22nd November 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,638 TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

2019: Nigerian masses will back Buhari —Presidency Leon Usigbe -Abuja

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HE Presidency, on Monday, said contrary to the claim made by Buba Galadima, a former close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, the president would not be abandoned by Nigerians in 2019.

A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, however, did not disclose whether the president would be contesting the 2019 election or not.

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20 parties push for postponement —P30

•Mimiko visits Buhari again, says 'I'm not joining APC' •Absence of Tinubu, others at Ondo rally immaterial —Lalong •Youths protest in Akure as Jegede awaits Supreme Court ruling today Military releases fresh list of 55 wanted Boko Haram terrorists —P3

Politics, external influence will not divide us —P33 —S/West govs

We will reject proposals to punish forex owners —Senate —P2

Governors Akinwumi Ambode, Lagos; Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun; Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo; Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti and Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, during the South-West Governors' Economic Forum, held at the Oyo State Governor's Office, Ibadan, on Monday. Photo: Oyo State Governor's Office.

Recession worsens as GDP Justice Ngwuta arraigned money laundering, shrinks by 2.24% in Q3 —P11 for granted N100m bail —P2

Reps' hearing on Ogoni killings: —P36 Why I won't attend—Abe

2 news Court grants Justice Ngwuta N100m bail

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Pleaded not guilty to 16-count charge against him Sunday Ejike -Abuja

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USTICE John Tsoho of the Federal High court sitting in Abuja on Monday, granted a N100 million bail to a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, on self recognition.

The embattled Supreme Court Justice was, on Monday, arraigned by the Federal Government on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering and other financial crimes.

Justice Ngwuta however pleaded not guilty to all the 16-count charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

After taking his plea, his counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, moved an application for Ngwuta’s bail on self recognition or in a very liberal terms in view of his status as a Justice of the apex court in the land.

Agabi told the court that Ngwuta, who had been on administrative bail, had not done anything to scuttle the course of justice in the matter, saying the defendant was presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court.

He cited Sections 32, 158 and 152 of the ACJA, and Section 35 (4) of the Constitution, which provides that the onus was not on the defendant to show that he was entitled to bail and added that the court’s discretion must prevail at the end of the day.

He told the court that the defendant, who is anxious to clear himself of the charges against him would be available for his trial if granted bail and pleaded with the court not to impose stringent bail conditions on the defendant so as not to defeat the purpose of the bail, but should rather grant him an affordable bail.

“The charges are grave and we take them serious; my client will want to speedily prove his innocence,” he told the court.

In opposition to the application for bail, the prosecution counsel, Mr Charles Adeogun-Philips, briefed by the Federal Government through its National Prosecution Coordination Committee (NPCC) to prosecute the Supreme Court justice, asked the court to turn down the request for bail.

He raised two grounds for raising objection to the bail application, one of which was that the defendant would interfere with potential prosecution witnesses, as well as the evidence which the prosecution intended to tender.

“There is the likelihood of the defendant concealing or destroying the evidence,” he told the court and citing Section 162 of ACJA, the prosecution told the court that

there must be consequences for so many wrong doings and the impunity of the past years.

He told the court that shortly after the defendant was granted bail by the Department of State Services (DSS), he called his house in Abakaliki, and directed some people to move out of the house, three exotic cars, and the sum of N27 million stashed in three bags, adding that the DSS, intercepted the three vehicles.

He said the DSS, in their investigation, found out that the defendant had four international passports, two of which were diplomatic and

two others standard Nigerian Passports.

“Contrary to the law, the defendant has been using the four passports concurrently.

If the court is inclined to grant him bail, then it must be with the most stringent conditions. “ We vehemently oppose the application for the bail of the defendant on self recognition, I will not concede to granting any body with multiple identity bail on self recognition,” he said.

Delivering ruling on the bail application, Justice Tsoho disagreed with the claim by the prosecution counsel that Justice Ngwuta would tamper

with investigation.

The judge held that the DSS, having deposed to an affidavit that it had completed investigation in the matter, there was no basis for the prosecution to express any fear that the defendant would interfere with the witnesses or evidence.

Justice Tsoho held that although, the prosecution cited several cases on behaviour of the defendant during investigation, the court was, however, not told that the administrative bail earlier granted the defendant by the DSS was revoked and, as such, there was no ground

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on corruption, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI.

before the court to indicate that the defendant would jump bail, if granted.

The trial, Judge said the prosecution was not consistent in its numerous claims that the defendant would evade trial, adding that the same prosecution had established that all the travelling documents of the defendant had been seized from him and that they had been keeping eagle eye on his movement.

The judge held that though the prosecution, in his claims, never told the court or placed any evidence before the court that the defendant attempted to escape out of the country when he was on administrative bail, the prosecution could not reasonably express fear that the defendant would escape.

“The security agencies should be intense enough to scuttle any move of escape by the defendant. It is my humble view that it will defeat the purpose of justice to deny defendant bail,” the judge held.

It was alleged in count 16 that Ngwuta transferred N505 million “denominated in naira and US dollars” to a building contractor, Nwamba Linus Chukwuebuka, between January and May 2016.

The N505 million was alleged to be part of proceeds of Ngwuta’s “unlawful” activities.

He was also accused of instructing a relative to remove some exotic cars from his house in Ebonyi, while he was under investigation in violation of the provisions of Section 18(1)(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act. He was also accused of retaining huge sums of money in local and foreign currencies which were alleged to be proceeds of his unlawful act contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering Act. The prosecution also accused Ngwuta of concealing the origin of sums of the money which were said to have been found at his home during the raid on his house by the operatives of the DSS between October 7 and 8, 2016.

Apart from the money laundering charges, Ngwuta was accused of passport offences in counts eight to 14 of the amended charges.

He was accused of being in possession of two valid Diplomatic Passports and another two valid standard Nigerian passports, when his house was raided by DSS operatives on October 8, 2016.

He also allegedly submitted multiple applications, made false information of loss of the passports and of his with intention to obtain multiple passports in violation of various provisions of the Immigration Act 2015.

We will reject proposals to punish forex owners —Senate •Planned jail for forex holders: We are not aware —CBN •Says no plans to sieze dom accounts Ayodele Adesanmi and Sanya Adejokun -Abuja THE Senate, on Monday, expressed surprise at a recommendation by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC) for a review of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Act, in order to empower the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to jail people for up to two years or fine them for 20 per cent of the amount of the foreign currency held in their possession for more than 30 days.

The Senate, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated that with its focus on boosting investors’ confidence in the nation’s economy, such move, as proposed by the commission, that would prevent investors from making free entry and exit from the market would be outrightly rejected by its members.

According to him, “The measure is disruptive and counter productive, threatening to undermine many of the reform efforts already underway in the legislature and by government ministries intended to boost investors’ confidence.

“The Senate will never pass such a punitive and regres-

sive proposal. In the overall, some of the commission’s recommendations have many sound attributes and could help Nigeria’s investment climate. We believe the CBN should have the authority to regulate the forex market and

determine the exchange rate policy as already enshrined in its enabling Act. “A market-oriented exchange rate policy is the best recipe for guiding the operations of the foreign exchange market. This will ensure the

supremacy of market mechanisms in efficiently allocating the scarce forex resources,” the Senate stated.

It added: “We will continue to work with the executive to halt the worsening recession and return to economic

New Telegraph award for Obiano holds Nov 30 ALL is now set for the presentation of the Outstanding Governor of the Year Award by New Telegraph Newspapers to Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano.

The event, billed for Civic Centre, Lagos, will hold on November 30.

It is expected to be graced by top government officials, political bigwigs, captains of industry and commerce, bank chiefs and prominent indigenes of Anambra State in and out of Lagos.

Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Mrs Funke Egbemode, while informing the governor of his choice, said the decision was a product of intensive debate among members of the company’s board and management. She stated that the decision was not taken impulsively.

According to her, New Telegraph was impressed by the

efforts of the governor to rewrite the history of the state, especially in the areas of security, infrastructure and business innovations.

She said unlike other states where governors were considering hiking taxes and just mulling diversification, Obiano had approved rebate on taxes to small businesses and artisans, while export of vegetables had commenced in earnest.

Egbemode said: “Governance is not rock science.

It is not about theories that date all the way back to Socrates and Aristotle. It is about a leader knowing why he wants to lead, what he wants to do when he gets into leadership position and going right ahead to do those things.

“Good governance is about touching the people and making lives better. A good governor is one who knows all of the above. Chief Willie

Obiano is a good governor.

“And that is why New Telegraph is here, to admit and acknowledge a good governor and good governance in Anambra State.”

She added that the award presentation was to encourage good governance and inspire others to emulate the governor.

Obiano, who thanked the company’s management for finding him worthy of the award, describing it as a confirmation of the point that the efforts at changing the people’s lives for good in the state was being noticed by others.

He said within the last two years and seven months that he had assumed the leadership of the state, he had devoted more time and resources to “cooking good soup for the entire people of Anambra State without any form of discrimination or special privilege accorded to anyone.”

growth.”

The proposed changes are said to be intended to help control capital flows and prevent foreign exchange from being taken out of the country. Analysis of the proposed rule changes, that were posted on the commission’s website, states that “the amendments are necessary for effective monitoring and control, and to ensure probity in foreign-exchange transactions in Nigeria.”

Last September, the Senate spearheaded an economic agenda to pass key reform legislations to promote economic growth through greater public sector participation, boost investors’ confidence and create jobs.

Also in June, the CBN was applauded for loosening its control over exchange rate policy in a bid to encourage investors to return to Nigeria and prevent capital flight.

Hopes were high after the Nigerian government finally allowed the naira to float, as was recommended by domestic and international investment advisors. Currently, however, the markets do not reflect a loosening of CBN’s control over the forex market, leading to the emergence of multiple exchange rates.

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3 news

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 10 tips to avoid accidents in your home

WHEN you think of injury, you think of harm that occurs somewhere other than your own home, but it may surprise you to learn that nearly 45 per cent of unintentional injury deaths happen in or around the individual’s home. This is a scary and sobering thought. We all want our homes to be a safe place for our family, loved ones, and ourselves.

The best way to prevent accidents or injuries in the home is to make sure you have taken necessary safety precautions.

There are very simple fixes that you can make in your home to be sure that you make your best attempt at preventing home injuries. Here are 10 ways you can make your home safer for you and your loved ones.

1. Clean up spills immediately When there is a spill of liquids, grease, or anything else you could slip on, clean it up as soon as possible to avoid falls.

2. Secure rugs To prevent rugs from moving around and causing slips, secure them with nonskid pads or purchase rugs with slipresistant backings. Another alternative is to use doublesided carpet tape to keep the rug in its place.

3. Beware of where you put hot liquids If you have young children in the house, always be weary

We will reject proposals to punish forex owners —Senate Continued from pg2

Meanwhile, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied any involvement in some rumoured plans to amend the Foreign Exchange Act and send Nigerians holding foreign currencies beyond 30 days to jail.

This clarification came on Monday, following reported plans to amend the ForeignExchange Act to provide for the imprisonment of anyone who holds foreign currencies, particularly the United States dollars, for more than 30 days.

“We have nothing to do with such legislation,” said Isaac Okorafor, Acting Director, Corporate Communications, who stressed that the CBN, in line with its mandate, was committed to safeguarding the international value of the country’s legal tender currency.

He, however, denied knowledge of the proposed clause recommending a jail term for as long as two years or a fine of 20 per cent of the amount for any holder of foreign exchange in cash.

“To the best of my knowledge, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has not proposed any bill seeking to arrest and jail persons holding foreign exchange for more than 30 days,” Okorafor was quoted as saying.

He also denied that the CBN was planning to confiscate funds in domiciliary accounts of individuals, saying any such claim was false.

It will be recalled that media report broke suggesting that the Federal Government and the CBN are considering imprisoning anyone who holds foreign currencies, particularly the United States dollars, for more than 30 days as a way of stemming the volatility in the exchange rate and strengthen the international value of the Naira.

of where you put that cup of hot coffee. Refrain from placing hot liquids on a table that has a runner or table cloth hanging over—the child may pull on the fabric causing the liquid to spill on them. Also do not leave hot liquids in a place where children can reach it.

4. Install grab bars in the shower For anyone who is unsteady on their feet such as an elderly family member, a shower can be a very dangerous place.

Installing grab bars could help prevent disaster should they slip.

5. Check your hot water heater Children and the elderly are more susceptible to burns from hot water. Make sure your hot water heater has the water at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to best avoid unintentional burns.

6. Keep electronics away from water This seems to go without saying yet accidents involving electronics and water still happen every year. Do not keep electronics near water or in a place where they could fall in or a child could pull them in.

7. Check your basement and garage

These areas of the home are often used for storage, with that comes the risk of tripping over things. Check that these areas have a clear path to walk in and make sure boxes are stacked securely so that nothing falls on anyone.

8. Keep guards on all tools and store out of reach Power tools come with safety covers for a reason. Be sure to keep all safety covers on the tools. Also, store the tools out of the reach of children or in a locked tool chest.

9. Stair safety Stairs can be the cause of accidents for many different reasons. To best avoid falls make sure your handrail runs the full length of the staircase, carpets are secure, and do not put area rugs or mats at the base or top of the stairs.

Also if you paint basement stairs it will be beneficial to add some sand to the paint to give the stairs more traction. For outside steps that are not well lit, paint the edges white so they can be seen in the dark.

10. Keep cleaning products out of reach All cleaning products should be stored in a place where kids and pets cannot get to them. Put them in a cabinet with child-proof locks or better yet store them in a high cabinet.

Courtesy: http://www.myinjuryattorney.com

Military declares another 55 Boko Haram terrorists wanted

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HE military, on Monday, in Maiduguri, unveiled the photographs of another 55 Boko Haram terrorists it had declared wanted, bringing the number of wanted terrorists so far to 257.

It had declared 202 insurgents wanted in two batches in 2015.

Unveiling the photographs at the headquarters of the Theatre Command, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, called on Nigerians to join in the search for the terrorists.

Olonisakin said counter insurgency was a field operation which required adequate awareness by the stakeholders.

“With this launch of additional photographs of wanted Boko Haram terrorists, it is hoped that all members of the public and other peace loving citizen will provide useful information that will aid in riding the society of these terrorists and criminal elements,’’ he said.

Earlier in a remark, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, noted that many of the 202 terrorists earlier declared wanted had either been killed or arrested during operations.

“We have earlier in the course of our campaigns against the insurgents from late 2015 published two editions, comprising 202 individuals that have been identified, key members of the Boko Haram insurgents.

“In the course of our counter insurgency operations, quite a significant number of these wanted terrorists have either been killed or arrested.

“Those arrested have been

providing useful information that has assisted the Nigerian army to undertake successful operations,’’ he said.

Buratai also called on Nigerians and the media with useful information about the suspects to provide it, saying that such information would be treated with “utmost confidentiality’’.

“No item of information

is too little or should be ignored,’’ he said.

He said the Nigerian Army had achieved significant progress in the fight against the terrorists by degrading their combat power, as well as decimating their ranks.

The army chief restated that 60 per cent of the remnants of the terrorists were

not Nigerians and appealed to the citizens to contribute to the efforts to flush them out of the country.

“It is very clear that the Boko Haram terrorists have been defeated.

“To continue to have any doubt in this regard or to continue to re-echo or insinuate that these terrorists have not been defeated is

only a way of encouraging these terrorists,’’ Buratai said.

He assured the people of Kaito, Damasak, Gashiga and, indeed, Mallam Fatori, in Northern Borno, that the roads leading to their communities would soon be re-opened to enable them to return before the end of 2016.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin (left) and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai (right), at the unveiling of the third list of most wanted Boko Haram terrorists, in Maiduguri, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN.

Hirse’s abduction was like a scene in a horror movie —Eye witness AN eye-witness to the kidnap of Mr Bagudu Hirse has said the abduction of the former Foreign Affairs minister in Kaduna, on Sunday, was “like a scene in a horror movie.”

The eye-witness, Mr Samuel Pukat, an Abujabased businessman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, on Monday, that he was with Hirse when the gunmen pounced on him.

“We were in Kaduna and decided to pay a condolence visit to Alhaji Mamman Daura, over the death of the former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki.

“Mamman’s wife is from the late Dasuki’s family, so we decided to show our concern, and arrived Daura’s house around 9.00 a.m.”

He said they were first told that Daura had travelled and had made to leave after signing the condolence register.

“But just as we were moving to the car, a younger brother to Mamman came out and told us to wait for him (Mamman) to come.

“About the same time, two vehicles, on fast speed, drove into the compound and some gunmen in masks jumped out and headed directly to Hirse.

“My feeling is that they mistook him (Hirse) for Mamman because both seem to have the same stature and wear their caps the same way,” he said.

The eye-witness said the men, after instilling fear in everyone in sight, grabbed Hirse by his big gown and dragged him to one of the cars, pushed him in, and drove off in high speed.

“Everyone was terrified; we were all fear-stricken and by the time we recovered, Hirse was gone and we were left dumbfounded,” he said.

He said the Chief of Staff

to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Abba Kyari, later emerged and quickly called for more security cover around the house.

Pukat also confirmed that the abductors had reached out to Hirse’s family members.

“The first reached me; it was Hirse’s voice that was on the line before the abductors took over,” he said.

Pukat, however, refused to give details of the discussions with the abductors.

He said the family had embarked on prayers for the safe and quick release of the former minister.

4 news 2019: Nigerian masses will back Buhari —Presidency

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Continued from front page

It dismissed suggestions that the masses would desert Buhari in 2019, saying that the assertion was “un-

founded and utterly ridiculous.”

According to the statement, “ordinary Nigerians are the backbone of his mandate and the only rea-

son he ran for the office is to protect them against the rapacious merchants of corruption, who have held Nigeria back for decades.”

The presidency added

that calculation and prediction by the former senior official of the defunct The Buhari Organisation (TBO) and member of the Buhari-led Congress for

Most Nigerian students on scholarship abroad in poorly ranked varsities –TETFund boss Says TETFund has spent N1.7 billion on national research Clement Idoko -Abuja

THE Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, has revealed that most Nigerian students granted scholarships by the Federal Government to study abroad are in poorly ranked universities.

He made this known in Abuja, on Monday, when he received members of

the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education and Services, who are on oversight visit to the agency.

He also disclosed that TETFund had voted over N1.7 billion for the National Research Fund over the years, in order to encourage institutions in the conduct of cutting age research.

Baffa, however, lamented that the researches had

failed to translate into any improvement in the ranking of tertiary institutions in the country.

He said substantial number of the scholarship beneficiaries are “studying at the bottom of the league universities.”

While expressing concerns on the low impact such beneficiaries would make on return to the country, Baffa said TET-

Bello remembers Abubakar Audu, pledges to immortalise him Yinka Oladoyinbo -Lokoja

IN commemoration of the first anniversary of the death of the first civilian governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has pledged to serve the people passionately in order to fulfil the dreams of the late political leader.

The late Audu died on November 22, 2015, after almost winning the gover-

norship election in the state.

Bello, who spoke through his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the late former governor remained the “undying hero of the freedom and progress which the state has witnessed in the past 10 months under the present administration.”

He assured that he would immortalise the late hero by naming institutions after him, “as well as serve the

people of the state with passion, dedication and great patriotism.”

He said the late politician would be remembered for being an “unforgettable governor during an eventful tenure which heralded the beginning of our dear state,” while lauding him for his “visionary leadership, dynamic and pragmatic governance and a resilient spirit to liberate the state from the iron fists of under-development.”

Nigeria’s aviation sector in critical state —Senate Shola Adekola - Lagos

THE Senate on Monday, raised the alarm over the critical state of the country’s aviation sector, calling on all stakeholders including the airlines, agencies, private organisations to come together to rescue it from the hands of those the lawmakers described as cartels bent on destroying the sector.

Making the declaration was the Senate Committee on Aviation, led by its deputy chairman, Ibn Na’Alla, during its visit to the headquarters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Speaking on behalf of the committee, Na’Alla, said activities had reached the low-

est ebb in the sector, warning that if the situation was not urgently tackled it might consume the entire sector.

According to him, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki had expressed concern about the happenings in the sector, stressing that all stakeholders must accept the fact that the industry was dying.

NA’Alla, who listed the challenges facing the sector to include poor communication gadgets, which he said, were archaic and not upgraded for years, also traced the ongoing aviation fuel scarcity to the action of some cartels in the industry, and accused the major oil marketers of causing the ar-

tificial scarcity in the sector.

“We must accept the fact that the industry is in trouble because we have all engaged in self-denial. Nobody is trying to indict anyone, but we have to collectively bring back the industry to the level it should be.

“Inspection of projects have always been going on, but we want to review the entire industry line by line. All the airlines are complaining about the poor communication gadgets that we have. They are not working. The problem has been there for years, but the issue of radio communication has been there for years. In the past, we had money, but now, there is no money in the kitty.”

Buhari to attend Africa-Arab meeting in Malabo Leon Usigbe—Abuja

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will attend the 4th Africa-Arab Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on Wednesday, November 23, 2016.

A statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday, explained that the summit will be attended by Heads of State and Government from Gulf and African countries.

It said it is expected to endorse the Malabo Declaration and Action Working Plan for 2017-2019 to promote trade and economic ties.

The two-year plan seeks to implement priority projects in trade, investment, transportation, communication and energy in Africa, the statement further explained.

It said President Buhari is also expected to hold discussions with Arab leaders,

aimed at reviewing agreements to strengthen partnerships that bolster agriculture and infrastructure development in Nigeria, through long term concessionary loans and technological skills transfer.

It also revealed that Buhari would also explore the opportunity of the summit to seek support for the ongoing fight against Boko Haram and the humanitarian situation in the NorthEast.

Fund was working on a guideline that would henceforth make the choice of top world’s universities mandatory, even as he said the release of grant for international academic conference organised by third parties would no longer be allowed.

Chairman of House committee, Honourable Aminu Suleiman, in his remark, commended TETFund for its various strides in ensuring the massive development in tertiary institutions across the country.

He, however, called for more attention in the area of provision of infrastructure in the 12 new federal universities established by the last administration, saying that facilities in the schools were not up to 30 per cent of what was required.

Progressive Change (CPC) was “utterly confusing and misleading.”

Shehu said the masses were solidly behind Buhari because “he is not stealing their money and their future,” adding that the president’s enormous goodwill remained ever strong because the people were convinced the president was acting in their best interest, despite the temporary unintended consequences of reforms.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is far from isolation. He enjoys a very strategic relationship with ordinary Nigerians. This relationship is as solid as the proverbial rock.

If Buba Galadima thinks that because he has no role and no job in this government that means president is isolated, he is putting himself up to ridicule,” it added.

According to Shehu, Galadima could not speak for the masses as far as their steadfast loyalty to Buhari was concerned.

He acknowledged that Galadima was entitled to advance his own political agenda, but “didn’t have the right to decide for ordinary voters.”

Shehu recalled that Buba Galadima’s disagreement with President Buhari was based on principle, noting that the president was committed to level playing field and would not want anyone to link his name to injustice.

The Presidential aide said Galadima’s disagreement with Buhari started in 2011 when a group within the party, orchestrated an organisational mess by which the CPC embarked on the imposition and substitution of candidates for cash payments at the expense of those duly and democratically elected.

He said Buhari was embarrassed by the incidents and complaints about the imposition and substitution of candidates, adding that he, as a democrat, would not suppress the will of the people to please selfish interests.

“Consequently he dispensed with the service, such as they are, of Buba Galadima; ran and won the 2015 elections without them. Let Buba Galadima go to his constituency, stand for election and see what will happen to him,” Shehu stated.

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Bode George flays APC over governance ChukwumaOkparaocha-Lagos

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chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),in Lagos State, Chief Olabode George, has condemned the way the All Progressives Congress (APC), is running

the country, which he said, falls far behind what an average Nigerian had anticipated, The PDP chieftain said this on the backdrop of what he deemed months of misrule of the ruling party, which he insisted was evident in the ways the party

was gradually ‘falling apart’ within itself, as many of its notable leaders, who he said, vehemently fought for the emergence of the party in power, were currently being sidelind.

Chief George, who is also an ex-chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),

Nigeria’s first digital agriculture kick starts NIGERIA’S first digital agriculture platform, Farm crowdy.com, is offering a new way for Nigerians to participate in agriculture, through online platform.

Mr Onyeka Akumah, who is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Farmcrowdy.com, said this on Monday that the company had already acquired “over 1,000 hectares of farmland in the SouthWest, especially, in Oyo and Ogun states for the initiative.

“With one farmer working on one hectare per season . Our goal is to secure 10,000 hectares in the East and LAKAJI corridor, in other to make use of dams and irrigation facilities in these areas.”, He said that the launch of Farmcrowdy’s website and platform was brought

forth out of the need to engage Nigerians, especially, youths in agriculture, empower small-scale farmers and increase food production to keep up with the growing population.

He said: “According to a United Nations (UN) research, crop yields need to double within 40 years in order to keep up with the world population growth.

For this to happen, it is important to create an efficient farming industry that operates on a large scale so that our food can be saved and our economy can progress. This revelation has prompted Farmcrowdy to join the farming industry through its Agric-Tech Start-up, which makes use of technology to execute agriculture.”

Farmcrowdy boasts of

an experienced team, including Mr Africanfarmer Mogaji who has over 19 years of experience both in the livestock and crop production industry within and outside Nigeria.

said this in an interview with the newsmen in Ikoyi, Lagos, as part of activities slated to mark his 71st birthday anniversary He also questioned why the ruling party seemed to be reneging on the agreements made by Musa Yar dua and Goodluck Jonathan-led administration wich he said, brought about peace in the Niger Delta region for many years ,adding that negotiation with all aggrieved parties remained the best option in the area.

He, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to respect all agreements

reached by previous administrations with the region, adding that this might be the only way to achieving peace in the area.

“President Yar’adua did a lot to improve the lives of youths in the Niger Delta region, most of whom are now doing well in various courses of study abroad.” Even though, oil revenue dropped in recent times, the region remains key to our economy

OLUYODE OLUYODE OLUYODE

Nigerian NigerianTribune Tribune Nigerian Tribune

as a nation. But if you compare how much that was used to sustain people in that region so as to achieve peace with how much we have lost since the commencement of hostilities and blowing up of pipelines, then, you will realise the need for dialogue. As a political leader, the president must realise that it costs nothing to bring everybody together,” he added.

POPOOLA POPOOLA POPOOLA

I,I, formerly formerly Oluyode Oluyode Olusola Olusola I,Ojelere formerly Oluyode Olusola Ojelere Moses now MR. Moses now MR. Ojelere Moses now MR. OLUGBEMI SHOLA OLUGBEMI SHOLA OLUGBEMI SHOLA LUKMON. All former LUKMON. All former LUKMON. All former documents valid. documents remain remain valid. documents remain valid.

(INEC), First Bank of Nigeria (INEC), First Bank of Nigeria (INEC), First Bank of Nigeria and andgeneral generalpublic publictake takenote. note. and general public take note.

