22nd April 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,485

FRIDAY, 22 APRIL, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

60-yr-old woman caught with 5 babies says:

I paid fertility clinic N1m for each child Senate to send peacemakers to Buhari

•NASS will not override president's veto on 2016 budget —Dogara •Reps receive document from president on gray areas —P10

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N150

CCT: Tribunal chairman orders police to 'throw out' Saraki's counsel

FG gives states another lifeline

—P38

Budget impasse:

Nigerian Tribune

—P31

•Suspends loan deductions from federation account •States asked to publish audited accounts, submit debt profile •Each state to prepare fiscal restructuring plan —P2

Kaduna govt seeks death sentence for 50 Shiite members •Soldiers burnt Shiite alive, shot innocent students —Amnesty International —P31

ALL FOR CHIBOK GIRLS: From left, chairman of the Strategic Team for #BringBackOurGirls, Aisha Yesufu; United States Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Samantha Power and the co-convener, #BringBackOurGirls, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, when the group met with Ambassador Power, at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

Epidemic of multi-drugresistant typhoid fever is spreading in Africa —WHO —P5

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

FG gives states another lifeline

•Suspends loan deductions from federation account •States asked to publish audited accounts, submit debt profile •Each state to prepare fiscal restructuring plan Leon Usigbe - Abuja

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HE Federal Government has suspended loan deductions from the Federation Account, to enable state governments to meet up with their salary obligations, in a move government says will stimulate the economy.

Briefing State House corespondents after a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said government wanted to make more money available to the states, because it realised it could not run the economy on austerity measures.

She said the deferral was for one month in the first instance, but the Federal Government had now requested state governments to provide their financial profiles, to enable it to determine how long it would continue to support the states.

Insisting that it was not a bailout, the minister said the state government needed to have more money because they were the highest employers of labour.

“The approval I have is for the current month, but with the proviso. What we discussed is that the current situation in the economy requires some actions and what we need to do is to understand the financial profile of states in detail, so that we can understand how long we need to support them with loan deferrals,” she said.

Asked about the possible consequences of the deferrals on the economy, she said “I think I will switch to say what is the effect of non-payment of salaries on the economy? That, for us, is really the issue. We have go to put money into people’s pocket, so that they start spending just to get the economy moving.

“Nobody stimulates the economy by austerity but by spending. So, in some states, as you know, the state government is the highest employer of labour. So, if the state government is unable to pay, nothing happens.

“We have prioritised getting the states back into good financial health. Now, part of that is this commitment to fiscal sustainability and that is why we have asked the states to commit to cleansing their payroll, commit to efficiency and maximising their internally

generated revenue.

“We have asked them to give us their financial data so that we can work together to create financial module and understand what government needs to do to support the states.”

The minister revealed that that Federal Government had continued to borrow to support the states, but it wanted guarantee of fiscal discipline to enable it to continue to provide such support.

“Of-course, we are borrowing, but we have got to make sure that we are borrowing to support the states that are fiscally sensible and prudent in their money management.

“So, the answer is we have a month guaranteed, but we are asking for information from states to enable us to build a module so that we would know if it is three months, six months or how many months to supplement the shortfall to ensure that within reasonable parameters, majority of states can pay salaries and that is taking into account that different states have different obligations and different profiles. The idea is to support them to be able to pay,” she added.

Joined at the briefing by

Governor Tanko al-Makura of Nasarawa state and the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi, Adeosun revealed that she presented to NEC, a report on the balance of Excess Crude Account, which she said stood at $2.3 billion.

She also told newsmen that she provided the second update on the constitution of a search committee on the board of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and nominated six people from the geopolitical zones, four men and two women, who will search for the board members.

The minister stated that the council extensively discussed the current financial situation of the country and noted that, currently the Federation Account receipt was among the lowest “that has been seen in recent history.”

According to her, “we are looking at N299 billion this month and that is because of the very low oil prices that was recorded in January and February.

“If you remember oil prices went as low as $28 and $31 and, of course, that has led to a very low Federation Account as a result of which I approached the president

and the governors that we defer the loan deductions from the federation account entitlement.”

In his remark, Al-Makura said NEC also deliberated on the issue of power in the country and resolved to reconstitute the Board of the Niger Delta, Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

According to him, “there was a unanimous acceptance of the recommendations and reconstitution of the board, to include one governor from each of the six geopolitical zones.

“For the North Central Zone, we have Plateau to represent: for the North East zone, we have Adamawa governor; North West, we have Kebbi governor; South East, we have Anambra; South West, we have Lagos and South South, we have Edo. The committee has since been inaugurated by the Vice-President.”

He said the council also discussed the bailout to states with the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, giving an update about “those states that have been able to access the bailout and which is put at about N689.5 billion.”

Boboye Oyeyemi, in his contribution, disclosed that NEC approved the Nigerian

Road Safety Strategy document of 2014-2018 to address “the current overlaps, streamline the roles and responsibilities of all participants in order to maximise the benefits of investments in road safety management activities.”

In a statement released by the Ministry of Finance after the NEC meeting, the ministry said the debt repayment deferral was not a bailout, but a responsive measure by the Federal Government.

“The FAAC meeting which took place yesterday (Thursday), presented the lowest FAAC in over five years, with less than N300 billion in revenue driven by the impact of the historically low oil prices in January and February. This sum also reflects a seasonally low collection period for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

“With about 27 states currently experiencing challenges meeting their salary payments and in response to the above, obligatory repayments due to the Federal Government from the states in respect of their restructured loan obligations are being deferred for the current month.

“The deferral amounts to a total of N10.9 billion. This is

to ensure that the states are in a better position to meet their salary obligations. We are not able to guarantee that all states will be able to meet their salary obligations, as each state’s situation is dependent on its own cost profile and other obligations it may have, but this initiative is to better position them to do so.

“All states will receive the relief this month, however, further deferrals will be subject to the agreement of a Fiscal Restructuring Plan to be prepared by each state with clear measurable objectives.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance is keen to ensure that the programme of financial discipline being driven by the Federal Government is replicated in all tiers of government, including elimination of payroll fraud and increased spending efficiencies in overhead.

Enhanced financial transparency by the publication of audited accounts and submission of debt profile may also be required.

“Moving states towards fiscally sustainable practices is a key objective of the Federal Government to ensure that Nigeria recovers from the current economic challenges,” the statement read.

PDP chair: It’s Yoruba’s turn, George, Babatope, Akinjide, others insist Adedoja announces intention Bola Badmus - Lagos PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in the South-West, led by former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, met in Lagos, on Thursday and insisted on claiming the position of the national chairman of the party in the forthcoming national convention.

The leaders, including former governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel; former deputy governor of Osun State, Chief (Mrs) Olusola Obada; Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Bode Olajumoke, Senator Femi Kila, Professor Taoheed Adedoja; former House of Representatives Leader, Honourable Mulikat Akande-Adeola; Chief Jumoke Akinjide; Dr Doyin Okupe, Honourable Tajudeen Agoro, among others, who gathered at an extraordinary summit of the South-West PDP, said they made the demand based on the fact that the zone was adequately prepared for the coveted seat.

Besides, the leaders, in

the 14-point communique which they issued at the end of the parley and read by Chief Olateru Olagbegi, declared that the South West zone was equally well qualified to lead the party, “given our rich antecedents of history, knowledge and culture,” even as they resolve that a powerful delegation of the Yoruba people should be mustered to demand for the position of the chairman of the PDP. This was just as the former Minister of Sports, Professor Adedoja, unveiled his intention to the gathering to contest the party’s chairmanship whether or not the

post was zoned to the SouthWest, contending that he had a lot to offer to move the party forward, beside having a right to such position.

The PDP leaders, while saying that the Yoruba people would no longer tolerate or accept the role of subservient player in the party, called on the Yoruba people to stand firm and reassert themselves, as they must not allow anybody to treat them as orphans within the PDP. They again renounced the Senator Buruji Kashamuled group, which said the South West was not interested in the national chair-

manship of the PDP, saying “those who renounce the position of the national chairmanship of our party do not speak for the Yoruba people.”

In his address at the summit, Chief George said it was time the national chairmanship of the party came to the South-West zone, contending that the zone had a lot of qualified people that could occupy the seat.

Former Senior Special Adviser to the President on Publicity, Dr Okupe, in his submission, equally canvassed that it was time that a Yoruba man must occupy the chairmanship post of

the PDP, recalling that the race had never produced a candidate for the exalted post.

Chief Akinjide, who expressed shock at the news that some group went to Abuja to say that the SouthWest was not interested in PDP chairmanship post, noted that the zone had never sold its birthright.

On his part, Professor Adedoja, who insisted on contesting the chairmanship position, said the meeting called by Chief George was about rights, justice and equity that the party was built upon by its founding fathers.

Convention: PDP ex-ministers’ forum fails to reach consensus over zoning formula Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe - Abuja EFFORTS by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) former ministers from 1999 to 2015, under the umbrella of PDP Former Ministers’ Forum, to reach a consensus on the zoning formula for the selection of

its national officers at the forthcoming national convention have failed.

Members of the forum, who met for several hours in Abuja, on Thursday, could not reach a common ground on the matter, especially the position of the national chairman of the party, purported to have

been zoned to the NorthEast.

The meeting was poorly attended unlike the first, where the former ministers strongly kicked against the choice of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as national chairman of the party, before it was prevailed upon by the National Executive Com-

mittee (NEC) of the party.

However, in a communique read by the chairman of the forum, Mallam Tanimu Turaki, the meeting called “for transparent and credible congresses and national convention that will be in conformity and in line with the party’s constitution.”

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

Awolowo was a quintessential politician —Olubadan

By Kehinde Oyetimi

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HE Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, joined his voice with many others in celebrating the life and times of the sage and Premier of the Old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, just as he described him as “disciplined, humble and brilliant.”

The monarch gave this submission at his palace in Ibadan, while receiving foremost Yoruba elder statesmen and Afenifere chieftains, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi and Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

According to Oba Adetunji, “When Chief Obafemi Awolowo was premier, he fulfilled all the campaign promises that he made. He was brilliant, humble and disciplined.

He surrounded himself with the best of human resources. He epitomised all things that are good and

positive.

Unfortunately, many of our politicians today are not like that. We must see it as a very urgent responsibility to keep talking to them and ensure that the future of our children is secure.”

Speaking earlier, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi congratulated the new Olubadan, just as he prayed that his reign would be successful.

“We are here to congratulate you as you ascended the throne of your forebears. We are all witnesses to the power of God over your life and we are glad

that God has shown you favour. It is our prayer that God will make you to be a blessing to your people and generation.

“I am here with my friend, Chief Ayo Adebanjo to congratulate you. We are also here to intimate you of the council of Obas’ meeting which holds regularly and we will be glad to have you there. The meeting of these Yoruba monarchs started some years back and I can tell you that myself and Chief Adebanjo saw to this when we were moved and worried about

the division and hostilities that existed among our traditional rulers.

“As Yoruba people, we are meant to be at the forefront of progress and not behind. But we do know that progress does not thrive where hostility is present. The meeting of the Yoruba monarchs therefore has proven to be very effective in recent times.

We, therefore, will not want you to be surprised or taken aback when your presence is requested at such forum. Your predecessor on the throne was a

regular caller at the meeting and he displayed much interest. We want our monarchs to be united so as to move the Yoruba nation forward.”

In his remarks, Chief Adebanjo congratulated the new Olubadan, just as he stressed on the need for Oba Adetunji to unite with others in moving the Yoruba ethnic stock forward.

Reacting, Oba Adetunji promised to make himself available, saying that the need to have a united front “has become very necessary.”

South-West NULGE slams govs over creation of LCDAs

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE officers of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), South-West Zonal caucus, comprising of national officers and state presidents in the zone, have condemned in strong terms, the bandwagon effect in the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) by state governments in the South West geo-political zone, as well as lack of will to conduct local government elections.

The group, made this known on Thursday morning, while briefing journalists on the outcome of an emergency meeting on the state of local government systems in the zone, held at the Le Ville Hotel and Suite, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

The union also accused some state governors in the region of diverting the bail-out fund and demanded that elections be conducted in local government areas where caretaker administrators were currently in operation.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the National Vice President and Chairman, NULGE South West, Comrade Oludare Famoofo, said the union identified some core issues that were regarded as major challenges to the local government system as at today in Nigeria and the zone in particular.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, flanked by Afenifere leaders, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi (left) and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, during their visit to the palace, in Ibadan, on Thursday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

Female suicide bombers kill 8 at refugee camp in N/East

TWO female suicide bombers have killed at least eight people at a camp for people displaced by the jihadist Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, a community security force member and a Customs official said, on Thursday.

The bombings hap-

pened around 8.00 a.m, on Wednesday, in the town of Banki, on the edge of Borno State, near the border with Cameroon. An attack in February on internallydisplaced persons’ camp, also in Borno State, killed 60 people.

Details of Wednes-

day’s attack were slow to emerge, as Banki is remote and largely disconnected from mobile phone networks. The state of Borno is where Boko Haram began their insurgency seven years ago. The group wants to create a state adhering to

Ooni, Emir of Daura, others honoured for peace efforts Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

IN recognition of their concerted efforts at promoting peace and harmony among the Yorubas and other ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar, would be honoured by the Rescue and Guard Response Initiative, a non governmental organisation.

According to a press statement made available to newsmen and signed by the Director-General of the Rescue and Guard Response Initiative, Gbenga Oloba, the awards were in recognition of few Nigeri-

ans who have continuously shown genuine efforts in promoting peace, unity and development in the country.

The Rescue and Guard Response Initiative is an internationally recognised NGO, saddled with the responsibility of promoting peace and management of rescue operations in crisis ravaged areas in collaboration with the police and other security agencies in the country.

The statement also said the Emir of Daura would be honoured at the event holding on May 7, for his “silent contributions in engendering ethnic harmony and grassroot development in Katsina State.”

Others to be honoured for their various roles in the development of the country include the former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Shekarau, Chief of Staff of Abia State, Chief Chidoke Nwokokodo, Chief Mrs Tina Adike, Engineer Martins Onovo and Major General S.U. Abdulkadir, among others.

While commending the Buhari-led administration in its determination to wipe out Boko Haram insurgency and other related terrorism activities in the country, the statement said there could not be real development in an atmosphere devoid of peace.

strict sharia law.

“Two female suicide bombers, who were initially thought to be IDPs, blew themselves up in the camp,” said Khalid Aji, a member of a grassroots community security group based in Konduga, a Borno district, nearly 100km from Banki.

“The first one occurred at about 8.00 a.m. and the second followed few minutes later. Eight people died and 12 were wounded,” he added.

Aji said members of his organisation in Banki, who helped to evacuate victims, gave him details of the attack.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.

A senior Nigeria Customs Service official, who asked not to be named, also said eight people were killed, but put the number of wounded at 15.

Banki, which is around 120km from the state capital, Maiduguri, was seized

by Boko Haram in 2013, but Nigerian troops drove the militant group out of the town early last year.

Ooni’s grandmother to be buried tomorrow

THE remains of Olori Marian Ogunwusi, the late grandmother of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, will be interred in Ile-Ife, on Saturday.

This was contained in the news release by the Director, Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Mr Moses Olafare, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, in Ile-Ife. Olafare said that the funeral activities would commence on Friday with a service of songs at Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, by 4:30p.m.

He added that this would be followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Aiyegbaju, Ile-Ife. According to him, her remains would be interred at the church cemetery with reception and entertainment of guests at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) ground, Phase 2 Gate.

Olafare said further that the deceased was survived by a child, Prince Oluropo Ogunwusi, father of Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. NAN reports that the late matriarch of Ogunwusi Royal family and wife of late Prince Joseph Ogunwusi died on February 8 at the age of 104.

Fuel crisis spiritually manipulated, Maharaj ji claims

By Tunde Adegbola

THE Spiritual Head, One love family, Satguru Maharaj ji, on Thursday, said the lingering fuel crisis in the country was a spiritually manipulated intrigue to create crisis of confidence between Nigerians and the government so as to raise issues on the capacity of the Buhari’s administration to govern effectively.

Maharaj ji made the disclosure while addressing journalists at a press conference at Satguru Maharaj ji Village in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday.

He explained that the hour has come for Federal Government to take decisive action to break the backbone of the oil marketers who have over the years held the nation on its jugular through their unbridled quest for primitive wealth accumulation.

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Reps grill IGP over reopening of Kogi Assembly Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja with Agency Report

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HE House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on Kogi Assembly crisis, on Thursday, met with the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, over the reopening of assembly complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the House, through a resolution, directed the IGP to seal off the Kogi legislature until a peaceful

resolution of the crisis that trailed the impeachment of Speaker Lawal MomohJimoh, was achieved.

NAN also recalled that the speaker of the assembly was impeached by five out of the 20 lawmakers on February 16, and subsequently chose Mr Umar Imam as the new Speaker.

Against National Assembly’s directive, five members, who allegedly impeached the speaker, convened and conducted legislative activities within the chamber.

The committee, chaired by the majority leader,

Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over the investigative hearing, described the failure of IGP to comply with the resolution as a breach of the Nigerian Constitution and undue interference with the activities of the legislature.

He also frowned on the absence of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF), Mallam Abubakar Malami, who was reportedly attending a meeting with the United States delegation to Nigeria at the State House.

The committee, howev-

er, resolved that the AGF should appear in person on Monday, at 2.00 p.m.

While speaking on the outcome of the investigative hearing conducted behind closed door, Gbajabiamila said: “It was straight to the point; all the House wanted to know was why the resolution of the NASS was disobeyed.

“And also why the state assembly was reopened.

“The IG gave his explanation, he had sought the advice of the AttorneyGeneral and the AttorneyGeneral gave him his advice.

“I think we are making good and steady progress, and I think we would put this matter to a conclusion next week.”

While reacting to inquiry on whether the IGP was going to close down the assembly or not, the Majority Leader said: “We are not there yet, as you know the hearing is a process.

“This is the first day and there are several sides to it.

We have taken the deposition of the IGP, the Attorney-General will be with us on Monday.

“The resolution of the House was not to go back

Rescue of Chibok girls, our priority —US Leon Usigbe - Abuja THE United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, on Thursday, assured that her country was committed to providing necessary assistance towards the rescue of Chibok girls and others abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists.

Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, she said the rescue of such abducted persons remained a priority for the United States (US) government and formed part of her discussion with the president.

She noted that the US

was already providing to Nigeria and other countries involved in the fight against Boko Haram, information and intelligence needed to tackle the insurgency.

She said: “The issue of the Chibok girls and other abductions is of huge priority to the US. And it was the issue I discussed at length with President Buhari today.

“We had moved to provide the information and intelligence needed to the Nigerian authorities.

“We have, in recent months, been able to allocate additional information sharing platforms and additional surveillance to aid the fight against Boko

Haram.

“We will not rest, we will continue to deepen our partnership and be more effective with our partners on the ground.

“We are determined to support Nigeria and other neighbouring countries’ efforts to secure more rescue of abducted people and releases in the days and weeks ahead.”

On the video recently released on some of the Chibok girls which is being regarded as a proof that they could still be alive, Power stressed that the US was interested in pursuing every lead that could lead to the freedom of the girls.

Confirming that she dis-

Epidemic of multi-drug-resistant typhoid fever spreading in Africa —WHO

By Sade Oguntola WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) has said that an epidemic of multi-drugresistant typhoid fever was spreading in Africa and Asia.

WHO’s Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, who spoke at a high-level dialogue on antimicrobial resistance with United Nations (UN) member-states in United States, said even with the best of care, only around 50 per cent of all patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis can be cured.

Chan declared that the rise of antimicrobial resistance is a global crisis that is recognized as one of the greatest threats to health today.

According to her, “The threat is easy to describe.

Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise in every region of the world. We are losing our first-line antibiotics. This makes a broad

range of common infections much more difficult to treat.

“Second- and thirdchoice antibiotics are more costly, more toxic, need much longer durations of treatment, and may require administration in intensive care units.”

According to Dr Chan, compelling evidence showed that resistance was driven by the total volume of antibiotics used, also in food production. In some countries, more antibiotics were used in food production than in medical care.

She, however, warned that with only a few antibiotics presently undergoing development; the world was heading towards a post-antibiotic era in which common infections would once again kill.

According to her, “if current trends continue, sophisticated interventions, like organ transplantation,

joint replacements, cancer chemotherapy and care of pre-term infants will become more difficult or even too dangerous to undertake.

“This may even bring the end of modern medicine as we know it. We need to act now to make sure this does not happen.”

She, therefore, solicited political commitment at the highest level of government to tackle antimicrobial resistance, warning that antimicrobial resistance was a slow-motion tsunami that must be managed with the utmost urgency.

According to her, “we need ways to target all behaviours that contribute to the misuse of these fragile medicines. We should not blame any single sector.

We are all in this together; we need ways to monitor progress and make quick course corrections if we are moving in the wrong direction.”

cussed the video with Buhari, she added: “What we talked about was the importance of pursuing every lead related to the Chibok girls and making sure we have mechanism, whereby parents and family members who have been abducted by Boko Haram can be given information, whereby videos can be examined and family members offer their feedbacks on their impression on the

videos to have a process by which family of those who are missing work more constructively with the government and, indeed, with those involved in the operations in trying to rescue the girls.

“So, that was the nature of our discussion with the president.

“The recent video was one part of our discussion and the larger puzzle will need to be assembled.”

to status quo. The resolution of the House was to conduct a hearing to find out why it hasn’t happened and we are getting there.”

Responding, Arase apologised to the leadership of the House and explained that the Force failed to carry out the directive of the National Assembly to shut down Kogi House of Assembly due to a breakdown in communication.

He pledged allegiance to the Presidency and explained that he only solicited the advice of the AGF simply on administrative issues.

Arase, who spoke at the end of the public hearing, assured that the discord would be addressed, as he, however, noted that there was a breakdown of communication.

“It went very well, we were able to understand ourselves that there was a communication breakdown; I wouldn’t do anything to breach the constitution.

“I am a law-abiding officer. I swore to the constitution to obey it. There was a breakdown somewhere, but we will resolve it,” Arase said.

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos

I am not a robber, I only steal from banks— Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

A

member of a robbery gang, Abdulhameed Ibraheem, while debunking the claim by the state police that he used to threaten bank cashiers with guns, has narrated how he used to rob them, by exchanging their money with cut-to size church flyers.

The Lagos State Police boss, Fatai Owoseni, while parading the suspect on Wednesday afternoon said; “One Abdulhammed Ibraheem of no fixed address that specialises in robbing banks, while posing as a customer was arrested. In one of his exploits, he stole the sum of N1.5 million from First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Ogudu branch.

Efforts to arrest his accomplice, Segun, are still on.”

The police boss also stated that the suspect is a jail bird, having served various prison terms in Plateau and Kaduna states and that the sum of N177, 000 were recovered from

•Narrates how he steals from banks using cut-to-size church flyers

the suspect.

According to Owoseni,

the suspect and his accomplice, usually pretend

as if they wanted to come and save a large amount

of money in the bank and they would be directed to

Lekki Garden residents protesting at the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Thursday.

Lekki Gardens’ residents protest seal-off of their homes by LASBCA Chukwuma Okparaocha

RESIDENTS of Lekki Gardens protested to the Lagos State House of Assembly, due to ill treatment by officers of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), while sealing-off houses at Lekki Gardens, on Wednesday.

A resident, Opeyemi Adeola, speaking with Lagos Metro alleged that officers of LASBCA locked up his sick child for hours after the agency sealed buildings belonging to the Lekki Gardens.

Adeola, alongside others, while protesting at the State House of Assembly on Thursday, said he was denied access to his child, who was down with malaria for many hours, and that pleas

made to the LASBCA officials to allow him have access to his sick child fell on deaf ears. “My child, aged 14, had malaria and was brought back home from school. By the time I came back, my house had been sealed. I am a home owner there, not a tenant. I bought my house as a carcass and built it to specification.

“We know the governor we voted for and we know he can never do that to us, that is why we are calling on him to step in, and call the officers of LABSCA and others concerned to order, and grant us immediate access to our houses,” he added.

Another resident and leader of the protesters, Chief Olatokunbo Thomas, stated that, “We have been locked out of our homes

just because of the misfortune of one. We sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives in one of the estates, but that doesn’t mean that we should be made to suffer for it,” he said.

“There are about 34 estates in all with over 6000 houses. Out of all these only one collapsed, yet people are being punished unjustly; people were locked out of their houses, without any notice. We really feel concerned that we were not notified, neither were we contacted earlier, they just came and locked people out,” he added.

In his reaction, the Speaker of the House, Right Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, said that the responsibility of government was

to protect lives and property, thereby, assuring the protesting residents that the governor would not do something that would afflict pains on the people.

“As we speak, we are in the

dark as to what you are saying. We urge you to submit your petition on what actually took place. We can call the executive to order if they go beyond their limit,” the Speaker said.

Engineer in Kirikiri for raping 8-yr-old step daughter Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A 31-year-old sales engineer, Essien Happiness, has been remanded in prison for allegedly defiling his eight-year-old step daughter.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Benedict Aigbokhan told an Ikeja Magistrate’s court that the offence was committed at the residence of the accused.

Essien allegedly defiled and took advantage of his step daughter who lives with him.

However, the victim told her mother and Essien was thereafter arrested.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, remanded Essien in Kirikiri Prison, and adjourned the case till May 25 for Directorate of Public Prosecution’s (DPP’s) advice.

the bulk room, where they robbed cashiers and other bank customers.

The suspect, while speaking with Lagos Metro said “I am not an armed robber. I only steal from the banks. I don’t use gun.

I have never used gun.”

While narrating how he used to operate, Abdulhammed said, “I have an informant who tells me the cashier that I would go and meet. I have already cut some papers into the size of money. That is what I use to change customer’s money.”

Abdulhammed added that he goes to the banks with different polythene bags, “When I get to the counter, I would pretend as if I want to fill a voucher and would engage a customer and in the process, change his polythene bag with mine,” the suspect narrated.

On his last operation, which was at the bulk room, the suspect stated that he did not need to use a gun but only played on the carelessness of the bank cashier. “When I got to the bulk room, the cashier was sitting carelessly and I used style to steal the money. I did not need to use gun since nobody was aware that I had stolen any money,” the suspect said.

Court registrar, for arson, Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

AN Assistant Chief Registrar, Salman Adeoye, 55, and four other officials of a Lagos Island Magistrate’s court, have been arraigned before an Ebute-Metta chief magistrate’s Court, on charges bordering on conspiracy, arson and negligence.

Other accused persons include: Ridwan Yussuf, 39, Godwin Obadiah, 20, Olaluwoye Yemi, 60, all security guards, and Lateef Balogun, 40, a store keeper.

