

Narrating her experience to Crime Reports, Omotola said: “Chibuike, popularly called Chibright, is my boyfriend. We started dating almost three months ago. He called me on Easter Sunday to meet him at Iwo Road. At that time, my mother was in the church.

He told me he was coming with one of his friends. He eventually picked me and as he drove the vehicle, it was as if someone was in the booth struggling, as the car continually shook.

But I could not ask him because I was afraid. When we got to a place, he asked me and his friend to disembark and go to the bar

to have some drinks, saying that he wanted to get to a place quickly.

“The friend asked for the type of drink I would like to take and I requested for malt drink. He asked why I would be drinking malt and later cajoled me into taking a bottle of stout.

As we were drinking, Chibright and three other men who he called his friends came. I had never seen the men before.

“We started chatting after a while, Chibright told me that one of his friends wanted to have a private talk with me. I went to the friend but was surprised when he said he wanted to have sex with me. Inwardly, I was shocked because I found it hard to believe that my boyfriend would willingly hand me over to another man.

“I told the friend a lie that I was menstruating. He replied that there was no problem, saying that we should go outside to join Chibright and others; although by then, he had already paid N3,000 for a room. Before I went in, I kept my drink with Chibright and his friends. I finished my drink and he said we should go to somewhere else.

“When we got to the

The suspects place, he started calling someone, but the person’s line was not going through.

He asked us to go back to the bar at Iwo Road. Along the way, he saw some of his friends and they started chatting.

One of his friends said I should go and buy something for him, but before

I returned, Chibright had left. When I asked his friends of his whereabouts, they said he had gone and when I called him, he told me to pick a bike to meet him. He spoke to the bike rider and gave him direction to where he was.

“As we got to a place, I

called him but he did not pick his call. I was there when some guys came and started touching me. I raised the alarm and I saw Chibright approaching. He took my hand and asked me to follow him home which I refused, telling him that my mother had been calling me.

“He did not agree with me but took his phone and started speaking in Igbo language. One of the security men came and told him that they overheard what he was saying. It was in the process that I fainted. In the hospital, the doctor said it seemed that I was drugged through my drink.”

In his narration which was incoherent, Chibuike (33), who claimed to be a businessman, said: “On Easter Sunday, I called Omotola to meet me for celebration. She came and we took drinks to enjoy ourselves. At a time, she left her bag to discuss with some people and as time was already far gone, I took her bag to my house for safekeeping.

“She later called me and I told her I was at home.

She told me that she was at the junction of my house so I went there to give her the bag. She was already drunk and as I was about to hand over the bag, she fell and became unconscious. We rushed her to a nearby clinic but when the police came, she was taken to a hospital and I was detained. The police got to know that she took some drugs before taking the alcoholic drink.”

Kwara NSCDC declares war on illegal miners Biola Azeez - Ilorin

THE Kwara State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has declared war on illegal miners and unauthorised mining activities in the state.

Speaking during the inauguration of a 100-man unit of officers, tagged “Solid Mineral Defenders Unit” in Ilorin, the state commandant Mr. Augustine Obiekwe, said the new unit would check licences of all miners and inspect explosives to ascertain

safety of users and host communities.

It will be recalled that a memorandum of understanding was signed recently between the ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Interior for the deployment of about 3,000 personnel of the NSCDC to monitor mining sites nationwide.

The commandant, who said that the corps would maintain a combatant team, called “Assault Team”, to attend to emergencies at the mining sites in the state, added that it would maintain regu-

lar surveillance on areas of mineral deposits and monitor activities of miners in conjunction with other stakeholders in the state.

“In pursuance of the resolve and determination of the Federal Government to look into generation of alternative revenue sources besides petroleum, it became pertinent to reevaluate, reinvigorate and monitor solid mineral sector of the economy.

Mr. Obiekwe, who said other stakeholders in the sector included the Federal Ministry of Solid Min-

eral Development, state Ministry of Industry and Solid Minerals and the state Ministry of Environment, added that the personnel would act as liaison officers between NSCDC and other stakeholders in the mining industry.

The commandant assured the personnel of their welfare and safety, charging them to put in their best in the national assignment.

He also appealed to the stakeholders for their support and cooperation at ensuring that the Federal Government achieves its

set objectives to guarantee better future for citizens.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Solid Mineral Development, Mallam Sheu Abdulrahman, said the inauguration was in tandem with the policy of the state government.

He said that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had directed his office to enumerate all informal miners in the state in order to form them into clusters and cooperative groups, leading to issuance of licences that would make their operations legal.

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crimereports

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Oyo/Osun Customs intercept 609 smuggled rice bags, 4 vehicles

By Oluwatoyin Malik

THE Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 609 50-kilogramme bags of rice, 80 25-litre gallons of vegetable oil and four vehicles of different brands suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria through illegal routes.

Disclosing this to journalists during a press briefing at the area command headquarters in Ibadan, the Customs Area Controller, Mr Tolulope Ogunkua, said that some of the bags of rice were loaded in a DAF truck with registration number KJA 545 XQ while others were loaded in three white Iveco buses which were intercepted along Igbo-Ora/Idire axis.

He gave the registration numbers of two of the buses as AGL 269 XK and AE 241 MEK while the third one had no registration number.

The Area Controller also said that a white Ford bus with registration number SMK 679 XM which was conveying assorted uncustomed goods was also intercepted along the same axis, just as 10 50-kg bags of rice and 10 25-litre gallons of vegetable oil were discovered in a smugglers’ hideout along Igbojaiye axis in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State He further revealed that two black Toyota Prado Sport Utility Vehicles with chassis numbers JTEBX9FJ8E5050871 and JTEBU9FJ6G5074534 were intercepted through intelligence on April 10, 2016.

In addition, Ogunkua stated, a blue Mazda pickup with chassis number JM2BJ14M231502744 and a white Toyota Hiace pick-up van with chassis number TH80-0002239 which were suspected to have been smuggled into the country were also intercepted on the same day along Oyo town axis.

The Area Controller urged all genuine importers of vehicles and other general goods to continue with their businesses, saying that they should feel free to visit his area command’s office or websites, as Customs officials were there to facilitate trade.

Ogunkua remarked further that the command would continue meeting with the stakehold-

ers through the Customs Community Consultative Forum at monthly interactions. This, he said, would help to build on the level of voluntary declaration and payments on vehicles as well as other imported goods through the command’s border areas.

The Area Controller also appealed to small scale businesses to pay duties, saying it would help in improving on the revenue generated from his command, especially now that a ban had been placed on duty payment on rice through land borders.

The Customs Area Controller, Tolulope Ogunkua (right) and other officers while showing journalists some of the seized goods

Police arrest serving councillor who allegedly blackmails victims through SMS Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

A

serving councillor, Mr Adaka Eniye, representing Ward 14, in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command for threatening to blackmail people through text messages should they fail

to pay certain amount of money into his bank account. He was reported to have been arrested by the police on April 4.

The councillor was among other suspects paraded at the Warri Area Command by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, for various crimes.

The PPRO told journal-

ists that the suspects were apprehended at different locations between March and April in Warri metropolis.

One of the councillor’s victims, Mrs Edwin Comfort, had reported at the Ekpan Police Station on March 28 that she received a text message from an unknown person via a GSM number.

According to her, the person threatened to expose her alleged illicit marital affairs to her husband unless she coughed up N1 million.

The suspect, it was gathered, had on other occasions forwarded similar text messages to people, including the member representing the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency,

The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Kola Sodipo (arrowed) with the vigilance group members after the training.

Be more proactive in community policing, Osun CP charges group members

By Oluwatoyin Malik

THE Osun State Commissioner of Police, Kola Sodipo, has enjoined members of the state’s Harmonised Vigilance Group to be more proactive in the fight against crime in the nooks and crannies of the state, saying that they should not relent in their efforts.

The police commissioner stated this during the presentation of certificates to the group members who participated in the five-day

basic and intelligence training recently organised by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.

The training is one of the community policing strategies of the Inspector General of Police which is focused on systematic consultation with communities and their associations to achieve crime-free communities in Nigeria.

In line with this agenda, it was learnt that the Commissioner of Police had been working closely with

the vigilance group and other active allies with a view to enhancing safety and crime-free neighbourhoods jointly.

While presenting the certificates of attendance to the participants, Sodipo said the group, led by Alhaji Rilwan Hussien Yah-Salam, is a salient factor in the tools for keeping internal security, adding that the organisation’s operations over the years had yielded positive results at the grassroots.

Describing them as the

police auxiliary, the commissioner of police noted that the Inspector General of Police is more interested in effective community policing which he had promised to support in every community.

“I am so delighted to have you here. Having gone through the training, I want to charge you to make judicious use of this training, I want to charge you be more proactive in complementing the efforts of the police”, he remarked further.

the Pere of Lakugbene Kingdom, among others.

Eniye, while speaking with journalists, said he embarked on the mission of extortion in order to raise money to offset N3.5 million debt he incurred after a failed business.

According to him, “I’m owing a debt of N3.5 million; I was arrested and brought to the Area Commander’s office three times and they promised to arrest me again if I don’t pay the debt. ‘”That is why I decided to send messages to my leaders to assist me get the money to pay the debt and free myself; I regret my action and I beg for forgiveness,” he pleaded.

Two middle-aged robbery suspects, Mr Godwin Okolor and Obinna Obisike, who were among those paraded, were reportedly nabbed at First Gate in Warri on March 22 by vigilance group.

The PPRO said that the police also apprehended two robbery suspects identified as Preye Kenny and Victory Tonrem on April 8, adding that the suspects specialised in dispossessing people of their belongings using tricycle along Stadium road in Warri.

Items recovered from the suspects included one locally-made single barrel gun, two locally-made cut-to-size guns, one live cartridge, one tricycle with registration number TDU 128 QA, four female handbags and seven assorted cell phones.

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news

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17 April, 2016

90,786 pupils jostle for 26,000 slots at Unity colleges Clement Idoko-Abuja

T

HE Federal Government, on Saturday, disclosed that 26,000 candidates would be offered admissions this year into its 104 unity colleges across the country.

A total of 90,786 candidates sat for the National Common Entrance Examination in all the 36 states of the federation and FCT on Saturday in over 400 centres nationwide.

Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka, who spoke while monitoring the exercise in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, also noted that there was significant improvement in application for the examination from some of the volatile Northern states.

Anwukah disclosed that Lagos State recorded the highest application with 25,963 candidates, while

Zamfara had the least with 103 candidates.

He said the successes being recorded in the fight against insurgency by the Federal Government was reflected in the application for the examination with a total of 307 candidates putting in for the examination in Borno, 402 in Yobe and 347 in Adamawa states.

He, however, ruled out any plans to increase the number of unity colleges in order to accommodate more candidates.

Anwuka rather said government would focus on improving teaching quality through capacity building for teachers.

The minister said: “I have seen some very young Nigerians in some of the designated centres I have visited who have had dreams of successful transition from primary to secondary level of education.

“These students are here to give meaning and sense to those dreams. However a cursory analysis of those who entered for the examination shows that 90,786 candidates enrolled for it nationwide, the state with the highest registration is Lagos with 25,963 candi-

THE Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Saturday, hinted at a probable increase in lending rates sequel to the unrelenting headwinds that keep pushing up the nation’s inflation rate.

Emefiele, who spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing World Bank/ IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC, United States, said having the inflation rate higher than the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), which is the benchmark lending rate, was not an acceptable model.

The CBN governor said: “Truly, Nigerians expect that if they want to access fund, they should do so at a low interest rate but, of course, you will agree with me that with the increase in inflation rate from about 11.3 per cent that it was in February to almost about 12.4 per cent in March, naturally what you find is that interest rate will still have to go up sort of because having the MPR below the inflation rate is not a model that is acceptable. Interest rate has to be higher than inflation rate. So, that is what we expect.”

He, however, added that in spite of the hostile domestic and global fiscal headwinds, the apex bank would continue to do everything reasonable to stimulate broad-based growth of the economy through innovative monetary policy measures.

According to him, the bank’s supportive monetary

measures would continue to be focused on critical sectors such as agriculture, real and mining with the potential of boosting domestic production and, by implication, help in the efforts to sustain macroeconomic stability and inclusive growth.

Speaking on the shocks being experienced by oilexporting countries, Emefiele said that mitigating the negative impact could be achieved through the diversification of the economies and described the drive by the government to diversify the economic base as a step in the right direction.

He said, “Practically, all are facing the challenges and everybody is looking at the possibility of diversifying their economies from being over-reliant on oil.

So, obviously we are on the right course, but the challenges are still there, not just

By Tunde Ogunesan THE wife of the Chairman All Progressive Congress (APC), Oyo State chapter, Chief Akin Oke, Mrs Felicia Oke, is dead.

Mrs Oke, aged 72, Sunday Tribune learnt, had been ill for some time. She died on Saturday morning at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Her death was confirmed by the Director of Publicity of the party in the state, Wasiu Sadare, in a telephone chat.

The Apata home of the

for Nigeria but for different countries in the world.

“But what is important is, I re-emphasize, that we are on the right course by saying that we need to continue to diversify our economy and I think for Nigeria, I see light at the end of the tunnel because we have a couple of Nigerian investors that have embraced the diversification of the Nigerian economy.”

Restating the commitment of the CBN to stimulate growth in critical sectors of the economy, the governor explained that the regulatory financial institution would continue, as much as possible, to see how it could “continue to increase our interventions to certain sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture, mining, the real sector and other areas that will boost domestic production.”

Ondo 2016 poll: Party leader urges electorate to vote for PDP

By Olaide Sokoya AS Ondo State Local Government election holds next Saturday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Nasiru Akinromade, has called on the electorate to cast their votes for all PDP candidates in the forthcoming exercise.

Akinromade, who made the call in a statement made available to Sunday Tribune, described the contributions of the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led administration since he assumed office as profitable

year, they had 402. With this, you’ll see as the insurgency eases off, more students are registering to enter Federal Government colleges.

“The problem is not the number of unity colleges, rather we intend to focus on the quality of teach-

Oyo APC chairman loses wife

Interest rate may go up —CBN

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Washington DC

dates, while Zamfara State recorded the least registration with 103 candidates.

“You will notice a remarkable increase in the number of candidates from Borno and Yobe states this year. Last year, Borno had 35 and this year, it had 307; Yobe had 68, but this

to the people of the state.

He sought for continuity of the PDP government in the state to ensure further advancement.

According to him, “the PDP administration under Mimiko had performed well which requires that such needed to be brought to the local government administration.”

Akinromade, however, urged the electorate to ensure peace before, during and after the local government election, stressing that it is only in a peaceful atmosphere that development and progress can take place.

Okes has become a beehive following various classes of sympathisers consoling with the family.

Sadare, who described the deceased as “loving, car-

ing and courageous,” said “She’ll be sorely missed.”

The Oyo APC spokesperson however informed that burial plans would be announced by the family.

ers, so as to boost the output. We are regulating the system in such a way that teachers who will be deployed to teach in these schools will not be doing so just because they lack other meaningful jobs,” Anwuka added.

Meanwhile, the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Abdulrashid Garba, said the results are expected to be released by NECO to the Federal Ministry of Education on Wednesday, after which the ministry would direct NECO to release it to the public.

Amosun attracts $1.2bn Chinese investment to Ogun OGUN State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, recently took part in a oneweek work visit to China, alongside President Muhammadu Buhari, other state governors and ministers, in the course of which investments worth over $1.2 billion were attracted to the state.

During the visit, Amosun participated in the Nigeria-China Business Forum, which drew attendance from about 100 Nigerian

businesses and 300 Chinese firms.

Apart from that forum, Amosun was also part of many business meetings and concluded a number of agreements with the Chinese.

The agreements, which hold huge prospects of further enhancing the economic fortune of Ogun State, are in line with the Governor Amosun-led administration’s mission to rebuild the state.

Some of the agreements announced and signed during the visit included a $1 billion deal for the establishment of an Hi-tech industrial park in OgunGuangdong Free Trade Zone located at Igbesa.

In the course of the visit, the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone and CNG (Nigeria) Investment Limited also signed an agreement valued at $200 million for the construction of two 500MT/ day float gas facilities.

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specialreport

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘We’ve been devastated by this invasion’ Continued from pg 3 of destruction of farms by cattle, but there were also reports of armed robbery. Some of the victims, who were commercial drivers plying the road, alleged that the robbers were Fulani and that they often shoot indiscriminately. Some of the drivers said they resolved to ply the route at “strategic times.” The robberies were later brought under control only when soldiers were deployed to the road.

When the reports of the robberies became heightened, the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi had invited soldiers to man the road and with their deployment, the reports have greatly reduced and life has returned to normal in the area.

When Mr. Taiwo Lakanu served in Ekiti State as the Commissioner of Police, he convened a meeting of traditional rulers, community leaders and representatives of herdsmen at the command headquarters in Ado Ekiti. At the all-comers meeting, the various stakeholders bared their minds on the issue of incessant herdsmen/farmers clashes.

Before the meeting, a man was paraded by the police in the state for the alleged murder of a herdsman. The suspect, who was arrested in a farm in Ikole Local Government Area of the state, was accused of murdering the Fulani man. He admitted to the crime but claimed that the murder had occurred in a fight between them following arguments over the destruction of his farm by cattle.

Such occurrences had been a common feature in the state until very recently, and people had suggested that it was because “there is grass now and there is nothing to fight over until the dry season when the herdsmen would lead their cattle towards pasture which often is the farm of some people.”

While the farms are still without crops for now, reports of herdsmen’s activities in the state are virtually non-existent.

However, the rural communities are not unmindful of their previous experiences at the hands of the herdsmen and have always wanted the relevant authorities to take decisive steps on the development.

At the Ado Ekiti meeting brokered by Lakanu, he said the police had called the meeting “to find a midway in what has remained a bitter, incessant division between the cattle rearers and the people of the various communities where their cattle are found and domiciled.”

Monarchs from Oke Ako, Iyemero, Itapaji and Oloje and many other communities in the state that have tasted the menace of cattle rearers were among the numerous participants at the meeting. Also there were the leaders of the Fulani community as well as the police hierarchy in the state.

The community leaders had listed all manner of infringements they had suffered from the herdsmen. All were similar.

The Fulani had defended themselves and denied committing the offences and in some cases, tried to differentiate between what they said was the “Bororo” and the other Fulani.

But as usual, the police have sued for peaceful coexistence, but warned that they would not hesitate to deal decisively with criminals, in whatever form they might come.

However, some of the people couldn’t bear the thought of allowing the Fulani to repeat what he said was done in their farms. A farmer said: “I cultivated about one hectare of cassava farm and all I’m be-

ment area of the state, many Iives were reportedly lost three years ago when indigenes of the area retaliated alleged killing of their kinsman by some Fulani herdsmen. The report had it that the cattle of the Fulani herdsmen had entered the farms of the indigenes destroying cash crops on the farm.

Recently, the Kwara State government made known its intention to strengthen security across the state by setting up special security committee comprising security agencies and the Fulani community to check kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal activities among cattle breeders in the state.

Speaking on the development, the spokesperson of the Kwara state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, absolved the command of partisanship in past clashes involving indigenes and the Fulani herdsmen in any part of the state, saying the police was out to ensure peace, harmonious relationship and maintain security, law and order.

Yakubu Adams …attacked by herdsmen ing told after it was destroyed is to ’try and make peace? You can’t arrest or prosecute someone who destroys your property and yet we are claiming equality! I’m devastated.”

One of the traditional rulers at the meeting recalled that they agreed at the meeting to set up a means of monitoring the activities of the herdsmen and find a way to report their atrocities as soon as possible for action.

A traditional ruler at the meeting said: “Recently a police division in Ikole-Ekiti was attacked and destroyed. One of the buildings in the division was burnt down and there was even a failed attempt to raid the armoury of the station.

“Everyone of us thought it was armed robbery and we all concluded that that is what it was. But we later found out that it was the Fulani that attacked the police division.

“They blocked the road leading to Ìjèsà Isu community and a priest, who had caused the arrest of one of the Fulanis whose cattle destroyed his farm, was attacked and killed. They didn’t stop at that. They also attacked the police station, burnt it and destroyed it. That is the situation and that is what we suffer and there is no solution in sight as we speak. The security agents appear helpless and we are helpless.”

Not too serious in Kwara The menace of Fulani herdsmen and local farmers is relatively low in Kwara State compared with incessant cases in other parts of the country.

At various times in the past, local farmers in such agrarian communities and local government areas of Baruten, Kaiama, Edu, Ilorin East, among others have had their shares of nasty experiences with attendant loss of economic cash crops and bodily injuries at the hands of the herdsmen.

On April 13, 2015, a bloody clash erupt-

ed in the sleepy and agrarian town of Oro Ago in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state between the Yoruba indigenes and the nomadic Fulani, popularly referred to as Bororo. The incident reportedly claimed many lives among the two groups of people.

It was gathered that the traditional ruler of Oro Ago town, Oba Johnson Dada, in conjunction with other village chiefs/ council of elders had said that no one was allowed to carry along with him/her weapons to the market on any of the market days in the town.

Speaking on the development, the president of Oro Ago Development Union, Chief Richard Olushola, said, “when the Bororo, who carried weapons along with them to the market on a market day were challenged to know why they had to flout the monarch’s order; rather than explain or in the least be apologetic, they threw caution to the wind, initiated mayhem and macheted some indigenes of Oro Ago. Thus confusion and chaos ensued, putting an end to the hitherto peaceful transactions in the market as indigenes ran helter skelter, scampering for safety. The situation led to a complete breakdown of law and order with vehicles, motorcycles and houses belonging to indigenes set ablaze,” he said.

Chief Olushola, who said the alleged criminal activities of the Bororo settlers were not the first of its kind, added that, “we have had to bear with their excesses for the sake of peace in times past. Some of their past nefarious acts include constant encroachment into indigenes’ farmland with their cows thereby destroying agricultural products, such as maize, guinea corn and cassava, intermittent armed robbery attacks, shooting and macheting indigenes while working on their farms for challenging them against bringing their cows to graze on their farms, including rape.”

Also, in Alapa area of Asa Local Govern-

Timely intervention in Ondo The timely intervention of the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko averted what would have been another ethnic clash between Fulani herdsmen and members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ondo State last weekend, after the discovery of the body of a guard in Midland Farms, belonging to the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Olu Falae.

Members of the OPC were posed for a reprisal after learning about the gruesome murder of the guard and the leader of the group in Akure North Local Government Area, Ayodele Ige, by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The governor immediately called a peace meeting with the leadership of the OPC in the state and pleaded with them to sheathe their swords, with a promise to fish out the perpetrators.

Speaking during the meeting, Coordinator of the OPC in the state, Pius Ogunsanya, expressed grief over the death of Ige and called on all the relevant authorities to find a lasting solution to the incessant attack on farmers by the Fulani herdsmen.

Ogunsanya said the group decided to honour the call for peace from the governor because of the existing peace reigning in the state and the respect the governor commands within the group, saying, Ondo State is one of the peaceful states in the country and we don’t want to destabilise the peace being enjoyed by our people, but we demand the arrest of those who killed our man. We don’t want to take law into our hands because we know how to handle this on our own.”

Meanwhile the home of the slain leader of OPC located at Oshodi street in Akure was in grief as tears flow freely from the relatives of Ige who left his aged mother, wife and two kids behind.

Speaking to Sunday Tribune, the mother of the deceased, Racheal Ige, in tears, demanded for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the killing of her son who was the breadwinner of the family.

Tension in the air…

It is now a common sight to find the Fulani and their cattle everywhere. Either on the expressway or in nearby bushes, the cattle and their herders march on farmlands, and marshland without care, with many of them bearing arms. That is the situation now in the South-West.

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17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

life&living ‘Don’t go to Gwoza, if [Boko Haram] catch you, they kill you!’

“Home my home, when shall I see my home, when shall I see my native land, I will never forget my home”…goes that famous song credited to African slaves during the Slave Trade era which many Nigerian musicians have used. But that song has since become a theme song in the hearts of thousands of Nigerians in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe states and the Federal Capital Territory, who have become Internally Displaced Persons in their own country. MOSES ALAO, who was in Yola, Adamawa State capital, writes on the hopes of the IDPs and how they have embraced what life threw at them.

Some Internally displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Malkohi IDP Camp in Yola. Inset are Mr Ali Hamid (left), an IDP from Gwoza, Borno State and Mr Samuel Nicholas, IDP chairman, Malkohi camp

F

ROM Maiduguri to Yola, from Damaturu to Abuja, these Nigerians, in their thousands, do not live from hands to mouth; they have also been forced to live off government and non-governmental donations, prompting questions on when they would shed their toga of homelessness and hopelessness and return to places they once called homes. When will they go to their homes? What will become of them and will they be safe? These questions flowed from Sunday Tribune, who had earlier visited the Bajabure IDP camp on Girei Road, Yola, in 2014, on his visit to Yola few weeks ago, following the positions of the military on the Boko Haram insurgency that all territories had been reclaimed from the terrorists.

But the answers were short and simple, their homes, they said, were still not safe to be returned to. While some others have left the camps, the men and women of Gwoza, Michika and Madagali still fear for their lives, as they maintained that the war is far from over in their areas. To the young and the old, the hope of returning home one day soon has remained high in the last two years, but high as that hope has always been, their expectation remained a mirage, said Mr Joseph Nihanta.

Nihanta is a primary school teacher who has embraced

what life threw at him by abandoning his home in Madagali to take refuge at the Bajabure camp, where he is now the head teacher of the IDP children’s school, which now has over 900 pupils from primary to secondary classes.

According to Nihanta, while people from Mubi, Hong and Gombi could return home, those from Madagali could not return home despite the military’s claim, saying “our homes are not safe yet. These people [Boko Haram] are around our village and the adjoining forests and we are scared that they can return unexpectedly and cause havoc.”

Mr Ali Hamid, a farmer who fled his home in Gwoza at the height of Boko Haram occupation of that community in 2014, and is resident at the Malkohi Camp located after Gibson Jalo Army Barrack, Jimeta, Yola, also noted that he and many IDPs from Gwoza were yet to return home because “Gwoza is not safe.” According to Hamid, while speaking with Sunday Tribune, the refugees from Gwoza had continued to watch people from other places affected by the insurgency leave camp but could not attempt to leave because “we are afraid for our lives, as Gwoza and its environs are not completely safe.”

