21st August 2016

NO 2,060

SUNDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

N200

Fayose, others want to kill PDP —Babatope •Politicians are our problem —INEC chairman

pgs14, 15 & 43

Prepare for harder times •Experts tell Nigerians pg4

•Say recession won’t end soon

LOVER FROM HELL:

She lied... infected me with Magun, so I bathed her 6 g p with acid •Says lover of married mother of 5

What my ‘balloon eyes’ are doing for me — Ayo Adesanya

pg8 Fake malaria drugs in circulation, FG raises the alarm FG to reintroduce nationwide environmental sanitation pg41

Ondo APC crisis:

Labour Party wins Oyo pg4 bye-election 2,000 IMMIGRATION RECRUITS:

•As state exco sacks party chairman •They are funny characters —Chairman

•Contest election and take over —Presidency

No anointed candidate, Oyegun tells aspirants pg5

Buhari didn’t deserve to be pg4 president —Ezekwesili

2

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

3

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

life&living

Cruel fate of pensioners

•Many living on medications, dying in hundreds

It is the expectation of every retiree to enjoy a deserved rest and decent life after years of service but this is not so. The current economic recession has not helped matters too. Our reporters Biola Azeez, Johnson Babajide, Austin Ebipade, Jude Ossai, Oluwole Ige and Olayinka Olukoya, report that pensioners in the country are suffering untold hardship even as many continue to die waiting for pension allowances that do not come on time.

A

S the economic situation in the country continues to bite harder, senior citizens of the country, especially pensioners, are feeling the pinch more than any other set of people. This is because most of them are living on stipends (pension), while their children, who traditionally should be providing extra financial support when necessary, have also either not been paid for months, or simply have little to spare for their aged parents.

Barely three weeks ago, pensioners in Benue State, who could not take it any longer, stormed the government house to demand payment of their 10-month

arrears, and also demanded for the implementation of the increment in their (pension) allowances.

The peaceful protest was halted when

two of the pensioners slumped. It took the prompt intervention of other pensioners to get them revived. The protest was the third the pensioners had embarked upon

When one sees pensioners crying out over unpaid pensions, go and see them after being paid. The first port of call is a pharmacy to get the drugs that will last one for about 15 days or for a whole month.

in the last four months to draw attention to their plight.

Luck was the saving grace for Mr Bem Atswen who retired from the state ministry of finance four years ago, else it would have been a different story for him penultimate Tuesday if his neighbour had not lent him N2,000 for the purchase of drugs which he was supposed to take after suffering a stroke.

Speaking to Sunday Tribune recently at Ikeja street, Wadatta area of Makurdi, Mr Atsen said he could have joined his ancestors or suffered a stroke, “if not for the intervention of a neighbour Continues pg 9

news Prepare for harder times, experts tell Nigerians 4

BySulaimonOlanrewaju

A

S a result of the current harsh economic situation in the country, economists and experts have opined that Nigerians should brace up for harder times and not expect the nation’s economic fortunes to change overnight, noting that such a change takes time.

This, they said, is in spite of the current effort by the Federal Government to reflate the economy through an expansionary budget.

According to Dr Austin Nweze, a lecturer at the Lagos Business School, “We did not get into economic recession overnight and we can’t get out of it overnight.

Thinking of a shortcut out of the recession is a pipe dream that cannot materialise.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had warned of the imminence of recession in May after its Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja. According to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, “the conditions that led to the contractions in the first quarter of 2016 were still largely unresolved.

The recession, which was signalled in July 2015, now appears imminent.”

But the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its forecast on Nigeria released in July entitled “Uncertainty in the Aftermath of the UK Referendum,” was more definitive. IMF had warned that the economy would contract by 1.8 per cent in the current year from the 2.3 per cent growth it had predicted in April. The global body also forecast a 1.1 per cent growth for Nigeria in 2017, down from the 3.5 per cent it made in April.

Although Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, agreed: that the economy had slid into recession, she opted to qualify it as ‘technical’.

The minister who said this in July when she appeared before the Senate, added, “Technically, Nigeria is in recession but we should not go into definition; but what we are doing.”

Recession was foisted on the economy following a dip in the price of crude oil, Nigeria’s economic mainstay, from $114 per barrel in 2014 to as low as $28 per barrel in 2015. It currently sells for about $48 per barrel after rallying to almost $51 per barrel last week. The plummeting of crude oil price affected monthly allocations to state governments from FAAC, which led to many states owing their workers up to six months salaries. This also impacted negatively on availability of foreign currencies, especially dollars, with the effect that the exchange rate of the greenback to the naira hit

21 August, 2016

the roof. The effect of this is that prices of imported items, including petroleum products, went up while local manufacturing activities went south.

Speaking on what the government is doing to stimulate the economy, Mrs Adeosun, during a chat with journalists in Abuja last Thursday, noted that, “we said from the beginning that the economy would need a spending stimulus. So far, we have spent on capital projects over N400bn between May, when the budget was signed, and

today.

“And even as we leave here now, we are going to have a capital allocation meeting where we are going to allocate another N60 billion.

So, we are pumping money into the economy at a very rapid rate.”

The government has also embarked on borrowing locally and internationally to bridge the N2.2trillion gap in the 2016 budget.

While lauding the government’s determination to pump money into the economy, Nweze said it would have had more profound

effects had it come on time.

“There is a time element to economic management.

If you delay in taking a necessary step at the appropriate time, you end up paying dearly for that delay. The step being taken by the government in trying to stimulate the economy is good but this is August. The money should have been released earlier than now.

We will pay for all the delay that we had in passing the budget. Inflation has caught up with us; suffering in the land has been escalated just because we had a delay.

“Now, it is good that the government has swung into action. But what will be the result? The economy is in recession and it is far more difficult to get out of recession than to get into it. Production has gone down, unemployment has risen, inflation is very high; all these are consequences of recession. To get out of recession, we have to correct all of these and it is not something that would happen suddenly.”

Speaking in a similar vein, Professor Adeola Adenikinju, Director, Centre

Immigration recruitment: Buhari didn’t deserve to be president —Ezekwesili Go and contest if you want to replace Buhari —Presidency Leon Usigbe and Ademola Adegbite -Abuja THE Convener of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) and former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, on Saturday, said President Muhammadu Buhari didn’t deserve to be president, due to his lackadaisical attitude to the plight of the 2000 Nigeria Immigration Service recruits, who slept at the entrance of Aso Villa in Abuja from Friday till Saturday morning.

But the Presidency in its reaction challenged the former minister to run for presidency and take over from President Buhari.

We recall that NIS recruits were trained on weapons handling and dispersed on August 20, 2015 from their various camps, following a circular, which emanated from the NIS headquarters in Abuja, directing them to go on two weeks break.

Since then, they have not been recalled to their respective camps.

Ezekwesili, while appealing to the protesters to maintain decorum, also challenged President Buhari to come out and publicly address the alleged illegal recruitment which has permeated his administration in the last couple of months, saying “that was not the change Nigerians voted for.”

According to her, “you are great Nigerians. So, you slept here, Oh my God! Inside this cold of Abuja.

Somebody holds you a better explanation, and if President Muhammadu Buhari says he doesn’t know that you slept here since yesterday, it means he doesn’t deserve to be there.

“This government should not punish those who did not deserve to be punished.

Nothing should be done secretly. This is not the change Nigerians voted for.

President Buhari should come out and address

the allegation of illegal recruitment going on in the civil service,” she added.

She further alleged that the Federal Government was employing those who did not have knowledge, skills and required literacy through the backdoor into civil service without minding the consequence, while promising to join the recruits until their demands were acceded to

by President Buhari.

Ezekwesili stated that the impunity Nigerians fought during the immediate past administration has resurfaced in the present administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

She frowned on the situation in which the underprivileged were being subjected to hardship before they could be employed into the civil service, pointing out that only the children of members of the National Assembly, Federal Executive Council and bigwigs in the country were gainfully employed, even without merit.

Also speaking, another convener, Mrs Aisha Yesufu said the immediate past administration deserved to be commended for redeeming its image by employing the recruits, wondering why President Buhari, who promised ‘change’ had subjected the youth who had undergone rigorous trainings, especially in weapons handling, to such humiliation.

Some of the other protesters, Godwin Ladi Mercy, Adeleye Adejoke, Salomi Yohanna and Usman Ugbede Yusuf, condemned government action, saying the Federal Government should not refer to the 2,000 youths as applicants, because they have been given provisional offer of appointments, NIS uniforms, identification cards and posted to various commands nationwide.

As of the time of filing this report, the protesters, who slept at the entrance of the Villa till Saturday, have vowed to remain there, until the president or any of his aides comes out to address them.

While reacting, the Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, advised Ezekwesili to form a political party to run for presidency if she felt Buhari was not doing well.

He told Sunday Tribune in Abuja that if she did so and won the election, Buhari would hand over to her.

Asked to react to Ezekwesili’s claims, Shehu said: “Did I hear you say that Madam Ezekwesili said President Muhammadu Buhari is not fit to be in that

office?

“That is a political statement. What I will advise her to do is to come out of the shadow of the grieving Chibok parents, register a political party and go into the election against the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari.

“If she thinks she is a better person to be in that office, let her present herself to the Nigerian people in an election. She has the right to do so under our constitution.”

“The issue of democracy is that there is a right to vote and be voted for. If anybody thinks that they can do a better job than President Muhammadu Buhari as president of Nigeria, let them go and run for the office to win election and take over.”

Labour Party wins Oyo Assembly bye-election

By Moses Alao A former caretaker committee chairman of Oorelope Local Government and standardbearer of the Labour Party, Mr Lukman Balogun, has been declared the winner of the bye-election held on Saturday to fill the vacant Oorelope constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly.

The seat became vacant following the murder of Honourable Gideon Aremu, who represented the constituency on the ticket of the Labour Party.

The Labour Party’s candidate polled 6,122 votes, winning in eight of the 10 wards in the local government, to defeat his closest contender, Mr Jimoh Gbadamosi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had 4,148 while the Accord Party’s candidate, Mr Solomon Olabisi came third with 2,123. The APC won in the remaining two wards.

The election, which began with voter accreditation around 8.00 a.m. amid heavy security according to some of the electorates who spoke to Sunday Tribune, was peaceful.

Following the declaration of the results at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Labour Party’s candidate said he could only express appreciation to God and the people of the local government, noting that God had chosen to test his party and had made them to succeed.

“The surprising thing in this election is that we defeated them with 1,996 during the poll that returned the late Honourable Aremu and today, we have posted a similar margin with 1,974.

It shows that the people believe in us and we will not let them down,” Balogun said.

Sunday Tribune

for Petroleum Economics, Energy and Law, said getting out of the recession required serious commitment to economic principles over a period of time.

According to him, “getting the infrastructure right would lift the economy out of recession. We just have to improve our infrastructure.

The most critical element in manufacturing in the country is electricity. Once we get that right, the cost of doing business will go down, then companies can increase their production capacity and also be in a position to employ more. That is the trend. When that is done, the economy would experience a rebound.

“Then the government needs to do something about unpaid workers’ salaries. One of the factors that brought about the contraction of the economy is the reduction in people’s disposable income.

When workers are not paid for many months, how will they be able to patronise the manufacturing sector? If manufacturing companies are not patronised, will they not automatically produce less?”

While speaking on borrowing by the Federal Government, he said it was not a bad idea, as long as the government spends the loan on developmental projects and not consumption.

According to him, so long the foreign borrowing would be from multilateral agencies and not through the markets, it is a good idea.

Adenikinju also called on the government to find a solution to the restiveness in the Niger Delta, adding that unless that was done, the country would not be able to maximally benefit from oil price rebound.

Professor John Adeoti of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) was optimistic that the economy might exit recession sooner than most people expect, provided the government keeps injecting funds into the economy.

On borrowing by the government, Adeoti said, “Borrowing is necessary to finance the expansionary budget. What the government plans to do with this budget is to stimulate growth in the economy. That is quite commendable.

Borrowing is not bad if it is used for the right thing. Borrowing to finance infrastructure is good. If we borrow now and invest in infrastructure, by the time oil rebounds, we will pay back conveniently. If we don’t do this expansionary expenditure, the economy will not get out of recession. If we don’t do this it will be tough for the country. We are fortunate that the people in charge now will use the money well to stimulate economic growth and not divert into other things.”

5

news

21 August, 2016

PDP replies APC, says government inept, clueless Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

W

ITH the economy reportedly in a nose dive in the first 15 months of the present administration, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being “inept, clueless” and unable to initiate polices to deal with the economics recession.

It said the APC had rather engaged in its usual blame game to deceive Nigerians.

In a reaction to the claim made by the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who had alleged that the PDP could not account for N33 trillion accruing to the country in the five years of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the PDP observed that the APC had portrayed itself as being dangerously obsessed with the frivolity of bamboozling Nigerians with high-sounding figures only

for entertainment purposes.

A statement issued by the PDP interim national spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja, on Saturday, said: “It is obvious in the eyes of all discerning compatriots

that this style of governance is not taking us anywhere.

“There is no doubt that it is this pattern of barefaced lying, dishonesty and incompetence that has crippled our economy, utterly

weakened our naira and raised unemployment levels to unprecedented proportions in only 15 months.

“The APC government has remained clueless and even confused as our economy

plummeted to a level where the nation’s infrastructure has completely collapsed and Nigerians are no longer able to feed their children nor send them to school.

“The reality of dwindling

From right, Head of European Studies Department, University of Ibadan, Professor Tunde Ayeleru; Dean, Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Kunle Adeniran and Professor Gbemisola Adeoti, during their matriculation into the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State.

We have no anointed APC candidate for Ondo gubernatorial —Odigie-Oyegun •As state exco sacks chairman •They are funny characters —Chairman From Kolawole Daniel and Hakeem Gbadamosi THE national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Saturday, disclosed that the party had not endorsed any candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

The chairman also disclosed that it had no preferred or anointed candidate for the said election.

Though the party has slated its primary for August 27, crisis is said to be brewing in the state chapter of the party following allegations that a preferred candidate had been endorsed by the party leadership.

Speaking at a meeting with the aspirants in Abuja, Oyegun said “I want to state in very clear terms to reassure all the aspirants that the par-

ty at the national level has no preferred aspirant and is not going to endorse any aspirant.

“They are all equal members of the party. They are our children who have entrusted in us the management of the affairs of their party.”

Reeling out the agreement at the meeting, he said, “I think we have all accepted that there is nothing wrong for anybody, member of the party or even non-member, to endorse any of the aspirants.

“We have also accepted unanimously that there will be no attempt on the part of the party to impose any aspirant on the party and on the electorate in Ondo State. So we have drawn a clear distinction between endorsement and imposition,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the crisis rock-

ing APC in the state, on Saturday, escalated as the State Working Committee of the party removed the chairman, Mr Isaccs Kekemeke.

The State Working Committee, which addressed a press conference around 5.00 a.m., on Saturday, accused Kekemeke of supporting and promoting one of the governorship aspirants.

The committee, which subsequently appointed the vice-chairman, Mr Ade Aladetimehin, as the acting chairman, said more than the required two-thirds of members of the committee voted in support of Kekemeke’s removal.

They alleged that Kekemeke had concluded arrangements to coarse party leaders and delegates for the primary to support Dr Segun Abraham, who they claimed is the anointed candidate of a national leader of the party,

Senator Bola Tinubu.

But the national vicechairman of the party in the South-West zone, Chief Pius Akinyelure, described the removal of the state chairman as a huge joke.

Akinyelure explained that the aggrieved members have no right to remove the chairman, describing the removal as null and void and of no consequence He said the aggrieved members were engaging

AS the speculations over the involvement of former President Goodluck Jonathan continue to gather criticism and denials from Niger Deltans, a new splinter group from the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) with the name ‘Reformed Egbesu Avengers’ (REA),

on Saturday, threatened to go after those behind what they called ‘smear campaign’ against the former president.

The group, which said it was cutting away from the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), an offshoot of the NDA, said those linking Jonathan with the current militancy

in the region would incur their wrath.

The new group’s latest outburst is coming as there was reported growing tension in the camps of the ex-militants as splinters groups continue to pull away from the main group as politics, personal interest and disagreement threatened to tear them apart.

oil revenues and an economy forced into a recession by an inept administration is a challenge that requires sincerity, competence and a large dose of honesty to get us out of the woods; not the constant lies and deception that have unfortunately become the house-style in the 15-month old of APC government.”

It described Odigie-Oyegun’s assertion as “avoidable mischief,” noting that issues bordering on the nation’s economy had continued to haunt the image of the country “at a time we are in desperate need of investment from the international community.”

The PDP maintained that without citing any credible sources, Odigie-Oyegun, who it said has no proven economic background or the benefit of any known diligent research, had claimed that the nation earned N56 trillion in five years under Jonathan, even as he admitted that the total budget for those years amounted to only N23 trillion, which was less than half of the vaunted figures.

The PDP added: “Since no source was cited for this ‘important’ piece of information, we are left to guess that he may have been inspired by a recent claim by other opportunist individuals that over N30 trillion may have been lost within the period in question.

“But should this or any other source that is yet to be verified by relevant authorities be relied upon as national information, especially as the purveyors of the half-truth always buckled when challenged for a proof?,” he said.

N/Delta leaders urge FG to stop further deployment of military hardware to region Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri TRADITIONAL rulers, stakeholders, elders, leaders of thought, youths and women of the Niger Delta Coastal States (NDCS) have called on the Federal

Those blackmailing Jonathan will incur our wrath —Splinter Avengers Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa

in anti-party activities and would soon be brought to book at the appropriate time.

Similarly, Kekemeke described the SWC members as ‘funny characters’, saying this news was laughable.

He noted that the aggrieved members were at a crossroads, saying they had appointed two chairmen within a week, as they had earlier appointed Saka Yusuf as chairman before switching to the deputy chairman.

Sunday Tribune

In a statement issued in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by the group’s Spokesman, ‘General’ Columbus Okolobo, REA specifically pledged to hunt down the leadership of the RNDA, which it said had become the mouthpiece of politicians who are bent on beclouding the ex-president’s ‘rising profile’.

Government to stop the deployment of military hardware and personnel to the creeks of the region.

This was made known at a one-day meeting of the NDCS chaired by Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, on Friday in Warri, Delta State.

A communique issued after the meeting meant to proffer urgent solutions to the current situation in the region contended that the deployment of military hardware in the area was causing fear, unease and social dislocation of innocent people.

According to the meeting attended by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and representative of the Bayelsa State gov-

ernor, among others, the deployment of the military hardware will worsen the already explosive atmosphere capable of compounding the economic situation of the country and the region.

The meeting called on agitators and aggrieved groups in the region to listen to pleas by traditional rulers, elders and leaders of thoughts to halt further damage to the nation’s oil and gas facilities and embrace dialogue.

It urged the Federal Government to show more seriousness by reaching out to authentic representatives of the region involving all ethnic nationalities, interest groups in an allembracing manner to chart peace and way forward.

6

21 August, 2016

crimereports

Sunday Tribune

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

She lied to me, infected me with magun, then I bathed her with acid

Says man who had affair with mother of 5

By Oluwatoyin Malik

T

HE long arm of the law has caught up with 43-year old Yisau Adeleke, nine months after he went into hiding, as he has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for bathing his lover with acid after he discovered that she was a married woman, contrary to her claim of being a widow.

Adeleke, who allegedly committed the offence on November 25, 2015, was arrested on August 7 at about 7:00a.m. at a radio station in Ibadan where he had gone to respond to his lover’s complaint on how he turned her into a monster through acid bath.

Crime Reports learnt that the victim, Mrs Morufa Ajoke Odesanya, reported at Oluyole police station on Novermber 25, 2015 that Adeleke bathed her with acid at about 9:05p.m after she responded to his call to meet him at a certain spot in her neighbourhood.

Sources informed Crime Reports that the victim admitted that she had an affair with the suspect before he carried out the act. The 36-year-old lady, a mother of five, was said to be legally married to her husband at the time she started having an affair with Adeleke, but reportedly deceived him into believing that she was a widow.

In an interview with Adeleke, he narrated the genesis of his relationship with his victim and what led him to the action he took thus: “I was arrested because I poured acid on a lady I regarded as my fiancée until I discovered otherwise.

“I had a wife, Ronke, who had two children for me but I later discovered that she had two children for two men before she married me. She also decided that she had had the number of children that she wanted, asking me to look for another woman if I needed more. She went

Morufa before acid bath

The suspect for family planning.

“I started dating Morufa and she asked me to rent a room, which I did at Idi Arere, Ibadan. She told me she was a widow with two children. She used to bring the two children to Idi Arere. She also took me to where she was living at Elebu area of Ibadan, saying that the house belonged to her aunt.

“She showed me a man who she claimed to be her brother, but whom I later discovered to be her husband. She took me to her mother and I took her to my aunt who was like my mother to introduce her as my wife-to-be. Morufa used to come and stay with me at the rented apartment and I had to tell my wife that she could leave because I had already got a wife.

“We used to have sex regularly to the level that even during her menstrual period, she would beg me to have sex with her, saying she could not keep off me. This continued until the day I came in contact with Magun (a charm usually placed diabolically on wayward women as a punishment for their lovers) in the course of our

affair. It was as if my navel was twisted and I also had a tongue twist. I started feeling dizzy. This made me to raise the alarm and Morufa also started crying.

An Islamic cleric came to my rescue by making some incantations.

“Though I became a bit relieved, the stomach ache continued and the next thing Morufa said was that she believed that the Magun was the handiwork of her mother-in-law. I asked whether she went to her mother-in-law and for the reason she would want to harm her daughter-inlaw’s fiancé since her son was dead.

“To my surprise, Morufa called me same day and asked about my condition. She then added that she had sex with one Baba Bidemi, and it proved that what I experienced was not Magun. Baba Bidemi was the man she called her brother. I was confused and this made me to decide that I was no longer interested in the relationship if she could deceive me for about two years that we were together. She started begging me.

“I probed her further

and she confessed that the man was her husband and that she had five children, though she initially told me that three children she did not declare as her own were born by the wife of her ‘brother’ before they divorced.

“I stopped going to her husband’s house but we were still meeting because I wanted to collect the money I contributed as a member of a group we formed for the purpose of contributing money that we could collect in bulk. I got number six and number 20.

“She collected the first one and when I was to collect the second one after the discovery of her lies, she told me that she gave it to her brother (husband) to pay FRSC fine. But to my surprise, when I saw the brother (husband), he was riding a brand new motorcycle. This infuriated me so much because I felt used.

“She continued to plead with me to forgive her, saying that I was the salt of her life. But I was so hurt by her deception and the devil pushed me to an evil act. So I conceived the plan to pour acid on her. On November 25, 2015, she asked me to come and collect my money, and I took the acid jar along with me.

“We stood at a point not too far from her residence and in the course of

While undergoing treatment

Now our discussion I brought out the jar, opened it and poured the content on her.

She screamed and ran off, while a bit of the liquid splashed on me. I also ran away to my village at Omi Adio to hide until a week ago when I learnt that she reported me at a radio station. I was at the radio station to state my own side when police came to arrest me.”

Adeleke said he was shocked when he saw Morufa because he did not know that the acid burns were that extensive, expressing regret at his action.

Meanwhile the lady is said to be in excruciating

pain and would need about N3 million to carry out corrective surgery because of the way she is. Crime Reports also learnt that her husband had taken his wife’s misdemeanor in good faith and had been taking care of her since the incident occurred.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu confirmed the suspect’s arrest, saying that he was arraigned in a magistrates’ court on Thursday, August 18 and had been remanded in prison.

His case has been adjourned till November 9.

7

crimereports

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

I got information on how to kill through Google, says undergraduate who stabbed pregnant girlfriend

By Oluwatoyin Malik

A

‘

SK Google’ is a common refrain when people need answers to issues they cannot solve ordinarily. But a 19-yearold undergraduate, Ade (surname withheld), recently made wrong use of the application when he used it to search on what he could to do to a girlfriend who refused to abort a two-month-old pregnancy she had for him.

At the end of his search, he got a knife, went to his girlfriend’s house and stabbed her twice on the stomach and also slashed her throat.

The suspect is currently in police net at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Oyo State Police Command, over an alleged murder attempt.

Crime Reports learnt that Ade, a 100 level student in one of the universities in the South Western part of Nigeria, allegedly committed the act on Thursday, August 11, at the residence of his girlfriend’s parents at Sango-Alaro area of Ibadan at about 2:30p.m.

But for the presence of a policeman, Sergeant Ayeni Oluwafemi, who was the girl’s neighbour and who heard her cry, Crime Reports learnt that the 19-year-old victim would have died in a pool of her blood while his assailant would have escaped. But on rushing to the room where the cry came from, the policeman reportedly met the suspect, holding a knife and about to walk out. He promptly pushed him back, handcuffed his hands and called for assistance to save the girl.

Ade, who spoke with Crime Reports, con-

The suspect fessed that he acted the way he did because “my girlfriend got pregnant for me.”

The teenage also told Crime Reports during an interview that he got the clue on how to resolve the issue of his unwanted pregnancy through the help of

Google.

According to the young man, “I met my girlfriend about two months ago on Facebook. We had a mutual friend and I added her. She accepted my request and we got to know each other. I proposed a relationship to her and she

accepted. We had sex only once on July 4. I did not protect myself.

“On August 10, she told me that she was pregnant.

The next morning, on Thursday August 11, she called me that her parents wanted to see me. I went to her parents at Alaro area

of Ibadan and they wanted to know what my intention was on the pregnancy.

I suggested that she had an abortion but they said they could not abort for their daughter because it was against their belief. I told them that I would get back to them on Monday, August 15.

“I left for home confused, but on the way home, different thoughts went through my mind because I didn’t want my parents to know. I didn’t want to disappoint them.

I was with my phone at home and I picked it and typed “What to do if my girlfriend does not want to have an abortion on Google”. It brought out different options that I can deny, which I didn’t deny.

“Another option was to convince her to have an abortion, which did not work. There were also other options but the last one was that I could kill her. I chose that option because she was the only one who knew my house and I believed that if I killed her, no one would be able to trace my house and I would get away with my action.

“To kill, Google gave me an option to use poison,

NDLEA arrests 74 in Kwara

T

Biola Azeez - Ilorin

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara State command, has arrested of 74 suspects with 391.26 kilogramme of hard drugs between January and July 2016.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin last weekend, the state commander of the agency, Mr. Apeh Reuben, said that 62 of the suspects were males, while 12 were females.

The NDLEA boss, who said that 14 people had been convicted by the state high court, Ilorin on offences including possession and smoking of hard drugs, added that their sentences ranged from 12 months to eight years imprisonment.

He also said that five suspected drug users were arrested in an uncompleted building around Baboko area of Ilorin metropolis on Thursday, August 4, “with functional sophisticated locally-made pistols,

The suspects ready for operation.”

He lamented the drug

situation in the state which he said had taken danger-

Poly lecturer deceived to leave home, then stabbed to death Bodunrin Kayode - Maiduguri

TONGUES are now wagging in Maiduguri, Borno State, over the murder of a lecturer of the Borno Stateowned Ramat Polytechnic who was stabbed with a knife about a week ago by unknown assailants.

The deceased, Mustapha Fugura, popularly known as Mairambe by colleagues and students, was a lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering until his untimely death.

Some of his colleagues

which I knew no pharmacy would sell to me. Other options were to use a gun or a knife. Knife was easy to get, so I went to the market same day to buy a knife and returned to her house.

I did not meet her at home so I called her and waited for her. When she came in, I attacked her with the knife but she was resisting.

I stabbed her on the right and left sides of her stomach and slashed her throat.

“Unfortunately for me, her screams got to a neighbour and he came in. Coincidentally, he is a policeman so he handcuffed me and I was arrested. It was the fear of disappointing my parents that made me take the action.”

Crime Reports learnt that though the lady survived the attack, she was still in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in the South West part of Nigeria where doctors had been battling to keep her alive.

Confirming the incident, the police image-maker in Oyo State, Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police, said that the suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.

who spoke with Crime Reports said that the deceased revealed to some people that he had been receiving death threats for some time but for reasons known to him, he refused to report the development to security agents.

One of them, Kabiru Mafa, who hails from the same local government with the deceased, said that though such murder had occurred before, it either involved students who knew they would fail the

course of a particular lecturer or some domestic crisis among known friends in the institution.

According to him, “the assailants went to the deceased’s house at 1000 Estate and deceived him into believing that thieves were inside the house he was working on as an engineer. He rushed from his house to the project site on Aso Rock Street but was stabbed from the back towards the heart region after a struggle.

“He shouted for help but

many people were afraid to get near him because of the circumstances surrounding his collapse. He was later rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital where doctors battled to save his life. Police detectives tried to get him to reveal his assailants whom he said he knew, but he died while attempting to do that.”

Speaking with Crime Reports, the Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Isuku, confirmed the incident but said that the com-

mand was looking at many leads that had cropped up in the course of investigation of the murder.

Although no arrests had been made yet, he said the police were on top of the case and would speak on any arrest made whenever it happens.

The late lecturer who was recently employed in the civil engineering department of the Polytechnic had a wife and two children. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

ous dimension, as addicts had to engage in armed robbery and pilfering to keep up the habit in the face of hike in drug prices.

“This of course reveals that all drug users or consumers are potential armed robbers. Their inability to afford the cost of drug could make them armed robbers,” he said.

Mr. Reuben added that most of the arrested persons were smokers between ages of 19 and 50 years, saying that many of them were counselled and 30 among them were rehabilitated and released to their families.

The NDLEA boss, who called for stronger collaboration of government, private organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the agency, said that none of the eight commands of the agency in the state had operational vehicle.

He also charged parents to be more responsible to upbringing of their children, adding that they should know company their children keep.

news Fake malaria drugs in circulation, FG warns 8

T

HE Federal Government has stepped up vigilance within the drug supply chains in the country on the circulation of two confirmed falsified versions of quinine sulphate.

A statement said the Federal Ministry of Health received a medical alert that the drugs contain zero active pharmaceutical ingredients.

The statement, signed by Mrs Boade Akinola, Director, Media and Public Relations of the ministry, on Saturday, said the drugs were circulating in West and Central Africa, specifically in Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo.

She said the quinine sulphate was used in the treatment of malaria.

According to her, the implication of using falsified one is that it will not be effective and may also lead to other health challenges.

One of the fake products was named quinine sulfate 300 mg with 1000 tablets per container, batch number 10H05 with expiry date

21 August, 2016

of 09/2018 and manufactured date was 09/2014.

Akinola added that the drug, manufactured by Novadina Pharmaceutical Limited, London, United Kingdom, was first discovered in Cameroon.

The director also said the other version of the fake drug was quinine sulphate 300mg, with 100 tablets per container; batch F4387, expiry date 11/18 was manufactured in 12/14.

The product was manufactured in India by CAD Pharm, and it was discovered in Bunia, Democrat-

ic Republic of the Congo.

She advised Nigerians to be vigilant and report to the nearest National

Agency for Food and Drug cluding hospitals and pharAdministration ad Control maceutical shops.

(NAFDAC) office anywhere The ministry urged Nithe drugs were spotted, in- gerians to also report it

the following GSM no +234-8037881120, +2348055056727 and +2348035902679.

Man who abandoned wife to marry her mum seeks for divorce A man in India, who fell in love with his mother-inlaw and ended up marrying her, has now realised the folly of his ways and filed for divorce.

Suraj Mahto, 22, hit the headlines in June when he abandoned his wife, Lalita and married her mother, 42-year-old Asha Devi.

The unusual affair began when Mrs Devi came to stay with the couple in the village of Puraini in Bihar last year.

She looked after Mr Mahto when he became ill and they fell in love.

When she returned home, he would call her on phone and they would talk for hours and would also

visit her at her home.

Lalita found out about the affair and told her mother to stay away, but she refused.

Lalita’s father, who worked in a factory in Delhi, was also unable to stop the passionate affair.

Eventually, despite the objections of villagers, the couple eloped and married

Amnesty programme has transformed ex-agitators —Coordinator THE Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brigadier-General Paul Boro (retd), has said that the scheme has transformed the lives of former Niger Delta agitators.

Boro, also Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, spoke at the graduation of 80 ex-agitators at Innoson KIARA Academy in Enugu on Saturday.

He said that the Fed-

Sunday Tribune

eral Government was impressed with the response of the participants and that he decided to witness the graduation to underscore the importance the government attached to the scheme.

“When I was signing the document for over 200 of you to come to Eastern Nigeria to study. I thought you would not come as you were only familiar with the Niger Delta area.

“Today, I have come to see you succeeding and that means the amnesty programme is on course.

“We shall put our heads together to make sure that you follow through what you have learnt so that other people will see you as serious and try to be like you,” he said.

He appealed to them to make the country proud in their chosen fields of endeavour and be proud of

their heritage.

He also charged them to hold the Niger Delta region very dear and be good ambassadors of the area, adding that the whole region was a pride to the nation.

“The Niger Delta is Africa’s largest delta and the third largest in the world.

It covers 70,000 square kilometres and the home of 31 million people with over 39,300 settlements.

on June 1 this year in nearby Dhamdaha.

Two months on, the couple have both realised they have made a mistake.

The Gulf News reported that Mr Mahto said: “I have come to realise my folly. I admit I have committed the mistake, but will never repeat in future.

“Now, I no longer treat her as my wife. Rather, I have started paying her regard as a mother.”

He said he would go on bended knee and beg Lalita to have him back.

