26th February 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,445

FRIDAY, 26 FEBRUARY, 2016

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Recovered bombs explode, kill 4 in Adamawa police station •Troops foil attack at Dikwa IDP camp, kill 28 Boko Haram members —P8

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@nigeriantribune

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House of Reps to Kogi Assembly:

INEC fixes Edo, Ondo guber elections for Sept 10, Nov 26

Maintain status quo •Pro-impeachment members shun Reps' intervention

—P6

—P8

Senate orders arrest of ex-EFCC boss, Lamorde •Disregard directive, Keyamo tells IGP

—P3

Reps to pass 2016 budget in March —Dogara —P3

Gold sellers lose millions to unstable dollar rate —P12

Ladipo traders protest death of colleague Scene of bomb blast on the premises of Adamawa Police Command’s Anti-Bomb Squad and Motor Traffic Department in Jimeta, Yola, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

•We'll investigate —Lagos CP —P9

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

3 news Senate orders arrest of Lamorde, ex-EFCC boss

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Disregard directive, Keyamo tells IGP Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

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HE Senate, on Thursday, gave the go ahead to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, headed by Senator Sam Anyanwu, to issue a warrant of arrest on former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Lamorde.

The committee, which investigated a petition against Lamorde by George Oboh, who alleged mismanagement of over N1 trillion funds, had asked the Senate for the order to issue the warrant of arrest against Lamorde to enable him to answer for activities during his tenure.

Senator Anyanwu, while presenting the report of his committee, narrated all efforts taken to have Lamorde present himself before the committee to no avail.

He read the committee’s recommendation, seeking for the order of the Senate to issue warrant of arrest on Lamorde.

But the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, immediately raised a point of order, in which he enlightened the Senate that the order being sought by Ethics committee was not necessary.

“Section 88(1) and 89 (1) (1-5) of the constitution clearly stipulated the mechanism for the two arms of the legislature in summon-

ing persons and also generating warrants in case of disobedience to the summon by the concerned person,” he said.

Ekweremadu said the Senate at plenary did not need to empower the committee to issue warrant of arrest, adding that the committee could go ahead and issue warrant of arrest once a person disobeyed its summons.

He explained that the power to issue the warrant lies with the committee and not the Senate in session, adding that that the right thing should be done.

“So what is required here is for the committee to issue a warrant of arrest and then the Senate President will direct the police to effect the arrest. It is not the business of the Senate during the plenary to do so, otherwise we will be offending this part of the constitution.

“So the issue of warrant of arrest is not something that we will take a resolution on, the resolution has already been taken by the committee.

“If there is any consequential order that needs to be made, the committee can deal with that and direct it through the Office of the President of the Senate, which will direct the police to effect the warrant,” he said.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, agreed with Ekweremadu that the Senate in plenary did not need to issue warrant of arrest.

He, therefore, ruled that

the committee should do the right thing by issuing the warrant of arrest on Lamorde.

“The issue has been well spelt out by the Deputy Senate President. Based on the constitution, this matter does not need to come to us at plenary.

“It should be left at the level of the committee and in accordance with Section 89 of the Constitution. So I will sustain the point of order of the Deputy Senate President,” he said.

The committee, headed by Senator Anyanwu, had recommended that “to save the National Assembly as the highest lawmaking body of the nation from irreparable damage to its reputation and capacity to summon, the former EFCC chairman, lbrahim Lamorde, must be compelled to appear before the committee to answer for the activities of his tenure.”

Larmode had been invited three times by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges to defend himself against a petition raised and sent to the Senate by Dr George Uboh, who accused him of corrupt acts.

In the petition, Dr Uboh alleged that under Lamorde, “EFCC operated accounts in banks to warehouse recovered funds which do not reflect in EFCC audited accounts; EFCC doctors and manipulates bank accounts to conceal diversion of funds; EFCC releases recovered funds to unidentified persons and EFCC officials

and that over 95 per cent of EFCC recoveries in foreign currencies, other than those from multinational companies have been diverted,” among others.

The Senate had, through letters dated August 19, 2015, November 3, 2015, and November 11, 2015, summoned Lamorde but all invitations were tacitly turned down by the former EFCC boss.

The first letter, written on August 19, 2015 and signed by the clerk, Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Freedom Osolo, read: “I am directed to invite you to a meeting of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions of the National Assembly, in respect of a petition brought to the Senate by Dr George Uboh, the Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems (PASS), a non-governmental organisation, and referred to the committee by the Senate for detailed legislative Invstogation.

“You are, by this invitation, required to appear before the committee with all necessary evidence to support your presentation.

“The meeting is scheduled as follows: Date: Wednesday, 26th August, 2015 Venue: Meeting Room 120, New Senate Building.

Time: 12: 00pm.”

In the second letter, also signed by Osolo, the committee wrote: “the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions

Reps to pass 2016 budget in March —Dogara

House committee to meet finance minister, others Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday, assured Nigerians that the House would pass the 2016 budget in March.

The Speaker gave the assurance when he received members of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture in his office.

According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, Dogara said though the budget had some imperfections, the legislators would ensure that the budget would impact on the lives of its citizens.

According to him, the lawmakers were aware of the responsibilities placed on them in ensuring that they scrutinise and ensure a good budget, adding that they were liaising with heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to produce a good document.

“No sooner than later, hopefully by next month, we

will have it ready,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the president of the association, Chief Bassey Edem, had appealed to the legislators to look into the challenges facing businesses such as infrastructure, especially power and transportation, with a view to addressing them.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation is set to have a special session with Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, over the 2016 budget.

Chairman of the committee, Honourable Abdulmumini Jibrin, made this known in Abuja, on Thursday.

He said Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele; Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) and Director General of Budget Office were also invited.

Jibrin explained that the meeting was part of efforts toward addressing grey areas about alleged infractions and padding of the 2016 budget,

as observed during budget defence by ministries, departments and agencies.

He, however, said reports of proposals so far received from House standing committees had been harmonised with the Senate.

“We also have pending issues on the 2015 budget; so they have to come with 2015 budget performance and then we will go into special session,” Jibrin said.

The decision to summon the finance minister and others followed the directive

by Dogara that all standing committees ensure they submitted and defended their ministries, departments and agencies’ budget before the end of today.

The directive was consequent upon a letter, dated February 24, 2014 written to the Speaker by the appropriation committee chairman, Honourable Jibrin, on the need to instruct the committees chairmen yet to submit their report to do so before the end of today.

“Mr Speaker will agree that the budget work cannot

be an open ended process with an indefinite timeline, considering that appropriations committee is determined to conclude the budget work within the first week of March.

“We believe that this is in the interest of the National Assembly, the executive arm and Nigeria as a whole.

However, the appropriations committee is seemingly helpless, given its efforts but the resort by committees to continually flout appearance and, therefore, deadlines have become a recurrent drawback. Excuses for the culture of delays are no longer tenable.”

Responding to the letter, the Speaker emphasised that the committees should not fail to submit the report as directed.

In a related development, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Abdurazaq Namdas declared that there was no going back with the resolve by the House to submit the budget by the second week of March.

read with mild surprise, your written response to its invitation sent to you to enable it investigate the allegations levelled against you, a public servant, and wondered why you had to connect the independent investigation of a serious allegation by a committee of the Senate with your routine annual responsibility to the National Assembly or the Senate President’s previous invitation to a briefing.

“The above notwithstanding, I am directed to invite you (one more time) to a meeting of the committee scheduled as follows: Date: Tuesday, 10th November, 2015. Venue: Meeting Room 120, 1st floor, New Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Time: 2.00 p.m.”

The third letter, written by the same clerk and dated November 11, 2015 read: “Your letter referenced EFCC/EC/NA-SEN/06/64, dated 5th November, 2015 seeking a new date and time to enable you to attend the meeting of the committee was received.

“The committee, in its magnanimity, has rescheduled the meeting to accommodate your complaint as follows: Date: Tuesday, 17th November, 2015. Venue: Meeting Room 120, 1st Floor, New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Time: 2.00 p.m.

“The committee has further directed that you be informed that it would not accept any further excuses for your non-appearance as such would not be taken lightly.”

Reacting to the warrant arrest order, legal practitioner, Festus Keyamo, acting on behalf of Lamorde, urged the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase and other law enforcement agencies to disregard the order as given by the Senate.

Keyamo stated that such warrant of arrest amounted to the IGP and other security agencies being accomplices in an “illegal scheme.”

Keyamo premised his position on the fact that Lamorde had instituted a court case challenging the powers of the Senate to investigate him at a time he had vacated office, which was pending and yet to be determined by the court.

“We respectfully urge the Inspector General of Police and other law enforcement agencies to disregard any such warrant of arrest (if issued) and resist the invitation to drag themselves into this illegal scheme,” Keyamo wrote.

He said when matters were pending before a court of law, all parties were expected to maintain status quo pending the determina-

tion of the matter, adding that in any event, the Senate standing rules are clear to the effect that matters pending before a court of law should not be deliberated upon or discussed on the floor of the Senate or any of its committees.

“The conducts of the Senate and the committee amount to legislative rascality as they seek to usurp the powers of the judiciary and to undermine its authority.

We most respectfully urge the Nigeria Police to await the outcome of the matter pending in court before deciding one way or the other about the enforcement of the said warrant of arrest, if eventually issued,” he said.

Quoting Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, Keyamo had contended that Lamorde was not summoned at all because the committee issued an invitation letter and not summons.

“Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that only a person presently occupying a public office can be investigated by the Senate in relation to that office and since at the time of this invitation, our client had vacated the office, he could no longer be made the subject of any investigation by the Senate.

“We contended however, that, any Nigerian can be summoned by the Senate as a witness in any matter. Despite these cogent objections, the committee denied us audience and threatened to have our client arrested.

“As a law abiding citizen, our client instructed us to institute an action at the Federal High Court seeking an interpretation of the powers of the Senate with respect to investigations.

“In compliance with our client’s instructions, we instituted the said suit with number FHC/ABJ/ CS/934/15 on 19th November, 2015 at the Federal High Court and it was assigned to Justice G. O. Kolawole sitting at Federal High Court 8, Abuja.

“Both the Senate and the committee were served with the originating summons and a motion seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the Senate from continuing with their investigations, pending the determination of the suit,” Keyamo said.

The suit, according to him, came up before Justice G.O. Kolawole for hearing on December 9, 2015 and February 10, 2016, adding that on both occasions, hearing notices were served on the Senate and the committee but on both occasions, they were absent and unrepresented by legal practitioners.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

PDP leaders pay solidarity visit to Modu Sheriff

•NWC must vacate office in 3 months —BoT •PDP NWC approves Edo congresses, Sheriff’s aides •Dickson meets ex-ministers, rallies support for new leadership •We will reposition PDP from the grassroots —Modu Sheriff Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

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S the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, settles down in his new office, party leaders from across the country have started to flood the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, to pay him homage.

Among those who visited him on Thursday, were the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada; former Imo State governor, Achike Udenwa and the chairman emeritus of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Sheriff’s selection as the new party boss had divided the opposition party with a group of former ministers under the PDP spearheading the call for his immediate resignation from the post.

The Board of Trustees (BoT), which had similarly kicked against the emergence of the former Borno State governor as the new party chairman, soft-pedalled only after a consensus was reached for him to serve for only three months.

Party sources said members were comfortable with the agreement brokered by its stakeholders, including state governors, national caucus and the National Assembly caucus and had apparently decided to give him the chance to carry out his mandate of conducting the party congresses and national convention.

Recall that the party hierarchy had last Tuesday, directed him to produce a timetable within two weeks, culminating in the conduct of the convention to elect new executives in three months.

Meanwhile, the BoT of the party met on Thursday, to ratify the stakeholders’ decision for Sheriff and the rest members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to stay in office for three months only.

According to a communique issued at the end of the meeting, held at Legacy House, Abuja, the board reviewed the commitment made on its behalf at the stakeholders’ meeting, which was convened

by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator lke Ekweremadu, which had resolved that Modu-Sheriff be given

three months in office.

The communique signed by former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, stated: “The BoT, which is the conscience of the party, has the moral capital to reinvent the party due to its unity of purpose and internal-cohesion.

“In this connection, in spite of the initial position taken by the BoT, its desire to ensure the unity, cohesion and future successes of the party has necessitated a review of its earlier position.

“Consequently, it resolved to adopt the decisions taken at the stakeholders’ meeting.

“It, however, urges the full and sincere implementation of all the decisions/programmes agreed upon at the

atakeholders meeting.

“In this regard, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff and all current members of the National Working Committee (NWC) must vacate their positions to give way to new leadership within the three months timeframe.

“We also reiterate our commitment to continue to work with other respected stakeholders of the party.

“We appeal to our teeming members and supporters worldwide to remain steadfast, as our capacity to reposition the party positively is unquestionable.

“Finally, we thereby, reaffirm our full confidence in our acting chairman, Senator Walid Jubrin.”

Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC)

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the conduct of congresses for the Edo State chapter of the party.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja, on Thursday, the party leadership approved the conduct of ward congress for Saturday, March 5, 2016; Local Government Congress holds on Thursday, March 10, 2016 and the state congress is scheduled for Monday, March 14, 2016.

It said the congresses would be conducted by congress committees sent from the National Secretariat, Abuja, as the executive of the party in the state had since expired.

It advised members of

the party in Edo State to be guided by the dates.

Similarly, the party had approved the appointment of Honourable Inuwa Bwala as the Special Assistant (Media) to the national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff.

Also approved is the appointment of Honourable Shettima Shehu as the Special Assistant to the National Chairman on Special Duties.

A statement signed by the National Secretary, Professor Adewale Oladipo, said the appointments took immediate effect.

In the same vein, the Bayelsa State governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, on Thursday, had a meeting with the forum of former ministers, with a call on

From left, FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, during the opening ceremony of United Nations Habitat III Africa Regional Meeting, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Inequality in Africa negatively impacting growth —Buhari Christian Okeke - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, lamented that Africa has the highest inequality in the world, describing it as a single factor that is impacting negatively on the growth of the continent.

He said the increasing number of slum dwellers in many nations in Africa remained clear manifestation of the inequality.

Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the United Nations Habitat III Africa Regional conference in Abuja, Buhari noted that there was need to tackle the inequality and social exclusion in Africa.

He maintained that urbanisation in Africa should take place in a manner that would simultaneously promote growth and social inclusion.

The president proposed development of agriculture and telecommunication system in Africa as best way to tackle rural-urban migration on the continent.

According to him, African leaders should exploit more ways of increasing growth at all levels.

He stressed the need to make human settlement safe, as a way of encouraging coherent and coordination for more economic development.

He said: “We have to

structure our planning in such a way that will encourage steady growth at all levels. “This can bring about sustainable development in our communities.”

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, stated that farmers needed to be empowered and supported as a way to reducing migration to city centres.

The meeting deliberated on ways to consolidate Africa’s Position on Habitat III and presented an opportunity to articulate the continent’s common position on the 2030 Development Agenda and the Africa Agenda 2063 Vision.

Deliberations centred on charting a sustainable path for Africa’s urban future, while the Regional Preparatory Conference is the second in the series of regional summits expected to harvest regional priorities that will ultimately form the new global urban agenda.

Dignitaries who attended the conference included the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director, Dr Joan Clos; Executive Secretary of the United Nations Econommic Commission for Africa, Dr Carlos Lopez and the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

them to rally round the new chairman of the party, Senator Alli Modu-Sheriff.

While advising against litigation over internal party misunderstanding and their recourse to divisive and inflammatory comments in the media, the governor “appealed for support for the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman and the need for members of the forum to align themselves with the position already taken by the National Executive Council (NEC) in respect of the leadership issues affecting the party.”

The governor also called on the NWC of the party to produce a timetable soonest, which would lead to the conduct of a conclusive and transparent convention.

He specifically urged them to align themselves “with the position already taken

by NEC, in respect of the leadership issues affecting the party.”

Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Markson-Iworiso, at the end of the consultative interactions, held in Abuja, thanked and appreciated them, not only for their continued membership of PDP, but also for their effort at putting together the forum to further strengthen the party.

Speaking, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff has promised to focus on the wards and grassroots to bring back aggrieved members.

Sheriff made the promise when a delegation of the Arewa Social Media Forum (ASMEFO), led by Yusuf Dingyadi, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, on Thursday.

He said he would take the party’s campaign to all nooks and crannies of the country, but vowed not to work with recalcitrant and unrepentant party members.

He said the crisis in the party was man-made and self-inflicted, adding that he would ensure the return of the party to the grassroots, to ensure viability ahead 2019 elections.

“We have the mandate of the party members and leaders to reposition the party and we will not work with anyone who will create crisis or violence in the party, no matter their positions.

“The party has suffered enough for its mistakes and members and, indeed, Nigerians are looking forward toward a repositioned PDP,” he said.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

Edo, Ondo gov elections for Sept 10, Nov 26 —INEC

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Edo and Ondo states governorship elections for September 10 and November 26 respectively.

The INEC Deputy Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Nick Dazang, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Thursday.

Dazang said the timetable for the elections would soon be made public.

“When the timetable for the elections is out, we will commence the processes for budgeting and implementation for the elections,’’ Dazang said.

Commenting on the conduct of the rerun elections so far, Dazang said the exercises had been successful and peaceful except in Kogi Central and Imo where little challenges were witnessed.

“The rerun elections we have had from January 27 have been peaceful except that challenge we had in Kogi, otherwise, generally it has been peaceful.

“Those of Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Niger states were peaceful.

“The only place we had challenges was Kogi Central- Adavi Local Government where our office was burnt down before the election.

“Fortunately, that did not affect the election in the area, because by that time we had not taken the sensitive materials to the office.

“In one of the wards in the same senatorial district, some hoodlums confiscated the result sheet and tore it.

“That was why as at that time, we were unable to make a return of the election. But fortunately, we fell back on the duplicates, based on that, we were able to declare a winner.’’

Dazang said in Imo, the commission suspended one senatorial and three state house of assembly elections based on security advice.

He said people in the state were demonstrating and making all sorts of

allegations against INEC staff, but investigation by the commission revealed that the allegations were

baseless.

“They just wanted to make use of that to stop the elections. So they started

demonstrating.

“Given that, the commission suspended the rerun

Second Republic president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari (sitting), in a group photograph with relatives and family members, shortly after a prayer session conducted to mark his 91st birthday, in Sokoto, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

THE House of Representatives, on Thursday, put machinery in motion to investigate the sale of multi billion dollar Eleme Petrochemical Company to Indorama Corporation by the Bureau of Public En-

Dazang added that the commission was preparing to conduct the remaining elections in other states in a free, fair and credible manner.

“The major one will be that of Rivers, on March 19, where we have three senatorial districts, one federal constituency and house of assembly elections.

“Already the commission has identified electoral officers that are going to conduct the elections and they have reported at the state capital, Port-Harcourt, for training.’’

He said after their training, the personnel would train other workers that would be participating in the conduct of the elections in the state.

He urged all stakeholders to collaborate with the commission in ensuring the elections were peaceful.

At 91, Shagari preaches peace, unity of Nigeria •He’s the oldest surviving father of the nation —Saraki Ayodele Adewanmi-Abuja with Agency Report

SECOND Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, on Thursday, admonished Nigerians to continue to uphold peace and sustainable unity in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Shagari made the call at his residence in Sokoto, shortly after a prayer session conducted to mark his 91st birthday.

“We should continue to live in peace with each other, irrespective of our diverse religious, ethnic and cultural differences.

“God has His reasons for creating us together as a nation and our differences are aimed at cementing our unity,” Shagari said.

The elder statesman also urged leaders in the country to uphold the virtues of social justice, piety and shun greed.

Shagari’s second son, 58-year-old Ahmed, said the family was proud to have him (Shagari) as a father.

“He has instilled disci-

pline, dedication, self-reliance, contentment and the fear of Allah in us,’” he added.

Ambassador Bala Sokoto, the Dan-Iyan Sokoto, also advised leaders in the country to emulate the sterling qualities of Shagari.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology in the state, Alhaji Bello Idris, said Shagari had contributed immensely to national development.

“Nigerians should emulate his worthy qualities of selfless service and incorruptibility,” Idris ap-

pealed.

A former chairman of Shagari Local Government and Shagari’s relative, Alhaji Jabbi Shagari, described him as a truly detribalised Nigerian.

NAN reported that the prayer session was led by the Chief Imam of Shagari’s residence in Sokoto, Sheikh Abubakar Gudun.

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, felicitated with the ex-President, Alhaji Shagari, as he marks his 91st birthday.

Saraki, in a statement

terprises.

The House resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Honourable Oluwole Oke. While moving the motion, Honourable Oke said the company was built at the cost of $2.4 billion with state of the art olefins plant, polyethylene/

by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the nonagenarian as one of the last men standing among the nationalists who fought for the independence of Nigeria.

Saraki said: “It is a great honour for me to join millions of Nigerians to wish you a happy 91st birthday.

Let me say that you are a great source of inspiration to all of us having served the nation in a most meritorious manner, both as an educationist, minister and president with all your energy, wisdom and devotion. It is

worthy of note that you are the oldest surviving head of the Nigerian nation today.

Also, the acting chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Barau Jibrin, on Thursday, felicitated with the former civilian President Shehu Shagari.

Jibrin, in a signed statement, made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Thursday, stated that “on the glorious occasion of the 91 years of your birth as a rare gift to Nigeria, l am excited that the Almighty Allah has been most merciful to you sir, for preserving you for us.

Govs, public officers need no foreign trips to woo investors —Oshiomhole •Says such trips are official holiday Ademola Adegbite-Abuja

EDO State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiohmole, on Thursday, said Nigerian governors and other political office holders needed not to travel abroad to woo or attract investors, saying all the information could be downloaded on internet, instead of wasting

government‘s resources on frivolous trips.

He made this known at a summit organised by the Leadership newspaper tagged: “Developing, Harnessing and Sustaining Industrialisation Drive (ideas, plans, policies and programmes) of the state governments in Nigeria towards ensuring rapid eco-

Reps to probe alleged sale of multi-billion dollar Eleme petrochemical company Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

election in the state indefinitely, based on advice from the security agencies.’’

butane and polyprophene plant, captive power plant and caustic soda plant and other numerous facilities.

He, however, said due to lack of proper asset valuation, the company was sold to Indorama corporation for the sum of $215 million by the Bureau of Public Enterprise.

According to him, “the Eleme Petrochemical company situated on a 400acre land in Eleme, Rivers State was conceived and built by the Federal Government with a vision to industrialise the country and position it as a petrochemical hub in Africa.”

nomic development,” held at Shehu Musa Yar`Adua Centre, Abuja.

Comrade Oshiomhole, who identified such trips as merry-making events and official holidays for political functionaries, governors inclusive, then lamented that challenges facing the country now were meant to teach Nigerians a lesson, warning not to seek for escape routes.

The governor further stressed that “the governors do not need to travel abroad to woo investors, if he had performed creditably well, his achievements would be accessed on social network in which foreign investors who are willing to partner with such governor will come forward without any invitation.”

According to him, “I don’t need to go to Paris to

tell the people there what I did. We need to construct good roads and other infrastructure that would directly benefit our people and put them on net, that is when they will know that I am working. All what we are doing is in the public domain. People have access to information in every part of the world.”

Speaking on importation of goods into the country, Oshiomhole lamented that it was so saddening that Nigeria was still importing toothpicks, adding that it was high time Nigerians should join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to encourage local production.

He explained that if the country could stop importation of goods, Nigeria would be forced to look elsewhere, saying her challenges were surmountable.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

Oil spill: Reps express shock over massive loss of lives, properties in Bayelsa, Delta •Order immediate probe Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

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HE House of Representatives, on Thursday, expressed deep shock over the massive loss of lives and properties running to billions of naira in some coastal communities of Bayelsa and Delta states in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, following oil spillage in the area.

Consequently, the House ordered its committees on emergency and disaster preparedness to undertake an urgent visit to the two states for an on-the-spot assessment of the gravity and urgency of the situation with a view to preventing future occurrence.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion

of urgent public importance entitled: “Motion on the Massive Oil Spill at the Forcados Export Pipleline and Threat to Communities and the Ecosystem in the Coastline of Delta and Bayelsa States,” moved by Honourable Julius Pondi, at the plenary.

While arguing the motion on the floor of the House, the lawmaker noted that a massive oil spill took place on February 14, this year, at the crude loading platform of the Shell Development Company (SPDC), which seriously disrupted the operations of the company due to the volume of the spill.

Honourable Pondi expressed concern that the spill, which involved 35,000 barrels, flowed and spread into the environment from the rup-

2016 budget: Senate uncovers shortfall of N5bn in education ministry Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

THE sum of N5 billion was uncovered by the Senate, on Thursday, to be a shortfall in the amount provided for meal subsidy for Unity Schools across the country and Personnel cost of Kings College in the 2016 budget proposal.

The amount was made known by the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, while presenting its report to the Senate Committee on Appropriation, during the collation of the 2016 budget.

The vice-chairman of the committee, Senator Rose Oko, explained that only N6.8 billion was proposed for meal subsidy in Unity school instead of N11.2billion required.

According to her, “the amount is grossly inadequate for the unity schools’ meal subsidy, the implication of the shortfall is that the amount provided will only serve for six months, and will need to look for N5 billion to balance up the shortfall.”

She informed the committee of omission of N338 million from the Personnel cost of Kings College, explaining that the correct amount should be N375 million, but it was due to typographical error by the ministry.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, however, assured

that the committee would accommodate ommision in the final budget.

He said: “We have to find a way of looking for N5 billion in order to cater for subsidy meals in Unity Schools and Personnel cost at the Kings College.”

tured pipeline covering a vast area of communities in the two neighbouring states of Bayelsa and Delta respectively.

The lawmaker further noted the report of the recent visit by oil industry stakeholders to the site of the spill revealed that a massive devastation, dead fauna, sea and river creatures had put the economic activities of the people into jeopardy.

He disclosed that the devastation by the spill had drawn the immediate visit of the Minister of Environment to the area for an on-the-spot assessment during which she rightly described the incident as a tragic reminder of the urgency to right the wrongs in the Niger Delta.

While attributing the intermittent ruptures of the pipelines to the old age of the pipes, he said the National Oil Spill and Remediation Agency (NOSDRA) and SPDC were yet to disclose what led to the rupture of the pipelines.

According to him, “Since the last five years, there have been incidents of burst or ruptured pipelines on at least four instances, that is October 5, 2013, January 3 2012, September 3, 2013 and now this one of February 14 2016.”

8 news

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Recovered bombs explode, kill 4 in Adamawa police station

•Policemen, pupils injured Kabeer Gwangwazo - Yola with Agency Report

M

ANY policemen were said to have died as bomb blast rocked the headquarters of Nigeria Police Anti Bomb Squad in Adamawa, Thursday morning.

The blast which occurred at about 11.00 a.m, affected all the buildings within the formation of the Anti- Bomb Squad, which comprised State Investigation Bureau (SIB) and the Motor Traffic Division (MTD).

The blast, which was heard around Jimeta, caused a lot of pandemonium, as parents trooped to the area searching for their children, as the Anti Bomb Squad was on the same street with the Central Primary School, as well as the Majalisa Primary School.

It was gathered that there were a lot of confusion as security personnel raised the alarm over another possible blast, making people, including security personnel, to begin to scamper for their lives.

Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ghazali, in an interview with newsmen at the scene of the blast, said it might have been caused by a bomb confiscated from suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

When asked about the casualty figure of the blast, the Police Commissioner noted that so far, he could not give the exact casualty figure of the blast, as the fire ignited by the bomb was yet to be extinguished, sparking fears

•Blast caused by bombs in police store —CP

of another possible blast.

Nigerian Tribune noted that all the buildings in the anti-bomb squad headquarters had been razed, while others were badly affected by the blast.

Similarly, neighbouring buildings, including the Jimeta Central Primary School, as well as headquarters of NITEL, Post Office and the Jimeta main central prison were all shaken by the blast.

Reacting to the incident, Adamawa State Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ahmed Sajoh, dispelled insinuations that

some pupils lost their lives to the incident, noting that no pupil lost his life, but that some pupils sustained minor injuries caused by broken glasses.

While security agencies are trying to unravel the reasons behind Thursday’s explosion at a Divisional Police Station in Yola, Adamawa State, the incident was said to have likely been caused by “accidental discharge” within the security facility.

A security source told PRNigeria that: “The explosion was likely to have been caused by accidental discharge due to manhandling

of explosive devises by security personnel within the police station.

“For now, we are not suspecting terrorists for the explosion, as the security agencies are currently investigating the remote cause of the incident.”

Meanwhile rescuers have evacuated four bodies to mortuary, while over 20 injured victims are being attended to by medical personnel Reacting, the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa State, Mr Mohammed Gazali, said Thursday’s blast at the Jimeta Police Station

was caused by bombs recovered from Boko Haram insurgents.

Gazali told newsmen in Yola that the recovered bomb exploded from the store used by the Police Command to warehouse exhibits.

He said most of those affected by the blast were policemen.

“Policemen were mostly affected and we don’t know the actual casualties for now, as the place is not yet safe for us to go in,” Gazali said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the explosion also affected

Troops foil attack at Dikwa IDP camps, kill 26 Boko Haram members Chris Agbambu - Abuja TWENTY-SIX Boko Haram members, a soldier and a member of the local vigilante (Civilian JTF) lost their lives as the terrorists attempted to cause havoc at an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp located at Dikwa, in the early hours of Thursday.

Also, three soldiers and four internally displaced persons sustained injuries during the encounter, while some of the terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds.

This was confirmed by the acting director in charge of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman.

He said the attempted attack on the camp followed dislodgement of the Boko Haram terrorists’ camps in the border towns of Kumshe and Talala by joint opera-

tions of Nigerian and Cameroonian forces.

According to him, unknown to the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists, the Armed Forces Special Forces in blocking positions decisively dealt with the terrorists, killing many, while also recovering vehicle, arms and ammunition.

Usman noted that a military vehicle was damaged by a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) suicide bomber.

He said: “The troops recovered 26 bodies of Boko Haram terrorists, destroyed three VIED, one MBIED and two gun trucks.

“The gallant troops recovered one gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft Gun, one Dushka Anti-Aircraft Gun, one Browning AntiAircraft Gun, one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Tube.

“Others included one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), four AK 47 Rifles, three RPG Bombs, 36 Hand Grenades, one Smoke Grenade and eight AK-47 rifles magazines.

The troops also recovered 236 rounds of 12.7mm am-

munitions, 396 rounds of 7.62mm ammunitions and 101 rounds of 762mm (Special) ammunitions.

“The casualties have seen been evacuated, while the troops have been pursuing those terrorists that escaped with gunshot wounds.

Adelowo Oladipo - Minna THE National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) will henceforth screen beans imported into the country.

The acting DirectorGeneral of the agency, Mrs Yetunde Oni, at a one-day awareness /sensitisation workshop on safe and responsible use of regulated agricultural input for stake-

holders in the North-Central zone, said this held in Minna, on Thursday.

Oni highlighted that only beans screened by the agency would be allowed, not only into the country, but also the exported beans from Nigeria.

According to her, “we must recall that these banned beans produce that have been banned in the European Union (EU) were those ones that never passed through NAFDAC.

Pro-impeachment members shun intervention meeting THE House of Representatives’ fact-finding committee on the crises rocking the Kogi State House of Assembly, on Thursday, met with the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the factions in the crises, with a charge to all parties in the dispute to maintain status quo.

The group of five which masterminded the controversial impeachment of Honourable Momoh Jimoh Lawal, however, shunned the meeting with the committee.

The meeting with Bello was held behind closeddoor at the Presidential Lodge, Lokoja, the state

capital, while the group of the 15 lawmakers loyal to Momoh Lawal met with the committee, led by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Honourable Pally Iriase, at the gallery of the assembly.

After about two hours of meeting with the governor, Iraise told newmen that the committee was on a factfinding mission to the state, to unravel the causes of the crises in the assembly.

According to him, the committee was poised to ensure that sanity returned to the legislative arm of government in the state.

He said: “Our mission, as stated before the governor is fact-finding. We want to

find out the real facts behind the alleged crises in Kogi State House of Assembly.

We want to find our what has happened, we want to take what we know side by side the constitution and we want insist in that the constitution prevails when all the facts are out.

“I think we have just started and from the perspective of the governor, as peace is what everyone here desires.”

Also speaking, Bello, who reiterated that he had no hand in the leadership tussle in the assembly, however, promised to cooperate with the delegation towards the resolution of the lingering crisis rocking the assembly.

The governor said he

“It is encouraging to note that despite loss of colleague and the vigilante, the troops had maintained dominating presence in the general area and are poised to continue to clear the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists.”

NAFDAC to screen imported beans

House of Reps to Kogi assembly: Maintain status quo Yinka Oladoyinbo - Akure

the walls of Majalisa Primary School, where some pupils were injured.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, confirmed that the pupils sustained minor injuries and had been treated and discharged from hospital.

NAN reported that the station where the blast occurred contained offices of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Motor Traffic Department (MTD) and the police tailoring section.

The incident led to hurried closure of markets and schools in the area.

would make efforts at meeting with the two factions to ensure a prompt settlement of the crisis, so as to rub minds with them on the need for the executive and the legislative arms to work together in the interest of peace and fulfilment of the mandate given them to serve the people of the state.