These positions, are, however, contrary to the continuous claims by the military that it has reclaimed all ter-

ritories from the Boko Haram terrorists, a development which should have made hundreds of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Malkohi and Bajabure NYSC camps in Yola, return to the now safe havens, which the soldiers note their homes have become. But that was not the case in March 2016, as the two camps still remained a beehive of activities for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the IDPs, whose gait and mien still bespoke hopelessness and psychological insecurity.

No; the war is far from over, though the government and the military can confidently beat their chest for having won some of the battles.

According to Hamid, “it is still not safe to return to Gwoza. To go to Gwoza now, before you move 30 minutes around the town, you would come across Boko Haram and they would catch you and kill you. Even yesterday [11 March], they killed about five people. Boko Haram members are still in the bushes around Gwoza; you know the army has not been going into the hinterlands, they stayed in the town. So, Boko Haram members live in small villages close to Gwoza and they attack people whenever they attempted to go outside the town, they catch them Continues pg 11

11

life&living

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Adamawa IDPs: The long wait to return home A camp manager addressing women who have been taught to sew cloths

Continued from pg 10 and kill them. So, if you are in Gwoza you cannot go out to fetch firewoods or greet your brother in an adjoining village. You have to live inside the camp where government is supplying food, water and all that.

“The truth is despite what the government says about recapturing Gwoza, Boko Haram (members) still surround the town; they are still in Dure, Shadawa, Dubaya, Bulabilin-Hakimi, Alava, JangoGavura, Alagarno and Njibia in Gwoza and Bama local governments, so how can any reasonable person return to that place and call it home?” Hamid added.

Sunday Tribune, however, notes that some of these mentioned communities have since, according to the military’s claims, been cleansed of the Boko Haram elements, with its recent raid on Alagarno and other areas.

But as Hamid and hundreds of other IDPs continue to look forward to going home, they have become used to their new homes—the IDP camps, where most of them now sleep, wake up, eat and go to sleep again, a situation they feel bad about but can do nothing to change.

Though Aisha Musa, from Gwoza, said that like most IDPs from Gwoza, she doesn’t know when she would be able to return to her home, she glowed as she spoke about how she and some women had been trained to make toiletries. She proudly called her colleagues with whom she was trained and they displayed their handiwork with joy.

Aisha, who is the women leader at the Malkohi Camp, spoke glowingly of the womenfolk’s enterprise, noting that though they long for their homes, they have taken life blows dealt to them and moved on to make meaning out of it. According to her, the UNDF trained a first batch of women to sew clothes, make soaps, shampoo, and body cream and so on, through facilitators that it brought to the camp and also brought the equipment needed.

“When we first came here, most of us didn’t know how to do anything other than being farmers or housewives. We sat idly

for months and had nothing to do. So, we complained to the NGOs, who in turn facilitated our training. Today, we sell some of the basic needs products that we make at half prices to IDPs and sell for a little higher to outsiders,” Aisha said.

Also speaking, Zaina Musa, who was trained as a tailor at the camp said: “I learnt to sew clothes here. Today, we are sewing for people in the camp at no cost and we are quite happy to do it. We mend torn clothes and sew new ones. Though we are not making money from it, the camp managers do give us stipends but that does not compare to the joy of clothing others like us. We are eternally grateful to the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), the Adamawa State governments and NEMA. To cap it all; they have promised us that when we are leaving the camp, we will go with the sewing machines.”

At the Bajabure Camp, a NEMA official also revealed how the IDPs were being trained to be self-reliant when they left the camp. The official, who noted that agencies such the UNFPA, the Central Bank of Nigeria and ADRUWASSA, among others, sponsored the IDPs’ training, said many of them have been trained to make traditional caps, pomades and toiletries.

Apart from the training of adults, Sunday Tribune raised questions on the future of the young children in the camps, having noticed some of them playing around during school hour. But the NEMA official disclosed that there were about 962 children in the camp and that those of school age among them, indeed, go to school in the evening, noting that about 46 of those children were preparing for the Common Entrance examination.

The hope of returning home may still be out of reach, the IDP children, like their counterparts in most cases, are, however, not bothered much. Oblivious of their present reality, they played; they laughed and jumped around at the camp when Sunday Tribune visited. But Sunday Tribune was informed that not only the children but also the adults have got used to their new homes, with a soldier who spoke on a condition of anonymity noting that most of the IDPs actually chose to stay back in the camps because they see

them as “comfort zones.” But how could that be when there had always been reports of IDPs complaining about insufficient foods and poor treatment? Sunday Tribune asked.

“You see, when IDPs complain that they don’t have food or other relief materials and that get to the pages of newspapers, it is just unfair to the governments and especially donor agencies which have been spending millions on them. Let me tell you, these people are funny. Sometimes, they distribute relief materials to them and before you know it, they sell to the neighbouring communities [making reference to the Bajabure village where the camp is located]. “There was a time Unilever came here with soaps and they distributed that to everyone. I mean everyone, from children to adults, such that one family got about 18 packs because the father had 14 children and three wives.

But before anyone knew it, they have sold all the supplies. Anytime a major relief material is brought in, you will see the villagers making contacts with IDPs to buy from them.

“There was even a time we said nobody must leave the camp. If you saw the protest and rancour, we had no choice than

…There were about 962 children in the camp and that those of school age among them, indeed, go to school in the evening, about 46 of those children were preparing for the Common Entrance examination

to let them leave. Most of them are adults and should be able to conduct their affairs. But when this happens and people still complain, what can we do? All I know is that NEMA has been trying its best but you cannot satisfy human beings,” he said.

But some of the IDPs who spoke to Sunday Tribune countered the claims, noting that no comfort in the camp could compare to their homes. Hamid, Samuel and Aisha all noted that they had their means of livelihood and were doing well before becoming displaced. “That’s not true. How can anyone say that we are staying back because we don’t want to work?

Before all this mess, I was a big farmer and I had sheep. I had 75 sheep and Boko Haram took everything. In my farms, I left 20 bags of maize while I was yet to harvest from my other maize and beans farms. I have lost everything and I am here sleeping and waking up doing nothing; I cannot even point to anything that is my own and someone is saying that I don’t want to go back home because I am lazy?” Hamid asked lividly.

The IDPs, however, did not rule out the fact that some IDPs sold provisions given to them. Nicholas further noted that his camp never had any problem with food or other supplies, noting that NEMA had been trying its best to meet IDPs’ needs.

“Anything that we do not have, they always supply on time. From toiletries to foods to utensils, when we complain of anything, they always provide. This is our clinic (points to a building); we have drugs in the clinic courtesy of IRC, UNICEF, UNPA, Red Cross, among others,” Samuel said.

When asked why there were always reports of IDPs complaining about their food not being good enough, Samuel said such claim could not have come from the Malkohi camp, saying: “This morning, I have sent the women leader to buy ingredients, tomatoes, onions and fish. I gave her the money to go and buy these things.

People come here and give us cash gifts and NEMA would always tell us to use the money for the IDPs.” Whether the IDPs linger on in the camps to remain secured from their fears of attacks or the discomfort of returning to nothing cannot be readily proved, what can be proved beyond a doubt is that they have been troubled, battered and beaten, yet they have remained standing and still hoping that one day, they would see their homes again. But that is not all, they have moved on with life, marrying, giving birth and dying, with the NEMA officials at the Bajabure informing Sunday Tribune that they recorded three births as of 12 March, while they had a set of twins in February.

“There is no month that we don’t have births. We direct them to the specialist hospital in Yola and after delivery, we give the mothers basic needs like pads and clothes for the babies,” the official said, noting that there was one death in the last one month. He further noted that many IDPs left the camp in the last three months; many IDPs had left the camp while NEMA also had an entry of 158 new IDPs from Cameroon, a development that reminds one of the popular saying that soldiers go, soldiers come but the barrack remains. But will this saying forever apply to IDPs’ situation in the North-East? When will the IDP camps be empty? When will these Nigerians become Nigerians again, living in their own lands and not depending on ration from government?

12

feature

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

This current hot weather has caused malaria, chickenpox, meningitis to increase, say experts

By Sade Oguntola

T

HOUGH the rainy season is just taking off, the weather is still relatively hot, especially in the afternoon and night, making a good might sleep a nightmare for many people across the country.

Mr Henry Agbaje, a retired civil servant, had in the past one month been sleeping outside his room as a result of the hot weather. “Initially, I was hesitant because of mosquitoes, but the heat is so much that sleeping in the open was the only way to enjoy a good night rest,” he said.

Mrs Chika Nwankwo copes with the hot night sleeping on a bare floor. After, a cold shower, sleeping on the bare floor was the only option since it was not safe to sleep outside her home in Apete, a suburb of Ibadan.

Mutiu Boye, a Lagos resident said,” Everywhere is just too hot. I now spend a lot of money to buy petrol so that I can switch on the fan in order to sleep because electric power from the public main is not stable. The other day my generator had a fault, I could not sleep throughout the night.”

Nigerians have been coping with the hot days, warm nights and heat waves for many days, expecting that the rainy season would soon set in.

With the global average air temperature of the earth hitting 1°C hotter than at the beginning of the 20th century, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has warned Nigerians to prepare for more hot days, warm nights and heat waves.

Director General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of NIMET Dr Anthony Anuforom, has said the present high temperature being experienced in different parts of the country is not forever, saying it may continue till the end of April.

However, the increasing rate of heat and its attendant health implications have been a concern for many Nigerians and experts have warned that the effect of bad weather on human health is far reaching.

Most people feel comfortable when the air temperature is between 20°C and 27°C and when the relative humidity ranges from 35 to 60 per cent. When air temperature or humidity is higher, people feel uncomfortable. Such situations do not cause any harm as long as the body can adjust and cope with the additional heat.

But very hot environments can overwhelm the body’s coping mechanisms leading to a variety of serious and possibly fatal conditions. It can change symptoms of existing diseases, contribute to new conditions and prompt temporary physiological changes inside the body.

Professor Tanimola Akande, National President, Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, declared that extreme weather conditions, whether cold or hot, can impact on health negatively and had caused death in some instances in several countries, Nigeria inclusive.

Akande, of the Epidemiological and Community Health Department of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, described the hot season as one that supports the spread of diseases caused by insects, rodents and other animals, causing serious danger to human beings, including albinos in Africa due to their light skin.

“Cases of diseases like malaria, measles, meningitis, and chickenpox are usually more when the weather is hot,” he declared.

Low urine output is not good for the kidney and therefore it is important to take water regularly, especially when it is hot. When dehydration persists, it can cause a renal shut down,” he said.

Professor Tanimola Akande

Dr Adeoye Oyewole

Most worrisome about the hot weather is the increase in the body’s production of sweat and if enough water is not taken leads, to dehydration.

As the environment warms-up, the body tends to warm-up as well. The body’s internal “thermostat” maintains a constant inner body temperature by pumping more blood to the skin and by increasing sweat production.

In this way, the body’s urine output is affected. “Low urine output is not good for the kidney and therefore it is important to take water regularly, especially when it is hot. When dehydration persists, it can cause a renal shut down,” he said.

He added that in extremes of weather such as during the hot season, people stand a higher chance of skin cancer on the long term, and thus t h e need for individuals to always protect their skin from direct effect of extremely h o t sunlight.

I n addition, Akande said t h o s e who work in the sun, for example bricklayers and c o n struction workers, must also increase their water intake especially now, to prevent heat exhaustion and stroke.

Hot working environments are not just a question of comfort, but a concern for health protection and the ability to perform work tasks. Working in hot environments increases the risk of diminished ability to carry out physical tasks, diminishes mental task ability, increases accident risk and, if prolonged, may lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Individuals with fragile health status such as the elderly and those with compromised body immunity, say from an illness, he declared, must be extra careful about their health, especially in this bad weather.

The heat, he said, is a stressor that could worsen any health condition in addition to predisposing to some other ones.

“Such a bad weather as we are in can tilt them easily into either serious illness or even death. But if all along, such an individual has been taking good care of their health and eating well, then they will be able to cope better in this hot weather.”

Increased intake of fruits with high water content such as watermelon, cucumber and apple, ensuring proper ventilation and use of air conditioners, he said would be helpful in coping with the heat.

He declared, “Drink plenty of clean water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool.

Reduce the intake of caffeinated or alcoholic beverages because they dehydrate the body.”

But figuring out what exactly specific weather events do to the body is an imprecise science that’s still developing, particularly when it comes to mental health.

Although there is nothing robustly scientific to establish how weather worsens mental health condition, Dr Adeoye Oyewole, a consultant physiatrist, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) teaching hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, said heat is a stressor that can predispose all individuals, irrespective of the health status in some situations, to mental health challenges like depression and anxiety disorder.

According to him, “depression is very common and most people that have it do not know.”

Dr Oyewole said some individuals like students had turned to drugs and alcohol in coping with the stress of staying in a choky and hot environment.

13 Continued from

I

17 April, 2016 last week

am confident that we will not fail them, if we adhere strictly to certain codes or rules of conduct in the pursuit of our cardinal programmes, and of our other programmes which have outlined in our manifesto and spelt out in some detail in our Policy Papers. We must realise that, for their fulfilment, our kind of programmes call for planning, industry, discipline, dedication, probity, and fearlessness.

The type of planning I have in mind is not the general and facile type we are used to. The planning I have in mind must be rigorous, detailed, and specially directed to the full accomplishment of the various phases of the national priorities within the stipulated time.

Indeed, it is a type of planning which clearly prescribes stages of progression towards the goals as well as modes of execution of each stage. It is a type of planning which will demand from each of us exceeding exertions of brain and brawn, total sacrifice of hitherto cherished pleasures, and carefully planned and organised life.

It can be seen at once that the kind of planning I have in mind calls for extraordinary industry, and severe and strict self-discipline on the part of the planners and executants. There are far too many acts of indiscipline and self-indulgence on the part of the generality of our people in all the strata of our society. These acts of indiscipline and self-indulgence have had and continue to have, among other things, disastrous deleterious effects on our finances. What else on earth, for instance, could have made our public servants at the Federal level alone feel at ease with the expenditure in 1977-78 of over N97 million on local transport and travelling, over N28 million on vehicles maintenance and running costs, and over N7 million on overseas travel? In order that she may attain her natural birthright and destiny, Nigeria must be remade and re-created. Every aspect of her existence must be revolutionised: her agriculture, her industry, her trade and other tertiary services, the attitude of her sons and daughters to life as well as their education and up-bringing - all must be revolutionised.

That is the task which the Unity Party of Nigeria is determined to do. We are not at all concerned with the past, except to learn from it.

But we are very much concerned with the future; and

Awo’s thoughts PATH TO NIGERIAN GREATNESS

On the campaign trail The challenges of the new Nigerian era*

In order that she may attain her natural birthright and destiny, Nigeria must be remade and re-created. Every aspect of her existence must be revolutionised: her agriculture, her industry, her trade and other tertiary services, the attitude of her sons and daughters to life as well as their education and up-bringing - all must be revolutionised

Sunday Tribune

it is to the making of that future in order thereby to remake Nigeria that we are resolved to direct all our efforts and talents.

But the remaking of Nigeria is a task that calls for probity, dedication and courage of a very high order, in addition to rigorous planning, spartan self-discipline, and exceeding industry. In other words, the remaking of Nigeria is feasible only if we, first and foremost, remake and recreate ourselves. That is to say, those who offer to lead this country aright must strive constantly to lead themselves out of the unruly promptings of the instincts, and liberate themselves from the “tyranny of the flesh” in all its octopoid dimensions. Nigeria is naturally good and great. It only remains for us, her sons and daughters, to strive, for all we are worth, to match her goodness and greatness, for the welfare and happiness of everyone of us. After close association of well over one year with the national committee of friends, I am satisfied that the leaders of the Unity Party of Nigeria have the attributes requisite for the effective and satisfactory discharge of the gargantuan national assignment ahead.

In closing, I want to disclose, for the first time, to the entire peoples of Nigeria and Africa, the vow and pledge which I made when I was in Calabar. It was recorded in the First of my new volumes of Flashes of Inspiration on 31-8-65. It reads: The following declaration of mine is irrevocable under all and any circumstances namely: I hereby dedicate the rest of my life to the service of the peoples of Nigeria, nay, of Africa, by promoting their welfare and happiness. “ That is my vow and my pledge, made to God in secret and in a prison cell. I hereby, in all solemnity, re-affirm and redeclare it. I want also to asseverate that, at this juncture in my life, my one and only ambition is to have an opportunity to live the rest of my life for history, by means of selfless and beneficent service to the peoples of Nigeria, in particular, and of Africa and the black peoples of the world, in general.

I do sincerely hope and trust that the good and discerning electorate of Nigeria will give me that opportunity in 1979, by voting overwhelmingly for the Unity Party of Nigeria at the presidential and other elections.

To be continued

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14

interview

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Becoming Balogun of Egbaland is my greatest honour High Chief Sikirulah Olatunde Atobatele is the Balogun and Prime Minister of Egbaland.

The Balogun who is the second in command to the Alake of Egbaland, clocks 70 today.

He speaks with WOLE EFUNNUGA on the journey so far and other national issues.

Excerpts :

H

OW do you feel attaining the age of 70 years in a country where the life span has been pegged at

40?

Let me start by thanking the Almighty Allah that I have been able to make it up to 70 years. God has been very kind to me that I did not die young. From 30, to 40, to 50 up to 70, It has been God. It is to the glory of God that I have good health. I work very hard but I try not to overstress myself. I go to parties but I do things moderately. One major problem, especially in Nigeria today, is the quest by the younger ones to make it in life too early which is usually counter productive.

If you cast your mind back, what would you regard as your sad moments and good moments in the last few decades?

Sad and good moments have no particular time in the life of a man.I experienced normal problems of life when growing up. Though there were sad moments, I am grateful to Allah today that He always gives me the power to overcome difficulties. He has increased me in all aspects because I believe in Him. Attaing this age must have been with some challenges. What major challenges would you say you have encountered in life?

Talking about challenges is like saying the obvious. What is immportant to me is that I am a fulfilled man.

What does it entail to become the Balogun of Egbaland?

First, let us understand who is a Balogun in Egbaland. The Balogun is the next in rank to the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland. He is therefore the Prime Minister. He is to assist the Alake in the day to day running of Egbaland. He is the official head of chiefs and he liaises between the Alake and the chiefs. This is why there are rules and guidelines to follow before anyone can become the Balogun of the whole of Egbaland. Such a person must be from Igbein (which is the community that produces the Balogun); the person must be acceptable to all Igbein people in particular and Egba people in general. Such a person must have qualities of a very good leader; must be loyal to the Alake; must be well organised; must be seen to be fair to all; must be a good listener and a good judge; must be generous within means;

must be kind hearted; and must not have criminal records anywhere among other qualities.

As the Balogun of Egbaland, what would you say has been your major achievements to the people of Egbaland?

Whatever achievements that we have recorded in Egbaland since I became the Balogun are as a result of co operation and collective responsibility of all Egba chiefs under the good leadership of the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland.

We all work together for the progress of Egbaland. I would also say that I have always contributed my own quota. However, Egbaland has recorded peace, harmony and understanding among various communities in the land; there has been increase in number and quality of Coronet Obas; and there has been unprecedented infrastructural development in Egbaland by Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government.

Some people are of the opinion that some of the annual festivals being observed in Egbaland, such as Egungun, orisa and a few others ought to have been overtaken by modernity. What is your take on this?

Annual festivals like Lisabi Day are not religious festivals. They are occasions to bring together all Egba sons and daughters to remember our past heroes and learn from their achievements, especially how unity helped them to survive many difficulties. It is a celebration of excellence in Egbaland and how to move Egba forward. We talk and work on social development of Egbaland. We talk more on how to unite us. As for Egungun and orisa that you mentioned, I am not saying peple who believe in them should not do so. Today,

they are merely for reference purposes, tourism and entertainment. With modernisation, we take whatever is useful and leave the rest.

The Alake of Egbaland and the Awujale of Ijebuland recently engaged in royal supremacy battle. What is the implication of this to traditional institutions?

What happened between the Alake and the Awujale was not an altercation but a mere misunderstanding between two very important Yoruba Tradional Rulers. The Egba and Ijebu are good friends. They share many things in common. I am particularly grateful to His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for quickly resolving the misunderstanding.

There has been clamour for to engage traditional rulers in the governance of local government administration in the country. What do you have to say to this?

When the British Colonial government came, it met on groung good and well organised Traditional Government being run by the traditional rulers. They therefore encouraged indirect rule. In Egbaland, colonial administration encouraged Egba

United Government in 1898 in which the Alake was the President. Other Obas had their portfolios. The system worked because they know their localities well enough. So, if traditional rulers participate in running of local governments, it would bring the general people closer to the government, reduce corruption and political intolerance. There would be faster development.

So, I suppoort Traditional Rulers to be presidents of local governments At 70, what would you want God to do for you?

I want Almighty Allah (SAW) to continue to grant me total satisfaction. It is only satisfaction in Allah that has sustained me and my family to date.

Which title would you refer to as your greatest honour so far?

Since I was born 70 years ago, becoming the Balogun of Egbaland is my greatest honour. Nothing can be more honourable and greater than to be recognised and honoured by your people. I shall ever be grateful to the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Michael Aremu Gbadebo, CFR, Okukenu 1V.

15

17 April, 2016

Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 0807 449 7425

Cloth dryer

A

clothes horse, sometimes called a clothes rack, drying horse, clothes maiden, drying rack, drying stand, Frostick, airer, or (Scots) winterdyke, is a frame upon which clothes are hung after washing, indoors or outdoors, to dry by evaporation.

The frame is usually made of wood, metal or plastic.

Types of drying racks There are many types of drying racks, including large, stationary outdoor racks, smaller, folding portable racks, and wall-mounted drying racks. A drying rack is similar in usage and function to a clothes line, and used as an alternative to the powered clothes dryer.

A pulley clothes airer, sometimes described as “Victorian”, “Edwardian”, or “Lancashire”, can be loaded and unloaded at a convenient height, and hoisted out of the way to ceiling height while the clothes dry.

of Ch th ild e w re een k

children’sarena famousinvention

Oluwasemilore Oso clocks

2 YEARS

Long life and prosperity.

Words from the kids Fortunesland International College, Oluyole Extension, Ibadan, Oyo Sate

Nyala Nyala is a type of antelope that belongs to the bovid family. It can be found in the southern parts of Africa. It prefers areas that provide permanent supply of water and fresh grass. Habitat loss, lack of food (due to competition for food with cattle) and viral diseases are major threats for the survival of nyalas in the wild. Nyala is not on the list of endangered animals.

• Nyala can reach 4.5 to 5.25 feet in length and 120 to 280 pounds of weight. Males are much larger than females.

• Nyala has long ears and excellent sense of hearing. Eyesight is poor, despite large eyes.

• Males are equipped with 28 inches long, spiral curled, yellow-tipped horns.

• Nyala eats early in the morning and late in the evening. It rests in the shade during the hottest part of day.

• Nyala is an herbivore (plant-eater). Its diet is based on grass, leaves, twigs, fruit and flowers.

• Nyalas are not territorial animals. Territories of male and female groups often overlap without any conflicts.

• Females reach sexual maturity at the age of 11 to 12 months, males few months later, at the age of 18 months.

Nyala can survive up to 16 years in the wild.

Sunday Tribune

My best artiste is Odunlade

—Adesunmbo Hephsibah, Primary 3, 8 years

My best artiste is Odunlade Adekola, I like him because he is very tall and light in complexion. He also acts very well in his films and he is also very kind. He is full of action and he is also sharp when he acts.

The movie that makes me like Odunlade was ‘Mufu Olosa Oko’ —Temiloluwa Adesunmbo, Primary 5, 10 years The name of my best actor is Odunlade Adekola, he is a Yoruba actor and has featured in a lot of Yoruba films. I love watching his films because he is a good actor. The movie that makes me like him was “Mufu Olosa Oko”.

‘Tiwa Savage’ is my best artiste —Olaboade Precious, Jss2, 11 years My best artiste is Tiwa Savage; I like her because she always dresses decently even when she is singing.

I like it when she sings with other musicians and I also like her when she sings alone. I also like the way she dances when she is singing. My favorite song is her song, “Eminado”.

Olamide is my best artiste —Ajayi Iretomiwa, Primary 5, 10 years Olamide is my best artiste, he is a very talented and good singer. I like everything about him, he sings well and he is also handsome. I like all his songs and I always pray to God to always assist him to continue to make good songs.

I listen to Olamide’s song whenever I am bored —Adesunmbo Toluwani, Jss2, 13 years My best artiste is Olamide aka BADOO, I like him because of the way he sings; all of his songs are melodious. I listen to Olamide’s songs whenever I am bored or angry because it always cheers me up especially his song “Shakiti Bobo”

proverb A hippopotamus can be made invisible in dark water—African proverb •••••••• Interpreted meaning: Ignorance can lead to potential danger. It is important to be informed and alert.

Quote

“

You'll never be brave if you don't get hurt. You'll never learn if you don't make mistakes. You'll never be successful if you don't encounter failure.

”

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CCORDING to a consultant psychiatrist at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Dr Michael Agbir, there has been a 30 per cent rise in psychiatric cases among the nation’s youths in the last four years. The shrink, who said the trend was more noticeable among ladies, traced the rise to issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, betrayal and increase in societal abuse, especially rape cases. He also identified pains during child birth as one of the other causes.

The statistics is hardly a surprise. But keen observers will note that the trend is not restricted to the female gender because on a daily basis, the army of young madmen and women on Nigerian streets keeps rising. However, while there is no doubt about the effect of the factors highlighted by the psychiatrist on the mental stability or otherwise of an individual, it is also clear that the cause of this ugly trend in the nation transcends physical abuse; it is more as a result of emotional and psychological trauma.

