17th July 2016

NO 2,055

SUNDAY, 17 JULY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

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Nigerian Tribune

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Protesters storm Oluwo’s palace with coffin3 pg4

•Over chieftaincy title

How army shunned pg4 26 petitions ARMS PROBE:

•Ex-officers allege, insist FG, army planning to cover up Dambazzau’s tenure

I won’t allow my kids to follow in my footsteps —AfroCandy

Govts use agric to pg8 steal —OBJ Post-Brexit vote:

Nigerians who earn less than £35,000 face deportation pg8 PDP crisis: No agreement From left, Pro-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Dr Umar Musa Mustapha; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe and Vice Chancellor, UI, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, at the first Eminent Persons Business Lecture, held at the International Conference Centre, UI, Ibadan, on Saturday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Niger Delta Avengers threatens ExxonMobil Pg5 personnel

•Warns against repair of blown pipeline

with Markafi, says Sheriff •Promises to speak Monday

Pg4

NJC sacks Osun judge who challenged Aregbesola Pg46 •Justice Yunusa also affected •PDP condemns action

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17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

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feature

Sunday Tribune

17 July, 2016

‘She was my pillar, yet I bear no grudge against her killers’

Says husband of murdered preacher • Falana to hold brief The circumstances surrounding the death of a woman evangelist, Deaconess Eunice Olawale, has no doubt generated an outrage from different quarters. ADETOLA BADEMOSI writes on the effect of the incidence on the immediate family and the Christian community.

Late Mrs Eunice Olawale

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EFORE the ‘Morning Call’ which turned out to be her last, Deaconess Eunice Olawale was a recognised voice in her Kubwa, Abuja community. Her husband, a full time pastor, just before her death, was afraid that something terrible might happen to her. That was as a result of an event his wife reported to him.

Deaconess Olawale had told her husband, Elisha Olawale that an Imam in a nearby mosque had commended her preaching one morning. Her husband did not take the compliments positively. He was actually afraid and warned her to be careful. The warning did not stop the tragedy. .

“My wife never argued with anyone. She was the giving type and the church (Redeemed Christian Church of God) can confirm that. About three weeks before her death, my wife went to the back of my house. That morning, after preaching, she came and told me that a man in the mosque heard her and called on people to listen to what she was saying.

“When she came back and told me about it, I warned her.

I did that because I was a Muslim before I converted and became a Christian. I told her to be careful. I told her that although what the man in the mosque said was commendable, she needed to be careful,” Pastor Olawale said of his wife.

“Sincerely speaking, my wife was the breadwinner of this home. That is the truth. She sold things to take care of the household. She was the one God used to take care of our family. She was the one who paid the school fees and took care of other things.

“I will miss everything about my wife, she was my mother, she was my sister, before she died, she knew what I have in my account and I knew what she had in her account, we have been open to each other. She was almost all we had,” he added.

Pastor Olawale, however, declared his forgiveness for his wife’s killers saying as a Christian, it was not in his nature to seek personal revenge.

“As a Pastor and a man of God, God called us and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. If they arrest them, killing them won’t help them, we are just helping the devil more.

Wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo with some of the deceased’s children What I will suggest is that if they should preach to them, they should accept Christ. Heaven has more gain; as long as my wife has gone to heaven, if they accept Christ, that will be my joy.”

To Christian communities across the nation, Pastor Elisha Olawale the new development was becoming a little too much, coming on the heels of other unprovoked attacks from religious extremists which had led to the death of others, especially in the northern parts of the country in recent times.

Sunday Tribune recalls that recently, a Christian Igbo trader, Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme, was murdered at Wambai market, Kaduna State following a confrontation with a Muslim man who came to the front of her shop to perform ablution. The 74-year-old trader paid with her life for objecting to the man performing ablution in front of her shop.

Another instance was the murder a cleric of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Reverend Zakariya, by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The cleric was reportedly attacked on his farm, where his arms, legs, and head were cut off with a machete.

These and many others have led to the call by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for all Christians in the country to defend themselves against unprovoked attacks often, perpetrated by the religion extremists.

On the part of the security agencies, it was gathered that four out of the six suspected killers of Mrs Olawale have been released by the Nigerian Police on the premise that there were no evidences connecting them to the murder in question.

According to the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Idris, the other two suspects are still in detention to help in the ongoing investigation to track down perpetrators of the murder.

Meanwhile, CAN, in a statement issued by its General Secretary, Reverend Dr Musa Asake, in reaction to the death of late Mrs. Olawale, stated that Nigeria was already doing a macabre dance of death, as the Federal Government was doing nothing to stem the tide.

While commiserating with the victim’s family, the Christian body noted that the recurring decimal of violence and murder of innocent Nigerian citizens on the basis of religious intolerance incidences specific and relevant response from all concerned citizens in the country, especially when the government in power was slow at addressing the menace.

“The discrimination against non-Muslims in Nigeria under the Buhari administration is assuming a dangerous dimension that should not be left to the vagaries of time and circumstance to resolve.

“You will agree with me that with these happenings and the lukewarm attitude by the authorities concerned toward putting an end to it, Nigeria is dancing a macabre dance, both for the nation and for its citizens. It is time to stop the beat and let common sense guide the nation out of the present quagmire.

A stitch in time saves nine,” the statement read.

In like terms, the FCT Chapter of CAN observed that the circumstances of the killings could be interpreted as disallowing the right of speech and worship the Nigerian constitution.

Meanwhile, the burial arrangements for the late Deaconess Olawale, has been suspended indefinitely to allow for an autopsy to be conducted on the deceased and ensure thorough investigations on the issue, with the aim of bringing the culprits to book.

Also, Sunday Tribune reliably gathered that human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has been hired by an interested party to forestall plans to sweep the matter under the carpet.

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news

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Arms probe: How Army shunned 26 petitions As group accuses FG, army of cover-up Taiwo Adisa and Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

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resh controversy appears to be dogging the third tranche of interim report of the Federal Government’s probe into Arms purchase between 2007 and 2015 as a group, comprising retired military personnel and civil society, has alleged a cover-up in the report made public last week.

The group, Probity Watch In Defence Institutions (PWIDI) said on Saturday that the government was not straight enough in its claims by leaving out reports of the period 2007 to 2010.

According to PWIDI, there are at least 26 petitions already in the possession of the Army, seeking a probe into its activities between 2007 and 2010, wondering how the record of the same period would get missing in government coffers.

The group expressed worry that the authorities might be working towards a cover-up of the activities of the Army between 2007 and 2010.

A statement signed on behalf of the group by Danladi Abbas indicated that some aspects of the main report on the Arms Probe were missing.

The Federal Government had last week in a statement by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, indicated the release of the third tranche of the Arms Probe report.

The statement had indicated that “among those to be investigated are 18 serving and retired military personnel, 12 serving and retired public officials and 24 Chief Executive Officers of Companies involved in the procurement. All were either accounting officers or played key roles in the Nigerian Army procurement

activities during the period under review.”

The statement listed those set to face further investigation as including two former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. O.A. Ihejirika (Rtd) and Lt.Gen. K.T.J. Minimah (Rtd).

“According to the Committee, the total amount spent for procurement and operations within the period were N185,843,052,564.30 and $685,349,692.49,” the statement read.

PWIDI, however, expressed surprise that the period 2007 to 2010 was left out in the pretext of the claim that the records were not available.

“Curiously, the name of the Chief of Army Staff, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau, who preceded the two was neither mentioned for commendation nor blame,” the group said.

The statement insisted that government’s claim that the report of 2001 to 2010 would be released ‘’When the documents regarding procurement from 2007 to 2010 are available and scrutinised,” was an alibi for sweeping the probe of the period under the table.

The group raised a number of questions: “Questions that readily come with this addendum to his previous statement is: what manner of documentations are done in our Defence sector?

Is it that hard or soft copies of procurement documents of 2007, - 2010 are ‘not available’ one year after a panel was set up to look at and scrutinize them? What procedures were deployed to get the 2010 - 2015 documents that couldn’t be applied for the preceding years? How does it portray us to the world that Nigeria cannot keep and retrieve a seven-year old record in its defence system and still struggling to locate and col-

late them one year after it embarked on a search?”

The group noted that General Dambazzau took over from General Luka Yusuf in 2008 and left office in September 2010.

It alleged that the report submitted to the President was actually “a summary distilled from an enlarged report. We challenge the Minister of Information to publish that volume and its appendix.”

The group said that the probe panel in its original report had asked the Army to refund about N500 million said to have been allegedly misapplied between 2007 and 2010.

The group further said: “The irony is that Generals Azubuike Ihejirika and Kenneth Minimah have, between them, over 30 items of misdemeanors slammed against them, ranging from alleged ‘misappropriation, misapplication and negligence’.

“What about all the petitions that were written, sent in and acknowledged about this 2008/2010 regime at the Army headquarters.

We are aware there were about 26 petitions last year alone?”

The Group said that while it cannot hold fort for those accused in the Interim Report, as they would have their days in court, the probe should be all encompassing and thorough.

The statement further read: “Recall that in setting up the 13-member panel last year, the President’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, listed among others that “the committee will specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past ad-

PDP crisis: I have not reached agreement with anybody —Sheriff Promises to speak on the state of the party Monday Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe-Abuja

Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff on Saturday declared that he has not reach agreement with anybody on the leadership crisis rocking the party as claimed by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committe of the party.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday on the latest development in the crisis rocking the party and the forthcoming National Convention fixed for August 17th by the National Caretaker Committee after the enlarged

meeting of the stakeholders of the party in Abuja, Senator Sheriff said emphatically that the cases were still in court.

Sheriff who spoke through his Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, said, “I wish to inform our teeming supporters and PDP faithful nationwide that I have not reached agreement with anybody, neither have I permitted anybody to conclude on any process on my behalf.

“We will continue with our cases in court, we respect the rule of law. Sheriff will address a press conference on Monday on the state of our party, PDP. Our goal

remains to return the party to the people and stamp out impunity,” he declared.

Sunday Tribune recall that the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee during the expanded meeting with party stakeholders in Abuja had zoned its national chairmanship to the South and declared it had not foreclosed full reconciliation efforts with all aggrieved party members, especially Sheriff’s group .

The caretaker Committee declared that the presence of Senator Buruji Kashamu, a strong supporter of Sheriff’s was an evidence that its reconciliation effort was making progress.

ministrations, which, very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.

“Accordingly, the latitude of this mandate is enough to catch the smallest fish in the water. The books and equipment are there. They should go back and look at them. Nobody is prompting them to manufacture sins but the sins of those three years are certainly there.”

“A sitting service chief was quickly cleared by the Defence Minister hours after an online publication ran a story on acquisition of property outside the country. More bizarre was the clearance by the Code of Conduct Bureau, an agency that has never before now honoured any inquiry directly or through the Freedom of Information Act. “GOING BY TRADE

MARK OF THIS GOVERNMENT, THE REPORTS OF ARMS PROCUREMENT BETWEEN 2007 - 2010 MAY NEVER BE AVAILABLE. MARK OUR WORDS. BUT THERE’S LIFE BEYOND 2019 AND QUESTIONS WOULD STILL BE ASKED. WE ARE WATCHING AND WAITING.” Continues pg46

PSC approves promotion/posting of AIGs, appoints 37 CPs Chris Agbambu-Abuja

The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of 18 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of As-

sistant Inspectors General of Police and also approved their postings with four other AIGs. Twelve are to man the 12 Police Zonal Commands while the remaining 10 will

head Police special formations such as Operations, Training, Police Academy, Info-Tech, Investment, Maritime, among others. See list below

New Assistant Inspectors General of Police S/N RANK NAME

AIG Ibrahim Adamu, mni 1 2 AIG Abdulmajid Ali 3 AIG Usman Tilli, mni 4 AIG Agboola Oshodi Glover 5 AIG A. K. Shodipo 6 AIG Abubakar Marafa 7 AIG Usman Alkali Baba, fdc 8 AIG Tijjani Baba AIG Karma H. Hassan 9 10 AIG UsmanYakubu, mni 11 AIG Dan Bature, fdc 12 AIG Jibrin O. Yakubu, fdc 13 AIG Salisu A. Fagge 14 AIG Isaac C. Eke 15 AIG Aminchi Sama’ila Baraya 16 AIG Umar U. Shehu 17 AIG Lawal Shehu 18 AIG John B. Opadokun 19 AIG Dorathy A. Gimba, mni 20 AIG Mohammed K. Mohammed 21 AIG Moh’d Musa Katsina, mni 22 AIG Paul E. Okafor

PRESENT PROPOSED POSTING POSTING CP KDS ZN.1 CP OGS ZN.2 AIG BORDER ZN.3 CP G.I FCIID, ABJ ZN.4 CP BYS ZN.5 CP NGS ZN.6 CP FCT ZN.7 CP BAS ZN.8 CP ANS ZN.9 CP KGS ZN.10 COURSE U.I ZN.11 CP KBS ZN.12 CP SKS OPS CP FSARS TRG CP BRS POLAC CP FEDOPS, ABJ INFO-TECH CP NAS DLS CTU CTU INVESTMENT, FHQ INVEST., FHQ SPU SPU CP MARITIME DS NIPSS CP BNS MARITIME

37 Command Commissioners of Police S/N RANK NAME PRESENT

POSTING 1 CP Frederick TaiwoLakanu CP IMS 2 CP Rashed O. Akintunde CP HOMICIDE 3 CP Ahmed Iliyasu CP PSC JOS 4 CP Rabi’u Yusuf DTY CMDT PSC 5 CP SanusiLemu CP ELECTION/MONITOR 6 CP Abdullahi Ibrahim Chafe CP INFOTECH 7 CP Adeleye O. Oyebade CP OYS 8 CP MuazuZubairHalilu CP EOD 9 CP Gabriel AdejoAdaji CP INSPECTORATE 10 CP Henry A. Fadairo CP R&P 11 CP Basen D. Gwana CP ABS 12 CP Zanna M. Ibrahim CP DTS 13 CP Emmanuel C. S. Ojukwu CP ENS 14 CP Yunana Y. Babas TRS 15 CP Austine I. Iwar CP GBS 16 CP Adekunle J. Oladunjoye CP PLS 17 CP Olufemi O. Oyeleye CP OSS 18 CP Murtala U. Mani CP AIS 19 CP Ajani F. Owoseni CP LAS 20 CP Usman Ali Abdullahi CP KTS 21 CP Etop J. James CP EKS 22 CP Ghazzali Mohammed CP ADS 23 CP Peace E. Abdallah CP EBS CP JGS 24 CP Mohammed A. Mustapha 25 CP Sam A. Okaula CP KWS 26 CP JimohOmeiza O. CP CRS 27 CP Olusola E. Amore CP PENSION 28 CP AdeyemiOgunjemilusi CP DFA WELFARE 29 DCP Abdulkadir Mohammed DC DAF EDS 30 DCP Sunmomonu A. Abdulmaliki DC DFA FHQ, ABJ 31 DCP Bashir Makama DC DF ANS 32 DCP Ibrahim M. Kabiru DIR. OF EDU. FHQ 33 DCP Damian AgbaChukwu DTS 34 DCP Bello A. Sadiq DC DFA, FCT 35 DCP GwanduHaliruAbukar DC OPS ZN.5 36 DCP Francis M. Odesanya DC DFA RVS 37 DCP Douglas Agbonleni DC OPS DTS

PROPOSED POSTING CP IMS CP EDS CP OGS CP KNS CP KDS CP KGS CP OYS CP NGS CP ZFS CP JGS CP ABS CP DTS CP ENS TRS CP GBS CP PLS CP OSS CP AIS CP LAS CP KTS CP EKS CP ADS CP EBS CP FCT CP ANS CP CRS CP KWS CP BYS CP SKS CP YBS CP BNS CP KBS CP BRS CP NAS CP BAS CP RVS CP ONS

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news

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Avengers threaten ExxonMobil staff, warn against repair of pipeline •As MEND gives conditions for dialogue

By Dare Adekanmbi and Dapo Falade

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HE Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has warned the management of the international oil company, ExxonMobil, against repairing the Que Iboe 48-inch pipeline it blew recently, threatening to attack personnel of the company if the warning is not heeded.

In a statement posted on its website on Saturday and signed by its spokeperson, ‘Brigadier General’ Mudoch Agbinibo, the group urged ExxonMobil to tread the path of safety and own up that the group destroyed the pipeline rather than blaming it on “system anomaly” and deceiving its overseas trading partners.

The group said the level of damage it did to the facility would make repair to take months to achieve, contrary to the assurance from ExxonMobil to its trading partners that the repair would take three to four weeks.

It stressed that something worse that declaring a force majeure would happen to the company if it refused to follow the path laid out by it.

“When we published that the Que Iboe 48-inches crude oil export line was blown by us (Niger Delta Avengers), ExxonMobil denied it. But now, ExxonMobil has admitted that the 48” pipeline which we blew up is ‘System Anomaly.’

“We are urging them to follow the path of safety by admitting it was blown, but them (ExxonMobil) not admitting it to their traders/ international refineries is none of our business.

“It will become our business when ExxonMobil carries out repair work on the blown pipeline. When that time comes, it won’t be ExxonMobil declaring a force

majeure but it’s going to be something worse.

“ExxonMobil and Akwa Ibom government can deny Niger Delta Avengers is not in Akwa Ibom State but we want them to know one of our elite strike team is based in Akwa Ibom.

“We are warning Exxonmobil not to carry out any repair work on the blown pipeline. If they refuse and go ahead with any repair work something big and worst will happen.

“What happened to Shell Petroleum Development

Company (SPDC) crude oil export pipeline in Forcados is an example to all international oil companies, no repair works until the Federal Government heeds our demands,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Movement for the Emancipation of the

Niger Delta (MEND) has declared that it will accept members and groups into its proposed dialogue team if they are willing to agree to its terms and conditions.

The group stated this in a statement made available to Sunday Tribune, on Sat-

Mr Temiloluwa Gbarada and former Miss Blessing Ekum, a staff member of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, during their wedding ceremony held at Foursquare Gospel Church, Sango District Headquarters, Sango, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday. PHOTO: OYEBANJI PETER

urday, claiming that it was, on Friday, contacted by the immediate past Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Dr Godknows Igali, on the modalities for the proposed dialogue with the Federal Government on the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta.

According to the statement signed by MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, Igali, also a diplomat and former Secretary to the Bayelsa State government, contacted MEND as an emissary of King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass in Bayelsa State and leader of the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group (NDDCG).

Contrary to the denial in the media by Mr Odein Ajumogobia, the group insisted that the former ambassador remained the leader of the peace initiative move.

MEND said having carefully considered and approved the NDDCG proposal to join the Aaron Team, it was calling on other stakeholders in the peace process to channel their grievances, demands and suggestions through the NDDCG.

Slain 347 Shiites: Falana seeks prosecution of soldiers Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna LEAD counsel to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has asked the Kaduna State government to begin the process that will lead to the prosecution of the soldiers indicted for killing 347 members of the group in December, 2014.

Falana, who demanded that the prosecution be initiated by the end of this month, threatened to apply for a mandatory court order to compel government to do so.

The soldiers had allegedly

opened fire on members of the group during a solidarity procession in Zaria, in 2014, alleging that the Shiite group had attempted to assassinate General Buratai.

The Kaduna State government, while speaking on the report of an inquiry launched into the mayhem, had given the number of IMN members who were

killed in the incident as 347.

But Falana, in the letter written to the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, accused the state government of

limiting the arrests made to “surviving victims of the violent attacks who have since been charged with conspiracy and culpable homicide.”

Progressive governors advocate dialogue over herdsmen crisis THE Progressive Governors’ Forum has called for the engagement of Fulani herdsmen across the country with a view to finding lasting solutions to the incessant conflict between herdsmen and their host communities.

The governors made the call at the end of the forum’s meeting held in Benin, on

Saturday.

Chairman of the forum and Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, who read the forum’s communique, urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari in the face of current difficulties and challenges in the country.

While saying the trying

moments would soon be over, the forum said that members also deliberated on the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections and the need for the party to field credible candidates.

The forum explained that while the party had constituted a committee for the Ondo election, it disclosed

that a national election campaign council had been inaugurated for the Edo State election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that members of the forum also paid a visit on the Crowned Prince of Benin Kingdom, Eheneden Eradiauwa.

Director’s premature retirement causes stir in Labour Institute

By Moses Alao AN uneasy calm has taken over the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, over the reported premature retirement of a director in the institute by its immediate past DirectorGeneral.

The development, Sunday Tribune gathered, has been generating ripples in the institution and its parent body, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The affected staffer, one

Mrs Modina Omolara Folorunso, who was until her reported retirement in December 2015 a director in the institute’s Training Faculty, Sunday Tribune sources stated, had cause to write a petition to the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, protesting her treatment, which she described as “an unfair labour practice and victimisation.”

Inside sources said the development had been taken up by even Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, Research

Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRAI), which has vowed to push for her reinstatement by even taking the use to the National Industrial Court.

According to them, the problem had started in December 2015, when the immediate past DirectorGeneral of the institute, Dr John Olanrewaju, retired Mrs Folorunso, who was the most senior director that should have taken over from him in acting capacity, citing a directive of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that Folorunso did

not “possess the minimum academic requirement required for lateral conversion as a director on CONRAISS 15 to academic officer cadre” and that based on the now suspended Public Service Rules 020810 that “a director shall compulsorily retire upon serving eight years on the post.”

The sources, however, stated that Folorunso should not have been retired, noting that as a staffer in the Training/Education Faculty of the institute, who became a director due to appointment rather than pro-

motion, the public service rule should not have applied to her.

When contacted, the President of the Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRAI), Dr Benjamin Akintola, said the association had been on Mrs Folorunso’s case for some time, noting that it has instructed its lawyers to proceed to the National Industrial Court for appropriate action on the matter.

According to Akintola, in

a telephone chat with Sunday Tribune, “when the immediate past DG was retiring from the institute, he handed over to an officer that he liked, instead of handing over to the next officer in line in terms of seniority. With the connivance of some ministry officials, he was able to do that and he hid under the public service rule that directors that have spent up to eight years should retire. But that rule does not affect directors in research institutes, because they are regarded as academic staff.

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17 July, 2016

crimereports

Sunday Tribune

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

Police rescue policeman’s kidnapped 7-yr-old girl, woman in Delta Nab 48 male, female suspected cult members Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

O

PERATIVES of the Delta State Police Command have rescued two victims from their kidnappers at various locations in Delta State.

The victims, wife of one Mr Joseph Otemowo, an engineer, and seven-yearold Gift James who is a daughter of a policeman, were abducted at separate locations in the state.

Mrs Otemowo, according to the police, was kidnapped at the early hours of Monday, July 11, by four hoodlums who invaded her house at Ogini Road, Oghara, and whisked her away in her Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle with registration number GRA 911 KH. It was gathered that police operatives, assisted by local vigilance group members, trailed the abductors to their hideout at Ologbo bush after they demanded ransom. An exchange of fire between the hoodlums and policemen ensued and one of the suspects, God’stime, was shot and arrested while the other three escaped.

The victim was eventually rescued unhurt while the injured suspect died on the way to the hospital for medical attention.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, a Superintendent of Police, who confirmed the two incidents, said that a locally-made pistol, a cartridge and a mobile phone were recovered from the dead suspect while investigations were ongoing to nab the other fleeing suspects.

Meanwhile, the seven-year-old victim, Gift James, disclosed to Crime Reports that she was kidnapped at Onicha-Olona in the morning of July 4 when she was running an errand.

Her abductors were said

The suspects to have operated in a black Nissan X-Terra SUV with registration number DDT

012 02 and were headed to Issele-Azagba when police patrol team on Benin/Asa-

ba road, acting on a tip-off, pursued the suspects. But they reportedly fled into a

nearby bush, abandoning their vehicle and the victim at a feeder road.

Also, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested 48 male and female youths suspected to be cult members at a location in Warri, Delta State.

The suspects, 36 males and 12 females, were said to be members of the Neo Black Movement (Black Axe) and were rounded up at night on July 7 during an alleged ongoing initiation and anniversary ceremonies.

Crime Reports gathered that they were rounded up around a hotel (names withheld) at Okuokoko in Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

Losing my bike to armed robbers made me to join crime —Robbery suspect

By Oluwatoyin Malik

THE many entry and exit points within Ologuneru and Ile Titun communities in Ido Local Government Areas of Oyo State have made many residents fall victims of armed robbers operating on motorcycles in the past, watching helplessly as their valuables were forcibly taken from them.

But one of the two gang members who struck on July 4, Adegboyega Saheed (32), met his Waterloo as he was nabbed while escaping with the property of two victims they robbed.

Disclosing this to Crime Reports on Thursday, July 14, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, said the suspect and his partner in crime, Idris, who is at large, invaded the shop of one Mrs Ogundapo at Ile Titun community of NIHORT area, Ibadan and dispossessed her of valuable property, including N248,000.

“The same hoodlums also robbed one Kikelomo

The suspect Agbado at about 6.30p.m. same day and dispossessed her of her Samsung phone,” Oyebade said further, adding that a Bajaj motorcycle with registration number KNN 816 VW which was used for the robbery operation was recovered by his command.

One of the victims, Mrs Ogundapo, who spoke with

Crime Reports, narrated her experience thus: “At about 6p.m. on Monday July 4, two guys on a motorbike parked in front of my shop at Ile Titun community of NIHORT area, Ibadan. One of them came to me, pointed a gun at me and said ‘Madam, if you shout, we will kill you.

“He picked my ipad

and my bag containing N248,000, ATM card and identity card. His partner remained on the bike with its engine running. The bikeman also showed me a knife, warning me to keep quiet or they would waste my life. Immediately they took those things, they sped off. I saw an okada man and pleaded with him to help me pursue them, which he did, but he missed them.

“Fortunately, as he was returning to his house, he saw some people gathered round a thief they apprehended and noticed that he had my phone with him because of my picture on the screen. He came to alert me and I went there. I met policemen there and got my phone back but his partner went away with my bag.”

The suspect, Saheed, who confessed to the crime, said “I went to rob and I was caught. My partner, Idris, and I went to Ile Titun area of Ibadan to rob the residents. He was the one snatching the bags and phones while I waited on the bike, with its engine

running, for easy getaway.

“We saw a woman sitting by her shop by the road side. My partner asked me to stop and he went to take the woman’s bag and phone. We did not have any weapon; we only frightened our victim with a phone wrapped with handkerchief which my partner made to look like a gun.

“We left the woman and he directed me to another area. I told him I didn’t have the heart to continue but he said I should be bold. He went to another woman and demanded for her phone and money. I didn’t know what he collected but he jumped on the bike and I sped off.

People raised the alarm and we were pursued.

Unfortunately for me, he jumped off the bike and escaped while I was caught.”

The suspect said the reason he decided to join his friend for robbery was that he was at his tether’s end and didn’t know how to survive after his bike was snatched in 2015 and he had an accident this year.

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crimereports

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Why we came to Nigeria to snatch vehicles —Beninois suspects

By Oluwatoyin Malik

T

WO foreigners from the Republic of Benin, Shefiu Kareem and Kola Isiaka, who were suspected members of car-snatching gang operating within Ogun and Lagos states, have said that they came to carry out robbery operations with others because they were jobless and couldn’t resist the invitation to make money.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, who paraded the suspects and two others, Abiodun Arapanjo and Adebayo Salako, on Tuesday, July 12, told Crime Reports that his command received a distress call from Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos State that armed robbers snatched a Toyota Highlander 2014 model at Fagba in Lagos and were heading for Oja Odan in Ogun State.

“When we got the information, Federal SARS, Ogun State, moved to the area and arrested four suspects while others escaped. An AK-47 rifle and the Toyota Highlander were recovered from them,” Ali said.

Crime Reports gathered that immediately the gang leader, one Peter, saw that the snatched vehicle could no longer move, he abandoned it close to his residence in Oja Odan and gave his AK-47 rifle to his brother, Abiodun, to keep for him. Adebayo Salako, who also happened to be Peter’s relation, was said to be privy of his criminal activities and also agreed to keep the gun for him.

In an interview with Crime Reports, Shefiu (33), from Igollo in Republic of Benin, said: “I was called by one Peter to join him in snatching car since I know how to drive. This is my first time of joining him for robbery, though he had invited me while I still had a job. I decided to join because I lost my job and had nothing to do.

“He took me to Sango area one evening around 7p.m. and he blocked our target with the operational car, a Mazda 323. Peter was the one who held the AK-47 rifle we used for the operation. After snatching the vehicle from its owner, Peter drove it towards his

The suspects house but it broke down.

“He left the vehicle and gave his gun to his brother to keep. We also left the place and went to Sango area. Unknown to us, someone saw us and in-

formed the police. When they asked about the gun, I took them to Peter’s brother and it was recovered.”

On why he left his country to perpetrate crime in Nigeria, Shefiu said he was

invited by Peter, but stated that he regretted his decision.

Crime Reports learnt that Peter is an indigene of Oja Odan but used to go to Benin Republic for busi-

ness. “He used to smuggle frozen turkey into Nigeria.

That was how I knew him.

Our gang members were Popo, Peter, Fagba, Alex and Kola,” Shefiu disclosed further.

The second foreigner, Kola (23), also stated thus: “I am from Takodi in Benin Republic. This is the first time I am joining Peter for robbery. I am a motorcycle rider and he asked me to convey him from Benin Republic to Nigeria. When we got there, he took the bike from me and asked me to enter his operational car.

“We snatched a vehicle but as we were taking it to Oja Odan, it broke down.

He left the vehicle and took us away in his operational car. But some people who saw us called Shefiu and he told me that we had been sighted. We left for Sango area and police arrested us there. We did not waste time in confessing to the crime we committed and also took them to where Peter kept his gun with his brother.”

Two filling station workers who led robbery gang to company, 4 others nabbed in Ogun

By Oluwatoyin Malik

TWO staff members of Ocean Grace filling station in Ilogbo Ota, Ogun State, Olukoya Shola and Makinde Femi, who felt they could pull a fast one on their boss by leading a robbery gang to rob the company of a sum of N2.5 million, are currently wringing their fingers in regret inside the police cell in Ogun State, after they were arrested by the operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Also arrested were Akinola Jacob, who was one of the 10-member gang who invaded the filling station, and Samson Adebowale, Adetunji Sikiru and Oridola Michael, who were said to be suspected Aye cult members who got a share from the gang’s loot.

Crime Reports learnt that Shola, a technician and Femi, an attendant, both working with the filling station, connived with some hoodlums and went to the company at midnight on June 24. Armed with gun, they destroyed the burglar proof of the room where the proceeds of the previous day’s sales were kept and went away with it.

Speaking on the arrest of the suspects at the police headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, July 12, the state Commissioner

The suspects of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, told Crime Reports that after the report of the robbery to the Special AntiRobbery Squad attached to the Area Command, Ota, a diligent investigation led to the arrest of six suspects connected to the crime.

In his confession to Crime Reports, one of the staff member, Shola (27) said: “I believe my planning a robbery attack on the filling station was the devil’s work. On the day we came about the idea of robbing the station while at a drink joint, it was like the devil entered the spirit of one of my friends, Sky, who suggested to one of the filling station’s attendant, Femi, that they should come and carry out robbery operation there.

“Initially, Femi opposed the idea, telling him that he would not allow such a thing in his workplace. But he succumbed eventually when Sky pleaded with him and promised that he was going to give him his share of the loot if the operation was successful.

“On the day the operation was carried out, we went to the filling station at midnight, removed two pipes from the burglar proof and went to where money was usually kept. I learnt that the money was N2.5 million and I was given N200,000. I was in the office few days after when the police came to arrest me.”

In his own confession, Femi (24) stated: “It was Sky who suggested the

robbery idea. He lived along the street where the filling station is situated and used to come around to play with us. He asked whether I knew where daily proceeds were being kept and I said yes.

“He arranged his friends and we were 10 in number. When they came, they called me and I went to join them. They went in, picked the money and gave me N200,000. I continued to go to work but when investigation started, I became afraid and kept off work for about four days. I went back the fifth day and I was arrested.

“Three members of Aye Confraternity, Samson, Sikiru and Michael, started threatening to expose me if I did not give them their share,

after they got to know that I was involved in the robbery, so I gave them N20,000. I spent N60,000 and kept the remaining N120,000 before my arrest.”

Another gang member, Jacob (24), also said that “it was Sky who called me for the operation and I was given N150,000 as my share. I intended to travel to Libya with the money.

Others who participated in the robbery were Sky, Dollar, Mayowa, Pata Nla, Seyi, Fatai, Femi and Shola. We had a gun which was brought by Sky. I don’t know where he got it from.

This is my first time of getting involved in crime and I agreed with the plan because I grew up with most of them in Ilogbo neighbourhood.”

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17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Nigerians in UK who earn less than £35,000 yearly may be deported

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RITISH Prime Minister, Theresa May, is facing calls to rethink the “discriminatory” new earnings threshold of £35,000 for non-European Union migrants including Nigerians and other Africans that could starve Britain of vital talent in the teaching, charity and entrepreneur sectors when the changes take effect in April.

