NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER
NO 1,144
www.tribuneonlineng.com
SATURDAY, 26 MARCH, 2016
Nigerian Tribune
@nigeriantribune
They stabbed my heart; they killed me —Sister of slain corps member
Suicide bomber claims she’s Chibok girl pg3
Detained in Cameroon Shekau hasn’t surrendered —BBC reporter
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Nigerian Tribune
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NYSC boss visits family
EFCC goes after 300 contractors
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We’ve recovered N2.3bn from ex-military chief —Magu
I’ll never
leave 2Face — Annie Idibia
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Parishioners of St. Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, reliving the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, on Good Friday, in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA
Aviation fuel scarcity disrupts flights
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26 March, 2016
I am not desperate to become a
superstar —Dupe Sanni
Nollywood actress, Dupe Sanni, is a budding talent in the Nigerian movie industry. The graduate of Economics, who forayed into Nollywood as a make-up artist, is beginning to make a name for herself through a couple of movies she has acted in. In this interview, she shares with NEWTON-RAY UKWUOMA how her journey into Nollywood began as well as her mission in the entertainment industry.
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OU are known as a make-up artist in the industry, now we see you before the camera. How did you manage to transit to acting? (Smiles) Well, the truth is that I actually started off as an actor. After attending many auditions without any call, I kind of settled for another hobby of mine. I like to look good. I like make-up and everything around it. So, it was easy to penetrate the industry as a make-up artist. But after some time, people began to throw in a word or two about how I would make a great actor. I didn’t believe it, even though I have had the flair as far back as my childhood days. To answer you directly, the comments of people motivated me to try acting again. I started going to different auditions again and naturally fell in love with acting. Do you have any training in make-up? It was just something I love doing. Look at my face, I love the art of make-up, plus, I love dressing people up. I started as a professional make-up artist and I worked with Emirate Media Company, located at Ikeja, Lagos. So, how was your first time before the camera? Of course, it wasn’t as easy as I thought. You see, when you are off camera everything is rosy. You can even judge actors rudely. You even feel you know better than the people before the camera. But you just face the camera once. It wasn’t easy. I learnt a lot from my first job. The truth is I was not even auditioned to take the role. The director called me just to fill a minor role. That was how my journey into the movie industry began. The movie is titled ‘The funeral’. After the first movie, I went for an audition for another job. I was very nervous because of my past failures, but surprisingly I was picked. I recall how fulfilled I felt when I was picked because I have gone for several auditions but wasn’t picked. Being picked for a role, quite motivated me. I began to have a sense of belonging in the industry. I feel Nollywood shouldn’t Continues on pg30
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26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
EFCC goes after 300 contractors
We’ve recovered N2.3bn from ex-military chief —Magu By Saheed Salawu and Olalekan Olabulo -Lagos
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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies are now on the trail of more than 300 companies and individuals, to whom contracts were awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) between 2011 and 2015. The companies and individuals were indicted by a presidential committee which discovered that there was total disregard for salient provisions of the Public Procurement Act in the award of contracts by the ONSA to them. A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu, had claimed that over N7billion had been recovered so far from the indicted companies and individuals. Presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Friday, in a chat with Saturday Tribune, gave the indication that the report of the committee had been sent to the antigraft agency for action. “Usually when we issue a statement like that, EFCC follows it up,” Adesina said. Also, Garba Shehu elaborated further as he told Saturday Tribune that in addition to the EFCC, the police and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had taken over the recovery of the various sums from the indicted contractors and prosecution of culprits. According to the earlier statement by Shehu, another N41 billion is to be
refunded by the indicted companies, while the EFCC had been ordered to carry out further investigation to determine whether another N75 billion should be recovered from some of the companies for unexecuted or partially executed contracts. EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday
evening, in Lagos, also said that in less than three weeks, the agency recovered N2.3billion from one of the former military chiefs who are being investigated for misappropriating public funds. Magu had revealed the recovery of the N2.3 billion from the former military chief in Lagos, on Thursday during the Institute
of Directors, Nigeria’s Members’ Evening. He said some judges were also under investigation following the link between their accounts and those of some lawyers who are facing prosecution by the EFCC. Magu, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Operations of the agency, Illiyasu Kwarbai, however,
My abductors treated me well —Jonathan’s foster father
CHIEF Inegite Jonathan, 72, uncle and foster father to former president Goodluck Jonathan, says his abductors treated him well. The septuagenarian told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Bayelsa that his abductors gave him a preferential treatment before setting him free. NAN recalls that the victim was abducted by gunmen on Feb. 17, after a previous kidnap. Jonathan’s foster father added that he was allowed to open his face while others were blindfolded. “I was properly taken care of by the kidnappers. I eat three square meals daily, my drugs were administered to me appropriately by the boys,” he said. The chief said they even asked other kidnapped victims with him to start paying allegiance to him as the only person that was untouchable in the camp. He said before they started treating him well, they argued between themselves from his house but on getting to the camp they resolved their issue. NAN also recalls that the chief was freed on March 23,
after 35 days in captivity. However, the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr Asinim Butswat, said details of the release were not available. Former president
Jonathan had told the Police that he would not succumb to the demand for ransom. Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, visited the chief shortly after his release.
THE ongoing fuel scarcity ripping through the various states across Nigeria has started taking its toll on flight operations at the airports. The development came just as Nigerian passengers travelling to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia were on Friday stranded for some hours following the issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) by the Chadian authorities on the temporary closure of Chad airport for maintenance. The closure of the airport has definitely affected the movement of en route flights between Lagos and Jeddah. The development temporarily affected the flight of
Medview Airline between Lagos and Jeddah as the Nigerian carrier, as of the time of filing this report, was making effort to operate through an alternative route to Jeddah. On the scarcity of aviation fuel, the information gathered indicated that the scarcity is already telling on the availability of aviation fuel, otherwise known in the aviation parlance as Jet A1. A KLM Lagos-London flight, scheduled to take off from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday at 11.05pm was delayed for over one hour as it departed at 12.30am on Friday. A key crew member who apologised to the passengers for the delay explained that it was caused
their accounts to those of the judges. We will invite them for interrogation soon. We are investigating them. “We are dependent and we are independent. We depend on the government for funds but we are independent in our investigations. Nobody tells us who to investigate,” he added. Magu decried the activities of “unpatriotic lawyers” whom he blamed for bad presentation and representation in some of their cases. “We have in-house lawyers and we have many of them from outside. A large number of the lawyers from outside are not patriotic We want to review this situation,” the EFCC boss said.
Suicide bomber claims she’s Chibok girl Shekau hasn’t surrendered —BBC reporter
A suspected suicide bomber intercepted in northern Cameroon on Friday before she could blow herself up claimed to be one of 219 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in the Nigerian town of Chibok in 2014, military and local government sources said. According to Reuters, two girls carrying explosives were stopped by local self-defence forces in the village of Limani, in an area of northern Cameroon that has been the target of frequent suicide bombings in recent months. They were then handed over to Cameroonian soldiers belonging to a multinational force set up to take on Boko Haram. In a high-profile attack that sparked a global outcry, Boko Haram militants raided the school in April
2014 while the girls were taking exams. They loaded 270 of them onto trucks, though around 50 escaped shortly afterwards. “One of them indeed declared that she is one of the Chibok hostages. She is around 15. We are now verifying, because on the Nigerian side they have the names and photos of these girls,” said local government administrator Raymond Roksdo. Two military sources, who asked not to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the press, also confirmed that the girl had claimed to have been one of the Chibok abductees. “We need a few days to be able to confirm this information. We have to debrief all the men who were present and interrogate the two girls before we can say
Aviation fuel scarcity disrupts operations Shola Adekola -Lagos
disclosed that the effectiveness of the agency depends on the leadership of the country. The EFCC boss said that as of Thursday evening, the agency had recovered about N3billion from the former military chief. “Let me tell you that in less than three weeks, we recovered N2.3billion from a former military chief and we hope to recover more,” Magu said. He also said that the agency had uncovered a financial transaction between some of the lawyers who are facing corruption charges and some judges in the country. “In the course of our investigations on some lawyers, we uncovered movements of monies from
by scarcity of aviation fuel. While many of the foreign carriers have resorted to buying the commodity from the neighbouring countries, the Nigerian carriers operating international routes are struggling to obtain the commodity. Sources at the foreign airlines who do not want to be quoted confirmed the non-availability of the commodity which they attributed to inadequate supply of the fuel by the different oil marketers. Due to the inadequate supply of the commodity, many of the foreign airlines, especially the Nigerian carriers designated on the foreign routes, are forced to delay their flights in search of the commodity. When the Saturday Tri-
bune spoke with some airlines operating the international routes, they lamented the effect of the inadequate supply of the commodity on their operations. Meanwhile, Arik Airline has confirmed that one of its aircraft, an A330-200 aircraft operating LagosLondon Heathrow flight on Thursday night had a technical fault on landing in London. Confirming this, the spokesperson for the airline, Mr Banji Ola, said: “As a result of the incident, Thursday’s London-Lagos flight was rescheduled to operate yesterday, Friday. This incident, according to Ola, did not affect Friday’s Lagos-London flight operated as scheduled at 12:45pm Friday.
anything,” one of the military sources said. Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan was criticised for his slow reaction to the Chibok abductions, seen by many as indicative of his response to Boko Haram, which at its strongest held large swathes of northeastern Nigeria. It was nearly a month before a fact-finding committee travelled to Chibok to establish whether the abduction actually happened and how many girls were missing. Muhammadu Buhari, who defeated Jonathan in an election last year, ordered a new investigation into the kidnappings in January. Joint operations between Nigeria and its neighbours Niger, Chad and Cameroon succeeded in driving Boko Haram from many of its strongholds in Nigeria last year. However, as an 8,700-strong regional task force seeks to stamp them out once and for all, the Islamists have stepped up cross-border attacks and suicide bombings, many of them carried out by young girls. Shekau hasn’t surrendered —BBC reporter Cautious reactions continue to trail Thursday’s video purportedly released by the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau. Initial reports had said Shekau in the video claimed to have surrendered and ended his bloody campaigns, but a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reporter in nigeria, Steph Hegarty said the Boko Haram leader had not surrendered. “Shekau did not surrender
@bbchausa (BBC Hausa service) have studied video. He’s weak and struggling to speak but tells his supporters he is still alive,” the BBC reporter said on Twitter. Also, a former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, in a post on his blog said skepticism should be the reaction for now. Campbell posted: “Senior Nigerian military officials are quoted as saying the newly-released video ‘signals the group’s demise’ and some say that Shekau is calling on his followers to surrender. However, a BBC reporter, Steph Hegarty, notes that the video is very poor in quality. After studying the video, she tweets that Shekau is not urging surrender but rather the purpose of the video is to confirm to his supporters that he is alive. She also concludes that, “He’s weak and struggling to speak.” “It is premature to draw conclusions about what Shekau is actually saying in the new video and what it means. Questions remain about when the video was made and where, and why it has now been released. It is also premature to draw conclusions about what Shekau’s death might mean. Shekau’s authority over Boko Haram has always been unclear, and there is little outside understanding about how Boko Haram is led, though the movement appears highly decentralised and has been subject to internal splits in the past. “A first step will be to determine what the video actually says, and then what the words might mean. Until then skepticism is in order,”Campbell said.
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Lekki killing: Govt White Paper’ll be out soon —Ambode
Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, signing the condolence register at the family house of the slain corps member, Samuel Okonta in Illah, Delta State, on Friday, while members of the family watch.
They stabbed my heart; they killed me —Sister of slain corps member Alphonsus Agborh - Asaba
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T was an emotional moment on Friday for the family of Samuel Okonta, the corps member who was murdered last weekend in the course of the legislative rerun election in Rivers State, when the DirectorGeneral of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, paid them a condolence visit at their Illah, Delta State residence. During the NYSC boss’s visit, the eldest sister of the late corps member, Mrs Victoria Akpu, who was apparently the worst hit, evoked sympathy as she wept and lamented the tragedy that had befallen her. “They stabbed my heart; they killed me,” she told journalists, even as she managed to explain how her late brother suffered to complete his university education, their father having died in 1993. According to her, their mother also died in 2015. “I had been taking care of him. No relation helped us. Everybody ran away [after our father’s death] but we managed until he graduated,” she added. Accompanied by the state coordinator Mrs Olive Essien Etukudo and other senior officials of the scheme, the directorgeneral expressed sadness over the killing of Samuel in the same community where he was serving. Dumebi, as the deceased was fondly called by his people, was the eighth of his parents’ nine children. In his tribute to the late corps member, BrigadierGeneral Olawumi said Samuel had finished his
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assignment at the polling unit and was on his way home when he was shot alongside two other persons by unidentified hoodlums. Olawumi told the family and the entire Illah community that efforts were being made to arrest the killers of their son, who studied Political Science at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State. He also assured the family that the NYSC would not abandon them at this time of grief as it would participate in the burial after a post-mortem as ordered by the Rivers
State government. The NYSC DG wrote in the condolence register opened for Samuel: “It is so sad that you were cut down in the process of serving your nation. Myself, the entire management and staff as well as all members of the corps nationwide are deeply grieved by your death. “I promise that I will not relent until we ensure that those who keep you permanently silent forever are brought to book. Adieu Samuel and RIP.” Responding on behalf of the family, Chief Chikwenye Maduku said
they had done so much to train Samuel, but “we can only pray for the repose of his soul.” The delegation also visited the palace of the traditional ruler of Illah, Obi Akazue Gbemudu II, the Ogbelani of Ilah, where Olawumi commended the prevailing peace in the town as the warm reception accorded the NYSC delegation by the people. The DG later told corps members serving in the community not to be deterred by the circumstances of Samuel’s death from carrying out their national assignment.
Troops gun down suspected female bombers
THE Nigerian Army on Friday said it had averted another blast in Borno State following the interception of two suspected suicide bombers near Maiduguri. Colonel Sani Usman, the Acting Director of Nigerian Army Public Relations, said this in a statement issued in Maiduguri. Usman said that the interception was done in collaboration with the local vigilantes, popularly known as civilian JTF. “The ever alert and vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison based in Maiduguri, in conjunction with Civilian JTF, averted yet another suicide attack on the innocent citizens in Borno on Friday. “The troops intercepted 2 female suicide bombers at about 1.20 this morning, almost 100 metres south of Umurari village, outskirts of Maiduguri,” he said.
Usman added: “However, one of the suicide bombers, on sighting our troops detonated her explosive device, killing herself instantly, while the second bomber, in an attempt to escape, was gunned down by one of the Garrison snipers.” “The combined team of Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army’s Explosive Ordinance Device team safely detonated the unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices strapped on the gunned down suicide bomber. “It is important to state that there was no casualty beyond the two suicide bombers. Presently, the troops and the Civilian JTF deployed in the village are now combing the general area to forestall further breach of security. “The situation in the area is calm and law-abiding citizens are going about their normal activities
without fear,” the statement read in part. Meanwhile Captain A.O. Fadare, the Public Relations Officer of 28 Task Force Brigade Mubi in Adamawa, said some of the women abducted by insurgents in Madagali had been rescued. Fadare told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that soldiers rescued the women while pursuing the insurgents. Fadare, who did not give the number of the rescued women, however, said he was still trying to verify. “I am still trying to verify from Madagali as you know, the operation is still on,” Fadare said. NAN recalls that about 16 women who went to fetch firewood in the forest around Sabongari village of Madagali on Wednesday were kidnapped by insurgents.
LAGOS State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has said that the government White Paper on the civil disturbances that occurred at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) on October 12, 2015 which led to the killing of Alhaji Tajudeen Disu, Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Company, will be released soon. Governor Ambode disclosed this while speaking at the commissioning of electrification projects in 67 communities in Ibeju-Lekki area of the state on Thursday, saying no meaningful development could thrive in an atmosphere devoid of peace. He, therefore, urged the people to shun all acts that could lead to a breakdown of law and order. The late Disu was reported shot by assailants during an official visit to one of the villages within the zone while resolving a land dispute between members of Okunraye community and some private companies embarking on various massive projects within the LFTZ. Governor Ambode later set up a five-man panel of inquiry chaired by a retired judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi, to look into the immediate and remote causes of the civil disturbances, and recommend steps to be taken to permanently resolve the issues connected to the clash. Justice Olateru-Olagbegi, while submitting the report of the panel to Governor Ambode, said members looked into the remote and immediate causes of disturbances which claimed the life of Disu. He said that the tribunal also considered ways and means to be adopted to prevent a recurrence. Olateru-Olagbegi said that the tribunal received 22 memoranda and had 33 witnesses, while 24 recommendations were made. According to him, the LFTZ had vast potentials to transform the economic landscape of the state in terms of job creation and revenue generation, among others. Speaking on the planned release of government white paper, Governor Ambode appealed to residents of the state to continue to live together in peace and avoid any act that might result in loss of lives and wanton destruction of lives and property.
Economic retreat: A jamboree, waste of N250m public fund —Fayose Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Friday came hard on the last economic retreat by the president, governors and other stakeholders and described the gathering called National Economic Council (NEC) retreat as “mere jamboree and waste of over N250 million public fund.” He said the money the Federal Government spent on the retreat he attended and was part of, would have been better useful if it was given to empower small businesses such as pepper sellers to boost their trade. Governor Fayose claimed in a statement that “the retreat has further exposed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Muhammadu Buhari lacked economic blueprint,” saying “the president is still talking the way he talked while seeking for votes from Nigerians.” According to Fayose in the statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, “it is funny that the same set of people who as governors, ruined the economy of their states were the resource persons at the retreat.” He said: “What solution can the likes of former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who as governor plunged the state into unprecedented debt by borrowing money to build governor’s lodge, pavilion and uncompleted civic centre proffer to the economy of Nigeria? “It is strange that close to one year after President Buhari was sworn in, he still cannot tell Nigerians one major economic step his government has taken to salvage the economy. “He has not taken any key step and there is no economic team. That is strange!” Fayose continued: “I was at the retreat and I can tell Nigerians categorically that it was just a jamboree. It was a waste of over N250 million public fund because most of the resource persons were the same people who ran their states aground. “Instead of wasting over N250 million on such a jamboree, it would have been better if the fund is given to those downtrodden Nigerians who are trading with as little as N5,000. “For instance, at N10,000 each, N250 million will go round 25,000 pepper sellers whose capital is not more than N5,000 and that would go a long way in boosting their trade.”
eastermessages Dogara felicitates with Christians 5
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R Yakubu D o g a r a , Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Friday felicitated with Christian faithful on the occasion of Easter. This was contained in a statement issued by Mr
Turaki Hassan, Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, in Abuja. Dogara called on Christians to use the Easter period to pray for the restoration of peace and economic stability in the country. He said that Easter sym-
bolised sacrifice and service to God and country, and therefore, urged Nigerians to emulate the life of Jesus Christ who laid down His life for mankind. The speaker also urged Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers and make necessary sacrifices for their
fellow countrymen and women. “Times are hard, our country is going through difficult times occasioned by economic downturn. Government alone cannot do it. “Our contemporary challenges require that we per-
26 March, 2016
severe in our prayers for leaders at all levels and the country for divine wisdom to enable us to surmount them. “This time calls for more patience, sacrifice, prayers and a renewed hope in the Nigerian nation. “We have passed through even more difficult situa-
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tions before, this too shall pass away, so long as we remain steadfast in our prayers for leaders and the country,” Dogara said. He said that the challenges facing the country were temporary as the present administration was committed to bringing succour to the people.
Easter: Don’t oppress others, Fayose counsels leaders Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti
Mock crucifixion of Jesus Christ to mark Good Friday at Our Lady Catholic Church, Odo-Ona, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU
National Mosque Chief Imam felicitates with Christians Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja
AS Christians celebrate this year’s Easter festival alongside their counterparts throughout the world, the acting Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja and the Emir of Bungudu in Zamfara State has sent his felicitations to them. Speaking with journalists after leading a special Jum’at prayer to mark
this year’s Police Week in Abuja on Friday, the acting Chief Imam, Sheikh Onilewura, noted that Nigerian Christians should unite with their Muslim brethren for peace and tranquility to reign in the country. According to him, when peace prevailed in any society, there would be rapid development of such society, adding that it was for
Keep hope alive, Kalu tells Nigerians Shola Adekola - Lagos
FORMER governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has called on Nigerians to use the Easter period to pray for leaders at all levels of government. According to the former governor, despite the economic challenges facing the country, the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is on track to reshaping the economy through the implementation of wealth and employment-creation initiatives. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said, “as we witness yet another Easter in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we glorify God Almighty for the gift of life. “It is a season of self-appraisal as individuals and as a people. “Nigerians must imbibe the spirit of togetherness, love, forgiveness and selflessness in their daily lives. “Let us rededicate our lives to the service of God and hu-
manity. “For the sake of building a prosperous Nigeria, we must live in peace and harmony regardless of religious, ethnic and political differences. The business mogul used the opportunity to call on well-meaning Nigerians to complement government efforts by investing in the local economy, noting that the private sector is the key driver of the economy, adding that government should create an enabling business environment in order to motivate local and foreign investors.
the benefit of all that there had to be peace in Nigeria. According to Onilewura, “We Muslims love Jesus Christ as well as Christians. In fact, we love everybody. Allah says in the Holy Quran that the Christians are very close to us, Mus-
lims. “Today, we congratulate our brothers and sisters in Christianity as they celebrate the Easter festival. We wish them happy Easter celebration. We pray that this will not be the last Easter we will all witness on earth.”
CAN President urges Nigerians to shun violence, division PASTOR Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged Nigerians to shun violence and reject division in the country. This was contained in a statement signed by Oritsejafor and made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja. According to the statement, sacrifice, love and humility which is the focus of Good Friday, must permeate through the society. “This is a time when Christians in parts of the country are plagued by insurgency; I call for steadfastness and unwavering faith in God, the maker of all things. “This should be the watchword for all Christians in this season of sacrifice and forgiveness.
“As greed, hatred and wickedness continue to dominate the affairs of some in our midst, goodwill ultimately prevails over evil,” it said. The statement also said
(NURTW), Kwale Park, said: “Patronage is very low this year compared to what it used to be in previous years. “People are not travelling the way they did last year. By this time last year, this place was filled with passengers. “In spite of the increase in the price of fuel, we did not increase our transport fares
that sacrifice was not necessarily exemplified by dying for others; it could be demonstrated by giving alms, helping the needy and carrying out other works of mercy in the society.
Ademowo charges Nigerians to shun crimes THE Most Reverend Adebola Ademowo, the Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), on Friday urged Nigerians to shun vices like corruption, kidnapping, stealing and violence. In his message to Nigerians on the occasion of Good Friday, Ademowo said that all those vices were damaging to the image of he nation. According to him, Good Friday teaches us to jettison all forms of abuse,
Motor parks in Asaba record low patronage MOTOR parks in Asaba recorded low patronage during Easter celebration, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. A correspondent of NAN who visited some of the parks in Asaba on Friday reported seeing few passengers. Mr John Ofili, chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers
EKITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has charged Nigerians not to use their positions to oppress others, but to learn from the Lord Jesus Christ who used His power and position to serve and comfort others. In his Easter message in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the governor also charged Nigerians to stand for the truth at all times and be ready to defend it, adding that only the truth exalts a nation. While saying that the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ gave mankind the hope that nothing is beyond the divine power of God, Fayose admonished the people of the state and Nigerians at large to expect a brighter tomorrow. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr
Idowu Adelusi, the governor continued: “It was not that the Lord Jesus lacked the power to overcome those who went to arrest him, but in accordance with his divine mission, He submitted himself to God’s will. He died for us to have salvation. Those in positions of authority who derive pleasure in intimidating, harassing and embarrassing others with the power the law of the land has vested in them should realise that there is a day of recokning. “We must also stand for the truth because the Lord Jesus we are celebrating His death and resurrection at this period means the truth and He is for the truth. “The current economic and political challenges we face now will surely lead us to a brighter, new beginning, as our administration in Ekiti State is ever poised to deliver on its mandate. I seek the support and cooperation of all Ekiti people for the administration and I pray that those good things that are dead in our lives and the state will come back to life by the power that raised Jesus from the dead,” he said.
and, yet, patronage is still low. “Since morning, it is only two buses that have left this park and we have been struggling to load the third bus for more than two hours,” he said. Meanwhile, some passengers who spoke with NAN, attributed the low patronage recorded to non-payment of salaries and the economic situation in the country.
like gross corruption, kidnapping, stealing, violence and all form of decay in our system. “It is of paramount impor-
tance to call on the citizens of this great country, in the spirit of the season, to imbibe the true spirit of nation building,” he said.
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Presidency disowns #standwithbuhari group Leon Usigbe -Abuja
From left, former member, House of Representatives, Honourable Ifedayo Abegunde; former Deputy Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Sam Aderoboye and a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) at the inauguration of Aketi Support Group in Akure on Thursday.
Police confirm 4 dead in Eket cult clash Cement truck kills 4 in Sokoto
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HE Divisional Police Officer in Eket, CSP Abdulkadir Jamal, on Friday confirmed that four people have died in a cult clash in Eket, near Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. Jamal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket that police were investigating the cause of the clash. “We were informed and investigation is ongoing on the cult clash which led to the killing of members of cult groups in Eket,” Jamal
said. He called on the populace to always give information to the police to help them to arrest criminals. Jamal called on youths to stay away from crime, saying that criminals would always be made to face the wrath of the law. A NAN correspondent reported that the bodies of the dead could be seen at various locations in Eket. A source, who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the clash was between Junior Vikings Confraternity
and the rival Axe Men Confraternity. The source explained that trouble started at a night club on Ataobong Road in Eket and spilled over to Rescue Point at St. Gregory’s area off Liverpool Street. “The fracas started at Liverpool Street, opposite St. Gregory’s Primary school area, called ‘Forty-Forty’ Drinking Parlor. “The Axe guy harassed the Junior Vikings boy who was with a girl at the beer parlour and that was where the trouble started,” the source
Insecurity: NIS vows to flush out illegal immigrants THE Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Martin Abeshe, says the Service has put in place new stringent measures to flush out illegal immigrants. Abeshe made the disclosure on Friday at a world press briefing on migration and border management issues in Nigeria held in Abuja. He decried the menace of illegal immigrants in the country and noted that the Service has arrested and deported a lot of culprits across the country. “I am sure you have been hearing of arrests and deportation of these illegal immigrants by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) from across the country. “We are up to the task; our officers in the various parts of the country are performing very well, that is why today there has been a drastic drop in the number of foreigners who commit crime and violence in the country. “We have also put in place additional measures to checkmate any foreigner that is here to disrupt the peace we are enjoying,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that about 500 immigrants were recently arrested by the NIS in Niger, of whom 300 were declared illegal immigrants and awaiting deportation. Abeshe also said that the NIS was doing a lot to ensure more efficiency in the production
of international passports for Nigerians in line with international best practice. He said as part of efforts to reposition the Service, the NIS had concluded plans to host the Comptroller-General of Immigration Annual Conference and Stakeholders Interactive Forum.
stated. Meanwhile, the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Sokoto State Command, on Friday said four people were crushed to death by a truck conveying cement, at More Junction near Federal Science College, Sokoto. FRSC Rescue Officer, Mr Usman Khaliel, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto said the incident occurred at about 11.40 p.m. on Thursday. Khaliel said the heavy vehicle with registration number Kano RAN 705 XA veered off the road and rammed into shops at the junction, killing the victims. He said that corpses of the victims had been deposited at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. He said that four other people who sustained various degrees of injury including driver of the truck were receiving treatment in the same hospital.
