24th September 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 1,170

SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

Tinubu’s men, Abraham, Oke, Boroffice set to dump APC pg5

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

N150

SPECIAL TREAT

How to escape fraudsters while buying land in a pg3 recession

BOKO HARAM THREAT

South West placed on security alert

pg3

pg26

The other side of Caroline Danjuma

N500m bribery allegation: MTN opens up

pg3

Recession: Robbers now target pharmacy shops for drugs Hardship will be over soon —Buhari

pg4

910 schools destroyed, 952,029 pupils displaced in North East pg9

IPOB grounds Onitsha, Awka

pg5

Weekend Lagos

In Lagos markets, it’s every tribe to its wing pgs19,20,21&22

pg7 Our kidnappers said FG wronged them —Released landlords

A deserted street in Awka, Anambra State, on Friday, as residents complied totally with IPOB’s directive to observe a sit-at-home in protest against the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Militancy may erupt again soon —Niger Delta leaders pg5

2

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

do some work here.

Who are your role models in the industry?

At the risk of sounding cliché, I’ll say Genevieve Nnaji, because everyone knows how poised she is, because it’s something inspiring to be like someone who is delicate, yet so talented and so unfazed by the terrible things going on in the world.

Also, Joke Silva inspires me a lot. She is theatre-trained from England and so is her husband. This is to say that some people have taken acting so seriously enough to get trained for it.

What has been your most challenging role so far?

I think that every role has been challenging. But my most challenging role has been ‘Desperate Housewives Africa’ because there was already a character that had portrayed what I portrayed and I had to do the same thing, so I did not want to fall short. Also, with Tinsel, I had to combine it with medical School and I was always travelling. Basically, every role comes with its challenges.

Being a doctor is an added advantage to my acting career —Ifeanyi Dike Jr

Twenty six-year -old doctor cum actor, Ifeanyi Dike , speaks to JOAN OMIONAWELE about his sojourn into Nollywood, his career and personal life among other things. Excerpts:

W

HAT prompted you to go into acting?

It’s very interesting to see people express art through acting as a medium. It is great to be able to control one’s body and emotions and use oneself as a tool to tell a story was one of the most inspiring things to do also because I wanted to do so many things in my life. I wanted to become a doctor, a lawyer and a pastor and acting is the only thing that can make me achieve all those things at once.

I chose to study medicine because I wanted to be able to interact with people and help them. Once I was done with school, I decided I was going to further my studies in acting and here I am, getting my masters in acting.

So, why didn’t you practise medicine?

I practised for a year and had my one year internship.

The honest truth is, having my medical skills is an added advantage, because I plan to join UNICEF later on and I still want to touch many lives. A lot of people are worried about doing what they truly love because they are scared of what people will say and that’s grave.

What projects have you been up to lately?

Lately, I’ve been on a movie set called deceit, where I play the role of a geek, who was a computer nerd. I’ve just shot a documentary about exploring Nigeria. I also write as well, so I’m working on some deals. But most importantly, I will be away for some weeks for some intense training in directing before coming back in December to

What have been your challenges in the industry?

Nollywood is a growing, thriving industry and everyone is doing great. We have inspiring filmmakers and directors like Mildred Okwo, Kunle Afolayan, Imo Umoren, Tope Oshin and working with these people will be such an honour. But they should put younger talents into consideration, because we also have stories to tell and we are ready to work.

What was your growing up like?

It was very interesting. I grew up in Lagos and I grew up in a hospital, because my dad is a doctor and my mum is a nurse. I grew up around a lot of patients and doctors, with people already calling me junior doctor from the beginning. so, psychologically, I was attuned to be a doctor. My parents were encouraging and fun, as my mum spanked me sometimes. I went to a boarding school which helped shape me to be responsible You said you were being called junior doctor, how were you able to convince your parents that you wanted to be an actor?

My parents are very reasonable people. I went to Medical School, graduated and practised for a year. Showing them that kind of commitment was enough, They didn’t force me to study medicine; I studied it out of my own volition. I think that they are proud that I finished because a lot of people did not finish, My class started with about 700 students, but just about 120 of us reached the finishing line.

Although they were worried that I will fail because I was combining acting with school, I never failed at the University. I don’t see any complications because it is just like an English student who wants to go into fashion. No one is having aneurism over my decision. Everyone is okay with it.

You were one of the youngest actors featured at the just concluded TIFF. Can you tell us more about that experience.

The Toronto international Film Festival was more than just rosé and celebrity spotting - undeniably I had my fill of both. It was also an opportunity to gather inspiration and explore the future of film making with experienced actors. I was excited to be in a Variety magazine spread and it was an honour to be featured officially by TIFF on the same walls as icons like Uzo Aduba and Amy Adams.

3

news

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Boko Haram threat: South West placed on security alert

By Oluwatoyin Malik, Deputy Editor (Crime)

F

OLLOWING an electronic threat message from a group that claimed to be working with the Boko Haram to bomb the University of Ibadan, the police have tightened security across South West states.

Although the threat specifically mentioned the University of Ibadan, the police and other security agencies have decided to widen the security net to cover other contiguous states.

Both the Oyo State police command and the Zone Eleven Command of the police based in Osogbo, Osun State told Saturday Tribune that their men had been put on “invisible” alert. Also, Zone 2 Command of the police in charge of Lagos and Ogun states said its men had fortified security in the two states.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Sam Adegbuyi assured the management, staff and students of the University of Ibadan and its environment as well residents of the state of adequate protection from the present time, through the Independence Day anniversary to the ‘ember’ months. the threat message was circulated by the group which called itself al-Wilayat al-Islamiyya Gharb Afriqiyya, otherwise known as Boko Haram,that it would strike in the University of Ibadan by detonating bombs targeted at staff and students of the institution.

The mail which had gone viral online read: “Open letter to all staff of (the) University of Ibadan. You people are an embarrassment to Nigeria and are the people that brought Western education to Nigeria.

“You doomed this nation and in turn you are all going to be doomed. Most of you are going to die before Independence Day. You will not spend the Independence Day in peace; you and all your students. Detonations

will start going of(f) from tomorrow till the Independence Day and there is nothing you can do, as we are among you.

“Even your little searches at the gate won’t do anything. By the time we are through with you, your government will be sorry.”

Security has been tightened at the university gate where students, workers and visitors spent hours going through screening on Friday.

Speaking to the Saturday Tribune in his office on Friday, the police commissioner said that though the matter was not officially reported, the command intercepted the threat through intelligence gathering and had been doing everything humanly possible to authenticate the story.

“It is a rumour but we won’t take it lightly. We want to ensure that no unpleasant situation occurs in the university or its environs,” Adegbuyi stated further.

He remarked that the issue of security provision was not in isolation to the University of Ibadan as the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris’s efforts and those of his command were geared towards providing security generally.

He disclosed that his command was working with sister agencies and relevant department s within his command to secure the premier university without raising apprehension in the people.

“We have put our machineries in place and working closely with sister security agencies and we have deployed enough personnel to work with the internal security personnel of the university without necessarily sending panic among the residents of the university community and its environs,” the police commissioner told Saturday Tribune.

On measures being taken to ensure security of lives and property during the Independence Day anniversary celebration on October

I, Adegbuyi said that the arrangement was not limited to Oyo State or University of Ibadan.

“We are talking of the issue of threat to security to the country at large and we are leaving no stone unturned.

We get directives from the Inspector General of Police for us to be conscious of threats, not only to institutions but event centres, places of worship, government installations and public institutions. We have deployed enough personnel on surveillance and intelligence gathering,” he said.

Adegbuyi pointed out that it would not be the first time that such threat would be issued to the institution, “and we don’t want any group to distract us from our primary responsibility. We have planned our operation order for the ‘ember’ months as directed by the IGP because of their peculiar security challenges globally.”

Also, the Assistant Inspector Genral of Police in Zone 11, AIG Dan Bature, in a telephone interview with Saturday Tribune, said that his zone had not been able to determine the source(s) of the threat or establish its genuineness, confirming the Oyo police commissioner’s statement that it was not the first time such would be issued to the University of Ibadan.

According to AIG Bature, “since it (the threat) is from the social media, anyone can post anything. But because of the situation in the country, we will not take any information lightly.

“I have put all the state Commissioners of Police in the zone on the alert.

They have been asked to redouble efforts. We have also reinforced security at UI; our operatives are there working with the institution’s security.

“Similar measures are also in place in other state commands. We are assuring everyone that all things being equal, we will not ex-

N500m bribery allegation: MTN opens up

By Bode Adewumi ALLEGATIONS of an alleged bribe of N500 million to a key aide of President Muhammadu Buhari by telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria to reduce a fine slammed on it were refuted on Friday.

An online medium had alleged that certain unnamed persons showed President Buhari proofs that the aide got the bribe from MTN but that the president did nothing.

The online report had alleged that a top presidency official had collected N500

million as bribe from MTN to help the company mitigate the fine imposed by the Federal Government.

The fine was imposed in October 2015, over the inability of the operator to disconnect about 5.1 million subscribers it registered improperly on its network. The NCC had last year reduced the fine to N330 billion.

However, the company in a statement has said that it did not give bribe for the reduction of the N1.04 trillion fine slammed on the company for infraction.

A statement issued by Mr

Funso Aina, MTN’s PR and Protocol Manager, quoted the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr Ferdi Moolman on Friday as saying that MTN’s attention had been drawn to an online report, alleging that a top official in the presidency took bribe from the company to get the Federal Government to reduce the fine.

“MTN Nigeria has no knowledge of this and the allegation is therefore denied.

“The MTN Nigeria fine was ultimately settled with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” said.

perience any ugly incident.”

When contacted, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, with headquarters in Lagos State, Abdulmajid Ali, also said there was no cause for alarm with what his zone had on ground, assuring that police commands under the zone had fortified their security ar-

rangements to forestall any untoward happening.

The AIG, who spoke through the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that though no official report was received in relation to such information on Boko Haram threat, the zone, through its police commands, had good struc-

tures on ground, thus not envisaging any problem.

He added that the zone was working with other security agencies in synergy to ensure security of lives.

Ali said further: “We are taking policing to the grassroots, so everybody in the zone is incorporated into our security arrangement.”

Special Treat

Recession: Best time to purchase land, easiest time to fall for fraudsters Chukwuma Okparaocha - Lagos IT is no longer news that Nigeria is in recession and based on facts made available by economic experts, the nation may have to grapple with the problem for the next three years, as three years has been adjudged the average lifespan of a recession — if well managed.

But the period of recession has also been ticked as one of the best periods for any investor or would-be land owner to invest in landed properties, either for future business or personal use, as the value of lands generally crashes during this period, as a result of a significant reduction in people’s purchasing power.

However, a warning has gone for any prospective land buyer to be wary of buying land as fraudsters are also on the prowl looking for who they will defraud at this time.

The Lagos State government recently passed a law that seeks to bring to an end the era of land-grabbing mainly perpetrated by omo oniles (those who claim to be the indigenous land owners) and other related nefarious land matters. Findings

by Saturday Tribune suggest that this move may have done little in stopping fraudulent omo oniles from masquerading as genuine real estate agents to either sell family lands that are not meant to be sold, or someone else’s land.

Some omo oniles, according to information gathered, even go as far as selling other plots of land that should never be sold such as government land, community land, as well as plots that have been clandestinely marked as gas pipeline zones, among others.

To successfully carry out their nefarious activities, such fraudsters are usually armed with fake documents such as fake survey plans, fake deeds of assignment, fake receipts, even fake Certificates of Occupancy (Cs of O).

Based on investigations, the fraudsters who have been in the ‘business’ of duping land buyers, especially those looking for cheap plots in new sites and locations for a long time, are now capitalising on the

drop in value of properties as a result of recession to lure unsuspecting people.

On a number of occasions, land has rightly been described as the ‘crude oil’ of Lagos. This is evident in the way the Lagos State government has steadily grown its revenue from Land Use Charge (LUC) over the years. For instance, LUC was a paltry N250m in 2008, but it ‘magically’ jumped to N2bn in 2009. In 2011, it grew to N3.8bn; 2012 - N6.28bn; 2013 - N7bn, and there are indications that currently, the state government has already hit double digits in its LUC revenue.

The reason for this remarkable growth in the state’s income accruable to land is not farfetched — the population explosion of Lagos, which is estimated at 24million. This has seen a significant rise in the demand for land in places such as Ikorodu, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Ajah, and Iba, among others, thus turning them into the hotbeds of land transactions that have yielded positive results. But sadly too, these places have also become the beehives of activities for fraudsters who will go to any length to hoodwink buyers into parting with their hardearned money to buy plots that should not be sold.

Avoid dealing with quacks Generally, the hallmark of any bad business transaction is falling into the hands of quacks or people who are on a mission to defraud others outright. Therefore, so long as one is able to avoid dealing with this category of people, any business transaction, including land transactions, is less likely to go awry. This has always been the cry of experts and professionals in real estate matters, and this was again the message relayed by some professionals Saturday Tribune interacted with in the course of piecing this report together.

In his analysis, Mr Victor Ayeye, the National Secretary of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) insists that in any transaction that has to do with land, all parties, especially buyers, must be ready

to exercise a lot of caution. He says they should be ready to investigate, scrutinise and ask salient questions so as to avoid falling into a trap.

This, according to him, is important, not just because land transactions are usually costly, but also because buyers will by so doing be saving themselves of a lot of legal, family, communal and even government problems in the future which might make them lose, not just the land in question, but also whatever investment that might have made thereon.

“Land transactions require a lot of care and caution, not just during a period of recession like we are in now, but always.

All land transactions should be done with certified professionals only. There are those certified by the government to help people sell or buy land and this are the estate surveyors and valuers, and these are the people prospective land buyers should patronise. Anything other than this, a buyer risks falling into the hands of fraudsters or quacks who don’t even know what steps to take,” said Mr Ayeye.

He further warns: “Quite often, people, in the bid to avoid paying necessary professional fees which are all approved by the government, opt to patronise those they consider ‘land agents.’ Some have no known offices, while a few who have, scramble in shops and other unwholesome places to operate. If you want to buy land using this method, you stand the risk of falling into the hands of fraudulent people, who will collect your money for nothing, and you will have only yourself to blame.”

Mr Ayeye, who is also the Head of Practice and CEO of Ayeye & Co., noted that before any land is bought, a buyer ought to, among other things, carry out a legal search about the property in question. The legal search, which will eventually yield a search report, he says, is usually issued by the state government, or local governments, or Area Councils (in Abuja). This he notes would help give details about the authenticity and how safe the land is, so as to avoid throwing one’s money away.

“It is only a certified pro-

Continued on pg4

4

news

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Recession: Best time to purchase land, easiest time to fall for fraudsters Continued from pg3

Borno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima with a team of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), North East zone, during their visit to the 5,403 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who returned home after their stay in camps.

Recession ’ll be over soon —Buhari

T

HE economic recession in the country would soon be history as the Federal Government would address the relevant challenges diligently.

A statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja quoted Buhari as saying this at a parley with some Nigerian Professionals in the United States.

According to the statement, the parley provided President Buhari the “opportunity to bring them up to speed on how and why Nigeria got into trouble”.

The statement said the President assured the professionals that “with all hands on deck, including the best brains in the Diaspora, the country would bounce back in the shortest possible time”.

It also said that although Buhari enumerated the socio-economic challenges facing the country, he pledged that he would not complain about the problems he met on the ground when he assumed duty as President.

“I prayed so hard for God to make me President. I ran in 2003, 2007, 2011, and in 2015. He did (make me President).

“And see what I met on ground. But I can’t complain since I prayed for the job.

“In the military, I rose from 2nd Lieutenant to MajorGeneral.

“I was military governor in 1975 over a state that is now six states.

“I was head of state; got detained for three years, and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund, which had N53 billion at that time in Nigerian banks.

“God has been very good to me; so I can’t complain.

“If I feel hurt by anybody, I ask God to help me forgive.

He has done so much for me.

“After 16 years of a different party in government, no party would come and have things easy. It’s human.

“We need quality hands to run Nigeria, and we will utilize them. I would like to welcome you home when it’s time. But I would like you to be ready.”

According to the statement, Buhari explained that Nigeria plunged into economic recession because the country failed to save enough funds for the “rainy days”.

It quoted him as saying: “We got into trouble as a country, because we did not save for the rainy day.

“For example, between 1999 and 2015, when we produced an average of 2.1 million barrels of oil per day, and oil prices stood at an average of $100 per barrel, we did not save, neither did we develop infrastructure.

“Suddenly, when we came

in 2015, oil prices fell to about 30 dollars per barrel.

“I asked; where are the savings? There were none.

Where are the railways? The roads? Power? None.

“I further asked: what did we do with the billions of dollars that we made over the years?

“They said we bought food.

“Food with billions of dollars? I did not believe, and still do not believe.

“In most parts of Nigeria, we eat what we grow.

“People in the South, eat tubers; those in the North eat grains, which they plant, and those constitute over 60 per cent of what we eat.

“So, where did the billions of dollars go?

“We did a lot of damage to ourselves by not developing infrastructure, when we had the money.

President Buhari commended the Nigerians in

Diaspora for doing the country proud, saying: “Wherever you go in the world, you find highly competent and outstanding Nigerians.

“They not only make great impact on their host countries and communities, their financial remittances back home also help our economy, particularly at a time like this, when things are down.”

The statement said that all the Nigerian professionals, who spoke at the event, pledged to contribute their quota towards re-launching their fatherland into a new dawn.

Among the professionals, who met with Buhari, are top flight aeronautic engineers, physicians, information technology experts, a judge and a top policewoman.

Others are entrepreneurs, an import specialist, professors, and students.

Economic recession: Robbers now target pharmacy shops for drugs

By Sade Oguntola A new dimension has been introduced into the scarcity of essential drugs in the country as robbers now invade pharmacy shops to steal drugs.

Prices of drugs for life-threatening diseases have gone up in recent weeks due to the scarcity of foreign exchange to import them and the fall in the value of the naira.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Oyo State branch, on Friday, described as unwholesome, the now regular invasion of its members’ shops by robbers looking for drugs to steal.

Chairman, PSN, Oyo State, Mr Adeyinka Ishola, made the declaration at a press conference to flag off the association’s 2016 Pharmacy Week and World Pharmacists Day celebration in Ibadan on Friday.

Ishola stated: “it is a recent

development where they start going to pharmacy shops to steal drugs. Before, they only stole money and other electronics. That they now come in to steal drugs shows the desperate situation we are now in.”

The PSN boss stated that the robbers were taking many prescription drugs which they most likely would not know its usage or usefulness, adding, “they are likely to sell them at ridiculous prices.”

He, however, stated that members of the association are already putting in safety measures to checkmate the activities of these robbers said to come in the evening time and on motorcycles.

Ishola also decried the nonavailability of some drugs even when individuals have the money to purchase despite the fact that they are expensive, urging the Federal government to give concession

on foreign exchange to drug manufacturers.

According to him: “This will ensure that they can bring in consignment of raw materials for production to cushion the effect of the recession so that the issue of drug syndrome or non-availability of drugs can be mitigated.”

However, Mr Ishola assured that as the theme of the 2016 Pharmacy Week and World Pharmacists Day celebration suggested, pharmacy practice was much more than drug dispense but includes care of patients.

He declared: “medicine is the heart of health care profession.

Pharmacists are committed to improve global health by advancing pharmacy practice and service to enable better discovery, development, access to and safe use of appropriate, cost effective, quality medicines in the best interest of the patients.”

fessional that can carry out this very important search, and the whole process does not take more than two days.

So there is really no better way to do a successful land transaction without involving real estate surveyors and valuers as we have a functional control mechanism that ensures that all our members remain professional in all their dealings,” said Mr Ayeye, who is also a board member of NIESV. He, however, stated that should any wrong thing emanate from a land transaction involving a certified professional (this he insists rarely happens), such could be settled and resolved without necessarily going through a legal redress.

Sharing a similar view, another real estate consultant and Principal Partner of Sola Badmus & Co., Chief Sola Badmus, argues that the government knows what it is doing when it, by relevant laws and decrees, authorises a certain group of experts (estate surveyors and valuers) to be the only set of people certified to help buy or sell lands.

“I can assure you that any transaction made through certified professionals in our field has the greatest chance of ending in success. We have our names, integrity and profession to protect, and as such, we will not want to get involved in anything that could make us lose our seals, licences and certification,” he said.

“Let people always endeavour to get the services of professionals in all dealings, not just land transactions. We have nowhere to run to, so we can’t afford to mess up, but quacks can always run away, therefore patronising an unregistered or uncertified real estate professional by a buyer is like being penny wise and pounds foolish, because in the long run, it will backfire,” he noted.

Sharing her own view, an Ikoyi-based facility manager and real estate marketer, Mrs Funke Peter, told Saturday Tribune that if anyone wants to buy land through an agent or even directly through the selling family, he/she should ask for a deed of assignment, which he said would help to trace the ancestry of the land to be bought.

She also stresses the need for a thorough and behind-thescene kind of investigation before a buyer should pay any money for a plot, especially if the purchase is being made directly from the selling family.

“In real estate, carrying out due diligence about the validity and authenticity of a property is very essential before any amount is paid. This will allow you to avoid falling into a scam or acquiring land that will turn out a liability in the future.

“As a property marketer I have seen numerous cases in which people fell victims of fake plots or plot with fake documents.

There are also cases of lands sold by fraudulent estate agents which were later discovered to be someone else’s land. So it is always good for one to tread carefully and circumspectly,” she said.

She adds that in any situation it is very important that a buyer engages the services of a good property lawyer before embarking on land or property purchase. “The reason for this is not farfetched, your lawyer is the one who ensures that you don’t run into legal trouble with land or property documents after purchase. It is your lawyer’s job to verify the authenticity of any title document that backs the land or property to be bought,” she stated.

Also, the duo of Mr Teriba Kazeem and Chief Abiola Amure, both Lagos-based property consultants, recently raised the alarm over miscreants posing as genuine estate agents, a development they posit might have significantly increased since the beginning of recession in the country.

The duo therefore urged members of the public to be wary and carry out detailed investigations before parting with their hard-earned money in their bid to buy land or houses.

Meanwhile, while working on getting more facts about how to avoid falling into the hands of fraudulent land dealers, Saturday Tribune stumbled on a report which readers might find invaluable in their future land transactions.

The report, available on www.mobofree.com/blog, advises prospective land buyers to endeavour to check the following while buying land anywhere in the country: – Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) – Power of Attorney (if one is not buying from the owner) – Tax Clearance Certificate – Survey Plan – Deed of Assignment. A deed of conveyance or assignment traces the history of how the property or land has reached the present owner till date.

“Confirm that the land is not located in an area assigned to be used as business district or industrial estate if your intention is a residential building. If you contravene this law, your property is doomed for demolition,” the report noted.

5

news

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

IPOB stay-at-home order shuts down Anambra

•Enugu, Asaba ignore order •Heavy security presence at strategic locations From Jude Ossai, Suzy Oruya and Alphonsus Agborh

T

HE sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in protest against the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu and other members of the IPOB family, paralysed activities in major towns in Anambra State, on Friday, while it was ignored in Enugu and Delta states.

Commercial drivers and motorcyclists in Onitsha and Awka remained indoors, either in obedience to the IPOB order or for fear of being harmed by security agencies whose presence in every nooks and crannies were overwhelming.

Some suspected members

of IPOB were said to have gathered at the New Tarzan Junction, Nkpor along the Enugu/Onitsha expressway as early as 8.00 a.m. and barricaded the road, trying to make bonfires, but a joint security task force on patrol dispersed them, arrested one person suspected to be a vulcanizer.

Apart from non-vehicular movements, all the banks, petrol filling stations and private offices were under lock and key, except for few food vendors in roadside tents at the remote areas that later came out.

It was not until 4 p.m. that some commercial vehicles resumed vehicular movements, with few or no passengers to patronise them.

At the popular Nkpor Junction and other strategic junctions in the commercial

city, there were heavy presence of security agencies who were at alert to maintain peace, while the patrol teams moved around to monitor the situation.

Speaking to newsmen on phone, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, claimed that the sit-at-home action was a huge success, adding that it was an indication that their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was already on his way out of illegal detention, while the restoration of Biafra was around the corner.

He commended the people for their cooperation and urged them not to relent until Biafra was separated from what he termed as a contraption called Nigeria.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Nkeiruka Nwode,

confirmed to newsmen on phone that the entire exercise was peaceful as no life was lost, neither was anybody molested, adding that those who wished to go about their lawful businesses freely did so.