He said the amicable reconciliation of the warring factions would go a long way in restoring confidence, hope and unity which were required for the rapid growth of the state.

However, the Speaker of the assembly, after the meeting with the members, expressed confidence in the ability of the House of Rep-

resentatives to resolve the crisis.

Lawal said he hoped the assembly would resume sitting very soon, to continue with its constitutional duties for the good governance of the state.

Iriase said it was unfortunate that the five members, who carried out the purported impeachment, did not honour the invitation for the meeting.

Leader of the House of Representatives’ team said the G-5 chose to ignore the opportunity provided them to present their own side of the story, adding that it was wrong to hide under a court process to truncate a move meant to amicably resolve the crisis.

All the beans that passed through NAFDAC and issued European Union (EU) certification to, of food and health impact on Nigerians do not get rejected. The ones that have been banned were those ones that never passed through NAFDAC.” Mrs Oni, however, disclosed that “it is not entirely the function of NAFDAC, but the primary assignment of the Quarantine, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture, to look into beans, because it is an agricultural produce.”

On whose purview the produce was being regulated, she said “beans is an agricultural produce, as opposed to a semi or fully processed regulated products under the purview of NAFDAC and such products are food, drugs, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water and detergents.

These are the ones that are under our purview.

“We are now talking of collaboration with one another so that all relevant stakeholders will join hands towards a common goal of ensuring that only good quality regulated products are available for consumption, for sales, distribution, advertisement, information and importation into the country.”

She stated further that the agency did some analysis on these produce to check pesticide residents.

9

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Lagosmetro

Ladipo traders protest death of colleague Olalekan Olabulo

T

HERE was heightened tension at the popular Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Markets as traders protest the death of one of them, who was brutalised during a clash with hoodlums, on Tuesday.

One of the traders, Anene Otazi was shot on Tuesday during a clash between the traders and hoodlums who were allegedly hired to force them out of the market for the demolition to take place.

Otazi was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he died early on Thursday.

A combined team of policemen and soldiers have been drafted to the area to forestall further clash between the traders and the

hoodlums while the commissioner of police in the state, Fatai Owoseni has assured the traders that the police would investigate the

•We’ll investigate — CP incident.

Chukwuma

Uroko,

the

chairman of the Odo Aladura Traders’s Union in

Ladipo market blamed the hoodlums for the constant

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

attacks on the traders. A trader, who simply identified himself as Ikenna, said the traders were yet to come to terms with what had befallen them in the last one week following plans to take over their market, when the news of their colleague’s death was broken to them.

Owoseni during a visit to the market urged the traders to be peaceful in their protest and assured them that the incident would be properly looked into.

Bola Badmus

AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin

A man, Friday James, has been sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery.

James was accused of robbing one Olanrewaju Jumoke of her jewelleries worth N100, 000 on February 17, 2012 around 3:00 a.m. at Ewegbemi Street, Meiran.

He also inflicted injuries on the head and hand of the husband of the victim through the use of matchete and gun.

The offence, according to the Police is contrary to Section 297 Criminal law of Lagos State 2011, and Section 295 subsection 2(a).

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court found him guilty on the two count charge and sentenced him to death by hanging.

It would be recalled that the same court on February 17, 2016 sentenced two young men, Omoilodan Seun and Gbenga Kayode to death by hanging for attempted robbery and armed robbery.

Edited By

Hotel guard who beat up LASAA official arrested

Robber to die by hanging Ladipo Market traders protesting the death of one of their colleagues, Otazi, who was attacked by hoodlums, on Tuesday, and died on Thursday morning. for stealing Footballer confesses to dumping body of N100,000 7-year-old in soakaway jewellery we both fell because the When it was discovered demanded for N5 million as AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin

Nigerian Tribune

A footballer, Patrick Onyekachukwu who was accused of killing a sevenyear-old boy, on Thursday told an Ikeja High that he unknowingly killed the boy.

The boy simply identified as Ayuba died on January 12, 2013 in the Abaranje area of Ikotun.

Onyekachukwu when arrested was accused of luring the boy into his compound, where he allegedly strangled him to death. He denied the allegation and also blamed one Jamiu for the death of the boy.

At Thursday’s proceedings, Onyekachukwu, however recanted his earlier statement and confessed that he mistakenly killed the boy. He admitted that he dumped the body in a soak away to escape the consequences of his action.

He made these confessions during cross-examination by the prosecution lawyer, Mr Akin George.

Narrating to the court, Onyeka said: “I was carrying my young friend on my shoulder and we were walking towards the door, when

floor was slippery. I tried reviving him by pouring water on him, but he did not wake up.

“I shook him and tapped him but he was dead. At that point, I didn’t know what to do. I did the only thing that came to my mind by disposing the body into the soakaway in our compound.”

that Ayuba was missing, the neighbours organised a search party but were unable to locate his whereabouts, until one week later when Onyeka’s uncle called the deceased parents to come to his house and showed them a ransom written in Onyeka’s handwriting.

In the letter, Onyeka had

ransom, stating that he kidnapped Ayuba.

Onyeka was, thereafter, arrested in his uncle’s living room.

Investigation also revealed that Onyeka stangled Ayuba to death, hid his body in a bag and later disposed it in a nearby soakaway in the estate.

Father, pastor, orphanage staff connive to sell baby for N250,000 FOUR people, including 32-year-old father of a ninemonth-old baby have been arrested by the police for selling the baby for N250,000.

The suspects included a worker at an orphanage, Alhaji Sunkanmi Adamu; the father, Nathaniel Vanny; the buyer, Ekah Gift and the middleman, who is also a Pastor, Samuel Osaviitu.

They were arrested by policemen from the FESTAC town divisional police station, after the 28-year-old mother of the baby, Ijeoma Njeku raised the alarm.

The father of the baby, Nathaniel denied selling the baby, though he admitted

collecting money from Ekah Gift. He insisted that he took the baby away from home, after the mother abandoned him, without proper breastfeeding.

Ijeoma told the police that “Three months ago, he said he didn’t have money to take care of me and our baby, but he had money to buy cigarettes and smoke but can’t bring out N150 to buy pampers for our baby.”

She also claimed that “Even if I want to take our baby to hospital, I would have to borrow money. He’ll promise to give me whenever they pay him.”

She also refuted her hus-

band’s claim that she abandoned the baby: “It’s a lie! I didn’t abandon my baby. He said he wanted to hand the baby over to his aunt, to care for. I said it will give me opportunity to look for a job and support the family. I didn’t know his plan was to sell our baby.”

Meanwhile the father of the baby had reportedly lied to the buyer that the mother had abandoned the baby and that there was nobody to take care of the baby.

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmus confirmed the arrest of the suspects to Lagos Metro.

LAGOS State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) on Thursday said a hotel guard, Uche Napoleon, who attacked one of its officials, Julius Apoboyen, has been arrested and handed over to the Lagos State Task Force for necessary legal action.

Managing Director of the Agency, Mr Mobolaji Sanusi has however sounded a note of warning on Thursday in a statement made available to newsmen, declaring that “an attack on LASAA staff is an attack on the state,” adding that members of the public should desist from physically attacking officials of the agency in the course of carrying out lawful official duties within the state.

It will be recalled that few days ago, Julius was manhandled by a hotel guard, Napoleon, who was attached to Emglo Suites in Festac, Lagos, and tried preventing the LASAA official in his efforts to remove an illegal banner within the Emglo Suite premises.

The agency was said to have paid a visit to Emglo Suites as part of effort to ensure quick settlement of all the outstanding debt owed the Agency.

Sanusi further revealed that the security guard threatened the officials of LASAA with a pump action rifle in his possession which was later seized by the police monitoring team attached to the Agency.

news Attacks on Agatu out of control —Ortom 10

Friday, 26 February, 2016

As death toll rises to 100 Mobilise security apparatus to quash uprising, Mark urges Buhari

By Leon Usigbe and Johnson Babajide

G

OVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has warned that persistent attacks on Agatu community

by Fulani herdsmen were getting out of hand, and has

therefore, called for urgent steps to be taken to stem the menace.

The governor, who was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, to brief Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the latest attack which claimed a number of lives while villages were

razed, told State House correspondents that he could no longer sit back in his state while the community was being constantly attacked.

Ortom said even though the security agencies were doing their utmost, the situation was getting worse by

the day.

He said it was impossible to carve out grazing area in the area because of shrinking landmass, due to everexpanding population, but advocated the setting up of ranches to limit animal movement.

Ortom explained: “There

Fire fighters putting out fire as petrol tanker exploded at NIPCO Filling Station, Airport Road, Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN.

APC protest loss of Benue South rerun Don’t disrupt peace, go to tribunal, Tsav tells APC Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

THE defeated senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last Saturday rerun, Mr Daniel Onjeh, on Thursday, led hundreds of youths to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Makurdi, demanding the commission to declare the senatorial rerun inconclusive.

Former Senate President, David Mark, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner of the election by INEC after he polled a total votes of 84,192 to beat APC candidate who scored 71,621 votes.

Similarly, the APC’s Benue South chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Hassan, in a protest letter he signed on behalf of the party and addressed to the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), urged the commission to revert its decision.

In his response, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Istifanus Dafwang, explained that the com-

mission’s decision to announce the result despite the contentious cancelled/ rejected votes of 29,000 was not strange and peculiar to the state alone.

Dafwang said he would ensure that the protest letter is delivered to INEC’s headquarters in Abuja for necessary action which will

be communicated back to the party.

Meanwhile, a former Lagos state police commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, has condemned the protest by the party, advising it rather to channel complaints and grievances to the election tribunal in a more civilised and ma-

tured manner.

“The idea of hiring a crowd of unemployed youths to demonstrate to INEC office in Makurdi and thus, threatening peace is uncivilised, crude and only depicts the desperation of the Governor Samuel Ortom’s led administration,” Tsav stated.

APC petitions IG over alleged rigging of Ekiti guber election •Supreme Court has ended APC’s pipe dream —Fayose’s aide Sam Nwaoko -Ado-Ekiti

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has asked the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to prosecute Governor Ayodele Fayose; a former Mopol Commander in the state, Gabriel Selekere; AIG Bala Nasarawa, over the conduct of the governorship election in the state The the party said the affected officers “oversaw the conduct of the election and several other officers named as participants in the alleged criminal manipulation of electoral pro-

cess that returned Fayose to power in the June 21, 2014 governorship election.”

APC, in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday, said its petition “followed a leak of a secret audio recording by the army officer, Captain Sagir Koli, of the 32nd Artillery Brigade in Ekiti State, two days to the election.”

But the Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said a Supreme Court judgment on the leadership dispute within the Anambra State

chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in which the court said it lacked jurisdiction to review its own judgment, should be enough for members of the APC in Ekiti State to stop living in the illusion that the Supreme Court judgment on the June 21, 2014 governorship election could be reviewed.

Olayinka said the judgment “ended the APC’s pipe dream of returning to power through an orchestrated review of the Supreme Court judgment that validated Governor Fayose’s election.”

are issues in my state, especially the invasion of herdsmen in one of my local governments, Agatu Local Government.

“While we are making our own efforts to ensure that we maintain law and order, I thought it was necessary to also brief the presidency.

“We also discussed other issues of interest. I think that the situation in Benue, especially in Agatu, is getting out of hand.

“Right now as I talk to you, several settlements have been razed, an undisclosed number of people killed and my people are refugees all over the place.

I cannot sit back in Benue State when such thing is happening.

“The security agencies within the state are also trying, the police, the army and the Civil Defence and the DSS. We have been holding series of meetings.

It is really alarming.

“Both the state and the Federal Government need to come together and do something because the state is not just peculiar. I am aware that this is also happening in other states too.”

As attack on Agatu rages with death toll said to have risen to about 100, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to urgently mobilise security apparatus in the country to put a stop to the senseless carnage currently ravaging Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the attack, which began four days ago, had spread to nearly all parts of the council area resulting to people fleeing to neighbouring councils of Ugbopo and Otukpo all in Benue South senatorial district.

It was gathered that the suspected Fulani herdsmen, as at last count, had ravaged 11 communities within the council area while many were said to still be missing as at the time of filing this report.

Disturbed by the raging violence that has turned the local government desolate, Senator Mark decried the attack and called for urgent attention by the Federal Government.

In a press statement issued and signed by his Special Assistant, Benue Liaison, Dr Adakole Elijah and made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Makurdi, Mark lamented the incessant attack on Agatu people by suspected Fulani herders.

Nigerian Tribune

Unlawful detention: Court slates March 1 to decide Jonathan’s ex-ADC’s fate Sunday Ejike - Abuja

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday slated March 1, to decide an application brought before it by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Aide de Camp (ADC), Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegedly violated.

Justice Yusuf Halilu handling the matter fixed the date after listening to the submissions of Adegbe’s counsel, Ogwu Onoja and the counter submissions of the respondent’s counsel, Musu Benda.

Benda had told the court that Colonel Adegbe was detained at the pleasure of the Nigerian Army and not the EFCC. Ogwu, in his submissions on Thursday, said the antigraft agency, in its counter affidavit to Adegbe’s application, failed to avail the court with any reason for the unlawful detention.

He said EFCC has not attached any document to show that the applicant (Adegbe) is being detained by the Nigerian Army.

According to a motion on notice filed by counsel representing Colonel Adegbe, dated February 16, 2016, he is asking the court to make an order for the Federal Government to pay him N100 million as general damages for detaining him unlawfully since February 11, 2016.

Ibadan Shall Prosper prayer summit holds Sunday THE Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Region 21, will hold “Ibadan Shall Prosper” prayer summit, with the theme: “The New Beginning,” on Sunday, February 28, at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, by 2:00P.m.

Regional Pastor, Pastor Dele Balogun, will minister at the prayer summit, while the special guest is Busola Babalola. Pastor E. A. Adeboye is the General Overseer.

Pastor Adeboye

11

businessnews

Friday, 26 February, 2016

FAAN admits operating faulty scanners at airports Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

T

HE Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Thursday admitted before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to operating camouflage and non-functional security scanners at some major airports in Nigeria.

FAAN management team, led by its Acting Managing Director,Mr Salihu Domuna, made the admission during a budget defence session before the committee in Abuja.

The Committee chairperson, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha had made an observation while going through the capital budget proposal of the agency for the 2016 fiscal year, wherein she expected to see an allocation for the repair or replacement of security scanning machines for the airports, having noticed that the one in Port Harcourt airport had not been functional.

“I went to Port Harcourt for oversight in 2015 and discovered that the scanners were not working.

And when I asked, I was told they have not been serviced, that even a brand new vehicle needs to be serviced for it to function properly.

“I have to say this because this is the essence of the exercise and thank God the press are not here. You have to put those scanners in working condition as they are the bedrock of airport security in and out of

the country,” she said.

Domuna explained that they were in the process of engaging the suppliers of the scanners to effect the required maintenance for them.

According to him, “we have asked them to tell us the parts that are needed for maintenance, because the bills they are giving us are very high and we are also looking at training some of our staff to do, the maintenance, because if you don’t have in-house technicians, you’d contin-

ue to spend more money,” he said.

The committees also queried the agency over the construction of FAAN corporate office, wondering why the project kept reappearing in the budget every year.

The FAAN MD also admitted that the project never started, despite having budgeted monies for it over the years.

Other observations include a N7 billion increase in personnel and other related costs.

The MD said the increase

was being sought to enable the agency employ more hands as they were currently in short of staff. He said the airport authority was also working toward expanding its vehicle holding capacity with regards to parking which had been a source revenue generation to the agency.

He said the system in the airport now did not allow for multi-level car parks and they needed to change that for which negotiation was on for construction.

PwC makes case for investment in mining sector PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS (PwC), a professional services firm has called on local and international investors to shift attention to Nigeria’s mining sector in view of the declining revenue from oil.

Cyril Azobu, a Partner and mining sector leader, PwC, made this call while hosting a cocktail event for delegates to the recently concluded Investing in African Mining Indaba, often referred to as “the Mining Indaba,” held in Cape Town South Africa.

According to him, the Nigerian mining sector has huge potentials which have not been fully utilized saying that it can become the next destination for discerning investors especially with the recent pronouncements by the present administration to provide enabling environment for investors in the sector.

He identified key areas and quick wins the government could immediately explore to initiate appreciable growth in the sector and also increase investment.

“Urgently, there is a need to provide adequate security, set-up of relevant agencies, put necessary infrastructures in place and initiate robust industry policies that helps to integrate the artisanal miner into the mainstream.”

From left,: Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Hon Abubakar Bwari; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi with MD/CEO Fujian Stone Company, when the minister visited the marble plant in Zange Village, Nassarawa State, on Thursday.

Naira exchanges for N350 to a dollar

THE naira which rose against the dollar in the parallel market to N240 from N310, before the close of business on Wednesday, depreciated again to N350 on Thursday as currency traders were seen taking advantage of a recent rally to mop up dollar liquidity.

The acting chairman of the Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, said “hoarding and speculative activities have returned to the market, pushing down the naira value again.”

The local currency which was quoted by traders on the parallel market at N350 to the dollar on Thursday,was seen by some analysts as still better than N365 to the dollar last week, but weaker than the previous day.

The naira rate remains flat around the peg rate

N197.50 on the official interbank market.

Kunle Ezun, Currency Strategist in Ecobank Nigeria, attributed the rise of the naira to President Buhari’s defiance on devaluation and the decision of the Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to peg their profit margin at 3.5 per cent.

In Osun State, the naira sold for between N260 and

N270 in black market, located at Sabo, Osogbo, capital of Osun State, Nigerian Tribune investigation has revealed.

When our correspondent visited Sabo, on Thursday, BDC operators, identified as Mallam Rabiu Abubakar said “the exchange rate of dollar to naira has dropped and here we buy one dollar for N260 or N270, depend-

ing on the bargaining power of the person that want to buy or sell dollar”.

In Port Harcourt, the dollar sold for N300 while the pound sterling sold for N420 and the Euro for N325 on Thursday.

In Abeokuta, Ogun State, the dollar sold for N300.

In Abuja, dollar sold for N315, while sterling sold for N472.

Illegal mining: FG deploys 3,000 NSCDC personnel to sites THE Ministry of Interior said that 3,000 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel had been deployed to monitor mining sites nationwide to curb illegal mining operations.

Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Minister of Interior, said this while receiving the two Ministers of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi and Alhaji Abubakar Bwari, in Abuja.

He said the security agents would not only monitor illegal miners but would also fish out their sponsors, to achieve the planned diversification by President Muhammadu Buhari from crude to solid minerals.

He said the ministry would add more security agents such as the Customs Services and Immigration to the NSCDC to monitor illegal exportation of minerals at the airports and borders.

According to him, there

Buhari approves economic conference for March IN a bid to rally the entire nation together in a determined effort to confront the current economic challenges of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the conveying of a major national economic conference next month, according to informed government sources.

It is believed that the president himself would declare the conference open and participate indicating what sources say is his personal commitment to the idea.

The idea of such an economic conference was first discussed last month at the 65th National Economic Council meeting (NEC), a constitutional advisory council to the president, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

With the approval of the idea by the President, sources said the views of private sector and nonstate actors would also be engaged at the the conference with the inclusion of local experts, and also the participation of well-respected global experts who are expected to aggregate the views of other governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental institutions.

‘Climate change, greatest challenge to agric’ By ’Wale Olapade

•Sells for N270 in Osun From Chima Nwokoji-Dapo Falade-Oluwole Ige and Yinka Olukoya

Nigerian Tribune

was a need to fully support the solid minerals development because minerals would soon become the wealth of Nigeria.

“Illegal mining is not new to us, but we can curb it to enable legitimate people with licence to operate.

“We will increase our security agents to cover all the mining sites in 774 local government areas in Nigeria; we will do everything possible to secure our minerals,” he said.

CLIMATE change has been described as the greatest challenge of all times for humanity, with potentially huge, negative consequences for agriculture.

This assertion was made

by Professor Francis Adesina of the Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, Osun State, while delivering a lecture on the topic, ‘Some Thoughts on Climate Change, Agriculture,’ at the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) Implementing Partners workshop held in Ibadan recently.

Professor Adesina noted that the impact of climate change is felt most on exposed systems, which he said include rain-fed agriculture.

He regretted that Nigeria and other developing countries are most susceptible to the harsh effects of climate change due to poor water storage system, which he said has grave implication for agriculture.

12

businessnews

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Gold sellers lose millions to unstable dollar rate

G

OLD jewellery sellers on Thursday in Abuja suspended trading in the commodity due to losses incurred in recent times to unstable dollar exchange rate in the country.

Alhaji Hamza Bagwai, the Chairman, Association of Gold and Silver Jewelers Abuja branch, announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Bagwai said the rise and fall in the dollar exchange rate had impacted negatively on the gold market, thereby making profitable trading difficult.

He said with the high dollar rate, customers were no longer interested in buying gold but selling their old Jewelries to make profit.

He said members of the association decided to stop buying back gold jewellery, to avoid being thrown out of business.

“Last year we sold English gold between N8,500 and N9,000; Saudi at N9,000 and Dubai between N9,500 to N10,000 respectively, depending on the complexity of the design.

“When a customer returns it, we buy it back at N5,000 per gramme for English and N6,000 for Dubai.

“So as dollar rises, so also the prices of gold. At the peak on Monday, we were selling Dubai gold for N15,000 per gramme and English, N13,000.

“Because of this, people have been queuing up to sell their gold. It was a nightmare.

“We bought it back at N10,000 per gramme and before we could send it to Dubai, we heard that the price had come down again.

“We lost millions based on this,’’ he said.

Bagwai said for now, the marketers had restricted their business to customers who wanted to buy or

upgrade their gold.

He said normal business would continue when the

dollar rate stabilised at a price that was safe for profitable business.

FINANCIAL experts have identified lack of knowledge among operators of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country as bane of their success.

Speaking at a free seminar by the bank, aimed at nurturing business for growth among MSMEs operators in the north central zone held in Ilorin on Thursday, the group head of retail banking of Skye Bank, Mrs. Nkoli Okoli, said the people had failed to access opportunities presented to them by government and finance houses due to lack

for N330 to a dollar and N375 to a Pound Sterling in the parallel market.

100 cooperative societies get N.1bn loan in Delta Ebenezer Adurokiywa-Warri

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left), presenting a cheque to one of the beneficiaries of Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development , Mr. Godwin Ochonogor (right); with him is the CBN Delta State Controller and CBN governor’s representative, Dame Elizabeth Agu, during the disbursement of Central Bank of Nigeria, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund on at Government House, Asaba, on Thursday.

N500bn target: FG may redeploy heads of maritime agencies Tola Adenubi-lagos

THE Federal Government has stated that it may redeploy heads of maritime agencies in the nation’s maritime sector if a proposed performance based audit on all the agencies says so.

This is even as the FG explained that the performance based audit will help look at possible ways the sector can raise the anticipated N500bn revenue target set for it.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Thursday, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said all efforts to ensure the N500 billion revenue target would be exploited.

According to him, “we are looking at carrying out a performance based audit on all agencies of government in the maritime sector to look at ways we can block all revenue leakages so that the N500billion

revenue target can be met.

“The performance based audit may likely lead to redeployment of heads of this agencies. All this is dependent on what the audit says. If the audit say’s we should change the person heading the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and bring the other person the opposite direction, so be it.

“There won’t be any need for any agency of government to change or hike

of knowledge to develop their businesses.

Mrs. Okoli, who said funds are usually available by government, through CBN intervention fund or the Bank of Industry, however, said that SMES are not coming forth to access the fund provided by these channels.

“So, we are here to teach them how they can access these fund. There’s actually fund for SMES at single digit.

“Challenges of MSMEs is mainly lack of knowledge, including complaints about access to finance and access to market. The aim of

any tariff to meet this target. The system already has enough potential to generate this money. All they need do is block all loopholes. Block the leakages, and you will see that we will get that money.

“We are looking at conducting a performance audit to help us identify all leakages so that we can meet that target of N500billion. I am still waiting for Mr President’s approval to commence with the performance audit of all the agencies in the maritime sector.

“I have spoken with Mr. President but yet to get the formal approval to go ahead. The direction we want to follow now is focused on reform, but when the audit comes out, it will shed more light on which part we need to follow.”

On the proposed meeting with the ship-owners, he explained that he has agreed to meet with them privately.

“The ship-owners and I have agreed to have a small private meeting together because it is obvious that they have crisis,” he said.

We sacked, promoted staff for improved efficiency —Ecobank Chima Nwokoji and KehindeAkinseinde Jayeoba-lagos

INDICATIONS have emerged that the recent re-alignment that af-

Lack of knowledge, bane of SMES —Finance experts Biiola Azeez-Ilorin

NAN reports that as at the time of writing this report, naira was changing

Nigerian Tribune

this seminar is to support operators of MSMES to grow. Our value promise to all MSMES is that we nurture business for growth.

We are consciously looking for small businesses to nurture from small to growing and to establish.

“This seminar is meant for them to imbibe the knowledge they lack. So, we bring successful businessmen, consultants to share tips on how they succeed in their own businesses and teach the people on importance of record keeping, how to comport themselves, and how to obtain loan.

fected some senior staff at Ecobank Nigeria was in furtherance of a market repositioning exercise designed to improve efficiency in service delivery and strengthen the bank’s business across all markets where it operates.

The bank had said that the alleged 50 staff in top management position relieved of their jobs earlier this week failed the performance test conducted by the Ecobank for the purpose of promoting its workforce.

Market feelers indicate that for a banking group that grossed over N315 billion in revenue and over N78billion in pre-tax profit in the third quarter of 2015, the Ecobank Group is on a growth trajectory.

As at today, Ecobank remains one of Nigeria’s strongest financial institutions.

An industry analyst opined that the Bank appears to be putting more focus on cost efficiency and investment in key initiatives in its Transaction banking, Cards, and eBanking businesses, while also continuing to simplify its operations to better serve customers which will put the bank ahead of the competition.

Meanwhile, a source from within the bank says the recent restructuring came after a review of senior staff bench strength and industry standards. The source also revealed that it became necessary for the Bank to realign its work force for better efficiency in line with best practice.

Ecobank is said to have realigned certain roles bank wide and that those who were affected by the exercise were adequately compensated.

NO fewer than 101 cooperative societies have received a total of N101 million loan from the Delta State government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund.

Representatives of the societies were handed the cheques by governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday, at Government House in Asaba, Delta State.

The governor urged the beneficiaries to take responsibility for their success or failure as they were all chosen on merit.

Present at the event were Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, represented by the Deputy Comptroller of CBN in the state, Dame Edith Agu; Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Monday Igbuya; Deputy Speaker and Mr Friday Osanebi, among others.

Okowa informed the beneficiaries that the loan was meant to improve their businesses and create more wealth for themselves.

Highway engineers partner AGDangote on concrete road THE executive team of the Nigerian Institution of Highway Engineers has lauded the management of AG Dangote for the use of cement to construct 23 kilometers road from Itori to Ibeshe in Ogun State, offering to partner with the company to better enhance its operations.

The chairman of the institution, who led the delegation on the visits, Isa Usman Emoabino, said: “Definitely, this will not be a new thing for Nigeria. AG Dangote is veering out into another area that is not very common in Nigeria and if they work together with professionals like us, we will make sure that we are able to get the best out of that. That is our main reason for coming here today, we tagged our visit here today to be industrial visits, and all through the things we have seen, we try to give free consultancy, in order to ensure that whatever we have seen can be made better.”

The Chief Executive of AG-Dangote, Ashif Juma thanked the engineers for coming and importantly for offering to partner with the company.

news One dead, another hospitalised as Lassa fever hits Kogi 13

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

T

WO cases of the dreaded Lassa fever have been recorded in Kogi State, with

one of the victims already dead.

The other victim that had been diagnosed and confirmed to be suffering from the disease was receiving

treatment at the Irua Specialist Hospital, Edo State.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the dead victim, a 70-year-old man, from Okene, Okene Local Gov-

ernment Area of the state, was hospitalised at a private hospital in Okene.

However, he was said to have been referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Lo-

koja, when he was showing symptoms of Lassa fever.

But because there was no equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease in the state, he had to

343 inmates, 201 visually-impaired to write UTME, as exams begin tomorrow

By Moses Alao

THE 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will begin tomorrow and is expected to last “not more than 14 days,” the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor

‘Dibu Ojerinde, has stated.

The JAMB Registrar maintained that a total number of 1,589,175 candidates applied for the 2016 UTME as against the 1,475,477 candidates, which registered for the 2015 UTME, noting that 343 prison inmates and 201 Visually Impaired can-

didates registered for the 2016 UTME. The examination, he said, will hold simultaneously in 521 examination centres in Nigeria and eight foreign centres; Accra in Ghana, Buea in Republic of Cameroun, Cotonou in Republic of Benin, London in United

Again, Kwara records N55.9m drop in monthly allocation Biola Azeez - Ilorin

KWARA State government has released federal allocation figures for the month of February, 2016, which show about N55.9million reduction from previous month.

According to a statement by the Commissioner for Finance, Demola Banu, the state received a total sum of N1.815 billion from the federation account, representing a decrease of N55,901,721.84 from the N1.870 billion it received in January and almost half of N3.4billion it used to receive.

Giving a breakdown, Banu said the state government got a statutory revenue allocation (SRA) of N1,139, 808,900.04; VAT of N656,252,713.98 and exchange difference of N18,952,269.75.

The commissioner also disclosed the allocation received by the 16 local

governments in the state for the month of February to include statutory revenue allocation (SRA) of N1,079,580,589.49; VAT of N371,575,080.21 and exchange difference of N12,500,306.57, totalling N1,463,655,976.27.

According to these figures, the sum total of February allocation for local governments shows a decrease of N41,834,877.95 from the N1,505,490,854.22 they received in the preceding month.

The breakdown of the January allocation received by the state government is as follows: statutory revenue allocation (SRA) of N1,262,662, 127.16; VAT of N584, 263,869.06 and exchange difference of N23,989,609.39.

While a breakdown of the January allocation for local governments shows that they collected a statutory allocation of

Edo 2016: Political parties seek clarification on use of card readers Banji Aluko - Benin City

FOLLOWING the pronouncement made by the Supreme Court that the Electoral Act does not capture the use of Smart Card Readers for the conduct of elections in the country, the Forum of Registered Political Parties (FRPP) in Edo State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare if card readers will be used in the 2016 governorship election in the state or not.

The FRPP expressed worry over the position of the Supreme Court on card readers, noting that jettisoning card readers would return the country to manual voting with its attendant vices such as ballot box snatching/stuffing, multiple thumbprints, over-voting

and outright falsification of election results.

Speaking with journalists in Benin on Thursday, chairman of the FRPP and the state chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Comrade Ogba Victor, called on the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency amend the Electoral Act to ensure that the deployment and use of the Smart Card Readers were inserted in the Act and the Nigerian Constitution.

“We frown seriously at any conscious or unconscious attempt to revert Nigeria back to yester years of sorrow, anguish, maiming, arson, killing, impunity and imposition of political gladiators facilitated by the non-usage on Smart Card Readers on the Nigerian citizenry,” Comrade Ogba stated.

N1,158, 853,610.32; VAT of N330,814,470.38, and exchange difference of N15,822,773.52, amounting to N1,505,490,854.22.

The commissioner noted that the N1.815 billion allocation received by the state for the month of February is lower than the N2.4 billion it spends monthly on workers’ wages and significantly lower than the N3.4billion the state used to receive.

Kingdom, Jeddah in Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia, Johannesburg in Republic of South Africa, Addis in Ethiopia and Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire.

Ojerinde, in a press statement made available to newsmen, on Thursday, commended President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, education stakeholders and the press, among others, for the support the Board has received in the course of preparations for the examination.

This is just as he disclosed that the board has, in a bid to reduce the high rate of successful candidates not being able to secure admission into tertiary institutions due to limited spaces, fine-tuned the candidates redistribution policy, which generated controversy last year, by “introducing an-

other choice after the preferred choices amongst schools that are undersubscribed, to enable candidates take up a second opportunity if they failed to get their first preferred choice.”

The JAMB Registrar also explained the misconception about cut-off points, which he said were not set

by JAMB but “by the policy committee chaired by the Honourable Minister of Education with the Board, Vice-Chancellors, Provost of Education, Rectors of Polytechnics, Monotechnics and so on,” noting that the 180 cut-off point is a minimum requirement and not an indication that any candidate who scores 180 would be admitted. He said institutions could go higher than 180, depending on their peculiarity, without infringing on the powers of the Board.

Nigerian Tribune

be taken to the Irua Specialist Hospital wherein he was diagnosed and confirmed to have contacted the disease.

The victim was said to have died before the result of the test was released.

It was also gathered that the other victim from Idah Local Government Area of the state was still receiving treatment at the Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State.

The acting permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Bello Henry, said government had also embarked on sensitisation programmes to curtail the spread of the disease.

He also said the state had provided personal protective equipment for the health providers who might have had contact with the victims.

Reacting to the development, the chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Kogi State chapter, Dr Austin Ojotule, said the association had also embarked on a sensitisation programme in the rural areas.

He advised people against exposing their food items to rodents in order to prevent them from contacting the disease.

14

news

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Saraki decries outbreak of lead poisoning in Niger Seeks urgent measures to tackle menace Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

T

HE Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, decried the outbreak of lead poisoning in Rafin Local Government Area of Niger State, due to small scale or artisanal mining of gold in the area.