FG, UNEP move against food insecurity in Nigeria, launch EBAFOSA Soji-Eze Fagbemi -Abuja THE Federal Government and the United Nations Environment Programmes (UNEP) have moved decisively to combat food insecurity, effect of climate change, ecosystems degradation and poverty in the country with the launch of the EcosystemBased Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA), in Nigeria. The Nigeria branch of EBAFOSA was launched as UNEP declared that 240 million people in Africa go to bed hungry; while malnutrition, which is the cause of death for over 50 per cent of children below five years,
affects nearly 200 million people. With the launch on Friday in Abuja, Nigeria has successfully joined other countries in the world to checkmate the effect of global food crisis. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh; the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma; and the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, were all represented, while the UNEP Africa Regional Coordinator, Dr. Richard Munang, was present at the official launch of EBAFOSA with the theme: “Re-shaping
Nigeria Food Security and Climate Resilience Through EBAFOSA.” In his key note address, Dr. Munang said that while the continent imports food worth $35 billion annually, it loses approximately $48 billion due to post harvest losses. He added that in Nigeria, while 75 per cent of tomatoes harvested yearly are being wasted, the government spends about $1 billion importing tomato paste. Dr. Munang said Nigeria is a country that is leading the way in environmental and agricultural development in Africa.
THE Presidency on Friday formally dissociated itself from the #Istandwithbuhari advocacy group which has been enmeshed in controversy over solicitation for funds from government ministries and other individuals and agencies for a proposed mass rally in support of the President Muhammadu Buhari. According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the president, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, the Presidency is demanding that the group should immediately stop claiming any alliance with the Buhari administration. The Presidency also demanded that the persons behind the controversial #Istandwithbuhari group should stop using President Buhari’s name and that of his wife, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, to promote themselves and their activities. The statement added: “Among other reasons, we have found it necessary to distance the Presidency from the #Istandwithbuhari group because its premature and ostentatious celebration of the present administration’s achievements is totally inconsistent with President Buhari’s philosophy of service with humility. “While the present administration has indeed recorded significant successes in its priority areas of improving security across the nation, ending the Boko Haram insurgency, curbing official corruption and revamping Nigeria’s economy, President Buhari is well aware that his government still has a lot of national challenges to overcome. “The President prefers to give his fullest attention to addressing those challenges without the unsolicited and unwelcome distraction of untimely praise-singing from groups with dubious and questionable motives.”
Saraki: Group faults CCT’s ruling Biola Azeez -Ilorin THE Nigeria Needs Positive Change Group (NNPCG) has faulted Thursday’s ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) involving Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the tribunal. The group, which described Justice Danladi Umar’s ruling as “a low point in the nation’s judicial system,” added that the development had exposed the “double standard” in the CCT’ s procedure. The NNPCG in a statement made available to journalists in Ilorin on Friday by its Secretary, Mr. Jide Jokotade, lamented that “even the fact that the court admitted flaws in a similar case involving a former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was a strong testimony that the judgment was predetermined. “One of the key ingredients of legal decisions is standardisation, equity and fairness, but unfortunately this pronouncement was predetermined and self serving and has only observed these tenets in the breach,” it said.
Seed of Life Ministries holds convention SEED of Grace Ministries Inc will commence its 2016 Grace Convention and Anniversary tagged “Glory to Glory” on Monday, March 29 and will end Sunday, April 3, 2016 at the church auditorium, 3A Lakanmi Close Annex, off Queen Elisabeth Road, near Total Garden, Ibadan, Oyo State. Morning and evening sessions will hold on Monday at 5.00 p.m and Tuesday at 6.00 a.m and will end on Saturday, April 2, 2016. The seven-day programme will be rounded off with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 12.00p.m. Ministers expected include Pastor Paul & Pastor (Mrs) Dayo Ivbarue (hosts); Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Bishop Sunday Ikiedeme, Pastor (Dr) Kunle Osoare, Pastor Ifeanyi Ogude, Prophet Tolulope Okunola, Evangelist Toun Soetan. Others are Rev Olusola Denton, Pastor Yomi Ajayi, Grace Women Voices and the Seed of Grace Choir.
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feature
26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Unilag suicide: He kept to himself, missed many exams…
Front view of Safama creek
Naza Okoli – Lagos
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hen, in the evening of Monday, hundreds of University of Lagos students, dressed in black, each bearing a lit candle, marched in honour of their schoolmate, Mr Eniola Jacobs, who is believed to have committed suicide, not many of the mourners actually knew the 300-level Microbiology student. “He was one of those people that go to class once in a while, and kept to themselves,” said Nzube Nwaokoro, President of the University of Lagos Science Students Association (ULSSA). “I wouldn’t want to say ‘anti-social’, but it was something close to it. I think it was only one person that we noticed crying during the candle-light procession, but we weren’t able to locate her afterwards. “When it happened, I was called to identify him. He didn’t have any identification on him, and there was need to identify him, and there was speculation that he was from Science; so I went there and it was difficult to identify him. Apparently he was one of the very quiet and unpopular ones at the Faculty. But eventually, we were able to identify him, and it was discovered he was from Microbiology.” Nwaokoro said that so far only a few people had come forward to testify that they knew Jacobs. A student told members of his Executive that he once helped Jacobs to do his registration, and that he (Jacobs) had told him he needed accommodation on campus. If Jacob’s life was dark and mysterious, the manner of his death was even more so. Several accounts exist. However, it is known that on Saturday he consumed a certain quantity of an insecticide known as “Sniper”. Moments later, he slumped close to the Security Post. He was rushed by security officials to the Medical Centre, from where he was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba. Those who visited him that Saturday evening at LUTH said it had looked as though he would survive, since he appeared to be responding to treatment. Nevertheless, Jacobs died in the early hours of the following day, Sunday. What has so far remained a puzzle is why Jacobs took his own life. While some believe he must have been “forced” by some people (possibly cultists), others think he must have had some very personal reasons. “At the moment, we cannot tell why he committed sui-
cide,” said Mr Adeonipekun Adeyanju Oluyomi, Speaker of the Students’ Union Parliament. “His death came as a shock. People who knew him said he was a gentle guy. We visited him at LUTH that night (Saturday). I was there with other members of the Parliament. The doctors ran some test, they gave him some injections. His uncle was there too. By the time we left him and his uncle at the hospital around midnight, we believed he would recover. But sadly, he didn’t. We learned his condition got bad around 4 or 5 in the morning of Sunday.” It was not until after the third visit to Jacob’s Faculty (Sciences), that a final-year student in the department of Microbiology (Jacob’s department) said he remembered him faintly. “I knew Eniola Jacobs,” the dark-skinned, stout, young man who did not wish to be named, told Saturday Tribune. “We were not close friends. But we spoke sometimes. He stayed at Biobaku Hall; I have many friends there. He wasn’t a bona fide member of the hall; he stayed with someone. But he was always coming and going… He wasn’t regular there. He had a lot of problems. He missed many exams; he has many carry-over courses. In fact, he deferred a whole semester, and I think that’s the first semester, this current semester. I was very shocked to hear that he drank Sniper. I didn’t think he would have liked to end his life.” The Department of Botany and Microbiology occupies a part of the second floor of the Faculty of Science Block.
In fact, he deferred a whole semester, and I think that’s the first semester, this current semester. I was very shocked to hear that he drank Sniper. I didn’t think he would have liked to end his life.
It is a small department with no more than fifteen offices for its academic staff. A middle-aged woman at the departmental office said both the Head of the Department and the 300-level Course Adviser were not available when Saturday Tribune visited on Wednesday. There were only a couple of result sheets pasted on the few notice boards at the department – and none of the sheets contained Jacob’s name. Officials of the National Association of Microbiology Students (NAMS), University of Lagos chapter refrained from commenting on Jacob’s death. However, an official at the University Senate Building, who asked not to be named, said Jacob’s death should serve as a wake-up call to university administrators. “Every time, students suffer serious pain at the hands of lecturers,” he said. “Heads of Departments are usually not able to discipline these lecturers. Every lecturer is a lord. Nobody knows what that young man (Jacobs) was going through. But maybe if his lecturers were more caring they would have found out, and they would have given him all the help he needed. Who knows, maybe that would have saved the young man’s life.” The University of Lagos has a Counselling Unit, but it is not known to be a popular spot for many of its students. Other people who spoke with Saturday Tribune during the week said a “massive investment” by the government in education would ensure that human and material resources were available in all schools, and that students are given round-the-clock attention throughout their time in school. “Government needs to play a major role in genuinely making massive investment in education for all Nigerian children,” said Mr Daniel Etim Inyang, founding Partner of Corporate INK Consulting. “We want government schools to be better in infrastructure, quality, and remuneration than even the very few private schools which majority of Nigerians cannot afford. This is unless we want to allow a situation where it is only the children of the rich who were privileged to study abroad that continue to lead a country which they barely know.” There were no photos of Jacobs at his Faculty. His death, however, continued to dominate discussions among students during the week. He was not found on Facebook, though one of his schoolmates said it was possible he used a different name. Even though they did not know him, many of them spoke of him with compassion.
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Toluwani Olamitoke 08050498504 toluwaniforever@yahoo.com
She is the Managing Director, Redeemer’s University Business Consult and senior lecturer in the Department of Financial Studies of the institution. Dr Adeyinka Sokefun, second Vice Chairman, Osun State branch of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CICN), speaks with TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE on her career, marriage and sundry issues.
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s a child, what did your family set up look like? I’m from a Christian background. My father was a successful civil engineer while my mother was a civil servant who had her training as an animal scientist. My parents were very accommodating. We had our relatives staying with us and all of us were trained together. Today, we have all become successful through the grace of God and the training we received from them. Who was your better friend between your parents and why? Two of them had their uniqueness and they always complemented each other. My mother was a disciplinarian but very generous while my father was gentle. He hardly got annoyed but frowned upon indiscipline. Can you recall some lessons you were taught as a child which you frowned on but later appreciated? When I was young, we were always told to tell people around the exact place we were going to but we frowned on this because we felt we were being monitored. Growing older, I discovered that a lot of people were used for ritual purpose or were declared missing because they were in the habit of going out without informing any one. Was there something about your background which molded your interest in the area of banking and finance? Very early in life, we were taught to be honest and accountable for our actions, especially in the area of finance. We were made to be accountable for the way we spent money. Gradually, my interest in financial matters began to develop. When it was time for me to consider a profession, I chose Banking and Finance. Female bankers are clamouring for a review of their targets, longer maternity leave and a general improvement of their welfare. What is your take on this? The issues of ethics have been on the front burner in banking discourse overtime. The regulatory bodies in collaboration with different interest
‘The wife as breadwinner shouldn’t be a threat to marriage built on love’ groups have been able to address the issues pertaining to female bankers. In your years of teaching, would you say your students translate what they learn in the classroom to their lives in and out of school? Yes, over the years I have seen my students translating what they were taught into practice. Many of them are today working in the financial sector while some are lecturers in tertiary institutions. How do we tackle the problem of graduate unemployment? Entrepreneurship vocational training should be encouraged in our institutions. Also, the government should provide an enabling environment for small and medium scale enterprises to thrive. Does the Redeemer’s University encourage entrepreneurship among its students? Yes, the university has a centre for entrepreneurship that
There is no limit to what a woman can do to support her home. A woman can take any godly step that will bring peace and stability to her family
trains, teaches and develops entrepreneurial potential among students. How sustainable are private universities from the business perspective? Sustainability of private universities does not depend on the return on investment to their proprietors but on their total contributions to the society. These contributions have to do with their social, political, communal and manpower development of the society. Their sustainability will be hinged on how they shaped developmental outcomes within the society. For instance, some private universities like Redeemer’s University have contributed tremendously to safeguard the health of the countries within the sub-Saharan Africa during the Ebola outbreak episode. Also, you will recall that this university led other universities-based World Bank-sponsored African Centers of Excellence projects to win the grants necessary for their establishments. Such research grants are critical to their sustainability. What do you consider as the challenges of your job, especially as a woman? As a female executive, you have to put in more efforts than your male counterpart because you have to combine official functions with domestic responsibilities. The fact that there is need to rise up to the occasion to deliver in the business environment could be challenging. At the same time your home front must not suffer. How supportive is your spouse? He has been very supportive, especially now that I have an additional responsibility that could keep me away from home longer than before. He assists with the house chores. The first time you met him, did you have any inkling he was the one you were going to marry? We were childhood friends and all along we had been good friends until God, through divine arrangement, brought us together. You must have had other suitors, why did you choose to marry him? I married him because he is God-fearing, gentle and he is always encouraging me to move out of my comfort zone to make success in my endeavours in life. These days more women are becoming breadwinners, with this, do you think the men should feel threatened? If the bedrock of a family is built on love and mutual understanding, the woman being the breadwinner should not cause fear or threat. Instead, she and her husband would agree on how to manage financial matters amicably. Marriage is about collaboration and forging joint interest. As long as there is mutual understanding, none of the partners should feel threatened. The most important thing is that God in His infinite mercy has chosen to meet their needs through one of them. How far should a woman go in the area of supporting the home? There is no limit to what a woman can do to support her home. A woman can take any godly step that will bring peace and stability to her family. What does relaxation mean to you? Relaxation to me is staying at home watching TV and listening to music. Tell us your beauty routine? I make sure I eat right and drink a lot of water. What you take in determines your looks to a large extent. I love to apply coconut oil or petroleum jelly on my skin. What attire will you never be caught wearing? I can’t wear clothes that will expose my body. My parents taught us as Christians never to expose our bodies while our culture also frowns upon such. I always have it at the back of my mind to cover myself properly.
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BLESSING EKUM ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639
food&drink
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tain and boli (roasted plantain) and the outcome would still be mouthwatering. One tip for delicious grilled fish is to grill it in wrapped foil. This would ensure that nutrients and flavour are not lost. The steps to prepare this are quite basic. You can m u Ek g in make use of any whole ss By Ble fish (croaker, tilapia etc) as preferred. You will also RE need vegetable/olive oil, onions, you wonyour preferred spice or seasoning such as dering what healthy but ground red pepper, scotch bonnet (atarosumptuous treat you would prepare do), Cameroon pepper, garlic, salt, stock this Easter? Why not step out of the cubes, usual and go for fish? Fish is one of the First, scrape scales off fish and clean healthiest foods on the planet. Loaded thoroughly to remove slime. Gut the fish with protein, vitamins and minerals, and make about three to four slashes (dethey are also the world’s best source of pending on the size of fish). This is to alOmega-3 fatty acids, which are imporlow seasoning penetrate thoroughly and tant for your body and brain. They are also for the fish to cook properly. equally easy to digest. The best way to enPour oil in bowl and add ingredients, joy the benefits of fish is to cook it in a manmaking sure it’s well mixed. Place fish on ner that limits sodium, fat and calories while a foil paper and brush the mixed ingrestill offering the taste you desire. Some of dients all over the fish, then wrap close. the ways to achieve this is through steaming, Alternatively, pour ingredients in a Zippoaching, broiling, baking and grilling. While loc and place fish in it. Leave to marinate all these methods offer different, unique tastes, in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes grilled fish is usually a tasty delight anytime. to one hour. What makes it more appetising is the fact that it Preheat grill and place marinated fish can be paired with a variety of other foods such as for about seven minutes. When ready, fried plantain, chips, vegetable sauce, boiled planserve with side dish of choice.
g n i h s fi this ! r e t s a E
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26 March, 2016
conversewithyemisi
Saturday Tribune
08055001741 (sms only) yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com
Who do I give my virginity?
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Dear Yemisi, am a 20-year-old virgin. I am in love with a guy whom I have been dating for three years. About a year ago, I met another guy whom I so much fell in love with. They both love me and none of them has ever asked me for sex. Now I am ready to lose my virginity but I don’t know whom to give it to and I don’t want to lose any of the two guys. I am confused. Worried Girl, 0903......0.
how many guys are you going to open your thighs to before you finally decide on who to live with for the rest of your life? Giving your body to a guy is not a test of sincerity, neither can you use it to tie down a guy. Irrespective of how many times you give in, if your union is not destined to be longlasting, you will soon call it off. Whenever the urge keeps coming back, on you think
Dear Worried Girl, You can’t eat your cake and at the same time have it. Being 20 years is not an answer to becoming carefree in your ways of life. Dating two guys at the same time at your age is just normal as you are still not in control of your emotions. As a young adult, it is not out of place to be undecided on who to give your virtue to. If you ask me, I will say none of the two deserves to be given your pride on a platter of gold. Thank God that the two of them have thus far respected you for not asking to sleep with you, but you must not compromise your integrity. Though you did not provide me with the reason why you have not been deflowered till date, I am of the opinion that you should still maintain that stance of yours as you cannot be in love with two guys equally at the same time without preferring one to the other. There are no two individuals with the same characteristics. You will be making the mistake of the century by sharing your emotions with two men. What is so important to me is maintaining your sanity. What if after giving your virginity to either of them and you discover that he does not fit into your estimation of a gentle loving dude of your dream? Then what becomes of you? And
For Him John, 40, civil servant, needs a God-fearing, caring lady from any tribe in Nigeria aged 29 or above for marriage. Call 08114629360. Ola, 47, from Akure, Ondo State, needs a Christian, single or divorced lady aged 35 to 50 as life partner. Contact 07063458208. Abolaji, working in Ibadan, needs a lady aged between 25 and 29 for a relationship. Call 08166451506. Dayo, 35, from Ondo State, single, dealer, desires a lady aged 35 to 38 for marriage. Reach 08102393621. Femi, 35, born-again Christian, Ibadan based, needs a God-fearing lady aged between 26 and 34 for marriage. Call 08054463220.
I don’t want to be deflowered now! Dear Yemisi, I am 21 years old. I am a virgin, I have been in many relationships with an uncountable number of men. My problem now is that these men are fond of asking me for sex and I don't want to be deflowered now. What can I do? Anonymous, 08*****4***. Dear Anonymous, I doubt if you are saying the truth about your status. Or is it that you are mixing up issues? You claimed you have been in several relationships with men, and you are still a virgin! How were you able to escape being raped by at least one who you might have toyed with his emotions? My dear sister, if it is true that you are still a virgin and you are not prepared for sexual relationship, I will advise that you put on hold any form of relationship for now, whether platonic, mutual or casual. You have only been taunting your boyfriends or that these men were just your friends on the
of the aftereffects of such a careless decision. Once you have a taste of any of them , he will equally demand for more and this might end up injuring your. Let the two of them prove to an extent how far they can go in sustaining a sex-free relationship. The move should not be from your end. Learn to live a day at a time. With time, if you must get deflowered by any of the two guys time, will tell. Are you even sure you are going to get committed to any of them for life? Be guided by the fact that you cannot afford to disrupt your future by getting pregnant just like that! The first shot might be it. Be careful in your decision and be guided by your future desire of being a pride to your parents. Don't confuse yourself with an inordinate ambition of wanting to be like your peers. It is well.
face value or you were the one imagining they were your lovers. To my understanding, these days, having a relationship is purely having a bedmate, but as long as you have so far kept your virginity I commend your doggedness. As long as you still claim their union, they cannot but ask you for sex and if care is not taken you will be forced to eat the humble pie. If you feel being deflowered now will injure your emotions, the only solution is to end all illegal associations with men. Your reason for not agreeing to their advances might be not wanting to be distracted or that you are afraid of being impregnated prematurely or getting infected, you better define your stand now before you are caught in the act. Let whoever you choose as your friend know from the onset that you are mere friends and not bedmates. If he chooses to remain so, so be it and if not, let him find solace elsewhere. Stop playing on men’s intelligence or emotions, this might be dangerous. Make up your mind and be determined once and for all. You cannot afford to be loosening your pants for all and sundry. You don't have to agree to a five-minute fun to rubbish your sanity. Protect your integrity.
Adeyemi , 52, civil servant, Lagos based, needs a Godfearing lady aged 28 to 50 for a relationship. Contact 08122456866.
For Her Temi, 28, dark-skinned, needs a God-fearing man aged 38 to 50 from any tribe for a relationship. Call 08064758833. Omolayo, 43, self-employed, needs a loving, caring, honest, understanding man for a relationship. Call 07031381379. Lady, 37, mother of two, desires a man for a relationship. Call 08067852951. Bunmi, 43, widow with children, from Osun State, wants a responsible, Christian, man for marriage. Call 09086366613. Damilola, 29, from Osun State, single, honest, romantic, needs a caring, loving, honest man aged between 34 and 49 for a relationship. Call 08147784251. Rolake, 34, Abuja-based, needs a nice, caring, Godfearing, understanding, responsible, knowledgeable, employed man for a relationship. Call 08077836079. Margaret, 30, from Edo, honest, romantic, needs a caring, loving, honest man aged between 35 and 48 for a relationship. Call 08151019673.
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26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
intimacy STRICTLY FOR ADULTS
A clitoral orgasm isn’t “bad.” It just doesn’t serve you and charge you like deep vaginal orgasms do. In order to discover the ecstasy and bliss of continuous internal orgasms, you can try avoiding having a clitoral orgasm for a while. However, after you learn how to turn clitoral stimulation into internal orgasms, it’s great to have clitoral stimulation, as long as you can avoid having an explosive clitoral orgasm. How to have a clitoral orgasm: Apply direct and indirect stimulation of the clitoris using the fingers, a shower-head, a vibrator or your partner’s mouth. Note that some women love direct and intense stimulation of their clit, while others can only have indirect stimulation through the clitoral hood or sideways through the lips. Experiment with doing the same motion repeatedly for a while or with changing and alternating your touch.
Where to touch to set her on fire Y
OU have probably heard that women can have clitoral or vaginal orgasms. You might have even read about the debate within academia around whether vaginal orgasms even exist. However, the experience of many women as well as the ancient science of Tantra all prove that women can actually experience many different and distinct kinds of orgasms. We can differentiate orgasms by anatomy, the direction of the energy, the strength and length of the orgasm, and by the orgasm’s effects on the physical, energetic, emotional, mental and spiritual spheres. There are a few major erogenous zones in a woman’s body. Most women would enjoy the stimulation of these erogenous zones, and it might lead to some kind of orgasm. Some would actually experience a distinctively different orgasm at each area. If you are just starting out, don’t worry about which is which. Just experiment with the following areas of arousal, and see what works for you. Before attempting any of these techniques, first get yourself “in the mood”: Take a hot bath, put on some sensual music, light candles and incense, and allow your partner touch you all over your body in a way that excites and arouses you. Don’t “try” to have an orgasm. Instead: Explore. Play. Discover. Try. Experiment ... Have fun! Here are the 8 different female anatomy orgasms and how to reach them:
Nipple orgasm The nipples are an important erogenous zone. They are connected via energy channels to the clitoris, and thus, stimulation of the breasts will cause an arousal of the clitoris and the whole genital area. Continued stimulation of the breasts and nipples can result in an actual orgasm or can bring about more quickly and easily the onset of an orgasm when vaginal stimulation is applied. Women with small breasts tend to be more sensitive, but all women can develop sensitivity in their breasts, regardless of size. If your breasts are not sensitive, give
yourself regular breast massage and/or ask your partner to do so, at least 20 minutes a day. How to have a nipple orgasm: Use fingers, a vibrator or your partners mouth to stimulate your nipples. Touch, rub, pinch, pull, kneed, and twist your nipples to explore different sensations. Your partner can lick, suck, and bite them. Try to do this for 20 to 30 minutes, even when they feel a bit sensitive or if the sensation has “plateaued.” Clitoral orgasm A clitoral orgasm is what most women know to be “an orgasm” — intense clitoral stimulation leading to a short peak of orgasm that lasts 20 to 30 seconds, focused mainly in the genital area, and feels intense, sharp, but a bit shallow compared to vaginal orgasms. The pleasure declines rapidly, the clit might feel hypersensitive and even a bit painful, and some women lose their interest and passion for a few minutes or even hours. Even with penetrative sex there are positions that stimulate the clitoris more than others. For example if either partner is on top and leaning forward.
Women with small breasts tend to be more sensitive, but all women can develop sensitivity in their breasts, regardless of size. If your breasts are not sensitive, give yourself regular breast massage and/or ask your partner to do so, at least 20 minutes a day.
Vaginal entrance orgasm There are many nerves at the entrance to the vagina, making it a sensitive and erogenous zone. Apart from clitoral orgasm, this is where most women experience pleasure and subsequent orgasm. But compared with the inner areas, the vaginal entrance orgasm is shallower and sharp, similar to a clitoral orgasm, and might also become explosive. If a man is penetrating shallowly, at the area of your vaginal entrance, it feels very pleasurable on a physical level, but when he enters deeper, the experience of the pleasure becomes deeper, more expansive and meaningful. Size does matter, and so does depth. How to have a vaginal entrance orgasm: Using your fingers, a dildo or your partner’s penis, touch the ring of muscles and tissue at the entrance to your vagina. Use in-and-out movements, circular movements, and apply pressure and stimulation “outward.” G-spot orgasm The G-spot was originally called the Grafenberg spot after the scientist who “discovered” it. The G-spot is actually not exactly a spot but an area located just inside the vagina, near the entrance, on the upper wall under the pubic bone. When the index and middle fingers are inserted into the vagina and curled or hooked towards the clit, it will be discovered that this area feels different than the vaginal walls. It’s like a ridged, soft, fleshy hill that feels like a combination between a hard tongue, and a soft palate. It will be much more engorged and swollen when the woman si aroused. Some women’s G-spot is located closer to the entrance, while others have their G-spot further back. All women have a G-spot. A G-spot orgasm feels like an overwhelming experience of intense pleasure, not as “sharp” as a clitoral orgasm, but rather more, “round,” “expansive,” and “expanded.” It takes longer to reach a G-post orgasm; it unfolds slower, lasts longer, and the pleasure decreases gradually and slowly, compared to the clit orgasm which usually crashes after the peak. A G-spot orgasm will be more emotionally intense, overwhelming, and meaningful and will be followed by a deep feeling of satisfaction and relaxation. There will be strong contractions of the whole pelvic floor, pc muscles and vaginal muscles. With continued stimulation, you could experience more G-spot orgasms, leading to an experience of multipleorgasms or an intense orgasmic state, lasting for long minutes or even hours. Sometimes there might be an expelling of fluids from the vagina or the urethra, also known as female ejaculation. How to have a G-spot orgasm: Using the fingers, or better yet, a non-vibrating dildo, stimulate the area mentioned above — 1 to 2 inches inside the vagina on the upper wall, kind of below the clit. Make sure the woman is wet or use plenty of natural lube. You might need to keep going for 20 or 30 minutes as this orgasm takes time, but it’s so worth it! While a clitoral stimulation is more technical — rub intensely for long enough and she’ll cum — a G-spot orgasm requires that elusive mind-state known as “surrender.” Culled from yourtango.com
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26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
PUZZLE
Happy Easter to every child who has been my inspiration on this page and a source of happiness even in the smallest way. Have fun!
Paint this Easter basket and the content
With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com
What we will do differently this Easter
Respondents are pupils of Royal Covenant Group of Schools, Anfani, Ibadan, Oyo State.
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1. Boluwatife Akinola, 9 yrs old, Basic 4 I will tell my dad to take me to our hometown, Ayetoro, in Ekiti State and show me some of the interesting places he has been talking about over time. While in Ayetoro, I would like to go to the markets and see if they are different from those in Ibadan. Aside this, I would like my father to take me to see the new Olubadan’s palace in Ibadan. 2. Michael Adebayo, Basic 5 My daddy will be taking me out to visit places like the Ibadan airport, amusement parks, Shoprite and the zoological garden. At the airport, I will see in Ibadan the damaged aircraft and those that are in good condition. When I return to school on Tuesday, I will present a mug to my teacher.