I,I,formerly formerlyPopoola PopoolaSurajudeen Surajudeen I,Gbenga formerly Popoola Surajudeen Gbenga now RAJI now MR. MR. RAJI Gbenga now MR. RAJI SURAJUDEEN GBENGA. SURAJUDEEN GBENGA. SURAJUDEEN GBENGA. All former documents remain All former former documents documents remain remain All valid. valid.Access AccessBank, Bank,First FirstBank, Bank, valid.

Access Bank, First Bank, Skye SkyeBank Bankand andgeneral generalpublic public Skye Bank and general public take takenote. note. take note.

I,I, formerly Nurudeen formerly Nurudeen I, formerly Nurudeen Abiodun Salami now YAYA Abiodun Salami now YAYA Abiodun Salami now YAYA BIODUN SALAMI. All BIODUN SALAMI. All BIODUNdocuments SALAMI.remain All former former documents remain formerGeneral documents remain valid. valid. General General public public take take valid. public take note. note. note.

I,I, formerly formerly Oviasogie Oviasogie David David I,Osasere, formerly Oviasogie David Osasere, now wish be now wish to to be Osasere, now wish to be known and addressed as known and addressed as known and addressed as EWEANSETIN DAVID EWEANSETIN DAVID EWEANSETIN DAVID OSASERE. OSASERE. All All former former OSASERE. All former documents valid. documents remain remain valid. documents remain General Generalpublic publictake takenote. note.valid.

General public take note.

NURUDEEN NURUDEEN NURUDEEN

OVIASOGIE OVIASOGIE OVIASOGIE

6

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Metro...

Nigerian Tribune

crime, security, court Octogenarian docked over alleged theft of gold jewellery

Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the children of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Abu Ali, who was killed by members of the Boko Haram sect when the governor paid a condolence to the family in Kaduna.

Articulated vehicles kill 3 in Nsukka Jude Ossai - Enugu

T

RAGEDY struck on Monday in Nsukka, Enugu State, when two articulated vehicles carrying a brand of soft drinks and beers on Monday killed three persons in different locations of Nsukka town.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, told Metro that the first one happened at Ugwuoye, near old NEPA when the articulated vehicle loaded with beer had a brake failure and some of its contents hit a motorcyclist and his female passenger.

“I was opposite old NEPA to buy something when I saw the driver trying to control the vehicle and shouting ‘my brake, my brake’ with crates of beer falling from the vehicle.

“The motorcyclist died on the spot, as a result of lots of crates of beer that hit him, but the female passenger was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later died,” he told NAN. According to him, in less than one hour after the incident at Ugwuoye, another articulated vehicle crushed another person, Chidi (surname withheld), in front of NITEL building.

He told NAN that Chidisold phones and accessories at Nsukka main market.

“Today is a black Monday in Nsukka; unfortunately the trailer involved in that accident opposite NITEL was set ablaze by angry mob,” he said.

Speaking, the chairman of GSM Nsukka main market, Mr Innocent Ekwunife, said he was yet to recover from the shock of the death of their colleague.

“We have decided to close all GSM shops in Nsukka main market today as a mark of respect for one of us who lost his life in an accident.

“We want government to investigate what caused the accident that killed our colleague, so as to avoid a repeat in future,” he said.

Reacting to the incident, chairman, Nsukka Local Government Area of the state, Professor Rose Onah, described the two accidents as unfortunate, urging road users to exercise more patience because of ongoing road construction in the town.

“The major causes of accidents are impatience and not giving proper attention to vehicles which will cause problem on the way,” she said.

Onah, however, frowned at the action of some residents in hurling stones and pebbles on fire service people who came to put off fire on the trailer set ablaze by an-

gry mob.

“I heard that the fire service men’s initial attempt to put out fire was scuttled by some residents who attacked them, which made them to go back.

“We should learn how to prevent further damages when accident happens by cooperating with security agents, fire service people and FRSC,” she said.

When contacted, the Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nsukka Unit Command,

Mr Bello Mohammed, confirmed the two accidents and urged drivers to be careful, so as to avoid accidents.

“Drivers in Nsukka town and environs should be more careful and take adequate precautionary measures, knowing very well that road constructions are going on in the town.

“The two accidents and deaths could have been averted if those involved have exercised patience and taken precautionary measures,” he said.

AN 85-year-old goldsmith, Adamu Abdulmumuni, on Monday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged theft of gold jewellery worth N1.4 million.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abdulmumuni was arraigned alongside another goldsmith, Hassan Jubrila (55) and one Joel Inyada (27) on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property.

All the accused, whose residential addresses were not given, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Okete Ejime, had told the court that the trio committed the offences in September at No. 16, Mary Oyogbo Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

Ejime said Inyada stole a gold wedding ring and a gold bracelet, both valued at N1.4 million from Mrs Uyi Ntono.

He submitted that Abdulmumuni and Jubrila received the ring and bracelet with the knowledge that they were stolen or fraudulently obtained.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 285, 326 and 410 of

Security agents rescue 10 kidnapped persons in Abuja Christian Okeke - Abuja THE 10 persons recently kidnapped in Kuje Area Council of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been rescued by security agencies.

Notorious gang which specialised in robbing and kidnapping residents had attacked Darka Village in Kuje Area Council in the early hours of Sunday, November 13, while a neihgbouring village of Huni-Gade was also attacked on Thursday, November 17.

Speaking on the rescue on Monday, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Musa Bello said the administration refrained

from giving details of the attack to avoid jeopardising the lives of the victims and did not say if ransom was eventually paid.

He said eight of the victims were rescued Sunday night, while the other two were rescued early Monday, describing the operation as successful.

The minister disclosed that the operation was in two phases, which included rescue of the victims and ongoing patrol of the forests and mountains.

Bello noted that a member of the rescue team and staff of the NSCDC was the one who lost his life to the operation.

According to the minis-

ter, all the structures of the notorious hoodlums were being dismantled, while security agencies had set up a surveillance mechanism in order not to allow such miscreants operate within the territory.

Commenting on the motive of the crime, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Mustapha, said the mountainous areas became habitable for the criminals because security agencies failed in their responsibility.

He assured residents of the affected villages that the police command had commenced massive deployment to forestall future occurrence.

the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Counsel for the accused, Mr Emmanuel Banney, prayed the court to admit them to bail on liberal terms.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. G. Oghre, granted them bail in the sum of N1 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

She said the sureties must show evidence of two years’ tax payment and must be gainfully employed.

Oghre adjourned the case till November 29 for mention.

3 bag 6 months jail term for stealing 11 chickens A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday sentenced two men and a woman to six months imprisonment each for stealing 11 live chickens from a poultry farm.

The Magistrate, Mrs Helen Danboyi, according to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), sentenced the convicts after they pleaded guilty and begged for mercy.

Danboyi said the sentence was meant to serve as deterrence to others who might want to engage in a similar act.

The magistrate, however, gave each of the convict options to pay N20, 000 fine and N18,000 as compensation to the complainant.

The prosecutor, Corporal Karimu Bashiru, had told the court that Samson and Emmanuel (surnames withheld) stole 11 chickens from one Rita’s farm and sold same to Comfort (surname withheld).

The convicts, all residents of Ungwan Jarawa Utan, Jos, were arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, theft and receipt of stolen property.

He said the offences contravened Sections 97, 348, 287 and 317 of Penal Code.

7

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Oluwatoyin Malik

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

Arepo community residents during the protest to the Head Office of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC), Ikeja,

Arepo residents storm IKEDC over 3 months power outage, outrageous billing RESIDENTS of Arepo community, Ogun State, on Monday stormed the Head Office of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC), Ikeja, protesting over three months power outage and outrageous billing in the area, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The protesters, who came in their hundreds, blocked the main entrance of the office, chanting songs to drive home their grievances.

It was gathered that they carried placards with different inscriptions such as “Enough of Ikeja Electric excuses’’; “Save Arepo from Darkness’’ and “Ikeja Electric is a fraud”, among others.

Vice-President, Arepo Central Development Association, who led the protesters, Mr Nasir Salau, told newsmen that they came to register their grievances against the company.

He said the Arepo community had been without power supply in the last three months without any information from the company.

He added that the community had written several letters to the management without any response.

“Despite the outage, the management keeps bringing estimated bills to us monthly.

“We are here to tell them that ‘enough is enough’, we have brought with us letters to register our grievance.

“We will no longer tolerate outrageous billings and the management should fix our power supply,” he said.

Also, Mr Kuti Odukunle, who represented the Arepo Business Owners, said many businesses in Arepo community were folding up

due to power outage in the area.

Odukunle said companies were spending close to N300,000 monthly to power their generators as a result of the outage.

Mrs Judith Okeke, one of the protesters, said two years back, power supply was regular in the area, but things had changed since the beginning of this year.

Okeke said some private schools in the area had increased fees of their pupils on complaint of power outage.

Responding to the protesters, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Anthony Woudea, apologised for the poor power supply.

Woudea said the residents, by coming to the company’s office, had shown that they were not satisfied with the

services.

He disclosed that the company’s engineers had rectified the fault from the supply feeders and power supply had been restored to the community on Satur-

He added that the installation would have reached them, but for the challenges the company was facing due to non-availability of foreign exchange.

Woudea promised that

the management of the company would visit the leadership of the Arepo Community Development Association to discuss about electricity challenges in the area.

155 people killed, 50 kidnapped in Zamfara —Yari Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

G

OVERNOR Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State has said 155 were killed in the recent attacks that was unleashed by suspected cattle rustlers and bandits in some parts of the state.

He made this known on Monday during a special broadcast to the people of

Police recover caches of arms in Lagos LAGOS State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on Monday announced the recovery of caches of arms in FESTAC area of the state, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Owoseni said the recovery was made at sixth Avenue and that two AK47 riffles, 24 AK47 fully-loaded magazines, one Browning Pistol and magazine were recovered.

Other arms recovered, he said, included 951 ammunition of 752 mm size and 1,107 ammunition of 6mm size.

Owoseni, who confirmed this during his weekly briefing on the activities of the

day.

He appealed to the protesters on the issue of prepaid meters, explaining that they had a mode of installing the meters, community after community.

command, stated that the police were doing their best to uncover the persons behind the stockpile.

He, however, did not say if anyone was arrested in connection with the recovery.

The commissioner further said that in the last two weeks, 28 robbery suspects and two kidnap suspects were arrested.

He added that four of the robbery suspects were shot dead during gunfire with the police.

Owoseni disclosed that 16 different types of guns, 24 AK47 magazines, one pistol, 1, 083 ammunition, three cutlasses and 10 vehicles were recovered from the suspects.

the state.

He said “it is with heavy heart that I am addressing you in the wake of the escalation of the security challenges facing our dear state.

“You are aware of the recent series of violent attacks perpetrated by a gang of heartless individuals in some parts of the state. These attacks have resulted in wanton loss of lives and destruction of property in the affected communities.

“It is saddening that despite all our efforts in collaboration with the Federal Government to contain this strange phenomenon the hoodlums continue to carry out their nefarious activities with greater vigour.

“Apart from loss of lives and property, these acts of banditry have caused untold hardships leading to heavy psychological trauma inflicted on our people. Since the emergence of this crime which hitherto is alien to our people, economic activities in various parts of the state have virtually come to a standstill.

“Particularly, agriculture, which is the main stay of our economy and generates employment for the largest proportion of our population,

has suffered a drastic setback. This is currently posing a threat to food security and commercial activities all over the state.

“My dear people of Zamfara State, reports made available to us have indicated that so far 53 people have been killed in Shinkafi, 50 in Maru Local Government Area, 37 in Maradun and 15 in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state in the recent waves of attacks, bringing the total figure of those innocently killed by these bandits to 155 people.

“This is in addition to the several others who sustained different degrees of injuries during the attacks. I have ordered for continuous search for more bodies in the affected areas for proper burial and to get the actual figure of those that lost their lives.

“Similarly, many people have deserted their homes and have now become internally displaced.

“This menace of banditry has various dimensions ranging from brutal assaults such as we have witnessed in the towns mentioned to kidnapping of men, women and children for ransom.

“Till date, a total of over 50 people have been reported

kidnapped across the state.

This wave of kidnappings has become so alarming to the extent that movement of individuals from one part of the state to the other is greatly hampered.

“I want to use this medium to condole the families of all the victims. May the Almighty Allah grant them Aljanna Firdausi and bless the beloved ones they left behind and give us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“I also want to assure our people that this administration will continue to do everything humanly possible to ensure justice for the families of the departed souls.

“Since the onset of this new crime, government had mapped out strategy in collaboration with the Federal Government and the neighbouring states facing similar challenges to tackle the problem. With the current resurgence of the attacks, we have mobilised the security agencies in the state and given them all the support they require in arresting the situation and bringing the perpetrators to book. We are resolutely committed to restoration of peace and tranquility in all parts of our state.

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

10

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

businessnews Again, GDP contracts by -2.24% 11

Sanya Adejokun - Abuja

F

OR the third consecutive time, Nigerian economy contracted in the third quarter of 2016.

Data released on Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by -2.24 per cent (year-onyear) in real terms.

“This was lower by 0.18 per cent points from growth recorded in the preceding quarter and also lower by 5.08 per cent points from growth recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015.

Quarter on quarter (unadjusted for seasonality), real GDP increased by 8.99 per cent,” he said.

In nominal terms, aggregate GDP stood at N26,558,952.83 million (in nominal terms) at basic prices during the quarter comparing to the third quarter 2015 value of N24,313,636.94 million.

“Nominal GDP grew by 9.23 per cent. This growth was higher relative to growth recorded in the third quarter of 2015 by 3.22 per cent points. The Nigerian economy can be more clearly understood according to the oil and non-oil sector classifications “During the period under review, Oil production according to NNPC, averaged at 1.63million barrels per day (mbpd), lower from production in second quarter of 2016. Oil production was also lower relative to the corresponding quarter in 2015 by 0.54million barrels per day when output was recorded at 2.17mbpd.”

NBS reported that as a result, real growth of the oil sector slowed by –22.01 per cent (year-on-year) in third quarter of 2016 representing a decline relative to growth recorded in same quarter of 2015 at 1.06 per cent. Growth declined by 23.07 per cent points and 4.54 per cent points relative to growth in third quarter of 2015 and second quarter of 2016 respectively. Quarter-on-Quarter, growth was 8.07 per cent.

As a share of the economy, the Oil sector contributed 8.19 per cent of total real GDP, down from figures recorded in the corresponding period of 2015 and the preceding quarter of 2016 recorded at 10.27 per cent and 8.26 per cent respectively.

Growth in the Non-oil sector was largely driven by the activities of Agriculture (Crop Production), Information & Communication and Other Services.

Non-oil sector on the other hand, grew by 0.03 per cent in real terms in the third quarter of 2016, reversing the last two quarters of

negative growth recorded in quarters one and two of 2016.

This was 0.41 per cent points higher from the second quarter of 2016, yet 3.03 per cent points lower from the corresponding quarter in 2015.

“In real terms, the Non-Oil sector contributed 91.81 per cent to the nation’s GDP, higher from shares recorded in the second quarter of 2016 (91.74 per cent) and the third quarter of 2015 as a result, real growth of the oil sector slowed by –22.01 per cent (year-on-year) in third quarter of 2016.

“As a share of the economy, the Oil sector con-

tributed 8.19 per cent of total real GDP, down from figures recorded in the corresponding period of 2015 and the preceding quarter of 2016 recorded at 10.27 per cent and 8.26 per cent respectively”, it explained.

Growth in the Non-oil sector was largely driven by the activities of Agriculture (Crop Production), Information & Communication and Other Services.

The non-oil sector grew by 0.03 per cent in real terms in the third quarter of 2016, reversing the last two quarters of negative growth recorded in Q1 and Q2 2016.

This was 0.41 per cent points higher from the sec-

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

ond quarter of 2016, yet 3.03 per cent points lower from the corresponding quarter in 2015. In real terms, the Non-Oil sector contributed 91.81 per cent to the nation’s GDP, higher from shares recorded in the second quarter of 2016 (91.74 per cent) and the third quarter of 2015.

In real terms, Mining and Quarrying sector slowed by –21.64 per cent (year-onyear) in the third quarter of 2016 which was 22.77 per cent points lower than rates recorded in the same Quarter of 2015, also 4.45 per cent points lower than rates recorded in second quarter of 2016.

The contribution of Mining and Quarrying to Real GDP in the third quarter of 2016 stood at 8.34 per cent, showing a decline of 2.06 per cent points relative to the corresponding quarter of 2015 and also a decline of 0.07 per cent points relative to the second quarter of 2016.

In real terms, Mining and Quarrying sector slowed by –21.64 per cent (year-onyear) in the third quarter of 2016 which was 22.77 per cent points lower than rates recorded in the same Quarter of 2015, also 4.45 per cent points lower than rates recorded in second quarter of 2016.

President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Emmanuel Ogbon (left) in a handsake with the outgoing president, Aare Ganiyu Koledoye, during the 7th Annual General Meeting of the institute, held at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Why S29.9bn loan will not have impact on economy —ICSAN boss Akin Adewakun - Lagos

THE $29.9billion foreign loan being sought by the Federal Government may not make any impact on Nigerians if corruption is not tackled seriously in the country.

President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria

(ICSAN), Dr. Nat Ofo, stated this at the 40th Annual Conference of the Institute held in Lagos, recently.

According to Dr. Ofo, since the loans past governments got had made little or no impact on the citizenry, “what is the possibility that this one will not go the way of others when they have not tackled corruption seriously?

“I am not keen on the foreign loan the Federal Government is seeking for. I am not enthusiastic because corruption has not been dealt with. Unless something special is done, the foreign loan they are seeking may be frittered.

“And if this happens and the money is not used for the purpose it is meant, it will be

NASS lauds Dangote Sugar on backward integration THE National Assembly committee on industry, Trade and Investment, has commended the management of Dangote Sugar Refinery on its remarkable progress towards ensuring the success of the sugar backward integration project in the sugar sector of the economy.

Committee Chairman, Abubakar Moriki, who led the team to the Dangote Sugar Refinery in Lagos over the weekend, expressed satisfaction at the level of the backward integration programme, the company has been able to achieve.

He also assured the company on a friendly policy especially in land acquisition which is geared towards selfsufficiency of sugar in 2020, saying “we are aware for a sugar business to succeed, there has to be substantial mass land acquisition for the sugar cane to be planted. We will look at these challenges and others that are affecting the industry.

“We have visited the production site at the Savannah Sugar Company, Numan, Adamawa State, which is a typical backward integration starting point where we saw

how the sugar cane was produced, the collaboration you have with the host community in terms of the out growers scheme and job creation.”

Speaking Group Managing Director of Dangote Sugar Refinery, Abdullahi Sule, said Nigeria is one of the world’s largest net importer of sugar, consuming significant amount of foreign exchange.

He noted that Dangote Sugar Master Plan was to ensure five large sugar factories refine sugar from locally grown sugarcane per annual and to generate over 100,000 jobs among others.

a big shame and disappointment. The only thing is that government should deal decisively with corruption.

It can win it and it should continue the onslaught on those who will be the clog in the wheel of progress of this country”, the ICSAN President stated.

Earlier in his keynote address on the theme of the Conference, “Corporate governance as a spring board for socio-economic renaissance”, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, SAN, had said that corporate governance would boost economy in Nigeria if its practices are fully embraced.”

Mahmoud, whose paper was delivered by the Secretary General of the association, Isiaka Ajibola Olagunju, said: “Corporate governance practices would be a catalyst to socio-economic revival in Nigeria if fully adopted because it is a practice that gives investors assurance that they would get a return on their investment.”

Nigerian Tribune

KPMG tasks FIRS on transparent tax policy Olatunde Dodondawa Lagos

A leading global financial advisory firm, KPMG, has urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to promote more efficient and transparent tax policies.

This was made known at the KPMG Tax Breakfast Meeting with stakeholders including the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr. Babatunde Fowler.

KPMG said a transparent tax system would facilitate compliance by all categories of tax payers.

In his response, Babatunde Fowler, stated that “The issues here are very simple. The FIRS has looked into the economic realities, we have also looked at our strength and weaknesses, and also looked at where we are when it comes tax compliance within Nigeria.

“In terms of compliance level, we are one of the lowest in Africa. We have the VAT rate that is equally the lowest at 5 per cent. One of the main issues when you talk about tax administration is fairness.”

Fowler said the FIRS adopted its approach, taking into consideration low liquidity within the economy.

Low September earnings affect states’ revenue allocation in October THE 36 states of the federation shared N111.8 billion in October, less than the N143.6 billion shared in September from the Federation Account by N31.8 billion.

The breakdown forms part of a report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from a source at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in Abuja on Sunday.

The report showed that the revenue allocated for each state in October was less than what they got from the federation account in September.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, at the last FAAC meeting, attributed the low revenue earnings of the month to several factors.

Adeosun attributed the decline to the loss of $45.5 million in federation export sales while shut-in and shut-down of pipelines for repairs and maintenance also contributed to the drop in revenue.

The decrease in volume of dutiable imports receipts from Joint Venture Cash Call, Foreign Companies Income Tax and Value Added Tax were other reasons given.

12

businessnews

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Fuel subsidy removal: FG saves N283.5bn in six months

As FG plans to unveil new 4-year Economic Road Map next week Olatunde Dodondawa -lagos

T

HE Federal Government said it has saved N283.5billion from removal of subsidy more than six month ago.

Speaking at a KPMG Breakfast Meeting with Chief Financial Officers in Lagos on Monday, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, stated that “we have reduced losses to the treasury arising from the fuel subsidy regime. It will be recalled that premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol was liberalized on the 12th May, 2016.”Immediately this was announced, consumption dropped by about 30 per cent, resulting in a saving of $4.5million daily (N1.6billion) from the elimination of false subsidy claims.”

At an exchange rate of N350 to a dollar, the government would have saved N283.5billion in six month.

He said 2016 is a very tough year for the government due to decline in revenue. “We have been unable to achieve our 2016 budget production target of 2.2 million barrels per day.

Indeed at some point, we were barely able to produce 1.1mbpd.

“The fall in crude production has affected the level of foreign exchange earnings.

Since 95 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings come from oil sector, this has impacted adversely on the level of non-oil revenues.

“In short, oil revenues are down, non oil revenues are also down. This is because much of our non-oil sector is consumption-driven and relies on foreign exchange earnings from oil sector and other capital inflows which also depend largely on fortunes of the oil sector,” he said.

However, Senator Udoma reiterated government’s efforts at restoring sanity to the oil and gas industry.

“We have just renegotiated a new arrangement with our joint venture partners in which we are exiting cash calls. This will lead to enhanced and improved oil production.

“With this major reform which will become operational by January 2017, we should be expecting over $15billion worth of investment in the oil sector,” he said.

In his own contribution, the Group Chief Financial Officer, Jagal Group, Mr. Richard Turner, argued

that except the bill that will guarantee reforms in the oil sector is passed, the government may find it difficult to implement those proposed policies.

“We need to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) for the proposed reform to work. My company has invested over $500million in Nigeria and ready to invest

more. But the non-passage of PIB stalls projects that are supposed to come to us.

My heart breaks whenever we have to disengage some workers due to absence of work.

“Nigeria Content is fundamental to investment in Nigeria. We want to keep the investment in Nigeria going and continue to engage

more workers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Federal Government has disclosed its readiness to unveil a new four years economic road map known as Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP) 2017-2020.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, made

this disclosure in Lagos on Monday during a Breakfast Meeting for Chief Financial Officers (CFO) organized

by KPMG. He noted that the draft document of the economic plan will be available in early December and formally launched by President Muhammadu Buhari before the end of the year.

From left: Group Chief Financial Officer, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Jacques Vauthier; Chief Financial Officer, Access Bank Plc, Seyi Kumapayi; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; National Senior Partner, Kunle Elebute and Partner and Head, Audit Services, Tola Adeyemi both of KPMG Nigeria, during KPMG Chief Financial Officer (CFO) forum held at Eko Hotels, in Lagos, on Monday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

NSE: Investors lose N13bn as bearish trend persists Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba, Lagos

The downtrend in the Nigerian equities market persisted with the All Share Index losing 0.15 per cent on Monday to close at 25,499.00 points from 25,537.54 points recorded in previous session, increasing the year to date losses to 10.97 per cent.

Investors also lost N13.3 billion as the market cap-

italization which opened at N8.791 trillion lost 0.15 per cent to close the day at N8.778 trillion.

Investors’ appetite, remained weak as market breadth closed with 13 gainers paired against 17 losers.

Dangote Sugar led the declining stocks by 4.94 percent to close at N6.16 per share, this was followed by Continental Re-insurance that shed 4.81 percent to

close at 99 kobo per share and Neimeth Pharmaceuticals that lost 4.65 percent to close at 82 kobo per share.

Wema Bank and Transcorp Nigeria likewise dropped 3.64 and 2.86 percent each to close at 53 kobo and 68 kobo per share respectively.

On the flip side, Transcorp Hotels led the gainers chart with a 4.95 percent growth to close at N5.51 per share,

Financial expert seeks bank lending rate reduction to tackle economic recession A financial expert, Dr Glenn Prince-Abbi, on Monday said that the Central Bank of Nigeria should pursue lower bank lending rates to bring the country out of recession.

Prince-Abbi, the Chief Executive of Espera Global Corporation, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that lower lending rates would boost the country’s productivity and assist in tackling recession.

He said that all businesses would benefit from lower interest rates as this would encourage them to make more investments and expand their production line as a result of lower cost of

borrowing.

According to him, lower interest rates will boost output and productivity in tandem to catalyse economic growth in general.

Prince-Abbi said: “We cannot be contending with a sickening economic recession, while we are doing nothing to increase producers’ capacity to increase output and their capacity to borrow to enhance their profitability.’’

Prince-Abbi said the Monetary Policy Committee of the apex bank must carefully review a number of factors which impinge on economic growth.

He said that the current high lending regime was benefitting bankers, while compromising producers’ capacity to raise capital in a competitive environment to produce.

Prince-Abbi said he disagreed with the CBN Governor’s submission that lower interest rate would worsen the already high inflation.

He said: “The CBN governor is right, but only in textbook sense of it and only in a classic economic situation where there is a healthy economy and production is at a healthy level and consumers’ purchasing power is relatively high.

followed by Flourmills with a gain of 4.94 percent to close at N17 per share, while Fidson Healthcare recorded a 4.84 percent growth to close at N1.30 per share.

Cutix added 4.76 percent to close at N1.98 per share and Africa Prudential Registrars emerged the top fifth gainer with an appreciation of 3.92 percent to close at N2.65 per share.

Total volume traded in the course of the day declined by 32 percent to 112.4 million shares valued at N858.5 million in 2,532 deals, in comparison with 165.6 million units valued at N888.2 million exchanged in 2,279 deals last Friday.

Transcorp emerged the most traded stock for the day with 19.9 million shares valued at N13.6 million. Skye Bank followed with 14.1 million shares worth N7.1 million, while Diamond Bank traded 10.1 million shares valued at N9.2 million.

