17th September,2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 1,169

SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

N150

SPECIAL TREAT

Army captures 355 Boko Haram babies 149 nursing mothers, 62 others too

pg6

Why Chibok girls remain in captivity —FG

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

pg5

How to protect kids from infections in cold weather —Experts

pg11

PLAGIARISM OF OBAMA’S SPEECH:

Embarrassed Buhari orders probe

Govt says it was a mistake BBC posts video clips of both speeches pg6

How agent picked me from the street,

turned me into a super model —Ex-beauty queen, Mariam Elisha

pg3

Ghost workers: FG saves

N10 billion monthly

pg6

Weekend Lagos

Economic Recession:

We are dying in silence — Alaba traders

pgs19,20,21&22

Governor Kassim Shettima of Borno State with some children of Boko Haram terrorists captured by the Army on Friday. PHOTO: BORNO GOVT

NECO releases 2016 June/July SSCE resultspg8

2

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

3

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Mariam Elisha is an ex-beauty queen, winner of the 2007 Miss Valentine Nigeria and Chief Executive Officer of Rikaoto by ME, a burgeoning fashion outfit. Though raised in Kano, a graduate of the University of Lagos, the entrance of the Kebbi State born Mariam into the fashion business has been greeted with a lot of success as her fashion line recently received the Qhue Concepts’ 2016 Designer of the Year Award. She chronicles her rise, among other things, in this interview with NEWTON-RAY UKWUOMA. Excerpts:

Y

OU won Miss Valentine Nigeria in 2007 and afterwards signed a modelling deal with MTN. At what point did you decide to leave modelling?

First, I started modelling at a very young age. It was something my agent then convinced me to go into. I was a regular girl, walking on the road when the agent saw me.

He told me I would make a good model. He took me to an agency which signed me a contract worth N40 million. I didn’t even know what a contract looked like; my sister had to sign for me. Then, I just wanted to see my pictures on the screen; that’s all. I got to love modelling and went to pageantry. Winning Miss Valentine in 2007 was a big one for me. I was given a car, a trip to South Africa and some huge amount of money, which, as a young girl, was a lot. When I won the MTN and the Vmobile deals, there was a lot of money also. However, I felt at some point that one should go into something more professional. You don’t have to stick to one line of your career. You should explore other things as well. I thought fashion will do it for me since I loved it.

How old were you when you won the N40million modelling deal?

I think I was 16. The modelling agency was Rosabel Court and the deal was for a year. It wasn’t just me. We were three different girls. I had the opportunity of seeing myself on TV, smiling and saying what I was asked to say [smiles].

To me, it was fun.

You have become one of the successful fashion designers in Nigeria. What will be your advice to young models who might not branch out?

The truth is, right now, modelling is not what it used to be. Modelling in Nigeria is not very rosy owing to the fact that a lot of brands use movie stars and artistes as brand ambassadors, a practice that wasn’t popular during our time. However, my advice is, if you want to do something, whatever it is – whether it’s modelling, beauty pageantry, anything at all – first, believe in yourself, believe you can do it; check out the steps other people have taken. These days, we find out that not many a young people want to go through the hard steps others have taken. They just want to appear there. It doesn’t work like that at all time. You have to pay your dues. You have to pursue your dream vigorously, go for auditions, eat right, etc. In summary, believe in yourself, do the right things as doing the wrong things will put someone in trouble.

Growing up as a young person, did you ever think you would have the opportunities you have now?

I never thought that I will be doing what I am doing now. I never thought that I will end up being a fashion designer. I never thought that I will be on TV or on billboard.

Everything was a wish, but gradually they are coming to reality.

As a fashion designer, how many international outings have you had?

I think it is about four outings, Washington DC Fashion Week, Maryland Fashion Week, Dallas fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. I have had other fashion weeks in Nigeria. The audience were not as expressive as foreign audience. But I really like fashion weeks in Nigeria because it always feels like home. You know, beside wider market

How agent picked me from the street,

turned me into a super model —Ex-beauty queen, Mariam Elisha

opportunities, you have friends around, family members watching. So it is always exciting for me. The ones I did abroad were quite official. There I was feeling like, “This is not where I belong, but let me see how the market goes”.

However, they accept African designs and every other design out there. It was fun. It was exciting too.

are trying to cope.

Are you affected by the economic recession?

Yes. Now, we have to slash the amount for our outfits.

Customers now ask for almost half the price of our materials.

When it is convenient, we do what they ask. Our challenge is getting the fabric abroad due to the exchange rate. But we

Do you design?

Yes, I do. I love to do it. At the early stage of the business, I was doing it. I went to the New Jersey Fashion School, after learning from my own machine at home. When I was

Do you use African fabric?

We make use of African fabric, but not so much. Sometimes we use them in form of lining and other times we blend them with English fabrics.

Continues on pg27

4

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

5

news

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

We won’t accept arbitrary admission lists from varsities, others —JAMB To release first batch of admissions soon Clement Idoko - Abuja

Mrs Loretta Abuah (middle), widow of a former Director of Information and Head, Department of Media and Publicity, Office of the Special Adviser to the President, Mr Justin Abuah, observing the “Dust-to-Dust” rite at the burial of her husband in Abuja, on Friday. To her left is the first son, Chinedum and other relations. PHOTO: NAN.

Why Chibok girls remain in captivity —FG Christian Okeke - Abuja

T

HE Federal Government, on Friday, released details on why the directive given to security agencies to urgently fashion out strategies to trace, locate and ensure the safe and successful release of the abducted Chibok girls was yet to yield positive fruits.

It confirmed that many friendly countries and organisations had been very forthcoming in providing human and technological resources to assist in the process of effecting their release.

The girls who were abducted from their school in 2014 remained with their captors, even as global agitation continued to mount for their safe release.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated at a press conference in Abuja, however, that the security agencies, comprising of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Navy, Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), commenced action to ensure the presidential directive was carried out in June 2015.

To this effect, he noted that the DSS established a special tactical unit to review the gamut of actions so far carried out to secure the release of the Chibok girls, establish why the action had recorded no success as it were and to present a roadmap for possible success.

He stated that in the process, the DSS and the other security agencies observed that many persons or groups posing as negotiators actually had no veritable intelligence, nor the reach to facilitate the release of the Chibok girls.

According to him, the agencies noted that the efforts were clouded by persons with very partisan interests and whose main objective was solely to score cheap political points.

“It was obvious their approach had no relevance to the release of the girls,” he said.

The minister also hinted that the security agencies observed that some informants or persons volunteering to be negotiators or facilitators saw and treated the girls’ fate and indeed the situation as a

conduit to enrich themselves, thus making the whole thing a pecuniary venture.

Mohammed said that, as a result of the conflicting and partisan interests, issues were muddled up to the extent that reasonable and fruitful leads either failed or simply came too late for any useful action.

Providing further information, the minister stated that it was found that in the midst of the strong competing interests and unnecessary rivalries, nothing was achieved before the 2015 handover date and that it was based on these that the security agencies set out to work for the release of the girls.

He said, “First, there was the need to identify those with relevant intelligence on the groups holding the girls, as well as establish sources of contact in touch with the group. This exercise was found not to be an easy task.

“On those holding the Chibok girls, there was also a high level of mistrust, as they too found many approaches or groups claiming to be in touch with them as false or unreliable.

“In this new bid, many offers ranging from credible, not credible to outright off-mark information came to the government. Some international bodies and countries also provided leads.

“It was out of this that relevant security agencies were able to strike a chord. By the third week of July 2015, a contact group was in touch with credible assets who had the reach and who attested to the fact that some of the Chibok girls were alive. Mr President was then briefed of these assets and intelligence and he gave his assent for further negotiations on the Chibok girls.

“Precisely on 17th July, 2015, the DSS opened negotiations process with the group holding the Chibok girls.

“However, in return for the release of some of these girls, the group also made some demands. These included the release of some of their fighters arrested including some involved in major terrorist actions, resulting in several

fatalities, and others who were experts in manufacture of locally assembled explosives.

“This was difficult to accept, but appropriate security agencies had to again inform Mr President of these demands, and its viewed implications.

Again Mr President gave his assent believing that the overall release of these girls remains paramount and sacrosanct.

“Meanwhile, following the above development, government and the security agencies had sufficient leverage to work out the modalities of the swap.

These included creating the safe haven, or necessary place of swap and working out the logistic details.

“Based on this, the DSS availed other critical sister agencies of this new situation.

Immediately, the Nigerian Army and the Air Force sent some specialists to commence a detailed arrangement for the swap.

“This was during the last week of July 2015 and first week of August 2015. The officers representing the various agencies worked out the logistic details, such as the number of persons to be swapped, that is, number of girls and detainees to be exchanged, the vehicles and aircraft, as well as safeguards, that is, safety of the persons, including the location of the swap.

“When it was finally agreed by all parties, Mr President was again informed that the preparations were concluded, and the first step for the swap would commence on 1st August, 2015. Mr President robustly gave his approval.

“On 4th August, 2015, the persons who were to be part of the swap arrangements and all others involved in the operation were transported to Maiduguri, Borno State.

“This team, with the lead facilitator, continued the contact with the group holding the Chibok girls. The Service was able to further prove to the group its sincerity, as it established communication contact between it and its detained members.

“All things were in place for the swap which was mutually agreed. Expectations were

high.

“Unfortunately, after more than two weeks of negotiation and bargains, the group, just at the dying moments, issued new set of demands, never bargained for or discussed by the group before the movement to Maiduguri. All this while, the security agencies waited patiently. This development stalled what would have been the first release process of the Chibok girls.

“It may be important to note that in spite of this setback, the government and the security agencies have not relented in the bid to ensure that the Chibok girls are released safely.

“By the month of November, precisely 13th November, 2015, another fresh negotiation process with the group was initiated. This time, there was the need to discuss a fresh component in other to avoid issues that had stalled the former arrangement.

“There were however some problems that many may not discern, but should be expected in this kind of situation.

Some critical persons within the group who played such vital role in August, 2015 were discovered to be dead during combat action or as a result of the emerging rift amongst members of the group then.

These two factors delayed the process. In spite of these, negotiation continued on new modalities.

“By 30th November, 2015 it was becoming glaring that the division amongst the group was more profound. This affected the swap process.

“By 10th December, 2015 another negotiation process was in place, but this failed to achieve results because of the varying demands by the group.

“The security agencies since the beginning of 2016 have not only remained committed but have also taken the lead to resolve the Chibok girls’ issue.

“In spite of the current division amongst members of the terrorist group, which has seriously affected efforts to release the girls, renewed efforts have commenced using our trusted assets and facilitators,” the minister said.

THE Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Professor Is-haq Oloyede has warned universities and other tertiary institutions against arbitrary conduct of the 2016 admissions.

He said specifically that the Board would reject any such arbitrarily admission lists sent to JAMB for approval from any of the tertiary institutions while insisting that due process must be followed.

He spoke on Friday at an extra-ordinary 2016 Technical Committee meeting on admissions into First (1st) Choice Institutions holding in Baze University, Abuja.

The JAMB Registrar, however, disclosed that the first batch of the 2016 admissions would be released before the end of third week of September.

He noted that in the course of the First (1st) Technical Meeting, it was observed that some institutions were brazenly arbitrary in their criteria for admission.

Oloyede insisted that as a referee, the Board would “resist such arbitrariness and illegal introduction of extraneous factors which were not contained in the published advertisement made available to the candidates”.

He said: “We will not accept whatever is done arbitrarily.

I hope those that are here will make adjustment. They must be able to explain why somebody with high score was not given admission.

“What we are saying is that people should follow due process. Universities have the right to have criteria for admission but the criteria must be reasonable, the criteria must be explicit,” he said.

He reiterated his earlier pronouncement that the Senate and the Academic Boards of the institutions have the primary responsibility of recommending candidates to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for admissions.

He added that the Board would not initiate or insert any candidate(s) but will, as expected, ensure that no candidate is unjustly treated by any institution.

The JAMB boss, however, said the right of Senate or Academic Board of each institution on admissions of candidates should be subject only to national policies such as: “The guidelines stipulated by the proprietors of the institutions; 60:40 (Science/Art) ratio for Conventional Universities; 80:20 (Science/Art) ratio for Non-Conventional Universities; 70:30 (Technology/Non-Technology) ratio for National Diploma Awarding Institutions “Use of 2016 JAMB UTME results printouts for all candidates; adherence to published subject combinations of various courses as specified by the Senate/Academic Board and included in the 2016 JAMB Brochure; adherence to the 2016 Admissions Quota as prescribed by the Regulatory Bodies (NUC/NBTE/NCCE), “For Federal Universities, the quota stipulated by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) concerning merit, Catchment and Educationally Less Developed States should be complied with.

“It is necessary to add that the admissions process is an opportunity for selfless and patriotic service for which enormous reward accrues before man and God, if sincerely and competently discharged,” he said.

According to him, the special meeting was an indication that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board is always ready to attend to legitimate requests of its stakeholders and clients in our collective quest to be reasonable, efficient and helpful to the development of the Nation and humanity.

Oloyede said the Board shall always be flexible except in cases where flexibility is unethical or inimical to the National interest.

“You would recall that at the First (1st) Technical Meeting which was held in Bayero University, Kano, between 22nd to 26th August, 2016, where institutions were expected to make submissions for their first choice admissions to the Admissions Panels at the Technical Sessions.

“However, some institutions informed the meeting that they were not ready to make submissions as internal processes leading to the exercise had not been completed.

“The affected institutions requested for an earlier date than the date for the Second (2nd) Technical Committee meeting scheduled for Owerri, Imo State.

“This created this window of opportunity for the purpose.

Despite the fact that the window is the most expensive one, a house can have, (about N10,000,000.00 – Ten Million Naira), we accommodate it because of the conviction that it is helpful to the institutions and that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board is to facilitate and enhance (and not to hinder) the efficiency of the institutions.

Continued on pg6

6

news

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Plagiarism: Embarrassed Buhari orders probe Govt blames deputy director, says it was a mistake •BBC posts video clips of Obama’s, Buhari’s speeches Leon Usigbe - Abuja

H

EADS may roll in the Presidency soon over the plagiarized speech that President Muhammadu Buhari was made to deliver at the recent launch of “Change Begins with Me” campaign.

Portions of the speech have been found to have been lifted from a speech delivered by United States President Barack Obama in 2008.

Saturday Tribune’s investigation discovered that the speech originated from the Federal Ministry of Information, organizers of the campaign, but it was sent to the Office of the Chief of Staff for onward transmission to the President.

The insertion of a paragraph from President Obama’s 2008 speech was done in the presidency before it was passed to Buhari.

As the scandal broke on Friday, many local and foreign news outlets latched on to it with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) posting video clips of the US president’s speech

and that of Buhari to show the similarity.

The paragraph from President Buhari’s speech reads: “We must resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship, pettiness and immaturity that have poisoned our country for so long. Let us summon a new spirit of responsibility, spirit of service, of patriotism and sacrifice, Let us all resolve to pitch in and work hard and look after, not only ourselves but one another. What the current problem has taught us is that we cannot have a thriving army of rent seekers and vested interests, while the majority suffers.”

The paragraph from Obama’s speech reads: “Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other. Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a

thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.”

Presidency owns up

THE Presidency Friday night admitted that there were similarities between aspects of President Muhammadu Buhari’s “Change Begins with Me’’ address and the one he was accused of plagiarizing from President Obama’s 2008 speech.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, blamed it on a Deputy Director in the Presidency who it said had already accepted responsibility.

It said an investigation has already been launched into the incident.

The statement read: “President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that prompt and appropriate disciplinary action be taken against those responsible for a wrongful insertion in his speech delivered on September 8, 2016 at the launch of the ``Change Begins with Me’’ campaign.

“It was observed that the similarities between a para-

graph in President Obama’s 2008 Victory Speech and what President Buhari read in paragraph nine of the sixteen-paragraph address while inaugurating the Campaign on Thursday, September 8, 2016 are too close to be passed as coincidence.

“There was a mistake by an overzealous staff and

MINISTER of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun on Friday explained that President Muhammadu Buhari needs special permission from the National Assembly to be able to truncate some inhibiting legal encumbrances in order to urgently reflate the economy.

Speaking during a media briefing, Adeosun also said that the administration has decided to reintroduce some of the initiatives of the last administration found to be well.

Adeosun also said that as a result of the cleaning up of government’s pay roll, personnel cost has reduced by as much as N10 billion monthly through discovery of over 30,000 ghost workers and the saved amount is being used to fund recruitment of additional staff in Nigeria Police, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Railway and others.

Also, the Minister explained that the decision to release N350 billion second quarter capital vote would be made on Friday afternoon so that the fund would start to hit the spending ministries by early next week.

Adeosun equally disclosed that part of the N350 billion is an embedded N60 billion meant to finance the much expected Social Intervention.

Speaking on incessant complaints that N400 billion was

said to have been released to the Ministries of Power, Defence, Interior, Transport and Agriculture since June whereas Nigerians were not feeling the effect, she blamed the procurement process, which is long and tedious.

She however, declared that procurement laws must be obeyed to the letter unless the National Assembly gives a go-ahead to the executive to bypass some of the processes.

“We don’t have power to truncate the law. The National Assembly needs to allow us to truncate the long procurement process”, she said so that work can begin early on many of the capital projects that would reflate the economy, get people back to work and reduce inflation.

The Finance Minister said the flagship job creation programme of the Jonathan administration, YouWin was being urgently restructured and would soon be reintroduced including Project Nollywood and all the things that were working well.

Government has also secured N1 billion from some oil marketers to be deposited with the Infrastructure Bank for the procurement of more commercial buses that would be given out to drivers who would use them as transport buses.

In addition, the muchhyped Social Intervention programme would kick off

this month with the recruitment of additional 500,000 teachers, feeding of school children and distribution of N5000 to some indigent Nigerians.

Speaking on Eurobond issue, Adeosun said a request

149 nursing mothers, 62 other kids too Bodunrin Kayode - Maiduguri

A

N alarming 355 breastfeeding babies, 149 nursing mothers and 62 under-aged children of Boko Haram gunmen were moved to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Friday by the Nigerian Army.

They were found by troops in camps operated by Boko Haram insurgents in different parts of Borno State and were saved after the military took over the camps during operations, it was disclosed by the government on Friday.

The General Officer Commanding, 7 Division of the

for proposal has been issued to interested international banks, which would expire on September 19 and that government expects to rake $1 billion from the bond issue to be wholly deployed to capital projects.

‘We won’t accept arbitrary admission lists from varsities, others’ Continued from pg5

“It is expected that, as was assured during the meeting in Bayero University, Kano, institutions here present are well prepared to make presentation of their recommended candidates to the Board,” he said.

Oloyede added that the only difference between the 2016 admissions process and what has always been the practice, is the policy that there should be no written post UTME test.

“What we said was that some of the recommedation the institutions brought earlier were not explicit in terms of criteria. And we have ásked our colleagues in the universities to send better criteria.

“I have a particular school where the person who scored the highest was not taken and the reason was that the university changed its rules.

That will not be accepted.

“You cannot change the

state in the clearest possible terms that it regrets this unfortunate incident and will ensure that this does not happen again.

“President Buhari urges Nigerians to look beyond this incident and focus on the message of change which the country needs in order to restore our cherished value systems.”

Army captures 355 Boko Haram babies

30,000 ghost workers discovery: FG saves N10b monthly Reintroduces Jonathan’s YouWin Sanya Adejokun - Abuja

we regret that this has happened.

“Already, a Deputy Director in the Presidency has accepted responsibility for the insertion of the contentious paragraph.

“This serious oversight will be investigated thoroughly and appropriate sanction meted.

“The Presidency wishes to

rules when the game is on.

You have to wait till 2017 to publish the new rules. You cannot have a particular rule and change to another” The Registrar said the board would work with all stakeholders to smoothen all processes.

“Where things are not done properly we wil not be only doing what is right but we will be seen by reasonable people that we have done what is right,” he said.

On carrying capacity of tertiary institutions in the country, Oloyede, said this was a national problem, citing instances where institutions admit students far above their carrying capacity.

“I think its a national problem where people over-shoot their carrying capacity certainly against the rules and this will affect quality of students. Only few institutions are admitting below carrying capacity due to certain issues,” he said.

Nigerian Army based in Maiduguri, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu handed over the 566 children and adults to Governor Kashim Shettima at a rehabilitation and reintegration center on Friday.

A statement issued by the governor’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, which contained the details said the newly opened centre is to give medical care, education and cater for the welfare of the families of the insurgents in partnership with the UNICEF, NEMA, security agencies and other stakeholders in a rehabilitation and reintegration programme.

Speaking while receiving the captured insurgent’s family members, Governor Kasim Shettima of Borno State explained that the evacuated Boko Haram babies and their mothers would be taken care of to insulate them from the violence of their fathers and husbands.

“What is of importance we should all know, is that an average male member of the Boko Haram has one great wish and that wish is for his son or daughter to inherit his doctrine of violence. The insurgents seriously take to child bearing as a strategy of not only multiplying their numbers but also producing children they hope, will continue from where their fathers stop in violent killings as their own form of worship.

“The goal of Boko Haram fathers is that even if they are killed by our armed forces, they want to bequeath to us, a future of violence in Borno State, a future of violence in the northeast and a violent future for our country. Our ultimate aim in taking custody of families of insurgents is to cut the cycle of violence so as to secure the future of Borno State. Our aim is to give education to the children of the insurgents so that these children will grow to despise the values and doctrines their parents lived and preached. The children will not be trained with any element of hate for their parents, they won’t even be told about the ways of their parents so that they don’t grow with deflated self esteem.

“These children will be raised like every other child, they will be raised to love and not to hate like their parents wished for them. They will

be trained to save lives and contribute to building and growing communities, not to take lives and destroy communities like their parents would wish. This is why we are determined to take care of these children. I am speaking in English knowing that they don’t hear what I am saying because we don’t want them to have low self esteem. We will train them to have big dreams and to pursue their dreams of becoming productive citizens.

“Some of these children will be future leaders, many will be doctors, engineers, lawyers and some may even grow to join the military if they choose to. They will, insha Allah, contribute to nation building and part of the future of Borno State. We must love and care for each other. We have witnessed so much hatred and violence. Our hearts have been too consumed by agony. We must use the remaining space in our hearts to love and to share love and brotherhood”.

The Governor also explained that majority of the family members had been found to be innocent of the violence of the Boko Haram insurgents contrary to the wish of some members of the public who want the sins of insurgents meted on their families.

“There are some part of our citizens that may be raising eye brows whenever we are seen taking custody, loving and caring for families of members of the Boko Haram insurgents whether their widows or their children. I have seen some people criticise us on the social media but I think whoever criticizes what we are doing should be forgiven for making their expressions out of ignorance on the basis of what we are doing.

“In our societies, a lot of women neither know what their husbands do nor do they have control over their husbands.

Our security forces do thorough investigation in ensuring that anyone freed is proven innocent of violent activities. As for the children, they are innocent little souls who have got absolutely nothing to do with the sins of their fathers. They didn’t determine their parents, they were brought to life without any prior knowledge of the violence their parents perpetrate,” Shettima said.

7

news

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

COE: NCCE tasks Dickson on improved facility for accreditation Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa

Scene of an accident involving a BRT bus on Mile 12 Bridge at Owode Elede inward, Ikorodu, Lagos State on Friday, which left about four people seriously injured. PHOTO: OVADJE ELLIOT

Kogi governorship judgement: Police threaten to deal with troublemakers

A

S the Supreme Court delivers judgement over the Kogi State governorship election next Tuesday, the state command of the Nigeria Police has read Riot Act to politicians and miscreants to behave or be dealt with.

