24th October 2015

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

NO 1,122

SATURDAY, 24 OCTOBER, 2015

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

Why senators won’t declare assets publicly pg3 —Saraki

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

N150

Remo CAN, others celebrate HID Awolowo’s life of service pg4

Plot to bomb Lagos foiled again pg3

45 Boko Haram suspects confess to plan to bomb Dolphin Estate, remanded in prison Blasts kill scores in Borno, Adamawa mosques

I was eccentric as a child —Victoria Kimani

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APC cancels Kogi rally ’cos Buhari won’t attendpg4

Group alleges plot to drop Audupg8

Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (right) and the wife of the deceased, Mrs Susan Onosode (left), during the burial service for the late Dr Gamaliel Onosode, held at First Baptist Church, Market Road, Ughelli, on Friday.

Court sacks Lagos LG bosses, orders elections in 30 days Appeal court reinstates Kogi councils

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How I started my multibillion naira business —Adebutu (Baba Ijebu)

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24 October, 2015

CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

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PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE

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9 1. Bishop Kayode Williams (third left), Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran, Bishop Faith Sonibare and others.

2. A cross section of clerics from Ilishan Archdeaconry at Ikenne.

3. Olorogun Josiah Otameh presenting a letter of condolence to Revd (Mrs) Oyediran.

4. A cross section of members of staff unions of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

5. From left, members of Methodist Cathedral, Agbeni, Ibadan, Chief (Mrs) Mabel Ogunmola, Mrs S.T. Oluyitan, Revd (Mrs) Oyediran, Mrs Iyabo Abe, Revd Oluwa-

somiji Sunday and Mr Babatunde Durojaiye.

6. A cross section of members of the Anglican Church of Holy Ghost, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

7. Revd Adetunji Ajibade praying with Revd (Mrs) Oyediran.

8. A cross section of members of the Remo Liberation Group, Ogun State, with Revd (Mrs) Oyediran.

9. Revd (Mrs) Oyediran with Chief (Mrs) Mercy Olutunda and other guests.

10. Teachers and students of Bethel Group of Schools, Sagamu, with Revd (Mrs) Oyediran.

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Plot to bomb Lagos foiled again 45 Boko Haram suspects confess, remanded in prison Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin -Lagos

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NOTHER grand plot to extend Boko Haram’s reign of terror to Lagos has been foiled with operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), on Friday charging 45 suspected members of

the terrorist sect to court.

The plot involved a plan to bomb Dolphin Estate located in upscale Ikoyi area of Lagos.

Among the arrested suspects who were taken to court on Friday were Abuyi Sheriff, Babagana Ali, Abass Ibrahim, Abubakar Grema, Kabiri Ibrahim, Mustapha Moham-

med, Usman Mohammed and Modu Amsami.

Others are Isa Agafi, Adamu Jebili, Saja Kamba, Abba Sagoma, Mallam Buchu, Abdul-Kareem Abba, Babagana Koloye, Usman Buka, Adamu Mohammed, Lawal Mohammed and Tela Abana.

Also arraigned are Mu-

Many killed in Borno, Adamawa mosque bomb attacks James Bwala –Maiduguri with Agency Report SCORES of people were killed, on Friday, in separate bomb attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State and Yola, Adamawa State.

While 23 persons were killed in an early morning explosion in a mosque near a Federal High Court in Jiddari Polo, Maiduguri, 27 persons were killed while 98 others were injured after a bomb went off during Juma’at service at a new central mosque in the Jambutu area of Yola.

The first incident occurred at about 5.15 a.m., during the Fajr (dawn) prayer.

Before the incident, believed to be the 15th of such attack on mosques within Maiduguri in three months, it was gathered that many Muslim men had resorted to praying indoors instead of joining the congregation in the mosque.

Residents told Saturday Tribune that a suspected mastermind of the Friday attack in Maiduguri was killed by soldiers while attempting to plant another bomb.

A member of the civilian JTF, Malam Sallah Tukur, said the suspect was identified by residents as having been lurking around the mosque since Thursday afternoon.

A popular butcher in the area, Ahmadu Gwoza, was named among the victims of the attack.

“Twenty-three persons were killed in the blast this morning. We have taken some of the corpses to the state specialist hospital and others to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital,” Tukur said.

Residents have expressed worry over the spate of bomb attacks on mosques in the city and called on the government to arrest the situation.

“As far as I know, 15 mosques have been attacked between August and October in Maiduguri and each of the attacks killed no less than 20 persons. This is

worrisome. It requires government’s urgent action,” a resident of Jiddari Polo, Ibrahim Garba, said.

“Like many other Muslims, I no longer pray in the mosque for fear of being killed. I have advised my children not to go to the mosque to pray because you never know where these people come from or when they plant their bombs,” he added.

The second blast at Jambutu, Yola, Adamawa State, suspected to be from a suicide bomber, occurred at about 2.00 p.m. after the Imam of the new central mosque had finished the sermon for the Juma’at service.

“It was a young boy who attempted to get into the mosque when the explosive went off.

“It is a new Friday mosque. This is the first Friday prayer to be offered in the mosque.

“Over 100 people have so

far been evacuated to hospital but I can’t say how many among them are dead,” a witness, who identified himself simply as Umaru, said.

The police spokesman in the state, DSP Othman Abubakar and Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Alhaji Haruna Furo, confirmed the incident and said rescue effort was still going on.

They said that the number of casualty was yet to be ascertained.

“We are now evacuating those affected to Yola Specialist Hospital and Federal Medical Centre,” Furo said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the blast was the third in Yola within the past six months.

The first incident was near Yola central market, followed by the one at Malkohi Internally Displaced Persons camp.

stapha Mohammed, Isa Agafi, Belo Modu, Kachala Babagana, Modu Abu, Alhaji Modu Mustapha and many others.

The suspects had been arrested by DSS operatives in the state following a tip-off.

An affidavit sworn to and presented before the court stated that following an intelligence report that there would be a terror attack in September by a terrorist group at Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, a team of DSS operatives cordoned off the area, intercepted and arrested the suspects.

It stated that arms were recovered from the suspects, who confessed to planning to bomb the estate.

They were arraigned at the Isolo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, where the DSS sought an order for their remand in prison pending the conclusion of investigations.

The magistrate, A. O. Adedayo, consequently ordered that the suspects be remanded in Kirikiri prison pending when the DSS would conclude their investigations and the suspects’ arraignment at the High Court.

It was gathered that security agents had mounted surveillance on Lagos after receiving information that some members of Boko Haram had relocated to the city.

Asset declaration: Saraki won’t force senators to declare publicly Taiwo Adisa - Abuja SENATE President Bukola Saraki will not ask senators to declare their assets publicly or in any manner that is contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, his spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu has said.

When asked whether the Senate President would consider public declaration of assets by senators to end the controversy over asset declarations as well as his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Saraki said that what is to be done has been highlighted in the constitution.

“Is that what the law says?

What is to be done has been highlighted in the constitution. The Senate President cannot advise his colleagues to do anything other than what the law says. The law requires every senator to declare his assets and show evidence of that before being sworn in as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is

being complied with by the lawmakers,” he said .

The Senate President is currently on trial at the CCT over alleged false declaration of assets, a suit that has become entangled in counter suits at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Many had voiced the view that perhaps, public declaration of assets by public office holders would solve the problem.

But senators have often insisted on fulfilling the law, without a recourse to public declaration of assets.

President Muhammadu Buhari had made public declaration of assets a campaign issue but he has only so far issued a statement indicating details of his asset declaration.

The presidency said last week that the president was not about to compel ministers to declare their assets publicly.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Ad-

esina said in a reply to our inquiries that the president would abide by the constitution on the issue.

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Ambode earmarks N1bn for school renovation, vows to resolve LASU crisis Bola Badmus - Lagos LAGOS State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Friday announced that his administration has earmarked over N1billion for renovation and supply of furniture and education materials to all secondary schools across the state.

This was as the governor gave an assurance of plans by his administration to resolve the lingering crisis in the Lagos State University (LASU).

Governor Ambode said this in Ilara-Epe, while inaugurating Augustine University, a private university owned by the Catholic Church, reiterating the determination of his administration to invest massively in the educational sector.

The governor said, to this end, 1, 300 teachers from the thousands of persons who applied last month would soon be employed to teach in primary schools in the state.

Ambode, while appreciating the Catholic Church for the project, said the best way to prepare for change, whether positive or negative, was to anticipate and manage it.

“From my exposures, I have come to the conclusion that there is no greater form of preparation to manage change than through education.

“There is no greater investment that the individual parent can make than investment in education of highest possible quality,” he said.

Governor Ambode said the state was seriously in need of institutions of learning considering its population, which he put at about 20 million and with 60 per cent being below 35 years of age.

He added that the establishment of Augustine University, which brings the number of privately owned universities in the state to four and six universities in all, was a welcome development.

Speaking on the issue of LASU, Governor Ambode said the need to resolve the crisis in the institution prompted the inauguration of new governing councils for the institution and other tertiary institutions in the state.

Earlier, in his pre-inaugural briefing, Archbishop of Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, His Eminence Adewale Martins, said the idea to establish the university was muted seven years ago with the laudable goal of taking Catholic education to the next level in Nigeria.

He thanked the state government for providing the institution with necessary documents needed for the approval of licence by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The Augustine University occupies on a massive 135 hectares of land in Ilara-Epe. Its foundation was laid on October 27, 2009 and the operational licence granted by the NUC on May 27, 2015.

The university is starting with 13 programmes to be run by two faculties.

Ibibio group honours Akpabio Lanre Adewole - Lagos THE largest sociocultural group in Akwa Ibom State, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, on Friday paid a courtesy call on the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, where it also made public plans by the association to honour the former governor for his service to the state and the nation.

Addressing the Senate Minority Leader, president of the group, Akparawa Monday Etokakapan, said they were in his office to thank him for the selfless service he rendered for the people of the state through the uncommon transformation and development the state witnessed under his leadership.”

The group noted that “since you assumed your seat in the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you have kept Akwa Ibom State in national and international limelight through your activities in the National Assembly by displaying an uncommon gallantry.”

The group condemned the recent attempt by some sponsored individuals to pull Akpabio down, saying “we have noted with concern the various attempts to pull you down, but we implore you not to be daunted by the scheme of detractors but continue to be steadfast,” adding that as a senator of the Federal Republic, we have no doubt that that you will do well. accept our encour-

agement to do more.”

In his reaction, Senator Akpabio thanked the association for expanding their membership beyond ethnic considerations, saying, “for expanding the scope of your membership, you have demonstrated unity and oneness. Appreciating me shows that the association is built on truth. You are saying you are with me and proud of me as your former governor and a senator. I promise to work for further development of the group.”

Akpabio also declared: As you have deemed me worthy of your award based on my service to the state as a former governor and senator, I accept the honour to be bestowed on me by your worthy group with pride.”

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Only true federalism can bring genuine change to Nigeria —Mimiko

By Dare Adekanmbi

From left,former governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje; Ambassador Yemi Farounbi; wife of the Executive Director of Petals FM, Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin; Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and the Executive Director, Petals FM,Yinka Odumakin, at the inauguration of the Petals FM in Ibadan, on Friday.

APC cancels mega rally as Buhari stays off

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Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

HE mega rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for Lokoja, the Kogi State capital today (Saturday) has been called off due to the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari not to attend the event.

The rally, which was planned to hold at the Lokoja Township Stadium, would have been used to present flag to the governorship candidate of the party, Prince Abubakar Audu.

The event, which was cancelled at the last minute was supposed to have had in attendance the president, the vice-president, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, some elected governors on the platform of the party and many other party chieftains across the country.

But the much publicised event could not hold as the president was said not be available with many reasons adduced for his inability to attend.

While the state secretary of the party, Salaam Adejo, who confirmed the cancellation, however said it was due to the tight engagement of the president, sources said there was more to the cancelation.

Adejo, in a telephone interview, said the event could not hold because Buhari, who was expected to present the flag along with the national chairman of the party, John OdigieOyegun, could not make it.

He said the president was already scheduled to meet with some presidents and heads of state of some foreign countries, saying that was why the event was put on hold.

However, sources told Saturday Tribune that the cancellation might not be unconnected with the alleged frosty relationship between the president and Audu.

It was gathered that the hierarchy of the APC was not favourably disposed to Audu emerging as the candidate of the party because of certain political events in the past that had pitched Audu against the president.

Saturday Tribune learnt that on the three occasions

that Buhari contested and lost the presidency, Audu had always worked against his

ambition, adding that the governorship candidate worked for the former Kano State

governor, Musa Kwankwaso, during the primary of the APC that produced Buhari.

Awolowo family should be thankful for Mama —CAN

By Joseph Ajayi THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said that the family of Chief Obafemi Awolowo should be thankful to God for a life well spent by their matriarch, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo.

The coordinator of the Remo chapter of the Christian body, Pastor Benson Malato Ikuesan, who stated this at the Ikenne residence of the Awolowos during a special service for Mama Awolowo, said the service was a thanksgiving for Mama, whom God gave long life in His wisdom.

The CAN coordinator, who admonished the family to always give thanks to God in whatever situation, prayed God to grant the children longer life.

Preaching the topic, “Recover Your Eden,” Venerable Oladele of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Ilisan Archdeaconry, urged everyone to take back the Eden which man lost through Adam.

Extolling Mama Awolowo’s Christian virtue, the cleric said “Mama HID had been an evangelist for long. She has rung the bell and we have come. She has given us the message to take our Eden back. We are following in her footsteps and now, we are evangelists like her.”

During his own speech at Ikenne, Reverend Tunji Ajibade of the Anglican Church of the Holy Ghost, Iyaganku, Ibadan, said the Awolowos were beauty personified, adding that the beauty radiated in all the children of the sage. “We are here, neither to sorrow nor cry because God has given the family a reason to rejoice. The family is beautypersonified, magnified and epitomised, and this radiates in all the children spiritually, physically, socially and materially. The beauty has

generated many lives,” the cleric said.

Also, Director-General, Prison Rehabilitation Mission International (PRMI), Bishop Kayode Williams, said Chief (Mrs) Awolowo left behind a great legacy which generations to come in Nigeria would cherish and value.

Bishop Williams, who was at the Ikenne residence of the Awolowos on a condolence visit to the family over the passage into glory of Mrs Awolowo, said he and other members of PRMI had come on behalf of the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, who is chairman of the mission and the Chief Afe Babalola, chairman, Board of Trustees, to rejoice with the Awolowos rather than mourn with them because Mama lived a fulfilled and exemplary life.

Bishop Williams stated that he also came to Ikenne as a son of Mama Awolowo who, he said, accepted to be the matron of the mission when she was approached some years back.

He described Mama Awolowo as a devout Christian whom God called to serve humanity, praying that the joy of the Kingdom would not depart the family.

In his speech on behalf of both the academic and nonacademic unions of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), TASUED chapter, said they had come to condole with the entire Awolowo family on the demise of Mrs Awolowo.

“We have come to condole with the family of Mama HID. We came to show appreciation for what Mama did for Tai Solarin in her lifetime. We knew her worth while alive. She was a woman of inestimable substance who lent her weight to the socio-economic development of Nigeria in general

and Remo land in particular,” Bayo Akinsanya said.

The don said Nigerians should be forthright and play a supportive role in the socio-economic development of the nation as did Mama who, he said, stood behind her husband during his political career.

Also at Ikenne to identify with the Awolowos were Remo Liberation Group representatives, who said their visit was to appreciate the family for a good thing Chief Obafemi Awolowo did for them.

“We are thankful to God for a well spent life of our matriarch, HID. You were indeed an icon to be remembered for eternity throughout Remo land. We appreciate what Papa did. If he had ruled this country, our lives would have moved farther than this. We are progressives and if not for Awo’s free education, many of us would have ended up being farmers today,” the group stated in its condolence letter presented to Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran.

While praying God to grant her eternal rest, the group said it would be difficult to fill the vacuum created by Mama Awolowo’s death.

Also present at the Awolowos’ home were teachers and students of Bethel Group of Schools, Sagamu, who came to commiserate with the Awolowos on the death of Mama Awolowo and appreciate what she did for them.

“Mama had been a blessing to us and the community.

I was one of the beneficiaries of the free education of Papa,” said the leaders of the school’s delegation.

In her responses, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran appreciated the visitors for celebrating Mama Awolowo with the family, adding that the words of the men of God who had been coming to pray for the family had strengthened them.

ONDO State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has taken a critical look at issues of development in Nigeria and submitted that the only way to bring about genuine change is to return the country to the path of true federalism.

Mimiko made the submission in Ibadan on Friday at the inauguration of a private radio station, Petals FM, owned

by Mr Yinka and Dr (Mrs) Joe Okei-Odumakin.

This came as the secretary of the Yoruba Unity Forum, Dr Kunle Olajide, said Nigeria was in serious labour pain and that “nobody is unsure of the type of baby that will be born, despite the results of the various ultra-scan that has been done.”

The governor said although he had never doubted the passion of President Muhammadu Buhari to develop the country, the issue of restructuring of the country must not be wished away.

“I don’t delude myself. I don’t doubt the intention of President Muhammadu Buhari. Although I am one of those who believe the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a contraption of convenience, Buhari has the passion to develop Nigeria.

“But there are structural issues that cannot go away. Unless this country is restructured, we cannot be on the path to rapid development. The best we can get is this height of tokenism. If we want to be one of the big 20 economies in the world in the next 10 or 20 years, we cannot achieve that under this unitary system.

“Nigeria is a multi-ethnic nationalities conglomerate with many historically autonomous nationalities and there is no way we can merge them together under a unitary constitution and type of momentum and trajectory that we desire for rapid development.

“This is why we advocate a truly federal structure. This has absolutely nothing to do with political parties. It is about the imperative of history. True federalism is an idea whose time has come and nobody can wish it away. The evidence will be so empirically throwing itself in our face and we will agree to it.

“As the glorified chief security officer of Ondo State, there was a time the commissioner of police for the state and other top echelon of the police were people who could not speak a word of Yoruba language. How could they effectively police the state? Policing is essentially community-based.

“Whether we like it or not, when insecurity stares those who are high priests of this unitary system in the face and threatens to undermine the unity of the country, something will be done.

“We thank God that Chief Olu Falae did not die in the kidnappers’ den because such incident has the potential to shake this country to its foundations. We need not only state police but also community police. That is the type of structure we are talking about,” he said Speaking earlier, the chairman of Petals FM, Yinka Odumakin, said the station was out to interpret the signals, describing it as “an enterprise with a pledge to fairness and an oath to put the people first at all times and God above all.”

“The dignity of man in our operations will be courageously emphasised. There is no discernible pattern to the chaos of socialpolitical space today and this makes reading and redress near impossible.”

“At Petals FM, we shall she light on the blocks of our foundational problems as a collection of nationalities who believe in the union but have reservations about its compulsion,” he said.

Guests at the ceremony included Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, Major General Raji Rasaki (retd), Mr Jimi Agbaje, Apostle Sunday Popoola, Dr Festus Adedayo, Professor KoleOmotoso, Chief Reuben Famuyibo, the zonal director of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mrs Pauline Ehusani, among others.

Ondo builds, commissions friendly centre for adolescents, youths IN its bid to ensure that youths in the state enjoy health friendly services, the Ondo State government has commissioned the Adolescent and Youth Friendly Centre in Akure, the state capital.

Speaking at the commissioning held at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, wife of the state governor, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, stressed the importance of adolescents, saying that they comprise 30% of the population of the state.

She called on parents to always take care of their children, particularly the girl-child, noting that they are the future of tomorrow.

According to her, it is only a nation where youths are peaceful and hard-working that they could witness tremendous development.

Commenting on the edifice which has a laboratory, consulting room, conference room and a library, Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said it is first of its kind in the country and would soon be replicated in other local governments in the state.

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St. Teresa’s College remembers Stella Obasanjo

By Damilola Ojejimi OLD students of St Teresa’s College (STC), Ibadan on Friday celebrated one of their own and wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mrs Stella Obasanjo, who died 10 years ago.

Stella, who died after undergoing a cosmetic surgery in October 2005, was remembered for her sacrifice to the nation.

In his message at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ibadan, Reverend Father Joseph’s Akinbinu declared that the scripture said that it is not how far but how well one is able to live in this life that matters.

He said: “The book of wisdom teaches us that the soul of the righteous is in the hands of God and while with Him, no evil can torment him.”

Old students and staff of Saint Teresa’s College (STC), Ibadan in a group photograph with the junior school students during the 10th year remembrance service for Mrs Stella Obasanjo, at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. With them is Reverend Father Joseph Akinbinu (middle). PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN

Court sacks Lagos LG caretaker committees Ayomide Owonini Odekanyin - Lagos

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USTICE Abdulfatal Lawal of a Lagos State High Court on Friday nullified the constitution of caretaker committees to run the affairs of local government councils in Lagos State, declaring it as illegal and un-

constitutional.

