22nd October 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 1,174

SATURDAY, 22 OCTOBER, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

Chibok girls: Buhari’s

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SPECIAL TREAT

daughter tackles BBOG pg7

Sleep can affect male fertility —Experts pg8

NJC replies NBA

Arrested judges won’t go on leave pg5

I see challenges as stepping stones

—Ejiro Amos Tafiri, E. A. T boss & Vlisco Ambassador pg9

Says: We won’t take orders from anyone CJ transfers Dasuki’s cases to new judge pg36 All govt arms are corrupt —Osinbajo pg5

His Royal Majesty, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II at his coronation.

Palace courtiers carrying the ancient stool of the Oba of Benin during the coronation ceremony, on Thursday.

I have not finished my mission on earth pg6

—Man with 86 wives

Suspected rapists I’ll meet Obanikoro, stab pregnant woman pg6 EFCC in court —Fayose to death Arms probe:

pgs32&33

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celebrated. I noticed that most Yoruba parents don’t allow their children to speak Yoruba, some of our children have never come in contact with masquerades and I don’t want the Yoruba culture to go into extinction, thus I decided to come up with an event to promote the culture of the Yoruba people. There are lots of prices to be won as competitors will be given tasks to accomplish. There are so many unique dancesteps, foods and dialects in the rich Yoruba culture and that it what I want to showcase.

Coming from an actress from Delta State, how were you able to learn all these?

This is a Delta woman who has lived in Yoruba land all her life. I was born in Yoruba land. I go to my village every Christmas, but I also want to give to a society that made me. I was made by the Yoruba film industry and everything and everyone surrounding me are Yoruba, I also plan to promote the culture of the Ibo and Hausa, but let me start from where I know best which I have studied all my life. You cannot give what you don’t know and have.

What are your challenges?

Well, sponsorship is one thing that is difficult. We don’t have sponsors yet as I have been doing it by myself over the years, but to God’s glory, this year, we have the Ooni of Ife, who has accepted to host this year’s edition in Ile Ife, but we are calling on sponsors to support us.

Apart from acting, what else do you do?

I thank God. Apart from acting, I organize this event, Ewa Asa annually. I have a skincare outlet where I take care of people’s skin. I’m also into the fashion industry and I have a fashion line.

No mattetrs,

Popular Nollwood actress, Rose Odika is famous for her legendary mother roles in the Yoruba film industry. She opens up to JOAN OMIONAWELE on issues surrounding her love life, career and personal projects. Excerpts:

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S the Governor of Tampan in Ibadan, Oyo State, what would you describe as your challenges.

The challenges are quite much. First, as a female, a lot of men don’t succumb to women being their leader, some don’t believe that women should lead. Also, raising funds to support our projects. But Tampan Oyo State has succeeded in bringing back the stage play as it was not being used here except for cinemas, but we have been able to regulate it and it holds every third Sunday in a month, it holds at D’rovans Hotel between 2 o’clock and 6 o’clock.

So, how has life been as an actress?

As an actress, it has been wonderful. I thank God because I am enjoying God’s grace. I am thankful for open doors and love from my fans.

What are the biting issues in Nollywood right now?

We are trying to penetrate the government to see if they can come up with a stronger law to tackle piracy. Instead of just parading them, why can’t pirates die by hanging?

They should stiffen the laws against piracy, it is very annoying when someone puts in a huge amount of money to produce a movie and someone just pirates it for a token, it’s like killing someone, before they kill us, the government should help us to kill those people If the government can also bring out a task force to fight militants and criminals, like they have NDLEA for fake drugs, they can also bring out law enforcement agencies

their talen nobody can play

my role —Rose Odika

to fight pirates? They will get more money, our work will move on well and everyone will be happy.

Preparations are in top gear for your annual event tagged ‘ewa asa’ what exactly is his event about?

Ewa Asa is about promoting integral talent development through a holistic approach. It’s about promoting the culture of Yorubaland. It is also an event set to appreciate and honour the living legends and dead heroes who have contributed to the promotion of the Yoruba reign.

Ewa Asa is also to remember the reign of Oduduwa and our forefathers. It is also to showcase different talents and dance groups to the world.

What inspired you to put this event together This is the 4th edition of the event. The inspiration came when I was going through the Yoruba culture. I discovered that there are lots of things to be

With the influx of younger ladies in the industry, are you under pressure?

I am not afraid of competition because no matter their number, they cannot play my role. I say it anywhere.

An actor is the raw material of a particular product. For instance, when you cook vegetable soup, you use green leaves; shoko will not play the role of Ugwu, likewise an actor, if someone is playing the role of a rich woman in a particular play, it can’t be the same spice that I will put in. so there are so many people with talents and no matter how many people come in, they can’t play my role, you are who you are at any given time.

Not much has been heard about your love life, why?

Let me clear the air now, there was a time it went viral that I was going to get married soon, well, the writer wished me well and yes I have a love life but I have decided to separate my love life from the public. Secondly, I’m not a romantic person. I am more of a workaholic. My fingers have been burnt from my first marriage, so I put men as a secondary, not a primary issue in my life, so I am facing my career rather than flying around with one lover who will break your heart in a few minutes.

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Celebration galore as new Asiwaju, Yeye Asiwaju emerge in Ilesha today

By Kehinde Adio “LET leaders of integrity be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour for the progress of the society. Today marks another milestone in the history of Ilesha town, an ancient city of business gurus and philanthropists of repute in Nigeria ,as drums will be rolled out to receive distinguished fellow Nigerians, at home and in the Diaspora into the palace of His Imperial Majesty, Owa Obokun Adimula, the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromoloran II,( CFR, LL.D) for the conferment of Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwuju of Ilesha land on Oluwayinka Fasuyi and his wife, Dr( Mrs) Bisi Fasuyi respectively.

About Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi He was born on October 25, 1955 to late Chief Jacob Olowookere Fasuyi and Mrs. Felicia Sijuwola Fasuyi in Ilesa, Osun State. He attended Otapete Methodist Primary School, Ilesa, between 1962 and 1968, Ilesa Grammar School in 1973. He also attended Methodist Boys High School, Lagos before proceeding to the University of Ibadan where he obtained his first degree in Economics.

He subsequently obtained three Masters Degrees in Industrial and Labour Relations and Information Science from the same institution before he proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, for another masters degree in Business Administration.

His quest for corporate development also saw him obtaining executive certificates in Management from the McDough Business

School, GeorgeTown University, Washington, USA; Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK. He is also an alumnus of Queen’s University School of Business, Toronto, Canada, and the University of California Business School, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. His working experience After leaving the University of Ibadan, he worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Education before joining the services of Total Nigeria Plc, in 1985. After seven years at Total Plc, he resigned his appointment to set up the Supreme Management Training and Consultancy Services Limited about 25 years ago, To the glory of God, Supreme Management Limited has not only become the biggest private management development institution in West Africa and beyond, but it stands as the only organization that has operated in all the 36 states of the federation.

The company has extended its services to other West, East and Southern African countries, Europe, Asia and America.

Social responsibility He has been in the vanguard of helping the needy and the down trodden in his own little ways though the Yinka Fasuyi Foundation. Plans underway to increase activities in that direction and do more, God willing, as he intends to rededicate his life to service to humanity.

His professional experience He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management; fellow, Institute of Manage-

ment Consultants of Nigeria; fellow, Nigerian Institute of Information and Records Management; member, American Institute for Training and Development; member, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria; member, Nigerian Economic Society; member, Nigerian Association for Educational Administration and Planning; member, Nigeria Association of Information Scientists and member, the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development.

Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi belongs to many social clubs. For instance, he is a former President of First Cosmopolitan Club in Africa. He is also a member of Ibadan Recreation Club, Ibadan Golf Club, Ibadan Polo Club, University of Ibadan Staff Club, Ijesa Felates Club, Ilesa Roots Club, and life member of Ijesa Sports Club, among several others.

Similarly, his wife, the new Yeye Asiwaju of Ilesha , Dr. (Mrs.) Olubisi Fasuyi, a development communication specialist, attended St. Theresa’s Primary School in Ibadan, and later proceeded to Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode for her secondary education. She had her advanced level education at the Federal Government College, Odogbolu.

She later gained admission to the University of Ibadan in 1983, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics.

She enrolled for her post graduate degree in Communication and Language Arts at the University of Ibadan in 1989. Upon completion of her masters degree programme, Olubisi explored her deep passion for reading and writing by continuing her career with the prestigious Heinemann Educational Books

as an editor, in December 1990. While working with Heinemann Educational Books, she distinguished herself as a thoroughbred editor and had to her credit the assessment, proof reading and editing of many of Heinemann’s popular titles.

She bagged her doctorate degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 2012 after which she joined Supreme Management Training and Consultancy Services (SMTCS) as the Deputy Chief Consultant/Chief Operating Officer, directly responsible for managing the organisation under the guidance of her husband, the Chief Consultant and Chief Executive Officer.

His word: “My late father was a community leader whose life, teachings and businesses had positive influence on me till date. His work ethics and virtues are forever helpful.

“My elder brother also remains the most influencing factor in my career and life till date.

He was able to re-orientate me to appreciate the importance of education, leaving a lasting impression on me to this day. He made me realise that I did not have to rely on my parents’ wealth. He encouraged me to pursue education rather than going into business which was on my mind after secondary school education.

“Were it not for divine directive and support, I would have stopped at secondary school and joined the then thriving, inviting and alluring business of my father.

“I was nicknamed, The Young Millionaire, as early as form three in the secondary school I was also thrown into the social circle early, reveling in the abundance as a result of that privileged access to my father’s wealth.”

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NJC replies NBA: Arrested judges won’t go on leave ‘We won’t take orders from anyone’ Sunday Ejike - Abuja

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HE National Judicial Council (NJC) on Friday disagreed with the call by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the suspension of judicial officers who are being investigated over allegations of corruption by the Department of State Service (DSS).

The DSS had on October 7 and 8 swooped on seven judicial officers comprising two justices of the Supreme Court, a justice of the Appeal and judges of High Courts across

the country.

While speaking at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, at the valedictory court session in honour of Justice Sotonye Deton-West, who retired on Thursday, having attained the age of 70, the NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), had called on the embattled judges to step down from their positions pending when their names were cleared of all the allegations levelled against them.

But in a swift reaction to the NBA’s recent position

on the matter, the NJC, in a statement by its acting Director of Information, Soji Oye, described the call as “unacceptable.”

The disciplinary body of all judicial officers in the country noted that it was not unaware of the views expressed by members of the public and lawyers on the issue, but said that the NJC could only recommend the appointment and dismissal of any erring judicial official to either the president or the governor of a state as prescribed by the law establishing the body.

The NJC admitted that its mandate is limited by the provisions in the 1999 Constitution that established it.

The statement reads in part: “NJC is constrained to inform the general public that its constitutional mandate is to process and recommend to the executive at the federal and state levels, the appointment, and/or the removal of judicial officers from office, including exercise of its disciplinary control of suspending and/or warning judicial officers; after complying with due process and the rule of law.

upper division; 323 others got second class lower and 129 graduating students got third class.

ABUAD also conferred honorary degrees on the President, Central State University,

Ohio, USA, Professor Cynthia Jackson Hammond, who delivered the Convocation Lecture and prominent businessmen, Dr Cosmas Maduka and Chief Raymond Zard.

All arms of government are corrupt —Osinbajo Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti THE Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said that there is corruption in all the arms of government and assured Nigerians that no sector of the society will be spared in the fight against corruption under the present administration in the county.

Professor Osinbajo, who spoke at the fourth convocation ceremony of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), on Friday, said what Nigeria was witnessing, especially the high level of poverty in the country, was a direct consequence of corruption that had permeated every sector of the economy.

The vice president, who was the special guest of honour at the climax of the convocation, assured that no arm of government would be spared in the fight against corruption.

He said: “All the institutions of government, I mean the executive, legislature and the judiciary, are corrupt. What we need is serious re-orientation.

That is why ABUAD is a great university because it teaches learning, character and moral.

So, value reorientation is a key weapon to fight corruption.

“That was why the present Federal Government is intervening. If we refuse to, every facet of the country will fail. We must act fast and deal with the situation as quickly as possible.”

Reacting to a request made

by Governor Ayodele Fayose for support for an airport in Ekiti State, Vice President Osinbajo stated that the Federal Government would support all projects aimed at fast-tracking the development of the country.

He explained that conditions for the construction of an airport had been explained to Governor Fayose.

Osinbajo said: “Ekiti State deserves an airport but I have discussed what we need in return with His Excellency.

“The Federal Government will continue to give support to every project that will fasttrack development in each of the states of the federation. We know how important is this airport to Afe Babalola Uni-

versity, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).”

He said: “I have great respect for the ABUAD Founder, Chief Afe Babalola because of his stand against corruption.

Sometime in 2002, Chief Babalola argued the case for the establishment of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) where he let the court realise that corruption is the greatest problem of our nation.”

To the graduating students, he advised that they “must be trustworthy and honest, apart from being skillful and resourceful to be able to make a great impact in the future ahead of you. You must reflect on the values they have inculcated in you in the institution and be conscious of the fact that Nigeria, your country, must be great and through which this can be achieved with your contributions.”

Governor Fayose had earlier said that Ekiti, being a land-locked state, deserved an airport and had called on the Federal Government to support the state government in that regards.

On ABUAD, Fayose extolled Chief Afe Babalola, the founder of the university, saying “Chief Babalola chaired the first Ekiti Education Summit in 2003 and we came from 35th position to sixth in the South-West and seventh nationwide in WAEC and NECO examinations.

“You were the Special Guest of Honour at last year’s summit and we came from 34th position in 2014 to number one in the country. With your zeal for quality education, I am sure that, in another five years, this university can rank among the best in the world.”

Chief Babalola (SAN), in his speech, said his vision was to produce quality graduates that would be able to compete with their peers anywhere in the world, saying ABUAD came about as an experiment in quality education.

A total of 912 students were conferred with degrees in various courses while 59 others bagged post-graduate degrees.

Of the figure, 61 graduating students bagged first class, while 399 bagged second class

Woman kills husband in Ogun OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta THE men of Ogun State Police Command has arrested one Omolara Oluwagbemi Abosede for killing her husband, one Sodiq Dauda, in Ijebu -Ode area of the state.

The suspect, according to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, was said to have stabbed her

husband to death over a minor disagreement between them.

The argument was a result of mistrust between the couple over a business entrusted in the hand of the suspect.

They were said to have fixed a date in December to formalise their union.

The suspect claimed that her action was as a result of torture she was subjected to

“Since the creation of NJC vide the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, it has exercised its powers and performed its functions within its constitutional limitations.

“Thus, the current position of the NBA vis-à-vis its recommendation that the affected judicial officers involved in the on-going investigation of judicial officers by the DSS, be requested to proceed on compulsory leave until the conclusion of all disciplinary proceedings against them, is unacceptable to the NJC; as it breaches the 2014 Revised Judicial Discipline Regulations formulated by NJC, pursuant to Section 160 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

“It is to be reiterated also that by the provisions of Section

by her late husband.

She was said to have stabbed the late Dauda on the ribs, while the deceased descended on her and also attempted to stabbed her with a broken bottle.

The victim was rushed to Ijebu-Ode General Hospital by policemen attached Igbeba Division, but reportedly gave up the ghost the day after.

Lagos set to impose death sentence on kidnappers Police arrest 14 in Lagos, Rivers over kidnapping ByChrisAgbambu,Chukwuma Okparaocha and Tunde Ogunesan

LAGOS State government may soon join the growing number of states, such as Edo, Ogun and Anambra, that have imposed the death sentence on kidnappers.

According to a private member bill sponsored by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, “any person, who kidnaps, abducts, details or captures or takes another person by any means or tricks him or her with intent to demand ransom or do anything against his/her will commits an offence and liable on conviction to death sentence.”

The bill, which is titled ‘A bill for a law to provide for the prohibition of the act of kidnapping and for other connected purposes,’ went through a public hearing on Friday at the Lateef Jakande Hall within the Assembly premises with some stakeholders in attendance.

Attempt to kidnap was also criminalised under the bill and it was suggested that such a person would be committed to life imprisonment.

Also, the bill is against false representation to release a kidnapped or abducted person under Section 4 and this attracts

seven years imprisonment.

Furthermore, the bill provides that any person, who knowingly or wilfully allows his house to be used for kidnapping is guilty of an offence under the law and liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of 14 years without an option of fine.

A legal practitioner, Mr Richard Komolafe from the United Action for Change (UAC), who spoke at the stakeholders’ meeting, commended the bill but said that death sentence, was no longer fashionable all over the world.

In his keynote address, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Obasa, condemned the trend of kidnapping in the state, stressing that the act should be punished by the death penalty.

Obasa, who was represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, said that those who engaged in the crime were not fit to live.

In another development, a total of nine kidnapping suspects who were alleged to be responsible for most kidnappings in Port Harcourt have been arrested at different locations in Rivers State.

The suspects were arrested with various weapons, face masks and an operational ve-

hicle.

Also, five suspects were arrested following the kidnap of some residents of an estate in Isheri area of Lagos State in September.

Gang member of the suspects, one Temmi Enormi, confessed to be a member of the gang that kidnapped the Isheri landlords and was confirmed by other gang members earlier arrested.

Following the arrests, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police was ever ready and more determined to ensure that all those who engage in vicious crimes such as kidnappings, armed robbery and other criminal activities, did not escape justice.

Similarly, officers from Oyo State Police Command, Gbagi Station, on Friday, killed one of several notorious armed robbers who had been terrorising Tipper Garage area, Ogungbade, in Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan.

The image-maker of the Oyo State Police Command, Superintendent Adekunle Ajisebutu, while addressing journalists at the Gbagi Police station, said the police got wind of the attack through a distress call from the public that armed robbers were operating at the area.

158 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, NJC shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person while exercising its disciplinary power of control over judicial officers in the Federation.

“Members of the public are hereby informed that the mechanism that will determine a judicial officer to be directed or requested to proceed on compulsory leave or be suspended from office, is a disciplinary power that NJC can only exercise after initiating disciplinary proceeding on the complaint or petition forwarded against the judge, after he has been found culpable.

“Therefore, to act on the recommendation of the NBA is not only contrary to the provisions of Section 158 of the 1999 Constitution, but it means NJC will direct any judicial officer that has been petitioned even if the allegations contained therein are frivolous and baseless, to proceed on compulsory leave or be suspended from office without complying with the rule of law.

“That is not the understanding of NJC of the intention of the framers of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended vis-àvis its constitutional powers and functions on initiation of disciplinary proceedings culminating in suspension of judicial officers.

“Thus, to act on the request of the departments of government and the recommendation of the NBA, the 808 judicial officers that had been petitioned and accused of professional misconduct and or corrupt practices, without investigation by NJC, would have all been suspended or sent on compulsory leave and the courts would have been deserted.

“NJC is not unmindful of the concern of the public on a situation whereby a judicial officer is being investigated and/or prosecuted for commission of a criminal offence such as murder or robbery; and whether he is not supposed to be requested or directed to proceed on compulsory leave or be suspended from office. In the circumstance, unless the subject judge accused of commission of the offence of murder or robbery is petitioned to NJC, it shall not assume the disciplinary power of control over judicial officers to suspend or direct the subject judge to proceed on compulsory leave.

“Thus, NJC can only direct any judge alleged of committing such criminal offences, to go on compulsory leave or be suspended from office if he has been investigated and found by NJC culpable of misconduct.”

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Avengers accuse Buhari of denigrating N/Delta Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

From left, State Manager, Lagos, Mr Niyi Olatubosun; National Sales Coordinator, Lagos, Mr Akinloye Adebisi and Head of Gloworld, Mr Babatunde Alimi at the commissioning of a Gloworld, the Customer Service arm of Globacom in Lekki, Lagos State recently.

EFCC re-arrests Fani-Kayode AyomideOwonibiOdekanyinLagos

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former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, was, on Friday afternoon, rearrested within the premises of the Federal High Court Lagos by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for yet-to-be known reasons.

Fani-Kayode was arrested shortly after he stepped out of the court where he had gone to attend his trial for a fraud and money laundering allegation of N4.9 billion levelled against him

by EFCC. However, shortly after the accused had proceeded out of court, two officers of the agency, dressed in white kaftan, flanked his sides and requested that he followed them to the commission.