Emma Powerful had, earlier in the afternoon released a statement, congratulating the “people of Biafra worldwide, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom all over the world for their supports towards the successful sit-at-home order and successful protest across the globe in solidarity for the release of our leader prophet Nnamdi Kanu and for restoration of God’s nation, Biafra.

“The countries that witnessed the protests are USA, Brazil, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Israel,

Abraham, Oke, Boroffice set to dump APC Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure THE crisis rocking the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the emergence of Rotimi Akeredolu as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in the state, took another dimension on Friday, as three of its leading aspirants in the primary election appeared set to dump the party.

The trio included Dr Olusegun Abraham, who

came second in the primary, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2012 governorship election in the state, Chief Olusola Oke and a lawmaker representing Ondo North at the senate, Professor Ajayi Boroffice.

Speaking during a joint press conference in Akure, the Ondo state capital, the spokesman of the trio, Senator Boroffice, said, “We are widely consulting and would make public the next line of action that will liberate our

people from the present state of hopelessness and despair”.

The aspirants, frowning at an alleged undemocratic behaviour of the party leadership over its decision to pick Akeredolu as the party’s candidate, specifically pointed an accusing finger at the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who they accused of over-ruling the decision of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

“The Appeal Committee, within the mandate of their

Militancy may erupt again soon —Niger Delta leaders Leon Usigbe - Abuja PROMINENT personalities of the Niger Delta led by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, have rejected the planned Niger Delta Stakeholders’ Summit slated for the 26th – 27th September, 2016, being organised by the federal government, saying that it would be meaningless since government has failed to negotiate with the region despite the cessation of hostilities by militants.

Speaking under the aegis of the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum, they said the summit slated for the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja and for which invitation has already been sent out to some Niger Delta indigenes, was a talk shop meant to trivialise the Niger Delta issue.

A statement signed by 30 prominent Niger Delta leaders and made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Friday, noted that the summit

was contrary to the expectations of people around the world on the Niger Delta question.

“Whilst we do not begrudge the right of any authority or persons to convene any talk shop, we feel concerned that serious issue of the Niger Delta should not be trivialised into some academic exercise.

“We also hold the view that the holding of such summit at this time is clearly contrary to the expectations of all right-thinking persons worldwide.

“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Government, for over six weeks, since cessation of hostilities as a result of the intervention by the traditional rulers, elders and leaders of the Niger Delta, have not deemed it fit to respond to the demands of the people of the Niger Delta for a credible and proper dialogue process.

“We note with happiness that the region has been

relatively quiet and stable following the ceasefire brokered by the leaders of the Region with the expectation that the Federal Government will urgently interface and commence negotiation with accredited representatives of the Niger Delta Region.

“Rather than doing the needful, the region has however, been over-militarised of its creeks and other spaces, which have resulted in claims of rapes, brutalisation, incidental deaths and undue harassments suffered by our innocent sons and daughters during this period of the ceasefire,” the statement read.

While noting that the ceasefire in place has led to a significant increase in the quantum of oil production of 1.7 mbpd, the Niger Delta leaders observed that almost a month has elapsed since militant groups in the region agreed to a 60 day cessation of hostilities without the Federal Government constituting a negotiation team.

authority having regards to the preponderance of evidence laid before it, recommended that the election be nullified and another election be conducted. The majority of the members of the NWC voted that the recommendations of the Appeal committee be upheld.

“To our dismay and in a manner at variance with democratic norms, the national chairman overruled the majority of the NWC. He rejected the path of truth and upheld the primary election that its process was characterised with corruption.

“Let it be known that we are not deterred by the action of the NWC and the undemocratic behaviour of the national chairman. We are encouraged by the genuine desire of the people of Ondo State for a change that will free them from the economic captivity of the present administration in the state.

“We are determined to liberate our people and no undemocratic decision of a party and its leadership will be allowed to misdirect our attention from the goal. We condemn in absolute terms the undemocratic decision of the NWC. “Since our party and the official leaders of the party have found pleasure in covering fraud, we owe the people of Ondo State a sacred duty of liberation. This we are committed to and this we shall do. In the days ahead, we shall consult widely and make public the next line of action that will liberate our people from the present state of hopelessness and despair”, Boroffice said.

Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Spain, Italy, UK, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Mexico, Malaysia, UAE, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Gabon, Togo, Kenya, Australia, Sweden Denmark, scandenavia and China and other countries which I cannot mention here,” he said.

Residents of Enugu metropolis and its environs, however, defied the sitat-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), issued last Monday, many people went about their normal activities.

All markets in the metropolis were opened for business activities, while customers at various commercial banks were seen being attended to by bank officials.

It was also observed that normal academic activities went on undisturbed in both private and public schools in Enugu.

Reports from Nsukka, Agbani, Udi and Oji-River as well as other communities showed that there were normal business activities in the areas.

Some residents said although they were comfortable with the Biafra struggle but they cannot stay at home without going out to work.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amarizu said, “Security is beefed up by the police command as people were seen today (Friday) at the market, conducting their transactions as usual”.

The sit-at-home protest by members of IPOB was partially observed in Asaba and its environs as business activities went on without hindrance, even as over 500 policemen were deployed to various locations to quell any violent behavior of the group.

At the River Niger Head Bridge, traffic was flowing and there was no form of molestation from any quarter or group.

In the early hours of the day, some shops at the popular Ogbogonogo Market, Asaba which were initially under lock and key later re-opened.

Shops along Nnebisi Road, Ibusa Road, Summit Road, Cable Point area and other parts of the town opened for business, while commercial vehicles moved freely.

Some schools were shut while some others were opened for academic activities, even though it could not be ascertained why some of the schools were not open for academic activities.

Bayelsa gov’s wife, Rachael, gives birth to quadruplet WIFE of the Bayelsa governor, Mrs Rachael Dickson, on Friday, gave birth to four babies, including a boy and three girls.

A statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in Yenagoa, said Rachael put to bed in the United States of America, adding that the mother and the newborns are doing well.

The statement also expressed Governor Dickson’s gratitude to friends, family members and the people of Bayelsa for their prayers and support, quoting him as calling on well-wishers to continue to pray for the family.

Hajj: Med-View brings back international pilgrims, others

By Saheed Salawu NO fewer than 323 international pilgrims and those from Oyo State arrived at the Murtala Mohammad International Airport (MMIA) on Friday morning, after participating in the 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims airlifted by Med-View Airline Plc from King AbdulAzeez International Airport (KIA), Jeddah, pilgrims comprised those who travelled through MedView Travels Konsult and some other tour agents, as well as pilgrims from Oyo State.

The airline airlifted pilgrims from the South-West states of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun as well as the South-South, Armed Forces, and Kaduna were conveyed in a Boeing 777-200 deployed for Hajj operation by Med-View Airline.

The airline commenced the return journey with the airlift of pilgrims from Oyo and the international pilgrims, as the aircraft carrying the pilgrims touched down at the terminal of MMIA at exactly 7:30 a.m., amidst cheers and praises to Allah by the elated pilgrims.

6

news

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

NSCDC arrests five suspects with hard drugs in Jigawa

President Buhari (middle) with him from left are: Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed; President of Niger H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme, Mr Ibrahim Thiaw at the Side Event on Environment Sustainability at the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday. PHOTO: PRESIDENCY

Igbinedion’s govt diverted N4bn loan —Oshiomhole The gov is a shameless liar — Ize-Iyamu Banji Aluko-Benin City

E

DO State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday, alleged that a former governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion, diverted N4 billion bank loan under the watch of a former Secretary to the State Government and now Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oshiomhole, Peter Okhiria, in a statement alleged that in spite of earning the highest revenues from the federation account, the PDP states in the South-South region were the most in-

debted in the region with the exemption of Edo State.

The governor was reacting to reports credited to Ize-Iyamu on the debt profile of Edo State as released by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Part of the statement read: “our attention has been drawn to the lies peddled by one Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a factional candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the debt profile of Edo State.

“We make bold to state, and the facts are clear, that in spite of earning the highest revenues from the Federation Account, the PDP states in the SouthSouth region are the most indebted in the region and

not Edo State.

“The domestic debt profile released by the DMO as at December 31, 2015, the last time it was issued, lists Delta State as having a debt profile of N320,605 billion; Akwa Ibom had N147,575 billion; Cross River: N115, 522 billion.

“Others include, Rivers, N134,9566 billion; Bayelsa N103,374 billion as against Edo which had a far lower profile.

“While the other SouthSouth PDP states have continued to amass domestic debts with highinterest rates, Edo is close to completely liquidating its domestic debt.

It said “while Ize-Iyamu continues to peddle his falsehood, we have the re-

cord of the N4 billion borrowed by the PDP government of Mr Lucky Igbinedion with the knowledge of Osagie Ize-Iyamu as Secretary to State Government from Guaranty Trust Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank and paid to an address in Lagos.

In a swift reaction, however, Ize-Iyamu described the governor as a liar and dared him to publish the entire debt profile of Edo State.

“The man is shamel e s s l i ar, if t h e re w as no truth in it, why has he not reported to the EFCC. “Throughout my time in government, I didn’t steal any kobo. I have a clean name”, he said.

PDP lauds Dickson’s victory, slams APC’s desperation for power Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in Bayelsa State has lauded the victory of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State at the Appeal Court; noting that it’s a confirmation of the authenticity of the last governorship election in the state.

This is contained in a statement signed by the State Secretary, Godspower Keku, made available to Saturday Tribune in Yenagoa.

The statement criticised the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party desperate for power even in the face of defeat both at the polls and in the courts.

The party hailed the judiciary as being a “critical defender” of democracy in the 4th Republic as it had on major occasions rose to restore confidence in the people and the fabric of the nation through various landmark judicial pronouncements.

The Appeal Court judgement upheld the earlier decision of the state election petitions tribunal, affirming the election of Dickson as the governor of Bayelsa State, adding that its in furtherance of the uprightness of the judicial proceedings.

“It has been a major step in our nation’s judicial system,

reaffirming the sanctity of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man. The judgement of the Appeal Court reinforces our faith in democracy and the crucial role the judiciary plays in safeguarding the wishes of the people.

The appellate court verdict was a clear demonstration

that what Sylva did was nothing short of desperation for power. . He praised the efforts of the governor at developing the state even as he pointed out what he referred to as the “divisive and hate propaganda of the opposition party” to blackmail the governor in the state.

CORRECTION On page 3 of the Nigerian Tribune of Thursday, 22 September, 2016 which contained profile of members of the Advisary Council of the HID Awolowo Foundation, we, inadvertently, referred to Mrs Folusho Olaniyan, OON as the Chief Executive Officer, Director and MD of UTC Nigeria Plc. It has been discovered that she held that position from 2007 to 2012.

Below is the correct profile of Mrs Olaniyan.

Folusho started her career in the food industry as a management trainee with A.G. Leventis Nigeria, Plc in 1988. She resigned from Leventis Foods as Head of Sales and Marketing in 2005. She was appointed Managing Director/CEO UTC Nig. Plc in 2007; a post she held till 2012.

She resigned her appointment in 2013 to set up Contact Consulting Nig. Ltd; a Research, Business advisory and Marketing support services company.

Folusho is currently the Program Director for Agra innovate West Africa, and recently accepted to serve on the judging panel of the Rockefeller cassava yieldwise $1million USD innovation challenge.

The mix-up is regretted.

THE Spokesperson of the corps in the state, DSC Adamu Abdullahi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, in Dutse that the suspects were apprehended in Gumel Local Government Area of the state.

Abdullahi said that the suspects were arrested in Gumel central market by men of the command operating in the area.

He explained that the suspects (names withheld), hail from Kaura, Dadin Sarki and Rukutu villages in Suletankarkar Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson added that one of the suspects was from Baure town in katsina State.

According to him, a total of 34 sachets of Tramadol, consisting of tablets and capsules were recovered from the suspects.

Abdullahi said the tablets are 120 milligrams, while the capsules are 225 milligrams.

He added that suspects who confessed to committing the offence, had been handed over to the office of National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action.

Declare Dariye’s seat vacant, PDP tells INEC THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the seat of Sen. Joshua Dariye in the Senate vacant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Dariye, on Thursday ,at the Senate, announced his defection from PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing lingering leadership crisis in the party as reason.

In a statement by the party’s Deputy Chairman in the state, Mr Amos Gombi, on Friday in Jos, PDP urged INEC to immediately conduct fresh election for Dariye’s Plateau Central Senatorial seat.

It said that the fresh election would be in accordance with section 68, sub-section one of the 1999 Constitution as amended since Dariye had abandoned the party on whose platform he contested and won the election.

“In 2015, Sen. Dariye contested and was elected on the platform of the PDP as senator, representing Plateau Central Senatorial Zone.

“But, by leaving the party, he cannot under this circumstance, lawfully and legally retain his seat as representative of the people in accordance with section 68 sub-section 1 of the 199 Constitution as amended.

7

news

24 September 2016

Saturday Tribune

NEMA confirms return of 5403 from IDPs camps Chris Agbambu - Abuja

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the return of 5,403 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes after their stay in camps.

The returnees include 1,517 in Mafa, 750 in Konduga, 1,200 in Ngamboru and about 1,936 due to return to Dikwa.

This is coming at a period the governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima and a team of NEMA North East zonal staff, led by the zonal coordinator, Alhaji Muhammed Kanar, spent the night in Bama, in order to fast-track the reconstruction of homes and other structures to facilitate the return of residents displaced by insurgency.

Monarch seeks FG’s recognition for Merchant Navy` Christian Okeke - Abuja

From left, Development Director, South Energyx Nigeria Ltd, Prerre Edde; delegate of the regional economic department in Lagos, Francis Widmer; Head of the regional economic department, Nigeria-Ghana-Sierra Leone-Liberia, Emmanuelle Boulestreau and deputy delegate of the regional economic department in Lagos, Fabric Nzum, during a visit of the Embassy of France to Eko Atlantic City. PHOTO: EKO ATLANTIC CITY.

Budget padding: Reps panel grills House rules chairman ‘Slates Monday for Jibrin to appear’ Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel, Abuja

T

HE House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges on its first sitting, on Friday, grilled the House Committee chairman on Rules and Bussiness, Honourable Oker-Jev Emmanuel, over allegation of budget padding

levelled against the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers by former chairman. Appropriations, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Honourable Oker-Jev had, through a motion, on Wednesday, claimed that Honourable Jibrin breached collective privileges of members through his allegation of budget padding and other

unsubstantiated allegations he levelled against the institution.

The motion led to the House’s resolution to have the allegations Honourable Jibrin levelled against members and the House as an institution investigated.

But at the commencement of the investigation, the House committee decided to have Honourable Oker-Jev’s testimony taken.

Internet fraud: EFCC arrests 2 in Ibadan THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two persons for internet fraud in Ibadan.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by EFCC’s Head of Public Affairs in the Ibadan Zonal Office of the commission, Mr Ayo Oyewole.

The statement stated that the suspects, aged 26 and 29, were involved in various internet fraud activities.

It stated that one of the suspects was engaged in internet love and romance scam, while the other, a self -acclaimed fashion director, often surfed the internet for online purchases through auction sites.

The statement alleged that the first suspect had, on the internet, impersonated two American Army officers– Sergeant Shaft Pagan and Perrie Edingson—said to be serving in Afghanistan.

The commission, in the statement, explained further that the second suspect engaged unsuspecting ladies on the internet in a dating and romance scam through which he fleeced them of their money.

According to the statement, the last scam involved one P. J, (full name withheld) from the United States of America.

The suspect claimed he

obtained about N4m in tranches, an amount which he used in buying a car.

The other suspect, who the statement said lived in old Bodija, Ibadan, lived an ostentatious life without a definite job.

The statement said the EFCC had from series of intelligence gathered that the suspect was always indoors surfing the internet.

It said though arrested differently, both suspects had confessed in their statements to internet fraud.

An envelope contain-

ing several documents, one laptop, three modems, one iphone and two Nokia phones were recovered from one of the suspects.

“Others are an international passport, forged Union Bank Statement of Account with NUBAN number 10141411389,” the statement said.

It said the EFCC also recovered three identity cards bearing different names and biodata, a 2010 black Toyota Lexus car with registration number (Lagos) SMK 475 EH.

Honourable Oker-Jev, upon questioning by the House committee, presented four exhibits which contained two video compact discs of recorded television programme and 13 newspaper reports as evidence to back up his motion.

He informed the committee that on the day he moved his motion, about four members had approached him to complain about the allegation of budget padding raised by Honourable Jibrin and were ready to have it taken as a motion, but said that in order to save legislative time, he decided to move the motion on behalf of the members.

To this end, he said that allegations made by Honourable Jibrin were false, scandalous and had impinged on the image of the National Assembly as an institution.

He, however, told the committee to apply necessary sanctions as approved by the House rules against any member found guilty of such misconduct.

‘Our abductors said they are aggrieved with FG’ —released Lagos landlords Olalekan Olabulo

THE abducted landlords of Oshorun Estate in Isheri, along Lagos - Ibadan Expressway, have described their abductors as “aggrieved against the federal government.”

The landlords also said that the kidnappers merely vent their anger on the helpless residents of the community.

The three landlords and their physical trainer were, on Thursday, released by their abductors and reunited with their families late in the night.

There was wild jubilation in some of the estates in

Isheri on Friday, as the residents gave thanks to God for their safe release.

One of the abducted landlords, Kennedy Uduagwu said that their abductors had blamed their action on what, they described as the negligence of the Niger Delta region by the federal government .

“They took us to their camp, but we did not know where it was because our eyes were tied with a cloth.

“They gave us food and mosquito nets to sleep under. They apologised for kidnaping us, that their action was to get the attention of

the federal government who has neglected the Niger Deltans and their sufferings.

The newly - released landlord also said that their kidnapers “berated the federal government for their refusal to address their grievances.”

Mr Uduagwu also added that their kidnappers had a false impression that they are super rich landlords in the estates.

“They had a false impression that we were rich and influential, but when they realised that we are still hustlers, they became sober. I thank God we are safe and back home”.

THE traditional ruler of Galadimawa, Garki in Abuja, Alhaji Musa Barde, on Friday urged the Federal Government to offer recognition to the Nigerian Merchant Navy to complement security at the country’s seaports.

He said the recognition will tighten security at the seaports and also create employment for the youth, thereby, preventing them from engaging in criminal activities.

This came as the monarch donated an office to the organisation in Abuja, for its smooth operations.

Barde, while speaking when a delegation of the organisation, led by Chief of Nigerian Merchant Navy, Commodore Ichukwu Agaba, paid him a courtesy visit at his palace, said the outfit which had been operating as a volunteer security will be a veritable outfit to further safeguard the maritime sector.

“The Nigerian Merchant Navy, also called Coastal Defence Force, is a very important security organisation in our nation’s security sector.

“Personally, I read the background and operations of this organisation and have seen that as a nation, we need them in this challenge of insecurity in our country.

“It is imperative the government considers them and officially make them part of the security system because they will help in safeguarding our territorial waters from the grip of criminals and external aggressors,” he said.

Navy arrests notorious pipeline vandal in Delta Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

AS part of the on-going efforts to curtail crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the nation’s maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Warri Naval Base, in collaboration with the Operation Delta Safe (ODS), has arrested a notorious pipeline vandal in Delta State.

The suspect, Suru, a.k.a Gabon, is also a leader of a notorious gang which has been involved in pipeline vandalism in the state since 2011.

Suru, suspected to be a member of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) from Ondo State was apprehended on Tuesday within the General Area of Sapele, in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.

Commander NNS Delta, Commodore Zik Dzunve, while parading the suspect on Thursday before journalists, said the Nigerian Navy was not relenting in getting rid of criminals in its maritime domain.

Otegbeye’s burial rites begin on Wednesday Activities for the final home journey of Mrs Anuoluwapo Otegbeye (nee Bamgbose), who died on Monday, September 12, 2016 at the age of 77, will begin on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, with service of songs at Christ Anglican Church, Okuta road, Bariga, Lagos at 5:00 p.m. There will be a commendation service on Thursday, September 29 at Christ Anglican Church, Bariga, Lagos, at 10:00 a.m. and a service of songs at her BOT residence, Biyi Otegbeye close, G.R.A, Ilaro, Ogun State, at 5:00 p.m.

The funeral service will take place on Friday, September 30 at Cathedral Church of Christ, Ilaro, at 11:00 a.m.

Entertainment follows at Ashade Agunloye Pavillion, Ilaro immediately after internment. She is survived by children and grandchildren.

Mrs Otegbeye

8

news

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

FG opts for low key 56th independence anniversary celebration Clement Idoko - Abuja THE Federal Government has opted for a low-key celebration of the 56th Independence Anniversary in view of the current harsh economic realities in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, approved the programme of events to commemorate Nigeria’s 56th Independence Anniversary.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir Lawal, who conveyed this in a statement in Abuja, said President Buhari would mark the event at the Presidential Villa with the Service Chiefs, top government functionaries and other prominent Nigerians based on strict invitation.

According to the programme of the event, Inter-denominational Thanksgiving Church Service would be held on Sunday, September 25, 2016 at 4.00 pm at the National Worship Centre, Abuja.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi presenting a letter of appointment to the chairman of the governing board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Major-General Jonathan India Garba (rtd), during the inauguration of the NIMASA board, in Abuja, recently. PHOTO: NIMASA

Sheriff to Fayose: We’re serious with peace moves Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

C

LAIMANT to the office of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Sheriff has admonished Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose to allow the new move towards the resolution of the leadership crisis to succeed.

Following the joint press conference where both Sheriff’s faction and the National Caretaker Committee led

by Senator Ahmed Makarfi announced their resolve to bury the hatchet and forge unity Fayose had posited that the move would not work as according to him, only the Court of Appeal could settle the rift.

The governor had also said that the governors under the PDP had not been consulted while the cases in court have not been withdrawn.

Fayose had said: “That move, you see, I’m not against anything called resolution within the party but everybody must wait for Court of Appeal to resolve

this matter.

“Matters are in court, nobody has withdrawn any matter and they are resolving. What are you resolving?

“When matters are in court you allow court to lay them to rest. The moment this thing doesn’t go with one side, they will tell you we are still in court.

“Allow the court to take a stand and reconciliation would be made easy. I’m not against anybody reconciling with each other but when

you get to that meeting, ask the coverners if governors were briefed.

“I was not briefed. I am not the only person in the party but then, I have a stake.”

But speaking after swearing in the new factional executive committee of Delta State PDP in Abuja on Friday, Sheriff who was represented his deputy, Cairo Ojuogboh, advised Fayose to key into the new peace move.

He was adamant that Sheriff and Makarfi were com-

Police fault Army’s reasons for invading Niger villages Adelowo Oladipo - Minna A drama occurred on Friday at the on-going Commission of Inquiry set up by the Niger State government to look into the immediate or remote causes of the bloody clash between the military and some communities in Bosso Local Government Area of the state recently when the state Police Command openly faulted the reasons given by men of the

Nigerian Army for the invasion of these communities.

During the Military personnel invasion, over a month ago, no fewer than 24 people, 11 of them soldiers, were killed while several others were severely injured and property valued at several millions of Naira were also destroyed while the crisis lasted.

Against the backdrop of the unfortunate incident, the Niger State Governor,

Only dialogue can end militancy in Niger Delta —Minister Anthony Ubong - Calabar MINISTER of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani has identified dialogue as the best option to end militancy in the Niger Delta region.

Usani who stated this on Friday, during the opening ceremony of a retreat for top management staff of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in Calabar said the federal government would always choose the path of

mitted to the reconciliation effort irrespective of the outcome of the cases in court.

He said: “We want to tell Nigerians that the two leaders (Sheriff and Makarfi) are committed to reconciliation, and to encourage our teeming supporters that the statement made by Fayose has no bearing on the reconciliation.

“In spite of what the Appeal Court or Supreme Court decides, there would still be need for peace.

dialogue in its efforts at ending militancy in the Niger Delta.

He said the federal government was evolving ways to dialogue with the Niger Delta avengers in order to end the bombing of oil installations.

The Minister said the objective of the retreat with the theme ‘The Niger Delta: Building Partnership for Development’ was to enable the ministry actualise its mandate, review its

strategy and chart a way forward for development.

He added that the ministry was established as a response to the peculiar circumstances of the Niger Delta region.

“Every nation, every successful government must listen to the agitations of the people.

