26th April 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,487

TUESDAY, 26 APRIL, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

N1.4bn fraud Court sentences Kogi ex-lawmaker to 154 years imprisonment —P36

Nigerian Tribune

Buhari, Masari, Nnamani meet over 2016 budget —P5

@nigeriantribune

TribuneOnline

6 African nations could be malaria-free by 2020 —Report —P38

Nigerian Tribune

N150

I will run for Presidency under PDP in 2019 —Lamido

Fulani herdsmen invasion

—P36

Many killed, 11 houses burnt in Enugu community —P2

•Residents flee to Nsukka

Ekiti declares 3 days mourning for dead medical doctors •Health workers union protest —P12

Saboteurs diverting petrol to Chad, Cameroon —Kachikwu From left, Executive Director, Capital Market Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Director-Geenral, NSE, Mr Oscar Onyema, Group Managing Director/CEO, Skye Bank Plc, Timothy Oguntayo and the Deputy Managing Director, Mrs Amaka Onwughalu, at a Business Meeting between NSE and Skye Bank, in Lagos, on Monday.

•FG requires N2trn to complete road projects —Fashola —P10

2 news

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Fulani herdsmen invasion: Many killed, 11 houses burnt in Enugu community

Jude Ossai -Enugu

M

ANY people were killed with several houses razed in a renewed clash between the Fulani herdsmen and people of Ukpabi-Nimbo community, in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Monday.

Reports from the area revealed that the Fulani herdsmen invaded the Enugu border community, barely two days after security report was said to have revealed that they were plotting the invasion.

Some residents of UkpabiNimbo who fled the area said some of those killed in

the melee were brought to Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, by the police, after the herdsmen were said to have overpowered the combined team of the military and the mobile policemen drafted to restore peace in the area.

According to some of the villagers, now living as refugees in neighbouring Nsukka, the herdsmen, who came into the community with dangerous weapons, started shooting and attacking people with machetes.

A Catholic church building in the community, Christ Holy Catholic Church, alongside 11 other houses, were said to have been razed

by the invaders.

“Five of our people are lying dead in Bishop Shanahan Hospital in Nsukka and more bodies were still being brought to the hospital. As I am talking to you, people are running away for their lives,” Nwokedi Okechukwu told the Nigerian Tribune in an interview.

When contacted, the chairman, transition committee of Uzo-Uwani council, Cornell Onwubuya, said despite every effort he made to stop the attack, the Fulani herdsmen still went ahead to unleash mayhem on the community.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, told news-

18 feared dead as rival cult groups clash in Benue Only three were killed —Police Johnson Babajide -Makurdi NO fewer than 18 persons have been reportedly killed in two days of bloody clashes between rival cult groups in Otukpo, the trado-political seat of Idomaland of Benue State.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the crisis, which started on Saturday behind Saint Francis College (Ogwonuigbahapa), following a supremacy tussle between two rival cult groups, later spread to Oiji Street, Sabon-Gari and Ojira areas of the town.

According to an eyewitness, “it all started like a joke, when young men were

initially throwing fireworks at one another, but within a short time, they pulled out guns and it became uncontrollable.

“For two days, young men residing around Saint Francis College (Ogwonuigbahapa), Oiji street, SabonGari and Ojira engaged each other in a battle to control the town.”

Corroborating the story, the Secretary General of the Opiatoha K’Idoma, an umbrella body of Idoma sons and daughters, Chief Adoka Adaji, who condemned the bloody crisis and the resultant killings, urged security agencies to check further escalation of

the crisis.

When cont act ed , t he Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, said the police recorded three deaths in the crisis.

“We can confirm three deaths, another three with gunshot wounds, while eight persons were arrested, four locally made pistols also recovered,” he said.

SENATE President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday, said the proposed reform of the rail sector in the country would serve as needed catalyst for economic revolution.

Saraki, who stated this while declaring open a public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Land Transport on a bill targeted at reform of the rail sector, said it was no exaggeration to say that the passage of the bill and the implementation of its provisions would have the impact of a new economic revolution in Nigeria.

He stressed that the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act Amendment bill 2015 was one of the high priority bills of the National Assembly, adding that the federal lawmakers were determined to ensure its quick passage.

“I sincerely hope that the proposed Railway Bill will lead to and usher a new era of growth and enablement for the private sector to participate more robustly and directly in the provision of rail services and railway infrastructure, while ensuring efficiency and sustainability.

“As we begin deliberation on this bill, let me charge us to imagine the great benefit a new rail system enabling investment and promoting competition and innovation would have on the economy.

“The implications are already significant and direct, from the change it would bring to agriculture, mining, oil and gas, labour transportation, urban planning, to the sheer number of jobs that the construction and investment potential in this area holds.

“We have no choice but to speedily and comprehensively review and pass this bill. It is no exaggeration to say that the passage of this bill and the implementation of its provisions will have the impact of a new economic revolution,” he said.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Olugbenga Ashafa, said the repeal of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act 2004 and re-enactment of a new one, entitled: “the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act Amendment bill 2015,” was targeted at revitalising and enhancing the operational framework and removal of the impediments that hindered the international

the situation was brought under control.

As of the time of filing this report, the PPRO said the total number of casualties

Lanre Adewole and Bola Badmus -Lagos THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to

best practices within the rail transport sector.

He explained that while the committee was not unmindful of some level of dissatisfaction with some of the provisions of the bill, it was willing and seeking to generate authentic information that would enhance and guide its legislative actions.

“We earnestly hope that at the end of this process, the new Act will not only be acceptable to the citizenry and the general public, but would also constitute a qualitative document capable of setting the Nigerian railway sector on the path of positive development,” he stated.

PALPABLE fear enveloped Idah, headquarters of Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, as no fewer than 13 persons were killed during clashes by rival cult groups in the town.

At the end of the clashes, which was said to have started on Friday and lasted till Sunday morning, two women and 11 men were either shot dead or sustain injuries as a result of machete cut.

It was gathred that trouble started on Friday night when some group of boys invaded the town and shot one Danjuma Amodu, popularly called Murphy.

The boy was said to have been gunned down while relaxing in front of his family house at GRA by the cult group members, who also butchered his body.

When the news of Amodu’s death filtered through the town, some fully armed men

believed to be members of his group were said to bave mobilised for reprisal and held the town hostage for several hours.

Nigerian Tribune further learnt that the men drove in a Volkswagen Golf car and shot sporadically for several hours, while they searched various spots for their targets.

The gunmen were reported to have blocked the road between Ibro Junction and Bishop road Junction between the hours of 8.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. from where they proceeded to a drinking joint at Igalaogba looking for their targets.

Sources said the owner of the joint, Haruna Achema and his wife were shot and left critically injured, while one customer was shot dead by the cult group At least eight persons were said to have been killed at Idah waterside, while another woman was reportedly hit by stray bullet as she was at-

tempting to escape from the scene of the attack.

However, a detachment of military personnel had been deployed in the town and were patrolling major streets to ensure safety of lives and properties.

Confirming the development, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Yakubu Usman, said men of the command were already on the trail of the perpetrators, while promising to fish them out.

He explained that a 27-yearold man was shot on Saturday by some gunmen in the area, adding that his remains were taken to the police station with the cult group resisting the police.

He said a gun duel ensued between his men and the gunmen, following which a policeman was wounded.

He said as the gunmen were attempting to escape after the gun duel, they also hit three innocent persons who were rushed to hospital.

abolish Board of Trustees (BOT) from its leadership structure, Nigerian Tribune has been unofficially told.

A senior official of the party said in its stead, there would be an ad hoc conflict resolution team, that would move from state to state, to settle party disputes.

The quest for the party’s BoT chairmanship had seen a North/South dichotomy and struggle between two main power blocs.

While former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, was said to have been the clear favourite to land the position, the camp of Senator Bola Tinubu, reportedly backed former acting national chairman of the party and a former Osun State governor, Bisi Akande, for the position.

At a point, Tinubu himself allegedly showed interest

in the leadership position of the Board with over 100 members and largely seen as the conscience of the party, though its power is only advisory.

The party leadership, however, has resolved to do away with the unwieldy group in favour of another with a manageable membership with specific functions.

The proposed conflict resolution team is structured to have maximum of 30 members.

Whenever any chapter of the party is witnessing any internal crisis, the team is expected to move over and resolve the issues amicably.

The new arrangement is to be endorsed by the party’s NEC. The abolition of BoT is also expected to end the schism between the camps of Atiku and Tinubu.

The structure of the conflict resolution leadership is reportedly not yet determined.

Meanwhile, the party is said to still be going through financial crisis, as contributions from senior party members are said to have nearly dried up.

Buhari was said to have directed the party leadership to raise money through dues from party members.

A source said national leaders of the party were now responsible for the financial involvement of their engagements, including not being paid salary.

The absence of well-structured party membership procedure is said to have made it impossible to collect the dues as directed by the president.

“The online membership registration, if done, would have made it easy to collect such dues, but that is not yet done. There is a party budget, but no cash backing,” the source volunteered.

It was also learnt that the national chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun isn’t likely to be exited before the end of his tenure, as no federal appointment is reportedly on the table for him as being rumoured.

A governor being reportedly tipped to replace him is also said not to be on the successor list of the powers-that-be in the party.

Yinka Oladoyinbo -Lokoja

US expresses hope in freed Chibok girls THE visiting United States (US) Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Samantha Power, has expressed hope in the future of the 24 freed abducted Chibok girls.

Power, who made the observation in a transcript of her remarks at the American University of Nigeria, Adamawa, expressed optimism that the freed girls would contribute to Nigeria’s development in future.

could not be ascertained yet.

As of the time of going to press, unconfirmed reports had it that the death toll had risen above 20.

13 killed during cult clashes in Kogi

APC abolishes BoT, faces cash crisis

Proposed reform of rail sector to herald economic revolution —Saraki Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

men that the state Commissioner of Police, Nwaodibo Ekechukwu, was already on the ground with other security agencies to make sure

The US envoy particularly commended the management of the American University of Nigeria for welcoming the girls and mentoring them in their studies.

“Let me say that these girls have so much to offer Nigeria. Having met with some of them, I cannot even imagine what these girls are going to do and the difference they are going to make.

“They are going to be doctors and engineers and accoun-

tants. They are going to help change this country,” she said.

Power said the situation would have been worst for the girls, if, after their escape, they were again being treated with suspicion, distrust or discriminated against in their communities.

She also commended the “Adamawa Peace Initiative” for bringing together, Christians and Muslim leaders in Yola, as a way of promoting peaceful co-existence in their communities.

3

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Now, everyone can

land in wealth!

launches

today.

April 26, 2016

Paago, Iseyin, Oyo State

Somewhere along the line,

11.00 am

YOU can make a fortune.

Stakeholders are cordially invited.

THE OYO STATE AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE www.oysai.com.ng

4 news

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Modu Sheriff to G-84: I ‘ll contest if...

•Says 99.9% of PDP govs, party elders, others are with him •As Olopoenia backs Kashamu on Modu-Sheriff F rom Jacob Segun Olatunji , Leon Usigbe, Adamu Amadu and Nurudeen Alimi

A

HEAD the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in preparation for its national convention slated for next month, its national chairman, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff has told the members of the G-84 of the party his determination to seek re-election at the convention.

Senator Modu-Sheriff, according to a competent source at the party’s national secretariat, made his intention known to the group, comprising all the state chairmen of the party, ex-officio, deputy national officers and the zonal vice chairmen at a private meeting he held with them Sunday night in Abuja.

The source stated that the national chairman set the ball rolling at the meeting by thanking the members for making it possible for him to be appointed the national chairman of the party in February.

According to the source, “the long and short of the meeting was to lobby the G-84 to pass whatever the Zoning Committee presented to NEC on Thursday, at the proposed NEC meeting, He said he called us to seek our support to contest for the party’s national chairmanship position if eventually zoned to NorthEast.

He said conveniently that only one governor was not supporting him yet and that 99.9 per cent of the governors and majority of PDP leaders were with him in the bid to retain the position till 2019.

However, the Nigerian Tribune learnt the meeting was nearly marred by two factions of the party from the South-West on whether or not the national chairman should be zoned to the North-East or SouthWest According to our source, trouble started when “the Senator Buruji Kashamu’s faction, led by the chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the party, Bayo Dayo, claimed that those agitating for South-West national chairman are minority and was countered by his Lagos State counterpart, Captain Tunji Shelle, who told him that Buruji is not among foremost leaders of the party in the zone, though he is a leader in his own right.”

It was gathered that Mo-

du-Sheriff, in his wisdom, calmed the warring factions and all the members to forget their differences and let the interest of the party as a whole be paramount in their hearts for the party to grow and face the challenge of regaining its lost glory.

Meanwhile, the Zoning Committee of the party headed by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Emmanuel Udom, will today, reconvene in Uyo, to take a final decision, which would be communicated to the National Working Committee ahead the NEC meeting slated for this Thursday, for ratification.

In a related development, initiator, Reformed Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, has thrown his weight behind the position of Senator Buruji Kashamu, on allowing the incumbent national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu-

Sheriff to continue in office.

Olopoenia, while speaking with Nigerian Tribune at his Bashorun, Ibadan residence, pointed out that the best thing that could happen to the PDP at this point in time was to allow Senator Modu-Sheriff to continue as chairman of the party.

“Senator Kashamu was right by saying ModuSheriff should continue in office as chairman of our great party. As far as I am concerned, none of those clamouring for the zoning of the chairmanship of the party to the South-West is capable of occupying the position.

“I want to also state here categorically that the party has witnessed tremendous change since ModuSheriff became the chairman. Therefore, I will like all members of the party to toe the path of Senator Kashamu by allowing a no-

therner, in the person of Modu-Sheriff, to continue as chairman of the party,” he said.

PDP on reconciliation mission —Modu-Sherif

National chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali ModuSheriff, said the party has gone far in contact and reconciling mission with aggrieved members nationwide.

He made the disclosure on Monday in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, while addressing party members during his official visit to the state, to see and familiarise with the party members.

Senator Modu-Sherif explained that “the party has gone far in consulting the aggrieved members, who dumped the party for APC to return and there is development and good re-

sponses.”

According to him, “PDP is reviving and we are confident to regain our power at all levels,” he added, saying the party executives wooed so many personalities; that very soon would be made public.

Modu-Sheriff maintained that worried with difficulties that Nigerians were going through under the leadership of APC, the party would do all its best to save Nigeria by taking over the leadership in 2019.

Addressing the crowd, the former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, after observing the crowd, said “who said PDP is dead in Jigawa?”

Lamido also said the party was working hard to woo the aggrieved members who made APC relevant and take over power.

The former governor said the gathering was mainly for the PDP leaders to vis-

Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) and Chief Tony Anenih at the St Anthony’s Catholic Church, Uromi, where Oshiomhole bagged an award for his service to the church, on Sunday.

I have forgiven Oshiomhole —Anenih Banji Aluko - Benin City FORMER chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, said he had forgiven the governor, whom he referred to as his son.

This was as he noted that his immediate past health challenges made him realise the need to rise above politics and embrace peace with all men.

Anenih reunited with Governor Adams Oshiomhole in church, at the weekend, at the 10th anniversary of St Anthony’s Catholic Church, where the governor was given an award for his services to the church.

The governor, while noting the efforts of the church in nation building, said: “I believe that the fact

that Nigerians live in relative peace and harmony, in spite of the failings and weaknesses of political leadership at all levels, is due to the power of your intercession and your prayers.

“We cannot thank you enough for your prayers and your support, in spite of our weaknesses.”

He praised the Catholic Church for bringing people of different political persuasions together under one roof for the church programme.

He said: “Yesterday, I found myself sitting in the front row and then I realised that most of those drivers and shakers of politics and ‘politricking’ in Edo State are all Catholics.

That, for me, is revealing.

“For me, the church has

caused all of us to reunite in the state. So, I reunite with my daddy, Chief Tony Anenih and several other PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders.

And the Catholic Church brought together the national chairman of APC sitting side-by-side with the national leader of the PDP. “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to moderate our actions and remind us of our oneness, of our commonality and of our shared commitment to work together to uplift our state and our great nation.”

The governor thanked the church for the award, saying “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the honour done me by being invited to receive an award.”

Chief Anenih added: “I was in St. Paul’s Church in Benin, and as my son, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said, we were all there appreciating the efforts of the Archbishop.

“I want to say this, it is not because Adams is here.

Last night, I was telling my wife that I met Adams in the church and with my immediate medical experience, I have decided to forgive all those who offended me. And I specifically mentioned Adams.

“Adams, without you saying it, I have forgiven you. As you said when you were a Labour president, you were my son and you know it. You came into politics and you remain my son. So, the common cook that used to cook ogbono soup for us is still there.”

it their supporters in the state, adding that the grand rally would be organised in the state to differentiate between true and false.

Nigerians have discovered that APC is a party of deceit —Wike

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has declared that PDP will take over the reins of governance in 2019 because Nigerians have discovered that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a political party founded on deceit.

Speaking in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on Monday, during the PDP membership mobilisation programme, Governor Wike said judging from the mammoth crowd that turned up for the event, it was obvious that there was no APC in Jigawa State.

He said for tens of thousands to troop out for an opposition event, it proved that there was no APC in the state.

He said : “What happened in 2015 had opened the eyes of Nigerians. Nigerians have lost faith in APC. From what we have seen, it is obvious that Nigerians were deceived. They have seen the deceit of APC and have returned to where they belong.

“They have seen the truth and they are back to their original party. The false stories of 2015 will no longer be accepted and come 2019, PDP will bounce back to power.”

The governor added: “I am going back to the Niger Delta to tell the people that PDP is fully rooted in the North.”

In his remarks, former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, declared that PDP was the antidote for the APC. He said that PDP would provide answers to the developmental needs of Nigerians.

National chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali ModuSheriff, said the visit to Jigawa State was to mobilise more people to register as members of the party.

He said: “There is PDP in Jigawa State. APC is finished.”

The Jigawa PDP membership regiatration rally was attended by former Kano State governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Kaduna State governor, Ramalan Yero, members of the PDP National Working Committee, serving and former National Assembly members.

5 news Buhari, Masari, Nnamani meet over 2016 budget Leon Usigbe - Abuja

I

N an obvious attempt to resolve the current budget impasse between the executive and the legislature, two former presiding officers of the National Assembly, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State and Senator Ken Nnamani, on Monday, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Masari and Nnamani, who were Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate President respectively, in 2003 and 2007, confirmed to State House corespondents after the closed door meeting that part of the issues discussed with the president was the best way to fashion out cooperation between the two arms of government on the budget matter.

It will be recalled that Buhari had declined to sign the 2016 budget, as he believed that critical aspects of it had been tampered with by the National Assembly.

Fielding questions on the matter, Nnamani said: “The

issue on budget; well budget is an area where we practise what we call co-management between the National Assembly and the executive branch of government.

Both of them co-manage the economy through the budget its a peculiar area, both of them will have to cooperate and collaborate for a proper budget to be passed and once it is passed, it becomes law.

“So, as it stands today, the situation is such that the National Assembly has to do what is called introspection.

How did we get to where we are now? The year is running out and we are still talking about 2016 budget, where is the fault from?

“Wherever it is coming from, both the executive branch and the legislature must find a quick solution to it. It does nobody good to drag it any longer.

“Remember it is an area of co-management, it is not left to the executive alone, it is not left to the National Assembly alone, there has to be collaboration.

“I think he stands to reason, what I suggested is being studied, I think it is ap-

propriate.”

The former Senate President expressed the belief that Buhari would study the suggestions put to him.

On his part, the Katsina governor threw his weight behind the president’s reluctance to put his signature to what he was not sure of.

Asked if the president could not sign the budget and send a supplementary version to rectify any gray area, Masari said he himself would not sign if he was in the same position as the president.

“You know I am now an executive and I signed budget for Kastina State and before I did that, I made sure I knew what I was signing for. So, take it as I said,” he declared.

Speaking on his programme in Katsina State, Masari said his administration was planning to open up the state economy through agriculture and was consequently planning an economic summit.

He said the way to go was to go back to the basics, exploring agriculture and natural resources.

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

6 Edited by

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos Task Force arrests 2 over fake digestive biscuits Bola Badmus

CHAIRMAN, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force), Olayinka Egbeyemi, has warned members of the public to be wary of repackaged expired digestive biscuits selling in all markets across the state.

Egbeyemi gave the warning on Monday while parading two suspects arrested around Mosafejo Market in Oshodi, Lagos for re-packaging and selling expired digestive biscuits to members of the public.

The suspects are Rabiu Olalekan and Hakeem Tiamiyu.

The task Force boss, in a statement made available by the Agency’s Public Affairs Officer, Mr Taofik Adebayo, disclosed that the arrest of a lady (Bimbo Oyewole) by his officers at Oshodi under bridge while she was cleaning off the expired date boldly written on a pack of a digestive biscuit, led to arrest of the two suspects.

He said the lady, after she was arrested, took Lagos Task Force officials to where she bought the expired digestive biscuit at N1,900 per pack from one Olalekan and Tiamiyu.

Commercial buses, popularly known as Danfo block the Broad Street end of Apongbon, while loading passengers during evening peak hour, thereby causing traffic logjam. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA. The Task Force boss said Olalekan, whose address as of time of arrest was C135 BereMapo, Ibadan in Oyo State, confessed to have been doing the business of re-packaging expired digestive biscuits and selling them to members of the public at a cheaper rate with Tiamiyu who lives at No 26, Oremeji Street, Ikotunto situations that could take trist and Clinical Psycholo- “by the day of the wedding her family,” Adebayo said.

Lanre Adewole them to the breaking point. gist also explained that over- she was already behaving He dismissed the myth Egbe, Lagos.

“These suspects claimed that ITH an aver- He noted that delivery-blues excitement can also trigger funny and they had to rush of every man being conthey bought hundreds packs of age of 25 new psychosis in new mothers is suppressed madness. through the programme. Of demned to five seconds of digestive biscuits before govpatients per a sign of suppressed mental He recalled a pathetic course, she had her honey- madness, though warned ernment demolished Mosafejo day, a rare in- case, usually triggered by story of a lady who was moon with us and sadly, the that the socio-economic market and since they could sight has been provided into hormonal changes during over-excited preparing for man still left her because he and environmental tension not sell them before they all the variety of patients at the pregnancy and after birth. her wedding ceremony and could not cope with the real- could trigger mental disor- expired, they decided changing Yaba Psychiatrist Hospital, The Consultant Psychia- she got so involved that ity that there is madness in der. the expiry dates and re- packLagos. aging them for the consumpThe Acting Chief Medical tion of members of the public.

“They disclosed that they sell Director (CMD), Dr Rich- THE Ebute Metta Chief told the court that the ac- can Shrine in Agidingbi, cused of taking part of his ard Adebayo on Sunday dis- Magistrates’ Court on Mon- cused, whose address was Ikeja. The prosecutor said ‘suya’. The accused an- a pack of re-packaged digestive closed that it was a wrong day ordered that Abiodun not disclosed, committed the accused pushed the de- gered by Ogunleye’s action biscuit at the rate of N1,900 as against the non-expired one assumption that both in and Taiwo, 46, charged with the offence on March 4. ceased as well as his friend, pushed the latter, who in sold at N4,500 per pack. out-patients of the hospital killing his friend over grilled The accused is facing a Ayodeji Ogunleye, because the process, fell and hit his “Both men claimed povare dregs of the society, not- meat, popularly known charge of attempted mur- the latter (Ogunleye) had head on the floor,” Njue erty pushed them to the ing that both old and young, as Suya, be remanded in der. taken out of the suya be- said. business and that they disrich and poor, are experi- Ikoyi Prisons.

Njue said the accused longing to the former.

The court adjourned the tributed these re-packaged encing mental disorder.