Overseas workers who have lived in the UK for five years will have to prove they will be paid the new minimum threshold in order to stay in the country.

Those who fail to demonstrate earnings of more than £35,000 will be denied settlement in the UK and will face deportation according to the new Home Office policy.

The government temporarily exempted nurses from the new rules last autumn in response to fears about widespread shortages of workers across the NHS. But the earnings threshold could be applied to migrant nurses in the future should the government decide to take them off the Shortage Occupation List.

Former Cabinet minister, Alistair Carmichael,

who was David Cameron’s Scottish Secretary before the election, told The Independent of UK that discriminating on the basis of income would harm the UK’s place at the “forefront of the global economy,” while shadow immigration minister, Keir Starmer, said there were “real concerns” over how key industries would be affected.

Mr Starmer, who served as the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, urged ministers to “look more closely” at the threshold, which is currently £20,800 – around £5,000 less than the average UK salary.

A petition launched earlier last week to try to force the government to rethink the sharp rise in the minimum income requirements has attracted more than 2,000 signatures.

Joshua Harbord, who set up the petition on the Parliament website, told The Independent that he decided to take action because he knew a number of “incredibly upset and scared” people who were set to be affected by the changes but had no one speaking up on their behalf.

“These aren’t the benefits-scrounging, babysprouting terrorists that

everyone seems so afraid of,” he said.

“They’re people who have

worked in the UK for years, making friends and families, building homes and

communities and contributing to this country’s culture and economy.”

Govts use agriculture to steal in Nigeria —Obasanjo

By Tunde Ogunesan

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has decried the direct involvement of government in agriculture, noting that it had been with an ulterior motive “to steal.”

The former president, who averred that government at all levels has no business being directly involved in agricultural production, saying such practice in the past was as a reason for corruption in the agricultural sector in the country.

Obasanjo made these statements while delivering the first eminent person’s business lecture of the University of Ibadan School of Business (UISB) in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), held at the International Conference, University of Ibadan, on Saturday.

During the lecture entitled “Agribusiness: Time to act is now,” the former president, who traced

the historical development of agriculture in sustaining the country’s economy, posited that it still remained the largest employer of labour if well harnessed.

He said, “in the past, the greatest bane of agriculture had been lack of continuity and consistency in government policy.

Maybe, the present situation in which we found ourselves in our economy and the low prices of oil will be a blessing in disguise; to wake us up to the reality of agriculture as the mainstay of our economy and as a renewable system of production compared to oil and gas.

“Agriculture cannot be practised without government support with good policy and incentive. But government being a direct producer has never worked and it will never work in agriculture.

“In recent times, government leaders have made government to go directly

into agricultural production and it has been an ulterior motive for stealing. I have seen a poultry house of a state government’s poultry production with two-weeks-old birds on the floor and the floor was as clean as if you haven’t put any bird there. No faeces, no water dropping. It was devised by the governor of that state for the purpose of stealing and he stole.”

Obasanjo, who had earlier listed the challenges facing agriculture in Nigeria, called on government to focus on provision of “infrastructure for storage, stability and ability of pricing in agricultural commodities, agricultural financing to be kept at single digits rate of interest,” among others.

He then advised that agricultural business must be glamorised in Nigeria to attract youths, counselling practitioners and governments to adopt and adapt best practices

from within and from outside Nigeria.

Obasanjo also said that the fall in prices of oil at the world market, which he said might be a blessing in disguise, has contributed to economic hardship and collapse in businesses, noting that to overcome these challenges, “all hands must be on deck to practically embrace agriculture and not just on papers.”

Earlier in his speech entitled “Contextual Foundation for Eminent Persons’ Business Lecture,” chairman UISB, Professor Ademola Ariyo, said the lecture would be an annual lecture by “universally acknowledged as really eminent persons in any of UISB areas.”

The vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, while speaking, affirmed the institution’s determination to contribute its quota to the development of agribusiness in Nigeria.

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17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Hope rises for boy with severed genitals

Doctors say he can procreate in future Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

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EDICAL experts have raised hope that the two- monthold baby boy, Buhari Dauda, whose genitals were severed recently in Niger State by one Ramatu Rabiu, his stepmother, is capable of living a normal life, as well as being able to procreate even with the stump of his remaining genitals.

Hope was raised last Tuesday, following a successful penile surgery conducted on him by a team of medical experts led by a paediatric surgeon, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi and a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Edward Bala, at the state owned Ibrahim Babangida Specialised Hospital in Minna, the state capital.

Prior to the operation, which commenced at about 9:35 a.m on Tuesday and lasted for almost three hours, the leader of the team, Dr. Abdullahi told journalists that the essence of the surgery was to put the little boy’s scrotum in a proper position and in a sack by the plastic and reconstructive surgeon from the National Centre for Plastic Re-Constructive Surgery, Enugu, Enugu State.

At the end of the three-hour surgery, the medical experts declared that it was more than 90 per cent successful. Abdullahi added that the next surgery on little Buhari Dauda would take place after the age of 12, saying “we will monitor his chances of recovery and a psychologist will be attached to him so that he did not hate women when he grows up into a full-blown adult.”

He added that “if he is the type that has a long penis, he might not need any transplant in the future, but if he is the type that has a small penis, we will need to look for a part to add to the stump to make it longer.”

He disclosed further before the surgery that the penile surgery was the second stage operation performed by his team on the little boy, stressing that Buhari Dauda had the first operation when he was brought from his village in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday, 22 June, 2016.

“And at the time he came to the hospital, there were some tissues that were cut off and were dead as we have had to do what we call ‘debrimore’ to clean the dead and dying parts minimally so that we can spare as much as possible vital parts of his body. We were also able to divert his urine during that first time. So, since then, he has been on dressing and other care. So he has done well.

“We are supposed to have done this surgery before now, but we did not do it because he had some infections prior to his coming to the IBB Specialised Hospital, Minna. The genital was contaminated with rags from home in an attempt to control bleeding and then faeces also entered the penis . But now we have seen it clinically and by laboratory evidence, that there is no germ there, so we are going to proceed,” he stated.

Also in a separate interview, before the operation the plastic surgeon, Dr Bala,

spoke with journalists on the surgery and what to expect.

“I am Dr Edward Bala, a plastic surgeon. We are here for the surgery, we want to re-create the scrotum. We want to simulate nature, so that is what we are here for. The patient, Buhari Dauda, having lost the genitals, we have to create one for him. But this is just the beginning.

“Subsequently, the patient might need other surgeries in the future. But today, the surgery is to close the defects; we want to cover the testis. That is what we are going to do today. But we don’t want to talk (for now) about his performing as a man when he grows up because he is still a child,” he said.

The plastic surgeon, however, promised that he and his other colleagues would see what could be done to ensure that the little boy lives a normal life, saying: “we will see what we can do, but he has a future before him because he is just two months old.

He added that “if he is going to spend 60 years in life, he would need to grow and the organ that is left needs to also grow.

Then subsequently, we would see how we can enhance and augment it.”

He, however, assured that he and his team-mates would give the treatment of the boy a multi-disciplinary approach, emphasising that among the experts assembled by the Niger State government to carry out the operation on the little boy were paediatric surgeons and plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

“Neurologists have also been called upon for their views and they saw it and we had a conference with them. And what they said was that there is hope. So, in essence, hope is not lost. We would do whatever is possible within our limit here and outside, because the world is a collaborative world for good results.

“So, we discussed with the Neurologist whose skills and trainings are about genitals; he is the one that will tell us better, but he has said hope is not lost. We have met over it; we have collaborated and agreed that hope is not lost.

“He said to us that the stump that is left, we should put a tack mark on it so that in the future when we want to do an operation, we would identify it quickly and augment it. And there are many options available for augmentation. There are options, penile lengthening is one for instance;

some people naturally have small penises and they might say they want to augment their penises to make them longer. So, that is one of the options available to this child.

“So, as we are going in today, we hope to scrape the scrotum then when the stump is still there we are now reconstructing the penis because he came late. At about the time he came here, what has been cut cannot be re-attached.

“If he had come earlier, the reverse would have been the case, but he came 16 hours after the penis had been cut off. That means the chance of re-attachment is gone. But despite that, the hope is still high,” he concluded.

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17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

feature Of fake varsities, fake students, fake degrees

CLEMENT IDOKO in this report writes that following the recent discovery and closing down of a four-year-old illegal university in Delta State, fresh questions are being asked by Nigerians on how such institutions escaped the prying eyes of the National Universities Commission and what became of the students of such illegal institutions.

Excited students at their graduation ceremony

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VER and over again, thousands of Nigerian youths continue to fall victim of promoters of illegal universities in the country. The obsession with certificates and university degrees at all cost has not helped matters as well.

Quantity rather than quality had become the standard, as many graduates have become hardly employable. The craze for degrees had also led some people to establish illegal and substandard universities. However, with the relentless war declared against the upsurge of the illegal varsities by the National Universities Commission (NUC), which is the regulatory body in charge of university administration in Nigeria, the tide went down until recently when a four-year-old fake university, World Mission University, Abraka, in Delta State, was discovered.

According to reports, officials of the NUC in collaboration with men of the Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC) stormed the university and arrested its coordinator and support staff. It was learnt that before being discovered and closed down, the university had been functioning as a satellite campus of a university based in the United States with its African zonal headquarters in South Africa. It was running a scholar-

ship admission for a four-year degree programme and six months Diploma courses in various disciplines.

The courses offered included Nursing, Public Health, Engineering (Civil, Mechanical and Electrical), Management and Administration, Mass Communication, Political Science, Industrial Safety, Web Designing, Computer Networking, Computer Engineering and Vocational Studies. The institution had an enrolment figure of 84 students reportedly tutored by “volunteer-lecturers” while its first graduation ceremony was slated for August this year.

The NUC, during the raid, discovered that one of the rooms used in the “university building” was for the training of nurses and other Medical Science students but without the necessary equipment.

According to reports, after a rigorous interrogation of the Coordinator, Mrs. Hannah Lucky, the NUC team carted away files, handbills, desktop computers, laptops, admission forms and other documents relating to the university operations.

Sunday Tribune recalls that in November 2012, one Mr. Oketa Lazarus, 32, a cobbler, resident in Abuja, had wanted to upgrade himself academically. He got an ad-

mission offer into ‘Temple University, Abuja’ to study Economics. He parted with the sum of N62,000 for admission forms, processing fees and school fees because he did not need to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

He was preparing for resumption when he discovered to his chagrin that the NUC had raided the ‘office’ of the non-existent university and arrested its promoter.

The operator of Temple University, Philadelphia, USA, then located at the Nazareth Children International Academy Nursery and Primary School, Orozo, Abuja, Mr. Pius Nwachukwu, and his wife, Mrs. Chika Pius, were arrested during the raid and handed over to the police.

Convicting the culprits Mr. Lazarus is just one out of many Nigerians who have suffered similar fate. More would have been subjected to the same fate if not that the NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, set up a crack team within the commission in a war against the ‘degree mills’ as the Continues

pg 11

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Sunday Tribune

‘Students, promoters of illegal varsities are criminals’

Adamu Adamu, Education Minister Continued from

Professor-Julius-Okojie, NUC Executive Secretary pg 10

commission calls them.

Investigation has revealed that so far, NUC has blacklisted and closed down 58 illegal universities operating in Nigeria. In addition, about eight other ‘degree mills’ are currently undergoing further investigations and/or ongoing court actions.

The purpose of these actions, according to NUC, was to prosecute the proprietors and recover illegal fees and charges collected from their victims. The commission in this direction recently recorded a major feat in its fight against illegal universities when it secured the conviction of one Mr. Francis John Agbo, the proprietor of an illegal varsity, Middle Belt University and North Central University. Agbo, who allegedly also posed as the Director of Research and Innovation of the commission, was convicted on a two-count charge of impersonation and forgery.

He was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, without an option of fine by Justice Ali Tari Changbo of the Upper Area Court, Keffi, Nasarawa State. The convict had also claimed to be a senior academic staff member of the Nasarawa State University, Lafia, in order to defraud unsuspecting admission-seeking members of the public.

Fake addresses Out of the 57 universities listed by the NUC, only six are either based or have study centres in Lagos. They are University of Industry, Yaba; International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study Centres; ECCouncil University, USA, Ikeja, Lagos Study Centre.

Others are: Halifax Gateway University, Ikeja, Lagos; University of Accountability and Management Studies, Mowe, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and its annex at 41, Ikorodu Road, Lagos; and Evangel University of America and Chudrick Management Academy, Lagos.

As is the case with most of the schools in the complete list, there is little to suggest the exact location of the universities, including the street names and numbers. Only the annex of the University of Accountability and Management Studies has what looked like a complete address: 41 Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

However, when Sunday Tribune visited this address at Ikorodu Road recently, there was no sign of any school there. The small, white one-storey building close to the bridge at the Jibowu end of Ikorodu Road belonged, in fact, to a transport company, Fairplus. A room on the ground floor was a barbershop. A middle-aged man who stood at the entrance said he had never heard of the uni-

versity.

Keeping up the pressure Acting Director, Information and Public Relations of NUC, Malam Ibrahim Usman Yakassai, who spoke to Sunday Tribune on the recent development, however, said following intensive sensitisation and collaboration with relevant security agencies, the commission had successfully suppressed the upsurge of illegal universities in Nigeria.

“NUC has not relented on the issue of illegal universities in Nigeria. We have a committee, comprising the EFCC, ICPC and the police and when we hear news of any illegal university anywhere, we swoop on them. We have had some prosecutions and convictions. But most importantly as we said and we are still saying, no illegal university has ever graduated anybody in Nigeria. They are fraudsters whose intentions are to extort money from people. They are set up basically to collect money and then run away.

“Our efforts are ongoing and we have never relented.

When we hear any information, no matter how little, we act big. We maintain the list of illegal universities on our weekly publication, not because they exist but to have that name etched in the memory of Nigerians, that once upon a time, there was an illegal university with this name and anywhere they see it, (they must know) it doesn’t exist,” he said.

On why it took the commission several years in some cases before unraveling such illegal universities, Yakassai said: “We did a sensitisation exercise all over this country. During the exercise, we visited state governors, tradi-

When you know that admission in this country is centrally done, and you must have a JAMB admission letter; so, how do you go to where they will tell you admission is free without JAMB letter?

tional rulers, opinion leaders, and we have been speaking in the media, making announcements and putting up advertisements. So, when a community decides to harbour an illegal university without letting us know in good time, that is not the fault of NUC; but one thing I can assure you is that none had existed up to the point of graduating the students before we discover them.”

On what happened to the students who had enrolled in such illegal universities, the NUC spokesman said as far as the commission was concerned, the so-called students were simply fraudsters.

“We all know the procedure for admission in this country; it is only gained through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Admission is centralised.

So, anybody going to any illegal university is also a criminal. They knew that those universities were illegal. How will they present their certificate anywhere? They knew what they were doing. There may be a few of them who may not know and for them, it is a pity.

“We always say in our public enlightenment campaigns that when in doubt, ask NUC. We have telephone numbers and website addresses and we publish on weekly basis list of approved universities and illegal universities.

Sometimes, we publish in the newspapers, just for people to know and for us to maintain sanity in the system,” he said.

“They may attempt to, but some of them run from pillar to post. If you pursue them from point A, they run to point B. Their aim is not to graduate students but to collect money under the guise of a university (admission) and disappear. They collect money not only from unsuspecting Nigerians but criminals also. When you know that admission in this country is centrally done, and you must have a JAMB admission letter; so, how do you go to where they will tell you admission is free without JAMB letter? Our advice has always been the same. Always refer to NUC, refer to JAMB, even the National Youth Service Corps has the list of approved universities,” he added.

The commission has also warned that anybody who patronises or obtains any certificate from any illegal institutions does that at his or her own risk, insisting that certificates obtained from these sources will not be recognised for the purpose of youth service, employment, and further studies.

Sunday Tribune investigation to trace students or former students of fake universities was not fruitful.

None was ready to admit that they were once students in the illegal universities. Even those who were identified by our sources as having been students of such universities denied ever being there.

Professor Okojie had also explained that any university that does not have the NUC licence is an illegal one, saying the commission has a procedure of giving out licences to universities.

“If you are proposing to establish a private university, after you must have written on your intention to us, we invite you for interaction. Thereafter, we allow you to buy the form, fill and return it to us. This is in addition to other requirements.

“You must have an academic brief, a master plan, an acceptable university law, a required land size, and at least N200 million bank guarantee deposit to run that university for a number of years for us to know that you are really serious. The process starts with the NUC but does not end with it. It ends with the Federal Executive Council after the NUC management has been satisfied with all the procedures.

“We have more than one monitoring unit. First of all, we have what we call the permanent Standing Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU) comprising professors, NUC staff and experts. They are the ones who visit proposed universities, keep interacting with proprietors and reviewing their documents. We also have a monitoring and inspection department, as well as an accreditation and quality assurance department. So, almost all our departments are involved in licensing and monitoring of private universities,” he stated.

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Sunday Tribune

How DPO gave station a facelift

In this report, ALPHONSUS AGBORH writes on the initiative of a police officer who through the re-energizing of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) gave a Divisional Headquarters in Warri a facelift.

The new-look Divisional Headquarters

“I

T is impressive, recommendable and indeed a great achievement of a police officer.

“I think the acting Inspector General of Police “Ibrahim Idris should see this development any time he comes to Delta state.”

With these words, the new Delta State Commissioner of Police, Zana Ibrahim commended the face-lift given to a police station in the oil city of Warri, an effort embarked upon by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of B Division Okumagba Avenue, Chief Supritendent of Police Anietie Eyoh.

It may be rare but it is true that this police officer had the conviction that wherever one finds himself is home which should be made comfortable for everyone, especially officers and men of the police to work.

That was the spirit that propelled CSP Eyoh to embark on the reconstruction of a Divisional Police Headquarters in Warri.

Faced with the dilapidated structures on assumption of duties about a year ago as DPO in charge of B division in Okumagba Avenue, Warri, CSP Eyoh, like the biblical Nehemiah desired to embark on a reformative initiative by re-energizing the Police Community Relations Committee in the area towards structural development.

Today, a two-storey and one-storey buildings, among others are under construction as the station became a huge construction site under the watchful eyes of CSP Eyoh, just to enhance the working conditions of his men and officers.

Eyoh initiated the first phase of the project by fencing round the entire space as against the barb-wire fencing he met on ground, which did not provide a water tight security and thus put the lives of men and officers working at the station at the risk of possible attacks by miscreants and cult members.

There were scepticisms among residents of Okumagba Avenue, including police officers who still could not reconcile the essence of embarking on such a developmental project which only the federal government has the sole responsibility of carrying out. But they were proved wrong.

The building of a security tower and Quarter Guard in addition to the concrete flooring of the water-logged areas within the premises from the entrance point was another achievement.

This he was able to complete together with the painting of the fence and other new structures within the division to enhance its overall beauty.

CSP Eyoh CSP Eyoh followed up this initial success by laying the foundation of a building complex that would accommodate the officers’ mess, gym, sick bay, standard canteen, accommodation and few offices based on the design of the master plan he got from his European trip which he not only flaunts for everyone to see, but also printed as handbill to give to visitors and various stakeholders alike.

Not only this, CSP Eyoh further embarked on another building complex that would accommodate various administrative offices, information and cyber-café centre, conducive detention rooms popularly known as cell, one of which must have a VIP feature for special suspects, a befitting reception for visitors and a well-furnished conference hall for regular meetings with various stakeholders on how to combat the security challenges within the area.

Elated by the achievement of the senior police officer due to the impressive aesthetics and the general ambience of the station, while commissioning the first phase of the project during one of his visits to the divisional headquarters, the immediate past Commissioner of Police Alkali Baba Usman, described the project as a highly commendable initiative which is very rare to find among officers posted to serve in that capacity anywhere in the country.

His word: “I’m very happy to be here today to commission these various projects embarked upon by the Police Community Relations in ‘B Division’ Avenue, Warri, Delta state. I am particularly happy that one of my Officers, CSP Anietie Eyoh has displayed a rare sense of visionary leadership by fully maximising the potentials of the PCRC in his division and translating such to infrastructural growth currently going-on in the unit in order to

enhance professionalism among men and officers posted to serve in this division.”

In his speech, the Chairman of PCRC ‘B Division’, Okumagba Avenue, Warri, Mr, Christopher Otumu, appreciated various individuals, corporate bodies, youth bodies, professional groups and other stakeholders within the community who have shown a high sense of commitment to the on-going project in the division.

Mr. Otumu who commended `CSP Eyoh, for recognising the importance of PCRC since assumption of office at the division, said that the cooperation extended to him by the community was based on his commitment to work and that his relentless efforts in fighting crimes and other social vices within the community has yielded positive results in reducing crime waves in the area.

The PCRC Chairman who estimated the cost so far expended on the project at over N10m, urged individuals, corporate bodies and groups who had pledged donations during the fund raising event to redeem their pledge in order to enable the project go on smoothly and completed at a record time.

Both the Chairman, Warri South Local Government Area, Hon. Matthew Mofe Edema, and the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Anthony Nwangwu, the CEO Lightworld and Industries, extolled the leadership virtue of CSP Eyoh, noting that he has singled out himself as a man with a large heart who is determined to contribute his own little quota to nation building at whatever level he found himself.

In his speech, the DPO, ‘B Division’ Avenue, Warri, CSP Anietie Eyoh, said the passion to enhance the living standards of the environment he found himself did not start today as it dates back to his youthful days while in school, to his early days in the force based on his conviction that wherever people find themselves is their home and therefore should be made to be convenient for all and sundry. ”Permit me to say that the inspiration to leave an office better than I met it started many years ago. I was inspired and encouraged by my great supervisors. I have always left my mark everywhere I go. It dates back to my days as the P&G Orlu Division in Imo State between 2002 and 2003 where I carried out the repair of a 504 pickup van that was abandoned for over four years personally and it became useful as an operational vehicle under my watch.

“Let me also salute the leadership of members of the ‘B Division PCRC who made it possible for us to build a wall fence round the station as well as the completion of the Quarter Guard and charge room of the division,” he said.

13 Continued from

I

17 July, 2016 last week

NORDER to prevent invoice-loading, a Swiss Company is appointed as our sole agent for doing preshipment inspection of goods intended for export into Nigeria from any part of the world. The Swiss Company has a staff of about 900, spread all over the countries with which Nigeria has import business. The public has not been told what the remuneration of this Swiss Company is, nor have we been informed of how much we expect to save in foreign exchange by employing the services of this Swiss Company.

In the one case, a writer in the Daily Times of Nigeria has stated that the remuneration of the Swiss Company was a commission of 8 per cent on all goods inspected by them and exported to Nigeria.

This percentage has not yet, to my knowledge, been publicly corrected. Some other people have suggested 2 per cent. In the other case, it is understood that, by employing the services of the Swiss Company in determining the true value of exports to Nigeria and thereby preventing invoice-loading, we would save something of the order of N 200 million a year.

If exports to Nigeria are conservatively valued at just 6 billion a year, then at 2 per cent or 8 per cent of the remuneration of the Swiss Company would respectively be * 120 million or just 480 million! The lower remuneration does not offer much savings; the larger one is decidedly a colossal loss.

Whatever the percentage rate of remuneration, it is a grave error to base such remuneration on the value of exports to Nigeria. Unless all the 900 employees of the Swiss Company are angels, it is a clear invitation to many of them to collude ar conspire with the exporters in continuing the practice of invoice-loading. For, the higher the value of exports, the larger the remuneration.

Besides, there are other sources of loss to. the economy which are not easily quantifiable.

The view is widely held that the operation of Decree No .. 36 of 1978 has considerably slowed down the flow of foreign goods into the country. Two of the immediate effects of these are that there will very Soon be a serious shortage of goods in the country, and a resort to smuggling will be on the increase.

On our accession to power, we will certainly not hesitate to terminate a system which is so manifestly, even on the face of it, incapable of attaining its object. Another system will be substituted when the problem has been

Awo’s thoughts PATH TO NIGERIAN GREATNESS

On the campaign trail Whither the poor under the new dispensatlon*

fully studied in all its ramifications.

Another matter which galls a large section of our people is the recent ban on pools-betting. I understand that the aim of this ban is to promote morality among the Nigerian populace. What are we doing then about poker, bet-

Under the Unity Party of Nigeria, the universities will have complete autonomy in the choice of their Vice-Chancellors, and in the administration of their affairs

Sunday Tribune

ting at billiard game, speculation at the stock-exchange which is a form of sophisticated gambling? What are we doing about brothels and .night-clubs which are hat-beds of immorality?

In trying to promote morality in the country, we have chosen the weak low-income groups for immolation at the altar, rather than the big and dangerous disseminators of those evil practices which have had more pernicious, more deleterious, and more pervasive demonstration effects on our society than pools-betting. Just one last point. Far quite a long time now, the autonomy of our universities has suffered progressive erosion. The academic community which consists of same of our best intellectuals in the country cannot be trusted to elect their own Vice-Chancellor.

The National Universities commission is said to be over-bearing in its posture towards the Universities.

Some of the Chairmen of Councils regard themselves as over-seers not only of the administrative affairs of the universities, but also of their academic performances.

From year to year, the university authorities have to go cap-in-hand before the National Universities Commission for funds. Because of their federalisation, a ViceChancellor in, say Maiduguri or Ahmadu Bello, has to go all the way to Lagos for consultations. Above all, the Federal Commissioner for Education regards himself -and he is so regarded! — as the boss of the universities.

Under the Unity Party of Nigeria, the universities will have complete autonomy in the choice of their Vice-Chancellors, and in the administration of their affairs. Since under the UPN, education is tuition and textbook free at all levels, sufficient funds will always be made available to them by the Federal Government through the State Government to enable them to fulfil their objectives and programmes. With the exception of Ibadan and Lagos which for historical reasons, will remain under Federal Government auspices, every university should belong to the Government of the State in which it is situated. A highpowered body of experts, including all Vice-Chancellors, will be set up to look carefully into the present disabilities suffered by our universities and make re-commendations for guaranteeing academic freedom, and enhancing the morale of those who teach, research and work in these very important and indispensable institutions.

Concluded

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

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

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

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733 Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177

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South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

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Ikeja Marketing Office.

Block C, First Floor, Motorways centre, Opp., 7up Alausa, Ikeja.

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GOT NEWS?

Contact: sundaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com or call:08050498483

14

voxpop

17 July, 2016

Which will you like to have; quiet or elaborate wedding?

Following the present economic situation, Nigerians now have no option but to cut down all their spendings including that which require a big celebration such as wedding ceremonies. AYOADE ADERINTO spoke to people on their choice of wedding ceremony, with reference to the present economic state.

OPEYEMI QUADRI

Sunday Tribune

...I feel getting married doesn’t mean you should break a bank or spend a lot of money, you have to be cautious and go with what you can afford...

OLUWABUKUNMI-RUFUS OYEGBILE

I think it depends on my partner’s decision, but I can’t have a quiet wedding if I don’t have any issue or problem.

Marriage is a remarkable event in a person’s life so i think it should be celebrated properly and in a grand style.

I would prefer a quiet wedding because I would not like my wedding to be crowded and not organised. I would not like it if a lot of people come for the wedding and are not catered for. So in order to prevent rowdiness, I will prefer a quiet wedding where only few people are invited and they are properly taken care of.

OYINKANSOLA ADIGUN

AYODELE OGUNJOBI

I will choose an elaborate wedding because I feel those who settle for quiet weddings are those who have been involved in immoralities or had children out of wedlock. But if my fiance wants a quiet wedding, I will go with

An elaborate wedding would be suitable because weddings happen once in a life time.

So i want my wedding ceremony to be done in a unique way with the presence of my loved ones, friends and family and a lot of people.

that though I know I don’t think weddings should be done quietly.

ADENIJI OLAOLUWA I will prefer an elaborate wedding because marriage is a special phase in a man’s life, so i think it should be celebrated elaborately so that it can be the talk of the town.

MICHAEL EKPEH I think an elaborate wedding is the best since it’s one’s own wedding and one is not hiding something and both parties have agreed to get married without being forced. An elaborate wedding is more appropriate, official and preferable.

SADE OWOEYE I wouldn’t say a quiet wedding is preferrable neither an elaborate one. I will just prefer a simple and classy wedding.

I feel getting married doesn’t mean you should break a bank or spend a lot of

money, you have to be cautious and go with what you can afford so as not to run into debt, so i think a simple and classy wedding would be suitable.

15

17 July, 2016

children’sarena

Sunday Tribune

Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 0807 449 7425

Words from the kids

Can you live with your grandparents?

ALOMOGE HAPPINESS, SS 2, 16 years I cannot live with my grandparents because I won’t be getting the amount of care from them as I would from my parents. Moreover, they are old people; they won’t understand me like my parents. I will also not be free with them and I want to assume that since they are old people, they will also have old taste about things generally. They were brought up in the

Students are from BEVY High School, College Cresent, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

BARUWA AYOMIDE, SS 2, 15 years

traditional way so they will also want to do things in the old ways too. So, no matter how much they try, they still won’t be able to cope with me.

NWOSU NNENNA, SS 1, 15 years I cannot stay with my grandparents because I feel much safer and happier when I’m with my parents. I’m also closer to my parents than my grandparents. I feel my parents know me much better than my grandparents do and I don’t think my grandparents will understand me like my parents do. I won’t be able to express my feelings well like I do with my parents and they won’t be able to take good care of me, since they are in their old age.

JOHNSON JOSHUA, SS 1, 15 years Yes of course, I can stay with my grandparents because I would be able to do what I like rather than for me staying with my parents. I would gain access to everything I want to do because my grandparents love their grandchildren more than anything, so they are ready to satisfy our needs.

I will be happier staying with them because I will gain wisdom and knowledge from them because of their old experience in life.

ADEKEYE SAMUEL AYOMIDE, JSS 3, 13 years I cannot stay with my grand parents because I will be very uncomfortable and start misbehaving, I will be sent on several errands which I am not always comfortable with and I won’t be able to do things I want to do.

I can never live with my grandparents because they won’t be able to monitor my movements. For example, if my grandparents are crippled or let’s say they can’t walk again, what training do you think such grandparents will give to their grandchild? Also, they are old people and won’t be able to understand how civilised the world is now. They don’t know anything about bringing up girl who has reached puberty, in the civilised way.

OGUNMEFUN FIYINFOLUWA, SS 1, 14 years It is simple; I can’t stay with my grandparents because they won’t be able to satisfy my needs; for example, sending me to school. They won’t be able to handle and cope with me simply because of their old age. They won’t be able to take care of my feeding and clothing and other things that I need.

Famous invention Anemometer

A

N anemometer is a device used for measuring wind speed, and it is a common weather station instrument. The first known description of an anemometer was given

by Leon Battista Alberti around 1450.

Wind speed is indicated by the resulting change in liquid level. The tube, anemometer, had been known before, but in 1775, James Lind’s tube device became well known. In 1892, William Henry Dines’s anemometer, though different, was based on this early tube design.

Robinson’s design used four cups, but in 1926, John Patterson, a Canadian, developed a three-cup anemometer. Further improvements were made by Brevoort and Joiner (in America) in 1935, which increased accuracy.

The three cup anemometer developed by the Canadian John Patterson in 1926 and subsequent cup improvements by Brevoort & Joiner of the USA in 1935 led to a cupwheel design which was linear and had an error of less than three per cent up to 60 mph (97 km/h). Patterson found that each cup produced maximum torque when it was at 45 degrees to the wind flow.

Fun Fact Spiders have heart, veins arteries Do all spiders spin webs?

Spiders that do not spin webs do produce silk. Some live in burrows which they line with the silk from their silk glands.

Young spiders ride the wind on long silk threads in a process that is called ballooning.

Most spiders put their eggs into silk sacs.

How does a spider breath?

Some spiders have book lungs. A book lung has a stack of soft plates called lamellae.

Oxygen in the air passing between the lamellae diffuses through the tissue into the blood. Other spiders have tracheae which are breathing tubes held open by rings of chitin.

Do spiders have blood in them?

Yes. Spiders have an open, blood circulatory system.

This sort of blood system has a heart, arteries and veins but no capillaries. The heart is tubular with a single cavity and with valves to maintain the

flow of blood always in the same direction.

Why the spider is not an insect.

Scorpions, mites, and ticks are also part of the arachnid family. Arachnids are creatures with two body segments, eight legs, no wings or antennae and are not able to chew. Many people think that spiders are insects but they are mistaken since insects have six legs and three main body parts. Most insects have wings.

Pro verb

All lizards lay flat thus no one knows the one that is suffering from stomach ache.

– Be careful of people’s appearance for their intentions are hidden.

Puzzle

16

17 July, 2016

T

ODAY being the neo-Sabbath day of the Lord, I can feel all the rightness of this my unpopular position on the brutal murder of Deaconess Eunice Olawale, a spiritual worker in RCCG, by suspected Islam extremists in Abuja. In a vicious world of do-me, I-do-you, God-no-go-vex, my admonition may rankle many, especially those whose understanding of the leading of God isn’t beyond an-eye-for-an-eye.