Saraki, who stated this when the representatives of Doctors Without Borders led by Dr Simba Tirima paid him a courtesy call, said it was unfortunate that the incident in Niger State occurred at a time the nation is yet to recover from the ravages of a similar incident in Bagega, Zamfara State, where over 400 children were affected in 2013.

The lawmaker lamented that 28 children had already died as a result of the lead poisoning in Rafin Local Government Area of Niger State, and called on the Ministry of Solid Minerals to be proactive in tackling the incidence so as to safeguard the health of the people living in the area, especially children.

The Senate President said the Senate would work with the various stakeholders to ensure that all funds made available was utilised for proper remediation of the affected communities and the treatment of children already affected by lead poisoning.

According to him “I want to assure you that this National Assembly will make this issue a matter of great urgency to ensure that all that was made available for the remediation that needs to be done either through the funds of the ecological agency or through the 2016 budget, is done not only to address the case in Niger State, but also we must be proactive and there must be a level of funding available for this.

“This cannot happen in any developed society today. We need to begin to also identify areas in this country where gold mining is resulting in lead poisoning. Like he (Tirima) said, we cannot stop the miners because it as a result of poverty, this is their only source of income to survive.

“It is our duty to improve and make mining safer. I think it is important also that the Ministry of Solid Minerals takes quick and proactive actions in addressing the issue of lead poisoning.

“The state government has a role to play as well. We must get the government of Niger State and Rafin Local Government involved. They

should play their own role in educating the stakeholders to understand why they must stop their mining ac-

tivities,” he said.

The representative of the Doctors Without Borders, Dr Simba Tirima, commended

the Senate President for his efforts towards curtailing the lead poisoning incidence in Bagega, Zamfara State in

2013, when he was the chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology in the seventh Senate.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki (second left), exchanging pleasantaries with the President, Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Professor Olugbenga Okunola. With them is the chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator Joshua Dariye (left) and the society’s financial secretary, Alhaji Tunji Arisekola, when the group visited the Senate President, in Abuja, on Thursday.

Financial misappropriation: Suswam, 51 others barred

from holding public office Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

IMMEDIATE past former governor of Benue State, Dr Gabriel Suswam along with 51 others indicted for misappropriation of N107 billion,

by Justice Kpojime Judicial Commission of Inquiry, have been barred henceforth from holding public office.

This was contained in the white paper of the report submitted to the state gover-

nor, Chief Samuel Ortom, on Thursday, in Makurdi, just as an order was given that the indicted persons face prosecution for their roles in the misapplication of public funds.

The special adviser to the governor on media, Mr Tahav Argezua in the signed press statement issued, said that the state executive member had ordered the special adviser on rural de-

velopment, Mr Tsenongo Abancha, to resign immediately.

The press statement said the affected adviser was among those indicted for their roles in the misappropriation of N500 million Bank of Industry microcredit fund.

The white paper directed Mr Abancha and others to jointly and severally refund N19.5 million.

Why we demanded N1.85m from NGO —WAEC Naza Okoli - Lagos

THE West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, on Thursday, admitted it demanded N1.85 million naira from a non-governmental organisation, Edubox, as processing fee for information requested by Edubox.

The non-governmental organisation had requested the examination body to furnish it with names of the best candidates in the 2015 May/ June examination in each state of the country, to enable the organisation to offer prizes and awards to them.

“It is the aim of the organisation to reward these students with the purpose of inspiring the younger generation,” the letter signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Mr Sanusi Tosin, noted.

In response, however, WAEC had, in a letter signed

by Dr O.F Dacosta, Officerin-Charge of Test Administration, informed Edubox that the “cost of processing the data is one million, eight hundred and fifty thousand

(N1, 850, 000).”

“Kindly draw a bank draft in this sum in favour of the West African Examinations Council to enable us to process your request,” the letter said.

Sanusi had thereafter, reportedly complained that WAEC’s demand had made it difficult for his organisation to proceed with its plan.

When contacted about this, the Public Affairs Officer of WAEC, Mr Demianus Ojijeogu, told the Nigeri-

an Tribune on Thursday, that it was “standard practice.”

He added that WAEC was unable to grant waivers to Edubox because Edubox was not a registered NGO. “It’s been standard WAEC practice to charge a fee for the production of such data for individuals or organisations that require them,” he said.

“The Council, however, grants waivers to non-profit and or non-governmental organisations for altruistic purposes,” he stated.

According to the statement, the white paper also prescribed the prosecution of former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam and others for their various roles, and also barred them from holding public office.

The white paper which was presented to Governor Samuel Ortom, Thursday’s session by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Michael Gusa, gave the state government the nod to recover over N107 billion from 52 key players in the immediate past administration.

The offences for which the accused persons are to be prosecuted include padding and inflation of contracts, embezzlement, misappropriation, misapplication, expenditure without approval and approval above limit.

The white paper stipulated outright dismissal or compulsory retirement of those still in the service of Benue State, found to have participated in irregularities.

Olopoenia berates ex-ministers over stand on Modu Sheriff

By Nurudeen Alimi

INITIATOR, Reformed Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, has slammed some former ministers of the Federal Republic over their position on the recent appointment of former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff , as the national chairman of the peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, Olopoenia noted that none of them had the right to challenge the decision of the leadership of the party, especially the BoT, because they took their time to carefully select a particular candidate who they felt could drive the party to an enviable destination.

He posited that, instead of the former ministers’ call for the resignation of Ali

Modu Sheriff, they should give him a chance and see what he is capable of doing.

“If one of them had been picked to occupy the position, I strongly believe that there won’t be any call for his resignation. When Ahmed Gulak dragged the PDP to court over Uche Secondus, Where were the former ministers? As far as I am concerned, they are being selfish in their quest to unseat Sherrif.”

FG, UN join forces to end violence against Nigerian children

By Sade Oguntola

THE Federal Government of Nigeria in partnership with the Office of United Nations Secretary General has agreed to end violence against children in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire made this known in Abuja, while meeting with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Marta Santos Pais.

The minister in a release, said Nigerian government was committed to end all forms of violence against children.

According to him, “the government is committed to end violence against children in Nigeria, the present administration opted for a slogan change, the change we always talk about is not just to the team but change of direction and ways of doing things and obviously one important change is to address violence against children.”

Traditional ruler, farmers drag Gen Lekwot to court over land ownership Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

THE traditional ruler of Rijana in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mai Unguwa Dogara and 225 farmers have filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal,in Kaduna, praying the court to set aside the earlier ruling by a high court which gave General Zamani Lekwot the right of ownership of some farmlands in the community.

General Lekwot had dragged the traditional ruler and 225 farmers to the High Court (8) Kaduna, under the presiding Justice Hannatu Balogun, claiming that he was the rightful owner of the controversial farmlands.

In her ruling on January 25, 2016, Justice Balogun had held that the retired Army General was the rightful owner of the farmlands in question.

Dissatisfied with the high court’s ruling, the traditional ruler and the farmers, through their counsel, Aminu Abdulrasheed of Yahaya Mahmud chambers, filed a notice of appeal on suit no CA/K/KDH/ KAD/416/2011.

The ground for the appeal was that the trial Judge erred in law when she held that the plaintiff had proved title to the land by the production of title documents ,while the title documents tendered in court were never authenticated.

15

Friday, 26 February, 2016

arewa

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

The abattoir in view

Butchers, residents decry deplorable state of Jos abattoir Isaac Shobayo-Jos

O

NE of the edifices which have suffered neglect over the years and thus becoming a relic in Plateau State is Jos abattoir, constructed over thirty years ago by the late Chief Solomon Lar administration.

The present state of the abattoir is horrible as it is an eyesore to anybody with a sense of decency and hygiene.

Going round the abattoir, Arewa ob-

served that most of the basic facilities such as laboratory, slaughter slabs for different animals and other equipment have packed up for years without any efforts to repair them. The water system is terrible, the boreholes not functional while the storage facilities such the deep freezers are out of use.

Butchers, who thronged the abattoir on a daily basis to slaughter their cows, are forced to slaughter their cows on the floor in front of the abattoir and as well display

Another section of the abattoir

Gaidam tasks LG caretaker chairmen on ghost workers, employment letters

—pg16

Insecurity: 500 vigilante members receive training on intelligence —pg16

the meat unhygienically.

Apparently worried by the state of the abattoir, one of the butchers, who did not want his name in print, said the butchers, through their union, were tired of complaining, adding that they had made several representations to the state Ministry of Agriculture for intervention without any headway.

According to him, the previous governments were not just interested in giving the abattoir a facelift but also in replacing most of the obsolete equipment, adding that despite spurious budget often allocated for the renovation yearly, nothing had been done except words and promises without action.

“We have no choice than to continue to use the abattoir like this. When the former Governor Joshua Dariye was in power for eight years, it was promise all through without any action. Jang too came and spent eight years without addressing the problem; we hope the present government of Barrister Simon Lalong will listen to the plight of butchers and carry out massive renovation” he pleaded.

Another butcher also posited that the abattoir was gradually becoming a breeding ground for epidemic due to its unhygienic state, adding that the abattoir only had one functional well which cannot meet their need while the boreholes had since packed off due to lack of maintenance .

According to him, there might be epidemic as a result of the unhygienic condition of this abattoir. Now, there is a spread of Lassa fever caused by rats, but when you go around, there are different sizes of rats without any effort to kill them. So, the government needs to wake up from its slumber.

He charged the government to give the abattoir adequate attention and commence its renovation in phases, adding that with the deplorable condition, the management of the abattoir still collected exorbitant levy from them without providing any service.

Though none of the management of the abattoir was willing to speak with Arewa on the condition of the abattoir, but a staff of the supervising ministry, the State Ministry of Agriculture, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, blamed the previous governments for the deteriorating condition of the abattoir, saying since 1999, no government had made any efforts to give the abattoir a facelift.

“It is lip service all through, the ministry had sent several proposals to the governor’s office without any approval. Our expectation and prayer presently is that God Continues pg 16

Crew Sabiu Mohammed - Kaduna 08067698878 mohsabiu@yahoo.com Isaac Shobayo - Jos 08037032359 shobayo.isaac@gmail.com Biola Azeez – Kwara State 08034276889 biolababes@gmail.com James Bwala – Borno / Yobe 08069596659 jamesbwala97@gmail.com Adamu Amadu - Dutse Kola Oyelere - Kano

16 arewa

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Gaidam tasks LG caretaker chairmen on ghost workers, employment letters

James Bwala-Damaturu

G

OVERNOR Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has charged newly appointed caretaker chairmen for 17 local government areas of the state to ensure that the biometric enrolment exercise of all local government workers in their areas is carried out to remove ghost workers from the pay roll. He said the exercise would commence beginning with the five distressed local governments, which include: Potiskum, Nguru, Gashua, Damaturu and Fika.

Speaking, last week, during the swearing-in of the 17 local government management committee at the Wawa Hall, Government House, Damaturu, Gaidam told the newly appointed caretaker chairmen to explore ways and means of addressing the challenges of dwindling revenue by intensifying internal revenue generation drive to get additional funds for the execution of developmental projects, adding that they should avoid incurring expenses on non-essential items and cut down on essential ones; re-order their priorities by ensuring that only those capital projects which are evidently of high priority are proposed for execution.

The governor said: “Promote the adoption of enterprising culture and discouraging the habit of dependence on government among the people; ensure proper maintenance of government structures/ assets and concentrate on the provision of essential services such as provision of

water and health services. Also keep a close watch on your employees to ensure punctuality as you would be held squarely responsible for absenteeism and dereliction of duty by staff working under your councils.

“I am aware that some DPM and other local government staff are selling employment letters to people within the ranges of N350, 000 and N75, 000. This is unacceptable, and as such, would have to answer to the authorities when arrested.

That is why the staff salaries keep going up despite the fact that we know that we did not employ people in the last three or four years in the local government”, he said.

The governor’s speech also reads: “It may be recalled that I recently ordered the dissolution of the Local Government Councils in the state on the expiration of their tenure at the end of December 2015.

In order to fill the vacuum arising from this development, it has become imperative by law that Local Government Management Committees be appointed to manage the affairs of the Local Government pending the time elections will be conducted. Let me, therefore, seize this opportunity to congratulate the newly appointed Chairmen of Local Government Management Committees and their respective members on their appointments.

“I feel it is appropriate for me to commend the immediate past Local Council

members for their contributions to the development of their respective areas. It is partly for this reason that many of them have been recalled to continue the good work. Particularly worthy of commendation are the numerous developmental projects executed by the former Local Government Chairmen, which have impacted positively on the quality of life of the people at the grassroots.

“While congratulating the new chairmen on their appointments, I wish to indicate that their appointments are based on their track records of dedication, hardwork and commitment to duty. The task before the newly appointed chairmen is enormous and challenging. However, considering their wealth of experience, I have no doubt in my mind that the new appointees are up to the task.

“Nevertheless, in view of the strategic importance of the roles of Local Governments in good governance and effective service delivery at the grassroots, government will closely monitor the activities of the chairmen and will not hesitate to remove or hand over to the appropriate authority any chairman who commits gross misconduct or violates public trust.

“Let me draw the attention of the chairmen to the fact that they are taking over the affairs of their respective local governments at a time of dwindling resources as a consequence of fall in the revenue of governments at all levels. One of the big-

gest challenges before them is that the economic situation in the country is in a bad shape and that Yobe State and its local governments are equally affected. It is pathetic and disturbing to note that this situation has put the local governments in a difficult situation with some of them not being able to pay the salaries of their employees.

“As a consequence of the increasing demands on the dwindling resources at Government’s disposal, I wish to remind the Local Government Chairmen to accord priority attention to deserving areas only. In this regard, all Local Government Management Committees are hereby directed to give the required support to the on-going salary verification exercise and ensure that they fully implement the approved policies arising from the report of the exercise.”

He also said since the inception of Buhari-led administration at the centre, the state had witnessed significant improvement in the on-going fight against insurgency and other acts of terrorism in the North-East region, in particular and the nation at large. He, therefore, appealed to the people to continue to pray for the full restoration of peace and security in the state and the country as a whole.

He equally urged the people to continue to cooperate with the security agencies to enable them complete the good work they had been doing.

Butchers, residents decry deplorable state of Jos abattoir Continued from pg15

should touch this administration to give the abattoir deserved attention. It is a gory site that requires urgent attention” he said Residents of the area, where the abattoir is sited, are full of lamentation; they are complaining of the odour oozing out of the abattoir. A resident, Habibu John, said most of the wells in the area had been polluted and were no longer useful for domestic purpose due to the unhygienic state of the abattoir.

“We have complained severally to the authority concerned without any attempt to arrest the situation. In this community, virtually all the wells have been polluted due to the terrible state of the abattoir; we are appealing to the present government to come to our aid and fix up the abattoir.

The refuse dump site within the abattoir is also another gory site” he said He added that due to lack of monitoring, the abattoir in the night served as a hideout for chain smokers and other criminal elements who often terrorised the people of the community and passersby and called on the security agencies to assist in ridding the areas of bad elements.

However, the State Commissioner for Agriculture Mrs Lynda Henang Barau, pointed out that the present administration was fully aware of the pathetic state of the abattoir, adding that the government had started looking for an investor to partner with towards renovating the entire complex.

She further added that the abattoir on the long run would be relocated to another permanent site when the government fully settled down and have the means to do so and therefore appeal to the people to exercise patient.

Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State (first right) watches as newly appointed chairmen of Local Government Councils take their oath of office, at Government House Damaturu recently.

Insecurity: 500 vigilante members receive training on intelligence Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna NO fewer than 500 members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria(VGN), Kaduna State chapter, have undergone special training on intelligence in order to complement the efforts being made by other security agencies in tackling crime in the state.

This was made known by the state commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Alhaji MUhammad Sani Umar during the passing out parade of the VGN at the Police College Kaduna.

The commander remarked that the members were trained in different aspects of basic and intelligence skills by the police.

According to him, the five-day training was a morale booster to his members as it afforded them new knowledge to improve their skills on intelligence gathering.

The commander was optimistic that his members would put into use what they learned for the benefit of the society.

He said the group’s main objective was to prevent the escalation of crime which

had now become the order of the day ‘Cases such as cattle rustling, rape and kidnapping are on the increase and we must pull all hands together towards its prevention.

Speaking at the occasion, the Co-ordinator of the state security outfit, ‘Operation Yaki’, Colonel Yakubu Yusuf (rtd), expressed the hope that very soon, crime rate would drop as all necessary measures were being put in place by the present government to ensure that the state was safe from criminals.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

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few weeks ago, I marked my 73rd birthday anniversary. I had marked the event with some articles, which I had titled “73RD BIRTHDAY NOTES.” In one of the articles, I had made reference to some highlife music tunes of yesteryears (particularly highlife music from Ghana).

I made a special appeal to anyone who can be of help to me in my efforts to have a link with how I could have these old highlife records brought near me once again (after so many years).

I thank two readers of my column who rose spontaneously to the challenge and correctly advised me on how I could achieve the feat. Today, I am totally reunited with highlife music of old as played by Nigerian and Ghanaian music stars of yesteryears.

One of the readers sent a telephone number to me and informed me that there was a place at 4, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos where I can be connected with evergreen music of old. I seized the opportunity and contacted the place. Within 72 hours, I was right inside the 4, Ogunlana Drive address in Surulere, Lagos, where I met Mr. Femi Esho, the Chief Executive Officer of the Evergreen Music Limited.

It became more interesting when Mr. Esho now turned out to be a man from my area of Yorubaland, who had attended Ilesa Grammar School in present day Osun State.

I explained my mission to him and he laughed heartily, informing me that I was at the correct address. I ended my visit with Mr. Esho arranging for me musical recordings of E.T. Mensah and his Tempos Band, the Uhuru Dance Band, the Broadway Dance Band, C.K Mann, the Ramblers Dance Band, the “Obi of highlife music,” the late Eddy Okonta, who played his highlife music at Paradise Club, Ibadan; Victor Abimbola Olaiya, John Akintola aka Roy Chicago; the Stargazers Dance Band of Kumasi, the Black Beats Band, Ted Osei of the Comets Dance Band of Ghana and E.K. Nyame’s Guitar Band.

Mr Esho gave all the recordings of these great musical stars to me as complimentary gifts. Today, I enjoy highlife music as played yesteryears with much satisfaction and delight. I have been totally reunited with the past and I wake up every morning at my Ilesa residence with highlife music of old.

History has a way of reliving events of the past. No country ever desecrates its history and survive. History has been banned from the shores of Nigeria as a subject and Nigeria has been the poorest for it. History and culture are joined together. A country’s cultural life cannot be separated from the historical existence of that country. It is my special plea to all my fellow Africans that we must allow the musical history of our continent to flow smoothly along with our continent’s march to historical greatness.

The musical stars of old did their very best in recording for posterity historical landmarks of our continent’s socio political existence.

I remember the great recording of E.T Mensah, who was married to a Nigerian woman; I remember the Ghana-Guinea-Mali political union of the early 60s.

Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure and Modibo Keita, the three great political leaders of Ghana, Guinea and Mali respectively had put together a political union that gave much hope to all Africans at that time who believed in the eventual triumph of the African Revolution. It was a visionary socio-economic Union which had given great hope to Africans that our continent has arrived in the committee of nations with vision of a greater Africa. The imperialists never liked the Ghana-Guinea-Mali Union and everything was done to destroy the idea.

Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown, Sekou Toure was politically castrated and Modibo Keita died in prison as a blind man. Tears were in my ears when I heard the music of E.T Mensah and his Tempos Band in favour of the economic union. The same E.T Mensah had recorded a song to mark Nigeria’s independence when it came on October 1, 1960. “Freedom, Freedom Nigeria, for all Nigerians, freedom forever” so the record went.

No one can equally forget the special highlife recording Stan Plange and the Uhuru (Freedom) Dance Band on the need for Unity among African countries of the 60s. “Africa must unite, Africa must be free. “Total liberation for all Africa”. It was accompanied with a musical arrangement whose rhythm was scintillating and whose guitar accompaniment was remarkable.

I say it with all regrets that many of these musical

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

History and evergreen music

•Victor Olaiya, one of Nigeria’s greatest highlife musicians.

giants who had done much for the cultural life of our continent are no more. They have all died.

Femi Esho told me that Jerry Hansen, E.T. Mensah, Roy Chicago, Eddy Okonta are all dead. The ugly side of it all is that Ghana, the land of authentic African highlife music, no longer has a single thing in her archives to remember the golden era of highlife music patronage. It is a sad development. The only link we now have is the Femi Esho-led Evergreen Music Nigeria Limited, which specialises in reproducing the music of old. We must never let it die.

Music has always been a part of me in my growing up years. When I was at Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos for my higher school certificate classes in the 60s, I was full of music. I was a member of the Swing Stars Orchestra (the band of Igbobi College) with my friends Yinka Bada as the leader of the band, Joe Watson as the Lone Trumpeter, Enitan Osunkoya as Guitarist and with me at the vocals. Outside Igbobi College Campus, I played music with the Cool Cats orchestra, 40 Abule-Nla Road Ebute-Metta led by Kobina Biney. Those were days to remember.

As I had said earlier, African governments, particularly in Nigeria and Ghana, must never allow high life music to die. I was delighted when Femi Esho informed me that the government of Governor Ibikunle Amosun was trying to engage the Evergreen Music Nigeria Limited in helping to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of Ogun State with a musical collection that will bring into focus the contributions of musical stars of Ogun State (right from the beginning) to Nigeria’s socio-cultural development. I must commend Governor Amosun for this brilliant idea. Our governments

must pay their respects to the musical contributions of our stars of yesteryears to the greatness of Nigeria.

Let all other governments of Nigeria take a cue from the Ogun State example.

I love music. I sincerely love African highlife music.

I will forever continue to listen to highlife music as produced by our African musical stars.

My brain just went celebrating when I ended this piece of today on the note of the music of the Obi of trumpets, Eddy Okonta, in “ABELE.” The late Nat Buckle, who died a few years ago, vocalled the song for Eddy Okonta in “ABELE.” God bless you all!

PAPA AWO LIVES ON On March 6, 2016, we will all gather once again to celebrate Papa Obafemi Awolowo’s birthday. The Avatar simply lives on.

On March 3, 2016, my dear sister, Dr. Olatokunbo Dosunmu, will deliver a lecture to mark the event on the platform of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation. It will be a great event.

Both Papa and Mama Awolowo have answered the supreme call. We will forever remember them!

You Live Oh Awo!!

EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK: “WALE ADEBANWI ON MAMA HID” – 3 (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE)

18 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 26 February, 2016

editor

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

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

Igbo, say no to secession

T

HE world is experiencing an unchecked slide into an era of massive forced global displacement and we need not cause massacre for ourselves and our posterity.

When there is absolute impunity for those initiating wars, there is always utter inability of war victims to flee into international community for safety. The world has ever been failing to stop wars or build and preserve the needed peace.

Last year, Syria became the biggest source of refugees with 1.77 million Syr-

ians having fled the nation’s ongoing civil war. At present, there are ongoing conflicts in South Sudan, Ukraine, Syria and Iraq and the wars have caused suffering and widespread displacement. Ask South and North Korea of the cost of maintaining their broken nations and you will learn the bitter truth of war.

It was estimated that 10.7 million individuals were displaced as a result of conflict or civil war in 2013. Not less than 32,200 people were forced to leave their homes and seek ref-

Drying farm produce by the roadside is dangerous DRYING of farm produce such as cassava flour, pepper, cocoa seeds, e.t.c. by rural dwellers on the both side edges of our high ways, especially in the South West part of the country, is fast becoming more dangerous and alarming. Those who are familiar with Igbo-OraEruwa-Ibadan road in Oyo State would quite agree to this. Some of these roads are extremely narrow that they can hardly conveniently contain two vehicles at the same points except the dualised ones.

This dangerous act is one of the many social disorders that ultimately lead to road accidents on our highways.

Most vehicular accidents that occurred on our highways are as a result of carelessness or outright ignorance on the part of road users.

According to a published research, “environmental and human related factors are some of the causes of road accidents in Nigeria.”

Road accidents have been responsible for physical, social, emotional and economic loss across the world.

This act is also as dangerous as road side trading, which has sent many lives to their untimely graves. Intruding and horribles animals such as goats, dogs, sheep, rodents e.t.c defecated on

these dried edibles on our highways. Yet, they are packaged and sold at our various market places for human consumption. This is detrimental to human health, especially when diseases of various kinds are flying about in the air.

But, what is the position of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), an agency that was established and saddled with the sole responsibility of maintaining safety on our highways across the country?

One would expect the agency to have taken a firm measure at combating the menace instead of flexing muscle on innocent motorists on our highways across the country. Assuming the highway code check list does not take cognizance of the menace, the agency ought to have invoked “doctrine of necessity” to deal with the ugly trend as it constitutes a great threat and danger to other road users.

There is no need to wait for accidents to occur on our roads before government does the needful. I hope something can be done on this as soon as possible. After all, prevention, they say, is better than cure.

•Olugbenga Olayiwola, Isale-Oba, Igbo-Ora, Oyo-State.

uge elsewhere every day due to conflict, tyranny and torture in 2013. According to a United Nations report, people displaced by war, conflict or oppression nearly reached 60 million in the world in 2014. According to the UN, the Syrian civil war has made the number of people forced to

flee their homes to rise by 8.3 million from the previous year’s record. Why do we resort to war when we can pick up our pieces?

According to world report, at least 15 conflicts have burst forth or reignited in the past five years, including eight in Africa, our Africa, and three in the

Middle East. By the end of 2014, 59.5 million had been displaced by internal conflict in Ukraine, Nigeria and South Sudan. The most unfortunate part in this case is that more than half of the displaced are children. They would later become cannibals; they would later turn to insur-

Certificates: I disagree with UniAbuja THIS week, the University of Abuja released a statement that it had secured an agreement with a British printing firm for the printing of its certificates.

The university said the reason for the decision to start printing abroad was because it wanted a certificate that would be difficult to forge.

I, however, want to disagree with the university for this decision. It can not say there are no print-

ing firms in the country that can come up with features on certificates that will be difficult to forge.

Again, at a time when the country is having economic challenges, and economists have been calling on Nigerians to buy locallymade products, and patronise Nigerian firms, University of Abuja is taking jobs outside the country.

Nigeria will never develop if we don’t have confidence in our local services.

On the issue of forgery,

what the university can do is to make its public relations department efficient so that any employer of labour will be able to contact the university to find out if a particular certificate is genuine or not.

I think the university can have a rethink on this decision so as not to go against the clarion call on Nigerians to patronise local products and services.

•Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.

gents.

Let us have a rethink. In civil war, there is always no access to good food, clean water and shelter, rather, all it offers a nation in particular is economic retardation, overwhelming insecurity and untold massacre brought about by shocking outright lawlessness.

Let us resort to using benevolence and tolerance as palliative. Let usrelax our minds and see hope in our togetherness.

Let us use the political power as a means of resolving our differences instead of attempting another civil war that will tear us into shreds. We should not forget that the cost of maintaining a together Nigeria is cheaper than that of a broken one.

•Oyewole Jeremiah A. oyewolejeremiah@ yahoo.com

19

editorial

E

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Of madmen and their ATMs

VER since the discovery, in Lagos, of Clifford Orji, a notorious cannibal under the bridge on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway who reportedly dealt in human body parts and had a rich clientele, the country’s criminal landscape has arguably admitted many more weird persons into its curious but ever widening fold, ranging from ritual killers to criminals who obtain money under false pretences. Although Orji was eventually arrested in 1999, kept from the public view and reported dead in Kirikiri prisons in 2012, without any official resolution as to his state of mind, similar characters who have found another convenient means of survival in Nigeria’s harsh, hostile but permissive economy have continued to thrive.

As they say on Nigerian streets, all it takes is ‘packaging’ to live off the fat of the land and the police have recently been kept busy apprehending these characters while they contend with the dilemma of specifying which charges to slam on them. A particular fellow had earned an average monthly salary of N300,000 just by appealing to kind hearted Nigerians to settle his spurious hospital bills based on prescription sheets which, according to him, were always retrieved from the trash cans of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

The religious belief of the people especially concerning giving alms to the poor fuels this ignoble enterprise and it must grate those who have parted with their hard-earned cash in the belief that they were helping a desperate soul in need to realise that they were actually funding his daily consumption of the drug that had held him captive. It is quite ironic that while many law-abiding workers earned far less, this despicable misanthrope made such a hefty sum just to satisfy his criminal longing.

In Lagos, Oyo and Ondo states, the police have arrested some men who in the guise of mental ill health have been conducting their lives in criminal comfort. One Lanrewaju Jaiyeola was apprehended by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad attached to the Victoria Island area of Lagos State with two mobile phones, 22 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, several slips of recent bank

transactions and a power bank.

The police said they were not convinced that Jaiyeola was actually suffering from mental health challenges because, initially, he was well spoken, before talking unintelligibly later on. Even if the police could be faulted on their expertise in psychiatry, their discovery of eight valid credit cards which had different names was beyond reproach.

Though he feigned insanity, Jaiyeola’s credentials as a criminal could not be doubted. The other suspects were also similarly circumstanced in style and conduct and we think that shrouding crime under insanity is possible only in a permissive society like Nigeria which is burdened by many contradictions.

In these instances, vigilant residents and their neighbours have helped to apprehend these criminals in their furtive contrivances. But for their vigilance, there is no knowing what these characters could have done while they served as fronts for different criminals and possibly terrorists.

The police need to break into their ranks to study them and discover those who fuel their activities.

For instance, what do they do with the ATM cards, credit cards and bank slips indicating that transactions between them and the banks have taken place? What do they seek to achieve by pretending to be lunatics? If it is a ploy to sway the attention of the general public from their real activities, then the security agencies should find the appropriate means to bust these crimes immediately.

It is totally absurd for the Nigerian society to allow lunatics, sociopaths and psychopaths to roam the streets because they are veritable sources of danger to lives and property and should be taken care of. They should be withdrawn from the society immediately. It is one thing to be poor or destitute; being insane is a totally different matter which needs the attention of specialists as a condition precedent to being allowed to cohabit with other citizens in the society. When this is enforced, we are certain that pretending to be mad or insane in order to wreak havoc on the society will no longer be an attractive option for the specialist madmen who live more affluent lifestyles than the regular members.

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20

opinion

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Rebuilding Nigeria on tax reforms

By Jide Ojo

W

ITH the dwindling income from sale of crude oil, it has become imperative for government at all levels to scout for alternative sources of income to fund development projects and programmes, as well as oil the wheel of governance. There have been several suggestions on how to boost the internally generated revenue of government. These include right investments and policies in agriculture, solid minerals and sports.

Cross-cutting benefits will accrue to government from all private and public investments in the identified areas in form of tax. An online source defines tax as “a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers’ income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions.”

According to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which is the Federal Government agency in charge of tax administration in Nigeria, some of the taxes operational in the country are: Personal Income Tax; Companies Income Tax; Petroleum Profit Tax; Value Added Tax; Withholding Tax; Education Tax; Stamp Duties; Capital Gains Tax and National Information Technology Development Fund Levy.

There are several advantages accruing to both government and citizens from payment of taxes. According to the FIRS, “The benefits derivable include but are not limited to: Providing sustainable finance and funding for governance, public and social services and economic development; Promoting civic responsibility, patriotism by citizens and social responsibility by corporate citizens; and Stimulating priority social and economic activities and sectors while discouraging less preferred ones.”

Others include, “bringing about the redistribution of wealth and bridging sharp disparities in living standards; Giving taxpayers the moral and legal right to demand (thereby engendering) a culture of accountability; Serving as a gauge for measuring the level, growth and health of economic units and economic activities; Individuals and corporate organisations are conferred with definite benefits, rights and privileges in the system based on their tax compliance status; and tax compli-

ance enables law abiding citizens to avoid the consequences, penalties and sanctions of non-compliance.”

In spite of the aforementioned benefits and importance, Nigerians are one of the world’s worst evaders of tax. Tax evasion, though a global phenomenon, however is very rampant in this clime and is committed with impunity. Even when not totally avoided, many Nigerians do not pay the right taxes. Some Nigerians are also in the habit of procuring fake Tax Clearance Certificates when it is demanded of them.

A newspaper editorial quoted PricewaterhouseCoopers as saying that Nigeria has one of the world’s lowest tax revenues to GDP ratios. “Estimates vary; while PwC this year (2015) estimates Nigeria’s tax revenues at eight per cent of GDP, the World Bank put it at 1.6 per cent in 2012 and the Heritage Foundation at 6.1 per cent in 2013. But in Norway, which manages its oil wealth far more sensibly, tax revenues were 26.8 per cent (World Bank), South Africa 25.6 per cent and Mozambique 26 per cent.”

The editorial under reference also made more startling revelations. It says 80 per cent of taxable adults never pay tax, as revealed at a recent Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria forum. Seventy five per cent of companies are not registered with the FIRS for the mandatory Companies Income Tax and 65 per cent of those registered are not up to date with tax filings. The newspaper also quoted the acting chairman of the FIRS, Mr.

Babatunde Fowler, as saying that 200 registered oil and gas firms were not paying tax and that 35,650 corporate bodies had similarly failed to pay taxes. Not only that, the editorial also quoted a former FIRS chief, Sunday Ogungbesan, as having said in August 2015 that of the 450,000 registered companies once surveyed in Nigeria, only 125 were found to be paying tax.

