18th November 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,636 FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

Buhari to Kerry: Corruption is fighting us —P5

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

Manufacturers lost N500bn to flexible foreign exchange policy —MAN —P11

TribuneOnline

Nigerian Tribune

N150

There won't be famine next year —Agric Minister

—P11

FG owes Jonathan, OBJ, IBB, Shagari, others 10 months salaries, allowances •SGF laments paucity of funds, says Democracy Day celebration done on credit —P2 •Revenue generation agencies hiding money from FG —NEC

Panic as PDP, APC supporters protest in Port Harcourt —P10

How N1.2bn was paid into Fayose's account —Witness —P34

TODAY'S SPECIAL

Your makeup bag may cause you harm From left, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Professor Niyi Osundare and Chief Jacob Olabode Amao, all awardees, at the 68th convocation ceremony of the University of Ibadan, on Thursday.

PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Ondo: Appeal Court reserves judgment in Makarfi's appeal

—P31

By Vera Onana WHILE owning a makeup bag, for the average lookconscious woman, may just be a necessity, for the fashionistas, it is as important as the air they breathe. The bag, which Continues pg4

2 news

Friday, 18 November, 2016

The management and staff of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, cutting the 67th anniversary cake of the company, at the Tribune House, Imalefalafia, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, on Thursday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN.

FGowesJonathan,Obasanjo,IBB,Shagari,others10monthssalaries,allowances As SGF laments funds paucity, seeks NASS intervention in 2017 budget Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja FACTS emerged on Thursday that former presidents of the country, including President Goodluck Jonathan, Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and others, have not been paid their salaries and allowances by the Federal Government since January this year.

This was made known when members of committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, led by Senator Tijjani Kaura, visited office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Findings, however, showed that the non-payment of the money was due to lack of approval which ought to have been given by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It indicated that the payment schedule had severally been sent for the president’s approval to access the funds in the service wide vote for the purpose, but all attempts in that direction were to no avail.

However, Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, explained that the non payment was attributed to non-availability of funds in service wide votes for salaries of ex-presidents.

According to him, “There is a department responsible for payment of former presidents’ salaries.Presently funds are not available in service wide votes to do that.

We are aware there was a protest in Bayelsa State that the former president was not paid, but we’ve explained that he’s not the only one affected.

“Others affected are interreligious council, traditional rulers council and so on. For some reasons, we have been writing and writing, but there

has been no response. And there is presently no money to pay them.

“The budget for this year’s Democracy Day was N33million, and we had to do it on credit, we are yet to pay. There are lots of retreat which ought to be organised, but there’s no money to do any. The last time we got any release was in August.”

The senators were not swayed by the explanation, all kicked against the nonpayment, but insisted that joint efforts be made between the office of the SGF and the committee towards finding a solution to the problem, which they described as unfortunate.

The vice-chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, described the nonpayment of former presidents as abnormal, saying “what we have seen here is an

abnormality. Before referring any matter to the National Assembly, it is a function of the executive to appropriate funds. Therefore, the SGF should understand that there is something wrong in this office that must be addressed.

“There is no way you can run the expenses of this office without cash backing. We definitely have to draw the attention of the budget office and ministry of finance to the problems,” Senator Hunkuyi said.

The lawmaker also faulted the office of the SGF over replication of 2016 budget details in its 2017 budget proposal.

Former governor of Sokoto State, and lawmaker representing Sokoto North in the National Assembly, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, was furious against the nonpayment of former presidents

by the office of the SGF. Hesaid:“Wecanunderstand if former President Goodluck Jonathan has not been paid because he just left office. But for someone like Shagari, who lives from hand to mouth, it is something I can’t understand.

This development is really unfortunate; It doesn’t indicate seriousness and it doesn’t indicate fairness.”

The SGF, in his explanation, expressed outright disappointment at the development, saying “when I got into this office, there was a lot of money in this account, but there was no TSA. “Before the government left office, they jacked up salaries.

We told former President Jonathan and Obasanjo that they cannot earn twice what the others were earning. So we told them we wanted to review it, and we did. So they now earn what the others earn as well.

“When I came into office, there was N1.5 billion in the account. We had payment of all liabilities which came to 700 million. Then we wrote to the president to return what was left to the TSA. That was how we came back to a zero balance.

“It is painful to me because as a person, I know all of them (ex-presidents) personally.

Now, why have we not been able to get the money? even though we requested for a budget of N700 million.

“Look around, you’ll see government vehicles breaking down every now and then. Really, I know the challenges the budget office is facing, but the truth is that the funds are not just there.

In any government, there are certain agencies that must be served first before others.

So we have agreed on that.

However, we will lean harder

on the finance ministry to see that the situation is turned around.

“As SGF I’m getting embarrassed and demeaned by chasing money coming from demands. All MDAs come to me for things to be done, and it is not quite easy, but we try our best.

“Last year, these political appointees had nothing. As to assistance, we really need assistance, if not but to retain all what we have budgeted for,” he added.

Babachir Lawal also urged the National Assembly to intervene by ensuring it approved funds proposed by his office in the 2017 budget to be submitted soon, saying “what is in our budget, we need your help to defend it.

This is part of the change agenda, so we must learn to sew our cloth according to the material.”

Revenue generating agencies hiding money from FG —NEC As FG abolishes Cash Call payments to oil firms Leon Usigbe -Abuja THE National Economic Council (NEC) was, on Thursday, told that some federal revenue generating agencies were hiding revenue or engaged in unauthorised spending of money that was supposed to be remitted to the federation account.

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who raised the alarm at the meeting of NEC, presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, informed the council that such infraction had been going on for a long time.

According to Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State, who briefed State House corespondents on the

outcome of the NEC meeting, the Finance minister told NEC that the activities of the agencies amounted to financial abuse.

He said: “The long term financial abuse by some revenue generating agencies was taken at the council.

“The finance ministry reported to the council certain activities of some revenue generating agencies that amounted to financial abuse of the revenue they generate.

“They include paying salaries above Revenue Mobilisation Financial Accounts Committee specifications, converting official cars to personal ownership, monetising medical allowances arbitrarily, unapproved overseas travels, lavished training allowances, excess-

ive personal loan approval including unapproved mortgages.”

He assured that the Ministry of Finance and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Accounts Commission (RMAFC) were working together to “rein in these abuses as these revenue agencies raise as much as N1.5 trillion and spend almost 90 per cent on its recurrent expenditure.”

Obiano stated that NEC was told that even though the act has been going on for a decade “but such financial abuses whereby the agencies hide the revenues that ought to go to the federation accounts will now be exposed and terminated.”

On excess crude account, Obiano, who briefed cor-

respondents alongside his Bauchi State counterpart, Abubakar Mohammed and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, said the balance of the account presented by the Minister of Finance showed that it stood at $2.4 billion as of November 2016.

He added that the sum of $1.1 billion was disbursed in the month of October to 35 states and a total of $6.3 billion had now been disbursed to each of the 35 states.

On ecological fund, he said N2 billion was said to have been paid to the states by the last administration.

“However, some states did complain that they did not have equal share of the money or even got anything at all. The reason why that

occurred will be investigated and report made available to the president,” he added.

In his remark, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources revealed that NEC endorsed a new funding regime for the oil and gas industry, eliminating Cash Call regime and thereby saving that country at least $1billion from next year.

According to Kachikwu, beginning from 2017, the issue of Cash Call era would would disappear and “the effect of what this is that investments in excess close to $15 billion are likely to be announced by the oil companies bringing back most back most of the project within couple of weeks.”

He stated that the current Continues pg5

3

Friday, 18 November, 2016

4 news

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Your makeup bag may cause you harm Continued from front page

comes in different shapes and sizes, contains facial beauty products ranging from lip sticks, to powders, face creams, lip glosses, mascara, eye shadow palettes, brushes… to name a few, may also contain life threatening bacteria, researchers say.

How often do you throw out your out-of-date make up? Do you even check the expiry date? Most women, on acquiring a makeup item for their bags, tend to hold on to old lipsticks or lip glosses as the case may be even when these products are way past their expiry dates. While barely out-of-date makeup products, mostly considered almost new by owners, can harbour life-threatening bacteria if contaminated, the health risks of older, out-of-date products goes over the roof. But how many people know this?

Laboratory tests have revealed that some barely-outof date and other old makeup contain deadly bacteria, including a strain that causes meningitis.

Scientists at London Metropolitan University tested five products including a blusher, foundation and lip gloss and found that old cosmetics contain unsafe levels of potentially lethal bacteria. According to the researchers, deadly bacteria isolated from the makeup products ranged from Staphlyoccocus epidermidis to Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherchia coli, Enterobacter and Enterococcus faecalis.

The research was commissioned by online beauty retailer www.escentual.com and involved several high-street beauty products.

CEO Rakesh Aggarwal said: “Most women are totally

unaware that their cosmetics are a potentially breeding ground for deadly bacteria. But, if you think about it, you wouldn’t keep food for months after the use by date so why should this be acceptable for cosmetics?

“This research has really surprised us and has shown that there is a serious health risk here. Pregnant women or mothers with small babies need to take extra care after our findings showed that the deadly meningitis bacteria Enterococcus Faecalis was found on several items of out of date make-up.”

In total six different types of bacteria were found on the five types of everyday high-street cosmetics that were tested in the laboratory test conducted.

Microbiologist, Paul Matewele, from the London Metropolitan University confirmed the test results.

He said: “All the old make-up products of foundation, lip gloss and lipstick tested positive for Enterococcus faecalis under strict laboratory tests.”

Adding that Enterococcus faecalis, is the potentially deadly strain of bacteria which causes meningitis and Septicaemia and is one of the biggest killers for newborn babies.

Microbiologist, Adewale Adekunle, of the Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University explained that makeup tainted with Staphylococcus aureus, especially its methicillin resistant strain, MRSA, can cause infection if applied near a cut or mucous membranes of the eyes or nose. The infection could appear on the skin as rashes, boils or abscesses. He advised that makeup should be discarded if it ever smells or changes colors because MRSA infections are contagious and can become severe, even life-threatening.

Explaining what the Escherichia coli does, the microbiologist said that “it is commonly referred to as E. Coli. It is often associated with food poisoning; however, it can also be found in old makeup. Lipstick can be tainted with E. coli and, if ingested, can cause severe, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps, followed by serious organ system damage such as kidney failure.” He added that though most E. coli infections clear up without treatment, if symptoms experienced are severe, a physician must be consulted immediately.

According to Adekunle, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacteria found in soil and water, which was also isolated from the makeup analysed can cause an infection of the eye resulting in pain, redness, swelling and impaired vision. He admonished that “you should replace makeup, especially mascara, every three months to reduce the risk of eye infection.”

According to researchers, Staphylococcus epidermidis is another member of the staphylococcus bacteria family and is found naturally on the skin of healthy humans, for people with weak, compromised immune systems, this bacteria, can become opportunistic and cause infection. “It has been found on lipsticks, eye shadows and eyeliners. It can cause infection of the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis), cornea or hair follicles on the edge of the eyelid (folliculitis). Some strains of this staph bacterium are resistant to antibiotic treatment and can severely affect the intestines if left untreated.”

Women are being urged to throw away out-of-date makeup after laboratory tests revealed how contaminated they are with deadly bacteria. Also, barely out of date makeup should be properly kept to prevent contamination.

Senate drops Kwara, Bauchi NCC nominees

•Confirms Durojaiye, Dare, others as commissioners •INEC, Supreme Court justices too Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

T

HE Senate, on Thursday, rejected the nominations of the former Speaker of Kwara State House of

Assembly, Honourable Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin and another nominee from Bauchi State, Alhaji Saidu Abubakar, as non-executive commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The rejection of the duo was due to the adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Communications, which screened the nominees.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Gilbert Nnaji,

had presented a report of the screening exercise which, he said, recommended the rejection of the two nominees.

Alhaji Saidu Abubakar had, while appearing before the committee, restated a

Soyinka’s ‘threat’ to drop Green Card dominates Google search PROFESSOR Wole Soyinka’s widely reported threat to tear his Green card if Donald Trump wins the United States (U.S) presidential elections, trended on Google search this week with mixed reactions from internet trolls.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Taiwo KolaOgunlade, the Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, made the disclosure in a statement, in Lagos.

“Google search in the just concluded week from November 9 to 16, was filled with intrigues from internet users.

“People went online to learn more about Donald Trump, the newly-elected president of U.S, and Wole Soyinka’s response to the news of his winning the presidential election was also a burning issue.

“Also searched is TB Joshua’s rather ‘uncertain’ prophecy, and some other exciting stories,” he said.

Kola-Ogunlade said that the internet trolls decided to haunt Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Soyinka by bringing up his pledge to tear his green card if Donald Trump emerges as

America’s president.

“Soyinka, who made the statement at Oxford University, was caught in crossfire by critics and agonists, who asked him to put his words into action.

“The Laureate responded to his accusers in a long article, schooling them on figures of speech and language use.

“This week on Google, Donald Trump shocked the whole world to emerge as the 45th president-elect of the U.S., to ‘trump’ Senator Hillary Clinton,’’ he said.

The Google manager said the moment the results of the polls was announced, folks went online to search for updates on Donald’s latest stance on issues he made before the elections, his age and even his net worth.

He said that the controversial Pastor, TB Joshua, founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), also became a ‘dramatis personae’ in the American elections when he predicted that ‘a woman’ would win.

He said the death of worldfamous Canadian singer, Leonard Cohen, who died in his sleep, following a fall in the middle of the night, at his home in Los Angeles, also got attention online.

“The 82-year-old Cohen was known for songs like “Hallelujah, Bird on the Wire, and Suzanne.

“His 14th album, `You Want It Darker,’ was released last month,’’ KolaOgunlade said.

Other issues that got the attention of internet users

were the announcement of the one-week warning strike

by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The former National Security Adviser, NSA, retired Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, who did not attend his father’s burial was also a topic of discussion.

call he earlier made that the Senate should be scrapped.

He also told Senate correspondents that he remained committed to his earlier stance that the Senate should be scrapped, having led a protest to that effect in the North-Eastern state.

It was gathered that the rift within the ranks of the leaders of Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) cost the former Kwara speaker his appointment.

The Senate committee, in its recommendation, said Abubakar’s responses at the screening “unveils him as a candidate who is not pre-

Buhari, Saraki, Ambode, Tinubu, others pay tribute as Gbadamosi is buried DIGNITARIES, including a former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba and former Minister of Defence, Senator Musuliu Obanikoro, paid tribute to the former Minister of National Planning, Rasheed Gbadamosi, at the funeral rites at his residence in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Thursday.

Also present were the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; the Ayungbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, and White Cap chiefs of Lagos, among others.

Alhaji Seifudeen Olowooribi, the Chief Imam, Ikorodu Division, in his homily, said “we must all remember that death is one debt that we all must pay.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement by his

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in Abuja, on Thursday, said the late Gbadamosi’s contributions in diverse fields of life would be appreciated for a long time.

He said the country would ever be grateful for the meritorious and exemplary roles Chief Gbadamosi played, not only as a minister, but also a former chairman of the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, in a condolence message said the late Gbadamosi would be remembered for his immense capacity, adding that he showcased his rich intellect in many positions he occupied.

Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode, said the state had lost a great son, whose passion to serve his state and fatherland was never in doubt.

Gbadamosi, before his death, was a co-chairman of the Lagos@50 committee.

Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, said the deceased graciously accepted to serve as co-chairman of Lagos@50 committee, adding that in the last few months, he was directly involved in the meetings and planning to ensure the success of the celebration.

Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, described the demise of Chief Gbadamosi as “the passage of a good man.”

Continues pg29

pared for the demands of office such as required of a non-executive commissioner on the governing board of the NCC.” The committee said of Ezekiel Yissa’s nomination: “Pastor Ezekiel Yissa’s background as a career nursing officer, however, will not put him in a good stead to be able to effectively cope with the dynamics of the communications sector if his nomination is confirmed.”

Following the adoption of the report, the Senate dropped the nomination of Alhaji Abubakar and Pastor Ezekiel, while approving the nomination of other nominees: including Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye as chairman; Sunday Dare (Executive Commissioner); Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as non-executive commissioner; Clement Omeiza Baiye (non-executive commissioner) and Chief Okoi Obono Obla (non-executive commissioner).

The Senate, also on Thursday, confirmed the nomination of a former Law Editor of ThisDay newspaper, May Agbamuche-Mbu as a commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Other INEC commissioners confirmed were Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu (Anambra); Ahmed Mu’azu (Gombe); Mohammed Kudu Haruna (Niger); Dr Adekunle Ogunmola (Oyo) and Abubakar Nahuche (Zamfara).

The Senate also confirmed the nomination of Justices Dauda Bage and Paul Galinje as Justices of Supreme Court.

5 news

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Anti-graft war: Senators to visit 6 geopolitical zones •To meet EFCC, DSS, ICPC •Say EFCC to get 2% from recovered loot •Reveal plans to hold global anti-corruption summit in Nigeria Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

T

HE chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, said, on Thursday, that the purpose of the visits to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) across the country, was to identify areas of improvement.

He, however, expressed disappointment at the poor working conditions in almost all the anti-corruption agencies visited in Enugu, but promised that the issues would be adequately addressed in the 2017 budget.

According to him, “We do not give notice before we visit. We just storm the office. We have been to Lagos.

We are here to see how you are doing your job. We want to look at records. We need you to give us case files and renditions. We want to know cases that have come here.

We want to have an idea of what has happened here in the last two years.

“We need to see what you have been doing here. We want to know how many have gone to court and how many have been prosecuted. We want to know the assets that have been seized or recovered from convicted people.

“We want to see things for ourselves and know how we can help. If we did not visit Lagos, we would not have known that the EFCC was operating from a rented apartment.”

On the poor working conditions, he said: “It is our duty to ensure that when you are working for the government, you should do it in a conducive environment. If the offices under which you work are not conducive, you will not function well. What we have seen here will guide us in preparing the 2017 budget.

“We have to supervise you so that you will be efficient.

That is the only way you can do your job well. I want to appreciate your fight against corruption. We would have progressed more than this if there was no corruption. We are grateful to you.

“We are going to visit every part of the country, particularly the six geopolitical zones, to ensure that the fight against corruption is on course. I made a case last year that if there are people to travel abroad for training, it should be those fighting corruption.

“You need to move out. We are going to invite the world

to Nigeria. They invited us to London. We are planning a summit and we will soon have it so that the entire world will come here.”

The zonal EFCC coordinator in charge of the SouthEast, Mr Johnson Babalola, stressed that the Senate was an institution held in high esteem and would assist in making its job easier.

He said: “We were not aware that you are coming.

You have the right to visit us. We will cooperate with you. The Senate is an institution we hold in high esteem.

Without the Senate, we will not exist.”

The coordinator revealed that the Senate, in the amendment bill of the EFCC Act, had empowered the an-

ti-graft agency to keep two per cent of whatever it got from recovered loot.

He said: “There is a bill for an act to amend the EFCC laws. We will pass the bill next week. We have made provisions for the EFCC to auction seized assets. We have also made provisions for special funding for the EFCC. Going forward, the

President Muhammadu Buhari with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, shortly before a billateral meeting with at the sidelines of COP 22 in Marakkech, Morocco, on Wednesday.

Buhari to Kerry: Corruption is fighting us Leon Usigbe -Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has alerted the United States government that his administration’s effort to rid Nigeria of corruption was meeting stiff resistance as those involved in corruption were fighting back.

Meeting with American Secretary of State, John Kerry, on Wednesday, on the margins of conference on climate change, COP22, in Marrakech, Morocco, he told him that the anti-corruption war was tough and grueling, “with corruption fighting vigorously back,” but assured that the battle would be won.

President Buhari said corrupt people had accumulated a formidable arsenal of illicit wealth, which they were now deploying against the government on diverse fronts.

“But it is a war we are determined to win, and which we will win,” President Buhari said. “People of goodwill are behind us, countries like America and many others are with us, and we will surely win.”

The president also updated Secretary Kerry on the war against insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria, saying efforts were being

made to tackle humanitarian problems caused by the insurgency, and that a presidential committee had been launched “under General T.Y Danjuma, a man of high integrity.”

On the unrest in the Niger Delta area, which manifests in the sabotage of critical oil and power installations, he said the engagement process was proceeding apace, adding that it was rather difficult bringing the main protagonists of the insurgency under one umbrella.

The president said Nigeria was happy with America’s support on different fronts, assuring that the economic challenges facing the country were being “frontally tackled, and we will overcome them soon.”

Secretary Kerry expressed delight at the many successes of the Buhari-led administration, pledging continued U.S support in the bid to overcome security, humanitarian, political and economic challenges.

As the Barrack Obama administration exits next January, Kerry said he would love to continue engaging with Nigeria, even in a private capacity.

He described President Buhari as a strong

international partner in the battle against violent extremism.

EFCC will keep two per cent of whatever it recovers for its operational cost. We

have big plans to ensure that things are working well for the EFCC.”

Revenue generating agencies hiding money from FG —NEC Continued from pg2

upstream Joint Venture arrangement in the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry was unincorporated Joint Venture (UJV) meaning that NNPC and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) partner in each Joint Venture as unique and separate legal entities.

The minister also noted that while the NNPC paid the entire Oil and Gas revenues realised from the JV operations into the Federation account, the production costs were appropriated, calendarised and paid monthly as cash calls to the JV operations from the NNPC and IOCs. He said January to November 2016 underfunding of the NNPC cash calls was estimated at US$2.3 billion, noting that this was in addition to the inherited arrears estimated at USD$6.8 billion for year ending 2015.

However, he disclosed that through negotiations, the $6.8 billion past due cash calls burden on the federation had now been reduced to $5.1B, which would be paid based on an improved oil production output.

Under the new funding stream, h explained, the JVs

would become incorporated and source for their own financing, freeing-up the federal government from the budgetary obligations of coming up with the Cash Calls already put at $2.3B so far this year alone.

He added: “For the first time the oil industry will take responsibility for arranging their own funding and being able to produce oil and save the federal government the whole nightmare of cash calls every year.

“So, this is a very dramatic move in the oil industry we are still going to make presentation to the National Assembly for them to understand this.”

He also spoke of plan to reduce the cost of crude oil production in Nigeria, saying: “We will be looking at reducing the cost of barrel per production from the current $27 per barrel which is one of the highest in the world to figure within the threshold of $18 per barrel over the next two years and ultimately, to about $15 over the next four years.

“The barrel reserve production should increase to about 2.5 by 2019 and potentially to about 3million barrels by 2021. So, there will dramatic effects.”

Sultan Dasuki was a patriot par excellence —Jonathan FORMER president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has described the late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki as a nationalist and a patriot par excellence.

Jonathan made the remark in Sokoto, on Thursday, when he paid a condolence visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.

He said the late Dasuki worked and died as a peacemaker and a bridge builder.

“He worked tirelessly to

ensure lasting peace and unity in Nigeria,” he said, adding that his words of wisdom would continue to be remembered by all Nigerians.

Responding, the Sultan commended Jonathan for the condolence visit, saying “Allah gives and takes life.”

Deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, led Jonathan’s entourage to the Sultan’s palace.

Meanwhile, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed,

on Thursday, said the demise of former Sultan Dasuki marked the end of an era in the history of Nigeria.

The minister, who visited the Dasuki family at the deceased’s residence in Kaduna, said the late Sultan had lived a worthy life.

“He is a great man. Another era and history has been closed and we are all here today not to mourn but to celebrate the passing away of a great Nigerian,” he said.

From left, former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan; the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III and the deputy governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, during the visit of Dr Jonathan to condole with the Sultan of Sokoto, over the death of the former Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki, in Sokoto, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN.

6

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Metro...

Nigerian Tribune

crime, security, court Gunmen invade Lagos farm settlement •Abduct 13 Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos

Suspected drugs traffickers caught with 5000 kilogrammes of Indian hemp on Abaji-Gwagwalada Road, paraded at NDLEA Gwagwalada Area Council in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

THIRTEEN people have been abducted by suspected milltants around Ignodu Isiwo in Epe area of Lagos State.

The abducted people were simply identified as seven farm owners and six labourers, who were working for them as of the time of the invasion by the milltants.

The abduction, which reportedly took place on Wednesday, was the third in less than three months in the Epe farm settlement.

Four people, including a baby, were on September 19 abducted in some of the farm settlements.

Viral video of lynched thief:

Police say no clue Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos

T

HE Lagos State Police Command on Thursday officially reacted to the viral video of lynched thief, saying they were yet to ascertain the particular division of the incident.

The police spokesperson in Lagos State, Dolapo Badmos, in a statement on Thursday, said: “The Lagos State command, in the early hours of November 16, came across the above report through social media .”

She added that “although there were different versions about the location where the incident occured, a version of the report stated that it occurred in Orile, while another indicated that it happened in Badagry area.”

The police image maker also stated that “on the receipt of this complaint, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, directed the DPOs in charge

of those jurisdictions to ascertain the occurrence and brief the command.

“As of today, November 17, there is nothing to suggest that it occurred in any of the aforementioned locations or any part of Lagos thereof.

“Preliminary investigation is ongoing as the command is assuring the members of the public that if it actually happened in Lagos, perpetrators of such barbaric act will be arrested and prosecuted, as it will not tolerate jungle justice to be meted out to anyone regardless of any offence such person has committed,” Badmos added.

She also appealed that “the command, hereby, implore anyone with useful information that can aid investigation to kindly contact office of the Commissioner of Police through 07019014800 or that of the Police Public Relations Officer through 07019014743 and betterstill any of our control room through 767 or 112.”

The Lagos police spokesperson added that “the command will keep investigation open until it gets

to the root of the matter, however, if at the conclusion of investigation nothing indicates that

such occurred within the state, it will be treated as one of the social media ruse.”

It was gathered that the perpetrators of the latest abduction were dressed in military uniform and were armed with sophisticated weapons.

A source around the settlement stated that the gunmen took the farm owners and their labourers away in a waiting speedboat.

The gunmen were said to have shot repeatedly into the air before abducting the farmers and their workers.

The abductors were yet to get in touch with the relatives of the abducted farm owners as at Thursday evening.

Residents around Epe are concerned that some of the milltants, who were dislodged in Ikorodu, Arepo and Ibafo during the air raids by the military had relocated to Epe. Efforts to get the reaction of the image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos failed, as calls to her mobile phones were not answered as at the time of filing this report.

Police dislodge notorious kidnappers Kola Oyelere - Kano KANO State Police Command has succeeded in dislodging notorious elements who are involved in kidnapping and cattle rustling in Falgore.

He, however, disclosed that during the raid on Falgore weapons, food items, beverages, electronic gadgets and leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered as exhibits.

The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Rabiu Yusuf, said this on Thursday at a security parley session with eminent personalities in the state, which comprised business community, traditional rulers and civil society group.

According to him, this was achieved through a raid carried out on the notorious Falgore forest, a hide-

out for the perpetrators.

The CP said the decision to stage the session was aimed at fashioning out way to further consolidate on the success recorded by the command in curbing kidnapping, cattle rustling and rape cases.

His words: “The command summoned the eminent persons to receive briefing on how they have fared in

contributing their quota toward diligent policing of the state.

Commenting on the usage of logs, tyres and stones as road bumps in some parts of the state, he announced that the state command has not licensed any specific community to resort to the use of foreign materials to serve as road bumps.”

In his remarks, AIG

Bashir Albasu (retd) decried the spate of rape cases in the state, as he frowned at the increasing surge in use of dangerous and hard drugs among youths in the state.

He pointed out that drug peddlers were having a field day in all nooks and crannies in the state, engaging in indiscriminate sales of illicit drugs across the state.

Man admits to defiling toddler Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin AFTER being caught red handed defiling a threeyear-old child, a 24-yearold unemployed man, Blessing Agboola, on Wednesday admitted the sordid act.

Blessing, who resides at Odutola Street, Alimosho, a suburb of Lagos, was

charged before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for defilement.

He committed the offence on October 28 at his residence.

The prosecutor, Mr Donny, a police sergeant, told the court that the accused defiled a three-yearold daughter of his neighbour in his room.

“It was the cry of the child that alerted her mother who caught the accused in the act,” he said.

The Chief Magistrate, Tajudeen Elias, remanded Mr Agboola in Kirikiri prison after he pleaded guilty to defiling the minor.

Mr Elias adjourned the case till December 5 for sentencing.

7

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Oluwatoyin Malik

08116954633, 08078891950 e-mail: tribunecrimedesk@gmail.com

Chawai: 30 killed, 136 houses destroyed —NEMA Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

T One of the victims who was stabbed during the clash

HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)has said 30 people were killed, two persons missing, while 136 houses were destroyed when gunmen attacked five communities in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

This was disclosed by an official of NEMA, Hajiya Amina Ahman, in an interview on Thursday, who said her agency was in the ravaged area to assess the

7 injured as APC loyalists clash Lanre Adewole - Lagos LOYALISTS of the two factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Apapa/Iganmu Local Council Development Area on Thursday engaged in a bloody clash, resulting in about seven sustaining various degrees of injuries.