The chief magistrate, Mrs committed the charge lev“The accused was still case till June 1, when it expired biscuits to various Adebayo, while speaking Oluyemisi Adelaja, who elled against him at 2:30 nursing a grudge against would have received legal agents across Lagos State,” as the guest speaker at Re- gave the order, refused to a.m., in front of the Afri- the deceased whom he ac- advice from the DPPs. Egbeyemi said. deemed Christian Church take the plea of the accused, of God (RCCG), Victory saying the charge preferred Chapel, Magodo listed the against him was a capital current patients of the hos- offence.

Adeleke Shittu, Larai ted the offences at the that the accused perAyomide Owonibi Odekanyin Adelaja said that the court pital to include a couple Claude-Ennin, Hassan firm’s office located at sons between January of children, particularly a would require legal advice NINE officials of Con- Jamiu Gbenga, and Eagle House 38/39 Ma- 1, 2011, and Decemthree-year-old, lawyers, from the Director of Public solidated Discount Ajibola Jolaosho. rina, Lagos, between ber 31, 2013, failed to Prosecutions (DPPs) before pastors and celebrities.

House Limited have Others include: January 1, 2004 and keep proper books of “Many of those in the elite it could proceed on the case. been charged before Omisore Olawale, December 31, 2013. account and failed to “The accused is hereby class are mostly out-paa Federal High Court Omisope Johnson, OnThe accused persons give proper state of aftients, meaning that they ordered to be remanded at on alleged stocks’ imole Mobolaji Ade- were also alleged to fairs of the firm. They come around for treatment the Ikoyi Prisons, pending fraud, worth N16. bowale and Emmanuel have used their var- were also charged to as long as it would take to legal advice from the DPP. 738,700,401.56 billion. Akiola Odedina. ious positions in the have failed to exercise The case file should also be treat them,” he said.

Those arraigned Counsel to the Attorcompany to divert due diligence conduct duplicated and forwarded to before Justice Mo- ney General, Joseph B. several funds belong- in the conduct of the Adebayo warned that them,’’ she said. hammed Idris are: Daudu, informed the ing to the company firm’s financial transthose with hereditary madEarlier, the prosecutor, Stephen Olawale Ak- court that the nine ac- to different accounts. actions. ness should always be careSergeant Simon Njue, had inretoye, Mudashiru cused persons commit- The AGF also alleged ful not to subject themselves The accused persons

We have children, pastors, lawyers, celebrity patients — Yaba Psychiatrist CMD

W

Man, 46, remanded for allegedly causing friend’s death over Suya

Accountants, others in alleged N16.7bn fraud

7

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

metro Father chains son 60 days for disgracing him Olalekan Olabulo

The victim,Yusuf Lawal with his father (standing), who chained him for allegedly disgracing him.

Govt to expand Airport Hotel to Alausa Road Bola Badmus LAGOS State government has revealed readiness to expand the Obafemi Awolowo Way with an elevated highway from the Ikeja Airport Hotel to Alausa, saying it also planned to upgrade the network of roads in Ikeja to improve and boost the economic stature of the seat of government to world class standard.

According to the government, the upgrade is also aimed at reducing traffic

pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Upon the plea of the accused persons, their lawyers which include: Kemi Balogun, Abiodun Layonu and Dapo Olanipekun, urged the court to allow their clients to continue to be on the bail conditions earlier granted them when they were first arraigned before the court.

gridlock around the corridor to the barest minimum.

The State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson, disclosed this on Monday while speaking at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre to commemorate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s one year in office.

The commissioner, who equally disclosed that there would be an expansion of the Allen/Opebi Road to Odo Iya-Alaro via a link bridge at Ogudu to the Third Mainland Bridge, said the network of roads, when upgraded, would boost the economic activities in Ikeja.

Johnson said the development was in line with the vision of Governor Ambode to transform Ikeja to a state capital in the real sense of it, in order to be at par with other capital cities in the world.

The commissioner, while highlighting the scorecard of the ministry so far, said the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) worked on 540 roads from

May 30, 2015 to April 5, 2016 out of which outright rehabilitation was carried out on 32 of the roads.

According to him, sectional patching and overlay was done on 509 roads, adding that 433 of the roads had been successfully completed.

Some of the major roads rehabilitated by the LSPWC, according to the commissioner, included Alfa Nla Road in Agege, Metal Box Road in Ikeja, Ikotun-Ejigbo Road and the ongoing road projects in Ajasa Command and Aboru.

“At the inception of this administration, this ministry put in place a three-fold strategy for the provision of road infrastructure. The short term measure is the maintenance of existing roads known as ‘Operation Patch the Roads,’ being carried out by the LSPWC, while the medium term strategy is aimed at the sustainability of existing roads, rehabilitation and construction of new roads, reconstruction of existing and expansion of highways and bridges.

A man, who chained his son and locked him up in the room for two months, Akanbi Lawal has blamed the son’s disgraceful and shameful acts for his action.

The victim, Yusuf Lawal was over the weekend rescued in a room at 4, Ifekoya Street, Papa Ashafa, Agege, after a friend of his reported the incident to the police.

Residents of Papa Ashafa in Agege had before the discovery declared the victim missing, after they could not find him for two months.

Lagos Metro gathered that a friend of the victim, Tayo Olukoju, a resident of Ogunbambo Street in the same Papa Ashafa saw Lawal in the abandoned room. Tayo, alongside other residents of the area had been looking for Yusuf for more than two months, then, quickly alerted the police at Dopemu police station.

The policemen unchained him and rushed him to the hospital because his two hands were swollen and were decaying. He was rushed to the General Hospital in Oke Odo area of the state, where he has continued to receive treatment.

The father, in his statement to the police, admitted to having tied the 35-yearold and justified his action when he declared the victim

as “shameful and disgraceful.” The father has since then been arrested by the police and the police have declared that he would be prosecuted in a law court.

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos confirmed the incident to Lagos Metro and added that the father had been arrested.

I only helped vandals —Suspect caught with exhibits A 28-year-old man, who was caught by the police with vandalised bridge railings in Ijora area of Lagos State has insisted that he was only helping the vandals.

The suspect, Ademola Kazeem, was over the weekend arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, who were on patrol on the Ijora bridge last Saturday night.

According to the police, the suspect was arrested while packing 30 pieces of vandalised railings meant to reinforce and firm up the bridge into a commercial bus popularly called Danfo.

The suspect claimed hat he was invited by a man, simply identified as Kapol, a scrap scavenger to transport the metals for him.

Kazeem added that when he saw the vandalised railings, he was shocked because he suspected that the guy must have removed them from where they were meant to support the bridge.

The suspect, Kazeem with exhibits recovered from him.

Upon his arrival at the RRS headquarters, the suspect explained that “ I have not worked for four days with the bus. I was removing the bus from where it was parked when I saw Kapol. I begged him to help me push the bus.

“It was while we were pushing the vehicle that he told me I was going to help him carry the metal.”

He added that although, he had no fuel, Kapol got five litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for him to move the vehicle to pack the metal.

He continued on getting to the crime scene, he noted Kapol had brought out three packs of the railings before the arrival of the police” and insisted that he decided to stay while Kapol ran away because he knew nothing about the loosening of the railings from their original positions.

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

8

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

9

news

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

3.2 billion people at risk of Malaria globally —WHO report

T

he World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that about 3.2 billion people remained at risk to Malaria attack globally.

This is contained in a report entitled: “Eliminating Malaria,” released on Monday, on World Malaria Day, observed every year on April 25.

It stated that in 2015 alone, 214 million new cases of the disease were reported in 95 countries and no fewer than 400,000 people died of Malaria.

The “Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 20162030,” approved by the World Health Assembly in 2015, calls for the elimination of local transmission of Malaria in at least 10 countries by 2020.

WHO’s estimates showed that 21 countries were in a position to achieve this goal, including six countries in the African region, where the burden of the disease is heaviest.

It added that the efficacy of the tools that secured the gains against Malaria in the early years of this century was now threatened.

The WHO also said that mosquito resistance to insecticides used in nets and indoor residual spraying was growing.

It also warned of parasite resistance to a component of one of the most powerful antimalarial medicines.

It added that further progress against Malaria would likely require new tools that did not exist today, and the further refining of new technologies.

“Since the year 2000, it showed that Malaria mortality rates have declined by 60 per cent globally.

“It also showed that in the African region, Malaria mortality rates fell by

66 per cent among all age groups and by 71 per cent among children under five years.”

The advances, it added, came through the use of

spraying, rapid diagnostic testing and artemisininbased combination therapies.

WHO, however, said in 2015, for the first time, the

European Medicines Agency issued a positive scientific opinion on a Malaria vaccine.

In 2015, it added, all countries in the European region,

Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal (left), assisted by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Balarabe Kakale (second left), presenting mosquito nets and anti-malaria kits to a beneficiary, at an event to mark this year’s World Malaria Day celebration, in Sokoto, on Monday.

Nigeria accounts for 40% of global Malaria deaths — Tambuwal Nigeria alone accounts for over 40 per cent of the estimated total Malaria deaths globally, a situation that is not only alarming, but must be tackled for any meaningful development to occur, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said.

Speaking in Sokoto, on Monday, during events to mark this year’s World Malaria Day, Tambuwal said his administration was aware of the negative consequences of Malaria

Expert suggests diagnosis before treatment Dr Cliff Okafor, Executive Director, Community Health, Education and Development in Africa, a non-governmental organisation, on Monday, suggested proper diagnosis before treatment of Malaria.

Okafor made the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka.

The medical expert said Nigeria still accounted for high mortality rate in Malaria.

He said people were still ignorant of how to treat Malaria and end up taking wrong drugs.

“Government at all levels and stakeholders should en-

core Malaria control tools that had been widely deployed over the last decade: They are insecticide-treated bed-nets, indoor residual

sure proper counselling of the people on the treatment of Malaria.

“Some drugs bought from patent medicine dealers had no content on dosage and timing.

“Patent medicine dealers should be enlightened on the right dosage and if sickness persists, should refer patients to bigger hospitals,’’ he told NAN. Okafor, a Medical Director of Harmony Specialist Hospital, Awka, said it was risky for patients to rush and buy Malaria tablets at the slightest sign of sickness without proper diagnosis.

He said Malaria accounted for 70 per cent of hospital attendance in Nigeria.

and other neglected tropical diseases on both human and economic growth of the country.

To this end, he said the government would continue to provide free medical care to pregnant mothers and children under the age of five who were vulnerable to Malaria and other tropical diseases.

According to him, similar passion would be embarked upon so as to provide care to people living in remote areas of the state.

He said drugs worth billions of Naira had been distributed to all parts of the state, while so far, government had received donations from the Federal Government and development partners to tackle the issues.

“The fight against these diseases requires collective efforts. Drugs worth billions of Naira from the inception of the programmes were provided through the joint efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, partners and state government.

Recently, the state government received a donation of Trachoma drugs worth N3.1 Billion which will be distributed in 12 local government areas of Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Rabah, Bodinga, Binji, Tangaza, Kware, Silame, Wamakko, Illela and Gada,” Tambuwal added.

In his remarks, the Min-

ister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said the Federal Government was working towards ensuring that no Nigerian would die from Malaria or Malaria-related illness from the year 2020.

He added that the government would also strive to ensure that Malaria was completely exterminated from the country from the year 2025, ahead the global target of the year 2030.

for the first time, recorded zero indigenous cases of Malaria, down from 90,000 cases in 1995.

Outside this region, it added that eight countries reported zero cases of the disease in 2014: Argentina, Costa Rica, Iraq, Morocco, Oman, Paraguay, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates.

Eight other countries, it added, tallied fewer than 100 indigenous Malaria cases in 2014.

It also added that 12 countries reported between 100 and 1,000 indigenous Malaria cases in 2014.

WHO said vigorous leadership by the governments of affected countries was key.

It said governments must strengthen surveillance of cases to identify gaps in coverage and be prepared to take action based on the information received.

It also said, as countries approach elimination, the ability to detect every infection became increasingly important.

“Reaching the goals of the “Global Technical Strategy” will require a steep increase in global and domestic funding from $2.5 billion to an estimated $8.7 billion annually by 2030.

“Through robust financing and political will, affected countries can speed progress towards Malaria elimination and contribute to the broader development agenda as laid out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” the report said.

2015: ‘Malaria claimed 22,000 lives in Kano’ Kola Oyelere -Kano KANO State Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso, on Monday, said no fewer than 22,000 lives were lost to Malaria in 2015, saying government alone could not win the war against this dreaded disease without the help of the private sector and communities.

This is just as the commissioner said the state government spent a sum of N59 million last month to procure Malaria drugs and other items to combat and eliminate the disease in the state.

Disclosing this on Monday, while addressing the press on the celebration of World Malaria Day, Dr Getso said Malaria was one of the biggest public health challenge facing Nigeria.

According to him, estimates suggested that “a child under the age of five years dies of Malaria every 45 seconds and it accounts for 11 per cent of our maternal mortality which translates to more than 600 deaths in Nigeria.”

His words: “In Kano, Malaria is the single, most common reason for outpatiant

consultation and visitation,” adding that it was estimated that in 2015 alone, more than one million hospital visits were due to this preventable disease terms.

He, however, noted that Malaria morbidity and mortality has led to loss of billions of Naira in the cost of

drugs, hospital stay and other out of pocket expenses.

“It is worthy to note that in March 2016 alone, the state government, headed by Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, procured Malaria commodities worth N59 million to combat and eliminate Malaria in Kano State,” he said.

10

businessnews

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Saboteurs diverting petrol to Chad, Cameroon —Kachikwu •Fashola says FG requires N2trn to complete road projects •Minister defends Buhari’s foreign trips ChukwumaOkparaochawith agency report

D

ESPITE conscious efforts made by the Federal Government to significantly ameliorate the current fuel crises in the country, deliberate diversion of crude oil products to neighbouring countries such as Chad and Cameroon has led to the lingering of the problem.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, made this known Monday in Lagos at a Lagos Town Hall Meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Information, where he also disclosed that in the past one week, about 500 petrol trucks had been sent to Lagos but that only about half of those were able to offload their contents successfully.

The Town Hall meeting which was held at the Lagos City Hall, also brought five other ministers into the spotlight, and those were, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Okechukwu Enelamah; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and the Minister of Communication and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who also served as the host of the event.

Kachikwu, who recently drew the ire of many Nigerians over what was deemed his “insensitivity” to the plights of Nigerians due to some of his utterances, further noted that this act of sabotage had led to a situation whereby only “a few Nigerians are benefiting at the detriment of the majority of the populace.”

However, he said the government had already

devised a means of halting this ugly trend, by introducing tracking devises on all fuel-tracking trucks in the country, which he said would help his ministry to monitor all trucks carrying fuel across the country.

He also noted that by registering all depots carrying out the supply and petrol stations where the supply is heading, the government hopes to also quickly rein in the growing trend.

“None of our petrol tankers have trackers, therefore any truck without a tracker will not be allowed to load fuel. We are also working with the Police, Army, Civil Defence, and others to pre-

vent diversion of petrol to other countries,” he said.

When answering questions relating to his ministry, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the government was currently working on housing designs which would make housing to be built relevant to the housing needs of each region in the country.

According to Fashola, the Federal Government will require about N2trillion to complete not new fewer than 226 ongoing road projects across the country.

He said the total amount allocated to all the sectors under his ministry in the

THE manager of the Nigerian International Debt Fund (NIDF), Afrinvest Asset Management Limited (AAML), has reduced minimum investment from N1 million to N100,000 to investors in the country.

While the fund has been delivering significant returns to investors over the years, some prospective ones have been denied the benefits because of the entry point that was at N1 million.

NIDF is an NSE-listed mutual fund since 1997

in the various states-- the liability to complete them is about N2 trillion,” he said.

In the power sector, the minister said though there were many challenges facing the sector, the government would do everything possible to fulfill its promise to revamp it.

He said the 5,000 megawatts the country was generating was inadequate and explained that the government was completing some ongoing power projects and and taking other steps to boost generation.

Also, the Minister of Culture and Information, Lai Mohammed, said the Federal Government has

From left: Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema and Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, during the Lagos Town Hall Meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Information, held at Lagos City Hall, on Monday, in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Capital market: Operators urge FG to create forex window for foreign investors SOME capital market operators on Monday urged the Federal Government to create a foreign exchange window for foreign investors to deepen activities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that foreign exchange challenges had affected transactions by foreign investors in the capital market.

Mallam Garba Kurfi, the

Debt fund reduces entry value to N100,000 from N1m Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba-Lagos

2016 budget was less than N500 billion,stressing that the government did not have enough resources to complete all the projects at present.

Fashola added that the focus of the government for now would be to complete some of the projects and not to undertake new ones.

“The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing proposed N423billion at the Federal Executive Council and the information reaching us is that we are not going to get all that .

“Ongoing road projects alone awarded by the government before we came-about 266 roads awarded

that invests in fixed income securities of the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as those of the 36 States.

AAML has, however, proposed a reduction in the par value of the notes as reduction and other amendment in the Trust Deed of NIDF would be considered at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of noteholders of the fund on Thursday, 28 April, in Lagos.

According to Managing Director of AAML, Ola Belgore, the EGM would discuss and get consent on the proposed amendment

to the NIDF Trust Deed.

“One of the major resolutions expected to be passed at the EGM is the amendment of the definition of ‘New Investment Notes’ in the Deed of Amendment and Restatement of Trust Deed of October 12, 2009 to mean that Notes of a par value of N100.00 will be issued to existing Noteholders in substitution for their existing Notes,” Belgore said.

He explained that the proposed reduction in par value from the N1, 000.00 N100.00 implies a stock split.

Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd., Lagos said the call was necessary because of the Federal Government stance on naira devaluation.

Kurfi also said that many manufacturing companies were finding it difficult to import raw materials for production.

Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., Lagos said the delay in the passage of the 2016 budget had also contributed to the downward trend in the capital market and the economy in general.

Omordion appealed that the issues impeding Presidential assent to the 2016 budget be resolved immediately by the National Assembly in the national interest.

Omordion attributed gains recorded by the market last week to impressive first quarter unaudited results announced by some quoted companies.

Meanwhile, NAN reports that a turnover of 885.4 million shares valued at N5.83 billion were exchanged in 13,870 deals by investors last week.

This is against 8.05 billion shares worth N13.33 billion traded in 15,212 deals in the preceding week.

The Financial Services sector led the activity chart by 747.82 million shares valued at N3.83 billion traded in 8,768 deals.

The Consumer Goods sector followed with 45.52 million shares worth N977.58 million exchanged in 2,145 deals.

The Agriculture sector had a turnover of 32.31 million shares worth N48.46 million traded in 247 deals.

The All-Share Index increased by 130.84 points or 0.53 per cent to close at 24,850.11 from the 24,719.27 posted in the preceding week.

generated over N2 trillion through the Treasury Single Account (TSA) since the commencement of the policy.

“This administration has decided to plug all financial loopholes through the Treasury Single Account (TSA), into which over N2 trillion has accrued so far. Funds that ordinarily would have gone into private pockets are now finding their way into the public treasury, to be used for the benefit of all.

According to him, the budget has recorded a first with the capital expenditure being increased to 30 per cent, adding that “beyond that there are six social intervention areas that will directly touch the lives of millions of citizens and lift them out of poverty.

Mohammed noted that 500,000 graduates would be employed and trained as teachers.

Also speaking, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Goeffrey Onyeama said the overseas trips embarked upon by President Mohammed Buhari were carefully selected in line with certain priorities and development objectives of the country.

He said the president was not embarking on the trips just for the fun of it, stressing that some of them were already yielding results for the progress of the country.

The minister also said some of the president’s trips to certain western countries were at the invitation of these nations because they were moved by Buhari`s impressive credentials and goodwill.

The minister listed the United States, the United Kingdom and France as some of the countries whose leaders invited Buhari, based on his goodwill.

Onyeama also said the President’s recent trip to China was to attract the much-needed investments in agriculture, solid minerals, as well as other important sectors of the economy.

In his remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Idiat Adebule, called for Nigerians to exercise more patience with the Buhariled administration, saying it was just a matter of time, and people’s sufferings would be over.

“This is not the time to despair, rather it is time for us all to remain focused. The gains of all ongoing efforts will soon begin to materialise,” the governor said.

11

businessnews

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

FG advances N4.93bn, supplies inputs to 73,001 farmers in Kebbi Chima Nwokoji-lagos

S

ix months after President Muhammadu Buhari launched the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initiated Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), a total of N4,936,321,400 has been disbursed to farmers while 73,001 of them also received input supplies.

In a TV programme monitored by Nigerian Tribune in Lagos, Director, Development Finance Department CBN, Mudashiru Olaitan, said rice farming in Kebbi State had “improved greatly since the establishment of the ABP.” According to him, “it is expected that about one million metric tonnes of rice will be produced by the farmers per harvesting period to reduce rice importation into the country.

“When other states are involved in the programme, it is expected that within a short time, Nigeria will stop importing rice,” adding that each farmer gets between N150,000 to N250,000 at nine per cent interest rate.

Analysis of figures from the CBN, seen by the Nigerian Tribune show that: of the total disbursements so far, N2, 971,532,000 (Labour related) was advanced to farmers under state government, N1,224,289,400 under Umza and N740,500,000 under Labana.

Also, of the total number of farmers supplied inputs so far, 66,765 farmers received under the state government as at April 4, 2016; under Labana were 3,526 farmers and a total of 2,710 under Umza.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, during the assessment tour of the farmlands cultivated under the programme in Kebbi State at the weekend, said agriculture was the bedrock of genuine

economic growth of any nation and that Nigeria could not be an exception.

He added that the current scarcity of foreign exchange confronting the country was a good devel-

tion Team at the Development Finance Department of CBN, it is expected that 70,781 farmers are directly engaged under the scheme;7,710 retained in farming business under ABP.

From left: President Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE), Professor Wumi Iledare; President International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE), Ricando Rainen and Senior Special Assistant on Privatisation office of the Vice President, Chiedu Ugbo, during the 9th NAEE/IAEE International Annual Conference in Abuja on Monday. photo: Sunday Osunrayi

Access Bank records N19.4bn Q1 profit Access Bank on Monday posted a profit after tax of N19.4 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016, according to the company’s unaudited.

The result submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday stated that the growth represented 42 per cent from the N13.7 billion recorded in the comparative period in 2015.

The profit before tax for the period rose to ?22.6bn, representing a growth of 37 per cent when com-

pared with ?16.5bn in the first quarter of 2015.

The bank’s gross earnings appreciated by five per cent to ?80.3 billion against ?76.8 billion achieved in the preceding period of 2015.

The interest income and non-interest income contributed 69 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively.

The Managing Director of the bank, Mr Herbert Wigwe, attributed the growth to the benefits of initiatives deployed in 2015 in the bank’s retail banking

Siemens explains sack of 70% workers The telecommunications company, Siemens, a subsidiary of Dresser-Rand, has officially responded to the protest by its employees on a proposed sack of the said employees.

It will be recalled that the workers had staged a protest on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 to the proposed sack in which about 70 per cent of the Nigerian workforce was being laid off.

Siemens, in a statement made available to journalists on Monday, explained that “changes in the global energy marketplace precipitated by the plunge in the global prices of crude oil have resulted in a reassessment of Dresser-Rand’s global operations footprint.

“Following this, an agree-

opment for the Nigerian economy, as local production of various essential goods is now being given top priority with positive outcomes.

Available records from Kebbi ABP Implementa-

ment was made for Dresser-Rand to transfer ownership of its business to Siemens. This decision has necessitated the streamlining of management and administrative structures and the modernisation of the Siemens, DresserRand combined fleet.