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3. Oluwatobiloba Alabi, 11 yrs old, JSS 1 I will visit a motherless children’s home to celebrate with them and present them with gifts. I will also go to Shoprite with my friends to have fun. 4. Ayoade Ajayi, 9 yrs old, Basic 4 I plan to enjoy this season both physically and spiritually. I will fast, read my Bible, pray against some things I don’t want again in my life while my parents will take me to the zoological garden at the University of Ibadan for the first time. 5. Oluwanifemi Ayodele, 12 yrs old, Jss 1 I will attend a retreat organised by my church which will be held at our campground in the Oluyole area of Ibadan. By the time the programme is over, I know I would have become a better person, closer to God.
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6. Olisah Chibuke, 9 yrs old, Basic 4 What I will be doing differently this Easter celebration is to watch a movie entitled ‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ’ with my friends. The movie is very good for children because we will all learn new lessons from it. 7. Clement Faith Itoro, 11 yrs old, JSS 2 During the Easter break, I will be travelling to Lagos with my family to celebrate with my cousins. We will be going to the Bar Beach to participate in sandcastle building and also play with water. On Easter Monday, we will attend a thanksgiving service in church.
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8. Samih Odufeso, 11 yrs old, Jss 1 I will like to make children at orphanages happy, so, I will visit some, present them some gifts and play with them like my blood brothers and sisters. By doing this, the children will have a sense of belonging and their hope will be raised.
EASTER POEM
My Lord, my Companion As I stand on the world’s highest mountains, I know You are with me As I walk in the world’s deepest valleys, I know You are there As I sail on the world’s deepest seas, I know You are by my side As I view the endless blue waters, I am reminded of Your eternal love As I walk in the world’s thickets forests, I know You are by my side As I cast my eyes on the blue endless skies, I am reminded of Your infinite love As I cross the world’s largest deserts, I know You care for me As I look at the landscapes, I am glad for You created them all As I travel the world’s greatest cities, Your company keeps me whole As I fly in the world’s biggest planes, Your presence comforts me As I take a walk in the countryside, You keep me company As I inhale the spring scented morning breeze, I know You will always be there each day As I cycle downtown with my hair flowing backwards, I know You won’t abandon me. As I walk down the street my soul rejoices and I am glad for You first loved me. By Hope Tshuma www.thoughts-about-god.com
Wishes for my friends this Easter
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I wish them all good health; God will provide for their parents so they can enjoy themselves; I wish them safety as they go around having fun; and wisdom when we return to school for exams. By Israel Durojaye, 10 yrs old, Basic 4
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26 March, 2016
health&fitness
Saturday Tribune BLESSING EKUM
ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639
How mobile phones increase risk of mental illness By Blessing Ekum
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NFORMATION and communications technology and its tools, especially mobile phones, are a part of this generation’s reality and are so pervasive that they would not be fading out any time soon. Despite the numerous benefits it provides, there are now concerns about how its use can affect one’s health. Research has focused on germs, traffic accidents, cancer, electromagnetic radiation, and health effects such as changes in brain activity and sleep patterns, but there is increasing focus on how it affects mental health. There is also the concern about why many seem so attached to their mobile phones to the point of it seeming like an addiction. For this set of people, misplace or loss of the phone, loss of reception or a dead battery could spell anxiety, desperation, panic and other emotional symptoms. In fact, the fear and emotional distress experienced has become so widespread that in psychological circles, it has been deemed a phobia – Nomophobia. Experts say the characteristics of nomophobia are a considerably decreased number of face-to-face interactions with humans, and a growing preference for communication through technologies; keeping the device in reach when sleeping and never turned off; looking at the phone screen frequently to avoid missing any message, phone call, or notification; obsessively checking a mobile phone and using a mobile phone to avoid feelings of discomfort, anguish, or stress. To show the severity of this addiction, in the 2014 edition of the journal, Psychology Research and Behavior Management, psychologists recommend cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy combined with pharmacological intervention for the treatment of this phobia. A recent research discovery has also shown that young adults who make particularly heavy use of mobile phones and computers run a greater risk of sleep disturbances, stress and symptoms of mental illness. Sara Thomée from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and her research colleagues at the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy conducted four different studies looking at how the use of computers and mobile phones affects the mental health of young adults and their findings have pointed out the need for modera-
tion in the use of these technological devices. The studies, which included questionnaires for 4,100 people aged 20-24 and interviews with 32 young heavy ICT users, revealed that intensive use of mobile phones and computers can be linked to stress, sleep disorders and depressive symptoms. They also discovered that frequently using a computer or phone without breaks also increases the risk of stress, sleeping problems and depressive symptoms in women, whereas men who use computers intensively are more likely to develop sleeping problems. “Regularly using a computer or phone late at night is associated not only with sleep disorders but also with stress and depressive symptoms in both men and women,” says Thomée. In addition, medical experts have also added that headaches, irritability/anger and some common mental symptoms such as lack of concentration and anxiety trail heavy users of mobile phones. This was published in the JulySeptember issue of the International Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences where the researchers confirmed that the younger generation, who are the most frequent cell phone users, needs to be aware about the adverse health effects of cell phone usage especially the mental aspects and take preventive measures to minimise and control the same. The question that then arises is why many are so attached to their phones. Psychologists Henry Wilmer and Jason Chein of Temple University in the US in a study published
Regularly using a computer or phone late at night is associated not only with sleep disorders but also with stress and depressive symptoms in both men and women.
in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin and Review provide insight on this. Their research findings shed light on the reasons why some people are so attached to their smartphones and mobile technology, while others are less so. Ninety-one undergraduate students completed a battery of questionnaires and cognitive tests. They indicated how much time they spent using their phones for social media purposes, to post public status updates, and to simply check their devices. Each student’s tendency to delay gratification in favour of larger, later rewards (their so-called intertemporal preference) was also assessed. They were given hypothetical choices between a smaller sum of money offered immediately or a larger sum to be received at a later time. Participants also completed tasks that assessed their ability to control their impulses. Finally, participants’ tendencies to pursue rewarding stimuli were also assessed. The results provide evidence that people who constantly check and use their mobile devices throughout the day are less apt to delay gratification. “Mobile technology habits, such as frequent checking, seem to be driven most strongly by uncontrolled impulses and not by the desire to pursue rewards,” says Wilmer, who adds that the findings provide correlational evidence that increased use of portable electronic devices is associated with poor impulse control and a tendency to devalue delayed rewards. “The findings provide important insights regarding the individual difference factors that relate to technology engagement,” adds Chein. “These findings are consistent with the common perception that frequent smartphone use goes hand in hand with impatience and impulsivity.” Mr Kayode Adebayo, psychologist however says, “all things when misused or abused can lead to problems. The same is for mobile phones. One cannot say you should stop using your mobile phones but it should not consume one’s whole time and attention. You shouldn’t use your phones to the point of isolation from your physical environment. Social media are there to help us keep in touch but it should not take the place of physical interaction. Take some time out and give yourself an occasional break. In fact, you should create time to unplug – turn off your phone and focus on your surroundings and human relationships.”
16 healthandfitness
26 March, 2016
Blood in my urine WHEN I was 10 years old, a female relative who was then 32 years old lured me into having sex with her. Afterwards, I noticed that I had difficulty in urinating with occasional blood coming with the urine. Although I reported the case to my mum then, I am not sure if I was treated. Now at 30, the condition has persisted and the trauma of what I went through at age 10 has not made me have sex with anybody since then. I am afraid in case my sexual life has been ruined for ever. Kindly help me on the
Does ginseng cause heart attacks? A friend of mine who likes taking Ginseng products such as tea, wines and snacks because of its aphrodisiac properties recently complained that the root extract also causes ‘acquired hypertension’ with occasional and unprovoked heart attacks. I will appreciate it if you can kindly enlighten me on this. Gani (SMS) Many Nigerians commonly use ginseng for its health benefits, including improving memory, diabetes, male impotence and
enhancing athletic performance. Ginseng supplements are available in different forms, including tea. Drinking ginseng tea may be a cause for safety concerns, because ginseng can cause a variety of adverse effects to the body, including the heart. According to medical experts, ginseng may cause some side effects, such as heart problems. Ginseng can change the heart rhythm, including increasing the heart rate. It can also either raise or lower the blood pressure. Both of these effects may worsen an underlying
Dr. Wale Okediran
way forward. Speedo (by SMS) There are three possibilities here. You could have been sexually infected or traumatised during your premature sexual encounter or you later acquired another infection through bathing in an infected body of water. In view of the long history of your problem, the best solution is to see a specialist doctor (Urologist) who will arrange for a thorough series of tests which will unravel the mystery and treat accordingly. There is no need to panic as your condition is treatable.
heart disease. It is advisable not to take Ginseng with stimulant drugs, such as the decongestant pseudoephedrine or caffeine, because they may increase the heart rate or blood pressure. Ginseng should also not be taken with bitter orange or some cardiac drugs because, when combined, they may enhance the risk of a serious and life-threatening irregular heart rhythm. Finally, people with heart conditions should use Ginseng under medical supervision.
What is tuberculosis? Tuberculosis is a chronic air - borne disease with period of latency following initial infection. It occurs most commonly in the lungs. Abdominal organs, brain, kidneys , bones, and rarely the heart can be affected Etiology The causative organism is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Similar disease occasionally results from the closely related mycobacteria, M. bovis, M. africanum, and M. microti. Mycobacterium bovis is common in communities where unpasteurised cow milk is consumed. It affects the abdominal organs and is more common among cattle rearers. Mode of transmission TB results almost exclusively from inhalation of airborne particles (droplet nuclei) containing M. tuberculosis. They disperse primarily through coughing, singing, sneezing and other forced respiratory maneuvers by people who have active pulmonary TB and whose sputum contains a significant number of organisms (typically enough to render the smear positive). Tuberculosis make cavities or pockets in lung (breathing organ) which contains thousand of this organism which are released during forced expiratory maneuvers as stated above.
waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk
08055069356 (sms only)
Is this malaria?
ALMOST every fortnight, I usually develop headache, fever and poor appetite. As soon as I use some antimalaria tablets, I will get better only for the problem to start again. One of my friends said that the problem cannot be malaria since Malaria cannot be
coming and going away every two- two weeks. Kindly advise me as I am confused as to what to do. Goriola (by SMS) Although theoretically, malaria can occur every 10 days since the life cycle of a malaria parasite is 10
days. However, the fundamental problem in the management of malaria is the problem of diagnosis. Since many ailments can present with complaints similar to that of malaria, your treatment will greatly benefit from a basic laboratory investigation
My tiny manhood I am a 33-year-old civil servant. My problem is that my penis is like that of a 5 year old boy. I was told that I have always had a very tiny penis. The situation is so bad that I cannot have my bath in the presence of other people for the fear of being laughed at. Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me with a cure and bring an end to my shame. Garuba (by SMS) As has been discussed on many occasions on this page, body organs such as breasts, lungs, kidneys and penis among others, come in different shapes and sizes. In addition, sexual therapists have confirmed that the size of a person’s penis has no connection with the person’s sexual prowess. What is important is the
skill with which a person is able to utilize his organ and not the size. At 33 years of age, I see no reason why you should be taking your bath in the presence of anybody to the extent that you will be laughed at because of the size of your penis.
Is epilepsy contagious? MY friend’s son recently had an epileptic attack and the Landlord gave him a quit notice because he said he didn’t want him to infect the other children in the compound with Epilepsy. All my pleas that Epilepsy is not contagious fell on deaf ears. I will be grateful if you can help me to through more light on whether epilepsy is contagious or not. Thanks and God bless. Chioma (by SMS)
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ARCH 24 of every year is set aside to mark World Tuberculosis Day to commemorate the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Among infectious diseases, TB remains a leading killer of adults in the world. Tuberculosis disproportionately affects the poor and marginalised communities, hence the need for yearly awareness campaign for eradication of the disease. Our united effort is needed to reach those at highest risk for TB, and to identify and implement innovative strategies to improve testing and treatment among high-risk populations. As in the case of ‘guinea worm’, let us totally eliminate tuberculosis. It is possible!
Saturday Tribune
You are very correct. Epilepsy is not contagious. The ailment is not an infectious one, rather, it is a disease of the nervous system due to excessive release of electrical transmission of the nerves. It is therefore wrong for your landlord to give your friend a quit notice because of the fear that he will infect other people in the family with epilepsy.
Dr. Abiodun Adeoye adeoyemoshood@yahoo.com
08056564360, 08072000017 (sms only)
Unite to end tuberculosis!
Predisposing factors Overcrowding: Tuberculosis spreads more where there is lack of adequate ventilation. In planning your building, cross ventilation (at least two windows per room) is very important. Poverty and ignorance accounts in most cases for overcrowding which should henceforth be discouraged in order to kick out tuberculosis. Droplet nuclei containing tubercle bacilli (TB particles) may remain suspended in room air currents for several hours, increasing the chance of spread. However, once these droplets land on a surface, it is difficult to re-suspend the organisms. Activities like sweeping the floor and shaking the bed spread can raise dust that contain the settled TB particle but it will be too large at this stage to affect the lungs. Overcrowding, coupled with malnutrition, makes the rate of TB in prisons to be 10 to 40 times higher than in the general population. This calls for urgent attention. No matter how effective the drugs may be, treatment of one prisoner in the same crowded environment will result in re -infection and resistance to anti- tuberculosis drugs. A prisoner with TB released to the public after the jail term is able to at least infect 7 people he comes in contact with. Our government needs to do me in decongesting the prisons! Depressed immunity: The body’s soldiers, when either destroyed or weakened, make the body incapable of fighting bacteria. HIV/AIDS depresses immunity and is the main cause of resurgence of stubborn tuberculosis that resists treatment. The drugs in the treatment of both
diseases interact and affect the outcome in the patient. Interestingly, both diseases are preventable through lifestyle changes. HIV is real, so keep to your partner. Stop looking for solution to a problem you can prevent. Extreme ages in life have impaired immunity and especially in elderly they have more years of potential exposure. Other causes of immunosuppression are diabetes mellitus, cytotoxic drug (anti cancer drugs), and steroids. Symptoms TB can be asymptomatic for a long time. Chronic cough of three weeks duration with or without sputum is the commonest presentation. Others are difficulty in breathing, blood in the sputum (hemoptysis), loss of weight, excessive night sweat, and persistent back pain in TB of back bone. Persistent low grade fever and swelling of lymph node may be TB. What is our role? If you notice these symptoms, visit your physician or TB centre nearest to you. The medicine is free. There is no stigma in TB. Health care givers should not delay the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Chest X-ray is advisable for cough of three weeks duration. Avoid overcrowding and eat balanced diet. Do not neglect the elderly; TB in them can affect the present generation. Government can support by making more drugs and TB centres available in the country. We need more centres for culture of TB especially in treatment failure or drug resistance. Let us all unite against TB; together we can!
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26 March, 2016
mediascope In this chat, former President, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and Chief Executive Officer of Prima Garnet, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, speaks on developments in the nation’s advertising industry, while insisting that the only way for agencies to survive in the fast-changing industry is for them to continually re-invent. Excerpts:
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OME see the Rebranding Nigeria Project, which you pioneered as no different from the Heart of Africa Project embarked upon by a former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke, designed to achieve the same purpose, what’s your reaction to this? They were different. In actual fact, what we did was called rebranding before I got involved. I did try to persuade the then Information Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili, that we should not call it rebranding but she said that expression had been used already and that it would be difficult to change it. The Heart of Africa Project was a straight forward one, the same thing with what Emeka Chikelu did. What we were doing had rebranding component but we were primarily interested in a social mobilization campaign for Nigeria. Essentially, what we were trying to do was to look at the challenges, attitude. After careful evaluation, we concluded that if you say you want to rebrand a nation that has many negatives, it would amount to waste of time. So, we thought if you are going to have any successful campaign, like you have in corporate Nigeria, if you say you wanted to rebrand, you must first of all consider Nigerians not Americans. We look at Nigerians, and realised that we have got to look at our attitude and values. So, the first thing the government did was to set up a 26-man committee, which was still referred to as rebranding. I was the pioneer secretary which put together the strategy. It was very painful that it didn’t take off.
Some practitioners believe APCON should be treated as a regulatory agency and not seen as part of government where it can be tossed around and toyed with. Do you think it should be classified as others such as NMA? There are arguments back and forth. Primarily, nobody can change that. APCON was introduced by Decree 55 of 1983 under General [Ibrahim] Babangida. It was introduced as a regulatory body under the federal Ministry of Information. I think that was one of the first errors that was made. I think APCON should not have been under the Federal Ministry of Information. APCON should have been in the Presidency. Even though its functions and responsibilities are aligned to what happens in the Information ministry, I think because of the critical nature of its role, it should have been under the presidency. Because what APCON does is very critical. What is communicated to the public on drugs, and medicine and so many things come from APCON. Remember that it is the responsibility of APCON to set the syllabus. The role of APCON is very critical. Sometimes, I am surprised that government does not understand the role of APCON as a critical tool of communication which is quite unfortunate. In the last few years and under the last three ministers, things have gotten better. I think now they know the critical role APCON plays. Every time they proscribe the board of parastatal, they should not touch APCON. APCON is not where you put political appointees. By law, composition of the council is very clear. It is a regulatory body. You don’t need to tamper with it .It is more, like the Nigeria Medical Council, Nigeria Legal Council. Why do some people want to put their people in a place that is purely professional? I am hoping that as time goes on or as more information or education goes on, it would not happen again Coming back to the other issue, APCON can operate without being under government. NMA and Nigeria Legal Council are not under any government. As long as the law setting it up is firm, it does not have to be under the presidency or any ministry. There is the question of dwindling creativity in the industry... It is a contentious issue. This is because, measuring and giving an opinion on creativity is biased. How do you define creativity? What is creative to you may not be creative to me. A creative material that is expressing the things that I believed in may not make any impact on someone else. The creativity industry cannot produce or should not produce materials that are higher than the understanding of the society. The creativity that we do must reflect the culture, the values about the society. The fact that you bring a material from Europe that is beautiful does not mean it would resonate with our people. I think that is where the issue is. In the last 10 years, there has been
Ad agencies must retool, restrategise to meet new demands
— Lolu Akinwunmi, CEO, Prima Garnet an importation of a lot of creative materials. Visually, they look beautiful with smarts slogan and all but if you pretext them, the majority of the people you are talking to, do they understand them? Are you communicating with them or you are talking to them? Take for instance India, it is probably one of the countries in the world that has tried to retain its cultural value and nuances within its creativity. If you look at Indian ads, they talk to Indians in the way that Indians can understand. No Indian ad is trying to communicate or copy an American or European ad. I see a lot of things that banks do here, the expression they use, I find them foreign. The ads are not resonating and not carrying people along. In my opinion, many owners of brands are writing campaigns for themselves. It is not supposed to be that way. In this industry, we no longer pretext material. In the past, when I entered the industry, we used to do pretexting for communication or understanding or effectiveness. As long as the marketing manager is happy with it, we just go ahead. When you see some of the ads, it looks good in terms of aesthetics but is it communicating? And if it is not communicating, it is not effective. Among mergers, acquisition and affiliation, which one do you think pay the industry best? It is neither here nor there. This is because you must have a reason for everything you want to do. If you are talking about
The creativity industry cannot produce or should not produce materials that are higher than the understanding of the society. The creativity that we do must reflect the culture, the values about the society. The fact that you bring a material from Europe that is beautiful does not mean it would resonate with our people.
Saturday Tribune
WITH AKIN ADEWAKUN akadewakun@yahoo.co.uk 0805 468 3584
merger, what is the compelling reason for merger. Ditto acquisition. There is no country where merger or acquisition doesn’t take place. The biggest agency in the world, the Japanese agency, Dentsu in Japan has over 6,000 staff and a number of clients. It is a monolithic agency that has not merged with anybody. In some markets, they have gone through some acquisition. But if you look at their strategic plan, they don’t need mergers and acquisition or affiliation. Why do you need mergers? You need it because when two people come together, they produce a bigger, stronger agency. Why do you need acquisition?. A bigger agency is an opportunity to broaden the reach and effectiveness of another agency. If there is no reason for merger or acquisition, then you don’t need to do it. Affiliation has both advantages and disadvantages. There are agencies in Nigeria that are doing well that are not affiliated with anybody and there are agencies in Nigeria that are affiliated and not doing well. So, everything must be from a strategic viewpoint. We need to ask ourselves what are we trying to achieve. Once you can agree to what you are trying to achieve, if you go into merger or acquisition, it would help the business, then you can go ahead. Just like I said about the information minister, there has to be a strategy. If there is no need for it, there is no need to lose sleep over it. This is because none of it is a magical cure for any problem. Each one comes with its own agency. Look at what would have produced the biggest agency in the world, but they could not agree. Both of them tried to work for it for a month but it didn’t work. At a point, they had to make public pronouncement that it didn’t work. It could have been bigger than WPP. They could not agree on financial reporting. A lot of people gave APCON thumbs down during the last general election, insisting that the agency did not act when it should, how would you react to this as a former president of the regulatory agency? APCON is severely limited. It is a federal regulator that is supposed to have offices in all states, including Abuja. But on account of the budget that it is given due to financial inadequacies, APCON, at best, is operation in 13 states. For me, that is obvious limitation. APCON cannot hire enough people because the budget to take such decision is not there. That is also another limitation. The work of regulator involves investing in people to manage the process and the technology. I know that during my time, we invested in technology that can track but this is growing. The second issue is political. APCON reports to the Federal Ministry of Information and the Minister reports to the Presidency. If the president’s party decides to ignore APCON and run an ad, what can APCON do? It is a big shame for the presidency for doing that. It is taking advantage of and weakening one of its own institutions. In fairness, because I was still partly involved in APCON, the compliance level was high. Ads came in from all the parties to the agency where they were vetted even though not all of them passed through the agency. I understand that there were still leakages, especially outside of Lagos. But I think we must have achieved 70 percent compliance level. What would be your advice to agencies, especially at this time when the marketing communications landscape seems to be under siege, with clients cutting their marketing budget and digital media fast taking over the landscape? I don’t see a problem. If you look at the history of advertising industry, it started with outdoor in 1928.It was called West African Publicity, which was servicing billboard of UAC. At some point, someone added radio, media. At some point, we had full service agency. When I joined the industry in 1982, there was nothing like a full service agency. But you need to realize that nothing is stagnant. There are developments in the industry. The first major development we had in Nigeria was when media independent came on. Traditional industry resisted them because we didn’t understand the concept but today media independent is normal. There are advantages in using them because they buy tighter media even though their margins are smaller. After then, we had other developments. Now, we have digital. There is no problem because at the end of the day, the client has a right to use the channel that would serve its brand best. And if digital media is what is pointing towards that direction, then a smart agency would invest in it. Otherwise, the client would buy the service from somewhere else. Client should not run towards digital media simply because it is trending. The question should be the proof that money spent on it would achieve the objective. I have seen a lot of ‘nonsense’ in the name of digital media. It is not working. It is a lot of good money being wasted. So, I don’t see a threat to traditional agency. Agencies must retool, redefine themselves and modernise to meet new demands. If they do not do that, they would die.
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26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
crimeandcourt
He will beat me to death if you don’t dissolve this marriage —Wife
Yes, I always beat her ’cos she’s stubborn —Husband By Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanye with Agency Reports
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middle-aged woman, Modinat Opeloye, has told a Grade A customary court, Enuwa, Ile-Ife, Osun State, to save her from being beaten to death by her husband, Ismael. Opeloye had on March 16 filed a petition in which she pleaded with the court to dissolve her six-yearold marriage. According to the News Agency Nigeria (NAN), the mother of two accused Ismael of constantly beating her, uncooperative attitude, lack of care and threatening her life. “Woe unto the day I met him, for I have had no rest of mind since I married him. He has not been caring for me and my children for a while. “Apart from all the problems he is giving me, he is addicted to raining curses on me and my children and he is threatening to kill me. “Please save me from him and dissolve the marriage for the safety of my life and in the interest of my children,” she pleaded. Ismael, in his submission, admitted to the allegations, saying that everything his wife said was true. “It is true that I beat her because she is stubborn. She does not obey my instructions and gets me annoyed sometimes,” Ismael said. He also agreed to the dissolution of his marriage, saying, “if she leaves, I’ll marry another one; uncountable women are waiting for me outside.” President of the court, Chief Bunmi Adegoke, granted Opeloye’s plea and dissolved the marriage with immediate effect. Adegoke ordered that no dowry would be refunded, while awarding custody of the two children to the petitioner for proper care. He warned her against taking the children to quack doctors whenever any of them falls sick, and advised her to rather patronise government hospitals. He ordered Ismael to pay N4,000 monthly as upkeep allowance for the children, adding that he must be responsible for their education, healthcare and stationery.
A 59-year-old businessman, Mr Joseph Olatunde, has filed for divorce at an Igando customary court in Lagos State over his wife’s alleged shameful act. Joseph, in his application, is seeking for the dissolution of his marriage to his wife, Kemi, whom he said had gained a reputation as a street-fighter. “My wife, who is a pastor, an evangelist, a church interpreter and women leader, fought with nine persons in a day in our street wearing only a bra and a tight. “She fought from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., during which residents of the street were begging her to stop but she refused. “I also pleaded with her but she cursed and I was ashamed of myself. “I had to take her pictures with my cell phone when she was fighting in the public with only the brassier covering her body and sent it to her family,” he said. Joseph testified that his wife was in the habit of starving him of food and would always tell him that, “I should ask my children to cook for me.” He told the court that Kemi also maltreated his three children from another woman and does not even want to see my friends and other family members. “My wife has been hostile to my children and this has led
She accuses me of being poor and irresponsible —Husband A 40-year-old teacher, Olufunmilayo Majekodunmi, has pleaded with an Agege customary court in Lagos State, to dissolve her 19-year-old marriage to her husband, Ademola Majekodunmi, over alleged threats to her life and irreconcilable differences The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reported that the petitioner, who resides at No.7, Anuoluwapo Street, Akute in Ogun State, is also seeking the dissolution of the marriage on the grounds of frequent fights and lack of care for her and the three children produced by the union. She said her husband, Majekodunmi, was always sending her packing whenever they had misunderstandings. Olufunmilayo also alleged that her husband was fond of peddling lies against her and calling her names which had made life become unbearable for her. “I moved out of our house three years ago with two of my
they had a fight, his wife beats him up. He begged the court to separate them, saying “I don’t want to die now as my wife always threatens to kill me.” Responding, Kudirat, 41, a cleaner, said her husband was irresponsible, a drunkard, a smoker and a gambler. She said “my husband accuses me of starving him of sex, so he fornicates a lot by bringing home older women. “He is also fond of fighting and cursing me all the time to the extent that l developed
blood pressure,” she said. The respondent, a mother of four, also alleged that the petitioner fought with co-tenants and landlord that they had to be served with a quit notice. She also begged the court to dissolve the marriage, saying she was also fed up with it. President of the court, Mr Phillip Williams, invited the couple into the inner court chamber for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and did not fix a date for further hearing into the matter.