Ward meetings called by the supporters of the party’s embattled chairman, Alhaji Moruf Gbadamosi, ended in dangerous weapons being freely used as those kicking his continued stay in office, reportedly challenged the propriety of the meetings when issues between the two factions had not been resolved.

Metro gathered that the disapproval of the anti-Gbadamosi’s elements did not go down well with his supporters, who allegedly attacked their challengers.

Dangerous weapons like broken bottles, knives, cutlasses, among others, were said to have been employed by his supporters against those demanding his ouster from office.

In the ensuing commotion, six women were reportedly wounded, while another anti-Gbadamosi’s person known as Muri (surname withheld) a.k.a Olomu was reportedly stabbed.

Supporters of

Gbadamosi, known as Gunwa and Sikiru Eko allegedly stabbed Olomu.

The crisis was reported at Badia Police Station.

Officers in charge of the case, said investigation had commenced into the matter and that those found culpable would be prosecuted.

Metro learnt that majority of the party members in the council area had been demanding for the ouster of Gbadamosi.

The crisis of confidence led to the leadership of the party at the Lagos Central Senatorial District to set up a committee to look into the issues raised against

Gbadamosi’s leadership.

The party senatorial leader, Prince Oluyole Olusi was said to run into a wall with the party faithful demanding Gbadamosi’s ouster.

The injured supporters were taken to a popular hospital (name withheld) in Badia for treatment.

When Metro got across to Gbadamosi, he insisted on seeing the reporter face-to-face, before reacting to the allegation that his supporters were the aggressors.

He did not deny or confirm the protracted crisis and Wednesday’s clash.

level of damage caused by the recent attack with the aim of bringing succour to the affected victims.

According to her, the attacks which occurred on October 13 had rendered over 500 people homeless, while several displaced persons were seeking refuge at a primary school in the area.

She noted that at the end of their assessment

tour, we gathered that 30 people were killed, 136 houses were destroyed, while two persons were still missing.

She listed that the villages that came under attack were Kigam, Kitakum, Unguwan Magaji, Unguwan Rimi and Kiziti, all in Chawai, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Kaduna State gov-

Customs intercepts N2bn cocaine shipment Tola Adenubi - Lagos MORE facts have emerged over how the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Command intercepted N2 billion worth of cocaine concealed in a container with number CMAU045195/022G1 at the Tin-Can Port in Lagos, recently.

Speaking to Metro, a management staff of the Tin-Can Island Customs Command, who did not want his name in print, as he was not authorised to speak, explained that intelligence revealed the vessel did not have the eight black bags of cocaine on board when it departed New Zealand for Nigeria.

According to him, “the seizure of the bags containing cocaine at the Tin-Can Island Port was as a result of 42 days of strategic and intelligence profiling. It took Comptroller Yusuf Bashar 42 days of sleepless intelligence work to achieve.

“According to the information we had, the vessel left New Zealand without the eight black bags on board. However, on its way to Nigeria, the vessel stopped at a port in Spain, where the eight black bags were loaded on board.

“When the vessel called at the Tin-Can Port here, Bashar kept the information to himself, although he confided in a few of us

Lagos/Ibadan Expressway: FRSC, RCC parley

on safety of motorists

By Tunde Ogunesan THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the construction company handling the road construction of Ibadan-Sagamu end of Ibadan/Lagos Expressway, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Plc, has promised to work together to ensure adequate safety during and after the construction works.

This vow was renewed when the Zonal Commanding Officer, RS 2

Headquarters, Lagos, Assistant Corps Marshal, Shehu Ahmed Zaki, paid a courtesy visit to the construction site of the company recently.

Zaki, who was received by the comapny’s Project Manager, Feda Natoer; Quality Control Manager, Ikezue Emmanuel and the representative of the Ministry of Works, Mr Lasisi Ojo, said the Ogunmakin RS 2.29 Unit command was basically established because of the road project.

ernor, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai was represented by his deputy, Mr Barnabas Yusuf Bala in company with Secretary to the State Government, Baralabe Abbas Lawal, SEMA Executive Secretary, Honourable Ezekiel Baba Karik, the Interim Chairman of Kauru Local Government Area, Pius Bakan and other top government functionaries.

He charged the company to ensure safety of the motorists while the project lasted.

In his response, the Project Manager, Natoer assured the Zonal Commander of the Corps that the construction company has a good and proactive surveillance team on ground.

Natoer added that “RCC has a 24 hours, seven days a week traffic team, towing vehicle and patrol officers on ground. And with over

three years working on this project, we can rightly say we have always been up to the task whenever there is a task in that direction.”

The representative of the Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Lasisi Adekunle informed that there has been a good working relationship with all the stakeholders on the road project.

He then revealed that all sectors have proven their commitment to the delivery of a quality job at the end of the project.

who were his management team. This was to avoid the information leaking out to the general public.

“Even when the vessel arrived at the Tin-Can Port, we did not raise any alarm because we needed the owners to come forward and take delivery. We needed to tie it down to somebody, which was why we kept mum even when we knew the vessel was already berthed at the port.

“So, when the owners came to take delivery, we rounded them up because we knew those eight bags were not manifested.

“It is against the law of international trade not to manifest whatever is leaving one country for another country. The clearing agent that came to take delivery, Elevation Transaction Limited was rounded up.

“On close examination, we could not decode the substance; that was why we invited the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration. The NDLEA did preliminary test which took three minutes and the substance was confirmed as cocaine.

“Further test by the NDLEA revealed that the cocaine is worth N2 billion and its volume is 214.736 kilogramme, meaning it is the highest in the past 10 years.”

8 news Sultan, Dangote canvass special funding for UI

As Dangote, Osundare, Amao bag honorary degrees

By Laolu Harolds

T

HE Sultan of Sokoto and chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar; president of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, on Thursday, made a strong case for special funding for the premier university.

Dangote was one of the three distinguished personalities who were given honorary doctorate at the 68th Foundation Day ceremony of the university, on Thursday.

The others are renowned poet, Professor Niyi Osundare, and industrialist, Chief Jacob Olabode Amao.

In his acceptance speech, Dangote said the premier university deserved special attention, not just because of its status as Nigeria’s oldest university, but also for its invaluable contribution

to the transformation of the society through creativity and innovation.

While acknowledging the recent ranking of the university among the top 1,000 in the world by the Times Higher Education, Dangote said that with adequate funding, UI would be able to compete with the best universities in the world.

While calling for increased Public Private Partnership in education delivery, he said he believed that the private sector must go beyond the payment of the two per cent education levy, and join hands with the states and Federal Government to fund tertiary education.

He, thereafter, announced a donation of N250 million to the university to help in the completion of ongoing projects.

Sultan Abubakar had earlier asked the Federal Government to consider UI for special funding so as to enhance and sustain its cul-

ture of excellence.

He, however, decried widespread corruption among the elite, many of whom he noted were products of universities.

The monarch challenged the premier university to lead other universities in finding solution to this challenge, since, according to him, no society can have a future if its educational institutions are imparting the wrong values.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in his speech read by the Director, Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Fatima Jiddum Ahmad, appealed to the private sector to get actively involved in the provision of quality education.

Dangote was conferred with a Doctor of Science (honoris causa); Niyi Osundare, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa), and Chief Olabode Amao, Doctor of Law (honoris causa).

From left, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido, at the 68th convocation ceremony of the University of Ibadan, on Thursday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Oyo NUJ rolls out timetable for Dec 21 election

By Nurudeen Alimi THE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, has rolled out timetable for election into various executive posts of the union, which has been scheduled to hold on Wednesday, December 21, 2016.

According to the timetable signed by the Secretary, Credentials Committee, Sunday Oyediji, collection of nomination forms from members of the com-

mittee, which cut across the various chapels of the union, had begun since Monday, November 14, 2016 and will end on Monday, November 21, While the ban on campaign has been lifted with effect from November, 14.

Screening of contestants will hold between Thursday, November 24 and Friday, December 2, while names of contestants will be published and made available for members of the union between Sat-

urday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 7.

The final list of contestants will be published on Friday, December 16. This will be followed by campaigns, which had already started on Monday, November 14 and will end on December 18.

Congress, account of stewardship as well as manifestoes will hold on Monday, December 19, while the election and swearing-in is billed for Wednesday, December 21.

Nobody in my family ever reached 70 —Atiku

By Nurudeen Alimi FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday, said no member of his family ever reached the ripe age of 70.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Atiku spoke in Yola at an event organised to mark his 70th birthday

by students of American University of Nigeria Academy and primary schools.

“It is a milestone in my life because nobody in my family has ever lived up to 70,” Abubakar said.

He lauded the students for “the surprise birthday bash’’ and reiterated his commitment to continue to support education in the

country.

The former vice president called on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend the ongoing warning strike for the sake of Nigerian students.

He said that education was the backbone of development, stressing that nothing should be done to jeopardise education.

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

9

Friday, 18 November, 2016

10

news

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Panic as PDP, APC supporters protest in Port Harcourt Rivers govt alleges police invasion of Govt House

By Dapo Falade

T

HERE was pandemonium as police operatives dispatched hundreds of protesters said to be members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at major streets of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Thursday.

While members of the ruling PDP held a rally to laud members of the state assembly over the conduct of legislative businesses in the state, the APC supporters registered their concern over the delay in the swearing-in of the two lawmakers elected on the party’s platform, Mrs Victo-

ria Nyeche and Mr Andrew Miller.

Mr Ekikere Udom, the cameraman of Channels Television, was allegedly brutalised and his camera seized by the policemen who were on ground to disperse the protesters.

This was as the state government, in a statement issued by Simeon Nwakaudu, the media aide to Governor Nyesom Wike, alleged that the law enforcement agents attempted to break into the Government House.

The APC protesters were led by the state secretary of the party, Mr Emeka Bekee, while they carried placards to the assembly complex with different inscriptions, asking that

the two APC lawmaker-elect be sworn in immediately.

On the other hand, the state PDP publicity secretary, Mr Samuel Nwanosike, simultaneously led members and supporters of the party on a solidarity rally for the state lawmakers.

The two sets of protesters were, however, dispatched by the stern-looking policemen, who thwarted all attempts to gain entry into the House of Assembly complex.

Speaking with newsmen, Bekee said the protest by the APC loyalists was necessary for the world to know the level of intimidation allegedly done against party members who were duly elected into the state assembly.

The APC scribe expressed displeasure over the alleged delay by the PDP-led government to swear in the APC lawmakers-elect, insisting that the party would resist further attempt to delay or deny its representatives their places in the state legislature.

Coincidentally, the solidarity rally held by the PDP members and led by Nwanosike to drum up support for the activities of the lawmakers was also dispatched by the police, who insisted that it could not hold to avoid breakdown of law and order in the state.

Addressing newsmen later, the state PDP publicity secretary said “what happened can never be a coincidence. Every

NOUN to launch portal for students, staff complaints VICE-chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, has disclosed that the institution will soon launch a new website aimed at lodging complaints, observations and suggestions directly to him.

Adamu said the aim of the initiative was to enforce service delivery between the university and its clients, as well as amongst its staff for mutual progress.

The Vice-chancellor spoke on Thursday, at the 4th Quarter of 2016 NUC Parastatal Servicom Committee

(PSC) meeting, which held at the university’s headquarters, in Abuja.

He said: “The website has two sections, and one of the sections will provide an opportunity for our staff, to interact with the Vice-chancellor on any complaint. And if we receive a number of similar complain from other staff, we would take action on it.”

Adamu told participants from the over 40 federal universities in the country, that the new portal would be used to evaluate complaints, regarding operations of NOUN’s 77 Study Centres na-

BBC world service to start broadcasting programmes in Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin English SEVERAL Nigerian languages are among a raft ones the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) plans introducing into its schedules next year, as part as an aggressive drive to increase its global audience.

At the moment, the BBC broadcasts in 29 languages, including Hausa and reaches an estimated 246m people around the world every week.

There are now plans to expand this with the inclusion of Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin English to its schedule, alongside other languages including Afaan, Oromo and Amharic, spoken in Ethiopia, Tigrinya, the main language of Eritrea, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu and Punjabi.

Way back in 1932, the BBC World Service started out as a radio channel for Englishspeakers in the British empire, but has transformed over time into a respected provider of news to global audiences. This latest expansion is said to be as a result of a funding injection of £289m until 2020 announced by the government last year.

BBC director-general, Tony

Hall, said: “This is a historic day for the BBC, as we announce the biggest expansion of the World Service since the 1940s. The BBC World Service is a jewel in the crown – for the BBC and for Britain.”

tionwide, lecturers’ attitudes to their calling, state of infrastructure and any other thing.

While urging the NUC PSC participants to incorporate professors and doctors into Servicom, Adamu bemoaned the way academic staff approach Servicom with disdain.

The Vice-chancellor, therefore, said there was the need for Servicom to devise a way of making the rules favorable to academic staff, which, due to the nature of their work, could not be in office by 8 a.m. daily.

The Vice-chancellor, who assured of the full implementation of NOUN’s Service Charter and Complaints Policy, said by the ongoing trailblazing efforts, the university “is more Servicom than Servicom.”

The acting National Coordinator of Servicom in the Presidency, Mrs Nnenna Akajemele, launched the NOUN Service Charter, and decorated the VC and other principal officers of the university with

Brazil company launches agric products, others in Nigeria

By Ruth Olurounbi

A company in Brazil, in an attempt to “further promote the use of quality agricultural tools” in Nigeria, has launched agricultural products, as well as other household product line in the country.

Tramontina, Brazil’s foremost manufacturing company, which officially launched in Lagos last week, is known for producing 18,000 different products in household and agriculture tools, home ware products, furniture and kitchen equipment.

More specifically, the company, according to its Marketing and Sales executive in Nigeria, Funbi Sowande, said Tramontina’s machete, its leading product in Africa, which it also launched last

week, would help farmers improve yields.

“We are not called the king of machete for fun; Tramontina products are different and unique from other products. Also, the amazing cutting power guarantees higher productivity when using the product, while the shovels are made with very resistant laser cut body and high quality carbon steel,” she said at the launch.

According to her, “our machetes are made with the best quality carbon steel and they are sold already well sharpened,” she said, adding that “the idea is for our loving customers to relate with our brand, we also shared directly with them, the brand’s identity and the unlimited opportunities we have to offer.

the Servicom badge.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NUC PSC, Aliyu I. I., had led members of the committee, on a courtesy call on the Vice-chancellor in his office and congratulated him on his appointment.

He also commended the Adamu, for his bold action of moving the university from its Lagos temporary office to its permanent headquarters, in Abuja.

human being has his programme and policies. How would we have known that APC has a protest today?

“PDP members wrote to the party chairman, informing him that we want to pay a courtesy visit to the speaker of the state House of Assembly and we approached our various local government chairmen who agreed that they will accompany us to that visit.

“The President-General of the Grassroot Democratic Initiative (GDI) also told us that he was going to accompany us. But on our way to the state assembly complex, we met fierce-looking police officers who attacked us with life ammunition and enough teargas.

“We thank God almighty that gave us the grace, resilience and tenacity to stand the test of this pressure from the Nigerian Police,” he said.

Also speaking, speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Adams Dabotoru, condemned what he termed the disturbance of a peace gathering of PDP loyalists.

“I thank you that despite the provocation, you did not take laws into your hands.

The Commissioner of Police should take the message to those that sent them that we did not get provoked. We

have all it takes to face them and match them power for power,” he said.

The state government, however, added a worrisome dimension to the development as it alleged that an assistant commissioner of police led some people believed to be armed APC thugs to attack the Government House.

“As the team moved towards the Government House, the officer ordered his operatives to physically assault the cameraman of Channels Television, Mr Ekikere Udom. The officer and his operatives used their guns to batter the cameraman, dispossessing him of his telephones and other valuables.

“At the front of the Government House, the operatives also physically assaulted the Chief Security Officer of Government House. They shot repeatedly into the air (but) the Government House security prevented them from gaining entrance,” Nwakaudu, the governor’s spokesman, claimed in the statement.

When contacted, the Rivers State police image-maker, Nnamdi Omoni, said he would not make a statement on the allegation by the state government and the protesting PDP members until he heard from the officer who led the operation.

11

businessnews

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Manufacturers lost N500bn to flexible foreign exchange policy — MAN

T

HE Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Thursday said Central Bank of Nigeria’s flexible exchange rate policy had culminated to N500 billion loss for manufacturers, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Mr Babatunde Odunayo, Chairman, MAN, Apapa Branch made the assertion during the branch’s 45th Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

According to him, Letters of Credit and Form Ms approved to manufacturers at N197/US$ before the introduction of new flexible exchange rate on June 20, are now expected to be redeemed at N320.

A letter of credit is a letter from a bank guaranteeing that a buyer’s payment to a seller would be received on time and for the correct amount.

“Unfortunately, this unfolding situation poses a great burden on manufacturers since the pricing of the related manufactured goods was made at N197 or N198 to US dollar when it was approved.

“Manufacturers currently face up to N500 billion in exchange difference between the approved Form M and Letter of Credit established rates and the flexible market rate of N320 to a dollar.

“This is a huge loss that manufacturers are expected to bear, whereas the related goods had been mostly sold before the commencement of the new exchange rate system,’’ Odunayo said.

He said that the exchange rate loss of N500 billion reflected in their accounts and

had led to factory closure, unemployment and loss of investments in the sector.

According to him, the exchange rate losses will require

additional working capital to shore up cash difference between N320 and N197.

“Many of our members are in the middle of factory proj-

ects execution, but the viability of such projects is now questionable due to recent forex developments,’’ he said.

Odunayo stressed that if

loans were not reversed to pre-flexible exchange rate at which the transactions were contracted, losses to manufacturers would be colossal.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Segun Awolowo, presenting certificate to one of the students at the graduations of Trainees of the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), Human Capital Development Center of the NEPC, in Lagos, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

MPC: Experts seek interest rate review to stem inflation SOME financial experts have called for a downward review of the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) during the last Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) meeting scheduled for Nov. 21 and Nov. 22. to tackle inflation in the country.

The MPR currently stands at 14 per cent.

The experts told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the committee should pursue an expansionary monetary policy.

They said that the extant monetary policy adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had not yielded any result.

Professor Sheriffadeen Tella of the Department of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, said the committee could pursue a downward review of the interest rate to reinvigorate economic activities.

There won’t be famine next year—Agric Minister

Says present agricultural activities will ensure bumper harvest

Collins Nnabuife, Abuja

THE Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on Thursday, said necessary agricultural activities have kicked off to ensure bumper harvest in 2017.

The Minister made this known while responding to questions from journalists when he visited Dizengoff/

Phinada Farms in Bwari.

According to him, some agricultural activities have kicked off in Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano and other states in the southeast which will ensure bumper harvest in the country.

He also explained that the alarm of famine was raised by the Presidency following the high rate at which neighbouring countries storm the Nigerian market in the

northwest to buy off grains.

His words: “We are going to have bumper harvest this year given the statistics we have in Kebbi, Jigawa and Kano, particularly the northwest and in southeast.

“There is a lot of agricultural activities going on and we want to assure Nigerians that there is nothing to fear.

What the Senior Special Assistant to the President said

was because of the drought in the sub-region, a lot of people from other countries are coming to the markets in Nigeria to buy grains which is an opportunity for farmers to scale up production.

“I can assure that if the farmers in Kebbi and Jigawa are empowered to farm one or two hectares with the expected yield, they are going to multiply and be

We’re working to reduce cost of crude production —Kachikwu DR Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleleum Resources, has said his tenure will work hard to reduce the cost of crude production.

Kachikuwu said this while addressing stakeholders at the National Oil Policy and National Gas Policy consultative forum in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, there is no luxury of time hence the stakeholders need to key into “the supersonic speed” the ministry is moving with because the policies should have been on ground.

“These things should have been on ground yesterday. A lot of things happening in the industry for so long that it’s been taken as a norm.

“If we have these policies in legislation, activities can be regulated.

“We still produce crude at 27 dollars a barrel and sell at 40 dollars. We have to bring it below 18 dollars.

No serious nation will do

Nigerian Tribune

that and make profit.

“Refineries will have to work. If time goes by and Dangote refinery begins, we’ll have scraps,’’ he said.

When asked what happened to the Gas Master Plan by a previous administration in 2008, Kachikwu said: “If the gas master plan was that fantastic how come we don’t

have changes in that sector.

“That means something is fundamentally wrong but I believe no work ever done in life is a waste.

“People who did the Gas Master Plan and the Petroleum Industry Bill did a huge work.’’

“Where we are headed is to try and free the industry so

that it can do its own rule, set its own prices.

“There are few mechanics that we still have to get in place properly.

“We can forget the fact that we still have foreign exchange challenges; we can’t forget the fact that income to government is still very tight so you need to see how you balance

Total makes $10bn investments in Nigeria in 5 years THE Managing Director, Total Exploration and Production, Nigeria Limited, Mr Nicolas Terraz on Thursday said the company has made over 10 billion dollars investments in the country in the last five years.

Terraz said this at the 34th Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Annual Conference Management Session -1, in Lagos.

The conference has as its theme “ Upstream Business Environment in a Recession Economy – Nigerian Example.”

The CEO said that the company had added over 2.3 billion barrels of crude to Nigeria’s

production from 1966 to 2015.

“In the last five years alone, we have made approximately 10 billion dollars of investments in Nigeria . ‘‘Through decades of executing development projects, Total’s activities have contributed to creating jobs and developing human capacity in Nigeria. ‘‘Despite the challenging operating environment, Total remains strongly committed to the developments of its activities in the country, while working relentlessly to adapt to the current environment.

“In September 2015, we achieved first oil from the Ofon Phase 2 development project,

which will increase production capacity from the Ofon field by 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

“Development drilling is currently on-going to reach the production plateau. Beyond the incremental production, this project also eliminated routine flaring in Ofon field and allowed monetization of the gas from Ofon.

“This was recognised by the World Bank – sponsored Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership, which gave an Excellence Award to our Ofon2 Project on 9th September 2015, for this achievement,” he said.

that but what is important is: what is the objective?

“The objective is still to fully deregulate and we have started that process. It is a continuing process and we will continue fine-tuning it until we get to where we should be.’’

A stakeholder at the event, who preferred anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigerians would have to embrace full deregulation one way or the other.

“It is inevitable. The PPMC is groaning. It is not making profit as it should because it bears the burden of importing and sometimes sells below cost price.

“You know if the president had his way, he would like to fix the price of the bread that we eat so it can be affordable for the common man.

However, full deregulation of the downstream sector is important so that the market can determine prices which will be better for consumers in the long run.’’

able to cultivate and will produce enough that will always ensure there will be food for Nigerians.”

Speaking further, Senator Lokpobiri said “there is no statistics that there will be famine in January, he (Presidency) only said that people are coming from other countries to buy our goods, and as a government, we are also trying to buy and governments don’t just come into the market to buy, government comes to buy to ensure there is a guaranteed price so that farmers are not discouraged by low patronage.

“Government for now is trying to see how we can buy and store because all our silos are virtually empty, saying as a government, we can’t stop people from coming to buy from Nigeria”.

When asked what the government was putting on ground to boost production, the Minister said “the Anchor Borrower Scheme is already guaranteeing 1 million metric tons of paddies in Kebbi state alone, government is already making credit facilities and farm inputs available through the Anchor Borrower Scheme.

“We are also investing in processing, very soon, we are going to launch over 100 small scale rice mill that will be distributed in the rural Cooperatives to enable farmers not only harvest but process, and they can get much more value from rice production.”

12

businessnews

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

FG to resume payment of EEG in 2017— Enelamah Says Abuja Commodities Exchange nearing privatisation Sanya Adejokun - Abuja

A

cheering news came to non-oil exporters on Thursday that the Export Expansion Grant (EEG), suspended since 2014 is to be restored next year.

Again, plans to revitalize the long comatose Abuja Commodities Exchange is nearing completion with Nigerian Sovereign Investment Fund (NSIF) has indicated interest to acquire shares in the business.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah who made these known at a press conference added that Federal Government was negotiating Free Trade Agreements, Updating Trade Policies and Examining the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET).

The Export Expansion Grant (EEG), which was suspended in 2014 following allegations of widespread abuse and the accumulation of significant liability on the Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate (NDCCs), is also expected to resume in 2017.

Government intends to resume the scheme in 2017 because of its determination to expand the volume and value of Nigeria’s exports, diversifying export products and improving global competiveness of Nigerian exporters. The scheme will be included in the budget in order to manage the impact on government revenue and promote transparency.

The Minister said that approved liability on the Scheme for unused certificates which are either in the custody of exporters or awaiting issuance in the Federal Ministry of Finance, will be settled after the conduct of an audit to verify the actual amount due Following EEG suspension, Enelamah had set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee to access the scheme holistically and

make recommendations on its continued operation or otherwise and the framework for its continued operation The committee he explained, came up with far reaching recommendations and also made a presentation at the Economic Management Team (EMT) meeting last month, in which its recommenda-

tions were approved.

He said government was in the process of negotiating 21st century Nigerian free trade agreements, with the goal of expanding market opportunities for Nigerian companies as well as looking into the ECOWAS Common External Tariff that has been quite controversial According to the Minis-

ter, his ministry was running a feasibility study for the development of six Special Economic Zones (SEZ’s) and securing N50bn in the Nigerian budget for the first development phase to be launched in 2017.

Enelamah said the Ministry is updating Nigeria’s trade policy priorities by working to correct imbal-

IBEDC set to provide electricity to Obafemi Owode LGA in 6 weeks

By Ruth Olurounbi

AFTER 10 years of living without electricity, residents of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State are expected to have access to electricity in the next six weeks, a representative of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) said on Thursday.

Company’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr Ade Ayileka, who gave the timeline during the tour of the company projects in Ogun State, towards electricity distribution in the area, said IBEDC is leveraging on existing infrastructure in the state, in addition to its new technology in an effort to provide access to electricity to the people of the state, within

the stipulated time.

Ayileka said these at IBEDC’s New Abeokuta 132/33KV TCN Substation in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which is according to him, is 100 per cent ready to transmit power.

He added that the company is investing more than N60 million on maintaining existing infrastructure around the area and is spending more to implement its technology to distribute electricity in the area.

With a 2×60 MvA capacity, the new transmission station, Ayileka, assured that the people would soon begin to witness a change in their areas.

“As you can see, this is a new transmission station.

This transmission station

has a 2×60 MVA capacity.

The power capacity is more than available and is more than the power capacity that is coming from Ojere,” he told a group of representatives from several Community Development Centres (CDC) who were also on the tour of IBEDC projects in the state.

Project engineer, Ope Akintomide, who works for the contractor company handling the electrification project, Tommy Toak Group, assured the community leaders that electricity distribution would be made available to the people of the community in the said six weeks time.

According to him, “we had covered more than three kilometres, erecting electricity

The bank has also initiated several programmes and interventions to celebrate the pivotal role played by entrepreneurs in driving economic growth and development in the Nigeria.

According to Group Head Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank, Folake Ani-Mumuney, “FirstBank as a responsible corporate citizen will continue to encourage partnerships that build sustainable businesses.

“Recognising that entrepreneurs are at the heart of national development, which contributes greatly to the

Gross Domestic Product of our country, we remain focused on empowering entrepreneurs towards capacity building and development,” she explained.

Ani-Mumuney, however implored government at all levels to start the introduction of entrepreneurial training in Schools curriculum as this has the capacity to build more employers of labour and reduce the unemployment gap among the your graduates.

“FirstBank is committed to the success of SMEs and has through many years

groomed SMEs into large corporations. Some of the bank’s support programmes for SMEs include African Start-Up on CNN, a sponsored TV documentary on CNN showcasing SME success stories across Africa; Ignite (an afterschool graduate employability and enterprise training initiative); Sponsorship of SME Radio Programme, The Economy & You, SME conferences and seminars across various states in Nigeria as well as the SMEConnect website which is at the heart of FirstBank’s SME activities.

sitional period of implementation to 2020. The challenge for the Nigerian economy is that manufacturers and industrialists have taken a strong position that the negotiation that resulted in the CET did not take into account the sensitivities of the Nigerian industrial and manufacturing sector.

Hi Impact Planet gets Vodacom WIFI

Chief Technical Officer, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company ( IBEDC), Mr Ade Ayileka (middle) explains a point to members of the community; Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Deolu Ajose (2nd left) ; Regional Technical Manager, Ogun State IBEDC , Mr Akindele Abiodun (4th right) , during the IBEDC- Ogun community tour of the new Abeokuta 153/ 33k4 TCN Substation, situated at Kobape Road Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

FirstBank advocates inclusion of entrepreneurial training in school curriculum IN its commitment to drive sustainable economic growth in the country and to develop more young entrepreneurs globally, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has called for the inclusion of entrepreneurial training in school curriculum.

This is as First Bank joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Week, an initiative that commemorates the contribution and passion of entrepreneurs generating ideas that drive growth and significantly expand human welfare.

ances in the country’s trade relationships and reversing negotiating failures. One of those items it is examining at the moment is the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) CET. CET is a regional tariff structure for West Africa on the basis of which products are imported within the region. It came into effect in 2015 with a tran-

poles before we had to change our location. But all things being equal, IBEDC will meet the six weeks deadline as we have started to erect new poles at different sites on the approval of the state government and the people of the areas.”