“The impact of right-sizing decisions are always difficult and Dresser-Rand has been fair and circumspect in the preparation and delivery of employee severance packages. The right-sizing decisions made were taken wholly by Dresser-Rand and no Siemens Nigeria employees were affected in the process.”

The statement added that Siemens and DresserRand are continuing to

“work to ensure a secure and efficient integration process for all employees.”

sector.

“I am pleased with the group’s solid first quarter performance, characterised by improved margins and strong profit growth, despite prevalent macro headwinds and a slowed economy.

“Today, we are realising the benefits of initiatives that were deployed last year in the retail banking space, evidenced by the rapid adoption and utilisation of our enhanced digital platforms,” Wigwe said.

He stated that the initiatives translated to growth in the bank’s retail-related fee and commission income.

Wigwe said the bank grew its loan portfolio in

the light of macro realities, adding that it would continue to uphold the highest standards of risk management, to maintain asset quality.

According to him , the bank will also explore and activate other innovative avenues to expand its digital banking proposition to achieve improved revenues and deliver sustainable shareholder value in the long-term.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Access Bank is a full service commercial bank.

It has a network of 374 branches and service outlets located in major centres across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.

Quarter 1: Domestic airlines record 8,478 cases of delayed delights The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said domestic airlines operating in the country recorded 8,478 cases of delayed flights in first quarter of 2016.

This is contained in a document issued by the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department, which was obtained on Monday by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The document said a total number of 15,434 flights were operated by eight domestic airlines during the

period under review, while 281 flights were cancelled.

It said the airlines in operation were Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Air Peace, Azman Air, Dana Air, First Nation, Med-View and Overland.

Arik, which operated 4,926 flights, topped the chart of delayed and cancelled flights with 2,801 and 99, respectively.

This was closely followed by Aero Contractors, which recorded 1,762 delayed flights and 94 cancellations, out of its 2,823 flight operations.

Air Peace operated 2,686 flights with 1,175 incidences of delayed flights and four cancellations.

However, Arik Air, in a statement by its Communications Manager, Mr Ola Adebanji, attributed the delays and cancellations to the lingering scarcity of aviation fuel. ``With over a hundred flights daily, this limited supply of aviation fuel has resulted, regrettably, into flight delays and sometimes outright cancellations.”

Nigerian Tribune

NSE: Market indices resumes week 0.34% low Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

Equities trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange continued on a negative trajectory as market indices fell by 0.34 per cent.

The All-Share Index lost 85.01 points or 0.34 per cent to close at 24,765.10 points against a loss of 59.77 points or 24 per cent to close at 24,850.11 points recorded last Friday.

Similarly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N8.55 trillion, lost N29.2 billion or 0.34 per cent to close at N8.52 trillion.

Forte Oil Plc led the day’s losers with a loss of N25.12 to close at N250 per share, Guinness Nigeria, followed with a decline of one naira to close at N97, while Flourmill Nigeria Plc. dipped 2 kobo to close at N20 per share.

Union Homes Plc. shed 19 kobo to close at N3.68 kobo and Portland Paints Plc. dropped 13 kobo to close at N2.49 per share.

On the other hand, 7up Plc topped the day’s gainers with an addition of N2.41 to its share price to close at N145 per share, Union Dicon followed with a gain of 55 kobo to close at N11.8 per share.

Community leaders want DESOPADEC 2016 appropriation bill suspended Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

With regard to the Itsekiri nationality central (star) project as contained in the 2016 Appropriation Bill of the Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission (DESOPADEC), the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT) has called on the Delta State House of Assembly to suspend its debate and passage forthwith.

The Itsekiri group made this known in a statement signed by its Secretary, Edward Ekpokpo and a member, A. S Mene and forwarded to the house and journalists including the Nigerian Tribune on Monday in Warri, Delta State.

The group, which described the star projects earmarked for the Itsekiri in the bill as “designed to facilitate corruption,” said until the Itsekiri people were consulted and projects agreed on, the bill should be halted.

12 news Death of Ekiti doctors: Conference holds as NMA declares one week of mourning

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

From Soji-Eze Fagbemi and Sam Nwaoko

D

ESPITE the loss of seven persons from Ekiti State in a ghastly motor accident on their way to the annual delegates conference, in Sokoto, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has declared that the conference will continue.

But the association has declared one week of mourning, and directed that all doctors should observe the mourning from today till Tuesday, next week.

NMA also directed that every doctor should put on black band on the left arm over white overall.

The national officers’ committee meeting of the NMA confirmed that the Ekiti State delegates for the Annual General Conference/ Annual Delegates Meeting (AGC/ADM) “currently holding in Sokoto, were involved in a fatal motor accident on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.”

A statement signed by the NMA president, Dr Kayode Obembe, and the SecretaryGeneral, Dr Adewunmi Alayyaki, said six of their members and the driver had been confirmed dead.

Those who died in the accident are: Dr Alex Akinyele – Secretary NMA Ekiti, Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Ido Ekiti; Dr Tunde Aladesanmi – General Surgeon, FTH, Ido Ekiti; Dr O.J. Taiwo – Anatomic Pathologist, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti; Dr Ogunseye J.B – National Association of General and Government Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) National Secretary, Hospital Management Board (HMB), Ekiti; Dr Olajide O – Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), EKSUTH President; Dr. Atolani Adeniyi – Secretary, NAGGMDP, Ekiti State and Mr Ajibola – NMA Ekiti Driver.

The statement added that other members of the delegates who survived the accident were in stable condition and were receiving medical attention under the auspices of the chairman of the Kaduna State NMA and his team.

It stated that the bereaved families had been contacted and arrangements were in motion to convey the bodies back to Ekiti.

It also added that the NMA was in contact with the bereaved families and burial arrangements would be communicated in due course.

Fayose declares 3 days’ mourning Meanwhile, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has described the

death of six medical doctors and one driver in the state,

in an accident involving a 13-passenger bus “as the

lowest point in the history of the state and a monumental

loss, not only to the people of Ekiti State, but to Nigeri-

Workers of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, on Monday, protesting the death of six of their members, who died in an auto crash on the Abuja-Kaduna road. PHOTO: SAM NWAOKO

ans.”

Fayose, who stated this in a statement, on Monday, to mourn the doctors, also declared three days of mourning for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Governor Fayose directed that all flags should be flown at half-mast and described the death as “an eclipse of professional and intellectual figures, who lost their lives in active service to mankind.”

According to him, “Ekiti has lost some of the best trees in its forest of Medicine. I am deeply sad. This is one loss too many.”

The governor, in the statement by his aide, Lere Olayinka, said, “the death of seven prominent indigenes of a state in one day and at the same period is a burden too heavy to bear and it is my prayer that God, who is the only giver and taker of life will give Ekiti people the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

FETHI workers’ unions in mass protest Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti MEDICAL and non-medical staff members of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI) staged a protest on Monday, at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI), following the death of three doctors at the hospital in an accident on Sunday.

The doctors were on their way to Sokoto State for the 56th annual general conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

The workers had trooped out in their hundreds, claiming that the accident, which claimed the life of Dr Tunde Aladesanmi, who was said to be the most senior consultant in FETHI, and six others, was targeted at Dr Aladesanmi.

The protesters had claimed that Aladesanmi was believed to be in line to succeed the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FETHI, Dr Ayodele Majekodunmi, whose tenure is nearing its end.

They blocked the busy IdoUsi-Ayetoro Road with logs, tables, chairs, stones and sundry rubble, and caused a gridlock which forced trucks and other vehicles to park beside the road.

Banks close to the hospital could also not open for business while the taxis plying the road resorted to shortcuts, but the shortcuts were also manned by touts who extorted money from the drivers.

It took the intervention of the deputy governor of the state, Dr Kolapo Olusola, who addressed and pleaded with them before they opened the barricades at about 4.00 p.m.

However, the workers,

prominent among whom were the Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, refused to clear the barricades at the hospital’s main gates, stating that they would resume the protests today until their demand was met.

The deputy governor,who had sought their demand and the workers’ unions in the hospital, which were involved in the protest, said all they demanded was that Dr Majekodunmi must go.

The youth of Ido community had joined the protesters and had earlier brought a deity (Sìgìdì) to the gate of the hospital and prayed that a similar fate or worse should befall anyone that knew anything about the death of the hospital’s doctors, especially Dr Aladesanmi.

The Publicity Secretary of the union in the state, Mr Tope Ogunleye, said they were not in a protest per se, saying “we are just using this avenue to register our grievances. We had a terrible incident where three of our doctors, Dr Alex Akinyele, Dr Tunde Aladesanmi and Dr Adeniji lost their lives.

“They had joined others as part of the contingent of doctors in the state attending the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) meeting in Sokoto. It is unfortunate that we lost six of our doctors here in Ekiti, including a driver.

Three from this hospital.

“We are worried that this tragic incident is becoming too regular since this present administration, led by the Chief Medical Director, mounted the saddle. Last year, we lost four of our members. It is more worri-

some that we learnt that all these are happening because so many diabolical things have been going on in the hospital.

But the authorities of the hospital described the death of the doctors as tragic, but said the allegations of the protesters were baseless.

The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr Adeboyejo Adekunle, who reacted by phone, said: “The protests and allegations are the works of disgruntled elements in the hospital, who feel that if anything happens in the hospital, the CMD must have been the culprit. You know that some doctors from the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, also died in the said accident, but nobody accused the CMD there as being the killer. It is only in FETHI, Ido that some staff are protesting, barricading the road and chanting war songs.

“In Ido, the situation has always been chaotic whenever

a Chief Medical Director is completing his tenure.”

Adewole, Olujimi mourn, condole Fayose, NMA From Sade Oguntola and Jacob Segun Olatunji THE Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has commiserated with the president, National Executive Council and the entire membership of the Nigerian Medical Association, over the loss of six senior medical doctors that died in a ghastly motor accident on Kaduna road.

Professor Adewole, who expressed his condolences through his Director of Media and Public Relations, Boade Akinola, stated his statement that: “Almighty God in his infinite mercy will give the family, friends and the entire members of NMA the fortitude to bear this ir-

reparable loss.”

Meanwhile, the Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District of Ekiti State, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, on Monday, condoled the state governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose, over the death of five medical doctors in the employment of the state government in a road accident on Sunday, on AbujaKaduna Road.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, Senator Olujimi, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, expressed sadness over the incident, saying the state lost the promising medical doctors when their services were most needed for the development of the state.

5 ambulances dispatched to Kaduna for bodies of deceased members —EKSUTH CMD Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti THE Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FETHI, Dr Ayodele Majekodunmi, while mourning the tragedy described it as “a national disaster,” saying “it is not about the state, but the whole country, because it involves six senior doctors and a driver.”

He said: “On behalf of the entire hospital community, we pray that this kind of very sad event would not happen again. We need a period of

prayer to put an end to this kind of ugly incident.”

Speaking on the staff unrest, the FETHI CMD said: he got the information on Monday morning and said it was “normal that when there is grief, people can bring up any kind of behaviour. But we should not allow emotion to override our thinking and grief should not push us to doing what we are not supposed to do.

I plead with them to be peaceful.”

Dr Majekodunmi said the

families of the deceased had been contacted by both the state government and the NMA over the incident.

The CMD of EKSUTH, Dr Kolawole Ogundipe, said the management had sent five ambulances to Kaduna to evacuate the corpses of the deceased.

Ogundipe, who appealed to NMA and all to be peaceful, prayed that God would grant the NMA, the deceased’s families and Ekiti government the fortitude to bear the loss.

13

editorial

T

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The grazing reserves bills

HE National Grazing Route and Reserve Commission (NGRC) bills currently before the National Assembly are being touted by their sponsors as the definitive solution to the intermittent and often bloody conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and pastoralists across the country. For instance, Honourables Sunday Karimi (Kogi State) and Sadiq Ibrahim (Adamawa State) have spoken enthusiastically about the two bills, presenting them as a matter of public good that their colleagues would do well to pass. But with all due respect to the sponsors, the bills are categorically nothing of the sort. On the contrary, they are a brazen attempt to use the power of the law and the might of the Federal Government to dispossess ordinary Nigerian citizens of their private property, and we back their opponents’ effort to gut them.

Though presented by different sponsors, the bills have almost all sections in common. They seek to establish grazing routes, ranches and cattle reserves to, on the one hand, improve agricultural yields and, on the other, curb incessant conflicts between crop farmers and Fulani herdsmen. The details in the bills are the same, except for the provision in Section Five of the Ibrahim bill, which prescribes a sevenyear jail term for herdsmen who graze outside the designated areas, on commencement of the proposed law.

Perennial dispute between herders and pastoralists is a matter of grave national concern, as highlighted by two recent incidents, namely the attack on the Agatu region of Benue State by Fulani herdsmen which led to the killing of scores of villagers and destruction of homes, farms and livestock; and the repeated invasion of farmlands in Ondo State, culminating in the killing of a security guard on the farm of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae. Doubtless, the security and welfare of all citizens should matter to members of the National Assembly, and sponsors of the NGRC deserve commendation for their courage in tackling a serious problem head on. But such praise should not detract from the obvious fact that what they have put forward are two dangerous bills capable of doing more harm than the problem they were intended to ameliorate.

For one thing, the key provisions of the bills are startling in their naked usurpation of state rights and abrogation of the rights of ordinary Nigerian citizens. Section 20 (1) of one provides that: “The Commission shall undertake a physical and geographical analysis of land use in each state in order

to ascertain the best and most appropriate place to establish a National Grazing Reserve within the state. After the commission identifies land suitable for grazing reserve, it shall liaise with the Governor or Governors of the state where the land is situate to acquire such land for grazing purposes.”

In effect, the bills postulate and seek to legally mandate the arbitrary right of a government commission to randomly pursue and seize public and private property in any part of the country and hand over such to Fulani herdsmen.

The most glaring omission from the bills is a cogent justification. Why should government privilege the rights of one group of citizens over and above those of others?

Precisely how is the establishment of grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen all over the thirty-six states of the federation a matter of public good? If herdsmen want to purchase land on which to graze their cattle, surely, they should be free to, once an appropriate arrangement is made with the owner of such property. But it is unclear why the resources of the state should be devoted to such a private transaction, unless of course the Federal Government is positioning itself for a share of the profits from the cattle sold in these dedicated reserves.

If the outright silliness of the bills boggles the mind, perhaps it is because this is yet another confirmation of the ugly truth that six odd decades into independence, Nigerians are yet to come to any sort of consensus on the overarching principles of their federal arrangement. For instance, in a stronglyworded statement, the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, argued that “It is against the deferral principle for the government of the federation to want to violate the rights of other sections of the country to please a group from an ethnic unit over and above the interest of other over 400 ethnic groups.” It further argued that “any law that would rob a set of citizens of their possessions and award to another set of citizens as this offensive bill attempts to do…is against the principle of natural justice.”

And yet, some might argue that this is precisely what the rest of the country is doing to the oil-producing communities, appropriating their resources in the most violent manner and distributing the proceeds from such to other ethnic groups in the country. We categorically reject the two bills as an affront to common sense, equity, and peaceful coexistence.

We urge Nigerian legislators and the Nigerian public to take them as cue for a genuine conversation on the parameters and assumptions of Nigerian federalism.

AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founders: Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

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

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

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

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

GOT NEWS?

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

Ikeja Marketing Office.

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

Contact: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com or call:08055069471, 08116954630

14 LETTERS TO THE

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

editor

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

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

Rise in oil price and need to save

F

OR the first time in many months, crude oil is selling for above $40 per barrel, and while this is good news for the Federal Government, it is bad news for Nigerians. Bad news in the sense that, if truly the government has removed fuel subsidy, then the pump price of fuel will increase astronomically.

At the moment, we are still buying fuel for about N160 to N200 per litre, depending on the city one resides.

Another reason I don’t want the oil price to rise now is that it will make our government lazy again. We are already making plans to diversify the economy, with agriculture and mining the focus of government. However, if money starts flowing again, we will simply relax the steps we have embarked upon to diversify

our economy.

Today, due to the shortage of foreign exchange, Nigerians have started patronising locally-produced goods. This has, therefore, gone a long way in stabilising local businesses.

However, if the price of crude oil increases, it is another opportunity for government to learn from the mistakes of the past.

Our president should first ensure that we come up with a savings programme so that we can set aside some percentage of the oil revenue for rainy days. If previous governments had saved just 10 per cent of all we had made from oil, then we would not be as broke as we are now, to the extent that we were looking for a mere $2billion loan from China.

We should learn from Norway, another oil producing country, which has just five million residents.

Norway has the largest savings from oil in the world, and just before the crash in the price of oil, it was reported that the country had over $400billion in savings alone. This is not their foreign reserves, but just some monies set aside by previous governments for future generations.

Norwegian political leaders believe that a time will

come when all the country’s natural resources, including oil, will be depleted, and as such, there will be nothing to survive on again. So they agreed that before that time comes, they should set aside a certain percentage of their earnings from oil and other natural resources, but when the fall in oil price started affecting the coun-

try economically, their members of parliarment had to debate whether it is right for government to spend out of the savings. In the end, it was agreed that the savings was not for the present generation, but future generations.

Our government should also learn how to save; a popular saying that ‘we shouldn’t eat with all our

ten fingers,’ is apt here.

If we had been saving, we wouldn’t find ourselves in the current mess we are in at the moment.

It is not only for government to be saving, the citizens also need to be saving for the rainy days.

•Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.

Attention, Minister of Agriculture I want to use this opportunity to call on the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Audu Ogbeh, to let his policies reflect in the 774 local government areas of the country. This is the only way through which everybody who is into agriculture can benefit from the programmes being initiated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

We are talking about youth unemployment across the country, and agriculture remains the only sector that can provide employment opportunities to all unemployed youth.

Unfortunately, we have not started benefiting from the programmes of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and it is the

responsibility of Dr Ogbeh to ensure that everybody benefits from government’s programmes through the local governments.

It is also a good thing that the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, recently returned from China, where he went to sign bilateral trade deals with the Chinese government. There are agricultural produce which we can be exporting to China, and which will turn our agricultural entrepreneurs into multi-millionaires. Today, China is the

largest consumer of pork in the world, and our pig farmers can benefit from this by processing pork for the Chinese market.

The Chinese also use cassava for animal feed, and this is what we can also tap into, since we are the world largest producer of cassava in the world.

I, therefore, hope that the minister will reach out to the local governments so that more Nigerians can benefit from the policies of the Federal Government.

•Jimoh Mumin, jimohmumin@yahoo.com

Of state governors and bailout fund I am happy that the Federal Government has made it clear that it would not be granting further bailouts to states.

These governors are managers of their respective states, and it is their duty to look for a way out of the economic challenges they are facing.

Most of our governors are not creative, and they only got to power because of their personal ambitions; they had no idea of what they actually wanted to do in power when they contested for the position.

In Nigeria, the job of a governor is simple; he just waits for the allocation from Abuja, and then disburse among the local governments and ministries.

However, this is not supposed to be so.

A governor should be creative enough to manage his state well, even if no allocation is coming from the Federal Government.

Now that the Federal

Government has said it would not offer further bailout to states, then civil servants in some debtor states should brace themselves up for further suffering.

It is high time Nigerians began looking at the background of those who are contesting for gubernatorial positions.

We should look at people who have successful personal businesses, or those who have thriving careers in different fields of human endeavours.

Somebody who has his thriving business, or has a thriving career, will perform well than a ‘professional’ politician.

The economic situation in the country should serve as an eye opener for Nigerians; we will either enjoy or suffer from those we elect in positions of authority.

•Henry Okolo, Asaba, Delta State.

15

opinion

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

The rise and rise of the written-off

F

OOTBALL, that game in which 11 grown up men on each side chase radically after a spherical object in the midst of a pitch is a love of my life and will, as the constancy of the foot of the Himalayas, remain so. I may sometimes love to hate the game for the paralyzing adrenaline rush and choking tachycardia that ensues from a standard 90-minute tussle, but I woefully fall short each time I try because football is not just a game, it is a didactic depiction of life itself.

I bet Kate Diamond, the Leicester Mercury columnist would have averted her current marital quandary if she had thought of football as not just a game. Alas! We are simply mortals, incapable of any form of clairvoyance, but I also doubt that the foretelling prowess of Paul, the all seeing, all knowing football octopus, would have aptly predicted this monumental volte-face, for legendary Paul, the Octopus, was unable to defy death.

Today, Leicester City, after subduing the four ruling houses by a cinch, sits on the iron throne of the English Premier League.What mortal could have fathomed that out? “Perhaps, I was the only one who didn’t realise, back in April 2015, that 2015-16 season would be the finest in City’s history,” said Diamond. But I would place a wager on my emotions for the game that Kate Diamond, definitely wasn’t the only human that thought so, I did!

However, my recompense for writing off Leicester City may not be as severe as Diamond’s whose opinion may cost her a marriage of over a decade…

In April 2015, Kate Diamond persuaded James Diamond, her Leicester City-Fan husband who happens to be a season’s ticket carrier not to renew his Leicester City seasons ticket for the 2015/2016 season and today, the words “don’t renew this year,” could be the altar on which the fate of her one decade old marriage is decided.

But how could she have known that 2015/2016 season, which she persuaded her husband to take the year off, would be the year that Leicester City takes over EPL? With three games left, Leicester City, the small, unfashionable team based in England’s East Midlands, has somehow stormed the Premier League and is five points ahead of the mavericks and barring a collapse.

The Foxes are on course for their first top-flight league title in their over a centenary history, but prior to any of this incredibly enviable feats, LCFC was a synonym for

veracity with Vera Onana

veraonana@gmail.com 08054680688

failure.

This team was in the third tier of English football in 2009, and after climbing to the top division, spent months last season in bottom place. In 2008, when they were relegated to the equivalent of the third division, an international newspaper wrote: “The crowds still filed in, greeting each new season with optimism, but all too soon the realisation dawned that the cheers from the stands were for nothing - everything the club once embodied had been hollowed out from the inside, leaving only a desiccated blue and white husk.”

As recently as 18 months ago, the chairman of Marseille said he would be a “sucker” to take an interest in signing any Leicester City player, but I bet that today, he would rather say he would be a sucker not to.

The Foxes, like the mythical phoenix, have risen right from the ashes with a visage of unparallel beauty, emanating the sweet aroma of success that rivets even the enemies, obliterating the desiccated husk of blue and white from the subconscious of fans. Now, Claudio Ranieri is a folk hero in the East Midlands and there’s even talk of a knighthood from the Queen. The rise and rise of the written off, isn’t it? Again, the infallible words of the Holy Writ have been manifested for the rejected stone is gaining the status of the head of the corner. Now, like Nazareth, the Messiah’s obscure village tucked away

in the hills of Galilee and derided by many, something overwhelmingly good is about to burst out from Leicester. While many tie the transmogrification of the club’s fortune to the superstitious belief that ever since King Richard III’s body was dug up from a car park in Leicester and restored to the city’s cathedral a year ago, their fortunes have turned around. I would still reiterate the following solemn fact- football is a mirror that depicts life itself. The tackles, passes, injuries and jubilations on that 105 by 68 metres field with an area of 7,140 square metres several times elucidate the struggles of a mortal through the labyrinths of life.

The winning of the 2015/2016 EPL title by the berated foxes will again exemplify that a mortal, who is, like a lowly suricate, hiding out in underground tunnels of great jungles, at the lowest point of life, can, in a matter of time, become the king of the jungle and the paparazzi’s greatest delight.

As for Kate Diamond, I wish that her marriage weathers this storm while I ask categorically if she deserves to be castigated for PERSUADING her husband, James. If he was true to his love for the Foxes, wouldn’t he have decided against all odds to renew his season tickets? It brings to mind the case of the old and young prophet as was told in the New Testament. The young prophet ended up tragically, he was devoured. Again, I bet football is sending out a salient message- never waver on your convictions and allegiances, like James, the fervent Leicester fan who used to sit in P324, Block C2, West Stand, you don’t want to be out of your spot when the glory comes.