The couple have a son together.

Mrs Devi is also seeking to undo her actions.

She said of Mr Mahto: “No longer do I treat him as my husband, but as a son-in-law. We have already filed a divorce petition in the court and I want to return to my husband as soon as possible.”

9

life&living

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘In Benue, 5 pensioners die weekly as a result of non-payment of their pension allowance’ Continued from pg3

who came to my rescue that day.” His speech was slurred as he tried to narrate his close shave with death until his wife, Bridget, came to his support.

“He has been ill for some time. Though he is hypertensive and diabetic, the illness took a dangerous turn recently. He could hardly talk, neither could he eat for the past two months because we could not afford money to purchase his drugs.

“Efforts to get someone to assist us with money were fruitless because we were owing many people money until this neighbour came to our rescue when I rushed to him.

“Looking at him now, he needs to see a doctor, but where do we get the money?

We tried to invest in our two older kids who graduated from College of Agriculture, Yandev. After their service year, they are yet to find jobs anywhere. We have to make do with the little money I bring home from the petty business I do,” she said.

For many of the pensioners, they only look forward to the money they struggle and go through hardship every month is not more than N11,650, while many collect less. Some have even abandoned their homes when they could no longer fend for their families.

Spokesman of the pensioners under the aegis of Concerned Pensioners, Mr Peter Kyado, said five pensioners die weekly as a result of non payment of their pension allowance.

This group, according to Kyado, are those who had retired since 2014, but are yet to be captured for monthly pension allowance for almost two years.

Since their issue could not be handled by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Benue State, “there is the need to take their fate in their own hands and let government know of their plights.”

Kyado spoke futher: ‘’It is an irony that today, we are living in penury as we can no longer feed ourselves. We don’t have shelter nor medication, all because of the non payment of our entitlements for several years. We are even being treated as weaklings and irresponsible persons.

“As senior citizens, we gave our very best to our state, country and humanity.

We deserve respect. Also, we demand timely release of our retirement benefits as contained in the 1999 constitution.”

As the country enters a recess, with the national currency losing value faster, the pensioners have equally called for an increase in their pension allowances. This is despite the fact that what they earn presently has not been harmonised since 2001 to 2010.

For Benue State pensioners, the good news for now is that the state government has set up a committee headed by the state commissioner of Finance, Mr David Olofu, to liase with various groups of pensioners in the state to avail them of the steps being taken to ameliorate their plight.

Olofu said that government had agreed to set aside N400 million monthly. This is outside the normal monthly pensions allowance, to be paid to retirees. The

Many, having gone through the pain of not been paid for five months became susceptible to preventable ailments, including malnutrition and massive weight loss.

amount is to be drawn from the monthly budget support fund to the state government.

The commissioner added that “half of the money is meant for local government pensioners as loan which will be refunded by the councils.”

He also explained that the government will soon carry out a verification exercise to know the actual numbers of pensioners in the state, adding that the total indebtedness to pensioners in the state at present stands at N35 billion.

days. “It has no meaning. Life is difficult and many people are hungry while few are eating fat and enjoying.

“During the era of the colonial masters, retirement was something good and most workers in the country prayed for it, but since the white men left, retirement has become a curse of sort. Many retirees are dying of hunger, but in my case, Railways is trying. They pay me monthly pension as at when due. I pray they continue to do this.

“As of this moment, I have no regret. I manage the little available to me, especially what comes from my children, to survive the economic depression.

Tales of agony For pensioners in Osun State, it has been tales of agony, frustration and anguish regarding the payment of their pension allowance after retirement from active service.

Mrs Adeyemi...We go through hell

Mazi...Life is difficult

Dr Ugwu...I live a normal life

Dr Chris Ugwu, also a retiree, has a different story to tell.

“I have to be fair to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his government. I retired as Head of Service in Enugu State and by large, we have to commend him for paying monthly pension regularly to retirees.

On how I am surviving the economic recession, I operate a divine economy determined from above. I am happy and I have been living a normal life as God has continued to lead me and make me live well.

Mazi Chidi Eze is from Udi in Enugu State. He retired from Nigerian Railways Corporation in 1993, but he is at a loss about what is happening in Nigeria these

ers. But I appeal on behalf of my co-pensioners to governments to kindly assist the retirees by paying their allowances and gratuities promptly,” Adeyemi said.

Mrs Adeyemi Atinuke, who declined to disclose the amount she collects as monthly pension allowance. said she retired as a former head teacher in A.U.D Sabo Primary School, Osogbo, and since she became a pensioner, she has discovered that pensioners in this country go through hell before collecting their pension.

“I wonder what would be going through the minds of our young ones that are still in service, seeing elderly citizens who in their youthful days had given their best in serving the country being deprived of the fruit of their labour. It is morally wrong.

“Presently in the state, pensioners are being owed pension allowance for May, June and July. This is not limited to Osun alone because everyday, the media is always awash with news of pensioners dying over unpaid allowances.

“Many people who have worked tirelessly for 35 years would come down with one sickness or the other. Such people need money to treat themselves. Aside, it is a natural phenomenon that people age as years pass. And when aging sets in, one would definitely need money to keep body and soul alive.

“Regrettably, our governments are less concerned about the plights of pension-

Another pensioner, Mr Rasaq Adekiitan said “life has been very tough for pensioners in Osun State. We are using this opportunity to call on Governor Rauf Aregbesola to ensure regular payment of our allowance.”

On how he has been surviving the challenges occasioned by economic recession, he said he has presently engaged in the business of buying and selling of used clothes. “The proceeds I realise from the sales has been handy in taking care of my financial obligations in a limited way.

With this, I am fairly coping with the current situation.”

Comrade S. O. Ranti, vice chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Kwara State, told Sunday Tribune that “as Nigerians, we are rugged. If anyone says there’s a particular strategy being employed to survive this recession, that person is deceiving himself. We are all living by the special grace of God. “As an elderly person, our children are supposed to be taking good care of us, but they can’t even take care of themselves.

So, we will continue to devise different means of survival until we no longer have the ability to continue, then we surrender ourselves to fate.

“We can not define our survival nowadays. Some people live by special grace, some by charity, some even go begging.

For me, I thank God, I’m surviving by the grace of God. Some of us use rickety cars.

Honestly, I was going somewhere one evening when I ran out of fuel. I had to beg an okada driver to go with N1,000 to get fuel for me. In fact, he was asking me if I would go with him. I told him he should not worry, thinking I may be afraid that he might go away with my money. It’s as bad as that.

“Everybody is on the edge and aggressive. Everybody is mindful of how they manage their little resources. I only thank Continues pg 11

10

feature

21 August, 2016

Celebrating Day of the dreaded killer

Every 20th day of August annually the world celebrates Day of the mosquito to draw attention to the vector carrying multiple diseases. In this piece SADE OGUNTOLA and NEWTON RAY UKWOUOMA writes on attempt so far to conquer this killer.

I

T is very tiny, yet the whole world celebrates it every year with the World Mosquito Day. Its size belies its lethal power. There is even a folktale about the resilience of the mosquito.

Sometimes, long, long, time ago, the mosquito fell in love with the ear. The ear was embarrassed by this show of love and burst out laughing. “How could you such a tiny thing looking like someone who would kick the bucket anytime soon come to talk to me about love,” the ear said.

However, the mosquito made it a point of duty whenever the occasion permits to whisper into the ear that it is still alive, after all these years. That is why when one is sleeping the mosquito buzzes in the ear making such terrible sound.

The World Mosquito Day is observed annually on 20 August in commemoration of British doctor, Sir Donald Ross’s discovery in 1897 that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans.

Although a few species are harmless or even useful to humanity, most mosquitoes are a nuisance because they consume blood from living vertebrates, including humans. Mosquito is said to be one of the most dangerous insects in the world killing at least two million people annually.

Professor Catherine Falade, Director, Institute of Medical Research and Training, University of Ibadan, said that a lot of work and money has gone into research into malaria vaccine; but getting a vaccine that is 100 per cent effective against the disease is still quite a problem.

According to her, “this is an issue that has resulted from the fact that the immunity to malaria is very complex. It is both specie specific and stage specific.”

Falade, a malaria expert, added: “the parasite mutates very frequently. You can imagine that billion of dollars have gone into the vaccine production and just when you think we are getting there you discov-

er that we are not.

“The best vaccine that has been prepared so far has been the RTSS. It has gone to a phase three trial but the results are very modest and we clinicians do not think that it is practicable because the protection given is just like reducing the chances of the child having malaria by 25 -35 per cent and you need to give four doses to get maximum benefits.

“In addition, the protection wanes over time. So a healthy child will have to be brought to the hospital four times in a year to get malaria vaccine that does not give 95 per cent protection “But the greater danger is that we may compromise the acceptability of existing vaccines. Even though these other vaccines remain effective, mothers would be tuned off. They will say that no vaccine is functional.

“WHO in its wisdom said that if it cannot be demonstrated that programmatic 80 per cent of children can receive four doses, it will not happen. And so to all

“The best vaccine that has been prepared so far has been the RTSS. It has gone to a phase three trial but the results are very modest and we clinicians do not think that it is practicable

intents and purposes, there is no malaria vaccine at this point in time that is ready for redeployment.”

Can sanitary inspectors help in curtailing mosquitoes from breeding? Professor Falade said “environmental sanitation is very important, however, I do not subscribe to the efficacy of the sanitary inspector. Each and every one of us must take responsibility for out environment.”

In addition, observance of designated environmental sanitation days to clear open drainage and makes sure that there is no stagnant water as well as clearing of bushes around the home is important.

All these measures, she assured would also protect against bites of Aedes egypti, the mosquito that transmits Zika virus.

According to her, “Mosquitoes seem so small, but they carry a whole lot of disease causing germs like Zika, Dengue and yellow fever and so maintaining our environment is a big deal. “ However, according to her, incidence of malaria has reduced, adding that it was wrong to assume that all fevers are malaria. ‘‘We should stop assuming that every fever is malaria because the proportion of febrile children and much more so adults who have malaria are going down every day because we are successfully curing those who been infected if they take Arthremisine Combination Therapy (ACT) in the adequate doses and for long enough duration.’’

An entomologist and lecturer at the Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Dr Okorie Anyaele said marking World Mosquito Day was significant.

According to him,”Marking it is to create awareness on diseases like malaria, filariasis and even the Zika virus in Brazil.

There cannot be such diseases if there are no mosquitoes.”

However, Dr Anyaele assured that Zika virus can only be transmitted in Nigeria, peradventure the virus is brought into the country from places like Brazil.

“The mosquitoes that can transmit it are available, per chance somebody brings it from, say Brazil, the parasite would start

Sunday Tribune

to circulate around,” he said.

But the expert declared that prevention of bites from the mosquitoes that transmits Zika virus may not be possible by sleeping under insecticide treated nets because the mosquitoes bite during the day time.

“During the day time, they can enter your office where you are working and bite. So, they bite at any time of the day,’’ he added.

In order that Nigerians may be protected from ZIka virus, he stated the need for people coming into the country to also be screened of the virus.

Also, the new chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos Chapter, Dr Omojuowolo Olubunmi, also described the prevalence of malaria as endemic to Nigeria. He attributed environmental factors such as poor hygiene, presence of stagnant water, poor drainage system as agents perpetuating the “age long affliction” in Nigeria.

According to him, mosquitoes, which are the agents that carry not only malaria, but also yellow fever and Zika, “have less chances of breeding in clean environments.”

Speaking about severe and uncomplicated malaria as two major aspects of the disease, Dr Omojuowolo said fetuses, new borns and visitors to an endemic countries record high fatal casualties as they lack sufficient immunity to fight the parasite, adding that pregnant women with malaria should be “treated aggressively,” while visitors to endemic countries should be on chemoprophylaxis.

Omojuolwo, who also addressed the issue of Zika and Nigeria said, “We have to be very vigilant. I am very sure the people at the Lagos State Ministry of Health are alert. The Olympic Games is happening in Brazil, where Zika virus started. We need to make sure we have preventive measures, one of which is to make sure that people that travel to and from the country are properly screened. The airport is one of the major places the health authorities need to concentrate on. People who have visited the places where there is Zika need to be monitored closely.”

11

life&living

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘In the market what we bought for N500 now cost N1,000’ Continued from pg 9

God the more because if one should fall sick in an attempt to survive, that would be double tragedy. As human beings, the grace we have is the ability to manage our health.

“At above 70 years of age, one can’t claim to have 100 per cent good health.

Many pensioners are on drugs everyday.

When one sees pensioners crying out over unpaid pensions, go and see them after being paid. The first port of call is a pharmacy to get the drugs that will last one for about 15 days or for a whole month.

“Anyone above 70 years among us is on regular drugs in order to live longer.

Some of us don’t eat more than twice a day. One can say it is all right to eat that way considering one’s age, but there are some that can eat four times daily, but they had to cut it down because there is no means to feed the urge for more food.

“The well-to-do in Nigeria today is not up to 10 per cent. 90 per cent are suffering. You see some people well dressed, without any ailment, coming to you to say they have not eaten. Many people don’t eat until they get alms from people who have.

“For me to take N25,000 as pension, and spend on feeding, fuel my car, and the rest, it is only by God grace. I also have to struggle to send money to my son in school in Edo State out of this meagre amount, so that he doesn’t join bad gang.

jobs. Do I force them to go and steal all because I want to survive? I thank God my wife is working with the University of Ilorin. There are some pensioners receiving as small as N5,000 as pension in a month. How can one survive on such a ludicrous amount in a month with a wife and children? That’s why you see many begging to survive. Many female teachers are now harlots because their salaries are not regular. N1,000 is very attractive to them. The only thing that can save us in Nigeria is for God to intervene. Imagine a situation where many politicians don’t even spend their salary and also get wardrobe allowance, while pensioners are looking forward to having gari for a meal.

Raphael Adeniyi...Pensioners are now beggars

Comrade Ranti...Many pensioners are on medication

Chief Raphael Adeniyi Olaifa. The Olukotun Ode of Ayedun said “it is not easy to coping in the current economic situation in Nigeria today. I can even say that only 5 per cent of the Nigerian population of today are happy and they are the elected political office holders.

“I used to eat three times every day, but I changed it to either once or twice. If it’s possible, I will eat only once daily. Pensioners are all fasting now and I pray God will answer our prayers. I had three cars before, but I drive a Volkwagen car now, which is the cheapest for me in terms of petrol consumption. I have five children who are graduates, but they are with no

Alhaji Ahmed Abdulahi said “this recession and the economic situation is pathetic. As a pensioner who retired with a meagre pension, one needs serious financial discipline to survive. I think people who have suffered and toiled for government should have the best of life for themselves after retirement, but unfortunately, reverse is the case.

“In Kwara State, pensioners are not enjoying life as what they earn cannot meet the ever-increasing needs and cost of living of pensioners. Sadly, this is the situation we’ve found ourselves and we don’t have any other country to go than

“Life is difficult and many people are hungry while few are eating fat, enjoying.

During the era of the colonial masters, retirement was something good

to keep on praying for the government in the state and at the federal level for improvement.

“I was happy to read news emanating from Britain that one of the first ministries to be looked into by the new government there is the public service and pension. I was touched. Contributory pension scheme by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is no longer the same as he intended it.

“Even what people receive from the scheme is nothing to write home about with the economic downturn. So, I advise people to do what’s called anointing account in banks like JAIZ banks. I have done that.”

Mr. Kayode Bello also believes that life as a pensioner in Ogun State has not been easy at all.

“As it is, we are yet to collect July pension. We retired in December 2012 and we are yet to collect our gratuities. Some of us have died. Some of us who have children in higher institutions cannot afford to pay our children fees. It is that bad. I don’t have any money to start up a business. We have been surviving through the help of God. Mr. Moshood Oladipo, a pensioner who retired in 1990 at the Ministry of Works said “it has not been easy. The economy is bad and everything is very costly. Imagine N1,000 is not anything again. In the market what we are by for N500 is now what I buy N1,000.

“I manage my pension well, but then it is not regular. I don’t spend anyhow, I have budget for everything. I am a farmer too, so I depend on my farm produce.

God will help us.

“We have to take agriculture serious in this our country so that we will be able to feed ourselves. “ Mrs. Adediran Ronke admits that in this economic situation, life as a pensioner has been tough. “The pension is not enough to survive on because of the increase in the price of basic commodities, especially food items.

“The worst part of it is that the state government often delay in paying the pension. Most times, pensions are not paid until 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th of the following month, I wonder how the government wants us to survive.

“As a senior citizen, there is no strength to run around in search of other means of livelihood. I have only been surviving by the grace of God and donations from my children and other family members.

“I urge the federal government to urgently do something about the economy because it is not only affecting pensioners, but everyone.”

Bayelsa In Bayelsa State, the situation is not quite different as pensioners continue to groan despite being subjected to compulsory verification and biometrics in order to ascertain their true identities.

Many, having gone through the pain of not been paid for five months, have become susceptible to preventable ailments, such as malnutrition and massive weight loss.

“The recession is so harsh, especially for the stagnated former civil servants. I have no alternative than to do menial jobs. I am a newspaper vendor and also do other things just for survival

Taking a cue from Benue State, the untold hardship has left most with no option than to stage a peaceful protest at the government house.

One of the pensioners, Mr. Ayibaebi Amafini, travelled from Ekeremor to the Due Process Bureau, venue of the verification exercise in Yenagoa. “The exercise lasted for more than three days, but thank for my nephew who came to my rescue and also took me back home. I would have been stranded,” he said.

For now, to sustain himself, Amafini has become a farmer to feed himself and his family.

Another pensioner, Madam Grace Barango, who hails from Brass LGA, said her experience at the verification exercise was horrible and that she did not want to be reminded of the trauma of surviving for five months without pension. But she is struggling to survive as a petty trader.

Mr. Azibalua Foster from Ogbia LGA supports two children in secondary school, three in primary school as a pensioner. When the pension was no longer coming, he was left with no option than to sell some of his ancestral land to survive the recession. He also farms there.

To Mr Mike Okoh, life has become unbearable. “My brother, I was crying that I was stagnated for not being promoted to Grade level 16, having been promoted last in 2006. I retired in 2014, only to meet a great quagmire after my retirement and up till now, I have not got my gratuities.

“So, it has been very terrible. When you discover the evil that comes with retirement, especially in a poorly paid state like Enugu, where one lives from hand to mouth, you would wish you had not retired. But when will one not retire? We borrow before the end of every month and find it difficult to save.

“The recession is so harsh, especially for the stagnated former civil servants.

I have no alternative than to do menial jobs. I am a newspaper vendor and also do other things just for survival.

“No matter how healthy one may look, the situation with retirees is such that they need their monthly pension in time.

But today, it is like retirees have been used and dumped. I want governments at all levels to look into the plight of pensioners and make us live like life like normal human beings.

12

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

13 Continued from

M

21 August, 2016 last week

OST of my colleagues will readily testify to this open confession that I am one of those few over-trustful elements who branded those who doubted the genuineness of those assurances as apostles of despair; and chronic peddlars of unfounded speculations. I found it very difficult to believe that the FMG and FEDECO could betray a historic assignment freely undertaken by them.

I now know better. • I now know that it was not accidental that there was widespread short-supply of ballot papers in practically all the polling stations which the UPN polling agents were known to be able to man so effectively as to prevent the replacement of official ballot boxes with those already stuffed by the NPN. I now know that General Obasanjo’s eve-of-election broadcast was totally uncalled for; and that it was made so as to influence the electorate in favour of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Four, of the five presidential candidates, Alhaji Shehu is the least qualified; and General Obasanjo did strongly advise the electorate that they did not have to vote for the best candidate.

I now know that the mass arrest of UPN Polling and Counting Agents in the northern States, in the early hours of Friday, 10 August, 1979, the day before the Presidential election, was ordered by top functionaries of the FMG, in order that the NPN and FEDECO officials might have unfettered opportunity to rig the vote tally and percentage in favour of NPN’s presidential candidate.

It is now known that the decision to appoint a new Chief Justice of Nigeria was hurriedly taken between 19 and 21 August, 1979. It is also known that two reasons were advanced for making the appointment before 1 October, 1979.

The first was the need to satisfy the requirement of the Constitution that the president should be sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on 1 October, 1979. This reason is manifestly untenable, since that duty can be performed by an Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The second is that there were very important issues of law which the new Chief Justice of Nigeria would have to settle between 19 August, 1979 and 1 October, 1979.

This reason is also untenable.

Surely, there were enough Judges on the Supreme Court Bench, and the present CJN was there with them,

Awo’s thoughts PATH TO NIGERIAN GREATNESS

Under the new dispensation Charter of stability and progress* to settle any issues of law, however important, which might arise between 19 August, 1979 and 1 October, 1979.

Besides, the latter reason is exceedingly suggestive in the light of two facts. Firstly, Alhaji Shehu Shagari was consulted all the way in the appointment of the new CJN, and it was he who expressed reference for the present incumbent from among a number of canidates.

Secondly, it is now well-known that the only important issues of law which could have and which had in fact arisen, beween 19 August, 1979 and 1 October, 1979, were those raised in my election petition concerning the interpretation of each of at least two-thirds of the 19 states in the Federation.

However, it is not known, and, probably, we shall never know: whether the present CJN knew the reasons for his appointment and acquiesced in them; whether the incumbent CJN knew that he was Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s own choice from a list of candidates; whether Alhaji Shagari ever talked to the present CJN in order to ascertain his wishes in the matter, before he (Alhaji Shagari) made his preference known to the then Mili-

Sunday Tribune

tary Head of State.

Since the two reasons which are understood to have been proffered for rushing the appointment are so manifestly and palpably untenable, it looks as if there must be other reasons. But we shall never know them, simply because such reasons may be too inconvenient for those concerned to disclose. Nonetheless, all thinking and honest people who hear of or read about the reasons for making the appointment at the time it was made will never fail to cogitate on the suggestiveness of the second reason, and on the several conclusions which are logically deducible therefrom.

It has been suggested that the reason for rushing the appointment was to give sop to the Yoruba in advance of the shock which awaited them in the event of my losing the election petition which was then pending. If this was the reason or one of the reasons, it looks naive and childish. It has not only failed to achieve its objectives, but it has also failed to enjoy any credible currency in official circles.

For the avoidance of any misunderstanding, it is admitted quite categorically that the power of the President to appoint a new CJN, in his own deliberate judgment, is not and cannot be disputed. But in August, 1979 Alhaji Shagari was not yet President either de facto or de jure. Indeed, at the time he was consulted, the validity of his election was the subject-matter of an election petition before a Tribunal from whose decision an appeal would more likely than not go to the Supreme Court.

And it was certainly most untidy, legally and morally, to allow one of the parties to an election petition to choose or even to take part in choosing one of the members of the panel of Judges - and the most influential member for that matter - who were to make a final adjudication on the petition.

At this juncture, one question may be posed. And when, in the process of time, more facts are known, this question is likely to reverberate down the infinite corridor of our legal and political history. That question is: Would the new CJN have presided over my appeal, and played such a decisive role as it was his duty to play, if he had known previously that he was the choice of the Respondent who, at the time of his appointment, had no constitutional right whatsoever to take part in making it?

To be continued

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna.

Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

Ikeja Marketing Office.

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

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

GOT NEWS?

Contact: sundaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com or call:08050498483

14

sundayinterview

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Politicians responsible for inconclusive elections — Yakubu, INEC chairman

On Thursday, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu, led a delegation of senior officials of the commission on a familiarisation visit to the Tribune headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Bauchi-born Professor of History, who trained at the universities of Sokoto, Nigeria; Oxford and Cambridge, United Kingdom, taught at the University of Jos, Plateau State and the Defence Academy and also served as Secretary, Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) and Education Trust Fund (ETF) before becoming, in his own words, “the Chief Clerk of INEC,” fielded questions from management staff and members of the Editorial Board. Excerpts:

W

HAT is your mission in INEC? I said at the Senate screening before confirmation that my principal responsibility is to consolidate on the gains of 2015. I don’t think we have time for needless experimentation; if something worked in 2015, it is our responsibility to deepen it. And to do so, we have to continue to use and deploy technology. One of the major achievements of 2015 was actually the deployment of technology and so we need to deploy and deepen that.

For our democracy to work, every ballot must count, every polling unit is important. The new commission has made that commitment and that is why we will never, ever conclude any election for its own sake. If we are going to be called an inconclusive commission to the end of time, I think we should be called an inconclusive commission. But the truth is that the votes in this country must count.

There are two things that Nigerians have yearned for, for a long time. One is that strong political parties fielding strong candidates so that our democracy will be strengthened. For the first time, we have strong political parties in Nigeria that have evolved, not decreed, like the military did with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC). This is very good for our democracy. Secondly, Nigerians have been saying that votes must count. And the votes will continue to count under this commission.

So, our mission is to ensure that we do nothing that deviates from the path of credible, free, fair elections.

What have you done so far?

Unfortunately, this is a commission that had no honeymoon: we were sworn in on 9th of November, 2015 and less than two weeks later, we were faced with the Kogi election. And Kogi came with its own peculiar challenges not envisaged under the constitution and with no provisions under the Electoral Act and under our guidelines. We are all aware of what happened in Kogi. The rest, as they say, is history. But from Kogi, on November 21 to two weeks ago, this commission has conducted 137 elections. It is elections virtually every weekend since we assumed duties. In fact, the first major election came even before I took briefings from Directors. Kogi and then two weeks later, Bayelsa came. In fact, this weekend, we have two more by-elections: one in Oyo State [Oorelope State Constituency] and then one in Turata State Constituency in Sokoto; and thereafter, we go to Lagos, where a member of the House of Representatives unfortunately passed on.

And then we have Edo on September 10, we have Ondo on 26th [November] and in between, we are going to hold elections in Rivers---we still have 22 constituencies to go.

These elections are categorised. You have rerun elections arising from court nullification of elections conducted in 2015. Eighty elections were nullified by the Election Petitions Tribunals and the Court of Appeal.

We have virtually conducted all of them, except for the following: 22 in Rivers, one in Anambra, one in Plateau (Langtang South). That is one category. The second category of elections is end-of-tenure. We have con-

Yakubu

ducted Kogi, Bayelsa, the FCT are council elections, and then, of course, we are going to do Edo and Ondo. Then we have by-elections caused by either deaths or resignation of members of the National Assembly. We have 14, and so far we have conducted 11. But this weekend, the tally will rise to 13, with Oyo and Sokoto. Then, there were elections upturned from 2015 general election. The courts nullified the elections and ordered the commission to issue certificates of return to the runner-up. We have 23 of these so far, making a total of 103. This is the highest number of elections conducted by any new commission in the history of our democracy.

What challenges have you been grappling with?

We have been grappling with different challenges, for instance, the smart card reader. Some say they are not work-

ing but we believe they are. But at the same time, there is always room for improvement. We will continue to improve on the functionality of the card reader, particularly in relation to the biometrics. And thereafter, we can see what value we are going to add to the smart card reader for the purpose of collation and transmission of results. This is one of the weaknesses of the democratic chain---from the time we collate results and then subsequently announce winners.

We have continued to improve on logistics---remember the complaints by Nigerians: “INEC “polling units open at 8:00 a.m., no voting materials, no INEC officials.” A major challenge is logistics. Sometimes, it is logistics plus security, but the major challenge is logistics. But there have been tremendous improvements since 2015 and we have continues

pg 15

15

sundayinterview

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Any nation which does not punish criminals is doomed’ 137 off-season elections, when the attention of the whole nation is one small constituencies or, in the case of governorship elections, larger constituencies. The most difficult election for the commission is off-season election, where the political actors mobilise state-wide or nationwide and descend on a small constituency. And the media also descends on that constituency. The best example here is Ekiti in the last governorship election. You all know the story of people trying to move in and some people stopping them from moving in. So, we need informed analysis which can only come by most difficult elections are those conducted off-season. We need informed analysis and this can only come about with information, which we are always ready to provide and share with the media.

Yakubu

continued from pg 14 continued to improve on that. In Kogi, 92 per cent of the polling units opened at 8:00 a.m. and when we conducted election in Kano two weeks ago, 100 per cent of the polling units opened at 8:00 a.m. The logistics go beyond what people think, because of the nature and complexity of the country itself. There are places in this country that are not motorable. There are places you can only reach by boat, depending on the topography. When we conducted the elections in Bayelsa, we not only had to hire boats, we also, for the safety of staff and materials, had to hire gunboats: one in front, one behind. When we conducted the area council elections in the FCT, we had to make an arrangement with the National Union of Okada Riders because people assume that the FCT is all about Maitama and Wuse and Garki, but there are parts of the FCT that aren’t motorable. And sometimes, it takes two hours to reach the last polling unit in the FCT. How can the media help?

I think we have, as much as INEC, a responsibility to deepen our democracy. Quite often in Nigeria, you hear people on television who are experts in everything and debates are conducted in terms of extremes: you are either extremely good or extremely bad. No middle ground.

That’s the way we conduct our debates unfortunately in this country. You hear somebody who is an expert in legal matters today, tomorrow they are discussing Southern Sudan politics and he comes and claims expertise. Another day they are talking about aviation; he’s also there (laughs) to claim expertise. I think the media can help by putting some of these issues in context. Let me use an example. Take the case of inconclusive elections. I have read some comments in other outlets associating this commission with inconclusive elections.

What is an inconclusive election? It is an election in which a winner has not emerged at the first ballot, and there are provisions in our Electoral Act, Sections 22/23

for what to do in the event that a winner has not emerged at the first ballot. When did we experience our first inconclusive election? So many people have forgotten; it was in 1979, with the mathematics of two-thirds of 19. It wasn’t resolved at our ballot box; it was resolved in court. And then subsequently, we had a number of inconclusive elections. In 2011, in my state (Bauchi), because of the postelection violence, the governorship election was inconclusive. INEC had to rerun the election after two weeks.

Also in 2011, Imo was inconclusive. The election had to be rerun after two weeks. In 2015, Taraba was inconclusive.

Imo again was inconclusive.

In 2013, there were difficulties in Anambra. We have all forgotten about Idemili in Anambra, and then Abia too, in 2015. But when you have an inconclusive election in the contest of a general election, it is hardly noticed. But unfortunately for this commission, we have conducted

When did we experience our first inconclusive election? So many people have forgotten; it was in 1979, with the mathematics of two-thirds of 19. It wasn’t resolved at our ballot box; it was resolved in court

It is always good to talk about what has been done and what have been the achievements, but looking at the Nigerian electoral process, what have you seen as major shortcomings?

I think that, in terms of challenges, the first one is the spectre of violence in our elections. Virtually all the inconclusive elections were because of violence. You see, the quality of your election is a direct reflection of the quality of your politics and the character of your political actors.

If the political actors decide that there will be no free and fair elections, there is not much that INEC can do. I will give you a couple of examples. When we mobilised for the Bayelsa governorship election in December last year, we couldn’t conduct the election on election day in Southern Ijaw local government. Southern Ijaw is virtually on the Atlantic ocean, just like many local governments in Bayelsa State. There is only one place you can drive to from Yenagoa; that is Amasoma where the university is located, Wilberforce Island, where the late former Governor DiepreyeAlamieyeseigha came from. We couldn’t mobilise as a result of the sheer mobilisation for violence by the politicians. As we were mobilising for election, the politicians were actually mobilising for war. And the first thing we do in every election is the welfare of our staff and the safety and protection of electoral materials. You know that we rely on ad-hoc staff, who are mainly youth corps members. Some of them have never seen the sea; if you have somebody from Sokoto and he is serving in Yenagoa, on election day he is going to see the sea.

In Osun State, we conducted a by-election into the Ife Central state constituency; Deji, the national commissioner from this zone, was there. We had an almost-perfect election. We had a large voter turnout. Unknown to us, some of the politicians were targeting the bigger polling units. And I will never forget this: Ogedengbe street polling unit and Moore street polling unit. Something happened; the politicians specifically targeted these two polling units. What did they do? After ballots were cast, before we could start collation at the polling unit level, some people mobilised and stole the two ballot boxes. As they were being chased by police, they had bottles of ink in their pockets.

They brought out the bottles, poured the ink into the ballot boxes and violently shook the ballot boxes, and later they dropped them. We recovered the ballot boxes but we couldn’t use the ballot. But they knew what they were doing; the total number of registered voters in that particular polling unit affected the outcome of the election. Remember that under our guidelines. we said that where the margin of lead is lower than the margin of cancellation of places where election did not hold, we cancel the election in the affected polling unit and appoint another date to conduct the election because every vote must count. That was why Ife Central was inconclusive.

Fortunately, we had enough ballot papers, so we remobilised the following day, conducted the election and declared the winner. If people don’t understand what we go through, they will never understand why elections are inconclusive.

Let me give you another example from Nasarawa State. We had a by-election in a constituency caused by the death of the member of a state federal constituency.

After conducting the election, we discovered something that happened in the course of collation and a report was made. We declared the election inconclusive in specific registration areas. What did we see? This is the Form EC 8 B. (Professor Mahmud holds the form aloft) in which we collated the results in Akum area of the state. In Akum polling unit, total number of registered voters was : 1, 181, total number of accredited voters was 200, while continues

pg 26

16

21 August, 2016

W

HAT is little? Grammar books say “insignificant and unimportant.” Grammar isn’t life. It is an insignificant part of life. A huge chunk of humanity has no affinity with it and still does importantly significant things. Grammar’s opinion is wrong in the context of existentialism. Little things do matter.

They could define milestones and kick-start legends.

