19th November 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 1,178

SATURDAY, 19 NOVEMBER, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

pg5 Ondo 2016: Mimiko under pressure to back Akeredolu, Oke

•Appeal court adjourns Jegede’s case indefinitely

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@nigeriantribune

N150

Nigerian Tribune

SPECIAL TREAT

How men can avoid having breast cancer —Report

pg7

100 gunmen pg4 storm market, abduct 42 2 policemen killed

Men on 33 motorcycles kill 29 in 4 villages US talks tough over killing of Shiites in Kano, Kaduna

Success is about making an pg9 impact, not money —Toun Okewale Sonaiya, CEO, WFM 91.7

pg4 Niger Delta militants warn FG

•Attack us, see consequences

From left, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, KPMG, Mr Victor Onyenkpa, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Mr. Babatunde Fowler, Partner and Head, Tax Regulatory and People Services, KPMG, Mr Wole Obayomi and Partner, Tax Regulatory and People Services Division, KPMG, Nike James, during KPMG Tax Breakfast Meeting with Chairman, FIRS, held at the Eko Hotel, Lagos, on Friday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Security probe of MMM stalled •EFCC, CBN can’t track promoters •Nigerians defy govt, pump in billions

pg5 pgs34&35

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19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Why I titled my album

‘clitoris’ —Brymo reading, or spend spend that I club m y

Brymo Olawale is a talented RnB singer who has proved his worth in the music industry over the years. In this interview with JOAN OMIONAWELE, he opens up on his personal life and music career, among other things.

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HAT projects are you currently into?

I’m promoting my new album ‘clitoris’, we are shooting videos, and in between all of that, we are performing and doing interviews and living the regular life of an artiste.

That’s a strange name for an album, why did you choose that name?

Yes… I know it’s controversial, but in old Greek, the word means ‘key’ and I wanted to call the album ‘The key’, but it felt more artistic and poetic. So I chose the name, clitoris. More importantly, the album was inspired by a woman.

Is she the special woman in your life?

Yes and the album is dedicated to her and all the womenfolk. The album art is a semi naked woman with a horn and mask and to me, it represents the beauty and mystery of a woman.

You sound like someone that likes women.....

Oh, I love women, Why? What’s there not to love about women?

What makes her so special?

Sometimes in life, you meet people who are there for you and go through struggles for you, I’m not someone who accepts help from people because I’m a lone wolf.

When they help you, they hold you down and feel this sense of entitlement but you come across people who are there for you, no matter what and that’s the main attraction between myself and my woman.

You have managed not to sing shrewd lyrics like most Nigerian musicians. Why is this so?

Because I like to make good music, which tell stories about my society, my beliefs, it feels more natural to me to make good music A lot of people think you are highly underrated, do you think so?

No, I don’t think so. I’m underpaid. I should be making N5million per show right now. But if one wants to make music for the rest of one’s life, you will do what I’m doing now, which is to manage your exposure. It’s easy for me, if I party every night for the next one year, nobody will say I’m underrated.

So , why won’t you do that?

I think that’s a waste of time. I could spend that time practising with my piano,

it with my son and my woman and I could time doing a lot for myself. I’m not a saint, and drink sometimes, but I just manage exposure. There are people who love my shows and love my gigs. So I think people should stop saying I’m underrated, although I know they have their reasons, but I’ll keep making music and moving forward.

A lot of artistes get signed by their record labels and end up parting ways with them.

What do you think can stop this friction?

It is a friction that will forever be there, especially in a setting where the business part of music is not well taken care of. Someone took out time, wrote down lyrics, got a producer, recorded the song, mixed and mastered it and put it on radio. Many artistes pay for radio airplays and if you don’t pay for radio airplays, you have a special love in the heart of the presenters, and thus a lot of artistes pay so much and at the end of the day, the album gets sold for N150 in Alaba, and a record label expects an artiste to stay? They take millions and shoot videos, and when the album is released, there is no way you can make that amount of money back and the artiste will owe millions upon millions of Naira which he will never be able to pay back. It’s not something that can last because there is so much pressure. However, I think the friction can be stopped if the record labels don’t invest too much at first, ensure that the artiste’s talent is pushing the artiste and if the talent is not enough, maybe the artiste is not worth pushing.

What was growing up like?

I grew up in Okokomaiko. Those years were amazing years, as they prepared me for what I am today and it was fun, except that I didn’t have siblings. I’m an only child and so I can be self-centered. Thus, I try so hard to be selfless sometimes, but it doesn’t take time before I go back to start saying no, no, no.

So far, what has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

It was in LASU and I had never been on that stage before. I usually go with friends, but this time, my hands were practically shaking on stage. It was really embarrassing, but I got used to it as I continued performing. There was another time at the Vault in 2008, It was the first time ‘plantashun’ boys performed together after they had broken up and it was ridiculous because I opened the show. I had rehearsed well and I got on stage and when it was time for me to sing, I didn’t know the key I was going to use; the band was playing a little too fast. It was ridiculous, it was a disaster.

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19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

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19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

UN commends success in Buhari’s war against terrorism Christian Okeke - Abuja

From right, Co-chairman, ANN Plc, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, during the burial ceremony of Olori Lika, Yeyeluwa Rephina Olayinka Oguntayo, held at Christ Anglican Church, Iwade, Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State, on Friday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

100 gunmen storm market, abduct 42

29 killed in 4 villages by men on 33 motorcycles Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

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UNMEN numbering about 100 in broad daylight on Friday stormed a market and abducted about 42 people in Zamfara State.

The incident, which happened in Magami Village in Gusau local government area of the state sent shock waves across security circles in the country.

A very reliable source told Saturday Tribune that the hoodlums stormed the market armed with AK 47 rifles and proceeded to order all traders at sight to surrender and hurry up into a waiting truck.

According to the source, who narrowly escaped the incident, there was pandemonium as the villagers began to run for safety, leaving their wares behind.

“By the time the hoodlums left, no less than 42 people, male and female, were discovered abducted and conveyed in the waiting truck to an unknown destination,” the source said.

It was not clear last night whether the attackers were kidnappers or terrorists but villagers described the incident as horrific.

It was also gathered that two policemen who attempted to stop the abductors got killed in the exchange of fire.

When contacted, the police, image maker, DSP Shehu Mohammed confirmed the incident but was quick to add that the police were on top of the situation.

Also early on Friday in the same state, another set of unidentified gunmen invaded four villages in Kaya district of Maradun Local Government Area of the state and killed 29 people.

The breakdown of people killed in the affected villages is: eleven people in Tubali,

seven in Yankamoji, nine in Sabongida while Kaya town lost two people.

The gunmen were said to have carried out the attacks riding on 33 motorcycles and

each conveying three people with sophisticated weapons.

They reportedly did not take away any of their victims’ property, especially their cows which means they could not

have been cattle rustlers.

Security across the state has been beefed up with the police assuring residents that they were on top of the situation.

US talks tough over killing of Shiites in Kano

Asks FG to account for death of 300 killed last year THE United States government, on Friday, said that it was deeply concerned by the deaths of dozens of Nigerians during clashes between individuals participating in a Shia procession and the Nigerian Police Force in Kano State on November 14.

“While the matter is still under investigation, we are troubled by the apparent disproportionate response by the police,” it said via statement from US embassy in Abuja signed by its spokesman, John Kirby.

“The United States is deeply concerned by the deaths of dozens of Nigerians during clashes between individuals participating in a Shia procession and the Nigerian Police Force in Kano State on November 14. While the matter is still under investigation, we are troubled by the apparent disproportionate response by the police.

This is the latest in a series of violent incidents between security forces and members of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), some of which have resulted in deaths, destruction of property, and the arbitrary detention of IMN members. The United States calls for calm and restraint on all sides, a reduction of tensions, and greater communication between Shia citizens and government authorities.

“Members of the Shia community, like other religious communities, have the right to assemble, peacefully express their religious beliefs, and mark their celebrations. We call

on the Nigerian government to protect and defend these rights. It is also incumbent on members of the IMN and all Nigerian citizens to respect the rule of law and cooperate with the police as they attempt to maintain public order.

“We continue to urge the government to ensure accountability for the deaths

of more than 300 IMN members during December 15, 2015 clashes between the IMN and security forces in Zaria, Kaduna State. We also call on the Nigerian government to conduct a transparent investigation of the latest incidents and bring to account anyone responsible for violating the law,” the statement said.

Niger Delta militants warn FG EbenezerAdurokiya-Warri

THE Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) has accused the Federal Government of planning to launch an attack on the Niger Delta.

The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate is well informed of their psyche, hence our resolve to sustain this campaign and pursuit of justice for our people,” ‘Gen’ Aldo Agbalaja, spokesperson of the group, stated in a release on Friday.

He claimed that the Federal Government might soon launch an attack on innocent citizens of the region, but vowed to resist the move.

“We will start by commending all the brave comrades from across the region, who have summoned the courage to join in and support the call to intensify actions against this faithless Nigerian administration, which core belief is in intimidation and the use of insincere tactics to steal from the supposedly weak.

“We are not ignorant of the fact that the Nigerian government, having exhausted all the gimmicks and deception up their sleeves, will soon resort

a blind harassment and arrest of our people. Our message to you is to also expect consequences for your actions.

“If you harass and arrest our people, you will be initiating a new and more deadly mode of this campaign.

“Know that this struggle will not be put down, even if you arrest and kill half of the Niger Delta, remember the saying that ‘you may kill the messenger, but the message is immortal.”

“To the oil companies, our promises to you are still potent; the longer you foot-drag, the more you place the lives of your personnel and the security of your ‘beloved’ facilities at risk.

“We shall root out all your assets in all parts of our region,” the group threatened.

While commending activities of other militant groups, NDGJM said “We also use this medium to encourage all other groups, genuinely involved in this campaign to get justice, freedom and respect for our land and our people, to intensify actions, bring down all the critical assets with which the oppressors have been despoiling and pillaging our land.”

THE United Nations (UN), on Friday, commended the successes so far recorded by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against terrorism.

It commiserated with the country over the large-scale destruction and havoc wreaked on communities by Boko Haram terrorists, which it observed led to huge humanitarian catastrophe in the North-East.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, while exchanging views with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Abuja, said that the UN was pleased with the military onslaught against Boko Haram.

He, however, lamented the humanitarian challenge being thrown up as successes were being recorded.

The envoy appealed to international organisations, donor agencies and development partners to complement the mobilisation of funds to bridge the funding gap in delivering humanitarian assistance to the liberated communities.

He commended the Federal Government for appointing a ministerial level coordinator for the efforts of both the government and the private sector as well as donor agencies in addressing the humanitarian challenges in the region.

He said, “we will like to once again express the solidarity and the support of the United Nations for the effort of Nigeria in fighting Boko Haram terrorists. Nigeria enjoys the support and the cooperation in many technical areas relating to this fight against Boko Haram both within Nigeria and also within the Lake Chad Basin countries.”

Buhari signs eight bills into law From Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has signed eight new bills into law.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, who spoke with State House correspondents, the president assented to the bill on Friday.

He gave the new Acts as the Prevention of Crime Amendment Act 2016, the National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds (Registration) Amendment Act 2016, Telecommunications and Postal Offences Amendment Act 2016, and the National Agricultural Land Development Authority Amendment Act 2016.

Others are the Produce Enforcement of Export Standards Amendment Act 2016, the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute Amendment Act 2016, Bee Import Control and Management Amendment Act 2016, and Water Resources Amendment Act 2016 .

He said: “Mr President assented to eight bills passed by the National Assembly. The different bills are on different sectors of the economy and development.

“These bills were passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to Mr President for assent and Mr President assented to them today and they have automatically become law.

“Mr President expresses his appreciation to the leadership and membership of the National Assembly for the great work they did in considering the bills and the details that have gone in to consider the bills.”

We didn’t donate $500m to Clinton campaign —Presidency THE Federal Government has described as untrue claims that President Muhammadu Buhari donated $500m to Hillary Clinton campaign in the just-concluded US election.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president, Mr Garba Shehu who made this known on Friday, described the accusations as crazy, insisting that “Nigeria doesn’t have this kind of money to throw around.”

A group had claimed that the money was “pledged to the US Secretary of State, Sen John Kerry and US Ambassador in Abuja”, adding that “the donation may create a huge misunderstanding between Nigeria and the incoming Trump’s US government.”

However, the president’s media aide posted on his Twitter handle, @GarShehu, “What is the craziest accusation made against President Buhari? That he donated $500m to Hillary’s campaign and that Donald Trump is angry. This has gone viral, sadly Nigerians are believing it!

“President Buhari’s Nigeria doesn’t have this kind of money to throw around. Even if the money is there, this president is the least likely person to give it as donation, and for what?,” he asked.

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19 November, 2016

Security probe of MMM stalled

Saturday Tribune

•EFCC, CBN can’t track promoters •Nigerians defy govt advice, pump in billions FromJacobSegunOlatunji, Saliu Gbadamosi and Kolawole Daniel

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OVES by the Federal Government to investigate the activities of the ‘Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox’, popularly known as MMM, in the country appear to have hit the rock.

Investigations by Saturday Tribune in Abuja revealed that both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), mandated by the House of Representatives to probe into the activities of the promoters of the MMM scheme, were handicapped in carrying out the directive as the promoters are said not to have any traceable address in Nigeria.

A competent source at the EFCC who told Saturday Tribune of the difficulties in tracking down the promoters of the scheme, said the commission would not speak on the directive by the House of Representatives to probe them.

Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, when contacted by our correspondent, declined to comment, saying “I cannot say anything on that”.

Other security agencies similarly declined to speak on the matter.

A top CBN official who did not want his name in print, disclosed that “the promoters of MMM are not domiciled in Nigeria; they operate on the internet and so there is now way you can track them down “The only thing that can be done is to continue to educate our people not to patronise them and let them know the risks involved and, mind you, there is limitation to everything under a democratic setting like ours in Nigeria “Some people are enjoying the scheme in terms of financial returns coming to them on their investments. There is nothing you can do to stop them from investing in the scheme. How will you even track the promoters down since they have no fixed address? You can sit down in the comfort of your room and carry out your transactions on the internet.”

The scheme started in the country in 2016, when it launched a website targeting the Nigerian audience.

It will be recalled that, worried by the unregulated activities of the promoters of the scheme and the need to safeguard Nigerians from losing their money, the House of Representatives mandated security agencies and its committees on Banking and Currency and Finan-

cial Crimes to investigate the MMM scheme.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Honourable Saheed Akinade-Fijabi (APC Oyo), in which he expressed worries on the operations of the scheme which pride itself as mutual fund where members contribute money with expected interest of 30 per cent.

“Aware that the scheme entered the Nigerian circle this year 2016, capitalising on high level of unemployment and poverty to deceive unwary Nigerians into falling prey to their antics”, Akinade-Fijabi said, adding that the scheme cannot guarantee investments in the long run.

The federal lawmaker said reports indicated that a

similar scheme launched in Russia and China failed, observing that every Nigerian participating in the MMM scheme was vulnerable to losing his/her investment as there was no identifiable platform to guarantee the security of the invested funds.

He stated that CBN had described the scheme as fraud-

ulent, lamenting that many Nigerians had been victims in similar schemes in the past, such as the Wes Solution, Pennywise and Wealth Creation, all in the name of making quick money.

The lawmaker maintained that, “the scheme prides itself as a mutual fund through which recruited members contribute money in form

of assistance without any intent to engage in banking business”.

Sources close to both the EFCC and the CBN told Saturday Tribune in confidence that they had no knowledge of what the House had directed them to investigate in the first instance.

(See details on MMM on pages 34 and 35).

Ondo Guber: Mimiko’s camp under pressure to back Oke, Akeredolu •We are awaiting Supreme Court —Mimiko •I’ll contest and win the election —Jegede •AD, PDP bicker as Oke denies arrest over illegal possession of arms TaiwoAdisa-AbujaAndHakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

THE camp of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State is coming under intense pressure from three key candidates in the state following the resolve of the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja on Friday, to delay its ruling in the suit over the right candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the election.

The governor’s camp was thrown into a frenzy following the declaration by the Court of Appeal that it could not deliver ruling in the suits brought before it until the Supreme Court decides on the protest filed before it in respect of the case by the Jimoh Ibrahim faction of the PDP. The governor’s preferred candidate, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), has been locked in battle with Jimoh Ibrahim over the right candidate to fly the party’s flag in the November 26 election.

Sources close to the PDP told Saturday Tribune, on Friday, that the governor’s camp has however come under intense lobbying from three main candidates in the Ondo election debacle.

The candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Olusola Oke, is said to be getting some words across to the governor on a possible alliance in case Jegede does not make it.

It was also gathered that besides Oke, loyalists of Senator Bola Tinubu are also talking to Mimiko on the need to work together for a common candidate in the election.

Tinubu’s men, it was learnt, are seeing the Ondo election as a test case for the muchtalked about third force, a planned rainbow coalition of parties that would confront the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

While Mimiko is said to have placed the options on the table, loyalists of his former ally, Dr Olu Agunloye, who is flying the flag of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), are also mounting pressure on the governor for an alliance.

It was learnt that the APC leadership is also pressur-

ing Mimiko to consider the candidature of Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, who is the party’s governorship candidate.

Some lobbyists are said to have approached Mimiko with the option of supporting Akeredolu and working for the APC, which they claimed could guarantee the governor a “soft landing” out of office.

But the governor’s loyalists are sticking to the hope that the Supreme Court, knowing the essence of the issue at hand, would deliver its judgement on the protest by Jimoh Ibrahim’s camp and allow the Court of Appeal deliver its judgment in the matter before the poll.

“There is hope that the Supreme Court would deliver its stance on the protest the Court of Appeal mentioned as the obstacle to its judgment. Let’s see what happens early next week”, a source close to the Ondo PDP said.

I’ll contest and win the election —Jegede The governorship hopeful on the platform of the PDP, Jegede, has insisted that he would contest and win the election, notwithstanding the decision of the Court of Appeal to postpone indefinitely judgment on his appeal.

He called for calm among his supporters following the decision of the appellate court, sitting on the party’s governorship candidate tussle to adjourn its judgment earlier scheduled for Friday.

Jegede, in a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, Kayode Fasua, said he was not unmindful of the fact that the temporary setback was the handiwork of those he called anti-democratic elements hell bent on truncating his mandate for the November 26 poll.

He, however, said as a true believer in the rule of law and judiciary, he would be at the Supreme Court, next Tuesday, to thrash out issues raised by the appellants.

Jegede appealed to his supporters and believers in his course that despite the hurt they feel, they should not take laws into their hands but remain resolute and

intensify their door-to-door campaigns insisting that he would contest and win the upcoming poll.

“I call on our supporters to remain calm, and not be weighed down by the latest developments which I believe should only strengthen our resolve in ensuring that despite all contrivances and manipulations, we will contest and win the November 26 2016 governorship election.

“For us, there is no looking back. We remain resolute and focused in our desire to bring development, progress and prosperity to our people, this is our Article of Faith and with God, we will triumph”, he said.

He said the objective of the appellants was to stop a review of Justice Abang’s contrived judgment through various baseless petitions, spurious blackmail and media propaganda, adding that the day of reckoning was near for those he described as anti-democratic elements.

He said his team of lawyers was working to ensure that the “injustice” to subvert his mandate, through several devious means of propaganda, blackmail and unprecedented assault against the judiciary, was corrected using available legal means.

AD, PDP, APC bicker as Oke denies arrest over illegal possession of arms The AD and PDP in the state are engaged in war of words as controversy trails the alleged arrest of the AD candidate, Oke, by military operatives, on Friday, over illegal possession of arms.

However, Oke denied his arrest, saying it was a political means devised by his detractors to score cheap political goals, fingering the PDP as being behind the rumoured arrest.

But the PDP fired back, challenging the AD governorship candidate to locate where his travails emanated from.

It was gathered that Oke and his campaign train, who were on their way to Ilaje Local Government Area, were stopped by the military operatives at Okitipupa, where

they allegedly discovered some arms in his possession.

However, another source disclosed to Saturday Tribune that Oke was not the one arrested but some of his security men who could not explain the arms allegedly found in their possession.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the 323 Artillery Brigade, Ojo Adenegan, claimed ignorance of the development, saying there was no signal to that effect from Okitipupa.

Similarly, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, said the command was not aware of such development, adding, “nothing of such was reported by our men in the area”.

Reacting to the development, Oke, speaking on a local radio from the campaign ground in Ilaje, monitored in Akure, said he was not arrested by the military over illegal possession of arms “The story is just a plot to distract the people who are committed to electing me. I am presently in Ilaje, campaigning to the good people of the state. I am not arrested and I have been here since morning. It is the handiwork of some people and very soon truth will prevail,” he said.