RE: TOUGH TIMES, TOUGHER NIGERIANS? Vera, let me start from where you ended your piece.

Truly, China and her Yuan cannot save us. Do we even have to wait for Governor Fayose to tell us? If indeed Fayose has no locus to write what he wrote to the Chinese president then what gave Hon. Gbajabiamila the locus to write a rejoinder to the same Chinese president? I am patiently waiting for Femi Falana’s suit as he promised if FG takes the loan and I pray he does not renege.

— 0805740****

Braithwaite: A great Nigerian passes on

By Ajibola Oluyede

WITH heavy hearts the members of the Nigeria Advance Party announce the passing of a great Nigerian leader, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite.

Our late leader passed on to glory on resurrection day, 28th March 2016 at the age of 82 years and we have no doubt that he is resting in the bosom of Jesus Christ who he worshipped and served all his life.

Dr. Braithwaite’s seminal work “the Jurisprudence of the living Oracles” testifies to the moral underpinnings of the life and activities of this great crusader for an egalitarian Nigerian nation.

His life and activities consistently demonstrated his belief that the rule of law was synonymous with the rule of God and that any “law” that was disconsonant with God’s dictates was not true law and would be harmful to people who are subjected to such laws.

For this reason he fought all his life for social justice, democracy and the rule of law.

His declaration of war against rats, cockroaches and mosquitoes in 1978 at the formation of the Nigeria Advance Party (though euphemistically stating an intention to oust the political establishment, the corrupt and destructive political system, through a social revolution) resonated with the masses of Nigerians and especially with university students who were already apprehensive for their future under the neocolonialist administrations that had foisted on the country a backward and corrupt system that promoted mediocrity and exalted criminal acquisition of wealth.

Many of us who joined the Nigeria Advance Party from school in those days did so not in pursuit of political

office but in support of an idea that we believed would liberate the masses of Nigerians. Our political naiveté notwithstanding, the establishment immediately perceived the Nigeria Advance Party as a threat to the status quo and refused to register it in 1978 though it was the most widely accepted political movement in Nigeria at the time.

Eventually, when it became evident that the credibility of the political system was diminishing with every day the NAP remained unregistered, the establishment was forced to register the NAP in 1980 in order to give some legitimacy to the system.

Many will remember that the elections that followed that registration was the most manipulated and rigged election

in the history of Nigeria leading to the intervention of the military arm of the political establishment in order to stave off a social revolution that was then spearheaded by the NAP. The rest is now history and there is hardly need to chronicle the predictions and warnings from Dr. Braithwaite to the political establishment as to the inevitable outcome of their lack of foresight and brazenfaced theft of the communal wealth. All are matter of public record.

Suffice to say that those warnings and predictions were made by a man who had a great vision for Nigeria to break into its destiny as a great, prosperous and progressive nation providing leadership and support for other African nations to bring the continent out of the backwardness and darkness that eons of the slave trade and colonialism had foisted on it.

Dr. Braithwaite never wavered in his pursuit of the welfare of the masses and sacrificed his personal resources in this pursuit. To achieve the goals set out in the manifesto of the NAP and captured in its motto “Nigeria needs a positive change”, the NAP under Dr. Braithwaite’s leadership initiated and led many coalitions and alliances that were expected to produce “a positive change.”

In 1999 NAP spearheaded the formation of the Democratic Advance Movement (DAM) in order to create a platform for all true democrats to seize power from the establishment parties that had been formed by members and surrogates of the military.

•Prince Ajibola Oluyede, a lawyer sent this tribute for and on behalf of members of the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP).

16

Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

agriculture Agriculture now accounts for 24% GDP —CBN Collins Nnabuife -Abuja

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have said that the contribution of the agricultural sector to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) has increased from 23.86 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 to 24.18 per cent.

According to the bank, the 24.18 per cent increase showed that the sector was larger than manufacturing and oil sectors combined, adding that it grew from 6.28 percent to 9.50 percent in the same year.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, said this in Abuja at the opening of the 2016 Nigeria Agri - Finance Conference with the theme, “Catalysing the Diversification of Nigerian economy through Effective Agricultural Finance.”

Emefiele, who was represented by Deputy Governor Corporate Services, CBN, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, noted that over 70 per cent of informal sector jobs created in the economy were related to rural agriculture.

Adelabu said diversification of Nigeria’s economy was no longer an option with an annual food imports bill of over N630 billion, poverty and unemployment rate of 9.9 per cent.

He said the CBN, in 2014, took proactive measures to diversify the economy by selecting six focal agricultural commodities, namely, rice, wheat, cotton, sugar, fish and oil palm, for intensive support under its agricultural interventions.

The decision, he said, became necessary because of the high contribution of the commodities to the nation’s food import bills.

The CBN governor added that Nigeria must reposition its economy to attain inclusive growth and global competitiveness.

“This theme aligns with our present national priority of attaining self-sufficiency in food production, stimulating non-oil exports and diversifying the economic base of Nigeria. With an annual food imports bill of over N630 billion (decreased from N1.3trillion), unemployment rate of 9.9 percent and poverty, economic diversification is no longer optional but a necessity to reposition our economy to attain inclusive growth and global competitiveness,” he said.

Dizengoff harps on better technology for tomatoes production

D

IZENGOFF has reiterated the need to bridgie the gap in the production of tomatoes in Nigeria with its greenhouse technological and family drip irrigation system used in commercial tomato and vegetables with minimum land requirement and weed/insect-free systems.

Chief Executive of Dizengoff Nigeria, Mr Antti Retnovano, said now is a difficult time for Nigeria and many other African countries, but expressed the optimism that agriculture would go a long way in boosting the economy, and the greenhouse and other farm technologies would assist in the agricultural productivity and empowerment.

The Dizengoff farmers’ Kit (DFK) is a technology which was specifically developed to enable farmers to produce high quality, fresh tomatoes all year round anywhere in Nigeria. The kit yields up to four tonnes of tomatoes in a six-month season from a single (8m x 24m or 192m2) greenhouse.

In comparison, the traditional open field tomato cultivation with best agricultural practices yields a maximum of 7 tonnes per hectare (10,000m2).

Clearly, the DFK replicated over one hectare yields 19 times more tomatoes than the traditional open field cultivation.

According to the Integrated Project Manager, Sustainable Livelihoods,

Oscar Walumbe, “our greenhouse is essentially a controlled environment limiting the devastating effects of insect pests and diseases that ravage vegetables including tomatoes. It is not rain-fed but brain-fed, as it comes complete with a customised drip irrigation system. With little amount of land space and water, you are sure to get a yield far higher than your traditional

open field production”.

Oscar further explained that “Nigeria consumes over 2.3 million tonnes of tomatoes annually, while it currently produces about 1.8 million tonnes locally.

However, only 50% (0.9 million tonnes) of the produce makes it from farm to fork, thereby creating an immediate gap of 1.4 million tonnes to filled. This gap in essentially filled via

importation, a scenario which puts more pressure on the demand for the already scarce US dollars.

Nigerians can now leverage on the immense opportunity offered by the Dizengoff Farmers’ Kitso we can limit the foreign exchange spent on importing tomatoes annually while also providing employment for our teeming but unemployed youths.”

Aregbesola pledges to prioritise agriculture, forestry

By Gbenga Olumide OSUN State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to continuously improve the economy of the state by prioritising agriculture and forestry development.

Aregbesola reassured that his government would leave no stone unturned in its resolve to ensure self-sufficiency in the production of stable commodities in the state.

Governor Aregbesola made the statement while addressing people at the opening of public hearing on Shasha Forest Reserve encroachment, at the Multipurpose Hall, Local Government Service Commission, Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, on Tuesday.

The governor, who described the two sectors as veritable sources of food, shelter, life sustaining drugs and raw materials for the industries, said the importance of agriculture

and forestry to our national economy cannot be overemphasised.

He said the meeting was called in order to foster the peaceful atmosphere that is needed for the development of the state in accordance with his six-point integral action plan.

Aregbesola said considering the global standard prescribed by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), hence 35 per cent of any nation’s land mass must be forested.

Africa Rice goes tech, introduces productivity app in rice farming AFRICA Rice Centre, an international non-profit rice research institution, with the support from the Japanese government, has introduced an software application tagged RiceAdvice, which farmers can download on any android phone and use to get vital information about rice farming, harvesting, marketing and

processing.

During a press presentation of the application at the Africa Rice Centre, Ibadan, at International Intitute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Kazuki Saito, an agronomist with Africa Rice in Benin Republic and representative of the Japanese government on the occasion, said the research and the ap-

plication were sponsored by Japan to boost rice productivity in some selected African countries.

Saito added that the RiceAdvice was an android application for making vital information available to farmers with field-specific management guidelines.

Challenges of most smallholder rice farmers, he said,

were how to get improved varieties; fertilizer, its time and quantity to be applied, harvest and post-harvest management, adding that the application, simple operate, would serve as a onestop shop providing ways forward for farmers even right on the field anytime any day.

Dr Philip Idinabo of the

Nigerian Cereals Research Institute disclosed that Mali and Nigeria are currently enjoying the sponsorship, covering seven major rice producing states in Nigeria with an estimated 12,000 farmers to benefit from the project in the first phase. He added that the project would create immediate jobs for educated youths.

17

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

IFDC, ICRA, others hold workshop for farmers in S/West THE International Centre for Soil Fertility (IFDC) and Agric Development, and the International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA) in association with Long Cottage Agro Ventures Ltd., recently organised a one week “Review and Capitalization” workshop for farmers in South West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Venue was long Cottage Farms Training centre, Odosimadegun INELG, Ogun State. In his speech at the ceremony the ICRA Capacity Strengthening Coordinator for West Africa Francis Dossouhoui, informed that the IFDC, ICRA, BOD and others are working together on “2 Scale” project.

The project according to him is to support actors in Agric business to enable them develop agriculture and the commodity value-chain.

He informed that ICRA is there to strengthen the capacity of the present actors in the agric business and make them independent, while the International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agric Development (IFDC) is to set up cluster groups.

They are to train the farmers technically in modern agricultural practice and

bring innovation to the agric business; while B.O.P. (Base of the Pyramid) a new innovation centre is set up to look after the small consumers as many believed that, the IFDC ICRA and others are only after the big markets.

The “2 Scale Project” according to Mr. Dossouhoui started in 2012 in Nigeria and it is taking place simultaneously in Benin Republic, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania, Uganda and other West African countries. He further stressed that “2 Scale Project” group in Nigeria are working on Vegetable, Cassava processing, Dairy foods, Tomatoe, Okro, Pepper, Soya Bean etc.

Long Cottage Farms he said is setting up the cluster groups on Tomatoes, and the farm will support and encourage the growth of tomatoes and help the cluster groups to sell their products without stress.

In his contribution the “National Cluster Adivisor” IFDC on “2 Scale Project” Mr. Thompson Ogunsanmi stressed that 8 cluster groups from across the South West of Nigeria participated in the Workshop and that a similar workshop is scheduled to hold in the Northern part of the country for 9 vegetable cluster groups.

Agribusiness gets boost as investors set provide settlements Collins Nnabuife -Abuja

A group of investors under the auspices of Agro-industrial Settlements Developers Association of Nigeria, ASDAN, is set to provide agribusiness settlements that will boost food production and job creation.

This was disclosed by the National Chairman, ASDAN, Rockson Essien, at the annual general meeting of ASDAN, which he said the association was concerned with providing standard agribusiness centres that will attract other investors and youth into the sector by providing basic infrastructure.

According to him “the Agro-industrial Settlements Developers Association of Nigeria, ASDAN, is a group of over 350 corporate professionals that will re-engineer the environment for commercial and sustenance

practices simultaneously.

Ours is to create the enabling environment for more investors in agriculture.

“Hitherto, before this time it was the sustenance kind of agriculture, our dream is to re-engine the unplanned land and create opportunities for commercial farmers and sustenance farmers to work hand-in-hand. There are private business men who will invest in agriculture if given the opportunity.

“ASDAN is vested with the promotion of provision of services and serviced plots of land for the development of commercial and sustenance agriculture, industry and ancillary facilities for the 21st century communities of Agro-Industrial Parks, Estates, Settlements and Towns (APESTS) projects in the 36 States of Nigeria and Federal Capital Territory (FCT),” he said.

Nigerian Tribune

‘Africa now dumping ground for poisonous food’ Collins Nnabuife -Abuja

Student union presidents from various universities in Nigeria, and the Project Director of SLEDT, Femi Kings Titilayo (first right), at the workshop from which the body sought for FG’s partnership on agricultural production. PHOTO: TUNDE OGUNESAN

Students union leaders seeks partnership with FG on agricultural production

By Tunde Ogunesan THE Students union Government (SUG) leaders seeks partnership with the Federal Government on agricultural production Student Union Government (SUG), leaders from seven universities in Nigeria has called for a partnership with Federal Government in order to boost agricultural production in their various institutions.

The Presidents of SUGs from the seven institutions are;University of Ibadan (UI), Osun State University, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State University (IMSU), Ibrahim Babangida University (IBBU), University of Agriculture, Maiduguri (UAM), and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

The representatives of the

union leaders made this known on Wednesday at the closing session during the three-day Student Leadership Development Tournaments (SLEDT), organised

by Human Capital Partners in conjunction with Lead Initiative, held at Senate building, UI, Ibadan.

Lead Initiative in collaboration with Human Capital Partners organized a 3-day leadership tournament called Student’s Leadership Development Tournament (SLEDT) for student’s union leaders of higher institutions in Nigeria, with a mission to expose student union leaders to international best practices and improved service delivery with a specific focus on Agri-business.

The SUG President’s of University of Ibadan and UNIOSUN, Olateju Oladimeji and Temiloluwa Ogundele who pledged to Invest N500,000 each from the union’s account into agri-

culture.

Oladimeji said: “We have large land mass in UI that we can utilise for farming activities and generate revenue but we need the assistance of the federal government to be able to realise this.

In her position, Ogundele said “we have secured acres of land from our school authority for farming and we are also ready to diversity our economy and invest N500,000. Federal government too should partner with us to look into agricultural business.”

Similarly, their counterparts from UNILORIN and FUTO, Udria Alao and Obinna Ezenwa also pledged N500,000 each to invest into agricultural development.

According to Alao, we call on the Federal government to support the effort of SUG in UNILORIN in agriculture because we have the largest land mass in Nigeria.

AfDB, IITA support youth with $12.6bn for food production Collins Nnabuife -Abuja

THE Federal Government have said youth in the country will be engaged in food production as it partners with African development Bank, AfDB, and International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, IITA to kick start the programme.

This was made know by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, at the two-day Youth Programme Design Workshop on ‘Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment’ ENABLE, organised by the African

Development Bank, AfDB, in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, in Abuja.

Ogbeh said the government has resolved to ensure that the youth become major drivers of the agriculture sector as a way of economic empowerment to them and stakeholders in food production and security in the country.

The minister, who was represented by the Minister of state for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri also said the programme

would cut across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in order to give all youth the opportunity to participate, but based on certain criteria for selection.

According to him “The African Development Bank Group is our reliable and trusted partner. We are appreciative of the support of the support and cooperation that we have enjoyed from our partnership over years, with a view to jointly and meaningfully repositioning the agricultural sector in Nigeria as a virile engine of growth.”

THE Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said African countries have become dumping ground for poisonous food which are imported.

Lokpobiri, who made this statement during a press conference in Abuja stated that African countries had suffered serious setbacks in the agricultural sector as most food exporters in Europe and Asia have taken advantage of the food crisis, poverty in Africa to ship in food not healthy for human consumption.

He also maintained that this administration will not accept that again in Nigeria, rather will massively invest in the sector and depend on local food producers and processors, because it will be good for the health of Nigerians and save huge money spent on food importation.

The minister further charged the youths in the country to embark on agribusiness, because of the huge market and population of people, and also pledged support from the government and development partners to achieve it.

“Africa over the years have become a dumping ground for poisonous food imported from Asia and other continents. Nigeria alone is spending $20 billion annually on food importation.

“The food that passes through the border between Benin Republic and Nigeria are mostly deadly food. Benin Republic people don’t even eat them but allow those commodities to come into our country.

“The frozen chicken contains formalin preservation used for corpses, and the bags of rice from Asia have been in their warehouses for more than 15 years, and have lost nutritional value, which they ship down to Nigerians and other African countries to eat.

“Those countries where these commodities come from are intentionally frustrating our agricultural policies, programmes and farmers. It is an act to kill our economy,” he said.

18

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

From left, Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode; his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dave Umahi; Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi and the Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last week.

From left, Vice-President (West), Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Mr Adedapo Gbadega; President/Chairman in council, Chief N.O. Okereke and the Executive Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Abimbola, at the press conference on World Book and Copyright Day, held at the Premium House, Jericho, Ibadan, last Thursday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff (right) and a PDP chieftain in Osun State, Senator Felix Ogunwale, after a get-together in Abuja, recently.

From left, Public Relations Officer, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju; Vice Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omole and the Registrar, Mr Dotun Awoyemi, at the funeral service of Olori Marian Ayeyemi Ogunwusi, held at St Paul’s Church, Ayegbaju, Ile-Ife, Osun State, at the weekend. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

The Asipa Olubadan of Ibadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole (second left), exchanging greetings with the Most Reverend Dr Alaba Job, Emeritus Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, shortly after the funeral service of Lady Theodora Dedevi Abeke Shonubi, held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, recently. With them, from left, are former Minister of Aviation, Honourable Babatunde Omotoba, who is also the Okanlomo of Iyin Ekiti; Mr Dipo Okunubi, Bishop’s Warden and Mrs C.A. Oyewole.

Chairman, Association of Caretaker and Agents of Oyo State, Mr J. Olabiyi, flanked by the vice chairman, P.A Idowu (right) and Apostle Adeniyi Agboola, state general secretary, during the special meeting of the association held at its headquarters, Mapo, Ibadan, last week. PHOTO: D’TOYIN

Mrs Temilade Adegbite Matanmi and her husband, Mr Bola Matanmi, during the birthday ceremony of Mrs Matanmi, at their residence in Lagos, recently.

The groom, Mr Toluwani Akinniyi and his bride, former Miss Victoria Adams, during their wedding held at Caleb International College, Ikosi GRA, off CMD/Magodo Road, Lagos, at the weekend.

For bookings, contact ’Laolu Afolabi on 08054681741 or Tommy Adegbite on 08116954631

19

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

leadership &

management with Sulaimon Olanrewaju

m:08055001708 e:lanresulaimon@yahoo.com t:@lanresulaimon

Why

organisations

fail

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

C

AMBRIDGE University Press is 482 years old. The company, which was established in 1534, is the world’s oldest publishing house. CUP, as it is popularly known, has published many of the world’s leading writers, thinkers and scientists. The company has been recording mouth-watering successes in its core areas and is currently world’s second largest university press with sales presence, publishing hubs, and offices in more than 40 countries.

Continues on pg20

The 60-second

business Leaders’ coach forum PAGE 20

PAGE 22

PAGE 20

Godwin Benson, Founder, Tuteria

20

21

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

leadership&management BOOK

Why organisations are not sustainable Continues from pg19

Why do some organizations, like mountains, seem to live forever while others have a very short life span? Hereunder are some factors that can result in the extinction of organizations.

By Harry M Jansen Kraemer Jr WHAT distinguishes a people manager from a truly great leader has been a subject of much debate, research and analysis. Multiple theories have been proposed and then debunked. The original leadership theory, the Great Man theory, essentially proposed that leaders were born, not made. At some point, this theory was found wanting, and alternate theories were proposed. These included theories that leaders had specific traits, or that leaders were made because they faced specific situations, or even that good leaders were those who learnt how to deal in a certain manner with their followers. None, however, can satisfactorily explain why some people excel in some situations and go on to greatness while others do not. Is it traits, or a combination of traits and environment, or just the latter?

Harry M Jansen Kraemer Jr, Professor of Management and Strategy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, proposes the theory of value-based leadership. Becoming the Best is his second book, after the highly popular From Values to Action, which encapsulated his original thoughts on the subject. Kraemer’s view is that once you are able to communicate the right values to your people, and you have instilled it in your organisation, you will essentially build a great team - and a great organisation. To be able to communicate the right values though, you first need to understand yourself thoroughly - and also what you want. Unless you understand yourself, you will not be able to either develop the right values or live them. And if you do not follow the right values yourself, there is not much point in expecting your team to do so.

It would be easy to dismiss Kraemer as an academic with his head in the clouds but for a couple of facts. Kraemer has been a leader in the real world - he rose to be the Chairman and CEO of Baxter International, a multi-billion dollar health care company. He handled several crises while in Baxter by living the same values he teaches. He is now an Executive Partner with Madison Dearborn Partners, a fairly large private equity firm, apart from teaching leadership in Kelloggs. So he has and still is practising what he preaches and has risen to the top using those very values.

What Kraemer proposes sounds simple but is extremely difficult to implement. And some would argue that it is not necessary to follow his steps because you could use a different route to the top and you do not need to be as focused on values as he is. After all, Donald Trump is the very antithesis of what Kraemer’s leadership style is, and it has not stopped him from being a billionaire or being followed by a clutch of ambitious people.

Leadership incompetence Probably the worst tragedy that can befall an organization is the plague of an incompetent head.

Costly as incompetence can be to an organization, it may still be tolerable in low-cadre officers. But incompetence of the leadership is a disaster because while the influence of a low-ranking officer is restricted and his incompetence has limited impact on the fortune of the organization, that of the head has a far-reaching effect. The decisions of an incompetent leader take a toll on the organization and pull it back.

More than anything else, leaders are supposed to make decisions that will propel their organizations into prosperity and prepare them for the future. But if the decisions of a leader are wrong on a consistent basis, the only way for the organization to go is south.

The major task of a leader is to hand over to his successor an organization that is more virile and more profitable than the one he inherited. But that is not often the case with incompetent leaders.

They weaken the fabric of the organization and make a minion out of an otherwise strong organization.

Unfortunately, the incompetence of a leader does not come to the fore until the bottom line of the organization begins to deteriorate.

The tragedy of having an incompetent leader is that he tries to make everyone in the organization less competent than himself so as to shield his own incompetence from being obvious. This is what Cyril Northcote Parkinson, a management expert, calls injelititis in his book, The Pursuit of Progress, published in 1950. According to Parkinson, injelititis is a situation in which an incompetent leader, in a bid to maintain his hold on the organization, eases out everyone who is seen as more competent than himself. The implication of this is that the smart people keep their mouths shut to keep their jobs safe thus leaving the boss to have his way with the running of the organization. This will have an adverse impact on the organization and it will affect its performance.

Leaders often get into the rut of incompetence when they stop developing themselves. The business environment is changing daily and the leader that will be able to lead

Ola Orekunrin, CEO Flying Doctors his organization through the curve of change is the one who is committed to personal development.

Leaders should not be too engrossed with growing their companies that they neglect their personal growth because no leader can take his company to where he has not been. A leader who does not grow on a consistent basis cannot grow his company.

Lack of integrity The most important attribute of a leader is not being visionary, as critical as it is to the wellbeing of the organization. Neither is it competence, as important as it is to the leader’s discharge of his duty.

It is not even communication or execution as vital as those are. The most important attribute of a leader is integrity. If integrity is lost in leadership, not much is left.

Integrity is important in leadership because every leader does one of two things; he either raises the organization up to his level or brings it down to his level.

Whichever of these he does is a function of where he stands on the integrity scale. Anyone who leads with integrity usually improves the profile of the organization because he does what is right and encourages the organization to do what is right as well. He ensures that the organization complies with the best practices applicable in the industry.