A motor park leader has asked an Agege customary court in Lagos State, to separate him from his wife over accusations of unruly behaviour. The complainant, Mr. Aliu Bamgbade, who is married to Asisat had approached the court to end his marriage citing unruly behaviour as the main reason of wanting to end his marriage. However, in her defence, Asisat said that she has known Aliu since she finished Secondary school. “We promised to marry each other and he rented an apartment for me. He was persistent and I became pregnant after a few months. When he realised that I was pregnant, he stopped coming. He asked me to terminate the pregnancy. “I refused and I started going to the hospital for ante natal after a few months. He stopped giving me money, despite the fact that his first wife knows about our relationship,” she said. Asisat added that Aliu promised to take her to meet his family. “There was a day I went to his motorpark and I saw him with another woman. He has totally abandoned me and our child. I am responsible for the upkeep of the child. I have been
children when I could no longer bear the troubles and his accusation that I was cheating on him,”she said. She urged the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her the custody of the children. However, the respondent, Ademola, 48, a businessman, denied the allegations. He alleged that his wife was always accusing him of being poor and not responsible. “Whenever l am going on my business trips, l used to give her money for the children’s upkeep, which she hardly spent on them. “My parents in-law and my church had tried to mediate, but to no avail,” he said Ademola prayed the court to dissolve the marriage and grant him the custody of three children. President of the court, Mr Philip Williams, adjourned the case till April 21 for judgement.
She got pregnant for another man while she’s still with me —Husband He pushed me into doing it —Wife AN Igando customary court in Lagos State, has intervened and saved the 39-year-old marriage between Ayinla Jimoh
them to vacate my house and rent an apartment elsewhere. “She always fought my friends and relatives anytime they visited me and this attitude of hers has stopped them from coming to my house,” he said. The petitioner said that his wife was also fond of going out without his permission only to return home at her discretion. Joseph said that whenever he queried her, she would abuse him. He, therefore, pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage, saying he could no longer continue to be ridiculed, starved and deserted by his children, friends and relatives all because of a woman. However, the 42-year-old Kemi denied all the allegations. “I used to prepare food in the morning, afternoon and evening for my husband,” she said. She said that her husband had refused to pay the school fees of her daughter from another man who had been living with them since they got married. Kemi urged the court not to grant her husband’s wish for a divorce, saying she still loved him. President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, adjourned the case till May 10 for judgement.
I shouldn’t have married her —Husband He stopped seeing me after I became pregnant —Wife
He’s irresponsible, a drunkard, a smoker and gambler —Wife to assist him financially in the upkeep of the house. “Before l lost my job in 2008, l usually bought foodstuffs and other provisions in the house but when l lost my job, l asked her to be helping me in any way she could which she did until 2013. “However, my wife suddenly changed and became reluctant and I had to borrow money to support the family due to my health challenge.” Folami also told the court that whenever
A trader, Helen Aladejumo, has asked an Ikorodu customary court in Lagos State to dissolve her eight-yearold marriage to her husband, Adeniji, citing irreconcilable differences. She accused her husband of beating her to the point at which she miscarried. “I got pregnant a few months after our wedding, and my husband started misbehaving. He beats me at will to the point that I miscarried my first pregnancy.He started keeping late nights and threatning to marry another wife. He complains about everything I do and was always calling me a good for nothing woman even in the presence of our children. I am tired of this marriage and I can’t bear it anymore. “I would have left him since but he was always seeking my mother’s intervention to prevail on me to stay. “He also consumes too much alcohol,” she said. In his reponse, her husband, Adeniji, denied beating his wife. “She is a very stubborn woman. She does not listen to correction. She also spends too much and is not considerate about my finances. “I am against the dissolution of the marriage. I believe we can settle things amicably,” he said. President of the court, Mr. T. Daborm adjourned the matter till April 21. He asked the couple to bring three members of their famillie for possible settlement.
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He’s always accusing me of cheating on him, wife tells court
My wife, who is a pastor, an evangelist is a street-fighter —Husband He refused to pay daughter’s school fees —Wife
My wife beats me up all the time —Husband A 45-year-old blind man, Rahman Folami, has pleaded with an Agege customary court in Lagos State, to dissolve his 20-year-old marriage to his wife, Kudirat, over alleged threats to his life and battery. According to the News Agency Nigeria (NAN), Folami claimed that there was no more love between him and his wife. The petitioner also alleged that his wife planned to kill him. He added that his wife had been peddling lies against him and had refused
He beats me to the point of losing a pregnancy —Wife
Saturday Tribune
ejected from my apartment because of rent issues. I brought the baby to the park so that everyone can know the kind of person he is. “He is also fond of beating me at the slightest provocation,” she added. In his response, Aliu told the court that he wouldn’t have married her if he had known the kind of person she is. “She is fond of coming to the motor park where I work, claiming that I don’t give her money for food. She once tore my clothes in the presence of my colleagues. “She embarrasses me to the point where my colleagues now disrespect me. She destroyed the windscreen of my car, burnt four of my tyres. In short, I don’t want to have anything to do with her again,” Aliu said. President of the court, Mr. P.A Williams, dissolved the union, citing irreconcilable fifferences. “It is obvious that both parties are tired of each other. The complainant is ordered to pay N5000 monthly for the upkeep of the child, and also get an accommodation for the defendant and her child,” he ruled.
and his wife, Anike, for getting pregnant for her lover. President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, successfully resolved the differences between the couple after several adjournments. While striking out the case, Omilola admonished the couple to maintain peace and to continue to live in love and harmony. “Since the court was able to reconcile the couple through counselling, I urge both of you to go home and live in peace and love,” he said. Ayinla Jimoh, 68, a welder, had filed an application to end his 39-year-old marriage to his 60-year-old wife, Anike, over alleged adultery. Jimoh said that his wife with whom he had seven children was adulterous, saying that it led to her being impregnated by another man, while still in his matrimonial home. “My wife left my house for an unknown destination and I did not know that she was pregnant, until she gave birth later in her new man’s house,” he said. Jimoh said that he married another wife in 2013, after Anike left their matrimonial home for 14 years and refused to return. “I married another wife because our children that used to cook for me had all married and I was getting too old to cook for myself. “It was after I had remarried that my wife returned and I still accommodated her. But I rejected the child she bore for another man, asking her to send the child back to her father,” he said. The petitioner said that Anike had been fighting him and his second wife since she returned to their matrimonial home. “Anike was always engaging my younger wife in physical fights on a daily basis and I am afraid she might kill her one day and she always slaps me whenever we have a heated argument,” he recalled. Jimoh alleged that Anike would leave the house for weeks without his consent and that he was tired of having to repay her indebtedness to people she had borrowed money from. He, therefore, pleaded with the court for the dissolution of their 39-year-old marriage, saying there was no more love in the relationship. However, Anike, the respondent, who did not deny the allegations, said she was pushed into the act because her husband was in the habit of constantly assaulting her. “It was my husband that pushed me to finding solace and comfort in another man because he was always beating me,” she said. The mother of seven, however, begged the court not to grant her husband’s application for divorce, saying she was still in love with him.
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commentary
26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
As Lasun Yusuff becomes Bashorun Obaagun Wole Oladimeji
W
HEN, in the evening of Monday, hundreds of University of Lagos students, dressed in black, each bearing a lit candle, marched in honour of their schoolmate, Mr Eniola Jacobs, who is believed to have committed suicide, not many of the mourners actually knew the 300-level Microbiology student. “He was one of those people that go to class once in a while, and kept to themselves,” said Nzube Nwaokoro, President of the University of Lagos Science Students Association (ULSSA). “I wouldn’t want to say ‘anti-social’, but it was something close to it. I think it was only one person that we noticed crying during the candle-light procession, but we weren’t able to locate her afterwards. “When it happened, I was called to identify him. He didn’t have any identification on him, and there was need to identify him, and there was speculation that he was from Science; so I went there and it was difficult to identify him. Apparently he was one of the very quiet and unpopular ones at the Faculty. But eventually, we were able to identify him, and it was discovered he was from Microbiology.” Nwaokoro said that so far only a few people had come forward to testify that they knew Jacobs. A student told members of his Executive that he once helped Jacobs to do his registration, and that he (Jacobs) had told him he needed accommodation on campus. If Jacob’s life was dark and mysterious, the manner of his death was even more so. Several accounts exist. However, it is known that on Saturday he consumed a certain quantity of an insecticide known as “Sniper”. Moments later, he slumped close to the Security Post. He was rushed by security officials to the Medical Centre, from where he was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba. Those who visited him that Saturday evening at LUTH said it had looked as though he would survive, since he appeared to be responding to treatment. Nevertheless, Jacobs died in the early hours of the following day, Sunday. What has so far remained a puzzle is why Jacobs took his own life. While some believe he must have been “forced” by some people (possibly cultists), others think he must have had some very personal reasons. “At the moment, we cannot tell why he committed suicide,” said Mr Adeonipekun Adeyanju Oluyomi, Speaker of the Students’ Union Parliament. “His death came as a shock. People who knew him said he was a gentle guy. We visited him at LUTH that night (Saturday). I was there with other members of the Parliament. The doctors ran some test, they gave him some injections. His uncle was there too. By the time we left him and his uncle at the hospital around midnight, we believed he would recover. But sadly, he didn’t. We learned his condition got bad around 4 or 5 in the morning of Sunday.” It was not until after the third visit to Jacob’s Faculty (Sciences), that a final-year student in the department of Microbiology (Jacob’s department) said he remembered him faintly. “I knew Eniola Jacobs,” the dark-skinned, stout, young man who did not wish to be named, told Saturday Tribune. “We were not close friends. But we spoke sometimes. He stayed at Biobaku Hall; I have many friends there. He wasn’t a bona fide member of the hall; he stayed with someone. But he was always coming and going… He wasn’t regular there. He had a lot of problems. He missed many exams; he has many carry-over courses. In fact, he deferred a whole semester, and I think that’s the first semester, this current semester. I was very shocked to hear that he drank Sniper. I didn’t think he would have liked to end his life.” The Department of Botany and Microbiology occupies a part of the second floor of the Faculty of Science Block. It is a small department with no more than fifteen offices for its academic staff. A middle-aged woman at the departmental office said both the Head of the Department and the 300-level Course Adviser were not available when Saturday Tribune visited on Wednesday. There were only a couple of result sheets pasted on the few notice boards at the department – and none of the sheets contained Jacob’s name.
Officials of the National Association of Microbiology Students (NAMS), University of Lagos chapter refrained from commenting on Jacob’s death. However, an official at the University Senate Building, who asked not to be named, said Jacob’s death should serve as a wake-up call to university administrators. “Every time, students suffer serious pain at the hands of lecturers,” he said. “Heads of Departments are usually not
Because of the role he played to emerged as Deputy Speaker, today, the South West zone can pride itself as a major stakeholder in the House. The zone now has both the Deputy Speaker and the Majority leader.
able to discipline these lecturers. Every lecturer is a lord. Nobody knows what that young man (Jacobs) was going through. But maybe if his lecturers were more caring they would have found out, and they would have given him all the help he needed. Who knows, maybe that would have saved the young man’s life.” The University of Lagos has a Counselling Unit, but it is not known to be a popular spot for many of its students. Other people who spoke with Saturday Tribune during the week said a “massive investment” by the government in education would ensure that human and material resources were available in all schools, and that students are given round-the-clock attention throughout their time in school. “Government needs to play a major role in genuinely making massive investment in education for all Nigerian children,” said Mr Daniel Etim Inyang, founding Partner of Corporate INK Consulting. “We want government schools to be better in infrastructure, quality, and remuneration than even the very few private schools which majority of Nigerians cannot afford. This is unless we want to allow a situation where it is only the children of the rich who were privileged to study abroad that continue to lead a country which they barely know.”
20
Saturday Tribune
26 March, 2016
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The celebrant, Honourable Titus Olusoji Eweje (left), Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu (right) and a guest, at the 60th birthday ceremony of Soji Eweje at his Abeokuta residence, recently.
From left, Reverend Oluwasomiji Sunday, Diocesan Minister of Evangelism; The Most Reverend M.K. Stephen, Archbishop of Ibadan; Sister F.I. Stephen, wife of the Archbishop; Brother Muyiwa Faturoti, Diocesan Coordinator of Evangelism and Reverend Adefolurin Orekoya, at the 2016 breakfast fellowshiop held at Methodist Church Nigeria, Ekotedo, Ibadan, recently.
From left, Mr. Ganiyu Azeez, Head, LPG, Oando Marketing PLC; winner, O-Gas Regional Teens Can Cook Competition, Miss Ebo Obiamaka Emmanuella, student of Queens College, Yaba; Mr. Dayo Adeshina, president,Liquefied Petroleum Association and Mrs Obialor Amaechi Nma, Head, Vocational, Queens College, representing the school’s principal, during gift presentation at the recently held Lagos edition of the 2016 O-Gas Regional Cooking Competition.
feature
From left, chairman, inaugural lecture committee, Dr N. A. Adebayo; inaugural lecturer, Mr Abolade Olaniyan; speaker, House of Assembly, Oyo State, Honourable Michael Adeyemo; rector, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Professor Olatunde Fawole and the deputy rector, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Mr Bayo Oyeleke, during the eighth inaugural lecture held at assembly hall, North campus, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, recently. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.
Pastor Thomas Odunayo Gbenro and his wife, Evangelist Dorcas, during the 60th birthday anniversary of Pastor Gbenro, at the CAC Powerline Prayer Centre, Ibudo Irorun, Sanyo, Ibadan, recently.
Cabs of fear: Kidnappings… Oyo residents’ tales for the Micra
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From left, Professor V.I. Olowe, Dr Rasaq Olajide and Dr Taofeek Yekinni, during the one-day sensitisation programme on the content of the Ecological Organic Agriculture Curriculum held in the boardroom, University of Ibadan Conference Centre, recently. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.
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Clerics relay God’s message on the importance of sacrifice A member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Saheed Fijabi, presenting cash and motorcycle key to the parents of a set of quintruplets born to Alfa Yusuf Ewenje and Risikat Ewenje, at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Sunday. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN.
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21
26 March, 2016
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F
ORGET that admonition from House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, to University of Lagos intellectual wizard, Ayodele Dada, asking him to refrain from the triad of wine, women and money if he wanted to keep his intellectual sanity, Dogara and his folks in the House indeed deserve one or two pints of cognac from the Nigerian society. As Dada was treated to unprecedented national honour by the House which held a session for him in recognition of his wizardry of attaining a 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average, the patriotism in many Nigerians began to, like the biblical Ezekiel, gasp for life. It reminded this writer of two seminal submissions, one from late Jamaican reggae musician, Bob Marley who, in his track Trenchtown, recreated an earlier seminal biblical submission to wit, the world had consigned Nazareth to the backwaters of good. Can anything good come out of Trenchtown? — Trenchtown, Jamaica being where Bob hailed from — he claimed his traducers who watched a world superstar emerge therefrom, ask. So, could this level of patriotism come from a Nigerian parliament? Many Nigerians had already lost hope in the capacity of the nation to get back on track, having long left the road of sanity. Our societal values have suffered serious etiolation or indeed, reversal. Scholars say that you glean the path of development pursued by a nation from the capital it places on its intellectual development. Gone are the days when intellect and its ancillary components were given a place of pride. Gradually, Nigerians have been boxed into that quasi-developmental and indeed illiterate, but realistic quip that education was no longer profitable. It used to be the sing-song of our old illiterate fathers who, in the early and late eighties Nigeria, seeing the bastardisation of the economy and the growing unemployment in the land, propounded the theory of the growing uselessness of furthered education. Today, Nigeria lays capital store by everything else but educational development. Even though the awareness of the power of education has quadrupled — by my conservative estimation — and the maiguard next door is conscious of the
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ayinla mukaiba ayinlamukaiba@yahoo.com
A bottle of beer on me, Yakubu Dogara fact that, but for your education, you his hirer indeed has nothing of value that suborned him to his slavish life in your house — governmental encouragement is almost nil. Funding of education has received, at best, token attention and there is sparse attention for the future of graduates who ooze out of school on a yearly basis like uncoordinated water outpour from a broken cistern. Government’s disinterested attention for education has also infected the polity and indeed metastasized to a frightening level. It bred a reinvention of new but warped values. What tickles and excites Nigerians and makes them tick thus somersaulted from educational excellence into what I liken to voyeurs. Those who excel in education get mere passing glances from both government and the people while musicians, catwalking beauty pageant winners, exbread selling sex symbols and nude actresses arrest the attention and titillation of the Nigerian society. These are the swings of the pendulum which show that indeed, Nigeria has left the path of rectitude for a long walk in the fog and darkness of self-inflicted underdevelopment. The rate at which Nigeria worships money and beatifies those who have made good monetary-wise is a pointer to where Nigeria of the next generation will walk towards. This is why, in spite of the advancement in technology in the world and the availability of information technology at the beck and call of the so-called future generation or the tomorrow of Nigeria, there are more uneducated, haphazardly educated or indeed uneducable Nigerian youth available today. The quality of education in schools also speaks volume of where we want our future to be. This is why those who have the financial means send their children to schools abroad, to Ghana, Abidjan and even nearby Cotonou, in pursuit of qualitative education. The tragedy of it all is that these wealthy Nigerians are merely being escapist as those children they send to Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge would someday return to confront the menace of their
uneducated counterpart who have been lionized by the mess and putrid of a Nigerian education that we collectively left to fester. Nigeria cannot compete favourably on the education pedestal. Those who graduate from here and seek to further their studies realise painfully that aside the raw brunt and zeal of the Nigerian, he possesses scant structural make-up to make him compete in a technological and information age world that has no room for louts. When such graduates luckily get into the non-existent jobs, they inflict their mis-knowledge on the various sectors of the economy. Engineering graduates know everything but engines, computer graduates barely understand the computer and mass communication graduates do everything but communicate. Taken together, this leaves our nation in a limbo, handicapped from competing in a world of today and hamstrung from a place in the global space of tomorrow. So, when Dogara — I learnt that this was an initiative of Femi Gbajabiamila, kudos to him — organised a session for Dada where members showered encomium on his intellectual apotheosis, this symbolism arouses the dead sense of nationalism in us all. Except if the Dogara recognition is a fluke, we may have begun the process of reorientating our upcoming youth that indeed, education pays. Fascinated by the national acclaims and accolades received by Dada, a race to perform similar feats would erupt among our hitherto disenabled and discouraged youth. If government can expend a quarter of the energy it invests on anti-corruption on revitalising education in Nigeria, this could apotropaically reverse us off this path of national doom, stepping our feet anew on the way to a new country.
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26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
newsfeature
I
F you think that after the deployment of soldiers to the creeks following the February 5 bombing of oil and gas pipelines in Egwa community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, crude oil theft and its variants must have subsided, you are probably living in a fantasy world. This is because ever since the incident that drew a barrage of condemnations from far and near, the ‘business’ of stealing crude oil, refining it crudely, bombing of pipelines, opening up of oil wells to siphon the product as well as ferrying same to neighbouring countries has been going on as usual. The activities, actually, are on the rise. The Nigerian Navy, through the Commander of NNS DELTA, Warri Naval Base, Warri, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, informed journalists on Wednesday evening after a return from the creeks that his men had been on a four-day raid of creeks in the state and found some abandoned oil well heads supplying crude oil into large waiting wooden boats. The worried naval boss narrated further: “Within the last four to five days, my men on patrol have been able to locate and destroy at least three illegal refineries and another manifold, where these oil thieves steal crude oil. “So, between Thursday and now (March 17-22), we have carried out four raids on different locations, including that of today [March 22].” Most well heads dotting the Delta creeks are hardly functional as they have been abandoned by their owners, suspected to be the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which left the oil-rich state some years ago. Speaking on the abandoned oil well heads, Commodore Mohammed said: “Ordinarily, some of the well heads or manifold look abandoned; maybe because they are no longer economical to run, but these people have the will of forcing crude oil out of them. “The concerned owners should seal them up completely if they are no longer using them,” he advised. In addition, it was gathered that major repairs of bombed oil and gas pipelines are ongoing in the creeks by the Federal Government and multinational oil companies and miscreants are said to be cashing on this to connect outlets to the laid pipes to siphon crude oil. Confirming this, Commodore Mohammed said: “We have observed a trend in the last few days and that a lot of major repairs are being carried out by the FG and some of these vandals think this is the best time to also quickly make connections to the pipes, but because we have been on their trail and we are actually arresting some of them, they are now relocating to oil well heads to steal crude oil from them.” He said the navy was worried about the development because arrests made so far have shown that more sophisticated tools are being used by miscreants to further perpetrate their nefarious acts. “As you can see here (displaying some of the tools) they have a lot of tools they use in connecting the pipes. There is one for cutting the pipe and so on and we are also having our suspicion that with the amount of cables we have seen, it might also give us a clue at the end of the day that they are also involved in other things order than just stealing crude oil, especially blowing up of pipelines,” Mohammed noted. Lucrative business Stealing crude oil for illegal refining as well as shipping it for sale are still as lucrative as when crude oil price was a fortune on the international market. Plus or minus, perpetrators still make much money from the illegal business, since, as it has been observed, the stealing is done at little or no cost. Commodore Mohammed, while conceding to this notion, said that although the heat is currently on the miscreants, they still find it alluring to return to the business, even after suffering huge losses, occasioned by the destruction of their camps in the creeks. According to him, “there are some of them, when the heat is on them, they actually run, but they will find themselves coming back again, probably due to the lucrative nature of the business, where you can easily steal what is not your own or what you have not laboured for, just to make cheap money.” The raid on creeks The five-day raid by the naval personnel to destroy illegal re-
Saturday Tribune
The suspects, Commissioner Jonathan and Rex (middle), at the naval base on Tuesday.
Front view of Safama creek
‘I be Ijaw, I be pastor... I no be oil thief’
EBENEZER ADUROKIYA, who was in the creeks with personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA), reports the unfettered sabotaging of the country’s economic mainstay by oil thieves.
that crude oil pipes are opened. Following this, the hoodlums would mount the oil well heads and connect hoses to them to siphon crude oil into a waiting large wooden boat, popularly known as Cotonou boat. This is thereafter ferried, either to illegal refinery camps in the deep or to the high seas in the midnight, for onward sale to vessels. One of the spots visited on Tuesday was a settlement known as John 40. The name is an adaptation of the name of the founder of the community of about five houses, known as John 40. The shanties, built with modern roofs and aluminum, are erected on wooden stands. About two satellite dishes are mounted by one of the buildings. The community is said to be an abode of hoodlums who siphon crude oil from an oil well head in the area. There, a young man, Rex Iyorowari, who called himself a pastor, was arrested. Fair-complexioned Iyorowari was actually taking some nap, after, according to him, he had had a strenuous prayer vigil in
Warri the previous night. A woman who fled into the woods on sighting the navy troops was cooking a meal when an unperturbed Iyorowari was nabbed. Narrating his reason for being at John 40 to journalists while returning to Warri, the suspect said: “I come from Warri. I be Ijaw. I be pastor, by His grace. I just come from Warri. Me I dey go Okerenkoko, my boat engine come get problem. The carburetor sef dey give wahala, naim I say make I find place rest my head. “I carry my Bible. As they open am like that, I just say make I relax. And one woman wey dey cook there say make I relax there. The cooking no be for me. I no know wetin im dey cook. “I no know John 40. I just dey hear im name. I know say the name of this village na Okogbene, but I no know John 40.” The character John 40 is described by the naval personnel as an oil thief kingpin who is on the force’s list of wanted crude oil thieves. Pastor Iyorowari is said to be one of his foot soldiers
passersby that nothing, but fishing, is the vocation of members of the sleepy community. However, just behind the community is a bare land cruelly raped and ravished by long years of activities of oil refineries. On this vast virgin land are used huge metal ovens, trenches, iron reservoirs and the like littering the entire space. A short cruse on a flying boat through the polluted river to the back of the community let to sites of old and new refinery camps where crude oil is being locally refined. Side by side inside most of the shanties in the community are pumping machines, hoses, drums and kegs laden with refined diesel and kerosene. In the middle of the creek is a church auditorium with a white flag suggesting that it belongs to a white garment denomination. In spite of this evidence, the women, when accosted, denied the runaway miscreants. “We no know them. We just see say dem they come do cooking for here. We no know where dem come from. We never see them before,” one of the women claimed. With much vigor, the naval personnel did not hesitate to set the unquantifiable crude oil stored in Cotonou boat and metal reservoirs ablaze inadvertently endangering and worsening the already ravaged ecosystem. The naval patrol team did not leave Safama illegal refineries site until some show of force was displayed to send a warning signal to unyielding perpetrators of oil theft as shots from AK 47 reverberatingly tore into the thick forest. Parade of suspects at the naval base On return from the Tuesday raid, Commodore Mohammed paraded two other suspects caught stealing crude oil the previous day. Among the various items recovered from them were 11 pumping machines, three spades, two saws, several electric cables, iron nails and one outboard engine. He said some dynamites as well as other suspected bombmaking items were recovered from the founder and occupant of a two-house community along the Warri waterways with only his wife and three children. According to him, with the suspected bomb-making devices recovered from his abode, the man, whose identity was not disclosed, had been arrested and the one-man community destroyed with fire while his wife and children have been handed over to the suspect’s father-in-law. However when asked to quantify the volume of crude oil and locally refined diesel destroyed in the five-day raid, Commodore Mohammed said it ran into several metric tons, as a Cotonou boat contains about 120 metric tons and no fewer than four boats laden with crude oil were destroyed during the raid.
Inside Delta’s illegal oil business
fineries and stop crude oil theft came to its peak on Tuesday when two gunboats and a speedboat conveying armed naval personnel and about nine journalists from Warri visited Naval Base, Bonny Creek, Egwa creek, John 40, Okpogbene creek and Safama creek, all in Warri South West Local Governmnet Area of Delta State. Contrary to speculations, the waterways were free of armed soldiers harassing people or debarring villagers from accessing their homes in the creeks. The naval personnel took journalists round well heads that had been at the mercy of miscreants the previous days they went on the raid. The well heads were said to be gushing up crude oil into wooden vessels while the miscreants hid in nearby woods to wash out for possible intruders. Saturday Tribune gathered that the hoodlums usually wait till when there is pressure in the pipelines, particularly when the kilns at the flow stations are emitting flames as a sign
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Following this, the hoodlums would mount the oil well heads and connect hoses to them to siphon crude oil into a waiting large wooden boat, popularly known as Cotonou boat. This is thereafter ferried, either to illegal refinery camps in the deep or to the high seas in the midnight, for onward sale to vessels. and he is expected to give useful information that will lead to the arrest of his principal. At Safama creek, a community of about eight shanties, some young boys who were initially seen strolling around the village on sighting the naval gunboats fled into the deep creeks, leaving behind three aged women and a heavily pregnant lady. Someone visiting the community for the first time could pass it for an innocent place, but the floating of resplendent liquid suspected to be crude oil and its byproduct on the surface of the river is an indicator that there could be more than meets the eye. As a decoy, fishing nets were carefully strategically placed at the jetty and bank of the river of the community to deceive
Suspects speak The two suspects paraded at the naval base on Tuesday evening are one Commissioner Jonathan and one Rex. Born in 1983, Ijaw-born suspect Jonathan said he was introduced to crude oil theft by his elder brother. “One thing about this crude oil issue, we are doing it because of say my brother involve in pipeline, that’s why. He is my senior brother. “They came to arrest me; that is the only thing. I don’t involve in these things. Na my brother do pipeline. I no dey into this crude oil thing. “I dey hold parrot, naim be my work wey I dey do,” suspect Jonathan noted. His partner in crime, Rex, was somewhat incoherent: “I’m his people driver and by going from here to Okerenkoko, he even disturb me. I was found to stay in a village. “So there I found somewhere to sleep before they came and arrested me. I am not involved in any black oil business. E don reach two years wey I dey drive boat. Na im I take marry my wife and born children.” Some new gunboats have been acquired for the Warri Naval Base, but checks revealed that the base, like any other, does not have enough personnel to thoroughly man the waterways and check the excesses of miscreants who keep evolving new methods and means of carrying out their nefarious acts. Again until the big masquerades behind crude oil theft and illegal refineries - a multimillion huge venture - are unmasked and made to face the music, the war or is it battle against economic sabotage in the Niger Delta creeks might continue to be a mirage.