Immediately, the court’s gate was barricaded by a Toyota Hiace bus and FaniKayode was arrested and taken off to the EFCC office.

Fani-Kayode, who was also former Director of Media and Publicity, campaign committee for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is charged alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenandi Usman and Danjuma Yusuf.

Also charged is a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd. They were arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money in the tune of about N4.9 billion.

They each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.

Meanwhile, when the case was mentioned on Friday, EFCC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, had opened the case for the prosecution and called his first witness, a media consultant, Mr Idowu Olusegun.

Leading him in evidence, the witness, who is media consultant to Paste Posters Company Ltd, told the court that N30

million was paid in cash to him by the office of the Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Campaign Organisation.

According to Olusegun, he had reached an agreement with the organisation whose office is situated at 14B, Samora Micheal Avenue, Asokoro FCT, for the sum of N24 million for media consultancy services.

He said that a further negotiation was reached in which N50 would be paid for each size of A2 posters,

while N20 would be paid for each size of A4 flyers.

Olusegun told the court that after the printing job for the posters and flyers was done, he was invited to the office of the organisation and given N30 million in cash.

He told the court that he had demanded to know why payments was made in cash and was informed by one Mr Oke, that cash was the approved means of payment.

He said that Mr Oke had been the person communicating with him throughout the pendency of his engagement to do the media jobs.

The witness also told the court that apart from the N30 million paid to him, there is also an outstanding payment of N24 million which was not paid to his company.

After his testimony, and based on agreements of counsels, the court fixed November 14 and 15 for continuation of trial.

I have not finished my mission on earth —Man with 86 wives Adelowo Oladipo - Minna THE Bida, Niger Statebased cleric famed for his controversial marriage to 86 wives, Alhaji Bello Masaba, has declared that he has a “divine” assignment which he must finish before his death.

He made the declaration in an interview with Saturday Tribune in reaction to a death rumour about him, said to have started last Saturday and which sparked several reactions on social media.

The cleric said it was not yet time for him to die as he was yet to accomplish some of the tasks given him

by God. “I am alive; I am not dead.

Allah’s assignment must be carried out. Although death is the ultimate end of all, I will fulfil my days and divine assignment.

“What I am doing is divine. It is an assignment and I will keep doing it till the end of my time. I want to advise those fighting against me to stop because they are waging war against God, their Creator,” he said.

Masaba had stirred controversy in the state for violating the Islamic injunction which forbids a Muslim man to marry more than four wives. He has over 100 children Last Sunday, it was gathered, several people in the

town visited the man’s three-storey house located at Kota Woro, Masaba Ward to know if he truly was dead.

The sympathisers were, however, said to have been shocked to meet the 92-year-old man sitting

on the ground floor of the house receiving visitors and assuring them that he was hale and hearty.

Alhaji Masaba described the news of his death as imaginary, emphasising that he would only die at God’s appointed time.

Rapists kill pregnant woman, injure husband, 2 children Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos SUSPECTED members of a rape gang in the Ibeshe area of Ikorodu in Lagos State early Friday stabbed a pregnant woman to death.

The rapists also reportedly injured the 30-year- old husband and two sons of the deceased woman .

The woman, identified as Afusat Kazeem, reportedly died at the hospital, where she was rushed to after the assailants had left.

The injured husband and the children were reportedly as of Friday evening still lying unconscious at the hospital.

Saturday Tribune gathered that the gang of rapists had early Friday invaded Oluwoye Community in Ibeshe, where the incident happened .

It was gathered that the armed rapists had forced their way into the family’s apartment through the win-

dow.

They reportedly used machete and other dangerous weapons on the husband of the deceased, Yussuf, who woke up to confront them.

The suspects reportedly pounced on Afusat after the husband had been left unconscious and she reportedly struggled with them .

The rapists were said to have stabbed the pregnant woman in the process before allegedly raping her.

The two children, Opeyemi, a six-year-old boy and Rodiat, who screamed, were also injured by the gang.

The suspected criminals also reportedly cut off one of the ears of the eledest child before escaping from the building.

Efforts to get the reaction of the image maker of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos failed as calls made to her mobile phones were not answered.

AFTER a seeming period of ceasefire, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) resumed hostilities, aaccusing President Muhammadu Buhari of denigrating the Niger Delta region with disparaging remarks while the ceasefire lasted.

The militant group, in an open letter to the president, late Thursday night, also described the launched clean-up of the oil devastated Ogoniland as nothing but a mere charade, allegedly being politicised by the president.

The latest verbal attack from NDA was coming few days ahead of the meeting of the president with leaders of the region, under the aegis of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, scheduled to hold on October 29, 2016, and where the various grievances would be discussed as a means to halt the crisiss in the region.

Spokesperson of the group, Brigadier General Mudoch Agbinibo, in the letter posted in the group’s website, alleged that Buhari was treating the Niger Delta region as a conquered territory.

“The High Command of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is constrained to write you Mr President, General Muhammadu Buhari on your continuous disparaging remarks since the cessation and suspension of hostilities by our fighters for liberation of the Niger Delta from economic colonialism of Nigeria.

“We are curious of comments like ‘Niger Delta militants’ objective is to colonise Nigeria economically’ and ‘Niger Delta militants are sponsored by economic looters’.

“During the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) 63rd Regular Course, you personally issued misleading statements and threats of decisive military action, if necessary, to deal with Niger Delta agitation because you have purportedly opened up channels of talks through security agencies/agents and the Multinational Corporations.”

Gov Emmanuel promises transparency in constituting new executive council AKWA Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has said that he will soon constitute another State Executive Council, even as he promised to be meticulous in doing so and making the process transparent.

Emmanuel, who spoke in Uyo on Friday, said he was committed to moving the state forward and building a culture of excellence in service.

The governor had dissolved the state EXCO last Saturday, instructing the permanent secretaries in the various ministries to take over the ministries. He also thanked the ex-commissioners for their contributions towards the development of the state.

Emmanuel told newsmen on Friday that he was committed to fulfilling his campaign promises, adding that projects in the state would be executed based on needs assessment.

It will be recalled that the governor has embarked on major roads constructions, infrastructural developments and agricultural schemes including the Cocoa production scheme as part of efforts aimed at industrializing the state.

The governor promised to select people that would drive his administration’s agenda of industrialising the state as members of the executive council.

Glo-backed CNN African Voices celebrates continent’s creative artistes

THE Glo-sponsored CNN African Voices will this weekend hail the accomplishments of a new generation of creative artistes, including South Africa’s Laduma Ngxokolo, Uganda’s Xensen and Liberian-born Tianna Sherman-Kesselly.

In this week’s edition, African Voices will bring to the front burner the activities of Africans making impact in the continent and across the world. According to CNN, the choice of this week’s guests was informed by how their creative works have been “influencing the way we look at our world.”

Described as “a worldly designer whose style feels right at home” by CNN, Tianna Sherman-Kesselly runs Afropolitan, a boutique store that designs and showcases contemporary Liberian fashion. The brand reflects the country’s historical and cultural connection to the African Diaspora.

One of Africa’s finest knitwear designers and innovator of the Xhosa-inspired knitwear brand “Maxhosa by Laduma,” Ngxokolo Laduma recently emerged the winner of 2015 Vogue Italia Scouting for Africa prize to showcase his collections at the Palazzo Morando Show in Milan, Italy. CNN described Laduma as having a reputation for taking the familiar and making it look fantastic.

Xensen of Uganda is the third guest. He is a creative force described by CNN as “fashioning our future by challenging the present.”

The programme comes up on CNN International at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, while the repeat episode will run at 12.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m. on Sunday, 11.30 p.m. on Monday and at 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday

news BBOG: Buhari’s daughter rejects infringement allegations

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Clement Idoko, Abuja RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hajiya Hadiza Buhari Bello, has refuted allegations of franchise infringement by the Bring Back Our Girls group, led by a former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

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22 October 2016

Buhari Bello, the President of the Africa Support and Empowerment Initiative (AFRISEI), a Non-Governmental Organisation, said she does not need the permission of any group to carry out charitable causes.

In a statement she jointly signed with the secretary,

Don Uche she said their organisation is a responsible body that would never engage in illegal activities by stealing someone else’s franchise.

Bello noted that contrary to Dr. Ezekwesili’s allegation, her organisation did not need to lean on the BBOG to be of service to the

Chibok Girls and therefore had no reason to steal anything from BBOG or use its name to achieve any advantage.

According to her, the Africa Support and Empowerment Initiative has its own defined objectives and that it didn’t need to steal anybody’s ideas to operate in

line with its own objectives.

The statement further explained that their organisation is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and issued certificate of incorporation on 14th July, 2016.

While praising the activities of the BBOG to raise and sustain awareness about the plight of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, the President’s daughter said that their organisation had

Saturday Tribune

broader objectives beyond the Chibok girls.

They said though the Chibok girls are within the priority of their organisation, its commitments to humanitarian causes didn’t end with Chibok schoolgirls. “Given the size of the problem at hand, the more organisations we have assisting Chibok and other devastated communities, the better for the country,” added the statement.

Budget padding: Jibrin withdraws suit challenging suspension, files fresh one claiming N1bn damages

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose ( right) welcoming Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ( middle) to the convocation ceremony of Afe Babalola University ( ABUAD) while founder of the university, Aare Afe Babalola (left)watches at ABUAD, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Friday

Sunday Ejike - Abuja JUSTICE John Tsoho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday struck out the suit filed by the embattled former Chairman, Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, challenging his suspension from the House of Representatives.

The striking of the suit by the court followed Jibrin’s application for discontinuance of the matter filed

NDLEA discovers cocaine inside lady’s brassiere at Lagos airport Shola Adekola - Lagos THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has prevented a 30-yearold Brazil-based hair stylist from smuggling cocaine into the country.

Officials discovered that the brassiere of the suspect was laden with narcotics at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos during the inward

screening of passengers on a South African Airways flight.

The suspected white powdery substance tested positive for cocaine with a gross weight of 535 grammes.

Sequel to this seizure, the agency vowed to detect more hidden drugs and prosecute offenders.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Ahmadu Garba gave the name of the suspect as Nnanji J. Ijeoma

saying; “A 30-year-old lady by name, Nnaji Juliet Ijeoma, was arrested on her way from Brazil following the discovery of 535 grammes of cocaine hidden inside her brassiere. The incident is being investigated and she will soon be charged to court”.

The suspect, who is a hair stylist and holder of a diploma degree in Mass Communication, said that she smuggled the drugs because

Unilorin VC charges wealthy Nigerians to complement FG’s efforts on education Biola Azeez, Ilorin.

THE Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, has called for a more effective partnership in infrastructural development between wealthy Nigerians and governments to enhance standard of university education in the country.

Speaking at 32nd convocation ceremony of the institution in Ilorin on Friday, Professor Ambali said that, “education is too important to be left in the hands of the government alone”.

Saturday Tribune gathered that 67 out of 6,069 graduating students of the university made First Class honours, while 1,505 students made second class upper division grade, 3,200 with second class lower division grade, and 1,124 10Third Class division grade while 70 students made Pass grade.

“It is understandable that the Federal Government cannot provide all the needs of the University of Ilorin as a microcosm of its several universities. It is in this respect that I call on goodspirited Nigerians to come and partner with the university and contribute to making life on campus better for our teeming students.

“We want more of such interventions as made by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) through the $2million Engineering Research Center commissioned in July this year, from corporate and individual Nigerians.

“In essence, the university is keenly interested in expanding its facilities and increasing its capacity to cater for several thousands of Nigerian students who knock at our gate for admission each year.

“Such interventions may come in the form of pro-

vision of lecture theatres, class-rooms, hostels, blocks of offices, endowments of chairs and research sponsorships and grants to our staff and students,” he said.

she needed money.

Juliet, who hails from Enugu State, in her statement, said: “I work as a hair stylist in Brazil where l reside for the past two years. I studied Mass Communication, but because of lack of job, I work as a hair stylist in Brazil.

“I was approached to smuggle cocaine to Nigeria and I accepted because of the money involved. I needed money for my personal problem.

“The drug was prepared inside brassiere and given to me to put on. I did not know how it was packaged. My role was to smuggle the drug to Nigeria and collect the sum of one million naira”.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Colonel Muhammad Abdallah (retd) in his

reaction, said drug traffickers were becoming more desperate in their mode of operation.

He, however, assured members of the public that the agency was determined to counter the criminal plans of drug cartels saying: “It is obvious that drug traffickers are getting desperate, but we are prepared to counter their operations through superior intelligence.

LG demolishes illegal structures THE caretaker chairman of Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State, Olalekan Afuye, reiterated his administration’s commitment to giving the council area a facelift.

Afuye made the remark

Nigerians not impressed with method deployed by Buhari to tackle corruption —Oduoye Oluwole Ige, Osogbo A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) in Osun State, Dr. Kayode Oduoye, on Friday said there are strong indications that Nigerians are not impressed with efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in tackling corruption, saying all his moves to fight graft are not having direct positive impact on the populace.

He observed that considering the increasing level of poverty in the country, efforts to “kill” corruption by President Buhari is obviously not in tune with the people

he is serving because they are more pauperised daily.

Oduoye, who spoke with journalists in Osogbo, Osun State capital recalled that measures to combat corruption by the previous administrations, which he noted resulted in the establishment of some key institutions are today benefitting the general populace.

He specifically mentioned the introduction of NNPC Mega Stations across the country by Obasanjo administration, when corruption almost wrecked the distribution network of the NNPC as an example of how to fight corruption and at the same

through his lawyer, Chukwuma Nwachukwu dated October 11, 2016.

Nwachukwu prayed the court on Friday when the case came up to discontinue with the hearing of the case.

Kalu Onuorah, representing the House of Representatives and thirteen other defendants in the matter did not oppose the application of discontinuance of the matter, but however asked for a cost of N200, 000.00 on the ground that the defendants had filed processes and had put in a lot in the matter.

Justice Tsoho, in a short ruling struck out the matter and declined to award cost.

Meanwhile, Jibrin has filed a fresh suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to award the sum of N1 billion against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the Clerk of the House as punitive and general damages for his suspension from the floor of the House.

time, grow economy.

“Another one that readily comes to mind is the introduction of BVN and TSA by the Jonathan administration. These two initiatives are meant to fight corruption and they are today helping to fight graft by the man that takes over,” he added.

According to Oduoye, “an average Nigerian will appreciate Buhari’s efforts to rid the country of corruption more, if through his anti corruption crusade, more policemen are being recruited or more prisons are built to accommodate those that might fail anti corruption test before court”.

during the demolition of illegal structures at the setback of Araromi auto spare parts market, Agodi and an unallocated space beside the local government secretariat in Iwo-Road.

The local government chairman said in spite of the size of the Araromi market which serves Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti states, there is no space to park vehicles.

He, therefore, promised to construct an ultramodern parking space which will prevent illegal parking and also serve as a source of revenue to the local government.

Similarly, unallocated space beside the local government secretariat, popularly called Tarmac IwoRoad, has been cleared to give way for the construction of a befitting shopping complex.

The chairman, however, said that all parties concerned were duly informed before the demolition was embarked upon.

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22 October, 2016

100 undergo free breast cancer surgery in Ogun

From left, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor; bride’s mother, Mrs Bola Ogundokun; bride’s father, Chief Abiola Ogundokun; Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi; the newly wedded couple, Mr and Mrs Olayinka Afeez, at their wedding ceremony, in Festac area, Lagos, on Thursday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

SPECIAL TREAT

Sleep can affect male fertility Sade Oguntola with Agency Report

S

LEEPING too little or too much can affect a man’s ability to impregnate his partner, a new research suggests.

According to a health news platform, HealthDay, the “sweet spot” appears to be seven to eight hours of sleep a night, said study author, Lauren Wise, a professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health.

Among the 790 couples the researchers followed, “we found both short and long sleep duration — less than six hours or nine or more per night — were associated with a reduced probability of pregnancy,” Wise said.

Using eight hours of sleep as the reference point, men who slept less than six or more than nine hours a night “had a 42 per cent reduced probability of conception in any given month,” she added.

The main explanation is most likely hormonal, Wise said. Fertility experts know that testosterone is crucial for reproduction and the majority of daily testosterone release in men occurs during sleep, she explained.

Total sleep time, in turn, has been positively linked with testosterone levels in several studies, she added.

All of the couples in the study were trying to conceive and they had been trying for no more than six menstrual cycles. The couples answered questions about sleep patterns and whether they had trouble sleeping.

Those men who had trouble sleeping more than half the time were also less likely to impregnate their partner than those who didn’t, the researchers found.

While the study found only an association between sleep and fertility, “it can’t prove cause and effect,” Wise said.

But the link held up even

Saturday Tribune

after she took into account both the men’s and women’s ages, their body mass index, their frequency of intercourse and other factors known to affect fertility.

More research is needed, Wise noted. “It is possible that poor sleep duration could contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle, decreased libido, a decrease in sex, but we tried to control for all those factors,” she said.

The finding is welcome news to Dr Peter Schlegel, Vice President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr Gbolahan Obajimi, while reacting to the findings, held that stress might be caused by lack of sleep or any other factor and it could impact both male and female fertility.

He said, however, “One cannot categorically say that too little sleep can affect fertility as the study suggests.

Until it has a wide application, I might not be able to comment. I need to study it,” Dr Obajimi said.

According to him, “lack of sleep can lead to stress and stress can lower the fertility hormones. There is not a new thing in what the study is bringing out. It is not particularly a new except if the study is looking at the angle of sleeplessness. However, one cannot categorically say that too little sleep causes infertility as the study suggests, unless it has wide application.”

On the efficacy of increased intake of fruits and vegetables to aid fertility, Dr Obajimi said: “Fruits have antioxidants, they can help the body to remove wastes and toxins and that may be helpful. For fertility, we give Vitamin A, E and other supplements that are present in fruits.

So, fruits keep the body in shape and as such, are helpful for fertility. But this does not mean that if you take a particular fruit, you will get pregnant or become more

fertile. Fruits keep the body healthy, and a healthy body will be able to reproduce.

Can disrupted bedtime, stress or emotional issues affect fertility? The medical practitioner said some women, when stressed, will not see their period, without which pregnancy is impossible. For men, he said, stress could affect erection.

“They do not have good erection again, because these things can affect libido.

They can affect man psychologically and emotionally.

And emotional disturbance usually manifests in loss of libido or lack of interest in sex for men. Even when they want to have sexual intercourse, they cannot achieve an erection because their minds are preoccupied. It does not affect the ability to father a child but the process of sexual intercourse is disturbed,” he said.

He also said loss of sleep increases stress and this can affect libido. “Loss of sleep increases stress.

Revival of Awolowo’s farm settlement schemes, way out of recession —NNPC GED

By Dapo Falade GROUP Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Victor Adeniran, has said the revival of all the farm settlements created by Chief Obafemi Awolowo holds the key to Nigeria’s exit from economic recession.

This was as he declared that the present downturn in the national economy had drawn out the importance of agriculture in the drive towards economic revival.

Adeniran, who spoke as the chairman of the 27th Orin Day ceremony in Orin Ekiti in Ekiti State, said the revival of the farm settlements would make them the

pivot of youth empowerment in this period of recession.

He said despite the fact that oil had provided the mainstay of the economy of Nigeria, over the years, “the reality today is that we must revive our agriculture if we want to exit from economic recession.”

He said it was in realisation of this fact that NNPC was planning to invest heavily into the cultivation of Jathropha, a plant that has a lot of value for production of biofuels, as an alternative to fossil fuels.

“This investment, apart from boosting employment generation, will catalyse agricultural linkage with oil and gas which is desirable

for economic growth”, he said, urging agriculturalbased communities to harness the renewed focus on agriculture.

“Farmers and those who add value to farm produce are the ones who can benefit from the current foreign exchange regime.Our youths should be encouraged to embrace this agriculture initiative as a way to solve the unemployment quagmire that stare us in the face”, he said.

Also speaking at the event, a former presidential adviser on energy matters, Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, lamented the lack of passion for education among the youths in the country.

IN fulfilment of its commitment to the welfare of the people of Ogun State, about 100 people have so far benefited from the free breast excision surgeries (lumpectomy) sponsored by the state government.