“We must keep talking, listening to the people and making appropriate response for sustenance of development and peace.

Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into the immediate or remote cause of the disturbance and make recommendations to the government on how to forestall future occurrence.

But testifying before the commission in Minna on Friday, the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Zubairu Muazu submitted that contrary to the claims by the military authorities, the villagers attacked had no prior record of criminality.

The Nigerian Army had put the blame of the “cordon and search” carried out on the communities on stockpiling of arms and ammunition by the villagers.

According to the police boss, “There has never been any report of gun running or armed banditry in the area before the military invasion. The police had an outpost which is five hundred meters from Kpaidna where the incident occurred and “there has never been any report from the station about such incidents”.

FRSC confirms death of 4 persons on Auchi-Okene highway THE Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) on Friday, confirmed the death of four persons involved in an accident along Auchi-Okene-Highway.

Mr Moses Bature, the FRSC Auchi Unit Commander made the confirmation in telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Auchi on Friday.

Bature said the accident happened at about 11 a.m. at Uluoke-Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo. According to him, three persons died on the spot, while the fourth person died at the hospital..

He said three vehicles were involved in the accident, namely a Hilux bus, a Toyota Saloon car and an articulated vehicle.

He added that the body of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary.

4 former health ministers, 2 UN experts vie for top WHO post WORLD Health Organisation (WHO), on Friday, in Geneva, fielded candidates from six countries to succeed Margaret Chan, the current Director General of the world health body in May. Those fielded include former French Health Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and former Ethiopia’s Health Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

WHO noted in a statement that Douste-Blazy and Tedros, who were endorsed by the African Union, both served as health and foreign ministers in their home countries.

Pakistan and Hungary have also nominated former Health Minister Sania Nishtar and Miklos Szocska.

Nishtar is making her second attempt to win a top UN job, after applying to become UN high commissioner for refugees last year.

Britain and Italy have chosen senior UN health experts as their candidates.

Britain’s David Navarro has already served as a troubleshooter in major health crises.

NITDA pledges to support FG’s change campaign with ICT tools THE National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has pledged to support the “Change Begins with Me” campaign with corruption-eliminating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools.

The pledge was made by NITDA’s Acting Director-General, Dr Vincent Olatunji, at a two-day sensitisation workshop for management staff of the agency.

A statement issued by Mrs Hadiza Umar, NITDA’s Head of Corporate Affairs Department, quoted Olatunji as saying that “NITDA as an Information Technology (IT) agency will look inward for ICT tools that can be used to help prevent or better still eliminate corrupt practices in the country.”

“Any ICT tool we deploy in curbing corruption in the agency will be handed down to government, because ICT is an effective tool that can be used in the fight against corruption.

“The agency has keyed into the directive from Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to establish an Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) to prevent corrupt practices.

9

news

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

‘Peace not negotiable for Nigeria’s growth’

From left, All Peoples Congress (APC) Chieftain, Chief Tajudeen Olusi; senator representing Lagos Central Federal Constituency, Senator Mrs. Remi Tinubu; Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun and the Opeluwa Onido of Lagos, Chief Lateef Aderibigbe during the 19th edition of Lagos Central Senatorial District Town Hall Meeting held at Banilux Hall, Sabo, Yaba on Friday in Lagos. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

Boko Haram destroyed 910 schools, displaced 952,029 pupils in North East —UN

M

ore than 910 schools were destroyed while at least 1,500 others in the North East were forced to close

by Boko Haram attacks between 2009 and 2015 the United Nations (UN) has said.

Its National Information Officer, Mr Oluseyi Soremekun, announced the figures in a media advisory entitled: “Launch of the 2016 Global Education Monitoring Report in Nigeria.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Soremekun said the report was due to be launched on Monday by UNESCO and the Federal Ministry of Education.

The official said that by early 2016, an estimated 952,029 school-age children had fled the violence in the zone.

According to the report, “between 2009 and 2015, attacks in North-Eastern Nigeria destroyed more than 910 schools and forced at least 1,500 to

close and teachers are at risk.

“By early 2016, an estimated 952,029 school-age children had fled the violence. Teachers are at risk.

“As of 2015 in Nigeria, where Boko Haram has targeted education workers and students, at least 611 teachers had been deliberately killed and

19,000 forced to flee since 2009.”

He said UNESCO and the Federal Ministry of Education were organising a stakeholders’ forum on the implementation of Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals and also launch the report.

Soremekun said the theme of the report was

Court convicts ‘monarch’ for contempt in Ogun Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

A High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, has convicted one Najeem Aromaye for contempt for parading himself as the Oniro of Iro in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

Aromaye was said to have been restrained by Justice Gboyega Ogunfowora from parading himself as an Oba following a suit filed by a ruling house, Oleyo ruling house in Iro, since 2014.

Ogunfowora, had on September 15, 2014, granted an interlocutory injunction restraining Aromaye from parading himself as the

Oba pending the determination of the substantive suit against his emergence, while it also restrained the state government and the kingmakers from engaging in any activity that would lead to the Aromaye’s emergence as an Oba. Counsel for the Oleyo Ruling House, Salih Bakare, on Friday, told the court that Aromaye, despite the court injunction, presented himself for installation on September 16, 2014.

Justice Mobolaji Ojo, in her judgement said that the claimants have proved allegation of contempt of court against the respon-

LAUTECH: Oyo Assembly makes case for state’s sole ownership

By Wale Akinselure Clamour for the sole ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, by the Oyo State government revved up on Thursday, as the State House of Assembly demanded a review of the Memorandum of Understanding affirming joint ownership of LAUTECH by the Oyo and Osun state governments.

The Assembly deliberating on a motion, anchored

by Honourable Wumi

“Education for people and planet: Creating sustainable futures for all.”

The new Global Education Monitoring Report by UNESCO shows the potential for education to propel progress toward all global goals outlined in the new 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Oladeji of Ogbomoso North constituency, entitled: “Reviewing the Joint Ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology: A State Towards Sole Ownership by Oyo State Government,” argued that sole ownership of the university had become imperative to save the institution from total collapse.

The motion decried the inability of the Osun State government to fulfil its own side of financial obligation as regards payment of staff salaries and infrastructural

development for about 15 months, and its attendant poor funding and poor infrastructure, therefore calling for the round table discussion between the two state governments to deliberate on the issues bedevilling the university.

Among other problems identified were the fact that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the university meant for the payment of gratuity, pension of retirees and developmental projects in the university was used to defray the payment of staff salaries.

dent.

Ojo said, “Having examined the submissions of both learned counsels, I am satisfied that the claimants have proved the allegation of contempt of court against the respondent beyond reasonable doubt.

“The evidence before me is so overwhelming that the respondent deliberately chose to disobey the order of this court. This conduct must not be allowed to go unpunished.

“I hold that the claimants have proved beyond reasonable doubt that the respondent deliberately disobeyed the order of the court per Ogunfowora dated September 15,2014 restraining the respondent from parading himself as the Oniro of Iro, pending the determination of this suit.

“Accordingly, I find the respondent guilty of contempt of this court.”

“I make the following orders; the contemnor is hereby sentenced to fine of N5,000 (five thousand naira). The contemnor shall file a personally written undertaking in this court to purge himself of his contempt before the close of business today (Friday).”

The contemnor, however, signed an undertaking pledging to comply with the order of the court.

THE Society for Peace Study and Practice, SPSP, Ogun State chapter, has cautioned Nigerians against violent acts and called for peaceful co-existence for the benefit of the nation.

The Vice-Chairman of the society, Iyabo Awojuola, said this during an interview with journalists after ‘A Peace Walk’ by members in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as part of activities to mark Global Peace Day. Awojuola urged Nigerians to live in peace with one another, saying peace is an essential ingredient of growth and progress, stressing the need for peaceful co-existence in order for growth and development to take place.

She said, “Today’s World Peace Walk is to implore Nigerians to live in peace with one another. Peace is what concerns all of us starting from our families to the society and Nigeria at large and we must ensure we peacefully co-exist among ourselves.”

In his remark, Head of Peace, Conflict and Resolution of the NSCDC, Mr Olusanya Olawale, echoed that Nigerians should ensure they live peacefully with one another for social integration that would bring about development in the country, pointing out that, “Peace is the business of all Nigerians.”

The State Police Command’s Spokesman, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in his address said peace must always be considered as paramount to nation building.

Also speaking at the event, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Taiwo Ladiru, said peace was very crucial to any nation’s development hence all Nigerians must embrace it.

Legal year: NBA boss calls for renovation of courtrooms THE Chairman, Lagos branch, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Alex Muoka, has called for continued renovation of courtrooms across the country to mark the beginning of a new legal year.

Muoka made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the 2016/2017 legal year celebration is billed to commence in Lagos from Sept. 26 to Sept. 30.

The celebration is to be flagged off with legal year services to be held simultaneously at the Cathedral Church, Marina, Lagos as well as the Central Mosques in Lagos.

Muoka commended the Lagos judiciary for the efforts so far in ensuring speedy disposal of cases, adding that there was still room for improvement.

He stressed the need for continuation in the renovation of courtrooms across the country to enhance and speed up the judicial process.

“Let me begin by saying that in this new legal year, we would like to see the continued renovation and construction of courtrooms as well as technological advancement in the electronic filing process,” he said.

Goodnews Convention 2016

Pastor & Pastor (Mrs) Olu Victor Jesus House International Outreach located at Williams Ojediran Close, Papa Alajiki, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, will hold its 2016 Goodnews Convention with the theme, “The Blessing, Genesis 1:28.”

The programme will hold from Wednesday, September 28, till Sunday, October 2, 2016 by 10:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. daily at the church auditorium. Grand finale of the convention and thanksgiving service will hold on Sunday, October 2, 2016 by 9.00am at the same venue.

According to the host, Pastor Olu Victor, this year’s convention will launch people into their blessed destiny in Christ Jesus and will also feature salvation, breakthrough, songs ministration and a special courtesy visit to Ogbomoso North Local Government Secretariat for National Independence Day Celebration on Friday September 30 by 9:30a.m.

Guest Artistes expected at the event are Evangelist Tope Alabi from Lagos and Davids House of Praise from Ibadan among others. Ministering at the event are Pastor Tunde Gideon, Pastor Timothy Olaniyan, Prophet Morakinyo Oyatumo, Pastor Gabriel Olusegun Atiba and Pastor Kayode Elijah. Pastor (Mrs) Margaret Victor is the hostess while Pastor Olu Victor is the General Overseer of the church and host.

10

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Stylish govs’ wives (2)

Saturday Tribune

style

08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

with Kate Ani

Tinuola Ayanniyi tayanniyi@yahoo.com 08055069379

Do-It-Yourself: Turn your old bag handle to hand accessory

What you need: Any old bag

T

HIS is a continuation from last week’s STYLE’s focus on some stylish Nigerian Governors’ wives who are stepping up their style game while assisting their husbands in running the affairs of their respective states. With their multi-tasking roles of being first ladies, role models, mothers, they still prove that style and poise are essential ingredients of statecraft.

Mrs Oluwakemi Mimiko, wife of Ondo State governor

Hajiya Hadiza el-Rufai, wife of Kaduna State governor Dr (Mrs) Zainab Bagudu, wife of Kebbi State governor

Chief (Mrs) Rachel Umahi, wife of Ebonyi State governor

Mrs Eunice Ortom, wife of Benue State governor

31

Engr (Mrs) Bahijjahtu Hadiza Abubakar, wife of Bauchi State governor

Hajiya Mariya Tambuwal, wife of Sokoto State governor

Hajiya Asma’u Abulazeez Yari, wife of Zamfara State governor

Steps

11

24 September, 2016

N

atural topics for discussion today, for a perceptive analyst, are ordinarily predictable.

From the gang-up by President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly, as well as the governors to sell Nigeria’s national assets, to the president’s ferrying of literally the whole of his family members, as well as about a hundred aides and officials to the United Nations summit in the United States of America, a columnist will surely have a field day. If you now place these anglings for national assets side by side Aliko Dangote, Bukola Saraki and other national barons’ thirst for our sumptuous national assets, in spite of their having literally purchased our national existence already and the presidency’s ostensible collusion with these prospective buyers, a columnist cannot but have a field day.

However, the columnist doesn’t want to walk through this barren field today. It is apparent that treading this path would be a wild goose chase as the sale is a done deal already. Is it Yakubu Dogara on whose neck a budget padding chain is hanging who will oppose the sale? Is it Saraki, whose hemlock has been concocted, preparatory to having him swallow it? So, this week, this writer intends to walk another route that is harmless, productive and perhaps of more enduring colour. It is an analysis of a book that he had the privilege of reading, pre-launch. It is the work of highly revered historian, Bolanle Awe. Entitled Nigerian Women Pioneers and Icons, it is the most recent work of the octogenarian.

A 161-page work written in fluid and engaging prose, the book dwells on a list of unfavourable prejudices against women in the world that some women encountered and surmounted. History, religion, culture, language, etc over the centuries, were skewed in her disfavour. The history, for instance, was his story and never her story. In the developing world, for instance, culture and religion were her major snares, with grossly skewed foundations that were basically woven together to put her down. These cobbled together a mindset that makes the female gender inferior to her male counterpart. We all know that from creation, women have struggled against the machinations of an environment which sees them as second class and appendages to their male counterpart.

Nigerian Women Pioneers and Icons gives its reader a window into the uncommon strides of 34 women chosen by Professor Awe as subjects of this new book and by that, women in general. Its crispness of tone and coffee table reading inviting layout, interspersed with artistic imageries of the Amazons, also make it reader friendly and unputdownable. It affords the reader an opportunity to see how long-held but wrong beliefs, cultures and practices have held down women who could have liberated the clime long before now.

In all, 33 women were showcased in the volume.

Saturday Tribune

Saturday With

ayinla mukaiba ayinlamukaiba@yahoo.com

Our conspiracy to limit the woman

They are Nana Asmau, the legendary poet; Hajiya Fatima Lolo, pioneer female musician; Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti; Wuraola Adepeju Esan, educationist/politician; Lady Kofoworola Aina Ademola, foremost Oxford graduate; Margaret John Ekpo, foremost politician and pioneer parliamentarian; Irene Modupelola Thomas, renowned medical practitioner; Folayegbe Akintunde-Ighodalo, First Lady Permanent Secretary; Ladi Kwali, world acclaimed potter; Adetowun Ogunsheye, pacesetter in education; Mabel Segun; Flora Nwapa Nwakuche; Folake Solanke, first lady SAN; Grace Alele Williams, scholar; Bolanle Awe; Gambo Sawaba;Francesca Yetunde Emmanuel; Oyinade Olurin; Batile Alake, pioneer and Queen of Waka music; Bola Kuforiji-Olubi; Oluwatoyin Olusola Olakunrin; Jadesola Akande; Aisha Bridget Lemu; Aderonke Kale, first Lady Army General; Aloma Mariam Mukhtar; Joy Ogwu; Hansine Napwanijo Donli; Zaynab Alkali, novelist and feminist; Folorunso Alakija; Onyeka Onwenu; Bilikisu Yusuf, first woman newspaper editor; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Chioma Ajunwa and Chimamanda Adichie.

It is against these age-old prejudices and discrimination that the book, Nigerian Women Pioneers and Icons, is coming on the shelf. It comes with the admittance that, though Nigerian polity, culture and history are ranged against women, they have managed under this rigid profiling to emerge as icons and colonisers of their societal limitations. In a collection of essays that holds the dual purpose of a recorder of history and a fillip for would-be women icons who are yet held down by the gruff of culture and time-worn beliefs, Bolanle Awe, professor of history, retired Director of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan and former commissioner

in the then Western Region, a woman renowned to be a voice for womanhood through her incessant interventions in issues of our contemporary society, relives the conquest of womanhood.

Nigerian Women Pioneers and Icons is a chronicle of Nigerian women whose lives and achievements have distinguished as outstanding individuals who have made notable contributions to the development of Nigeria. As pioneers who attained leadership positions in their chosen fields of human endeavour in spite of erected male gender-made roadblocks, they are potential role models for young Nigerian women in this byzantine jungle of a highly patriarchal Nigerian society.

In the book, the reader is given an unprecedented insight into the quality lives of the pioneers, their environmental and existential limitations that almost conspired to put them down and their victories over these militating circumstances. More fundamentally is the corrosive contributions of the male gender in the conspiracy to limit them, fuelled by an incandescent history, culture, language and custom.

But the drawback of the book is its inability to accommodate much more pioneering women.

Amazons like Efunroye Tinubu, who was Iyalode of Egba and Lagos, the first Yoruba most distinguished entrepreneur, whose businesses traversed Badagry, Egba and Lagos and who owned Igbobi which was her kolanut plantation, is not on the list. How come Alhaja Humoani Alaga, who, in 1964, founded the famous Isababatudeen Grammar School after her masculine stand up to Premier S. L. Akintola on the need for Moslem girls to have their own school since they were being discriminated against at St. Annes in Ibadan didn’t make the list? How come the name of Alhaja Humoani Alade, Ibadan entrepreneur and textile trader, isn’t on the list? Where are Alhaja Aminotu Abiodun, current Iyalode of Ibadanland, building contractor who built so many military barracks in the 1960s and 70s; Madam Janet Alatede Aboderin, foremost Ibadan entrepreneur, mother of Olu Aboderin and Mama Bisoye Tejuoso on the list?

These however cannot diminish the elan of the writer and the nugget that the book surely is.

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

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

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

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733 Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177 South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

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

GOT NEWS?

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797 Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna.

Ikeja Marketing Office.

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

Contact: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com or call:07030004233

12

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

Now that we have resumed…

Oluwaseyi Toluleye, SSS1 I resumed in a senior class and when I visited the school before we resumed, the management had made ready everything we need in the science class. I was very happy and all my fears disappeared knowing I will soar at the end of the term more as my parents have provided me with the necessary books.

Mark Adeniyi, SSS 3 I will work towards making my performance better than ever before. Also, I hope to see my school at the top of inter- school competitions.

Zenas Adeola, JSS 1 My determination this term are: to be the best student with good morals, and maintain good relationships with other students and above all, have a good record of academic performance.

r t

Christianah Adedokun, Basic 5 My parents assisted me in reading my books before we resumed on Monday. I know this will help me a lot to be ahead of my classmates. I believe that my performance will be much better this term.

o o n

Solomon Oyedokun, Basic 4 Thanks to my parents for making it possible for me to join my mates back in school for another academic session. I’m happy to see my friends and teacher again. I feel free to move with my friends, having new things. I desire to make my parents proud with good performance in my class. I pray God will grant me wisdom and understanding in my studies and also guide our teachers to teach us well.

a

Ayomide David, Basic 5 I’m very happy that all materials that I will need in the school for the new term were ready before September 19. Having all these intact, I have no excuse to fail in any subject.

I know my parents have a high expectation so I must not be lazy. For those who are still in holiday mood, they should have a change of mind because this is the beginning when we can get good mark that will later earn us prizes at the end of the term. I look forward to winning prizes.

Dear children, a new term which ushers in another session has begun. In my interaction with some pupils, I have discovered that some of them are afraid so much that they may not live up to expectation in their class. I want to tell you that you can be the best! However, to achieve this, you have to get rid of fear which is defined as ‘False Evidence Appearing Real’.

In order to overcome your fears, take these steps: •Don’t be intimidated by your classmates’ successes.

•Prepare ahead of each class, test and examination by reading very well.

•Don’t feel ashamed to ask questions, either from your teacher or classmates about a topic you don’t understand.

•Remember past successes and check the steps you took that helped you.

•Believe in yourself.

•Try to read your books after school each day.

•Don’t pile up home work. This will help you assess yourself.

•Whenever you’re tired while reading, take some time off and rest.

•Don’t engage in another activity while you are reading.

C

Monioluwa Gbolahan, SSS 3 During the holiday, my earnest prayer was that God would bless my parents to pay my school fees as soon as possible so that I could concentrate on my studies. I will not want to be sent out of school for owing fees.

Obaloluwa Amode, JSS 1 I am very glad to be with my friends again after the holiday. I’m fully prepared for studies because during the holiday, I attended summer coaching while some of my mates were playing. So, I have gained more knowledge.

May God crown my efforts. I see myself at the top of the class.

How many zebra images can you find in this picture?

Samuel Soladoye, JSS 2 I’m happy it’s time to get back to work in school. I have all it takes to be above my mates.

Respondents are pupils of Sharon Rose Schools, Saki, Oyo State.

13

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune BLESSING GBARADA ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

food&drink

Oil-less okra soup:

Healthy, sumptuous, easy to cook

With technology sneaking into every aspect of life including the kitchen, how does one sustain the sumptuousness of native dishes? Self-taught chef, food writer and food blogger, Mrs Nma Okpara speaks with BLESSING GBARADA about her culinary journey and how she incorporates the new with the old.

W

hen did you first begin to cook?

I was about 16 when I really started cooking. I didn’t like cooking at that time because I just wanted to write novels, but I had to cook.

Can you recall your first cooking experience?

I was about 8 years old and my friends and I used to cook for our neighborhood ram “WakeyWakey”.

Little did we know we were fattening him up for the Easter celebration. But seriously, my first experience was preparing oil-less okra soup for my dad. It was a pain as I had to cut every finger of okra with a knife.

Do you have any particular mentors or people you look up to when it comes to cooking?

My mother is my mentor.

What are some of the lessons imparted that has stuck with you the most?

She taught me the old methods of cooking. It’s in the way she uses her hands, in the way she lets each ingredient cook before introducing another.

Ultimately she taught me patience in the art of cooking. She also taught me to respect old recipes and the efforts that were put towards making them what they are.

Do you get to eat out a lot?

Not really. I like the smell and wholeness of a home-cooked meal. I only eat out when I have to do a restaurant review or take my kids out for a treat. Cooking what we eat is like therapy for me.

How do you pick the right restaurant from the get-go?

The internet. Google is my friend when it comes to picking restaurants. I check out the reviews, I check out their menu and read up on how their staff members relate with customers.

If you’ve had a really bad day, what negative traits would you demonstrate in the kitchen?

After a bad day, I can’t even go into the kitchen.

The kitchen is like my holy place. If I take any bad vibe into my kitchen, everything goes crazy…the food would be so bad; photography would be worse.

How do you go about updating traditional dishes while remaining faithful to the culture, or about creating new dishes within the culture?

When updating a traditional recipe, I make sure I stay with the basics and if there is any new ingredient or method, I do it as an extra step. I never do a dramatic recipe change really. Remember, mother taught me to stay close to home as much as I can.

What’s your number one priority in the kitchen?

To make sure that whatever I’m doing or producing in the kitchen makes the receiver happy. That is my ultimate goal.

Any memorable kitchen disasters?

I have so many but I clearly remember one morning while I was in the process of making some bean fritters. I mistakenly poured too much water into the beans while blending them. I mean, I was feeling like a superstar as I had made bean fritters several times.

But by the time I scooped the batter into the hot oil, it was a total disaster. That experience humbled me.

What would one always find in your refrigerator?

Ginger, tomatoes and soy sauce. Ginger is one of

my favourite ingredients and as a Nigerian woman, I always have tomatoes for stew and Jollof rice.

What is your favourite/signature dish?

My favourite dish would be anything with plantains. My signature dish would be my goat meat and rice sauté.

Can you share the recipe for oil-less okra soup?

The ingredients needed are two cups of chopped okra, two smoked turkey wings, one finger of cayenne or chili pepper (you may use habanero/atarodo), one tablespoon of chopped uziza leaves, one red bell pepper, one tsp of dry pepper, salt to taste, ¼ cup of whole dry prawns, half of a seasoning cube, 1½ tbsps of ground crayfish, ugwu (optional), half a cup of chopped mushrooms.

In a pot, boil smoked turkey along with whole dry prawns (this helps to reduce the saltiness in turkey and soften prawns). Roughly blend peppers with little water and set aside. Chop okra into whatever sizes you would prefer. Check turkey and when softened, remove from heat and drain while running cold water on it. Pour prawns into separate bowl.

Then with a knife, remove skin from the turkey (optional) and cut into bite sizes or whatever sizes you prefer.

In a soup pot, pour in turkey, pepper blend, crayfish, salt, whole dry prawns, and dry pepper. There should be water in pepper mix; if not, add a few table spoons. Bring pot to a boil to combine all ingredients. Once pot comes to a boil, reduce heat, add okra and uziza leaves; then check for seasonings. If you need any more seasoning, add half of the seasoning cube making sure you do not over-season so that you would be able taste the freshness of the soup. Quickly remove soup from heat. Wait a few minutes to rest before serving. Serve with rice balls, rice or any accompaniment of your choice.