Unknown to many, this goes a long

Affiong Williams, CEO, ReelFruit

Sangu Delle, CEO, Golden Palm Investments

way in endearing the market to the organization. The importance of this is that for as long as the market can trust the organization to work for its interest, the company will not lack patronage and for as long as patronage is assured, the organization’s continuity is guaranteed.

What is important to all stakeholders is trust; they want to have a lasting relationship with organiza-

tions they can trust and this is a matter of integrity.

Stakeholders are comfortable with organizations that are founded on integrity because they know that such organizations will always have their back. Shareholders want their businesses to be properly managed so that there will be adequate returns on their investment; the best hands want to work for ethically sound companies that they can trust to protect their career

interest, the government also appreciates organizations that conduct their businesses with integrity. A company built on integrity enjoys customer preference in a competitive environment because the customers have come to associate the company with quality.

The company also reaps value appreciation from financial market. No company can fully realize its potential until it starts conducting its business ethically. Trying to cut corners is being penny wise and pound foolish.

The rise of Enron was phenomenal. But so was its crash. Why did the organization crash? The leadership lacked integrity; the leadership encouraged cutting corners; the leadership encouraged underhand dealings.

At a time in Nigeria, there was a rash of companies, especially in the financial sector, which seemed to become successful overnight. But when there arose a storm, they were all blown away. The companies could not survive because what kept them strong were the underhand dealings they were involved in. Thus, they went under when the tide changed. What organizations that abhor integrity make on the short run, they lose on the long run.

Not facing reality One other factor that works against the sustainability of organizations is their failure to admit it when things are not going the way they want. Sometimes, because of the volume of resources that has been expended on a project that has failed to fly, an organization may want to continue putting more money into it hoping for a turnaround. But oftentimes, the project continues to consume money without a commensurate return on investment. This

is what is known as the cost sunk fallacy.

Organizations get into the cost sunk fallacy when the leadership is bent on proving to everybody that it was right to take a decision that is obviously wrong. The proof of the rightness of a decision is the result. If the result is not right, the decision is wrong.

But when the leadership, either as a result of warped conviction or arrant arrogance, continues to defend a wrong position, it sinks into the cost sunk fallacy. The truth is that the best of leaders sometimes make mistakes. But once they realize this, they do everything to correct it, not bothering about their image. But when a leader is more particular about his image than he is about the cost of sinking resources in a project that is destined for failure, he puts the organization in serious danger.

When a decision is made in good time to cut loss by stopping a project that fails to meet expectations, the loss to the organization will be minimized.

When an aspect of a company keeps gulping resources, it affects the liquidity of the organization and may end up bringing down the whole organization because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

So, coming to terms early with what works and what does not is a way of saving an organization from collapse.

Wrong strategy Strategy is very important to the success of any organization. Organizations are run on vision but strategy is the feet on which vision runs. If the strategy is right, the vision will be actualized but when the strategy is wrong, the vision is bound to fail. It has been said that every organizational failure is traceable to wrong strategy. Hence, success-

ful organizations continuously tweak with their strategies to ensure that what they are doing is what they need to do to get the kind of result they need.

But sometimes organizations are so enamoured by a strategy that worked in the past that they are unwilling to try something new. But they forget that even strategies have a lifespan. There is a time to do away with a strategy that worked in the past.

For many years, the strategy employed by 7-Up Bottling Company Nigeria Plc to market its products is Direct Sales to its distributors. The company expended money on logistics but ended up accumulating debts as many of the distributors declined to pay for products on time. This affected the liquidity of the company until it changed its strategy.

Recently, the company adopted a new strategy known as Alternate Sales and Distribution System. With this, the company has deregulated its distribution process.

Rather than supplying before getting paid, the company insists on distributors paying before being supplied products.

This has improved the liquidity and the efficiency of the company as it gets paid before supplying its distributors and it also knows ahead of production the exact number of products it is going to need. By changing its strategy, 7-Up has changed its experience; it has become more efficient and more profitable. What works for 7-Up will work for other companies.

Being gung ho about a particular strategy to the point of not willing to do away with it when it becomes necessary is not in the interest of any organization. An organization should be willing to change a strategy that fails to deliver the result it expects.

THE 60-SECOND business coach

Powerful beliefs of highly successful people

By Elle Kaplan Nothing matters more than your beliefs.

Belief is action: what you believe ultimately determines what you do (or don’t do).

That’s why successful people stick to their guns and have a core set of beliefs to guide them through it all, no matter how bumpy or crazy their journey gets.

Here are some tried-and-true beliefs that separate the truly successful people from the rest of the pack: 1. They believe others will lift them higher.

The ultra-successful don’t believe they have to go at it alone--they want to work with someone who has already been down the same road, and know the right mentor can keep them moving forward. In fact, most people credit a mentor as a major reason for their successes.

Richard Branson credits his oddball Uncle Jim for teaching him that when everyone else thinks your idea is crazy, it probably is a sign that you’re really onto something.

2. They believe in being the best, not the first.

“Success is often the result of perseverance,” said Dharmesh Shah, co-founder of HubSpot. “When the first person to the game stops trying, stops striving, or starts compromising their principles and values, the person who relentlessly seeks perfection is the person who wins.”

If you believe in overnight success, you may as well believe in Santa too. I’ve seen it time and again: entrepreneurs will scramble to get a sloppy product out as fast as possible, only to be replaced by a disciplined competitor with a better creation. That’s why having a great product, company, or team means doing your best and final work constantly instead of sprinting.

3. They believe they can choose success.

One of Seth Godin’s inspiring blogs said, “If you’re hoping that the HR people you sent your resume to are about to pick you, it’s going to be a long wait.”

That might sound a little discouraging, but his point is that you can “realize that you have all the tools and all the permission you need.”

Rather than waiting for a “gatekeeper” to give permission, ultra-successful people put their nose to the grindstone and get it done, even if it involves smashing a glass ceiling or tearing down a wall.

4. They believe they have enough to get started.

Google’s initial server was made of Legos. Dell was started with $1000. Mattel’s initial dolls were made of old picture frames.

I could go on and on with more examples, because successful people have the confidence and gung-ho belief that with skills and gumption, they can make do with what they already have.

So, believe in your fantastic self instead of waiting for more; you’ll be amazed at what you can do with your limited resources. Scrappiness is always needed to keep a company afloat--whether it’s opening day or decades down the line.

5. They believe in change.

I’ve seen it too many times to count: entrepreneurs fall so in love with their idea or product that they’re afraid to make the slightest alteration to it. This is otherwise known as the sunk cost fallacy, and it’s something successful people steer clear of.

The CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, once asked the founder of Costco, Jim Sinegal, for advice. Jim said, “You know, I don’t want to be rude, but this is exactly the wrong thing to do.” Rather than shy away from drastic change, Schultz embraced it. You can thank his willingness to change for a Starbucks on every block.

This doesn’t mean you have to surrender every idea right away. But it does mean you have to ask, “Is this the best way to go about it?”, and be willing to accept the same question from others.

6. They believe they don’t have to please everybody.

The great Tina Fey once said, “Don’t waste your energy trying to change opinions... do your thing, and don’t care if they like it.”

As someone who was called “crazy” for

opening my own firm, I wholeheartedly agree.

It’s impossible to please everybody, especially when it comes to your own success. Almost every success story involved a lot of scathing criticism, so don’t let it get to your head. The mantra that helps me through criticism, and one you should instill in your head is, “no is just someone’s opinion.”

7. They believe in more than money.

Yes, it’s true that numbers and profitability are what keep businesses afloat. In fact, I sometimes have to bluntly remind entrepreneurs of that.

But successful people go above and beyond money. As Steve Jobs said, “You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.”

Entrepreneurship never involves a steady paycheck or constant clear skies. That’s why you need to find a belief in more than profitability. If you don’t have that yet, find some ways to “do well by doing good” and make a positive difference in the world--even if it’s something really small.

22

leadership&management

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

TOPE POPOOLA is a Human Capital developement Consultant and Pastor. Please feel free to send questions, feedback comments on this column to

topheritage@yahoo.com or visit http//turbochargedforsuccess.blogspot.com

THE ongoing trial of the Senate President at the CCT continues to generate interest but, to my mind, for the wrong reasons. I believe strongly in the legal dialectic that it is better for a guilty man to go free than for one innocent man to be unjustly punished. It also presumes an accused innocent until the course of justice decides otherwise. However, I am very uncomfortable with the various antics of Senator Saraki to either stop or frustrate his trial by unending injunctions, the latest being an attempt to rubbish the integrity of the Tribunal’s Chairman. This is in addition to various attempts to discredit the entire process by positing as a demagogue who is being persecuted for doing Nigeria a world of good. As Nigeria’s number one lawmaker, he should allow the tribunal give its verdict and if he feels that the cause of justice has not been served by it, proceed to appellate courts instead of the endless grandstanding that seems to prove that he does have a skeleton in his cupboard. His reaction to a recent piece

by Dele Momodu leaves a sour taste in the mouth. In it, he claims to give the “real” reason behind his “travails”. Senator Saraki will be my hero, and I believe I speak the minds of many Nigerians, if he quietly faces his trial and comes out clean and smelling like a rose! Until then, he should just let the law take its course! Back to our discourse.

In this series, I plan to examine the mind of the innovator as agent of change and relate it to the resolution of our current national dilemma. Each of the innovations highlighted last week, indeed any innovation, begins as disruptive thinking that interrogates norm or perceived order represented by status quo. Disruptive thinkers look at what is, examines its current limits and limitations as well as relevance to future challenges. Sometimes those challenges are perceived only in the mind of the innovative thinker while others are totally oblivious of it. Sometimes, others simply submit to the challenges and develop a coping mechanism. Those stuck in a rut are hardly able to see that there can be an alternative.

What is a problem for the establishment mindset therefore becomes an opportunity for the disruptive thinker to make his mark. The innovator does not believe that there is an end of the road. He simply takes what others call the end of the road and stretches it to the end of his dreams.

Innovate or... (II)

The four favorite questions in the mouth of the innovative thinker are “Why?” “Why not.....?” “Who says...? and “What if...?

The motivation for innovation is never material gain. It just happens that material gains become the consequence of successful innovations. Innovative thinkers hardly think of what they lose in the process of trying new things. They are motivated by the problem they seek to solve. They do not work from the problem to the answer. They work from the answer to the problem, even if the answer only exists in their imagination!

Constantly envisaging a better or at least different world, their latest innovation only becomes a launch pad for another. They start their thinking from the fringes of the status quo idea or technology. Restless and usually withdrawn, innovative thinkers prefer their own company to anyone else’s unless such company is of value to their next pursuit. They have cultivated the art of being alone without being lonely.

Isolation is a price that they are willing to pay for the change they desire. Alone moments are the harbingers of great inspiration. When innovative thinkers are in the world that they have envisaged or are envisaging, only the company of those who intend to inhabit it with them is welcome!

Jesus was a change agent. The greatest that ever lived. Over two thousand years after He left the earth, his philosophy still rules the hearts of men and women all over the world. His life on earth was punctuated by chapters of taking time to be alone. His alone times birthed great miracles and inspired utterances and a lifestyle that continue to be an unassailable model in great leadership. The innovator is comfortable with people and material things but is never ruled by them and can, by implication walk away from them if need be. He often separates himself from people in order to be better placed to help people. He is constantly conscious of the fact that the thinking that produced any status quo cannot be expected to change that status quo. To the innovator, impossible is only a perception, not reality. He reads that word differently. “I’m possible”! Impossible is the self-placating limit that the human mind applies to itself when it has stopped thinking of the possibility of an alternative reality. While

most people are ruled by their environment and take their bearing from it, the innovative thinker actually dominates his environment and gives it direction!

For this reason, innovative thinkers can sometimes come across to others as brash, snobbish or even proud. They ‘see’ something and wonder why no one else is seeing it!

They are willing to bankrupt themselves until they actually bring what they have seen into the realm of experience. At a stage in his enterprise of inventions, Thomas Edison’s financiers pulled the plug on his finances. He was not deterred. His laboratory once went up in flames and was completely razed to the ground. None of these was enough to stop him. His passion gave the world over 1,000 patented inventions!

Martin Luther King Jr. and his colleagues in the Civil Rights Movement were regarded as rebels by the establishment.

Many of them were arrested and hounded to jail. Many lost their lives. But King had seen the vision of a better America and was not prepared to settle for anything less even if it would cost him his life. His famous I have a Dream speech shook the nation to its foundations and till today, is regarded as a magnum opus in speech making. He lost his life in the battle for the actualization of that dream. But the dream came to pass. Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi, have all become heroes from the lens of history but from the lens of their era, the establishment thinkers saw them as villains.

It is common to be common. No genius is required to identify or analyze problems. No Harvard degree is required to complain and criticize. Society however builds no memorials or monuments to those who merely recount how much they are stuck in the rut.

Our country today needs innovative thinkers with a disruptive paradigm, strong enough to shock the rest of us out of our lethargic resignation to the crippling status quo foisted on us by several years of parasitic consumerism. Every situation around us is an opportunity to rethink, reengineer and develop new strategies instead of throwing tantrums on social media and pages of newspaper like over-pampered children whose biscuit just got snatched... continued.

Remember, the sky is not your limit, God is!

Title-less leadership IT is wide of the mark to say that leadership titles, labels mean nothing. No! Leadership titles connote something.

Team Leader, Manager, Supervisor, Vice-President…President—they are all leadership titles, labels bestowed on those who are called by either an organization or nation to lead.

They have the official duties and responsibilities that go with the title. What am I trying to pass on to you today? I am trying to letting you see that a leader having a title is not wrong, but it becomes wrong when a leader cannot function without a title. Please understand that a leader makes a title; a title does not make a leader.

It is being said that leadership is influence. On the condition that that is true, are the people with the titles the only ones called to lead? No. You can lead without a title. It is just that the title only gives the leader some positional authority, but the truth is—you can still lead without any positional authority. You do not need an official title to lead.

For the umpteenth time, leaders make positions, positions do not make leaders. If you cannot lead without an official position, you cannot lead effectively in this day and time.

Once again, those without positional authority can and should lead. A team with leaders at every level will beat any team with leadership centralized at the top. A company with leaders at every level will outperform any company with leadership centralized at the top. This is so profound! If you do not build your organization this way in the 21st century, you will lose out. If you do not build your team this way in this day and time, you will lose out. This is non-negotiable.

There is no one who does not have the ability to influence others no matter how ‘little’ the title is. Leading without the title is the purest form of leadership. I am not suggesting it is always trouble-free. But, it is indispensable. It only takes courage. Fear of being ignored, ostracized, or reprimanded

may exist. Remember, courage is not the absence of fear.

Courage means taking action despite the fear.

Without any title, you can lead through Words. If you are title-centric, you may not say some vital things that you are supposed to say. Too many people wait for someone else to say what needs to be said at critical moments, because they wrongly believe that they do not have the appropriate title to say what needs to be said. This is not right. This is affecting us negatively in Nigeria. Why? Because many Nigerians believe that some stuff is beyond them to say, simply because they do not have the title. No. Leaders speak out no matter what title they hold.

Also, without any title, you can lead through deeds. Leaders do more than speak out, they step out. They move things forward and onward through their actions. People follow people who are undaunted and fearless to do the right thing or the hard thing. Initiative is a peculiarity leaders have.

Take the initiative and others will follow your example.

Buddy, do not be afraid to take the initiative in Nigeria. Step out and you will be amazed that people will follow you.

Without any title, you can lead through attitude. “Attitudes are contagious.” Is yours worth catching? Leaders do not drag others into the pit of whining and despair. At any level, someone has the opportunity to pull others out of that pit.

Why not you? You do not need any title to do that. You do not need any title to be of help to a fellow citizen. If your attitude is good enough, you will attract some people for a following. Many people are looking for titles today without having a good attitude. A big title without a good attitude is destructive.

Without any title, you can also lead through mentoring.

Servant-leadership creates followers. You desire to have followers? Become a servant. On the condition that you are

willing to put out a hand to help others, you will be noticed.

And with time, your lifestyle will start attracting people to your leadership. If you see someone struggling – help him or her. It may not be in your job description, but it is your opportunity to influence others.

Some people want to lead, but frustration sets in, because they feel their title does not allow them to lead. I reiterate, a title is only as good as the leader who holds it. A title does not make a leader. He or she may be given the title of a leader, but if he or she is not a leader, that does not make either him or her a leader. There are many folks today who move around with varied leadership titles, but who are not leaders and there are too many people in Nigeria—who are functioning effectively as leaders, but who do not have leadership titles.

If you want to wait till the time you’d be given a ‘big’ leadership title in Nigeria before you start fulfilling your leadership destiny, you may wait forever. When you start functioning as a leader in your little corner, after a while, people will start noticing your leadership capability. This may cause some leadership titles to fly toward your direction, but if leadership titles do not come, that does not change you from who you are. Titles do not make you, you make titles!

Lastly, titles do not make a leader, influence does. In Nigeria today, you do have lots of opportunities to influence others. Being without a leadership title does not mean that you are not called to lead. Lead where you are. Help people where you are. Leadership is about helping others. Leadership is about solving other people’s problems. On the condition that you are occupying a leadership position and you are not solving problems for those within your sphere of influence, you are not leading them; you are only merely occupying a leadership position.

23

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

CREW Tunde Busari 08127593530 Yejide Gbenga - Ogundare 08116706853 Tunde Ogunesan 08116954634

Nigerian Tribune

The

South-West Editor Wole Efunnuga 08111813056

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

Front view of State Hospital, Itori, Ogun State.

A woman on admission in the corridor of a Lagos General Hospital.

Wash hand basin of Pharmacy department of the Adeoyo General Hospital, Ring-Road, Oyo State.

A section of Ring-Road General Hospital, Oyo State.

Health institutions, unhealthy environments

The disrepair and dearth of infrastructure in government hospitals across the country has been a source of concern to stakeholders over the years and subsequent administrations have tried to improve the situation with various degree of success. In this report, our correspondents x-ray the state of facilities in government hospitals across the south west.

I

T is a general belief among Nigerians that government hospitals are not well equipped to handle the numerous health

challenges being faced by the populace in terms of medical facilities and man power. And various steps have been taken to change this

Inside

I’ll recreate America in Iba — Eburu of Iba-Elect

Pg28

impression and fortify the various hospitals by the governments across the nation.

Various complaints and criticisms

have followed the series of activities made to change the situation.

Continues on pg25

Drumming national unity in Gateway State Pg26

24 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

S/W: What manner of hospitals?

General Hospital, Ikenne-Remo.

Osun State General Hospital, Ede in Osun West Senatorial District

Osun State General Hospital, Ede in Osun West Senatorial District.

General Hospital Gbagada, Lagos State.

New building under construction at Akure Specialist Hospital.

A section of the General Hospital, Ikenne-Remo.

Nigerian Tribune

25 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Towards healthy environments in the S/W Continues from pg23

Have these efforts yielded results and what is the situation of the hospitals at present? A look around South West public hospitals reveals the situation at

present.

The state governments have also tried to make health a priority. These pictures of government health facilities across the South West is a proof of whether such efforts have yielded results or not.

Nigerian Tribune

‘Most govts take hospitals for granted but...’

Dr Dayo Adeyanju is the Commissioner for Health in Ondo State. He speaks with HAKEEM GBADAMOSI on the efforts of the state government to make state hospitals across the state more functional. Excerpts:

T

HE General Hospitals in the state seem to suffer neglect, what is the state government doing to revive these hospi-

Pharmacy department of General Hospital, Osogbo, in Osun Central Senatorial District.

Oba Adejugbe hospital, Ekiti State.

PHOTOS: YINKA OLUKOYA, HAKEEM GBADAMOSI, OLUWOLE IGE, SAM NWAOKO, AKIN ADEWAKUN, TUNDE OGUNESAN, NEWTONRAY UKWUOMA AND SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

hospitals are made functional but be that as it may, that is not the state we want to put them now, because we are not there yet.

tals?

The General hospitals have suffered neglect for more than two or three decades and most governments tend to take them for granted but for us, we have actually not neglected these hospitals because it’s an integral part of our Abiye Safe Motherhood programme. It gave us the opportunity that as we are upgrading those Primary Health Care Centers and the Basic Health Center, we seek the opportunity to upgrade the General Hospitals because they are the referral centers, even though when you look at it, in view of paucity of fund which I agree has not made us to fix it in the way we would have loved to fix it. But basically, like our specialist hospital in Akure, we have been able to successfully put in place some strategies. Part of the money made have been ploughed back in facilities upgrade, providing some basic things like water, electricity and ensuring that the wards are clean and conducive, we have been able to paint the hospital, change bed sheets and other basic things are provided in the hospital. And again, the training of the personnel and we keep recruiting and keep training and re-training these personnel and of course ensure there’s free flow of consumables but what is critical, I must tell you, is the fact that when you get to our state specialists Hospitals across the state, facilities have been added. In Akure, you will see the new Diabetic Center which was actually not there before but put in place by this present administration, then Adolescent and Youth Friendly Center and we have built and put in place an NHIS building, all of these things are new innovations just to basically ensure that our Specialist

Apart from Akure, what of other General Hospitals spread across the state?

That’s what I’m saying that we have been able to change the face of these hospitals and the perception of people about the hospitals. When you get to General Hospital in Ile - Oluji/Okeigbo now, you will see a total upgrade of the place in terms of facilities and personnel and when you get to Ore, Ikare and other General Hospital we introduced the Pack system which ensures that we minimise wastage for our free health pregnant women and children under five years. Children under five are treated free.

Those between 5- 18years and out-patients are also treated free too, but for children under five, all the treatments are free of charge and we provide drugs for them too.

We have been able to change the face of these hospitals and the perception of people about the hospitals.

What are other plans for the health sector in the state most especially the General Hospitals?

Like I said earlier that we have been handicapped by the paucity of fund and as soon as the fund improves, we plan to actually, massively and aggressively renovate and improve the facilities of our Secondary Health care, that’s the General hospitals and Specialist hospital. We are stable in Primary Health Care and tertiary but we still need to do some aggressive things in General Hospitals and Secondary Health care.

But some people are saying that the Medical village in Ondo town is being developed at the detriment of these General Hospitals because not everybody can have access to the treatment at the medical village.

This is absolutely not correct because like I told you that our Abiye Safe Motherhood programme has the General Hospital as an integral part of it, so they have been developed along each other, but as a state government, it is equally important for us to set up a University of Medicine, and a Teaching Hospital. Let me tell you that over a billion naira has been spent outside on the health of Nigerians, that’s what I called medical tourism, either India, USA, UK, even in Nigeria and in the last two years that we have set up the medical village that has been on the decline because now we don’t refer to anybody except they refer to us,

26 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Drumming national unity in Gateway State

YINKA OLUKOYA, in this piece, x-rays the just concluded National Drum Festival which took place in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Set of drums at the festival. PHOTOS: NAIJ

F

OR four days, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, came alive with the beating of different types of drums to revive the culture in

drums.

The event was the maiden edition of the Nigerian Drums Festival tagged Ogun 2016, put together by the Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

It was an exciting festival which attracted people from different parts of Nigeria, Africa and the world.

In attendance were the Ooni of Ife, His Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, his wife, the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo and her counterpart in the National Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs. Dayo Keshi and her husband, Ambassador Joe Keshi, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, diplomats from different parts of Africa were also there.

Drums are usually found in places where people celebrate in contrast to where they mourn. Apart from providing musical sounds, it is also a means of communication. The drum is said to be a universally accepted instrument of communication and music and equally holds a special place in the nation’s history.

History has it that the oldest drums on the continent date back to about 500 A.D and were originally created as a sacred instrument to be used in healing ceremonies, rites of passage, ancestral worship, warrior rituals as well as social dances.

Entertainers at the event.