What are the factors responsible for this high level of tax evasion or non-compliance? They are many. One of them is the multiple taxation of the companies operating in Nigeria. Private companies in the country complain that they are subjected to too many taxes by the three tiers of government namely; federal, state and local government.

With the exception of government workers, whose Personal Income Tax is deducted from source under the Pay As You Earn scheme, it is practically impossible to assess the tax liabilities of many traders, or those in the informal private sector. They deliberately underestimate their business value in order to ensure that they pay less tax.

Besides, people do not want to pay tax because they have not seen or felt the positive impact of government in their lives. They see the wasteful spending and ostentatious lifestyles of political office holders, which then discourages them. Moreover, unemployment and staff retrenchment also combine to rob government of tax revenue. It is impossible to tax someone who is unemployed. I quite agree with this newspaper in the aforementioned editorial when it observed that: “The critical missing links in our tax administration are efficiency, enforcement and punishment.”

It is also on point with its suggestion that the government should be ruthless with tax offenders and roll out a more robust tax on luxury goods instead of a blanket increase in VAT. It cannot be overstated that there is a need for a strong synergy between the Finance Ministry, the FIRS and other revenue collecting agencies to raise revenues to the minimum 25 per cent of GDP recommended by the World Bank and that tax reforms will also ultimately require very strong backing and political will from President Muhammadu Buhari as well as stronger tax laws.

•Ojo is a Lagos-based tax consultant.

Is man capable of coexisting peacefully?

By John Obuseh

ON a global scale, a monster is on the loose. This monster called “conflict” is running uncensored across the length and breadth of our world, permeating every aspect of our lives, leaving devastating legacies in its wake in the form of broken relationships, increased animosities, abuse of human rights, disease migration, hatred, pain and sundry other consequences of the destructive disruptions of normal human activities by this monster that has become man’s unending affliction… a gorgon that threatens to halt human evolution.

Man’s tendency to seek redress for perceived wrongs through means that are everything but humane is mindbending. Individuals, groups and nations who had been living cordially for some time can, in moments of madness, become the worst of enemies seeking the most horrible means to decapitate and denigrate one another and inflict the most terrible of pains on themselves in the process.

The question is, “is man incapable of coexisting peacefully with his fellow man?” Why do we fight one another?

Is the hatred of our fellow men embedded in our genes?

What attempts have we made at peace and how effective have they been? Is peace an elusive utopia? Is there hope for peace in the world?

In attempting to find lasting solutions to this seemingly unending, malignant affliction of man, several actions, counter-actions, perspectives and paradigms have been put forward by the academia, statesmen, heads of religions, citizen diplomats, activists and even the casual observer, through research, legislations, sermons and agitations with varying degrees of successes and failures.

Organisations like the League of Nations, United Nations Organisation (UNO) and sundry other global, regional and sub-regional organisations were conceived by men of the most altruistic intentions. But the inability of

these bodies to fully put checks on the tendency of men to constantly hurt one another stems largely from a misplacement of priorities; a failure to locate the true cause of human conflicts. So why can’t we live in peace?

The true answer to that question is that man has failed to put checks on conflicts because he has refused to accept the basic reason and cause for war, nor will he accept the cure for this basic cause. The Bible says: “From whence comes wars and fighting among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Ye lust, and have not: Ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; yet ye have not… (James 4:1,2KJV).

Locked inside the innermost recesses of the human heart is a selfish, self-centered nature, the source of what God calls sin. Sin basically means a self-centered approach to live, devoid of the guidance of God. This selfish nature with which we were born is a major reason why we can’t co-exist peacefully with ourselves, family, neighbour, or, on a wider scale, with other nations. A man once asked, “What is wrong with the world?”

And answered himself candidly,” I am wrong with the world.”

God’s altruistic intention towards man was for him to have constant fellowship with him.

This companionship was so crucial that man without it was like a rudderless ship sailing against a roaring tempest. God pointed out the rules of His relationship with man, with emphasis on the consequences of disobedience to the terms of this sacred union. But man blew it all when he fell from the grace of plenty to the grass of depravity. He became lost, a ship without a compass, destined to capsize.

Thus, man has become his own enemy; self-seeking and estranged from his life source. No matter the amount of fame, material wealth or power he acquires, his appetite remains insatiable.

This is because he can no longer fill the void once occupied by his maker with anything from the world of matter. In frustration, he fights with himself, his family, his neighbour, his friends, and other nations. What a pity! So what is the way out?

Positive peace in all its ramifications is achievable. It is not a utopia. But it can only rear its head when men begin to change their hearts.

The advent of Christ on earth was to purposely return men back to fellowship with God, and to subsequently effect the transformation of their hearts (I Peter 3:18).

Jesus paid the penalty for our sins in order to mend fences between God and us.

The resultant redemption of our soul gives us a new heart; an obedient heart that is filled with love for our God, neighbour, family friends, and for other nations.

This cannot be achieved by any system of government, education, psychology, or outer environmental changes. I believe there is hope for peace. It simply begins with YOU and ME! •Obuseh lives in Benin.

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Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 26 February, 2016

fridaytreat Music artistes need re-orientation to win big awards — T Piano

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636

Ali Baba, Teju Babyface, Lil Kesh, others invade Ibadan for Peteru this Sunday

GQ lounge opens Ilorin branch Tobechi Nneji, Uriel Oputa and Ifeanyi Dike selected for Top Actor Africa Music

Business 101

Avoiding the ‘mainstream and commercialisation’ traps on the careers of artistes/musicians in the music business

Next week’s Hot Topic...

Can Debie ‘rise’ above present conflicts with 800 records?

Should gospel artistes charge performance fees?

22

fridaytreat

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

MUSIC BUSINESS 101

Avoiding the ‘mainstream and commercialisation’ traps on the careers of artistes/musicians in the music business

By Toyin Adeniji THE extreme commercialisation of music and of artistes’ music career has no doubt impacted negatively on the purpose or “reason for being” of many artistes/musicians in the music business.

Most artistes/musicians today have been reduced to “soulless” music-making robots whose only motivation and goal is to succeed commercially. I believe that the essence and brilliance of many musical geniuses have been hijacked and subsumed under the ephemeral toga of unhealthy commercialization in the present day music industry.

The urge to make commercially acclaimed “hit” songs is killing creativity and ruining the careers of artistes/musicians in the music business. Many artiste/musician today are totally out of touch with their talent/creative centres. Many have lost sight of their unique musical gifting and sense of artistic identity while pursuing “commercial hit”.

Instead of focusing on creating music that uniquely expresses the talent and creativity of an artiste/musician with the purpose of meeting the needs of its unique audience; every artiste wants to create music that is sensational and which can be referred to as “hit” songs. The truth, however is that every artiste/musician gifted with musical talent has something uncommon to gift their unique audience. Every artiste/musician who will care to develop and nurture their talent, seek to understand the specific audience their music appeals to and commits to excellence in their music can have a “hitfilled” musical career.

Sustainability in all aspects of human life is about creating and maintaining the dynamics and continuity of balance between the forces that creates and sustains value.

There is no one organisation in the entire

world that has successfully built a lasting legacy on the creation and marketing of sensational products with ephemeral value. Instead, these organisations have consistently created real value via products designed to meet the specific needs and wants of their targeted consumers. There are toiletry products, food products, and personal hygiene products for instance manufactured by some companies whose names have become household names synonymous with meeting the everyday needs of families all over the world consistently for over a century. These organisations thrive on identifying regular market needs, and meeting those specific needs with their products on a sustainable basis. That is the reason why generations of families have grown up traditionally accustomed to using certain product brands, because they are reliable, dependable and always available to meet their needs.

Many artistes/musicians today believed in the erroneous myth that they cannot succeed by doing any other kind of musical genre outside of the “mainstream” popular genre, even if they are not a natural cast or psycho-musically suited for that “mainstream” genre. The lack of the understanding that what defines “mainstream” in the modern music industry, is a social-construct and creation of the powers that controls the music business, and not a true definition or determinant of success in the music business. “Mainstream” is any genre that has a very high-number commercial sales and commands a significant market share in terms of audience appeal. Historically, the popular music genres that are considered mainstream genres today were not mainstream back at the beginning. The concept of mainstream in the music industry is synonymous with the advent of the commercialization of music. It is important to know

that the styles of music accepted globally in the music business today as “mainstream” were originated by individual artistes/musicians before its mass-adoption by other musical proponents performing the style and accepted by a significant population of music consumers.

Subgenres of much “mainstream” music genres exist today which are nothing but the unique adaptation and re-interpretation by some artistes/musicians of the “mainstream” genre to suit their individual musical peculiarities. The goal should be to musically differentiate the artiste and his/ her music on the basis of originality and creativity within the confines of what appeals to and interests music consumers. Many artistes/musicians have entrapped themselves in conforming with and aligning their musical creativity to what they believe to be “mainstream” music/style, thereby ending-up stifling and limiting the originality of their unique musical creativity to the impeding scopes of the “mainstream”. Artistes and the mass acceptability and adoption of their songs/music should be the determinant of what constitutes a “mainstream” style; and not that defined as “mainstream” determining the success of artistes and their songs.

In the music business, whatever makes an artiste/musician unique is what makes that artiste/musician special and different from the pack.

Originality of creativity well balanced with existing universal principles of making music will make a talented artiste or musical composition to stand out from the lot. Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s afrobeats music is a classic example. The summary of the idea behind afrobeat’s creation as a musical genre is its function as a socially-aware music that also suited the persona of Fela as a musician, creating a perfect blend of music and talent cast. Fela’s afrobeat music has a functional

usage value with a socially relevant message and purposefully created to meet the sociopolitical liberation needs of the people. It therefore was not surprising that afrobeat within the context of the Nigerian music industry at that time became “mainstream” music and remains relevant till today both as a genre and as music.

The pursuit of musical purpose is actually crucial to the long-term success and sustainability of the musical careers of artistes/ musicians. Instead of sacrificing an artiste’s unique talents and gifting in order to conform and become “commercialized” within a “mainstream” genre; it is better for the artiste/musician to pursue their musical purpose, while using whatever genre/style that best interprets and expresses the artiste’s talents in meeting the musical needs of their audience. It is in the best interest of artistes/musicians to fill-up their musical time-line and space with their masterpiece creations because it is the only pathway to success and to becoming a legend in the music business. Instead of focusing efforts on creating short-term musical hits as defined by “mainstream” norms, it pays to focus ones energy on creating masterpieces that appeals to consumers, and that will be relevant in the short-term while it leaves a longterm enduring legacy. This is the mindset and the hallmark of great legends of the music industry. Every true legends of the music industry game have always defined and redefined what was known and defined as “mainstream” style with their creativity and originality of musical ideas. Berry Gordy and his Motown label talents deconstructed what was considered and defined as the “mainstream” of their time both from a musical and socio-political perspective and succeeded in creating a new musical genre and “mainstream” named after the label “Motown-sound”.

Tobechi Nneji, Uriel Oputa and Ifeanyi Dike selected for GQ lounge Top Actor Africa opens Ilorin branch, more to follow POPULAR club, Gentleman’s Quarters, are currently expanding. The club and lounge, which opened in Ibadan, three years ago, have now opened another branch in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

According to the CEO of the outfit, Yemi Lawal, recently in Ilorin, the expansion became necessary in order to provide quality entertainment for the residents of the Kwara State capital.

In his words, “We had to expand to Ilorin after several requests by fun seekers who lived there but always travelled to our club in Ibadan during weekends to experience our unique nightlife offerings. After due consultations, we discovered that though fun spots existed in Ilorin, residents required a classy and upscale relaxation hub that would cater exclusively to people of exquisite tastes. For this reason, we decided to open an Ilorin branch which is currently on test running. A grand event will soon be organized to formally open the lounge which will host some big names”.

Lawal also hinted that more branches may be unveiled soon based on request from host cites.

NIGERIAN actors Tobechi Nneji, Uriel Oputa and Ifeanyi Dike are hoping to fly the flag for Nigeria and make the nation proud in the upcoming BET reality series, ‘Top Actor Africa’ which kicks off next month on the BET channel on satellite network, DSTV. The three Nigerians join nine other hopefuls from South, East and West Africa, who were shortlisted after gruelling auditions held in Johannesburg, Durban, Lagos and Nairobi. Hoping to see their names in lights are South Africans, Shamilla Miller and Simhle Belinda Plaatjies from Cape Town, Farrell Drew from Durban and Marilyn Sekgapane, Jesse Suntele, Hendrik Lombard and Sabelo Sibeko from Johannesburg. They will be joined by East African hopefuls Lorreine Wangui Gakuo and Alex Khayo from Kenya.

Top Actor Africa will be testing the actors to the limits in nine gruelling acting challenges, taking them through every acting

genre from Improvisions to Comedy, Theatre, Soapies, Commercial, Romance, Horror, Drama and Action. They will have the unique opportunity to work with industry insiders from the local industry and Hollywood including celebrity actors, casting agents, directors, producers, managers and writers as they fight to stay in the competition and keep their acting dreams alive.

The contestants will be competing for the chance to win the title of “Top Actor Africa”.

At stake is a career-launching prize package that includes US$10,000 in cash, a one-year contract with international representation and access to Hollywood auditions.

Commenting on the emergence of the final contestants, Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, VIMN Africa remarked, “We send our congratulations and best wishes to all the contestants who have made the final cut in Top Actor Africa. We are thrilled to have developed this powerful

and proven platform for discovering and empowering African acting talent, and we look forward to seeing the drama unfold in season 2.”

In her own reaction to their emergence, Uriel Oputa , one of the Nigerian contestants commented, she said “Finding out I made it to Top Actor Africa was pure excitement, it has come at a real good time for me and my spirit is lifted, sincerely I’m truly overjoyed. I believe I’m going to just shine in the house”.

Hosted by South African movie star, Zikhona Sodlaka (“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” & “Generations”), the 2015 contest was won by South African drama student Altovise Lawrence, who now hosts entertainment news show, BET Buzz. She also recently shot her first Hollywood movie, “The Other Side” in the USA opposite Roger Guenvuer Smith, Brad James and Erica Hubbard. The film is due for theatrical release in 2016.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

society

...celebrating the people

Nigerian Tribune

For Booking, contact Alaba Igbaroola alabaadewale01@gmail.com 08155975474

Faces @ the 60th anniversary celebrations of Baptist Girls’ High School 1960 to 1969 set.

From left, Osuntuga Olufunke; Financial Secretary of the National body, DNS Fadulu Kehinde Olufunmilola, Dr Tayo Lewis, President, Lagos Chapter, Mrs Abimbola Ademoroti; Oluwaseyi Ogboye, 92 set dressed in the Baptist Girls High School From left, Adeola Adekoje, Funmi Ogunro, Funke Weshiloye, Sade Oladokun, Enitan Propietress, Great Havilah School, Mrs Fakeyede Yemisi, Mrs Mosunmola Omidoyin, uniform with the National President, Mrs Omotayo Ekundare.

Harrison Oluwatoyin and Propietress, Baliza International School, Mrs Kunbi Ajibade.

Osho, Laide Alao, Biola Adekoje and Remi Ojelabi.

From left, President, Osun State Chapter, Mrs Jadesola Ojo; President, Lagos Chapter, Mrs Abimbola Ademoroti; Guest Speaker, Major General Olatilewa From left, Mrs Abimbola Ademoroti, Mrs Omotayo Ekundare, Senior Pastor, Amusu; National President, Mrs Omotayo Ekundare and President, Ibadan Shepherdhill Baptist Church,Obanikoro, Reverend Dr. Isreal Kristilere, Vice From left, Mrs Bose Motosho, Dr Tayo Lewis, Mrs Titi Esho, Mrs Mosun Omidoyin, Mrs Asabi Adeniyi and Mrs Bola Oladejo.

President, Lagos Branch, Professor Laide Adedokun and others.

Chapter, Barrister Omolade Dada.

From left, first female automobile driver, Mrs Funmi Ogunro, 2011- 2014 Ambassador of Save the Children Midwifery award, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ojo and Propietress, Radiance Schools, Mrs Remi Olajengbesi.

From left, Chief (Mrs) Abosede Sorinola, Mrs Adebola Moradeyo Laniyan, Professor Olaide Oladokun and Mrs Victoria Oyagunle.

From left, former principal, Lagos State Junior Model College, Badagry, Mrs Senapon Adeyemi, Mrs Toyin Olagunju and Propietress, Baliza International School, Mrs Kunbi Ajibade.

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fridaytreat

Ali Baba, Teju Babyface, Lil Kesh, others invade Ibadan for Peteru this Sunday FAST rising comedian, Peteru, has concluded plans to thrill residents of Ibadan on Sunday as he will be staging his first major show in the city.

Tagged ‘Peteru Unleashed’, the event will see industry heavyweights like Ali Baba, Teju Babyface, Seyi Law, Omo Baba, amongst others, take turns to make the event a rib cracking one, while Lil Kesh, Fabulous Pizzy, Dremo among other grade A artistes will serenade their audience with good music.

Speaking with Friday Treat, Peteru said that he decided to stage the event because it was his time to shine. ‘I had been planning for years. I believe that with the way the enter-

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

tainment industry has grown in leaps and bounds, if one was going to plan a show, it should be big. That is why it took me some time to unleash myself.

“The event is actually going to run for four days and the Sunday show is the grand finale. On Wednesday, we had an open mic night where everyone was invited to showcase their talent. On Thursday, I was in Ilorin to entertain my fans there. Today, we are back in Ibadan for a celebrity football match between comedians and music stakeholders.

I thank God for the grace to be where I am today and I encourage everyone to come out on Sunday”, he said.

Can Debie ‘rise’ above present conflicts with 800 records?

Music artistes need

DEBORAH Olurise aka Debie Rise is a talented guitarist and performer whose road to fame started two years ago when she entered for the Nigerian Idol Season 3 where she won the hearts of many and emerged first runner up in the competition. She was consequently, after the competition, signed to 800 records.

However,the Nigerian Idol Season 3 last girl standing is in the middle of a contract dispute with the label, few years after signing a contract, where she has issued a claim that her contract has been repudiated.

Her supposed record label, however disputes her claims, releasing a statement last month, explaining details of her contract. It read, “This is to inform the general public that the artiste known as “Debie Rise” (Miss.

Olurise Deborah Ebunoluwa) is still signed to and under contract with 800 Records”.

“Please note that the exclusive recording and management contract between us and Debie Rise has not been termi-

big awards — T Piano

nated or repudiated as falsely insinuated and same is valid and subsists until 2019!”

Rise replied, releasing legal notices and communication between her and her label.

According to the document, Debie Rise’s request for an account of her expenses as an artiste under 800 Records was met with resistance from the management. Her allowances which were a core part of her contract were withheld, and she was removed from the residence provided by the label.

“This is to inform the general public that the claims made by 800 Records is erroneous!!

This same Label, first stopped my allowance and later on, slammed me with a ‘Repudiation Of Contract’ letter dated 13th of August 2015 - rendering me homeless in 7 days, simply because I requested for the financial report of the label’s activities on my career development, which I contractually have the right to know.” Debie said in a statement.

“As a result of this repudiation I suffered unimaginable damages!! The public should also know that I and my lawyer’s attempt to make them reverse their decision yet all fell on deaf ears.

“I am however amused that they already regret their action and are actually begging to eat their vomit. They want me back by all means, hence they make false public statements and threats, which are all manifestations of their bully disposition that amounts to nothing in reality. I shall now enforce my rights!!

“By the power vested upon the signed contract, I openly declare 800 records in breach of contract because of their failure to abide by the rules that govern default and suspension and because they have exceeded the period in which a cure in their breach will be accepted. I am not under contract with 800 Records.”

Born in Kaduna, Nigeria, she bagged her Bsc in Computer science, majoring in Graphics and Web app development from the Federal University of Technology, Yola.

re-orientation to win

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

T Piano is a music producer who has worked in and out of the country on various projects. He recently returned to Ibadan to unveil a record label, Waterfall Records and speaks with Rotimi Ige on why Nigerian artistes are yet to win major world awards, among other issues.

also consult for various companies in designing and setting up of studios all around the nation.

Who is T Piano? am a music producer first and foremost.

The engineering aspect of it came as an added bonus/ necessity because I am responsible for every aspect of my business and it’s not all rock ‘n’ roll glory. A typical day for me, in fact, starts with me checking my producer notes, prepping the studio and checking my gear functionality.

I

When did you begin your craft professionally?

Informally, I started producing music in my room back in 2004 but formally, I established Thrill Media studios now TPiano studios in 2007. The business has since expanded and now we are opening one of the first fully equipped ultra modern audio and visual studios conducive for indoor shoots like adverts, international standardized music videos, short films in Ibadan.

Why Ibadan?

You would be surprised to know that I currently produce songs for many artistes who come in from Lagos and Abuja to record with me. I’m not here to compete with any one, I’m just here to make a difference and make a statement. I do go to Lagos periodically to do some jobs but Ibadan is home for me.

Rate the Nigerian music industry at the moment?

The Nigerian music industry has transformed over the years, but a lot of work still needs to be done because it is still very far from where it should be.

Critics say most of our artistes rely mostly on good beats without corresponding lyrics…

This generation seems not to be as interested in the lyrics truly. They, most times rely on the beat, even before writing the so called song.

Basically, these are artistes who are basically out to make money and as producers, we have to give them what they want. This has led to watered down lyrics that do not correlate and different artistes singing different songs to the same beat. It therefore, is up to some of us to change this aspect in the music industry.

Tell us about some of your works…

A few of my works are ‘Money crazy’ by Portah, ‘O’tin lo’ by Smooth kiss of Bugatti records, “So fun won’ by Fabulous Pizzy, ‘Everyday’ by Tuwyse featuring Patoranking, ‘Ota le nu’ by Ultra featuring Reminisce, ‘Plenty money’ by Embrace to name a few.

What other projects have you been involved in professionally?

I have been privileged to work with a lot of corporations both in Nigeria and outside the country. In the United States, I worked with hit makers on four live productions. In Europe, I worked with Black Lion Entertainment.

I’m also on the board of directors of production companies like Dwam productions, Bamz records, Thrill media studios to name a few. I

Do you help artistes to make better music and is being a producer lucrative?

You have to understand that whether I’m writing, arranging, producing or recording an artiste’s song or album, I’m creating and shaping the sound of that artiste and yes, I’m also being paid.

How can Nigerian artistes record music that would win major awards like the Grammys?

The likes of Adele and Alicia Keys, who take their time in releasing songs and which become platinum almost instantly tells us that time, patience and hard work is key to any one’s success. When our Nigerian artistes imbibe this virtue, our entertainment industry will take a huge leap forward placing the industry within the circle of our country’s economic discourse.

You are about to unveil your own record label. Is this move borne out of the passion to help produce better music or you simply want to cash in on the booming industry’s offering?

Having worked for and with major recording labels, I want to eliminate the not so good aspects of being in a major label whilst achieving the feats of a record label. Hence, the birth of an independent label known as Waterfall records. The label represents a huge opportunity for artistes and a good investment for music lovers. Already, the label has signed two young diverse artistes; Tostar and Yungtushy whose sound and music is soon going to be in people’s hearts and homes.

How do you intend to fund a fully fledged music record label?

Waterfall Records is not being set up to be some sort of low budget underground label.

Having built my name, career and reputation as a good business minded person, interested individuals and small corporate organisations with like minds and an interest to push the industry forward were more than willing to invest and support the label.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My full names are Olugbode Sunday Temitope popularly known as T Piano. I am from Oyo State, born and bred in Ibadan. I’m the last child in a family of five. Growing up with an older brother who is the founder of Fresh Grace Tabernacle, my interest in music was lit and my love for it grew and was nurtured in the church. I then went ahead to study music and have since been in the music business.

Mentors?

My music mentor is the King of R’nB, Mr. Robert Kelly himself. Also the likes of Micheal Jackson, Lionel Richie, Don Williams, Jim Reeves, Jimmy Davies, Timberland to name a few were major influences.

What would you have been if not a music producer? (laughing out loud)...Well, I think I might have been a shoe maker because I was and still am fascinated and so in love with the working and making of good shoes but realistically, I think I would have ended up as an IT specialist.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

’Wale Olapade 08161235359 wale11g3@gmail.com

Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

Ooni to declare Ife tourism zone tomorrow •As Cuban envoy rallies support for Ooni’s cultural promotion Stories By Wale Olapade

T

HE Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, as part of effort to open Ife revere tourist offers to the world, will on Saturday, 27, 2016 make a declaration of free tourism zones in Ile Ife, Osun State.

Oba Ogunwusi, who received a delegation of Nigerian Tourism Journalists at his palace on Wednesday, revealed that the declaration will further propel activities that will not only attract investors and investment but also ignite economic activities, employment and revenue for the people of Osun.

Ile Ife, which the Ooni translated as land of expansion, said he is going to transform it to another destination for cultural, spiritual and leisure tourism enclave for both domestic and international tourists.

“We are doing official declaration of Ife tourism Zones on Saturday that will be the first phase of the expansion bid.

“Ife is significant in the history of humanity and that is the content we want to develop and promote for people to see.” in another development, Ile Ife has continued to attract interest across the globe with high profile personalities visiting and holding court with the newly installed Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeleye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, whose towering influence and impressed performance since claiming the throne especially his passionate drive for the unity of the Yoruba race and promotion of cultural tourism with Ife as the new destination.

This time around, the Ooni played host to one of his own, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos E.Troja Sosa, ‘Omowale,’ who himself has a history of long association with the palace dating back to the era of the late Oba Sijwuade. He was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Trejo Sosa (Oshunyinka) the deputy envoy, Ms Miriam Morales Palmero (Yemoja) following a royal summon by the Ooni.

The visit spanned two days with the first day witnessing a grand reception for the visiting envoy and his team at the Enu Owa

Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi (fourth left) and members of the Nigerian Tourism and Travel journalists during a visit to the former on Wednesday. palace where he was treated to musical and cultural entertainment with Osirgi dance group, Abubu Ola and the Elewo Agogo Group and the duo of Olo Midan Bata and Anu, the lady Ekwe from the stable of Atunda Entertainment as well as Sango Oba Koso, which is known in the Caribbean as Shango.

This was later followed in the evening by a private dinner hosted for the visitors by the Ooni, who is also the grand patron of Motherland Beckons, an organsiation founded

by Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, who is the president of La Campagne and also the consultant and adviser on tourism to the Ooni, who has on assumption of the throne declared his intention of turning Ife into a tourism destination.

The night ended with tour of Omi Yeye Moolu, a mysterious river within the inner recesses of the palace while on the second day of the visitor, the team was at the Ile – Ife Grand Resort and Leisure site, a 156 hectare of land, which on completion is to house a N7.6 billion resort. A baby of the Ooni, which is envisaged to provide employment for hundreds of the people and

Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Troja Sosa and Ooni of Ife. opened up the tourism economy of Ile – Ife. Thereafter, the team visited Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) where the Cuban envoy held court with the students at the amphitheatre. He also visited the Natural History of Museum and the Institute of Cultural Studies.

The two days visit was most instructive as it afforded the Ooni and his guests the opportunity to exchange ideas and pledge

Runsewe commends NATOP on fresh focus for tourism TOP tourism administrator and former Director – General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Otunba Segun Runsewe has called on tourism practitioners in Nigeria to wake up to their responsibilities by tracking the activities of Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) and holding their leaders accountable.

Runsewe who was speaking at the sidelines of the recent National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) recognition award and AGM in Calabar, noted that the industry leadership needs total overhauling in view of its lack of presence and very poor advocacy for tourism change in Nigeria, particularly at this time when Nigeria needs help to diversify its economy.

Effectively breaking a long silence on tourism issues since he was removed out of office two years ago for alleged political association with former president Olusegun Obasanjo, the former NTDC boss expressed

Runsewe sadness at the poor attention to tourism in the past two years and wondered why some stakeholders could not challenge and correct the ugly draw back.

Runsewe who was a recipient of Natop award for major and historical tourism contribution during his tenure in office, noted

that time has come to rebrand the industry, appreciating the fact that tourism is better than oil because it is the highest employer of labour in the world.

He however commended Natop for showing robust capacity to analyse national tourism issues and also for having a sense of history for choosing to confer an award on him for his modest contribution to growth of Nigerian tourism.

In a letter to the president of Natop dated 19th February, and personally signed by him, Otunba Runsewe who is now the chairman Golf Garden Waterfront, an upscale golf sports tourism resort in Abuja and first of its kind in Africa, stated that Natop has always played vital roles in setting the tourism message right in Nigeria.

Urging Natop to remain steadfast, Runsewe pleaded that all hands must be on deck to reposition tourism as a critical sector of Nigeria’s economy.

cooperation in the area of the promotion of cultural tourism given that Cuba and Nigeria has a long history and that majority of its population, as disclosed by the envoy as of Yoruba descend with many as devotees of Ifa. Ambassador Sosa was impressed by the tourism dream of the Ooni especially the Ile – Ife Grand Resort and also the planned declaration of Ife as a tourism zone. According to the envoy, these are laudable projects, which he is happy to be associated with and run his weight behind even as he promised the Ooni and the people of the unalloyed support of his office and that of his country.

Preparations for Travelscope Youth Tourism leadership forum hot up THE one and only youth tourism platform in Nigeria, Travelscope Youth Tourism & Hospitality Leadership Forum has scheduled to host participants and guests for the seventh edition at Jogor centre, Liberty Road, Off RingRoad, Ibadan on Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

According to the organiser and publisher of Travelscope Magazine, “the annual forum is organised free for participants by Travelscope Magazine as a platform to provide anopportunity to engage youth and stakeholders with passion for tourism and hospitality to actively participate in an educative forum that will orientateand as well uplift their lives to contribute positively towards sustainabledevelopment of the country.

“We are also using the opportunity to honour and recognise some individuals who have genuinely supported the youth tourism forum since inception and to celebrate those that have achieved and contributed to tourism in Nigeria.

“The theme for this year is “Reviving Tourism And Hospitality Sector In Nigeria – A Way Forward” while our guest speakers are; Dr (Mrs) Carol Ogunlade, Chief Lecturer,Tourism & Hospitality Department, Federal Polytechnic Ede, Capt. Kenneth Oudah, Director of Studies, Stay Up Aviation Institute of Technology, Ibadan and Dr Tijani Olawale, Coordinator, National Institute for Hospitality & Tourism (NIHOTOUR),

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Friday, 26 February, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com

Marafa and the ‘war’ in the Senate

Senator Kabiru Marafa has written himself into record books as the leader of opposition in the 8th Senate, firing relentless shots at the top hierarchy of the chamber. But the lawmakers appears set to tackle the Marafa syndrome this time, writes Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA.

P

RESIDING officers in the legislature dread the emergence of an “axis of evil” in their chambers. If it is within their powers, they do all that is needed to prevent its emergence, they give their all to stall its growth. But the story of Nigeria’s 8th Senate is quite different from almost all of its predecessors. The 8th Assembly indeed has an inbuilt “axis of evil,” whose existence predated the inauguration of the chamber on June 9, 2015.

The crack within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over who occupies the office of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives had largely divided the lawmakers to pro and anti-APC leadership as far back as May 2015. That division eventually played out on the floor of the Senate and the House of Representatives during the election of the Presiding Officers and it only kept growing from that point.

The Senate Unity Forum (SUF), which toed the establishment line in the APC prior to the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly, set itself apart from the Senators of Like Minds (SLM) peopled by loyalists of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. As it were, Saraki’s loyalists in SLM challenged the SUF, which had the endorsement of the APC, in contest for the seat of Senate President and eventually won the position.

Though the leader of the SUF is Senator Ahmad Lawan, who got APC’s nod to contest the seat of Senate President, Zamfara State-born Senator Kabiru Marafa immediately shut into the limelight as the spokesman of SUF and the main combatant on the side of the Forum. He actually started early in the days of the 8th Senate, when he moved a motion few days into the life of the Senate, seeking to dissolve all activities leading to the swearing in of the lawmakers on June 9, on the belief that the Senate had used a “forged” Rule Book in conducting the swearing in. When he had his motion overruled, the Senator again disrupted a meeting meant to find amicable solution to the widening gulf among APC lawmakers, where he attempted to slap a colleague.

Even, when the dust calmed a bit on the crisis that heralded Saraki’s Senate Presidency, Marafa has not been seen to let off his guard. He had set himself apart as the leader of opposition, though he claimed to be acting on behalf of the SUF all the time. He filed suits against the Senate President and the leadership of the House and rejected to his appointment as the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Population and National Identity, describing the Standing Committees of the Senate announced by Saraki as illegal.

Early in February, Marafa again stoked more fire when he granted an interview to a Lagos-based newspaper, in which he asked the Senate President to resign his position, following the decision of the Supreme Court that asked him to go and face trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

He also called the Senators names. This time, some senators felt that Marafa has had enough liberty. They shouted, ‘Enough is Enough,’ and decided to report Marafa to the Senate plenary.

On February 16, an aggrieved Senator Ahman Yisa Misau (APC Bauchi Central), raised a matter of privilege in the chamber and insisted that it was high time the Senate as an institution stopped Marafa from making disparaging remarks about the chamber. He said that Senator Marafa had made some comments in the media interview, which he said, breached his privilege as a lawmaker.

Senator Misau said: “Mr Senate President, I want to task all of us to rise to the challenge of handling the issue before it gets out of hand. We should not allow an individual to bring this distinguished Senate down. I suffered for 10 years contesting for Senate before I eventually succeeded in 2015.