14

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

With Bosede Ola-Samuel 08112658560 bosedeola_samuel@yahoo.com

intimacy STRICTLY FOR ADULTS

Are you bored with your sex life? (I)

A

RE you bored with your sex life? The solution is not in trying somebody else; the solution is in trying a little adventure by making a few changes with your partner. I believe the tips given below by my husband will do the magic. Do enjoy it.

For many couples, sex is no longer what it used to be; it has now become a chore with no more adventures. So, they are stuck with the hope that things will get better.

But the truth is, many a times wishes do not translate to reality. That is the basis of the popular saying, “if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” Wishing it will get better is not likely going to work. Couples who are serious about having a better sex life need to work at it. They may need to talk to sex experts to find out how they can put the “fire” back in the sex life or read more books, magazines, write ups on sex etc. Trying out the tips below will surely help in that direction.

However, the starting point is to talk about your sex life in order to find out what the missing link is. If you doubt the need for this, then read this excerpt: “Even long-term couples can struggle in the bedroom. Though we can easily tell our partner what shirt we’d like him to wear, or what we’d like to cook together for dinner, we tend to get tongue-tied when it comes to the topic of sex. ‘People tend to be very sensitive when it comes to talking about sex,’ says relationship and family therapist Rachel Sussman. ‘They’re afraid of hurting their partner’s feelings, so they don’t tell them what they like or don’t like.

But you’re not going to get it unless you ask for it.”

So, how do you tell your partner what you want without bruising his or her ego? It’s really in how you bring up the statement, experts say. Some starters such as “I would love it if we...” or “Could we try this?” would do. However, you don’t want to make them feel bad about what they’ve done or haven’t done.

Avoid monotonous styles Many couples don’t try new sex skills most of the time.

Therefore, they stay too long on few sex techniques they have acquired over time. That’s why a biological anthropologist, Helen Fisher, who has been studying relationship biology for more than two decades says, “if you keep

doing things that are new and different, you have a better chance of sustaining the romance.” You bring adventure into play with respect to your sex life. Do what your partner wants in bed and let your partner also be willing to do anything for you too. Like someone puts it, “from fun, sizzling sex positions to new bedroom ‘techniques’, you’ll find everything you need to blow her mind and have her moaning.

Engage in physical exercises Exercise works wonders not only on your body, but also on your sex life. “Activities, such as jogging and swimming, release endorphins that improve your mood and relax you,” says American Council on Exercise spokesman Gregory Florez. “In the hours following 30 to 40 minutes of cardio, skin temperature is elevated and your sense of touch is heightened. It’s a great time for intimacy,” he said. You may not even need to shower first.

“Sweat is an aphrodisiac,” says Florez, who is also the CEO of FitAdvisor.com. “The smell of perspiration from a clean person is arousing. Post exercise, your brain is in a state of hyperarousal, and your body may be as well.”

I cannot agree less with him because I do try out a few exercises before sex, and I have found out the benefit of such.

This piece continues next week, my advice is that you don’t miss it. In response to my readers’ request, I have packaged some of my previous articles into a book with the title: ENJOYING GREAT SEXLIFE. You can call me on 08112658560 for details.

Is it ok to use toys in the bedroom?

DID you know that about 30 per cent of women actually have an orgasm during sex? Most women need clitoral stimulation to achieve an orgasm. Meanwhile, many men have trouble sustaining their erections as long as they would like, whether it be because of age or medication.

This is where sex toys come to the rescue. They have been said to enhance a perfectly good lovemaking session, taking it from a 10 to a 20!

Are you thinking about trying sex toys but are too embarrassed to try them? Are you unsure whether sex toys are right for you and your relationship? Are you unsure about how to introduce sex toys in the bedroom? Don’t worry - you are not alone. Plenty of people are hesitant and nervous about using sex toys.

Here are some common misconceptions about sex toys: Respectful people don’t use sex toys All kinds of people use sex toys, including people most would consider perfectly normal. Using a sex toy doesn’t make you “weird” or doesn’t say anything negative about your relationship. It just helps you have fun and makes you have an orgasm! Also, who will know besides you (and hopefully, your partner) unless you tell them?

Sex toys are just for masturbation While sex toys are commonly used for masturbation, many couples enjoy using sex toys together, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Usually these couples are comfortable trying new things together, are openminded, comfortable with their bodies and trusting.

Your partner will feel incompetent if you start using a sex toy Do you think that bringing in a sex toy will hurt your partner’s feelings? A sex toy can give you an orgasm, but

it can’t tell you how much they love you or get you a drink of water afterwards. An object is not a substitute for a real person. If your lover has this fear, be sensitive and stroke his or her ego a little bit. As with most relationship issues, good communication is key.

Using sex toys can be physically dangerous No! In fact, sex toys can have very positive effects on your sexual health. For example, all women can benefit from kegel exercisers, like the kegel balls, which can tone the pelvic floor muscles; if you suffer from painful sex, vibrators can stimulate blood flow; many doctors and therapists recommend female sex toys to women who have trouble reaching orgasm; prostate massagers reduce the risk of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction and frequent nighttime urination.

And finally, orgasms help you live longer, block pain and, some say, look younger. What more could you ask for?

If you use sex toys too much, you won’t have an orgasm with your partner If your partner is afraid you’ll replace him or her with your favorite toy, promise him or her that you’ll keep your sex life varied: try different positions, new toys, light bondage and fantasy play.

If your relationship is healthy, there’s no reason why you should need a sex toy Congratulations for having a healthy relationship. However, who wouldn’t want to make their relationship even stronger and closer by sharing a new experience? If your lover is adamant about not needing a sex toy to brighten up your sex life, assure him or her that you don’t need a sex toy either, you’d just like to try one.

You or your partner is afraid of feeling pleasure Pleasure is a birthright. Everyone deserves it and should have it. Own your sexuality and do what works for you. After all, orgasms make you healthier and happier.

Are you ready? Here are a few suggestions on how to introduce sex toys in the bedroom:

•Start slow by starting out with something small. Start with a small sex toy and show your lover that the toy is all about adding more pleasure and excitement to the bedroom.

•When you are ready, work your way up to something bigger and bolder.

•Try not to become dependent on it. If you are using a toy every time as part of foreplay and without it sex doesn’t “work”, then, there’s cause to take a second look and figure out what’s going on.

•Make sure you are involving your husband somehow. This should be a shared intimate time together. Some ways to do this are: -Let him have the toy and use it to get you all worked up -Let him watch and/or touch you in other ways -Depending on the toy, you can have it going while he gives you a back massage. He gets to run his hands all over your naked body, and you get a massage with an “extra.”

•Remember that communication is the key to any healthy relationship. If you can’t share your feelings or desires, something is not right.

Hopefully, you now have the confidence you need to introduce sex toys into your relationship. Don›t forget that experimentation never hurt anyone!

Culled from http://www.mysecretluxury.com

15

24 September, 2016

health&fitness

Saturday Tribune BLESSING GBARADA

ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

By Blessing Gbarada

F

EW things are as embarrassing as a person opening his mouth and having people around him cringe or squeeze their noses because of offensive odour from the mouth. While some are aware that they suffer this medico-social problem, others are either in a state of complete ignorance or sometimes denial.

According to Dr Clement Chinedu Azodo of the department of Periodontics, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Edo State, “it is a universal problem affecting 50 to 65 per cent of the adult population amounting to millions of people worldwide. It is also a common reason for dentist consultation as it raises a lot of concern among sufferers. It negatively impacts on daily life activities like communication with other persons, self-esteem, self-confidence, social and intimate relationship like dating and marriage, employability, and career aspirations. It causes embarrassment, inhibits social interaction, and also decreases quality of life among afflicted individuals.

“The effect of halitosis extends beyond the afflicted individuals, as it is also a source of embarrassment for relatives and friends of individuals afflicted with this condition. The concern can also trigger behavioural reaction namely selfconsciousness, social isolation, suicide attempts, and suicide, mostly because of social, psychological, and relationship impediments.” In fact, in some societies it has earned the title “a social life killer.”

Given the many ways it can affect a person, it is no wonder that a smelly mouth is increasingly becoming a major health issue.

Known in medical terms as halitosis, Dr. Ezi Akaji of the Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Enugu State, describes it as “an offensive or disagreeable odour emanating from the mouth or hollow cavities of the nose, sinuses or pharynx.”

Bad breath: Real or imagined?

Bad breath is one of such conditions where the sufferer may, most times on his/her own, not know he/she is suffering from. This can lead to a situation of selfconsciousness which may or may not be founded. Dental experts say sometimes, bad breath may not be detectable by others but a person may strongly believe his breath smells. This is termed delusional halitosis.

According to Dr Akaji, halitosis can be classified into genuine halitosis, delusional halitosis or halitophobia. “Genuine halitosis is either physiological or pathological in origin, while pseudo-halitosis is the claim that halitosis exists when no objective evidence can be found,” she said.

The diagnosis of delusional halitosis is one that is usually taken with caution and treatment includes evaluation of the psychological predisposition of such patients.

Where does the foul odour emanate from?

Researchers have detected over 600 species of microorganisms in the mouth. Dr Akaji says, “various sites in the oral cavity serve as niches for these bacteria, but the

Why does my breath stink?

dorsum of the tongue with its characteristic fissures and grooves is their primary location. In genuine halitosis, bacterial activities in the oral cavity are implicated in 80 per cent to 90 per cent of cases.”

Causes of bad breath Bad breath could arise from oral or nonoral causes. “Oral causes include poor oral hygiene, periodontal diseases, tongue coat, unclean dentures, faulty restorations, oral carcinomas and throat infections.

Gingivitis, periodontitis and tongue coating, are the most frequent oral causes of halitosis,” Dr Emeka Danielson Odai of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Edo State, said. Dry mouth, food impaction areas in between teeth, oral ulcerations, oral malignance are other oral causes.

Although majority of halitosis cases are caused by oral and dental issues, other non-oral causes include those of sinonasal, pulmonary, and gastroenterological origins. According to Dr Akaji this can be broken into “Ear Nose and Throat infections (acute pharyngitis, purulent sinusitis, and postnasal drip); bronchial and lung disease (chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, bronchial carcinoma), liver diseases (cirrhosis), kidney disorders

(chronic renal failure), metabolic disorders (diabetes/diabetic ketoacidosis), GIT disorders, e.g. GERD. “Foods: Certain foods have also been implicated to cause bad breath. Onions, garlic, coffee, alcohol and cigarettes among others.

“Drugs: Certain medications can cause bad breath because of their ability to cause dry mouth. Some of these include antidepressants, diuretics, anti-hypertensives, analgesics and anti-histamines.

“Other conditions linked with bad breath are dehydration, old age, anaemia, hypovitaminosis, emotional stress, inflammatory autoimmune diseases and obstruction of salivary glands, malignancy and irradiation for head and neck cancers, multiple sclerosis, menopause.”

Treatment As a result of the fact that the cause of bad breath can stem from numerous sources, it is important to get medical advice which would proffer treatment for the specific cause. The treatment options could range from changes in oral hygiene and diet to other treatments such as professional cleaning e.g scaling. In the case of non-oral sources, specific treatments can also be suggested. For instance, it has been discovered that tonsillectomy is a significantly effective

Other conditions linked with bad breath are dehydration, old age, anaemia, emotional stress, certain foods such as onions, garlic, coffee, alcohol and cigarettes,...menopause.

procedure for the treatment of halitosis caused by chronic tonsillitis.

“Each case is treated differently depending on its origin thus making a holistic approach necessary. Before a treatment plan can be developed for any patient, an accurate diagnosis based on the patient’s history, physical examination, organoleptic assessment and evaluation of any laboratory tests must be made. Also, a review of significant aspects of the patient’s family and social history (such as dietary and smoking habits), drug histories, illnesses, hospitalisations and surgeries are invaluable in reaching an appropriate diagnosis,” Dr Akaji said.

However, some simple steps can be taken to tackle the condition. “In most instances, halitosis stems from putrefactive microbial activity within the oral cavity itself and can be alleviated by proper oral hygiene and dental care. Mechanical cleaning of teeth in the form of tooth brushing and flossing is essential mechanical means of oral hygiene that leads to reduced amount of oral bacteria and substrates and presumably reducing halitosis. However, mechanical methods can be ineffective in reaching and removing certain bacteria from all areas of the oral cavity. Mouth washes and rinses are considered more effective in reaching the less accessible parts of the oral cavity,” Dr Odai stated.

Sometimes, the cause could be traced to the tongue in which case it has been recommended that tongue-scraping should be adopted.

For halitosis from non-oral sources, a multi-disciplinary approach is necessary, experts say. Referrals to specialists such as otolaryngologists, gastroenterologists or mental health specialists should be done once possible the oral angle is handled.

16 healthandfitness

24 September, 2016

My husband snores like a tractor

AS a newly married woman, I am enjoying my married life except for the fact that my husband snores like a tractor. Apart from the noise that keeps me up most of the time, his bad snoring habit is now giving me headache and I am afraid if it can negatively affect my health. Kindly help me as I very much love my husband but his snoring habit is driving me crazy.

Mariam (by SMS) Snoring happens when you can’t move air freely through your nose and throat during sleep. This makes the surrounding tissues vibrate, which produces the familiar snoring sound. People who snore often have too much throat and nasal tissue or “floppy”

tissue that is more prone to vibrate. The position of the tongue can also get in the way of smooth breathing. To stop snoring, it’s necessary to first identify the cause of the snoring.

Solutions can then be fashioned to solve the problem.

For example, being overweight can be a big problem since fatty tissue and poor muscle tone also contribute to snoring. In addition, carrying excess weight just around your neck or throat

can cause snoring. Exercising and losing weight can sometimes be all it takes to end your snoring.

Also, blocked airways or a stuffy nose make inhalation difficult and create a vacuum in the throat, leading to snoring. In addition, alcohol intake, smoking, and certain medications, such as tranquilizers like lorazepam (Ativan) and diazepam (Valium), can increase muscle relaxation leading to more snoring. It has also been confirmed that sleeping flat on your back causes the flesh of your throat to relax and block the airway.

Your husband should try and change his sleeping position to avoid snoring.

Can I use agbo for my fibroids?

I was recently diagnosed with Fibroid which was found to be responsible for my inability to get pregnant. I have been told that I will need an operation to remove it but my grandmother suggested a local concoction (Agbo) which she said can melt the fibroid. Can I take the Agbo since I am afraid of an operation?

Mojisola (by SMS) It will be very difficult for me to answer your question

values, surgery still remains the best way to get rid of fibroids especially where they cause difficulty with getting pregnant as in your own case.

My father’s cough

since I don’t have any experience with using ‘agbo’ for treating Fibroids. Even though it has been confirmed that some herbs have immense therapeutic

MY 70 -year old father has been coughing for the past one month. He has drank over 4 bottles of cough syrup and countless tablets without any cure. Kindly advise me on the next line of action.

Thanks.

Saturday Tribune

Dr. Wale Okediran 08055069356 (sms only)

waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

My wife’s abdominal problem MY wife is 35 years old.

She recently complained of stomach pains and was asked to do a CT Scan which revealed a lump in her liver. The doctors have now arranged for an operation to remove the lump. I am however afraid of an operation.

What can I do ?

Caleb (by SMS)

I think you should count yourself lucky that your wife’s liver lump was

diagnosed early enough before it became a big problem for her. My advice will be for you to allow the doctors to remove the lump which will be sent for further investigations in order to know the cause. From here, the doctors will know the appropriate treatment to offer your wife.

Is this HIV/ AIDs? DESPITE having a good appetite, I have been losing some weight in the last three months. In addition, I have this nagging cough that keeps me up on some evenings. Although I have patronised some quack doctors in my village for injections in the past, I have never had sex before in my life. My question is whether Chikezie (by SMS) Although a cough of a few days duration may be harmless, that of one month’s duration needs to be properly investigated in order to rule out any underlying ailment

contaminated needles?

Marcus (by SMS)

what I have is a HIV/AIDS infection since I read some where that HIV can be contracted from the use of such as Tuberculosis, HIV or a chest infections. For this to be successfully done, you will need to see a doctor who will order for some investigations such as blood tests, sputum examination and chest xray among other tests.

It is true that apart from sex, other ways of getting the HIV infection include blood transfusion and the use of contaminated needles, razor blades and tattoo equipment. It is also true that weight loss and chronic cough can be caused by ailments such as Tuberculosis, HIV infection among others.

Nevertheless, the best way to know if you really have HIV infection is for you to go for a HIV screening test.

The test is free in many government hospitals.

Laughter may boost physical activity, mental health for seniors

W

HEN it comes to health in later life, researchers find laughter may really be the best medicine. A new study - led by Georgia State University - suggests combining laughter with moderate exercise may improve the mental health of older adults, as well as boost their motivation and ability to engage in physical activity.

Lead author Celeste Greene, from the Gerontology Institute at Georgia State, and colleagues report their findings in The Gerontologist.

It is well established that physical activity at any age is beneficial for health. For older adults, regular physical activity can boost heart health, aid weight control, reduce diabetes risk, improve bone health, and maintain and grow muscle strength.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults aged 65 years and older should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (such as jogging) every week.

Additionally, seniors should engage in muscle-strengthening activities - such as sit-ups or simply carrying heavy bags - at least 2 days a week.

However, a recent study from the CDC found that more than 1 in 4 adults in the United States aged 50 and older - the equivalent to around 31 million Americans - do not engage in regular exercise.

‘Putting the fun in fitness’ for older adults Greene and team note that one major barrier to regular exercise for older adults is lack of motivation, largely due to low enjoyment of physical activity.

For their study, the researchers set out to investigate whether combining laughter with physical activity would boost exercise enjoyment for older adults, enabling them to reap the associated health benefits.

“We want to help older adults have a positive experience with exercise, so we developed a physical activity

programme that specifically targets exercise enjoyment through laughter,” explains Greene.

“Laughter is an enjoyable activity and it carries with it so many health benefits, so we incorporated intentional laughter into this program to put the fun in fitness for older adults.”

The programme the researchers created is known as LaughActive. It incorporates moderate-intensity physical activity with simulated laughter techniques, whereby participants choose to laugh, without there being any humorous stimuli.

This simulated laughter initiates eye contact and playful behaviours with other participants, the team notes, which triggers genuine laughter.

The researchers explain that the body is unable to pinpoint the difference between simulated and genuine laughter, so either form offers health benefits.

Laughter boosted motivation to exercise The team enrolled 27 older adults to their study, all of whom were residing in assisted living facilities.

As part of the LaughActive programme, the adults were required to attend two 45-minute sessions a week for 6 weeks.

These sessions included a workout routine involving strength, balance, and flexibility exercises, as well as eight to 10 laughing exercises, each lasting 30-60 seconds, which were typically performed after every two to four physical exercises.

All subjects completed questionnaires that assessed their perceived benefits of participating in the LaughActive program. Their mental health and aerobic endurance - that is, the ability to exercise for long periods without getting tired - were also assessed.

At the end of the 6-week programme, 96.2 percent of participants reported laughter as an enjoyable addition to physical activity, while 88.9 percent said they felt the laughter aspect of the programme helped increase exercise accessibility and made them want to continue.

Laughter boosted the motivation to take part in other exercise programs or activities for 88.9 percent of participants, the researchers report.

What is more, the LaughActive programme was associated with significant improvements in mental health and aerobic endurance among participants.

Based on their results, Greene and colleagues believe incorporating laughter with physical activity could be a good way to improve both the mental and physical health of older adults.

Furthermore, the team says such an approach may encourage older adults with functional or cognitive impairments to reap the health benefits of laughter; they point out that simulated laughter does not require cognitive skills to “get the joke,” because there is no joke to understand.

While their study findings show promise, the researchers point out that they are early results in a small number of participants, so further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of how laughter may benefit health.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

17

24 September, 2016

Divorce

Court & Crime

He always ensures I land in hospital anytime he beats me —Wife She’s such an irresponsible wife —Husband

t

he president of a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, Mr Ademola Odunade has dissolved a 14-year-old marriage between Idayat and her husband, Wasiu Amusa, over threats to life Odunade held that protection of life was important to the court, hence the need to grant the request made by Idayat.

He, therefore, put an end to the union between Idayat and Amusa in the interest of peace.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the court awarded custody of the last child to Idayat and directed Amusa to pay N4,000 as monthly upkeep as well as to be responsible for his education and other welfare.

Odunade, however, asked Amusa to go with the first child because she was no more a minor.

Idayat told the court that Amusa was doing everything possible to terminate her life

through incessant battery and disregard for her position as a housewife.

She said when they married in 2002, she thought that she was going into a home of peace, adding that things had not been the same from the first pregnancy.

“Even in pregnancy, Amusa does not just beat me, he knocked my head on the wall to expose me to excruciating pains.

“In fact, it took the intervention of my relatives and good neighbours who took me to hospital for medical care,” she said.

According to her, on a given occasion, after injuring me, I bled for seven days d u r i n g pregnancy and he pretended as if nothing happened.

Idayat said that despite the

inside

Saturday Tribune

fact that Amusa did not cater for her, he often accused her of unsubstantiated infidelity.

“As a businesswoman, I received a call from one of my male customers who needed some goods that I just got, Amusa seized my cell phone and wanted to destroy it.

“Then, he descended on me ruthlessly and I was again hospitalised.

“Your honour, ever since I got married to him, his mother had always threatened me that even if I give birth to 200 children for his son, I definitely have no place in his matrimonial home,” Idayat claimed.

Amusa, who did not oppose the divorce suit, could not deny the allegation of battery.

He tried to justify his action by alleging that Idayat was such an irresponsible housewife.

Court dissolves marriage of man whose See pages 18 & 23 girlfriend took wife’s pants, bras I used to leave bed for him and his lovers —Wife

My wife is an unrepentant thief, she appears and disappears, man tells court

A 42-year-old businessman, Livinus Uwa, has told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State that he married a thief.

Uwa made this known when he testified in his divorce petition against his wife, Chineye, during the week in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that he urged the court to dissolve his four-yearold marriage to Chineye because of her penchant for stealing his money in the wardrobe.

“I married a thief, on several occasions, my wife stole my money from my wardrobe, rendering me broke. The last time, she burgled my room and stole N350, 000.

“I reported the theft at the police station and she confessed to the theft, but the money was not recovered, “I have reported all her attitude and stealing habits to both families, they called her but she refused to change,” he said.

The petitioner accused his wife, who failed to appear in court after several summonses of abandonment, adding that since they married, Chineye had been appearing and disappearing.

“When she was pregnant, she left the house to an unknown place and came back after she was delivered of the baby.

“She abandoned our baby when she was 10 months old; I had to engage a baby sitter to take care of her. When the baby was two years, I enrolled her in school and my wife re-appeared,” he said.

He described his estranged wife as a lazy and dirty woman, adding that Chineye is lazy; cannot cook, wash or sweep and that he does the house chores.

Uwa pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage, since he could no longer condone her stealing habits, adding that he was no longer in love with her.

In his judgement, president of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, dissolved the marriage.

Omilola held that it was obvious from available testimony and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court that the marriage had hit the rock.

He said throughout the duration of the case, the respondent refused to honour court summons, adding that the court had no other choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The marriage between Livinus Uwa and Chineye Uwa is hereby dissolved from today, both parties are no longer husband and wife, they are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation,” Omilola said.

18

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

23

courtandcrime

Court dissolves marriage of man whose girlfriend took wife’s pants, bras

I used to leave bed for him and his lovers —Wife

A

FTER several unsuccessful interventions to save a 16-year-old marriage, an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State has dissolved the union, citing the husband’s infidelity.

The marriage between Adejoke and her husband, Musiliu Omotosho, was dissolved by the President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola.

He said the petitioner (Adejoke) was adamant despite several mediations from the court and family members.

“Since the petitioner wants a divorce after several interventions, the court has no choice than to dissolve the union despite the fact that the husband claims he still ‘loves’ her.

“The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Adejoke Omotosho and Musiliu Omotosho dissolved today; both parties henceforth cease to be husband and wife.

“They are free to go their separate ways without any hindrance or molestation.”

The petitioner, Adejoke, 39, had approached the court to end her 16-year-old marriage over infidelity on the part of the husband, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

She said her husband was in the habit of bringing his lovers to their one-room apartment to spend some days or months with them.