In Nigeria, certain drums symbolize and protect royalty; others are created as sacred instruments, while others are used for social ceremonies.

In Yorubaland, there is Bata Drum Ensemble; Dundun Drum Ensemble; Bembe Drum Ensemble and Sakara Drum

The tallest drum being mounted at the event.

Continues on pg27

27 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Governor Ibikunle Amosun showing skill at the event.

Continues from pg26

Ensemble. Each of these have components such as Iya Ilu, Omele, Gangan, Atele Kerikeri, Gudugudu and Eji. While Igbo drum, konga, base drum.

And tabia drums are synonymous with the Eastern part of the country with kalangu, traditional konga, dumdum are known with the Northern part.

The festival was officially opened when the drummers used talking drums to render the national anthem. The drums communicated the message in the anthem to the admiration of the gathering. It was a night of celebration, fun, entertainment and what the culture of Africa is all about.

In his speech, the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Muyiwa Oladipo, said the festival with theme “Reviving Our Culture In Drums”, was conceived in an attempt to revive and rejuvenate the dwindling fortunes of the Nigerian culture through the drums and at the same time boost the tourism potentials of the state as a means of job creation.

Oladipo described the drums as an instrument peculiar to all ethnic groups in the country, Africa and the world, saying that the importance of drums in our history cannot be over-emphasised because it serves as a very significant aspect of our lives.

He said, “We all know that overtime, our culture and tradition have been eroded due to civilisation, however, citizens who are still rooted in culture have emphasised on the need to embrace our roots and be proud of our heritage. One of the ways of resuscitating this aspect of our culture is through the Nigerian Drums Festival.”

The four-day event was held at the June 12 cultural Centre, in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

At pre-press conference heralding the festival, the commissioner had told news men that 19 states of the federation would be participating, in the festival.

The audience were thrilled as the event showcased various drums from various backgrounds and the participants which include individuals and groups such as Ani Dance Group from the East, the Ogun State Dance Troupe, Hubert Ogunde Theatre Group, the Unique Fingers from the Niger Delta and Ara, the renowned talking drummer,Aanu, Adewole Oniluola, Gangan drummer for the late Ayinla Omowura band, Muri Ayegbola, the lead drummer for masked muscian, Lagbaja,

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi Enitan (2nd left), his wife (left), Governor Amosun (2nd right) and his wife, Funsho.

Traditional dancers at the event.

among others, entertained the audience with different performances.

In their goodwill messages, both Keshi and Mbanefo submitted that the drums, indeed, represent the art of the people of Nigeria.

The DG NCAC suggested further that the festival should be celebrated till eternity, noting that this kind of festival will bring about economic gains through influx of tourists.

“Nigeria should continue developing its

Nigerian Tribune

cultural heritage to complement economic diversification and a source of income generation for the country, “she added.

Mrs. Keshi advised the state government to consider the establishment of Artists Village in the state by collaborating with the private sector in developing the culture sector.

While Mbanefo said the event brought the world to a standstill as it showcased the rich Yoruba culture and heritage.

The NTDC boss added that it was high time for the nation’s leaders to shift focus from over independence on oil to tourism development.

She opined that civilisation had made people to forget their legacies in terms of culture and tradition, saying “a country that has abandoned its cultural heritage is not to be in existence.”

Mbanefo equally emphasised that drum(s) is a major form of historical communication, entertainment and music.

The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, represented by the state commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture, Mr. Jonathan Vasta, urged that the festival be sustained as an annual event.

For Mohammed, represented by Mr. Beckley Ayakoroma, the festival was a laudable vision and christened the festival to World Drums Festival.

The minister said every state must showcase its product in any form, to boost the socio-economic development of such state.

Oba Ogunwusi who was accompanied to the event by six diplomats, said the only binding force among various tribes and ethnic groups are the cultural and traditional heritage, which had been in existence, long before colonisation.

The Ooni of Ife said the festival would boost the nation’s tourism potential and that such should be nurtured and that people should be proud of it.

“I am very proud that we are rejuvenating our dead culture, heritage and we are very proud to be associated with it,” Oba Ogunwusi said.

In his own remark, Oba Gbadebo, said that initiators of the drums festival had taken people back to what they ought to have been doing over years.

The monarch remembered with nostalgia the multiple effects brought by during the celebration of Black Heritage Festival tagged “FESTAC 77”.

“Oil is gone for good. We have so much to offer the world with tourism,” the Alake of Egbaland added.

While Oba Olugbenle submitted that the festival remained significant because it promotes heritage with the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso, said the festival brought about celebration of creation.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said beating of drums is a sort of re awakening our dying culture and tradition.

Amosun was of the opinion that the festival was a way to promote the nation’s rich cultural heritage by bringing about genuine socio-economic and political development.

He described the state as the culture and tourism haven of the country.

Major highlight of the opening ceremony was the unveiling of a 16th and 17th feet tall drums built by Mr. Femi Coker, an indigene of the state.

The festival is all about drums-drums providing melodious rhythms, drummers displaying their dexterity on the instrument and drums on exhibition.

The glizt and the glamour associated with the festival would continue to resonate in the minds of the organisers, the participants and the august audience.

Kano state was the winner of the festival.

28 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

How will you use your contacts to attract development to your community?

This is an era of information overload. I know who to find, what to do and how to go about it. You will see from the quality of people that will grace my official connation ceremony.

There are so many opportunities globally these days, but you have to search for them. There are so many funds searching for projects, many funds are untapped because people do not know how to access them.

Iba will deliberately tap and access many of those grants.

We can recreate US here. If we attract investors and they help to develop our town, many people will come from Lagos to spend their weekend with us here. I lived with them in the US, I studied among them and even taught them as a lecturer.

What we see over there can be recreated here.

What is your advice to your people?

America keeps on going because they don’t believe in impossibility. Let us believe in ourselves. No problem is insurmountable. If we come together and put our resources together, then we ’ll get there.

Oba Adekunle-Adegoun

I’ll recreate America in Iba —Eburu of Iba-Elect

A one time professor of Computer Science at the Sabview University, Columbus, Ohio, United States but today, Oba (Prof) Adekunle-Adegoun Okunoye, Oyedeji II, is the Eburu of Iba-elect.

In this chat with GBENGA OPADOTUN, he speaks on his agenda for his town and how he intends to give the community global touch. Excerpts:

I

Sir, how did you start in life? was born in April 1968 into the royal house of Alamu in Iba. My father is a retired secondary school principal while my mother was a school mistress. I started my elementary education at CAC Primary School, Oniyanrin, Ibadan and later came back to Akirun Grammar School. I graduated from Oyo State College of Education at age 19 with distinction. I proceeded to the University of Ibadan where I made Second Class (Honours) in Educational Management.

I have two Master Degrees as well, one of them is in Educational Management from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, at 23 years of age. I did my Ph.D in a university in Finland.

My course of study made me a global product. I sought employment in the US and went there on a Workers’ Visa (HIB).

I went to the Sabview University, Columbus, Ohio, as an expatriate.

Can you explain the meaning of the title, Eburu of Iba? My great-grandfathers were warriors. They were always on war expeditions. They could go for as long as three, four, six months leaving their families behind. On return from one of their war expeditions, they met their families lean, frail and unkempt. They were surprised and disappointed that their families could be so abandoned by the people, so, they were lamenting that the people were wicked in Yoruba (Eyin Eniyan, e buru o) which was later shortened to what we have today (Eburu). That was how the title of our royal stool came into being till today.

What is the position of Eburu of Iba among the Osun State Council of Obas and Chiefs?

Eburu of Iba is a part II traditional ruler according to the chieftaincy Law of Osun State but I am also a Vice Chairman of the council of Obas & Chiefs. Eburu of Iba is also a beaded crown wearing oba. We are directly from Ile-Ife so our crown is an ancient one.

As a widely travelled and exposed man, why the interest in obaship?

I am always conscious of my heritage as a prince. It is part of my system to serve the people. We are brought up to appreciate the fact that we are not for ourselves alone. I love my people and always like to be with them. When we were being brought up in Ibadan, we always go home for Christmas, on very few occasions when we were not brought home, I shed tears for missing that experience at home. I was also part of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) that visited ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in Aso Rock in 2005.

So, the urge to be with the people is innate in us.

Are you going to be a foreign traditional ruler or you will stay at home with the people?

I’ll reign from here, I am going to stay with my people.

Today, we live in a global village, technology has brought us together. Anyone who desires development cannot stay at home, he has to go out to bring development home. I’ll use my exposure and contacts to bring development to Iba. When I came back from the US, I joined the American University of Nigeria, Yola. I also contested election at home in PDP and lost after which my family selected me as their choice for the royal stool of our town and the kingmakers recommended me to the state government for approval.

Kaabiyesi, how do you relate with the chiefs who are old enough to be your father?

I am very fortunate in this regard. My selection was unanimous. The Eesa of our town, is the incorruptible head of the kingmakers, an extraordinary honest man who shuns every inducement for the truth. Eesa is another Buhari to us here. Once the head is good, the rest will be functioning and efficient. I respect them a lot. I am a democrat and open to criticism. They listen to me and I also listen to them and accord them due regards.

What about your relationship with other obas around here?

We are just starting. The Akirun of Ikirun is a father to me, I was one of the youth that honoured him when he ascended the throne. I grew up in Ikirun. The relationship is very cordial. The Akirun is so experienced, he has spent almost three decades on the throne. I can only tap from his wisdom and experience. We are both from Ifelodun Local Government.

The Eko-ende has always been a father to me. The Obaagun is also very nice to me. I am just about two months old on the throne. I am still learning on the throne.

What do you think should be the roles of traditional rulers in modern day Nigeria?

From the experience I gathered, traditional rulers should be like Mayors. Every community carves out its mayor in the US and they are agents of development. Traditional rulers should serve as bridges between the people, one government and another. By the virtue of their throne, they are always there even when government changes. Traditional rulers should key into the programmes and policies of government and ensure that such is continued even when the initiator leaves, we are to promote the development of our communities.

There are so many opportunities globally these days, but you have to search for them. There are so many funds searching for projects, many funds are untapped because people do not know how to access them.

Oba Adekunle-Adegoun

29

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

Acceptable zoning formula:

Sheriff

The challenge before PDP

LEON USIGBE writes on the attempt by that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to re-zone its national offices among the six geo-political regions of the country.

N

OT even the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, can tell what the future holds as far the party’s next leadership is concerned because the dynamics keep changing all the time in the run up to the May 21, 2016 make-or-mar national convention. It is speculated that he wants to remain as the party boss when he ought to serve out his term on convention day. But in all fairness to him, he has set up a zoning committee along with others to determine where the coveted post of the party chairmanship goes next. But does the committee have the free hand to do its job? That is the question agitating the minds of cynics.

The zoning committee led by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state is now mired in controversy, as a section of the party thinks that it is working according the dictates of special interests that want the post retained in the north and, by extension, keeping Sheriff in office until the next general election in 2019 or beyond. These vested interests are thought to be led by the powerful PDP state governors who engineered Sheriff’s emergence as the party boss in the first place. But they have run into a head wind as there are opposing interests equally as powerful that either want to see the backs of Sheriff or have the post zoned to a different part of the country altogether. This has put the Emmanuel committee under severe pressure.

It has met twice since its inauguration but failed to make a headway. During its first meeting in Uyo, it apparently proposed that the national chairmanship post should remain in the North while the national vice chairman will go to the South. In much the same way, the committee proposed that the post of the national secretary will be left in the South-West. Observers quickly heard the voice of Jacob but saw the hand of Esau. They reasoned that Sheriff from the North East and the current deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, from the South South have goaded that committee to let them keep their jobs

just like Professor Wale Oladipo, from the South-West, who is the current occupant of the post.

In an attempt to deflect some of the agitation, the committee created a new post, national deputy chairman, and zoned it to the North Central while, it moved the position of the national publicity secretary from the South East to the South-West. The national woman leader and that national treasurer were moved to north west and the North Central respectively, while the national organizing secretary was then expected to emerge from the south east.

The second meeting of the zoning committee took place in Abuja but it dismissed as soon as it started as it was quickly deadlocked over the proposal as many members washed their hands off the proposal. The state governors rooting for a northern chairman were thought not to have been able to secure the concurrence of other members of the committee opposed to the governors’ position. The committee is now thinking of a way forward in the midst of more pressure from parts of the country.

But the governors are not alone in the move to keep Sheriff as the party boss for the foreseeable future. Not long after the former Borno State governor resumed as the

Many party faithful are waiting with bated breath to see how the party, desperate to return to power, can surmount this first obstacle in getting its act together

national chairman of the party, Ogun State senator, Buruji Kashamu, led a delegation of Yoruba leaders to the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on a solidarity visit to him and turned down the opportunity for the South-West to produce the next national chairman of the party in favour of the north. The Board of Trustees (BoT), through its acting chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, quickly kicked against any attempt to keep Sheriff in office. The position of PDP former ministers tallies with the BoT on this.

Another Yoruba elder’s group under the leadership of Chief Bode George has now reacted angrily to the position of the Kashamu group branding the senator as betraying the Yoruba race. The group met on April 21, 2016 in Lagos and chastised Kashamu even as it insisted that it was the turn of the south west to produce the next national chairman of the PDP. It did not fail to observed that since inception in 1988, the party has had 11 national chairman or acting chairmen with non coming from the South-West.

Former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who spoke for the group, indicated last weekend that the South-West leaders may reconsider their membership of the PDP should the zone be excluded from the opportunity to vie for the opposition party’s national chairmanship seat. Observers think that this threat may further complicate an already very tenuous situation the opposition party is now grappling with in its march towards 2019.

Olisa Metuh, its spokesman, is however confident that there would not be any problem with the zoning of the respective party offices. He denied that the zoning committee’s meeting was deadlock at any point in time and was keen to point out that consultations were ongoing which should led to an acceptable zoning arrangement for all component geo-political regions.

But many party faithful are waiting with bated breath to see how the party, desperate to return to power, can surmount this first obstacle in getting its act together.

south-westnews NANS leads UI protest against student’s rustication 30

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

He had 14 days to appeal but did not —UI management

By Tunde Ogunesan and Wale Akinselure

U

NIVERSITY students under the auspices of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), on Monday, impeded normal school activities in the University of Ibadan, in a protest against the “unjust rustication” of one Mr Tunji Ekpeti Micheal, a 500 level student of the Petroleum Engineering department of the institution.

The protest which saw a number of roads within the institution barricaded and lectures disrupted was to demand the “Unconditional Reinstatement of Tunji Ekpeti Micheal with Immediate Effect” and to “call on the Students Disciplinary Committee to tender an unquantified apology to Mr Tunji Ekpeti Michael for the psychological trauma caused to him.”

Tunji was served a onesemester rustication by the Students’ Disciplinary Committee of the institution for allegedly leading a protest carried out by

Proposed 37 LCDAs in Ogun: Electoral commission concludes referendum THE Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has conducted a referendum on five out of the proposed 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), as directed by the state House of Assembly, following request by the state government for approval towards the creation the LCDAs. The commission, which is set to submit its report to the House, received the bill for the creation of the LCDAs out of the existing 20 local government areas in the state.

The house had called for the referendum on Sango/ Ijoko, Ifo, Imeko-Afon, Odogbolu and Abeokuta North-East LCDAs, which the government wants to add to the 32 earlier proposed in 2003 by the then administration of Chief Olusegun Osoba.

Speaking during the conduct of the referendum, the OGSIEC Chairman, Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, said the exercise was borne out of the genuine desire to ensure transparency in government’s dealings.

residents of Independence Hall last semester to advocate for a solution to lack of water and power supply for about two weeks.

In the protest tagged, “FREEMOTE”, the students resolved to lock down the University of Ibadan and continue the protest every day until their demands were met.

Some students said that UI students discreetly participated in the protest led

by NANS noting that the university management had threatened to expel any UI student that par-

took in Monday’s protest.

It was however gathered that the management of the University of Ibadan, through its radio station, Diamond FM, on Monday, issued a strong warning to all students mandating them to be present for normal school activities, on Tuesday.

“The question that we ask which the management has failed to answer is whether holding a peaceful protest has become an offence or a crime.

“All University of Ibadan students are in support of

the protest as they believe that an injustice to one is an injustice to all. We demand for an immediate reinstatement of the unjustly rusticated Tunji Ekpeti Micheal,” some of the protesters questioned.

Meanwhile, while lectures were disrupted in a number of departments, some other departments still had lectures.

When contacted, the Director of Public Communication, University of Ibadan, Mr Olatunji Oladeojo said the affected student was rusticated by

the Central Student Disciplinary Committee for one semester for his role in the protest in respect of electricity failure in the institution last year.

In his statement, Oladejo said “Mr Tunji Ekpeti Michael was only rusticated for a semester. He will resume his academic programme at the beginning of the second semester of 2015\2016 academic session.

“This was the outcome of a meeting of the Central Student Disciplinary Committee on Wednes-

From left, Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; his wife, Olukemi; deputy governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo; his wife, Fatimat, with the newly inaugurated local government chairmen, during their inauguration at the Dome, Akure, on Monday.

Mimiko inaugurates 18 local council chairmen Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure ONDO State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday, inaugurated 18 new council chairmen and councillors, who were elected in the last Saturday local council election, with a call to the Federal Government to review the revenue allocation formula, which he said, has been a major hindrance to development.

Mimiko, who noted that the constitution of the country stipulated that the allocation should be reviewed every five years by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, said this had not been done in the recent time.

The governor lamented that the development had been causing a major hindrance to the development and implementation of policies at the local levels across the country.

Mimiko said “With the present state of finance, it will just be apposite to call the attention of the Federal Government to our skewed fiscal federalism that vests a disproportionate percentage (52 per cent) of revenue in the Federal Government while the states and local

governments – the very tiers with considerable contacts with the populace – are given 26 per cent and 20 per cent respectively!

“By virtue of Paragraph 32(b) Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the RMAFC is empowered to prescribe a periodic review of the Revenue Allocation formula every five years in

accordance with Section 162 (2) of same constitution.

Mimiko said the status quo had remained since 1999 and appealed to RMFAC and the Federal Government, to take the appropriate bill to the National Assembly, saying regrettably, this has not been done since 1999! We are appealing to RMFAC and the Federal Government, to take the ap-

propriate bill to the National Assembly. “ The governor charged the newly inaugurated council chairmen to adopt bottom to up approach and all inclusive strategy in administering their various local government areas, urging them to display exemplary leadership, transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.

OAUTH starts open heart surgery

By Sade Oguntola OBAFEMI Awolowo University Teaching Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, in conjunction with heart experts from Pakistan and United States are to carry out 10 open heart surgeries at the hospital as part of the hospital’s moves to meet the need of its teeming heart patients.

Chairman of the hospital’s task force on open heart surgery, Professor Olabode Balogun, declared that the debut open heart surgery were to be done in patients whose ages range between six months and 21 years that had hole in their heart or bad heart valves.

The open heart surgery,

which he said was a follow up to heart surgeries the hospital had been doing, he said, was initially planned for 11 patients but one had to be postponed because she was very sick.

Balogun, Head of the hospital’s cardiology unit, who remarked that the hospital was fully equipped and staffed to do open surgery for over four years, said the medical mission would afford doctors on training the opportunity to learn about open heart surgery.

According to him, the surgeries cost between N1.2 and N1.6 million naira.

Balogun decried increasing cases of congenital and acquired heart problems in

children.

He declared: “Many children with these problems in the past are kept at home to die. Most of them will die if surgery is not done early to correct the problem. Now that cardiac surgery is being done in Nigeria, parents now bring such children to the hospital.”

Chairman, CardiacEye International Foundation and leader of the visiting Cardiac team, Professor Maqsood Elahi, who said that two open heart surgeries would be done each day, said CardiacEye International Foundation also aimed to implement surgical programmes in the region to teach different cadres of the cardiac team.

day March 30, 2016 to consider an allegation of gross misconduct against Mr Tunji Ekpeti Michael of the department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan to the effect that on Thursday November 19, 2015, he led a protest in respect of electricity failure which disrupted the peace enjoyed in Independence Hall and the University as a whole.

“The action contravenes the rules and regulation governing the conduct of students in the University.

And this particular Mr Tunji Ekpeti Michael appeared before the panel on Thursday March 3, 2016 where he pleaded that he was not guilty of that allegation. He also said that he did not lead that protest. At the time when he committed the offence he told the Central Student Disciplinary Committee on March 30, 2016 that he was supposed to be on IT programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and that he was in Ibadan as that time.

“He however begged the committee for forgiveness for his actions, because at that time, he was not supposed to be a resident of Independence Hall of residence.

“Of course, the committee noted that his action led to the disruption of public peace on that day and advised the vice chancellor, who accepted and directed that Tunji Ekpeti Michael be rusticated from the university for one semester.

“Apart from his academic programme which will be put on hold, he also loses the right to accommodation on the campus with effect from Wednesday March 30, 2016. The decision is in accordance with the university Act. “The moment he receives the letter conveying the decision to him, he has the right, if he is dissatisfied with the decision, and is free to appeal against through the Registrar to the Governing Council within 14 days of the receipt of that letter that convey the decision to him.”

Oladejo added that the management was surprised to discover the intervention of NANS thereby leading to disruption of academic activities within the campus. He also revealed that it was on notice some students from IAR & T, fromLAUTECH in their buses and students from the Federal College of Education, Special, Oyo, in commercial buses, and paralysed the academic activities in the university.

brands&marketing PR profession not doing well in Nigeria —Nsikak Daniels, 31

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

CEO, Whitewater Ltd

and decide the kind of leadership it wants. Professional leadership is not a tribal leadership; it is about excellence, it is about moving the industry forward and it is about leaving a legacy that the incoming generation would be able to improve on. Though we have a conglomerate of experts in Lagos, the chapter has not been able to really create value and do things that will endear it to the public. We are supposed to be the front-liner of professionalism, so why should we not do well?

Chief Executive Officer of Whitewater Ltd, an integrated marketing communications firm, Nsikak Daniels, in this interview with Akin Adewakun speaks on developments in the nation’s PR practice, noting that though the profession has thrown up experts in the past few decades, it is not yet uhuru with the practice. Excerpts

O

F late, the nation’s economy has been in comatose, especially with the foreign exchange challenge, the dwindling fortunes of oil on the global stage and the delay in the passage of the 2016 budget, among other factors. Where does this leave PR practice?

It’s unfortunate that the economy is passing through this phase, and one thing that is obvious is that it is not too good for business. But, for me, PR will always survive. PR is like breath.

No individual can survive without breathing. So any individual or corporate organization, irrespective of his finances must embrace PR, or be ready to die. So I think irrespective of what is happening to the economy, PR will still survive. The economy may affect the quantity, volume or the amount of money that would be involved. But anyone who knows what he or she is doing in any situation, no matter how tough the economy is should embrace PR. What is your assessment the practice of PR in Nigeria considering its years of existence?

I think PR is not doing well, not that we don’t have people who know PR, but just because people who are supposed to regulate the industry are not doing it well enough. We need to enlighten people, educate people and tell them the importance of public relations that is where we have the problem. The moment that is done, then we can heave that sigh of relief. When you go to school to counsel and you ask the students their career choice, if they either want to be a medical doctor, accountant or architect, they will mention all sorts, but its hard to see any of them mentioning public relations, because they don’t know exactly what it is. Even some of us that practice it don’t know what it is, because some of us still mistake it for media relations. But, it is not. It is far greater and larger.

Why do say PR is not doing well in Nigeria?

Yes, due to ignorance on the part of the people, coupled with the fact that the body that is overseeing the practice is not doing much, as compared to other professional bodies. PR is supposed to be a voice, stronger than other professional bodies, but it is not. And irrespective of the fact that we have a lot of practitioners who are doing very well

in the industry, we have not been able to sell ourselves the way we should.