The police alleged that

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

metro

Edited by

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

12 injured as truck, four vehicles crash in Oshodi Olalekan Olabulo OVER a dozen passengers were on Thursday afternoon injured in a multiple accident that occurred in Oshodi area of Lagos State.

The accident, which involved an articulated vehicle, a commercial bus and about three other private vehicles, created traffic gridlock along the major roads in Oshodi.

The timely arrival of health workers saved one of the drivers of the affected vehicles, who reportedly fainted, after his bus skidded off the road and tumbled by the road side. The accident was blamed on over speeding and brake failure from one of the vehicles.

Lagos Metro gathered that the accident happened, when a commercial bus, which was on a top speed rammed into an articulated vehicle along the ApapaOshodi Expressway. The bus tumbled and skidded off the road and in the process crashed into three oncoming vehicles including a private bus, which was also on top speed. The private bus fell from the

Apapa-Oshodi Expressway into a nearby motor park, where the driver and other

occupants were quickly rescued.

More than 12 occupants

A Lebanese national, Rami El Masri, 42, who allegedly forged a letter of confirmation of Nigeria Citizenship with Ref. No MIA/NAT 382, has been arrested and charged to court.

tended to at the scene by officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service.

Scenes of a trailer accident at Maryland, on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Sawmillers disown timber dealers over Okobaba relocation suit Bola Badmus SIX associations plying their trade in Okobaba Foreshore in Ebuta-Metta have faulted a suit filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos challenging their planned relo-

Masri, who owns two construction companies on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and others who are still at large committed the alleged offences between December 15 2008 and November 19, 2014.

According to the police the

Magistrate’s staffers arraigned negligence the five defendants had on March 11, 2016, at about 3:30 p.m., conspired and wilfully and unlawfully set fire on the storage facility and exhibits building situated at Tapa Street, Lagos Island.

They were also alleged to have failed to inform the fire service and take proper precaution or action against the fire outbreak.

The five defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Upon the plea of the defendants, their lawyers, led by A. Gboromiro,

of the vehicle were injured in the multiple accident and some of them were at-

Lagos Mainland in 72-hour blackout as protesters, IKEDC lock horns Bola Badmus

cation to new Ultra Modern Sawmill in Agbowa-Ikosi, a suburb of Ikorodu by the Lagos State government.

The associations are Lagos Mainland Sawmillers Association, Association of Planning Machine Operators,

Lebanese arrested for forging Nigerian citizenship papers Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

Nigerian Tribune

urged the court to admit bail to their clients in a liberal term.

Consequently, the magistrate, Mrs Adelaja I. Oluyemisi, a Chief Magistrate, admitted bail to all defendants in the sum of N500, 000 with two responsible sureties each.

The sureties according to the Chief Magistrate are to show to the court, the evidence of three years tax payable to Lagos State government, affidavit of means and have their addresses verified by the court’s prosecutor.

alleged forgery was uncovered at 6, Oniru Street, Apapa area, when Masri forged letter of Confirmation of the Nigerian Citizenship with Ref: No MIA/NAT382/1 thereby presenting himself as a Nigerian citizen by birth.

The Police further alleged that El Masri on November 19, 2014, at police Special Anti-Fraud Unit, at 13, Milveton Road, Ikoyi, presented the alleged forged letter to one CSP Martin Nwogoh, as if it was a genuine document.

He is facing a three count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery brought against him by the police before an Igbosere Magistrate Court.

The defendant however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Consequently the Magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomiko, granted him bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till June 16 for mention.

Association of Engineers comprising Turners, Welders, Blacksmiths and Rewinders, Wooden Turners Association, Carpentry and Furniture Association and Photo Frame Association.

A group, under the aegis of Timber Dealers, Sawyers, and Towing Vessel Owners, had through its lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, filed a suit on behalf of the stakeholders in Okobaba, urging the court to restrain the state government from relocating them to Agbowa.

Speaking with newsmen at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, the six associations in Okobaba said apart from the fact that they were not contacted before the suit was purportedly filed on their behalf, they equally had no reason whatsoever to stop the good intention of the state government from coming to fruition.

President of Sawmillers Association, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Onikeku, who addressed journalists alongside executives of other associations, said those who purportedly filed the suit lacked the interest of the generality of stakeholders at heart, adding that the Ultra Modern Sawmill prepared for them at Agbowa by the state government was the first of its kind in Africa.

Onikeku recalled that the move for relocation was first mentioned by former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande in 1979.

“Unfortunately, Jakande could not start the project but it came up again during the tenure of Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In the end, Tinubu saw reason with us and told us to go and look for a suitable place which we did. We are the one who located Agbowa and went back to the then Governor, who then approved it and ordered that everything must be done before our relocation.

“So, we don’t have any reason to frustrate the good intention of government and those who filed the purported suit, I must say, are not the real stakeholders.”

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Wasiu Anifowose, assured that the new sawmill would be completed and commissioned as scheduled by the end of July 2016.

He said Governor Ambode had already directed the officials of the ministry and the contractor handling the project to keep to the deadline, adding that the directive of the Government would be strictly adhered to.

LAGOS metropolis on the Mainland and environs on Thursday remained in total darkness as the protest against the activities of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) entered the fourth day.

Since the picketing began on Monday, IKEDC officials had deserted their offices, with activities in the company, completely paralysed.

The firm mainly serves Lagos Mainland and environs while Eko Distribution Company (EKDC) serves Lagos Island and environs. Areas like Magodo Estate. Ikeja has however, being in total blackout, in the past 72 hours as the protests persit.

The protesters under the aegis of Citizens’ Access to Electricity Initiatives (CATEIN) in collaboration with Civil Society Groups has on Thursday vowed not to vacate the premises, which they have occupied since Monday, until the management of the firm comes out publicly to tell them how their demands would be addressed.

Speaking with Lagos Metro, Deputy Coordinator of CATEIN, Comrade Adebayo Onikosi, insisted that the protest would continue until the IKEDC was ready to come out to address them on how to bring about improved services to Nigerians.

Onikosi added that “the megawatts we are generating have dropped from 5,000 to less than 3,000, and a lot of people are complaining because they are suffering from the reduced power generation. There are some areas that have not seen light for about 10 to 15 years, even within Lagos State! We would continue to occupy this place until these issues are settled.”

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

Budget impasse: Senate to send peacemakers to Buhari To ask president to assent and bring amendments Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

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HE Senate, on Thursday, proposed a way out of the ongoing budget impasse, when it decided to send peacemakers to President Muhammadu Buhari, to persuade him to sign the budget and then present the amendments in a supplementary budget.

This was the result of an executive session held by the senators to discuss the way forward on the 2016 budget impasse at the start of Thursday’s sitting.

Sources in the Senate told the Nigerian Tribune that the lawmakers had a stormy session during the executive session, leading to many members of the Appropriation Committee revealing that they did not see the final document of the budget before it was sent to the president.

Sources also said that a number of senators called for the removal of the chairman of appropriation committee, Senator Danjuma Goje, for his failure to do a good job on the Appropriation Bill and handing the budget over to the chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Abdumumin Jibril.

The senators, it was gathered, had an explosive session inside, but as usual, they later calmed down and made resolutions.

The Senate had resolved to send a delegation to the president to persuade him to sign the budget, in view of the fact that the National Assembly was already constrained by Section 59(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The section only recognises that the budget, once passed to the president, cannot be returned and that if the president refuses assent within 30 days, the lawmakers are expected to vote for an override of the veto.

The section which deals with “Mode of Exercising Federal Legislative Power: Money Bills” stated that “where the president, within 30 days after the presentation of the bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds assent, then the bill shall again be presented to the National Assembly sitting at a joint meeting, and if passed by two-thirds majority of members of both Houses at such joint meeting, the bill shall become law and the assent of the president shall not be required.”

A source said the only option open to the National Assembly was to persuade the president to sign the budget as passed, while he was required to present a supplementary budget to take care of all gray areas.

It was gathered that the Ministry of Budget and National Planning had already submitted a list of the gray areas to the leadership of the National Assembly at different meetings last week.

Sources at the executive session in the Senate said the senators were angry that only a handful members of the Committee on Appropriation saw the final copy of the budget presented to the president.

“Many of the senators, who spoke at the session, were said to have expressed disappointment that they did not see the final copy of the budget before it was sent to the president,” a source said.

It was also gathered that the lawmakers had reviews all the gray areas submitted by the budget office and had resolved to accommodate

them through a supplementary budget to be submitted

by President Buhari.

Following the disapproval of the way the budget was handled by the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, it was gathered that senators openly called for Senator Goje to step down. The sitting lasted two hours.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who briefed the Senate after the closed session, said one major topic on the agenda was the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

He said: “The Senate, in a closed session, deliberated on issues relating to the 2016 Appropriation Bill and the way forward for the quick resolution of all the matters related to the early implementation of the budget in the best interest of our nation going budget impasse.”

The senators were said to have realised that time was running fast, in view of the constitutionally guaranteed 30 days allowed the president to withhold his assent.

They also observed that once the budget is not signed

after 30 days, it would be assumed that he had vetoed the bill and that the National Assembly would have no options than to override the president’s veto.

But speaking to newsmen on Thursday, Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, said that the Senate, at closed session, did not ask Danjuma to resign as Appropriation chairman.

He said: “Nobody should expect me, on my honour, to disclose details of what we discussed in closed session. It is not true that we asked the chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Goje to resign. That is not what we discussed. Goje was appointed and he could only be removed by a vote of no confidence. We can only ask the elected officers of the Senate to resign, not chairmen of committees.

For a chairman that was appointed, we can decide to appoint another one, we can swap chairmen, we change their responsibilities.

“We have seen the president already on the budget,

in fact, meeting the president by the Senate leadership is not a big deal.

“It is not true that the budget had been sent back to the National Assembly. I am also not aware that there is any communication from the president on the issue.

“What I know is that areas of concern to the Presidency are now with us here. We are talking with the Presidency to resolve all the issues.”

On the purchase of the 36 cars by the Senate, Ndume insisted that the cars were project vehicles aimed to aid the work of the senators.

He said: “I think it is being overflogged. I say it several times. We are senators and these cars are not being bought for our personal usage. They are meant for the committees to do their work.

“A minister who is appointed, not elected, drives a convoy of four cars. Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Commissioners, House of Assembly members and councils chairmen all drive

official vehicles. Are you all saying federal lawmakers should not have an official vehicle?

“As a senator, I can ride in any means of transportation, including Keke NAPEP, if it will take me to my destination.

“I am privileged to be the Senate Leader and there are some privileges attached to that office. Am I supposed to strip that because of sentiments?

“My constituents are happy with me even if I am given 10 cars.”

Also, on Thursday, the Senate inaugurated the 12 member peace committee raised to review the composition of the leadership of the Senate.

The Senate had, on Wednesday, constituted a committee to review the composition of standing committees and the leadership of the chamber, in line with equity and fairness.

While inaugurating the committee, Ndume said the committee was to resolve all the issues outside and within the Senate.

Reps receive official communication from Buhari on gray areas

•As both chambers harmonise positions •Leadership to hold consultation with Buhari again Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja THE House of Representatives, on Thursday, confirmed the receipt of an official communication from President Muhammadu Buhari, detailing the gray areas in the 2016 appropriation budget passed last week by the joint chambers of the

National Assembly, which made him to refuse to assent it as required by law.

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Abdurazak Namdas, disclosed this in Abuja, on Thursday, during his weekly briefing of the House of Representatives Press Corps.

He said that following this development, both cham-

bers had been meeting to harmonise their position after which the leadership of the National Assembly would go back to President Buhari for further consultation.

“I can say emphatically that we have received an official communication from the president on the gray areas in the budget and the leadership of the two cham-

bers have been meeting to harmonise their position and go back to Mr President for further consultation,” he stated.

While assuring that the meeting with the president and other consultations would be concluded this week, he restated that the National Assembly was ever ready to cooperate with the executive in resolving the

grays identified for the bettermnt of the nation.

The House of Representatives had met over the controversy trailing the budget as passed and mandated the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, to interface with President Buhari, with a view to finding out his grievances on the budget as part of efforts to resolve the matter amicably.

NASS will not override president’s veto on 2016 budget —Dogara Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday, said the National Assembly and the Executive are likely to resolve controversies surrounding the 2016 budget this week, saying that the National Assembly would not override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto on the budget.

Dogara, who made this known when he received a delegation of All Progressives Congress (APC) elders and stakeholders from Kwande/Oshongo federal constituency of Benue State, at the National Assembly, also restated that the executive and the parliament

would not have any fight over their differences arising from the 2016 budget as passed by the National Assembly.

He stated: “We know that our people cannot wait forever for the budget and as a responsible government, we cannot afford to go sleep on this. As we speak to you, I know that the executive has sent its observations on the budget, areas they termed “gray areas.”

“We have taken delivery of that document, we are looking into it and in collaboration with the Senate and the entire National Assembly, we have arrived at a decision which I will not announce here, because that one is for the ears of Mr President only.

“It is in the overall nation-

al interest; we know that we have to find a solution and sooner than later, within this week, I believe that as leaders, having put on our thinking caps, we should be able to come up with a solution that will address this problem.”

A statement signed by the Speaker’s spokesman, Mr Turaki Hassan, quoted him as saying that the National Assembly was well within its powers to make amendments to the budget before passing it, because the role of the executive stops at providing estimates to the legislature which now goes further to prepare it into an Appropriation law.

Dogara explained “the truth is that even though it is the responsibility of the parliament, constitution-

ally speaking, to prepare the budget, because I haven’t seen any region, anywhere in the world, where the executive does that, the constitution recognises that the executive will prepare the estimates and revenues and present it before parliament and then the parliament, in exercise of its duties, will make appropriation in a document called budget.

“Budget is always a law, it is not a policy statement and there is no government arm, no institution of government that can make laws except the National Assembly. And we have exercised that constitutional right and privilege which is exclusively reserved for the National Assembly using the document that is before the president.

“And as we all know, a law requires the absence of the president, that is one of the instrumentalities of checks and balances that democracy guarantees and if it is not assented to after some time, then the parliament can summon the courage if it can so find it to say it is overriding the veto powers of the president or say the bill will have to commence de novo.

“But in this situation, we are not there, even there are discussions with some people instigating a fight.

We know that as leaders, our responsibility is not to fight. It is one government and this government will take the active collaboration of the judiciary, legislature and the executive to be able to deliver on the mandate.”

Friday, 22 April, 2016 11 businessnews NNPC staffers accuse Kachikwu of ‘trial and errors’

•Explain why fuel crisis persists Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

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OME staff members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have insisted that an end to the lingering fuel scarcity may not be in view.

In separate chats with the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, the staffers, who pleaded that their names be shielded from publication, said the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the corporation, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, did not have previous experience in mid to downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

“Incidentally, we have never had any challenge in upstream except in funding joint venture partnerships.

Oil majors have always been in charge of upstream activities and they remit whatever is due to the NNPC,” one of them said.

They accused Kachikwu of learning on the job through “trial and errors.”

One staffer pointed at the expertise of the GMD, is Government Relationship, Investment Policy and Corporate Governance, where he had concentrated in his previous employments at Texaco and ExxonMobil.

An angry staffer pointed

at the alleged hasty way in which Kachikwu restructured the number of directories from eight to four on August 12, 2015 shortly after he assumed office only to increase it again to seven on March 8, this year.

“In the last several years, refining and distribution of imported products have been the major problems we have had in this country and so, President Muham-

madu Buhari ought to have searched for an individual even from anywhere with particular experience in this areas instead of just appointing anybody”, another said.

“Since Kachikwu was appointed, NNPC has mainly been groping in the dark, trying one form of experimentation or the other including putting Nigeria to ridicule by inviting interna-

tional bids for oil swaps and opening the bids on live television only to cancel the entire process few weeks after,” the staffer said.

The GMD was equally accused of not being a team worker by not conferring with the top echelon of the corporation before taking major decisions, which almost always boomerang.

“It appears that the man came to the job with a

mindset that every staff of the NNPC are corrupt and incompetent. How can he succeed that way?”

“After all, it is interferences from top political hierarchy that has been the bane of NNPC and not that those of us who are here are either less competent or more corrupt than our counterparts in the private sector or even IOCs”, one of them declared.

From left: Director, United Nation Information Centre, Roland Kayanja; Deputy Director, Research & Head, Medical Research Program, Nigerian Institute of Malaria Research Lagos, Dr Sam Awolola; Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Oguzhan Silivrili; Officer, Advocacy Communication Sensitization Mobilization for Malaria, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Akintunde Ibironke and Marketing Manager, Mortein, Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola, during RB/Mortein Anti-Malaria summit in Lagos on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Nigerian Tribune

‘FG loses over N577bn to tax break granted companies annually’ By ’Wale Olapade

STAKEHOLDERS have called on the Federal Government to appraise and evaluate current regime of tax incentives vis-a-vis putting in place a monitoring and evaluation mechanism on how they are granted to multinationals Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders on Tax Incentives and Implications for Development in Nigeria held in Abuja, recently.

The participants stressed the need for government seriously look into the ActionAid study on tax incentives which shown that annually, ActionAid study has shown that annually, Nigeria forfeits as much as $2.9 billion that is over 577 billion naira as a result of tax break granted companies.

According to the release, “the incentives have had negative impact on the economy with the state losing enormous revenue that would have been ploughed into addressing developmental needs of the country.

Friday, 22 April, 2016 12 businessnews Arik indebtedness: FG gives 2 weeks for resolution

•Airline insists it paid N18.9bn to FAAN •Announces flights resumption From Clement Idoko and Shoal Adekola

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HE Federal Government has asked the managements of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and the Arik Air Group, to within two week resolve all issues relating to indebtedness among the respective organisations.

Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, gave the directive at a meeting with the management of Arik Air on Thursday, in Abuja.

He directed the parties to report back to him after a two-week period with a resolution on amounts owed, payment plans and the way going forward.

Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, James Odaudu, in statement, quoted the minister as saying that the issue of alleged indebtedness by Arik Air which has led to disagreements with some trade unions within the regulatory agencies was highly regrettable.

He added that while government would not condone lawlessness within the industry, all airline operators must conform to industry rules and regulations.

He said the goal of the present government was to develop an aviation industry that is founded on the principles of safety and security of not only the regulators and airline operators, but also passengers and their luggage, while also putting in place polices that would encourage the growth of domestic airlines.

Meanwhile, there seems to be no end in sight in the ongoing crisis between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Arik Air as the airline management, on Thursday rejected the claim by the workers of the authority that it owed it N12.5 billion.

This is just as the airline has announced resumption of flights after the disruption of its flights by the

FAAN workers led by the aviation unions.

Rather, Arik Air insisted that it has paid a total of N18.9 billion to FAAN since inception till date with a documentary evidence showed journalists to support its claim even as it dared FAAN to do the same before the public.

The airline at a press conference, held at its head office within the Lagos airport, also accused FAAN of not adhering to the rules and regulations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria despite the fact that the case regarding the debt was before the law court.

Speaking at the confer-

THE latest Global Economic Conditions Survey from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and IMA has found out that more than half (50 per cent) of firms across the globe are either cutting or freezing employment, while only 14 per cent are increasing investment in staff.

According to the report, in the first quarter, 55 per

Arumemi-Ikhide also displayed a letter dated February 3, 2016 acknowledging the lodgments of N11.4 billion so far to the coffers of FAAN from the airline, just as he maintained that it had paid N18.9 billion to FAAN since it commence operations in October 2007.

Union Bank posts N4.6bn profit for A1 2016 Kehinde Akinseinde-JeyaobaLagos

UNION Bank of Nigeria plc in its 2016 first quarter financial results posts Profit before tax (PBT) of N4.7 billion representing an increased of 85 per cent from N2.5 billion in 2015, while Gross earnings stood at par with prior year’s N26.6 billion.

Highlights from the results further revealed a five per cent increase in Interest income to N21bn against N20 billion in Q1 2015 as a result of improvement in asset yield from 14.36 per cent in Q1 2015 to 15.65 per cent in Q1 2016.

Interest expense decreased 16 percent to N6.6 billion from N7.9 billion in Q1 2015 driven by a deliberate effort to manage funding costs, resulting in a reduction in primary cost of funds from 6.07 per cent in Q1 2015 to 4.73 per cent in Q1 2016.

Operating expenses stood at N14.2 billion against N13.7 billion in Q1 2015 an expected increase of three per cent, given budgeted From left: Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brig Gen Paul Boroh (rtd); Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Waheed Olagunju and investments in technology and network infrastrucDivisional Head, Large Enterprise, BOI, Joseph Babatunde, during a strategic partnership meeting with BOI, in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI ture.

SEC moves to boost commodity trading Sanya Adejokun and Gbola Subair-Abuja

IN a bid to boost agriculture and promote commodity exchange in Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to roll out various initiatives to provide an enabling environment for commodities trading in the country.

Already, the commission is reviewing the Warehouse Receipt Bill currently before the National Assembly and has assured that it will actively advocate its passage.

This is in support of the policy thrust of the Federal Government to encourage investments in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors in a bid to ensure economic diversification

and deepen capacity across the agricultural value chain.

Director General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo, said this while delivering a keynote address at a Training Seminar organized by Africa Exchange Holdings (AFEX) on Commodity Trading and Risk Management in Abuja.

He said the 10-year capital market master plan which the Market is cur-

cent of businesses said they had become less confident about the outlook – well above the global average of 48 per cent.

Furthermore, it showed that more firms in Africa than anywhere else were cutting investment in capital projects, and the continent was also the region where businesses had the biggest problems with rising costs and foreignexchatnge movements,

rently implementing is the blueprint for the growth and development of the market over the next decade and acknowledges commodities exchanges as critical for enabling investment diversification, risk management, price discovery and transactional efficiency and expressed strong belief that to boost Nigeria’s competitiveness, a thriving commodities trading ecosystem must be

developed.

The DG said “We believe this can be achieved by implementing the following strategic initiatives: Build a supporting and functional ecosystem for commodities trading. Others are: Build Centre of Excellence in areas of comparative advantage such as for oil and gas, cocoa, etc; Develop efficient commodities exchanges and trading platforms.”

GTBank records N30.68bn profit in 2016 Q1 Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

GUARANTY Trust Bank plc has recorded a N30.68 billion naira profit before tax deduction for the first quarter of year 2016.

In its released its unau-

Over 50% of firms worldwide are freezing employment —ACCA Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

ence, the Chairman of Arik Air, Sir Johnson ArumemiIkhide said that the airline had been paying its debts regularly to FAAN despite the fact that the airport landlord had some amount of money to pay to it arising from the incident to its aircraft at the Calabar Airport some few years ago.

Nigerian Tribune

with many of the region’s economies suffering sharp falls in their currencies in recent quarters.

It added: “As Africa’s most populous country and second-largest economy, Nigeria has been going through a downturn, and speculation of a currency devaluation is mounting and the government is struggling to cope with a collapse in its revenue as oil prices have fallen.

dited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016 to the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges, the bank recorded moderate growth from its core banking activities.

However, decline in trading and revaluation gains occasioned by foreign exchange paucity robbed off on performance recorded with a 4.6 per cent decline in gross earnings to N75.39 billion.

Analysis of the result revealed that GTB Profit Before Tax declined by 6.1 per cent to N30.68 billion, while 3.6 per cent decline was recorded for its Profit After Tax to N25.61 billion.

Further analysis showed that the bank’s Balance Sheet remained strong with 5.2 per cent growth in Total Assets to N2.66 tril-

lion. Loan book declined slightly by 0.7 per cent to close at N1.36 trillion. Customer’s Deposit grew by 10.3 per cent to N1.78 trillion.

In line with the bank’s Risk Management strategy, the bank approached its loan growth with disciplined strategy, thus Non Performing Loans (NPL) of the bank for the period under review is still well within range at 3.51 per cent and Net Interest Margin (NIM) for the period under review declined marginally by 9bps to 8.12 per cent from 8.21 per cent in Q1 2015.

Commenting on the financial results, Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc.

Nigerite embarks on merchandising at distributors outlets

By Bode Adewumi

AS part of its commitment to creating mass awareness for its different range of quality products, Nigerite, a complete building solutions company has commenced aggressive merchandising at its distributors outlets in the South West region.

The leading Nigerian building materials manufacturing company has also concluded plans to honour and reward some of its distributors that have remained loyal and stead fast in trade partnership over the years.

Dropping the hint in Lagos, Nigerite’s Marketing Communications and Research Manager, Mr. Victor Jolaoso said, “the idea of embarking on merchandising is to maintain top –of-the mind awareness while also ensuring constant and consistent visibility for our brands at the point of purchase.

“We want to improve products visibility and brand awareness at the distributors point of sale so that our customers can easily differentiate our products from that of the competitors,” Jolaoso said.

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The DSS and Abia killings

he Department of State Services announced recently that it had discovered 55 shallow graves in Abia State where victims of violent killings were buried. Five of the dead were said to be Nigerians of Fulani extraction. The remaining 50, presumably Nigerians, have yet to be identified in terms of their ethnic background. At a time when the role of intelligence in crime prevention, control and discovery would appear to have been relegated, the uncovering of the shallow graves in the thick forest of Abia State by the DSS is a welcome development.

However, the press statement issued by the DSS in the wake of the gory discovery tended to betray the motivation for the seeming speed and efficiency in its handling of the matter. And the motive, sadly, is a sinister one. The summary of the press statement by the Service released by Tony Opuiyo was that the Igbo were killing members of the Hausa/Fulani ethnic group in the South East. This presumptuous and tendentious message is patently erroneous in the light of the evidence which the DSS itself claimed was available to it, and in view of the findings of the Abia State government. For instance, out of the 55 corpses discovered in the shallow graves, the identities of 50 are still unknown. Given this background, how logical is the insinuation that the Igbo are levying terror attacks on the northerners in the South East? If indeed this heinous crime was carried out with genocidal intention, all the victims would have been Fulani or at least a substantial number of them would. Yet, as things stand, only one out of every eleven victims has been identified to be Fulani.

It is rather unfortunate that five Fulanis were murdered and their remains treated shabbily in their own country, but it is even worse and more regrettable that 55 Nigerians had their lives violently terminated by hoodlums who could, in a saner clime, have been prevented by security agents from carrying out the dastardly act. It is therefore unconscionable for the state security agency which had failed in its duty to prevent the sordid incident to begin to impute motives that are capable of fanning the embers of ethnic disaffection and strife. The DSS pointedly accused the Indigenous

Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) of igniting ethnic terrorism and mistrust. It is curious that the DSS reached this conclusion about the killings when the victims of the unfortunate incident have yet to be identified save for the five Fulanis.