“I always leave the bed for them and sleep on floor and on four occasions, I had reported him to both families.

“Recently, he came home with a woman who stole my pants and brassiers. I discovered after she had left.

“I told my husband to retrieve my underwears from his lover, he later came home with a bra and pant that were not mine,” she told the court.

The mother of four boys accused her husband of being fetish, saying he married her with charms.

“When I was single, my husband approached me that he wanted to marry me, I told him that I had a fiancé and that our marriage was near.

“Musiliu came back the following day and touched me, I did not know how I got to his village, and I started having babies for him. As an orphan, nobody looked for me, but now, I am back to my senses,” she said.

“My husband had also threatened to kill me and my hair dresser had confided in me that my husband also asked her to give him strands of my hair.”

Adejoke said she was the one feeding the family, paying the house rent and the children’s school fees.

She urged the court to dissolve the union, saying “I am scared of contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) from him due to his unfaithfulness”.

The estranged husband, 47, told the court that he had been paying some bills contrary to what the woman said.

“I usually pay the bills, I give my wife N500 per day for feeding, but she also assists me as any good wife will do.”

Musiliu said he had returned the under wears his lover took away from their house.

He, however, denied that he never approached his wife’s hairdresser for her hair.

In spite of his alleged unfaithfulness, Musiliu still urged the court not to dissolve the marriage, saying, “I still love her.”

She’s too stubborn and has no respect for anybody —Husband A 43-year-old man, Fatai Bello, has asked a Grade ‘C’ Customary Court sitting at Inalende, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve his 19-year-old marriage with his wife, Kemi Bello, because she is stubborn and shows no respect to anybody.

Fatai said that the marriage is blessed with four children

and are all in his custody.

“My wife had a child before I married her but I did not know. She doesn’t take to my advice.

“Her parents are late, but on several occasions, I had reported her misbehaviour to her sisters. All efforts to make her change for good were nil. She could be in the house without talking to me.

A 40-year-old housewife, Amudalat Afolabi has told an Ilorin Area Court in Kwara State that her husband,Tajudeen, sent her out because she refused to terminate a six-month-old pregnancy.

Amudalat made this known when she testified in a divorce petition filed against her by Tajudeen in Ilorin.

“My husband sent me away from our matrimonial home because I refused to terminate the six-month-old pregnancy am carrying,” she said.

Amadalat, 40, did not oppose the dissolution of the 20-year-old marriage, but described Tajudeen as “an irresponsible man”.

She said that she was tired of being enslaved. Tajudeen had prayed the court to dissolve the marriage for his

wife’s alleged infidelity and amorous behaviour.

He said the marriage was contracted in 1996 and had produced five children and that they were all living with him because their mother had left the matrimonial home.

“I am fed up with her waywardness. She is not stable and always frame excuses for her actions. I pray the court to put an end to this union because my wife can kill me as she moves around town like dog,” He, therefore urged the court to dissolve the marriage and award him custody of the children.

The Area court judge, MrAbdulQudri Ibrahim, dissolved the marriage between the two parties and issued the certificate of divorce to the complainant.

AN Ilorin Area Court Judge, Mr Abdulquadri Ibrahim, has advised intending couples to know their partners well before entering into marriage to reduce the rate of divorce.

Ibrahim told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday that many couples did not engage in enough courtship before marriage.

He said that lack of understanding of their partners before marriage had made some couples to quit marriage after observing some behaviour of their spouses.

“They are supposed to know each other long enough before contracting marriage.

“Most people don’t prepare for marriage; they prepare

for wedding, which is ceremonial.

“Don’t marry because of pressure or simply because you feel it is necessary to marry,” he urged.

Ibrahim said that marriage required understanding and endurance on the part of both partners.

He said that lack of understanding and endurance also contributed to divorce.

Ibrahim urged couples to set goals for their unions and make sacrifices for the success of their marriages.

“Couples must endure challenges to keep their marriage,’’ he added.

The judge advised would-be husbands and wives to ensure love for their partners before saying “ I do”.

By Oyeyemi Okunlade

My husband sacked me for refusing to terminate six months pregnancy —Wife She runs around men like a dog —Husband

Most marriages fail ’cos people marry for wrong reasons —Judge

‘My wife’s attitude changed the moment my fortunes changed’ He was the one who sent me out —WifeAfter both parties have been heard and it was evident from

By Oyeyemi Okunlade

My husband threatens to use me, his children for money ritual —Wife No, It’s a lie —Husband A woman, Rose Archibong, has told an Nyanya Customary Court, Abuja, that her husband, Uko Effiong, has threatened to use her and her children for money ritual.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Rose, the petitioner, who resides in Nyanya, said this when she testified in a divorce petition she filed against her husband.

“My husband said he will kill me and my children and use us for money ritual.

“He said that my father who handed me over to him for marriage is dead so he can do anything to me and nobody will say anything,” she said.

The petitioner told the court that her husband planned to bring another woman into their home.

“He said that the way he brought me into the house, he will bring another woman, that I cannot do or say anything” She said that her husband had threatened to kill her if she did not move out of the house willingly, adding that “the house he is asking

me to move from is my house.

“My husband wants to bring another woman to come and live in the house I built with my money.

“I gave my husband the money to purchase the land; he purchased the land in his name. When I got more money, I still gave him to start building the house,” she said.

She begged the court not to allow him throw her and the children out of the house, saying, “I have used all my money to train our children up to university level, now I don’t have money again.”

She also told the court that her husband does not provide for the family.

“When I complained to him that I was fed up of taking all the financial responsibilities of the children, he told me that his other children were being taken care of by their mother in the village,” she added.

Uko Effiong, the respondent, denied the allegations.

President of the court, Everyman Eleanya, adjourned the case till September 26, for continuation of hearing.

AFTER several adjournments for possible settlement without success, the Grade ‘C’ Customary Court, Inalende, Mokola, Oyo State, has dissolved the marriage between Kareem Taofeek and his wife, Taiwo. According to the plaintiff, Taofeek, the 10-year-old marriage produced three children out of which the first child is with him, while the remaining two are in custody of the defendant.

The 40-year-old man complained of his wife’s ‘too know attitude’.

“She neither listens to my opinion nor respects my decisions on issues. Worse of her attitude is disregard for people. I want to opt out of this marriage,” Taofeek told the court.

“Initially, I was a mechanic before I had an accident which affected my leg. After I recovered, I began to work as a commercial driver. But the job is not bringing in sufficient income to cater for my family. From the time things stopped working out well for me, my wife’s attitude towards me changed. I could no longer talk to her as the husband.

“When I observed her for some time, I told her family of my observations. Every attempt to call her to order proved abortive. I am tired of her attitude,” Taofeek said.

Responding to her husband’s claims, the defendant, Taiwo Kareem told the court that “I consent to divorce my husband since he has made up his mind. Secondly, I agree with his divorcee suit in view of the fact that there was no settlement from our family and he has packed his belongings out of the house.

“I travelled to Lagos sometime ago and he just called me that he had packed out of the house,” she told the court.

While Taiwo was still talking, her husband cut in to ask “What did I tell you will happen if you travel?” The wife responded “You said you would not allow me into the house.”

their claims that they can no longer cope with their marriage, the president of the court ruled thus: “The marriage between both parties is hereby dissolved forthwith. The last child of the marriage who is three and a half years of age, be given N2,000 as feeding allowance every month and should be taken care of in terms of education, health, moral and financial grounds. Both parties are to maintain the peace.”

“During the last Ramadan celebration, she travelled without my knowledge. I later got to know that she went to the man to who whom she bore the child I mentioned earlier for those three months.”

The plaintiff also claimed that Kemi is in the act of abusing his parents. “She has no respect for my parents as well as concern for her children. My wife does not have time for her children,” he said.

The court asked Fatai whether he met with any of his wife’s sisters after the three court summons. He said they were only pleading with him.

The presiding judge, Mr Ramoni Olafenwa, said “after going through the evidence of the plaintiff on oath, this court sees that the defendant absented herself intentionally while there is no more love between both parties again.”

He ruled thus: “The marriage between both parties is hereby dissolved. The four children to be under the custody of the plaintiff, while he takes proper care of them. The defendant is to pack out of the house on or before seven days of the judgement, while a copy of the judgement be served on the defendant through the court bailiff.”

‘He vents his anger on me with serious beatings all the time’

By Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin A woman, Mrs Ajimoh Abolore, has dragged her husband before an Isolo Customary Court in Lagos State, for constantly beating and maltreating her.

The wife alleged that her husband abused her and they had been living separately in the last five years after he forced her out of their matrimonial home.

She added that her husband, Oladele, beats her at will.

“Whenever his business is not going on, he comes home and starts picking quarrels with me.

“Nothing that I do satisfies him. He complains about my cooking and how I take care of the house. Sometime in July, he beat me almost to the point of death just because his mother complained that I didn’t kneel down properly when serving her food.

“He refused to listen to my own side of the story and he started beating me despite the fact that I was heavily pregnant,” she said.

The complainant also said that her husband’s family were hostile to her.

“Once, his sister even casually mentioned that my three children don’t look like them in their family, insinuating that probably my husband is not the father of the children,” she said.

She asked for the dissolution of the marriage and also demanded for full custody of the children.

Her husband was, however, not in court to deny the allegations.

The matter has been adjourned till October 6 for further hearing.

My husband neglects me in all marital areas, including sex,wife tells court A 37-year-old housewife, Rofiat Hussein, on Friday, asked an Ojaoba Sharia Court of Arbitration in Ibadan, Oyo State to dissolve the nine-year-old union with her husband, Nurain, based on sexual starvation and neglect.

Narrating her ordeal, Rofiat said that her husband had neglected her in every area of marital life, including sex.

“As soon as we wedded, Nurain directed me to become a full time housewife which meant that I must do nothing to earn a living.

“At the same time, there had been little or nothing to cater for the growing responsibilities in the home, especially the educational needs of the children.

“I pleaded with him to give me a portion of his shop to start selling some petty things, but Nurain rejected the idea.

“I then told him that I secured a teaching job in a private university and it did not go down well with him.

“Nurain and I were products of that same university for our degrees, but I have since proceeded for my Masters and I am even on my PH.D. programme now. “ Nurain has not shown any understanding over this,

but instead quarrels with me for no reason.

“During the last two Ramadan fasting periods, Nurain did not even know that I existed.

“My lord, Nurain has locked up our bedroom that could serve as a point of meeting for any sexual activity.

“The only reason he gave for our last quarrel was that I refused to carry his bag for him after opening the entrance door.

“I have since reported him to all his relatives, but nothing has changed,” Rofiat stated.

The defendant was, however, not in the court to react to the allegations levelled against him.

President of the court, Sheikh Hamad Tiamiyu, asked Rofiat to support her allegations with witnesses.

He said the witnesses, who must be five, must have three females and two males or vice versa.

Tiamiyu also directed her to put her claims in writing while adjourning the case to September 29 for further hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rofiat and Nurain reside at Odo Ona-Elewe area of Ibadan.

19

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637

In Lagos markets, it’s every tribe to its wing

By Naza Okoli

O

FFICIALS of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), Wednesday afternoon, sat in their green van, a few metres away from the pedestrian bridge at Mile 12, Lagos. It is unlawful for pedestrians to cross the road and the officials were there to ensure that they all used the bridge.

But it seemed a needless watch: the bridge is new and user-friendly and everyone appeared only pleased to use it. Indeed, a first-time user (who is not in a hurry) might be tempted to linger on and take several minutes to admire its green roof and silver railings.

Several men pushed loads of onions, tomatoes, yam and potatoes on wheelbarrows across the bridge.

The large space, right under the bridge, had been converted to a kind of worship arena: no fewer than 50 men knelt on mats and prayed.

It is a busy market-one of the busiest in Lagos. Truckloads of goods (mostly foodstuffs) throng the mar-

e: olanreade@yahoo.com

ket on a daily basis. But it is not only for food that this market is known; it is believed to be preponderantly populated by Hausa traders.

“It is because of the kinds of things they sell here”, Mr Olanrewaju Onigemo, General Secretary of the Association of Market Women and Men of Nigeria, Mile 12, told Saturday Tribune on Wednesday. “You know perishable items… items like tomatoes, onions. They are brought from the North. Definitely, some of them would follow the goods from the North down to this market. And then when they come here, they have to help in offloading the trucks. Later, some of them would be here to take care of the goods offloaded until they are sold to the wholesalers. Eventually, some of them would get used to the place and they may decide to settle down here.”

Discrimination Onigemo, who also serves as the General Secretary of the association Continues on pg22

Kings of the road:

Conductors as bus drivers’ bosses In Lagos, confusion reigns supreme over who is really in charge of an average commercial bus on the road, as there seems to be a raging controversy over who calls the shot between the driver and the bus conductor. BOLA BADMUS, LEKAN OLABULO, ELLIOT OVADJE and KASALI QUDUS, in this report, seek to unravel the poser.

LAGOS is no doubt the commercial capital of Nigeria with varying daily experiences that often leave one to wonder if what obtains there is also the same elsewhere. One cannot but continue to marvel at some of the occurrences in Lagos, including daily routines such as travelling in commercial buses where one could see insults being hurled here and there,

altercations, exchange of expletives and, sometimes, fisticuffs between bus conductors and their passengers. But, more often, all these occur between a driver and his conductor, while passengers will be left with no choice but to sit back and enjoy the drama as it unfolds.

Continues on pg20

A Reporter’s Diary

Eko Akete

‘Quick, DPO dey An unusual come’ LASTMA officer

20

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos

‘I started as a bus conductor and used to be quiet while my driver called the shots’

Continued from pg19

Indeed, Lagos is where, for many passengers, it would look as if there is a battle for supremacy between bus drivers and their conductors. Truly speaking, the attitude and behaviour of some bus conductors across the state tend to give an impression that they are more in charge than their drivers.

A more common experience is the fact that bus conductors in Lagos are the ones that dictate the transport fare that passengers are supposed to pay for a trip and when attempts are made by passengers to ask the drivers how much the fare is, especially when the conductors are busy engaging some union (NURTW) members over some settlements, the driver would simply direct them to the conductors, thereby suggesting that the conductors are really the ones in charge.

Not quite long ago, as one of our correspondents was journeying from Oshodi to Iyana-Ipaja in a commercial bus, popularly known as danfo or faragon, he noticed that a passenger and a bus conductor were engaged in a heated exchange of words. The passenger, a female, insisted on col-

lecting her change from the recalcitrant conductor who, despite entreaties from other passengers, was adamant that he would not give her.

Meanwhile, the driver, who appeared not to be too comfortable with the situation of things and, perhaps because he was not being allowed to concentrate on the driving, asked the conductor to give the aggrieved female passenger her remaining change so that peace would reign in the bus. Yet, the conductor refused, insisting that the woman had no money to collect, claiming that she had paid the exact fare for the journey.

Another drama that suggested a supremacy battle between drivers and conductors was witnessed

by Saturday Tribune during a recent trip on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. The incident occurred in a faragon bus which was heading for Agege and had taken off from the old Toll Gate end of the ever-busy expressway, which serves as the boundary between Lagos and Ogun states.

Right from the Toll Gate, the journey immediately assumed a tortuous dimension, as the conductor was hostile to almost all the passengers in the commercial bus. From one bus stop to

another, he was picking quarrels with passengers at the slightest provocation, while the driver strangely decided to keep quiet, even when the passengers expected him to, at least call, his conductor to order. The conductor’s misdemeanour and continuous delay at almost each of the bus stops along the route, in the name of looking for passengers, made some passengers to get off the bus, midway in their journey. Yet, the conductor remained unremorseful of his hostile attitude.

The bus, following the same pattern, stopped at Meiran, a popular bus stop on the expressway, where a female police officer jumped into the front seat of the bus and ordered the driver to bring the vehicle to a halt. The driver signaled to the conductor to settle (bribe) the police officer, but the recalcitrant conductor ignored him. The driver was thus forced to speak out for the first time since the journey started, but again, the conductor did not budge. By this time, two other police officers had jumped into the vehicle, insisting that, for refusing to “comply” and for wasting their “precious” time, the bus would be taken to their station, thus bringing the short but largely acrimonious journey to an

Everything has to do with exposure. Even if you graduated from being a conductor to a driver and you do not allow that experience to get into you, some conductors will still control your business.

abrupt end.

The above scenario clearly again subtly explains the intrigues and power play between commercial bus drivers and conductors in Lagos State. It is naturally believed that drivers, ordinarily, are in control of commercial bus operations but Saturday Tribune observed that years of experience, clout, influence and relationship with vehicle owners, among others, are really the factors that determine who calls the shot between the driver and the conductor.

Baba, a commercial bus driver, had this to say to Saturday Tribune, in his response to questions relating to the issue: “There are two categories of drivers: those that graduated from being bus conductors to drivers, thus making them to be vastly experienced in the trade and there are those who joined just to make ends without having the necessary experience.”

He further said, “Naturally some people are quiet yet active, while over 90 per cent of those who graduated from being conductors to drivers are in total control of the vehicle. They know the intrigues and the conductors know them very well.

Such drivers determine almost everything and the conductors respect their judgment.

“We all know that, in life, everything has to do with experience and this job of ours is not exempted. Each road or route has its own intrigues and everyone knows our dealings with transport union members, as well as with security and traffic management officials. Therefore, if you don’t have the experience, you may just be working for others people’s benefit.”

Narrating his own experience in the transport business, Baba continued, “I started as a conductor. I used to be very quiet then, while my driver called the shots. He was very experienced; he determined the routes, the fares and who we should give money to or not give money to. But that is not the case with some other vehicles, as there are many other drivers who did not start as conductors. A large percentage of such drivers are controlled by their conductors. Such drivers believe and rely very much on their conductors’ discretions and they wouldn’t want to disagree with them. In this case, conductors are more experienced than the drivers and such will control their drivers.”

Baba also said closeness to the real owner of the vehicle is also of importance in this regard, ”as a conductor who is closer to the bus owner will want to control the driver who is equally employed to drive the bus, simply because he (conductor) has the trust of the owner.”

But sharing a somewhat different opinion, Joel, a commercial driver said, “the driver is always the master but that is if he knows what he is doing. No conductor should control you. I am the master. I seek advice from my conductors but I determine who works with me or not; I determine the routes; I determine the fares and I determine who gets what from our money.

“Everything has to do with exposure. Even if you graduated from being a conductor to a driver and you do not allow that experience to get into you, some conductors will still control your business”, Joel further said.

For some other commercial drivers, years of experience may not indeed count. This is the stand of Mr Segun Ishola, who operates between Onipanu and Bajulaiye in Shomolu area of Lagos. Despite his 10 years of driving a commercial bus, Ishola admitted to Saturday Tribune that he still allows his conductors to “control” him, at least, if only to give room for peace to reign, while he focuses on driving.

“When talking about who calls the shot between a conductor and a driver in a commercial transportation business, I will say that the conductor owes a lot of responsibilities because quite often he knows the in and out of the job, even better than the driver”, he added.

Ishola however admitted that commercial transportation business had changed tremendously in the past few years, as against what it used to be when conductors were largely more obedient and focused. According to him, nowadays, the excesses and overbearing attitude of most of the bus conductors had forced a lot of drivers to be doing their businesses without employing the services of a conductor. “Nowadays, a major reason why drivers don’t employ the services of conductors very often

21

anymore is the continuous conflict and disagreement between conductors and passengers”, he said.

Narrating his own experience, Ishola said, “After receiving the bus I drive from its owner, I had to employ the services of a conductor. Initially, everything was okay but, after a while, the conductor took over the control of the bus and now he is the one who tells me the route to take and the ones to avoid.”

Another driver, Emmanuel Nnoli, who plies his trade between Ikeja and Alausa and has been in the business for about 15 years, introduced a comic dimension to the whole issue when he insisted that the “remote control” of any bus belonged to the conductor, while the driver only had a small sphere of influence. “The reason is because the conductor collects money from the passengers; the conductor tells the driver where to stop and when to move; and the conductor tells the passengers the rules governing the bus.

“The driver may be the person who got the contract or may even be owner of the bus, but it is the conductor that knows the route. In most cases, he (the conductor) is the one who understands how to handle the agberos (levy-collecting errand boys of the transport union) in terms of the amount to be paid to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)”, he added.

However, there are indications that the rightful owners of buses, at times, prefer to operate as conductors so as to be fully in charge of the money made, as there have been numerous cases of conductors pocketing part of the proceeds. Thus, such owner-conductor cannot be expected not to be bossy to their employed drivers and, in some instances, even to the passengers.

An indication about the possibility of a bus owner turning a conductor was authenticated by the experience of a bus conductor at the Ikorodu Park. Giving his name as AdegbenroTaofik, the conductor claimed to be the owner of the bus where he operates as a conductor, saying this had given him the power to be fully in charge of the money made, who to pay levies to, which routes to ply and which passengers to take, among others.

Taofik, who is popularly referred to as Ade, said he had been in the transportation business for about eight years, although not always as a conductor. He also claimed to own two other vehicles which he said he rents out on daily basis. He said the decision to take over the job of a conductor came as a result of distrust of his drivers and conductors who he said were always bringing home low returns after releasing the vehicle to them for nearly the whole day.

Eko Akete

An unusual LASTMA officer

USUALLY, there is a general air of animosity drivers have towards LASTMA officers, as many of them are often considered too dubious and unforgiving to be loved. It is even believed in some quarters that the officers deliberately set up drivers into making mistakes with a view to making money off them.

But a LASTMA officer who operates mainly at the Amara Olu area of Agindingbi seems determined to prove many bookmakers wrong in this regard, due to his attitude and commitment to traffic management.

This attitude of his has therefore endeared him to a lot of commuters who consider him as not just being amiable, but of an unusual trait.

Recently, Eko Akete spotted this same officer helping a driver whose car had broken down push the car off the road, as the vehicle was beginning to add to the already building logjam. Many people, including Eko Akete couldn’t help applauding this rare gesture, as an average LASTMA officer would have either orchestrated the ‘arrest’ of the spoilt vehicle for ‘causing traffic,’ or at best simply ignored it.

22

24 September, 2016 Continued from pg19

at the local government level (Ikosi-Isheri), sat in the association’s office at Mile 12, a one-storey building overlooking the main road. “Mile 12 is an international market”, he said proudly, adding, “People come here from all over the country and beyond to buy foodstuffs and other things. Some of the goods are brought in from our neighbouring countries. The market is actually more than fifty years old.”

Onigemo said it was impossible for any tribe to discriminate against others because “the soul of the business cannot permit it.” He seemed offended, though, when asked if it was possible that a dominant ethnic group could influence the politics and philosophy of the market.

“This is Yoruba-land. Even though other tribes come in here to do business, they can never dominate the tribe that owns the land. Whatever line of business the Hausa people are into, you will still find Yoruba people there; you will still find Igbo people there.

I can only say that we have many of them in the market, not that they have dominated the tribe that owns the land.

I know Nigeria is owned by everybody. But we have pioneers in every part”, he said.

According to Onigemo, even though the lines are clearly marked, they are not nonetheless rigid: “Where they sell electronics, we have Igbo people there more than other tribes. That doesn’t mean other tribes are not there. Where they sell yam flour, you have more Yoruba there because it is used for making Yoruba food. Again, when you talk of wholesale, you find Hausa and Igbo. But when you talk about retail, you find Yoruba.

“Another market that has a high number of Hausa people is Alabarago, along Badagry Road. Hausa people used to be Number One there, but I think Igbo people have over-

In Lagos markets, it’s every tribe to its wing

taken them now. But we also have Yoruba people there.

The tribe that owns that place is Awori.”

Great gulf Another market that has come to be associated with a particular ethnic group is Alaba International Market at Ojo. Saturday Tribune found out, however, that there are indeed a number of sections at the market dominated by other ethnic groups.

Ifelodun Section (where items such as keys, padlocks, nails and some building materials are sold) is known to be “controlled” by Yoruba traders. Bureau de Change agents as well as traders of mattresses, curtain and some other home wares who dominate a particular extension of the market are almost exclusively Hausa.

“I think it is really about what the different tribes are known for”, said Pastor Eze

It was impossible for any tribe to discriminate against others because the soul of the business cannot permit it.

‘DPO dey come’

By Chukwuma Okparaocha THE traffic gridlock in Lagos has been horrifying for some days, especially since the resumption of school activities and the state government has been trying to manage the situation to the best of its abilities. Thus, more traffic control officers, especially officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the police, have therefore been drafted to places generally identified as the blackspots.