The breakdown showed that more than 80 people have undergone breast cancer surgeries free of charge at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, while more than 20 have enjoyed free mammogram.

Flagging off the exercise at the University Teaching Hospital, the wife of the governor of Ogun State and President of the UPLIFT Development Foundation, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, said the state government is fulfilling its promise to women who had benefited from the free breast and cervical cancer screening early this month, by paying their surgery bills as a means of reducing maternal mortality rate in the state.

She said lumps removed from the breast of the beneficiaries would be taken to the laboratory for examination to know if the specimens were cancerous or not so that they could be referred upward for further treatment, advising women to embrace self-breast examination and go for regular medical check-up to know their health status in order to stay healthy and reduce health risk.

Highlight of the programme was the official commissioning of the newly-built and equipped UPLIFT Development Foundation Cancer Screening Centre at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Toheeb Adebowale and Oloyede Oyenike described the wife of the governor as a compassionate and a care-giver who was at the fore-front of cancer campaign to save the lives of the people of Ogun State, particularly the less privileged in the society.

Ogun workers’ strike: Group cautions TUC/NLC A pro-democracy group, the Campaign for Good Governance, has criticised the labour unions in Ogun State for calling on the state workforce to proceed on an indefinite strike from Thursday.

It described the call as politically-motivated, especially coming on the heels of a reported meeting by some of the union leaders with opposition politicians at the last World Teachers’ Day. The state government had, on Tuesday, through a statement by the secretary to the state government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, described the proposed strike as patently illegal and robed in politics, threatening to invoke the “no work, no pay” clause of the Trade Dispute Act. According to a press release signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Ganiyu Lasisi, the Campaign for Good Governance said, “the industrial action is not about non-payment of salary, as no worker is being owed salary by the Amosun administration. This agitation can only be politicallyinduced, as no reasonable union will call out workers on a strike sorely on cooperative deductions, especially during the current economic downturn in Nigeria.”

Lasisi said the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which a few months ago, honoured Governor Ibikunle Amosun at the national level with the Excellence Award in Leadership in recognition of his being labour-friendly, should not be seen to recant so soon, noting that the union should not simultaneously approbate and reprobate.

“At the risk of being dubbed the government mouthpiece, we hasten to say that the current government of Ibikunle Amosun pays above the minimum wage and, we stand to be corrected, it is the only government in Nigeria that implemented the increment across board and up to the level of the local government,” he said.

Remembrance THE family of Fagbayi and Omotosho rememeber the death of their wife and daughter respectively, Lady Evangelist Elizabeth Funmilola Tundun Fagbayi (nee Omotosho), who slept in the Lord on Friday, October 23, 2015.

Until her death, she was a devoted Christian, women’s league leader, a staff of New Era Girls Junior Secondary School, Surulere Lagos, amiable mother to her children and wife to Bishop Adebayo Fagbayi of The African Church, Awori Central Diocese, Ogun State.

The first year remembrance service will hold tomorrow, Sunday October 23, 2016 at The African Church Awori Central Diocese, Saint Michael’s African (Bethel) Cathedral, Igbo-Olori, Ota, Ogun State by 10am. She is survived by husband, children, brothers, Lady Evangelist Elizabeth Fagbayi sisters and her aged mother.

xquisite

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22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Editor Tayo Gesinde 08054727801 temiligali03@yahoo.com

mum&child —12

Is it ever okay to force-feed a baby? health —12

A boil or a cyst on my vulva? style —10 & 31

Heads up:

I see challenges as stepping stones —Ejiro Amos Tafiri, E. A. T boss & Vlisco Ambassador

The turban trend is back!

Continues pg29

Crew

Blessing Gbarada Kate Ani Oyeyemi Okunlade

Ejiro Amos Tafiri, a graduate of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State and the brain behind the E. A. T. (Ejiro Amos Tafiri) brand is one of the most sought after designers in Nigeria today. The young and talented designer has won many fashion awards and is the youngest ambassador of Vlisco, alongside Angelique Kidjo and seven other prominent African women. In this interview by TAYO GESINDE, she speaks on how she has been able to make her mark in the Nigerian fashion industry since her debut six years ago.

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22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

quisite style

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With Kate Ani 08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

Attention! Attention!! Attention!!!

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

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

Ibidun Ajayi-Ighodalo Zahra Buhari

Daisy Danjuma Abba Folawiyo

Annie Macauly Biola Okoya

Heads up:

The turban trend is back!

T

HE turban has never really vanished, it has been lying low. Recently, this dormant trend has quietly, but assertively, resurfaced at events, churches and social outings. Once linked to grannies, the turban has a new attraction for young women.

It is not surprising that ladies are now ditching gele for turbans as it is no doubt, the chicest head accessory.

Turbans have grown so important to the point that many society women like Senator Daisy Danjuma, Chief Mrs Abba Folawiyo and so on cannot ignore them.

A-list actresses such as Stephanie Okereke-Idahosa; Rita Dominic and Dakore Egbuson-Akande have been flaunting this stylish headgear on their Instagram pages.

You can also cover your hair with a turban while lounging at the beach, as seen in the photo below of Temi, daugther of billionaire business oil magnate, Femi Otedola.

Sewn with velvet materials, turbans come in different bright colours. Turbans look sophisticated when adorned with a brooch or with colourful beads.

Temi Otedola

Dakore Egbuson-Akande

Sterling Bank supports 2016 Lagos Fashion Design week DETERMINED to sustain its efforts aimed at empowering Small, Medium Enterprise (SME) sector in the country to enable it play a more active role as catalyst for economic growth and development, Sterling Bank Plc has announced its sponsorship of the 2016 Lagos Fashion Design Week (LFDW). The event will hold from Oct 26th- 29th, 2016 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The bank’s executive director, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman explained in a statement issued on Friday, that the bank’s support of the programme was based on the need to diversify the nation’s economy in view of the sharp decline in oil export. “We also need to adequately harness the abundant talent in the fashion industry to support the local economy”, he added.

The Lagos Fashion Design week, a leading fashion event on the African Fashion calendar organized by Style House Files, has succeeded in repositioning fashion as a useful tool for commerce and creativity in the country.

Apart from supporting the event, another initiative introduced by the bank for the empowerment of small business owners is the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Academy. The focus of the Academy is to build capacity for existing and emerging micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to enable them grow and easily access funds for expansion.

The multi-days fashion event, according to Mr. Abubakar, would serve as an avenue where fashion professionals, buyers, consumers, enthusiasts and media operators come together to appreciate the current collections and work of African designers in the fashion capital, Lagos.

A major highlight and new addition to LFDW 2016 is the LFDW X Retail which is the commercial arm of LFDW. This provides a platform for members of the fashion and creative community to sell their work. Two of the bank’s MSME customers would be given free booths to showcase and sell their work. The bank is also providing free Wi-Fi at the 4-day event to enable guests share their experiences and promote designs that inspire them.

11 healthandfitness

A boil or a cyst on my vulva

I noticed a boil on my vulva about a year ago. Even though the doctor who attended to me at that time was able to successfully drain the boil, it came back about three months later. I saw another doctor who said it was not a boil but a cyst. Please what is the difference? I have been scheduled for another surgery but I am afraid in case the problem will come back again after the surgery.

Angelina (by SMS)

A boil is a collection of some purulent material totally entrapped in a bag of tissue. However, a cyst is an enclosed bag of tissue with an inlet from another part of the body through which material such as fluid, other tissues get into the cyst.

While the boil is a product of an infection, the cyst is usually a result of some anatomical defect which allows material from one

Saturday Tribune

22 October, 2016

Dr. Wale Okediran waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

08055069356 (sms only)

Is this a pile?

THERE is a fleshy growth around the entrance to my anus which I can’t see very well. The growth is not painful nor bloody but it is usually there especially after going to the toilet.

My friends say it is pile while others think it could be something more serious.

Please help me.

Churchill (by SMS) From your description, the growth looks like a pile. However, there are a

part of the body to escape into another part. Having diagnosed the real problem,

the doctor will now be able to treat the cyst and avoid a recurrence.

My sister’s malignancy MY 30-year-old sister was diagnosed with a swelling on the face in 2011. The growth, after being removed and sent for laboratory examination, came out to be a malignant tumour. Luckily, the tumor had not spread anywhere else in the body. Since then, she has not had any problems with the growth.

My question is whether she still needs any additional treatment

in view of the fact that the swelling has not spread to any other past of the body.

Kolade (by SMS) Even though the growth had not spread anywhere else in 2011, it will be good if she can have another check up five years after in order to confirm that all is well with her. Malignant tumors should be regularly monitored because they could have spread through the blood or lymph long before any physical appearance.

number of abnormalities in the anus such as warts and anal cancer among others that may mimic a pile. For this reason, to be on the

safe side, it will be good for you to allow a doctor to take a look at your anus for a proper diagnosis and adequate treatment.

My mother’s weight loss MY mother, who is over 50 years old, has been losing weight recently even though she is eating well.

We don’t have money to take her to the hospital. I will appreciate it if you can tell me the kinds of tests we can do to know what is wrong with her in order to adequately treat her.

Simisola (by SMS) Weight loss in anybody especially in a 50-year-old plus is something to be taken very seriously. This is because of the large number of possible causes that range from HIV infection to cancer, among others.

And even though you don’t have money, your mother still needs to see a doctor who will be able to know the appropriate tests to or-

der for your mother. Some of these tests can be done at a subsidised rate in any government hospital nearest to you.

I want a baby boy I am a father of seven girls.

I now want a baby boy because I need a son to inherit my property and carry on my family name. I have heard of many kinds of methods from IVF to surrogate motherhood by which this can be done. Kindly let me know the best approach to take on this very urgent matter. Thanks.

Chike (by SMS) Despite medical advances in the treatment of infertil-

ity through IVF and surrogate motherhood among other methods, the sad news is that there is still no foolproof method of producing male children.

Seven children is a lot in this difficult economic period and female children can do what the male children are doing. My suggestion therefore is for you to make sure you train your daughters very well so that they can do all you want a son to do for you.

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22 October, 2016

BLESSING GBARADA

MUM&CHILD

By Blessing Gbarada

M

RS M is a new mother and meal times for her baby are emotionally and physically draining on both of them. “I planned to wean my daughter from breast milk early. At six-month, I have tried feeding her ogi (corn meal) with and without ground crayfish, baby formula, eko (cold pap) with “draw” soup, but she simply won’t eat. It breaks my heart every time knowing she is refusing to eat. My motherin-law advised that I should allow her do it the traditional way — force feeding her. But I can’t bring myself to allow that. I’m a bit desperate now as I don’t know what to do to get her to eat,” she lamented.

Like Mrs M, many mothers are distraught when their babies do not eat and would try their hands on whatever technique they perceive or are advised can resolve the problem. For new mothers, the experience is more overwhelming as she has no prior experience with dealing with the situation and suggestions pour from every quarters, especially from women who raised their own children using forceful feeding methods. Armed with good intentions, these mothers go as far as forcing food down the throat of the infant, most times overpowering the little ones who struggle, cry and vomit in defiance. Although the mum may feel sad at the state of her helpless, wailing baby, but tough love keeps her going as the question then arises on what is expected of her when her baby refuses food.

Why forcing an infant to eat is dangerous “When mothers force-feed their babies, it is usually out of good intentions, but most times, they are uninformed about the consequences which in extreme cases can be fatal. No mother wants to kill her child in the name of giving them food, but this harmful practice can inadvertently be very detrimental and should be discouraged. We have heard of cases where a baby is forced food and in the process chokes on the food and dies. Some people will argue that this approach to feeding has been in existence since time immemorial but the truth is that, the fact that something has been going on doesn’t mean it is the right thing to continue doing. Times are changing and we are getting more informed; we should let some practices just die and adopt safer and more productive means of getting things done.

“Unless your infant is suffering from any medical condition, he or she knows how much and when to eat. They will eat enough to stay healthy. Forcing them especially when they rebel by starting to vomit is not the answer,” Mrs Aminat Akinola, a childhood nutritionist and dietician said.

Some consequences of force-feeding an infant include the risk of the following: Choking and aspiration: Choking occurs when the airway is blocked by food, drink, or foreign objects. Aspiration occurs when food, drink, or foreign objects are breathed into the lungs (going down the wrong tube). It might happen during choking, but aspiration can also be silent, meaning that there is no outward sign. Force-feeding increases the chances of both occurring as food could go down the wrong tube as the child struggles and vomits the food.

Suffocating: Sometimes, the technique applied in force-feeding the infant involves covering the child’s nostrils so he/she is forced to open the mouth. Food, most times in fluid consistency such as pap, is then

Saturday Tribune

ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

Is it ever okay to force-feed a baby?

forced down the open mouth. Though some women say there is a skill to this technique, but it can increase the risk of suffocation as air supply is blocked from the nostrils and food is stuffed in the mouth, thus also blocking air from going in through the mouth. This can easily kill a child.

Aspiration pneumonia: According to Dr. Segun Fadare of Lanark Specialist Hospital, Ibadan, force-feeding has been identified as one of the major causes of under-five deaths. “One of the factors that can cause pneumonia in babies is force-feeding, which is culturally acceptable in some parts of our society as a common practice. Forcefeeding babies can cause foreign materials like foods or liquid into the lungs repeatedly and this can lead to pneumonia. Aspirationpneumonia occurs when one inhales food, drink, saliva into ones lungs or one vomits,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria.

Future eating disorders: Forcing your child to eat only worsens the situation because it reinforces the child’s dislike for food. The child mentally associates mealtimes and feeding with anxiety and becomes apprehensive whenever it’s time to eat. This results in a vicious cycle. Several studies have also shown the link between forced feeding especially toddlers and future feeding behaviours and aversions.

Why babies refuse food

Several factors can be responsible for an infant or toddler refusing food. Although experts say for most toddlers’, picky eating is just a phase that they eventually pass through, other times, several factors can also contribute.

It could be their being tired, not feeling well, being pressured to eat more food when they have had enough, pressured to eat food they dislike, frequently offered foods that they dislike or find disgusting, continually offered food and drinks throughout the day, rushed at mealtimes, feeling sad, lonely, anxious or insecure, constipated or anaemic.

When a child constantly refuses to eat regardless of all efforts, it is advisable to take him or her to see a paediatrician as it could be indicative of an underlying medical condition. Force-feeding is not the answer.

How to get your child to eat Dr Gbemisola Boyede, a paediatrician, said, “mealtimes are about much more than food. Meal and snack times give you a chance to help your baby or toddler learn healthy eating habits; feel important and loved; feel understood and respected; trust that others will care for her; feel good about her body.

The goal therefore behind feeding time should be about encouraging your child to become a healthy eater. Dr Boyede recommends: 1. Remember, meals are about more than food. They are a time to connect with your child and to support her overall development. Talk with your child during meals and don’t let her eat alone. This helps

build strong family relationships.

2. Create routines around mealtime.

Routines make children feel loved and secure. Establish regular meal and snack times beginning when your child is 9-12 months old. Routines help children look forward to each meal.

3. Offer 3 to 4 healthy food choices (that your child likes) at each meal.

Research shows that children will choose a healthy diet when they are offered a selection of different healthy foods.

4. Don’t force your baby or toddler to eat. This often results in children refusing the food and eating less.

5. Don’t give up on new foods! Patience is the key. You may have to offer your child a new food 10 or 15 times before he will eat it.

6. Turn off the TV (computers, etc) at mealtime. The television can distract children from eating. It also takes time away from talking as a family.

7. Healthy eating and exercise go hand in hand. So, make active play a part of everyday family life.

8. If you are concerned about your child’s weight or activity level, talk to your child’s health care provider.

Some healthy food options to begin with You can start with the cereals either pap with infant formula milk or you can also start with the can ready-made cereals available in the shops. Just introduce one at a time. Pureed fruits like apple, mashed foods like potatoes, yams are also foods that can be gradually introduced.

13

22 October, 2016

ntertainment News

Society Gist

People get ‘toxic’

Saturday Tribune with Joan Omionawele and

Newton-Ray Ukwuoma jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08059793705

Celebrity Interviews

watching me perform

—DJ Toxiq

Fast -rising Artiste, Oribhabor Ann Amen, better known as DJ Toxiq is a bundle of talents. The energetic lady who is a DJ, a musician and also a music producer tells JOAN OMIONAWELE about her growing up and her career among other things.

Excerpts:

W

HAT was your growing up like?

Growing was fun. I am the first child of a family of eight. My father, mother, three sisters and two brothers.

As the first child of your parents, were there worries from your parents when you decided to pursue a career in music?

Yes, there were various concerns but I know that they had their fears and were looking out for me like most parents will, especially as I had to switch from becoming a medical doctor to further my career as a musician. In all, I really appreciate them How has it been so far in the industry?

It has not been easy at all. From producing a track to getting people to listen to it, to promos and packaging, everything becomes an obstacle, but God is doing great things.

What projects have you been up to lately?

I am working on my self produced mixtape with a working title. I have dropped 3 singles from the Ep, “Monster”, “Doe Black”and “Friends” featuring Magjc City gang, Elite Maxino, Frankie Free and I just signed a new management deal with Afriktainment media and together, we are unstoppable.

You are a producer and an artiste, why do you do both?

The first day I saw music being produced in front of me, I fell in love with it and I wanted to know more about it.

During the incubation period of learning and studying, I knew that there is no limit to what you set yourself to achieve.

Why did you choose the name DJ toxiq?

It started way back. I used to break dance and it was intoxicating in a good way o(laughs) ...so, I got the name Toxic- and “Toxiq” being the excitement you get from watching me perform.

What’s the most valuable part of your body?

My eyes and my brain Asides music, what else do you do?

I love to act and I have also been involved in few comedy short films. I also love to draw too.

I am an entrepreneur..

Do you sometimes wish there was anything you could change about yourself?

My big feet.

I love shoes but my feet don’t Who are your role models in the industry?

There are a few of them that I look up to . They are Sarz, Masterkraft , Olamide With the stiff competition, how do you hope to penetrate the industry?

By being me and keeping it real everyday. It is less expensive and more fulfilling Why did you choose to be a disk jockey?

I used to dj small gigs back then in Uniport. Then, one day, during one of my gigs, a friend who was signed under reputable label approached me to take it to Portharcourt town, that was how I landed my first major gig.

opinion, although there are few lapses but we are growing and I appreciate growth.

Do you have tattoos and body piercings?

I don’t have tattoos. I just have piercings in my ear

It’s a general belief that Edo ladies are prostitutes, since you are from Edo State, what’s your take on this?

(Laughs) Have they added prostitution too ?I thought it was a general notion that we are known for witchcraft They love the abroad life style especially with the steady increase of the “italo”( Italy) population

What’s your notion about the Nigerian entertainment industry?

Well, it is the fastest growing industry in Nigeria in my

What’s your opinion about people who bleach?

Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. Bleaching is bad, but toning is cooler and safer.

KSA patners Temple Management to stage world-class concert A grand legacy concert in honour of King Sunny Ade tagged ‘Sunny On Sunday’ has been officially unveiled by leading talent agency and event firm, Temple Management Company.

The world-class concert is scheduled for Sunday, December 11, 2016 at Federal Palace Hotel and Casino, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event was unveiled to

the media at a press briefing which held in Lagos on Tuesday at Four Points By Sheraton Hotels. At the event, King Sunny Ade and Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe, CEO, Temple Management Company were flanked by two performing acts, Tiwa Savage and Darey.

Also at the event was Terfa Tilley-Gyado, Director of and Mark Redguard King Sunny Ade who turned

70 on September 22, 2016 has been performing for over 50 years. The veteran musician who has been dubbed as the king of Juju Music has been nominated twice for the Grammy Awards. His illustrious career has produced a lot of albums featuring international collaborations with Stevie Wonder, Manu Dibango, Youssou N’Dour and Salif Keita among others.

14 entertainment

22 October, 2016

s u s r e v i r a h u B

Saturday Tribune

i r a h u B a h s Ai –Celebrities speak Last week, the social media went into unrest when the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, granted an interview with BBC Africa on some national issues, which the president reacted to saying she was not fit to discuss political matters , adding that her place is in the kitchen. This statement spurred reactions from people especially celebrities.