The judge held that no governor is empowered by the constitution to take over the administration of local governments through sole administrators or caretaker committees.

The court averred that the system of local government can only be managed by democratically elected peo-

ple and if the State House of Assembly should make any law validating sole administrators for local government, such law will be invalid and unconstitutional.

The court also held that the Lagos State Local Government Law, which allows for the appointment of caretaker committees, is illegal and unconstitutional.

Appeal Court reinstates sacked Kogi LG chairmen Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Friday ordered the reinstatement of the sacked chairmen of the 21 local government areas of Kogi State with immediate effect.

The court, in its judgement over the constitution of the electoral body that conducted the election, held that the dissolution of the councils was illegal, null and void.

This is coming as the chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Mr Aloysius Okino, commended the judiciary over the judgement, saying the court lived up to its responsibility.

According to the judgement read by Justice Mustapha Muhammed, the appellate court, while upturning the ruling of a Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton-Kafei, held that the electoral body was properly constituted.

The appellant court held that the Kogi State Indepen-

dent Electoral commission (KSIEC), which conducted the said election which brought the chairmen to office was properly constituted.

He said the 1999 Constitution, as amended under which the members were appointed, stressed that such a member must be qualified to contest the state House of Assembly election, saying that their membership was legal under the law.

The court also held that since the council chairmen were not party to the suit,

there is no how the judgement could have affected them.

The appellant court also held that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case since the case was not instituted within three months as required by law, and therefore set aside the judgement of the lower court and ordered that the chairmen be reinstated with immediate effect However, the ALGON boss in hs reaction to the judgement, said the judiciary had continued to remain the last hope of the common man.

The court rejected the excuse of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LAISEC), that it was waiting for voters’ register from INEC since the same voters’ register and polling booths were used for the April 2015 elections.

Consequently, Justice Lawal directed LASIEC to conduct elections in all local governments within 30 days.

It is recalled that the National Conscience Party (NCB) had instituted the case in January 2014, to challenge the appointment of caretaker committees to run the affairs of local government councils in Lagos State and sought an order of mandamus to direct LASIEC to conduct elections.

Reacting to the judgement, counsel for NCP, Mr EbunOlu Adegboruwa affirmed his belief in the judiciary.

“I commend the judge for his manifest courage, as this has once again proved that the Nigerian judiciary has been the sustainer of our democracy,” he said.

HID’s death painful —Oodua farm settlers

By Festus Iyorah OODUA farm settlers, under the aegis of South West Farm Settlers’ Association, have described the death of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo as painful.

Speaking during the association’s condolence visit to the Tribune House at Imalefalafia, Ibadan, on Friday, the President General of the association, Evangelist Samson Ilori

Makinde said: “Mama’s death is painful. She has been our benefactor and we would be ingrates if we failed to tell Nigerians the good things Mama did for us.”

Speaking further, Makinde, who noted that “Although, the South West Farm Settlers Association was established in the Old Western Region by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mama has been the backbone of

the organisation,” while adding that the matriarch, who was the association’s matron, helped the association with her initiatives and motherly advice.

“Mama connected us to sponsors and this helped us to increase the production of cocoa, palm oil and corn at Okitipupa, Ondo State, Ikenne, Ogun State and Esa Oke, Osun State farm settlements,” Makinde said.

Sir Adebutu, our great benefactor —Acting VC, Wesley University THE acting vice chancellor of the Wesley University of Science and Technology, (WUSTO), Ondo, Professor Aderemi Ademoroti has described Sir Kesignton Adebutu as a great benefactor of the university.

Ademoroti said this in his office in Ondo in an interview on the 80th birthday anniversary of Sir Adebutu.

According to him, “Sir Kesignton Adebutu is a rare and great philanthropist. He is the chairman, Board of Trustees of our university and he has personally done a lot for us. When the university was in distress over the inability to pay staff salary, Sir Adebutu paid it without anyone asking him or begging him to do so. He did it voluntarily with his personal money out of his benevolent heart.

“For me, this is highest benefit anyone can get in life.

He has also loaned the university a huge sum of money to cater for its diverse needs and up till now, this loan has not been paid back and surprisingly, Sir Adebutu is not disturbing us or complaining about it.”

Ona Iwa Mimo C&S holds pilgrimage THIS year’s annual pilgrimage of Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Worldwide (Ona Iwa Mimo) comes up between 25 and 29 October, 2015 at Mountain of Prayer, Ona Iwa Mimo, Igboho, in Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.

According to the release jointly signed by the chairman of the Publicity Committee, Apostle Ola Mathew and the General Secretary, Apostle Ezra Adetunji, “this year’s programme will feature a special prayer for the love, unity, security, peace and progress of the country and for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to successfully take Nigeria to the promised land.”

The release, therefore, called on the people from far and near to participate in the annual prayer session with the assurance that they will meet God’s favour and receive deliverance during the programme.

It added that His Eminence, Baba Aladura Joseph Aderibigbe Ibikunle JP, Head of Ona Iwa Mimo Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, will be on hand to receive the guests.

It assured the participants of maximum security and safety of their lives and property throughout their stay at the mountain.

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Kogi APC group alleges intra-party plot to stop Audu

Pastor Olatunde Stephen (fifth from right); staff nurse, Mrs Oguntade of the Ibadan Home for Motherless Babies, Orita-Mefa, Ibadan, Oyo State; Deacon Akintoye Oluseyi (sixth from left), during a courtesy visit to the orphanage with other members of the Men’s Fellowship Association of the Redemption Benefit Church, a.k.a. Jesus Clinic, under the leadership of the General Overseer, Pastor Zakariya Aduragbemi Adebayo and his wife, Elizabeth.

Buhari says he’s not shy around women, disowns ‘aide’ Leon Usigbe - Abuja

T

HE Presidency has disowned one Gideon Samani who claimed to be Senior Special Assistant (Political Matters) to the President and consequently granted a media interview where he said President Muhammadu Buhari was being shy around women.

Samani, who spoke at a public lecture in Abuja on Thursday, had tried to rationalise the “low number” of women on the president’s ministerial list, saying that rather than being a deliberate attempt to marginalise women, Buhari was only shy with women.

But in a reaction made available to the media in Abuja on Friday, the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the President,

Femi Adesina, said the claim was totally fallacious.

According to him, the subsequent attribution of the supposedly “low number” of female ministerial nominees to President Buhari’s alleged shyness around women “is baseless and a figment of the imagination of the said Mr. Samani, who was falsely described as the “Senior Special Assistant

Tribunal upholds Amosun’s election victory Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday upheld the victory of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as the winner of the April 11 election.

The tribunal, while delivering the judgement which lasted four hours and 20 minutes, said the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, failed to prove his case against Amosun.

In his judgement, the chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Henry Olusiyi, said the petition was dismissed for lack of merit.

Olusiyi noted that the petitioner failed to prove their case against the respondents, either on the balance of probability or beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Olusiyi said the petitioner had alleged rigging, snatching of ballot boxes, declaration of false results, importation of voters, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and other electoral malpractices.

He said the petitioner sought for orders that Amo-

sun was not duly elected and prayed that he (Isiaka) be declared the winner the election.

Olusiyi added that the petitioners presented nine witnesses in the process of the trial while the first respondent called four witnesses and second and third respondents with no witness.

Justice Olusiyi said all witnesses called by the petitioners (PW1-PW7) failed to substantiate their claims

as contained in their statement of oaths.

Giving the verdict, the tribunal averred that all the witnesses called by the petitioners failed to substantiate the weighty allegations.

Meanwhile, Isiaka, while reacting, urged “all and sundry to respect the decision of the court,” but added that “we shall carefully study the judgement as soon as possible and will make public our next line of action.”

(Political Matters) to the President.”

He said the assertion by the alleged presidential aide that President Buhari is “very shy dealing with the opposite sex” because “he has been interacting mostly with men,” was received by the president with shock and consternation.

The presidential spokesman added: “For one thing, there is no Senior Special Assistant, Political Matters in the office of the President for now and Mr. Samani who was said to have spoken as the representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation at a public function, is not an aide of the president.

“Mr Samani is certainly not an official spokesman for the president. Therefore, he could not have spoken on behalf of President Buhari, who is the president of all Nigerians, men and women alike.”

Abeokuta, Egbeda welcome Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce, Laffta Fest comedy shows This weekend, the twin Globacom entertainment shows, Slide ‘n’ Bounce musical concert and Laffta Fest comedy show, will arrive in the rock city of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and Egbeda in Lagos State respectively.

While Slide ‘n’ Bounce musical concert takes place at the OK Events Center, Abeokuta today, Laffta Fest comedy show will he held at the Flora Hall, Santos Egbeda, tomorrow.

The shows which began on August 29 and 30 respec-

tively have attracted thousands of Glo subscribers across nine locations, namely Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Victoria Island, Surulere, Benin, Ikorodu, Ijebu Ode, Awka and Abeokuta.

At the Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert in Abeokuta, awardwinning artistes, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly called D’banj, M.I, Marvin Records protégés, Korede Bello, and Reekado Banks will perform, while Nollywood actor and Glo ambassador, Odunlade Adekola, will make a guest appearance.

On the other hand, Glo Laffta Fest Egbeda edition will feature top comedians such as Basket Mouth, Okey Bakassi, Seyi Law, D-Don, Bash, Acapella, Funny Bone, Still Ringing and Princewill, while Korede Bello and M.I will perform their hit tracks.

A statement released from Globacom’s headquarters in Lagos said the shows will be held in other cities around the country such as Ikeja, Abuja, Owerri, Umuahia, Aba, Makurdi, Awka and Yenagoa.

A pressure group within the Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by party members from a section of the state to sabotage the chances of the party’s candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, in the impending governorship election in the state.

The group, Kogi East APC Youth Front (KEAYF), in a press statement issued in Lokoja, Kogi State by its president, Dr Abimaje Ocheni and secretary, Miss Grace Ebune, alleged that some party leaders from Kogi Central district were, among other grievances, blaming Prince Audu for the defeat of Ebira candidates at the party’s primaries and have covertly decided to work against the party.

“There are very disturbing evidences that a section of our party members acting an ethnic script are trying to pull back a moving train. Regrettably, this section, specifically the Ebira of the Central senatorial district, is deviously scheming under a diverse agenda to reverse all the advantages of our great party in the state.

“Ever since the resounding victory of Prince Abubakar Audu, the Adoja Attah-Igala, at our party’s primary election, members of the APC family from Kogi Central have not been at ease.

“First, it was alleged that the sudden realisation that the combined votes of their candidates who were the first, second and third runners-up surpassed that of Adoja ignited a fresh sense of micro nationalism propelled more by regret than reason,” the statement read.

The group, which is an Igala forum supporting Prince Audu’s candidature, lamented that the plot was now so pervasive that the Central senatorial APC rally was largely boycotted by members from the area.

They also lamented that the choice of a running mate in the person of Honourable James Faleke, an Okun-Yoruba from the Western senatorial district, is equally being tribalised and used to stoke animosity against Audu in the area with the claim that the candidate had already entered into a secret pact to shift power to the Okun people after his tenure.

While insisting Audu never entered into any such pact, the group, however, declared that in the spirit of justice and fairness, the Okun deserve to produce the next governor and not the Ebira.

“The Ebira have already previously enjoyed the position of governorship in a democratic arrangement in the person of Adamu Attah of blessed memory in the old Kwara State.

“However, the closest the Okun have come to the revered position is deputy; first by Chief Sam Akande and now Architect Yomi Awoniyi. But even in this regard the Ebira have produced deputy governors in Kogi State for a total period of 13 years —1999 to 2012 — in the persons of Chief Patrick Adaba (1999 -2003) as Adoja’s deputy, and Philip Salawu, who was deputy to Alhaji Ibahim Idris (2003 -2012). The tenure of the Okun as deputy cumulatively amounts to only five years. Chief Sam Akande as Adoja’s deputy (1992 -1993) and Awoniyi (2012 – 2016).

The group appealed to Ebira members of the party to rise above ethnic sentiments and work for the success of the party and its candidate while warning that in the event that Prince Audu coasts to victory in spite of them they should not expect any special treatment.

“Perhaps we need to repeat the apt words of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, in the event that the Ebira are unable to purge themselves of this hatred for our candidate and it ends up reflecting in the pattern of voting: we cannot ignore the majority who vote for us to pander to the wishes of the minority who voted against us,” the group warned.

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Baba Ijebu, at 80:

I began my business with no capital —Sir Kesington Adebutu Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, a.k.a “Baba Ijebu” is a foremost billionaire pools and lotto magnate. He is also a philanthropist of note. In this interview with some journalists on his life at 80, he speaks about his childhood, business, reason for his philanthropic gestures, his legacy and other sundry issues.

Saturday Tribune brings the excerpts:

S

ir, what is the significance of your 80th birthday to you?

The birthday is so significant to me because the bible says the days of our years are three score years and ten, that even is by reason of strength, four score years which is eighty years. So for me to have graciously clocked eighty years on the surface of the earth, especially in Nigeria, when life expectancy is put at between forty and forty-five, I cannot but thank God Almighty for His grace, because I know for sure that, it is the grace of God that has kept me alive till today to reach this milestone age in good and robust health. So the birthday is significant to me because God has been so faithful to me.

You are a renowned philanthropist, what actually motivated you into the act of philanthropy?

What motivated me into the act of philanthropy is that, I observed that a lot of people in the country work harder than I do but they do not get much reward and blessing as I get or I am getting. I then think this is an uncommon grace of God. So, I felt like appreciating God Almighty for His blessing over my flourishing business and life generally. Therefore, I decided to give back to the society, especially the underprivileged. I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that God single-handedly chose me out of many Nigerians for blessing so that I can be a blessing to others. With this conviction and belief uppermost in my heart, I chose to go into philanthropic acts freely, to help the cause of humanity and better my society.

Can you tell us more about your foundation, KAAF? KAAF means Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation. The foundation was established ten years ago, precisely in October 2005, during my 70th birthday anniversary. The main objective of the foundation, as I said early on, is to show appreciation to God by giving back to the people. Through KAAF, we are trying to give part of what God has blessed us with to the underprivileged and the society generally.

And through the help of God, the foundation, in the last ten years, has done quite a number of things to help the cause of humanity. The foundation has a vocational centre in Surulere, Lagos. The centre is part of our efforts to alleviate poverty and empower youths through acquisition of vocational and entrepreneurial skills for self development and job creation. The centre is meant for learning carpentry, masonry and tiling, plumbing, electrical work, etc. The foundation also has a maternity and laboratory at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

There is another vocational centre at Tai Solarin University, Ogun State. We have done quite a lot of things with the foundation. The list is enormous, I cannot remember all.

At 80 sir, any regrets in life?

I will say I have no regrets of any kind at 80 because I have learnt right from my childhood to accept whatever comes my way or whatever situation I find myself in a good faith. Also, as a Christian, I strongly believe the biblical injunction that says “in everything we should give thanks to God”. So in everything, I give thanks to God Almighty. So, I have no regrets at all in life.

You are a foremost lotto businessman in the country, what motivated you into this business?

For your information, if you look at the history of my life, you will realise that my main business has ever been gaming. I started with pools promotion in 1963, but before I entered the business then, it was dominated by the Lebanese who believed the business was their exclusive right and that no Nigerian could venture into the business and succeed. By this disposition of the Lebanese in the pools business Continues pg10

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‘I have been a success for 59 years’ Continued from pg9

in the country then, I felt challenged and so I decided to venture into the business and resolved to make a headway in it. So, I started with Face to Face Million Dollar Pools and with it, I really gave the expatriate a thorough competition. Today, to the glory of God, the business has grown in leaps and bounds. On lotto business, for your information, lotto business originated from Ghana and up till now, so many lotto companies in Nigeria still rely on Ghana game. We, however, at Premier Lotto, have our own game. We do not rely on Ghana game. We are independent. And to God be the glory, we have been able to record an appreciable level of success in the business.

So what is the difference between pool and lotto?

They are two different types of game. Pools is based on the game of football and the results will be 1-2-x. 1 means home win, 2 means away win and x means a draw. But lotto is quite different. You have two ways of playing the lotto, either by the ball or electronically.

How has it been managing a multi-million naira company in an unfriendly economy like that of Nigeria?

Well, many businesses have quite a number of challenges. But I thank God that since I have invited my children to work with me; because my children are not working for me but working with me, I have been able to manage the business so successfully, despite the unfriendly business environment in the country.

How was growing up like?

I completed my primary education in 1942 and had my secondary education between 1951 and 1955. Thereafter, I started life. I worked briefly in Classic Chemical Limited, a pharmaceutical company that was producing Andrew’s Liver Salt, Cafenol and so on. I rose from the position of salesman to sales manager and in 1963 I left the company to start my own small business. Having no capital, I looked for a business that required little or no capital and what came to my mind was to be a pools agent, because to be a pools agent, what you just needed was to get a table and your pen. So you can see it is not capital intensive. I did that briefly and within a short time with my intimate friend, the late Chief Solomon Adebayo Ayoku, we dominated Africa. We then diversified to other areas like agriculture, manufacturing, estate management, the lotto, entertainment and so on.

How would you describe the personality of the late Chief Ayoku and how would you describe your relationship with him?

The late Chief Solomon Adebayo Ayoku was my bosom friend. He was a fine gentleman. He was a loyal and trusted friend. I do not think I will meet a man as good as him again. He was good, honest and forthright and I had excellent and memorable relationship with him.

How did you come about the name “Baba Ijebu” The name is not my making. It is not the name given to me by my father. It is a nickname from the public and our satisfied customers and of course I am from the Ijebu province, maybe that explains it better.

What is your business philosophy?

Some people say punctuality is the soul of business.

Yes, but to some extent. In my own, I will say honesty is the soul of business. Once, you are honest in what you are doing, you will definitely succeed in it because people will have confidence and trust in you. That is my business philosophy.

At 80 Sir, it is surprising that you still look agile and active, what is the secret behind this?

Well, I will say it is the Grace of God. Again I do everything in moderation. I don’t engage in excesses and I take my time in whatever I do.

How would you describe your fulfillment in life?

Honesty, if I am to access my level of satisfaction in life, I will conveniently score myself excellent. The reason

On lotto business, for your information, lotto business originated from Ghana and up till now, so many lotto companies in Nigeria still rely on Ghana game. We, however, at Premier Lotto, have our own game. We do not rely on Ghana game.

being that, I have remained on the ladder of success since 1956, about 59 years ago. Looking back, it is not by my power or any level of hardwork but by the grace of Almighty God. What else do you want from God? Good health, peace of mind and long life. I am 80 years now and I tell you, I want long life in good and robust health.

We learnt, you were born a Muslim, how did you become a Christian?

Yes, I was born a Muslim. However, in those days, those of us who attended missionary schools had a taste of Christianity in our schools. We were baptized and this now led to our conversion somehow to Christianity. So I got converted through the missionary school I attended.

And since then, I have remained a Christian. I am not just an ordinary Christian but a devout one. Infact, I am the Baba Ijo of Methodist Church, Iperu and I also have the privilege of being awarded the highest title in Methodist Church Nigeria, which is the title of a knight.

I am a knight of John Wesley What legacy do you want to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered for good name because good name is better than riches.

What is your advice to the up-and-coming youth who see you as a role model?

The younger ones should learn how to crawl before walking. It is a pity that, nowadays, the younger ones are always in haste and this cannot help them. I was not born with silver spoon. I worked very hard to get to where I am today. I have seen both the good and bad sides of life. So the youth should be patient in their quest and ambition to become great. They should realise that, slow and steady win the race. Above all, they should fear God and worship Him in awesome fear.

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mediascope Media managers must be media-friendly —Shuaib, PRNigeria

AlhajiYushau Shuaib is the publisher of Economic Confidential magazine as well as the founder of PRNigeria and MediaNigeria news portals. In this interivew with BLESSING EKUM, he speaks on his experience managing the media for several Federal Government agencies and also on what it takes to be successful on the job.

Y

ou were the PRO to several Federal Government agencies, notable among them are NEMA and RMAFC, how would you describe the job?

Public relations as a management function is quite an exciting profession for those that strongly believe in relationship building, reputation management, crisis management and similar endeavours towards mutual and better understanding. Therefore, I can simply say the job requires in-depth understanding of issues, analytical thinking, creativity and speed in delivery, which means timely response.

The job of a PR person is beyond mere media relations and issuing press releases, press conferences and interview.

Critical thinking and creativity in what you do also count.

Did you find yourself in PR by accident?

No. I love friendship and love communicating. I therefore studied Mass Communication at Bayero University Kano.

I started practising public relations when I was elected PRO of Mass communication Students Associations (MACOSA) in 1991. Also, after winning state and national NYSC awards, I was offered automatic employments first as PRO in Government House, Asaba, Delta State and also as Information Officer, Federal Ministry of Information before my eventual posting as Press Secretary at Federal Ministries of Finance, Health, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Like the job itself (PR), the secret behind the awards and the automatic employments where through the recognition of my opinion writings and basic PR skills of researching, planning, executing and reviewing programme of actions.