At a community meeting with the IBEDC, which held in Mowe Ibafo, Ogun State, as part of the activities lined up by the company, Adeyileka explained the company’s strategy in implementing power supply in the areas.

“We are connecting with existing lines to provide electricity to the people of these areas. As you had seen earlier, we have started to erect poles connect power from the substation to the existing lines that would supply electricity to these areas.

“We are spending N60 million on maintenance and rehabilitation of some of those existing lines to supply light to the area. We are working very hard to make sure we meet our targets and to provide electricity to our people,” he said.

Responding, the chairman of all the affected CDCs in Ogun State, Jimi Olusanya, said he was impressed with the projects and assured the community’s commitment to continuing partnership in the quest to provide electricity to the areas.

AFRICA’S leading VMD (Voice, Message, Data) Mobile Communications Network, Vodacom Nigeria Limited is set to deploy a full functional Internet solutions at Hi Impact Planet Amusement Park & Resorts.

Making this known yesterday was the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of Hi Impact Planet, Prince Adeyanju Lipede at the contract signing ceremony with the Network Provider held at the Ibafo Ogun State office of the Amusement Park.

“The WIFI upon deployment will run at a speed of 45 Megabites per seconds (MBPS) and will cover all areas of the Park thereby making internet access available to all visitors and residents” says Lipede.

In her reaction, the Accounts Manager, Business Development of the Vodacom, Mrs. Irhene Omijeh congratulated the management of Hi Impact Amusement Planet & Resorts for choosing Vodacom promising that the company will give quality service at all times.

The high speed WIFI internet service facility which comes into operation in the first week of December will be available for use of all guests and visitors making their stay more memorable.

Hi-Impact Amusement Park & Resort is a world class amusement park with thrilling outdoor and exciting indoor games for children, teenagers and the whole family to have a funfilled experience.

The tourists centre which sits on about 185,000m2 is located at Kilometre 12, Lagos-Ibadan Express Road, opposite Mountain Top University Ibafo in Ogun State and opened to the public in December last year. As part of its determination to continue to upgrade facilities at the Park, the Hi-Impact Planet has added a 12D cinema, go-katting, and different types of tastefully furnished apartments to cater for guests who desire to sleep over or have an extended time at the park.

13

editorial Of military hardware and the Boko Haram campaign Friday, 18 November, 2016

R

EINING in Boko Haram terrorism and liberating all the territories that the radical Islamist group had seized was one of the main campaign promises of candidate Muhammadu Buhari. As President, Buhari, to his credit, has had some success against Boko Haram. Not only has his administration scored some strategic victories, it has registered a few diplomatic ones as well, most recently by securing freedom for a handful of the hundreds of young girls that Boko Haram has held in captivity since 2014. This has no doubt raised hope that at least a substantial number of the girls will be reunited with their loved ones in no distant time.

One area in which the administration seems to be struggling is in procuring the hardware necessary for its military campaign, and recent media reports regarding its so far unsuccessful efforts to purchase a fleet of A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft from Brazil highlight its plight. As reported by several Nigerian dailies, the administration was close to sealing the deal for the purchase, which would have allowed it to retire its ailing Alpha jet platform, before it was scuttled by the United States government. The White House for its part seems to be concerned by accusations that the Nigerian military has been involved in several human rights violations, and had, for the same reason, blocked the efforts of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to buy CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Israel early last year.

Some analysts have suggested that the American blockage has nothing to do with human rights (after all the same America has a record of selling arms to rogue regimes around the world) and everything to do with the fact that America would prefer to be the one doing the selling. The

Nigerian Tribune

cynicism underlying this view has been fuelled by other reports claiming that the US Department of Defense will soon inform Congress of its plan to sell a dozen A-29 Super Tucano light attack jets to the Nigerian Army. If that is true, then the Buhari administration will momentarily be in possession of these propeller-driven warplanes which, according to intelligence sources, are specifically “tailored for counterinsurgency operations.”

We think that the issues at stake here are bigger and more important than the source of procurement of these warplanes, or indeed other military hardware for the Boko Haram campaign.

One issue is the current market price of 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack jets, a whopping $500 million, according to estimates by trusted military sources. While it is important that all the stops be pulled in the struggle to extirpate Boko Haram, we must ask whether the country is, all things considered, positioned to sanction such a purchase.

Does Nigeria have the money in the bank, or is the country going to go a borrowing, yet again, in order to buy the warplanes?

To raise the question of affordability is to in fact gesture at other critical issues which have been swept under the carpet amidst a generally uncoordinated military campaign. The truth of the matter is that the campaign has been prosecuted with utmost secrecy by the Nigerian Army. The aforementioned reports of ongoing efforts to purchase warplanes are a perfect example of the government’s secretive approach.

The Federal Government needs to have the people behind it in its campaign against a dastardly group that has shown no respect for human life. Yet, it cannot secure that support if it continues to eschew the path of transparency.

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: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com or call:08055069471, 08116954630

14 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 18 November, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

No to Communication Service Tax (CST)

T

HE Federal Government should come to the rescue of Nigerians by providing an environment that is enabling for good living. What Nigerians are asking from the government is enduring dividends of democracy that will make life better and more reassuring.

This is why most Nigerians are passionately pleading with the government, the Federal legislators and relevant stakeholders to pause and take a second look at the long term adverse implications of the proposed Communication Service Tax Bill.

Yes government seeks to raise N20 billion monthly through the CST in order to shore up its revenue, but the truth is that, the tax will further compound the suffering and pathetic socioeconomic situation of the vast majority of the people.

Imagine the monumental amount of money that an additional nine per cent charge on voice calls, SMS and Whatsapp will take away from the meagre income of an average worker or poor trader.

Imagine the cumulative sums of money an average family will be forced to part with any time they renew the subscription of their pay TV services. This new tax that is being proposed can only add on to the hardship of the masses.

The trajectory of this tax is to turn pay TV services, among others, which had somewhat become affordable into luxury items like it was in the late 90s.

Why would government want to impose more hardship on the people by imposing new taxes on them?

Is taxing the citizens far beyond tolerable limits the way out of paucity of funds

to run a government? Why would government tax the calls that people make, the SMS they send, the Pay TV already paid for? Why must it be the helpless and innocent Nigerians who would bear the brunt of the country’s economic misfortune caused by profligacy?

While ordinary Nigerians are over-taxed and burdened by high cost of goods and services, high foreign exchange and unpaid salaries, political appointees are smiling to the bank.

Our legislators earn jumbo salaries and allowances; they buy exotic vehicles and luxury houses within and outside the country, while the downtrodden are being pauperised by government’s unfriendly policies like the planned nine per cent service tax on telecommunication services. What has been done with the recovered looted funds?

Nigerians did not bargain for this; people voted overwhelmingly for a government that would bring positive “change.”

Many Nigerians are currently finding it difficult to live within their earnings with this hyper-inflation.

It is rather unfortunate to read about some of our fellow compatriots who committed suicide in recent past as a result of the unbearable economic conditions they found themselves.

The Federal Government and the National Assembly

sincerely need to halt the CST Bill and look for more creative ways to raise funds in the overall interest of the country.

•Nike Orimolade, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Why Lagos deserves special status OF recent, Nigeria’s media landscape has been agog with a trending issue bordering on the desirability or otherwise of according special status to Lagos State. I have personally pondered to underscore the import of such demand. And in my candid opinion, devoid of any sentiment, I have come to the realisation that the proponents of the call for special recognition are neither asking for too much nor trying to reap where they did not sow. If equity, jus-

tice and fairness should be adopted, this is a state which hitherto prided itself as the federal capital city, hosting the embassies/consulates, states’ liaison offices, the teeming population of Federal civil servants until the movement of the Federal Capital to Abuja in the late 1980s. Even with the movement, some of these embassies and liaison offices have maintained operations in Lagos for the purpose of administrative convenience.

Against the expectation that transfer of civil servants to Abuja would deflate the population density of the city of Lagos, there has been demographic upsurge into the state, instead. People who are displaced one way or the other in their states across the federation troop daily to Lagos State, which has always been seen as a veritable alternative place for comfort, solace and a home for all. This has overstretched the infrastructural facilities in the state. No wonder many have referred

to Lagos as a mini Nigeria.

But I see it as a mini Africa, nay world. There is hardly any African country that you cannot find its citizen here in Lagos, ditto the world. You cannot count 70 per cent of who-is-who in Nigeria, who did not have one thing or another, in common with Lagos or Lagosians.

On the industrial and commercial scales, Lagos has remained the commercial capital of the country.

In terms of IGR, VAT-generated revenue accruable to the federation account is only next to oil. Politically speaking, recognising Lagos with a special status would be a merit and in adherence to the admonition of our past leaders who assured that Lagos would not be left behind in the scheme of development, notwithstanding the transfer of political power to Abuja. Lagos should be to Nigeria, what New York City is to America.

•Tony Anaele, Ijagemo, Lagos State.

Still on gender equality GENDER inequality still remains an insurmountable obstacle in Nigeria.

A survey of demographic dividend of the Northern hemisphere in Nigeria reveals how it is normalcy for young girls swayed into marriage to use modern contraceptives due to the resulting consequence of their early reproductive life and a denial of the chance to go through critical life transition.

At some point or the other, women have made efforts to achieve gender equality, but the core problem lies not in increasing gender equality but sustaining gender equality and this incites a revolution.

The one-time bill that

would have resolved all the issues addressing gender inequality in Nigeria and have it encapsulated into one Act was defeated when the Senate President put it to vote.

It is quite a counter intention that the outright rejection of this bill has aroused the attention of several international agencies, but progress in achieving gender equality is measured by those who delivered it and those featured in it. These changes cannot be effected until we correct some of the anomalies bordering around our culture and tripartite legal system.

Vanessa Kelechi, Lagos.

opinion Head bloodied but not bowed 15

By Femi Fani-Kayode

P

ERMIT me to begin this contribution with an apology for my disappearance from the literary and political scene for the last one month, this was due to circumstances beyond my control.

On October 21st, five days after my 56th birthday, I was arrested by the EFCC without an arrest warrant at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos, where I had been earlier granted bail. Thereafter, I was illegally detained by them without any detention order for 21 days.

Kindly note that this was after I had been detained by them for a gruelling 67 days 6 months ago (from 9th of May till July 15th), brought before the Federal High Court in Lagos, arraigned on spurious and politically-motivated charges and locked up in Ikoyi prison for a number of days whilst I attempted to perfect my court bail.

After perfecting bail, on 21st October, I was re-arrested and the whole nightmare began again: only this time, it was far more insidious and worse.

Throughout the time of the second detention, I was kept in a dingy underground cell at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja where I met a number of other high profile opposition figures like Senator Bala Mohammed, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the former Minister of State for Defence and Mr. Reuben Abati, the former spokesman to President Goodluck Jonathan.

During the course of my 21-day incarceration, my abductors did not ask me any questions or say one word to me other than to formally serve me with a new set of fresh criminal charges the morning after I got there, which I simply signed for.

After that, I heard nothing from them and I was told nothing, though I had daily visits to the medical clinic at the EFCC due to my deteriorating health.

Three weeks later, on November 10th, I was brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja and arraigned on yet another set of spurious, baseless and politically-motivated charges.

These ones were even more ridiculous and far-fetched than the first set in Lagos. I was falsely accused of receiving N26 million cash from the former National Security Advisor, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, for media work for the Jonathan administration in 2014.

Thankfully, I was granted bail by the court and I was detained at Kuje prison for a further four days whilst I attempted to per-

fect my bail.

At Kuje, I was kept in the terrorist wing of the prison which was built by the British government specifically for Boko Haram convicts and suspects.

The single cells and the entire terrorist section of the prison was pervaded by an eerie silence throughout the night and low tone whispers throughout the day. The only thing that broke the monotony of silence was the regular and constant call to Muslim prayers and the loud and regular cries of “Allahu Akbar”.

This was a frightful place and those that were locked up there were very dangerous and frightful people yet thankfully the Lord went ahead of me.

The single cells, though small, were clean, self-contained, well-ventilated, dry and very neat. The inmates were surprisingly very kind and friendly towards me and turned out to be my best friends and bodyguards whenever I toured the other parts of the prison.

I was very impressed with them and when I heard their stories and what some of them had been subjected to by the security forces and the state tears came to my eyes.

When I went to visit the great and brilliant freedom fighter, Nnamdi Kanu. My Boko Haram friends accompanied me to that meeting, drew a ten man security cordon around me when we entered the general population of the prison and waited outside as Nnamdi and I spoke.

They even accompanied me to Church on Sunday and waited outside until we finished.

Given what I have written about Boko Haram in the past and given my total aversion to any form of violence, terrorism and radical Islam, this was a classic case of God granting me favour before my enemies.

Everyone dreaded them in that prison but I am proud to say

Friday, 18 November, 2016

that they were my friends and I will never forget their courage, kindness and fellowship for the rest of my life.

The enemy had placed me in the lions den but the lions and their prey became the best of friends. Not only were my Boko Haram section mates very good to me but so were the other inmates in the general prison population.

This was the doing of the Lord and it was marvellous in my sight. Throughout my travails I have never questioned God and I have been inspired and comforted by His word which says that in all things we must give thanks to Him. I am innocent of all the charges and allegations, yet in all this I am not moved and neither can I ever be broken or silenced because, like the biblical Job, “I know that my Redeemer liveth”.

Like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, “my head is bloodied but not bowed” and “I shall fight until the flesh is hacked from my bones”.

And as that fight and struggle unfolds and unwinds I take solace in the powerful and beautiful words of the Victorian poet William Ernest Henley in my favourite poem titled ‘Invictus’ which was written in 1875. He wrote, “Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul”.

Like Nelson Mandela did at Robben Island prison every day for 26 years, I recited that poem three times a day on each and every day of my total of 90 days detention this year. And if I am arrested and detained again by the EFCC or any of President Buhari’s other numerous security or intelligence agencies I will continue to recite it. I have no fear of what men or satan can do to me and I trust and have faith in the God that I serve.

•Fani-Kayode is a former minister of Aviation.

Of Nigerians and the US election

By Yahaya Balogun THE US presidential election has come and gone, though the campaign was one of the most brutal in terms of venom and tantrums by the parties from both sides of the aisle. America is a country of “We the people” with eloquent and tumultuous beginnings. It is a country striving hard with imagination to use its present to correct a horrid past in order to guide her unassuming future.

The most reassuring part of the US entity is the determination of the losers of previous elections to accept the results of the election with grace. This is what Hillary Clinton has been able to do with humility by congratulating the Presidentelect, Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton has shown a gracious respect for the sacred document, that is, the Constitution, which guides the American people.

The citizens of the United States should move on with their lives, hoping for the best for the winner, unlike the third world countries, where the aftermath of general elections usually result into war and wanton destruction of lives and properties. Though, the outcome of the election was incredibly upsetting and hurting to the loser and her supporters, these people, however, understand the importance of the results of the election to the country’s exceptionalism. The current protests across the country should be cautiously addressed by the President-elect to move the country forward.

All his utterances should be presidential and channelled towards uniting the people in this difficult period of polarisation.

Hillary Clinton’s concession speech embellishes the exceptionalism of the United States. She believes that the country is bigger than the individuals involved in the political exercise. In spite of the resentment and hate that coloured the campaigns, everyone has come to terms with the outcome to see the continuity of life in America. The President-elect, Donald Trump, cannot govern in isolation. America is a con-

stitutional democracy where separation of power is sacrosanct to government and the people. Nigerians should realise that all the bickering and noxious stance of Trump during the campaign are in consonant with political expediency.

But surprisingly, in far away Nigeria, private television stations were subsumed in the broadcasting of the US election results with interesting analysis. In contrast, when we conducted our presidential elections in 2015, no coverage was made by CNN to tell the world of the importance of our democratic process in Nigeria. The only news emanating from Nigeria in their news coverage was the Chibok girls kidnapped by the terrorist organisation, Boko Haram. Negativity and sensationalism are part of their nomenclatures for carrying news from Nigeria and Africa. It is part of the spirits of mercantilism. Any achievement of the citizens in Nigeria or Africa is never aired on their international news.

Meanwhile, it is an expectation in futility as disgruntled Nigerians at home expect the mass deportation of NigerianAmericans because of the victory of Trump. Stunningly, it was reported that four groups of Nigerians were prominently involved in the US general election this year. One of the groups wanted Donald Trump to win, so that he would send all Nigerians back to Nigeria to be part of the sufferings in the land. The second group consist of the people who didn’t want

Donald Trump to win so that they could easily get visa to travel to the US. The third group are Nigerians avoiding deportation from US because they have overstayed their visas.

The fourth group is mainly composed of Nigerians who are not only immigrants, but immigrants with dual citizenship with the same responsibilities of other citizens of the United States. Social media is now agog with banters and counter banters of fellow citizens at home and in the Diaspora. This is an interesting chapter in our funny history book. Why are we so self-subsumed in resentment and hate for mutual destruction?

When Donald Trump won, the first group was said to have been in jubilation for they seem to call ‘Diaspora-Nigerian babysitters’ to come back home. The pertinent question is, why would anyone in Nigeria want or wish the successful Nigerian in the Diaspora to come home to “suffer” (not come home to contribute his/her quota to national development)?

These Diaspora-Nigerians have even been contributing immensely in one way or another to the socio-economic and political development of our country. Several billions of dollars were in remittance to the Nigerian economy in 2015 alone.

It is evident that these Nigerians are using the divisiveness of Donald Trump during the toxic campaign to leverage their resentment of fellow Nigerians. However, the Presidentelect, Donald Trump, will soon come to the realisation that there are more to the unique position soon to be entrusted into his hands. Nigerian-American diplomatic relations go beyond self-interest; it’s diplomatically mutual. The two countries’ relationship has always been mutual diplomacy in the areas of business and intellectual expertise. The intellectual acuity of the Nigerian citizens in their professional callings and their resourcefulness are among the indispensable credentials for her unique relationship with the United States.

•Balogun lives in Arizona, United States of America.

16

Friday, 18 November, 2016

W

HAT is clear about human life is that death is a price all of us must pay. No matter how long a man will last on earth, he will surely die one day. And so we all live

and die.

Very recently, the death of Papa Bayo Aluko of Ijeda in Ijesaland, also known and called Bros Bayo Aluko Ijeda, was reported. He died at the ripe age of 91. He was a well-known supporter of the Avatar, Papa Obafemi Awolowo. When one talks about the politics, life and times of Awo, Bros Bayo Aluko Ijeda was a pillar of pillars. He never compromised anything with Papa Awolowo’s name until the old man breathed his last.

Ijeda (his home town) is in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. It is an Ijesa town that is about 20 minutes drive from Ilesa (the chief city of Ijesas) in Osun State. Ijeda town is very near both Iloko and Ijebu-Jesa in the same Oriade Local Government. Papa Bayo Aluko Ijeda joined the Action Group (A.G) in 1951, shortly after the party was established in Ibadan. He embraced immediately the leadership of Papa Awolowo. When the Action Group died after the January 15, 1966 coup, Papa Bayo Aluko Ijeda moved to every political association Papa Awolowo was present in. This was why he joined the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in readiness for the politics of the second republic. The UPN was also a political party founded and led by our immortal Awo. Papa Ijeda was with the late Cicero of Esa-Oke, Uncle Bola Ige, Dele Ige (Bola Ige’s brother), the late Papa Omole, the late Papa Ajanaku, Senator Mojisola Akinfenwa, the late Chief Michael Omisade a.k.a. “OMI OMI,” the late Papa Osunloye, the late Papa D.D. Layinka, and several others in both the Action Group and the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the politics of the first and second republics. “Bros” Ijeda became the reference point of the politics of the two political parties that had Papa Awolowo as their leader and founder.

My story is virtually the story of “Bros” Bayo Aluko of Ijeda. I will talk about this very briefly. I was a secondary school student during the days of Action Group in Nigeria’s first republic.

God, however, made me play a prominent role in Nigeria’s second republic. Papa Awolowo was the instrument used by God to ensure my effective participation in the second republic politics. Awo had named me as the UPN’s National Director of Organisation for the second republic politics.

Despite all my active participation in the UPN story during the second republic, it was very clear to me that something was missing in my C.V and profile as UPN’s Director of Organisation. My political journey and arrival had been heralded by Papa Awo at the top without any electoral base from my Ijesa roots. After the December 31, 1983 coup, the field was left open for my critics to say that though I was the Director of Organisation of the popular UPN, I lacked a political base to lean on to back my position in politics.

When the General Ibrahim Babangida regime came on the political scene, launching the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC), it was clear to me that I just must use the opportunity to create a political base for myself. When the IBB regime ordered elections into the National Assembly on the basis of the two political parties, I then saw the opportunity to create a political base for myself.

I immediately announced my interest in contesting the Ijesa-Ife Senatorial seat on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Osun State. I knew if I won the election, those criticising me of having no electoral base would no longer have grounds to stand.

The question immediately then came. How do I win the SDP primaries and consequently the Senatorial ambition to justify my ambition? I had to turn to old politicians of the Action Group in my area to achieve this purpose. “Bros” Bayo Aluko Ijeda immediately came to my mind. I went to him and fully explained myself to him. The old man listened to me attentively and told me in no unmistakable terms –“Ebino, I will support you. You have been a most loyal political son of our leader, Papa Obafemi Awolowo. We must not let you down. Go to the field. You will meet our hands there. Have no fear because Awoists do not have fear to take initiatives.” I listened to the old man and with tears in my eyes, I publicly announced at Ilesa my desire to seek and contest the Ife-Ijesa Senatorial seat on the platform of the SDP. Papa Bayo Aluko of Ijeda

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

Goodnight, Papa Bayo Aluko of Ijeda

•The late Bayo Aluko Ijeda

never wavered in his support for me. He ensured that I won the nomination. He contacted all the Action Group and UPN supporters in our Ife-Ijesa district and rallied all of them to my support.

My victory was “Bros” Bayo Aluko Ijeda’s victory.

I will never forget it until I too answer the supreme call.

My victory was, however, short lived as the IBB regime, within three weeks of my victory, disqualified me from the race.

I broke down in tears but I had God and “Bros” BayoAluko of Ijeda by my side. Papa Aluko warned me never to comment adversely on what the IBB regime had done to me. He said (in his words): “Your victory was ordained by God; wait until you hear the verdict of God on what has just happened. If you comment adversely on it, you will be neutralising God’s supreme verdict. There is a purpose for it.” I took Bros Aluko’s advice. His advice later became manifested after I had been announced as a Federal Minister by the General Sani Abacha regime, about a year after my disqualification from the Senatorial race by the IBB

Apart from politics, Bros Bayo Aluko was an Apostle of God.

regime. I thank God that I never parted company with Bros Bayo Aluko Ijeda until he died. I remain grateful to him and Senator Moji Akinfenwa till today for what God had made them to do in my life. I now live in peace with my Ijesa people because Bros Bayo Aluko Ijeda, Senator Moji Akinfenwa, Chief Biodun Opebiyi, among others, never left me alone until I had established a political base for myself in Nigerian politics. Until “Bros” Bayo Aluko Ijeda died, he never discriminated against anyone. He built many young politicians into what God has made of them today. You are only his political opponent if you did not recognise Awo as your political father and mentor. Caleb Ojo, ‘Feg Agro”, Ebenezer Babatope, are all political creations of Bros Bayo Aluko Ijeda and they will continue to sing ‘Bros” Bayo Aluko Ijeda’s name for as long as they live.

Apart from politics, Bros Bayo Aluko was an Apostle of God. Anytime you came across Bros Bayo Aluko, his first words to you would be: “Let us pray.” He never lost faith in his prayers. He was an Apostle of God till he died.

“Bros” Bayo Aluko never tolerated “failure” in his vocabulary. It was ever his belief that once a man has faith in God, he will never fail in whatever he has set his hands to accomplish. A modest man now sleeps peacefully with His Creator. He was buried at Ijeda in October 2016 (a few weeks ago). It was a decent and dignifying burial.

Sleep on uncle, and may your life continue to remain a blessing to humanity!!

Bros Bayo Aluko Ijeda has now joined the ages. We will not forget him!!!

EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK: AS SIR OLANIWUN AJAYI RETURNS “HOME” (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE)

17

Friday, 18 November, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

Recession: How FG can tap into zakat to help Nigerians —Olagunju, ED, Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation

The Executive Director, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Prince Sulayman Olagunju, speaks with SAHEED SALAWU on the institution of zakat, the seriousness of the neglect of this third pillar of Islam by the vast majority of eligible Muslims and the implications for the Ummah and the society at large.

Z

AKAT has been described as the forgotten pillar of Islam, given the unbecoming attitude of many Muslims to this obligation. What is the implication of this?

The implication is already being felt; poverty. Muslims are wealthy but they are equally not favourably placed in terms of economic empowerment in the society. The society at large is also not well-off because the institution of zakat is supposed to be beneficial to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. As a pillar of Islam, I feel that we should take it more seriously than we currently do. You will discover that very many Muslims are ignorant of zakat. They don’t even know the difference between it and sadaqat. However, while zakat is the compulsory tax for charity, sadaqat is a voluntary act of charity. Most Muslims engage in sadaqat and are content thinking that it suffices as zakat. This notion is wrong. There is no way the voluntary can replace the compulsory.

Ignorance is a major factor in this matter.

Most Muslims do not know how important the institution of zakat is. Its benefit is enormous. It has the potential to alleviate, and even eradicate, poverty in the society if it is collected and distributed properly. I think ignorant Muslims are as much to blame as those of us who have saddled ourselves with the collection of zakat. In the south-West of the country, you hardly have any information about zakat and that is one of the reasons we at Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation have taken it upon ourselves to sensitise Muslims to zakat, and we are ready to collaborate with other zakat institutions. At the Foundation, we feel that a whole lot more needs to be done to get Muslims to accord zakat the priority treatment it deserves as an integral part of our faith.

Do you see the ongoing recession affecting obedient Muslims who have been paying their zakat regularly?

Zakat improves your earnings and insulates your property. So, if you have been paying zakat properly, this recession has no business with you. I heard a story wherein a fire burned people’s properties. They brought the news to a man who also had property at the scene of the fire but he just waved the news aside, saying his property could not have been affected because he paid zakat from it. And to the surprise of those who brought the news, when they all got to the place, his property was intact. So, a Muslim who pays zakat has no problem with recession. Zakat purifies your money.

Zakat brings increment to you. With your zakat, you empower many people, and Allah loves those who do charity. Plus, those to whom your money is given would pray for you.

If you are the type of Muslim that has not been paying zakat, you can try it at this period of recession and then confirm the reality or otherwise of my claim. Okay, we talk of recession but we collected N127 million

are not necessarily Islamic nations. The governments provide an enabling environment for the collection and distribution of zakat and thereby empower a lot of people, taking them out of poverty. The essence of governance is to bring peace to the people and see to their well-being, and religion is even not an issue in this regard. So, the government needs to support us. And if the adherents of other faiths believe that there are aspects of their religions that align with this, the government should support them as well. This is really going to benefit the country as a whole.

Do you think Islamic leaders and scholars are doing enough to sensitise Muslims to the obligation of zakat?

No, they are not doing enough. Many people are so-called scholars; they do not even understand the concept of zakat. Some only read it in the Book and they tell people but they do not know how to apply it. Of what benefit is that? Even some ‘scholars’ still talk about zakat in terms of toro and poun when somebody like me doesn’t even know those units of currency let alone younger people.

They are okay with what people bring before them and call zakat. Some rich Muslims do not really understand this dictate of their religion and as such, the onus is on the knowledgeable ones to enlighten them and guide them to the obligation.

Olagunju zakat last year and this year, when there is recession, as I talk to you right now, we have collected N138 million. So, I encourage people to honourably pay zakat. It is compulsory. It is a purifier. Just take the pain and pay it and whatever you have would be purified.

could earn blessings from Allah. Even if you give N5 as charity, you will be rewarded for it, but if you give nothing at all, there is nothing to be rewarded for. So, I encourage us to always pay sadaqat and pay our zakat – if we are able.

Could you shed more light on the difference between zakat and sadaqat?

Zakat is compulsory for all Muslims who have the means. However, both the haves and the have-nots are to participate in sadaqat. Sadaqat is general so that we all

How would you advise the Federal Government to go about ending the ongoing recession?

The Federal Government needs to encourage the zakat institutions in this country.

They need to create an enabling environment for us. They need to encourage zakat institutions on the collection of this religious tax from Muslims. Effective collection of zakat can help the government, even more than the regular tax, in reducing poverty in the land. If the government encourages and supports us, definitely, what we would be collecting as zakat would be more than we are collecting right now. Give us a ministry of zakat, let Muslims run it, collect zakat together and let’s see what we make of it. Adherents of other religions don’t have to do it with us. I have had the opportunity of visiting countries where the governments encourage the collection of zakat and they

The essence of governance is to bring peace to the people and see to their well-being, and religion is even not an issue in this regard.

What is your advice for Nigerians as the nation trudges?