Big things are becoming huge-for-huff, everywhere, including dear Nigeria. Dominant players on public space huff for nothing, their news and views; hollow, the feeling they bring; retching. None conveys genuine hope. Buharinomics? Sheriffmania? PDPinging? APConning? House of Representment? Forexempt? Ricevolution? All big things around are hope-snuffing. So, I turned to little things with big encouraging lessons. You will be amazed how much your immediate environment is filled with them. You possibly don’t know because the media-space fills your consciousness with those big-for-nothing hollers.

In recent time, I have seen enough to be hopeful. The land isn’t green right now and things that make all the news; very forlorn. So, my optimism could not have been founded on them, though I am not giving up on them. The corn-roasters on CMD road, Magodo, the fruit-hawker of Shangisha and the mama-put operator on Association Avenue are my hope-fillers. I have seen them do extra-ordinary things in this extra-ordinary time when even the rich are pinching every kobo. That is why I celebrate them today.

The first time it happened to me at where I will call CornLane on CMD road, it stayed with me for a few days, maybe because I ended up paying. I parked for a corn-brunch and after digging my teeth into the invitingly hot stuff, the seller who should be in excess of 50 years suddenly realised there was no lower currency notes for my balance. My disappointment was palpable because I had started with the corn and even if I hadn’t, there was no way I would let it go. The stalemate was brief. She just offered the N100 corn free, instead of holding my N1, 000 and I to ransom. I protested, “Mama, it should be the other way round.” She would have none of it, “Oga, we no get but no be N100. You fit give me if you pass here again”. I objected again, “but you don’t know me.”

She answered, “Ih no matter. Only God dey feed person.”

I would have none of it. I was bowled. I was ready to forfeit my N900 than go away with her N100. Seeing how adamant I was, she asked me to park well and be patient while she got “change.” She did.

The Shangisha fruit-seller became a “friend” for an uncommon act of “customership.” The night he, do I stress the fact that he is not of my tongue just like the corn-seller, elected to have me owe him instead of holding on to my bal-

TWICE in three weeks, call for the intensification of crude oil search in the Northern part of the country came to the fore. First, it was President Muhammadu Buhari who, according to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, directed the corporation to deepen the search for crude oil in the North, especially in the Chad basin and other parts of the inland sedimentary basin. Then, just this past week, the Northern Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), owned by the 19 Northern states, announced that it had commissioned a British company to commence the process of prospecting for oil and gas in the Lake Chad and Benue basins.

There is little doubt about the need of the country as well as the states for increased revenue, especially with the catastrophic effect which the activities of Niger Delta militants have visited on the nation’s economy. According to Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum, the country is running behind by as much as 1.i million barrels of crude oil daily as a consequence of pipeline vandalism perpetrated by militants. This is about 50 per cent of the projection for 2016 budget. Considering that the N6.8 trillion budget already has a deficit component of about N2.2 trillion, vandalism has rendered the economy prostrate. This is why many states have been unable to pay salaries of workers and embark on any serious developmental project because what accrues to them from the Federation Account has dwindled greatly.

Since the easiest way of making money for the country is through crude oil sales, it is not surprising that both the Federal Government and the northern state governments are not sparing any cost to see the possibility of raising revenue through crude oil prospecting. If a state should join the elite club of oil producers in the country and the price of crude oil gets as high as $100 per barrel, the economy of such state will immediately witness a transformation. From a parsimonious regime, the state will translate into a wastrel, acquiring everything in sight, both the essential and the trivial.

However, in spite of the potential change which the

0811 695 4647

olanreade@yahoo.com

Little things that matter

ance, I am certain he would not recognise me the morning after, if I sit beside him. There was also no assurance for both that I would return to pay them. They just trusted ‘this customer in Toyota car.’

Hasn’t this nation trusted so many with our common patrimony to her unending misery, simply because they looked like ‘those who would not do what others did.’ Is her current journey with certain drivers not turning out to be a misplaced trust? Isn’t a blank cheque, given albeit blindly, turning out a bland act? I return to little things that matter.

As an emergency bachelor in Lagos, I have done both the classy and brassy in meal patronage depending mainly on my mood. There are times the classy isn’t just tasty for me. This affords me the opportunity of direct comparative

With Sulaimon Olanrewaju 08055001708

lanresulaimon@yahoo.com

Search for crude oil in the North

discovery of new oil wells might effect, prospecting for oil at the present time appears a misplaced priority. The fact is that the world is looking beyond oil as a source of energy. Crude oil is believed to have contributed immensely to greenhouse effect which has brought about climate change. So, the world is on the lookout for cleaner and safer energy sources. This, more than any other factor, is responsible for the crash in the price of crude oil. Oil prices crashed through a combination of factors includ-

Sunday Tribune

analysis. There is a high-octane eatery in Magodo, the proprietress would rather hold your N950 balance for her N50 balance. She must have noticed that leaving my balance with her every time immediately she talks about “change” was due more to her perceived extreme “shrewdness” than having too much to care.

So, she told a story one day. A church member, (well, we are of same RCCG denomination), bought food and claimed to have left wallet at home. She allowed diner take food home, only to end with an unfulfilled promise of paying the next day. “It is months now and we see in church and she behaves as if nothing happened,” she ended her story.

I smiled, mumbled stuff I couldn’t recollect and left. She hasn’t changed and doubt if she would ever change. Her trust cistern is broken. Who do we blame? The fraudulent diner or she who is not letting go.

The mama-put operator in this story, does better food.

Her cooked beans can last its lifetime when well-stored.

Even when my face wasn’t known to the seller, he (yes, the husband dishes the food, the wife cooks. Don’t ask which ethnic grouping) refused flatly that my balance sleep in their pouch. Impressed, I dashed the kids the balance. They also became a family friend. These are people that should be mongering for money. These are the supposed broke, the poor who should hold on to every kobo, legitimately or otherwise. Ironically, it is the so-called “haves” that deliberately keep contracting kleptomania and disgustingly stepping down the virus to their offspring. May the Lord be merciful to them.

Argh. I gotta get out of her now. I write this on Fridays, but there is greater commitment this Friday. I must not allow her cistern of trust to break. Every other thing must stop for her. She is another corn-seller on CMD Road. On Thursday, I decided to snack on corn. Somehow, I branched in front of this “old” woman (likely 60 years). Yesterday was our first interaction and I’m once-in-a-season customer around there. I had not even dipped my teeth in when “balance” issue came up. She gave me no chance. “You go gi me anytime you dey pass,” she quipped and returned to her stall from where I parked.

She never left my heart. Her act of trust, which only the ungrateful would consider insignificant, simply glued to my spirit. She and her ilk inspired today’s “celebration”.

They may never get to read this, but someone somewhere will read and may want to encourage such act wherever it is found. It could be the beginning of our national revival. My role is simple. It is to keep encouraging them, starting with running off now to pay Mama Alagbado her N100 and possibly more. I pray I locate her!

ing global conspiracy. According to those who know, the era of high priced crude oil is gone. Already, the world is playing with the idea of battery-powered automobiles, not just cars. Buses, trucks, forklifts, rail cars etc which are battery-powered are being developed daily. The more these are developed, the less need there will be for crude oil. It is not as if crude oil will become totally useless, but it means the level of its usefulness will decline seriously. Knowing this, why do we need to expend energy and scarce resources on a venture that may fail to yield maximum benefit?

Moreover, it was gathered that over the last 30 years, a total of $340 million and N27 billion has been deployed to crude oil exploration in the North-East. If a fortune has been sunk in search of a fleeting fortune, what is the wisdom in staking more fortune to secure an unsure fortune? According to a study carried out in that region, there is an unproven reserve of about 2.3 billion barrels of oil reserves and about 14.65 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas available for a minimum of four countries in the Chad Ba¬sin area, whereas there are about 37 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and about 187 trillion standard cubic feet of gas in the Niger Delta region. So, while there is the likelihood of oil and gas being available in the Lake Chad axis, the quantity does not give much room for cheer, considering that only a quarter of what is said to be likely available will accrue to Nigeria.

So, rather than expend scarce resources on the search for crude oil whose worth is heading south, the government will do well to devote more resources to improving agriculture and developing solid minerals. These hold better promises than crude oil which is at the verge of joining coal in the league of former premier energy sources.

The government had earlier promised to diversify the economy away from oil. With this in mind, there is absolutely no need to pay undue attention to crude oil prospecting. The resources available should be deployed to agriculture, which has the potentiality of creating employment opportunities for our teeming youths and solid minerals which can trigger industrial revolution.

17

21 August, 2016

What my ‘balloon eyes’ are doing for me

— Adesanya I’ll never pay for foreign collaboration —Olamide

2face loses Dammy Krane to Davido

How Ideal withmen —Odutayo

Sunday Tribune

18

21 August, 2016

Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

Sunday Tribune Seyi Sokoya seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08075166585

2face loses Dammy Krane to Davido

WAPtv debuts new show, ‘Love Battle’

•As Krane confirms deal Stories By Segun Adebayo

T

HERE are indications that 2face might have lost one of the acts on his label, Dammy Krane, to Davido’s HKN gang. News filtered in late last week that there is a new romance between Davido and Dammy Krane.

R gathered that talks have begun between Krane and Davido, who are both in the United States for tours.

They were said to have met in the US where. Krane, R gathered, left 2face Idibia’s Hypertek music recently with a mutual consent. He is said to be excited about the new development but would not want to make it public yet.

R also gathered that Davido, who just signed a deal with Sony Music, is signing Krane through his cousin, Tunji Adeleke.

This means that Krane is now part of the HKN and Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) family.

Their relationship dates back to 2015 when Krane featured Davido in Izzue, a song that gave him an edge. They have both worked on new song recently, Ladies, which would be dropped this month.

An official announcement about the new deal between Davido and Krane would be made public as soon as their tours were concluded.

A source close to Krane told R on Friday that the deal did not mean Krane would not run his own record label again.

“I can tell you that Krane and Davido are talking. The talks have advanced and I think they are both happy.”

Asked if Krane is still working with

2face’s Hypertek music, he said Krane has left Hypertek music but he decided not to make his exit public because 2face did not want to be dragged into any media war with him.

“Krane has left Hypertek. We did not

make any noise about it because of the mutual agreement they had. 2face said he did not want his name to be in the press for the wrong reasons, so we decided to keep things to ourselves,” the source added.

Family Entertainment Channel, WAPtv has debuted another show to add to its already robust content. After months of research, preparation and anticipation, Love Battle finally made its debut on Friday and has received acceptance from viewers nationwide.

In each episode of Love Battle, one male and one female average Nigerian engage in a fun debate centred on love, relationships, marriage among others.

The show is broadcast live, thus giving viewers all over the country the opportunity to interact with the comical Akunna (the host of the show) and the two panelists of the day, as they the air their own views on the topic via phonecalls and social media.

According to Wole Adenuga, MD of WAPtv, “We are always coming up with fresh ideas to give our diverse viewers the top-notch quality entertainment that they deserve. Love Battle is a hilarious and enlightening concept; to be enjoyed in the company of your friends and family members while discussing the topics playfully among yourselves.”

Tiwa Savage, Tee Billz could have saved their marriage if... —Basketmouth STAND-up comedian, Basketmouth, has revealed that Mavin record singer, Tiwa Savage and her estranged husband, Tee Billz, could have saved their marriage if they had refrained from taking their marriage issues to the social media.

He added that the couple damaged their marriage because they made ‘too much’ revelations when they were supposed to be quiet.

Basketmouth, who stated this during a show on Hip TV, insisted that the couple as well as many others tend to divulge too much personal information on the internet because they felt they have more followers on their social media platforms.

He said a lot of people abuse the use of so-

cial media and always end up sacrificing their homes for it. He added that most artistes get carried away because they have over one million people following them on their social media platforms hence, they tend to misbehave.

“To a large extent, I think there are a lot of people abusing the use of social media, I am sorry. Most of us artistes realising that we have one, two, three or four million people following us and you know that when you say something, a lot of people are going to react.

“It is like drug; you can’t contain yourself and start saying some crap. You are like a god having a lot of followers, whatever you tell them to do, they do. “I am okay with people who go on social media to rant but I

am against those who have turned it into a church to settle family issues. Normally, if you have a marital problem, you call your wife one on one. If you cannot contain it, you call in the parents. That’s how I saw it when I was growing up which is the culture I have embraced.”

Why I wept in my debut video —Joy Bucknor

By Seyi Sokoya NEW musical act, Joy Bucknor, has stated why she wept in her debut video entitled “Mercy”.

Bucknor said that the song was to gear people towards a personal sober reflection, knowing that life is nothing without God, adding that she wants to use her song to provide hope.

Having studied Computer Engineering at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, the musical act, on the stables of Mid-

land Atlantic Records, said her passion for the industry was too much.

“I started singing at age 10, but decided to do music professionally in 2014. It’s because I love all kinds of music and I can do all kinds of music and I would describe my kind of music as inspirational afro pop/ contemporary,” she said On what

inspired her song, she said: “Well, looking at the state of the world, you will see a progressive degeneration in the quality of life of mankind, which is a result of sin and the only person that can save us is God. Mercy should be a cry on everyone’s lips so we don’t end up like Sodom and Gomorrah, hence the title Mercy.”

19

razzmatazz

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

RK1 celebrates birthday with 2 albums

By Seyi Sokoya AFTER marking his 48th birthday in his country home, Ogbo-

moso, Oyo State, last Thursday, Ibadan-based Fuji musician, Alhaji Rahmon Akani, popularly known as RK1, has intensified efforts to redefine Fuji music.

The birthday celebration, which was graced by families, colleagues and well-wishers made RK1’s day memorable as he was delighted to see people come to celebrate with him.

“I feel great and honoured for the gift of life. This is a sign that Allah still has many things in stock for me. I want to thank everyone, especially my fans, for their prayers and birthday wishes.

“I also promise to always give them more than they demand for. My upcoming albums could be described as a way to celebrate my birthday with my fans in a unique way.”

Speaking on his upcoming works, RK1 noted that plans were ongoing to release his new albums entitled: Dynamic Fuji and a special album to honour the Soun of Ogbomoso at his last 90th birthday.

According to the marketer of the two works, Ayanlola Kayode of the Kay Jay Recording and Marketing Company, the two albums would be ready for fans and fuji lovers September.

Yinka Adewale picks September 4 for movie launch

By Seyi Sokoya NOLLYWOOD actress, Yinka Adewale, will launch her new movie entitled ‘Voiceless Scream’ on September 4.

According to the organisers of the event, the launch will come up at 4 Point by Sheration, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

The movie teaches about moral values anti-rape campaign and child abuse.

“The movie is about child abuse. Many people can’t voice out what they are going through.

The movie teaches you what you can do. How you can go about it,” the producer of the movie, Adewale said.

Voiceless Scream features Jide Kosoko, Yemi Solade, Adeniyi Johnson, Yinka Adewale, Shaffy

Bello, Ure Eke, Micheal Bassey, and Wale Ojo with other Nollywood stars.

Voiceless Scream is directed by Dotun Taylor.

I’ll never pay for foreign collaboration

—Olamide

By Segun Adebayo

T

HOSE who have been waiting for YBNL boss, Olamide, to feature a foreign act in his songs may have to stop thinking about the idea as Olamide has disclosed that he would never pay any foreign artiste to feature him on his

songs.

Olamide admitted to have been under pressure from his fans to toe the path of his colleagues by featuring A-list international act in his songs, but the Lagos Boy crooner, who has dropped hit songs back to back, said he would never consider such idea.

He insisted that he would rath-

Victoria Udoka, David Nwoga crowned FHF Queen and King IT was an evening of fun, fashion and entertainment for children, parents and guardians who turned out in their numbers to witness this year’s edition of the annual children pageant and fashion show.

The event, which witnessed dignitaries from all walks of life, saw nine-year-old Victoria Udoka, emerge winner of the 2016 Face of Hope Kids Pageantry, an initiative of Face of Hope Foundation.

Also, six-year-old David Nwoga was crowned as “King of Hope” to represent the males and to work with the new queen in the humanitarian outreaches of the Foundation.

The young Udoka and David were crowned winners amidst other 14 contestants at the event held on Saturday night at the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.

They will serve as “Ambassador of Hope”, reaching out to undepivileged children during their one-year reign.

Speaking after her win, Victoria Udoka pledged commitment towards making her reign a success in reaching out to vulnerable children in the society.

“I am very excited that I won the crown and I promise not to waste this opportunity given to me by Face of Hope Foundation.

“I will work hard to make sure that children, who have no food

to eat or good clothes to wear, are cared for.”

The Face of Hope Foundation, an NGO that empowers and reaches out to the underprivileged children through the provision of educational materials, clothing, food items and medical care has been responsible in championing the cause of the underprivileged of the society.

er continue to work hard on his game and concentrate more on his locality than pay through his nose for any foreign collaboration.

In a breif interview on Wednesday, Olamide said that if Fela Anikulapo could be successful as a musician before he died, there was no need for him to take such decision at this stage of his career when everything is working for him.

According to him, there was no need for such collaboration at this point as it would not add any value to his career.

He added that from the begining of his career, “I have always believed in myself that if I work hard, there is no limit to what I can achieve in life. I didn’t get to this level because I featured somebody. It has been the grace of God and I won’t deny Him of His glory.

God has been good to me and His grace brought me this far.

“I have been told several times to make the move that would see me feature an international act by paying some huge amount of money, but that is never going to happen. If I continue to work hard and concentrate on my locality where I have become very popular, I can become anything I desire, but for me to pay somebody to feature on my song is never going to happen in my life time.”

Artistes such as Wizkid, D’banj, P Sqaure, MI, among others, have reportedly paid exorbitant amounts of money to feature international acts on their songs.

20

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune With Segun Adebayo &Seyi Sokoya tegbollistic@yahoo.com seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08116954644 08132577840

Deborah Odutayo is the President of Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN) and doubles as the Executive Director of Royal Roots Communications/ R2TV/R2Radio FM. Her TV credits as a producer include Bella’s Place, My Mum & I, Edge of Paradise, Soul Sistas, About To Wed, House A-Part, Tides of Fate, among others. She shares her journey into the entertainment industry and vision for EMCOAN in this interview with SEGUN ADEBAYO.

W

How I deal with men

—Debbie Odutayo

HAT has your experience been like being the President of EMCOAN in the last

few years?

It has been wonderful and I love working with everyone at EMCOAN. I have always seen everyone as equal and it’s because they trust me that I was elected as President for a second time unopposed. I can only thank the members of the association for the confidence reposed in me. I promise to do my best to take the association to greater heights. It’s a body we formed because we noticed that we needed an umbrella body to shield all content owners from the perils that we encounter.

What exactly does EMCOAN do?

We found out that EMCOAN members are responsible for over 85% of media contents in Nigeria, so we decide to form a body that would protect our intellectual properties and stand as a unit so we are not short changed for our works. The art of content creation is big all over the world because life is about stories and more stories, hence, there will be need for more engaging content creation for audience at home, Africans in Diaspora and for different specific audience.

EMCOAN is all about content creation for different media platforms.

The society can sometimes be chauvinistic about women in leadership position. In a group of EMCOAN that is more populated by men, how have you been able to go above this sentiment?

I have said it several times that I don’t rule over them, we work together as a team. We see each other as colleagues.

In fact, I am so blessed to have the crop of Professionals/CEOs as my members. I enjoy a lot of encouragement and support from them especially our Chairman Board Of Trustees (BOT) Uncle Wale Adenuga MFR. It’s not all a bed of roses, but we have treated issues and challenges as matured leaders and professionals aiming for the same goal. We have faced each situation head to head and face to face. You need to see us at our monthly meetings, we argue, we disagree but we always agree at the end of the day to the benefit of all our members and businesses. Maturity and genuine respect for each other’s opinion has been the answer to resolving each challenge. The men respect me because they know and have seen that I know what I am doing. I enjoy their sincere support. It’s basically respect and the fact that we all know where we are coming from, we have seen that we can achieve more and have a brighter future for our industry by coming and sticking together. We all

have the same objectives at EMCOAN; our content which we say is king must actually be the “KING”.

As a boss at office, president of EMCOAN and producer on set, how do you relate these things together, especially at home?

I am an African woman that was trained properly. I was born in Nigeria but I wasn’t bred here. I was trained very well, so, I always give respect to my husband and that is why I have been able to work with him for the past 19 years. I have achieved everything I have because he has allowed me to. And for emphasis, he met me as a producer so it’s not like he trained me on the job, we were both professionals when we met (laugh). Home or office, he is the boss. He gives me my respect and I give him his. We are not in competition at all.

Tell us your experience as a member of the Panel of Judges of AMVCA from its inception It has always been a great honour ever since I was called upon to serve in that capacity. Having more Nigerian women on the judging panel just proved that women are not in competition with our men but that we do not have to take the back bench any longer. When I received a call from MNET

for the first AMVCA and was told that I will be working with my big brother Femi Odugbemi; another notable individual in the entertainment Industry, I was humbled and felt so honoured. He has been the big brother since I came into the Industry. I’ve know Uncle Femi since 1993.

He has always looked after my interest.

For the first AMCVA, we had to undergo trainings in South Africa. Uncle Femi and the whole MNET team were so awesome.

I was treated like the Nigerian Queen that I am... (laughs)… I was the only female in the panel of judges then.

From R2TV in Lagos, your firm is venturing into radio with the new R2FM Radio in Ibadan, tell us more about it We are proud of our work at R2TV and we are replicating same on the radio front located in Ibadan. The truth is Ibadan is the largest market after Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt; the market is there and people are not seeing it. By the grace of God, we are looking at starting very soon, all things being equal. The structure is already there, equipment is arriving, auditions have been done and the hiring process is also on going with the consulting firm. So things are working simultaneously and then we have to travel twice in a week to see the progress. So everything is going good.

21

21 August, 2016

with Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

PEOPLE

places&parties Toke Makinwa rocks again

ObeyFabiyi remembers wife

W

HATEVER your cross, whatever your pain, there will always be sunshine after the rain.

This popular qoute aptly captures the current mood of TV and radio personality, Toke Makinwa. Makinwa has every reason to be thankful to God for many things.

In fact, if there is anything she should be thankful for, it is the fact that she was able to overcome her turbulent moments occassioned largely by her failed marriage, which got many people talking and worried.

Those who are close to her can confirm that Makinwa has finally found her groove back as her recent postings and appearances at public places would reveal that she has put the past behind her by picking up the pieces of her life.

The vlogger who is obviously not done reflecting on her heart-breaking experience with her hubby, Maje Ayida, said that she initially struggled to come to terms with her situation and revealed that the voice of fear was so loud that she feared the end had come. Now that she is back on the roll, she seems to have found her lost self.

Okocha celebrates with the stars

Shola Arowoshaye in thanksgiving mood IT is thanksgiving time for popular sociliate and artiste manager, Shola Arowoshaye. The Lagos-based entertainment lover is currently thanking God for saving his life after he was involved in an auto accident that left his Honda Accord completely damaged along Lagos-Abeokuta express way.

PPP gathered that Baba Many as he’s fondly called, who is the first manager of fuji music star, Sulaimon Malaika, is currently recuperating at home after he was discharged from the hospital days back. Those who should know informed PPP that celebrities and socialites have been visiting him at home.

He revealed to PPP on the phone during the week that he could only thank God for keeping him alive as he thought he had lost his life when the incident happened.

“I thank God for my life. I could not imagine this. What I saw was a truck coming our way. I don’t even want to remember this again. It was a sad experience. I bought the car in June this year. My wife who was in the car with me is healthy as well. Whatever happened, I believe it is from God,” he said.

THERE could not have been happier times than now for former Super Eagles skipper, Austin JJ Okocha. After a successful footballing career that spanned across two decades, Okocha switched his attention to other insterests that have now yielded bountiful rewards for him, although his nightclub business, ‘Club 10’ did not succeed as much as he would have wanted.

The club was sold to a new management as PPP gathered that Mavin records boss, Don Jazzy now runs the club which is now called Pop Night. The mecurial midfielder had since moved on and focused on other businesses that have kept him in the country more than before.

Just days after launching his foundation, the JJ Okocha football foundation that will discover talents at the grassroots level, Okocha, on Thursday, marked his birthday in style at the popular Fuze Spot Bar, Victoria Island, Lagos State. Those who were at the venue informed PPP that Okocha might have stopped kicking the ball, his infleunce on the social scene has not dimmed as many society bigwigs and top celebrities were on ground to fellicitate with him.

Sunday Tribune

J.K. Rowling’s qoute in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child said those we love never truly leave us.

There are things that death cannot touch. These words depict the current mood of music icon, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, who is still grieving five years after the demise of his wife, Mrs Juliana Olaide Obey-Fabiyi.

The bond between Chief Ebenezer Obey and his late wife still remains fresh in his heart as he would not stop sharing her memories.

One could say that to Obey,

it is not an illusion that his late wife still lives because he still reflects her commitment, loyalty, dedication and obedience to his laid down policy and principles of running the home whenever he was away to fulfill his assignment as a musician.

Plans to remember the late evangelist Juliana in a unique way are in the top gear as the Miliki maestro and the entire families are currently making arrangements to celebrate her five years after her passing.

PPP gathered that on Tuesday, families, associates, dignitaries and wellwishers will gather at the country home of the music legend in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for a prayer session at Decross Gospel Mission Church in Abeokuta to pay tribute to her.

When Ali Baba, Gbenga Adeyinka, Tee A came to town ANYTIME popular comedians in the country come to Ibadan, it is always a memorable experience for those who have the privilege to be part of such gathering. Last week Thursday was not an exception to that claim as the trio of Ali Baba, Gbenga Adeyinka and Tee A stormed Ibadan for OSMD youth empowerment summit, organised by media and advertising expert, Bisoye Fagade.

The event was not their only mission in Ibadan as they moved from there to Peteru’s night of comedy held at Maurve 21, Ring Road, Ibadan. The comedy show has become a tradition in Ibadan as many celebrities and fun loving people always look up to Thursday night with Peteru.

In their usual style, jokes were cracked and knowledge was shared. They shared the stories of how they struggled before fame smiled on them and encouraged the audience to always believe in themselves.

The night of fun afforded up-and-coming stand up comedians to interact with the established ones as they were educated on how to make their craft sell to the people.

22

21 August, 2016

makeover

Sunday Tribune

Rita Okonoboh 08053789087 tribunemakeover@gmail.com

Looking chic with shorts T

he Nigerian weather has taken a turn for the better, with the rains on the low side and the sun as well, and there may be no better time to embrace shorts.

Interestingly, there are more ways to wear shorts so that they can look even more beautiful outside the four corners of your home, or beyond the open expanse of the beach.

With the various lengths of shorts available, a classy sense of decency can be achieved with this style option. Ms Lola Francis of Lolly’s Beauties, Ikeja, Lagos State, shares tips with Makeover, on how to style shorts: Prepare your legs Pulling off a successful fashion look with shorts is more or less, a basic function of beautiful legs. Preparing your legs for shorts is important. Invest in your skin by ensuring it comes off as smooth as possible.

Moisturise properly to give your legs the right shiny outlook. The length of your shorts may also be determined by if you are straightlegged, knock-kneed or bow-legged.

Kedike crooner, Chidinma.

Photo: www.woman.ng

Try native styles Believe it or not, Ankara blouses go beautifully with shorts, depending on the style of the blouse anyway. And if you so desire to take it a step further, let your Ankara also

5 signs you’re wearing the wrong bra YOU can’t fit two fingers underneath the back band: About ninety per cent of the bra’s support should come from the band. Think of the shoulder straps as a back up plan. The bra band should feel snug around your torso—and don’t freak out that it’s going to give you “back fat.” Firstly, the right-sized bra pushes your breasts up and forward, giving you a leaner look.

Second, you’re human and it’s normal to have an slight indentation in that area.

You should start off on the first or middle hook when you first buy a bra, and be able to fit your index and forefinger in the back comfortably. That way, it’s not to tight or too loose, and you can tighten the strap as it wears and stretches out over time.

The underwire is poking into your breast tissue:

Breast tissue is super delicate and the last thing you want to do is irritate that part of your body–especially with a metal wire. Your underwire should sit on your ribs and be in line with the middle of your underarm.

That way, your breasts fit completely inside the cups, letting your bra do what it’s supposed to do.

Your bra gaps in between your breasts: Front-gapping is a telltale sign you’re in the wrong size. The center part of your bra, in-between the cups, should sit flush against your skin.

Your straps are digging into your shoulders: As stated earlier, most of the support should come from the bra band, not the straps. A common

mistake women make is buying a bra that’s too wide across, and compensating the unbalance by tightening the straps...a lot.

Too-tight straps can cause myriad problems, and repeated wear can even cause permanent marks on your shoulders.

Your bra just isn’t comfortable: Do you take off your bra the second you get home for the night?

Then this one’s for you. It may seem basic, but bras should not feel like a Medieval torture device. We’re in 2016, guys, and with all the technology out there, we actually have access to bras that don’t hurt. Your bra should help you feel like your best self...and if it’s a sexy lacy one on top of that, well, we most definitely approve.

Source: com

www.glamour.

feature as the shorts style.

Peplum, tent, buttoned-down, cropped, are just a few of the Ankara-themed styles that go beautifully with shorts. The trick is not to drown the look by going overboard with the Ankara blouse.

The right shoes Whether flats, heels, stilettos, wedges or boots, many types of shoes can pair with shorts. The important thing is to know how to combine appropriately.

Add a pinch of formality For those who work during the weekends (and this depends on the work environment), you can wear shorts.

In fact, for some kind of jobs, for example, those who work as On-Air-Personalities, fashion stylists, artistes, among others, you can wear shorts any day of the week. Throw on a sleeveless blouse and a blazer, and you’re set for the office.

Casual/semi-formal styles You can wear a chiffon top over your shorts for a day out with friends; pair denim shorts with a silk blouse for a picnic or shopping; wear with a jacket, belt and flats for a casual date or to the movies.

Cropped For those who don’t mind showing a bit of skin, wear a crop top over your shorts.

Another way to pull off the cropped look is to knot the tails of your shirt over your shorts, exposing a brief layer of skin on your belly.

Print on print As Kedike crooner, Chidinma, presents in this photo, you can wear printed shorts on tops with print. If you’re at a loss on how to pair prints, engage the services of a fashion expert. The trick to pulling off prints is to ensure that the prints match favourably.

P.S. However you decide to rock your shorts, moderation and decency are important points to note.

23

21 August, 2016

With Akintayo Abodunrin akinjaa03@yahoo.co.uk 08111813058

Efuru @50 celebration holds in four cities The golden anniversary of the novel published in 1966 by Heinemann will hold in four cities, rounding off a celebration which began in the United States of America and United Kingdom in March

F

IFTY years after its publication, the late Flora Nwapa’s debut novel, ‘Efuru’, is set to be loudly celebrated by writers, academics, children and other people of goodwill in four Nigerian cities.

The celebration, which is being coordinated by a National Organising Committee (NOC) headed by former President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Dr. Wale Okediran, will run from November 29 through December 11. It has ‘Efuru@50: A Celebration of Flora Nwapa and African Women Literature’ as its theme.

Published in 1966 as number 26 in Heinemann’s African Writer Series, ‘Efuru’ is the first published book by an African woman writer and has earlier been celebrated this year in the West. In March, the UN’s Commission for Women celebrated ‘Efuru’ and Flora Nwapa in New York; three panels on the book were held at the African Literature Association conference in Atlanta in April while there were also presentations at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London also in April.

At a news briefing he jointly addressed with representative of the Flora Nwapa Foundation, Uzoma Nwakuche, Prince Paschal Mebuge-Obaa and ANA Lagos chair, Femi Onileagbon, at the premises of Literamed Publishers, Oregun, Lagos on Tuesday, Dr. Okediran unveiled plans for the Nigerian leg of the celebration. Some of the activities he rolled out include symposia, children’s carnival, drama sketches from ‘Efuru’ and a grand finale with a night of tributes.

Okediran disclosed that the events will be held in Lagos, Abuja, Maiduguri and Oguta/Enugu. The ex- ANA president added that though he heads the National Organising Committee also comprising Mrs. Chinyere Obi-Obasi, Salamatu Sule, the poet Ikeogu Oke and Isaac Ogezi, local organising committees (LOCs) will handle affairs at each venue.

Head, Department of English, University of Lagos, Professor Hope Eghagha is head of the Lagos LOC while Prof Vicky Sylvester of the University of Abuja will oversee events in the Federal Capital Territory.

The late Flora Nwapa Writer and academic, Dr. Razinat Mohammed of the University of Maiduguri is head of the LOC in Borno while Mebuge-Obaa, will coordinate the grand finale in Enugu/ Oguta. The founder of the Ebedi International Writers’ Residency, Iseyin, Oyo State further disclosed that ANA chairs and members in the states will work with the LOC chairpersons.

On the choice of the University of Maiduguri, Okediran disclosed that Nwapa was a visiting professor at the institution before

Understanding money from an early age A review of Anthony Osae-Brown‘s Understanding The Nigerian Financial System for Secondary School Students by Deola Aluko MONEY is very important to human lives.

Right from infancy, money becomes a central commodity in the life of a man. Money plays a major role in the birth process, nursing and nurturing of a child into adulthood. Even in adulthood, the pursuit of money is required to meet daily needs.

It is on the importance of money to human life that the book, ‘Understanding The Nigerian Financial System for Secondary School Students’ is based. The author, Anthony Osae-Brown, highlights the need for people to have a good grasp of the financial system from an early age hence the focus of the book on secondary school students.