FCMB was responsible for 9.1 million shares worth N9.4 million and UBA came fifth, exchanging 8.5 million shares for N36.3 million.

Sharing his thought on the 2017 budget and also taking reactions and input from stakeholders, he emphasized that the federal government reforms and initiatives which will be reflected in the 2017 Budget, are being brought together in a single document, that will present a coherent summary of Nigeria’s short and medium term economic plans for the period 2017-2020, specifically by putting government strategies, directions, policy priorities and intended initiatives in one place, that will enable other stakeholders to take their own strategic economic decisions.

The minister, who said he cannot speak on the 2017 Budget because it has not yet been submitted to the National Assembly, explained that “the good news is that the budget is almost ready.

We are almost through with our consultations with the National Assembly on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, and the outlines of the 2017 Budget, and will soon be submitting it to the National Assembly for their consideration.

“Without giving anything away I can assure you that the Budget will be targeted at stimulating private sector investment. This Government believes that it is only by partnering with the private sector that we can propel the economy out of recession and onto the path of sustainable growth.”

He pointed out that the NERGP will focus on five broad areas, which include: “macroeconomic policy, economic growth and diversification, competitiveness, social inclusion and jobs and governance and enablers.

On whether the proposed new economic policy will not go the way of others, Senator Udoma noted that “this will not be just another plan. There will be a major emphasis on implementation, monitoring and evaluation of this NERGP. Given the current challenging economic environment, it is planned to set up a special delivery unit to drive implementation of the NERGP. “As part of process of finalising the plan, a retreat was held on November 1011, 2016 to review specific initiatives which could be considered in the report.

To further enrich the plan, additional consultations with various stakeholders such as state governments, development partners, the National Assembly and the private sector are ongoing,” he said.

13

editorial Rasheed Gbadamosi (1943-2016)

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

I

N the evening of Wednesday, November 16, 2016, Chief Rasheed Abiodun Gbadamosi joined the growing list of great Nigerians on whom the sun eclipsed recently.

The death of Chief Gbadamosi, a foremost industrialist, boardroom guru, administrator, and art and culture enthusiast is yet another monumental loss that Nigerians have to contend with in this outgoing year.

A native of Ikorodu in Lagos State but born some 72 years ago and raised in Isale-Eko, his maternal root, Rasheed Gbadamosi had a privileged background. His father, Alhaji Sule Oyesola Gbadamosi, was a frontline industrialist and prominent politician of the nostalgic era of the great sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The senior Gbadamosi was the first Treasurer of the Action Group (AG). Unlike many whose rosy upbringing became an albatross to their progress in life, Chief Gbadamosi’s case was different as he was humble, teachable and not carried away by his opulent background but made the best use of what he saw as a privilege.

Clearly, the indelible imprints that this icon has left in the sands of time have a definite bearing on his character, especially his submissive disposition to his reportedly persuasive father’s advice and discipleship. For instance, the young Gbadamosi had fancied becoming a medical doctor but his business-minded and industrialist father had a different plan; he persuaded him to study economics so that he could ultimately take over and expand the family business. And this was what eventually panned out but perhaps in a more robust and diverse manner than his forward looking father could have imagined.

By 1969, Chief Gbadamosi was already a Master’s degree holder in Economics from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, United States of America, having earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, two years earlier. He made his maiden foray into the business world under the tutelage of his fairly educated but well exposed, experienced and very wealthy father shortly after his studies.

Chief Gbadamosi, a great man of destiny, started public life quite early. At the youthful age of 29, he was appointed Commissioner for Establishment and Economic Development

by Major-General Mobolaji Johnson (retd) who was then the Military Administrator of Lagos State under the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon (retd.). And since then, there had been no stopping the nationalist. He was a former chairman of the Bank of Industry. He also served as chairman of the National Committee on Industrial Development (NCID),

Nigerian Tribune

charged with the mandate to draw up Nigeria’s Industrial Master Plan in liaison with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Chief Gbadamosi was a Minister of Economic Planning in the General Abdusalami Abubakar’s short military spell after the sudden death of General Sani Abacha. That team facilitated the production of the 1999 Constitution and other political arrangements that ushered in the 4th Republic.

He was also a former chairman, Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and until his demise, he cochaired the Lagos@50 committee with the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. In all of these calls to service, he gave his very best and was exemplary in his high standards of character, conduct and performance. As a businessman, Chief Gbadamosi’s strides were those of a giant. He was a quintessential industrialist whose interests straddled various sectors of the Nigerian economy. He had at one time or the other served as either chairman, Managing Director or Director of more than two dozen companies within the Nigerian business space. A few of these companies include, R.A.G & Company Limited, Ragolis Waters limited, Thai Farm International Limited,Sparnoon Nigeria Limited, BHN Plc., Syndicated Metal Industries limited, Lucky Fibres Nigeria Plc., AIICO Insurance plc., Cappa & D’Alberto Plc. and a host of others.

As a professional economist and one of the finest in his generation, he brought his training and experience to bear on the companies he served and constituted an invaluable asset to the boards and managements. The creative arts industry is another sector of the economy where the demise of Chief Gbadamosi constitutes a colossal loss: he was one of the most reliable and valuable patrons. The deceased was a profound art and culture enthusiast who made tremendous contributions to the growth of the industry. Chief Gbadamosi was known by the industry practitioners and followers as an avid collector of works of art, sculptures, among others. He was also a literary icon in his own right.

Apart from writing articles in the national dailies in his early days as a young adult, the great achiever was a playwright with six plays to his credit, some of which have been performed and could be accessed in the library shelves of many academic institutions in the country. Chief Rasheed Abiodun Oladosu Gbadamosi was indeed an accomplished person who waltzed through life and left some imprints in the sands of time. We join members of his family, the people of Lagos State and indeed all Nigerians to say adieu to a great nationalist.

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

LETTERS TO THE

editor

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

Tackling the menace of land grabbers in Ogun

O

N Tackling the menace of land grabbers in Ogun On Monday, November 14, 2016, a law against land-grabbing became operative throughout the length and breadth of Ogun State. The sentences imposed against violators of the law range between 25 years of imprisonment and death sentence.

Sometime in 2014, I got a distress call from a colleague about the activities of land-grabbers, otherwise called ‘omo ‘nile’ or ‘ajagungbale’ in local parlance.

These gangsters wield dangerous weapons and demand obedience or capitulation from their victims. They operate like a mafia, “by fire, by force.”

They are found in virtually every developing communities or new towns, where construction work is a defining feature. Their lead-

ers live big.

Sometimes they operate as rivals groups where there is a conflict of interest but their ultimate goal is the same: they fleece their victims! Sometimes, there is mutual collaboration. What you observe from one community to the other is only a variation in their degree of bestiality.

Some of them come with documents, pasting them all over your new building or ongoing construction work with the same authority you could only have expected from government officials. The usual claim is that the land belongs to their family and that you had paid the wrong person or party. And for any resolution, you will have to repurchase the land! Any attempt to argue with them may leave you battered, maimed or butchered, in the worst scenario.

And once there is con-

struction work going on, they or another insatiate gang still reserves the right to be “settled” so they could allow workmen to continue else they seize all the tools in sight after some thorough beating. You have to abide by their terms willy nilly.

The government of Ogun State has done all within its power to tame these monsters. And some of them, we must acknowledge, have been tamed. But the position of the state governor is not to condone illegality in any form. It does not matter their largely restricted locations, reduction in the degree of their violent conducts or numbers. Any form or degree of illegality must be extirpated from the polity. This position of the governor is quite commendable and in line with the constitution.

One is not really surprised because since assumption

of office in 2011, Amosun has made security of life and welfare of all residents top priorities.

According to Governor Ibikunle Amosun: “We want to let people know that Ogun State will not be comfort zone for any criminal or so-called omo oniles (land grabbers). They have engaged in maiming, killing and lawlessness. But now, the law will go after

them. We are now having an enabling law to prosecute and anybody that runs foul of this law will have himself or herself to blame. ”To the kidnappers, they know that this is their end.

Anybody that involves himself in kidnapping, armed robbery and all these social vices will not be allowed in Ogun State.

I want to believe that with the operation of this law,

criminals will run away from the state.”

I commend the Ogun State House of Assembly and the state governor, Senator Amosun, for the new law and congratulate the people of the state for the further reprieve the new legislation will provide.

•Daniel Olakunle, Akute, Ogun State.

Flouting court orders not good for our democracy IN every country of the world where democracy is practised, there usually exist three arms of government, which are legislative, executive and judiciary, with each having distinct roles to play in the administration of the country.

The legislative makes the laws, which are carried out by the executive, while the judiciary interprets the law.

One good thing, therefore, is that unlike during the military era, this is what is obtainable in Nigeria’s democracy today, under the principles of separation of powers.

Unfortunately, with the way things are going in this country, it appears this principle is no longer followed by people in positions of authority. For example, whenever there are court rulings against the executive on certain issues, the executive hardly accepts the rulings. We have seen this on several occasions in this political dispensation. This, therefore, negates the principle of the separation of powers, rule of law and fundamental human rights.

However, this is not how it is in other countries, particularly in the developed world, where the rulings of the judiciary are held in high esteem and implemented.

Apart from the executive, the police are also guilty of this, as in most cases, they detain suspects longer than necessary.

Therefore, if Nigeria is to truly develop, then all the arms of government are respected, and their submission on issues accepted. Most especially, everybody, including the government and its institutions, must respect the rulings of the courts. It is so painful when a court will give a certain ruling, and powerful people in the society will oppose it because it did not favour them.

Therefore, I want to implore the government, and the various governmental organisations, particularly the security agencies, to stop flouting court orders, as this is not good for our democracy.

•Ola-Olaniyi Bamgbola, 53, Agbeni Quarters, Ibadan.

FG, reconsider the scrapping of sub-degrees in varsities I would like to appeal to the Federal Government and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to reconsider the scrapping of the sub-degree diplomas in universities.

While we look the NUC’s position that a circular had been issued to the effect that such diplomas could not be used for employment or promotion purposes in the public sevice, I would like to ask the NUC to reconsider.

This is in view of the fact that as an admission seeker, the sub-degree programmes afford some of us a way to keep busy, while waiting for admission into

full-time programmes. It also helps students to engage the brain, as well as acquire some set of skills before entering the university.

As much as polytechnics run these programmes, the diplomas offered by the universities also help those involved to have a feel of university life and prepare them for further studies.

I, therefore, want to appeal to the NUC to kindly reconsider its position and see how to rework these programmes for the overall benefit of students.

•Joan Okonoboh, joanokonoboh@yahoo.com

15

opinion

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Will these executions stop?

I

F you ever find yourself anywhere on this planet where there is no Nigerian, RUN! I had guffawed uncontrollably at the bold assertion my roommate made years ago, but as we rocketed through time, I stopped hearing the resonance of my laughter. It was indeed a statement laden with unrivalled veracity, only I failed to recognise it as a freshman in the university.

Nigerians are, like the ubiquitous and innumerable sand grains on the Lagos Bar Beach and several other beaches across the world, everywhere. I doubt that there is a continent in the universe where one won’t find a Nigerian — whether Asia, North and South America, even in the Antarctica! America’s President-elect, Donald Trump confirmed this when he lamented thus: “We need to get the Africans out (of USA). Not the blacks, the Africans.

Especially, the Nigerians. They’re everywhere. I went for a rally in Alaska and met just one African in the entire state. Where was he from? Nigeria!” His hostile remarks about Nigerians, however, are topic for another discourse.

There are Nigerians in Iceland…sons and daughters of the soil that have come a long way from home in search of the proverbial greener pastures. While some, after a tenebrous odyssey, may find it, some others, most harrowingly, die trying to find it. I would painstakingly stay true to the path of today’s discourse. Though, I find myself tempted like Eve to digress onto an alternate path, questioning the exodus of Nigerians, it would not be today…some other day perhaps.

However, I would crave your indulgence to take a stroll with me down memory lane, as I retrieve, not so quaint events, but history, targeted at laying stones on the substratum I have so far created. It was my first class as a senior, the English tutor walked in and wrote briskly on the blackboard “idiomatic expressions.” Without turning around, he added a few more phrases and the first one on the list, I remember vividly, was “when in Rome…”

The tutor then turned around, with a smug expression on his face, aimed at intimidating the class of fresh seniors, growled, “Who can complete that idiom?” You could have heard a pin drop that day; the silence was deafening as we all searched the ceiling for elusive an-

veracity with Vera Onana

veraonana@gmail.com 08054680688

swers until a brave one, who had gained the epithet ‘efiko’ since our junior class days, belled the cat.

That day, the rest of the senior class didn’t only learn the completing part of that idiom, they learnt the meaning as well. Today, most idioms have become so cliché, but does that obliterate the weights of their meanings? I believe they are yet didactic and if we keep them at heart, we will save ourselves a myriad of problems, even death!

It was with a heavy heart that I read about the execution of another Nigerian in Singapore on Friday, 18 November. Chijioke Stephen Obioha was executed early Friday morning in Singapore for drug trafficking.

According to reports, Obioha was arrested on 9 April, 2007 with more than 2.6 kilograms of cannabis, which was more than the statutory amount of 500 grams presumed as drug trafficking in Singapore.

The Singaporean government rejected last last-minute appeal by Amnesty International to spare 38-year-old Obioha from the gallows in carrying out the execution.

However, here in Nigeria, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the execution as heartbreaking, while reiterating calls on Nigerians to desist from criminal activities like drug peddling. “While we regret the death sentence passed on the Nigerian, we once again appeal to Nigerians to avoid crimes like drug trafficking with most countries especially in Asia declaring zero tolerance for the crime,” Dabiri-Erewa said. It feels like the umpteenth

time she would be saying those words, pleading with Nigerians to shun illegalities in foreign countries.

Several countries in Asia have made it clear time and time after time that drug crimes attract death penalty.

For instance, in Indonesia, when one is granted any Indonesian visa, it is boldly printed as one of the messages accompanying the visa conditions.

As a matter of fact, upon arrival in all Indonesian international airports, there is a boldly printed message welcoming foreigners into the country, while simultaneously reiterating the penalty for any drug related crime: “Welcome to Indonesia. Here, drug crimes attract the death penalty”.

In 2010, the Nigerian government sent a high-powered delegation to plead with the Indonesian government in respect of Nigerians on the death row for drug crimes in that country, but the Indonesian government insisted that there would not be any going back on the sentence. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who was at the time chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Diaspora, was part of that delegation that met a roadblock. Her words: “As the world keeps appealing to Indonesia not to kill them, we must also admonish our citizens to avoid crime and be good ambassadors wherever they find themselves.” That was half a dozen years ago. Alas, her plea fell amidst thorns and yielded no fruit!

Dear countrymen in the Diaspora, the idiom goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do,” this means, when visiting a foreign land, you must follow the customs of those who live in it. It also means that when you are in an unfamiliar situation, you should follow the lead of those who know the ropes. We cannot keep making a caricature of our nationality by sending our leaders to alien lands to try to bend the rules in futility. News of such executions, as long as Nigerians break the stipulated drug rules, will keep filtering into our shores. Some countries, unlike what obtains in our shores, do not just make laws for formality sake, they actually keep them!

Of Nigerian graduates and ‘acceptable’ job offers

By Tope Fasua

THE debate raged last week about Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s attempt to recruit 1,000 Nigerian university graduates as bus conductors in Lagos State. Ordinarily, Ambode is one of Nigeria’s performing governors, and he has effectively and shockingly shaken-off the legendary shadow of Raji Fashola. Going to Lagos these days could actually be an enjoyable experience. Lagos continues to get neater, traffic is often light, and there is generally a new, refreshing ethos that Ambode imported from his sojourns around the world. But for me, this bus conductor business is a no-no. And my reasons have nothing to do with some foolish pride which university graduates possess.

First, the policy was announced by the Chairman of the Bus Conductors’ Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Comrade Israel Adeshola. I am usually suspicious of these people who form associations so easily. Nigerians form associations for everything these days and usually in order to grab power and money. I heard this Chairman, like his colleague in the ‘okada’ business, drives an expensive Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with a personalised number plate. These guys remind us of what happens to motorists who have any collision with the ‘okada’ bike guys. No matter who is at fault, the okada riders begin to gather and will usually lynch the motorist. In Nigeria, it is every man for himself.

Unfortunately, in what is supposed to be our season of renaissance, human lives have become even cheaper, and our attitudes more combative. In Abuja, the more different associations sprung up in the Jonathan era that claimed they were in charge of cleaning the environment, the dirtier Abuja became.

So these associations are just Mafia groups. And the socalled Chairman was allowed to gloat at the famed ‘uselessness’ of Nigerian graduates. It is not enough that we daily denigrate our graduates – especially the ones from the public universities that our leaders and elites delib-

erately killed while using corrupt money to build private ones and forcing parents to be corrupt so that they can afford the crazy fees being charged in those places; now we throw those hapless graduates into the fangs of some flyby-night Chairman of Bus Conductors’ Association to further denigrate them. What the Comrade did was basically to say “shebi they said we bus conductors are useless, but see us now, we are employing graduates.” For effect, the Chairman revealed that his association, in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Transport, was going to pay any of these ‘lucky’ graduates N50,000 per month.

And so many ‘intellectuals’ weighed behind that policy, some of them abusing and insulting any graduate who hesitates to send in an application. One guy was even very ingenious, asking that, between a graduate who works for two years as a bus conductor, and one who sits at home, which one would one, as an entrepreneur, hire? It seems obvious that one should go for the bus conductor, who was pragmatic enough to try and earn something, but what about attributes of perseverance? Rather than jump at any work just because it pays some money, is there any value to having a vision and defining some barriers about what one will not do? Is life all about the money these days? Mind you, the commercial buses of Lagos are legendary in their craziness. Certainly, there aren’t enough BRT buses in Lagos to post 1,000 university graduate conductors to. And if the government wanted only university graduates in those BRT buses, it can be sure of a protest from the conductors’ association, whom it have given so much prominence.

Some prominent Nigerians – many of them living abroad – chipped in and regaled us with how they did menial work when they arrived in their foreign locations and were trying to find their feet. Some spoke of working as labourers, as sweepers and so on. See, it is different.

Very few were able to talk of how low they sunk with their university degrees in hand here in Nigeria. And that is exactly the point.

Sometimes, when you give up on yourself and decide to sink, it may be impossible to recover yourself and regain your dignity. If this project is carried through, there is every likelihood that 80 percent of the graduates will be subsumed in the rough ways of Lagos bus drivers and conductors in no time, and perhaps become permanently traumatised such that they will forever feel inferior in the corporate world.

We even have evidence. All the state transport schemes in Nigeria started off with well-dressed drivers, complete with suits and ties. But today, some of them are the roughest drivers, and are usually high on whatever it is they drink.

It is this lack of vision that is our problem in Nigeria.

The simple thing to do is for government to focus on creating employment for school dropouts, and secondary school leavers. By so doing, they create employment opportunities for graduates who will supervise these younger people and retain their dignity.

The graduates can do some menial work, but we needn’t strip them of their self-respect. As a matter of fact, if graduates choose on their own to do these jobs, it is better than being forced, coerced, insulted, and made to look lazy, before they take up such jobs out of necessity. Don’t forget, Nigeria has invested in these graduates by sending them to school and training them with intellectual capital. Why throw good money after bad policies? Why throw that investment into the fire?

•Fasua wrote via topsyfash@yahoo.com

16

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

agriculture GES: FG roll out measures for smooth operation

Abubakar Amuda-Kannike, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs (right), performing the investiture of the new president of NVMA, Dr Godwin Abonyi.

How we plan to assist govt end herdsmen/farmers feud —New NVMA President Collins Nnabuife -Abuja

T

HE new National President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Dr Godwin Abonyi have lined out processes the association will take to assist government end the lingering crisis between herdsmen and farmers in some parts of the country.

Speaking after his inauguration, Dr Abonyi said the veterinarians have established a very strong relationship with the herdsmen over the years and with that, it can proffer solutions to the government to work out modalities to curb the herdsmen frequent clash with farmers which has claimed a lot of lives.

According to him, “we will strive to turn the present economic situation in the overall economy into a visible growth in the livestock subsector of our economy, as we hope to find an immediate and sustainable solution to the lingering crisis of herdsmen and farmers in all parts of the country.

“The minister of agriculture has e xpressed his determination to find a permanent solution to the crisis and am assuring him and all the stakeholders in the industry that they will find credible partner in the Veterinary profession through the NVMA. “We have always been traditional alliance of livestock farmers, so we have been with them in the thick and thin during the years of dis-

ease outbreak that threatened the eradication of the livestock industry.

“We stayed with them in the bush vaccinating and treating these animals, till these diseases are virtually eradicated from Nigeria, so they have trust in us.

“So, if we have organized Veterinary service, they will be able to monitor movement and presence of cattle everywhere and protect

them.

“Also by indoctrination and teaching, we will let people know that just the way herdsmen value their cattle, crop farmers also value their crops, there should be mutual respect for both.”

On disease control, Dr Abonyi said “90 per cent of rabies in human is caused by bite from infected animals, through collaboration with the government, we will be

able to vaccinate all animals and enforce the law that restricts individuals to keep pets that are not vaccinated, so with this, we will be able to check the spreads to human beings.

“Every other diseases that can come from animals, by improvement of Veterinary services, we will be able to put a check within the animal domain and it will not spread to human beings”.

WAAPP: Creating agric employments Collins Nnabuife -Abuja WAAPP-Nigeria has been promoting innovation platforms as avenues for disseminating improved technologies to key actors in some commodity value chains since 2013.

The project has successfully Inaugurated Platforms (IPs) at the national level mostly as far back as in 2013 on Cassava/ Yam, Aquaculture, Rice, Maize and Sorghum. While WAAPP-Nigeria encouraged the formation of some platforms, the cassava Innovation Platform and the Agricultural Innovation Platform had been in existence in Abia state southeast of Nigeria even before the inception of the project.

WAAPP-Nigeria said it, therefore, got engaged with the platforms to strengthening its operations because Innovation Platforms are oftentimes defined as ‘spaces for learn-

ing and change’ whereby group of individuals, from different backgrounds and interest, that could include farmers, food processors, traders, government officials, researchers among others come together to diagnose problems, identify opportunities and find ways of achieving their goals which they may also articulate and implement activities as platform or coordinate activities by individual members.

One of the major examples of WAAPP-Nigeria assisted platforms is the Value Chain Platform (VCIP) which is a physical or virtual forum of relevant stakeholders established to facilitate interaction, learning and joint actions relating to commodity value chain hence triggering participatory diagnosis of problems, joint explorations of opportunities and solutions aimed at increasing gen-

eration and diffusion of agricultural innovations in line with four components of WAAPP, which focus on generation, dissemination and adoption of improved technologies to boost agricultural productivity in the country. This indeed will enhance economic benefits to the programme participants and by extension the macro economy at both national and regional levels.

It is important to note that, it is on record that the early six months leading to September 2014,the project appointed a Technical Support Team(TST) to help accelerate the formation of organizational and management structure of WAAPP-assisted value chain innovation platforms(VCIPs) that emerged in each of the states where the projects had on-going activities through interventions, the organisation said.

THE Federal Government has rolled out measures that would be taken to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) of the present administration.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Dr Shehu Ahmed, said at the opening ceremony of the Growth Enhancement Scheme Stakeholders Preparatory Meeting on 2016/2017Dry Season Farming in Abuja that lessons learnt from the implementation of the 2016 wet season GES which covered twelve pilot states including Adamawa, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Imo, Rivers, Sokoto, Zamfara and Federal Capital Territory would be addressed in order to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of 2016/2017 dry season GES programme.

Shehu, who was represented by the Director-General National Seed Council, Dr Philip Ojo, said measures to be enforced to ensure the effective and efficient implementation include the use of tablet device as a means of redemption by farmers in order to eliminate double redemption and sharp practices; implementation by the federal government alone without the involvement of the various state governments in order to reduce the influence of the state officials on the redemption claims to be obtained and late payment to the agro-dealers/input suppliers.

He also said that stock movement especially fertilisers would be tracked by both the ministry and the office of the national security adviser in order to provide the actual data on fertilisers being delivered by the suppliers to each agro dealer and introduction of input package for each commodity value chain.

Ahmed said the adoption of single commodity value chain system to allow a farmer to redeem input only one chosen commodity value chain which he/ she has comparative advantage and intend to major on seed/fertilizer/ agro chemi-

cal and only staff of the Ministry state / regional offices will be used to performand take over the functions and activities of the supply chain management and coordination component of the GES in the various states among others.

He said the remaining outstanding claims of agro –dealers and input suppliers are currently being reconciled for payment while the Memorandum of Understanding on the payment of the Interest Draw down (IDD) upon which loans will be given to the agro- dealers and input suppliers between the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Ministry would be endorsed.

He explained that the focus of the 2016/2017 dry season would be on four major crops namely, rice, wheat, maize and groundnuts with their input packages which would be available at redemption centres to ensure maximum output while a total number of 1,500,580 farmers are targeted to be supported under value chains crops in the 2016/2017 dry season, namely rice -1,197,240 farmers, maize- 65,055 farmers, wheat- 234,445 farmers, groundnut – 3,840 farmers.

Earlier in his address, the Director, Farm Input Support Services Department of the ministry, Jatto Ohiare Badams, said the meeting was apt for stakeholders such as the state directors, agro- dealers and seed companies to brainstorm on how to move forward.

Poultry farmers Akin Adewakun -Lagos THE survival of poultry business and the huge potential the industry holds for the nation’s economy, especially at this period of economic downturns, would form the focus of this year’s National Poultry Show, Abeokuta 2016, an annual industry event, being organised by the Poultry Association of Nigeria, aimed at showcasing businesses within the poultry value chain.

Tagged “Sustaining the Poultry Industry in an Economic Recession”, the forum, according to the National President of the As-

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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08116954637, 08039521408

OCF organises workshop, teaches Ogbomoso farmers on income generation

By Ruth Olurounbi FARMERS in Ogbomoso, Oyo State have been urged to invest in production of small ruminants, aimed at improving livestock production for the city and Nigeria as a whole and to increase income generation for themselves.

The farmers, who converged on Olagbemi Osekun Civil Centre, at Ogbomoso South Local Government Secretariat, Arowomole, for a day capacity building workshop for practising farmers in the city, were also trained on how to improve their health statuses, value addition for cassava, maize and soya beans.

The farmers, more than 500 of them were also taught on how to safely handle pesticides and herbicide, as well as how to improve production for revenue generation and eventual prosperity.

Dr Tunde Olayeni from the Department of Animal Production and Health, LAUTECH, while discussing with the smallholder farmers, many of whom constituted women, it was of “vital importance” that the farmers invested in ruminants production, aimed at improving livestock production for the consumption of the people of the city, and Nigeria as a whole.

According to him, the value of ruminant production and management is important to “all mankind by virtue of its contributions to agriculture production, national economy and overall

welfare of the people.”