We should all feel concerned about our affairs. People should stop this it-doesn’t-concern-me attitude. It has really affected us. We never used to have all these problems we are having now because the underprivileged in the society were cared for. Now there is incidence of kidnapping, because people want money; they want to survive. And when you look at that kidnapper, he is either a Muslim or a Christian. So, what I’m saying in essence is that religion has a vital role to play in bringing succour to the adherents and one of the ways Allah has equipped Islam to play this role is through the institution of zakat.

We need to help one another. Pay your zakat, pay your sadaqat and let us have a change of attitude towards one another. A situation whereby I am able to send my child to a university where I pay N1 million per session and I see young boys and girls out of school and roaming my street, I should be concerned about them. If I can pay N1 million for my child’s tuition, it mustn’t be too much for me to spend N100,000 on about five of these kids’ education. At the end of the day, what we are going to have is an egalitarian society where everyone is happy. We have missed the point and we need to retrace our steps. While some of us take water for granted, in some villages, you find that there is no potable water. So, from the zakat we are collecting, we are sinking boreholes in places where they require them. I urge those who are well-off among us to care about the underprivileged and this will go a long way in solving some of the problems we have in this country.

18

Friday, 18 November, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

Kwara State coordinator, National Identity Management Commission, Olumoh Habeeb (left), presenting national identification card to the Kwara State governor, Mr Abdulfatah Ahmed, at Government House, Ilorin, last week.

From left, Project Supervisor, Abimbola John; Airport Manager, Nwogbu C. Amaechi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Saleh Dunoma and the General Manager, Mechanical, Ephram Nwodo; during the inspection tour of the new terminal at Port Harcourt International Airport, on Sunday.

From left, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale; Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Abiola Ogundokun, at the commissioning of Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale ultramodern office complex, at Iwo, Osun State. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

From right, Baale Idi Mangoro, High Chief Taofeek Ayinla Ogabi, presenting staff of office to Chief Kassim Kuku as Chief Akinrogun of Idi Mangoro, during the conferment of chieftaincy title at the palace of Olu of Agege, recently.

Miss Tomi Idowu Jojein, an Ondo State indigene (middle), recently bagged a First Class degree in Forensic Science from Lincoln University, United Kingdom. She is being presented with the Best Student Award on project by the authorities of the university, on Wednesday.

Reverend (Dr) D. A. Ayanwola (left) and Pastor (Dr) S. O. Awoleye, after they were conferred with Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counselling, at the United Missionary Church of Africa Theological College, Ilorin, Kwara State, recently.

From left, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Deacon Titus Soetan; Prince Oyebade Oyedepo, Mrs Folasade Oyedepo and the Western Zonal Chairman, ICAN, Alhaji M.O. Ogundiran, at the inauguration of the new Zonal Executive Committee/inauguration of Committee of Past Zonal Chairmen and Meritorious Service Award programmes of ICAN Western Zone, at Premier Hotel, last Saturday.

Some of the Past Zonal Chairmen, members of current Zonal Executive and ICAN council member, Deacon Solomon Adeleke, in a group photograph with ICAN President, Deacon Titus Soetan, at the event.

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

19

Friday, 18 November, 2016

fridaytreat

Nigerian Tribune

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 Instagram: @roy_ige

Dreams Records to set

Nigerians in ‘Hypa’ mode

A

fast-rising record label, Dreams Records has unveiled its new acts, ‘Hypa’. They are not exactly new to the industry but their works have basically been on various social media outlets. The singers are said to have been thrilling social media fans with the good music they make before the record label boss of Dreams Records stumbled on them and made it a culture to listen to the singers’ music too. Fate smiled on them when Dreams Records boss revealed his intention to sign them to his music label.

Born Ekemode Rasheed Enitan and Ekemode Ganiu Omobolaji, Hypa grew up in Bariga where they

started doing music in their neighbourhood. . They started with performances in shows around Bariga and its environs before they got signed to Dream Records.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer, Dreams Records, Mr. Oni Ebenezer expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards the signing of the new acts to his label and wished them good success in the music industry.

“We feel this is the right time to announce our first acts, Hypa, because we have listened to what they have to offer and we are convinced that they have what it takes to compete in the Nigerian music

scene”.

He said that the label is passionate about what is in the pipeline and is looking forward to discovering other top-notch artistes in a bid to keep the label flying high.

The newly signed artistes, in a chat with Friday Treat, revealed that although the musical group has a unique fusion called Afro Highlife, their musical taste have been influenced by Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey.

The duo said that their new track ‘Alert’ was inspired by the present economic drawback facing the country at the moment.

Ibadan is the next hub for entertainment —Fearless, R2fm OAP His name ‘Fearless’ on R2FM, Ibadan is fast becoming a household one in the city as his radio show is gradually becoming the youth’s favourite in the city. ROTIMI IGE caught up with him recently and presents excerpts of their interaction BACKGROUND Fearless was born Olayemi Afolabi in Lagos. I had my primary and secondary education in Lagos before proceeding to Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho for his tertiary education where I studied Environmental Biology. The first of three children, I have two amazing sisters.

Your journey into broadcasting The journey started unconsciously in JSS 1 when I was selected to spear head the orientation ceremony of my set in secondary school; Government College Ketu, Epe, Lagos. From then on, I was the go-to guy for

news and debates for intra and inter school competitions; this feat earned me the senior prefect position in high school and spots on TV series such as Tinsel, Bella’s place and some short films while in the University.

Fast forward to NYSC in 2013, I was again the best choice to represent fellow corpers on the NYSC radio show in Umuahia, Abia State. After service to the nation, I proceeded to the FRCN Training Academy in Lagos to brush my rough edges after which I joined Cool FM, Lagos as personal assistant to ace broadcaster Mannie, and then evolving to become a content-provider/co-host of MillerTime (now MusicBox) alongside

DJ Xclusive and Kaylah.

R2FM is a youth centric station, what particular offerings do you have in store?

We have youth focused programming, game shows, up-todate entertainment news and diverse music. For us, Ibadan is the latest hub of entertainment, being just a little above one hour drive from Lagos; it is not surprising that forecasters have predicted Ibadan as the next entertainment power house.

What inspires you My inspiration is music and visuals. I pick a lot from what

I see and hear far more than what I read.

Define good music For me, it’s a sound you can identify with even without being familiar with it. A song you don’t mind listening to the end even though you’re hearing it for the first time. Something about the production or purity of the vocals just captures you.

Critics say Ibadan artistes have low self esteem and cannot measure up to Lagos acts Sadly, it is true, but all that is changing as Ibadan is getting more visible on the entertainment map.

20

21

18 November, 2016

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 twitter: @rotifizzle twitter: @fridaytreat

fridaytreat Flavour, other Glo Campus Storm stars paint UNN green

Matt Westside Records signs new act THIS week, fast rising record label Matt Westside Records officially announced young male vocalist/songwriter, Deshinor, as a new addition to the record label.

He joins Henry Knight, who was previously announced in August 2016 at a boat cruise.

“All we intend to do is invest hugely on mainly talented artistes, we have a long way to go and we are just starting. I want to believe we have done a great job scouting for these acts and we are more than confident with Deshinor” Matthew Fab Ebhodaghe, the CEO of Matt Westside says.

The announcement of Deshinor saw the release of the talented vocalist’s first single.

Titled ‘New Wave’, the mid tempo song is produced by Kriz Beatz. The new single is expected to become an anthem on radio, clubs and on the street because of the street appeal and the song’s theme.

“I am an ardent listener of music, and I have experimented with a lot of sounds before getting signed to Matt Westside, but as cliché as this sounds, I am in music to tell a story with my music, and make an impact” Deshinor says Born Adeshina Joshua Aromolaran, 20-year-old he is a final year student of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos. Influenced by Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade and Asa, the musician’s sound can be described as a fresh and unique fusion of Afro Pop, Highlife and Afro Soul.

IT was a weekend to remember for students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) as the popular youth-oriented music concert organised by Nigeria’s foremost telecommunications company, Globacom, thrilled fun-seekers for hours on Friday night.

Highly sought after stars, Flavour, Korede Bello and Runtown took turns to treat the students and other members of the university community to the best of their songs at the Ekpo Convention Centre of the highly rated university.

Compered by one of Nigeria’s funniest comedians, Gordons, the concert moved very quickly from one level of excitement to the other while the students lapped it all up and roared for more.

It was however not just music and comedy.There was also an opportunity for students to vie for cash prizes in a beauty pageant. Ten students of the school won cash prizes of between N50,000 and N100,00 in the Glo Campus Data Dude and the Glo Campus Data Diva pageants in a night filled with multi-dimensional fun. The winners are also in contention to win a scholarship worth N1million at the grand finale of the contest.

The fun of the night commenced with a dancing competition which saw students doing their best to outdo one another on the dance floor.

A 200 level student of Political Science, Ibekwe Chinedu, beat his colleagues to the top slot, followed

by Ugochukwu Victoria of the Department of Theatre arts. Chubuike David Ejiofor, a year one student of Agric Economics placed third. Another outstanding dancer who lost out in the top three positions, Otubo Vivian Uche of the Department of English Language, got wild applause from the audience for her troubles.

There was also a chance for up and coming stars to show the stuff they were made of. Some of these include Kelwizz, Kris Jay, Mareez, Wills, Mandy, Chido Keys, Sinopizi and Zee Rawkpokpo. They also got the approval of their colleagues and pat on the back from their friends.

Ibadan Countdown Festival

unveils 2baba as headline act

I

BADAN will be put on the front burner of entertainment events this December as the Ibadan Countdown Festival organisers have concluded plans to ensure that the city is provided top notch entertainment from the 24th till 31st.

This was the indication at the unveiling of their headline act, award winning superstar, Innocent Idibia, a.k.a 2baba, who was unveiled on their social media platform.

‘We are pleased to unveil our main act, 2baba, for the Ibadan Count-

down Festival 2016. He will be live on the 24th of December to perform with a live band. We are also expecting over 100 acts across eight days. We are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that Ibadan will be as lively as ever this year. 2Baba is only one of others who will be unveiled next week”, Alfred Emeka, one of the organisers said.

The eight days event will also have themed days, among which are the family day, food day, business and networking day, Tourism day, cultural day, youth and sports day and the countdown/firework finale, which another A-list act will headline.

Aramide set to release album FANS and friends had the opportunity to listen to Aramide’s full body of work for the first time at the Fuse Lounge, Victoria Island, Lagos as the Afro Soul diva launched her Suitcase album. The hall was packed full of enthusiasts who have waited a long while for the album release. The event was anchored by on air personality Tosyn Bucknor who introduced Aramide to guests with a resounding applause.

Aramide gave a rendition and live performance of songs on her album.

The singer stated at the beginning of her performance.

“Music has been a long journey. You have to work even if you are super talented. For me, it’s always been about something deep. I called my

album Suitcase because I have been through a lot in my life. Pain, joy, happiness and I feel the need to express it” Some celebrity guests present at the event include, Sound Sultan, Waje, Omawumi, Cobhams Asuquo, Ill Bliss, Niniola,Dija, Lota Chukwu, The Suitcase, released under the Baseline imprint is an album that expresses the Singer’s feelings about issues that have happened in her life which she wants people to relate to and personify.

“This has been some real hard work on my part and its all for my supporters. Like them, I am looking forward to the release of the album.

This is my first album so I can’t wait to see the response. It is part of the reason why we took our

time to release the album because we wanted to be sure that we give out nothing but the best”.

Suitcase is Aramide’s first album and consists of fourteen tracks

with a bonus track. It features appearances by Adekunle Gold, Ice Prince, Koker and Sound Sultan. The Afro Soul diva also worked with producers such as Tintin, Cobhams Asuquo, Sizzle pro and Laitan Dada.

Making good music is my passion

—Shuleydee

Shulammite Daniel Emeghara popularly known as Shuleydee is a fast rising upcoming artiste and CEO, Forever Records. With her latest single, Ayama currently making waves, she speaks with DOYIN ADEOYE on her career among other things.

FORAY into music Music has always been something I wanted to do, because I’ve always had the passion for it. As a child, I remember I would listen with so much admiration whenever my sisters played songs by Westlife, or whenever my uncle listen to any of his records.

I would listen to the music and put lyrics together in my head. So I’ve always loved music.

And it was not just circular music for me. As at then, I loved mature music like fuji and highlife.

I loved the likes of King Sunny Ade even as a child. So with time, I decided to follow my dreams and take it up as a career. And making good music is my passion.

Style of music I don’t like to box myself. If I say Afro Pop, then people will be expecting something like that from me all the time. So I keep it open. I am a musician, I sing, I play some instruments. So that’s just it. But if I’m to stick with a style, then I’d say contemporary highlife.

Inspiration behind Ayanma Ayanma was recorded and produced within three hours.

I was with my manager around 10 p.m. one day in Abuja when I started feeling really uncomfortable. I couldn’t explain why everything around me was making me really angry. So I just told him I wanted to go the studio. He was shocked because we didn’t plan that. But I just wanted to go. Fortunately Mekoyo, who is like family to me, was in town.

So we went to the studio that night because I like working best at night from about 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. So we were at the studio; I didn’t even have a song in mind. I was just so angry, but despite my anger, I was humming a tune. So Mekoyo gave me the beat and within three hours, we were done. And the song became a hit.

Running my own label Yes, Forever Records is my baby. I’m the lead singer and the CEO. Well, for now, I’m not signing any artiste, as I’ll like to get my feet strong first, but maybe over time, I’ll like to sign more artistes.

Competitions with other female artistes I do not compete with anyone, ‘everyone is on their lane.’ My style of music is different, so there is no competition.

Challenges for female artistes in a male dominated industry It is really not easy for female artistes, but if there were room for more investors to come in, then things will be better. I believe there are so many female artistes out there and even right now, females are currently topping the charts.

The likes of Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Cynthia Morgan are really doing very well, and more female artistes including myself are coming up as well. So I believe that if there is more fund, then female artistes will thrive more.

Growing up Growing up for me was tough and tragic as I lost both parents when I was around five. They both died in a crash the same day. So it wasn’t a good experience, but I thank God that we pulled through that and we are here now. It brought a lot of setbacks, but God took care of us.

There are six of us, three boys and three girls and I am the last born. Although I’ve outgrown it, the experience still gets to me when I see families happy together especially during the festive period. But we are grownups now and we are happy God has brought us this far.

22

Friday, 18 November, 2016

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

’Wale Olapade 08055201323 wale11g3@gmail.com Winner, NMMA Tourism Reporter Of The Year

Ileya Omo Oodua Festival to launch hall of history with star awards ILEYA Omo Oduduwa festival which the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, is hosting this December in Ile-Ife is set to launch a Yoruba Hall of History with the Irawo Oodua international awards at the weeklong festival with the theme showcasing the people, culture and the race.

In a press release signed by the coordinator of the festival, the Managing Director of Franchise & Enterprise Concerns limited, Mr Wale Williams he said that the Irawo Oodua International awards which is the grand finale of the festival will recognise illustrious descendants across the world as a mark of identifying true Yoruba heroes.

‘The Arole Oduduwa is determined to use this platform to create that sense of semblance amongst all Yorubas and every black person across the world to ensure that his effort at bringing together every person born as Yoruba anywhere in the world is achieved.

“The awards programme is in line with our theme for this year’s festival which is showcasing the people, culture and the race. The Irawo Oodua international awards has identified several categories of awardees.

The Irawo Agba Iran Yoruba will identify heroes that are in their 70s upward and have excelled across the world. The Irawo Oni (Today’s Star) looks at people excelling today and is making us proud. The like of Dr Taiwo Afolabi of the Sifax Group is a notable example. Irawo Ola (Tomorrows Stars) looks at the young upcoming and proud heroes.

The Diaspora Star awards will be used to recognise some no-

table leaders from other countries, some with Yoruba lineage, while the Grand Star Award is will honour a notable personality at the event slated for December 9 2016.”

Furthermore, the coordinator stated that a notable city in South America significant for receiving Yoruba people centuries ago will receive special award while also a notable figure responsible for the generations of some Yoruba that are today excelling in Nigeria and across the world will be recognised and a statue will be erected in his honour in Ile-Ife under the Hall of History project. ‘This personality is a true descendant of Oduduwa and is responsible for what is known today as centre of excellence.” Williams said

From left, Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC) Board of Governors, Mr Babatunde Fagbohunlu; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Dr Nike Akande and Executive Secretary, LACIAC, Mrs Folake Akinmoladun, at the official launch of LACIAC held at The George Hotel, Ikoyi on Monday in Lagos. Photo; Sylvester Okoruwa.

Enugu plans to be biggest tourism hub in Nigeria —Ogbu-Nwobodo

T

Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Enugu State, Mr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo,.

HE government of Enugu State has taken a giant stride to become one of the biggest tourism hubs in Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Enugu State, Mr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, who spoke with journalists at the 2016 Akwaaba African Travel Market, in Lagos, said the way out of recession is to diversify, while describing tourism as a low hanging fruit that can turn around the situation of any economy in a space of time.

According to Ogbu-Nwobodo, “Enugu is not leaving any stone unturned to see that we use the

available potential through private partner initiative to boost the tourism sector of the state.

“We are exploring different allied tourism sector to make our state more attractive to visitors, investors and tourists through the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) approach.

“We are stepping up our game in terms of infrastructural development to create an enabling environment that will not only open newer economic opportunities but also create and recreate sustainable jobs and revenue for the state.

The commissioner who lauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

Ilora Day celebration ends in style RECENTLY, friends and well-wishers joined sons and daughters of Ilora from within and outside Nigeria to celebrate 2016 Ilora Day in style.

The event which was a great reunion of the people of Ilora was also used to drum support for the development of the town, as this year’s edition was celebrated amidst launching of N100 million development appeal fund at Akibio Secondary School ground, Oke-Isanmi, Ilora on Saturday, November 12, 2016. speaking, the Chairman, Ilora Day 2016 Planning Committee, Comrade Kadiri Wasiu re-echoed that Ilora has witnessed unparalleled development within the short time the Akibio of Ilora, Oba Stephen Olufemi Oyeniyi, Oparinde II came to the throne.

He lauded the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Senator Isiaka Ajimobi on the newly created Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) and having Ilora as one of the headquarters.

“I appeal to you all to support our town for the smooth take off of our

LCDA, in terms of provision of infrastructure and other logistics for the headquarters.”

The Chairman, Ilora Development Association, Deacon Kayode Ajayi, charged invited guests and indigenes of the town to come together to take Ilora to a greater height, irrespective of social, economic and

religious diversities.

Ajayi appealed for financial support in realisation of the N100 million development appeal fund for the transformation of the town.

In his remarks, Chief Adegboyega Mabinuori, Are Latoosa of Ibadanland implored indigenes to co-operate with the Akibio of Ilora, Oba

From left, Akibio of Ilora, Oba Stephen Olufemi Oyeniyi; wife, Olori Kehinde and Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, at the 2016 Ilora Day celebration, in Ilora, Oyo State, recently.

Stephen Olufemi Oyeniyi to further hasten development of the ancient town.

He advised all and sundry to feel free to establish industries that would open the town to economic development.

Earlier, Akibio of Ilora, Oba Stephen Olufemi lauded the initiatives of Senator Isiaka Ajimobi on the creation of the new Local Council Development Areas.

“The LCDA is another opportunity for our community to get more attention and also to benefit from the dividend of good governance.

The monarch prayed and thanked God for His blessings and protection of the people of the town in the last one year.

Also, in her remarks, Senator Sunmonu advised the youths to imbibe self-control and stay clear of illicit drug taking. She said the proposed ICT Centre, when completed, will be used to enhance their ability in computer literacy, urging them to be more focused in whatever they are doing in life.

of Enugu State, said the governor’s proactive initiatives in repositioning the state has also geared everyone to work with sincerity of purpose to put the state on the world map of tourism.

“We have an approved free trade zone and as a matter of fact, the only free trade zone in south east. We are going to break grounds in that area.

“The whole idea is to create that platform that reduces the entry barriers into investment and as part of that; we are also involved in the entertainment sector, the medical tourism.

There is a company that is going to put in place a kind of medical facility that you expect to see outside the country within the free trade zone, so this is just an integrated approach that captures what the tourism session discussed at the Akwaaba and also we try to expand into some other allied areas which I see as interconnected.

“It is also of note to let you know that we are going to have the biggest convention centre in Nigeria, a 10,000 capacity conference for our MICE initiative.

“However, the conference project was inherited, but as part of our policies which believe that government is continual, we felt the project has to be completed and we are going to do that through concession.

“We would provide an enabling environment for concessionaires to come in and finish the project.”

Ogbu-Nwobodo added that the core of the concessioning is to energise tourism and even the economy.

23

Friday, 18 November, 2016

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

School furniture locked outside the classroom

Students taking furniture into their classrooms

Students receiving lectures while sitting on bare floor

Locked-up school furniture in Sokoto

Who is to blame?

Over the years, majority of people have placed the blame of challenges in the education sector on government at all levels but the discovery of school furniture kept in a school in Sokoto while students sit on the floor to learn raises the question of culpability on the part of other stakeholders.

YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE writes.

T

HE importance of education has been reiterated at every opportunity and by many over the years. Indeed, education has been described as the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world. And the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan once stated that, “education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.”

It is therefore an incontrovertible fact that the development of a nation depends on how well it has developed its academic sector. But in Nigeria, in spite of the tremendous importance given to education, the situation is not what it should be and stakeholders have continued to condemn the perceived rot in the Nigerian educational sector.

Over the years, there had been dearth of infrastructure in various public schools across every state of the federation; insufficient learning aids, lack of furniture, inadequate classrooms and so many other deficiencies militating the progress of education. This affects the students negatively and leads to poor academic performance as well as well as loss of interest and poor attitude to academic activities.

Various ratings of the academic sector, both local and inter-

national had always put Nigeria far below average. In fact, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in an assessment of the Nigerian education sector stated that the education system in Nigeria is one of the worst education systems in the world.

For this thriving rot, there had been trading of blame among stakeholders with many putting the bulk at the door of government. In fact, not long ago, teachers in Ondo State through the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Mr. Dayo Adebiyi, called government at all levels to tackle the rot and decadence bedeviling Nigeria’s education sector.

But often, events have shown that other factor aside government carelessness is responsible for the situation in the academic sector. An example of this situation can be traced to a recent event in a public school in Sokoto state. Pupils of Hafsat Ahmadu Bello Memorial Secondary School in Sokoto, had been suffering just to get education.

They struggle to grasp the fine points of teachings while sitting in uncomfortable postures on the bare floor in postures that are not medically good for them or conducive to learning. For them, the popular saying that you don’t have a shovel and use

your hand to pack dirt is not applicable. This is because though they are used to sitting on the floor, there are hundreds of chairs and table locked up few blocks away in the school compound.

So while the students suffer through school sitting on the floor, a large number of chairs just lie fallow in the school compound and have become part of the outside fixtures of the school. This went on till few days back when a committee set up by Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to implement the state of emergency declared in education visited Hafsat Ahmadu Bello Memorial Secondary School.

The committee discovered that students learn in discomfort; only a few classes in the school have enough seats to accommodate them and students had been taking lectures while seated on the bare floor. Most use prayer mats to protect their white tops from getting stained by the dusty floor while others come to classes with extra wrappers that they lay on the floor before sitting for classes.

The committee was dumbfounded that while pupils had to endure hardship to learn on a daily basis; combating continuous body pains, 200 sets of classroom furniture were locked away, unattended to and left to rot a few blocks away in the school compound.

The visit of the committee to individually assess problems of various schools and make recommendations to government on how best to address them however signaled an end to the suffering of the pupils in the school as an order was made that the furniture be unlocked for pupils use.

Speaking on the discovery, Dr. Shadi Sabeh, who led members of the School Needs Assessment sub-committee to the said school said that, “upon visiting the Hafsat Ahmadu Bello Memorial Secondary School, Sokoto, students were seen taking lectures while sitting on the floor. To our amazement, a few blocks away, 200 new classroom furniture were locked Continues on

pg24

24 features Nigeria needs more radio stations —Femi Adefila

Femi Adefila is the Chief Executive Officer of RAVE 91.7 FM in Osogbo, the Osun state capital. In this interview, he talks about the journey of the radio station in the last 365 days, ownership of the radio and sundry issues. Excerpts:

H

OW has the journey been in the last one year?

Well, I want to say to God be the glory, indeed great has been His faithfulness, he’s been a very good God. A year ago, we started with a definite vision and the vision is to change the broadcast landscape in Osun state and its environs. We came on board with a definite objective to be apolitical and to feed the people with the news that is not tainted with all manners of subjectivity, to be on the side of the people in strict compliance with the ethics of the profession. I am happy to report that God has been good; our apolitical stand is paying off. We are happy that a year after Rave FM is now a household name is Osun state and beyond. We have won awards, we have had nominations. Six months into our existence, we had about five nominations on a very popular award platform.

I want to thank God that I am blessed with a set of young professionals who are assisting to bring the dream to reality. They keyed into my vision and they are manifesting it in concrete terms.If you do a critical analysis of the content we are pushing in programming, news and current affairs, entertainment there is no doubt that we are the leading radio station in Osun state today and that is a fact that nobody can dispute.

We are not just saying it, it is what is happening, take a drive round Osun state wherever you go, the feedback has been awesome. You see, by my antecedents, some people felt that perhaps, Femi had worked for about 10 years with politicians from a particular political party, that it is likely Femi tilts the interest of the station to that of the political party but we have come to prove them wrong that indeed we are not for any political party and we are not here to serve any political interest. The only interest we here to serve is the interest of the people and the interest of the profession.

With many stations and more to come, do you feel threatened?

No, I don’t feel threatened at all it’s a matter of knowing what you are doing; competition is healthy for the industry. I am of the opinion that we even need more radio stations if we are serious about deepening our democratic culture. The more, the merrier. Like the Yoruba will say, the sky is big enough to accommodate as many birds as possible, birds of all shades and colour. You have so many birds in the sky but the eagle is different

talk of serenity, Osogbo has got potentials. Don’t forget the fact I’m from Osun state and somebody has to develop this state. It comes at a cost but it is the goal that is very important. So being in Osogbo, honestly I feel fulfilled.

Adefila so it’s just a matter of what you chose to be. We have so many birds but Rave FM has chosen to be the eagle, to soar high, to mount on wings and to fly high. Democracy is about communication, it is about information, it is about giving people access to government, it is about the people and radio is key, it’s germane, it’s strategic to bring this about. What is important is your ideology, what purpose are you in the business to achieve, are you in the business to pursue a narrow agenda? Are you in the business for a definite political agenda? It is what brings you into the system that will determine how long you will last in the business.

Our own interest is to serve the interest of journalism and broadcasting, to adhere to the ethics of the profession and of course to be different, to be the diamond, biggest star in the horizon and of course like I had said to be the eagle amongst the birds.

So we are not threatened.

What do you have to say about the rumour that you are just a surrogate owner of the station?

Thank you very much. I have had insinuations from so many quarters, some say it’s owned by Her Excellency, Erelu Olusola Obada, some say it’s owned by Dr Doyin Okupe, some say I’m a surrogate for Asiwaju Dr Yemi Farounbi. Let me say this emphatically, none of these three individuals own a single share in Rave 91.7 FM. To the glory of God, my family and I own Rave FM 100%. I’m not surprised that rumour has gone so viral, people are of the opinion that how can a journalist like Femi Adefila own a venture of this nature. They sit down in their closets and conclude on who they feel should be the rightful owner. And you cannot blame them, every radio station around

is owned by one big politician or the other. So there is a mindset on who should own a venture like Rave 91.7 FM but I’m happy to disappoint them that this is a different ball game entirely.

In this instance, I am a surrogate for the Lord Almighty.

Erelu Obada and Dr Yemi Farounbi are benefactors that I’m eternally indebted to.They are like ladders that the Lord used for me to see windows of opportunities and I own them a debt of gratitude for life.

What informed your decision to set up Rave FM in Osogbo, why not Abujaor Ora Igbomina, your hometown?

Osogbo because I have so much sentimental attachment to Osogbo. 1992, I came to serve in Oshogbo, I got retained after meritorious service as the best youth corps member in my set. I met my beautiful wife Bimbo here; I had all my kids here.

So Osogbo is like my Shiloh.

God has been very awesome to me and my enterprises in Osogbo. So why not Osogbo?

Though having a venture like this in Osogbo has its own challenges. We are far from where the media booty is shared which is Lagos. We are just eating the crumbs that fall from the table. But when you talk of security, power supply before it became erratic of recent, you

Most politicians prefer when you white wash their sepulcher and praise them to high heavens

How easy has it been especially with Osun being in dire strait economically?

Hmmnn… It’s been a challenge, I must confess to you.

The economic situation in Osun is very challenging and it is not in Osun alone. It is a phase in our national life, we are in recession, and I pray we don’t go into depression.

So what is happening in Osun is happening everywhere but because Osun has salary issue, there is no money in people’s pocket and of course people are groaning.

But let me say this you know i have a lot of confidence and I believe in Governor Aregbesola. I tell people and they find it strange when i tell them. I love what the man is doing in terms of trying to rebrand Osun. I am an apostle of aesthetics; I love to enhance the aesthetics value of wherever I am.

How would you describe your relationship with the Governor?