He stated that Marafa granted an interview which he said

Saraki misled the public and peddled lies against the legislature.

“I think I have been called more than 500 times from my constituency in respect of this publication. I am a kind of person who struggled very hard to be here in this senate and I started this journey from 2012 which I contested this Senate under ACN in 2011. I know how much I suffered, God in his infinite mercy granted me this privilege in 2015 and I will not allow somebody who enjoyed the 7th Senate to come and not allow us to do our work properly here.

“Mr President, I think the leadership has to do something about this, the senate should do something about this. We cannot allow one person to continue to tell lies against the Senate and misleading the public. I think it is better we take decision so that we correct things so that not only Marafa, anybody that is here would not be allowed to be

Mr Senate President, I want to task all of us to rise to the challenge of handling the issue before it gets out of hand. We should not allow an individual to bring this distinguished Senate down. I suffered for 10 years contesting for Senate before I eventually succeeded in 2015.

misleading the public.”

While seconding the motion, Senator Matthew Urhoghide ( PDP Edo South), also stated that his privilege was breached by the interview granted by Marafa, adding that his reputation as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was at stake.

Urhoghide said: “Mr President, Distinguished colleagues, I want to support what my friend has said concerning the issue which should be nipped in the bud. My phone has been inundated with calls and I don’t even know what to tell them. Besides, Misau said he struggled to get to the Senate in the last ten years, my own was in the last 20 years.”

He further told the Senate: “When I got calls from a very large number of my constituents in respect of the publication, I felt diminished by the publication of that interview.

The leadership of this house that l have so much reference for has been brought to total disrepute.

“I don’t think all the issues raised by Marafa were tissues of lies, they were things that were unfounded, things that have no basis, things that are not happened in this hallow chamber and therefore if anyone is at liberty to inform the public, if anyone is there to misguide the public, if anyone is playing to the gallery it should not be at the expense of we Distinguished Senators and of course distinguished hallow chambers.

“I want to crave the indulgence of this house, of this senate that we must look at it and l hereby second the motion that have been moved and of course the publication that have been laid by Senator Misau that we must do the needful at this time because a stitch in time saves nine.”

Continues on pg28

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politics&policy Continued from pg27

Senate President, Bukola Saraki agreed with the submissions as he promptly referred Senator Marafa to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, for investigation.

On Thursday, February 18, the Zamfara Senator wrote the Ethics Committee and categorically insisted that the Committee lacks the power to investigate him. It was a twist to the Senate tale. The Rules of the Chamber indicate that all Senators are subjected to the orders of the Senate President and that whoever runs contrary could face the music.

But Marafa in a letter to the Senator Sam Anyanwu-led Committee endorsed by his Counsel, Ademuyiwa and Adeniyi and Co, which was dated February 18, 2015, said that the matter was already before an Abuja High Court.

He said that his comments indicating that the Senate President should resign could not come up before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges because he had already dragged the Senate to court, adding that the case challenging the composition of the Senate Standing Committees is currently pending before an Abuja High Court.

Marafa’s Counsel submitted: “In the light on the above and being cognizant of the fact that the legality of the committees amongst which is the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions committee, it would be out of place for our client to be arraigned, tried, and has his fate determined both by the said Committee and whatever the recommendation of the committee might be presided over by your Excellency without infracting the fair hearing rule “NEMO JUDEX IN CAUSA SUA” meaning that “ a person cannot be a judge in his own case.”

“Obviously, our clients cannot under this circumstance have a fair hearing. Commonsense requires that the urgency of the Senate in respect of the above matter is unnecessary; it is thus prudent by stepping it down for our client’s case to be heard and determined by a Court of competent jurisdiction as provided by section 36 (1) in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The suit instituted by Marafa in 2015 is challenging the composition of the 65 Senate Standing Committees with the claim that they emerged under a “forged” Standing Rule.

Senator Kabiru Marafa Vs National Assembly seeking among other reliefs: “A declaration that the constitution of 65 Senate special and Standing Committees was ultra vires the Senate for failing to comply with the extant provision of section 62 (1)(2) and (3) as circumscribed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“A declaration that the increase in the number of Senate Committees from the 57 as contained in Orders 96, 97 and 99 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended has no justifiable legitimacy, illegal and unlawful.

“A declaration that the re-designation of Senate Committees by reducing their areas of jurisdiction as set out in the extant Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended is ultra vires the Senate President and any Committee of the Senate.

“A declaration that the nomination of senators to serve as. Presiding officers and appointment of principal officers and other officers of the Senate is contrary to and in a violation of the provision of Order 3 Rule 2 of the Senate standing Orders 2015 as amended and thus void, unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.

“An Order of Court, declaring as invalid all appointments in violation of and infractions of the Constitution and extant Senate

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Senate Standing Rules on erring lawmaker

Godswill Akpabio

Ali Ndume

Standing Orders, thus voiding all such appointments; thus declaring them as invalidly made.”

On February 22, Marafa again continued his altercations with the Senate Ethics Committee. The Committee had invited all concerned to its sitting that day, hoping to hear more clarifications from Marafa. But the Zamfara Senator shunned the sitting and later told newsmen he was not properly invited to the hearing.

Despite his absence, Ethics Committee Chairman, Senator Sam Anyanwu declared that the Committee would go ahead to submit the report of its findings at plenary. The Committee further received submissions from Senator Mathew Urhoghide who served as the Chief petitioner in the absence of Senator Isa Misau.

The Edo-born Senator accused Marafa of acting in clandestine manner against the Senate by aligning with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to accuse the red chamber of corruption.

“He had actually acted in that manner with the former president by saying that ‘I think whatever chief Obasanjo is saying is right and I support him’. I think there are two meanings to this, I think ‘whatever’ Chief Obasanjo is saying meaning that the National Assembly is corrupt and it stinks.

Therefore, I believe my colleague should be called to come and explain how the National Assembly and the Senate stinks, how we are greedy? How we are corrupt?

Since I came to this Senate all the exercise that I have taken part in no one has called my integrity to question.”

Though, Marafa stated in the media that he was not properly invited, Clerk of the

Committee, Freedom Osolo told Senator Anyanwu that he had telephone conversion with Marafa Monday morning on the need for his appearance but that the Zamfara Senator shunned him by declaring to him that he had no evidence of proper invitation for him.

The Ethics Committee lived up to its words on Tuesday by submitting the report to the chamber. Though the debate was deferred, Senators claimed that the contents, being closely guarded are not favourable to the SUF spokesman.

The immediate punishment the Senate could impose on a recalcitrant member is to place him on suspension for as long as the chamber wished. That is the reality steering Marafa in the face, but the Senator has refused to back down.

Again on Tuesday, he condemned members of the Ethics Committee, declaring that its members did not act in distinguished manner.

Marafa’s intransigence is coming in the wake of cracks already emerging in the ranks of the SUF. On Tuesday, sources confirmed that a meeting of the Forum warned Marafa of going solo, and passing off his personal views as that of the members.

A similar meeting was said to have held on Monday. But at the Tuesday meeting, a source confirmed that Marafa was told to always differentiate between personal views and views of the Forum.

“They also told him that at a time members of the forum were finding a soft landing for him, he has been stoking the fire against the senate,” a source said, adding that Marafa was stoking fire despite moves

Only Senator Arthur Nzeribe of the 4th and 5th Assembly had walked that path this Fourth Republic. He was suspended in 2002 by the Senator Anyim Pius Anyim-led Senate and banished till the end of the session in 2003.

by members of the Forum to secure a soft landing for him.

But Marafa said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that he has always sought the views I’d the SUF before speaking in the media. He said: “The decision of the committee to have submitted their report without listening to me is wrong. They also failed to demand from the Clerk, evidences that he invited me to the meeting held on Monday where the decision to write their report was taken and finalised.

“I was a member of the Committee for four years and I know how we operate.

They were supposed to ask the Clerk who lied against me to show proof of invitation he sent to me. I did not receive any letter or text message from him, yet they believed him. It was not true that members of the SUF had disowned me. I still remain their spokesperson and we met yesterday (Monday) to take a formal position on what our reaction will be whenever the Senate decides to debate on the report.”

With the report in the Senate, Marafa appears to be walking a tight rope.

Last Thursday, the leadership of the Senate removed him, as the chairman of the Committee on National Population and National Identity, naming his deputy, Senator Abubakar Sani Danladi, as acting Chairman. The Zamfara Senator was accused of failing to call budget defence sessions for the National Population Commission(NPC and the National Identity Management Commission(NIMC), thereby endangering the budgetary proposals of the parastatals.

Only Senator Arthur Nzeribe of the 4th and 5th Assembly had walked that path this Fourth Republic. He was suspended in 2002 by the Senator Anyim Pius Anyim-led Senate and banished till the end of the session in 2003. During suspension, a Senator will not enjoy any of the privileges including salary and allowances.

Section 67 (4,5,6,8 &9) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015(as amended) stipulates the procedure by which a Senator or group of Senators can be suspended from the Senate.

Section 67(4) states that: “When a Senator is named by the President of the Senate, if the offence is a minor one, the President of the Senate may order the Senator to withdraw for the rest of the Legislative Day; but if the matter appears to the President of the Senate to be of a more serious nature, the President of the Senate shall put the question on motion being made, no amendment, adjournment or debate being allowed, “that such suspension being for any time stated in the motion not exceeding 14 legislative days.”

In Section 67(8) however, the Senate is empowered to make the suspension indefinite. It reads: “If a Senator be suspended under the provisions of this rule, he shall be directed by the President of the Senate to withdraw. His suspension shall last until determined by the Senate.”

Sections 67(9 and 10) further empower the Senate to suspend a Senator or groups of Senators who have been so named for the rest of the session.

It is perhaps in realisation of what possibly lies ahead of Senator Marafa that some of his colleagues are beginning to look for political solution to the crisis. It was said that the possible political solution might have prevented the Senate from debating the report on Wednesday.

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politics&policy

Friday, 26 February, 2016

How impurity triggered PDP leadership crisis —Birma BARRISTER Ibrahim Birma, a contestant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairmanship seat in 2012, is among the party leaders that indicated interest in the seat in the current dispensation. In this interview with KUNLE ODEREMI, the Borno State-born politician provides insight into the intrigues that created the raging leadership crisis in the party. Excerpts:

A

GAIN, the PDP is embroiled in a leadership crisis. As one of the party stalwarts that indicated interest in the post of national chairman, what is indeed the genesis of the current dispute?

It is as a result of the continuation of the PDP way of doing things. Apparently, lessons have not been learnt because if they had been learnt, the situation would not have got out of hand. The situation arose because, Barrister A. A. Gulak after indicating his interest, he was told there was no vacancy. He went to court, secured a court judgment or pronouncement that a chairman, either Gulak or any other eligible person from the North-East zone, should be appointed or elected to finish the tenure of Adamu Mu’azu. As at that time, if the NWC and the party had taken that opportunity to say, okay, we have initiated or appointed any other person, this issue would not have been a problem. But Gulak had to go to the PDP secretariat, in line with his understanding or interpretation of the court pronouncement and the party said that was a bit too far. If the party of course had acted within a reasonable time, by calling all the stakeholders, it would have been easier to manage the situation.

Before that episode, the party had also asked people to express their interest those who wanted to be chairman. I was one of them. I sent in a letter but it was not acknowledged. I was not called for screening. All of a sudden, there were pronouncements that some people were selected or screened, including those who had not indicated interest like the one that came out of Borno State, Engineer Mohammed Abu-Gana, a former FCT minister. To the best of my knowledge, he has never indicated interest. But he was eventually nominated while I, who indicated interest at a point in time, was told that Borno State was not vying. If Borno State is not vying because nobody applied but I did my own expression of interest, which was acknowledged by the chairman and the national zonal vice chairman, so what eliminates me from? There should be a reason. So, if now people are saying Ali-Modu Sheriff was not among the contestants, those who indicated interest, were they screened or allowed, or was Mohammad Abba Gana a contestant who had expressed interest? So, it is the same way of doing things that caught up with them.

But as it is, it has also given rise to what I would say essentially is a PDP affair. Maybe, the PDP has not given any clear-cut formal way of doing things, so it should also not expect clear cut formal way of reaction. Action begets reaction. To that extent, we are now in a situation whereby several interest groups-former ministers’ group, former old governors group, contestants group, stakeholders, BOT, NASS caucus-have joined the fray. But certainly, the position of BoT has been commendable. You have to commend them because, upon realising that their chairman has an issue at the court, he quietly stepped aside and allowed the BoT to continue as a body. That gives them credibility, even when the current situation started, they called their own meeting.

But, Sheriff has been going round to seek for

Birma understanding?

There has been a concerted effort on his own part and of his group calling meetings here and there, reaching out as you said. But also, there are some groups that are getting more and more aggrieved because this pacification issue, some predicated on the fact that he is only going to complete the tenure of Mu’azu which is only next month, March before a new congress. Is that true enough? Is that good enough a period for him to make an impact? So, I think it is more than reaching out; there has to be a concerted effort at calling all the relevant persons. But as at today, the interested and relevant people that would adjudicate fairly on this issue are too large for me to see a good outcome of it.

But if I may suggest, let BOT spearhead it because of all the groupings, it is the least tainted group, let them call and give those who have indicated interest the chance.

Some individuals are saying that Sheriff has already assumed office, so he should be allowed to carry on, some do not agree. The governors also, the reasons they gave, which I don’t have any credible means of verifying but if going by what Femi Fani-Kayode has said, is a bit insensitive. Sheriff has enough resources to turn the fortunes of the party around.

That isn’t a good reason.

couldn’t manage their anger for some of the people that are now leaving the party, it is very unfortunate because we still need every person to chip in a word (like Senator Ken Nnamani.) If he had stayed, he would have added a fair semblance of credibility to whatever process we have, but his departure has robbed the party of a very good leader. So, his departure is not the best way out; leaving the party is not a solution; but remaining in it to find a possible solution because, whether you like it or not, APC as the party in government now, may not succeed properly without a credible opposition.

Democracy is all about alternatives, checks and balances.

So to that extent if there is no credible alternative, people will languish in pains and anguish. They (the APC) came to power because they were there as a possible alternative, and because it is a contraption, I can’t see it holding it tightly for the next two political seasons. I can’t see that happening because on the eve of the election, you will know whether the cracks are real or not. And it is there for everybody to see. They (APC) have not been tested; PDP has been tested. So to me, with the spread and test experienced rightly or wrongly, except for the bickering in the PDP, which should now be dealt with this time around because it has got to a point of an ugly situation, the party remains relevant and strong.

I think it is more than reaching out; there has to be a concerted effort at calling all the relevant persons. But as at today, the interested and relevant people that would adjudicate fairly on this issue are too large for me to see a good outcome of it.

You believe only the BoT can resolve the current logjam, so that PDP can launch itself back to relevance?

PDP remains relevant because if you look at it, it is the only party that has a very good spread and all those that have remained in the PDP suffer and are truly interested in the fortunes of the party those who have left simply

There are insinuations that certain external Continues on pg30

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politics&policy

Friday, 26 February, 2016

E

VEN under normal circumstances, the Presidential Villa since the advent of the present administration is not much of a hustle and bustle because President Muhammadu Buhari, is not the type that receives hordes of visitors. Unless it is very essential, he does not expect you to come looking for him. It is no wonder then that his ministers are under instruction not to deal directly with him but first with his Chief of Staff.

Since the president left for a one-week trip to the Middle East, villa is even more desolate than a desert with many people not bothering to show up for daily routines. Before the most recent travel, he was in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt to participate in the Business for Africa and the World Forum. Appearing on a Presidential Panel Roundtable on Investment and Growth Opportunities at the opening session, he hammered home his obstinate opposition to the devaluation of the Naira.

Instead, in the midst of slump in oil price, he was more concerned about how to resuscitate agriculture and the solid minerals sector of a mono-economy dependent on oil despite of its teeming unemployed youth population.

Barely 48 hours after returning from Egypt, Buhari went back to the Middle East for two reasons: to discuss stability of crude prices and to pray in Mecca and Medina according his spokesman, Femi Adesina. He left Abuja, on Monday, with a high-powered delegation, including the Minister of State (Petroleum) and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, first to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for talks on with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saudi and senior officials of the Kingdom.

On Tuesday in Riyadh, the president had a bilateral discussion with King Abdul-Aziz, which ended with both leaders expressing a commitment to a “stable oil market” and a “rebound of oil price.” Without giving specific intended measures to achieve the goal, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who conveyed the outcome of the meeting to the media, said the two leaders accepted the fact that their two economies are tied to Continued from pg29

forces, especially in the APC colluded with some power blocs in PDP to throw up Sheriff as new chairman.

How did it happen?

In politics, everything is possible. But is it feasible? The way I know is that it could be a case of your enemy’s enemy is your friend. But certainly, they couldn’t have gone out to start nurturing the idea and trying to achieve it. It is not possible. I don’t see them going in that direction.

inside

aso rock WITH LEON USIGBE

Buhari’s Middle East shuttle s aso rock

oil and that all cannot be well with both countries when the world oil market is unstable.

Terrorism also inevitably crept into their discussion and both leaders agreed on the need for closer cooperation in order to deal adequately with the common threat posed to Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis had previously requested Nigeria to be part of the Islamic countries’ coalition against terror. It would appear that President Buhari is not comfortable with the idea and has therefore avoided committing Nigeria to the Islamic coalition.

What he rather told the Saudi King during this meeting was: “Even if we are not a part of it, we support you. I must thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the recent creation of a coalition to address the menace of international terrorism. Nigeria will support your efforts in keeping peace and stopping the spread of terror in your region. This is in consonance with our own commitment and on-going efforts in seeking to stamp out Boko Haram terrorists from the West African sub-region and Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).”

There was also the nagging question of Libya, the former fighters recruited from parts of Africa, trained and armed by fallen dictator, Muammar Ghaddafi, who have returned to different countries to initiate insurgencies.

They are now active in Burkina Faso, Mali, and possibly

among Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria. But Buhari was delighted that the countries neighbouring the Lake Chad have tightened their ranks to finish off the Boko Haram threat.

LEON Both theWITHpresident and08078891838 King Abdulaziz leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk hoped that the Libyan factions will soon see reason to reunite and restore their own country fully so as to save the world from further terrorism spin-offs from that country.

Next stop for President Buhari, Qatar, where crude oil prices and market stability were also expected be the focus of discussion between him and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. Just like in Riyadh, he was also scheduled to meet with leading Qatari businessmen in Doha, and invite them to support his administration’s efforts to revamp the Nigerian economy by taking advantage of the great investment opportunities currently available in Nigeria’s mining, agriculture, power supply, infrastructure, transportation, communications and other sectors.

Beyond saying that he will be away for one week, the Presidency has not been specific on the exact day President Buhari will return to Abuja. So, having left last Monday, it is expected that by Monday next week, he will be back behind his desk and hopefully, things will pick up at the sleepy Presidential Villa.

‘APC can’t survive another election’ Labour Party, APGA and Accord Party have not only been contesting election but winning governorship and legislative seats?

They do, but the issue is that Labour is seen as a fallback because people assume they have the opportunity of having the support of workers. But the Chief Labour Officer of the nation at a point time, who secured a governorship seat on its platform abandoned the party; he left for another party. is that credibility?

How did you receive the initial threat by some PDP national legislators to pull out of the party if Sheriff does not step down as chairman of the party?

One, it was a threat; I wouldn’t want to believe it is possible because their number is too much for one to think they would just pull out of a party like this, coupled with the consequences of pulling out of a party which has no visible crack or faction.

Many believe your party has perceived integrity or credibility issue against the background of the alleged excesses of top government functionaries in the past, especially on corruption?

The whole thing is not exhaustive, so I wouldn’t want to think that it is PDP members. But I’m surprised also when they say PDP condones corruption and what have you. Most of the people now in APC, minus Buhari and his bloc; Tinubu and his bloc, are PDP. So, could it be that their turn has not come up? Or are they saying they did not do anything bad? First and foremost, credibility like the president was alleged to have said all Nigerians are criminal or something like that, could it be a generalisation that was made to cover only PDP? It is not. So, if you say impunity in PDP, I agree but I do not see it as only being in PDP. What about those that have defected? There are many good people in PDP; but the problem of the party

08078891838 leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk

Birma is the system that throws things up. It is so predictable. You cannot walk into the party and say you want to aspire and there won’t be background checks. The situation is the same with the other parties.

Has there been any congress held by the APC so far? Ask them to face an election and you would see whether they will run together or not. The other parties, I don’t want to even talk about them because they have not even reached the age of maturity.

You talked about impunity among the political class. What do you think is responsible for such untoward culture?

Some people believe that we are the founders of a party. At the point of entry, they will tell you that you have become a party man; that you are eligible for this and that. But when the stretch has gone up, they will now come back and say you are yet to be properly indoctrinated or accepted. That is impunity. They have accepted you; you have renounced your relationship with your former party if you have, or you have shown in concrete terms that you are now a card-carrying active party member. Your background should not be reviewed again. Or some times they would think that because they don’t know you before now, you are asking for things that they have reserved for themselves. That is impunity. So, it is a situation where people will say you are welcome whereas in actual fact, you are not welcomed. For example, this issue of national chairmanship, from day one, they are supposed to ask those that are interested; a committee raised; to openly and transparently screen people.

Then, there will be a format, a known

and predictable form of how to produce the chairman. But all these things, when they are shrouded in secrecy, becomes impunity.

How healthy is what some have described as the indiscriminate defection by politicians to rival parties?

It is not healthy. Just because a party has lost an election, those who were at the helms of affairs or custodians of the party will decide to abandon it and go to the ruling party, does it mean that they are now persuaded by the comfort of political office or they cannot endure being politically idle for some time? That is the issue. If your party has lost an election, it should be the time to sit down and look at into what actually happened. The issue could vary from state to state. For the APC, their inability to manage success is going to be their undoing.

It is like they are yet to learn how to govern, while also, the PDP is yet to learn how to be an opposition. So, possibly, the PDP is the best of managers, whereas the APC is the best opposition and they will still go back to opposition by the next election.

Why do you sound so confident about PDP bouncing back next time around?

There are a lot of things on ground, if you want to check. By the time a party is able to sustain itself beyond one season, it is then that you will start giving it a marking. So, let us wait for 2019; let them (APC) cross over, possibly in 2023. I’m talking about political events in the life of nation. It is not about something you change within a month, a year or 10 years. No! it could be more. So, my optimism is that PDP will eventually come back, may be in a different form. It has to do a lot of homework, also.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

T

O understand what a fatwa is, we should keep in mind the whole substance of the preceding analysis, for a fatwa is a part, an element, and, more precisely, a legal instrument, which must be understood in the light of the corpus of Islamic law and jurisprudence.

Fatwa (plural fatawa) means, literally, “legal decision,” “verdict,” or, following the definition of al-Shatibi, “a reply to a legal question given by an expert (mufti) in the form of words, action, or approval.”

A fatwa has two essential aspects: it must, first and above all, be founded on the sources and on the juridical inferences and extractions arrived at by the mujtahidin who practise ijtihad when the sources are not clear or explicit (that is, when they are zanni) or when there is no relevant text. It must also be formulated in the light of the context of life, the environment, and the specific situation that justifies its being made—and which is in fact its cause.

The place of the mujtahid and the mufti is of prime importance. As alShatibi said: “the mufti, within the community, plays the part of the prophet. Numerous evidence support his assertion. First, there is the proof of hadith: ‘truly the scholars are the heirs of the prophets, and what one inherits from prophets is not money [la dinaran wa-la dirham], but knowledge [ilm].’ Second, he [the mufti] is the source of transmitting rulings [ahkam] in conformity with the words of the Prophet: ‘Let the one among you who is witness transmit [that to which he is witness] to those who are absent’ and ‘Transmit from me, even if it is only one verse.’ If this is the case, it means that he [the mufti] stands in for the prophet.

In fact, the mufti is a kind of legislator, for the Sharia that he conveys is either taken [insofar as it has already been stipulated] from the lawgiver [by way of the Revelation and the Sunna] or inferred or extracted from the sources. In the first case, he is simply a transmitter, while in the second he stands in for the prophet in that he stipulates rulings. To formulate judgements is the function of the legislator. So, if the function of the mujtahid is to formulate judgements on the basis of his opinion and efforts, it is possible to say that he is therefore a legislator who should be respected and followed: we should act according to the rulings he formulates and this is vicegerency [Khilafa] in its genuine implementation.”

Al-Shatibi underlines the importance of the mujtahid who stands in for the prophet in the Muslim community after the death of Muhammad.

In this way, the mujtahid or the mufti represents the continuity of knowledge (ilm) guided by the two sources, so that it may be rightly applied throughout history. AlShatibi made a distinction between clear and explicit evidence (that stipulated in the sources) and that which requires the exercise of deduction and inference and puts the mujtahid in the position of legislator (even though he must seek the guidance of God, the supreme Legislator, and follow the example of the Prophet). The distinction drawn by al-Shatibi has the great advantage of setting out the two different levels of fatwa: when questioned on legal issues, the mujtahid will sometimes find a clear answer in the Qur’an and the Sunna because there is an explicit text. Then the fatwa consists of a quotation, and a restatement of the authoritative proof. If there is a text that is open to interpretation, or if there is no rel-

What is a

Fatwa? evant text, the mufti must give a specific response in the light of both the objectives of the Sharia and the situation of the questioner. AlShatibi underlines that the mufti really does play role of vicegerent who must come up with a legal judgment for the one who calls on him. The more the issue is related to an individual or a particular case, the more precise, clear, and specific it must be. Consequently, a fatwa is rarely transferable, because it is a legal judgment pronounced (in the light of the sources, of the maslaha, and of the context) in response to a clear question arising from a precise context. In the field of law, this is in fact the exact meaning of “jurisprudence.”

Many questions have been raised in the course of history about the diversity of fatawa. If Islam is one, how could there be differing legal judgments on the same legal question? The ulama have unanimously affirmed that if geographical or historical contexts differ, it is no longer the same question, for it must be considered in the light of a new environment. Thus, properly considered responses should naturally differ, as is shown by the example of al-Shafii, who modified some of his legal judgements after travelling from Baghdad to Cairo. So, though Islam is one, the fatawa, with all their diversity, and sometimes contradiction, still remain Islamic and authoritative.

This kind of diversity was understood, accepted, and respected, while the problem

of disagreement between ulama faced with an identical legal question has given rise to endless debates. Is this possible in the area of religious affairs, and if so, how can Islam be a unifying force for Muslims? Two essential points have been emphasised by the vast majority of ulama.

There is no divergence of opinion on the principles, the fundamentals (usul) of Islamic law. There is a consensus among the jurists on the fact that these principles constitute the essence, the frame of reference, and the benchmark of the juridical corpus of Islamic law and jurisprudence (fiqh).

However, it is impossible to avoid differences of opinion on points related to secondary issues (furu), for a legal judgment on these

Truly the scholars are the heirs of the prophets, and what one inherits from prophets is not money [la dinaran wa-la dirham], but knowledge [ilm].

points is dependent on and influenced by many factors, such as the knowledge and understanding of the ulama and their ability to deduce and extrapolate judgements.

The natural diversity in their levels of competence inevitably gives rise to divergent interpretations and opinions. This even happened among the Companions at the time of the Prophet, and, according to the ulama, such divergences should be recognised and respected, within their limits, as based upon the fundamentals of Islam.

A question naturally arises from this consensus: even if there are various “acceptable” legal opinions on one and the same problem (even a secondary problem [far]), does this mean that all the fatawa have the same value; in other words, are they all correct? If that were the case, it would lead to the conclusion that two divergent opinions could both be true at the same time, in the same place, and in respect of the same person, which is rationally unacceptable. The majority of ulama, including the four principal imams of the Sunni schools of law, are of the view that only one of the divergent opinions pronounced on a precise question can be considered correct. This is indicated in the passage in the Qur’an that relates the story of David and Solomon, where it is clear that, although they had made judgements on the same case and although both of them had received the gift of judgement and knowledge, only Solomon’s opinion was correct: “We made it understood to Solomon.” This position is also confirmed by the hadith already cited about the mujtahid’s reward: he will receive two rewards if he is right but only one if he is wrong, because his effort and sincere research will be taken into account by God. So, to accept that there may be a diversity of legal opinions on precise questions (formulated in the same context, at the same time, and for the same community or individual) does not in the least lead to the assumption that there are several “truths” and that all these opinions have the same value and correctness. There is only “one truth,” which all the ulama should try to discover, and they will be rewarded for the effort they make towards this. As long as there is no indisputable proof applicable to the problem in question, each Muslim should, after consideration and analysis, follow the opinion whose evidence and worth seem to him the clearest and most convincing.

Guided by the Qur’an and the example of the Prophet, which are for Muslims the sources of truth, the ulama should do their best to discover the truth when the texts are not clear or simply do not exist. In fact, the meaning and content of the delegation granted by God to mankind reaches its peak and is fulfilled when the ulama struggle constantly and tirelessly to arrive at the most correct judgement or that which is closest to what is correct and true.

So, these ulama, both mujtahids and muftis, must be determined, demanding and confident in their own judgements, while remaining humble and calm to face and accept the fact that there will necessarily and inevitably be a plurality of opinions. The imam alShafii aptly said, concerning the state of mind that should characterise the attitude of the ulama: “[As we see it] our opinion is right though it may turn out to be wrong, while we consider the opinion of our opponents to be wrong though it may turn out to be right.”

Source: IslamiCity - Tariq Ramadan

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islamicnews

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Kano gov builds mosque for varsity students Kola Oyelere - Kano KANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Gandaje, has urged Muslim students of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, not to take their five daily prayers with levity in view of their importance.

He said it was imperative for them to keep the university mosque alive by observing their prayers accordingly and by using it as an avenue to acquire religious knowledge and strengthen unity among themselves.

The governor stated this in a speech during the inauguration of the university’s Daily Prayers Mosque, constructed by the Ganduje Foundation, adjacent the students’ hostel and inaugurated by Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State.

Ganduje said it is prayer and devotion to the cause of Allah that facilitate enjoyable living, urging the students to pay attention to learning and acquisition of sound values so as to become good citizens capable of leading the country to greater heights.

From left, father of the quintuplets born last week, Alfa Rasaki Yusuf; a member of his extended Ewenje family; the president of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Dr Sakariyau Babalola and the Iya Adinni of Yorubaland, Alhaja Sekinat Adekola, at the bedside of the mother of the quintuplets, during a visit to the couple and their children at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Muslim clerics slam ISIS • Say terror group is un-Islamic

A

S many as 300 Muslim clerics passed a resolution against the Islamic State and other terror outfits on Tuesday, unequivocally describing them as un-Islamic.

The Times of India said they move to condemn the terror organisation, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), came at the culmination of a three-day international conference on “The Determined Stand of Muslims Against the IS,” organised primarily, in Hyderabad, the capital of southern India’s Telangana state, by All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).

“Terror outfits like the ISIS are not even remotely associated with the idea of Islam. Their deeds and actions are absolutely unIslamic and against humanity,” read one of the eight resolutions.

Quoting a verse from the Qur’an, another stated that the Sharia forbids the killing of innocent people.

“Islam teaches Muslims to respect and to protect life, wealth, assets and dignity of people irrespective of their beliefs. It does not permit any group to take law into its hands,” it read.

Responding to questions from the media on whether IS members are Muslim, an AIMPLB working committee member, Maulana Khaleel-ur-Rahman Sajjad Nomani, underscored that an overwhelming majority of Muslim scholars have agreed that the IS “does not represent true Islam.”

The World Muslim League, an international organisation of Islamic schol-

ars, has denounced the terror outfit, as is the case with many others, he added.

In an unusual stand, Maulana Nomani did not endorse

the use of force against IS and pressed for a dialogue.

“The IS has misguided youth who need counselling.

It has come out of superpow-

ers interfering in the region,” he said. Muslim clerics must step up efforts to discourage youth from joining the IS, he added.

Hijab not banned ban in Oyo — Muslim community THE Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUSCOYS) has dispelled insinuations that the Oyo State government has banned the use of hijab in the state.

Reacting to a report, MUSCOYS, in a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Sanni and secretary, Murziq Siyanbade, said contrary to the insinuation, the state government has legalised hijab for anyone who wishes to

use it.

The body recalled that the state government, in a circular signed by the Head of Service, in February 2014, allowed the use of hijab by Muslim female students in public schools in the state.

It, however, said it noticed non-compliance by some “recalcitrant and overzealous principals” in the state, a matter which, it said, was being discussed with the appropriate au-

thorities.

“It is, therefore, in bad taste for any group to insinuate that the state government has directed the banning of hijab in Oyo State,” the statement said.

The Muslim community restated support for the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and urged people to steer clear of any act capable of disrupting the religious harmony in the state.

GOVERNMENTS at all levels have been urged to prioritise religious harmony and peaceful coexistence in the country.

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Oyo State Area Unit, through its Director of Secondary Schools’ Coordination, Malam Toyib Aremu, made the appeal at a press conference on the commemoration of the 2003 sensitisation/awareness on the use of hijab in Oyo State.

Recalling the “brutality and high-handedness” that trailed the event in that year, Malam Aremu contended that the suppression of those genuinely and lawfully demanding their rights would not solve any problem, especially issues that transcend triviality.