In year 2000, my kid brother was brutally murdered in Owo, Ondo State. It was a gruesome killing by all measure.

I won’t go into details, but it tore and bore into us. With the most restricted, rarely prescribed and trustingly-effective sedative, injected to minimise my mother’s sorrow, she was alarmingly wide-awake when the news was broken to her by men of God. Despite being a fervent born-again, her faith and everyone’s was badly shaken. As of then, she was a widow of 10 years.

A few days before, the deceased older sister had given the family something to cheer with her wedding. Suspects were arrested. My mother had every reason to “fight.” She had those who could “fight” for her. I was the most-determined to “fight.” I wasn’t born-again and had all the right contacts to tap. I rejected pleas of traditional institutions then around Ondo State. I fired a petition to the then Inspector-General of Police. Friends in high places were more than willing to help. In the middle of all my vows for revenge, a certain night I passed at my mum’s place in Ilesa, she woke me up at midnight and passionately pleaded I left the whole matter to God. I initially resisted, but when she became extremely emotional, I melted. We drained our sorrow with others around in our tears and quietly nursed our wounded hearts until time healed it.

In 2005, medical personnel at U.C.H glaringly mishandled a domestic accident involving my daughter. Had she lived, it should have been her 14th birthday months back. I had better capacity to seek human justice than year 2000, but just a word from the Matron set my heart free from vengeance. I left it to God. Today, the two stories are sweeter.

I went into hurtful memories to answer the likely tu quo que (what about you) probing. When you try to persuade or dissuade, the first human test of your sincerity is Yoruba’s so se e ri (have you been there before), especially when someone is being admonished to move on in the face of perceived, real or imagined injustice.

By all intent, a grave injustice has been done the Olawales, the nine of them; murdered mum, the mourning widower and motherless seven kids, not only by the killers of the evangelist but by us all, who watched in bemusing numbness as our humanity gradually goes to the dogs. Eunice fell, not to

GENERAL Yakubu Gowon was reported to have said in his days as the nation’s military head of state that money was not Nigeria’s problem but what to do with it. But that seems to have changed over the last few months. Now, the country is bedeviled with as many problems with revenue generation as it has with disbursement. Currently, no fewer than 23 states have challenges with regular payment of workers’ wages. Even the Federal Government borrows to pay its workers.

How did we arrive at this sorry pass? How did we transit from Too Much Money Street to No Money Avenue?

Ours is a typical illustration of the story of a fool and his money. As the story goes, a fool and his money are soon parted.

As a consequence of our failure to make the most of the money we made without much labour, our oodles of money became our source of endless sorrows. Too much money stalled our thinking and stunted our development as the nation was engaged in a ballroom dance; one step forward and two backwards. The more money we made, the poorer we got and the more we borrowed. The more money we made, the faster our facilities failed. The more money we made, the higher the rate of unemployment rose in our country. The more money we made, the worse our education indicators got. Our abundant wealth choked us so much that it threatened to snuff life out of us.

Economists say a scale of preference becomes inevitable as a result of scarcity of resources. But Nigeria did not have any problem with scarce resources and subsequently did not engage in any time-wasting and energy-sapping planning. The leaders did whatever appealed to them. It was leadership by the rule of thumb. After all, money was not a problem. That is why development became haphazard. This explains why projects are routinely abandoned.

In Nigeria, most projects are usually a product of exigencies, once the urgency of the need abates, they are abandoned, irrespective of the huge sums of money already expended on such projects. The East-West road was conceived in 1972 by Alfred Diete-Spiff, then military governor of Rivers State, as a way of opening up the Niger Delta area, over 44 years later, the expanded road is still under construction.

Since 1999, efforts have been on to improve power gen-

0811 695 4647

olanreade@yahoo.com

Deaconess Olawale: We

are sincerely wrong!

the hate and intolerance of her killers and their patron Imam, but the coldness of our collective hypocritical religiousness.

What is religion? Rev. Sam Adesua, former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian Tribune, in his new book “The Clock of Man’s Life”, (as usual, he graciously autographed the copy he sent me) is succinct by the help of the Holy Spirit when he said, “But unfortunately, religion can only tell you about what is good and what is bad. It can tell you about things that are acceptable or unacceptable to the Supreme Being. Religions also present various injunctions

With Sulaimon Olanrewaju 08055001708

lanresulaimon@yahoo.com

Nigeria: From too

much money to no money

eration in the country. The efforts resulted in the passage of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, the forbear of the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs). The government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo injected billions of dollars into the NIPPs, assuring Nigerians that their days of epileptic electricity supply would soon end. But nothing came out of the huge amount of money spent on the NIPPs as most of the funds were stolen, yet nobody is in

Sunday Tribune

to ensure harmonious relationship with other human beings for peaceful co-existence. But the power to do what is right and the power to steer clear of what is wrong or unacceptable, religion cannot give to anyone. This is where religion has its major limitation.

“This explains why in spite of the proliferation of religious houses and places of worship, the evils that religion seemingly abhors are on the increase every day. This is why you see many religious zealots committing some heinous crimes even in the name of religion. They kill; they maim innocent people and destroy properties of innocent people unwarrantedly in the course of their religion.

“This is the limitation of mere religion without the saving grace of God brought by the work of salvation that Jesus perfected for man on the cross at Calvary. This is why this book tries to draw a line of distinction between being sincere and being right. There is emphasis on people who in spite of their sincerity are apparently wrong”. ...To be continued.

Melaye/Remi’s spat I won’t join the media-space sophistry on this raging issue.

With the information in public arena, even if distorted to justify certain ends, over the spat between Senators Oluremi Tinubu and Dino Melaye, the truth can be easily deciphered by a mind not tainted by paroxysm and parochialism. The bad blood on both sides, is understandable. The undercurrents of their partisanship are also known. But both are wrong.

Remi the politician can imitate Aisha Buhari’s “doggy” metaphor. But not Sister Remi, the born-again child of the Most High. If her spirit is actually in consonance with 2 Corinthians 5:17, then all old things, including equating another creature with animal under whatever guise, should have gone with the past. The newness of her spirit, soul and body, complete with a heart of flesh as admonished by the Word of God, should be above any ephemeral thing, including senate leadership desire.

I have a slight doubt if Sister Remi had actually transformed, without being judgmental. If the executive session was behind a closed door and it would be parties words against one another, what about the needless open insolence against Senate President BukolaSaraki, during the senators’ inauguration? Sister Remi has a duty to be a Light wherever she is, as the daughter of the Light of the World. No provocation should be enough to bear such fruits of the flesh. I guess Daddy G.O needs a session with his own in public offices in this season of “unleavened” politics. And Dino?Hmmmm.

What a name. What a fellow. May God have mercy on his soul. jail for misappropriation of the funds. Succeeding administrations wasted no time in awarding fresh contracts for power generation.

When the country was making serious money, leaders made it their business to steal, and they stole without qualms. According to reports of international agencies, the bulk of the country’s petro-dollar earnings in the last 50 years was stolen by the political class. They stole unabashedly and pillaged our resources heartlessly. They stole us blind and turned around to make a mockery of us, saying our poverty was a result of laziness. They went about with the airs of those doing us a favour by plundering our commonwealth.

Unfortunately, however, the malfeasance in public office received the tacit support of the populace who egged on the thieving leaders because of the belief that no matter how much the leaders stole, there would still be money left and it would sooner or later be their own turn to steal from the national treasury as well. That emboldened those in public office to continue to steal. But now that the till is empty where does that leave those applauding the thieving leaders?

Julian Castro was the keynote speaker at the Democratic Party’s National Convention in 2011, where he said something very profound. He said, “America didn’t become the land of opportunity by accident. My grandmother’s generation and generations before always saw beyond the horizons of their own lives and their own circumstances. They believed that opportunity created today would lead to prosperity tomorrow. That’s the country they envisioned, and that’s the country they helped build. The roads and bridges they built, the schools and universities they created, the rights they fought for and won—these opened the doors to a decent job, a secure retirement, the chance for your children to do better than you did.”

But the reverse is the case in Nigeria; the forbears consumed the wealth and left debt for their successors. They never saw beyond their own horizon and made no plan for the future. Instead of creating opportunities that would lead to prosperity, they wiped up all the opportunities and lapped up the prosperity.

That is the tragedy of our country; the tragedy of a country with too much money without any expressed value.

17

You don’t have to go naked to be stylish

—Sabina Umoren

H

OW was it like joining citizens of United States to celebrate their Independence Day recently?

I was delighted to celebrate the day. It is one of the memorable events of the country. Unknown to many, I am a US citizen and celebrating as one should not be strange. I love US because it is a country that gives one so many opportunities to become whatever one wants to be.

It is a country with so much abundance, where even retarded people can become millionaires, where freedom of speech is practised. You can insult the president or the authorities and go free. It is also where one can walk into the hospital anytime and get treated without health insurance or being asked to deposits arms and legs to see doctors. The list goes on. I don’t think they have it better anywhere else in the world.

Is that why you took to the streets wearing a bikini reflecting the country’s flag?

I walked in the streets with it because I could do it in America anytime.

Nobody will harass me unlike in Nigeria. That is one of the advantages; it is a civilized country. You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Meanwhile, it is too hot here. My flag was a bikini, so I had to flaunt and replicate it like a whole lot of other people as a way to make the celebration memorable.

It has been a while you visited Nigeria. Why? I did not abandon Nigeria. The fact remains that I am a Nigerian, but relocated abroad. Now, US is my first home because that is where I live, while Nigeria is my second home because I only visit once in a while. You know home is where you make it and it doesn’t matter where you were born.

About comparison, don’t even get me started, Nigeria is a blessed country with so many natural recourses, but the leaders do not want the country to see the light of the day. Are we to talk about the power system which is the worst problem of that country that has been there for decades and instead of getting better with evolution of the technology, it gets worst all because of some dubious individuals who are benefiting from the sales of generators, candles, kerosene, black market and so on. It saddens my heart whenever I see pictures and videos of people being beheaded or lynched in Nigeria and nobody is arrested. It is scary and gets worst everyday or are we to talk about the lack of protection where robbers will invade one’s house for hours without interruption. The rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

The masses are suffering everyday. It is crazy. I can’t continue with it.

How has it been living in the US? It has been good. It comes with its struggles. I’m still trying to find my foot because I had a very rough beginning being a single mum with no support

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

I won’t allow my kids to follow in my footsteps —AfroCandy

Engaging controversial Nollywood actress, Judith Opara Mazagwu, popularly known as Afrocandy, is always a delightful experience anytime the opportunity presents itself. The 45 year-old actress spoke with SEYI SOKOYA about life, renunion with husband, among other issues, in this revealing interview.

in raising two daughters. I’m working hard and I believe things will get better soon.

What was your experience like with the Nigerian marketers?

Marketers in Nigeria sold my movies but till today, they have not given me a dime. The main marketer I put in charge of the distribution would give series of stories and promised to pay my shares into my account.

I called him the last time I was in Nigeria and he kept begging and promised to come and see me in my hotel, but he did not show up till I left. This is one of the reasons I have decided not do business with Nigerians

again unless I have a good attorney to collect my money.

It is not even only the marketers. The man I gave my production equipment to agreed to be paying into my account, I came back to Nigeria after three years and he paid only N50, 000 in three years. I collected the equipment and gave it to another person with 500,000 copies of my movies, clothes, shoes and a whole bunch of stuff that I shipped from the US, but since I got back to the US in 2014, I haven’t been able to reach them on the phone. Though, there are still good people there, but definitely not the poor ones.

Continues on pg20

18

17 July, 2016

Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

Sunday Tribune Seyi Sokoya seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08075166585

Wale Adenuga bags Best African TV Producer

Fraud allegation:

Storm is over

By Segun Adebayo

B

ASELINE Music act, Skales, is currently heaving a sigh of relief after the drama that kept his name in the media for weeks over a fraud allegation. His record label had accused him and his manager, Teresa Osagioduwa, of defrauding it to the tune of N13 million.

Skales and his manager were said to have been arrested and detained by the police in Lagos State over the incident. They would later

—Skales

come out to deny being detained but confirmed that they were arrested.

In what appears like his first interview after the drama, Skales said the matter had been resolved and that his relationship with Baseline Music is still cordial.

Speaking during an interview monitored by R on Urban96FM on Friday, Skales opened up on his new projects, saying he had been working on new music to keep his fans across Africa entertained.

Skales, who just released a new

song with his former boss, Banky W, said working with him again was an awesome experience.

“We had fun working together again. I keep telling people that Banky W is my big boss and I appreciate what he has done for me,” said.

Clearing the air on what transpired between him and his record label, Skales said it was normal for business partners to have disagreements at one point or the other, adding that it was one of the phases he had to pass through to move to the next

Lola Rae is back ‘One Time’

By Seyi Sokoya RACHEL Garton, popularly known as Lola Rae, has returned with a new song entitled: ‘One Time’.

The Nigerian born British-Ghanaian who moved back to Nigeria to focus on her career early last year under the management of Twenty 20 Media, has been trying to carve a niche for herself in the

industry with her style of music.

The new single ‘One Time’ is a reggae feel good record; that oozes sensuality, growth and good vibes.

The singer was recently unveiled as a brand ambassador for TAG Heuer – a Swiss manufacturing company that designs, manufactures and markets watches and fashion accessories.

level in his career.

“We can’t run away from moments when we have to battle with one storm or the other. The same thing applies to business. We can’t avoid misunderstanding totally but we should not let it consume us and stop us from moving to the next level. Right now, I am fine with my record label and my manager is fine too. She actually discovered Wizkid and I. She has been supportive of our career from day one.”

When asked how he felt about Wizkid’s success who was his partner before, Skales said he feels good seeing Wizkid doing bigger things with his career. “I have never and will never envy anybody. I don’t envy Wizkid’s success because I am doing fine on my lane.

“My mum told me to work hard and pray to achieve greatness in life.

I like what is happening to Wizkid and I am not worried. The truth of the matter is that Wizkid and I talked about these things when we were still young in the music industry.

We talked about working with Jay Z, Chris Brown and other foreign artistes. That it is happening for Wizkid now does not mean it won’t work for me too. I wish him well,” said.

EbonyLife TV launches ‘One the Real’ on DSTV ‘ON The Real,’ EbonyLife TV’s newest and edgiest TV series was premiered last Tuesday on DSTV Channel 165.

‘On The Real’ is a reality show cum drama which follows the lives of five young Nigerian reality TV stars brought together by an obnoxious TV executive. The ‘stars’ had to balance their new fame with the stark realities of their regular lives.

Viewers will enjoy performances from the fresh cast led by Inidinma Okojie, Funto Angel Johnson, David Jones, Akah Nnani and Nancy

Isime.

‘On The Real’ promises to tackle problems faced by today’s youths which include; relationships, peer pressure, sex and drug abuse in a way that has never been before explored on Nigerian television.

The show was created and produced by Temidayo Abudu; written by Tamara Aihie and directed by Tosin Coker.

Chairman of Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP), Mr Wale Adenuga, was recently honoured as the Best African TV Producer at the 6th edition of the African Achievers Awards, which took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Since the first edition took place in 2011 in London, the African Achievers Awards (AAA) has been consistent in honouring African achievers in diverse fields, some of which include Jakaya Kikwete, the then President of Tanzania; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop; Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), former governor of Lagos State and current Minister of Power, Works and Housing; Lulu Louis Mnguni, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria; Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of African Union; Ali Baba, Nigerian comedian; Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi; and many others.

Adenuga was all smiles as he received his Best African TV Producer award and said: “I have been producing TV content for decades; and even before then, I had been entertaining families across the continent through magazines and films. This award has strengthened my resolve to further increase my efforts in churning out wholesome family entertainment, which plays its own role in developing Africa.

I appreciate the award organisers, all the corporate advertisers and government agencies who have partnered with WAP, and of course the millions of viewers who have stayed tuned over the years.”

In a career spanning 40 years, Wale Adenuga has established several award-winning TV content which have improved the overall quality of the entertainment industry across Africa.

19

razzmatazz

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Patoranking:

Music is a symbol of hope

By Segun Adebayo

P

ATORANKING has been described by many observers of happenings in the music industry as the man of the moment and the Afro pop singer is living it up. He has released hit singles back to back. He has multiple endorsement deals. He’s also one of the judges of the ongoing Airtel-sponsored music reality show, The Voice Nigeria.

The talks about the album have been around for some time and his fans have patiently waited to have a feel of what the Alubarika crooner has got to offer this time.

With less than three weeks to the release date, Patoranking has been talking about the new project that has kept him in and out of the studio.

The album which he called God Over Everything (GOE) is coming at a time when the expectations from him are high and he has assured not to dissapoint.

Speaking with R on the journey so far, he said he doesn’t take things too seriously and would approach the new project with care. “Music, for me, is a symbol of hope. I am just here to have fun. Music kept me going when my circumstances were bad. And now that I am here and God has allowed people to hear my voice, music is my celebration,” he said.

On what inspired the name of the album, “The album is a celebration of my surroundings, my friends, Fire Republikans, team and family. So, let’s have fun.”

Patoranking broke through in 2013 with the hit single Alubarika and is now being rated as one of Africa’s dancehall artistes with his unique fusion of reggae, dancehall and afrobeat.

Asked what his fans should expect from the album, he said “Expect the unexpected.”

Lai Mohammed, NASFAT president hail Bukky Ajayi as celebrities reunite at Fidau

By Bola Badmus MINISTER of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, last Wednesday in Lagos paid tribute to late Nollywood star, Zainab Bukky Ajayi, describing her as a role model who never lost her soul as Muslim faithful in spite of

finding herself in make-believeplatform.

The minister made the remark while speaking at the 8th Day Fidau Prayer for the the artiste, organised by the Nasrul-Lahi-lFatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT).

Speaking at the event, which took place at Lagos State Government Secretariat Central Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja and was attended by Nollywood actors, including Jide Ko-

soko, Dele Odule, Yinka Quadri, Ayo Badmus, among others, the minister said the late Nollywood actor lived a balanced life given the level of attendance of personalities from all walks of life and the remarks made of her by individuals who spoke.

“I think the striking thing about her life is that she made her name and popularity in the make-believe platform. She never lost her soul in the process.

“She lived between two compartments, her public image and her private life and I think a testimony to that is what we have here today as many people from the Nollywood and also from the Islamic faith gathered here in her honour, which means she lived a balanced life,” Mohammed said.

President of NASFAT, Bolarinwa Okanlawon, in his remark, described the late Ajayi as a devout Muslim, saying, “Mama stood for her religion at every occasion and she was always doing what is right.”

Okanlawon, who recalled the good old days when the late artiste was still working with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), said late Bukky Ajayi also believed in justice.

Jide Kosoko, while paying his tribute, described her as an embodiment of talent and a mother indeed, who he said was always insisting in having things done well at locations.

Adekunle Gold’s album is ready!

By Segun Adebayo YBNL act, Adekunle Gold, is ready to step up his music career in a big way. After dropping four hit singles in the last two years and bagging awards from within and outside the country, the Sade crooner believes this is the right time to test the acceptance of his music among his fans with his first album on Olamide’s YBNL record label.

After the departure of Lil Kesh from YBNL, the focus had been on Gold to

step up his game and put his career on the map as many people believed that his career was fairly overshadowed by Lil Kesh’s presence.

Having realised the expectations from his fans, Gold, who signalled his emergence on the music scene with his hit single, Sade, has announced that he would be dropping an album anytime from now. The album, according to Gold, will be dropped on the July 28.

The album which he called The Gold

Bibi set to takeover Afro-soul world

By Seyi Sokoya FAST-raising Afro-soul singer, Bola Akinlaja, otherwise known as Bibi, is currently enjoying her breakthrough into the entertainment industry, as over 6,000 people reportedly downloaded her two new singles entitled:’Jeje’ and ‘Endlessly’ barely 12 hours of the release.

The 300-level undergraduate student of Insurance from Redeemers University is touted to be the next Asa, Alicia Keys or Eryka Baddu and even poised to rival the like of Simi, Asa, Omawunmi, among others.

The singer who is currently managed by Tenstrings Music Management & Promotions Company has carved a niche for herslef in the industry.

According to her manager, Bibi discovered her passion for music since childhood, but decided to go for professional music about two years ago at the renowned Tenstrings Music Institute, where she was personally groomed by the school’s director (Akapo Emmanuel) in singing and general showmanship.

“Her songs are already gaining acceptance globally. She’s an exceptionally talented singer and an electrifying performer with a very unique voice and style of music. Her music features the fusion of Soul, Afro, Pop and R&B. “One of the unique features of her music is the use of two or more live musical instruments in all of her recordings. If you’ve ever loved the sound of singers like Asa, India Arie, Alicia Keys or Eryka Baddu, then for sure you’re going to love the sound of her voice.

“Endlessly’ is a sensational pop/reggae song about love gone sour, while ‘Jeje’ is a highly inspirational lassic African song that talks about life’s delicacy and need to tread cautiously,” he added.

Season is expected to showcase the best of the YBNL star.

According to Gold, “ In the Gold album, I bare my soul to the world. I want people to experience what I felt while creating the album. Also, I hope that in the coming years, my music will still sound as fresh as they did the day they were released.”

Gold is a graduate of Lagos State Polytechnic with a degree in Graphics. He is no stranger to music as he wrote his first song at the age of 15. His music career kicked off officially in 2010 when he formed a band called The Bridge with his best friend Seyikeyz. The duo released three songs; No Sleeping on a Bicycle, Norm Breaker which featured Skales and a cover for John Legend.

20

17 July, 2016 With Segun Adebayo &Seyi Sokoya tegbollistic@yahoo.com seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08116954644 08132577840

Sunday Tribune

Glo datamania on campuses

By Peter Anyanwu

‘I’ve reconciled with my husband, but we’re not living together’ Continues from pg17

Why didn’t you give these things to your relatives or trusted friends in Nigeria?

I committed my home and belongings to my relatives when I was coming to the USA only for them to turn my husband against me and told him to sell my house and everything inside while I was away. Now, I don’t have a house in Nigeria. This was why I stayed in hotels when I came to Nigeria the last time. So, why should I trust them again? The person I entrusted my things this time is supposed to be my friend but maybe I was wrong again.

My dear, it is a long story. I hate to talk or remember this because I have been hurt so much in my life that I lost hope in humanity. But I cannot do without dealing with human beings.

Could this be the reason you don’t come home often and even when you come, you don’t visit your relatives?

‘Once bitten is twice shy’ they say right. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in bad terms with my family, at least I still have some of my brothers and sisters I talk with on the phone. I also missed my mum so much, but the fact is that I don’t feel safe going there because of what happened; extended families can be your worst enemies, so I’ll leave it at that.

Had there been any move for reconciliation with your husband?

We had reconciled since 2014, but we are not living together yet. I’m still trying to get used to it. I’m not sure I can be the same woman again; I’m now AfroCandy, loving my single and porn life. It is going to take the whole world to make me a wife again, so I will say stay tuned. If that ever happens, you will hear it. To me, we are more like good friends, though he wants me to be his wife again. I had so many plans before he came back, so it will be hard dropping everything and everyone just like that. It may never be possible because when a woman moves on, it is hard to make a turn, but they say never say never.

You have been silent about your music career?

Not really, I have four new tracks already and I am about to shoot the videos as well as put them out

I committed my home and belongings to my relatives when I was coming to the USA only for them to turn my husband against me and told him to sell my house and everything inside while I was away.

officially. So, I want my fans to watch out for that.

You shared some of your Nollywood works on social media lately. Does that mean you are missing the industry’s atmosphere and your colleagues?

Of course, I missed everything because that was where it all started for me. I still love Nollywood and will never forget. No matter how big I get, I cannot replace Nollywood with another industry. I still do Nollywood whenever I come to Nigeria. As a matter of fact, I have five movies that I have produced that are yet to be released and I’ve given the co-producers the money for editing and other things, but they keep telling stories and calling me for more money.

As a mother, how do you feel seeing you children coming of age?

It gives me great joy. What else could a mother ask for?

Would you encourage them if they develop passion for acting?

My daughters started acting when they were small back in Nigeria and I will encourage them if they want to. Maybe not acting porn if that is where you are going. Acting porn is a phase for me to get to the next level.

So, acting porn was deliberate?

What else other than to make money I don’t make them to keep in my bedroom right? I sell them to make money.

Don’t you think your children might follow your footsteps having seen you become successful in this aspect of acting?

I’m working hard to secure a better future for my kids, so they don’t need to do such because there won’t be any reason for that.

You have been having a tough time with some of your fans who react negatively to your posts online.

Do you think this will ever end?

I do have tough time with some them and I don’t think it will ever end because I will always give them something to react to as long as I live. Afrocandy is just getting started. I have classified these set of people as my haters and I have put them in thier place.

You added another year last Tuesday, how did you feel?

I felt extremely glad and I thank God for the gift of life. I also thank my fans for their prayers and birthday wishes. It is a thing of joy for me that I am now 45, but I don’t think I wear the look. On how I celebrated it. Honestly, I did not know what to do whether to travel or go to the strip club or throw a private party. I think the last option is what I’ll do, but that will be the end of July.

THE phrase “leaders of tomorrow” is often times used to describe that period of human life between childhood and maturity. Another common word for this demographic segment is youth. All over the world, youths account for about 6o per cent of the population as such marketing, governance and innovations are targeted at the predilections, tastes, styles and peculiarities of this vital group of the demography which not only has the number, but also the future with its scintillating and limitless possibilities. This is why programmes, projects and ventures are youthanised to confer relevance. In short, organisations and governments can only ignore this section of the population at their peril.

For a youth-centric brand like Globacom, products and services are targeted at the leaders of tomorrow. With a pay-off line that screams “Next Generation Network”, it is only fit and proper that the interests of youths are catered for. One of such numerous products designed for them is the “ Glo Campus Booster” aptly christened as it is designed to give exciting bonus to youths who are acquiring knowledge on campuses of tertiary institutions as well as training institutions of police, customs and immigration.

To say that students, lecturers, non-academic staff and visitors to the various campuses across Nigeria are enjoying the Glo Campus Booster is an understatement.

In the words of 21-year-old Adeola Olaleye of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State Globacom “is da bomb when it comes to data”. The 400 level Communication Arts student is happy that Glo contributed immensely to the completion of her long essay required in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Bachelors of Arts degree.

She surfed the net to access relevant information for her project. Adeola said she got to know about the product through the television commercial produced by Globacom to popularise the product. Specifically, she watched two commercials on the product namely the one that starred the God-win crooner, Korede Bello and the one that can be tagged exodus of people into a university campus because of Glo Campus Booster.

The commercial opens with a shot of an archetypal university “ Gate D” with security officials and students exchanging the morning greetings. “Morning o!”, “Morning o , my son”, “Hello, what’s up? were some of the communication exchanged between the chief security officer and those passing through the gate. The interesting part is the non-students and infiltrators entering the campus to make use of the affordable data rates which gives eight times the value of recharges. As the security man settles to read his favourite newspaper, he noticed an usually high influx of people into the campus and he shouted “who are these people?” In the television commercials, adults dressed as youths try to deceive the security men to enjoy Glo campus booster. Celebrated Glo brand ambassadors like Mama G spotting dreadlocks and hovercraft riding Mr. Ibu also sneaked in to enjoy the campus booster. Globacom brings this message home so succinctly under 60 seconds in a style that is unique to the telecom.

The Korede Bello/ Yvone Nelson television commercial presents an interesting scenario where a student refused to go home in order to continue to enjoy the Glo Campus Booster.

The advert begins with the scene where Yvone who acted Korede’s sister is asking for direction to Block B in a car with a driver and her father. She next knocked on the door of Room 215 which Korede Bello dancing to music on his phone opens. As Yvonne and the dad breezed into the room, she intoned “Enough is enough Junior! You are coming home with us!” and Korede retorted “Sis! dad! What are you doing here?” The question now elicited this response from the sister “The public holiday, you didn’t come home!

The short semester break, you didn’t come home!, The New Year holidays. You still didn’t come home. Now that the long holidays are here. You still haven’t come home! What is it?”.

Korede’s response is “with Glo Campus Booster, data lasts eight times as long on campus to enjoy my browsing, chat and download whenever I am here”.

Anyanwu sent this piece from Lagos

21

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune with Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

PEOPLE

places&parties

Akin Alabi’s new moves

W

HAT set Chief Akin Alabi apart from other men is the purposefulness of his every action. From all indications, Alabi, CEO NairaBet is not a man that is scared of taking big steps that have now turned him to a successful business man.

To him, the best way to thrive in a fast-evolving generation is to study the business trend and put one’s money where the mouth is.

Very few men of his age and class can handle the onerous tasks of running NairaBET, Nigeria’s first online sports betting portal and catering for other businesses.

His entertainment outfit, Over The Top Entertainment company, which manages award-winning pop duo Skuki is one of his ventures that is also thriving with envy. One of the ways he’s reaching out to the youth is through his 5-aside football match at Lead City Univer-

sity, which was said to have been introduced to engage youths and reward them for ther passion.

Many expected that he would slow down and return to his shell after he failed to win a seat in the House of Representatives last year, the Ibadan-born writer turned politician moved on with his philanthropic works, reaching out to the downtrodden and setting his mind at politics should the opportunity to serve present itself again.

Weeks back, at a public function, he told some of his loyalists that greatest challenges and darkest days were made to sharpen his wit and burnish his shine.

Information reaching PPP revealed that Alabi’s new moves took him to London recently where he was spotted in company of ExEngland footballer, Michael Owen and those who should know informed PPP that Alabi is up to something big again.

Between D1 and Kenny Ogungbe THOSE who are familiar with happenings on the entertainment scene would have noticed that Dayo Adeneye, otherwise known as D1 and his old time friend and business partner, Kenny Ogungbe, have not been rolling together as they used to do.

The reason for this is not

far to seek. While D1 took the bold step last year to test his popularity in politics, his friend Kenny stayed back in the private sector to keep the Kennis music and other businesses afloat.

Although, D1 could not secure a seat in the Ogun State House of Assembly due to the scheme of things at that time, he’s currently enjoying his time in the cabinet of the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who made him Commissioner for Information and Strategy, a position, which D1 has been handling effectively.

For Keke as he’s fondly called, the game has not changed, he has continued to steer the leadership of the music business successfully in the absence of his partner.

Those who should know informed PPP that as against the widely held rumour that all is not well between the duo, PPP gathered that D1 and Kenny are still best of friends and they still get along very well.

Ogun big boy, Bode Onanuga, in whoops of joy THESE are indeed happy times for Ogun big boy and hard working business man, Bode Onanuga. Just when the gist about the lavish 50th birthday party he threw for his wife, Yemi, was yet to go

Bashy Kuti hits his stride THE fashion indusrty has unarguably witnessed tremendous progress in the last few years. But only forward-looking individuals and fashion outfits have been able to cash in on the rapidly developing market.

BKK Ultimo, Ibadan-based fashion outfit, is one of the fashion houses that have distinguished itself in terms of its contributions to this evolution.

From his well state-of- the-art factory in Felele, Ibadan, Oyo State, where he operates from, Bashy Kuti, CEO of BKK Ultimo, appears to have found early in life that diligence would take him to where luck would not.

As such, he has been giving his all to his business and this is evident in the way his office is always busy with clients who come from far and near to patronise him.

Call him friend of politicians, musicians and top socialites within and outside the shores of the country, you will probably be stating the obvious as the Sagamu-born wardrobe consultant has wormed himself into the minds of his clients with his high taste for quality fabrics and long-cap signature.

PPP was informed days back that Bashy is already planning to have an extension of his office which may be situated in Lagos State anytime from now to meet up with the demands of his clienteles.

away, his son, Lanrewaju graduated with a First Class honours degree from University of Reading, United Kingdom (UK). In jollity, the whole family travelled to join the handsome fresh graduate to celebrate his day of glory in the UK. The ecstatic father penned a tribute to his son, on the social media, saying “My son, my pride, my joy.

“All glory to Allah SWT, who has been so kind and good to my household. He had just made a 1st Class honours graduate out of my Lanrewaju and in one of UK’s top Universities too.

To Allah I remain submissive, to fatherhood I remain a proud father. Congratulations Olanrewaju Olamilekan Onanuga, you have made fatherhood so cool and easy, I am so proud of you.”

Family, friends remember Oladele Olagunju one year after WHEN popular socialite and architect, Oladele Olagunju, died a year ago, his death was a bitter pill for his family and business associates to swallow. His death came at a time when his business was booming and things were looking up for the Chairman of Dekit Construction Company.

The circumstances that led to his death made it more painful for his family to get over the shock and this explains why they are still grieving one year after he departed mother earth.

Weeks back, family, friends and associates gathered to host a prayer session in his honour as some of his close friends spoke highly of him.

Until his departure, Olagunju lived to see the dawn and sunset glow richly amid life’s pressing concerns. He lived to give and shared love generously without inhibitions. Kito, as he was fondly called, died at the age of 52.

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17 July, 2016

makeover

Sunday Tribune

Rita Okonoboh 08053789087 rosarumese@gmail.com

Tips to get natural

white teeth

M

ANY people desire a killersmile, and white teeth also contributes in no small measure towards achieving this.