Anyone who picked up a Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) form for the purpose of gaining admission into a tertiary institution does so believing that acquiring the additional qualification would enhance his chances of being employed. So, he goes through the rigour of a higher institution hoping that on completion not only does he stand a chance of improving the quality of his life; a few people would also be positively affected by his good fortune. However, if that does not happen first, second and third year after graduation, he begins to have a warped view of his self-worth and ability. He begins to see himself as a failure. Before long, his mental fabric being weakened, he becomes despondent, depressed or even schizophrenic, especially if he comes across one or two of his school mates doing well while he remains an observer on the journey of life.

All the tiers of government may generate as many reasons as they can fathom for the rising incidence of unemployment in the country but these will cut no ice with the youth. The only thing that would interest them is the provision of employment opportunities. Until the government takes seriously the issue of creating and facilitating job opportunities for the youth, the rising rate of the youth turning mad will not wane.

With Sulaimon Olanrewaju 08055001708

lanresulaimon@yahoo.com

Mad people and their rulers

Unfortunately for many of the youth, they have no one to turn to. Their fathers are out of job, their mothers’ trading businesses are ruined, their uncles are broke, their aunties are penniless and their siblings are not any better than they are. And to worsen an already bad matter, there is no buffer from the state. They are left to find their way through the labyrinth of misery and anguish

Sunday Tribune

without any modicum of succor from anywhere.

As if being out of employment due to no fault of theirs is not enough, the youth are also relentlessly assaulted by the seemingly unflagging and unending plundering of the nation’s patrimony. In Nigeria, it is another day, another scandal. And the perpetrators of these acts are averse to millions, they are attracted to billions, especially if it is in dollars, and they scoop same from the treasuries with impunity. Over a long stretch of time, the anti-corruption agencies were in coma; it is only in recent times that they seem to have come back to life. But even at that, there is more of motion than movement. They are more active in the media than they are in getting convictions for the accused. Now, isn’t the aroma of a delicious meal, which is not within the reach of a very hungry person, a punishment potent enough to unfasten the screws of his brain and release him into the world of the deranged? Isn’t deprivation in the midst of opulence a gateway to lunacy?

The land is not just of pervasive helplessness, it is also of insidious hopelessness. With life in Nigeria becoming increasingly nasty, brutish and short as a result of rising insecurity of life and property, the number of the psychotic in the country cannot but be swollen. Many Nigerians are paranoid at night because of armed robbers. Many consider taking a stroll on the street a dangerous adventure for the fear of kidnappers, while they see boarding commercial vehicles as a suicide mission because of the likelihood of becoming a victim of ritual killers. Now, when a person lives perpetually in fear when will he not become a mental case?

The primary duty of leadership is solving problems.

Our leaders need to stop telling us what the problems are; we know them too well. What we need them to do is to show us the way out of the problem. That is why they are leaders. There is no problem without a solution, only leaders who are unwilling to pay the price to get the solution. One of the best things Nigerian leaders can do is to find a way to solve the rising problem of unemployment to save the youth from ending up on Madness Avenue.

As often portrayed in Nollywood films, there is hardly a difference between the lunatic and their handlers. So, if more Nigerians are becoming insane, pray what is the state of the minds of their rulers?

Tackling herdsmen/farmers’ crisis: The wire-fencing option

By Akinlolu Abayomi THE Agatu people of Benue State are the latest victims of the Fulani herdsmen/farmers’ face-off. Benue State is reputed to be the ‘food basket’ of the nation. The Agatu people are particularly renowned for their agility, ability and great strength for farming activities. The Agatu’s relevance in the farming business dwarfs boundary barriers, as they played and continue to play strategic role in whatever successes the people of the South-West must have recorded in agriculture.

Agatu people as farm-hands are particularly known for efficiency and they are found almost everywhere, satisfying various farming demands. A farmer who took time to cultivate land and plant the desired crops would naturally look forward to a period of harvest, to defray expenses already incurred and also record extra gains. It would, therefore, be the height of indignation and revulsion for a person to suddenly have such a dream end in a mirage by having it serve as feeds for ravaging cattle. Of particular poignancy is the information that there could be scarcity of mangoes and cashew fruits this year as some of the herdsmen have resulted to felling and bending mango trees to feed the cattle. Despite the information that such leaves would make their urine yellowish in colour and could kill a calf that unknowingly swallows a fruit bigger than its mouth, they simply ignored the risks.

The nomadic Fulani known as ‘Bororo’ knows no other business than cattle-rearing; he is passionate about his cattle and treats it with reverence, clearly above any other consideration. It is generally acknowledged that no other thing is of importance to him than the care of his herd of cattle. Unfortunately, his cows are often insatiable.

Cattle do not eat to full satisfaction, they take a time off, relax and rest for the one taken to digest and once they excrete, they become ravenous. Though the idea of packaged wheat introduced by the government didn’t produce the desired result, because it can only stand as a supplement and cannot in definitive term replace the green

grass because of its nutrients, getting them trammeled is, however, a suggestion that would naturally earn vehement opposition. Therefore, the herdsman would naturally want to give it whatever it takes to ensure that the herds of cattle are kept alive and that he makes money, the same end a farmer seeks from his farm produce.

But as the nation faces continuous security challenges in the North-East, this has contributed greatly to the cases of clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers and as long as the situation remains unsettled, the end to the incessant fratricidal struggle might not be in sight. Cattle rustling by Boko Haram terrorists and other daredevil elements have made the herdsmen to avoid the border areas and veer southwards, where farmers were always on edge against them due to the damage to their crops. Therefore, the Fulani herdsmen appear to be between ‘the devil and the deep blue sea’. It is clearly a case of conflicting interests, and far from being guilty of voyeurism, we should, in our lateral thinking, consider how we can navigate through this clear troubled ocean and ensure that the safety of all stakeholders are guaranteed as we go on.

Having identified and realised that this case of conflicting interest has created great antipathy between the two

distinctive groups of people that are out to carry out legitimate agricultural activities, a soft landing that would be mutually-beneficial and ensure protection of rights and interests of both parties should be evolved and arranged.

Awareness campaign should be taken to the doorstep of the Fulani herdsmen through their leaders on the need to co-exist without rancour while farmers should be encouraged to carry out perimeter wire-fencing of farmlands and for those with large expanse of land; the fencing could be strategically positioned by identifying the strategic corners and getting it fenced.

To some, this might not appear reasonable or considered possible to achieve but we can get it done. Since those guilty of brutal moves to get the cattle fed carry out such nefarious activities in the night, surely the idea of farmers staying back to keep vigil at night would not be suggested.

This is, indeed, a propitious time to try the idea subsidising wire for farmers and once it is encouraged, it is fairly certain people would key into it, even if it would be done in phases. Funds could also be made available for such purpose through the cooperative societies. Political office holders launching empowerment schemes could also donate wires to farmers. It would assist the wire companies to grow and boost its employment strength and it would also solve the perennial problem of clashes that have resulted in loss of lives and property.

Another approach is for government at all levels to ease the purchase of hectares of land for the Fulani herdsmen in the desired locations. It would be fenced with wire, demarcated and designated as ‘grazing zone’. However, to avoid crisis in the future, it should be well spelt out in the agreement that the ownership is not for eternity and that it is simply for grazing and once development catches up with such a location they would relocate, the herdsmen should leave. Having a grazing zone also has its economic effects, as the cow dung has its commercial values. At present, a truck load of cow dung goes for N30, 000, as it is used for landscaping in Abuja.

•Abayomi is an Ilorin-based journalist.

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17 April, 2016 Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

Sunday Tribune

Seyi Sokoya seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08132577840

Femi Solar launches album in style

I’m married to my producer —Psalmos

Why I’ve not been

active in music —Baba n Waka

Popular Islamic musician, Alhaji Wasiu Kayode Al-Sideeq, otherwise known as ‘Baba n Waka’ is back. In this interview with SEGUN ADEBAYO, Baba n Waka opens up on his music career and why he has been away from the music scene.

Y

OU were once a leading figure among Muslim musicians in the country but suddenly we stopped hearing about you, what has been happening to your career?

My career has been good. I have been doing music over the years but I have not been active in the music industry because I travel a lot. In fact, since 2013, I have been in and out of the country to promote my songs outside the country. In the midst of that, I released an album, ‘Civilisation’.

My understanding about music is that you don’t have to keep releasing songs because you want to stay in the consciousness of the people

forever. For me, what I need to do is to drop my songs, concentrate on other projects and wait for the response of the people.

Your popularity in the music industry now is not what it used to be, how are you planning to find your way back?

I don’t understand what you mean by my popularity is not what it used to be. I don’t have to find my way back, because the truth is that I never left in the first place. I understand that out of sight is out of mind. I am also aware of the fact that a lot of people have been asking about me for a long time, which is the reason I

have been working behind the scene to stage a big come back. I have already concluded plans, and in the next few weeks, my fans will begin to see what I have been doing behind the scene.

Is it true that you are dropping two albums this year?

Yes, I have completed work on the albums. I am releasing two albums this year. I am dropping Oro Mefa first and some weeks after that, I will drop Amin. These two songs will explain what I have been doing and how the journey of my life has been so far. Like I said, I am Continues on pg21

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Yvonne Okoro donates borehole for Ghanaian community AS a way of giving back to the society, actress Yvonne Okoro recently donated borehole to Walewale, a small town and the capital of West Mamprusi district in the Northern region of Ghana.

Prior to the inauguration, lack of access to clean and drinkable water has plagued the people of Wungu and neighbouring communities for decades. As a result, the people of the communities had to embark on a three-kilometre walk daily to fetch water for their families.

Speaking during the inauguration, the award-winning actress said, “We hope this will trigger

Pasuma, Ayefele, others shut down Ibadan for

more discussion on how to help more rural communities. Lack of safe drinking water is one of the world’s leading problems. We want to put an end to clean water scarcity in West Africa.”

According to her, with continued support of the entertainment industry and Africa World Airlines, the inauguration of the borehole is the first in a series of initiatives targeted at helping women and children in Nigeria and Ghana.

The inauguration ended with a visit to a nursery school where she spoke to the youngsters about ‘dreaming big’ and not being defined by their current circumstances.

Solar’s album launch

By Segun Adebayo

F

UJI star, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, gospel singer, Yinka Ayefele and more than 15 other musicians were at their best last week Sunday to honour one of their own, Femi Solar for the official launch of his new album, Mercy Beyond.

Genesis Hall, Challenge, Ibadan, Oyo State witnessed large turnout of gospel and fuji music lovers, who thronged the venue to enjoy the fun Solar had brought to town.

It was an afternoon that many had looked forward to judging by the calibre of entertainers expected to grace the event. The event, which was tagged All-White affair lived up to expectations as dignitaries from within and outside the country were in attendance.

The hall was obviously divided into three as those who came to watch Pasuma’s performance arrived early to occupy their space even if Oga Nla as he’s fondly called by his loyalists kept them waiting for hours before he mounted the stage, they showed no obvious signs of tiredness.

The other side of the white-decorated hall was peopled by Yinka Ayefele’s fans. In the middle were those who were neither for Pasuma nor Ayefele, they came to have fun irrespective of who was on the stage to thrill them.

The stage was set and comic actor, Bolaji Amusan, otherwise known as Mr Latin, mceed the event with less flaws. He was later supported by on air personality, Wale Dada (D Good). With a long list of musicians to perform, many would have thought that it would be a rowdy affair, but Latin and Wale Dada ensured that it was not business as usual.

Solar opened the floor for what would later be seen as a floodgate of fun, dance and excitement as many danced to the tune of Solar, Pasuma, Taye Currency, Dele Gold, Adegbodu Twins, Yinka Adonai, Ere Asalatu, Lizzy Ayomide Babalola, Femo Lancastar and others. Pasuma stole the show as he thrilled with some of

his popular songs that got the guests yearning for more.

Mercy Beyond was said to have taken Solar months to complete and the light-skinned singer said it was worth the wait.

“When I released my last album before this one, I asked God to give me the grace to have a well-attended and coordinated event like this, and I am happy that it happened today.

Mercy Beyond is not just an album, it was a project that was inspired by God. I want to appeal to my fans to buy the album and pay attention to the messages in it.”

Dignitaries at the event include Honourable Akeem Adeyemi, Chairman of the occasion; Taiwo Ologuntoye, Hon Omolaya Adelaja, Hon Adesoji Richard-Ojo Awo, Mr Seun Egbekunle, Yinka Farinde, who flew in from Canada and Thony Tripple A, an American promoter.

Independent broadcasters such as Kola Olootu, Kolade Alabi, Akinkunmi Alabi, Wale Lawal, Kola Akintayo, Komolafe Olaiya and Bewaji Adekunle also added glamour to the event.

There was a flip side to the event when actor, Damola Olatunji, stepped into the venue with the mother of her twins, Bukola Awoy-

‘Rock the Core’ trains entertainment stakeholders in Ibadan

emi (Arugba). They both walked into the venue holding each other’s hands and smiling.

There had been unconfirmed reports about Damola and Bukola seeing each other privately until news later emerged that Bukola was pregnant and was later delivered of twins. Attempts were made to speak with them, but to no avail as the actor refused to speak with journalists.

ALL roads led to the University of Ibadan Arts Theatre on April 7, when a music business seminar, ‘Rock the Core’, debuted in Ibadan.

The event, the brainchild of the CEO, Music Business Network Nigeria, Toyin Adeniji, with the theme, ‘How to Build a Successful and Sustainable Career in Music Business’, was organised

Olajumoke moves into new apartment OLAJUMOKE Orisaguna and her family have now moved into their new apartment.

Days back, it was reported that the family had been offered an apartment by Sujimoto Construction Company after Jumoke’s sudden rise to fame with TY Bello’s photo shoot months back, which would later put her on the cover of This Day Style.

R gathered that the Orisagunas are now enjoying their new apartment.

According to MD/CEO of Sujimoto Construction, Sijibomi Ogundele, the house will be rent-free for a period of five years.

Ogundele stated this on Thursday when Olajumoke, in company with

her husband and two kids, paid a courtesy visit to the company in appreciation of what the luxury real estate company did for them.

The bread seller turned model has

also been enrolled in the Poise Academy for immediate resumption of classes. Olajumoke will be at the academy for the rest of the year.

to expose entertainment stakeholders, especially in the music sector, on the business opportunities which could help turn talent to wealth.

To help achieve this objective, top entertainment industry executives were invited as speakers at the event among which were Efe Omoregbe, a Director at the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and Tuface’s manager, Chinedu Chukwuji, GM/ CEO/Copyright, COSON, Toda Kafang, Artiste and Repertoire (A&R), Chocolate City music, Godwin Tom, who has worked with MI, Wizkid, Waje and many others, among others.

The seminar was attended by various participants from around the South-West and also saw artistes like Sheun Natural, Jisola, BK GMB, Fabulous Pizzy, Sade Blaq, The Xpandables, among others, take turns to showcase themselves, with appreciation from the audience.

Rock the Core music business seminar, according to Adeniji, would be taken to eight cities, with the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to be visited next.

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Seyi Shay plans trip to South Africa

‘I didn’t leave Nigeria ’cos of debt’

RAVING female Superstar, Seyi Shay continues her tour around Africa as she is billed to appear in South Africa to promote her album released late last year “Seyi or Shay”. The ‘Right Now’ crooner who recently released visuals to her latest single “Mary” featuring Phyno took to her Instagram on Friday evening to announce she will be in South Africa this weekend.

Seyi Shay is billed to make appearances at Classy Cape Town Night Club, Coco & Kong Night Club in Johannesburg among other venues.

The 2015 MTV MAMAS nominee follows up trips to Tanzania and Ghana she made earlier this year as she continues the hard work of getting her music across globally.

Seyi Shay recently announced that she was

Continued from pg17

fully back in music and I am ready to get back to my best with the two albums. I have studied the music industry very well before I decided that this is the right time to come out with something special like I used to do.

planning to release a video for her hit single with Olamide “Pack and Go”.

US-based Nigerian artiste out with 8th album

You are releasing two albums at a time; do you think you still have the market for your songs?

The market has always been there and my fans have never left me. We communicate virtually every time, especially on social media platforms. Aside that, even if I have not been releasing songs or albums in the last few years, I have been performing at shows within on different stages across Nigeria and outside the country.

That I stayed away for a long time does not mean I have lost touch with my people back home. My relationship with my fans has given me the confidence that my songs are still being asked after and people still want to hear something fresh from me. I would not be dropping two albums this time if I wasn’t sure that there is a market waiting to receive the albums.

By Seyi Sokoya US-BASED King Rokan Adekola, has launched his latest album entitled: “Igba Ope”.

The album launch, which was held in Lagos recently, was well attended by top artistes in the country including: Saheed Osupa, Lanre Teriba, Mega 99, Wale Thompson, Saint Janet, among others.

Adekola started his career in music way back 1996 at Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ilasa in Lagos Sate as a chorister before he formed his band after travelling to Atlanta Georgia, United States of America.

“I have released seven albums both in Nigeria and America. My music is popular in the United States of America and that prompts Nigerians in Diaspora to give me the title of Oluaye of America because of the acceptability of the music,” he added.

How long have you been into music?

I have been in the limelight for more than 20 years. My popular song, Eru Olorun remains an evergreen song that people don’t joke with. I am launching the album on May 29 and Sheihk Muhydeen Ajani Bello will be at the event.

While you were away, it was reported that you actually relocated abroad because you allegedly ran into some debt, how true is this?

That is a blatant lie. This is coming to me for the first time, but I am not surprised because when people don’t hear about you for a long time, they begin to cook up stories about you and you will ask yourself how they come about these stories. I have read a lot of unfounded reports about me, but I am not bothered about that because I know that my life is progressing irrespective of what people are saying about me. To set the record straight, I didn’t leave the country because I am indebted to some people. I took my music outside the country because I felt that at that time, I needed to expand my trade and take my career to the next level. I thank God that my trips to different European countries in the last five years have really paid off. My last trip took me to Barcelona in Spain and it was a wonderful experience for me.

Sunday Tribune

I have been in the limelight for more than 20 years. My popular song, Eru Olorun remains an evergreen song that people don’t joke with. in the country to keep doing music and to entertain my fans.

How have you been able survive outside music?

I have never stopped playing. I played at occasions week in week out. I performed regularly in Nigeria before I left for the United States (US). I performed in US and left for Dubai where I stayed for some time before I later moved to Europe. In the entire journey, I never stopped performing. Even in Eindhoven, Holland where I stayed for weeks, I had a lot of fun. Some people said I quit music for four years, but I told them I never quit music.

Now that you are back, what do you think about the Muslim music industry?

Things have really changed tremendously. I am very impressed with the level of development that I have been seeing in the last one year, and this formed part of the reason I am releasing two albums this year. One thing that I have observed closely is the issue of duet among Muslim musicians. I think they are not getting it right, they are abusing the privilege. I am not against anyone trying to feature another artiste in their song, but it has to be done in a more professional way.

Do you have any other job aside music?

I don’t have any other thing that brings me money aside music. It has always been music from the day I started. I am beginning to think of diversifying now that I am back

So you won’t be featuring anybody in your album?

I will not be featuring anybody in the album but I will feature someone in the video.

Ex-lawmaker features Super Eagles coach in new film ‘Idamu Obinrin’

By Tunde Ogunesan A former lawmaker who represented Akinyele 1, during the seventh Assembly, in Oyo State, Mr Kolade Olagunju, last week rolled out drums to premiere a movie entitled: “Idamu Obinrin”, (Ordeal of Women), featuring former Super Eagles Coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde.

The event was held at the Theatre Arts hall, University of Ibadan.

The over 60 minutes movie, produced by WisdomBase Integrated and Versatile International Multimedia, also features other Nollywood stars like Saheed Balogun, Yemi Solade, Bukky Awoyemi (Arugba), Taiwo Ibikunle and a host of others.

According to the former Accord lawmaker, the film is designed to reveal that the actual source of People’s character is their family. He noted that a child that imbibes a bad habit from his or her parents would definitely behave in that manner.

Olagunju advised Nigerians to stop blaming politicians for every of their characters, saying, “they are products of their various homes.” He then added that he followed his passion and dream to produce Idamu Obinrin which he described as “contributing my quota to make things happen.”

“Enough of confusion all around; we continue to heap all the blame on politicians but these politicians come from a home. Probably they imbibe their behaviours or attitudes from their parents, and people complain about that but it’s not him. If the home is okay, we can be sure that it will affect our society and thing will be better.”

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With Akintayo Abodunrin akinjaa03@yahoo.co.uk 08111813058

Sakara, baroque, classical music for MUSON’s New Horizons concert It will be an interesting showcase of different music traditions at the gig also about developing and advancing young gifted musicians through creative, cultural and musical exchanges

F

OLLOWING a successful debut last year, the New Horizons concert series conceived by the Artistic Director of the MUSON Centre, Tunde Jegede, is set to make its eagerly anticipated return.

Tagged ‘New Horizons: New Worlds’, this year’s concert happening on Saturday, April 23 at Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan by 6pm will feature seven international and Nigerian artists in line with its goal of fusing different music traditions.

Top on the bill at the concert holding in partnership with the Institut Francais of the French Embassy and Air France are singer and flautist, Diana Baroni who is rooted in the classical, folk and music of her native South America. Based in Lyon, France, she has worked in the early music, classical and world music scenes internationally with ensembles such as the French baroque ensemble, Cafe Zimmermann, the Brodsky String Quartet and her own ensembles drawing mainly from Afro-Peruvian music.

There is also guitarist and multi-percussionist, Rafael Guel, who combines South American baroque and traditional music and French contrabasse player Simon Drappier. Born in Paris, Drappier has worked in jazz, folk and classical music both as a touring and recording artist.

Leading the Nigerian contingent is opera and crossover singer Ranti Ihimoyan. Versatile in various genres of music including folk, jazz, pop and classical, Ihimoyan is currently Nigeria’s foremost soprano and promoter of neo-classical music.

Also performing at the concert are the Olaiwola Sakara Band, one of the foremost exponents of Sakara music around

Tunde Jegede

Diana Baroni

Ranti Ihimoyan today and the MUSON Ensemble, a classical chamber ensemble set up by Jegede in 2015 to develop a new aesthetic within contemporary classical composition.

The initiator, Jegede, is not left out. The composer, producer, cellist and kora virtuoso with over 25 years experience working in diverse fields of music will also be performing at the concert.

Olaiwola Sakara Band Giving an insight into the New Horizons concept and its objectives at a news briefing he addressed alongside Architect Kitoyi

Akeem Lasisi shoots Asabi Alakara video AWARD-winning performance poet, Akeem Lasisi, has shot the video of ‘Asabi Alakara’ (Heroine), one of the most popular tracks in his acclaimed poetry album, ‘Eleleture: Not a Small World.’

The video was shot in Ikire, Osun State last weekend.

The poems in the track present a lecherous man endlessly setting a trap for a young lady, who, however, beats every antics of the man that moves from being a village goon to a lecturer, then a pastor.

While celebrated actor, Ropo Ewenla, plays the fornicating devil, Oyindamola, a daughter of veteran Ifa priest and artiste, Yemi Elebuibon, is Asabi Alakara. Dreadlocks wearing Edaoto Agbeniyi is the singer in the video shot by Lagos-based Sanjo Ad-

Akeem Lasisi egoke.

Speaking on the development, Lasisi says he believes the video will come out as successful as ‘Eleleture’ and ‘Udeme’, which

have been enjoying quality playing time on air for several years now.

On allegations that the songs in ‘Asabi Alakara’ sound erotic, he says although they are suggestive, they are a kind of warning to ladies out there to be smart and beware of lecherous men who hide under different guises to have their ways with them.

“It is only when you look at the songs superficially that you will think that they are loose. Instead, they are celebrating the lady as someone that you cannot corrupt or play a fast game on, no matter how big the bait you use to tempt her. Of course, the poems in the song balance this argument as they largely comment on the exchange of songs between Asabi and the lead singer,” he says.

Ibare-Akisan, chair, programs committee of the MUSON and Sennacherib Aurelien, cultural attaché at the French Embassy on Wednesday, Jegede said it is beyond music.

“The concept of New Horizons is more than just music. It’s about the role and function of music and the arts in society.

It’s about education, exchange and empowerment and bringing people together from different strata of society. New Horizons is about the development and advancement of young gifted musicians through creative, cultural and musical exchange. It is a place of art, ambition and creativity,” he said.

Citing last year’s concert series as example, the Artistic Director of the MUSON Centre said students of the Society not only related with the established artistes that performed, they also had the opportunity of travelling outside Nigeria through exchanges. He disclosed that three students of the MUSON travelled to the United Kingdom last year to be part of the London Jazz Festival while the MUSON Ensemble performed at the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government event in Malta.

“New Horizons brings together some of the most talented students of the MUSON School of Music to perform alongside some of the finest musicians on the international and local scene,” he said, adding that, “it is a unique cultural and musical exchange and one that celebrates the rich heritage of Nigeria. It takes us on a journey from the classical world of the baroque to the traditional music of contemporary Nigeria and South America. New Horizons is all about creating a forum for alternative arts and expression to a wider audience.”

Jegede, who disclosed that like last year, the 2016 concert, is in three parts said the first featuring Nneka, Keziah Jones and the Jazz Ensemble of Lagos happened in February, while next Saturday’s is the second.

The last will take place on May 28.

Interestingly, the forthcoming concert also has three components. It will be preceded by a concert with Jegede and some special guests on Friday, April 22 at Jazz Hole, Ikoyi and followed by a film screening and discussion with Kunle Tejuoso, Jegede, Baroni and Didi Cheeka on April 24 at the Nigerian Film Corporation.

On the choice of the three France-based artistes selected to be part of this year’s event, Jegede explained that the New World concert is not just about performance. “We also have workshops and master classes at MUSON hence we choose people that are willingly to share and engage with the people here; those that are open; willing to share and have relevant skills that would be useful here. And besides, the artistes coming are not just schooled in classical music; they also do music in their own traditions. So, we could have opted for popular artistes but we opted for those that are versatile and from whom students will benefit,” he said.

Continues p27

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17 April, 2016

Okotie-Eboh in time and history A review of Festus Samuel OkotieEboh: In Time and Space edited by Professor Akinjide Osuntokun and reviewed by ADEDEJI BADEJO

O

KOTIE-Eboh: In Time and Space (1912-1966) edited by Prof. Akinjide Osuntokun (OON) is a worthy tribute to the memory of a man with considerable contributions to the development of our country. With a forward written by Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, former Minister of Finance, the 409-page book is divided into four chapters with an acknowledgement and introduction.