Dr Olayeni, who taught on “small ruminants production and management practices for improved livestock production,” at the workshop organised by the Ogbomoso Community Foundation, told the farmers that it was economical to rear ruminants on pastures with little confinement as production of pastures entails minimum skill and manage-

ment know-how and is easy to handle.

Saying that animals could help the farmers’ foreign exchange earnings, thus, improving their income generations, Olayeni itemised some categories of animals that could quickly help the farmers make turnover and improve income generations.

Some of the animal included grass cutters, which

of these diseases, which include mortality, could result in financial loss to the farmers, he added that those diseases could add to overhead costs, as well as reduction of number of livestock in an enterprise.

He, therefore, encouraged the farmers to took on measures to prevent the diseases, adding that it was important that the farmers adequately fed their ani-

From left: Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda; Country Manager, Dizengoff Nigeria, Antti Ritvonen; Wife of the Senate President, Toyin Bukaola Saraki and Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, during the farmers field day in Azihi Kasa, Tafa Local Government, Niger State.

Dizengoff Farms laments high import duty on equipment Collins Nnabuife - Abuja THE Country Manager of Dizengoff Nigeria, Antti Ritvonen, has called on the government to review the import duty on some agricul-

tural equipment especially the greenhouse equipment which is one of the trending agricultural technologies in the world.

Ritvonen said greenhouse agricultural technology can

set to discuss business in economic recession sociation, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan is organised annually as part of the activities on the Poultry Industry Calendar, which usually commences with a summit at the start of the year before the Poultry Show.

According to him, the Show is being organised for all businesses within the Poultry Value Chain, including Poultry Farmers, Feed Millers, Egg and Chicken Sellers, financial and governmental organizations and those involved in transportation within the poultry value chain, with exhibitors expected from Nigeria, Netherlands, China, India, Israel,

he said reproduce yearround in captivity. “A healthy female is matured for breeding activity by age of five months upwards, while that of male is seven months upwards,” he said.

To ensure that they protect their investments, Olayeni warned the farmers of the socio-economic implications of diseases in farm animals.

Saying that consequences

Spain and England.

Dr. Oduntan also harped on the need for government to give poultry business the much-needed support, considering the huge employment opportunities, lying within the Poultry value chain.

He argued that one of the ways of providing such support is through the eradication of imported poultry products in Nigeria.

“I believe if we are able to put an end to indiscriminate importation of poultry products in the country, we will be able to generate hundreds of billions of Naira for the economy in revenue and

increase employment to almost 1million jobs within two years.

“Though the government is trying in terms of support but we need more,” he added.

He also queried the rationale behind exportation of critical raw materials, stating that while government encourages farm production of these raw materials, it should ensure satisfaction of the local manufacturers’ usage before exporting such to other countries.

Dr. Oduntan however expressed the hope that stakeholders would actively participate at this year’s show.

help the country achieve its planned food sustainability and further create jobs for youths and women in Nigeria.

Ritvonen disclosed this at a day farmers’ field day event organised by Dizengoff Nigeria Ltd, member of the Balton CP Group (UK) in collaboration with Phinada Integrated Farms.

According to him “we sincerely hope that the planned duty exemption granted to greenhouse will be fully implemented.

“Currently, the process of importing special greenhouse fertilizers required to achieve the desired yields into the country can be made less cumbersome by ensuring that genuine importers certified by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture are recognised and allowed to bring in the fertilizers by passing through fewer number of regulatory agencies.

“We once again, while appreciating the security issues

related to fertilizer importation, humbly request the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development to look into this issue, and use his good office to help in assuaging the current situation.

“Currently tractors that are imported as semi knocked down bear a 35 per cent duty, while fully built and fully knocked down tractors have zero per cent duty. However, duty regulation encourages that most of the tractors that are imported into the country are fully built and this in our opinion will not create employment for Nigeria.

“Previously, most of the tractors we imported to Nigeria, were semi knocked down and this helped in creating jobs for Nigerians at our assembling centre.

“We appeal to the Minister to consider the semi knocked down tractors at no duty, as this will create job opportunity for Nigerians,” he said.

mals.

According to him, “disease usually results from a combination of factors” which include “inadequate feeding and low standard of management. Well fed animals are less likely to become ill than under-fed animals.”

Dr Sam Okunade, Assistant Director (research) at the Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, speaking on the topic “safe handling of pesticides and integrated pest management in storage facilities for food safety,” said because no single method of pest control is sufficient, it is important that the farmers adopt the integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest population.

He also advised that it is important that the farmers kept pesticides and other interactions “to a level that are economically justified and reduced to minimise risks to human health and environment.” Thus, he said, “natural pest control mechanisms are highly encouraged.”

Mrs O Ogunwobi, who spoke on the topic “value addition for cassava, maize and soya beans,” said farming is business and as such, must be taken seriously.

She told more than 200 women who were specifically trained on value addition for cassava, maize and soya beans that there is a need to “diversify the use of cassava or add value to it other than its preparation into traditional food products.

Earlier in his remarks, OCF chairman, Dr Saka Balogun said that the workshop was organised to empower the farmers in the city and its environs in ways that they could improve their yields and consequently, their income.

The chairman, who said the programme would continue with series of follow up programmes, said he was pleased with the turn out and the opportunity granted to the farmers to improve their lives.

Speaking at the event, Chairman, Ogbomoso South Local Government area, Honourable Sunday Adedeji, represented by Alhaji Sanni, charged the participants to make use of what they have been taught at the workshop.

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed (fifth left) and the deputy governor, Elder Peter Kisra (third right), in a group photograph with Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) chairmen, after their swearing-in at the Government House, Ilorin.

From left, Mrs Bukola Olumade-Edun, Miss Olabimpe Olumade-Edun, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi; Chief (Mrs) Funmi Olumade, Deputy National Coordinator, Odua Progressive Union (OPU), Canada and the national coordinator, Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams, at the Oluwo palace, Iwo, Osun State, PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI) and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, congratulating Dr (Mrs) Julianah Akindele at the 68th convocation ceremony of UI, Ibadan.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, flanked by the new Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe and his wife, Chief (Mrs) Aina Adebimpe, during the installation of chiefs in Balogun chieftaincy title line, at the Olubadan palace, Popoyemoja, Ibadan, on Friday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

From left, wife of Kwara State deputy governor, Pastor (Mrs) Felicia B. Kisra; Special Apostle Prophet (Dr) Ezekiel Akanbi Lanlokun and his wife, Ebunoluwa, cutting the 70th birthday cake of Special Apostle Prophet (Dr) Lanlokun, at Cherubium and Seraphim Movement Church, Kwara State, recently.

From left, Critical friend to Voice for Change, Mr Paul Osayande; Output Lead, Key Influencer, Mr Denis Onoise and the state coordinator, Mrs Ruth Okonya, during a press briefing on V4C conference, entitled: “Men for 50/50,” in Lagos, recently.

Chairman aspirant for Oyo State council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Demola Babalola (middle); aspirant for secretary position of the union, Mr Tunde Ogunesan (left) and the chairman, Credential Committee, Oyo NUJ, Mr Nafiu Busari, when Babalola and Ogunesan obtained their election forms at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

From left; Company Secretary, Fan Milk, Mr Olakunle Olusanya; National Sales Manager, Mr Bunmi Aromona; chairman, Lagos State Task Force, Olayinka Egbeyemi; Managing Director, Fan Milk Plc, Mr Hans Padersen and the Director, Empowerment, Monitoring and Compliance, Ministry of Environment, Lagos State, Dr Afolabi Tajudeen, during the presentation of 1,000-unit Safety Reflective Vests to the Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offences, in Ikeja.

19

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Tunde Busari 08127593530 Yejide Gbenga - Ogundare 08116706853 Tunde Ogunesan 08116954634

Nigerian Tribune

The

South-West Editor Kehinde Oyetimi 08074626431

Got news for us; contact: southwesttribune@yahoo.co.uk or southwesttribune@gmail.com

Why I am involved in

boosting agriculture, tourism —Ooni of Ife

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) is the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife which is regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba race. Described by many as a monarch with a very modern bent, Oba Ogunwusi since his emergence has carved a progressive niche for himself. In this interview by MONICA TAIWO, he speaks about both the spiritual and historical place of Ile-Ife in Yoruba evolution including his passion for agriculture, tourism in the South West. Excerpts:

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

PHOTOS: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Y

OUR majesty, it is obvious that you have a preference for white given its usage at almost every part of your palace. Why? White basically signifies purity. Everything that is white stands for purity all over the world; it stands for cleanliness. I have always loved white even before I became a king. To the glory of God, I stand for purity.

Inside

It is generally believed that there is a lot embedded in Ile-Ife; you are a custodian of Yoruba culture. What is the place of Ile-Ife in Yoruba history, especially the people and deities of Ile-Ife? God appointed me to this throne and Ife is called ile to n fe (land of expansion). At some point in human history, mankind was in one place. It has been proven by scholars globally. Anthropologists and archeologists attest to this

that at some point, we were all at one place before everybody moved from that concentration through thousands of years. Let the truth be known that mankind started from Ile Ife. The first humans, Adam and Eve, started from here; it has been proven. Even before mankind was created, it was called the land of the spirits. If you read your Bible and Quran very well, the esoteric world existed; there was a world that was called the pre-genesis world. This was before the creation of man, animals and several elemental forces. We have had elemental, supernatural beings and divine spirits. They lived here for thousands of years before God created mankind.

We have landmarks to show the world. The challenge is that we have not told our story as a black race. Anthropologists hold that mankind and creation started out of tropical Africa; there is no dispute about that. No scholar can dispute

ICON

Wole Olanipekun:

The quintessential advocate

that; but where in tropical Africa? Tropical Africa is West Africa. Which is the predominant tribe in West Africa? It is the Yorubas. Who has the oldest and most ancient culture and tradition? The Yorubas do. Kingship system started from the Yoruba race. Nobody can dispute that. Some anthropologists have actually pinpointed it to Yoruba land that creation of mankind started here. We have all the empirical evidence; we have the landmarks which we are trying to bring out now.

There is a very strong connection between the divine spirits and human beings, but a lot of people have very wrong impressions about the divine spirits. We call them divine spirits, deities or angels. They are all the same; they are messengers of God. They are in charge of so many natuContinues on pg20

PLACES

Oni Memorial Children’s Hospital:

Once upon a paediatric delight

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

‘We must look inward to build a better,

prosperous Yoruba race’

Continued from pg19 ral phenomena. They are the forces behind sunlight, water, fire, wind, land and the earth. They are the forces behind everything nature stands for. And they are very potent.

Which human can survive without nature?

Can you survive without water, food, land or fire? Can you survive without sunlight which provides photosynthesis resulting in oxygen? You cannot survive without all these things. That is the potency of African culture and tradition.

We are trying to bring everything out for people to have a better understanding; every innovation in the world belongs to the deities. The deities have both their positive and negative sides. Take fire for instance. If not properly controlled, it will be destructive. The same thing applies to water, wind and sunlight. Yet, we cannot do without all of them.

The deities have their negative sides. But on the positive sides, they are necessities.

They are the bedrock of every invention and they came from here. That is what I have been telling people which they don’t understand. They usually bring religion into such dialogue and it shouldn’t be.

Religion and nature are two different things. These are natural, elemental forces that a pastor or an imam cannot do without. We cannot survive without nature. You need nature; nature doesn’t need you. So you have to give honour to nature and that is where our deities come in. They are the custodians of nature and they are all messengers of God. Why is it difficult to maximize our potentials given the gamut of such knowledge that we have, especially in taking our rightful place in the world?

It is very pathetic; it is in the Bible and the Quran that people perish because of lack of knowledge. Our people will rather focus on the negative sides of nature rather

Every innovation in the world belongs to the deities. The deities have both their positive and negative sides. than the positive. The western world would rather focus on the positives. It is obvious; everything is so evident. Who has the best weather in the world? It is tropical Africa— West Africa in particular. Everything about us is the best.

Our banana, crude oil, cocoa, pepper, cotton and weather are the best in the world.

Nothing compares to everything that we have. There is no harsh weather in West Africa and guess what again, Africa is the only place in the world that is not subjected to natural disasters.

My point is that through exposure and tourism we want to bring out all that we have for people to appreciate. There is nothing wrong with all these things. God is balanced. Aside from being a monarch, God brought me in to expand our tourism potentials. I am even ready to preach this to generations yet unborn. We must look inwards and appreciate what we have.

Shouldn’t there be some structures on ground to help build your tourism campaign?

All ancient cities in the world are not as better preserved as Ile-Ife. God has blessed Ife-Ife because it is still preserved till today.

For thousands of years, a lot of people attempted to upturn Ife kingdom but it never succeeded. So the beauty is that we have physical landmarks to show the world that indeed mankind started from here. Here, you will see things that defy science, law of gravity, among many others. You will see supernatural occurrences. They are mindboggling. We want to bring everything out for the world to see; that is what we are doing now.

I am particularly awed by everything you just said but how do you feel being the custodian of all these?

I don’t own myself any longer. God, the creator of heaven and earth, is the one that is guiding me in everything. He gives me strength and inspiration. I am 100 per cent loyal to Him; He instructs me daily.

How do you get such instructions from God? Do you believe that no one has seen God before? The closest people that have seen God are the deities. They are the supernatural, elemental forces. They hear God’s voice; you get that kind of thing through the deities and spiritual forces. Christians call it the Holy Spirit. It is real; the Holy Spirit is real.

To the glory of God, I have that privilege. I hear God’s voice clearly every time and He has given me guiding angels to protect me, to watch over me and to lead me right. They are the ones who open my eyes, my heart and my mind. Through their inspiration, I am getting a lot of things done.

It is becoming very obvious that you are passionate about Nigerian youths.

What are your plans for them?

A typical youth has really messed up their sense of reasoning. It is very unfortunate and pathetic. Today’s youths don’t even believe that there is a future. The job I am doing now is orientation and re-orientation. It is also called youth emancipation.

Do not be deceived by a lot of things. The western world did not do much for us.

When I was a young prince, I asked questions such as “what is fundamentally wrong with the black man?” Nothing is wrong with the black man. It is neo-colonialism. They tagged our heritage as bad and evil. That is what is affecting our psyche naturally. I have a very strong movement and many people are beginning to reason with me.

In what areas specifically?

In so many areas: number one is agriculture and number two is tourism. We are the biggest advocates of these two industries in Nigeria today. I am very proud to say we are getting results. We are building the tallest statute in Nigeria; this we will unveil to the public soon; this is done by the youths. This is to show the youths that there is future in this country. We did not import any material. We got all our materials from Nigeria.

In agriculture, we have more than 200,000 youths who are into farming. We have partnered with IITA, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and others that are involved in equipment. We partnered with a lot of organizations: Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry and many others so that we can make youths attracted to agriculture.

Today we are very happy and it is evident in Ife. Ife used to be one of the most troubled zones in Nigeria because of the Ife/Modakeke unrest.

Today I can tell you that we don’t have miscreants in Ife; we are very proud to say that we are making progress irrespective of the national recession.

You talked about the deities earlier as the spirits that guide us and that they live with us. I noticed that in IleIfe, Moremi is held in high esteem.

What is her importance in the history of Ile-Ife? Continues on pg22

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Nigerian Tribune

ICON

Wole Olanipekun: The quintessential advocate

By Tunde Busari

CHIEF Wole Olanipekun, SAN, gave a glimpse of his future personality when in the early 70s he rose against the oppressive rule of senior students at the prestigious Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa and liberated the latter from the former.

The 65-year-old Ikere-Ekiti born advocate considered it inhuman the practice of the seniors who reduced their juniors to goat which must be flogged to obey rule.

His courage instantly warmed him into the hearts of the junior students and eventually won him the chairman of Students Representative Council against all odds.

When he, therefore, entered the University of Lagos as a law undergraduate and emerged secretary of the students union, he was on a familiar terrain and indeed on track to become a national figure in his chosen profession.

Evidence abound that Olanipekun’s life is law and vice versa. He was once the youngest Senior Advocate of Nigeria when he was appointed in 1991.

He also headed the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) among other respectable positions he held in the course of his profession, including Commissioner of Justice in Ondo State and Pro-chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI). His philanthropic service to humanity is an area where he can hardly be outdone.

Olanipekun’s philosophy rests on the platform that every lawyer must contribute to the improvement of the society and refrain from making money and keep it for his or her family alone.

He demonstrated this by donating his salary as the Pro-chancellor of UI into a special fund for scholarship.

He once said: “Any lawyer who practices law making money without contributing to the uplifting of the society, to his immediate environment, such a lawyer would have lived a void life, a life of minus, a life of substitution and I dare say it would have been better if that lawyer had not been born.”

Equally, he believes Nigeria ought to have moved beyond the present level of governance in which poverty walks with two legs on the streets. The lawyer detests corruption with passion and ascribes it to the backwardness the nation is suffering.

The problems in almost all sectors—education, health, transport and others can be tackled if corruption is stamped out of the system.

His trying moment came when he was inundated by threat messages while he was handling the case of the Igwe couples assassinated in Onitsha in 2002. However, he was not intimidated.

Although he does not believe in the use of force to drive home his point, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was not comfortable with Olanipekun during his tenure as NBA president. He was alleg-

Chief Wole Olanipekun edly publicly snubbed by Obasanjo at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) convention. Olanipekun rather than throwing a counter-offensive found his way to the former president

and greeted him. This is one of the attributes that stands him out as a humane leader and a strong Christian.

Olanipekun got the treatment from Obasanjo due to his role as the leader of the legal team that defended the then Adams Oshiomole-led NLC suit filed by the Federal Government following the protest against fuel price hike.

Did he regret his action against the federal government? Olanipekun would tell whoever cares to know that he would do it over again if he finds himself in the same circumstance.

According to him, lawyers are trained to defend the defenseless in face of tyranny.

“I do believe that a lawyer must not fail to act and close his eyes when the treasury is going down the drain. As much as possible, we have been intervening, interjecting and intercepting in the affairs of this country. I also believe that when you do your work as a lawyer, do it with the fear of God because you occupy a vantage position. Don’t do it to bring down the system. What do I mean? We are in a corrupt environment; lawyers must not instigate, aid or abet or sponsor or connive with corruption. A lawyer that reads the statute that God put before us must not offer bribe, must not boast to clients that he knows judges, that when he is charging his fees he is going to give XY thousands or millions to judges. Any lawyer who does that will face the judgment of God,” he stated.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Ogundokun builds LCDA office in honour of Oluwo High Chief Abiola Ogundokun is not a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), yet he keys into the policy of the APC-controlled Osun State government. TUNDE BUSARI reports.

THE recent donation of administrative building to the newly created Iwo East Local Council Development Area by Chief Abiola Ogundokun has caught political observers unawares suggestive of his eye on the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Ogundokun, however, dismissed such suspicion and explained that the donation was his community service to speed up development of the new council and honour the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi after whom he named the office complex.

The commissioning of the project had all the features of major occasion especially that the Osun State Government was scheduled to attend the event held at Olomowewe axis of the town.

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, being the royal father of the donor, had left no stone unturned as he had invited other traditional rulers to be his guests at the occasion.

The Olufon of Ifon, Oba Abdul Maroof Magbagbeola arrived the Oluwo’s palace early. Ogundokun’s residence was also filled with his family members and associates, all showering him with accolade.

While this was going on, Ogbeni Aregbesola called Ogundokun and informed him of his tight schedule in Lagos which might not allow him to attend the commissioning or would delay his arrival.

Ogundokun settled for the latter and spent the free time to host more guests from within and outside Osun State.

Sometime around six in the evening Aregbesola’s convoy arrived the venue and the governor went straight to the building even before he took his seat. The apprecia-

tive crowd welcomed him with ovation as he sat between the Oluwo and Ogundokun.

Aregbesola publicly told the audience the undercurrent between him and Ogundokun and how he almost cancelled the trip.

But he expressed apology for keeping the audience waiting and commended Ogundokun for his philanthropic effort, pointing out that the donation is a rare kind gesture an individual could do for smooth take of the third tear arm of government.

“What Chief Ogundokun has done deserves commendation because we all know what the state of economy in the whole world is now the oil we depend on has failed us. I think the oil crisis is a divine call on us to look inward and diversify into more profitable sources.

“We thank Chief Ogundokun for setting the standard. Since the LCDA were approved by the House of Assembly, this is the first time I visited any. I did not plan to visit them but the pressure Chief Ogundokun put on me forced me to reverse the decision and I think he deserves it,” he said.

Aregbesola’s speech earned him applause but also sent the audience into silence when he painted the picture of the economy.

However, he raised their hope when he said more LCDA would still be created in future to bring government closer to the grassroots.

“We would do everything within our resources to maintain the closeness. You can easily reach chairman of your local government council easier and faster. If you say you want to see the state governor, you must be ready to sleep there,” he said.

The Oluwo was filled with excitement as

he extolled the virtue of Aregbesola whom he described as a focused and God-fearing governor. Oba Akanbi, therefore, called on his people to show understanding to the government.

The monarch also sang the praise of Ogundokun for his consistency since his ascended the throne, urging other Iwo indigenes to imbibe community development spirit, saying doing so would effect rapid development of the town beyond its present state.

“Nothing is little to contribute to your town. Come out now and make your name be counted among the patriotic sons and daughters of the town. I have made a vow that I will always take a lead in moving the town forward,” he said.

Ogundokun also praised Aregbesola and urged him to ensure the local government councils bring dividends of democracy to the grassroots, stating that they are slowed down by corruption and mismanagement.

The Publisher of Conscience International Magazine called for strengthening of local government and review of the 1999 Constitution to make local government administration effective. He also commended the Oluwo whom he said had brought unprecedented development to the town and redefined concept of kingship.

“I resolved to build this secretariat, which I seek your permission to name it as Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi Office Complex’ as my own token contribution to support this administration that is courageous, creative, visionary, focused and determined to spread development to all parts of this state,” he said.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola being assisted by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Akanbi. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

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Nigerian Tribune

‘The Igbos have a strong lineage with Yoruba’ Continued from pg20 Without Moremi, there would not have been a formidable Yoruba land. That is the truth because Ife is the ancestral home of every Yoruba man and woman. In the early years after the death of Christ, between the third and 12th century, many people in Yoruba land left Ile-Ife. This was so because Ile-Ife had been in existence years before the birth of Christ. We have enough evidence to prove that. You cannot talk about Yoruba history without talking about Oyo. Oyo played a pivotal role, because Oyo left from here.

Moremi lived around eighth to 12th century. Then, they lived for so many years; that was the peak of the Yoruba emergence.

Lagos, that is called Eko, left Ife between 14th and 16th century. If Moremi had not conquered the war for Ife, there wouldn’t have been Lagos and so many other towns and great cities that we have now. In Yoruba land, Lagos, the greatest black city, left from Ife. It is the most populous. It is the biggest and the largest city in Yoruba land.

This is my point. We don’t even appreciate the beauty of Moremi. She became a goddess, a goddess of liberty that liberated her people. It was some people, the Ibos who took Ife into captivity.

Kabiyesi, is it Ugbo or the Ibos?

It is the Ibos; here, the real Ibos have a strong lineage in Ife. There is a compound in Ife, the Oluyeri compound in Iremo, where the Igbo language is spoken. They are from Ife and you can trace many of them from Ife to Benin, to Igala; then from Igala to Ibo land and from Benin to Ibo land. Some of them will say they are from the Middle East but the people from the Middle East left from Ife. She liberated her people with “Ina saan”, torchlight. She used local materials to break into the Igbo camp and the war of taking over Ife stopped from then. She sacrificed her only son just to liberate the entire Yoruba race. Ile Oodua, the land of Oduduwa, belongs to the whole Yoruba people. The people that left— the Oyos, Ekitis, Egbas, Remos, Ijebus— have rights here. When they were leaving to set up other kingdoms, they left behind brothers, wives, friends and sisters. We are the ones who are left to take care of our lineage.

After Moremi left, another war struck which was the transatlantic slavery. Moremi was fresh in the memory of every Yoruba son and daughter so that when they started taking them in the early 14th century into slavery, they would cut a tree and carve the statue of Moremi. Because immediately Moremi left, Ife carved a statue of Moremi, in gold and bronze. Ife people are known as the best bronze and gold casters all over the world. Their works are older than that of the old Roman Empire which has been proven all over the world; Ife has the oldest in the world.

While in slavery, they didn’t have access to all those materials; they casted in wood and they were praying to God that Moremi’s spirit would liberate them and bring them back home. The slave masters took note of their craft. But truthfully, the spirit of Moremi came to their aid. These were the slaves that they took into their various houses to take care of their homes. These slaves told their masters of their affinity to Moremi. Their masters began to let them go. Some of them started coming home in the early 18th and 19th centuries. You would notice Yorubas within the Brazilian quarters bearing English names — Sawyer, Da-zousas, Dasylva, Williams, Cole. Those were the slaves that prayed to the spirit of Moremi and eventually returned home.

Before the scramble for Africa, over 80 per cent of West Africa was Yoruba land.

This was all the way to Mali, the Bantus.

We had a lot of things in common before the Islamic Jihad and the Fulanis came from the Middle East to take over a lot of things up North.

My point is they carved out a place in Yoruba land which is now called the liberation area. Many slaves that were freed were brought back to the liberation area. The aborigines of that place still speak Yoruba; that is Liberia. It was carved out of Yoruba

The greatest country in the world today was founded with the spirit of Moremi. Look at the statue of liberty; look at Moremi’s statue here. It is the same.

They didn’t change it.

land. They also did at Sierra-Lone and the capital is called Freetown. That is still the spirit of Moremi. It brought the blacks back because they invoked her spirit.

Even the Roman, Greek and French Empires saw the powerful spirit of Moremi; they took on that spirit and it was called one of their ascended masters. The Illuminates and others like them took it over and they call on her spirit and it answers them. When they started fighting among themselves, they said they needed liberation. So, all of them went to a land called the United States of America, land of liberty, land of freedom. They used Moremi’s statue and spirit to set up the United States of America. The greatest country in the world today was founded with the spirit of Moremi. Look at the statue of liberty; look at Moremi’s statue here. It is the same.

They didn’t change it. That was even the second statue. The first one was a black woman; they took it back to France because it was a gift from the French to the Americans when they wanted to start the USA as a nation.

The USA is less than 250 years old. They gave them the black one but they felt they didn’t need to make the deity a black woman so they had to make it a white woman. It is one of the most popular statues in the world today. It has that touch of

Moremi, the same hand.

It was in the news sometimes ago that a particular monarch in the South West said his people left Ile Ife to resettle at their present site. He insisted that they were the original owners of Ile-Ife. How true is this?

If he knows the depth of what is called Ife, he won’t be talking like that. He doesn’t know anything. But this is not the time for me to respond to that. Yes he can talk about the lineage of Oranife, which is Sango’s lineage. They both came to this world twice.

First, it was in the spirit realm and the second time, it was in the physical. There is Ife oodaye; there is Ife ooyeelagbo and the third Ife is Ile Ife, now Ile-Ife. He does not know the story of Ife oodaye; that is the Ife of the land of the spirit. Everything that happened in the land of the spirit of the first Ife happened again in the second Ife, so he couldn’t link the two.