But during the week, one of the police officers drafted to manage traffic at the U-Turn Junction area of Agbe Road in Agbado, a female police officer, perhaps, didn’t see what was coming her way after she opted to take a quick break in the shade of a closed shop away from the scotching sun.

I was actually drawn by the unusual gridlock on the road and my news-gathering sense seemed to have pushed me to the junction, even if it meant

Pastor Eze Emmanuel

Chukwuma Okorie

Saturday Tribune Emmanuel, Chairman of Unity Estate at Alaba, who added that, “Take Hausa people for instance, no matter the situation, they have the means to source the dollar.

“That said, I must let you know that we really all have our boundaries. It is like Nigeria and the various states that make it up. We even have gates for each section. At the close of work, every section closes its gate. It is possible that a particular section may be having a problem and the other sections will not be affected. In fact, if that kind of situation occurs in the day, other sections will close their gates so that people from the troubled zones don’t enter. It is just like heaven and hell.

We are told in the Bible that a rich man and a poor man died and the poor man went to heaven, while the rich man went to hell. The rich man asked the poor man whom he used to maltreat while he was on earth to dip his hand in water and send him a drop; the poor man told him that there is a great gulf fixed between them.

“That’s the kind of gulf we have here. We can see each other, but we know our boundaries. Each section has its own leadership, executive, etc, even though we have what we call Alaba Amalgamated which is the umbrella body that comprises all the sections. But even those sections where you have Igbo, Hausa, or Yoruba dominating, there are always members of other tribes there. You are free to obtain a shop at any section in the market.”

About money Chukwuma Okorie sat beside his electronics shop at Alaba chatting loudly with his neighbour. Asked why there are too many Igbo people at Alaba, he answered: “It’s because shops at Alaba are very expensive. Only Igbo people can afford them” and laughed. He must have intended that to be a joke, though.

A Reporter’s Diary I had to trek all the way from Ahmadiyya. I had barely spent two minutes at the spot, as I desperately looked around for anything that could be worth reporting, when I noticed the policewoman, clad in her blue and black uniform, leaning on the pillar of a shop close by, as the traffic she was meant to control threatened to build up the more.

She looked tired as she was not even moved by the traffic already building up. It is not clear how long she had run away from the sun and remained in that position, neither was it certain if she ever had any plan to step back into the sun. She was however jolted from her little comfort when a police van drove by from an opposite junction. “Go back to ya post, go back to ya post, DPO dey come”, was what bellowed out from one of the occupants of the van.

The female law enforcement agent, who appeared confused at first, dashed across the street to the busy road and almost immediately began directing vehicles to pass or stop.

Truly, few minutes later, another police van

drove by, with one of the officers inside having the appearance of a high-ranking police officer. “This must be the DPO”, I mused.

After what first looked like a moment of respite for the bemused woman, the van having the DPO came back with the high-ranking officer stepping down elegantly and engaging the female officer in a chat for a while.

Inasmuch as I would love to know what transpired between the two officers, the woman, who all along looked perplexed and unsettled, was eventually taken away in the back compartment of the van. I couldn’t help noticing a loud scowl on her face as the van drove by.

Perhaps the DPO was not going to be fooled into thinking the woman had actually been working in the sun, as she appeared too ‘tidy’ to indicate she had been doing so; she had no single drop of sweat on her brows or clothes. But what the duo discussed and where exactly they were taking her, I guess, I’ll never know.

24

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Toluwani Olamitoke 08050498504 toluwaniforever@yahoo.com

A teacher, preacher, author, mother and humanitarian, Reverend (Mrs) Laurie Idahosa, is a Senior Pastor of Church of God Mission, Benin City, Edo State, and the Director, Campus Life Division of Benson Idahosa University. She shares with RITA OKONOBOH, the peculiarities of cross-cultural marriages, her experience waiting on the Lord for a child, how women can make positive difference in society, among other issues. Excerpts:

As a minister of God, what is your view on the rising cases of divorce, even among clerics?

I think a lot of it has to do with pop culture and Western influence. I’m from the West, but my influence is from the word of God and a Bible-based culture. Wherever we come from, our culture should be based on the word of God. I think one of the reasons a lot of couples break up is because there is an allowance for it. If you watch something for some time, you believe that it is normal. People watch, listen and read about these things on a daily basis and so, when people feel unhappy in their marriage, they believe there is a way out. Before, there was the belief that marriage was for life. However, nowadays, people are doing all sorts of things because they’ve been exposed to a culture that is not God’s culture. It’s sad to see marriages in Nigeria break up. When I got married fourteen years ago, they told me if I was ever going to ask for divorce, I would have to bring all my family members and all the guests that attended my wedding. Some of them are dead now. That would mean if I was going to divorce, I would have to raise people from the dead. They painted this very impossible picture for me and I believed it. My faith also tells me there’s no way out. So, it’s easier to just stay married.

H

OW would you describe your growing up years?

In my early years, my parents were involved in business; they owned their own companies. I was helping in the business up till the age of nine. When I was about nine years old, my parents went to Bible school. Thereafter, they closed down all their businesses. We were in Delaware, United States of America (USA) before we moved to Oklahoma. They sold everything and told us they were going to be full-time missionaries. So, we started off in Indonesia and we were there for several months after they finished Bible school. During that period, the Lord spoke to my father to go back to Delaware where he was from, to start a church and that through him, the Lord would raise a thousand full-time missionaries. I was about ten years old then. For most of my teenage years, I was a pastor’s kid and we did a lot of mission work as well.

What were the peculiarities of being a pastor’s child?

As a pastor’s child I felt like there was no place to hide; that I was always in the limelight and people were always watching me. I thank God for that training because that helped to prepare me for the work here in Nigeria being a white and the wife of a bishop. I think being a pastor’s daughter prepared me for being Idahosa’s wife.

r e id s n o c ld u o h s Couples

the period of s s e n s s e l d l i h c nded honeymoon

How did you meet your husband?

I’ll give a shortened version. My father and his father were friends. I first came to Nigeria when I was 11 and that was before I met the Idahosas. Then I came back again when I was 13 and that was when I met FEB, my husband, for the first time. We liked each other even from that young age and stayed friends all through our high school and university years and then, eventually, he asked me to marry him, 15 years later, although we weren’t exclusively dating for those fifteen years.

On September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Centre bombing took place he was on a flight to the United States and I was living in America then. His flight was rerouted to Canada, and he called me to ask if he could stay with my family for a few days while they sorted out his return to Nigeria since the programme he came for was cancelled because of the incident. I didn’t even know he was coming to the US at the time.

So, he came and we spent time together. He had to stay in a hotel because my parents were out of town. That day, it was 2:00 am and we were sitting in a car in front of the hotel. In his words, he said: ‘Laurie, I think I can trust you, and I can tell you anything and that’s what I want in a wife. Why don’t I just marry you?’ And that was what started the ball rolling and we were married a year later.

as exte

—Rev’d Laurie Idahosa Were you shocked when he asked you to marry him?

Although I wasn’t expecting it, I wasn’t shocked. I always loved FEB and always hoped that we could be together someday.

How easy was it settling down in Nigeria, especially in Edo State?

That’s a loaded question. I chose to believe that everybody was going to love me. Even when they didn’t, I chose to believe that they did. Even when people showed me, in no uncertain terms, that they weren’t happy with his decision, I just chose to believe that it was because they didn’t know me yet. Only a few people were bold enough to let it be very clear to me that that they didn’t think I was right for him. And those people are now very close friends of mine and I respect them for their boldness and courage to tell me their thoughts.

You enjoy a wonderful relationship with your mother-in-law, has it always been this smooth?

My mother-in-law is a really wonderful woman. In the beginning, I knew that I wasn’t probably the first choice for her son so I asked her about that before we got married.

I asked her if she was happy with his choice, because sincerely, if mama didn’t want me, I wasn’t going to stay because the stress on me would have been too much. I asked her those questions privately, and she told me ‘Laurie, I want FEB to be happy. If FEB has chosen you, then I choose you.’ That gave me a leg to stand on, especially for people who would insinuate that I wasn’t accepted. She’s been a great mother-in-law. Also, while we were coping with the issue of infertility, she understood because she experienced it first-hand.

So, she was very careful not to allow me pass through some of the challenges she faced. So, I wasn’t under pressure. She was very sensitive.

Women are becoming more prominent in the ministry, with some even founding churches, sometimes to the detriment of their homes, what do you have to say to this?

I would never advise a woman to go into ministry full-time if her husband is not in support of it. It’s important for the couple to work together. I didn’t start pastoring a church until three years ago. I was pastoring in the US before I moved to Nigeria. When I got here, my husband wanted me to first adapt to the environment and I did willingly.

Three years ago, he encouraged me to go into the ministry, and look for more outlets where I could minister. I believe that the man is the head of the home and that God will give me the wisdom and grace to function under his leadership How will you advise couples waiting on God for the fruit of the womb?

I will tell a couple in this state to communicate a lot with each other. Infertility comes with emotional and physical pain and it tells on a marriage. So, communication is very important. I also advise them to take it as an extended honeymoon. God didn’t give you your children right now because there is a stronger foundation that you both need to build and there’s more love that has to be cultivated between the two of you. We had an extended honeymoon of five to six years while waiting for the fruit of the womb. During this period, I really began to understand my husband and love him better and our relationship was really wonderful, so when the kids came, they were just an addition and not a frustration. For some people who have their kids right away, it’s just hell on earth because the couple never had the chance to know themselves first. So, the couple should take it as an opportunity to know and love themselves.

What’s your favourite Nigerian meal and how easy was it adapting to the change in cuisine?

I just started changing my diet to more of that of a vegan so I’m not eating some of the stuff I used to eat. Before the change in diet, however, it was black soup. I love black soup with pounded yam.

25

24 September, 2016

ntertainment News

Society Gist

Saturday Tribune with Joan Omionawele and

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

Celebrity Interviews

>>Also inside

Bimbo Akintola and Yomi Black not married >>pg26

Opeyemi Ayeola breaks silence

>>pg27

The other side of Caroline Danjuma >>pg27

26 entertainment

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Bimbo Akintola and Yemi Blaq “on set in Ibadan”

Stories by Joan Omionawele

S

o cial Media went awash last week after wedding photos of Popular Nollywood actors, Yemi Blaq and Bimbo Akintola surfaced.

Davido, Phyn set for 3throno es concert

Many bloggers went as far as writing stories with captions such as ‘after years of waiting, Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has finally tied the knot; Bimbo Akintola and Yemi Blaq wed secretly.’among other captions.

Entertainment superstars, Adeleke David; popularly known as Davido alongside rapper, Phyno have been revealed to be the headliners at the highly anticipated upcoming concert; ‘3 Thrones’ set to hold on the 23rd of October 2016 at EKO Hotel Convention Centre, Lagos.

The concert will have three headliners which are referred to as “kings” and they are prepared to occupy three thrones at the concert, hence the name ‘3 Thrones Concert’.

DJ Jimmy Jatt and DJ Neptune have been unveiled as ‘The Guardians’ of the thrones.

However, the third headliner hasn’t been re-

While many fans flooded their social media messages with congratulatory messages, Saturday Tribune gathered that the thespians were just doing their jobs. The actress, Bimbo Akintola, posted the photo on her instagram page with explanations that indeed both actors were on a movie location in Ibadan. She captioned the picture “#on set in Ibadan, #lifeofanactor # and added “don’t try me o”.

Africa Magic unveils first Tv series, Hustle A new Tv series entitled Hustle will be launched on Africa Magic for all Tv lovers on the 3rd of October.

The Tv series which focuses on the duality of living and hustling in Lagos City, Nigeria’s commercial hub, tells the tale of Dayo, a gullible but optimistic young man who moves to Lagos with dreams of making it big. Dayo quickly learns that it is never as it seems as he comes to terms with hilariously catastrophic neighbours, an antagonistic landlady and a shady yet loyal roommate. All these characters nonetheless share an unwavering hope for tomorrow, and they are buoyed by the “Lagos spirit”, the spirit of the hustle.

Speaking on the series, Director, MNet West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu said: ”Hustle exemplifies the traditional Lagos spirit of ‘hustling’ and what many of the city’s inhabitants face in their bid to make it big. The show is the first of its kind Nigerian ‘dramedy’, and uniquely combines comedy and drama to show the uniqueness of the ‘Lagos situation’ – suffering and smiling, serious yet funny. We see how our characters tackle situations that mirror everyday situations that are relatable to the average Lagosian, and what everyone faces when they move to the big city for the first time.”

vealed so far as fans continue to hanker for the third revelation.

Speaking on the choice of these artistes, one of the organisers, Adetoro Suleiman had this to say; “After careful consideration, Phyno and Davido were meticulously selected by the team owing to their undeniable eminence and the impact they’ve made in the Nigerian music industry and Africa at large.

These are individuals who are hardworking and have put Nigeria on a pedestal through their art over the years. So far; two of them have been revealed - the last king will be revealed in due time. This is a concert that will be talked about for years!”

Caroline Danjuma delves into Oil and gas When others have decided to stay at one spot, others like Nollywood Actress and business woman, Caroline Danjuma have decided to spread their tentacles The sultry actress and mother of two who has decided to get an MBA in Oil and Gas, posted a picture showing off her certificate of achievement in Organisational Behavior from Edinburgh Business School with an inspirational message which read “focus on what adds value to our life, the rest is God’s business. Thank you Lord for your grace and love, thanks to my coach, Lanre Olushola, for helping me find my way.

I have 10 more exams to go… #mba specialism in oil and gas, #beautywithbrains #blessedchild #focused #nevergiveup #aimforthebest” she wrote

Celine Dimas turns detective in new action series

The movie industry is about to witness more surprises as rising Nollywood actress, Celine Dimas takes us on an action series movie titled ‘ Lola the series’, a tv series which is expected to be release on various online platforms before its finally compilation.

Shot in Lagos, ‘Lola the series’ exrays the adventures of a super hero character played by Omolola Thomas a.k.a Lola; she is a focused, mean and no-nonsense female detective who knows her onions on the field of special crime fighting.

Directed by Wole Ogundare and Oludare derella story,” says Daniel.

OMG (a prolific music vidHe said “Growing up, my parents always said eo director), ‘Lola the seI was too talkative - in fact I used to use empty ries’ is produced by Celine cans and my dad’s car gear as my microphone.

Dimas and has a fantastic Then, during my high school and college days, cast line that includes I was always involved in theatre and hosting veteran actress Ayo Adevents, which gave me an opportunity to meet esanya, Victor Edogbon, people from different cultural and religious backAni Chinedu Emmanuel grounds, which I believe is key for presenting as (Nedu), Celine Dimas TV content should be relatable to anyone and evamongst others. eryone,” says Daniel.

Daniel Ifeanyichukwu makes it to Tlc’s “Lucky 13” During the week, TLC in association with Colgate Optic White announced 22-year-old DANIEL IFEANYICHUKWU, an entertainer, as the 10th semi-finalist making it through to the next stage of the TLC Next Great Presenter search. This actor from Lagos, Nigeria secured his spot in the “Lucky 13” from more than 1500 auditions received across the continent.

“I am so excited and thankful that I got this great opportunity. It still feels unreal like a “Daniel in Wonderland” dream or a male Cin-

27 entertainment AIFF 2016: Juliet Ibrahim, Linda Ejiofor, Bukky Wright, listed as nominees

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma - Lagos

THE College of Screeners has announced the nominees for the 2016 Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF).

The Chairman of the College of Screeners, Mr Olumide Akindele, in a statement made available to Saturday Tribune spoke of a major improvement in the quality of films and diverse social issues raised about Africa in the films submitted for this year awards, stating that there was arduous task of arriving at the final nomination list for 15 categories.

A total of 721 films from, 47 countries were received from all genres of film making.

Nigeria accounted for 273 films out of the 721 submitted. Movies such as Soldier’s Story, Love Is A Prank, Gidi Blues, Amakye & Dede and Paradise Trip got nominated

into multiple categories.

On individual basis, ace Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim, Linda Ejiofor, Bukky Wright and four others will jostle for the Best Actress of the Year Awards, while Ghana’s Majid Michal and Nigeria’s Ik Ogbonna and Daniel K Daniel are in the ring of seven ace actors for the Best Actor of the Year Award.

According to Akindele, winners will be announced at the award ceremonies sheduled for the Silverbird Cinemas, Abuja on Friday, October 7th, 2016.

Also, there will be documentaries, acting workshop from reputed resource persons such as Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Segun Arinze and others. Abuja Int’l Film Festival which is holding its 13th edition was founded by ace film director and producer, Fidelis Duker.

Nollywood actor lands role in Vikings, into the Badlands

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma - Lagos

STANLEY Aguzie, a Nigerian actor and filmmaker, is part of the cast of an IrishCanadian award-winning historical drama series, “Vikings”. He is also working on the set of “Into the Badlands”, an American television series.

Speaking about his role in a statement made available to Saturday Tribune, the Imo State-born thespian, who relocated to the Republic of Ireland last year said, “When I was invited for this casting, I went thinking I couldn’t get the role since I am not as handsome as the character described.

“So, I went to give it a trial and the casting director looked at me and said, ‘Directors have the right to change their minds when they meet better actors.

“You are not as muscular

as we want but I think we can work, Stanley’. I was surprised when I got a callback and landed myself this small role that means the whole world to me. I just got a small extra role on Vikings the award winning series”.

Popularly known in the motion picture industry for his short films such as Save Me, and Entrust, Aguzie first made his entrance into the entertainment industry in 2005 as a comedian and then a stage actor.

24 September, 2016

Opeyemi Ayeola breaks silence

By Joan Omionawele

J

UST when tongues started wagging about the whereabouts of Nollywood actress, Opeyemi Ayeola, the actress decided to break her silence.

Announcing her return to the entertainment industry with the release of her latest flick, Ayeola wrote “It was with love and joyful concern that we gladly responded creatively to the calls and yearnings of our ever faithful and consistent followers and fans all over the world, who, due to our assumed silence at a point, continuously asked “where is Opeyemi?Is she no more acting?

She continued “in one sentence, we humbly replied “expect more. And to confirm this, today, another one of a kind power packed movie, from the stable of S.D n O productions, under the movie house of Opeyemi Aiyeola Films, marketed globally by Corporate pictures international, added to these, our online viewers through OkinTv have the opportunity to taste the

beautifully baked massive hit. Don’t wait to be told?

Go all out and be part of this movement. I bet you will come back and thank me for

it” she said This was great news as all her fans cheered her in excitement that she was back on her grind as an actress.

THE Lights, Camera, Africa Film Festival is set to launch the sixth edition of its campaign under the banner heading ‘Music Makes the People’.

The three-day film festival will be held in Lagos between the 30th of September and the 2nd of October, 2016 This year’s edition will feature works of film that speak to the power of music and other art forms that create love, express sorrow, build bridges and end wars.

The Lights, Camera, Africa Film Festival, through its consistently bold representation of diverse African cinema will, this year, celebrate emerging and independent African cinema that particularly evince the musical voice of film.

Also expected to perform at the Federal Palace Hotel venue is the famous Festival Souk.

Wizkid, Aka, Linda Ikeji lead MAMA nominations list

By Joan Omionawele

I was nailed on the cross in a movie —Eniola Iyiola

BUDDING actress and filmmaker, Eniola Iyiola who has been described as one of the sexiest actresses in the Yoruba sector of Nollywood, has revealed why she was nailed on the cross for a movie “The movie is titled ‘Basira Badia’ and I was nailed on the cross because I betrayed the gang I was part of in the movie. I joined another

Lights, Camera, Africa film festival presents ‘Music Makes the People’

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma Lagos

THE MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 has announced that African Music stuperstars, Cassper Nyovest, AKA and Sauti Sol are leading the pack in the first round of nominations for the forthcoming MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 (MAMA), with an impressive nine nominations between them.

By Joan Omonawele

Saturday Tribune

gang and I was caught. Being nailed on the cross was my punishment. Playing that role was easy for me because I believe in going the extra mile in whatever I do.”

When asked if she was discouraged by the comments the movie generated, she had this to say: ” People have right to their opinion. It generated responses from the good, the bad and the ugly. As an actor I have learnt not to get angry over any little thing.”

In the lifestyle category Personality of the Year, Pearl Thusi goes up against soccer player Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), middle distance runner and Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya, blogger Linda Ikeji (Nigeria) and musician Wizkid (Nigeria) vie for Personality of the Year.

The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 is sponsored by Joburg Tourism in partnership with Absolut Vodka and Google

and in association with MTN and DStv. Fifty MAMA nominees including artists and achievers from 18 countries were revealed in 9 key music and lifestyle award categories by Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa and MTV Base (DStv channel 322) at a star-studded reception at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa last night.

At the front of the field is Nigerian star Wizkid with three nominations includ-

ing nods in Best Male, Best Collaboration and Personality of the Year. Next in line with two nominations each are AKA (South Africa), Cassper Nyovest (South Africa) and Sauti Sol (Kenya).

The hotly contested Best Hip Hopcategory sees MAMA nominations for Emtee and Riky Rick of South Africa, who’ll be going head to head against Nigeria’s Olamide and Ycee, and Kiff No Beat (Ivory Coast). An epic battle of the bands is in store in the Best Group category where Ghana’s R2bees face off against Kenya’s Sauti Sol, South Africa’s Mi Casa, Navy Kenzo from Tanzania and Togolese duo, Toofan.

Commented on this year’s Mama Awards, Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, affirmed “The MAMA celebrates Africa’s incredible young musicians and trailblazers by breaking down barriers, driving engagement, and highlighting the continent’s rich and abundant talent.

28

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

with Tunde Ayanda ayandaayotunde@yahoo.com 08034649018

Beshy Kuti thinks vacation

Lamiju Akala comes of age LAMIJU, one of the sons of former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Bayo Alao-Akala, may have slowed down a bit.

People who spotted the young man, who is married to Hadiza, a daughter of the Eleganza boss, Alhaji Rasak Okoya at his inlaw’s sallah party recently marvelled at how marriage has transformed him.

The Lead City University, Ibadan graduate is said to have interest in properties, haulage and entertainment.

There are rumours that the young man is counting on his father’s political influence to launch his career in 2019.

F

OR Beshy Kuti, the wardrobe consultant to many influential individuals in Nigeria, it’s a time for rest.

The man behind upscale fashion house, BKK Ultimo, is winding down his operations for the year and considering a suitable place to relax.

According to people close to him, the cloth-maker does not joke with his annual vacation and he is planning to visit Brussels in Belgium, Paris in France, Milan in Italy and Madrid in Spain for his vacation.

Beshy Kuti once disclosed that he uses his vacation not only to rest but to also keep in touch with modern fashion trends thus explaining his reasons for picking Europe as his choice destination.

Femi Sowoolu joins the train ACE broadcaster, Femi Sowoolu, has joined the team of owners of private radio stations in Nigeria.

The ‘radioman’ recently testrun his Jamz 100.1FM in Ibadan.

Sowoolu revealed that the goal of the new radio station is to be socially responsible to its immediate environment and Nigeria as a whole, providing a lot of information and news.

The 100.1 FM began its test transmission some months ago.

Friends and former colleagues of Sowoolu agreed with his dream of making the radio the first within two years of operation. The broadcaster is said to be a professional that doesn’t take the standard of his job for granted.

Femi Lekuti gets his groove back JUST like the proverbial cat with nine lives, socialite, Femi Lekuti has jumped off his sickbed.

The businessman widely known in the social circle as ‘Danku Baba-Imole’ was reportedly sick some months ago.

According to those in the know, the politician is back on his feet again and telling who cares to know how God used the ailment and recovery to win his soul.

He was spotted recently at the Palms Mall in Ibadan shopping with his wife looking healthier and bubbling like his old self.

Bolu Akin-Olugbade rolls out the drums again FOR the second time this year, Aare Bolu Akin-Olugbade is set for another round of celebration.

The businessman, who celebrated his birthday party with a private vacation with his family some months ago has picked November 19 for the traditional wedding ceremony of his son, Dademu to his heartthrob, Lauretta, a grand daughter of the late Chief Justice of Nigeria, Fatai Williams.

The high society is in frenzy knowing what it means for the two prominent families to come together.

The Landmark Event Centre, Lagos is the event centre to host the November event.

Dademu is an accountant, while Lauretta is a lawyer, their white wedding is billed to take place in the United Kingdom next year.