Was there anytime you felt threatened or felt like resigning?

I accepted offers of automatic employment in the state and federal service in the belief that I would continue to contribute to better understanding of issues through writings for the media. I must appreciate the fact that it seems I was one of the most tolerated civil servants for consistently writing features and opinions that are supportive and also critical towards a better society. On several occasions, some managements were not too comfortable with my constructive criticism, I always insist that writing is my hobby while PR is my profession. Sincere only a mad person would write to himself as hobby. I write to inform and educate the public through the media. Surprisingly some bosses would like to be glorified rather than be advised. To glorify a boss or the organisation in the media, one must pay for space because editors only accept newsworthy, objective materials for publication. In that case to balance between what the editors want and what the organisation and the boss want, one must also balance between the two: a bit of hot-and-cold. In my 20 years in public service, I had never received a single warning or query until when the so-called

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and overexaggerated Coordinating Minister reported me to former President Goodluck Jonathan that I should be sanctioned for one of my opinions after she had spoken to me on phone. Probably she wasn’t comfortable with my bluntness in our conversation. I must be sincere and have no reason to pretend that I have never been intimidated by someone’s position. Not every civil servant is docile. I have no respect for those that look down on others. I don’t cross paths with such individuals because respect begets respect.

Can you restate the story surrounding your premature retirement from service? Any regrets?

After the encounter with the so-called super minister, those that were not comfortable with me insisted I should be retired prematurely from the Federal Civil Service. I have no regrets serving and doing all I did in the 20 years of civil service career. Since the so-called retirement, which I am contesting in court, I am better and better off today outside the public service than inside the service. God Almighty has been so kind and merciful to me. I currently manage a PR firm in Abuja, Image Merchants Promotion, whose staff strength after my so-called retirement in 2013 was less than five staff has grown to over 15 competent, young and vibrant staff. We specialise in crisis communication, reputation management and publication for private

I have no regrets serving and doing all I did in the 20 years of civil service career. Since the so-called retirement, which I am contesting in court, I am better and better off today outside the public service than inside the service.

With akin adewakun

akadewakun@yahoo.co.uk 08054683584

and public sectors.

We also notice you are involved in a number of online media activities, what drives you in that area?

I am very passionate about writing, communicating and sustaining friendship. I always look out for new innovations and new techniques that would ensure the message gets to the right audience at the right time.

When internet technology was emerging, I underwent some studies at home and abroad which encouraged me in creating list server, also known as group mailing list. There were no Facebook, Twitter or Instagram that time. The seeming social media platform that time was yahoogroup.

I created a group for all federal press secretaries known as Resident Information Officers (RIO); I created another for PR practitioners and spokespersons known as PRNigeria where we debate and discuss issues on the job. In fact all the who-is-who in PR in Nigeria were in that group. We even had Emeka Opara of Airtel and Salisu Suleiman, current Principal Private Secretary to the Kaduna State governor, among the moderators; I later created MediaNigeria, where all major editors of local and international media covering Nigeria are listed. Each of these groups and platforms serves different purposes on information sharing. Therefore when I was prematurely retired, I integrated their functionality for news release syndication platform known as PRNigeria press release website. You can track any press release from our clients on the pages…. especially press releases from the military, security, intelligence, response agencies and other federal ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs).

You have never been in the mainstream media, how come you have so much affinity with journalists?

The success of any PR person relies, heavily on his relationship with the media. After my family, journalists are my immediate constituency. In fact through my public service, all my press releases and opinion articles were published for me free. I mean this but many may not believe this I enjoy establishing and sustaining relationship with the media when there is no problem. Media relations is free but sustaining it can be expensive because it requires integrity, sincerity and responding to their enquiries and ensuring you do the right things always. Talk about phone calls, visits, facilitating engagements, attending to their enquiries and programmes 24/7. And guess one thing, never ever get provoked with media enquiry. In fact if they criticise objectively, I acknowledge and appreciate their concern. I realise that being friendly with them before you have crisis is most cost effective strategy to sustain their loyalty and support. A sincere journalist would never abandon you in your moment of need. The greatest asset of any person managing the media for institution and public figure is sustained and improved media relationship.

You are the face behind the online platform, PRNigeria, can you tell us how you came to be intimately linked with the military?

After my disengagement from the service, many institutions gave me employment offers, but I insisted on providing consultancy services. I am presently the Chief Consultant to Forum of Spokespersons for Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), under the auspices of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

About 20 spokespersons are currently members of the forum. The forum gave birth to the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) which has membership from the military, security, intelligence and response agencies. We provide services that do compromise national security and national interest.

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newsfeature

Lagos in 2050: As Nigeria’s population prepares to become 4th in the world Naza Okoli - Lagos

Saturday Tribune

We are not fighting anyone... but we know our rights —Alaba traders

I

T is not clear whether this is good news or bad news.

However, according to the 2015 World Population Data Sheet published recently by the US-based Population Reference Bureau, Nigeria will in 2050 become the fourth largest country in the world by population.

Even more intriguing, the survey ranks Nigeria just next to the United States, with 397 million and 398 million respectively. India’s population is expected to rise to 1.66 billion to become the world’s largest, toppling China with a projected size of 1.36 billion.

Population Scholar and Lecturer in the Department of Geography at the University of Lagos, Dr Alex Uriri believes the projections are “near accurate, because the signs are there.”

“Currently we are about 275 million, though the problem we have really has to do with the accuracy and precision of our data; there are questions about population figures in Nigeria, but the most reliable census we have had was in 2006. It is almost 10 years now. You know we are due for a census next year 2016. Our growth rate presently is roughly 3 per cent, and that is a very high population growth rate. The factors are multi-faceted. We have a high fertility regime in Nigeria because of our religious inclinations. Currently our total fertility rate is 5.5 per cent.”

Uriri also believes the projection is something to be worried about, but notes that if steps are immediately taken by the government to implement aspects of existing policies on population, danger may be averted.

“It is dangerous when you have a mismatch between population size and resource management. If there is no balance or equity in the management of both, then there will be a problem. Nigeria needs to tap into the demographic dividend we have now, because population size can be a blessing or asset if it is well managed. Plans are nothing, but implementation is everything. That is where we have a problem. We have a very robust population policy that is hinged on reproductive health that concerns issues of abortion, sexuality education, contraceptive use, maternal health, child health, HIV/AIDS.” Lagos: Home for all A recent CNN report has identified Lagos as “a key driver behind Nigeria’s predicted population of 397m in 2050” and said the city’s current population of 17.9 million would double in 2050: “The population boom will impact the whole country, but nowhere will it be more profound than in Lagos,” the report added.

Some of the residents who spoke with Saturday Tribune during the week share their thoughts on the implications of such an increase in population in a city already strained by the effects of over-population.

Mr Dare Ibukun Ayansola who works for a top telecommunication company says people come to Lagos to pursue “a dream that does not exist”: “People are not satisfied with what they have in their own homes or immediate environments, and so they think that Lagos has it all and they want to come,” he said. “So I believe people should try to be ingenious; it is not until you come to Lagos that you can survive. There are a lot of people who are making it out there and they are not in Lagos; so it is about digging right inside of you to discover that which you can do without necessarily coming to Lagos. It is like the American dream. It is not until you get to America that you can become great.

Ayansola said if people were more evenly spread across the country, the projected rise would not be too much of a burden to Lagos.

“We are not developing in terms of multiplying our resources,” he said. “It seems we are just stagnant. There is nothing in place to cushion the effect of the growth in population. So it seems we are growing only in number, but our resources remain the same. So it is nothing to rejoice about.

It would have been a different thing if the rate of development is commensurate with the projected size of population.”

For Uriri, it is squarely a problem of “population manage-

39

Chukwuezi said. “They disarmed our security men, and they looted some of the shops, taking away goods worth millions of naira. Our members whose shops were raided have gone to the police, and they have all made their official statements. On our own, as a union, we will face the matter squarely immediately after our forthcoming election. We are not fighting anybody. We are peace-loving people, but we know our rights. So, the matter is still pending. We have not yet resolved anything for now. But there is no crisis because of it.”

Folasade Tinubu-Ojo

Naza Okoli - Lagos

ment”: “Lagos is a megacity,” he said. “There is no single approach to arrest the upsurge of population in Lagos. The population of Lagos is swelled more by migration – internal migration; people coming in from the rural areas in search of white-collar jobs, because they regard Lagos as the melting pot, and the centre of innovation, from where developmental impetus spreads to the peripheral or the fringes. Already a lot of people in Lagos do not have jobs; there is pressure on the land – traffic, climate, sanitation, over-crowding, housing, etc.

A lot still needs to be done. We should create more satellite towns, release funds to manage existing resources, and create other urban centres across the country. A fast-rail transport infrastructure, for example, will encourage people to live in places as far as Benin City and work in Lagos.”

“Back from the future” But there have also been a number of attempts on the local scene to glimpse the future of the country and Lagos. For

example, on June 17th, during the Eid-el Fitri celebrations, a play entitled “Nigeria 2060: Back from the Future” was staged in Lagos. One of the major actors, Moses Oluwasimibo Abiola, spoke with Saturday Tribune on Wednesday.

“Nigeria in 2060 has the best universities, best healthcare, and best indigenous fashion designers in the world,” Moses said, narrating the plot. “Three Nigerians are taken into the future in a time machine, and they eventually became a clog in the wheel of progress, because their philosophies are just like those of most Nigerians today.”

Abiola hopes the play can inspire young people to look to the future with hope. Speaking of the role of Lagos in Nigeria’s growing population, he describes the city as “the Los Angeles of Africa”.

“There is nothing you do in Lagos that won’t succeed given the right amount of time and resources,” he said. “The presence of multinational companies from various countries in the world, as well as the entrepreneurial spirit of young

people, has hugely contributed to the teeming population and economic strength of Lagos. Funnily, Lagos is as popular as Nigeria outside the country.”

Write us a letter The Lagos State office of the National Population Commission is located along Babs Animashaun Street at Surulere.

The early morning rain of Wednesday had formed unsightly puddles of different sizes all over the compound – a large enclosure of about ten old, low buildings.

When asked about the prediction by the Population Reference Bureau, a woman at the Public Affairs Department said members of the department were not allowed to comment on such “sensitive matters”.

Another lady at the State Director’s office said a letter must first be written and sent to the commission’s headquarters at Abuja where a decision would be taken as to whether the State Director could speak to Saturday Tribune concerning the prediction.

TO a visitor who comes to the famous Alaba International Market from Iba Road near the Lagos State University, Ojo, the market would appear somewhat hidden. Yet, it is for unmatched boldness and audacity that Alaba is generally known. Large shops and offices spread out neatly on both sides of the market road. It is mainly an electronics market, though it now has sections for virtually all kinds of home appliances. Each section has its own association and a set of elected officials.

When Saturday Tribune visited the market recently, traders at the Fancy and Furniture Section had just risen from a clash with Chief (Mrs) Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the President-General of Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria (also known as Iyaloja-General of Nigeria) According to the traders, Mrs Tinubu-Ojo had ordered the closure of Fancy and Furniture Section of Alaba International Market, Lagos. Her reason, according to a letter signed by her, was simply this: the traders had failed to honour an invitation she had earlier extended to them.

The traders’ association, led by its Interim Chairman, Mr Ndubuisi Chukwuezi, contended that as an organisation registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission, it was not answerable to the Iyaloja-General.

“As you can see, we have since opened our shops,” Mr Chukwuezi told Saturday Tribune. “We consulted our lawyers; we spoke with the police. They all told us that the Iyaloja does not have the power to close our shops. Our association stands on its own; it does not have a mother union. From the letter we received, the Iyaloja represents the Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria. We are not commodity traders. Here, we have ten or eleven associations, each with its own chairman. Then we have President-General of Alaba International Market who is the Amalgamated President.”

According to the association’s leader, some of his members lost millions of naira because the men sent to execute the order looted their shops.

“They came in the middle of the night to seal off the area,”

Conspiracy The traders drew a connection between the incident and the suspension of the association’s former chairman.

“The immediate past chairman of this association was suspended. Our members revolted against him. That was how I was appointed interim chairman about three months ago… We believe he is the one who has taken the matter to Iyaloja.”

The letter obtained by Saturday Tribune showed that the traders had indeed been asked to meet Mrs TinubuOjo for a dialogue. Entiltled “Re: Closure of Fancy and Furniture Section of Alaba International Markets”, it reads (unedited): “The above caption refers, I wish to inform you that the office of the President General of Association of Commodity Market Women and Men / Iya-Oja General of Nigeria.

“I invited you for a meeting, but you refused to show up for the meeting.

“In view of the above, Fancy and Furniture Section of Alaba International Market thereby close.”

Chukwuezi wondered why the former chairman had chosen to make his case before Tinubu-Ojo instead of the court.

The Fancy and Furniture Dealers Association’s office is a large one-storey building behind an extensive cluster of shops. On the other side of the road, a young man who identified himself as Obinna said all they wanted was to be left alone.

“I wake up every morning, I come to my shop,” he said.

“I don’t engage in crime. I don’t make money illegally.

You see me here, I don’t even smoke. All we are asking the government to do for us is to protect us. All we are asking other powerful people to do is to leave us alone, and you will see, all of us will prosper.”

Mother-in-charge of all markets When Saturday Tribune contacted Mrs Tinubu-Ojo’s Personal Assistant via telephone, he said: “Presently I don’t have any information to give you concerning that, but you could come to our office at Alausa if you want.

The Iyaloja is the only person who can give you all the information you need.”

The office of the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria is located on Sunday Adigun Street, Alausa – a quiet neighbourhood very close to the Lagos State Secretariat. A police van was parked at the street’s entrance, with two officers seated in front, as if in anticipation of trouble. It is difficult to miss the office: party posters adorn the gate, showing pictures of the governor of Lagos State and other top politicians. It is a large compound: a two-winged building stood at the centre, behind a spacious car park which doubled as an outdoor meeting centre. Of all the cars parked at the corner, the most conspicuous one had a number plate marked “Iyaloja 1”.

No fewer than 50 people, men and women, sat in the reception, waiting to see the Iyaloja. It was an endless wait.

People left when they grew tired, only for a new set to arrive.

“She is a very busy woman,” her Personal Assistant explained, apologetically.

Soon, a large crowd thronged the premises. To accommodate them, workers took seats out to the open space where the newcomers sat and also waited.

Further attempts made to speak with her did not yield any fruit.

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24 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

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21

24 October, 2015

T

he ministerial screening by the Senate has revealed the bad, the good and the ugly that could eventually compose the Muhammadu Buhari government. For months, Nigerians waited with bated breath about who the eventual ministers would be.

Things were not helped by the over-hyped character of the government as first, a no-nonsense one that would not brook any manner of infiltration of maggots or their allies into its fold. An anthill of myth had been built about the fledgling government. It was as if the composition of ministers would be done in Saturn, Uranium or somewhere outside this planet. Many wondered how Buhari, with his touted Puritanism, would find ministers who would be a de-linkage from the past where maggot-filled ministers fed right on the putrid wound of Lucifer himself.

Buhari himself allowed the myth to fester.

Month after month, he kept dilly-dallying. What was a simple and I dare say simplistic, ritual that new governments carried out by nominating ministers in less than a month of their government, Buhari fetishised it to the extent that the ministerial list became a subject of beer parlour speculations. The number of ministerial nominees on Facebook, social media in general and elsewhere who eventually turned out to be dud are perhaps more than the list that became manifest at Buhari’s own snailish reckoning.

Such was the level of expectations of the people of the list that was to emanate from Aso Rock.

You may not blame Nigerians for this frenetic wait and frenzied expectations. Until Buhari took the mantle of office, politics and political offices were sources of empowerment to Nigerians. The president’s denouncement of ministers’ input in government a few weeks ago, where he literally called them worthless, notwithstanding, Nigerians still hold store by the ministers that would be appointed into offices. Being a system where client-patron relationship exists, thousands of people put their financial redemption on the possibility of their ‘persons’ being nominated into political offices. The office itself is primed for enrichment of people, ab initio. That is why some people who were as poor as a church rat, apology to that ancient wise saying, a while ago, the moment they hit the right chord with a political appointee, they could rise up to be multimillionaires the next minute. Thus, a lot of efforts, both physical and spiritual, are put into ensuring that their ‘persons’ secure plum government offices and appointments.

When the President eventually unfolded the list, Nigerians were aghast and dumbfounded.

As a friend said on seeing the prospective ministers list, it was just same of same. A mockery was

Saturday Tribune

Saturday With

ayinla mukaiba ayinlamukaiba@yahoo.com

The ministerial screening

made of one of the nominees who bowed to the father of Bukola Saraki while he was Senate Leader in 1979 and who, 36 years after, would have to bow for the son as Senate President. On all scores that Buhari campaigned, to wit probity, change and development, you had nominees whose past public service lives were a contradiction of the credo. There are among them those who are as corrupt as corruption itself and those who demonstrated their opposition to the development of Nigeria in their previous public services. There are also on the list those who have depth and those who are shallow; those who have vision and those who lack it. When you compare the list with that of Goodluck Jonathan ministers, you rarely could differentiate. For in the Jonathan government, you also had ministers who could hold their own in mental acuity and those who had a vision for the future of Nigeria.

Perhaps the most revealing of the process was the ministerial screening exercise. The 7th Nigerian Senate did not make any attempt to make a distinction between itself and the dross that we used to have. Indeed, in this exercise, in many instances, the senators travelled deep down into the mire to make an impression about who they indeed are. Take for instance the case of former

Yobe State governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim and his wife, Buhari’s ministerial nominee. The process turned out to be a great mockery of equity and probity and indeed was. Many expected the husband to even humour Nigerians by asking his wife a seemingly rigorous question about Nigeria or give her a poser that demanded a bit of intellectual rigor. Alas, he just made a joke of us and indicated that this county itself is some form of joke.

Then the merry-go-rounding over the screening of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi. This yielded speculations that there was an interface between the outcome of the Code of Conduct Tribunal trial of the Senate President and the eventual outcome of the screening of the man reputed to be the one who held the key to Candidate Buhari’s electioneering war chest. To strengthen the rumour, the moment the Senate postponed the date of screening of Amaechi, the Code of Conduct Tribunal also postponed the trial of the Senate President. To many, like that song of the late Orlando Owoh, it was saba de saba, a case of the tiger and the dog playing mutual evasive game.

The list that Buhari sent to the Senate is just the same old dross that Nigerians are used to in their ministers. While there is a sprinkle of some cerebral Nigerians among them, there are a lot of them who represent the worst of us. Take for example the Ondo State nominee. He was absent at the screening throughout. It is shocking that a government which claimed to be proclaiming change could put forth such a character who apparently couldn’t connect with the mental requirements of that office.

Having gleaned the list of Buhari’s ministers, I have developed some sense of foreboding for this change that we have mouthed ceaselessly since the Buhari cyclone hopped on the polity. It seems to me that what we would go home with at the end of the day is the exhibition of supposed personal discipline by the president and less on the ligaments of development that make a nation to become great.

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24 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

crimeandcourt

My father in-law sent me out of my matrimonial home, man tells court He’s an irresponsible husband and father —Wife StoriesbyOluwoleIge,AyomideOwonibiandTaibatAlimi,with Agency Reports

A

40-year-old man, Mr Samuel Bankole, told an Igando customary court in Lagos, Lagos State, that his father-in-law was responsible for his leaving his matrimonial home.

In a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bankole, who was responding to a divorce suit filed by his wife, Iyabo, said his father in-law forced him out because he was unable to pay the house rent.

“My wife always paid the rent because I was not buoyant enough, but the last rent was paid by my father-in-law, who had been telling me to vacate the house or commit suicide.

“On that fateful day, he came with a thug, beat me and threw my belongings out.

“He also arrested me; I passed a night in the cell before my father came to bail me.” he said.

The respondent said that his wife with whom he had three children was having extramarital affair.

“My wife cheats on me, I read her chats on her phone and I discovered she was having an affair with a man.

“I confronted her and showed her their conversations but she could not give me a satisfactory answer,” he said.

Bankole also claimed that his wife always cursed him, saying he always heard her during the midnight swearing that it would not be well with him.

He begged the court not to grant his wife’s wish as he was still in love with her.

The petitioner, Mrs Iyabo Bankole, 32, a trader had sought for the dissolution of her five-year-old marriage over lack of care and threat to her life.

She said that her husband was an irresponsible husband and father.

“My husband is working but he was always telling me he does not have money, I have been the one paying the house rent since the inception of our marriage. I also pay the children’s school fees.

“When the rent of the two-bedroom flat I first rented was about to due, my husband disappeared from the house with all his belongings to an unknown destination and I was pregnant then.

“I didn’t have money so I had to sell my late mother’s property to pay for my antenatal and to feed myself.

“I was in the hospital for six days because I could not pay, I was released after my father came to pay the bill and I stayed with my father for nine months before he rented another flat for me.