Also denying the arrest of Oke, his media aide, Kolawole Olabisi, said his principal was not arrested at any time by either the military or any other law enforcement agent in the state, adding that Oke had been moving round the state to solicit for support from the electorate.

Kolawole pointed fingers at the APC and the PDP in the state as the masterminds of the alleged arrest, saying both political parties were intimidated by the rising popularity of Oke, hence their resort to blackmail and other mischievous acts aimed at soiling his reputation.

He particularly fingered the ruling party in the state, saying “the PDP resolved to peddle the rumour of Oke’s arrest and use the social media to circulate the rumour as a result of the court of the indefinite adjournment

given by the Court of Appeal in Abuja”.

However, the PDP Director of Publicity in the state, Ayo Fadaka, said the party had nothing to do with the rumour and advised Oke and members of his political party to look elsewhere.

“We don’t know anything about the allegation. I think, sometimes, he does not deserve a respect from us. If he is not able to locate where his travails and trials are coming from, then I don’t think he should be contesting this election.

Akeredolu praises military The Akeredolu campaign platform has commended the military for its professionalism and vigilance in the arrest of gunmen allegedly on the campaign train of the AD candidate, Oke. Reacting to the development, Director of Communications of Akeredolu’s campaign platform, Mr Soji Alakuro, berated Oke for allegedly harbouring armed thugs to terrorise innocent citizens in order to precipitate violence before, during and after the election.

He claimed in a statement that “the men were accosted by military men at a checkpoint in Okitipupa where pump action guns, machetes, and a digital camera were found on them. The men first claimed to be journalists but they had no means of identification. They merely used the camera to disguise as journalists before the military men discovered the guns inside their vehicle.

The suspected thugs were arrested immediately and later detained at Okitipupa Military Barracks where they were interrogated.

“Oke is a desperate politician seeking power at all costs by jumping from several political parties before berthing in AD to clinch the governorship ticket.

“It is baffling that after that political flirtation, he is not yet content with the civil manner of seeking power, but has gone ahead to recruit thugs to unleash violence on the citizens while seeking political power at all costs.”

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19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Glo empowers subscribers with reduced IDD tariffs

From left, Group Managing Director, Reals Pharm Ltd,. Pharm Adesanmi Popoola; Director R&R, NAFDAC, Dr (Mrs.) Monica Eimujenze; Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Pharm. NAE Mohammed; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmed Yakassai and the Commissioner for Health, Niger State, Dr. Mustapha Jibrin during the launch of Reals Night Aid (a non habit- forming sleeping tablet), a new product into the market at the recently held 89th Annual Conference of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) held in Minna, Niger State, last week.

Septuagenarian kidnapped in Benue Johnson Babajide-Makurdi

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75 year-old woman, Mrs Monica Agaku of Tse Agbaragba in Benue State has been kidnapped.

Saturday Tribune gathered that the kidnappers numbering eight, stormed the residence of the septuagenarian around 1.00 am on Thursday and whisked her to an unknown destination.

The old woman, according to source, was fast asleep when the gunmen broke into her house and whisked her away It was gathered that one of her children is a serving military captain.

The information officer of Konshisha local government, Mr Endi Tion who confirmed the report said that no information had been received about her whereabouts, adding that the council sole administrator had visited the place.

Egbe Agbasaga Ile Yoruba for inauguration tomorrow

By Seyi Sokoya A group at the vanguard of the preservation of the Yoruba heritage, Egbe Agbasaga Ile Yoruba, will be inaugurated tomorrow at Bank Anthony Hall of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.

The Baale of the group, Chief Yemi Ogunyemi, announced this on Friday in Ibadan during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles.

Chief Ogunyemi, a veteran broadcaster, said the group had taken it upon itself to shoulder the responsibility of resuscitating “the fading Yoruba culture and language” and called for T r i b u n e newspapers’ support in this quest.

According to him, “in the early hours of Thursday kidnappers numbering eight stormed the residence of a 75 year, old woman, one Mrs Monica Agaku and took the old woman away.”

The Information Officer said that the council’s sole administrator, Hon John Ayaku accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer

(DPO) and other security operatives had visited the Agaku family.

He said the council boss condemned in strong terms the barbaric act of the kidnappers and called on the police to go all out to fish out the perpetrators of the destardly act.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Moses Yamu confirmed the abduction of the septuagenarian, adding that one person had been apprehended.

While assuring of the prompt rescue of the old woman, the PPRO said the command was doing everything to ensure the release of the woman.

I’m not aware of any contempt proceeding against me —Ekiti Speaker The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Kola Oluwawole, has said that the Federal High Court, AdoEkiti judgment, ordering the swearing in of one Toyin Obayemi as a lawmaker in the state is on appeal, saying; “as the head of the State House of Assembly lawmakers, all that I have on the matter are within the ambit of the law.”

He described newspaper reports on a ruling by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, purportedly ordering him to appear before it on November 24 as embarrassing, noting that he was yet to be served with any court order to that effect.

The Speaker, in a statement signed by his special assistant on media, Stephen Gbadamosi, on Friday, declared that “even a novice to the law knows that once a matter is a subject before the Court of Appeal, until that appeal is dispensed with, it would be sub-judicial for anyone to take any action on it.”

He said he had not received any contempt process, meaning that he was not aware of any contempt proceeding against him.

“At the height of the matter, we consulted with the State Ministry of Justice, and we were categorically made to understand that the matter is a subject before the Court

of Appeal; and that until that appeal is dispensed with, it would be sub-judicial for me to take any action on it.

“Hence, the Ministry of Justice advised us to leave the matter and allow the court process to run its full and normal course. As of today, the appeal is yet to be

decided,” the Speaker said.

Oluwawole said further, “inasmuch as the courts are the last hope of all citizens, it would be wrong, and even dangerous for our democracy, for any individual or institution to pre empt the outcome of their decisions.”

Jumia Travel Nigeria celebrates 3rd anniversary, awards 28 Lagos hotels

By Tayo Gesinde Jumia Travel Nigeria has celebrated its 3rd year of doing business in Nigeria and also marked the second edition of its awards ceremony in Lagos, last week.

During the celebration, which was occasioned with award ceremony, a total of 28 distinguished hotels in Lagos were awarded under five categories namely, Customer Choice, Best Partner Hotel, Best Hotel Partner, Booking Award, and Rising Star Award.

Jumia Travel Nigeria’s Managing Director, Mr Kushal Dutta, while explaining the rationale for the awards, said: “These hotel awards celebrate greatest achievements and relationships that not only set the awardees apart, but also strive to create better service and experience for the guests. The objective is to appreciate outstanding performers while creating a dy-

namic platform for players to meet and interact.”

Some of the winners of the Customer Choice Award included, Ikoyi Fairview Apartments; Apartment Royale Hotel & Suites; Jeromes Gardens & Suites; Bluespring Hotel; and Epe Resort. Winners of other categories included Ibis Hotel Ikeja; Park Inn by Radisson; Fahrenheit Loft; Eko Hotel & Suites; and Cumberland Hotel.

Dutta, speaking on the performance of the company in the last eleven months, stated that investing in worldclass technology that has improved customers’ experience on the company’s portal has been one of the greatest achievements recorded so far.

He made reference to the Web Progressive App (WPA) technology developed by the company which makes customers spend less time searching their hotels of choice.

Total telecommunications solutions provider, Globacom, has explained that its new international direct dialing (IDD) package unveiled recently was designed to offer its subscribers more cost-effective voice calls to major destinations of the globe.

The New IDD Packs is reputed to be the best deal in the country as it avails subscribers on the network the opportunity to make calls from Nigeria to 30 major international destinations for as low as N6.60 per minute.

Said Globacom: “With the new tariff structure, we have empowered our subscribers to call their friends, relations and business associates in 30 countries at more convenient and affordable rates”.

The company said further that the new package conformed with its resolve to give the best value to its numerous customers.

The 30 destinations covered by the new IDD packs are the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, South Africa, India, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Israel, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, French Guiana, Guam, Luxembourg, Malta, Mongolia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Puerto Rico, Reunion Island, Romania and Singapore.

The IDD Packs are designed in the mould of the different recharge denominations which include; IDD 100, IDD 200, IDD 500 and IDD 1,000.

Globacom explained that subscriptions under the 100 recharge denomination offer subscribers 12 minutes of calls valid for 3 days, while IDD 200 denomination gives 24 call minutes for 7 days.

With IDD 500 bundle, subscribers gain 60 minutes of calls for 14 days, while IDD 1000 avails users 150 minutes of calls valid for 30 days.

Dexa Medica launches 14th Pain Free Day programme in Oshodi Newton-Ray Ukwuoma - Lagos Indonesian Pharmaceutical Company in Nigeria, Dexa Medica, on Thursday launched its 14th Pain Free Day (PFD) programme in Oshodi, Lagos State, as part of the campaign to tackle stress-related illnesses at the community level through the promotion of routine check-up.

The event, which took place at the Arena Market, Oshodi, attracted market men and women, who received free health care services such as body check-ups, eye, throat, ear, blood pressure checks and donations of focal glasses for eye correction, drugs.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Boska Brand Executive, Mr Babatunde Ojedokun, said the programme was aimed at encouraging routine medical check-ups for health challenges rising from strenuous activities.

He said: “Approximately 90 per cent of those who engage in strenuous activities directly or indirectly, rarely find the time for health checks, sometimes due to the huge cost involved.

“If they do not go for health checks,” he explained, “they may experience a sudden system break down leading to some form of sickness or the other.

“This initiative will help consumers stay fit, while saving up to meet up with other areas of needs especially during the recession.”

Multipurpose prayer meeting THE Word Bible Church International, Palace of Healing, 1, Ganiyu Close, Ajelogo Ketu, Lagos, will hold its November, 2016 edition of its all Multipurpose Prayer meeting tagged “KING OF KINGS - Revelation 19; verse 16”.

The three-day spirit-filled event will hold between Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 November, 2016. Programmes are scheduled for 8:00 am to 1:00 pm at The Word Bible Church International Headquarters.

The presiding pastor and founder of the church, Prophet (Dr) J. B Kumoluyi and other anointed men of God will minister at the programme.

Prophet J.B. Kumoluyi

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news

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Why Nigeria ought not to have been declared polio-free —Health Minister

By Sade Oguntola

Cross section of the children of the late Olori, Lika, Yeyeluwa Ruphina Olayinka Oguntayo, singing during the burial ceremony of their mother at Christ Anglican Church, Iwade, Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State, on Friday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

I’ve improved transparency in NNPC —Buhari Leon Usigbe -Abuja

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that since coming to power, his administration has improved transparency in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through publishing monthly operational and financial report of the corporation.

He made the declaration at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday while inaugurating three boards under the corporation.

The boards are the Nige-

rian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

He said: “Since the arrival of this administration, there has been an improvement in transparency through publishing monthly operational and financial report of the corporation.

“This, added to the major restructuring of the corporation and the liberalisation of the downstream sector, are pointers to the determination

and focus of the new NNPC under this administration.”

The president observed that the new boards were coming at a time when the global petroleum industry was witnessing a downturn in purchase which he said has also translated into dwindling production by most producer nations.

Noting that Nigeria has been harder hit by the misfortunes of oil producing countries, he said the composition of the NNPC board which will be chaired by the Minister of State Petroleum have “other well selected per-

sons who have both the experience and knowledge to drive the NNPC into harnessing its potentials and fulfill its expectations to the nation even at this challenging time in the oil and gas industry.”

In a vote of thanks, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, assured the president of the competence and experience of the board members to deliver on the assignment.

He said NNPC has achieved a lot since the inception of the administration but much was left to be done.

cer incidence in Nigeria over the last decade” with ‘prostate, colorectal cancer (large intestine), lymphomas (lymph nodes), liver and skin as the five most common cancers affecting Nigerian men while breast, cervix, ovary, lymphomas and skin cancers are most common in women.’

Professor Clement Adebamowo, President of the Society of Oncology and Cancer Research of Nigeria (SOCRON) and Director of Research and Strategic information at Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), reiterates that “the commonest cancers in Nigerian women – Breast and Cervix constitute 60 per cent of all cancers affecting Nigerian women.”

Cancer, which is the uncontrolled growth and spread of cells, is a disease that can ravage any part of the body. However, in spite of the pervasiveness of this disease, certain myths still surround cancer.

Myth: Only women get breast cancer For most people, when breast cancer is mentioned, it is deemed a women’s health issue. But did you know that men can also have breast cancer?

According to Professor Adebamowo, breast cancer does occur in men, although it is at ratio 1 to 100 of female breast cancers.

He adds that it is commoner in hypogonadic men.

Recent studies have shown that male breast cancer, though rare, is usually more deadly. Professor Adebamowo attributes this to the fact that usually male breast cancers are advanced at presentation because of lack of supporting tissue.

The American Cancer Society estimates 1 in 1,000 men will get breast cancer, versus 1 in 8 women. However, they suggest that men should be aware of the symptoms which include a lump under or near a nipple, nipple discharge and

breasts that are misshapen or don’t match, and they should have it checked out by their doctor as quickly as possible.

Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, has refuted polio resurgence claim in Nigeria, saying Nigeria ought not to have even been declared polio free by WHO in July because some parts of the country were inaccessible to polio vaccination in the last five years.

Adewole, who stated this at the commissioning of a new USAID sponsored modular polio laboratory at the University of Ibadan on Friday, said, “what we should have said scientifically is that the area of Nigeria that is free and accessible is polio-free.”

According to the Minister, “the four polio cases were detected in areas that we have no control over before. These are places that had no access to medical care, including vaccination, in the last five years.

“There was no way they could be vaccinated and as such had no immunity and so it was not really a surprise that we picked polio among them.”

The minister stated that the polio cases were neither indicative of a failure of the polio eradication campaign nor a setback but a wakeup call that po-

lio virus transmission in Nigeria and indeed Africa must be stopped.

Adewole, who appreciated the military’s stride to recover areas under insurgency, provide protection for health workers and support the movement of materials and personnel for immunisation services, was optimistic that Nigeria, including Africa, might be polio-free by 2017.

US Consul General, John Bray, declared that health initiatives in Nigeria were US government’s priority, adding that over half of USAID’s budget in Nigeria is spent on health.

Bray remarked that the modular polio laboratory was USA’s tangible way to make a difference in people’s lives and improve Nigerians’ health status.

He added that polio response within a complex security environment and humanitarian emergency in northeast Nigeria called for innovative approaches and the widening of traditional partnership.

WHO’s representative, Dr Fiona Braca, in her remarks, said that the modular laboratory was also an asset to diagnosis and control of other viral infections like measles, rubella and yellow fever.

Special treat How men can avoid having breast cancer —Study

By Blessing Gbarada

A

ccording to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 7.6 million deaths in 2008. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the arm of the WHO that deals with cancer, thinks that 100,000 new cases of cancer occurred in Nigeria in 2008 and the number is increasing every year. A recent report showed that if current population trends continue, the number of people with cancer worldwide will go up to 22.2 million by 2030, up from 12.7 million in 2008, which is about a 75 per cent increase.

In a study carried out by the Nigerian National System of Cancer Registry, it was discovered that there has been “a 100 per cent increase in breast can-

Myth: Once you have cancer you will die Cancer is not a death sentence. Although cancer is one of the leading cause of deaths in the world, it can be treated. The secret is in early detection. There are increasing reports of survival cases, especially when there is early detection and treatment, so all hope is not lost once one has cancer. A significant proportion of cancers can be treated by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, especially if they are detected early.

Myth: It is better to remain unaware that you have cancer Cancer is one disease that doesn’t support the saying that ‘ignorance is bliss.’ In fact, with cancer, ignorance could be the de-

ciding factor in whether one can get treated and live a normal life or start a countdown to the end of life. Experts have reiterated the importance of early detection. Thus, once you notice any anomaly in your body, it is crucial you consult with a doctor. Although not all symptoms of illness in the body indicates cancer, no symptom should be ignored or overlooked, especially if it has lasted a long time or is getting worse. That singular step can be life-saving.

Myth: There is nothing you can do to prevent cancer The WHO reports that at least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable and prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer. Although advances are on-going on cancer treatment and a cure is yet to be in sight, medical experts have suggested that lifestyle changes are

important in reducing the chances of having the disease.

According to Dr. Adenike Adeniji-Sofoluwe, a consultant radiologist with the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, “the exact cause of cancer is not known, but there are certain risk factors such as obesity, alcohol consumption, consuming excess of processed food, height, genetics, exposure to radiation, among others, that increase the likelihood of having it.”

The Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) advises that to reduce the risk, certain lifestyle changes should be adopted. They include: getting active by aiming for at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day; eating balanced diet that is high in fruit, vegetables and whole grains and low in fat and sugar; limiting alcohol intake and avoiding smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke.

8 feature Chukwuma Okparaocha –Lagos

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igerians have continued to lament the continuous increase in the prices of foodstuffs in markets.

In Lagos State, the prices of some items have gone up by as much as 50 per cent.

Costs of virtually all essential goods and services have gone through the roof.

Saturday Tribune, during the week, conducted a survey at various markets in Lagos to ascertain the situation and find out how Lagosians are coping.

At Ile-Epo Market located in the Agbado area, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, which is renowned for the availability of yam, beans, rice, potatoes, among others, in large quantities, traders and buyers lamented that the food items have become too expensive for most people to buy.

At the market, it was found that a bag of parboiled rice, popularly referred to as Aroso, now went for N20,000 as against the N18,000 it was a few weeks ago, while a bag of another parboiled rice brand, Agric, had shot to N18,500 from N16,000.

Saturday Tribune’s itinerary also covered a section meant for onion sellers most of whom are from the northern part of the country. There, it was discovered that a bag of new onions cost N26,000, a significant rise from its old price of N18, 000, just a bag of old onions cost an average of N34,500, having been jacked up from N27,000. Similarly, a bag of dry pepper (new one) cost N30,000, whereas it used to go for N15,000. A 25-litre keg of palm oil was sold at between N15,500 and N16,000, as against its recent price of N13,000.

Beans, another staple food for a lot of Nigerians, went for 38,000 per bag of the popular Oloyin brand, as against the old price of N22,000. A bag of garri, arguably the commonest staple food in the South-West region of the country, was now N24,000 as against N18,000 which it stood at only a few weeks back. The yellow garri was now N23,000. It used to be N18,000.

The market is also known for its wide array of yams of different sizes and shapes.

Medium-sized five tubers of yam could be bought for N5,000 as against their old price of N2,000.

The situation was pretty much the same in other markets visited by Saturday Tribune, including the popular Ketu-Mile 12 Market in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State. At the market, prices of fruits such as watermelon, pineapple, orange, plantain and banana, which the market is known to have in abundance, had recorded marginal increase. Similarly, at the market, a basket of pepper (rodo) now cost a buyer, who would have got it for N5000 a few weeks ago, N7000-N8000.

A basket of ‘Hausa tomatoes’ had risen significantly from N8,000 to N12,000 in a very short period.

The prices of basic condiments and confectioneries had also gone up considerably in all the markets visited, including the Daddy Savage in the Iju area of the city. It was noted that prices of commodities like tomato paste, spaghetti, seasonings and cooking oil had equally been jacked up.

A trader in such items, identified simply as Mrs Ifeanyinwa, claimed that people had been ill at ease because they had been finding it increasingly difficult to even raise enough money to restock their shops. She disclosed that she used to buy a carton of a popular tomato paste brand for around N6,500 but now the price was N7,500.

A carton of a popular brand of seasoning, which used to cost N5,500, she added, now went for N6,500, while all brands of spaghetti had shot from an average of N3,200

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Nigerians groan as prices of foodstuffs skyrocket

per carton to over N4,000.

At the fish section of the market, the price of a carton of Titus fish had jumped to N30,000 from N12,000. A carton of Kote fish used to be sold at N8,000 but now it cost N15, 000, while a carton of

Croaker fish now attracted N25,000, and not N14,000 anymore.

Many traders have associated the development to the current economic drawback in the country, a situation which, they said, has been worsened by government’s

Many traders have associated the development to the current economic drawback in the country, a situation which, they said, has been worsened by government’s economic policy, particularly as it affects import duties.

economic policy, particularly as it affects import duties.

“My brother, things are not looking up at all. Many of us are struggling ever day to make meaningful sales. If we don’t sell, how do we restock? How do we feed our families and take care of other responsibilities? Everything is dull,” a trader, Mr Segun Sebiola, who sells bags of rice at Ile-Epo Market, said.