Again, since the DSS vowed in its press statement to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators and their sponsors, it means that the killers have yet to be arrested. It could also mean that investigation of the incident is not yet complete. How then did the Service zero in on IPOB as the culprit in the dastardly act? We may not agree with IPOB’s secession bid, but that is no reason to accuse it of genocide without water tight proofs. Otherwise, it may be construed as a contrived subterfuge to legitimize violent state repression of the group. It smacks of lack of due diligence on the part of the DSS to serve the public with hastily packaged half truths full of incendiary remarks about an ethnic group in a plural society like Nigeria.

Perhaps we need to remind the DSS that there had been several violent killings in many parts of the country lately; the massacre of Shiite (Islamic) sect members in Kaduna State and the Agatu genocide that elicited global outrage, not to mention the recent killing of Chief Olu Falae’s security guard after repeated invasion of the senior citizen’s farmland by Fulani herdsmen. In all of the aforementioned instances and others, the Service never came up with any passionate press release about the killings and the motives of the killers, and till date the outcome of its investigation of those killings is yet to be put in the public domain. This is why questions must be asked regarding the special interest of the DSS in the Abia killings. Could that possibly mean that the life of a Fulani is more precious than that of an average Nigerian of other ethnic extraction? Is the mission culminating in the alleged discovery of the shallow graves in Abia the police or DSS’s call?

The DSS must fish out the killers among the herdsmen and prosecute them without further delay. That way, the fear and muck of selectivity and bias that have tainted its handling of the Abia killings will at least be mitigated.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 22 April, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982.

It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Let’s believe in ourselves

T

HE fact that we don’t believe in ourselves as Nigerians is what has brought us to where we are today economically. When we look all around the world, Nigerians are highly-regarded in different professions.

Our medical doctors can be found in the best and most-equipped hospitals all over the world, same for our engineers, teachers, among others. With this, we have the manpower to develop whatever it is we want to do, but because we don’t believe in ourselves, we are more

comfortable with inferior products from China and other Asian countries than what we can produce for ourselves.

It is also because we don’t believe in ourselves that we see our locallymade goods as inferior to the foreign-made ones.

That is why we have a taste for foreign luxury clothings and goods. Recently, I went to the market to purchase a clothing material for a wedding ceremony, and I was surprised by the price differentials between our locally-produced clothing materials and the ones imported from Eu-

rope. Despite the fact that our materials cost less, and are of superb quality, many shoppers opted for foreign-made materials.

Even, my wife stopped me from buying the locallymade material, saying “people would think we are paupers.” Despite trying to lecture her that buying locally-produced materials help somebody keep in his job somewhere in the country, she had none of it.

This is also the mentality of many Nigerians, and this is why we will continue to be in the same situation that we find ourselves.

Finding lasting solution to Fulani herdsmen/ farmers’ clashes THE crisis between Fulani herdsmen and crop production farmers is posing a lot of impediment to food production in the country.

This crisis has led to wanton destruction of lives and properties. However, we must not sit idle without proferring solutions to the clash of interest between these two groups Now, in agricultural production, animal rearing cannot be done in the same field with crops because animals feed on crops and greens, but one way to curtail the menace of these herdsmen is to control free grazing; we can do this by allocating hectares of land for them for their animals to graze on.

This is the rationale behind the importation of the high-yielding nutritional grass seedlings to be grown in the southern part of the country.

These grasses grow really fast, and they will be fed to cattle in the North, just like its being practiced in Saudi Arabia, which has the largest cattle production in the world.

We are not saying there are no grasses in the country, but the variety of highyielding grasses will bring an end to the free grazing of cattle, as well bring an end to the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

This is why the decision of the Federal Government to import the grasses

should be seen as a solution to the crisis between cattle rearers and farmers.

Although some people are shocked that the country would be importing grasses from Brazil, Nigerians should know that these are high-yielding grasses that will boost our live-

stock production, engage our research institutes proficiently and create employment for those who will be involved in the cultivation. It will also end the wanton killings across the country.

•Adikwu Samuel E, Abuja.

We need the government to encourage us on the need to patronise locallyproduced goods, and one of the ways it can do this is by increasing the tax on

foreign-made goods.

When such goods are beyond the reach of Nigerians, then nobody will teach us to patronise locallymade goods.

Government officials must also lead by example by using locally-made products.

•Tunde Saliu, Ojodu, Lagos.

On the contest for a new rector at FedPoly, Offa KINDLY allow me to use the opportunity of your respected medium to comment on recent developments at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, occasioned by the ongoing search for a new rector after the ten- year eventful headship by Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo.

Anyone who had the opportunity to witness the valedictory programme organised for the former rector would not but thank God for the peaceful coexistence and attendant human and capital developments in the 24-year old polytechnic.

It was first of its kind in the history of the polytechnic. The important dignitaries at the occasion, including the Execu-

tive Secretary of NBTE and representative of the Honourable Minister of Education, also attested to the impressive turn-around in the polytechnic.

But few weeks after the historic occasion, the polytechnic seems heading to the old ways of crisis, cleavages and clique-induced rivalries. The source of the current bickering is the contest to replace Dr. Olatinwo as the rector of the institution. It is very disturbing that every time the contest for rectorship in the polytechnic is ongoing, some people resort to character assassination, plain lies and distortion of facts to destroy seeming opponents, and to feather their own nests.

The present process has

witnessed lots of hate campaigns, specifically directed at the Acting Rector, Dr. Ayo Olaosebikan.

It gladdens one’s heart that the flagship staff union in the polytechnic, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) had dissociated themselves from any suggestion that the ongoing selection process was skewed against any of the contestants for the post of rector.

It is also more gladdening that the majority of staff now see the need for the polytechnic to build on the positive achievements of the recent past and move positively forward for the institution to attain enviable position among higher institutions in Nigeria. Throwing brickbats, sponsoring malicious publications against the management of the polytechnic and supervising agencies cannot ensure the place of the polytechnic in national reckoning. It is only hard work, commitment of all staff to the polytechnic’s vision and mission and support for management that can help sustain the present academic progress and positive move towards excellence.

No matter who eventually becomes rector, whether Dr. Olaosebikan, or any other person, the polytechnic must continue to maintain the current commitment to academic values that can help achieve the mission of its founding fathers. FEDPOFFA can no longer go back to the old situation of crisis, cleavages and divisions.

The polytechnic community must move positively forward together.

•Samson Olarenwaju Ige, Ilorin. larryige4live@gmail. com

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opinion

Friday, 22 April, 2016

Stop these earth attacks

By Timi Awoyemi

A

S a well-rated happy nation that would ordinarily, gleefully, mark this year’s World Earth Day, which comes up today, April 22, 2016, let’s take some time to consider this story: In a suburb of Lagos resides Haruna, a mechanical technician who specialises in Japanese auto-engines. Though, with a modest education and having a six-room “face-me-I-face-you” inherited building to his credit, Haruna practises his trade elaborately at the frontage of his residence.

Aside from the vehicles undergoing repair works at his workshop, there are also dismembered iron car parts, some delightfully shining hand-polished hand-tools dotting everywhere, disused or dysfunctional engine blocks left idly at various spots smeared all over in thick grease, others in spent, black oil, dripping occasionally to an already soiled ground scattered and littering the little available space.

Years of practice of Haruna’s trade have no doubt left some indelible, tell-tale trade-mark signs forming a permanent scar on the environment and mother-earth. Haruna’s workshop leaves desertification injury to the hitherto fertile soil.

This patch of soiled ground offers an esteemed welcome signage of a “black carpet” for all callers, including some unconcerned but self-serving government officials who throng the workshop to collect both official and unofficial revenues and taxes. In such situation, the officials are known to beam away their duty searchlight of compliance to safety and other known standards, as far as the client plays along and greases necessary palms, notwithstanding the unmistakable attacks on the environment and mother earth!

Apart from the three companies situated around Haruna’s house, which on their own are specimens and spectacles to behold for profound earth attacks, Adijat, Haruna’s wife, is also guilty as charged. As a thriving operator of a “bukateria,” providing services for her husband’s numerous clients and many more, Adijat cooks year round on a local tripartite stone stove, fueled daily with wood, and constantly emitting

teary and lungs-endangering smoky fire for the larger part of the day. She also has an unenviable garbage dump-heap located at the rear part of their home, which seems never to be out of fire, neither does it seem to diminish in size due to their vile habits of daily contributions of wastes.

At the dump-heap site will one lavishly find used baby diapers, rags, kitchen wastes, plastic cans, tins, paper, nylon of various range, all contending with the fire, whether to burn or not to burn, but freely leaving a smoky trail all the way. In spite of Adijat’s possession of a questionable home-devised incinerator, at the slightest rainfall, she is known to dispose garbage generated from her “bukateria” right into the drain that runs in front of her canteen, which is located in front of their compound. Her list of wastes includes nylon of food wraps, disposed nylon sachets of pure water, empty plastic bottles of soft drinks and bottled water, among others. The cumulative effect of these affronts on nature and the environment can only be left to be imagined.

Also, the activities of the three companies around Haruna’s house are nothing other than catastrophe in waiting. To the right of Haruna’s building, which works three shifts, is a big and centrally-located chimney, constantly oozing out black

and sometimes choky and offensive fumes/ smoke demonstrating a profound attack on the environment.

The 1000KVA transformer installed by the company and co-shared by the community, informs of the residents’ indebtedness and loyalty to the company. They bother less about the company’s discomforting activities. Information even has it that some notable people in the community, including Haruna and some government officials, receive regular tips to garner continued support for the company at the expense of its cold, brutal but silent war against nature and the environment.

With the company’s twin heavy duty, gigantic 1500KVA capacity generator, each switched on to interchangeably power the plant whenever the epileptic supply from the national grid is unavailable, the double pollution of noise and smoke altogether are alarmingly offensive. Of serious concern then is the generator, spewing out poisonous gas (carbon monoxide) with reckless abandon into the environment, year round, with the exception of Sundays, and at year ends, during the company’s annual vacation of few days, that was rigorously attained through years of struggle by the workers’ union.

From all of the foregoing, sordid pictures of an unimaginable level of environmental degradation have occurred, and are still ongoing. It has now become pertinent for us all to make efforts to put a final stop to this, otherwise, doomsday is at hand. It has, therefore, become necessary for government to put in place proper legislation to strengthen the operations of its agencies like the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and the National Conservative Foundation (NCF), to be able to effectively prosecute erring offenders both corporate and individuals.

Also, businesses in Europe, Asia and all over the world that connive with some of our unscrupulous importers to dump substandard goods, or in some cases, toxic waste into Africa, should all note that we all live in a global village now. Whatever affects one part will eventually get to affect other parts one day, one way or the other.

•Awoyemi lives in Iyesi, Ota, Ogun State.

Economic recovery amidst dwindling revenue

By Ayo Akinola “When we say there’s miracle in governance, I never expected it really exists until I visited Osun.”

THE above is the abridged version of a statement by a highly placed member of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria few days ago after his private visit to Osun State for a social function, which I also was in attendance. This distinguished senator from one of the states in the south -south of Nigeria had been very critical of everything that has to do with the government of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, himself belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He had told me his surprise stems from two main reasons: the media misinformation and berating of Governor Rauf Aregbesola which many, including him, had assimilated without much of verification as well as the fact that the state is widely considered the poorest among all the states in Nigeria, so he does not expect much in terms of real development from the state. According to him, nothing in his wildest imagination had hitherto prepared him for the huge infrastructural development which he saw in his few days stay in the state. To him, it was a miracle.

He had told me that as a matter of personal conviction, Rauf is actually a victim of vicious media and political attacks. He also berated my constituency, the media, as “not being fair to this man of honour”. I retorted, in defense that the media does not create news but reports it. He went on to lecture me that the media in Nigeria is lazy. He believed that if the media had been forthcoming by paying visits to states and talk to the concerned citizen, most of the “misreporting”, as he dubbed it would have been in the minimum.

As we parted ways, his submissions kept me thinking anyway. I had myself oftentimes wondered how a government that is owing salaries, as a result of little or almost nothing from the monthly federal allocations, has been able to still continue to deploy state-of – the-art public infrastructure, continued engaging in social welfarist programmes like free school feeding, free rail transportation to and from Lagos during festivities, continually building new schools and

keeping erstwhile hostile civil servants happy. Visitors and residents of the state will tell you that roads fondly referred to as “Ona Baba Ona” are still being constructed. This phrase, literally translated as “father of all previous road constructions”, refers to the high quality and durability which are uncommon these days.

As at the time of putting this on paper, works have begun in many hitherto seemingly abandoned road projects including the Gbongan interchange which promises ease of traffic for travelers to and from other parts of the southwest into Gbongan, Osogbo and other towns in Osun. It will no doubt confound anyone judging from the dwindling revenue trickling to the government of Osun. If Osun is claimed to owe substantially, it is on these and many other projects that the people’s money is being expended on. How, maybe we should ask financial experts.

As a neutral and pragmatic observer, I can say without any contradiction that Ogbeni is certainly a creative thinker. His innovative governance and reforms will bear witness to this.

Few weeks back, he had replaced erstwhile political heads of the local governments and newly created local council development areas with career civil servants. Many a critic would want to ask for explanation. But if we look incisively, we would be able to see the sense in this approach. One, he does not have to pay a flamboyant horde of political office holders as well as pay for their upkeeps like new cars, assistants and aids and all what not’s. These career officers already have them. The money thus saved therein would be used in

critical developmental areas of need. Also, career officers have years of experience in public service which they bring to bear. What this means is that there is more and better developmental deployment for less cost. Is this not an innovative thinking? The Nigerian public service has been for ages bedeviled by redundancy and duplicity of functions, where flamboyant political office holders get paid lavishly while the anonymous civil servants who do the job get little or no recognition. Do you blame President Muhammadu Buhari for saying that ministers (political office holders) are noise makers, giving kudos to the bureaucracies? This Ogbeni’s action, even though unstated, gives credence to PMB’s opinion with this innovative deployment. Have you asked yourself how government of Osun is working and achieving so much without political appointees? He has creatively engaged and deployed top civil servants and made use of less expensive but quality brains to achieve so much over the past one year of his second term tenure. And he was very careful not to contravene the constitution or laws of the land. If nothing, this could only come from a thinking mind at the saddle.

The newly introduced parliamentary system in the local government and local council development areas is novel. It will make checks and balances easy to practice. It will reduce influence peddling which reinforces corruption; it will make the system more democratic and more effective, eliminate systemic wastes, and above all create confidence in the general system The additional local council development areas as well as council offices are meant to bring government nearer to the people and bring people nearer to government. Contrary to fears of more financial burdens as being expressed in some circles, the same staff and logistics will be deployed while putting redundant human and material resources to use without unnecessary additional financial requirements. This model is a win-win situation for government and the people: increased developments to the people and increase in people-participation including tax to government.

•Akinola is a publisher and media consultant

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

T

HE rise of Ibadan in the 19th century coincided with the period of European contact with Yorubaland. Thus, the nature of Ibadan’s emergence and the trajectories of its old and modern histories placed it “at the very centre of critical Yoruba problems”. This was the city that Obafemi Awolowo and Hannah Awolowo made home, where they would bear children, experience personal fulfillment, weather the storms of adversity and achieve political eminence. The bride moved to Ibadaan with her husband shortly after their wedding in early 1938. They had a thanksgiving service at the Methodist Church, Agbeni, Ibadan, which Obafemi Awolowo had been attending since he moved to Ibadan.

As a journalist, before he became a produce buyer and transporter, and as a student of the evolving colonial society, Obafemi settled in his mind that this city contained the potentials, the metropolitan basics and the human energy that could be mobilized to transform the modern Yoruba country; Ibadan could, thus, develop into the basis for the transformation of late colonial and postcolonial Nigeria. But this city – which one of its most prominent sons and later Obafemi Awolowo’s political adversary, Adegoke Adelabu, had described as the “Yoruba Sparta” – was also the city where the new couple would experience the most formidable opposition and suffer their cruelest personal and political adversities. However, as he had predicted in his private journal, Obafemi and Hannah would, ultimately find that “behind the ugly terrible mask of Misfortune” in Ibadan, lay “the beautiful soothing countenance of Prosperity…” They would tear the mask together!

Despite the fact that the city that became the largest in African by the late 1960s was created by an assortment of refugees from different Yoruba sub-ethnic groups after the collapse of the old Oyo Empire, Ibadan’s ascendant modern elites were becoming uncomfortable with, and in some cases, outright hostile to, those they described as “native strangers” – that is, the non-Yoruba, but also including the Yoruba who were not “native” to Ibadan. This was partly based on the 19th century enmity between the Ijebu and the Ibadan, because the former feared the Ibadan’s growing power. The Ijebu also forced the Ibadan to accept terms unfavourable to their trading interest in the 19th century due to the control of trading route to Lagos. This background is important because, as Ibadan’s preeminent historian, Toyin Falola argues, before the 1890s, the Ibadan made “vigorous attempt(s) to either expel… or restrict the opportunities open” to “strangers”.

British presence from 1893, however, made it impossible for the Ibadan to totally limit the access of “strangers” to land, wealth and power.

Despite this – but against the backdrop of the earlier enmity – in the first few decades of the 20th century, particularly from the late 1930s, an influential group in Ibadan particularly reviled their neighbours, the Ijebu (-Remo). They despised the new Ijebu-(Remo) migrants (around Oke-Ado-like Awolowo – and other parts of Ibadan), given that the old migrants (based in Isale-Ijebu area of the city) were already integrated with the Ibadan.

Having successfully fought against Oyo domination by 1934 under the leadership of the Ibadan Progressive Union (IPU) – and later, members of the emergent local elite, represented particularly by Adegoke Adelabu – the Ibadan did not want the affairs of the city to be over-determined by non-natives. However, despite the hostility of a key section of the city, as Adebanji Akintoye – a leading historian, who has rendered “a highly professional reconstruction of intricate situation arising out of the rise of Ibadan,” in the context of the “Byzantine complexity of nineteenth century Yoruba history” – argues, eventually “Ibadan became a very attractive place to ambitious people from all over Yorubaland… (T)he ambitious person who wanted to succeed in commerce, in some trade, or politically, could not resist the lure of this wonderful city where one could become a big person regardless of one’s lowly parentage or one’s place or origin”.

It was the city to which Obafemi brought Hannah to experience “the beautiful soothing countenance of Prosperity”……

“THIS IS WHY I TOLD you not to marry this man. How could he tell you not to work?” Hannah’s mother asked her when she visited the Awolowos in their new home in Ibadan.

She stopped by every fortnight when she travelled to Ibadan to meet her suppliers from Ilorin and Iseyin. Hannah could have been torn between following her mother’s

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

Wale Adebanwi on Mama HID (5)

•Mama HID Awolowo

exhortation and submitting to her husband’s resolution, but she had settled in her mind that while her mother could have her say in the matter, her husband’s decision was final. At any rate, how could her mother fully understand the future that she and her husband hand imagined together based on his ambitions? Her mother and others were concerned with the present; she, on the urgings of her husband, was thinking about the future.

Deaconess Elizabeth Adelana reminded her daughter again about her initial opposition to her marrying this “obdurate man”. Her own mother, Hannah’s grandmother, who was already past eighty still opened her shop daily. Elizabeth too was approaching sixty and she was still an energetic trader who travelled around the Yoruba country for her business. She came from a line of strong, industrious and financially-in-dependant women. How could her daughter in her early twenties “sit at home” as if she were slothful? What would be the purpose of her many years of training as a proficient entrepreneur and her skills which she had already displayed as a high school student in Lagos and as pupil teacher in Ikenne?

But Hannah explained to her mother that her husband had requested that he wanted her to be a full-time “housewife” and they had both agreed on this.

She wasn’t initially happy about the arrangement herself. When her husband first told her a few months after marriage that he would not want her to “trade” or do any work, she was very sad. It was not only that she would be wasting her skills, she had become used to earning money on her own and not depending on anyone, including her father, for money; therefore, this new regime would mean total financial dependence on her husband. More important, she was already being put under some social pressure because she was yet to conceive. In that era in Yorubaland, perhaps the most important prayer for the newly wed is “eyin iyawo o ni meni”, which was a prayer for fruitfulness of the womb. The literal meaning of the prayer, which is that the “bride’s back will not feel the impact of the mat”, arose from the era when people slept on local mats made of rectangular reeds of equal length bound together by sets of threads.

Hannah’s situation was therefore not made better by what some gossips had started to describe as infertility.

She was not tending a pregnancy or taking care of a child.

Yet, she wasn’t employed in any way. It was an untenable position for a young married woman in late 1930s Nigeria. Yet, as pledged, she had to abide by the wishes of her husband.

She visited Ikenne regularly and therefore was open to being constantly taunted alternatively by those who advised her against marrying the rascal and those who advised Obafemi not to marry an abiku. On a particular visit, she over-heard her husband’s cousin telling someone about their prediction when they warned Obafemi not to marry her had come to pass. “Now, there is no child.

There is no pregnancy”, hissed Hannah’s cousin-in-law.

He asked, “What is the essence of beauty without bearing a child?”….

When she returned to Ibadan and told Obafemi about the ridicule she overheard in their hometown, he asked her to ignore it. He was not bothered by such insinuations of supernatural evil which, he was convinced, was based on ignorance and superstition. He must have mused on his revolutionary plan to force his people out of the vice hold of such superstition through mass education……

However, regarding the issue of whether his wife should work, the transporter and produce-buyer was convinced that, as in the tradition of his people, it was his exclusive responsibility to take care of his wife. He was not worthy of being called a man if couldn’t do so., But that was not even sufficient reason not to let her work. Many men who took care of their wives and family still allowed their wives to do some work. His decision had to do with the future he had mapped for himself and the role he had conceived for his wife in that future. He was happy to marry Hannah fundamentally because he needed a good woman who will take care of the home front while he devoted himself to a life of public service. He was persuaded that a woman who had to work could not be able to fully devote herself to the care of her husband and children, while also providing such a husband as he hopes to be with the private harmony needed for enduring the strains of civic life. At that point, he could not imagine that it was possible for his wife to combine the administration of the home front with commerce. He would learn later that she could do so brilliantly and still support him in his proposed political life.

“He wanted two things – politics and law,” Hannah, on the eve of her seventieth birthday, justified her decision to obey her husband’s wishes in the early years of their matrimony. “When I married him, he was in business – transport and produce buying. But he had always said, “One day I want to be a frontline politician. One day I want to be one of the first class lawyers in this country’.

So, I knew what he wanted, and I wanted him to be what he wanted to be”.

However, unknown to Obafemi’s cousin who was mocking Hannah for not conceiving by mid-1938, she was already pregnant, even though it was not visible yet. Still, when many who had been scornful of her “inability to conceive” eventually saw the evidence of pregnancy, they didn’t believe it. “When I was pregnant with Segun,” Hannah recalls, “they said it was not pregnancy, that there was no baby in my tummy….”

Contrary to the doubts, on January 20, 1939, the Awolowos welcomed their first child, a son. He was named Olusegun, a telling name, the full meaning of which was Oluwasegun (God is victorious). It was a strong response to their traducers……

TO BE CONTINUED EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK MUSILIU SMITH AT 70 (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE)

17

Friday, 22 April, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

How riba, others hamper economic development

T

HEY are no longer a theory, the effects of interest-based economic system. The recent economic and financial crises caused by excessive loan with interests to households for mortgage financing that started in the United States in 2008, the debt burden in developing countries, the sharp drop in oil prices as well as the socio-economic injustice such as inequitable distribution of wealth and income are but the inherent features of interest-based economic system. The recent untold hardships have left many households in Nigeria incapable of doing what hitherto they would not regard as big deal in relation to their well-being. The 2010 poverty forecast reveals that more than 60 percent of the population is poor.

Greediness in accumulation of wealth, corruption in governance, drop in oil price and injustice in both simple and compound interests by capitalists are some of the major causes of our current economic challenge.

It is not a surprise when former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, commenting on Nigeria’s mounting debt, stated that the country took a $5 billion loan in 1985 and paid it off as $44 billion in 2000 as a result of compound interest. According to him, “all that we have borrowed up to 1985 was around US$5 billion, and we have paid about US$16 billion. Yet, we are still being told that we owe about US$28 billion. This came about because of the injustice in the foreign creditors’ interest rates. If you ask me what the worst thing in the world is, I will say it is compound interest.” There is no doubt that interest is an unjust and exploitative instrument of financing since the lender is assured a return without sharing the risk, while the borrower is at the mercy of the market outcome, be it positive or negative. A legal maxim in Islamic finance, states that ‘no risk, no return.’

Riba means excess and any addition on loan given. It is divided into two: Riba on debt and Riba in exchange. While the former refers to the increase on loan, the latter refers to any addition while exchanging same type of commodity or even delaying in completing the transaction. For example, when exchanging rice with rice, regardless of the quality, there should be equivalence in the exchange or else any excess turns to be Riba. Allah says: “Those who eat Riba will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitan (Satan) leading him to insanity. That is because they say: ‘Trading is only like Riba’ whereas Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba. So whoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating Riba, shall not be punished for the past; (his case is for Allah to judge) but whoever returns (to Riba) such are the dwellers of the Fire; they will abide therein.” (Q: 2:275).

The following verses give stern warning on taking Riba. “Allah will destroy Riba and will give increase for sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms). And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners. O you who believe!

Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Riba (from now onward), if you are (really) believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His messenger (s.a.w) but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more

than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums).” (Q: 2:276-278).

As a matter of principle, Islamic finance calls for justice, fairness, moderation and mutual cooperation and assistance. Allah says: “O you who believe! Eat not up you property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade amongst you, by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely Allah is Most Merciful to you.” (Q: 4:29).

Thus, Riba, both at macro and micro-level, is destructive. Other prohibited elements in Islamic finance include excessive uncertainty (Gharar), gambling and unearned income (Maysir). There is no doubt the emergence of microfinance in the context of poverty reduction and empowerment in developing countries was very crucial.

Theoretically and empirically, there exist a number of models of Islamic microfinance.

Just like in Islamic banks, the products are more or less the same but the application could differ in terms of targeted clients, for instance, partnerships products, salesbased products and debt-based products. In partnership-based products, the dominant contracts are musharaka and mudaraba.

While in musharaka, both parties contribute capital, in mudaraba, one party contributes capital and the other contributes skills.

Trustee partnership based on mudaraba is a mode of financing, through which the bank provides capital for a specific venture indicated by the customer. The bank, called

Greediness in accumulation of wealth, corruption in governance, drop in oil price and injustice in both simple and compound interests by capitalists are some of the major causes of our current economic challenge.

rabb-al-mal, is the owner of the capital and the entrepreneur, called mudarib (Obaidullah, 2005, p.57).