JOAN OMIONAWELE brings Excerpts:

Funmi Iyanda

Hilda Dokubo

NIGERIA is a completely sexist Nation. It was stark in comments and attitudes filming unrelated issues around South West, South East and South South Nigeria ; Everyday on the streets, there seems to be some marriage drama.

It is only fitting that Mr and Mrs President contribute a juicy quota.

“MY name is Hilda Dokubo and I am a woman. I do not belong to the kitchen, I go to the kitchen to fix food for my family and myself. We eat there sometimes but I do not belong there. I do not belong to the bedroom either, I sleep there, it is my rest place, my things are there but I don’t belong there. I do not belong to the sitting room, it is a lounging place, I rest there, I watch television. I do not belong to the other room; because I do not know where the other room is in my house except that this other room sounds like the toilet. I can not belong to the toilet. I am a woman and I deserve my rights to be a human being and to be respected.”

Susan Peters

MEN who are true role models don’t need to put women down to be powerful. I am Susan Peters and I don’t belong to the kitchen or the other room

Funke Adesiyan

WHEN people like me point out the ills of this Buhari -led administration, they say it’s because I’m a PDP member. This news coming from the wife of the president, a woman who has given 27years of her life to the General should be a pointer to you guys who are hailing a self glorified man who believes in no one but himself.

The president is failing and good hearted people will not stop to point it out. I celebrate this brave woman. She just won my WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR refusing to be quiet in the face of impunity!

Femi Kuti

AISHA Buhari was obviously trying to defend her husband and this backfired. And the President goofed by making such a statement. This is the 21st century, women are holding great positions everywhere, look at Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, they are doing better than staying in the Kitchen.

It’s just like me coming out to say that my sister, Yeni, who runs the Afrika Shrine tirelessly daily should be in the Kitchen, when I know that women are the backbone. It is really sad.

Ali Baba

AISHA Buhari does not belong to the kitchen.

Like every other successful career woman in Nigeria, she belongs to the areas where she and her likes can help to build a great nation. From my last check, she is not In Purdah and has been an advocate for the betterment of women. She is vocal about the things she is concerned about, and if you know the kind of man she married, if he did not support her or better put, give her that room, not the other room, to operate, she would not have had the success she had had in her career like she has today. True she is the wife of Mr president. True, he has the right to say where his wife belongs. But don’t be fooled by the hype and brouhaha that had been generated. That is not a woman that is conscripted to a kitchen.

That is a very free woman. I had to go read her past interviews to see if she had changed. She hasn’t. She is still vocal, and will always say it as it is. Even those who called her a criminal, wanted in the United States of America, all of a sudden see her as Queen Amina. My take is, Buhari wanted to say, the wife has a right to say what she wants to say but as far as his administration was concerned, her role was limited to those places mentioned (kitchen, living room and the other room). Notice that they don’t share the same bed-

room. The main bedroom is different from the other room.

When was the last time she made his meals? If you have been to the Presidential villa, they don’t share the same “rooms” SEF! But that said, as a wife, those are the areas of restrictions. But as an advocate... she is at large. Aisha is a citizen without borders.

15 entertainment

22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Performing at Felabration made me feel alive

—Kobi Jonz

By Joan Omionawele

FAST-RISING musician, kobi Jonz who has promised to keep surprising his fans with energetic performances delivered on one of his promises during this year’s Felabration; a yearly event which is held in honour of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela, Anikulapo Kuti The young talent performed alongside Omawunmi, Oritse femi, Terry Apala, Falz his hit single “Paddle” which video just dropped and is currently gaining wide attention, with fans cheering up and moving to his rhythm.

Speaking on his experience during Felabration, Kobi Jonz stated “ I had so much dun on stage.

I have performed before but the experience this time was different. I felt alive and I am still coming back in many years to come. It was really lively and full of freedom for the soul” Jonz remarked.

The singer who is also organising a dance competition tagged Paddlebykobijonz with his hit single, Paddle featuring popular musician, Folarin Falana a.k.a Falzthebadguy, encouraged people to keep sending their videos, ‘in his words, you might just be the lucky winner of the N100,000 cash price”.

‘Deluded’ lands Kiki Omeili international nomination in Berlin Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

NOLLYWOOD high-flying actress, Kiki Omeili, has been nominated for the Berlin International Filmmaker Festival (IFF) of World Cinema Awards christened Berlin IFF 2016 for Best Lead Actress in a Short Film.

The official selection announcement for the Berlin IFF 2016 was made through their website some months ago.

Kiki made the nominee list for her lead role in Deluded, A Fool’s Tale, a short film she co-acted with Kenneth Okolie.

The Grace Edwin Okon produced short film will soon be released.

The doctor-turned-actress, who recently won the Lagos 30 Under 40 award for the Best Female Act, (English), a feat competed also by actresses such Kehinde Bankole, Lilan Esoro, Adesua Etomi, Nse Ekpe Etim and Omoni Oboli, will be running shoulder to shoulder with actresses such as Brianna Barnes (Bernie and Parker’s Oscar hopeful, The Birth of a Rebecca), Denise Ivanoff grammes at the Intercontinental

By Joan Omionawele Nation and Izu Ojukwu’s celebrated (Airport 2012), Emma GalHotel, Victoria Island, Lagos durRGANISERS of the annual ing the week, AFRIFF Founder/ film on the first Nigerian military liano (Buttons), Tess BryAfrica International Film Executive Director Ms. Chioma Ude coup, ’76 as the opening and closing ant (Tears of Harmony), Festival (AFRIFF) have said Lagos will, once again, wear the films respectively, a disclosure which Karen Gillan (Bound for Greatness), Sabrina Culver announced the return of its tourism ambiance, playing host to was received with loud ovation.

Canon Europe Ltd, leading pro- (Remember My Story, Resixth year of cinematic celebration filmmakers and actors from around with an impressive line-up of movie the world, with over 100 films show- vider of digital cameras, and Diageo moved 2), Karolina Stemre premieres, film screenings, industry ing at the newly opened Filmhouse- Nigeria, world’s premium beverage (Monica) among other insessions, master classes and other IMAX and Genesis Cinema, both in company join the list of resourceful ternational actresses. partners and developmental agenfestival programmes holding in La- Lekki, Lagos. cies like Ford Foundation, British gos, Nigeria, from November 13 to Ude appeared to have struck the Institute, Lagos State, Africa Magic, 20, 2016. right cord when she announced Nate MultiChoice Nigeria, Access Bank, Announcing the festival proBank of Industry, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), Afrinolly, African Film Consortium (AFC), Filmhousenated for Best African Act, a The artiste who recently reNewton-Ray Ukwuoma IMAX, Genesis Cinemas and Silvercategory that very few Nige- turned from Toronto, Canabird Group, at the press parley and BORN Gabriel Akinyemi, da, has also been nominated NIGERIAN hip-hop star, Olamide has rian superstars have won. cocktail launch. better known as Gabzy, is On the Best African Act for two other distinguished been nominated for the 2016 MTV Europe According to the AFRIFF boss, one of the fastest growing Music Awards. The rapper is being nomi- category, Olamide stands awards — the Movement Of festival guests are up for the best of new kids on the block to side by side with some of Black Origin awards and the times during the festival, as all the watch out for in the indusAfrican's finest and super MTV Africa Music Award on films in official line-up are products try. Signed on OneNation talented artistes like Black the Best African Act and Best of the new narratives for African cin- Records, Mr Malone, as he Coffee, Cassper Nyovest, Hip-Hop Act categories reema and Black films world over. is sometimes called, is a Wizkid and Alikiba. spectively. talented songwriter whose Afro beat tune is impressive.

Not relenting on the success of his previous work; Compact customers (February) quets demonstrates our commitBy Joan Omionawele Gabzy who recently rement to ensuring DStv customDStv subscribers have been followed by the DStv price freeze ers receive great entertainment and leased a new single titled promised more entertainment in April – and in the latest giant best-in-class value. The price reduc- ‘Take Time’, a song he did as MultiChoice is delivering even leap in providing customer value, tions in our state of the art decod- after his encounter with a more spice to add value to the DStv is combining more quality ers – Explora and HD Zapper – will girl whom he thought was DStv Premium, Compact Plus, and varietyto its bouquets to ensure ensure that great family entertain- an exotic dancer . He statCompact, Family and Access bou- everyone has access to the best fam- ment is available to everyone at the ed that he was inspired to quets. Starting 1 November, 2016, ily entertainment at a price they can most affordable price.” release a song about an exsubscribers will enjoy massive con- afford. otic dancer because he felt Speaking on the tent upgrade on all DStv bouquets new offer the Mannobody in the Nigerian inincluding varied and quality chanDirector, dustry had done so before. nels that the whole family can enjoy. aging MultiChoice NigeGabzy is currently workThis latest move is in line with ria, John Ugbe said ing on his mixtape and the the company’s promise of putting visual release of his new its customers at the heart of the in a statement “this single ‘Take Time’ which is business. In the last nine months major boost in entertainment value expected to drop before the DStv has delivered the world’s month ends. best football leagues to DStv across all DStv bou- Officials of MultiChoice at the press conference held in Lagos

AFRIFF set for 2016 film festival

O

Olamide, Wizkid, Cassper Nyovest get MTV Europe nominations

DStv provides Premium Pack to offer customers more spice and entertainment

during the week.

Why I released a song to honour exotic dancer —Gabzy

16

22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

17

22 October, 2016

Divorce

Saturday Tribune

Court & Crime

Please, separate us in order to avoid bloodshed —Wife Don’t separate us; I still love her —Husband

By Oyeyemi Okunlade

She’s having an affair with one of our tenants and other men —Husband Maybe his sickness has affected his brain —Wife

By Oyeyemi Okunlade

A

septuagenarian, Pa Basiru Lasisi Adebiyi, has brought his wife, Adijat Lasisi Adebiyi, before the Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, for a divorce over infidelity.

According to the man, he told the court that his wife had been wayward over the years. He particularly alleged that about two years ago, his wife started having an affair with a tenant who is a retired soldier.

“My wife cooks for the man and I suspect that their relationship is beyond tenant-landlord rapport. I have challenged her several times but she denied having an affair with the said man. Not only the tenant, I have seen some young men she interacts with and which I feel uncomfortable about.

I have noticed a trait of unfaithfulness in

her shortly after our marriage.”

Responding to the allegations, the defendant, said: “I’m not in support of the divorce because of the children and moreover, what I was alleged of is not true. I don’t have any extra marital affair with the soldier and others my husband mentioned. I think my husband has been charmed, so he doesn’t want to see me with any man, either young or old.

Whenever he sees me discussing with an opposite sex, he would accuse me of having sex with him.

We have seven children produced by our marriage which is about 50 years now.

inside

For the past five years, my husband has been sick to the extent that he had stroke. I feel the illness is also affecting the way he is thinking.

“He married three wives. I’m the first wife and the only one who stayed with him to take care of him.

My husband did not trust me since we got married.

Moreover, the tenant he mentioned has a wife. ” President of the court, Chief Agbaje Henry Olasunkanmi, having listened to both parties, charged them that life is all about being patient and tolerant with fellow human being. He therefore gave the couple opportunity to go and think about and weigh their decisions. Sitting, he said, continues on November 11.

See pages She’s too promiscuous, brings her 18 & 23 lovers home for sex, man tells court He’s the one who is promiscuous, I saw condoms in his bag —Wife

THE Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the marriage between Mrs Seyi Jamiu and her husband, Akintola.

Seyi, the plaintiff, swore to an oath that she does not have interest in the union with Akintola anymore.

“I’m a hairdresser. I married my husband about eight years ago as a virgin and we are blessed with two children.

“I made up my mind to divorce him because of several beatings.

He did not allow me to work yet he does not take care of me and the children. I pay the children’s school fees. His mother even told me to come and stay with her. He has no respect and also not responsible to either family.

“I beg this court to separate us in order to avoid bloodshed.

I don’t have interest in him any longer,” Seyi affirmed.

Reacting to the petition, Akintola told the court that he married his wife about 16 years ago and he is not in support of her decision on the divorce suit.

He told the court: “The reason why I don’t want to divorce my wife is that she does not disobey me at all. I sponsor her to learn hairdressing. I take care of my wife. All she said is not true. She is a liar.”

The court asked Akintola if he paid dowry on his wife. He said: ‘no,’ and the case was adjourned.

When the case was opened for the judgement, the couple was asked whether there has been a rethink on their decision, but the plaintiff, Seyi, pleaded with the court to separate them. The court ruled thus: “Having gone through the statement of both parties, the court cannot force them to live together.”

The presiding judge, Chief Agbaje Henry Olasunkanmi, pronounced the union dissolved. He, however, warned that there should be no form of molestation from either party in case they meet on the road. Court also ordered that the two children of the marriage stay with their mother and awarded N5, 000 as feeding allowance to both of them.

18

22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

courtandcrime

She’s too promiscuous; brings her lovers home for sex, man tells court

He’s the one who is promiscuous, I saw condoms in his bag —Wife

A

businessman, Kingsley Agina, has approached an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State, to end his 10-year-old marriage to his wife, Obianju, accusing her of bringing men into their matrimonial home for sex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Agina, 49, told the court that his wife, with whom he had four children also, poisons his food.

“My wife is promiscuous; she used to bring men into my house to sleep with them, whenever I travelled abroad for business.

“There was a day I came back from my business trip, I discovered that my glass centre table was broken.

“I asked my daughter who broke it, she told me that it was one uncle her mother brought home that broke it.

“There was also a day I discovered that my bed was shaking, I called a carpenter to come and repair it. “ But when we lifted the bed up, we saw several used tissue paper under the bed,” he said.

The petitioner alleged that his wife used to withdraw money with his ATM card and give her boyfriends.

He also accused his wife of poisoning his food.

“Since year 2008, I have noticed that my food was being laced with poison, which has resulted to my deteriorating health; I could not sleep nor walk.

“I have spent about N5 million on medical treatment, but I never get well, in fact my health is getting worst.

“My mother-in-law is a native doctor, she has a shrine; she has been the one giving her daughter poison to kill me so that they can inherit my property.

“Since I became sick, my wife’s parents never called or came to my house to ask how I was feeling,” he said.

Kingsley begged the court to dissolve the marriage on the ground of lack of love.

Obianju, 35, a businesswoman, however, denied all the allegations.

She said that it was her husband that was promiscuous.

“My husband brings home different girls of different sizes and colours.

“I once saw condom in his bag, so I went to buy a packet of condom and gave him.

“He querried me on my action and I told him that he needs it, so that he will not contract any disease to infect me.

“I have been faithful to our marital vow; I have never had sex with any other man. My husband married me a virgin at the age of 25,” she said.

The mother of four said that she never poisoned her husband.

“How will I poison the father of my children, what do I stand to gain, my hands are clean, I don’t know how poison got into his body,” she said.

Obinaju said that the N100, 000 she withdrew with her husband’s ATM card was for the upkeep of the house.

She made a fervent plea to the court not to dissolve the marriage.

The respondent said that she still loves her husband.

President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, after listening to the couple, adjourned the case till December 6 for judgement.

He beats me each time he’s drunk, wife tells court

It’s true, but I’m not the father of the last child —Husband

By Oyeyemi Okunlade A 42-year-old trader, Bosede Olawale, has asked a Grade ‘C’ Customary Court sitting at Inalende, Ibadan, Oyo State to dissolve her 14-year-old marriage with her husband, Akeem, because he is always drunk and also smokes cigarettes. She said his addiction has resulted in her being beaten countless times and that she has an uncaring attitude towards the children.

The plaintiff told the court that the defendant seduced her from another man without payment of dowry, while the marriage is blessed with four children. When asked by the court if the parents of the defendants are aware of the challenges she is facing with her husband, she said, ‘no.’

While responding to her wife’s charges against him, Akeem, swore to an oath that everything said about their marriage is true but that the last child is not his own.

After careful look at the evidence of both parties before the court, the court noted that their marriage has broken down irreparably and that there was no more love to sustain the marriage again. The court ruled thus: “The marriage between both parties contracted about 14 years ago is hereby dissolved forthwith. The defendant is to be paying N3,000 as food allowance every month till the last child (8months old) attains the age of six years. The defendant is to pay for house rent of the last child for a year. The president of the court, Mr Ramoni Olafenwa, advised both parties to maintain peace.

My wife is dating my pastor and brother —Husband The text messages he saw were forged —Wife

I caught my wife several times with her lovers, husband tells court ‘My husband is too hot-tempered, he once pushed me down the staircase’ A 40-year-old man, Andrew Ekpenaslim has told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State that he had caught his wife, Saraphina, on several occasions with some of her lovers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Andrew is seeking a dissolution of the marriage, citing his wife’s infidelity and threats to life.

“My wife is promiscuous; she dates different men. I have caught her several times with some of her lovers. She is also having affair with our pastor, I got to know when her cell phone rang and she left our room to receive it.

“I trailed her behind without her knowing and l eavesdropped and I heard her telling the pastor, ‘I love you’ when she ended the call. When she returned to the room, I secretly copied the number unknown to her and saved it on my cell phone.

“I dialled the number on my cell phone, it was our pastor’s name that appeared on the screen,” Andrew said, adding that his wife was also secretive.

“My wife had two boys from two men, before we got married, but she did not tell me, a reliable source let the cat out of the bag and told me the boys were my wife’s children.

“After our marriage, she brought them to live with us and I was paying their school fees,” he said.

But, Saraphina, however, denied all the allegations, saying

that she had been faithful to her husband.

“I have been faithful to my husband since we got married. I am not dating our pastor, he is just a spiritual father to me,” she said.

Saraphina said that her husband was hot-tempered and was always assaulting her physically.

“My husband was always beating me at any slightest provocation; I had suffered injuries in my eyes on three occasions from frequent beatings from him.

“He once stripped me naked in public and beat the hell out of me. There was a day he beat and pushed me down from the staircase and l lost my two-month-old pregnancy,” she said.

The respondent said that her husband also had three children from different women.

In his judgement, the President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, held that it appeared that both parties were tired of the marriage as all efforts made to reconcile them had failed.

“Since both parties consented to the dissolution of the marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The court pronounced the marriage between Andrew Ekpenaslim and Saraphina Ekpenaslim, dissolved today, both parties henceforth cease to be husband and wife.

“Both parties are no longer husband and wife, they are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation,” Omilola held.

WORRIED by his wife’s adulterous acts, Mr Kolawole Okeeyi, has approached the Igando Customary Court in Lagos State to dissolve his 31-year-old marriage.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Okeeyi accused his wife, Funmilayo, with whom he had five children of infidelity.

“My wife is having an affair with my pastor, I got to know when I did not have credit on my phone and wanted to use her phone to call our pastor to report her for starving my mother of food.

“I picked her phone and I saw on the screen “sent message” I mistakenly press it and the message opened, I saw several love messages my wife sent and received from our pastor.

“I showed her the messages when she came in, but she begged me, I seized the phone and later confronted our pastor with those text messages, but he told me to do my worst.

“I also caught her with my brother in a hotel in Oyo State; I wanted to ignore them, but I later confronted them so that they will not deny later,” he said.

The petitioner said that his wife was after his life and that he had been attacked on two occasions.

“On August 20, 2013, I got to the front of my gate, as I honked my horn for my children to open the gate, suddenly three men jumped down from a motorcycle, pointing guns at me.

“But for the timely intervention of the police, I would have been killed. When I entered my house, I told my wife what happened, but she did not say anything.

“Four months later, while coming from work, three men intercepted me, pointing guns at me to come down and enter the booth, I complied and they drove me off.

“But luckily for me, my phone rang, one of them picked it, the caller addressed me as pastor and said that I should come to the church early that I will be ministering, but I am not a pastor.

“One of the guys said that they should not kill me that I am a pastor; that in the bible God said that they should not touch his anointed or do his prophet harm.

“After a hot argument among them, they stopped the car, stripped me naked and left with my car.

“A good Samaritan gave me clothes to wear. When I got home, I told my wife again about the incident, but she said nothing.

“That same 2013, my only three buses that plied Port-Harcourt, Akure and Abeokuta were involved in accidents and were condemned, I again informed my wife, but no response from her,” he said.

Okeeyi said that because of these calamities and threats to his life, he ran away from the house he built same year to start squatting with friends.