The command said on Friday that intelligence reports had shown that the two major political parties were planning to either celebrate or cause problem aftermath of the deleivery of the judgement by the apex court, saying it was ready to “deal ruthlessly” with anybody found fomenting trouble in any part of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the command, Abdulahi Chafe, who said this while addressing newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, said the command was prepared to ensure the security of lives and properties of law abiding citizens of the state.

He said men of the command would be mobilised to arrest anybody that causes problem, saying such people would be prosecuted according to the laws of the land.

Chafe said, “From the intelligence information we have, the two major political parties are consulting with their supporters to either express their happiness or otherwise, I therefore call on law abiding citzens of the state to go about their lawful businesses as measures are being put in place to safeguard the lives and properties of the good citizens.

“I want the political parties to advise their supporters to be law abiding and not to cause any prob-

lem in the state, we are ready to deal with anybody who causes problem to us as security agencies are putting things in place to counter any unforseen circumstances.

“In the interest of peace of the state, I want to let everyone know that we will not entertain any lawlessness and anybody who does that will be arrested and prosecuted according to the law of the land”.

The police commissioner added that the command had not placed any ban

Man who named dog Buhari asks court to dismiss criminal charge

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare THE man that was charged to court by the police for naming his dog Alhaji Buhari, Joachim Iroko, has asked Magistrate B.J. Ojikutu of the Chief Magistrates’ Court 2, sitting in Ota, Ogun State, to dismiss the criminal charge filed against him.

Iroko, who was arraigned on August 22, 2016, on a one-count charge of inscribing the name ‘Alhaji Buhari’

on his dog and parading same in the Hausa section of the Ketere market in Sango area of Ogun State filed a fresh application before the court through his lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Esq. The application is challenging the constitutionality and legality of the criminal charge against him and he is asking the court to quash the charge.

Further in his Motion on Notice filed in the court on

Scores escape death as BRT crashes into railings in Lagos Gbemi Solaja - Lagos SEVERAL passengers narrowly escaped death in the early hours of Friday, as one of the public private initiative transports, BRT, almost plunged into the river around Owode Elede, very close to Mile 12, in Lagos.

Eye witness account stated that the driver of the BRT, apparently on his way from Ikorodu and heading towards Mile 12, lost control of the vehicle around Owode, swerved many

on procession in the state, but such be done according to the laid down regulations.

“We are in democracy, we are abiding by the norms of democracy that provide for free movement, free association, free speech but we should not do it to the detriment of other people, so anybody who wants to do that should let us know so that we can give him cover so that they can do their procession peacefully”, the commissioner stated.

times before hitting the vehicle against the bridge railings around the area, before the vehicle was eventually brought to a halt.

The incident, the eye witness account added, temporarily brought social and economic activities along the Mile 12 to a halt; since it resulted in a massive traffic gridlock around the area.

Confirming the incident to Saturday Tribune, the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Michael

Akindele stated that although no life was lost, the bus with registration number, EPE 79XR, belonging to Primero Transport Limited was going to Owode Elede inward Mile 12 when the accident occurred.

He explained that although the incident temporarily brought social and economic activities around the area to a halt, men of the agency had since restored normalcy to the area; by evacuating those involved from the accident scene.

September 16, 2016, Iroko is seeking an order quashing Charge No: 671C/2016 preferred against him for want of jurisdiction and an order setting down the application for hearing preliminarily.

He also asked for an order staying further proceedings in the court in Charge No. 671C/2016, pending the hearing and final determination of this application.

The grounds he adduced for the application include the argument that the court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain and adjudicate upon Charge No. 671C/2016, preferred against the applicant and that the subject matter of Charge No.671C/2016 preferred against him is not a criminal offence in law for which he could be put to trial.

Iroko also stated that the court has the jurisdiction to quash a charge where there is no disclosure of an offence and the trial would amount to an abuse of the process of the court, adding that there is an inherent jurisdiction in the court to prevent an abuse of its process.

THE National Commission for Colleges of Education has called for improved facility at the state -owned Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama, in Bayelsa State towards possible accreditation of the college.

Uji, emphatic on the need for government to putting in place quality facilities to enhance teaching and learning at the College; said it would invariably reflect on graduating students from the institution.

This, the Acting Director OF NCCE, Mr. Vitalis Uji said during a courtesy visit to Governor Seriake Dickson in Yenagoa.

He posited that the provisional approval that enabled the College to take off was based on an earlier verification exercise carried out on available facilities at the former site of the institution at Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area, pointing out that, the Commission cannot transfer the approval to the new site on the basis of what it verified on that campus.

Uji, however, called on the governor to provide perimeter fencing, practical workshops, a standard library, clinic and adequate academic as well as non-teaching staff for the college, stressing the importance, as it would serve as determinant for possible accreditation in their next visit to the college.

Power generation hits 4,285 megawatts THE Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that the country’s power generation has increased from 3,810 megawatts recorded on Sept. 8, 2016 to 4,285.90 megawatts on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the power generation record was reported in the website of “Nigerian Electricity System Operator” on Friday.

TCN said that 4,285.90 megawatts was the total output by power generation companies, and had been transferred to the 11 distribution companies across the country.

Electricity generation in the country has been stable in the last two months, rising from about 2, 983 megawatts to over 4, 000 megawatts.

Although power has improved, many parts of the country have remained with supply owing to problems with the distribution companies, including provision of prepayment meters.

Acting Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Anthony Akah, had recently disclosed that no fewer than four million electricity consumers in the country were awaiting supply of the meters.

Man to die by hanging for killing former wife in Jigawa Adamu Amadu - Dutse THE Jigawa State High Court in Dutse, on Thursday, sentenced one Usman Sani of Mairobar Fulani of Jeke village in Sule-Tankarkar Local Government Area of the state to death by hanging.

Giving the court verdict, the presiding judge, Justice Ubale Taura said the convict was found guilty of culpable homicide, punishable by death.

Justice Taura said the court passed the punishment on 26-year-old Usman Sani after he was found guilty of attacking his former wife, Amina Abdu on her way to the market killing her.

Six witnesses were called by the prosecution who all testified that the former husband had committed the crime, punishable under section 221 of the penal code.

The convict also confessed before the court that he committed the offence.

PUBLIC NOTICE COMPANY CHANGE OF NAME

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the name of LEGEND MOTORS has been changed to LEGEND PLUS GLOBAL INVESTMENT LTD. New Directors are 1. BALOGUN CHARLES BABATUNDE, 2. ADEMOYEGUN KEMI PATIENCE. All Former Documents Remain Valid And General Public Should Take Note.

Signed: Management.

8

news

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Court declines jurisdiction in case seeking nullification of Customs boss’s appointment

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

From right, Guest Speaker, 2016 Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy Investiture and Awards, Dr. Christopher Kolade; President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Fellow, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Mrs. Ego Chukwu Kolade, and Fellow, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, during the Investiture and Awards ceremony of Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, held in Lagos on Friday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Governors hold emergency meeting in Aso Rock Leon Usigbe - Abuja

G

OVERNORS of the 36 states of the federation under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Friday, met at an emergency session at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to address pressing issues concerning the states.

The meeting which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Villa, started at about 10am.

At the end of the session, Chairman of the forum and governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, revealed the resolutions reached to State House corespondents.

He said the governors resolved that the issue of insurgents must be treated as a matter of national emergency.

They also agreed to activate the states task force on polio or the primary healthcare to be headed by the deputy governors.

The governors also com-

mitted themselves to paying their states’ counterpart funding towards polio eradication.

Similarly, they resolved

with renewed commitment to encourage the federal government to continue along its line of bringing the country out of recession.

NECO releases 2016 June/July SSCE results ‘Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi top chart in exam malpractices’ Adelowo Oladipo - Minna THE Registrar/Chief Executive of National Examinations Council (NECO), Professor Charles Uwakwe, on Friday, announced the release of June/July NECO results just as he assured that he will, in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption posture, stamp out corruption without compromise and set ethos that will guide the council’s operations throughout his tenure.

He stated that a total of, 1, 027, 016 candidates registered for NECO examination from across the country and abroad while 1, 022, 474 candidates sat for the examination adding that of the

number that were examined in 76 different subjects, 905, 011 which is about 88.51percent of the entire candidates made up to 5 credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

He said while Sokoto, Zamfara and Bauchi states were leading in examination malpractices, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Bayelsa and Ekiti states which also have the least number of candidates that sat for the June/July SSCE, recorded less percentage in examination cheating.

The new NECO boss, while announcing the release of the June/July SSCE 2016 results at the council’s headquarters in Minna the Niger state capital, also explained

Wanted ex-Gov Ibrahim Shema submits self to EFCC Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja BARELY 48 hours after being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), former Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State on Friday submitted himself to the anti-corruption commission in Abuja.

The immediate past Katsina State helmsman was declared wanted by EFCC on Wednesday in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy, inflation of contract, abuse of office, diversion of funds and embezzlement running into billions of naira.

“On Lassa Fever, we are going to liaise with the Minister of health so that urgent attention will be given to Lassa Fever,” he added.

The Media and Publicity of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, had stated that the former governor had ignored several invitations from EFCC from December 1, 2015 when he was first invited.

He added that all efforts to trace the former governor in his known addresses both in Katsina, the Katsina State capital and Abuja had been futile.

Saturday Tribune gathered that Shema arrived EFCC headquarters at Wuse 2 in Abuja at about 10a.m in company with his lawyers.

A reliable source in the commission confided in Saturday Tribune that on his

arrival, Shema, who ruled Katsina State between May 29, 2007 and May 28, 2015, was furious with EFCC officials for declaring him wanted.

According to the source, the former governor told officials of the anti-graft commission that there was never any time he refused to honour its invitation.

“Shema told the officials that he is a law-abiding Nigerian citizen and would not have ran away or even fail to honour any invitation from EFCC. He added that he was surprised when he was declared wanted by the commission,” the source told the Saturday Tribune.

that 43, 905 students were caught for examination related offence, 194 schools involved in mass cheating.

Prof. Uwakwe however expressed worry that most students still fall short of expectations in Mathematics and few other core science subjects, noting that for aiding and abetting examination malpractices , NECO has de-recognised 14 schools from across the 36 states and the FCT, Abuja.

“Comparative analysis of performances in the last examination also shows generally better performances in all subjects this year compared to that of last year with slight increase in candidates’ performance, Uwakwe said, adding that, “In 2015 we had 87.51% but in 2016 we have 88.51%, an approximately 1% increase,” he stated .

He added that Kano state has 73, 775 the highest number of candidates that sat for the examination, followed

by Oyo and Lagos states with 56, 472 and 53, 843 respectively while Bayelsa state is the least with just 5, 156, Ekiti, 9, 368, Ebonyi 10, 689 and only 19 candidates participated from overseas countries.

Meanwhile, the Registrar said the ethos guiding his administration which he intends to pursue without compromise includes professionalism, service delivery, punctuality or timeliness and client satisfaction, good working attitude, integrity, commitments, zero tolerance for impunity and excellence.

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday, declined jurisdiction to hear a case instituted by Human Rights activist and lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, in November 2015, challenging the appointment of Col Hameed Ali, Rtd, as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria nCustoms Service by Gen Muhammadu Buhari Rtd. Adegboruwa had asked the court for an interpretation as to whether the President could appoint anyone as Comptroller General of customs without complying with Section 3 of the Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made on 25th March 2002, where it was stipulated that only those within the rank of Deputy Comptroller General of Customs can be elevated as substantive Comptroller General and asking the court to nullify the appointment.

In response to the case, the Nigerian Customs service filed a preliminary objection dated 29th April, 2016, challenging the locus standi of the applicant to file and maintain the suit. The customs service contended further that Adegboruwa’s suit was a mere academic exercise raising hypothetical questions that the court should not entertain.

PDP not dead —Daniel Olayinka Olukoya - Daniel EX-governor Gbenga Daniel has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is not dead, as claimed in some quarters, submitting that the party only lacked spirit and father figure to overcome its present challenges.

The former governor who administered Ogun State for eight years under the platform of the party, explained that there is no political party without challenges, insisting that both Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff must come together for the party to regain its lost glory.

He said, “PDP is not dead. It is a national party. It may not be strong in some parts of the country. The party may be ailing. Virtually all parties have challenges. The two sides must work together if the party must walk on the path of glory.

“Don’t let us forget that there is crisis in the All Progressives Congress. They have been managing their crisis.

There is no visible father figure in the party. It’s now left to various caucuses, various local champions.”

Buhari to attend UN General Assembly in New York Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will participate in the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September 19-23, 2016 in New York, United States.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina in Abuja on Friday, he will deliver Nigeria’s statement at the opening of the General Debate of the Assembly, on the theme: The Sustainable Development Goals: a Universal Push to Transform our World.”

He will also attend a high-level summit, hosted by the UN, on “Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants.”

It noted that the summit, which is the first of its kind organised by the General Assembly at the Heads of State and Government level, is expected to come up with a blueprint for a better international response to enhance protection of migrants and refugees.

FRSC appoints Ojeme first female deputy corps marshal, operations Clement Idoko - Abuja THE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi has approved the redeployment of 32 senior officers comprising 2 Deputy Corps Marshals, 7 Assistant Corps Marshals, 13 Corps Commanders and 10 Deputy Corps Commanders.

Among the Deputy Corps Marshals was Ojeme Ewhudjakpor who was formerly at the Technical Services and Special Duties Department who now takes over the Operations Department as a result of the retirement of Deputy Corps Marshal Abu Adei from public service.

The new Deputy Corps Marshal Operations according to Bisi Kazeem, Head, Media Relations and Strategy, hails from Delta State and is the first woman in the history of the FRSC to hold such exalted position.

9 feature

17 September, 2016

Mother of seven arrested for child stealing

Saturday Tribune

•Says ‘A friend asked me to do the job’ •I only asked her to take a prostitute’s child —Friend

she had someone who needed a house help.

She took the child and that was the last I knew of it.”

‘I only asked her to get a prostitute’s child In her own confessions, however, Oyesanya claimed that she did not send Adejoke to go and steal but rather to get her a child from a prostitute. Oyesanya, who is also a mother of seven, further explained thus: “Adejoke once got a child from a prostitute which I witnessed. That was why I sent her.

I didn’t approach the prostitutes myself because she was used to them through the herbal concoction she was selling. The child she got from the prostitute was about sixyear-old and was given out as house help.

That was four years ago at Ogere.

“Recently, a man contacted me that there was a woman who needed a child for adoption. That was how I asked Adejoke to help.

The man gave me N50,000, out of which I sent N30,000 to her account for the job. I was to give her a balance of N150,000 after she must have brought the child. I asked for a girl child, not a boy that she went to pick.”

She confirmed that she gave the prostitute’s child given to her by Adejoke to her friend as house help but trouble later brewed over the issue. “I was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos when the person to whom I gave the child wanted to sell her. I was charged to court with others and remanded in prison for 17 days before I was granted bail. The story was even published in a national newspaper. The case was eventually resolved”, she said.

The suspects.

By Oluwatoyin Malik

T

HIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Adejoke Popoola is a mother of seven children born to different fathers. She had her last baby, almost three months ago, through caesarean section. But the labour pain she must have experienced while going through the births of her seven children did not make her have consideration for other mothers when she decided to connive with another woman to steal other people’s children for sale.

But the long arm of the law caught up with her in Ogbomoso town, Oyo State, two weeks ago, when she was arrested by the state police command for allegedly stealing a four-year-old boy (name withheld) at Oja Igbo area of the town. Two other suspects connected with the stealing, one Mrs Abibat Oyesanya and a male staff of the social welfare department in a ministry in an undisclosed state in the South-West, were also arrested.

Disclosing this last Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Sam Adegbuyi, who was represented by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police, said the suspect perpetrated the act while the boy was playing in front of his father’s house.

Adegbuyi said the suspect was, however, stopped in her tracks when the sibling of the stolen child who saw her raised the alarm which attracted the victim’s father and other sympathisers. He added that the father and sympathisers ran after the woman who had escaped from the scene with the child strapped to her back, apprehended and handed her over to the police at the Owode Division in the town.

The police commissioner further stated that the case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad at the police headquarters in Ibadan where the confessions of the first suspect, during investigation, led to the arrest of the two other

suspects.

Adegbuyi said the woman disclosed to the police that she was sent by Mrs Oyesanya who paid her N30,000 to steal a child for her, with the promise to give her a balance of N100,000 after the child must have been successfully delivered.

During an interview with the suspects, Saturday Tribune learnt that Adejoke had once been involved in the giving of a child to Oyesanya, though both claimed that the child was given to them by her mother who was a commercial sex worker.

It was also learnt that Oyesanya was an ex-prison inmate who was once arrested and arraigned in court by the Lagos State Police Command in connection with a similar offence.

The arrest of the suspects and their confessions also exposed the child racketeering likely to be going on in government ministries in charge of social welfare as well as in some homes and orphanages in the affected state.

“I used to sell herbs” Speaking during the interview, the prime suspect, Adejoke, an Ibadan indigene living at Ayekale area, said, “I used to sell herbal concoction at Ibafo, Ogun State. I am a mother of seven. I went to the front of Soun’s palace in Ogbomoso to steal a boy when I saw him trying to cross the road. I carried him and strapped him to my back.

But the father saw me and raised the alarm.

The child was then taken from me. The child followed me when I picked him; I did not use any charm on him.

“I was sent by Abibat Oyesanya, a.k.a Iya Bili. I knew her in Ibafo while I was hawking herbal concoctions. I don’t know how much she intended to pay me, but she gave me N30,000. I did not know what came over me that made me carry out the act eventually. I just left my house without any underwear and went to steal the child. This is the first time I would do such.

“Before my going to Ogbomoso in

I don’t know how much she intended to pay me, but she gave me N30,000. I did not know what came over me that made me carry out the act eventually.

September, she had called me in February while I was pregnant with my last child, asking me to go to Abattoir in Lagos State to steal children from the prostitutes there.

I rejected the suggestion, raining curses on her.

“I delivered a baby on June 26 through caesarian section and was still in hospital on July 2 when she called me again, appealing and saying that she was not trying to set me up. She promised that the secret would be kept. My mother was with me and she warned me against such an act when she overheard what Oyesanya told me. She later begged me and said that she wanted to give the child to a lawyer.”

Adejoke appealed to Nigerians to forgive her, promising never to do such again. She also advised parents to take care of their children so that another person would not act as she did. On the child she was alleged to have taken from a prostitute and given to Oyesanya in the past, she said it was a Togolese commercial sex worker who approached her and asked her to keep her child.

“I told her I had enough burdens, so I could not care for her child. It was in the process that I approached Oyesanya to know if she had someone who could accommodate a young child and she said

‘I paid her N50,000’ The male suspect (49), a government official, also told Saturday Tribune: “I knew Oyesanya through a family friend.

The family friend said that Oyesanya once had problems with the state for running illegal homes, but had registered her orphanage and knows many homes in Lagos State.

“Since Oyesanya said she runs an orphanage and has papers backing up her home, I asked her to help get a child from one of the people who came to my department to process adoption of a child. We usually help people like that because after processing their papers, we advise them to go to orphanages to check out if they would see children they would want to adopt.

“Since there were documents the woman who needed the child had to back with the adoption and I didn’t have time to help her go round orphanages to search for an abandoned child that she could adopt, Oyesanya offered to do the scouting around homes and demanded for N300,000, out of which I gave her N50,000, pending the time she would find a child and we would go to the home with an approval letter to adopt the child formally. I told her the child should be between a day old and eight months.”

However, Oyesanya countered the male suspect on the issue of owning an orphanage, saying she never told him that she ran a home but was into agriculture.

Expressing appreciation to members of the public who raised the alarm in time for the police to nab the suspect, the Oyo police PPRO admonished parents to keep eyes on their children to save them from prowling kidnappers and thieves. He disclosed further that the command was after other suspects implicated in the case, adding that those currently in police custody would soon be charged to court after the completion of investigation.

10

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Stylish govs’ wives (1)

Saturday Tribune

style

08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

with Kate Ani

New trend: Ankara infinity pleat gele

Tinuola Ayanniyi tayanniyi@yahoo.com 08055069379

Do-It-Yourself: Turn your old bag handle to hand accessory

What you need: Any old bag

Steps Rashida Yahaya Bello, wife of Kogi State governor

Iara Oshionmhole, wife of Edo State governor

Florence Ajimobi, wife of Oyo State governor

Olufunsho Amosun wife of Ogun State governor

STYLISH women’s headgear popularly called gele has taken a new twist as the current style trending is the gorgeous infinity pleat tied with Ankara fabrics. With six yards of any design of this fabric, you can take an owanbe party by storm. The over-the-top tiny pleats have now become the choice of brides during traditional weddings and for ladies generally.

Being fashion forward

Serifat Aragbesola, wife of Osun State governor

Bolanle Ambode, wife of Lagos State governor

is hardly a prerequisite for being a governor’s wife but it doesn’t mean our Nigerian First Ladies don’t appreciate the chic effort.

Although all the 36 State governors’ wives have their own unique and peculiar sense of fashion.

STYLE picked some of the First Ladies who pay a great deal of attention to their getups, makeup and poise. Whether in western or traditional attires, these leading women are making a style splash!

Badaru Abubakar, wife of Jigawa State governor

31

11 specialtreat

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

How to protect your kids from infections in cold weather —Experts

By Blessing Gbarada

T

HE rainy season and its chilly temperatures can sometimes be a mixed blessing.

While the cool weather brings respite from scorching heat, it can also be a harbinger of infections. This is particularly so in young children who have no immunity to most infections as they’ve never had them before. As the rains continue to pour, it behoves parents and guardians to protect their kids from some of these prevalent infections that assail the season.

Common cold Children are most likely to have colds during the rainy season. Although it is generally believed that when children stay in the rain it would cause them to contract the common cold, experts state that this is not so. “There are many different types of viruses that cause the common cold. In fact, there are presently over 200 different kinds of viruses that can cause the symptoms of a cold. The most common viruses that cause colds are called rhinoviruses. In order to catch a cold, your child must come in contact with someone else who is infected with the virus. The cold virus can be transmitted through the air in which case, when a person with a cold sneezes or coughs, small amounts of the virus can go into the air. Then, if your child breathes in that air, the virus will adhere to your child’s nasal membrane. It can also be contracted through direct contact whereby your child directly touches a person that is infected and touches their nose, mouth, and eyes. It is important to know that viruses can be spread through objects, such as toys, that have been previously touched by someone with a cold.

The increased incidence of colds during the rainy season may be attributed to the fact that more children are indoors and close to each other. This allows for easier transmission. In addition, the humidity drops during this season, making the nasal passages drier and more vulnerable to infection. Although children should not be left to play in the rain, but being in the rain or being chilled is not enough to cause the common cold,” Dr Olabisi Akinola, a Lagos-based paediatrician said.

Common cold is characterised by symptoms such

as a runny nose, swelling of the lining of the nose which can cause congestion, sneezing and cough.