Chapter 1 titled ‘A Short Panoramic View of Nigeria’s Political Evolution’ chronicles the development of Nigeria from when kingdoms were conquered by the British, the amalgamation, administration of Nigeria during the colonial era, agitations for independence, independence, political crises and military intervention in politics. The eminent historian and editor also highlight factors that have retarded Nigeria’s growth: political intolerance, greed, and corruption are mentioned as some of the problems with Nigeria.

Being an Ijebu man oneself, Professor Itsejuwa Sagay (SAN), in an edited version of his lecture on ‘The Itshekiri People’ in the second chapter of this book, confirms one’s belief in an affinity between the Ijebu and Itshekiri. The eminent lawyer traces the history of modern Itshekiri from the late 15th century when the people adopted Prince Ginuwa from Benin kingdom as their monarch though they had previously lived independently in different communities before coalescing into a kingdom. Prof Sagay also touches on the waves of migrations before the 15th century and how groups from Igalaland, Yoruba from Ijebu-Ode, Akure, Owo and a group from Aboh found their ways into parts of Itshekiri kingdom. The lawyer doesn’t fail to touch on the advent of Christianity in Itshekiri land, noting that the firstever monastery built in Nigeria was erected in Ode-Itshekiri (Big Warri) before 1700 and christened Saint Anthony.

The life and times of Chief Festus Samuel

Book cover Okotie-Eboh is the thrust of chapter three.

The birth, background, education and involvement of the man popularly called Omimi Ejo in business are highlighted here.

How Okotie-Eboh joined Bata Shoe Company as an accounting clerk and became the first Nigerian manager of the company; the establishment of his companies including Afro-Nigerian Export and Import Company involved in timber and rubber business, Omimi Shoe Factory, Omimi Plastics Factory and establishment of schools in Sapele are explained in detail.

Okotie-Eboh’s eventual joining of the National Council of Nigerians and Cameroons (NCNC) under the leadership of Herbert Macaulay and Nnamdi Azikiwe; becoming a member of the Western House in 1951; member of the Federal Parliament in Lagos and subsequent nomination as Minister of Labour and Social Welfare in January 1955 and becoming the Minister of Finance in 1957 are also chronicled in this seminal work..

As Nigeria’s longest serving Minister of Finance till date (he was Minister of Finance from 1957-1966, a period of 10 years),

Okotie-Eboh’s achievements and financial acumen are also well documented. Chief among these are the establishment of Central Bank of Nigeria and the mint company, the inauguration of the first national currency, the establishment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, creation of the first Nigerian investment and development bank in the 1950s and 1960s, making institutions such as the customs department part of the finance ministry, the securities commission and an efficient tax regime. We see the subject as a man with a tremendous capacity for hard work, practical and a firm believer in Nigeria playing an important role in the international community.

The last chapter containing documents, thoughts, correspondences and budget presentations to the parliament by Okotie-Eboh is a treasure trove for historians and those interested in public administration. We see illuminating correspondences to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, Chief Dennis Osadebey and to international figures and institutions like David Ben-Gurion, Levi Eshkol (Prime Minister of Israel), Commonwealth Relations Office, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The most touching and tragic of OkotieEboh’s letter (page 81) was penned on January 14th 1966 (a day before his assassination) to Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa on the Western region crisis. In the letter, he held that the election returning Chief Ladoke Akintola was rigged, that he did not enjoy the support of his people and that the

Sakara, baroque, classical music for MUSON’s New Horizons concert continued from pg26

Jegede also spoke on the inclusion of Sakara music, noting that its inclusion on the menu at an upscale music venue like the MUSON is not odd. He said, “Traditional music is a big thing for me; in fact

Port Harcourt hosts 2016 AMAA THE 13th African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) will hold on June 11, 2016 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, organisers have announced.

This is coming after nine consecutive editions in Bayelsa State, one in Abuja, Lagos and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Explaining why the pan African awards is moving to Rivers, a statement jointly signed by the state Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Tonye Briggs Oniyide and AMAA founder, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, said it is the beginning of a partnership that will add value to the people and the host city given government’s resolve to position Port Harcourt as a destination of choice in Nigeria and West Africa.

“We are repositioning Rivers State as a state ready for business to Nigerians and the rest of the world and our partnership with AMAA will become a veritable platform to attract tourists, global and Nigeria icons in business and the entertainment industry. We want to showcase Rivers State as a peaceful place where socio-economic activities thrive and also the hospitality of our people.

“There is a huge economy around entertainment and show business in Port Har-

killings/arson in the region is the people’s revolt against the federal government’s imposition of Chief Akintola on them.

Another important part of this chapter is the eight budget presentations/speeches (1958-1965) delivered by Okotie-Eboh to parliament. Unlike now, it was the responsibility of Okotie-Eboh as Minister of Finance to present the annual budget estimates to the parliament as a motion. This he does diligently, accurately and with cultural flavour.

It was during budget presentations you will see Okotie-Eboh dressed in full Itshekiri regalia with two maidens carrying his flowing gown! It was during these budget exercises that his financial acumen, management and economic understanding of our country’s needs came to fore.

Fifty years after the murder of Festus Samuel Okotie-Eboh and the subsequent sullying of his memory, this book will indeed correct all the historical errors and put him in his rightful place in Nigeria. At the time he was killed, he was survived by his wife and 14 young children, six of whom were minors. Though the system did not support his family as they had to fend for themselves, happily, most of his children, including Dr. (Mrs) Dere Awosika, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power turned out quite successful, This is an historical book for every Nigerian that shows we still owe the late Chief Okotie-Eboh recognition for his pioneering efforts in the financial and physical development of this country. It will not be out place if a national monument is named in his honour. In fact, the present government can heal the wound of the last 50 years by doing this.

Mrs Tonye Briggs Oniyide

Ms Peace Anyiam-Osigwe

court. While our state is known for her hydrocarbon resources Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism through initiatives like AMAA wants the world to know and take advantage of the business opportunities that abound in Rivers State,” Briggs said.

She added that the state will soon unveil a calendar of entertainment and tourist activities that will create job opportunities for youths of the state.

On her part, Anyiam-Osigwe said, “We are very happy with this development and express our gratitude to Governor Wike and the good people of Rivers State. We value this partnership and we promise that it will be a rewarding one for the government and people of this great state.”

While the colourful awards ceremony, which will be shown live on the Nigerian Television Authority holds on June 11, the nomination night will happen on Wednesday, May 11 at a yet to be disclosed venue.

traditional music is as important as classical music. If we lose our music, we lose our values. When you are communicating to outsiders what they already know, you are weaker. There are several music traditions here that we have overlooked but they are what can represent Nigeria well. It’s a question of values.”

Contributing, Ibare-Akisan assured that the concert will be great and that people should not miss it. “Tunde has improved the level of acceptability of the music we do here; it’s a concert that must not be missed.

Tunde is good at making what the Yoruba call bean cake with seven lives, it’s going to be a great concert,” he said.

In his brief remarks, Aurelien said the French Embassy is happy to contribute to musical and cultural exchanges between France and Nigeria. He assured that the Embassy will not relent in facilitating such exchanges and that they want to work closer with the MUSON in developing young Nigerian musicians.

General Manager, Air France KLM Nigeria& Ghana, Jean-Raoul Tauzin echoed his compatriot. He said, “Air France is pleased to partner with the MUSON Centre on their efforts to celebrate a cultural and creative exchange between Nigerian and French artists through the concert series tagged New Horizons. We applaud the Centre’s commitment to education and making world class art performances. We believe that sponsoring these concerts will not only afford us the opportunity to celebrate and enhance the Nigerian/French culture and music, but also give us the opportunity to participate in the development of the Nigerian music industry.”

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17 April, 2016

glamour

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With Tayo Gesinde temiligali03@yahoo.com 08054727801

I’m married to my producer —Psalmos, gospel musician

Olayinka Mobolaji, popularly known as Psalmos, is an award-winning gospel musician. In this interview with TAYO GESINDE, the graduate of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, speaks on her passion for capturing the heart and minds of lost youths and everyone in general, her assessment of the Nigerian gospel music industry and other issues. Excerpts:

I

Growing up was born in October 31, 1981 to the family of Mr Olabanji and late Mrs Modupe Adeseko. I am the last of six children from my mother. I am an indigene of Ekiti State. I attended community primary and secondary schools, then proceeded to the University of Ado Ekiti for Diploma in Banking and Finance, after which I worked with Reliance Bank Limited for three years. It was during this period that I gained admission to Lagos State University to study Industrial Relations and Personnel Management. I graduated in 2009. I later worked with an aluminium company and a travel agency (Avion Travels) before going into music full-time.

On the issue of provocative dressing, everybody has reasons for doing what they do. I’m indifferent to it

Foray into gospel music I got into the world of professional singing and song writing in 2005 when I joined Christ Living Spring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM), a ministry headed by Apostle Wole Oladiyun. It was there I gave my life to Jesus and decided to use my talent for God. My stage name, Psalmos, means instrument of worship. I am happily married to Mr Adekunle Olayinka, who by no coincidence is my producer. My first singles, which enjoyed massive airplay, are HE GOOD and KU’SE. This gave birth to the 12-track album (Expression of His goodness). I released three other new singles entitled Orin Tuntun, Keep Believing and Agbani Lagbatan.

After six years of releasing my first album, I released an 18-track album entitled Emmanuel, which featured artistes such as Eben, Kore, Oniyo, Femi Temowo, B. J, Sax, Label and Pelumi songs. The album won three awards: Best Album of the year (Emmanuel), Artiste of the year, Psalmos, Producer of the year Oniyo, at MEGA Awards 2015. I am bent on taking my gift to the highest level of achievement humanly possible by God’s grace. I have had the opportunity to travel within and outside the country to minister and have shared the stage with lots of gospel artistes in Nigeria.

Description of self I am fun loving, movie lover, dancer, fashionista and a cook freak, with a mission to transform the music world and a passion for capturing the hearts and minds of lost youths and everyone in general.

Role models I listen to all genres of music and all ministers, so I don’t

Special treat When I want to pamper myself, I become lazy deliberately. Also, I go shopping sometimes.

have any role model in particular.

How I have been coping with competition in the industry I am not in competition with anybody, because every man has his own purpose. So what I do is to stay in the line of purpose, keep moving and follow the leading of the spirit of

God, because a man born of the spirit is different from the world. That is what God says in John 3:8 and Psalm 71:7.

Inspiration from my music I get my inspiration from my past, present and likely future experiences, as well as through people’s stories and, basically, from the word of God.

Assessment of the gospel music industry Gospel music in Nigeria has grown tremendously in depth of the word, instrumentation, vocal delivery and visuals.

Philosophy of life Well, it is: have the fear God and love genuinely.

Definition of style For me, I love my dreads and anything that looks good on me. I don’t really follow trends, I try it; If it is beautiful, I go for it. I don’t have a favourite designer. However, I appreciate African designers a lot.

Fashion obsessions I love boots. It is just that I get restricted sometimes, but if I could wear boots and native I would do it.

Beauty regimen I don’t really have a beauty regimen, but I take a cup of water first thing in the morning, wash my face, then clean it with facial cleanser before any other thing.

How I have been combining the home front with my career Well, it has been God’s grace. We are all into music, so, it is a lot easier. My husband is my producer and we have a studio at home.

On the allegations that gospel musicians are more interested in money than winning souls Gospel means good news and as gospel ministers, we ought to spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ, anything outside of that is not gospel.

Handling advances from male fans I handle them with maturity.

What I will like to change about myself Nothing. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I’m perfect.

My take on provocative dressing On the issue of provocative dressing, everybody has reasons for doing what they do. I’m indifferent to it. If your conscience is clear, good.

Favourite holiday spot Cuba and the Bahamas.

Advice to young people Trust God, believe in yourself, study the word of God and love unconditionally.

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Sunday Tribune

With Victory Oyeleke victoryoyeleke@yahoo.com

The antisocial way of being social

A

few weeks ago, I was at a ritzy restaurant with a group of friends. We had all made an effort to look our best and were very excited to spend time together, but on getting to the restaurant, we ignored one another as we gazed and typed away on our devices of choice, only stopping to order for food and when the food arrived, we continued to play with our devices as we ate. For the three hours we spent together, only 30 minutes was spent talking and at the end of it all, we all claimed to have had a good time. Unfortunately, we are not the exception of what is now socially considered as a “good time.”

Technology, smart phones and tablets have turned us into hunched tapping anti-social screen gazers who are more interested in the world contained in the cloud than the one around us. Our devices know more about us than we know of ourselves and terms, such as “Photobomb” “Srsly,” “tweet” and “selfie” have become part of our vocabulary. Emojis and acronyms have replaced hugs and affection. Time spent liking, sharing and following “Virtual Friends” have cut into quality time with family and loved ones.

Social networks and virtual connections have damaged our association with people as we only connect to others when we press a button.

According to statista.com breakdown of Internet users in January 2016, Facebook had 1.55 billion monthly active us-

ers, Instagram had over 400 million monthly active accounts, Tumblr blogging service had more than 555 million active blog user and Pinterest had 10 million unique monthly visitors. These stats are expected to increase daily as technology gets more innovative and people become more addicted More than three billion people around the world now use the internet via a variety of different devices and as our handheld technology continues to get more

immersive, the breakdown of real-life connection is afoot as many family and couples talk to one another through messages and calls whilst under the same roof.

According to figures of a 2014 study by Milward Brown, presented at the Code Conference in California, United State. Nigeria is a nation of smartphones. The figures suggest Nigerians spend the most of their times looking at their smartphones, using apps, watching videos and sending messages for three hours, 13 minutes a

Social networks and virtual connections have damaged our association with people as we only connect to others when we press a button.

day. By comparison, the French use their devices for just 79 minutes a day.

Expressing emotions is also suffering similar fate as Twitter rants and changes of Facebook status have replaced the usual walking up to a person to express how you feel.

The fear that technology has taken over our lives, and the concern over the lack of privacy that social media users portray is not entirely misplaced. We are rapidly progressing towards a more introverted society that interacts virtually with people who are most times complete strangers and care less.

Though virtual connections have their advantages, it should not be a total escape from reality and not a social life that replaces person-person socialising.

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thepolity Politicians don’t allow INEC to perform its duties —Rivers REC

Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak is the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State. He speaks with DEPUTY EDITOR, DAPO FALADE on the controversies trailing the inconclusive legislative rerun election that was held in the state on March 19, 2016.

Y

OU have been an object of verbal attack from all political angles after the March 19, 2016 legislative rerun election in the state.

What really transpired on that eventful day?

March 19 was an election day that we in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) put in our efforts to make sure that we have a smooth, free, fair and credible election; our preparations were all geared towards that. But I think there were derailments in the course of the election.

People tend to assume the role of the commission, by either dictating to it on what it should do or, after refusal, to allow the commission to do its works. In such an environment, it becomes very difficult for you to perform.

We have said clearly that the idea of establishing the Registration Area Centres (RACs) was to solve the problems of elections: problems of distance, bad terrain and what have you. Where INEC was not allowed to occupy the RACs and take off for the elections, definitely such elections are derailed because the aim of going to the RACs had been defeated. And what is the aim of the RACs? It is to make sure that you leave for the polling unit on time to commence elections. You are now compelled to go back to what it used to be in the past where materials have to leave and travel for five, six hours to get to the polling units and you will definitely get there in the afternoon. So you cannot actually conduct elections because certain persons feel that you must not move.

We must also understand that we are not going for war; we are going as a civil organisation to conduct elections. So we don’t make provision to fight hoodlums who come with guns to attack us or block the road or even block our premises and will not allow us to go out...

Knowing the antecedents of elections in the country, which have always been characterised with violence and hijacking of voting materials, would it not have been proper for you to make provisions to avoid what you just said?

It is difficult for people to talk about making provisions. Are you making provisions for or are you now suggesting that INEC should have a military wing that should be armed so that when we go out for elections, we also go out with our guns to face those persons? Is that a solution? The solution is to allow everybody to do his/her work. The solution is for the electorate to wait in their polling units to vote. The solution is for people to keep down arms, because you are not going for war. For us to confront the hoodlums, we need to also be armed. If people are not suggesting that, then the moral suasion that INEC is using, the enlightenment that INEC is using should be enough for us to be allowed to do our duty.

I have said it times without number that the major problem of the commission today is that politicians do not allow INEC to perform its duty. But when it fails, the whole blame is put on the commission. And, unfortunately, the media that is supposed to highlight, will talk about an election that started late or that INEC arrived late. Look, INEC said it want to come from the RAC. I have not seen one media [house] that has taken time out in this particular election to say how many RACs, out of the 82 that were meant for the election, were occupied. These are things that we expect the public to react to. You will discover that not up to 50 per cent of the RACs were occupied. This also means that you could not actually perform your duty the way you had planned.

We cannot find solutions to problem in this country, whether electoral or any other thing, without us being able to chronicle events: what did they say they will do?; what are they doing or what did they do?; why didn’t they do what they say they will do? You now isolate these things and even those who stop people from voting will also see themselves as the problem. But that is not the issue, because the Nigerian

Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak

people didn’t want them to see this thing as their own issue and as their problem. They always know that, after all, if they block INEC, at the end of the day, people will blame INEC because that is the thinking of Nigerians. They will say why didn’t INEC devise a means of confronting the hoodlums?

Nobody really digs down to see that if we want to confront this issue, you will need an army to do it. But must we conduct elections with people who are harmed, killed and so on for election to take place?

These are areas that I expect the civil societies, the Nigerian media and the independent sector of the Nigerian people to look. It is not for the sake of INEC, but for the betterment of our country.

There are still controversies surrounding the rerun exercise; results were released; some were withheld and there is suspension of election in some local government areas. The question is what happened to the results that were collated but were not announced?

Results of elections that were concluded were released, first before the suspension. Everybody talks about the suspension of the election, but nobody even care about what happened or what made the commission to now say, let us suspend this exercise. When we heard reports that people were being killed in the field, the first thing to do, by any reasonable organisation, is to say, ‘oh, let us save lives’, if it is a country that values life. INEC did the right to suspend every activity, because we think that the lives of the people were more important and then let us do an auditing of what happened.

After that, INEC came back, released the results of elections that were concluded and even went ahead and issued out Certificates of Return. In the course of issuing the Certificates of Return, I made a very plain explanation. Instead of people, including the media, to look at the explanation I made, they were more interested in saying that my statement would make people to go to court. You see, when did saying the truth become a crime in this country?

What I said clearly was that what happened on March 19 was a parliamentary election and in a parliamentary election, people represent people. When you go to the House of Assembly, you don’t represent area; you represent people. That is why they always talk about the majority vote. This brings us to issue of margin of votes and the Constitution and the Electoral Law clearly say where election is cancelled or not done, the vote in that area, if added to the votes of the loser, will supersede that of the winner, such election cannot be declared until that area is determined.

I said that, but people, before then, were asking that there were some few areas that the votes that were left, if added to that of the loser, would not have made that declaration possible. I said well, declaration may have been made in error, the Constitution also says that even if declarations were made in error, you cannot reverse it. That is why in those areas, people now calculated that the margin of votes should not have allowed for declaration, based on the explanation that I made.

The Returning Officers in [those areas], either knowingly or unknowingly, had made declaration. Where those declarations were made, I emphasised that such a returning officer must be an authorised returning officer, not just anybody you pick on the road because he/she is working with INEC. When such an authorised returning officer makes a pronouncement, in the eye of Constitution, let the next level of determining elections, which is the Court, now look into that.

This is because if INEC goes ahead to reverse such a declaration, it means that you are the person who made the declaration and the one who is reversing it. You may reverse correctly and you may also reverse wrongly. Allow an independent body who was not part of that election to now determine whether what the returning officer did was right or wrong. I explained that.

Rivers PDP chairman, Mr Felix Obuah, recently called you a liar over the circumstances that surcontinues

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‘Election should not be a war’ Continues from

pg29

rounded the disqualification of a member of his party in the election at the Akuku Toru State Constituency 2...

That is very simple; he is supposed to publish the judgment. Judgment is something that if you want a copy, you can easily go to the court record office and get it. I was not here; I am not a lawyer. So I don’t read the judgment. INEC received reasons why [2015] elections [were] cancelled. In Akuku Toru Constituency 2, the reason for canceling the election was that a particular political party did not file a candidate who has the qualification.

People must go back to history. The reason INEC does not screen candidates, as passed by the National Assembly in the Electoral Act, is that the party has the right to file any candidate to INEC; that it is only the court that can disqualify a candidate and his party.

So in this case, INEC does not need to check whether that person is qualified or not. That was the candidate filed by the party; he contested the election and people went to court.

The court said ‘you were not qualified. For your party to file a disqualified candidate, the law says the party and the candidate should not participate in the next election [the legislative rerun]’. That was the reason for canceling that election [in 2015].

I received a letter from the legal department of INEC that PDP is not a candidate in the election in Akuku Toru Constituency 2. Maybe they had informed PDP, but I wrote a letter to the party that, based on the election we would be having in March 19, the court says the party is not a candidate in the election.

I attached the letter sent from Abuja, quoting the court. They replied, in a letter signed by the secretary of the party [Walter Ibibia], that neither INEC, nor the tribunal, nor the appeal tribunal has power to stop their candidate. INEC, as a law-abiding organisation, only obeyed the order of the court; INEC did not disqualify anybody.

They said on the voter’s ballot paper, PDP was there. But I said whether it was on the ballot paper or not, PDP was not in the list of candidates in the Akuku Toru Constituency 2; the election was conducted with the list of candidates. This was made public and given to all the collation officers and everybody else.

So whether somebody calls me a liar, I will not counter what anybody says. My position on whatever anybody says is that, that somebody calls me a liar because I am sitting as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). If I don’t want to answer those names, I better go and sit in my house. As long as I sit here, you can call me anything; it is this seat that has made you to call me that. By the time I leave this office, nobody will come to my house to call me a liar.

In the same vein, his APC counterpart, Dr Davies Ikanya, alleged that you were merely awarding votes to PDP where the results were declared in the rerun election...

Well, I also looked at it as one of the things that anybody would say against somebody. I don’t take it as anything. Award votes how?

We are talking about margin of votes here.

In a place where we have 500,000 registered voters, I will go and award 10,000 votes?

When people say things, you should be able to ask, what is it that they want? In this election, a senator may be declared a winner with 100,000 votes in a senatorial district that has about one million registered voters. How do you talk about award? So, if I had opportunity to award votes, why should I write 10,000 votes? Why can’t I write 300,000 or thereabout? I just dismiss those things as part of the burden that you have to bear because you are in INEC.

Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak Is there any concrete plan put in place ahead the yet-to-be scheduled rerun in those areas where election was suspended?

Yes! The very first thing that people don’t know is that, apart from those areas where elections were cancelled, election took place in pockets of places; it took place in registration areas and left out some polling units; it took place in local government areas and left out some registration areas. We have cancelled elections here and there.

So, the first thing we have to do is to be able to isolate all the places where election did not take place and state their reasons. This may make you to now go to every local government area, looking at polling unit by polling unit, RA by RA. This is because if another election is to hold, there must be printing of materials. Materials cannot just be printed anyhow; it must be printed to suit areas where election did not take place. So, it takes time for all these to be identified and we need to do that first. That is administrative; you need to go to that extent and submit it to the commission, which now sits and looks at it.

What is the total number of voters that would be involved in this election? What is the total number of registration areas? What is the total number of polling units? What is the total number of local government areas? What is the total number of constituencies, state, federal and senatorial districts that would be involved? You have to isolate that.

After that, the commission would look at the resources because you did not budget and say, ‘in Rivers State, when we do a rerun, it will be done again’. So, you have to look at where you are getting the resources.

In the last election, so many people who were expected to be involved stayed out. 90 or 95 per cent of those who conducted the election were not INEC staff, who I can just command and simply instruct to go out there and conduct another election. But can I say that to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) or any other independent organisation? I need to have a way of reaching out to these groups and organisations, talking to them and making them realise that we are in a national assignment. I should be able to tell them that even though I am the person saddled with the responsibility of taking the lead, you are also part of what we need to do; we need to convince these persons.

Then the people of Rivers State also need to agree that there should be election and not war. All these would have to be done indirectly or directly.

You have been able to identify some

lapses on the part of INEC in the last rerun. What are the measures you are putting in place to avoid such mistakes in the event of the anticipated conclusion of the exercise?

Yeah, during the stock-taking, we had put out some of the things we noticed. For example, during the printing, because of lack of confidence in the Nigerian system as a whole, INEC had gone beyond the level of just printing materials. Rather, it customized the materials and packaged them without even INEC officials having access to them.

All these were done to create confidence so that some of these materials are only opened in the field. So where there were mistakes in those printing, you only notice in the field; you, as an INEC official, would not be able to do anything.

If you were able to see those materials, access them and put them out as they were supposed to be, you would have noticed that there were some printing errors there and you ratify them. But doing this, the public would say you have opened the materials and tampered with them as if you are not the same person who has the power to bring the materials. You bring a carton and during the packaging, the cello tape got torn, agents of parties would say they would not open that thing until you explain how the cello tape got torn. This is the environment in which we found ourselves.

We have been having inconclusive elections in the past but now it is becoming the norm, rather than being an exemption. What could have accounted for this?

Today, INEC is being called Inconclusive National Electoral Commission. For me, the commission is doing something good and that is why you have this inconclusive elections. I keep saying it that we would have more inconclusive elections. Inconclusive election is becoming the norm because votes have now reduced to persons. That is number one. Secondly, there is competition. Before now, you will agree with me that we used to have one party and the others. You will hear this party has 560,000 votes and the next party has 10 votes. Was this not so in this country? How will you have margin of votes between 10 and 500,000? They cannot be.

Now in a situation where nobody is going to write results, it is the people; you come out with your people and vote for the candidate of your choice. Another person will come out with his family and vote for their candidate.

The result is that one candidate has 10,000 votes and the other one has 7,000 votes. The

difference is 3,000. In any area where you have 5,000 votes, the election cannot be concluded. This is the picture. Unless you amend the Constitution to allow for simple majority, so that even if I win by one vote, I am the winner.