He pleaded with the court to dissolve the union that he was no longer in love as his life was no longer safe.

However, Funmilayo, 43, trader, denied all the allegations. She said that she was not having affair with any man.

“Those text messages on my phone were forged; I never sent nor received any love messages from our pastor.

“My husband saw me and his brother in a hotel, but we are not dating, his brother just followed me to book for a room when I went for a burial in Oyo State.

She accused her husband’s family of battery.

“When I was carrying the pregnancy of our fifth baby, my husband’s family stormed our house, accusing me of having an affair, they beat me to a pulp. In fact, I did not know how I got to the hospital,” she said.

The mother of five boys begged the court not to grant her husband’s wish as she was still in love with him.

President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, adjourned the case till November 29 for further hearing.

He used machete to inflict injuries on me —Wife I don’t want to divorce her ’cos she’s my helper —Husband

By Oyeyemi Okunlade A respondent in a divorce petition, Mr Taiwo Popoola, has pleaded before Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, not to grant his wife’s request saying: “She’s my wife. I do not accept to divorce her because she always gives me advice on how I can make it in life. She’s also my helper and takes good care of me and the children. My wife stood by me when my twin brother died.”

The petitioner, Salewa, however urged the court to dissolve the 10-year-old union because her husband is a troublemaker and he beats her constantly.

“I decided to divorce him because each time we quarrel, he holds me by the neck. The last time we fought, he used machete to harm me. I’m fed up of his attitude towards me. I beg this court to separate us,” she said.

The court adjourned the case for further hearing.

23

He told me he has married another woman, wife tells court

A 32-year-old housewife, Adetuyi Esther, has approached an Ado-Ekiti Customary Court in Ekiti State, seeking dissolution of her seven-year-old marriage to her husband, Ajayi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Esther is seeking the dissolution on grounds of desertion, regular curses on her and her family and lack of care for her and the only child.

Esther told the court that her husband had abandoned her and the child since two years ago when he left for Lagos.

She said he told her to relocate with him, but she could not because she could not live with his family members.

The mother of one said there was a day her brother called to tell her that the husband was raining curses on him and their mother, saying that they were behind her refusal to relocate with him.

According to her, whenever her husband visited AdoEkiti, he always threatened that bad things will happen to her if she refused to bring his child.

Esther alleged that the husband was not taking care of her and the child since he left them, saying she had been responsible for the child’s welfare with her small salary.

She claimed that whenever she called him for the child’s school fees, he would refuse to pay until the child was returned to him.

Esther said that he told her that he would attend the court proceedings because he had married another woman.

She, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve the marriage and award her the custody of the child.

The Court President, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, adjourned the case to November 3 for judgement.

I’m ready to refund his dowry if only to free myself from bondage —Wife No, the marriage was not contracted under Islamic rites —Husband ONE Fatima Buba has pleaded with a Grade 1 Area Court in Gudu, Abuja, to dissolve her marriage with her husband, Abdulganiyu Ibrahim, for alleged battery, cruelty and total change in behaviour.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the petitioner said she was ready to refund the dowry (Khuli) of N50, 000 paid on her to “liberate herself from the bondage called marriage.”

The marriage contracted in 2012 according to Islamic rites produced a son of about four years old.

Under Islamic law, a woman seeking divorce, refunds the dowry (Khuli).

The petitioner alleged that her husband had abandoned his responsibilities and she no longer loves him as he calls her derogatory names in the presence of people.

Ibrahim’s counsel, Aderemi Ihieri, however, objected to Fatima’s petition of dissolution by Khuli, adding that the parties did not contract their marriage under Islamic rites.

She maintained that it was contracted under the customary law of Fatima’s people in the presence of both families, which ousts the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Ihieri added that the parties should go and settle the matter with their family members that contracted the marriage and in the interest of their son.

“Petition for divorce in accordance to Khuli is for Islamic contracted marriage, but in this case, the dowry was paid in Fatima’s father’s house and was contracted in the presence of both families,” she said.

Fatima, however, told the court that she practices Islam and the marriage took place in the Jumat Mosque in Kaduna State.

She further said Ibrahim arrived the mosque late after the weeding ‘Fatiha’, so he had to take the dowry to her father’s house where it was paid.

Ibrahim also said he practices Islam and admitted to paying the dowry in Fatima’s father’s house.

Fatima’s counsel, Audu Karimu, however told the court that under Islamic law, dowry can be delayed and the presence of the bride and groom is not necessary.

He, therefore, urged the court to rule that the marriage was conducted under Islamic law, adding that both parties are Muslims.

The presiding judge, Mallam Isah Imam, adjourned the case till November 14 for ruling.

19

22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637

e: olanreade@yahoo.com

A Reporter’s Diary

When OBJ spoke on IBB, Abdulsalami

Illegal train passengers continue deadly rides...

Lagos City has seen its fair share of dangerous train rides which have resulted in the death of some passengers and the escapes of others albeit with varying degrees of injuries. TOLA ADENUBI, AKIN ADEWAKUN, CHUKWUMA OKPARAOCHA, QUDUS KASALI and CHIMA NWOKOJI look at this deadly trend and the reason it may persist.

D

ELE Abiona shuttles via train transportation between Ijoko in Ogun State where he resides and Brewery Bus Stop, somewhere around Iganmu, in Lagos, where he has his office, on a daily basis. Despite not spending more than one and a half hours, on every of those rides, none of those trips was ever short of experiences ranging from the ridiculous to the bizarre.

For instance, while residents of the city have continued to use the train as a means of transportation within the city, the increasing number of people climbing the rooftop of the train left him shell-shocked the first time he was introduced to rail transportation by a colleague in the office, about five years ago.

Though this dangerous practice has been on for some time, what perhaps confounded this 41-year-old computer scientist are the seeming audacity of those that engage in the act and the seeming helplessness of relevant authorities in bringing such culprits to book.

This remained a mystery to Abiona and many other residents of the city until he (Abiona) decided to take a closer look at the people who prefer the rooftops to train seats while in transit.

According to him, people that climb to the rooftop have different reasons for doing that. He expressed the belief that the majority of them indulge in the practice to escape the long arm of the law. For him, the rooftop of trains in Nigeria has become a den for criminals.

“While some do it to escape paying for the mandatory tickets issued by railway officers, some are actually there to carry out some nefarious acts.

“Some of them have formed a clique and what they do is to smoke Indian hemp and take other forbidden drugs on top of the train. And unfortunately, the law enforcement agents seem to be helpless,” he stated.

A visit by Saturday Tribune to the Ikeja terminal of the station, however, confirmed many of these claims. Most of these people carry out this unholy practice in the full glare of the ‘law’, without any fear of being apprehended.

Although attempts at taking some snapshots of some of these scenes at the Ikeja station of the train were thwarted by some hoodlums, investigations revealed that officials at the railway station are helpless Continues on pg20

Divorce epidemic hits Lagos, 30,000 cases in Badagry alone

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22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Divorce epidemic in Lagos, 30,000 cases in Badagry alone

Some Lagos couples hardly live happily ever after. SHOLA ADEKOLA, AKIN ADEWAKUN, CHUKWUMA OKPARAOCHA, LEKAN OLABULO and AYOMIDE OWONIBI tried to unravel why couples aren’t keeping their conjugal vows.

B

ADAGRY, which is just one of the five divisions making up Lagos State, is a classical example of the epidemic ravaging marriages. Between January and September this year alone, it recorded 30,000 broken and failed marriages, officially known.

Marriage, according to Wikipedia, is described as a holy matrimony, wedlock or legal contract between spouses that establishes rights and obligations between them, between them and their children, and between them and their in-laws.

Equally, marriage is the intimate union and equal partnership of a man and a woman which comes from God, who created male and female in His image, so that they might become one body and might be fertile and procreate.

Therefore, marriage in Africa is taken seriously because it is an institution that has the backing of God. Many things are supposedly taken into consideration before a young man and a woman agree to consummate their relationship.

The height of joining a couple together as husband and wife is when the pastor asks the man and woman: Will you love him/her, comfort him/ her, honour and keep him/her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him/her your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him /her as long as you both shall live? and each party answers in the affirmative.

This vow seems not to mean much to Lagos couples again, given the rate of divorce in the state which has now climbed to an alarming level. Even though statistics about this unwholesome development is hard to come by, indications suggest that more people may have sought the dissolution of their union in 2016 than they did in 2010.

According to the coordinator of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Family Reloaded, Mrs Sesi Sebinun, the major cause of broken homes in the Badagry area is negligence of duties by both parties.

“There are so many broken homes in Badagry and the number is going to increase if urgent steps are not taken to address the situation,” Mrs Sebinun said.

With this revelation, it has become obvious that the idea of family value is quickly being eroded with the high regard hitherto had for the marriage institution failing.

Why the high rate?

•Clerics blame high rate of divorce on ‘civilisation’ •‘Economic hardship/poverty is to blame’

Although the issue of divorce is not peculiar to Lagos, it is generally believed that the rate at which it happens in the state deserves attention.

Many people who spoke to Saturday Tribune attributed the situation where a couple who had earlier proclaimed love and affection for each other would suddenly develop hatred for each other and subsequently file for divorce to diverse reasons, beginning with the total departure from family values in view of the metropolitan nature of the city where civilisation has clashed with cultural ideology.

Mr Segun Oladipupo is a civil servant who has been married for 17 years and has lived in Lagos for the same length of time. Although his marriage to his wife, a nurse, has experienced some hiccups, what has kept them going is their deter-

mination to refuse to get carried away by the distractions of the city.

To him, it takes the grace of God for a woman or man not to get tempted by social distractions in the city. Following the bubbling nature of the city where different foreign cultures meet, to Oladipupo, it is not strange to see married couples pick up foreign ideas which in most cases contradict marital values. He particularly laid the blame on women, majority of whom, he said, have placed civilisation and city life above family values.

Many Lagos women, especially those of the working class, he said, have chosen career over marriage while many have regarded themselves as equals to their husbands.

“There can never be two captains on a ship. The moment a woman fails to know her limitation in

the home, the ship is bound to fail and this is one of the major factors responsible for increase in divorce rate in Lagos State,” he added.

But experts in marriage issues, including marriage counsellors, clergymen and lawyers, have identified rising poverty, lack of love, domestic violence and infidelity as some of the commonest and leading reasons couples opt for divorce.

Speaking on the issue in a telephone chat with Saturday Tribune, a clergyman and marriage counsellor, Pastor Richard Egbetokun, expressed sadness over the development and insisted that a lot of people go into marriage without having knowledge of what it is all about.

Pastor Egbetokun pointed out that a number of men and women often fail to realise that love is the basis of a working marriage.

“Nowadays, a lot of marriages lack love, so how do you want such a marriage to last? If a marriage has love as its foundation, as instituted by God Himself, couples would stay together ‘for better and for worse’,” he said.

In his view, a legal practitioner, Mr Elliot Ehiewere, who claimed to handle no fewer than five divorce cases per week, identified poverty and infidelity as two key reasons marriages fail not just in Lagos State but also elsewhere. He stated that today, a lot of people, especially the females, cannot withstand a little pressure occasioned by financial difficulties.

“I have handled cases of ladies pushing for divorce just because their men could no longer meet certain financial obligations in the house.

Perhaps what they thought they would see in

‘The population of these defiant train riders is intimidating’ Continued from pg19

when it comes to dealing with this ugly episode.

“It is a common spectacle in Lagos, so it is no longer strange to us. I see this as an illegality which has been allowed to fester, otherwise how could one explain a situation where people travel on top of the train and they are never arrested and punished?” said Bolaji, another frequent train

passenger.

Most susceptible rides Findings by Saturday Tribune also revealed that due to occasional raids by men of the railway police command, evening trains have become particularly susceptible to these dangerous rides. Many of these diehard passengers take to the rooftop of the train from the Ikeja station down to Ijoko on a daily basis.

Incessant deaths Every day, people fall off trains’ roofs and die, yet this does not serve as a deterrent to other “illegal” train riders. Many fall off the trains due to the fact that they are drunk.

“Many of these rooftop riders consume alcoholic drinks while on top of the moving trains. They drink as the train moves. That is why often, while inside the train, you suddenly hear

people shout outside that somebody has fallen off.

“The misfortune of those that have fallen from the rooftops of trains has not served as a deterrent to others.

Instead, others think the victims were not smart enough to avoid the fall.

That is why rooftop riding on Lagos trains has gone unabated,” Shakira Moruf, a roadside seller at the Oshodi train terminus told Saturday Tribune.

Is NRC helpless?

Although the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has consistently labelled people found in this practice “illegal train riders,” efforts by the management, in conjunction with the police, seem to have been insufficient to stop this trend.

Speaking to Saturday Tribune, the Lagos District Public Relations Officer (DPRO), NRC, Mrs Qodijat

Adekunmaya, explained that rooftop riders have constituted a menace to the corporate existence of the NRC. “The Railway Police Command and the Task Force are currently helpless because they have been outnumbered by these miscreants. We also have Man O’ War that comes to our aid sometimes, but then, all of these are not enough when compared to the number of people that flout the rule,” Adekunmaya said.

I have had the cause to advise couples to seek the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) means instead of opting for divorce. ADR can go a long way in finding lasting solutions to marital issues.

But it is unfortunate that many couples still opt for divorce in the long run.

their dream homes was different from the reality they met, and therefore, a lot of them wanted out.

“Many young women feel it is compulsory for them to get married at an early age while the older ones cannot stand the stigma of not being married. Therefore, they enter into marriages not minding the cost. But when reality dawns on them, they would want to back out,” Ehiewere said.

A cleric, Reverend Emmanuel Oluwapelumi, equally attributed the rise in the number of divorce cases in recent times to the foundations of most marriages presently being contracted, which he described as unholy.

Giving his views on the issue, Rev. Oluwapelumi, who is the General Overseer of the Apostolic Fire Ministries Nigeria, argued that besides throwing the basic biblical principles guiding the signing of such relationship between a man and a woman into the thrash can, some marriages are based on deceit on the part of the man and the woman.

“A man or a woman that is not ready to do a full disclosure to his or her partner before tying the nuptial knot will come back sooner than later to untie such knot, because the foundation of the relationship is unholy. I have seen marriages collapse just because the wife or the husband later came to learn some things that should have been disclosed earlier in the marriage, long after the marriage had been contracted.

“For instance, I have seen a mother of one who still believed she could hide a secret from her husband until an independent investigation by the husband proved otherwise. So, what do you think would happen in such an instance?” he queried.

He also attributed the rise in divorce cases to the fact that there is no adequate counselling before a couple decide to tie the nuptial knot. “For instance, some of these people don’t even know what the marriage institution is all about. The motivating factor for some is that because their friends are going into marriage, it has become imperative for them to do same.

“Unfortunately, clerics that should have provided such pre and post –marriage counselling are too busy pursuing other things,” he argued.

He added that some couples have allowed the present economic recession to get the better of them. He expressed the belief that since many marry for the wrong reasons, especially because of the depth of either the man’s or woman’s purse, such marriage contracts could become vulnerable, especially at this period when the country’s economy is witnessing a downturn.

The cleric attributed some divorce cases to fake prophecy, while emphasising the need for believers to be discerning and spiritually mature. “Couples should know that it is not all the issues concerning the home that are laid bare before a pastor.

Some prophecies can be dangerous and very toxic. Some homes have been destroyed through false prophecies and we can’t be too sure that some of these divorce cases you are talking about were not direct consequences of such spurious prophecies,” Reverend Oluwapelumi added.

Speaking on the development, especially as it affects Lagos State, a legal practitioner, Mrs Hannah Onosode, attributed it to urban living and high expectations between couples. “Lagos is a dynamic city and the hassle of living in an urban environment definitely takes its toll on marriages. When you have career couples that focus on work, neglecting the need for togetherness in marriage, divorce is inevitable.

“I have had the cause to advise couples to seek the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) means instead of opting for divorce. ADR can go a long way in finding lasting solutions to marital issues. But it is unfortunate that many couples still opt for divorce in the long run,” she said.

Also speaking on the high rate of divorce, a lawyer, Mr Ajibade Akinsanya, stated that many couples sign the marriage contract with too high expectations. “Marriage is a legal contract that needs to be carefully studied before the dotted lines are signed.

So, many of the reasons why people want to divorce are avoidable. Some of the issues range from sharing of property, lack of care and maltreatment. The situation sometimes gets messier when children are involved,” he said.

For a relationship and sex issues expert, Juliana Francis, divorce being on the rise in Lagos and Nigeria generally can be blamed on issues ranging from ego to lack of understanding and infidelity.

Juliana said several reasons could be attributed to the incidence of divorce. According to her, separation is common in the Nigerian context, especially among the not-too-educated and even the educated that had just the traditional wedding ceremony.

“In Nigeria today, an alarming number of women are steadily becoming the breadwinners in their family. When a woman pays most of the bills, she begins to wonder what she is doing in such a relationship with the man.”

“The important ingredients in any marriage are respect, trust, love and understanding. The man begins to lose respect if he cannot take care of his family. The woman wants to be looked after by her husband, not the other way round. Today, even if a man is gainfully employed, he still leaves the bulk of the bills to his wife, because she is gainfully employed, too,” Francis added.

21

General observation Generally, it has been observed that the high rate of divorce could be traced to the social status of Lagos where everybody allows themselves to get carried away under the pretext of relaxation and civilisation.

Besides, financial hardship has been fingered as a contributory factor to the situation where things begin to fall apart when the breadwinner can no longer perform his role.

Because of the metropolitan nature of Lagos, it is also generally agreed that it is easier for a woman to get carried away and be lured into promiscuity as a way of living up to a particular standard. For the man, the sky is the limit with the presence of ‘babes’ and friends ever available to cool them down from the harsh pressure which has reduced them to mere shadows of themselves.

Solution For Pastor Elijah Oladimeji, the only way out is for married couples to put the issue of money aside and allow God to be the foundation on which their marriages lay. For him, the time has come for married couples and the upcoming ones to understand the position of God on marriage. Marriage should be seen as a two-way thing, i.e., for better and for worse.

Alhaji Banji Badmus describes marriage as a lifetime institution which requires constant nurturing from both ends. Once couples begin to adhere to the principles of marriage and family values, he says, the issue of divorce will be greatly reduced.

Eko Akete

Oddities at the halls of justice

MOVING around town, Ikeja precisely, and even to be more precise, the Ikeja High Court, Eko Akete saw oddities at the halls of justice.

A visit to the Ikeja High Court revealed that the place is gradually turning into a dumping ground for seized items by the Sheriff department. The wide corridors and foyers are now used as storage places. Items like seized mattresses, kitchen utensils, furniture and electronics are piled high on each other outside the sheriff’s office so much that reptiles, rodents and even birds have found a perfect resting place to lay their heads.

The seized properties are now so many that mattresses, bedding and other odds and ends now have a place right next to the doors of the courtrooms.

Eko Akete’s findings revealed that most of the goods were seized following forfeiture orders from the court. Exotic cars are not left out. Unlike other seized household goods that are left to rot in the rain, the cars are washed daily and even polished, waiting to be auctioned.

22

22 October, 2016

Dangerous shipwrecks dot Lagos coastline

In Nigeria’s coastal region, various wrecks have constituted a hindrance to free movement of vessels on the waterways. In this report, TOLA ADENUBI looks at the incidence of these shipwrecks.

T

HE United Nations (UN) estimates that there are more than three million shipwrecks on the ocean floor globally. Nigeria’s Lagos is one of the major cities with many shipwrecks on their seabed.

Although successive governments have frowned at the presence of these wrecks and vowed to remove them from the nation’s seas, investigations have shown that the number of wrecks has been on the rise in recent times.

With over 100 shipwrecks abandoned on Nigeria’s coastline and about 50 of them littering the Lagos waters, navigating Nigeria’s waterways has become a herculean task for unsuspecting vessel operators. Findings show that there are various reasons for this development.

The Managing Director, Delta Marine Shipping Company Limited, Uba Basil, told Saturday Tribune exclusively that lack of understanding of the shipping business, among other things, has led to wrecks littering the nation’s waterways.

Legal issues According to Basil, “there are several reasons why wrecks will remain in Nigeria’s coastal waterways. The first reason why wrecks cannot be removed is down to legal implications.