When a child has the common cold, ease the symptoms by increasing the amount of fluid your child normally drinks; encouraging the whole family to wash their hands regularly to stop the cold spreading; increasing fruits intake to boost immunity; and in the case of a fever, pain or discomfort, administer paracetamol according to age and dosage. Dr Akinola adds that because the common cold is caused by a virus, it would most likely get better by itself in five to seven days. He cautions against the use of antibiotics for the treatment of common cold as the cold which is caused by virus cannot respond to bacterial treatment.

Ear infections When a child is exposed to the virus that causes common cold, sometimes complications could arise. One of such is the risk of ear infections. “You would observe that after a bout of the cold, the child may still have high temperature and might pull, rub the ears or complain of pain or discomfort in the ear. Because we don’t want our children to be in such a state of unease, we may be in a hurry to try out whatever will give them relief. But parents are advised to not put any oil, eardrops or cotton buds into the child’s ear unless as advised by a doctor. Worse still is giving the child antibiotics without the doctor’s prescription. Besides the grave danger of self-medicating on antibiotics, most ear infections arising from a cold are caused by viruses, which can’t be treated with antibiotics. As with the cold virus, they run their course and the child will get better by themselves. If you are still concerned, it is better to visit the hospital. Prevent ear infections from a cold by protecting your child from catching the cold virus,” Dr Adetokunbo Ajayi, a medical practitioner at the Idiape Medical Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, said.

Throat infections A common throat infection that accompanies the cold is strep throat, or streptococcal pharyngitis which is an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by the group A streptococcus bacteria. Although strep throat can occur anytime of the year, the incidence always increases in the rainy season especially when children are in close contact at school.

It is spread by contact with an infected person through sneezing, coughing, or shaking hands and the common symptoms include fever, sore throat with difficulty swallowing, headache and stomachache. Experts say runny

nose and cough are not usually associated with strep throat and when this occurs, it could suggest the cause of the illness might be viral.

Dr Irene Bassey, a medical practitioner with Orbitals Clinic, Ibadan, Oyo State, said, “A child with strep throat will present with swollen red tonsils covered with pus, a white coating on the tongue and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.

Because other viruses also can lead to swollen red tonsils covered with pus, it is important that laboratory testing be done to determine if a child has strep throat. Testing is done by swabbing the throat. The bacteria that causes strep throat is very sensitive to antibiotics and can easily be treated with a medication by mouth or a single shot. However, certain precautions need to be taken in the use of antibiotics. First, take antibiotics as prescribed. Secondly, finish the full course of antibiotics. Thirdly, don’t use the prescription for another child.”

Experts say the importance of treating strep throat, and especially of completing the full course of therapy, is that strep throat can lead to more serious complications, including rheumatic fever, post-streptococcal glomerulomephritis (a kidney problem) and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.

Protect your kids As much as possible, take proper preventive measures to protect your kids. Some key steps in preventing the transmission and spread of infections include keeping your child away from a person with a cold (this includes ensuring proper ventilation and turning off the AC which can contribute to stopping the quick spread of the virus); encouraging your child to wash his or her hands frequently and properly and not to touch his or her mouth, eyes, or nose until their hands are washed (proper washing of hands goes beyond just running hands under water for a few seconds. This is not enough to kill germs. Wet hands and lather up. Scrub hands front and back, between fingers and under fingernails. Continue for at least 20 seconds); making sure toys and play areas are properly cleaned, especially if multiple children are playing together; including more fruits especially Vitamin-C-rich fruits in meals to help boost immunity and fight infections.

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

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

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

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

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

GOT NEWS?

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797 Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna.

Ikeja Marketing Office.

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

Contact: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com or call:07030004233

12

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

13

17 September, 2016

food&drink

What do you like most about what you do?

There are a lot of positives with what I do. I love making people happy. I love it when I make a cake for someone and it’s so beautiful that they do not want to cut it. I love receiving feedbacks and pictures of cakes from my fans which they have made following my online tutorials. I love eating great meals in my own kitchen.

Y

OU are a lawyer-turnedbaker, did you undergo any formal culinary training?

Yes, I am a lawyer on the verge of obtaining a Ph.D. in Law but I have no formal culinary training. I come from a family of great cooks and bakers. I was a very picky eater as a kid and my mum would allow me to prepare my own meals when I wanted to eat something different from the rest of the family. That was how I started cooking and baking. I baked and frosted my 11th birthday cake.

How about what you like least?

When people try to take advantage of my benevolence or goodwill. Of late, I have had to contend with people taking my free online tutorials and charging bakers for them in various social media.

This takes the fun out of what I do.

What are some of your favourite ingredients to use?

Nothing fancy for sure. Nutmeg has to be number one. Its nutty and slightly earthy flavour has mesmerised and inspired me since I was a kid. This is where I got the name of my website from. Aside nutmeg, I love working with dehydrated fruits, game birds, fresh herbs, cheese and liqueurs.

Is there a moment in your life that you can identify as pivotal in your deciding to go into the food business?

In February of 2013, I was in a bakery in Paris eating some of the most amazing pastries I had ever had in my life. Right there, I decided I was going to learn how to make those pastries myself so I could enjoy them at home. The idea also came to me to not only learn how to make them, but also show other people how to do same in a relatable manner. I created my cooking and baking website the next day.

You were finalist in the third season of MasterChef Canada.What emotions went through you when you were announced? Do you see yourself entering any other food competition?

It was mostly a feeling of responsibility. I knew I was on MasterChef Canada not just

BLESSING GBARADA ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

personal and in order to truly appreciate food, you must become one with it. Technology tends to rob us of this. You will thus find me whipping cream in a copper bowl with a large whisk as opposed to using a stand mixer or kneading brioche dough by hand instead of using a bread machine.

For Mr Terry Adido, his kitchen is a haven. A trained lawyer with a fiery passion for cooking tasty foods, the finalist in the third season of MasterChef Canada and food blogger takes BLESSING GBARADA through his culinary journey and tells why nutmeg is his number one ingredient.

You’re one of the top male bakers, what difficulties do men face in the industry?

I would limit my answer to Nigeria. Unlike the rest of the world where the baking and cooking industry is dominated by men, the same has not been the case in Nigeria where men are expected to study fancy degrees and take on “professional” jobs. It is quite challenging for a Nigerian man to tell his parents that he wants to start baking cakes or cooking for a living. Luckily, the tides are shifting. I have come to know a lot of amazing Nigerian male cooks and bakers who studied in some of the best culinary schools in the world and who are fulltime cooks, bakers, head chefs and instructors in baking schools.

Saturday Tribune

What’s your number one priority in the kitchen?

To create good food. I love to see the spark in the eyes of others when they taste my dishes or cakes.

After all said and done, taste is king and must not be compromised with fancy plating and other distracting factors.

‘I make cakes so beautiful that you won’t want to cut’

for Terry but to represent Nigeria and other Canadian immigrants. I wanted to show them that if I could do it, they can too. I look forward to being part of a Nigerian food/baking competition in a mentor or judge capacity. It will be a dream come true.

up to me for direction and I try to respect this responsibility by constantly showing them how to execute new cake designs, some of which I develop myself. In Law, we say you cannot give what you don’t have. In order to give knowledge, I must myself be knowledgeable.

How do you stay creative, day after day?

I see beauty in my everyday life and I am inspired by everything around me.

I see a beautiful flower in Spring or a dirty dusty road in harmattan and ideas for cakes flood my mind. I am more of an artist than a baker. My cakes are my creative outlets.

If you’ve had a really bad day, what negative traits are you likely to exhibit in the kitchen?

Cooking and baking is where I find solace. Thus, if I’m having a really bad day, I feel great as soon as I start baking something. There are no negatives in my kitchen.

Do you feel a pressure to innovate?

Yes I do. A lot of Nigerian bakers look

Do you use technology in your desserts?

I am one of the few chefs who tend to shy away from technology. I feel food is

What is your favorite/signature dish?

What makes it special?

Boeuf Bourguignon with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Boeuf bourguignon is a French-style beef stew cooked slowly in broth and red wine and garnished with bacon, pearl onions and mushrooms.

What makes it special are the layers and depth of flavours. It is best the day after it is made when all the flavours have had time to become acquainted with each other.

14

17 September, 2016

With Bosede Ola-Samuel 08112658560 bosedeola_samuel@yahoo.com

intimacy D

STRICTLY FOR ADULTS

EAR reader, a friend sent me this on a social medium and I believe it will bless you. Enjoy.

Everybody is interested in sex but we all avoid the topic like a plague. This is especially so in religious circles. While this is a common occurrence, the truth remains that sex has always been a major issue in marriage; in fact, it has broken many marriages. Often times, sexual issues occur because of ignorance, misconceptions or misunderstanding of some basic and simple things. These sex tips for married couples would help spice up a marriage: •Dear husband, lovemaking does not start at night in the bedroom, it actually ends there.

Lovemaking starts in the morning when you look at your wife as she dresses for work, tell her she’s ravishingly beautiful, drop a light kiss on her lips and wish her a beautiful day. All of these are the prologue to night time blues.

upon your shoulders etc, but remember that your tiredness never stops you from making love or asking for it. In fact, we both know that for guys, lovemaking is a wonderful “destressor.” So, when you get home, settle down a bit, check on your babe in the kitchen (nobody says you must chop the vegetables for her, though that will be nice too), just hug her from behind, drop a light kiss on her neck or cheeks, tell her well done, ask how her day has been, tell her she smells good even if the sweat of cooking your food has masked her perfume a bit, pat her bum playfully, pick one of the meat she’s boiled and exit the kitchen fast.

Bro, play with your wife; she’s as stressed and tired as you are.

Little things like these make your wife responsive to your advances. You can’t go about the house all day long with the expression of a General going to war, commanding this and that, complaining about everything, creating fear and hurt feelings, then at night you expect a soft, pliant and responsive lady in your arms! It doesn’t work like that; women are not wired that way.

That is probably the reason for your wife’s constant reluctance and excuses and the wives that don’t say no may just lie there waiting for you to do whatever you want to do quickly and get up so she can have some peace (something guys hate).

If you want to get to Jerusalem my brother, you have to be a good pilot and a smooth operator. Women don’t like or respond well to bumpy rides; they love smooth journeys. If you make her day sweet, your own nights will be heavenly.

Bedmatics 101 for husbands

•Dear husband, lovemaking progresses with those intermittent calls or text messages during the day that say: “thinking about you”, “I love you”, “your beautiful face is imprinted on my heart indelibly” etc.

My dear brother, don’t make the mistake of saying you don’t have time for all that messy and mushy stuff. I’m telling you how to get her where you want her to be. So, listen to me. Women respond to words; so, learn to be a good word artist. Moreover, we both know that what happens in bed, especially with the sweats and body fluids, is far messier and mushier than those words. So, if you don’t mind the mess and mush of bedroom antics,

then you shouldn’t mind the mushiness of those words.

Telling her stuff like that only makes her pliant in your hands when the time comes. No man enjoys making love to a log of wood.

•Love making intensifies in the kitchen. Don’t be shocked my brother; the kitchen is not only for cooking, we do have kitchen blues. You see, when you get back from work, yes, I know you are tired, the world is

08055001741 (sms only)

conversewithyemisi Do I go ahead to hire an apartment?

Dear Yemisi, am a 35-year-old single lady in search of a life partner. I graduated three years ago and I have been home after the mandatory one year service for more than two years now.

When I was in the secondary school, I never had any relationship with any man because I considered it a distraction to my studies. During my days as an undergraduate, my academics were my priority and I have not been fortunate to meet with any serious man as a would-be husband.

I can count on my finger tips the number of men who had, at one time or the other, approached me for relationships. Once they came, the first thing they usually told me was a night out. Mind you, I was not brought up that way that I should be sleeping around with men even at the first time out.

Along the line, I felt that I should not be distracted by wanting to follow or join the multitudes by joining the fray of happening ladies on campus. It got to a point when my roommates mocked me that they were anxiously waiting for me the saint to introduce the lucky guy to them.

But I never waivered in my resolve not to abuse my independence while in school. Now that I’m advanced in age, I am getting anxious as it appears no man wants to have me as a lover not to talk wanting to be my husband.

I have sought the face of God through fasting and prayers, all to no avail as I get disappointed at every date.

My parents are not even helping the issue as they continue to mount pressure on me to bring home a suitor.

Having searched for a well paid job for more than a year without any headway, I decided to follow my passion in fashion designing which has literarily got me so occupied that I think less of having any man in my life.

I have asked myself repeatedly if it is compulsory that I should be married. Is success measured by being mar-

I

Saturday Tribune

ried? I am getting worked up.

Dear Yemisi, what do you think I can do to save my face from daily embarrassment from my parents? I am even thinking of hiring an apartment so that I would be free from a daily inquiry. What do you think?

Faith.

Dear Faith, I think you should allow your name to do the work. The questions you have asked me are very germane, but I want you to know that if it is the will of God for your life to get the bone of your bone, it will come to pass.

Every problem has an expiry date. You need not belabour yourself with a situation you cannot help. I repeat, God’s way is not our way and He specialises in doing the impossible. As long as you desire to have a man after your heart, in not too distant a time, you will be led to him.

Stop fretting yourself, keep focusing on what you are doing. The choice of whether to remain single or not is yours and you should not be tempted to commit any mistake that you will

For Her

yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com

later regret as result of pressure being mounted on you by your parents.

It will be disastrous if you now, in a bid to satisfy your parents, give in to a nonentity all in the name of wanting to be addressed as Mrs … having waited this long. If you ask me, I think you deserve the best at the end.

If hiring an apartment will give you the peace you desire, kindly go about it in wisdom as you are not too young to be on your own. You need to carry your parents along in doing this and let them know that you are not doing this in defiance to their authority, but that if staying out of their house will be an answer to your question.

I am not counseling you to be rebellious as you are mature enough to handle your life. Never leave anything to chance in the way you dress and interact with people. Don’t give in to self pity and never compare yourself with your contemporaries.

I wish you the very best.

For Him

Abbey, 30, needs a responsible lady aged from25 to 29 for an affair. Call 08104301623.

Dele, 35, needs a lady aged between 25 and 33 for friendship. Call 07081196699.

Lola, 28, dark-complexioned, submissive, easy going, needs a real, mature man aged between 38 and 60 for a relationship. Call 08162103848.

Adefolaju, 33, Christian, employed, needs an Ibadanbased lady for a relationship. Call 08075571881.

Ibukun, 27, fair-skinned, neat, God-fearing, needs a God-fearing, responsible man aged between 38 and 55 for a relationship. Contact 08063914050.

Micheal, 50, Lagos-based, Christian, needs a working class, Christian, humble, God-fearing lady aged between 25 and 40 for marriage. Call 08164555815.

Funke, 50, needs a caring, elderly man for a relationship. Call 08105475777.

Almukai, 32, from Kwara State, needs a serious girl, aged 24 to 27 for an affair. Call 08185980921.

15

17 September, 2016

BLESSING GBARADA

health&fitness

By Blessing Gbarada

O

VER the years, researchers have studied sleep and have disclosed several benefits beyond the obvious providing rest for the body. They have also pointed out that it’s not just about sleeping, but length of time, temperature, position, foods and other factors can contribute to getting the best out of sleep time and reaping its numerous benefits. Recent studies have focused on how what one wears to sleep may affect his/her sleep and according to an international study by the U.S. National Sleep Foundation, sleeping in the nude has been shown to have numerous benefits. Experts revealed why ditching pyjamas is the best.

For a good night’s sleep Sleep experts agree it’s important to keep cool at night as your body (or ‘core’) temperature needs to drop by about half a degree for you to fall asleep.

The brain, driven by your internal body clock, sends messages to the blood vessels to open up and release heat.

“Your core temperature is at its highest at 11:00p.m. and its lowest at 4:00a.m,” said Dr Chris Idzikowski, author of ‘Sound Asleep: The Expert Guide To Sleeping Well.’

“If anything prevents that decline in temperature, the brain will wake itself up to see what’s going on, meaning you’ll struggle to get to sleep or you’ll have disturbed sleep.

“The advantage of sleeping naked is it’s easier for the body to cool and maintain the lower temperature the brain wants to achieve,” he said.

Experts also agree that if you’re wearing lots of bedclothes, it’s going to be more difficult to regulate your temperature. They advise to wear the least one can get away with.

Disrupted sleep from being too hot doesn’t just mean you’ll get less sleep overall, but it might mean less deep sleep which is the most restorative type. Deep sleep is key for memory consolidation and the production of growth hormone which is important for cell repair and growth.

Though it’s important not to get too hot at night, it is important to make sure you have warm hands and feet. That’s because for your temperature to lower to the level that triggers sound sleep, your body needs to lose excess heat.

It does this by sending blood to the vessels near skin — in particular, those on the hands and feet — where heat is lost through the skin surface.

However, as Professor Foster explains, if your hands and feet are cold, the blood vessels next to the skin constrict and reduce blood flow in an effort to keep warm and stop heat escaping.

This in turn means your core temperature won’t be able to drop so easily.

A 2008 study by the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience demonstrated the importance of body temperature in sleep.

Volunteers slept wearing thermosuits, allowing researchers to manipulate their skin temperature without altering core temperature.

The team found that when skin temperature was raised by just 0.4°C, the volunteers were significantly less likely to wake in the night.

In elderly volunteers, the effect was pronounced: the 0.4°C rise almost doubled the proportion of deep sleep and decreased the risk of waking too early from 50 per cent to four per cent.

Warming the skin caused blood vessels in the extremities to widen, so heat could be lost more easily.

In other words, to fall asleep easily, you need to be warm enough that your blood vessels won’t constrict, but not so hot that your body can’t cool down.

To ensure body temperature drops suffi-

Saturday Tribune ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

Why you should

sleep in the nude ciently, swap bed socks for a hot water bottle, says Dr Idzikowski.

“Bed socks don’t allow you to lose heat from your feet, so you’ll end up too hot,” he says.

Your bed partner can also be helpful for regulating your body temperature.

“If you’re cold, you can snuggle up to them and once you’re warm, you can move away,” said Professor Foster.

Burn calories There is an increasing focus on brown fat, a type of tissue in the body that may protect against weight gain. While ordinary body fat piles on when we eat more calories than we burn, brown fat seems to burn excess calories to generate heat.

Babies have lots of brown fat — they need it to keep warm — but studies have shown there are small amounts in the necks of adults too.

Experts believe that certain activities could switch on this fat, potentially helping to burn calories at a greater rate.

In a U.S. study in the journal Diabetes, researchers found that sleeping in a cold bedroom could activate brown fat in adults.

Five healthy young men slept in climatecontrolled bedrooms for four months.

For the first month, the room was kept at 24°C, then it was lowered to 19°C, then it went back to 24°C and for the last month raised to 27°C. They ate the same amount of calories and their calorie expenditure and insulin sensitivity — how much insulin the body needs to keep blood sugar levels stable — were measured each day.

The results were striking. After four weeks sleeping at 19°C, the men had almost doubled their volumes of brown fat.

Tests showed they burned more calories throughout the day when their bedroom was cooler (though not enough to lose weight) and their insulin sensitivity had also improved.

Senior author, Francesco S. Celi, said the study showed that over time, sleeping in a cold bedroom could lessen the risk of diabetes.

Michael Symonds, professor of Developmental Physiology at the University of Nottingham and an expert on brown fat, says sleeping naked may be beneficial.

“Brown fat can produce 300 times more heat than any other body organ, meaning if you can keep it activated for a prolonged amount of time you’d be less likely to lay down excess energy.

“So, anything you can do to try to activate it, such as lowering the thermostat and sleeping

in the cold, may be of benefit,” he said.

But room temperature shouldn’t be below a level at which you feel comfortable, otherwise you won’t sleep.

People who tend to feel hot at night and like to sleep naked, may have a high amount of brown fat, which causes them to feel warmer than others.

were just 38 per cent).

Sleeping naked has also been discovered to be a good strategy for those with body image issues.

You can slip under the sheets and then take your clothes off, and then you can be touched, even if you don’t want to be looked at.

Stop infections

Lower blood pressure If you share a bed with a partner, going nude is known to generate a generous boost of oxytocin, a hormone that provides numerous health benefits.

“Oxytocin release is triggered by closeness, particularly skin-to-skin contact,” says Dr Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg, a physiologist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and an expert on oxytocin.

“Sensory nerves on the skin send impulses to the brain, triggering the release.

“When a baby is placed on its mother’s chest, the blood in mother and child starts to pulse with oxytocin,” he said.

Oxytocin has a protective effect on the heart, as it lowers blood pressure. It also boosts the immune system and reduces anxiety.

“But it only works if skin-on-skin touching is something you’re happy with,” he added.

Wearing nothing to bed can help women avoid developing yeast infections, such as thrush, says Austin Ugwumadu, a consultant gynaecologist.

“Thrush loves warm, restricted environments. So, wear something loose or preferably nothing at all.

“If you wear something tight, it means less air gets to the area and you’re more likely to sweat, which can cause irritation,” he said.

For healthy sperm It’s long been suspected that the underwear men use and the positions they hold their bodies in can affect sperm quality, and now new research has backed up the notion that men should be free in the interest of having children.

According to a recent study, men who wore boxer shorts during the day and nothing to bed had significantly lower levels of damaged DNA in their sperm compared to those who wore tight underpants during the day and at night.

“Among men in the general population attempting pregnancy, type of underwear worn during the day and to bed is associated with semen quality,” said lead researcher Katherine Sapra of the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

“Reducing exposure for bed decreases DNA fragmentation; better semen quality parameters are observed in men wearing boxers during the day and none to bed.”

The study tracked 500 men over the course of a year, taking note of the underwear choices they made and the quality of their sperm.

The researchers found that those who slept naked and wore loose-fitting boxers during the day experienced 25 per cent less DNA fragmentation than those who opted for tight underwear like briefs. Although the sample size in the study was relatively small, it’s further evidence that adopting a more liberal approach when it comes to undergarments could pose considerable health benefits for men’s fertility.

Additional information from dailymail.com

Boost your love life People who sleep naked have happier love lives, according to a survey of 1,000 British adults by a bedsheet company.

The study found 57 per cent of nude sleepers were happy with their relationship, compared with 48 per cent of pyjama wearers and 43 per cent of nightie wearers (onesie wearers

Cosy pyjamas are tempting, but if you share a bed with a partner, going nude will generate a generous boost of oxytocin... which boosts the immune system, reduces anxiety and has a protective effect on the heart, as it lowers blood pressure.

16 healthandfitness

17 September, 2016

Itching after bath

I itch every time I take my bath whether with cold or hot water. I buy my water from water vendors. What can I do to stop this problem?

Sanni (by SMS) It is not uncommon to experience a bout of itching after bathing. It may last a short period of time and we often do not give it much thought thereafter.

However, for some people, itching after bathing can persist for hours or itching

that is constantly present may worsen after bathing.

Your itching may be a reaction to the water, soap or sponge you are using for your bath.

For this reason, it may be necessary for you to change these items as well as the source of your water. If after changing all these items you still itch, you may need to see a specialist doctor (skin

Dr. Wale Okediran 08055069356 (sms only)

My big abdomen

doctor) in order to find out if you also have an underlying skin ailment that may be responsible for the itching.

I find it difficult to sleep I am a 55-year-old business man. I have been healthy until two weeks ago when I started finding it difficult to sleep. I have tried all kinds of sleeping tablets with no improvement. Kindly help me.