At the first Ife, they were all spirit, Oduduwa (aduwa). It means prayer.

Who doesn’t pray? That is the meaning of Oduduwa; people just call it Oduduwa. It is aduwa meaning prayer. He is called the word, the mouth of God, word of prayers.

If you go to the Arabianworld, the Muslim world, it is duwa that they call prayers which is adura in Yoruba. That is Oduduwa.

23 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

PLACES

Oni Memorial Children’s Hospital:

Once upon a paediatric delight

When Oni and Sons handed over his estate to government, his vision was a state-of-the-art hospital that will do justice to his memory as a philanthropist, but the situation of the memorial hospital today seems to be out of his vision and expectations. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, after a visit to the facility, reports her findings.

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HE brown blocked building sits in fade glory in a high brow area of Ibadan, giving a dignified appearance of a past that was filled with glamour and beauty. A walk round the compound further reiterates what one sees from the outside; that the building was one built in affluence and wealth. And in times past, it had hosted the elites as well as the crème de la crème of the society.

This is the first compound on Oni and Sons way, off Basorun M.K.O Abiola, Ring road and it is the location of the Oni and Sons Children’s hospital, one of the leading pediatric clinics owned by the Oyo state government which at present seems to be on a downward trend like other government facilities The building was donated to the Oyo/ Western state government to serve as a pediatric hospital by Chief Theophilus Adediran Oni popularly called Oni and Sons or Oni o suwon, a building and construction giant.

Oni and sons was born in Oke mesi town, Ekiti state in 1913 and he died in February 1975. His company was the first indigenous construction company in Nigeria and he was known for his philanthropic activities, the greatest of which is the donation of his sprawling family estate built on 15 acres of land to government.

The 65-room building known then as Goodwill House was outfitted with modern conveniences; outside garage, staff apartment, horse stable, Olympic size swimming pool and various state of the art facilities, was given to the government free and it is what is now known as T. A. Oni memorial children hospital popularly called Oni memorial.

But the beauty and the glamour of the goodwill house is now a thing of the past; faded paints, grown bushes and poor environment. The building is a mere shadow of its self and couldn’t even keep up with the façade of the beautiful layout of a well designed estate.

He Goodwill House now lives on past glory and many that knew it during its reign as one of the most beautiful houses in Ibadan cannot reconcile what it is now to the look hey expected it to have as they believe it is too unkempt and an insult to the memory of the philanthropist.

According to an Octogenarian, it is a sad development. “When that house was handed over to the government, it was in good shape; very beautiful with landscaped lawns. In fact, many people started going to the clinic just to have an experience of being treated in such a beautiful environment.

The situation now is very terrible and it is so shameful that the building which should be a memorial to a good man is now rotting into such an unbecoming environment,” Pa.

Outside Oni & Sons Hospital. PHOTOS: YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE

Office of the Chief Nursing Officer

Pade Ojo old Nigerian Tribune.

Seni Alao, who lives near the hospital, stated that it is not surprising that such is happening. “I am not surprised at all, I have lived around here for about ten years and I have watched it degenerate daily as there is no obvious sign of maintenance. This hospital is not alone with this rot, it is merely afflicted with the same malaise that seems to afflict almost every government owned structure across the country; lack of maintenance culture and dearth of facilities,” Alao said.

And the facilities are now below average, said Babatunde Araoye, whose toddler just got discharged from the hospital after being

When that house was handed over to the government, it was in good shape; very beautiful with landscaped lawns.

The door to the waiting room

hospitalized for two weeks. He told Nigerian Tribune that the experience was not palatable and very unpleasant as the facilities available were not up to average.

“I know that people complain a lot about

the situation of things in public hospitals but I haven’t had a firsthand experience because we have a family doctor in a private hospital. But because my child got sick in Continues on pg24

24 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Our institutions will soon become very viable —Health Commissioner

Dr Azeez Adeduntan is the Commissioner for Health in Oyo state, in this interview with SADE OGUNTOLA, he speaks on the perceived rot in the health sector, government’s efforts, health insurance scheme, plans and upcoming projects aimed at ensuring that all public health institutions in the state move up to international standards, among other issues. Excerpts:

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HEN you were sworn in as the State Commissioner for health, you had a facility tour of hospitals in the state, what did you find and what was your impression of the situation of these hospitals?

My impression is that we still have a long way. The facilities are nothing to write home about but by the Grace of God, we are going to correct it. I came from the United States about a month ago on an assignment for the Ministry of Health and with the full support of the governor, to see how we can turn around all these facilities. Early in the New Year, new equipments are going to come to all these hospitals, including hospital instruments, consumables, medications, and materials. And I assure you that most of our institutions will soon become very viable and be able to offer services to all our patients.

Sir, you said they are in deplorable state, what did you see?

When I said they were in deplorable states, I mean the facilities are nothing to write home about. Some of the buildings were not habitable. But we are already renovating some of them. If you go to Oyo, we have a maternal centre now that was donated to us by MTN for children and women. If you go to Ogbomoso, it is the same thing. But to cut the long story short, yes the facilities are not the best but the government is trying its best at this point in time and I am sure by this time next year, some of those deplorable situations that I saw would have been corrected.

I am very passionate about the Ring Road State Hospital; I was a house officer there and I knew how it was before. That is why we are going to turn it around. Yes, you are right that its security is not good; you are right that the level of functionality of the hospital is not the best but that is one hospital that if it remains one second for me as the commissioner of health, I will like to turn around because it is an interface between the primary health care and the teaching hospital.

As part of efforts to turn these hospitals around, we are launching an endowment fund also early in the new-year to be able to get money to revitalise our hospitals.

What are the most important things that we need at Ring Road State Hospital? We need security of life and property because of violation by hoodlums. The operating rooms and the wards need to be revitalised and above all, adequate staffing and adequate remuneration is very important. But with the governor’s support, on ring road hospital by this time next year, we will be signing a different tune.

Inadequate nursing staff is a problem in some hospitals like Adeoyo maternity hospital, what do you intend to do about this?

We are already recruiting staffs for the hospital. You know that due to aging and staff attrition, people were leaving civil service. The state hospital management board that is charged with the responsibility of recruitment is doing its best to ensure that we increase our nursing staff to cater for the needs of everybody that goes to our hospitals, not just Adeoyo Maternity Hospital alone. The economy situation is affecting Oyo state like other states in Nigeria but the governor is doing his best to make sure that all employees are happy.

Oyo state recently signed into law

Dr Adeduntan approved to assist people cannot be less than N200 million to access treatment outside the country. Children are also in

When I said they were in deplorable states, I mean the facilities are nothing to write home about.

Some of the buildings were not habitable. a bill on state Insurance Health scheme, how can people in the private sector benefit from this scheme?

It is meant for all Nigerians irrespective of the sector they belong. Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) would be involved and anybody can buy into the health insurance regardless of their race, tribe or religion. When it is fully launched in the New Year, people that are interested can enroll.

Initially, the government would be subsidising the amount enrollees will be paying but as the scheme grows, it would be independent of the government. Government cannot continue to fund everything; we are bringing PPP into our services.

When is the state’s cardiovascular centre becoming functional and why the centre?

Since I assumed office as health commissioner, I have received a lot of letters seeking for assistance to travel abroad for medical care; some to Pakistan, India and US for treatment of even small ailments that can be easily treated in Nigeria.

Small ailments like what?

They include heart and kidney problems.

Some ask for support to travel to India to correct their poor vision. Government has been spending a lot of money on this to assist staff and members of the public.

About how much is spent on this?

Since, I came in June, 2016, what we have

the group. That is what we want to stop by renovating the Ring Road State Hospital.

Oyo state must have a functional tertiary hospital that we can refer our patients to, UCH is a federal institution. Moreover, the most common cause of sudden death in Nigeria today is heart attack, usually caused by high blood pressure. Many Nigerians don’t go for regular medical checkups. So the whole idea of putting up the cardiovascular centre at the Ring road state hospital is to ensure that our people need not die from problems like this. Pakistanis, Egyptians or Indians are not better than Nigerians. What makes the difference is just the quality of leadership. And we have a governor who is very much in support of health because he knows that health is wealth.

For the centre, we need money but already we have trained personnel that could be deployed to the centre. Also, there are Nigerians ready to come back home to help us with the centre. No doubt, in Nigeria, we have issues of security of life and property. In securing Ring Road Hospital, a police station to cater for security is being built. The place is to be fenced off.

We need to generate electricity there so that people need not sleep in the dark. But I assure you that even if Dr Adeduntan does not do any other thing, Ring Road state hospital will be and must be revitalised because that is our best hospital in Oyo state.

Living on past architectural glory Continues from pg23

the night and our doctor was out of town, we came to Oni and son with the hope that the situation will be better because of its reputation as one of the best pediatric hospital but reverse is the case.

“Facilities here are almost on ground level, it is zero in rating or almost zero. From the entrance to the wards and all facilities, it is not encouraging at all and is not in the position to serve both the staff and the patients effectively.

“The two major wards; prep and ward one (upstairs) use one major toilet which is downstairs and the only toilet upstairs is reserved for the nursing staff. The prep ward reserved for day old babies has two adjoining wars and only one of this is working and serves as the waiting room for mothers and relatives of in-patients while the second one is out of use,” he said.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that bed space is also a continuous challenge in the hospital as the number of available bed space continues to reduce daily without obvious signs of any ongoing effort to repair or replace damaged ones.

“Aside from the almost free financial aspect that can be pointed as the only redeeming feature, every other aspect hinges on the need for urgent attention from government and even other well meaning agencies and individuals.

“From reduced bed space to irregular power supply and with one borehole facility serving the whole compound, in-patients or their relatives have to transverse the old step that leads up from the entrance of the hospital to the ground floor to fetch water to use in every part of the hospital The swimming pool is now home to pests and rodents that may even be a threat to the workers and the patients on admission whose immunity may already be low due to

diseases,” Araoye stated.

He added that the numerous calls by some for urgent attention to be given to the situation of things in the hospital are indeed necessary and not an exaggeration.

Over the years, there had been various complaints about the situation of facilities and equipment in virtually all major government hospitals, Oni memorial inclusive and this had been a major point of concern for various stakeholders in the health care sector.

And the situation in Oyo State according to many is very grave as most equipment are said to be obsolete, outdated with many in need of repairs and outright replacement.

Many have lost faith in the services of public health institutions, paving way for even mushroom private hospitals to thrive.

“I can never take my child to public hospitals because it is like an invitation to trouble or what you can call a suicide mission as many lack the basic resources to provide services and even the staff are usually undisciplined and nonchalant about their work; giving substandard care in an environment devoid of basic necessities like water, power supply, laboratory equipment for tests, basic drugs and emergency provision materials,” Fafowora Odunayo said.

Many have called on the government to pay attention to the numerous complaints about public health institutions in the state especially the Oni memorial which is the only hospital that the government has that specializes in pediatric care and also to encourage people with like minds like the late Oni and sons to hand over their properties to government for public use.

“I hope the government does something fast because for me, I don’t think I can give a property to government seeing that they didn’t maintain the one handed over to them. It is very discouraging,” Fafowora concluded.

25

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

ecoscope

Nigerian Tribune

with Doyin Adeoye

m:08038000394 e:doyinadeoye@tribuneonlineng.com t:@kreatif_ink

Stories by Doyin Adeoye

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NVIRONMENTAL agency, WaterAid Nigeria has made a shocking revelation that 58 million of 700 million urban dwellers around the world living without basic sanitation are Nigerians.

It also revealed that 13.5 million people living in Nigeria’s towns and cities have no choice but to defecate in the open using roadsides, railway tracks and even plastic bags dubbed ‘flying toilets.’

Therefore, to mark the World Toilet Day, which was held on Saturday, November 19, WaterAid Nigeria has called on government to keep its promise to deliver universal access to sanitation, following the release of new analysis showing it ranks third in the world and worst in Sub-Saharan Africa for having the most urban-dwellers living without a safe, private toilet.

During his remarks, WaterAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr Michael Ojo, said that “Our analysis shows just how many nations in the world are failing to give sanitation the political prioritisation and financing required, with Nigeria featuring strongly at the top of that list.

“WaterAid’s Overflowing Cities: The State of the World Toilets report looks at the problem of urban sanitation and the health threats to our world, as the UN predicts by 2050, two-thirds of the global population will live in towns and cities. Nigeria too has a huge population and extremely rapid rural–urban migration; however, economic development and urban planning have not kept pace with the sheer volumes of people arriving – and being born – every day in its towns and cities.

“The report highlights the challenges facing 700 million urban dwellers around the world living without basic sanitation, 58 million of whom are in Nigeria.

The problem is so big that 13.5 million people living in Nigeria’s towns and cities have no choice

World Toilet Day: Nigeria ranked worst in Sub-Saharan Africa for urban sanitation As WaterAid Nigeria calls for action

but to defecate in the open using roadsides, railway tracks and even plastic bags dubbed ‘flying toilets.’

“Nigeria also ranks top in the countries falling furthest behind in reaching people with urban sanitation. For every urban dweller reached with sanitation

since 2,000, two were added to the number living without, an increase of 31 million people in the past 15 years.”

Other findings on Nigeria in the report also revealed that the country is third, after India and China, on a list of top 10

that improved sanitation impacts not only health but livelihoods too, and has the potential to transform societies and economies by amongst other things, creating new green jobs and a healthier, more sustainable future.

“Current evidence shows that working days lost to poor sanitation costs the global economy approximately $4 billion per year. Loss of productivity due to illnesses caused by lack of sanitation and poor hygiene practices is estimated to cost many countries up to five per cent of GDP. A lack of access to sanitation cost the global economy $222.9 billion in 2015, up from $182.5 billion in 2010, a rise of 22 per cent in just five years.”

The agency has therefore called out to the Nigerian government to ensure that schools, healthcare facilities and birthing centres have safe toilets, clean running water and functional handwashing facilities, to reduce maternal, newborn and child deaths and strengthen children’s ability to attend school.

COP 22: Nations take forward global climate action COUNTRIES accelerated global climate action across a broad range of areas at the 2016 UN climate change conference as they fast-tracked the political and practical aims of the historic Paris Climate Change Agreement.

While multi-billion and multi-million dollar packages of support for clean technologies; initiatives for boosting water and food security in developing countries were also among the many

new announcements and initiatives launched, governments also set a rapid deadline of 2018 to complete the rule book for operationalising the Paris Agreement to ensure confidence, cooperation and its success over the years and decades to come.

Countries like Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Switzerland and the United States announced over $23 million

Environmental contractors operating without certification letter will be prosecuted —AEPB THE Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has said that it will prosecute environmental contractors in the territory, who operate without the board’s certification letter.

Giving this warning while receiving a delegation of estate managers and environmental contractors operating in the FCT on Saturday in Abuja, the Acting Director of the board, Mrs Omolola Olanipekun, said the board had the mandate to issue certification letters to environmental contractors to enable them operate legally in the city.

“If we see any unlicensed

countries with the most urban dwellers without safe, private toilets (by numbers).

With the theme, ‘Toilets and Jobs,’ the annual event this year highlights the fact

environmental contractors, we will arrest and take them to our mobile court. The only way we can easily arrest them is when the public collaborates with us by assisting us identify contractors who evacuate waste to dumping site.

“When we notice that such contractors are not licensed by the board, we can prosecute them.

The essence of the prosecution is to promote environmental sanitation and change the negative attitude of the residents towards the environment.”

She also noted that the collaboration between AEPB and estate

managers will also help the board identify their challenges in waste management in order for it to know how to tackle such problems.

Olanipekun noted that the aim of the meeting was to enhance the relationship between the board and the two bodies and promote environmental health for effective service delivery.

Mr Vincent Okoro, who spoke on behalf of the estate managers, called on residents of the FCT to obey environmental laws and regulations to enable AEPB achieve its mandate and vision.

to provide a major scale-up of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) as it delivers tailored capacity building and technical assistance at the request of developing countries across a broad range of mitigation and adaptation technology and policy sectors.

According to a press release by the UNFCCC, the conference’s vision commits these countries to various ambitious aims, including achieving 100 per cent renewable energy between 2030 and 2050.

Executive Secretary, UNFCCC, Patricia Espinosa, said, “The landmark Paris Agreement set the course and the destination for global climate action. Here in Marrakesh, governments underlined that this shift is now urgent, irreversible and unstoppable.

“During COP 22, the strength, the support for and the robustness of the Paris Agreement was furthered underlined, with nine more ratifications received at the UN in New York and the promise of many more to come. Nations reaffirmed that the agreement is in their national interests and a key catalyst to a better, more prosperous future for their citizens.”

COP 22, hosted by Morocco’s

King Mohammed VI, saw almost 500 heads of state or government and ministers attend. It also witnessed the first meeting of the Paris Agreement’s top governing body following early entry into force of the Paris Agreement on 4 November.

At the close Fiji was announced as the host of the 2017 UN climate conference, with Germany assisting the Pacific island nation by holding it in Bonn.

The shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact.

—Barack Obama

26

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Bode Adewumi m:08055001765 e:bodekafi@yahoo.com

Airtel, HNI unveil 3-2-1 Service to provide free public service messages AIRTEL Nigeria has partnered with global development organisation, Human Network International (HNI), to unveil the 3-2-1 Service, a call-in system that provides free, on-demand information - ranging from healthcare to good governance to Nigerians, including those in rural communities.

The 3-2-1 Service provides public service information on-demand, to mobile phone users in English as well as in Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and Pidgin English.

Using recorded messages by indigenous speakers, the 3-2-1 Service is convenient for all Nigerians, regardless of age, education and literacy.

By dialing 321 on their Airtel prepaid lines, users will connect the caller to voice prompts in any of the afore said indigenous languages or in English.

Speaking in Lagos at a formal ceremony to announce the call-in system, the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, said Airtel is committed to creating platforms that will empower Nigerians as well as uplift telecoms consumers in the various communities where it operates.

“As a major stakeholder, we are excited to partner with HNI to create a huge platform that offers a plethora of opportunities to enable millions of Nigerians across various communities to lead better and healthier lives.We are confident that the 321 initiative will help transform lives in many locations across the country,” said Mr Gbemiga Owolabi, HR Director, Airtel Nigeria, who represented Ogunsanya.

“By turning simple mobile phones into search engines, Human Network International and Airtel are giving Nigerians an entirely new way to access information using technology they already own,” Said Mr Harriet Blest, HNIs Country Manager in Nigeria.

From left, Head, Public Relations, Mr Isreal Bolaji; Head, Marketing, Mr Dare Kafar, both of Startimes Nigeria; General Manager, NTA Channel 10, Mr Ajayi Ricky and Vice-President, Startimes Nigeria, Mr Justin Zhang, during the unveiling of Startimes Nigeria Integrated Digital Television, which took place in Lagos, last week. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

ITU Telecom World 2016: How NCC, MainOne showcased Nigeria’s ICT opportunities Stories By Bode Adewumi

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HE Federal Government and the private sector have made an appeal to foreign investors at the just-concluded 2016 International Telecommunication Union conference, Telecoms World 2016, in Bangkok, Thailand, where they

presented the country’s developments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) opportunities for future investment.

Nigeria’s participation, which was put together by the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was led by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission,

LG Electronics prepares for Yuletide with innovative products THE evolution of technology has reached a point where anything is available at the touch of a button; shopping, learning, working and entertainment, can all be accessed from the comfort of our homes with great connectivity.

But it comes at a cost; and a relatively crucial one at this season of festivity, when consumers all

over the world are scrambling to replace their worn out electrical appliances with latest technology that is reasonably affordable for the comfort of their homes.

The ability of latest innovative electronics technology to meet the needs of consumers has proven that meaningful time could be saved and channeled to something more pro-

Technology Times elevates Badaru to board chairman TECHNOLOGY Times Media Limited has announced that its Board of Directors has named its current Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Shina Badaru, as Chairman and member of the Board of Directors to take effect from December 31, 2016.

Badaru is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Technology Times, which he founded in 2004. The company has grown to become the trusted provider of news and information on the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in Nigeria.

Badaru will stay till the end of 2016 when a new management team will be named to drive the growth of the Nigerian technology media or-

Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Nasir El-Rufai, Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and MainOne’s Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke.

Speaking during the panel session on, “Smart Communities as the key to a Digital Nigeria”, Danbatta spoke about the oppor-

ganisation into its second decade in delivering technology news and information to readers across Nigeria, Africa and beyond, the company said.

Announcing the appointment, Mrs Adebola Adenekan, Head of Corporate Services at Technology Times said that the Board of Directors has also confirmed that the company will announce new talents to drive the consolidation of market leadership by the organisation and value innovation foray into new industry segements in the Nigerian technology market.

“The Board has decided that in his new role as Chairman, Mr Badaru will help take Technology Times to the next growth phase by shap-

ing the direction of consolidation of market leadership and business foray into value innovation in new business segments straddling entertainment, payments, e-commerce, among others,” she said.

Adenekan said the appointment of Mr Badaru as Chairman of Technology Times validates the Board and Management’s confidence in him to lead the organisation’s overarching strategic investments in new market segments that fosters the founding vision of the company.

“Badaru is a key technology industry pioneer in Nigeria and as our nation stands at the cusp of a new vista, we are excited that he has been called upon again to lead us at this pivotal phase,” Adenekan said.

ductive. This is where LG’s unique portfolio of convenience enhancing electronics leaves the company well poised for success as holiday shoppers seek out the perfect gifts for their loved ones. As the shopping season begins in earnest the importance of online retail outlets continue to grow. Products are deliberately designed for this season to cater for the needs of consumers who are ever willing to take advantage of the various discounting offers that surrounds deals during the holiday season.

During this season TVs plays a unifying role by creating the atmosphere for people to share meaningful experience and the technology’s ability to reach people all over the world is on the increase. It is expected that consumers would go for large UHD TVs to upgrade the visual capabilities of their respective homes, it is important to note that immersive high quality audio systems play a key role in achieving the perfect viewing experience. There is no doubt TVs are always in high demand during the holiday season with consumers trying to get the best deals up for grabs.

tunities for investment in Nigeria, aided by flexible regulatory policies.

Buttressing his comments, the Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Funke Opeke, described the Telecom Infrastructure gaps in the country and the opportunities available for investment.

She highlighted as example, the government-assisted Infrastructure Company (Infraco) project, where MainOne is a licensee for Lagos State, which aims to expand broadband penetration from the current 20 per cent to over 30 per cent targeted in the National Broadband Plan for 2018. According to her, licensees for five other regions of the country are currently available for bid.

Opeke highlighted the tremendous potentials Nigeria’s ICT industry offers to investment, underlining Nigeria 80 million internet users, the growing population of smartphone users, and the country’s over 100 per cent voice penetration.

She noted that most regions of the country are still under-served in terms of ICT deployment and reiterated that commitment of the government to diversify the economy from oil will require greater ICT penetration to create jobs.

“Availability of broadband infrastructure across all regions of Nigeria and the technology adoption this will facilitate will greatly accelerate the pace of development in Nigeria, facilitate increased non-oil trade, enhance the digital economy, improve public access to education, health and other social services and aid job creation,” Opeke said.

27

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

with Soji-Eze Fagbemi m:08179047919 e:sojiezek@yahoo.co.uk

Fuel price increase is not possible, it’ll kill Nigerians —PENGASSAN President

As body decries neglect of stakeholders in proposed oil sector reform Stories from Soji-Eze Fagbemi and Olatunde Dodondawa

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ITH the present economic situation in the country and suffering of Nigerians, the President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Olabode Johnson, has declared that it is totally impossible for the government to further increase the pump price of fuel.

Olabode emphasized that any attempt to further increase fuel price is meant to kill Nigerians, who are already going through riots suffering and groaning in poverty.

“Definitely, we can’t go up again,” he said in an interview with Nigerian Tribune, adding that, “any increase in pump price now will be very unfair to Nigerians.”

He pointed out that the government would not tow that line and take further step to increase the pump price from the present N145 per litre.

Olabode, however, warned that the organized labour will take appropriate action if there is any plan toward that direction. He warned: “If there is anything like that I believe the stakeholders and everybody will be called in to action.”

“For me as a labour leader, any increase in pump price now will be very unfair to Nigerians. Why I keep saying this is because the NNPC has increased their own from N141 to N145, then people are saying that there is going to be increase. It is not possible.

“There is a sealing and there is a bar. It is only when NNPC or anybody goes beyond that we can say there are issues. For a long time, people have been selling below that bar and now that NNPC is going for N145 some are also going for N141 and N143.

“That is the beauty of the industry. I don’t think the government will take another step and as labour, if there is anything like that I believe the stakeholders and everybody will be called in to action. Anything outside that is not acceptable because Nigerians are groaning and suffering.”

He pointed out that the action which the government is taking on the dollar exchange rate would further help to bring down the fuel price, it it becomes stabilized.

“Now the government is also looking at what they can do with the dollar parity, there

Chris Ngige

Francis Oloyede

was a meeting that you cannot buy above N390 to a dollar and sell above this. For us and Nigerians, any increase is going to affects Nigerians the more and like a friend keeps telling me any sacrifice that has no terminal date is meant to kill somebody.

“Definitely we can’t go up again. I also know again that with what the government is trying to do on the issue of dollar exchange rate; before the end of the year we will see the price coming down,” he said.

Meanwhile, the association condemned the

proposed plans by the Federal Government to scrap some selected regulatory agencies in the oil and gas industry and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) without involving stakeholders in the industry.

According to a statement signed by the PENGASSAN National Public Relations Officers, Emmanuel Ojugbana, the sssociation noted, “while it is important to note that a wholesome reform in the oil and gas industry is desirable and proper, it is equally unadvisable to contemplate any sort of restructuring

NUP demands N25,000 minimum wage THE Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has demanded for N25,000 as new minimum pension. The union said it is sad that many pensioners were still paid less than N5,000 monthly, even with the high rate of inflation and recession.

The President of NUP, Comrade Abel Afolayan, while addressing the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union in Abuja recently, said most of the state pensioners were being owed over 12 months arrears of pension.

He, however, praised the governors of Lagos, Jigawa, Anambra, Enugu and Yobe states for not owing pensioners. He urged

defaulting governors and states to make amend.

“We want you to make amend so that old men will not be forced to curse you with their grey hair,” he said.

While the NUP is demanding N25,000 as the new national minimum pension per month, the union also canvassed immediate payment of the 18 months arrears of the 33 per cent pension to civil pensioners and 39 months areas owed police pensioners.

On its new demand, Afolayan declared that it was criminal for a pensioner to collect less than N5,000 monthly in this time of serious economic recession.

without the buy-in of the very persons such action will directly or indirectly impact.

“It is curious to note that a critical aspect of organisational reforms like the work force would be over-looked in the current contemplation.”

PENGASSAN said it was not aware of any known channel other than the National Assembly with powers to either repeal or enact laws on existing corporations and agencies duly set up by law.