This has also made INEC to now emphasise on repeating elections where they had been cancelled. When INEC said when you hijack materials, election in that area has been cancelled, the Nigerian politicians started thinking that, okay they would not hijack to write results. Do you know what they do? If you are popular, they will come to your area and hijack materials, then INEC would cancel. So if they cancel election in your area, who is losing? Is the man who hijacked the material or the man who is popular? Definitely, it is the latter.

So INEC now said since this is so, even when that election is cancelled in such a place, we would keep it and do it another day to still determine that election takes place.

So, if the material was hijacked to deprive you of your own votes, we will all come there and election would now be narrowed to one place; everybody will now come and stand and say, look, hijacker, come and take this thing. Election would be determined so that it would be a fair affair between you and your opponent. All this thinking has come up and we have been trying to even put them into practice.

This brings up some of the things people are calling, inconclusive situations because you want to determine the real winner; not an artificial winner. I can win an election in my room; I may be popular in my own enclave and come and stop election in your own place and take vote in my place and I would be declared winner. But maybe if I had allowed election to take place in your own place, you would have been the winner. INEC now said, no, you have won in your area, let us determine what happens here. So what would you call that election that I have not declared until the other place is determined?

It is inconclusive.

You will now fix it for another day; let us come and determine what happens here before we now say, ‘Mr Powerful man, you have won in your place, come and also win here.

When you win here, we now add that to you and declare you. But should the other person win and we now look at the votes and they are higher than what you won there, then he is the right person that the people elected’. It as simple as that and that brings about this issue of inconclusive elections.

These are caused by two developments and they are positive developments: first, actual rigging and writing results has reduced. Two, there is competition now in the polity. People are now contesting elections; it is no longer the era of ‘let me just file so that I will come to you and say I know that you are the person to win, just give me some money’. Now, we know that Mr A standing there believes that he can win and Mr B standing at the other side believes he can win. When you put this together, and the fact that INEC has also opened its eyes to check, you will definitely have more of inconclusive elections.

You are on your second journey as Rivers State REC, given the bashing you have been receiving here and there, do you have any regret coming back to the state?

I would say that, given a choice, I would not want to come to Rivers State. I am sitting here because I was so directed by the commission to come here. I believe that there must be something that they had seen; there may have been a level of confidence built. So, I decided to come; I tried to do the work, not to disappoint those who sent me. But if I am given a chance to decide whether I should come to Rivers or to go away from the state, I think the choice may not really be to stay.

31

interview

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Nigerians now know which is better between PDP and APC —Ogembe Senator Ahmed Ogembe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the rerun of the Kogi Central Senatorial District election recently. He shares with AYODELE ADESANMI his legislative agenda and the reasons behind the poor performance of the PDP in the last general election. Excerpts:

W

ment that has denied all electoral promises, even before spending one year in office. But I want to say with all sense of responsibility that Nigerians are not fools.

HAT would be your legislative agenda for your constituency, the nation and the party at

the Senate?

My journey to the Senate, though very long, has been a good experience and interesting. My victory at the rerun election would not have been possible without the support of the people of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, the elders and the patriotic members of the PDP, in spite of the stiff opposition from our opponent. In appreciation of their support, I assure them of my total allegiance, that l will discharge my duties according to the constitution of the country. Besides that, l would retain my own identity. I would toe the footsteps of the senators that have delivered the dividends of democracy to their constituencies bountifully in the state.

I will work with my colleagues through the legislative interventions to ensure that the abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Company and Itakpe lron Ore Company are given the needed attention by the Federal Government towards a successful completion.

Though the challenges are enormous, with careful planning coupled with strong political will on the part of the Federal Government, they are surmountable. Completion of these two strategic but moribund companies will bring employment to our teeming youths and greatly enhance the socio-economic growth and development of Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole.

Provision of water supply in my district is very inadequate, in view of the topography. This challenge over the years has caused the people a lot of problems, forcing them to operate under unhygienic condition. Fortunate enough, there are two dams which are not in use at the moment and which we can make use of to supply clean water to the people. I will therefore collaborate with relevant agencies and ministries to ensure that the dams are in full operation. This, however, will go a long way to reduce the shortage of water.

Human capacity building will be another area that I will take seriously. Our teeming unemployed youths will be assisted through the relevant training to acquire the necessary skills. They will be empowered financially empowered to start their businesses and possibly be employers of labour. The market women awill be provided with soft loan in order to improve on their businesses.

Do you believe PDP has any future in Kogi State?

Don’t ever be deceived with what is going on in the state within the gladiators of the PDP currently. The party still remains a very strong indivisible entity in the state.

However, the recent defeat in the last general election, though painful, was a temporary setback. To me, it was due to the inaction and greed of some members. But we are re -organising and re-focusing. The PDP was in power for a number of years in the state and, definitely, there must be

Senator Ahmed Ogembe

challenges. However, the party might not manage the challenges well as our leaders are not proactive on issues. Though regrettable that, at present, we are down, we will rise again and control our environment as we’ve been doing before. The PDP will never die in Kogi State. I am very sure we would come together and forget our differences and rebuild the party. Those we need to beg we will beg them; others we need to persuade, we will and equally recruit new members. We will build on the failure and use it as a stepping stone to higher heights, while we will close the door on the past. Definitely, we shall overcome this temporary setback in the shortest possible time and forge ahead. However, the PDP performance in the last general election was not good enough. It was in the election that we lost our first 11 both to the state and National Assembly. Nobody will forget and wish away the contributions of Senator Smart Adeyemi at the Seventh Senate. Sadly, he lost out. Very soon, another PDP Senator Aidoko is coming to join me. We equally lost the governorship seat to the opposition. Though we are unrelenting, there are several factors that led to that poor performance. Some of them are total disregard to internal democracy in the party and the wind of change mantra of the then opposition party. The PDP is aggressively rebuilding at the end of which we will come out strongly.

However, at the national level it has been

said by a lot of people and those of us with conscience that it was arrogance that cost us the election. It was obvious that we were doing some things wrongly, but we never realised that on time. When we realised, it was too late. At every level, we had apologised to Nigerians and we are presently moving on. The process of healing and reconciliation has commenced in the party and we are doing it with all sincerity. The results will begin to manifest soon. Our party’s convention is coming up in May and I can assure you that the result will tell the whole world how sincere we are. As for the party coming back to power in 2019, it is God that places power in the hands of anyone He wishes. The APC is in power right now, Nigerians can see what the party has to offer them. They have tasted governance under the PDP and they know what they went through. But they can now compare the two. I know what the people are saying about power supply. The people are crying because of non-availability of fuel; the naira is getting weaker against the dollar by the minute; doctors have just given a notice of an impending general strike; the impunity at state level is rising by the minute. I can go on and on, listing the challenges Nigerians are facing under the current government. So, I want to say in a nutshell that it’s Nigerians who will decide if they want a government of PDP that promised and delivered to come back or retain a govern-

What will you say about the impeachment of the speaker, Right Honourable Jimoh Lawal, by five members of the House of Assembly and the consequent takeover of the House by the National Assembly?

To me, the crisis rocking the state assembly is most unfortunate and ill-timed. It is coming at a time when we have a government that is committed to delivering good governance, dividends of democracy and restructuring the civil service of the state, among others and making it work. The government that understands the dynamics of power and is ready to work with everybody, irrespective of your political leaning for the development of the state. The crisis is uncalled for, not even now that we need a total support from a united legislature for the government in order to realise the Kogi of our dream. However, the impeachment of the speaker is the decision of the members of the assembly and I will not like to comment on the matter. But my appeal goes to all the members to quickly resolve their differences and come together and forge ahead. They should have it in their mind that Kogi will soon be given a name.

What we need presently is to urgently fix so many things that have been disorganised through legislation. I am sure that we have the best brains in the House, people with perfect experience in both public and public lives. I would not like them to waste time on unnecessary wrangling and a fight that will not take us to anywhere. I equally want to appeal to the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who is now the father of all, to, as a matter of urgency, wade into the crisis and get it resolved and bring sanity and peace to the assembly and the state in general.

How realisable is the power shift in Kogi?

God works in a mysterious way. Just see how power shift materialied with divine intervention. This has been a long time desire of other two zones of the state. Today, Alhaji Bello is the governor and he is from central senatorial district. Power has shifted already and that is our desire. But what remains presently is how to sustain it. We should all support this divine arrangement. I am confident that this change will take Kogi to greater heights. We all believe it is better for power to shift through negotiation than through warfare. That was why all the gubernatorial candidates in the last gubernatorial election put the agenda of power shift as number one priority. To me, they all agreed that after another term of theirs, power must shift. The agitation for power shift is welcome because this will give every zone the opportunity to be in power. This is primarily to diffuse tension and avail each of the districts a sense of belonging. For a zone to clinch to power for too long is undemocratic.

32

opinion

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

For Nigeria, the bell tolls

By Femi Fani-kayode “NO man is an island entire of itself: every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were. Any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee’’- John Donne (Meditation XVII of Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, 1600).

Today the bell tolls for Nigeria. The Department of State Security (DSS) have claimed that five Fulani herdsmen were abducted, killed and buried in a mass grave by members of IPOB in Abia state a few days ago. They have also claimed that there were up to 50 more bodies in that mass grave and that they are all Fulani.

The implications of this announcement is obvious. It will create more tension and fear in the land and it will lead to reprisal killings in the north. Violence is never the way out and I have always believed that it has no place in any civilized society. Yet what I find curious about this announcement is the fact that it is unique and historic.

I say this because thousands of Igbo, Yoruba, Niger-Deltans and Middle Belters have been killed by Fulani militants and herdsmen over the last 10 months since President Buhari came to power yet the DSS has never announced it and told the country about the details and ethnic identities of the victims.

When one thousand Shiite Muslims were slaughtered in Zaria and buried in mass graves the DSS did not speak. When five hundred Idomas were massacred in Agatu by Fulani militants the DSS did not speak.

When hundreds of southern and Middle Belt farms were raided by AK-47-wielding Fulani herdsmen who murdered, raped, burnt down and took over the land of their victims, the DSS never gave us details of the victims or made any announcement.

When our leaders in the south were kidnapped and when men witnessed their wives and children being raped and butchered by the Fulani militias before their very eyes the DSS made no announcements. When the International Terror Index told the world that the Fulani militias in Nigeria are the “fourth most deadly terror organisation in the world” the DSS said nothing and neither did they give us details about their activities or their victims.

Worse of all is the fact that our government and our president, who himself happens to be a Fulani, has never deemed it fit or necessary to condemn the activities of the Fulani herdsmen and militants and neither have they expressed any sympathy or displayed any empathy for their many victims.

Let me be clear: the murder of anyone, regardless of their ethnicity or faith, is unacceptable to me. I deplore murder and violence and in my view the killing of one innocent soul diminishes the humanity of every single one of us as a community and nation.

However it seems curious that the minute that Fulani are killed in the east the DSS is quick to rise to the occasion and express concern about it whilst they do

not express the same concern when Nigerians from other ethnic nationalities are killed by the Fulani in their own homes and land.

Therein lies the double standard and it is sad and unfortunate. Furthermore not only is it very dangerous but it also confirms the view that our government and security agencies are not only partial but that they are also attempting to implement an ethnic and religious agenda.

Three questions must be answered: firstly who is funding the Fulani herdsmen and where do they get their weapons from? Secondly why does our government not only turn a blind eye to the mass murder and genocide that they regularly indulge in but also go out of their way to protect them?

And thirdly why do the government and security agencies have so much hatred and contempt for those that the Fulani regularly target and their victims and why do they believe that those victims do not deserve to enjoy the full protection of the Nigerian Federal Government?

Could it be because they are regarded as slaves and second class citizens? Is Fulani blood and are Fulani lives more important than others? Indeed do non-Fulani lives matter in President Buhari’s Nigeria?

Are we compelled to begin a ‘’nonFulani lives matter’’ movement which is based and fashioned on the ‘’Black Lives Matter’’ movement in the United States of America before we can draw the attention of the world to what is going on in our country?

Is it not obvious and logical that when the security agencies refuse to protect the citizens from the murderous hordes and herdsmen from hell those citizens will eventually seek to protect themselves and go on the offensive? That is human nature and it is to be expected.

Is it not clear to those in power that when a people are convinced that their government is no longer impartial in any conflict and that the security agencies of that government have been directed to go out of their way to actively and openly

support those that constantly and regularly slaughter their people it will eventually lead to open war?

Is it so difficult to accept the fact that no government and no force from hell or on earth can compel or intimidate a man into lying down passively and silently watch his family, loved ones and kinsmen being butchered and slaughtered morning, day and night without trying to protect them and without indulging in some form of retaliation?

With the sort of things that are going on in our country today it is time to tell ourselves some home-truths. No-one wishes to accept it let alone say it but sadly war will come to Nigeria again within the next few years. I do not want war and I consider it to be the ultimate evil but I am con-

When hundreds of southern and Middle Belt farms were raided by AK47-wielding Fulani herdsmen who murdered, raped, burnt down and took over the land of their victims, the DSS never gave us details of the victims or made any announcement.

strained to speak the truth and say things as I see them.

The fact that a war is coming is a testimony to the fact that we have all failed to manage the peace that God has given us since 1970 and the cessation of hostilities after our brutal civil war. We have failed so badly that the remote and immediate causes of that civil war are back with us today even though we hate to admit or acknowledge it.

Our country is like Yugoslavia unfolding before it exploded and violently broke into five separate countries. All the signs are there. Anyone that knows about the history of Yugoslavia or that is a student of world history will agree with me and appreciate what I am saying.

Consider the dangerous mix. A crumbling economy; an inept, weak and paranoid government; a hungry, angry and increasingly desperate civilian population; an ignorant, obsessive, arrogant, insensitive, corrupt and self-absorbed political class who are out of touch with reality.

The ruthless implementation of an ethnic and religious agenda by a reckless and irresponsible government that refuses to consider the implications of taking such a course of action and that have an early-1960’s mind-set. The growing unrest, ethnic killings and sectarian murders.

An ethnic and religious division within the Armed Forces and security agencies.A relentless clamp-down on and persecution of the opposition and all dissenting voices by the government and the use of fear as a tool of governance and control.

The demonisation of peaceful and lawabiding self-determination groups and the unlawful incarceration of their leaders.The breach of the constitutional rights of the citizens and the ignoring of court orders and judicial processes by the government.The attempt to intimidate and control the Judiciary and Legislature by the government and so much more. The list goes on and on and history proves that such a mixture of circumstances is dangerous and can only lead to open conflict if not halted.

The country is badly divided today and the people are suffering as never before.

The division and hatred amongst some of our ethnic groups has reached pre-civil war levels.

We must do our best to ensure that that division and hatred does not spill over into open war. This is because war is a terrible thing which must be avoided at all costs. We must also prepare for the very worst in case things get out of hand.

If such a thing could have happened in the heart of Europe in the early 1990’s why on earth would any reasonably intelligent person dismiss the notion that it can happen here? The only difference would be that if such a thing were to ever unfold in our country it would be far worse than what happened in Yugoslavia due to the sheer size of our population.

Ours would be more like a cruel mixture of what is happening in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Libya today and what happened in the Lebanese and Yugoslavian civil wars in the 1980’s and 1990’s all wrapped into one.

The signs are already there. I pray that I am wrong but as far as I am concerned, for Nigeria, the bell tolls.

•Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Aviation

33

opinion

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Rethinking heroism and Nigerian civil service

By Festus Adedayo

U

NARGUABLY, the dominant perspective about heroism in Nigeria today is that of a land where that species is endangered. Aside the political exploits of the Obafemi Awolowos, Nnamdi Azikiwes, Ahmadu Bellos, on the economic spheres, the Da Rochas, Aminu Dantatas, Louis Phillip Odumegwu Ojukwu; public service, the Babatunde Ajoses; literature, Amos Tutuolas, Chinua Achebes; education, Adekunle Ajasins, Chike Obis; the musical turf, the Hubert Ogundes, Dan Maraya of Jos, Rex Lawsons etc., whose unifying thread of heroism in their works was patriotism and excellence, the pantheon of that class and creed is becoming an anachronism in Nigeria today.

This has been attributed basically to the maximal character and texture of capital in the Nigerian society, the abandonment of societal values of communalism for individualism, leading to survival-of-thefittest and its subsequent derivative of elimination-of-the-weakest and ultimately, an erosion of values. The latter was effectively prosecuted by a combine of successive governments and the abetment of that vice by even the governed themselves.

At an analytic level, if you could find ten of that rare breed of nature’s creation per thousand of surveyed Nigerians in the 1960’s, even up to the 1970’s, you could barely encounter one per thousand of that same sum in the Nigeria of today. Indeed, it is running against the mill to be heroic in Nigeria of today. While basic components of living were relatively easy to access in the former times, securing them is war today. Jealous and seeking to curtail rivals in its vicinity, heroism does not approve of friendship with Nigerians’ current maximalist search for capital. In other words, it is almost impossible that heroes could be found in the same trenches where people are pursuing wealth and survival.

Some people have posited that it was easy to discover heroes in the 60’s and 70’s Nigeria because the environment was conducive to heroism. Broken into basics, they said that the Awolowos, the Azikiwes, Bellos could pursue societal good because their personal and individual good was a given. It is more complex for emerging youth and children of today. The environment is hostile to heroism and indeed, like the cobra whose offspring murder it at procreation, as the Yoruba saying goes, any attempt to be a hero in Nigeria today is smothered at infancy by an environment where heroes are almost treated like pariahs.

So when Tunji Olaopa, holder of a doctorate in public administration, consummate civil servant and prolific writer, posits that there are heroes in Nigeria and seeks to intellectualize their process of heroism, his proffer cannot but be likened to a Copernican theory in geography, and an against-method of Paul Karl Feyerabend, an Austrian-born philosopher, which are basically revolutionary. Olaopa had, in a previous engagement, in a book he authored on a renowned scholar kinsman of his, confirmed the theory of the dearth of heroes in the land. Ojetunde Aboyade, close companion of and a fellow “ecumenical spirit” of Professor Wole Soyinka, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, former lecturer at the University of Ibadan, and a multiple-tested economic adviser to successive Federal

Governments in the 70’s into the 90s, was Olaopa’s subject in the biography. In the biography of the late professor entitled A Prophet is with Honour - The Life and times of Ojetunji Aboyade, Olaopa had literally acknowledged that heroes, who belong to a rare and special class, are unusual to come by. His position was corroborated by the renowned professor of political science, Claude Ake, who wrote in a foreword to the book that “The country has no heroes, acknowledges none, and it devalues and derails those who could be…The project of nation-building and development which Nigerians espouse is a journey without maps, undertaken in moral anarchy towards an uncertain destination.”

Recently, Olaopa seems to have submitted that that same rare species is witnessing an explosion. In a recently authored book entitled The Labour of Our Heroes published by Ibadan-based Bookcraft, Olaopa painstakingly, in an elevenchaptered book, outlined paths to the Nigerian project, the national question, education and the human capital dynamics, the Nigerian predicament, Nigeria’s position in the continent, civil society and national integration, civil servants and entrepreneurs, among other classifications.

In the same vein, Olaopa churned out of his intellectual smithy another book, published by same Bookcraft, which he entitledCivil Service and the Imperative of Nation Building which, on the whole, places a telescope to the Nigerian civil service of the past and the present, looking into the dark contours of its dysfunctions, failings, successes, progress and future possibilities, from theoretical and practical perspectives.

He submits that the Nigerian civil service “stands at the critical nexus between grand infrastructural and service delivery efficiency and effectiveness and the transethnic and trans-religious loyalty which is necessary to promote and sustain the civic bond of unity that will truly transform Nigeria into a nation.” Coming from a man reputed to be one of the most fecundminded civil servants in recent times, this proffer would definitely need to be taken seriously by a Nigeria seeking ways out of the bind of drudgery and lethargy that are associated with the civil service.

Two Nigerians whose intellect could be likened to a description of French philosopher, Voltaire as one of the most ag-

ile brains to have ever inhabited a human skull – the renowned bard and gubernatorial aspirant in Edo State, Odia Ofeimun, and emeritus professor of Geography, Akin Mabogunje – did a critique of the books in the form of foreword. Ofeimun sees Olaopa’s effort in The Labour of Our Heroes as an attempt at “memorializing (the) feats, up-raising the heroic status of (such Nigerians)” Using the old theory of charismatic political leadership, he said, “Quite heartily (it) engages a Pan Nigerian landscape in which religious and political leaders, academics and intellectuals, entrepreneurs, philosophers, physicians, scientists and creative writers, actors and filmmakers, musicians and community leaders, are placed in the same force-field, as heroes. Politics is not thereby downgraded or degraded but visualized, in context, as one of the theatres in which leadership may manifest within a contingent network of outstanding performers.”

Ofeimun thereafter went into a characterization or profiling of the Olaopa heroes and how they passed through the acid test of his search. He said the book is “a commingling of legendary entrepreneurs like Dantata, da Rocha, Ojukwu the elder, Dangote, Omolayole and an Onosode with maverick social consciences and educationist like atheistic Tai Solarin and lawyer-activist, human rights crusader Gani Fawehinmi, Pentecostal pastors like Enoch Adejare Adeboye, and Oyedepo, all in the same feast of herohood with Bishop Hassan Mathew Kukah, a catholic priest pursuing an ecumenical programme of dialogue between diverse creeds, on the same counterpane with Wande Abimbola, a virtual Babalawo, who is toasted for removing the libel and rudeness of the bad sciences that once consigned traditional religion, and specifically Yoruba Ifa divination system, to a zone of fetish, if not barbarism. By the same token, we are enabled to deepen acquaintance with great minds like Professor B.J. Dudley, one of Africa›s most rigorous political scientists; and Professor Ayodele Awojobi, a professor of mechanical engineering with specialization in vibrations, an inventor, social critic and futuristic thinker; and the savvy economist, Pius Okigbo; the mathmatician, politician and folk hero, Chike Obi; and scholar and gender activist, Bolanle Awe, writers and artists Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe,

D. O. Fagunwa, Hubert Ogunde and the much younger Chimamanda Adichie - all of whose achievements may be consensually upheld as building blocks for the ultimate national edifice. Among physicians, Adeoye Lambo, Oritshejolomi Thomas, Umaru Shehu and Oladipo Akinkugbe are duly celebrated as are the great denizens of the Ibadan School of History for incomparable practice and research.”

However, Ofeimun wondered why, in spite of the long heroic clientele that Olaopa gathered, the assemblage which he ascribed to the author’s “admirable gumption in letting objectivity and balance be his measurement through which he hewed out their outstanding display of honour and uncommon pedigree and elan”, Nigeria is still grappling with teething issues of development and is deemed a failed state in virtually all respects.

In Civil Service and the Imperative of Nation Building, Mabogunje, who referred to the book as a “very opportune publication” said that the Nigerian Civil Service, especially at the Federal level, has had a very chequered history. His analysis was largely historical, pontificating on the certainty for a rosier future for the civil service if it collapses the virtues of the past with the challenges of today, an amalgam he opined would ooze out a promising future.

“Coming with the confidence to advise on policy decisions and the secured tenure of the Colonial Civil Service in the early years of our political independence, the Service was soon forced to confront the profound national crisis that led to the military intervention in the administration of our nation in 1966. Those years of crisis and military rule leading to the Civil War of 1967-70 saw the Civil Service virtually operating effectively at both the political and the bureaucratic levels of governance. A subsequent military regime re-acted against this conflation of responsibilities and almost literally “decapitated” the top echelon of the Service by forced retirements, leaving the Service bruised, disorientated and no longer possessed of its earlier confidence and sense of security,” Magobunje said.

He concurred with the author on the need to stress the fact that democratic progress all over the world responds more to the consistent reformulation of the operational dynamics of the Civil Service System which is the recognized engine room of national development and progress.

“The Civil Service is especially a sine qua non for national integration in a country like Nigeria racked by pangs of post-colonial ethnic, religious and cultural agitations for identity, a sense of belonging and social inclusiveness. Indeed, the Civil Service stands at the critical nexus between grand infrastructural and service delivery efficiency and effectiveness and the transethnic and trans-religious loyalty which is necessary to promote and sustain the civic bond of unity that will truly transform Nigeria into a nation.”

On the whole Mabogunje recommended the book to President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration as a writ to be used in undertaking “the unfinished nature of the reforms of the Federal Civil Service and be decisive in re-focusing its operational processes and procedures towards the goal of efficient and effective service delivery and national integration.”

•Dr. Adedayo is on the editorial board of Tribune.

34

S

INCE he took over the seat of Nigerian Presidency in May 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has not hidden his penchant to project his country as an insolvent nation, riddled with corruption and corruptive tendencies. He has said that his country needs help and he is going about almost cap in hand seeking aid.

Having completed the marketing procedure, President Buhari is now faced with the reality of economic management. He needs to build road and power infrastructure as well as health and social fabrics. He set out by preparing a N6 trillion budget, 70 per cent of which is devoted to recurrent non-capital expenditure (salaries and services).

He was aware that oil price, the mainstay of his country’s economy was headed downwards during his electoral campaign. The prices reached its lowest peak soon as he emerged President. Not armed with a visible economic policy and agenda, the President turns to borrowing from all sources available to fund his ambitious budget and over dramatised electoral promises. First, he needs to fund the N2.5 trillion deficit in the budget besides providing infrastructure.

Faced with a dwindling financial situation, a government is expected to confront its challenges with tact.

But this government appeared to have fixed its eyes on just borrowing-throwing money at the challenge. For the lenders, the statistics out there appear in favour of Nigeria. The debt to GDP ratio is low especially on foreign debts and the sources are there in good number. The IMF, World Bank, Qatar, IDB, China and the different Clubs that funded the loan of 1980s.

The signals out there are already raising questions whether Buhari is not out to borrow Nigeria out of existence. We understand that the government has secured some loan understandings from the World Bank. But the clearest signals are from China where Nigeria is to borrow $2 billion to fund the 2016 budget deficit, a $16 million agric loan and another $6 billion infrastructure loan.

With all these, Nigeria could be heading for a boast in finances in the immediate. But in the long run, it will only amount to eating your cake before having it.

Countries borrow to facilitate economic growth, but they also set aside clear cut measures to expand their economy.