A sales-based contract, however, is murabaha (cost plus), which is also used to finance entrepreneurial needs for equipments for business or consumables to the households. In addition, Ijarah (leasing) is a debt-based contract whereby the Islamic bank assumes the role of lessor and allows its client to use asset of its own. In Ijarah, the client could rent a vehicle and pay fixed rental payment for certain periods and sometimes the contracts end with full ownership of the leased item to the client.

This is called ijarahmuntahiyabal-tamlik.

Other specific products of Islamic banks include Qard Hasan (benevolent loan), which is spending in the path of Allah without expectation of returns in this world (Zaman, 2015). Qard Hasan is highly encouraged in Islam. In fact, Allah says in Quran 2:245: “Who is he that will loan to Allah, a beautiful loan, which Allah will double and multiply many times? It is Allah that gives (you) want or plenty and to Him shall be your return.”

In terms of application of these Islamic banking/microfinance products, most of the institutions apply either sales-based or debt-based products. The uniqueness of equity-based financing products arguably makes it challenging for Islamic banking and microfinance to apply it widely (Obaidullah, 2005).

Currently in Nigeria, there are institutions practising Islamic microfinance such as Tijarah Microfinance Bank, the first fullfledged Islamic microfinance in Nigeria; AlBaraka Microfinance Bank; Islamic Crescent Cooperative Society Limited, Abuja, Al-Hayat Microfinance Bank, among others. In fact, Jai’z Bank, the first full-fledged Islamic Bank in the country that was established in 2011, could create a platform for financing MSMEs. Zakat and Waqf institutions could also be used to implement Islamic microfinancing in the country. Some of these institutions such as Zamfara Zakat and Endowment Board, Sokoto State Zakat Committee and Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation in Lagos have already initiated empowerment programmes using zakat and waqf

fund.

Practically, Malaysia has been a pioneer in many practices of Islamic financial products since the emergence of Islamic banking and finance in the last three decades.

These range from Islamic banking, Takaful (Islamic insurance) to Tabung Hajji, aiming at financing the Hajj-related expenditure of poor Malaysian farmers, who used to sell their only source of livelihood - agricultural land - for the purpose (IRTI, 2007).

Malaysian Muslims have developed a unique Islamic microfinance model, popularly known as Ar-Rahnu (Islamic pawn broking). The system was simply based on the widely accepted notion: “gold is women’s best friend.”

Malaysian Muslims were shying away from interest-based financial transactions which violate Islamic principles. Therefore, they devised a system whereby gold was used as collateral while the lender charges a fee for keeping the gold safe. Hence, the system was based on the following principles of Islamic microfinance; it is interest-free, transparent and customer-friendly; it follows clear record keeping of all transactions, and secures safe keeping. Ar-Rahnu received wide acceptance in Malaysia by poor families and is considered a very useful tool in encouraging savings and investments (El-Karanshawy, 2007). It is based on benevolent loan (Qard Hasan), an agreement between a lender and a borrower whereby the lender is forbidden to ask for extra payment but the borrower is encouraged to give a token of appreciation (Baharun, 2008). Ar-Rahnu is seen as an economic tool to improve the socio-economic development of the lower and middle income earners in the society because of its flexibility and co-operative principles.

In Islamic Economics, man/human being is a caliph, who is responsible for himself, his family, his employees/organisation, among others. In other words, man is a trustee of Allah on resources under his care and such trust (amanah) has to be delivered accordingly. Thus, ensuring justice, fulfilling his needs in permissible manner, abstaining from any immoral and unethical acts are the least expected from him. In doing so, he becomes closer to Allah, and that paves the way for his success in this world and the hereafter.

It is argued that elements of injustice in interest-based financial transactions breed economic malpractices that have far-reaching consequences on the society. These range from unanticipated rise in price to fall in profitability, increased business failure, corruption, high cost of governance, decay in infrastructure, social distrust and breakdown of law and order.

Ameliorating these requires revisiting socio-cultural values of the society to provide solution tailored to the belief and culture of the people. It appears Islamic microfinance through cooperative society works for many and has the potential of addressing economic and social imbalances in the society.

Being excerpts from a speech delivered, in Abuja, by Dr Aliyu Dahiru Muhammad of the International Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, Bayero University, Kano, at the annual Islamic Finance Seminar of the Islamic Crescent Cooperative Society Limited.

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islamicnews

Friday, 22 April, 2016

Akinola, Alake, Bankole advise women on role in Islam Olayinka Olukoya -Abeokuta

A cross section of participants at the opening of the orientation/biometric registration of intending pilgrims by the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, at the Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan on Tuesday.

Rewarding incompetent people with public office worst form of corruption —Emir of Kano

By Saheed Salawu

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HE Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has described placing people in positions they don’t have competence to manage as the worst form of corruption.

Delivering an address, in Lagos, at the grand finale of the 30th anniversary of University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA), Sanusi decried the situation where incompetent people are saddled with public offices in the name of the federal character principle.

According to him, “the problem with our country very often is that people are entrusted with responsibilities they are not capable of handling, and that is the worst form of corruption.

“I am not one of those opposed to this thing called federal character. It is very good. But it is not enough to say I have Hausa, I have Yoruba, I have Muslims and I have Christians in my cabinet; which particular human being have you selected? Can he do the job you have given him?”

Sanusi emphasised that the first consideration in appointing a public officer should be whether the person is capable of handling the responsibilities or not “because his incompetence comes back to hurt the people.”

The Emir also charged policy makers to focus developmental efforts on the appropriate sections of the society and avoid cosmetic approach to national progress and development.

“You have to ask whom development is for. Is it for the elite? When we talk of development, we think of skyscrapers and roads and

bridges and we say we are developed. But if you move out of town, after just one hour drive, you find people who are scavenging; they don’t have primary healthcare centres; their babies are born out of hospitals; there is high maternal morbidity and the children are dying of malnutrition.

So, what really is development and whom is development for?

“We all have a responsibility to talk about this, to ask what should be our priority. Should we be building large, sophisticated, IT-enabled infrastructure for us to go for our urban class diseases like stress and depression? Or are we looking at basic primary healthcare facilities that allow babies to be born safely, to get vaccination, to get primary education?

What is development?” he

said.

He, therefore, challenged the government to consider the greater good of the majority rather than the narrow interest of the elite, saying Abuja is not Nigeria.

“You live in Abuja [but] Abuja in not Nigeria [because] you don’t see the darkness, you don’t see the poverty; you have paved roads, you have skyscrapers and you have flyovers.

“It is funny but I have always known that that people who live in Abuja basically live in a world of their own, not the world of the people they are serving,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Emir commended UMA for making fundraising for scholarship the highlight of the celebration, appealing to well-meaning individuals to identify with the

association.

The UMA president, Alhaji Akeeb Oladokun, commended the Federal Government on its resolve to root out Boko Haram, while calling for resettlement of all internally displaced persons.

Oladokun said the association equally identified with the fight against corruption and corrupt public officials and enjoined the government and agencies established for this purpose to spare no one in the crusade.

He also charged rulers to see public offices as positions of trust which should be deployed for the benefit of the citizenry.

The UMA, which was established in 1985, has so far awarded scholarships to 93 students for mainly post-graduate programmes.

Why we digitalised our hajj operations in Oyo —Akeugbagold

By Oluwatoyin Malik and Saheed Salawu THE chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Taofeek Akeugbagold, has explained the rationale behind the decision of the board to digitalise its hajj operations.

At the flag-off of the orientation and biometric registration of intending pilgrims to this year’s holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday at the Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan, Akeugbagold told journalists that the move was to curb dishonest practices like presentation of fake receipts and bank tellers.

According to him, in line

with the directive of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the board has brought a lot of innovations into its operations.

He also noted that the board had secured accommodation for Oyo State pilgrims this year very close to Masjid al Haram.

The hotel accommodation, which is just three minutes trek to Masjid al Haram, he said, is the closest any Oyo State pilgrims will be staying to the Grand Mosque of Mecca.

“I can also assure you that a lot of other welfare packages await our pilgrims in Mecca because the directive of Governor Ajimobi is that the Oyo State Pilgrims

Welfare Board must set the pace for other Nigerian states in Mecca,” Akeugbagold said.

Meanwhile, in view of the disaster recorded during the 2015 exercise, Alhaji Akeugbagold said measures have been taken by the Saudi authorities to record a hitch-free hajj this year.

He also quoted the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as saying that the Saudi authorities have agreed to move Nigeria closer to the Jamrat (a pedestrian bridge in Mina, near Mecca, used by pilgrims during the stoning of the devil ritual of the hajj) this year.

THE Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, has charged Muslim women to educate their children and wards and bring them up in the ways of God. He attributed societal problems to failings on the part of parents, especially mothers, advising women to see to it that their children are properly trained.

Akinola made the remarks at the 82nd anniversary and launch of appeal fund for the structural renovation and redesign of the mosque of the Alasalatu Society of Nigeria and West Africa (ASONWA), held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The theme of the anniversary was “The role of Women in Islamic Propagation.”

Akinola expressed displeasure at the level of involvement of Muslim women in the propagation of Islam and urged them to strive more for the development of the religion.

“If you don’t train your children in the religious way, you can’t get what you want from such children because they can go astray and that is going to affect their future,” he said.

The duo of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III and father of Honourable ‘Dimeji Bankole, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Alani Bankole, urged Muslim women to rediscover themselves.

They said self-rediscovery was needed for “Muslim women to appreciate their value in Islam towards ensuring the propagation of the religion.”

The monarch, represented by Alhaji Usman Obamewa, said the importance of women in nation building could not be overemphasised, while Bankole stated that Muslim women have a vital role to play in moving the nation forward.

Bankole said, “Historically, the wife of Prophet Muhammad spent all her life and wealth to support her husband to develop Islam and the women of today have a major role to play in the development of the home. However, how many of our women today understand their role in Islam, at home and in the society?

“So, it is my advice that our women should rediscover themselves to play the vital role God has given them in the development of humanity. The problems we have in the society today can be traced mostly to the activities of our women who are not doing the job God has allotted to them.”

The Baba Adini of Egbaland, Navy Captain Rasheed Raji (retd), who is also the grand patron of the group, said ASONWA was founded in 1934 by the late Sheikh Ahmad Rufai Akorede to provide spiritual guidance to Muslim women.

“We must remain committed to the teachings and tenets of our faith and ensure we take our rightful position in the affairs of the country through our constructive and meaningful participation in every endeavour that will move the country forward,” Raji added.

Be patient with Buhari, Adesokan pleads with Nigerians A defence analyst, Alhaji Rasheed Adesokan, has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in its efforts at repositioning the country.

Adesokan told journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, that there was the need for Nigerians to support the government in correcting the ills of the past and returning the country to the path of glory.

The Director-General, Centre for Islamic and Youth Development, decried decadence in the country in the past six years occasioned by what he called poor performance by the last administration.

He said the bad policies of the last administrations had affected virtually all sectors of the economy.

Adesokan, who is the leader of Bodija community in Ibadan, said the present suffering over fuel scarcity, shortage of electricity supply across the country, among others, would soon be a thing of the past.

“The situation has been worsened in the last six years, so Nigerians have no option but to be patient with the present administration,” he said.

According to him, since the present leadership had no magic wand, “Nigerians will have to be patient or ordered to be patient.”

He said “the situation has degenerated in the past six years. We shouldn’t expect miracle from somebody who is less than 11 months in the saddle. It is going to take a course before things get better,” he said.

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Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636

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Denrele and Ebuka battle in first episode of Lip Sync Battle Africa

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• First episode premieres exclusively on MTV Base on 30 April

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music TV personality Denrele Edun and TV heartthrob, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu are set to do battle in the premiere episode of the hotly anticipated reality contest Lip Sync Battle Africa premiering at 6.00pm, Saturday 30 April, on the MTV Base channel.

The dynamic duo is set to clash in a sizzling on-screen confrontation in front of millions of TV viewers across Africa, as the massive global TV hit finally makes its debut in Nigeria. After lip syncing (or miming) to two songs of their choice, just one of them will lift the Lip Sync Battle trophy and earn the biggest bragging rights on the planet as the inaugural Lip

Sync Battle champion.

The eagerly-awaited African version of the global TV hit, Lip Sync Battle Africa is hosted by South African actress and TV presenter Pearl Thusi alongside Nigerian superstar and “Koko Master” D’Banj.

Commenting on his appearance in the upcoming episode, Denrele remarked, “I am going to have a lot of fun on Lip Sync Battle Africa. This is precisely the sort of thing I like to do ordinarily and I will feel right at home on that stage! My fans can expect to see Denrele at his crazy, quirky best and I think that will make the show very watchable. Too bad for Ebuka that he is coming up against me!”

Ebuka added, “Lip Sync Battle Africa is a bit left field for me, but I look forward to having fun on the programme. I promise everyone a fantastic time and my fans will get to see a side of me that they have never seen before, and possibly a side of me that even I have never seen before. I’m really excited it looks like a lot of fun already”.

Find out who wins the battle of the TV airwaves by tuning in to Lip Sync Battle Africa on MTV Base on Saturday 30, April.

Viewers can also be part of the #LSBChallenge by uploading their own personal lip sync of D’banj’s “Emergency”, Davido’s “The Sound” and Yemi Alade’s “Johnny” on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #LSBChallenge.

Triple MG unveils new first lady, Tonye ONE year after parting ways with Emma Nyra who was the first lady of MMMG records led by Ubi Franklin and Iyanya, the label has announced a new replacement.

The new first lady of the label has been unveiled as fast-rising singer, Tonye.

Making the announcement some moments ago on social media, Ubi Franklin wrote, ‘First Lady Alert! Tonye. On behalf of Me The CEO Of Made Men Music and The Chairman and Board of Directors Iyanya. And artistes Tekno, Selebobo, Chibbz and our super producer Dj Coublon and staff we welcome you’.

The former first lady of the label, Emma Nyra left amidst controversial circumstances.

The new first lady, Tonye was born in England and she spent most of her childhood and adult years in Paris, Nigeria, and Washington DC. Her last released single is a love song titled ‘Ari Belema’.

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

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

fridaytreat ‘Studying music has helped me appreciate folklore’

TAMPAN revives live stage performance, organises maiden edition

By Remi Anifowose

ARAMIDE SHANU, in this interview, speaks with Akin Brown, a folklore singer about his choice of music among things. excerpts

While Wizkid congratulated Davido...

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USIC star, David Adeleke, better known as Davido, recently inked another mouth watering endorsement deal with beverage giant, Pepsi and by so doing, joined the likes of Wizkid, Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay as Pepsi ambassadors.

Wizkid, who in recent times, has enjoyed a rollicking relationship with Davido in the last couple of months, took to his social media to congratulate his friend and welcome him to the Pepsi family by posting a picture of both of them standing on their cars, alongside their managers, friends and associates.

While the picture showed both camps apparently in celebratory mood, fans on social media decided to interpret the picture, which Friday Treat found quite interesting.

According to some, the picture which shows Wizkid on one car, with his manager standing beside him and Davido on another, surrounded by his crew, shows that Wizkid was successful, but alone. @tobi commented saying, ‘In this picture, it seems someone has friends and the other doesn’t’, while @Olekchikwa said, ‘Team work on different levels’.

Another respondent, Fela opined that in the business sense of it, Wizkid was a workaholic and couldn’t afford to take his friends to work.

“You can’t take your friends to work every time and that is why you see him standing by his manager who is way older than he is. To him, its all about work”.

While fans continue to trade words over Wizkid’s post, it is important to note that both artistes have come a long way in their careers, and the

picture, despite all meanings read into it, actually shows two hard working young men having the time of their lives.

HOW was your growing up like?

I am Akintunde Obaoluwasanjofunmi a.k.a Akin Brown.

My growing up was colourful and I could remember trying to be like Superman. My growing up years were tough and I was not privileged to enjoy some things my mates were used to. As the only son in the family, we moved a lot to many parts of Lagos; uncivilised areas like Ejigbo, Isolo, Ilasa, etc.

What motivated you to go into music?

I can say my environment, where I grew up in was responsible for my interest in music; I grew up in a house where everybody was in the choir and my father had a collection of songs from dif-

Cornerstone films debuts multimillion naira film on Jesus this month HISTORY is about to be made in the Nigeria gospel films industry as a film company; Cornerstone Films is about to debut a multimillion naira project which will be distributed free to people.

This is a first in the movie industry and the management of the film company isn’t bothered that the multi million naira project will not bring any financial gains.

“It is the first of its kind. We are also giving the film out for free. We don’t care that the film will gulp almost 50 million naira, all we want to achieve is to massive soul winning; we want to win souls for Christ on a large scale through the movie,” Pastor Shitu Ajao, the producer and director of the film stated.

He stated further, “we are going to premiere the film in all states, starting in Ogun State on April 31, then we will move to Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun and all other states of the federation, but our focus is especially on the South west. The project has been on for many years. If you look at all the stories of Jesus

Christ, no one has cast a black man as Jesus, but we want people to see a black actor take the role of Jesus, hence we decided to cast Jesus as a black man.

“We are not being sponsored by any firm at present, but we will welcome any if there are

volunteers and what we are doing is to gain and win soul for Jesus. We also discovered that the best way to preach the gospel of Jesus is through films, hence we are not selling the film, but will give it out free.”

#ASPII stage play takes centre stage in Ibadan THE resurgence in the appreciation of the theatre arts and stage plays in Nigeria, especially in the South West, has inspired the birth of another play in Ibadan, a repertory project which will make its debut on May 2, 2016 with the very hilarious Ola Rotimi’s ‘Man Talk Woman Talk’. Spear headed by Space FM’s Babatunde Ojobaro a.k.a Mr Rain, the project is set to showcase a supremacy battle among the sexes. This project is set to provide frequently what can be best termed as alternative entertainment.

The theatre culture provides a very awesome experience which many have only heard of

but never experienced, those who know the value have constantly cried of its declined.

According to Ojobaro, “We intend to play our role in reviving this culture by providing very quality theatre productions and entertainment away from the usual. To achieve this feat, the services of the best stage directors and actors around will be employed”.

Man Talk, Woman Talk would be staged at the Arts Theatre of the University of Ibadan on May 2, 2016 and would expose the audience to a hilarious evening, which according to organisers, would be once in a life time experience.

ferent artistes like Bob Marley, Peter Touch, Ginger Williams, Salawa Abeni, Fela etc. All those artistes helped me in building my career as a musician.

What is your style of music?

Basically, I do folklore music. So I will say that I am a new traditional folklore artiste.I see music inspiration everywhere.

With hip-hop as the rave of the moment, do you think folklore will fly?

It’s my background because I remember my mother in various renditions, singing about famous stories which made them very interesting. She would tell us stories like ‘igbo irunmole’ etc.

These songs played a huge role during my formative years, thus my decsion to continue in that traditional form.

Tell us about folklore?

In every part of the world, we have different types of songs for anything happening around us; for naming ceremonies, funerals etc, there is song for ever occasion. Hip hop is just a small part of our culture, but my music is one that is subjective. I know some people who like my genre of music, so, I don’t think the measure of success as a musician is by how popular the genre is.

Did you go to any music school?

Yes, I went to Pefti Film Institute and studied Music Technology.

Are you now dropping out of school or you are through with it?

I am done with it. I decided to be a musician that is why I went to study music in school.

I I would want to be on top of my career as a musician, be a better person and hopefully to start a bit of farming because I want to have something aside music.

Do you have any family support especially from your mum?

Initially, I let her understand that I really loved being a musician. She wants everyone of us to be happy and she knows that I don’t smoke, drink, do hard drugs and I don’t keep bad company. I think that made her accept the fact that I really wanted to do music.

When did you discover your talent?

I remember one time while in primary school, I misbehaved and my teacher decided to keep me busy so he asked me to go and join the choir. It was towards the end of the term, but I don’t remember how I ended up holding microphone as a lead singer. On my graduation, I was the lead singer. I was also part of the Children’s Choir. After a while, I said to myself, ‘why can’t I take this choir thing to another level’ and that’s how I discovered myself.

Why do you think few artistes opt for the folklore genre?

Folklore isn’t easy. It is about the experiences and the influences about people while growing up because if you are someone who sees life as folklore, you will definitely create stories in that way. It is a beautiful thing when you hear songs and you realise that it has existed for years and you don’t even know who wrote the song yet you are singing it. Again, the message is also important, so one must be relevant because people may not know who wrote the song or when the song was composed but one may be experiencing the issue that a song might be about.

I guess this technicality makes few people do folklore music because it is about dealing with real life issues. We are teachers, so one has to keep it fresh and keep it going.

IN its bid to bring back live stage performance and cinema culture; empower members and get Nollyhood artistes to familiarise with fans one on one, the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Oyo State, last Friday, organised the maiden edition of a live stage performance entitled, “Ogbon.”

The national president of TAMPAN, Prince Dele Odule, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the programme, held at Wallan Hall (former D’Rovans Hotel), Akinyemi, Ibadan, on Friday, said the programme was aimed at reviving cinema culture through live stage plays which had long been abandoned for Home Screen videos. He said this would further awaken the rich cultural heritage of Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba.

Apart from this, Prince Odule noted

Meet your artiste

Any challenges as an upcoming artiste?

Yes, we are experiencing the same problems most people are passing through now; power failure, no fuel scarcity, but the big issue is the piracy problem. Apart from all these, I think everything is moving fine.

Where do you want to see yourself in the next few years?

I would want to be on top of my career as a musician, be a better person and hopefully to start a bit of farming because I want to have something aside music.

that the move by TAMPAN would avail members the opportunity of being busy, and at the same time, serve as a form of empowerment for theatre groups which intend to stage their own live performance.

According to him, ‘’Not every actor or actress has the opportunity of going to locations, so staging a live performance will occupy and keep such artist busy. For example, before any theatre group can present a live performance, they would have had series of rehearsals which would have kept them busy.’’

The TAMPAN national president, while also speaking on the sustenance of the live stage performance which had been kick-started in Lagos and now Oyo, said the performance would be a continuous monthly one, saying third Sunday of every month had been slated for subsequent events at the same venue.

Real name: Oludipe Oluwasanmi David Stage name: Spyro Date of Birth : October 1, 1994 State: Lagos Latest song/video: Janet (Wife Material) Location of video: Lagos and Ibadan Director: Lucas Ried Educational Background: Model College Meiran, Graduate of English ( University of ibadan ) Instagram|twitter : @SpyroPhreeze

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

’Wale Olapade 08161235359 wale11g3@gmail.com

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

Members of Culinary Academy,Starwood Hotels in Nigeria.

Nzem Berom Festival must be sustained —Gbong Gwom Jos

Starwood Hotels in Nigeria kicks off culinary academy series Stories Olawale Olapade

STARWOOD Hotels in Nigeria launches its first series of intensive culinary training sessions known as the Culinary Academy for its team of seasoned chefs from the five properties in the countrySheraton Lagos Hotel, Sheraton Abuja Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Lagos, Le Meridien Ogeyi Place and Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resorts.

According to the Area General Manager for Starwood Hotels in Nigeria- Barry Curran “We continue to focus our efforts in delivering unique and eclectic culinary experiences for our esteemed customers; so much that each time you dine in any of our distinct restaurants; you get a creatively inspiring dining experience that you do not get anywhere else.

“Presently, we are very glad to introduce Damian Cooper to our team, Damian comes with a lot of experience in heading Area Food & Beverage teams for our company and he has the task of overseeing our culinary teams in Nigeria apart from his foremost operational responsibility as Deputy General Manager for Sheraton Lagos Hotel.

“We have just kicked off our first series of the Academy at our fascinating Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort at Akwa Ibom, Damian led the kick off while our expert in charge of training; our

Executive chef (Complex) for Le Meridien Ibom & Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene, Chef Johan DePrins led an initial four sessions with 26 modules,’’ said

Barry.

“These topics comprise of hands-on practicals such as stocks and glazes, sauces, vegetables, food presentation, Hors

d’oeuvres, understanding meat & game, understanding fish and shellfish, sanitation and safety, menus, recipes, nutrition and a lot of other itinerary.”

East-West Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Amachree complained that the country is facing serious economic challenges and advised the federal and state governments to invest in the tourism sector, saying the sector has the potential to create jobs and also earn foreign exchange for Nigeria, if well harness.

He emphasised that tourism is the highest employer of labour and second highest foreign exchange earner in Nigeria after oil.

“Nigeria is a blessed country with arrays of world class tourism sites. However, we are not giving these sites the desired attention.

They require greater attention and desired attention for them to attract tourists. I feel bad that with all these sites that God has blessed this country with, we are allowing them to waste while other countries are making money from these same natural gifts. ‘‘The government must take tour-

ism very seriously. That is what most countries that understand what the industry can offer do.”

Amachree insisted that the era of total dependence on oil revenue to run the country was gone and that there was need for Nigeria to invest more in tourism, which has over the years proved resilient in the face of global turmoil.

While suggesting numerous ways tourism can help revamp the Nigerian economy, Amachree advised the government to meet with core tourism practitioners in the country to identify and keep record of all tourist sites in the states with a view to assist in their development; provide adequate security in tourist centres.

He also called on the Federal Government to liaise with embassies in different countries to relax entry permits into Nigeria to enable tourists and visitors come into the country to boost our foreign exchange earnings.

ville, N’djamena, Niamey, Ouagadougou and Yaoundé. At Addis Ababa, passengers will enjoy seamless connections to/from points in East and Southern Africa, including Nairobi, Dares Salaam, Khartoum, Kampala, Kigali, and Johannesburg. Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked, “We are thrilled to resume our service to New York, our fifth gateway in the Americas. New York is one of the world’s most economically powerful cities and including it in our ever expanding network will play a critical role in the ex-

pansion of trade, tourism and investment between the fast growing continent of Africa and the United States.

“I would like to thank all who strived hard to make the route possible.”

New York-Newark becomes Ethiopian’s 93rd international gateway and fourthgateway in North America. Ethiopian currently operates daily nonstop flights from Washington DC to Addis Ababa, as well as three weekly nonstop flights from Toronto to Addis Ababa and three weekly flights from Los Angeles to Addis Ababa via Dublin.

Seetourismasalternativetooil, AmachreeurgesFG

F

ORMER President of Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) Alabo Mike Amachree has reiterated the need for the federal and state governments to see tourism as alternative sector to stabilise the nation in the face of dwindling economy.