The senior staff trade union said that its attention was drawn to a well-publicized proposal by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to ‘restructure’ the Oil and Gas industry particularly the scrapping of selected regulatory agencies and NNPC, adding that several stakeholders’ forum had been called with regards to such action plan by the Ministry.

It noted that the Association has been at the fore front of eventual passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly.

“We had severally made input known on some burning issues which include job security, job creation, transparency in fiscal regime, infrastructural development, promotion of local content, local refining capacity, community development and wealth creation for Nigerians.

“While exercising tremendous restraint at joining issues, we owe it a duty to the general public and our stakeholders to state that we are completely in the dark with regards to the proposed industry road map.

“We have continued to serve as the voice of reason within the Nigerian set up insisting on genuine reforms that will sanitize the system and regain the confidence of Nigerians and Stakeholders in the industry.”

The Association expressed readiness to support any initiative aimed at revamping the oil and gas industry just as it will challenge under-development and impoverishment of Nigerians under the guise of restructuring.

“From the foregoing, we wish to advise a second look at our initial observations and clarifications with regards to the passage of the PIB. On our part, we assure Nigerians of our total commitment to service delivery, job security, job creations, diligence and hard work that will grow and expand the frontiers of the Oil and Gas sector of the economy,” it said.

Recession: Labour Minister calls for support of stakeholders in labour sector THE Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has urged stakeholders in the labour sector to support Federal Government’s efforts at minimizing the adverse effect of recession on Nigerian workers.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Clemet Illoh was speaking while declaring open the 4th Registrar of Trade Unions Annual Workshop with the theme: “The Role of Social Partners in Combating the Challenges of Economic Recession.”

“A lot needs to be done to stem the unwelcome tide of recession. Stakeholders

in industrial relations must come together to proffer ways of minimizing, if not totally eliminating its adverse effects, as workers bears the major brunt of recession with the survival of trade unions threatened, and issues of downsizing, redundancy, casualization, and indecent work among others on the increase,” he said.

Speaking further, Ngige expressed optimism that various actions spearheaded by the Federal Government will improve economic activities and steer the nation’s economy out of recession.

He advised stakeholders in the labour sector

to bargain in good faith, open communication and appropriate disclosure of relevant information devoid of deceit, delay and denial.

He said at the end of the workshop, participants would be able to develop strategies for overcoming challenges of economic recession and also enhance increased productivity for national development.

In his remarks, the Country Director of ILO, Denims Zulu commended the Ministry for proactively facilitating the platform which will avail stakeholders in the labour sector the opportunities to discuss and proffer solution to the adverse effects of recession on

Nigerian workers.

In their separate messages the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his Trade Union Congress TUC Counterpart Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, stated that recession poses a lot of challenges to the industrial relations milieu as workers, pensioners and their family are mostly affected.

The president of the two labour centres urged the Federal Government to give the review of the existing minimum wage the attention it deserved as increase in wages can also serves as a way out of recession.

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016 28 communitynews Community raises alarm over alleged harassment Olayinka Olukoya-Abeokuta

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HE Anisere-Ipamesan Community Development Association, Sango/ Ota, Ogun State, has raised the alarm over alleged harassment and intimidation, by a Naval personnel (name withheld), of residents of the community.

In a petition written to the Chief of Naval Staff entitled: “Harassment, intimidation, threats to life and general conduct unbecoming of officers and gentlemen by Naval personnel in Sango/Ota. The petition, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, disclosed that the Naval personnel was in the habit of aiding and abetting the activities of land grabbers and speculators in Sango/Ota. The petition, was also sent to the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2; the Commandant, Nigeria Navy School of Music, Ota, and the Police Area Commander, Sango.

The leaders of the community said that the Naval

personnel had continued to cause breach of peace in the area, by engaging in acts of misconduct, adding that several complaints had been made on the personnel and some other officers and men to the Commandant, Nigerian Navy

School of Music, Ota had yielded no result.

The petition reads: “Since last year in Sango Ota, the presence of Naval personnel is likened to that of the proverbial masquerade that threatens both the old and the young with im-

minent death or maiming.

“It is so bad that land grabbers, area boys and even parties in chieftaincy titles now secure the services of Naval personnel to instill fears in innocent Nigerians by maltreating opponents.

“Without being immodest, one continues to wonder if it is the duty of Naval personnel to follow land speculators and even become their errand boys in the present day Nigeria.

Must the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy be

Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (fourth left), laying the foundation block of the Asaba Ultra-Moden Mechanic Village. With him are Commissioner for Transport, Mr Vincent Uduaghan (second right); the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Peter Mrakpor (second left) and others in Asaba, on Thursday. PHOTO: EBENEZER ADUROKIYA

Oke-Ogun: Group appeal to Ajimobi over doctors’ indolence act

By Tunde Adegbola

A community group, OkeOgun Progressive Youths Forum (OPYF), has appealed to Oyo State government to call doctors posted to the state-owned hospitals and maternity centres in the area to order.

The group alleged absence on duty by the doctors, saying this does not guarantee safety of lives of members of the public.

This was contained in a press release issued after the meeting of the forum, at Okeho in Kajola Local Government Area of the state, jointly signed by its chairman, Mr Adewale Adelodun and secretary, Mr Salami Adio, respectively.

According to the release, “We understand that the purpose of establishing general hospitals and maternity centres by the state government is to bring healthcare delivery nearer to the people in a particular environment, but in Oke-Ogun

area, the case is different.

“Doctors posted to the area have imbibed the habit of reporting to duty at their own convenient period, to the fact that patients, who need doctors to attend them would not see any. Some patients were even forced

to go to private hospitals for treatment since they were unable to find them (doctors) at the government hospital.

“Oyo State Ministry of Health, that posted those doctors to the area expected so much from them, particularly to dis-

ICDU lauds Okowa on road rehabilitation Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

IDJERHE Clan Development Union (ICDU) has commended the governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for the rehabilitation work going on at the Jesse town dual carriage way.

The national organising secretary of the union in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State,

Chief Peter Efurhievwe, gave the commendation at the ongoing Iyeri festival.

While addressing journalists in Jesse town on the occasion of the installation of chieftaincy titles on deserving sons, Chief Efurhievwe, who bagged the chieftaincy title of the Yoma mi Yoma I of Idjerhe Kingdom, applauded the governor on his transformation agenda

across the community and Delta State in general.

He, however, decried the deplorable state of the roads leading to the outskirt of Idjerhe Kingdom, Boboruku from Jesse town and other parts of the agrarian community that are already in bad shape, as well as the epileptic power supply in the area.

He appealed to the gover-

Kwara LGs urged to establish libraries in council headquarters Biola Azeez - Ilorin

MUSTAPHA Akanbi Foundation, a non-government organisation, founded by the pioneer chairman of the ICPC, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, has challenged local government areas in Kwara State to encourage reading and writing by establishing a library in each local government headquarters.

Speaking at the inauguration of Mustapha Akanbi Library in Ilorin, the vice chairman of the founda-

charge their duty responsibly.”

The group, however, called on authorities in the Ministry of Health, to, as matter of urgency, wade into the matter and employ those who are ready to work in the communities in the zone.

tion, Dr. Salami Mudasiru, said that libraries should be opened in rural communities in future.

Dr. Mudasiru, who said that desire of Justice Mustapha was not only to plough back to the society benefits of sound education he had received, added that it was to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

“This informed his building of mosques, establishment of school, founding of foundation and Ma ASalam Islamic foundation,” he said.

Dr Mudasiru said that the library was completed within six months through contribution of patriotic Nigerians, who shared his perception of life.

He, therefore, appealed to individuals and groups to support the library and join the foundation in its determined effort to build a great nation that would be the pride of the black race and haven of all that is good and decent in human society.

“In this respect, donation of books is invited from friends, well wishers, schol-

ars, individual and corporate institutions. Children who visit the love library would have an autograph signed by the founder of the library, Justice Akanbi,” he said.

Also speaking, the national librarian, Professor Lenrie Aina, said that the library would live to meet up with the vision of the foundation, which, according to him, was to give hope and succour to all and open up new vista for the development of the immediate environment and the world at large.

nor to urgently address all the bad roads in the community that are already making life unbearable notwithstanding that Idjerhe Community has several oil wells currently being transported to Oben Oil Flow Station and arable land.

Chief Efurhievwe also called on the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to compliment the Delta State government’s effort in developing Jesse, noting that the state government alone cannot do everything.

He appealed that the abandoned ICDU secretariat be revisited as a matter of urgency by DESOPADEC which is handling the project.

While appealing to sons and daughters of the community both at home and in the Diaspora to join ICDU in order to contribute meaningfully to the development of their community.

turned into thugs and omo oniles because of the financial inducement attached to it?

“As if that was not enough, on October 29, 2016, the Naval personnel attached to the local government for environmental sanitation duties, immediately after the exercise, stormed Aranse/ Anisere community and started shooting and disturbing the community on the pretence that they were invited by a group to assist them over land issues.

“The presence of the Navy School of Music to us is a welcome thing; it is a development that had added value to our social lives and perception of the Navy.

“This good aspect is being eroded by certain elements within the men and officers who are bent on taking financial gratification and act in ways contrary to the Ordinance of the Nigerian Navy.”

IBNW LG boss commissions toilets at Jalaruru, Egbodi by nurudeen alimi

THE Chairman of Ibadan North-West Local Government Area of Oyo State, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, has donated cash worth several millions of naira to victims of rainstorm of October 22, 2016 in the council area.

Olatubosun, while presenting the cash to the victims, disclosed that the money was not enough to cover their losses, but they should consider it as a widow’s mite from the government.

Also, at Jalaruru and Egbodi communities in Ward 5 of the local government, 18 units of toilets were commissioned. Two of the toilets are situated at Jalaruru and was built by the local government, while the remaining ones were at Egbodi.

The council boss said: “The 16 units at Egbodi were built by the Ibadan Municipal Goverment (IMG) and has not been in use for many years. After series of meetings with the people of the community, we realised that what they need at this point in time is the toilet and that informed our resolve to renovate the ones built by IMG and build new ones at Jalaruru.”

Speaking to journalists on behalf of other communities, Mogaji Samuel Olusegun Jalaruru, commended, Olatubosun and his management team for the construction of the toilets.

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news

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

We’ll not allow factions in Accord —NWC

Says it will win 70% Oyo LG poll

By Dapo Falade

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HE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Accord Party has waded into the simmering crisis in the party, warning that it would not tolerate factionalisation in Oyo State chapter or in any other states.

The position was conveyed in a statement by the NWC at the end of its meeting held in Abuja and made

available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday.

The party also expressed optimism that the AD would win 70 per cent of the poll in the local government election, scheduled to hold in Oyo in February, 2017.

The NWC, in a statement signed by the national chairman of Accord, Honourable Lawal Nalado, said the only recognised congress of the party in Oyo State was the one conducted by Mr Bashir

Lawal.

It averred that the congress was held after the national body gave its nod and was also duly monitored by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It made it clear that the party had a clearly speltout internal mechanism for resolving disputes, admonishing all aggrieved members of the party in the state

to avail themselves of such, instead of taking the laws into their hands.

“We are not having a crisis in Oyo State. What we are having is a misunderstanding among our party followers in the state. We have only one structure that was elected at a congress as the executive council of Oyo State Accord.

“They (the recognised exco) wrote to us seeking for permission to conduct con-

gresses from the wards to the state level and we gave them the go-ahead. So, for any other person who feels aggrieved over the outcome of the congress to decide to take laws into his hand, we don’t think it is correct.

“People should not take laws into their hands. If you have grievances, you know the best way to get such grievances addressed. You cannot just say because you are a card-carrying member of Accord and then decide to start operation on your own.

It is never done anywhere.

We have procedure; we have rule of law. You can’t just say because you are a party member, you will just go and form your faction.

You cannot form faction.

We don’t believe in creating factions.

“Our party is a very peaceful party. We will never allow anybody to create problems for us, moreso now that the local government election in Oyo State is forthcoming.

We are hoping to win more than 70 per cent seats in the said election. So, why are

we therefore trying to create problems for our party?

“We are, once again, telling the world that we don’t recognise any faction that is formed illegally. The only congress we recognised in Oyo State is the one conducted by Bashir Lawal which was monitored by the representatives of INEC,” the statement said.

The AD national leadership, therefore, enjoined aggrieved members to ensure that the issue was resolved amicably, using the party’s dispute resolution mechanism.

The Accord NWC assured that it would do everything possible to ensure that all the candidates of the party for the local government election in Oyo State emerged through a free, fair, credible and transparent process.

The list of candidates for the election is expected to be submitted to INEC by the end of this month, in line with the timetable released by the national electoral body.

Journalists, activists walk against domestic, sexual violence in Lagos From left, Dr Victor Akinmoladun, Professor Bunmi Olaopa, Professor Temitope Alonge, Mr Yemi Shiyanbola, Mrs Julianah Mathew and Mr Aderemi Adetunji, all members of the management team, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, cutting the 59th anniversary cake of the college, in Ibadan, recently. PHOTO: NAN.

Probe: Aregbesola hires accounting firm to perfect financial records, Osun PDP alleges Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

OSUN State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, said that Governor Rauf Aregbesola has hired a Lagos-based accounting firm, with a mandate to put its financial books in order preparatory to an anticipated Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) probe.

The PDP, in a statement issued in Osogbo by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said the new move to straighten up Osun finances was borne out of the fear by Governor Aregbesola that his refusal to join President Muhammadu Buhari to campaign for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ondo State, could mean all pending petitions against him would be investigated by the anti graft bodies sooner than later.

The move, according to the party, followed heightened fear about anti graft agencies, especially EFCC, launching probe into the finances of the state, as the gulf between Lagos arm of the ruling party and Abuja widens.

The party recalled that Aregbesola had recently sent senior civil servants from the cadre of director upward on compulsory leave to frustrate Senate’s probe into the utilisation of bailout of N34.9 billion meant to pay salaries.

The PDP alleged that “The accounting firm, from our findings, has been given a whopping sum of N200 million with a marching order to perfect documents for government transactions, with particular attention to those transactions done between November 2014 , when the last set of commissioners were sacked.

“The firm, which had been paid up front, was also given the task of liasing with three notable financial institutions to “manufacture documents” for three huge loans that were procured

by Aregbesola without due process on which about 80 per cent earnings of the state from the federation account are expended in the last 18 months.

“Osun PDP is concerned because in all of these, funds meant for the development of the state are being expended on frivolities

while most of its citizens are languishing in poverty as a result of parlous state of its economy.”

It then called on all anti graft agencies to probe, without further delay, Osun finances.

Bola Badmus - Lagos

HUNDREDS of journalists and gender-based activists, on Monday, in Lagos, staged a walk against domestic and sexual violence.

The walk, was organised by the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents (LAGOCO) in conjunction with The

Be firm on education policy, group tells Oyo govt

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

OYO State government has been asked to maintain its standard on education and firm on its policy in order to raise the bar and arrest further decline in the sector.

A socio-cultural group, Oyo Development Initiative (ODI), made this call at the weekend while commenting on the White Paper on Education recently released by the state government.

The group, in a statement by its coordinator, Dr Adesola Okanlawon, said the era of patching, managing and window dressing the education sector should be a thing of the past and that government should fully implement the contents of the white paper.

Okanlawon added that the decision of the government to affirm the no automatic promotion in public schools should be supported by all and sundry, say-

ing that mass failure in external examinations has given the state a bad image and also have negative effects on the teachers, students and their parents.

“We observed that there are two schools of thoughts on the automatic promotion issue. While one school of thought wanted the government to reduce the cut-off mark, the other supported government’s stand that it should be 50 per cent. We believe that individuals are free to express their opinions. However, the state of our education does not support that the cut-off mark be reduced. We should rather join hands with the state government to ensure that the policy is fully implemented.

“The statistics on mass failure in our schools as released by the state government is saddening. How would one explain that over 50,000 students failed to

get five credits (including English language and Mathematics) in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations each year from 1999 to 2015?

It is pathetic that 61,232 sat for the examination in 2008 and 5,608 passed.

In 2009, 60,444 sat for the examination, 7,204 passed.

In 2010, 65,330 sat for the examination, 8,757 passed.

In 2011, 72,559 sat for the examination and 12,314 passed while in 2012, there were 75,179 candidates and 12,314 passed. These results should not be from a state with the appellation ‘Pacesetter’.”

ODI further appealed to the state government to ensure that the School Governing Board, as encapsulated in the White Paper, be set up without further delay, stating that this would make it very easy for stakeholders in the industry to key into the government plans.

Counseling Ambassador Organisation (TCAO), as part of LAGOCO’s press week.

The walk began at the Ikeja Local Government Area and participants walked through Awolowo Road in Ikeja, terminating the journey at the Lagos State Government Secretariat.

Speaking after the walk, President of TCAO, Regina Obasa, said women were not objects to be violated by their men folk, while denouncing all forms of sexual and domestic violence against women.

She said sexual and domestic abuses would bring physical and psychological trauma to victims, vowing that her organisation would fight domestic violence to a standstill.

Obasa stated that TCAO had been engaging in aggressive advocacy to sensitise the public against domestic violence and urged victims to report cases to the Lagos State government and the police for prompt action.

General Manager, Lagos Television, Deji Balogun, in his remark, said violence against women should be abhorred by all as such act would not promote peace.

Head of News, Lagos Traffic Radio, Babatunde Akinyemi, also condemned acts of domestic and sexual violence against women, calling on men who abused their spouses to desist from the debilitating behaviour.

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

PoliticsNews

Ondo election: 20 parties, Ondo youths, ex-ministers push for postponement From Leon Usigbe, Jacob Segun Olatunji, Hakeem Gbadamosi and Christian Okeke

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BOUT 20 political parties, on Monday, urged all relevant security agencies in the country to put pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the governorship election in Ondo State slated for Saturday till after the court processes have been completed.

Also, youths in Ondo State took to the streets on Monday, calling for the postponement of the election.

This came as former ministers under the administration of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the shift in the poll was necessary to give every candidate a level playing field.

The political parties argued that the country could not afford to have the state engulfed in avoidable political crisis as a result of the poll.

Among the parties that endorsed the position were African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Better Nigeria Peoples Party (BNPP), Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Labour Party (LP), National Conscience Party (NCP), People For Democratic Change (PDC) and Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN).

Others were Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), United Democratic Party (UDP), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), United Progressive Party (UPP), Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) and Independent Democrats (ID) Reacting to the forthcoming poll in Abuja, the parties noted that patriotic citizens should be appalled at the political scenarios unfolding in the state in the last weeks of the governorship election campaign.

Speaking through the national chairman of Labour Party, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, the parties said they observed that there would be serious danger if INEC went ahead to conduct the election without the court cases resolved.

They lamented that the unfortunate scenes playing out in both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the

All Progressive Party (APC) in the state was clear indication of major political crisis brewing unabatedly in a state known for peace, political stability, tranquility and harmony.

“It is important to call attention to the situation and rally Nigerians around the great people of Ondo State to forestall the imminent danger of the looming crises that are enveloping the state,” they said.

According to them, “it is instructive that the ‘do or die’ politics of the past must not be revisited on Ondo State of all places, given the education and political sagacity of the people.

“Both the APC and the PDP are engrossed in open challenges going into the governorship election this weekend, although the APC

has been very sophisticated and diplomatic in managing and internalising its challenges.

“However, a situation in the PDP where the INEC has been cajoled and intimidated into recognising the two factions of the PDP is quite an aberration to our democracy.

“Just a few months ago, in the Edo governorship election, INEC upheld the candidacy of the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led faction of the PDP as the authentic group to file a candidate for the party.

“Now, in the Ondo State governorship election slated for Saturday, the same electoral umpire is upholding the governorship candidacy of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the party, under the guise of obey-

ing court order.

“This quagmire must be resolved by the courts, even if this drags on to the Supreme Court, before any meaningful governorship election can take place in Ondo State.

“Another critical concern is the growing level of violence and insecurity in the Ondo political environment precedent to the governorship election on Saturday.

“It is important to note that the political parties fielding candidates in the election fill very insecured and hard-pressed to campaign freely and unfettered in the present fragile and volatile environment.

“The situation will obviously affect the electoral outcome, possibly leading to another inconclusive election in recent times.

“Moreover, given the

above situation, the electorate in Ondo State is not fully sensitised for the election that has not offered room for robust election campaign, debates and gravitas of election,” the Labour Party national chairman said.

In Akure, youths stormed the headquarters of INEC, calling for postponement of the election for two weeks .

The protest came ahead of the expected Supreme Court decision on the dispute over the authentic candidate between Eyitayo Jegede and Jimoh Ibrahim in the governorship election.

The Justice Ibrahim Saulawa-led appeal panel, sitting in Abuja, had adjourned its judgment indefinely to await the decision of the Supreme Court on the interlocutory appeals filed by the respondents.

Akure and I have also come to brief him about the security situation in my state,” Mimiko said.

On the lingering PDP crisis, he said he was just concentrating on the case of the party in court which the Supreme Court is expected to rule upon today.

He said Ondo would erupt in joy if the PDP gubernatorial candidate for the state, Eyitayo Jegede, finally gets the nod to contest.

“The whole of Ondo State will erupt in joy and it will be so self-evident,” he declared.

Jegede, who belonged to the Ahmed Markafi-led faction of PDP in the state, was challenging his replacement as the candidate of the party

by INEC and replacing him with Jimoh Ibrahim.

But pending the ruling, the youth trooped to the streets of Akure, the state capital, on Monday, calling for the inclusion of the name of Jegede as the PDP candidate in the election.

They urged the electoral umpire to give more time to accommodate Jegede in the race.

The protesting youth specifically said the call became imperative to allow the Appeal Court to conclude the case before it on the authentic candidate of PDP in the election.

Armed with various placards, the protesting youth called on the Federal Government to wade into the matter before it became too late.

It took the intervention of security operatives in the state to put the protesting youth under control, even as the protesters vowed not to vacate the office of the electoral umpire unless the commission promised to put the election on hold, to allow Jegede contest.

Speaking on their behalf, Oluwatuyi Adekanmbi said the youth were protesting against the decision of INEC to go on with the election without waiting for the outcome of the suit pending before the Appeal Court.

He explained that the protest was going on simulteanously across the 18 local government areas of the state, noting that it would amount to rape of democracy if INEC failed to clear Jegede as the party’s candidate for the governorship election in the state.

Meanwhile, the Forum of Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ministers has joined the call for the postponement of the election, saying that the shift in the poll was necessary to give a level-playing field to the parties involved.

The forum met with the national caretaker committee of the party, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, in Abuja, on Monday, where they agreed that since INEC could postpone a similar exercise in Edo State recently, it might as well heed the call

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Protesting youths calling for the postponement of the Ondo State governorship election in Akure, on Monday. PHOTO: HAKEEM GBADAMOSI

Ondo poll: Mimiko visits Buhari, says he’s not joining APC Absence of Tinubu at Ondo mega rally immaterial —Lalong Leon Usigbe - Abuja ONDO State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has denied plan to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said this while speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Aso Villa, Abuja, on Monday.

Responding to questions on his seeming frequent visits to the Villa, which had been interpreted as preparing the grounds for his defection, he said there was

nothing like that.

He said he also received the president on Saturday for the APC rally in Akure because he needed to extend courtesies due to the president’s office.

“What is frequent? This is my second visit to the Villa since this crisis in our party started. Like I said, as the chief security officer of my state, if there is any credible threat to security, I owe the responsibility to Nigerians to apprise Mr President of what is going on in the state.

“Mr President was in my state to campaign for his party. I extended to him the

courtesies of receiving him at the airport and seeing him off as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not as APC member.

“I understand that people have speculated that this means I am going to APC. There is nothing of such; I only extended to him normal courtesies that protocols demand.

“As a governor and chief security officer of the state, if the president is visiting, no matter the party he belongs, it is only appropriate for me to extend the courtesies to him.

“That was what I did in

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Jegede campaign office attacked in Akure Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure TENSION was heightened on Monday, in Akure as security men attached to the convoy of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, allegedly shot into the campaign office of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), injuring some people.

It was gathered that the campaign train of Ibrahim suddenly stopped at the campaign office of Jegede, situated at Ijapo area of Akure, while the security men in his convoy fired gun shot into the office.

An eyewitness said there was pandemonium in the campaign office as everyone ran for their safety, as the security men kept on shooting sporadically into the compound for about few minute, while the residents of the area also flee to different direction.

“They barged at the gate of the Jegede campaign office and dared anyone to come out, following which they started shooting sporadically, a situation that made residents of the area to flee in different directions.

“In the process, no fewer than 10 persons sustained varying degrees of injury, including a pregnant woman who fainted and was rushed to hospital,” he said.

He said about 50 used cartridges were picked at the campaign office after the convoy left, saying the security men attached to Ibrahim left the area when there was no reprisal attack.

Meanwhile, the PDP in the state, has called for the withdraw the security escorts deployed to Ibrahim following the shooting spree by his security men.

The party, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Mr Ayo Fadaka, said it note with absolute dismay the disorderly conduct of Jimoh Ibrahim who led a detachment of police to Eyitayo Jegede’s campaign office

this morning on a shooting spree.”

Fadaka described the action of the security men as the “thuggish attitude of this fellow in conjunction with those personnel that accompanied him” The statement said the action “is not only criminal but an absolute abuse of an unmerited privilege conferred on him through the deployment of security escorts to

ADETUWO Francis Ogunjumelo, contesting the Ondo State governorship election on the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), has said, he will without the federal allocation create jobs within the first two years and also be able to pay salaries, if voted as governor “Without the federal allocation, our government will create jobs within the first two years and also be able to pay,” he said, adding that that what was currently unemployed.

The ACPN candidate, corroborating insinuations that the state has been unlucky to have good leaders since its creation said the only industry in Igbotako in Ilaje Local Government Area, which happened to be the hometown of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimoh Ibrahim and Major General Olu Bajowa, was established by him.

The police shot into the air while the entourage of Jimoh was driving past Jegede’s office in Ijapo with the protesting supporters of Jegede trooping out of the office when the police started shooting. The policemen attached to the office started waving to the protesters to return to the compound. Indeed, I actually appealed to the shooters to stop and they did,” he said.

Police parade suspect over illegal arms and ammunition As AD alleges plot to arrest Oke, others

Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure THE Ondo State Police Command, on Monday, paraded a 27-year-old suspect, Oluwaseun Aderomilehin, who was arrested by military operatives in Okitipupa in Okitipupa Local Government Area on Friday over illegal possession of arms and ammunition, in the convoy of the Alliance for Democracy

(AD) governorship candidate, Olusola Oke. Speaking on the arrest, the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Hilda IbifuroHarrison said apart from being in possession of illegal arms, the suspect was caught with dangerous weapons which were kept inside branded bus with picture and logo of a political party in the state.

“Aderomilehin was

caught by the soldiers in Igbokoda in November18, 2016 inside a vehicle that was branded with logo of a political party in the state.”

She explained that the suspect was handed over to the police by the military operatives, adding that the command had commenced investigations into the matter.