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Nigeria will be great again By Adebobola Omowon
W
E are students of history, yes we are proud to be. As proud as we are, we are equally sad. Sad that 90% of the youth still complain daily about not seeing anything good or changes which are and would gradually come. Youths who cannot see that we are the problems of ourselves. That it is not Buhari that has petrol BEING stored in their pumps, but will let a thousand people queue and then sell from just one pump. That we are too blind to see that the same water that was pumped in the past three months is the same that is pumped now, the same sealer that was used three months ago is the same being used today to seal the nylons of pure water, so ask yourself, why did pure water become 10 naira? We are blind to see that all we call witchhunt, point to the theft of billions and trillions, things that have put us in the condition we are in, and all we shout is to join some in shouting witchhunt. I’m not saying many aren’t guilty, but those whose cases are out, isn’t it sad enough that they indeed stole our common wealth. Isn’t it sad that crops are planted and harvested for food, yet I have not seen how dollars are involved in harvesting, but we get to our markets and hear the most common phrase, the most annoying phrase, “dollar ti won” (dollar has appreciated). Many of those who complain about the dollar have no business with the dollar, no dollar account to their names and yet they are the ones who shout most and complain about the rise of the dollar, something that ordinarily is none of our business. So we see, we are the problem of ourselves, not the President. We complain about the numerous journeys of the president! We request him to be constantly in the country, doing what?! This is because we are quite blind to see, that results are being achieved, alliances formed and recoveries are being made from this leader who is going to the world over, to project the new image of the country and proving to countries why Nigeria must be trusted again, and in some cases feared again and not taken for granted. What we have now is not hardship, it is sacrifice for a better tomorrow. As Rome was not built in a day, the journey has just begun. Let us not because of these baby steps make life difficult for
each other. Let us bear with one another and make our findings. This should be done without just sitting in the corners of our sitting room and shout “what kind of country is this”! Buhari has caused hardship! “ No fuel! Nigerians, we are the problems of ourselves, check yourselves! Our youths must look beyond what they see. I had the opportunity of discussing with some “vibrant” youths recently. While we spoke, one of them said to me point-blank, “Buhari is an illiterate. So I asked him, “why would you say that?” He replied, “Don’t you know he went to defence academy? A military school! All they teach them is how to shoot now.” Then I said, now we know who the illiterate is. The problem with this present generation is many are educated and most of these educated ones are illiterate. That being said, does the statement: “I would stabilise oil price” ring a bell? Yes, it was a very popular phrase that got the president insults from many. How would you do that? How would you stabilise world oil price? Then the president started travelling and again, we hear “he keeps jetting all around!” sit in your country! Buhari the tourist! Blah, blah. Well, we are not blind to see that the president keeps visiting OPEC countries. We are not blind to see that he has taken the matter of “global oil price” by the horns, working with countries in respect of oil freeze and regulated production that could jerk up oil prices. We are not blind to see that dates
have been chosen for a meeting in that regard. We are not too blind to see gradually a slight increase in global oil price. We are not too blind to see that journeys to other countries have projected the country as being strong again, seeing a firm leader projecting the new image of the country to the world over. They are gradually seeing a country that now abhors corruption. Cash amounts stored in different countries by Nigerians are being returned due to partnership with these countries being “jetted” to. Few months ago, the IMF president came to Nigeria. Don’t be deceived, the Bretton Woods institutions(World Bank, IMF) don’t just come to your country to say ‘Hi!’ They come to cajole, coarse, deceive and sometimes bully and force nations to accept loans and then set conditions for their economy! After the visit, we heard the IMF president say “Nigeria doesn’t need to borrow. They can look inwards”. This was a diplomatic statement as the IMF president was hiding her disgrace. The country under the leadership of President Buhari had refused to devalue the currency and refused to borrow from IMF. Not what they expected. They have met a firm president standing his ground. If you still listen to the big people around you who are shouting that they can’t import again and the government is spoiling their business, and you go about also shouting that this government is spoiling people’s businesses, you have to have a rethink. These people are the reason this country has remained backward. These people are capitalist and want to make gain. They are not after the welfare of the people, they are concerned about their own businesses and the money they want to make. Isn’t it sad enough that ponmo (cow skin) is being imported from Mali? You cannot spend the naira in the US Why the craze for dollar here? These policies are to discourage us from importing. This would have a good effect. It means we would start having needs among us, and people who have the sense enough to identify such needs would look for ways of meeting those needs, hence, local production and invention. Neccesity is the mother of invention. Note: When there is stiff import for toothpicks, we will learn to use brooms and bamboo to produce our toothpicks! I am not a fan of Buhari, I am a fan of the Federal Republic of Nigeria! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!! Omowon sent in this piece from Olapade Close, Olusoji area, Oluyole Estate Extension, Ibadan.
Need to address Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen crises By Olusola Ajiboye THE Fulani man cherishes his cattle, perhaps more than anything else. Even his life depends on the safety, good health and happiness of his cattle. In the traditional Fulani society, his wealth is measured by the number of cattle he possesses. Little wonder, the Fulani stakes his all to protect his cattle, his most prized possession. The Fulanis belong to the migratory tribes of Futa Jallon, a highland region in the centre of Guinea in West Africa. As cattle herders, they move in different locations and directions in search of grazing fields for their cattle. The cattle Fulanis could traverse an entire country in search of grazing fields, irrespective of its economic implications. Cattle grazing, particularly in the North, Middle Belt and southern parts of Nigeria, has gone on for years with manageable wranglings and occasional fisticuffs, between the nomadic Fulanis and the farming communities.The toleranceof farmers for the Fulani grazers began to dwindle as each passage of the Fulani herdsmen brought on its trail large scale destruction to food and cash crops, and ultimately, loss of livelihood for hundreds of farmers, Today, the search for grazing fields by the cattle Fulani is a serious security challenge for the citizens, particularly the farming population. Unfortunately the government is hamstrung in several ways in finding solution to the problem. The alternative conflict resolution strategies adopted by government have largely
failed to arrest the worrisome development. The quests of Fulani herdsmen for grazing fields got beyond proportions with the recent conflicts in Agatu communities of Benue State. The wanton destruction of farmlands and properties as well as the mad slaughter of men, women, and children in AIla, Akwu, Okokolo, Adagbo, Adagbo Ogboju and Odugbebo communities of Agatu Local Government area of Benue State continue to leave sore taste in the mouth. It has also fuelled ethnic insurrection and insecurity in the country, put more pressures on government resources and capacity to manage the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and added to the plethora of diplomatic problems for the Federal Government. For a country at the epicentre of terrorism and fighting desperately to get disentangled from the bloodletting campaign of Boko Haram, the Fulani invasion of farmlands and the enormous destructions on their paths are unnecessary burdens to bear, Nigerians are asking in a simple, clear language that how much of these avoidable problems can a nation, already overwhelmed by poverty,corruption, economic mismanagement, political instability and insecurity bear? The conficts engendered by grazing fields for the cattle Fulanis have persisted and reached monstrous levels due to the complacency of successive governments to the factors responsible for such conflicts. Today the prime factor is lack of grazing fields. The non-response of successive administrations to the provision of grazing reserves is responsible for the security challenge which the Fulani herdsmen have imposed
on the farming population and communities in Nigeria today. The alternative conflict resolution strategies by the federal and state governments are welcomed. Such dispute resolutions should however move beyond platitudes and town hall meetings to concrete steps that will create grazing reserves in different parts of the country. This should be supported by parliamentary declaration which will confine grazing within such reserves. Nigeria is currently circumferenced by two serious security problems; the Boko Haram insurgency and the violent craze for grazing reserves. Government can no longer pretend that these are problems of international implications for Nigeria. Every attempt must be made to treat the two equally. Boko Haram insurgency and Fulani herdsmen/farmers conflicts are genocidal in every nature and feature of its launching and effects on the victims. Nigerians now demand a more pragmatic security solution before the conflicts snowball into another civil war. Nigeria’s survival as a united and stable polity is the dream of every patriotic citizen. But to realise such a dream, Nigerians, irrespective of religion, ethnic, social, economic, and political backgrounds, deserve a country where justice, equality and security are guaranteed and where man as the greatest factor of life is treated with unequal dignity, while the right to his life is protected. Ajiboye is the Director, Outstations, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Osogbo.
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26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
style
Saturday Tribune
25
With Kate Ani 08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com
Trend alert: Varsity jackets
THE varsity jacket, a male American style of jacket, was initially known as the letterman jacket. This was intended for display of award or athletic achievement in an American university, so that its wearer is regarded as being part of a sporting association in school. Nowadays, fashionistas wear them just for the purpose of looking good and working a new trend. As opposed to a school badge, we now see designer logos, prints and other fashion icon designs featured on the front of this jacket. Regardless of how this piece is reworked, it seems to work every time and who doesn’t want something cool and interesting in his or her wardrobe? So remember, it is getting a little colder, so why not stay warm in style.
Tinuola Ayanniyi tayanniyi@yahoo.com 08055069379
Do-it-yourself
Pyramid earrings
Directions
My secret beauty tips: Adrienne Bailon Each week, STYLE will be presenting secret beauty tips from your favourite stylish superstars. This week’s secret beauty tip is from American artiste and popular TV show co-host, ‘The Real’, Adrienne Bailon. Here, Bailon highlights her beauty regime, you might learn a secret or two!
I
S there any beauty secrets passed down to you from your mother or grandmother? Yeah, good old olive oil in the hair, some eggs, and mayonnaise. If you mix those three; eggs, mayonnaise and olive oil, they are great for your hair. What is beauty to you? Beauty to me is happiness. I think the prettiest girls are the happy girls. The girls that smile all the time are the prettiest girls.
What is your morning beauty routine? I brush my teeth and I get in the shower. I love to exfoliate my skin every single day; all over my body, face, then I shampoo and condition my hair. I use a skin brightener and tightener when I get out of the shower, then I scrunch my hair and put it in a towel. Then, I start my makeup; I had to get over that because it kept staining all my clothes, but before I go to bed at night, I take another bath. I have to take a bath before I go to bed and I literally bathe myself with a baby oil and go to sleep, so my sheets say that I’m like an oily mess, but I just don’t care. I love the way baby
oil feels. What is your biggest beauty blunder? I loved being blonde. The problem with that is I’m not a natural blonde, and I used heat on my hair every single day, which was horrible for my hair. I came back with the whole front of my hair broken off. So, we’re bringing it back to recovery. It’s getting better. We’re getting there. What do you use to take all the makeup off? I don’t use makeup wipes, I feel like that’s not taking off my makeup. I also don’t wash my face in the sink. I can’t stand the running down of water on my elbows.... I have to take a bath; a shower. I have to feel like it’s completely all off. Courtesy: www.sheknowsbeauty. com.
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26 March, 2016
outofthisworld
Saturday Tribune WITH FEMI OSINUSI
osfem2@yahoo.com 08055069292
Shocking stories of how people were smuggled
inside suitcases, others
M
ANY people out of desperation can go to any length to do the unthinkable and sometimes, obviously stupid. Or how do we explain cases of those who were found at some airports with suitcases which were later found to contain human beings who they want to smuggle abroad? Also, there was the case of a woman who, according to oddee.com, after visiting her lover in the prison, decided to hide him inside her suitcase so as to smuggle him out of the prison. Also very ridiculous was the case of a man who decided to be sewn inside a vehicle seat in order to be able to enter the United States.
The woman who smuggled an 8-year-old inside a suitcase The woman who tried to smuggle her boyfriend out of prison in a suitcase In 2011, Maria del Mar Arjona Rivero tried to smuggle her partner, Juan Ramirez Tijerina, out of the prison where he was serving a 20-year sentence for illegal weapons possession in Chetu-
mal, Mexico. According to prison officials, Ramirez Tijerina was discovered hiding in the suitcase as Arjona Rivero left the building following a conjugal visit. She was was arrested for the attempt.
The man who was sewn to a car seat so as to enter US
IN 2001, Mexican national, Enrique Aquilar Canchola, was found sewn into the passenger seat of a vehicle as part of an attempt to enter the United States. Canchola, 42, was stopped at the San Ysidro, California border crossing. At the time of Canchola’s attempted immigration, it was the world’s busiest border.
IN 2015, a boy was discovered by customs officials hiding in luggage via the airport scanner in Spain. X-ray images captured he youngster tucked up in the trolley suitcase as he tried to get into the country. The luggage belonged to a 19-year-old woman who police became suspicious of after noticing she was nervous. They pulled her to one side and,
believing she may have been smuggling drugs, scanned her luggage only to find something much more surprising. When he was found, the boy stuck his head out of the suitcase and said, in French, Hello, my name is Abou. Police arrested a man from Costa de Marfil, who was believed to be the boy’s father. The woman was acting as a carrier for a substantial fee.
Woman discovered smuggling her baby in a backpack A desperate woman tried to smuggle her baby past airport security in a backpack in Papua New Guinea because she did not have the correct immigration papers for her son to leave the Philippines. The two-month-old was discovered by staff at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as he was picked up by the X-ray machine. The child was soundly asleep when he was found by security.
The couple who stuffed their baby in a carry-on bag
The man who hid another man inside a suitcase at the airport in Peru In 2015, two men were arrested at an airport in Peru after being caught red-handed making an attempt at human smuggling. Video of the incident shows a man with an average-sized suitcase being stopped by a security guard with a dog at Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport. Despite the dog displaying a keen interest in the
case, the man wielding it was reluctant to open it, and with good reason. The guard forced the man to open the luggage, revealing another man curled up inside the case.
In 2012, an Egyptian couple stuffed their baby in a carry-on bag and tried to sneak him into the United Arab Emirates, but were busted after they put the bag through an X-ray machine. A man, his wife and their newborn son arrived at Sharjah International Airport but were told they couldn’t enter the country because the boy didn’t have a visa. Customs officials told the pair they’d have to wait a day to sort out the matter. Instead, the couple put the boy inside a carry-on bag and tried to sneak him through security. Luggage at UAE airports is usually scanned on arrival after passengers have their passports stamped. An X-ray worker spotted the baby in the bag and the couple was arrested.
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26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
with Tunde Ayanda ayandaayotunde@yahoo.com 08034649018
Segun Runsewe on the rebound F
ORMER boss of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Segun Runsewe may have changed his mind about attending social outings. The man, who remarkably did well at the NTDC, recently made an appearance at a public event. For unknown reasons, Runsewe shut himself out of public glare immediately he was relieved of his duties at the NTDC. Now the man may have shrugged off the past and seems to be targeting what lies
Erelu Abiola Dosumu’s winning tactics
ahead. He was at the recent National Association of Tour Operators’ AGM in Calabar, Cross River State, where he spoke on the need for a total overhauling of the industry’s leadership in view of its lack of presence and poor advocacy for tourism change in Nigeria. The former NTDC boss still possesses his usual charm as his speech lightened the moods of the participants who in turn gave him an endless round of applause.
Another garland for Seyi Makinde
ERELU Abiola Dosumu is a woman that doesn’t joke with whatever she lays her hands on. The stylish woman surprised many when on her 62nd birthday in 2009, she launched an exclusive club, The Beach Centre located on Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The club is exclusively for the rich as she equipped it with modern facilities which include a gym, restaurant, massage parlour, library, games room, conference room, exclusive lounge and many more. The exclusive nature of the business was exhibited when former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was part of the guests that graced the opening. There are talks about a possible upgrade to attract more clients. The owner must have caught the drift and swung into action which sees to the change in management and the upgrade of some facilities. The woman of substance, who wears the traditional title of the Erelu of Lagos with pride is said to have engaged the best managers and equipment and is set to roll the dice again and win back her clients.
rs, Top designe models, ther a g s a t s i n o i h fas 6 for UFW 201
Halima Fernandez back on the grill HALIMA, the wife of late billionaire, Dehinde Fernandez, must have decided to shelve her mourning and embrace life and the other good things that come with it. The widow, who did not hide her grief at the passage of her husband and observed several months of mourning has discarded what remains of her dark clothes and is back on the social scene. The friends of the socialite offered to end her grief when they threw a surprise birthday party for her recently. Those present at the party hinted that it showed an evidence of highclass with all the glamorous trappings.
THE 2016 University of Ibadan Fashion Week has been marked on the diaries of popular designers, photographers, models and all other people in the fashion industry. The three-day event, which comes up from April 27 to 29, is to give young, talented fashion designers, models, stylists and make up artistes who are students of the institution an opportunity to express themselves in their career and develop ideas that will contribute to the fashion industry. The event, tagged Classic Fashion, will feature fashion and arts exhibitions, runway displays, musical performances and many other activities. The annual fashion show is usually an event where executives of fashion outlets and celebrity designers target to capture talents and other skilled hands to grow their businesses.
TOP politician and the Chief Executive Officer of Makon Engineering, Seyi Makinde, just got for himself another laurel adding to the many awards and recognition he had won in the past. The award this time is the highest merit award from the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), which is usually bestowed on deserving individuals from Ibadan. The award was bestowed on Makinde a few days ago, in what the Council called his contributions to the development of Ibadan and his support for the CCII. The award ceremony attracted a large number of people to the Liberty stadium, Ibadan where a mammoth crowd converged to witness the event. Makinde, who was the flagbearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last governorship election in Oyo State, received the award and thanked the association with a promise that he would continue to do more for Ibadan and Oyo State in general. The politician’s donation of N10 million to support the Ibadan House Project was greeted with a deafening shout of ‘2019’ by his supporters and admirers.
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26 March, 2016
ntertainment News
Society Gist
Saturday Tribune with Joan Omionawele and
jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08054682201 Newton-Ray Ukwuoma 08052271251
Celebrity Interviews
Mixed feelings among fans as Psquare brothers reconcile —p32
NBC reacts to restriction of Olamide’s song, Don’t Stop —p33
I’ll never
leave 2Face
— Annie Idibia
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26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Continues from pg2
be about the money, but about the ability to interpret a role and pass the message across to your audience and in so doing create a kind of following that would admire and emulate you. I remember a director asked me if I could play the role of a lesbian, but I rejected it. It’s a role, why did you reject it? As much as that is true, you have to be able to define your own style and personality in your roles. Like I said, I should like to be a role model to many people. That’s why my personality matters a lot to me. Can you do a romantic role in a movie? Yes, because it is not what you people see in the movie that actually happens during the shoot. There are about ten people looking at you while you are acting. So, it is hardly tense or real as it is portrayed. Doesn’t that also apply to lesbian roles? But not many people would understand it before they begin to label you indiscreetly.
‘Some directors discreetly ask ladies for their bodies to get roles’
How do you feel after being featured in a couple of Nollywood movies? I feel good and find it interesting, though it is very competitive and you have to keep on trying until you are there. The title of last my last movie is ‘After Dark’. The experience was fun, though very stressful. Honestly, you have to have passion for it for you to enjoy the industry. Do you make more money as an actor than as a make-up artist? (Laughs) Money ke! Many people don’t know that sometimes you don’t have to look at the financial aspect. Most people in the industry are driven by passion. It is until you are quite successful and famous that you can really stick your own price to a role, not before. So, money ain’t the first drive in Nollywood. That’s why I am not bordered when sometimes I get peanuts. Have you shut the door permanently on make-up artistry or what is your take on that? Not really. I take things as they come. Basically I do more acting than make-up jobs. So, I am still a make-up artist, only that I have found my love and passion in acting. Who is your role model in the movie industry? I like Omotola [Jalade-Ekeinde] because of her charisma. I love everything about her and I am looking forward to the day I will get a role with her. Can you give us a quick snap of your life off set? Actually, I am not really popular yet; so, I can’t say much about the off set other than that it is just the normal life of everyone. I do the usual things everyone does. But on set, life has been really good to me, and I give thanks to God. Do you see any prospect of financial freedom in the movie industry? There is a huge opportunity in Nollywood, but financial freedom rests on a number of many details of investments. So, I am open to all roles in acting. I am open to all businesses. In short, I am open to every good business. I studied Economics at the university because I wanted to cash in on opportunities. I want to be able to touch all sectors. You earlier said that you turned down a controversial role, what role do you think can bring you to limelight?
We have so many producers nowadays. Nobody will ever force you to do what you don’t want to do. It’s happening in every sector and not just the movie industry. I believe when God wants to lift you up, it wouldn’t cost Him a thing. We have all read the story of Olajumoke the bread seller, who is now a well-known super model. I believe I am not too hungry for fame, so long as I am able to interpret my roles very well, I will do just fine. Besides make-up or acting, what else can you do? (Laughs) Maybe I’ll be a dancer. But I don’t like dancing for people. I love dancing in a private environment. Do you keep friends in the industry? I have cordial relationship with everybody. I can’t say I have friends in the industry; neither do I have beef with anybody in the industry.
Who do you want to work with in the Nollywood? Probably Odunlade Adekola. I have not actually met him but there are some actors that bring out the best in you anytime you are on set with them. I think I’ll love to work with Odunlade because he is a very good actor. Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Lagos. I had my primary school education in Lagos Island, Police Children School and later went to Kwara State for my secondary school education before returning to Lagos. I attended Lagos State University for a part-time programme after which I left for Osun State to attend Oduduwa University. Have you been asked to exchange your body for a role in a movie before? Sometimes it happens, but they won’t put it straight to you because they are very careful. But it’s not as bad as you think.It is in every sector; banking, oil and gas. But in the movie industry, you have a choice to move on to another producer or director if one is telling you to give out your body for a role. We have so many producers nowadays. Nobody will ever force you to do what you don’t want to do. It’s happening in every sector and not just the movie industry. Tell us about your relationship: are you single or married? I won’t say anything about it, but I’m single and searching.
32 entertainment
26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
are Mixed feelings among fans as Psqu brothers reconcile StoriesByJoanOmionawele
I’ll never
leave 2Face — Annie Idibia
N
IGERIAN pop star, 2Face Idibia and wife recently celebrated their third wedding anniversary and to celebrate this, 2Face took his wife to a secret location. An elated Annie Idibia took to Instagram to celebrate by acknowledging her husband, 2Face: “You are truth baby. For always going the extra mile to make me smile. I might act like I don’t see it baby, but my heart smiles at the very thought of it. My rock, my strength, my protector, my defender, my mine.” Annie continues: “you know say I go use coconut break rock for your matter, that’s the kind of God I serve and yes, I will never leave you. It still amazes me
how my heart skips when you walk in a room or when you smile at me and how I still get goose bumps when you hold me in your arms. Thanks for all the sleepless nights, you work so hard to make sure I never lack, for all the jokes, for the happiness you bring in our home, for all the love you teach, for
constantly making sure I do not worry about nothing, for keeping our dreams alive, for loving this imperfect girl so perfectly. Happy anniversary baby.” The lovebirds got married in 2013 after a long-term relationship. Their marriage is blessed with two girls, Isabella and Olivia.
JUST after a period of family drama on the social media, popular music twin musicians, Psquare have reconciled and apologised for their behaviour. The misunderstanding which started five weeks ago when one of the twins, Peter, moved to dissolve their management headed by their elder brother, Jude Okoye, caused an uproar online as their fans became polarised. Taking to their Instagram pages, the brothers said “That it took our stupidity to realise that FAMILY comes first. We are VERY SORRY.” As fans received the news, some were overjoyed while others welcomed it with mixed feelings, insisting that it was a publicity stunt, which they said was the modus operandi of the twins. According to one Instagram user, @gloriavitalis, “I said that you fans shouldn’t bother yourselves. The whole stuff was just like Nollywood Telemundo, tragedy-comedy in the end they came back together and everything became new again.... Lol.. Welcome back@rudeboypsquare @ peterpsquare, Another fan wrote: “Now, Psquare I know it will end well, you people are now working in the right direction and your mum will be happy wherever she is. God bless you guys.” Another fan who was unimpressed wrote: “Nice publicity stunt Psquare. I like your market strategy.” It seemed like the news of the year as another user @ toyingabrielllle said, “this is the best news in Nigeria entertainment. Thank you guys for making up and making us Nigerians proud. May your entire family continue to be Proud of you.” Also rejoicing, another Instagram user said, “Hallelujah! I’m so happy to see this, glory be to the most high God.” Will the brothers remain one? While some hold that they have reconciled for good, pundits say they only
Duncan Mighty named FOSSCCIMA youth ambassador for S/South POPULAR musician, Duncan Mighty, has been announced Youth Brand Ambassador, South South Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (FOSSCCIMA), Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to the statement he received from the South-South Coalition Office, Duncan Mighty was recognised because the coalition has watched with joy, the growth of the entertainment industry in Nigeria,
especially in the Niger Delta Region’. It further stated that the musician had contributed immensely to the growth of entertainment in the southsouth region. ‘It is for this reason that FOSSCCIMA has nomi-
reconciled because they have a show outside the country and it’s only a mat-
ter of time before they start their hulabaloo on the social media again.
Comedian Owen Gee rl and Kaylah to host Pea del Look 2016 runway mo competition INTERNATIONAL top model, Doyin Haastrup has announced the hosts for this year’s Pearl Look, a competition for young ladies who aspire to be top models with international standard, replete with beauty, poise, character, and professionalism. Superstar comedian Owen Gee and Cool FM OAP, Kaylah, will host this year’s Pearl Look holding at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, on Saturday, April 9. Speaking on the choice of hosts, Haastrup said: “We are glad to be working with
nated you to be the Youth Brand Ambassador.’ While accepting the nomination, Duncan said “I wish to use this medium to solicit your support in furtherance to this lifetransforming agenda.”
Owen Gee and Kaylah on the fourth edition of Pearl Look. Owen Gee is a funny guy and he’ll sure treat the audience to an awesome night. Kaylah, on the other hand, is beautiful and an amazing host as well, they both serve as a perfect combination and I can’t wait to witness the night.” After successful auditions in Benin City, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Enugu, 16 contestants have been selected to battle for the grand prize of international modelling contracts in Johannesburg, Milan and New York.