Amachree, who is an ardent promoter of tourism made this statement to journalists, tourism stakeholders during a tour of his newly built Brooklyn Tourist Centre, along

Amachree

Ethiopian to launch flights to New York-Newark ETHIOPIAN Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Africa has completed arrangement to commence a three times weekly flights to New York-Newark from Addis Ababa via Lomé, Togo, from July 3, 2016,.

Ethiopian will be deploying the modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner on this route, which not only offers unparalleled onboard comfort to passengers, but is also the world’s most environmentally friendly aircraft with its lower carbon and noise emissions.

Ethiopian’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner is configured with 24 busi-

ness class and 246 economy seats, all of which are equipped with Ethiopian’s renowned audio-visual in-flight entertainment consoles.

With the operations, passengers will be able to connect between New York-Newark and many other cities Africa. At Lomé, passengers will enjoy seamless connections to/from points in West Africa with ASKY, an Ethiopian partner airline based in Lomé.

“Connections will be available to/from Abidjan, Bamako, Bissau, Brazzaville, Conakry, Dakar, Douala, Kinshasa, Lagos, Libre-

The custodian of Berom culture and Chairman, Plateau State Council of Traditional Rulers, Gbong Gwom Jos, His Majesty Da Jacob Gyang Buba, has called on sons and daughters of Berom land to join hands together to sustain the cultural festival of the people.

His majesty advised Beroms and their friends to key into the efforts of his council and all Berom district heads to ensure peace and unity reign among them and their neighbours. “We fought hard to get where we are today and God has made it possible through His grace to restore the glory of our land,” he noted.

Addressing the mammoth crowd that thronged the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, venue of Nzem Berom 2016, last week Friday, Da Jacob Buba also warned trouble makers to keep off the Berom land and the Plateau landscape in general, stressing that anyone or group of people caught in cattle rustlings or farm destruction would not be spared by security agencies.

On the gains of Nzem Berom 2016 with the theme ‘A culture brand for unity, peace and progress, the royal father encouraged his subjects to revert to farming and hospitality enterprises which are the mainstay of Berom economy.

“We must not forget to till the land and take advantage of every opportunity to encourage both Nigerians and foreigners alike to visit Jos Plateau again. “Ours is the home of peace and tourism and all hands must be on deck to project a peaceful Jos,” His majesty noted.

Also speaking at the event, the former governor of the state and now senator, representing Jos North senatorial zone, Senator David Jang advised the Berom not to allow politics to divide them.

“Never again must we allow politics to divide us. All our traditional leaders must keep out of politics and help bring our people together to sustain the peace which we enjoy today and forever” he stressed.

Nzem Berom, a mega festival of Berom nation was last celebrated about 10 years ago due to security conflicts on the Plateau which today is a thing of the past.

Gbong Gwom

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Friday, 22 April, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com

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PDP’s game of power brokers

OR members of the hitherto governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the past one year has been tough and rough for the party. The party’s defeat in the 2015 general election threw spanner in the works, just as a number of its leaders were beset with daunting times under the new political dispensation.

Faced with such a reality, the party practically went back to the drawing board towards charting the way forward.

Some of the pragmatic measures embarked upon by the core stakeholders in the party will further manifest from tomorrow as the PDP begins the process of reconstituting its executives. The process of re-engineering, which will begin with the conduct of ward congress across the country, will climax in a national convention on May 21, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The announcement by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP of a timetable for the congresses and national convention has rekindled activities within the party. Such activities peaked when the party began the search for an interim national chairman. The choice of a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, came through a tug of war among some powerful interests in the party.

The crisis resurfaced following insinuations that some forces, believed to have railroaded Sheriff’s ascendancy into office, were making discreet moves to consolidate his grip on the soul of the PDP. The controversy deepened last Monday following conflicting media reports on the resolution of the Committee on Zoning set up by the PDP national secretariat after a meeting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. The state governor, Udom Emmanuel, is the head of the committee.

One of such reports that elicited the angry reactions was that those pushing for the elongation of the tenure of Modu Sheriff appeared to have triumphed, because of indications that the zoning committee had zoned the national chairmanship to the North-East, where he hails from. Others included: deputy national chairman (South-South); national secretary (South-West); organising secretary (South-East); publicity

secretary (South-West); Women Leader (North- West) and Treasurer (North Central).

Though the report of the committee was subject to the ratification of the party’s highest decision-making organ, some elders were miffed by the ‘recommendation’ in their spontaneous reactions. The development necessitated such party leaders like Chief Olabode George cautioning the PDP leadership against allowing some fifth columnists to further push the party into the valley of abyss.

In 2012, PDP zoned its national chairman to the NorthEast. So, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur from Adamawa State was elected, but his four-year tenure was cut short, thus paving the way for a former governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Mu’azu, who led the party through the 2015 general election.

The unceremonious exit of Mu’azu brought in Prince Uche Secondus, the hitherto deputy national chairman, into office in an acting capacity, until February when Sheriff mounted the saddle.

The report of the zoning committee was top on the agenda of the meeting of the party’s NEC, its second highest decision-making organ, earlier scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja, but which was put on hold because of the seeming bitterness and anger trailing the feelers that the post of national chair-

The postponement of the meeting of the body and that of the Board of Trustees (BoT) was reportedly meant to calm frayed nerves

As members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) begin the process of reconstituting its structures across the country, KUNLE ODEREMI examines the roles of various power blocs in the party.

man had been ceded to the North-East, a zone which some party leaders had declared that the PDP presidential candidate will come from in 2019. The NEC of the party is constituted by the national caucus, comprising governors, state party chairmen and National Assembly members. The postponement of the meeting of the body and that of the Board of Trustees (BoT) was reportedly meant to calm frayed nerves.

The zoning palaver has split the ranks of PDP faithful in the South-West, with the preponderance of the party elders insisting that the position of national chairman should come to the zone, at least for the first since the birth of PDP in 1998.

However, the advocates of zoning both the presidential ticket and chairmanship seat to the North premised their stance on the need to restore the confidence of the North in the party and give the ruling All Progressives Congress a good fight in the next general election. Right now, only two of the 19 states in the North are under the control of PDP, in a sharp contrast to the prevalent trend since Nigeria returned to civil rule in May 1999.

A former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, was quoted as saying the committee had a right to recommend anything it wanted. He opined that the committee would submit its report to the NWC, which would, in turn, pass it to the party’s caucus, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the NEC. George said: “I have no problems with the recommendations of the committee. It is only a committee. When we meet them, they will explain to us how they arrived at that. PDP is not controlled by one man. It has the visions of the founding fathers. If we are not satisfied and they insist, we will land in court. They will have to tell us how they arrived at it. We will listen to them and have a debate. It is not a private company. If they convince us, we will agree.

But if not, we will throw it out. That is my position. “ It will be recalled that a delegation from the South-West, led by Senator Kashamu Buruji, had visited Modu SherContinues on pg24

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

The ground work for 2019

Emmanuel Ali Ndume

Wike

Continued from pg23

iff and canvassed the need to curry the favour of the North ahead of the 2019 polls. The National Chairman also played host to former elected governors and deputy governors who are still in the party. A national officer of the party hinted that Sheriff wanted to remain in office till 2018, but said that this was contrary to the party’s constitution, which allows a fouryear tenure.

National Caucus It is one of the most influential caucuses in the PDP. Beginning from the era of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the caucus has shaped most major events at highly critical times. It has been able to complement incumbency power with intimidating war chest to make its members almost the de facto bloc in the PDP. Save for the Obasanjo presidency, the caucus produced other presidents of the country until 2015. Though the defeat the party suffered last year has reduced the number of states under its control, the thinking in the political circles is that the existing ones elected on PDP platform will be keen and desirous of maintaining the prime position of the bloc in the current effort to rebuild the PDP. The mainstay of the bloc now seems to be a combined force of the South-South and the South-East, where the party controls the majority of states since 1999. The governors of Ondo and Ekiti states complete the circle of PDP governors that are determined to consolidate the awesome influence of the governors’ caucus in the PDP. Former governors The influence of former governors of the party in the PDP has also been consistently remarkable over the years. They have constituted a powerful bloc that has maintained a leading role in the running of the party, especially in states where the former governors succeeded in installing their candidates as successors or where the party was no longer in power. In the latter group, they form the rallying points in the quest to make the party regain its lost glory, especially in the SouthWest where it once controlled Oyo, Ogun, and Osun states.

This group of PDP leaders have found new political allies in former ministers and other persons that held key appointments when PDP formed the central government. The tug of war over the national chairmanship has brought them together and they have been soulmates in the battle of wits over the issue of zoning/sharing formula preparatory to the national convention of PDP. NASS members The current power game has not left out members of the National Assembly elected on the PDP ticket. The relationship between them and the governors has been, to say the least, anything but cordial in the quest to shape the destiny

George of the party. The gap between the two blocs became most pronounced when it became apparent that the governors and their cohorts were the brains behind the push for Modu Sheriff as chairman. Their opposition necessitated the compromise reached by the core stakeholders in February that Modu Sheriff will only midwife the conduct of national convention to elective substantive national chairman. Incidentally, a lot of the elders of the PDP keyed into the idea, es-

The relationship between them and the governors has been, to say the least, anything but cordial in the quest to shape the destiny of the party.

Sheriff pecially members of the party’s BoT. Quite a couple of them had challenged Modu Sheriff during the initial contest for the chairmanship last February.

The choice of Port Harcourt as the venue of the national convention has been a subject of many interpretations. Some have premised the decision by the party’s leadership on the need to have the necessary resources to hold such a crucial event. Others have perceived the choice of the venue as a recognition and appreciation of the massive support of the South-South for the PDP since 1999. There are others who rationalized the choice as underscoring the awesome influence of governors in major decisions within the party. But suffice it to add that the build up to the convention provides the real opportunity for the main caucuses in the PDP and their godfathers to stamp their authority.

As party faithful step out for the congresses, Chief Olabode George cautioned: “We must discountenance the desperate campaign of calumny to pull others down because of personal advantages. We must put the interest of our party far above any parochial position. If we want to prevail in future, if we are really serious about the complete overhaul of our great party, we must never again allow such fifth columnists to gain any position of influence and relevance in our party.

We must be very critical and prudent in choosing those who should lead us. To rebuild our party, to re-establish ourselves in fresh and determined vigor, we must weed out the decaying roots that can bear no good fruits. We must eliminate through the process of sifting and sorting and discard the poisonous seeds that can endanger the healthy growth of our party. We can never again harbour insidious elements who would plant one foot in PDP in day time and another foot in APC at night.

“What is now at stake is not about party in-fighting and the desperate tussle for position. What is important now is genuine service and commitment. We must all rededicate ourselves to work as a solid, formidable team. We must first devote ourselves to the path of hard work and absolute selflessness. We must be resolute about sacrifice and the sincerity of purpose. We must be determined about quality leadership and the pursuit of excellence. Our resolve now is not about personal pursuit. Our focus should be predicated on the summative good and the glory of our party. We must now move away from the dubious recourse to personal agenda.

This party is greater than all of us. The unity of this nation is more treasurable than the narrow self-seeking individual advantages.

“We must immediately discard personal biases and narrow prejudices in our search for credible leadership. We must never again mortgage the collective destiny of our party because of immediate material gains or because of petty animosity against individuals. We are entering a very crucial and critical phase in the remoulding and the restructuring process of our great party. There cannot be any mistakes or mis-steps.”

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PDP doing well at N/Assembly —Rep Honourable Ayodele Oladimeji, representing Ado Ekiti, Irepodun/ Ifelodun federal constituency in the House of Representatives, speaks on issues concerning the National Assembly and his constituency with SAM NWAOKO. Excerpts:

T

he House of Representatives seems to have given you some form of experience different from what you had in mind before you went there. What is your experience like so far?

I must confess that it is a very rich experience. During the campaigns, I said I wanted to be a part of a very vibrant Assembly and I thank God that the Eight Assembly is a very vibrant one under the leadership of Honourable Yakubu Dogara. We have passed so many motions and bills. Personally, I’ve recorded three motions in the House and two more are coming soon, just as a bill is also in the offing. So, it is a very vibrant house and that was my expectation when I was going there.

The issues of the budget has painted a very awkward picture of the National Assembly. The House is seen by Nigerians to be rancorous and one that has forgotten their interest. How do you see this?

You enjoy democracy when there is opposition. If you are just there and nobody is challenging what you are doing, then you will be sleeping, you won’t even know what you’re doing. But when there is somebody monitoring you and who can expose you, then you know that you must do what is right. When a legislative house is active, it appears rancorous to those outside. It is not always so.

People there know what they are doing. The house is the house of the common people; you are fighting for your own constituency while I also fight for my own constituency. It means the house isn’t rancorous but active.

Oladimeji

How would you rate the performance of your party in the National Assembly and elsewhere?

The PDP is doing vibrantly well. Following what happens in the National Assembly, you would have heard of the Minority Leader called Leo Ogor. There is nothing

that happens that is contrary to the interest of the people that he will not comment on. The way the National Assembly works is that you try to watch the mouth of your most experienced colleagues and know where they are going and fall in line.

When any government is doing something that could adversely affect the Nigerian people, the opposition rises against it and that is basically what checks and balances is all about. The ruling party hasn’t got absolute majority in both chambers of the National Assembly. So, whatever they do, except we in the PDP support it, they cannot achieve it. So this makes them to balance whatever they do and watch their steps and they are careful not to do what would be contrary to the interest of the commoners because we are there to challenge them.

In the issue of the budget, from the beginning when the budget was submitted, there was a lot of argument which opened up the issue of ‘padding’, so much that the presidency came out to agree that the budget was padded.

What came to the National Assembly differed from what the presidency submitted. So, padding took place along the line. When the budget was submitted to the presidency after passing it, they too have raised the issue of padding.

The person at the helm of affairs now is a military man.

He was head of state when he was a soldier, but in democracy, the power of appropriation lies in the House of Representatives. This is because the House has the majority. If we say we are not passing the budget, it won’t go anywhere because we have the power of appropriation. The executive is to propose. When they propose, we sit to look at the proposition item by item.

There may be things we feel that they need to put that’s not there, we would put them. We have the right and the power to do that. If the National Assembly adds anything to the budget, we have that power because the power of appropriation lies in the National Assembly, not in the executive. President Buhari is coming for the first time as a civilian president and I don’t think he really understands this, that that is the power that the National Assembly has.

Why I want to be Ondo gov —Alade its grip in the coming governorship poll?

If I can recollect, APC was the party that set the pace for internal democracy and transparent primaries in the country. From our presidential primary to governorship primaries and other primary contests, APC set precedent by picking its candidates through primaries which were always free, fair, credible and transparent. We cannot however take Mimiko and his PDP for granted. We have to work hard for every vote. APC’s message is resonating in Ondo and across the country but as I said, APC must field a credible candidate and a change agent like myself for people to have confidence that there would bring the real change.

Hon. Dele Alade is one of the APC aspirants eyeing the governorship seat in Ondo State. He speaks on the chances of the party in the election and the issue of imposition in the party HAKEEM GBADAMOSI brings the excerpts.

DO you think APC still has any chance in the forthcoming governorship poll in Ondo State, given the misfortunes of your party in the recent similar elections in Rivers and Bayelsa states?

Absolutely. We have a great chance to win if we present the right and credible candidate, with new vision and a new leadership style and approach to governance and issues. We cannot use Rivers and Bayelsa states as yardstick for Ondo State election. The people of the state are dynamic and enlightened and considering the economic, security and poverty problems the people of the state, they would not think twice before voting for an APC candidate, who can solve all these problems. They will be prepared to vote for the most suitable candidate, irrespective of his ethnic orientation or political background.

The two states you mentioned above are regarded as strongholds of PDP and considering that former President Jonathan hails from there, that’s the way politics goes. They had to give sympathy votes to their son’s party. But that will soon change. APC should be fielding a change agent, credible candidates; candidates with clean records and antecedents and vision to take the country out of its present state. I believe that is the best way to convince Nigerians and the international community that we are serious about the fight against corruption.

PDP has won most rerun polls to NASS so far. Is it not an indication of APC’s weakness as a platform?

I don’t want to believe this APC has been a beautiful bride within its three years of existence and has made positive impact in the nation’s politics. Our leaders have

Alade

done a tremendous job to take us to where we are today, and the party remains a party to beat in any state of the country. Most of the these elections where we lost were in PDP strongholds. We won in Kogi and we are set to win Ondo. APC, like any other democratic party, will surely have some challenges, especially with few bad elements in the party. The APC and the government mean well for the country. Nigerians should be patient and support us to put Nigeria in the right track and be among the best country of the world.

Ondo PDP has conducted congresses without rancour and factions. Is it not suggestive of the party’s readiness and cohesion in consolidating

How do you see some current moves by a powerful APC caucus to adopt a former candidate of the party as consensus candidate?

I have not seen or heard about that. To the best of my knowledge, there is no consensus candidate. There may be one in the past, but at this time, there is no consensus candidate, All the aspirants including myself are working hard to reach out to our party members and selling the party to the people of Ondo State. Any aspirant presenting himself or herself as the consensus candidate or choice of the party leadership is living in lost paradise. Like I said, there is no iota of truth in the rumour, the party has not picked Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as its consensus candidat, the party leadership has said it at different fora that APC will give room to level playing ground, that there will be no imposition and the candidate of the party will emerge through party primaries. So, to the best of my knowledge, there is no consensus candidate.

I am convinced that with the right candidate, APC will win the governorship election. APC with its widespread support should field an experienced, dedicated, knowledgeable and seasoned politician who will be able to embark on a development programme that would bring giant development strides to our state and people. The state needs a fresh start, a new voice, like me to reposition the state and move the state to a greater height.

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

C

OVERING the State House is like waiting for Godot. Thespians reading this may be familiar with the play of the same name written by Samuel Beckett. It’s from the absurdist era that expresses what happens when human existence has no meaning or purpose and therefore all communication breaks down.

I am not saying that State House is like that. Neither am I suggesting that human existence has no meaning there for journalists or that communication has broken down.

But with a circular structure that is repetitive, our routine shares similarities with the characters of this play. It is unlike a traditional drama which essentially starts with an introduction of the characters, followed by the exposition and statement of the problem of the play in relationship to its settings and characters. Waiting for Godot is a two-act play with same setting and time in both acts.

Between the two acts, there is no progression of time but a repetition in the second act of virtually the same thing we see and hear in the first.

To put it in proper perspective, here is the synopsis.

Two tramps, Vladimir and Estragon, meet near a tree, converse and reveal that they are waiting there for a man named Godot. Pozzo enters with his slave, Lucky, who he says he is going to sell in the market. They soon depart and a boy enters and tells Vladimir that he is a messenger from Godot and announces that Godot will not be coming this night, but that he will surely come tomorrow. He leaves. After his departure, Vladimir and Estragon decide to leave, but they do not move as the curtail falls.

The next night, the two tramps meet again in the same place to wait for Godot. Pozzo and Lucky come again, though with slightly different physical characteristics and soon leave as Vladimir and Estragon continue to wait.

Shortly after, the boy enters and once again tells Vladimir that Godot will not be coming. After he leaves, Estragon and Vladimir decide to leave, but again they do not move as the curtain falls. The plays ends there.

State House corespondents converge on the briefing room of the presidential villa daily hoping to get stories.

The villa system, a security set up, runs with utmost secrecy and you are only told about what they want you to know. The president’s itinerary for the day is mostly hidden from journalists even though it may be made regu-

inside

aso rock WITH LEON USIGBE

08078891838 leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk

In State House, we wait for Godot s larly available to all other relevant departments in the State House.

From time to time, some visitors pass through the briefing room corridor on their way to the president’s office.

That immediately announces to reporters that there is something going on. It is followed at times by a summon of cameramen to go in to take establishing shots after which they are told to stand down. Reporters will not be needed but may have press statements sent to their email addresses later on whatever that event might have been.

Apart from inaugurations or submission of reports which reporters may be required to witness in full, most meetings including the regular Federal Executive Coun-

As you come in each morning, you may find some professional colleagues already seated and waiting in the briefing room and you ask them: ‘Anything?’ The response almost always is, “Nothing o.”

cil (FEC) and the National Economic Council (NEC) take place behind closed doors followed by press briefings which oftentimes disguise the main gists of their proceedings when they brief waiting journalists.

As a State House corespondent, as you therefore come in each morning, you may find some professional colLEON seated 08078891838 leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk in the briefing leagues WITH already and waiting room and you ask them: ‘Anything?’ The response almost always is, “Nothing o.” But nobody moves. You do not know what or if anything may come up. Unlike the boy’s message to Vladimir that Godot will not be coming, nobody tells you that nothing is on the president’s programme. So, you are consigned to the briefing room until you sense that the president has left the office for the day and gone home. But you come back the next day to repeat the routine of the previous day.

That’s on the president’s side.

On the vice president’s side, things are much more complicated. Whereas a few reporters are specifically assigned to that office by their media organisations and get the attention of the office, others see the State House as a single beat for one reporter. That means if you are deployed to State House, the president, vice president and their spouses fall under your purview. The worry for us however is what appears to be an unfriendly media environment which neither provides a press waiting room nor information on the activities of the nation’s number two citizen save for late press releases. Despite that, we must pop in there to see what might be on offer.

aso rock

‘Why there is controversy on Lagos-Calabar railway project’ Dr Mathew Achibe is a former Permanent Secretary, member, Board of Directors of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State. In this interview with ANTHONY UBONG, he speaks on the fuel scarcity currently ravaging the country, controversy trailing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal railway project in the 2016 federal budget, and other issues. Excerpts: FOR over a month now, Nigerians have been going through excruciating experiences as a result of the acute fuel scarcity in the country. In fact, some even sleep at filling stations, which has made Nigerians to wonder whether the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari is truly on course. How would you react to this?

First, it is very obvious that we have a high degree of ability to tolerate and forget. You will agree that even though former President Jonathan was, after some time, able to stabilise fuel supply, at the beginning, both the Umaru Yar’Ardua and Jonathan eras were very turbulent.

Towards the end of Jonathan’s administration, the fuel crisis was very severe and it was only God that saved us from total anarchy because of fuel scarcity. I know that when you go back to President Olusegun Obasanjo’s era, it was much more intense.

What embarrasses some of us is the fact that Nigerians see fuel scarcity as peculiar to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and I find it difficult to talk on this issue because of the pains that Nigerians experienced during all this period. It is not peculiar to Buhari’s administration and the beauty about of what happened was that this was deliberate; in order that we would enjoy a season of plenty and fuel flow in this country. As you can see, fuel has started coming in and the queues are gradually disappearing and my happiness is that, sooner or later, we will all forget that we had this experience. For the benefit of Nigerians, we need a firm and forthright leader like Buhari who is prepared to take the bull by the horns and bring lasting solutions to some of the crises that we have experienced, especially in the leadership of this country.

The issue of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal railway project from the 2016 federal budget has continued to elicit negative reactions. Do you suspect foul play from any quarter?

I think that this is pure administrative mismanagement of information. Everybody is speaking from the perspective of what he knows but for us readers of newspapers who also listen to discussions on television, we are more

National Assembly and consider a budget without reflecting on where they come from?

You sit down and give approval for projects in different parts of the country and you don’t think about your own? Even till today, I have not seen any of our representatives whether in the House or in the Senate coming to Cross Riverians to explain to them the details of what transpired. I do not know whether they have done it but it is not publicized for all of us to know and give us the assurance that we sent people to represent us. It is very disappointing. I am saying this loud and clear because it is exactly what made us to lose Bakassi.

Achibe informed. It is clear to me that the initial draft that was sent to the National Assembly did not contain that project. But before the final consideration, it was presented before the National Assembly by the committee and the committee chairman had confirmed that the Minister of Transport actually came to them and made a presentation to the National Assembly. But the committee that was considering the entire budget did not find it necessary to include it because it was not in the original draft. Until the draft is approved, there is still room for amendment.

The most important thing is not what we are talking about. I am very disappointed with most of our representatives because if they had made the appropriate noise in the National Assembly, the project would have been included in the budget. Where were they? What were they thinking? When you are considering the budget—I am not talking of ministers, I am talking about members of the House of Representatives and Senate—each member is representing a constituency. How would they go to the

The Cross River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, will mark one year in office next month.

How would you assess his performance?

In practice, I am not too sure he will be one year in office by next month. Maybe in terms of days, I agree and I think that it is food for thought. If he wants to take one or two years to plan he should know that he has a few years to execute. We will watch. Like I said, the end will justify the means. If you are talking about tangible achievements, he is yet to mark one year in office.

There is crisis in your party in the state, with particular reference to the recent suspension order slammed on former Governor Clement Ebri, which is said to be instigated by the Minister of Niger Delta, Usani Usani, in a bid to take full control of the party in the Central part of the state.

What is your take on this?

There is no way you can find a group of people, especially in politics, that they will not fight for political space.

Everybody is looking for political space; it doesn’t weaken the party. It makes us even stronger and wiser. A party is not a motley of people that you can just coerce, there are certain issues. You know that APC in Cross River State in particular was not very strong. It is only after the elections and you are a witness to what transpired-the impunity in PDP is the opportunity that APC had to empower and strengthen itself.

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Friday, 22 April, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

features

Earth Day:

Will Nigeria still pay lip service?

Children playing at Lake Chad, currently less than 10 per cent of its original size due to climate change.

By Paul Omorogbe

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ODAY, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, about 154 countries gather to sign the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Today is also the annual Earth Day celebration. This year, the theme is ‘Trees for the Earth’. The focus will be on tree planting with a goal of planting 7.8 billion trees over the next five years. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and is coordinated by the Earth Day Network.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja last month, had told the French Minister of Environment, Power and Marine Affairs, Ms. Segolene Royal that Nigeria would be part of signing the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The agreement to be signed was adopted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at COP21 in Paris in December, 2015. The agreement demands that all countries work to limit global temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius.

Nigeria is not new to such signings and summits on climate change. It was reported that “at the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, most developing nations, including Nigeria, joined the debate on the global impact of carbon emissions from developed nations by demanding necessary financial resources to fund measures aimed at tackling the risk and impact of climate change in the third world. However, informed observers will find these demands surprising so long as the developing countries are not ready to take responsibilities for managing immediate environmental

concerns, such as urban air quality, within their own jurisdiction.

According to experts, indeed there are local issues that need to be addressed if Nigeria will show real commitment to the terms of agreements such as the COP 21 of today.

It is no news that Nigerians have experienced unusual rise in temperature at certain periods of the year in recent years. This may not be unconnected to failure of the government to implement certain regulations which are in tandem with international agreements.