Similarly, Mrs Badru Oyeyemi, a fruit seller at Mile 12 Market, said she was barely able to buy half as much fruits as she would normally buy. According to her, the development is as a product of increase in the prices of fruits brought in from the North. “Foodstuffs like tomatoes, pepper and onions come from the North, which, as we all know, is very far from here. Those bringing the fruits often mention high cost of growing those crops over there and huge cost of their transportation to the South as some of the factors responsible for the increase in their prices,” she said.

Her claim was corroborated by another trader at Ile-Epo Market, Abdulfaitai, who deals in tomatoes. He said: “Currently, because they are perishable goods, the prices of tomatoes, peppers, vegetables and fruits are not supposed to be expensive, but what often adds to their costs are issues bordering on transportation.

At times, we will go home without making any sales. Things have changed for the worse. This suffering is too much; people are hungry and there is no money. This is what the government has turned us into”.

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19 November, 2016

quisite

Toun Okewale Sonaiya is the Chief Executive Officer of WFM 91.7, the first female- centric radio station in Nigeria, aimed at promoting the voice of women. In this interview with TAYO GESINDE, she speaks on why she is passionate about women and youth empowerment. mum&child —12

What is safe to feed my baby with?

Saturday Tribune

Editor Tayo Gesinde 08054727801 temiligali03@yahoo.com

Success is about making an impact, not money

—Toun Okewale Sonaiya, CEO, WFM 91.7 kids&teen—24

style —10

If you had a choice, what name would you choose for yourself?

Trash the rules, own your style!

food&drink—30

See pg29

Crew

Blessing Gbarada Kate Ani

Fruit kebabs: Perfect as dessert, appetizer, snack

Oyeyemi Okunlade

10

xquisite

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

style

Saturday Tribune

31

With Kate Ani 08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

Trash the rules, own your style!

Before you take that selfie, read this!

Do you own a boutique?

Are you a fashion designer, jewellery store owner, make-up/hair expert or spa treatment specialist? This notice is for you! You can now reach more prospective clients across the nation by advertising your goods and services on our STYLE page at a very affordable rate.

For more information, call Tayo Gesinde on 08054727801 or Kate Ani on 08071080888.

Tinuola Ayanniyi tayanniyi@yahoo.com 08055069379

Do-It-Yourself: Rita Dominic

Recycled neck-tie bracelet

Fisayo Longe

H D’banj

Demola Grey

AVE you ever broken some fashion rules by wearing several combinations that haven’t been tried before and you stepped out of the house to notice people stare at you questioningly?

STYLE believes that some fashion forward ladies would identify with this situation.

Most fashionistas don’t follow trends; they create them!

Take the likes of songstress, Yemi Alade, Nollywood actress,Rita Dominic, fashion influencers and bloggers, Noble Igwe and Denola Grey and socialite, Nkiru Anumudu.

These top A-listers are known for their signature styles that radiate their personalities.

Also, take for instance this multiple Grammy award-winning rapper, Kanye West, when he announced his clothing line that represents his personality which comprised of severely torn tee-shirts that looked like rags, people were quick to laugh it off but by the time the clothes were launched, they were sold out within minutes and have become one of the most sought after clothes by fashion enthusiasts, even in Nigeria.

The key to owning your style is confidence; it is the sexiest thing you can wear. Confidence allows you to own your looks. Confidence gives you that feeling of, “I couldn’t care less if anyone likes what I’m wearing, because I do!”

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different style that suits your personality. Your personality is your identity.

Knowing your personal style gives you the freedom to experiment and explore.

A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a digital camera or camera phone. While selfies has become a global phenomenon, in Nigeria, an event is not complete without a selfie or in most cases, group selfies. While it is good to capture timeless moments while looking glam and fabulous at a fashion forward event, there are things you must be conscious of to avoid embarrassing stares. These are listed below: • Be sure to have well-manicured fingernails: taking selfies requires stretching out your fingers with your phone.

Displaying dirty or unkempt fingernails might earn you ugly stares from onlookers.

• Be sure you smell nice: If you are taking a group selfie with your friends or people you just met, be sure you are wearing cologne to avoid any nose twitching from the group you are taking selfies with.

• Be sure your armpits are shaved: If you are wearing sleeveless clothing, ensure that your armpits are shaved, as taking selfie requires stretching out your hands.

• Adjust that boobs! If you are wearing a cleavage revealing dress and wants to take a selfie with important and respected dignitaries at an event, it is advisable to adjust your revealing cleavages or borrow a shawl so as to avoid an awkward selfie, as your dressing might make them feel uncomfortable to be in the same picture with you

Nkiru Anumudu

Yemi Alade

Mo’ Abudu and Geneieve Naji

Steps

11 healthandfitness My curved penis

Dr. Wale Okediran

My penis is just too curved even when erection takes place for me to have sex.

Kindly let me know what I can do to make it straight.

Marvelous (by SMS) An excessively curved penis (Peyronie’s disease) is a connective tissue disorder involving the growth of fibrous plaques in the soft tissue of the penis affecting an estimated five per cent of men. Specifically, scar tissue forms in the thick sheath of tissue surrounding the penile muscles causing pain, abnormal curvature, erectile dysfunction, indentation, loss of girth and shortening. The underlying cause of peyronie’s disease is not well understood, but it is thought

waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

08055069356 (sms only)

Is sex addictive?

to be caused by trauma or injury to the penis usually through sexual intercourse or physical activity, although many patients often are unaware of any traumatic event

or injury. A variety of treatment have been used, but none has been especially effective. A visit to your doctor will enable your condition to be reviewed and treated.

My persistent headache My problem started six months ago when I lost my eye glasses. Since I could not afford another one, I continued to read without a pair of glasses for a long time. That was when my headache started. Since then, I have

gone to see two different doctors without any luck.

Please, let me know what to do.

Yewande (by SMS) From your account, it is obvious that your eye prob-

I have no appetite I am a 50-year-old civil servant who has always had a good appetite. However, my problem started a few weeks ago when I lost my appetite.

All my efforts and that of my wife to get me back to be eating have failed. Apart from the loss of appetite, I am otherwise fine. Kindly let me know what to do about this.

IK (by SMS)

Saturday Tribune

19 November, 2016

Loss of appetite can be due to a variety of reasons ranging from emotional to physical. Apart from common

ailments such as malaria and typhoid among others, some other hidden problems such as cancer and diabetes need to be properly investigated.

As one advances in age, there is an urgent need for regular and periodic medical examinations which I think will go a long way in helping to identify the cause of your current situation.

lem is the main cause of your headache. It is therefore very important for you to see an eye doctor as soon as possible. In addition, it is equally important to check your blood pressure, blood sugar level as well as your urine protein in order to get to the root of your problem.

As a bachelor who had a string of girlfriends, I enjoyed regular sex on a daily basis.

It got to a point that I could not do without sex on a daily basis. Now that I am married, my wife is finding it difficult to cope with my daily sex demand. She even told me that I am addicted to sex and should seek for help. My question is whether or not sex can be addictive and what I should do about it.

Bayo (by SMS)

Yes, sex can be addictive. Sex addiction comes in different forms such as addiction to; pornography, masturbation or fantasy, sadistic or masochistic behaviour, exhibition/voyeurism as well as other excessive sexual pursuits.

Sexual addicts usually feel powerless over how they act sexually and become preoccupied with sex as it becomes like a ritual. In your own case, a life of excessive sexual activity has turned you into a sexual addict. The best way out is for you to get involve in other physical and mental activities such as reading, sports and other community service which will keep your mind away from sex.

You should also keep away from sexually provocative material from books, radio and television.

My ‘ beer’ pot belly I am a 60-year-old man who enjoys one or two bottles of beer on a daily basis. Now I have a ‘pot belly’ which is embarrassing. My friends think that the ‘pot belly’ was caused by beer and I should give it up. What do you say?

Thanks.

Calistus (by SMS) “Beer belly” is the common term for excess fat

that has accumulated due to drinking a lot of alcohol on a regular basis. Beer isn’t the only culprit, though.

Contrary to the specific term, drinking an excessive amount of any alcoholic beverage can cause beer belly. Alcohol contains nothing but empty calories that are stored in the stomach area. Since excessive belly fat is said to increase

the risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and even Alzheimer’s disease, it is very important for you to get rid of this unnecessary burden. The best way is to keep off alcohol as well as high carbohydrate and fatty diet including fizzy drinks.

In addition, daily exercise will help to burn off some of the excessive fat.

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

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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

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19 November, 2016

Blessing gbarada

MUM&CHILD

ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

swaps breasts in the middle of feeding without emptying one, it would cause the breast to engorge with milk and this can be painful. Also, it is important that to check that the baby is latched on well to the breast — the baby’s mouth should cover the areola and not just the nipple.”

By Augustina Ezenwa

M

otherhood can be an exciting period but sometimes, new mothers may be at a loss to the best way to care for their new baby’s needs, especially in the area of feeding. Questions like how often her baby should be fed?, how long the baby should be fed?, how long she should breastfeed?, kinds of food to wean her baby with? if it’s okay to sleep while breastfeeding her baby can be a source of concern to a mother. For the best for a mother and child, proper education is therefore important.

How to wean a child off breast milk Giving up breastfeeding can be an emotional experience for both the mother and child.

Though some women find it difficult to wean their babies off breast milk, weaning does not necessarily signal the end of the intimate bond which is created through nursing between a mother and her child. It just means the mother is nourishing or nurturing her baby in a different way. According to Dr Babayomi, “before a mother can stop breastfeeding her child, she must have introduced other kinds of food which the child may come to like, such as tea, pap, water, and so on. An infant cannot suddenly stop taking breast milk when he is not familiar with others.”

Experts state that a baby should never be fed with adult milk but formula specially constituted for children.

How long a mother should breastfed her child exclusively Health organisations, including the World Health Organisation [WHO], recommend six months for exclusively breastfeeding babies. They add that a child should be breastfed for one year. Mothers are also advised that no other food or drinks should be given to the child until six months. According to Dr Taiwo Babayomi, the Managing Director, Mobolaji Hospital, Oke Bola Ibadan, “after the introduction of other foods at six months, such as tea, cereal, corn meal [pap], recommendation includes continued breastfeeding until at least one to two years.”

Mothers with certain medical conditions or on medication are not allowed to breastfeed.

Such mothers should seek consultation from their doctors if a case like this arises.

Why your baby needs breast milk for six months Breast milk makes the child’s bone stronger; makes the body fit and healthy; decreases the risk of asthma, food allergies, celiac disease; it may also improve cognitive development and decrease the risk of obesity in adulthood. Breast milk possesses all the nutrients babies need for good health and growth. It stimulates the immature immune system of the babies and also improves response to vaccinations. It contains several antibodies and enzymes that help the baby grow up to resist diseases.

Breast milk contains enough sugar, water, milk and most especially antibodies which are safety mechanisms that prevent babies from getting infections or diseases. This is something no infant formula can provide.

It also has the advantage of no requirement of heating, no risk of spoiling and no requirement of sterilisation.

What mothers stand to gain from breastfeeding Women who breastfeed also derive several benefits in addition to protecting

Saturday Tribune

What is safe to feed my baby with? and nourishing their babies. Experts state that they have lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Other benefits include less blood loss following delivery and better uterus shrinkage. It also delays the onset of menstruation and fertility. It is also highly helpful in burning calories and consequently losing weight. Most importantly, it also creates the love and affection between the mother and child, which is called bonding.

How much and how many hours should a baby be fed?

According to Dr Muyiwa Ajibade, a paediatrician, newborn babies should be fed more often both day and night but this can reduce as the baby grows older. The baby should be allowed to breastfeed till he or she is full and pulls away from the breast. Mothers need to ensure that they breastfeed from one breast till it’s empty before they switch to the second. If she

Breastfeeding while sleeping Mothers breastfeed as often times as the baby cries, even at night when the mother is tired and needs to sleep. Most times, babies need to be fed at night and many new mothers fall asleep while breastfeeding. Although, co-sleeping has proven beneficial as mothers who share bed with their babies tend to breastfeed longer and maintain exclusive breastfeeding longer than those who don’t co-sleep, it could also portend danger in certain cases. According to Dr Babayomi, “mothers who tend to breastfeed at night should always be alert because anything can happen. There is something called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) which may occur while breastfeeding. SIDS occurs in this case when the baby ceases to breath normally or at all and to prevent this, mothers should always stay awake and be vigilant especially while breastfeeding at night.”

What a mother can do to increase breast milk supply especially after putting to bed Breastfeeding mothers are advised to eat one or two portions of green leafy vegetables daily, eat nutritious food, drink enough milk and beverages and also take fruits regularly to boost milk supply.

Drinking plenty of water is important for a mother’s personal growth and increasing breast milk supply.

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19 November, 2016

ntertainment News

Society Gist

Saturday Tribune

J

with oan

Omionawele

jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08054682201

Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

newtray2002@yahoo.com 08052271251

Celebrity Interviews

, s s e r t c a s a t c Fans rea s e s a e l e r , e Chelsea Ez s o t o h p e d semi-nu Stories By Joan Omionawele

I

n a bid to celebrate and give gratitude to God for another year on earth, fast-rising Nollywood actress, Chelsea Eze, released some semi-nude photos, a move which caused some topsy-turvy online.

While some of her fans over-looked the photos and congratulated her on her birthday, it did not go down well with other fans as they described her as an attention-seeker One of her fans wrote “So you can’t be thankful with your clothes on abi? Go and ask d likes of Genevieve and Stephanie Okereke if this is how to be thankful.

Receive sense in Jesus Name.”

While wishing her happy birthday, another fan wrote. “Happy birthday girl, I wish you all the goodies of life, but girl, was this really necessary?

You are even more beautiful with your clothes on”.

Another angry fan told the actress “babe, you dey fuck up, sense no dey wetin you just do now...wetin you dey try talk now be say, your bobi dey firm abi na your even tone body you dey sell? You for comot the boxers wey dey your body too so we go see the whole thing, Abeg next time, if you wan shoot photo, try shoot one wey we go learn from, wey go pass good message to una community..you no need am seriously, ”he stated.

Although the actress didn’t reply any of the comments, she posted another picture with a caption “ I am thankful for good health, I am thankful for my career, friends and family and everyone who ride this ship with me. Even those who are unbelievers , monitoring spirits, I’m still thankful for y’all and I pray you receive sense, lol (laughing out loud),” she wrote When Saturday Tribune reached out to the actress, she didn’t pick her calls and her phone was later switched off.

RMD back as reckless playboy in new movie ‘Three Wise Men’ Ace Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe Damijo, has been announced as lead actor in the upcoming 2016 comedy-drama ‘Three Wise Men’; scheduled for release on December 9, 2016.

The 55-year-old actor will appear alongside co-stars, Zack Orji and Victor Olaotan.

Richard Mofe Damijo portrays the character of Irikefe; a modern day Don Juan, who, after three failed marriages, retires

and is determined to squander his entire retirement funds before his death so as to preclude his three children from inheriting anything belonging to him.

Zack Orji depicts the character of Timi, a retiree and friend of Irikefe who is married to Regina (Tina Mba), a frigid woman with strong religious beliefs. Victor Olaotan, on the other hand, portrays the character of Tobore, a loving husband who takes utmost care of his bed-ridden wife. Out of boredom,

Tobore joins Irikefe and Timi as they embark on streaks of hilarious escapades.

Directed by Patience Oghre Imobhio and produced by Opa Williams, ‘Three Wise Men’ features an ensemble cast, including Ebere Okaro, Thelma Nwosu, Uche Nwaefuna, Akunna Nworgu, Stanley Edirin Isokoh and a host of others.

The movie will premiere on the 4th of December 2016, featuring some of the biggest names in the industry.

14 entertainment

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Uche Jombo, Emem Isong, others mourn Nollywood filmmaker, Ansa Kpokpogri

The late Ansa Bassey Stories By Joan Omionawele

T

OP Nollywood filmmaker and Director, Ansa Bassey Kpokpogri has passed away. The Calabar-born mother of one reportedly died of pains from peptic ulcer.

The filmmaker who doubled as a mum and assistant to top Nollywood director, Emem Isong until her death was a married woman with a child.

One of the actresses who mourned her, Uche Jombo wrote “I am still in shock, this feels like a bad dream, my prayers are with your husband, family and young child.

RIP Ansa, this is totally heart breaking” Jombo mourned on Instagram Another actress “Yvonne Jegede wrote “Where do I start? Do I say I’m sorry now? Everyday I’m aware the world is not ours forever but you have made me realize it’s nothing to bother my head with.

I learnt you had gone to rest and all that’s in my head is that stupid quarrel we had on set that I never tried to reach out to you to resolve.

How do I keep calm? My heart went down my stomach, tears filled my eyes talking to Ayana on the phone. Young and overly dedicated to her craft, she will not back down if you don’t give her what she wants. Ansa, Rest In Peace. Please, focus on the things that matter and leave the rest.

You might not have tomorrow to focus on the important things of life. Rest In Peace my Art Director Ansa #GodForgiveMe Emem Isong also wrote “Ansa!

How I wish you would Answer me! Where do I even start from? I have been trying to wrap my head around this but it is still not making sense. My goodness. This is one of the greatest shocks I have had in a long time. Words indeed fail me at this time but all I can say is God surely knows best. I can’t believe we are talking about you in past tense. The most loyal, hardworking, dedicated, supportive and greatest team player I have

ever had the privilege of working with. You have left an indelible mark in my heart. The shoes you have left behind will be very difficult to fill. You made my life on set so easy because of your selflessness and diligence. The ‘bestest’ Assistant Director anyone could ever wish for. Rest well my sister and may your soul rest in perfect peace. We will miss you greatly.

May God give your family and us the fortitude to bear this great loss.

We love you but God loves you most.

AFC discusses challenges of African cinema at AFRIFF

F

OLLOWING the glamorous opening of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) at the new Filmhouse-IMAX, Lekki, Lagos, the real business of the one-week festival began on Monday with film screenings, industry sessions, master classes and other programmes, taking place simultaneously at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island; Genesis Deluxe and FilmhouseIMAX, Lekki; Maryland Mall, Ikeka and Afrinolly Space, Oregun AFRIFF CEO, Chioma Udeh, Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan and other personalties at opening ceremony Lagos.

For nearly four hours, the Afri- of AFRIFF during the week. can Film Consortium (AFC) held channels, we should encourage lo“Mr President has shown his already in talks with the state govsway at The Palms, with filmmakcal distribution and not put all our weight in the creative industry ernments and investors to build us ers from different African countries efforts into online distribution.” and has promised to do everything studio facilities that equal those in and the Diaspora, who converged Andy Boyo, a patron of the Asso- that’ll make it possible to transit Mexico, India and the U.S, to make to rub minds on the future of cinciation of Movie Producers (AMP), from a creative industry to a cre- filmmaking easier and increase the ema business in Africa.

Nigeria and a patron the Actors ative economy. To this end, we are quality of our films.”

Tagged “The Brand and Its StakeGuild of Nigeria (AGN) says the key holders”, the session, in conjuncissue in Nigeria is trust; “creativity tion with AFRIFF, was led by Mr. will go nowhere without trust,. I Mykel Parish, President of the AFC, seek to see a unified African Film and had moderators like veteran Industry which I have tagged ‘Af- BENUE State-born act, Francis soon alongside the visual as proactor Richard Mofe Damijo and rowood’, a collaborative effort that Atela, better known as ‘Atela’ by duced and directed by DJ Coublon Brand Expert, Charles O’Tudor. surpasses borders and cultural lim- his teaming fans is one of the new- and Unlimited LA respectively.

At the event, practitioners identiitations.” He had previously initiat- comers in the music industry who Singing out, “Who is in the garden fied funding as one of the problems ed a Nollywood cinema idea which sure set to make an impact with his / a sexy fine girl / can I come and confronting filmmakers in Nigeria had mostly met with failure be- distinctive voice. Having started as see her, a sexy fine girl,” the new and African entertainment scene at cause of government interference church choir at a tender age of 14 single is just what the lover in you large. and disbelief in the local brands. where he developed skills as a mu- needs.

Mr Musi Waa, the founding presiAn entertainment lawyer, Isioma sician and songwriter.

Reminiscent of an old rhythm dent of the Cameroonian Film InIdigbe, advised filmmakers to leSigned on Squeeze Record, Atela song, “Idi ore mi” is here to get you dustry noted that there exists a verage on intellectual property in is set to release his first major debut prepared for what cuffing season better collaborative effort among order to assess funding, and to ap- single titled ‘Kekere’ which is ex- can fortunately and unfortunately Nigerian filmmakers, given reason proach the production of film as a pected to be released any moment bring forth.