Certified expert in natural medicine, Dr Josh Axe, shares six ways to naturally whiten your teeth:

Brush after drinking or eating The best way, but not always the easiest is to simply brush your teeth after eating or drinking something. This takes a lot of persistence and can even be kind of difficult depending on where you are at the time.

Most food does not stain teeth, but if you are a coffee drinker or if you smoke, you can pretty much count on having discoloured teeth from staining. If this is the case then having your teeth cleaned every three months may be in order, besides trying some of the natural remedies listed here.

Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide This works great as a natural teeth whitener. Many people confirm to the fact that it does make their teeth look whiter. Mix a small amount of hydrogen peroxide with a small amount of baking soda to make a paste. Brush your teeth as usual, making sure you brush those back teeth too. Hydrogen peroxide is an anti-bacterial agent and works great as a total mouth and gum cleaner and keeps the mouth free of germs.

Baking soda is a gritty substance like sandpaper so be careful that you have enough hydrogen peroxide mixed in with the soda because if you don’t, it can very well scrub the enamel right off your teeth and enamel does not grow back. The paste should not be gritty at all, and in fact it should be a runnier paste than a stiff paste.

Coconut oil Some people are attesting to their teeth becoming whiter by applying coconut oil to their teeth after they brush. But for most people, they are praising the results of oil pulling. Simply put a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it between your teeth for 5 to 20 minutes. Or add a few drops to your toothbrush and simple brush it on, or add the coconut oil to a corner of a clean wash cloth and rub it on.

Also, coconut oil has antimicrobial properties so it’s great for your gums as well.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) It makes sense that apple cider vinegar would eventually work as a mouth gum cleaner and remove stubborn stains on the teeth, especially from coffee and nicotine.

It has been proven that it does work as a natural teeth whitener but you have to be consistent and it takes a least a month of continuous usage to see results. Some say that using ACV looks like you just got your teeth professionally cleaned. Be careful, as with all acids, it can remove the enamel on your teeth as well. After brushing with ACV, you will need to brush again with regular toothpaste, preferably a non fluoride paste, or rinse your mouth out really well.

Lemon or orange peels There have been reports that lemon and or orange peels will also do the trick of whitening your teeth. Guess you don’t know until you try. Here again, these food products are very healthy and good for your stomach but the acid content might eventually wear away the enamel on the teeth. So if you use lemon or orange peel always rinse afterwards to be on the safe side.

A good oral mouth rinse is hydrogen peroxide because it keeps breath fresh by eliminating bad breath and also is a very good bacterial agent.

Use half water and half hy d ro g e n peroxide, swish around in your mouth and leave in for at least a full minute.

PHOTO:goducosmiles.com

Strawberries Some people say this works right away. Rinse well afterwards.

Tips to note: Some natural whiteners can eradicate enamel Some teeth whiteners are just not a good idea to use, especially lemon juice.

The acid in the lemon juice does great for bleaching clothes, hair, and getting stains out of furniture, but you wouldn’t want to put lemon juice on your teeth as a mouth gum cleaner every single day. Eventually, the acid creates tiny holes in your teeth and then every kind of staining type food will seep into these tiny holes and remain there. The acid from the lemons is so strong it just eventually wears away the teeth causing cavities.

Can whitening products harm teeth?

Research has shown that teeth whitening products can damage the teeth by removing the enamel. Constant application of whitening strips have been shown to cause erosion of enamel over time and results in tooth sensitivity, especially with eating hot and cold liquids and foods.

Bottom line is whitening strips should be used in moderation. Teeth bleaching products should only be used under the guidance of your dentist. The best way to whiten teeth is by feeding your body lots of healthy foods for strong bones, teeth and gums and omitting coffee, tea and sugary foods in your diet.

If you smoke, stop smoking. And brush and floss your teeth every day!

Source: www. draxe.com

PHOTO:suffernfamilydentists.com

23

17 July, 2016

sundayzest

Sunday Tribune

With Victory Oyeleke victoryoyeleke@yahoo.com

Why France has become terrorists’ favourite target

O

NCE again, French flags worldwide were flown at half-mast on Friday morning following the killing of at least 84 people including children in an act of suspected terrorism orchestrated by 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a Tunisian born French man during the Bastile Day celebration in Nice.

Bastille is a national celebration and holiday in France to celebrate the breaking into of the Bastille- an 18th century medieval fortress and Parisian prison where political rebels were held. The prison, which was a symbol of tyrannical Bourbon authority in central Paris, was broken into in 1787 during a deep economic and political crisis.

Following the king’s dismissal of the liberal minister of finance, Jacques Necker, and the concentration of Royalist troops in the capital, progressive Parisians feared a coup against the National Constitutional Assembly.

As a result, violence and conflict between Royalist and anti-Monarchist elements erupted across Paris, with the Bastille’s garrison eventually finding themselves surrounded by an armed mob on the morning of 14 July.

After hours of negotiation and increasing frustration, the mob numbering just under 1,000 broke into the fortress. Following hours of fighting, they took the castle at the cost of nearly 100 assailants’ lives and one defender.

Today, rather than commemorating the storming of the Bastille itself, the three tenets of the republican national motto; “liberty, equality and fraternity,” is celebrated.

In addition to patriotic pride, Bastille Day in France will henceforth bear the marks of Thursday’s bloodbath. As a three months state of emergency is declared, the question on most people’s lips across the globe is, why France?

Police records show Bouhlel’s last appearance in a criminal court to be in March when he was found guilty of violent contact but had no known terrorism links and was not under surveillance.

If Bouhlel is linked with a terrorist group or any takes responsibility for his actions, this would be the third major terror attack on France in 18 months.

While John Schindler, the national- security columnist for The New York Observer, is not surprised Paris is a target.

Tweeting after the November 2015 attacks in Paris where 130 people were killed, he wrote: “Jihadists with Balkan small arms were shooting up France in 1995… got no idea why anybody is surprised.”

Being Muslim in France is quiet isolating and most have no patriotic feelings towards their adopted country and as such, it is easy for terror groups to indoctrinate them.

Attackers used guns and bombs at several sites across Paris killing eight and wounding more than 200 others in that attack, including the Stade de France and the Bataclan concert hall. However, backto-back terror attack is an enormous security issue.

Celebrating the Bastille Day attack, ISIS (also known as the Islamic State or ISIL) supporters took to social media to cheer the attack posting posters depicting lone woof attacks in a coordinated fear campaign threatening more attacks to come in European countries. Though ISIS itself has not claimed responsibility, security experts are claiming this could be an individual inspired by the ISIS but more likely directed by a terrorist group.

Experts are suggesting that France is the number one target of opportunity for major Islamic terror groups because they are championing the fight against terrorism by taking proactive roles in Mali, Syria and Iraq and the attacks would be retaliation for France’s fight against terrorism.

In Mali, French troops prevented alQaeda-linked fighters from taking over the country. Syria being a former protectorate of France is currently under the protection of French military and ISIS is being defeated. ISIS is losing ground and key commanders in both Syria and Iraq.

Also domestically, France’s burqa ban is seen by most in the Muslim community as hostile towards Islam.

The relationship between France Muslim community and France is tense and divided with most people branding the suburbs where most immigrants are dumped an “incubator for terrorism “George Packer-

foreign correspondent “France has all kinds of suburbs, but the word for them, banlieues, has become pejorative, meaning slums dominated by immigrants,” “Inside the banlieues are the cités: colossal concrete housing projects built during the postwar decades in the Brutalist style of Le Corbusier. Conceived as utopias for workers, they have become concentrations of poverty and social isolation. The cités and their occupants are the subject of anxious and angry discussion in France.”

Being Muslim in France is quiet isolating and most have no patriotic feelings towards their adopted country and as such, it is easy for terror groups to indoctrinate them.

Reports shows that French prisons are breeding grounds for radicalisation. 60% of France’s 70,000 prisoners are of Muslim origins.

“They have been broken by educational failure, family breakdown, and unemployment. They are very fragile people,” says Missoum Chaoui, a Paris Muslim leader who has worked as prison chaplain for 17 years.

Among the French criminals believed to have turned to extremism while in prison is Amedy Coulibaly, a man of Malian descent who shot dead a policewoman and four Jews in two of January 2015 three deadly attacks in the Paris area.

Coulibaly is believed to have been radicalised while in jail for robbery in 2015.

Charles Lichfield- political Risk Analyst sums it up nicely during an interview with BBC “France is being targeted again and again because they feel they can achieve some division in the West”

24

Sunday Tribune

17 July , 2016

Sunday Tribune

glamour Sabina Umoren popularly known as NaijaPastor is a gospel artiste and a broadcaster with Naija FM. In this interview with TAYO GESINDE, the graduate of University of Lagos speaks on the challenges she faced when trying to introduce a new concept into gospel music and how she has been combining her career with the home front. Excerpts:

I

Growing up ’M the last of eight children. My father was Rev erend Alfred Okhalagbe, a retired principal, while my mum is Deaconess Winifred Okhalagbe, a retired teacher. I had my primary and secondary school education in Edo and Kano states, then proceeded to the University of Lagos.

Foray into music I have been singing in church and other meetings since I was Nine years old. But officially I stepped out 11years ago. Music for me is a divine calling. It has been a lot of challenge mixed with lots of success but I try to press on no matter what. I’m not there yet

but it’s a journey and I believe I’m on the right path.

I have an album and many singles out including a few videos. I put up my own concerts periodically too. I’ve performed within and outside Nigeria on several occasions. I have my own band PRealm, and I also organise music network meetings periodically.

My album is entitled: Beautiful, it’s an 11 tracker including: Gidigba, Jesus Le, and High Praises How I got into broadcasting Broadcasting or public speaking has been my thing right from primary school days. Professionally, it started six and a half years ago. I got a call to show up for a meeting, that was it! I’m presently with Naija FM 102.7, operated by Megalectrics Limited, owners of Classic FM, Beat FM and Lagos Talks. I co-host the Morning Runs show on week days and I host the multiple award winning Sunday Best Show on Sunday mornings.

Challenges faced Introducing something new into the music ministry which is a bit different from the regular church music was not too easy. But today, the results have proven that the risk was worth it. Also funding is a huge challenge because most of the concerts and charity outreaches I organise are 90 per cent selfsponsored but all thanks and glory go to my Master Jesus Christ. Today I and my team have convened over 35 outreaches. Funds to produce good videos is another challenge but we’re not stopping. Another major drawback is marketing but everyday, we’re getting closer to the mark My role models My number one role model is the American mega gospel music icon, Shirley Caesar. Apart from her, I only have a few others who inspire me a lot like Tasha Cobbs, Yolanda Adams, Tyre Tribbet, Hezekiah Walker and Kim Burrel. I’m sorry they are all Americans, I guess it’s because of my background as a choir girl. In Nigeria, my sister and friend, Anietie Ezeimo, is a major source of inspiration to me

may not be able to reach out to the church folks with the same beat/tempo/lyrics required to reach out to a dejected and hungry man living on the streets, beaten by rain and sun. I think where the conflict lies is knowing the exact message we’ve been given to spread through our music and stick to it. True, we have very shallow interpretation of gospel music by artistes who are not teachable and whose foundation in Christianity is not deep. They only need to submit themselves to be mentored

25

With Tayo Gesinde temiligali03@yahoo.com 08054727801

Why celebrities marriages crash and the solution Well, loads of marriages crash daily but news is usually made out of those of celebrities. But my appeal to celebrities who are married or plan to go into marriage someday is that they should please endeavour to go the extra mile with one another. No man or woman is perfect, we must yield to the value of forgiveness. Forgiveness will sustain any marriage.

One more thing, partners should love, appreciate and respect the calling or careers of their spouses.

If this isn’t the case during courtship, please, there is absolutely no need to go into marriage. Look for another partner biko!

Driving force I am driven by the desire to please God and serve humanity. The fulfilment of these urges me on.

Philosophy of life Don’t hate; be yourself and be happy because nobody can be like you. That’s my philosophy

Secret of my beauty I’m beautiful, eh! Thanks. I will attribute my looks first to God, then to my parents, and also to a pure and happy heart. My daughter always makes sure my make-up is right on point when necessary and she also tells me daily that I’m beautiful! I really don’t have any beauty “winning formula” but I keep my personal hygiene on top notch.

How I have been combining my career with the home front It’s all due to God’s grace. I can’t say I’m doing anything special but I can say I’m just being myself. My husband is a very patient and understanding man, he recognises my passion and calling, and he’s been aware of same since our days of courtship. My daughter is everything!

My P.A, critic, make- up artiste, style consultant, backup singer, prayer partner, burden bearer, and so much more! So you see, my “home team” is solid. Wisdom also is the principal thing in

Definition of style I dress simple and light most of the time. I would rather be comfortable because I’m a plus size. I don’t add too much fabrics or accessorised fabrics to my figure. You can call my style Afro-Contempo-

Youdon’thavetogo

nakedtobestylish —SabinaUmoren

How I have been coping with competition in the industry For me, there is no competition when you’re on your lane. Moreso, I’m not in it because someone invited me. I’m here because I’m called. The competition is with life itself, ensuring you improve yourself steadily and keeping true to yourself and your calling. No one can do me like me, and I can’t do anyone else but me.

Assessment of the gospel music industry As of now, what we have in Nigeria may not have matured into an industry, but it is a gradual process.

The level gospel music in Nigeria right now is applaud able compared to about 20 years ago. We have better produced songs, audio/visual; also gospel artistes are a bit more united but the marketing of gospel music is nothing to write home about at all.

Hopefully, it will improve with time. Also, we now have better packaged gospel concerts. Gospel music is a huge market right now but brands are yet to key in. I hope they do soon.

On the allegation that gospel albums released these days are purely for entertainment and not soul winning We can break gospel music into smaller parts. But two outstanding parts of gospel music are: church music and street gospel. They are both clean music and should direct praises and adoration to God. We can be entertained by gospel music, but that doesn’t mean it is meant primarily for entertainment. One

decision making, I depend solely on God’s wisdom. This helps to balance things up to a large extent. Also, the passion I have for music helps me to overcome the challenges and of course nothing can take the place of prayer. God indeed answers prayers.

My opinion on provocative dressing No human, male or female, needs to dress semi-nude to look beautiful. We are created in God’s image which means that we are perfect already. All we need is to maintain that perfection by doing things moderately; that includes our mode of dressing. I don’t succumb to provocative dressing and I advise especially young ladies to desist from it no matter the temptation. One can be easily misunderstood and misrepresented by such. Also, mothers have the responsibility to teach their daughters from day one the essence of good and moderate fashion sense. This they can do by example and by constantly reminding them how naturally beautiful they are. To be stylish doesn’t mean to go naked! They don’t follow at all.

rary-Simple. I love the radicality of Ankara. Besides, my daughter is a fashion and lifestyle blogger and an aspiring fashion designer. She makes sure I don’t “fall her hand!”.

and emulate strong successful girls from all over the world, know your strength, find education in whatever level or format. Above all, have faith in God and shine!

How I intend to step up my game We pray to be better in whatever we do. In the gospel music setting in Nigeria, I’m already standing out because I’m not your “regular gospel artiste” in the sense that mentoring and charity are a huge part of my music ministry. I and my team PRealm have been doing various

Fashion obsession I don’t think I have any fashion obsession. I love anything African a lot though.

Favourite designers Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Lanre Da Silva and the Sagoes.

What I will like to change about myself Nothing. I love and appreciate myself.

Special treat Vacation! I never have time for myself except when on vacation.

Favourite pastime I love to laugh, I love to dance, love to make people happy. To unwind, I do either of the aforementioned, but most times, I love to be alone, meditate and draw inspiration from God.

Advice to young girls Young girls out there need to know how special they are and appreciate themselves much more. I want you to know and believe that you are a success story already no matter your background or circumstances. Don’t let societal limitations stop you from achieving your dreams. Abstain from pre marital sex, be confident of your body, don’t be lured or bullied into believing that you’re a second class human being. Follow the right path, watch

outreaches for 11 years and still counting. Making music that brings souls to God right from the street is strength of my music ministry. Teaching and training on praise and worship is another way we work the work. So you can see that we are making a difference already and we hope to continue by God’s grace.

Another offshoot of my music is intercession. By now you must have heard about the Pray-4Naija/ NaijaHopedey campaign. We are fully engaged in this campaign presently as a means of nation building and I am the chief servant as well.

Don’t let societal limitations stop you from achieving your dreams. Abstain from premarital sex, be confident of your body, don’t be lured or bullied into believing that you’re a second-class human being.

Foreign acts I will like to do work with If I ever get the opportunity to have Mama Shirley Caesar on any song, it will be heaven! Tasha Cobbs and Hezekiah Walker would be great too.

My strengths and weaknesses My strength would be the fact that I know God, and I’m aware of the assignment He has given to me; working that assignment and the benefits that come with it gives me strength. I’m also very real. This puts me above the line. My weakness would be the fact that I want to help everyone who is in need worldwide and we know that isn’t possible! Also people take advantage of my kindness a lot but no wahala. Just when people think, oh! She’s finally given up, I show up, with so much zeal! I must say that divine ability to press on is my major strength.

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17 July, 2016

With Akintayo Abodunrin akinjaa03@yahoo.co.uk 08111813058

Nationhood, elite consensus and corruption were among issues discussed when Professor Wale Adebanwi read from his latest book, Nation As Grand Narrative: The Nigerian Press and the Politics of Meaning, recently in Lagos

For ‘unbelievable Wale’, a gathering of great minds

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T was an interesting evening on Saturday, July 2 when some of the nation’s intellectuals converged on Jazzhole, Ikoyi, Lagos to hear professor of Afriscan American and African Studies at the University of California-Davis, US, Wale Adebanwi, read from his latest book ’Nation As Grand Narrative: The Nigerian Press and the Politics of Meaning’.

The quality gathering comprised Professor Niyi Osundare; former deputy vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Adigun Agbaje; Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, Chief J.K. Randle; Mrs Nike Nedum (nee Ransome-Kuti), political strategist and public relations expert, Temitope Lakisokun; spokesperson to VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande and his wife; Tunde Fagbenle, and Ms Funke Awolowo. Others were Yinka Odumakin; Jimi Agbaje; Remi Adekoya; Olakunle Abimbola and Fafaa Dan Princewill.

Executive Editor of TheNews, Kunle Ajibade, anchored the early part of the programme as he introduced guests and highlighted some of the achievements of the author who is resuming at Oxford University, UK, in December.

Adebanwi thereafter read from the introductory part of the book by way of explaining what it’s about and also touched on how newspapers of the 1950s and ‘60s spun reports to favour their interests. He also read a part on how newspapers and magazines reported the June 12 crisis and the post-military rule era in 1999 when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became president.

Before Professor Agbaje took charge of the question and answer session, Professor Osundare acknowledged Adebanwi’s diligence and brilliance. He said: “He’s one of the most inspiring young men I ever met. I often wonder if Wale has any time to sleep at all; it’s one book after another. When he’s not working on one book, he’s doing research on one or two others. And he does write poetry too although he wants to hide it from the rest of the world. I do tell him that I’m offering myself as a blurb writer. This is something I hardly ever do in spite of so many invitations but now I’m telling him, please put out this book and I’m going to write the blurb.

“This is a political scientist who’s also a practising journalist and I think he’s able to look at both disciplines from the inside out as it were. What Wale has done is to open our eyes to two disciplines that are more or less like Siamese Twins. Let us take journalism seriously, it is really important. What could Soyinka have been without journalism?

What about Chinua Achebe? Journalism is a very important part of the memory of a country. In any way it is superior to history.”

Like Osundare, Agbaje also acknowledged Adebanwi’s genius. “I supervised his master’s thesis where he got a distinction plus; 80. With regards to his PhD, I must confess that I really did not have to supervise Wale’s work. What I had to supervise was the student himself, not the work,” said Agbaje who

From left, Professors Adigun Agbaje; Niyi Osundare; Wale Adebanwi and Mr Kunle Ajibade at the reading

Corruption is the most powerful uniting factor among the elite.

also recalled how the author was practically kicked out from the University of Ibadan when he wanted to take another PhD from Cambridge University.

He added of his protégé’s outstanding scholarship: “Wale is not just a political scientist, journalist or journalism researcher but more importantly an anthropologist. I respect anthropologists. They are strong on methodology; they are very rigorous in research and I think that’s why Wale is able to combine all of these. This guy is unbelievable.

From 2008 till now, he’s published 11 books.

11 books published by leaders in the field: Cambridge University Press, Routledge, I mean he’s unbelievable.”

Thereafter, it was a mixture of praises and questions from commentators. Mrs. Fayemi, who thanked Adebanwi for “being a witness for this generation” wanted to know if the author is thinking of doing something about how social media has become a tool in the hands of young people using it to frame their own narrative about Nigeria.

For Fagbenle, the author is an amazing and selfless man always at the services of any Yoruba leader, irrespective of the cost.

Ms Awolowo expressed concern over people’s reading habits and said it won’t be a bad idea if Adebanwi returns fully to Nigeria and becomes involved in governance.

Ajibade asked: what concept of a nation have you worked with in this book and did the magazine and newspapers whose contents you researched and analysed, alter your meaning or affirm that concept of a nation?

And how ideologically divided were those media platforms in their interpretations of events of the time?

Responding to the first set of questions starting with Ajibade’s, the author said: “What I did in the book is basically to look at the canons, the standard definitions of what a nation is through the ages in modern times. I look at all of those definitions and the understandings of nation and how have we dealt with the idea of nation on the African continent and Nigeria. How is nation explained within the Nigerian press and what comes out of this as I say in the conclusion is that it’s almost like a moving object.

“You find different kinds of understanding of what constitutes a nation. From the ethnic hole which is also very problematic. For instance, when people say the Yoruba nation, there’s also a lot of problem with that. You find people exiting that. You find evidence, for instance, in the case of Lagos. And that’s the interesting thing about the understanding of ideology that I deal with in this book.

It’s basically meaning in the service of power.

What people mean by what they say is actually basically in the service of the power which serves their own interest. So when people talk about what it means to be a nation, it’s basically about how it serves their interest... and I think what the press does very well is to give some kind of voice to these different elements.

“Oftentimes you find some kind simplistic understanding of this but you also find complexity within the media. That’s why it’s im-

portant to examine so many newspapers and news magazines, not just at a period but over a long time; and you also find a lot of shifts.

When you say Yoruba nation, what do you mean? That’s why I said let’s go to the text. At different points in Nigerian history, where do these newspapers stand on different issues? “ On the issue of homecoming, he said it’s in the mind and that he’s always around in Nigeria. He added that though he sometimes wonders if bothering about Nigeria is worth the trouble but that, “the Awolowo tradition into which I was born and which drives not just my public engagement but also my intellectual engagement is one that is committed to the possibilities of any social foundation.

Awolowo was an incurable optimist; he believed in the undying possibilities of human beings. He was somebody who was committed to possibilities and he had his disappointments too but the overriding thing was that human beings are capable of re-inventing society and creating societies that are liveable.

It’s a work in progress, we will never give up and we don’t necessarily have to be in government to be able to help in creating a better society.”

Odumakin wondered why there is no consensus among the elite and if it’s possible to build a nation without consensus among elite?

Responding to the question on elite consensus before the author did, Osundare said a distinction needs to be made between positive and negative consensus. “Corruption is the most powerful uniting factor among the elites,” he said, adding that the leaders are however not the only culpable party as followers, especially those who prefer “stomach infrastructure” to quality service also have their faults.

On elite consensus, Adebanwi said “it is very important and there are different manifestations of it. The United States is a very good example; when it comes to the American military, whether you are conservative, liberal, there’s a consensus about that. The only thing I think is settled about us here is that we are not going to have a good country.”

Citing the example what happened in Yoruba land in the 50s when the Action Group introduced compulsory free education and the initial opposition to it, Adebanwi reiterated that “it’s possible for an elite consensus to change this country. The consensus that exists now is that this is not going to be a good country and some people work hard every day and ensure that it doesn’t happen.

If some people also work hard every day that this is going to be a good country, it’s actually possible.”

Contributing to the elite consensus debate while giving the vote of thanks, Akande said it was time for a true positive consensus among the elite as they need to show the way forward for followers. He noted that the elite seem to have “agreed on corruption, to rob and rape this country” but that with the new administration, “Nigeria has a window of opportunity to get it right.”

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17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

thepolity Senate and its endless rumbles, drama

The Red Chamber of the Nigerian Senate has been a theatre of sort all through the past week. Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA, presents the inside details of endless drama the lawmakers treated Nigerians to.

T

UESDAY, July 12 marked the kick-off of the second session of the eighth National Assembly. It also coincided with the commencement of what is fast becoming a drama of limitless scenes in the Red Chamber.

Though the eighth Senate has not really known peace since its inauguration on June 9, 2015, the upscale of drama in the last one week appears unprecedented. On Tuesday, the Senate kicked off from where it started in the first session, which ended on June 9, by issuing a summons on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and another high- ranking member of the executive cabinet, Mr Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

For the AGF, his case with the senators has been a carryover from the last session, when he had missed two invitations of the lawmakers. He had been summoned to appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters headed by Senator David Umaru to explain his role in dragging the Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, to court over alleged forgery of Senate Rule Book 2015. The AGF had shunned the invitations. But on Tuesday, the Senate asked him to appear before the committee not later than Friday or risk the issuance of a warrant of arrest.

At the Tuesday’s sitting, Chairman of Judiciary Committee, Senator David Umaru, had reported that Malami had shunned the committee’s two invitations meant to investigate his decision to file charges against Senate’s presiding officers and the two clerks over alleged forgery.

The senators then resolved that the AGF should appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters not later than Friday or risk arrest.

In his ruling on Umaru’s report, Saraki threatened that if the AGF failed to appear before the committee the Senate would have no option but to exercise its constitutional powers by using a warrant of arrest.

He said: “We all heard the explanation of the chairman on Judiciary, and what he is trying to get across to us here is to tell us the status of the situation because what we have been reading in the papers was of great concern where the number one judicial officer of the country will be the one that will be flouting the constitution, because 89 (c) is very clear.

“But it appears from what you are saying that the attorney-general is requesting one more chance to be given to appear before you. And I think as a Senate, it is always in the progress of development. And as such we will do that and ensure that he does come this time. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to follow the constitution strictly.

So, you will report back to us before the end of the week to let us know the status of that situation. And if that does not happen, we will go ahead and go in line with the constitution very clearly.”

The same day, the Senate played up another scene in the unfolding executive/legislative feud when it issued a summons on the SGF, Mr Lawal, over his comments that the constituency projects in the 2016 budget may not be implemented.

Babachi’s summons was sequel to the motion moved by Senator Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South), who complained of media reports quoting Babachir as saying that constituency projects may not be implemented. Several

Saraki

other senators, who commented on the motion, insisted that Babachir’s comments were in bad faith and that he must be summoned to appear before the lawmakers.

The summons may be targeted at two individuals in the executive, but the message is not lost on the contending forces that both the Senate and the executive are engaged in a supremacy battle.

Thus, when the SGF appeared before the joint Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions; Appropriations and Finance to defend his comments, he made no pretenses that he was speaking for the Federal Government, even though he was not representing the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.

He told the committee that the finances of the government have dwindled by as much as 50 per cent and as such, constituency projects could just be one of the sacrificial lambs.

According to him, oil benchmark of the Federal Government for the 2016 budget put at $38 per barrel has been drastically dislocated and grossly affected by activities of militants in the Niger Delta region, which he said had dropped oil production at a stage to about 800, 000 barrels per day.

Lawal, who was practically unrepentant at the statement credited to him, told the lawmakers: “The statement is correct. That is my statement; we cannot guarantee the implementation of constituency projects in the 2016 budget. As a government, constituency projects are championed by members of the National Assembly. Like the legislature, members of the executive are politicians who canvassed for votes.

“Lawmakers are aware that oil production has dwindled to about 800,000 barrels per day. This has led to the inability of government to finance the budget. It is the

Ekweremadu

duty of government to prepare the minds of Nigerians ahead that there will be challenges in implementing the budget.

“Government based its principle on zero budgeting this year. Funds will be released to finance key projects in line with the implementation plans of the government. I will explain why it will be hard for the government to implement the budget.

“I spoke with the Minister of Budget this morning (Wednesday) and I asked him the revenue base of the government. We are now receiving about 50 to 60 earnings from what we projected.

“Some Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) might find it impossible to implement projects appropriated in their budgets. We have to re-prioritise. I like us to understand that this is the background upon which I made that statement.”

Lawal had run into troubled waters with the lawmakers immediately he arrived at the hearing room as the hostile senators objected to his initial remarks. The SGF had complained that the notice extended to him was too short and that it carried an element of threat. But before he could finish his comments, two lawmakers interjected and practically accused him of acting in bad faith.

He said: “I only saw this letter this morning. I thought it was going to be Wednesday next week. I wanted my permanent secretary to write to request for another date, knowing that Wednesdays are for Federal Executive Council meetings. You gave me a very short time to prepare.

“Taking together the lateness of the letter and the threat at the bottom of it shows that it was not done in good faith. We should respect each other and give each

Continues

pg 30

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17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

inter

Ekiti’s man

APC trying to Fayose’s govt by all We’ll not allow h Ekiti people —

In these interviews with SAM NWAOKO, the Special Assista and New Media, Lere Olayinka and a former commissioner in gress (APC), Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, sp

T

HERE have been protests and counter protests in the state over sundry issues. How would you describe what you did against the recent protests in the state?

There were demonstrations of the hatred of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the people of Ekiti State.

The APC gathered about 200 people from across the states and hurriedly took photographs for their usual, well-known media advantage and in about 25 to 30 minutes, they were done. With the photos all over the social media, it became the talk of the town that Ado Ekiti was locked down and things like that. But this was a false message. There was nothing like Ado Ekiti being locked down but cynics would still not agree.

However, the rally that was staged by the people of Ekiti State in solidarity with Governor Ayodele Fayose, on Friday (the day after) was supposed to have been held on Thursday. They got to know about it and quickly ran to the police for a permit. So, they got to the police before us. Be that as it may, what we had on that day was not a protest but a rally by private sector unions in Ekiti. All of them came together as one body: Photographers, beer sellers, commercial drivers unions, traders, artisans, tailors, hairdressers and so many others, even hunters.

All of them came together in solidarity with Governor Fayose.

How do we now describe the solidarity without the toga of a sponsored outing, because that was what was said by a section of the people?

One of the problems with our friends in the APC is that they see themselves as the only wise people. They portray themselves as the only ones that have the interest of the people at heart. By lying that thousands of people were paid, are they also not saying that the less than 200 people that they had gathered the day before were paid?

While I leave that as their problem, let me explain that it would be out of place for a taxi driver, who would probably make a minimum of N3,000 in a day to be told to leave his job and join a rally. For how much? I know of people who couldn’t get a place to eat on that day because the food vendors were all in the rally. If they didn’t love the governor or have interest in the programme, they wouldn’t have left their businesses for a solidarity rally for Fayose.

By way of advice, our friends in APC should purge themselves of the arrogance that whatever that is not coming from them is not real and is not good or be taken seriously.

What do you think is the cause of all these rallies and protests?

It is simple. Those who have been in this state for a number of years know that these elements in the APC, the moment they lose power, they begin to cause trouble in the state. Chief Niyi Adebayo of AD (Alliance for Democracy) was a governor here and for four years, no one caused trouble for him. 2003, Ayò Fayose waged war against him; the same people waged war until they collapsed his government. They want to say ‘okay we don’t like, how can this person Ayò Fayose that has only HND and he cannot be traced to any professor or anybody in that mould.’ Then what do we say about Chief Segun Oni, who is an engineer? He was elected governor on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007. I worked with him for three and a half years. The same elements waged war against him until they collapsed his government. After Segun Oni, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of APC became governor in 2010 and ran his four years peacefully. The only thing PDP did during the period was call the attention of the public to things they were not going right and what they should do by way of alternative suggestions. I recall that when the Fayemi government was going for the loans that have now put Ekiti in perpetual financial crisis, we cried out against it and it is on record that we raised our voice in a civil way. We made our position known for four years.

But the moment Ayò Fayose won an election in 2014, crisis started. The first thing they did was to say that they would prevent him from assuming office. They wanted to make history by denying someone that won election the right to be sworn-in and in the process, Chief Omolafe Aderiye was murdered. When that failed, the next thing was that ‘we will impeach him within two months’. They even said that they would remove him and his deputy at the same time. We wondered what offence they would list against a governor that wasn’t even three months in office yet. This was because they had the numerical advantage in the Ekiti State House of Assembly then. We went through that for about seven months during which a life was also lost. The next stage was ‘we have taken over government in Abuja, we are now in charge of the Federal Government’. They even sounded like President Muhammadu Buhari would wake up one morning and just announce that Fayose has been removed as the governor of Ekiti State. It never occurred to them that we are in a democracy in which things must be done in accordance with the law. They went as far as Kaduna to testify at a military panel that the 2014 election was militarised and that it wasn’t a fair contest. Their plan was that the report of that panel would be taken to the Supreme Court, where they had earlier lost in their election petition, for the court to reverse itself. When that failed, they resorted to the current House of Assembly members by calling them and offering them money to compromise and impeach Governor Fayose. When those

ones did not budge, they got the DSS to invade the Assembly and they arrested some of them. Afolabi Akanni was detained for 18 days without a charge and up till today, he was not told why he was arrested and detained.