Chidozie (by SMS) A good night sleep begins with a well aerated bedroom, as well as a comfortable bed made up of good springs and mattress. And while some people may sleep well in a noisy environment, others may need a very quiet and dimly lighted environment to sleep. In addition to this, the state of one’s mind is very impor-

tant before somebody can sleep well. Therefore, in ad-

dition to your comfortable bedroom, you also need to have a stress-free mind before you can sleep. It is equally important for you to see your doctor for a proper medical check up in order to establish that you do not have any ailment such as hypertension, diabetes and other health issues which may prevent you from having a good night’s sleep.

Can I have a baby at 50?

I recently remarried after being a widow for four years. Even though I am 50 years old, I still see my menses regularly. Although I had four children for my late husband, I still

Saturday Tribune

desire to have one or two for my new husband. My question is whether I can still do this at my advanced age of 50?

Josephine (by SMS)

waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

I am a 31-year-old lady.

My problem is that my stomach is big. Please, is there anything you can prescribe that won’t adversely affect me as I am not yet married and currently have no child.

Elizabeth (by SMS) An enlarged abdomen can be caused by many factors, ranging from excessive weight gain to fibroids among other causes. For this reason, it will be necessary to first investigate the cause of your big abdomen before arriving at a diagno-

sis and treatment. Some of these investigations, which should be ordered by your doctor, include some blood tests and ultrasound. If the cause of your large abdomen is found to be excessive

No teeth at ten months MY son who was ten months old early this month has no teeth yet. I am worried since his two elder brothers all had their first tooth at six

months.

Mrs Akande (by SMS)

Even though having a baby at your age has its challenges, with good obstetrics support, you can still have a baby at old age. It is however important to weigh the advantages and disad-

vantages of having a baby against that of not having any more since you already have four children who by right are also your new husband’s step children.

Although the expected age for first teething is six

weight gain, you will need to be placed on a diet and exercise regime for you to lose some weight. If it is due to a big fibroid, surgery which will not adversely affect you will be undertaken. months, some babies usually erupt their teeth much later in life. A delay in tooth eruption of up to 12 months may be of little or no importance in an otherwise healthy child. Delays often result from such local factors as a tooth in the path of eruption, insufficient space in the dental arch, or dental infection. In view of this, you have nothing to worry unless you notice any other underlying ailments in your child.

Diabetes: Key to faster-acting insulin found in snail venom venom insulin, the team found a way to remove the hinge from the human insulin. This could speed up communication with the receptor and help the insulin get in the cell much more quickly, Professor Lawrence explains.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD (Medical Newstoday.com)

A

study of the crystalline 3-D structure of an insulin extracted from the venom of a marine snail reveals a potential way to make insulin for the treatment of diabetes act more rapidly.

Researchers from Australia and the United States have discovered that the venom of Conus Geographus contains a highly efficient natural protein - called Con-Ins G1 - that operates faster than human insulin.

They also found that the protein is able to bind to human insulin receptors, suggesting it could work as a treatment for diabetes.

The team reports the findings in the journal, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.

Diabetes is where the body either does not make enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or cannot use it properly (type 2 diabetes).

The body needs insulin to allow blood sugar (glucose) to enter cells for use as energy. If the body has insufficient insulin, or loses the ability to use it properly, the sugar builds up in the blood.

High blood sugar can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and amputation of toes, feet, or legs.

According to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people worldwide with diabetes has gone up from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.

Rates of diabetes have been rising faster in middle- and low-income countries. WHO estimates that by 2030, diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death worldwide.

Human insulin ‘clunky’ in comparison For their study, Mike Lawrence, associate professor at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia and colleagues, used the Australian

Synchrotron to analyze the 3-D structure of the cone snail venom insulin protein.

Professor Lawrence, an expert in the study of insulins - and how they enter cells via gateways guarded by specialist proteins called receptors - explains their exciting discovery: “We found that cone snail venom insulins work faster than human insulins by avoiding the structural changes that human insulins undergo in order to function - they are essentially primed and ready to bind to their receptors.”

Human insulin is “clunky” compared with the way the snail venom insulin works, he adds.

Human insulin contains an extra component that acts as a “hinge” that has to open before the molecule can perform the “handshake” with the cell receptor in order to enter.

However, when they studied the 3-D structure of the snail

Fast-acting insulin immobilizes prey The study builds on earlier work that found the marine cone snail uses an insulin venom to capture its prey. The snail uses the venom to immobilize unsuspecting fish that swim into its invisible trap.

The insulin-containing venom puts the fish into a state of hypoglycemic - low glucose - shock.

Dr Helena Safavi-Hemami, a research assistant professor in the biology department at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, supervised the study alongside Professor Lawrence.

She says they were fascinated to discover how the insulin in the snail venom acts so quickly, and then that it held the key to making human insulin more effective.

“We were thrilled to find that the principles of cone snail venom insulins could be applied to a human setting,” notes Dr. Safavi-Hemami.

The researchers found that cone snail venom insulin “strongly binds the human insulin receptor and activates receptor signaling.”

17

17 September, 2016

Divorce

Saturday Tribune

Court & Crime Though a pastor, he doesn’t do anything for the family —Wife She’s jealous of my ministry and what God is using me to do —Husband

The only time he comes home is when he wants to eat and have sex —Wife It’s sad she is never content with anything that I do —Husband

A

woman, Mrs. Bodunrin Ajayi has asked an Ikorodu Customary Court in Lagos State, to end her marriage to her husband, Ifedayo, citing irreconcilable differences.

The mother of three sought the divorce on the grounds that her husband was irresponsible, uncaring and fond of beating her.

“He is hardly around. All he does everyday is drink ogogoro and play draft with his friends. The only time he comes home is when he wants to eat and have sex with me.

“I have reported him to his family members but they take sides with him telling me that it is a man’s world. I struggle to feed and clothe my children.

“He almost raped me sometime last month because when he said that we should have sex, I maintained my stand that I was hungry and tired. He beat me, tore my clothes and almost raped me when my first son who is thirteen years old, raised the alarm. I am tired of being treated badly,

and I want an end to this marriage,” Bodunrin maintained.

Her estranged husband, however, denied all the allegations calling his wife a liar in the court. He added that he had never failed to pay his children’s school fees.

He also said that he tried to assure his wife that he would try to work harder but she was bent on leaving him.

“Ask her, who registered the children in primary school. I am a responsible father and I ensure that my children have the best that I can offer. I have always taken care of her but it is sad that she is never content with anything that I do,” he told the court.

Ifedayo also told

inside

the court that he has never beaten Bodunrin before, adding that he retaliated once when she first slapped him.

“How can I just decide to start beating my wife when she is not an animal. My wife is quarrelsome and does not listen to me at all. She is always bent on doing what she wants. When she withdrew the children form public school to a private one, I told her that I could not afford it but she still went ahead and started telling everyone who cares to listen that I am an irresponsible father. I am rather hurt and embarrassed by her utterances. I do not pray for the dissolution of this marriage as I still love my wife and children,” he said.

The matter has been adjourned till October 7 for continuation of trial.

I raped a lady ’cos my wife starved me of sex —Husband He’s addicted to hard drinks, gambling and other vices —Wife

See pages 18 & 23

TIRED of her marriage, a woman has asked an Igando Customary Court to end her marriage to her husband due to lack of care for her and the children.

Mrs Morenike Awelewa told the court that her husband does not provide feeding money for her and their children.

“My husband is an assistant pastor in our church. He counsels other couples but does not care about the state of his own house.

“I stopped going to our church when people started making jest of me because of the tattered clothes I and my children wear to church.

We live from hand to mouth and yet he does not care.

He sits in the church all day waiting for people to bring him cooked food from their houses, afterwards he eats and forgets about his family,” she alleged.

Her husband, Emmanuel, however, denied the accusations but said his wife just wanted to bring him down.

“She is jealous of my ministry and what God is using me to do. She is always accusing me of having extra marital affairs. I have reassured her more than a dozen times that it is not true. She is just being childish.

“God is also my witness that I make sure that I provide for my family. I combine pastoral work with my carpentry business and I make sure that they lack nothing.

“I give her N2,000 for the daily upkeep of the family.

She mismanaged it and then she started complaining that I did not do enough for her and the two children,” he said.

President of the court, Adegboyega Omilola adjourned the matter till October 23 for possible settlement.

18

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

23

courtandcrime

I raped a lady ’cos my wife starved me of sex —Husband

He’s addicted to hard drinks, gambling and other vices —Wife

A

middle-aged father, Ojo Adewole has told an Ikole Customary Court in Ekiti State that he was involved in rape because his wife starved him of sex.

Adewole, who made this known when he testified in a divorce petition by his wife, Omotayo, admitted being involved in a rape case but blamed it on the wife.

“Your honour, my wife always starved me of sex. Instead of taking care of me and the house, she went about partying and making friends.

“My wife is simply wayward and the family always supported her deeds.

“Your honour, I may not have the moral justification to ask for the preservation of the marriage, but I am praying the court to reduce my monthly financial obligation to my children to N5,000,” he begged.

Adewole said: “my prayer for the slashing of the upkeep hinges on the fact that I have just been released from detention and I do not have any tangible source of livelihood at the moment.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Omotayo had told the court that Adewole had been sexually unruly, adding that he had gambled out their collective property and money.

“Your honour, my husband is so addicted to gambling to the extent of using my three cell phones, cooking stove and other house utensils to gamble.

“His habitual drunkenness made him to beat me so often.

“He is not also responsible for the upkeep of our five children as he evades paying their school fees. Your honour, I am tired of the marriage and I want it dissolved forthwith,” she said.

She further said: “the father of my children does not have respect for his family members even though all of us stood by him when he was involved in a rape case.”

The mother of five had sought for the custody of all the children and prayed the court to compel the respondent to assign some amount monthly for their upkeep.

In her Judgement, the president of the court, Mrs Yemisi Ojo, dissolved the 15-year-old marriage between Omotayo and Adewole for promiscuity and gambling lifestyle.

Ojo held that the petitioner’s request had merit and “in the light of the evidence before the court, it is clear that the respondent’s lifestyle had put off the feelings the petitioner initially had for him.

“It is appropriate in the circumstance for parties to be allowed to go their separate ways.

“I, therefore, order that the custody of the children from the union would remain with the petitioner,” the president held.

Ojo said: “the respondent is ordered to give his ex-wife the sum of N10, 000 monthly for the upkeep of the children on a monthly basis.”

I wept after taking away a child’s custody from mum —Sharia Court Judge Biola Azeez - Ilorin A retired Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal (SCA), Justice Oba Abdulkadir Imam-Fulani, has narrated how he wept after he ruled taking away a child from the custody of his mother.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Thursday, the re-

tired judge said he considered the case as unforgettable and dramatic in his over two decades as Sharia Court Judge.

“I had one sympathetic matter at Lafiagi where I had to take a stern decision on a paternity matter involving a couple. The marriage had earlier been dissolved years back.

Upon the dissolution of the marriage, the divorced woman took away the child of the marriage. She completely denied

I made him and he started dating different women,woman tells court Make her realise that women flock around transporters —Husband

By Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin A housewife, Mrs. Ajoke Salaudeen has asked an Agege Customary Court in Lagos State to put an end to her ten-year-old marriage over allegations of threat to life and infidelity.

According to her, her husband, Jimoh, had abandoned the family for his lover.

“My husband has numerous lovers scattered across the country.

He is a transporter and uses the pretext to womanise.

“When we got married, we did not have anything, in fact, we even slept on mats in his father’s house.

“It was my parents that gave me money to start food business.

I made money and bought a bus for him. His business expanded and he started doing inter-state travels. “ I was surprised when my husband’s attitude changed. He started receiving calls from different women even in my presence. One

of them even threatened me when I confronted her on phone. She threatened to pour acid on me and set me on fire.

“I fear for my life and those of my three children,” she told the court.

Her husband, Jimoh, however, denied the allegations. He said he still loved his wife and was willing to make his marriage work.

“My wife stood by me when I had nothing. She sold almost everything she had so that I can succeed. I take care of her and my children but try to make her realise that women flock around transporters. I don’t have any girlfriend and I can swear with my life. I might have made some mistakes in the past but I am willing to change,” he said.

President of the court, Chief R. Williams adjourned the matter till October 15 for possible settlement, while asking both parties to maintain peace.

He is desperately making efforts to use me for money ritual —Wife I’ve suffered so much to marry and sustain the marriage —Husband A mother of three, Nike Akinbile, has told a Mapo Customary Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, that her husband, Femi is desperately making effort to use her for monetary ritual.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that Nike made this known when she testified in her divorce proceedings against Femi on Friday.

“For the past two years now, Femi has been making frantic efforts to get rich at all costs and I am his primary target for that purpose.

“Not too long ago, I was just lying on the bed, Femi thought that I had slept off, so he attempted to strike my eyelids with traditional eyeliner also known as tiro.

“I have received several visions that he want to use me as a sacrificial lamb for the ritual he was making and I didn’t want to die now,” she said.

She said that the respondent don’t even cater for her and the

three children, adding that they lacked access to basic care.

Nike, who urged the court to dissolve the 11-year-old marriage, said that she had made up her mind about parting ways with him and nothing could change it.

In his defence, Femi, a businessman, denied all the allegations and opposed the divorce petition.

Femi said that he did not want the children to encounter any problem in life and that was the reason he wanted the union to continue.

“Your honour, I have suffered greatly all this while to sustain and marry Nike. I was the one that sent her to school and made her self-employed.

“For Nike’s education, I enrolled, wrote her examinations for her as well as supervised her other academic pursuits.

“In order to be well-balanced in life, I encouraged her to learn tailoring which is her source of livelihood today.

“As if those are not enough, I buy Nike all sorts of ladies’ make

My wife and her friend were seen in a hotel —Husband We went to look for job —Wife

He beats me up even in front of my family members —Woman tells court Dissolve the marriage if she wants it so —Husband A woman, Mrs Precious Anthony, who resides at Karu Village, FCT, has asked a Jikoyi Customary Court to dissolve her marriage, alleging that her husband planned to kill her by stabbing her to death.

Precious, the petitioner told the court while testifying in the case during the week.

“My husband almost stabbed me to death after he has consumed excess alcohol.

“This has been his usual behaviour, anytime he comes back drunk, he never let me be. He sometimes beats me up for doing nothing,” she said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she said her husband recently threw her out of the house with their only daughter.

“When my husband threw me and my daughter out, I did not know who to run to, so I had to go back to my parents’ house in Jos,” she told the court.

The petitioner also said that her husband did not come to see them in Jos until after six months.

According to her, “even when he managed to come and see us, he came drunk. He even beat me up in my parents’ house and threatened to kill my brother who came to defend me, while he was beating me,” she said.

She begged the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her custody of the only child of the marriage.

Monday Mipan, the respondent who is a security man and was present in court, denied the allegations.

Monday told the court to dissolve the marriage if his wife wanted it so. He begged the court not to grant custody of the only child of the marriage to his wife.

The judge, Labaran Gusau, advised them to give room for reconciliation.

He adjourned the case till September 28 for judgment.

A 37-year-old husband, Ganiyu Fatai, asked an Ado-Ekiti Customary Court in Ekiti State to dissolve his 16-year-old marriage to his wife, Modupe.

Fatai is seeking the dissolution on the grounds of adultery, threats to life, stubbornness and lack of respect for him and his family.

Fatai told the court that when they were living with his brother, people always told him that she was wayward.

He said that there was a time his wife went to Aso-Rock hotel with a lady that lives close to their house, saying his brother’s wife and his friend told him.

The father of three said sometimes she will go out without his consent and she will not return back in two days or a week.

According to him, there was a day she left home for two days during Christmas eve and there was nobody to cook for the children.

“When she came back, I ordered her to leave my house but neighbours intervened”, he said.

He claimed that there was a day he asked her to accompany him to the hospital and when he was treated, she told him that she wanted to stay with the nurse that he can go home.

“I hid in a place and watched her as she took a cab to Ilawe and I followed her with a bike. She went to a man’s house but I refused to cause commotion at the place.

“When I asked her what she went to do, she denied but later confessed that she went for a naming ceremony”, he said.

Fatai said that his wife and her friend went to fight with a lady he was dating, saying they beat her and they later came to his shop to vandalise the place.

He said the lady came with the police to arrest her and afterwards came back to pack her belongings and left with the

children.

He said that there was an argument between them when he called her a prostitute, saying she broke a bottle that she would stab him.

He said that he had called her on several occasions to settle their dispute and live a peaceful life but she was not ready.

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

But the respondent, Modupe, denied all the allegations levelled against her.

She said during her second pregnancy, she and her neighbour went to look for job somewhere, saying the place was opposite Aso-Rock hotel that her husband alleged.

Modupe said that she always go to her shop and come back in the evening, saying she was not a wayward woman.

She said there was a time she saw her husband’s number on their tenant’s phone and when she asked the woman, she told her that it was her brother’s phone number.

The respondent said that there was a time in the midnight, she noticed that her husband was not beside her and that as she went out to look for him, she met him and their eldest daughter standing on a rock opposite their house.

She said when she asked him what he was doing with the girl, he told her that he was trying to talk to her.

She alleged that he always beat her often.

She prayed the Court to award her the custody of the children because many of her children had died in his house, saying Fatima is her fourth child.

President of the Court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, after hearing from both parties adjourned the case till October 20 for judgement.

the man (the legitimate father of the child) access to his child.

“The man tried his best but couldn’t have access to the child.

He finally lodged a complaint in the court. He stated that he had trepidation that he might lose the paternity of his legitimate child for life. The divorced woman was summoned to the court on several occasions and she eventually appeared before the court without the child,” he said.

He added, “During one of the proceedings, I ordered the appearance of the child and the divorced woman in the court simultaneously. And after several adjournments, she managed to produce the child. And I ordered a separation of the child from the woman and re-awarded custody to the man.

“The divorced woman and the man were living in different towns. The separation was painful to the divorced woman as she demonstrated right there in the courtroom, She fell on the floor furiously lamenting.

“I was emotionally disturbed as I felt for her but I was compelled to give the separation order because there was the serious danger that the man might lose the paternity of his legitimate child.

“After the scene in the courtroom, I went inside my chamber and wept. I mused quietly to God and said, God, you understood there’s nothing I could do other than to follow the law. I didn’t mean to use my office to hurt anyone”, he narrated.

ups to make her look beautiful and good, but Nike does not use any of the things like shoes, bags, clothes and so on.

“Instead, Nike always tell me that she must take them to the church for cleansing and eventually dumped them.”

He said the major conflict was that “we don’t attend the same church, her pastor told her that the make ups I give her are weapons of devil.”

Femi told the court that Nike compelled their underage children to fast for days, thus, giving the impression that they were from impoverished and wretched home.

He tendered sacks of the make-ups he bought for his wife over the time as exhibit.

President of the court, Mr Henric Agbaje, in his judgement, held that it was painful that some religious leaders influenced their followers with unacceptable doctrines that might result into marriage break ups.

“Well, since Nike has refused to be pacified to settling the dispute amicably, the court has no other option than to put an end to the union.

“Femi shall take custody of the first two children who are no more legal minor, while Nike shall take custody of the third who is still a legal minor.

“In the interest of peaceful co-existence, the union between Nike and Akinbile has ceased to be henceforth,” he said.

My mother-in-law feeds us, controls our home, wife tells court A housewife, Iyabo Olatunji, has told an Akure, Ondo State Customary Court that her husband, Ezekiel, is still under his mother’s tutelage.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Iyabo, who made this known when she testified in her divorce proceeding against her husband on Friday, said that, “my husband was working by her directive.

“It is my mother-in-law that gives us food and my husband will not do anything except waiting for the mother’s money.

“The worst part is that my mother-in-law will not caution her son to stop beating me,” she said.

She begged the court to dissolve her five-year-old marriage to Ezekiel for allegedly taking too much alcohol.

The complainant said that she could no longer tolerate the constant beatings she got whenever her spouse was drunk. According to her, the alcoholic intake has rendered the respondent irrational in the way he treats her.

She appealed to the court to award the custody of the only child of the marriage to her.

Ruling on the case, president of the court, Mr Rotimi Olusanya, said the repeated refusal of the respondent to appear in court would not stop the proceedings.

Olusanya adjourned the case till September 27 for judgement.

19

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637

A Reporter’s Diary

How not to start an interview Eko Akete

Animal cruelty at Lagos Assembly

e: olanreade@yahoo.com

Lagos witnesses the rise of female keke riders

Women are increasingly venturing into transport business. Their interest, which is mainly in the tricycles, locally known as KekeMarwa, may be rooted in its cheap access. NEWTON-RAY UKWUOMA, SHOLA ADEKOLA, OLALEKAN OLABULO and TUNDE DODONDAWA take a look at the new trend.

A

LONG the Isolo/Ikotun Highway, before the roundabout, somewhere in the middle of the ever chaotic arrangement of moving heads, wrestling vehicles and the irrepressible din of man and machine, Portable, yellow-painted tricycle, calmly makes a U-turn, drops four passengers, picks four new ones and moves on almost immediately, other tricycles park and their riders waiting and shouting. Riding that yellow keke is a woman

as KekeMarwa, are driven by men, some blood-eyed, belligerent. In Ikotun for example, these men are trained to be battle-ready.

Anything can cause a fight. When a provocation defies mere cursing, physical blows can intervene. Being a man, having good biceps and loud mouths are almost all you need to thrive here.

But this was the place Portable earned the title of the tricycle of ease and safety. Passengers love to be driven by it. Those who harboured some misgivings have long shed them. For Portable is driven by a woman, Nike and she is changing the atmosphere in Ikotun.

Breaking Male Dominance In Lagos, almost all tricycles, locally known

Continues on pg20

Economic Recession:

We are dying in silence — Alaba traders

By Naza Okoli

I

t was a messy weather on Wednesday; the heavy rain which began early in the morning did not end until late in the evening. The general mood at the famous Alaba International Market in Lagos was the same: morose and gloomy.

As if to reinforce this, traders at the Fancy and Furniture Section were seen observing a solemn procession in honour of one of their members who died recently at the

age of 41.

The market was generally quiet. The road which divides the entire space into two, and which is famed for its extreme rowdiness, was relatively free.

“The recession has affected us adversely,” Hillary Ugoji, a trader at the Electrical Section told Saturday Tribune. “No matter what any importer sells in this market, they are losing money. That’s because

there is no demand. If you want to keep it and calculate it at the current rate of dollar, you can’t sell at all. Even if you increase the price and sell, you are still losing money, because you don’t sell in bulk any longer.

Customers would want to buy on credit, and if you sell on credit, to get the money back is a problem.”

The middle-aged man sat on a high stool in front of his shop, a newspaper in his

hands; two teenage boys sat inside, listening and smiling. Ugoji’s shop was in the middle of a long row; a sandy path which served as the main entrance to the Section separated it from a similar stretch of shops.

Most of the traders stood or sat in front of their shops, chatting and laughing.

“Because of the exchange rate, when you buy goods and sell, you will not be able Continues on pg22

20

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos

Eko Akete

Lagos witnesses the rise of female keke riders Continued from pg19

“This job is good for women”, said Nike, who is in her 30s, in a chat with Satruday Tribune. “Most of my passengers always want me to carry them after the first time. Some people I have carried before, hail me when I am on the road or at the bus stop. Sometimes, they choose me over other male drivers. Some pay for more than one seat. It is always amazing to drive them. They always shower me with praises. They say I don’t drive roughly or in a haste like the male drivers do. People are always booking Portable for charter. No one disturbs me or threatens me. I like the job,” she added. Even though there is no exact reason why she chose to address her tricycle by name or why Portable was boldly inscribed on the windscreen, it was easy to accept that Nike was proud of this machine and her profession. Many who saw her cruise along look on admiringly, some in wonder and others in mild shock. Saturday Tribune completed a full trip in Portable and observed how both men and women were eager to be driven in it.