Dr Matthew Jonathan Olaniran, a climate expert at the Atmospheric Studies and Space Applications Unit, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said, “Gas flaring in the

To mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment as already being felt in Nigeria, public advocacy about the environment should be intensified

Niger Delta Area of Nigeria leads to increase in the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gases. This rise in carbon emission (due to rapid industrialisation involving oil exploitation and exploration), of course, was identified as the cause of the recent (global) climate change.”

Dr Olaniran also identified “vehicular emission and emission from power plants, generators” and so on as “the major source of atmospheric greenhouse gases in our cities, followed by methane emission from wetland and dumpsites as the second major source. This is best noticed in the evening time at about 7 pm when the atmospheric condition is going neutral; you have fume everywhere up to few metres above the surface; unable to rise up further into the atmosphere.”

Anslem Ajugwo of Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Madonna University, Elele, in his article titled, “Negative Effects of Gas Flaring: The Nigerian Experience,” said that “Nigeria flares 17.2 billion m3 of natural gas per year in conjunction with the exploration of crude oil in the Niger Delta. This high level of gas flaring is equal to approximately one quarter of the current power consumption of the African continent. Even though we have grown to be fairly dependent on oil and it has become the centre of current industrial development and economic activities, we rarely consider how oil exploration and exploitation processes create environmental, health, and social problems in local communities near oil producing fields.

“The Nigerian government has not enforced environmental regulations effectively because of the overlapping and conflicting

jurisdiction of separate governmental agencies governing petroleum and the environment as well as because of non-transparent governance mechanisms. Neither the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) nor the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has implemented antiflaring policies for natural gas waste from oil production, nor have they monitored the emissions to ensure compliance.”

He said that the now defunct Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) “has had the authority to issue standards for water, air and land pollution and has had the authority to make regulations for oil industry. However, in some cases their regulations conflict with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)’s regulations started in 1991 for oil exploration.”

However, Director General, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Mr Adeniyi Karunwi, said that “to mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment as already being felt in Nigeria, public advocacy about the environment should be intensified among the populace so as to be more aware of the need to adjust their lifestyle to reduce carbon emission which poses a threat to human existence.”

President Muhammadu Buhari in November, 2015 approved the submission of the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) to address climate change to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Climate change activists hope that the current administration will follow through on the terms of the INDC, and that of the Paris Climate Change Agreement that will be signed today.

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Friday, 22 April, 2016

occasions Akinduro goes home amid tributes

By Tunde Adegbola

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HE body of the Deputy Chairman, Board of Directors, Michelin Tyres Internaternal, Mr Ibukun Akinduro, was, on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 laid to rest at the Cathedral Church of St. Stephen’s cemetery, Oke-Aluko, Ondo town in Ondo State.

Akinduro died at the age of 74 on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 at his residence, Ojodu Estate, after attending the Easter Sunday service at Bishop Adelakun Howell’s Memorial Church, Surulere, Lagos.

Until his demise, he was also the President of Ondo Kingdom Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Agriculture and Industry.

At the burial, tributes were paid by the crème-de-la-crème in the society among whom were the Jomulobun of Ondo Kingdom, High Chief (Mrs) Oluwole; members of the Ondo kingdom Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Agriculture and Industry; first Vice President of the Chambers, Sir (Chief)Ayo Akingbule; Director-General of the Chamber, Mr Akin Akinbote and Architect Feyi Ayodele.

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1. From left, Mr Temitope Akinduro; widow, Mrs Olabambo Akinduro; Mr Ibukunoluwa Akinduro and a family member at the burial service held at the Cathedral Church of St Stephen, Oke- Aluko, Ondo, Ondo State.

2. From left, son of the deceased, Mr Temitope Akinduro; wife of the deceased. Olabambo; wife of Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Olori Olayinka Kiladejo; Provost of the church, Very Reverend Stephen Oni and Mr Ibukunoluwa Akinduro.

3. Officiating ministers at the event.

4. Family members performing dust to dust at the cemetery.

As Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria march forward

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By Moses Alao TUESDAY, 19 April, 2016 will remain historic for the Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria and the Nigerian Baptist Convention, which is currently holding its 2016 National Convention in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.

The ambassadors led by their marshal, Counsellor Ayo Adekunle, who held their 103rd annual session at the First Baptist Church, Surulere, Ilorin started the day with a prayer session entitled “moment of mercy.”

Pastor Bolaji Odejide led the prayer session, which preceded the RA Marshal’s welcome address to all leaders, boys and men of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

In his address, Adekunle charged the RAs to work out their salvation with fear and trembling as Christ’s ambassadors commissioned to reconcile the world to Christ.

The high point of the programme was the annual ministration handled by Revd Jimoh Taye Ayodeji, who drew the congregation to the mind of God. The session also featured promotions of deserving Royal Ambassadors to the rank of Ambassador Plenipotentiary, which is the highest rank in the organisation, while Deacon Michael Oyegbile was also decorated as a national patron of the Royal Ambassadors.

In attendance at the session was the leadership of the Nigerian Baptist Convention led by its president,

Revd Dr Supo Ayokunle, who joyfully identified with leaders and boys of the Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria.

Also, the national president of Men’s Missionary Union (MMU) and former member of the House of Representatives, Dr Dawari George, who was earlier celebrated as a forthright politician, congratulated the leadership and boys.

1.) From left, the Marshal, Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria, Counsellor Ayo Adekunle; President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Revd (Dr) Supo Ayokunle and the National President of the Men’s Missionary Union (MMU), Dr. Dawari George, during the annual session of the Royal Ambassadors at the First Baptist Church, Ilorin.

2.) Royal Ambassadors being promoted to the highest rank of Ambassador Plenipotentiary.

3.) A cross section of Royal Ambassadors at the session.

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hers Down to earth and business conscious, Princess Toyin Kolade, Iyalaje of Apapa, Chairman/CEO, Fisolak Global Resources and Rashkol International Logistics, in this interview with MONICA TAIWO speaks on her love for business among other issues.

Excerpts.

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OU are into Maritime, how do you cope in an almost male dominated terrain?

I don’t agree with you that maritime is an almost-male-dominated terrain; there are other women in the maritime industry like myself. Maritime is like a large field where everyone comes and plays his or her game. We relate well with each other, There is order and ground rules to be followed. If you don’t default, you have no problem with anyone. We are like a big family with differences and a common goal, so we all survive. Survival in anything also has to do with how you feel about what you are doing.

If you turn your passion into business, the challenges might not be visible to you, because it is what you love to do and even when challenges become visible, walking over such will be easy.

If you are not into Maritime what will you be doing?

Hmm, almost anything. As it is now, I am not into only maritime, I love buying and selling, I will sell anything as long as it is legitimate and legal and I will make my profit. I am also into contracts, estate management, properties. I will buy and sell even tomatoes like every other woman in the market.

Why did you venture into business despite your degree from the University of Ife? I have always been in business; my mother was into buying and selling, she was popularly called Iya Elelubo in Ilesha where I come from and grew up. She brought in trailer load of Elubo (yam flour) from Zakin Buwari to sell in Ilesa and of course we her children were involved in the business and we learnt from her.

I was also into buying and selling in a small scale when I was in the higher institution. I would leave school to see my brothers in Lagos and whatever money they gave me, I used in buying stuffs like underwear and some little things to sell in school.

I can also say this was where my interest in maritime was born. When I went to see my brothers at the Apapa Wharf and I observed the amount of business going on and the way the transaction was being conducted, I became interested and prayed that one day I would be a part of it; thank God it is made manifest today.

It appears you have always been into business, when did you make your first millions?

I made my first millions before I was 21. It is only by His grace and I must confess, God’s grace has been sufficient for me all the way.

God is my strength and I will continue to give him all the glory.

Obviously you are a busy woman, how do you balance family life and business?

My family is one entity, I cannot compromise and it comes before anything else. I love my husband and children; I still cook my husband’s food regardless of the number of housekeepers

Friday, 22 April, 2016

Editor: Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

I made my first millions before I was 21 —Toyin Kolade

I have at home. I also appreciate the fact that my husband and children love my food. My husband does not eat outside home.

Where ever I am or whatever I am doing, when it is time to take care of my home, I drop everything and do just that.

The only time I don’t cook his food is when I am outside the country and I would have made adequate arrangement to take care of my home.

Marriages today are not what it used to be; domestic violence resulting in death is on the increase, what in your opinion is responsible for this?

A lot of things are responsible for this terrible situation; jealousy, envy, financial situation, love of money, lack of trust, unfaithfulness, covetousness, family interference and the environment in which we find ourselves.

Another big issue is the influence of friends on both parties; I mean men and women. We must learn to trust ourselves, control our emotion and love our partners.

Women should love their husbands without reservation and vice versa. Even the holy book states this clearly. If in case the wife is stronger financially, she should not try reverse her role in the house. No man with a submissive wife will beat her up except he is under a certain influence. In a situation when the reverse is the case, the husband should not because he is more buoyant make unnecessary demands of his wife.

Both should be careful of outside influence, either from friends or family members. Above all, we all should go back to the status quo, embrace our culture because our culture is good and rich.

It encourages mutual respect. We must also rely on God and ask Him to guide us.

What would you say to a man or a woman who is in an abusive marriage?

For me, patience and prayers go a long way.

What is your beauty routine like?

I don’t have one. I really don’t go out of my way with things like that; I am too restless for such.

It is okay for you to look good with makeup when going for a party, but when I am going to work, it is just simple me. I exercise, to keep fit. That is all.

How do you relax?

I relax with my family and close associates. I don’t do anything special for relaxation. Life is good, it must be enjoyed. One should not be an all work and no play person; I am even too restless for that. I relax, but not with anything special or out of the way.

Who is your role model?

God almighty, because in Him I have my trust and He orders my steps because I have also given all to Him. What advice do you have for young ladies and women?

There is nothing that can be compared with hard work. They should work hard, pray and be patient.

Do not covet what other people have.

Have dreams, be yourself and work hard to achieve your dreams.

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southwestnews

Friday, 22 April, 2016

Ondo LG election: Court strikes out cases to stop election Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

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HE Federal High Court, sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Thursday, struck out cases instituted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop the local government election coming up tomorrow.

The cases were struck out on the premise that the court lack jurisdiction to hear them and described it as an abuse of court process.

The APC had approached

the court to stop the local government election on the ground that the court had not ruled on the suit instituted by the former chairmen sacked in 2009 by the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led government.

In her ruling, Justice Folashade Olubanjo said that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction, saying the conduct of local government was under the purview of the state government and its relevant agencies.

The judge ruled that it

would amount to judicial pettiness to proceed with the suit when issues on the dissolution of the former councils were still pending before the Supreme Court.

Justice Olubanjo also said proceeding with the interlocutory injunction on the case, was a mere academic exercise as facts deduced from arguments and counter arguments showed that the suits were gross abuse of court process.

The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had repeatedly stated that

the suit at the Supreme Court was a family affair, saying the sacked chairmen and the state government have settled out of court.

However, the APC in the state has called on the people of the state not to participate in the next Saturday election, saying there was no authentic voters’ register available for the conduct of the election.

The party, in a statement issued by its Director of Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said the voters’ register be-

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, addressing the crowd at the mega rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming local government election, at the Democracy Park, Akure, on Thursday.

ing contemplated for use by the electoral umpire has not been reviewed since the last general election as required by the law.

He said “Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the PDP-government cannot be trusted to do anything right. Many times the governor has deceived the people and this election cannot be different.

“To participate is to help massage Mimiko’s ego, support illegality and to allow ourselves to be distracted from our singular mission of wrestling power from the PDP in a few months’ time.”

The party also said that there was a subsisting case on the matter at the Supreme Court instituted by the aggrieved sacked chairmen.

“The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) is composed of PDP card-carrying members. We cannot participate in an election where the Chairman of ODIEC, Professor Olugbenga Ige and his team are registered members of the PDP. Worse still, those who would preside over our complaints after the election are known sympathisers of the ruling PDP government.”

Ekiti Catholic Diocese to govt: Exempt us from education tax or face legal action Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti THE Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has demanded that the state government should exempt its schools from the payment of education development levy or face legal action.

Bishop Felix Ajakaye, in a statement in Ado Ekiti, dated April 20, 2016, said the diocese might institute a legal action against the government “in the circumstance that any of the schools under my custody is disturbed” for the payment of education levy.

According to Bishop Ajakaye, the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Law, 2005, placed the mandatory obligation to provide free and compulsory education for every child of primary or junior secondary school age on the state government.

He said: “No law empowers the state government of Ekiti to impose Education Development Levy on pupils/students of mission schools in Ekiti State.”

While expressing concern on the propriety of the levy, Ajakaye said the church viewed the new tax as “another burden on parents” whom he said were already overwhelmed with taxes in different forms by

the state government.

He recalled how the state, under the military regime in 1975, “forcibly took over 106 Catholic primary schools with seven secondary schools and one technical school without compensation,” adding

that “the new tax was unnecessary, more so that new schools established by the Church had been paying various levies and taxes demanded by both local and state governments.”

He said: “The Catholic Church in Ekitiland im-

plores the state government to see the Church as great contributor to quality education and a formidable partner in the development of education in the state.

“Therefore, the status of the Catholic schools must be recognised as defined by their

purposes and they should be treated accordingly.”

The state government had placed N1,000 and N500 levies on pupils in secondary schools respectively, per session, as part of steps to shore up its internally generated revenue.

Ondo counsels voters as LG poll holds Saturday THE Ondo State government has urged eligible voters in the state to troop out on Saturday and participate in the local government election holding across the 18 local government areas in the state.

In a statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, on Thursday, the government said the people should disregard rumour making the rounds that the election has been cancelled, adding that security agencies and the state Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) have given assurances of their preparedness to ensure a hitch free exercise.

“Government urges residents in the state, who are of voting age and with bonafide voter cards to ensure they go out on Saturday and participate in the process to elect their representatives at the grassroots.

“Saturday election will enable you elect chairmen of your local governments and the councillors that will serve with them for the next four years. And it is important that we all have a say in deciding who represents us at this level of government.”

Emphasising on the importance of the election to the people, the statement

said the local government is the closest to the people, hence, the need for them to ensure that their representatives at the level are people they know hold their mandates, to enable them to be held accountable to their campaign promises.

Government also advised the people to be law abiding at all times and ensure that

they maintain the peace so that the election can be concluded devoid of violence.

“Our dear state has the record of the most peaceful state in the country, and it is in the collective interest of all that we should ensure that status is maintained. And one of the ways to ensure that is to ensure that the Saturday election is peaceful,” the state-

Give Aregbesola another bail out, risk public revolt, Osun PDP warns Buhari Oluwole Ige - Osogbo OSUN State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against considering the request for fresh bailout by Osun State government.

The party, while reacting to the statement issued by Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, the director of publicity, research and strategy, for

the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, where the ruling party said the initial bailout granted the state was insufficient, said huge public revolt will greet any favourable response to the request.

In a statement issued in Osogbo, on Thursday,

by Osun PDP’s director of media and strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, the opposition party recalled that the

first bailout of N35 billion the government got never complied with the basic requirements of accessing such funds.

According to the statement, “in the first instance, the bailout was given to Aregbesola without a resolution of State Executive Council since the governor has refused to form cabinet 18 months after returning for another term.

Nigerian Tribune

Motorcycle riders protest dissolution of union’s executive Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta MOTORCYCLE riders, under the umbrella of Articulated Motorcycle and Riders Association of Nigeria (AMORAN), in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, protested against the dissolution of the state executive committee by the State House of Assembly.

Members of the union in large numbers, protested in front of their state secretariat at Adatan area of the town, as they bore placards with inscriptions such as “AMORAN has come to stay!”, “Don’t Dissolve our State EXCO,” “Don’t Spoil the good work of our Governor,” “Don’t Breach the Peace of our Union,” and “AMORAN is a union you cannot destroy” .

They urged the Assembly to reverse its resolution dissolving the state exco and appointing a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the association.

LCDA: Low turnout, late arrival of materials mar referendum in Ogun Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta LOW turnout and late arrival of electoral materials marred the referendum conducted by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), in the proposed Local Council Development Area (LCDA), on Thursday.

When Nigerian Tribune visited Alhaja Kudirat Abiola Model Primary School, Ebu Alaparo, Ogbe, Oja Sokori polling unit 1,2 and 3, electoral officers and ballot boxes were noticed, while materials for the election were not on ground.

At Ita-Iyalode Polling Unit in front of Akin Olugbade Social Centre, voters were seated waiting for electoral materials, while electoral officer and an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were noticed.

However, there was a report of violence in two polling units in Imala, in the proposed Afon Local Council Development Area as people suspected to be political thugs invaded the units.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that two people sustained injury while the suspected thugs snatched two ballot boxes and other electoral materials.

31 news

Friday, 22 April, 2016

Assets declaration: CCT boss orders police to ‘throw out’ Saraki’s counsel Adjourns trial till April 27 Sunday Ejike - Abuja

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HE chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja, Danladi Yakubu Umar, on Thursday, refused to entertain a motion filed by counsel for the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, asking the chairman to disqualify himself from further presiding over the false assets declaration and money laundering charges preferred against him by the Federal Government on the ground of bias.

At the resumed hearing of the Federal Government’s case against Saraki on Thursday, Umar, while dismissing the motion, held that “the motion, as far as the tribunal is concerned, is of no consequence; not worthy to be entertained and is, hereby, thrown away.”

The defence counsel, Mr Raphael Oluyede, had brought to the attention of the Tribunal, a motion filed on Wednesday, April 20, seeking the CCT boss to excuse himself from participating in the trial, based on bias.

Oluyede had sought to move his motion when the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs interjected and told the Tribunal that Oluyede had tried to serve him the previous day, but he refused to accept it and that even the lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, to the defendant was not aware of the application.

He also told the court that Oluyede was not part of the defense team and that the application was not ripe for hearing.

The motion argued that the continued presence of Umar on the panel of Tribunal offended the provisions of Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provides that “in the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.”

When Oluyede attempted to bring up the motion on Thursday, Justice Umar repeatedly yelled at him to “Sit down.” After Oluyede demanded to be heard, Umar called for police officers to throw out the counsel for the Senate President.

The Tribunal chairman said such application was “utter rubbish” coming from

a “busy body.”

Oluyede, however, responded that he had the right to file an application and address the court on it.

However, upon the arrival of the police officers, the defence lawyer took his seat, as he maintained that he would not be intimidated and the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs intervened and pleaded with the Tribunal chairman to calm the situation.

Saraki’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, later told the Tribunal that Oluyede was a member of the defence team and that he (Agabi) was aware of the motion sought to be moved by Oluyede and, however, apologised to the Tribunal.

After the mild drama, the business of the day, the trial of the Senate President, who is facing a 13-count charge bordering on false asset declaration, began.

Another member of the defence team, Paul Usoro, cross-examined the Prosecution Witness one, Michael

Wetkas, who said the Senate President, Dr Saraki was not interrogated by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) before the commencement of his trial at the Tribunal.

He said the Senate President was not invited, when the team of three EFCC investigators met with the CCB regarding Saraki’s matter and that as of the time the enlarged team met with the CCB, Saraki was not interrogated by the Bureau.

He further affirmed that the only time he was aware that Saraki made a statement was during the investigation by the EFCC and that the statement was made before two of his team members (excluding himself) Usman Iman and Musa Sunday; but added that he got to know about the interrogation through the other team members.

“I know my larger team asked him questions relating to his properties and about the asset declaration that he made before the CCB, as well as the com-

panies he has interest in; both local and international, among others things,” Mr Wetkas stated.

Usoro then asked the witness questions on Count 12 of the charge, which alleged that Saraki operated a bank account outside Nigeria where he transferred an average sum of $3.4 million to America Express Europe Limited for onward transfer to his card account with America Express Bank, New York.

When asked if Count 12 was the same as Count 11, which also accused Saraki of operating a foreign account, Wetkas answered in the affirmative and added that the cover letter which the EFCC wrote to GTBank Plc in exhibit 8, covered the issue raised in Count 11 and 12.

When asked to point out the transaction in his exhibit that relates to Count 12, he said it was summation of the total transfer of the said account.

Usoro further asked Wetkas to point out the trans-

actions in the document, Wetkas responded that such would make to run through the entire document and when confronted with the figures, Wetkas said that they were charges on the account and did not constitute the final figure of $3.4 million.

On the figures pointed out to him, Wetkas said he could confirm that they formed part of the total sum until it was computed again.

He, however, admitted that besides three huge transfer, other figures in the account were just charges, but that in the cause of his work, he was required to give a summation of all the transactions in his report.

However, Wetkas had started listing out the transfers, but was cut short by the tribunal chairman on ground that such would waste the time of the Tribunal, as they already had a copy of the exhibit.

Usoro then interjected, asking the panel to allow him establish his case in the

interest of justice.

Speaking further, Wetkas stated that the strength of the position of the investigation team was more on the statement of account, which showed clear narration of the transaction in respect to the transfer to the America Express Europe Limited.

He added that they investigated the money laundering allegation.

As the cross examination was going on, the lead counsel, Agabi, asked for a week adjournment to enable them to study the amended charge and other documents which had been tendered.

Prosecution counsel, however, opposed the application, arguing that a week was too long and that the documents had been with them for a while.

Delivering a short ruling, the tribunal chairman refused the application for one week adjournment, but adjourned till April 27 for continuation of cross examination.

Sentence 50 Shi’ite members to death, Kaduna govt asks court Soldiers burnt Shi’ites alive, shot innocent secondary school students —Amnesty International THE Kaduna State government, on Thursday, asked the Kaduna High Court to sentence 50 Shi’ite members to death for allegedly causing the death of a soldier.

The government had filed a five-count charge against the accused before Justice David Wyom.

It accused them of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, culpable homicide, disturbance of public peace and wrongful restrain.

In the petition, counsel for the government, Mr Bayero Diri, said the offences were punishable under Sections 97, 221, 102, 106 and 225 of the Penal Code Law, Laws of Kaduna State 1991.

The government said the offence was committed between December 12 and 14, 2015, in Zaria.

It alleged that the suspects, among other things, shot dead one Corporal Yakubu Dankaduna of the Nigerian Army “with a gun, when he alighted from the convoy to disperse the IMN members.”

Section 102 of the Penal Code prescribes death sentence for such offence.

The prosecution told the court that they intended to present 39 witnesses.

The plea of the accused persons was not taken, as the judge adjourned sitting till May 16.

The News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the 50 suspects were among the 265 people presently in custody, who were arrested during the Shi’ite’s clash with the Army on December 12 and 14, 2015.

Meanwhile, the Amnesty International (AI), leading human rights group, on Thursday, said soldiers burnt some members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), better known as the Shi’ia sect alive and killed some innocent students during the a clash in December.

In a report entitled: “Unearthing the truth: Unlawful killings and mass cover-up in Zaria,” the body alleged that the military was attempting to cover up its crimes.

AI said more than 350 people were killed, accusing the military of trying to conceal evidence.

“The true horror of what happened during those two days in Zaria is only now coming to light. Bodies were left littering the streets and piling outside the mortuary.

Some of the injured were burnt alive,” said Netsanet Belay, AI’s research and advocacy Director for Africa.

“Our research, based on witness’ testimonies and analysis of satellite images, located one possible mass grave. It is time now for the military to come clean and admit where it secretly bur-

ied hundreds of bodies.

“All available information indicates that the deaths of protestors were the consequence of excessive and arguably, unnecessary use of force,” the report said.

AI said a 16-year-old schoolgirl, identified as Zainab, revealed that: “we were in our school uniforms. My friend, Nusaiba Abdullahi, was shot in her forehead. We took her to a house, where they treated the injured but, before reaching the house, she was dead.”

A 10-year-old boy, who was shot in the leg, told AI how his older brother was shot in the head as they tried to leave the compound. “We went out to try to shelter in a nearby house, but we got shot.”

On December 13, two buildings within Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky’s compound, one of which was being used as a makeshift medical facility and mortuary, were attacked by soldiers.

Alyyu, a 22-year-old student, told AI that he was shot in the chest outside the compound and was taken inside for treatment: “There were lots of injured people in several rooms. There were dead bodies in a room and also in the courtyard.

“Around 12-1.00 p.m, soldiers outside called on people to come out, but people were too scared to go out.

We knew they would kill us. Soldiers threw grenades inside the compound. I saw one soldier on the wall of the court yard shooting inside,” he said.

A mother described a phone conversation with her 19-year-old son before he was killed alongside his twin brother and their half brother and sister in the compound.

“They were shooting those injured one by one,” he had told her.

Yusuf said he managed to escape with serious gunshot wounds, as soldiers set fire to the makeshift medical facility in the compound.

“Those who were badly injured and could not escape were burnt alive.

“I managed to get away from the fire by crawling on my knees until I reached a nearby house, where I was able to hide until the following day. I don’t know how many of the wounded were burnt to death. Tens and tens of them,” he told AI. Footage believed to have been shot on mobile phone

by IMN supporters after the incident showed bodies with gunshot wounds, as well as charred bodies strewn around the compound.

AI added that after the incident, the military sealedoff the areas around alZakzaky’s compound, the Hussainiyya and other locations.

Witnesses said they saw piles of bodies outside the morgue of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Officer told AI that the military sealed off the area around the morgue for two days.

During that time, he saw army vehicles “coming and going.”

A witness described to AI what he saw outside the hospital mortuary on the evening of December 14: “It was dark and from afar, I could only see a big mound, but when I got closer, I saw it was a huge pile of corpses on top of each other. I have never seen so many bodies.

I got very scared and ran away. It was a terrible sight and I can’t get it out of my mind.”

Another witness told the organisation how he had seen diggers excavating holes at the site of the suspected mass grave: “There were five or six large trucks and several smaller military vehicles and they spent hours digging and unloading the trucks’ cargo into the hole they dug and then covered it again with the earth they had dug out.

They were there from about 1.00 or 2.00 a.m. till about 5.00 a.m. I don’t know what they buried. It looked like bodies, but I could not get near.”

32 news

Friday, 22 April, 2016

PDP convention: Metuh rules self out of NWC race From Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja HE national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has ruled himself out of the contest for any of the offices in the forthcomingMay 21 national convention of the party.

In a statement issued in Abuja, on Thursday, he said even though, his supporters and admirers were putting pressure on him to vie for one of the National Working Committee (NWC) posts, he has no ambition to continue in any party post beyond his current term.

But he assured that he would continue to do his best to uplift the image of the opposition party till the expiration of his tenure.

The statement added , “As Nigerians are aware, my party, the PDP, is preparing for a national convention ,where national officers, who will pilot its affairs in the next four years are expected to emerge.

“As one of the founding members of this party, the longest serving member of the National Executive Com-

T

mittee (NEC) and currently, a critical player in the party, my supporters and admirers expect me to contest and this has spurred speculations in the media.