In ‘Understanding The Nigerian Financial System for Secondary School Students’ published by : AuthorHouse, US, OsaeBrown simplifies how money is earned and how to spend it in a way that enhances people’s welfare and ability to earn money in adulthood.

Divided into 20 chapters, the book begins on a light note, defining financial system for a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. To have a good knowledge of the financial system, the definition of money becomes paramount. To find answers to the meaning of money, OsaeBrown goes back in time to highlight different items that have been used as money.

He names salt, corn and rice among others that have been used for trade-by-barter when there was no legal tender in the precolonial era. Later cowries were used just

Book cover as precious metals like gold, silver served as money. Much later, paper money and coins were introduced as legal tenders.

The author argues that for anything to be considered as money, it must be accepted by everyone. According to him, money must also be scarce because if everyone had money, nobody will desire it, hence it would no longer be called money.

In the second chapter titled ‘This Is the Financial Market’, Osae-Brown goes into detailed description of the financial market using local market as an example. He aptly makes the comparison thus: “The financial market is like your local market. The major difference is that in your local market, you only buy items that you can see and touch, like tomatoes or yams. In the financial market you buy things you cannot see and touch, like bonds and stocks.”

In chapter three, the author defines what he calls “The Twin Daughters of the Financial Market” the money market and the capital market. He goes on in chapter four to explain all the players in the financial system. These include the savers and inves-

tors, borrowers and issuers, the financial institutions and regulators.

Osae-Brown seeks to simplify his discussion by asking simple questions which makes the reader looks inward to provide answers for a better understanding of the financial system. This student/teacher learning approach gives a classroom feel. The gradual progression from the definition of money to the eventual definition of the financial system gives a better understanding of the book’s direction to the reader.

The brevity of the chapters shows that the author does not want to make his subject boring, hence he deliberately simplifies the terms, using simple language and explanatory simple sentences.

What makes ‘Understanding The Nigerian Financial System for Secondary School Students’ instructive is at the end of each chapter, there is Test Your Knowledge, which consists of questions on the subject discussed for students to answer. In addition to that is the Activity Menu, which allows for students to engage in class discussion on issues raised in each chapter. Also, the author uses images to illustrate the subjects discussed in each chapter which makes the book visually appealing and attractive to read for students.

To this end, ‘Understanding The Nigerian Financial System for Secondary School Students’ is a good compendium for secondary school students to have. It seeks to simplify financial terminologies that have hitherto made issues relating to the financial system uninteresting to young people.

It is a great way for students to start their journey into knowing the importance of money, investment and a general understanding of the financial market.

her death in 1993. The literary competition for secondary school students, Okediran said, will see organisers providing copies of ‘Efuru’ to participating schools to prepare ahead for the quiz, reading comprehension and one act drama excerpt.

The Lagos event will happen on Tuesday, November 29; Maiduguri on Thursday, December 1; Abuja on Saturday, December 3 at the NTA Arena and a one-week grand finale in Enugu/Oguta from December 4 to 11.

The national organising committee chair, who admitted that funding is still a major issue, also announced a call for papers on the theme of the event, ‘Efuru@50: A Celebration of Flora Nwapa and African Women Literature’.

He invited abstracts not exceeding 200 words on sub-themes including ‘The dialectics and symbolism of Efuru’; ‘Flora Nwapa and feminism in Efuru’; ‘Efuru and the role of women in national discourse’; ‘Flora Nwapa and the role of women in African culture’; ‘African Literature and the role of women writers’; ‘Women, work, writing and the marketplace’ and ‘The interface between writing and feminism’ amongst others. Deadline for the submission of abstracts which should be sent to info@ efuru50.com and copied to waleokediran@ yahoo.co.uk, he disclosed, is September 30. Full paper submission deadline is October 30.

Nwakuche, Nwapa’s only son noted that celebrating his mum’s debut novel 23 years after her passing is well worth it. He said: “My mother is a lady of firsts; first African female writer; first Nigeria female commissioner of East Central State and first African female publisher. We urge the Federal and State Governments, especially in former East Central State to acknowledge and join us to celebrate this great African woman who has served her country and pioneered modern day African Women Literature in her relatively short but extremely productive and memorable life.”

He added that the foundation will promote Nwapa’s legacy; “promote African Women Literature; encourage young aspiring female writers and promote the essence of Flora Nwapa’s work - the dignity and economic independence of women whose role in traditional society are sometimes threatened or unappreciated.”

On the significance of Enugu in the celebration, Mebuge-Obaa said: “Flora Nwapa taught English and Geography at Queens School, Enugu in the 1960s as a career civil servant; she nurtured her God-given talents as a novelist and publisher in Enugu before moving to Lagos; she was thrice appointed commissioner in quick succession at Enugu, the capital of the then East Central States and she founded her publishing companies at Enugu. In fact, Flora Nwapa lived, worked and died in Enugu.”

Born on January, 13, 1931 in Oguta, Imo State, the late Nwapa attended the University of Ibadan, graduating with a BA in 1957 before proceeding to the University of Edinburg, Scotland the following year to obtain a diploma in education. She was Assistant Registrar (Public Relations) at the University of Lagos from 1962 to 1964 and published ‘Efuru’, the first of her 12 works in 1966.

24

Sunday Tribune

Sunday Tribune

21 August, 2016

glamour I

How I have been able to remain relevant in the industry I will say it is God because I wasn’t as active as this at a point. I was doing just one movie, a year. I see myself as a very lucky person and this is due to the fact that in this career, if you say you want to leave for a while and come back, it is not always easy because a lot of people are coming up everyday. The industry is very competitive, so you can’t afford to be away for long. I was away for 10 years and for God to have brought me this far and for a lot of people to still appreciate what I do, I believe it is because He loves me.

Acting in both English and Yoruba movies I actually started with English movies. I started acting Yoruba when I came back fully into the industry seven years ago. As I said, it is God. To break

My ‘balloon eyes’

Definition of style For me, style has to do with my mood. Sometimes, I will wake up and say, today, I just want to look top notch, smell great, just look my best and at other times, I will just stay in bed and wear my nightie all day. That is me. But then, people see me and say, “AY, you are just sexy. At this age you can still keep this sexiness.” I love colours. I like being sexy, I can conveniently say that. It is just me. Funny enough, I do it effortlessly. It is just part of me, I love to look appealing. So style, to me is, look sexy, not trashy.

get me movie roles —Ayo Adesanya

into both genre of the movie industry is not easy, so, I will still attribute the fact that I am able to do the two successfully to God. Well, I started with English and being a Yoruba lady, I can speak Yoruba fluently, even the Oyo dialect. So, I can act in both English and Yoruba effortlessly. Also, when God gives you a talent, you have to make use of it. And when making use of it, you must challenge yourself as well and I do that a lot. I do things that ordinarily Ayo wouldn’t have done because I am a very reserved person. People who are close to me know that. I love to push myself because I love challenges. That has really been part of what has made me come this far.

Most defining moment of my career I believe every moment has been a defining one for me because it is what has moulded me. I learn from everything I do. I have derived success from everything I had done. It is a little bit from here and there, that has been what has defined who I am.

Every job I did, I picked something from and that has made me a better person. Even the character we act preaches to us at times. We are all human beings, we make

mistakes. We are bound to make mistakes because of our flesh. So, we learn from this and that and it moulds us. That is why I always say, I don’t have a favourite among my jobs. I love every movie I’ve ever done.

I always talk to God before I go on set to help me to do this character well. At the end of the day, I would discover that God had added another feather to my cap.

What I consider before accepting scripts First, I want to know who is handling the project; that is very important to me because these days, if you are not careful, you may end up doing trashy things that you will

Fashion obsessions I love bags, I love shoes, and I like heels a lot because I have fine legs. I am not bragging, I do have fine legs. I love perfumes, weave-ons and wigs.

the real sense of it.

There are ways you can play erotic stuffs that will look real but it is not. If you ask me to play a role, it means you believe I can do it.

I will take the role and give it the best I have got.

regret for the rest of your life. I love to know the storyline and the role I’m playing, the director, producers and my co-actors. The location too is important because of the insecurity in the country, I wouldn’t want to go to a place my life would be endangered.

I rarely have limitation as far as roles are concerned. Yes, I have reservations about nudity but I believe there are ways we can play around it. We don’t have to be nude in

With Tayo Gesinde temiligali03@yahoo.com 08054727801

Secret of my beauty It is God and good genes. I got it from my parents; my mum looks younger every day and she is over 60. So, I don’t do anything extraordinary. Sometimes, I diet.

The kind of job I do, I have to look good. That doesn’t mean I don’t take soft drinks, wine or sugar, it is just that I try to control them.

As human beings, there are times we need to binge on things but getting back on track is the most important thing. For beauty routine, I do normal things that people do. And seriously, I spend a lot of money on myself. I think if I am not an actress and I do regular jobs, I think I will be a bit relaxed but being on TV, I need to do a lot more. I need to enhance my look most times. As an actress, one has to look good because that is what one is selling.

Ayo Adesanya is an actress and movie producer who has featured in many English and Yoruba movies. In this interview with TAYO GESINDE, the Communication and Language Arts graduate of the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State, speaks on how she has been able to carve a niche for herself in the movie industry, fashion preference, among other issues.

Foray into acting started acting when I was five years old as a student of Oritamefa Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Ibadan, Oyo State. We had a drama group and a television station used to come to our school to record our drama. We used to act from plays written by William Shakespeare and so on. And anytime I was at home, I used to act for my dad and he would give me money.

That really encouraged me. I also used to go to the theatre to watch movies and used to think that I would love to act. Those were the things that motivated me into acting.

25

How I handle negative publicity When you read negative things about yourself, you are human, no matter how strong your shell is, it will be penetrated. How long the penetration stays is what makes the difference.

Things like that get you depressed but you must quickly get out of it. I take it as part of the job and move on. If I am not doing this job, I will not be getting attention as nobody will know me.

Greatest assets Apart from my legs, my eyes. God just gave me these eyes for the whole of Nigeria and these eyes are doing wonders. He just gave me this “balloon eyes” that take them chop. Sometimes people will give me some roles because of my eyes.

Handling advances from male admirers These days, it is worse, especially on social media. There are a lot of dangers lurking out there. It is easier for people to get in touch with us now and if you are not careful, you can make blunders.

We need to be extremely careful because a lot is happening out there. If you are not careful, you may get into funny traps. So I am wary of them these days.

Combining the home front with my career I try as much as possible to spend the little time I have

with my family. For instance, I am working in Ibadan now I brought them with me so that we can spend time together. I love

hanging out with my family. The more times you spend together, you will be able to have memories that will last a lifetime.

Life as a single mother As a single mum, your child is the most important thing in your life, remember that at all times. You have to teach and nurture him, correct him, guide him till he or she gets married. Show him love and be there for him. And God in His infinite mercy will see you through. It is when things are so difficult that God will show up for you. So, always have that at the back of your mind and don’t panic. It is something I have been experiencing for the past 12 years. So I understand how it feels. You just have to worship and serve God. When you do, He will be there for you. I am not saying I am perfect. I am not even near a saint.

Pains and gains of being an actress The gains are so many, that was why I turned the little pains into gains. The gains are too many. Seriously, people overwhelm me, maybe because I am a reserved person.

When people show me love, it gets to me.

26

sundayinterview

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Politicians have made INEC a whipping boy’ continued from pg 15 total number of valid votes cast was 729. (laughs). We had another one in Agum polling unit: total number of registered voters was 1, 113, total number of accredited voters was nil, but the total number of valid votes cast was 1030. Nobody was accredited but over a thousand people voted. We have similar examples from other places. There is nobody even with the smallest iota of credibility that can approve this kind of result. The level of violence determines the speed with which we go back to conclude the elections. In Bayelsa, the election was conducted in December 2015 but we couldn’t go back to Southern Ijaw until January.

Now, what can we do? This is again one area where we need your support. Any nation which does not penalise violators of its own laws is doomed. And then you look at an agency like INEC and hang the blame on us. Who is supposed to punish electoral offenders under the Electoral Act? It is INEC. But we cannot and I will tell you why. The first step towards successful prosecution of electoral offence is arrest. INEC has no power under the law to make arrest. Secondly, you investigate so that you have the evidence that you can tender in court for successful prosecution.

INEC has no capacity to conduct investigation. But we are expected to prosecute.

Even worse, some of the electoral offenders may be INEC’s own staff. How do we prosecute ourselves?

The solution is this: in 2008, Mohammed Uwais chaired the Political Reform Committee and made a recommendation that this nation should establish an Electoral Offences Commission or Tribunal.

That hasn’t been done. In 2011, we had a major post-election violence. The government of the day had the Lemu report.

Lemu wrote the same recommendation but nothing has been done. Are we waiting for the next violence to set up another committee and nothing is done? People must know that if they violate the law, there will be consequences, from politicians to the staff of the commission. For as long as that does not happen, it will be very, very difficult to stem the tide of violence in our elections. What are we doing to achieve that? We have been engaging with the National Assembly. The last time we went to the Senate on electoral reform, the Senate President assured us that before the end of this year, the Electoral Act will be amended, and that the Senate was seriously considering the establishment of the Electoral Offences tribunal. In fact, most interestingly in the case of the Lemu report, the government of the day accepted the recommendation, issued a White Paper and directed the Attorney General to liaise with the commission, but nothing was done.

When I read the White Paper, something struck me. There was a tabular presentation of all the cases of electoral offences and the state that recorded the highest number was Kaduna, in 2011.

Over a thousand people were killed in Kaduna. But the number of arrests made was nil. Prosecution: nil. You lose over 1,000 souls and no arrest was made? And you said you are okay? No, something has to be done. Recently in Kano, some thugs disrupted an election on April 30, we cancelled it and several arrests were made. One day, I received a report from the Kano office through the Nigeria Police that they wanted our legal department in Kano to collaborate with the police legal department to prosecute those arrested in

Election Security; they have been meeting at the level of the state, co-chaired by the Resident Electoral Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police. But I also cochair the National Inter-Agency Consultative Committee with the National Security Adviser (NSA), so there are steps that we have taken (to ensure hitch-free elections). We are conscious of the possibility of infiltration from neighbouring states into Edo during the election because it is a stand-alone election, and we are also aware of all the antics of the politicians.

Yakubu

connection with the electoral violence in Kano. And we did. And I was pleasantly surprised that we successfully prosecuted 42 electoral offenders. This is the highest number of electoral offenders prosecuted in the history of the commission at any given time. But we need to go beyond the thugs who snatch ballot boxes because, in all probability, they were not candidates in the elections. Who are their sponsors?

Unless and until you target and prosecute the sponsors of violence, this will not end.

What are the takeaways from your experience in other states in the South-South that you are going to avoid in the Edo governorship election?

Yes, we have learnt a lot of lessons

Who is supposed to punish electoral offenders under the Electoral Act? It is INEC. But we cannot and I will tell you why.

The first step towards successful prosecution of electoral offence is arrest. INEC has no power under the law to make arrest.

from the elections that we have conducted. The whole approach to Edo election, learning from the experience in Rivers, has actually considerably changed. In Edo, there are 18 local governments, 192 wards, 2627 polling units, and 4011 voting points. Total number of registered voters as we speak today is 1.9 million, specifically 1,925, 105. In Edo, 48 per cent of the registered voters so far are of the female gender, 52 men. In terms of occupational distribution, with the benefit of the voter card and the smart card reader which has a VIN number that captures the information that the prospective voter provided at the point of registration, the majority of registered voters are students.

Now, this may give us a clue to what happened in Ogun State before the 2015 general election. Ogun is the only state in this country that has more tertiary institutions than many states combined. The argument of the students at that time was that many of them registered but they were not at the institutions at the time of voting. Secondly, in Edo, we have those who completed the forms and told the commission that their occupation is business. This will include traders. Then, the third category is fishermen and farmers, while the last category, about five per cent, is where the voter described herself as a housewife. We have given opportunity to people who want to transfer from other places to Edo. The figure is 106. But those who transferred out of Edo are just 56. One of the benefits of the smart card reader is that it can provide information for politicians to use in planning.

What we have been doing is to analyse the risk per local government. We have been doing the election risk analysis. Increasingly, the local governments that we thought were high risk are becoming either low risk or medium risk. We have the Inter-agency Consultation Committee on

In Ogun State in 2011, politicians prepaid voters, but because there was no means of checking how they voted, they voted according to their consciences. But in 2015, the politicians had learnt their lessons and so, instead of pre-paying voters, they positioned party agents strategically near the ballot boxes, so that people could show who they voted for, and then they were paid. This was called post-paid or see-and-buy.

Now, what is INEC going to do about this because it makes a mess of secret balloting?

Well, in 2011, I wasn’t in the commission. But what you have mentioned goes back to what we have been talking about.

As we are thinking about how to strengthen the electoral process in this country, the politicians will come to the stakeholders’ meetings and listen to us attentively, with a view to finding mechanisms by which they can beat the system. But there is a limit as to what the commission can do. We can’t secure the environment. In Rivers for instance, we had 4,442 polling units, each manned by four adhoc staff.

Then we had adhoc staff as collation officers, returning officers. We had our own supervisors and monitors from the headquarters. We engaged over 24,000 staff for the Rivers election. You have to provide for their security, take care of them.

Election day is like a mad house, very difficult to maintain focus on what INEC is supposed to do and, at the same time, maintain propriety on the part of the political class.

In one of the states where we had election, I watched a governorship candidate on television. He said that INEC was creating the impression that we are a nation of scammers, simply because the smart card reader could not pick his biometrics at the first attempt. He said: “This machine is not working!” Lo and behold, the election was conducted and he was declared winner. When we went to present the Certificate of Return, he said the best thing that ever happened to our elections is the card reader! (laughs) and that, whatever the imperfections, he would work with INEC to make sure that we improve on the card reader.

So, you know, INEC is always the whipping boy when politicians lose. And when they win irrespective of what, it is their own handiwork. In fact, sometimes, they expect that where we see gross violations of the electoral rules, we should just look the other way and declare them winners.

And they will complain and complain. And then if you declare the elections inconclusive, they would then go on television and say “INEC would have declared the wrong people winners but for the vigilance of our members!”

So, I think those who are practical politicians know a lot more than many. You should also advise the commission on continues on pg 29

27

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

thepolity NASS Clerk: As Omolori enters the fray

Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA, who has followed the controversy surrounding the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), highlights the tasks ahead of the new Clerk.

Saraki

T

HE saga thrown up around the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly in 2016 beats the imagination of many Assembly watchers. Yes,there have been issues in the past, the last being the crisis that erupted in 2008/2009, pitching then Clerk, Nasiru Arab, against his Deputy, Mr Oluyemi Ogunyomi. But that as nowhere near the eruptions witnessed in 2016.

In the Arab/Ogunyomi saga, the issue had to do with alleged record irregularities which would have denied Ogunyomi his tenure as Clerk but the matter was eventually resolved when Arab proceeded on his terminal leave, yielding the ground to Ogunyomi.

This time around, the whole ground of the National Assembly vibrated as the battle ensued on who would take charge of NASS bureaucracy after Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa. There was the case of Mr Ben Efeturi, the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, (DCNA) who, at the time, was seen as the number two in the hierarchy. He was believed to be standing in the gap between Omolori and the top job and the battle was intense ahead of May 14, when Maikasuwa was to proceed on terminal leave. Omolori, at the time, was the Clerk to the House ofRepresentatives. To be or not to be? That was the question on the lips of many in the National Assembly. The Assembly was divided along the line as the political set up and the bureaucratic setting clashed for the first time on such an issue.

When the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Senator Isa Galaudu wrote a letter dated April 26 to reject a letter by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) dated April 20 and which named Omolori as Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, the already tensed atmosphere became charged. Commissioners of the NASC also got divided along the line and it appeared a back and forth had been setup. The Assembly leadership

Omolori

was about to be thrown into a quandary when the NASC again intervened by clarifying its decision to name Omolori. The Commission insisted that for the sake stability and continuity, the then Clerk of the House of Representatives had tobe appointed.

This, it said, was because Efeturi was due to proceed onhis terminal leave even before Maikasuwa finally leaves the system onAugust 14.

On May13, Maikasuwa handed over to Omolori to douse the tension. In acircular issued on May 12, the outgone CNA, Maikasuwa specifically stated that Omolori, who was earlier appointed Acting Clerk by the Alhaji Adamu Fika led NASC would act in his absence. Maikasuwa in the circular titled: “Commencement of Terminal Leave”said: “During my absence, the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed A. Sani-Omolori will perform my duties, please.”He copied the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Senate President,Deputy Speaker; Senate Leader; House Leader; the Executive Chairman of NASC; the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly and others.

Omolori who holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) joined the services of the National Assembly in July 1992 as a Legislative Counsel before rising to his current position as Clerk of the House of Representatives and latest appointment as The Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Dr Adamu Fika, had in a letter dated 20th April 2016, appointed Omolori as Acting Clerk to the National Assembly from May 14th 2016 tom August 14th 2016, the period in which the outgoing Clerk , Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa would observe his pre- retirement leave.

However, Saraki through a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Senator Isa Galaudu

and dated April 21st 2016, kicked against Omolori’s appointment against the incumbent Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly (DCNA), Mr Ben Efeturi. Saraki in the letter, directed Adamu Fika to withdraw Omolori’s appointment letter forthwith and issue a fresh one for Efeturi on the grounds of seniority, which was however not complied with by Fika who, in another letter to Saraki dated April 26th 2016, explained the circumstances that led to Omolori’s appointment as against Efeturi.

This however got the board of the commission polarised into two,different factions of six federal commissioners each, supporting or antagonising Omolori or Efeturi for the position with attendant tension in the air. Eventually, Saraki, the head of the political wing of the Nationa Assembly and the NASC resolved the differences and agreed to the choice of Omolori.

The commission in a letter dated April 26 and addressed to Saraki byits chairman, Fika clarified the position of NASC to appoint Omolori, insisting that the processes of appointment of Efeturi and Omolori clearly showed that the latter was senior in terms of promotion and appointment.

The letter contained a chart which showed that while Efeturi was appointed Deputy Director on January 1, 2004, Omolori, was appointed to the same position on January 1, 2003. Omolori also proceeded to become Director on January 1, 2007 ahead of Efeturi, who was named Director on January 1, 2008. The chart also showed that Efeturi was named Acting Clerk on February 4, 2010, while Omolori was named Acting Clerk the same day. The duo was also named substantive Clerk on March 25, 2010. The commission insisted that records at its disposal indicated that Omolori was senior to Efeturi by career progression.

The clarification from NASC chairman also indicated that the decision to appoint Sani-Omolori as Acting Clerk to the National Assembly was taken at the Commission’s

440th meeting held on the April 20, 2016.

The letter stated that the decision was taken because Mr Benedict Efeturi, who is DCNA, is set to proceed on pre-retirement leave from August 2, 12 days before the outgone Clerk, Salisu Maikasuwa will be due to hand over to a successor on August 13.

The letter by Fika added that Efeturi could not be considered because he was “time barred,” hence the decision to name Sani-Omolori to act as CNA and ensure continuity in the system. The letter read in part: “In arriving at the Commission’s decision,the Chairman did not use his casting vote, because eleven Commissioners were in support with only one who voted no.

Last week, the NASC officially recognised Omolori as the substantive CNA, following the retirement of Maikasuwa on August 14.

The Kogi-born technocrat has therefore stepped into office as the new head of Nigeria’s legislative bureaucracy. He immediately kick-started meetings with the different segments of the legislature including the staff so as to get a first-hand feel of the challenges at hand.

Snippets of his discussions with members of staff at his maiden meeting with members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) indicated that Omolori promised to allow the staff freedom of speech, where many of the workers condemned the disposition of some directors to shortchange them.

He also promised to put in place functional and durable structures by consolidating on the achievements of the past and ensure a smooth relationship with the management, the staff and the political wing of the legislature.

The new Clerk promised to kick start another reign of “Glorious NASS”through constant dialogue with stakeholders , while ensuring promotion of the core values of legislative agenda. He also promised to revolutionalise the ICT department to ensure that the legislature is up to date in the global legislative village. He was also said to have assured the workers of his determination to ensure discipline, hardwork and accountability, while ensuring that those who observe the core values are rewarded and punishment for those who fall by the way.

No doubt, the new Clerk has some daunting tasks ahead of him. He is inheriting a NASS, whose bureaucracy is almost disoriented with clearly undefined work codes and ethics. The legislature has been unable to perform its core duties to the people and Nigerian researchers as a result of the lack of a functional library and the failure to establish a proper Budget office. Thus far, the National Assembly Budget and Research office (NABRO) is operating without legal backing and that makes it an ad-hoc arrangement at best. Incidentally that is one institution that can help resolve the perennial NASS versus executive crisis over budget issues.

“The new Clerk has some daunting tasks ahead of him. He is inheriting a NASS, whose bureaucracy is almost disoriented with clearly undefined work codes and ethics.”

28

interview

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

What Buhari can do to succeed —Iornem

Senator David Iornem, a member of the National Assembly in the third republic, is a founding father of the defunct Action Congress (AC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Benue State. The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) speaks with JOHNSON BABAJIDE on various issues affecting the polity.

W

think you have chased them away and so on, they may hide bomb somewhere. One day, they threatened to bomb Kaduna, bomb Agip House and that is how guerilla operations go.

HAT is your assessment of the administration of President Muhammadu Bu-

hari?

We have made progress. I can categorically tell you that democracy is in progress under Buhari. We have made some progress in the sense that there is free expression of speech; the press is not cowed and people can say what they want to say.

Democracy is being practiced.

Another angle is the National Assembly.

The leadership of the National Assembly is not exactly what the party and the executive arm wanted; so for the legislators to sit and chose their leaders is good. You can also see that in the senate leadership, a new thing happened whereby an opposition party member is included. It is a lesson for all Nigerians and the executive.

The people sat down and shared positions and power in a smooth manner, not minding opposition from the ruling party.

So, that is democracy and it is a lesson for the executive.

What do I mean? When you campaign and you will election, you are no longer just for your party but for the country and when you want to put a government together, you shouldn’t be looking parochially at your party members; you should look for people who can help you do the job. It should not be jobs for the boys, no. When you take it that it is jobs for the boys, you may not have competent hands to handle issues that need to be treated for the country to move forward. This is what we are experiencing in Nigeria; we have talents such that if we put our hands together to join Buhari, he will run the country very successfully and stimulate the economy.

What is your view concerning the fight against corruption. Some people are alleging Buhari is selective in his anti-graft fight?

Well, inasmuch as I embrace the fight against corruption, the anti-graft commission is giving Nigeria a very bad name.

You can fight the war without necessarily making too much noise about. They are fighting the war as if they are campaigning. If you go outside the country you will not like the bad image the country is painted. President Buhari is bad-advertising Nigeria. There is a concept in communication called bad-advertising; there is advertising and there is bad-advertising. When you are advertising, you are promoting, advocating and telling people that this thing is good, people should embrace it but when you are bad-advertising, you are telling people that this thing is bad and people should run away from it.

If I go to any airport outside Nigeria and people look at me as a very corrupt person, who is to be blamed? Buhari should be blamed. You can fight this war without making noise. Do the actual thing, you don‘t talk too much. America has corrupt people too. If you like go and search the net on internet scam, Nigeria is not among the top 20 countries. When you see the first 20 countries, United States of America is number one. South Africa is also among the top 20. But the way they

Senator David Iornem portray Nigeria on internet scams, you will think Nigeria is number one. So the anti-corruption war can be fought without damaging Nigeria too much.

Nigeria is having tough times economically partially due to the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers who have been bombing oil installations. Do you agree that the Federal Government should go into negotiation with them?

The Buhari administration made a mistake by taking up too many wars at the same time. You don‘t open too many fronts when you want to fight and get results. There was the Boko Haram, which is a very serious problem; if you want to

Inasmuch as I embrace the fight against corruption, the anti-graft commission is giving Nigeria a very bad name. You can fight the war without necessarily making too much noise about. They are fighting the war as if they are campaigning. If you go outside the country you will not like the bad image the country is painted.

confront Boko Haram, you don‘t go and begin to do things against the Niger Delta militants like suspending allowances and cancelling their contracts. You can leave that one for another day and face the fight against Boko Haram, secure the North-East and Nigeria as a whole. At the same time, the government opened another war with the Shii‘te. First of all, that group does not agree with Boko Haram but when you go and attack them, it is likely that they may not join Boko Haram but they may start their own war.

There was no need to go and kill over 300 people just like that. So, it was a very big mistake.

Then, the anti-graft war is also a war.

There are some people who will be dispossessed of something that they have acquired and they will not be happy. There are many ways they can make things difficult for you; they can sponsor people against you, they can even sponsor Boko Haram. So, it is not good that you are taking too many battles on hand. Another battle is the one with the National Assembly; it is also a war. People sat there and constitutionally produced their own leadership; as a president, just accept them and they will work with you. They will never be against you. You accept, integrate them into whatever you are doing, give them respect. That is all. But you go ahead and take hard stance against the leadership; that is an unnecessary war and if you check, there are other battles here and there that Buhari has taken on.

To answer your question, it is proper for government to go into negotiation with the Niger Delta Avengers, because even if they start to fight and the Nigeria military goes into the area to smoke out the Avengers, it is not going to be an overnight success. The operation will be prolonged, because it will be like guerilla war; you don’t know where the people are. When you are in the creeks and you

What is your take on the recent education policies that scrapped HNDuniversity dichotomy and post-UTME? Nigeria takes a long time to change. We are a chip off the block of British Education; the British have a similar problem and they found a way around it. People were discriminating against HND; people would say polytechnics were not empowered to produce high manpower. So in Britain, they started by creating a board called National Council for Academic Award and that body granted degrees to students who studied in polytechnics.

Even at that, as they were getting degrees, some people feel those degrees from National Council for Academic Award from polytechnics are lesser than the ones from the universities. So when they found out that there was this attitude, they decided to scrap all polytechnics and made them universities. They just asked them to choose a name as a university and clear it with the ministry of education and it was automatic. So, they can do the same thing in Nigeria. I want to call on government to change all polytechnics to universities in Nigeria. It will motivate the lecturers; the students and make any form of discrimination meaningless.

Again, this issue of post-UTME is a big fraud and had to be scrapped. You go to secondary schools, sit for exams; pass your school certificate have five credits and then you go and take JAMB, get scores so that you can enter university.

But because there are so few vacancies for people to enter and there are about two million each time wanting to enter and they can only admit five hundred thousand, they say let us extort money from those people who want to come in because they know that those applicants have no other place. So, they put another roadblock like the police and say you come and pay for this, take this chance, pay for screening exams and so on. It is not post-UTME that qualifies someone for admission into the university and it is not necessary for anybody to go through that to enter a university. So, it is right for it to be scrapped and I want to tell you that the next step is to scrap JAMB. JAMB is not necessary and it is not an admission requirement for university. No! It’s an elimination process, because you don‘t have enough vacancies.

You were in the ACN; then you left for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but at the twilight of the last PDP administration, you defected to the opposition APC, which has now become the ruling party. Don’t you consider that bad?

No. Let me tell you, I brought the AC to this state before it became ACN and now APC. Some of those who hold sway there now, I brought them in; so, in essence, I was on sabbatical. Now, I am back to my home (APC).

29

sundayinterview

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Our responsibility is to make INEC law abiding’ continued from pg 26 what we can do. Our doors are open. The problem of the commission is that you are damned if you do and you are damned if you don’t.

Can you further clarify the issue of card readers, particularly during the 2015 general election when CNN showed under-aged people, 10-yearolds, brandishing card readers and voting during the election? We also have multiple cases of people with different voter cards.

I think I have touched on this slightly but let me say this. The fingerprint that we use for registration on the direct data capturing machine does not recognise the fingerprint of an infant, and then no under-aged person would register as an under-aged person. They will give you the universal suffrage age of 18. Sometimes, we eliminate them but some unfortunately slip through. When they turn out to vote, citizens should also help the commission.

They should be vigilant. Where you see under-aged people voting, you raise the alarm. But I hope also that you are cognisant of the fact that in some parts of the country, because of certain factors, there are some people who look 15 when they are actually 18. Secondly, in some states, there are some people who hold the queue for their aged parents or pregnant mothers on election day. They are not there to vote. But where it is so obvious, please, help us, so that we can also help the system.

I know that it is a big problem in Ghana, especially as they will be holding elections in December. We are going there also to hold discussions with the chairman of the electoral commission.But let me say this about Ghana, Niger and other countries. I n many situations, they envisage that their elections will be inconclusive. Since 1999, no presidential election in Niger was conclusive at the first ballot. If the elections are not conclusive, they round off after one month. The same thing in Ghana.

They give one month’s notice to conduct elections in case it is inconclusive. Under our constitution, it is envisaged that a presidential election may be inconclusive.

But if that happens, INEC cannot conduct election within the time frame allowed by the Constitution. Unlike Niger or Benin Republic which has a total population the size of Lagos State, Nigeria with over 70 million registered voters---and the number is going to be higher by the time we do continuous voter registration---has only one week to organise a run-off between the two leading candidates in case the presidential election is inconclusive. This is one of the areas where we are working with the National Assembly to see if we can amend the Constitution and have more time.

What is INEC doing on party spending and statements of accounts, particularly given the revelations from the 2015 elections?

Party finance has two dimensions: the party spending and campaign spending.