Government cannot just go and re-

move wrecks without clearing the legal bottlenecks because those wrecks belong to some people.

“People own those wrecks. In some cases, they were seized by the Navy or Marine police before constituting what we call wrecks.

For example, if you visit any police station, you will see seized vehicles parked everywhere.

“That is the same scenario that plays out with ships when they are seized by security agencies. They have to be parked somewhere on the water. As long as we continue to adopt that procedure as our modus operandi, then we have to deal with the fact that if somebody’s vessel is seized by security agencies and the person goes to court, if the legal issue is not resolved, then nobody has any right to dispose of such vessel.

“And even if the vessel eventually becomes a wreck by sinking or rotting away on the waterways where it is parked (anchored), it is still subject to legal implications and cannot be disposed away.

“Therefore, if any government agency goes there to remove it or cut it off in form of wreck removal, such agency has not only committed infringement against the owners’ right to fair trial but has also dragged itself into a protracted legal issue that it might not win.

“For wrecks to be removed seamlessly, there has to be a court judgement backing such action, and with Nigeria’s legal system, we are talking about years of court proceedings.”

Lack of adequate facilities Basil gave another reason for the persistence of wrecks on Nigeria’s waterways as lack of adequate facilities to remove them.

“If you go around Nigeria today, the biggest wreck removing crane the nation has, probably on water, is about 400 tons and it is owned

by Underwater Engineering Limited in Apapa.

“At a point, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) also brought in two floating wreck removing cranes, but both cranes have sunk and are in disuse. The two cranes are in Marina jetty there and are not being used.

“For efficient wreck removing efforts, a country needs a floating crane of 1000 tons. A 1000-ton crane will conveniently lift out any wreck, shake it and then blank it into shape. Then such wrecks will be taken to a safe place for repair or cutting into pieces for other use.

“The biggest crane being used in Nigeria today is about 600 tons and is owned by Crane and Rust Ltd. It is being used in the nation’s

A Reporter’s Diary When OBJ spoke on IBB, Abdulsalami Shola Adekola TO fulfill all righteousness on this very day, I set out for the day’s normal duty by getting to the Murtala Muhammed Local Airport precisely, the Presidential Lounge, the ‘almighty’ VIP Lounge where notable citizens, including the presidents of different nations, including our own, governors, ministers, diplomats and others come in to relax before proceeding to their destinations.

On this fateful day, I was the first to report at the VIP Lounge, hoping to get a front page story.

Not quite long, a big fish came, this time round, in the person of former President Olusegun Obasanjo whose aircraft touched down at the Lounge as early as 8.00am.

Disembarking from the Gulf Stream Presidential Jet that flew him in, he walked majestically towards an official car already stationed to take him

energy sector and is 24 hours fully booked.

“Another infrastructure that is lacking in this country is maintenance/repair yard. Many of the vessels want to go for repair and maintenance but there is none of such here in Nigeria. So, what happens most times is that if such vessels have minor accidents that just needs repair, due to lack of such facilities here, most often times such vessels end up going down. This is another major reason why wrecks keep increasing in Nigeria’s waterways,” the engineer added.

Lack of shipping knowledge The Delta Marine chief executive pointed out that the rush to make money before understanding the business terrain of Nigeria’s maritime sector has been another major reason many new vessels bought for business purposes end up becoming wrecks on the waterways.

“A lot of us that went into buying vessels and ship ownership went into the business with our minds made up on profit making without really understanding the implication of the maritime business.

“Some people buy vessels, thinking that if they don’t get jobs, they can just park them somewhere on

to Ota Farm.

Looking at the hard-looking security operatives surrounding the area, I almost lost the hope of realising my dream of making a front page story for the day.

But I suddenly remember that as a reporter, you need fear nobody and just throw your question and expect reaction.

It was like Baba Obasanjo, a known no-nonsense man with military blood flowing in his veins, was ready for me on the day in question.

Approaching him while he made way into a waiting jeep, I declared: Your Excellency, you are welcome: Baba responded with a smile.

The question I threw at him though did not shake him as usual.

Your Excellency, how do you react to the refusal of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalam

Saturday Tribune

the waterway for a while until they get a job for the vessels. However, people don’t know that to just keep your vessel outside bar on the water has financial implications.

“In Ghana, charges for parking vessels on the waterways are calculated by the tonnage of the vessel.

So, there is nowhere a vessel owner will keep a vessel and will not be paying for parking, whether the vessel is working or not.

“Apart from the normal cost of running the vessel, which includes feeding the crew, maintenance of the vessel, safety issues and others, the vessel owner has to still pay for that space which the vessel occupies on the waterway.

“Unlike road transport where you can just park your vehicle on the roadside and nobody comes to ask you for any charges, in maritime transport, you pay for space.

“That is why when new vessel owners get faced with this enormous demand for financial support just to maintain a vessel that is not working, a lot of such vessel owners normally end up leaving the vessel to its fate, which in turn adds up to the number of wrecks we already have,” Basil stated.

Danger on Nigeria’s waterways Many of the wrecks turned derelict that litter the nation’s shoreline are owned by indigenous shipping companies, many of whom have gone bankrupt due to lack of jobs in the lucrative oil lifting business.

From Maiyegun to the Alpha beach areas in Lagos State, a litany of once new vessels that have become a shadow of their old selves drift away slightly even while on anchorage.

With so many wrecks left to drift away on anchorage, the issue of safety and security on the nation’s waterways has regularly featured on the agenda of the maritime sector.

While many of the wrecks that drift on anchorage at the nation’s waterways have become havens for criminally minded persons, some unlucky vessel owners have lost their investments due to collision with these sunken wrecks that lie on the bed of nation’s seas.

Most vulnerable to collision are ferry operators whose livelihoods depend on inter-connectivity of the nation’s inland waterways. For Akeem Lasisi, a ferry operator at the Lagos Marina jetty, “the fear of underwater wrecks from Marina to Ikorodu inland waterways channel is the beginning of wisdom.”

Abubakar to appear before the now late Justice Oputa Panel?

At that point, some other colleagues who had now come to join me knew my question did not go well with Baba at that point in time.

Waiting for a tough response from him as usual, Baba looked at me up and down and responded to my question saying: “Go and arrest them.”

With the response, my dream of making a front page the next day became fulfilled, even though the story was no longer exclusive to me.

The story became one of the most controversial ones then because it ended up becoming the lead in many newspapers across the country, with the late media aide to Baba, the late Tunji Oseni defending the position of Baba by the statement.

My joy on that day was that as a reporter I knew what I wanted and I set out for this against all odds.

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With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

Respondents are students of De Ayo International College, Old Ife Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Favour A-Mattew, 9 yrs old, JSS 1 I would like to choose music as a career because of my religion, Christianity. Music lifts one’s spirit, particularly when one is not happy. I’ve discovered that when you sing, you are happy and your listeners are happy as well. I see sports as part of entertainment.

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Spot the difference

Between music and sports,

Adedotun Olafimihan, 11 yrs old, JSS 2 I will prefer to go into sports because there are different aspects one can go into. Sporting activities also aid physical fitness. When I was in the primary school, I did not like sports but now, I enjoy every bit of it. Thanks to a senior who took it upon himself to encourage and train me. Football is my favourite. Irrespective of the age I start, I will make sure I make this country proud.

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would you choose J ke Make as a career? a sentence

Jedidiah Adeleye, 12 yrs old, JSS 3 My dad is a choirmaster and I get inspired by his life as a lover of music. I love music to the extent that I can’t read my books without listening to it.

I had a music teacher while growing up who encouraged me to work on my talent since age five. My parents had long given me a go ahead to go into music as a career. Also, during holidays, I attend trainings on music. I have composed about six songs.

Sarah Otuyemi, 10 yrs old, JSS 1 I would choose sports as a career and football precisely. I learnt footballers earn substantial amount of money. Aside this, I will like to be part of the female team through whom trophies would be won for Nigeria. I feel excited each time I see female football players. By the time I start earning my salary, I will build a house for my parents and buy new jeep for them. The underprivileged will also be taken care of from my income.

Adedayo Olafimihan, 12 yrs old, JSS 3 As for me, I have more interest in sports than music. More so, many people in our society enjoy sports. Games have benefits for the human body. Nigeria is my fatherland so I would join one of the Nigerian football teams. As a footballer, I would strive to be popular by going the extra mile with my skills to gain popularity among others.

Samuel Paul, 12 yrs old, JSS 1 I dislike music because I don’t know how to sing but I participate in sports events. So if I’m to choose between music and sports, I will pick sports. I belong to the football team in my school and I am a striker. I’m known for dribbling. I would join a foreign football club, Manchester United.

Christiana Nnaji, 12 yrs old, JSS 2 Good music is of great benefit to the body and scientists have testified to it. There are many types of music in our generation but among all, I would go into legend music which is sung for heroes or gospel music. I’m sure I would not find it difficult to handle because singing is my hobby and I discovered the talent long ago.

Cartoon

Little Johnny's teacher asks him to make a sentence using the following words: defeat, deduct, defense and detail.

Little Johnny says, “De feet of de duck went over de fence before de tail.”

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Also, it has been nothing but hard work and dedication. And staying true to the dream and wanting it actualised.

Continued from pg9

Foray into fashion Though I was a tomboy when I was growing up but anytime I had to wear a dress, I always make sure that everything matches. For instance, at Christmas, my mum always bought me matching dress, bag, hat and shoes. That was my early introduction to fashion. I kind of experimented with fashion and I also used to make dresses for my doll. However, I never thought I would study fashion design until when I was in SSS 1 and I left Agric class to join clothing and textile class because I was looking for a subject that would be easy for me to pass. The Agric teacher was pregnant and wasn’t teaching. She used to say that we should go and read. I thought since I had to contend with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics that I had to read and so I needed something that I would have fun in the class and get A1 so I went for clothing and textile. My first day in the class, we went on excursion to Yabatech School of Art and I discovered fashion. I just knew that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It wasn’t easy at first because my parents didn’t want that for me, society didn’t want that for me, my family members didn’t want it for me. My teachers in secondary school thought something was wrong with me.

Nobody understood the choice of fashion over medicine. But here I am today.

Role models Number one is MUDI because he has taken the Nigerian dream beyond the shores of Nigeria. He started from a humble background and made his way to the top. He makes clothes for politicians and big shots in African countries like Ghana, Kenya and so on. He owns and runs a pan African business. Mrs. Nike Ogunlesi has grown her business from scratch to employing about 250 people and having branches all over Nigeria. I have a dream similar to theirs so they are my role models.

Challenges faced To enter fashion at the time I did, it was believed that you must have a lot of money. It was general knowledge that if you were not rich or married into an affluent family or have parents who are influential, who won’t be able to do fashion successfully as people were not making money as they should like celebrated fashion designers because they don’t have rich friends to patronise them. People may say that was a challenge but to me, it was a blessing.

It made me work harder and think out of the box and find other ways to success as opposed to the laid down rule of having friends and inviting them to your launching or have your parents build you a shop or stuffs like that. I didn’t see them as challenges as they made me to find an alternative route. But the basic challenges are lack of infrastructure, lack of availability of technical knowhow. For most fashion houses before and even now, they make use of imported skilled labour, Senegalese tailor, Cotonou tailors and Pilipino tailors because Nigerian tailors are not very detailed, skilled or loyal. Since I was starting without huge capital, I had to train my staff and that is part of the thing that Ejiro Amos Tafiri is known for. I started my business in Ikotun Egbe and I took raw skills people who were “apprentice “and I imparted in them with what I had gone to fashion school to learn for five years and what I learnt working in the industry for two years after that. So instead of going to import talents, I take the raw Nigerian talents and try to refine them. Also access to finance is another major challenge till

Saturday Tribune

Defining moment There have been several ones. With each stage in life comes a very defining moment. For this year, it is opening this office in Ikeja which houses our second store where we have our school, production, atelier and a store. I was also named Vlisco ambassador alongside seven other amazing women from the rest of West Africa like Angelique Kidjo. To be the youngest woman to represent a brand that has been around for 170 years is a huge honour and the icing on the cake. Last year, the most defining moment was winning designer of the year for retail award at LFDW at five awards; it shows that we’ve really impacted the industry.

Tips on how to succeed in the fashion industry Think out of the box. You are not the same as every other person so first and foremost, know yourself, your strength and weaknesses and use your strength to your advantage and try to down play your weaknesses.

I see challenges as stepping stones today as most banks would say fashion is not one of the SMEs they can loan money to. The ban on foreign fabric is also part of it as we don’t have enough Nigerian fabric that is durable. Yes we have aso oke and adire but it is not every style you can sew with these fabrics. We don’t have technologies to improve the way our fabrics are being made. They are handmade but they should be mass produced because we are a country of over 180 million people and we mostly import our fabrics.

Inspiration for my designs I am generally inspired by culture so I like to read, I like to watch films, travel and experience how people live their lives.

The choices people make. How do women want to be seen, how they love to feel in their clothes. All these things put together inspire what I do.

The E. A. T. brand Our brand mantra is; chic, elegant and for the upwardly mobile women. That is what we stick to. What we provide is a form of art and like every art and artist; it is unique to your DNA. So what I will create will be different from what another person will create. What stands us out the most is that we are a very innovative brand, we have been known to bring up styles to change the way people wear clothes in Nigeria and we have produced clothes that have been widely copied by designers. One of it is the Oleku drape dress which totally revolutionised the way women wear their iro and bubas.

Secret of success God. He is the one that orders our footstep. He is the one that guides and inspires. He is the beginning of the Ejiro Amos Tafiri and He’s the one who keeps us going and directs right people to us.

To be the youngest woman to represent a brand that has been around for 170 years is a huge honour and the icing on the cake.

What government can do to assist the fashion industry There should be legislation to help intellectual property theft, which is endemic in the fashion and arts generally. Legislation that will protect and grow the indigenous textile industry from the farmers that plant cotton to the people that spin wool and thread and, the leather people. Most of the leathers used by foreign designers are bought in Nigeria. Meanwhile, Nigerian designers don’t have access to this thing. They will buy it, treat it and we will still have to import it. They should find a way to grow the industry. I am not the type to advocate that government should give us money but I am saying that if they put the right things on ground; like power. They can create manufacturing hubs where there will always be power since it is an industrial area where garments can be done. Fashion is a big business all around the world. The world’s largest apparel retailer, the owner of Zara makes and sells clothes. It is an industry that the country should look into.

Why most Nigerians still prefer to buy foreign things I think it is our colonial mentality but it is gradually changing. Many people grew up with the mentality that anything that is imported is better. They even categorise it that things from London are better than the USA while they say anything from China is fake, not knowing that what they buy in America are made in China. It is just a mentality that is starting to change and the change starts with us. We should value what is ours. If we keep sending our monies abroad, we will be developing those countries at the detriment of our own.

Why made in Nigeria goods are more expensive I think it is an unfair thing to say that Nigerian products are too expensive. More often than not, they are underpaid. The Nigerian manufacturer provides his own electricity, transportation and sometimes provides his own road or deals with the fact that he has to change his vehicle every year or two years due to bad roads. It is a tough environment for Nigerian manufacturers and everybody goes into business to make profit so they are not going to sell themselves short. The alternatives in the socalled developed world are ten times more expensive. But they are willing to part with that money because it is made in UK.

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I’ll meet Obanikoro, EFCC in court —Gov Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State marked the second anniversary of his second term of office with a lot of activities, including the inauguration of numerous infrastructural projects and the flag-off of others. He speaks on the experiences of the past two years and on other issues in this interview by Deputy Editor, Sam Nwaoko:

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OUR Excellency, we congratulate you on the second anniversary of your second term as Ekiti State governor. Looking back two years, how would you describe it, considering the various activities and challenges that you faced sir?

Let me start by telling you that I have causes to thank God and I want to appreciate God for being true to His words and for sustaining me. I have always said it: I have never lost a battle and I’ll never lose any by the grace of God. Day-by-day, it is either I’m in the trenches or my enemies keep me in the trenches to overcome them. But above all, I am Peter the Rock on which this state is founded, by God’s grace. You want to also acknowledge that it has been a turbulent and harrowing experience. It has been from one conspiracy against me to the other; from one attack to the other. You can equally recall that you cannot take away from me the courage to deal with issues as promptly as they come and I deal with them in line with God’s word.

I challenge my challengers in totality of God’s fear and I have been sustained by that.

Even before I became governor-elect for the second term, a lot happened. They even wanted to prevent my swearingin; they did everything humanly possible to frustrate the swearing-in. All I’m telling you is that they would keep trying and they would keep failing. What about the court issues? They went to the first court, even after congratulating me on the election victory; to the Supreme Court, where the blackmail of impeachment was totally erased and the court lambasted them. When your enemies don’t retreat, they are pushing you to a level where your victory would be meaningful, like Joseph, whose enemies never retreated until they made him the prime minister.

For me, it has been a very eventful two years. It hasn’t been too easy but I’ve always come out victorious, stronger, better. There are the blackmail of the election money by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the ‘Dasukigate’; threat by the Department of State Service (DSS); attempt to arrest members of the state House of Assembly and illegal arrest of one of them and all in which I have come out stronger. Someone said Fayose is a cat with nine lives, but I have more than nine lives; mine is innate indefinite life God has deposited in me.

Now that two years are gone, what would you say has been your achievements in the past two years and what next?

The Bible says when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; when the wicked are there, the people mourn. Ekiti, in the last 20 years, has not come first in any external exams like the National Examination Council (NECO). I took over in 2003 and, from number 35 position, we came to number 7. This time, we were in number 37 when I took over, now we are the first in all the federation.

These are non-physical developments. They are innate and control the physical development. They are developments that are true to our name, the “Fountain of Knowledge.” I came with six cardinal points which also include security, infrastructure, agriculture, education, empowerment and all that. I am glad that, today, we have touched all these.

On empowerment, we are giving 10,000 indigent people N5,000 each on monthly basis, as palliatives in a social security scheme, to assist them. I do this because if you want to change the culture of a people, you must equally provide a way for them to earn something to augment what you want to take away from them. If you are taking away bad habits, corruption, cheating and making them to sacrifice certain things, you must give them some other things to act as palliative.

On infrastructure, my achievements dotted all over Ekiti.

I have begun a first-of-its-kind fly over in the state. There is also the Oja Oba Market which has been there for over 200 years without renovation. I’m building an ultra-modern one in its place which will be completed next year along with the flyover. There are also several roads in the state and creation of dual-carriageways which I have completed, while many others are under construction. They include the ongoing Ado-Ikere Road and a part of it was lit up; Omuo township, Ikole, Ise, Emure and many more. There are more to come. There are the Petim, The Head, Onala, Awedele roads in Ado Ekiti. Iworoko-Igbemo-Iluomoba Road; the Awo-Ara-Ijero; Iropora to Ijero, Efo and many others. Most of these roads were done in my first term and they are now being rehabilitated.

In the water and agriculture sectors too, we have done well. I think have made myself, my people and my party

We have issues like every other home but my wife will never complain. It is such women that can marry very tough men like us.

Men like us, if we don’t have such women and their support, we would crumble. proud. If a government fails, you must blame the leader. I hardly trade words or put blames on former Governor Kayode Fayemi because I was elected to come and perform and not to trade blames with anybody. If two years after election, I keep blaming Fayemi, that amounts to incompetence. So, to make it more meaningful, I operate like a statesman here. The first building, which I put up at the tomb of the late former deputy governor, the Women Development Centre, I named it after Adunni Olayinka, Fayemi’s late deputy who came from another political party. That’s statesmanship. Things that we do, we do them in honour of Ekiti people. Ekiti comes first in my government, not political parties, because after this office, there would be time for the people to judge and talk about us as leaders of our state.

For the coming two years, morning, they say, shows the day. The fact that I have done the needful for the past two years and my past records that brought me back are there, people knew that I will perform. As I always say, I will not leave any project abandoned. I’ll complete all my projects and I will hand over successfully by God’s grace.

You said when you take something from the people you give them palliatives. Is the lack of this at the federal level your cause for the criticism of the government?