The police commissioner listed some of the weapons

found with the suspect to include guns, live cartridges, cameras, cutlasses and matchetes among others .

Speaking on his arrest, the suspect said he was arrested in a bus belonging to the Alliance for Democracy (AD), explaining that he was never a political thug, but a photographer attached to the AD candidate for the governorship campaign.

Akeredolu promises to relocate OSOPADEC headquarters from Akure to Igbokoda THE candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for governorship election in Ondo State, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has promised that, if elected as governor, he would relocate the headquarters of the Ondo State Oil Producing Development Area Commission (OSOPADEC) from Akure,

the state capital, to Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje local government area with an area office at Igbekebo, the headquarters of Ese-Odo Local Government Area.

The APC governorship candidate gave the assurance on Monday when his campaign train visited the palace of the Olugbo of

I’ll create jobs without federal allocation —ACPN candidate

By Yejide GbengaOgundare

him by the Federal Government,” and described the action as a “further infringement of the fundamental rights of Mr Eyitayo Jegede.

However, a member of Jimoh Ibrahim Campaign Committee, Demola Ijabiyi, said the policemen only shot into the air to prevent the convoy of Ibrahim from being attacked by the sympathisers of Jegede.

“I was right on the spot.

“Let any of the governorship candidates in Ondo State point to any industry that had added any economic value to either the state or his local government. As a chartered accountant and chairman of Korede Microfinance Bank since 1992, I promise that anybody in Ondo State who is above 70 will be provided with free medical care with allowances,” he stated Ogunjumelo, who is the first chartered account in Okitipupa division insisted that no civil servant in the state would be owed salaries, adding that, as the former chairman of Okitipupa Oil Palm, he promised to revive the industry as well as the Oluwa Glass Industry.

The governorship candidate said he would declare a state of emergency in the agricultural sector in the state in order for Ondo to be restored as an oil-producing state.

“I have a role for women in my government and that

was why I have appointed a female deputy. I also want to assure you that 45 per cent of those that will form part of the State Executive Council (SEC) will be women.

Ugbo land, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, ahead of the Saturday election.

He said the headquarters of the commission would be closer to the people and more effective and useful at Igbokoda than in Akure where it is presently sited.

“The administrative headquarters of Niger/Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is situated in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, not in Abuja, the federal capital city of Nigeria.

“Therefore, I want to say expressly that the headquarters of the Ondo State Oil Producing Development Area Commission (OSOPADEC) will be relo-

cated from Akure to Igbokoda, with an area office at Igbekebo so that the commission could serve the purpose which it was established for” Akeredolu said amidst thunderous jubilations from party members and supporters,” he said.

Akeredolu also promised to, in conjunction with the APC-led Federal Government establish a coastal line in the area, noting that “The deepest sea in West Africa passed through this local government area.

The Atlantic Ocean here is deeper than what we have in Lagos. By God grace, we will turn it to the advantage of the Ondo State.

Give Akure indigenes federal appointment, Deji urges Buhari Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure THE Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to consider capable sons and daughters of Akure for key cabinet positions in government.

Oba Aladetoyinbo made the plea on Saturday when Buhari paid him a courtesy visit in his palace with some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other top government functionaries who were in Akure for the grand finale of the political campaign of the APC governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Akaredolu.

The traditional ruler, who

reminded the president of the love of people of the community for the president, said his people massively vote for Buhari dur-

ing the 2015 presidential election, saying the largest votes in the state in the election was recorded in Akure.

Continued from pg30

“We also note with concern what INEC is doing now, in collaboration or in conspiracy with other political parties towards manipulating the process in Ondo election.

“We, therefore, want to reiterate and join the call made by the national leadership of the PDP to ask that the Ondo election should be postponed, to allow the matters that are now in court to be resolved and for all par-

Ondo poll: Mimiko visits Buhari, says he’s not joining APC Continued from pg30

Meanwhile, chairman of the APC state campaign committee and governor of Plateau State, Solomon Lalong, observed that the absence of APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, from the grand finale campaign of the party in the state made no difference.

Speaking to State House correspondents after a visit to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, on Monday, he said Tinubu was absent at the event due to ill-health.

Governors of Lagos, Ogun and Osun states, Akinwunmi Ambode, Ibikunle Amosun and Rauf Aregbesola, respectively, were also absent at the rally, which was attended by President Buhari on Saturday.

Tinubu is thought to be upset over the backing received by Rotimi Akeredolu from the APC hierarchy as candidate of the party for the election.

“To the party, their absence did not make any difference. If a leader was not there and he has said he was not there because of illhealth, we have prayed that God will heal him.

“There was not a problem.

We explained their absence.

They sent in their apologies.

You heard what happened there.

“As far as we are concerned, the president who is the leader of the party was at the rally. The national chairman was also there as far as we are concerned, everybody was there,” he said.

The governor said APC had concluded its campaign in the state and was confident that it would win the election.

“We have finished our campaign. You saw what happened at the grand finale. We are not in doubt that APC will win the election in Ondo,” he said, adding that “it is other parties that are scared of the APC and not APC being scared of other parties.”

20 parties, Ondo youths, ex-ministers push for postponement

for a shift in Ondo.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, chairman of the forum, Dr Tanimu Turaki, said they were concerned about what the electoral body was doing now, alleging that INEC was collaborating with other political parties to manipulate the electoral process in Ondo State.

ties to be well prepared for them.

“We believe what INEC needs to do at this very critical time is to ensure that there is level-playing field for all political parties.

“It is not in the interest of this country for INEC to begin to continue the way they have been handling very sensitive election matters as they have been doing,” the forum said.

32 news UTME: FG abolishes uniform admission cut-off marks Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

80% of UTME candidates not qualified —JAMB Clement Idoko -Abuja

T

HE Federal Government has abolished the uniform cut-off marks of 180 set for admission into all tertiary institutions in the country.

This is even as the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, revealed that over 80 per cent of applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam-

intaion (UTME) annuallly are not qualified.

Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, on Monday, said he was in full support of the decision of the Board to introduce discriminatory cut-off marks for admis-

Strike: FG must respect agreement with ASUU —Jega Clement Idoko -Abuja

A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, on Monday, said the Federal Government must be prepared to implement agreements reached with staff unions, as the only way to resolve lingering crisis in the nation’s universities.

He also identified leadership crisis and the misplacement of priorities as some of the banes of higher education in Nigeria.

Jega spoke in Abuja while delivering his speech as the chairman of the 2016 Nigeria Higher Education Submit, with the theme: “Exploiting Diversity, Differentiation and Quality Assurance in Revitalising the Nigerian Higher Education System,” in Abuja.

The event was organised by the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities, in collaboration with Trust Africa.

Jega, who was also a

former vice chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, identified instability, turmoil in universities and clear lack of focus as other challenges facing higher education in Nigeria.

He noted that the incessant strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other staff unions could be avoided if the government continued to engage the union leaders on dialogue.

Jega said it was important that government respected the agreement reached with the unions by implementing such decisions reached, adding that misplaced priority, not lack of money to implement them, had been the problem.

He, however, said the lecturers should also be realistic in their demands, based on the current situation in the country.

“Since 1980, we have been struggling, we have been trying, persuading to get our leaders to give the priority that higher education requires, education in

general and higher education in particular.

“It is very important that we recognise that the major challenge has to do with a crisis of leadership and the obligation of responsibility and the misplacement of priorities.

“But it is not sufficient to identify and apportion blames but we need to continue to work and to struggle and to dialogue and have summits such as this, in order to keep raising the issues and generating the consensus that is necessary to clearly get those priorities set and right,” he said.

Also, the Secretary General of Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Professor Michael Faborode, said the researches done by Nigerian universities needed to be celebrated.

“Let us appreciate these things and let us bring them to the fore so that we will not just be mourning over the challenges alone.

Let us celebrate the successes,” he added.

Again, ASUU, Senate meeting ends in stalemate Taiwo Adisa -Abuja

A meeting of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education headed

by Senator Jibril Barau and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), ended in a stalemate on Monday, following the failure of the eight hours meeting to reach a positive conclusion.

The meeting, the second of its kind in one week, failed to reach a conclusion as the members of ASUU refused to speak with newsmen.

The university teachers, had, last Wednesday, embarked on a one week warning strike to press home their demand for the implementation of the 2009 agreement they had with the Federal Government.

Though Senator Barau told newsmen that the two parties were able to agree on most of the issues on the agenda, except the earned allowances, ASUU members refused to speak to newsmen as they left the venue of the meeting inside the New Senate Building of the National Assembly.

Barau told newsmen: “You can see we have spent about

eight hours in this very important meeting. We have deliberated and thank God, we have dealt with all the issues and we have agreed in all the issues, except one.

“We have adjourned to make consultations, every sections of the meeting will get back to his constituency and report to it what transpired. At a later date that we will reconvene to thrash out the remaining issues.

“Is about the earned allow-

ances that need to be paid the university lecturers, the government, due to the paucity of funds proposed certain amount of money but ASUU thought otherwise that the money was quite inadequate but he’s going back to his members to report to them and make consultations and later get back to us.

“But we do hope they come up with good news that they have accepted the government offers.”

Caverton Group lauds Ekinrin Adde-elect THE Carverton Group, a leading Nigerian private quoted business conglomerate with interest in aviation and oil and gas servicing, has lauded the appointment of High Chief Anthony Bamigbaiye Idowu (ACA) as Ekinrin Adde-elect of Olu-Adde, in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The company said over the years, High Chief Idowu had demonstrated astuteness in his profession, adding that his emergence would account for new development in Olu-Adde town.

It said through his professionalism, High Chief Id-

owu had blocked financial leakages over the years to the admiration of the management and investors of the company.

It, therefore, wished him the best in his new position, where he would manage the affairs of the community for many years to come.

Also, Mr Adebayo Fatimehin and Olukayode Hambolu of the Friends of OluAdde on the mandate of the Elders Support Group, in a joint interview, maintained that nothing else could be more gratifying for the Ekinrin-Adde community than this corporate endorsement of their choice of monarch.

sions into Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

He said the policy of 180 cut-off marks set across board for all tertiary institutions, as currently obtainable, lacked fairness, equity and logic.

Deputy Director, Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Goong, in a statement, said the minister gave his nod after a one-day marathon meeting with chief executive officers under the ministry in Abuja.

According to Professor Anwukah, “it does not make any sense subjecting candidates who are seeking admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to the same cut-off marks when the durations and contents of their courses are radically different.”

The minister, therefore, directed JAMB to consult widely with relevant stakeholders, so as to come up with new and separate cut-off marks for admission into university, polytechnics and colleges of education which will take effect in the next academic session.

He, however, restated

that the responsibility for admission into tertiary institutions rested solely with the senate or the academic boards of such institutions.

In the case of universities, Professor Anwukah said “senate admits, senate graduates, full stop.”

The minister also ordered JAMB to publish in full, the list of unutilised admission slots into all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education on a course-by-course basis at the end of the first leg of admission process, to enable students and parents to take full advantage of existing admission vacancies in institutions where such vacancies exist.

This, according to him, would prevent a situation where some institutions had more than the number of students they needed, while others could hardly fill their quota.

Making his presentation earlier at the meeting between the minister and chief executives of agencies under the ministry, JAMB Registrar, Professor Oloyode had said the notion generally being held that the carriage capac-

ity of Nigerian universities was far below the number of candidates that qualified for admission was wrong.

He said the fact that 1.5 million candidates sat for JAMB did not translate to 1.5 million qualifying for admission, adding that only 40 per cent of the applicants had requisite qualification for admissions into tertiary institutions.

The JAMB Registrar decried the situation where candidates were required to produce credits in Mathematics for them to be admitted to study Law, English or French, describing such requirements as unnecessary bottlenecks.

He said the best Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) today may not necessarily have passed mathematics; neither could the English or French professors in the nation’s universities have had credit in Mathematics.

Professor Oloyede said under his watch, JAMB would never have any serious challenge with universities, adding that he was already building a relationship with vice chancellors, anchored on dialogue, sincererity and unity of purpose.

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Politics, external influence will not divide us —South-West govs

By Wale Akinselure

G

OVERNORS of the six states in the South-West geopolitical zone of the country converged on Ibadan, on Monday, to advance positions towards regional integration and socioeconomic development of the region.

The state executives, at the meeting themed,

“South West Governors Economic Forum”, resolved to collaborate in the areas of infrastructure, commerce, security, agriculture, economy, with a train to run from Lagos to Ekiti State, in the offing.

The host governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, met with Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Ayodele Fayose

(Ekiti), and Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Fayose disclosed that the state executives had agreed to coalesce in purpose, beyond political differences, to ensure that the region has a sound economic base.

“We want to better the lot of our people. We want to play politics of develop-

ment. We have agreed that beyond our differences, the region must come first and we must have unity of purpose.

“We have agreed to use this collaboration to improve on our infrastructure, commerce, security, agriculture among other areas.

When we stand together, we will achieve all these for the people. All states, including Ekiti, have subscribed and

From left, Mrs Runke Adetola; The Vicar, Church of Pentecost, Agiliti, Reverend Dave Ayo-Ologundu; The Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Dr James Olusola Odedeji; Chief Adebayo Odubona and Venerable (Dr) Yemi Agbelusi, during the dedication of Church of Pentecost (Anglican Communion), Agiliti, Mile-12, Lagos, last week Monday, PHOTO: OVADJE ELLIOT.

Don’t engage in criminal activities, Ajimobi urges intending Christian pilgrims OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has admonished intending pilgrims to Israel not to engage in drug peddling and other criminal activities.

Ajimobi gave the admonition while speaking at the orientation programme organised by the state’s Pilgrims Welfare Board (Christian Wing) for intending pilgrims from the state, at the board’s premises, Total Garden, Ibadan.

According to the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, “We must not because of the challenges we face today dent the image of our dear country.

I urge you not to be tempted let alone be involved in drug trafficking. This is a criminal offence that attracts capital punishment in Israel,” Ajimobi added He equally warned the intending pilgrims not to abscond in the Holy Land, disclosing that adequate security measures had been put in place by the state government in collaboration with the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) and Israeli Government to forestall the act.

The governor reminded the intending pilgrims that the slogan of the current

administration was change, urging them to be ambassadors of not only the peace setter, but brand ambassadors of ‘Change begins with me.’

He enjoined the intending pilgrims to use the opportunity of the spiritual journey to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and all levels of government so as to overcome the myri-

ads of problems facing the country.

Ajimobi further called on well-meaning Christian faithful to embrace the ownership of Christian pilgrimage by way of selfsponsorship. “Materiallyrich Christians should sponsor the spiritually rich but materially-poor Christians on pilgrimage to Israel,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of Oyo State Pilgrim Welfare Board (Christian Wing), Bishop David Ademola Moradeyo, expressed appreciation to the state governor and his wife for their relentless support for the board especially as it concerned its ongoing projects, expressing the hope that the projects would be completed next year.

agreed that regional integration is the best way forward, and that we should do everything to realise this for the people of the SouthWest region,” Fayose said.

Also present at the interaction were Director General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr Dipo Famakinwa; Group Managing Director, Odua Investments, Mr Adewale Raji; Director General, Nigeria Institute for Social Economic Research (NISER), Professor Dosu Adeyeye and Managing Director, Sammya CITTC Consortium, Mr Sam Adigun.

Ajimobi, in his welcome remarks, emphasised the imperativeness for states in the region to synergise towards achieving high economies of scale in areas such as agriculture, education, transportation and infrastructure.

Togetherness, Ajimobi said, would help address the region’s challenges ranging from low economic competitiveness to low revenue base, food insecurity, social problems, insecurity, environmental and biodiversity issues.

“We must agree that development and politicking become mutually exclusive.

We must play politics of development. We must agree that the South-West region, with all its immense potentials, has been sub-optimising.

“We need to fight for our competitiveness together.

We need to build integrated regional transportation and energy infrastructure.

It only makes sense to do all these things together.

We need to merge our strengths, build synergy, achieve high economies of scale and minimise duplication of efforts. We must bring back our pioneering

and revolutionary spirit; we must bring back the spirit of togetherness in tackling our challenges. We must work together to create common solutions to those common challenges. We must strengthen the capacity of our states to work together to deliver regional solutions.

“As a people, there is a decline of relations. The quality of our social relations is defined by political partisanship and electoral engagements. We must no longer allow politics and quest for political power to divide, redefine or distract us from the real issues of our common patrimony.

We must be united around these things that bind us together, culture, language, common heritage, even our common problems and challenges. This is the time to reinforce our Alajobi and Agbajowo ethos.

Cynicism and distrust must give way to collaboration and synergy. There is power in getting together,” Ajimobi said.

On whether the integration meant states of the region having common political ideology, Amosun said states may be governed by different political parties with different programmes as long as they were targeted at improving the welfare of the people.

“There is no way the part can be bigger than the whole. It is in our interest to unite as a region, race, and as a people. We are looking at a train that will run from Lagos to Ekiti. We are collaborating, interfacing among one another. We recognise that we can use Lagos State as a launch pad that all states in the region will collaborate. We will look at areas where we have comparative advantage and leverage on that.

We won’t breach law in enforcing Ekiti grazing law —New CP Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

THE new Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, has said the command will partner with the state government in enforcing the newly enacted grazing law “within the ambit of the law.”

Inalegwu said the Police Act conferred the statutory duty of enforcement of all laws on the police and that the command would be guided by the laws of the federation in enforcing the ‘Ekiti State Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing Act 2016.’

The new police commissioner also warned fraudsters and drug peddlers in the state that his men would make the state uncomfortable for their operations.

The grazing law was enacted by Ayodele Fayose-led administration to checkmate the criminal activities

Palliative: Ondo ends second phase of free food distribution ONDO State government, on Monday, concluded the second phase of its food palliative programme, where over 70,000 women resident in the 18 local government areas of the state benefited.

Following the successes recorded with the first phase of the scheme where over 100,000 women benefited in July this year, the

second phase kicked off in Okitipupa penultimate Friday with 70,000 beneficiaries as target.

The scheme, which rounded off with free food distributed to women in Akure South yesterday, however, accommodated above the 70,000 target.

Known as ‘Eto Igbe Ayo’, the palliative scheme was restricted to women in

the state who were able to produce their smart card otherwise known as ‘Kaadi Igbe-Ayo’.

Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, had hinted before now that government may exceed its 70,000 target for the second tranche as a result of the overwhelming demand for the free food items by residents.

of some herdsmen, who destroy farmlands in parts of the state.

In his maiden interaction with newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, the CP said: “We shall be guided by the law in enforcing antigrazing law. The Police Act 1990 gives us the power to enforce all laws and this we shall apply in this regard.

“We are going to study the law, look at the provisions in line with what the constitution says. We will also look at the powers of the police to know what to do under this circumstance,” Inalegwu said.

Inalegwu sent a stringent warning to those he described as ‘yahoo boys’ and those peddling Indian hemp at various hot spots in Ado Ekiti like Atinkankan, Ojumose, Oke Ila and other

areas to desist or face the wrath of the law.

“I can’t be a Commissioner of Police in a state and people will be defrauding innocent citizens or hawking Indian hemp openly. These are unacceptable and my men shall surely go after them.”

Speaking about the recent bank robbery in Otun Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area, where five persons were shot dead, the police chief assured that the perpetrators would be arrested soon, saying his men are already on their trail.

Inalegwu also gave a matching order to his men to arrest and charge to court those covering their vehicle number plates, adding that “no section of the law permits anybody to cover his number plate, including the president.”

34

news

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

FG receives lands from 27 states for mass housing

T

HE Federal Government has said it has so far received lands from 27 states and considering over 500 contracts for mass housing across the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Monday in Lagos, at the opening of the 4th Com-

Civilian casualties will always occur in non-defined war —CDS Chris Agbambu – Abuja

THE Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olanisakin, has lameneted that despite the best intentions of the military in the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations in the North-East and SouthSouth, accidental harm to innocent civilians can occur.

The CDS, who made this declaration at a two-day high level inter-agency dialogue on strengthening civilian protection policy and practice, noted that civilians harm remains a tragic reality in any conflict, especially in conflicts without clear battlefields, where it becomes difficult to distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The CDS, who was represented by the Chief of Administration Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Adewole Dacosta, said civilians might face daily threats of violence and death when they are inadvertently caught up in the middle of a conflict.

According to him, while some outright lose their lives as a consequence of the conflict, others are forcibly displaced thereby losing their means of livelihood and property.

According to him, protecting civilians during conflicts is important, saying it facilitates post-conflict development assistance and integration, and that it also creates a conducive atmosphere for humanitarian organisations to operate in the conflict areas, being a humanitarian obligation.

monwealth Public Relations Congress.

The event organised by the Management School, London and the Business Education Examinations Council was themed: “Strategic Management of Reputation Risk in an Interdependent World.’’

Mohammed, who briefed the gathering on what the government was doing to better the lots of Nigerians, stressed that government was spending massively on infrastructural development.

“We have a lot to tell Nigerians. Spending our way out of this recession, we are investing massively on roads, railways, power, etc, and creating jobs in the process.

“Some 200,000 of the 500,000 jobs promised under the N-Power Volunteers Programme will be filled from December 1,

2016.

“Out of this, N-Power Teach/Community will provide 150,000 jobs, NPower Agro will provide 30,000 jobs and N-Power Health 20,000 jobs,’’ he said.

The minister said in the agricultural sector, the government is expecting a bumper harvest that would loosen the pangs of hunger being felt in many homes.

He said the agricultural initiative, “Anchor Borrowers Programme’’ that was launched by government, has significantly reduced the price of local rice, especially in states participating in the programme.

“As more and more states join the programme, we will gradually but surely achieve self-sufficiency in staples such as rice while at the same time forcing down food prices,’’ he said.

Obaseki visits Oba of Benin, seeks support for reforms EDO State governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, paid an official visit to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, where he called for support from the Benin Kingdom for a more friendly land administrative system that will be investorfriendly in tune with his administration’s desire for more development for the state.

Obaseki led members of his government including his deputy, Philip Shaibu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele and other top government functionaries on the visit to the monarch.

Besides, he said his administration would ensure a friendly environment to make Edo one of the cleanest states in Nigeria.

On security, Obaseki said he would strengthen existing community policing structures like vigilance groups to share information with conventional security agencies like the po-

lice and DSS to have a safer society. This is just as he said in the next few weeks, he would unveil plans to actualize his promise of creating 200,000 jobs for the people of the state.

“This kingdom used to have the best land tenure system in Nigeria, unfortunately we have lost that pride today. We want to deal with the issue of land properly so that can attract private investment to the state, we need your support to do this.”

In his response, Oba Ewuare carpeted the activities of community development associations who have taken over sales of lands with very unfriendly conditions.

“May I use this opportunity to seek the state government’s support in eradicating the menace of Community Development Associations in Edo South in particular and Edo state in general,” he said.

He, however, charged Obaseki to ensure fulfillment of his election promises to the people.

ing BERACHAH NIGHT 2016, tagged: ‘Unlock Your Blessings Through Praise’ at the Church’s auditorium, on Friday, November 25, at 10:p.m till dawn.

The special guest on the occasion is the General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church, Reverend Felix Meduoye, while oth-

er ministers are Tope Folajimi, Oluphemee, Seun Oyedepo, Psalmist Adeolu and Goke Bajowa.

Songs will be ministered at the event by FGC Ibadan District 1 Choir, Kingdom Life Church Choir and the Vine Branch Choir.

Host minister is Reverend Solomon Wada of FGC, Apata, Ibadan.

Foursquare Gospel Church holds BERACHAH NIGHT 2016 THE Foursquare Gospel Church (FGC) a.k.a. Fa-

Rev. Wada

voured Assembly, Oluwalogbon Quarters, Apata, Ibadan will be h a v -

Nigerian Tribune

news Nigeria has thrived on wrong federal structure —Ekweremadu 35

Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja

A

S the calls for the restructuring of Nigeria becomes more intense, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has admitted that the country has for long thrived on a wrong federal structure, therefore, wasted its yesteryears; lived with poor governance, extravagance and indolence induced by free money.

Ekweremadu also declared that the country is structured for wealth sharing and guzzling; rather than wealth creation and economic prosperity.

The deputy senate president, who was speaking at the investiture of Dr Omode Idris, as the President of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), in Abuja, on Monday, said therefore, that the country is in dire need of urgent redemption; as it is already neck-deep in economic crisis as inflation has escalated; and therefore, in dire need of redemption very urgently.

Dr Idris was recently elected as the 15th president of APBN and Sena-

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

tor Ekweremadu, was the chairman at the investiture ceremony which took place at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

In his address, he said: “Permit me to further note that this investiture ceremony comes at a most crucial time in our recent history.

Instructively, well-meaning Nigerians, including my humble self,

have continued to warn, even long before now, that our nation is not structured for wealth creation and economic prosperity but for wealth sharing and guzzling. Otherwise, there should have been no reason to continue to rue the fall in oil price in a knowledge-driven global economy.

“It is a clear indication of

how much we have thrived on a wrong federal structure and wasted our yesteryears. For too long, we have lived with poor governance, extravagance and indolence induced by free money.

“Today, the honeymoon is over. We must wake up to reality and retrace our steps. The country is already neck-deep in eco-

nomic crisis, the recession bites even harder and inflation has escalated. It is needless to cry over pilot milk but I dare to add that we are a country in dire need of redemption.”

However, he said that with the topic of the investiture lecture: “Professionalism in the face of economic secession: Prospects and challenges,” and the

From left, President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa; acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (JCN), Justice Walter Onnoghen; administrator, National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Rosaline Bozimo and the president, National Industrial Court (NIC), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, during the opening ceremony of All Nigeria Judges Conference, in Abuja, on Monday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI.

Shun acts of corruption, acting CJN warns lower courts’ judges Sunday Ejike - Abuja

AS the Federal Government arraigned a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, before a Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Monday, for corruption, the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has asked judges of the lower courts to shun corrupt practices in order to align with the anti-corruption strides of the current administration.

In a keynote address he delivered at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Conference for all Judges of the lower courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja, Onnoghen said judges, as impartial arbiters, must uphold the rule of law, eliminate unnecessary delays and to dispense justice without fear or favour to both parties in accordance with the law.

The acting CJN said the primary role of judges of the lower courts is to settle disputes in accordance with the provisions of the rule of law, adding that, “The performance of this onerous task depends on strict adherence to rule of law, the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, access to justice, integrity and in-

dependence of judiciary”.

Onnoghen identified inadequate funding and corrupt practices as some of the major challenges hindering the smooth administration of justice and exposes the judiciary to a lot of criticisms.

According to him, administration of justice is crucial to the effective running and stability of a democratic society as well as the peaceful coexistence of its citizens, without which, he said, the society will degenerate into anarchy.

While commending the judiciary for its innovative strides in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), he said ICT improves access to justice, promotes the efficiency of judicial officers and their support staff

among others.

Earlier,the NJI administrator, Justice Roseline Bozimo, had said if the lower courts must serve as veritable instruments for justice and peace in a democratic society, it must continually demonstrate deep foresight for productivity, exceptional capacity and remarkable courage in the

defence of constitutionally guaranteed individual and institutional rights .