Nollywood is most influential when business through proper acquisiit comes to African entertainment. tion and subsequent security of Discussing the issue of funding, he intellectual property. “The industry said “I think funding should be ascan only be sustainable when the sessed on a global level. The major stakeholders and financial organiissue is that it is mostly restricted by zations can create a system where national policies. Everyone should investment in film is seen as a vibe able to share the same opportuable business idea.” she concluded. nities and platforms to allow creThe convener, Mr. Mykel Parish ativity to be fully maximised. Due was optimistic the symposia would to challenges in the distribution take African cinema to the next level.

AFRIFF opened on Sunday with Nate Parker’s The Birth of a NaAuditions for the second in- tion, a film produced by American stallment of reality TV series, Big studio, 20th Century Fox. Brother Naija, will hold on the Minister of Information and Cul26th and 27th of November at ture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who the Westown Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. attended the ceremony at the new Interested applicants must be over 21 years and have a valid Ni- Filmhouse-IMAX in Lekki, said gerian passport in order to be se- government is doing everything lected as part of the twelve house- possible to turn to Nollywood for a new foreign exchange earner. mates for the competition.

Big Brother calls for auditions ORGANISERS of one of the most-anticipated shows in Nigeria, Big Brother Nigeria, MultiChoice Nigeria, has announced plans for auditions of its 2017 edition.

This is to offer interested applicants a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the Big Brother Naijafame!

Atela drops Kekere visual

15 entertainment

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Tayo Sobola clears air on marriage rumours

By Jide Balogun

, ..

NOLLYWOOD actress cum producer, Tayo Sobola, popularly called Sotayo has reacted to some marriage rumours which were being spread online by her fans.

The actress, who was spotted with a ring, raised a lot of concern, as her fans asked if she was engaged or married.

Sobola however said in an instagram post that recession was eating into rumour-mongers’ brains for them to make an issue out of an ordinary ring.

She wrote “so my ring is a problem? All I see is recession which is eating deep into people’s brains. Anyway, don’t be in a hurry, I’m yet to be married.”

Nite of a thousand laughs:

Opa Williams steps aside for Mallam Yankee

By Joan Omionawele 20 years after he made debut with what is today regarded as the longest running stand-up comedy brand, Nite of a Thousand Laughs, notable showbiz entrepreneur, Opa Williams, is stepping aside as producer of the show.

Williams, who has delved fully into film production, the latest being the much-publicised The Three Wise Men, starring Richard Mofe-Damijo, Zack Orji and Victor Olaotan, has disclosed that he is releasing Nite of a Thousand Laughs franchise to Kehinde Adegbite of Yankee Entertainment.

The new producer is expected to run the show for an initial 24 months Opa, as he is fondly called, while speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adegbite in

Lagos, expressed optimism that the latter would carry on the legacy of the show with the requisite passion.

He noted that Adegbite, despite having hosted and managed other successful entertainment events across the country, had through his Yankee Entertainment, produced Nite of a Thousand Laughs in the last five years in Abuja, Benin City and Owerri.

Opa, who recently bagged a doctorate degree from the Walden Methodist University, Tennessee, United States, said he is quite enamored of the brand that brought him so much fame, but had to hand over its management and production to a trusted ally so as to have enough time for movies and other audio content productions.

He disclosed that part of the agreement was for Adegbite to expand the scope of Nite of a Thousand Laughs by hosting the show in more Nigerian cities.

A showbiz aficionado, Kehinde Adegbite, popularly known as Mallam Yankee, is the chairman, The Bank Club Abuja, Illusion Owerri and Yankee Entertainment. Apart from promoting and staging live shows, he is noted for successful launch of music albums of artistes like 2 Baba and Iyanya as well as Charly Boy’s show.

Describing him as the Jagaban of Entertainment in Nigeria, Opa said Adegbite’s entry into the world of showbiz began about two decades ago as Student Union Government (SUG) Director of Socials at the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatach), Lagos.

On the task ahead of him, Adegbite said he has the utmost task of not only sustaining the epic brand, but also taking it to a higher level.

He described Opa as his mentor, saying: “Among millions of people, he was one of the few that believed in me. and he made me what I am today in the entertainment industry.”

Lynxx responds to critics I

By Joan Omionawele

T was a huge surprise recently when hip hop musician, Lynxx, dropped everything worldly and decided to be a gospel artiste.

Since then, the musician has not rested on his oars as he posts quotes from the Bible everyday, a habit which, according to the musician, attracts huge criticsm from his fans.

According to him “the amount of ignorance I come across in my comments and in daily encounters/conversations is alarming, but I understand because I was also once in

the dark. My prayer is we all find the Light before it’s too late! “They ask me what’s with the preaching?” My answer is; if you open your Bible, you will find out” He continued, “as an ambassador for Christ, you never have anything to prove, Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit not us. Live your life, evangelize, speak the truth and stay true to your faith. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone. Love conquers all so, remember to always show love. God bless you all.”.

Korede Bello, Pepenazi, others set for Rave FM anniversary concert THE city of Osogbo, the Osun state capital will be agog on Sunday the 27th of November, 2016 with a host of A-list Nigerian musical artistes and comedians lighting up the city for Rave 91.7FM First Anniversary Concert.

The concert will be part of the activities to mark the first anniversary of Rave 91.7 FM which was commissioned on the 26th of November, 2015 by the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

In a statement released by the Chief Executive Officer of RAVE FM, Mr Femi Adefila, the concert will witness live performances from ‘Godwin’ crooner, Korede Bello, hip hop rappers Pepenazzi, Skibii, Viktoh, Tolu of MTN Project Fame, Tee Blaqas well as Diva Toby Grey.

The stage will also feature live performances of top comedians WoliArole, Peteru, Still Ringing, Acapella and Rave FM’s Mc2much. DJ Bassman, DJ Rap2rious, DJ Chascolee will be on ground to spice up the event.

The green carpet for the much anticipated concert starts by 2 pm at the venue, Aurora Events and Conference Centre, Ring Road, Osogbo.

Other events include a community service of filling potholes and grading the Osogbo – ilobu road, a medical outreach and visit to selected orphanages, an anniversary lecture to be delivered by Public Affairs Officer of the United States Consulate General, Darcy Zotter, a Thanksgiving service and a Novelty football match.

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19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

with Tunde Ayanda ayandaayotunde@yahoo.com 08034649018

Another royal wedding in the offing

T

he entire family of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona gathered to celebrate the wedding ceremony of one of the princesses of the royal family, Idikat Adetoun a few days ago.

The occasion, as expected, was attended by who is who in the country’s social circle.

The wedding was still the talk of the town when the news broke that another royal wedding is coming up.

This time, the palace of the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba

Adedapo Tejuosho, is wearing a new look as it prepares to host the wedding ceremony of the monarch’s daughter, Princess Layebi Tejuosho on 17 December.

The engagement ceremony will hold on Friday, December 16, at the Primetime Marquee of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, while the wedding ceremony comes up at the Cathedral of St James African Church, Abeokuta, with the reception holding at the Obasanjo Presidential library.

Tunde Ologburo berths with APP

Kayode Ajulo sets the pace Former scribe of the Labour Party, Kayode Ajulo is cooking something.

The young man, a lawyer and who honed his trade under the great legal minds as Afe Babalola, GOK Ajayi and Tunji Abayomi before setting up his Kayode Ajulo & co. Castle of Law Chambers is taking a step to set a new and pacesetting move in the country’s legal profession as he berths with an online legal service, a platform that promises to be the largest legal resource hub in subsaharan Africa.

Ajulo explained that the aim is to have a large number of online legal partners and associates as well as law students/paralegals as interns to his professional services in the world.

This development will afford people the opportunity to access legal services and high quality lawyers through an easy-to-use open market.

The chairman of Quickborn Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Babatunde Ologburo, has a big project up his sleeve.

The businessman recently made a statement in the construction sector, with the floating of the latest product from his company called Artisan Price Product.

Ologburo pointed at the recent economic recession in the country as the reason for coming up with a list of products that would ease the tension off the people, while they enjoy maximum satisfaction of their investment.

Olori Aramide Elegushi holds a ball A week ago, Aramide, the wife of the youngest monarch in Lagos State, the Onikate of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Elegushi, clocked 40 and had a mini celebration to mark the day.

The sun shone brightly at the

Honour for Abdulsamad Rabiu In the corporate world in Nigeria, the name Abdulsamad Rabiu commands respect, as the chairman of BUA has a dazzling resume.

Rabiu was recently honoured with the 2016 All Africa Industrialist of the Year Award at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards in South Africa.

Nine African best business leaders in various categories were celebrated at the 2016 AABLA organised in partnership with the CNBC Africa in Johannesburg. The winning business leaders were selected after an 11-month assessment by the organisers of AABLA, which recognises Africa’s bold leaders and change-makers in East, West and Southern Africa.

Rabiu, while picking the award, restated his commitment to investing in and exploring Africa’s untapped opportunities in manufacturing, mining, agriculture and other business areas.

Ikate palace where a prayer session was held with a modest soiree later in the day.

Those in the know hinted that a black and white gig has been

slated to officially usher the woman into the new age.

The party is said to be strictly friends affair, while the plans are being discussed in hushed tones.

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19 November, 2016

Divorce

Saturday Tribune

Court & Crime

‘She is not accommodating, disobedient and also troublesome’ ‘I don’t know he had a child before we got married’

By Oyeyemi Okunlade

He claims he doesn’t have money, yet he drinks and goes to parties —Wife She is a very rude and uncultured woman —Husband

A

Grade “C” Customary Court sitting in Iseyin in Oyo State has dissolved a marriage contracted five years ago over inability of the husband to pay dowry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Azeez Akeusola watched calmly as the court terminated his marriage to his wife, Rashidat, due to his inability to pay her dowry among other allegations.

“This court finds it disturbing that families of the estranged couple were unable to resolve the lingering crisis between their children who have been married for five years.

“Evidence of threats to life, lack of love and care are obvious. Both families have also lost interest in the union.

“At this juncture, I hereby pronounce the marriage dissolved,” the President of the court, Adelodun Oyegbenle, ruled.

NAN said it recalled that Rashidat had approached the court seeking dissolution of the marriage over allegations of

non-payment of her dowry and lack of care, among others.

She told the court that the union had produced a four-year-old child.

Rashidat also told the court that she had tried without success to convince Azeez to do the needful.

“He said he does not have money, yet, he is living very large, drinking and partying every day.

“He claims he does not have money to pay my dowry and be responsible at home.

“I’m tired of living in this kind of marriage. I take care of the family all alone and his f a m i l y m e m bers don’t appreciate that because they keep ganging up

inside

against me.

“I have to find my way out of this marriage before they do me harm because they are fetish people,” she alleged.

However, Akeusola responded: “I’m consenting to the dissolution not because she was correct in all that she said but because she is a very rude and uncultured woman.

“She talks to my family members very rudely and in a manner that portrays she lacks home training and discipline. I’m no longer interested too,” he asserted.

In the judgement, Oyegbenle bemoaned the inability of all parties concerned to resolve the matter out of court.

He, thereafter, dissolved the marriage accordingly.

I want N200,000 compensation ’cos she ran away after 2 weeks —Husband He paid just N10,000 and he’s still owing —Wife

See pages 18 & 23

A trader, Alhaji Tajudeen Babalola, has pleaded with the Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State to dissolve his 22-year-old marriage with his wife, Sakirat, on grounds that she is not accommodating, disobedient and also troublesome.

“The reasons I want to divorce my wife are: she does not join me to practise my religion; doesn’t want to see my mother and in addition, does not comply with my rules and regulations.

Overtime, I have noticed some strange behaviours in her.

“I decided to move out of the house to rent another one, yet she did not feel any remorse. By now, we have been separated for five years. One of my concerns is about one of my children, who is still very young. I don’t want her to take after her mother’s bad characters.”

Contrary to her husband’s allegations, the defendant, Sakirat, told the court that she accepted to divorce her husband because he deceived her before getting married to her.

“I don’t know he had a child before we got married and he doesn’t even care about me and the children. I’ve been taking responsibilities on the children over a long period of time now. It is true that I went to my daughter’s school a day one of the teachers beat her seriously. Because I querried that cruel treatment my daughter received from the teacher, he also threatened to kill her.

“One weekend, I permitted my children to go and play with their father but I was told that one of his younger brothers was having sexual intercourse with my husband’s first daughter. I don’t want my daughter to stay with her father because I can’t stand the said man to be having sex with her. I don’t want him to ruin her life,” she said.

The case was adjourned for further hearing when the two families will bring their family members.

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19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

23

courtandcrime

I want N200,000 compensation ’cos she ran away after 2 weeks —Husband

He paid just N10,000 and he’s still owing —Wife

A

N aggrieved ex-husband, Echele Idah, has demanded N200,000 compensation from his former wife, whom he `enjoyed’ for only two weeks.

Idah told a Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, that he got married to his ex-wife, Gloria Uche in 2013.

He said that they spent only two weeks together, before she left to an unknown destination.

Idah presented evidence of payments for the traditional marriage rites, and demanded repayment of N200,000, as compensation for the troubles he went through.

“Apart from other minor expenses, I paid N300, 000 into ECObank and N70, 000 into GT Bank for her father and mother’s traditional rites respectively as requested by them.

“Also, N119,000 was paid to The Young Shall Grow Motors, Mararaba to convey both my family and that of Gloria to Isi Ala Ngwa, Abia State, Gloria’s home town.

“After many months of her disappearance, she called to tell me that she was now married to another man.

“I reported the matter to her parents, but what I got was a threat, that I should find their daughter.

“Before she divorced me, I made several efforts to locate her all to no avail. I spoke with one Mr Matthew through her phone, who claimed to be her husband.

“I’m demanding a compensation of N200, 000 for frustrating my efforts and all the troubles and money I spent in search of her,” he said.

However, counsel to the respondent, Mr Anayo Lebechi, objected to all the evidence brought by Idah.

He said that he only paid N10,000, adding that he was still owning.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the couple legally divorced in August 2016.

The judge, Albert Maga, adjourned the case for further hearing.

He beat me with a standing fan for seeking divorce —Wife I did not beat her at all —Husband A woman, Mrs Lydia Dallah, has told a Jikwoyi Customary Court in Abuja that her husband married her in deceit by concealing that he had a wife and six children.

Lydia, who is seeking divorce, said that she knew about her husband, Yakubu’s previous marriage after she tied the knot with him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Lydia testified in a divorce suit she filed.

“He never told me that he had an existing marriage with six children.

“It was after I got married to him that I discovered the whole truth about him; whenever I told him to let me go, he threatened my life,” Lydia submitted.

She told the court that Yakubu beat her with a standing fan for seeking divorce.

“He even destroyed some valuables in the house; I was res-

cued by our neighbours who heard me shouting and crying out for help.

“I later sought medical attention in a nearby pharmacy, and reported the incident to the police who then invited him,” she said.

The petitioner said that she had reported the matter to her family and her church to see if she could get help but to no avail.

“My family and our pastor advised us, pleaded with him and sought to know what he wanted in order to grant me divorce.

“He said that he wanted the two children of the marriage.

“I beg this court to dissolve my marriage and grant me the custody of my children,” she, however, pleaded.

The respondent, Yakubu, however, denied many of the al-

She didn’t tell me when my daughter got married and bore children —Husband

I did; but he told me to go and invite her father in the church —Wife

By Ayomide Owonibi-Adekanye

His manhood always rises each time he puts our daughters on his lap —Wife

No, It’s a lie —Husband

A woman has accused her husband, Tony Okechukwu, of sexually abusing their six-year-old daughter.

In her divorce application filed at Jikwoyi Customary Court, Abuja, Francisca, a business woman, alleged that she had, on many occasions, caught her husband fiddling with her daughter’s private part.

“I caught my husband touching my daughter’s private part, his biological daughter,” she alleged.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the petitioner told the court that she had been suspecting her husband of the act “because of the way he carries the twin daughters.

“Each time he carries the children (twin) on his lap, his manhood will rise up, and if he is not satisfied with that, he will go and pull off his cloth and tie his towel,” she told the court.

The petitioner also alleged that her husband might have had carnal knowledge of her daughter.

“There was a day the twins were having a nap in their father’s room in the evening but when they were

having their bath the next morning, one of them was complaining of pain in her private part.

“When I checked her, I saw a cut which pained her for over three days,” she added.

She therefore begged the court to dissolve the mar-

riage and grant her custody of the children.

The husband, Okechukwu , also a businessman, however denied all the allegations.

The Presiding officer, Mr Labaran Gusau, adjourned the case for continuation of hearing.

Tell her to desist from using her mouth to cause troubles —Husband A lawyer, Mr Joe Kekong, last week asked the Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court to warn his client against her shameless and consistent troubles in her neighborhood.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the counsel made the request at the Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, Mararaba in Nasarawa State following a request from the woman’s husband, Mr John Matthew.

“Though the accused is my client, she has adamantly refused to heed her husband’s and my advice to embrace peace and tranquility in her neighbourhood.

“Though, I and her husband have talked and advised her, she seems to be stubborn and adamant, so her husband insisted I should tell the court to warn her.

“According to her husband, this is not the first mischief she is involved in and dragged him into, other neighbours had, over the years, complained of her unrepentant bad attitude.

“I would like this honourable court to publicly caution her to refrain from fighting, quarrelling and using her mouth to cause problem for her husband and the

entire environment,” Kekong said.

The case was a three-count charge of criminal mischief, assault and nuisance filed against Mrs Esther Matthew, who had allegedly bit the lips of her neighbour, Mrs Anietie Inyangakpan.

Mr Etim Inyangakpan, the husband to the complainant, requested that the accused be asked to write an undertaking never to harass his family again.

Mr Albert Maga, the Presiding Judge, having confirmed the offence from the husband to the accused, who was present in the court, expressed disappointment with the woman’s character and handed a thorough warning to her.

Maga said that her failure to change, live peacefully and respect her family and community would attract severe punishment next time.

The case was struck out following the request from the complainant’s family, demanding they all live in peace henceforth.

The husband to the accused, Matthew, thanked the court for its understanding.

The case was first mentioned on October 10 when the accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000.

A man has approached a Lagos Island Customary Court in Lagos State, seeking the the dissolution of his 32-year-old marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

The 62-year-old man, Adesanya Akanni, had approached the court to end his marriage to his estranged wife, Florence Akani, over religious differences.

The petitioner told the court that his wife’s continued practice of her christian faith was adversely affecting the family.

The petitioner claimed that his marital problems started about 26 years ago, when his wife, Florence resumed the practice of her Christian faith.

He also alleged that she changed the names of their five children to christian names without his consent.

“Our five children were given muslim names at birth.

“Their mother and the church she attends, have now changed their names to christian names.

“I did not know until I went to the school of my last two boys to ask for Azeez and Musa but officials of the school claimed they did not have students bearing those names.

“It was when I mentioned their surname that I was told that they now bear Oluwarotimi and Peter.”

The petitioner also said he was not informed when his first daughter got married and gave birth to her two children.

“The church and my wife gave out my daughter without informing me and when she gave birth to her two children. My wife and daughter did not tell me anything.

“We live under the same roof and over the past two years, my wife has stopped cooking my meals. She does not allow me to make love to her,” Akanni said.

Akanni, however, prayed the court to dissolve their marriage and award custody of the last two children to his wife, who denied all the allegations.

She explained that Akanni did not insist that she should convert to Islam after their marriage, stressing that at the time of their marriage, her husband was not a practising muslim.

“I started attending Church when I had an 8-year delay after our first child; he used to accompany me to the Church but later stopped and then prevailed on me to discontinue attending Church.

“This our fight over religion has been ongoing for years, but I have refused to stop going to church because God has been answering my prayers.

“After eight years of believing God for the fruit of the womb, God gave me, not just one but three other children. I have been taking them to the church ever since.

“When our first daughter wanted to get married, I informed my husband but he said our daughter should go and ‘meet her father’ in the church “He had vowed he would not be part of the wedlock, unless our daughter re-converted to Islam,” The mother of five told the court that she still loved her husband but cannot convert to Islam.”

President of the court, Mr Awos Awosola, adjourned the case till November 30 to enable other members from both families to mediate in the matter.

A woman, Funmilayo Oladele, is seeking divorce before the Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Funmilayo filed a divorce suit against her husband, Tolani, saying that she did not intend to marry him.

“I want to divorce the father of my child because we were just boy/girlfriend; I had no intention to marry him. However, we dated for five years.

“I was seriously ill for about one year not knowing what was wrong with me but at the long run, the doctor discovered that I was pregnant. My mother asked me who was responsible for it and I told her. Thank God that he did not deny it and after I delivered the baby, he accepted us. We did the naming ceremony but afterwards, I was not taken care of. My mother took responsibility for many things. I have suffered from him a lot.

My father is tough and strict, son testifies in court

By Oyeyemi Okunlade THE Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, has struck out the case of a Septuagenarian, Pa Basiru Lasisi Adebiyi and his wife, Adijat.