29

24 September, 2016

outofthisworld

Saturday Tribune With femi osinusi

osfem2@yahoo.com 08055069292

Man boils water with fork and spoon, makes fire from phone battery

I

The man showing naked wires attached to the fork and spoon.

s it possible to use fork and spoon to boil water? We are very sure you will say it’s impossible. Also, is it possible to use a phone battery to ignite fire? You may probably also say no!

However, a man from Russia, Aleksandr Kryukov, did it.

He boiled water, cooked noodles and also warmed hot dog with just a fork and spoon.

According to Daily Mail of UK, the Russian wrapped naked wires around the fork and spoon and plugged the wires into a 220-volt outlet. This enabled him to boil the water and cook the noodles as well as heat the hot dog.

He also generated fire using phone battery by placing two ends of a foil paper one each end of the battery and within seconds, fire started. According to him, the fire started because the current of the battery runs through the foil and heats it up to the point that it becomes ignited.

A note of caution here. Please, do not try these at home!

Water being boiled.

Eating the hot noodles.

Heating the hot dog.

Attaching the foil paper to a phone battery.

Igniting fire from the battery.

30

24 September, 2016

weekend cartoons

Saturday Tribune

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

Just a Laffing Mata

Mathematics question Segeluulu was preparing for his Mathematics examination, and the more he studied, the more he didn’t understand. He then consulted Angela for help.

Segeluulu: Friend, I’ve been trying to solve this question since morning, but I’m confused. (60-53+10=?)

Angela: Okay, let’s reason it this way, if you have 60 wraps of Indian hemp and you smoke 53, then get another 10 wraps, what will you have?

Segeluulu: Ah! I will have a brain damage, high blood pressure, stroke, first class madness, paralysis and I may even die!

Angela: That’s exactly what this Mathematics question will give you when you solve it.

My maths teacher and I

POLITICO

Yesterday, I met my Mathematics teacher at the popular Dugbe market in Ibadan. He asked me to show him how he could get to the nearest bank. I looked at him and smiled; then I said, ‘Make a 270 degree u-turn and take a left transect of about 1.8meters. Turn to an offset of 40 degrees, protracted from the normal or geographical point and you will see a supermarket, which is perpendicular to the horizontal height of a shopping mall, in a curved angle of 300 meters and turn right at 19degrees acute angle. You will see a building with a roof truncated at 120cm to the zenith, within the quadrant of 0.4mm, using the Pythagoras theorem. You will find the bank at a radius of log7 raised to power 10 (take pie to be= 3.14).’

My Maths teacher nearly fainted; he began to sweat heavily like a Christmas goat. I made him feel what I always feel while sitting in his class.

The good samaritan

FUNOLOGY

Segeluulu saw a very expensive android phone in a taxi.

He quickly checked through the contacts and found “My number 2”, then he called the number, and luckily, the owner answered in excitement.

Owner: Oh, thank God you found my phone! Where did you pick the phone?

Segeluulu: Please give me your address.

The owner: You want to bring the phone to my house?

Wow! that’s so nice of you. If only this country is full of good people like you.

Segeluulu (interrupted): What are you saying? I want to come and collect the charger!

Yoruba Actress cries out

Wulebantu, age is just a number! ...What is important is your achievement!

CANDID SHOT

MEETING POINT: The confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, at Lokoja. PHOTO: ADEREMI DAVIES

32

24 September, 2016

The South-West Editor Kehinde Oyetimi | 08074626431

Saturday Tribune CREW

sari Tunde B9u3530 081275 ndare nga - Ogu Yejide G8b1e16706853 0 unesan Tunde O9g54634 08116

t: r us; contac Got news fo bune@yahoo. ri tt es southw bune@ uthwesttri co.uk or so ail.com gm

‘How my community work made me ruler over Omole in Lagos’

The popular Omole community in Ikeja Local Government Council of Lagos State came into being following the migration of a set of people from Gbonka compound in Ile-Ife, the royal head of the bustling district, Chief Nasiru Bakare is a musician regularly sweating it out in the studio with his back-up singers. TUNDE BUSARI writes.

L

OVERS of good music may not find it easy to place a particular song regularly played on a Lagos radio station as the genre it belongs is clearly undetermined. Is it juju, fuji, apala or gospel music is the question that would readily come to mind.

However, what the sound lacks in identity is savoured in its public enlightenment value; preaching safe driving and vigilance to both driver and passengers. The music is so effective that the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Office did not only accept it but also searched for the voice behind it. When the musician is revealed as a traditional ruler in Lagos State, the music instantly becomes news.

This is the story of Baale Omole, Chief Nasiru Bakare, the traditional head of Omole, a highbrow community in Ikeja Local Government Council which is known as the home of a large size of upper class citizens.

Remarkably, Baale Omole’s mien is a contrast to that worn by known regular musicians, thereby provoking a poser on his journey into the music world. Quite surprisingly, the Baale would declare that he cannot really explain how he found himself in music.

But in a voice filled with certainty, he recalls how a certain strange voice spoke and directed him to pick his pen and paper and compose some songs to save lives on the roads where auto-crash is a common sight.

“The voice said the music was going to be my special contribution to remind drivers and passengers to thread softly on the road because their families are waiting for them at home. I followed the directive and composed the song, recorded and released it in 2013,” he recalled.

Although the release is not a commercial success as marketers did not see it breaking into the class of reigning music in town, Baale Omole is fulfilled as evident in the follow up album that he released just last year in which he again reminded road users of the need to comply with traffic rules and strictly maintain their vehicles to avoid disappointment on journeys.

As a traditional ruler, he argued, his duties go beyond his palace; it includes engaging in public education on how to live as good citizens and avoid a clash with the law, hence his growing love for his brand of music, which has made him a regular guest at radio stations, especially when the topic for discussion borders on traffic issues.

“I was touched when the head of VIO officially told me that they were impressed with my music for addressing the same problem they are checking on the road. Between me and you, the VIO rewarded me and I was very happy that the effort was not in vain.

“I must say that I am not going to mount the stage at any party and sing for people. No! My music is driven with a specific message which I have faithfully delivered. All things being equal, I will drop my third album when I am ready,” he said.

Another odd side of the Baale is that he also runs a football academy and indeed owns a football club known as Baale Omole FC. He

Bakare

has organised football tournaments, the last edition of which had the former Super Eagles Coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde as special guest.

The outspoken royal father believes that a traditional ruler should not be comfortable in his palace while the youths constitute public nuisance owing to the state of the nation. He

A traditional ruler should not be comfortable in his palace while the youth constitute public nuisance owing to the state of the nation.

also says that the head of a community must lead by example, explaining that doing so is a better way to build confidence and trust in his rich subjects to voluntarily make meaningful contributions to the community.

A situation whereby a leader is known for asking for favour from his subjects, he stresses, is not only demeaning, it is also an insult to the stool. For him, community service is an important duty for every traditional ruler.

“I remember coach Yemi Tella while he was our instructor at the NIS (Nigeria Institute of Sports) would always tell us to use the course we studied at NIS to add value to the society. Apart from Football, I was also into Boxing. Bash Alli was my coach until I lost some fights at the national stadium and was advised to hang my gloves.

“Calling me jack of all trades is not an exaggeration because I love to show interest in different things that can improve humanity. I retired as an Arabic teacher at Federal School of Science and Technical at Ijebu Ogun State,” he revealed.

The 57-year-old was also trained as a journalist at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) aside a first and master’s degrees from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and the University of Lagos. His hunger for

knowledge according to him is inspired by his childhood days which saw him jumping from one vocation to the other.

He, at a stage, ran away from home to become a motor park boy until his mother went after him and took him to his father, a driver at Ifo where he was enrolled at a primary school and ended in the class of a female Christian teacher who incidentally struck the right chord in him and opened his heart to meaningful living.

“Because I hate corporal punishment as a kid, I did not find sitting down in a classroom interesting at all. Teachers would cane me at school in the morning; Alfa would also cane me at local Arabic school in the evening. This really, really scared me. In fact, I deliberately went to Teachers Training College when I was told they did not cane students there.

But it was at this school that the spirit of enjoying reading entered my life and to God be the glory.

“Whenever I look back at those days, I thank God for the transformation he has done in my life to read up to master’s level and also have many other certificates. Only God can do it for the kind of boy I was in my childhood. I will always thank my mother for her insistence that I must be serious,” he recalled.

His seriousness to work as assistant secretary of the community paved the way for him in 1999 to emerge the Baale Omole, the position reserved for the community elders.

Bakare’s family members saw in him one who had the mental capacity and physical composition to lead and represent the town well even when he was just a journalism student.

The day he was presented with the staff of office and certificate is evergreen in his memory because of the caliber of guests that witnessed the occasion presided over by the then Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Toyin Hamzat.

His lecturers and fellow students at NIJ added colour to the event that became a turning point in his life as an intermediary between his subjects and government. How does his experience on the throne look like?

“I am thankful to God because without him, I would not have been here today. The past 17 years have been eventful, especially with my direct involvement in activities which are having positive impact on our youths. I don’t encourage laziness.

“That is why I had a long issue with some youths who wanted to live on disturbing others. I stood my ground. Thank God it is all over now. I am happy with Lagos State Government policy against the so-called omo onile who exploit property owners and cause trouble. I am satisfied with the little God has done for me,” he said.

He is a recipient of many awards of merit from state and local government including social organisations for his service to the public. A church, Christ Living Spring Apostolic Ministry, presented him with a jeep at the church’s 10th year anniversary for promoting peace in his community.

33

24 September, 2016

voxpop

Saturday Tribune

With Kate Ani

08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

How would you react if you caught your partner ‘getting down’ with a lover on the eve of your wedding?

Sometimes, either of the wedding partners could be so daring by attempting to finally ‘sign off’ with a lover on the eve of the wedding day. OLIVIA AGWULOUN asks Nigerians what their reaction would be thier reactions if they captured such a Deji Bankole T depends on the position they were when I caught them. A simple kiss is excusable but if there is a proof of penetration, my love for her will automatically transmute to hate. I will walk up to them, shake the hands of the man and thank him for saving me from the daughter of Jezebel.

I

Garpiyag Gasia I will simply calculate all the money I had already spent in planning the wedding, demand that she refunds it to me and then go to church and give thanks to God for saving me from such a woman.

Cordelia Okoro I will call the wedding off; there is no amount of pleading that could sway me to decide otherwise. What if after forgiving him and go on with the wedding ceremony, the lover shows up again and finally decides to stay forever?I will rather be heartbroken for a moment than for a lifetime.

Timothy Imogore I will walk away, forgive her and then move on with life.

Juliet Rapheal If he has the effrontery to cheat on me on our wedding eve, there are chances that he would be a serial cheater all his life. I don’t think I can tolerate such a man.

Frank Chieke I will call the wedding off because her action has revealed that she doesn’t love me but just wants to get married.

Kim Ojo I would definitely be angry, disappointed and feel let down but at the same time, I will give her an opportunity to explain her actions. From her explanations, I would then decide my

Alex Oamen

next line of action.

Alex Oamen I will be upset, obviously, but will listen to her explanations because it could be a spiritual problem. No lady in her right state of mind would sleep with another man on the eve of her wedding.

There has to be a reason and we would sit down and discuss it. And yes ooo, the wedding will still continue.

Timothy Eze I will call the whole thing off! For her to cheat on me with another guy on the eve of our wedding can be likened to the proverbial snake that enjoys eating

Frank Chieke

the chicken’s egg within the domain of the owner of the chicken.

For her to cheat on me with another guy on the eve of our wedding can be likened to the proverbial snake that enjoys eating the chicken’s egg within the domain of the owner of the chicken.

Fred John

Olarewaju Victor Although it would be traumatic for me yet the truth is, if I decide to dump her, how would I be sure of the sincerity of the next lady I show interest in?

Hassan Ibrahim That’s a tough one but to be honest, I will not immediately zero my mind on dumping her. I would want to hear her side and then make my decision. The fact that I wanted to marry her means that I love and want to spend the rest of my life with her.

Juliet Raphae

34 interview

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

My grouse with Ondo APC primary —Olusola Oke

Chief Olusola Oke came third in the recently conducted controversial governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. In this interview with DEPUTY EDITOR, DAPO FALADE, he speaks on the issues generated by the primary, concluding that it was a flawed exercise.

C

AN you lay bare what really transpired in the course of the Ondo State governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently held in the state?

Nothing uncommon, nothing unexpected in terms of human endeavours could be said to be happening in APC. When there are conflicting interests, there are bound to be disagreement. It is no longer news that we had our primary on September 3 and that some of us, the aspirants were dissatisfied with the outcome and we articulated in our press statement and appealed to the panel constituted for that purpose by the party the grounds of our grievances.

For me, I’m a democrat and once an election had been conducted and the due process was followed and a winner emerges, it is a norm in every civilised society that all other aspirants, in the interest of the party, should rally round the winner. Where, therefore, as in this case, we have protested the outcome, there must be good reasons.

I can only speak for myself. The protest started, even before the commencement of the primary. Two weeks before the primary, we insisted, in order to give room for transparency and accountability, that the list of the voters, in this case, the delegates, be made available to us as aspirants and the office of the national organising secretary, on the directive of the national chairman, did. All of us, several times, went through it and we found out that the names were actually the names that emerged from the 2014 party congresses, except in instances where some names were omitted.

We wanted them to find out from the record whether these names omitted were as a result of non-conduct of congresses in those wards and if it was printing omission, they should restore them.

You are one of the frontline aspirants and it was a public knowledge that you and some other aspirants, immediately after the primary, congratulated the winner, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu...

I did not congratulate him

At what point did you get to know the errors you mentioned?

If I finish this story line, it will provide the background.

On Friday (a day before the congress), around 6pm, we insisted on a clean copy and we assumed that some minor errors and corrections would have been made. I got the copy around 11:30 pm, only for me to find out that the list had been totally substituted. When I counted and did the analysis, I found out that 383 names had been imported and injected into the list. I didn’t know who these people are.

Assuming they came in legally and I know them, I would have gone to lobby them and persuade them to vote for me. They are people I have never met; nobody knows their location, who they are and where there were coming from.

That totally destabilised everybody. In my camp, when I was doing accreditation in the morning for them to go and vote, 115 delegates were there stranded; they have been dropped out of the list. So, one of the grounds for complain was the doctoring and the bastardisation of the delegates’ list.

Another specie of corruption, which vitiated the congress, was the sale of delegates’ tags to a particular aspirant. Evidence available showed that a particular aspirant was given tags which he was handing over to non-members of APC-all manners of people, market women, salesgirls, drivers-to go and vote. And one or two buses were dedicated for that illegal purpose and they were just conveying them after pulling the tags and, of course with some gratification.

The third specie was that, at one point, proper accreditation stopped. Anybody who brought an identification card, whether of primary school or secondary school or of any sort, were just given tags without checking the name against the list to be sure that it was theirs. So, what we had were all these and other forms of corruption. It is not about me; it is about the process; it is about the fate of the people of Ondo State.

Having known all these, prior to the primary...

From what I just said, I wouldn’t have known prior to the primary, except the delegate list. And when that came to my knowledge, around 2am, I presented the letter of protest to the chairman, articulating our grievances. The others occurred in the course of the conduct of the primary. I wouldn’t have known that somebody was going to give out tags or that

But it was also said that you are already in talk with some other political parties, including SDP and APGA. How far is this true?

I don’t like to react to rumour; it is a rumour. When I make up my mind to behave one way or the other, I will call the press to say this is my position. My position is that the primary should be nullified and a fresh primary, free of vices and those viruses. That is me. What the party will do, I have no control over it.

The party may decide to heed my prayers or it may say I am not talking well. The party may say, ‘yes, you talked right but let’s do it this way’. Don’t forget that I no longer own myself;I belong to the people of this state; I belong to my supporters, my admirers. So anything that comes my way, comes their way. We will meet; we would evaluate and we would look at it. We will take an informed decision, not forgetting that I am a politician of credible pedigree. So, for now, the only decision on the table is that we await the outcome of this appeal.

Whenyouhavesetaprocess,Idon’tlike adistortionofit;Idon’tlikeapervasion ofit;Idon’tlikeacriminalisationofit. somebody was going to refuse to do proper accreditation.

A meeting was said to had been scheduled for Friday, last week, to address some of the issues you raised and which would to a large extent, determine the fate of Ondo APC and the next line of action of the aspirants. Are you aware of such a meeting?

I am not aware of any such meeting, except that it was reported that the National Working Committee (NWC) met to receive the report of the ad hoc committee constituted to look into the complaints. I was told; I’m not a member of the NWC so, I didn’t attend. It was that meeting, we are hoping, will resolve the issue or come out with a decision of yes or no to the complaints and then we will take it from there. No outcome of it is yet known to us.

Speculations are high that Olusola Oke is contemplating leaving the party and considering some other options. What are the options before you?

It is when my options are put in the public domain, that they become options. As I speak with you, I remain a member of APC. I am pursuing an appeal to redress the wrongs that I thought were done to me or done to the system. The outcome is not yet here. So, it would amount to, as you have rightly described it, speculations to say that I would be leaving APC. Who told them I will not win my appeal? Those who said I want to leave must be speculating that I will not win. It is premature to have a position because whatever position that I would have will depend on the outcome. I am a party man; you know my history, 31 years of politics. I have never changed party until I came to APC and I have to come because the boat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was already sinking and I don’t want to die of mishap. So, I left.

In the event that the appeal upholds the victory of Akeredolu, what happens?

What happens is that the party has taken decision in that circumstance. I have said that these are all words of if, but I deal with reality. If he is picked, come back to me and I will tell you what I will do.

He has not been picked, so, why will I be saying if.

Secondly, the issue is not between me and Akeredolu. He is my friend; we remain friends. There are so many things holding us together. We have no personal acrimony or vendetta over this. The issue is about the system. APC stands for change. If it amounts to good change for the prostitution of the delegates’ list; if it is a good change for selling tags to non-delegates; if it is a good change not to do proper accreditation, wait until the party says so. Then, I will call on supporters, my admirers, we will look at it; is the party right or is it wrong? It cannot be my opinion. I will be prejudicing the opinion of these people who may be wiser than me to express a view on what will happen.

For as long as the party will want to wait, we are waiting for them. We are APC, we are working for APC, we are praying for APC to save it from itself. That is it.

The APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, was reported to have said APC can only win Ondo State if Mr Olusegun Abraham is picked as its governorship candidate...

I didn’t read that statement; that is the truth. All I thought I have heard from everybody is that we should pick a credible and sellable candidate. I never read where Tinubu said Abraham is the only credible candidate. The winning principle is, pick a sellable candidate. I have explained and given one million reasons why I am the most sellable and that is why 576 delegates agreed with me and voted for me. I didn’t have padded votes; those who had padded votes know themselves.

Real delegates voted for me; my votes were not padded. It is the padded votes that I am quarreling against. So, if anybody had said it has to be a particular person, that can only be his personal opinion. But honestly, I never read anything like that.

If another candidate emerges through another primary and without any padded votes, will you still remain in APC? I am not a cantankerous character; I have never insisted that it has to be me. All I want is that it has to be the choice of the delegates by the majority. So, if that person has to be somebody else, I will work for the party. If that person happens to be me, I will work for myself and I will urge everybody to work for me. When you have set a process, I don’t like a distortion of it; I don’t like a pervasion of it; I don’t like a criminalisation of it and then I keep quiet. If I keep quiet at my age and position in politics, who else will talk? I have all it takes to talk. I am not visited by hunger; I am not afflicted with cowardice; I have not been mischievous. When can I speak? I am speaking and I will continue to speak that this is not right. It doesn’t matter what they do. I will speak because all it takes the evil to triumph is for good people to keep quiet. If I didn’t see it, it is a different thing. I saw it; it happened and I am speaking about it. It doesn’t matter what the party is going to decide at the end of the day. What is important is that, ‘did Oke keep quiet?’ No, he spoke out.

‘Did they listen?’ That depends on them.

35 interview

24 September, 2016

Real reason we enacted grazing law in Ekiti —Commissioner

Saturday Tribune

Ekiti State Commissioner for Information,Youths and Sports Development, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, in this interview by SAM NWAOKO, speaks on the governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose and other issues affecting the state government. Excerpts:

T

HE various responsibilities of the state government have become more of a difficult task. How would you say your government has been coping with the paucity of funds and it’s duties to the citizenry?

We didn’t imagine it was going to be easy. However, it was even made more difficult by the financial situation we met on ground and the political resistance of the government before us to the results of the election. We have been kept on our toes.

It’s been very challenging. But I always say that it is very essential that the leadership in every struggle should remain focused and we thank God for the kind of leader He has given us in Peter Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti State. As the centre point of the social/political activities in the state, he has been very steadfast, focused and result-oriented. Difficult, yes but I think we are on track.

To many Nigerians, the persona of your governor and his style, which is vocal, are factors in the difficulty the state is facing in some areas of its life...

I don’t agree with that line of argument because we must always remember that the democracy we are enjoying today is due to the vocal outspokenness of people like the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the late Dr Tai Solarin, the late Dr Beko Ransome Kuti and others like them. Governor Fayose is an enigma; he is a brand in politics. It is a whole group of people that are called the “The Oshokites” which he heads.

We have philosophies and principles, one of which is never to keep silent in the face of the suffering masses. One of it is to be the voice of the oppressed people. It is also the principle of the group to ensure that we run a transparent government. There are constitutional rights and privileges of states and citizens of the state and the country and anyone who occupies either the seat of the governor or the president should not deny the citizenry those rights and obligations. Thus, if you happen to be a friend of, or the chief critic of either the governor or the president, you should not be denied your rights as a citizen. This is because either you are a critic or a friend that should not stop the president or governor from discharging his obligations to the citizenry.

Even if Fayose is viewed as the chief critic of the president, that should not deny the state its rights and privileges because even in that state, we also have members of the president’s party. His own sympathisers are there too and they voted for him and have sympathy for him.

The only thing is that the governor had the majority of the votes in the state. So, it will be an aberration for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to impugn on the rights and privileges of that state, because the governor critiques the president.

Would you say then that the governor’s disposition and outspokenness or what you called Oshokoism is affecting governance in the state by debating some expected privileges?

I can even say that there are not so many privileges that the central government is bringing to the states. I say this because there is high inflation. We are a people-oriented government; we are not an elitist government. So, when rice is N20,000 per bag, there is nothing you give us that will make us to be happy. When Naira is 420 to a Dollar, we cannot be happy. When Fulani herdsmen go and murder people in their sleep and the Presidency does not do anything about it, we cannot keep quiet and we cannot be happy. When you lock people up without trial, we will speak against it. As a philosophy, we will always speak out against tyranny and oppression. It is now left for you to see us as either your friends, those who are out to pro-

herdsmen who have always been with us but were not dangerous and were not cantankerous and antagonistic to their host communities. Now we have enacted a law which is to complement laws like the one against illegal possession of firearms. You will know that it is illegal to just be carrying firearms. With the law, whoever that is claiming to be grazing cattle cannot also just be carrying an AK47. We also have enacted that you can do ranching, for which the state has also stated that it is ready to provide land for people to do cattle ranching, which is the standard practice in civilised places. We don’t want people to graze their cattle just anyhow because it had led to a lot of communal clashes and loss of life. We think that there should be a regulatory law and that is the grazing law the state has made.

Has the controversy created by this law caused you any form of introspection on its coming about?

For those who want to go on with impunity and destruction of other people’s farm, life and property, illegal carrying and exhibition of fire arms, of course they will not like the law. But those whose lives have been affected and impugned upon and who have had their farms destroyed by cattle, they love it. It is as simple as the normal two sides to a law: Those who infringe the law and who continue with impunity and those who have been offended.

So, one side would be jubilant and the other side would be a little bit petulant.

Even if Fayose is viewed as the chief critic of the president, that should not deny the state its rights and privileges. mote democracy and not as enemy.

Again, what are those things the state is entitled to that are denied it? We are supposed to have a minister, we have a minister; we are supposed to have an ambassador and we have an ambassador. What is the president doing for Osun State that he is not doing for us? So, we don’t know. If there is an attitude like that, we plead with the president and anybody that knows the president to please know that Ekiti State is a constitutional being in Nigeria and it should be accorded its rights and privileges, regardless of who is governor of the state, at any time.

On your contention of Fulani murdering people in their sleep, the governor recently signed the grazing bill into law and it has generated a lot of debate across the country. What informed the controversial bill that has regulated cattle grazing in the state?