Now, the Buhari style is not to expand the Nigerian economy but flood the country with borrowed Yuan with 20, 25 lifespan. It could amount to killing the future today.

I am a core member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), my father, who is the auditor of my ward, is one of the elders of the party in my town. Despite this fact, I still commend the efforts of political gladiators in the PDP such as Governor Ayo Fayose; Mallam Balarabe Musa and others, for severely censuring the activities of the APC. We should keep in view the fact that any democracy without a virile opposition is an incapacitated democracy operating on one limb, which can never be fruitful. There must be “Checks and Balances.” When we are talking about a man of valour, Ayo Fayose is an epitome. However, having said all these, the PDP also cannot be exonerated from the present political debacle rocking the nation, sstarting from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for letting the nation down politically and economically for 16 years. Clearly, the past administration is like a snake that passed through the rock without a trace.

— Taiwo Sangotikun. Iseyin, Oyo State.

08056309372.

Private school operators in Ekiti said they are ready to fight Fayose for asking their pupils to stop paying school fees. He should not be told that it is an unjust action and leadership by bad example; he must remove the log in his eyes before he can properly see the spec in the eyes of President Muhammadu Buhari, the leader of change.

Private and government schools are not the same.

— Femi Dada. Abuja. 08183920427.

“The nation is gradually grinding to a halt.” This is a statement of fact, as all sectors of the economy are paralysed and are not functioning as they should. All these challenges should have been things of the past, given the fact that this country was flowing with milk and honey in the 70s, 80s and even in the early 90s. Unfortunately, many things have gone wrong! Governor Fayose’s views, as you have rightly observed, are sometimes positive.

Lekan Oladeji, Ilora. 08053049443.

Democracy thrives where there is a virile opposition.

17 April, 2016

the lynxeye with Taiwo adisa

08072000046 taiadisbabatj@gmail.com

Before Buhari borrows Nigeria out of existence

There are opportunities in solid Minerals, Agric and even manufacturing, if we tap into the industry of our men in the South East. This government is not talking of developing such capacities. When we make borrowing look like the only option out of the current situation, its either we’re being lazy or insincere.

Maybe we can answer the question: how many Nigerians pay tax? Can we get some 80 million out of the said 180 million population into holding verifiable personal income tax cards? How many VAT collecting companies, hotels and supermarkets remit their takings? Can we try and make tax collection a major focal point at least for a year and let’s see where we are?

During the 7th National Assembly, the lawmakers

frontrow with Toyin Willoughby Muyi 0805 500 1769 toyeenz@yahoo.com

Re: Fayose — dangling precariously on a precipice Governor Ayodele Fayose called on the Senate to invite the Petroleum Minister for a chat to explain why we are experiencing prolonged crises in the supply of petroleum. But this senior minister in this important ministry considers himself too big for the National Assembly’s invitation. The ruling party has not done anything about this affront; whereas the leaders of this same ruling party have called for the head of the Minister of State for Petroleum several times! Is this not telling the whole world that Nigeria is practising a special type of democracy?

Barrister Kose Adewole.

Ipetumodu.

08034307460.

Fayose is a political acrobatic dancer telling the people HERE I AM, SINCE THE PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO SEE WHERE HE IS. It is the hungry journalists that still have time to pen down the jargon and senseless outbursts of OSOKOMOLE. People that can read the handwriting on the wall know that Fayose stands on political LEGS MADE OF CLAY; it is that simple and clear.

Asaolu Rotimi. Ketu. Lagos. 08033796044.

Sunday Tribune

passed the FCT Revenue Board and Property Tax law.

The bill was signed into law but till now, no one is bringing it to practical fruition. Meanwhile thousands of property transactions take place daily in the FCT without government earning a kobo. Thousands of buildings are also left empty in the major cities due to exorbitant rent. If the owners are forced to pay taxes on the buildings, will that not crash the overpriced rent?

The other day, I came across a man who negotiated the sale of a N1.2 billion property. He went home with 10 percent of that but the government, which provides the infrastructure earns nothing. Maybe the banks would earn a bit from COT and such.

Again, we have solid minerals lying the grounds of many states of this country. We hear of people mouthing “economic diversification” at economic retreats and such, but no one is telling the President to forget the theories and go practical. If we want to enhance the solid Minerals sector, what stops us from going directly to companies that specialize in this sector and wooing them with all the incentives we can muster. We saw how developed the mining sector of a country like Chile is in 2010 when some 33 miners got trapped.

I am sure the president needs to read through speech of the Country Representative of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Nigeria, Muhammed Kiliaki, who told the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts recently the Nigeria’s debt figures are already ringing bells.

Kiliali had told the Senator Shehu Sani led committee: “When you look at the debt to GDP ratio of Nigeria, it is very low. It is 17 per cent compared to Italy and other countries which is about 150 per cent, while that of the United States is about 100 per cent.

“But there is a caveat. It is true that debt to GDP ratio is low but when you look at the amount, the revenue, to debt servicing ratio, the amount of money that the government is collecting, the revenue of the government vis- a-vis the ratio to the total debt, I think Nigeria pays about 75 to 80 per cent of its revenue to service debts. So, this is very high compared to other countries where they use just 10 per cent.

With Buhari borrowing $ billion to fund budget deficit in 2016, he is expected to borrow the same figure in 2017 and 2018. Where will that lead Nigeria? Certainly in deep debt shit.

The truth is that our so called ‘evil’, or did you say civil rights activists could not say anything now to criticise the present government, because those who used to sponsor them against the previous administration are now in power. They were never fair, objective or patriotic but partisan. They are directly or indirectly members of the party that used to sponsor them. Obviously, they were always financially rewarded for their brand of “activism”.

We thought we had serious social critics, it is now apparent that we never had anything close to it. This is why no one can blame Fayose for bearing the burden of criticising the government of the day even though he has his own excesses too. Yet, we should give it to him; the man is filling a wide gap.

Ade Pelujo. 08054293131.

God will touch Governor Ayodele Fayose’s heart. That is my prayer for him, as he is a very unpredictable character. People of good will should continue to pray to God for divine intervention. We need his touch for progress to be made and for equity and fair play as it concerns the welfare of Nigerians. We should all know that nobody could ever change history.

Sesan Adebayo. Somolu, Lagos. O8O73887783.

You cannot criticise just for the sake of it. Anyone that wants to come to equity must come with a clean hand.

One, Fayose is a part of this administration. In fact, an important part and he is not showing good example. Two, he has cases with EFCC that he has not settled. Three, Fayose cannot eat his cake and have it at the same time.

Johnson Ojo. Osogbo. 08033797309.

Re: Wither Nigeria

Shakespeare had said it all in one of his works that “when beggars die, there are no comets seen...” before Inusa, there had been countless unsung murders across the land. Ours is a clime that hides the knife when it has already cut our ears.

Dayo Oladeji. Saki. Oke Ogun. 08027278748.

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17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

With Rita Okonoboh rosarumese@gmail.com 08053789087

tribunechurch

Do comedians have a place in the church?

Photo:www.eagleonline.com

There is room for merry makers in God’s kingdom —Archbishop Stephen ‘It’s totally against biblical teaching’

Christian dramatists, musicians and even actors/actresses are not new to the church, as they employ entertainment as a means to minister the gospel, winning souls with their performances. However, gospel comedians are gradually becoming popular with performances taking place outside and sometimes during church services. RITA OKONOBOH and NEWTON-RAY UKWUOMA examine the place of comedians in spreading the message of Christ.

T

HE lead pastor and other members of the clergy occupied the front row of a branch of arguably the most popular pentecostal churches. It was a special service to mark the beginning of a new month. The crowd was already electrified by series of performances from gospel musicians, and a few were even crying as they lifted their hands in worship to God. Then the next item on the agenda was announced and the comedian waltzed into view, grabbed the microphone and began his performance. By the time both comedians invited finished their performances, the crowd was roaring with laughter. Their jokes served as the main subject of discussions in several quarters among youths who had left the church premises after the performance.

Comedians are usually associated with light-hearted humour, as they use their art primarily to make their audience laugh. The church is a place for the serious business of spreading the gospel, ministering to people’s lives and creating a haven for people to connect with the Creator.

Import and brief origin While comedy may vary from the vulgar (or dirty) to the mild and pure, yet another form has been proposed and that is what is known as gospel comedy. This brand of comedy is conversant to the church or was developed to suit the church setting and is often adopted just like gospel music during

church events or services. Popular Lagos comedian and pioneer of gospel comedy in Nigerian, Adebayo Ajiboye, alias Holy Mallam, accepts the place of comedy in spiritual gatherings, stating that it is another means of spiritual edification.

Holy Mallam, who to the secular world is known as an ethical comedian and likes to admonish, whenever he finds the forum, that rib cracking is best without vulgar and abusive words, believes that comedy in the church can be ‘ ministry.’

“Just like you have gospel music, gospel comedy is a ministry,” he said. “It is an avenue through which vital spiritual information is disseminated humorously. It edifies members without using vulgar languages or abusive words on people, government and God. And I think it is not out of place for churches to include comedy to the programme.”

Starting from the church as a drummer, where he often cracked the ribs of female members of the choir and was often urged by them to perform jokes during youth events, Holy Mallam in 2000, began to fashion a career along the pedestal of gospel comedy, which he later called ethical comedy for those who might not admire his religious biases. He is known as the pioneer of church comedy and has given rise to a generation of gospel comedians.

It was not an easy journey for him. “When I started it, people laughed at me”. But as a comedian, it was easy to confuse mirth and

ridicule.

In recent times, there has been an increase in the performances of comedians in church, with some taking place during church services and it becomes pertinent to question the influx and necessity of comic performances in churches, considering the serious-mindedness attached to the gospel. Some comedians who spoke to Tribune Church defended their presence in church services.

‘Churches use comedy to capture the youth’ Speaking on the need for comic performances in churches, Ibadan-based up-andcoming comedian, Emmy Da Comedian, noted that “There are at least two reasons churches organise comedy shows or invite comedians during their programme. Everyone likes a good laugh. Churches use comedy to capture the youth. The other is that sometimes churches would not like to make a programme appear too spiritual. They use comedy to add variety to their programme.

The major thing is to capture the youths, basically. Because if you hear that a comedian would perform in your church, you are likely to come and even invite a friend to the programme. So, it is a means to draw youths to the church. It also adds colour to the programme. And apart from the entertainment angle, comedy can also be used to pass important message to people. Gospel comedians are ministers because they also use that

medium to also preach the gospel.”

It takes discipline to perform in churches –Omo Baba Ace comedian, Olufemi Fagade, also known as Omo Baba No. 1, is a major stakeholder in the entertainment industry. While noting that he started from the church and still performs in churches, he stated that “Based on my style, and if you have seen one or two of my performances in church, I focus on a particular message such as upbringing and I plan my jokes according to the topic. My performance is to ensure that the person forgets whatever is bothering him/her at the moment; just to lighten the mood. I’ve performed in many churches, big and small.

“I’ve performed at KICC, Elevation House, House on the Rock, RCCG, among others. Comedy is about relating stories and sometimes we talk about our personal lives.

Whether you like it or not, you are a testimony to other people, and I make them understand that I started from the church and was part of the church choir. There is somebody out there that wants to be in your shoes.

My kind of performance does not stop me from being a Christian. The easiest way to make people laugh is to tell vulgar jokes but I don’t do vulgar jokes. It takes hard work to tell decent jokes and that is what I do. Apart from the church, I also perform in clubs and Continues on pg37

36 tribunechurch

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

With Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 08074497425

churchnews

Buhari lacks sincere supporters to fight corruption —Akinlalu

By Taiwo Olanrewaju

T

HE Bishop of Oke Osun Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Right Reverend (Dr) Abraham Olaoluwa Akinlalu, has lamented the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari lacks sincere supporters to assist him in the fight against corruption.

Delivering the presidential address, otherwise known as the bishops’ charge, at the third session of the eighth synod of the Diocese of Oke Osun, penultimate Friday, the bishop noted that one of the many assignments of Buhari’s administration was to crush, terminate and wipe out corruption completely.

Speaking at St. John’s Anglican Church, Owoope,

Prophet Kumoluyi brings down God’s glory in Ekiti Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti GENERAL Overseer of The Word Bible Church, Prophet Julius Babatunde Kumoluyi, has urged Nigerians and the people of Ekiti and Ondo states “to come and receive the unlimited mercies of God from generation to generation.”

He said this would be given freely at a programme which would hold today between 8:00a.m. and 3:00p.m. daily.

As part of the programme, a one-day prophetic anointing service with the theme: “Covenant of Uncommon Mercy” would also hold at the Ekiti and Ondo state branches of the church today.

Kumoluyi said the service, where the Good Women President of the church, Reverend (Mrs) F.A. Kumoluyi, would also minister, would feature “salvation, total deliverance, breakthrough, perfect healing, liberation, complete victory and outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”

The cleric added that the programme would also witness song ministration, counselling and instant divine miracles.

Gbongan, Osun State, Dr Akinlalu said the first scene in the National Assembly, in electing the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, had shown that the president lacked sincere supporters for his crusade.

According to him, “The

way Senator Bukola Saraki was elected president of the Senate was shrewd and questionable. Our revered leaders continue to stagemanage the affairs of the House. Nobody remembers now how Saraki became the President of the Senate.”

He, however, lamented

that while some are in Buhari’s government to succeed, some are just watching and guarding their own interests, adding that only a handful of leaders are sincere, as some have insatiable desires to enrich themselves at the expense of the common people.

On the theme of the syn-

od, “Faithfulness in a little thing is faithfulness in a big thing,” the cleric said the statement was coined out of Jesus’ words in Luke 16: 10, adding that a man’s way of fulfilling a small task is the best proof of his fitness or unfitness to be entrusted with a bigger task.

He, therefore, enjoined

Lagos Metropolitan Grand Knight of The Order of the Knights of Saint Mulumba (KSM), Charles Mbelede(middle) exchanging pleasantries with Grand Knight of Ajah sub-council, Sir S.K.I. Ilegbekhia (right) while Grand Knight of Lekki Sub-Council, Johnny Ngonadi (left) watched at the inauguration of Ajah Sub-Council of Knight of St. Malumba held at Regina Caeli Catholic Church, Bojige last Sunday in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

From left, Bishop-elect, Reverend (Mrs) Bola Oyegbami; Bishop Joel Thomas; Apostle Dan Nwachukwu and his wife, with Pastor Gbenga Aguda, during the Ministers of God Prayer Network International’s three-day healing crusade, tagged, “Heal the nation &and the people,” held in Lagos recently.

Nigerians must be holy, righteous —Archbishop Ajayi

By Olaide Sokoya ARCHBISHOP of Methodist Church Nigeria, Lagos, Most Reverend (Dr) Joseph Ajayi, has enjoined Nigerians to be holy, righteous and also abide in God so as to establish their faiths and overcome any unpleasant experiences in life.

The cleric, represented by

Reverend Luke Odubanjo, gave this advice during his address at the recently held 22nd annual synod of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Ikorodu, Agbowa, Lagos State.

Speaking further on the theme of the synod: “Chosen to Bear Fruit,” he said: “God gave us victory in 2015 and has chosen us to bear fruits of righteous-

ness, integrity and to love one another. We are in a generation where churches are multiplying with little or no impact on the society. The theme is more relevant and appropriate for the present day church and I pray the Lord will use it to spark off a great revival in our church.”

The Bishop of Ikorodu, Right Reverend Samson

Osundina noted that “one of the major focuses the synod is to nurture people on how to fulfill God’s purpose for us as His adopted children. It is also essential that we must demonstrate fruitfulness in all areas of our lives.”

The event also seized the opportunity to pray for the church, Christians and the nation at large.

all and sundry to be faithful because the parable of the unjust steward speaks to everyone as the people will be required to render accounts of their stewardships on earth.

Methodist Bishops in Ibadan for 34th Bishops’ Council BISHOPS of the Methodist Church Nigeria are expected in Ibadan for the 34th edition of the Council of Bishops of Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN), scheduled to take place from tomorrow till Monday, April 25.

According to a release signed by the secretary, Media and Publicity Committee, Reverend Kolade Fadahunsi, the Prelate of MCN, Dr Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, and the Secretary of Conference, Right Reverend Chibuzor Okpoko and 74 other bishops from dioceses of the church are expected to grace the occasion.

Most Reverend Michael Kehinde Stephen, the Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, is the chief host.

According to Stephen, the council will deliberate on the mission and vision of Methodist Church Nigeria as well as address the challenges facing the church.

He noted that the primary objective of the council was to deal with issues affecting MCN directly; look at its health and offer solutions for development.

“We will also look at the ecumenical relationships between the MCN and other churches in Nigeria and abroad,” Stephen added.

Meanwhile, the council will also deliberate on the affairs of the nation.

The opening eucharistic service will hold at Methodist Cathedral, Agbeni, Ibadan, on Tuesday, and the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, will officially declare the council open.

From Wednesday, 20th to Saturday, 23rd April, the council will hold closed door meetings while the archdiocesan reception will hold on Saturday.

The bishops will worship in different churches on Sunday morning while the closing eucharistic service will hold at the Methodist Cathedral, Agbeni.

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Sunday Tribune

‘Even God laughs’

Bishop Badejo

Archbishop Stephen you perform for everyday people, who are also members of churches. Comedians also worship at these churches and when they are invited, why should they say no, especially as we have comedians whose material is tailored according to the dictates of the gospel?

The church benefits from the work of comedians.”

Pastor Taylor Continued from pg35

I own a comedy club. That doesn’t stop me from being a Christian.

“Comedy in church is more difficult. It also determines your delivery. When performing in church, you must have it at the back of your mind that there are different kinds of people there, including children, same as what obtains during a show. You must also understand the doctrine of the church you want to perform in. There are churches where it is believed that you mustn’t criticise pastors, forgetting that pastors are part of our society; just as we have good pastors, we have bad pastors.

My job is not just being a comedian; I’m also more of a social commentator. So, I need to address issues as they should but one must also note that there is a line not to cross. Stepping above the line is not making jokes about the Holy Spirit. The Bible says a sin against the Holy Spirit doesn’t come with forgiveness. You can talk about anything, but leave the Holy Spirit out of it. Delivery also matters a lot. You must know how to address issues and that also determines acceptance. I’m not against comedy performances in church. However, bastardising it is what I’m against.”

The church benefits from comedians –TomiwaSage Another popular comedian, Tomiwa Kukoyi, who has also performed in churches, in his view stated that “I think comedians have a place in the church, because some of the very popular comedians we have today started at church programmes, especially at youth church activities, and most of them have their maiden shows in the church. If you’re in the comedy business, you’re also like in the event business because

My performances have won many souls –MC Acapella Benedict Chinedu Daniel a.k.a.

MC Acapella, in his contribution via his twitter handle,@iamacapella, while affirming his proud status as a Christian, and a member of David’s Christian Centre, Lagos, stated that he had performed in many churches such as Winners Chapels within and outside Nigeria, Rhythm Christian Church God, within and outside Nigeria, Daystar Christian Centre, David’s Christian Centre, Illumination Assembly, House on the Rock, KICC, COZA, This Present House, Household of God Church, Omega Fire Ministries, to mention a few.

Speaking on how his performances influenced the spread of the gospel, MC Acapella noted that “I must say I have won souls in their numbers to the body of Christ. I run an annual gospel comedy show, tagged (Acapella Live In Comedy Goes 2 Church), and it has been on for the past four years and we have consistently recorded an enormous number of Christian converts as a result of the show.

“Comedy in itself is an entity on its own, and as such, I do not think it should be restricted; comedy should be allowed to have its place anywhere and everywhere, including the church. As I know that one of the easiest way to pass any message, whether gospel, political, inspirational or otherwise is through

MC Acapella

Reverend Idahosa

“God is the author of laughter. Even the Bible states that ‘He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh’ and if God admires laughter, it means therefore that we that are Christ-like should, as well, live lives full of laughter and happiness

Pastor Adepoju with my performances, but I know I get comments from people. We know where our shoes hurt, and the burdens we bring to church.

Some families look very happy on the outside but deep down, they know the challenges they face. So, that moment I hold the microphone in church, I know burdens are being lifted and that is my joy.

Winning souls is the work of God. What I need to do is make people laugh, while staying within the circle of the gospel, seeing as it is a very serious environment. I am a born again Christian and I attend the RCCG. From what I think, comedians must be in churches.

Laughter is good for the soul and I don’t think it is against the Bible.

Comedy has been used to bring people to church, so they have a place there.”

Laughter is good for the soul –Peteru Fast-rising comedian, Tobi Owomoyela, a.k.a. Peteru, has performed in churches many times, such as Winners, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), RCCG, COZA, Baptist, Catholic church, among others.

According to him, “I’m not a pastor or a prophet so I’m not in the best position to tell if I won souls

Even God laughs –Da 13th Disciple Bryan Oluwagbemiga Adefuwa, a.k.a., Da 13th Disciple, in his response on how he has contributed to the gospel with comedy, noted that “I started from the church, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). I’ve also performed in other churches. I’m a Christian and I attend TREM. To the best of my knowledge, there are times in heaven even God laughs.

So, I don’t think it’s a big deal if we laugh in church. Most times, people come to church with challenges, and it provides some form of relief. On the belief that comedy is light humour compared to the seriousness expected of the church, he stated that “as far as I am concerned, comedy business is a serious business.”

Tribune Church also spoke to clerics to ascertain the biblical and spiritual impact comedy has on the church.

Peteru

Tomiwa

humour and that is where the role of edifying jokes comes in.”

Noting the biblical implication of bringing humour into the church, MC Acapella stated that “God is the author of laughter. Even the Bible states that ‘He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh’ and if God admires laughter, it means therefore that we that are Christlike should, as well, live lives full of laughter and happiness.

‘Some pastors can pass for comedians’ The Most Reverend Kehinde Stephen of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Ibadan Archdiocese, speaking on the performances of comedians in the church, while noting that he has not experienced comedians within the church, stated that “although there are pastors who can pass for comedians with their sermons, but they are few and far between. I think that one of the reasons for this is that we stay far too long in church services.

Church leaders must be sensitive to the use of time.”

Responding to the question on the perception that church services should not be timed, considering the fact that parties take much longer and people rarely take notice of time, Archbishop Stephen stated that “I think even parties should be timed. Nigerians waste a lot of time on things like parties and it’s affecting the work ethic. Here, we promote indolence by making excuses for people to utilise time in unwise ways. There is need for us to inject discipline in terms of time for worship.

“If churches find the need to use comedians, it shows that the business of the day is over and it is time for something else. Worship should be restricted to worship and comedy can take place afterwards, outside the service.

Those churches that allow for comedians, check how many hours they stay? Whoever chooses to have comedy presentations during services, that’s their business, but I’m not sure what purpose that will achieve. However, there is room for merry-makers in God’s kingContinues on pg39

Omo Baba No 1

Da 13th Disciple

38

tribunechurch

dawnofanewera

Sunday Tribune

livingword

with Most Revd J.O. Akinfenwa Bishop of Ibadan Diocese (Anglican Communion)

By Bishop David Oyedepo Call 7747546-8; or e-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

When the righteous rule...

IT is another day of the Lord, and it is a good time to send Calvary greetings to all believers in Christ Jesus and members of the family of God, The gift of life at the onset of a new week is vet another blessing of the Lord. For this, we should be grateful.

Cf late, there is much talk in the media about the fact that the current political leadership of our nation is approaching the one year milestone in office. Supporters and opponents of the party in power seize the moment to marshall their arguments and win the hearts of the masses.

As people of faith, our interest should not be so much in partisanship as it is in quality leadership. In other words, we should be less concerned about which party is in power, hut we should have an abiding concern over the quality of leadership that is being offered or exercised. In the light of that, what we shall do this morning is simply to highlight or reiterate a few important points on leadership as the Lord would have us do, and hope that these thoughts would positively influence bow we retate with the leadership institution in Nigeria.

The importance of the leader in the lives of the people is summed up in the words of the Wise Man in Proverbs 29:2, which says: Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the

17 April, 2016

wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

It was John Haggai of the Haggai Institute who said, “Everything rises or falls on leadership.” In other words, the success or failure of any society; their wellbeing or otherwise, is a function of leadership — 100%. In recognition of this truism, the Bible has a lot to say about the institution of leadership. In both the Old and New Testaments, we see the scriptures calling attention to the sacred and pivotal role of leaders for the wellbeing of any society.

However, one striking difference between the emphasis of the Bible and that of secular thinkers is that whereas the world emphasizes on the technical competence of leaders, the Bible is more concerned about the character of leaders. So we see that most of the times, Bible historians were more concerned about what was in the heart of the leader, rather than what was in his head. In other words, all the achievements of leaders or rulers were weighed against an exacting standard; i.e. their standing with God. Why is this so? It is because as far as the people of israel were concerned, it is God that elevates people to leadership positions. Nobody can become anything of significance, except by divine providence.

The word of God testifies about our God. To be continued next week

Understanding the wonders of kingdom stewardship! (3) SINCE the month began, we have been looking at soul-winning as the most profitable Kingdom stewardship endeavour, among others. Last week, we examined one of the benefits that make soul-winning the most profitable engagement in the Kingdom. This week we will examine another benefit, which is: • Every soul winner is on God’s payroll: Soul-winning empowers us to live above every form of lack because we are on God’s payroll. For instance, Jesus speaking to His disciples on soul-winning asked: ...When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing (Luke 22:35). If the disciples had lacked anything, Thomas the doubter would have spoken out loud, but he didn’t. That means the disciples’ needs were supernaturally met, as they engaged the mystery of soul-winning.

In addition, it is common knowledge that where we work determines how much we earn. For instance, a local government worker, earns a local government’s pay; a state level worker, earns a state level’s pay, a federal level worker, earns what is paid at the federal level and an oil company worker, earns at the oil company’s level. They might all live in the same city but where they work determines their pay package. Also, we can’t compare the salary of someone working in the White House, to one who works in a state in Nigeria. This is because the one in the White House is

working in the office of a leading nation in the world; and as such, is entitled to a leading pay. In the same vein, when we work for the office of the Most High God, we earn a most high pay that addresses all our needs. It is written: And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together (John 4:36; see also Job 36:11).