Nike would later tell her story, and she was a very lovely woman to talk to.

“I have to drive carefully,” she began, after pulling over for a chat with Weekend Lagos. “Because I am always thinking about my children and about my life. And since I know that anything can happen at any time, I do not drive speedily. If a man drives roughly, he can still recover easily when something happens but a woman cannot. So, I don’t want to put myself in danger.

“I started this work in 2014, after learning the business for eight months. I used to sell fish. But two years ago, my shop caught fire and everything was burnt down in the middle of the night. I lost everything. With four children to take care of and nothing else to survive with, I had to look for an alternative source of income.

“I know it is a man’s job, but I am doing it in spite of that. I have lost everything. There is nothing to lose any more. I nurse some fears sometimes, but the fear of survival supersedes the fear of doing a man’s job. I sought counsel from people around me, including some men. They encouraged me to do it.

Now, I like the job.”

Income and Dues

Animal cruelty at Lagos Assembly

Nike tricycle is worth N750, 000. She acquired it on hire purchase, which means she’s been given the three-legged cab so that she could pay back in instalments over a period of time. Even though she makes about N5000 daily and remits N15, 000 weekly, Nike said if she fails to make two weeks’ remittance, her keke would be collected from her. “That is why I do not have resting day or holiday. I work both on Saturday and Sunday to make sure I complete the payment and feed my children”, she added.

The Rise Before now, it was almost a taboo to see women engage in professions like transportation because of the energy required to do it, hence the dominance by men. However, this trend is gradually changing in Lagos where some daring women have seen transportation business as not only for men.

At a closer look, many of the women who engage in KekeMarwa transport business are energetic and daring. In other words their male counterparts do not take them for granted. Besides this, the female KekeMarwa transporters are generally believed to be more civil than their male counterparts as witnessed in the manner in which they politely transact business with their passengers.

“Iron Lady” is the sobriquet of a female commercial keke driver, who covers the Fagba and Ogba axis of Lagos State. She sees nothing special in her chosen profession. The woman, while speaking with Saturday Tribune described her riding a commercial tricycle as “nothing special”.

“There is nothing special about my riding a tricycle,” she said, adding, “What do you want to say about women who ride motorcycles in the eastern and other parts of Nigeria? The only difference is that I am using my own for commercial purpose in Lagos”.

Iron Lady believes that there is just a little difference between okada (commercial motorcycles) and KekeMarwa. “If you can ride a motorcycle, you won’t have any difficulty in riding a tricycle”, she said.

On her challenges as a commercial tricyclist in a field predominantly dominated by men, Iron Lady said it had its advantages and its disadvantages. She said, “Many people have asked me why I decided to do a man’s job but I have always explained to them that riding a motorcycle is not a man’s job. There are female drivers. Some are even better than men.

“There is the peak period and there is the off-peak period. Peak period is when you have too many passengers and little tricycles. I enjoyed the off-peak period because many people will choose my machine before the men’s. It is only during the peak period that anything goes”.

Highlighting some of the hardships she faces while doing her job, Iron Lady had this to say, “The disadvantage is that I pay more than my other colleagues when it comes to maintenance and repairs, but I am getting used to that. Many mechanics take advantage of the fact that I am a woman to extort money from me, whenever my machine breaks down.”

Similarly, “Alhaja”, a cab operator who operates around the Lagos-Ogun Toll Gate axis, claimed that, though she was not into full time commercial operation, she

21

enjoyed driving passengers around and thereby making extra cash.

“I am not a full-time driver. I only go about two or three trips whenever I close from work, but the experience is the same with those who start from the morning. When I started, the agberos used to extort from me but when I became one of them, they adjusted and cooperated”, she said.

The Trend Many people have raised questions as to what could have been responsible for the sudden increase in the involvement of women in kekemarwa business in Lagos. However, it is generally believed that the ongoing economic hardship, which has made it impossible for the upkeep of the home to be solely left in the hand of the man, may have contrib-

It is generally believed that the ongoing economic hardship, which has made it impossible for the upkeep of the home to be solely left in the hand of the man, may have contributed to the rise of female keke drivers.

uted to the rise of female keke drivers.

According to Mr Tayo Kehinde, his wife began keke business after she was sacked as a teacher at a government-owned primary school where she had worked for over a decade.

Kehinde, a driver with one of the airlines at the Lagos Airport whose irregular meagre salary cannot sustain their four children, decided to join part of his savings with his wife’s retirement benefits to purchase a kekemarwa with which she started transport business on the Isheri/Ikotun route.

This decision, he said, has been a major source of sustenance to his family especially now that his salary is no longer regular.

Patricia (not real name) is another female kekemarwa operator who carries passengers between Ikeja and Cement every day. Patricia, who charges between N100 and N150 depending on time and availability of passengers, said she was pushed into the male dominated business due to lack of employment, two years after completing her NCE programme.

According to her, she was introduced to the job by a sister in her church and since then, she has never regretted her decision. On how she has been coping with her male counterparts, Patricia praised them for their understanding and the respect they often show her.

Patricia, who makes between N3, 500 and N6, 000 daily depending on traffic and weather, said she does not see any difference between her and the male colleagues while on the job. She said no one could take her for granted because of the rules and regulations put on ground by their association. Patricia, who is a mother of two, gets to Ikeja between 7.30 and 8.00am daily and closes at 6.30pm.

Increasing Risk Takers Vice President, Nigerian League of Women Artisans, Comrade Bolanle Dosu, described the increase in female commercial drivers as a welcome development. According to her, “It is time for women to take up their role in the society in addition to kitchen duties. Remember the saying, what a man can do, a woman can do as well.

“I think the former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, did well in empowering women during the last administration. Women drivers were given special vehicles for waste management duties.

Now, women are taking more challenges by riding motorcycles, doing bus conducting and driving commercial buses. I think it is a good development, just as it happens in developed nations.”

THAT this year’s Eid-el-Kabir witnessed one of the lowest purchases and slaughtering of rams, goats and cows in Nigeria in recent times is no longer news, no thanks to the harsh economic situation in the country. Even the Lagos seat of power, Alahusa, with its sacred enclave, the Lagos State House of Assembly, was not immuned to this harsh reality, as there seemed to be a marked decline in the number of the animals shared among lawmakers and senior civil servants when compared with previous years.

However, EkoAkete could not help but shudder at the level of inhuman, or better still ‘inanimal’ condition the few ruminant animals brought for the lawmakers were subjected to in what apparently was the animals’ last few hours before they would end up in pots of soup in different homes.

All the animals were tied in the beautiful and lush open field that leads to the Assembly’s main building. However, every single drop of the downpour recorded in the days and hours leading to the Muslim’s most important festival dropped on the heads and hoofs of the hapless animals and it will be recalled that during this period, the rains fell repeatedly for about three days.

At a point, a pair of rams was seen huddled against each other, as if one animal’s body would shield the other’s from the rain which was so powerful it would later cause a mudslide somewhere at Agidingbi, which is just meters away from the secretariat.

On another occasion, a medium-sized cow, which would later somehow survive the Ileya Day knife, was seen looking up to the sky as its entire body was pummeled by water from the sky. For a few seconds it stared at the sky as if it was asking God for a quick end from its misery.

The plight of the poor animals later kicked-off a debate among EkoAkete and other observers, as some saw nothing wrong in what the animals had been subjected to. Someone was even heard saying, “You are talking about animal rights when human rights are yet to find its place in Nigeria”. But the argument by EkoAkete and a few others is that a small shade could be built for these animals somewhere within the Assembly which has enough ground to play with.

This shouldn’t be difficult for the management of the Assembly to do after all, sharing of rams during Sallah is an old practice which will still be repeated in years to come and, as such, ought to be well planned ahead. Shielding the animals from the weather, EkoAkete believes, will, at least, give the animals a modicum of comfort in their last few hours on earth.

22

Saturday Tribune

17 September, 2016

‘We are dying in silence’ Continued from pg19

to buy the same quantity again,” Ugoji continued.

“For instance, I received some goods last year; I calculated the rate with N400 dollar; and I decided to sell. Even for the ones I sold when I wanted to buy dollar and send to my customer over there, I bought the dollar at N440. So whatever the gain I made, I had to add it, together with some extra money; so automatically I lost. Today, if you are selling, you don’t know how much you will use to buy the dollar. So, that is the problem in the market.

“If you imported three containers last year, you can only import one now.

For someone who imports with 50, 000 dollars, if he imported 50 000 dollars at the rate of 178, he got about 9 million naira; but 50 000 dollars today will be about 21.5 million naira. Every importer is losing money.

And now, school fess have increased – both private and public, both university and secondary school; house rent is increasing, as well.

“Customers have reduced.

If you call them they tell you there is no money.

What is the time now? It is 10.30am, and we have not made any sales at all. And if you look around, you can’t see anybody in any shop there. You don’t see anybody busy writing invoice.

And today is Wednesday, immediately after Sallah. It is supposed to be bubbling here. It is only at banks that you see long queues, these days. So many people are there withdrawing their savings.”

Asked if he had any suggestions for the government, he said: “I will just

Godwin Eze

Hillary Ugoji

ask them (the government) to stabilise the naira, so that we know exactly what rate it is. Let it be steady. So that if it’s 450, you know that after selling your goods, you will still be able to buy another one.”

Face of God Every now and then, loud shouts and clapping would erupt from different corners of the market: traders were praying.

Saturday Tribune gathered that “prayer warriors” are “contracted” on a daily basis by shop owners to conduct elaborate prayer sessions at their shops.

Even though the prayer warriors do not officially demand payment for their services, it is understood that an unspecified amount is almost always offered to them.

“We have to seek the face of God in this time of trouble,” Mr Ndubuisi Ofor, a

trader at a shop at Fancy and Furniture Section where prayers were going on, said. “He (God) said we should come to him with all our worries, and He would take them away.”

Cabinet reshuffle Unity Plaza is a large square surrounded by

shops where second-hand motor parts and home appliances are sold.

Mr Godwin Eze who sat idly on a wooden bench beside his shop told Saturday Tribune that the crisis could be resolved if the President would reshuffle his cabinet.

“We are dying in silence,”

The situation is bad, and we are waiting for them to solve the problem; they are our leaders; that is their responsibility.

Pastor Eze Emmanuel he said. “We know what the solution is but we don’t want to do it. Let President Buhari reshuffle his cabinet. That is what will save us now. The situation is bad, and we are waiting for them to solve the problem; they are our leaders; that is their responsibility. If you go to the Wharf, everywhere is empty. No shipping line is coming; no container is coming, because of the dollar. Everywhere is dry. Let him reshuffle the cabinet, because we don’t know where we are heading, anymore.”

To pose for the camera, Eze rested his chin on his left hand. “I want everybody to understand that we are suffering,” he explained.

Closing ranks The Chairman of Unity Plaza, Pastor Eze Emmanuel, was taking a nap in a comfortable armchair in

his shop when Saturday Tribune arrived.

Asked whether the economy had affected his business, he smiled and said: “Thank God you found me sleeping; so you know the answer already. Ordinarily, I am not supposed to be sleeping in my shop at this time of the day. The situation is nothing to write home about.”

Emmanuel, however, asked the Federal Government to “overlook party differences” and unite the country, because the current situation requires “all hands to be on deck.”

“It is not a party that rules or governs,” he said. “It is the people that govern; it is government of the people, by the people, and for the people. So, let us all throw away our differences for the good of all. That’s the way we can come out of this.”

A Reporter’s Diary

How not to start an interview

By Chukwuma Okparaocha I remember my editor once unveiling his disdain for the conduct of interviews that start with the question, “Can we meet you?” According to him, apart from being jejune and parochial, the expression could be considered demeaning by some people, especially people who believe they are too popular to be asked such a question.

Well, a friend of mine who works for another newspaper company learnt this the hard way when he decided to start an interview with a notable lawyer with the question: “Can we meet you?” He even decided to add the words

“please” and “sir”, so as to add more colour to the interview. Thus “Can we please meet you sir?” was his starting point.

Well, that proved to be the end of the interview as the legal practitioner was said to have flared up, suggesting that, since the interviewer didn’t know who he was, there was no point for the interview in the first place. The lawyer also suggested that my friend should “google” his name to get his profile on the Internet.

All entrities made by my friend to the man, suggesting that he just asked the question as a mere formality, fell on deaf ears. “Come back

for another rescheduled interview after you know who I am” was the stiff reply that met my friend’s entreaties. Soon he was left alone in the lawyer’s waiting room, where splattered all over the wall were the pictures of the lawyer at different stages of his life.

My friend’s day of tracking a ‘big catch’ and hours of waiting on the appointment day had just gone down the drain. My friend who had been dreaming of having a full page interview with a celebrated lawyer was left wondering where he got it all wrong. As he trudged away from the lawyer’s residence, it suddenly dawned on him, how not to start an interview, especially with a prominent personality.

24

17 Sepetember, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Toluwani Olamitoke 08050498504 toluwaniforever@yahoo.com

Mavi Isibor is the Senior Pastor, Church of God Mission Int’l, House of Praise, Lekki, Lagos and the Group Chief Executive Officer, Poise Nigeria Group which specialises in etiquette training, total personality development consultancy and performance enhancing corporate cultures. The outfit is presently grooming Olajumoke Orishaguna, the Lagos bread seller - turned model. She speaks with TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE on her background, the challenges of growing up, her activities and marital issues.

L

ET’S have a peep into your background I am the second child of a family of seven children. I had a very humble beginning at Fadeyi, Lagos. While growing up, I had many wants and many of my needs went unmet. Our circumstances were harsh and the deprivation glaring. Fortunately, I was blessed with a father who loved education; hence, with the little earnings he made as a civil servant, he ensured that we attended school. However, upon his early retirement, the continuation of our education was threatened and it was left to my mother to bear the heavy burden of providing for our family (which also included extended family members). Even as children, we appreciated the sacrifices and grueling efforts my mother made to make sure that we remained in school, had food to eat, and clothes to wear.

The foundation of who I am today was laid by the ‘never say die’ attitude of my mother.

Today, by the grace of God, I am the Group Chief Executive Officer of Poise Nigeria.

What fond memories do you have about growing up?

Growing up was fun, even though we did not have it all. My mother was a disciplinarian and she drilled the importance of good manners into us. She was very particular that the boys respect any lady they came in contact with, and the girls learnt the correct attitude of a cultured lady. Her constant words to us were that life was a gift and that good relationships were our most valuable possessions.

How did you delve into the etiquette business?

It was my 40th birthday and I was deep in the doldrums. I wondered what I had achieved at that age, where I was going and what I had done with my life. My constant thought was “If I die today, who will remember me and what will I be remembered for?” after 21 years of working in both the private and public organisations. I finally came to the point when I could no longer stand the emptiness, the ache in my heart that came from the realisation that I was unfulfilled. I had always had a natural inclination for finesse, gracefulness, etiquette, decorum and decency, and coupled with my training at Protocol School of Washington, United States of America (USA), I became really good with matters of soft skills. It didn’t take long for my friends and colleagues to notice my expertise and they began to come to me for a hint or two on how to conduct themselves in public.

It was during this time that the possibility of starting a finishing school first occurred to me. I reckoned that if I could do this with so much passion without pay and people loved it and asked for more, why could I not do it for a fee and make a living from it? This was the birth of the dream.

Do you believe everyone has the potential of being well tutored in etiquette regardless of background and upbringing?

Absolutely. You see, I have lost count of the number of times people look at me and assume that I was born with a silver spoon.

The reverse was my case. Everyone can attain

excellence if you want to and constantly strive towards it. You only need to first of all recognise that excellence is important and achievable and continuously work towards it. I tell you, regardless of your background, you will attain it. In behaviour and social interactions as well as other areas.

What’s the most challenging case you have worked on?

I wouldn’t say that there has been a most challenging case because every client comes with one challenge or the other that needs to be worked on and the challenges vary across so many factors. But one interesting case that we at Poise Nigeria have had the blessing of taking on is the case of Olajumoke Orishaguna. It was a rather interesting as well as challenging case because of the buzz that surrounded her quick rise to fame.

When she got the scholarship to come to Poise Nigeria, we had to start from the scratch, from teaching her alphabets, numbers, to spelling, to tenses, to personality development, to comportment, to communication. It was and is still a work in progress. But we are proud of how far we have come with her and the progress she is making as a result of her teachable spirit and commitment.

What was your impression and expectation when you first met Jumoke Orishaguna?

She is a very well-mannered and responsible young lady although her level of education was lower than we thought.

This just goes further to show that you do not have to have all the money in the world for you to be well mannered and cultured. She is very willing to learn and we will do our best to make sure she has all it takes to make the most of her good fortune.

At this time of economic recession when business is at a low ebb, what has kept you afloat?

We are constantly trying to expand our market and improve our strategy. No doubt, as with every business in Nigeria at this time, it has had its challenges. A lot of businesses have closed down and there have been reports of mass layoff of workers. But by God’s grace, we are cresting the storm by constantly reinventing our services and products and exploring new markets and ideas.

Talking about relationship, do you think good etiquette can affect the choice of a partner?

(Laughs). Etiquette or the lack of it affects people’s perception of a person and therefore will affect their reality as there is a saying that perception is reality. It is important for men and women, women especially, to be properly groomed in character, attitude, comportment and every other area for you to attract the right people. We do not live in a fairy tale where the princess marries the frog. Like the saying goes, like attracts like, so you have to be the kind of person you want to attract. If you are attracting the wrong people, you might need to have an honest self-examination.

‘My experience grooming Olajumoke, the breadseller turned model’ For a lady who is of marriageable age, what qualities would you advise her to look out for in a man?

Well, I am not a certified relationship or marriage expert but for someone who has been happily married for many years, I would advise that your husband must be someone who loves and fears his creator. If this is firmly his stand, many unpleasant things that happen in marriages these days would not exist.

He also has to have tremendous belief in you.

He has to be your number one fan and your biggest support. If these two things are in place, every other thing is secondary in my opinion.

Is it in order for a woman to make love advances to the opposite sex?

Our society does not permit that kind of attitude in women. However, it is not a crime for a woman to make the first move in initiating a relationship with a man.

From your experience, what are the ingredients of a successful marriage?

Communication, respect, trust. All these things sustain a marriage when all the fluffy, butterfly feelings have waned.

What has been your guiding principle?

I have come to adopt the mantra “This too shall pass”. This attitude helps me to maintain balance and good health. Keeping a free mind is key to looking good and living a healthy life.

How do you relax?

I am a pastor, reading my Bible recharges my batteries. Reality shows depicting competition and some Nigerian soaps are my favourite TV views.

Is there something you wish to change about yourself?

I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I am grateful to God for making me the way I am. The things which are a weakness in my personality, I strive each day to change or be better at them but I do not wish to change anything in particular.

25

17 September, 2016

ntertainment News

Society Gist

J

with oan

Omionawele

jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08054682201

Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

newtray2002@yahoo.com 08052271251

Celebrity Interviews

My children ready to uphold

Fela’s legacy —Femi Kuti

Patoranking, Nasty C, Ycee others to dazzle at MAMA Awards

Saturday Tribune

Rita Dominic creates digital journal for millions of fans at TIFF

26 entertainment

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

My children ready to uphold Fela’s legacy

— Femi Kuti

By Joan Omionawele

F Iceberg slim urges colleagues to be more creative

By Joan Omionawele FAST-rising musician, Olusegun Olowokere, a.k.a Iceberg slim, has pleaded openly with colleagues in the music industry not to copy his latest hairstyle.

The musician who is set to dole out cash to a lucky winner of his dance competition which is tagged The #WaveChallenge, in a chat with pressmen, pointed that his voice and his hairstyle are the unique features which distinguish him from other musicians.

According to Iceberg slim “I don’t sound like anyone else, from my accent to my tone/diction. Secondly, I try to constantly reinvent my hairstyle, so as not to look like anyone else either. So far, these two things have been distinguishing factors.

When I started the MoHawk in Nigeria, some musicians replicated it. I later changed my hairstyle and decided to just do one single braid going to the back, now I see a few others have reproduced it, once again. If they weren’t entertainers, this would probably be fine. Well, I’ve changed it yet again!

Please o, no more copy copy” He warned.

The musician who draws his inspiration from notable superstars like Drake, Kanye West, and 2Face, lauded the Nigerian music industry, affirming that it has definitely come a long way, and still has a long way to go. According to him “I’m honestly impressed at the level of success and global recognition we’ve achieved thus far. It can only get bigger and better with time.”

Speaking on what prompted him to unveil the dance competition, he said “I asked everyone to do an Instagram video of themselves or someone else being creative to my song, “Wave”. They can sing, dance, rap, act, anything, while the video with the most views wins N100,000. It’s just my way of appreciating my fans.

Other songs released by Ice berg include: ‘Too Much Money’ featuring Banky W, ‘Ayanfe (remix)’ featuring M.I., I. He has also been featured by 2Face on the track titled “Best I Can Be”, and Tiwa Savage in the tracks ‘Shout-Out’ and ‘Make Time’.

IRST son of the Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-kuti; Femi Kuti has put all hands on deck to continue to uphold his father’s legacy as an activist and musician.

The popular singer who performed with his children at the Kalakuta Republic during the weekend showed the audience that he was more than ready to preserve his father’s name as the afrobeat legend of Africa.

Speaking exclusively with Saturday Tribune, Kuti said “I am doing what I can to make sure they are fulfilled as humans.

They are already studying music in school, but I make sure I don’t force them. We have rehearsals twice a week out of their own volition.

Adding that his first son, Made, is already studying music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, the same music school which Fela studied in London in the mid-90s, he noted that even if one doesn’t play an instrument professionally, it is important for one to know how to play at least one musical instrument in order to ease off stress.

Exited that his children are already showing interest in music, Femi further said “It is already in-built. If you noticed, during the performance, the little girl on the left was in her own world and entertaining the audience and I am optimistic that something great will come from them all”.

rdi

ku Star Music Trek 2016: Burna Boy performs in Ma

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

AFRO-FUSION and Dancehall musician, Damini Ogulu professionally known as Burna Boy during the week rendered an electrifying performance at the Star Larger beer sponsored show, Star Music Trek 2016 in Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State.

The singer performed at the show themed, “My City Rocks” alongside industry superstars such as 2Baba, Ice Prince, Wande Coal and Cynthia Morgan and delivered a sensational performance. The energy was infectious

as the audience screamed excitedly, singing along to hit song after hit song.

Lasting forty minutes on stage, Burna Boy dish out many of his hit songs from his On A Spaceship album, namely Duro Ni Be,Rizzla, Check and Balance, Yawa Dey, Don Gorgon, Soke , Like To Party, Run My Race among others.

It was a sheer display of talent as Burna Boy took on both his high and low tempo songs with equal gusto.

Without mincing words, #MakurdiRocks can authoritatively be described as one the singer’s best performances in recent times.

2016 AFRIMA: Nigeria, South Africa on close marking as Tiwa Savage records highest nominations

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

SEQUEL to the recently released full list of nominees for the continental categories of the 2016 All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) by the international jury and the commencement of voting on Monday, artistes and music enthusiasts across Africa have been on the edge to make every vote count.