So, you can see a pattern. This is a road we have travelled before. Now they are telling us that they would cause a state of emergency to be declared in Ekiti. We are still wondering how and why because in Borno, Boko Haram is still killing people; in Benue, Fulanis are still invading communities and killing people; Niger Delta Avengers are bombing and destroying pipelines in the South-South states and yet, there is no emergency in those states. We are wondering what the justification of emergency would be in Ekiti. We are aware that they are planning another protest and their plans are to bring in people from neighbouring states and cause trouble. They don’t remember that you need two-thirds of the Senate to confirm emergency and that the maximum period is six months.

Are you not over-simplifying the issues by saying all these protests and so on are because all they want is to get at Fayose?

Not at all, because these are really the issues. They simply want to precipitate crisis and chaos, which they think would call for emergency to be declared in Ekiti.

The ultimate aim is to collapse the government of Governor Ayò Fayose like they did in 2006. But as I have said several times, 2006 is different from 2014. Some of us that were involved in that 2006 arrangement are now here and we know all their game plan. When they’re taking one step, we would have taken about three steps ahead of them.

What would you now say of the allegations of misgovernance and financial impropriety levelled against the governor?

All those are part of the game plan to perpetually keep their voluble members and keep portraying Ekiti and Governor Fayose in a bad light. We all know what misgovernance is and we saw a perfect example when the APC ran the state for just four years. We are in a debt that we will have to pay till 2036 in this state. Today, Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board cannot access the Universal Basic Education Commission’s (UBEC’s) grant because we have been blacklisted. We have not benefitted for four years now and through that, the state has missed about N3.2 billion. When they are talking about misgovernance, the EFCC has not said that Ekiti money was stolen, what they are talking about is that ‘Governor Fayose got money from Dasuki to fund his election.’

They are not saying that an amount of money belonging to Ekiti State is missing and we suspect that it was stolen Continues pg 31

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Sunday Tribune

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ny troubles

o bring down ll means —Gov’s aide him impoverish

—APC chieftain

ant to Governor Ayodele Fayose on Public Communications n Ekiti State and publicity secretary of the All Progressives Conpeak on the political situation in Ekiti State.

THERE have been protests by your party loyalists against Governor Ayo Fayose and counter protests in favour of the state government over sundry issues. How would you describe what is going on?

To start with, people should not construe the happenings in Ekiti to mean organised political rallies. Rather, they are the response of the populace to the kind of hardship that the PDP-led government in Ekiti State has brought on them. It is not premeditated; people voted in individuals they believe could bring about positive changes in their lives but it had turned out that the people have found that they have been duped, that they have been shortchanged. There is hunger and starvation everywhere. Workers are not getting their salaries for up to seven months now. Resources that are accruing from both the internally-generated revenue and the federal allocation are being squandered and embezzled and diverted to personal use by the head of the government.

The result is what you see in the last few months. Don’t forget that the serious constitutional issue of the electoral fraud that brought in Fayose, a fraud which casts a serious moral question on his emergence, is still there.

Notwithstanding, Ekiti being what we are, people agreed that let’s move on, let him be while we see what he can do. But it turned out that Ayodele Fayose has turned governance into a roadshow drama. He behaves as if he is acting in a comedy. The populace realised that if they didn’t take their destiny in their own hands by crying out, instead of taking laws into their hands, they took to the streets to show their displeasure to the misrule, misgovernance and violence his government has foisted on Ekiti. You could say before the ones we organised as a party, you would realise that there has been some protests from individuals, corporate institutions, civic society, civil servants, doctors and so on.

What you see is a let out of the accumulated feelings against the government of Governor Fayose, particularly in the area of the mismanagement of the taxpayers money in terms of the resources accruing to the state.

Talking about management of resources, hunger in the land, non-payment of salaries and sundry issues you have raised, the government has said the numerous loans taken by the immediate past government of your party threw the state into debts, which have caused the funds accruing to the state to seriously dwindle. They have also coupled this with shortfall in the federal allocation. What’s your reaction to this?

That stands logic on its head. The government has reeled out different figures as the debt owed by Ekiti State in the last two years. The question he has refused to answer is what the actual debt of Ekiti is. The only authority which has the records of loans and debts, which

we have also challenged Fayose to refute, is the Debt Management Office (DMO). The DMO has come out to say that Ekiti is not owing more than N18 billion as of December/January. When Fayose came, he said we owed N100 billion; two weeks after, he said the debt was N85 billion. The matter is that former Governor Fayemi took N25 billion bond and before you could take a bond, you would have been a contributing partner into that bond.

And we can see what he did with that money. If properly managed by the present administration, Ekiti should be in the surplus and should have been benefiting from what he used those funds for because they are physical things that we can see. Not only that, he had paid reasonably before we left government, before the election of 2014. It is unfortunate that today, Governor Fayose would come up and say that the debts owed by the state make him unable to pay salaries. Fayemi did not owe salaries when he was there despite taking that bond. Immediately Fayose came on board, he asked for a moratorium of six months, after the six months and despite the suspension of the payment of loans, he could not pay salaries. He refused to pay the salary of September 2014, which he got the allocation for, and up till today, he still owes them. It is just an excuse on the part of government to be blaming a loan which had been reasonably paid and which has been used substantially and reasonably for the infrastructural development of Ekiti, as the reason for his inability to pay workers’ salary for up to seven months. The most ridiculous aspect of it is that the governor is claiming that the loan will take over 30 years to pay. We have asked him to bring any document from any authority to prove that that loan would be paid for about 30 years.

Not only that, is Governor Fayose saying that he himself has not acquired loans? What about the N10 billion he deposited with a new generation bank for up to eight months without any interest up till now? If not that we have come out shouting, he wouldn’t have come out to say he would use it to build a flyover. Is Fayose also saying that the N9.6 billion that was given to him by the FG, is it not a loan? Add that to N10 billion. What then with the N2 billion he took for small-scale industries from the Central Bank? All of them amounts to N21.6 billion. We are aware that the Federal Government has approved budget assistant funds, which is in form of loans as well. He is acquiring that every month and we are afraid if he would use that to pay the arrears of salaries and salaries of workers which it is meant for.

Would you say all these allegations of yours are why the EFCC is after Governor Fayose?

It is only those who do not know Fayose that would believe him. He is so deceitful and I have reasons to say this. Let him come and account for federal allocations his government has received for over 20 months now. He

has nothing to show for it. Where did he get the wage bill of N2.6billion when he has done away with all the people-oriented programmes of Dr Fayemi like the social security scheme, which provided N5,000 for about 20,000 people for about four years? What has he done with the YCAD people, the road/youth volunteers? How many people are actually serving in Fayose’s government? He said he would reduce the cabinet which he met and he reduced the cabinet to about 24 from 48 people to be specific. He also said he had been able to discover about 500 ghost workers. Despite all the appointments made by Dr Kayode Fayemi and other employees in different forms of programmes and activities, the wage bill of Ekiti State was N2.6 billion but as of today, Fayose is still claiming N2.6 billion. Is that not enough for the EFCC to be running after him? Is the money he got from Dasuki not enough for the EFCC to be running after him?

Is the money he stashed in the new generation bank for eight months not enough for the EFCC to be running after him? Is the mode of awarding contracts to his friends and a contractor being the consultant at the same time not enough for EFCC to be running after him? Is all the properties he is acquiring all over the world not enough for the EFCC to be running after him?

The contention of the government is that any time the AD, ACN, APC is not in government; the state does not know peace. That whenever you are in government, nobody runs the state aground, all over. How do you see this allegation along with the fact that the election you talked about is over two years now?

If you commit a crime, the fact at that point without the consciousness of the victim does not make you a saint.

By the time the crime is discovered and the criminal is discovered, then it becomes an issue. The election of 2014 was shrouded in mystery. It was a serious electoral mystery. Shortly before the election, we discovered some people were thumbprinting somewhere. Some were arrested and because it was a government by PDP, they quickly managed the whole situation. It was a surprise that after, in a polling unit, even without being a governor, you realise that you have just one vote there. You have wife and children. All these issues are what to look at but then, let’s forget about that. Captain Koli’s recorded video has actually exposed the kind of shenanigans that took place during that election. The involvement of a general in the apart, the involvement of two ministers, including a Police Minister, is an issue that cannot be pushed under the carpet like that, it is an issue we must get to its roots to serve as deterrent for the future. I’m Continues pg 31

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Sunday Tribune

One Senate, many crises

Melaye

Tinubu

Continued

pg 27

other the time to appear.”

But the Chairman, Senate Committee Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu immediately countered him.

Senator Anyanwu said: “This is a joint committee meeting. Our committee days are usually Wednesdays. The Senate is expected to go on recess next week Wednesday and because of the urgency of the issue, we had to send the letter. We want the aspect of that your statement withdrawn.”

Anyanwu was further backed by Senator John Enoh, who demanded a retraction from Lawal. “We take exception to the word ‘bad faith’. The comments imply that the Senate committee, in extending an invitation to you, acted in bad faith. If we sent the letter to you in bad faith, it means you are also here in bad faith,” Enoh stated.

But the SGF had to drop another tone of protest, even while withdrawing his statement. He said: “The freedom of expression is a right. While I excuse your position, but I want you to note the threat in your letter. I want to put it on record that you forced me to withdraw my statement.”

There was more drama as the AGF appeared before the Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters also on Wednesday.

Malami, in his submission, said that the forgery suit instituted against Saraki, Ekweremadu and officials of the National Assembly was in public interest.

He told the committee that the fact that he had earlier served as counsel to one of the litigants in the three suits did not amount to conflict of interest, adding that the decision of his office was informed by the report of police investigation into the matter.

According to him, the provisions of Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution empower him to file the criminal charges against the presiding officers.

But Malami did not answer why he included Saraki, and his deputy, Ekweremadu in the suit, in spite of the fact that their names were not mentioned in the police report.

To him, giving any reason at the moment for their involvement would be subjudice because the proof of evidence was already before the court.

He said: “The proof of evidence is before the court. I am a party in the suit being the prosecutor. I can’t comment on the question you asked because doing so would be subjudice.

“I was invited to appear before the committee based on a letter which reads “Imminent threat to Nigeria democracy.” I have a clear obligation to do whatever should be done within the context of the constitution to sustain the democratic process.

“The issue that constitutes the basis of this invitation is a criminal case instituted against certain members of the Senate. It is an act that predates my appointment. There

are series of suits.

“I was appointed on the 12th of November, 2015. That is four months after the investigation was concluded by the police. I have an obligation in the sustenance of democracy to institute a legal action from an investigation that has been concluded. It was based on this that I took the action.

“The action was not taken to truncate any democratic process, but was taken to protect the democracy. There are now two pending cases in court. One is a civil case instituted by some Senators. The other is a criminal case instituted by the office of the AGF. “The initiation behind the forgery case was taken in the interest of the public and in the interest of democracy. I want to state clearly that my decision was based on public interest and the aim to prevent abuse of public offices.

“The National Assembly has the powers to regulate its own procedure. But the basis for filing my case was that the position taken was not that of the Senate. The Senate Standing Rules allegedly amended in 2015 did not follow the traditional way of amendment.

“It can, therefore, not be the position of the Senate.

That is where my quarrel comes in. If there are certain persons that did not allow the process of amending the Senate Standing Rules go through the constitutional process, we have a responsibility to act by way of initiating a criminal proceeding against those involved.”

Malami told the sitting that he had met privately with members of the committee to apologise over his failure to honour previous invitations but stated that his action was in public interest.

Though the committee members failed to interrogate Malami’s submissions further, it was apparent that the AGF was working in link with members of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), the group that opposed the emergence of Saraki as the Senate President. Prior to June 9, 2015 the Senate had been divided among the SUF, loyal to the hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Like Minds Senators (LMS) loyal to Saraki and the non-Aligned Senators, who are largely ranking senators.

The SUF was endorsed by the APC to produce the Senate President and other Principal Officers, but Saraki worked behind the scenes to clinch the top job.

The AGF’s arguments are those already canvassed by the leaders of the SUF in their opposition to Saraki.

Sources in the Senate have, however, insisted that the bureaucracy of the National Assembly is as well empowered to bring the rules of the chamber up to date with realities on the global political scene by proposing amendments where a chamber is not in session and that such amendments could be adopted through the votes and proceedings when the chamber resumes plenary.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator David Umaru, explained that the essence of summoning the AGF was to find out from him whether his action did not amount to conflict of interest, since he was a counsel in one of the

alleged forgery cases before his appointment.

Umaru said: “I like to state that the purpose of our inquiry is not to look at the criminal case of forgery, neither are we looking at the civil matter which was filed and is pending in a Federal High Court.

“Our concern is different from that. We are not interested in that. The court should handle that. We are looking at Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution. By the powers conferred on this committee by Section 88 and 89 of the Constitution and Order 97, Rule 37, read together with Section 62.

“Section 60 gives the Senate the powers to make rules to govern its own proceedings.

However, Senator Babajide Omoworare, added to the drama when he openly disagreed with his colleagues at the committee sitting. He said that the AGF should not have been invited because the matter involved is before a competent court of law.

To him, both the constitution of the country and the Senate rule book forbid the senators from interfering on any issue that is pending in court. He said, “My admonition is that the matter is subjudice and we should not be here wasting our time over a matter that is pending in court.”

The picture of a divided Senate painted by Omoworare would, however, not go away as another drama premiered

by Chairman Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Dino Melaye and the chairperson would confirm.

It all happened on July 12 but because it took place behind the closed doors, only snippets of it were available immediately.

It emerged as Senators held a closed session that day that Melaye, who represents Kogi West, had engaged Senator Oluremi Tinubu in near fisticuffs and had exchanged hot words with the wife of a leader of his party.

As sources in the Senate would have it, Melaye was quoted as saying that he would beat up Senator Tinubu and that nothing would happen.

The Senate had called the closed session, to resolve issues relating to the ongoing forgery suit brought against Saraki and Ekweremadu.

At the sitting, it was confirmed that Senator Melaye moved that the senators who filed petitions to the police to allege forgery of Senate rules be suspended.

His position was, however, stoutly opposed by Senator Tinubu. The chairman Senate Women Affairs Committee was quoted as saying that senators should not behave like small boys and that the Senate should rather close ranks and seek solutions to the forgery saga instead of compounding the problem.

Sources in the Senate said that Senator Melaye immediately flared up and started calling Tinubu unprintable names.

A source said that Melaye told Senator Tinubu that she was too skinny for him to befriend and that he would have preferred to befriend women like Senator Stella Oduah.

He was also quoted as saying that he could beat up the woman and that “nothing would happen.”

The altercation was said to have thrown the closeddoor session into temporary disarray as senators were said to have taken time to calm the feuding duo.

As reports of that encounter blew open in the media, both Senators Melaye and Tinubu are being taken to task.

But women activists have called Melaye names for threatening to “beat up and impregnate Tinubu and nothing would happen.”

While Mrs. Tinubu did not respond to attempts to have an interview with her as of press time, Melaye spoke to newsmen in the National Assembly on Thursday to further clarify his position.

Senator Dino Melaye in his explanation to newsmen said that he was only responding to verbal assaults unleashed on him by Senator Tinubu .

He stated that he did not mention the name of Senator Tinubu in his submissions during the closed session but was shocked to see Tinubu called him “dog and a thug...”

“Unfortunately I did not have the anointing to be quite when you are being insulted. I replied accordingly. I repeat there is no reaction without an action. If she did not call me a dog or a thug there is no way I would have responded. I responded I have no regrets for responding and defending my person and if tomorrow or in the next one hour, Senator Tinubu again called me any name I shall equally respond accordingly.”

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Sunday Tribune

‘EFCC witch-hunting Fayose, others’ Continued from pg 28

know their feelings. They carry rumours and lies to ridiculous levels.

Ekiti people are asking ‘what is wrong with these people’? Must they always cause problems when they are not in power? Are you the only ones that can govern Ekiti? This anger will get to 2018 and then they would lose the election woefully again, and they would start another round of blackmail and mischief. It may interest you to know that they are already losing the election now with many things they do both to their party members and the people of the state. They lost the 2014 election by over 80,000 votes. The 120,000 votes that APC got then is reducing now, because a lot of their people are also not happy. All of them are in Abuja and in Lagos. They are not coming home to galvanise support for their people and they are doing virtually nothing.

by Fayose. What they are saying is that N4.7 billion from the office of the National Security Adviser was given to Fayose through [Senator Musiliu] Obanikoro. If Ayò Fayose was to collect money from the Federal Government under Jonathan to fund his election, are we saying that he didn’t have sufficient access to the president at that time so much that he would need an Obanikoro as intermediary? So, as they have been saying, it is for Obanikoro to collect such money, change it to naira, fly it to Akure and then arrange a bullion van, which takes it to Zenith Bank for Fayose. Some things are just not commonsensical. If Fayose had such capacity to get such an amount, why wouldn’t he do all those by himself? Why take the money to the bank in Akure when he could have taken it to his home in Afao?

Well, the governor has said he got money from Zenith Bank to fund his election and the bank has not denied the statement or say that the governor lied. So far, no one has accused Governor Fayose of mismanaging or stealing Ekiti money. Governor Fayose has come out to categorically say that he did not collect any money from Dasuki. If they said they found money in his account, are they saying he couldn’t have received money from friends to fund his election? Would he return the gifts after the election when he didn’t use them? Some things don’t just add up.

So, what would you now say the EFCC is doing?

Are you saying the agency is not doing its job?

I say it with all sense of responsibility that what the EFCC is doing is purely a witch hunt. It is a witch-hunt not just of Fayose but people that belong to the PDP. Among others, we have read reports of how the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, bought two houses in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. When Nigerians raised their voice, even the government defended him, saying he bought his houses through savings. This is curious, because when his legitimate earnings are viewed, the defence makes no sense.

For instance, we have written several petitions to the EFCC concerning the looting of this state by the APC government of Dr Fayemi. The government had written, various groups had also written but the EFCC has not done anything about the petitions. From our own end here, it is clear to us that EFCC is on a pure political persecution. It is simply interpreted to mean that as the lone voice of opposition in the country, they want to silence that voice. They did the same thing to Senator Ben Murray Bruce when they said he was indebted and they sealed his business premises. There are people on that AMCON list whose debts are much more than that of Senator Bruce but they didn’t go after those ones. It is purely a witch-hunt of the vocal opposition.

So what do you now say the opposition in the state should do?

They should let peace reign. It is the job of the opposition to criticise and they should do so with alternative suggestions. We should also learn from events around us, like the resignation of David Cameron, who didn’t even lose election. If it was in Nigeria, someone would have gone to court and got an injunction restraining him from resigning. Another one would get another injunction restraining him from leaving office. They would go to court and argue that when he leaves, the country would collapse. The APC lost an election that was conducted in Ekiti over two years ago, but they are still battling that election and have refused to give in. I advise them to rather be preparing for 2018 because that’s not too far away. They should offer criticism with suggestions that should put government on its toes. When we criticise Buhari, we offer alternatives. President Buhari threatened military force against the Niger Delta militants; Governor Fayose disagreed and suggested that he should dialogue with them. Government is about concession. When he said he was going to China to take loans, Fayose said he shouldn’t and stated that we don’t need any foreign loans, we even wrote to the government of China. They should stop lies and stop deceiving their supporters and the people. It does us no good. Rather, it is getting people angry and those of us who live here know this. We are based here; we relate with people and

Isn’t your government afraid and shaken?

Afraid of what? Shaken by what? Shenanigans? Why should Ayò Fayose be afraid? He knows that all they do is keep making noise. It is only a masquerade that a man hadn’t seen before that could frighten him. We have seen them before. As I said, we are steps ahead of them. No matter how hard they try, this Ayò Fayose government is one established by God and they can never do anything to this government. If they are not careful, these Egyptians should be mindful of running after this Israelite.

If they are not careful, they will perish in the Red Sea of Ekiti politics.

‘EFCC, police doing their jobs’ Continued from pg 29 happy today because you cannot put something on nothing. It is unfortunate that people are suffering now because everything that is achieved by fraud cannot bring any benefit. It is good to benefit from any kind of leader that we chose and I am an Ekiti person, we are benefitting from that choice now. We seemed to endorse his electoral rascality and because Fayemi is quiet and easygoing and not a street entertainer, and we have a Fayose that dances on the street, we believe that is the kind of person that we want. Today, the die is cast and we can now see that this man is just deceiving people. If Fayose is claiming to be a friend of the people and he dances on the street with them, does that make him a friend of the people? He claims to be a friend of the masses but he cancelled the social security scheme of Fayemi. Even if he didn’t want to go with that, he could as well come up with another scheme so that people can benefit. Today, he is turning graduates into criminals, is his imposing taxes on school children portraying him as a friend of the masses? The government that is in Ekiti at the moment is not the government our people wished they had.

As a party, given all that you have enumerated now, what is your next step? What is you way forward? What do you think is the implication of all that you have stated for both your party and the state?

We are one out of the many political organisations in Nigeria. Particularly, a chapter of APC, the ruling party in Nigeria. We still believe that we were robbed in the 2014 election by the powers that be then. We intend to bring all the accomplices to book and we will continue to agitate for that, not because of any interest. It is to ensure that we contribute to the sanitisation of the electoral process in this country and Ekiti can be a good platform to do that. As a political party, we will continue to be on the side of the people. We will continue to agitate and to push for a good welfare and the wellbeing of our people.

We are supposed to be a kind of watchdog for our people.

If government is supposed to do something and it is not doing it, we will push them to do it. We will continue to be law-abiding and peaceful.

The allegations are also that the EFCC chooses which cases to pursue. The claims are that there were petitions against the mismanagement of SUBEB funds by the administration of Dr. Fay-

emi and that nothing has been heard about them.

Did you hear about the SUBEB funds and the alleged one-sidedness of the EFCC pursuits?

I cannot defend the EFCC or the police. It is not my responsibility to do that. What is important is that if petition has been written against Fayose on the management of the state funds, he should answer those petitions. I’m sure the EFCC has not put him under trial. It has not charged him to any court. But it is not out of place for them to investigate any financial crime as provided under the law. And so be it. On the issue of the police, I want to say that anybody who is found to have committed any crime against the other should be investigated. I say this because your right of extending your hand ends where my nose begins. That’s the truth. The moment you extend to the extent of touching my nose, then you should expect that you could be invited by the appropriate authorities. This is more so when the victim in that respect will not want to involve in the gutter form of attitude like that person. What this implies is that two wrongs cannot make a right. The moment there are established laws and institutions to intervene in issues of crime, then those institutions should be allowed to work.

Fayose is trying to make Nigeria a replica of what Ekiti is under him: To suspend all forms of institutions like he did to the judiciary and the legislature. He believes he can gag the EFCC, he believes he can gag the police, he believes he can gag the DSS, it is not possible. Even if he is willing to do that, the authorities of the law that establishes this country and which is a ground norm in the running of the administration of Nigeria, will not allow him. Either ways, even though he has ruffled the law to be in that position, he should be made to submit himself to the laws of the land. He is not above the law.

So, let the police do their job. We are crying out now that the police must do their job, we are crying out now that Fayose must be properly investigated. We still believe that the EFCC is yet to get to the bottom of all his accounts. They are talking about Zenith Bank account, what of accounts in other banks? What he expects is that we should be watching him and allowing him to impoverish Ekiti when people are dying on a daily basis. Pensioners are dying, workers are dying, most pensioners who have served Ekiti cannot afford N1,000 or N2,000 for their medical attention. I say clearly without any form of fear that the police should do their job because if they don’t, we too can resort to fight for ourselves, which we have been restraining ourselves from doing. That’s the truth.

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Modu Sheriff must quit honorably or else… —Akinlaja The member representing Ondo East/West in the House of Representatives, Honourable Joseph Akinlaja, speaks with SHOLA ADEKOLA on the ongoing trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the politics of Ondo State ahead of the governorship election and other issues. Excerpts:

H

OW do you react to the ongoing forgery trial against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu?

Honestly speaking, I see the trial as a political persecution. It should never have come up at all. Why am I saying so? The trial amounts to the executive interference in the affairs of the upper chamber. How members elect their own officers is none of the executive’s business.

Then if at all, if any trial is to come up, it is to be initiated by members of the Senate, and that will be if any of them feels aggrieved that the election process was not transparent enough.

If it is any member of the Senate or a group of senators that initiated the suit, there is no problem with that, because they are interested parties. But for God’s sake, what is the business of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Abubakar Malami with how members of the National Assembly elect their principal officers?

What he has done by dragging Saraki and Ekweremadu to court amounts to interference. This suit is in bad taste – it is a clear case of lawmakers being harassed by the executive – the suit is an abuse of separation of powers, and it is capable of setting the executive and the legislature on a collision course.

But what some people are saying is that a crime has been committed…

(Cuts in) Which crime has been committed when members of the National Assembly decided to elect their own officers, and refused to toe party line? Saraki is in trouble because he decided to contest Senate Presidency in defiance of the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) directive that a particular candidate had been chosen by the party, and that the preferred candidate must be elected Senate President.

But Saraki defied his party’s directive and that is why he is in trouble. But Nigerians should not have short memory; this will not be the first time such a thing will happen. If you remember when President Goodluck Jonathan was elected in 2011 and PDP zoned out political offices, it was agreed that the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives should be zoned to the South-West, but what happened later? PDP lawmakers defied the party, and went ahead to elect Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto State as the Speaker of the House. Did PDP or President Jonathan harass these legislators for defying the party?

No. Although the party was not happy, the will of the legislators was respected.

Saraki and Ekweremadu’s trial should be discontinued, because the APC and Buhari are raising tension in the polity. My advice to Buhari is that he should not let bad advisers mislead him; he should not bite more than he can chew. He already has loads of problems on his shoulder – why add this one to it? The Boko Haram problem is still there for him; the Niger-Delta crisis is there, the Biafra problem is also

Corruption in whatever form is a vice, and I will support the fight against corruption any day. My advice to the president is that the war should go round; it should not be seen to be targeting only members of a political party. It should go round, and then there must be fair trial.

I will also like to commend the president over the recovered loots. However, this money must be put into good use– it must be used to provide essential infrastructural facilities across the country, especially power. The power sector is in comatose; most of the recovered loot should be used to revive the power sector. This, however, should have been after appropriation for that purpose had been carried out by the National Assembly. Power is the key to the revival of every sector that is moribund or dead. Everything must also be done to ensure that the recovered looted money is not looted again.

Honourable Joseph Akinlaja

there. The killings by Fulani herdsmen is there, the economic crisis is also there as well as insecurity problem across the land, what about the problem of hunger and poverty confronting Nigerians? Buhari should take it easy. Even the corruption war is also there that he is fighting. He can’t afford to work with a hostile or fractured legislature.

He just needs to take it easy.

There has been this issue of lingering crisis within your party, PDP, especially the battle between Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions.

What do you think is the way out?

The way out for Sheriff is to quit. The majority of the members no longer want him to stay, and he must respect their decision.

Initially, we thought Sheriff had come to help rebuild PDP to become a formidable party again, but recent events have shown that Sheriff might have been sponsored to destroy PDP. He is suspected to be working for APC in order to weaken PDP. Sheriff’s problem is the usual problem with a black man; that is the sit-tight syndrome. They asked Sheriff to take over in acting capacity for a period of time, and the time has lapsed but the man didn’t want to go again. But PDP members should not panic; the will and wish of the majority members of PDP must be respected. Whether Sheriff likes it or not, he must go. Sheriff will be flushed out of PDP through constitutional means. But speaking to him as a friend, he should quit honorably, time is running out on him. He should not allow himself to be disgraced out of the party.

As a former Secretary-General of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG) and deputy president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), what do you think is the way out of the current Niger Delta crisis, espe-

cially the bombing of oil pipelines and facilities by a militant group, Niger Delta Avengers?

The way out of Niger Delta crisis and other problems facing Nigeria today is for us to return to a true federalism. True federalism is the only panacea to the myriads of woes confronting Nigeria today. Let each region control resources within its own domain and pay tax to the government at the centre.

The claims of one region or certain states suffering if this is done are unfounded.

There is no state in Nigeria that doesn’t have one or two mineral resources. It is our too much dependence on oil that is killing Nigeria. It is time for us to shift attention on other areas through diversification. I believe that without oil, Nigeria can survive.

There are many mineral resources in the North which have not been exploited, and this can be done on a commercial basis. The same thing also applies to the West and the East. Have we forgotten the era of cocoa and palm oil in the west, cotton and groundnut pyramid in Kano, and coal mining in Udi in the East? But unfortunately, when oil came, we neglected all these things which used to be money spinners for the nation. Let’s get back to these forgotten revenue-earning products and there will be less friction in the country. The other day, President Buhari declared that 27 states out of 36 can’t pay workers’ salaries, is that not a shame? Such a situation can’t happen where you practise true federalism because each state now knows that it has to generate revenue to run its affairs. But we have all become lazy, relying on money from crude oil sales to be shared monthly – this is why you see all the states going cap in hand to Abuja at the end of every month to collect allocations.

What is your assessment of the war against corruption by Buhari’s administration?

Do you agree with those who say that the name of the looters should be published to serve as a deterrent?

Yes. I support such a move. It is not enough for the Federal Government to tell us that so and so amount of money had been recovered without telling us from whom the money was gotten. We need to know the looters – they should not be protected. They should be unmasked; otherwise, doubts will even be created in people’s minds about the total money actually recovered by government. It is unfortunate that in Nigeria, we have two sets of laws, one for the poor, and the other for the rich. Nigerians are anxiously waiting to know the identity of the looters, because President Buhari himself at a time promised to name the looters. He should fulfill that promise. He should keep his words.

You are representing Ondo East/ West in the lower legislative chambers, and gubernorship election is coming up soon in Ondo State, how would you assess PDP’s chance?

In Ondo State, PDP has always been the master – we have always been defeating APC, and the situation is not going to be different during this coming election.

PDP will humiliate APC, because APC is actually dead in Ondo State.

Why did you say so?

For over a decade now, PDP has been in charge in Ondo State. Not only that, transformations taking place in the state under the leadership of Governor Olusegun Mimiko is unparalleled. There is no ward or section in Ondo State that has not benefitted from Mimiko’s government.

For now, APC is in disarray in Ondo State. The party is not on the ground at all.

Forget about the propaganda they are carrying out; APC should forget the election.

It can never win the polls.

Again, my words of advice for PDP members, none of them, especially the aspirants, should have anything to do with Modu Sheriff’s faction. Any party member that relates with Sheriff’s faction is just wasting his time.

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HE story of alleged forgery of Senate Rule Book 2015 (as amended) has been going back and forth for some time now. It’s been a constant issue since the beginning of this Senate but right now, it is taking a life of its own.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu have been dragged to court alongside the immediate past Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and the Deputy Clerk, Ben Efeturi .

The issue has already divided the executive and the legislature. On one hand, some lawmakers said that the Senate is on trial and that the executive was willing to actualise a coup through the back door. Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have raised the banner of this argument and declared they would no longer cooperate with the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led executive arm.

The two chambers of the National Assembly have also expressed apprehension at the development. The script looked so predictable and simple: An unhappy executive propped up its loyalists in the legislature to yell at the emergence of Senator Saraki and Ekweremadu as Senate’s helmsmen; the combatants raised all manners of issues and eventually dragged the matter to court. With ongoing suits at the Code of Conduct Tribunal CCT) dragging beyond imagination, the executive took it upon itself to do legal battle against Saraki and Ekweremadu; the duo would be required to be in the Dock anytime the case is holding and if that coincides with Senate sitting, the opportunity could come to replace the duo.

That was the script many had thought would never materialise. But the filing of the suit by the Federal Government has confirmed you can’t take anything beyond this administration.

The Senate itself has also fought back, last week, it hosted the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Barrister Abubakar Malami who insisted that the suit filed against Saraki and Ekweremadu was in public interest.

Malami, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, on Wednesday, said that the decision of his office to institute a legal action against the presiding officers over the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order 2015 was in

IN the course of heated debates over the trial of the two principal officers of the Senate, the President and his Deputy, last Tuesday, some Senators resorted to unsavoury behaviour while making their points in the hallowed chambers of the Senate.

It was reported that Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District threatened to beat up and to, thereafter impregnate Senator (Mrs.) Oluremi Tinubu (representing Lagos Central Senatorial district). The altercation between the two people is indeed worrisome and the height of uncouth behaviour especially coming from “Distinguished” Senators. It is very unbecoming of leaders.

Leadership demands responsible behaviour and if those who are supposed to make laws for us are behaving this way, then we are in trouble. I am not holding brief for Senator Melaye, in actual fact what he has done; denigrating a fellow senator, a woman for that matter should attract the carrying of placards by women in Nigeria, demanding for a full apology from him. But here we should not allow sentiments to becloud our judgement.