It is recalled that Pa Adebiyi had dragged his wife to court for divorce over alleged infidelity but both parties were asked to go back home and mend their fences, while the case was adjourned for about three times.

For the first time since the case had been in the court, the first born of the family, Mr Yinusa Lasisi, appeared before the court as a witness.

He said: “What I know is that my father has been a tough and a strict man for long. He hates anything that can tarnish his image. He did not report his wife to me before he brought the case to the court.

“Baba gets upset over slightest thing. With his temperament, he had laid off his relatives but with the help of God, I’ve been trying to bring those people around him again.”

In his judgement, the president of the court, Chief Agbaje Henry Olasunkanmi, charged Yinusa, who represented other children to take care of the old man and while they do this, he should always give feedback to the court for monitoring.

“Organise a party for him, not minding his health challenges. Don’t run away from him and at the same time protect him from assaults of any kind, especially in the neighbourhood.

“Mama, kneel down for this man and satisfy him with everything. He might misbehave, yet deal with him with love and patience. I hereby strike the case out,” the President held.

He’s, been threatening my parents’ lives, woman tells court She’s unfaithful, flirts around with different men —Husband

By Ayomide Owonibi-Adekanye

RESPONDING to a divorce suit filed by his wife, a man, Ebenezer Olotuyemi, told an Agege Customary Court in Lagos State, that his wife, Folashade, flirts around with different men.

Olotuyemi made this known when he testified in a divorce petition filed by his wife seeking dissolution of their 15-year-old marriage.

The respondent, who denied the wife’s allegations, wholeheartedly agreed to the dissolution of the marriage.

He told the court that the petitioner had been unfaithful, that she flirts about with different men, having caught her red-handed.

He alleged that his wife had a questionable character and that was why he refused to legalise their union.

We only have a baby, I never planned to marry him —Wife She is a harlot, she moves with different kinds of men —Husband

By Oyeyemi Okunlade

legations.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Labaran Gusau, adjourned the case for continuation of hearing.

“What prompted me to take a court action is that he came to me that he wanted the two-year-old child to come and spend a weekend with him and since then, he has not released him to me. I beg this court to appeal to him to return my child,” Funmilayo pleaded.

The defendant, Tolani Omotosho, on his own part said: “I accept the claim; she is a harlot. She moves with different kinds of men and her mother has told us that we cannot marry each other.

“Her character has changed and I don’t understand her anymore. I’ve complained several times but there has not been any positive change. She doesn’t take good care of my child and when I told her mother that I wanted my child, she did not release him to me. That was why I tricked her and my child is with me now,” Tolani told the court.

The case was adjourned.

“My wife has a care free attitude, not submissive and does not listen to corrections.

“She dresses in outrageous attires, which I do not like and whenever l try to correct her, she doesn’t obey me and would flare up,” the respondent alleged.

He further alleged that his wife was into politics which is against his will and leaves home at odd hours for political campaigns at the expense of her matrimonial duties.

Folashade had urged the court to dissolve her marriage to her husband, citing threats to life.

The petitioner alleged that her husband was troublesome, ungrateful and that he had been threatening her parents’ lives.

She told the court that when they were evicted from their house, her father accommodated them in his home.

“Later, my husband saw it as an abomination to be living in his in-law’s house.

“My father gave him money to go look for an alternative accommodation.

“My husband became rude to my parents; he constantly abused my father in public and threatened to beat him,” Folashade told the court.

She claimed the respondent forcefully took the children away and later dropped them at a friend’s shop when he could no longer take proper care of them.

“The children were always being beaten and maltreated by their daddy and had to run away from the house on two different occasions,” she added.

She described the respondent as violent and hot-tempered.

She asked the court to dissolve the union and to award her custody of the children.

President of the court, Mr Philip Williams, urged the couple to maintain the peace, reminding them that children from broken homes were always stigmatised.

Williams adjourned the case till November 24 for judgement.

19

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637

OLALEKAN OLABULO has a good grip on “Oshodi inside”. He writes on the return of a certain special species to their hitherto hunting ground.

T

e: olanreade@yahoo.com

Oshodi: The return of ‘the bad boys’

HE popular Oshodi in Lagos State means different things to different people. To some, it means the den of die-hard criminals, where it is very difficult to move late in the evening. To them, it is the headquarters of pickpockets and other petty thieves. Others see the place as one of the hotbeds of crimes in Lagos. But the Lagos community is always known for its hustle and bustle. Negative views about Oshodi unarguably changed considerably by the end of the Babatunde Fashola-led government in the state.

The former governor not only cleared Oshodi of traders and makeshift shops along the road but he also ensured that

security presence was increased in the neighbourhood. Crime was reduced and traffic jams virtually stopped.

The current administration of Akinwunmi Ambode has, to a large extent, sustained the tempo of security management in Oshodi. It is, however, surprising that the hoodlums are finding their way back despite the constant raids and arrests by law enforcement officers.

No fewer than 70 hoodlums are said to have been arrested by security operatives in the last two months.

More worrying about the gradual return of crimes to Oshodi is the number of teenagers who have continued to constitute nuisance to commuters and passers-by.

Reporter’s Diary

Flashlight in ‘enemy territory’ pg22

There has been an increase in phone and robbery attacks.

Olamilekan, a member of staff of one of the national dailies, will not forget in a hurry, a recent attack on him by a gang of robbers in the area. He had closed late from work, as usual, and was heading home when the hoodlums pounced on him.

He told Saturday Tribune that some of his colleagues had also fallen victim of the Oshodi gangsters who reportedly operate between Cappa and Railway Line.

“There are many of them. They now have a new mode of operation. They usually wait till when the place is partially deserted. Once they sight their target, they would shout ‘this is one of them’ and then

pounce on you and rob you of your money and other valuables. I had closed from work on the day of the incident. It was very late in the day. There were still a few people at the bus stop waiting to board buses. As I tried to walk into the midst of the commuters, I suddenly heard ‘this is one of them’ and the next thing I knew, about six of them pounced on me and collected all the things on me. They operate between Cappa and Under Bridge. Just recently, they robbed one of our advert executives, too. They have a way of doing these things without arousing the attention of policemen”, Olamilekan said.

Continues on pg20

Inside the world of fake journalists

pg21

20

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos

Inside the world of fake journalists

A rapidly growing world within the journalism profession with its dangerous inhabitants has made a scrutiny compelling. BOLA BADMUS, AKIN ADEWAKUN, CHUKWUMA OKPARAOCHA and SYLVESTER OKORUWA explored the world of fake journalists. Their findings should worry all stakeholders.

Old crimes resurface in new Oshodi Continued from pg19

“Usually, when they finish their operation, they vanish into thin air. They also usually mix with people waiting to board buses”, he added.

Sarah, an undergraduate of the University of Lagos, was also a victim of the Oshodi returnees who snatched her phones while trying to board a bus. Three teenagers had clung to her and succeeded in picking the phones from her bag. A transport union member who pleaded for anonymity, in a chat with Saturday Tribune, blamed the return of the criminals on the destruction of most of the car parks in the area and the “over-decentralisation” of union activities.

“The boys have become hardened. Some of them have gone to prisons and remand homes on more than three occasions and they have always returned to this place. They have nowhere to go.

Some of them used to be conductors and touts but things have changed. The parks have been turned to gardens. Some have been demolished for no just cause.

The union’s work is not even as viable as it used to be. We have too many units and branches now and many people are not making money, not to talk of giving money to these boys.

“They have become very rude; they don’t respect anybody anymore. They would ask you if you are ready to feed them or you should leave them alone. There are too many of them now. They have a way of avoiding the police”, he said.

A teenage criminal who was

recently arrested by the police, Ganiyu, confirmed that crimes are gradually returning to Oshodi and that teenagers are the worst culprits.

The 15-year-old suspect said: “We are over 50 boys. We are always in Oshodi Oke from morning till night.

Some of us genuinely help people to carry their loads while others are there to snatch handbags, phones and other valuables from people.

At times, we pretended to be helping people but our focus was their valuables. Sometimes we worked in groups. While one group was helping out, another was stealing the victims’ valuables from their bags or pockets.

“There are some other guys who forcibly dispossess passers-by of their belongings. These gangs operate early in the morning and late at night when their victims are helpless”.

The suspect stated that he moved to Oshodi in 2013 and he had been

Any phone I steal, I sell to Mohammed or Kudus. They are beggars in Oshodi.

They buy most of the stolen phones from us.

sleeping under the bridge since then. According to him, “I work as conductor and whenever I don’t, I am with my peers snatching valuables. We were three when we stole a Microsoft phone from a lady’s bag. We pretended to be helping the lady to get a bus but our target was her phones. I have been committed to 13-month rehabilitation by the Lagos State Task Force but my home is Oshodi Under Bridge”.

Another robbery suspect, Ahmed, said: “I sleep in Oshodi Under Bridge. We are over 60 boys sleeping there. The adults sleep in Ori Pako. I was 13 years old when I started sleeping there. I keep my clothes there. I sleep around 9.00 p.m. There are some of us who do not sleep at all. They are the ones that alert us whenever the police are around. Some do not sleep because they go from one place to another in Oshodi to rob. They rob late at night and very early in the morning.

“After the death of my mother, my father abandoned us. He stopped taking care of us; he left us to fend for ourselves. I had to resort to packing granite to pay my school fee. At a point, I couldn’t cope with the fee; I was just 12. I dropped out and I decided to run to Lagos. Since then, Oshodi Under Bridge has been my home. Any phone I steal, I sell to Mohammed or Kudus. They are beggars in Oshodi. They buy most of the stolen phones from us”.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the present administration is stepping up security arrangement in the state. But the fact that crimes in and around Oshodi are on the increase points to the fact that criminals are returning to the area.

Some journalists on duty

A

nicely-packaged fellow just shot ahead of a band of journalists at a high-profile event (identity contained). The event coordinator bellowed from the opposite side: “who is your leader?” “I am”, the fellow responded. He should ordinarily be – well-built, bestdressed among the lot, commendable spoken English and plenty of charisma and confidence to go with the near-perfect package. It would be difficult doubting his claim. The guy who should be in his 30s, a perfect age for hands-on engagement in the profession, looked completely the part in a crowd of supposed professionals but looking a shade better than a groomed agbero (tout). He also decided to play the part. Before others could

figure him out as the leader of which group, he was handed bribe euphemistically called “honorarium” packaged for his ilk by the organisers. He asked others to meet him outside the event venue. By the time others could end their argument about his identity and try to seek him out, he had vanished into thin air. Welcome to the world of fake journalists in Lagos.

Quite a number of factors, the most pronounced of which is unemployment, have been fingered as the reasons many young people have continued to take to a life of crime, including the act of impersonating journalists, which is fast becoming the major source of living for many unemployed people in the state.

But it is believed in some quarters that greed and quest for easy money

are two other factors that have ‘transformed’ many unemployed young men in Lagos into ‘journalists’ or ‘media personnel’, thereby causing untold hardship for genuine practitioners who have continuously had to suffer the consequences of the actions of the impostors.

Recently, a popular online medium said it arrested a “crooked journalist” who, it said, had been going around claiming to be its employee. The online news channel said the fake correspondent operated with the pseudonym “Demola Ijaiye”.

His victims, according to the medium, included a former governor of Kaduna State, as well as a former vice president.

The calibre of the victims mentioned above shows the extent some fake journalists have gone. Usually,

many of them operate on a much smaller scale.

Sometimes at big events, fake journalists even gain entrance before genuine ones do, simply because they have perfected ways of circumventing security barriers and checks, which they sometimes do by bribing bouncers and security personnel at the entrances.

Mode of operation These fake journalists are known to head to newsstands every morning to read as many newspapers as possible, looking for advertised events and programmes.

Once an event deemed viable is spotted, they would copy the events’ dates, time and venue. On the day of such events, they would arrive promptly at the venue and proceed to identify some of the people in charge, with whom they would begin interacting as real journalists from established media houses.

While some play safe and claim non-existing media houses, oth-

ers are more daring and would even boldly declare that they work for well known media organisations. They would cleverly go through the names on the media lists made available at the event venue and would then claim the name of any media house not on the list, while sometimes they would claim the name of any media house not based in Lagos.

It is understood that some of them have even perfected the act of cloning real identity cards which they would boldly bring out when necessary.

Saturday Tribune confirmed this modus operandi of this category of fake members of the fourth estate of the realm in a recent chat with a young man who confessed to have been into fake journalism for over five years.

Popularly known as AY, the man said every morning, he would carefully go through newspapers (this he often even does for free at newsstands) for advertised events and programmes.

“After scouting for events in three or four well known newspapers, we would carefully select the most ‘promising’ ones.

We also get useful information from television and radio but the best way to get to know about events and programmes is through newspapers. On the event day, we would gatecrash at the venue and then ‘hustle’ for largesse”, he said.

When asked why he had chosen this path, AY said, “Bros, it’s been eight years since I graduated from the higher institution and I have not been able to get a job, yet one must survive. I just had to go into this. I know it is not good, and I have even been embarrassed a couple times by event organisers and genuine journalists, but I would rather do this than engage in armed robbery or cybercrime.”

Crime network It is believed that fake journalists have formed a network as they now operate in cells or groups of four or five, thus making it easy for them to pass information about events to one another. They can be quite aggressive when occasion demands but they are generally bold, including when approaching their targets who are mostly political office holders.

They would quickly talk the politicians into granting short interviews and then demand gratifications. Quite often, they succeed with politicians, but corporate officers usually detect them and call their bluff.

Continues on pg22

21

Eko Akete Ode to Eko

LAGOS has been given many appellations, some of which are downright controversial and others just fitting.

A popular politician, a former governor of a state in the eastern part of the country once described Lagos as a “no man’s land”.

Needless to say, the expression drew the ire of not a few Lagosians who saw the expression as an insult and a blatant disregard for Lagosians’ much-adored hospitality. For Eko Akete, “everyman’s land” would have been more appropriate.

Looking at the things Lagos is known for, some of which are so common that people are used to them and are taking them for granted, Eko Akete has decided to write an ode to this complex and confounding city.

Lagos, the city of plenty waters where the troubled sea and the gentle lagoon are infused into one Lagos, the home of the strongest of the strong and the richest of the rich Yet, home of the poor who daily strive to improve their lot in life From the “water streets” in Makoko to the paved stones of Victoria Island From the dusty roads in Agege to the “impenetrable” gates of Banana Island Lagos’ residents in their millions are known for their zeal to brave the odds and swim against the tides.

They may not have the godly strength of Hercules but they have slain the seven-headed monster over and over What monster can be worse than mind-blowing traffic, hungry and bribe-seeking traffic officers, increasing cases of kidnapping, acute power outage and water shortage, short notice of demolition of people’s homes and shops and mysterious fires destroying places already marked for demolition?

Lagos, a land of hope, of plenty, desperation and despondency A land where opportunities abound side by side with trouble, where beauty stares ugliness in the eye.

This is Lagos, Eko Aromisa legbelegbe.

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19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Continued from pg21

The practice of fake journalism is believed to have started many years ago in Lagos when some unemployed journalists started going to events even when they didn’t have any media house to report their stories to.

However, after recording a series of successes posing as journalists, many unemployed people, including genuine journalists who had lost their jobs, began to join the fray and soon, the number began to grow. It was at this point that the shame of ‘brown envelope’ reached epidemic level in the media.

Commenting on this development, a journalist with one of the national dailies who wanted his identity concealed said: “Sadly, this practice has been going on for a long time, yet, I don’t know of any action that the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has taken to stop this trend. I can assure you a lot of us, genuine journalists, know the fake ones but for fear of attack, we would rather keep them at arm’s length. A photojournalist was once beaten by a bunch of these impostors after he confronted them.”

He claimed that sometimes at big events, fake journalists even gain entrance before genuine ones do, simply because they have perfected ways of circumventing security barriers and checks which, he insisted, they sometimes do by bribing bouncers and security personnel at the entrances.

“The Nigeria Union of Journalists has done virtually nothing to put a stop to this ugly practice because the end sufferers are the practising journalists who have to bear the consequence of all the misdemeanors attributable to fake journalists. Nowadays, people look at all journalists as beggars, fighters and indecent people.

“Fake journalists are known to even go around during events begging for money and harassing well-to-do Nigerians. They interview people, collect money from them and at the end they don’t have the medium to report the interviews, making their interviewees to see all journalists as conmen”, he added.

Hotcakes A popular hotel in Ikeja has been a safe haven for fake journalists. In one of their conversations, the following dialogue ensued: Fake Journalist 1: Today’s show no be am ooo (this event is not worth it) Fake Journalist 2: That is why I like politicians, they don’t care; they just give you money but these companies and their representatives would just be asking you silly questions.

Phony journalists on the prowl

Fake Journalist 1: Politicians are hotcakes any day.

Go to their event and they make your day. They even give all of you money to go and share among yourselves.

The problem is endemic –Ex-NUJ scribe The immediate past General Secretary of the NUJ in Lagos State, Mr Silver Okereke, sees this issue as endemic. According to him, the state chapter of the union has made efforts in the past, including dialoguing with stakeholders, but they seemed not to yield results.

“What we did at a time was to call a meeting of stakeholders in the industry to draw their attention to this menace and seek ways of checking it. We also encouraged our people to try as much as possible to have a union. We believed this would be a way of

frustrating these fake journalists.

But it never worked.

“We also visited media houses and asked them to compile a list of their personnel and send to our secretariat so that we would be able to monitor these people.

At least the thinking then was that if you told us you worked in an organisation and we checked our books and asked you some questions and your name was not there, we would know that you are not genuine”, the former NUJ scribe said .

“Unfortunately, all those measures never worked. They (the fake journalists) are very smart.

Some of them would even go as far as cloning the stickers and identity cards of media organisations. So, it is tough curbing their activities”, Okereke stated.

He, however, expressed the belief that such activities would fizzle out, especially with the gloom

the media industry is presently experiencing. “I think with the difficulties the industry is experiencing today, this menace will go out on its own. Many of these people are no longer finding the media space attractive due to recession. I believe nobody will tell those still doing it to stop”, the former Lagos NUJ scribe added.

Who is a fake journalist?

“Fake journalist” is a common parlance used to describe someone who poses as a journalist at news events such as press conferences, workshops, seminars and road shows, who reports for no known or identifiable media organisation – newspaper, television or radio or even the fast-growing online media.

In Lagos, the growing number of fake journalists and their menace are a cause for alarm for concerned professionals. These peo-

ple are said to have some character traits. They are aggressive and organised, given the manner in which they pursue their ‘calling’.

One of the characteristics of a fake journalist is knowledge of places where events hold and he has the time to touch as many places as possible any given day. He has no deadline to meet and no editor to report to. He is never in a hurry to beat a deadline. He gets to assignments and immediately impersonates a media organisation that is not present.

They can always be sighted at events alongside real professionals conducting interviews but their sole motive is to get personalities to part with some money. Such interviews are never meant to be published. They would claim to represent magazines, newspapers and radios whose names even bookish minds have never heard before. It remains unknown how these people manage to avoid arrest.

Recently, a photojournalist with a credible media organisation caught someone posing as a reporter from his organisation, confident that no one from that media platform had come to cover the event. According to the photojournalist, he raised the alarm after getting wind of the phony journalist at the event, but the “criminal” escaped arrest.

Reporter’s Diary Flashlight in ‘enemy territory’

By Kasali Qudus I will never forget the day I learnt to always uphold the golden rule of journalism as a budding reporter. It was at an event organised by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA).

The event had been purportedly organised to engage stakeholders on how to stop the layoffs in different

sectors of the economy but the engagement was stalled by the violent attitude of a labour group.

The frontage of the venue of the event that was to start by 10 a.m. was besieged by the labour group’s members who barricaded the entrance and stopped journalists and other guests from gaining entrance.

Despite all entreaties from the organisers, those who had assumed the position of gatemen were unrelenting.

Suddenly, there was a gunshot. Fear everywhere. To

the photojournalists and cameramen, however, this was a good catch but there won’t be any catching before observing the golden rule of “safety first”.

But one of them played the deviant. He let go of the flashbulb at once in the “enemy territory”, trying to etch the infamy of armed Area Boys on the face of eternity.

This colleague paid dearly. Just visualise Lagos miscreants in their fury and imagine what happened to this fellow and his camera.

24

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

If you had a choice, what name ? lf e rs u o y r fo e s o o h c u o y ld wou Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Pupils of Deril Academy, Old Ife

3

Ma ze

4

2. Abdusalam Lawal, 10 yrs old, Pry4 I like my name ‘Abdusalam,’ which means ‘source of peace.’ But for my elder brother who challenged me one day that I did not know the meaning of my name, I wouldn’t have known the meaning.