“After my father rented the flat, my husband came back to the house,” she said.

Iyabo also told the court that her husband threatened to kill her.

He said that her husband once tied her nose and mouth with cloth, adding that it took the intervention of neigbours to save her.

“There was a day his girlfriends came to my house around 11p.m. to beat me up.

“After I recovered from the beating, I came out to relax when I saw those girls with my husband outside the gate chatting and drinking.

“My husband also beat me whenever he saw me talking with a male customer or whenever he read my chat with a male friend on phone; all the scars on my body are as a result of his constant beating,” she said.

The petitioner pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage, saying her life was at risk and wanted to live and cater for her children.

President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola adjourned the case till November 4 for further hearing.

Saturday Tribune

He gives me, our 3 children N80 feeding allowance daily —Wife It’s a lie, I give them N200 —Husband A housewife, Mrs Bilikisu Odekunle, has pleaded with an Osogbo Customary Court 2 in Osun State, to dissolve her 10-year-old marriage to her husband, Mr Taofeek Odekunle, describing him as an irresponsible man, who cannot take care of his family.

She lamented that “my complaints against him is that he has not been taking good care of me and my three children. He usually gives us N80 daily for feeding.

“The reason I came to court for divorce is that when one of our children was sick, I went to him for assistance, but I was surprised when he told me that he was responsible for the child’s sickness to deliberately punish me”, Bilikisu remarked.

Responding to the claims of his wife, Taofeek said “It is untrue

that I only give her N80 for feeding daily. I always give her N200 everyday after buying foodstuffs for the family”.

According to him, “it is true that she brought the sick child to me.

But, I refused to do anything about it because of the disagreement between me and her father. All I want is for her to return my children and I will take care of them”.

In his judgement, President of the court, Chief Popoola Bolarinwa said, “the plaintiff has proved her case of lack of care by the defendant for her and the children”.

“The defendant also confirmed lack of adequate care, although he denied the allegation of giving her N80 as feeding allowance. Both parties have agreed that the marriage cannot go on and asked for divorce, which is being granted by court”, he ruled.

35

My husband has abandoned me, the children for 10 years, woman tells court A housewife, Bose Ayinde, during the week told an Igando customary court, Lagos, Lagos State, that she had not seen nor heard from her husband for the past 10 years.

In a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bose, a 39-year-old trader, told the court that her husband, Nureni, with whom she had three children in their 18-year-old marriage, abandoned her for 10 years.

“My husband abandoned me and the children, he got a job in Owerri 12 years ago and stopped calling me 10 years after. All efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.

“I always travel to Abeokuta in Ogun State to see his parents and inform them that their son was no longer calling me.

“They always told me that I should be patient that he would call me that he used to communicate with them.

“I used to beg them to give me his new phone number so that I could call him

but they refused,” she said.

The mother of three accused her husband who was not in court of lack of care.

“I have been the one paying the house rent and paying the children school fees, he did not call to ask for the children’s well-being nor visit home for once.

“His parents never called nor ask for the children. Anytime I went to them for their assistance towards their granddaughters school fees, they always told me to wait that my husband would soon come.’’

Bose pleaded with the court to dissolve the 18-year-old marriage because she was no longer in love and wanted to move on with her life.

“I am no longer in love with him and besides, I want to move on with my life,” she said.

President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, adjourned the petition till November 9, for continuation.

My husband is too troublesome —Wife She wore trousers despite being in purdah —Husband A trader, Mrs. Rafiatu Oyediran has appealed to a Grade C customary court sitting at Agodi Gate, Ibadan, Oyo State to dissolve her 10-year-old marriage to her husband, Tiamiyu Shakiru, a spare parts dealer, for

being irresponsible and troublesome.

“He did not pay my bride price. I bore him three kids but I left his house three years ago because he fought and beat me. He also threatened my life.

“He has never checked on the kids or sent their feeding allowance since I left his house. He started the trouble the day he saw me sitting outside, saying as someone in veil, I should not sit outside.

“He hit my head with stone. He made too much trouble.

Sometimes my father would give us money in order to settle things amicably.

“His parents are aware of this. I want a divorce. I am not comfortable with this marriage anymore,” she told the court.

The defendant, however, responded that “Anike was always engaging my younger wife in he stayed away from her because of her physical fight on daily basis and I am afraid she might father’s comments. kill her one day.

“She is lying. I paid her bride price and it “She always slapped me whenever we had heated aris not up to three years she left home. It is gument,” Jimoh told the court. just a year.

He alleged that Anike would leave the house for “I came home one night and noticed she weeks without his consent and that he was tired of having to repay her indebtedness to people she bor- was nowhere to be found, and then I went to her house and met her father who told rowed money from.

The petitioner, therefore, pleaded with the court for me if I wanted to see her, I should meet her the dissolution of his 38-year-old marriage, saying at the court. That is why I did not go there to see my kids. there was no more love in the relationship.

“I cut her with blade because she wore a pair However, Anike, who did not deny the allegations, said she was pushed into the act because her husband of trousers and I told her it was not proper as she was on veil. I wanted to tear the trousers was in the habit of constantly assaulting her.

“It was my husband that pushed me to finding solace but the blade also gave her a tear.

“She also stabbed me with bottle later on. I and comfort in another man because he was always reported to her parents and both of us were beating me,” she said. cautioned.

I want a divorce and would love She, however, begged the court not to grant her husto take custody of my children,” he said. band’s application for divorce, saying she was still in Meanwhile, president of the Court, Chief love with him.

President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, Amusa Makinde adjourned the case till adjourned the case till December 7 for further hear- November 2 for judgement and requested the presence of the children at the next hearing. ing.

She eloped with another man after 7 children —Husband He pushed me into it —Wife

He impregnated my best friend when I was away —Wife

I’ll take care of her when my finances improve —Husband A 27-year-old lady, Godiya Moses, of Mararaba, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday dragged her boyfriend to a Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, for lack of care and battering.

In a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Godiya had approached the court, presided over by Albert Maga, accusing her boyfriend, Godwin Joseph, of frequent battering and failing to show her love.

The plaintiff told the court that she met her boyfriend sometime in 2014, while she was living with her sister at One Man Village, Nasarawa State.

She said that they fell in love and started living together at Mararaba, with the promise that he would always take good care of her. This promise, she alleged, he has failed to fulfill.

“When I became pregnant, he told me to go and see my parents in the village and promised to come and pay my bride

price, but he never came.

“I became tired of waiting for three months, so I decided to come back to his house. To my surprise, while I was away, he had impregnated my best friend and she was living with him.

“We all live in a single room at Mararaba and whenever I complain, I get the beating of my life,” she said.

She also accused her boyfriend of not taking good care of her and also failed to pay her medical bills.

“I always take care of myself, even when I was sick. He does not care if I survive or not and till now, he has not gone to see my parents.

“I am pleading with the court to make him pay for my medical bills because I will soon be due for delivery,” she said.

The defendant, who denied the allegations levelled against him, told the court that he loved his girlfriend and he always tried his best to take care of her.

“Things have not been easy for me but I promised her that when I get some money, l will see her parents in order to pay her bride price,” he said.

The judge adjourned the case till October 29, asking the two lovers to each come with one or two members of their families on the next adjourned date in order to hear from them.

A 67-year-old welder, Jimoh Ayinla, has filed an application at an Igando customary court in Lagos, Lagos State, to divorce his 59-year-old wife, Anike, for alleged adultery.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ayinla told the court that his wife of 38 years with seven children was adulterous, which led to her being impregnated by another man in his matrimonial home.

“My wife left my house for an unknown destination and I did not know that she was pregnant until she gave birth later in her new man’s house,” he said.

Jimoh told the court that 14 years after his wife had left her matrimonial home and refused to return, he had to marry another wife in 2013.

“I married another wife because our children that used to cook for me had all married and I was getting too old to cook for myself.

“It was after I had remarried that my wife returned to our home and I had to accommodate her. But I rejected the child she bore for another man asking her to send the child back to her father,” he said.

The petitioner said that Anike had been fighting him and his second wife since she returned to her matrimonial home.

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views.com

Chief Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu in my perspective

By Remi Oyekola

I

got to know Chief Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu through a chance meeting with Barrister Gyan – a Ghanaian. I had gone to see a lawyer friend in Ikeja and during the introductory discussion, Barrister Gyan got to know that I am into accounting practice. He informed me of the need for the services of an external auditor by one of his friends. He gave me a note to the Chief himself and the rest is beautiful history to myself and organisation.

From our meeting that day, the man has been a great support and father to me and all members of firms of OAK Chartered Accountants and Frantivic & Associates. He took us as accountants to his company and also linked us to companies in the family. Altogether, we are the accountants to almost five companies in the family businesses. He never doubted our competence; he is methodical and painstaking in approach, very humble with listening ears, I think this is his great asset, he never interjected in discussion.

Baba is the glory of Ijebu; I had an occasion when one of our family members was getting married to one of the granddaughters of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Ikenne. During the engagement ceremony, immediately Chief Adebutu stepped in, the music changed and the whole crowd started singing “Adebutu o, okanlomo Ijebu o” (Adebutu, the only important son of Ijebu); he was a blessing that day and everyone was happy. He is so humble and gentle, very sophisticated in his demeanor.

He doesn’t discriminate in any way, if he does, how can I be an accountant to him? And anytime I visit him, his first comment is, ‘my auditor, eyin lewa ni?’ (My auditor, it’s you that came?) Imagine 28 years age gap between us and with stupendous wealth, he could buy me over so many times.

He is a God-fearing man, he has been so generous to the Methodist Church of Nigeria and Wesley University, this I know. Methodist adherents in general are happy having this man, Chief Adebutu as one of them. A clear testimony is just of recent, when Chief lost his senior brother, my father-in-law, a Methodist from Joseph Ayo Babalola University tried to inquire whether what he heard was true that Chief was gone, that he hadn’t read the newspaper that day. It was when I told him that it was Chief’s senior brother that died that he felt relieved. He mentioned all the man had done and is still doing for the Methodist Church and that they still need him around.

He prayed for him for more impactful years. What a colossus?

Chief Kesington Adebutu is a very responsible Nigerian and a great patriot of humanity who cares very much about his roots. He is level-headed, evenhanded, firm and fair. He is a great community leader who will stop at nothing to achieve peace, order and harmony to humanity. As a great chief, his impact is felt in different parts of life. Far beyond the shores of this country, Kesington is a highly principled man and because of this, a few people do not understand him. They think he is not accommodating enough. But, he is a very humble man who relates easily with people of different backgrounds. Chief Adebutu is an accomplished and most respected leader, inspirer, motivator and community star. He is a role model whose influence goes far beyond this country and I dare say, throughout the world.

No wonder he is regularly consulted on all issues relating to the growth and orderly development of his vibrant, but serene town which is proudly referred to as Iperu Akesanland. He has an unrivalled passion for his hometown with constant agitation for its progress and improvement in all facets of life, i.e. socially, physically,

educationally, and economically. He is extremely generous and kind-hearted.

Chief Adebutu is a notable board player, a philanthropist per excellence and a distinguished business mogul.

His life could be assessed along the following expression: “The real measure of a man is not where he stands when things go right, but what he does when things go wrong.”

Baba Adebutu stands for justice, equity, fairness, conviviality and peace. Chief Adebutu is a good leader who behaves truly like a servant to those he leads. He is a gift to humanity. Chief Adebutu justified this quality in its entire ramifications when he opted to make himself available for the service of humanity, not only in financial terms but equally in active participation in the socio-economic development of humanity.

He has a vision and a mission for humanity and readily makes himself available to be constructively engaged in the affairs of all humanity. Although he is not a perfect human being, he appears to me a perfectionist; someone who is always eager to achieve the best result in every situation he finds himself. Though he has his own shortcomings, like all of us, he scores very highly on the chart of honesty, integrity, equity, fairness, concern for others and commitment to high values. He protects the name “Adebutu” like an egg. I will rate him an ‘AAA+’ man, using the banking parlance for evaluating performance. He scores 95% on the chart of human perfection and I think that qualifies him for a first class certificate, even by Harvard standard.

The attributes below summarise the person of Chief Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu.

He is a great philanthropist He is an astute entrepreneur He is a distinguished administrator He is a meticulous leader He is a man of vision and a friend to all He is a humane and personable fellow He is a notable personable fellow He is a notable personality and committed compatriot He is an embodiment of transparency and accountability in the discharge of community responsibilities.

In conclusion, he has been honoured in several places by several people and institutions, including the government of Nigeria for his philanthropy. Chief Adebutu is a special breed who deserves to live long so that he can continue to assist the human race. Congratulations Baba and more blessings as you step into yet a greater future.

Remi Oyekola is Managing Partner – OAK

Lessons from 2015 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards

By Festus Iyorah A fortnight ago, journalists across the African continent gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of excellence in journalism on African soil.

The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Award is not just a premier accolade, but a platform where journalists are inspired and encouraged to work diligently.

I have been an ardent follower of this most coveted award in African journalism since 2013 and as a budding journalist I had never been inspired as I was a couple of weeks ago when the winners and the runners-up were awarded for their excellent efforts in journalism.

Out of all the 31 finalists from 15 countries, three nominees have inspired me in no small measure. They were not only trailblazers — who made great feat by being nominated but they have set other African journalists on their toes to work assiduously and passionately.

This year, surprisingly, a trailblazing record was set as 21-year-old Fiifi Anaman snaked his way into the nomination list, challenging other topnotch journalists on the continent. Fiifi, a freelance journalist for Ghana’s zonalsports.com is a final year student of political science at the University of Ghana. Although he did not clinch the award for the sports category, he has announced his presence as a budding journalist who is poised to make exploits in the pen profession. Anaman, no doubt, topped the list of my best three nominees; he inspired me with his courage and determination and he was commended for going out of his way to freelance, even as an under-

graduate.

Similarly, Mr Adewale Emosu of the Nigerian Tribune, where I am on internship, is another source of inspiration. Emosu is a dogged journalist who went out of his way to land the award-winning story entitled Bahia: Even in Brazil African heritage lives on.

My jaw dropped when he told me how he went through torrents of challenges just to cover a story that had been left off the beaten path. His profound passion for journalism galvanised him into making himself uncomfortable for a story; he was in Brazil to cover the 2014 FIFA World Cup with other Nigerian journalists but he, alone, left the pleasures that come with the tournament for Salvador to cover the award-winning story.

Wale Emosu’s runner-up, Kola Tubosun is a blogger at ktravula.com. Tubosun’s work, Abeokuta’s living history, was nominated for the cultural category. In fact, it would not be a mistake to call Tubosun a game changer who has redefined blogging as not just a platform to churn out gossip but as another fertile ground for great journalistic exploits. Little wonder he was the first blogger to be nominated in the competition and funny enough, Tubosun is not a practising journalist; he is a linguist, a teacher at a high school at Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial city.

The awards ceremony has come and gone but there are myriads of lessons in this year’s competition that journalists across the continent should learn from. These three journalists have set a unique tone for both budding and practising journalists.

To budding journalists, Anaman has challenged and

inspired us that we can make exploits even at the dawn of our career. Bill Gates once quipped: “Exposure from a young age to the realities of the world is a super-big thing.” There’s no particular age to be steeped in the realities and practicalities of the news business. Therefore, I suggest that we learn from Anaman and be early achievers. Age should not be a limitation but an advantage that would inspire younger generations. So, start today!

To practising journalists, Emosu’s determination to go beyond his way to report his award-winning story has showed that there is need for transmogrification in the news business. ‘Churnalism’ must not be christened as Journalism. Jeff Jarvis, a journalism professor who once charged journalists at a conference to be the best in any beat they cover said: “If you’re not the best at what you do—If you’re the 20th best or the 30th best—don’t bother doing it.”

Practising journalists should take their profession seriously and be the best in this craft. Let a budding journalist walk up to you one day and say: “I am a successful journalist today because of you.”

Journalism is not a profession laden with excess fun.

It is a serious profession that deals with serious issues bellowing in the society.

Bloggers are not also excluded; they should imitate Kola Tubosun and latch on the opportunities that abound in blogging through publishing resourceful articles.

Festus Iyorah is an intern with the Nigerian Tribune.

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klieglight Victoria Kimani is a Kenyan artiste in Nigeria. Signed to Chocolate City Records, her penetration into the Nigerian industry has been massive. With hit songs like Show, O ya and Two of Dem, Kimani has earned herself a spot among the Nigerian A-List artistes. She is also one of the few female artistes that have managed to stay relevant in a supposedly male-dominated industry. In this interview, Ms Kimani shares her views on her music, life and among others with Newton-Ray Ukwuoma.

Y

our music, your style have endeared you to many Nigerians, how were you able to penetrate the Nigerian music industry?

Nigeria is like the Hollywood of Africa.

If you compare it to America, Nigeria is to Africa what Los Angeles is to the rest of America. Even before I was signed to Chocolate City, I knew I needed to find myself down here. There is an industry that really works here. People – the media, the youth – are interested in music.

A recent statistics showed that about 55% of the youth in Kenya are interested in music. In Nigeria, it is about 72%, which is huge, because Nigeria is about 180 million plus people and Kenya is only 50 million. Just thinking things through, I realised I could become a pan-African artiste, which is an artiste who belongs to the continent and not just Kenya. That was the vision of my return from the US to Nigeria. I think I am almost getting closer to my goal. There is still a lot of work to do, nevertheless.

Do you know that most people see you as a sex symbol?

Well, I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

Yeah, I’m aware of that.

How do you feel about it?

Uhm…Honestly, the wannabe feminist side of me is very proud of it because I never should have to apologise for owning up to what is mine. It’s almost like I can choose to wear a hijab and cover it up or be myself. I don’t even look at it as expressing myself because this is me. I don’t see it as fashion. This is me. You know, so if people think I am a sex symbol I think that is their opinion. I have never put on anything that is obscene, at least, to my mind. And I think it is relative anyway – I guess it depends on who is saying it. If you ask someone who is extremely religious, my mum, will tell you, I am completely naked, even when I am fully clothed. To some other people, it is totally fine, so I think it just depends on who you ask.

I asked because I wanted to know how you were able to move from the girl raised in a missionary family in Kenya to a music star in Nigeria.

The mission work was in Nigeria actually. We came here in 1999 and left in 2001. We spent two years in Benin City (Edo State, Nigeria) at the New Covenant Church. I went to school at the New Covenant Christian Academy, which was attached to the church.

As a foreign young girl in a mission school in Nigeria, how was growing up like?

Before we came to Nigeria, I was

already an eccentric child. Added to that is the fact that I was coming from a country [USA], where kids were allowed to express themselves with their fashion, makeup and their piercings. It was a culture shock for me coming down here.

They were like, “No, this is how we do things here. You have to plait your hair”.

You know, different hairstyles every week. You had to change hairstyle or you have to cut your hair really low.

And my hair was one of the main ways by which I express myself. My mum taught me how to braid hair early. So I was always braiding my own and my friends’ hairs. I was very expressive when it comes to my hair.

While I was here as a missionary child, I was still expressive when it came to myself. I had a nose ring. I had three piercings in each ear. I didn’t do the

I was eccentric as a child —Victoria Kimani

school hairstyle things. So growing up, I think my parents already knew I was an eccentric person.

It, however, doesn’t mean that I was selling sex. I was mainly obsessed with always trying new things. I wasn’t trying to be sexy. I just didn’t like how I looked with braids or low cuts, and I don’t think my hair looks good with those styles.

So I wanted to keep wearing my wig.

I wasn’t just a child then. I was a teenager.

As the only girl in your family, how did your parents handle your eccentricity?

I think they liked it. I was also expressing myself through art. I was also into painting and singing round the house.

My dad was also a musician. Before he became a pastor, he was a musician, and he was singing with afro in the 70s at bars. He was the guy in the 70s. Some

people tell me things like, “I remember your dad. He was a hot shot back in the 70s before he became a pastor.” So they knew they gave birth to a great kid. Like I said, it was never an issue. I don’t ever remember it being an issue. At one time, I wanted to pierce my nose in the States. I was too young at the time. You had to be 18 to get any kind of piercing. I pierced it myself. It was ridiculous, the most stupid thing I’ve ever done probably. But I went and pierced my nose myself and I showed my dad and he

was like,“Oh it’s nice!” I actually expected him to spank me real good, but he didn’t; and so, when that happened I was like,“Okay, I don’t know how much I can get away with”. A couple of years later, I also had my tongue pierced when he saw that he was like,“What’s in your mouth?

Spit it out.” And I had to confess because I tried to hide it for a long time and I said, “Dad, this is actually a piercing”. And he was like,“Oh! Okay.” He didn’t really say anything so I don’t think that bothers them as much as failing exams or doing Continues pg26

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24 October, 2015

My lifestyle is boring —Victoria Kimani Continued from pg25

something bad in school would have.

I think they understand the difference between a good kid, who is just weird and a bad kid, who does crazy things.