The Federal Government is not doing anything. It is obvious. The fuel price was increased. They overreached the labour leaders; they were arm-twisted and they couldn’t say anything again. The increase in the pump price of fuel is the biggest ever and up till today, there’s nothing to cushion the effects. Today, an average Nigerian is generating his own electricity; sourcing his water and even making his own road. Travelling from here to Lagos, all the federal roads are deplorable. Every responsible government must strike a balance and create a give-back mechanism. None of the promises they made has been fulfilled. It is not that we are attacking them, nobody can say now that they are getting any palliative from the Federal Government. After the petrol price increment, nobody can say this is what the Federal Government has done to cushion the effects.

Add the new electricity tariff and other increments to all these. Now, the salary you are earning is like a quarter or one-third of what you were earning before in value, because prices of goods have hit the roofs.

By your assessment sir, is this situation you›ve described an All Progressives Cingress (APC) thing or an issue of the man running the affairs of the country?

Let me put it this way: If there is a problem, we must blame the leader. This is because the leader was voted for.

They believe in the leader that he will deliver. And leadership is not about one man, the man that got the mandate and confidence of the people should be held responsible.

For me as a person, I take responsibilities for everything: the good and the bad in the state because the people actually believe that I have what it takes to deliver. So, if the Federal Government is not delivering, the leader should be called to question.

In the country today, it is believed that political realignments are already happening. This belief is reinforced by what many has come to interpret as your romance with Senator Bola Tinubu.

Also, given that the major political parties, namely APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are enmeshed in crisis. Should Nigerians look out for a new political order?

When we get to the bridge we would cross it. I›m just one of Nigeria’s political leaders. I can›t sit here and tell you that there is a formation of a new political party or there is not. I cannot possibly tell how things would play out in the political arena. But when the time comes, we would all see how things are going.

I cannot also tell you that my comments on Tinubu were based on political gains. No. As a Yoruba nation, we must, first of all, remember that, before we are called Nigerians, we were first members of the Yoruba nation. We always make that mistake. That is why I always say that after an election, governance at all levels becomes the responsibility of all parties. After elections, leaders of various communities, zones and so on must come together to develop and defend their zone. I’m not a member of APC; I will never be a member of APC. I want to say expressly that my comments on Tinubu have nothing to do with politics and God is my witness. I have nothing against anybody, even as records show a lot of wrong things they›ve done to me. Whether anyone has done the other wrong in anyway does not mean that he (Tinubu) should be sacrificed. For instance, if an appointment is coming now, it will come to a Yoruba whether it is coming through APC or PDP is not the question; it will still come through a Yoruba man. What we are saying is not about political parties; it is about the Yoruba nation. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whatever you say about him, in politics of the Yoruba nation, he has paid his due. I want to be remembered in Ekiti by generations for my legacy. Why is that former President Olusegun Continued on pg33

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‘Why I can’t contest for president’ to continue the way they are doing it.

Continued from pg32

You›ve not only made a law on grazing, you have also inaugurated a body of Ekiti people to help in enforcing the law. What is the ultimate aim of these action?

We are entitled to having enforcers who would enforce the law restricting grazing to a level it won’t bring harm to our people. Laws are not made for mere making; they are made to be obeyed and respected. A lot of people today have lost fortunes to the destructive activities of these herdsmen; when they come they are usually armed and they overpower the farmers. So, it is our duty to protect these farmers; it is our duty to protect the citizens and their farms. So, what we are doing is that there are certain restricted areas for grazing where, if you graze and your actions are malicious, we take you to court. We want to ensure that things are done properly. While we are not against grazing, we want grazing not to affect the economic activities of others and destroy their future.

Obasanjo and other leaders gave recognition to past leaders? Why was the daughter of Chief Abraham Adesanya given an appointment in Obasanjo›s government? Why was Chief Bola Ige appointed? They were from different parties. But the fact is that they are leaders in this zone.

You can’t deny that.

What then is the fate of your own PDP, given the fact that it is mired in all sorts of court cases and crises?

Tomorrow, the dry bones will rise again. PDP that is perceived as a dead today is just a sleeping lion; it is a sleeping lion that will rise again. PDP has a structure that has permeated every nook and cranny of this nation. If you tell me, in Kano, there were elections, they say APC got over two million vote and no voided votes and just a little for PDP. Come to think of it, you would see that, that election was purely arranged. Not too long after, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) that conducted that election was killed in a fire incident in his home; so we were told. We will know the truth when we all see God. Today, the story is no longer the same. Rather, they are, today, making PDP to contest against INEC, as was the case in Edo State. So, I know that it cannot continue like this. I tell you, the dry bones of PDP will rise again; the party will take over. Don’t worry. Even if there would be an emergence of a new political party, we will wait and see before we jump in. But in politics, nothing is in possible.

Recently, you stopped EFCC from arresting the wife of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode in Ado Ekiti. It is being insinuated in some quarters that Mrs FaniKayode was here to get something from you while others view it as a media stunt. Could you clarify the issue sir?

There is nothing to clarify, Fani-Kayode is my friend and he remains my friend. The people making insinuations are entitled to their own opinions. Femi Fani-Kayode and I talk on daily basis. If his wife comes to me, should she have rather gone to meet her husband›s enemies? The wife has to come to somebody like me. When we were in crisis, my own wife went to a lot of people too. Life is so dynamic. Fani-Kayode of today could be somebody else tomorrow. I don›t want to go to the details of that, but my action on the detention is to show EFCC that you cannot try such nonsense in my state.

Even if they bring the whole guns here, they will kill as many as they want to kill. So, let me say clearly that, EFCC is a lying agency. They disobey and disregard the Nigerian constitution and defy the right of the citizenry. This is unfortunate, it is sad.

This is not the concept of the founding fathers of EFCC. The agency was conceptualised to be able to reposition Nigeria economically, to save Nigeria from moral decay; not to oppress the rights of Nigerians. Investigations should be done like a responsible organisation, not running investigations on the pages of the newspapers, not media trial, not playing to the gallery like they are doing. They did this to me before, so I›m not perturbed. So, for me, I stand with Fani-Kayode.

These are turbulent times. This phase too will pass. We›ve seen situations like this before. There was a time in the late General Sani Abacha›s regimen you could not talk to even your wife; you were so afraid. This is still a similar one but it would pass.

Taking that to what was published that Senator Musiliu Obanikoro allegedly said that you were given about $5.7 million for the Ekiti governorship election in 2014. Do you also see that as merely another media trial?

I wouldn›t want to join issues with EFCC or Obanikoro.

But I remembered very well that Obanikoro was firing very serious salvos at the EFCC before now. I remembered all his statements in the press. But this dramatic return; he was not stopped at the airport and there was a clear entrance straight to the EFCC›s office, simply shows that there is a hand of a Esau in the voice of Jacob; there is collaboration. I am used to all these... conspiracy. But the fact remains that in all these, Jesus is Lord; in all these, victory is sure; in all these, I’ve not lost any battle and I’ll not lose any.

Let me believe that Obanikoro did not say all these because whatever you say, you would have to prove it in court.

It is not enough to just say it. If he›s saying all these just to get out of trouble, it is just a drama of the moment. I know he is looking for ways out of the quagmire maybe because his house was seized, his bank accounts were frozen and all that. Maybe my brother and friend, Obanikoro, is looking for a way out and so, they have to heap everything on Fayose. I’m used to that.

But in the meantime, I am busy with my job as the governor of Ekiti, delivering good governance to my people.

Outside Ekiti State, your name reverberates and since the major political parties are in crises, when a new political horizon emerges, you could be a beautiful bride in the new political dispensation.

Would you see yourself as a party’s flag bearer in the future?

Flag bearer for what?

What they wanted during their conspiracy at my first tenure was to stop me from rising politically. They didn›t want me to rise politically again and that was the first poultry allegation with EFCC but I won.

Today, I can adjudge what would happen tomorrow by the victories of yesterday. So, their fear is my rising profile.

Their fear is: where is this Fayose going? Don’t forget that in the Bible, the three wise men who came to greet Jesus Christ and who saw the tomorrow of Jesus Christ just as the then King Herod too saw the tomorrow of Jesus Christ and he told the wise men to come back to him and reveal where Jesus was so that he could go and kill him. But the wise men didn’t go back that way. So, they saw my tomorrow and knew that I’m rising; I’m going to be among those people that would take over from them. I have a future; I have greatness ahead of me and no greatness comes without a battle and struggles. So, they should keep their gun powder dry and behave like a responsible organisation, whose strength is in their coded investigation. They should stop messing themselves up. I am not perturbed. You see, nobody knows what would be the situation in two year’s time, but when we get to the bridge, we would cross it.

Again, if Obanikoro says he gave me $5.3million and so on, where did he get it from? Why will he take such huge cash like that? Why will an honourable federal minister of the country be saying that he took cash like this and gave to me? You can now see how EFCC operates, but we will talk about that when we get to court. They are only looking for ways, for nexus, to link me at all cost; to destroy me at all cost. It is just like in the Bible when they asked the people should we replace the thief with Jesus for the punishment but the people said no, it is Jesus we want. But at the end, contrary to their thinking that killing Jesus would be the end, Jesus Christ’s ascension has glorified Him, in His name now, all knees bow in heaven and on earth and all tongues confess. So, this is another one. All they want is Fayose. I hope that by now, they would release all his confiscated assets and property because he is now collaborating with them.

You rose in condemnation of the DSS invasion of the homes of some judges after your friend, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, had foiled their operation in Port Harcourt. There are insinuations, one of which is that the invasion was actually targeted at you and Governor Wike, with the aim said to be attempts to link you to an allegation that you bribed the judges to get victory at the courts. How do you view this?

I›ve never seen it in our history, where judges were intimidated. When judgment does not go your way, then that judge must have collected money. Should APC win everywhere? That is not democracy. Let us come back and look at the situations. Even if you say that I am a thief, are there no procedures to handle it? You have all the intelligence; you have all it takes to prove it; you have access to their bank accounts and all that. This is uncharitable.

You are now telling these judges, if you don’t give judgment the way we want, then you are a thief; then, we will remove you. It is taken things too far. But let me tell you, this is not going to stand in the face of God. God is not wicked; He is not man that He would allow these people

Presidential flag bearer...

I cannot be a presidential flag bearer of any party, new or old. A responsible party must know the dynamics. A responsible party, if they want to succeed, must know that these two successions remain the turn of the North. We must not shy away from this arrangement, though it might not be a constitutional thing. Like I said, may be if PDP had respected that, we would not find ourselves where we are today. So it is important not to do the wrong thing. In whatever party we might find ourselves in, we must do the right things and equally give opportunities as there are to all our ethnic divides.

The Ekiti State House of Assembly is in crisis with the suspension of Chief Gboyega Aribisogan. The matter got worse when allegations of suspected murderers, allegedly sponsored by the suspended member, were after them. Has this matter received your attention as the governor and the leader of the party in the state and what intervention do you think would bring normalcy to the House?

We would do our best on it. I have heard about the development and I intend to call a meeting of the party to look into some of these things. But the fact remains that loyalty is key. So, anybody involved in this matter must first of all be prepared to remember that our strength lies in our collective loyalty to leadership. However, if you smack a child with the right hand, you draw him back with the left hand. We will find a way to resolve the matter.

Your wife is with you in public domain. How would you describe her vis-a-vis your relationship?

My wife is an eternal blessing whom God has chosen for me even before I was born and before she was born. My wife remains a pillar of support. My wife remains a guiding angel chosen for me by God who prays without ceasing; who forms prayer bands across the nation because of me. My wife never discusses me with anybody or in public if even I am in the wrong or I am making her unhappy. She would rather tell you that it is too late to fight with me. She has also made it clear to all that ‘my husband has been given to me by God and that there is no any amount of blackmail that can cause disaffection between us’. We have issues like every other home but my wife will never complain. It is such women that can marry very tough men like us. Men like us, if we don’t have such women and their support, we would crumble. I choose to make peace with my wife all the time. Even when I want to do certain things, she will say I shouldn’t do it and I would be adamant but later I won’t do it because she would tell me she stands to lose, she stands to suffer if I’m in trouble. She is such a wonderful woman and she is ever prepared to suffer in my place.

What about the tango between President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha?

I don’t want to talk about Buhari and his wife. Every marriage is unique and has its own issues. We should leave them and continue to pray for them. There is no way issues like this would not come up but it is not our business to meddle. I don’t want to join issues in that area at all. I just wish them the best.

34

interview

22 October, 2016

What I’ll do as Asiwaju of Ijeshaland —Fasuyi

Saturday Tribune

MrYinka Fasuyi and his wife, Olubisi, are to be invested as the Asiwaju and theYeye Asiwaju of Ijeshaland respectively today by the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran. Fasuyi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Supreme Management Training and Consultancy Services, as well as President, Ibadan Business School, in this interview by SULAIMON OLANREWAJU, speaks about the turning point in his life as well as what he hopes to accomplish as the successor of the late Chief Bola Ige to the title of the Leader of the Ijesha people. Excerpts:

W

HAT are those things that happened when you were growing up that shaped you into who you are to-

day?

We are the only Fasuyi from Ijeshaland. If you hear of any Fasuyi from Ilesha, it is the same Fasuyi. My late father, Chief Jacob Olowookere Fasuyi, was an entrepreneur of note. He worked in both Ijeshaland and Ibadan throughout his business life. He was a good exemplar of leadership to all his followers. Let me add two attestations to the background of my father. The late Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Peter Agunlejika, was my father’s clerk in his business days and whenever he visited our house, he would tell stories of how my father contributed to shaping his life. We would not only marvel but we would also see his stories as an opportunity to learn. He told us that my father was instrumental in the development and fulfillment of his aspiration to become the paramount ruler of Ijeshaland. My father played a significant role in the nomination of the late traditional ruler. Then, several notable Ijesha businessmen who grew under my father’s tutelage would come at the end of each year, usually around Christmas, to celebrate with him and each time they visited, there were testimonies about the supports they received from my father.

That caliber of people who benefitted from my father became a big challenge to me and I decided to live a life of enterprise, dignity and philanthropy.

What was the turning point in your life?

Environment is always a great determinant of every individual’s life. The environment comes in two forms; the internal and external environment. The internal environment is the family. I have a very supportive, encouraging, prayerful wife. A critical decision that I took about 25 years ago had the support of my wife. The decision made me leave the world of certainty for the world of uncertainty. I left a situation where salary was guaranteed, where allowances were guaranteed, where my career progress was guaranteed. Walking away from all of these, many would describe it as madness. But for the support of God and the understanding of my wife, that decision was not an easy one. Quitting an oil company was not easy. When I told my wife, who constituted the major internal environment factor determinant, about the decision, I made her realise that the journey would not be easy but I needed her to support me with her prayer. I told her that it might be difficult in the beginning but she should bear with me. She told me that I had her support that I should go ahead with the decision.

We had to borrow money to start the business and we agreed on where to borrow the money. When I was resigning, only three people knew before my resignation letter was drawn. The first person was my wife, the second person was the one I borrowed money from and the third person was me.

The guiding principle in my decision to resign my appointment with the oil company was the remembrance of the words of Winston Churchill that ‘a pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity but an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.’

In the external environment of Nigeria that I was then, I saw that the few training and development programmes I had attended could be carried out in a better way than they were being done then. That was a factor. The second was my exposure in the course of my MBA programme. The two factors propelled me into deciding that I did not have to wait until I clocked 55 years, which was the retiring age at the time, to do the things that I needed to do. So, the combination of the internal and external environments were those things that made me start, they served as the turning point in my life.

You said you wanted to live a life of dignity and philanthropy, how far have you gone in achieving that?

ThepositionoftheAsiwajuofIjeshaland isforservice.Itislikewhatotherswill calltheleadservant.Anyattemptto seeitbeyondthatwillcreateaserious misconceptionforyouthebeneficiary andforthoseyouwillbeserving.

In terms of dignity, I think I have been able to show that to the people we have worked together in the two organisations that I have been privileged to lead — Supreme Management Training and Consultancy Services and The Ibadan Business School.

In the area of philanthropy, before the establishment of Yinka Fasuyi Foundation, I was always a rallying point for family and friends and also for associations and the society.

The difference in the implementation approach is the fact that I have kept many of these away from the public glare.

When you assist one, you will like to keep it to yourself.

Through silent philanthropy, I have been able to provide succour to many homes, businesses and organisations. When I clocked 60 last year, I indicated that I would like to devote the better part of the rest of my life to supporting educational causes. For instance, in Ijeshaland, we have lined up a couple of programmes and projects that will be of tremendous benefit to people in that part of our country. One is in the area of education. The performance of many of our students in secondary schools is not too encouraging. The government alone cannot do everything. We, as stakeholders, must complement the efforts of the government. The Foundation intends to organise extramural classes for students in SS2 and SS3 for English and Mathematics, which are compulsory subjects, as a way of enhancing their performances in WASCCE and NECO. We are going to start that so that they can measure the impact by 2017 results.

Also, we know that the world of today and the world of the future are premised on ICT. We are also putting up the ICT centre where we will be able to train our youths on ICT. The Foundation also has plans for our informal sector. From 1992 to 1996, my firm, Supreme Management Training and Consultancy Services, was the national

consultancy firm engaged by the UNDP to provide capacity building programmes for the informal sector across the country so that they operators of micro businesses, which constitute a large segment of our economy, can manage their businesses in a way to generate more income for the family. With an increased income, they would be able to take care of their educational, health and other social needs of the projects that Yinka Fasuyi Foundation intends to prosecute and sponsor single handedly.

Why do you want to become the Asiwaju of Ijeshaland?

That is a very good question. Asiwaju of Ijeshaland is not a position that one can apply for. His Royal Majesty, the Owaobokun Adimula and the paramount ruler of Ijeshaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, in his wisdom, has nominated me to become the Asiwaju of Ijeshaland and in a similar vein, nominated my wife, Dr (Mrs) Olubisi Fasuyi, as the Yeye Asiwaju of Ijesahland.

The position of the Asiwaju of Ijeshaland is for service. It is like what others will call the lead servant. Any attempt to see it beyond that will create a serious misconception for you the beneficiary and for those you will be serving. This position, the way I see it, is to support our Kabiyesi in galvanizing and mobilising all Ijesha sons and daughters and well wishers of Ijeshas to identify with us in prosecuting all our identified developmental agenda that will continually promote the cause of Ijeshaland.

The Kabiyesi, I believe, recognises my capacity to complement his effort at drawing Ijeshas from all the various communities that constitute Ijeshaland to unite, to collectively identify our needs; to champion the actualisation of any course of development that we believe in. In the past, there was this misconception that the government could do everything. Today, we know that the way individual gets broke, government can also be broke. The way the individual manages his limited resources, government also manages. So, we know that we have to get ourselves together to get things done for us.

One of the key virtues of Ijeshas anywhere you find them is that they are very enterprising, very industrious and rationally ambitious. These are the stuffs we are made of.

Name any profession, you find Ijeshas at the top. These attributes that are God-endowed, how do we galvanize them and mobilise our people? This is what the office of the Asiwaju represents, in supporting and assisting the Kabiyesi, who is the head of Ijeshaland, in getting that aspiration fulfilled.

35 feature

22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

When okrika bras and pants become toast of buyers

In the past, wearing fairly used clothes was viewed with disdain, but today quite a high percentage of Nigerians go for them.

Surprisingly, Nigerians do not only shop for used clothes but for second hand underwear regardless of the touted health implications.

TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE spoke with dealers and buyers of this used underwear.

T

HE scene was a shopping centre.

The buildings were made of rows of shops and these were mostly boutiques.

On display in these shops were fashion items for both male and female and these were trending on the fashion scene. Among these were clothes, shoes, bags, hats, belts and jewelry.

In some other shops were underwear like bras, pants, underskirts, girdles, singlets and boxers.

Few shops had cosmetics, body creams and perfumes displayed on their shelves.

Despite this beautiful display in this complex, the place looked deserted as shops owners and salesgirls waited endlessly for customers to come.

Surprisingly, few meters away from this shopping centre, the reverse was the case.

The environment was alive and noisy. Business was obviously at its highest peak.

Clothes were either hung on hangers or heaped on the floor while buyers bent down, picked and made their choices among the lot. Some even tried on the clothes to check if they had perfect fitting.

This was the arena where secondhand clothes and other fashion items for both sexes were sold.