All through scriptures, soul-winning is the only platform where wages are paid.

While other Kingdom endeavours get us blessed, soul-winning obligates God to pay us wages, salaries, allowances and plenty of fringe benefits; and by reason of where we work, it’s always mega! It is therefore, wisdom to sign up for this Kingdom endeavour that guarantees us mega pays in every aspect of our lives. Remain ever blessed!

Are you born again? If you are not, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner.

Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”

For further reading, please get my books: Wisdom that Works, Walking in Wisdom, All you need to have all your needs met, Winning Wisdom and Excellency of Wisdom.

‘We cannot use the system of the world to win the world’ Continued from pg37

dom.”

Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, stated that “Catholic worship is basically centred around the eucharist which is the celebration of the mass. During the mass, there is virtually no room for comedy. Even from the word itself, comedy is about humour and the mass is not for jokes. The mass enlivens people’s spirit. There is a difference between comedy and cheerfulness; cheerfulness in the sense of people being happy that they are in the presence of the Almighty, where no matter what their situation may be, people find purpose and there is an inspiration to live correctly. So, if there are comic performances within the church, it must be outside the environment which mass is celebrated because everything done during mass is to the glory of God and not to the amusement of human beings.”

‘Impact may be brief, there is a place for them in the church’ Former National President of the All Nigeria Conference of Evangelical Drama Ministers (ANCEDRAM), Pastor Yemi Adepoju, stated that “There is a place for comedians in the church. They make people laugh and that is a good thing. However, the laughter may not last in the sense that the power behind it is the most important thing. It depends on the content. Some comedians’ jokes are meaningful. It’s like saying dramatists should stay out of the church. Sometimes, these performances have a way of drawing people to Christ. The important thing is the content.”

With the youths of nowadays, one has to be careful –RCCG Pastor

According to a cleric with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Odunayo Oyeyiga, “Looking at the scriptures, the Bible doesn’t allow such but with the kind of Christianity some people practice now, especially with the youth of nowadays, one would wonder. Comedians do not really perform the function of winning souls. They just make people relax. In our church, we feature them once in a while.

I don’t really encourage that. This is the time for serious prayers and fasting in the church. Some jesters, if we are not careful, will bring the world into the church.

I think it is really targeted at youths, and even if they will be featured in churches, there must be time for ministration. It is an attempt to bring them to Christ. Some churches now show football matches; for them that’s another way to win souls.

Whatever method the church adopts, the

It is not true that gospel is preached through comedy. We cannot use the system of the world to win the world. How can you use jesting to present Jesus’ death on the cross? It’s not going to work.

important thing is to ensure that souls are won to Christ. It is very wrong to just invite comedians to the church and at the end of the day, people just laugh and take nothing meaningful out of the church. We have to be very careful.”

It is totally against biblical teaching –Pastor Taylor For Pastor Tunde Idowu-Taylor, Founding Pastor, The Fruitful Church, “I’ve never featured comedians during and outside church services. I am against it because the Bible expressly tells us that we should do away with such, as stated in Ephesians 5:3-7. Comedy can be done outside the church but not within. It is not true that gospel is preached through comedy.

We cannot use the system of the world to win the world. How can you use jesting to present Jesus’ death on the cross? It’s not going to work. It may seem to be working for now, but if you check some churches now, people are in the church but are not practising Christianity.

“We are not seeing the example of Christ in the church. Look at the corruption we have in the country. It is because the church has been failing over the years.

The gospel is not what you joke about. It is about people’s souls, people’s lives and if it becomes jesting, the core of what it is meant to be has been lost. A pastor can say funny things when he is preaching but it is wrong to bring comedians to church.

We should not be part of it. It is not in the scripture and preachers must know what is in scripture so that you don’t contravene what you represent.”

Senior Pastor, Church of God Mission International, Benin City, Edo State, Reverend Laurie Idahosa, who confirmed the trend, noted that some churches have even gone as far as to centre programmes

around comedy.

According to her, “I am privileged to pastor a congregation made up mostly of young people. The members that God has given to me to be the shepherd over are super lively and enjoy comedy and exciting programmes that “ginger” them. This has forced me to look into the scriptures and to study to understand its place and relevance in a church setting. I don’t believe that we should simply accept every new trend that comes our way as Christian ministers of the gospel.”

While noting that in pop culture, comedy has been something more associated with the secular world and the entertainment industry than it has been with the church, she wonders if the church was trying to buy it back from the world or “re-brand” it, since it’s something that gains a following.

In Idahosa’s opinion, “when it comes to comedy in church, we need to be guided.

I strongly believe that profanity and sensual, insulting humour has no place on our Christian pulpits. Nothing angers me more than to see a comedian mimicking someone with disabilities such as stammering. The church should be a place where all are welcome and feel comfortable to grow spiritually, not a place where you fear public humiliation.

“This being said, I do believe that comedy has its place in church. When tastefully done, it can warm the soul and even heal. The Bible says in Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

When we laugh and are free, we find that the joyful disposition we have can bring us strength. I particularly enjoy a pastor who combines comedy into his sermons. We can laugh at the absurdity of something he is saying, while the message is still being driven into our spirits.”

39

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

40

17 April, 2016

language&style

by Samson Dare 0805 500 1770 samsonadare@yahoo.co.uk

Of blood, contestants, and marks

S

AMPLE 1: “There is a belief in Yoruba land that the cane laced with charms can kill whoever it is used to flog. So to guide against this, the intending participants in the festival are usually warned against doing such…One of the participants in this year’s festival held on Saturday, March 19, Chief Sunday Akande, said the level of pain bearing of the participants usually increases because of the prayers offered in preparatory to the flogging contest…Our correspondent further gathered that blood coming out of the marks on the backs of the contestants are ignored as they forge ahead to win the contest…

Despite the intensity of the bashing, the winner often do not have any prize to show for it. The winner is seen as one who is patriotic enough to bear the ‘pains’ for the good of the community…Oyesanmi told Sunday Punch that his support was not limited to contestants from Odo Ise alone but to every participant and the festival as a whole ”(Odun Opa: Festivals Where Partakers Get Flogged Without Mercy, The Punch, Sunday, March 27, 2016) Let us note the verb-form (are) which occurs in the following context: “Our correspondent further gathered that blood coming out of the marks on the backs of the contestants are ignored…” It is incontestable that the verb are is in its plural form. That being the case, it should be expected that that verb will be in concord with a nominal item in its plural form. Fortunately, one might be tempted to say, there is a plural noun to the immediate left of the verb (are): contestants. Could this be the noun from which the verb derives its plural nature? There is, however, nothing in the grammar and logic of the structure to suggest that the verb has any such relationship with that noun.

There is yet another noun, in its plural form, about six words away from the verb slot. That noun is marks. Again, could this be the important word that should influence the form the verb should take? An intelligent reading of the structure should reveal that the noun marks has no relevance to concord matters as it has no such connection to the verb slot.

Intelligent readers would immediately note that there is supposed to be a logical and grammatical relationship between the verb slot and the noun blood.

The only proof we have for this is intuition, intuitive intelligence. If our knowledge of the basic grammar of English is still valid, the word blood is an uncountable noun, which is singular ipso facto. It is thus queer to have a plural form of the verb in the verb slot as we have it. In the light of this, the verb is hereby changed to its singular form: is.

Next, we note the expression, *guide against which occurs in the following context: “So to guide against this, the intending participants in the festival are usually warned against doing such.”

Based on faulty pronunciation, the word guide has been selected in confusion with guard. The idiomatic expression that is known in English is guardagainst. It becomes necessary at this point to illustrate the usage difference between guide and guard.

Please read the following sentences: 1) Guided by the law and a good conscience, every citizen must act in such a way that the corporate existence of the nation is guaranteed. 2) At this tender age, children need to be guided by their parents and teachers.

3) As strangers in that part of the country, we were guided by a map. 4) Are polling officers expected to guide illiterate voters at the point of voting? 5) The steering wheel is the instrument that guides the wheels in the direction desired by the driver. 6) Having been wrongly guided by its chairman, the committee, not surprisingly, came up with a recommendation that was as preposterous as it could be.

In those sentences, the word guide has been used as a verb.

It can also be used as a noun as the following sentences demonstrate: 1) Two paid guides took us through the treacherous jungle. 2) I can’t think of better guides than books when it comes to acquiring a solid general knowledge. 3) Since we were strangers in the land, newspapers became our most trusted guides.

4) When a guide lives in ignorance, what do you expect of the person being guided? 5) Individuals and nations will succeed or fail to the extent to which they make their Maker their guide.

6) Every human being has two crucial guides: the head and the heart.

Now guard: 1) Soldiers and policemen were guarding the

palace. 2) The throne of God is being guarded by angels. 3) Every senior military officer is guarded by soldiers. 4) The entire neighbourhood, extensive as it is, is guarded at night by only three security men. 5) Court premises are usually guarded by policemen.

The word can also be used as a noun. Please read the following sentences: 1) Hunters were used as guards in those days. 2) The night guards had to withdraw their service when their salaries stopped coming. 3) The guards ran away when they noticed the overwhelming number of the armed robbers. 4) When guards are not properly equipped, they are as vulnerable as the people they are meant to guard. 5) Guards should know when to attack and when to retreat. 6) All the guards were sacked following repeated allegations that they were sleeping at night.

Idiomatic expressions to which we need to pay attention are: guard against; guard our interest jealously. Let’s read the following sentences: 1) We must do everything we can to guard against the errors to which we are prone repeatedly. 2) Parents should guard against both overindulging and abusing their children. 3) Traders should guard against making excessive profits. 4) People in authority are advised to guard against making statements that can create tension. 5) The time has come for us to guard against wasteful spending. 6) Newspapers should guardagainst disseminating information that can lead to national disintegration. 7) Teachers should guard against misleading their pupils. 8) Journalists should guard against publishing sensational news. 9) People who manage the national economy are advised to guard against frivolous spending. 10) Security agencies should guard against corrupt influences.

Do not say: *The soldier is guiding the bank. You should say: The soldier is guarding the bank. Do not say: *The teacher is to give guidiance to his pupils.(The word guidiance does not exist in English). You should say: The teacher is to give guidance to his pupils.

Note, furthermore, that the form *guidian does not exist in English. The word that exists is guardian. A guardian is someone who takes care of a child or a ward. There is also a guardian angel---an angel believed to attend to every individual and protect him or her. The phrase *guidian angel does not exist in English. There is indeed no newspaper in Nigeria called *The Guidian; what we have is The Guardian. We should pay attention to both the spelling and pronunciation.

Furthermore, we talk of guarded enthusiasm by which is meant that the enthusiasm is limited, restricted or restrained.

The expression *guided enthusiasm is unlikely since it does not make much sense. But it is possible to have both guided movement and guarded movement.

At any rate, the expression guard against should replace *guide against in the context under review.

A person may be accused of making an unguarded statement or talking in an unguarded manner. The adjective unguarded in these phrases means not cautious, thoughtful or careful enough. It is not impossible to have unguided statement, but it seems unusual.

Another form that commonly confuses beginners is safeguard, used both as a verb and as a noun. It is wrong to spell it as *safeguide. The following sentences illustrate the usage: 1) He is safeguarding our interest. 2) The union’s primary interest is to safeguard the welfare of its members. 3) The police are commissioned to safeguard life and property. 4) The agency is working to safeguard women and children from abuse. 5) God is interested in safeguarding both the spiritual and material dimensions of our existence. 6) The only safeguard I know against poverty is hard work. 7) We are working out safeguards against the abuse of the system. 8) Does our constitution provide sufficient safeguards against corruption and abuse of power?

9) The traditional political system provides safeguards against dictatorship. 10) When a government fails to safeguard the welfare of the citizens, it has failed in everything.

Readers are to note that *saveguard does not exist in English. Another word that is likely to cause confusion misguided.

Please note that *misguarded does not exist; what we have is misguided.

The discussion of the excerpt continues next week by God’s grace.

Sunday Tribune

line

life with

Niyi Osundare

Random Blues Between Justice and Judgement The scale swings like a weathervane Yes, between Justice and Judgement The scale swings like a weathervane The powerful claim the first, the rest Get the second with all its wrenching pain

Between drought and deluge The sky flips like a magic fan Say between drought and deluge The sky flips like a magic fan One leaves us with flooded streets The other dyes our skin in turgid tan

Between love and lust The difference comes extremely slender Say, between love and lust The difference comes extremely slender Love without this enabling companion Is like a letter returned to sender

Between night and day A harem of fleeting hours Yes, between night and day A harem of fleeting hours Flip sides of the same diurnal coin Each with its long, relentless powers

Between black and white A deep, deliberate grey Hear? Between black and white A deep, deliberate grey Throw a wall in between And watch your balance tilt ‘n stray

41

news

17 April, 2016

Sunday Tribune

CP sanctions 4 mobile policemen over gross misconduct Austin Ebipade -Yenagoa

THE Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Peter Ogunyanwo has sanctioned four mobile policemen over alleged misconduct and involvement in illegal escort of some officials of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED).

The accused mobile policemen were ordered to be stripped of their uniforms and detained in custody at the state police headquarters pending the outcome of investigations.

It was gathered that the detained mobile policemen were accused of providing escort to officials of the debt recovery team of the PHED who embarked on an indiscriminate disconnection and alleged extortion of money from residents of the Azikoro community.

Dogara urges Nigerians to imbibe attitudinal change From left, Senator Mohammed Gobir, Senator Shehu Sani; Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Carlos Trejososa and Deputy Head of the Cuban Mission in Nigeria, Ms Miriam Morales Palmero, during a courtesy visit of the envoy to the Senate President, in Abuja, recently.

Military repels Boko Haram attack, rescues 455 hostages Chris Agbambu -Abuja

T

HE military on Friday, successfully repelled an attack by Boko Haram terrorists, killing seven and injuring several others. They also recovered four AK-47 rifles, three AK47 rifle magazines and 92 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) belt ammunition in the process.

The Boko Haram terrorists, in convoy of five gun trucks, motorcycles and two Golf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were from Sambisa forest axis and had attempted to attack 121 Task Force Battalion at Pulka.

However, the troops rose to the occasion and repelled the attack.

In a related development, troops of three Battalion caught a suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ spy near the Battalion Headquarters at Gamboru Ngala.

On interrogation, he confessed that he was sent to spy on the troops from Wulge.

As a result, troops organised a fighting patrol

comprising of army headquarters strike group and civilian JTF to Wulge and Walamari.

The troops engaged Boko Haram terrorists in a fight which left 27 of them dead and recovered five motorcycles and eight bicycles.

They also cleared 12 terrorists’ camps and recov-

ered an AK-47 rifle as well as a dane gun.

The troops equally rescued 455 persons and escorted them to Gamboru Internally Displaced Persons’ camp. One civilian JTF, however, lost his life in the process.

Also, troops of 103 Battalion were said to have ambushed Boko Haram ter-

Infrastructural deficit, bane of our economy —Saraki SENATE President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has identified the huge infrastructural deficit in the country as a major impediment to the nation’s economic growth.

He stated this while receiving a delegation of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), who paid him a courtesy visit at the weekend in Abuja. Saraki said it was only when the issue was addressed that the nation’s economy would witness rapid transformation.

“Whatever we do, we cannot move this country forward until

when we address this huge infrastructural deficit; and this must be done in a conscious, efficient and cost effective way to achieve the desired result. It was based on this our conviction that the Senate identified laws critical to infrastructural provision for urgent review to bring them up to date with the present realities,” he said.

Saraki, who aligned himself with the request by the NSE President, Engineer Otis Anyaeji for the extension of the application of the Nigerian Content Development Act to cover other sectors of the economy, said it was in the

ECWA cautions Kaduna govt over religious bill Isaac Shobayo -Jos THE Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has cautioned Kaduna State government against the passage of the proposed Religious Bill which the church felt contained lots of flaws and raised fears, concerns and contradiction which negate Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution of the Feder-

rorists at Mairimri village crossing point in which they killed quite a number of terrorists and recovered 15 bicycles and foodstuffs.

According to an information obtained by Sunday Tribune, further confirmatory reconnaissance would be conducted to further exploit the situation.

al Republic of Nigeria on citizen’s right to worship.

According to a communique issued at the end of the church 63rd General Church Council meeting (GCC) and read by ECWA President, Dr. Jeremiah Gado, the church commended the efforts of the federal government at recovering stolen funds, but cautioned that such funds should not be “re-looted.”

Meanwhile, the ECWATEKAN bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has endorsed Gado for the president of CAN. According to him, the endorsement was based on the fact that the bloc had never occupied the position, adding that the endorsement was in line with CAN’s rotational principle among the blocs.

same spirit that the Senate on Wednesday debated and passed for second reading a bill to amend the Public Procurement Act. According to him,”with this, Nigerian businesses and entrepreneurs are one step closer to having a first option policy, as this amendment will ensure that as a matter of law, agencies of government patronise made in Nigeria goods.”

He lamented the huge resources being spent on importation of goods, and expressed confidence that the trend could be reversed with appropriate policies, firm leadership and the desired encouragement to entrepreneurs.

“By the time we change our orientation to patronise our local products, our economy will surely be where its supposed to be,” he said.

He commended the NSE for its resolve to partner with and assist the Senate in drafting relevant bills to improve the nation’s infrastructure while also promising to nominate a senator to represent the legislature in the NSE Council.

Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Saturday, called on Nigerians to have a change in attitude and orientation for the country to make progress.

The speaker made the call during a thanksgiving service organised by a member of the House, Honourable Jagaba Adams Jagaba, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Interior, at ECWA Church Chigwa, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, and made available to newsmen in Abuja, Dogara said that “if Nigeria is to witness significant improvement in quality of leadership and governance, the citizens must change their ways of life because leaders are recruited from among them.”

Dogara maintained that while Nigerians expected leaders “to live higher standards of life as role models, the followers must also know that leaders are recruited from among them.”

According to him, “Nigeria can only make progress if the people maintain the best of standards because leaders always emerge from the society.”

How we spend deductions from amnesty allowances —Itsekiri youths Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri WORRIED by rumours being bandied around by fifth columnists as regards how deductions from stipends paid to Itsekiri beneficiaries of the amnesty programme were managed, the Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC) has disclosed where the deductions were channelled to.

INYC legal adviser, Mr Robinson Ariyo, who addressed the press on the issue at the weekend in Warri, Delta State, stated that part of the deductions was usually channelled to the palace of the Olu of Warri to assist a scholarship scheme meant for the underprivileged among the Itsekiris.

According to him, another part of the deduction was to assist about 30 Ph.D and 70 M.Sc Itsekiri students in various higher institutions, while another chunk of the deduction was forwarded to the aged, most of whom were members of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILT).

Police set to conduct scientific investigations Chris Agbambu -Abuja IN line with best practices in modern policing, the Nigeria Police has acquired sophisticated equipment that would enable it to carry out investigations scientifically.

The new forensic laboratory which consists of two sections-finger print and forensic laboratories, is headed by an Assistant commissioner of Police, ACP Shehu Gwarzo.

According to him, the police was putting a stop to analogue method of investigations, such as the torturing of suspects. He disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, had directed that the best practices of investigations should be introduced into the Nigeria Police.

news

42 fuelnews Sacrificial offering at Ekiti petrol station causes stir

Ekiti election: Let’s swear in the traditional way, Olugbemi challenges Aluko

Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti

Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti

T

HERE was confusion in parts of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, when residents in search of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were said to have been faced with a sacrificial offering placed in front of a popular petrol station in the town recently.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the fetish object was placed at the petrol station by some unidentified people ostensibly to scare the station from continuing in the selling of the product, which still sells for about N180 in the state.

Witnesses claimed that the incident had occurred during the time the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nige-

ria (IPMAN) in Ekiti State had gone on strike as a result of their crisis with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The Ekiti IPMAN members, through their Chairman, Ayodele Owoeye, who was represented by Alhaji Sulaiman Akinbami, had addressed newsmen in Ado Ekiti and accused the NSCDC of harassment of their members, seizure of their tankers and arrest and detention of their drivers.

IPMAN members had withdrawn their tankers from operation and this had heightened the already biting scarcity in the state.

But while the scarcity and face-off raged, the affected petrol station was said to have been able to move its products for sale, without

hindrance, and was actually selling the product at N86.50 per litre.

While this was said to have elated the masses buying the product, it became a source of anger for some, who many had alleged were IPMAN members.

Thus, when the sacrificial object was found in front of the petrol station, the buying public believed it was the handiwork of the angry IPMAN members, culminating into an agry reaction by commercial motorcyclists.

Witnesses said the infuriated commercial motorcyclists reportedly carried the sacrifice to the petrol station belonging to one of the senior members of IPMAN in the state, located in the same neighbourhood and dumped the items there.

Fuel still sells for N300 in Port Harcourt Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt MORE than six weeks into the lingering fuel crisis and in spite of assurances of availability, the product still sells for as high as N300 per litre within the Port Harcourt metropolis in Rivers State.

This is more disturbing given the fact that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) reportedly claimed that about five million litres of PMS was lifted from the Port Harcourt Refinery, within the week, to ease fuel scarcity in some parts of the country.

Investigation by Sunday Tribune around the state capital revealed that some major marketers were even selling fuel far above the recommended N86.50 pump price.

Some of them, including Conoil at Lagos Bus Stop and AP at the Eastern Bypass, sold fuel at N250 and

N220 per litre, as of Saturday morning.

Most independent marketers also sold within the same price range, even as the black marketers are still making fortunes from the scarcity as they sold for

Petrol price drops from N240 to N200 in Enugu

THE price of petrol in Enugu State continued to drop as fuel crisis eased within the metropolis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that two out of every three filling stations in Enugu presently had fuel as the price of the commodity dropped to between N180 and N200 in the last three days.

A correspondent of NAN, who went round the metropolis on Saturday, reported that most members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) had

Independent marketers sell fuel for N150, N180 in Ibadan

By Moses Alao OVER a week after the April 7 deadline set by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, to sort out the fuel scarcity in the country, independent filling stations still sell fuel for prices ranging between N150 and N180.

While the major marketers have remained committed to the standard pump price of N86.50, the long queues at those filling stations have chased many customers to smaller filling

as high as N300 per litre.

However, despite the high cost, there were no long queues, as motorists and other end-users easily walked into most of the filling stations to buy the product.

stations who took advantage of the situation to sell the product for between N150 and N180, which is an improvement on the initial N200 and N220 they sold the product a week earlier.

According to motorists, the queues at some of the major filling stations were so long that people had to abandon their cars till the following days; a development which they said was always easily remedied by driving into smaller filling stations, which had no queues but sold beyond the pump price.

been supplied.

It was, however, observed that some of the marketers preferred selling in the evening hours.

At the NNPC and Conoil filling stations, the product sold for N86 and N86.50 respectively but with long queues.

The Manager of Emmapet Filling Station, Agbani Road, Mr Emeka Ocha, said that the increase in supply had affected prices by pushing the prices down.

“We must thank the Federal Government for this relief.

We are now selling at N180, as against about N240 we sold three weeks ago and we hope it will drop drastically when we get our next stock from the government depot in Lagos,’’ Ocha said.

The Zonal Operational Controller of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Peter Igeh, said that the department had received copies of schedule of filling stations in Enugu already allotted truck(s) of fuel in government-owned depot.

“When we must have finished monitoring in Nsukka and its environs; we would storm Enugu to clamp down on stations that received fuel from government depot but either refused to sell at approved price or hoard the product,’’ Igeh told NAN.

A

former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Dele Olugbemi, has challenged former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Dr. Tope Aluko, to swear in the traditional way if he was sure that he was saying the truth in the Ekiti 2014 governorship election matter.

Olugbemi, who spoke in a radio programme in Ado Ekiti, said this had become imperative as Aluko had continuously “peddled lies about the election he knows very well was free and fair.”

The former Speaker, who reportedly brokered peace between Governor Ayodele Fayose and Aluko on March 8, which Aluko still went to the media to deny, said the allegations of “perfecting the June 21 governorship poll rigging in a hotel and alleged diversion of N5.2 billion refund for the rigging are all false.”

He also expressed grief that Aluko had denied that he attended a meeting to mend fences with Governor Fayose in a hotel in La-

17 April, 2016

gos, saying it was disheartening that Aluko could deny the meeting.

Olugbemi challenged Aluko to present himself for a traditional swearing “to know who is saying the truth” between both of them over the meeting.

He said: “I am so surprised that he could come

out to denounce and rubbish with lies, a peace meeting I brokered between him and Governor Fayose. The CCTV camera has the details of all that we discussed with the governor inside the hotel. As an Ekiti man, I am totally ashamed of him. He has defaced himself, not Ekiti.”

FG begins distribution of relief materials to returnee IDPs THE Federal Government, on Saturday, inaugurated the distribution of relief materials to no fewer than one million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who returned to various communities in Adamawa and Taraba states.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Lawan Babachir, who inaugurated the distribution, said the exercise was on the platform of the Presidential Initiative for the North-East.

Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Ibrahim Patel, Babachir said govern-

Yobe govt, army reopen Damaturu-Biu road after 3 years

YOBE State government, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, on Saturday, reopened the 132-kilometre Damaturu-Biu federal road, which was blocked three years ago by Boko Haram insurgents.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the road, which was a major link between Yobe and southern part of Borno, was inaugurated at Buni Yadi.

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, said at the occasion that the road was strategic to the economic well-being of Yobe State as it linked the state capital with many communities.

He said the reopening of the road would boost economic activities of Yobe, Borno, Adamawa and Gombe states.

“This will also impact positively on the current military operations in the area by boosting the achievement of the troops,” he said.

Buratai charged the Yobe State government to accelerate work on the reconstruction of the road to encourage vibrant economic activities.

Yobe State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam, in

Sunday Tribune

his speech, commended the army and other security agencies for restoring peace in the state.

Geidam, who was represented by the Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Sirajo Wakil, assured that the state government would reconstruct the road.

ment would reach out to all states affected by disasters, natural or man-made.

“Today, we are launching the distribution of relief materials to over one million Internally Displaced Persons who already returned to their various respective homes and villages in Adamawa and Taraba states.

“Government felt it necessary to see how it palliates the suffering of the affected communities in the region and other parts of the country,’’ Babachir said.