It is very cordial, despite the fact that we have been subjecting his administration’s plans, policies, actions and inactions to very critical debate which politicians don’t ordinarily like. Most politicians prefer when you white wash their sepulchre and praise them to high heavens, you engage in superfluous public relations for them, you call them giants when they actually dwarfs and you turn a blind eye to their misdeeds. In the case of Governor Aregbesola and his government, they have been very tolerant and I commend them for their tolerance.

How do you create balance and objectivity in your reportage and at what cost?

Yes it has been at a cost but it has also been rewarding.

At a cost because there are patronages that ordinarily if you want to be pedestrian and patronizing you will get.

The reward is credibility; we are building a credible medium that can earn the respect of everybody regardless of their social status. Our dream is to build a medium that its word can be taken to the bank, that will rise above primordial sentiments be it in politics, socially related issues and economy. I see hope that it is achievable if we remain stoic and committed to the ideals that we have set for ourselves.

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Nigeria’s education problem:

Any hope for the future?

Continues from pg23

away unattended to. We immediately ordered that the furniture be arranged in the classes in need and the school management was admonished to always prioritise the need of the students at all times.

“So while the government has provided facilities, the school management will decide not to utilize them.

The school managers must key into the new vision for better schools or all our efforts will be in vain,” Sabeh stated.

The pupils in the school could not hide their joy as they took the lead in arranging the chairs in their classes by themselves, looking forward to a better academic experience devoid of discomfort.

This situation in Sokoto buttress the point raised by a school of thought that government alone cannot be blamed for the bane of the education sector as often, other stakeholders take decisions that contravene government’s policy and vision of making education a joyful experience and encourage every child to go to school.

Against the backdrop of knowledge that the government alone cannot face all the inadequacies in the education sector, the Sokoto state government aside provision of infrastructure, went into agreement with foreign donor agencies to ensure that the state’s education sector moves to the expected level.

This came in the way of a pledge by the United States government, through the Agency for International Development (USAID). The agency has pledged its continuous support for the education sector in Sokoto state especially at the primary level, by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state government.

The Five-year memorandum was signed by the USAID Mission Director, Michael T. Harvey and the Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, just after a committee put in place by government discovered that some students in the state had been learning under a harsh condition; sitting on the floor while the school authority locks the government provided chairs outside.

The MOU sets out the shared and individual commitments for collaboration in the education sector made by both USAID and the Government of Sokoto while it also provides a framework for mutual accountability for educational activities in

So while the government has provided facilities, the school management will decide not to utilize them.

The school managers must key into the new vision for better schools or all our efforts will be in vain Sokoto State.

It also supports the Sokoto state government’s goals and targets in its education sector strategic plans and establishes a preliminary plan for joint monitoring and evaluation of progress.

“The United States commends Sokoto State for its extraordinary efforts to provide greater learning opportunities for its children.

This MOU will expand the partnership between USAID and Sokoto State to improve primary education in Sokoto,” said USAID Mission Director, Michael Harvey.

USAID supports Nigeria’s efforts to improve the quality of and access to basic education. Currently, USAID implements two activities that support Sokoto State efforts to improve the education sector: the Northern Education Initiative Plus and the Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy and Development.

These activities build state and local government capacity and systems that will teach approximately two million primary school children how to read and allow nearly 500,000 children the opportunity to attend classes in community-based learning centers by the year 2020 The Sokoto state experience is a pointer that the searchlight beamed on the rot in the education sector should not only be shined on government but also on other stakeholders; school authorities and management, teachers, agencies, parastatals, parents and even students.

25

features

Friday, 18 November, 2016

World peace, HWPL’s message to world leaders TUNDE OGUNESAN recently attended the second annual commemoration of September 18th World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Summit, organised by a non-governmental organisation, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), held in Seoul, South Korea. He writes on the efforts of HWPL’s Chairman, Mr Man Hee Lee. Excerpts:

O

NE day, this world would know peace. Though, drums of war are sounding fearfully across the continents, even after the First and second World Wars. Since then, the world has been battling with various attempts to stop an unthinkable Third World War. This is what the Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), Mr Man Hee Lee, is taking upon himself, carrying alongside some leaders of religious groups, Heads of States, and professional groups including other Non-Governmental organisations (NGO).

The non-governmental organization was founded in 2012, with the goal of achieving world peace and the cessation of war. Today, HWPL has over 70 branches in South Korea and another 100 branches around the world. HWPL, in conjunction with the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) and the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), is actively working to bring all wars to an end.

So, in September, 2014, HWPL hosted the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Summit Seoul, Republic of Korea with over 200,000 participants, with one objective of soliciting working together for world peace.

With words of assurances from Chairman Lee, approximately 1,000 visitors from 130 countries, stormed Seoul, South Korea for the second annual commemoration of September 18th WARP Summit.

It brought together all stakeholders to discuss effective strategies and practical plans for the WARP Summit.

The Summit was kick started with the Advocacy Forum as the two sessions dealt more on creation of peace as universal heritage for humanity.

The opening speech by Chairman Man Lee focuses on seeking for peace and building strategies based on “Plan of Action for Advocacy to Intergovernmental Organizations, Governments and the Public.”

The Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and member of HWPL International Law Peace Committee, Dr. Kamal Hossain, stressed the importance of advocacy of international law for peace through the implementation of the DPCW. There were also other speakers like the Secretary General of World Assembly of Youth in Albania, Ms. Ediola Pashollari, Ms. Denise Robinson who has dedicated her life to women rights, democracy and prohibition of racial discrimination as a minister and member of Parliament of South Africa and Federal Leader Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN), President of Tunisian League of Human Rights,

Mr. Abdessatar Ben Moussa while the Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim of the International Women’s Peace Group appealed to the participants that, “War only gives birth to another war, leaving fear and sacrifices to our future generations.”

The HWPL International Law Peace Committee meetings, participants such as world executives, ministers, and education specialists, for the purposes of introducing the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) to the United Nations, met and ratified proceedings for the success of legislation on the course.

They built on mutual respect and cooperation for the international coexistence in a community of peace.

They also offered a vision of close international cooperation among states to settle legal foundation based on the DPCW to establish an environment that can encourage, support and protect world peace.

A former legal officer, Ministry of Justice in Nigeria, Dr. Terwase Issac Sampson said “the law has become a neutral force in the settlement of disputes between religious authorities and States or secular governments. These indices underscore the essence of law in the settlement of societal disputes, religious disputes inclusive. The law is therefore, a critical element for the peaceful resolution of such religious disagreements.

Whereas some States have municipal or domestic laws and mechanisms for managing or settling religious disputes, international law could ensure multi-lateral efforts towards forging a consensus on universally acceptable principles, strategies and parameters for settling religiously motivated conflicts.”

During the Media Forum for Advocacy of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War, approximately 30 journalists and editors were in attendance at the Media Forum to discuss action plans in their expertise of reporting and press coverage. The action plans lay out possible ways to quickly and accurately spread peace-building news of implementing international law and promoting WARP office meetings throughout the world.

Also, over 200 religious leaders representing 16 religions met at the International Religious Leaders Conference to discuss the necessity of seeking trustworthy scripture and reaffirm their solidarity to be active proponents of achieving peace as religious leaders.

Their session began with the charge from Chairman Lee that international law that prevents wars must be implemented and must be advocated for.

Corroborating his stance, Chairperson IWPG, Nam Hee kim affirmed that “World peace starts from the alliance of religions.

All of you who deliver the teachings of heaven are the light of this generation .Let us make a peaceful world to live in with our future generations.”

On Sunday afternoon of September 18, it was an electric atmosphere at the Olympic stadium, in Seoul with the celebration of Festival for the second annual commemoration of the WARP Summit. With the grand entrance into the new era of peace through the peace gate to the IPYG card stunt (war and peace) to the commemorative addresses and peace athletics races, the entire neighbourhood of Olympic stadium were not left out as the event went into the wee hours of the night.

It started from HWPL Chairman’s Lee’s call on the world to urge heads of state and religious leaders around the world to fulfil their promises Lee’s call torn the veil of several addresses that followed.

In her speech, IWPG Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim called on world leaders “To speed up the advancement towards an era of peace.”

Then followed the Mahā Sangharājādhipati Tep Vong /The Great Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia, H.H Samdech Preah Agga, who admonishied that “we need the extensive knowledge, experiences, commitment, and cooperation from all participants of all fields.”

Then First Lady of Albania, Odeta Nishani, the former Prime Minister of Armenia, Rt. Hon. Hrant Bagratyan came with a testament that “We promised to enact the international law and religious leaders agreed on building religious harmony in front of heaven, all the people of the world and the peace advocate.”

Despite the festival mood at the Olympic stadium which delved late Sunday night, participants’ early assemblage at the International conference centre of Hotel Grand on Monday morning raised hope of a generation that is ready to live in peace.

The six main speakers provided their addresses to represent each field of all participants and present how each sector will actively advocate and get involved in the development process of the DPCW in their respective countries.

From Mr. Carlos Villan Duran, President of the Spanish Society for International Human Rights Law (SSIHRL) who spoke about the role of civil society on the implementation process of the DPCW, to the former Vice President of Afghanistan, Honourable Karim Khalili who pledged that “the Afghanistan High Peace Council’s support, and strongly expect leaders and heads of states to extend their strong and comprehensive support to this declaration to be included in the agenda of the United Nations Organization and the contents of this declaration to be considered in the legislation and institution building processes, being reflected in the lives of world people in a practical way.”

Then for the youth, Juan Pablo Celis Garcia, a youth activist from Columbia, said the “International, national and local communities must find ways to effectively channel, strengthen, support, and expand young people’s desire to contribute to constructive change and to offer meaningful service to the global society.”

The Conference gave great attention to the messages of the speakers, which called for enhanced cooperation with HWPL in promoting the involvement of all IGOs and NGOs and international communities to establish a legally binding document inspired by the DPCW. The Summit came to an end with a special dinner at the Palace of peace in Gyeonggi Goseong, leaving a memory why the world must live in peace.

26

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Lawyer donates toilet to children with special needs

An Iwo-based lawyer, Segun Obiwusi recently revealed his philanthropic nature by putting a smile on the faces of some pupils with disability in his hometown. TUNDE BUSARI reports

APPARENTLY touched by the spate of long neglect suffered by the school for special needs children in Iwo, a legal practitioner, Barrister Segun Obiwusi has risen to the aid of the school with his recent donation of a block of two toilets for the use of the pupils under the auspice of OmoOloore Obiwusi Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation.

Obiwusi’s latest effort is a continuation of his resolve to add value to the society with a view to putting smiles on the faces of the vulnerable and downtrodden.

The school for special needs children in Iwo appropriately falls under the category of the foundation’s target, requiring its management to seek help from kindhearted Nigerians.

Obiwusi indeed had a memorable day when he handed over the property to the school management in the presence and with the royal support of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, who officially commissioned the project.

The arrival of Oba Akanbi drew even uninvited guests to the school compound to the extent that more residents rushed to the venue when the programme was being rounded off.

While cutting the tape, Oba Akanbi eulogized Barrister Obiwusi for his kind heart and urged other sons and daughters of the town to borrow a leaf from him to move the ancient town forward.

The Oluwo also urged the youths to join him in improving the life of the people just as he publicly expressed his pleasure to the donor, describing him a true son of the soil whom must be encouraged.

“I am very proud of Segun for showing that he is a youth to reckon with. He keys well with my vision of changing the face of my town. He is a good example I want others to emulate.

We should all imbibe the spirit of giving instead of taking.

Segun has shown the way and I will continue to encourage him. I will encourage others who also show love for the development of the town.

“The era every aspect of development is left to the government is over. We have to look beyond that now and show seriousness that we really need development. When we do this, the government would not have a choice than to support us. Barrister Obiwusi is a good example of my vision for this town,” the Oluwo said.

The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Abdurasak Salinsile,

Obiwusi flanked by Oba Akanbi and other guests. described the donor as a chip off the old block being a son of a retired Vice-Principal of Baptist High School, Pa Obiwusi.

Salinshile, who is the secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, declared that it was high time that teachers’ reward should no longer be reserved in heaven, stating that good teachers deserve the benefit of their noble profession before they transited to the hereafter.

“I am particularly happy for Pa Obiwusi and his wife for being alive to reap the fruit of their hard labour. What our young lawyer has done is an evidence of the value they inculcated in him. How many of his contemporaries think the way he thinks? It shows that you brought him up to appreciate humanity and offer assistance to the less privileged. If he continues this way, his future is bright,” he said.

Barrister Obiwusi explained that he was inspired to build

the bathroom having got wind of the trouble pupils passed through in the recent past. He stated that the donation is his little contribution to end the suffering, even though he maintained the school still needs more attention from individuals and groups.

“We should not wait until we make big money before we assist the needy. What I have done is in good spirit to encourage others to look in the direction of the school. I was brought up to appreciate humanity and I will stop at nothing to contribute my quota however little in improving the life of those I feel I am better than. I give glory to God for giving me the opportunity and means to live my dream,” he said.

Other dignitaries in attendance included the Ekerin Oluwo of Iwoland, Otunba Adebayo Aremu, Headmistress of the school, Mrs Roda Olufunmilayo Akande and Obiwusi’s parents.

We need complete social reconstruct to revive Nigeria’s education system —Adebanjo Dr Niyi Adebanjo is a Senior Lecturer and former Head of English Department (HOD), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), in Ogun State. In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, he speaks on the problems facing the education system in Nigeria and proffers solutions to them. Excerpts: WITH your experience in the education system in Nigeria, what do you think of the approval given to some private universities by the Federal government recently?

Personally, I see this development as a capitalist approach.

We all know that every system has its own super structures through which they drive their economy and society. So, it is a cultural thing. The capitalist in this country are trying to control the destiny of men in the wrong direction. They are not offering any education in this country for God sake; it is just head knowledge they give. Each individual that have become outstanding in their various endeavours in the last 30 years to the best of my knowledge, achieved their success through self discovery and personal trainings to be successful in their chosen careers. Our system is so badly run; there is lots of corruption in the system. This is a system where we see professors that will go out of their primary obligations to lobby for political appointments, especially things they don’t have ideas about. What is the usefulness of the eight universities that were just licensed? What would they do differently from the over 60 universities we already have? What are the new things they are bringing into the system? They just want to make things worse for the education system mostly on the for the masses. People are still even complaining about the ones built by the religious organisations. It is so sad that we are experiencing all these in our education system. Nigeria needs to get things right and our education system needs an urgent restructuring. I think the government is just paying leap service to our education system.

Did you also settle for the recent resolution on JAMB? For me, examination they say is not the best test of human ability; you cannot test students by JAMB. We all know the

too. I learnt that President Buhari is trying to stop Tetfund to state owned universities because the proprietors of these universities have abandoned them. Most buildings in OOU are sponsored by the Federal Government through Tetfund.

These are the problems we are facing.

Adebanjo problem JAMB has. I remember a particular year that I served as a supervisor; I wrote a report that the school I supervised then should be delisted due to the examination malpractices, among several issues, but nothing was done about it. The system running currently is also faulty; a typical example is that of my son, whose computer was shut down three times during the process and I don’t think there is an allowance for computer error. At the end of the day he scored above 170, yet he could not gain admission into the university. There are other cases like that, but nothing was done about it. Though the idea of Post UTME to screen students is a good one, unfortunately some universities have turned it into a source of raising funds because the government will not pay a dime.

We also all know what is going on in our private universities

What do you think is the way forward?

It is about the ideal that a nation is striving for. It is sad that this country doesn’t have the ideal of what it is striving for. What is our national ideology? What is the mission of the ministry of education who ought to be in charge of our education system? What is our target? I would just say that to revive this education system in this country, we need a complete social reconstruct. It is clear that we no longer value education, competence and brilliance as well as excellence.

Recently, a First Class student of the University of Ilorin was given not up to N50, 000 as a prize, but somebody who flaunts her nudity will be celebrated and be given millions of naira. The telecommunication companies and well-meaning Nigerians prefer to sponsor those who sing useless music than the brilliant chaps. So, to bring our education on the right path, we need a total reconstruct. All those who claimed to be representing us at the National Assembly should be flushed out completely because they don’t have solutions to the problems of this country. If anybody has a future, it is in education. If you don’t educate your people, how do you expect then to build a sane and competitive society; a society that will give equal plain ground for everybody to operate?

We don’t have such society. I urge everyone to go back and have the motive of reconstructing the society. Personally, I have made personal efforts to develop myself and I’m committed to impact positively into people. I thank God for my university and all the lecturers for their support and trainings in realising my potentials.

27

Friday, 18 November, 2016

arewa

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Plateau Govt approves N14bn to enhance execution of projects Isaac Shobayo- Jos

P

LATEAU State government has approved the sum of

N14, 160,000 000. 00 to enhance the execution of projects as contained in the budget and other dividends of democracy for its

indigenes and put the debt profile of the state as at 31st September 2016 at N108, 036,671,275.68 only.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mallam Muhammad Nazif, who stated this while briefing newsmen in Jos, the state capital, said the exco had also approved the resolutions of the state Tenders Board Meeting on award of contracts.

According to him, among the contracts approved are maintenance works along Dokan Tofa and Dokan Kasuwa road , including culverts , drainages , stone pitching and river draining awarded to EEC International Ltd at N185, 554,660, 00 supply of 400 units of tractors and a set of implements awarded to Hakar Engineering Ltd at N3,948,000,000.00, provision of a comprehensive

Motor Insurance Premium cover for 50 government vehicles awarded to NEM Insurance PLC at N50,619, 841.20 He also disclosed that the state government had paid arrears of promotion and annual increments to civil servants , amounting to N205,211, 360.53, adding that this was paid alongside September 2016 salaries while arrears of pensioners for April 2016

had also been paid.

According to him, the belief of Lalong-led government was a continuation and completion of projects inherited from the past administration, adding that the governor, on assumption of office, took over the remodeling of the Plateau State Governor’s lodge at Asokoro , Abuja which has now been completed , furnished and occupied.

Atyap Chiefdom in Southern Kaduna gets new king Muhammad Sabiu, Kaduna

Solomon Lalung, Plateau State gov.

Snakes, dangerous reptiles invade Langtang North LG ....1,500 snake bite cases recorded in 10 months Isaac Shobayo- Jos People of Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State are now living in fear of being attacked by snakes and other dangerous reptiles while no fewer than 1,500 cases of snake bites had been treated by a communitybased health centre in the past 10 months.

A medical officer attached to rural outpost of Jos University Teaching Hospital in Zamako, Dr Isitifanus Bako, who disclosed the prevalent rate of snake bites in the council, said most of the victims were youths, who dipped hands into rat holes, cattle rearers and farmers.

Dr Bako, who said the number had continued to rise with more patients being brought in on a daily basis, added that on the average, the health centre recorded three to four cases daily and could increase to 10 on a bad day.

Said he: “The patients keep coming and we have run out of bed space. Some are admitted and accommodated on benches and corridors.

But only two deaths were recorded this year, unlike 2015 when close to 10 peo-

ple died as a result of snake bites.

Dr Bako, who implored the residents of the local government to desist from taking victims of snake bites to traditional doctors, said such approach often complicated the situation whenever they were reported to the medical centre, adding that this had led to the death of some victims in the past.

“Some of those who died did not come to the hospital early as they first visited traditional healers and when they discovered that it was not helping their situation, they came to the hospital.

Such delay usually leads to intra-cranial hemorrhage; when that happens, the efficacy of our anti-venom, transfusion, vitamin K and other treatments could be affected,” he explained.

The medical practitioner attributed the large number of snakes in the area to the peculiar sandy terrain, noting that the sand usually gave the snakes an excellent habitat and ease of movement adding that venomous vipers, which were common in the area, also use the sand as a good camouflage.

THE ancient Chiefdom of the Atyap people in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State went agog recently when the state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai presented staff of office to the new paramount ruler of the Atyap People, His Highness, Dominic Gambo Yahaya, who is also known as Agwatyap.

The chiefdom, located in the Southern part of the state is reputed for producing people who have contributed immensely to the development of not only Kaduna State, but the nation at large.

Among such prominent sons and daughters of the Chiefdom are AVM Ishaya Aboi Shekarri (rtd), a onetime Military Governor of old Kano State and Minister

of Special Duties, Gen Zamani Lekwot (rtd), former Military Governor of Rivers State; Mr Andrew Yakubu, former GMD, NNPC; Senator Danjuma Laah (PDP, Kaduna South) and Honourable Sunday Katung, (PDP, Rep. member, Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency).

The governor, while presenting the staff of office to the new Agwatyap in Samaru-Kataf, called on the royal father to rule the chiefdom with justice, equity and fairness.

El-Rufai implored the new monach to sustain the bridge-building legacy of his predecessor late Agwatyap Yusuf Bungon.

“Too many merchants of hate and division menace our land. They seek to have their bread buttered by the suffering and destruction that violence brings.

They promote a persistent

victim mentality, pushing a narrative that relegates and diminishes people and inclines them to base conduct.

“They package ordinary people into the mistaken and dangerous belief that the dice is always loaded against them because of religion and region, thereby fuelling a baseless sense of rage and hate.

‘When and wherever violence wreaks havoc to live and limb, they see opportunity to feather their nests, rather than embrace their responsibility to work to ensure everyone’s right to life, movement and residence is respected.”

He reaffirmed the commitment of the government to security and peace building not only in Southern Kaduna, but in every part of the state. He disclosed that the government was

exploring various avenues to secure peace, from supporting the security forces to promoting community engagements.

While observing that security efforts and intelligence gathering must improve, the governor said that peace was sustained ultimately by people’s willingness to live in harmony. “We must all soberly acknowledge that the ultimate guarantee of peace is the willingness of people to live together in harmony and mutual respect,” he explained.

In his acceptance speech, the new monarch, Dominic Gambo vowed to uphold the culture and tradition of the Atytap people ,saying, ‘No community develops when it relegates its culture and tradition to the background’.

Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, presenting the staff of office to the new Agwatyap of Atyap Chiefdom in Zangon-Kataf Local Government Area, His Royal Highness, Dominic Gambo Yahaya.

28 arewa

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Over 3000 women abducted by Boko Haram within 7 years—Borno commissioner Bodunrin Kayode Maiduguri

C

OMMISSIONER for Justice, Borno State, Kaka Shehu, has regretted that over three thousand women were abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents from Borno State since 2009.

Speaking exclusively with the Nigerian Tribune, the Attorney-General regretted that lots of atrocities were committed on women before and after the abduction of the former students of Government Girls College, Chibok.

He said that it was the circumstances that surrounded the way the ladies were abducted in Borno which was so pathetic that made their case to attract so much attention from national and international communities.

For the other women forcefully seized from their homes in villages and harmlets, it was a case of extreme helplessness which made some to even tug along with sucking babies to become sex slaves for the sexmaniacs inside the Sambisa.

“Before the release of the 21 Chibok girls, many of them had been retrieved by vigilante, JTF, villagers and armed forces and local hunters and they formed the first batch of kids government had to take care of by moving them into two schools in Kaduna and around.

“It is unfortunate for somebody to say it was not true. This is not the

first time any Chibok girl has been rescued as lots of them had been rescued

Kaka Shehu

THE Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, says for the nation’s hard-won democracy to move forward, the practice of neutralising constitutional powers of the legislature must stop.

The Speaker gave the suggestion while delivering a lecture at the maiden annual lecture series in honour of Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN. Dr Ahmad, whose lecture was entitled “The Legislature in Emerging Democracies: Challenges and Prospects “, expressed displeasure that Nigerian courts hysterically issued interim injunctions against the legislature.

“Undoubtedly, the courts have unfettered right to declare null and void the result of any investigation or any proceedings or any

“We have seen and heard a lot of rubbish while the state was seen as an opposition one in another party. People made a lot of wrong statements and that was very unfortunate. Such careless people should come down to Maiduguri to acquaint themselves with the reality. These kids were really kidnapped and nobody can say it was a hoarse.

“As the President noted, I believe that the days of woes are over just like the President said recently, no condition is permanent.

They should settle down and get to their studies and move on in life to the next level.”

On the 21 girls released, the Attorney-General went on “I was really excited about the release and out of curiosity and the way

we were treated here by the former Commanderin-Chief, I decided to call some sources to be sure that we have good news to thank God for. It was wonderful my brother” On the take-over of the 21 girls by the Federal Government, he said that the state and Federal Government were supposed to work together so that there is no hard feeling that the girls had been taken over by the Federal Government that had more resources to handle them.

“We are really grateful to the commander-in-chief for intervening. So many things happened during those dark days. Imagine our own kinsmen had to tell the government that it was not true that the abduction took place just to give this government a bad name”, he said.

Kwara loses N2bn revenue annually to business closure Biola Azeez-Ilorin THE Kwara State Coalition of Business and Professional Associationns (KWACOBPA), an umbrella body of business owners in the state, has said that about N2billion is lost in revenue annually by the state government to closure of businesses and under-utilisation of plants and machinery by business operators.

Speaking at launch of business agenda for the state in Ilorin at the weekend, the chairman of KWACOBPA, Chief Hezekiah Adediji, called the attention of the

state government to such critical areas of intervention as inadequate power supply and security, saying they served as challenges causing severe setback to business sector in the state.

Chief Adediji, who said that the coalition consisted of 21 business and professional associations, added that it was supportive of legislative programmes and policies that could bring about access to fund and ease of business processes in the state.

The coalition also urged the government to earmark one per cent of the state an-

Stop undermining our legislative powers —Kwara Speaker Biola Azeez-Ilorin

before now. It is sad that students had to be taken in such a terrible manner.

manner of voting or result thereof, what courts in developed democracies do not do is attempt to stop the action of a whole arm of government, in this case the legislature, from exercising its constitutional powers.”

He wondered why, since independence, no Nigerian court had ever issued an injunctive order against the executive arm from performing its constitutional duty. In contrast, he said no interim order had ever issued against the US Congress, much less the British Parliament.

He advised our courts to imbibe the democratic culture of separation of powers and realise that the military era was gone for ever. He cited numerous examples whereby the courts, undemocratically, issued injunctive orders preventing the National Assembly from

summoning allegedly corrupt officials or from voting to change its leaders, or from investigating former EFCC officials accused of withholding recovered loots from the Federation Account.

He explained that to put an end to this, “the only way is to recommend a legislation to the effect that no interim orders from a court shall issue to prevent any legislature from exercising its constitutional power.”

The former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice explained that though “ to many Nigerian lawyers , the suggestion is a sacrilege, but to lawyers and democrats in developed nations around the world, this recommended legislation to ban interim orders against the legislature is the democratic norm.”

nual budget for the purpose of supporting private sector every year.

As a quick measure to address the lingering economic problem, the coalition advocated that N220billion fund be allocated to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

He also called for the establishment of farm settlement across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state to serve as youth empowerment, adding that each settlement should concentrate on the farm produce identified with various local government councils.

“The Coalition supports legislative programmes and policies that positively impact on access to fund, ease of processes and affordability of

cost of accessing the available funds”, he said.

He also identified other areas requiring critical intervention of government to include: high prevalence of highway robbery, bank robbery and cultism, purchase of at least 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers to complement existing ones, purchase of 120 additional patrol vans and resuscitation of the security patrol team known as “Operation Harmony.”

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives, Alhaji Mohammed Rifun, who represented Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, appreciated efforts of the group for the research and launch of the business agenda and

pledged support of the state government to the coalition.

He said that the business agenda was capable of ensuring socio-economic development and well-being of the state, adding that “the launch could not have been held at a better time than now, when the spate of unemployment in the country was increasing on a daily basis, high dependence on the government for provision of white collar jobs, pressure on the inadequate infrastructure in the state as a result of rural urban drift, the need for a paradigm shift from reliance on oil to diversification to agriculture and the need for youth to be self employed become imperative”.

Niger River Basin Development Authority staff call for policy redirection WORKERS at the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin, Kwara State have cried out to the Federal Government to make management of the establishment concentrate on core objectives on which the authority was set up.

The spokesperson of the staff of the authority, Mr Kayode Sadiq, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune in Ilorin, said that there was the need for purpose redirection.

The people, who complained of poor budget allocation to the establishment, also said that insufficient allocation was

even directed to constituency projects.

“Check our budget. Are adequate provisions made for the core projects of the authority? We are not saying that they should not do constituency projects, but let us concentrate on core objectives on which lower Niger Basin Authorities were established. Constituency projects are supposed to be secondary. We should face our primary task.

“This is our core project in the Lower Niger River Development Authority. We are supposed to be controlling 20,000 hectares of farmland and controlling 100 tractors; having new bulldozers to clear land and having drilling ma-

chines to drill boreholes for rural and urban communities. The last time we had new equipment was in 1983. How do we move forward?

Also speaking, the executive director (planning and design) of the establishment, Mr Abubakar Orisankoko, begged for understanding, saying that as a civil servant that he was, he would have to get permission of higher authority before he granted press interview.

He, however, promised to talk with Nigerian Tribune as soon as he got the permission, including achievement, challenge and constraints of the authority.