The communication strategy of this government has been condemned in some quarters, if you have the opportunity to advise the government, what would be your ideal communication strategy?

My ideal communication strategy would be for the government to listen and talk to the people.

It should respond to issues that are on ground and tell people the truth. If you do this as a government, the citizenry will sympathise with you. This is what public relations is about. For instance, if I understand your problem, it is easier for me to sympathise with you. My strategy would be whatever government wants to do, we will seek the opinion of the public and now go back to the drawing board, before arriving at some of those pronouncements. PR is not about lying, but in this case, the positives of the action may be emphasised, but definitely it is

Nsikak Daniels, CEO White Water Ltd

not about talking of benefits or positives where there are none.

A lot of people see NIPR Lagos Chapter, where you are are active member, as full of potential, but less on delivery. What do you think

are the peculiar challenges facing the chapter?

From Yomi Badejo Okusanya’s, Nkechi Balogun’s to Jide Ologun’s regime, the chapter witnessed a tremendous growth.

I think the challenge with the chapter is its inability to identify

Some people place greater priority on foreign PR companies to the local ones, what is your position?

I think it’s the mentality of the average Nigerian, who believes foreign products are better than the local ones. Even in other professions we see this too. I think the PR practitioners in Nigeria are doing very well. So some of them who want to affiliate with the foreign organizations know what they want, but I don’t think that is the proper thing to do.

If the idea is to enable them get more clients, it’s their own business. But I don’t think that anybody who knows what he or she is doing as practitioners in this country is incompetent. We have practitioners that are very good, practitioners that can stand the test of time.

R&B targets 120,000 Lagos homes for 2016 Anti-Malaria campaign RECKITT Benkisser ( RB), manufacturers of Mortein Insecticide has announced plans to commence a house- to -house anti malaria campaign in all the 20 local government councils in Lagos.

This, the company says, is to further demonstrate its commitment to reducing the high rate of malaria-induced mortalities in the state.

Speaking at Mortein Anti Malaria Summit, organized by the company, in Lagos, recently, to mark the World Anti- Malaria Day, held yesterday, Monday, the Marketing Manager, Mortein, Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola, explained that the campaign, a collaborative effort between the company and the Association of Civil Society Organisations Working on Malaria Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN), intends to visit 15

households every day, to spread the anti-malaria campaign message.

She explained further that the campaign would focus on enlightening the residents of the

state on the need to prevent malaria disease through advocacy and providing them useful tips on how to fight the disease.

According to her, the campaign team intends to cover about

Mamador gets NHF certification MAMADOR Cooking Oil over the weekend boosted its profile as it bagged the endorsement of Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF), as a heart-friendly oil.

Presenting the certificate to the company in Lagos, over the weekend, the President of the Foundation, Prof. Oladipupo Akinkugbe explained that the company was being officially endorsed by the Foundation after successfully scaling through the rigorous tests conducted by the Foundation to determine the heart health benefits of the brand.

Prof. Akinkugbe, who was represented by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Dr. K Akinroye, commended the company for applying for such certification from the Foundation, describing it as a demonstration of the brand’s commitment to giving its teeming consumers products that are of immense benefits to their health.

‘The certificate we are presenting to the brand today simply means that we’ve carried out series of tests, both within and outside the country, on the brand and can authoritatively

Shoprite extends business frontiers RETAIL Mall outlet, Shoprite has announced the commissioning of a new outlet in Onitsha, Anambra State, as part of its extension plans in the country and a demonstration of its utmost faith in the nation’s business environment. .Located in the State’s first modern shopping mall, the store, ac-

120,000 households in all the local government councils of the state, insisting that eradicating malaria would be almost impossible without the active participation of communities.

Commission’s new outlet in Onitsha cording to the management, is designed to bring consumers cost effective prices, Shoprite outlets al over the country are known for..

Describing the commissioning as a milestone in his administration’s efforts at making the state a commercial centerpiece, the

state’s Executive Governor, Willie Obiano, noted that the presence of the retail outlet in the city would go a long way in supporting government’s efforts at reducing unemployment in the state; since over 1,000 job opportunities would be created for residents.

say that it is cholesterol-free, and therefore heart-friendly,’ he stated.

He appealed to other brands to also submit themselves for such tests since that would go a long way in engendering consumers’ confidence in such brands.

In his acceptance remarks, the Marketing Director, Food and Nutrition, Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, described the company’s decision to seek the Foundation’s endorsement as a demonstration of its unrelenting search for quality and excellence.

The opening of the Onitsha outlet brings to 18 the total number of Shoprite’s outlets in the country since it began operations in 2005.

Executive Director, Shoprite Nigeria, Adeola Kagho explained that the warm reception the store had been receiving from residents of the state since it opening its doors for business was an attestation of Nigerians’ yearnings for the store’s offerings.

32

infotech

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Int’l Girls In ICT Day: Stakeholders charged to back girls Stories By Bode Adewumi

T

HE need for stakeholders to encourage young girls to be part of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) revolution currently going on globally has been described as paramount in the bid to ensure a wider spread of digital literacy in the country.

Convener of the eBusiness Life International Girls in ICT Day Celebration, Mrs Ufuoma Emuophedaro, gave this charge while speaking on the forthcoming event to be held in Lagos, Nigeria.

The event, which will hold on April 28, 2016, is a global event initiated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to encourage young girls and women to pursue careers in ICT. According to Emuophedaro, studies show that there are not enough women choosing careers in ICT, hence the need to expand the local technology talent pool to include more women with ICT skills can help fill this gap.

She called on other stakeholders to join hands to further invest in girls and young women by supporting the Girls in ICT campaign and empowering them, giving them the confidence to pursue ICT studies and careers.

She noted that jobs as ICT creators often offer higher salaries

NCS solicits NCC’s support for 2016 conference AS part of its advocacy programme, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), recently paid a courtesy call on the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCS), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta.

Led by its president, Professor Sola Aderounmu, in his address, highlighted NCS’s readiness to work with the NCC in the areas of advocacy, research and development, local content and ICT innovation and empowerment.

Aderounmu, also reiterated the importance of NCC’s participation in the up-coming NCS Conference taking place in Abuja between July 19 and 21 2016.

The collaboration, he said, would enable NCC to showcase and exhibit its products to over two thousand participants and by extension, the entire world.

Professor Danbatta in his reply expressed the willingness of the commisssion to collaborate and partner with NCS in many areas, especially local content issue, research and development, ict innovation/incubation and empowerment.

This, he said, would enable massive internet penetration and technology awareness to every nooks and cranny of the country.

As eBusiness Life celebrates girls

and lower gender-based pay gaps than in other fields.

“Girls in ICT Day events make girls and young women aware of the vast possibilities ICTs offer, quelling misconceptions about

the sector and inviting them to envision their future as ICT creators,” she said.

The ITU, in initiating the campaign, had noted that encouraging women and girls to pursue

ICT careers also fosters a more dynamic technology sector, posing extensive benefits for companies. It states that a more genderbalanced workforce reflects the customer base more accurately,

President, NACOSS, Abuja Chapter, Unegbu Arinze; Youth Innovators Representative, Andrew Abu; Franklyn Ginger Eke of Galaxy Backbone and Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, Consultancy Support Services Limited.

Enugu State could become digital capital of Nigeria —Zinox boss CHAIRMAN of Zinox Group, one of Africa’s biggest integrated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conglomerate, Dr Leo Stan Ekeh, has declared that Enugu State has the potential of earning the status of the digital capital of Nigeria and that of West Africa by extension by taking advantage of the limitless opportunities which abound to create digital wealth.

Speaking during the first ever Enugu State Investment Summit tagged, ‘Oganiru 2016’, which held at the Michael Okpara Square, Ekeh disclosed that what is required is for the state government to enhance the profile of the numerous resources it already possesses and the comparative advantage it enjoys in certain areas.

“Enugu enjoys a rare privilege of being an established cosmopolitan city and remotely developed rural areas with minimum infrastructure. It is therefore easier for the government to take ownership. The state presently has the largest concentration of ambitious tertiary institutions in the country, you have fiber optic cables laid all over the state, you enjoy cheaper rental cost for quality accommodation, good roads and the general cost of living is less than 50 per cent of most cities in Nigeria.

“The only thing holding you back is the political will and electric power infrastructure which you can provide temporarily with generators before partnering to build power plants and you will see this state transform into a haven for digital wealth creation as well as smart and quality lifestyle in the 21st century,” he enthused.

Ekeh decried the nonchalant attitude of some South East gov-

ernors who, according to him, have near zero investment on infrastructure for digital wealth creation in the 21st century.

The serial digital entrepreneur who featured as one of the guest speakers at the summit wondered how leaders in the region intended to create billionaires who will pay taxes in the near future without

any form of concrete investment in place for providing opportunities and nurturing the youths.

“I must state here that the Igbos are not ready for digital wealth creation as it is obvious that leaders in the region are not ready to transit to building the knowledge economy which holds the key to achieving this.”

enhances productivity and innovation and leads to better financial results of any company.

ICTs drive growth and innovation worldwide, infiltrating all aspects of life. These ongoing advances in ICTs effectively make digital literacy a prerequisite for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities and are leading to a projected shortage of at least two million ICT employees worldwide by 2020.

As more companies partner with eBusiness Life to ensure the success of this year’s event, Marketing Manager, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Anne Ihugba said the company concerns itself about the future and welfare of the young girls. “It is not about us, or the companies participating, we want to make sure the children get the best,” she said.

She pointed out the need for corporate organisations to join hands and make a success out of the children. “Partners should be committed. It is a platform for competition,” she added.

The event will also form a platform for participating companies to network and find areas of complementarity.

As part of this year’s event, there will be App development and quiz competitions between female students from select secondary schools; round-table discussions; interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT professionals, among others.

Shoppers scramble, ignite Yudala Mobile Monday A number of over-subscribed products were sold out recently as thousands of shoppers scrambled to take advantage of market-wide best prices and other special attractions in the latest edition of Yudala Mobile Monday, a weekly sales promotion exclusive to Yudala, Nigeria’s first composite online and offline retail chain.

Just last week, feedback from the market had seen many shoppers credit the promotion as the most reliable outlet and source of best prices for a wide range of mobile devices.

Launched in February, Yudala Mobile Monday, has witnessed huge acceptance and is now widely recognised as the biggest single day sales of mobile devices; a day on which to enjoy best prices and mouth-watering deals on a wide range of mobile devices from the biggest brands including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs and accessories, among others.

Leading the line-up of bestselling products in Monday’s edition of the nation-wide promotion were a trio of new products including the X-Touch E1, a sleek and high specifications smartphone; the HP 250 G4 Pentium laptop and the Infinix Hot 3 smartphone. Multiple orders were also processed from shoppers and B2B customers for the Apple MacBook Pro and In-

nJoo Max 2.

For the many shoppers who thronged the website and Yudala Experience Stores across the country, Monday’s edition will live long in the memory as unprecedented discounts went on offer during the flash sales which have also become

one of the most popular and regular features of the promotion. And as a response to the demands of customers, Yudala had decided to extend its flash sales from its usual three slots to four, with the one-off discount offer going live by 9am, 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 6p.m.

LG Electronics introduces G5 smartphone modular technology THE smartphone industry is gradually experiencing technological evolution with the introduction of modular technology with greater advancement in technology. LG Electronics, being an innovative technology driven organisation, has set the pace with the introduction of G5 smartphone modular technology, which has a universal compatibility. Tailored smartphone is a deliberate effort to satisfy her ever teeming customers.

The modular design philosophy has taken root in a variety of industries, leading to a new wave of modular products that improve flexibility and usability in a number of key areas. Taking the modular multi-tool to the next level is the Craftsman Bolton, an electric handset that can be fitted with a variety of extensions to perform construction and home improvement tasks.

Mission Workshop’s Arkiv field packs allow users to mix-andmatch compartments, attaching only those that they deem necessary.

However, the new pocket knives are delivering enhanced customisation options, allowing tools to be added or removed at will. These modular pocket knives are just one example of how the future of customization is reaching beyond diverse applications (software) and is starting to influence the way products are designed (hardware). But how far can this budding trend really go? Modular design has incredible potential, but is the world really ready to go modular? The application of modular technology represents a way forward for smartphones, bringing the same level of customisation to smartphone hardware that was once only possible for software.

33

property

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

FHA to partner Turkish companies on reducing 17 million housing deficit Stories by Chukwuma Okparaocha - Lagos

T

HE Federal Housing Authority (FHA) will partner with Turkish companies to facilitate the realization of the Federal Government’s housing development Target, the Managing Director of the Authority, Professor Mohammed Al-Amin has said.

Al-Amin, on a visit to the Turkish Embassy in Abuja said he was there as a follow-up to the recent visit to President Muhammadu Buhari by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

He noted that housing featured prominently in the discussion between the two Presidents on areas of possible economic cooperation between the two nations during the visit.

The FHA boss said the Federal Government proposed to build one million housing units yearly as a way of combating Nigerian’s estimated 17 million housing deficit.

According to the plan, he said it was envisaged that the Federal and State governments would build 250, 000 housing units each while the balance of 500, 000 would be taken up by domestic and foreign investors.

He said the Federal Government had matched its words with action by passing a budget of N44 billion to take care of its own commitment which would consist solely of social housing units.

Praising the friendly relations between Nigeria and Turkey, AlAmin noted that Turkish housing products were of high quality and enjoined the Commercial Counselor, Dr Ahmed Zafer Gulsen who received him, to encourage companies from his home country to come and partner with the

FHA through: mass production of building materials and contribution of construction finance and technical expertise as well as housing construction.

The FHA chief executive, who

praised the friendly relations between Nigeria and Turkey, paid tributes to Turkey’s rich history and noted that the country occupied a strategic geographical position at the intersection of Asia and

Europe. praised .

Responding, Dr Gulsen said he would do his best to facilitate the coming of Turkish companies to take up the opportunities offered by the FHA.

Development of rural infrastructure will help grow national economy —Lawmaker A Lagos lawmaker, Hon. Abiodun Tobun has the government at both and state levels not to relent in efforts at bringing development to both urban and rural areas of the state, saying the development of infrastructure at the rural level will ultimately help engender national growth.

Tobun, who represemts Epe

Constituency 1 in the Lagos Assembly, made the appeal at the media briefing with Assembly’s correspondents in Ikeja, where he commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, for all his strides toward taking development to the hinterlands of the state.

He said, “The approach of leav-

ing the rural areas to develop urban areas has led to migration of people to the city.

“The idea of developing the metropolis is the mind set of people at the helms of affairs, some governments develop the centre and leave the rural areas.

“This approach usually leads to rural-urban migration and makes

Surveyors urge FG to reform policies to deliver affordable housing THE President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Dr. Patunola-Ajayi, has urged the Federal Government to reform its programme on housing, stating that the country is full of unaffordable houses built under various governments’ housing schemes.

Patunola made this call during the Institution’s 46th Annual General Meeting held recently in Abuja, where he stated that by the time the government reforms its programme on housing there would be enough housing for the masses.

He said, “The government should inject money into housing and power; any money available now should be injected into these projects. These are projects that will generate quick employment for all cadres.

“The situation in the country currently is really tense; people need a programme that will give relief to them. By the

He promised to forward the request to his home Ministry of Economy which he said would seek out the appropriate Turkish companies to partner with the Authority.

time some of these projects are kicked off, activities will start and by the end of the year when we are accessing we will see that things have really improved,” he added.

“If there is power supply we can boast that 50 per cent of our national problems are solved.

Money available right now should be injected into housing and power,” he advised.

“I want to ensure that during my tenure the institution will become a household name. Our job is in the area of property management, valuation, facility, project management, estate agencies.

“There must be power supply if there is power almost 50 per cent of the problem is solved. Any money available at the national and state levels should be injected into power and housing.

“The beauty of housing projects is job generation for all cadres.

Government should take quick action to ensure projects are initiated by the time these projects kick off there will be a relief in all sectors. The situation now is tense, we need a programme that will give a relief so that by the end of the year, when we are accessing, we would see that things have taken a new turn.”

THE Ogun State Government has advised residents to always channel their inquiries on land acquisition particularly as it relates to its validity to relevant government agencies.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing Development and General Manager Housing Corporation, Jumoke Akinwunmi, when speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta on the achievements of the corporation in the last 40 years, said that the rate at which

some unscrupulous members of the public encroached on government-owned land particularly that of the State Housing Corporation, was worrisome, noting that the situation had hampered the smooth operation of the agency.

The General Manager said “the issue of land encroachment by some people on land belonging to the corporation has remained a major challenge and for us to deliver our mandate on housing development and housing needs of the people,

such illegal act must be stopped’’.

Akinwunmi said efforts were in top gear to continually re-establish government land boundaries, dialogue with Community Development Associations (CDAs) of the host communities to curb activities of land grabbers popularly called ‘’Omo Onile’’ and set up a monitoring committee to regularly inspect the boundaries in order to curb unlawful encroachment on Government land.

She urged anyone interested in

the centre to be congested while some governments believe in developing the rural areas to decongest the city to make more people comfortable living in the rural areas,” he added.

“The best approach is to develop both the rural and urban centres simultaneously. The government should not allow the infrastructure at the urban centre decay while at the same time take development to the rural.

“This is the approach the present government is adopting. There is no rural area that is not touched.

We are encouraging the governor not to relent his plans to develop the state,” he further noted.

He commended the governor for picking two roads from each of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to prevent the influx of people into the urban area.

Ogun counsels residents on land acquisition acquiring land to approach the Ogun State Geographical Information System (OGIS) of the Bureau of Lands and Survey for charting of such land.

Akinwunmi pointed out that the agency has recorded tremendous and landmark achievements in the provision of residential and industrial estates in the state since its establishment, saying that these had contributed in no small measure to reducing the challenge of housing deficit in the country.

34

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

35

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

36

news

Tuesday, 2626 April, 2016 Tuesday, April, 2016

I will run for Presidency under PDP in 2019 —Lamido

F

ORMER governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, on Monday, said he would contest for Presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) in 2019.

Lamido made this known to newsmen in his village, Bamaina, in Birnin-kudu Local Government Area of the state.

He, however, said a par-

ty’s ticket was not given to anybody on the platter of gold, adding that a candidate must earn it.

“If my party finds me worthy of the party’s presidential ticket to serve Ni-

geria, I will thank God and oblige.

“Although, there are issues in the party that we are all working to resolve, we hope to have success soon and come out united.

“As I’m talking to you now, we are working silently to resolve our differences and bring back to our fold those that left the party for the All Progress ives Congress (APC),” he

I’ll support Buhari’s policies if... —Wike

Swears in substantive president, Customary Court of Appeal Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has declared his readiness to support any policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, as long as such will enhance the well-being of the people of the state.

He stated this when he received members of the local study group from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, near Jos, in his office, on Monday.

The governor said his primary focus was to work

for the good of Rivers people, adding that he would not use his office for unnecessary politicking and that good policies transcended party affiliation.

“I will support any policy of the Federal Government that will enhance the living standard of the people of Rivers State. It doesn’t matter who initiated such policy as long as it favours our people,” he said.

The governor urged the Federal Government to find ways to implement the recommendations of different study teams of NIPPS, especially, as they

relate to poverty alleviation.

He also said the state government would support the NIPPS study team in carrying out its research on poverty alleviation in the state.

Earlier, the director of studies and leader of NIPPS delegation, Professor Oyom Bassey, said the team was in the state to carry out an assessment of the impact of poverty alleviation programmes in the state.

The team later held an interactive session with top officials of the Rivers State government at the

Government House.

Meanwhile, Governor Wike, on Monday, sworein Justice Christy GabrielNwankwo, as the substantive President of the State Court Customary Court of Appeal.

The swearing-in ceremony followed the screening and confirmation of Justice Gabriel-Nwankwo, by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Performing the swearing-in, Governor Wike charged members of the bench at the state high court and customary court of appeal, to work towards

N1.4bn fraud: Court sentences Kogi ex-lawmaker to 154 years imprisonment THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, secured the conviction of a former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly and former caretaker chairman, Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of

the state, Gabriel Daudu, over a N1.4 billion fraud.

Daudu, who was first arraigned in April 2010, was prosecuted by the EFCC on a 208-count charge bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of public funds.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the case at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, found him guilty of 77 counts and sentenced him to 154 years imprisonment.

In his ruling, the trial

Abductors place N10m ransom on Benue Catholic priest Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

ABDUCTORS of vicar general of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Very Reverend Father John Adeyi, have opened contact with the leadership of the church as they demanded N10 million ransom before the release of the cleric.

The cleric was said to have been abducted on Sunday along Otukpa -Enugu Road .

The abduction of the cleric has increasd the number of kidnap cases in the state in recent times, adding that same Sunday, a middle-aged woman, Lydia Ochapa, was kidnapped along David Mark Bypass, Makurdi.

The woman was on her way to purchase drugs when the suspected kidnappers trailed and kidnapped her at gun point.

The woman, who spoke to newsmen on Monday, said that she was about to get home at about 9.00 p.m. when suddenly, some men alighted from a ve-

hicle and pointed a gun at her and later whisked her away .

She said luck ran out on them when the vehicle suddenly stopped when the fuel in her vehicle got exhausted and in a bid to bring their abandoned car, she was able to escape to the police headquarters.

Reacting to the wave of kidnap activities in the state, an Idoma social cultural group, Opiatoha K’Idoma, condemned the act.

The group, in a state-

ment signed by its secretary, Mr Adoka Adaji, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Monday, advised security agencies to rise up to the challenge by ensuring the early release of the cleric Confirming the abduction of the cleric, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Moses Yamu, said the police is working towards the early release of the cleric, adding that no arrest has been made.

judge held that the prosecution proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt, and therefore, sentenced Daudu to two years on each of the 77 counts, to run concurrently.

Before the conviction of Daudu, prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shittu, tendered various exhibits before the court and fielded 13 witnesses to prove the case against him.

It will be recalled that in the course of the trial, presided over by Justice Ekwo, there was indication that the trial might have to start afresh, as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, had asked Justice P.M. Ayuba of the Lokoja Division of the court to take over the case.

However, Shittu had pleaded with Justice Auta to review the decision.

The Chief Judge, thereafter, returned the case file to Justice Ekwo, who has now found Daudu guilty of the 77 counts.

2 suspected robbers burnt to death in Delta Ebenezer Adurokiya and Wisdom Alokpa - Warri

LUCK ran out of two armed robbery suspects on Sunday as they were burnt to death at Okere Market and Emebiren Junction in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the suspects were members of a fourman gang terrorising the area.

Two of the suspects es-

caped the mob but the two others caught were reportedly rounded up by passersby after they were caught dispossessing traders and commuters around Okere Market of their mobile phones and money.

A source said one of the robbers, having seen the danger ahead, ran from Okere Market through the double lane Avenue Road but was given a hot chase and was later caught at

Emebiren Junction where he was swiftly set ablaze.

Meanwhile, the Delta Police Command spokesperson, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, on phone on Monday, condemned the mob action.

Kalu warned Nigerians to desist from taking the law into their hands, describing the act as a criminal one that attracts murder charge.

ensuring greater stability in the judiciary.

He also advised the judges against the practice of returning case files, saying that they owe the people a duty to litigate on critical cases without fear or favour.

He said stability in the judiciary will lead to more equitable dispensation of justice in line with the provisions of the constitution.

The governor urged the president of the customary court of appeal and the Chief Judge of the State, to cooperate in the interest of the development of the judiciary.

said.

The former governor held that the internal crisis in PDP was the reason for its defeat in 2015 general election.

He said the party had the capacity to rule the country again, but the members must work hard to achieve that.