For any law to come into existence, there must be a need for it. People were murdered in their sleep; people were attacked in their farms and then the government thought that the people must be protected against the ravaging

There are controversies on the outstanding salaries of workers in the state and people had even contended that the government should have left projects, such as the ongoing construction of a flyover, to pay workers. What do you say to this?

That is why there is always a campaign and that is why we have what is called plutocracy.

We campaigned and made promises and what we are doing today are the fulfillment of those promises we made to the people of the state by Fayose during his electioneering campaign. Even though we didn’t know that the financial situation was as precarious as it is now, we never said we were not going to put infrastructure in place for the growth of Ekiti. It is not everybody that is employed in the formal sector. We will continue to do those things we promised the people that we are going to do.

So, it doesn’t matter what they say about the things you do?

No, it doesn’t matter, so long as we are not doing anything that would dim the shining light of Ekiti State in various spheres of human endeavours. We will continue to develop the state. Look at the dual carriage ways in the state, which is why they call Ayo Fayose the “architect of modern Ekiti.” In his first term, we used to put project inauguration every 100 days. The last regime (in the state) has bastardised the economy of the state but we are doing our best and we will continue to do our best.

For an insider who knows that current state of the state’s economy, what would you tell the people of the state in terms of advice?

They should first of all believe their governor. When you trust a man, you believe him. They should disregard all kinds of rumour that tend to set the state backward and pit them against their leaders. Agents of misinformation should be disregarded and we should also learn to maintain peace. We should desist from bringing people down and we should support the government and the governor to be able to do his job of developing the state effectively. In another two years from now, there will be an election and you can easily choose another governor. But for now, Ayo Fayose is the governor and let us cooperate with him so that we can get the best from him while he runs the affairs of the state and from this democracy.

36

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

interview

What I enjoy most in Sunny Ade’s music —Elizade As King Sunny Ade clocked 70 on Thursday, founder of Elizade Nig. Ltd, Chief Mchael AdeOjo, in this interview with OMOTAYO LEWIS, speaks on the Juju King and his music.

You had turned 70 before now. KSA turned 70 on Thursday, what counsel do you have for him?

What counsel can l have for Sunny? He’s been doing very well. My prayer is that God will continue to bless him and for him to be able to continue for as long as he is willing and able to go on. You know about 20 years ago he was advised to quit but he sang a song to say there is no quitting the stage.

You will find out that many people have taken root from his music, singing his song and imitating him. That’s why l refer to him as a musical genius.

W

HAT are your impressions of King Sunny Ade as he is popularly called?

He is a music genius, very talented especially in the Yoruba Language – our mother tongue. When I hear him sing; the lyrics, the composition in all his songs is very deep and meaningful to those who understand Yoruba.

He is a God-made, God-appointed musician because the ease with which he sings, dances on stage baffles me .That’s why I see him as very endowed and somebody who had lived with inspirational parents or those who took care of him when he was young.

Why did you say that?

Because of what he sings, they are deep, the proverbs, the stories he tells, and they are not just ordinary.

Can you recall your first encounter with him?

My first encounter with his music, I think, was in my university days, I can’t remember now. Either that or when I got to Lagos.

You are both from the same state.

Yes, and we became very familiar with each other. In fact, when I lost my mother, he was the one on the band stand at that event. I respect him as a God-made person. Sunny Ade is blessed.

You have gone through about eight decades of Nigerian music, when you look at the brand of KSA’s music and you compare him with the traditional milieu that preceded his, his own artistry and the younger generation who are several

decades younger than you, what is your assessment?

It’s not easy to condemn one generation vis- a-vis another. People live with whatever evolves in their own generation. Now we have globalisation because of the radio, the television, the internet. So, with that, the music of nowadays are not as meaningful and inspirational as before.

Music is formed by seeing situations and putting that in a dance form; so, music is a change agent either to correct bad bahaviour in the community or to praise those who have done well. When a situation is going on in the country you put it in a form that people will remember for a long time. Musicians do research and put such into a form that can make people dance or cry.

Which of King Sunny Ade’s song is your favourite?

My favourite is the one he sings for me when am on the floor. It is something like this:

Wa sowo wa jere, wa jere oun ti o ba fowo re se (2ce) Sasa eda lo le samin adura yen Sugbon ni tire (Ade. Ojo) O sami adura o gbe to e mi, Ere lomo oloja nje o Wa a jere, wa a jere oun ti o ba fowo re se...

That’s the song he sings for me and it turns my head and l put my hand in my pocket and begin to spray him.

Why is that song meaningful to you?

Because it agrees with my way of life. It is true that only a few people can say amen to that prayer. I know whatever God has blessed me with is through Him and the work of my hand.

Once he sights me at an event, that is the song he starts and it so agrees with me that without asking me, people see that l laboured for what l have acquired over the years.

views.com

Parents’ role on film rating in Nigeria

By Demola Adeleke ACROSS the country today, motion pictures have become the key source of entertainments to many homes and families, everyone now hangs on the contents of the movie industry because it is seen as a potent means of getting a whole household informed, educated and above all, disburden the daily stress accumulated in one’s mind as a result of the day to day activities and this is usually achieved through the relaxation and amusement features of the movies. Ever since every household could easily possess a television and video player, many film lovers have replaced their early cinema going culture with video tapes and compact discs, thereby, shrinking the movie audience from its original crowded nature to a small number of persons spending their few free hours relaxing in front of the television at home. However, in recent times, there has been a rapid advancement in technology of which its contribution to the growth of a country has also reflected on cinematography as well as the ways by which movie contents are accessed.

Nowadays, people now hit the like of youtube, weblogs and google websites to see movies of their choice online without having to gather in the sitting room with one’s folks just to watch the latest edition of a soap opera or a TV drama.

In Nigeria and other countries of the world, there are certain procedures movies undergo before they are finally released for public consumption. These procedures, however, are established primarily to review the contents of the movies produced in a country in order to censor

some unethical or objectionable materials that may be present in them. More so, after a thorough examination on these movies to make sure they are neither offensive nor a undermining national security, they are further rated according to their contents, considering the viewers of these movies as some of the contents are not supposed to be consumed by children under a particular age range.

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), a parastatal of the federal ministry of information and communication in Nigeria is mandated by Act 85 of 1993 to define and enforce standards through the classification, distribution and exhibition of film and video works in Nigeria. The classification function of this body, thus, makes it its responsibility to analyze the entire contents of every film produced in Nigeria and assign their viewership to categories. This classification includes; “G” (green sign) for films that are suitable for all ages, “PG” (green sign)for parental guidance advised, “RE” (red sign)for films that are to be exhibited and distributed only in specially licensed premises, “18” (red sign)for films that are not suitable for children under the age of 18 etc. The main motive of this rating is to prevent children who are often vulnerable to the emotional dangers of films from getting exposed to the contents of a movie that are meant for only mature minds.

Many a time, movies like romance and horror films are rated “PG” or “12A” and that is because the contents of the film may be too heavy for a shallow minded viewer to accommodate and when heavily consumed, it may result in moral uncertainties or ethical deformation among teenagers. Therefore, parents also have some roles to play in making sure that the motive of film rating in Nigeria is

optimally achieved.

Often times, Nigerian parents do not read meanings to the classification of the movie they watch along with their children. They overlook the signs inscribed on the film jackets and even invite their children to join them so they all could see the movie together, without having the knowledge that the content of the film may have some undesirable effects on the children. For instance, it is no news again that children within the age of 7 to 10 have been caught having sexual intercourse, and people keep asking; What is this world turning to? Whereas, these children in question may have been exposed heavily to sexually romantic scenes on the television from which they learnt the act, hence, in order for them to confirm if truly what they saw in the television is pleasurable as it was being portrayed by the actors, they also put it into practice and over time, they become fond of the act and subsequently consider it normal.

Perhaps, there may be a decline in morality among children if parents continue to take the importance of film rating with flippancy. Most of the absurd things done by young males and females today are often learnt from the movies they expose themselves to. A seven year old boy who picks up his father’s gun and shoots the housekeeper had probably seen something like that in the movies because such is totally out of intuition. Therefore, all parents are advised to always inspect the kind of movies their children watch and also make sure the age rating that follows them are strictly adhere to.

Adeleke, a student of the UNN is on internship with Saturday Tribune.

37

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Editor: Wale Emosu tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08111813054

Pillars to share £800,000 from Musa’s Leicester move

K

ANO Pillars will share in the about £800,000 training compensation from the recent transfer of Ahmed Musa to the reigning Premier League champions, Leicester City, reports AfricanFootball.com.

“Pillars are due part of the training compensation from the sale of Ahmed Musa to Leicester City,” an official said.

Musa, who featured for Pillars for a season – the 2009/10 season – and set a new all-time goals record of 18 goals was on loan from JUTH FC of Jos. The other beneficiaries from this pay-out are Musa’s former clubs, CSKA Moscow and Dutch club, VVV Venlo.

However, his first league team, JUTH FC will not enjoy this payment as the

team is already defunct.

Leicester City bought the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner from Russian champions, CSKA for a record-shattering fee

of about £18 million.

The Nigeria international has so far made four appearances in the Premier League and may be on duty today when Leicester, who

lost 2-4 at home to visiting Chelsea in the English Football League, takes on Manchester United at Old Trafford in a Premier League game.

South-South 10km road race debuts Abiodun Jimoh- Benin City THE maiden edition of the South-South 10km road race is scheduled to hold in Benin City next month with N400,000 set aside as prize money for winners.

The event, which will be organised by Edo State Ath-

Sabo Ambassador wins MTN 5-A-side Soccer

By Olawale Olaniyan SABO Ambassador FC on Friday emerged winner of the MTN Nigeria 5-A-side Soccer championship as it defeated Batallion FC in the final decided at Fun Turf Centre, Abeokuta Ogun State.

The week-long championship organised by Fun Turf Centre and sponsored by MTN Nigeria, also featured Tilapia FC, Oluwo Santos FC, Infinity FC, Best FC, Owu Oduru, Oluwole FC, Gift FC, NYSC FC, Japo FC and Marvellous FC. Speaking after the match,

coach of Sabo Ambassador, Abdulkadir Bashiru, said his wards deserved victory after defeating tough opponents in the group stage.

He lauded the support of the MTN Nigeria for its commitment to sporting activities which engaged the youth in their professional career.

“I must thank MTN Nigeria and Fun Turf Centre for staging this programme because it has really helped my players who were playing for the first time. I urge other corporate bodies to emulate what MTN is doing to develop sports in the country,”

Bashiru said.

Also speaking to Tribunesport, MTN Trade Marketing - Data (Ogun State) Lagos and Sub-Region, Daniel Orobiyi said MTN Nigeria had always been there for the youth in the area of sporting activities.

“This is what we do, it is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility to support sporting activities not only football, but we see this as an avenue to help the youth and also give our products to them, monthly on data and increase usage,” Orobiyi said.

He charged the partici-

pants to always strive for excellence. “I was privileged to watch the quarter final games, I saw talents and if I had the privilege to talk to those talents, I will just tell them to emulate former Nigeria captain, Austin Okocha.

“I will tell them that ‘you know where Okocha is today, he’s doing well despite the fact that he’s no more playing, he has become somebody and it is because he dedicated his time to his career and put everything into what he was doing then.

So, they should always put in their best.”

letics Association and being sponsored by Oro Negro International Ltd, is fixed for October 2.

Mrs Rosa Collins, chairman of Oro Negro International Ltd, disclosed during a media briefing held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, that the marathon was expected to attract about 200 male and female athletes from all the six states in the zone.

Collins, a former national and African triple jump record holder who was represented

by Orny Agbonkhese, stated that the top 10 athletes would be picked in each category for prize money, while certificate of participation would be issued only to all athletes who complete the race.

She stated that winners in both categories would go home with N50,000 each, while the runners-up will earn N40,000 each, just as the third and fourth placed athletes would receive N30,000 and N20,000 respectively.

38

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune With

outofplay

Dipo Ogunsola 081 169 54 641

Jennifer Aniston:

Lady who swept Mourinho away

Ozil (right) booked for wrong parking.

Ozil served parking ticket

T

wo yellows didn’t mean a red for Mesut Ozil but the German international’s stroll in Soho was ruined by a parking ticket.

The Sun reported that Gunners playmaker was re-

laxing with friends in central London before Arsene Wenger’s men host Chelsea in a pivotal clash at the Emirates Stadium tonight Ozil was penalised for parking on a double yellow line but the ‘assist king’ will hope to have

more luck facing the Blues.

Just a week of his wages managed to secure Ozil his latest ride.

The khaki green Mercedes-AMG G 63 starts at £132,680 off the forecourt but depending on customisation can reach

up to £150,000.

The parking ticket might not heavily dent his wages but Ozil is in line for a new deal, with the Gunners trying to swiftly tie up extended contracts for the German and his team-mate Alexis Sanchez.

It’s not often you witness Jose Mourinho totally lost for words.

Normally he’ll talk football with you all day long and even when he’s not addressing his favourite subject, he’s often the joker, full of banter, telling funny stories and playing pranks. Usually there’s never a dull moment.

However, on this particular day, even he was momentarily stumped for something to say, reports The Daily Mail.

Chelsea were on a pre-season tour of the USA. They were staying in the Beverly Hills Hotel and everyone was assembled together in the hotel lobby waiting for the team bus to arrive to take them to the practice session.

But suddenly Jose’s holiday tales were stopped in their tracks. Not only that, but the whole Chelsea contingent fell into an immediate silence. Startled eyes stared, jaws dropped and every man there was rendered immobile.

That’s the effect Jennifer Aniston had.

Jose was no different. He did what everyone did as the Friends star breezed through the front doors and into the hotel reception area: froze on the spot with only his eyes moving.

Aniston

New mob for Fury Tyson Fury blamed a broken down car as he was a no-show for his pre-fight press conference with Wladimir Klitschko earlier this month.

The world heavyweight champion surely can’t use that as an excuse

again having purchased a top of the range Mercedes.

Mailonline reports thatFury goes headto-head with Klitschko on October 29 at the Manchester Arena looking to defend the prestigious belts he

clinched in a shock win last year.

The 28-year-old appeared to be in a relaxed mood during a shopping trip in the Manchester City centre, showing he’s not afraid to spend his prize money. His new

wheels are a Mercedes-AMG G class SUV which can be driven off the forecourt for £150,975 but that’s before any customisations such as Fury’s ‘GK’ logo he has embossed on the blacked out windows.

Sturridge (right).

Sturridge shows off new Rolls-Royce Daniel Sturridge was pictured returning from a supermarket run with his £235,000 white Rolls-Royce Wraith.

The Liverpool striker dressed in a hoodie and cap was carrying a shopping bag back to his luxury car.

The Rolls-Royce Wraith boasts a powerful twin-turbocharged V-12 engine with 624 horsepower at 5600 RPM.

The luxury car also has four on-board cameras, 18 speakers and tinted glass to help preserve the identity of the highprofile footballer.

The Echo reported that Sturridge started for Liverpool in their victory at Stanford Bridge but was not picked in the match-day squad for their EFL Cup win against Derby.

Tyson Fury unlocks his new Mercedes

39

sport

24 September, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Ejidike lauds Team Nigeria over Rio Paralympics feat

By Ganiyu Salman

N

IGERIA’S Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike, has applauded the exploits of Team Nigeria at the justended Rio 2016 Paralympics in Brazil.

Nigeria, it will be recalled, finished 17th on the medals table with eight gold,

two silver and two bronze medals and the best among countries from Africa at the Games.

Ejidike, who is also the President, Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), noted that Nigeria is blessed with abundance of talents that only need proper motivation and the platform to excel.

“Our outing at the Rio Olympics was disastrous

coming from a nation like Nigeria which is blessed with a lot of talents, but succour came in through our special athletes who won eight gold medals for the country at the Paralympic Games.

“This feat portends that with proper planning, Nigeria will attain greater heights in the world of sports,” Ejidike said.

While praising the Para-

lympians for their exploits in Rio, Ejidike urged the Federal Government to reward them adequately as motivation and encouragement to all.

“These special athletes should be celebrated by all Nigerians because they have made us proud and restored Nigeria’s enviable position in the global sports scene,” he said.

Ejidike, also appealed to the Federal Ministry of Sports to initiate appraisal committee that will review the nation’s performances at the Rio 2016 Olympics

and suggest feasible policies that would enhance the country’s performances at Tokyo 2020 Olympics and subsequent major championships.

2016 National Youth Games:

Al-makura warns Nasarawa athletes against doping Godwin Agwam- Lafia NASARAWA State governor, Umaru Tanko Almakura has warned athletes against the use of performance-enhancing drugs that could dent the image of the state at the second National Youth Games scheduled to kick

off in Ilorin, Kwara State today.

He gave the warning on Friday in Lafia during the farewell ceremony organised for the state’s contingent to the 2016 NYG. “You are representing the state and you cannot afford to dent our image at

the Youth Games. Make sure you abide by the rules of the games and make our state proud,” Al-makura urged the athletes.

According to him, Team Nasarawa will participate in athletics, badmiton, judo, karate, tabletennis, tennis, taekwondo

... As fund threatens Kogi’s participation KOGI State may not participate in the 2016 National Youth Games scheduled to kick off in Ilorin today due to lack of funds.

SavidNews gathered that Kogi is one of the 33 states accredited for the NYG 2016, but the dreams of its athletes from participation at the national age-grade championship hangs in the balance.

Team Kogi athletes earlier scheduled to depart for Ilorin on Thursday, had their trip called off following the failure to secure funds from the state government.

Despite assurance on Team Kogi’s participation given by the state’s Commissioner for Sports, Arome Adoji, sources close to the ministry, revealed the contrary.

It was learnt that top officials of the sports ministry were unsure of securing funds until Monday, September 26 - already midway into the event.

Team Kogi, it will be recalled, won one gold, two silver and three bronze medals at the maiden NYG in Abuja in 2013.

Meanwhile, a fine of N5million and two-year

Akwa Ibom targets winner’s trophy

THE permanent secretary, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports, Joseph Edem has said the state contingent is prepared to finish tops at the 2016 National Youth Games.

Edem, who spoke with sports journalists on arrival in Ilorin on Friday, said Akwa Ibom State, this time, is battle-ready to surpass the second place finish it recorded in the maiden Games hosted by the FCT, Abuja in 2013.

Edem added that Akwa Ibom State government had created an enabling environment for the athletes to excel at the Games, adding that “our athletes are well prepared for the Games and in high spirits to finish as champions.”

He further urged the Federal Government to

take the Youth Games seriously, citing the event as a platform to unearth future stars for the country at the grassroots.

Edem noted that stiff sanctions be meted out to any state caught to have fielded overage athletes during the Games, as he suggested ban of such state from subsequent agegrade competitions.

He disclosed that Akwa Ibom State would compete in 14 events with 76 athletes and 32 technical officials in the week-long fiesta.

It will be recalled that Cross River State won the maiden edition of the National Youth Games staged in Abuja, while Akwa Ibom and Delta states finished as second and third-placed teams respectively.

ban from all national sporting events will be handed any accredited state that boycotts the event.

and wrestling at the Games billed to hold at the University of Ilorin Sports Complex.

Responding, one of the athletes, Ashe Esther, thanked the governor for the opportunity to represent the state at the Games, and assured that they would make the state proud.

Tribunesport reports that the state contingent waited till Friday before departure for the Games due to financial constraint.

Lauritta Onye, one the gold medallists at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

crimereport

Shocking story of a family of kidnappers, illegal oil bunkerers

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

25 SEPTEMBER, 2016

www.tribune.com.ng

interview

Battle for the soul of Edo We will win gov election by 75% —Obaseki

N200 glamour

Defeat staring Obaseki, APC in the face —Urhoghide

Children of the ‘dead’

Who are they? Find out in Sunday Tribune.

Plus news, sports, fashion... and more!

Book your copy

Nothing wrong with cosmetic surgery…

—Pelumi of Jenifa’s Diary

Rohr returns to home village for work permit

By Niyi Alebiosu

N150

SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER, 2016

NO 1,170

TOWARDS ensuring that the new Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has a smooth working condition in the country, the process of secur-

Eagles caught in London crossfire

By Dipo Ogunsola TWO of Super Eagles invitees for the October 9 World Cup showdown with Zambia in Ndola will go for each other’s jugular in an English Premier League cracker at The Emirates tonight.

Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi will host Victor Moses of Chelsea in a top-of-the-bill London fixture.

Iwobi, returning to the Eagles after a short injury spell, is admired by Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, who just midweek went public in praise of the striker. He will likely be given the job of oiling the Gunners’ armoury with his usual upfield menace from the left flank.

Moses, on the other hand, is the sidekick to first choice in Chelsea’s right-sided forage, Willian, but will be contented if he is given some minutes to feature.

There are more Nigerian interest in this tie — Chuba Akpom (Arsenal) and Mikel Obi — but their involvement will not be more than wellwishes.

Akpom, after a loan spell with Hull City last season and three goals in four preseason outings, is yet to convince Wenger he is a starter while Mikel’s pursuit of Olympic medal in Rio Brazil last August has ruled him out of Antonio Conte’s consideration so far.

Iwobi, Arsenal’s striker

Moses, Chelsea’s winger

Dream Team in the dark over Japanese largesse P

By Our Reporter

LAYERS of the national U-23 football side, the Dream Team are currently distraught following the claim that they don’t know what has become of the cash donation made to them at the Rio Olympics.

Japanese surgeon, Katsuya Takasu made a donation of $390,000 to the players and officials of the Dream Team following their bronze medal effort at the last Olympic Games.

Takasu presented two cheques for $190,000 and $200,000, totalling $390,000, to be shared among players and officials of the Nigerian U-23 team.

Last Saturday, Tribunesport had reported that the sharing formula to be adopted had become an issue among players and officials.

And today, the latest is that the players are agitated as they claim they are in the dark as

ing his work permit has commenced.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), according to information available to SaturdayTribunesport, has commenced the process of securing work permit for the Franco-German coach.

SaturdayTribunesport was told by one of Rohr’s aides, Tunde Adelakun, who also doubles as consultant to the NFF on foreign affairs that the work permit for the coach was under process, adding that the coach needed a special visa that would enable him to process an extension of his stay in Abuja.

Adelakun also disclosed that the coach who had travelled to Paris for the visa got the special visa in his home village, Bordeaux, on Wednesday and that he is expected back in the country next week, to commence the last leg of the process to get the work permit.

“Rohr has been granted the special visa in Bordeaux and he can now return to Nigeria anytime to conclude the work permit processing which is in the final stage.

“And with this special visa, he can extend his stay while awaiting the work permit which the NFF is handling. I believe it won’t take long before it is granted, which will also enable the coach to settle down to work immediately,” Adelakun said.

Rumours had been rife that Rohr was having issues securing his work permit which could hinder him from settling down for business in Nigeria.

to what has become of the money.

Following this, the players have been making frantic calls to those they believe can really furnish them with details of the largesse.

SaturdayTribunesport authoritatively gathered during the week that calls were being targeted at three influential members of the team (names withheld) but with little or no detail emanating from such calls.

Two out of these three highly placed persons, SaturdayTribunesport gathered, are currently out of Nigeria with the calls to their lines unanswered or unreplied.

The third person who is in Nigeria has been a listening ear but with little or nothing he can do about their plight.

SaturdayTribunesport was able to get one of the Dream Team players to talk, albeit under anonymity before filing this story and he confirmed this development.

“Bros, na wa o, we have not heard any-

thing about the money o and I am seriously broke now. My mates too have been complaining,” the player said SaturdayTribunesport on phone on Friday.

Takasu (middle) with Mikel Obi (left) and Samson Siasia holding the cheques

Rohr

English Premier League Fixtures Saturday, September 24

Man United vs Leicester 12:30pm Bournemouth vs Everton 3:00pm Stoke City vs West Brom 3:00pm Middlesbrough vs Tottenham 3:00pm Liverpool vs Hull City 3:00pm Swansea vs Man City 3:00pm Sunderland vs C/Palace 3:00pm Arsenal vs Chelsea 5:30pm NPFL matchday 37 fixtures Sunday, September 25

Heartland vs El-Kanemi vs Ikorodu United vs Sunshine Stars vs Shooting Stars vs Rivers United vs Nasarawa United vs FC IfeanyiUbah vs Niger Tornadoes vs

Kano Pillars Plateau United Rangers Warri Wolves Wikki Tourists Abia Warriors Akwa United Enyimba MFM, Lagos

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 24/9/2016.