Friday, 18 November, 2016 29 news Oyo education sector needs holistic approach —Commissioner Recession: Seek God’s Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

O

yo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun, on Thursday, stated that the challenges facing education sector in the state needs urgent and holistic approach, describing the state as a peculiar one that needs a special approach and advocated the inclusion of entrepreneurship in the school curriculum.

Arulogun said this during a visit to the headquarters of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Publishers of the Tribune titles, where he had gone to show his appreciation for the support given the peopleoriented projects of the state government and also solicit continuous support for the forthcoming projects of his ministry and the state government as a whole.

According to him, his min-

istry is also saddled with a tourism mandate and there are many projects lined up not only as an income generating process but also as one of the means of teaching youths about their heritage, asking that the Nigerian Tribune, as the oldest surviving paper, which is part of the landmark organisations domiciled in the state supports the project.

“We are putting together a Pacesetter Tourism outfit

that will package all monuments and organisations with a history of being the first to enlighten young people of why the state is called the pacesetter state and on February 3, there will be a photo exhibition to mark the 41st anniversary of the state.

“Also, there will be a hall of fame that will feature icons such Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige; their photos, press cuttings and things that will revive the

sense of history that we have lost.

The commissioner described Nigerian Tribune as a partner and key participant to the projects because of its rich history, which pre dates independence and expressed the wish that the cordial relationship that exists between it and the government will continue.

The Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Mr Edward Dickson, commended

the commissioner for his clarity of thoughts, which has revealed that the government is not static as believed by majority of the populace, adding that he had struck at the heart of national malaise as the country now appears as a people without history.

He added that in spite of paucity of funds, expectations are high as people are eagerly waiting to know what the government has in stock for them.

Buhari, Saraki, Ambode, Tinubu, others pay tribute as Gbadamosi is buried

Continued from pg 4 National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, said Chief Gbadamosi died at a time when his wealth of experience would have come in handy for the challenges of nation-building.

“Yet, Lagos was happy to have him. Lagos is proud of the life he lived and all he achieved. He was an achiever, economist, industrialist, arts aficionado and nature lover.

“He diligently served the nation as he served his Lagos home-state. He distinguished himself as Minister of National Planning and much later chairman, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). He will be sorely missed,” he said.

In his eulogy, Osoba urged youths to emulate the late exminister’s virtues of commitment and passion for things that uplift humanity.

“We grew up together, we were classmates at Methodist Boys High School, Lagos and we’ve been together for over 60 years of his 72 years on earth; you can then see the length of our relationship.

“He was the youngest commissioner, a man that is known for creating records.

He was the youngest in our class, one of the brightest, and in all his lifetime, he created serious heritage that will be long lasting,” he said.

Also speaking to newsmen, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro described the late businessman as one who had a positive impact on many Nigerians.

From right, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publisher of the Tribune titles, Mr Edward Dickson; Oyo State Commissioners for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun and the Special Assistant on E-media to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Mr Babatunde Muraina, during a visit to the Tribune House, Imalefalafia, Ibadan, on Thursday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN

Biafra: Court to decide Kanu, others’ bail applications Dec 1 SUNDAY EJIKE-ABUJA

JUSTICE Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Thursday, slated December 1, to decide the bail applications filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and three others, who are standing trial on 11-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms , terrorism and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

When the matter came up on Thursday,, counsel to the IPOB leader, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, while arguing the bail application of November 7, 2016, prayed the court to admit Kanu to bail on liberal terms.

The bail application, Ejiofor said, was supported by a 26-paragraph affidavit and 35 exhibits, which include the charge filed against Kanu at the Magistrate Court, the ruling of the court granting him bail, the ruling of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court, in Abuja, ordering unconditional release of the Biafra leader.

Other document attached

to Kanu’s bail application, is a newspaper publication of a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari, that the first defendant (Kanu), will not be granted bail by any court and a certified true copy of certificate of incorporation of the Radio Biafra.

He informed the court that the first defendant has initiated a contempt proceedings against the Department of State Services (DSS) for refusing to obey an order of the court made

in 2015, granting him bail.

The counsel to the second defendant, I. Adoga, informed the court that his client is still in custody of DSS, instead of prison custody as ordered by the court.

The counsel to the other defendants variously prayed the court to admit their clients to bail on liberal conditions.

Meanwhile, the prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, in a counter affidavit to the various bail applications, asked the court to refuse the

applications and order an accelerated hearing in the matter.

According to him, the defendants are threat to national security, adding that the firearm licence, which the third defendant claimed he has, was not issued by the appropriate authority.

Labaran also drew the court’s attention to the application filed by the prosecution seeking witness protection in the matter, which he said, has been served on all the parties in the matter.

...Adjourns EFCC’s suit against Adegboruwa till Jan 30 Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin Lagos

JUSTICE Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Thursday, further adjourned till Jan.uary 30 and 31, continuation of trial of a rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, charged with lease of attached property by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It will be recalled that EFCC had charged Adegboruwa on one -count bordering on lease of a Lagos property attached by an order of court.

The case, which was ealier slated for continuation of trial,

could not go on Thursday, due to absence of the judge.

Following agreement reached by the prosecution and defence counsels, a new trial date was fixed for January 30 and 31.

At the last adjourned date, in June, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had led his second witness, Mr Teslim Ajuwon, in examination in chief.

The witness, a compliance officer with a first generation bank, had tendered documents relating to the accused statement of account, as evidence of the alleged transaction.

In the one -count charge, the

accused was alleged to have conspired with one Jonathan Udeagbala (now at large), to lease out a property located at No 105 NICON Town Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

The property was said to be the subject of an interim order of attachment issued by Justice C.A .Balogun ,of a Lagos High Court, on June 18, 2012.

The said property was said to have been leased to one Shelf Drilling Nigeria Limited, for over N61 million without the consent of EFCC. The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Section 32(1) of the EFCC Act, 2004.

intervention, cleric tells leaders Kasali Qudus, Lagos.

THE bishop of Lagos West Diocese, Reverend James Odedeji, has urged the leadership of the country to be re-oriented and reeducated about the miraculous and magnanimous power of God, as a lasting solution to the current economic meltdown.

He said this a t the commissioning of The Church of the Pentecost, in Lagos, on Thursday, adding that there was no other time than now for the leaders of the country to re-educate themselves about the unflinching and unwavering support of God. “The Holy Bible says ‘The young lion may lack and suffer good things but they that seek the Lord, will not lack. And it also says that I was young but now, I am old, I have never seen the righteous forsaken, neither is the children’.

“In the midst of economic recession, God is still the God of provision. He is the God of miracle, God of possibilities, and God of prosperity; hence, when they re-educate themselves, the finances will be rekindled by God”.

He admonished government at all levels to be concerned about the welfare of the citizenry by upholding the qualities of transformational leadership.

The bishop said that it was of utmost importance to bring to the notice of government that the people that voted them in, could also do otherwise.

Pray on economic recession, cleric tells Nigerians THE General Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Palace of prayer Gospel Outreach, Kolabalogun, Osogbo, Osun State, Prophet S.A. Adebayo, has called on Nigerians to pray fervently so as to solve the current economic recession in the country According to Prophet Adebayo, corruption is the major cause of the economic recession which the current administration is making pragmatic effort to eradicate and urged Nigerians to support the administration on the initiative While speaking on the forthcoming convention tagged: ‘Night of Mercy,’ he said that the programme will commence on Sunday, November 20 and end on Friday, November 25, at C.A.C Palace of prayer Gospel Outreach Osogbo, Osun State.

30

Friday, 18 November, 2016

PoliticsNews

I didn’t discuss $29.9bn loan deal with Buhari —Saraki Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

S

ENATE President Bukola Saraki, said on Thursday that he never discussed the issue of $30 billion foreign loan request with President Muhammadu Buhari during his trips to the Presidential Villa.

Saraki, in a statement by his media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that politicians and media men who were speculating on his trip to the Villa were wrong.

The Senate President stated that the issue of loan request never came up in all his meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

According to him, comments by politicians in that respect lacked factual basis.

He said: “ Like I once told the media, these politicallymotivated commentaries are trivializing a serious national issue and presenting it as if it is a personal matter that can be decided at meetings between Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The National Assembly which I head as Senate President has taken a position on the issue as required of it by the laws of the land and legislative conventions.

“At every point, the present National Assembly will make decisions based on national interest and we have vowed that we will always act in the interest of our people. That is why despite the fact that members belong to different parties, when national issues come to the floor we forget about party affiliations and act as Nigerians elected to protect

the interest of Nigeria.

“A visit to the Presidency by the Senate President is a normal thing because we

need to consult, discuss, exchange ideas and make suggestions to each other from time to time. More impor-

GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has sworn in Transition Implementation Committees (TIC) for the state’s 16 local government areas, with a charge that the TIC should clear the backlog of salaries and pensions in the local governments within the shortest possible time.

Speaking at the swearing in event in Ilorin, Ahmed directed the committees to make financial prudence their watchword, advising that they should prioritize low hanging infrastructure that would bring swift relief to the people.

“In this regard, you are to avoid making unnecessary

Presidency and the National Assembly.

“It is in fact very unfortunate that these empty spec-

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (middle), acknowledging cheers from the crowd during a victory civic reception to commemorate the validation of his re-election by the Supreme Court, at the Peace Park in Yenagoa, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

ulations by the media are now forming the basis for commentaries by some politicians who are in a position to be better informed. Politicians should stop playing to the gallery or drawing political capital from all issues.

When serious national issues are on ground, we should refrain from making statements based on mere sentiments. Similarly, the media should exercise restraint in their reportage and commentaries in order to properly serve our people.

“At a time when we are about to prepare a budget which is aimed at responding to the current recession and our plan is to ensure all issues concerning the budget are ironed out before the budget comes to the floor so that we will have a less tedious process than that of last year, the media should be ready to witness more of these engagements between the Presidency and the National Assembly.”

NIPSS boss links instability to lack of internal democracy Isaac Shobayo - Jos

THE Acting Director General of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Mr. Jonathan Juma, has linked the incessant frictions and instability in the polity, especially within political parties, to

the absence of internal party democracy.

Juma, who stated this at a retreat on “Strengthening Internal Party Democracy in Nigeria: Policy Options,” organised by the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre (PPLPDC), National Insti-

tute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, said lack of internal democracy could also be linked to the challenges faced by the oversight bodies, especially election management bodies such as INEC. The Acting DG stated that

political parties bridge the gap between the electorate and electoral process and serve as link between the state and the people, adding that this explained the convergence of views that a strong and sustainable democracy was dependent on functional and vibrant party

Oyo PDP stakeholders regroup to strengthen party MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have resolved to re-position the party in the

state for greater challenges ahead of the party.

This was disclosed by some stakeholders who spoke with journalists at the well attended meeting held

appointments, shun ostentation and avoid any conduct capable of calling your integrity into question,” he said.

The governor promised the state government’s support to the local government councils within available resources and guidance to see them through the difficult times.

The governor also said that the monthly recurrent expenditure at the local and state levels would reduce when the report of the State Committee on Personnel Database Development was submitted, “thus freeing funds for infrastructural development”.

Ahmed reminded the people of the state of the need to pay their taxes and levies

regularly for the government to have funds required for the infrastructural development of the state, adding that tax defaulters would face the wrath of the law.

“Just as the welfare of citizens is obligatory on government, the payment of taxes is compulsory for all eligible individuals and businesses.

You cannot expect to benefit from services provided by government from taxes and yet refuse to contribute to paying your tax,” the governor said.

According to him, “Government at state and local government levels will, therefore, not hesitate to invoke the law to punish those found guilty of tax avoidance or evasion”.

By Tunde Ogunesan

Kwara gets new council bosses Biola Azeez - Ilorin

tantly, at this time, when the nation is facing economic crisis, there is need for frequent engagements by the

at His Grace hotel, Bodija, Ibadan.

The meeting, which was called on the instance of former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Mulikat Akande, had more than 100 notable stakeholders of the party across the 33 local government areas of the state in attendance.

Some of them included Dr Saka balogun, Elder Wole Oyelese, Senator Robert Koleoso, Chief Jacob Adetoro, Senator Hosea Agboola, Professor Taoheed Adedoja and Chief Ogunlade who was represented by Kayode Adio; Chief Layi Baale, Ademola Santos, Chief Nureni Akanbi, Chief Dokun Ajibola and Abass Eleshinloye.

Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, one of the leaders from Olorunsogo Local Government, Igbeti, Chief Adetoro and the convener; former Leader, House of Representatives, Honourable Mulikat

Akande, agreed that the party in the state had found its feet to rise again.

In her position, Akande, who said that she personally spoke with all the stakeholders on phone to together to proffer solutions to the problem of the party, noted that the meeting had set a tone for the success of many things to happen to the party in the state.

She said: “We are going to have regular meetings. Even at the national level, steps have been taken to chart a way forward for the party. I am committed to the party to ensure that we take right step irrespective where the solution is coming from.

“PDP is still a very strong party in Oyo state and in Nigeria and you can see those who are really members of the party still love the party.

If you look at the country, I don’t think there is any party that has enough strength and entrenchment like the PDP.”

structures.

According to him, if the parties must be beneficial to the people, they must abide by the dictates of the principles of internal party democracy.

“This is because, on the one hand, internal party democracy reflects the degree of institutionalisation, inclusiveness and decentralisation in party structures and politics. On the other hand, institutionalisation indicates the extent to which internal party decision are formalised and internalised.

He further explained that internal democracy entailed that the procedures of doing things within the party were clearly known to members and applied consistently.

Juma, who said the practice in the current Fourth Republic negated the principle of internal democracy, stated that party structures and machineries were controlled and run by godfathers, resulting in the existence political parties characterized by lack of inclusiveness.

He said: “The absence of internal democracy in Nigeria is linked to the internal turmoil and revolt a number of parties are experiencing, such as the rebellion witnessed in the PDP in the build up to the 2015 general elections. It is also linked to the challenges faced by oversight bodies”

31

politicsnews

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Ondo PDP crisis: Appeal Court reserves judgement in Makarfi’s appeal Sunday Ejike - Abuja

T

HE Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday reserved judgment till a later date in the appeal, filed by the chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Markafi and the secretary, Senator Ben Obi, challenging a federal high court judgment that declined to recognise them as national officers of the party.

The appellants, in their appeal argued by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), are asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja delivered on Jun 29, 2016

by Justice Okon Abang, which affirmed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic national chairman of the party.

The appellants claimed that the trial judge erred in law by concluding that Sheriff was the national chairman of the party without giving them fair hearing in a case filed by Modu-Sherif before arriving at the conclusion.

They claimed that the action of the judge constituted a denial of fair hearing and subsequently led to a miscarriage of justice in the judgment.

The appellants therefore asked the three-man panel of the Court of Appeal presided over by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, to void the decision of the lower court and set it aside.

However, in their objection to the appeal, the respondents, led by Prince Biyi Poroye, urged the court to decline jurisdiction on the ground that an appeal had been entered at the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the court of appeal which granted leave to Makarfi and Obi to file appeal in the matter.

Counsel to the respondent, Chief Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN) told the panel of justices that since the appeal has been formally entered at the Apex court and the motion for stay of proceedings also filed, it is automatic for

the appeal court to hands off from the matter as a mark of respect to the superior court.

In the alternative, in his brief of argument, Nwofor informed the court that the

two appellants (Makarfi and Obi) filed two separate briefs of arguments dated 10th November and November 11, 2016 which he claimed constituted abuse of court process and de-

manded that the case be dismissed.

Nwofor, said that the consequences of the abuse of court process is out-right dismissal, adding that if the two briefs of arguments

From left, Alhaji Sheik Surajudeen Batuta, APC governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and the Chief Imam of Akure, Alhaji Yayi Akorede, when Akeredolu visited Araromi Central Mosque, Akure.

IGP reads riot act to politicians, others Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Thursday, said his men was ready to deal decisively with any possible breakdown of law, violence and other criminal activities in the state before, during and after nextv week governorship poll.

Idris, who also expressed the commitment and readiness of the Police to maintain peace and harmony in all parts of the country, said his men were ready to ensure that peace reigned across the state during the election.

Speaking during a public presentation on the “Security Threat Assessment for the governorship election in Ondo State,” organised by the Cleen Foundation, Idris noted that the election had potential for violence, going by issues surrounding the election. But he said that the Police would be ready to rise to its responsibility by preventing violence during

the election Idris, who was represented by Mr Sola Okediji, a deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), at the force headquarters, Abuja, said all security agencies would synergise to ensure the peaceful conduct of the governorship election.

According to him, all the security agencies and the para-military agencies have been meeting and strategising on ways to ensure peace in all parts of the state during the election.

He, however, solicited for the support of all stakeholders in the state to support

the police and other security agencies, saying the success of the election lies on the cooperation of the stakeholders, especially the contestants.

He said: “It won’t be business as usual for politicians in Ondo State, because the police will not tolerate any act that could lead to violence in the state. We shall resist all their plans to truncate the peace of the state before, during and after the poll.

“The police will not tolerate crisis in any part of the state. It is, therefore, important for the stakeholders in the election to co-operate

THE mainstream Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, on Thursday, condemned the protest by some member of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party, over the ruling of the Appeal court, saying the protest was sponsored by some paid agents of a particular politician.

The publicity secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr

Banji Okunomo who stated this in Akure, said the protest was designed to seek unnecessary delay in the suit at the Appeal court He described the action of the protesters as uncivil. "We have noticed with great concern some barbaric moves by some rented group of persons carrying placards bearing 'Sherrif is our chairman' outside the premises of the Court of Appeal."

with the police.”

The IGP also warned political thugs already imported into the state to find their way out as the Police would do everything to ensure that they were arrested before the election.

Presenting the security threat assessment conducted by the foundation, the Chief Consultant of Cleen Foundation, Dr Sola Omotola said: “The November 26 gubernatorial election in Ondo State will be the most keenly contested election in the history of the state since the country returned to democracy in 1999.”

AD leadership ratifies waiver for Oke Christian Okeke - Abuja

THE National Executive Committee (NEC) of Alliance for Democracy (AD), on Thursday, in Abuja, granted waiver for Chief Olusola Oke, as standard-

bearer of the party for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

It said Oke, by virtue of the waiver, had been exempted from all encumbrances and protocols, and stood entitled to stand for

PDP condemns protest at Court of Appeal Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

filed in a same matter are dismissed on account of abuse, then there is no appeal before the court to adjustable upon.

He argued that there was no brief of argument filed

"In clear terms, these placard, carrying people are neither members of the PDP in Ondo State nor any part of the country.

"They are, rather, paid protesters drawn from Abuja suburb, who are employed by a politician of the Sherrif faction to cultivate public sentiments and pass around wrong signals.

"Their attitude could best be described as barbaric and untoward. That kind of con-

duct is also uncalled for.

He expressed optimism that no amount of intimidation should derail the court saying: "The parties in the dispute are already before their lordships at the Court of Appeal.

"We know that, come what may, their Lordships should still go ahead and engage a fair measure of good conscience and justice to iron out the differences."

the election as candidate of the party.

At the NEC meeting monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), other decisions intended to move the party forward, were adopted.

Members applauded what they described as the success already recorded by the party in the election process.

They equally agreed to work in unity under the leadership of Chief Joseph Avazi, to achieve set goals?.

The meeting was used to pass a vote-of-confidence on the leadership of Avazi as national chairman and Pa Akinfenwa Mojusola as national leader of the party.

before the court by the two appellants and urged the court to dismiss the appeal.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented

by Nelson Anih did not file any process but however told the court that the electoral body would abide by the final decision wherever it goes.

Also, Sheriff faction of the PDP, represented by Mr Rapheal Oluyede, also did not file any process but aligned himself with the submissions of Nwofor.

After taking arguments from all the parties, Justice Saulawa announced that judgment would be reserved and that the date for its delivery will be communicated to the parties involved.

Justice Abang had in his judgment in June, held that Ali Modu Sheriff was the authentic National Chairman of the PDP.

YIAGA to use “Watching the Vote” observation method in Ondo gov election Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure.

ONE of the accredited team of observers in the Ondo State governorship election, Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), on Thursday, said the organisation it would employ the Watching The Vote (WTV) observation method during the election.

This was disclosed by the organisation during its media training organised for journalists, where it said about 363 non-partisan citizens had been recruited and deployed across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The Coordinator, Paul James, explained that the observers include, 19 local government areas supervisors; 340 statutory observers and four state coordinating committees.

He said the observers would collect data on a wide range of issues during the election, starting from the point of registration to the collation of the results at each polling unit.

According to him, the initiative is aimed at providing all stakeholders in the election, including the public, with credible, independent and impartial information on the conduct of Election Day. He said the WTV was designed to provide a baseline for the assessment of elections, build confidence in the electoral process and adopt evidence-based approach to election observation.

32

news

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Arms deal: Counsel’s absence stalls trial of ex-Chief of Air Staff Sunday Ejike-Abuja

J

USTICE Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, slated January 25, to commence the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Diko Umar, docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly diverting about N4.8 billion belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), to purchase property for himself.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, on Thurs-

day, Benjamin Manji, who stood in for the prosecution informed the court that the prosecution was not ready to open its case against the accused because the substantive counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, handling the matter

was indisposed due to illness.

Manji also told the court that the witness, the prosecution intends to call, travelled to Ibadan and prayed the court for an adjournment.

Counsel to the accused per-

son, Hassan Limandid, did not object to the request for adjournment, adding that the prosecution had earlier informed him of the development.

On the agreement of counsel, Justice Nyako adjourned

JUSTICE E. Esan of an Oyo State High Court, sitting at Ring Road, Ibadan, has restrained the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), from disconnecting electricity supply to the University College Hospital (UCH) and all its affiliated institutions, until the determination of a motion on notice pending before the court.

The court gave the restraining order following motion exparte for an interim order of injunction filed by the UCH board of management against IBEDC. The UCH board had asked the court to restrain IBEDC from disconnecting electricity supply to them, especially, to UCH and an order directing that IBEDC maintains status quo until the hearing and determination of a motion on notice already filed and pending before the court.

Justice Esan in her ruling, stated that: “having read the motion ex-parte and all the processes in support of same, I am of the view that the application has merit. I say so because irreparable dam-

THE spread of the new Glo 4G LTE network has continued to gather momentum with additional 20 locations, including Ikorodu in Lagos, Ota in Ogun State and Zuba in Abuja, going live on the network.

age by way of loss of lives may result if the defendants are not restrained.

“In view of this, the defendants are restrained from disconnecting electricity supply and all the respondents service to the claimants/applicants, especially, UCH, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the court ruled.

The UCH board, had earlier, filed a writ of summons against IBEDC, asking for a declaration of court that the decision of the power company to disconnect electricity supply to the hospital unless 50 per cent of N85, 025, 523.40 is paid is illegal, uncharitable, unfair and inequitable in law.

They also asked for a declaration that the UCH board is not indebted or owing N85, 025, 523.40 as claimed by IBEDC in a letter dated November 4, 2016 and that as a tertiary health institution and a public health care provider, they are entitled to enjoy supply of electricity so far they continue to make regular payments to IBEDC. They further asked for a declaration that the decision of IBEDC to place the institution on a special

FG to involve cultural festivals in revenue generation

By Gbenga Olumide

THE Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that the Federal Government is ready to involve cultural activities from any part of the country that would boost tourism and enhance revenue generation.

Alhaji Mohammed said this when the leadership of Offa Descendants Union (ODU), paid him a visit, on Thursday, in Abuja.

He said that the ministry had mapped out strategies to boost tourism sector in line with international standard that would attract investors and tourists to Nigeria.

He applauded the union

alleged to have, while being the Chief of Air Staff between September 2010 and 2012 converted the United State’s dollar equivalent of the aggregate sum of N4,864,630,000 removed from the account of NAF.

Ikorodu, Ota, other 18 new locations added to Glo 4G LTE coverage Globacom announced this in a press statement from its head office in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Wednesday, indicating that over 60 locations are now live on the company’s brand new 4G LTE net-

work.

Among the new locations are Idi Araba, Idi Oro, Mushin, Apapa and Oyingbo in Lagos; Jikwoyi, Dawaki, Gudu, Karu, Kado, Kuje and Zuba in Abuja and Eagle Island, Chinda, Abu-

Court restrains IBEDC from disconnecting electricity supply to UCH Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

the matter till January 25, to commence trial.

Diko had pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge bothering on diversion of funds slammed against him by the EFCC. In the charge, Diko was

for strengthening the Ijakadi Festival of Offa annual cultural event in Offa, Kwara State.

Mohammed further said that if properly harnessed, would boost the revenue generation of Kwara State and the country at large.

Earlier, the President of ODU, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, had congratulated the minister for his appointment and informed him about the age- long cultural festival in the ancient community.

He appealed that Ijakadi Festival be included in the list of national festivals being presented by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

tariff classification A3 with current charge of N29.84 per kilowatt is outrageous, unlawful and baseless in as much as the UCH renders a not for profit humanitarian healthcare delivery service to the members of the public.

The UCH further asked for an order of injunction restraining IBEDC and its agents from disconnecting electricity supply to the hospital.

The writ was supported by a eight-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the legal counsel to UCH, Tunde

Olupona, who averred that in spite of the outrageous bills being sent, they had been paying regularly to the coffers of IBEDC. The hospital claimed that it paid N23, 224, 200.00 in January; N19,000,000.00 in February; N31, 000,000.00 in March; N34, 000,000.00 in April; N40, 000,000.00 in June; N15, 000,000.00 in August and N30,000,000.00 in September.

Justice Esan adjourned the matter till November 24, for hearing of the pending suit.

loma, Iwofe, Choba, and Onne in Port Harcourt.

Globacom launched Nigeria’s first 4G LTE nationwide mobile network on October 4, 2016, in nine cities.

The launch cities of the advanced technology include, Lagos- Lekki, Ikoyi, Ajah and Akoka; Port HarcourtAba Road, Trans Amadi, Diobu, Old GRA and UNIPort; Warri, Eket; Benin; AbujaMaitama, Wuse, Asokoro, Garki/Central Business District and Airport Road; Jos; Yola – ABTI and ZariaABU. About a week later, Globacom followed up by adding eight locations, namely: Okada (Igbinedion University), Abraka (Delta State University), Bonny, Escravos, Forcados, Ekpoma (Ambrose Alli University), Agbor (College of Education), and Sapele (Western Delta University).

A couple of weeks later, 16

SATURDAY, 19 NOVEMBER, 2016

N150

interview

entertainment

Ondo election will determine future of Nigeria

Why I titled my album ‘clitoris’ —Brymo

—Odumakin

Success is about making an impact, not money

more locations came alive on the 4G LTE map. They included Ikeja, Isolo, Oregun and Opebi in Lagos State, Redemption Camp and Babcock University in Ogun State, Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State, Rukpokwu, Rumuibekwe, Eleme Junction, Eliozu, Woji, and Rumuigbo in Rivers State and Mpape and Utako in Abuja.

The addition of the latest 20 locations lends strong credence to the operator’s promise to take the advanced mobile telecommunications network to every part of the country.

Glo 4G LTE network offers subscribers efficient mobile broadband internet which is several times faster than a 3G network.

It enables them to surf the internet at the speed of light and download ultra high definition videos in seconds.

xquisite

Weekend Lagos

—Toun Okewale Sonaiya, CEO, WFM 91.7 feature

Millions at stake as hurricane MMM Oshodi: The return of ‘the boys’ sweeps across Nigeria lus Inside the world of fake journalists P

Book your copy today

33

south-westnews

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Ogun Assembly passes vote of no confidence on Amosun’s commissioner Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

O

gun State House of Assembly, on Thursday, unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure,

Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, for alleged misconduct.

They described him as unfit for the position of a commissioner in the state, following an earlier altercation between him and the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable

Olakunle Oluomo, who presided over the Committee of the Whole House meeting, held at the Committee Room of the Assembly Complex.

The lawmakers asked Adegbite to stop parading himself as commissioner

in the state and urged the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to suspend him from office and cause him to hand over all the paraphernalia of office to the Permanent Secretary and cease to parade himself as a commissioner.

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, cutting his birthday cake at the Bisi Market, Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday.

Fayose takes birthday celebration to markets Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday, took his 56th birthday celebration to the market centres where he feted people on the streets.

Fayose had clocked 56 years on Tuesday and the people came from near and far to Ekiti Government House to felicitate with him.

Fayose distributed cake and cash to market women and other onlookers at the popular Bisi Market in Ado Ekiti and other locations in the state capital.

Fayose said the gesture was to demonstrate his love for the people of the state, who voted for him massively to become the governor during the June 21, 2014 governorship poll.

“I understood clearly that these are people who ordinarily would not have had the opportunity to come to the government house to celebrate with me. But I have to show them love.

“I can’t sit in the government house and enjoy every comfort in the world without thinking of the people on the streets.

“People presented me with a lot of gifts. I was given cakes, tuber of yams, rams and other gifts which I will distribute to the people on the streets to show that I care for them.

“If I give these gifts to the comfortable people, it will be of no value. What I am doing today is not politick-

ing. This has been my action for long. I believe that the more people that you can touch and help, the better

for us in life.

“The message I am sending to the people in high places is that they should not aban-

don those who voted for them. They should respect them and give them the attention they deserved.”