“However, I wish to state publicly that I have no ambition to continue as a member of the N WC, after the expiration of my current tenure as

the national publicity secretary, a decision that is enjoying the support of my family.

“I, therefore, with every sense of responsibility, confirm to all members of our great party, that I will not run for any position whatsoever in the forthcoming national convention, irrespective of which

office may be zoned to the South East for that matter.

“What is paramount in my mind at this point, is to continue to lift the image of our great party during the remaining part of my tenure as the image-maker of PDP, a position, which by the grace of God, I have been able to dutifully deliver to the best

of my ability, despite daunting challenges.

“Finally, I wish to assure all my associates and supporters that my love and commitment to the party remains unshaken, especially, as we work together to build not only a strong and virile party but also a prosperous, united and stable nation.”

From left, Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; Minister of Solid Mineral, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Yari and the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.

APC/Bello: Party chairman, ex-senator risk suspension in Kogi Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kogi State, worsened on Thursday, as stakeholders and elders of the party, have threatened to remove the state chairman, Alhaji Haddi Ametip, over the vote of no confidence passed on the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

Rising from a meeting held at Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area of the state, the participants, drawn from the council, also vowed to suspend a former senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district, Mohammed Ohiare, over their alleged role, in the crisis.

The people accused the duo of attempting to smear the name and office of the state governor with the purported vote of no confi-

dence letter to the national secretariat of the APC. The secretary of the party in the local government, Banabas Oyibo, who addressed the supporters and party faithful at the stakeholders’ meeting, also dissociated the local government from the purported publication in some national dailies that Adavi people were not in support of the governor.

He said the local chapter

was disturbed by the antiparty activities of their sons, who supposed to be good ambassadors of the Ebiras and the entire senatorial district.

He said, “We have put necessary machinery in motion to investigate them and once the report is out and they are found guilty, we will outrightly suspend them from our party because they have brought shame to our land.”

One of the chieftains of the party, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Okara, said the council had produced eminent politicians in the past but had suffered untold hardship occasioned by political crises Okara, however, appealed to the stakeholders to call the duo of Ametuo and Ohiare to order, stressing that their actions were against the progress of Ebira people and was

Why local governments performed poorly —Political expert

By Remi Anifowose LACK of responsive and responsible administration has been observed as the bane of good governance at the local councils in Nigeria.

This was said by a political scientist, Dr ‘Gbade Ojo, while delivering a lecture at a two-day induction programme for newly appoint-

ed caretaker chairmen in Oyo State, held at Premier Hotel, Ibadan.

Dr Ojo noted that the greatest problem confronting all tiers of government in developing countries and encumbering development, was lack of good governance, stressing that good governance must include accountability, legal frame

work and bureaucratic accountability.

Ojo, an Associate Professor of Political Science in his lecture tagged: “Imperatives for good governance at the local government level,” further said that as a necessary condition for development, a system of good governance in a limited administrative sense would

Absence of judge stalls Tarfa’s suit against EFCC Ayomide Owonibi OdekanyinLagos THE absence of the trial judge, Justice Aishat Opesanwo of a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, on Thursday, stalled the hearing of the preliminary objection filed by Mr Rickey Tarfa,(SAN), in opposition to the charges of willful obstruction of justice brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis-

capable of causing endless problem in Adavi and the entire land.

The chairman of the local government, Alhaji Salihu Adaviriku, described the governor as a man of transparent character.

He said the governor had achieved a lot by granting local government autonomy, rehabilitation of Ekuku dam as well as construction of Agassa/Upogoro Road.

sion (EFCC) The EFCC had arraigned the SAN on the allegation that he willfully obstructed two of its operatives from arresting two suspects of economic and financial crimes.

Tarfa was also accused of having an illegal telephone conversation with Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court to allegedly pervert the course of justice.

The EFCC accused him of violating Section 38(2) (a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004 and Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No.11, 2011.

He was said to have committed the offences on February 5, 2016.

But Tarfa pleaded not guilty to both counts He subsequently filed a notice of preliminary objection, seeking the quash-

ing of the charges.

His lawyer, Mr Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), contended that EFCC had no power to try Tarfa because the charges pressed against him did not amount to economic and financial crime.

But counsel for EFCC, Mr Gbolahan Latona, said the claim that EFCC was abusing its prosecutorial power existed only in the imagination of the defendant.

consist of a set of rules and institutions and a system of public administration that is open, transparent, efficient and accountable.

Describing local authorities as the closest to the grassroots, the political scientist, who was the immediate past Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Abiola Ajimobi , said that without them, government would be too remote to the people.

“Operators of the third tier of government need to be better attuned to the developmental utility of local councils so that meaningful development can reach the grassroots.”

“The present comatose condition of local councils across the country is worrisome. If anything, good governance is completely absent at the grassroots level, most councils are as good as dead, knocked down by corruption, administrative inertia cum lack of innovation,” he said.

Nigerian Tribune

NSCDC parades independent marketers over fuel diversion in Taraba Sylvanus Viashima - Jalingo THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Taraba State command, on Wednesday, paraded suspected independent marketers of petroleum products for diverting their allocation to street hawkers.

The state commandant of the corps, Kamilu Isah Ado , said this at a press confernce, in Jalingo, the state capital, while parading the suspects and the tanker load of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), they had diverted and were in the process of selling to the street hawkers.

The commandant said that the arrest followed close monitoring of activities of marketers in the state whom the command believed are collaborating with hawkers to create artificial scarcity and a hike in the price of the product.

“This arrest followed weeks of intelligence gathering to establish the modus operandi of the syndicate that we believe are creating artificial scarcity by diverting the products to street hawkers, who in turn, sell to the public .

US Consulate to host ‘Google hangout’ Tuesday

THE United States Consulate-General in Lagos, on Thursday, announced plan to host a “Google Hangout’’ that will respond to questions from the public on United States student visa application processes.

The Consulate’s Public Affairs Section said in a statement that a ‘Google Hangout’ slated for April 26, at 3.00 p.m., would also respond to questions on living and studying in the United States.

According to the statement, the ‘Google hangout’ is being organised to dispel misunderstandings and rumour about the process for applying for United States study visas.

“The Consulate General in Lagos will host a Google Hangout on Tuesday, at 3:00 p.m., to respond to questions from the public on student visa application processes.

“This upcoming session is being organised with a view to dispelling myths and rumour about applying to study in the U.S.’’ it said.

The statement said that the session was a follow-up to the one held in August 2015, which attracted questions from thousands of Nigerians at home and abroad.

Friday, 22 April, 2016 33 news We will ensure early payment of workers’ salaries —AGF

•Says TSA now N2.7trn Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

T

HE Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has given assurance that the Federal Government is working out modalities to ensure that salaries of Fed-

eral Government workers are paid early, in line with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris, gave the assurance during an interactive session with a team of journalists, led by the Director,

News, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Alhaji Sani Sulieman.

According to the AGF, ”there is a standing instruction from Mr President for workers to be paid on or before 24th or 25th of every month,” but said compliance had been

hampered by the limited resources available to government which could only be determined after the monthly FAAC meeting.

He, however, revealed that government had taken further steps to make a provision that would accommodate salary pay-

ment, even before FAAC, saying this would be given a test this month.

Idris stated that his office was working assiduously to ensure that it complied with the directive of President Buhari to pay salaries on or before the 24th or 25th of every month, as-

Stakeholders decry delay in Ogoni clean up process Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

VARIOUS stakeholders have decried the delay by the Federal Government to implement the UNEP Report on the remediation of the devastated Ogoni communities in Rivers State.

They spoke at a one-day advocacy workshop on “Environmental Parliament on Non-implementation of the UNEP Report Recommendations and Clean Up of Ogoniland: CSOs and Communities’ Response,” held in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

The workshop, organised by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), was sponsored by

the Ford Foundation.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from the Ogoni community, impacted communities in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states, civil society, youth and women groups, legal experts, the media and officials of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).

Various speakers expressed disappointment with the failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to abide by its promise to start the implementation of the UNEP report within the first quarter of 2016.

They also lamented that the Federal Government

had neither put in place the needed institutional framework to drive the clean up process in Ogoniland, nor had the proposed governing board been inaugurated.

The advocacy workshop also noted that there had been monumental damages done to the Ogoni environment in the past 50 years, adding that the people had been suffering neglect, poverty and growth retardation.

The participants observed the absence of clear time lines, composition and membership of the institutional structures that would drive the implementation process and failure to establish

the Ogoni Environmental Restoration Agency and funding for the clean up process.

In his welcome address, Executive Director, ERA/ FoEN, Dr Godwin Ojo, said the strategy meeting was a reminder to the Federal Government and Shell’s responsibility for the pollution and ecological crimes in Ogoniland, adding that it was a wakeup call for them to do the needful.

“Obviously, the non-implementation of the UNEP report recommendations represent the failure of government to address issues of human rights violations, environmental degradation and liveli-

hood destruction within the Change Agenda.

“We are aware that dozens of meetings have been held in governmental circles since the UNEP report was received in 2011, including several meetings instigated by the present administration. Yet very little has been achieved in terms of commitment to clean up. These meetings have been nothing more than motion without movement.

“The Federal Government has neither put in place the much-needed institutional framework to drive the process nor has the proposed governing board been inaugurated, they said.

suring that the necessary approval would be sought and gotten “to ensure that this becomes a reality.”

In another development, the Accountant- General of the Federation has given an update on the amount so far collected on the Treasury Single Account(TSA) platform to be slightly above N2.7 trillion.

He further stated that these monies belonged to Federal Government Ministries, Department and Agencies, and meant for their operations and not for sharing or for any other purposes as being reported in some quarters of the media.

Idris said the TSA had helped government to have a firm and full control of its resources, blocking leakages, helping it to reduce the cost of borrowing and to monitor spending in the MDAs. He called on all organisations who had problems on the operations of the TSA to come forward with their problems, assuring that the Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation was committed to resolving what-ever challenges they might have, in line with best practices.

Rivers assembly fails to swear in APC lawmaker •It’s to stop me from serving my people —Nyeche Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

MRS Victoria Nyeche, elected as a lawmaker on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was, on Thursday, was denied being sworn-in as a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

This was as the Speaker, Honourable Dabotorudima Adam, announced on the floor of the House that his decision not to swear in the female lawmakerelect was predicated on a court order.

He said the court had restrained the House from administering the Oath of Office on Nyeche, pending the determination of a suit instituted against her for alleged impersonation.

But the embattled lawmaker-elect said she was not aware of such an order, claiming that it was a ploy to stop her from serving her constituents.

The petitioner, Mr Livingstone Wechie, had filed an interlocutory order, restraining the swearing-in of the lawmaker-elect as he alleged that she addressed herself as member of the state legislature when she had not been sworn in and the Oath of Office had not been administered on her.

Nyeche, elected to represent Port Harcourt City Local Government Area

(PHALGA) Constituency 1, was said to have written a petition to the Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN), using the Letter Head of the Rivers State House of Assembly, against the confirmation of the Chief Judge of the state, by the state lawmakers.

Justice Adolphus Enebeli of the Rivers State High Court, granted the order, on Wednesday, thereby stopping her from being sworn-in along with 11 other lawmakers.

The trial judge also adjourned hearing on the substantive motion till April 28, 2016.

Meanwhile, 12 new lawmakers, including 10 from PDP and two from APC, elected in the last legislative rerun election in the state were sworn in and Oath of Office administered on them, on Thursday.

This made PDP the majority party with 18 members from the 32-member state legislature, having eight lawmakers before the court ordered a rerun election.

The 10 PDP lawmakers included Manna Martins (Ahoada East Constituency 1), Inye Edison (Ahoada East Constituency 2), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru Constituency 1), Samuel Ogeh (Emohua Constituency) and Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor Constituency 1).

SATURDAY, 23 APRIL, 2016

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— Emeka Ike

Here, the dead pay rent... and get evicted Rented grave N15,000

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Psycho epidemic: 300 patients per day in Yaba Psychiatric hospital — Ag.CMD

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How Buhari, Tinubu see each other now —Femi Adesina

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‘I struggle to feed him and the children’

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34

Friday, 22 April, 2016

Electricity: Protesters besiege BEDC office in Warri Ebenezer Adurokiya and Wisdom Alokpa - Warri

E

LECTRICITY consumers, on Thursday morning, took to major streets of

Warri, in protest against the epileptic and/or nonavailability of electricity in the metropolis.

The disenchanted protesters, comprising old women and children who

are coincidentally on holiday, marched from Ogboru, Obahor and Eboh streets through Ginuwa Junction, down to BEDC office located on Warri-Sapele Road.

Perhaps, acting on a tip-

off that the protesters were marching towards their office, staff of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and some customers, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, took to

JED management alleges plan to sabotage efforts of investors Isaac Shobayo - Jos

THE management of Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc has alleged plan by some people, under the guise of unionism, to sabotage the efforts of investors who took over the companies after the privatisation exercise, saying the disruption of its operations by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), was one of such antics.

The union had stormed the headquarters of JED on Tuesday, to picket the establishment over allegations of sacking 50 of its members without reason, high-handedness, exploitation of staff, overbilling of customers and slave labour, among other allegations.

Addressing newsmen on the allegations, the Managing Director of JED, Muhammad Modibo, said none of the staff of the organisation was involved in the picketing, adding that those who carried out the act were some hired persons and staff of the establishment disengaged for low productivity and for engaging in sharp practices.

“It is a thing of surprise to us as management that the

same workers we inherited from PHCN who have been discovered to be collecting revenues meant for the company and pocket, and were relieved of their appointment, and the union is picketing us for doing so.

“The action of the union means that the company should continue to retain their members in spite

of their fraudulent acts against the company,” Modibo wondered.

On the allegation of overbilling and exploiting the masses, the Managing Director said those disengaged and using the union to champion their course, were the ones exploiting members of the public through illegal connec-

Labour crisis will not affect power supply —TCN Adetola Bademosi - Abuja ONGOING labour crisis will not affect power supply in the country, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Thursday, stated.

This, it said, came on the heels of insinuations that the crisis which had since halted activities at the company’s headquarters in Abu-

ja, would soon lead to total blackout in the country.

A statement issued and signed by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Seun Olagunju, in Abuja, disclosed that its staff at the regional offices nationwide, responsible for the wheeling of bulk electricity generated by power stations, are still at their duty posts.

THE Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has disclosed plans to commit about $200 million into mass metering project of customers.

Managing Director of the company, Mr Neil Croucher made the disclosure in Abuja, on Thursday, when the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) paid a visit to the company’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to Croucher the project which would be implemented over five years would begin this year.

While soliciting for support of NUEE in getting Nigerians to embrace the new tariff regime, he stressed that the tariff adjustment was intended to stimulate investments that would improve power

It explained that the ongoing labour issues affected administrative work at the corporate headquarters, adding that the company’s ability to carry out its core duty of wheeling bulk electricity, was not hampered by the inability of staff at the corporate headquarters (whose core duties are mainly administrative and supervisory), to temporar-

BEDC signs pact with govt to reconnect Ondo South TWENTY months after towns and communities in Ondo South Senatorial district were disconnected from the power grid, an agreement between the Ondo State government and the Benin Electricity Distri-

bution Plc (BEDC), was, on Tuesday, signed to reconnect affected communities.

This was contained in a statement issued by BEDC on Thursday.

Secretary to the Ondo State government (SSG),

Firm commits $200m to metering project Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

tions not captured in the system.

“We have so far discovered over 4,000 illegal connections in Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Benue states, made to some customers after collecting huge sums of money from the customers without the knowledge of the company management,” Modibo said.

their heels to avoid being caught in the melee.

The protesters, who were armed with fresh green leaves and chanting songs like: “we nor go pay o, we nor go pay, NEPA people we nor go pay,” were denied entry into the BEDC office by armed anti-riot policemen who were swiftly deployed to maintain law and order.

The protesters described as ungodly the continued payment of electricity bills for what they did not consume.

They added that most of their businesses anchored on electricity, had collapsed due to non-availability and sometimes epileptic power supply for the past six months in their domain.

supply nationwide.

In his remarks, NUEE President, Martins Uzoegwu said, “we also appreciate that you’ve been having a good working relation-

ship with our colleagues in the FCT and local (AEDC) chapters, we, however, want you to build on that and we’ll continue to engage with you.”

Court rules on Bi-courtney’s suit Adjourns till April 26 Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin Lagos JUSTICE Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday, adjourned a suit filed

by Bi-Courtney Limited against the Federal Government on a dispute over a concession agreement between them till April 26.

Justice Ibrahim Buba held that the application challenging the court’s jurisdiction lacks merit.

According to him, the application did not show how the reliefs sought by the plaintiff are outside the court’s jurisdiction.

Bi-Courtney is claiming

N66 billion as damages arising from an alleged breach of a concession agreement for the redevelopment of the domestic terminal of the Murtala Mohammed Airport II, Ikeja.

Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are the defendants.

The plaintiff said the Federal Government owed it N132 billion, adding that it was not indebted to AMCON which had sought to take over its assets over an alleged debt.

Dr Aderotimi Adelola signed on behalf of the Ondo State government, while the Chief State Head, Ondo and Ekiti states of the BEDC, Mr Ernest Edgar, signed on behalf of the BEDC, at a ceremony held in the office of the SSG, Government House, Akure.

Speaking shortly before the signing, Mr Adelola said the signing was the first step at ensuring restoration of power to hundreds of affected communities in the southern parts of the state, assuring that the state government would fulfill its part of the agreement with the BEDC. He described the occasion as a new dawn in the lives of the people of Ondo South, appealing to the management of the BEDC not to renege on the terms of the agreement, by restoring power to the communities as soon as possible.

In his remarks, Mr Edgar assured the state government of the preparedness of BEDC to restore power to the area, starting with Odigbo Local Government Area in April, and the remaining local government areas in the months to come.

He expressed satisfaction over the resolution of the problems that led to the disconnection such as a debt of about N1.9 billion, vandalism of power installations and non-payment of bills.

ily gain access to their offices.

The statement read in part: “Moreover, engineers whose core duty it is to ensure that electricity is efficiently wheeled through high tension transmission lines and substations located in various areas across the country, work in the regional offices and work centres.

“Presently, these engineers are at their duty posts, performing their duties assiduously. As such, the issue of imminent blackout does not arise.”

While noting the importance of communication between the headquarters and its regional offices, it said: “Because the company recognises the importance of coordinating and supervising the activities of TCN regional offices by the corporate headquarters, communication between key management staff and the regions has been continuous through the telephone and Internet services,” the statement read.

Nigerian Tribune

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, one of the protesters, Esther Ogbede a student said the commodity “has become very scarce amid high cost of fuel to power generating sets.

“Since I returned from school, I have not been able to use light to do anything; sometimes I need to read and do research through my computer device, but yet no light.

“Also, the weather is hot; no fuel to buy; our food items get perished, everything increases: so let regular supply of electricity be as it is supposed to be because we are tired of this problem,” she said frustratingly.

A middle-aged man, John Omorini, who also decried the epileptic power supply which, he said, had adversely affected his business, said “the company should be taken over by the government.”

According to a visibly angry BEDC customer, “the woman who is in charge of the company is not reliable enough; I heard some of their staff had not been paid for some months now: so let the government handle it the way it was.”

However, the anti-riot policemen deployed to enforce law and order were seen placating the angry protesters, assuring them that officers of the company would attend to their plight, just as officials of BEDC could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.

CHANGE OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Miss Lawal Halimat Bolanle now MRS ADEPOJU HALIMAT OLAYINKA. My correct date of birth is 5/5/1989.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ugochi Perpetua Mmuoegbulem now MRS UGOCHI PERPETUA IGBOZULIKE. All former documents remain valid.

University of Ibadan, other authorities and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that UKIWE OKORO OTISI or UKIWE MICHAEL OKORO is the same person as UKIWEOTISI MICHAEL OKORO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olatinwo Bolanle Olusola now OLATINWO MARY OBASA. All former documents remain valid.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and general public take note.

PROBATE PUBLIC NOTICE I, Elder Samuel Korede Oyelami C/O their Solicitor Sikiru A. Adewale Esq of Holy Executive Star Chambers, Shop 13, Abolade Al-AAmanah Shopping Complex, Oja-Eleran Market, Beside Elerin Mosque, Ede, Osun State of Nigeria have applied to the Probate Registry of the Customary Court of Appeal Osogbo for letters of Administration to administer the Estate of late Prophet Gabriel Adediti Oyelami of Alasepe Area, Ikire, Osun State who died intestate on the 12th day of February, 2016.

Any objection to the application is to be forwarded to the Probate Registry of Customary Court of Appeal, Osogbo within 14 days of this notice.

PROBATE PUBLIC NOTICE I, Olawumi Awoyale C/O his Solicitor, Bayo Afolabi Esq of Adeojo/Afolabi & Co., No 11, Nearly Opp. Moye Filling Station, Iwo-Ibadan Road, Osogbo, Osun State of Nigeria have applied to the Probate Registry of the Customary Court of Appeal Osogbo for letters of Administration to administer the Estate of late Mrs Awoyale Grace Mofolashade of Odofin’s Compound, Iree, Osun Sate who died intestate on 27th December, 2014.

Any objection to the application is to be forwarded to the Probate Registry of Customary Court of Appeal, Osogbo within 14 days of this notice.

35 This box is for sale CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Pius Onyema Hillary now HILLARY ONYEMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajayi Covenant Moyinoluwa now MRS SOLOMON COVENANT MOYINOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 22 April, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Olorunlola Abdulwasiu Adeleke now MR OLORUNLOLA WASIU ADELEKE. All former documents remain valid. The Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Asawe Funke Romoke now JELILI AMINAT OMOLARA and my date of birth is 26 December, 1974.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Tijani Adewumi Basirat now MRS JOSEPH ADEWUMI BASIRAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Williams Victoria Bukola now MRS W I L L IA M S - OY ET U N J I VICTORIA BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adedokun Kayode now ADEDOKUN KAYODE MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Chikodri Esther Gloria now CHIKODRI ESTHER UGOCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Veronica Abimbola Ilesanmi now MRS FLORENCE IYABO ILESANMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Babatunde Olubunmi Agnes now MRS OLUOKUN OLUBUNMI AGNES. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ajalogun OLA YAHYA am the same person as AJALOGUN OLADIPOR YAHYA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Nnamchi Anthony Chidiebere now NNAMCHI ANTHONY JOHNPAUL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Abdulazeez Abdulquadri Oluwagbenga am the same person bearing Abdulazeez Abdulquadri Gbenga, Azeez Quadri Oluwagbenga and Azeez Olamilekan.

Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ABDULAZEEZ ABDULQUADRI OLUWAGBENGA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Oluwa Olabisi Ganiyat now MRS ADEWOLE OLABISI GANIYAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Aminat Giwa now MRS AMINAT SULE. All former documents remain valid.

UCH, Ibadan and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Esther Nelson now MRS ESTHER ISAAC. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aderibigbe Muibat Adekemi now MRS HAMMED MUIBAT ADEKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Afolalu Florence Omolara now MRS AWOGBORO FLORENCE OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Rukayat Odunayo Abayomi now MRS RUKAYAT ODUNAYO OBIDIRAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ogbile Aaron Ateh now OGBILE ATEH EZEKIEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Yahaya Monday now ABUBAKAR USMAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Johnson Oluwabunmi Augustina now AHUAMA OLUWABUNMI AUGUSTINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Kehinde Samson Olumide am the same person bearing Olumide Kehinde. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as KEHINDE OLUMIDE SAMSON. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adeleke Ismail Aremu now ISMAIL ADEKOLA AREMU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, EMMANUEL ZUOKUMOR am the same person as MAKY OUKOMOR. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Kehinde Funmilayo Yemisi (Nee Sofoluwe) now MRS KEHINDE-OBANEWA FUNMILAYO YEMISI.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojo Oluwatosin Atinuke now MRS OKUYIGA OLUWATOSIN ATINUKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Kamorudeen Funke now SARAH OLADEJO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adedokun Moradeyo Esther now MRS. KEHINDE MORADEYO ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olabiyi Rofiyat Bukola now MRS. ABDULLAHI ROFIYAT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Nwakwe Blessing now UCHE BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olajide Ayodele Comfort now MRS AKINYEMI AYODELE COMFORT. All former documents remain valid.

UAC, UNICO and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ukortsaha Iorshage Cletus now RUWANZAFI CLETUS. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olujimi Adedayo Imoleayo now OLUJIMI ADEDAYO PAUL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Rafiat Yetunde Sulaiman now MISS RAFIAT YETUNDE SHOKEYO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Judicial Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Onimisi Sarah Ovayoza now MRS. ADEYINKA SARAH OVAYOZA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Edogiawerie Tracy Abieyuwa now MRS. OGIERHIAKHI TRACY ABIEYUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Daodu Sarah Olufunmilayo now MRS. AYODELE-OJO SARAH OLUFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adeboye Akeeb Olanrewaju now ADEBOYE AKIBU OLANREWAJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Tijani Adekunle Omoakin am the same person as Adekunle Omoakin.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as TIJANI ADEKUNLE OMOAKIN. All documents bearing these names are mine and remain valid. U.B.A. Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

DECLARATION OF NAME

I, formerly Sulaiman Oluwatobi now SAMUEL OLUWATOBI. All former documents remain valid. GTB Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ikpedia Tega Joy now SAMUEL OGHENETEGA JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME & CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Gbadebo Joy Oluwabosede now MRS ESAN JOY OLUWABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Hannah Oghomienor now MRS HANNAH EFEMENA EDERENO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Falana Alimot Oredunni now ADELAYO ALIMOT OLUWADUNNI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ibraheem Mojeed Deji am the same person as Ibraheem Mojeed Alabi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as IBRAHEEM MOJEED DEJI. All documents bearing these names are mine and remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ogunsanya Bukola Kemi now OLUTAYO BUKOLA KEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Mrs Obadimeji Racheal Comfort am the same person bearing Mrs Obadimeji Bolanle Racheal and Mrs Obadimeji Bolanle. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBADIMEJI BOLANLE RACHEAL COMFORT. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Moniki Gafari Abidemi now ISMAIL OLANIPEKUN ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akanni Opeyemi Charlotte now ADELERE OPEYEMI CHARLOTTE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Elizabeth Oluwaseun Akinsoyinu now MRS ELIZABETH OLUWASEUN JOHNSON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojiegbu Rita Nneka now MRS OBODO RITA NNEKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Taredu Fred now KIRIYA AUGUSTINE.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Wednesday Eseh Umukoro now FRED ESEH UMUKORO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Tolohuniose Raufu Sakariya now TOLOHUNIOSE ROUFU SAKARIYA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Mrs Ani Evyline am the same person bearing Mrs Nkemako Evyline Akpa. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as NKEMAKO EVYLINE ANI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Idowu Gbolahan Olabisi now IDOWU GBOLAHAN ALFRED. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Jimmy Godday now AGUWOSE TAMARANEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Fagbemi Dupe Olukotun Mayowa now AZEEZ MODUPE KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Aishat Olanike Olanipekun now AISHAT OLANIKE TOWOBOLA and my correct date of birth is 22/04/1968. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Nwabichiri Chizoba Edith now MRS OKAFOR CHIZOBA EDITH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Sade Ajibola now MRS SADE A. AKANBI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ephraim Bolaji Iyabo now ADEOTI BOLAJI IYABO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mustapha Funmilayo Tosin now MRS ADESINA FUNMILAYO TOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Okelue Olaide Temitope now MRS OLADOSU OLAIDE TEMITOPE TINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Gbolahan Matthew now SOWUNMI GBOLAHAN MATTHEW. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Miss Oluwatosin Adenike Adewole now MRS OLUWATOSIN ADENIKE SAMSON. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Esiphri Shina Mathew am the same person as Mathew Shinaola. My correct date of birth is 25/02/1970 and not 02/11/1970 as shown in some documents.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ESIPHRI SHINA MATHEW. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Okafor Julius Ugochukwu now OKAFOR JULIUS HYGINUS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Badmus Abiodun Adelola now MRS AKINKUGBE ABIODUN ADELOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Dr. (Miss) Obiajunwa Chiamaka Anita now DR. (MRS) IGBOKWE CHIAMAKA ANITA. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, Mrs Delowo Beatrice Yomi am the same person as Mrs Adelowo Betty Yomi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS DELOWO BEATRICE YOMI. All documents bearing these names are mine and remain valid. General public take note.