Do you agree you are weird?

I think I’m really weird (laughs).

Have your parents at any time watched any of your videos and how did they feel about them?

I remember my dad saw my first video “Mtoto” and he was like, “Wow!” The next thing he said was that the quality was really nice. I didn’t expect him to see the quality. There’s a part in “Mtoto”, where I was walking down a runaway and a little bit of my bum showed. I stopped the video before we got to that part. I don’t think he’s seen anything bad so far he is like,“Wow! This looks good.” That pretty much it.

How would you describe your dad – a supporter or partner?

My dad is cool. He’s a cool guy and he’s a funny guy. Even as a pastor, like half of the time as his preaching you’re laughing because he really knows how to relate with people.He’s a very cool guy.

Your song Show, what do you want to show?

‘Show’ is about performing on a stage, like killing the show.

Tell us how music started for you.

My parents played gospel music a lot in the house. I would try to sing along to the songs from people like Cece Winans, Bebe Winans, real black American gospel singers. I would just try to sing along; and, of course, I failed most of the time, but I just kept practising. One day, I was washing dishes and singing. My dad came home from work and caught me singing.

He was like, “Wow! You have a beautiful voice.” I was very embarrassed. He got me a tape recorder. I would record myself in the closet and listen to myself back.

Then I started writing poetry. I would try to make those words rhyme, and then I would start writing songs to the gospel music that were played. I would try to put my own words. When I turned 16, I recorded my first song. It was called “How I feel”. It was the most depressing song that you would ever hear. I just kept recording. While I was still 16, almost going into 17, I joined a famous Kenyan singer as backup singer. We went to Burkina Faso, Tanzania and all over Kenya performing. That was the beginning of my music career.

When will we get to see you do Kenyan music?

That’s a really good question. I think I would like to do …. I wouldn’t call it Kenyan music, because Kenyan music doesn’t necessarily have a sound the way Nigerian music has a sound.

You can tell from a mile away what is a Naija song, but Kenyan music has always been very diverse. You’ve got

I don’t want to be skinny, because I like curves. I think curves are the most attractive part of a woman.

Saturday Tribune

different kind of artistes like Wyre, who does dancehall, but it’s still classified as Kenyan music. We’ve got Gengay artiste and Juan Khali, artistes like Caligraph and Abbas.

Should we expect a collaboration between you and any of them?

Definitely. Yes, I am working on it, in fact. But you can’t expect me to release a completely Swahili sound. I don’t know how it is going to be received here. So I’ve been looking for different sounds and fusions like I already have some recordings done now that have a lot of Swahili in them. I am working on it.

What else do we expect from you before the end of the year?

There’s gonna be more videos. I’ve got another club jam, which I think is better than Show, that’s going to come out soon.

How would you describe yourself?

I would describe myself as slightly rebellious, creative and eccentric person. I think I’m an eccentric person because I do like to express myself outwardly. I get really bored if I have the same hairstyle.

I’m a do-it-yourself type of person. I don’t really wait for people to do things for me.

I do my own hair and my own make-up.

I cook my own food. I’ve had several different 9 to 5s. I used to be a makeup artiste at one point. I’ve learned how to do things for myself.

How would you describe your lifestyle?

My fashion can be eccentric but my lifestyle is extremely boring. People might not believe it, but I live a very disciplined life. I literally wake up in the morning, say my prayers, work out, cook my food, go to the studio, rehearsal or interview. I get back home at the end of the day, say my prayers and go to bed. I do the same things all over again the next morning.

I don’t really like to club that much.

People would probably not believe that.

However, I would like to work harder because at the end of the day, I want to be rich. I want to be able to make more money to expand what my parents are doing with the orphans. I want to be a wealthy artiste.

Everyone has a personal struggle, aside music, so what’s your personal struggle?

I think it is probably my weight. Because my weight goes up and down. When you are in the public eye people zoom in on you at all times. That is something I am always working on. I don’t want to be skinny, because I like curves. I think curves are the most attractive part of a woman. Another thing is teaching myself to be a grown up. I don’t want to be petty.

I want to be a mature adult.

Would you ever do a gospel song?

My mother always asks me that question. But I don’t know. I love worship music. I listen to them every night. I think my songwriting skills was influenced by my early experience of writing poetry.

I wrote about my life and feelings back then. I guess these subjects reflect more my songs than religious subjects. Gospel songs were more like comfort to me. I wake up with a possible vibe when I listen to them. But I think I would do a gospel song in the future.

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30 entertainment Yul Edochie, Victor Olaotan, Chris Attoh, others star in new serial, Royal Castle

24 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

No one can attack me in Afrika Shrine —Femi Kuti

By Joan Omionawele

Popular actor and movie maker, Elvis Chucks, recently premiered his new TV series, ‘Royal Castle ‘in Lagos.

Royal Castle, which is produced by Diamond Groove Pictures, is the story of the Nigerian class system, following the lives of everyday people, from the rich and famous to those at the lowest rung of the ladder. The show builds on storylines of betrayal, deception, corruption in high places, and love that unites all.

It is designed to bring together families of all tribes, races and religions in understanding the common challenges faced by families regardless of their status or background.

Royal Castle stars the best of Nigerian acting talent, including Victor Olaotan, Chris Attoh, Yul Edochie,

Gloria Young and others.

A c c o r d i n g t o E l v i s Chucks, the producer and director, ‘Royal Castle’ will bring refreshing time to TV viewing. ‘We already have antecedent of good movie and TV series at Diamond Groove, but ‘Royal Castle’ is way ahead of our past works. We invested heavily from the pre-production to the post-production. If you look at the quality of our cast, it says a lot about our intention. This is a TV series like no other,’ he said.

The TV will be showing on major stations across the country from October 10.

Elvis Chucks is an award -winning actor and movie producer. His production works include, but not limited to ‘Secret Scandal’, ‘Hustlers’, ‘Playing Safe’, ‘A Wish’, and True Citizens.

Julius Agwu releases video Comedian Julius Agwu is set to release a music video to the surprise of his fans.

This is sequel to the brain surgery that the comedian underwent early this year.

According to Julius Agwu, the video which is entitled Second Chance, is being done to appreciate God for giving him a second chance to live.

Popular musician, Femi Kuti has debunked rumours that he was stoned during his performance at this year’s Felabration According to report by some bloggers, Femi Kuti was allegedly stoned with bottles while performing one of his songs “Se were”(act mad) When Saturday Tribune sought the reaction of the musician, Kuti said “These bloggers just find a very simple matter and put petrol on you. How can they throw bottles on me or stone me on my own premises?. The name of the song is se were, and whenever I sing it to my fans at the shrine, they flow with the vibes of the song and have fun.

Femi continues: “Do you believe someone can stone me or arrest me in this country? It is not possible.

Kuti, who just completed the annual Felabration in honour of his

By Newton Ray Ukwuoma

Independence raffle draw promo.

The Marketing Manager of ICM, Mr. Eniola Ositelu, who reeled out the names of the winners after a raffle few session held at the mall and supervised by tenants and journalists, congratulated the winners, saying that the October annual event was organised to put

year’s Felabration, in his words “I’m sure Fela would be pleased in heaven. If spirits were allowed

to visit, he would have been proud and happy to see his name celebrated” Femi said.

Nollywood’s best honoured in Germany History was recently made in Frankfurt, Germany at the just-concluded 3rd edition of Nollywood Europe Golden Awards, (NEGA), which is a platform designed to honour Nollywood stakeholders, stars, comedians, musicians (both in Africa and in the diaspora). NEGA has also been expanded to recognise the artistic bias of outstanding politicians and businessmen, whose actions have directly or indirectly impacted upon Nigerians worldwide and the industry in particular, thereby shaping what it has grown to become today.

NEGA was the climax, heralding the closing ceremony of Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG), a viable platform designed for Nollywood filmmakers to showcase their movies to Europeans and Nollywood fans in the diaspora which was held at the prestigious Filmforum Höchst VHS Cinema, Emmerich-Josel-

3 win Ikeja City Mall Independence raffle draw promo Three shoppers have emerged winners of the Independence promo organised by Ikeja City Mall (ICM).

Mr Ogedengbe Ebenezer, Mr Deremi Shittu and Mr. Kevin Obieze were on Friday announced first, second and third winners respectively of this year’s

father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti thanked and appreciated all the musicians who featured during this

smiles on the faces of customers.

The winners, who were drawn from a pool of customers’ receipts collated from October to October 9, 2015, will receive cash vouchers of N100,000 for the grand prize, and N25,000 each for 2nd and 3rd winners alongside branded souvenirs.

str, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Describing the prestigious NEGA trophy on her Facebook timeline, one of the notable double winners of this year’s awards, Senator of the United States of America, Senator Donzella James, Democratic senator representing Metropolitan Atlanta’s 35th District of Georgia, wrote: “This is the most cherished award that I have ever received!

The Nollywood European Golden Award, ‘the mouthpiece for voiceless Africans’ globally! I am humbled and truly honored!”

Her Excellency, Senator Donzella James was originally invited as Special Guest of Honour in recognition of what she does for the African people in the State that led to her being honoured by the Nigerian community in the USA. But on a second thought, after a closer look at her blameless efforts in creating voice for the voiceless and the underprivileged in her State and beyond, which led to her 2014 Friend of Nigeria award from the Nigerian Women Association of Georgia, (NWAG), and having Queen Blessing O. Itua a Nigerian as her international liaison - adviser, to name but a few, which are testaments of her love and support for the Nigerian people in particular

NEGA organisers were left with no other option but to surprise her with the prestigious award as a welldeserved winner of “Distinguished Mouth Piece Of The Voiceless Africans” with additional FESTAC head artifact that symbolises Black freedom as Ehizoya’s first Highest Recognition Awards designed for very selected personalities with extraordinary track-record.

Among those honoured at this year’s historic classic NEGA gala-night are, The Edo State born USA-based Hollywood artiste, Queen Blessing Itua. The Hollywood actress / producer and adviser to Senator Donzella James was awarded NEGA 2015 “Reputable Cross Cultural Actress”.

Other big winners of the NEGA 2015 Awards were Ime Bishop Umoh, “Best Comic Actor”; Cossy Orjiakor, who got the “Dis-

tinctive Daring Actress” award; popular comedian, Gandoki, Mr. Steve Olu, a trained Surveillance and Intelligence officer in Germany, got NEGA 2015 “NEGA Grand Innovation”; Mrs. Rosalyn Dressman, the president of African Union Tide e.V, received the NEGA 2015 “Grand Supporter of Nollywood in Germany”; Benjamin James, former Stationery Stores and Super Eagles player but now Bundesliga Junior Hoffenheim team coach – NEGA 2015 “Outstanding Diaspora Soccer Coach”; Victor Olusegun Akande, currently the Entertainment Editor at The Nation newspaper – NEGA 2015 “Distinguished Nollywood Critic” and the Art Editor of National Mirror Newspaper, Mr. Emedolibe Ngozi Erasmus was also awarded “Outstanding Film art Critic of Nollywood”.

31 entertainment

24 October, 2015

Organisers of AMVCAs announce new categories, head Judge Stories By Joan Omionawele The Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, was the venue of an engaging event where a panel of representatives from M-Net West and East Africa discussed preparations for the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) with

East African filmmakers and members of the press.

The panel included the Regional Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi MbaUzoukwu; the Channel Head, Maisha Magic East, Margaret Mathore and the Public Relations Manager for MultiChoice Tanzania, Barbara Kambogi, after which a surprise addition to the panel was respected Kenyan film producer, critic, and academic, Njoki Muhoho, who was also unOn the eve of new Global Goals that will set the development agenda for a genera- veiled as the new tion, the cream of Africa’s musical stars Head Judge for

Artistes task world leaders to focus on women’s empowerment, justice

announced the release of a brand new remix of Strong Girl, the popular anthem for women’s empowerment that first got the world dancing in May this year.

The song which featured a host of 14 male and female stars, in partnership with ONE, a non-governmental organisation, recorded the new version to show that women’s empowerment is a song that everyone – men, boys, girls and women – must sing together to amplify Strong Girl’s powerful message that poverty is sexist.

The artistes who called on all African governments, met in September at the United Nations General Assembly, to place women and girls at the centre of global and national development commitments in 2015. There have already been some signs of progress, with the African Union (AU) Heads of State Declaration committing to address the claim that poverty is sexist earlier this year. Thus, this remix has the 14 stars singing in chorus to ask world leaders to do the same – and pledge to tackle the poverty of sexism which affects the entire planet – as they meet at the UN. Actress Omotola, who supported the original version, the remix and stars in the music video said: “This remix shows Strong Girl is a song to be played on repeat, because the message of lifting up girls and women cannot be played enough and is relevant across the globe. We know that in 18 nations men can legally stop wives working and in 46 there are no laws protecting women from domestic violence. To change this situation it is important to have men and women stand together to call for an end to the violations of women.”

The original song, “Strong Girl” was originally written and recorded by Arielle T, Blessing, Gabriela, Judith Sephuma, Selmor Mtukudzi, Vanessa Mdee, Victoria Kimani, Waje and Yemi Alade in April, and released on May 13, while the remix features D’Banj, Diamond, Banky W and was produced by Cobhams Asu-

quo, and keeps many elements of the original song. Bono, lead singer of U2 and co-founder of ONE, also appears on the track as backing vocals.

D’Banj, who appears on the remix, said: “Being a part of this new version was an honour. It is important for me to use my music to help change the world, especially for those who need our voice the most. This remix is amazing – I want every one of my fans to dance to this tune, and dance for women’s empowerment and call for gender justice too!”.

the 2016 AMVCAs. At the opening the event, Mathore said: “The purpose of our session is to inform all stakeholders in the East African film and television industry of entries for the 2016 edition of the AMVCAs. This is particularly important, given that we have new categories for next year’s edition, and have also eased the entry process so that filmmakers across the continent can send in their works.

“For the upcoming edition, there are three new categories which are the Best East African Movie, the Best Southern African Movie and the Best West African movie. All these are voting categories, and will exist side by side with the best overall

movie in Africa. This is indeed, is an exciting opportunity for East African filmmakers to not only submit their films, but also actively contribute to the retelling of the East African story through their craft.”

The event also featured a lively question and answer session with participants commending the organisers whilst also posing questions on the AMVCAs, including the entries, voting and judging processes, as well as questions on the AMVCAs’ future and the possible expansion of the event.

Saturday Tribune

RMD, Tiwa Savage, TWO, others grace 2Face Idibia’s book launch

It was a gathering of Nigerian celebrities as they converged on Lagos for the official book launch of popular musician, Innocent Idibia, a.k.a 2face, during the week According to the NETNG, the book which was written by the CEO of The Net Newspaper and

Stephanie Okereke, Hilda Dokubo, Lancelot Imasuen, others battle for Zafaa Awards

O

rganaisers of the Zulu African Awards (Zafaa) 2015 have announced the nominees for the 2015 edition of the awards ceremony.

This year’s awards which will be held in Nigeria for the first time, at Eko Hotel on the 30th of October, will be in partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

ZAFAA Global Awards, which is an annual event that stands shoulder to shoulder with other reputable foreign awards such as the American Oscar, the British BAFTA and Indian Bollywood Movie Awards, attempts to recognise African filmmakers, actors and other contributing personalities in the diaspora.

ZAFAA’s main aim, therefore, is to promote African movies and culture, as well as compliment African artistes with their foreign counterparts as the name depicts.

The nominees for this year’s award include Nolllywood actress, Stephanie Okereke, Kate Henshaw, Hilda Dokubo, Odunlade Adekola, Femi Adebayo, Gabriel Afolayan, award-winning director, Lancelot Imasuen, Blessing Egbe, comic actor, PawPaw, among others.

BlackHouseMedia group, Ayeni Adekunle Singer, was launched amidst memorable words and accolades for the musician who just turned 40.

According to veteran Nollywood actor and politician, Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), anyone who knows 2face personally feels he/ she has the duty to protect him. The former Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Delta State, also stated that 2face owed him an album purely recorded in his home language, Idoma.

While officially presenting the book, RMD extolled the virtues of 2face comparing him to the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who chose an incredible career for himself, the NET reported.

Also, Tiwa Savage, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Ali Baba, as well as other artistes came out to support 2face at the launch. The biography titled ‘A Very Good Bad Guy’, contains a wide range of materials on Idibia’s life and times, including accounts from his mother, his wife, siblings, colleagues and mentors. It also contains selected lyrics and discography, as well as editorial materials dating back to 2005.

Iyanda noted “Love him or hate him, the man internationally recognised as 2Face Idibia, has long entered his name into the history books as one of the biggest artistes that ever came out of Africa. His potential to conquer the world was evident in his days as a member of the Plantashun Boyz trinity.As a keen observer of the Nigerian entertainment landscape, it is difficult to find a positive box he has not ticked on a to-do list.

First set of contestants leave Glo-sponsored Dance with Peter today

By Rotimi Ige The pruning of contestants fighting for the ultimate glory in the Glo-sponsored Dance with Peter TV reality show has commenced as the first set of dancers are to be evicted from the Academy today.

Those up for eviction are the pairs of Captain Z and Mannaseh; G-Stream and Ernest Smiley; Snipe and Tom Tom; and Fearless and Ricky, following their low scores from

their last performances. Followers of the show will find out during today’s telecast who has been saved by the voting public and who will exit the competition.

For their performances, the dancers were paired up and asked to prepare their routines on “Latin American Dances.”

The 30 finalists performed very well, making it difficult for the judges, Peter Okoye, Kaffy and Don Flexx, to decide

those to put up for eviction.

The announcement of the first evictees will break many viewers’ hearts, considering that all the finalists have put in their best in the various performances, providing rich entertainment to lovers of dance every weekend.

Show promoter, Peter, told the eight dancers up for eviction that they had made him proud and that he was sad that some of them had to leave. He

urged them to keep the lessons they had learnt at the academy to enable them to make success of their dance careers.

He said: “Even though you guys are going now, I don’t believe you’re losers. Ensure that you make use of everything we’ve taught you in here, and

if you do that, you can even be better than those that are still in the competition.”

32

healthandfitness

I want to tighten my vagina I have two boyfriends­­ who regularly have sex with me. Unfortunately, if I have sex with one of them today and have with the other one the second day, the other one always complains that my vagina is too wide, meaning that somebody else has made love to me before him.

Please, what can I do to tighten my vagina. I am 25 years old and I don’t want to lose either of my two boyfriends. I am not ready for marriage now.

Daisy (by SMS) Even though I will not encourage you to be keeping two boyfriends at the same time, it has been scientifically proven that a loose or flappy vagina does not come from too much sexual intercourse (or the size of your partner’s penis). Rather, a loose

waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

Milky discharge from my private part Anytime I want to urinate, I usually notice something like milk coming out of my private part. Kindly help me out.

Thanks.

Bode (by SMS)

This looks more like a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). The best approach is to send a sample of the milky discharge to a good laboratory for a proper analysis in order to

confirm the type of organism and the appropriate antibiotics for its eradication.

In order to avoid a repeat of the infection, it is equally important for you to treat all your recent sexual contacts.

Blood in my sperm

vagina can be triggered by numerous reasons, such as childbirth, menopause, or simply natural growing old. In some cases, the incidence could be natural. The reason the vagina gets loose is the natural stretching and tearing of the muscles on the vaginal walls when you give birth or get old. As with every other part of our body, the vagina has mus-

cles that contract and relax when needed. But when we grow old, or the vagina goes through the trauma of childbirth the natural elasticity is reduced. There are numerous exercises and medications that have been proven to assist vaginal tightening. I can send you the appropriate website if you send me your email address.

been cleared, and you still have the breast changes, then it will be a good thing

feel concerned this weekend to further enlighten us on the issue of heart failure. There have been unnecessary apprehensions when people have minor heart related symptoms or worse still, if they had heart test and there is any abnormality. The conclusion in their mind is that the heart has failed. This is not 100% the case! Agreed, heart failure is a chronic debilitating disease, affecting the quality of life and the financial status of affected persons but except in rare cases, heart will not abruptly fail, many times it fails gradually. Rate of decline in the functions of heart depends on the etiology, associated environmental factors, and the attitude of the person concerned. This then means if you have symptoms or have any abnormalities detected on the test, it only calls for caution, not death sentence. Many in the past have hastened their death due to unnecessary worry and agitations which in turn compound the heart issues.

What is heart failure?

Heart failure is a disease state where the heart can no longer pump out enough blood to meet the demand of the body. It is not synonymous with cardiac arrest which is sudden cessation of heart pump function and leads to death if not urgently resuscitated. In heart failure, pumping of blood is there but not sufficient. With heart failure you can still live a full life, only you have to be cautious and follow the advice of your doctors to modify the rate of decline in order to lengthen the survival years. Heart failure per se is not a disease but final end point for all cardiac diseases. It can affect the right or the left sides of the heart, one at a time or both sides at once leading to what is called congestive heart failure.