I have never met Mrs. Tinubu, but I have always admired her from afar – her carriage and comportment – until now. Why would you look a full-fledged man in the face and call him, not only a thug, but also a dog? Even if she saw him as one or all of the names she called him, one would expect a self-respecting woman, the wife of a leader and a leader in her own right to maintain her calm in the face of whatever provocation that might have come her way in the course of her service to the nation. I am not saying, “serves her right”, what I am saying is that respect begets respect; easily, she could have made her point without taking Melaye to the cleaners the way she did.

And the Melaye character behaved true to type; he said during a press conference he held to explain his misbehaviour, “she called me a dog, and when she called me a dog I stood up and reacted.” Of course, his reaction did show him up for what he is – a non-respecter of women.

Why would he threaten another man’s wife so? Unfortunately, in his explanation last Thursday, he further complicated the issue by claiming that he could not have said

17 July, 2016

the lynxeye with Taiwo adisa

08072000046

Who truly forged Senate Rule book? good faith and in Public interest.

He told the Committee that the fact that he was contracted as one of the counsels in one of the three suits instituted on the forgery saga did not constitute conflict of interest.

Malami said that his decision was informed by police investigation report on the matter which he said bothered on criminality. He insisted that Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution empowers him to file criminal charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu and others.

But Malami did not answer why he included the names of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, in the suit despite the fact that their names were not mentioned in the police report.

He said: “The issue that constitutes the basis of this invitation is a criminal case instituted against certain members of the Senate. It is an act that predates my appointment. There are a series of suits. “… I have an obligation in the sustenance of democracy to institute a legal action from an investigation that has been concluded. It was based on this that I took the ac-

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

Very uncouth language and behaviour he would impregnate Mrs. Tinubu, because according to him, she is biologically in the menopausal age. Haa! What kind of leaders do we have in this country - men threatening married women and women not being able to hold their tongues! No wonder there is so much disarray.

If we women, who are supposed to nurture and raise future leaders, cannot bridle our tongues and project good behaviour and utterances, then we are in trouble as a nation. As for Melaye, he should not look for excuses for his misbehaviour towards womanhood and the institution of marriage; (he has none). He should rather think of a way of apologising to Nigerian women without delay.

FROM MY MAILBOX Re: Lagos, our lagos What baffles me when I think of the actions of some of our leaders is whether they plan before they act. I am yet to understand why they always put the cart before the horse! No one adores or endorses indecency (in this context, street/road trading), but let Governor Ambode and his club members ‘plan before they cleanse’. Those that the governor needs to satisfy are those he is offending

Sunday Tribune

tion.

“The action was not taken to truncate any democratic process, but was taken to protect the democracy. There are now two pending cases in court. One is a civil case instituted by some Senators. The other is a criminal case instituted by the office of the AGF. “The National Assembly has the powers to regulate its own procedure. But the basis for filing my case was that the position taken was not that of the Senate.”

Fortunately for Malami, he faced a gentle committee, whose members asked questions more like diplomats rather than politicians. In the tradition of the Senate, no member of the executive is able to leave the venue of a hearing except on their terms. Even, the ebullient Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai received bruises in his encounter with the Senate. But Malami took the shine off his hosts right on their own turf.

Away from the legalistic arguments of whether Malami as AGF could institute cases against any Nigerian, which is granted, is the question of who determines forgery in this case. True, some members of the Senate had petitioned the police to alleged forgery of the Rule book. But the critical questions still remained who forged what? At what point can you talk of forgery? How did Saraki get involved in forging a document he was not in custody of?

And how really does a Rule book emerge?

Malami referred to the Votes and Preceding that showed the alteration of the Rule book ahead of the 7th Senate but said that no such record exists ahead of the changes made in the 2015 Rule Book.

His argument could look sound in the eye of a lawyer.

But the legislature is a much more complex setting. Has Malami asked which votes and proceedings yielded the 1999 Rule Book, or the 1991 Rule Book used in the aborted Third Republic.

The fact is that the Bureaucracy of the National Assembly prepared the Rule Books of 1991 and 1999 and could propose changes to the Rules in line with legislative practices around the world when a chamber is not in session. It behooves the chamber to adopt the same when it reconvenes or proposes further amendments in the life of that Assembly. In truth, I do not know how to sustain a forgery case here.

and victimising!

—Lanre Oseni, 07030303636 It is my belief that whatever has advantages must also have disadvantages. Before taking any major decision affecting the lives of the people, (the helmsman, who in this case is the governor) must consider both sides of the issue. Unfortunately, it appears as if Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State is looking at only one side. He did not ask “what are the provisions my government has made for those street hawkers”? Governor Ambode should compare his own life with those that the law will affect. There is a lot of disparity. Unfortunately, I can boldly claim that majority of these people voted for Ambode during the last gubernatorial elections in Lagos state; definitely, this is not the way to reward them.

—Taiwo Sangotikun Iseyin, Oyo state 08056309372 Government is an institution that has the proclivity of creating more problems in its bid to solve a problem.

Nigeria is replete with business moguls whose business interests pollute and deface the environment.

—Dayo Oladeji, Saki, Oke Ogun 08027278748 I believe the Lagos state government has done the right thing in order to ensure the security of lives and properties in the state. Also, removing the street hawkers will ensure free flow of traffic as well as take care of other factors. I repeat once again that the Lagos state government has done the right thing. However, this is a man-made law and it should be implemented with compassion in view of the harsh economic situation in the country. I am suggesting that alternative arrangements should be made for these street hawkers, where they will legitimately sell their goods and earn their living.

—Lekan Oladeji, Ilora 08053049443

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17 July, 2016

ON THE

Sunday Tribune

With Bolanle Bolawole turnpot@gmail.com 07052631058

lord’sday The ding-dong in Ekiti (1)

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HERE is a ding-dong in Ekiti State; it reminds me of the days of Ido-Osi when a single local government held an entire state to ransom over a bitterly-contested election.

Rerun after rerun got the INEC further enmeshed in the miry clay until, finally and mercifully, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the then Action Congress, now a legacy party of the All Progressives Congress, which controls power at the centre, regained his mandate.

But not before Ido-Osi had become a metaphor for election shenanigans and the bad blood it generated ran so deep that for four good years, Fayemi as governor could not find the stomach to forgive the man who purportedly stole his mandate - Chief Segun Oni, then of the PDP. Fayemi decreed that no one should refer to Oni as one-time governor of Ekiti. To demonstrate his seriousness, he removed Oni’s photographs from all public spaces; likewise, the photo of Oni’s Chief Press Secretary, life-loving and vivacious Wale Ojo-Lanre, was stepped down in the office of the Chief Press Secretary to Fayemi, amiable and self-effacing Yinka Oyebode.

It took the second coming into office of the incumbent governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose, to return Oni’s photo, his famous or infamous place in history, and other entitlements; thereby negating, by one stroke of the pen, Fayemi’s efforts to arrest or rewrite history! No one can undo what has been done,not even Ibrahim Babangida or Sani Abacha’s (loathsome?) place in history can be so whimsically erased! History is dynamic such that, today, the same Fayemi and Oni, erstwhile inveterate foes, nestle and hobnob in the same party. They are not likely to be the best of friends but necessity compels them, today, to be pursuers of a common cause. On the other hand, Fayose, who at one time or another was a valuable ally of both men, is today a sworn political enemy they would do anything to annihilate. I do not put anything beyond our politicians.

Therefore, I will not be surprised if circumstances and situations change tomorrow for their political drums to exude different tunes.

Today’s political gladiators in Ekiti are not radically different from those of the days of Ido-Osi; only that we have had a realignment of forces. A few people outside of Ekiti had given Fayose any decent chance to return to power. I must confess that I was one of them. Even when friends who are “sons of the soil” and regular readers of this column kept telling me that the situation on ground in Ekiti was different from what we “Lagos and Abuja critics and commentators” were dishing out, I stuck to my wish list. I attended Fayemi’s rally in Ado-Ekiti and prayed many nights for him to win. When he lost – doing so woefully and “losing his deposit” in First Republic political lexicon – I felt sad and bitter.

I bought into arguments that the election was massively rigged. How on earth could an incumbent lose in all the local governments, including his own? Talking sincerely, I still believe that the election was helped; as is often the case with elections in this country. I heard true-life

stories of the military intimidating APC leaders on the eve of voting especially.

The margin of winning and losing was also surreal. The shenanigans apart, Fayose could still have won, though, possibly with a thinner margin, because when my bitterness waned and I dispassionately interrogated events, I had to admit that head-to-head, Fayose was far more popular that Fayemi with Ekiti people. As I monitored the election, I saw Fayemi the elitist/philosopher-king and Fayose the populist/man-of-the people. An ardent reader of this column had warned me repeatedly that Fayemi, articulate, urbane, and well-travelled, executed for Ekiti what he felt Ekiti needed and not what Ekiti told him they needed. Every politics, as they say, is local. Therefore, any politician that fails to connect with the grassroots cannot but have himself to blame. We learn from our mistakes – especially if there is a second chance waiting, and we are humble enough, that is.

Three reasons have been adduced for the present dog fight in Ekiti. One, the antigraft war, into which vortex opponents of Fayose are trying desperately to entrap the governor, while Fayose on the other hand is fighting tooth and nail to extricate himself. I will not tire to raise my voice against the approach and modus operandi of the Buhari anti-corruption war. It is selective; it is inquisitorial; and it is hyped/media lynching. For the avoidance of doubt, I support the shaming and jailing of the corrupt– all of them, and not just a section. If you are seizing the property of Air Force chiefs Amosun, Agbaje, Gbadebo, seize the Dubai property of Army Chief, General Tukur Buratai, as well. If you are detaining Femi FaniKayode, Iyiola Omisore, etc., before searching for evidence to nail them, treat similarly the ministers and presidential aides against who are damning allegations of corruption.

A dangerous dimension that has also

been introduced into it is that the EFCC has now found an ingenious, back-door approach to undermine the constitutional provision that says a citizen cannot be detained for more than 48 hours before being taken before the court. They have cashed-in on our collective angst against the monumental corruption in the land to abridge this very important fundamental human right. Arrests are made before investigations, instead of the other way round; after which the EFCC gets holding charge from the court, which can be renewed to keep anyone incarcerated for as long as it catches their fancy. When I speak against such methods, it is because history teaches that those are the same insidious methods of ruthless dictators.

Fascists Adolf Hitler (Germany) and Benito Mussolini (Italy) both used seemingly legal means to entrap and bring Europe on its knees. Let Buhari/EFCC stop the ambush; follow due process; adopt a levelplaying field; be fair and even-handed to all; and stop portraying Nigerians as corrupt people before the international community. The negative effects are already bouncing back on all of us. When you sell your own people cheap in the local market, how can they appreciate in value in the international market?

Two, is the unofficial “Leader of Opposition” tag that Fayose has taken upon himself. I had cause to lampoon Fayose when, during the presidential campaign, he overreached himself to portray Buhari as medically unfit for office. I was at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos press briefing

by PDP governors where Fayose compared candidate Buhari, 73, to his (Fayose’s) mother, 74, who, after waking up in the morning, would take a long time to “boot” like an obsolete Pentium computer. I said that was in bad taste. There is no denying the fact that Buhari and, lately his wife Aishat, have suffered scathing criticisms from Fayose. Fayose’s current travails are thus seen by many as payback time

from Buhari who is (?) unleashing EFCC/ federal might on the governor.

I have consistently objected to any attempt to muzzle the opposition – beginning from when PDP was the ruling party - and I dare to restate that again. Had APC/Buhari been so ruthlessly muzzled by PDP/Jonathan, we would never have had a rancour-free change of government. Without vibrant opposition, democracy becomes just a sham; a mere shell without its substance.

Opposition must be preserved at all costs.

That is one good point no one can take away from Jonathan. He allowed free speech; even Buhari enjoyed free speech under Jonathan. Buhari made volatile, incendiary speeches under Jonathan and lived to tell the story. I demand no less accommodation from Buhari of his own political opponents. There is nothing that Buhari has been subjected to by Fayose that Lai Mohammed did not inflict on Jonathan 10 times more. Yet, Jonathan kept his cool and did not unleash “mad dogs” on anyone. Tell me, what has Aishat suffered that Mama Patience did not suffer a million times more? She was consistently the butt of cruel jokes; yet, she not only kept her cool, but also regaled us even more! I demand no less from Buhari and his wife.

LAST WORD: I am humbled by the effusive show of love, support, and encouragement from my teeming readers over last week’s “When silence is not golden...” Thank you especially for your prayers! But have you heard the news?

Buhari’s leopard is yet to change its spots.

Last week, he appointed a new MD for the Nigeria Ports Authority; she is from Kaduna State! You must also have heard the news that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, our own eyes and ears (?) in the Buhari administration, has opposed restructuring, which the South, especially his own Southwest, has vociferously promoted. In a “clarification” later, Osinbajo was said to only oppose restructuring “based on ethnic lines or returning the country to regional structures.” Can someone please ask the VP whether he is also opposed to a country run on ethnic/regional basis; with one section dominating the others? Esther (Hadassah), woman, erstwhile girl-slave in a foreign land, stood up and spoke for her embattled people in their hour of need: Need not Osinbajo, a man, free-born, and Number Two in the hierarchy, do likewise or even more? “If I perish, I perish” are the immortal words of Queen Esther that keeps reverberating to this day. Challenged by her uncle, Mordecai, Esther rose to the occasion. Because of space constraint, kindly reach out for the Holy Bible and read Esther 4: 13 & 14. There is also this quote common in those days amongst the Marxists at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife); to wit: “Every generation out of relative obscurity discovers its mission – to fulfil or betray it”. Has God divinely-ordained Osinbajo to come to the Presidency for a time such as this? Has he discovered his mission?

NEXT WEEK: “The ding-dong in Ekiti – 2”; God willing.

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17 July, 2016

tribunechurch

Sunday Tribune

With Rita Okonoboh rosarumese@gmail.com 08053789087

Is family planning reducing global Christian population?

Lighthouse Chapel International.

Photo:churchesdenominationstoday.org

Following concerns that the global population of Christians may be on the decrease, RITA OKONOBOH sought the views of clerics on how Christians can address the situation.

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ITH the rise in the onslaught against Christians taking place across various countries worldwide, Nigeria included, issues have been raised on if it may be time to abandon the popular practice of Christians , especially as regards family planning and birth control, and biologically repopulate the earth.

This was the opinion of the Presiding Bishop, Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Dr. Francis Wale Oke, who stated in a news report recently that the practice of preventing conception to limit the number of births is a drive that makes the Christian population dwindle continuously across the word.

Bishop Oke, who affirmed that the culture of maintaining small family sizes was widespread in the West and among Christians worldwide, lamented that the culture of family was against the wish of God for mankind, saying that the intent of God was for man to “multiply and replenish the earth.”

Oke explained: “It is not God’s purpose that godly children are diminishing. The family is very critical to God’s agenda. As soon as God created the family in Genesis, the next thing was that the devil attacked the family.

Pushing for the alternative of Christian families having at least four children, Oke stressed further that a man that was responsible and gainfully employed could have four children or more in fulfilment of the

command of God that man should replenish the earth.

According to him, keeping one or two children so as to have a high level of economic comfort was an idea that presupposed that man was wiser than his creator and “such a man will soon find out that he is the biggest fool.

“I don’t want what has overtaken them in Europe to overtake us in Africa. The western culture of selfishness and greed should be thrown overboard,” he said.

In the report, he urged Christians to ensure that rather than keeping the number of children low, they should invest time in nurturing the children to becoming responsible adults.

Following Bishop Oke’s declaration that Christians should have more children, TribuneChurch sought the views of church leaders on the stand of various denominations on family planning and steps that can be taken to address the seeming reduction in Christian population worldwide.

Reduce our pains, hardship, Bishop tells Pg36 Buhari

God has given us the power to convert —Bishop Omoniyi Bishop Titus Omoniyi of Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN) said: “The MCN encourages family planning because God wants us to plan our lives. When one considers the Nigerian situation, we encourage members to embrace family planning. What we recommend is that people should have the number of children they can actually take care of. Other faiths may choose to have as many children as possible, however, God has given us the power to be able to convert people into Christianity.”

Rather than encourage church cross-carpeting, Christians should engage in true evangelism —Bishop Ogunmuyiwa Bishop of the Diocese of the North and Abuja, The African Church, and the Coordinating Chaplain, National Ecumenical Centre, headquarters of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Abuja, Right Reverend (Dr) Peter Ogunmuyiwa, stated:

Nigeria is at periphery of greatness Pg37 —Prof Tomori

“The African Church encourages family planning as long as it is done within the ambits of what Christianity stipulates and it does not contradict the scripture. The family planning has to agree with what the Bible preaches. There are some concerns in Christendom on how family planning controls how Christians give birth to children.

However, I think what the church has abandoned is aggressive evangelism.

“The church started with 12 disciples, and at that time, there was no Christianity, even if there were other religions. The church reached out and converted people to the Christian faith and thus, the Christian population increased. The question of if because we’re not increasing biologically will affect the growth of the church. What we should do is to reach out to unbelievers and preach the good news of Jesus Christ to them. What we have in the church today is not evangelism but church cross-carpeting.

That is, preaching to fellow Christians in Continues on pg37

CAN gets new executive in Ekiti 36 Pg

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17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

With Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 08074497425

churchnews

Reduce our pains, hardship, Bishop tells Buhari Hakeem Gbadamosi- Akure

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ISHOP of the Diocese of Akure Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Right Reverend Simeon Borokini, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent action towards reducing the pains and agonies brought upon the masses through the measures introduced by his administration to fight corruption.

Borokini stated this in Iju, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, during his 2016 charge delivered at the first session of the 12th synod at St. Stephen’s Church, Iju, with the title: “Stewardship.”

The bishop said: “There is no doubt that most Nigerians are passing through tough times, enduring much pain and suffering and even a lot of indignities like lack of electricity in their homes.

“There are other grave worries as well, namely: joblessness or non-availability of jobs; high poverty and hunger, especially in an economy that is largely comatose.”

He stated that the masses were passing through a difficult period, noting that the recent hike in the prices of petroleum products had overbearing and negative multiplier effects on the people’s livelihood.

He said: “The hike is being seen, understandably, in some quarters as an unkind cut from a government that professes a progressive agenda.”

He also lamented the security challenges and the menace of herdsmen.

“The increasing militancy of what we all thought were the simple nomadic herdsmen is becoming too sophisticated as it has assumed a new dimension and raised more suspicions of a hidden agenda being played out,” he added.

The bishop, who said that the present administration was making frantic efforts to salvage the situation, noted that the Federal Government was not sensitive enough to the plight of the people.

He said: “It is not that the present government has not done anything to tackle the challenges but it appears confused, as it commits to decisions that are either too late or too little to make any positive impact. And many Nigeri-

ans are unhappy.”

He commended the efforts of the anti-graft and corruption agencies, saying that they “are invading the loot of once sacred cows to recover the loot that should have made the lot of this country better.

But we must see justice being done beyond just verbalisation and news headlines.”

Borokini lauded Governor Olusegun Mimiko for his programmes in the health sector, education, beautification of rural and

urban areas and urged the people to elect a God-fearing successor in the coming governorship poll in the state.

“We appeal that electioneering be carried out in peace and with respect for other political oppo-

nents. This will encourage the electorate to come out to vote for the people of their choice. We appeal to all to come out and vote so that we may elect the right persons into governance.

Parents should also ask their children to refrain from being used as political thugs.”

He called on politicians at all levels of government to make the interest of the people foremost in their agenda and formulate policies that will better the lives of the people, especially the piled up salary arrears owed its workers across the nation.

We must trust God at all times —Pastor Omole Shola Adekola - Lagos From left, former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Bishop (Dr) and Dr (Mrs) Humphrey Olumakaiye, and Vice Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Bishop (Professor) Dapo Asaju, after Oyinlola’s lecture on “The 21st Century Church and Global Economic Meltdown: The Impact on Governance and the Church, The Way Out,” at the official opening of the first session of the third synod of the Diocese of Osun North East (Anglican Communion) Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State.

Wife of the Region 21 pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor (Mrs) Temitope Balogun, flanked by female ministers at the dedication of the RCCG Covenant Sanctuary, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, last Sunday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU.

CAN gets new executive in Ekiti Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has inaugurated new executive officials for the Ekiti State chapter of the association.

At a ceremony held at Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ogba Alaafin in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, and presided over by the South West executive members of the association, Reverend Joshua Rotimi Orikogbe was inaugurated as the chairman of CAN in Ekiti State.

At the event, which was preceded by a thanksgiving service, the South West chairman of CAN, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, charged the new executives to always seek divine guidance, pray and seek divine wisdom.

Atilade, represented by the zonal vice chairman, Reverend Father Raphael Osegbohun, charged the executive members to maintain the unity of Christians in the state, and charged that they should also respect the uniformity

and diversity in CAN. In his acceptance speech, Orikogbe thanked God for what he described as a honour, and promised that he would not take the new responsibility with levity.

Other members of the new executive were: Vice Chairman, Revd Fr Peter Olowolafe; Secretary, Reverend S.A. Ipinlaye; Assistant Secretary, Pastor Seyi Oyedeji; Treasurer, Venerable Sam Aranuwa; Financial Secretary, Pastor S.A. Apetuje; Apostle (Dr) E.T. Ayegbusi and Evang. Da-

vid Fabusuyi, as Auditors I and II. Others were: Legal Adviser II, O.O. Awoyemi; Director, Education, Youth and Women Development, Revd Fr Joseph Bamidele; Director of Research, Planning and Strategy Revd Joseph Adeleye; Director of Information and Communication, Pastor E.O. Babare; Director of Social Welfare and National Issues, Pastor Bibade Julius Tunde, and Director of Ecumenism and Inter- faith, Pastor Isaac A. Ajibulu.

THE General Overseer of Covenant Life Christian Church (CLCC), Pastor Oludare Omole, has declared that God is “able to exceedingly do abundantly above all that we ask for or think.”

Pastor Omole, who made the declaration while speaking with newsmen on the activities scheduled to mark the seventh anniversary of the church, explained that though the journey had not been without challenges, he praised God. The activities, which kicked off last Wednesday with a community health service, a faith clinic/communion service held on Thursday and a praise session on Friday.

“We are not blessed because we are rich. We are rich because we are blessed. This is the understanding we have from Genesis 1: 27-28,” he said.

Guest ministers expected at the concluding ceremony include Apostle Tony Olukoyede; Pastors Dare and Nike Oladimeji Omole; Pastor James Pelemo; Reverend Ibukun Daniel; Pastor Ayo Fadumiye, and other clerics.

“Souls shall be saved, deliverance shall take place by the power of the Holy Ghost and the people of God shall possess their possessions,” Pastor Omole declared.

37 tribunechurch

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Nigeria is at periphery of greatness —Professor Tomori

A

pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and former Vice Chancellor of the Redeemer’s University, Professor Oyewale Tomori, has described Nigeria as a country that is at the periphery of greatness, saying the country is a nation with most, if not all, the human and material resources needed to make a great country.

Tomori, a Professor of Virology, spoke at the 15th valedictory service for the class of Abundant Hope of the Christ the Redeemer’s College, Christhill, Konigba, Sagamu, Ogun State, last Sunday while delivering his speech as the guest speaker of the occasion which took place at the college’s Raven Place.

According to him, Nigeria could be in constant state of well-being economically, scientifically, technological-

ly, socially and morally only if Nigerians could follow the way laid out by Jesus Christ. He lamented that the country was now filled with people in the throes of decadence and a nation in the turmoil of corruption.

He advised the 63 graduating students to toe the path of God, saying that was the only way to achieve real success and never to deviate from the words of the Lord.

He stated that, like the name of their class, Abundant Hope, they must have abundant hope in God, adding that He alone had the abundance of grace and mercy for those who put their trust in Him. Earlier, the college’s Principal, Pastor Antoinette Omo-Osagie, said another school year had come with the tradition of letting another set of children leave the cocoon of secondary school education. She said

the graduating students, who came into CRC as preadolescents were graduating as young men and women with an eye on the abundance of hope of years to come.

According to her, they should remember the things that the CRC stands for in their lives and should see themselves as lights into whatever environment life takes them.

“We have endeavoured to make you all aware of yourselves as individuals and as part of communities which you must learn to serve.

Service to humanity is your mandate. Never be preoccupied with what you want but with how you can help others be better at who they are,” she admonished the students.

She prayed God to give them hope through the Holy Spirit, adding that they were sincerely appreciated.

In her address, wife of the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye, who was

represented by Pastor Josiah Bolarinwa, urged the graduating students to always listen to the voice of

God and always take their Bibles with them wherever they may go in order to achieve success.

Managing Director/Editor in Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Mr Edward Dickson (left), presenting the 1949 copy of Nigerian Tribune to Pastor Oladele Bank-Olemok, Chairman, Media Committee of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (MFM) Headquarters, Lagos, during his visit to Tribune House, Ibadan, Oyo State. PHOTO: D’ TOYIN.

Adeboye, Achudume for CLC women convention

From left, Chairman, Board of Governors, Christ the Redeemer’s College (CRC), Konigba-Sagamu, Ogun State, Pastor Adebayo Adeyemo; his wife, Victoria; Principal of the college, Pastor Antoinette Omo-Osagie and the guest speaker, Pastor (Professor) Oyewale Tomori, at the 15th valedictory service for the class of Abundant Hope of the CRC, held at the school premises recently.

WIFE of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Folu Adeboye, with other women of God will be in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for the 25th annual women convention of the Victorious Women Fellowship International, a group within Christ Life Church, between Thursday, July 21

and Sunday, July 24.

Also to grace the convention with the theme “Extravagant Grace on Womanhood,” are Reverend Folake Achudume from Ogun State; Reverend Omowumi Popoola, Oyo State; Reverend Titi Bamidele, Osun State and Reverend Modupe Salami from Ekiti State.

A statement by the convener of the convention, wife of Bishop Wale Oke, President, Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Reverend Victoria Oke, stated that the three-day programme would offer a platform to appreciate God for the abundant grace and potentials bestowed upon women.

‘Rather than encourage church cross-carpeting, Christians should engage in true evangelism to unbelievers’ Continued from pg35

the bid to make them join another church.

We’re not reaching out to those that really need the gospel. We need to evangelise to unbelievers to make them embrace the gospel, and that way, the Christian population will increase. Jesus Christ is interested in discipleship rather than biological reproduction. That is what the church needs to work on today.”

Population increases by evangelism —Venerable Enike Venerable Samuel Oladele Enike, the Archdeacon of Ikenne Archdeaconry and Vicar of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne, Ogun State said: “there is the need to look at the biblical view on procreation.

If we look at Genesis, during creation, when God made man, he said we should increase, replenish the earth and have control over it. In looking at that, we can then say that it will not be totally out of place if man says there should be family planning or birth control. With the socio-economic state of the world now, there is no need to have many children that one may not be able to cater for. In fact, the Bible states that for a man not to be able to take care of his family, that man is worse than an infidel. Taking care of a family involves spiritual, financial, educational implications. A man should be able to have the number of children he can

cater for.

“When we talk about Christianity, population increases by evangelism and I believe that the church is growing. When a country has a population explosion, it has negative consequences. So, we need to plan very well.

My take is that it is not wrong to have children, but to have children one’s resources can sustain, so that even in future, those children will not come back to curse such parents. When one has children and doesn’t give them the best, such children may become liabilities and may cause the child to hate such parents. It is not about having children for children’s sake.”

The health of the church is essential in growing the society —Pastor Hajoh In his opinion, Pastor Muyiwa Hajoh

of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Ilorin, Kwara State, “Family planning is often used as a synonym for birth control. Family planning, however, does not only involve contraception, family planning also takes into account, planning your child’s birth for specific times (possibly by spacing births for specific years apart from one another) and planning for a child when you have challenges with conception.

“Family planning is important for the health of the mother and her children as well as the family economic situation. Literally, family planning would reduce the growth potential of the church in numbers, but certain factors have to be considered in growing a healthy church.

“The church makes societal impact in line with biblical standards, hence, the health

What we have in the church today is not evangelism but church cross-carpeting. That is, preaching to fellow Christians in the bid to make them join another church...We need to evangelise to unbelievers to make them embrace the gospel, and that way, the Christian population will increase

of the church become essential in growing the society. It is worthy of note that the church does not just grow in number, but in healthy church membership, that is, socially, mentally, physically, educationally, etc.” As such, Pastor Hajoh stated that it was expedient to have control in child bearing in order to provide sufficiently for the preffered number of children in a Christian home.

He also noted the benefits of having a healthy woman, which is very important in raising a good home, stating that “it is advised to reduce the number of times a woman goes through the pain of childbirth to avoid complications.”

Founder of NewSmallChurch.com, a ministry that encourages, connects and equips innovative small church pastors, Karl Vaters, and author of The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches, Small Churches and the Small Thinking That Divides Us, in a recent blog post published last week focuses on the consequences of pastors achieving big numbers, in terms of worshippers by all means.

According to Vaters, “Pursuing numbers for the sake of numbers is dangerous.

It hurts more people than it helps. It may grow a church for a while. But that bubble will burst. And when it does, people would get hurt. And even before it does, people will have already been hurt by the pursuit of false priorities.”

38 tribunechurch with Pastor Sunday Adelaja Senior Pastor of the Ukraine based Embassy of God Church e-mail: pastor@godembassy.org

The laws of money

All of a sudden, nations and Prime Ministers began to offer asylum and refuge to the survivors. I laughed out of amusement, not because I was mocking the kindness of these people, but more because, I wondered why it had to take such a grave tragedy for them to notice that the rest of the world has been languishing in need and want all the while

Sunday Tribune

Anglican bishop decries unpaid salaries of LG workers in Enugu

sundaysermon

IT was a sunny day. Breeze oozed from the nearby river, birds sang as only could be heard in Africa. The peaceful atmosphere of the nearby forest communicated the serenity and peace that God Almighty Himself had implanted in nature. Yet, despite the obvious blessings of nature all around, a young lad of 13 years was looking for a way to end his own life.

He had heard several times of people writing and talking about suicide. The meaning was clear to him. Thoughts of poisons came to his mind. His dilemma was, however, how to lay his hands on it.

These and many other thoughts so clouded the mind of this young, 13 year old boy he could not notice or pay attention to the still call of nature to behold her beauty. He was immersed in his own frustrations and anger so much that it would have been an insult for anyone to draw his attention to his beautiful surrounding.

That young man is your writer today, Sunday Adelaja. Will you be interested in knowing the reason that almost led me to suicide at the tender age of 13? As absurd and bizarre as this might sound, the reason is just because I couldn’t get money to supply myself with breakfast, lunch or dinner for several days running!

In the part of Europe where I live today, hardly will anyone believe that it is actually possible for a kid that young to go several days without food. This is in Europe. The reality of our world however is that on the other side of the world, on the continent of Africa, my story will not be a lonely one.

I will not be exaggerating if I say that millions of kids are in the same condition of living that almost drove me to suicide.

How will our world live with the thought that in the 21st century, there are actually millions of kids that would rather go through the pain of suicide just to avoid the pain of hunger?

Let me tell you friends, the cruel reality is that as long as we are living in such a world where some go to bed hungry, and

17 July, 2016

others live in opulent wealth, we are all guilty!

The reality is that so long as there is poverty in our world, we are all indeed poor.

The conditions of our environment talks of the reality of our soul. We are all as rich as the world we live in. If the world we live in is poor, we are all poor not minding our opulence, wealth and riches.

Poverty is a cruel, wicked and heartless reality in our world. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) states that every year, consumers in industrialized countries waste almost as much food as the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa (222 million vs. 230 million tons). The amount of food lost and wasted every year is equal to more than half of the world’s annual cereals crops (2.3 billion tons in 2009/10).

Ordinarily, no one should be hungry talk less of contemplating suicide in our world.

The world produces more food than is needed to feed all the inhabitants of our planet; but because of the heartless and callous attitude of the people and nations who have this wealth, we are forced to live in a world where some throw food away while others die for lack of food.

I would however not sit down here and whine all day long about how unjust our world is. I have come to the conclusion that the world will not become just all by itself.

Unfortunately, people are people. Meaning people are first selfish, egocentric, before they are considerate or compassionate. People don’t really care what is happening in the world they live in as long as they are okay. That is just the cruel reality of our world.

Recently, I started to observe the panic response of wealthy nations to the plight of immigrants and refugees trying to escape their home lands in search of better lives, who all in the process perished in the sea.

All of a sudden, nations and Prime Ministers began to offer asylum and refuge to the survivors. I laughed out of amusement, not because I was mocking the kindness of these people, but more because, I wondered why it had to take such a grave tragedy for them to notice that the rest of the world has been languishing in need and want all the while.

I’m sorry friends, that is the nature of man. Until pain and devastation happens to us or at our backyard, we don’t really notice that this has been going on around us all the time. It is only when we feel on ourselves the pain of loss of tragedy that we normally come alive with a heart of compassion. Otherwise, we just live our lives caring only about how to make ourselves more and more comfortable.