Lamido denied any rift between him and his successor, Governor Muhammad Badaru of the APC. He stated that both of them had mutual respect for each other and he had no differences with him other than political ideologies.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Praise Temitope Esther now OLALEYE ESTHER TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Gbemisola Olubusola Oyekale now GBEMISOLA OLUBUSOLA OLATUNDE BELLO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

37

news

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

CCT: Saraki withdraws motion seeking to quash trial As court slates May 5 to hear appeal by Kanu, IPOB leader

Police to build 25,000 houses for officers

Sunday Ejike - Abuja

Chris Agbambu - Abuja

S

ENATE President Bukola Saraki, on Monday, withdrew a motion on notice filed at the Court of Appeal praying it to stop his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), pending the determination of his appeal before the appellate court.

The motion slated for hearing on Monday, was

withdrawn by Saraki’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, who did not give any reason for the decision to withdraw the motion by Saraki.

He apologised to the court for making the three-member justices of the Court of Appeal to go through the voluminous processes he filed regarding the appeal, before his application for the withdrawal of the motion.

The presiding Justice, Justice Abdul Aboki subsequently struck out the motion as Saraki’s application for withdrawal was not opposed by counsel to the Federal Government, Mr Sylvanus Tahir.

The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of Saraki’s substantive appeal.

Justice Aboki said parties in the appeal would

be notified when a date is fixed, and after the court’s processes had been filed and exchanged by parties.

In the substantive appeal, the Senate President is challenging his trial at the CCT on the ground that due process was not followed before the 13-count charge was slammed on him by the Federal Government.

Saraki is also contented-

A cross section of officials of Legal Aids Council of Nigeria, Ibadan, led by Mrs Wunmi Funmi Odutayo (third right) and the executive members of Bodija Market Traders Association, during awareness campaign of the council to Ibadan markets. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

Dasuki approaches Appeal Court over unlawful detention Sunday Ejike - Abuja

FORMER National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), has approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal with a motion praying it to set aside the decision of a court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja which refused to void his arrest and detention by the Federal Government, since last year December, in spite of an existing court order that admitted him to bail.

In the appeal filed by his lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, Dasuki is asking the Court of Appeal to stop his trial in the money laundering and corruption charges brought against him, until the Federal Government has purged

itself of the contempt of court.

The appeal was in response to the ruling of Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf which had, last month, refused to stop his trial on the ground that his detention was at the instance of the Department of the State Security (DSS) and not the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), prosecuting the former NSA before the judge.

In the notice of appeal, the appellant claimed that the Abuja High Court erred in law, by not holding the fact that his detention by the DSS and his trial by the EFCC on corruption charges, are both agents of the Federal Government the complainant in the charges against him.

Dasuki, therefore, urged the Appeal Court to set aside the ruling of Justice Baba Yusuf on the ground

of miscarriage of justice, saying the appellate court should discharge him from the criminal charges, and also to stop indulging government in his trial until the bail granted him by the trial court is being obeyed.

When the case came up for hearing on Monday, however, the appellate court could not go ahead following the inability of the Federal Government (respondent) to file its brief of argument.

kill his boss, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, saying the allegation was being created by people who are not comfortable with the friendly relationship existing between him and the governor.

Odubu added that the plot

to destroy his cordial friendship with his boss had not ended, alleging that some people were plotting to package lies in leaflets that would be distributed round Benin, with a view to further destroy his image.

I have no plan to kill Oshiomhole —Dep gov Banji Aluko- Benin City

EDO State deputy governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Pius Odubu, on Monday, denied that he once contacted native doctors to

We will uphold stringent approach to salary payment —Kaduna govt THE Kaduna State government, on Monday, said its stringent approach to salary payments will continue in the face of dwindling revenues, disclosing that the most recent federal allocation was N2.4 billion, a sum which it said, is only slightly above its monthly payroll.

The government reaffirmed that while it had reduced the monthly wage bill to N2.2 billion from the N2.7

ing, among others, that he was not invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)) to make a statement on the alleged discrepancies in his assets declaration forms he submitted to the CCB as required by law, before he was arraigned before the tribunal.

Meanwhile, the appeal filed by the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has been adjourned till May 5, 2016 to enable the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Tahir, to file his brief of arguments on the issues raised by Metuh is his appeal.

The PDP spokesman is asking the Appeal Court to set aside the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja, that he has a case to answer in the money laundering and corruption charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

In the same vein, the appeal filed by Destra Investment Limited, a company allegedly owned by Metuh, has engaged Tochukwu Onwubufor to represent it in the matter.

Dr Onyeachi Ikpeazu, who had been representing Metuh and his company at the trial court withdrew his representation from Destra Investment Limited.

In another development, the appeal by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) could not go on Monday as it was not slated on the course list of the Court of Appeal.

The three-member panel of Justices of the appellate court headed by Justice Aboki then adjourned Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal to May 5, 2016 for hearing.

billion it inherited in May 2015, it had to maintain a vigorous approach to ensure that the wage bill did not exceed its revenues.

Commissioner for Finance, Sulaiman Abdu Kwari, explained that the government had dutifully been paying salary to its workers every month, saying a minority of workers had had their payments delayed by verification issues.

The explanations were contained in a press statement by the Governor’s Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan According to the statement, “Kaduna State is getting only N2.4billion from the Federation Account this month. This is only slightly higher than our monthly wage bill. The N2.4billion we are getting this month maintains a recent pattern of revenue decline

that saw the state’s allocation falling by hundreds of millions of naira for two consecutive months.

“The Kaduna State government prioritises the payment of salaries to public servants.

Its efforts have been to ensure that only genuine staff are paid. That has been the focus of the verification process, and the wisdom of the exercise is proven by the continued squeeze on revenues.”

In a statement signed by Odubu’s Chief Press Secretary, Kelly Odaro, Odubu said as a practising Catholic faithful, he would not do anything unbecoming of a true Christian in the name of politics.

“God knows that I have never had any pact with any witch/native doctor to kill anyone or avenge for him and I will never condescend to that extent as long as God lives. It is against my faith.

“I will by the special Grace of God, continue to disappoint the dubious expectations of those who are bent on driving a wedge between the Comrade Governor and me. It is my nature and character to be loyal to those who God has set over me because they are His instruments.”

THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, on Monday, said efforts have reached an advanced stage to build 25,000 units of low cost houses for members of the Nigeria Police Force nationwide.

Arase, who disclosed this at the groundbreaking ceremony of 1,004 units housing project, at Gousa town in Abuja, explained that the construction of 25,000 housing units would be carried out by the Police Force Property Development Company in conjunction with Shelter Afrique and UN Habitat.

He stressed that the event was unique because it was the first time international bodies would be collaborating with the Nigeria Police for purpose of addressing the housing needs of the personnel.

Prior to this time, the IGP had said similar projects had been completed and handed over to members of the rank and file cadre in Katsina, Adamawa, as well as Edo and Enugu states.

Kwara disburses N16.3m to coop societies Biola Azeez - Ilorin

THE Kwara State government said about N16.3 million has so far been disbursed to cooperative societies across the state in 2016 under its Micro Credit Intervention Scheme launched in March 2012.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, on Monday, the technical adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mr Olusegun Soewu, said the state government had injected a cumulative of N1.597 billion into the scheme since 2012, adding that a total of 1, 848 cooperative societies had benefited from the scheme.

Mr Soewu said disbursement is being done through select micro-finance banks based within the operating environment of the target beneficiaries, adding that the participating micro-finance banks are referred to as partnering banks.

According to him, the target beneficiaries of the scheme included men and women who have existing businesses, youth with workable business ideas or requisite skills, enterprising women in the rural areas and cooperative societies with traceable business records.

38

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Obama calls for greater European unity

U

NITED States President Barack Obama has called for greater European unity, describing it as a “necessity” for the world.

Speaking in Germany, he accused Europe of complacency over its own defence and called on Nato allies to spend more on international security, BBC said.

Mr Obama also appealed to the European Union to rise above current divisions which, he said, were weakening the continent.

A migrant crisis and a United Kingdom referendum on EU membership in June have raised

United States President Barrack Obama. PHOTO: REUTERS.

questions about Europe’s unity.

Mr Obama called on EU states to share the burden of mass migration and see off those he accused of “exploiting people’s fears”.

Speaking in Hannover, Mr Obama said he was to send up to 250 more special forces troops to Syria to support local militias in the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS).

The new deployment will bring to 300 the number of US Special Forces soldiers in Syria.

He said that in the face of shared security threats, a “strong united” Europe remained a

“necessity for all of us”.

“It’s a necessity for the United States because Europe’s security and prosperity is inherently indivisible from our own,” he said.

“A strong united Europe is a necessity for the world because an integrated Europe remains vital to our international order.”

He said that every Nato member should be contributing “its full share – 2 per cent of GDP - towards our common security - something that doesn’t always happen”.

He added: “I’ll be honest; sometimes Europe has been complacent about its own

defence.”

Mr Obama described the EU as one of the biggest achievements in modern history.

“More then 500 million people, speaking 24 languages in 28 countries, 19 with a common currency in one European Union, remains one of the greatest political and economic achievements of modern times,” he said.

Mr Obama was speaking ahead of key talks in Hannover with the leaders of the UK, Germany, France and Italy. Syria and other foreign policy issues were believed to have topped the agenda.

Six African nations could be malaria-free by 2020 — Report

Saudi Arabia agrees on economic reform plan

WITHIN the next four years, six nations in Africa – the region where malaria is most prominent – could be free of the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a report published Monday to mark World Malaria Day. The “Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 20162030”, approved by the WHO last year, hoped to see an end to local transmission of malaria in at least 10 countries by 2020, but now the WHO estimates that 21 countries could achieve that goal, including six in Africa,

SAUDI Arabia’s cabinet has agreed on a broad-based economic reform plan, known as Vision 2030, revealing how the oil-reliant state plans to diversify its economy over the next 14 years.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the deputy crown prince, said on Monday that the country was building up the its Public Investment Fund to become a major player in global markets.

He said Saudi Arabia was restructuring its housing

VOA said.

“Since the year 2000, malaria mortality rates have declined by 60 per cent globally. In the WHO African Region, malaria mortality rates fell by 66 per cent among all age groups and by 71 per cent among children under five years,” the WHO said in a statement accompanying the report.

The six countries in Africa that could be rid of malaria by 2020 are Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Comoros, South Africa and Swaziland.

A doctor puts a heart monitor on the foot of a baby who is suffering from severe malaria in the Siaya hospital in western Kenya. PHOTO: AP

From left: Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich. PHOTO: REUTERS

Cruz, Kasich join forces to combat Donald Trump REPUBLICAN Party presidential candidates Ted Cruz and John Kasich have agreed to coordinate in a last-ditch effort to deny frontrunner Donald Trump the party’s nomination for United States president.

Cruz plans to stop campaigning for the Oregon and New Mexico primaries to help Kasich, while the latter will give Cruz a “clear path” in Indiana, Al Jazeera said.

“Having Donald Trump at the top of the ticket in November would be a sure disaster for Republicans,”

otherNEWS

Contaminated sweets kill 23 in Pakistan AT least 23 people have died from eating contaminated sweets in central Pakistan, police said.

The deaths began last week after a man in Punjab province bought the treats to celebrate the birth of his son.

He and 11 other relatives are among the dead - in all 77 people were affected. Five

remain in a serious condition.

Police have arrested two owners of a local sweetshop and one of their employees while the source of the contamination is investigated.

Officials suspect pesticide from a store next to the shop may accidentally have found its way into the laddoos - ballshaped sweets popular at

Cruz’s campaign manager, Jeff Roe, said.

“Not only would Trump get blown out by Clinton or Sanders, but having him as our nominee would set the party back a generation.”

Kasich’s chief strategist John Weaver said that Kasich’s goal was to have no candidate win the number of delegates required to clinch the nomination, which would lead to an open nominating contest at a Republican National Committee convention scheduled for Cleveland in July.

special occasions.

Laboratory tests are being carried out after police reportedly found sachets of pesticide inside the sweet shop.

The sweets were bought by Sajjad Hussain, a villager in Layyah district near Multan, after the birth of his son on 19 April, police spokesman Irfan

Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Faiz told the BBC. On 20 April, Mr Hussain bought 4.5kg of laddoos to celebrate. Five people died immediately, Mr Faiz said.

By the weekend many more lives had been claimed. Mr Hussain, one of his sisters, all of his seven brothers, two of his nieces and a nephew are among the dead.

ministry to increase the supply of affordable housing, and creating a “green card” system within five years to give expatriates long-term residence.

Salman al-Ansari, founder and president of the Washington DC-based Saudi American Public Relations Affairs Committee (SAPRAC), told Al Jazeera the green card system gives more rights to expatriates to invest in the country.

“Almost 10 million foreigners send their money back to their country, they can’t invest in this country, so by this green card idea, we are giving more rights to expats for investment or buy houses,” he said.

“That will create a big move for the Saudi economy. It is a visionary kind of move to not only help the Saudi economy and Saudi citizens but also help the foreigners in the country.”

Victims receiving treatment in the city of Multan. PHOTO: IKRAM PARACHA

ICC opens preliminary probe into Burundi violence

Police arrest a man following grenade attacks in the capital Bujumbura, Burundi.. PHOTO: AP

THE International Criminal Court says it is opening a preliminary probe into the violence that erupted last year in Burundi.

International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says the probe is not an investigation and offered no timeline of how long it will last.

But in a statement announcing her decision Monday, she said she has been closely tracking the uptick of violence in the central African nation that has been a member of the Hague-based court since 2004.

“My office has reviewed communications and reports

about killings, imprisonment, 2015,” Bensouda said.

Burundi’s political crisis was torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence as well as cases triggered last year when President of enforced disappearances. Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a Because all these acts appear to disputed third term. Bensouda fall within the jurisdiction of the said at least 430 people have ICC, I have decided to open a been killed, 3,400 have been preliminary examination into the arrested and more than 230,000 situation in Burundi since April Burundians have fled the country.

39

Tuesday, 26 April, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Kano 6-0 debacle:

3SC management apologises

T

HE management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), has apologised to the side’s teeming supporters for the 0-6 loss to Kano Pillars in a Nigeria Premier League matchday 13 clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

Jubril Arowolo, 3SC’s media officer, however, said the team is determined to forge ahead after the unpleasant result in Kano.

Shooting Stars’ Izu Joseph (left), celebrates after scoring against FC Giwa, as team-mate, Wasiu Jimoh joins him in the party.

“It was really a bad day for us but we cannot continue to rue the loss as no amount of regrets will undo the painful result.

“We feel the deed has been done we must head straight for the trenches to fight back toward returning to winning ways again.

“We are deeply sorry mostly to our teeming supporters who strongly believe in us and must have been disappointed by the shocking result.

...As lawmaker seeks support for team

By Dipo Ogunsola And Wale Akinselure CHAIRMAN, Oyo State’s House Commitee on Sport, Honourable Fatai Adesina has called on well-meaning citizens of the state to rally round Shooting Stars Sport Club in view of the miserable situation the team finds itself in the current football season.

The Oluyole Warriors capitulated to a sixnil pounding to home side, Kano Pillars in a match day 13 of the Nigeria Premier League fixture, the worst in the history of the club’s away outing be it national or continental.

Against this background, Adesina said things were getting out of Shooting Stars’ hand hence; the intervention of true lovers of the team who have the financial muscle to carry the team.

“Stories of unpaid wages are told across the country, so we understand the plight of the Shooting Stars players who are being owed 16-match bonus. The state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has approved that funding of the team should be given priority whenever the monthly allocation is available from the Federal Government, but what can help stem the slide immediately is for genuine lovers of the team to offer financial help,” he told Tribunesport.

Adesina cited cases in history when Rotimi Akeredolu and Fatai Buhari responded to the financial need of the Shooting Stars and Crown FC of Ogbomoso respectively when the teams were in dire straits. “Íf we have enough money to camp the players and feed them three times a day, I am

sure the story will change.”

He also reported that the committee held a meeting with the head of the technical crew of the team, Kadiri Ikhana, where the grey areas were fully discussed.

“Ikhana is not particularly happy with the status of the squad he has. He (Ikhana) explained that just a few of the players are bona fide members of the team, while quite a lot of others are on loan.”

Bemoaning the club’s plight as disheartening, Adesina said it had become expedient for individuals and supporters to contribute to the sustenance of the club, as the state government continued to grapple with poor economic situation and its attendant financial challenges.

“Every supporter should support the club to rescue the situation and contribute

certain amount of money from time to time. Football is 70 per cent business, 30 per cent entertainment. Let people come around to support the club. People that truly love the club should be willing to offer financial support. The government pays when money is much available. Individuals should come to the team’s aid. Someone donated a bus and about N25 million to the team. With about 10 of such persons, the fortunes of the club will improve.

“The club has no asset.

Even their house in Jericho is a rented building owned

by Oodua group of companies. We should stop deceiving ourselves. The reality on the ground is that individuals, supporters should rally round, contribute and donate to sustain the team.

Some supporters do not want to pay entry fees to

Akwa Utd suspends Cooreman AKWA United, A Nigeria Premier League side has sent its Belgian head coach, Maurice Cooreman, on an indefinite suspension.

The decision by the club followed the team’s 0-1 home loss to Enyimba on Sunday night in the Nigeria Premier League match day 13 game at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium also known as the

Nest of Champions.

A letter from the office of the club chairman, Paul Bassey, was dispatched to the Belgian trainer on Monday conveying the message that he should proceed on leave with immediate effect.

Cooreman’s assistant, Ere Dokubo, has now been saddled with the responsibility of leading the coaching crew.

Dokubo and the other coaches have also been handed a three-game deadline to improve the fortune of The Promise Keepers “or be fired.”

The caretaker coach and his backroom staff will have to produce results against MFM FC (away), FC Ifeanyiubah (home) and Giwa FC (away) to keep their jobs.

Cooreman

watch football matches at the stadium, but can spend a lot to wine and dine, after a football match. Some individuals can offer special incentives when the team goes to play away matches.

“The players have to keep their heads high and cooperate with the management amidst this situation because no one will be better off if the club gets relegated.

No doubt, what is going on in 3SC is much worse than in other places but we will all bear the shame, if we do not all come together as stakeholders to salvage the situation. Many of us lawmakers are being owed salaries, but we have to understand the current economic situation,” Adesina maintained.

He also revealed that “we have just about five or six players as assets of the club. When we asked, the management attributed the situation to inadequate finances of the club and that there was no money to buy players. What we have advised is that the government should ensure that the club gets appropriate percentage whenever we send players on loan. This will prevent a situation whereby there is entry and exit of players on loan at will. Some leave for other teams and Shooting Stars do not get a kobo on such players transfer”.

“We have to quickly come up with modalities to make up for the defeat and avert further occurrence in the ongoing league.

“We need the supporters’ understanding now more than ever to help us to quickly overcome the trying moment.

“The defeat at Kano Pillars is one of the matches on the season’s calendar there are more matches to be played, we never expected what happened in Kano, we just want to say we are deeply sorry.

“Nobody is thinking of any untoward treatment on the head coach, Kadiri Ikhana but how to forge ahead and reposition the team to stamp its authority in the league.

“I’m certain we will bounce back to reckoning within the shortest time,” Arowolo told Supersport.com.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper, Fabiyi Emmanuel was in a shock after the Kano debacle.

“What happened in that game has left me confused. I really can’t blame the team because some of us were down. It’s not that we played badly but that wasn’t our day, it was a bad day, an off day, a day you played well yet you conceded,” Fabiyi told Goal.

“Everyone knows what we are going through, but we shall get the job done with every sense of professionalism.

“Kano Pillars made good use of the chances that came their way, who knows it may be our turn to humble another team with a big scoreline too soon.

“This is the time we need our true fans the most.

Their support, encouragement and prayers can help us get right back on track.”

SIDELINES

NO 16,487

TUESDAY, 26 APRIL, 2016

A man now in custody in Nasarawa State, who allegedly shot his wife to death right before his mother in-law, claimed that the deceased discouraged him from finishing his education before the marriage. Perhaps, if one may ask, was the man blinded by love when he agreed to his partner's theory before the union?

N150

Real Madrid must not survive tonight

—Iheanacho

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi

Iheanacho

Iheanacho

N

IGERIAN youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho believes Manchester City is set for the UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid, saying his team must win tonight at the Etihad Stadium ahead of the reverse fixture.

Iheanacho said the Citizens' 4-0 pounding of Stoke City in the English Premier League last weekend has put them in the right frame of mind for tonight's showdown with the team that is parading the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema, among others

"This game (against Stoke) was great preparation for us before we play Real Madrid.

"We need to focus and work hard (tonight) because they (Real Madrid) are a good side. We are prepared to face them.

"The Champions League is a big tournament so we need to focus and get the mood ready and get everything right to play.

"We must work hard and concentrate on every ball.

We really need to win here because at their home it's not going to be an easy game.

“It's a great achievement for the club to be in the last four of the tournament, but it would be a dream to get to the final so we're really hoping for that,” Iheanacho

who was adjudged the man of the match last weekend after scoring a brace told www.mcfc.co.uk.

The 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup Most Valuable Player said he enjoyed playing alongside Sergio Aguero.

"I'm very pleased to play with Sergio. It's a big thing so I'm really happy and looking forward to playing with him in the future.

"I really need to work hard in every in game and every training. Every time, I really need to show character and show that I deserve to be in the team so I really need to work hard until the end,” said the Nigerian international.

Iheanacho has scored 11 goals for Man City in all competitions this season.

IBF: Joshua defends title June 25 ATTF confirms Nigeria, Egypt for world junior tourney THE African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) has confirmed Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria as the continent’s flagbearers at the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship holding in Cape Town, South Africa in October.

In a statement by the President of ATTF, Khaled ElSalhy, the four teams confirmed their qualification among the 12 teams that featured at the last ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship in Algiers.

Egypt and Nigeria will compete in the boys and girls events at the global

tournament, while the girls’ team from Algeria and the boys’ team from Tunisia will join the two continental superpowers at the tournament.

Aside the four countries that will represent Africa at the championship, host – South Africa will also be presenting its boys and girls teams for the competition.

Also, the continental body also named the eight-man team that will constitute African team for the 2016 World Cadet Challenge in China.

The team is dominated

by players from Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, while Nigeria and Congo Brazzaville completed the list.

Cadet champions – Egypt’s duo of Marwan Abdelwahab and Rinad Fathy top the list. Others are Tunisia’s pair of Aboubaker Bourass and Manel Baklouti as well as Algeria’s Malissa Nasri and Abdelbasset Chaichi. Other members of the team are Nigeria’s Esther Oribamise and Congo Brazzaville’s Regis Kiassi. The ITTF World Cadet Challenge holds from October 21 to 29.

NIGERIAN-BORN British boxer, Anthony Joshua will make the first defence of his International Boxing Federation world heavyweight title against unbeaten Dominic Breazeale at The O2 in London on June 25, it was

Joshua

announced on Monday. Although, his rival Tyson Fury was quick to dismiss the American as from "bumcity."

Joshua defeated the hitherto unbeaten Charles Martin at the same venue on April 9, to win the IBF belt in his 16th

professional contest.

Breazeale, 30, is unbeaten in 17 pro fights with 15 wins inside the distance, but remains a raw novice. He is ranked 13th by the IBF. The Californian is no stranger to London, having represented USA at the 2012 Olympic Games, where Joshua won the gold medal in the super heavyweight division.

“I can't tell you how excited I am to fight again, especially at The O2 which I have made my fortress,” said Joshua. “My coaches have watched Breazeale for a long time and they knew he was going to be a player in the division and now we get the chance to go war on June 25."

"It's sure to be explosive, both of us like to let our hands go and score knockouts, we are both undefeated and both have Olympic pedigree".

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 26/4/2016.