In normal circumstances, when heart pumps out blood (systole), the muscle relaxes for the chambers to dilate (diastole) and be filled with oxygen - rich blood from lungs. This relaxation function can be defective and lead to diastolic heart failure. It can occur in isolation or in association with pumping failure, systolic heart failure. Excessive demand far above the ability of heart, even in the absence of structural damage can cause heart failure – high output heart failure, especially in pregnancy and thyrotoxicosis. This does not mean all pregnant

I usually notice blood in my sperm anytime I discharge after having sex. The experience has been really scary. I will appreciate any help you can give me on this problem.

Goodluck (by SMS) It is important to confirm if the blood is actually coming from your sperm or from an

to see your doctor for some investigations, including a mammography.

abrasion in your partner’s vagina. To confirm this, you will need to use a condom at the next sexual act. This will allow you to properly examine the sperm collected in the condom. If it is confirmed that the blood is actually in your sperm, you will need to send a sample of the sperm to the laboratory for a proper ex-

amination to rule out infection among other likely ailments.

Is washing the vagina good?

I want to know if washing the vagina is a good practice?

Amina (by SMS)

I noticed some changes in my breast such as a slight pain, some enlargement and a milky discharge anytime I press my breast. Kindly let me know what this means.

Ngozi (by SMS)

I

Dr. Wale Okediran 08055069356 (sms only)

My breast discharge

The first thing to do is to rule out the possibility of your being pregnant. This you can do with a pregnancy test. It is also important to know if you are not about to have your menses since some form of breast changes usually occur during the menstrual period.

Once these two issues have

Saturday Tribune

24 October, 2015

A healthy vagina is naturally acidic and contains rich quantities of beneficial bacteria that help fend off infections and maintain a normal pH level. A healthy vagina will also secrete small amounts of discharge to keep itself clean, much as saliva is produced to help cleanse your mouth.

Any interference with these normal conditions and you may face vaginal irritation

or infection.It is a good idea to avoid perfumed soaps, gels and antiseptics as these can affect the healthy balance of bacteria and pH levels in the vagina, and cause irritation.Use plain, unperfumed soaps to wash the area around the vagina (the vulva) gently every day. The vagina will clean itself inside your body with natural vaginal secretions (discharge). Some women use a douche to “clean” the vagina, but using a douche can disrupt the normal vaginal bacteria so it isn’t recommended that you use

one. All that a douche does is to flush water up into the vagina, clearing out vaginal secretions. There is no evidence that douching protects against STIs or vaginal infections, and it may even increase the risk.

Dr. Abiodun Adeoye adeoyemoshood@yahoo.com

08056564360, 08072000017 (sms only)

Facts about heart failure women develop heart failure.

Causes of heart failure The commonest cause of heart failure in Nigeria is hypertension which is persistent raised blood pressure equal or above 140/90mmHg. The problem is that not many people know they have hypertension until when complication has occurred. Uncontrolled high blood pressure results in damage to the heart (hypertensive heart disease) which occurs in stages, the first being thickening and enlargement of the heart, followed by inability of the heart to relax and be filled with oxygenated blood( diastolic dysfunction) and eventual systolic failure. If at a stage a doctor says you have hypertensive heart disease, it doesn’t mean the heart has failed but if adequate treatment or precautions are not applied, the heart may then fail.

Even in hypertensive heart failure, there are stages of damage which when people concerned present in early stage; the heart can still be salvaged. Unfortunately, most people, out of ignorance, present to hospital at the last phase called end stage hypertensive heart disease. The mode of treatment at this stage is a new heart (heart transplantation). From the foregoing, heart itself does not want to fail; it gives enough room for intervention to save the failing heart. Check your blood pressure today.

Valvular heart diseases: The commonest cause of damage to heart valves is largely preventable disease called rheumatic heart disease. Adequate personal hygiene and prompt treatment of that sore throat can completely eradicate this disease. Having this disease is not synonymous with heart failure, meaning with adequate treatment and

prophylactics, the heart may not fail. Simple logic here is prevention, so when next you have pain in your throat, consult your doctor for proper management. Rarely, with ageing process, the valves too can grow old and become defective- degenerative valvular diseases.

Coronary heart disease is a disease of the arteries that supply the heart with nutrients and oxygen. Being the strongest muscle in the body, heart muscle requires constant supply of blood. Acute presentation of coronary heart disease (heart attack) is the commonest cause of acute heart failure.

The management at this stage will determine whether the heart reverts to its earlier functional status or progress to chronic heart failure. Yes, this disease is now with us and the management is expensive, the best is to prevent the disease process by heart friendly lifestyles.

Cardiomyopathy: This implies problem with heart muscle which results in heart failure. Cardiomyopathy is termed to be a group of heart muscle disease with no known cause or causes. Recently with further studies, etiologies have been suggested for some of them. Genetic causes, for now, cannot be treated but other modifiable factors are controlled to prevent heart failure. Examples are dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause sudden death during exercises while dilated and restrictive cardiomyopathy present in frank heart failure that can be treated to improve quality of life. If there is history of sudden death in your family, kindly visit your doctor for echocardiographic check.

For further information on heart failure, join us next week. Till then, maintain a healthy heart!

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politics&policy

24 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune With Saheed Salawu 0811 695 4643

yinkadejavu@yahoo.com

Why I want to be president of Spain —Helen Mukoro

Nigerian-born Spanish female politician, Helen Mukoro Idisi, made history as the first woman and an immigrant to be contesting for the presidency of Spain.

The writer, legal consultant and forensic expert shares, in this interview with DOYIN ADEOYE, her passion, issues with the Igbo in Spain, how more women can be involved in politics, among other issues.

W

hy exactly do you want to be the president of Spain?

I am a good starting point to build a community based on the principles of respect and solidarity. Broadly speaking, there are a number of key points that make me a model candidate and a healthy unit that works for progress for all. And these points can serve as a self-assessment to ensure in every way that we would promote care of the environment; not act outside the limits of the law; propose many changes as we deem necessary to improve the quality of life in the country with a constructive attitude; avoid violence whenever possible, putting the dialogue as a means of conflict resolution; respect the rights of other living beings; be part of life in the country, its history and its decisions, enjoying their good times and helping to rebuild during its toughest crisis; assess other citizens, respect the role they play and their opinions.

I’m a candidate who is able to focus her speech on truth and nothing but the truth and on this basis, I make my campaigns trying to adjust my arguments on the values of life.

You contested for the Mayor of Denia earlier this year and lost, what went wrong, and how did you bounce back from the defeat?

We lost, but it was expected. We came to understand that our party was only three months old when we contested, and we carefully examined our actions and criticised where we failed. But there will always be politics, and we are aware that our existence in the social organisation and ethical standards is an indisputable fact.

You founded the political party, Union De Todos, what is the mission of the party?

We are a new horizon of political leadership, and our aim is to establish criteria for determining socially useful goals, which is given by the ability to propose a vision of the society that is inclusive of diverse interests and perspectives, which give coherence and meaning and to facilitate the incorporation of all or at least the majority in the various efforts to achieve the goals.

Despite the advanced state of politics across the world, many are still of the opinion that politics is not meant for women, how would you react to this?

There is no real institutional organisation, unless women are part of it. The institutional change will occur when a sufficient number of actors are women and that is when we may begin to perceive that a new and efficient institutional framework can replace the preceding, instead of looking for men saviours.

We should also ask for women leadership, as it is the only way our institutions can face challenges with painless solutions, solve problems that require us to learn new methods. To meet these challenges, we need a different idea of leadership and a new social contract that promotes women’s ability to adapt as active representatives of their interests and needs.

‘She is a woman, she is of African descent, and to worsen the scenario, she is a Nigerian.’ These, among others, are fears of many people who also believe in your political ambition, do you also reflect on this?

The exercise of democratic leadership entails balanced and effective development of political institutions, it has nothing to do with African or no African descent. To be accepted, you must prove a supply to the growing demand of transparency, responsibility and accountability. The Spanish Constitution does not ignore racism and discrimination, and it is the key motivation that channels the will of Spanish citizens of all descents to aspire to become a political leader, the Constitution is doing so with high standards of performance.

Many Africans are hardly fully accepted into the system by advanced countries, probably because of the unfortunate stereotype that Africans are fraud, was it a different scenario for you?

The continuous breach of the law by immigrants ranging from several episodes of organised crimes is a more telling

sign of a social protest motivated by unsatisfied vast sectors of the population. In any case, if there is lack of effective responses by the Spanish government in these dimensions, it can lead to the emergence of a total social protest and the emergence of conditions that may threaten the stability of the relationship between rulers and the ruled.

Similarly, in a democracy, no one is exempted from the obligation to enforce laws and all citizens must be treated equally in connection therewith. Both from a political as from a legal perspective, no one is in advance of all people in a democracy.

What influenced your foray into Spanish politics and how has the experience been so far?

Political representation has lost its purpose which is to define and identify the common good or collective interest in national society. I also looked at the growing inequality and social exclusion, widening gaps between minorities and majorities. I believe such extreme polarisations turned identifying common interests and shared projects within the society, impossible.

For all this, I decided to go into politics, to contribute in the best way possible so that those with individual needs can politically be represented; the Spanish crisis is best understood as society crisis, the positive impact our party will provide will be on the conditions of possibility of political representation.

Would you say you have what it takes to be a Spanish president?

To be a Spanish president is to be a politician with principles and values, to be aware of the poor condition of the population and be truthful in his speeches. In this way there will not be spaces for vainglory, false promises or a deliberate lie as a means to deceive their constituents.

I’m a candidate who is able to focus her speech on truth

and nothing but the truth and on this basis I make my campaigns trying to adjust my arguments on the values of life, which are truth, justice, unity, freedom, peace, harmony and life. This way one will not deceive the people and avoid exaggeration.

You had to renounce your Nigerian citizenship to become a naturalised Spanish citizen in 2013, did you do this because you knew you’d someday vie for the post of the president of Spain, or because you had just given up on Nigeria?

My husband is Spanish, we’ve been together for 17 years and we have a son who is 15. It is the first and only reason why I decided to be a Spanish citizen. It is also noteworthy that a citizen does not mean being born in a place, but responds to two main factors: the documentation and identity. Before the law, a person must meet certain requirements to be considered citizens, including direct or indirect descent from another citizen, with different limitations in each country.

How does it feel being the first African to contest for the Spanish presidential seat?

I am very proud of being the first woman, a Nigerian-born Spanish woman to contest for presidency in Spain and Europe. It is pride for Nigeria and a big pride for Africa.

Unfortunately a larger percentage of Nigerians over there are not Spanish nationals and so cannot vote, do you think this might affect your chances of winning?

No. One of the traits that essentially distinguishes the Spanish system of democracy is precisely the recognition that all citizens are equal before the law; all have the same right to participate in public affairs; originally all have the same power; and all have the same right to freely express Continues pg36

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24 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

Why PDP national officers must be sacked now —Senator Tunde Ogbeha

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State and Director-General of the Wada/Awoniyi Campaign Organisation, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, in this interview with YINKA OLADOYINBO, speaks on a number of issues, including the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the forthcoming governorship election in the state. Excerpts:

I

t is about five months into the current administration in the country, what is your view?

I don’t have a view for now because I think it is too early for me to assess the administration. I am part of the patient Nigerians who will wait to see what will happen. The appropriate time for me to assess the government will be when it has spent two years, when they will have reached their mid-term; then we will be able to assess and see what they are doing. For now, I think they are trying to get themselves organised and resolve the enormous issues they have before they start charting the path they want to tread. We are watching. I know that for now, a lot of things are not moving, but I believe if the government gets it right, things might move.

The president made Nigerians wait for over four months before announcing his ministernominees. Would you say the final list he released was worth the wait?

It is not a question of whether it is worth the wait, the president, during his October 1 broadcast, talked about the reasons for the delay and his reason was that he was reorganising the ministries, reducing the ministries, merging them and until that action was completed, he could not get his ministers. So, what he wanted to do was get his ministries on ground and merge them with the ministers. I have no reason not to believe what he said. So, it is not a question of waiting, now we have the ministers. We will see how they swing into action.

As a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), what are those things you feel were responsible for the dismal performance of the party in the last general election and what is the way forward for the party?

What happened in the last election is that we had that [Muhammadu] Buhari momentum that swept everywhere. Two, the PDP campaign at the federal level was not well organised; it was disorganised and the party assisted the opposition in its campaign mobilisation. We went into the election and the results are now history.

But to get the party organised, certain things have to be done. The present National Working Committee [NWC] should be disposed of. We should have a mini election to choose more competent and more honest people who are committed to the cause of the party. Fresh party mobilisation should commence. If we don’t do away with the present NWC, it will be difficult to revamp the party.

The argument against the dissolution of the NWC is that it has a tenure backed by the constitution. In view of this, do you think it will be easy to send the committee away?

If there is tenure, there is also a condition under which they can be removed - by conveying a special convention.

The chairman of the party has been removed and replaced with an acting chairman, whose tenure has expired, but who is still there. So, I believe that for every circumstance, there must be a remedy. Although I am not too clear, there must be a provision for getting rid of members of the NWC if there is the need for it in the constitution of the party and I believe there is the need for it now.

How do you think this can be handled without leading to further crisis and division in the party?

It cannot lead to the polarisation of the party. In a civilised democracy, if you lost an election woefully, the leadership [of your party] should go - they should resign.

We should be asking questions about what went wrong because the defeat was unexpected and I believe it was self-inflicted. The PDP inflicted that defeat on itself.

The party set up the Ike Ekweremadu commit-

Two, the PDP campaign at the federal level was not well organised; it was disorganised and the party assisted the opposition in its campaign mobilisation. We went into the election and the results are now history.

tee to go round the country and find out what went wrong and what should be done. Don’t you think the committee is capable of bringing back the lost glory of the party.

Unfortunately, I have not seen the report of the committee, which may be useful. But what I am saying is that whatever the committee recommends, if the current NWC members are not relieved, that report may not be useful. Any attempt to reform the party should not involve the present NWC. The members should not be part and parcel of the attempt to reform the party. The Ekweremadu committee might have made useful recommendations but if its report is to be implemented, it should not be by the current NWC. As a leader of Kogi, what is your assessment of

the state, 24 years after its creation?

We have made some significant progress but we cannot claim to be there yet, maybe the vision of the founding fathers has not been fully realised. So, there is room for improvement and we are hoping that this improvement can only be brought about by a PDP government just as we have seen in the past that PDP government is concerned about the welfare of the people, the progress and the development of the state. One thing we should know is that the state is not endowed with financial muscles, but what is most important is the prudent application of what is available and I think the current governor has been able to do that and he will continue to do it.

But the opposition has always said that there is nothing to show for the 12 years administration of the PDP in the state?

You don’t look at the current government and say they are responsible for all the problems of the state. We once had a governor who stayed for four years and at the end of the tenure, by the same admission of the chairman of his party, said that when their candidate was re-elected, he would return the money he had stolen. What was the figure? N11 billion. If that N11 billion was available for the development of the state, we would have gone a long way.

So, when you start having the rot from the beginning, it will be difficult. That is what President Muhammadu Buhari is saying, that so much rot has taken place; that he needs to clear the rot for him to make progress. So, we are still sorting out the rot that took place between 1999 and 2003.

There are arrears of pension and gratuity that were not paid and this government is paying those arrears. One can Continues pg36

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24 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

‘Igbo people in Spain drive my activities’ Continued from pg33

their opinion.

Many Igbos reacted negatively to your book on the corruption at the Nigerian embassy in Madrid, why is this so? What were the allegations and did this affect your political aspiration in any way?

I want to say a big thank you to Nigerians for their support, especially to the Igbo. My technical team and the brains behind me are Igbo who do not want to take glory but to make sure things go well for me.

To the Igbo in Spain, especially to those in Madrid, I’m short of words to say thank you for the mobilisation, the massive love the Igbo are showing towards me did not start today, when Delta State was created, a Delta Igbo gladly gave my family their flat the first two weeks we arrived in Asaba, I’m an Urhobo woman, but I don’t need to come from Igboland to say it proudly here, that I’m proudly Igbo.

The book I wrote about the corruption at the Nigerian Embassy “A Trade of Shame - Our Embassies, Dash Collectors’’ is based on repeated and consistent testimony of Nigerians in Spain and the corruption at the Embassy of Nigeria in Madrid (Spain) and how officials abused its power of state, and violated human rights by hurling unacceptable insults on Nigerian nationals and collect huge amount of money at the gate from Nigerians before rendering services to them.

The work also discusses the causes and consequences of administrative corruption and sociocultural impact. However, the long-term effect of this unholy transaction is often not considered. The fact is that corruption hurts us all. Corruption weakens our institutions, causing ruthless breaks in people’s lives. And I wonder why Nigerian leaders had closed their eyes to the accumulated historical bribery and corruption at our embassies, which often stem from complicated actions that cast the nation in bad light.

The Igbo in Spain are not angry with me for writing the book, they too are also victims, the story is, the Consul is Igbo and gave the Igbo a wrong story, he never told them I wrote a book on the corruption at the Embassy but that I’m against the Igbo, using his position in office to set a wild ethnic fire.

Another bias notion many Africans have is that the man should always lead, do you agree with this, and how supportive is your husband of your political career?

The notion many Africans have on “man should always lead” attitude involves a set of attitudes, behaviours, beliefs and social practices aimed to justify and promote behaviours perceived as discriminatory against women. This is not to negotiate or to seek for absolute equality or rights, but that both men and women should enjoy the same dignity as people.

My husband understands my passion for politics and he gives full support. If a husband has too many qualms about his wife’s political ambition, and he does not show his

support for her achievements, it will affect her view of things and have less motivation and performance.

How long have you been in Spain, and of all countries, why you choose to go to Spain?

I’ve been here for 23 years. I am here today because of the freedom, good system of democracy, the due process, the rule of law, etc.

Do you think Spain is ready for an African-Spanish president? As some may think that your aspiration is mere fantasy…

In the first place, Spain is a developed country and our institutional structure is to prevent discrimination at all levels. My political fantasy has a current historical background and that future generations of politicians will benefit from my political legacy that demonstrate that gender or immigration is more than ‘escapism.’

Do you get support from the Nigerian/African community?

Yes. Nigerians/Africans celebrate my historical political ambition. I have received messages from all walks of life, from different sectors and different political inclinations.

If you emerge as the president of Spain, what are your goals to make Spain a better country, and how do you think Africans outside Spain can also benefit from your administration?

My kind of leadership is given in the context of democratic institutional arrangements that favour consensus-building and contribute to the integration of all sectors. It is based on negotiation and agreement as a condition for the inclusion of the majority leadership in the political system.

In this sense, when we talk of democratic leadership, I’m referring to my profile as leader who meets at least the following characteristics: My actions and activities are based on dialogue and persuasion, not imposition, and I have a knowledge-based organisation and clarity about the mission and vision of the same leadership, I articulate the diversity that characterises all humans, allow the diversity of approaches and methodologies as a factor of growth and learning. I respect the leadership of others. I express particular values. Democracy is not just by what we say or the methodology applied; because it is expressed in human relationships and behaviour, deeply democratic values such as tolerance, pluralism, etc. I’m also interdependent. In this regard, I recognise that others are important for achieving the objectives of the organisation.

What would you say to African women, especially Nigerians, whose involvement in politics is still relatively low?

Women face two types of obstacles when participating in Nigerian political life. Structural barriers created by discriminatory laws and institutions continue to limit the

options for women to stand for election. The gaps on the capabilities mean that women are less likely than men to have education, contacts and resources necessary to become effective leaders. Here in Spain, we are the European country with more women in parliaments and regional governments and the second highest female representation in Europe.

A report by the Council of Europe on the participation of women and men in public decision-making bodies, places Spain among the top ten in the statistics relating to governments and parliaments. African women should do the same How was the experience while working in Nigeria, and can you let us into your family and education background?

I am a Spanish politician, writer, legal consultant and forensic expert. I was born in Delta State, Nigeria, to Mr Anthony Mukoro, the late Director General of the defunct Bendel State Government Treasury’s Cash Office, and Mrs Mary Mukoro, a retired Civil Servant at the Governor’s Office, Delta State, Nigeria.

I attended Saint Ita’s Girls College, Sapele, Delta State.

I hold a degree in Social Education; professional master degree in Criminology; Superior Professional Certificate in Criminal Law; Postgraduate Certificate in Tax and Labour Management; a postgraduate certificate in Forensic Psychology; a postgraduate Certificate in Immigration and Domestic Violence; studied law. I also have a diploma certificate in Agriculture from the College of Agriculture, Anwai, Delta State.

I worked at the Ministry of Agriculture, Benin City, Nigeria and was later deployed to the Women Affairs Department of the Governor’s Office as the Agricultural Officer, to help the rural women in agriculture.

I worked as a legal consultant at The Red Cross Society, Spain; CEO and President at The African Europe Chamber of Commerce; CEO/President at National Agency of Forensic Experts; Mediators and Technical Professionals of Spain and Europe. I am also an author of many books.