The second and full nominees’ list was released on the AFRIMA website last week, weeks after the first list of the nominees for the regional categories was unveiled to the media.

Nigeria had an impressive outing on the nomination table, recording about 40 nominations out of the 184 nominees in the second list and 10 nominations in the first list making a total of 50 nominations in 249 nominations, while South Africa comes second on the table of the country with the highest nominations as it records a total of 39 nominations. Other countries such as

Morocco and Ghana had a total of 24, 11 nominations respectively.

On individual presence, Mavin Records first lady, Tiwa Savage, had the most understanding presence on the table as the R.E.D hit single, ‘If I Start to Talk” earned her six nominations including Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Artiste of the Year. The epocal song also put Mavin boss, Don Jazzy on the Best Producer of the Year table and her label mate, Dr Sid, on the Best African Collaboration.

Also, Simi and Falz have been the nominated on the same category. The Solider singers will have to tussle to clench the Revelation of the Year award. Simi’s Love Don’t Care and Falz’s Bad Baddo Baddest put them on the same ring.

Meanwhile, alongside DB record’s boss Dbanj (Emergency), Phyno’s Fada Fada has been chosen for African Fans Favourite.

27 entertainment Gospel artistes set to celebrate King Sunny Ade

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

A

S part of the activities marking the 70th birthday ceremony of the king of world beats, King Sunny Ade, gospel artistes in the country are set to celebrate KSA in a mega concert.

The event will be held at Civic Center, Ondo and will have Evangelist Dr. Dunni Olanrewaju, Opelope Anointing, Tope Alabi, Bisi Alawiye Aluko, Akin Adebayo, Funmi Aragbaye, the current President of Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria, Es-

ther Igbekele, Bola Are, Dare Melody performing on the 21st of September, 2016.

Other artistes that will also be performing at the event include Pastor Adelakun Ayewa,

17 September, 2016 Omije Oju mi, Senwele Jesu, Timi Orokoya Telemi, Foluke Awoleye, Yinka Ayefele, Ayan Jesu among others.

Evangelist Dr. Dunni Olanrewaju, Opelope Anointing, the initiator of the event, has revealed that Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi will be the father of the day.

Speaking Olanrewaju said, “The idea to celebrate King Sunny Ade dropped into my heart the day I went for an interview in his Radio station.

It was a live programme and the need to celebrate him just dropped and I took it up from there immediately. Thanks God for the responses of great men and women of God to the clarion call. It was amazing to me how people responded to the call”.

Rita Dominic creates digital journal for millions of Receives rave reviews from foreign press fans at TIFF

By Joan Omionawele

STAR actress, Rita Dominic is currently at the Toronto International Film Festival for screening and a media tour of the Nigerian movie ’76 in which she stars alongside Ramsey Nouah. The actress who has explored a new form of engagement with over 3million fans using the Facebook live option with which she sends regular video updates from her events and appearances. Each of

her videos reach millions of people within 24 hours.

Additionally, Dominic has also teamed up with popular website Bella Naija, where she sends exclusive updates and behind the scenes sneak peeks to all her activities at the festival.

According to her, “After meeting with Mark Zuckerberg and his team recently, I realised that there are so many ways to deepen the connection I have with the millions of people who follow me online and constantly show me love” she said.

“It has been exciting sharing everything at TIFF from all the media tours to the movie premieres and red carpet events.” She added.

The actress has also been receiving rave reviews for her stellar performance in the movie ’76. A report from

Canada’s biggest newspaper the Globe and Mail read, ‘Rita Dominic is one of Nollywood’s queens, appearing in 157 films – including a staggering 37 movies in 2006 alone.”Now, Toronto describes her character as ‘the pregnant rock’ in Ramsey Nouah’s corner while Hol-

lywood News describes her performance alongside costar Ramsey Nouah as “natural performers full of morality with commitment to their situation.” For Steven Mayne of Flick Feast, “Dominic does an excellent job at working her character up into a lather without hyperbolic emoting.”

Saturday Tribune

Patoranking, Nasty C, Ycee others to dazzle at MAMA Awards

By Joan Omionawele WITH just six weeks to the MTV Africa Music Awards, Johannesburg 2016 (MAMA), a dazzling line-up of artists is set to headline Lagos’s annual Road to MAMA party, taking place this year at the Hard Rock Cafe, Lagos on Sunday, October 2, 2016.

The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 will be sponsored by Joburg Tourism in partnership with Absolut Vodka and Google, and in association with DStv and MTN. Headlining this year’s awards is reggae-dancehall star, Patoranking, who wowed Durban music fans at last year’s spectacular ceremony and took home the award for MAMA’s Best New Act at the 2015 MAMA. He’ll be joined by Hip Hop freshman Nasty C who is – set to heat up the MAMA main stage in Johannesburg - and fast-rising Hip Hop star Ycee, who’s also been confirmed to perform at the show. More

Nigerian Hip Hop artistry will be showcased by prolific rapper Skales, while Runtown will be showing off his R&B/ reggae moves. Rising AfroPop/Highlife sensation, Koker and award-winning “Love don’t Care” songbird Simi complete the line-up.

There will be added excitement at this year’s gig, as MTV Base (DStv channel 322 & GOtv channel 72) will be revealing nominees in seven different MAMA categories, including Best Female, Video of the Year and Artiste of the Year.

I want to be a legend in the music industry —Kobi

By Joan Omionawele NIGERIAN Musician, Kobi has declared his decision to

become a legend in the Nigeria’s movie industry, despite the industry being saturated with thousands of musicians.

The rising star who started his musical career as a dancer back in high school tells Saturday Tribune “My love for music grew with time.

I really never planned being a musician, I must say it just happened and I’m glad it did.

When asked if he wasn’t

scared of the Duo of Wizkid and Davido, he boasted ‘scared? Not at all, the sky is big enough for every star to shine.

The musician whose first single under martial records is entitled: Paddle featuring Falz the Bahd Guy while the video was directed by Clarence Peters, said that he is focused on recording quality music that will stand the test of time. I am in the studio day in day out recording.

The graduate of Policy and Strategic studies from Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, however stated that he has a dream of becoming a legend in the music industry in Nigeria. “I will work so hard that this dream will eventually spread across Africa and also to the world as I will constantly churn out relevant music with good content and message ”he said

‘My parents wanted me to be a lawyer’ tions or awards so far?

First of all, I am happy with the fact that Nigerians and Africans have accepted the brand, which is my ultimate goal. The fact that I have been getting recognitions lately makes me feel I am doing the right thing. It has encouraged me to do more.

Currently, I am the 2016 Designer of the Year. The award was presented to me two months ago by Qhue Concepts, the outfit responsible for Miss Tourism Nigeria. Experience Humanity Awards also recognised me as the 2016 Pageant Couture of the Year, which is really amazing because we have had girls who have won beauty pageants wearing the Rikaoto brand.

Continues from pg3

in school, I would use the holiday to make clothes for myself so that when I resume I would be outstanding. I did a lot of personal designs back then. But I needed to have a professional experience and knowledge about fashion design.

Do you have outlets in Nigeria?

We do not have a showroom in Nigeria yet. But we have a massive factory that produces here in Lagos and distributes to stores across the country.

What is the signature of Rikaoto?

Our designs are very detailed. There is always some sort of bling in the fabric. The finishing speaks for itself. We don’t do much of everyday wear; we do more of red carpets, wedding gowns, costumes and other occasional wears. We do casuals for people who request for them.

What is the meaning of Rikaoto?

It means fruitful. Rikaoto is my other name. I am from Kebbi State. It is my tribal name. When I was looking for a name for the brand, I didn’t want to use Mariam; Mariam is a common name. I wanted something different. Rikaoto was different and not common at all. I asked few people how they felt about the name. Some said it sounded Italian and French, etc. So, I decided to use it. Beside that, it has some good meaning. The ME is Mariam Elisha.

Do you speak some Hausa?

Yes. I still speak Hausa. I love culture. There is a part of my culture in me all the time.

Did you get the nod from your parents initially?

Not at all. My parents did not want me to go into fashion;

they wanted me to become a lawyer.

What did you study?

I studied English at the University of Lagos. I wanted Law, but I got English. It was difficult for my father to accept I was going into fashion design. He felt people looked down on fashion designers. He also felt it was not a serious business.

He wanted me to do something more professional. But now, they love it. Also, participating in beauty pageantry then was like hell for me. My dad is very strict. He didn’t like anything body exposure or even being out there and people looking at you. He believed that going into modelling or pageantry was a way of selling one’s self to men or exposing one’s body. But I had to make him realise that things have changed. With the support of my mum, I went into modelling. It turned out that I didn’t become wayward. I still go to church; I am a worker in my church. I dress decently. I don’t go to wrong places, places that he wouldn’t like me to go to. I am still me. This is something l love to do and I want to do it in a respectful way.

You have been here for over six years, any recogni-

Many admirers may want to know if you’re in a relationship.

Yes. I am in a relationship.

Any marriage plans this year?

Talking about marriage, I don’t know yet. It depends on what the future holds for me. For now, I don’t know. Hopefully soon.

What do you appreciate in men most?

I like God-fearing men. Men with understanding, you know, regular guys. I am not the type that looks out for a tall, dark, rich and handsome guy. I am not that kind of girl. I am one who is looking for a God-fearing man, someone who is understanding, who loves other people. Someone with a good heart and can affect people positively. Someone who has less drama.

What is the worst cooking blunder you have committed?

It was when I tried to cook an Igbo soup for a friend of mine.

It was ofe-owerri. My friend made it for me. she taught me how to do it. And I promised to make her the same soup when she visits. Well, I forgot all the procedures. I just combined everything. It was crazy.

28

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

with Tunde Ayanda ayandaayotunde@yahoo.com 08034649018

Muyiwa Ige finds new sporting love MUYIWA, son of the late former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, has found a new interest out of his life as an architect.

The former Commissioner for Urban and Regional Planning in Osun State recently displayed a rare love for the Shooting Stars Football Club.

Muyiwa, who claimed to be a staunch supporter of Liverpool FC in England, was at the Adamasingba stadium recently with his son to watch the ‘Oluyole Warriors’ at work.

He revealed that his visit was to repeat history as he recalled his childhood days when his late father would bring him to the stadium to watch Shooting Star’s matches.

He had a good time at the stadium where he mixed freely with other fans of the club and he was delighted that his darling team carried the day by thrashing their opponent 3-0.

Tunde Osinowo hosts classy soiree

m o r f w e n g n i h t e m o S e b g n u g Kenny O

THE Ikoyi, Lagos home of the Osinowos was alive a few days ago when the Chairman of Tulsa Press, Tunde Osinowo staged a party that got the people asking who their new neighbour was.

The lawyer and his politician wife, Folake played the perfect hosts as they treated their guests to a sumptuous meal, nice music with the best of drinks to soak the mood.

The man, who claimed to have cut down his public appearances to focus on his family and business had a happy moment as he reunited with old pals and associates.

Kennis is named n o ti a st t to comthe new d is abou n a rsonality, e M p F .1 . me- 104 HOWBIZ nsmission gbe, has so ce test tra n n radio stau e g w m O e n y n e n th . f Ke e o v r e e e n sl ed the p his The ow have nurs thing big u who co-owns to id sa , is broadtion is The man adening h ving a ro ainment b rt f o te n E m by ha etime a drea perience x e the Prim deneye who is now g a long in st A as ca ation in o h y st , a D te io d ta h S it ra w un private ner in Og commissio io station. d w, time. floated a ra to those in the kno g Accordin

S

Jennifer Obayuwana, Peter Salah set for the altar?

THE rumour mill is bustling lately with a focus on the relationship of Polo Director, Jennifer Obayuwana and her partner, Peter Salah.

The lovers became the darling of celebrity reporters and photographers after Peter’s public marriage proposal to Jennifer at the Eko Signature in 2015, a move that lighted the idea of a grand wedding with talk of France as the likely location.

There were talks that the duo are slowing things down, getting to know each other more and escape influences.

Jennifer’s recent 30th birthday celebration in Lagos was a talkof-town. Her father, John Obayuwana pulled all resources to make it a big celebration.

Teniola Ojigbede to revive Rodizzio?

IF this piece making the rounds is close to the truth, then the patrons of funhouse, Rodizzio are sure going to be excited.

The Rodizzio bar, inside the GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, was once the melting pot of revellers before its sudden closure for unknown reasons.

The closure saddened a lot of patrons who thought it was on a temporary mission for renovation.

Heard that the owners closed down the hangout to perfect their operations and are now set to get back to business.

29

interview

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Chief Alani Bankole @75: I was once a petrol attendant and bus conductor

Today, the father of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Oluwo of Iporo-Ake, Abeokuta, Chief Suara Alani Bankole, celebrates his 75th birthday. In this interview by JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI and OLAYINKA OLUKOYA, he speaks on his growing up days and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

H

than the salary of ASO and this statistics thing was more of calculation while the banking thing was business. I went for the UBA examination, I passed it. I had the second one and also passed it and I was employed as a clerk. During my interview, I told them that I have been having my A’ Levels for two years and I now had the problem of leaving the Federal Office of Statistics without them knowing, otherwise they will write to the UBA to release me back, having spent so much to train me.

OW do you feel at 75?

I thank Almighty Allah for making everything about my life a complete success. What else do I want from God? I started business at the age of 15; today, I am a success in business. I started politics at the age of 36; today my best achievement is the installation of my son as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2007 and anywhere in the world, there is no success without succession. I can say I am a success. It is now left for my son to see how far he could go. I am fulfilled.

What was your growing up like?

I was told that I was born on the 17th of September, 1941 to the Bankole family of Iporo-Sodeke, Abeokuta. I was brought up among the extended family of the Bankole family. In those days, we had our own family compound in Iporo-Sodeke and our village at Odeda. The village was founded by Bankole himself. By the time I grew up, everybody that was living in that village were his children. I grew up among the children of Bankole; I had an elder brother and three younger ones. I was born into a Christian-Muslim family. My great grandmother had three children; they were all men. My grandfather was the first son of Bankole himself. Bankole was the Apena of Iporo at that particular time. He was the most senior chief and member in the then Alake’s cabinet. My grandfather, Somuyiwa, actually became a Muslim on arrival of Islam in Egbaland, while my father was the first son and first child of Somuyiwa. I am also the first son of my father who, by name, was Rufai Gbadebo Bankole. That is the atmosphere which I was brought up.

I started elementary school in 1949, because the nearest school to our village was about six miles. I had to trek and I was the only person from that village that went to that school.

I was received with great joy at St. Peter’s, Ile-Owu on my first day in school that, at last, one of the Bankoles’ has decided to come to that school. To them, it was a privilege and pleasure because in the whole of the present Odeda Local Government Area, I think we had about three elementary schools, which you people called primary schools nowadays.

I spent four years in that school. I had class one and two, standard one and two and that was the end of education in that school. In 1952, I had to move to Abeokuta and the parent school of that St. Peter School is St. Peter’s School, Ake. That school was a branch of St. Peter’s School, Ake. It was only at that school that you can have your education to standard six. I moved to Ake in 1953, where I had my education till 1956 when I finished the then elementary school. By the time we are about to finish, the free education under Chief ObafemiAwolowo’s government was introduced in 1955.

Although we were still under the British Government, but I think the system of Indirect Rule had shifted from the local chiefs to the politicians.

Can you still remember some of your school mates in Baptist Boys High School (BBHS)?

One of my classmates, a fine brilliant younger one, is Engineer FunsoKupolokun, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I joined the school in class two and Funso was such a brilliant chap. In those days, we used to call him, “Jacket”. Some other classmates are R.Ola Bello. He was the librarian of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, now a Muslim leader in Abeokuta; AdesolaAdelakun who was a General Manager at the Osogbo Rolling Mills and Sunday Shofolahan, a legal practitioner, among others. About 20 of us still meet regularly. We have our class set, in fact, Professor AjaoAdenekan was also one of my classmates.

What was your ambition during your days at BBHS? By the time I gained admission into BBHS, I was already a business man because I was in charge of two petrol stations in Abeokuta and I was in school. I was already used to business before I left for BBHS. I like business and my family consists mostly of business people. But naturally in those days, the ambition of some of us that attended BBHS was to be an

Before I left UBA, my salary was 50 pounds. The first month, I made a profit of 40 pounds, the second month, I made a profit of 65 pounds and I knew I was in business for real. engineer or doctor. So, my choice was Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. What that would be, I didn’t know but I had good grades when I left. I left BBHS in 1965 and moved to Lagos. The person that I was managing his petrol stations here in Abeokuta did not want me to go, but my father will not agree; my father insisted that I should move to Lagos to start my own life. I had a first cousin, John Bankole, who was working in the Nigeria Railways. In those days, people working in the UAC, Railways were the elites. So, my father wanted me to go and stay with him in Lagos and work in any of the big companies.

Incidentally, I got to Lagos and after two weeks, I got three jobs; two in UAC and Railways and the last one at the Federal Office of Statistics. I was attracted to the Federal Ministry of Statistics where I started working on the 1st of February, 1966.

I was attached to an American statistician who was seconded by the Federal Government in those days. I had a very good time at the Federal Office of Statistics because, as at that time, the Federal Government wanted to send 25 people to the University of Ghana and I was lucky to be selected. We went for diploma course which lasted for about one month and by time we returned, we became Assistant Statistical Officer (ASO).

Before we left for Ghana, I was doing my A’ Levels which was an alternative for those of us who did not go directly for HSC, so that we can go to the university. By the time I came back, I had my A’ Level examination after three months and, at the same time, I applied to the United Bank for Africa (UBA), but I could only apply with my School Certificate result because if I had told them that I had Diploma in Statistics, it would mean that I have been working with the Federal Office of Statistics and I need to be released from the place. I knew that the salary of people who entered UBA with School Certificate was higher

When did you leave UBA? In 1969, I was invited by a senior officer of the bank who informed me that I had been promoted and asked to be the branch accountant in Port-Harcourt. I rejected it because at that time, there was war. He then said the option was to resign if I don’t want to go. I told him point blank that I will resign. I did not know that the war will end in January 1970.

I resigned and my wife was not happy with my decision. She was worried about how I will keep the family together, but I assured her that all will be well.

I had confidence because I have a lot of certificates. In those days, it was easy to get jobs with your certificates. I have made up my mind at the point of resigning my appointment at UBA, that I wasn’t going to apply for any job again; that I was going for business.

How did you start your business?

I decided to go into supply of stationeries. The idea came because of my relationship with some people while I was in the banking sector. Many of them were expatriates and I knew many of them would be using stationeries. All of them patronised me.

Before I left UBA, my salary was 50 pounds. The first month, I made a profit of 40 pounds, the second month, I made a profit of 65 pounds and I knew I was in business for real. Initially, when I resigned, I became a bus conductor of my bus, plying Mushin to Apapa. In the evening, when the bus driver comes to deliver money, he will be telling stories and that was what informed my decision to work as a conductor. The following morning, I became the conductor of my own vehicle. By 10 am, I would have made the money my driver would have brought at the end of the day and I will now get down, go home and allow his conductor to continue with the job.

After I had done this for three weeks, my father sent for me in Abeokuta and he said, ‘Suara, I understand you are now a bus conductor in Lagos. What happened to you?’ I told him the vehicle was mine. I stopped following the vehicle and I started to use bus as a car to transport my goods to my customers. After about a month, I decided to buy a car because the driver was not happy with me, since he was not making much money as he used to while the bus was being used for commercial purpose.

Coincidentally, my second son, Speaker Dimeji, was born the month I bought my car. I continued with my stationeries business. I supplied stationeries to all the big companies on Broad Street, then. In 1971, while I was doing that the Federal Military Government promulgated a law reserving certain businesses to Nigerians only. They called it Nigeria Indigenization Decree. I approached some friends that I wanted to apply for clearing business at the Port. I employed someone that was knowledgeable in the business. I opened an office for my clearing and forwarding business in Lagos. That was how I started my clearing and forwarding businesses. After three years, I was well known in the clearing and forwarding business in Nigeria. By the time I was 34 years old, I was a multi-millionaire.

30

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

32

17 September, 2016

The South-West Editor Kehinde Oyetimi | 08074626431

Saturday Tribune CREW sari n Tu de B9u3530 081275 ndare nga - Ogu Yejide G8b1e16706853 0 unesan Tunde O9g54634 08116

t: r us; contac Got news fo bune@yahoo. ttri es hw ne ut so bu @ uthwesttri co.uk or so ail.com gm

Our language, value system under threat —Olufon T HE road linking the three major towns under your jurisdiction to the state capital is an eyesore. What are you doing to ensure its rehabilitation since it has a notoriety of causing auto crashes?

We have every cause to thank God because this year we have not recorded any accident on the road. This is not saying that we are happy with the state of the road. It should not be this bad but the unfortunate reality is what we have. As the president of the council, I have contacted Abuja and we got the promise that it would be fixed. I can tell you that it is in the 2016 budget. Paucity of fund which is not a secret is what is delaying it. I am sure that when the economy picks up, the road, including the bridge, will be fixed.

You were part of the Ooni, Oba Eniitan Ogunwusi’s delegation to the United States of America. How was the trip?

It was a very successful trip that reminded the western world the place of the Yoruba people in world history. We again showed the world why Yoruba is a race to be respected. The Ooni made us proud with that journey as evident in the kind of reception given to us in all the states that we visited.

Yoruba indigenes and their friends were wonderful. Their attitude showed that they were still in consonance with their culture.

The whites marveled at the way things were arranged. Cultural performance by our people added more spice to the trip and foregrounded the distinctiveness of the Yoruba race.

Did you have any special interaction with the Ooni on the trip?

Let me answer this question by telling you that I had a good relationship with the immediate past Ooni. History is there to confirm our bond. Oba Ogunwusi understands this history and relates well with it. He sees me as his brother-monarch and ensures I get the best reception wherever we go.

The US trip was not an exception. Where he went, I was there with him. I wish him long reign. He has shown his determination to work for the advancement of the Yoruba race, which is what we need now. I pray to God to give us more wisdom and strength to further the cause of the Yoruba ethnic stock to enviable heights.

Your last line is suggestive of an element of disappointment in the progress of Yoruba race. Could you shed more light on this?

If you observe the Yoruba people critically, you will understand what I mean. IleIfe is the cradle of the world. God created Ile-Ife specially as the source. Wherever you look in any part of the world, you face the shrine of Obatala. It is high time Yoruba sons and daughters realized their true identity and work towards achieving what God has destined them. The kind of erosion our language and value system especially are

The Olufon of Ifon Orolu, Oba Almaroof Adekunle Magbagbeola is the chairman of Irepodun/Orolu Council of Traditional Rulers. Since 2008 that he ascended the throne of his forebears, he has elevated the Olufon title among the council of Yoruba Obas within and beyond Osun State. In this interview by TUNDE BUSARI, the monarch delves into issues germane to the Yoruba race. Excerpts: suffering is disheartening. What is actually wrong with us that we prefer to elevate other values above ours? It is so sad. Our children are no longer speaking Yoruba Language.

Yet, they are not proficient in English Language, which they insist on speaking. They are neither here nor there. This abnormality, in particular, gives me cause for worry.

Without self-identification, there is little we can achieve as a race blessed with everything needed to be great. The white always laugh at us when they see us throw away our values in favour of theirs.

But don’t you think traditional rulers have a role to play in addressing this problem?