He, however, called for dialogue and compromise in resolving issues as sensitive as religious matters.

He also condemned the recent “public disgrace and embarrassment” to which

Muslim women in hijab were subjected by security operatives who, he said, were supposed to uphold the law and protect the citizens.

Quoting sections 38 and 42 of the constitution, the MSSN chief stated that the use of hijab should not cause controversy, especially as it does not only agree with Allah’s injunction but also does not violate any law of the land.

According to Aremu, hijab is not limited to head covering as it is meant to be loose and overflowing so that its purpose is not defeated.

He said hijab was meant to veil the female’s adornments and not to be used as a tool for adornment.

“That is why we will advise bodies who go out celebrating the hijab to do so with the prescribed type,” he added.

While commending the Oyo State government for allowing the use of hijab in public schools in its February 18, 2014 circular, Aremu,

however, called the attention of the government to cases of disobedience to the said circular.

“During the just-concluded registration of students in the state for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, we received quite a number of reports of compulsion of female Muslim students to remove their hijabs for the photo capture based on a claim that the system refused passports taken with hijab, but this is all false,” he explained.

He thanked individuals, bodies and the government for contributing to the success of the hijab struggle and called on Muslim women as well as female Muslim students to stand for their right to use hijab wherever they find themselves assured that the understanding which has been established by the government and supported by the MSSN in Oyo State and law-abiding school managements will be sustained.

...Oyo MSSN charges govts

Religious dress at work: European court to hear Muslim headscarf cases ON 15 March 2016, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will hear the reference in the French case, Bougnaoui and another versus Micropole Univers.

In the case, a Muslim IT engineer, Asma Bougnaoui, who wore an Islamic headscarf was told by her employer to remove it while visiting clients, after a client’s staff complained about her appearance.

The Muslim employee was dismissed after she refused to comply with this request from her employer, which has strict rules about staff expressing or displaying personal beliefs when with clients. The employee brought a claim in the French domestic court, which referred the issue to the ECJ. The French court asked the ECJ whether or not the wish of this customer that a visiting IT engineer not wear an Islamic headscarf could be a “genuine and determining occupational requirement” of the job.

Also due to be heard by the ECJ on the same date is the similar Belgian case, Achbita and another versus G4S Secure Solutions NV. In this case, a Muslim receptionist, Samira Achbita, who was permanently contracted out to work for a third party informed her employer that she was going to begin wearing a headscarf in the workplace.

The receptionist’s employer told her that the wearing of any visible religious symbols was contrary to its rules on neutrality, which applied during contact with clients.

The employer subsequently amended its written rules on workplace dress and appearance. It introduced a uniform and banned workers from wearing any visible symbols expressing their political, philosophical or religious beliefs.

The Muslim receptionist’s refusal to go to work without a headscarf ultimately resulted in her dismissal.

She brought a domestic discrimination claim, and Belgium’s labour appeal court referred her case to the ECJ.

‘Avoid celebrations with corrupt tendencies’

A sociologist, Alhaji Lukman Fasasi, has advised Muslims to shun any celebrations that are capable of corrupting their faith.

Fasasi asked Muslim youths not to express love in a negative way as do many today in the name of celebrating Valentine’s Day. Fasasi said this in Ibadan, Oyo State, during a public lecture organised by the Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF).

He said Muslims are supposed to be kind and loving to their fellow human beings at all times rather than pick a day to do this.

“Muslims should express love in accordance with the teaching of Islam. As a Muslim, I am worried by what people do nowadays in the name of celebrating of Valentine’s Day. “Fornication, drinking and other illicit acts are rife on Valentine’s Day and Allah forbids Muslims from engaging in all these attitudes.

“Muslims should be best examples and be aware that Valentine celebration is not part of the festivals recognised in Islam. Only two festivals are recognised by Allah and they are Eid-el-fitr and Eid-el-Kabir,” the lecturer said.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

hers

Editor: Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

is no longer a priority unlike ours that spend much on training. My staff go through a lot of training, I also get trained along with them so that we can train our students. All these cost a lot of money. Also, a lot of people are not looking for quality and standard, they just want to give out garbage. The United Nations says every country should spend 26 per cent of its budget on education, but Nigeria is not spending this, and when it is even spending it, is payment of salaries, no actual content; no staff development. All of these make a school. It is good to have buildings, but a school is as strong as its teachers.

If you don’t have first class teachers, you will not have first class education. Parents, governments and other stakeholders must all work together for the good of the Nigerian child.

I’m a child of two lawyers, mother of two lawyers

Director, Vale College, Mrs Funso Adegbola relieves in this interview with YEMISI AOFOLAJU how her quest to impact lives made her quit her father’s chambers at 33 to start the school of her dream in her bid to save the Nigerian child and other issues that shaped her life to be who she is today. Excerpts:

W

HAT were the unique challenges you had when you were thinking of having your school?

I started the school as a very young person. I was more naïve but very optimistic. My children were not of secondary school age as they were three-year and 11-month- olds respectively. I was indeed very naive. I wanted to make impact, to train the next generation.

I had excellent education both in Nigeria and abroad, and of course, I felt there was no way I could complain about the standard of education if I didn’t do something about it. It was when I got into it that I was able to appreciate the amount of odds against education in Nigeria. One of the first things I realised was the fact that I wasn’t trained as a teacher, I am just passionate about it.

I realised kind of importance my parents attached to education for example was no longer there by the time I started the school.

Like any other business in Nigeria, you are your own local government, produce your electricity, water and virtually everything because government was regulating and reeling out inordinate levies.

You’ve been in this business since 1994, what special qualities must one possess to have an international school like yours?

The most important thing is to love children. I love my students. I’m passionate about education; this has pulled me through for the past 22 years. I’ve never been a mon-

ey-driven person, and the school is not profit-oriented, it is driven by excellence. A lot of people are surprised about our number because our students are not up to 200, we believe in quality and we are not ashamed of our population. If we have 16 students graduating, all of them will get admission to top universities in Nigeria and abroad. Not very many schools can boast of this, because a lot of schools have the number, but they don’t have the quality. In our case, we insist on quality and we believe quality will drive quantity.

Where did Nigeria get it wrong in the education sector?

We cannot take education out of the whole system, Nigeria got it wrong on many fronts occasioned by military rule. When I was growing up, the middle class had always been the forerunner in terms of education, change, professionals, health services. But when the middle class is pauperised, everything collapses. The middle class is sup-

posed to be made up of people who should be able to go out of their comfort zone to make a difference. Once a lawmaker gets more than what a professor gets, then what is the incentive for the professor? Once respect is not given to teachers, once we are not admitting the best to go to study education, then what do we expect? It has been people who could not get admission to study other courses that now study education; you cannot give what you don’t have. I have worked with a lot of people and I know a lot of young brilliant and intelligent Nigerians in universities and on the boards of organisations who are doing a lot of good work. I have students in my school who have made 8A1 but they are just a microcosm. We don’t have a critical mass to make an impact in education. I attended Saint Anne’s School, Ibadan. The same building in use since 1970s is still there, over 46 years ago! You can have a building that is 46 years old if maintained, but this is not the case. The infrastructure is collapsing, staff development

I felt there was no way I could complain about the standard of education if I didn’t do something about it.

What do you think is the way out?

We really need a lot of political will. We do a lot of lip service with regards to education and health; the rot did not happen in a day.

It is systemic and it has now become endemic. I heard that the government is going to recruit teachers, are they all qualified as teachers? Is government going to organise special training for them? What kind of time frame are we looking at? These are the areas that should be looked at. I have nothing against free education, I believe every Nigerian child should have access to education, but it should not be poor education for children of the poor. People who will now prefer the private schools are the ones looking for the icing on the cake. My dream is that every Nigerian child should have the same quality of education obtainable at Vale College. I am not rubbishing what is going on in the public schools because I was actually on EDUCARE TRUST which organised a quiz in memory of Professor Olumuyiwa Awe for public school students. The standard is very good. I don’t throw away the baby with the bath water. There are a lot of self-motivated, intelligent, proactive Nigerian students in both public and private schools who are not being celebrated.

Every day, we read cases of cultists and rapists, how many pages are devoted to a 14-year-old boy that develops software? We should celebrate our students so that they will be encouraged to do more and that education is something to be celebrated rather than celebrating only artistes.

Why are you so passionate about the education of the young ones?

My parents were very passionate about education. My father was very passionate about education that he started free education under the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). My mum sponsored many young people through secondary school and the university. Through my parents, I realised there is no other way one can succeed without education. I was the only one whose both parents were lawyers as a nursery school pupil and as I grew up, I discovered that there is nothing an educated woman cannot do. I did modern languages, taught French in France and Oral English in French secondary schools.

Would you have ever thought of coming back to Nigeria were it to be now?

Yes, I would have come back. I studied in England for 12 years. I came back to Nigeria the day I finished my second degree. My parents believed I was there for education and that I didn’t belong there because NigeContinues on pg34

34 hersay I believe the smartest words to ever leave my mouth were these: Discover your uniqueness and learn to exploit it in the service of others and you are guaranteed success, happiness and prosperity.

It takes a while to discover your uniqueness. Most of the time, people never discover their uniqueness. Why? We rarely encourage uniqueness. Instead, we encourage sameness. We teach our kids to be like all the other kids instead of exploring their individuality or finding their true purpose in life.

We force kids to make lifelong decisions about their future when they are way too young. When a little boy says he wants to grow up and be a fireman or a policeman, most of us understand that next week, he will probably want to be a doctor or a soldier.

Kids change what they want to be with the mood they are in at that moment. Let them.

It’s okay. It’s part of growing up.

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Parenting The host of Straight Talk!

With Olufunke Adetuberu

08023242389

cryonmenow@yahoo.com

Finding their purpose Am I encouraging a lack of responsibility here? Not at all. Kids can be responsible, earn a living and be on their own and still be in search of their ultimate purpose.

As parents, our job is to encourage them and not limit their thinking.

We also force kids to become smaller versions of who we are instead of being who they are. How many times have you seen a family

in which it has been decided from the time the kid was conceived that she was going to be a doctor simply because Daddy was a doctor and Grandpa was a doctor? What if she wants to be a chef or a teacher instead? Or, heaven forbid, an artist? Nope, that girl is going to be a doctor!

Deciding your kid’s career or purpose in life for her is unforgivable. Teach your kid to dis-

cover her purpose on her own based on her unique talents, her inclination and her willingness to work to make it happen.

Friend we also encourage our kids to become what we were never able to become.

Daddy was a truck driver and mama was a home-maker, and they want their kid to amount to something so they push him to be a lawyer or some other “prestigious” occupation.

Then the kid doesn’t have the gray matter to make it happen or he hates it and the parents continue to push, and you end up with conflict and resentment.

Slow down, folks, let your kid be who he is!

As long as he is independent, responsible and productive, you have done your job.

Bottom line: Help your kids discover their uniqueness. Work with them and encourage them in discovering what their true talents and desires are so they will be not only productive and responsible but truly happy.

‘I’m lucky to have discovered my purpose very early’ Continues from pg33

ria is my permanent home. I never sought for residency permit. After my NYSC, I worked in Bola Ige & Co for seven years.

At the same time I was going to St Anne’s School as an English volunteer teacher and a French teacher in International School University of Ibadan (ISI) during my break time. In fact, I just got a national honour from the French government. When I was 26, God told me I was going to own a school with the name and the colour, but I could not imagine it in reality because I wanted to make money and having a school would not give me such money. In 1994, on a fateful day when my dad and I were coming from the court, he said to me, “Funso, aren’t you doing this school thing again?” I gave excuses, but he promised to support me as long as God has destined me to go into it. He gave me the start up money and paid the salary of my staff for the first year; while my mum gave me a house for boarding house. On November 7, 1994, the school started.

How will you describe working in your dad’s chambers in those days?

Well, to me it was fun. I enjoyed working with my dad because he was an orator, a fantastic speaker, a very good litigation lawyer, so I learnt from him. I learnt from the best for seven years. It was the best of my practice. I went to court two to three times a week with my dad.

Was there never a day you felt, “why did I choose to work with this man?”

Of course, we had those days. I am exactly like my dad, very argumentative. On a fateful day, we had different opinions and he said “do you know you cannot talk back to your principal like that if you are working with someone else?”, and I told him that was why I was working with him. I was not only taking him on professionally, but also emotionally. For me, it was a very good bonding experience. I was not the big wig, there were other senior lawyers in the chambers who I learnt from. The head of the chamber is still there running the chambers till date. My father ran his chambers as if he was not to going to live forever. I learnt this from my dad as well that one must build an institution that will outlive one. If you are running a business that cannot work unless you are there, then that business is not going to go too far. My father was never a grabber, he was a builder. He built so many people who he left to grow with their vision. I have been toeing his footsteps as I have been running my school using the same approach.

What were your growing up fantasies?

I remember vividly when I was aged five,

one of my parents’ expatriate friend asked me: “Funso, what would you like to be when you grow up?” I told him I wanted to be an air hostess, and my mum said ‘an air hostess? Why do want to be an air hostess?’ The attraction then was travelling out, and I was really in love with their uniform. My mum added, ‘but Funso, you know you can even do better than that. You will be the one flying and they will be the ones serving you and you have to work hard’. I’ve always loved a good life. I had always liked to live well. I’m very lucky to have discovered my purpose very early at 26. I was very fortunate to have parents who supported my vision. I had a beautiful childhood and blessed in terms of love, not in terms of money. My parents were not rich, but they were comfortable. I never lacked. My parents had three biological children and I also have two biological children and I try to give them the same childhood I had, thank God they are now both lawyers; I’m a child of two lawyers and a mother of two lawyers. My niece (late brother’s daughter) is also a lawyer.

I had always loved travelling and I’m still able to travel. I love to work with children who came in at 10, finish at 17 for university with confidence. There are alumni of Vale College, who got award from the Queen of England as the best female engineer, got first class in pharmacy and other fields. They are married and raising children now. I am looking forward to the time their children will start to come to the college. I really have a lot to thank God for though I have been through a lot as well. A journey that started with a family of five, now left with two. We are not just surviving but thriving in our callings. A lot of the legacies left by my parents in terms of values are being handed to our children.

What have been your coping strategies as a mother and career woman?

My most important coping mechanism is my relationship with God. I am not afraid to cry to Him. I have a fantastic support system that comprises my family (my husband, children and siblings), people who work with me at home and office. My house keeper has been with me for 14 years. She knows what I like to eat and what my children like. In fact, she is part of my family. I have some staff that have been with me for 16 years. Without this support system, I would have crashed long time ago. I cherish relationships. I don’t look down on people. I love my children and students who I fiercely defend. My being teachable has really helped a lot. For parents to have entrusted their children to me is my greatest responsibility that I owe to God and the parents.

What is the way-out of violence

Adegbola against the girl-child?

As a member of FIDA, we get a lot of cases that are disheartening. Girls of ages three, four, five sexually molested by relatives and pastors! When I ponder on it, I believe a lot depends on the home. Really, the girl learns self-esteem from the home while a lot depends on mothers. Many of the girls who have been raped and suffered domestic violence would have had mothers that have also been violated and suffered. It is very few strong women that have their girlchildren raped. Now, parents are abdicating their responsibilities blaming this on bad economy that demands both of them work for survival at the peril of the girl-child. As women lawyers, we go to schools to talk to the female students while we also visit markets to talk to mothers. If you want to see how a girl would turn out, look at the mother. We as mothers have to be at our duty posts, representing what is best for our girlchildren; exposing them to the best and also giving them self confidence to feel free to tell us if anything happened to them. Mothers should know who their children’s friends are. Mothers should not put their girl-child in circumstances that would compromise her. There was a girl that came to FIDA that was continuously raped by her paternal uncle, and the mother said, ‘please, don’t let them send me out of the home’. The girl opened up to her mum. Her mum couldn’t even fight for her, so she left home and somebody told her, “why is your uncle doing it for free? Come to Ibadan and be a prostitute!” This was how she became a child prostitute at 12. We have

to talk to our girl-children to always walk in pairs and have a significant female to be their confidant either in school or church and to report anybody trying to take undue advantage of them. We need a society that sees a girl more than a sexual object. This education should be given to the girl-child right from the primary school. There have been situations where houseboys are left with female children or when a male driver is asked to go and pick a four-year-old girl from school without the parents there! In the process, a lot of things can happen. Our role is to put in place measures to safeguard these innocent girls as government cannot do everything for us. We should defend our children and stop abdicating our roles to the schools to teach them sex education. Nowadays, many boys have issues as against what obtained in our days as cases of homosexuality are on the increase. Everything is happening at the click of a button, the boys don’t have to go far before sourcing for pornographic materials. Everything they listen to battles for their mind; and if the right things are not put into such, they are all going to suffer for it in the future.

If you have the opportunity of talking to women, what are you going to tell them?

Women have been made to be very strong people by God. My mother was the spinal cord of the family, my father was the head.

My mother was the elegant neck and the backbone. This, to me, is what a woman should be. As a career woman, she was hard working, and she worked until she was 70.

A woman can actually have it all but must strike a balance; you don’t have to lose one for the other. My mother learnt very early to turn her lemon into lemonade and she taught me that. My mother became a judge of a high court even before my father became the governor; she was successful in her own career and my father too. I think, for me, it is impossible for me not to be successful because I grew up in a home of successful parents. I believe the father should provide for the family and I believe I am not a bread eater.

My mother used to tell me, “Funso, what took me 50 years to learn is taking you 30 years.” This will take my daughter, 20 years. I don’t need to go far to look for successful role models as women. If anybody is going to make any difference, its Nigerian women, look at the Lagos judiciary, 98 per cent of the judges there are women and Lagos judiciary has been adjudged the best in Nigeria. If you have a woman in power, she is going to think about every aspect of human development. When we have sensitive women who are visionary, working with sensitive men who are also visionary, Nigeria will grow.

35

Friday, 26 February, 2016

With Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

thekitchen

Where do you store your bread, eggs?

THESE austere times call for stringent measures in the way we preserve our consumables. As there are outbreaks of strange epidemics in the world of which Nigeria is not an exception, women need to be wary of how the food staples are kept for family consumption as viral-induced diseases are on the rise occasioned by

pests and rodents.

Though some household appliances tend to save homemakers a lot of headache when it comes to putting a nutritious meal on the table after a hectic day’s work, but getting and doing it right is imperative.

Most times, we visit bakeries with the intent of buying a stock that will last a

in their best for daily use when kept in a bread box or store. But if your apartment is under the invasion of Lassa fever-causing rats, the ideal storage is your freezer.

It is has been discovered that the loaf must not be in the fridge for a second.

You might want to ask why not in the fridge, it has been established that the refrigerator speeds up the staling process.

Leaving the loaves in plastic bags is not a good option as they prevent air especially if you live in a humid climate. If you must keep the bread in the plastic bag, then it must be opened a bit, to prevent moisture build up.

Now that homemade bread is on the increase, it is advisable you slice the loaves and put in a plastic bag in the freezer for use whenever the need arises.

Eggs There is this erroneous belief that eggs are automatically best kept in the eggs holder, built in the fridge’s door. The location of the holders has been found to be wrong as it remains warm all day and eggs must be kept cold at all times. To discontinue this practice, get the holder which is always removable out of your appliance while you store the eggs in the back of the fridge. week or more by keeping the loaves in the fridge, but food experts are cautioning against storing them in the appliance as it is a known fact that one cannot drop ice cream in a store expecting it to stay frozen.

Bread loaves have been observed to be

DO-It-Yourself

Alloco

In keeping to our new year kitchen resolution, we bring you a dish from Ivory Coast Ingredients ·6 large ripe plantains (yellow and browning around the tops) ·1½ peanut or coconut oil ·1 teaspoon salt Pili Pili (Sauce de Piment) ½ cup oil (olive or peanut or coconut) 1 medium sized onion, roughly chopped 4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 1 small carrot, peeled and chopped into big chunks 3-4 chili peppers, enough to fill ¼ cup when sliced ½ cup tomato paste 1 cup water

•1 teaspoon salt •1 teaspoon crushed black pepper •1 teaspoon dried parsley - xyz •1 teaspoon paprika powder •1 teaspoon cayenne •1 teaspoon dried oregano •1 bay leaf •1 teaspoon of vinegar Instructions Stage 1 - Prepare the Sauce de Piment Take a large stockpot over medium-high heat, then add your oil Once the oil is nice and heated, start by adding your onions and garlic. Mix around

and cook together for 3-4 minutes as the onions start to sweat.

Next, add your carrot and chillipeppers, and stir in for 1 minute Then, add your tomato paste, water, salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne, oregano, and parsley. Mix well through the rest of the ingredients until everything is nice and combined Once everything is mixed, add in your bay leaf and vinegar and mix through.

Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover your stockpot and let everything sit for 20 minutes Stage 2 - Frying Your Alloco While the sauce is simmering, take another deep saucepan over medium-high heat.

Add your peanut/coconut oil and melt until you have a nice layer of oil covering the bottom Add your plantains and fry on each side for 5-6 minutes on each side as they become nice and golden brown. The outside will become crispy and hardened on the outside.

Remove your plantains from the oil once both sides have fried. Place on a plate lined with paper towel (to absorb any excess oil).

Sprinkle your alloco with a little salt just for good measure.

Stage 3 - Finish the Sauce Once all your alloco are done, take your stockpot off the heat and transfer your sauce ingredients to a food processor Process the ingredients until you get a nice pureed sauce that can be spread over your alloco And you’re done!

Enjoy!

Source: Congo Cookbook

Butter Store your butter for daily use, either on the countertop or in the refrigerator. For long-term storage, it should be stored in the freezer. Butter really likes to absorb certain smells, so keep yours wrapped and/or covered and away from smelly foods so it won’t take on their odours?

Yogurt When next you pick that jar of fresh yogurt from the mall, ensure you keep it fresh in the refrigerator for best results.

Putting the drink in the freezer might not work as you cannot drink it immediately it is removed from the freezer. If you must keep this for days, ensure you have constant power supply so as not to consume poison.

Cheese As you are picking your cheese pack, also invest in zip-lock plastic bags for storage.

Storing the cheese in a zip-lock plastic bag helps retain its freshness in the refrigerator. The pack should be kept air free at all cost.

Time Saving Tips

Soften butter in minutes YOU realise you forgot to pull the butter out of the fridge for your recipe? You take it out.

There is a perfect solution which allows you to soften your butter without melting it, and it only takes a couple of minutes.

Just get a small glass and warm it up, then put it over top of the butter. You can heat up the glass by running warm water over it or by putting it in the microwave for a few seconds. The butter under the glass will quickly soften and will be just the right consistency to easily cut and spread.

36 news Why senior lawyers fail to secure appointments to Supreme Court —CJN Friday, 26 February, 2016

Lanre Adewole -Lagos

C

HIEF Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Thursday, explained why nominated

senior lawyers failed to secure appointments to the Supreme Court.

In a statement by his media aide, Ahuraka Isah, the CJN said his attention had been drawn to the statement

credited to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in some national dailies of Thursday, February 25, 2016, accusing the leadership of the judiciary of deliberately obstructing the senior lawyers

from being appointed to the apex court bench.

Mahmud added that the procedure leading to the appointments to fill vacant seats at the Supreme Court so far followed the new

UI best varsity in Nigeria —NUC THE National Universities Commission (NUC), in its latest 2015 ranking, has rated the University of Ibadan (UI) first among its peers in Nigeria.

The NUC ranking placed other first generation universities in the top five with the University of Lagos ranked second, University of Benin, third, Obafemi Awolowo University, fourth and Ahmadu Bello University, fifth.

The ranking indicated that the University of Ilorin is sixth, Lagos State University, 11th, while the Covenant University led Pan African University (18th) to occupy 13th position.

University of Jos (seventh), University of Port Harcourt (eighth), University of Maiduguri (ninth), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (10th), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (12th), University of Nigeria (14th), Federal University of Technology, FUTA (15th), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (16th), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (17th), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH (19th), Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola (20th).

Reacting to the latest ranking, the Vice Chancellor of UI, Professor Idowu Olayinka, said the university was thinking more about ranking among the top five in Africa in the next few years.

Professor Olayinka said the premier university was positioned to achieve the feat, owing to its highly

developed Postgraduate school, with easily the largest number of Masters and Doctoral students in SubSaharan Africa.

“Being number one in Nigeria and number one in West Africa should not be taken for granted. The real challenge is for us to be ranked among the top five in Africa in the next few years. This is do-able, given the pedigree of Ibadan over the last 68 years.

“As we speak, we have perhaps the most highly developed postgradu-

ate school, with easily the largest number of Masters and Doctoral students in sub-Saharan Africa. The UI school of Business has been approved by the National Universities Commission and it is set to take off soon with its flagship MBA programme, which used to be run by our Department of Economics,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate of the University has approved the withdrawal of 97 students from the university for failure to obtain

ACTING chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday, stated that recent comments attributed to him in the media on the conduct of some judicial officials were not intended at impugning their integrity.

This is even as the anti-corruption czar reassured lawyers and judges that his comments were not a blanket condemnation of them, saying, however, that the bad ones among them

the CJN said.

The CJN further held that the provision stated unequivocally thus: “...and in the case of appointment from the Bar, evidence of six contested cases in the last five years; (ii) sound knowledge of law, (iii) seniority at the Bar and or the Bench, (iv) Federal Character or geographical spread and, where necessary and possible, without compromising the independence of the judiciary or allowing politics to permeate or influence the appointment.”

He further disclosed that lawyers were not just scored based on the number of his or her contested cases but also have the number of judgements delivered by the judicial officers in consideration for the same vacant seat to contend with.

We’ve talked enough, it’s time to start making decisions, Fashola declares Christian Okeke -Abuja MINISTER of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday, said whereas it is the responsibility of his ministry to develop some of the critical infrastructure needed to support the country’s growth in collaboration with his colleagues in other ministries, it, however, was not enough to just talk.

“We have talked enough.

The time to start making decisions has since come upon us,” he said.

Fashola, while speaking in Abuja at the regional meeting, in preparation for the third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, the HABITAT III Conference, stated that “Africans must first define what quality and standard of life they want for themselves,” adding that “we must set those standards. Nobody can do that for us.”

The minister noted that there were universal mini-

mum standards for things like road traffic and healthcare, which should be embraced, but said Africans needed to consider how to define the maximum standards achievable, not minimum.

“One of the key solutions to creating sustainable cities and urban areas should happen hundreds of miles away from the city in the rural areas.

“We need to see agriculture and farming as tools for sustainable urbanisation - essential for cities and towns to evolve properly.

After all, it’s the people in rural area that will produce the food that the people in the city will eat. Rural areas need to be supported.

“Our farmers need to be encouraged and supported to stay and grow food, employ local people and provide food security for all.

The best investment in public goods, including public health, education and infrastructure has traditionally been around the cities and

My comments not to impugn lawyers, judges’ integrity —Magu Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja

the minimum academic requirements at the end of the 2014/15 session.

A special bulletin released by the institution and signed by its Registrar, Olujimi Olukoya, said the students were from seven faculties across the university.

The expelled students were at various levels of education pursuit, including those in final year, adding that some of the students had lapsed studentship while three voluntarily withdrew from the institution.

Revised National Judicial Council (NJC) guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria 2014.

“On assumption of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, I directed the NJC to implement the new Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria 2014; and they have strictly been observed in all appointments to all the superior courts so far made’’ “Rule 3 (6) of the guidelines is unambiguous, because it stipulated the judicial officer’s appointment to a higher bench to be determined among other requirements of the number of judgements delivered,”

were giving the good ones a bad name.

According to a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Thursday, by the head, media and publicity, EFCC Wilson Uwujaren, Magu stated that there was no way he could make a blanket statement on lawyers and judges’ integrity.

The acting chairman declared that his comments and EFCC’s activities should not be interpreted to mean a blanket indictment of all lawyers and judges, saying

that they were rather directed at a few bad eggs within the system.

He submitted that the country was blessed with the best lawyers and judges on the continent.

“There is no way one can make a blanket statement on the integrity of lawyers and judges. Nigeria is blessed with some of the best lawyers and judges on the African continent. My worry is that the bad ones amongst them are giving the good ones a bad name,” Magu said.

the big towns. Let’s take a closer look at that, and turn it around,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari, according to him, had left no one in doubt about his commitment to agriculture, not only to diversify the economy, but to take the real economy to those who had struggled on the margins of the society and headed for the urban centres.

“I would like to finally call

on all of us as Africans to use the opportunity to work more closely together. African cities are our cities, so it’s up to us to lead the way in defining the future for them.

“No progress happens in a vacuum, so we all need the support of the international community in our quest for development. As Africans, we must work together to understand our common challenges, so that we can better collaborate with our

partners from around the world.

“As we seek the support of the international community, it seems that there can be no better forum to speak about the need to reinforce, support and increase the capacity of the UN-Habitat as an institution that provides technical support to all of us, to develop in the way we have chosen rather than in the way that is chosen for us,” he said.

Akpobolokemi gave me N230m to change to dollar —Witness Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin -Lagos A witness in the ongoing trial of ex-Director-General of the NIMASA, Dr Patrick Akpolobokemi and six others, on Thursday, disclosed how he helped the accused to change the sum of N230 million to Dollar.

The witness, Alhaji Yusuf Yaya Muhammed, a bureau de change operator, revealed that the amount was transferred to his business account and he gave the equivalent to the second accused in his office at NIMASA. Akpobolokemi was docked before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, alongside Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited, on a 22-count charge.

At the proceedings on Thursday, another witness also revealed that the bank accounts used by Akpobolokemi to carry out transactions had no government’s approval.

Olamide Odusanya, the Assistant Director, Financial

Service Department (FDS) in NIMASA, said the two bank accounts opened for International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) committee headed by the third accused person was not approved by the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF).

But all the monies transferred by the agency to the accounts have approval from the Presidency, through the office of National Security Adviser (NSA).

Odusanya said the agency had four official bank accounts meant for the operation and the revenue collection, adding that the accounts had approval from AGF. She revealed that on June 3, 2013, the sum of N60.8

million was transferred from NIMASA’s bank account to the account being operated

by ISPS committee, with approval from the presidency and the former DirectorGeneral (DG).

Again, on January 3, 2014, the sum of N1,123,400,000 was also transferred to the same account, adding that on August 29, 2014, N795.2 million was also transferred by the agency to the account.

On May 20, 2015, the sum of 447,000,000 was transferred again to the account.

The witness said by the virtue of position held then by the ex-DG, he was the chief accounting officer of the agency, adding that he was signatory to all the accounts, both official and unofficial.

37

news

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Ogoni killings: Wike visits Yeghe, Bori, says perpetrators will be brought to book

Aregbesola bags ‘Yoruba man of the year 2015 award’

R

IVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that all those involved in the killing of innocent Ogoni people and residents of Ogoniland, will be brought to book, saying that nobody will be allowed to play politics with the lives of Rivers people.

The governor declared that the military must subject itself to civil authority, saying that as the chief security officer of Rivers State, he

was not informed of the operation that led to loss of innocent lives of Ogoni people and residents of the area.

He accused some politicians of deliberately instigating crisis in the state to create room for the declaration of state of emergency plotted by enemies of Rivers people.

Governor Wike spoke on Thursday, when he led the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Musa Kimo and top police officers on a fact-finding mission

to Yeghe community in Gokana Local Government Area, affected communities in Bori and mortuaries, where those killed by soldiers were deposited.

He said: “The Rivers State government will take up this unfortunate incident with the appropriate authorities.

The military must subject itself to civil authority. I am the chief security officer of this state. Before any deployment of soldiers, I should be informed but in

this case, I was not aware.

“I will always support the security agencies in the fight against criminals and criminality but I will never support the killing of innocent persons. That is why I am here today for an onthe-spot assessment. I have seen for myself the destruction in Yeghe and the killings that took place. I went to the mortuaries to see the corpses and the relatives of the deceased confirmed they were killed in the operation”.

Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike (second left) and others, inspecting a buildings destroyed at Yeghe community, in Gokana Local Government Area, during a fact-finding mission, on military operation in the area, on Thursday.

Pipeline vandalism: FG to provide 50 more gunboats —CNS EbenezerAdurokiya,Warri WITH the inauguration of 25 gun boats recently, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has said that the Federal Government will be providing the Nigerian Navy with additional 50 gunboats in the second quarter of 2016 He disclosed this on Thursday, while fielding questions from journalists at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Delta), Warri Naval base, Warri, Delta State, during a visit to appraise available platforms as well as encourage personnel of the force.

Ibas was accompanied to the base by Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, Flight Officer Commanding (FOC), Nigerain Navy Logistics Headquarters Command, Oghara, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik and Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammadu, among other officers.

The Naval boss also disclosed that relevant security agencies were interrogating suspected perpetrators of pipelines’ bombing in parts of Delta State.

He, however, warned that any further attack on oil pipelines or installations would be taken as an

attack on Nigerians.

“The directive issued by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), is what we stand on. Not just for the military alone, but for all Nigerians against any attack on our economic infrastructure.

“Such will be taken as an attack on Nigerians. Such individuals or groups of persons would be taken as

an enemy of the nation.

“If a group of people agreed with themselves to take on any part of our assets, we will take them out and the Navy is ready now than ever to ensure that we protect our assets and what belongs to Nigerians.

“If we arrest such individuals, the law will take its course,” he said.