I, OYELEKAN OLANIYI ELIJAH am the same person as OYELEKAN OLANIYI ELIJAH OLUWAFUNMINIYI. All documents bearing these names are mine and remain valid. State Government of Osun, Osun State Local Government Service Commission, Osogbo, First Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, Aworele Rebecca Ronke, my name was mistakenly written as Awopele Rebecca Aderonke on my BVN instead of AWORELE REBECCA RONKE. All documents bearing these names are mine and remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alo Titilope Maria now MRS IGBEKELE TITILOPE MARIA. All former documents remain valid. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

This is to inform the general public that I formerly Idowu Temitope Oluwadunsin wish to add PROMISE to my former name. That henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as IDOWU TEMITOPE OLUWADUNSIN PROMISE. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Salami Suliyatu Asabi now MRS SAIBU SULIYATU ASABI. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Embassy and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME & CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, Mrs Oduola Nafisat am the same person as Mrs Oduola Nafisat Dele which means that if any of the two names appeared in any of my documents including Bank Verification Number (BVN) is correct.

Therefore, general public and all my banks should take note of this and government agencies.

I, formerly Eluwole Adewale now ELUWOLE SAHEED ADEWALE. My date of birth is 19/05/1985 not 19/05/1983 All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Kareem Alirat Folake now ABDUL KAREEM ALIRAT FOLAKE. My date of birth is 10/10/1976 not 21/05/1970. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mrs Adeyemi Linda Ngozi now MS JAJA LINDA NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Haruna Hannah now HARUNA HANNAH OJOCHENEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adebayo Adedamola Iyin now ADEYANJU ADEDAMOLA IYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

ADDITION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

36 CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 22 April, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Dada Oluwabanke Ifenjika now MRS. ILESANMI OLUWABANKE IFENJIKA. All former documents remain valid. University College Hospital, Ibadan (U.C.H) and general public take note.

I, formerly Lawal Raufu Alani now RAUFU OLASUNKANMI LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ulokomeje Nchedo Chioma now MRS OJUKWU NCHEDO CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid. GTB Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayokunnu Victoria Oyedeji now MRS AYOKUNNU VICTORIA AJELE. All former documents remain valid.

LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Hassan Fasilat Idowu now MRS. BAKARE FASILAT IDOWU. My correct date of birth is 16th May, 1982 and not 1st May, 1982. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Akintola Moyosola Shemir now ISMAIL MOYOSOLA SHEMIR. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Lasabi Elizabeth Anye now TEBOH ELIZABETH ANYE. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinyemi Oluwafunke Christianah now MRS. AFOLABI O L U W A F U N K E CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Olaniyi Ezekiel am the same person as Oyekale Ezekiel Olaniyi.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OYEKALE EZEKIEL OLANIYI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Elebedi Olaide now MRS. ADEGOKE OLAIDE MOROMOKE. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyemo Esther Temitayo now MRS ADISA ESTHER TEMITAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Yekeen Sefiat Omobola now MRS. MUDASIRU SEFIAT OMOBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olufunke Adewunmi Oladipupo now MRS. OLUFUNKE ADEWUNMI ODUOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Azeez Sikiru Aderemi now SHITTU SIKIRU ADEREMI. All former documents remain valid.General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ojih Michael Temitope now OMOSEHIN TEMITOPE MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Ogunpitan Wuraola Mary now MRS. MARY ABIODUN OLADIMEJI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Christopher Amaobichukwu Dele Godwin am the same person as Christopher Amaobi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as CHRISTOPHER AMAOBICHUKWU DELE GODWIN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Muraina Jelili Ajao now MURAINA JELILI OLATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Shabi Kunbi Omowunmi now MRS. AKINOLA KUNBI OMOWUNMI. The name was changed due to family reason when I got married. All former documents and certificates remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Hyadati Janet Zubema now HYADATI JANET OLANIPEKUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Moronkeji Bolatito Modupe now MRS. ONIFADE BOLATITO MODUPE. All former documents remain valid. The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers and general public take note.

I, formerly Alabi Babatunde Olayinka now OLATUNJI OLAYINKA SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Power Ikoro now POWEDER IKORO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Chibuike Onyinyechi Hope now MRS. ONYINYECHI HOPE OKPEKPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Olowoyo Subomi Alake am the same person as Alake Kolawole. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLOWOYO SUBOMI ALAKE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Abimbola Morenikeji Adeyinka now ABIMBOLA MORENIKEJI ADEBUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bamisaye Ruth Ayodele now MRS. AJIBOLA RUTH AYODELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Omoadoni Oisamoje now MRS. OMOADONI OHIKHUARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Fayomi Oluwaseyi Comfort now OLUBODE OLUWASEYI COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oaikhena Aisekegbe Faith now MRS EKERE AISEKEGBE FAITH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olajide Racheal Bimpe now MRS AFOLAYAN RACHEAL BIMPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adediji Rukayat Adekemi now MRS ADEDIJI RUKAYAT ADEKEMI FAKUNLE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Salawudeen Anifat now BAMULE BOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Abiodun Maria Awolola now MRS ABIODUN MARIA ADIGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Phillip Adedayo Oludeke now MR. PHILLIP AYOADE OLUDEKE (ninu Jesu Kristi). All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Nweze Roseline Adamma now MRS. ADAMMA ROSELINE AJA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Samuel Blessing now BLESSING SADO. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Bidokwu Bona Chukwudi now MR BIDOKWU BONA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Odita Adaora Nwamaka now MRS. MUSA-LUKA ADAORA NWAMAKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Lawrence Ojo Isimikaye now LAWRENCE S. ISIMAKAYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Fatai Jamiu Abiodun now FATAI JAMIU ADEROJU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Jide Femi now BUKUNMI ABIODUN ONIFADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Famose Abdul Qudir Oluwole now FAMOSE ABDUL QUDIRY OLUWOLE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mohammed Mudasiru Ahmed now MUDASIRU KAMILU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Abiodun Oluwabunmi Abiodun, am the same person as Abiodun Oluwabunmi Modupe and Onalaja Oluwabunmi Abiodun. Now, I wish to be known, called and addressed as ABIODUN OLUWABUNMI ABIODUN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. NYSC, Banks and general public take note.

I, Adisa Wasiu Isola am the same person bearing Adisa Wasiu.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADISA WASIU ISOLA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Nureni Sakirat Romoke now SAKIRAT KAZEEM. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Falomo Olubusayo Christianah now MISS OLULOMO PEACE CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly David Samuel Dave now DAVID SAMUEL ETIM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Bola Okusanya now MRS TOYIN BASIRU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Jimoh Iyabo Suwebat now MRS DIEKOLA IYABO SUWEBAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Taiwo Sabaina Akinyode now AKINYODE OLUWASEUN. My correct date of birth is 26th October, 1962 and not 25th October, 1963. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunlusi Temilade Eunice now MRS DAISI TEMILADE EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adebayo Abideen Ige now ADEBAYO ABIDEEN ORIYOMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Issah N. Ajibola now ISSAH NURUDEEN AJIBOLA. All former documents remain valid. GTB. Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mustapha Fasilat Rafatu now MRS. MUSTAPHA FASILAT OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oladipo Ayotola Janet now MRS. SANNI AYOTOLA JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogundele Titilayo Janet now MRS OWOLABI TITILAYO JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Bakare Funki Abeki am the same person bearing Bakare Fausat Abeki.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as BAKARE FUNKI ABEKI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oyetoso Tolulope Oyewunmi now MRS. AJAO TOLULOPE OYEWUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olatokun Nafisat Adeola now MRS ABDULRAHEEM NAFISAT ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyemo Iyabo Inioluwa now MRS. KAYODE IYABO TEMILADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Iyobhebhe Angela Charity now MRS. ANGELA CHARITY ADEGBEMILE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Gbenro Olubola Olaitan now ADELOWO OLUBOLA OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid.General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Koledowo Adekunle Taofeek now KOLEDOWO TAOFEEK YUSUFF. My correct date of birth is 01/10/1970 and not 01/10/1957. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olabode Olamide Janet now MRS. OLADIMEJI OLAMIDE JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kehinde Victoria Omotola now MRS BABATOPE VICTORIA OMOTOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Hammed Abisola Oyin now HAMMED ABISOLA BASIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abigail Kelechi Ogbodo, now MRS UBONG UDONTE ABIGAIL KELECHI EDIDIONG. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Animashaun Ridwanat Omolabake now MRS AKINWALE RIDWANAT OMOLABAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Oladeji Segun Gregory am the same person as Oladeji Segun Victor. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLADEJI SEGUN GREGORY. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Aderonke Raliat Adesina now MS ADERONKE RALIAT ADEYEMO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Opeyemi Abiola Titilope, now NOSIRU ABIOLA TITILOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Abulesowo Sharafadeen Tunde now ISMAIL SHARAFA TUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adams Tawa Yetunde now ADEBIYI AKANJI YETUNDE TAWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Dr. (Miss) Odunayomi Oluwatomilola Olorunsogo now DR. (MRS.) ODUNAYOMI OLUWATOMILOLA AJAGBE. All former documents remain valid.

West African College of Surgeons, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, University College Hospital, Ibadan and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunosun Temidayo Olajumoke Bolanle now DR. (MRS.) OLUSANYA TEMIDAYO OLAJUMOKE BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Abuja (Fishery Dept., Kanji) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oyeniyi Oluwaseyi Bimbo now MRS. OLAHAN BIMBO OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ojo Sakirat Omowumi now MRS. ONI SAKIRAT OMOWUMI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Fire Services and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Nwabueze Joy Ndidi now MRS. NDIDI JOY ANYAEGBUNAM. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Abbas Abdulwahid now ABDULWAHEED ABBAS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Arowolo Adedayo Micheal now AROWOLO OLUDAYO MICHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adeyemo Kehinde Afolabi now ADEYEMO KEHINDE KAYODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Kazeem Muinat Abisola, now MRS OYARINU MUINAT ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

37

Friday, 22 April, 2016

38 features

Friday, 22 April, 2016

60-year-old woman caught with 5 babies says

I paid fertility clinic N1m for each child •Claims she gave birth to them naturally

Ms Asabi Adebayo with the five children she claims as hers. PHOTO: OLUWATOYIN MALIK

By Oluwatoyin Malik

T

HE issue of baby factories came up in Oyo State on Wednesday, April 20, when the Oyo State Police Command disclosed that it has arrested a 60-year-old woman, Ms Asabi Adebayo with five children whom she claimed to have given birth to in a fertility clinic, after paying N1million for each. She claimed that the five children were born from two pregnancies as twins and triplets and were aged between two and one.

But the Commissioner of Police in the state, Leye Oyebade, said she was suspected to be part of a baby sale syndicate who sell children to people residing abroad.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on how the woman was apprehended, Oyebade said that Iyaganku Division of the command received a report from the proprietor of an orphanage in Ibadan on April 14, 2016, that the 60-year-old Ms Adebayo, requested her to assist in getting a police report to fly her five children abroad.

“I directed the officer in charge of the Juvenile Welfare Centre of the Division to arrest her. When she got to the station, she told the police that she got the children for N1 million each. She confessed that she got the children from a woman in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but when the police from Oyo State command got there, the woman, who probably got a hint that the police were after her, could not be seen.

“We are trying to find out how the person who sold the babies came about them. Before we can get the details of the children, we have to get the person who sold them because she is the one that can give account of how she came about them. While at that, we have been able to identify that these are

children that have been sold and for us to trace their origin, it will take some time. Investigation is still ongoing,” the police commissioner stated.

He promised that his command was going to work towards getting those involved.

“We have set our dragnet and we have our information. Apparently, the person has gone into hiding but he or she will be fished out,” Oyebade added.

Ms Adebayo, who was visibly disturbed about her arrest, narrated to the Nigerian Tribune how she got the children.

According to her, “I had been looking for fruits of the womb for many years until I reached menopause. Over two years ago, someone introduced me to a woman at Ikorodu, Lagos State, who could facilitate pregnancy through herbal concoction, so I and other women went there and were given the concoction.”

We took the concoctions for nine to 10 months before we delivered.

For delivery, we were taken to Port Harcourt.

I delivered twins from the first pregnancy over two years ago.

She also revealed that at the time she came in contact with the woman for fertility treatment, she had stopped menstruating, “but we were given concoction to menstruate just once. After that, I had sex with my partner. I am not married.

“We took the concoctions for nine to 10 months before we delivered. For delivery, we were taken to Port Harcourt. I delivered twins from the first pregnancy over two years ago. I got pregnant the second time and had triplets about a year ago. I paid N1 million for the treatment on each of the children. In total, I paid N5 million.

I breast-fed my children for three months before weaning them as babies. ” When asked why she had to pay N1 million on each child since multiple births could come from any pregnancy, Ms Adebayo replied that the woman who gave her treatment told her ahead of delivery that she would pay according to the number of babies from each delivery. She insisted that she did not buy the babies, contrary to her initial statement at the police station in which she was reported to have confessed paying N5million to get the five children.

She said that she took the police to the place where she delivered the babies in Port Harcourt but the operators of the fertility clinic, a couple, were nowhere to be found.

Responding to questions in a quivering voice, Ms Adebayo, who claimed to be a British citizen, said: “I had been warned not to have children while I was abroad because of my health, so I had made up my mind to put them up for adoption so as to be free.”

On how she found herself in Ibadan though residing in Lagos State, she said: “I came because the owner of an orphanage I approached said that if I wanted to get the children adopted, I would need to get a po-

lice report to take them out of Nigeria.”

On the story that she wanted to do business with the children buy buying them and putting them up for adoption abroad so as to make some money, Ms Adebayo replied: “For business? They are my children; how can I use them for business? I want to take them abroad so that they could enjoy the benefits I have overseas.”

Revealing the operations of the ‘fertility clinic’, Adebayo stated: “These people using concoction had many clients. We were over 1,000 and would queue to be attended to at Ikorodu. Wherever they were, we would go and queue. They gave us concoction and tested us, telling us we were pregnant. I didn’t go for scanning because we were told it was not necessary.

“I want the couple to be apprehended.

(Burst into tears). I know them as Mr and Mrs Okoro. We were many that fell into this deceit. My stomach was big like that of a pregnant woman and I had normal delivery. They would make us lie down, give us concoction, make a cut in the opening of the birth canal and would be pressing our stomachs. When asked whether she was sure that the children’s DNA would match hers, she replied: “I don’t know, I don’t know. The couple should tell the whole world how they were doing it.”

The woman disclosed further she was battling with some diseases, which the Nigerian Tribune learnt were related to cancer and high blood pressure. On why she went ahead to have the children when she knew it was a health risk and she would still give them up for adoption, Ms Adebayo tearfully replied: “I adopted children in the past, though not officially, but they all left me later, saying that I was not their biological mother.”

39

Friday, 22 April, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08105299044

LMC, La Liga set to seal partnership in Abuja A delegation of the Spanish League (La Liga) board will arrive in Nigeria on Monday for a bilateral meeting with the League Management Company (LMC) to conclude discussions on the collaboration between the two leagues which began during a similar visit by the LMC to Spain earlier this year.

The LMC chairman, Shehu Dikko and Honourable Nduka Irabor, the Chief Executive Officer were in Madrid, Spain from February 29 to March 1 for follow-up talks with the La Liga initiated when both Leagues met at the Forum of World Leagues in Germany.

The La Liga delegation

will be led by the president, Javier Tebas, International Advisor, Melcior Solar, Head of La Liga South Africa, Antonia Barradas and Fernando Sanz, the Head of La Liga Middle East office and who is in charge of African affairs.

The two bodies are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for a partnership that will cover exchange of knowledge, trainings for Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club coaches and administrators, La Liga and NPFL clubs’ exchanges, marketing, commercial, promotional activities and youth development.

Abuja Shooters shine at national handball league Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna FORMER national champions, Safety Shooters of Abuja defeated NSCDC Defenders also of Abuja 3124 in a thrilling encounter to lead the ongoing Banjoko Oil and Gas National Handball Premier League at the Murtala Square, Kaduna after eight matches.

Former champions, Imo Grasshoppers of Owerri lead the female category after six matches as hosts, Kada Queens of Kaduna and NSCDC Babes and Safety Babes both of Abuja jostle with the Imo side for

the diadem, that would be decided at the end of the round robin matches tomorrow.

Niger United of Minna, Kano Pyramids and hosts Kada Stars of Kaduna are also ready to give the Road Safety and Civil Defence boys a run for their money to claim the much coveted league title and the attached prize as well as the ticket to the 2016/2017 Africa Handball Club Championships.

Coach of Safety Shooters, Bala Mohammed told Tribunesport that following the victory, the team is primed for the title.

Action recorded during a Nigeria Premier League game recently. The match day 13 fixtures hold this weekend.

ITTF Nigerian Open gets title sponsor

N

IGERIA’S Premier Lotto has thrown its weight behind the fourth edition of the ITTF World Tour Nigerian Open (Lagos 2016) holding from May 18 to 22 at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium La-

gos, Nigeria.

This partnership with the ITTF/NTTF means that Premier Lotto becomes the title sponsor of Nigeria’s foremost international sports tournament for this year. This partnership is in addition to the numerous supports that the Sir Chief

Kessington Adebutu-owned company has given to the development of various sports and education in the country. The famed philanthropist is well known for his love for grassroots and school sports development.

According to the presi-

Ikhana hails Enyimba’s feat in Tunisia

FORMER Enyimba coach, Kadiri Ikhana has described as huge achievement the team’s qualification to the lucrative group stage of the CAF Champions League.

The Nigerian champions edged the Tunisian giants, Etoile Sportive du Sahel 7-6 on penalties after both legs of the encounter ended three goals apiece.

“Enyimba’s qualification

Ikhana

to the group stage of the CAF Champions League at the expense of the Tunisian side, Etoile du Sahel is a huge achievement and we must say big congratulations to the side.

“Enyimba have succeeded in putting Nigeria’s name on the world map of top football playing nations.

“For some time now no Nigerian club has been able to qualify for the group stage of

the CAF Champions League.

“Enyimba went to the lion’s den to the pull qualification ticket from the mouth of Etoile du Sahel, it’s not a mean feat but a huge achievement for the entire country.”

RCCG Regional Junior Sports Festival begins

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi ACTIONS at the ongoing maiden Regional Sports Festival of the Junior Church of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Region 21 continue today in Ibadan, Oyo State, as youngsters jostle for honours.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of Region 21 Junior Church, Mrs Bukola Ezea-

maka, the events being competed for at the threeday fiesta are football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, badminton, scrabble, chess and athletics.

The final of the competition is scheduled to hold tomorrow at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, from 3pm.

The General Overseer, RCCG, Pastor E.A Adeboye and Pastor In Charge of Region 21, Pastor Dele Balogun, among others are expected to

grace the grand finale.

RCCG Zonal Coordinator for the Junior Church Region 21, Pastor Mrs Modupe Olasodehinde told Tribunesport that; “the objective of this competition is to propagate evangelism,” adding that “we know that sports cut across all barriers and we want to explore this opportunity and give the teenagers the opportunity to showcase their talents in sports.”

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna

dent, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, this is an excellent development for table tennis as the sport is getting a much needed boost from the support of Premier Lotto and furthermore it shows their continued commitment to sports development “We are very happy that Premier Lotto is coming on board alongside the Lagos State government that has been the backbone of the tournament since inception and this is a big boost for the sport in Nigeria. The competition will now be known as The ITTF Premier Lotto Nigerian Open.

We are expecting over 30 of the world’s top players and Olympic qualifiers including our own Aruna Quadri and the peerless Segun Toriola among others. We must also thank those companies that have continued to support this event as it continues to grow from year to year. We hope that other corporate bodies will come on board to emulate Premier Lotto as we are getting closer to the kick off of the competition,” Oshodi said.

SIDELINES

FRIDAY, 22 APRIL, 2016

N0 16,485

N150

A mattress known as ‘Smarttress’, which can detect infidelity, has been introduced into the market in Spain. It is said to be embedded with ultrasonic sensors that can capture even the slightest ‘suspicious movement’ in bed.

This, perhaps, is a cheery news to African men, as smarttress can now serve as an alternative to the use of traditional ‘Magun’ thunderbolt charm, which always leads to the death of one of the unfaithful partners.

Rio Olympics: Dream Team not afraid of Ibrahimovic —Siasia

•Says Mikel is welcome

by Olawale Olaniyan

HEAD coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team, Samson Siasia has said he won’t lose sleep over the pedigree of the overage players to be paraded by countries like Brazil, Sweden at the forthcoming Rio 2016 Olympics.

Nigeria will campaign in group B alongside Sweden who will parade Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Rio 2016, as Brazil during the week confirmed FC Barcelona star, Neymar as one of the stars to be unleased on other teams when the Olympics begin in August.

Siasia, however, after the team’s training session at the practice pitch of the National Stadium, Abuja, said he is not

disturbed by the pedigree of any of his opponent.

“Yes, I have read of plans by Sweden to include someone like Zlatan Ibrahimovic as one of their overage players for the Games. Good for them, but as far as we are concerned, there is nothing like fear.

For us, we are trying to put up a team, and that will determine which players we are going to bring. We have played against players of stronger calibre than Zlatan. We have played against Lionel Messi and Di Maria and others.

“We would rather think of the fact that they have a strong team that will play against us, and not individual

players. I don’t want to jump around and start mentioning names, and later if those players are not available, we would be disappointed. So, I have to be sure of what I am doing and when that time comes we will release the names,” the man who coached the Dream Team to win the silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympics told thenff. com.

Siasia stated that Mikel Obi with Ogenyi Onazi is welcome to the Olympic squad but added that every player must fight to justify a place in t h e team. “ I guess

NFF throws Eagles job open

Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) might have made a U-turn on its decision not to consider indigenous coaches for the vacant post of Super Eagles head coach any longer.

Following the sudden resignation of Sunday Oliseh, NFF president, Mr Amaju Pinnick, declared that the era of Nigerian coaches handling the Super Eagles had gone, informing that the federation would hire a foreign coach for the team.

Minister of Youth and Sports,

Barrister Solomon Dalung, penultimate week, gave the federation a four-week period to come up with cogent reasons it wanted to employ a foreign coach and how it was going to be paying his salary when eventually employed.

Rising from its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chris Green-led NFF technical committee decided that the process for the selection of a substantive technical crew of the Super Eagles, with a head coach, would commence before the 2018 World Cup group stage draw.

The interview for the Eagles post will be before the June 24 draw for

that because Mikel missed out the last time, he wants to make up for it. Not only that, the last couple of games he has played for the Super Eagles, he has been playing very well, and if he wants to be part of the team, of course he is welcome, but as I said we have to look at the positions we really, really need people. We are not going to select players because they play for the Super Eagles or because they are still under the age bracket. They have to compete with those players who actually qualified the team for the Olympics,” he added.

Mikel ... Wants to play at Rio Olympics.

World Cup qualifiers.

“After the friendly matches (vs Mali and Luxembourg), and before the 2018 FIFA World Cup group phase draw, the technical committee will initiate the process for the selection of a substantive technical crew for the Super Eagles, with a head coach,” said part of the communiqué issued and made available to Tribunesport on Thursday in Abuja.

It added that: “A small team of eminently-qualified persons with the required pedigree will take charge of the process, and the best candidate would

be selected, irrespective of whether he is indigenous or expatriate.”

As reported on Thursday by Tribunesport, the committee asked Salisu Yusuf to take charge of the Eagles in interim capacity for the friendly ties against the Eagles of Mali on May 27 and Luxembourg on June 1. He will be assisted by Imama Amapakabo and Kennedy Boboye, with Alloy Agu as goalkeepers’ trainer.

The communiqué stated that the interim coaches would be supervised by NFF Technical Director, Shuaibu Amodu.

Afelokhai

NFF protests Enyimba attack in Tunisia THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will protest to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), against the hostilities Enyimba suffered during a CAF Champions League clash with Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia on Wednesday night.

Enyimba scraped through to the group stage of the Champions League after they won 4-3 on penalties as aggregate scores were tied at 3-3, thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai, who saved the last three kicks of the Tunisians during the penalty shootout to ensure Nigeria advance to the money-spinning stage of the glamorous competition.

NFF president, Mr Amaju Pinnick said: “What happened around the Stade Olympique in Sousse on Wednesday bordered on extreme intimidation of the opposition. This is not football.

Football is about peace, about love and about friendship.

“When Etoile du Sahel came to Nigeria, we provided everything to them, including a friendly football arena. We will lodge a strong protest to CAF on this matter.”

A miffed Pinnick said on Thursday morning that if it came to personally delivering the protest at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, he would be willing and ready to do so.

“We will wait for the team to return from Tunisia so that we can get details of what transpired,” he said.

“However, we are delighted at Enyimba’s qualification.

They have shown that they are truly very much experienced on the road. They withstood everything thrown at them and scaled through.

That is the stuff of champions.”

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 22/4/2016.