You are right, looking at it from the perspective that we, traditional rulers, are the custodian of custom and tradition. We shall continue to individually and collectively emphasise that we cannot afford to compromise our culture, part of which is our language. The Chinese are making progress in the world economy owing largely to their strict adherence to their language which ultimately helped their technological breakthrough. The evidence is there to see world over.

Is Yoruba unity realistic as it is said in some fora?

God has not created, and will not create, what is impossible. The obstacle to this unity is our propensity for challenging authorities. It is when we deal with ego and revert to the way our forefathers did it that that unity will be achieved. Because of our exposure to other values, we tend to question every statement and action of our elders. We enjoy flexing muscle where it is absolutely

A monarch must be prepared for these challenges and cope with them as they come. A traditional ruler is supposed to be a problem-solver to whom issues are directed. He must be firm and flexible depending on the nature of those challenges.

Oba Magbagbeola unnecessary. Everyone wants his or her opinion on issues heard and taken. This therefore leads to confusion. I always say it and I am insisting that we cannot all occupy leadership position because only God raises leaders.

Good followers will definitely have a good leader. I will not stop saying this because it is the truth based on experience. But in a situation whereby somebody gets elected for a terminal tenure and sees himself as above everybody including his royal father, the result is predictable. Without sounding immodest, traditional rulers are representatives of God on earth. While we are not equating ourselves with God, we deserve respect simply because only God crowns kings. Whoever is destined to be king will not leave this world until he is crowned.

The Yoruba race is known and respected by others as one which does not compromise respect of elders.

When you were younger, did it occur to you that you would one day become the Olufon?

You cannot become a king unless you are a prince. And the ambition or rather the prayer of every prince is to mount the throne of his forefathers. But I did not think of it. I was just living my life like any other boy. What I can only recall is that my mates respected my views. They always reserved important issues for me perhaps believing that what I would say would settle the matter. Also, I was class captain in primary school and prefect in secondary. You may say these positions prepared me for today but I was not doing those stuffs consciously or with a view to impressing anybody. That

is why I said earlier that only God crowns kings. God destined what I would become in life and it manifested.

Which schools did you attend?

I started out in Ghana. I attended Methodist Primary School, Osogbo but completed at Ansa-Ud-Deen Primary School, here in Ifon Orolu. I later attended Ifon/Erin Community High School. I returned to Osogbo and attended Osogbo Grammar School for my HSC (Higher School Certificate). I gained admission into the University of Lagos where I studied Business Administration. I later had a Master of Science in Energy and Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, Abraka. I worked with NNPC (Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation) until the call to mount the throne came in 2008.

Are there challenges posed by your status as royal father?

Any position of authority goes with its own peculiar challenges. The palace is not an exemption. Unfortunately, outsiders can only make one or two guesses and jump to conclusion on any issue affecting traditional rulers.

A monarch must be prepared for these challenges and cope with them as they come. A traditional ruler is supposed to be a problem-solver to whom issues are directed. He must be firm and flexible depending on the nature of those challenges. He must not be seen as a weakling because this will affect his decision and performance. Above all, he must be father to all, regardless of religious belief.

33

17 September, 2016

voxpop

Saturday Tribune

With Kate Ani

08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

Is it a duty or choice for a lady to wash her man’s undies?

Undergarments are made so easy to wash but some men sometimes give the responsibility of keeping them clean to their partners. OLIVIA AGWULOUN here asks Nigerians if one should wash one’s partner’s undergarment, either out of volition or as a matter of routine.

Rolake Bello F it’s with a washing machine, no problem. Is it not putting boxers in the machine and then wash? If it is with my hands, then pigs will be flying before that happens. I don’t even wash my own with bare hands let alone wash his.

I

Bomi Dehinde It’s the wife’s duty to ensure the husband’s clothes get washed, it is part of the package that comes with being a wife. I will not do this for a boyfriend but will gladly do it for my husband; in fact, I will derive pleasure from it.

Juliet Amadi Wetin do the man hand. For im papa’s house, no be im dey wash his underpants? Now that he’s married, doesn’t he have common sense?

Kunle Agbaakin Is there anything that’s compulsory in this world? You use your discretion, knowing your partner and knowing the things he expects from you; obviously most Nigerian guys expect you to wash, cook, clean and the rest.

Ifeanyi Nnana It is not her duty but a woman may find it interesting to wash her husband’s undergarment if the husband deserves and worth giving such treat but definitely not for bullies who will rather have a slave for a wife.

Bomi Segun Adesegun Well, am married to a wonderful wife who treats me fairly well. She washes my clothes, including my boxers as at when due and, in return, I do her biddings in appreciation. She loves doing it because she feels she is my help mate I love her for she is indeed my good wife and I am her good husband.

Alex Oamen It should be her choice. If, as a man, you can’t afford to wash hers, why would you expect her to wash yours?

We should avoid hiding our laziness

and dirtiness under the cloak of ‘it is the wife’s responsibility’ and trust me; it has nothing to do with her being submissive.

If it’s with a washing machine, no problem, is it not putting boxers in the machine and then wash? If it is with my hands, then pigs will be flying before that happens. I don’t even wash my own with bare hands let alone wash his.

Fred John It is not the duty of a wife to wash her husband’s undergarments but as a married couple, it should be the pleasure of the lady to do that for her husband. If she doesn’t do so, would she expect the housemaid to do that?

Undergarments are very personal and private clothing and if a man can’t find time to wash them himself, the wife is expected to assist him at least, for the sake of love and togetherness. But, it is certainly not a wife’s duty as defined by law or custom.

Chieke Frank It is not her duty, I should be able to do my laundry and if I am too preoccupied to do it, I could plead with my wife to help me out on that.

Adebayo Samuel It is a duty for the wise and African woman but a choice for the feminist and western-oriented wife.

Folasade

Ifeanyi

Kunle

Kim Ojo It is the duty of the wife to take care of her husband and washing his pants, boxers, singlets and clothes are no exceptions.

34

interview

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

What we ’ll do to get Lagos —Salvador, PDP chairman Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Honourable Moshood Salvador, in this interview with BOLA BADMUS, speaks on various issues affecting the party, both in the state and at the national level. Excerpts:

T

serious and yet we had so many like that. It is that attitude that I want him to put up till we get everything from them.

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just held another failed national convention.

What lesson has the party learnt from the exercise and what effort is the leadership putting in place to move forward from there?

Well, you called it failed national convention. If you can recall this year alone, I think that was the second one. The first and the second were orchestrated by (Governor Nyesom) Wike and (Governor Ayo) Fayose due to their inexperience and greed. These are inexperienced politicians that found themselves in that position and disregarded value of experienced people; they disregarded value of knowledge.

I think that William Shakespeare said it that giving power to the poor, the greed will have no bound. I think that is what is happening. Check their background; they are already governor and they are still eyeing another bigger office without even thinking of the outcome of the one they are sitting in. It is because of this greed that (Senator) Ali Modu Sheriff was able to lure them. They are the ones that brought Ali Modu Sheriff.

Let me tell you this categorically, personality wise, experience wise and wealth wise, whatever you say, both Wike and Fayose are too junior to Ali Modu Sheriff. Now for such junior ones to call such a person to come and be chairman and decide to throw him out, you know there would be problem. It would not augur well and that is the cause of the problem.

What are the lessons the party has learnt from the two experiences?

We have now learnt that a governor is just one among equals, it doesn’t mean he is more knowledgeable or experienced than any other person. The leaders and the elders of the party should sit down and map out their strategies and make such strategies available to the members; they should not rely on the governors.

The state PDP chapter appears to be embroiled in leadership as Mr Segun Adewale (Aeroland) is claiming to be the authentic party chairman, a position which you are holding, saying you were imposed.

What is your reaction?

I don’t have any reaction to that. Come to my office at the party secretariat, you will see me there. I am the Lagos State chairman of PDP. Segun Adewale is relating with me; he never discusses this type of thing with me. He is only helping you people to sell your newspapers, as far as I am concerned.

He was also one of the delegates on the list I sent to the national. I don’t know how you get all these things. Anybody can say whatever he likes; I don’t have any response to that.

PDP has been an opposition party in Lagos State for the past 17 years. As the chairman, what steps are you taking to ensure that the party wins the next election and become the ruling party in the state?

My strategy is not what I can be discussing on pages of newspapers or on air. I have my own reservations and I can confidently tell you that it is a herculean task. I only need to tell you that it is a winnable and doable project. During the last election, we were able to have a very good showing, winning eight House of Assembly seats out of 40 seats and six House of Representatives seats out of 24 seats. That is enough to tell you that it is not an impossible task, if the strategy is mapped out in a right way. I am putting up the strategy and I would surprise the whole nation. I am not here to blab or to boast.

But what do you think must have been responsible for the failure of the party to take over power in the past years?

I don’t want to be commenting on that; I want to be working and when you work, I can tell you what I did to succeed, rather than condemning one strategy or one method or the other. It is better for me to work, bring everybody on board.

Part of their problem is endless fights and quarrelling. That is why I responded to the issue of Segun Adewale (Aeroland) the way I did. Segun Adewale is a brother and a friend and we talk and strategise every time.

In every organisation, there are different interests and that

Do you ever attribute crises in PDP to the ruling party in the state?

I am not such personality who thinks in that line that APC might be behind our crisis or whatever.

Whoever must have been behind the crisis, what is important is for you to be able to solve the problem. I don’t believe any problem of ours is from APC. You said that Senator Bola Tinubu is not a pushover but deeply rooted in grassroots politics in South- West. As the APC National Leader who is based in Lagos, do you think PDP can win the state, as long as he remains in the political space?

Was he not in Lagos when we won all those seats I mentioned earlier? Let me tell you this; do you think he is happy to have lost those seats too? He is not. He tried his best and he couldn’t get them and we got them. There is every possibility for us to get Lagos, but we need to work harder and get more and that is all. And this is all about ability, strategy and planning. I always tell you that it is a very difficult and herculean task but not undoable.

It requires some special strategy which we are putting up and I can assure you; it would work.

is what is happening. I don’t even consider them as factions; I agree that we have crises in our party. But I have been warning and talking to them that, ‘look, if you have sympathy for Ali Modu Sheriff, let the sympathy remain with Ali Modu Sheriff.

But let us first think on how to win our state for PDP’. They have the right to do it (to be sympathetic to a cause) but they should not allow that to impede our success in Lagos State. That is what I am working on and we all agree on that. So factional thing should only be for national level, not our goal in Lagos PDP. Despite assurances by past party chairmen, Lagos PDP leadership and members always go into war when the polls get nearer. What do you think could be responsible for this?

Well, the past chairmen were not Moshood Salvador. I have my name and a stake in this thing. I would try as much as possible to make sure that we would not fight to go to any poll; I can assure you of that.

Lagos APC spokesperson always sees PDP as an unserious party, saying it should not dream of winning the state...

That was what he said that we are not serious and we got Ajeromi- Ifelodun House of Representatives seat from them.

That was what he said; that we are not serious and we got Surulere House of Representatives seat from them. That was what he said; that we are not serious and we got OshodiIsolo House of Representatives seat from them. We are not

We are going into the election, we would do the election, a free and fair election; one man, one vote; count the votes and the result must be announced immediately, not later.

APC has been saying PDP didn’t record any achievements for the whole of 16 years it ruled but ruins…

They cannot say that PDP did not work now. It is not possible for them to say that because they have made nonsense of the country; so they cannot say somebody is not good again. It is not possible for them to open their mouth anywhere in the country; they are covering their faces in shame.

What is your assessment of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in the state?

There is nothing to assess because he has not done anything. It is taking him too much time to get settled down in office.

The local government election will soon hold in the state although no date is fixed yet, what preparations is the party making towards the exercise?

Have they announced the date of the election? Let us know if they are really going to conduct the election. I can use this medium to get a message across to them. APC must not think it is business as usual. If they think what they did in the last local government election is what they want to repeat in the coming election, they will burn Lagos.

What do you think happen then?

There were so many local government areas we won and they did not release the results. In fact, in some cases, they would say you got eight councillors, but they are going to give you three. In Badagry, we won the chairmanship; it had been announced, but they refused to release it to us.

In Agbado-Oke-Odo, we won the chairmanship and about eight councillorship seats, but they insisted they were not releasing them. They employed area boys, guns and the police to dispatch everybody at the council secretariat.

So you can imagine the way the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) made the announcement.

They said “all seats won by ACN.” Is that the way to issue the results of the election without announcing the figures and giving a breakdown of those figures? They should not think such thing can happen again. I wouldn’t say more than that.

My own is that let them come and repeat that abracadabra they were doing before. It is not possible, period. We are going into the election, we would do the election, a free and fair election; one man, one vote; count the votes and the result must be announced immediately, not later. And the winner will take over immediately. Let’s wait and see; I don’t need to talk too much about that.

35 feature

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Ojude Oba: Globacom serenades Ijebu Ode again

By Grace Olayinka

I

T was a day to remember as the 2016 Ojude Oba festival was held in Ijebu Ode on Wednesday. Though the heavens opened with torrents of rain, it was not enough to stop the merriment that pervaded the entire landscape as sons, daughters, well-wishers and tourists from across Nigeria and the Diaspora thronged the Ojude Oba pavilion contiguous to the Palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

The festival again received the backing of foremost telecommunications company, Globacom. The ancient town wore the luscious green colour of the brand in varying shades and sizes of brand equity collaterals. This year’s edition was all the more indelible as three state executives were in attendance. Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State led the governors’ guild at the festival with Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa as Special guest while Mallam Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna came as first time witness of the convivial gathering.

One of Nigeria’s foremost entrepreneurs and Chairman of Globacom Limited, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr whose company was the main sponsor of the festival in his address to the event enjoined parents to instil cultural values in their children to enable them appreciate their origins and preserve Nigeria’s cultures and traditions.

The revered entrepreneur, who was represented by the Commercial Coordinator, Business Enterprise, Globacom, Mr. Folu Aderibigbe, said in order to preserve the cultural values of the people of Nigeria, there was an urgent need for parents to take it upon themselves to propagate the values behind cultural events. He said unless this was done, the next generation might not see any value in the festivals and ultimately abandon them.

He said the theme of this year’s edition, OJUDE OBA: OUR CULTURE, OUR PRIDE, was particularly appropriate as it captured the societal relevance of the festival, emphasising its place as a thing of pride to the Ijebus.

“Over the years, Ojude Oba has remained not only a point of crystallization and social re-engineering; it is as well an avenue for the constellation of ideas and initiatives that are geared towards prompting the growth of the society and the wellness of its people” he said.

Adenuga said Ojude Oba is also an exhibition platform to display the cultural wealth of the people and the values that unite them and has assumed the role of a social melting pot where all divergent issues affecting the lives of the people are processed, congealed and digested. He said it also provided a platform where the sons and daughters of Ijebuland both at home and abroad are reminded of their collective responsibility as active players in the socioeconomic growth of the geographical space known as Ijebuland.

Also speaking at the event, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona commended Globacom for its commitment to the promotion of cultures and traditions in Nigeria through its Heritage Series. Globacom has sponsored Ojude Oba for the past ten years as part of its Glo

Commercial Coordinator, Business Enterprise, Globacom, Mr. Folu Aderibigbe flanked by Olori Kemi Adetona, wife of the Awujale of Ijebuland and the Amanayabo of Twon -Brass, King Alfred Diette-Spiff (right), at the 2016 Ojude Oba Festival held in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Wednesday. Globacom was the main sponsor of the festival.

Special guest at the Ojude Oba Festival, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State presenting the winning prize to members of the Bobagbimo age grade, winner of the Regberegbe competition at the Globacom- sponsored festival.

Heritage Series.

One of the high points of the event was the Regberegbe Competition, also sponsored

by Globacom, to reward the best dressed and best coordinated age grades in the male and female categories.

In the male category, Egbe Bobagbimo Akile Ijebu was adjudged the best, while Egbe Bobagunte and Egbe Jagunmolu came second and third respectively. In the female category, Egbe Gbobaniyi came tops while Egbe Bobagunte and Egbe Bobamayegun came second and third respectively.

The three state governors, admonished Nigerians to consider their country’s diversity as a source of strength and greatness.

In separate speeches at the annual OjudeOba festival in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, they dissuaded Nigerians from preaching disunity, but utilize the country’s diversity “for the good and progress of Nigeria. It is not where one comes from or religion that should count but one’s diligent service. We should emulate Kabiyesi’s ability to forge

One of the high points of the event was the Regberegbe Competition, also sponsored

by Globacom, to reward the best dressed and best coordinated age grades in the male and female categories.

unity among his people, despite different religions. We should live in togetherness, love and harmony not only in Ogun State but also in Nigeria,” he opined.

Mr. El-Rufai described the festival as an “incredible event” and lauded the Awujale for his leadership in sustaining it as an annual event.

“I came here not as governor, not as guest of Governor Amosun or as a member of All Progressives Congress. I’m here because Awujale is my father, a man of great wisdom, unparalleled courage and integrity.

“Throughout my public service and exile, he was a true father to me. He advised and even supported me financially. I know the dream of Ijebu State is close to your heart and one can pray for your long life to see Ijebu State come to pass,” he said.

Governor Dickson, in the same vein urged Nigerians to find a way to export the Ojude Oba to the rest of the world through cultural tourism.

Over 40 age grades known as Regberegbes who were gaily dressed were part of a parade during which they each paid obeisance to the Paramount ruler before an estimated 20,000-strlng crowd.

Globacom also organized a music carnival where Katapot exponent, Reekardo Banks, Jude Abaga widely known as MI and Small Doctor, a new rave in Fuji genre of music serenaded the fun-loving crowd.

36

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

views.com

Made in Nigeria: A dream or possibility

By Dr. Tunji Olaopa

T

HE Nigerian development predicament has so many dimensions from which one can begin to unpack its meaning and solutions. But there is only one way Nigerians experience all these dimensions of economic disarticulation and policy incoherence: extreme suffering.

This suffering is aggravated by the indices of our development dilemma — jobless growth phenomenon, infrastructural deficit, illiteracy, unemployment, zero-level poverty, income inequality, very low mortality, institutional crisis, and so many more. Understanding the implication of Nigeria’s development predicament is theoretical, but alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians requires, as a first condition, a mix of theoretical and experiential understanding of what has gone wrong and how the elements of positive development can be put together in an enabling policy framework that will deliver the dividends of democratic governance to the Nigerian citizens. We need to first understand, for example, why government policies fail to deliver the dividends of democracy, and how these policies can be calibrated to do what government intended them to do in the first place.

One good way, therefore, to understand Nigeria’s development problem, since independence, is to beam the searchlight on the gradual but steadily growing discrepancy between Nigeria’s productive capacities and her increasing but debilitating consumptive patterns. Since the 80s, and after the terrible logic of oil has become firmly established, Nigeria’s productive energies have gradually lagged. Today, the Nigeria state has reached an unenviable point at which we consume what we do not produce.

This is one of the most significant and counterintuitive occurrence in development studies. There is no country that achieves any real and sustainable development by depending essentially on others to produce what it consumes.

In economic theory, the principle of comparative advantage, for instance, states that an agent or a country ought to produce more and consume less of any good or product for which they have a comparative advantage. Comparative advantage comes from the production of a good or product at a lower relative opportunity cost than any other country. A

country might even produce and export what its citizens are not skilled at producing. Nigeria has a definite comparative advantage in mineral production, automotive industry, light manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, textiles and garment, oil and gas, and petrochemicals, etc. for example, Nigeria is the world’s fourth largest producer and exporter of cocoa, the sixth largest producer of oil, the world largest producer of cassava, etc.

But unfortunately for Nigeria, we discovered crude oil, and every other thing became moribund. With oil, Nigeria became a high consuming state, its economic structure became essentially mono-cultural and driven by what Alfred Marshall calls “negative production”—a weak productive capacity that ensures that, in order to feed its growing consumptive pattern, a state imports what it possesses the capacity to produce. A gloomy statistics tells the rest of the story. Nigeria’s importation of especially major staples like rice, wheat, fish, and sugar has grown to an alarming $11million recently. The cumulative total amount spent on the importation of rice and wheat between 1960 and 2013 is $28.4billion. And even though Nigeria is a major world producer of rice, we have now become the second largest importer of rice in the world from an annual average of one thousand metric tons between 1961 and 1971 to a peak average of 2.5 million metric tons in 2012.

Nigeria’s production of cocoa and cassava where we have huge comparative advantages has lagged tremendously, especially due to the fact that only 50 per cent of Nigeria’s 71million hectares of cultivable land are under current use. Cocoa production has slide to an 8 per cent global output from its original 20 per cent after independence.

The domestic manufacturing industry has suffered from lack of electricity, low technological development and high interest rates. Even the oil and gas industry has remained disappointingly sub-optimal with a growing discrepancy between average crude oil production per day (2million bpd), installed refining capacity (445’000bpd) and actual average refined product (82’400bpd). This has undermined the tantalizing possibility of Nigeria becoming a hub for refining and exporting petroleum products through

effective development of the crude oil value chain.

No one ought to be surprised therefore at the multitude of Nigeria’s economic challenges: declining global demand for crude oil resulting in negative price shocks, decreasing foreign exchange inflows, plummeting foreign exchange reserve, increasingly weakening currency, poor and inefficient infrastructure especially power and transportation, high dependence on oil revenues by all levels of government, increasing State Governments’ debt obligations especially of workers’ salaries, weakening domestic consumption, etc. All these have dealt a huge blow to Nigeria’s quest for a self-reliant and self-sustaining economy functioning on the optimal production of local goods and services. The Nigerian economy is essentially a consumerist economy: pencils, toothpicks and toothbrushes are major imports for Nigeria; our MDAs now effectively run on imported generators!

And so in a globalizing world given to a neoliberal capitalism economic ideology, Nigeria does not stand any chance of making her democratic experiment a truly empowering system that not only liberate the citizens capacities to become whoever and whatever they want to become, but to also protect them from the vagaries of a global system that is unequal in terms of its benefits and advantages. The global capitalist dynamics is mightily skewed against less developed and non-industrialized countries, especially those beholden to the Washington Consensus and its many crippling conditionalities. Globalization is often couched in glorious terms.

But the “if” of policy implementation in Nigeria is a very huge one, considering that reforms are easy to come by but not easy to see through to their logical conclusions. The policy environment in Nigeria is a tough one that is encumbered by political and other extra-policy matters that drag and impede policies from achieving their true democratic intentions. With our increasing orientation towards everything foreign, we have no choice if we must move forward and become development—we need to produce what we consume or consume what we produce.

Olaopa, a retired federal permanent secretary wrote in from Ibadan.

Winning the peace in North-East Nigeria

By John Campbell WE are talking about two distinct issues, though they are directly related: First, strategies for peace building in northern Nigeria, and, second, the delivery of humanitarian relief to respond to a famine, which may be the largest we have ever seen.

The first—peace building—must be long term in development and implementation, but if successful, the consequences can be profound. By reducing the appeal of violent extremism, peace building strategies can help inoculate a society at the grass roots against movements like Boko Haram. And, Boko Haram is, among other things, a grass-roots movement.

And it is Boko Haram’s wanton destructiveness, and the response to it by the security services, that has led to the current famine in Northern Nigeria. We cannot measure with accuracy the number of victims involved. In August, UN Assistant Secretary-General Toby Lanzer warned that the UN has yet to have any meaningful contact with some two million people in the region, “and we can’t assess their situation. We can only estimate that it’s awful.” With Nigeria in a recession and without speedy outside help, “we will see, I think, a famine unlike any we have ever seen anywhere.”