How do you combine being a politician, writer, legal consultant and a forensic expert all together?

How do you combine all these with the home? How do you relax?

You will like what you do as long as you’re motivated and it is the only thing that motivates you. I follow up and develop my potential in all I do. Reconciling work and family life is not working less, but working in a different way, with better quality of life, even if it means lower wage compensation, but with more flexible schedules.

I relax in simple ways to leverage with my family. We programme activities, according to our preferences, small excursions, visits to museums, parks, theatre, beach, day trips to different nearby towns, as a way to meet the region where we live.

‘Only Wada can actualise power shift in Kogi’ Continued from pg34

imagine what would have been the level of development if that N11 billion had been applied to the benefit of the state.

I am sure the state wouldn’t be where it is today. We don’t want the government to go back to 1999 and start finding out what has happened and what could be done. What the present government is doing is, applying prudence to the finances of the state and balancing human welfare with infrastructural development. It is simple when you are on the campaign train making promises, but when you get there, you will see that things are not the way you thought.

The governorship election in Kogi State is a few weeks away, how would you compare the two major candidates in the election, Governor Idris Wada and former governor Abubakar Audu?

The difference is very clear. I don’t see the basis for comparing them. Idris Wada is humble and God fearing. He has promoted peace in the state. He has tried to eliminate cultism and thuggery. Above all, he has been prudent with the state’s finances. He is not a focus of investigation for [the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission] EFCC, [Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission] ICPC or Code of Conduct Bureau.

But you cannot say the same about the other candidate and I know that a leopard does not change its skin. There is no re-branding that can change the other candidate. We know him and the people believe he is coming back for

vengeance, but government is not like that; government is not to settle scores. You might be there and continue to settle scores and by the time you finish, you won’t be able to do anything. So, we want to live in an atmosphere of peace. We want everybody’s life to be secure. We want elimination of thuggery and what is even more important is humility. So, as I said, the difference is clear.

Are you not worried that the APC, now in power at the centre, can use federal might against you at the election?

Obviously, one should be worried, but we are trusting that the president is a man of conviction, a man who believes in equal opportunity. So, he will provide a conducive environment for all parties. I believe that the election of Buhari was not about the APC but about Buhari himself. The APC rode on the back of Buhari to win the election. If you remove Buhari today, the APC will collapse like a pack of cards. Many people who won in Kogi State in the last general election did so because of the Buhari hurricane, otherwise those people can’t go anywhere. We saw in the House of Assembly election that the PDP recovered and won the majority of seats.

One of the issues dominating discussions over the forthcoming election is power shift. Do you think the PDP can be trusted over this issue?

I believe in power shift. Our democracy has not developed to the extent where we forget about ethnic consideration.

If you want to give a sense of belonging to every part of the state, power must rotate. I took on the challenge to be the director general of this campaign because I am convinced that Wada and PDP in Kogi State are the best committed set that can ensure this power rotation. Wada is committed to it, he is not paying lip service and as a party, we have resolved to ensure power rotation. We have set up a committee to work out the modalities for power shift in the state. That is how far we have gone and when that report is out, we have the next four years to try and implement it.

The issue of power shift/rotation is not a lipservice thing and it is not a business for one man; it must be a movement, people must believe in it. It is beyond the governor.

The governor can believe in it and drive it, but the people must also believe in it and be committed. So, it is our duty to sensitise the people of Kogi State to make them understand why they should support power rotation. It is beyond one person; somebody can’t say he will ensure power rotation. I have been in the business of this power rotation since 2011 and it has not worked. If you saw the primary of the APC, you would see that there were betrayals in terms of power rotation and it didn’t work. What the PDP and Wada are saying is that let us have the principle and the modalities and in the next four years, we will work towards it. So, by next four years, we will know that the next governor will come from the central or the west. That is what we are aiming at. If I don’t believe in it, I won’t take up this job. I also know that the governor is honest about it. He is somebody whose word is his bond.

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24 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

38

feature

24 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

2015 hajj tragedies: ‘I was 15 metres away from the stampede’

Two tragedies of note occurred during the recently held 2015 hajj — ­ the September crane collapse at the Grand Mosque in Mecca where about 111 people were killed with 394 injured—and the Mina stampede in which 1859 people reportedly suffocated. The incidents represent the deadliest in the history of hajj.

Saturday Tribune’s TAIBAT ALIMI engaged some of the returning pilgrims in Ibadan, Oyo State who shared their experience on the incidents.

Alhaji Abdulhakeem Adebayo I was in my hotel room during the first tragedy. The first information I heard about the tragedy was just like a warning from the chairman of the Osun State Pilgrims Welfare Board. Immediately after the day’s rain and the thunderstorm, the chairman warned that we should not go to Masjid alHaram until after Subhi (morning prayer) when he would be certain there was no problem. According to the chairman, whenever rain falls in Mekkah the way it did that day, there was a probability of a tragedy.

Incidentally, immediately after Magrib, (evening prayer) someone beside me was called from the United States of America and informed that they watched on the Cable News Network (CNN) scenes of a disaster at Haram.

That was when I heard the news about the crane tragedy.

I was on my way to Jamrah when the second tragedy happened, so I saw the stampede; I was about 15 metres away from the incident and it was emotional seeing pilgrims suffering in the ensuing melee. Actually, I saw them carrying the first casualty who was a Saudi security officer.

I do not know any of the victims personally but there is someone I know who is still missing.

The tragedy strikes me hard but it also passed the message that one should always abide by the instruction given by constituted authorities. Had it been that people listened to the Saudi authorities’ security instructions perhaps, the stampede would have been averted.

I was there live so I don’t believe most of what was written in the media that some pilgrims forcefully passed through a route they were not supposed to pass. This particular road (where the tragedy occurred) was blocked for people going towards Jamrah because the Saudi authorities wanted people coming from Jamrah to pass through that place which happened to be a shortcut and everyone wanted to pass through that place to Jamrah they thereby forcefully broke the gate. By the time the pilgrims started running those people coming from Jamrah saw them coming. The panic situation started where about 50,000 people met from opposite directions.

The advice I have for the people going next year is that they should avoid doing any of the hajj activities alone.At least, they should be about three or more in a group and when there is a problem, the group should ensure the chain is not broken, as it is easier for one person to fall but difficult for three or more people to fall at a time.

Alhaji Bakare Adekunle I was at my hotel when a heavy rain started accompanied by thunderstorm when we were planning to go to Haram for magrib prayer. Within an hour the rain stopped. We later heard the news that one of the cranes fell on people praying as those that sustained injuries were taken care of and those killed were buried according to Islamic injunction. The stampede happened immediately I left Jamrah for Makkah. On our way to Makkah, we sighted ambulance going towards Jamrah so we were told that there was stampede at the Jamrah. I went with the Oyo State contingent.

Fortunately, there is no record of casuality for the state but we later knew the prayer leader at the camp of Borno which we joined, a professor from Maiduguri, and some others were involved. Two of those we went together from the state died but it was natural death which occurred before the incidents. Personally I was not affected by the tragedy, though we all pray to Allah that death should meet us with good deeds so I was consoled by the fact that they died while worshipping Allah. They are so blessed. My advice to those going on pilgrimage next year is that they should not panic unnecessarily whenever such incidents occur.

I think people should follow instructions of their pilgrim board, especially in being timely at prayer sessions so that they don’t deprive others the chance to take their turns.

Alhaja Daud Rafiat I was at Haram preparing for Tawaf when the first incident happened but I thank Allah; to me I thought it was the end time because everyone including me, was scared.

Alhaja Bakare Adekunle Alhaji Abdulhakeem Adebayo

There was a heavy breeze and I could not perform ablution when the rain started.

There were people at the Ka’abah as I could see it from where I was. Suddenly I heard a thunderous sound and few seconds later I got the news from someone that a crane fell and people were involved. All of a sudden people were taken to the hospital and those that were killed were packed.

Each state was given time to perform the activity of throwing stones, but we had already left before the stampede incident so I cannot say this is how it happened specifically. All I heard was ‘hearsay’ because I was not at the scene so I cannot give a vivid account of what really happened. The two people who escaped death that I know were the couple coordinating the hostel where we stayed. These tragedies did not affect me in any way as it made me more enlightened that Allah is good to be served.

Alhaja Daud Rafiat

was raining heavily and everywhere was very dark due to the rain so we decided to stay back to pray then we got the news from people who were at Haram that one of the cranes fell on people. How it happened only Allah knows. Those close to the crane were the ones afAlhaji Bakare Adekunle fected even as we were at the hotel the whole building was shaking heavily as the rain also passed through out Air-Conditioners, we were all scared Alhaja Bakare Khadijat I was in my hotel when the crane tragedy happened but the hoteliers were happy and thanking Allah and comwhile I was preparing to go to Haram around evening, it mending our visit to Saudi Arabia as a good one. On the day of the stampede, I just passed the place of the incident moments before it happened on my way to Makkah then I saw ambulances rushing towards Jamrah. On getting back to Mina, I heard there was a stampede. The person I know was affected during the stampede studies at Makkah but he is getting better at the hospital. The tragedy did not affect me but the advice I have for those going on pilgrimage next year is that they should believe in Allah. If I die there it is Allah’s will, it did not stop acts of worship as a Muslim because the day after the crane incident people still went on with their worship activities to Allah. It is good to die in the worship of Allah as people prefer to die in cause of worshipping Allah.

Giving an account, the husband said he had to jump to escape while the wife said people fell on her but she managed to escape narrowly

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I’m back in the classroom where I belong —Fadiora, ex-LAUTECH Teaching Hospital CMD

The immediate past Chief Medical Director of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Professor Solomon Fadiora, in this interview with OLUWOLE IGE, speaks about his headship of the hospital, challenges in the nation’s health sector, among other issues. Excerpts:

A

bout three weeks ago, your tenure as the head of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital ended. How would you describe your experience?

It was a very good, interesting experience. I have a master’s degree in Health Management and Planning and my result was the best in Africa. I have the knowledge of handling a hospital. When I assumed office, the hospital was in shambles. As a matter of fact, it was at the peak of a rivalry between Oyo and Osun states over the ownership of LAUTECH. Then, personnel moved massively from the teaching hospital here to the one in Ogbomoso. It will remain on record that a former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, said LAUTECH was a kitchen and people moved away from here. As of that time, there was no patient, no doctor; everybody had disappeared.

That was when I came on board. I kick-started the hospital by employing medical officers and later, I employed consultants. Those who left, whom I could approach, were contacted and they came back. It is on record that LAUTECH has the highest number of consultants in the country because the bulk of the consultants are supposed to be from the university.

We started the hospital and also employed resident doctors. Our medical students are doing fine because we have a very high success rate in Africa and the records are there for everybody to see. We have a lot of equipment.

Only a few hospitals could boast of having more medical equipment than us. We have to commend the governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, who made all these things possible. We have new buildings, including laboratory complex and pharmacy amenity complex. Inside the pharmacy amenity complex, we have the palliative department and drug production unit. We now produce drugs by ourselves. We commenced with liquid drugs, but we have the capacity to produce tablets and capsules. Besides that, we have oxygen plant, unlike before when we would to go Ibadan and Lagos for oxygen. We also sell oxygen.

The laboratory complex is ready for inauguration. It can compete favourably with any of its kind in West Africa.

Similarly, we have started the construction of new 200-bed wards because we discovered that wards we currently have cannot accommodate our patients. We are also constructing new operating theatre and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The theatre we are using is about 40 years old.

While you were at the helm, what were the challenges faced by the hospital and how were the challenges handled?

I consulted with critical stakeholders on the need to support the hospital and we usually had positive responses.

Now, LAUTECH is recognised among teaching hospitals in the country. We now have affiliations with institutions in Ukraine and the United States of America. The major challenge we faced was finance, but we were able to weather the storm. This was achieved through a good interaction with the authorities. Due to the gesture of the governor, we got funds to raise the standard of the hospital. Other challenges we had were those any teaching hospital could have, such as resident doctors going on strike. But I know how to handle such a challenge. Sometimes, I hosted the resident doctors and interacted with them, thereby making them happy and have a sense of belonging. Within short periods, they called off strikes. We had used that system to until recently, when I left, and the whole thing became a problem. And you can get involved in an issue only when you are invited.

What legacies did you leave behind?

I left footprints in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital that can never be erased. If you remove my tenure from the hospital, then you can’t have the hospital again. One thing that I will be remembered for is that I raised the standard of the hospital such that it now competes favourably with other teaching hospitals in West Africa.

For a hospital that was called a kitchen some time ago to now rate as the second best in West Africa attests to the fact that we have performed excellently. Other teach-

strike, a situation which he has been unable to manage.

In those days, nobody was interested in becoming the CMD. They ran away. Those people that ran away are the ones struggling to be the CMD now that the hospital has attained an enviable status. I have left a system that is enviable locally and internationally. ing hospitals are now coming to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital to see what we have done so that they can replicate it in their hospitals. Enugu, Kogi and the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching hospitals have sent delegations to come and see what we have done. Kogi teaching hospital has been inviting me personally for technical assistance. Now, based on what they have seen here in LAUTECH, Enugu teaching hospital has commenced the construction of its oxygen plant. Our [Intensive Care Unit] ICU is magnificent. In the facility, we have four static ventilators and one mobile ventilator. These are rare equipment in most hospitals. Our palliative unit is rated high in West Africa. LAUTECH has attained an enviable position and that is why everybody wants to become its CMD. In those days, nobody was interested in becoming the CMD. They ran away. Those people that ran away are the ones struggling to be the CMD now that the hospital has attained an enviable status. I have left a system that is enviable locally and internationally. Our ENT machines are marvelous.

But the acting CMD, Professor Akeem Olawale Lasisi, said recently that he took over a comatose hospital. What is your reaction to this?

He must have either been misquoted or made that statement out of ignorance. If LAUTECH Teaching Hospital were comatose, it would not have been necessary for him to come. Nobody would want to take over a comatose hospital. He would not lobby so much to preside over a comatose hospital. The media can go to the hospital to confirm whether it is comatose or not. That is the way I look at it, besides the fact that the resident doctors are on

As a stakeholder in the health sector, what do you think can be done by the Federal Government to ensure better healthcare service delivery to the citizenry?

The government needs to take a solid decision. It should make people realise where they belong. Consultants, doctors and other categories of health workers should know where they belong so that unhealthy rivalry that is creating problem can easily be addressed. That is the major reason health workers embark on strikes. Nigeria is not the only country that has hospitals. There is the need for the people to check what obtains in other countries. They should stop adopting militant approaches to resolving issues. We need a system that will call a spade a spade. This will enable us to move forward in the health sector.

As the longest serving CMD of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, what informed your success in the face of challenges?

I was trained and I was able to showcase that training despite any form of challenge. If there is going to be an industrial dispute, you listen to each of the unions or associations. When they put up an argument, you try and let them see the other side of it. By the time you do that, you avert crisis. Jaw-jaw is better than war. Everybody would know what they are supposed to do. They are not animals, but human beings. I must thank Governor Aregbesola for giving me the opportunity to serve and for having listening ears. He was always there anytime I came for discussion on LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. He has assisted that hospital tremendously. In fact, he picked the hospital from the scratch and nurtured it to its present state. I am grateful, again, to the state House of Assembly because they supported me in a big way. Whenever I raised any complaints, they always helped me out. I must also commend all the unions in LAUTECH for their assistance and cooperation. In the same vein, the consultants assisted me a lot in achieving during my tenure, especially in training the resident doctors and ensuring quality health services to the populace. I am grateful as well to the people of Osun State for having confidence in the efficiency of LAUTECH. I equally thank people from neighbouring states such as Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi for exploring our medical services.

Now that you have left LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, what is next for you?

I am a lecturer. I have gone back to the classroom. I will still be performing surgeries in the hospital. I went back to the classroom because that is where I belong.

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24 October, 2015

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Eulogies, tributes for Adebutu at 80

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ir Kesington Adebutu’s philanthropic gestures to Methodist’s cause, sometimes beats imagination —Bishop

1958 in Lagos. “I have known Adebutu since 1958 in Lagos, when he had his Face to Face Pool office at Agege Motor Road. I used to help my uncle to pay his stake at the office.

However, I had a very close personal relationship with him about 18years ago and since then, I have no regrets moving closer to him. My closeness to him has been a source of great benefit to me and my community, Irolu-Remo. When I was launching my autobiography during my 25th year coronation anniversary, he was the chairman of the book launch and he donated N2.5million and there, I informed him and others at the event that the money realised through the book launch would be used to build a palace for Irolu-Remo. To this cause, Sir Adebutu has also promised to contribute to it whenever we were ready to start it. So basically, Sir Kesington Adebutu is a man with a large heart who loves helping people.

He is a philanthropist of note. He is a good man and I bless the name of God, for blessing Remo kingdom with a person like him. He has done a lot for Remo kingdom and that was what informed the unanimous decision of the Remo Traditional Council to honour him with the chieftaincy title of Balogun of Remo kingdom, during the 25th coronation anniversary of Akarigbo recently,” he said.

Opoko The Secretary of Conference, Methodist Church Nigeria, Bishop (Dr.) Chibuzo Raphael Opoko, on behalf of the Prelate, His Eminence, Dr Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche and the entire Methodist people, has described Sir Kesington Adebutu as a man that God has gloriously endowed with enormous physical, intellectual and financial strength to cater for the causes of humanity.

Bishop Opoko stated this in his office at Wesley House, Marina, Lagos while speaking in an interview on the 80th birthday of Sir Adebutu.

The bishop also described him as an inspirational enigma for both the young and old in Nigeria and across Africa. “His philanthropic gestures have marked him out as a man whom anyone can connect with and experience a turnaround from nothing to something valuable. He is indeed a life changer and a brilliant game player for the right ideals that propel men and women to enviable heights,” he said.

Speaking on his contributions, which he described as tremendous to the development of Methodist Church, Opoko noted that “his place as a devout Christian and a core Methodist speaks volumes of passion, zeal and commitment to the things of God. Apart from his numerous contributions to various developmental projects in the church, he has also made significant contributions to the Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo in a way that sometimes beat imagination.’’

Sir Kesington Adebutu is a philanthropist per excellence —Asiwaju Onafowokan The Asiwaju of Remo Kingdom, Asiwaju Solomon Kayode Onafowokan has described the chairman of Premier Lotto and Balogun of Remo Kingdom, Sir Adebutu Kesington as a philanthropist per excellence. Onafowokan disclosed this in an interview on the life of Sir Adebutu at 80.

According to him, Adebutu Kesington is a man of many parts who has used his God-given resources to help the cause of humanity. He described Adebutu’s philanthropic gestures as second to none in Nigeria. His words: “Aside from government, I have not seen any individual in the country whose philanthropic gestures have exceeded that of Sir Adebutu Kesington. His philanthropic gesture transcends Remoland and Ogun State. It cuts across all the length and the breadth of Nigeria.

Through his foundation, Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF), he has helped so many indigent but brilliant students to realise their dreams in life. He has also through the foundation, helped so many underprivileged Nigerians on so many humanitarian causes.

What of developmental projects in so many communities and institutions in Nigeria? Sir Kesington Adebutu has done a lot without asking for public praises,” he said.

Speaking on his relationship with him, the chairman, Cable Wire Ltd said that Sir Adebutu has been his agedlong family and business friend. “Before I became the Asiwaju of Remo Kingdom and the Balogun of Remo Kingdom, we had been relating as family and business friends. We have done a lot together in business. He is a business tycoon, just as I am an industrialist. Despite our ages, we still both believe in giving back to the society.

Sir Adebutu is a wonderful man. I wish him long life in robust health and peace of mind,’’ he stated.

Kesington Adebutu, a man with a lot of respect for traditional institutions —Oba Sikiru Adeyiga The Onirolu of Irolu-Remo, His Royal Majesty Oba Sikiru Adeilo Adeyiga has described Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu as a man who has great respect for traditional institutions.

According to him, Sir Adebutu is a man who holds in high esteem, the traditional institutions. “Sir Kesington Adebutu is a man of culture who gives full regard to the traditional institutions across Yorubaland and even the whole country, Nigeria. He is full of much respect for we obas. In fact he calls us ‘Baba’, and never jokes or treats with levity, any issue that concerns us. He is ever ready to support us, both morally and financially in any progressive cause we call him into,” he stated.

Speaking about his personal relationship with the lotto magnate, Oba Adeyiga disclosed that it dated back to

Adebutu, a man of extremely large spirit of giving —Remi Omotoso The chairman of Standard Chartered Bank, Sir Remi Omotoso has described Sir Adebutu Kesington as a man with an extremely large spirit of giving, who loves giving without undue noise and public attention.

According to him, “there are many admirable parts to this great man.