If I had one car, I am thinking of how to get the second one. If I had just one apartment, at that time I am not thinking of some poor homeless kids dying in some countries, I am rather thinking of building a house. This is just the reality of human nature.

Next week, I will continue with this ensuing discourse on the general topic of the laws of money.

Jude Ossai - Enugu BISHOP of Enugu North Diocese (Anglican Communion), Right Reverend Sosthenes Eze, has decried the unpaid salaries and allowances to local government workers in Enugu State for several months, saying it had created tension and pain in lives of many families in the state.

Bishop Eze, who spoke at the weekend during the first session of the third synod held at St. Mary’s Church, Obioma in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, said the welfare of workers was paramount in running any organisation.

The theme of the presidential address and bishop’s charge was entitled: “Possessing the Land for The Lord.”

The cleric noted that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, having come from the business class, understood that the regular payment of workers’ salaries would enhance the pro-

ductivity of workers and the growth of the economy of organisations and establishments.

On the state of the nation, Bishop Eze warned on the danger of the Federal Government’s method of using the claim of pursuing corrupt men and women to abandon the core business of governance and provision of dividends of democracy, saying it was not in the best interest of the people.

“It has become clear that the people at the top echelon of leadership had no plans for governance, hence no evidence in all the drive and noise about corruption. We need a more seriously organised and functional leadership that will bring true change as they promised,” he added.

The bishop, however, agreed that the main problem of the country was deep-rooted corruption, stressing that there was need for Nigerians to resolve to love and pray for the country.

From right, Venerables Shadrack Adekoya; Elkanah Babalola; Abraham Ibikunle; Alexander Adeogun, and John Akande, taking their oaths before the Deputy Registrar, Yewa Anglican Diocese, Mr Gbeke Laditan, during the collation of Archdeacons, held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Ona-Nla, Ilaro-Yewa, Ogun State.

livingword

By Bishop David Oyedepo Call 7747546-8; or e-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

Understanding vital keys to operating in the supernatural! (3) LAST week, we established that it takes training to operate in the supernatural, and to access our inheritances in Christ.

We also looked at one of the vital keys that empower us to operate in the realm of the supernatural. This week, we will examine another key which is: We must commit to developing a robust spirit: Man is a three-in-one being―he is essentially a spirit; he has a soul and lives in a body. As it is written: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

At the fall of man, it was Adam’s spiritman, which connected him to God, that died. However, what died in Adam was restored by the second Adam, Jesus, through redemption. That’s what being born again is all about (Genesis 1:26-28, 3:7-11).

In addition, it is important to recognise that before the fall, Adam was a supernatural being. That is, he was in absolute command of everything in creation, apart from God. His command of the supernatural was domiciled in his spirit. When our spirit-man becomes born again and its capacity is built, we are reinstated to where Adam was before the fall. Then, we begin to take charge of every issue that confronts us (Luke 1:80, 2:40; Galatians 4:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

That helps us to understand that our level of command is a function of how committed we are to building the capacity of our spiritman (Genesis 41:15-16; Daniel 1:17, 21; Acts 3:6-16, 19:8-12).

But, how do we build our spirit-man?

First, we must understand that the only

food our spirit feeds on is the Word of God. That is why the Bible says: …Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). It is by the Word that we build our spirit-man. Just as we cannot build our physical muscles except by quality nutrition and physical exercises, in the same vein, it takes spiritual nourishments and constant Word practice to build our spirit-man (James 1:22-25).

When we put God’s Word to work, we exercise our authority in Christ, thereby, changing our levels of command, supernaturally. Therefore, we must recognise that we can’t just wish for a robust spirit; rather, we must commit to building our spirit-man through quality Word nutrition and exercises of same (Deuteronomy 28:1).

However, we must understand that to access the Word that will build our spirit man, we must first accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. That is what being born again is all about. If you have not accepted Jesus yet, you can do so by saying 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: Walking in the Miraculous, Operating in the Supernatural, Releasing the Supernatural, Commanding the Supernatural and All you need to have all your needs met.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners.

39 tribunechurch with Most Revd J.O. Akinfenwa Bishop of Ibadan Anglican Diocese

with Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, fradebadejo@yahoo.com

The obligations of the pastor to the church

SECAM: All lives matter

The family is the cradle of life Should anyone seek to synthesize all the concerns of SECAM in one word however it would be with the word “Family”. That would be most appropriate because SECAM must remain faithful to the identity which the church in Africa choose for itself since the first ever Synod for Bishops for Africa held in 1994 in Rome. The post-Synodal document “Ecclesia in Africa The Church in Africa: Family of God on Mission”, amply presented and explained that identity.

The family remains so important to the cultures of Africa and the Church as well.

In spite of numerous anti-life projects, ideologies, movements and legislations all over the world, African peoples remain generally pro-life and pro-family in their worldview.

The Continent does suffer from many lifethreatening challenges like wars, disease, famine, destitution, and other criminal insecurities, but this does not change the veracity of the African pro-life profile. By choosing an identity related to the family, the Church in Africa desires to strengthen this important legacy of deep respect for the

That all lives matter really seems to be a lesson which Nigeria must relearn today. Far too many lives are daily brutally wasted today in the country

Sunday Tribune

dawnofanewera

firmfaith:rightreason

SECAM in Angola SECAM, the Symposium of Ecclesiastical Conferences of Africa and the Madagascar, will, this weekend, gather representatives of all the Catholic Bishops of Africa for its assembly in Luanda, Angola from July 18 to 25, 2016. Beyond discussing administrative matters concerning its 8 regional conferences, the triennial assembly will deliberate on issues affecting the lives of African peoples like the quality of leadership, terrorism, challenging economy, debilitating poverty and unemployment, war, and terrorism, but also positive things like the growth of the church, the family and the youthful energy of Africa. All these will be feature at a workshop with the general theme: “New Pastoral Challenges Facing the African Family Today and Finding New Ways of Evangelizing the Families”. Key papers for discussion will include: “The Case of Cape Verde” by His Eminence, Arlindo Cardinal Gomes Furtado, Archbishop of Santiago de Cape Verde; “The African Perspective” by Bishop Emilio Sumbulelo of Uije, Angola; “ The Influence of Modern Media and New ideologies on the Family in Africa Today” by Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo of Oyo, Nigeria and “Making SECAM a Stronger and More Committed Family of God in our Continent”

by His Eminence, Philippe Cardinal Ouedraogo of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The presentations will hopefully help expose relevant challenges from different perspectives differing parts of the Continent.

17 July, 2016

sanctity of human life. and the belief that life should originate and be nurtured from within the family.

All lives indeed matter However, our entire world at the moment suffers from powerful threats to human life. Rumblings of hostilities between the strongest world powers, the United States of America and Russia, threaten to return humanity to the cold war era. The referendum which approved the exit of Britain from the European Union, beyond being a legal right of the people, raises moral concerns about nonchalance and the neglect of solidarity to immigrants and other needy people in international politics. Escalation of violence caused by terrorism, war, organized crime and strong allegations of race-related killing even by law enforcement agents and the eventual backlash which recently rocked the United States of America, all demonstrate how unsafe even the “safest countries” in the world have suddenly become. The recent killing of 5 policemen in Dallas showed a dangerous loss of confidence and respect for law enforcement even in the biggest lawdriven democracy in the world. The racist spin attached to the uprising has provoked protests, media messages and tags with the theme “Black lives matter”. However the greater truth which the African culture has always represented is what the Church too has repeatedly proclaimed and sought to defend: all lives, Black, White or Asian do indeed matter”.

Nigeria at a crossroads That all lives matter really seems to be a lesson which Nigeria must relearn today.

Far too many lives are daily brutally wasted today in the country. Terror, religion-related killings, alleged Fulani herdsmen rampage, kidnapping, armed robbery, mob killings and other murderous activities seem to occur weekly and do not seem to command sufficient attention from the authorities.

The great danger posed by this trend is that the public is also gradually losing confidence in the government and the law. Many may make private arrangement for self-defense and then take the law into their own hands.

That would surely be bad news for Nigeria which is already stretched thin trying to deal with insurgency, the struggle for self determination and militancy in several regions of its territory.

Worse still, all this is charged with strong allegations of religious persecution, as has been seen in the unfortunate mauling to death of the pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Mojisola Elisha, while she was preaching publicly in an Abuja suburb last week. It was not the first of such deaths in Nigeria. catholic priests, ministers of other Churches and many civilians have been brutally murdered allegedly for religious reasons in the last few years. The recent killing seems to indicate that this evil is not about to stop soon. Nigeria thus dances on the brink if the authorities don’t sit up. No one wants a violent uprising or a total breakdown of law and order. We all must cry out loud enough for the authorities to hear and act to defend innocent lives and prosecute the murderers among us. Not even the assembly of SECAM in Angola can fail to debate such issues that threaten and demean human life. Few things, in any case, should matter more.

Continued from last week REVEREND De Lancey made seven submissions on the obligations of the pastor, which are worth repeating today; almost two hundred years afterwards.

They are these: I. The Christian pastor must be faithful in the exposition and enforcement of the doctrines of the gospel.

II. The Christian pastor must be faithful in enforcing that moral and spiritua! requirement of the gospel, which exacts the change from sin to holiness.

Ill. He must be faithful in urging upon his people conformity to the ordinances of the gospel.

IV. The Christian pastor must be faithful in warning his flock against the evil customs and perilous seductions of this sinful world.

V. The Christian pastor must be faithful in presenting to the people of his charge the claims and demands of the church of Christ.

The church, as such, has cLaims upon her members which cannot be neglected without injury to her, nor without the violation of their obligations by them. Christians ... owe duties to the church of Christ springing from that relation which Christ himself established, and it is part of the obligation of every minister of God to present to their attention these duties as well as others.

VI. Here ... is a duty of most serious and solemn import - the promotion and the preservation of peace and love among Cod’s people; especially those under the two-fold

influence of (our) general obligation as Christians, and (our) special engagements as Christian ministers. We must urge peace with one another on the only solid foundation of peace with God, VII. We must be found faithiul in striving to exemplify, in our own character and life, those holy and heavenly principles which, we are commissioned to proclaim to the sheep.

It is important to note that De Lancey climaxed his sermon with the point of personal example. This agrees once again with the admonition of Peter the Apostle. Personal example remains the most impactful instrument for transforming sinners into saints.

Let us proceed now therefore to highlight briefly some areas in which pastors are obliged to show personal example as shepherds at the flock, A Pastor must show Exemplary Loyalty (luke 16: 10 — 12). In word and deed, be must show unwavering loyalty to the Lord and to His church. He should be obedient (at heart and in deed) to constituted authority, and be should always be willing to go the extra mile for the church.

A Pastor must have an Exemplary Attitude (Num 12: 3, Isa 29: 19— 20, Num 13: 30 — 31, Phil 4:13). His disposition towards day-to-day matters should be Biblical and value-based. He should have a positive attitude to all issues. He should be sweetnatured, even under intense pressure.

To be continued next week

theapostolicmessage

By Pastor (Dr) G.O. Olutola JP.

Seven things the power of prayer does Continued from last week THE faith of Peter assisted him to walk even in his doubt and unbelief.

Psalms 107:9, 13, 28 stressed that when call upon the Lord he would satisfy the hungry, save from distress, bring us out of distress. Which of these three is yours?

Are you in distress? What power is trying to tie you down? God will lift you and take you out. The poverty, the wretchedness will have no portion with you any longer.

3 Power of prayer moves God’s hand to open heaven. When heaven opens you would not experience suffering or pain.

Acts. 8 records, Stephen felt no pain even when he was being stoned. He had received coolness. It’s a surety that God is listening to you. Not only that he will be looking at you (Act. 4:31). And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. You will recall the boldness of the three Hebrews and Daniel who defiled the evil laws of Persia and Medes; they were emboldened by the power of prayer.

4 Power of prayer protects from the hand of the enemy (1 Pet. 5:7-9). Christ has saved us from the power of affliction Job 1:7 God challenged Satan about, Job but there were nothing that Satan could tell God that Job had done. God protects from the enemies. Does the enemies want all of us to be alive? No. it is God that protects us. You don’t need to worry anymore. He will do more for you. But you

have to cultivate the habit of living in the atmosphere of prayer to overcome all the attacks of the enemy.

5 Power of prayer sets free from preoccupation. Some 54 years ago no one could think the nation would be like this today, even when we didn’t have oil. We have enough yet we lack because we misused it. We don’t have good political leaders hence the country is suffering. I can say we are suffering because of mismanagement. But if we pray God will set this nation free from preoccupation of bad political leaders. God will not turn deaf hears to our prayers. They are devourers. The scripture says; “be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God; And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. (Phil. 4:6-7). Many are troubled yet have no peace because rather than taking their request to God, they take it to their relatives. It is only God that can give us succour in the time of our troubles, not our relatives. Hence, take your troubles to God in prayer.

6 Power of prayer leads to a fruitful life.

There are some lives that are not fruitful even when they are long. The words of prophecy is that there are some fruits to be gathered but you will have to abide in Christ. The Lord is giving us the opportunity that we are going to gather a lot of fruits like we had never done before in order to make our blessing abundant (John 15:7-8).

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17 July, 2016

language&style Heaps of Rubbish!

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E begin today by presenting a letter from one of our readers. He writes: Your contribution(s) to the development of understanding the rudiments of the English language cannot be overemphasized.

Kindly look at page 22 of the Sunday Tribune of 10th January, 2016 titled “TAMPAN Reads the Riot Act to Fake Members”, column 3 line 3: “…film shoot will take place in other to avoid any harassment or intimidation from any quarter or group of people.”

How would it be if “order” replaces “other” in the phrase?

—Ojo-Idowu Olakunle I thank Mr Ojo-Idowu Olakunle for his kind words. The efforts here, whatever their value, would amount to nothing without avid and regular readers like you. The feedback we get, the knowledge that people are following and appreciating our little contribution to the education of Nigerians, the frequent text messages serve to enliven and bolster our enthusiasm.

Mr Olakunle wants to be sure whether the word order is not the better option in context of the report: ““…film shoot will take place in other to avoid any harassment or intimidation from any quarter or group of people.” Should we say in order to or in other to? The former (in order to) is the appropriate idiomatic option.

Some Nigerian users of English find it difficult to differentiate in pronunciation between the words order and other, thus carrying the phonological confusion into the idiomatic and syntactic usage.

Now read the following sentences: 1) The Treasury Single Account (TSA) was introduced in order to prevent public officers from exceeding their spending limits. 2) Nigerian languages and cultures are being taught in public schools in order to wean our citizens from unhealthy attachment to foreign languages and culture. 3) Regular parents-teachers meetings are held in order to foster a sustained dialogue between parents and teachers. 4) Politicians hold their meetings at night in order to prevent other people from having access to their information. 5) The pregnant woman was immediately subjected to surgery in order to prevent her from laboring too much.

6) The coach subjected his team to regular rigorous training in order to guarantee a brilliant international outing. 7) A lot of stones and cement were used in order to give the building a strong foundation.

8) He told so many lies in order to present himself as a man of integrity. 9) Many advertisements were placed in newspapers in order to generate goodwill for the organization. 10) Many more hands were employed in order to cope with the volume of production this season requires.

The word order can be used in a variety of other ways that should help highlight the difference between it and the word other. Now read the following sentences: 1) It is the constitutional duty of the police to maintain law and order. 2) People will be attended to in the order in which they arrived. 3) The order of service is contained in the pamphlets distributed to the worshippers. 4) No particular order is followed in the way doctors attended to their patients. 5) The chief executive has given an order which cannot be countermanded. 6) The restriction order in that part of the country has been lifted. 7) Since his assumption of office, the president has been trying to put things in order. 8) The machine is out of order and it will require a huge sum of money to fix it. 9) It may interest you to note that I don’t take orders from just anybody. 10) The company has placed an order for a new generator. 11) The army General ordered his men to leave the city. 12) Students were ordered to stay away from the venue of the meeting.

Next we illustrate the usage of the word other. The word can be used in a number of different senses. Read the following sentences: 1)Apart from excessive cash in circulation, there are

by Samson Dare 0805 500 1770 samsonadare@yahoo.co.uk

other factors responsible for inflation. 2) Apart from Christianity and Islam, there are other important religions in the world.

3) The first gentleman seems to be more responsible than the other two. 4) His father had other children by another wife. 5) There are many other things we need to discuss. 6) The other day he was saying something I didn’t quite understand. 7) I see no reason why the two friends should be quarrelling with each other. 8) There are many other books on the same subject. 9) There are situations other than this in which we can encounter similar challenges. 10) We live on the other side of the street.

11) The other false assumption is that life will go on forever.

12) My uncle’sother properties are in Abuja. 13) Some men discriminate against women. In other words, they feel they are superior to women. 14) Soldiers need to understand that this is a democracy and not military dictatorship. In other words, they should learn to submit themselves to civil authority. 15) Parents have a vital role to play in the moral upbringing of their children.

In other words, parents should never leave the spiritual and moral destiny of their children entirely in the hands of teachers.

At any rate, the expression in order to should replace in other to in the context under consideration.

Sample 1: “Suddenly from Ajegunle to Apapa, Ketu to Ojota, Mushin to Safejo and even along Oshodi-Apapa expressway, piles of rubbish are returning in heaps…Aside appealing to the managers to do everything within their power to clean up wastes in the city and ensure a cleaner Lagos capable of attracting more investors and boosting the state’s economy, he equally urged citizens to shun the habit of disposing wastes on highways and other restricted areas…

One Festac resident who simply identified herself as Alhaja told our correspondent that she has resorted to patronizing truckpushers in disposing her wastes because of the many disappointments in the hands of PSP operators…This she said is in spite of the fact that the government has been trying really hard to discourage patronage of the truck-pushers because of the manner they dispose the wastes which it considers malicious to the sanctity of the environment…He said they collect wastes once in two weeks which is too far between…Resultantly, he said wastes piled up and they are forced to patronize truckpushers…He therefore prefers to patronize an elderly truck-pusher in the area who he believes dumps the wastes at a longstanding dumpsite in the area…Alhaja Adeola told The Nation that LAWMA has become more responsive in the collection of their wastes along the express. What’s worse is that these wastes are never well-packed…He wondered if Lagosians do not realize that the people responsible for collecting the wastes are human beings like them…One roadside trader who said she does not live in the area but comes there to do business on a daily basis said the wastes are often cleared up every morning…She said she was sure that the residents in the area usually come and dump those refuse there behind their backs…there is a toll-free line which has been made available to operators and the general public which they can call so that alternative arrangements can be made to clear the wastes…

She stressed that there are opportunities of wealth creation from the wastes we generate at home and in industries…” (Grimaces, as Heaps of Refuse Return to Lagos, The Nation on Sun Sunday, January 10, 2016) The rather bewilderingly long excerpt is intended to statistically highlight the usage of a word whose identity and presentation will be deferred till next week.

Meanwhile, there is a feature of pleonasm not dissimilar to the examples considered last week. Consider the following clause: “piles of rubbish are returning in heaps.” What is the meaning of piles? What is the meaning of heaps? What is the difference between the two? From their dictionary definitions, the two are closely related semantically, near synonyms. The point is that the two words should not occur together in a sentence as they do here.

We could say: “rubbish is returning to the streets in piles/ heaps” or: “heaps/piles of rubbish are returning to the streets.”

Other issues will be addressed next week by God’s grace.

Some Nigerian users of English find it difficult to differentiate in pronunciation between the words order and other, thus carrying the phonological confusion into the idiomatic and syntactic usage

Sunday Tribune

line

life with

Niyi Osundare

Random Blues Between seventy and eternity (For Femi Osofisan @ 70) II

Seventy momentous seasons And you swore:

No Longer the Wasted Breed; We will carry our waterly blessings ashore On the sinews of Another Raft

A new parable proclaimed our Promise Too large for the theatre Which composed its mask

Old questions reached out for new answers New answers harked back to old questions

The quandary of Power The false inevitability of Oppression The fierce urgency of Justice

And what more to say about a country Which sentences us all to the cruel choice Between Courage and Cowardice

Cant and candor, angst and anger; Between the dreams which we define And the ones which end up defining us

But it is Hope which sustains us In our endless seasons of anguish Hope, that Morountodun of our magic quest

Happy Birthday, Sugarman May yours be the kind of sweetness That never cloys

Rise now, therefore, Take that dream to the end of the street

news 20 die, Nigerians, other migrants rescued as another boat capsizes in Mediterranean

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ESCUERS saved 366 migrants from rickety boats trying to cross the Mediterranean to Italy but at least 20 people were reported to have drowned, Italian police said, on Saturday.

The survivors, who were rescued in four separate operations, according to

17 July, 2016

Reuters were crammed onto three rubber dinghies and a wooden fishing boat.

They were all taken to the Sicilian port of Augusta, where they were questioned on Friday evening by the Italian police unit Interforce, which combats illegal immigration.

The Norwegian ship, Siem Pilot, went to the aid

of one dinghy that sank in the Sicilian Channel, but many migrants were already in the sea when it arrived, Antonio Panzanaro, an Interforce official, told Reuters.

“One corpse was recovered but survivors said that at least 20 people had drowned before the ship arrived,” he said.

“There were 82 women and 25 children among the 366 people rescued, he said.

The survivors were mainly from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Bangladesh.

“Seven people were arrested from the four boats, including their drivers, on suspicion of people-trafficking,” he said.

Italy has long been on the

front line of seaborne migration from Africa to Europe, and is now the main point of entry after the European Union struck a deal with Turkey to stem flows to Greece amid Europe’s worst migration crisis since World War Two. Slightly fewer migrants arrived on Italian shores in the first six months of

Sunday Tribune

2016 compared with the same period last year, but the number of deaths on the route has risen, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

More than 67,000 seaborne migrants arrived in Italy between January 1st and July 3rd, according to the IOM.

APC kicks off campaign in Edo, as Obaseki promises 200,000 jobs Banji Aluko-Benin City Ahead of the September 10 Edo State governorship election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, on Saturday, in Benin, kicked off its campaign with the party’s candidate, Godwin Obaseki, promising to create 200,000 jobs in four years if elected governor.

The kick-off, which was held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, was attended by leaders of the APC, including the national chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, and the APC governors of Kano, Plateau, Imo, Bauchi and Kaduna states.

Other attendants at the ceremony were the deputy national chairman, South, of the APC, Segun Oni; the national organising secretary of the APC, Senator Osita Izunaso; Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige; former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and deputy governors of Niger, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Borno, Kwara, Kogi and Oyo states, who represented their bosses.

In his remarks, Obaseki, who spoke after receiving the APC’s flag from Oyegun, promised to develop a model that would reposition agriculture in Edo State from subsistent farming to commercial farming, adding that many in the state would generate wealth by keying into a value chain development

of oil palm, cassava, cocoa, rubber, fruits and vegetables.

He also promised development in other sectors that would ensure the wellbeing of the citizens of the state.

Chief Oyegun, in his speech, said Obaseki would continue the developmental strides that had been started by Oshiomhole, adding that Edo was not one of the states in the country that were broke and unable to pay salaries.

Some members of the PDP, led by a former PDP chairman in Oredo Local Government Area, Chief Samson Esemuede, announced their defection to the APC at the event.

From left, Comrade Peter Esele; Dr Osagie Ehanire, Governor Adams Oshiomhole; Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Honourable Philip Shaibu, APC gubernatorial running mate; Mr Godwin Obaseki. Dr Chris Ngige and Senator Osita Izunaso at the kick-off of the gubernatorial campaign of the APC for the September 10 election in Edo State, on Saturday.

‘66% of children in Plateau malnourished’ MR Moses Yusuf, Nutrition Officer for Plateau State, said on Saturday that 66 per cent of children in the state were malnourished.

Yusuf made the disclosure at the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) mid-year review meeting in Jos, the state capital.

He explained that the figure was arrived at following the Standardised Monitoring of Relief and Transition (SMART) survey conducted by the Federal Government in 2015.

Yusuf described as very ‘’alarming,’’ the level of malnutrition among children, adding that five out of 10 children in the state

remains malnourished. ‘’According to the SMART report of 2015, over 66 per cent of children in Plateau are totally malnourished. ‘’The report showed that 43.7 per cent suffer from stunting, 18.1 per cent are underweight, while 4.6 per cent are wasting. ‘’When you compare the 2014 with 2015 SMART survey, you will realise that the situation in Plateau is getting worse,” he said. ‘’So, the need for government and other relevant agencies to put all hands on deck so as to arrest this ugly trend before it gets out hand, becomes necessary,’’ he said.

Communications giant, Transsion Holdings, launches Synix LED TV

By Seyi Sokoya Transsion Holdings, a communications company, has launched a new series of television sets, Synix LED, into the Nigerian market.

Transsion Holdings, formerly known as Tecno Limited, is a high-tech company, which specialises in the production, sales and service of mobile communication products.

Famous among its products in the Nigerian market

include Tecno, Infinix and iTel mobile phones.

Speaking at the launch of the devices held at the La Mango Place, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State, recently, the General Manager of the company, Mr Chidi Okonkwo, disclosed that the TV series had many features that would make their costs worth their technological and utility values.

Okonkwo said further that the products, as a major innovation in the Nigeri-

an electronic market, would revolutionalise the market, adding that “one of the unique features of the Synix LED TV sets is its simplicity of use for anyone who desires quality pictures.

With different sizes to cater for different customers, Synix LED TVs are affordable and bundled with 24+1 month full warranty, come with various features and work stabilizer-free which are built to work with Nigeria’s power situation.

news 265 killed as citizens foil coup in Turkey 42

2,800 coupists arrested

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ORE than 2,800 rebels have been detained after their failed military coup that killed at least 265 and wounded more than 1,500 as Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, vowed revenge for the bloody uprising.

Erdogan made his triumphant return to Istanbul after his forces and citizens in the country quelled the coup on Friday evening, as he warned that the members of the military behind the plot to oust him would pay a ‘heavy price for their treason’.

Some 104 plotters were killed after a coup attempt to

bring down the Turkish government, while 160 people at least 41 of them police and 47 civilians - fell as ‘martyrs’.

President Erdogan also used Twitter to call on supporters to prevent any additional military action, adding: “We should keep on owning the streets no matter at what stage because a new flare-up could take place at any moment.”

The rebel army faction - who call themselves the ‘Peace Council’ - said they were trying to overthrow the government to ‘protect human rights’ and restore democracy from Erdogan’s Justice and Development

Party, which has repeatedly faced criticism from human rights groups and Western allies over its crackdowns on anti-government protesters.

However, Erdogan has blamed his old foe, Fethullah Gulen, for orchestrating the uprising. Muslim cleric Gulen, the president’s rival who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, United State. as the head of a billion dollar religious movement, has often been blamed for political unrest in Turkey.

The five hours of chaos began when two busloads of soldiers burst into the headquarters of the state-run TRT news agency, taking news off

the air and replacing it with a stream of weather forecasts.

After launching the coup, the Turkish military imposed a curfew on civilians telling them to stay in their homes, but Erdogan called on supporters to ignore the order and take to the streets, which is thought to have caused the army to relinquish control.

After the uprising was crushed in the early hours of Saturday, he told the citizens who gathered at Ataturk Airport that those loyal to Gulen had ‘penetrated the Armed Forces and the police, among other government agencies, over the past 40 years’.

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Kano set to conduct wedding for 2,000 widows, divorcees Kola Oyelere - Kano KANO State Hisbah Board has said that the state government is making moves to conduct wedding for another batch of 2,000 widows and divorcees.

This is just as the organisation refuted reports that the board had recorded about 4,000 divorce cases in the last one year, saying the board has no such record.

The Director-General of the Hisbah Board, Abba Sufi, said the mass wedding was suspended earlier due to the economic situation in the country.

According to him, the state governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, had promised to sustain the initiative in October last year when he directed the Hisbah Board to start arrangement for the wedding of the 2,000 couples.

Strike ends as Niger govt, labour reach deal Adelowo Oladipo - Minna NIGER State government and the organised labour in the state have reached an agreement and this has put an end to the indefinite strike action that began last Monday.

Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Honourable Ahmed Marafa, who intervened between the state government and the organised labour at the state House of Assembly, said it was necessary to end the strike as it has caused hardship on the people.

He said, “we were able to reach very impressive headway and today (Friday) on a happy note, an agreement has been reached after series of deliberations.”

In his official statement on the resolutions and the position of the organised labour, the Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC), Comrade Idris Ndako, said the Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had put to an end the indefinite industrial action which started on Monday.

According to him, “in our resolution, it was agreed that all workers in the state be paid their salaries in full and that the government will make available the sum of N1.35 billion monthly for a period of three months starting from this month (July).

Police to launch trauma centre in North-East Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike (right) with Prince Uche Secondus (second right), Senator Lee Maeba (middle) and others during the governor’s inspection of work at the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park on Saturday.

Glo offers new prepaid subscribers 8 times recharge value THE acclaimed game changer in Nigeria’s mobile market and the grandmasters of data, Globacom has launched ‘Glo Jollific8” (Jollificate), a tariff plan specially designed to give new prepaid customers eight times more value on every recharge made on the company’s network.

“Glo Jollific8,” which of-

fers the subscriber eight times more value on every recharge from N100 and above, also gives additional benefits including access to call all local networks, browse, upload, download and stream internet content freely. It also gives subscribers free data that can be given to other subscribers.

Globacom, in a state-

ment, described the prepaid plan as the best offer designed to exceed the expectations and communication experience of Nigerians. The company said “Glo Jollific8” has increased the capacity of subscribers to call and text their loved ones as well as browse the internet to keep abreast of latest happenings on the in-

Catholic cleric murdered by kidnappers buried amid tears Johnson Babajide - Makurdi THERE were tears and wailings as the remains of the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Benue State, Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, were on Friday buried in the cathedral graveyard in Otukpo area of Benue State.

Father Adeyi was murdered by his abductors and his decomposed body was

found at Adobi, Otukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, two months after he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

The Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Most Rev. (Dr) Michael Apochi, extolled the virtues of the late Vicar General of the diocese, describing him as a true disciple of Christ “who faithfully performed his du-

ties to God and died on active duty as vicar general.”

The bishop said the church did not pay ransom and urged the clergy not to be discouraged because of the death of Adeyi.

He asked Otukpa people to see the murder of Adeyi at Ogonukwu as a challenge and advised them to be in the vanguard of the campaign against abduction and other crimes.

formation super highway.

Under “Glo Jollific8”, every recharge gives free data and voice benefits. For instance, N100 recharge gives N800 value for voice and 50MB data in addition to free 10MB which is worth N50. This brings the total package accruable to N100 recharge to N850; while N200 recharge attracts benefits worth N1,600 with embedded 100MB data and additional free 25MB of superfast data to bring the overall value offered to N1,700 for just N200.

In the same vein, a N500 recharge gives N4,000 value for voice and 250MB of data and another 50MB data worth N200 for gifting. This brings the value to N4,200 while N1,000 recharge attracts N8,000 octuple bonus that has 500MB and additional 100MB of data worth N400 for gifting to bring the total bonus to N8,400.

Bodunrin Kayode - Maiduguri THE Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the medical department, Kaumi Ahmadu, has said that a trauma centre will soon be provided in Maiduguri, Borno State.

He said the provision of a trauma centre in the state at this time would not only serve the state, but also the needs of the entire North-East region.

Ahmadu was in Maiduguri over the weekend as part of a team put together by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for the kick-off of a medical outreach in the town of Konduga for internally displaced people (IDPs).

Ahmadu said that the health of the men of the force was important, especially those in the North-East which is why they will soon create a trauma centre in Borno State to take care of post-traumatic stress and associated illnesses.

The AIG said that the trauma centre would take special care of men and officers who have suffered psychological and physical setbacks from the insurgency in Borno State.

Ogun govt, varsity to establish zoological, botanical garden THE Ogun State Ministry of Forestry in collaboration with Tai Solarin University of Education has concluded plans to establish a zoological and botanical garden in the state.

Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal, made this known while signing the memorandum of understanding between the ministry and the university at the council chamber of the institution in Ijagun.

Chief Lawal said the ministry and the university decided to collaborate on the project due to its numerous socio-economic benefits that would accrue to the state, especially in boosting the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

While commending the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for approving the commencement of the project, the commissioner said the ministry would ensure its success as it would lead to the provision of employment opportunities, particularly for the youth besides serving as a recreational center for tourists.

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news

17 July, 2016

110 million Nigerians are poor, says Osinbajo Leon Usigbe-Abuja

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ICE-PRESIDENT Yemi Osinbajo has admonished African nations to rise up to the urgent need of addressing the problems of poverty and inequality, even as the global community focuses on its new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.) He also disclosed that Nigeria had close to 110 million people who are poor and about two-tenths are in extreme poverty.

Speaking at the ongoing African Union (AU) summit in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday, he told the breakfast event attended by a number of presidents and several heads of delegations to the AU meeting that the whole

idea of the SDGs “is really about addressing inequality and poverty.”

The event was hosted by the President of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama, on Africa and SDGs. According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo, who led the delegation to the continent-wide meeting, observed that “the problems are so obvious that however we described the programme, we really must do something and something urgently.”