If I’m given opportunity to choose another name, I’ll still choose the same

3. Bolade Oladokun, 9 yrs old, Pry 4 Names are very important for identification and I got to know that I was christened 16 names out of which my favourite is ‘James.’

The name is in the Bible, the person was a brother to Jesus Christ and he also wrote one of the books of the Bible in the New Testament. My second best name is Temiloluwa, which means ‘I’m God’s.’ I can’t imagine what I would have been writing on test and examination answer booklets if I don’t have a name.

4. Jomiloju Oludele, 9 yrs old, Pry 4 My parents wanted a baby girl and God surprised them by answering their prayers, hence I was named ‘Olu-

wajomiloju.’ My mum explained to me what brought about the name. I value that name. I wouldn’t go for any other name even if I had a choice. The name makes me feel special each time I’m called.

5. Chimobi Irechukwu, 9 yrs old, Pry 4 A name is given to differentiate between two things.

I just asked my parents last Sunday what my name ‘Chimobi’ means. They said “God knows your heart.”

Having known the meaning, it would help me each time to be careful of what I do.

However, I would choose ‘Agustine’ as an alternative to Chimobi.

6. Oreoluwa Abodunrin, 8 yrs old, Pry 3 I would still pick Oreoluwa, ‘gift of God’ again if asked to make a choice of a name. In addition to this is Aduragbemi which expresses ‘prayer pays me.’ I stumbled on a disc on which my name was written. Curious to know what was there, I played it and I got to know it was my naming ceremony video recording. From there, I got to know I was given five names.

7. Eniola Ayofe, 9 yrs old, Pry 4 My mum told me that she could not recount the names on the list of my names because they are up to 20. But among them, I have chosen Bisola and Eniola because they have deep meanings. I don’t think if I had an opportunity to choose new names, I could find any as good as those I already mentioned.

8. Gabriel Adebayo, 8 yrs old, Pry 3 I like the names ‘Gabriel’

and ‘Oluwademilade.’ I believe that my parents did not just pick the names because they sounded good but that they were inspired by God. I also consider a given name to be one’s destiny in life.

Example is the name ‘Gabriel,’ by which I feel God sent me into the world as an angel to my parents.

9. Mubaraq Nureni, 8 yrs old, Pry 3 I would prefer to answer to Toyosi and Olawale if I were to choose another name. Olawale means I brought wealth to my parents. If I bring wealth to my parents, it means they would not lack anything in their lifetime.

1. When is a doctor most annoyed?

2. What has 88 teeth but never brushes them?

3. What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?

4. What has a foot on each side and one in the middle?

5. You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside. What did you eat?

6. What has eyes but can’t see, a tongue but can’t talk, and a soul but can never find love?

Answers

JUMBLED WORDS

ke

2

name because I like the meaning. I don’t see any reason to change it.

J

1. ibukunoluwa adegbie, 9 yrs old, pry 4 If I had a choice to pick names for myself, I would have chosen two other names with the one I’m bearing now. They are: Oluwatoyin and Ayo. I like ‘Oluwatoyin’ because it means ‘God is worthy to be praised,’ while ‘Ayo’ means ‘joy.’ The one people call me now suits me as I see myself as a blessing to myself, family and everyone around me.

Riddles

of is out en he 1. Wh s. t patien iano.

2. A P er. iv 3. A r rdstick. a corn.

4. A y ear of 5. An oe. h 6. A s

5

1

9

8

7

6

Teacher: What is 1 minus 1?

Ambe: I don’t know sir.

Teacher: If I give you one puff-puff and take it back, what will you have left in your hand?

Ambe: Oil sir.

C

a r t o o n

25

19 November, 2016

weekend cartoons

AMERICAN PRESIDENTS SINCE 1980 From JIMMY CARTER to TRUMP

Saturday Tribune

Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638

Just a Laffing Mata

‘Mu mu’ b oy

Segeluulu fell down and the chicken he was carrying started scampering away.

When he saw the chicken absconding, he started laughing.

When people asked why he was laughing, he said: “See this mumu chicken, where does she know in Lagos when the address is with me?”

POLITICO

ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENTS SINCE 1980 From MUGABE to MUGABE

M e t oo

An illiterate was given some basic English conversation training by an English tutor before he visited Bill Clinton who wanted to see him. The instructor told the man, “When you shake hands with Clinton, say, ‘How are you?’ then he will say, ‘I am fine, and you?’ Now, you should say, ‘me too’.”

When this young man met with Clinton, he mistakenly said, “Who are you?” (Instead of “How are you).

Clinton was a bit shocked, but still managed to react, “Well, I’m Hillary’s husband.”

Then the young man replied, “Me too.”

What do you have

FUNOLOGY

Man: Marry me?

Woman: Do you have a flat?

Man: No. Woman: Do you have a Camry car?

Man: No. Woman: How much is your salary?

Man: No salary, but I...

Woman: No but! You have nothing. How can I marry you? Leave please, before I open my eyes!

Man: But I have 1 estate, 3 landed properties in GRA, 3 Ferraris, 2 Porsches and 2 G-wagons. Why do I still need to buy a Camry? How can I be paid salary when I’m actually the boss?

Woman: That’s why I told you to leave, because I am coming to your house myself to propose to you.

Hardwork doesn’t pay:

Nigerian singer reacts following Hillary Clinton’s loss

CANDID SHOT

FCT road... Wish all Nigerian roads were as beautiful as this! PHOTO: ADEREMI DAVIES

26

19 November, 2016

outofthisworld

Saturday Tribune With femi osinusi

osfem2@yahoo.com 08055069292

Soldiers hold parade inside river in Indonesia

T

he military in countries all over the world are known to hold parades regularly, especially during independence anniversaries of countries and other such important events. They are always a delight to watch anytime these parades are carried out, particularly with their well-starched uniforms and ever shining boots.

However, the military parade recently held in Indonesia was an unusual one. The parade was held to mark the 71st anniversary of the formation of the country’s armed forces.

At the event, the parade, which was traditionally known to take place on the ground, took place right inside the river.

At the ceremony, held in Suramadu beach, Western Java, according to globetopnews.com, soldiers were made to march through waist-deep river while weapons were also displayed right inside the river. This was done, according to the country’s military leadership, to show to the whole world that the country’s soldiers can fight any battle anywhere.

Soldiers waist-deep in the river.

Weapons displayed alongside the soldiers in the river.

Another section of the soldiers in the river.

The commanders and their troops.

The parade did not disturb the local fishermen from carrying out their duties.

27 feature

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

From poor man’s wears to high class styles Ankara steals show in fashion scenes

In the past, this African print was considered as clothes for the poor and lowly. But with the revolution in the fashion scene, ankara is now being worn by all categories of people including the high and mighty as captured in this piece by TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE.

I

“

T is true the country is experiencing reduction in cash flow, but I must confess that this has just a minute effect on the sale of ankara fabric says Alhaja Zainab Koleoso, Executive Director, Zennai Textiles, Ibadan. She went on: “The demand for this African print is daily on the increase because the use is versatile. You can’t be in the business and complain of low patronage. That’s just the simple truth.”

“The embrace of ankara prints by Nigerians has brought out the creativity in me. It’s thrilling coming up with unique designs for both young and old,” added Israel Lewis, a fashion designer and owner of Excellent Cuts, Lagos. According to him,”What makes this fabric unique is its adaptability.

You can combine it with any other material and mix it with beautiful trimmings.”

Decades past in Nigeria and the South West in particular, for any social event, lace and guinea brocade materials were the toast of socialites, celebrities and fashion enthusiasts.

These materials came in different colours and designs, beautiful and suitable for both sexes. A fabric like ankara was never given a second look because they were regarded as clothes meant for the ‘anti social’ and the poor. But as fashion evolves, gradually this African print made its way into the fashion scene.

Today, ankara print which in the past was regarded as having no fashion relevance now dictates the fashion scene.

Saturday Tribune spoke with dealers in this African print and users and they have these to say.

Ankara, a leveler at social events “These days, no social event or gathering is regarded as classy or of standard if no aso ebi (uniform) is chosen for the occasion,” says Mrs Bisi Olagbaju, an event planner.

“More often than not, ankara fabrics are chosen for such events because aside being affordable, they come in beautiful designs.

Again, the quality of the ankara you choose for your event could indicate your class and taste.”

According to Toun Adenuga, CEO of Balloons and Ribbons, a decoration outfit, “People are now so used to the idea of buying aso ebi. The first question they ask you when you invite them to your party is, ‘What fabric (aso ebi) have you chosen?’

When they ask you this, most times, they have ankara in mind. Anyone who decides not to choose one is regarded as odd.”

She added that, “Due to the fall in standard of living, people now opt for this African print which serves as a leveler of the different classes of people and bridges the gap between the rich and the poor at occasions.”

Different grades, different prices While it is believed that ankara is affordable and enhances your looks, Mrs Kehinde Awoniyi, Executive Director, Fashion Palace, Bodija, stated that, ”Ankara comes in

grades.

While we have those as cheap as N700, we also have some as expensive as N30,000. The brand and quality determine the cost. More expensive are the ones manufactured in neighbouring African countries like Ghana and Mali. We also have good ones from Senegal. These are of better qualities and designs and more durable.”

Stylish cuts and designs Gone are the days when this African print was sewn into only the Yoruba traditional outfit (iro and buba) for the female and buba

The brand and quality determine the cost.

More expensive are the ones manufactured in neighbouring African countries like Ghana and Mali. We also have good ones from Senegal.

Excited at the metamorphosis ankara was undergoing, Adewale Oke, an artist and one of Lewis’ customers stated that, “These days, ankara is not only worn by wedding invitees but the bride also. The first time I saw a bride wearing a wedding gown combined with ankara, I felt so impressed. It was certainly a display of the bride’s designer’s ingenuity. Her attire obviously added a plus to the occasion.” and sokoto for the male and later the stylish long skirt and blouse which was copied from other West African countries.

Today, the trend has changed. Designs in ankara prints have now embraced a modern touch suitable for both young and old. This creative touch comes in form of dresses, skirts and blouses, shirts, jackets, trousers, blazers, jumpsuits among others. The most recent design is that of wedding gowns mixed with this African print.

Israel Lewis, a fashion designer, spoke more on this.

“As a fashion designer who wants to remain relevant, you need to be inspired. I receive inspiration from everything around me, I therefore come up with modern cuts,” he said. “Whatever design I make with these ankara materials will dictate where they can be worn to. Some are meant for parties, dinners or picnics, while some serve as office or casual wears. There are a thousand and one ways you can work on ankara prints to bring out the beauty in them. You can have embroidery designs on them or add other materials like net lace, guinea brocade, shiffon or satin. The list is endless. There are other accessories like buttons, trimmings and zips. The recent one is the bling, bling craze – that is the application of stones on the prints.”

As fashion accessories With the latest step of adding just a touch of this African print to your dressing , designers now have a field day creating breathtaking accessories and ornaments in form of earrings, brooches, bangles, necklaces, headbands, bowties, bags, shoes and purses among others.

“It’s exciting when heads are turned when you walk into a place or gathering,” says Tosan Anore, a student of University of Ibadan. ”I have often received nods of approval as a result of my dressing. Thanks to the revolution in the fashion scene. I have a sister who makes a living making fashion accessories like earrings, necklace, bangles and the likes from fabrics like adire (tie and dye) and ankara. She also has a cobbler who designs her shoes and bags with these materials. She sells these here and abroad. Quite a number of Nigerians and Africans generally living abroad love her products and she makes quite a fortune from them. She taught me that all I need to do to look different at any occasion is to add a touch to my dressing by using any of these accessories and this has really worked. According to her, this African print is gradually becoming the favourite of the Western world.”

28

xquisite INTIMACY

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

With Bosede Ola-Samuel 08112658560 bosedeola_samuel@yahoo.com

STRICTLY FOR ADULTS

7 reasons you should have sex everyday If you thought that the only benefit of sex was pleasure then think again.

Here’s some news for you. Making love is good for adults and making love regularly is better; achieving orgasm is best!

few weeks.

—Reduces stress Stressed out with work or family problems? Don’t let it affect your performance in the bedroom. Not only will having sex improve your mood, but a study has also proven that folks who indulge in regular bedroom activities can handle stress better and are happier people.

— Improves cardiovascular health A recent study showed that men who have sex more than twice a week, have a lesser risk of getting a heart attack than men who had sex less than once a month. So, women, if you want your man to be free of the risk of heart attack, allow him have sex with you regularly.

—Increases the levels of oestrogen and testosterone In men, the hormone testosterone is what makes them more passionate in the sack. Not only will it make you feel way better in bed, but it also improves your muscles and bones, keeps your heart healthy and keeps a check on your cholesterol. In women, on the other hand, the hormone oestrogen protects them against heart disease and also determines a woman’s body scent.

— Increases immunity Regular lovemaking increases the level of the immune-boosting antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA), which in turn makes your body stronger against illnesses like the common cold and fever.

I

have a Whatsapp group known as Marriage Enrichment Network. One of us on this group posted this and I feel it will be a blessing to couples. Please enjoy it.

— Promotes longevity When one has an orgasm, a hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone is released. This improves immunity, repairs tissue and keeps the skin healthy. Men, who have at least two orgasms a week, live longer than men who have sex just once every

—Increases blood circulation Your heart rate increases when you have sex, so, fresh blood is supplied to your organs and cells. While used blood is removed, the body also expels toxins and other materials that cause you to feel tired.

—Improves overall fitness If you find going to the gym mundane or working out at home a task, here’s another way to help you lose the flab and keep in shape. Regular sex will do wonders for your waistline. Half an hour of lovemaking burns more than 80 calories.

To be a part of this Whatsapp group, you can contact me on 08112658560.

CONVERSE WITH YEMISI

I ejaculate too early!

Dear Yemisi, cannot stay up to 10 seconds with my partner before I release.

What do you think is wrong with me?

Anonymous, 09*3*1****4.

I

Dear Anonymous, There is little I can do from this end to counsel you. For one, you did not tell me your age and even if you are of age to be involved in such an activity exclusively reserved for the mature minds you must learn the rules of the game.

Your problem might have been caused by anxiety to satisfy your partner or the feeling that you have longed for too long to have her. But for how long have you been experiencing this development?

Wanting to have a lasting sexual relationship with a lover requires being calm and not too much a rush though there is the temptation to quench your thirst at the sight of a loved one, but rushing into the act will leave you disappointed.

The available solution is that you visit a sex therapist/medical practi-

tioner who you must open up to on what you are going through sexually.

Candidly, if you are still a teenager wanting to at all cost have carnal knowledge of your girlfriend, you are threading a very dangerous path. Learn to zip up for now.

But if you are of age or married, I will advise you not to delay seeing an expert who will conduct proper examination on you and proffer the way out.

08055001741 (sms only) yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com

For Her

Bola, 34, Abuja-based, needs a nice, caring, understanding, God-fearing employed man for a relationship. Call 08077836079.

Dear Lover Boy, There can never be smoke without fire. All you need to do is to ask yourself some pertinent questions on how you have dealt with each other that could have prompted your lover’s decision to call it quits

Adebayo, 48, Accounting tutor, needs an educated, tall, beautiful Yoruba, Ibo or Hausa lady aged between 25 and 28 for a relationship. Call 09091230781.

Omolayo, 42, needs a caring, loving, understanding man aged 50 or above for a relationship. Call 07031381379.

Olawale, 35, Lagos-based, dark complexioned, needs a lady for a relationship. Age and tribe are no barriers. Call 07030957158.

Adebimpe, 40, needs a man aged 50 to 55 for marriage. Call 09075416568.

Abolaji, 45, single with one child, needs a woman aged 30 or above from any part of Nigeria for marriage. Call 09058974137.

Princess, 28, 5.5feet tall, fair-skinned, nicely built, wants a working class guy aged 30 to 500 for an affair. Call 09030609250.

Alex, 36, based in Lagos, needs a working class woman aged 25 to 43 for a relationship. Call 07034926061.

She left without a word Dear Yemisi, I have been in love with a lady for some time now. But she has broken up with me without any notice. What can I do for her?

I still love her.

Lover Boy. 08********3.

For Him

with you without any notice.

It could also have been that you were the only one in love and she played along as if she was in love with you till she felt she could no longer cope with your excesses.

All I have written are mere assumptions because I cannot understand why she could have called it quits with you. Have you asked why she decided to hurt your emotions?

It is not enough to just allow the sleeping dog lie without digging into the root of the matter so as to guide your handling of another relation-

ship you will enter into later. Even if you would not be relating as lovers, it is better to bid each other bye on a very healthy slate.

Forcing your feelings on an unwilling lover is a mere waste of time because there is no amount of commitment put into the relationship,it will not work in the end. But if you discover along the line that she is willing to continue, please, ensure you take her out of her shells by telling you what informed her earlier decision to sever her interaction with you and never to do such again.

29

19 November, 2016 Continued from pg9

Foray into broadcasting My father was a broadcaster so I was born into broadcasting. I grew up in the television environment in Ibadan and that of radio in Abeokuta. I would go with dad to the TV and Radio stations. Intrigued by the cameras, lights, microphones, vinyl and the great men and women doing their thing. I was one of the children on kiddies’ radio at age seven on Ogun Radio. We got picked up early in the morning to the studio to record. We read our poems, stories, sang songs. I was just a happy girl having fun talk on radio. As I grew older, I was allowed to co-present. I loved the radio setting and just wanted to be a part of it. While I was a student at the polytechnic and university, I continued to sit in with the masters on the job. I would leave for Abeokuta most Fridays then go back to school on Sunday evening. I’m very grateful for the opportunity given by Ogun Radio management for the hands on practical training. I did my youth service at the Ministry of Information, Ibadan and was fully involved in the production of two programmes; Spotlight and Insight for BCOS and NTA. After the service, I moved back home to Ogun Radio where I was fortunate to be gainfully employed and blessed to be part of OGBC-2 FM station as a continuity announcer, presenter and producer. This was where it all started falling into place for me. The zeal, punctuality, preparedness, discipline, passion, positive competition, learning, all under the tutelage of Olusesan Ekisola with personal mentoring and guidance from Mrs Moji Okubanjo. She was the benchmark for me then and I aspired to be her. DAAR Communications came calling and had the opportunity to be part of management. I was proud to be the 1st Nigerian to work at Choice FM now Capital Extra promoting music of African origin especially from Nigeria. I produced a 13-episode independent TV series for OHTV London and the female voice for BBC campaign for education in Africa.

Most defining moment of my career so far That would be the day we got news that our licence had been approved. I was rolling on the floor in the hotel room humbled by God’s hand. I was in the hotel when the call came that the licence had been approved. I went downstairs and asked the hotel manager to please tell me I wasn’t dreaming. A licence we had been waiting for for a long time. I called my husband and brother to share the good news. My friends decided to celebrate and popped Champagne, I drank just water because I needed to see the license approval in black and white. So I waited the longest weekend that seemed like eternity to physically sight the good news. That was the defining moment for me so far.

Why I started a women’s radio station In 2010, we had a vision for a femalecentric radio station. There are many radio stations in this part of Nigeria doing very well. For one to break into the market, you have to do something different to complement existing radio stations. Different for us was a female-centric radio station. We saw an advert in a newspaper and we applied to NBC. I must acknowledge NBC because if it had not granted this licence, Nigeria will not be talking about operating the first radio station for women. Indeed the first commercial radio station in Africa and we are very grateful to God Almighty for the opportunity to chart this course.

While waiting for licence approval, we did a study in 2012 on radio as a tool for women development. We wanted to focus on women and the family. We targeted corporate women, female students in tertiary institutions and small medium female entrepreneurs. The study identified a gap

Saturday Tribune

Success is about making an impact, not money

and indicated a need for women radio. It showed only 17 per cent of existing radio programmes are targetted at women. 73 per cent of the women we spoke to complained that the (17 per cent) programmes on radio about women are not balanced. They were prejudiced, one sided and did not represent the total woman. The study further indicated these programmes focus on women being victims of domestic violence and struggling with parenting. However same study showed that while women may suffer domestic violence and need support with parenting; they want programmes that discuss business, politics, money management, career and sport. Women who love sports shared their favourite football clubs. 77 per cent of the women spoken to said if radio programmes focused more on representing the total women, they will not just listen, they will participate. They called for more women in radio management, programme production and presentation to reflect and represent women from all diverse backgrounds. We knew we were on the right course. Yes we prayed about it, we had the vision and we continued to pray. In 2013, a year after we completed the study,

There are many radio stations in this part of Nigeria doing very well.