33 entertainment No ‘Woju’ remix in my ‘New Era’ album —Kiss Daniel
26 March, 2016
Olamide’s song is restricted, not banned —NBC
Stories by Newton-Ray Ukwuoma D-Worldwide Entertainment musician, Anidugbe Oluwatobiloba Daniel, alias Kiss Daniel, is billed to release his first ever official album on May 1. The kid sensation made the disclosure during a press briefing and album cover launch in Victoria Island, Lagos, recently. The album titled ‘New Era,’ will feature a lone collaboration with label mate Sugarboy, alongside Daniel’s hit singles, including ‘Woju,’ ‘Laye,’ ‘Good Times’ and other unreleased songs. Daniel, who caught everyone’s attention with the release of ‘Woju’ on September 1, 2014, a single that won him accolades and massive acceptance in the industry, has been described as one of the stars of the next generation. The Water Engineering graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, who fielded questions from pressmen about the exclusion of ‘Woju’ remix that featured Davido and Tiwa Savage from his first album, said that in spite of the achievement of the collaboration with the two superstars, he personally deferred from enlisting the
song as he was “more than capable” of communicating HE Director, Monit the message of his album oring , Nigerian Broadalone. casting Speaking he said, “The Corporation (NBC), Chris Okoy reason I got Davido and omoh, has said that Tiwa Savage to feature in the placement of restrictions the song was to help push on creative works are not to ‘Woju.’ And they did a good discourage talented artistes in job. But for not including the industry , but to maintain a sa the song or not collaboratne and healthy environment ing with any big artiste for for children and young adult the new album, it is a pers in the hitec h world. sonal thing for me. I think Mr Okoyomoh, wh I am more than capable to o spoke on the heels of a recent do this on my own. I am circular distributed to radio more than capable to pass and TV stations all over the the message. ‘New Era’ is a country pla cing “Don’t Stop” by message coming from me YBNL boss and indigenous to the fans. I don’t think I rapper, Olamide Adedeji on need anyone now to help the Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) lis pass the message. t due to vulgarism, told Sa “The only person I feel can turday Tribu ne that the song, Do help transmit the message n’t Stop’ was not banned but is Sugarboy, that is why he restricted from airplay for no is the only featured artiste t meeting the standard of the regu on the album.” latory body, stating that if Daniel, who spoke excitthe recommendations subm edly about his personal itted into br oadcasting houses are mission in the debut almet the bum, also stated he would restriction would be lifted. Okoyomoh, who spok work with other artistes in e on the the near future, citing his alleged ban said “We do not set collaboration with Wizkid to discourage artistes in the creative industry. The so as proof. ng is not ba nned as the media The album release conhave recert will be held on May 7, ported. It is only restricted from as Daniel will be expected airplay for not meeting the NBC to perform some of his hit code for standard and decency. songs with a live band on We also provided reasons why the day.
T
Tiwa Savage, Davido, Yemi Alade set for Gidi Fest 2016 THE third edition of Gidi Culture Festival tagged Gidi Fest 2016 holds today at Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island. Once more the Gidi Fest stage will be lit up with the presence of the biggest acts from across the continent. The festival’s headliners include Davido, Tiwa Savage, Phyno, Yemi Alade and Timaya, while South Africa’s, K.O and Riky Rick will be coming to Nigeria for the first time to grace the stage. Opening acts on the day are Adekunle Gold and Small Doctor. Packaged by Eclipse Live, this year gives a more seamless experience of great entertainment, sports and
Saturday Tribune
great food. Speaking on the event, founder Chin Okeke says, “Gidi Fest is a music festival that defines the progression of music and urban youth culture in Africa. The festival was naturally born in Lagos because the city is the melting pot of the continent, yet it maintains a global outlook. Our line-up for this year’s showdown represents the current crop of African music stars.” The hosts for Gidi Fest 2016 include MTV Base VJ’s, Nomuzi from South Africa and Nigeria’s Ehiz alongside City FM OAP, Sensei Uche.
the song is not to broa dcast on our airwaves, but if the artiste decides to comply with the NBC code nothing stops us from admitting it on air. Ou r role as regulators does not superimpose the creative energ y of the artistes, but our conc ern is on broadcasting stations and what goes on air. We simply want to make the airwaves he althier for unsuspecting minors and children,” he said According to a memo circulated to all broadcast ing stations on March 11, 2016 and signed by the Lagos Director of the National Br oadcasting Commission, Mr s. Cole Bunmi, the song, ‘Do n’t Stop’ was faulted for conta ining indecent phrases such as “I just wanna hit it now now now”, “Je kin wo be, let me enter the place),” “Don’t sto p, take it”, “Oun tami oun ro mi”, “It took your mama nine months to make it”, “w a gba poro (come and let me give you my p*nis). Last year, the regula tory body had also declared over 18 songs and videos unsafe to broadcast on air wi th Olamide’s Shakiti Bobo ma king the list of NTBB music als. The YBNL boss had not reacted to the latest de velopment as of press tim e.
Seyi Shay, Phyno sing about Mary NIGERIAN act, Debora Oluwaseyi Joshua, alias Seyi Shay, during the week followed up the release of her song, ‘Mary’ featuring indigenous Igbo rapper, Phyno, with the visuals. The official video is currently receiving positive reviews from fans. The song, regarded as one of Seyi Shay’s best works, is enjoying massive airplay across the country. Consisting of an Afro Trap tune which originates from the Southside America known as “dirty south,” Mary had Seyi Shay lending her amazing vocals to the beat, meandering crescendos upon crescendos in a feat only the best can offer.
It also had the Igbo rapper, Phyno, taking a momentary break from his rap language and breathing out a largely English lyrics in a bid to connect with Mary, whose personality throughout the song is interwoven with the Christian’s Holy Mother of Jesus and a club lassie of the singers’ admiration. Seyi Shay, however, revealed the identity of Mary to Saturday Tribune. “Mary was inspired,” she said, “by a friend of mine who always attracted major attention from everybody whenever they would enter a party or dance floor because of her bold personality and funky outfits.”
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26 March, 2016
The South-West Editor Wole Efunnuga | 08111813056
Alayeluwa Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, Lagbami Osekun III is the Onpetu of Ijeru land. He was a banker before ascending the throne of his forefathers. In this interview with YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, he speaks on his Christian life, polygamy, challenges of development, his vision for Ijeru land and sundry issues. Excerpts:
W
HILE growing up, did it ever occur to you that you will one day become a king? That is a beautiful question. Let me start with when I was leaving the bank; maybe that would explain whether I knew that one day I would become a king or not. When I was leaving, I went to meet my manager, Alhaji Abadam by name and I told him, sir, it’s like I would be putting in my letter to leave the bank, he said are you crazy? I said no sir, have you gotten another job, I said no sir. He said then why? And I told him that I have been invited by my people to come and ascend the throne of my four fathers. He asked what do you mean. And I said I have been appointed as a king. He said are you a prince? I said no, I was a prince but now a king. That was the kind of life I lived. That is the first part of the question. The second part is while I was growing up, maybe because of my name, people who are vast in Yoruba language knew that someone bearing Oyediran must be from a royal family but as an individual, I never for one day thought that I would be a king, I went into trade unionism and during the time I joined trade unionism, we were followers of Balarabe Musa, whose hatred for feudalism was beyond measure, so if I had known that I came out of the blue blood, I would probably not have joined Balarabe Musa’s movement but I did as a radical, as an activist. As a born again Christian, how do you balance your faith with tradition? Very simple. There is no conflict; it’s just like any other occupation. They way you balance your journalism with your faith is the same way we balance our traditional institution with our faith. You see we are always making the mistake that traditional institution is synonymous to idolatry, it is not so, yes there is traditional religion belief just the way we have Christianity and Islam. You may decide to choose which one you want to follow. If you decide to be a traditionalist, no problem, if it’s Christianity, no problem but as for me I choose to be a Christian. There is a general belief that traditional rulers are polygamists. What do you think about polygamy? It depends on individual’s conviction. Traditional rulers of old, yes, because there was nobody taking care of the traditional rulers, they were predominantly farmers and they can’t go to the farms themselves, they needed their children to go to their farms because then, farming was not mechanised, it was the traditional way of farming with cutlass and hoe and how many hectares of land can one individual cultivate. So traditional rulers then, just like any other person get to marry so many wives so they can get so many children to help in the farm irrespective of what they will bring from other settlements as royalty because they need something to complement. The other reason is that there are some traditional rulers that ascended the throne after their father. If such a traditional ruler got to the throne at old age probably the children are old or dead,
My life as a banker-turnedoba — Onpetu of Ijeru they would decide to have as many children as possible from different wives to ensure they have a better chance of one of their children continuing the lineage as a king. Thirdly, individual’s taste. Some people whether they are traditional rulers or not just go after polygamy, they like women and want to acquire them like clothes in their wardrobe, some people are like that and fourthly, the religion of some people support polygamy, like Islam gives room for them to marry four wives though I do disagree with them when it comes to matter of arguments because Quran does not say they should marry four wives, it says if they can take care of the four of them equally and be just. What was life like for you before you became born again? Very interesting. I must confess to you, I had a very nice time; I did tell you I wasn’t born with a silver spoon, I was born in a village and you know as a village boy, when you have the opportunity of seeing civilisation, you want to take the maximum you can take of it. So I took advantage of that when I got to the bank and it affected me, I must confess. I became a drunkard, a party man because then, money was nothing, we were one of the highest paid workers in the country then, we enjoyed life to the fullest. Not until God said no, my son, it is enough. So until, then, I did all a young man will do, every vices of the society
except stealing and robbery. What was the most memorable thing you can remember about your coronation? Beautiful. My coronation was intriguing and interesting. When I picked up the letter because of the peculiarity of the area I came from; it was a turbulent area when it comes to traditional institutions and matters. It has always been turbulent with people scared of what has happened or will happen. The Permanent Secretary handed over the letter on a Thursday and asked that I ensure that we complete the whole process before Monday. I had been given the clue, I got my letter, took my friends to the civil service club for entertainment and people thought I was celebrating my birthday. The following morning, I left for Ilorin, I passed Ogbomoso and I didn’t branch because of the clue I was given and after consultations, we did the installation very early on Saturday morning around 6.00 am. There’s difference between coronation and installation, the installation was interesting and the coronation was beautiful. What is your vision for the town? You just touched me where my heart is bleeding. My vision is to see that my town grows but unfortunately, the economic situ-
Saturday Tribune CREW sari n Tu de B9u3530 081275 ndare nga - Ogu Yejide G8b1e16706853 0 unesan Tunde O9g54634 08116
t: r us; contac Got news fo bune@yahoo. ttri es hw ne ut so bu @ uthwesttri co.uk or so ail.com gm
ation is not helping matters but even before the economic crunch, things were not as I desired. This idea of brain drain, people look at it as leaving Nigeria for other countries but it is more than that, there is migration of gifted and blessed people from semi urban areas to urban areas in the country just like we have migration from the rural areas to the city. This made me think of what I can do as an individual and also to encourage people. I got to the throne in 1999, by the year 2000, some of my prominent citizens were given federal portfolios, so I said the first thing to do is bring these people together at a dinner and tell them my vision for the community and how they can help the town and its people, unfortunately, the day I fixed was the same day the community of the then Head of Service was hosting him in his village so my own people decided to follow the HOS to his own village and abandoned their own, we lost that opportunity. So I decided that if we start pursuing these established people, we won’t get anything done. I went back to the drawing board and started an educational programme where we take the best students from the WAEC result; put some things together to encourage them to go further and also others coming behind, we did this for a while and transformed it later into a competition between the primary and secondary school students, we put up three prizes for them; the best in literary and debating, the best in quiz competition and the best in essay competition, we handed over to the Nigerian Union of Teachers for transparency and honesty, we thought we would get people to support that programme but there was no help so I rested it after 10 years. Also, we went into the health sector in year 2001, we organized a week long HIV/AIDS awareness programme and the Wife of the Governor then, Alhaja Sarat Adesina came and we gave free tests for various sicknesses, not HIV alone and we gave supplements free of charge. And subsequently, single handedly, I brought in experts from the United States to give free treatment to my people, I did this for five years giving eyeglasses, eye tests and hernia surgeries before I stopped when the burden became too much, we expected the local government to lend a helping hand but unfortunately no one helped. I found it funny when the state government was doing something similar and were announcing to the whole world, I was doing that for years. What is it that you do not enjoy as a traditional ruler? Traditional institution is just like any other occupation, it has its good and negative sides. For me, what I don’t like is that you sit from morning till night attending to people, you know when they bring cases to the palace, there is no room for adjournment. You listen to them, you give your verdict because there are others waiting. So if you say you want to suspend one and give them another date, do you know the number of cases that are coming the next day. That’s the only clog there, the sitting down from morning till night. I am not talking about the modern day Obas that do not even have time to attend to people; I’m not talking about political Obas, I’m talking about real traditional rulers who sit down to attend to their community’s problems. And that is where we need to be careful in Yoruba land now, we need to address that now, we shouldn’t turn traditional institutions into political institutions.
35
26 March, 2016
achievers
Saturday Tribune
With Ronke Sanya (Winner, NMMA Innovative Reporter of the Year 2015) 07036050161 | sanyaaderonke@gmail.com
& Oyeyemi Okunlade | 08056834515 | ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com
Deji Akinwande selected for Obama’s 2016 early career award for scientists •Recognised for inventing world’s thinnest silicon material Due to his contribution to research in the field of engineering, Deji Akinwande was recently identified by President Barack Obama as one of the recipients of Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, RONKE SANYA writes:
D
EJI Akinwande is an associate professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Texas. The Nigerian is renowned as one of the best researchers in the world. He is known for his groundbreaking and novel research on nanomaterials, sensors, devices and flexible technology. According to www.ece.utexas.edu, Akinwande is considered one of the top researchers in the world in the areas of graphene, silicon electronics and 2-D nanomaterials for use in flexible electronics. In 2015, he created the first transistor out of silicene, the world’s thinnest silicon material, and he is continuing to advance the capabilities of computer chips and other electronics. Recently, Akinwande was selected to receive a 2016 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) by President Obama, the United States government’s highest honor for scientists and engineers in the early stages of research. In the announcement made in February 2016 by the White House, Akinwande was among 106 recipients who will be honoured at a ceremony in Washington D.C. soon, for having research that is both innovative and beneficial to the society. While making the announcement at the White House, President Barack Obama said,
“These early-career scientists are leading the way in our efforts to confront and understand challenges from climate change to our health and wellness. We congratulate these accomplished individuals and encourage them to continue to serve as an example of the incredible promise and ingenuity of the American people.” Professor Akinwande is an associate Professor in electrical and computer engineering
Akinwande was among 106 recipients who will be honoured at a ceremony in Washington D.C. soon, for having research that is both innovative and beneficial to the society.
and the Jack Kilby/ Texas Instruments Endowed Faculty Fellow in Computer Engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio and has a double degree (B.S/ M.S) in electrical engineering and applied physics. Akinwande is one of two PECASE recipients of the Presidential Early Career
Award from The University of Texas, Austin. In 2015, Akinwande created his first transistor out of silicene – the world’s thinnest silicon material – and he has since continued to advance the capabilities of computer chips and other electronics. For his outstanding efforts in the field of engineering and prior to his selection for being a recipient of Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists, Akinwande has received numerous awards. In 2015, he received the Engineering School Nominee for Texas System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award and also the Endowed Faculty Fellowship award. In 2013 he was presented with the IEEE Senior Member, and in the same year, he was given the 2013 IEEE NANO Geim and Novoselov (Inaugural) Graphene Prize. He received the NSF Faculty CAREER Award 2012 DTRA Young Investigator Award 2012 3M Nontenured Faculty Award 2012, Army Research Office Young Investigator Award, 2011 Office of Naval Research Grant Award 2010 Stanford Future-Faculty DARE Fellow, 2008-2010. Akinwande is also a Ford Foundation Fellow, 2006-2009 and a Alfred P. Sloan Scholar, 2006-2008.
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26 March, 2016
weekend cartoons
Saturday Tribune
Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638
Just a Laffing Mata
Pal m Sunday j okes
IT was Palm Sunday but because of a sore throat, five-year-old Segeluulu stayed home from church with a baby-sitter. When the family returned home, they were carrying several palm fronds. Segeluulu asked them what they were for. ‘People held them over Jesus’ head as he walked in,’ his father told him. Segeluulu fumed, ‘Oh my gosh, so just the one Sunday I didn’t go, Jesus showed up?’
POLITICO
G o o d F r i d a y j o ke s
A priest was driving down to church for service on Good Friday and got stopped for overspeeding on the highway by a policeman. The police smelt alcohol on the priest’s breath, then saw an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car. He asked, “Sir, have you been drinking?” “Just water,” the priest said, fingers crossed. The police said, “Then why do I smell wine?” The priest looked at the bottle and said, “Good Lord! He’s done it again!”
Easter Sunday jokes
A man asked his little son, Segeluulu on an Easter Sunday, as they were on the way to the church service, ‘...And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?’ Segeluulu responded, ‘Because people are sleeping?’
FUNOLOGY
Ea st er Monday jo kes
A Christian missionary, Jemima, was walking in Africa on an Easter Monday when she heard the ominous padding of a lion behind her. ‘Oh Lord,’ prayed Jemima, the missionary, ‘Grant in Thy goodness that the lion walking behind me is a good christian lion.’ And then, in the silence that followed, Jemima heard the lion praying too, ‘Oh Lord,’ he prayed, ‘I thank Thee for the food which I am about to receive this Easter period.’
GOOD NEWS: Warring Nigerian twin singers reconcile after 5 weeks of drama
37 feature
26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
I have been rendered naked
Cries stepmum of driver killed by police inspector over N100 By Oluwatoyin Malik
A
s one approached Ile Odekun in Saki town, Oyo State, the residence of Mr Alimi Akeem a.k.a. Sakilayewa, who was shot to death by a trigger-happy policeman on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, it was noticeable that the people gathered in front of the house were mourning, with the sombre looks they wore. As if in consonance with the people’s mood, the entire Araromi area where the house was situated bore the silence almost that of a graveyard. A stranger to the house would not have made a mistake to think that talking would seem rude and irresponsible. The silence wore on. But as this writer stepped into the parlour where family members, the deceased’s children and sympathisers surrounded the first wife of the deceased, Mrs Nimota Akeem, she had no choice than to break the silence as she commiserated with the family on Akeem’s death. It was obvious that the shock of the sudden exit of Akeem, who was a driver before his gruesome killing, had yet to wear off. It will be recalled that Akeem was shot in the head by one Inspector Oyibo popularly called Yellow along Saki-Okerete over N100 extortion. Yellow was attached to border patrol as at the time of the incident which occurred and was said to be the only policeman posted to the Orita Sanni checkpoint. It was learnt that the victim, who plied Saki to Okerete community was on his way back to Saki when he passed through Yellow’s checkpoint. Though Akeem reportedly dropped N100 for a young man called ‘Camp boy’, who was employed by the policeman to be his ‘toll’ collector whenever he was not at the point of duty, Yellow slung his rifle across his chest and pursued the deceased, using his motorcycle, when he was told by his ‘Camp boy’ that Akeem did not pay his toll. As Yellow caught up with Akeem about two kilometers from the checkpoint, he shot at one of his car’s tyres, forcing him to a stop. Akeem’s protest against the policeman’s action silenced him forever as the cop shot at him through his vehicle, with the bullet penetrating the side of his left eye, tearing through his skull to exit through the back of his head, along with a chunk of flesh and brain matters. Speaking with Saturday Tribune on the sudden exit of her husband, Mrs Akeem, said that she had no premonition that her husband would die that day. “When he was leaving for work, he asked me to take his son who was ill to the hospital. The nurses told me to leave the child in the hospital for observation so I went back home to wait for my husband, expecting him to return to give me money to pay the hospital bill. I had no inkling of the fate that had befallen my husband. “As a food vendor, I attended to customers in the morning. I later went inside our house. Unknown to me, neighbours had heard about what happened but they were avoiding me. If they saw anyone approaching me, they would quickly block the person. At about 3p.m., my mother came and told me to pack my food containers. I asked her why and she replied that my husband has been shot dead and it was as if he could not be saved. (Burst into tears) “I shouted, asking people to please come to my rescue. As I was running about, I even hit my foot against a heavy stone and my nail was forcefully pulled out. I was not allowed to go anywhere until four days after when his body was brought home for burial. Who will take care of me, the children and other members of the household now our breadwinner has been killed?” The wife said her husband had a good relationship with the police, wondering why he was killed like a fowl. According to Mrs Akeem, “my husband would buy bags of sachet water and give two bags to policemen at each checkpoint he passed through. “The reason he gave for this was that the areas where the policemen were stationed had no potable water. He would also buy loaves of bread and distribute them among the policemen. He was the breadwinner of his nuclear and extended family.” The deceased’s uncle, Alhaji Jubril Azeez, who also spoke with Saturday Tribune, said that his nephew’s death has left a vacuum in the family. “Akeem had been helping me in taking care of the family; now everything has been left for me to do. “Since his vehicle was brought back to the family, I have not been able to bear the feeling that he was killed because of N100. The government should please save us
The lifeless body of Alimi Akeem after he was shot. Inset is the victim while alive.
Reliable sources told Saturday Tribune that Yellow was posted to the checkpoint not too long ago. Before then, he was alleged of killing two people in Ago Amodu, though the police authority was said to have taken his action was a mistake. In the story, armed robbers attacked commuters and asked them to lie on the ground. When the police were informed, Inspector Oyibo reportedly came to the scene and, on sighting the victims who stood up after their attackers had left, fired at them, killing two of them instantly. His claim was that he thought they were the robbers. Saturday Tribune gathered that after the latest incident, the killer cop escaped to a neighbouring country after dropping his gun with his colleagues, and was said to have called some of them less than 24 hours after, with a number showing the code of a neighbouring country. From right, late Akeem’s wife; his stepmother, Mrs Ansetu Aside Orita Sanni which had only InAlimi and other relations. PHOTO: OLUWATOYIN MALIK spector Oyibo at the checkpoint, other checkpoints with just a policeman include and ensure that justice is done through the prosecution Wasangari along Ilesabaruba road (a sergeant) and Odo of the policeman, with adequate compensation to the border checkpoint (a corporal). Other checkpoints with family.” policemen from border patrol are Imua, Ijio, Komu, IgAlso, the chairman of Oke Opin unit of the RTEAN, beti road Oje Owode/Ago Amodu, Eruwa, Iseyin/Okaka, Alhaji Moshood Iman, said: “The policemen along the Ogbooro/Igboho and Agbonle. routes to the suburbs where our drivers ply had constiSince the incident happened, it was learnt that the potuted problem to us. They have too many checkpoints licemen in town had been moving with caution while which were mainly to extort us. It is untrue that we were drivers had also stopped the erection of checkpoints at conveying smuggled goods. You would even see from the certain places until the resolution of the case of Akeem’s vehicle the deceased drove that day that he was carrying murder. three bags of yam flour.” When contacted for an update on the matter, the state The deceased’s stepmother, Mrs Ansetu Alimi, who also Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Adekunle Ajisebroke down in tears as she spoke, said “Akeem was the butu, stressed that the state police commissioner, Leye one feeding me and my children since his father died six Oyebade, would not condone any act of recklessness years ago. The policeman has caused the family a deep from any policeman serving in the command or working sorrow. He has destroyed me because two of my children with other commands but posted within his command. are finishing schooling this year and I don’t know I will go The PPRO remarked that Oyebade had consistently about things. Yellow has rendered me naked.” lectured police personnel on arms handling since he asIn his own words, the RTEAN chairman in Saki, Alhaji sumed duties in the state command, saying “you will note Imran Ekuntakoro, described the killing of Akeem as that whenever such an incident occurs, the Nigeria Police unfortunate. “Such a thing a thing had never happened Force has always been taking appropriate action to sancaround us. We have told the Divisional Police Officer in tion whoever did a wrong thing. Saki that we want only responsible people to be posted “CP Oyebade has already directed the State Criminal to checkpoints. We have told the Commander of Border Investigation Department, Iyaganku to take over the case Patrol who came from Abuja the same thing because if and investigation. Police will never be in support of such this should happen again, it would cause serious clash action as carried out by the Inspector. Even we have debetween us and the police. faulted him in absentia and there is a manhunt for him. “The Bagi of Saki who is our father in Saki has spoken “We have recovered the rifle the policeman used and to us and we are keeping calm for now. We learnt that the whenever he is found, he will have to defend his action. IG has instructed that the culprit should be fished out by He is on his own. He has violated the rules guiding the use the Commander. Our union will make a case out of the of firearms and the case is going to be treated as such.” incident because someone paid to protect us cannot kill On behalf of the police commissioner, Ajisebutu comone of us and he will just go like that.” miserated with the family in the period of mourning, assuring them that fairness and justice would prevail.
38 interview
26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
How to make 2016 budget work despite its flaws —Rep
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member of the House of Representatives for Ado Ekiti/Irepodun Federal Constituency of Ekiti State, Honourable Ayodele Oladimeji, speaks with AYODELE ADESANMI on the state of the economy, especially as it affects the 2016 budget. who are going to apply this fund would be careful and every penny they spend would be for the productive sector. If you borrow to finance a business, there is the likelihood that one would be prudent. Even the people that are working for you would know that the money you are using was borrowed and they must have sympathy for you, unlike when you are spending your own money. But in our own system, those who are going to execute projects are going to divert the funds into their pockets. Specially, what area do you think the budget should focus on, in view of the country’s comatose economy? Nigeria’s economy is very buoyant and that is the reason many investors are trooping into the country. Besides, population drives business and Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. Two things affect us mostly: our revenue generation drive is very poor and there is corruption. I was talking about MDAs that should be generating money but they rely solely on government for financial survival and that is why there is trouble. So, our focus is not on revenue generation but how everybody is going take a substantial share from the allocation from the government. The issue of tax generation for cash payment is another issue. Ideally, in other countries, tax to GDP is about 18 percent. But in Nigeria, our tax to GDP is about six percent. So, individuals and others should embrace taxes if we are going to be serious about revenue generation. Then, let us go to the area of corruption. Revenue generation and corruption should go together. Once an agency is generating money, there should be a monitoring agency which should where the money generated is going. If those two areas are looked into, it will change the status of the economy. However, the anti-corruption fight should not be just about saying that you are getting back what somebody has stolen, although that is part of it. But it could be that the structure within the system is the one that is helping corruption and as such, that structure needs to be pulled out. The government’s focus should be on financing of education because by so doing, you are financing your future. Infrastructure should also be focused on because that is the real development as it would help the economy. For instance, if the road is good, you hardly have cause to repair your car, but if the road is bad, it will affect your spending and your businesses. When you borrow, the money should be channelled to the right areas, especially where money can come back, not where it will just be squandered. We need probity and patriotism to build a healthy Nigeria.
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GAINST the backdrop of the nosediving price of oil in the international market, do you think this year’s budget of N6.08 trillion, which has been be approved by the National Assembly will work? One problem we have in our budgeting, especially with the ministries, departments and agencies, is that they focus more on what they will spend, forgetting how to generate the money. In spite of the present situation, the budget is still realisable. Our focus is always on what we are going to spend and that is the worry I have. As it were, no ministry, agency or even state has business development department which, to me, means that they are not in business but are expecting what will come from the centre. There are lots of problems associated with this year’s budget. The 2015 budget was around N4 trillion but this year, it jumped to N6 trillion. The question is: what are you using the money for? Is it capital projects or expenditure? The truth is that nobody can trust the figures in the budget and this became evident during the defence. Also, I learnt that zero-based budgeting was used for the preparation of the budget but it was not perfectly done as I know this given my background as an accountant, coupled with my experience in the banking sector. When I looked at it, I knew that zero-based budgeting was not employed in preparing the budget. They just had the intention and if it was used, they never got it right. However, zero-based budgeting is an arduous process because it demands a lot of time as you have to justify every item you put into it. You equally need to re-orientate the people that will prepare the
Have the rules and functions that are encouraging corruption in the civil service been addressed? If not, we are just scratching the surface. budget, but how many of the officials in the budget office have ever practised zero-based budgeting? The lack of the experts who would prepare it was the reason they ran into crisis and having made the whole world know that they were using zerobased budgeting, they could not go back again. In a different environment, this budget can still work with the benchmark of $38, even with the intention of borrowing, but the question is: what are you going to do with this borrowed money? Deficit budget has its advantages and disadvantages. If the borrowed money is judiciously spent and applied to capital and profitable projects, it will work and help the economy. When you borrow and you are able to do some capital projects and provide infrastructure that have direct impact on the people, it would enable your Gross domestic Product to grow and if that happens over some time, the economy would be turned around. That is why it is important that when you borrow, the money must be judiciously used. When you borrow to finance your budget, in an ideal situation, those
Are you satisfied with the way the present administration is going about the issue of corruption? Let me be frank with you, the approach is faulty. Anticorruption fight is critical to any economy but this approach is sectional, vindictive. It is more of a political programme. The approach is not balanced. Presently, there is more focus on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members. The way we are going presently will not lead us anywhere because it is one-sided. It is like a political fight. However, under normal circumstances, it should focus on everybody, whether you are party A, party B, or party C. It is then that it would work and people would believe in it. Have the rules and functions that are encouraging corruption in the civil service been addressed? If not, we are just scratching the surface. To me, as it were, it [anti-corruption fight] is a political programme meant to neutralise the opponent and not really a fight that will get us somewhere. What do you think the states should do now that many of them cannot pay salaries or embark on any development project? The truth is that the federal, state and local governments all have common factors affecting them. At this critical stage, there should be intensive revenue generation. With the present condition, states should be looking at intensive revenue generation. They should make all the MDAs productive. They should be revenue-generating because they are not charitable organisations. The states should block all areas of wastage. They should ensure that corruption is wiped out. The government should be more serious with the issue of ghost workers and spend money where revenue can be generated. It is not easy to retrench workers now because the implication on the economy would be severe. Instead of that, they should focus on employment generation and ensure that the workforce is productive.