He said that the materials were meant to assist the returnees to re-start their lives in their respective communities and advised them to make good use of the materials.

Earlier, Adamawa State governor, Senator Muhammadu Jibrilla, appreciated the Federal Government for the support.

Jibrilla, who was also represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ahmad Sajo, said that the state government would cooperate with the Federal Government to assist the returnees.

Court dismisses PDP governorship candidate’s suit against Ahmed Biola Azeez -Ilorin THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, dismissed the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Simeon Ajibola, challenging the election of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State.

Governor Ahmed was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election held on April 11, 2015.

In their suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/688/2015, the PDP and Senator Ajibola had approached the court to challenge the victory of Governor Ahmed in the election.

Justice S.E Chukwu, in his ruling, dismissed the appeal on the grounds that

the plaintiffs had no locus standi to institute the case and on other grounds as argued by the defendant counsel in the preliminary objection.

The court, therefore, upheld the election of Ahmed as governor of the state.

Ahmed was returned elected as governor of Kwara State at the April 11, 2015 election, having been declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the result released by INEC, Governor Ahmed polled a total number of 295, 832 votes to defeat Senator Ajibola of the PDP, who had 115, 220 votes. The candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Mike Omotosho, scored 2, 973 votes to emerge third in the election.

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Woman fakes pregnancy with 86 wraps of cocaine at Lagos airport Shola Adekola-Lagos

T

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, has apprehended a middle aged woman and mother of three, Dorothy Onyekasi, for faking pregnancy with 86 wraps of substance that tested positive for cocaine.

The drug was intercepted during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the NDLEA, the cocaine has a total weight of 1.720 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of N20.6 million.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd,) described the recent drug seizures at the Lagos airport as a welcome development that was capable of forcing drug cartels to a retreat.

According to Abdallah, “in the past few days, the NDLEA has recorded numerous arrests and drug seizures at the Lagos airport. The drug cartels have also suffered huge losses from these operations. This particular suspect feigned pregnancy with wraps of cocaine but she was caught by vigilant narcotic agents.

“Some of the suspects recently apprehended concealed drugs in their socks and luggage while others ingested wraps of cocaine in disregard of the danger to their health. In spite of their craftiness, we are daily stopping them from perpetrating their criminal act and forcing them to a retreat.”

NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, who said that the wraps of cocaine would have been easily mistaken for pregnancy, declared: “It was discovered that the suspect kept 86 wraps of cocaine inside a waist bag which was tied to her stomach.

Unfortunately, the drug was detected by NDLEA officers on her arrival from Dubai. The drug was immediately packed and weighed in her presence.

It had a gross weight of 1.720 kilogrammes.”

The 41-year-old woman who hails from Enugu State and said to be an importer of female bags

and shoes from Dubai, said that her involvement in drug trafficking was a mistake.

“I am a business woman living in Lagos. I am separated from my husband who left me and abandoned three children. I used to import female bags and shoes from Dubai. My involvement in

drug trafficking is a mistake and I take responsibility for my action.

“I travelled to Dubai to buy my goods. While I was preparing to return, I met a man in Dubai who gave me the drug and promised to give me enough money to expand my business. He also told me that when

I get to Nigeria, he will call his partner to collect the drug and give me my money. When I got here, the drug was detected at the airport and I was arrested. It is all my fault. If only I was contented with the profits from the sales of my goods, I would not have been in this problem,” she said.

172 bag First Class at University of Maiduguri UNIVERSITY of Maiduguri on Saturday presented First Class degree certificates to 172 students of the institution during its 22nd combined convocation.

Professor Ibrahim Njodi, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, who announced this at the ceremony, said 37,259 students, comprising five sets of students from 2009 to 2015 graduated at the convocation.

“It is gratifying to inform you that the university graduated five sets of students from 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2012/2013, 2013/2014, and 2014/2015 academic sessions from 12

colleges, faculties, distance learning centre and 23 affiliated colleges.

“A total of 37,259 students were graduated, out of this, 32,869 were regular students, 841 students were from affiliated colleges and 3,549 students were from the Distance Learning Programme,’’ Njodi said.

He said the university had signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with UNICEF and Norwegian Embassy to work out a programme on deradicalisation of repentant members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

“There is a strong partnership between the university and the UNICEF on safe schools project.

“In this regard, the university will continue to explore all avenues for support and collaborations,’’ Njodi said.

He said there were plans by the university to organise an international conference on Boko Haram terrorism to facilitate research into the mystery behind the group.

According to him, the move is pursuant to President Muhammadu Buhari’s call during his inaugural speech on the need

to conduct an in-depth research towards understanding the Boko Haram insurgency.

He said it was also consistent with “our mandate of solving societal problems through research.

“The Centre for Peace, Diplomatic and Development Studies has concluded arrangements to organise an international conference on Boko Haram insurgency in Maiduguri,’’ Njodi said.

He said that the aim was to proffer pragmatic solutions to violent extremism and radicalisation in Nigeria.

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Sunday Tribune

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17 April, 2016

sport

SUNDAY

Sunday Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Okocha warned me to be humble —Iwobi

F Iwobi

2016 Paris Marathon: Schneider Electric honours Sharubutu, Yohanna ENCOMIUMS were showered on two Nigerian athletes, Philibus Sharubutu and Dinatu Yohanna, last week at a reception held at the Lagos office of Schneider Electric, Nigeria following their outstanding performance at the just-ended 2016 Paris Marathon.

Sharubutu made Nigeria proud by finishing among the top 40 out of over 50,000 runners at the annual race. He clocked two hours, 32 seconds, just 25 minutes behind the eventual winner, Cyprian Kotut of Kenya.

Both Sharabutu and his female counterpart, Yohanna, were sponsored to the 40th edition of the Paris Marathon by Schneider Electric, Nigeria for being the first

male and female Nigerian athletes to breast the tape at the first Lagos City Marathon held in February this year.

The marathoners lauded Schneider Electric, Nigeria, the Federal Government and the Lagos State government for giving them such a rare opportunity to compete with some of the world’s best and for celebrating them with such a beautiful reception despite their modest performance at the 2016 Paris Marathon.

Walid Sheta, the Country President, Schneider Electric, Nigeria said, “It is amazing Nigeria’s representatives made it at the record time. Their performance is a mark of

champions,” adding that the company will continue to support Nigerian government at all levels to encourage home-grown talents.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Sports, Mr Deji Tinubu, who graced the occasion, reiterated the need to celebrate the success of Nigerian athletes in order to inspire them to do more.

He commended the athletes for their sterling performance at the Paris Marathon.

“We commend Schneider Electric for their continuous partnership in support of our athletes. Nigeria possesses great talents, and it is our collective responsibility to discover and celebrate them,” Tinubu said.

From left, the Special Assistant on Sports to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Deji Tinubu; marathoner Yohanna Dinatu, her male counterpart Sharubutu Philibus, and Walid Sheta, Country President, Schneider Electric, Nigeria, at the reception held in honour of the marathoners to the just-ended 2016 Paris Marathon.

ORMER Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has warned emerging starlet, Alex Iwobi to avoid pride if he is to achieve his full potential.

Iwobi has been impressive in recent weeks for English Premier League club, Arsenal with two goals and two assists in his last four starts.

Okocha says Iwobi can reach for the heavens only if he keeps his feet firmly on the ground.

“My Uncle (Jay Jay) is always offering me advice.

“He says he knows things are working well for me but that I must stay humble and remain the same person I have always been,” Iwobi

Osimhen

FLYING Eagles head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke fielded eight members of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winners as the Nigerian U-20 side hammered Sia-One Academy 4-1 in a friendly played at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja on Saturday.

Chile 2015 tournament goleador, Victor Osimhen opened the floodgate of goals in an exciting match that was watched by cheering spectators, among them NFF second vice president and chairman, League Management Company (LMC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko and NFF assistant technical directors, Siji Lagunju and Rafiu Yusuf.

A well–worked move which started from the right wing found team captain, Kelechi Nwakali who sent a through ball to an un-

told the Gunners official website.

Okocha has been vocal on Twitter in his support for the nephew and Iwobi says he was shocked to discover his storied Uncle had an account on the microblogging site.

“I didn’t even know he (Jay Jay) was on Twitter but then, my friends brought what he said to my notice and I am like ‘Oh Gosh’.

“I am happy that I am making him proud and hopefully, I will be better than him.

“He has been offering me great support. He was at the (Premier League game) against Watford and the Uefa Champions League game against Barcelona.

“The fact that he comes to watch me play shows that it means a lot to him.

“I am happy with the support he’s showing for me because it means a lot to me. “(I have contact with him) almost on a weekly basis.

He came to my house the other day but I missed him because I was at the (Arsenal training ground).

“We do keep in contact a lot. He does tell me what I need to do and what I need to work on,” he said.

Iwobi has made eight league appearances for Arsenal this season as he looks forward to making another start today against Crystal P a l a c e a t t h e Emirates.

Friendly: Osimhen scores in F/Eagles 4-1 win marked Osimhen to slot home beautifully from close range in the 10th minute.

That goal brought out the best from the Sia-One boys as they began to dictate the pace in the middle of the park forcing the Flying Eagles to retreat.

A reckless tackle by the Sia-One defence -line resulted in a penalty that was converted by Nwakali in the 45th minute to make it 2-0 in favour of the young Eagles at the end of the first half.

The second half saw the introduction of six new players by Amuneke who was using the match to prepare his team ahead of next month’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi in Bujumbura.

Winger Orji Okonkwo was a constant threat from the wing for the Flying Eagles

and in one of his dazzling runs down the flanks, he let loose a shot that was deflected into the net by a Sia-One defender for the third goal of the match.

Sia-One academy however, pulled one back in the 74th minute through striker Victor Sunday who had a really good game in attack alongside enterprising midfielder, Gary Aondofa.

The fourth goal was also an own goal but this time, it took the brilliance of Osimhen to force a sliding tackle that saw the ball sail into the net to make it a convincing 4-1 victory for the Flying Eagles.

The game was the first of a series of friendlies lined up Amuneke to prepare his team ahead of the two– legged fixture with the Burundians.

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Sunday Tribune

How state FA chairmen’s London trip ignited current NFF crisis

Pinnick

SALIU GBADAMOSI-ABUJA

T

HE current crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to many, was precipitated by the decision of Justice Musa Haruna Kurya of the Federal High Court, Jos, to grant the prayers of the plaintiffs, Yahaya Adama and Senator Obinna Ogba, to not only re-list the suit on leadership tussle in the federation, but also sustain all the previous orders of the court, which made Mr Chris Giwa NFF President, pending the final determination of the case before the court.

Though the crisis erupted shortly after the Brazil 2014 World Cup, leading to two separate elections through which the leadership of the contending factions emerged, Tribunesport can authoritatively reveal that the plan leading to the new round of problem was hatched in London last December.

As part of its capacity-building process of the Amaju Pinnickled NFF board, some stakeholders in Nigerian football went to the United Kingdom for training in various aspects of football, including coaching, refereeing and administration.

A source informed Tribunesport that when some state football association went for a four-day capacity-building programme in London between December 4 and 7, 2015, they did not only attend the programme, but also use the opportunity to plant the seed of discord currently affecting Nigerian foot-

Giwa ball.

It was gathered that it was in London that the state FA chairmen perfected the decision to ban certain set of people from contesting future elections into the NFF executive committee.

This decision, according to the source, was later tabled before the NFF general assembly held on December 16, 2015 at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja and got ratified by the assembly.

As part of the decisions, taken on December 16, the general assembly decided that henceforth, any aspirant eyeing NFF presidency must be past or current members of the body’s executive committee.

Also, it was decided that candidates who want to be on the executive committee of NFF must be past or serving members of congress.

These decisions effectively shut the door on some persons in the Chris Giwa faction who have not served in any capacity in the football body before but want to contest to be NFF president.

“What we are seeing now is a result of what the state FA chairmen had perfected during their trip to London last December. It was there they took the decision to bar some people, including Chris Giwa, from aspiring to be members of NFF executive committee.

“We told them, as soon as we got wind of this, that the decision portends danger for Nigerian football, moreso that some unresolved issues were still pending as of the time they took the decision,” the source told Tribunesport in Abuja.

Shortly after the December general assembly of the NFF, Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung,

We told them, as soon as we got wind of this, that the decision portends danger for Nigerian football, moreso that some unresolved issues were still pending as of the time they took the decision.

Dalung

roundly condemned the decision to exclude some people and impressed it upon the Pinnick-led board to find a way of expunging the decision from the communiqué of the December 16 general assembly.

Only last Tuesday, Dalung informed sports journalists after meeting with the NFF executive committee members led

by Pinnick on the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), that the Pinnick group had assured him that they had expunged the decision but would be ratified in September by the general assembly, which took the decision.

Confirming that the current crisis was a direct fallout of the decision, Giwa informed journalists that having been elected and sworn in by the electoral committee set up by the NFF, the post-election issues, which made former President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene, which he said made his board to asked the Federal High Court in Jos to step down their suit with a proviso that if they were not satisfied they reserved the right to return to court.

According to Giwa, “We opted to leave the matter until illegal occupants of our mandate feeling cozy decided to run all of us including the media, players, coaches etc out of administering our game from the next election. They want only chairmen of state FAs to be the only ones eligible to contest. We returned to court and here we are today.”

Meanwhile, an NFF extra-ordinary general assembly held last Wednesday in Abuja had suspended the decision pending ratification at the next general assembly.

According to the communique issued at the end of the assembly, the decision followed a passionate appeal by the executive committee, saying that the controversial clause was aimed at ensuring and guaranteeing professionalism in the administration of football.

“Following a passionate appeal by the executive committee, the clause adopted at the 71st NFF General Assembly held in Abuja on 16th December, 2015, aimed at ensuring and guaranteeing professionalism in the administration of football but misinterpreted as barring non-members of the congress from contesting for positions on the NFF executive committee was suspended pending ratification at the next NFF general assembly. For the avoidance of doubt the congress further affirmed that all eligible and qualified persons under the NFF statutes are eligible to contest elections,” the communique reads.

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Akpom (left) dazzles in the colours of Arsenal

Akpomwillreturnto Arsenal—Agent

R

epresentative of onloan Hull City striker, Chuba Akpom has hinted that the player will return to Arsenal at the end of the season after getting assurances from manager, Arsene Wenger that he will be considered for the first team if he distinguishes himself during preseason.

Akpom who is representing the England U21 na-

tional team is eligible to play for Nigeria at senior level only and he has been turning heads since he arrived at Hull at the beginning of the current campaign.

He got a goal on his debut for the Tigers against Huddersfield, barely four days after completing his loan move from Arsenal, and has added four more goals thereafter with a hat-trick against Bury

Akinyemi nails Heartland

By Olawale Olaniyan CAPTAIN Seun Akinyemi’s goal on Saturday at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, gave Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), a 2-1 victory over visiting Heartland FC of Owerri, in a match day 12 Nigeria Premier League fixture.

Heartland, it will be recalled, last season left Ibadan with maximum points following its 2-1 victory in the season’s opener.

Substitute Muyiwa Lawal put the Oluyole Warriors ahead in the 51st minute after a barren first half, as his thunderous free kick close to the box caught

the Heartland goalkeeper, Philip Acho helpless.

The homers however, failed to consolidate the lead as poor defending gifted Anthony Oussou a leveller in the 56th minute.

Goalkeeper Emmanuel Fabiyi, had parried a close range shot down, but none of his team-mates reacted in time before an unmarked Oussou fired home the rebound.

Akinyemi, apparently became the match hero in the 72nd minute when he beat Acho again after collecting a pass from Nojeem Olukokun in the box.

Tope Orelope had in the first half of the match wasted what would have been the curtain raiser as he shot wide during a goal melee.

Nadal beats Murray to reach Monte Carlo Masters final EIGHT-TIME winner, Rafael Nadal on Saturday recovered from a set down to beat Britain’s Andy Murray to reach the Monte Carlo Masters final.

Murray broke twice to take the opening set 6-2, but wilted under the Spaniard’s power and accuracy to lose the next two 6-4 6-2.

The win was Nadal’s seventh over Murray in eight meetings on clay and puts him into

his 100th ATP World Tour final.

He faces Gael Monfils who beat fellow Frenchman JoWilfried Tsonga 6-1, 6-3.

Murray beat Nadal for the first time on clay in last year’s Madrid Masters final, but his hopes of being only the third player to earn back-to-back victories over the world number five on the surface were dashed in a brutal two-anda-half-hour encounter.

FC in an FA Cup tie in January, one of his highlights at the KC Stadium.

Emeka Obasi, a FIFA licensed agent who is also the representative of the player, told Goal that Arsenal officials have been keeping tabs on the progress of the youngster and after making over 35 appearances for The Tigers, the Gunners have decided to recall him and his suitability will be decided at pre-season.

Aston Villa loses premiership status since 1987

Aston Villa has been relegated to English football’s second tier for the first time since 1987 following 0-1 loss to Manchester United on Saturday at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford scored the only goal for United, sweeping Antonio Valencia’s cut-back through goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s legs.

Villa was second best for much of the game, though it did hit a post late on through Rudy Gestede’s volley.

It was a ninth straight loss for the visitors and left them 15 points from safety with only four matches left.

European Cup winners in 1982, Aston Villa has a proud history but is facing a turbulent immediate future.

Caretaker manager, Eric Black has spoken of the danger of the club falling into “anarchy” at the end of a miserable campaign played out against the backdrop of fan protests against Randy Lerner’s ownership.

Sunday Tribune

SIDELINES NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

17 APRIL, 2016

NO 2,042

www.tribuneonlineng.com

N200

In the last three days, two people have been caught trying to smuggle cocaine out of and into the country. While one was so ‘ingenious’ to hide 193 wraps of cocaine in his socks, the other was ‘very smart’ to disguise it as pregnancy.

It appears these people were so high on the substance they tried to smuggle that they didn’t see the asininity of their plans. Anyway, one can perceive the NDLEA with these cocaine harvests already saying: “Next criminal, please!”

Southwest: Get this point clear

I

N this column last Sunday, I wrote that the Yoruba nation needs to create, urgently, a leadership structure addressed to its needs in these times in Nigeria. That point is so critically important that I must reiterate it today.

Someone said to me some days ago that Nigeria is like a large capsule filled with many different nations and sinking towards the bottom of the sea – with the nations inside jostling for safety by pushing one another in a senseless struggle towards the top in the capsule, while the nation that used to be at the top is being pushed to the bottom of all. It does not take much imagination to recognize the Yoruba as the nation that used to be at the top in development and prosperity in Nigeria, and that is now falling to the bottom in most aspects of development in a country that is falling relentlessly. In most aspects of development and quality of life, the best in Nigeria is no longer as good as the worst in most countries of the world.

Yes, all the peoples of Nigeria are being pulled down by Nigeria. But the Yoruba nation has fallen farthest down and continues to fall fastest.

The pivotal reason for this sad predicament of the Yoruba nation is the failure of the Yoruba elite to formulate a working and effective leadership structure. The Yoruba command the cultural capabilities to create and sustain an effective leadership. They have done it again and again in their history.

To give a few recent examples, the Yoruba created a very effective leadership during the years after the Second World War (193945) when the British rulers of Nigeria began to seek to structure Nigeria into a country, and the benefits of that leadership showed bountifully in the high quality of governance and development which the Yoruba nation enjoyed in the decade 1952-62. In the years of the vicious dictatorship of Sani Abacha, when the power of the Nigerian government was directed at subduing the Yoruba nation, the Yoruba elite created a strong and effective leadership which guided their nation successfully through the danger.

But, strangely, the present generation of Yoruba elite refuse to create, or are proving incapable of creating, a leadership appropriate to the demands of today. They choose to leave the field entirely to the politicians – to leaders and functionaries of various political parties – even though it is obvious that these politicians cannot possibly offer the kind of leadership that the Yoruba nation’s situation demands in these times. Certainly, these politicians are serving vital needs.

They make the Yoruba voice heard, and

they uphold the Yoruba role, in the political parties that provide the governing structure for Nigeria. But their focus is, and of necessity has to be, Nigerian politics. Often, their need to be marketable across the Nigerian political landscape makes it inappropriate for them to feature prominently as leaders of their Yoruba nation – and this makes it unreasonable for us to leave the leadership of our nation in their hands alone.

Some Nigerian nations get this point vividly. For example, Arewa Consultative Forum, the leadership structure of the Hausa-Fulani elite, has been in existence for decades to oversee the purposes and the well-being of the Hausa-Fulani in the affairs of Nigeria. It draws its strength from being a generally respected organization among Hausa-Fulani politicians,

People are right too that the Yoruba Southwest is the haven for religious accommodation and freedom, and the least prone to inter-ethnic conflicts, violence and terrorism. In most Yoruba cities and towns, the number of intending immigrants arriving from distant parts of Nigeria is alarming – and so is the explosion in population.

At the same time, different kinds of immigrants are swarming into the Yoruba countryside or farmlands. These consist of Fulani who are commonly classified as cattle herders. For probably centuries, some Fulani cattle herders have come seasonally to the Yoruba countryside; but what is happening today is very far from clear. Very many of the so-called cattle herders of today are armed with very sophisticated weapons, and there are reports from all over Yoruba-

diranapata@yahoo.com

professional and business elite, top civil servants, military leaders, religious leaders, and traditional rulers. Consequently, though it may not directly involve itself in partisan politics, it has usually proved very influential in guiding Hausa-Fulani roles and benefits in the life of Nigeria.

The reasons why the Yoruba nation needs such a leadership organization today are quite obvious to all Yoruba people.

Anybody who cares to talk to Yoruba folks will easily find that most of them are worried that their nation does not have a generally respected leadership group today to uphold and defend their nation’s interests in Nigeria. The reasons for the worries are roughly the same. As Nigeria declines and people become poorer and poorer and more and more unsafe all over Nigeria, most persons who are forced to flee from their homelands come to the Yoruba Southwest. Though the Yoruba Southwest is becoming desperately poor too, yet most non-Yoruba Nigerians continue to believe that the strongly urbanized Yoruba Southwest is the richest part of Nigeria, the area with the most abundant opportunities.

land that they often attack and kill Yoruba farmers on the farms. These same cattle herders are known to be killing farmers in other parts of the Nigerian South, and even to be wiping out whole villages in the Middle Belt – very much like the Janjaweed terrorists of Darfur in the Republic of Sudan. Yoruba people want to know what is at the bottom of these strange developments, and want to see measures for the defence and protection of Yoruba farmlands and farming folks. Measures being proposed in the National Assembly now to empower the Federal Government to acquire large tracts of farmland for grazing ground for the Fulani cattle herders anywhere in Nigeria threaten the interests of Yoruba farmers and the Yoruba nation, and the Yoruba people are getting very nervous.

Equally worrisome are current reports about the quality of education in the Yoruba Southwest. The Yoruba Southwest used to be the pillar of education in Nigeria. Today, its educational standards are among the worst in Nigeria. In the most recent West African School Certificate Examination, only one of the six states of the

Hiddink beaten at Stamford Bridge at last •As Aguero nets hat-trick

By Ganiyu Salman RETURNEE Chelsea coach, Guus Hiddink, on Saturday lost his first Premier League game at Stamford Bridge since he took over from sacked flamboyant coach, Jose Mourinho.

The Blues this time, lost comprehensively 0-3 to Manchester City, a result which has lifted the Citizens on the Pre-

mier League log.

Hiddink, had on April 9, suffered his first premier league defeat at the hands of Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium through Gylfi Sigurdsson’s first-half volley.

The Dutch tactician, however, on Saturday, watched in disbelief, the demystification of his gameplan again by the Citizens who proved better on the day.

Interestingly, the match hero turned out to be Sergio Aguero who scored all goals for the visitors.

Aguero began his hat-trick journey when he finished Kevin De Bruyne’s effort in the 33rd minute.

The Argentine made it two in the 54th minute, while he hit the treble in the 78th minute with a penalty kick for his 21st goal of the season.

Southwest ranked among the best ten of the 36 states of Nigeria; with another two ranking among the 11th to 20th. The remaining three states ranked among the last 16. What this means is that Yoruba High School students are now among the most poorly educated in Nigeria. Reports show that hardly any teaching and learning is going on in the Southwest’s public Primary Schools. The Yoruba have not only lost their educational leadership in Nigeria; they are gradually losing the ability to be competitive in Nigeria. Someday soon, the Yoruba Southwest may replace the North as the least educated region of Nigeria!

The historical and cultural readiness of Yoruba people to welcome and accept immigrants from other parts of Nigeria is a good thing. But, obviously, there is need to do more today than merely accept immigrants. Development planning and implementation make it necessary to set up arrangements for ascertaining the statistics of the immigration, and for assessing its impact on State and Local Government finances, on the schools system, on businesses and business opportunities, on employment and employment opportunities, on security, and on social services generally.

Definitely, much of the great and growing unemployment in the Southwest today, the growing insecurity, and the generally deteriorating social services, have some root in the massive and unrelenting immigration.

It must also not be forgotten that, in this era of federal financial allocations to states, funds allocated to each state are meant for its own people. When huge proportions of such funds are consumed by immigrants from other parts of Nigeria, the indigenes are being deprived - and both the indigenes and the immigrants suffer. It must be remembered too that the crowds who are coming to share in the Southwest’s allocations are part of the population computed for the allocations for their own states back home. These facts need to be looked into and properly factored into development and social planning.

Arrangements also need to be designed to protect the rights of the indigenous people in the matter of sale, purchase and transfer of real estate properties. The unregulated deals in land and houses that are now going on in all parts of the Southwest seriously threaten the rights, and the future, of individuals, families, communities, and the whole Yoruba nation.

These are only some of the reasons why the Yoruba elite must, at all costs, set up a generally accepted leadership without delay. Further delay is dangerous.

RESULTS: Nigerian Premier League Shooting Stars 2 Heartland 1 English Premiership Norwich 0 Sunderland 3 Everton 1Southampton 1 Man Utd 1 Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 3 Swansea 0 West Brom 0 Watford 1 Chelsea 0 Man City 3 Pools: 04, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28, 31, 35, 37, 38, 45.

Today’s matches: 01, 02, 05.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: sundaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 17/4/2016 MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR : SINA OLADEINDE. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712.