For one to break into the market, you have to do something different to complement existing radio stations.

our chairman stumbled on a report on radio convergence and development in Africa by Oreoluwa Somolu of WTECH. Her findings kind of validated our study that there is a lack of women targeted programmes on radio. This informed our decision to float a radio station for the woman and her family.

Women need to be more involved in radio management.

Operating a women’s radio station in Nigeria There are no hard and fast rules about operating a women radio station in Nigeria.

A radio station is a radio station whether women, news, sport or entertainment.

You run a radio structure and operate on radio equipment. It’s the programming that is different. Our niche is women. We encounter the same challenges that other stations and businesses face; financial sustainability, need for basic infrastructureuninterrupted power supply, running water and good roads. Being a new station that is women and family focused means we need to work harder to convince the listening public to key into the vision to garner the required followership which will hopefully translate into corporate endorsement and sponsorship. My colleagues play key roles in ensuring that the vision and mission of WFM91.7 are achieved and I acknowledge their hardwork.

Youth empowerment I got into radio at the tender age of seven.

If I was not given the opportunity and support from home, family and managers, I won’t be here today. The young are the future and the challenges faced by today’s youths are quite different from when I was growing up. However the fundamental values are and should still be the same.

They need a lot of support and guidance in all areas: education, values, faith, finance independencce, vision, morals. A couple of months ago, we had a workshop The Financial Girl for 50 girls between 15 and 30. They had practical hands on tutoring on being financially independent living a

healthy lifestyle while saving or cutting out health bills, the importance of insurance to protect life and business, choosing a career path and to add value to life. Thank you to Bank of Industry, Sovereign Trust, MTN and Lagos State WAPA who alligned with our vision and gave the 50 girls the opportunity to learn and be prepared-benefits of living a healthy life, savings, dignity in work, having a vision and being guided.

Every youth should be enabled to harness his/her skills and talents to pursue interests and dreams.

WFM91.7 runs the first youth radio on this side of Nigeria. It’s the “weekendtakeover” where they take over the management of WFM91.7 at weekends They produce and present their kind of programmes. The idea was initiated by my nephew. He called his friends and together, they carried out a survey under our guidiance. They came up with the name and programme style. Most of them are still in school and learning life time skills on the job.

Tips on how to have a successful career For me, success is not about making money but making a difference, making an impact. To succeed in anything, you need to work hard. Master your art. Check out what others are doing well and look at ways to improve. Tenacity. Continuous development. Certainly no need playing the gender card. Only play the card of hard work.

Above all, God in everything to suceed. A personal relationship with God to guide and order one’s step.

Curbing immoral decadence in our society When I was growing up, it was not only my parents that disciplined me, our neighbours did too. You don’t even want to do anything wrong when your parents are not around because the neighbours will discipline you more. I was raised to respect myself as a girl. Integrity, table manners, sitting properly, etiquette, hometraining, household chores, cooking, cleaning despite having househelps. Faith played a big role.

Waking up 6am for family devotion and before 9pm network news. Being punctual for church service. Not that I enjoyed it. I actually found it boring as I hated waking up so early. All these I took away from my parents, used and still using same yardstick for mine. Dads and mums must take total control to raise good and Godly children.

30

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

32

interview

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Ondo election will determine future of Nigeria —Odumakin Mr Yinka Odumakin is the Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere. In this interview by DEPUTY EDITOR, DAPO FALADE, he speaks on the rumoured plans for a third force in the politics of the country and on the crisis in the PDP and the APC. He also warned that the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State should be handled with care.

R

E-ALIGNMENT of forces appears to be the main issue in the polity at the moment. What is your view about the whole thing?

Well, there are movements across the board and things are happening in the political parties we have in the country today. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in disarray; the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party, has never been a political party, but a movement and an amalgam of different forces that are seeking power and they came together in a multi-purpose vehicle for election purposes and the engine of that vehicle, today, has knocked. That, I think, is the major reason for all the movements that we are witnessing now, in terms of who joins who to regroup and to form political parties so that they can take an advantage of the mess that is going on in the political parties. That is my view of all the criss-cross that is going on in the land.

But don’t you see the possibility of the emergence of a third force, given what is happening in the two leading political parties in the country?

The critical issue that faces Nigeria today goes beyond political parties. There are up to 50 registered political parties in the country. So, the issue is not about parties, really. I think it can be likened to a situation of software and hardware; you can use all your money to buy all the software that you want, but if you don’t have hardware to put all the software into, you are just wasting your time.

The critical issue facing Nigeria today is nationhood; we don’t have a nation, we don’t have a country. It is within a country that all the existing political parties can operate.

The ingredients of nationhood are lacking in Nigeria; Nigeria is not a settled polity. You can see all kinds of games going on; you saw all the people who were waving brooms two years ago, today, everybody is doing his own thing his own way, holding different types of brooms. Some people have taken over power and they are drunk with it. All the people that came with them, they have left them behind.

It is no longer about a political party; now, it is about religion, it is about other factors that have nothing to do with the aggregation of interest within a political party.

If we don’t resolve these issues, if we don’t address nationhood, if we don’t build consensus, if we don’t agree on the type of country we want and if we are not properly constituted to have a proper constitution as our guiding article of living together, but we form 200 other political parties, we are not going to solve the problem. Nigeria will remain where it is. Today, we are more divided than we were before the amalgamation of 1914 as a country.

Therefore, people can come together now on the basis of exigencies, but it cannot be sustained because all the columns of nation-building have been removed and, until you erect those columns all over again, there is no product-

ive politics that can be played. This is more especially in this situation of deprivation all over the country, hunger, disillusionment and the rest of them. So, it is only the elite, the fat-cash who today can be talking of politics, election and the rest. The mass of the people are disoriented, they are in agony and they are in discomfort.

Some leaders of the Afenifere recently held a meeting with some South West governors. What does the group really want from these governors?

Well, the initiative of the leaders of Afenifere is about the Yoruba Nation. When you look at Nigeria today, from East to West, North to South, we are the group that is in the worst form and shape in terms of where we are coming from, who we are, what we are and where we have found ourselves. It is not about political parties; it is not about elections or such other things. It is about who we are as Yoruba people; the value we hold dear, how we are losing them and how and what we need to do to bring back those

Nigeria is not a settled polity. You can see all kinds of games going on; you saw all the people who were waving brooms two years ago, today, everybody is doing his own thing his own way, holding different types of brooms. Some people have taken over power and they are drunk with it.

values so that we can take back our pride, once again, in the comity of nationalities.

How realisable is this in view of the divisive tendencies common in human nature and given that some of these governors are said to be hobnobbing with some forces that may not be working in the interest of the Yoruba race?

Ultimately, every politics should be local. God forbid, but if Nigeria should disintegrate today, I don’t think any of them will relocate to Sokoto or Daura; Yorubaland is their home and we have a common saying that ile la ti nko eso rode. If you don’t have a home and you say you are playing national politics or stuff like that, you are lost completely.

So, the meeting is not about people not playing their politics but in any case, if Yorubaland is to be a country of its own today, definitely, it cannot be a one-party state. There will be different political parties. But at this stage now, what we should be looking at is a Yoruba party within Nigeria so that the interest of our people and nation will be guided jealously.

Of all the countries that make up the United Nations, less than 40 of them have population figures comparable to that of Nigeria. Today, we talk about Singapore. At independence, it had only three million people. They have been able to move from Third World to the First World. Before the collapse of federalism in Nigeria, we saw where the Yoruba people were going under Chief Obafemi Awolowo, but look at where we are today. So, it is those things that are paramount and important to us at this stage; it is not about your party or whatever.

And, at the end of the day, we have even seen the end of party politics in Nigeria; can you see any political party around? People are talking about their interests and we Yoruba people should not be unmindful of that. So, we are not saying people should not play their politics or align to Continued on pg35

19 November, 2016 33 interview ‘Tinubu is a fighter, he will fight his way through APC crisis’ Continued on pg32

the centre, outside or anywhere but there is a common denominator among the Yoruba people and that is what is of paramount importance to us now.

Another current issue in the country is the seeming face-off between President Muhammadu Buhari and former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu. What is your view on the travails of the APC chieftain?

Well, there are contradictions within their political party and most of them, I think, stemmed from the fact that in a hurry to take over power, many issues were not ironed out before they put themselves in the same vehicle. Now, they entered into the vehicle and they want to drive in different directions. But, you know, a vehicle can drive in only one direction. So, those who are in charge of steering the vehicle will decide in which direction they will want it to go and those who are not happy with that are raising eyebrow.

But, as far as I am concerned, that is a matter for them to resolve within their party and whatever they are trying to do in their party should not disturb us, as Yoruba people, in putting ourselves together because the fate of the Yoruba people is not tied to the stake of any political party; it is not tied to any arrangement. I know that Senator Bola Tinubu is a fighter and he knows his way. He will sort himself out.

While we take note of what is going on around, for us, the larger stake for us is about the Yoruba Nation, not individual interests. What is happening between Tinubu and his party is not our primary focus at the moment.

But to some people, the target is not really Tinubu; what is happening to him is an affront on the Yoruba race. Do you subscribe to such a view?

Well, when you go down the history lane, we have always seen what has happened within Nigeria when any Yoruba man wants to rise or is rising. Chief Awolowo was one of the people who led the quest for the independence of Nigeria, but less than two years after independence, he was imprisoned. In fact, at the Independence Dinner, held in Lagos, Awolowo was seated in a dark corner among ex-service men and we saw all his travails throughout his political life. He won an election, but he was not allowed to rule, in an alliance of the British and the caliphate in Nigeria.

The late Bashorun MKO Abiola once said that maybe it was because Awolowo was not friendly enough with the caliphate. Abiola spent 70 per cent of his wealth and his life, building mosques, buying vehicles for obas and emirs. Then, he went for an election, he won the election all over the country but they told him that ‘nobody can get up from the part of the country and say you want to be the president of Nigeria’. So, the four years he should have spent as president, he spent them in prison before he was liquidated. He was not allowed to be president.

General Oladipo Diya said we should forget about Abiola’s mandate and went with the late General Sani Abacha as his number two man. When Al-Mustapha and others handled him, I don’t want to talk about what was coming from his trousers from his backside-they beat and tortured him and it was only God that saved him that Abacha died the night before he would have been executed. Even former President Olusegun Obasanjo, remember how he was sent to prison under the same Abacha before they brought him back, after several years in prison.

So, there is this historical connect that a Yoruba man can only play second fiddle in Nigeria and that anyone that attempts to say he wants to play number one or to be in the front row, there is a way they have always been dealt with. So, I believe that it is in that context that some would want to see the travails of Tinubu. But like I said, I believe that, at this point, that should not be our pre-occupation. Like I also said, he is a fighter and he can fight his way. But what should concern us should be the larger interest of the Yoruba people; how we are able to rebuild our institutions; how our strength as Yoruba people, and not that of individuals who can easily be defeated, can be further raised; how to improve upon our collective effort, which has always been our Rock of Gilbratar. Those are the things we want to get back to.

All eyes are on Ondo State in respect of the forthcoming governorship election but we are witnessing crisis within the leading political parties and among the major contenders. What is your take on the happenings in the state?

It is clear that there has always been this attempt to

kind of tranquillise the Yoruba Nation. I want to look at what is happening in Ondo State within the context of what is going on Nigeria at the moment. We can see the crisis in PDP; it is a replay of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) scenario in 2003 when you have the Abdulkadir and Mamman Yusuf leading the two factions of AD until the party was completely liquidated and we saw how our people were divided into the two camps, even when both Abdulkadir and Mamman Yusuf were reporting to the same master. So, the crisis in PDP and APC are what you are seeing playing out in Ondo State at the moment and we are waiting with bated breath for the outcome of that contest. When children are cutting a tree in the forest, the elders know where it will fall. We know where all this will end, but we have to follow it through. But by and large, I think the outcome of what is happening in Ondo State now will determine the future of Nigeria.

The state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, was seen publicly with two prominent APC chieftains, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and the governorship candidate for the election, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu and they later had a closed-door meeting. This has raised the suspicion that another alliance is probably playing out...

I spoke with Governor Mimiko this morning (Wednesday) and I think what you called a meeting was just a chanced meeting at the Akure Airport. It had nothing to do with the Ondo State politics or the matter at hand there. I think different governors were in Ondo State yesterday (Tuesday), including Governor Seriake Dickson and two others, in different capacity. The airport meeting was a chanced meeting and whatever discussion Mimiko had with Okorocha was over some issues they are pursuing at the federal level.

Saturday Tribune

Don’t forget that Mimiko is the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Okorocha is the chairman of that of APC. So, within that context, and from what I heard, the meeting has nothing to do with the Ondo election.

How do you think the lingering crisis in the major political parties can be resolved to avoid a repeat of the violence that was witnessed during the 1983 elections in the state?

We hope that the courts will resolve the PDP crisis because that has some potential forms of implosion in terms of the fact that, with what is ground, the two sides fighting for the PDP governorship slot, the minority has been recognised, while the majority has been shut out. When you do that kind of politics of exclusion, you are bound to create crisis. So, we hope that the courts will resolve it and create a level-playing field so that PDP can rightly go into the election with the strength of the votes it has. APC should go with its strength and AD should also go with its strength. The other political parties should also go into the election with their strengths and let the Ondo people decide on who they want to govern them in a free and fair election.

But if that is not done, when you look at the history of Ondo State, any attempt to play any hanky-panky in the state has always had dire consequences. The peace in the country is too fragile than to open up a centre of attrition in a volatile state like Ondo. Those who are managing the country should ensure that there is an orderly and peaceful election. The courts have a very important and crucial role to play in that regard. Let the people pick their governor in a free and fair election, devoid of any intimidation and devoid of any rigmarole among all the political parties that put forward candidates for the election in that state.

Jegede’s fate hangs in the balance, as Appeal Court adjourns judgement indefinitely

By Chima Nwokoji - Lagos THE fate of the governorship candidate of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), governorship election in Ondo State, hangs in the balance, as the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, on Friday failed to deliver judgement on the appeal he filed against the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court.

Justice Abang had, in the judgement ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Jegede’s name with Jimoh Ibrahim, who emerged winner of the primary election conducted by the Senator Ali Modu-Sherif’s faction of the party.

Abang, in the judgment in June, held that Sheriff was the authentic PDP national chairman on the grounds that there was an order of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court that restrained PDP from holding the convention where Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ben Obi emerged as national chairman and national secretary of the party’s caretaker committee respectively, having purportedly dissolved the Ali Modu Sheriff leadership.

The Appeal Court was on Friday, set to deliver judgement in all the appeals that emanated from the Ondo PDP matter, only to put off the judgment indefinitely following a motion filed at the Supreme Court by the Sheriff’s-led faction, asking the appellate court to hands off from the matter.

The Justice Ibrahim Salauwa-led three-member panel informed parties that, the panel was served with the motion before the Supreme Court at about 7:30pm the previous night, on an appeal against its earlier ruling where it assumed jurisdiction as a well constituted panel.

In the motion, factional chairman of the party in Ondo State, Biyi Poroye, accused the panel of bias and prayed the apex court to restrain the justices from further proceedings in the appeals.

The motion, served on the panel at about 7:30pm, on Thursday, alleged that the three justices had betrayed their office with the way the appeals were being handled.

The three justices, Ibrahim saulawa, Ignatius Agube and George Mbaba, were joined as parties in the motion filed at the apex court, which accused the appeal court panel of showing disrespect to the Supreme Court by violating les pendency.

Justice Saulawa, who announced the receipt of the motion in the court, described the motion as politically-motivated and diabolical.

“We recall that our panel was put in place on a rescue mission when the Justice Sankey-led panel withdrew from the matter, following the allegation of bias and bribery.

“We have come this far; we want to do what is most reasonable. We want to await the decision of the Supreme Court on the said motion. It is most unfortunate, but we have to do this to await the Supreme Court on the decision, whether are right or not.

“We rule that the appeal and sister appeals which were slated for ruling has been adjourned sine die (indefinitely) to await decision of the Supreme Court”, Justice Salauwa stated.

Speaking with newsmen after the adjournment, counsel to Eyitayo Jegede, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), said the action of the respondents was barbaric because their motion had put the Court of Appeal on trial.

Akinlaja said the Supreme Court had already given them next Tuesday to hear the motion which forced the Court of Appeal to. adjourn the judgement.

The appeal before the Supreme Court was filed by Biyi Poroye through his counsel, Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN).

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Saturday Tribune

Despite govt, CBN, SEC hurricane MMM sweeps

Billions of naira may be at risk

By Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

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t every business centre, cyber cafe and even in public transport system, the buzz word is MMM and it is sweeping across the country like a hurricane.

It was after Mr Kayode Ogunsola who lives in Lagos, cashed the money he put into MMM that he finally agreed that the scheme is paying and that people are joining at an increasing rate of 1000 to 2000 persons per day all over the country.

Despite the warnings by both the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that MMM is a fraudulent scheme which will cause people to lose money, the MMM Nigeria keeps growing stronger by the day.

The name, MMM, was derived from the first letters (M) of the surnames of its founders Sergey Panteleevich Mavrodi, his brother, Vyacheslav Mavrodi and Olga Melnikova.

While a visit to MMM website showed that most Nigerians are investing diifferent sums of money ranging from N10,000 to N4million and above, Ogunsola, who has just collected N45,000 after putting in N25,000 and leaving it for over

40 days, said, “MMM has come to stay because it is helping people to grow their money in a period when the economy is dwindling and prices of everything keep shooting up.”

Govt, CBN, SEC’s clear warnings The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently warned Nigerians to be careful of any deposit money institution that is not

insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) especially the MMM Nigeria community.

The bank, through its acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, said in a statement that such deposit money institutions were dubious Ponzi schemes.

“At times like this when the economy has suffered some

The laws of diminishing returns will eventually catch up with the scheme.

Initial investments will yield great returns, but the returns on further investment will gradually diminish. They don’t do any production or sales that might keep them running for a long term.

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warnings, across Nigeria

the investing public to participate in what it called ‘mutual aid financial network’ with a monthly investment return of 30 per cent. The commission hereby notifies the investing public that the operation of this investment scheme has no tangible business model hence it’s a Ponzi Scheme, where returns are paid from other people’s invested sum. Also, its operation is not registered by the Commission.

The House of Representatives as stated earlier, some days ago, also called on law enforcement agencies to track down promoters of MMM. The lower chamber also mandated its committees on banking and currency and financial crimes to investigate the scheme.

MMM customers adamant But those who patronise the scheme appear adamant. According to Ogunsola, they hold that government itself is a ponzi scheme, deceiving people everyday with empty promises.

“Imagine, if you put N100,000 in a bank, instead of growing by the addition of interest which banks are supposed to pay, it will be reducing because of bank charges. In fact, the worst is that before the end of one month, inflation has reduced the value of the N100,000 by N18,300. But put the money in MMM, you are sure of your N130,000 in one month and if you are registering for the first time, N7,000 sign-up bonus will be added. If you did not withdraw after one month,MMM will continue to add N1000 until the 45th day before it stops growing,” Ogunsola explained.

Blame government, stock market A herd of participants on MMM said people are compelled to explore all money-spinning avenues to support their livelihoods because of hardship in the country.

“The stock markets are failing; put your money there and you barely get any return on investment (ROI). You get little, or in most cases, no interest from the deposit money banks. Typically, the average man can’t even afford to access a loan from the bank,” Ogunsola told Saturday Tribune.

He said government and politicians should be held responsible for failed promises, looting, and the systemic corruption that have bedeviled Nigeria for decades now.

decline, Nigerians should be very careful with those they deal with. Any institution that is not licensed by the CBN to accept deposits should not be given money to keep under any guise.

“We can vouch for the banking system. The deposit money banks are the only licensed institutions to take deposits. If you need to deposit money in any form, go to any of the deposit money banks and put your money, you can buy fixed income instruments or invest in stocks,” he said.

“These people always come with very interesting propositions. These are fraudsters who are just out there to collect people’s money and run away as soon as they hit their target. There is no insurance because the NDIC does not even protect them against such risks when they occur,” the CBN said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also raised the alarm over MMM, describing it as a Ponzi scheme, where returns would be paid from other people’s invested funds.

“The attention of SEC, Nigeria has been drawn to the activities of an online investment scheme tagged ‘MMM Federal Republic of Nigeria (nigeria.)’. The platform has embarked on an aggressive online media campaign to lure

How does MMM operate?

MMM gives participants back their money with 30 per cent interest within 30 days. For instance, another participant who preferred not to be named said, “if you accept to provide help of N200,000, the bank account of either one person who requested for help of N200,000 or a number of people whose total request is N200,000 will be sent to you to pay the money into.

“Although one can invest as many times as possible after each 30-day circle, extra bonus is given to people who upload a video of themselves promoting the scheme.