She said the nation’s judiciary has witnessed its low and high moments in the last 16 years of democratic rules, adding that with the developments, it has shown that the judiciary would rather uphold the rule of substantial justice

rather than technicalities of law.

Justice Bozimo said the theme of the conference, “The lower courts as veritable instruments for justice and peace in a democratic society” and its sub-topics, are tailored towards enlightening and promoting efficient justice delivery in the country.

AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin-Lagos

EFCC for allegedly offering a N5million gratification to Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

The embattled SAN, is asking the court to declare that his detention beyond 24 hours by EFCC was unlawful.

Obla is asking the court to declare that the seizure of his mobile phone was a violation of his fundamental right to own property.

Arguing Obla’s case, his lawyer, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe, told Justice Mohammed Idris, that his client visited EFCC office on November 8, 2016 and had been detained by the anti-graft agency since then without a lawful court order.

He said in order to confer a purported legality on Obla’s detention beyond the 24 hours, which the constitution stipulated, the EFCC

Wrongful detention: SAN sues EFCC for N1bn FOLLOWING his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on Monday, filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the commission for wrongful detention.

It will be recalled that Obla was detained by

Court declines Ajumogobia’s application seeking release from EFCC custody AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin-Lagos

JUSTICE Muslim Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, refused to grant an ex-parte application filed by a fellow judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, seeking her release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Godwin Obla, a former pros-

array of the professional bodies that make up the APBN, “I see hope for our nation.”

The deputy senate president assured that the National Assembly on its part, will continue to work hard to ensure that legal frameworks guiding our electoral system conform to international best practices and standard, while also addressing our local challenges.

The deputy Vice Chancellor, Africa Business School, Abuja, Dr Anthony Ubani, who is the guest speaker, said the problem of Nigeria in real sense is leadership, not economic recession, adding that leadership problem is the direct cause of economic recession in Nigeria.

Dr Ubani said: “Today, the credibility of governance institutions is the number one indicator that investors use in making their investment decisions. In other words, if the rule of law, an independent legislature, a free press, a vibrant civil society, effective regulatory institutions, among others, cannot be guaranteed in Nigeria, then, it will be difficult if not impossible to attract the much needed foreign and local investments that are urgently required to reflate Nigeria’s economy and reverse the current economic recession.”

He said that for professionals, economic recession is not a curse but an opportunity. “It is an opportunity to harness the powers of professionalism to uncover the endless possibilities and potential for innovation and growth in the Nigerian economy.”

ecutor with the EFCC, are facing a 30-count charge brought against them by the commission over alleged pervertion of the cause of justice.

The commission had detained the duo in its custody pending the conclusion of its investigation.

Ajumogobia then filed an ex parte application through her lawyer, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo , seeking enforcement of her fundamental rights before the court.

She is urging the court to order her release from custody.

In his argument, Onigbanjo faulted the continued detention of the judge in EFCC’s custody.

Onigbanjo argued that the commission has an option to charge Ajumogobia to court if it is sure she has committed any offence.

“The EFCC has the option to charge her to court but it has not done so. She has also said

that she is ready to defend herself against any charge that may be slammed on her.

In a short ruling, Justice Hassan directed the applicant to put the anti-graft agency on notice.

The judge said that he was of the view that the interest of justice will better be served if the respondent is put on notice.

“The prayers being sought cannot be heard by motion ex-parte,” he ruled.

went before a Magistrate’s Ccourt to obtain a remand order pursuant to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State.

Adedipe, however, urged Justice Idris to strike down, once and for all, the provisions of the ACJL which EFCC had been relying upon to remand suspects beyond 24 hours.

But in opposition to Obla’s prayers, the EFCC, through its counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged Justice Idris, to hold that all the steps it took against Obla, were allowed by law.

Oyedepo told Justice Idris that EFCC was probing Obla for allegedly offering a gratification of N5million to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, at a time when the SAN was appearing in a suit numbered FHC/L/482c/2010 before the judge.

Justice Idris adjourned till Friday,November 25, for ruling.

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news

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

NAHCON moves to fish out illegal hajj operators Biola Azeez - Ilorin

A

GAINST increasing allegation of fraudulent activities by some hajj tour operators in the country, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has commenced oversight functions of hajj operators across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, to fish out illegal operators.

Glo’s Prof Johnbull cautions against raising false alarms THIS week, gossips and busy-bodies will be alarmed, when they realise the havocs they are wreaking on the society, as the popular TV Drama Series, Professor Johnbull, dramatises the harmful effect of rumour mongering.

The show is sponsored and promoted by the leading telecoms firm Globacom.

This week’s show, which is the 4th episode in the second season, titled “Radio without Battery.” A sneak preview of this episode reveals that, it dramatises the phenomenon of gossiping, slandering and tale-bearing.

According to Globacom, the episode in a creative, humorous and satirical manner reveals that gossip leads to bad blood, and is capable of splitting even the most close-knit society.

“As viewers of the series stay glued to their television sets this Tuesday and Friday, they will be confronted with the unpleasant consequences of the gossip mills, false alarm, tale bearing and rumour mongering,” Globacom stated.

Globacom disclosed that, viewers can look forward to regulars on the show like Ufoma, (Bimbo Akintola), Churchill (Jnr Pope Odonwodo), Flash (Stephen Odimgbe), Mai Doya, starred by Funky Mallam, Etuk (Ime Bishop) and the irrepressible erudite professor himself, Professor Johnbull acted by Kanayo O. Kanayo.

“Radio without Battery,” according to Globacom, is scripted to entertain and educate. But in the course of doing these, the drama will also seek to encourage reduction in the occurrence of unnecessary acrimony in the society, as a result of rumours and inexactitudes spread by busy-bodies.

In the episode, viewers will learn that everyone can be susceptible to the rumour mill and get answers to many posers such as: What rumours were being peddled? Was the Professor taken in by the rumours?

What roles did Flash and Ufoma play in igniting and propagating rumours? And who is the “Radio without battery?”

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, at the weekend, the leader of the NAHCON delegation to Kwara State, Alhaji Alidu Shutti, said that the visit was intended to bring sanity into activities of hajj tour operators, by verifying their documents and licences.

Alhaji Shutti, who said that the visit was aimed, to consolidate achievements being recorded in hajj operations and to fine-tune strategy towards future success of both Umrah and hajj operations in the country, added that, it was also meant to fish out

illegal operators.

It was gathered that, the visit would also assist the commission, to know the areas where it could be of assistance to the hajj tour operators, in order to bring effective hajj operation exercise in the country.

Alhaji Shutti also said that, the commission was determined to ensure a hitch free hajj operations for all intending pilgrims that passed through licensed tour operators, adding that the visit would also assist the commission, to know the areas where it could be of assistance to li-

censed hajj tour operators, in order to achieve effective hajj operation exercise.

The head of Tour Operators, at NAHCON, also said that findings of the delegation would be communicated to affected operators after the visit, to enhance their effective performance.

The leader of the delegation, who had earlier visited the state police command and Director of the state security service, solicited support of the two security agencies in the task ahead.

He also used the occasion to laud the efforts of the two

security agencies, for their unalloyed support during the yearly hajj operation exercises.

The state police commissioner, Mr Olusola Amore, advised the NAHCON to embark on public enlightenment program, which would guide the intending hajj pilgrims, on the best way to go about having successful hajj operation.

Mr Amore also urged NAHCON to encourage feedback from members of the public, in order to ensure that their guidelines were strictly adhered to.

MMPN Oyo chapter lauds Tribune at 67 MUSLIM Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Oyo State chapter, has felicitated with African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, The publishers of Tribune titles, on her 67th anniversary, which was marked on Wednesday, November 16, 2016.

In a release sent by the chairman of the association, Alhaji Wasiu Aliu, and signed by the secretary, Alhaja Rofiah Animasahun, said, “We gave kudos to the oldest surviving newspaper in Nigeria, Nigerian Tribune, which was established on November 16, 1949. By the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for it played an important role in defending the interest of the Yoruba people, and also congratulated the management and staff of the company, for following the footstep of Chief Awolowo, indeed, his aim with the Nigerian Tribune in order to fight the cause of the masses, and it is to our delight that the family, especially Mama HID Awolowo upheld the legacy.”

Omo Ajorosun Club organises annual career talk Former head of state General Yakubu Gown, with the first graduating set of the McPherson University, at a convocation ceremony held at the institution in Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State, on Friday. PHOTO: DOYIN ADEOYE.

Reps’ hearing on Ogoni killings: Why I won’t attend —Abe As CLO calls for military withdrawal Jacob Segun Olatunji, Dapo Falade and Kolawole Daniel

THE House of Representatives Committee on Army, on Monday, continued its hearing into alleged army invasion and killings in Ogoni communities.

This was as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the legislative rerun in Rivers South senatorial district, Magnus Abe, said he would not honour the invitation by the committee and Speaker of the House of Representatives, while he asked the House to refrain from further action he alleged was designed to influence the outcome of the forthcoming elections in Rivers State in favour of any political party.

Abe, in a letter he personally wrote to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, through the office of the Clerk, House Committee on Army, alleged that the petition was part of the campaign of calumny against him, using the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), SouthSouth zone.

Abe, in response to the invitation by the commit-

tee, said the petition was part of plan by the PDP and Governor Wike to malign his person, adding that “not surprisingly, Mr Speaker, the petition is signed by Mr Livingstone Wechie, the vice chairman of the Rivers PDP campaign publicity team.”

Abe said having read through the petition, it was clear that it was sponsored to manipulate federal agencies and influence public opinion in order to secure undue advantage for the PDP in the coming rerun in Rivers State..

“Out of respect for your revered office and the integrity of the National Assembly, an institution to which I proudly belong, I had opted to hold my peace, but in the face of glaring injustice and continuing manipulation of the powers of the National Assembly in favour of the PDP in Rivers State, it has become imperative that I bring this to your attention and to the attention of the national chairman of the APC,” he said.

He further stated that the hearings were clear abuse of the constitutional powers of the House of Representatives and a violation of oath of office of National Assembly

leaders.

The lawmakers, however, in their hearing of Monday, advised the people of Ogoniland to bury their political differences and allow peace to reign in the communities.

Chairman, House committee on Army, Honourable Rima Shawulu Kwewum, during the sitting, said development of Ogoniland should be paramount to various interests in the communities.

While the Nigerian Army claimed that it was not true that its men carryout any killing; the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mobolaji Odesanya, said security report he received had it that a cult group allegedly led by one Chief Solomon Ndigbara was the one that ambushed

the military vehicles during distress call in the Ogoni community.

The CLO zonal chairman, Mr Chinedu Uchegbu and deputy director relations/ communication, in their presentation to the committee, had noted that “it is unfortunate that the extra-judicial killing of over 30 citizens, the arrest; detention and torture without trial of many others, as well as the destruction of properties of Nigeria citizens, thereby rendering them homeless and internally displaced, do not amount to any breach of functional human right to the military.”

The CLO asked that the military be withdrawn from Ogoni communities in the interest of peace in the area.

Works on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reaches 32% completion —Supervisor MR Kayode Ibrahim, the engineer supervising section one of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction/rehabilitation contract, by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, said that the project was 32 per cent completed.

Ibrahim told the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday, that work had been completed on one section of the Long Bridge and on various critical sections.

NAN reports, section one of the projects is from Ojota, in Lagos, to Sagamu Interchange and is being handled by Julius Berger.

By Aramide Shanu

FOREMOST indigenous club in Ibadan, Omo Ajorosun, has organised a career talk, to enlighten students in its annual career talk.

The students were welcomed by a co-founder of the club, Alhaji Lai Adedoyin, accompanied by the president of the club, Prof Ezekiel Olukayode and the Aare Alasa of Ibadanland, Chief Lekan Alabi.

Speaking at the event, the president of the club Prof Olukayode said, “It is a great pleasure seeing so much of the students, who are willing to emulate good characters in our society, that is why education is a key factor and the tools that break the yolk of intimidation, oppression and ignorance.

“The career talk I received in 1972 has really shaped my life and I will implore students to have a focused mindset, in other to achieve their goal in life and thereafter.”

Also, Chief Alabi explained that “Life has its own purpose and every student must be committed, to seek the good and welfare of others.” He urged the students to be respectful and be self confidence.

“This yearly career talk, indeed, one in which students look forward to attend with enthusiasm, is an avenue for them to think of the carrier they want to choose in future, Chief Alabi said.”

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Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

foreig naffairs

08116954632 withseyigesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

Donald Trump

T

he main United States (US) visa programme for technology workers could face renewed scrutiny under Presidentelect Donald Trump and his proposed Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, a long-time critic of the skilled-worker programme, Reuters reported.

H-1B visas admit 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers each year. The tech industry, which has lobbied to expand the programme, may now have to fight a rear-guard action to protect it, immigration attorneys and lobbyists said.

Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticizing the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent.

Sessions, however, has long sought to curtail the programme and introduced legislation last year aiming to make the visas less available to large outsourcing companies

such as Infosys. Such firms, by far the largest users of H-1B visas, provide foreign contractors to U.S. companies looking to slash information technology costs.

“Thousands of U.S. workers are being replaced by foreign labour,” Sessions said at a February hearing.

A spokesperson for Sessions did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Trump transition team spokesperson declined to comment.

The H-1B visa is intended for specialty occupations that typically require a college education.

Companies use them in two main ways to hire technology workers.

Tech firms such as Microsoft and Google typically hire highly skilled, well-paid foreign workers that are in short supply.

They help many of them secure so-called green cards that allow them to work in the US permanently.

By contrast, firms such

Foreign technology workers face uncertain future under Trump

as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, both based in India, use the visas to deploy lower-paid contractors that critics say rarely end up with green

cards.

Infosys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Tata spokesman declined to comment.

Pope extends power to forgive abortion to all priests POPE Francis on Monday allowed all Roman Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion, a power previously reserved for bishops or special confessor.

Francis, who has made a more inclusive and forgiving church a characteristic of his papacy, made the

announcement in a document known as an “apostolic letter” after Sunday’s close of the Catholic Church’s “Holy Year of Mercy.”

He said he wanted to “restate as firmly as he can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life,” Reuters reported.

The company that produces Doom warned of the risks of spraying the substance, while a government commission urged anyone effected to lodge complaints.

But the pastor has defended his actions,

The pastor claims afflicted church members have been delivered after being sprayed with the insecticide. PHOTO: MZGA/FACEBOOK

Kabul mosque suicide attack kills dozens A suicide bomber has killed at least 27 people at a Shia Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

BBC reported that many more were wounded in the blast at an annual Shia ceremony at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the west of the city.

The attacker arrived on foot and blew himself up among worshippers inside.

So-called Islamic State (IS) said that it was behind the blast. It is the latest of several recent attacks on Afghanistan’s Shia community claimed by the Sunni Muslim militant group.

Monday’s bombing took

place at 12:30 local time (08:00 GMT) during a service to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson and a Shia martyr.

Eyewitnesses said the service was almost over when the bomb was detonated.

Police gave the figure of 27 dead, but the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said 32 were killed and more than 50 injured. Some reports suggest a higher number of wounded.

IS said the attack was carried out by an IS “fighter” but gave no other details on its self-styled Amaq news agency.

Japanese troops land in South Sudan, fears of first foreign fighting since WW2

Pope Francis

South Africa ‘pesticide pastor’ condemned A South Africa pastor who sprays his congregation with insecticide has been widely condemned.

In a Facebook post, self-proclaimed prophet Lethebo Rabalago claims a pesticide called Doom can heal people.

The attacker was reportedly on foot when he entered this Kabul mosque.

PHOTO: REUTERS

telling the BBC he is using unconventional methods to heal people.

The country has seen a wave of practices where church members have been subjected to unorthodox rituals to receive healing.

In photos circulating on Facebook and Twitter, Mr Rabalago, who runs the Mountzion General Assembly in the Limpopo province, is seen spraying the insecticide directly into the eyes and various body parts of his congregants.

He told the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko in Johannesburg that he had sprayed the face of one woman because she had an eye infection and claimed the woman

was “just fine because she believed in the power of God.” He also claims the spray can heal cancer and HIV. “Doom is just a name, but when you speak to it to become a healing product, it does. People get healed and delivered through doom,” a post on the church’s Facebook account reads.

In another interview, posted on the eNCA website, the pastor is heard saying: “The truth is, Doom can heal people in the right way.”

But Tiger Brands, the company that makes the product, says it finds the practice “alarming.”

A contingent of Japanese troops landed in South Sudan on Monday, an official said - a mission that critics say could see them embroiled in their country’s first overseas fighting since World War Two. Reuters reports that the soldiers will join United Nations (UN) peacekeepers and help build infrastructure in the landlocked and impoverished country torn apart by years of civil war.

But, under new powers granted by their

government last year, they will be allowed to respond to urgent calls for help from UN staff and aid workers.

There are also plans to let them guard UN bases, which have been attacked during the fighting.

The deployment of 350 soldiers is in line with Japanese security legislation to expand the military’s role overseas.

Critics in Japan have said the move risks pulling the troops into conflict for the first time in more than seven decades.

Japanese peacekeepers arrive at the Juba airport to participate in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in South Sudan’s capital Juba.PHOTO: REUTERS

38

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

39

Tuesday, 22 November, 2016 Editor: Wale Emosu tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08111813054

2017 Lagos City Marathon holds Feb 11 Bola Badmus - Lagos

Chinwendu Ihezuo

Japan caused Falconets W-Cup ouster —Dedevbo

By Ganiyu Salman

N

IGERIA coach, Peter Dedevbo, has said the 0-6 defeat the Falconets suffered at the hands of The Young Nadeshiko of Japan led to the team’s ouster from the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

The Falconets had after the humiliation in the group opener, come back to defeat Canada 3-1 and Spain 2-1 to finish third on the table with six points, same as Japan and Spain, but bowed out on minus three goals

difference.

Alba Redondo had last Sunday put the Spaniards ahead in the seventh minute at the PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby before Ihuoma Onyebuchi equalised for the Falconets in the 12th minute, while Chinwendu Ihezuo who captained on the day secured the winner for the Africans in the 72nd minute.

However, Nigeria’s joy of victory was shortlived as Japan also trounced Canada 5-0 in another group game as a draw would have seen Nigeria through.

“In the first match against

Rhema Chapel sports fiesta begins

By Biola Olarogba ALL is set for the fourth edition of the Rhema Chapel International sports fiesta is scheduled to kick off today in Ilorin, Kwara State and will end on November 27.

The fiesta which is aimed to win souls for Christ is being organised by Ever Increasing Word Ministries.

According Mr Isaac Udoh, a member of the organising committee, sports is a platform to promote unity, add-

ing that the sporting event would bring all members of the Rhema Chapel across the globe to the venue.

“We are using this tournament to bring ‘Rhemites’ together, build a stronger union between youths and evangelism.

“We will be using our camp in Ilorin for the tournament as participants will compete in different indoor and outdoor games,” Udoh said adding medals and trophies will be presented to various winners.

Japan, we lost 6-0. That defeat is very painful because it cost us qualification to the next round.

“When you lose the first match in a competition, you have to work very hard to get back in the saddle. You need to win, and that’s what we did.

“After the first game, we told the players they absolutely had to win the next two matches, and that message went over well. We tried to score as many goals as possible, but it wasn’t enough to keep us in the tournament,” Dedevbo told FIFA.com.

He noted that his players derived some positives from the competition despite not going far adding: “They know now that the first match is the most important in the whole tournament because it sets the tone for the rest. When you lose the first game, it’s difficult to get back in the running.”

The man who coached Nigeria to finish second at the last edition in 2014 believes given the performance of his team at PNG 2016, they would not be condemned outright by Nigerians.

LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has said that no fewer than 50,000 athletes from across the world are expected to participate in the second edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon billed to hold on February 11.

Ambode made this known on Sunday at the Lagos House in Ikeja while addressing a world press conference on the event.

He disclosed that necessary logistics have been put in place to make the event a huge success, and as well promote the tourism potential of the state.

Ambode said that the 2017 edition, would also feature the top 10 men and women marathoners in the world, who would also be joined by many gold label, silver label and bronze label marathoners from different parts of the world.

According to him, the appearance fees for gold label runners is $50,000, silver label $20,000 and bronze label $10,000, adding that invited local and foreign elite runners would be paid 50 per cent of their appearance fee ahead, while the balance would be paid to them when they arrive in Lagos for the tourney.

He stated that winner of the 2017 Lagos City Marathon would also go home with a cash prize of $50,000, while second and third place winners would bag $40,000 and $30,000 respectively.

“The Lagos City Marathon is at present ranked 68th in the world, but our desire is to make it the top ten in

48th Asoju Oba Cup: Adeyinka, Odusanya vow to retain titles REIGNING champion, Ahmed Adeyinka is not ready to surrender his men’s singles title at this year’s Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Cup holding at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos Also, women’s singles defending champion, Bose Odusanya is poised to become the first player in recent times to win the competition back-to-back.

From Adeyinka, the just concluded NTTF National

Championships would have given him the ample opportunity to shape and assess some of his possible opponents for the championship.

“Nothing can stop me from holding on to the title because I am going to be unstoppable. I think I can retain the title again this year because I don’t see anybody stopping me from holding on to the title. There is no doubt that the NTTF National Championships has prepared most of the players for the champi-

onship. I had won it in 2014 and 2015 and for me this year will not be an exception. But I must also admit that I won’t play to the gallery because there are lots of good players that will be aiming for the title as well.

“I am hoping that I can also inscribe my name in the annals of the competition’s history. It is our former coach that is still holding the record as the most successful player in the competition and I hope I can also meet up with his feat,” Adeyinka boasted.

the world and that is what we are working on with the next episode of the event.

NSC partners CTGP on grassroots football development A project to scout for aspiring U-18 football players at the grass roots has been launched by the Change the Game Projects (CTGP), after a one day stakeholders meeting in Abuja on Friday.

Declaring open the meeting, Director, Grassroots Sports Development, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, (FMYSD), Dr. Ademola Are, said the objectives of CTGP is same with the ministry, hence the need to key into the project.

Are challenged stakeholders at the meeting to see the project as their baby and ensure its success when they all return to their base.

The director of grassroots development urged the meeting to come up with a blueprint that will ensure a smooth takeoff and ending for the project.

Earlier is his opening remarks, the President of CTGP, Mr. Robinson Adakosa, said CTGP is an international non-governmental organization (NGO), based in Nigeria and saddled with the mission to discover talented youths from the grassroots.

He said the objective of the project is to breed future stars through sporting activities and to productively engage them.

Adakosa said the CTGP is collaborating with the department of grass roots development of the FMYSD because it is the custodian of sports development in the country.

The CTGP President added that the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), was involved in the project because it will ensure proper coordination with the support of its zonal offices.

He explained that there will be three stages of the project, the elimination stage, which will take place at the state level, zonal playoff, which will hold at designated centers across the six geopolitical zones and the final stage scheduled for Abuja.

SIDELINES

NO 16,638

TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER, 2016

N150

In the last few days, two unsavoury news stories got into the public space, which Nigerians would consider for the next few weeks. One, that there could be famine next year and two, that there might be total blackout. Well, if one knows Nigerians and what they currently go through, the electricity blackout might be condoned. The blackout of stomach? Well, the leaders may soon find out if truly a hungry man is an angry person.

4 goals not about me — Oshoala

Oshoala

NIGERIA’S four-goal heroine Asisat Oshoala spoke after the Super Falcons defeated Mali 6-0 and said she had no personal ambition at the ongoing Women’s Africa Nations Cup. “This is just the first match and our approach was not to concede in the first 20 minutes. When we went into the dressing room, we came back stronger in the second half and did better.

“Basically it is not about Asisat Oshoala, rather the whole Nigerian team. I did not come with a target in mind to win the Most Valuable Player or the top scorer, rather to make my country [Nigeria] proud. And also to show the rest of Africa that we are still around and this is the only way to make that statement.”

TODAY’S MATCHES

Women’s Africa Nations Cup:

Cameroon vs Zimbabwe vs

SouthAfrica Egypt

Nigeria can’t mess us like Mali—Ghanacoach

By Wale Emosu

N

IGERIA-Ghana football fixtures are always different and this will remain so when both countries meet in a group match of the ongoing Women’s Africa Nations Cup on Wednesday, according to Yusif Basigi.

The head coach of Ghana’s Black Queens made this submission after his side defeated Kenya in a group match of the 10th edition of the Women’s Africa Nations Cup. The Super Falcons face the Black Queens tomorrow after thrashing Mali 6-0 in their opening match on Sunday.

But Basigi says it is not certain that Nigeria can overrun Ghana likewise.

“Ghana–Nigeria is always a different ball game.

They massacred Mali 6-0 but it doesn’t mean that

they will massacre Ghana.

Let the day come and we will see what happens,” Basigi said in a post-match interview.

The Black Queens came from a goal down to beat debutants Kenya 3-1 in their opening group

match but Basigi says all the eight teams competing for honours in Cameroon are good for the diadem.

“Any team at this competition is worthy of being crowned champion and don’t have to be un-

derrated,” said the coach who is making his second appearance at Africa women’s football’s biggest showcase.

And head coach of the Super Falcons Florence Omagbemi says “We are through with Mali and

looking forward to Ghana.”

Omagbemi, former captain of the Nigeria side, reiterated her side’s resolve to retain the title they have won won seven times.

“Our focus is to defend our trophy and we have just started,” she added.

I’m happy I proved Moyes right —Anichebe SUNDERLAND striker Victor Anichebe is delighted to be proving manager David Moyes right.

Anichebe struck twice in victory over Hull City.

“Everyone knows I’ve got this love for the manager after coming through at Everton with

him,” he said.

“I always wanted to come back and play with him. I had bigger money offers to go abroad, but I’m only 28 and I didn’t want to leave the Premier League.

“I tried to turn a bad time into a good time and I always knew the belief David has in me.”

Tonight’s Champions League fixtures CSKA Monaco Dortmund Lisbon Copenhagen Leicester City Dinamo Zagreb Sevilla

V V V V V V V V

Leverkusen Tottenham Legia Warsaw Real Madrid FC Porto Club Brugge Lyon

Juventus

Anichebe(left)

Eagles can win 2018 World Cup —Dalung

By Ganiyu Salman

THE Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has said that the Super Eagles can even win the 2018 World Cup with the standard attained by the team in the ongoing qualifying series.

Coming on the heels of the barrage of criticisms which greeted his comments that Nigeria should stop attending the FIFA World Cup because of its huge financial costs, Dalung in an interview aired on Channels TV, said he is committed to the project of Nigeria at the World Cup. “I am convinced that with our performance so far in the qualifying series, we will end up winning the World Cup ticket. I am optimistic that our performance at the World Cup proper might take us far if not winning the Cup. Because we are not just playing to secure the qualification ticket, we are even targeting the Cup,” he said.

Dalung said the interview he granted the Voice of America (Hausa Service) did not reflect what he actually meant saying people were misinformed by the narrative released to the public.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 22/11/2016.