Rear Admiral Ibas, who lauded Naval personnel for stemming the scourge of oil theft and other crimes in the high seas, said since no Navy in the world could boast of provision of all platforms for its operation, available boats would be optimally managed to execute its mandate in the waterways.

We’ll transform National Museum to world standard —Ambode LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday, vowed to transform the National Museum in Lagos to a modern-day cultural edifice which would be of international standard, just as he pledged to partner with the Federal Government to give facelift to federal infrastructures in the state.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, when the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, paid him a visit, said he would collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure the speedy completion of the project, which he said, will enhance the cultural heritage of Nigeria.

He said considering the

strategic importance of culture and tourism to the identity of people, there was no better time for Lagos and the Federal Government to collaborate in driving the essence of culture with the view to improving on the situation on ground and thereby improve on the economy and develop the nation.

The governor said Onikan, where the museum is located, is a melting port of the cultural heritage of Lagos and Nigeria by extension, hence, serious efforts must be put in place to start to recreate the monument to adequately situate the history of the country.

“Just the same way we have collaborated with the police, we will collaborate with you and ensure

that whatever we can do to create a facelift to the infrastructure of the Federal Government in Lagos, we will do it because it will eventually be to the benefit of Lagos people and eventually, aid the economic growth of Lagos.

Earlier, Mohammed said he was in Lagos to solicit the support of the governor to collaborate in jointly moving the state and indeed ,the country forward in areas of culture and tourism.

He said Lagos remains the economic and financial hub of Nigeria and that it was worthy to underscore the fact that the state is thriving under Governor Ambode, who he said ,is not only doing well but has greatly improved on all he met on ground.

The governor stated: “I have told security agencies to be careful so that they are not misled by politicians. As your governor, I have never used soldiers because I don’t need them. When I see people not in government moving around with soldiers, I am surprised. If you are popular with your people, you have no reason to move with soldiers. “ While urging the Ogoni people not to take the laws into their hands, Governor Wike said: “All those who masterminded these killings will face justice.

They are busy causing crisis because of their evil plan to declare a state of emergency in the state. Since they failed in my case, they will fail in others because God is greater than them”.

Governor Wike noted that he has always advised the military to arrest criminals and hand them over to the police for prosecution in line with the rules of engagement and not to take actions that would harm innocent citizens.

He denied ever making inflammatory statements on the Ogoni political arena, saying that he only campaigned for his political party.

NYSC to re-open orientation camps in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe —DG The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), will re-open orientation camps in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states before the end of 2016, the Director-General (DG), Brigadier.-General Johnson Olawumi, has said.

Olawumi told newsmen on Thursday in Katsina that the decision followed the successes recorded in the fight against insurgency in the north eastern part of the country. ‘’Since the insurgency has been reduced drastically, we are resuming orientation in Gombe State beginning with this batch ‘A’ of 2016. ‘’Adamawa State will resume with the next batch, while Borno and Yobe orientation camps will be reopened before the end of the year,’’ he said.

Olawumi said that the states had some of the best facilities for orientation in the country, but had to be closed down due to insecurity.

He advised corps members to discharge their duties at their places of primary assignment diligently.

The director-general called on state governments to ensure prompt payment of allowances to corps members to boost their morale for effective service delivery.

OSUN State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has been named as the ‘Yoruba man of the year 2015’.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Pan-Yoruba on line media, IrohinO’odua, said Aregbesola was picked by members of its editorial board made up of seasoned journalists and writers. “ Today, we announce Mr Aregbesola as the ‘Yoruba man of the year 2015’.

We picked Aregbesola on three grounds: his investment in education and human capital development, through the new schools he built for children of the poor across the state, his promotion of Yoruba regional integration, honesty, high moral grounds and non-corrupt disposition to management of men and material in the state .”

The online media said that Aregbesola took up the greatest investment any state can endow on its citizens by building world -class primary schools in a country where excellent learning environment has been the exclusive right of children of the rich and introduced the free feeding project for pupils of primary schools in a country where good food is for the very few children of the privileged.

Measles kill 20 children in Sokoto NO fewer than 20 children have been killed by measles in 18 local government areas of Sokoto State in the last 23 days.

Dr Sani Labaran, the executive secretary, Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto, on Thursday.

Labaran described the situation as an epidemic.

He said that the deaths were recorded out of the over 300 cases reported to hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the 244 wards across the state.

Labaran stated that several of the children afflicted by the disease were currently receiving treatment at various health facilities across the state.

However, the scribe said: “The situation has been brought under control, with many of the affected children, aged 0-59 months, treated and discharged from the hospitals.

38 CHANGE OF NAME

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I, formerly Miss Akinlabi Olabisi Kafayat Abake now MRS BANKOLE OLABISI KAFAYAT ABAKE. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Philip Aniedi James now PHILIP JAMES UDOH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Busayo Akano Ruth now MRS IDOWU BUSAYO ROMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I Biliameen Azeez Gbolahan am the same person as Billiaminu Azeez Oloye. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BILLIAMINU AZEEZ OLOYE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. MAPOLY and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I Adeyeye Omolola Grace am the same person as Bolatito Adeyeye.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OMOLOLA BOLATITO GRACE ADEYEYE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

RECONCILIATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Monsuratu Rasaki now MRS BABATOLA YETUNDE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I Salawudeen Ibrahim Ayinde am the same person as Ibrahim Rafiu.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SALAWUDEEN IBRAHIM AYINDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I Adeniran Christiana Adeola am the same person as Agboola A. Adeola, Adeniran Adeola C. and Agboola Adeola Afusat.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADENIRAN CHRISTIANA ADEOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr Ojewoye Kayode Sunday now MR OJEWOYE KAYODE SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Elizabeth Omotola Adisa now MRS ELIZABETH OMOTOLA ADISA-AWOBAMISE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ahmed Aishat Busola now MRS. BELLO AISHAT BUSOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Moses Olawale Wilson now MR OGBEIDE WILSON OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr Omitogun Bunmi now MR OMITAYO BUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Onifade Mutiatu Dasola, Saibu Mutiatu Dasola now HALEEM MUTIAT DASOLA. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Nigeria Plc, Mainstreet Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Sunday Monday Damilola now MR BAMISEBI MONDAY DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I Olasupo Alimot Omolewa am the same person as Adebayo Alimot Atunke. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLASUPO ALIMOT OMOLEWA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Alaka Oluwatoyin Saidat now OLANIPEKUN OLUWATOYIN SAIDAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Hanafi Dele Ibrahim, my name was mistakenly written as Anofi Bamidele Ibrahim instead of Hanafi Dele Ibrahim on my National Identity Card. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Wahab Ishiaque Adeyebi now WAHAB ISIAKA TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc, State Government and general public take note.

I, formerly Bamigboye Esau Adegboye now BAMIGBOYE ERNEST ADEGBOYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Abdubaki Aishat Adeola am the same person as Issa Aishat Adeola Abdubaki. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ABDUBAKI AISHAT ADEOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Agba Francis Ikong now AGBA FRANCIS UGOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oladeji Raimot Bukola now MRS ADEKANMI RAIMOT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. Ede South Local Government and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeleke Olubukola Esther now MRS. SOUDE-ADEPOJU OLUBUKOLA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Salaam Aderibigbe Akeem am the same person bearing Salaam Akeem Onis. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as SALAAM ADERIBIGBE AKEEM. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Eco Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Azeez Biliqis Olawande now MRS. ALAMU BILIQIS OLAWANDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Semiu Kafayat Ebun now MRS. HAMMED KAFAYAT EBUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Ibukun Olafusi now MRS. IBUKUN OLAITAN IFARIMOYO. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc., and general public take note.

I, Ganiyu Rasheed Oladipupo am the same person bearing Ganiyu Rasheed. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as GANIYU RASHEED. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc., Access Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Anuna Henry now ANUNA EDWIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Ajineh Godwin Patrick am the same person as Godwin Ajineh.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AJINEH GODWIN PATRICK. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Uleyo Florence Bose now MISS BALOGUN FLORENCE BOSE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajarat Adedoyin Olapoju now MRS. ABAKE ADEDOYIN OLAYIWOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ayodele Sunday Emmanuel am the same person bearing Ayodele Sunday Kunle. Hencefoth, I wish to be addressed as AYODELE SUNDAY EMMANUEL. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. MAPOLY and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayanbola Olufunke Morufat now MRS. TAIWO OLUFUNKE JULIANAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Dagogo Brown Barbra now MRS. BARBRA AKINTUNDE AKINLADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Sekinat Eniafe now ADEOLA RAJI. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

The name Chimaobi is abbreviated to Chima. That any documents bearing ISRAEL CHIMAOBI NWANKWO or ISRAEL CHIMA NWANKWO refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Olla Oluwatoyin Elizabeth am the same person as Olla Oluwatoyin.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OLLA OLUWATOYIN ELIZABETH. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. GTBank Plc., Union Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Sunday Oluwagbeminiyi Adeyemo now MR. EMMANUEL GBEMINIYI ADEYEMO. All former documents remain valid. First Registrar and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Komolafe Elizabeth Funmi now MRS. OLADOYE ELIZABETH FUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adewale Bukola Bukky Bolutife now MRS. BIOBAKU BOLUTIFE BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fagbemiro Oluwayemisi Janet now MRS. KUMOLU OLAYEMI JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Atinuke Esther Ojo now MRS. ATINUKE ESTHER OJO OMOJUWA. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Warikubu Rhoda Afriwengi now MRS. ADIGWE RHODA AFRIWENGI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

39 CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 26 February, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Asimiyu Modinat Odunayo now MRS LAWAL MODINAT ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Fadele Pelumi Adenireti now AYODELE EMMANUELLA ADENIRETI. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly Fadele Benedicta Boluwatife now AYODELE BENEDICTA BOLUWATIFE. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly Fadele Samson Oreoluwa now AYODELE SAMSON OREOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ogunyadi Oluwaseun Adeyemi now AJETUNMOBI OLUWASEUN ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

Co-Link Investments Management Company Ltd, LASU and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr Oriyomi Funmilayo Ogunwale now MR ORIYOMI FUNMILAYO O’PETERS. All former documents remain valid.

Zenith Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Egbende Azeez now RASHEED OLAMILEKAN AZEEZ. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Olabamiji James am the same person bearing Olabanji James. Now I want to be known and addressed as OLABAMIJI JAMES AKINRINOLA. My correct date of birth is 14th June, 1946. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Esther Iyale Omotunwase now ESTHER OMOTUNWASE ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

Ministry of Defence, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly James Obafemi Andrew now FOLORUNSHO JAMES OBAFEMI. All former documents remain valid.

FCMB Plc. and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adelakun Adejoke Beatrice now MRS ADEYEMO ADEJOKE BEATRICE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Abdulsalam Bose Nike now ADEBISI SIMBIAT O. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oriade Folake Eunice now MRS ADEGBITE FOLAKE EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. Ife Central Local Government School Board, SUBEB, Osun State, TEPO and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajala Abidemi Oluwatosin now MRS OJO ABIDEMI OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Fadumo Mobolanle Temitope now ODUAH MOBOLANLE MERCY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss AdetunjiLawal Saidat Abake now MRS OMOWUMI SAIDAT LAWAL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Arigbabu Olaitan Yetunde Elizabeth now MRS AKINPELU OLAITAN YETUNDE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Fakunle Oluwaseyi Adeola now MRS OYELEYE OLUWASEYI ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Okwuba Roseline Obiageli now OKOYE OBIAGELI ROSELINE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaniran Oluwayemisi Faith and Mrs Ogunlana Oluwayemisi Faith now MRS ADEKUNLE OLUWAYEMISI FAITH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogundimu Ibukun Oluwatoyin now MRS. DONMOLA IBUKUN OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Salako Eunice Fisayo now MRS OGUNJINMI EUNICE FISAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akpabio Lucy Anthony now MRS ADEMOLA LUCY ANTHONY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunniyi Oyindamola now MRS AROMIRE OGUNNIYI OYINDAMOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Fatokun Christianah Yetunde now MRS ADEWUYI CHRISTIANAH YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Florence Oyibo Igbosua now MRS FLORENCE OYIBO BOYE ODOFIN. All former documents, both old and new remain valid. general public and organisations take note.

I, formerly Hameed Abdulfatahi Ajewale now AKEWULA ABDUL FATAHI AJEWALE. All former documents remain valid.

U.B.A. Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mrs Alli Moji now MRS ALLI ABIGAIL ENIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Umoren Sunday Praise now ITORO SUNDAY PRAISE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known as Mr. Adebayo Saka now wish to be known as MR ADEBAYO SULEIMAN OSUADE OR MR ADEBAYO SULAIMAN OSUADE. All former documents remain valid. Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (P.T.A.D.), First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Michael Onyekachukwu Sunday now AMALOKWE ONYEKACHUKWU SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Marie-Goretti Chioma Ojiyi now MRS MARIE-GORETTI CHIOMA OKAFOR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alabi Lydia Funmilayo now MRS ATOYEBI LYDIA FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Joel Ijadogan now IJADOGAN OJO JOEL . All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mrs Paulina Nike Dosunmu now MRS FAITH MORENIKE DOSUNMU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oladejo Rukayat Odunayo now MRS MUSTAPHA RUKAYAT ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Eco Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ibiwumi Sofiat Adeyemi now ADEBAYO DUDUYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajao Grace Adefunke now MRS AYANTUNJI GRACE ADEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeoye Iyabo Mary Magdalene now MRS OKEDINA IYABO MARY MAGDALENE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mr Ajobiewe George Olu now MR AJOBIEWE GEORGE OLORUNKO GBAGBEMI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayangade Adeola Sarah now MRS AJAYI ADEOLA SARAH. All former documents remain valid.

University of Ibadan and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, formerly Miss Oluwatosin Eunice Igbede now MRS OLUWATOSIN EUNICE JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Olorunsola Eniola Oluwaseyi now MISS AJAYI ENIOLA OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Adegoke Uthman Olanrewaju am the same person bearing Buhari Uthman Olanrewaju. Now wish to be known and addressed as ADEGOKE UTHMAN OLANREWAJU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. U.B.A Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Bakare Rukayat Adekemi now AKINSANMI RUKAYAT ADEKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olatunde Bukola Magret now MRS AROMOLARAN BUKOLA MAGRET. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Opekilede Omoyemi Bosede now MRS OYEBAMIJI OMOYEMI BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Azeez Suliat Olabisi now MRS MUSTAPHA SULIAT OLABISI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Popoola Mojisola Moriliat now MRS FAMOROTI MOJISOLA MORILIAT. All former documents remain valid.

University College Hospital, Ibadan and general public take note.

I, Mrs Opara Oluwabukola Toyin am the same person as MRS OPARA FATIMO OLUWATOYIN OLUWABUKOLA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adeniyi Rasidat now DAUDA RASIDAT ABEBI. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Busari Modinat Bola now MRS ADEWOLE MODINAT BOLA. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Shoda Temitope Felicia now MRS TEMITOPE FELICIA POPOOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Jegede Bolaji now MRS ADEYEMI BOLAJI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Afolabi Afolashade Dasola am the same person as Afolabi Bola Sade. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SALAWU FOLASHADE DASOLA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Aluko Adeleye Adunni am the same person as Aluko Adeleye Adunni Deborah. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ALUKO ADELEYE ADUNNI DEBORAH. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adebayo Temitayo Temitope now MRS AJILORE TEMITAYO TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Susan Oluwakemi Rabiu now MRS DOUBRA OLUWAKEMI NUREN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mbanu Augustina Abidemi now MRS AJADI AUGUSTINA ABIDEMI S. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Sulola Solomon Omotayo Akinjide Oladeji Akinsanya now SOLOMON OMOTAYO AKINOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Adeyemo Julianah Olubunmi now MRS AJANI JULIANAH OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Araba Ibironke Aduke now MRS SOWANDE IBIRONKE ADUKE . All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Azeez Grace Taiwo now MRS YUSUF GRACE TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ayanbeku Folake Kemi Oyeyiola now MRS OLADIPO FOLAKE KEMI OYEYIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adebayo Saheed Hammed now ADEBAYO SAHEED AKOLAWOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olaosebikan Christianah Adeola now MRS ALAWODE CHRISTIANAH ADEOLA NEE OLAOSEBIKAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ojo Titilayo Adenike now MRS OMOJOWO TITILAYO ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olayinka Bello now BASIRAT OLAYINKA MUSTAPHA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olanrewaju Odunayo Bola now MRS ADEWOLU ODUNAYO BOLA. All former documents remain valid.

Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Akeem Adio Adelanwa now AKEEM ADEWALE ADELANWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Miss Suara Oladimeji Rukayat Oyindamola am the same person as Miss Oladimeji Rukayat Oyindamola.

Now, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEBIYI RUKAYAT OYINDAMOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Inedegbor Theresa now MRS INAGWU THERESA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Grace Moses now MRS GRACE MUSA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Falase Motunrayo Opeyemi now MRS ADIO MOTUNRAYO OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Amusat Fausat Fadeke am the same person as Rahamon Fausat Iyabo.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AMUSAT FAUSAT FADEKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Alao Bolanle Shakirat now MRS OYELEKE BOLANLE SHAKIRAT ALAO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ruth Achenyo Ichado now MRS RUTH ACHENYO ATADOGA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogun Maria Omolayo now MRS OLAPOJU MARIA OMOLAYO. All former documents remain valid. TESCOM Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Wahab Ibrahim Ayofe now ABDULWAHAB ADESOLA. All former documents remain valid.

Osun State Government and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oladunke Alice Sobowale now MRS ADEWALE OLADUNKE OLORUNTELE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyedele Temilade Grace now MRS OJIKUTU GRACE TEMILADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ojoade Iromidayo Roseline now MRS ADEGBAJU IROMIDAYO ROSELINE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Lijoka Roseline Omowumi now MRS OKE ROSELINE OMOWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly John David Ikechukwu now UKPAA IKECHUKWU JOHN. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank Plc and general public take note.

40

south-westnews

Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 26 February, 2016

We have 15 criminal cases against Ogun lawmaker —Police I will institute legal action —Lawmaker OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta

T

HE Ogun State Police Command on Thursday alleged that it has 15 criminal cases against the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr Yinka Mafe.

Mafe, representing Sagamu 1 state constituency in the House, had on Tuesday, raised an allegation of extortion against the Divisional Police Officer, in charge of Sagamu, Mr John Mark, on the floor of the House under personal explanation.

The Assembly, under the leadership of Mr Suraj Adekunbi, ordered the state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, to investigate the allegation brought by the lawmaker against the DPO. However, the command image maker, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the lawmaker had no moral justification to raise allegation against the DPO, submitting that the lawmaker is currently being investigated in cases such as cultism and other criminal activities.

Adejobi said the com-

mand would have taken the allegation serious if it was coming from “someone with clean hands.”

The PPRO described the DPO as a thorough and tough police officer, who would not compromise his position for any corrupt practices.

Adejobi explained that John was posted to Sag-

amu to sanitise the area from criminal activities.

He said, “The allegation is unknown to the command, because the DPO; CSP Mark is one of the best Divisional Police Officers in this command. He was actually posted to Sagamu to uproot the evil and evildoers in Sagamu. It takes a tough man to control securi-

ty arrangement in Sagamu.

“He is there doing what he should do and we expect people to make noise, especially criminals and sponsors of criminals, concerning what the DPO is doing because he is there doing what he should do.

“If the allegation had come from another respected someone who has

clean hands, the matter would have been taken more serious by the command, but we are surprised this is coming from Honourable Mafe, who is also one of the suspects we are investigating in many criminal cases in Sagamu; talking about sponsorship of cultism and many other criminal activities, he

Oyo College of Health Tech matriculates 480

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, speaking during the handover of civil servants arrested for printing fake government receipts and tax clearance to the police, in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday.

Ogun monarchs cry out over alleged rape, destruction of farmlands THE Council of Obas of Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State yesterday raised the alarm over the alleged destruction of farmlands and the rape of women by Fulani herdsmen in the area.

The Obas warned that the activities of the herdsmen and their cattle posed serious threat to the security of the people of the area.

The council has therefore, appealed to the Ogun State government to take immediate steps to bar the herdsmen and their cattle from the community to avoid any form of confrontation between them and the people of Ijebu Igbo.

The council, at its inaugural meeting at the secretariat of the Ijebu North Local Government Area in Ijebu-Igbo, said it had become imperative for the government to check the activities of the herdsmen in the area before it got completely out of hands.

Three of the six Obas who constitute the council, the Sopen Lukale of OkeSopen, Oba Mufutau Yusuf; the Kegbo of Atikori, Oba Ibitoye Solaja and the Bejeroku of Oke Agbo, Oba Olaoye Abas, as well as 21 other chiefs and prominent indigenes of the town who attended the meeting, stressed that the alleged destruction of the town’s

farmlands by the herdsmen had imposed untold hardship on the people of the community who are mainly farmers.

During the over threehour meeting, moderated

By Wale Akinselure

of the country, Ajimobi, speaking at Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, warned that poor management of the effects of climate change spelt doom for the well being of Nigerians.

In this light, she called for a stop to indiscriminate burning and emission of industrial waste in the environment, as well as a stop to deforestation.

As a corrective measure, Ajimobi urged Nigerians to imbibe the habit of tree planting and nurturing to ensure that the environment remains habitable for current

by Oba Yusuf, another monarch, Oba Solaja, told the council that his palace had daily been inundated with complaints by the victims of the Fulani herdsmen.

“Every day, my people

run to me with complaints about Fulani herdsmen destroying their farms. I always ask them to report to the police because we don’t want the people to take laws into their hands,” he said.

Ondo 2016: Akeredolu declares intention to contest guber election

‘Mention one APC state that matches Ondo’

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Thursday, canvassed peaceful resolution of internal rifts tearing the state chapter apart ahead of the 2016 governorship

Climate change: Ajimobi kicks off planting of 6,000 trees AIMED at containing the negative effect of climate change, wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, on Thursday, flagged off the planting of 6,000 trees in 12 secondary schools across the state.

The tree planting exercise is enshrined in the Climate Change Adaptation programme, an initiative of Connecting Hearts of Women and Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme.

Noting the current fierce heat experienced in parts

doesn’t have the moral justification to raise such an allegation against the Sagamu DPO and he should not personalise issues like this.

“We want to say, without mincing words that the allegations are baseless. We have only 15 cases against this person, all I know is that by the time we finish the investigations against him, we are going to address the press.”

Meanwhile, the lawmaker on his Facebook page threatened to institute legal action against the PPRO for describing him as a personality with “unclean” hands.

and future generations.

Speaking on the imperativeness of the programme, President, Connecting Hearts Initiative, Mrs Abimbola Okutinyang decried that children remained the most vulnerable set of people, as they are victims of all forms of diseases, hunger caused by famine and disasters caused by climate change.

Okutinyang therefore, charged parents and school tutors to ensure that home and school environment habited by children were safe for health living.

election.

Akeredolu, former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), emphasised that the unity among the chieftains and members of the chapter was strategic to wrestling powers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He conveyed the message in a statement he issued after he declared his intention to contest the 2016 governorship election in the state at a meeting with the leadership of the chapter on Wednesday.

Akeredolu explained the rationale behind his intention to contest the 2016 governorship election, noting that it was borne out of his desire to put an end to the reign of maladministration in the state.

He admitted that Ondo State “has great potentials to become one of the greatest states in the country.

It is only good leadership from the APC that can bring the state back to the track of greatness.”

Reacting, Ondo State government said “it is unfortunate that someone who has no history of performance could talk about a world acclaimed performer in that manner. Recall that the former Commonwealth secretary Chief Emeka Anyaoku told the whole world few days ago that it was only in Ondo State that he saw real transformation.

“In fact, Akeredolu’s party man, Senator Shehu Sani was on ground to corroborate the observation.

Our performance in Ondo, as it could be attested to by the series of local and international recognition it has won the state are verifiable.

“We challenge him to mention one APC state in the South west that matches Ondo in terms of visible and verifiable performance.”

OYO State College of Health Science and Technology, Ibadan, has matriculated 480 students in its first matriculation ceremony which took place on Thursday, at the college compound, at Eleyele.

Speaking at the matriculation ceremony, the Acting Provost, Mr Siji Ganiyu, congratulated the students who have made it out of several applicants that signified interests to be admitted into various programmes.

According to him, today, a total of 480 students would be matriculated across six departments out of over 1,000 applicants.

He gave a breakdown of the numbers of the new students in each department as: Environmental health, 101; Public health nursing, 145; Health Information management, 51; Community health, 125; Pharmacy Technicians, 25 and Food hygiene and hotel management, 33.

Ganiyu said the matriculation was special and extraordinary because it was the first of its kind since its upgrading and elevation to the status of a college.

“This institution was not only upgraded to the status of tertiary institution but also equipped and endowed with competent and capable management and academic staff with a view to producing action oriented and responsible middle level healthcare providers.

“The young college is not only increasing in size for we have established a satellite campus at Okeho but also increasing in value and expanding the body of knowledge to accommodate new courses,” he said.

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south-westnews

Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Cultists kill one in Ondo as man kills friend over wife Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

M

EN of the Ondo State police command have arrested a suspected cultist over the killing of a 23-year- old man, Suleiman Lateef, who was shot dead in his Oke Ijebu residence in Akure, Ondo State capital.

It was gathered that the cultists, numbering about four, invaded the home of

Suleiman on a motorcycle, armed with gun and other dangerous weapons and carried out their operation without any hindrance while the 84-year-old mother of the slain man was also injured in the process.

The hoodlums, who confirmed the death of their victim before leaving the scene of the incident, zoomed off from the area,

but one of the suspected cultists was unlucky as he was apprehended.

The source said that the residents of the area alerted security agents who responded to the distress call and met the lifeless body of Suleiman in the pool of his blood.

He however, said that the octogenarian mother of the deceased, Sherifat Lateef, was rushed to the Federal

Medical Centre for medical attention while the corpse of her son was deposited at the state General Hospital morgue, in Akure.

Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, said the case has been transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence in the state for investigation.

Joseph explained that from the preliminary investigation conducted by his men, it was confirmed that the incident was a supremacy battle between two rival groups and assured that the police will get to the root of the matter.

Meanwhile, a middleaged man, simply identified as Daniel, who killed his friend for allegedly sleeping with his wife, has been arrested by the state security agents.

Daniel was said to have killed his friend, Moses Alugo, at Ago Akinpelu, Ode Aye in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state some few weeks ago.

The suspect was arrested weeks after committing the crime as the residents of the area failed to report

the incident to the police, but Daniel was arrested after the case was reported at the police station in Ode Aye. The source said that the villagers could not offer reasonable reason for burying the deceased without informing the appropriate quarters, but said the suspect had been arrested and transferred to Akure from Ode Aye. The PPRO also confirmed the incident, saying the victim had been buried before the police learnt about the incident, but said the suspect is helping the police in its investigation.

He described the incident as unfortunate and warned the public against taking laws into their hands, but assured that the suspect will soon be charged to court.

Ajimobi urged to ignore call to remove caretaker chairman nominee

By Nurudeen Alimi

From right, Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters, Comrade Dayo Fadahunsi; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Akin Adaramola; state chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Bosede Daramola and the state chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Sola Ekundayo, at “Mr Governor’s Day Out with Special Interest Groups,” in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Ondo State and seventh anniversary of Mimiko’s government, at The Dome, Akure, on Thursday.

There is much to celebrate in Mimiko’s govt —Anyaoku FORMER Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said in Akure, on Thursday, that there was a lot to celebrate in the Dr Olusegun Mimikoled seven-year-old administration in Ondo State.

Anyaoku, who arrived the state on Tuesday, took time out to visit some of the projects of the Mimiko- led administration ahead of the symposium he chaired on Wednesday, as part of activities marking the seventh anniversary of the Mimiko administration.

Speaking with newsmen shortly before his departure from the state, Anyaoku described the Mimiko-led administration’s achievements as novel in all sectors of the state’s economy.

He said Governor Mimiko in the last seven years has demonstrated uncommon leadership in all sectors, particularly in the health sector, and thus, urged other states to copy the Ondo example in qualitative healthcare delivery, to achieve the goal of Nigeria being a Medical Tourism destination.

Labelling the achievements of the Mimiko-led government as “true transformation,” Anyaoku said Nigeria would realise its dreams if the kind of wel-

fare services provided by the Ondo State government become a common sight in other parts of the country.

Further describing Governor Mimiko’s style of governance as exceptional, Anyaoku registered that “since I arrived this state, I have seen so many projects.

Mimiko is exceptional. If we have more of what I have seen in Ondo since I came, Nigeria will be the country of our dream.

“I feel that if government at all levels in this country can improve their health facilities like it is happening in Ondo State, the jamboree of health tourism abroad will end, since there will be appreciable health facilities to cater for the citizens of the country as against wasting our funds abroad,” he said.

Chief Anyaoku had earlier, on Wednesday, at the symposium organised to mark the Mimiko government’s seven years of existence, called for a national summit on socio-economic and political challenges in the country.

Speaking at the symposium, Anyaoku, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to convene “as a matter of urgency,” a national meeting of economic experts to solve the present economic challenges confronting Ni-

geria, even as he opined that true federalism would aid political stability in Nigeria and reduce centrifugal forces.

He listed centrifugal forces to include: socio cultural groups, activist and political groups and violence groups, adding that Nigeria has not been strange to centrifugal forces since independence.

The well-attended symposium, held at the International Event Centre, The DOME, also had former

Governor, Major General Babakayode Opaleye (retd) in attendance.

Other dignitaries at the occasion were Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Chief Kunle Olajide, Dr Amos Akingba, Ambassador Omolade Oluwateru and members of the academic community.

Discussants at the symposium were Senator Ben Bruce, Senator Shehu Sani, Mr Labaran Maku, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, Mr Yinka Odumakin and Miss Idris Katus.

A call has gone to the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to ignore a call made by Onikoyi of Ikoyi Ile, Oba Abdulyekeen Ayinla Oladipupo, calling for the substitution of caretaker chairman nominee from Oriire Local Government, Mr Jacob Bamigboye.

The call was made in a statement signed by Mr Kehinde Atanda, on behalf of some concerned members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oriire Local Government, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday.

Oba Oladipupo had alleged that Mr Jacob Bamgboye is not an indigene of the local government and that no indigene of Ikoyi Ile had been appointed or elected as chairman of the

local government.

The concerned members of the APC in Oriire Local Government, however, posited that: “Ordinarily, as virtuous men and women who always give due respect to our royal fathers, we would have reacted to the call made by the royal father which is nothing but a distortion of facts, but we deem it fit to intimate the governor and the general public with some facts.

“Jacob Bamigboye hails from Olapelu compound in Olapelu village, Ward 10 in Oriire Local Government. He attended Baptist Primary School, Aba-Oba also in Oriire Local Government. It is also important to note that Mr Sola Alabi, a barrister and Mr Hammed Babatunde who are indigenes of Ikoyi-Ile had served at different times as chairmen of Oriire Local Government.”

Ekiti assembly committed to Yoruba Language development —Speaker SPEAKER of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Right Honourable (Pastor) Kola Oluwawole, has said that the House is committed to the promotion of Yoruba language, the mother tongue in the South-Western part of the country.

He said the House would not be party to the situation where leaders in the region would watch the language go into extinction.

Speaking in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday, in commemoration of this year’s United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s International

Mother Language Day, Oluwawole said the Ekiti Assembly had made it a point of duty to dress in native attire and conduct plenary of the House every time it sat on Wednesday in Yoruba Language.

The cleric turned lawmaker said members of the House always felt concerned about the deplorable nature the Yoruba Language was among the present generation of the people.

“The state of understanding and use of our mother tongue in this generation is deplorable. Hardly can our children these days express themselves in our local languages. This is a challenge for the future of our culture.

“As a House of Assembly and stakeholders in the cultural emancipation of our constituents, we take the development of our languages and culture very seriously.

In the Ekiti State House of Assembly, any time a member is dressed in native attire, it has to be complete.

And we ensure that each time we sit on a Wednesday, the session is held in pure Yoruba Language.

“In fact, the theme of this year’s UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day, ‘Quality Education, Language(s) of Instruction and Learning Outcomes,” is in tandem with the thought of our Assembly. We are committed to making the

teaching and learning of our mother tongues in our schools utmost priority,” the lawmaker said.

The Speaker added that the House would be ready to liaise with relevant stakeholders in a bid to ensure that teaching and learning of Yoruba language were accorded necessary respect in government schools across the state He charged parents, not only in Ekiti State, but also across the South-West, to cultivate the habit of speaking the mother tongue to their children at home, advising that doing so would not inhibit their ability to learn foreign languages or do well in their studies.

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communitynews

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Community leader slams legislature for poor response to plight of underprivileged Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

A

community leader and coordinator of an orphanage, Winning Children Foundation, Usi-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Mrs Funmilayo Adeyemi, has slammed national and state assemblies for poor response to the plight of the underprivileged.

Adeyemi, who spoke while receiving members of the correspondents’ chapel of Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who donated food items to the orphanage, lamented that the legislature in state and federal levels, had not come up with laws that would help improve the living standard of orphans and vulnerable children, the physically-challenged and sundry Nigerians.

She said the National Assembly and the legislative arms of each of the 36 states of the federation had thereby indirectly contributed to the hardship being experienced by underprivileged Nigerians in the face of the parlous state of the nation’s economy.