39 crossfire
26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
LG poll: The war within Ondo PDP
I submitted authentic list of candidates to ODIEC —Ogunye Factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Dr Olu Ogunye, in this interview by HAKEEM GBADAMOSI, speaks on the parallel list submitted by his group to the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) for the forthcoming local government election in the state. PDP is believed to be one in Ondo State, what brought about the action of your group, submitting a parallel list to ODSIEC for the local government election? When people talk of factional PDP in Ondo State, I laugh, because there is no faction in the party; only a group of people from the Labour Party came into the PDP through the backdoor and now believe that they can hijack the party from the original members. They have actually taken over the party but some of us who cannot accept that have kicked against this. We have laws and we are being guided by these laws. The constitution of the party says that before you can become a member of the party, you have to go to your ward to register and get a membership card, which must be signed by the chairman and secretary of the party in that ward. But these people just came into the party and started claiming to be superior members.
because Mimiko’s group had reached out to them and he had to change his tune. This is one of the problems we have but since we have legal backup, we will fight it out.
As the chairman of the party in the state, we conducted primaries for the chairmanship and councillorship aspirants of our party, using the statutory delegates recognised by laws.
Hasn’t this friction been resolved in the past? No, you are not getting it right. You are aware of the circumstances that surrounded my emergence as the chairman of the party in the state. My emergence was validated by the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which was delivered on 28 November, 2015. The judgement declared that a declaration was made that the plaintiffs, the former chairman of the party who resigned then, Ebenezer Alabi, and local government and ward executive committees in the state had a tenure of four years and that the said tenure would expire on March 9, 2016. Upon the resignation of Alabi, I was elected as the authentic chairman of the party and by the virtue of that judgement, all the members of the executive committee at the state, local government and ward levels who are beneficiaries of the judgement are the official agents of the party in the state. Did you inform the national secretariat of the party about this development? No, but I want to tell you that the national secretariat is part of this problem. The reason we are still having this problem in the state is because [Governor Olusegun] Mimiko is having the support of the people at the national secretariat. There was a time the national publicity secretary of the party said that the Ondo State executive committee had been dissolved and about two weeks later, he denied the statement
This means your faction is not recognised by the national body of the PDP? It is not within the purview of the national body to recognise us because we have legal backing as the authentic executive committee in the state. They cannot argue that there is no existing judgement recognising us as the authentic executive committee of the party, which I think they must obey. If they don’t want to obey that order, they should go to court and plead for its vacation and if it is vacated, they are free to do whatever they want.
You have submitted a parallel list to the state electoral body, how did you come up with that? As the chairman of the party in the state, we conducted primaries for the chairmanship and councillorship aspirants of our party, using the statutory delegates recognised by laws. We have submitted the list of our candidates who won the primary election across the local government areas in the state. Although information at our disposal revealed that the factional chairman, [Clement] Faboyede, has also submitted a list, I want to tell you that Faboyede and his men are riding on an authority they reserved for themselves as the executive committee of the state chapter of the party. I want to tell you that Faboyede and his men lack the capacity to conduct the business of the party. The law is clear on this. I remain the only officer who can organise and submit list of candidates for the election. What if ODIEC decides to throw out your list? I believe that ODIEC will not dare do that and if they do, we know the appropriate thing to do. I don’t want to mention the next step we are going to take in the newspaper but I know that ODIEC understands the implication. If they decide to do that, it will be dangerous for them. Let’s just wait and see.
He’s an impostor —Okunomo Banji Okunomo is the Publicity Secretary of the Clement Faboyede-led PDP executive committee in Ondo State. He speaks with HAKEEM GBADAMOSI on what he calls the illegality of the parallel list submitted by Dr Olu Ogunye’s factional group for the local government election. DR Olu Ogunye claims to be the authentic chairman of the PDP in the state, what’s your take or reaction on this? Sometimes it baffles me when people ask this kind of question because I believe for an indisputable fact that the executive committee of the PDP led by Clement Faboyede has come to stay. The candidates fielded by the Faboyedeled executive committee of the PDP in Ondo State in the last general election are recognised by [the Independent National Electoral Commission] INEC as winners in the contests. And at a time like this when the local government election is coming, if an impostor stands up to say he is the chairman of the PDP, such a person should be discountenanced and disregarded. As a matter of fact, we have no other chairman in this state and we have no problem as regards the authenticity of the executive members. They are recognised by party members as well as the national body.
stage to another, so if they went there and dumped a kangaroo list at ODIEC, I know that the commission would not take it.
At a time like this when the local government election is coming, if an impostor stands up to say he is the chairman of the PDP, such a person should be discountenanced and disregarded.
But Dr Ogunye is hinging his authenticity as the chairman of the party in the state on the judgement of an Abuja high court. I want to tell you categorically that Dr Ogunye and his cohorts have since left the party and have ceased to be members of this great party. They have moved to the [All Progressives Congress] APC. I also want to believe that this is a prank of the APC. The APC wants to come in through the back-door because initially they said they were not going to participate in the forthcoming local government election but I’m happy that other political parties have shown interest in the election. So, using Ogunye, who has since left the PDP for the APC to create an impression that there is problem within the PDP should be seen as a mission that is dead before being hatched. This antic will not halt the process of the election and will not affect the outcome of the election if PDP candidates emerge as winners in the election. I see Ogunye embarking on an exercise which will yield no result. But he also claims to have submitted a parallel list of PDP candidates to ODIEC. I am not aware of this and I don’t believe that ODIEC can accept such list if at all such list is real, because all the congresses of the PDP were properly monitored by ODIEC and I do not expect the commission to play double standard, because there was no congress held by the so-called Ogunye factional PDP in the state. There was nothing of such and you know these processes are usually from one
If at the end of the day, ODIEC decides to accept the Ogunye-led faction’s list, what do you think will happen? I am not speaking for ODIEC but I am sure they will never do that. I know that ODIEC has been relating with our office and they know the real executive of the party led by Faboyede. So, I have no doubt or fear that ODIEC will allow such list to sail through. I don’t doubt the integrity of ODIEC so I cannot be cajoled in that direction.
Don’t you think this may affect the fortune of the PDP in that election? It cannot and will not. This is a well structured political party, a party that has leadership. Our candidates emerged through the democratic process, in their various local government areas and we had no issue during the primary witnessed by officials of ODIEC so it cannot affect the chances of our candidates in the election. I have said it once that Ogunye’s action is an effort that cannot yield positive result. I would advise the man not to allow him to be used as an agent of sabotage. I want to say, again, that the PDP is a united party, one big family in the state and we have no problem. There is only one political party that said they were not going to participate in the local government election and that party had since welcomed Ogunye and his men into their fold as members. So, with Ogunye coming back to say he is a member of the PDP, one needs to think about this, one will surely know that there are undercurrents, there are certain things behind his coming out at this minute. This is an antic of the opposition, the APC, because they are not participating in the election. They have sensed the impending defeat and decided to opt out. If they say ODIEC is a creation of the state and so they cannot participate, what of INEC, a creation of the Federal Government, and the APC is the one controlling the commission and its entire board and yet PDP is winning election conducted by INEC, because we have been winning most of the elections in most of the states where rerun elections have been organised by INEC. They ought not to have abstained from the election; doing that is an act of cowardice on the part of the APC. They are now using Ogunye, who is a cardcarrying member of the APC to disrupt the process. Ogunye was never registered as a PDP member and will not be allowed to cause distraction in the party.
40 feature
26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Glo adds class, panache to Oke ’Badan
From left, State Manager, Oyo 2, Globacom, Mr Adeniyi Adesanya; the Aboke of Ibadanland, Chief Ifasola Ifamapowa; President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Wole Akinwande and the State Manager, Oyo State 1, Globacom, Mr Tunji Omoworare, at the Oke ‘Badan Festival, held recently in Ibadan.
By Modupe Olayinka
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T is a known fact that next generation network, Globacom is the only corporate institution that pulls all the stops to support cultural activities across the nation. From Ojude Oba to Ofalla to Lisabi festivals, the Oke ’Badan festival was added to the list last year with a superlative outing that has since placed the festival on an unprecedented pedestal. Globacom won wide adulation and acclaim with its Heritage Series as one which harnesses the values in cultures and traditions of the Nigerian peoples and has committedly contributed to the enhancement of such activities with a view to making the people to appreciate such assets as veritable means of reviewing their past as well as projecting into their future as a people bound by language, dance, music and motifs as geographical markers. The company has continued to maintain that the unity, conviviality and cohesion which festivals engender are very central to the continued growth and development of the people. The week-long celebration featured a seminar and football competition, a town parade during which funlovers who followed the Aboke, Chief Ifasola Ifamapowa, poked fun at one another in the free spirit of the festival devoid of violence and rancour. This year’s edition was fused into the Ibadan Week Cultural ceremonies which was championed by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), an umbrella body for all sons and daughters of Ibadanland led by Chief Wole Akinwande who is its President General. Globacom’s collaboration added so much colour to the festival with its trademark lemon green trade collaterals.
The sponsorship has monumentally raised the bar for the festival of unity celebrated annually in Ibadan land. According to history, Oke ’Badan is a retell of the story of the legendary gallantry exhibited by past warlords of Ibadan origin who were notable for fighting many internecine wars without recording a single defeat. This fact of history is the basis for the widelysung ‘’Omo Ibadan kii seru enikankan, ogun o ko wa ri” which literally means, “Indigenes of Ibadan are slaves to no one, we have never been conquered at battle” musical line. The CCII explained during the ceremonies that the recognition of the past heroes was expedient to celebrate the past warlords who shed their blood for the liberation of the Yoruba people thereby contributing to the sustenance of the unity of the city and promote the
History also recorded that the seven hills of Ibadan were said to have provided refuge for the citizens during the wars as their traducers were said to have beaten hasty retreats as the hills were too intimidating.
cultural identities of the land. The city unites through Oke ’Badan Festival to celebrate the successes on the battlefield of warlords, including Maye, Oluyedun, Oluyole, Oderinlo, Ope Agbe, Olugbode, Ibikunle, Basorun Ogunmola, Akere, Orowusi, Latoosa and Ogbori Efon, whose dedication to fatherland gave bearing to the city which grew to become the second largest in Black Africa, next only to Cairo, Egypt. History also recorded that the seven hills of Ibadan were said to have provided refuge for the citizens during the wars as their traducers were said to have beaten hasty retreats as the hills were too intimidating. The festival began therefore as an avenue not only to celebrate the gods of the hills for providing protection to ‘’their sons and daughters’’ but also to celebrate the commitments and tenacity of the warlords which birthed the victories . The grand finale was held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium where different clubs populated by indigenes of the city filed out in beautiful apparels to pay homage to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, who was enjoying his very first outing after his recent coronation. The stadium was branded in classy branded collaterals which sparkled in the various corners of the expansive sporting arena. Plenty of freebies in form of branded T-shirts, fez caps, carrier bags and bandanas were also distributed to the various groups It will be recalled that the next generation network, Globacom, at the press conference preceding the event, announced that festivals were akin to a social melting pot for all divergent views to be harnessed towards the development of the community socially, politically and economically.
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feature
26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Lagos model colleges of stench, neglect and hope
Lawmakers in the Lagos House of Assembly recently paid a visit to some model colleges in the state, where they were treated to some horrifying scenes, including a school where students, as a result of moribund toilet facilities, defecate in the open, and another where students are paired on worn-out mattresses. Lagos State House of Assembly correspondent, Chukwuma Okparaocha, in this report, highlights what the students go through on daily basis.
T
he poor state of education in the country was last week again brought to the front burner with the sorry state of the some public schools in Lagos State. Saturday Tribune’s attention was brought to the state of some model colleges in Lagos, where students are not only overcrowded in their dormitories; they are often forced to defecate in the open, among other hard conditions they are subjected to daily. A visit to the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, in Epe area of Lagos would reveal a school whose students and members of staff appeared to have been cut off from the society as a result of the school’s location and the poor state of the roads leading to the school, whose facilities and hostels are apparently overstretched. A trip round the school revealed that the students were being subjected to what a visiting lawmaker later described as ‘inhuman condition’ in their hostels, which could be seen to be already overpopulated and unkempt. The school library has been apparently converted into an examination hall without any provision for an alternative library, which could be used by the students for research purposes. As earlier mentioned, also in a terrible state is the road leading to the school, as it has been covered with huge potholes and some part were almost overgrown with weeds. By the physical observations made in the school, the hostels are jam-packed so much that the students’ lockers where they keep their personal belongings and confectioneries are left on the corridors outside. The chairman of the Committee on Education in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, who led a tour of the school, was quick in condemning in strong terms the state of infrastructure in the state’s model colleges. He subsequently advised the state government to urgently address infrastructural challenges in the state-owned model colleges so as to restore the lost glory of the schools and sustain the visions of their founders. “The facilities in the hostels are inadequate, we see a lot of cramping of beds and we saw that it is not conducive. There is a hostel there that has been abandoned since the school was established, if the building is completed, it would go a long way to improve the hostel facilities,” he said. But in his reaction, the principal of the junior section of the school, Mr. Bolaji Oyesola, who led other members of staff to receive the committee members, said that a room had actually been converted into a library for the students. Oyesola added that the school management was trying to make do with what it had within the limited resources. “We take care of their feeding very well and give them water. We make sure that the students are comfortable. We have been managing what we have since the school was established in 1988. The facilities were meant for below 200 students, but now we have over 1,000 students,” he said. The situation is pretty much the same in another school, the Badagry Junior and Senior Grammar School, in Badagry area of Lagos. The Education Committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly, led by its chairman, Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, also paid an unscheduled visit to the school on Wednesday, 16 March, where they went round the offices in the school, the classrooms, hostels, dining halls, kitchens, libraries and the laboratories. They were received by the principal of the senior arm of the school, Mr. Mautin Olubiyi Akoro and that of the junior arm, Mrs. Ebun Ikuomenisan, as well as the teachers and other members of staff. While inspecting the hostels, Ogunyemi and another member of the committee, Sola Giwa, expressed surprise that the facilities were unkempt and that they were congested. “It is obvious that the teachers in the school restrict themselves to their offices and classrooms. This is dereliction of duty and it appears that the house masters are not doing anything. “Most of the louvre blades are broken and the hostels are unhygienic for the children. You have left the students to their fate without making any effort to address the issues affecting them in the hostels,” he said. Ogunyemi told the school management that the hostels needed serious emergency intervention and that some of the
We have been managing what we have since the school was established in 1988. The facilities were meant for below 200 students, but now we have over 1,000 students. rooms ought to have two doors as against one in the event of emergencies. The lawmakers also observed that ventilation in the hostels appeared to be poor and that the food being served the students was “poorer than that of prisoners.” It was also observed that an average of 80 students are in a class, while it was later confirmed that only two computer systems were working out of the 20 provided by the state’s Ministry of Education.
The lawmakers later paid a visit to another school, the Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry, where they were received by the principal of the senior arm of the school, Mr. Sunday Olushina and his counterpart in the junior arm, Mrs. Ayo Stella Mojisola. Addressing some of the students, Hon. Ogunyemi stated that the committee visited them to see how they were being catered for in their hostels, as well as to learn more about how the conditions they were subjected to was affecting their learning. The lawmaker stated that this was being done in fulfilment of the promises made to all voters in the state, including the parents of the students, that their interest would be well served. He, however, enjoined them to keep the best hygiene, obey the rules of the schools and keep their surroundings clean. In the school, the committee frowned upon a situation where students were paired on a bed in the junior arm of the school and also with the way the hostels were stuffy and poorly arranged. Addressing the press after the visit, Ogunyemi stated that the essence of the oversight was to let the lawmakers know the true state of things in the schools, and that they had been truly appalled by what they had seen so far. “We know that infrastructure in education requires constant monitoring and improvement. That is what we need to do in all our schools, but the government cannot do it alone. We need public-spirited individuals, philanthropists, and even corporate organisations to come to the aid of education in the state. “Also, we must ensure that our children learn under a very conducive atmosphere, where they live and what they eat is important to the overall success they achieve in life. That is why we say that in all that we have seen there are things the government must address,” he said. He emphasised that the committee had met with the deputy governor of the state, who also doubles as the commissioner for education, and that she had assured that the government would work on improving infrastructure in all public schools in the state. According to him, the deputy governor had also stated that the admission process in the state schools would be regulated to make sure that the number of students given admission was in line with the facilities on the ground. The lawmaker, meanwhile, disagreed that the N25,000 being paid as feeding fees by each student per term should be increased, saying the cornerstone of the campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was quality and free education. “The N25,000 that is paid by each student per term is for feeding. Accommodation is free, tuition is free and some people have said that the money is not enough, but the government can look inward for a way to subsidise it,” he said. “Education is meant to be a social service to the people; the essence of the government is welfare and the security of the people. Part of their welfare is good education and education should be accessible uninhibitedly, whether you are a child of the poor or that of the rich. We will continue to support free education, I would not subscribe to the fact that the fees being charged in state schools should be increased, but I feel that the parents can voluntarily support the government. “We have the school-based management committees and parents/teachers forum, they can all come together and support the initiative of the government,” he added. Ogunyemi also stated that an education summit was needed in the state as he said that it was important for parents to be involved more in the system. He said: “In the summit, we must bring everything affecting education to the table and critically examine and proffer viable solution in moving education forward in the state. I am aware that the executive is also thinking along this line. According to him, the principals of the schools should quickly carry out the observations of the committee, adding that a monitoring team had been constituted which will be going round from time to time to determine how the schools were complying with the committee’s directives. The committee later visited Education District 5 in Agboju that is supervising the schools visited, where they were received by the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Taiwo Iji Mary and other staff of the district.
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Saturday Tribune
26 March, 2016
motoring
With Seyi Gesinde seyigesinde@yahoo.com 08116954632
Made in Nigeria Kia cars produced with 90% local content —Kia Motors
K
IA Motors has said that it is sourcing 90 per cent of local materials to produce its made in Nigeria
vehicles. The automaker said it adopted this option as a result of the unwavering commitment of Kia Motors’ management to really produce made in Nigeria cars. Thus far, Kia Motors said that the over 4,500 vehicels were produced at its ultra-high-tech and state of the art plant in Lagos since its launch in the first half of 2015. “The trajectory growth of the locally assembled Kia cars and its top-notch quality built to the exacting standard of the global brand has galvanised the company to explore local content in its assembling chain and influenced its plan to reach a 90 per cent local content utilisation in the production of its cars. “The plant produces all nine models in its plant, worthy of note within its foray of the made in Nigeria Kia car is the 2016 Kia Sorento,” Kia Motors said.
Why it took to sourcing the content locally, Kia Motors in a statement by the Chief Commercial officer, Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr Sandeep Malhotra, said: “Nigeria remains an emerging and growing economy in the world with vast potentials for growth, despite its myriad of challenges the country promises a large economy of scale, hence it’s incumbent upon us as a local investor to help her realise its goals. “As a company with an unswerving interest on the advancement of the nation’s economy, we have a plan to utilise 90 per cent local content in our assembly process to help strengthen the economy. “Buoyed by our increased acceptability among our valued customers in the last decade, we are now looking at further strengthening our foothold and expanding our reach in the localisation of our assembly plant.” Kia Motors Nigeria said outside Korea, the birth country of Kia, the automobile company has a long history of building locally to meet the specific needs of local custom-
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, Sport reveal facelifts THE award-winning Hyundai Santa Fe lineup continues to dramatically improve for the 2017 model year. The improvements span everything from fresh exterior design and LED lighting signatures to additional infotainment, convenience and safety technologies and new Drive Mode selection with Sport, Eco and Normal settings. For 2017, Autoblog said in order to meet increased market demand, production of the two-row Santa Fe Sport model will be added to the manufacturing facility, alongside the Sonata and Elantra sedan models. There’s a new, more pronounced and rectangular grille; sharper, less organic headlights, and LED running lamps in front. But there
are also a bunch of new gizmos and gadgets that Hyundai expects to elevate the Santa Fe’s safety rating. A backup camera is now standard and you can now snag adaptive cruise control with a stop-start mode. There’s also a raft of new safety features, including lane departure warning, automatic high beam assist, and auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection. It is partially because of that last item that Hyundai thinks the new Santa Fe will score an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating The Santa Fe hasn’t been honoured by the IIHS since its redesign for model year 2013, but the new model will put the Santa Fe in a rarefied class of ultra-safe midsize CUVs in TSP+ ratings.
From left, Acting Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr Ahmed Abdu and Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Sandeep Malhotra, during a courtesy visit by Kia to share its plan on utilising 90 per cent local content in the production of made in Nigeria cars. ers with assembly operations using ‘car kits’ sourced locally and other parts of the world. Aligning with this practice and geared towards advancing Nigeria’s economy to compete favour-
ably among comity of Nations, the automaker said “Kia Motors Nigeria plans to have over 90 per cent local content utilisation in Nigeria in its assembling process.” Kia Motors said that: “With its
built-from-scratch assembly chain firmly in place and over a year of SKD production phase under its belt, Kia Motors Nigeria is now focus on the local content utilisation in its made in Nigeria Kia cars.
Kia Optima now available as plug-in hybrid EVEN as a new year is just starting, the Kia Optima is now electrified in two ways for the coming year. In addition to the conventional hybrid, there is a new plugin version for 2017. The new Kia Optima Hybrid ditches the larger 2.4-litre internal combustion engine from the previous model in favour of a smaller 2.0, good for 154 horsepower, and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that does away with the torque converter in favour of an electric clutch, with electric wa-
ter and oil pumps to help optimise efficiency, the Autoblog said. Working in tandem with the 38kW electric motor and juiced by a 1.62-kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, the powertrain delivers a total of 193 horsepower while targeting a 10 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency over the previous Optima Hybrid. Tew Optima PHEV that uses the same 2.0-litre four, but instead of 38 kW (51 hp), the plug-in’s electric motor produces 50 kW (or 67 hp), and instead of 1.62 kWh, the
PHEV’s lithium-ion battery pack is rated exponentially higher at 9.8 kWh. It’s said to travel for 600 miles before needing to stop, or up to 27 miles on electric power alone. And of course it can be recharged directly from the socket, taking less than nine hours on 120 volts and less than three on 240. If those powertrain components sound familiar to you, that’s because they’re identical to those offered in the Sonata Hybrid and other brands.
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Saturday Tribune
Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060
Kaduna, Sokoto win U-19 volleyball tourney
Amoo lauds Dream Team after Brazil fall
By Ganiyu Salman
N
IGERIA U-23 coach, Fatai Amoo has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Dream Team following a 1-0 victory recorded over hosts Brazil, in a friendly played in the early hours of Friday at the Kleber Andrade Stadium, Vitoria, Brazil. A four-minute goal by Ubong Friday gave the Nigerians cause to smile home with victory. Amoo also lauded the heroics of goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel as well Belgium-based Imoh Eze- kiel and Sodiq Popoola in the game which served as a build up the Rio Olympics which holds later this year in Brazil. “No doubt, our goalkeeper (Emmanuel Daniel) kept us in the game with a number of great saves before he was substituted. Even the substitute (Yusuf Mohammed) also did his bit. All in all, some players like Ezekiel Imoh and Sodiq Popoola were outstanding and I am happy for the team. “The boys did a great job if you recall that 80 per cent of the boys we brought here were just meeting one another for the first time, and we needed to see all of them in match situation. “I’m happy we have seen them and this
Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna
is hoping that as we play more friendlies, we would discover more players that will compete for jerseys before the Olympics proper,” Amoo told thenff.com. The former Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) trainer noted that his wards despite taking the early practically struggled while the first half lasted. “The first half was very difficult for us, but then it is expected, having in mind that we scored an early goal and as such it was expected they would come all out against us to get the equaliser, but I
m u s t give my boys a lot of credit for holding their own,” Amoo said. After the early lead, Brazil threw everything at Nigeria, coming close in the 19th minute through Felipe Anderson and on 27 minutes, when Alisson’s angled header crashed against the crossbar. Turkey-based Nigeria defender, Musa Mohammed was booked in the 16th minute, for stamping on a Brazilian midfielder. For the second half, Brazil made three changes, throwing in Wallace, Clayton and Wendell.
Emmanuel Daniel
Abdullahi plans to popularise archery in Nigeria THE newly-elected president of the Nigeria Archery Federation, Mohammed Abdullahi has said his administration would do everything humanly possible to popularise the sport in Nigeria. Abdullahi, made this known while he was being received by the the president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Gumel as well as some members of his board in his office at the National Lottery Trust Fund headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, He pointed out that archery as a sport is a technical game, but not completely alien to Nigeria owing to its similarities with local hunting. “The game will get easy patronage and support in Nigeria because it is similar to our local hunting. It is a game of aim and shoot that can be likened to bow and arrow game. It is a game of aim and shoot with modern equipment instead of bow and arrow we use in Africa, as such, we cannot say it is alien to us in Africa. “It means then that we will have to start from the grassroots; from our localities in Nigeria to go in search of athletes including starting from
both our primary and secondary schools for talents hunt. “We shall also start from the amateur level where we will focus on institutional sports and games such as NUGA, Police Games, Military Games, FEPSGA Games, National Sports Festivals etc. this is because we believe these are areas to start from where
we can find raw talents for nurturing and grooming for Stardom,” he said. Abdullahi stated part of the initiatives that will develop and promote archery in Nigeria can only succeed with the cooperation of the various state sports commissions/councils and the body of the organised institutional sports outlets.