And those two million not yet observed are in addition to the estimated 2,150,000 Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP) that have received some official notice.

An estimated one million refugees from Boko Haram are crowded into Maiduguri. As elsewhere, only a small percentage are living in camps; most have been taken in by kith and kin or are on the street. In the much smaller town of Bama, there are twenty-four thousand. According to Doctors Without Borders, fifteen thousand are children. About thirty per day are dying mostly from diarrhea and malnutrition. In the section of the camp called “Camp Nursing,” of the children screened, two-thirds were emaciated while 39 percent had a severe form of malnutrition.

Altogether, we really don’t know how many IDP’s or potential famine victims we are talking about. A conservative Chatham House estimate is that fifteen thousand have died as a result of fighting between Boko Haram and the security services, and the World Food Programme estimates that there

are 2,400,000 internally displaced, and 4,500,000 face food insecurity. Other observers argue that these figures are much too low. Nevertheless, Chatham House is a useful benchmark.

With respect to strategies for peace-building, has the American University of Nigeria Adamawa Peace Initiative (API) worked? It might be argued that it is too soon to claim success, but I find it compelling that no participant in the initiative has left to join a violent extremist movement. And there is plenty of anecdotal evidence the initiative has significantly lowered the temperature in Yola.

Why has it enjoyed apparent success, at least up to now?

Let’s start with the framework. The API is built on close ties with community leaders. They play a crucial role in identifying the youth most at risk. Crucial is its interfaith approach.

Many of us here may not understand how rare it has been in Nigeria’s northeast to have a bishop and an imam on the same panel as we do tonight. With respect to API, Muslim and Christian clergy and community leaders have been involved since the beginning. And every activity includes women.

Of great importance, and reflecting its local focus, the initiative provides what its recipients want—not necessarily what the outside experts think would be good for them.

Hence, young males want sports. So there is peace through sports. Teams made up of Christians and Muslims play other teams made up of Christians and Muslims—not Christians vs. Muslims.

Women want to be able to earn a living. So there is ‘Waste to Wealth’ and ‘Creating with Threads,’ turning plastic bags into products that can be sold, using left-over scraps of cloth to make items such as place mats that can also be sold.

There is a thirst for literacy, so there are reading programs, targeted at young women and males enrolled in Islamic schools, among other vulnerable groups.

There is a thirst for IT training. So, it is provided, as circumstances permit. And so forth.

The API has a number of stakeholders. But, I submit the American University of Nigeria has played a crucial role. The vision of its founder, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, was that of an American University with a focus on science and technical skills. He recalled the benefit he himself had received from such teaching by Peace Corps volunteers in the

early years of Nigeria’s independence. Indeed, when you go through the gates, you are in an American institution. There are books on the shelves, IT is everywhere, and dorms are not over-crowded.

AUN’s vocation is to be a development university–to take the knowledge, skills, and solutions from the university to the larger community. So, the university, American in standards and curriculum notwithstanding, never has been an ivory tower, cut off from its environment.

As part of this vocation, all students must work in a community development project. Initially there was some student and faculty resistance—Adamawa and Yola are desperately poor, and there is that old adage about bailing out the ocean.

But, apparently between 2011 and 2013, student opinion turned strongly in favor. Thanks, at least in part, to strong university leadership.

So, the university was well placed to coordinate and lead the establishment of the API in conjunction with local leaders.

The university assumed a similar role with respect to food distribution to the wave after wave of internally displaced who descended on Yola and Adamawa—eventually, more than 300,000. As elsewhere, only a small percentage went into camps. By 2014, the population of Yola, normally 400,000, had doubled. Even though many IDP’s have tried to return home, there remain at least 150,000 in Yola, still being fed.

As with strategies to counter violent extremism, humanitarian relief was an interfaith effort, and it was dependent on close ties with local leadership. The funding was raised locally – in a very poor part of Nigeria that has, in effect, been part of a war zone. There were also a few, small contributions from aid agencies. And the American University of Nigeria played a crucial coordinating role. Some 300,000 were fed, mostly vulnerable women and children. But the funding, has now run out, and it is hard to see where more can come from locally. Without outside assistance, it is hard for me to see how the feeding can continue. But without it, more children will starve. The famine in northeast Nigeria is more than any country can face on its own. To me, the inescapable conclusion is that the international community needs to become much more involved.

Campbel posted this piece on cfr.org.

37

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Editor: Wale Emosu tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08111813054

Falcons seeded ahead AFCON 2016 draw

D

EFENDING champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria have been seeded for the 2016 women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon with the draw slated for tomorrow in Yaounde.

The draw will be staged at the Palais Polyvalent des Sports in Yaounde.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the Falcons will head group B of the eight –nation tournament, starting in Cameroon on November 19.

Hosts Cameroon will head group A, with Ghana and South Africa also to avoid each other in the group phase as a result of having the best results in the last three editions of the Women’s AFCON formerly known as AWC. Egypt, Kenya, Mali and Zimbabwe make up the rest of the field in this year’s finals.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it will soon unveil final preparations for the Fal-

cons ahead of the Women’s Cup of Nations.

With two months to the competition, General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, insists the country’s football body has great plans for the Super Falcons amidst its financial troubles.

“We are aware of the closeness of the upcoming women’s nations cup tournament and planning for it,” Sanusi told Goal.

“The NFF is already liaising with the technical committee as well as technical crew to determine an appropriate resumption date which will be announced soon.

“We know most of the players involved are foreign-based but we’re planning to ensure the home-based players open camp soon before those abroad join them,” he said.

After overcoming Senegal to seal a qualification ticket, coach Florence Omagbemi’s side would be hoping to resume in good time to defend the African women title they won in 2014.

Wikki still good for NPFL title —Maikaba

Falcons’ Desire Oparanozie (left) awaits 2016 AFCON opponents.

3SC players suspend strike PLAYERS of the Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan yesterday returned to training ahead of tomorrow’s Nigeria Premier League clash against Warri Wolves.

The team staged a three-day strike in protest against unpaid salaries match bonusses and allowances.

However, the team on Friday trained just ahead of the travel to Warri because of what the players, call ‘feeling for teeming fans of the club.

“We are yet to be paid but we are training just to honour well wishers of

the team,’ one of the players told Tribunesport.

“The fact that we have made our grievances known, the commissioner had been here and obviously the state governor has known, the rest is up to them. We are going to Warri to get the points at stake and hopefully that result will ginger the authorities to listen to our plight’’ Tribunesport reports that the full complement of the players and the technical crew attended the session on Friday afternoon.

WIKKI Tourists coach, Abdu Maikaba, has insisted his club will still be gunning for the Nigeria Premier League crown despite recent losses pushed them down to fourth on the table.

Wikki, now on 51 points, five points behind leaders Rivers United with three rounds of matches to play, will get their title hopes back on track with a home win over the Garden City lads.

“It will be totally out of place for Rivers United to think they could come to Bauchi to pick any points,” declared Maikaba.

“It will be tough to beat Rivers United, but if you wish to be a champion, you must scale the hurdles in front of you.

“I have told my players that to win the league we must have the attitude of champions.”

Wikki Tourists are still smarting from a lastminute 2-1 loss at Nasarawa United last weekend, which has adversely affected their title aspirations.

“We almost got all three points at Nasarawa United, which would have improved our chances of winning the league for the first time,” Maikaba said.

“But all hope is not lost because we can’t afford what happened to us last season to repeat itself.”

Nigerian Barakat Quadri wins ITF U-18 tennis tourney in Togo

3SC defender, Izu Joseph

NIGERIA’S Barakat Quadri on Friday emerged girl’s singles winner of the 2016 ITF West/ Central Africa 18 and Under Circuit holding in Lome, Togo, with a 6-2, 6-2 win over seventh seed, Carmine Becoude of Benin Republic.

Quadri had on Wednesday bundled out Spain’s top seed, Jansen Figueras in straight sets and the win at Stade Omnisports capped a memorable two weeks for the 14-year-old Quadri, who also triumphed at the Benin leg of

the world junior rankings tournament where she also defeated Becoude 6-0, 6-0 in the final at Stade La’ Amite in Cotonou.

It was her eighth consecutive win at the circuit and quite remarkably, the player whose yearlong ITF scholarship in Morocco will run out in November, is yet to lose any set.

Nigeria’s coach Mohammed Ubale attributed Quadri’s impressive outing to her mental strength.

“She knows the court. She

knows what to do with the ball coming to her and the one to return unlike most of her opponents who believes so much in power.

“Though its a bit tough for her here in Lome unlike in Cotonou because the focus is a bit on her yet she still pull through. Its not easy to win two straight tournaments and this is a big achievement in her career. She made almost all the other players looked ordinary, including those from Europe and United States.”

Barakat Quadri

38

sport

17 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

CAS lifts ban on Real over signing of minors

R

EAL Madrid has won a small victory in its dispute with FIFA over the illegal signing of under-age foreigners after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) temporarily lifted its ban on appeal.

The decision means eight

players, including French coach Zinedine Zidane’s sons Theo and Elyaz, can play for their respective youth teams until the appeal decision is made.

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport has granted the precautionary measures that Real Madrid appealed

for following the sanction issued by FIFA,” said a statement issued by the European champions on Friday.

The CAS, sport’s highest tribunal, has never overturned a transfer ban from soccer’s ruling body FIFA on the signing of minors.

Atlanta ’96 book celebrates Nigeria’s biggest sporting triumph An e-book titled “Nigeria’s Olympics: Sports and National Development” has been launched to celebrate Nigeria’s biggest sporting triumph at the Olympic Games 20 years after.

Co-edited by Lolade Adewuyi of football website Goal.com Nigeria and Tosin Adebisi of the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, the free book is a collection of 10 essays from a writing competition organised to celebrate the victory of the Dream Team at the Atlanta ’96 Olympics.

The book was released at an awards ceremony to fete the winner and finalists of #WritingGamesNG

on Thursday September.

The essay competition, open to final year students in Nigerian higher institutions and National Youth Service Corps personnel, was won by Oladele Oluwasogo Dare, a National Youth Service Corps pmember based in Anambra State.

The joint runners-up were Ekene Ezike, NYSC Osun State and Alfred Olajide, NYSC Taraba State.

The third place was taken

by Olumodeji Gabriel Shola, NYSC Anambra State.

The other finalists were Mmerenu Harrison (NYSC Kwara), Okanga Okanga (NYSC Lagos), Orji Sunday Sylvester (University of Nigeria, Nsukka), Adewale

CAF Champions League:

FIFA has not disclosed the names of the 39 players originally investigated but Real director general Jose Angel Sanchez said they included Zidane’s four sons.

Theo, 14, and Elyaz, 11, represent Real’s youth teams while Enzo, 21, and Luca, 18, play for the

Abiodun Sodiq (Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba), Temitope Bakinde (NYSC Lagos) and Ikpebe Akpa Simon (Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti).

“Words presently have failed me in expressing my heartfelt gratitude to everyone. You have successfully turned a near frustrating service year into a life changing story,” said Oladele, who went on an all-expenses paid trip to attend the 2016 Writivism Festival in Kampala, Uganda.

club’s reserve side Castilla in Spanish football’s third tier.

FIFA has reduced the number of players investigated to eight, leaving out Enzo and Luca among others and Morocco international Achraf Hakimi who had been prohibited from playing for Castilla.

Earlier this month, Real and Atletico Madrid lost their appeals against transfer bans imposed for breaching rules on signing non-Spanish under-18 players.

Real are still banned from registering new signings in any age group until January 2018.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (right)

crimereport

Confession of a fraudster: How we steal money from people’s bank accounts

Sundowns battle Zesco today MAMELODI Sundowns are out to upset Zambian side Zesco United in their CAF Champions League semi-final first leg clash at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola today. The match is billed to start at 3:30pm (Nigerian time).

The Brazilians have done exceptionally well in the continental showpiece and are close to claiming glory, but they first have to prove their worth in Zambia.

Should they succeed in the two-legged semi-final, the Brazilians will be making their second appearance in the Champions League final, having been beaten to the trophy by Al Ahly in the 2001 edition.

Although the two Southern African giants have previously met in the past season in friendly matches, the match is seen as a huge clash.

Ahead of the match, Pitso Mosimane’s men faced the likes of Enyimba and Zamalek in the group stages as they finished as Group B winners.

However, this is the first meeting of the two sides in a competitive match with both sides hoping to emerge victorious.

Speaking of today’s match, goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene said Zesco had quality players and would be a tough task.

“They have a lot of good players, especially upfront. They have Clatous Chama. He is a winger and they also have [Jesse] Were,” said Mweene.

“They are dangerous players. If we do not pay attention to them, they can hammer us. It will be tough, but we have done our homework.

“We are familiar with the conditions in Zambia.

We have played there before [during pre-season last year] and we know the place properly.

“It’s not surprising because as you can see they have a good coach (George Lwandamina) who is working with both the club and the national team.”

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

18 SEPTEMBER, 2016

www.tribune.com.ng

N200

interview

Many Nigerians in UK are in conditions worse than situation in Nigeria —CANUKpresident EDO GOVERNORSHIP glamour

I’m too

lazy to follow

fashion trends

—Rita Edwards

Obaseki will floor PDP —Obende

Why Ize-Iyamu will win —Ikimi

Plus news, sports, fashion... and more!

Book your copy

glitz

I’m not in competition to remain number

one comedian

—Ali Baba

39

sport

17 September, 2016

Eto’o slams Ronaldo over Xavi

Leicester must come back down to earth in EPL —Ranieri REIGNING English Premier League champions, Leicester City face the latest challenge of Claudio Ranieri’s remarkable managerial reign today, to come back down to earth from the high of a Champions League win for a domestic game against Burnley.

Ranieri, who led City to a stunning Premier League title triumph in his first season in charge last term, will not accept any excuses.

“For us everything is new, I want to see how my players respond,” the Italian told a news conference on Friday.

“They told me they are okay and they must show this on the pitch. We don’t have excuses because if they beat us, they are better than us.”

The Foxes won 3-0 at Club Bruges in their firstever Champions League match in midweek.

“I’m so pleased with our performance,” Ranieri said.

The EPL champions who have Nigerian international, Ahmed Musa as their record signing (£16m), have won only one of their opening four Premier League games this season.

Saturday Tribune

SAMUEL Eto’o has blasted Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo over his attack on Barcelona legend Xavi.

Ronaldo mocked Xavi this week over his lack of individual honours.

Eto’o, who played with Xavi at Barca, told Cadena SER: “If the Ballon d’Or was fair, Xavi would have won five or six.

“He deserves all the respect in the world.”

Barca face another of Eto’o’s former clubs, Leganes, this weekend.

He added: “If ‘God’ Messi wants to play, we will find it very difficult to win on Saturday.”

Rio Paralympics medals table

TWENTY YEARS AGO... Arsene Wenger waves to Arsenal fans on his way to Highbury dug-out for first time. He was appointed the club’s coach on September 16, 1996.

1.

China

85

69

43

2.

G/Britain

53

31

32

3.

Ukraine

36

28

31

4.

USA

32

34

27

5.

Australia

15

24

22

6.

Germany

14

19

12

7.

Netherlands

12

16

24

8.

Brazil

11

25

21

9.

New Zealand

9

5

5

10.

Italy

8

13

11

11.

Nigeria

8

2

2

Barca will learn from home defeat —Enrique F C Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique said they will have last week’s surprise home defeat to Alaves at the forefront of their minds when they confront La Liga newcomers, Leganes today.

Madrid outfit Leganes

are playing their first season in Spain’s top flight after securing promotion, but have already sprung a few surprises, winning at Celta Vigo and holding Champions League runners up Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw.

After Barca were dealt a nasty surprise at home to promoted Alaves, losing 2-1 after the coach made eight changes to the team, Luis Enrique believes they will be extra careful today.

“I’m here to remind the players of how well teams like Leganes can play.

Alaves

were also a team we thought were worse than us and look what happened,” the coach told a news conference on Friday.

“The best way to remind them of that is to look at the Alaves game. We know if we don’t play at our best at Leganes, we won’t win.”

Barcelona thrashed Celtic 7-0 on Tuesday in the Champions League, the club’s biggest ever win in the competition, with a vastly different starting line-up to the one that lost to Alaves.

Luis Enrique did not say whether he was planning on fielding a full-strength team against Leganes, but reiterated the importance of

rotating his squad over the course of the season.

“Every player is aware that with a fixture list of over 60 games in a season it’s practically impossible for a player to play 90 minutes in every game,” he said.

“But Barca is always the same team. We don’t have an A team or a B team, or an H or J or Z team. We have 11 men wearing Barca shirts and every player that wears a Barca shirt offers the same

France confirms Cote d’Ivoire friendly FRANCE will face the reiging African champions, the

Aguero close to new City deal Aguero

STRIKER Sergio Aguero is close to agreeing a contract extension with Manchester City, manager Pep Guardiola revealed on Friday.

The Citizens are due to announce that the Argentina international has agreed a oneyear extension to his current deal, which will commit him to the club until 2020.

Guardiola said he was “so, so happy” about the news.

“I don’t know if I am the right person to talk about that,” the City manager added. “I think he’s going to extend his contract, but it’s not official.”

Aguero, who joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011, will miss Saturday’s Premier League home match against Bournemouth as he serves the second game of a three-match domestic suspension.

But he proved his quality yet again on Wednesday,

thing.”

The coach was also not complaining about his side playing in La Liga’s new 1300 local time slot for the first time.

“It’s a different time to what we’re used to and we have to adapt to it. It’s the same time for both teams so there’ll be no excuses from us,” the coach added.

“We can choose to either find results or excuses, and we prefer to find results.”

scoring his second hat-trick of the season as Borussia Moenchengladbach were beaten 4-0 in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.

It took his tally for the season to nine goals in just five games.

“He’s a good player, no?”

Guardiola said. “These are players you want to stay because they have the passion to play at the club. We cannot disguise his quality. If he stays, I will be so, so happy.”

Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in an international friendly in November, the French Football Federation announced on Friday.

The game is scheduled for November 15, four days after Didier Deschamps’s beaten Euro 2016 finalists take on Sweden in a 2018 World Cup qualifier at the Stade de France.

It has been over 10 years since the two teams last played in a 3-0 win for France in Montpellier in August 2005.

The Elephants are preparing to defend the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon early in the new year.

Jos High Court sentences Dikko, Abubakar to prison

•LMC files appeal Isaac Shobayo -Jos

N150

SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER, 2016

NO 1,169

JUSTICE I. I Kunda of Plateau State High Court, sitting in Bukuru, Jos South Local Government area of Plateau State has or-

CAF names Eagles’ nemesis for Nigeria/Zambia tie

By Dipo Ogunsola

NIGERIA’S Super Eagles could have wished for another choice as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday named Egyptian Ghead Grisha as the man at the centre for the October 9 Russia 2018 qualification match against the Chipolopo of Zambiain Ndola.

The Super Eagles won the 2013 Africa Nations Cup in South Africa but had a day to forget with Grisha in a group game against

Zambia.

Nigeria desperately needed a win after an initial 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso and had gone ahead with a goal by Emmanuel Emenike. However, shortly before half time, Ghead awarded Zambia a ‘soft’ penalty when Ogenyi Onazi went on an aerial challenge.

Zambia’s goalkeeper, Kennedy Mweene cooly slotted past Vincent Enyeama.

In a post-match meeting with the media, Enyeama alleged Grisha acted script for those who wanted to keep Zambia, then as

defending champion, in the tournament.

On October 9, Grisha will be assisted by compatriots—Tahssen Abo El Sadat Bedyer (assistant referee 1), Ahmed Hossameldin Taha (assistant referee 2) and Ibrahim Noureldin (fourth official).

Also appointed is former FIFA referee Zeli Sinko (from Cote d’Ivoire), who will serve as referee assessor, while former Ghana FA president Mahamadu Nuru D e e n Jawula will be match commissioner.

Grisha (left) being challenged by Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama, Ogenyi Onazi and Mikel Obi, over a penalty awarded Zambia at AFCON 2013.

Japanese cash gift tears Dream Team apart T

By Our Reporter

HE last may not have been heard of the $390,000 donated by Japanese medical doctor, Katsuya Takasu, to Nigeria’s Dream Team which claimed the bronze medal at the football event at the Rio Olympics.

Tribunesport was reliably informed that the proposed sharing formula adopted was greeted with mixed feelings by a top official and some members of the team. A reliable source who was at the meeting where it was decided stated that the sum of $16,000 was each proposed for the top figure and six other members of the technical crew who were officially accredited.

However, the source added that the top figure rejected the amount credited to him based on the fact that he believed he was

central to the bronze medal feat and as such should get more than the others.

According to the source, captain of the team, Mikel Obi stepped in to resolve the issue as he volunteered to let go $4,000 from the amount he was to receive to now add up to $20,000 for the aggrieved man.

It was also gathered that the man’s family member and his aide, who is not an official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), were not left out of the largesse. They are expected to receive $2,000 and $5,000 respectively. This decision, according to the source was taken singularly by the man with the full support of a family member who is also another aide to him.

Also to benefit are the Media Officer, the Team Curator and Coordinator who will receive $5,000 each.

However, six other accredited officials will each get $16,000.

Also, each of the 18 players will receive $14,000 while the four alternate players will get $7,000 each.

The source noted that the influential family member had earlier proposed the sum of $30,000 for the man who wanted more, but was turned down after a lot of deliberations. It was gathered that the influential family member had always followed the Dream Team to all the championships the team participated in.

It was further revealed that when the team got to Nigeria the said family member had a row with an official of the team over balls and 50 pairs of Nike boots given the team in Atlanta during their training tour.

Efforts to speak with the NFF officials and the man at the centre of the case on the issues were unsuccessful by press time.

dered that the chairman of League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko and Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, be committed to Jos Federal Prison for 14 days and issued an arrest warrant of commitment.

Following the expulsion of Giwa Football Club of Jos, Mustapha Abukakar of Giwa FC supporters club had dragged the LMC and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to the Plateau State High Court challenging expulsion of the team from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The state High Court Jos, Plateau State, had earlier granted the prayers of the club seeking its reinstatement to the NPFL, but the LMC Chairman and the Chief Operating Officer are yet to comply with the the court order.

Meanwhile, the LMC through its official twitter handle, the League Management NG @LMCNPFL, in reaction to this development tweeted: “#Jos High Court: LMC stay-execution prayers and appeal against imprisonment of its officers to be heard at the Appeal Court on M o n day.”

English Premier League Fixtures Saturday, September 17

Hull City West Brom Man City Leicester Everton

vs Arsenal 3:00pm vs West Ham 3:00pm vs Bournemouth 3:00pm vs Burnley 3:00pm vs Middlesbrough 5:30pm

Sunday, September 18

Watford vs Man Utd Southampton vs Swansea C/Palace vs Stoke Tottenham vs Sunderland

12:00pm 2:15pm 2:15pm 4:30pm

NPFL matchday 36 fixtures Sunday, September 18

Kano Pillars Plateau Utd Rangers Warri Wolves Wikki Tourists Abia Warriors Lobi Stars Enyimba Heartland

vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs

El-Kanemi (PP) Ikorodu Sunshine Stars Shooting Stars Rivers Utd Nasarawa Utd FC IfeanyiUbah MFM, Lagos Niger Tornadoes (PP)

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 17/9/2016.