You know that parties have their own spending limit and candidates have their own. My understanding is that accounts were audited in 2014 and published in some newspapers; that is the requirement of the law. I don’t know whether this is still on our website; I will find out. The parties, after publishing their accounts, are then required to submit them to the National Assembly. We haven’t had the

National Assembly inviting the political parties over their accounts. In fact, under the law, they are supposed to submit their audited accounts to the commission six months after election. Some of the parties would say “We have received next to nothing, so we have virtually nothing to declare.” Well, given the revelations that came out during the 2015 election, most of the spending did not even go through the party accounts. So, it is always very difficult to track the political parties but we will continue to do so.

The late Gani Fawehinmi used to say that politicians usually rigged election before, during and after elections. Talking of pre-election matters where politicians begin their manipulation of the process through voter registration, what mechanisms has INEC put in place to ensure that people can register once they turn 18, and not have to wait till election period?

As we speak, continuous voter registration is ongoing in all the local government offices nationwide. But we have done special continuous voter registration in places where we have state wide elections: before the elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and then Edo and Ondo. I know that there are complaints that we should have allowed more time. Allowing more time is related to the cost of the elections. When we did it before the FCT area council elections, we had cause to extend it by one day. That one-day extension cost the commission over N8 million. But there is going to be a scheme for continuous voter registration, probably down to the ward level. But even so, the ideal thing to do is to go down to the polling unit level. But we are dealing with a reality here. How many people living in urban areas, let alone our poor uncles and mothers and nieces, would leave their villages to go to the local government headquarters simply in order to register, before the onset of the general election? We have been receiving the returns on monthly basis from some of the states. I saw the figure for continuous voter registration in Ondo for last month (July): 162. Maybe what we need to do is to intensify voter education

The parties, after publishing their accounts, are then required to submit them to the National Assembly. We haven’t had the National Assembly inviting the political parties over their accounts. In fact, under the law, they are supposed to submit their audited accounts to the commission six months after election.

Yakubu

and media engagement. But again, doing so means spending.

You recognise the evolution of two major political parties as being in the interest of our democracy.

But we now see a situation in which one of the parties is in serious crisis.

Are you not worried about this situation? Secondly, INEC issued a certificate of return to Dr Samson Ogah in Abia State even when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had gone on appeal.

How are we sure that INEC will be impartial in the coming elections.

As the registrar of political parties, we are worried. But what do we do? Courts of law and their judgements must be obeyed.

Within three months, we received as of yesterday (Wednesday) 11 court judgements and orders [on the PDP issue] almost all of them conflicting. All of them were from courts of coordinate jurisdiction, all of them from the High Court. In fact, in two days, 15th and 16th of this month, we received one judgement and three court orders, from courts of coordinate jurisdiction operating from different parts of the country. We had two from Port Harcourt, two from Abuja.

And as we closed from work yesterday, a Federal High Court in Abuja came with another judgement. And it is a court of coordinate jurisdiction. So, it is really a very big challenge for the commission.

But again, it goes back to what my brother from Ogun said. The politicians all operate at the level of the High Court, none of them has gone to the Court of Appeal.

So, it becomes a really big challenge for us. But for the commission, strong political parties are very good for our democracy. This nation has strong political parties and whatever the challenges are in the management of elections, we will

continue to soldier on. Honestly, , strong political parties are good for the growth of our democracy and nobody can be happy when you have all these factions in political parties.

Now, on Abia, I know that some people said we were hasty in issuing the Certificate of Return, and I have listened to commentaries and read some of the opinions on the pages of newspapers. To me, two things were confused: the legal provision for post-election litigation and the legal provision for pre-election litigation. So, in post-election litigation, there is a provision for 21 days after a court of first instance, in this case the Tribunal, has issued whatever judgment, to allow whoever has lost to appeal. I know that there is provision for appeal through our regular courts.

The case with Abia was a pre-election matter and the judge said that we should issue Certificate of Return immediately. I know that something was filed in court, a motion for stay of execution and what have you. But if the court has not granted a stay of execution, there is no legal basis, on the basis of the advice that we received, for INEC to stay action. So, we went ahead and complied. Two weeks before Abia, there was a similar situation in a federal constituency in Enugu State, we went ahead and complied. But we also issued a statement to say that whatever the court decides, we would obey if tomorrow a court of superior jurisdiction overturns the judgement of the High Court, just as it has happened today (Thursday) in the case of Ikpeazu. As we speak today, the Court of Appeal has upheld the election of Ikpeazu. I’m sure the other person will not go to the Supreme Court. For as long as there are valid court judgements and we are asked to comply, our responsibility as a commission, honestly, is to comply.

30

interview

21 August, 2016

LP, Accord lawmakers are rubberstamp legislators in Oyo Assembly —LP chairman

Sunday Tribune

Honourable Gbenga Olayemi, the chairman of the Labour Party in Oyo State, speaks with DARE ADEKANMBI AND AYOADE ADERINTO on the exit of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala from the party, why he dumped the camp of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, among others. Excerpts:

T

there and then that I will have to leave his government.

One thing about me is that I won’t do anything that will warrant anybody to insult me. I am always very careful.

I resigned afterwards and people intervened, especially his wife, who called me and said I shouldn’t have done what I did. Chief Koleoso and others too intervened and I returned so I won’t be tagged a heady person. But I later resigned because he didn’t know change. He told me I was stupid during a meeting where I told him the truth.

During the SENACO struggle for Ajimobi, a lot of people contributed to his being governor. Honourable Nurudeen Akinyo, of blessed memory, was the one who financed SENACO in Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East Federal Constituency; Samuel Ajadi financed the group in Ibadan South West/Ibadan North-West Federal Constituency. When we went to launch ACN in Lagos State, SENACO people contributed to mobilise people.

We got to Lagos with over 120 buses. We reduced other governorship aspirants, apart from Babatunde Fashola, to small masquerades that day.

Your leaving did not affect his re-election in 2015…

It does not matter. Personally, I still like him, but only dislike his political style. We the opposition parties made it easy for him to win. He won with just 32 per cent of the votes. If we had come together, he would not have won.

The people of the state didn’t want Ajimobi and it was clear before the election. APC won with 85 per cent in the March 28 election, while the party got 32 per cent in the elections that were held two weeks after. Ego and personality clash among the leaders of the opposition parties gave the victory to Ajimobi.

HE opinion of many people in Oyo State and outside is that, with the exit of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala from the Labour Party, the party is no longer a force to factor in calculations about the politics of the state. How true is it that your party is in coma?

I disagree with those who think the Labour Party in the state is in a state of coma. Currently, political activities in all the parties in the state are at the lowest ebb and this is because there is no election in the offing. After the last election, we went back to our places of work where we make a living. As a party, we are meeting regularly at the state, local government and ward levels across the 33 councils in the state. LP is intact, alive and waxing strong in the state.

But you have lost a big fish like Alao-Akala to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)…

It depends on your definition of big fish because in the ocean there are a lot of fishes. No doubt, Alao-Akala is a big fish. But we have a lot of other big fishes in the party as well. Sharafadeen Alli is a big fish. He won local government election before Alao-Akala became a council chairman. He is a former Secretary to the State Government, former Chief of Staff and former Managing Director, Oodua Group of Companies. We have Lowo Obisesan, Gbenga Oyekola, Kazeem Adedeji and many more big fishes in LP. So, the fact that one of the big fishes left does not mean it will have a serious effect on the party.

Before Akala joined LP, we had raised the status of the party to a very high level. He joined us when his former party PDP denied him the governorship ticket. With or without Alao-Akala, LP will continue to exist in the state.

We disagreed with him on move to APC and support for Ajimobi because the governor instigated and financed the petitions against all our lawmakers at the election tribunal. We asked that the cases be withdrawn first. But the governor didn’t. Alao-Akala later joined him in APC. After that, the former governor retrieved the only thing he gave the party-a Hyundai bus. He retrieved it through his wife who sent a message to Obisesan that they needed the bus for a burial programme. Two weeks after, the bus was not returned and when we called, they said they wanted to be using it in Abuja. I managed the party so well that nobody demanded money from Alao-Akala before or when he joined LP. We that are nobodies won’t ask that our bus be returned.

In the next few months, you will see a rebranded LP in the state. This is imperative because there is a vacuum in Nigeria and Oyo State today. People don’t want either APC or PDP because of what these parties have done to them. The APC came on board having promised heaven and earth. Both the party and the government are no longer popular in the state and the country at large. So, there is a vacuum which a rebranded LP is being positioned to fill and take over the leadership seat in the state come 2019. Nothing good can come out of the PDP and there has been no governance in the state in almost one and a half years.

You used to be in the political camp of Governor Abiola Ajimobi. At what point did you both part ways and what happened?

I don’t worship people; I worship God. When I am loyal to someone, my loyalty is 100 per cent. We laid the foundations for Ajimobi’s governorship in 2011. It started when I was in Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA) and he was in ANPP. I don’t believe in joining the ruling party for anything. Those who do, do so because of what they want to get from such party. We joined his camp after he lost his election petition and on the condition that, when we see white, we won’t call it black for him. He agreed

Gbenga Olayemi

and said we were the kind of people he wanted.

After we joined, we saw that he was not in good terms with Chief Michael Koleoso and Alhaji Lam Adesina. We told him he could not be fighting with the two leaders if he wanted to be governor in the state. He initially refused ous plea to him to let us visit the leaders, though he acknowledged that Chief Koleoso made him Senator in 2003. He later agreed and so himself, Dr Busari Adebisi, myself and Abass Aleshinloye went to Chief Koleoso’s house for reconciliation. That day, we laid the foundation for Ajimobi as governor of the state. Chief Koleoso went to Chief Bisi Akande, his bosom friend and then national chairman of the defunct ACN and Senator Bola Tinubu to convince them to pick Ajimobi. It was after that time that the leaders went to see Alhaji Lam and convinced him too.

Alhaji Lam wanted Senator Olufemi Lanlehin as governor.

If you were so central to his governorship, what sort of disagreement led to your resigning from his government in the first term to join LP? After the 2011 election, he appointed me chairman of the agency for youth development on a part-time basis and with N68, 000 as salary. Ordinarily, I deserved more than that. But as a person, I don’t so much believe in money. I believe it is God who blesses people and adds no sorrow. I resigned four months after my appointment. I went to his office where we were asked to defend our plan for the agency. I was at his office for 11 hours, waiting while he was in the office. When he finally came out, he insulted me. He talked down on me and said I frowned and I shouldn’t do that in his office. I told him I wasn’t a thug. I have two post-graduate degrees and I wasn’t fighting with anyone.

The second day, he asked to come again. We left his office around 11:30 p.m. He accused me of putting my hands in my pockets when I was talking to him. I told him

Council election seems no longer feasible this year with the renewal of tenure of caretaker chairmen by the governor…

Apart from the local government election that was conducted by INEC in 1998, none subsequently can be said to be free and fair. The governor has already handpicked OYSIEC members. What do you expect? But if they want to write the result, we shall resist such attempt as a party.

APC, as of today, can’t win a single council in a free and fair election. We are meeting and strategising. People are not happy; they are hungry and are dying. Will workers who are being owed six months salaries vote for APC? Will the artisans and traders vote for APC? We will mobilise people to show that APC is no longer wanted. We won’ encourage voter apathy which will give them a field day and room to manipulate the outcome of council polls.

There will vehement resistance from the opposition parties and the people of the state to any attempt to rig the council elections.

There are opposition lawmakers in Oyo House of Assembly, yet it seems to be a one-party assembly with docile opposition lawmakers. Why is this so?

I don’t agree with you that they are docile. However, it is obvious that there are no opposition lawmakers in the House. The eight Accord lawmakers and six LP lawmakers are not behaving like opposition legislators, because they are not opposing policies that are clearly anti-people. I will say they inactive, but not docile. They are rubberstamp lawmakers. Vibrant opposition parties assist government to do the best for the people. They are just concurring to whatever is tossed at them by the governor.

We are not happy about it. When there is a constructive opposition in the House, the governor will think about the reaction of the opposition before bringing anything to them. This will help the executive to think better. Look at the kind of screening they did for the commissioners and compare it with what happened at the National Assembly.

I am calling on Accord and LP lawmakers to support whatever good policies Ajimobi brings and oppose bad ones.

31

interview

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Why PDP can’t win Edo governorship election —Idahosa Chief Charles Idahosa is a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state and political adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole. In this interview, speaks on why PDP may not win the Edo governorship election. Excerpts: PDP sounds very optimistic of victory, what do you think they are banking on?

Idahosa

H

OW has your campaign been and from what you’ve seen so far how positive are you of victory?

Talking about victory, I’m 130 per cent sure.

Our campaign has been on course. We have been doing very well. Government Adams Oshiomole, like I have said earlier, is leading the campaign of Godwin Obaseki and I asked who is leading that of Ize Iyamu’s campaign. It’s so clear now that the person he worked for, the person whom he told the world he gathered his experience from is nowhere to be found. So, that speaks volumes. I am from Uhumwonde Local Government Area of the state. A few days ago, the Ize Iyamu’s campaign team came to my council area. I was shocked because they were less than 150 in number. But how they doctor things now, I think its camera work. When you see the crowd and the people you will think actually they have people. I think their campaign is non-existent. But you know, there is a little difference between ambition and obsession. What is happening to my younger brother IzeIyamu is obsession for the office of governor. He knows he is not doing well on the field. But if you see them, they will always boast. Ize-Iyamu’s campaign has been very pathetic because considering what they did to this state during the Igbinedion era, so they think that people can be stupid to allow PDP to return. That is not possible.

There is this fear that internal bickering may force some of your members to engage in antiparty activities that may rob you of victory?

I can tell you no. Let me tell you something. Those of us who are known and partisan politicians, who attend meetings, we are not up to about five per cent of the population. The remaining 95 per cent who are the voters don’t know if we are quarrelling or not. When it’s time for election they go on their own because they are seeing what the APC government led by Adams Oshiomhole has done.

Are you impressed with the campaign of your candidate so far?

Yes, Obaseki has learnt very fast because I keep monitoring what is going on. The first time he spoke in public you know what they were saying. The person you people brought cannot talk. I was just laughing. You think it’s easy to spend 30 years in a private sector and suddenly jump up and start addressing mammoth crowd. I said he will get used to it but I’m just seeing him dancing the different dance styles. He’s got used to it. He can deliver.

He is a very brilliant young man. I have known the young man right from school. I was a couple of years ahead of him. For his age, he is very mature. He has a full grasp of what is happening. He’s a complete technocrat. He knows what he wants to do. I was reading something in one of the national papers where somebody went to criticise him with his political talks that he said he would create 200,000 jobs in four years. He said after all politicians run their mouths and that Oshiomhole could not create 100 jobs in the service. So, I called the number of the writer.

The guy didn’t pick, so I sent him a text. I told him if you call yourself a columnist, you must do your research. He didn’t say he was going to recruit 200,000 people in his service. He said he was going to create employment in the Agric sector with investors that would come and in four years, I believe in him, he will do very well.

I don’t think PDP has a chance in the state. People say ‘change the change.’ They don’t do their research. What are you changing the change to? The looting before?

They are not banking on anything. They have always been like that. I came from PDP. It is very difficult for you to forget your old habit and they would say ‘don’t come here complaining, go and win the election anyhow you like and leave the rest to us.’ They are just talking trash. It is the last kick of a dying horse that you are seeing now. They will talk big on election day when we defeat them. You know what is confusing them? It is the last National Assembly election. In the last National Assembly election, a lot of people were not able to look at its outcome, break it down and analyse it.

In my village, there are over 40 Pentecostal churches.

PDP gave them so much money. The churches believed the claim that if Buhari wins, he will Islamise Nigeria.

So, if you look at the last election, Edo North, which is predominantly Muslim, voted pro-Muslim candidates.

We won the entire National Assembly seat in that area including the presidential election. In Edo central, which is predominantly Christians, Goodluck Jonathan cleared it. Edo South that is predominantly Christians, PDP won too.

A week later, Edo people told them, ‘we know who is our man and we voted against Buhari because we are scared of Muslims that’s why we voted for Jonathan. This House of Assembly election is local, so we will vote APC.’ And they gave APC 21 House of Assembly members out of the 24.

The only House of Representatives seat the PDP could not win in Edo South was Orhiomwon/Uhumwonde and that was because we were lucky the election held after Jonathan had lost. So, this was the simple pattern in the last election.

All you need to do is to go round town. When I was coming to the village, my driver told me we should not take Ikpoba Hill and that we should take Upper mission road. When I saw what Oshiomhole built in Upper Mission road, I was shocked because I have not been there for a long time. It was like airport road. So, are you telling me the person in upper mission will vote PDP? You can imagine the PDP government then will open its mouth and tell Edo people that because there is Mammy water in an area, they can’t construct roads. I was in that government. PDP has no chance in this election. If its leaders are boasting, let them boast. Obaseki is the next governor for Edo. I don’t know what you mean by an edge. God has said it; He cannot allow evil people come back to steal again. They will lose more votes now than in 2012. Just go and mark it.

What about the factor that Ize-Iyamu’s APC connection?

Ize-Iyamu being in APC before cannot give him victory.

We have heard all of this before. Pastor was in APC, there is nothing new about it. Yes, he was one of us but now he is not. So, do you think I will now call a meeting for example in my ward and say ‘let’s vote PDP.’ Most of all these stories are targeted at members within the APC against a particular member. So, how are you going to do it? You want to tell your people to vote against their party?

I don’t believe in it. You need to see the speed with which people are defecting from PDP now. I don’t think PDP has a chance in the state. People say ‘change the change.’

They don’t do their research. What are you changing the change to? The looting before? You want to change to what happened to this state 10 years ago? I told some of their leaders during the campaign, don’t say Oshiomhole has not done anything. Just say what you can do. Nigerians based in Benin are seeing a walkway for the first time in their lives. They have never seen it before. You can only see it abroad but it is now in Benin. The people are not stupid.

Unknown to them, the people in PDP are business men.

They are very smart. They know how to deceive people; they know they are not going to win. But they see it as an opportunity to make money. They have said all kinds of things, but I just think that they are frustrated and there is nothing for them again. I will even like to find out who actually is their candidate because we have Pastor and Iduoriyekemwen. We don’t even know who our opponent will be. They are in disarray and they can never be in this competition.

opinion The Buhari that Nigerians don’t know 32

By Folusho Daniel

F

OR so long, many Nigerians have been attempting to study and decode President Muhammadu Buhari, using different lenses. Some only had a modicum of clue on who he may be, counting on the code of information they obtained from the media when he first romped into global limelight as Head of State in a military garb.

During that military era, Buhari occurred to a section of expectant Nigerians as a no-nonsense dictator with brazen disposition to power. Pairing in leadership with the late Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon, adjudged as restless, hardworking and unsmiling, made the Buhari’s regime almost a nightmare for Nigerians who took business as usual all through the period he reigned as Head of State.

Nonetheless, many perceived and saw Buhari as a Messiah with the military government he presided over. Nigeria was in rot when he took over in 1983. Indiscipline and corruption were in great synergy to incinerate the glory that Nigeria carried from independence. The sacked civilian government presided over by former President Shehu Shagari operated recklessly. Cabinet members acted like heists with moral bankruptcy while being less patriotic in the judgment of many.

When the Buhari’s military regime came on board, frustrated Nigerians troop to the streets in wild celebration. The reproach thrown up by the rising tide of social vices in all parts of the country after the collapse of Second Republic made the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) launched by his government very compelling. Nigerians were remolded by WAI in conduct and character, while the government enforced discipline all through. From then on, Buhari struck gold in popularity that lingered with him till he got elected as president on March 28, 2015.

Nigeria gravitated towards the precipice under the government of former President Jonathan. In that government, acts of corruption ballooned uncontrollably, leading to growing terrorism, insecurity and other heinous social vices. Then battered Nigerians electorate craved for emergence of a Messiah. Again, Buhari emerged to play the role.

For President Buhari, however, saving Nigeria from imminent collapse entails a fight against corruption, terrorism and the need to re-grow the economy. He also needs to engage the swarming army of the unemployed in Nigeria in the productive sector. These are daunting challenges, which he needs to address in a short time. Yet, Nigerians appear unprepared to appreciate the enormity of the challenge and dilemma that

the Buhari’s government faces day and night in efforts to correct the ills of the past, while taking off with the Change mantra.

It is not in doubt that the President has fully addressed his mind to bring about the changes that Nigeria needs. Those who work closely with him attest to his desire and determination to take Nigeria out of the woods. The aggregate view is that the reigning Nigerian president is a man to be fully understood by Nigerians who want to know where he aims to take their country.

Buhari is said to start his day, leaving no one around him in doubt that the ‘change’ that he preaches must start from his own office. The president leads by example. He is said to be desirous of building up institutions that will outlive him. He is also said to depend on his protocol department to operate hitch-free standards on crowd control in the seat of government.

By his body language, President Buhari appears not keen on living the opulence that the presidential power offers. His close aides attest to the fact that the president eats moderately, don moderate attires, and ride in posh-less official cars, while he most eagerly avoids any act likely to generate a scandal.

Although there have been hues on the long list of foreign travels he had made so far, only a few knew that President Buhari, all along, has not been collecting allowances or rather estacodes, contrary to insinuations. He is said to be content with arrangements made for his comforts by host countries.

21 August, 2016

Buhari is also noted to have pruned down the number of officials in his entourage on every trip as a means of saving cost.

Before Buhari came to power, successive presidents saw nothing wrong in subjecting Abuja residents to long grueling hours of discomfort in traffic gridlocks with roadblocks to ease their movements in and out of Abuja. President Buhari has put a stop to that, offering a relief by flying in helicopter to his destinations, most especially to free the traffic along the airport road.

Today, under the government of President Buhari, the railway system is staging a comeback in Nigeria. The government, having launched the commercial operation of AbujaKaduna train services, is to commence the second phase; the Lagos-Ibadan rail project already captured in the 2016 budget. As proposed, the rail line will eventually terminate in Kano. All the same, attention is being focused on the growth of Agriculture as efforts are geared towards making Nigeria emerge as the largest exporter of rice product, starting first from Africa. In addition to the gradual return of peace to the North-East ravaged by the Boko Haram war, the government has started the rebuilding process with outpouring of foreign aides to fast track all plans.

As Niger Delta continues to pose a serious question to the growth of the economy, signs are emerging that the ongoing negotiation with militants who blow up pipelines in the oilproducing zone would offer a lasting solution. Also, the synergy between Nigeria and China, the second largest economy in the world looks positive enough to catalyse the growth of the economy based on extant bilateral agreements between the two on trade and investments. The economic challenges it faces notwithstanding, larger economies in America and Europe are beckoning on Nigeria for businesses. Britain, for instance, has started lowering its guard to court Africa, Nigeria in particular as a ploy for overcoming the shock it suffered from Brexit. It is therefore, a matter of time for the fruits of efforts currently being dissipated by the Buhari’s government on economic revival to be felt.

The foregoing suggests that the president who continues to make personal sacrifices is not relenting in efforts to revive Nigeria. In all, Buhari is a president who requires the understanding, support and cooperation of all Nigerians.

Therefore, visible and covert efforts towards making Nigeria ungovernable for him by some set of individuals are needless given their tendency to distend the woes of the country with a predictable stifled future.

•Folusho Daniel, a public commentator, wrote from Abuja.

Why the desperation to paint Jonathan black?

By Reno Omokri

T

HE coordinated attack on the integrity and credibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan is unfortunate. That the same hastily cooked up lies were reported simultaneously and almost word for word by a section of the client media of the powers- thatbe is evidence of the fact that someone powerful is out to get at the former president.

Let us even consider the report in itself. One of the conjectures used by the propagators of this lie to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians is contained in this quote. “It has been known in government circles that Jonathan may be behind the NDA. The speed with which he denied the allegation spoke volumes.”

There has never been such a childish and amateurish justification for sullying the hard earned peaceful reputation of a man like former President Jonathan as this. When, in November 2012, Boko Haram named Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), now the current president of Nigeria, as one of its chosen mediators did he not quickly and immediately deny and reject the nomination by Boko Haram?

Flowing from the same warped reasoning, his speedy denial is also evidence that he had a hand in the terrorism occasioned by the radical Islamic sect, but we know that is not true because Boko Haram tried to kill Mr Buhari.

If it were that Dr Jonathan did not quickly and completely deny any links with the Niger Delta Avengers and any other militants group, then the sponsors of this wishy washy story would have changed their tactics and would have said that his non-denial is evidence of his complicity.

Another of the so-called evidence used against the former president in the sponsored report is the fact that he called for peace and urged militants not to declare a republic or contemplate secession. In the disturbed thinking of the sponsors of the report, this is evidence against Dr Jonathan. Has it occurred to these disturbed persons that this is precisely what a genuine statesman should do in times like these? In September of 2011, former President Olusegun Obasanjo visited Maiduguri to see the family of the late founder of

Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, in search of peace. He was applauded for such a courageous act, as he should have been, because that is what is expected of statesmen. In other climes, they give people Nobel Peace Prizes for prevailing on belligerents to sheathe their swords, but apparently in Nigeria, it is evidence of complicity to so act. Should Nigerians be surprised then that passers-by refuse to help those attacked by armed robbers or accident victims on the roadside like the Good Samaritan? If you do, the government may accuse you of being the perpetrator instead of the saviour.

But these happenings are not surprising to me. We were all witnesses to the threat to withdraw the licenses of the two major fertilizer manufacturers in Nigeria, Notore Petrochemical and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical, for providing the materials used by terrorists and militants to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Now, according to the new tale inserted into the media, it was Dr Jonathan who instructed militants to mine oil installations before the May 29th, 2015 handover date. Now it is confirmed that liars do not have a good memory and so must contradict themselves.

If the oil installations were rigged with mines, the question to be asked is: are mines made from fertilizers? Can’t they get their story right?

There is a troubling pattern here. It seems that any time Dr

Sunday Tribune

Jonathan is advancing on the world stage for his humanitarian and pro-democracy activities, these fallacious stories appear in the media to distract him. When he was on his very successful international speaking tour earlier in the year, the lie was told that he was away on exile. Now that he is back from his second successful outing as head of the African Union Elections Observation Mission to Zambia, the usual suspects are up to their old tricks. Who knows what they would do next when they behold the great things that Dr Jonathan is set to do very shortly?

And to the Minister of Information, Dr. Lai Mohammed, who was quoted in the said report as saying “these allegations have refused to go away and those making the allegations are not backing out”, let me remind him that there are allegations against him that have refused to go away.

In fact, the allegations against Lai Mohammed come with documentary evidence. We remember that he was alleged to have begged his subordinates at the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for a ‘loan’ of N13 million against civil service rules and against the rules of public decency. Have those allegations gone away, Mr. Lai Mohammed? Should we then accept them as true? Of course not! Why? Because allegations, no matter how weighty, are not evidence.

Like I said before, I am ever proud of Dr Jonathan. Somebody asked me what I gained by working with Jonathan. My response was that I learnt wisdom. I learnt that it is better to lose power and gain honor than to gain power and lose honor. I learnt not to defend myself when my enemies falsely accuse me. The same media that gleefully reported their lies will eventually expose them when they see that the public is no longer buying their lies.

Finally, I learnt that the best revenge against those who criticise how you do your job is to step aside and let them have the job and watch them underperform in such a manner until they get so desperate that the only achievements they can boast of are the ones you achieved during your socalled underperformance. May God bless Dr. Jonathan for teaching me such wisdom!

•Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California, United States.

33

C

AN vengeance be pursued further than death?

That was the questionposed by the globally acclaimed writer of all times, WilliamShakespeare, in his masterpiece drama, Romeo and Juliet. It is aquestion that aptly captures the situation Nigeria’s former PresidentGoodluck Jonathan has found himself right now.

The former president lost the March 2015 presidential election andpeacefully handed over to the winner, President Muhammadu Buhari onMay 29, 2015. He retired to his village home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, perhaps to rue the loss and put his life together once again. Someeven say that his retirement would afford him the opportunity ofpossibly returning to his first love of carrying out zoologicalresearches into Niger Delta biodiversity.

But the manner in which he handed over power caught the world’sattention and the man, in a way is fast becoming the poster boy ofpeaceful transition across Africa.

Twice the world has called on himas leader of election delegations to transiting African countries. Hehas also been invited to talks in Europe and America. The point ofattraction for the world is that Jonathan handed over power in Nigeriapeacefully. He conducted a fiercely contested election thatpractically divided Nigeria along sharp and dangerous lines. Theelection was conducted against the backdrop of an American predictionthat claimed Nigeria would cease to be a nation from 2015 as a resultof the fall outs of the year’s election.

Everything pointed to a Nigeria at the precipice. Some citizensrelocated to their ancestral homes, abandoning their voters’ registerfor fear of violence. But even in the heat of the elections, the man Jonathan continued to repeat that his ambition was not worth the bloodof any Nigerian.

Largely due to Jonathan’s personal disposition, Nigeria went throughthe 2015 election without bloodshed. The only people that died did sowhile celebrating. He even put a call through to his main challengermidway into the collation of results to congratulate the winner. Fromthat point, the election conduct became Jonathan’s selling point. Andnotwithstanding what anyone would say, the world is not likely to losesight of that. Right now, the man appears to be enjoying the fruits ofthat disposition but it appears he has to contend with revisionists.

On Thursday, Jonathan’s office issued a statement to debunk mediareports which linked him to the forma-

DAILY, they stream unto the streets. They used to come in different forms – physically handicapped persons begging for alms, able-bodied persons (adults and children) soliciting transport fare, others begging outright for money with which to feed, young boys cleaning your car’s windshield expecting some tips for their unsolicited service.

The most nauseating and latest trend is the way some unscrupulous people exploit cancer patients who are paraded on major streets, baring their grotesque jaws at passersby and motorists. These helpless people who should be on hospital beds are dragged about exposing cancerous dentures in such an offensive manner that the moment I spot their fund solicitors in their unmistakable white overalls; I quickly look in the opposite direction because I can’t stand the horrible sights.

These victims have become unwilling pawns in the hands of their exploiters. The modus operandi of these fraudsters is to send out young men and women in groups of between six and ten. When they get to the location for the day, they fan out among the long queue of early morning traffic either moving their victim/client/accomplice (any of these is correct) on wheelchairs, and where they can walk, pilot such a person through the heavy traffic.

The fund solicitors are usually dressed in white, with green or brown trimmings on the collar. One of them holds a public address system, (the type usually favoured by early morning street evangelists) singing choruses in a loud voice and drawing attention to the “patient,” while others meander through the traffic shoving laminated pictures of the “patient” in the faces of commuters and other passersby. Maintaining the rear is the patient who is supported by one of the uniformed fund solicitors.

I have often wondered where these people get their “patients” from. Is it from hospital beds, a home specially set up to cater to the medical needs of these people? Obviously, it cannot be from the former, for hospitals, government owned (despite obvious lapses) and reputable private ones have a code of ethics by which they operate. On closer examination of the laminated pictures however, one could decipher that this kind of soliciting emanate from mushroom healing centres run by a greedy syndi-

21 August, 2016

the lynxeye with Taiwo Adisa

08072000046

We must be fair to Jonathan

tion of Niger Delta Avengers(NDA), a group of militants whose activities have crippled thenation’s oil production in recent months. The media reports, took acue from a similar allegation by a member of the group that calleditself Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, but this time, there werereferences to some “intelligence reports.”

It is difficult to believe that the man who left power willingly, tothe acknowledged surprise of his opponent, the man who handed overeven when he had opportunity to negatively affect the system and cause confusion using

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

Exploiting the sick for money

cate ready to make money from the plight of these very ill people. The document/photograph does not bear the name of any corporate body neither does it bear the address of any organisation purportedly sending these people out on their “fraudulent” mission; rather, one would discover that the pictures were poorly printed photocopies of a poorly produced photograph.

My suspicions of these groups were further fuelled a few days ago, when I suddenly stumbled on one of the regular “patients” of this syndicate, begging for alms on his own, without the trappings that accompanied him the previous

Sunday Tribune

state power; the man who refused the advice ofhis inner core to tinker with the leadership of INEC when his mensmelt danger; the man whose five year reign recorded no political killing or political prisoner, will suddenly resort to sponsoringviolence when he no longer possess state power. And especially, whenthe world is already appreciating his peaceful statesmanlike conduct.

Further to that, one would want to agree with the Former President’soffice when it said in a statement on Thursday: “There is no doubtthat there exist such people who may have scores tosettle with the former President but are now feeling frustrated by thefact that his national and international profile has continued torise, despite their recourse to endless muck-raking characterassassination. Such people will stop at nothing to continue to throwobstacles, albeit futilely, on his path.”

Notwithstanding the animosity we hold against persons, it is onlyfair that we recognise fact for facts and sentiments as such. Whateveranyone would say of our leaders, past and present, we must identifytheir strengths and highlight, their weaknesses that are clearlyidentifiable.

Right now, the incumbentPresident Muhammadu Buhari hasamassed the image of a man of integrity. No one should attempt to takethat away from him by mere insinuations from faceless groups. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo handed over power peacefully in 1979. Thatreputation propelled him back to power in 1999. Whatever anyone wouldsay about General Ibrahim Babangida, it is on record he opened up thenation’s economy to a number of reforms.