KADUNA and Sokoto States have emerged winners of the maiden Northwest boys and girls zonal U-19 volleyball championships organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development which was held at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna. The Kada Boys defeated their counterparts from Kebbi State 2-1 in a keenly contested final to win the tournament sponsored by the chairman of the Nigeria Beach Volleyball Commission, Engineer Musa Nimrod, who is also the chairman of Kaduna State Volleyball Association. Katsina State defeated the Buffaloes of Zaria Army Academy to win the bronze medal in the tournament. Rima Strikers of Sokoto State defeated their counterparts also from Kebbi in the girls final, as hosts, Kada Babes of Kaduna finished third. Zonal Coordinator Northwest zone, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Bode Durotoye said that the competition will be annual to help discover new talents. All the six winning teams went home with trophies, medals, sets of ball and a volleyball net courtesy of the sponsor, Engr Nimrod. Skipper of the Kada Boys, Godwin Daniel while speaking with Tribunesport attributed their victory to dedication, determination and teamwork. “We are happy to win, because out of many states we came first. This is the first time this team is winning a competition like this and we thank God for making it possible. “We also thank the organisers for giving us the opportunity of showcasing our talents. We will go back to continue training and prepare to do better in subsequent competitions, particularly the National Sports Festival scheduled for November this year,” he said. Also, captain of Rima Strikers, Sadia Suleiman, expressed joy at the feat saying “I’m very happy to win this trophy” adding “we were able to win because of our training, cooperation, team work and the efforts of our coaches.”
AYAAG Games hot up in Ijebu Ode Olayinka Olukoya -Abeokuta
THE Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria through the Ahmadi Youth All African Games (AYAAG) will be playing host to youths from 20 African countries in different games as part of the centenary celebration of Ahmadiyya in Nigeria. This development would facilitate healthy interaction among African youths and stem the wave of terrorism. This was disclosed by the President of the Ahmadiyya Youth Wing, Abdul-Ouadri Abdul Rafi, at a news confer-
ence in Abeokuta, that the event which has already kicked off at the Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode. He said the events are football, volleyball, table tennis, taekwondo, basketball, and track and field events adding that participants are expected from countries like Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Republic of Benin, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe among others. “The youth games are to promote the spirit of sportsmanship among partici-
pants, to identify and promote new talents, to inspire young people as change agents. “Moreover, will also used the games to advocate new policy directions in terms of youth empowernment and engagement and to set up a network of Ahmadi youths in Africa through which they can collaborate in solving socio-economic issues,” Rafi said. He added that the competition had received the blessings of the supreme head of the Ahmadiyya community worldwide.
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sport
26 March, 2016
Flamingos set to grab World Cup ticket N
Face South Africa today
IGERIA’S U-17 women soccer national team, Flamingos will today face the Bantwana of South Africa in a return leg of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final round qualifier. The Bala Nikyu-piloted side had spanked the Bantwana 6-0 in the first leg tie at the National Stadium, Abuja. The delegation, made up of 18 players and 10 officials on Wednesday, touched down at the OR
Bala Nikyu
Dalung charges LOC to organise befitting Beach Soccer AFCON THE Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung on Thursday in Kaduna, inaugurated the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations, Nigeria 2016. With inspiring words and a buoyant smile, Dalung charged the committee to work hard and diligently, in order to deliver a championship that the government and people of Nigeria would be proud of. “You are exemplary Nigerians, no doubt about that. I want you to work at maximum capacity to organise a competition that the whole nation would cherish. You are capable of doing that, because the faces I see here are those of men and women of immense calibre.” The committee is headed by Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, who is also the NFF first vice president. NFF executive committee member, Honourable Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande is vice chairman, with another NFF executive committee member, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu as member. Other members of the LOC are Mr Adeyinka Adeboye, Mr Athanasius Okon, Mr Bolaji Yusuf, Mr Salisu Nakande, Mr Nansel Nimyel, Mr Sunny Moniedafe, Mrs Margaret Icheen and Mr Samson Adamu, who is also director of organisation. NFF’s acting director of competitions, Mr Bola Oyeyode is secretary, with former NFF President Anthony Kojo Williams as ad-
Saturday Tribune
viser. The 2016 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations, which Nigeria will host in December, will also serve as the African qualifying tournament for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, holding in The Bahamas. In his remarks, NFF president, Mr Amaju Pinnicksaid that the hosting right
underscored the new reckoning that Nigeria has in international football, as well as the excellent record of the COPA Lagos Invitational Beach Soccer Tournament, which is in its fifth year. Also at the inauguration were NFF second vice president, Mr Shehu Dikko and NFF general secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.
Tambo International Airport at 2:50 pm Nigeria time, and was received by officials of the Nigeria Consulate in Johannesburg as well as protocol officials of the South Africa Football Association (SAFA). The team is lodged at The Aviator Hotel, close to the OR
Tambo International Airport. Coach Nikyu had already taken the girls through their paces, as the team was scheduled to have their official training at the Makhulong Stadium, Tembisa on Friday. The match will start at 2pm local time today,
which is 1pm in Nigeria. It will be recalled that, a hat-trick from Rasheedat Ajibade, Yetunde Fajobi’s brace and the own goal by Sibulele Holweni ensured the demolition of the South Africa side coached by Maude Khumalo in Abuja.
Kano Pillars raise funds for sickle cell foundation Kola Oyelere - Kano TECHNICAL Adviser of Kano Pillars, Mohammed Baba Ganaru has advised professional football club sides in Nigeria to embark on the campaign of projecting the plights of the physically challenged persons to make them become more relevant to the society. He gave the advice after his team thrashed a selected Celebrity FC 9-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, in a charity game organised to raise funds in support of sickle cell foun-
dation. He noted that, professional football clubs would help to improve the society by engaging in charity work. “We played this match to help charity work, with this we are helping to raise money to assist the sickle cell foundation, which will go further to help those suffering from the ailment.” Baba Ganaru said. The organiser of the charity game, Wazobia/Cool fm Kano through the station coordinator, Prince Daniel Aboki said the
match was used as a platform to better the lots of the physically-challenged. “We are using this match to call on people to use sports as a platform to assist the physically-challenged, especially football. People love football, the people of Kano State and beyond love Kano Pillars, we have capitalised on this to create awareness on sickle cell and we hope to do the same for other physically-challenged groups and persons. We are appealing to other corporate bodies to emulate this initiative,” he said.
A Nigerian player (middle) during an international Beach Soccer tournament held recently in Lagos. Nigeria is set to host the 2016 Beach Soccer Nations Cup.
Abdullahi trains Nigerian tennis youngsters in US TWO Team Nigeria junior players had their games polished with the latest techniques in tennis by former Nigerian tennis star, Sadiq Abdullahi as Nigeria continues its quest to unleash future tennis superstars. The duo of Toyin Asogba and Venus Ubiebi were
drilled for a week by Abdullahi at the Ricc Macci Tennis Academy, Boca Raton, Florida. The players also took some coaching tips from Abdul Adi, a former Nigerian player who is an academy coach in the United States at his base in Bradenton, Miami.
The week-long training tour, which also took the players to Bradenton, Miami, where they met Abdul Adi, a former top Nigerian player, was facilitated by Aces Tennis Services. Nigeria junior tennis assistant coach Abel Ubiebi also benefited from the
tour after sessions with a couple of top junior coaches in the US. “It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience for me as well as the players. We were exposed to so many things which would help in the development of tennis particularly from the aspect of coaching.
“We had good discussion and ideas on developing tennis in Nigeria,” expressed Ubiebi, who alongside Stella Epego were part of the coaching staff of Team Nigeria at the 2016 West & Central African qualifiers for the African Junior Championship held in Abuja last January.
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26 March, 2016
With
outofplay
Dipo Ogunsola 081 169 54 641
Depay dons camouflage outfit
Kane and girlfriend
Kane takes girlfriend to concert F ORMER England captain Alan Shearer insists that Tottenham goal-hero Harry Kane should be Roy Hodgson’s No 1 pick in attack. The 22-year-old, who was pictured with his girlfriend Katie Goodland at an Adele concert on Monday evening, now leads the Premier League’s goalscorer charts after his double against Bournemouth, taking his tally to 21. And for Shearer, there’s only one choice for him over who should wear the No 9 for England, with the in-form Spurs star top of his list. In his Coral blog, he said: ‘Harry Kane should be the first name on the team sheet for England. I don’t think anyone can argue with that. ‘The questions now are who plays with him if you play two up front? If you don’t, then who plays behind him?’
HE may have looked out of place at Manchester United in recent weeks, but Memphis Depay looks like he is trying to blend in while on international duty. Depay, who has been left out of United’s last two games by Louis van Gaal, has joined up with the Dutch national team ahead of friendlies against France and England. And the Manchester United winger donned a striking camouflage outfit as he was spotted out and about in the Dutch town of Noordwijk. The winger was wearing a hooded top and matching tracksuit bottoms in the distinctive design, as he was seen getting out of a car and unloading his luggage. He had time to stop to sign autographs for one young fan before heading off to join the Holland squad ahead of their first fixture of 2016.
Terry (fourth from left)
Terry samples ground in Shangai HIS Premier League career may be coming to a close but there is no doubt that John Terry is still a global star, reports The Daily Mail. Terry, 35, found out how famous he is in China as he tried to head out in Shanghai. He was surrounded by a group of Chelsea fans who wanted to get a
photograph with him. Terry was also photographed in the back of a car as he went on to explore China’s largest city in terms of population. That followed a training session that the former
HE’S been linked with a return to the ring ever since he hung up his gloves but Floyd Mayweather has once again reiterated his decision to retire from boxing by posing with large wads of cash. The undefeated former boxer, who retired after defeating Andre Berto last September, has taken to his Instagram page again to insist he’s enjoying his life away from sport. But this time the 39-year-old American ensured his followers could understand why he’s enjoying his retirement by posing near stacks of cash and posting a lengthy caption. Mayweather, who urged his Twitter followers to ‘please read’ the post, has revealed he is ‘blessed to wake up every morning, certain that my bank accounts are growing’.
Depay
JACK Wilshere may have two children of his own, but the 24-year-old is not too old to wish his own ‘papa’ a happy birthday. The Arsenal midfielder took to his Instagram account to post a ‘selfie’ of himself and his father to celebrate West Ham fan Andy Wilshere’s 51st birthday.
It is not the first time that Wilshere has uploaded a photo to Instagram to celebrate an event involving his dad - he wished him a happy father’s day on there last year. Wilshere has been troubled by injury this season, not appearing a single time since the start of the campaign for his club.
England captain held at a Shanghai high school last Monday. Terry made his first start since returning from injury against West Ham last Saturday, a game that Chelsea drew 2-2.
Mayweather poses with cash
Wilshere wishes dad happy birthday
Wilshere
Saturday Tribune
Mayweather
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news
26 March, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Community spoils for showdown as naval rating kills local dredger Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri
M
EMBERS of Tebujor-Okpelama community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State are spoiling for a showdown over the alleged killing of Bernard Pius, a sand dredger, by a member of the Naval patrol team along Gbaramatu river. However, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Delta), Warri Naval Base, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, who bemoaned the incident during a press conference on Friday, in Warri, stated that he could not make a categorical statement on what actually happened as investigations were still going on. He, however, noted that in spite of the renewed attacks on the country’s economic assets as well as pirate activities in the waterways since January, his men have been peacefully carrying out their duties with utmost caution and in line with the Naval standard operating procedures. Saturday Tribune, however, gathered that life was snuffed out of the deceased at about 10:00 p.m on Thursday while he was scooping sand from the river for onward conveyance to the land for sale. The Naval patrol team, it was gathered, was obviously executing the curfew imposed on the waterways which takes effect from 8:00p.m daily. The curfew, it will be recalled, was imposed in the creeks of Delta, following the February oil and gas pipeline bombings in Gbaramatu kingdom purportedly perpetrated by former militants. The Navy had also, in the wake of the bombings, placed an embargo on the use of boats with engines of high horsepower on the waterways by civilians. The Naval patrol team was said to have stopped the boat of the deceased said to be of about 200 horsepower and demanded to know their mission on the waters on the said night. After grinding the boat to a halt, the deceased was said to have taken a dive into the river while one of the Naval personnel went after him and shot at him. The deceased, whose remains have been deposited in a morgue in Warri was said to have made it to the shore, but gave up the ghost
shortly after. Saturday Tribune gathered that the wife of the deceased, Ibiyere, is heavily pregnant and has been emotional shattered since the incident on Thursday night. She was unable to speak with journalists who visited the community on Friday morning as she was in grief. Meanwhile, leaders and members of Tebujor-Okpelama, the deceased community and that of his wife, Opuedebubom, have called on the Naval authorities to fish out the perpetrator of the act in order to face the
music. They have also called for the total withdrawal of soldiers and Naval personnel from Gbaramatu kingdom, saying they were not in a conquered territory. Chief Jacob Iyasa, head of Opuedebubom community, while narrating in tears what he heard, said in pidgin: “wetin I hear this morning say dem shoot the man wen they pack sand for river. Dem say he dey load im boat with sand naim Navy come shoot am. And na my in law, im wife dey pregnant. No be say im steal na only sand im dey pack,
na sand work im dey do.” Chief Godspower Gbenekama, a chief in Gbaramatu kingdom flayed the Navy for putting the entire kingdom under siege in the guise of safeguarding oil and gas pipelines. He said the deceased was scooping sand from the river in the night when he was shot dead by a Naval personnel. “The navy and soldiers are terrorising our people. They shoot indiscriminately. Our people no longer have peace of mind,” the community leader stated. He alleged that after kill-
Construction workers die inside underground tank Olalekan Olabulo -Lagos TWO construction workers, who were effecting renovation work on a filling station in Berger area of Lagos State died early on Friday. The workers, identified as Adekunle Ipaiye and Chicago, were suffocated to death in an underground tank at Fatgbems filling station along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway . It was gathered that the second victim, Ipaiye who was the supervisor had gone into the tank to rescue one of his workers when he himself lost his life. Bodies of both workers were recovered by men from the Lagos State Fire Service, suggesting that Ipaiye and Chicago collapsed after struggling to come out of the 60-litre tank. The death of the two workers caused confusion and
panic at the renovation site before and after their bodies were recovered by the fire fighters. One of the workers at the site told the police that the deceased supervisor was attempting to rescue one of them when he lost his life The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency management Agency, Michael Akindele confirmed the death of the two workers to Saturday Tribune. Akindele also urged workers in the state to always ensure that they adhere to safety precautions and use standard equipment. Rasak Fadipe, the director of the Lagos State Fire Service, while speaking on the incident, stated that the bodies had been handed over to the police. Fadipe said that the deceased persons might have died after inhaling gas from the underground tank, which had not been in use
Police to deploy horses in league venues Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja THE Nigeria Police Force will soon deploy horses in Nigeria Premier League matches across the country in order to ensure effective crowd control at the venues. This was revealed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, in Abuja while speaking with sports journalists. According to Arase, the partnership between the police and the League Management Company (LMC) was still very much running, adding that so far there was no challenges to the partnership. “The partnership is on
and running. We’ve not have any challenges,” Arase stated, informing that police authorities were thinking of how to jazz up the ambiance of footballing in the country. “What we are trying to do now is to ensure that we introduce horses. What about 10 police officers can do, a horse can do. They are very good at crowd control. “We are beginning to think about how we can introduce those ones to further jazz up the ambiance of footballing in Nigeria and I think we are going to do that,” he said. The NPL enters match day nine this weekend.
for a long time. He also added that operatives of the state’s fire service had to use their experience and equipment at their disposal to bring out the bodies of the construction workers. The fire service boss also said that both workers were already dead by the time the operatives of the Lagos State Fire Service arrived at the scene.
ing the sand dredger, the killer-Navy stormed the community and requested to be paid for the job done before he could leave. According to him, the villagers were forced to cough out N5,000 which they offered him before he could take his leave. “The deceased was going about his normal business, scooping sand for sale when the Navy man gunned him down. After gunning him down, he came to the village and demanded money and threatened that if he was not given, he would shoot another person.
“So, the youth, caught in fear gave him N5,000 before the naval man left the place,” he alleged. Chief Gbenekama called on the Federal Government to evacuate the navy and the army from Gbaramatu kingdom, saying in other climes, locals are the ones who guard pipelines as against what is obtainable in Nigeria.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Ribah Bamaiyi now BAMAIYI MUHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
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26 March, 2016
we held and we approach and in no time at all we have come to gradual agreement, we brought them over to look at our facilities which they’re happy about and now they are eager to start. It’s completely changing the landscape of football in Nigeriabecause you can’t get better training method than the Barcelona training method. Now it isn’t all about football in Barcelona,they are also into so many other games at the same time, they teach you responsibility, dignity, discipline, team work and everything to also make you a better person, and “more than a game” is Barcelona slogan. Not many other clubs around the world teach you other things apart from football, but Barcelona does. So we felt that apart from learning football, we need to give our kids a better future and life, then Barcelona is the answer.
Can Nigeria afford to pay a foreign coach now? — Deji Tinubu
Ayodeji Tinubu is a former member of the Nigerian Football Federation and currently Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Sports. He is also the chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission. In this interview conducted by the duo of NIYI ALEBIOSU and OLUWABUNMI AJAYI, he speaks on his plans for sports in Lagos State, the Rio Olympics and the NFF’s plan to employ a foreign coach for the national team. Excerpt:
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HAT are your programmess to develop sports in Lagos state? One of the thing we want to do, I think is about time, instead of waiting for people to come to us regarding sports, I think it is about time we have to go to the people. We are starting a programme where all our coaches, sports officers and a couple of our experienced state athletes are going to various parts of the state to set up mini hut on the sportS they’re involved in. We want to get a lot of more people into sports through Primary and Secondary School, we take Judo for an example, we have gotten a State coach and performance athletes who are going to start off in Ikorodu, where they’re going to have a centre and through the Ministry of Education (SUPEB), the schools in the area will be informed about this centre. And they can go there, stay there for like a month and as they’re training the kids; they’re also training others Judo coaches at the centre so that when they leave after a month, the newly trained coaches will take over and continue the programme. So our coaches will start somewhere else and we are doing that for as many sports as possible and we are hoping that at the time they go round the cranny and nooks of the state ,hopefully by end of September or October, they probably would have got to 9 to 10 places. So in every place they gone, we will organize zonal competitions and by the grace of God, we will have Zonal Champions at the junior and secondary school level. If we do that in different sports, the zonal champions will now come together towards the end of the year at the centre and we will have State championships for Junior and Senior Secondary schools ,both female and male in all kind of sports we are involved in. In primary , junior and senior secondary, we have what will probably be a generation of stars in Lagos State who will now be going into a developmental programme, where we develop, mentor them and they will begin to learn life, in competitive sports and at the end of the day with their education. They will be champions in their chosen fields. And by the time we do all the data collections, put everybody in different programmes, we will now have a situation where every single year they will move on and on to intermediate senior levels and all that and at the end of
the year when an athlete stops representing the state, we know that there is somebody who is prepared to take his place. This set of athletes will develop or grow to become champions for the state and Nigeria at large. The other one is Internationalising sport in Lagos, creating a sports culture, creating a sports industry, use sport to kick-start a proper tourism on sports and also entertainment. That is why we did the marathon to show to the world that the Centre of Excellence can actually do excellent things. The tourism aspect was there, I think over 3,400 foreigners came in: wether it was the press visiting or athletes and the key point about it is that they all went away with positive things about Lagos. And of course we are talking about entertainment which, nowadays, you cannot separate from sports, you saw the young man Olamide performed at the end point of the marathon. And we just finished the Press conference for Stallions African Basketball League, there is going to be a lot of entertainment, when you have when you have a star like Sound Sultan identifying with them and these started a couple of months ago where the Islanders were had their own ground at Land Mark Entertainment Centre and we saw what basketball in Nigeria should be; fantastic atmosphere, entertainment and good facilities at the end of the day. People who came enjoyed themselves, that is what we are trying to do, everything is been done in Lagos, merchandising is been done in Lagos, equipments needed for the league are from Nigeria, the basketball upright is fantastic,somebody in Lagos actually made it, so that is where
Since I come here a lot of the athletes who are even not employed, I have find a way to engage them in programme we are doing in the sports commission and by the grace of God if they carry out this programme well, it is going to open doors for them.
Saturday Tribune
your industry kicks in and when your put all those things together, people will be looking at you and will be interested in what you are doing , more people will want to come to Lagos and boost our economy. So apart from development of sport in the state , we also want to internationalise sports in Lagos. And towards the end of the year, by the grace of God, Nations Cup for Beach football will be held in Lagos and it is also qualifying event for the World Beach Football Soccer Championship, so a lot of eyes will be on Lagos State. The National Sports Festival is around the corner, how is the preparation and what do we expect? I think the date has just been sorted out last month, so kick-starting our training schedule, it has to be in such a way we define things just before will go for the festival and again what does Lagos should really do ,we trained our athletes, our home-grown athletes, we aren’t going for athletes in another state, we say no to poaching, we are not going to commit ourselves to things we cannot sustain, you don’t expect Lagos to be throwing out huge amount of cash to entice athletes. We sell ourselves to them, this is what we can do. In as much as possible we want to guarantee a better future. A better future can come in so many ways,it isn’t all about money. Since I come here a lot of the athletes who are even not employed, I have find a way to engage them in programme we are doing in the sports commission and by the grace of God if they carry out this programme well, it is going to open doors for them. For us it is to guarantee a good future; it is not spoiling you with cash which will run out. And of course train them as best we can, watch their progress. If you find out that Lagos state is taking a lot of youngsters to sports festival, they are youngsters who we feel are stepping up into the next stage in their career and of the need of sports festival for us to see how well they’re. Is all about developing athletes and seeing an end product to everything we are doing. You said that Lagos is partnering Barcelona can you let us into the details? Hmm, again is all about what we are trying to do, to internationalize what we are doing in Lagos, put an excellent seal of it and trying to make the best come to Lagos. You know
What is your take on the idea of the Nigeria Football Federation hiring a foreign coach for the national team? What I will say isn’t about foreign coach or Nigerian coach, it is all about the entire system, and I believe it isn’t only football in Nigeria system that is wrong and that affects every single facet of life . Now there are some places to get it right, some places when we don’t even bother and some places deliberately keeping it and not allowing people to come in to try and make it better, so until we sort out this system, the foundation and frame work, we aren’t going to get anything right. So you can bring a foreign coach, have you got the money to pay him? What is the guarantee? And the foreign coach will more than likely come with an assistant, are you ready to pay the assistant? We only talk about or look at the things that aren’t important, we are looking at the big picture which is the foundation and the foundation is totally wrong, until we sort out the foundation, we can’t go anywhere. What is your opinion about the resignation of Sunday Oliseh and what do you think happened between the NFF and the former Super Eagles coach? Yes, I wasn’t surprised, should it have happened? But at the same time let’s look at it, both parties were wrong and two wrongs don’t make a right. What do you think are the issues militating against sports development in Nigeria? The entire structure in the country. I am going back to what I have said before, the foundation isn’t right. There is a reason why sponsors don’t put money in sports as much as they should, there is a reason sports in Nigeria aren’t growing. Until all those reasons are sorted out, no matter what you say, sports won’t develop in Nigeria, if we don’t get the proper people to run it, if we don’t get the proper marketer, if we don’t get the welfare of the athletes right, if we don’t get facilities, coaching and developmental processes right, we will always have problems. If we don’t get school sports and the grass roots right,we wont get it,until all these are sorted. We are preparing for the Olympics, and the Nations Cup qualifiers,how do you see us faring? We are in March and the Olympics is in five month time, I don’t think we should expect any miracle because we have got people who want to go to the Olympics and they have started training since four years ago. They got their programmes all ready, everything has been put in place for them. Now if we say we are just putting our teams in camp I think we have missed the boat. What I am saying is that until we get everything right from the beginning, then we can now be saying we have a hope in the Olympics.
NPL MATCH DAY NINE FIXTURES Sunday, March 27
NO 1,144
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SATURDAY, 26 MARCH, 2016
Sunshine Stars Ikorodu Utd El-Kanemi Heartland Kano Pillars
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3SC Dolphins Nasarawa FC Giwa IfeanyiUbah
Plateau Utd Rangers Warri Wolves Wikki Tourists Abia Warriors
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MFM, Lagos Enyimba Lobi Stars Akwa Utd Tornadoes
AFCON 2017:
Eagles ticket in jeopardy •Draw 1-1 with Egypt Stories By Olawale Olaniyan - In Kaduna
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IGERIA’S hope of qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Friday night in Kaduna, suffered a setback as the Super Eagles settled for a 1-1 draw with the Pharaohs of Egypt in a group G qualifier. Playing under a new coach, Samson Siasia and new captain, Mikel Obi, the Eagles played to the admiration of fans at the capacity-filled Ahmadu Bello Stadium, but were unable to sustain their lead till the final whistle. Goalkeeper Carl Ikeme prevented what would have given the Egyptians lead in the 18th minute when he deflected grounder from Ahmed Hassan ‘Kouka into corner kick. Manchester City star, Kelechi Iheanacho almost snatched the curtain raiser before half time with a low, goalbound shot, but goalkeeper Ahmed ElShennawi’s quick response saved the situation for the Pharaohs. After a stalemate, the Eagles came back stronger in the second half and got rewarded for their persistent goal raids in the 60th minute when Oghenekaro Etebo scrambled home off a rebound after Kelechi Iheanacho’s sizzler came off the post with goalkeeper
Nigeria’s Stanley Amuzie (left) outwits Ahmed Hegazy of Egypt during the match played yesterday in Kaduna.
El-Shennawi already displaced. The goal gingered the Eagles which also paraded the likes of Odion Ighalo, Simon Moses, Ahmed Musa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, but poor marksmanship robbed them of increasing the tally. The introduction West Ham United player, Victor Moses added bite to the Eagles attack, but the Pharaohs proved more organised especially in the defence to remain in the game by not conceeding another goal. Moses had his goal-bound effort cleared off the net in the 84th minute by Hamada Tolba, who instead landed in the net after his breathtaking effort to prevent Nigeria from increasing the lead. Arsenal wonder kid, Alex Iwobi came on in the 82nd minute. As Nigerians were heading for celebration, AS Roma player, Mohammed Salah cashed in on a loose ball to beat Ikeme with a grounder during stoppage time. Egypt maintains lead on the table with seven points, as Nigeria follows with five points, while Tanzania which recorded a 1-0 away win over Chad is now third with three points.
We have to blame ourselves for the result —Siasia We were robbed —Mikel THE Super Eagles head coach, Samson Siasia has blamed his players for the 1-1 draw recorded on Friday night with the Pharaohs of Egypt in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. Siasia, while speaking at a post match conference said loss of concentration cost Nigeria victory. “We lost concentration towards the end of the match, we allowed them (Egypt) to play their game and we paid dearly for it.
“Our goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme felt his defender was down and failed to pass to the right person though, it was supposed to be a fair play but fair play or not fair play, we supposed to play our game but that is football. “I think we need to blame ourselves for the draw but hopefully, we can change the situation in Egypt when we go for the return leg,” Siasia said. The Bayelsa State-born
tactician believes the country’s dream of qualifying for the 2017 AFCON is still on course as there are three games left including the ‘decider’ in Alexander on Tuesday. “We have been in this situation before and we scaled through, so anything is possible in Egypt,” said the man who coached Nigeria to win silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Meanwhile, Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi
has attributed the 1-1 draw result against Egypt also to inexperience on the part of the centre referee. The Chelsea star in a post-match interview said the Gambian referee failed to ensure that the fair play rule was observed. “Fair play or not fair play, the referee should have stopped the match, I mean this is cheating but I’m very optimistic that we will get a positive result when we go to Egypt next week,”
Mikel said. The 2013 AFCON winner also acknowledged that they were wasteful in front of goal adding that it would have been a different story if they had maximised their scoring opportunites in the match. “I believe in today’s match, we were the better side. Though, we created a lot of scoring chances but we failed to utilise them and it really cost us victory,” Mikel added.
Siasia
Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 26/3/2016.