She said it was “disheartening that after 16 years of democratic rule, the National Assembly in particular has not come up with laws that would protect the underprivileged, including the physically challenged, orphans, children from separated homes, among others.

Adeyemi advocated the enactment of laws at both state and federal levels that would provide a buffer for the underprivileged in the areas of employment, education, feeding, clothing and in other critical sectors of existence.

She said children from

opulent homes are facing serious economic challenges in view of the dwindling oil prices, let alone those from a poor background, saying she expected the legislative arms, at state and national levels to have come up with laws that would make these category of children relevant in the society.

She said “government must recognise the fact that these children have high propensity for crime when all options to make headway fail,” adding that, “something urgent must be done to re-direct their psyche from criminal intentions to more productive ventures.”

Adeyemi said, “any child without hope is a potential crime perpetrator. So government must make them relevant in the society by going beyond donation of rice, milk and other confectionery to them.

“Underprivileged children are of many categories. Some are orphans, some from separated or poor families. But it is sad that what government perceives as underprivileged people are the physically

challenged and it should not be so.

“In some states, including Ekiti, about two per cent employment into the civil service is allotted to

A socio-cultural organisation, the County Club of Ile Oluji, has commended the kingmakers and those involved in the peaceful selection of the town’s new traditional ruler, Oba Olu Adetimehin as the Jegun of Ile Oluji kingdom, describing it as worthy of emulation.

Oba Adetimehin was recently presented with staff of office in Akure by the state government after he was chosen by the community.

ger to our existence as a nation.

“I want to tell these legislators at both state and federal levels that these children may not al-

low them to enjoy their wealth if they fail to do something, because if they take to robbery, these rich men will be their targets.”

Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (sixth left); Secretary to the State Government, Honourable Festus Agas (fourth left)and the Head of Civil Service, Mr Patrick Origho, in a group photograph with the Interim Executive of Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), during a courtesy call by UPU on the governor in Asaba, recently.

Clash over land leaves one dead in Edo Banji Aluko-Benin City

ONE person has been feared killed following a communal clash between Uneme-Erhurhu in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area and Okpella-Ogute in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The cause of the clash was traced to plans by a company to establish a cement factory in a forest the two neighbouring communities are laying claim to.

The crisis reportedly broke out when some youths from Uneme-Er-

hurhu barricaded a road leading to the forest to prevent some Okpella-Ogute residents from gaining entrance into the forest to convey logs of wood.

The clash also led to the destruction of houses, vehicles and motorcycles in Erhurhu community.

It was gathered that some people who sustained injuries in the clash have been taken to the hospital, while security agents have been stationed in Erhurhu to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

Clan head of UnemeErhurhu, Mr Monday

Ile Oluji county club commends kingmakers for peaceful selection of new Oba Akin Adewakun-Lagos

the physically challenged.

But to our chagrin, the law is not even being followed.

I expect that this law will cut across all these children that could pose dan-

Speaking with Community News, the club’s president, Mr. Alaba Akinyomade, commended the kingmakers for being transparent and for sticking to tradition in the selection process of the new king.

He expressed the hope that the selection of the former President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) as the town’s traditional ruler would bring the muchneeded development to the community.

“We believe the new traditional ruler will bring his wealth of experience from the corporate world where he has made his mark both as a chief executive and leader of professional body to bear on the development of the community,” he added.

Akinyomade also commended the other contestants for demonstrating the “spirit of sportsmanship” after the choice of the new oba, stating that for the community to move forward, its indigenes must be ready “to give and take.”

Braimoh, said the land in question belonged to Erhurhu community, saying, ‘the land is an inheritance of Erhurhu community; not Okpella.”

Personal Assistant to the Okupelagbe of Okpella (traditional ruler), Abdulyekini Ahmed, however, said a government White Paper gave the disputed

land to Okpella community, adding that “the people of Erhurhu are tenants on the land.”

A statement on Tuesday by the member representing Akoko-Edo State Constituency II, Emmanuel Agbaje, condemned the clash and called on the warring communities to sheathe their swords and

embrace peace in the interest of the Afemai nation.

Public Relations Officer of the Edo State police command, Abiodun Osifo, who confirmed the incident, however, said no life was lost but that five persons sustained injuries.

Osifo added that investigation into the incident had commenced.

New president-general emerges for Yoruba community in Kano ELECTION of new executive members of Yoruba community in Kano State, that will pilot the affairs of the community in the next three years, took place on Saturday at Yoruba House, 27, Sanusi Street, Sabon Gari, Kano.

The collegiate system of election, which generated much tension and sent shivers down the spines of the community’s gladiators, saw Alhaji Abdulateef Faisu from Ogun State polling 68 votes to beat the incumbent presidentgeneral and his main rival, Alhaji Suara Adesokan of Oyo State, who polled nine votes.

Other elected principal officers are Deputy President, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Yusuf (Kwara); General Secretary, Comrade Sam

Alade (Ondo) and Treasurer, Alhaji Rabiu Yusuf (Osun).

Dr Jimpat Ayelangbe, President of Ethnic Community Leaders Association, Kano (ECLAK), was the Chief Returning Officer, ably supported by other eminent Yoruba leaders among whom were Alhaji Murtala Jawando, Chief E.A. Fashakin (both former presidents of the community); Alhaji Abdulateef Emi-Abata, Deputy Missioner of Ansarudeen Society, Kano; Primate Osisanya of the Church of God, Kano and Alhaji Abdulateef Abiola, former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Musa Kwankwaso.

Others were Alhaji Bimbo Yusuf, Special Assistant to Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State; Hon-

ourable Seyi Olorunnisola, Councillor, Sabon Gari East Ward; Prince Bello Armstrong Muji, Convener, Ibadan Support Group and Barrister J. O. Adefila, who conducted the swearing-in ceremony to the admiration of a huge number of Yorubas who graced the occasion.

In a press statement after the election, Prince Armstrong Bello congratulated the newly elected president, describing his election as God ordained.

He urged the president to be magnanimous in victory and the losers to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship.

He further urged the two parties to cooperate to ensure a smooth handover of the community’s assets and liabilities.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

foreig naffairs

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

with seyi gesinde

200 Kenyan troops killed in military camp attack —Somalian president

Uganda opposition gathers evidence to challenge election outcome UGANDA’S main opposition party has said it is working hard to gather evidence to legally challenge the outcome of the February 18 general election.

VOA reported that Uganda’s electoral law says challenges can be filed up to 10 days after results are announced. Mugisha Muntu, chairman of the Forum for Democratic Change, said the party was doing everything possible to meet the deadline, despite what he said had been continuous harassment and intimidation by state security operatives.

Muntu noted that the in-

A Ugandan riot policeman blocks the gate of the party headquarters of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, in the capital Kampala, Uganda. PHOTO: AP

timidation followed the frequent arrests and subsequent release of Kizza Besigye, the FDC presidential candidate.

“We started gathering evidence on Saturday, right after we found out that there were huge discrepancies between what was being announced and what we’ve been gathering from our own polling stations,” he said. Since then, he added, “our presidential candidate … has been taken to the police cells several times.”

Muntu said security services had raided party offices and arrested data entry clerks, but “we are not deterred. We are continuing to gather evidence to be able to move in that direction [toward a challenge] once a decision is firmly made.”

Badru Kiggundu, the electoral commission chairman, declared incumbent Yoweri Museveni the winner of the presidential election with 60.07 per cent of the votes cast, while Besigye was second with 35.37 per cent.

Kenyan soldiers pay respects to fallen comrades killed in the January attack in Somalia.

PHOTO: John Muchucha/AP Photo.

U

P to 200 Kenyan soldiers were killed in an attack on their camp in Somalia by al-Shabab last month, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said - although Kenya rejected the figure.

On January 15, dozens of heavily-armed al-Shabab fighters assaulted a Kenyan-

run military base for African Union peacekeepers in the southern Somali town of El-Ade, not far from the Kenyan border.

“When about 200 soldiers who came to help your country are killed in one morning, it is not something trivial,” Mohamud told Somali Cable TV, a privately owned station. The inter-

view was posted on YouTube on Thursday.

“We have been winning for years and months but that El-Ade battle, we were defeated. Yes, in war, sometimes something that you do not like happens to you,” the Somali president added.

Kenyan authorities have refused to give a death toll following the attack, which

targeted troops working under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

But Kenya Defence Forces spokesman, Colonel David Obonyo, denied the number given by the Somali president and questioned the source of the information.

“It is not true. This information never came from us or anyone in the government of Kenya,” he told the Reuters news agency on Thursday.

Newspaper pictures of coffins draped with Kenyan flags bringing back dead soldiers after last month’s attack increased the disquiet from ordinary Kenyans and the opposition alike over Kenya’s continued presence in Somalia.

Al-Shabab later distributed photos purporting to show the bodies of dozens of Kenyan soldiers, many apparently shot in the head.

Trump, Clinton lead before major vote DONALD Trump won his third victory in four contests with a commanding lead in the Nevada caucus Tuesday, securing his status as the Republican front-runner heading into next week’s crucial Super Tuesday votes in more than a dozen states.

According to VOA, the win followed his first-place finishes in New Hampshire and South Carolina; two

states no candidate has won without going on to become the Republican nominee.

Trump’s seemingly inevitable path to the Republican nomination, however, is fuelled by a fractured, fivecandidate field.

“Donald Trump still has to prove that in a one-on-one or three-man race, he can consistently get to 35, 40, 45 per cent of the vote, or

50 per cent. Right now that’s still unclear,” said analyst Stuart Rothenberg, founder of the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report.

The billionaire businessman beat opponents Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Florida Senator Marco Rubio in the Nevada Republican caucus Tuesday with almost 46 per cent of the vote.

Rubio won second place,

but with a lead of less than 2,000 votes over Cruz.

Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired surgeon Ben Carson placed fourth and fifth respectively.

The win in Nevada garnered Trump his first congressional endorsements Wednesday, from New York Republican Rep. Chris Collins and Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican from California.

otherNEWS

IS getting bomb-making materials with ease, report says

IS militants

ALMOST two months after Iraqi forces liberated Ramadi from the Islamic State (IS) terror group, much of the city is in ruins. But the structures that still stand pose a deadly threat from an estimated tens of thousands of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), rigged to blow with the open-

ing of a door or a single footstep.

U.S. military officials describe it as IS’s scorchedearth tactics, but it also shows the ease with which the terror group has been able to procure the necessary components to make its signature explosives.

“It just confirms how much they are integrated into local economies and how they can source things either within Iraq or Syria, or abroad,” said James Bevan, director of Conflict Armament Research.

Researchers with Conflict Armament Research (CAR) spent 20 months on IS’s

northern and eastern fronts, studying the flow of hundreds of critical components for the manufacture of IEDs. They found a supply chain encompassing more than 50 companies from 20 countries.

Some components came from as far away as Brazil, Japan and even the United States.

Syrian opposition accepts ceasefire for ‘two weeks’ SYRIA’S main opposition bloc has said it will support a temporary two-week truce to test the seriousness of the other side’s commitment to a USRussian plan to end fighting.

Earlier this week, the US and Russia agreed on a “cessation of hostilities” between the Syrian government and

groups fighting it in a deal that excludes the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the al-Nusra Front.

The agreement called on all sides to sign up to the deal by midday on February 26 and to stop fighting by midnight.

“The High Negotiations

Committee believes a provisional truce for two weeks would provide a chance to determine the commitment of the other side” to the ceasefire, the opposition bloc said in a statement on Wednesday.

The opposition statement came after Syria’s president

assured Russia of his readiness to respect the ceasefire, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

“A phone call took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

The Syrian conflict has killed more than 260,000 people, according to UN estimates. PHOTO: EPA/SANA News.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

features Otodo-Gbame

Lamentations of a tortured lot

Part of Otodo-Gbame community.

By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

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Ghanaian proverb cautions that it is better for misfortune to fall on one’s wealth than on one’s health.

But in the event that both misfortunes are the quotidian engagements of a people, who should the blame fall on? Just a while ago, as Nigeria intensified efforts against the spread of Lassa fever, another deadly illness resurfaced in Lagos State.

Residents in Otodo-Gbame, a community located in Ikate, Lekki, Eti-Osa Local Government Area drew the attention of the Lagos State Ministry of Health to the deaths of children between the ages of 8 and 72 months.

The terminal illness started in January 2016 in the riverine community dominated majorly by Egun people and has claimed no fewer than sixty (60) children, the locals say.

The dwellers in the community, a slum

sandwiched between the monumental Elegushi Ikate estates in Lekki and the Atlantic Ocean, have been thrown into untold misery and pain as they wake up daily to the death of their children.

One of the residents who spoke on the condition of anonymity when Nigerian Tribune visited advised our correspondent not to speak with the women of the community who had lost their children. “We are trying to make them forget about it,” he said. “Some of the women lost three children in one day. I lost my last child who was about two years to the sickness. I spent over N40,000 in the hospital on my second child before he recovered. Yesterday I still went to the hospital to buy drugs. We want to forget about it, because if we are reminded by another person it becomes even more painful”.

“My two surviving children are still asking my wife about their dead brother,” another man who identified himself as Clement told

We have read in the news that 25 children died. It is more than that. Over 60 children have died since January when it started.

We were counting them because we know the people in our community. our correspondent. “I don’t know how to tell them that their younger brother is dead. He died before we could get him to the medi-

cal center. It did not take two days before he died.

“We have read in the news that 25 children died. It is more than that. Over 60 children died since January when it started. We were counting them because we know the people in our community. We know how many children died. They are more than 60 children that we buried in this community,” he said.

He also stated that since the visit of state health workers who administered measles vaccines with Vitamine A to the children that the disease had abated.

However, speaking about the cause of the disease most of the residents of Otodo-Gbame, which in literal Egun translation means “a people who live on water” expressed certainty as to the source of the outbreak.

Continues on pg45

features We have been neglected for long — Residents 45

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Continues from pg44

“It is not that we do not know the cause of the disease,” a young man who gave his name as Paul said. “We know. We know that it is Ikate community that sent this disease to us. They have been fighting us. If you have a problem a spiritualist can always tell you what is happening to you. When the disease killed up to 30 children we raised the alarm for the village heads to do something before we lose all of our children. They consulted the oracle and the oracle told them what was happening to us. We know what is happening to us. The people that are fighting us sent the disease to kill our children.

“It is because of this land that we are in.

They want to take this land. They have been fighting us a long time. This place was formally called Ikate Waterside but we changed it to Otodo-Gbame and our fore fathers have been here for over 100 years,” he said.

Paul was not alone in his views, some of the young men who sat under the shade made of bamboo tree equally assumed the deportment of a consensus.

In the past, the residents of Otodo-Gbame had petitioned the state government and security agency to protect the community from incessant attacks from its neighbour, Elegushi Ikate, as well as illegal dredging by some companies which had caused environmental degradation in the area, but the state government’s intervention has not been felt as the people still hold their neighbours responsible for their current woes. Nevertheless, the extent to which the communal conflicts had been responsible for the outbreak of the disease was not linked to any factual evidence. However, knowing the cause of the death of their children seemed to have assisted in the quick psychological recovery of the locals.

“We have forgotten about the death. We want to move forward,” a much older man who said he was a relative to the Baale of the community and who equally lost a child told our correspondent.

Chief Hunpe Dansu, the Baale of the community, when contacted confirmed the outbreak of the disease putting the date of the first suspected case on the 6th of January, 2016. The Baale was however more analytical in his comments about the cause of the outbreak.

“I think the outbreak should be linked to the failure of the immunisation officials to take the vaccines to the places it should reach. From what I have been told, the disease can be prevented by immunisation.

The officials come here sometimes, but when they do, they only stay at a spot to administer the vaccines on the children.We have asked them to enter the interior of the community so that all the children will benefit from their services but because they stay at one spot the women with new born babies who live in the inner region of the community are not able to bring their children for immunisation.

“I think that was one of the reasons why we did not record any death within the accessible region of the community where the vaccines officials got to, while all the death occurred in the inner region because the children did not have access to the vaccines.

“Secondly, we do not have a hospital. We do not have public toilet. We do not have drinkable water. We buy pure water and bottled water always and those who cannot afford the portable water often drink well water. We also do not have government school.

“We are calling on government to help us with these things. Some of the children died on the way because of the long distance we had to travel to locate a hospital. Before we could get to the hospital the child would

A resident fetching water from a well.

Residents of the community.

Abounding in waste deposits scattered at different spots on the sandy soil and living in tents raised slightly above water level by feeble sticks and bamboo pillars, their tale of harsh weather, of ocean surges and invasions are too graphic to go on print. have died because the hospital is far,” he said.

There is no doubt that the local dwellers of Otodo-Gbame community are a tortured lot. Abounding in waste deposits scattered at different spots on the sandy soil and living in tents raised slightly above water level by feeble sticks and bamboo pillars, their tale of harsh weather, of ocean surges and invasions are too graphic to go on print. As clear

as light and day was the even distribution of poverty, deprivation and impoverishment in the land and not even the community head was excempted in the sheer inhuman circumstances that this community face.

A child probably in the late stages of kwashiorkor was sighted by this correspondent while returning from the interior community seated on the sand, droopy like a withering leaf about to drop. She was about two years old. Her tiny frame, massive belly protrusion, tiny sticks of hands and feet and the manner in which she steered could move a stone to shed water. When the correspondent moved closer to take snapshot of this gory figure, the mother intervened.

She looking equally impoverished collected her young and went into the tent. Not even a token when offered dissuaded her. But the child stretched out her hand and grabbed the notes, knowing her parents needed them more than pride could admit. But no pictures.

The road that leads to the community was by no means accessible to cars. One had to stop by the major road and find one’s way to the sandy community, whose only sign of government’s probable presence was the stretch of cable wires that provided electricity to their houses whenever it came.

Throughout the ordeal in Otodo-Gbame one could not but ask, is Otodo-Gbame part of Lagos State?And what has the government done to alleviate their suffering?

Prof. Maurice Fangnos, a human right activist and an Egun son, who spoke to Nigerian Tribune about the Egun community tabled the grievances of the Egun race, shedding light on the lifestyle choices that might have contributed to the outbreak of the disease.

“The community is left behind because it is Egun-indigenous community. You can see how the people are living. You hear every day of invasion and disease in that land.

This is not the first outbreak of disease in the land. The government does not care about them and so anybody who has power randomly invade the community. We are fighting against the marginalisation of Egun people in Lagos. They don’t have good shelter because they are being driven anywhere they are.

“Egun people are originally from Benin Republic. As you have Yoruba in Benin Republic who originated from Nigeria, Egun people who have lands in many parts of Lagos came from Benin Republic. However, Egun people do not have any status in Nigeria, in Lagos particularly. They are abandoned and used only when there is an election. After election no one cares about them.

“Some established places in Lagos today, like Falomo, Kakanawa, Banana Island, Obalensoro, Lekki, Ilubirinamong and others were originally occupied by Egun people. But they were chased away from their land and given to rich people.

“We have petitioned the former government but nothing happened. It was the Oba of Lagos who intervened some time ago and the killings stopped. A people that are hunted like this are bound to have outbreak of diseases as we now witness in OtodoGbame and no one wants it to spread to other parts of the state. The government should intervene as a matter of urgency,” he ended.

Reacting to the situation in Otodo-Gbame, the Lagos State government through the Ministry of Health headed by honourable commissioner, Dr. Idris Jide, said that the ministry had outlined interventional strategies to assist the Otodo-Gbame community regain its general wellbeing. The commissioner,who made this known in a statement which detailed the action steps instituted to control the disease and prevent further spread, said that the ministry will do the following: “Conduct comprehensive supplemental immunisation for all childhood preventable diseases in the community, conduct a community dialogue with the community to build confidence and guarantee safety, ensure continuous outreach immunization services in conjunction with the community and provide a Health centre for community considering the vast nature of community, collaborate with key stakeholders in the community to ensure success of any health program in the community, select three more community informants to collaborate with the Local Government and State Surveillance team for prompt disease reporting. Two of the informants should be from the TBAs in the community as it is observed that many people in the community patronize TBAs regularly. The government will involve the Office of the Civic Engagement in the settlement of the conflict between the two communities.The government is presently intensifying efforts to conduct mapping of all slums and blighted areas in the State towards reducing the health hazards associated with such areas”.

He also enjoined everyone to maintain good environmental sanitation and personal hygiene.

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Friday, 26 February, 2016

occasions

featuresdesk@yahoo.com 08074626431

NGO donates items to school, clinic, orphanage 3

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By Tunde Adegbola

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non-governmental organisation established for educational development, Jeremiah and Felicia Aderoju Foundation, founded by Mrs Elizabeth Olagunju, last week, donated textbooks and instructional materials to pupils of LA Primary School I, OkeOba, Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Speaking at the event, the founder of the foundation, Mrs Olagunju, said: “Children are the future of any generation; we must take care of our children so that they can take care of us in the future. Any country that fails to take care of young ones would fail to progress.

In a related development, the founder’s team visited Mercyland Orphanage and Vulnerable Children’s Home in Eruwa and donated foodstuffs to orphans in the centre.

A mother, Mrs Bola Oleghe, who received the gifts on behalf of the proprietor, expressed gratitude to the founder and prayed for God’s blessings on her.

In the same vein, Mrs Olagunju also visited Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa where she donated baby food and detergent to inmates.

In her reaction, the wife of the founder and Chief Medical Director of the clinic, Mrs Atinuke Awojobi, commended Mrs Olagunju for her kind assistance to the people.

The foundation also inaugurated a new office complex and also commissioned a borehole for public use.

1. From left, Senator Peter Adeyemo, Mrs Elizabeth Olagunju and a community development worker, Dr Ebunlomo Walker, during the inauguration of the foundation’s office.

2. From left, a missionary at the orphanage centre, Mr Sylvester Jackson and Mrs Elizabeth Olagunju presenting food items to the representative of the Mercyland Orphanage and Vulnerable Home, Mrs Bola Oleghe.

3. Mrs Olagunju inaugurating a new office complex for the activities of the foundation, while others watch.

4. From right, Pastor Sunday Mogbonjubola; Pastor Dare Oyeyemi and Mrs Olagunju during the commissioning of a borehole for public use.

When South-West accountants gathered in Ijebu Ode 1

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1. From right, ICAN president, Otunba Samuel Deru; Ogun State deputy governor, Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga and other guests at the event.

2. Mrs Comfort Eyitayo presenting an award to Chief Kesington Adebutu.

3. ICAN president, Otunba Deru presenting an award to Governor Ibikunle Amosun represented by his deputy Chief (Mrs) Onanuga.

4. Some ICAN top shots at the event

IT was a gathering of the who is who among chartered accountants in the South-West and indeed the whole country recently when the 10th Western Zonal Districts Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) took place in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

The four-day conference organised by the institute for its members across the six states of the SouthWest geo-political zone was tagged “Road map to Nigeria’s Economic Recovery. The Role of Professional Accountants.”

Represented by Ogun State deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga, Governor Ibikunle Amosun noted that the discourse at the conference would re-direct the professional accountants in their responsibility of ensuring that the nation’s economy is repositioned.

Amosun, however, tasked the accountants to design a new modality that would reduce the cost of governance drastically and engender a united and virile economy.

ICAN chief, Otunba Samuel Olufemi Deru declared that if finances of a nation were not properly handled by those at the helm of affairs, economic development would continue to elude the nation.

The conference chairman, Mr Olufemi Sonwunmi stated that the

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theme of the conference was to enable all accountants appreciate their roles towards building a nation that is economically viable and stable.

Prominent personalities

that graced the occasion were H.R.M Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Olu of Ilaro, Oba Adesesan Oguntayo, Ajalorun of ife S.O (Dr) Kesington Adebutu among others.

47 tribunesport

Friday, 26 February, 2016

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

ITTF confirms prize money for Lagos Open WORLD table tennis ruling body, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has confirmed the prize money for the 2016 Lagos World Tour.

According to ITTF Director of Competition, Karl Jindrak, the Lagos Open as one of the Challenge Series tournaments in the ITTF calendar, the championship holds from May 18 to 22 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, with top players across the world expected to grace the five-day tournament.

As the highest prize money tournament in the Challenge Series of the ITTF World Tour, players will jostle for $46,000 (N13.8m) this year while defending champion, Egypt’s Omar Assar will be making a return to Lagos after the disappointing defeat he suffered against Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri at the justended ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Khartoum, Sudan.

Also, other top players from Egypt who have been part of the championship in the last three years are expected to return to Lagos in their bid to sweep the prize money.

Also, ITTF has listed six events to be competed for and these include singles (men and women); doubles (men and women) as well as U-21 boys and girls.

Preliminary entry for the tournament has commenced.

The final entry has been fixed for April 18, while no entries will be accepted after midnight on Monday, April 18, 2016.

I will score against Bournemouth —Ighalo

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IGERIAN international, Odion Ighalo has said he hopes to be back scoring goals for Watford, when they host Bournemouth tomorrow in a Premier League match at Vicarage Road.

The former Granada striker, who has scored 14 goals in the English top-flight league this season, has not scored since a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest in a Cup game on January 30.

The Edo State-born player fired blank in the last five games in all competitions,

Ighalo (middle) dazzles during a Premier League game against Newcastle.

However, Ighalo has predicted he would celebrate again tomorrow when the Hornets face Bournemouth at home.

“The goals will start coming again by God Grace this week-

Platini

2011.

Platini and Blatter had their bans reduced by two years by the FIFA ethics committee on Wednesday, though his attempts to have the sanction quashed were dismissed.

And the Frenchman confirmed he will take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and insists he will do everything to have his name cleared.

“I won’t commit suicide. I’m not on Valium. My destiny was not to be president of FIFA, but to be in

“As a striker, I always want to score goals but sometimes you don’t get the goals.

“But as long my team keep winning, I am happy because that is the most important thing.”

FIFA poll: Africa will split votes —Bility LIBERIAN FA chief, Musa Bility, one of the most outspoken leaders in African football, has predicted half of the continent’s

I won’t commit suicide —Platini MICHEL Platini has vowed to continue his fight against his ban from football after FIFA rejected his appeal.

The former UEFA president and FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter were given eight-year suspensions following an investigation by FIFA’s Independent Ethics Committee into a payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.3m) made by the world football’s governing body, and authorised by Blatter, to the former France captain in February

end,” Ighalo said.

But at the same time, Ighalo said the priority remains his club winning games.

“I am not under any form of pressure to score goals,” he said.

the France team,” the 60-year-old, who had intended to run in the FIFA presidential elections on Friday, told L’Equipe.

“I’m not a politician, I’m a man of football. And today, I still am.

But I will fight to the end against injustice, to have my name cleared, as I have done absolutely nothing wrong.”

Platini went on to accuse FIFA “bureaucrats” of orchestrating his ignominious exit from football governance and has backed UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino as the right man to succeed Blatter at the head of the organisation.

“The FIFA bureaucrats took power. It’s they who have done everything to have me fired,” he said. “Today, we must know what FIFA we want. Do we want a FIFA of the elected or a FIFA controlled by the bureaucrats? This is the challenge of the coming years.

“Gianni and I worked together for nine years. He’s a hard worker. I have confidence in him.”

votes in today’s FIFA presidential election would go to Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan rather than Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain.

FIFA’s 209 member national associations (FAs) each hold one vote in the poll that will choose a replacement for Sepp Blatter who has been banned for six years due to ethics violations.

Before the election at a special congress, the FAs will also be asked to pass a detailed package of reforms, including term limits for top officials and disclosure of earnings, aimed at preventing a repeat of a graft scandal that has plunged FIFA into the worst crisis in its 112-year history.

Bility, wearing a red and whitehooped Liberia national team shirt under his jacket, said FIFA was putting the cart before the horse.

“These reforms send a very wrong signal ... that we will have

a president who will not have all the authority of the president of FIFA,” he told Reuters.

“Let us focus on choosing the right person, someone we trust, someone we believe in, and entrust the organisation to that person and then let that person lead the reform.

“We must not make the mistake of choosing wrong people and correcting that wrong by putting laws that will impede the authority of the president,” added Bility.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said it will back Sheikh Salman. Voting is secret and it cannot force the 54 African FAs to follow its lead, but Bility said they would not vote as a block.

“I’m sure of 27 votes for Ali from CAF and (Swiss candidate) Gianni (Infantino) is making a very good effort in Africa, his people are here,” said Bility.

... As Pinnick, 2 others land in Zurich TOP officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have arrived at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland ahead of today’s extraordinary congress of the football’s world governing

body.

NFF president, Mr Amaju Pinnick, first vice president, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi and General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi made the trip.

SIDELINES

NO 16,445

FRIDAY, 26 FEBRUARY, 2016

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A village in India reportedly banned unmarried women and minor girls from owning cell phones as any offender will be fined about $30 (about N9,000). If one may ask, will married women not suffer too with this policy as they can’t speak even with their teenage daughters by phone?

FIFA poll: Blatter’s successor emerges today

By Ganiyu Salman With Agency Reports

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TTENTION of football stakeholders across the globe will no doubt be shifted to Zurich, Switzerland, as the world soccer governing body, FIFA extraodinary congress holds today to determine Sepp Blatter’s successor.

Blatter, now serving a six-year ban with UEFA boss, Michel Platini, has been in office since June 1998. The bribery scandal which characterised his reign in the past year, led to his decision to step aside shortly after his reelection last May, before he was later indicted by the FIFA’s ethics committee with Platini.

With Kuwait and Indonesia suspended, there will be only 207 votes cast at the poll today.

For the first round of voting, all member associations will cast votes and a leader will be declared if a candidate gets two thirds of the vote. If no one is crowned the new president after the initial votes are cast, then a second round will be held, where 104 votes will be enough to secure the hot-seat.

The five candidates jostling to succeed Blatter are heavy favourites Sheikh Salman bin al-Khal-

Infantino

Jerome

Prince Ali Salman

Sexwale

...Embrace reforms —Hayatou ACTING FIFA president, Issa Hayatou on Thursday urged soccer leaders to adopt reforms to restore credibility to the sport’s world governing body after the worst corruption scandal in its history.

Hayatou appealed to FIFA members in what he called one of the most important weeks in the history of global football, as

they prepare to elect a new president today.

He called on them to approve the reforms on governance at Friday’s congress, including the introduction of term limits for top officials and disclosure of earnings.

“I urge each of you to support the reforms in full here this week, and then to imple-

ment them to their entirety at home,” Hayatou said in an address aimed at the six confederations that run soccer around the world.

“This will send a strong message that we have listened and that we are taking the action necessary to give football the foundation, and protection, it needs for the future.”

My ban, conspiracy to stop Platini—Blatter EMBATTLED Sepp Blatter insists he was not surprised his eight-year ban from all football-related activity was not reduced further by FIFA and believes it is all part of a “conspiracy” to deny Michel Platini a shot at the presidency.

Former FIFA president Blatter and his UEFA counterpart, Platini were suspended last December when the adjudicatory chamber of the ethics committee ruled a payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.3million) authorised by the 79-year-old Swiss to the former France captain constituted multiple infringements of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE).

After taking their cases to the FIFA appeals committee, the duo had their original sanctions of eight-year bans reduced to six after their long service to the game was taken into account.

On the eve of today’s election to find Blatter’s suc-

cessor at the head of the world game’s governing body, the Swiss told RTL: “I still sleep well because I did not expect any better of this committee, because I saw that there was some sort of conspiracy at FIFA. “First against Michel Platini, so he cannot become FIFA president, and then against me.

“I think it’s sad. It’s not very fair, but it certainly exists to prevent Mr Platini (from) becoming president of FIFA.” Blatter and Platini have each received a oneyear reduction on their five-year punishment for breaching FCE article 20 – offering and accepting gifts and other benefits – while their three-year bans for other infringements was cut to two.

Respective fines of 50,000 and 80,000 Swiss Francs for Blatter and Platini remain.

Blatter

ifa from Bahrain and ItalianSwiss Gianni Infantino, while and Prince Ali bin al-Hussein from Jordan, South African Tokyo Sexwale and Frenchman Jerome Champagne, complete the list.

•Shaikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa - President of the Asian Football Confederation and a FIFA vice-president, the 50-year-old has been accused of human rights violations in Bahrain and hopes to see the role of president become a non-executive role.

Sheikh Salman has received the support of the Asian federations, while the outcome could be decided by the African votes.

•Gianni Infantino - The 45-year-old Swiss has been by Michel Platini’s side and opted to enter the race after the UEFA president was banned

by FIFA’s ethics committee and ruled out of the race. The lawyer has proposed expanding the World Cup to 40 teams in his manifesto. Infantino on paper has secured the majority of the European vote and is expected to triumph with the South American vote.

•Prince Ali bin Al Hussein - The man who lost out to Blatter in the last election, the 40-year-old is a former FIFA vice-president and has been vociferous in his demands for the Garcia report on the bidding process of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals to be published in full.

•Jerome Champagne - A former deputy secretary general at FIFA, the Frenchman failed to garner enough nominations in the run in to the last election and has repeatedly spoken highly of Blatter. He has often called for greater transparency in FIFA, a cut in the number of World Cup spots allocated to European nations and wants to increase the number of FIFA member associations.

•Tokyo Sexwale - The South African politician, who became a billionaire through the oil and diamond industry, was part of the organising committee for the 2010 World Cup and faced accusations of accepting benefits during the process, which he denies.

The 62-year-old has pledged to lift the ban on national teams having shirt sponsors.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 26/2/2016.