But the most appealing to me and my family is his extremely large spirit of giving without any undue noise and public attention. To young and the elderly, to sacred institutions and the civil society, to educational causes and many more, Sir Kesington is a cheerful giver. It will interest you to know that, the man started social security welfare programme long ago in Remoland, where he pays monthly salary to all aged people, from the age of 70 above. It will surprise you that he has the list of all these people and he pays them salary every month for their upkeep,” he said.

Speaking on his role as the chairman, Board of Trustees of Wesley University of Science and Technology, (WUSTO), Ondo, Omotoso disclosed that, he was the one who suggested that Adebutu should be made the chairman of the university’s board. “Having closely studied him for years, as a man who has the passion of supporting a noble cause, I suggested to the Methodist that he should be made the chairman, Board of Trustees of our university, WUSTO. When he heard about this, he asked whether truly I suggested his name as the chairman and I said yes. Immediately, without blinking his eyes, he accepted the offer. And since he has been made the chairman, Sir Adebutu has contributed so significantly to the development of the university, by using his personal money at times to finance it,” he said.

In his goodwill message to him, Omotoso prays for God’s enablement for him to continually give in cash and in kind until He calls him home at the fullness of time.

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feature

24 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

From left, Globacom Brand Ambassador, OC Ukeje; Brand Specialist, Globacom, Chineye Ojukwu; Brand Ambassador, Paul Okoye; another Globacom ambassador, Van Vicker and Manager, Devices and Partnership, Odafe Akerejola, at the launch of Free Tomorrow at the Mike Adenuga Towers, Lagos, recently.

For Glo customers, everything is Free Tomorrow acom network, whether young or old, rich or striving, can enjoy the benefit.

“By extension, the subscriber enjoys at magine going to a first class least 15 days of free credit in a month restaurant to have a sumptuous on the Globacom network. With the meal and being served the full 15 days recharge respite, the Glo subvalue and quantity of the same scriber is not only empowered to enjoy meal the next day, free of charge! our services the more, but is also enThis is what Globacom offers its subabled to make substantial financial savscribers as they will henceforth enings,” he said. joy an unprecedented 15 days of free “The uniqueness of Free Tomorrow is calls, SMS and internet browsing that the free credit can be used anyhow every month, courtesy of a new offer the subscriber wishes for calls to any launched by the company recently in network or for data.

The subscriber can Lagos to excite and add more value also use the bonus credit to call friends, and benefits to subscribers’ experifamily and business associates in Nience on the network. geria and any five of the most frequently At the launch attended last week called countries by Nigerians, including by the crème of the entertainment Unites States of America, China, India, in Nigeria, most of whom are Glo Canada and land lines in the United brand ambassadors, including Peter Kingdom,” Mr Akerejola added. and Paul Okoye (P Square); Chinedu “Globacom is a world-class brand Okolie (Flavour); Korede Bello of dedicated to providing world-class God win fame; Ghollywood star, Van voice and data services. We are more Vicker; Hadiza Blell (Di Ja); and Nolcommitted to providing best value-forlywood star, OC Ukeje, Globacom’s money and making our products and Head, Devices and Partnerships, Mr. From left, Globacom Brand Ambassador, Chinedu Okolie (Flavour); Brand Specialist, Globacom, Nofisat Balogun; Globacom’s services accessible to our current and Odafe Akerejola said Free Tomorrow Retail and Consumer Sales Chief, Mr. David Maji; Brand Ambassador, Korede Bello and another Globacom ambassador, Peter prospective subscribers,” he opined measures exactly the value of how Okoye, at the launch of Free Tomorrow, at the Mike Adenuga Towers, Lagos, recently. while promising that Globacom would much data and airtime a subscriber continue to upgrade its infrastructure, uses in a day for calls, SMS and interhim back N500 credit the very next day. This means that net browsing, upload and download in a day, and then the subscriber gets back for free the next day all the data people and technology towards developing and maincredits the subscriber the next day with the same value of and airtime he or she used the previous day and the free taining a communications technology that is second to the previous day’s usage for free. What’s more, the sub- credit can be used to browse the internet, make calls or to none in Africa.

He further disclosed that the quality and capacity of the scriber enjoys the privilege of using the credit on and off send texts to any network. It is like going to a first class network had been enhanced to accommodate the anticipnetwork as well as making international calls and using restaurant to have a sumptuous meal and being served ated traffic that the new exciting promos would add to data on network. the full value and quantity of food the next day, free of the network “For instance, if a Globacom subscriber uses N500 charge” Akerejola explained.

He advised subscribers interested in Free Tomorrow to credit in a day on calls, SMS and data, Globacom will give According to him, all prepaid subscribers on the Globdial *300# to enjoy the offer.”

By Yinka Moses

I

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outofthisworld

Saturday Tribune WITH FEMI OSINUSI

osfem2@yahoo.com 08055069292

Malaysian Sultan paid N220m to build truck that he will use to have fun

S

ULTAN Ibrahim Ismail is the monarch of the Malaysian State of Johor.

He is one of the richest men in the Asian continent. He is noted for doing the unusual, especially in his Sultanate. He also loves to party to the fullest.

Recently, he decided to spend about $1 million (about N220 million) to ask a company to build him a customised truck which will be used to carry his speed boat to wherever he is travelling to.

The truck, according to the Daily Mail of UK, is also said to have a double bed, refrigerator, kitchen, big screen television set and also a deck for partying ‘on the go.’

The truck was said to have been built by a company in Brisbane, Australia and will be shipped to Singapore for onward delivery to Malaysia.

The truck with the deck for ‘partying’

The Sultan

The interior with bed, refrigerator, television set, among others

The truck will carry the Sultan’s speed boat

The head of the truck

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sports

24 October, 2015

U-23 Nations Cup: Iheanacho,

Iwobi lead invitees for Senegal 2015 camping

By Ahmed Pele

M

ANCHESTER City star, Kelechi Iheanacho and 50 others have been invited by the head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 national team (Dream Team), Samson Siasia in preparation for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations holding in Senegal from November 28 to December 12 this year.

The list is made up of 35 home-based and 16 overseas-based professionals.

Iheanacho leads the overseas legion which also has Arsenal’s, Alex Iwobi, Turkey–based Azubuike Okechukwu (captain of the team), Belgium-based Moses Simon, Spain–based

Isaac Success and Germany–based Taiwo Awoniyi, among others.

According to the list released by the former Super Eagles coach, Siasia, the home-based players invited are Usman Mohammed of FC Taraba; Enugu Rangers’ goaltender, Emmanuel Daniel; Abia Warriors defender, Erhun Obanor; Warri Wolves midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo; Enyimba midfield maestro, Kingsley Sokari; Sharks’ Chima Akas and Christian Pyagbara; Segun Oduduwa of Nath Boys and Adebayo Ajadi of 36 Lions, among others.

The home-based players invited are expected to report to the Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye camp, Abuja, immediately, while the for-

eign-based players would report at the team’s final training camp before the tournament.

Iheanacho

Dikko leads Eagles to B/Faso CHAIRMAN of the League Management Company (LMC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko will lead Nigeria’s delegation to this weekend’s 2016 CHAN qualifier in Burkina Faso.

Nigeria won the first leg in Port Harcourt 2-0 a week ago with the overall winners advancing to the CHAN final tournament in Rwanda in January.

A charter Arik Air aircraft will fly out of the Port Harcourt International Airport at about 5.30pm Nigerian time, and will land in the Burkinabe capital after about two-and-half hours.

NFF’s second vice president, Dikko will lead a delegation that also includes chairman of NFF technical committee, Felix AnyansiAgwu; deputy general secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme; deputy director of compe-

titions, Ayobola Oyeyode and assistant director of communications, Ademola Olajire.

There will also be 22 players, 13 technical and backroom staff, a number of stakeholders, some NFF staff, a couple of media representatives and members

of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club.

The Super Eagles will have the official training at the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou today evening, while the match is slated 4.00pm (5pm Nigeria time) tomorrow at the same venue.

WAUG championship ends today Abiodun Jimoh - Nsukka THE 4th West African University Games (WAUG) hockey and football championship hosted by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Enugu will end today, just as the football final will be decided to wrap up the day.

The UNN vice chancellor, Professor Benjamin C. Ozumba will play host to dignitaries from all walks

of life that would grace the closing ceremony.

Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is anticipated to declare the event closed.

The sports fiesta organised by WAUG in collaboration with the UNN Sports Council commenced on October 15 with about 1000 athletes and officials from 26 universities across the sub-region, mostly from Nigeria participating.

Toyota car up for grabs at Wuraola Ojo memorial golf tourney SPONSORS of the annual Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Memorial Golf Invitationaltournament, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) have staked a brand new Toyota Fortuner 2.7litre engine leather seat SUV as the prize for the winner of Hole – in – one.

The Smokin Hills Golf Club Ilara Mokin owned

by Chief Michael Ade Ojo (OON) will for the third time host this year’s tournament making its 12th edition to commemorate the transition of his late wife,

Mrs Elizabeth Ojo. According to the Public Relations Manager, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mrs Bukunola Ogunnusi, this edition promises a mouth watering package that will leave an enduring golfing experience to the participants.

She stated that the Shot Gun System will be adopted for the tournament as it was in the previous two editions.

Tournament tees off on November 6, 2015 by professionals taking to the

course, while the amateur men and ladies would take to the endearing topography of the Smokin Hills on November 7.

“It is worth noting that Toyota (Nigeria) Limited in its characteristic manner will be sponsoring the hole 13 with a Toyota Fortuner 2.7 litre engineleather seat SUV as the Hole – in – one prize this year, while some of the latest models from the stables of Toyota will also be on display during the tournament.

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It is time for Africa to head FIFA —Odegbami

UNARGUABLY, former international, Chief Segun Odegbami (MON), remains a household name in Nigerian football given his antecedents. He was a member of the IICC Shooting Stars which brought first continental honour to Nigeria in 1976 when the team clinched the then African Cup Winners Cup. Odegbami was also a member of the Green Eagles squad which won the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1980; the first time ever by Nigeria.

The Ogun State-born engineer by profession in this interview with the Group Sports Editor, GANIYU SALMAN, speaks on his FIFA presidency bid for which where he is seeking nomination first from the Nigeria Football Federation, alongside former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.

‘Mathematical’, as he is fondly called by his admirers, declares that the odds are indeed against him to succeed Sepp Blatter despite having what it takes to occupy the exalted office. Excerpts:

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HAT informed your decision to join the race?

There is a vacancy in FIFA and it requires a new kind of leadership. For Sepp Blatter to step down as a result of accusations of corruption and over time, he has now seen that it has affected a lot of members of the executive and even those outside to the extent that the integrity of the organisation has been affected. FIFA needs a new leader who was not part of the old rot, I mean those who have not been afflicted with this scandal. Given that scenario, FIFA needs a leader with knowledge, experience and more than anything, integrity.

I look at myself, well, I know I have disadvantages. Firstly, I am an African, secondly, I am a Nigerian, thirdly I am a blackman and fourthly, not many people know my antecedents outside from playing football. They know that I played football prominently for my country and club, but they don’t know the other aspect of my life outside football. So, it is going to be extremely difficult for somebody like me to become FIFA president, but as I keep saying, it’s like a lottery, you can never win lottery except you bought a ticket. It’s not about soliciting for votes. Let us put our credentials, our character, our integrity forward and see what happens.

For whatever reasons, it will come to a point an African will be considered FIFA president because Europe has held it seven times and South America once.

So it should be the turn of an African and that is why I have put my name forward. My sermon is that let’s give an African a chance this time. I believe I have the credentials, integrity and enough knowledge across the spectrum of football to contest properly for the FIFA

presidency.

What about the financial implication as it is believed that it involves moving round all the continents soliciting for votes?

Well, when Sepp Blatter was going to contest for the FIFA presidency, did he come to Nigeria? People don’t understand how it works particularly this time. How can anybody visit all the 209 countries that make up FIFA and you have a few weeks to the election? It is practically impossible.

Secondly, we are talking on issues of money and corruption, so, what are you going to use the money for?

If a candidate cannot travel to all the countries, what is the money meant for? Are you going to bribe for votes or what? It cannot work this time because you don’t know who is monitoring. In fact, the eyes of the world are on the issue of football and leadership. So, everybody is being careful, there is nothing like needing money and even if it is needed, who says I cannot afford the basic needs of life. For me to contest, I can afford the cost of electionering and secondly I am not representing myself. My country will definitely support me not necessarily in terms of funding but logistics and political contacts.

How do you want to solicit for votes?

Nobody can move around all the FIFA-member countries canvassing for votes; we have not even got to that point.

In fact, the deadline for the submission of nomination for the FIFA presidential election is, October 26 but we have not heard anything from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yet.

After the nominations for the poll have been sent to

news

Odegbami

FIFA, it will look at the list of all the applicants and see those who have met the requirements and even conduct an integrity test. FIFA will find out if the candidate been suspended before, has it been indicted before and so on before it will now come out with the list of those who are eligible to contest for the election. After that, then one can start planning for the election campaign which must be strategic. It is not even about junketing around the world.

So, we know this and we are working towards.

Nigeria can only present a candidate for the election and you have another Nigerian (Chief Orji Uzor Kalu) in the race, what do you think is going to happen?

Of course, I have made my intention known that I want to contest for the FIFA presidency, it doesn’t matter who is picked. I know that you must provide an evidence that you have been actively involved in football activitity in your country for two years in the last five years and the only way to prove that is through the endorsement of the football federation.

It’s the football federation that will attest to the choice of the candidate and that means, they must have done their test before the nomination of the candidate. When you have two persons, then the NFF will have to pick one nominee and that is it.

In other words, you have to get endorsements from any five countries after the nomination by your country, it is not that these countries will even vote for you and lastly, you have to pass the integrity test which FIFA will conduct before you can stand for the election proper.

What is going to happen if eventually, NFF did not endorse your candidature?

I can’t seek any endorsement from any country when my country has not nominated me uptill now and we have days. It is left to the NFF to decide on who to pick as Nigeria’s nominee. I am okay by NFF’s choice. Everybody knows.

I have played my own part, there is no word yet from the NFF. However, I cannot start to speculate on what has not happened, let’s wait and see first.

Nigeria’s economy in danger —Emir Sanusi

EMIR of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called on the Federal Government to devalue the naira and warned that Nigeria’s economy is in danger of a long term slump unless the government confronts slowing growth.

“Let’s stop being in denial, we cannot artificially hold up the currency,” Sanusi, according to Bloomberg, said in a speech on Thursday in Lagos, broadcast on CNBC Africa.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who opposes a weakening of the naira, “needs help on the economy,” Sanusi said.

Under current governor, Godwin Emefiele, Nigeria’s central bank has virtually fixed the exchange rate since March, even as other oil exporters from Russia to Colombia and Kazakhstan have let their currencies weaken. Nigeria, The central bank’s moves are hurting the economy, said Sanusi, 54. It expanded 2.35 percent on an annualised basis in the second quarter, the slowest pace since at least 2010.

“We are depriving certain key industries of imports,” he said. “If we have to make a choice between economic growth and a devaluation, my recommendation is that we protect growth.”

The government can’t afford fuel subsidies any longer and interest payments on debt are on track to reach 1,000 billion naira ($5 billion) this year, which “would be more than the amount of money budgeted for health, education and defence combined,” Sanusi said. “There is no room on the government’s balance sheet for borrowing.”

Monetary officials should lower the main interest rate from a record high of 13 percent to help stimulate the economy since the government lacks the funds to boost spending in the face of lower oil prices, Sanusi added.

“The portfolio flows are gone,” he said. “Inflation is already upon us. You have fiscal consolidation. It is time to loosen monetary policy. Otherwise, we compound an exchange rate crisis for businesses with high borrowing costs and declining demand.”

Investment Outflows Portfolio investors have fled Nigeria, with foreign holdings of naira government bonds falling to less than 10 percent of the total from 27 percent in 2013, according to Standard Chartered Plc. In September, JPMorgan Chase & Co. kicked Nigeria out of its local currency emerging markets bond indexes, tracked by more than $200 billion of funds, saying exchange controls made it difficult for international investors to buy and sell naira debt.

Sanusi said ministers acted like “courtiers” under previous administrations and shouldn’t do the same in Buhari’s cabinet.

“I hope people will have the courage to know that loyalty is about telling your boss the truth,” he said. Buhari, who came to power in May, has nominated ministers, although he hasn’t announced their portfolios and the Senate still has to approve them all.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES (Saturday)

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Arsenal

NO 1,122

Eagles’ debut excites Iwobi

Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

A

N150

SATURDAY, 24 OCTOBER, 2015

LEX Iwobi believes his debut for the Super Eagles under coach Sunday Oliseh is the much-awaited boost to his fledgling career at the English Premier League side, Arsenal FC. Iwobi, who had represented England at youth level, made his Eagles debut in the 0-2 loss to the Leopards of DR Congo in an international friendly on October 8 when he came on in the 57th minute. He played and had his second game on October 11 in Nigeria’s 3-0 defeat of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in another friendly in Belgium, where he featured as a 77th minute substitute.

A source close to the player informed Tribunesport in Abuja on Friday that since the Eagles debut, Iwobi had upped the ante at Arsenal, culminating in his superb performance in Tuesday’s UEFA Youth Champions League game against Bayern, which he scored all goals in his team’s 2-0 victory.

Iwobi, the source informed, said he was highly motivated by his invitation to play for his fatherland,

Sunderland Bournemouth Man Utd

Liverpool

vs Swansea City vs Crystal Palace vs West Brom vs Watford vs Chelsea vs Everton Sunday, October 25 Vs Newcastle United Vs Tottenham Vs Man City vs Southampton

World Cup qualifier:

South Africa will fall today —Dedevbo

Iwobi

his interactions with the national team-mates as well as his general camp experiences.

“There is no doubt that Iwobi has been inspired by his appearance for the Super Eagles this month in international friendlies. Since returning to England, he has raised the ante at Arsenal with a view to staking out a permanent place in the Gunners’ first team.

“The invitation to play for Nigeria extended to him by Oliseh was indeed a great boost to his career at Arsenal. The guy is highly motivated now more than before,”

the source told Tribunesport.

He says Iwobi is prepared to be a regular also in the national team.

“The only way for him not to disappoint is to be playing regularly at Arsenal, particularly in the main team.

“Iwobi cherished Okocha’s advice so much that he is ready to outclass his uncle at the national team. Don’t forget that ‘Jay Jay’ told him that he [Iwobi] had the great potential to excel even beyond what he [Okocha] achieved with the Super Eagles,” the source stated.

NIGERIA’S U-20 women’s soccer team head coach, Peter Dedevbo has said his side is well prepared to confront its South African opponent, Basetsana, in the first leg fixture final round African qualifier for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup today at the National Stadium, Abuja.

The Falconets eliminated their counterparts from DR Congo 4-1 on aggregate with Chiwendu Ihezuo scoring three of the goals, while Basetsana overcame the Zambians to pave the way for the final ticket clash.

Dedevbo said their aim is to win convincingly today so as to make a mere formality the reverse fixture in Johannesburg.

“We ended on Thursday our preparations, we are resting today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) is the match day and I believe we are ready South Africa.

“The crucial encounter involves familiar opponents, South Africa

know us inside out same way, too we know them so it will be an interesting match.

“However, we want to win and win convincingly so that when we go to Johannesburg for the reverse fixture it will be relatively a cheap game.

“The players are in high spirits to get the match perfectly done and secure the vital World Cup ticket for Nigeria.

“There is no injury worry so we will field the very best legs against the South Africans,” the former Flamingoes coach told supersport.com.

The aggregate winners of the two-legged encounter will claim the spot at the forthcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

It will be recalled that the Asisat Oshola-inspired Falconets lost 0-2 to Germany in the final of the last edition held in 2014 in Canada.

Bayern goes for 1000th Bundesliga win BAYERN Munich can claim its 1000th Bundesliga victory if it beat Cologne at home today.

The German league leaders look set to bounce back from their fall to Arsenal in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians suffered their first defeat in 13 games this season when they lost 0-2 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday in the Champions League.

Despite the loss, Bayern tops group F in Europe and will host Co-

logne at the Allianz Arena having won all nine Bundesliga games so far this season – a new league record they are eager to extend to a perfect 10.

Last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Werder Bremen was Bayern’s 999th victory since the Bundesliga started back in 1963 and the Bavarians want to claim another German league first to make up for their blip in London.

“That’s the Champions League.

And in the Champions League you have to be perfect. We weren’t,” said Guardiola after their Arsenal defeat.

But Bayern chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had a different spin.

“Actually nothing dramatic has happened. We’re still top of the table,” he said.

“It is important that the players show the right reaction immediately and continue their winning streak.

“I recommend that you just keep it up against Cologne, it could be a record that stands for all time.”

Guardiola hopes to have wingers Douglas Costa, Kingsley Coman and Arjen Robben available to face Cologne.

Costa played against Arsenal, Coman was on the bench after a thigh strain and Robben is set to return from a groin strain having trained with the reserves at the start of the week.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. Telephone: 08165728976; 08073598322. 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. 24/10/2015.