The same way we have to give Jonathan credit for what he achievedwhile in office. His refrain was “My political ambition is not worththe blood of any Nigerian,” and he acted that practically. He ensured that there were reforms at the electoral front and gave freedom toINEC to the extent that the Commission became a government to itselfin contract awards. I guess there is nothing that would deny Jonathanas a man of peace. Many of his allies would say that he demonstratedthat to a fault and that his undoing was failing to smell danger atcertain stages. He stuck to his belief in the conduct of free and fair election and he accepted the bitter outcome. Rather than rack upunsubstantiated claims against the former President, critics need toplay fair. Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s, so says the Holy book. Even in conventional war, you don’t hit your opponent below the belt.

day; and I wondered – could he have fallen out with the group, or was he just being adventurous – stepping out alone like that?

According to a newspaper report, findings show that the guardians of the sick people sometimes enter into a partnership with the care assistants with the understanding that any money made in the process would be shared between them. Unfortunately, the sick people, on whose behalf money is being solicited, are usually ripped off, with little or none of the money getting to them and with no hope of medical treatment in view. Perhaps the man mentioned above discovered this the hard way and decided to go it alone? Perhaps.

So, what is being done to stop this wicked trend? A child rights activist, with the Child Protection Network in Lagos, Mr. Ebenezer Omejalile, who is worried about the trend of using sick babies to beg, said that most of the women engaged in this act were not the real mothers of the babies. “We tried to empower some of them vocationally but they rejected. They appear content with begging,” he said. Apart from this, the culprits are difficult to pin down as they move from one location to the other. Said Omejalile “We have tried to arrest some of them in the past, but before we got there, they would have left. We are working with the government now to arrest these women because they are definitely not the mothers of the babies.”

The syndicate is hard to break for many reasons, the most important being the harsh economic realities and the fact that these victims find it difficult to feed not to talk of raising the huge amount required for their specialised treatment or surgery.

Arresting the heartless exploiters is only a part of the solution, re-orientating and educating the victims alongside proper rehabilitation is another area that should be explored. However, I seem to understand the dilemma of the victims – previous well-meaning efforts by government have been sabotaged by greedy officials who would rather divert for their own personal use, the funds provided for rehabilitation of these people. Despite this though, I think child rights and other human rights activists, in conjunction with government, should not rest until they get these people off the roads.

34

21 August, 2016

ON THE

Sunday Tribune

With Bolanle Bolawole turnpot@gmail.com 07052631058

lord’sday The race against time at Ife

N

ORMALCY has returned to the Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly the University of Ife), Ile Ife. Penultimate week, when I visited the citadel of higher learning and had a face-to-face with the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, elated students were upbeat with their studies. Lecturers were doing “what they are paid to do;” and offices, slammed shut for weeks whilst senior and junior staffprotested, bristled with activities. It was a delight to watch from a balcony at the Senate Building, which houses the Vice-Chancellor’s office, human and vehicular traffic cascade below. But will this last? Will OAU not very soon relapse into another orgy of protests; be it of students, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) or senior staff\NASU? Any time, any day, there are a million and one potential flash points: Inadequate infrastructure such as epileptic power and water supply; inadequate hostel accommodation and lecture theatres; hike in fees; Students’ Union Government activities gone awry; rival cult groups; ASUU grouse with government over a plethora of issues ranging from government funding to university autonomy; and maladministration on the part of university authorities. In the last one year alone, Ife had been shut down, first, over hike in school fees and, next, over the process of choosing a new vice-chancellor. Both crises have set Ife back by many months. While some of its counterparts are about completing a session, Ife just started its own. How it will catch up with the others remains a herculean task. Going by what some sources outlined, it may take up to 2018 before normal academic calendar is restored – and this is if no new disruption is suffered in the interval.

This may seem a tall order, especially since the institution is yet to get out of the woods over the very issue that led to the disruption of activities the last time around; that is, the choice of a substantive vice-chancellor. The selection process superintended by the dissolved Governing Council was described as compromised and opaque: while the chairman of the local ASUU chapter and the president of the Alumni Association supported the process, the senior and junior staff vigorously kicked against it. The majority of the academic staff was laid back on the issue – until the protesting non-academic staff forced the issue on national consciousness, activating the Presidency to dissolve the Governing Council and direct the OAU Senate to appoint an acting vice-chancellor.

Elujoba got 251 votes to his opponent’s 5; there are slightly over 300 Professors making up the OAU Senate. According to insiders, the process was not as easy as it had seemed. First, a head-hunt of the right candidate had to be done. Someone with integrity; who would rally the entire university community; and who would not be corrupted by power, post or money was needed. According to sources, Elujoba, a man of honesty imbued with the fear of God;and a Pharmacy professor due to

retiresoon,fits the billing. He was said to have initially spurned the offer but eventually succumbed under pressure. The rest, as they say, is history.

I met Elujoba on Friday, August 12, in his moderately expansive office. The ViceChancellor’s seat, which directly faces the door as one enters the office, yawned while the acting VC sat on one of the side chairs as he perused some documents. I was told he has refused to sit on the VC’s chair, insisting that he is a “caretaker VC.” He was even said to have been persuaded to move into the VC’s office in the first place, preferring instead to work from elsewhere.

Perhaps, he was only being careful not to allow either the irrepressible allure of power corrupt him or the strong aroma of office get the better part of him.

He told me: “I am the Moses and not the Joshua. Or, if you like, I am the John the Baptist and not the Christ.” He is a preacher, I am told. His allusion is to the fact that his main task is to preside over the selection of a substantive VC. He has six months to accomplish that task. “My mandate is to oversee the process of the installation of a substantive VC and to make this campus peaceful”, he said. A successful selection process and peace on campus are intertwined. It will help if the in-coming VC is selected in a transparent manner. Elujobawould not have accepted to become acting VC if the last protests had led to the shedding of blood. “I will not step on the blood of anyone to become VC,” he said. His deep faith in God, whom He puts first in all his undertakings, reverberated throughout the discussion. He wore it like a badge, if I must say.

After his peers overwhelming gave him the mandate, his first port of call was the church where, I understand, he spent a whole night in the presence of God, before returning the next day to give his acceptance speech to the university community.

How does he intend to get the job done?

First is his abiding faith in God to see him through and grant him good success. “I have asked God to help me,” he said. Secondly, he has resolved not to probe the previous administrations or even apportion blames on anyone. And should blames be apportioned at all, he believes everyone has a share of it. “We all opened our eyes while things were going this way,” he said. And the degeneration or decadence did not just metamorphose overnight. According to him, it was a steady decline over time; until it got to a head and OAU began to live on its past glory. “We live on the image created by our fore-fathers,” he said.

He is confident, however, that by the time he is done, the story would have begun to change. OAU must work hard – and he, by God’s grace, will provide the leadership – to begin to repair its battered image, both internally and externally. Wherever he stops, he believes the substantive VC that will take over from him will continue from there. They need an effective media to succeed. Mindful not to give room to discord during his tenure, Elujoba will not encouragethe jostle for, and appointment of, Deputy Vice-Chancellors; instead, he will make use of committees and task forces to implement his programmes. All hands, he said, must be on the deck for OAU to halt what has become a negative culture of incessant closure of the school. “We must bring everyone together,” he reiterated again and again.

There are two other critical areas in which the acting VC requires assistance fast. One: the authorities must quickly put in place OAU’s Governing Council.

“Without this, the selection process (of a substantive VC) cannot start,” he said. I dare to add that in cobbling together a new Governing Council, the authorities must be mindful of the pitfalls of the past, with a view to avoiding them. Crowding Gov-

erning Councils with politicians and other hangers-on have had a deleterious effect on our institutions of higher learning, importing into the Ivory Tower, as it were, thecorrupting influences of the political class. The universities have thus become cess-pits of corruption; hitherto flourishing centres of excellenceare turned into fiefdoms where hangers-on impose their shenanigans; impunity becomes the order of the day as best practices are trampled under feet; and traditions of excellence, painstakingly cultivated and nurtured over time, are thrown to the dogs. University autonomy, fought for with blood and sweat, becomes bastardised to the point of being, today, a curse rather than the blessing it is meant to be. Men and women of integrity are needed as Governing Council members. No more jobs for the boys and anyone so appointed must see the assignment as sacred. The future of generations of leaders of tomorrow is often made or marred by the decisions of Governing Councils not only in the appointment of vice-chancellors but also in the award of contracts and provision of infrastructural facilities.

Secondly, the acting VC pleaded with the authorities to help remove the factors that cause the incessant closure of schools.

He listed the welfare of staff and students; and funding. Gross inadequacies in these areashave often led to the incessant disruption of the academic calendar, with the untoward consequences of students spending more than the required number of years on their course of study. This, he said, has national and international ramifications.

“They will be asked by institutions abroad (when they apply for further studies): ‘What happened that you spent five or six years for a four-year course; were you failing?’Other consequences that he listed include degeneration in the academic culture; throwing overboard of hallowed regulations; and the collapse of discipline and work ethics.

Although his tenure is short, Elujobais bent on leaving an impact on the OAU community. One sore point, to him, is in area of punctuality at work. “I resume at 7.30 a.m.,” he said and most times would meet the offices empty. On the day that we met, he said he was the first to arrive.

He went round by 8.00a.m. when offices ought to have resumed and found many senior officials not behind their desks.

They received a caution.“Late-coming will be frowned at,” he said, adding that when workers resume hours’ late, quality time is wasted. “Owurol’ojo. By 1.00p.m., the law of diminishing returns begins to set in,” he said. The acting VC is confident that by the time he has spent his term, he would have positively impacted on the university’s work ethics. One of the areas where students have started to feel his impact is in the on-going rehabilitation of Mozambique Hall for fresh female students. The students expressed surprise at the fast pace of work even thoughElujoba is just a few weeks old in office. If, indeed, morning shows the day (“Owurol’ojo”), then, the tenure of Professor Anthony AdeboluElujoba may portend great tidings for “Great Ife”. So help him God!

35

21 August, 2016

tribunechurch

Bishops are lonely, it’s better to be a priest

With Rita Okonoboh tribunechurch@gmail.com tribunechurch@yahoo.com 08053789087

then, my mates and seniors would come to me to solve their assignments. In fact, I want to have a foundation for indigent students who are also good in mathematics.

With your 16 years experience, what would you say are the challenges you faced?

Firstly, I would say being a bishop is different from being a priest. As a parish priest, you would enjoy the fellowship of the people. But when you become a bishop, you become lonely. People don’t want to come close to bishops; in fact, some bishops make it difficult by saying before anyone can see them, they must go through the archdeacons and this is a system I find foreign. For this, among other reasons, I think I would still have preferred being a priest to a bishop. A bishop faces many challenges. People will misunderstand you, and some will even say you are too powerful. For instance, issues of transfer, discipline or even promotion of priests may not sit well with some people.

There are so many challenges but I thank God for the wisdom given to me.

—Sowale

With the time you have spent here, what would you say the future holds for Ilesa diocese?

I will say the future of Ilesa Anglican Diocese is very bright. With the support of the wonderful members we have, within a short time, we built the Bishop’s Court, administrative block and a conference centre in 2009. In that same year, we created three other dioceses. We have also invested in some businesses. So, I am very hopeful for the future of this diocese.

Bishop of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Ilesa Diocese, Osun State, Right Reverend (Dr) Olubayo Sowale, in this interview with OLAIDE SOKOYA, speaks on his journey into God’s vineyard, how Nigeria can move beyond the present economic challenges and what the future holds for his diocese. Excerpts:

L

OOKING at your background, how did you find yourself in the ministry?

I was born on 27th December, 1951, at Isara Remo, Ogun State, to the family of Pa Lamidi Sowale and Madam Abigail Sowale. I grew up in the village with my parents who were Muslims. My father was a farmer while my mother was a petty trader. I had the opportunity to be educated under the Chief Obafemi Awolowo free education programme. After school, I worked with two companies, I started as a clerk at an insurance company and became branch manager. In the process, late Reverend Canon Emmanuel Adesanya Olubogun, who was my church district chairman, saw me in the choir and as a result of that, he wanted me to live with him and promised to get me a teaching job. Without seeking my opinion, he forced me to take the catechist course in Akure, Ondo State, but I was still working with the insurance company then. I was saving my salary with Reverend Olubogun; my income then was six shillings and four pence. He wound give me only two shillings and keep the rest for me.

One day, he just called me and said I would be going to Lagos for an examination. I asked him which examination, and he said when I got to Lagos, I would know.

After two weeks, I got a letter to go to Akure for an interview. I really didn’t want to become a cleric, so I kept searching for ways to disqualify myself. When I got to Akure for the interview, we were asked to carry blocks and I blatantly refused. I returned home thinking I wouldn’t be admitted due to my disobedience. However, after a month, a letter came that I had been admitted and I was asked to pay a deposit of 50 pounds within two weeks.

Sunday Tribune

I kept the letter away from Reverend Olubogun because I didn’t want to go for the catechist course. After two weeks, I showed the letter to him. He took the letter without asking any question because he knew the letter had got to me earlier.

He later went to St. Peter’s Church, Isara to inform them of my admission and they took the matter up and offered to pay the deposit. Later, Mr S.A. Soyinka, father of Professor Wole Soyinka, who was a relative, told my father to pay back the money so that the church would not claim they sent me to school in the future. So, they returned the 50 pounds to the church but the church insisted on supporting me for the course and went ahead to send another 30 pounds to Akure. As a result, instead of a 50-pound deposit, I had 80 pounds as deposit for the course. When I was informed of the commitment made to the course, I was left with no choice.

I spent three years in Akure, and I was later sent to Ikere Ekiti, Ondo State (now in Ekiti State) under the then Bishop of Ekiti, Right Reverend Joseph Adetiloye, who later became primate. When he saw

‘Nigerians need to return to God for genuine repentance’ Pg36

me, he didn’t allow me to stay because he felt I was too young. After a year, Adetiloye made sure I was admitted to Immanuel College, Ibadan, Oyo State, where I spent three years: 1974 to 1977. I went to University of Ibadan for a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies between 1978 and 1981. After that, I did my Masters and started my Ph.D. By that time, I had four jobs; I was a lecturer at Immanuel College; I was also the principal of the Lay School of Evangelists at St. James Cathedral, Oke-Bola, Ibadan. I completed my PhD in 1991 and there at Immanuel College, I got married. I was appointed provost of the Cathedral Church of St Paul, Sagamu, Ogun State, where I spent seven years and I was elected as the Bishop of Ilesa in 2000.

If you were not a cleric, what would you have become?

During my secondary school days, I was a very good mathematician. Perhaps if my parents were educated, I would have been a professor. I didn’t get less than 100 per cent in mathematics. As small as I was

Piracy, bad marketing challenges of gospel artistes Pg37 —Aragbaye

What is the process for appointing bishops and archbishops in the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion?

It is the duty of a bishop to prefer an archdeacon, canon, reverend, deacon or appoint the provost. The position of a bishop is occupied through election.

When a bishop retires or dies, depending on which the case may be, and the seat becomes vacant in the diocese, we have what we call Bishop Advisory Committee.

It is the duty of the advisory committee to meet and state the type of person they want. They will communicate their decision to the primate who will send it to all bishops, and a nomination process takes place. Our nomination will be guided by the recommendation of the advisory committee. An archbishop is elected from the bishops in that province. We have about 14 provinces in Nigeria.

The present administration is focused in eradicating corruption.

How would you assess their performance so far?

Eradicating corruption has something in common with the church; the church preaches righteousness and justice.

Where there is corruption, there will be no righteousness and justice. I once said that every human being is corrupt to a certain extent. When you deviate from Continues on pg38

Presbyterian Church honours Abia governor

Pg36

36

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

With Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 08074497425

churchnews

Presbyterian Church honours Abia governor Celestine Ihejirika-Umuahia

A

BIA State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has been conferred with the honour of “Presbyterian Ambassador” by the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.

The governor was conferred with this award during the 22nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, held at

Yaba, Lagos State, recently, with the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, in attendance.

The Prelate of the Church, Professor Mba Uka, in his award citation, said that the church chose the governor for the award based on his outstanding performance in the area of road construction and Aba/Abia infrastructure renewal, among other development efforts.

According to Uka, of

particular interest to the church is the reconstruction of Ehere Road at Ogbor-Hill area of Aba, where the General Assembly office (administrative headquarters) of the church is

situated.

“We’ve never had a governor like Governor Ikpeazu in Abia. He is dedicated to his work and everybody can attest to his good works in Abia. The Pres-

byterian Church of Nigeria has benefited from Governor Ikpeazu’s good works in Abia. Today, the road leading to our General Assembly office in Aba, Ehere Road, which was so bad,

Cleric advises youths

Nigerians need to return to God in genuine repentance —Adeniran

By Olaide Sokoya THE General Overseer of Victory Gospel Church International, Pastor Richard Adeniran, has urged Nigerians to return to God in genuine repentance.

He added that the problem of insecurity, poor economy and social crisis could be solved if the people truly returned to God with the heart of forgiveness and renew relationship with God. In a press release issued to TribuneChurch in relation to the church’s annual convention tagged “More than Conquerors,” Pastor Adeniran stated that when people fully yielded to the gospel of Christ, their lives would be changed and they would become a blessing to the society.

“We Nigerians need divine intervention and guidance for our leaders to bring about the expected change.

Human power is limited but when the Almighty God steps into any situation, there will be a turnaround.

It is when we allow the fear of God to guide our thoughts and actions we can eschew selfishness, covetousness, which have resulted in the corruption that has ruined our country’s economy .”

He further stated that the present situation had placed untold hardship on families and individuals, noting that many people had been defeated and destroyed by the prevailing problems and challenges while many were experiencing troubling times because what they held as absolute truth and expectation were being contradicted by real life experiences.

Adeniran urged Nigerians to reject fear and discouragement but to inject courage to confront, arrest and overcome any challenge without losing faith in Jesus Christ.

“We believe possessing the right knowledge about the circumstances of life is necessary for keeping our faith till Christ comes,” Adeniran stated.

Annual convention THE annual convention of Victory Gospel Church International holds on Thursday, 25th August and Sunday, 28th August, 2016 between 4:00 p.m. on Thursday and 2:00

p.m. on Sunday, at Victory camp, Owoniran, Akanran, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The theme of the convention is “More than conquerors.”

Graduation ceremony will hold on Saturday, 27th August, 2016 and anointing service on Sunday, 29th of August, 2016 at the convention camp ground auditorium.

Ministering at the convention are Pastor T.K. Oni, Pastor Peter Akanji, Pastor (Dr) S.O. Edun, Pastor (Dr) T.O. Ilori, Pastor (Dr) E.O. Odewe, Pastor M.J. Oduola, Pastor (Dr) Joel Akintunde and the host is Pastor (Dr) R.K. Adeniran.

has been reconstructed by the governor,” Uka stated.

In his response, Governor Ikpeazu said: “when we agreed to fix Ehere road and the two other link roads, Umuola and Ukaegbu, we didn’t think of a day like this. But this award, which is the first award I have accepted since I became governor over a year ago, means so much to me.

You have encouraged me and I promise to do more roads for our people.”

By Rita Okonoboh

Vice President Prof Yemi Osibanjo (middle); Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu (right), and Prelate/Moderator of General Assembly of Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Professor Emele Mba Uka, during the 22nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, held at Yaba Parish in Lagos State, recently.

From left, Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, FESTAC Axis Coordinator and FESTAC District Overseer, Reverend Luke Egbunuba; Foursquare Gospel Church, New Egbe District Overseer, Reverend Friday Babatunde Obende; 2016 Convocation Chairman, Pastor Felix Akinnisola and Jakande Estate Isolo District Overseer, Professor Dapo Longe, during the 2016 Foursquare Gospel Church New Egbe District annual convocation, held in Lagos recently.

Clerics, awardees, and members of the youth fellowship of Immanuel College Chapel, Samonda, Ibadan, Oyo State, at the 30th anniversary celebration, held at Immanuel College Chapel, last Sunday.

CHRISTIANS have been advised on embracing service to God during their youth in order to reap the rewards of imbibing virtues.

This was the message at the 30th anniversary of the youth fellowship of the Immanuel College Chapel, Samonda, Ibadan, Oyo State, held last Sunday, with the theme, “Youthful but Useful.”

In the sermon at the event, Reverend Isaac Omolehin advised the youths to honour God with their time and talent.

According to him, “It is sad that many youths have sold their usefulness. We must remember God in our youth so that we can be made useful by God. Youths are not created to destroy, but to make impact, as you’re fearfully and wonderfully made and created by God to execute a mandate.”

Noting the main problem of today’s youths as hatred for instructions, the cleric advised them to discard any relationship that was not of God and should not allow sin in their lives.

He urged them to always walk in the spirit of God and work for God while they were still agile, so that God would smile on them in future.

The event also featured the presentation of awards to former executive members of the organisation and songs ministration by the youth choir.

Speaking on the essence of the event and why youths should give their time to God, president of the youth fellowship, Mr Tolulope Adekunle, advised youths to be committed to God’s work because there is reward for such action.

37 tribunechurch

21 August, 2016

Piracy, bad marketing challenges of gospel artistes —Aragbaye, new GOMAN president

Your Life Counts

H

Why did you say that there is nothing to rejoice about taking up the mantle of the leadership of GOMAN? What prompted me to say this is the current state of the association. As I said earlier, the association is in a very bad financial situation. I ought to be glad about my new status in the association, that is if I want of flaunt myself, but that is needless because God has given me the grace already. I have gained my popularity already and I am the only artiste a popular cable station used her music videos for three consecutive years.

It is believed that the association is facing a lot of challenges, especially in the area of acceptability. How do you intend to correct this?

This is one of the reasons I said that we must start big. It is true there are a lot of challenges facing the association; acceptability and wide recognition are our major problems. The name GOMAN is strange to many people out there; not until it is fully stated as the Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria before some can be able to connect. When I started my music in the 80s, it was all about releasing a good album and initiating a press review where media stations will be invited to listen and promote the album, but the story has changed. These

days, musicians move from one media station to the other to promote their music. It is time we publicised GOMAN and that is where we are starting from.

How would you give the association a facelift?

There are a lot of things in the pipeline. I am here to redefine the association and I am ready to carry the cross with the support of all and sundry. After the inauguration, we will organise an awards programme. Also, whether quarterly or annually, we want to arrange auditions for members. There are some musicians who have good materials but are faced with the challenge of funds or how to go about releasing their albums. We will raise funds to support this initiative in order to help gospel musicians in this category. The association will be ready to assist good and viable works. It is clear that there are two categories of people in this association and they are the known and yetto-be-known artistes, so, we will encourage known artistes to support the aspiring artistes. This boils down to the fact that everybody must be fully prepared because we also need to spread by penetrating into the South-South and South-East. It is time we made things happen that will transform GOMAN for the better. The affairs of GOMAN is not about Funmi Aragbaye but to put the ideas of every stakeholder and advice from the elders into action, to move the association forward.

Implementation has been a major challenge regarding the plans of many associations. How would you ensure all you have mentioned are implemented within the three-year tenure, especially in the area of artistes being compensated?

I am trusting God to help us achieve great and positive results during our time. I know it will not be all fanfare, because we

Part of my goal is to raise the standard of the association especially on production and lyrics

by Tunde Jaiyebo 0803 406 2013

Walking in possibilities (1)

Renowned gospel artiste, Evangelist Funmi Aragbaye, recently emerged the new president of the Gospel Musician Association of Nigeria (GOMAN). In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, she speaks on her mission and the task ahead. Excerpts:

OW do you feel about your recent emergence as the president of the Gospel Musician Association of Nigeria (GOMAN)?

I feel extremely great. This has been a divine call God gave me since 1990 when I released an album entitled ‘Divine Call.’ I want to thank God that this came to a reality in our own time. However, I don’t have to celebrate much because there is nothing to rejoice over. It is a task that calls for serious work. I want to assure every member of the association that this is the beginning of new things in the association. I am not boasting; they will all see the result of their votes for the new executives in Jesus’ name.

As an association, we all have to work hard.

It will not be a administration of dictators; we will all come together to lift up the association. Immediately I decided to run for the post after much pressure, I started getting advice from the elders in the industry and also made consultations, having known that the GOMAN task is not an easy one. The association is not financially buoyant, which is a bad development, but I trust God that He will use the prominent men in this country to provide for us. I have the full cooperation of the new executives and the association as a whole. I would call myself a master planner, so anyone who wants to work with me must be ready to work to achieve good results. Most importantly, I want to state clearly that all contestants will be part of this race; for me there is no victor or loser.

We will all work together and I am sure that God will help us.

Sunday Tribune

are poised to turn things around for the better. On the area of compensation of artistes, we will intensify our efforts and put pressure on the government to do something about it. We are all aware about the challenges all musicians and artistes are facing in the country. Piracy is also a major problem; lack of good marketers, promoters and distributors is also part of the challenges. The problems are enormous, but we will start from somewhere and I believe that God will help us.

Now that you are the president, where will you be based?

Of course, I will still be based in Ibadan since GOMAN has no secretariat that might make me to relocate to Lagos. I will be operating between Lagos and Ibadan because I also have a residence in Lagos. By the grace of God, I pray that the association has its own secretariat. That is part of our plans and I know God will see us through.

On the inauguration, a committee will be set up and very soon, a date will be fixed. As a retired principal, I will bring in my civil service experience because it is important that we plan well to achieve great things.

Would you probe the immediate past administration for not declaring the financial report of the association during the 2016 national election?

We are going to ask questions and request that the report be submitted. I don’t want to use the word probe because I don’t think there is anything to probe. Nevertheless, for the purpose of accountability and transparency, they should render an account even if is zero account; we need to have the details.

How do you intend to project the image of the association internationally?

Part of my goal is to raise the standard of the association especially on production and lyrics. I have an award programme in Canada and London in a few weeks’ time and since I am elected as the new president.

I will not hesitate to do whatever I feel will be beneficial for GOMAN internationally. I will also use my contacts and experience for the association. It is a matter of God using me for GOMAN and I don’t need anything from the association. They came to me that I should come and use my connection for the association.

THESE days, there is more talk of impossibilities than possibilities. The possibility of succeeding seems very elusive, hence, the wind of impossibility is blowing strongly. The possibility which seems very likely these days are possibilities of evil – terrorism, plagues, death, scarcity... Everywhere you go these days ,there seems to be an air of negativity and impossibilities.

We must, however, not allow the prevailing negative atmosphere to overwhelm us.

We must learn to see the possibility of making our lives count. We must pursue our dreams and live our lives with possibility in view.

“If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!” —Soren Kierkegaard We must consciously choose to live and operate in the realm of possibilities rather that in the realm of doubt, fear and impossibilities.

“Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them, for they’re always there.” —Norman Vincient Peale If we are going to operate in the realm of possibilities we must be armed with the right information. We must position ourselves to receive, decipher, interpret and effectively utilise right information. Information always presents us with options, choices and possibilities. The right information is always an eye-opener.

A man without information is a bankrupt man who is set for a life of insignificance.

Possibility always gets kick-started by information. Each of us is where we are today mainly because of the information we have been exposed to and the information we have acted on or refused to act on.

If we are to walk in the realm of possibilities we must be open to receive information. This is simple common sense.

“The intelligent man is open to new ideas.

In fact, he looks for them”. Proverbs 18:15 (Living Bible).

We get information in two main ways: the information we already know and secondly, knowing where to get information we don’t know. When we embrace the right information as we ought to, it will always spark off the process of thinking. It makes us think. It makes us reflect. Whenever we receive information, we spark off a series of actions, thoughts, options, sceneries, ideas, concepts and choices, which if well processed and channeled, will culminate in a decision.

Every accomplishment and achievement is the by-product of information processed and acted on to form a decision.

“Decision is a sharp knife that cuts or to do anything, never to turn back or to stop until the thing intended was clean and straight; indecision, a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges behind it.” —Gordon Graham Decisions are the conscious acts and resolutions reached after information is considered. Information is useless until it results in the determined, unwavering firm decisions. Information that, therefore, will lead to possibilities must be carefully thought over, weighed, considered and translated into decisions – making a judgment on what to do with information.

To be continued For enquiries/comments please send email to charismokola@yahoo. com

38 tribunechurch

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Many churches were established for selfish purposes’ Continued from pg35

doing good, you are corrupt; it may be morally, financially or socially. So, the focus should be on all persons. There was a report recently that the president wants to re-introduce the War Against Indiscipline (WAI). Well it is part of it. The only type of corruption we deal with in Nigeria is focused on money, which is wrong. In fact, before anybody can be corrupt, he or she must have been corrupt morally. So, I support the war against corruption but it must be in all ramifications and not only with regard to stolen funds.

On a global scale, Nigeria could be said to have, arguably, the highest number of churches, yet is burdened by falling moral standards.

What would you say we are not doing right?

It is really worrying. The problem is that people are deviating from the way it was in the beginning. During the advent of Christianity in 1840, when Henry Townsend and others came to Nigeria, they estab-

us pray unto God. Let us pray against all the terrorists rising against Nigeria. Finally, let us keep watch. What I have discovered is that Nigerians are very lazy; people don’t want to work. More people should embrace entrepreneurship and shift focus from monthly salary. The Lord has given us the land to till; let us make use of the land.

lished churches like Anglican, Methodist and Catholic which called people to holiness and righteousness, and those values exist till today. However, when other churches sprang up, many of them preach prosperity, without recourse to stressing that making money must be by legal means. Sin itself is rational and whoever wants to tackle sin must also be a rational being. We now have so many churches established for selfish interests. That is the reason we have high crime rate. We also have so many Christians calling themselves born-again, yet their character is questionable. Calling yourself born-again does not eliminate wickedness. It is so unfortunate that there is no way of restricting the establishment of churches in Nigeria. So, anybody can just rise up and pronounce himself a pastor.

With the state of the nation’s economy, what would be your advice for Christians in addressing the situation?

Let all Nigerians go back to the drawing board. Unfortunately for us, we have left

what we should have done and focused on oil; now the oil is failing us. Nigerians should go back to farming and apart from that, let

What would you recommend to government as solution to the current economic hardship?

The government held what was referred to as an economic summit some time ago. I will suggest that such summit should take place at the local government level. Our government needs to go to the grassroots to educate people on how to do things; we have been treating so many things on the surface which is not right. Government should make mechanised tools available for farmers at the local level, and then you will see the difference. They should take the opinions of the locals on how to develop the economy. Our answer is in our people and not dictating from the state houses.

CAC children harp on Christ’s second coming

By Seyi Sokoya THE children of Ibadan and its environs, under the umbrella of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ibadan, Oyo State, and districts have reminded all and sundry of the importance of living righteously, which is the only guarantee to make heaven.

This was the message at the 45th annual children anniversary of the church, consisting of 84 branches in Oyo State, held at CAC, Olugbode, Ita-Baale, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The event gave the children the opportunity to remind their peers, par-

ents and guardians not to hide under the current recession to commit sin, but to rebuke any form of temptation, be steadfast in God, pray for the speedy recovery of Nigeria and for peace and unity in the country.

This year’s event with the theme, “Marriage of the lamb is near,” featured scriptural and educative performances, which included recitation of memory verses; choreography; song ministration; sermon; cultural dance and awards presentation, which was the high point of the programme.

The overall best student

of this year’s scriptural examination, Marvelous Agboola, of CAC, Oke-Ife, Agbowo, Ibadan, speaking with TribuneChurch, expressed delight.

“I feel so special and honoured. I prepared for the examination to the extent that I attended classes almost every day. I got fascinated with the scripture through morning devotions and night prayers.

We pray and read the Bible together as a family and this has really helped my life and also to come out in flying colours. I want to use this medium to advise my peers not to allow God to depart from their lives,”

Pastor Ademola Fakunle (second left); Chief Examiner, Pastor Samuel Ogungbemi (third left); second overall winner, Akinola Feranmi of CAC, Ita-Baale Olugbode (fifth left); first overall winner, Marvelous Agboola of CAC, Oke-Ife, Agbowo (sixth left); third overall winner, Oluwaseun Lawal of CAC, Oke-Alafia, Loyola (fourth right); matron of the children association, Mrs Christie Ogunranti (third right); chairman of the children association, Pastor Gabriel Omosajuwa (second right); chairman, planning committee, Elder Akinsoji (right) and others at the 45th children anniversary held at CAC, Olugbode, Ita-Baale, Ibadan, Oyo State, last Sunday.

Christians urged to trust God at all times A cleric with the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), OkeIrantu, Ibadan, Oyo State, has urged Christians and Nigerians in general to always trust God in all times and seasons.

Evangelist Tunde Odeyemi stated this in message made available to Tribune-

Church.

According to him, “life is made up of different times and seasons. Problems may make you want to lose faith, but believe that joy will spring up in you and God will make your heart sing again. Just keep trusting God.”

He also called on Christians to be careful about the words they speak as this affects all they do.

“Learn to speak positively. People will criticise, condemn and complain but be steadfast and trust God in all you do,” Odeyemi stated.

he said.

Chairman of the children association, Pastor Gabriel Omosajuwa, advised the younger generation to have the fear of God which was the only means to ensure that they prospered in life.

The matron of the chil-

dren association, Mrs Christie Ogunranti, charged parents and guardians to be up and doing and observant of their children’s habits, stating that only the rod of punishment could drive out the foolishness of a child.

The chief examination officer, Pastor Samuel Ogungbemi, expressed delight at the children’s performances, compared to that of last year, noting that the church was achieving its aim to nurture the younger generation right from their tender ages.

livingword

By Bishop David Oyedepo Call 7747546-8; or e-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

Engaging the miracle power of praise! (3) WE began this teaching series with the understanding that praise is the sickle that guarantees the returns on all our investments in the Kingdom. This is because, when we give God our sacrifice of praise, we water our seeds for undeniable harvest.