Contempt: Court orders Ekiti Speaker to appear Nov 24 Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti A Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered the state House of Assembly Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, to appear before it on November 24 over his refusal to swear in Toyin Obayemi as a lawmaker in the state.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo ruled on Thursday that Oluwawole must appear in court to explain why he failed to obey the court’s order to swear in Obayemi as the lawmaker for Ado Ekiti Constituency I. Justice Taiwo showed his displeasure at the absence of the Speaker, on Thursday, and insisted that he (Oluwawole) as the head of the institution that makes laws in the state must show example by obeying the law.

The judge’s order was Oluwawole’s last chance to clear self of the alleged contempt or risks committal to prison.

The drama played out in hearing of the contempt charge filed by Obayemi against the Speaker for his refusal to inaugurate the latter as the legislator to represent Ado Constituency 1 in line with the judgment of the court delivered on July 4.

Director of Civil Litigation in the Ministry of Justice, Sunday Bamise, who appeared for the Speaker, hinged his absence on what he called “a pressing state matter”, saying it was not in the character of his client to disregard the court.

Counsel to the applicant, Olayinka Sokoya, said the non-service of form 49 does not preclude Oluwawole

from appearing before the court but Justice Taiwo insisted that the due process must be followed.

Bamise’s explanation that the matter was on appeal did not convince the judge who replied that there was no stay of the judgment which makes it to subsist.

Justice Taiwo subsequently adjourn the case till November 24.

The Assembly, had last week, summoned Adegbite and three others, Special Duties, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Budget and Planning, Leke Adewolu, Jide Ojuko and Ms Aderenle Adesina, respectively, to appear before it based on submissions from members on the need to commence the rehabilitation of roads across the rural areas in the state.

The duo of Adegbite and Oluomo had engaged themselves in war of words, when Adegbite asked the lawmakers to apologise for keeping them waiting for over an hour.

The Speaker, Suraj Ishola, called on the Majority Leader, Yinka Mafe, to move the motion passing vote of no confidence on Adegbite and was seconded by Honourable Tunde Sanusi.

Ishola said, “Since the inception of the current administration, we have been doing everything within our ability to ensure that we have that cordial relationship that will translate to what our people are expecting in terms of good governance. It’s rather unfortunate that we are having this kind of situation.

Of course, nobody will be happy for witnessing this kind of situation.

“Even if you are addressing your children at home, they deserve some level of respect. And I want to believe that we are component part of the system. We have the artisans, iyalojas; they are part of the system and they deserve some level of respect.

“What we experienced this morning was a very bad one; I must be frank with you because whether we like it or not, nobody can do it all alone. We need the cooperation of everybody to move our state forward.”

Invest more in education, Oyo commissioner charges NGOs As Ife Omode Organisation distributes materials to 200 pupils

By Ibukun Adenuga Commissioner for Education, Oyo State, Professor Joseph Olowofela, has called on non-governmental organisations within and outside the country to invest more in the education sector of the state.

Olowofela made this call at the official distribution of educational materials to some indigent/vulnerable pupils across the state by a United States of Americabased organisation, Ife Omode Organisation, on Thursday.

The commissioner, in his opening address, thanked

the founder of the organisation, Mrs Mayfield Adetimirin, for such an initiative, stating that such actions would help in the formation of responsible future leaders in the state.

“The organisation deserves a big accolade for deeming it fit to support the state government on education.

“I want to thank specially the Ife-Omode Organisation for this noble step being taken today and to charge other individuals, philanthropists and corporate bodies to emulate this worthwhile step at helping the less privileged in our society.”

The founder of the organisation, Mrs Mayfield Adetimirin, in her remarks, said the organisation aimed at helping school children by supplying educational materials to them.

She also disclosed that the organisation would distribute materials to 200 pupils and scholarship to 20 of them.

Executive Secretary, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Lucy Eniola, urged stakeholders to contribute their quota to the development of both primary and secondary schools in the state.

Nigerian Tribune

Federal Poly, Ilaro graduates 14,248 THE Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, on Tuesday, graduated 14,248 students with Higher National Diploma (HND) and National Diploma (ND).

The breakdown of the figure indicated that Engineering had 2,424, Applied Science 3,296, Environmental Studies 1,896 and Business Studies 6,632 graduands, out of which 5,901 were HND category.

A total number of 351 distinctions were recorded for the HND and 543 for the ND holders.

In his address at the 16th convocation ceremony, which witnessed the presence of the Olu of Ilaro and paramount Ruler of Yewaland, who led the delegation of traditional rulers of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, the rector of the institution, Olusegun Aluko, said that the general objective of the polytechnic was to provide technical and practical-oriented training to meet the manpower requirements for the development of Nigeria.

Aluko noted that the institution was embarking on aggressive farming as a result of the current recession bedeviling the country and at the same time keying into the economic diversification policy of the President Muhammadu Buhariled administration.

Ogun Assembly assures on bill to cater for accident victims

By Gbenga Olumide Members of the Ogun State House of Assembly have agreed to harmonise all inputs to make the bill entitled: “H.B No 06/ OG/2016- The Ogun State Accident Victims First – Aid Law, 2016”, have provision for a trust fund that will cater for first aid and treatment of accident victims in the state.

Opening debate on the bill, sponsored by the Chief Whip, Honourable Idowu Olowofuja, members stated that the essence of the bill was to save life and put strategies in place to reduce rate of road crashes, noting that 90 per cent of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which often records high accidents rate, falls within the state.

The bill, according to a release signed by the Assembly Head of Information, Mr Lawal Jamiu, when passed into law, would provide fund for emergency treatment of accident victims.

news Arraignment of Supreme Court chief registrar, 2 others in N2.2bn fraud stalled 34

Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

T

HE proposed arraignment of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mallam Ahmed Gambo Saleh and two other officials of the apex court before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court for allegedly diverting N2.2 billion belonging to the court, scheduled to hold on Wednesday, was stalled due to the sickness of one of the defendants.

Saleh was expected to be arraigned before Justice Abba Bello Mohammed of Court 28 sitting at

Friday, 18 November, 2016

Jabi alongside Muhammed Abdulrahaman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal on a 9-count charge bordering on diversion of N2.2 billion public fund into their personal accounts with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), criminal breach of trust and taking gratification by public officers from Supreme Court contractors to the tune of N74.4 million.

The charges against the three were filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, pursuant to the exercise of the powers conferred on him by the 1999

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The second defendant in the case, Muhammed Abdulrahaman Sharif, was absent in the court on Wednesday when the case was mentioned due to an undisclosed ailment.

His counsel, Dr Garba Tetengi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that Sharif was critically ill and was on admission at the emergency ward of the Specialist’s Hospital in Gwagwalada, Abuja and appealed to the court to adjourn the arraignment.

The counsel for the Federal Government, Mr Charles

Adeogun-Phillips, however, objected this, saying that there was no documentary evidence by way of medical report before the court or served on government to show that the second defendant was actually in the hospital.

Adeogun-Phillips, who is leading a team of lawyers from the government side, however, said that since the evidence came from the Bar, he would not object to the request for adjournment.

The other defendants, the Chief Registrar, who is the first defendant and Rilwanu Lawal, who is the third defendant, were in court but

their plea could not be taken.

As the prosecution team did not object to the request for adjournment by the counsel for the second defendant, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed adjourned the arraignment till December 15 to give Sharif time to recover from his sickness so that he would join other defendants for arraignment.

The Federal Government had filed a 9-count charge with the number CR/13/2016 dated November 3, 2016 against the three defendants, who are all staff of the Supreme Court, at the registry of the FCT Judiciary.

JNI former Secretary-General kidnapped in Kaduna Muhammad Sabiu and Isaac Shobayo One-time Secretary General of the Jamaatul Nasrul Islam (JNI), Sheikh Abdulaziz Yusuf, has been kidnapped at Saminaka, in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Reliable source told the Nigerian Tribune that the Islamic cleric was on his way to Kaduna from Jos, the Plateau State capital, to condole with the family of the late Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, when he was abducted with his driver.

The incident, according to source, occurred at Saminaka, in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Wednesday evening.

It was learnt that his abductors overtook his car and blocked it.

“As soon as the driver stopped the car the cleric was asked by his abductors to come down and enter a waiting black jeep at gunpoint together with his driver, ” our source disclosed.

As of the time of filing this report, it was gathered that his abductors were asking for a whopping sum of N60 million as ransom.

Meanwhile, JNI has condemned the kidnapping of the famous Muslim scholar and one-time acting secretary-general of JNI in 1980.

This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna and signed by the Secretary-General of JNI, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, on Thursday.

It said: “Indeed this ugly incident is strongly condemned in totality by the JNI. The unfortunate rise of kidnappings in Nigeria is very alarming, as this is the third in the series of kidnapping that has happened to the JNI. ‘The first was Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Idoko, JNI Vice President-General, South-East, in September,

2015. The second was Mr Muhammad Lawal Maidoki, member JNI Central Publicity Committee, in September, 2016, and now Sheikh Abdul’Aziz Yusuf.”

Also, the Plateau State government has expressed shocked over the abduction

of the Islamic cleric, Shiek Abdulazeez, the Administrative Secretary of JNI and Leader, Nurudden Society of Nigeria around Saminaka Local Government Area of Kaduna State The state Governor, Simon Lalong, through a statement

signed by his special adviser on Media, Mr Dan Manjang, condemned the incident and sympathised with the Muslim Ummah and Nurudeen Society over the incident.

Governor Lalong, however, called for calm with

an assurance that machinery had been put in place in conjunction with the Kaduna State government, at ensuring unconditional safe release of Sheik Abdulazeez in the shortest possible time.

How N1.2bn was paid into Fayose’s account —Witness Sunday Ejike - Abuja

The first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Biodun Agbele, an associate to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on Thursday, gave a breakdown of how the sum of N1.2 billion was paid into Fayose’s account in different tranches.

The witness, Mr Alade Sunday, at the resumption of trial before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, told the court that the sum of N90 million was paid into Governor Fayose’s account on June 23, 2014 and another N2.5 million on June 11, 2014.

Sunday, who was crossexamined by Agbele’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, told the court that another N1 million was paid into Fayose’s account on June 2, 2014 while another N895,315 was paid into the account on June 5,2014.

The witness, however, agreed with Ozekhome that the account was in a very active state and that the monies were paid into the account before Fayose became the governor of Ekiti State.

“The money was packed in ‘Ghana must go’ and grey trampoline bags in two aircraft. It took us about 45 minutes to offload the bags from the aircraft with the assistance of Oluolu Omotosho, and some security guards that followed Agbele whose names I cannot remember.

“After our discussion at the airport with the former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and Agbele, one Adewale A.O who introduced himself as the ADC to Obanikoro, accompanied us and insisted that the monies be counted.

“It was after we counted the money that we depos-

ited it into the various account numbers he gave us, including that of Governor Fayose,” the witness said.

He narrated how Agbele instructed that another N263 million be transported to Ado-Ekiti but maintained, however, that he did not follow Olaolu to Ado-Ekiti with the money.

The trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned trial to January 25, 26, and 27, 2017 for the continuation of trial.

Agbele was arraigned alongside former Minister of Defence for State, Musiliu Obanikoro (in absentia), Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, A. O. Adewale, Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye (all at large) before the court on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.2 billion, allegedly transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA),

Jehovah’s Witness convention The sixth in the series of Jehovah’s Witnesses regional convention for 2016 will commence on Friday, November 18 and end on Sunday, November 20, at the Ifatumo Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, at Lalupon, Ejioku, Ibadan, Oyo State.

This three-day programme will feature 49 presentations, each exploring the theme: “Remain Loyal to Jehovah”.

Also, Jehovah’s Witnesses have prepared 35 video

segments specially for the programme and two short films that will be shown on Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, the chairman’s address titled: “Jehovah Deserve Undivided Loyalty” will set the tone for the convention, while baptism for those who have dedicated their lives to Jehovah will hold on Saturday.

The Saturday programme will be rounded off with the subject: “Keep Waiting Eagerly with En-

durance”.

This was contained in a press statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by the media officer, Mr Dada Olayinka.

Sunday programme will be climaxed with a powerful discourse titled: “Jehovah will Treat His Loyal One in a Special Way” by Bro. Don Trust.

Each day’s programme will start at 8:20am and end on Friday and Sunday by 3:50pm and on Sunday by 2:45pm.

by the former NSA, Colonel Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (retd).

OWOSENI I, formerly Owoseni Modinat Adeola now OWOSENI ABIDEMI MODINAT. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc and general public take note.

ABIOLA I, formerly Abiola Tunrayo Jayeola now JAYEOLA MONSURAT ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid General public take note.

OMOTARA

I, formerly Omotara Yetunde Iyabode now ORESANYA YETUNDE ANUOLUWAPO. All former documents remain valid.

Babcock University, TASUED, First Bank, Wema Bank and general public take note.

ENIADE

I, formerly Miss Eniade Adeola Tunmise now MRS OLALEYE ADEOLA TUNMISE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

LATIFU

I, formerly Latifu Amoo Babatunde now BABATUNDE LATEEF ORIOWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLADITI

I, formerly Miss Oladiti Tejumade Toyin now MRS OLADIMEJI TEJUMADE TOYIN.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GETRUDE I, formerly Getrude Ugwuagbo now Ugwuagbo Getrude Oluchukwu. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Herdsmen crises: Jigawa to confiscate cows Adamu Amadu - Dutse

THE Jigawa State government has said henceforth, cattle that encroached on farmlands in the state, will be confiscated for sale and the proceeds used to pay affected farmers for crops destroyed.

This was contained in a speech by state acting Governor, Mr Ibrahim Hassan, at the farmers/herdsmen stakeholders meeting, organised by the state police command, on Thursday, in Dutse. This is just as Hassan lamented the lingering clashes between the farmers and herdsmen in the state.

The deputy governor warned both the farmers and the herdsmen in the state to stop encroaching on grazing reserve or farms yet to be harvested, stressing that doing so would attract serious punishment.

According to him, “The punishment to herdsmen include confiscation of the entire herd, sell them and pay the farmers for their destroyed farm produce.”

ADEDAYO

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Babatunde Lawrence Dayo now wish to be known, called and addressed as ADEDAYO LAWRENCE DAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. and I, formerly known, called and addressed as DayoBabatunde Omuwa Temisan now wish to be known, called and addressed as ADEDAYO OMUWA TEMISAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PROBATE PUBLIC NOTICE I, MR AKINLEYE KAYODE C/O his Solicitor SUNDAY ATOFARATI Esq of Sunday Atofarati & Co., No 20c, Hospital Road, Ajegunle Street, Osogbo, Osun State of Nigeria have applied to the Probate Registry of the Customary Court of Appeal Osogbo for Letters of Administration to administer the Estate of late MR YISAU AKINLEYE of NO 13 Akogun Street, Osogbo, Osun State, who died intestate on the 28th day of April, 2015.

Any objection to the application is to be forwarded to the Probate Registry of Customary Court of Appeal, Osogbo within 14days of this notice.

LOSS OF ORIGINAL DEED OF CONYENANCE

I, OLUFEMI OLUGBESAN, Male, a Christian and a Nigerian citizen, of No. 2a, Prince Sanmi Harrison, off Tunde Laitan Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State. The said Original Deed of Conveyance with Plan No. LAT/524/12/76 belongs to my late father, Architect Olugbesan who died on 19th December, 2004 got lost in transit and all efforts made to trace same proved abortive.

Hence this report.

PUBLIC NOTICE

This is to notify the general public of the loss of document (a) driver’s licence (b) Customs I.D. Card (c) bunch of keys (d) Original Land Agreement (e) Original Land Receipt bearing the name MUYIBATU ANIFOWOSE of ARABA COMPOUND, EPE, issued by ADEKU FAMILY OF IDIMU TOWN, IDIMU, LAGOS STATE.

35

classifieds

BAMIDELE I, formerly Miss Bamidele Folake Esther now MRS OLAOYE FOLAKE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OGUNJINMI

I, formerly Ogunjinmi Olusola Tajudeen now ABDUL-AZEEZ OLUSOLA TAJUDEEN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BALOGUN

I, formerly Balogun Sade Abigel that my name was mistakenly written on my SEEP documents as Adesola Mary. Henceforth, I wish to be known as BALOGUN SADE ABIGEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DOYE I, formerly Doye Onu now VERA JACKSON GULA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GODPOWER

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Godpower Okiri Ittezeh Onaigho am the same person as Godpower Okiri, Godpower Ittezeh Onaigho. Now, i wish to be known as GODPOWER OKIRI ITTEZEH ONAIGHO. All documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

ABUDU

I, formerly Abudu Halade now ARIOWEI JOHNSON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MORUFF

I, formerly Miss Moruff Moromoke Suliat now MRS EBERE TEMILOLUWA MOROMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEGBOLA

I, formerly Miss Adegbola Taiwo Oluyemisi now MRS ELIJAH TAIWO OLUYEMISI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State TESCOM and general public take note.

FUNKE

I, formerly Funke Akindele now AKINDELE OLUWAFUNKE OLANIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLOWOLAGBA

I, formerly Olowolagba Olajire and Taofeek now OLAJIRE TAOFEEK KOLAWOLE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

OGUNSOLA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ogunsola Catherine Olayemisi am the same person bearing Mrs Ogunsola Catherine Oluwayemisi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OGUNSOLA CATHERINE OLUWAYEMISI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank, First Bank and general public take note.

ATOYEBI

I, formerly Miss Atoyebi Bimpe Eunice now MRS. OYEKOLA BIMPE EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEYEMI

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Kehinde Waliyat now MRS. RAJI WALIYAT KEHINDE ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHUKWU

I, formerly Chukwu Mary Nnanne, Chukwu Nnanne Mary now CHUKWU MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Friday, 18 November, 2016 AHMED I, formerly Mr Onojiobi Hammed Omotayo now MR ONAJOBI AHMED OMOTAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OWOEYE

I, formerly Mrs. Akanbi Deborah Oluwafunke (nee Olawale) now MRS. OYETUNJI DEBORAH OLUWAFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. Smith International College, Ogbomoso, First Bank, Skye Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Umaru Gwamai now ADAMU UMARU FAROUK. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ODUSANYA I, formerly Miss Odusanya Victoria Oluwakemi now MRS AYENI VICTORIA OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

DAVID

I, formerly Mrs. Enyoisi Patricia Foluke now MRS ADEGBOYE FOLUKE PATRICIA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Olaosebikan Damilare now OLAOSEBIKAN DARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ibrahim Isiaka now IBRAHIM ISIAK OLAYIWOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Owoeye Olufunmilayo Ruth now MRS OGUNKORODE OLUFUNMILAYO RUTH. All former documents remain valid.

OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

I, formerly David Doukey now DIOKARI DAVID PEREAMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OMALE I, formerly Omale Vincent now IBRAHIM AMINU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

USMAN I, formerly Usman Shehu now SHEHU DAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AWOTAYO-JOHNSON

AKANBI

ENYOISI

IBRAHIM

OKEWOLE

I, formerly Miss Okewole Folake Ibidunni now MRS. IREDIA FOLAKE IBIDUNNI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

YEKINI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Yekini Yusuf, am the same person bearing Yusuf Yekini Ademola .Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as YUSUF YEKINI ADEMOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Skye Bank and general public take note.

OLUOKUN

I, formerly Miss Oluokun Kudirat Olasumbo now MRS. SIJUADE KUDIRAT OLASUMBO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLADELE

UMARU

OLAOSEBIKAN

SODIMU

I, formerly Sodimu Abimbola Rashidat now ABDULAZEEZ ABIMBOLA RASHIDAT. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Government and general public take note.

OLAOSEBIKAN

I, formerly Mrs. Olaosebikan Bose now MRS. OJO BOSE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and general public take note.

ODANYE

I, formerly Odanye Omowumi now ODANYE OMOLEWA OMOWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MICHEAL

I, formerly Miss Bakare Ganiyat Ibironke now MRS. ADEOYE GANIYAT IBIRONKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEYEMI

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Taiwo Wakilat Adepeju now MRS. SALAMI TAIWO WAKILAT ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

COKER

CORRECTION OF NAME: I hereby declare that my full names are Coker Babatunde Folashayo and not Coker Babatunde F. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as COKER BABATUNDE FOLASHAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

ROWANE

I, formerly Rowane Ometan now DEMEYIN JONATHAN OMETAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLUFUNMILAYO

BAKARE

ADEGUN

I, formerly Miss Ajibola Bukola Blessing now MRS. AWOYEMIJU OLUWABUKOLA BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank, Eco Bank, STANBIC Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adegun Latifat Iyabo now MRS. OLAGBAJU TAOFEEK LATIFAT IYABO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Olurin David Kayode now OLURINDE DAVID KAYODE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Afolabi Jamiu Adebayo now ADETUNJI AKEEM ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

OLURIN

SAKA

AFOLABI

OMIDOKUN

OLANREWAJU

AJIBIKE

IJEOMA

I, formerly Miss Ijeoma Favour Ezeakunne now MRS. IJEOMA FAVOUR NWESI. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank, First Bank and general public take note.

AGBOTOWOYO

OLADAPO

AYELAAGBE

I, formerly Miss Ayelaagbe Taiwo Alice now MRS. ALAGBE TAIWO ALICE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State, Post Primary Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and general public take note.

OYELADUN

I, formerly Shobola Folushola Olatunde now SHOBOLA FOLUSHOLA OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank Plc, Authority concerned and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olanrewaju Adenike Esther now MRS ADEOJO ADENIKE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Agbotowoyo Olaniyi Olanrewaju now SUNDAY OLANIYI OLAREWAJU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ibrahim Olayinka Oyelakin now OMOLE OLAYINKA OYELADUN. All former documents remain valid. Banks, IITA and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Rapheal Chijioke Asoegwu am the same person bearing Michael Rapheal and Rapheal Chijioke Asiegwu.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as RAPHEAL CHIJIOKE ASOEGWU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Adebisi Kehinde Wuraola now MRS ADEBISI KEHINDE FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayodele Bukola Olufunke now MRS ADIGUN BUKOLA OLUFUNKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olagunju Gbemisola Iyabode now MRS AFOLABI GBEMISOLA IYABODE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME/ DATE OF BIRTH: I, formerly Udeme Hope now UKPORO HOPE UDEME. My correct date of birth is 20/05/2016. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Titilope Adetoun Quadri now MRS TITILOPE ADETOUN CHANDLER OGUNBAJO. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr Adeleke Adedokun Adenaike now MR VICTOR ADELEKE ADENAIKE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Bello Omolara Arike now MRS ABOABA OMOLARA ARIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyenuga Olajumoke Oladunni now MRS OYENUGA-OLAWOLE OLAJUMOKE OLADUNNI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Oladapo Temitope Grace, my name was mistakenly written as Oladapo Temitope Tomilayo Dapo instead of Oladapo Temitope Grace.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLADAPO TEMITOPE GRACE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Wema Bank Plc and general public take note.

BADMUS

NOME I, formerly Nome Ati Godwin now NOME GODWIN ATI. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank and general public take note.

TUNJI

I, formerly Mr Jimoh Rasaki of Ojo’s Compound, Orelope Ero-Omo, Sanngo Saki now ADEYEMI RASAQ ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

RAPHEAL

EKPO I, formerly Ekpo Asuquo Ekpo now MAURICE ASUQUO EKPO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AYODELE

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Ayodele Yemi Adelaja, my name was mistakenly written as Ayodele Adeyemi Adelaja instead of Ayodele Yemi Adelaja.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AYODELE YEMI ADELAJA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

AMZAT

ADEBISI

UDEME

BELLO

I, formerly Olufunmilayo Temitayo Adetokunbo Emiola now OLUFUNMILAYO TEMITAYO ADETOKUNBO LADELE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Amzat Kazeem Adejare now AMUSAT KOZEEM ADEJARE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Badmus Muhyideen Olajide now SAHEED MUHYIDEEN BADMUS. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Maureen Nne Ahuama now MRS MAUREEN BLESSING ALOZIE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Hamzat Rafiat Olasunkanmi Rafiat Aisha now OLASUNKANMI RAFIAT ADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ayanleke Quadir Ayanniyi now BASHIRU QUADIR AYANNIYI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

MAUREEN

AJIBOLA

OLIGBO

I, formerly Oligbo Gloria Jennifer now MICHEAL GLORIA JENNIFER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Mrs. Oladapo Funmilola Ayobami formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyewole Funmilola Ayobami now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLADAPO FUNMILOLA AYOBAMI. All documents bearing my former names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Fatimo Adunni Hussein now MRS. IYABO ADUNNI ORIAJE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

SHOBOLA

ADENUGA

I, formerly Miss Adenuga Adeola Amoke now MRS ODENIYI ADEOLA AMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NWOSU

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ajibike Eboola Omodumbi am the same person bearing Ajibike Aboola, Ajibike Eboola Omodunbi, Eboola Ajibike and Eboola Ajibike Omodunbi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AJIBIKE EBOOLA OMODUMBI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

ADELEKE

I, formerly Miss Oladoye Temitope Foluwake now MRS OLANIJI TEMITOPE FOLUWAKE. All former documents remain valid.

Oyo State TESCOM and general public take note.

ADEMOLA

I, formerly Nwosu Godwin Victor now WILLIAM GODWIN VICTOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DAVID

I, formerly Omidokun Abiodun Ramoni now OMIDOKUN RAMONI OYEDIRAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Adeleke Sullamon Abiodun now SULAIMON SOYINKA ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ademola Adebayo Dare now ADEBAYO ADEOLA ABIODUN DARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly David Adesola Yusuf now DAVID ADESOLA ERIOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Saka Rasheed Oladipupo now RASHEED OLUSANYA OLADIPUPO. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank, Skye Bank, Eco Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Emmanuel Kehinde Aanuoluwapo now OLADELE KEHINDE AANUOLUWAPO. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank and general public take note.

FATIMO

OSENI

I, formerly Miss Oseni Rukayat Tolani wish to notify the public that I am now MRS. OSENI RUKAYAT T. ALIU. All former documents remain valid. Nursing Council of Nigeria, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Micheal Peter Temidayo now OGUNBODEDE PETER TEMIDAYO. All former documents remain valid.

Sterling Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Awotayo-Johnson Ayobami Adesina now AWOTAYO AYOBAMI ADESINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLADOYE

OLADEJI

I, formerly Miss Oladeji Kehinde Victoria now MRS. OLAWUNI KEHINDE VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid.

Skye Bank, NYSC and general public take note.

HAMZAT

AYANLEKE

AYODELE

TITILOPE

OYENUGA

I, formerly Tunji Ayanwumi Suraju now AYANWUMI SURAJUDEEN OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

OLAGUNJU

ADELEKE

OLADAPO

JIMOH

ONAOLAPO I, formerly Onaolapo Aliu now ADEYEMO TAIWO ADEOLU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

36 classifieds ISHOLA

Friday, 18 November, 2016 OWONIBI

MOHAMMED

I, formerly Miss Ishola Olanike Abigail now MRS OLANIYAN OLANIKE ABIGAIL. All former documents remain valid. All Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Owonibi Eyitayo Adenike now ALABI-BASSEY EYITAYO ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Authority concern and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: My name was erroneously written as Mohammed Omaba instead of Abdullahi T. Mohammed. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ABDULLAHI T. MOHAMMED All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

OYEWOLE

ABDULRASHEED

AROWOLO I, formerly Arowolo Kemi Deborah now AROWOLO KEMI FOLUSHO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ISRAEL

I, formerly Miss Oyewole Fatima Olawunmi now MRS TAJUDEEN FATIMA OLAWUNMI. All former documents remain valid. All General public take note.

I, formerly Abdurasheed Adeyemi Adeniran now ADENIRAN A B DU L R A SH E E D ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BOSE I, formerly Mrs Bose Adewola Oderinde now MRS BOSE ADEWOLA AROWOOGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABORISADE

IREJEUNOH I, formerly Miss Irejeunoh Asimawu now MRS LEEOGUNSHAKIN FLORA ASIMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ELIZABETH

ODULANA

I, formerly Miss Aborisade Monisola Racheal now MRS ATOLAGBE MONISOLA RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Elizabeth Titilayo Peter am the same person bearing Elizabeth Babalola.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ELIZABETH TITILAYO PETER. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

ADEKUNLE

NUNAYON

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Nunayon Sunday Stephen am the same person bearing Nunayon Sunday Segbenu. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as NUNAYON SUNDAY STEPHEN. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Israel Oghenero now MRS OKAFOR OGHENERO HOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

JATTO

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Jatto Olufunke Adejoke am the same person bearing Abidola Olufunke Jatto. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as JATTO OLUFUNKE ADEJOKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

OLUSOLA

I, formerly Odulana Oluwabunmi Ruth now MRS ADEYEMI OLUWABUNMI RUTH. All former documents remain valid. Tai Solarin University of Education and general public take note.