Unlike in the past when wearing of fairly used clothes was scorned at by Nigerians and the act given derogatory names, today, selling these second hand materials referred to as ‘okrika’, ‘bend down attire’, ‘come and select’, ‘gbanjo’ and ’tokunbo’ is no doubt a lucrative business which has definitely come to stay.

Clement Okafor, who has been into okrika business for more than a decade shed light on it while speaking to Saturday Tribune.

“I have been selling secondhand clothes for more than 10 years. In the past, the stuffs were popularly called okrika clothes and over the years, we now have stable customers who leave money with us to get them nice stuffs whenever we have new stock. We know their taste and sizes and so put theirs aside first before we sell to others.”

Describing their customers, Egochwuku Anozie, the women leader of secondhand clothes sellers at Yaba market in Lagos said,” In the past, people were shy to patronise us. They didn’t want to be seen or caught buying fairly-used clothes, but now caution has been thrown into the air. Today, our customers are made of the low class, middle class and working class, and these obviously are both the learned and uneducated. Infact, we have more of the learned-university and polytechnic students, graduates, sophisticated ladies and polished men as customers. We enjoy dealing more with these because they don’t give us much wahala in terms of money.”

She went on, “Our goods are in grades. You won’t believe that some women running boutiques buy first class grades clothes from us.

These are sometimes never worn, some just

have slight factory probl e m s and are packed with used ones for export.

SO-OKE. YEMI FUN : O “What T O H P n display. boutique nd pants o sed bras a U owners do “I use is to air, iron size 44 and it’s very and if necesscarce. Even if you are lucky to come sary, dry clean these across one, you can be sure it will be expenclothes and mix them with new sive and would not last long. stocks in their shops and display for sale.

“The price can come as high as between “Even the fairly used ones are also in N5,000 and N7,000. And many times grades and these determine how much we within a month or two, the hooks get spoilt, sell them.” the straps become slack and can snap. This “Do you know that even bankers and those can be in the public and can be very embarin the corporate world generally patronise rassing.” us?,” Bridget Okere, who has her stall beside Flipping through a bra and an underskirt, Anozie asked Saturday Tribune. she touched and felt for their quality.

“They buy more of skirts and trousers suits Holding the bra up and lifting the label, while their male counterparts have our men she told Saturday Tribune, “This is a as their customers. good quality, it’s an American product. The “Even these ones have started buying our designer is La Belle.” secondhand bras, pants and boxers. For Saturday Tribune asked what made the these, the issue of class no longer matters, designer’s product distinct from others and what they now seek after is quality,” she she explained, “They are well padded and stay said. soft on the busts. They also hold the breasts Fairly used underwear! The thought of firm and as such when you are dressed up, buying and using okrika clothes, shoes and rather than your busts lying flat on the chest, other fashion accessories which the original they are pointed and this enhances your look. users are not known and their state of health The plastic hold tugged into the lower part of can’t be ascertained makes one uncomfort- the bras also helps achieve this look. But the able. But unsettling is also the fact that the inferior qualities have iron tugged into them underwear which are the closest covering on which is painful. The padding is also hard and the skin of some are fairly used. quite uncomfortable.”

Saturday Tribune sought to know the She added, “I also buy boxers for my sons reasons for the preference of these okrika here. They are durable and cheap.” underwear as she spoke with buyers.

“Fairly used underwears come in beautiful Mrs Temidayo Afuape teaches in a public colours and designs,” Angela Isibor, a student secondary school. She explained her prefer- of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, stated. ence for okrika bras.

“The bras can be worn under ‘see-through’ “Those of us who are busty find it difficult tops or dresses which makes you look sexy getting our sizes among the new ones made and appealing especially at occasions like here or those brought from Dubai, she said. dinner or night parties.

“I sell secondhand underwears on campus,” she went on. I buy my stuff here, and since they are cheap, of good quality and durable, I have never recorded a loss so far in the business.

Obinna Oriaku while speaking to Saturday Tribune said, “I sell soft drinks and bottled water at Yaba motor park and in order to move easily especially when running after moving vehicles to sell the items, I go in boxers or shorts. I can only afford cheap clothes with the meager income I make and these are tokunbo stuff. I buy my boxers and shorts for not more than N250. Before now, the most expensive was N200, depending on the quality.”

Saturday Tribune also sought the views of Mrs Shola Giwa, a dealer of fairly used underwears, at TundeOginni market, Ibadan

They are well padded and stay soft on the busts. They also hold the breasts firm and as such when you are dressed up, rather than your busts lying flat on the chest, they are pointed and this enhances your look.

on the business.

“Despite the low prices of these second hand undies, patronage has dropped due to the downturn of the nation’s economy,” Giwa complained. ”The prices of our undies vary, their grades determine their prices. For pants, singlets and underskirts, we have those as low as N200 and the highest, N350. And you can be sure of using them for years. For bras and girdles, the cheapest is N400 for small sizes and between N600 and N1,500 for big sizes. We have up to size 50 under these,” she explained. ”Those which fall under grade one are bought mainly by the high class ladies and men. When our goods arrive, we sort them out and take the best to this class of people most times in their homes. They readily pay us and even give us ‘dash’.”

Saturday Tribune while speaking to Isibor asked if she was not mindful of the health implications of using these products and she answered, ”There’s no big deal about it as far as I wash them before use.”

Mrs Afuape on her part said that, “To play safe, I soak the underwear in hot water for nearly a day and add disinfectant. After washing, I dry in the sun. If necessary, I iron them before use. With these steps, I kill the germs and fungus which might be there.”

Dr (Mrs) Oluremi Smith, a gyneacologist at the Maitama District Hospital, Abuja, while speaking with Saturday Tribune on the health implications of wearing secondhand underwear stated that, “Wearing fairly used undies can pose a threat to the health.”

According to her, “Anyone using these is exposed to diseases like Hepatitis B, C and D which can be transmitted through the fluid-blood and sweat of infected persons. These are caused by yeast infection which is an irritation caused by fungus in the virgina.”

“If the first users of these items are infected with these, those who buy them could contract them if necessary precaution is not taken,” she explained.

“One can be a prey to diverse skin diseases, disorders and growth, although soaking the used items in hot water and disinfectant can reduce the risk,” stated Dr David Amuwa of Red Cross Hospital, Ibadan.

“Underwear contains micro organisms. The female genital is warm and contain liquids which aid the growth of infectious diseases like candidiasis which can resuscitate in the female genital,” he said.

36

news

22 October, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Omotayo Oluwakemi now MRS OLATUNJI COMFORT OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE CHANGEOF OFNAME NAME

I, formerly Miss Agbane Enechojo Justina now MRS FALOHUN ENECHOJO JUSTINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

From left, Chief Victor Oye, National Chairman, APGA; Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka and another chieftain of the party during a visit to Ogirisi Igbo Spiritual Centre, Oba, Anambra State, on Friday.

FCT Chief Judge transfers Dasuki’s cases to Justice Baba-Yusuf saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

T

HE Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, has streamlined the two cases involving former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and others at two different courts and transferred both to Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf.

Dasuki and four others, Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser; Aminu Babakusa, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N13,570,000,000 before Justice Baba-Yusuf, sitting at FCT High Court Court 4, Maitama, Abuja.

EFCC is prosecuting the former NSA and four others: Bashir Yuguda, a former Minister of State for Finance; Attahiru Bafarawa, a

former governor of Sokoto State; his son, Sagir and their firm, Dalhatu Investment, for N13 billion fraud before Justice Peter Afem of FCT High Court 24.

Speaking with journalists on Friday at the court premises, the lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) stated that all lawyers in the case were tired of the undue delay in the cases, hence they agreed that the two cases should be transferred to the same judge.

Jacobs confirmed that the Chief Judge had transferred the case before Justice Afem to the court of Justice BabaYusuf.

The senior advocate had,

at the last sitting on October 5, moved an application for the consolidation of the cases before the two judges.

Asked if the cases would be consolidated now that they were before one judge, Jacobs said, “the issue of consolidation will not arise again. Once the two cases are before the same judge, the issue of consolidation will not arise.”

He informed that the cases would now be tried separately before Justice Baba-Yusuf.

When the case before Justice Baba-Yusuf was called during the court sitting, prosecution counsel H.O. Ato Lager informed the court that the counsels met

‘Implementation of 2017 budget Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja THE Presidency, on Friday, said that the 2017 appropriation bill would be submitted to the National Assembly on time in order to effect its early implementation.

The Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, stated that the process had started with the

laying of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy paper at the National Assembly.

Enang while addressing newsmen said, “For the 2017 budget, you will agree that the process starts with the laying of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper. Mr. President has submitted that to the National Assembly –Senate

Anambra: APGA National Chairman pleads for forgiveness Suzy Oruya - Onitsha THE embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Oye, has pleaded with party members of the party, the National Working Committee and BOT to forgive his misgivings for the interest of the Igbo party.

Oye, who made the plea on Friday at the Ogirisi Igbo Spiritual Centre, Rojenny Games Village, Oba, Anambra State, noted that peace, love, mutual forgiveness and stability alone could salvage APGA even as

with Justice Afem who confirmed to them that the case before him had been transferred to Court 4.

In view of this, the prosecution counsel then requested for an adjournment of the two cases for trial or further directive.

The defence counsels aligned themselves with the request of the prosecution for an adjournment.

Ruling on the request, the presiding judge, Justice Baba-Yusuf stated that the implication of the transfer of the case before Justice Afem to his court was that the prosecution should notify the defendants in that case of their re-arraignment before him.

the party plans to retain its dominance and leadership in the state and beyond.

The APGA boss, who visited Oba for a scheduled meeting with Ogirisi Igbo and some party stakeholders, said: “What we need in APGA is brotherly love, not conflicts. Those who know me very well will attest that I am born to serve; not to rule, suppress or dominate others. This is why I have not made attempts to run for any elective position for the past 35 years that I have been in active politics.

“I have the humility to serve; I do not live false life.

In APGA, we cannot make meaningful progress if we fail to forgive ourselves of our individual shortcomings.

“What joins me and you and others who are party members is our dear party, APGA. I wish to extend an olive branch to all APGA members, including BoT members, as well as members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and all supporters of our dear party. In whatever way that I have offended, please, forgive; so that together, we can build a formidable APGA.”

and House of Representatives – and they are considering it.”

On the budget estimates, he disclosed that “what is approved by the National Assembly-the parameters such as the exchange rate, oil price benchmark, volume of the budget, borrowing plan and other parameters that are contained therein that may be approved or as may be approved by the National Assembly will be used in concluding the budget estimates.”

While assuring that the implementation of the 2016 budget is in progress, Enang added that the 2017 budget will be presented very early so that its implementation can start by 1st of January, 2017.

“That is the expectation of the Executive and that is what Mr. President, the Vice President and the ministers are working towards.

Therefore, I want us to relax and be assured that all will be done within time.

Definitely, we are working together with the legislature,” he said.

Saturday Tribune PROBATE PUBLIC NOTICE WE, MR JELILI BAKARE and MR ISMAILA ISHOLA BAKARE C/O their solicitor N. OLALEKAN SANUSI ESq. of N. Olalekan Sanusi & Co., 20, Owode Street, Igbona Area, Osogbo, Osun State of Nigeria, have applied to the Probate Registry of the Customary Court of Appeal for letters of Administration to administer the Estate of LATE BUSARI BAKARE AKANJI of No 3, Abaku Street, Owope, Osogbo, Osun State who died intestate on the 15th day of November, 2015.

Any objection to the application is to be forwarded to the Probate Registry of customary court of Appeal within 14days of this notice.

37

22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

38

22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

39

tribunesport

22 October, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Ndidi, Olanrewaju score in Europa League

W

ILFRED Ndidi has shot Belgian club Genk to s ethe r s top \ p of u bGroup lic\ F I Dof\ the ST UEFA Europa League after his goal ensured a 2-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao and compatriot Olanrwaju Kayode was the hero of his Austrian club at Roma tonight.

Genk are now top the standings on six points from three matches, two points ahead of secondplaced Sassuolo.

The Nigeria international’s wonderful volley from the edge of the box after 83 minutes doubled his team’s lead.

It was Ndidi’s first goal in the Europa League.

Another former Nigeria Flying Eagle, Olanrewaju Kayode, was also on target for Austria Wien in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Roma.

Kayode ensured a point for his Austrian club with

the all-important equaliser Fenerbache, who encounon 84 minutes after he also tered an emergency landing assisted in his team’s open- on their way to England, fell ing goal.

4-1 at Manchester United.

(Promo) PAGE 1

Emmanuel Emenike assisted for Fenerbache’s consolation goal by Robin van Persie in the 83rd minute.

Korea-DPR wins FIFA U-17 Women W/Cup KOREA DPR have won the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for a second time, edging out Japan 5-4 on penalties after an enthralling goalless draw in Amman.

Rio Kanekatsu was the only player of the ten to

miss, blasting her spot kick high and wide, which allowed Kim Pom-Ui to slot home the winner and regain a trophy the North Koreans first won eight years ago in New Zealand.

The high-energy, highquality football on show

provided a fantastic advert for the tournament and for women’s football. The pace was frenetic from the word go, with openings at either end and Japan in particular producing superb, flowing moves that thrilled the noisy crowd.

Sports, key to economic development—OGD As SWAN announces him national patron

By Nurudeen Alimi

FORMER governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has described sports as a veritable tool for economic development, just as he called on Nigerians who have the financial wherewithal to invest in sports.

Daniel, made the remarks

on Friday in Sagamu, while playing host to members of the National Executive Committee of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) who were at his residence to pay him a courtesy visit.

He noted that sports can create employment, empowerment and above all,

develop the society economically.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on wellmeaning Nigerians who have the financial muscle, people like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr Mike Adenuga and host of others to try as much as possible to invest in sports.

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“I heard in the news sometime ago that Alhaji Aliko Dangote wants to buy Arsenal Football Club. Well, he is a businessman, He must have seen the potential of making profit by acquiring the club but I want him to look inwards and consider having a Dangote Football Club in Nigeria. By doing this, there will be employment for some set of people and those depending on them for their daily needs will also benefit indirectly.

“It is also funny when I hear people say that sports does not bring any kind of profit when invested in. I remember when we hosted the Gateway Games in 2006, I think we recorded about N92 million profit after the competition.

“Therefore, it is important to note here that sports as much as I know is one of the

most profitable ventures.

Aside the economic value attached to sports, It also reduces social vices in the society because whenever any sporting event is taking place, the environment becomes friendly and devoid of any form of criminality,” he said.

In his address, SWAN president, Honour Sirawoo, stated that Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s tremendous achievements in the sports sector while in office prompted the visit of the NEC of the association to him.

“We are here today to let you know that all you did to develop sports in Ogun State in Nigeria at large when you were serving as governor did not go unnoticed.

“As a result of this, Your Excellency, I want to, by the power conferred on me and as stipulated by the SWAN statutes and also with the support of my fellow exco members, announce you as our national patron”.

Lagos Gov’s Tennis Cup:

Lopez-Perez, Majeric target doubles

By Ganiyu Salman SPAIN’S Enrique LopezPerez and Tadeja Majeric of Slovakia go for the doubles as the second leg (Futures 6) of the 16th edition of the Lagos Governor’s Tennis Cup finals hold today at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

Lopez-Perez and Majeric were outstanding in the first leg (Futures 5), claiming the top prizes of both the men’s and women’s singles and this weekend, the stage is set and the die is cast for the two players to win the competition back to back within two weeks.

In their respective semi finals on Friday, LopezPerez fought hard to beat Tunisian Moez Echargui in a game that ended 6-1,

3-6, 6-0, to set up a final clash with Calvin Hemery of France, who defeated compatriot Gianni Mina in straight set of 6-1, 6-4.

On the other hand, Majeric has an easy ride over Julia Terziyska from Bulgaria in another straight set of 6-4, 6-2 to set up final battle against her opponent in last weekend’s final, Conny Perrin of Switzerland, who upset number one seed in the women’s category, Valentini Grammatikopoulou from Greece in a game that ended 6-3, 6-1.

To Lopez-Perez, coming to Nigeria after a long injury lay-off and winning Futures 5 and on the verge of winning Futures 6 is a big achievement in 2016, adding that he would give today’s final match his all.

Saturday, October 15, 2016 vs Tottenham 12:30pm Leicester City vs B’rough 3:00pm Swansea City vs Everton 3:00pm West Ham vs Stoke City 3:00pm Liverpool

vs C/ Palace 3:00pm vs Watford 3:00pm vs Sunderland 3:00pm vs West Brom 5:30pm

Man City

vs

vs Man Utd 4:00pm

FIXTURES

Bournemouth Arsenal Burnley Hull City

N150

SATURDAY, 22 OCTOBER, 2016

NO 1,174

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Southampton 1:30pm Chelsea

Mourinho never spoke to me at Chelsea —Moses

By Dipo Ogunsola

N

IGERIAN international, Victor Moses, says he did not enjoy life at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho because the Portuguese handler picked his own favourites.

Moses is enjoying his game again thanks to new manager, Antonio Conte, who has installed the player’s talent in a novel 3-4-3 formation.

Tomorrow, Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time as an opponent in the dugout and Moses will be eager to show him he was wrong not to have given him a look-in.

Following a protracted transfer discussions, Moses finally left Wigan Athletic and joined Chelsea under interim boss Rafa Benitez in 2012 but his joy was as shortlived as the Spaniard’s tenure. Under Benitez Moses made 32 appearances between November 2012 and May 2013 and scored seven goals.

Returning Mourinho did not believe in Moses, sending the player on loan in spite of remarkable pre-

Balogun

Balogun recovers from injury LEON Balogun has made a successful return from injury for German club, FSV Mainz.

The defender sustained an injury on September 24 during his club’s Bundesliga game against Bayer Leverkusen at the OPEL ARENA. He missed out on the club’s next four matches against Qabala, Wolfsburg, Rot-Weiß Hadamar and Darmstadt 98.

Balogun, a regular face in the Super Eagles, was also absent as Nigeria beat Zambia 2-1 in Ndola in their opening group game of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The 28-year-old was, however, listed in the Mainz match day squad by head coach, Martin Schmidt in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Belgian club, Anderlecht, in the UEFA Europa League.

Balogun was an unused substitute in the game decided in front of 21,317 fans at the OPEL ARENA. The big Nigerian defender has been capped four times at senior level by his country.

seasons.

“He never spoke to me,” Moses told ESPN when asked if Mourinho had explained the decision to send him on loan. “I thought in my head, ‘He’s got his own players already’.

“I think we chatted a couple of times on the phone -- he asked if I was alright at Liverpool [where Moses spent the 2013-14 season on loan], but that was it.”

Before arriving at Chelsea, Conte said he had watched Moses on three occasions in 2015 and wondered what his problem was at Chelsea. He told the club hierarchy he wanted to assess Moses first-hand and thereafter fell in love with his style.

“The manager came to me and said, ‘I feel that you’re working hard, I really enjoy watching you play and I don’t want you to go out on loan’,” Moses added.

“When he said that to me I was really pleased. To be honest, I just want to go out there, enjoy my football and work hard for him. He’s played the game before, he understands it and he understands how players feel.”

Nigeria vs Algeria latest: Player- agents mount pressure on Rohr Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

Rohr

AS the Super Eagles get ready for their match against the Fennecs of Algeria in the 2018 World Cup qualifying series on November 12, the team’s Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, is being pressurised to include some players on the list of invitees for the remaining qualifiers.

Saturday Tribunesport gathered in Abuja that the pressure on the Franco-German is coming largely from some player-agents who want their players to be invited to the senior national team.

The agents, it was gathered, have been seeking audience with the technical adviser with a view to each showing him videos of the exploits of their players overseas or impress it on him on the need to invite certain players for the Eagles’ next games.

A source told Saturday Tribunesport that one of such agents openly boasted that his player, who is plying his trade in a central European country and is currently doing well in the country’s league, would be invited for the Algeria encounter.

“Many player-agents are mounting pressure on

Rohr to invite their players for the Super Eagles’ remaining matches in the World Cup qualifying round. Some have been making moves to speak with the coach or those close to him with a view to convincing him to invite certain players.

“One of such agents recently openly boasted that he has completed all ground work to get a player [name withheld] invited for the match against Algeria next month. He even said he had shown Rohr the videos of the said player’s performance for his foreign club,” the source told Tribunesport.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 22/10/2016.