Last week, we looked at two benefits that accrued to us in praise. In this week’s edition, we will examine another benefit, which is: • Praise provokes divine health: God speaking to Jeremiah said: For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. …And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small (Jeremiah 30:17 &19).

The Bible speaking of Jesus further said: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38).

From these scriptures, we can establish that the platform for the manifestation of God’s healing virtue is His presence and the Bible says that in God’s presence, there is fullness of joy and at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore. That means no pressure can survive God’s presence (Psalms 16:11).

Every sickness is a pressure on our lives but when we dwell in God’s presence, the pressure of sicknesses and diseases are destroyed. Furthermore, the disciples of Jesus

were never sick, because He was domiciled in their midst. As it is written: And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following (Mark 16:20).

In addition, we understand from scriptures that we go from strength to strength in God’s presence where He confirms His Word of healing (Psalms 84:7, 107:20).

However, it is important to understand that until we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, we cannot access God’s presence that silences all situations and circumstances. If you haven’t, you can do so by saying this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood.

Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Understanding the Power of Praise, Walking in the Miraculous, Operating in the Supernatural, Releasing the Supernatural and Commanding the Supernatural.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you.

Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

39 tribunechurch

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

dawnofanewera sundaysermon

with Most Revd J.O. Akinfenwa Bishop of Ibadan Anglican Diocese

with Pastor Sunday Adelaja Senior Pastor of the Ukraine based Embassy of God Church e-mail: pastor@godembassy.org

The laws of money (vi) HOW I turned my church members to millionaires Last week I spoke of the third law of money, giving my own personal experience as the head of the largest church in Europe. I will continue from there today.

My rude awakening happened when we were already making 20,000 US dollars and yet not meeting our needs. God’s conviction was so strong that I had no option but to break down in sorrow and repentance.

The stroke that broke the camel’s back came when I asked the Lord, “I know I am not lazy by any standard, but you spoke of that man as being lazy.”

At that point I was working for 18 hours a day. How can I be working for 18 hours and still be called lazy? Again the lord came to my rescue, He said by being lazy here, He was talking about my refusal to think, my laziness of the mind in relations to money. He said the laws and the principles of managing money were out there; that I should not have been lazy to go in search of them and that my failure to develop myself in the question of finances was also a form of laziness.

The fact that I did not bother to study financial matters or even go for financial consultations all pointed in the direction of this laziness – mental laziness. I thought I had an excuse. My argument was: “I am a pastor, I want to face my business, beside I have never heard any pastor preach or teach on this.” To which the Lord told me: “that is not an excuse and you are answerable to only me.” God has all forms of knowledge out there for anyone that is diligent enough to ask, seek and knock.

This revelation changed my life for good.

Right from there, I called the board of our church and I declared to them that

With my experience from helping the church make money, I was surprised when after 9 months I was able to make my first million US dollars instead of 2 years

we were going to cut a lot of our expenses with a significant part of our income going to savings and eventually into investments. That was another huddle I needed to surmount, because my board said, we are a church, and we don’t do investment, we only spend, we don’t invest or multiply.

To cut the long story short, I was able to get the church to start by putting aside the first ten percent of all that came in for savings and investments. We gradually moved from there to thirty percent of all that came in for savings and investments.

As a result, I was able to make our church a millionaire church in one year, that is in surplus. After attaining this with the church, I dared to challenge myself to make my first million US dollars in the next two years. I studied all I could on the subject. With my experience from helping the church make money, I was surprised when after 9 months I was able to make my first million US dollars instead of 2 years.

Next in my target, I decided to prove the efficacy of these principles by helping my church members become millionaires. I started with ordinary people and by the grace of God in the next three years, I was able to raise 200 Millionaires in US dollars from within our congregation. Yes, the die has been cast. The Lord was right after all. I had learnt my lessons. No more going back!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, what I’m I trying to tell you – why am I taking my time to go into all these details? I simply want to help you to understand that if we could open the eyes of our people in Africa and other developing countries to know the laws of money, then we can indeed help our continent. I am convinced that giving out food or money will not last for long, but if we will change the approach to money in our people, we will have empowered them to be forever free.

Ignorance indeed is the only killer around. “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6.

It is what we don’t know that is killing us.

Because of ignorance, most people waste money, others spend money, while only a few invest money.

Looking back, I can actually see now that even in my 40-hut village of Idomila, with the abject poverty around, I could have had enough, if only I had known these laws of money.

Nobody could have been living in the type of poverty that I grew up in if only we had been educated in the rudiments of the laws of money.

It is therefore my belief that the true key to financial liberty for our continent and the world at large is to bring the knowledge of the laws of money to become a common subject in schools, governments, institutions, community centers, cultural centers, churches, mosques, etc.

If we could teach our people not just to know this laws, but to religiously observe them, we would have dealt a heavy blow to the dragon of poverty in our world.

The priesthood of all believers Continued from last week WHEN we become Christians, Peter the Apostle described what we have become this way: 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Jesus Christ called every believer out of darkness. So, there is no one that is not called. And the words that we speak to one another, or with which we describe one another, must reflect the fact that there is a definite call of God upon the lives of all Christians today. Why?Much of the complacency that we see in the church arises out of a lack of a sense of calling. Without a sense of calling, there can be no sense of responsibility. Many people are idle in the church today, adding no va lue to kingdom work because they do not feel obligated to do so.

And they do not feel obligated because of the negative impact of the words they hear daily - words that suggest that they have no work in the vineyard of Christ. It is like what we saw in Matthew 20: 6-7. Matthew 20:67 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us.

The householder found idle men on the street at the eleventh hour. What was their excuse? They said, “no man has hired

us”. That sounds so familiar. It sounds like, “We have not been called.”Perhaps, in fact, “We have been refused when we volunteered.” However, that should not be the excuse for idleness for any child of God. Jesus Christ has called all of us to be fishers of men. Apostle Peter was writing to the saints of the dispersion. In his second epistle, he opened his treatise by calling attention to character traits that the believers in Jesus Christ should work hard to imbibe. In addition to having faith, he asked them to imbibe virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.

He then explained that his objective was the prevention of barrenness or unfruitfulness in the Christian life. According to him, anyone who lacks these elements of Christian character has lost focus, and is living contrary to the purpose of his salvation. In the wording of the Authorized King James version, he then exhorts the believer to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure”.

Please note that all the elements of Christian character that Peter listed are relational or out-going. Virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are best expressed in your relationship with others. For example, we cannot know if you are patient until you have had to wait for someone and you did not lose your cool.

To be continued next week

theapostolicmessage

By Pastor (Dr) G.O. Olutola JP.

Divine answer to salvation need of man MAN was created to enjoy the fullness of God’s blessing and grace, but the fall of man truncated this blessing. The first man, Adam and his wife, Eve had access to everything in the Garden of Eden, save the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. They lacked virtually nothing in the garden. Even at the cool of the day, they enjoyed the fellowship of the Almighty God. So, as they lacked nothing in the garden, they also enjoyed a sweet fellowship with God. Satan, the enemy of man sought to end all these privileges enjoyed by Adam and Eve, so he fashioned out a way to disengage man from this privileges. He beguiled Eve to disobey God’s commandment by eating the forbidden fruit. Eve also lured Adam to eating the fruit. By this act, Adam and Eve sinned against God and were cast out of the Garden of Eden. They were not just sent out of the Garden of Eden, but Adam and Eve were cursed: To Eve, God said; ‘I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee’ (Genesis 3:16). To Adam, God said, ‘because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and has eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, saying thou shalt not eat of it cursed is the ground for thy sake, in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life’ (Genesis 3:17).

For man not to be lost forever, there was a provision to save man from sin. Sacrifices of lamb, dove and the rest were offered to cleanse man of his sin and bring man

back to God. Yet this provision could not save man from the power and guilt of sin.

Thus, the sacrifice of lamb and goat failed because it lacks the power to cleanse man completely from sin.

The failure of the sacrifice of ram and goats necessitated the need for a permanent solution to the problem of man in order to bring him back to God. In this regard God sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ to come and die for the sin of man and reconcile him back to God. Being with the father from time immemorial, Jesus Christ knew the height and depth of the love of God, so only Him could make it manifest.

Jesus’ coming to the world is thus to make an express manifestation of God’s love to mankind. John 3:16 x-rays the love of God towards us ‘for God so love the world that He sent His only begotten son…’ it was out of His love not because man really deserved it. He provided him as a lamb (Luk 1:29) to take away the sins of the world through a once and for all sacrifice.

The infinite sacrifice made by Christ on behalf of fallen man expressed the Father’s love to the lost humanity. Little wonder, the concluding part of John 3:16, boys … whosoever believe in him will not perish but have an everlasting life’. This is truly God’s deep love toward humanity in this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him (I Jh 4:9).

To be continued next week

40

language&style Nipping in the bud

S

21 August, 2016

by Samson Dare 0805 500 1770 samsonadare@yahoo.co.uk

ample 1: “He urged the members of the public to of passive sentences: 1) A different position was taken by the report to the command any filling stations selling chairman. 2) The suspect has been taken to court. 3) The above pump price, promising that actions will be matter was not taken with the seriousness it deserved. 4) The taking immediately.”(Fuel Scarcity: NSCDC Warns decision was not taken at the appropriate time. 5) The food Marketers Against Hiking Pump Price, The Nation, Sunday, was taken with milk. 6) Not surprisingly, the information May 1, 2016) was taken with a pinch of salt. 7) The problem is that wrong Let’s focus attention on the word taking which occurs in steps were taken at the initial stage. 8) I believe the facts are the following context: “actions will be taking immediately.” being taken for granted.

It should be obvious that the reporter has mistaken the In addition note the following phrases: will be taken; can form taken for taking. This is a serious grammatical error be taken; may be taken; has been taken; could have been resulting either from carelessness or grave ignorance. I do taken; is being taken; are being taken; was taken (eg The hope that the latter is not the case. decision was taken or He was taken round the hall); was At any rate, for the sake of young learners reading taking (eg The chairman was taking his time). newspapers and this page, it is important to discuss and At any rate, the clause should read: “actions will be taken illustrate the difference between these two forms. immediately.”

There is the use as a present participle Sample 2: “Following the rift, where it is preceded by a relevant form the National Chairman of the of be. What are the forms of be? They APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, are: is, am, are, was, were, being, has directed the Deputy National been, and be. The following sentences Chairman (South), Engnr. Segun illustrate this usage: 1) We are taking to wade into the crisis with a But in other cases, wherever Oni, a decision on the matter immediately. 2) view of nipping it in the bud before the verb is preceded by the The students are not taking us seriously it escalates.” (Edo: Oshioole/ because we are not taking our work particle to, that verb has to be Deputy Rift Threatens APC’s seriously. 3) Why is it taking you such a Chances, The Nation, Sunday, in its basic, uninflected form May 8, 2016) long time to do the job? 4) Members of the community are taking laws into their I draw readers’ attention to the (or the infinitive form): 1) hands. 5) The chairman is not taking the phrase, with a view of nipping. Let My intention is to proceed on us note that the word nipping is in matter lightly even though the issue has been discussed fairly extensively. 6) The leave immediately. 2) They are its correct form---a gerund. The problem is with the particlelecturer is taking us through the process planning to change the name only --of. The appropriate particle is to. of developing an electrical device. 7) He of the school. was taking us to his new house when the Some Nigerian users would use the incident occurred. 8) Hungry and tired, we particle to (quite appropriately) were taking turns at the steering. 9) Why but would, in addition, opt for have you not been taking your drugs? 10) the infinitive, rather than the The chairman has been taking the visitors gerundive form of the verb: *with round the premises. a view to nip in the bud. The The other context in which the ing form appropriate expression is: with a is used is that of the gerund---a form in view to nipping in the bud. which the verb has been converted to a noun by the addition In other words, the expression “with a view to” must be of ing. The following sentences illustrate the usage of the followed by the –ing form of the verb. gerundive nominal form: 1) He was commended for taking But in other cases, wherever the verb is preceded by the the pains to help the weak and the elderly. 2) He would particle to, that verb has to be in its basic, uninflected form remain a hero forever for taking the country out of the woods (or the infinitive form): 1)My intention is to proceed on economically. 3) After taking several samples of his blood, leave immediately. 2) They are planning to change the name the medical team certified that the man was totally healthy. of the school. 3) The soldiers decided to attack the notorious 4) The police have been blamed for taking the innocent man village. 4) The committee members are to consider the into custody. 5) In taking that decision, we were guided matter urgently. 5) The payment motivated him to work by a sense of fairness and the interest of the company. 6) harder. 6) The sermon encouraged him to tackle the problem The chairman praised the management team for taking boldly. 7) He attempted to kill his wife. 8) She wanted to use those measures that prevented the misunderstanding from her feminine qualities to win his heart. 9) The accountant snowballing into a major crisis.7) Nobody should persecute had planned to delay the payment. 10) The lawyer has been me for taking a different position. 8) The appropriate thing paid to represent the two suspects. you should have done before taking the visitor round the Now compare those sentences with the following: 1) Loans and fertilizers were made available to farmers with a view premises was to take permission from the chairman.

As for the en form (taken), it occurs in the context of the to increasing agricultural yields. 2) They set forth early in perfect tense. The following sentences illustrate the usage: 1) the morning with a view to reaching their destination by Why has it taken you years to complete the job? 2) I have 9 am. 3) Several checkpoints were created with a view to not taken time to reflect on the matter. 3 She has taken arresting the perpetrators of the heinous crime. 4) Two antithe boy to his father. 4) How many papers have you taken corruption agencies were set up with a view to reducing today? 5) Your parents seem to have taken the matter bribery and corruption to the barest minimum. 6) A curfew lightly. 6) My candid opinion is that he has taken his job was imposed on the town witha view to stopping the seriously so far. 7) The man obviously has taken interest in senseless blood-letting. 7) More policemen are being recruited the affairs of the lady. 8) The president has taken the nation with a view to increasing police presence in every nook to a greater height. 9) The club has been taken to a new level and cranny of the country. 8) Infants are to enjoy free medical by the incumbent chairman. 10) The issue of staff welfare has care with a view to reducing the infant mortality rate in not beentaken seriously enough. 11) The decision hasbeen the country. 9) The accounting officer changed many of the takenwith utmost caution. 12) The right decision hasbeen figures with a view to perpetrating massive fraud. 10) He has been writing articles in newspapers with a view to taken only after all the facts have been considered.

As a past participle, the form taken also occurs in the context undermining the government.

Sunday Tribune

line

life with

Niyi Osundare

Random Blues (Guns, guns, guns) My ears are tired of gunshots My eyes are tired of tears Hear? My ears are tired of gunshots My eyes are tired of tears Of lives ruled by bile and blood And driven by a cavalry of fears Sleepless nights, restless days Incontinent breeches, heedless triggers Say, sleepless nights, restless days Incontinent breeches, heedlesstriggers Reckless bloodlust of the powerful insane Ruled by primitive passions and itchy fingers In the house just down my street A mother mournsthe shooting of an only child Haah, in the house just down my street A mother mourns the murder of an only child A gunman mows down a dozen at a shopping mall All part of a culture wantonly wild Guns, guns, guns Guns everywhere Say, guns, guns, guns Guns every where The only gods we trust That decree our every affair An eight-year old comes to school With a pistol in his bag Yes, eight-year old comes to school With a pistol in his bag He shoots his teacher, then his mate, Before the prideful gaze of the nation’s flag

41

news

21 August, 2016

Edo: INEC recruiting APC members as ad hoc staff, PDP alleges •As INEC denies recruiting APC supporters From Leon Usigbe, Jacob Segun Olatunji and Banji Aluko

T

HE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of recruiting members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for use as ad hoc staff in the September 10 governorship election in the state.

According to a statement issued by the interim spokesman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja on Saturday, the party was in possession

of video evidence allegedly exposing INEC officials in the state and suggesting that they were planning the outcome of the gubernatorial election before it was conducted.

It said: “We have once again uncovered another plot by the electoral umpire in Edo State to rig the gubernatorial election in favour of the government in power in the state.

“There are clear evidence available to us showing how INEC officials were recruiting APC members as ad hoc staff to rig the election for the APC candidate in the Saturday 10, 2016 governorship election in the

state.”

The PDP spokesman warned that the party would not tolerate any act of sabotage and advised the electoral umpire to recruit neutral and credible Nigerians without partisan interest as ad hoc staff to maintain their neutrality in the process.

The PDP further stated: “We will not accept anything short of free, fair and credible process leading to the gubernatorial poll in Edo State.”

Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State, Sam Olumekun, has disclosed

that the electoral body was not in the process of recruiting supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has ad hoc staff for the September 10 governorship election in the state.

Speaking on Saturday, the Edo REC described the allegation as ridiculous, saying that apropriety guidelines were followed in recruiting ad hoc staff preparatory to the election.

He said, “We have recruited those who we call SPOs (Supervisory Presiding Officers). They are in charge of issuing materials to a certain number of polling units.

Sunday Tribune

Boko Haram abducts many, kills 7 in Borno village AT least seven people have been killed and dozens abducted when Boko Haram terrorists invaded a village in Borno State on Saturday.

A source disclosed to an online news agency, Sahara Reporters, that the terrorists stormed Kuruburu village of Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State early Saturday morning, killing seven villagers and abducting dozens of more people.

The source disclosed that the terrorists abducted women and carted away livestock and food items.

“They came on motorcycles and started shooting, killing seven villagers and more than a dozen are still missing.

They even set the whole village ablaze,” the source said.

Pirates kidnap 8 fishermen in A/Ibom, LG chairman raises alarm THE Transitional Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Williams Mkpah, has revealed that pirates had kidnapped eight fishermen fishing in the area.

Mkpah confirmed the kidnap in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom, on Saturday.

According to him, “six fishermen were kidnapped on Thursday night, August 18 and two on Friday morning, August 19 in the creeks of Ibeno and its environs.

“As I am speaking, sea piracy had increased in the Ibeno community, adding that the pirates stop fishermen from fishing,’’ he said.

Mkpah said that the sea pirates were demanding millions of naira as ransom from the fishermen before releasing them.

He explained that the fishermen were made to pay money by the pirates before they could fish in the area.

He alleged that; “they have informants in our communities, who usually informed them of the take-off of a particular fisherman and possible routes where he was going for fishing.

“One of them was arrested in Eket in the process of coming to collect ransom for somebody, one of the Ibeno boys made us to track him.

“And he had made useful statement to the police but as I speak now I don’t know what the Police Command in Uyo is doing about it.

“Since the suspect was arrested, the issue of sea pirates had increased and they are now demanding for their man.”

Governor suspends commissioner The newly wedded couple, Mr and Mrs Adesanya Ojo at Apata Baptist Church, Adifase, Ibadan on Saturday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Lay out your grievances, Oba of Lagos urges Avengers Chukwuma OkparaochaLagos THE monarch of Lagos, Oba Riliwan Akiolu I, has called on members of the militant group, the Nigeria Delta Avengers, to sheathe their swords and lay all their grievances on the table rather than engage in criminal activities capable of further increasing the woes of the nation.

The monarch made this known on Saturday during the celebration of the Isese Festival in Isale Eko area of Lagos Island, where he also urged Nigerians to exercise more patience in spite of the hard times in the country, assuring them that very soon all would be well.

He stressed that bombings and other deleterious activities currently being perpetuated and largely attributed to the Niger Delta Avengers would further worsen the socio-economic problems the country had found itself, saying that

rather than engage in such activities, members of the militant group should put their grievances on the table for the government to address.

“I want to use this me-

dium to appeal to the Niger Delta Avengers to give peace a chance. I agree to some extent with them that certain things have to be done for them, but they just have to give

peace a chance and things will work for them. They should stop and put their grievances on the table and the government will address it. It is not too late to mend,” Oba Akiolu said.

FG to reintroduce national monthly sanitation Talking Climate Action Godwin Agwam - Lafia

THE Federal Government has approved the reintroduction of national monthly sanitation to reduce environmental degradations and the littering of wastes.

The Minister of Environment, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, made the resolution of the 10th National Council on Environment known to newsmen on Saturday, after a five-day deliberation of the council.

Hajiya Muhammed who gave the theme of the programme as “Environment And The Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria : Empowering People,

And Protecting The Environment”, said the council had advised state with increasing land degradation problems that requested approval for funding of erosion control programmes, afforestation projects to embark on bilateral consultations with relevant MDAs, including Ecological Fund Office (EFO).

She also disclosed that the council had “approved the programmes/projects that would help in the mitigation/adaptation of the impacts of climate change such as adoption and implementation of the renewable energy master plan, promoting renewable energy

programme in schools, upgrading and repositioning climate change units in MDAs, engaging the private sector in renewable energy programmes through PPP arrangements.”

The minister added that the council had also “approved forestry development and afforestation programmes such as enrichment planting in the country’s forest reserves nationwide, promoting the use of alternative source of energy, suspension of further exportation of Pterocapus Spp in Taraba State in the interim, initiation and implementation of bamboo and rattan value chain development in the states.

GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State has suspended the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Okoronkwo.

Umahi, who announced the suspension when he declared open the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) programme in Abakaliki on Saturday, also disbanded the state’s committee on employment He said that the suspension was with immediate effect, adding that his administration would not tolerate any action that would take the state back to the dark ages.

The governor, however, did not give any reason for the commissioner’s suspension.

“The Commissioner for Local Government is hereby suspended from office effective from now. The highest officer, a civil servant, should take over and be attending executive council meeting until further notice.

“This administration from day one has been built on the principle of justice, equity and fairness,” he said.

4,395 couples for mass wedding in Kano NO fewer than 4,395 prospective couples wishing to participate in the Kano State government’s mass wedding have so far registered for the programme.

The state government had directed the Hisba Board to register all interested prospective couples in the state.

Dr Abba Sufi, the Director-General of the board, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kano, on Saturday.

Sufi said of the number, 3,117 couples were registered by Hisba offices in 41 local government areas of the state, while the remaining 1, 278 couples were registered at the state headquarters of the board in Kano.

“As I am talking to you now, 4,395 prospective couples had indicated interest to participate in the programme,” he said.

He said as soon as the remaining three local government areas submitted their list, the board would write a comprehensive report to the government for necessary action.

42

news

21 August, 2016

Militant group claims responsibility for blown-up NPDC facilities in Delta Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

A

new militant group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, has claimed responsibility for the Friday morning destruction of oil pipelines operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

The group made this known in a statement signed by its spokesperson, “Gen.” Aldo Agbalaja, late Friday evening and made available to Sunday Tribune in Warri, Delta State

through email.

The militant group also warned against carrying out repairs on the blown-up trunk line.

“At about 0200hrs of Friday 19th, 2016, the formidable strike team in charge of “OPERATION ZERO” brought down another major trunk/delivery line operated by NPDC in Udu Local Government Area (Urhobo) of Delta State.

“We would also like to warn that no repairs should take place on that pipeline pending when signals come from us.

“Peace cannot be realised in an unjust environment.

Like we said from the onset, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate is not just about causing calamity and delighting in chaos, rather a child of circumstance, born to correct an injustice that has lived with us from the time of our fathers,” the group stated.

They warned the Federal Government to shelve its plan “to attack communities in the creeks in the name of wiping out militancy.

“Such purported plans should cease forthwith, as an injury to one is an injury to all. Otherwise, the Federal Government should also be ready to wipe out the en-

tire uplands,” the statement read.

The group also added its voice to the calls that headquarters of all oil multinationals be relocated to their various bases of operation immediately.

It advised militant groups of Ijaw extraction to focus on issues affecting the entire Niger Delta region and its people, saying “it does nobody any good if one usurps the rights and identity of the other. All of us suffer the same injustice and it is an injustice extended if only you are in focus, while the rest of the region pines away. Live and let live.”

Sunday Tribune

Beware of fraudsters, UNILORIN warns candidates THE University of Ilorin has warned candidates seeking admission into the institution for the 2016/2017 session not to fall victim of fraudsters asking for screening fees.

Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs Department of the university, Mr Kunle Akogun, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

Akogun said that the recently circulated post-UTME procedures slated for August 22 and August 27 was a scam.

“I am not aware of any circular from the university management to this effect. The circular is a scam. It should be disregarded,” Akogun said.

He pointed out that the institution was aware of the misleading information and considered it imperative to alert unsuspecting members of the public and applicants seeking admission into the institution.

The university spokesman said some admission seekers had fallen victims of the dubious information asking them for payment of screening fees, stating that the institution had neither fixed admission procedure fees nor date for the screening.

Flood destroys 120 houses, farms in Jigawa FLOOD has destroyed 120 houses and washed away farms and other valuables worth millions of naira in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

A lawmaker of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Jahun/Miga consituency, Sai’du Yusuf, made the figure known to newsmen after visiting the victims.

Yusuf said the report received from the victims, indicated that about 120 houses, foodstuffs and other valuables were destroyed by flood.

The lawmaker, accompanied by the Chief Whip, Alasan Doguwa, and an official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said he came to sympathise with the victims.

Yusuf said he came in company of Alasan, who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, to assess the level of damages caused by the flood for appropriate action, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

Alasan donated N500,000 to the victims, while Yusuf declined comments on his donation, saying “it is between me and God.”

Wife of the governor of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun (in white T-shirt), with some of the officials and students at the ongoing Ogun State Summer Camp for the students at the State Model College, Awowo in Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State.

Soldiers want to bombard our communities, Ijaws of •It’s an amphibious exercise —Army Gbaramatu cry out Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri TWENTY-FOUR hours after elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, held a stakeholders’ meeting with leaders of Niger Delta coastal states to initiate peace, leaders of Ijaws in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have cried out to the international community to halt an alleged plan by the Federal Government to bombard their communities.

Leaders and chiefs from the kingdom led by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, Chief Nelson Ogelegbanwei and Chief Vero Tangbuwei, among others, made the allegation at a press conference on Saturday in Warri, Delta State.

Chief Gbenekama, who is the spokesperson for the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, said drones and other military hardware had already been deployed to the area in readiness for the bombardment any moment from Saturday.

According to him, except the Federal Government

is urgently prevailed upon, the bombardment would commence in earnest under the guise of smoking out members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) who had brought the oil-economy of the country to its knees via destruction of oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta region.

He said personnel from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Airforce had already begun the patrol of waterways and creeks in the kingdom, adding that “they are prepared

to deal with us.”

Gbenekama added that as at Friday, worried residents of the various communities in the kingdom, who had alternatives, had begun to relocate to safer climes to avoid being caught in the planned bombardment.

However, the General Officer Commanding (G.O.C.) 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major-General Kasimu Abdulkarim, has said that the Nigerian Army would be having an amphibious training exercise within Delta State.

He disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa last week in Asaba.

The GOC was on tour of states the 2 Division of Nigerian Army covers which includes Delta, Edo, Oyo, Ekiti and parts of Niger State, ruling out fears of any form of bombardment.

A source from the Nigerian Navy in Warri could not also confirm the allegation, saying he was not aware of such planned bombardment of the creeks in the state by the army.

FUNAAB protest: Injured student in stable condition —Management Olayinka Olukoya-Abeokuta THE authorities of the Federal University of Agriculture, (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Ogun State, have allayed fears over the state of health of Taiwo Abikoye, who was injured in a protest embarked on by students of the institution, last Thursday.

This was disclosed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Emi Ala-

wode, in an interview with Sunday Tribune.

She stated that there was no iota of truth in the rumour making the rounds that the injured student was dead.

Alawode said that the student was responding to treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PRO urged the media to cross-check facts before going to the press.

Sunday Tribune recalled that Abisoye was hit by a cartridge of teargas during the protest and was first taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FCM), Abeokuta, before being transferred to UCH. No fewer than four vehicles were set ablaze by the students who were protesting against insecurity situation in hostels within the university host communities.

At summer school, Amosun’s wife tasks students on green education WIFE of the governor of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has advised children on the benefits of healthy lifestyle which can be achieved though embracing the culture and attitude of re-using, reducing and recycling waste to help save the environment from further degradation.

The governor’s wife, who was the guest lecturer at the ongoing Ogun State Summer school camp at the State Model College, Awowo in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state, said environmental issues had become serious, considering the environmental challenges confronting the present generation.

Mrs Amosun read from her book entitled “Green Education for the Youth,” and encouraged the students to join in the crusade to take actions through tree planting and waste management to reduce air pollution and improve the quality of lives of the people.

Exhibition to push food processing and packaging sector as highest revenue earner —Organisers Gbemi Solaja-Lagos NO less than 30 countries, 150 exhibitors and 3,000 visitors would be participating in what has been described as the largest packaging, printing, and plastics exhibition in West Africa According to the organisers, the trade exhibition is expected to present Nigeria as a veritable investment destination.

Expected to take place at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, the organisers further stated that the exhibition would be used to raise the profile of packaging and printing industries in particular, thereby bringing countries into focus on these markets.

The food processing and packaging element of the Propak’s conference is, however, expected to attract particular attention this year.

Propak West Africa is the biggest international exhibition of its kind within the processing and packaging industry.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Ministry for Industry Trade and Investment (MITI) and the Bank of Industry are expected at the event.

43

interview

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Fayose, others working to kill PDP —Babatope

Chief Ebenezer Babatope is former Minister of Transport, who served as the Director-General of Campaign Organisation of Chief Olabode George for national chairmanship of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the botched convention of the party. He speaks with BOLA BADMUS on his experience and the various factors that were at play, leading to the failed exercise. Excerpts:

C

AN you relate to us exactly what happened at the aborted national convention?

When we got to Port-Harcourt, we felt we were going for a convention that was to revive PDP. The arena was quite okay. We had discovered that some characters had penetrated the organisation of the convention to the point that by 8:00 p.m., on Tuesday, it was apparent that these dangerous intervening forces had made up their minds to disturb the peace of the PDP and to disturb the forward movement of the party. So, they tampered with the list of delegates in many states. For example, they gave Ogun State four delegates; Oyo PDP three; Osun five delegates, while the Lagos State list was nowhere to be found because they were claiming there was no election in Lagos. They knew that Lagos’ list was heavily dominated by those who wanted Bode George, so they wiped their names out. And it is apparent that if we had had that convention, they would have railroaded a boy, Jimi Agbaje, who had been programmed by some controversial people in the party, into power.

Honestly, it was God’s intervention that stopped that diabolical move.

I don’t know who Mr. Jimi Agbaje is. I have nothing against him. By our constitution in the PDP, the young man is not qualified to contest. But some of these elements who are promoting his cause were hell-bent on destroying the progress of this party and ensuring that they destroy our constitution. One of them is a socalled governor of one of the South-West states, Ayo Fayose. He is one of the people destroying the peace of PDP. Why do you think these people are making these moves?

They came with dangerous propaganda that there must be generational change.

What do they mean by generational change? Fayose has been canvassing that all old people in PDP must be pushed aside. Whoever is a good Christian or a good Muslim, who has his senses intact, knows that God will never be involved in any matter that is detrimental to the cause of mankind. God knows what He did by preserving old people and then some people would be young. The blending of young and old makes society to move forward. So, as far as they are concerned, all old people must not have anything to do with governance or administration of PDP. But beyond that, do you think they have personal agenda by saying they want a particular candidate for the party?

Some people have been saying it, but I don’t want to believe it, that some of them have got vice-presidential ambition. I am a political actor, a political activist trained by one of the greatest leaders in Africa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I noted the information, but I don’t want to act on it.

But we are going to see how a man who says old men should be wiped out would

must toy with experience, status and age; any child that does that will be destroying himself. So, we are waiting for them. We are prepared for war and God Almighty knows that they have already established the very base for war in PDP and we will never allow miscreants, vagabonds to dominate our party and destroy it.

Babatope now want to emerge as vice-president of a country we have served with all our might.

I have gone to jail three times in my life and these young men want to create a Republic of young mad men. We would see how they progress in life. God will judge every one of us.

In your view, do these people, as you claimed, think their plan will not be possible with Bode George as chairman?

They don’t want him. They say Bode George was going to disturb their programme. They wanted a nonentity to be chairman, somebody they can dictate to.

That is why they brought this boy they called Jimi Agbaje and they want the man called Uche Seondus from the SouthSouth to be the national deputy chairman so that Secondus will be able to now manage their simpleton and robot chairman and push him to anywhere they like. That is what they wanted. They know that Bode George, under no circumstance, will in this world allow injustice to prevail and, therefore, they do not believe in that.

There was nothing they did not say. They were praising everybody at the convention, assuring that there would be freedom, justice, fair-play, that nobody will be debarred and yet they went and produced a register of delegates that destroyed almost all the supporters of Bode George both in the North and in the South, including South-West, even to the ridiculous level that delegates from the southern states were more than delegates in the

northern states.

What you are saying now is quite different from what people outside perceive as problem of PDP. It is the opinion of people that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is the problem, but you are saying it is some young elements in the party.

All of them belong to the Ahmed Makarfi group. But these boys just deviated and threw up this stupid campaign, generational change. Honestly, Nigerians must ask them if it is a crime to be old. On Sheriff, we agreed that the PDP must be left to perform its function as a very effective and mobile force to the APC government. So, Sheriff is out of the way as far as we are concerned.

Are you sure that is real with the conflicting court rulings that are being churned out?