He then cited the example of the N500 billion social investment programme of the Buhari presidency.

The Vice President said: “In Nigeria, in the current

budget cycle, we have the largest social protection programme in the history of the country. It’s a N500 billion programme (worth over $2.5 billion as of the time budget was signed.)

“Basically, we are looking at lifting many out of poverty. Of course, many are familiar with the size of the Nigerian state and we have close to 110 million people who are poor and about two-tenths are in extreme poverty.

“So, it is a very huge problem and part of what we are trying to do is to look at how not just to empower people, but also to ensure that what they are given is sustainable.

“For the women, we are doing a programme, microcredit programme for a mil-

lion market women and artisans.

“All would be given facilities, training facilities as well to enable them to be able to do some work for themselves and to continue to be able to live.

“And we think that giving this micro-credit loan to women is to make sure that they handle money better and do a much better work on the whole.”

Osinbajo said with what the administration has done already, “we have seen that they are certainly going to work.”

On the Conditional Cash Transfer, he noted that women were beneficiaries, as “we are giving another million, to the poorest of the poor.”

Sunday Tribune

8 traditional rulers get first class status in Kwara GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has approved the elevation of eight traditional rulers in the state to first class status.

This was contained in a statement issued in Ilorin on Saturday and signed by Alhaji Haruna Mohammed, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development.

The statement indicated that the staff of office would be presented to the monarchs tomorrow, at the Government House, Ilorin.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the upgraded chiefs include: Alhaji Idris Abubakar, Emir of Okuta; Alhaji Sabi Idris, Emir of Gwanara; Professor Halidu Abubakar, Emir of Ilesha-Baruba.

Others are Alhaji Usman Seriki, Oba Salihu Adasofegbe, Olosi of Osi in Ekiti Local Government council, Oba Abubakar Adelodun, Olupako of Share in Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Also elevated are Oba Samuel Dada, Alofa of Illofa in Oke-Ero and Oba Solomon Oleyede, Olusin of IsanluIsin in Isin Local Government Area.

The upgrading of the eight traditional rulers brings the number of first class chiefs in the state to 19.

We lose over N50m monthly to equipment vandalism —Eko DISCO boss

Chairman, Governing Council, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (middle), Director of School, Mrs Funmilayo Williams (left) and Oyo State Commissioner of Education, Professor Joseph Adeniyi, during the graduation ceremony of Bodija International College, Ibadan, on Saturday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN

Protesters storm Oluwo’s palace with coffin Over chieftaincy title Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

THERE was drama in the city of Iwo, in Osun State, on Saturday, when some protesters stormed the palace of Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrsaheed AdewaleAkanbi with a coffin.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the development might have been informed by the controversy over a

chieftaincy title of “Aro.” However, anti-riot policemen were swiftly deployed to the scene and the coffin was removed to pave the way for Oluwo, who later addressed the protesters to calm frayed nerves.

According to a credible source, “the protesters stormed Oluwo’s palace following hint that an unqualified person is being

proposed to fill the vacant position of Aro of Iwo land”.

Aro is one of the powerful kingmakers in Iwo town and the protesters were said to have been enraged when they learnt that one Paje from Aro Bode area is being considered for the chieftaincy position.

But, natives of the town

Air travellers groan as scarcity of aviation fuel bites harder Shola Adekola-Lagos

THE scarcity of aviation fuel otherwise known as JetA1 in the aviation parlance has continued to bite harder with many passengers across the country’s airports experiencing difficulties in catching their flights.

The scarcity of the commodity, which had been on and off, became pronounced again last week with airlines either delaying, rescheduling or canceling their flights.

Because of this, many

passengers had their flights disrupted across the airports particularly at Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

When Sunday Tribune visited the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) and MMA2 on Saturday, passengers were seen waiting for their flights to be announced while the airlines struggled to get the commodity from the oil marketers.

The situation still continued on Saturday with the domestic airlines still delay-

ing their flights while they looked for aviation fuel.

One of the airlines mostly affected on Saturday was Arik Air which alerted that if the situation was not urgently handled, it might lead to more flight cancellations or delays.

Confirming this in a statement, the spokesperson of Arik Air, Ola Banji, said that the scarcity of the commodity became prevalent recently when oil marketers started rationing JET A1 supply to airlines due to limited stock at the depots.

from Aro Olukotun, who sources said have been traditionally nominating Aro in the past, rejected the alleged choice of Paje, contending that he is not from their compound.

As of the time of filing this report, normalcy had been restored in the town after the Oluwo held closed door meeting with the protesters inside his palace.

Speaking on the protest on phone, Oba AdewaleAkanbi informed newsmen that the protesters were from the family of the immediate past Aro of Iwo, explaining that the move was aimed at intimidating him.

While confirming that a coffin was brought to the palace by the demonstrators, the traditional ruler maintained that “there was no way another Aro could emerge from the same family that produced the last one that reigned”, just as he assured residents not to panic over the development.

MR Oladele Amoda, Chief Executive Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDP), on Saturday, said that over N50 million was being lost monthly to electricity equipment vandalism within its network.

Amoda disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos against the backdrop of continuous power outage within EKEDP network.

He condemned the increasing equipment vandalism within its operations, adding that it had forced the company to spend money meant for other electricity development projects on repairs.

He said that electricity materials, such as cables and wires, among others, had either been stolen or vandalised within its operations.

He said areas where equipment vandalism had been rampant were Apapa, Mushin, Ikoyi, Ajegunle and Festac.

According to him, equipment such as 300KVA and 500KVA are being destroyed in Eko Disco monthly.

“Vandalism of electricity installations in the areas has become a problem, and within the past four months, the unit has recorded further acts of vandalism of nine transformer substations.

“Most times the vandals carted away eight metres of 150mm2x4 core cable, cable sockets and ferrules.

“We have raised the alarm over the increasing rate of vandalism of our equipment in recent time, while we have also beefed up surveillance,” he said.

Amoda, therefore, called for the review of existing laws on vandalism of electricity equipment and other public facilities and their replacement, saying that there is the need for stiffer penalties against culprits.

The officer said that the stringent laws and penalty would help reduce and possibly eradicate the nefarious act.

Disqualify our candidate, face legal action, Ogun UPN tells SIEC Olayinka Olukoya-Abeokuta

THE Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Ogun State said it would be forced to take legal step if the State Independent Electoral Commission disqualified any of its candidates in the October 8 local government election.

This warning was given by the state chairman of the party, Mrs. Funmilayo Oginni, at a press conference held at the party’s secretariat, over the weekend.

The statement said that the party had it on good authority that the electoral body might disqualify candidates on flimsy grounds.

According to Oginni, the electoral body might dance to the tune of the state government to disqualify candidates of other political parties to boost the chances of the All Progressives Congress in the election.

The party chairman reiterated that UPN would shock other parties by winning all the elections in the state.

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opinion

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Lagos and the menace of street trading

By Gbolahan Akintunde

I

have been following with keen interest the argument for and against the recent ban on street trading in Lagos State by the Ambode government. Let me start by reminding us that the law prohibiting street trading had been in existence before the Ambode administration came into office but was not implemented.

What Ambode did was to implement the law. The fine, according to the Lagos State Street Trading and Illegal Markets Prohibition Law 2003, is N90,000 or six months jail term for both the seller and the buyer who engages in street trading. Those who argued against the ban on street trading have put forward the argument that banning street hawkers will deny thousands of the downtrodden their source of income while the multiplier effect may mean hunger for many who depended on street hawking for survival.

As understandable and emotional as this argument may be, allowing street hawking and other tendencies that are at variance with the law, are detrimental to the society at large, especially Lagosians who have been victims of the fallout of street hawking and trading. There is no gainsaying the fact that the advantages of banning traffic hawking far outweighs the disadvantages if we take certain factors into consideration.

Lagos State consists of more than 20 million inhabitants. Of this population, let’s say about 100,000 (one hundred thousand) are traffic hawkers. Not that this number is not significant but when we take into consideration the havocs their actions wreck on the more than 20 million population, no one should be in doubt about the urgent need to proscribe street hawking. Take for instance a major investor who was robbed in traffic and who may as a result have a rethink about investing in Lagos. This will only mean that thousands who were supposed to be engaged in jobs in that investment would lose that opportunity and there may be many cases like that.

Beyond this, hawking is dangerous for the hawkers many of whom are underage children as they get knocked down by vehicles on many occasions. Hawking during school hours encourages truancy even though children who will not go school will not anyway, but the sight of children of school age hawking water, banana or gala is a collective shame on all of us!

Street trading and hawking lead to sexual abuse of minors, early marriage, teenage pregnancy and uncontrolled population. There have been many reports that hawkers were caught damaging major highways so that there would be traffic which would enable them sell their wares. Needless to add that the 49 BRT buses destroyed few weeks ago by irate mob suspected to be hawkers at Maryland when a hawker was knocked down by a truck should be condemned by all and sundry.

Many hawkers have been discovered to be armed robbers while using hawking in traffic as an alibi. We have seen and heard of many cases where armed robbers pretend to be selling in traffic and put a gun to the head of car owners while some hawkers serve as arm bearers to armed robbers and other criminals.

The truth of the matter is that many of the hawkers have no business being in Lagos but the rate at which people troop into Lagos daily should be a cause of concern for all and it goes to show that many still believe that Lagos is the land of milk and honey, a place where money is picked on the streets.

A closer look at what many of the hawkers sell shows that the value of the wares in most cases is less than N2,000 yet many have been knocked down in the process of running between moving vehicles in traffic. This should not be allowed to continue. It is dangerous and the way child hawkers run after moving vehicles is inhuman and the height of child abuse.

The immediate past [Former Governor Babatunde] Fashola administration tried to tackle this menace by sending many of the hawkers and beggars back to their states of origin, but it was politicised and the policy was

dropped when many of the home states ethnicised it. It is therefore time to revisit and review the policy with a view to encouraging people to go back to the farm.

As stated earlier, many of the hawkers are better off in farms in their towns and villages, but nobody wants to go to the farm anymore but Lagos, where there is limitless money even if it is illegitimate and crime- induced. This should be discouraged.

I would suggest that anybody caught hawking in traffic in contravention of the law should be sent to a government farm for a specified period of time as an option of fine if such cannot pay the N90, 000 fine. I noticed that many hawkers are still in traffic in defiance to the law but the government should be decisive about this. Nobody believed that area boys could be taken off the streets in Lagos state until Fashola did it. He took many area boys to vocational centres where they became useful to themselves and to the society. It surprised many that it was reformed Area boys who planted, nurtured and maintained many flowers in different parts of Lagos.

In the same vein, I support the planned ban of okada and danfo on Lagos roads with the proviso that the government should provide alternative jobs for those that would be affected by the ban. The government in providing an alternative job especially absorbing them into the big buses provided by the government must consult and collaborate with the drivers’ unions as well as the commercial motorcycles otherwise called okada unions.

In the case of danfo buses, they have outlived their usefulness as they no longer befit the maga-city status of Lagos.

Okada and even tricycles cannot be an elixir to the transportation problem by picking passengers in twos and threes in a megacity like Lagos. These two modes of transportation could be restricted to the outskirts and satellite towns around Lagos. The solution will be in the provision of many big buses as the Ambode government is currently doing and the resuscitation of the light rail system. We know this cannot happen overnight but efforts must be made by starting somewhere while putting in place measures to cushion the effect of the ban as people are averse to change in any society. It is high time hawking in traffic, danfo and okada as means of transportation are banned on Lagos roads.

• Akintunde, a Public Affairs Analyst writes from Iyana Ipaja, Lagos

Slain Oyo lawmaker as soldier of democracy

By Kazeem Adedeji ELTON John once sang :’Like a candle in the wind, never knowing who to cling to when the rain sets in...your candle burned out long before your legend ever did.’ So it was with Honourable Gideon Aremu when his gentle life was blown away by the fatal shots of his assailants and closed another chapter of struggle that would have been a beacon of hope to many young men faced with challenges of life. His life will remain a lesson as his death.

Born in the once upon a time capital of ancient Oyo empire, Igboho, Honourable Aremu, like his peers, dreamed of a great future which only education can guarantee and so he put everything he had in the pursuit of what he considered to be a visa to a better life. Soldier, as fondly called, was not a soldier of fortune but a soldier of circumstance. Though a soldier, he was a conscientious objector to violence as an instrument of politics or settling scores of whatever sort. From a humble beginning, Gideon rose to prominence through dint of hard work, selflessness and a passion for service. As the best graduating student from Irepo Grammar School in the year 1993, fate almost played a cruel one on his ambition of securing admission into a university due to lack of means to support such aspiration.

Undaunted, young Gideon joined the Nigerian army in 1996 as a recruit from where he was sent to Sierra Leone in 1997 on a peace mission. He fought gallantly with other Nigerian soldiers to facilitate the peace which the African country still enjoys till today. After his stint at the theatre of war, and his return to Nigeria, Gideon decided to pick up the pieces of his broken ambition of a university education with a promise to read up to the highest level possible in the land. He bagged a Bachelor of Science (Honours), Master of Science and capped it with a Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics.

Unfortunately, Oyo State and indeed Nigeria are denied

the fruit of this struggle for excellence and knowledge.

What a loss! His foray into politics which culminated in his election into the Oyo State House of Assembly was in continuation of his passion for service. His colleagues and constituents can attest to his humility and commitment.

We know that death is the sentence that hangs over man’s head from the moment he is born and the debt a sinful mankind owes to the creator of all life. We are only saddened by the senseless killing of one of the brightest stars in the present political dispensation. His gruesome murder is a further testimony to the ascendance of debased values in our society, or what a people will continually decimate the best of his specie while breeding the worst?

We stand today to celebrate a life, though short but well spent and to remind ourselves of the transience of life and that all souls shall have a taste of death, the only medicine for the fatal illness known as life.

Labour Party had wished to use the occasion of his forthcoming graduation on the conferment of a Ph.D. (not honorary) on him by the University of Ilorin to pay tribute to this illustrious son and to commend him to a state that is fast losing grip of standard in politics on the quality of people that should aspire for political office. Alas, here we

are, singing a requiem for a soul extinguished in his prime!

His immediate family members have lost a breadwinner, Orelope Local Government Council has lost a shining light and passionate representative, Oyo State House of Assembly has lost a fine gentleman and a consummate legislator, Labour Party in Oyo State has lost a comrade, and Nigeria has lost one of her leaders of tomorrow!

To our dear friend, Honourable Gideon Aremu, we sing, and we hope he can hear us from the great beyond and in the wings of the angels where we know he belongs, John Donne’s timeless poem: Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou think›st thou dost overthrow Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul›s delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why swell›st thou then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Honourable Aremu Gideon, rest, rest and continue to rest in the bosom of thy lord till the Day of Judgment when all shall account for their deeds, including your assailants and perhaps, their patrons.

Goodbye, soldier of democracy!

• Honourable Adedeji, a lawyer and philosophy teacher, is a former member of the House of Representative, House of Assembly and Commissioner for Trade, Investments and Cooperative in Oyo State.

45

17 July, 2016

Sunday Tribune

news NJC sacks Osun judge who challenged Aregbesola

46

Sunday Ejike - Abuja

T

HE Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the dismissal of Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for official misconduct.

The council, Sunday Tribune gathered, also dismissed an Osun state judge, Justice Olamide Oloyede, for writing a petition to the Osun State

17 July, 2016

House of Assembly against the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Although there was no official confirmation from the NJC, Sunday Tribune correspondent gathered that Justice Yunusa

was dismissed for granting an injunction stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from probing Stella Oduah who was accused of massive embezzlement of public funds and nu-

merous acts of fraud in contracts.

There were also petitions accusing Justice Yunusa of receiving kickbacks and bribes, as well as delivering two different judgments on case.

Justice Oloyede, a female judge in Osun State, was also sacked by the NJC. In 2015, Justice Oloyede caused a scandal when, as a serving judge, she petitioned the Osun State

Retirement of Justice Oloyede is vindictive, condemnable —Osun PDP

Party faithful at the Edo Central kick-off of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign held at Opuje Primary School, Uromi, Edo State, on Saturday.

By Abiola Ajimobi

Arms probe: Fresh controversy rocks report

“WHEN beggars die, there are no comets seen; ?The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”?

William Shakespeare wrote those immortal words to celebrate moments like this when men, women and children are gathered to celebrate the eternal transition of kings and princes.

Sheik Ibrahim Ayede was one of Our dearly beloved princes whose earthly sojourn was to the glory of Allah and the blessing of humanity.

Like all who had the great fortune of his acquaintance, I felt a sense of personal loss of a great servant of Allah and devout Muslim leader when I received the news of the death of our highly revered Sheik Ibrahim Ayede. death came as a shock to me and the vacuum his departure will create remains a huge loss to the government and people of Oyo State, particularly the Muslim community. He has indeed left behind a shoe too big for others to wear.

But with total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, I pray that He grants his soul Al-Jannah Firdaus and give his loving family and loved ones, especially the Muslim ummah the fortitude to bear the great loss.

He will be sorely missed because his wisdom and sound doctrines on religious matters have impacted on the propagation of Islam and moral rebirth among the adherents since I knew him.

Continued from pg 4 Another angle to the arms controversy involves Air Commodre Umar Muhammaed, who has since been arrested for receiving bribes from some of the accused persons.

According to Saturday Tribune sources, Umar Muhammed was a course mate and close confidant of Ad-

esola Amosun. However, he decided to voluntarily retire less than one year to the date he would have been pulled out based on age and rank.

Amosun continued and just a few months to his retirement was made Chief of Air Staff. Security sources said that when Amosun emerged Air Chief, their friendship further blossomed. Incidentally, Muhammed found

himself in the panel probing his friend.

One day, Muhammed woke up to find security operatives in his Maitama home with a warrant of search. During the search, some arms and $1.5 million cash were alleged to have been found. A security source told our correspondent that Muhammed was billed to appear in court last

Delta community denies knowledge of militant suspect Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri OROGUN community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State has refuted claims that members of the dreadful militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), hail from the community.

The community also denied a self-styled militant leader, simply identified as Ogheneghochuko, who claimed to be from Orogun community.

Ogheneghochuko, had in a video that went viral on social media on July 7, threatened to kill President Muhammadu Buhari, his family and governors of the South East region if detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOD), Nnamdi Kanu, was not released by July ending.

The impostor, in the 8.55 minutes video, used derogatory words against the

President and threatened to unleash violence against the state and solicited for youths in the South Eastto join any of his group closer to them.

President General of Orogun community, Chief Josiah Ntekume, while speaking with journalists in Warri on Saturday, said the self-acclaimed militant, who claims to be leader of Biafra Avengers 2, was not from the community.

Focus on reviving ailing economy, group tells Buhari Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to focus more on reviving the country’s ailing economy ahead of the fight against corruption.

A group, the Urhobo Monitoring and Development Group (UMDG), made the plea on Saturday in Warri, Delta State.

It called on President

House of Assembly urging them to impeach Governor Rauf Aregbesola whom she accused of corruption.

The decision of the NJC to dismiss the two Judges for official misconduct was taken at the end of its meeting held on Thursday and Friday, last week.

The Judges, it was gathered were dismissed by the NJC, after an exhaustive investigation showed that they were guilty of various acts of grave misconduct.

All efforts to get official confirmation from the spokesman of the NJC. Mr. Soji Oye proved abortive.

As at press time, calls to his mobile phone number did not go through as they were being forwarded to another number.

Tribute to a man of peace

Oluwole Ige - Osogbo THE Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Saturday described the compulsory retirement of Justice Olamide Folahanmi Oloyede of the Osun State High Court by the National Judicial Commission (NJC) as vindictive and condemnable.

Reacting over the development while speaking during a telephone chat with Sunday Tribune, the secretary of the PDP in Osun, Prince Bola Ajao said “the retirement of Justice Oloyede is unwarranted and height of injustice.”

According to him, “the retirement of Justice Oloyede has shown in clear terms that the government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola is vindictive. Up till today, Aregbesola has not been able to provide any reasonable answer to the myriad of questions and allegations raised in the petition of Justice Oloyede to the EFCC.” “The NJC action is at the behest or instance of the government of Osun State.

What they are saying is that the honourable judge was involved in judicial activism.

Sunday Tribune

Buhari-led Federal Government to urgently fix the country’s ailing economy from sliding into a recess.

National President of the group, Prince Kingsley Oberuruaria, who spoke with journalists, said that Nigerians were hungry and that the economy needed a more proactive measure to save it.

Oberuruaria stressed that the anti-graft war was not a bad

idea, but should not be at the expense of the economy in which most Nigerians could a hardly afford two-square meals.

The group accused the APC-led Federal Government of not living up to expectation, saying hunger, as a leveller, knows no political or religious affiliations.

“Fighting corruption is good but the revival of the economy needs greater at-

tention in this present time where the average Nigerian can barely afford a meal.

The truth is that Nigerians are hungry and you don’t need a soothsayer to know.

“We observed that the government’s diversification is mainly concentrated in the north; nothing so far in the south, especially oilrich Niger Delta,” the group stated.

week. However, that was further delayed and he was still being kept in custody as at the time of this report.

Associates of Muhammed have accused some key members of the Buhari administration of being behind his ordeal, insisting that it was “a hatchet job, a plot framed by few cabal in the inner circle to get back at Umar for insisting procurement in the army between 2007-2010 when a top military chief was in charge of procurement.”

They alleged that while the panel had unhindered access verifying files, documents of every other arms of the military leading to unearthing of huge diversion of funds by some military top brass that are now facing various corrupt charges by the EFCC, that of the Nigeria Army was resisted. “The procurement by the army between 2007 and 2010, was the period the present Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai held sway as procurement presiding officer. The panel had hectic time carrying out the verification of procurement done by the army.”

Aside Dasuki who it was alleged had personal issues with Buhari, most other military officers indicted and being tried for contravening procurement processes in the purchase of arms are those who originated from outside a particular divide.

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17 July, 2016

SUNDAY

Sunday Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Ronaldo better placed to win 2016 Ballon d’Or —Neymar FC Barcelona star, Neymar believes Cristiano Ronaldo is sitting in pole position to win the 2016 FIFA Ballon d’Or due to the success he has achieved so far.

Ronaldo guided Madrid to Champions League glory at the expense of Atletico Madrid in 2015-16, before winning Euro 2016 with Portugal following a 1-0 win after extra time against hosts France.

He had to settle for second place in the race for the Ballon d’Or behind Lionel Messi last year, but Neymar believes the 31-year-old is favourite to lift the prestigious individual trophy this time round.

“Winning titles plays a big role in the race for the Ballon d’Or,” Neymar told Lance!.

“Ronaldo won the Champions League and now Euro 2016 as well. So I reckon he is in a good position.

“Plus Ronaldo is a great player. I have no qualms in saying that.”

Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or in 2008, 2013 and 2014, with Messi lifting the trophy in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

Akpeyi

Siasia names Mikel, Akpeyi, on final Rio squad

S

UPER Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel and Chippa United goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi may have been registered as Nigeria’s overage players to the 2016 Olympics.

Goal gathered through a reliable source from the Nigeria Football Federation

... As Ekong set to replace Omeruo

Omeruo

A delay in the loan transfer of Chelsea defender, Kenneth Omeruo to Turkish champions Besiktas could well force Nigeria Olympic team coach, Samson Siasia to replace him with Norway-based William Troost-Ekong, AfricanFootball.com has been told.

Omeruo is very much part of Siasia’s plans for Rio 2016, but he has been held back at Chelsea as they are yet to finalise on his loan transfer to Besiktas.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner was to have flown out to Turkey this past week for a medical and conclude on his personal terms, but it has now been revealed that Chelsea are still working on their agreement with Besiktas for the player.

Omeruo is now most likely to jet out to Istanbul in the new week.

“Kenneth is not talking about the Olympics now, his focus is on sorting out his club future,” a source informed.

Siasia, on the other hand, is not leaving anything to chance and he is now considering replacing Omeruo with TroostEkong.

“Troost-Ekong will replace Omeruo should he fail to join the team,” an official stated.

(NFF),that coach Samson Siasia opted for two senior players instead of the mandatory three as competition kicks off next month in Brazil.

“Samson Siasia has submitted his 18man list for this year’s Olympic football tournament in Rio, Brazil and I can authoritatively disclosed to you that the coach opted for only two overage players and they are Mikel Obi and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi,” the source told Goal.

Having missed the 2012 Olympics in London, the Dream Team would be hoping to win their second Olympic football gold medal with Akpeyi and Mikel expected to lead the quest in Au-

gust.

Mikel is expected to captain the team having missed out of the 2008 edition staged in Beijing, China, where Nigeria returned with a silver medal having bowed 1-0 to Argentina in the final.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner, Mikel, has never hidden his interest in playing for the Dream Team VI and it is not strange seeing him make the cut ahead of Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona who had been named on the 35-man provisional list.

The Dream Team VI continue their preparation for the competition in the United States with a series of friendlies.

N’Golo Kante signs 5-yr deal with Chelsea

By Ganiyu Salman

CHELSEA on Saturday named France international, N’Golo Kante as its second signing under new manager, Italian Antonio Conte ahead of the new English Premier League season which gets underway next month.

Kante joins the first signing, Michy Batshuayi from the French League barely a week after a splendid performance with the Les Bleus at the Euro 2016 championship, where France lost 0-1 in the final to Portugal off Eder’s extra-time goal.

The 25-year-old forward, who was instrumental in Leicester City’s EPL success last season, according to the Blues official website signed a five-year contract.

“I am so happy to have signed for one of the biggest clubs in Europe. It’s a dream come true for me.

“The opportunity to work with Antonio Conte, a brilliant coach, and some of the best players in the world was simply too good to turn down.

“My first season in English football was

very special and now I hope to go on to achieve even more during my time as a Chelsea player. I am looking forward to meeting up with my new team-mates and helping the club achieve a lot of success,” Kante told the Chelsea official website.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s technical director, Michael Emenalo defended the signing of the Malian-born player.

“N’Golo is a fantastic signing ahead of the new season and we are delighted to have been able to bring such a talented player to the club.

“He is a perfect fit in terms of Antonio Conte’s philosophies and the style of football he wants to play.

“For a player of his age he has already built a wealth of experience and his exceptional quality will without doubt be a great addition to the team,” Emenalo, a former Nigerian international said.

Kante, a former Boulogne of France player made 37 appearances during the Foxes EPL triumph last season and was named in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year.

SIDELINES NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

NO 2,055

17 JULY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

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Criminals, according to reports, have turned hotels, markets and even churches and mosques into their hideouts by masquerading as worshippers. Pray, are churches and mosques no longer supposed to be holy grounds where evil is not welcome?

We in the South-West need security urgently

I

N this column in recent months, I have repeatedly urged the governors and traditional rulers of our six states in the Yoruba Southwest to wake up and do something immediately about security in our states. My reason is that various serious threats have arisen to our security.

First, the Boko Haram threat, though considerably reduced since the coming of the Buhari presidency, is still alive. Only a few days ago, terrorists belonging to Boko Haram were found and arrested in Lagos State.

In 2014, the former governor of Kaduna State warned Nigeria about a coming threat to security countrywide. That threat has now materialized. Especially in the Middle Belt, and in the states of the Southeast, South-south and our Southwest, Fulani herdsmen, obviously recruited by some people for political purposes, and trained and armed with sophisticate weapons, are destroying farms, killing farmers,raping women, and maiming men, women and children. They have carried out these rampages in every one of our six states in the Southwest. It is known that they are reinforced by many Libyan militia men – from late President Ghadafi’s private armies. What the powerful men who recruited, armed and trained these terrorists are trying to achieve is not yet clear to the world, but we have good reasons to fear that their intentions are not good for us and for many other Nigerian peoples. In spite of the outcry from all over our land, we see increasing numbers of these murderous herdsmenin our farmlands, and we hear that our governors are being pressurized by federal authorities to grant land for“grazing reserves” for them.

Many of us tremble at the spreading rumour that some of our governors are even being bribed or blackmailed with threats of EFCC investigation in order to get them to grant grazing reserves in our farmlands.

In more recent weeks, a threat to our security has arisen from yet another direction – from Ijaw sourcesfrom the Southsouth.This new threat to our peace and security is very puzzling indeed. We Yoruba and Ijaw have lived together as brothers throughout our history; large numbers of Ijaw communities have long resided in the south-eastern provinces of our Yoruba homeland (side by side with our Ilaje people); and in our Ondo state, Ijaw folks have been allowed into very high political positions – the first speaker of the Ondo State

House of Assembly was an Ijaw man. In the light of all these, Yoruba and Ijaw civic leaders did the right thing by arranging to meet together as soon as these attacks on Yoruba coastal communities began.

What has been fairly establishedthrough those meetings is that the Ijaw attacks on Yoruba coastal communities are not part of the Ijaw movement in the Ijaw homeland in which various Ijaw militant groups have been fighting against Nigeriaand destroying very important assets of the Nigerian petroleum industry. What is now widely believed is that the Ijaw attackers on Yoruba coastal communities are criminal elements – thieves who have long been puncturing oil pipes and stealing oil for sale for themselves(a practice called bunkering), and who seem to be now finding it harder to practice their oil robbery.These have attacked coastal communities in the areas of Ikorodu, Igando, and Ipaja-Ayobo. It is estimated that they

our marketplaces, motor parks, shopping centres, and sports centres, how much thought does anybody give to the possibility of planted bombs or suicide bombers?

Furthermore, a very major economic crisis is now looming over Nigeria. Observers watching the Nigerian economic scene fear imminent popular reactions to the escalating poverty. We Yoruba, with the largest population of highly educated and unemployed youths in Nigeria, have been lucky so far that our youths have borne their hardships peacefully. But, if these hardships further escalate soon, are we likely to continue to be that lucky?

In the background to all these serious attacks, and other possible attacks, on the peace and security of our Southwest, there is the horrible constitutional arrangement which veststhe control of police duties in the whole of Nigeria in the Federal Government only. Exactly what happened in the Northeast is now happening in our

have killed as many as 89 Yoruba villagers in these communities and displaced thousands of people from their homes.

Apparently under pressure of deprivation and hunger, they are reported to be now invading any homes that still stand, and to be violently grabbing food and other valuables – and raping women. Their chief strength is that they have somehow got possession of some of the sophisticated weapons with which the Ijaw militants have been fighting against Nigeria in the Ijaw homeland.

Moreover, we must look beyond the present and think of other future possibilities too. Very many large centres of religious worship are sitting targets for the kind of horror which have occurred in some other parts of Nigeria. As millions of our people gather in our mosques on Fridays or in our churches on Sundays, or in

Southwest – the state governments, having no police of their own, cannot meet any emerging danger and nip it in the bud.

The well-armed bunker criminals of the Ikorodu villages easily prevented the security forces, and even the high representative of the Ogun State Government who was coming with them, from reaching the crime scenes, and they have continued to impose a reign a terror there since then.

The 2014 National Conference resolved that police functions should be devolved to the state governments, but there is no assurance that this will ever happen.

So, we must find our own solutions right now. What then are our options?

Some weeks ago, the new Emir of Kano offered the wise advice that the peoples of the North who are now immediately under Boko Haram menace should take steps to protect their communities. As the

Emir of Kano counselled, we should start learning and establishing community protection behaviour and practices now. Such practices may soon be the barrier between life and death for a lot of our people. Each institution (church, mosque, marketplace, motor park, sports centre, etc) should start.

In addition, fortunately, we have powerful traditional institutions that are supremely suitable for this need. In times of threat to security in our Yoruba towns and cities from ancient times, our rulers commonly called out certain groups in the community. This is still part of our nation’s cultural heritage; on occasions, hunters groups still watch the streets in many Yoruba towns today. Each Oba or Baale should alert his community to the dangers that appear to be coming, and then revive the traditional community security practices.

And why can’t our state governments use the services of OPC in this situation, cover their operations with states’ legal authority, and ensure their high quality service by providing government oversight? Even the Federal Government recently employed the services of OPC to fight certain crimes; why can’t our state governments do the same? No matter what opponents of OPC may now say, the truth remains that OPC once tackled and curbed crime creditably in our Southwest.

Finally, isn’t it time that our state governments should banokadaand riotous street vending from all our towns – practices that hold a lot of danger to our public? Thanks to Governor Ambode for banningstreet vending from Lagos. It is known that okada has been banned from towns in the Southeast and South-south.

We demand that our state governments should follow suit.

Our state and local governments and all elected politicians mustall be involved in this fight. They should inform our people intensively. They should encourage and assist our traditional rulers, leaders of our churches, mosques, marketplaces, motor parks, sports centres, rural communities, to begin to evolve their various modes of security.

These actions must be handled with all seriousness. All who live on our land, including non-indigene residents, must live in confident assurance of safety. This is not a matter for partisan politics, or a matter allowing for any dragging. We need and demand action immediately

Kante signs 5-year deal with Chelsea Inside

Siasia names Mikel, Akpeyi on final Rio 2016 squad Inside

Mikel

Pools result: 8, 13, 24, 26, 27, 30, 33, 41, 44, 49.

Today’s Matches: 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 28, 42, 46, 47, 48.

Kante

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