I, formerly Olusola Adesina now ALAWODE OMOYEMI BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

KAREEM

EJOBE

I, formerly Miss Onifade Mayowa Seun now MRS ADEKUNLE MAYOWA SEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Musa Ayisat Damilola now MISS KAREEM AYISAT DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ejobe Okeoghene Favour now EFEURHOBO OKEOGHENE FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Olubayo Samuel Oladele now ABOLUPE OMOTOLASE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Mololuwa Bakare now MRS IYABODE IDOWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Makanjuola Jacob now MAKANJUOLA OLADEWA AKANNI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABOLUPE

OMOGBEMI

MOLOLUWA

EMMANUEL

I, formerly Omogbemi Eyituoyo now OWOYOMI EYITUOYO ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note and to whom it may concern.

ADDITIONAL OF NAME: I, formerly Emmanuel Blessing now EMMANUEL, BLESSING EFFIONG. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BAKARE

IDOWU

I, formerly Miss Bakare Motunrayo Kuburat now MRS ADEWALE MOTUNRAYO KUBURAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Idowu Samuel now AKINOLA OLAMIDE IDOWU HELEN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adeniji Rabi Mohammed am the same person bearing Adeniji Rabiat Foluke Mohammed. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADENIJI RABIAT FOLUKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Udofia Esther Effiong now MRS SAMPSON ESTHER IBORO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AJIBIKE

OYEWOLE

UDOFIA

SOMEFUN

ADEYEMI

ALEGBE I, formerly Miss Alegbe Aimalohi Joy now MRS ADEOSUN AIMALOHI JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AJETUMOBI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mr Oladipo Jimoh Funso wish to be known as MR OLADIPO JIMOH OYELEKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Adeyemi Taiwo Olumuyide, my name was wrongly written as Adeyemi Taiwo Olu instead of Adeyemi Taiwo Olumuyide.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMI TAIWO OLUMUYIDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. EcoBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Omirin Kemi Omowunmi now MRS GEORGE ESTHER OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olatunbosun Bamidele Alice now MRS OKEGBOLA BAMIDELE ALICE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMIRIN

AZEEZ

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Azeez Shade Busayo am the same person as Shade Malik.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AZEEZ SHADE BUSAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

OLADEJO

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mrs Oladejo Mulikat am the same person as Mrs Onaolapo Mulikat Kikelomo.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLADEJO MULIKAT. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Wema Bank and general public take note.

BADMUS

I, formerly Miss Badmus Arafat Abiodun now MRS ADEDEJI ARAFAT ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

SELIMOT I, formerly Mrs Selimot Yussuf now MRS MUSILIU SELIMOT ASAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABIDOYE

IYABO

I, formerly Miss Iyabo Faith James now MRS AKINROLABU IYABO FAITH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLATUNBOSUN

AROWOLO

I, formerly Arowolo Babatunde now AROWOLO OLABODE OLATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADELEKE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mrs Adeleke Saratu am the same person as Mrs Shittu Sarat Arinlade.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADELEKE SARAT. All documents bearing these names remain valid.Wema Bank Plc and general public take note.

AZEEZ

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, formerly Mrs Ajetumobi Risikat Adebukola now MRS AJETUNMOBI RISIKAT ADEBUKOLA All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

OBAFEMI I, formerly Obafemi Samson Dada now OLUFEMI SAMSON DADA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OYENIYI

I, formerly Miss Oyeniyi Grace Olayinka and Oyeniyi Tojuola Olayinka now MRS ADELEKE OLAYINKA OLURONKE. All former documents remain valid.

Access Bank, UBA and general public take note.

EMMANUEL

I, formerly Miss Azeez Modinat now MRS ABIOYE MODINAT BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Emmanuel Olubukunmi Prisca now MRS OMILANA OLUBUKUNMI PRISCA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: My correct name is Ofor Ann Ifeoma and not Collins Ofor (my husband name used in our joint account)Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OFOR ANN IFEOMA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Nigeria and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinrinde Eniola Olasumbo now MRS OLADUNNI ENIOLA OLASUMBO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OFOR

SHITTU

AKINRINDE

GBADAMOSI

I, formerly Miss Arilewola Eunice Toba now MRS ADEJUMO EUNICE TOBA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Abidoye Oluwaseun Aina now MRS ADESANOYE OLUWASEUN AINA. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Dominic Moses now AKPAN MOSES DOMINIC. All former documents remain valid.

EcoBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olagunju Margret Bukola now MRS AKINOLA MARGRET BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ibrahim Jimoh Folorusho now JIMOH IBRAHIM FOLORUSHO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Gbadebo Omolewa Risikat now MRS ADEYEMI OMOLEWA RISIKAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Oseni Lamidi that my name was wrongly written as Lameed Oseni Adeleke. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OSENI LAMIDI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Omowale OrjiOzolua now WALE OHIS OZOLUA. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mrs Lawal Oluwakemi Basirat am the same person bearing Olajide Oluwakemi and Osinuga Oluwakemi Elizabeth.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS LAWAL OLUWAKEMI BASIRAT. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adewale Taofeek Adewale am the same person bearing Adewale Taofeek Ademola.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEWALE TAOFEEK ADEMOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank, Stanbic Bank and general public take note.

DOMINIC

OSENI

FASORO

OLAGUNJU

OMOWALE

OLUWATOYIN

I, formerly Shittu Olayiwola Ibrahim and Shittu Olayiwola Buraimoh now OLAYIWOLA IBRAHEEM. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, First Bank Nigeria and general public take note.

IBRAHIM

LAWAL

SANDRA

I, formerly Mrs Gbadamosi Asanat Abdul-Fatai now MRS GBADAMOSI HASSANAT ADEJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. Oorelope Local Government, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

GBADEBO

ADEWALE

AKOMOLAFE

I, formerly Miss Oluwatoyin Elizabeth Fakorede now MRS OLUWATOYIN ELIZABETH AYENI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Sandra OjoObasuyi now MRS SANDRA SIMPLE UGHERAKPOTENI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Durodola Bukola Feyikemi now MRS OJO BUKOLA FEYIKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FOLARANMI

I, formerly Mr Akomolafe Olabode Murphy now MR AKOMOLAFE OLABODE CLINERO. All former documents remain valid.

Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Folaranmi Adeosun Iyabo Olayinka now ADEKOLA SUZAN OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank, Access Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Adelusi Oluwabunmi now ADELUSI OLUWABUNMI PRECIOUS. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Adisa Yetunde Oluwabunmi now OBISESAN YETUNDE OLUWABUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Nosiru Asoro Basiru or Onatola Nosiru Asoro now ONATOLA NOSIRU OLUWASEGUN. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank, Diamond Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Omodara Mary Titilayo now MRS JAYEOLA MARY TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. Local Government Service Commission, Akure and general public take note.

UKEYIMA I, formerly Ukeyima Faeren now MKA WANGER CLARIBEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BAMIDELE

I, formerly Miss Bamidele Omolara Roseline now MRS OLADIMEJI OMOLARA ROSELINE. All former documents remain valid. Police Children School II, Akure and general public take note.

I, formerly Council Y. Juliet now EMMANUEL JULIET. My correct date of birth was 24/07/72 and not 04/03/72 and 12/12/74 as wrongly written in some of my documents. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akanmu Mary Abisola now MRS ADESINA MARY ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADELEYE

I, formerly Miss Ezeobiorah Ebere Goodness now MRS SALAWU EBERE GOODNESS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MAJI I, formerly Miss Maji Lydia Scent now MRS MAKINDE LYDIA SCENT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ilori Oluwaseyi Margaret now MRS ADEDEJI OLUWASEYI MARGARET. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Polytechnic Ede, National Open University, Osogbo Centre and general public take note.

I, formerly Ms Somefun Olufunmilayo Olajumoke now MRS ADEAGBO O L U F U N M I L A Y O OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bola Janet Olaogun now MRS BOLA JANET OWODUNNI. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, UBA Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinyemi Modasola Favour now MRS ADEWOLE MODASOLA FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EJIOGU I, formerly Ejiogu Esther Akuchi now MRS FALADE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

RASAQ

ADISA

I, formerly Rasaq Rasheedat Ikeade now MRS RASHEEDAT IKEADE OPENIYI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ARILEWOLA

OLADIPO

EMMANUEL

I, formerly Emmanuel Umeh now EMMANUEL UMENWEKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Fasoro Dasola Sarah now MRS OLUWASORO DASOLA SARAH. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Civil Service Commission, Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyewole Temiloluwa Tolulope now MRS AZEEZ TOLU MARIAM. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BOLA

MAKANJUOLA

MUKAILA

I, formerly Mukaila Akeem Akin now AKEEM ADIO AKIN. My correct date of birth is 01/10/1978 and not 01/10/1980.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKINYEMI

COUNCIL

DURODOLA

NOSIRU

AKANMU

OMODARA

I, formerly Mr Adeleye Sule now MR AJAYI SULAIMON ADENIYI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

ADELUSI

EZEOBIORAH

ILORI

37

Friday, 18 November, 2016

foreig naffairs

08116954632 withseyigesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

Obama urges Trump to stand up to Russia U Drone and plane in near miss over

US intelligence chief resigns US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has submitted his letter of resignation, he has told a congressional panel.

He told the House Intelligence Committee that “it felt pretty good”.

BBC reports that the 75-year-old top American spy had been expected to step aside, as President-

elect Donald Trump prepares to appoint his own officials.

Analysts believe that he is sending a signal to the Trump administration that they must now speed up the transition.

Mr Trump has denied that his transition team is in turmoil, despite having only filled two postings so far.

Barrack Obama

S President Barack Obama has urged his successor Donald Trump to stand up to Russia if it deviates from US “values and international norms”.

Speaking in Berlin, Mr Obama said he hoped the US president-elect “does not simply take a realpolitik approach” to dealing with Russia.

But he said he was encouraged by Mr Trump’s insistence he will remain fully committed to the Nato alliance.

Mr Obama was speaking after talks with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The two allies stressed the need for continued close co-operation between their two countries, as well as between the US and the European Union.

They had earlier issued a joint statement strongly defending globalisation.

Mr Obama is expected to hold talks with UK Prime Minister Theresa May and the leaders of France, Italy and Spain on Friday, before flying to Peru.

Mr Obama and Mrs Merkel said they discussed the crises in Ukraine and Syria, the fight against socalled Islamic State and transatlantic trade, as well as the outcome of the US election.

The two leaders have

forged a strong partnership over the years, even surviving the revelation

that American spies had listened to her mobile phone calls.

He has called her “probably... my closest international partner”.

central London A passenger aircraft narrowly avoided a collision with a drone over central London, according to a report carried by the BBC. The Airbus A320, which was carrying around 165 passengers as it approached Heathrow Airport on 18 July, was within 66ft (20m) of the device.

The report, based on the pilot’s observations, described the incident as a “very near miss”.

The plane was at an altitude of 4,900ft (1,494m) when the drone was seen from the rightside flight deck window.

The crew said the drone - described as black and about 50cm (20in) wide “probably” passed above the right wing and a horizontal stabiliser, which is found on the tail of the plane.

The UK Airprox Board report said: “Members agreed that this incident appeared to be a very nearmiss and that the drone operator should not have been flying in that location

at that altitude.”

It added that the account of the incident “portrayed a situation where a collision had only been narrowly avoided and chance had

played a major part”.

The incident was deemed to be in the “most serious” category of risk.

The drone operator has not been traced.

Mr Clapper (left) served in the Obama administration for six years. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Japanese prime minister meets Trump, seeks to build trust JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he wants to build a relationship of trust when he meets U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, stressing that the two-way alliance is the core of Tokyo’s diplomacy and security.

Reuters reported that Abe, set to meet Trump on Thursday in New York, is expected to be the first foreign leader to do so since the real estate magnate won a surprise victory in the U.S. election on November 8.

An adviser to Trump, speaking anonymously because he was not

Victor Mlotshwa says he was walking home when he was kidnapped and assaulted. PHOTO: REUTERS

trespassing says he was scared for his life.

Victor Mlotshwa was speaking outside court in the north-eastern town of Middelburg where his alleged attackers appeared before a magistrate.

“I thought they were going to kill me,” he said.

A 20-second video of the incident has been circulating on social media, causing outrage.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Drone

South Africa probes minister’s links to rhino smuggling SOUTH African police have launched an investigation into alleged links between the country’s security minister and a Chinese rhino horn smuggler, according to the government.

The probe announced on Thursday was prompted by claims made by Guan Jiang Guang, a self-professed rhino

horn trader, in an undercover Al Jazeera documentary, that he was close to State Security Minister David Mahlobo.

“Cabinet noted the allegations in an Al Jazeera documentary against

Minister of State Security, Mr David Mahlobo,” Jeff Radebe, a senior adviser to President Jacob Zuma, told journalists.

“The South African Police Services are investigating the

South Africa racist coffin victim scared for his life A black South African man who was allegedly forced into a coffin by two white farmers for

authorized to speak to media, said earlier this week the president-elect would seek to reassure Abe and other Asian allies who were rattled by his rhetoric during the election campaign.

The hashtag #RacismMustFall is now being widely shared on social media in South Africa.

The BBC’s Pumza Fihlani in Middelburg says that inside the magistrates’ court, the two accused, Theo Martins Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen, stood with their heads bowed as journalists and community members took photographs of them.

: Mahlobo this week denied all accusations of wrongdoing. PHOTO: AP

allegations.”

Guang said he was friends with Mahlobo and had hosted him regularly at his massage parlour in Nelspruit in Mpumalanga province and at his home.

In secretly filmed footage, Guang showed off mobile phone pictures of himself and the minister, and said the minister’s wife was involved in the trade.

Pictures have also emerged of Mahlobo with parlour employees.

Mohlobo has denied any relationship with the businessman.

Selling rhino horn is illegal worldwide, but the animals face the threat of extinction due to a surge of poaching driven by demand for their horn in China and Vietnam.

communitynews Ibadan communities laud LG boss for chlorination of wells

38

by yejide gbenga-ogundare

R

ESIDENTS of five communities in Ibadan North West Local Government Area of Oyo State; Ayeye, Ibikunle, Ita-Merin and Ashipa Sango compound, have lauded the chairman of the council, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, for what they described as a quick response to their complaints on provision of potable water.

The residents have complained over the distastefulness of the well they have across the council and in a proactive measure, Olatubosun had ordered environmental and health officers in the council to commence purification of over 750 wells.

The chlorination commenced last Wednesday with Dr. Olatubosun urging the people of the council area to cooperate with the health officers in purifying their wells with the appropriate vaccines in making the water free of germs and other micro bacterial capable of epidemic outbreak.

He appealed to the traditional heads and community leaders as well as residents

Niger govt urges residents to embrace Diabetes testing THE Niger State government has called on residents to embrace the free diabetes testing programme as the state commemorates this year’s World Diabetes Day. The Coordinator, Non Communicable Diseases and Cancer Control, Niger State Ministry of Health, Dr Hauwa Kolo, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, recently.

She said that the 2016 World Diabetes Day has the theme “Eyes on Diabetes”, a call for all to be involved in a global drive to confront and combat diabetes as a crucial health challenge.

Kolo said that diabetes is a disorder of the metabolism system causing excessive thirst and the production of large amount of urine.

She described diabetes as a condition where the amount of glucose in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.

The director also explained that diabetes develops when glucose cannot enter the body’s cells to be used as fuel.

of every community in the council, to benefit from the medical gesture, embrace it and give necessary support to the health officials.

The council boss assured the people of the delivery of more purposeful projects across the 168 communities no matter what the economic situation of the country dictates.

While performing the official kick-off of the programme, a former chairman of the council, Alhaji. Jelili Agboola appealed to the people to cooperate with the health officers in treating the water sources in order to be free of water related disease.

In a related development, residents also trooped out

Friday, 18 November, 2016

to welcome Olatubosun and his team to the official commissioning of walk way pedestrian bridge constructed for the people of the adjoining communities.

The residents led by the Mogaji Akeyepe, Chief Ganiyu Akeyepe, while speaking on behalf of other Mogajis and the residents in over 20 communities in

the area commended the Governor Abiola Ajimobi for restoring the lost glory of the state in the area of economic rejuvenation.

He also commended Olatubosun for the quick reconstruction of the bridge and the provision of other social amenities for the people of the area.

From right, Chairman of AWMB, Ms. Olapeju Olayemi; deputy chairman, Mrs Jacob Angela and Akure Branch Manager, Mrs Nosakhare Gift Osavawe, during the unveiling of the lactation lounge in Akure, Ondo State, recently.

AWMB inaugurates lactation lounge to promote breastfeeding by adewale oshodi

IN a bid to promote breastfeeding and reduce breast cancer in women, the African Women Microfinance Bank (AWMB) has inaugurated lactation lounge in its banking office to enable customers, who are nursing mothers, breastfeed their babies without intrusion from public view.

When unveiling the lactation lounge at the Oba Oshodi Market Road in Akure,

Ondo State recently, Vice Chairman of the bank, Mrs Jacob Angela, said the lactation lounge was introduced to improve health of women and uphold women’s dignities.

She stated further that AWMB was established as women serving banking institution and the bank is committed to exclusively address the financial and non financial needs of women.

“We commemorated the 2016 Breastfeeding Week

and Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a project which was tagged: Breastfeeding Friendly Environment To Reduce Breast Cancer. It is imperative for women to have access to breastfeedingfriendly environment. The AWMB’s lactation lounge is opened from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. for customers, who are nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies,” she said.

In her remarks, the Bank

Protect artifacts bequeathed to you by your forebears, Yoruba told THE Obaleesun of Ile-Ife in Osun State, Oba Olaolu Oladotun Dada, has called on the people of Yorubaland to ensure that all artifacts bequeathed to them by their forebears are not exposed to destruction.

Oba Dada made this known during the celebration of Orisa Week Day at Obatala Temple in Ile-Ife, Osun State,.

He said: “It is time for us to protect the symbols of our cultural heritage and if we should showcase some of what is bequeathed to us by our forebears, we would be celebrated as one of the civilised nations in the world.”

Speaking on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwu-

si-Ojaja II as he clocks one year on the throne in December, Obaleesun commended the monarch for what he has been doing since he assumed the throne by ensuring that Yoruba race is at the limelight of the world globally and ensure adequate protection of our heritage.

Dada, who is also the Arole Obatala Agbaye described the Ooni as God chosen monarch not only for Ile-Ife, but the entire Yoruba race.

He said: “Oba Ogunwusi has turned around the fortunes of the entire Ile-Ife in the last one year by constructing six good roads in the ancient community, renovation

of the traditional temples and courtesy visit to other royal fathers in Yoruba land, which had never happened in the history of Ife searching for unity and love among the traditional rulers.”

Manager of African Women Microfinance Bank, Akure branch, Mrs Nosakhare Gift Osayawe, said that AWMB is a specialised banking for women, adding that they had provided the facilities that would allow women to gain financial inclusion to uplift their financial and health standards.

She further added that the AWMB’s lactation lounge would save women from the embarrassment they face when their babies cry for breast milk inside the banking hall.

Chairman of AWMB, Ms Olapeju Olayemi, advocated for lactation space in Nigerian banking halls.

She said that the Affordable Care Acts recommends supporting breastfeeding throughout the first year of child’s life.

NBUN inaugurates new state, local executives in Oyo

By Tunde Adegbola

NATIONAL President of the National Butchers Union of Nigeria (NBUN), Chief John Adun, has advised the newly inaugurated state and local government executives of the union in Oyo State, to be transparent and be focused in their activities to move the union forward.

Chief Adun gave the advice during the inauguration ceremony at Moniya in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.

He further explained the decision of the union not to elect people, who are above 55 years of age to any position in the state executive, adding that youths must be encouraged to take the mantle of leadership of the union.

According to him, “We need young people to move this union forward, members that are above 55 years of age should retire from elective positions. Young ones need to be injected into the union while adults should be there as their advisers.”

In his remarks, the state secretary of the union, Mr Lateef Mukaila, urged members of the executive to avoid corruption and other acts that could tarnish the integrity of the union.

Newly inaugurated members of the executive are Alhaji Adekunle Alagunfon, state chairman; Alhaji Belau Mainasara, vice chairman; Mr Lateef Mukaila, Secretary; Mr Lateef Olagoke, Assistant Secretary; among others.

Dignitaries at the ceremony include Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, represented by High Chief Eddy Oyewole; Oyo State government officials; Zonal Chairman of NBUN, Alhaji Biliamin Eleshin-meta; NBUN chairmen from South-West states, among others.

NURTW calls for rehabilitation of Bida-Kateyerigi road THE National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has appealed to government to rehabilitate the Bida-Kateyeregi Road to avert accidents on the route during Yuletide.

The branch chairman of the union, Malam Dangwari Hassan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, Niger State, that the road was in shambles.

“We used to travel on that road to Bida in 50 minutes, but now it takes two-and-a-half hours of stressful drive to Bida.

“Since the beginning of this year, we have recorded four accidents on the road and with casualties.

“We often lose our tyres because of the bad state of the road. About a month ago, a SURE-P 18-seater bus was involved in an ac-

cident on the road and five persons died, while many were injured,” he said.

Hassan said they had solicited government’s support on rehabilitation of the road but uptill now no meaningful thing has been done.

He said Christmas is fast approaching, adding that government should rehabilitate the road before the yuletide.

39

sport

Friday, 18 November, 2016

ITTF championship: Peters seeks support for Team Nigeria ONE of Nigeria’s highest ranked umpires in Nigeria, John Peters has appealed to states and corporate bodies in the country to support Team Nigeria in its quest to be part of this year’s ITTF World Junior Championship holding later this month in Cape Town, South Africa.

Peters, who officiated at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, believes the efforts of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), led by Wahid Oshodi to expose the players to world class tournament should be complemented for the team to make it to the championship.

“The eight players are made up of four boys and four girls. Two of the boys and one girl are from Lagos State, while two of the girls are from Ekiti State. Kwara and Ondo States have a boy each, with the other girl coming from G20 Club in Abuja.

Nigeria and Argentina duel at Rio 2016 Basketball event

D’Tigers not yet ripe for Olympic medal —NBBF boss T Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

HE President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Tijjani Umar, on Wednesday declared that the participation of the senior men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, at the 2016 Rio Olympics was an eye opener for the federation.

D’Tigers, who made their second Olympics appearance, after their debut at London 2012, secured the Rio 2016 ticket after winning the 2015 AfroBasket Championship in Tunisia, where they stunned Angola 74-65 to emerge African champions.

Addressing a press briefing in Abuja to herald the NBBF Division One Basketball Tournament holding between Friday {today} and November 26, Umar stated that there was no illusion on the ground that the D’Tigers would win any medal in Brazil.

Umar stated that the team’s participation was a continuation of the building process.

“I want to say that the participation of the national team at the Rio Olympics was a great eye

opener. It continued the process of building the national team and building the structure.

“I don’t think anybody was under any illusion that that team was going there to win a medal in 2016. No, I don’t think so. But deep

down in the team’s organisation and the federation, we knew it was going to be the continuation of the building process from 2012 when the team did not perform very well to something that should be better.

“A lot of Nigerians expect-

ed much more than what the team provided but we knew as the handlers of the team and the organisation knew it was a process.

Umar, however, submitted that with the abundant talents in the country, Nigeria would start vying for

medals in basketball event as from the 2020 Olympic Games.

According to him, “the greatest thing is to put money on the table. We have the talents here to build the team but definitely money is the key factor.”

It should be an honour for the States and club that the players selected on merit out of the millions of players in the country, are from them. I think NTTF needs the support now in order to fulfil their vision towards ensuring that there will be replacements for the Segun Toriolas, the Aruna Quadris and the Olufunke Osonaikes when they leave the stage.

I believe that this vision needs to be supported by all for it to be realized,” Peters said.

Dala Hard Court begins today KOLA OYELERE-KANO

THE chief operating officer of Kano Dala Hard Court, Yusuf Datti, has said the 30th edition of the annual prestigious tennis championship will serve off in Kano today.

In a statement issued and signed by the organisers of the annual event, Datti explained that the Nigeria Tennis Federation has given its nod for the staging of the tournament.

He added that the preliminaries was end on Sunday, while the main draw will commence on November 21.

He added that, the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) will draft the first 20 men and 10 women on its rankings log to feature in the tournament.

185 players storm 3SC trials

BY OLAWALE OLANIYAN

NO fewer than 185 players reported on Wednesday at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan for the trials organised by Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), to recruit new players for the new soccer season.

The 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League season is scheduled to kick off next month.

Some of the supporters of the club were, however, surprised by the huge turnout of players—both budding

and established players—as they faulted the decision of the management to embark on open screening.

The team which finished on 15th position last season in the NPFL will be handled this season by returnee coach Fatai Amoo who is supervising the screening with other members of the coaching crew.

Some of the new players who showed up on Thursday are Bode Daniel and Patrick Oziegbwu, both of Crown FC of Ogbomoso; former 3SC striker,

Toluwalase Akindele and a member of the Golden Eaglets which won the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Saheed Fabiyi.

Also, goalkeeper Michael Oweru and Waheed Bello, both of Crown FC were at the stadium on Thursday to vie for shirts.

Some of the old members of the 3SC sighted at the training are captain of the team, Seun Akinyemi, Ibrahim Adewale, Joy Olubodun, Uche Henry, goalkeeper Charles Tambe, Moses James and Samuel Afolabi.

Players at 3SC’s screening : PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN

Rooney with the offending PHOTO: COURTESY THE SUN

Rooney apologises for hotel conduct ENGLAND captain Wayne Rooney “unreservedly” apologised on Wednesday to interim manager Gareth Southgate and Football Association technical director Dan Ashworth after the publication of embarrassing photographs at the squad’s hotel.

Rooney started England’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over arch-rivals Scotland at Wembley on Friday, a match in which he suffered a knee injury that

ruled him out of Tuesday’s 2-2 friendly draw at home to Spain.

But in between those matches British tabloid The Sun alleged Rooney drunkenly gatecrashed a wedding at England’s hotel in Watford, north of London, on Saturday.

The newspaper said the 31-year-old Manchester United star had been drinking and published a photograph of him looking the worse for wear.

SIDELINES

N150

FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER, 2016

N0 16,636

A woman was said to have killed a 67-year-old woman inside a church in Lagos.Surprisingly, the culprit is said to be a ‘worker’ in that church. The Good Book itself is clear about it:”By their fruits shall we know them.” Let the law determine her true ‘status’.

Mourinho fined for piling pressure on referee JOSE Mourinho was fined by the Football Association for pre-match comments about Anthony Taylor after his remarks were found to have brought “an additional layer of pressure” upon the referee, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Manchester United manager Mourinho spoke about Taylor ahead of last month’s goalless draw away to arch-rivals Liv-

erpool in the Premier League.

Taylor’s suitability to take charge of the game was widely questioned in the build-up, mainly on account of the fact he lives in Altrincham, near Manchester.

Mourinho, asked for his view, said: “I think somebody with intention, is putting much pressure on him, that I feel it will be difficult for him

to have a very good performance.”

An independent regulatory commission found him guilty and imposed a fine. Their reasons for doing so were made public on Wednesday.

“Despite Mr Mourinho’s assertions that the comments were not intended to be critical of Mr Taylor and were

positive in nature, the regulatory commission did not share this view.

“The regulatory commission were unanimous in their view that these comments had brought the game into disrepute and that the second element of the charge had been proven,” it added.

Rohr considers Nwakali, Matthew FORMER Flying Eagles stars Chidiebere Nwakali and Ifeanyi Matthew are being considered for the Super Eagles friendly against Egypt in January.

A mix of untested foreign pros and players from the domestic league are expected to be involved in a January 9 friendly against Egypt in Dubai, officials disclosed.

Coach Gernot Rohr has already mentioned Austria Wien striker Olanrewanju Kayode as one of those who will be given a chance against Egypt, who will then be preparing for the AFCON in Gabon.

It has now been further gathered that Chidi Nwakali, elder brother of Arsenal’s Kelechi Nwakali, as well as midfielder Ifeanyi Matthew are also in line for this test game.

Nwakali established himself at Norwegian IK Start on loan from Manchester City, while Ifeanyi Matthew helped to ensure Lillestrom escaped relegation in the top flight in Norway this past season with some scintillating displays and goals.

Moses

By Nurudeen Alimi

C

H E L S E A coach, Antonio Conte on Thursday said he had no ill feelings about international break, especially after seeing his players doing well for their countries.

The Blues had the full first team training yesterday since the international break and the Italian has good words for his team.

Mourinho

Conte happy with Mikel, Moses

“Coming from where I was, I can’t be one of those to complain [about the international break]. It is always good to play for your country.

I don’t know of a player who isn’t proud to wear his country’s colour. I wore it for Italy and I will always encourage my players to represent their countries,’ Conte told the club’s website.

He reserved special praise for Victor Moses, John Obi Mikel, Eden Hazard and club’s vice captain, Gary Cahill.

I am happy when my players score for their countries. That shows we are looking good and

our work shows in all continents — Moses, Hazard, Mikel and Cahill scored international goals. Players like Moses and Dominic Solanke scored two goals, so the international break is refreshing to us’’ Moses netted two goals in Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Algeria while Mikel scored one in the game.

Eden Hazard was on target in Belgium’s 8-1 victory over Estonia while Cahill contributed a goal in England’s 3-0 spanking of Scotland.

Chelsea next visit Middlesbrough this weekend for an English Premiership match.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 18/11/2016.