We are sure because eventually PDP will triumph over Sheriff. But we even have a greater problem than Sheriff. What these boys are doing now is a new problem for PDP and which we are going to fight with greater energy. We will not leave the PDP for them. They will leave the PDP for us.

But we are going to fight them, it’s a monstrous problem.

If they think with their age, power and money, they have everything, if they think they can triumph over us, they are wasting their time because no matter how great any young man is, he can’t be greater than the older man in experience. No child

The party has been in the crisis for more than a year now and you have also given the Makarfi Caretaker Committee another one year to manage the affairs of the PDP after which there will be a fresh convention. Do you think the party will have resolved all issues by then?

We are not God who is the only one that knows events of tomorrow. But as of today, we believe Makarfi and his committee will be able to help the party to stabilise.

We believe that the committee will learn some lessons never to entrust the destiny of the country in the hands of young men who are only messing around because they have power in their hands. Some of these young men are power-drunk. They have money including Pound Sterling, all kinds of money in their hands. The judgment of majority of PDP members and leaders is that Makarfi is a man who is determined to bring PDP together and we all trust his judgment and wisdom. But like I said, Makarfi must learn sufficient lessons in what is going on now because if he doesn’t learn from what is going on now, we shall all be consumed by the event. We hope that with Makarfi being there for another one year, things are going to stabilise. We will never allow these miscreants who have been misusing power.

To what extent do you see the ruling APC contributing to the crisis rocking the PDP currently as alleged in some quarters?

I will never subscribe to that idea. I will never subscribe to that idea that APC, the ruling party, is contributing to the crisis in the PDP. We, as PDP, as far as the convention is concerned, played into their hands. If the APC wants to divide us, we in the PDP played into their hands. Why did some boys decide to tamper with the delegates’ list? If the police did not intervene by sealing off the convention venue, those mad ambitious young men would have put wrong people in office.

Agbaje came to this party less than two years ago and he wants to be national chairman. When you even take that aside, here is a man who has been in about three political parties beside the PDP. He has been in DPA, AD, and ACN. What an insult?

I do not agree with anybody who says that the APC has anything to do with the crisis. We in the PDP prepared the ground for them to intervene and if they do so, that is their own problem because come 2019, the PDP will have re-organised, we will have refocused our affairs in a way that we will make our comeback to power and rule Nigeria easy.

44

opinion

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Oshiomhole and the non-accreditation blues at Ambrose Alli University

By Sylvester Ojeme

I

T is no longer news that six important courses at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, have failed the accreditation test conducted by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Given the critical role education plays in the development of any society, this is quite unfortunate and sad. This is an embarrassing, shocking development the Edo State government should not have allowed to happen, in the first place, had it decided to get its priorities right. This is because the government had enough time to prepare the state-owned university, by way of strategic and targeted funding, and by upgrading all its courses, ahead of the scheduled and routine visit of the NUC accreditation team.

However, by failing to do the needful, Architecture, Building, Botany, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Political Science have now been downgraded by the NUC, thus plunging the students, both indigenes of the state and non-indigenes, offering these courses in a quandary. By no fault of theirs, their collective fates now hang in the balance until a sensitive and reasonable government moves in to reverse the ugly situation. Indeed, ensuring that all courses at AAU were accredited was the basic minimum expected from the Adams Oshiomhole’s government. It is a minimum standard Oshiomhole has failed to meet.

How far has AAU fallen? Well, according to the NUC, in 2011, the university was ranked the 19th best university in Nigeria. Five years later, under Oshiomhole’s punitive and directionless leadership, AAU has plummeted to 57th position.

The state governor, more cunningly than intelligently perhaps, knew what agenda he was pursuing by refusing to fund infrastructure development at the AAU. He certainly understood what he was doing when he released a paltry N120 million to AAU, about ten per cent of N1.26 billion requested by the management of the institution for the accreditation of all courses and upgrade of teaching facilities. I personally do not find it difficult to understand the stratagem the governor has employed to punish Esanland for always presenting a formidable opposition to his political agenda of taking over and manipulating Edo Central, the same way he has done with Edo North and Edo South zones.

But for the political influence and fighting spirit of some leaders in Edo Central, Esanland would have become a con-

quered territory for Oshiomhole. Therefore, as recompense, the zone must be strategically dealt with and defeated, no matter the collateral damage suffered by the innocent, taxpaying citizens of the state. The most critical knowledge infrastructure to decimate in this unconscionable war is the citadel of learning in the heart of Esanland and specifically at Ekpoma. Instead of adequately funding AAU, the governor decided to establish another so-called Edo University in his village at Iyamho, an ambitious project into which billions of naira have, so far, been sunk.

This then raises the question of priority. Why did he not prioritise an altruistic commitment to educating the state by first ensuring that the required funds for accreditation of courses at AAU were provided, even if he was determined to build the Iyamho university project? To treat with scant regard the fact that AAU, which has existed for over three decades, should enjoy a big brother’s treatment questions the sincerity of the governor about his claim that Edo is one entity, not divisible by politics. His disposition to the issue of accelerated development of a university in his village presents him rather, unfortunately, as a clannish, selfish and bigoted leader.

Some commentators had once described as callous, the establishment of a new university where the existing tertiary institutions are in a shambles with staff salaries and allowances not paid as and when due. AAU, like most others in the state, has not been able to answer the potable water question. The

question of in-service training for teaching staff members is also yet unanswered. Indigenes of the state who are students of the institution do not have the privilege of being provided with scholarship and bursary. So, what has the institution done to deserve this official abandonment, nay shabby treatment? Some people are quick to answer that it is because it (AAU) is sited on Esanland. Is this true, Governor Oshiomhole?

Is it also true, comrade governor, that your outright lukewarm attitude towards the institution was due to your failed alternative plan to relocate it from Edo Central to Edo North; and that when the plot failed, you decided to embark on a brand new university project in your village? The money (billions of naira) so far sunk into the building of the university at Iyamho, according to informed watchers of the development, is more than enough to upgrade all the existing tertiary institutions in the state to an international standard. It is noteworthy that in this year’s budget, N1.2 billion (about 10 per cent) was earmarked for Edo University, Iyamho, from the total budget of N13.64 billion for the education sector. What a brazen way to give preferential treatment to a pet project, especially when the alleged status of the Edo University as the private, personal project of the comrade governor has not been convincingly disproved to this writer and, I am sure, a host of others.

The point being made is: why did the governor not consider AAU worthy of full release of N1.2 billion requested by the university management to address the issue of accreditation for all courses on offer and to upgrade teaching facilities in the school? With due respect, the comrade governor has been very unfair to the legacy of Second Republic governor of the old Bendel State, the late Professor Ambrose Alli. He has also been very unfair to the students offering these downgraded courses and whose fate he has condemned to limbo.

The development in AAU would embarrass a responsible government. The failed outcome of the visit of the NUC Accreditation Team is, pure and simple, an indictment of Governor Oshiomhole and his attritional education policy. Unfortunately, Edolites have come to realise that the concepts of shame and atonement are alien to him. As long as he manages to build his “private” university with public funds, we can all “go and die”!

•Mr Ojeme, a graduate of AAU, Ekpoma, contributed this piece from Ikeja, Lagos State.

Obaseki: In fulfillment to service to God and humanity

By Emmanuel Ajibulu LIKE Shakespeare wrote about greatness in one of his classic plays, Macbeth, “Some were born great, while others had greatness thrust upon them.” The above Shakespearian thoughts underscore the illustration of how Edo State is blessed to have wonderful illustrious sons and daughters who have contributed in moving the state forward in all spheres of human endeavours and contributed to Nigeria development outlook in general.

This glowing attributes best describe the life, challenges, passion and quintessential public life service of one of the outstanding sons of the state, Honourable Godwin Obaseki, egress to national consciousness. From humble nature of beginning with unmatched momentum to the nadir of both public and private life’s engagements, Obaseki is a symbol of opportunity meets self-awareness and determination to succeed.

From a humble beginning to the threshold of accomplishment filled with exemplary service to worthy cause, private business interest and public life widely acclaimed by everybody. This makes him a reference point in service delivery personae in Edo. A man devoted to God, his constituency, awesome family values and the state. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step; same applies to the life and time of this illustrious son of Edo. Obaseki was born in Benin City, Nigeria, to the famous and illustrious Obaseki family. He came from God-fearing and Christ-like parents where enduring service, respect, devotion and humility were etched in his memory. According to him, these attributes are the weapons that made all his decision and public life endeavour success achieved.

He began his path to history when he had his early education in Saint Matthews Anglican Primary School Benin City from where he proceeded to Eghosa Anglican Grammar School, Benin City for his secondary school education. He attended the University of Ibadan where he obtained a B.A in Classics. Mr Obaseki attended the Columbia University and Pace University in New York and has an MBA in Finance and International Business. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, Nigeria and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School, Chief Executive Program.

He was nominated a Global Leader for Tomorrow (GLT) by

the World Economic Forum in 2001.

Godwin Obaseki began his career over 30 years ago and has established track records in investment banking, asset management, securities trading and the public sector both internationally and in Nigeria. He started out in 1983 with Capital Trust Brokers Limited Lagos as a stockbroker where he excelled and subsequently worked with International Merchant Bank (an affiliate of First Chicago Bank). In 1988 he joined AVC Funds Limited, Lagos where he served as a project manager and led the core team that set up two of the new generation banks which eventually reshaped the face of the banking industry in Nigeria. Between 1993 and 1995 he worked in New York as a principal of Equatorial Finance Co, a Financial Advisory firm with a focus on Africa and providing Structured Trade Finance for African related transactions through credit, financial advisory and risk insurance.

He founded Afrinvest West Africa Limited (formerly Securities Transactions & Trust Company Limited (SecTrust)) in 1995 as the pioneer Managing Director. The firm has since grown to become a leading Investment Banking and Investment Management firm in Nigeria. In 1995 SecTrust was appointed the correspondent stockbroker for Nigeria by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In 1996, SecTrust established the first derivative product, the Nigerian International Debt Fund (NIDF) on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which allowed Nigerians invest local savings in US dollar instrument. This fund has outperformed projec-

tions on returns.

Obaseki was born, made for public life, service to mankind and fulfillment of the greater goals of the people. His education profile is clearly an indication to his erudite leadership potentials in contribution to humanity. This was noted in his appointment as the Chairman of the Edo State Government’s Economic and Strategy Team (EST), a position he has held since March 17, 2009 pro bono publico.

Proving his mettle as an achiever, Obaseki’s key achievements as chairman of the economic team of Edo State government include: documentation of state economic development framework through sectors’ strategic planning which is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis; introduction and enculturation of retreats as a platform to ensure all parties engagement not only in planning and executing state development initiatives but also in monitoring and evaluation of outcomes; N25 billion infrastructure development bond from the Nigerian Capital Market in 2010; $225 million concessionary rates development loan from the World Bank with the 1st Tranche of $75 million already accessed; Successfully hosted sector based economic summits and policy dialogue series including the power round table in 2010, 2011 education round table and 2012 agribusiness round table.

Not done with the great compliment, Obaseki was spurred for greater test and path to public life when he emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 10 election in the state on June 19, 2016; an election that was adjudged credible, fair and free.

Obaseki scored 1,618 votes to defeat his 11 opponents.

Impressively, recent independent survey in the state clearly shows the people of Edo are resolved to come out in droves and elect Godwin Obaseki as Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s successor. Obaseki’s intimidating credentials over the years remain his strength which cannot be downplayed or broken by anyone through propaganda, lies or deception.

To the great Edo people, all opposition parties put together do not represent any threat to APC in September 10, 2016 gubernatorial poll, they believe Obaseki will not just win, but will record a landslide victory. Obaseki’s enthusiasts see him as a de-tribalised Nigerian who has what it takes to be the next governor of Edo State.

Ajibulu wrote from Benin, Edo State.

45

opinion

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Okupe, PDP and the futility of compromise

By Femi Fani-Kayode

W

HEN I warned the Nigerians about what the All Progressives Congress (APC) represented and that, if given power, they would be the most reactionary, repressive, vindictive, insensitive, vicious, thin-skinned, paranoid, divisive and, worst of all, incompetent government in the history of Nigeria no-one listened.

When I told the people that APC was not only unfit to hold power but that it was also Nigeria’s local equivalent to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood no-one listened. When I warned that their initial plan was to field a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the 2015 presidential election (until public outrage killed the idea) no-one listened. When I warned our people about the limitations of President Muhammadu Buhari and what he would do if trusted with power no-one listened.

When I warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership and particularly our governors and Board of Trustees members about the dangers of making Ali Modu Sheriff national chairman of our party, they didn’t listen. When I warned them to remove him immediately and not to let him stay for the three months he asked for, they would not listen. When I told them that the government would not allow the national convention of the party to hold on 17th August or indeed at any other time, no matter what, because Sheriff is working for them, they would not listen.

Now I have been proved right and vindicated on all fronts. Let us consider what took place in Port Harcourt on the day of the convention. Armed with a questionable court ruling the Buhari administration set out to destabilise, destroy and silence the opposition. It was well planned, well-orchestrated and wellexecuted. Governors were temporarily barred from moving around freely and were essentially put under house arrest. The convention venue was sealed off and delegates were prevented from entering the stadium by gun-wielding mobile policemen and soldiers. It was not only a show of shameful, naked brute force but it was also thoroughly evil.

Let me make another prediction: this is just the beginning of their tyranny. It will get far worse. That is “mai chanji” for you! The sooner the leaders of the PDP wake up, smell the coffee and appreciate the kind of monster they are dealing with and the sooner they elect and select leaders that are prepared to risk their lives and liberty to confront this government the better.

If you want democracy and freedom you must be prepared to confront the dictator and fight for it. Where there is no justice, there can be no peace. Where there is no freedom, there can be no development. Where there is no equity, there can be no progress.

Our land has been turned into a barren and povertystricken shell of its former self by the current administration. They have stripped away the glory of our nation, ruined the economy, created ethnic and religious divisions, impoverished the people, dashed the hopes and dreams of the young and destroyed the destiny of millions.

The only thing that is left for them to do is to crush the leading opposition party and to attempt to silence, humiliate, discredit, destroy, jail and break every single opposition leader that remains vocal.

That is where Senator Sheriff comes in and that is why his disruptive role and questionable mission in the PDP is of so much interest and so useful to the government. That Sheriff has turned into the proverbial stubborn bone that is stuck in the throat of the PDP is no longer news.

The role and noble efforts of the Senator Makarfiled caretaker committee have been exemplary and commendable and, in my view, they have earned the support and affection of every loyal party leader and member. I am not surprised by that because I happen to have known Senator Makarfi, Senator Ben Obi (the Secretary of the committee) and a former Minister,

Dayo Adeyeye (the Publicity Secretary) for many years and I can attest to the fact that they are all profoundly good men who are very restrained in their manner

To the bully, compromise is seen as nothing more than weakness. We must be prepared to stand up, stand firm and speak out against the evil that has gripped our land till the very end knowing that the Lord is with us and that He will never forsake us.

and approach to complicated issues and who are not only experienced but also rational and balanced. Yet despite their efforts, the question that still needs to be answered is how best to Sheriff.

Dr. Doyin Okupe, a man for whom I have the greatest respect and affection and one of the most formidable and credible leaders in our party, suggested on his Facebook wall that we should “negotiate” with Sheriff with a view to settling this issue. He has also said that we should “not blame Buhari and the APC for our woes” but rather we should blame ourselves.

He may be right on the latter point but I beg to respectfully and humbly differ with him on the former.

There can be no question of any further negotiation with Sheriff. My response to him, which was posted on his Facebook page and on his Twitter handle reads as follows: “My dearest brother, I beg to differ with you on your suggestion that we must negotiate with the former National Chairman of our party Ali Modu Sheriff. If you remember I warned the governors about Sheriff when they imposed him on us.

The PDP Ministers Forum rejected him as did the PDP Board of Trustees did at the initial stage but the governors would not listen. Now we have been vindicated because everything that we said would happen has come to pass.

The imposition of Sheriff by the Governors Forum was the biggest mistake that we have made since President Goodluck Jonathan and the then leadership of our party conceded the election to Buhari without at least contesting the matter in court. Frankly, as I wrote at the time, I believe that Sheriff bewitched the governors that brought him to us and indeed those in our party that accepted him and agreed to work with him.

Now the power of the spell has worn off and their eyes have opened. Sadly though, things will get worse because Sheriff is under orders: he is working a script and that script was crafted by those who commissioned him to divide, weaken and kill our party. When you open your doors to a snake what do you expect? I am not surprised by all that he is doing because he is acting true to type: he is a green snake who has dipped his fangs deeply into our flesh and whose poison is killing us slowly.

The truth is that there can never be any compromise with Sheriff. You cannot compromise with a snake.

You cannot wine and dine or attempt to cohabit with a creature that the great writer and teacher, Mr. David Icke, describes as a “shape-shifting sociopath and reptilian.” There can be no felllowship between light and darkness even in politics. You cannot negotiate with an agent who wants your head to be cut off and served to him on a silver platter.

The only solution to this intractable and difficult problem is for us to continue to fight him in the courts and elsewhere and, if push comes to shove, form another political party, get our members and supporters to join that party and leave the desperate old scavenger to feed on the carcass of the old PDP. Very few people will stay with him because, after some time, carcasses tend to stink and because he is the quintessential plague. After some time even his most diehard supporters will get sick of him, run away and abandon him.

Permit me to conclude with the following counsel.

We must never attempt to appease a bully and tyrant: it encourages him in his tyranny and it gives him pleasure. To the bully, compromise is seen as nothing more than weakness. We must be prepared to stand up, stand firm and speak out against the evil that has gripped our land till the very end knowing that the Lord is with us and that He will never forsake us.

If necessary, we must also be prepared to pay the price for doing so because the future of our nation and our children depends on it. We must not waiver. We must hold the line, firm in the knowledge that no matter how dark the night, joy comes in the morning.

•Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Aviation.

46

21 August, 2016

SUNDAY

Eaglets out of AFCON U-17, lose in Niger NIGER Republic on Saturday sent five-time world champions, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets packing from the 2017 AFCON U-17 championship after they won 3-1 in Niamey to go through to the next round of the competition 3-2 on aggregate.

The reigning world champions won the first leg 1-0 in Abuja a fortnight ago, but they were not able to withstand their inspired hosts on Saturday in Niamey.

Niger will now face the winners of the qualifier between Gabon and Algeria for a place in the tournament proper in Madagascar next year.

The Eaglets first-team were decimated days to the first game in Nigeria after a staggering 26 players failed an age test (MRI) supervised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Editor: Ganiyu Salnan 08053789060 tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com

Why I didn’t invite Etebo for Tanzania match —Rohr N

Osimhen

IGERIA coach, Gernot Rohr did not pick the country’s leading scorer at the Rio Olympics Oghenekaro Etebo for next month’s AFCON qualifier against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania because of injury.

The Portugal-based forward who fired four goals past Japan in Nigeria’s opening game of the Rio Olympics, suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s final group game against Colombia, which made him not to feature in subsequent knockout games against Denmark and Germany.

Also, Etebo also missed the third-place match against Hondu-

ras in Belo Horizonte on Saturday where the Dream Team ran away with a 3-2 victory.

A top official disclosed: “Rohr has said Etebo was not part of his first call-ups because he was injured. He needs all his players to be fit.

“He’s a German and he will not take any chances on any of his players.

“It’s the same reason, Alex Iwobi of Arsenal was not considered. He is nursing a thigh injury which he will not recover from till after the Tanzania match.”

Both players will therefore be high on the call-up list once they are fit.

... As Amuneke hails Osimhen’s call-up

Moses conquers Ighalo at Watford

By Ganiyu Salman TWO Nigerian internationals, Odion Ighalo of Watford and Victor Moses of Chelsea faced each other on Saturday at the Vicarage Road in a Premier League fixture, but it was the latter who triumphed through a 2-1 scoreline.

Ighalo, who has just extended his stay with the Hornets by five years, fired blank in the match as he wasted one or two chances that came his way, especially in the first half when he failed to connect a cross with a header.

The Edo State-born striker, who was Watford’s leading scorer last season in the EPL with 15 goals, also failed to hit the target last weekend in the season’s opener when Watford drew 1-1 with Southampton at away.

Moses, who after a loan spell last with West Ham returned to the Blues main team under new manager, Antonio Conte, however,

Sunday Tribune

played as a substitute in Saturday’s game at Watford.

He was introduced alongside Michy Batshuayi and Cesc Fabregas in the second half after the homers had shot into the lead through Etienne Capoue in the 56th minute.

Substitute Michy Batshuayi equalised which was his first goal for Chelsea since his £33m move.

Diego Costa gave Italian Conte a 100 per cent start in the 87th minute as he slid the ball under goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes after collecting a perfectly weighted pass from Fabregas.

Meanwhile, Conte said after the match that he had to psyche up his men to go for the winner as a draw was not what he bargained for.

“After the equaliser, I didn’t want any celebrations,” the Chelsea manager explained. “We were 1-1 and drawing. I pushed the players on. Then I saw the will from the players.

“At the start of this season, it’s important to change the mentality from last season. We know it is not easy. We are trying with all our strength.”

EMMANUEL Amuneke has saluted the newly-employed Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr for handing Victor Osimhen his firstever call-up, saying the Wolfsburg-bound youngster is the future of Nigeria football.

Osimhen was record top scorer at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile and has since featured for both Nigeria’s U20 and U23s.

He has been named on a 23-man squad for next month’s AFCON 2017 qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo. “It’s a good thing that the coach picked Victor. He is a growing tal-

ent who is blessed with abundant talent. He is the future,” said former Barcelona forward Amuneke, who gave the teenage striker his first break with the Golden Eaglets.

“He will learn from other established strikers in the Super Eagles and that way quicken his growth.

“In more developed footballing countries that is how you bring in your young players.”

Amuneke added: “Young players like Victor and Kelechi (Nwakali, who has signed for Arsenal) are the future Super Eagles and with time Nigeria will be proud of their immense talent.”

Ronaldo resumes training at Real

Ecstasy: Chelsea captain, John Terry (right), in a wild jubilation with Antonio Conte after the victory over Watford.

PORTUGAL’S Euro 2016 winning captain, Cristiano Ronaldo resumed training for his club Real Madrid on Saturday after picking up a knee injury in the final victory over France.

No date has been set for a full return to action but a slimline and tanned Ronaldo trained separately from the rest of the group, as did team-mate Karim Benzema, who has also been sidelined through injury.

“I can’t give a precise date for Ronaldo’s return” said Madrid’s French coach, Zinedine Zidane.

“It’s good that Cristiano is back on the pitch, playing with the ball, it’s a good sign. He wants to come back as fast as possible and I’m happy to have him back at training.”

Real start their La Liga campaign against Real Sociedad on Sunday, but neither Ronaldo or Benzema, who is suffering with a back injury, will be fit to play.

“You need to take your time with these things, I spoke to Karim and he knows that we don’t want him to come back and then get injured again.

We want him to come back at 100 per cent.”

Last season, Madrid won their 11th Champions League title against derby rivals Atletico. They then also won the European Supercup against Sevilla.

This year Zidane has said that Madrid’s priority will be to wrench the La Liga title from Barcelona, and put an end to their rival’s domination of the domestic competitions.

47

sport

21 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Rio Olympics:

Adams sets new boxing record with Great Britain NICOLA Adams became the first British boxer to retain an Olympic title for 92 years by winning gold in the women’s flyweight final at Rio 2016.

The 33-year-old boxer won a unanimous points decision to beat Sarah Ourahmoune of France.

Britain as of the time of this report had won 26 gold medals in Rio and 63 medals overall, two short of the

record 65 won at London 2012.

It is GB’s first gold boxing medal at Rio 2016, although super-heavyweight Joe Joyce could add another today.

“The gold rush continues,” she told the BBC. “I’m now officially the most accomplished amateur boxer Great Britain has ever had. I can’t believe it.”

How Okagbare’s team missed 4x100m medal NIGERIA women’s 4x100m team of Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu, Jennifer Madu and Agnes Osazuwa, failed to make it to the podium at the Rio Olympics despite its impressive run in the heats.

The team this time finished last in the final of the race decided in the early hours of Saturday returning in a time of 43.21 seconds after Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine and Canada, which placed fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

USA team after overcoming the baton exchange saga showed class in the final by powering to an emphatic defence of their Olympic title from the tight inside lane.

A quartet of Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, English Gardner and Tori Bowie proved too strong for Jamaica, anchored by two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, to record a blistering 41.01 seconds, the second fastest time in

history.

Jamaica, the 2013 and 2015 world champions, had to settle for a second successive Olympic silver - albeit in an impressive 41.36 secs, the fifth fastest time ever posted.

Bronze went to Great Britain, who trimmed 0.04 from their national record set in London last month to register 41.77secs and bank their first Olympic medal in this event since the 1984 Olympics.

It was Great Britain’s first Olympic medal in the women’s 4x100m relay since 1984.

Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita ran a British record of 41.77 seconds in Rio’s Olympic Stadium.

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson narrowly missed out on matching compatriot Usain Bolt’s sprint treble after her victories in the 100m and 200m.

“Wonderful experience.

My first Olympics. Two golds, a silver, I can’t complain,” she said.

Bolt

I’m the greatest

•Says Bolt after completing ‘treble treble’

U

SAIN Bolt completed an unprecedented Olympic ‘triple triple’ as Team GB claimed a 24th gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics which will be rounded off today in Brazil.

Bolt helped Jamaica land 4x100m relay gold, having already won the 100m and 200m individual titles, to match his feats at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Okagbare

Bolt, 29, has said the Rio Games will be his final Olympics as he plans to retire from the sport after the 2017 World Championships.

He signs off having won all nine Olympic finals in which he has appeared.

Bolt has claimed gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016.

“There you go, I’m the greatest,” he said afterwards.

Former Olympic 1500m silver medallist, Steve Cram, who was commentating for BBC Sport, agreed Bolt was the “greatest ever”.

“We are all privileged to have been here throughout his career and watched his Olympic performances,” added the Briton.

Meanwhile, American sprinter, Allyson Felix also created history by becoming the first woman to collect five gold medals in athletics.

She was part of the USA’s victorious 4x100m relay team after winning silver

in the 400m earlier in the Games.

The 30-year-old can make it six golds in the 4x400m relay final to be decided later today.

Earlier on Friday, Britain won a first women’s hockey gold as 58-year-old show jumper Skelton became their oldest Olympic champion in 108 years.

9 Australian athletes fined for breaking Brazil law NINE Australian Olympians have been fined for falsifying documents, an offence that can carry a prison sentence of up to five years in Brazil.

They were attempting to get better seats at the Australia versus Serbia men’s basketball semi-final at the Rio Olympics without proper accreditation.

The athletes were questioned by police on Friday and released on Saturday.

Australia’s chef de mission Kitty Chiller said her country’s Olympians were “definitely not at fault”.

Cyclists Ashlee Ankudinoff and Melissa Hoskins, rugby sevens player Ed Jenkins, archers Alec Potts and Ryan Tyack, rowers Olympia Aldersey, Fiona Albert and Lucy Stephan and hockey player Simon Orchard were the nine involved.

Fiona de Jong, chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), said the athletes entered the arena by “mistake” and that “no-one was arrested”.

The AOC is “making steps” towards paying the 10,000 reis (£2,386) fine per athlete.

“Every jurisdiction has their own local laws, and we are in Brazil so we understand that our athletes need to adhere to the Brazilian law,” said de Jong, adding the athletes had been dealt with “fairly”.

Chef de mission Chiller said an internal investigation was taking place, but that the process of putting a sticker on your accreditation with another venue access code on it is “traditional” at Olympic Games.

She said she was “disappointed” at the athletes’ treatment, adding: “We have and will continue to provide as much support and counselling to them and their parents.”

The latest incident comes after Australian swimmers Emma McKeon and Josh Palmer were issued with a curfew after staying out late drinking on Tuesday.

SIDELINES NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

21 AUGUST, 2016

NO 2,060

Medal’s table G

1. US 39 2. GB 26 3. China 23 16. Kenya 5 37. S/Africa 1 49. I/Coast 1 67. Algeria 0 72. Egypt 0 72. Tunisia 0 75. Nigeria 0

S B

36 22 18 5 6 0 1 0 0 0

33 15 26 0 2 1 0 3 3 3

www.tribuneonlineng.com

N200

One Mr Simon Akor has accused his wife of demanding payment before lovemaking, stating that his wife said all her friends collected money from their husbands for same purpose. Strange things, it is said, usually happen during economic recession, as people devise different survival methods.

But charging a fee to perform conjugal obligation is depressingly bizarre!

Total

108 63 67 10 9 2 1 3 3 1

Members of the Dream Team celebrate their bronze victory at Rio 2016

Rio Olympics: Dream Team

wins Nigeria’s first medal

As Nigeria makes 75th position on the medal’s table

By Nurudeen Alimi

T

HE Dream Team on Saturday delivered Nigeria’s first medal at the ongoing Rio Olympics which will be rounded off today in Brazil when they defeated hard-fighting Honduras 3-2 to clinch the bronze medal.

The remaining two Nigerian wrestlers, Amas Daniel and Soso Tamara will take to the mat before the closing ceremony of the prestigious Games.

However, the bronze medal served as a little consolation for the disappointment suffered by the country after all their medal hopes in athletics, boxing and other events were dashed.

Four years ago at London 2012, Nigeria returned home without a single medal.

Sadiq Umar scored a brace with Aminu Umar also getting on the scoreboard before Honduras fought back to take the game to 3-2.

Nigeria took the game to the Central Americans from the first whistle and threatened their opponents with early chances falling to Umar Aminu, Usman Mohammed Imoh Ezekiel.

AS Roma striker, Sadiq Umar finally opened the scoring after 34 minutes when he tapped home a cross by skipper John Mikel Obi. And four minutes after the interval, Turkey-based Umar Aminu doubled the African champions lead when he tucked away a rebound from a Mikel shot from outside the box.

In the 56th minute, Sadiq scored his fourth goal of the competition when he picked his spot from inside the box to fire past Honduras goalkeeper, Luis Lopez ‘Buba’.

However, Honduras fought back to pull a goal back through substitute Anthony Lozano in the 71st minute, before Marcelo Periera made it 3-2 four minutes from time.

Meanwhile, the bronze won by the Dream Team makes Nigeria one of the joint 75th

placed winners on the medal’s table.

The other nine countries with a bronze medal on the table as of the time of this report are Austria, Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, Moldova, Morocco, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates.

Ex-Nigeria star, Pius Ikedia, collapses in Holland FORMER Nigerian international, Pius Ikedia is now in hospital in Amsterdam after he collapsed playing in a friendly for ex-Ajax Amsterdam Stars earlier on Saturday.

According to Dutch newspaper Telegraaf, the 36-year-old winger had to be revived on the pitch after several attempts before he was later rushed to hospital for proper care.

The ex-Ajax stars known as ‘Lucky Ajax’, were leading 7-2 in an exhibition game to the mark the 50th anniversary of the Haarlo Sports Club when the incident happened late in the game.

Some of the other former Ajax stars on parade in that game included Kiki Musampa and John Bosman.

“It was a close shave with death for Pius,” a top source further informed.

“We only thank God that with proper care, we were not celebrating the death of another Nigeria football star on the pitch.”

Ikedia has been living in Amsterdam since he quit football with plans for him to soon return home to Nigeria.

The petit winger was a Nigeria international between 1997 and 2004 and featured for Ajax between 1999 and 2005.

Suarez

The former Bendel Insurance player who featured at the 1999 FIFA U-20 World Cup also played at the 2002 World Cup and 2000 Sydney Olympics.

NFPL Match Day 32 fixtures Sunday, August 21, 2016 El-Kanemi vs Sunshine Stars Heartland vs 3SC Kano Pillars vs Rivers Utd Plateau Utd vs Nasarawa Utd Rangers vs FC Giwa Warri Wolves vs IfeanyiUbah Wikki Tourists vs MFM, Lagos Abia Warriors vs Enyimba Akwa United vs Lobi Stars Ikorodu Utd vs Tornadoes

EPL results: Man U Stoke Burnley Swansea Tottenham Watford West Brom Leicester

2 1 2 0 1 1 1 0

Southampton Man City Liverpool Hull City C/Palace Chelsea Everton Arsenal

0 4 0 2 0 2 2 0

Pools result:

2, 11, 13, 14, 19, 26, 31, 35, 36, 38, 41, 46.

Today’s matches: 4, 9, 16.

Suarez nets hat-trick, Messi grabs brace in Barca’s 6-2 win LIONEL Messi and hat-trick hero, Luis Suarez were in sensational form as they helped Barcelona start their title defence with a crushing 6-2 win over Real Betis at the Camp Nou on Saturday.

Messi scored twice and set up another goal, dominating proceedings, while Suarez added three of his own after Arda Turan’s opener.

Ruben Castro struck a brace for Betis but at no stage of the game did it seem like the visitors had enough to prevent Luis Enrique’s team from running amok on the opening day of the new Spanish season.

New signings Samuel Umtiti and Denis Suarez started for Barcelona, standing in for Javier Mascherano and Andres Iniesta respectively, as Barcelona battled with a long list of absences.

Regardless, it took just five minutes for the hosts to open the scoring, with Turan putting the finishing touch on a fine move. Messi scooped the ball diagonally into the area, finding the marauding Jordi Alba, who cut it back for Turan to prod home.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: sundaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 21/8/2016 MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR : SINA OLADEINDE. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712.