Also,” when you register on MMM and refer people to it, even if you are not investing, you earn 10 per cent of the amount the person invests.

As a networking scheme, he explained that whenever a participant provides help (PH) or want to send money to another participant, it is not only his/her money plus 30 percent extra that is generated by the MMM system, there is additional 10 per cent generated for the person who referred the participant known as ‘MMM referrer›, five per cent for MMM guider and another five per cent for higher participants at the top tiers of the MMM system.

That is how higher players on the MMM platform generate their own money.

Explaining further, the source who said he has been participating in the scheme since last June, said, “the MMM, like any Ponzi scheme, is an “investment” (though it is clearly stated in their website that MMM is not an investment) scheme which pays surprisingly high returns to “investors”.

They use the funds accumulated from the increasing number of new investors to pay the old ones. They are able to pay such high returns because of the exponential number of new members; paying really unnatural large returns in the hope that they will keep growing as new members/ investors turn in continually.

How long will MMM last?

According to an economist Mr Damian Nnanyerugo, the MMM is solely run on money (contributions).

19 November, 2016

Saturday Tribune

“The MMM will not remain here for much longer, so it is worthwhile to adopt the frugal economy now. The laws of diminishing returns will eventually catch up with the scheme.

Initial investments will yield great returns, but the returns on further investment will gradually diminish. They don’t do any production or sales that might keep them running for a long term,” he said.

He said MMM’s sustainability primarily depends on the trust the members have in one another and the hope of continuous increase in membership. It does not sound like a sustainable business approach.

“Alternatively, MMM can crash,” he said. “But this will only happen when participants are no longer willing to put in their money. As long as people keep joining MMM Nigeria, it will not crash.”

Some analysts also said MMM Nigeria has thrived well so far, and may continue for a while because of the increasing population of the people who have resorted to the scheme as a quick way to get out of the recession.

“The MMM managers even clearly states on their website that there is no guarantee of getting back your money after you have provided help. But the system is well designed in such a way that you provide help before you can get help.

“This eliminates the risk of anyone running away with your money. Failure to provide help within the specified time when contacted, you will be blacklisted out of the system,” Nnanyerugo said.

Beware of investments with more than 15% returns Well, you may argue that people lose money everyday on sports betting, trading forex, investing in stock among others. So it is entirely subjective and a matter of choice.” I will say enjoy the money while it lasts and good luck, because you will need it. At the same time, beware of any investment that gives more than 15 per cent return. It will soon go the way of other ponzi schemes,” Nnanyerugo warns.

He further said he knew a banker who borrowed money and invested in such scheme only to loose all the money when the scheme crashed.

Pat Andrew believes MMM is not a scam and wants the Federal Government to stop the act of even trying to investigate the scheme.

Also, Ethan Vanderbuilt, in a social media comment, wrote: “MMM is a ponzi scheme that is taking advantage of your country. The original scam crashed because it could not pay people.

It will lead to people taking their lives when this one crashes as well. Act to stop this scam now before it grows any larger.

“For all the MMM scammers that think they are not hurting anyone, let me break this down for you. MMM is a direct payment ponzi scheme. For someone to get their money back, someone else has to be fooled into giving them their money with a false claim of them getting a 30 per cent return in one month.

“To get your 30 per cent return others have to be fooled into giving you their money. This goes on through an endless chain of people until no more suckers can be found. When this happens, the scam collapses and the huge number of new people that joined and the people waiting to get help get nothing. Then you get a statement like the following: We regret to inform you that we have to close down MMM. It was an experiment and, unfortunately, it failed. ‘We turned out not to able to pay 30 per cent per month. ‘Old investors are victimising new investors with a scam.”

Origin of MMM MMM was founded in 1989 by three Russians – Sergey Panteleevich Mavrodi, his brother Vyacheslav Mavrodi and Olga Melnikova. The name was derived from the first letters (M) of their surnames, thus MMM. The company was into computer and office equipment import until it was accused of tax evasion by the Russian authorities. They couldn’t fund any foreign trade again, making it difficult for them to continue operations.

After several unsuccessful attempts at diversification, it successfully turned into a ponzi scheme in 1994.

Within a few months, it grew exponentially and at its peak, it was able to turn in $50million a day. However, it became bankrupt in 1997 due to series of tax issues and unrealistic promises of excessively high returns (up to 200 per cent and even more, in some cases). Sergey Mavrodi was arrested in 2003 and convicted of fraud in 2007 with a four and a half years prison sentence. He was however released a month later, having spent over four years in custody already.

In 2011, it re-branded to MMM-2011 and continued to spread to different parts of the world. They landed in South Africa, for instance, in 2015, promising a 30 per cent monthly return with varying degrees of success. They saw potentials in Nigeria and penetrated the Nigerian market in early 2016 (at about the same period they were banned in China) with a similar model and claims. They have termed MMM a social financial network of people who trust themselves, and so are providing help (PH) and getting help (GH).

MMM is in over 118 countries in five years of existence in almost all the villages, towns and cities of all the 118 countries with over 300 million numbers (far more than the entire population of Nigeria).

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RCCG (HOUSE OF HONOUR) DONATES WATER PROJECT TO ARAPAJA COMMUNITY, IBADAN, OYO STATE.

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1. From left, APICP(CSR), RCCG Oyo Province 13, Pastor Nathaniel Olugbenga Adeseolu; Pastorin-charge of House of Honour Zone, Pastor Wale Adeniji; Pastor(Mrs) Awobode; PICP Oyo Province 13, Pastor Samuel Awobode; National Church Growth Officers, Pastor Lanre Akinosun and Pastor Segun Williams; the APICP(ADMIN), Pastor Edward Adepariola and Pastor(Mrs) Akinoso during the commissioning of water project donated to Arapaja Community by RCCG Redeemers Men Fellowship, House of Honour Parish, Arapaja, Ibadan recently.

2. Pastor-in-Charge of RCCG Oyo Province 13, Pastor Samuel Awobode cutting the take at the commissioning of the water project.

3. PICP RCCG Oyo Province 13, Pastor Samuel Awobode; APICP (ADMIN), flanked by Pastor Edward Adepariola (Right) and APICP(CSR), Pastor Nathaniel Olugbenga Adeseolu(Left) at the event.

4. A cross section of RCCG Oyo Province 13 Principal Officers, Pastors-in-charge of Parishes, Areas, Zones and Arapaja Community leaders at the commissioning.

19 November 2016

Saturday Tribune

RCCG donates to Arapaja Community

R

edeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Redeemers Men Fellowship, House of Honour Parish, Oyo Province 13, has donated a modern water project financed by the Redeemers Men Fellowship of RCCG house of honour parish to the Arapaja community, Ibadan, Oyo State recently.

The special guest and Pastor-in-charge of the RCCG, Oyo Province 13, Pastor Samuel Awobode, who commissioned the water project at the church premises on behalf of the General Overseer of the church Pastor E.A Adeboye, said the project was part of the corporate social responsibilities of the church to give back to the host community and for the use and benefit of mankind.

In his address titled ‘Jesus the living water’, Pastor Awobode said” water is important and it is life, the living water is provided by Jesus Christ and not ordinary the cleric stressed that, the water project was in fulfillment of the vision of the church, it is free to serve everybody and beginning of what RCCG will still do in Arapaja community.

In his remarks, the Baale of Arapaja community, Chief Isiaka Arapaja, appreciated the contribution, effort and humanitarian assistance of the church to Arapaja community and promised to support the church where necessary in subsequent projects.

Speaking at the event, APICP(CSR) Oyo Province 13, Pastor Nathaniel Olugbenga Adeseolu expressed his unalloyed gratitude to God for the accomplished vision and commended Pastor E.A Adeboye for being the brain behind the RCCG Social Responsibility and urged the community to make judicious use of the project. Present at the event were National church growth officers,

AZEEZ

I, formerly Azeez Ogunrinde now SALAWU AZEEZ. My correct date of birth is 15th Decemeber, 1976. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Pastor Segun Williams and Pastor Lanre Akinosun, APICP(Admin) Oyo Province 13, Pastor Edward Adepariola and Pastor-incharge of RCCG House of Honour Zone, Pastor Wale Adeniji. Others are Personal Assistant to former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and

Arapaja community leader, Alhaji Dauda Arapaja, Alhaji M.B Lawal, Pa Adegbite, Pa Yekini Olanipekun, Engineer F.O Adebayo(JPJ, Pastor(MrsJ Lanre Akinoso, Aihaji Ahmed Arapaja, Mr Taofeek Arapaja and Mr Saheed Olasunkanmi among others.

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Saturday Tribune

Editor: Wale Emosu tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08111813054

Falcons good for Awcon title —Okon

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ormer Super Falcons head coach, Edwin Okon, has described as World Cup quality the 21-woman squad for the 10th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Cameroon.

Falcons head coach Florence Omagbemi named 12 foreign-based professionals in the 21-woman team to confront the best in Africa in the biennial football showpiece in neighbouring Cameroon.

Okon says it will be shocking if the seven-time African champions fail to successfully defend the title they won two years ago in Windhoek, Namibia.

“The squad is almost a World Cup team and the finest and if they can use the right material at the right time they will strike gold in Cameroon.

“Ordinarily, I would say the professionals are too many but I believe the head coach, Omagbemi, knows far better than any-

one else the heavy dosage of foreign imports.

“I see the side retain the title they won two years ago in Windhoek, Namibia at the expense of the 2016 AWCON hosts, Cameroon.

“Almost the players listed for the Cameroon championship were the same as the ones that participated in the 2014 edition in Namibia.

“Only three players, Jonathan Alaba, Rita Chikwelu and Osarenoma Igbinovia, missed the 2014 edition but were listed for the 2016 championship.

“It’s almost the same set of players so I want to wish them success in Cameroon.

“The worst that could happen to the side is to come back home at the end of the AWCON without the coveted trophy.

“I went to the 2014 championship in Namibia with only six professionals and ended up winners. Now this set has 12 professionals so we do not expect

anything less than the trophy.

“I know that Ghana and Mali will want to ruffle feathers in the group campaign but Falcons will always find their route.

“However, I must warn that Kenya, though newcomers to the AWCON, should not be underrated.

“Any attempt to play to the gallery as established stars may hurt us at the

end of the day.

“I remain confident and positive that Falcons will not miss the podium dance at the end of the day,” the Rivers Angels head coach told supersport.com.

Galaticos dream World Coperate Soccer Championship Captain of Team Galaticos, Ope Williams has declared his team’s readiness to take down all opposition at the 4th Coperate Soccer Games billed for November 19 and 20 2016 at the football field of the Nigeria Ports Authority Health Centre in Surulere, Lagos.

He made this known In a telephone chat with Tribunesport on Friday ahead of the tournament which gets underway today.

Galaticos, seeded in Group B alongside three-timeime runners up Chevron and Emerging Marketers have their

sights set on winning the Championship.

“We are a group of entrepreneurs who just play football for fun, but we are adding the competitive edge this time because we haven’t gone far in previous seasons and we want to represent Nigeria at the World Coperate Soccer games in Canada.”

In the other group (A) defending champions Etisalat will face off against debutants Nigeria Ports Authority and Stanbic IBTC Bank. Representative from Stanbic, Segun Oyeneye, disclosed that they chose to play in the tournament because of the pedi-

gree and competitive edge that comes with the competition. And nothing first place is the target of him and his team mates.

“We are just coming off the hills of the Nigerian Bankers Games so we are match ready as we speak. Our goal is simply to win the competition.”

The two-day event will take place at the Nigeria Ports Authority Health Centre in Surulere, Lagos, with six games on the opening day while the semi finals and finals will take place on Sunday, 20th Nov. 2016 at the same venue.

4th GCI Quadrangular Hockey begins in Ibadan

The 4th edition of the Government College, Ibadan Quadrangular Hockey tournament flicked off on Thursday at the hockey pitch of the school with the host team battling for supremacy against teams from the CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, St James’ High School, Osun State and the Oyo State Academicals.

According to the event’s Sponsorship Coordinator, Engineer Folarin Olujembola, the competition is aimed towards the grassroots development of hockey in Nigeria, especially in schools, a project which has long been abandoned by the Sports Ministry.

He noted that the majority of the hockey greats discovered in Nigeria over the last 30 years came from the schools’ programme. The GCI Quadrangular Hockey is therefore targeted at helping Nigeria discover fresh talents that would play at the clubs and national team levels, to replace old ones who are already tired.

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19 November, 2016

Eyes on Modric at Madrid derby

Conte dedicates award to players, Chelsea

Chelsea’s Antonio Conte was named Premier League manager of the month on Friday after leading the club to four consecutive wins in October, while winger Eden Hazard picked up the player’s prize for the first time.

Conte saw his side pick up just one point in September, but after a tactical switch to the former Italy manager’s preferred 3-4-3 formation, the club scored 11 goals and kept four clean sheets in October.

“It’s a great honour and I will share this with my players and the club,” Conte told the Premier League’s website (www. premierleague.com).

“It is the first time I work

in another country with a different culture, and when you want to bring your own philosophy it is not easy, but now I am glad for this choice.”

Hazard, who scored three goals and claimed an assist in October, has been key to Chelsea’s revival this season and said adopting a more single-minded approach in front of goal had helped him rediscover his best form.

“People said I didn’t shoot enough,” he said.

“Now I try to shoot and score every game when I’m on the pitch. Before I was thinking about the last pass to make an assist, now I can do it myself.”

Chelsea’s upturn in form has helped them climb to

Dedevbo demands Falconets toughness Ahead of Nigeria’s final group phase match in the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, coach Peter Dedevbo has declared that his girls need to toughen up for the battle against Spain.

The Falconets face Spain in their last group match on Sunday.

As reward for a courageous performance against Canada, in which the girls came from behind to win 3-1, the players were given a rest day on Thursday. In place of the normal training sessions, the Falconets were allowed to swim for one hour. While banking on divine intervention for victory against the Spaniards, Dedevbo says he will embark on a total make–over for the all–important encounter on Sunday.

Saturday Tribune

“After every game, we go back to X-ray our areas of weakness and strength. The match against Canada was very challenging but I am happy with the eventual outcome. To progress in this tournament, we need to toughen up for the last match against Spain and I believe that God will grant us success.

“We are going to work on all the departments of the team from defence to attack. The fact that we defeated Canada does not imply that the team is hundred percent compact.

“I am proud of how the girls were able to come from behind to win the match.

Spain no doubt is a good team, they defeated Japan, a team that scored six goals against us, which means that we must step up our game.”

second in the table, a point behind leaders Liverpool after 11 games.

They travel to face 15thplaced Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday.

Real Madrid will rely on Luka Modric to pull the strings in the middle of the pitch today to try to engineer a first league win over local rivals Atletico Madrid since 2013.

With anchor Casemiro and pass master Toni Kroos injured, Croatian Modric is sure to be a key figure after returning from knee surgery to a raucous reception from Real supporters when he came off the bench in the 3-0 win over Leganes two weeks ago.

With usual talisman Cristiano Ronaldo enduring a slow start to the season, Modric has taken on even greater importance for Real.

Atletico captain Gabi singled out Modric, and not the prolific Portuguese forward, as Real’s danger man.

“With the return of Modric they recover their best player, the man who gives them balance and really makes them play,” said the midfielder.

“It’s a huge boost for them, and we’ll have to try and cope with him and counteract him.”

Even Zinedine Zidane, one of the greatest players of all time, has admitted to being awe struck when watching Modric grace the field.

“The things he does with the outside of his foot, those passes amaze me,” said the Real coach.

“He can do all the things that a central midfielder has to be able to do,” said former Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.

“But perhaps the most important thing is penetration with the ball. He has that pass that opens up the opposition.”

KFN set to stage national karate championships The Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), has concluded arrangements to stage national cadet, junior and senior championships in Lagos next month.

In a press statement by the president, Karate Federation of Nigeria, Chief Donatus Ejidike, the championship will hold from December 5 to 10 at the National Stadium, Lagos.

The tournament is designed to expose karatekas and give them the opportunity to tango among themselves for the purpose of ranking and grading ahead of international competitions.

It would also sharpen the skills of Nigerian karatekas and further give them plat-

form to exhibit their technical knowledge ahead international championships.

Participants are expected from all the states of the federation, including Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.

Ejidike who is also Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports disclosed that the cadet category which is between the ages of 14 and 15 years for male shall fall within the weight level of -52kg, -57kg, and -63kg while females shall be within the weight level of -47kg, -54kg, and +54kg.

In the junior category, karatekas between the ages of 15 and 17 years shall fall within the weight level of -55kg for individuals kata Kumite.

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Ighalo faces Rohr axe

W

atford striker Odion Ighalo has failed to impress Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr and he could subsequently be replaced by younger strikers Olanrewaju Kayode and Victor Osimhen in the Super Eagles.

Team officials say Ighalo will be dropped permanently from the Super Eagles as he has scored just one goal after 11 weeks of action in the Premier League in England, added to the fact that he has only scored one goal for the Super Eagles in a competitive match.

That goal came in a 2017 AFCON qualifier against Chad in Kaduna in June 2015.

Rohr has already said he was so impressed with the performance of Osimhen in the build-up to the Tanzania match and will offer him another opportunity to show if he is ready for the big stage.

“Rohr has not been impressed with the performance of Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye,” revealed a team official.

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Falconets toughness • Falcons good for AWCON title —Okon

“Against Tanzania, Ighalo was wasteful and hardly had two shots on goal, while against Zambia, [Brown] Ideye was full of endeavour, while others were scoring the goals. On both occasions it took the efforts of supporting strikers for the Eagles to claim maximum points.”

A disappointed Rohr would then consign both Ighalo and Ideye to the bench for the entire 90 minutes as the Super Eagles beat Algeria 3-1 in Uyo last weekend.

Also the left back occupied by Elderson Echiejile is also under threat, officials have hinted.

“Rohr has admitted his fullbacks still lack the mental strength needed for tougher challenges and that perhaps explains the special drilling Elderson Echiejile got before the game with Algeria,” disclosed a team official.

“The left back position is also under serious scrutiny, just like the right back.”

Rohr has already announced he is shopping for players for these positions..

AWCON: Falcons ’ll work hard to retain title —Omagbemi

By Wale Emosu FLORENCE Omagbemi believes her coaching skill is eminently enriched as she takes to the big stage for the first time from this weekend. This is just as she says that Nigeria “will work extra hard” to retain their African title.

Omagbemi is leading African champions Nigeria to the 10th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nation which gets underway today in Cameroon and says her experience as a player has sufficiently prepared her for the new job.

“Yes, it’s my first tournament as a coach but my experience as a player has prepared me for this,” Omagbemi told BBC Sport.

Omagbemi captained the Super Falcons when Nigeria won the maiden edition of the championship in 1998. She also lifted the diadem in 2000 and 2002.

In all, Nigeria are seventime winners of the African championship and Omagbemi says they will try to retain it in the face of stiff opposition. “Teams want to beat Nigeria, we will

work extra hard to retain the title,” she declared.

But coach of the Cameroon side says its their turn to rule Africa. The Les Lionnes lost in the final to the Falcons in 2014 while they finished third in the 2012 edition.

Based on this progression, coach Enow Ngachu says it’s just logical for them to assume championship of the title this year.

“In 2012, we finished third; 2014 we finished second.

Now we are in 2016. What next? Finishing first of course! I believe in the ability of my girls and I know definitely this year, adding to the

advantage that we are playing at home we have some very good chance,” Ngachu told CAFOnline.com The paths of both countries will not cross until, perhaps, the semi-finals as they are in different groups. While hosts Cameroon are in Group A, Nigeria are in Group B. The first match of the championship, to be officiated by Ethiopian referee Lidya Tafesse will be between Cameroon and Egypt.

Venue of the match is Ahmadou Ahidjo Omnisport Stadium, Yaounde. Nigeria square up to Mali at Stade Limbe in Limbe, on Sunday.

By Ganiyu Salman Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has said today’s English Premier League top clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford remains any other fixture, saying he has nothing against the Reds’ manager, Jose Mourinho.

Wenger’s submission came on the heels of the altercation which once ensued between him and Mourinho, then Chelsea boss.

“Look, I don’t think I have to describe our relationship. He [Mourinho] will fight for his team and I will fight for my team and I think that’s completely normal.

Ighalo

No war with Mourinho —Wenger “You know, we didn’t lose always.

We have beaten them and there were many draws as well. I think I have won against every manager in the world during my 20 years here and I do not make of this game a competition between two managers.

“It’s between two clubs and two teams and I think I can understand that people want to create controversy, but it’s not that, that makes the audience. What will make the audience is the quality of the Wenger (left) and Mourinho (right) during their game,” he told www.arsenal.com. face-off when the latter was in charge of Chelsea.

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